Since their jubilant arrival in sunny Wolverhampton last summer, our Chinese owners have often spoke about the size and potential of the club and the importance of returning it to the Premier League sooner rather than later.
And yet a glance up the Championship table sees Barnsley, Cardiff, Brentford, Reading, Huddersfield and Brighton sitting comfortably above us.
All due respect to these clubs – they’ve more than earned their respective standings – but none bare anything resembling our history.
This isn’t delusions of grandeur on my part, it’s fact.
But under the bumbling premiership of Fosun, Kevin Thelwell and to a lesser extent Laurie Dalrymple – because, contrary to popular opinion, we can’t blame Morgan and Moxey for everything – we’re now in a position where opposition as modest in stature as tonight’s can turn up at Molineux and claim three points without breaking sweat.
Paul Lambert made six tactical changes to his team but on recent evidence it’s apparent that there’s no winning formula to be found in the current side.
Truthfully, the blame for this can be afforded to every outfield department but having watched the ease with which two of this season’s success stories, Brighton and Huddersfield, passed circles around us it’s hard to argue against the notion that the midfield is our Achilles heel.
Sure, our strikers are laughably impotent but they might have mustered a few more goals if we had some vision in the middle of the park.
Be honest, who doesn’t see the sale of Kevin McDonald as anything other than scandalous?
God may love a trier but as professional as Dave Edwards may be I’d be thankful if I never had to endure another 90 minutes of him hiding behind opposition midfielders whilst we’re in possession.
No manager can legislate selecting any midfielder at this level that is not comfortable with the ball at his feet – the ever increasing standard of the league won’t allow it.
Though it’s a deficiency that is symptomatic of all our midfielders (except perhaps Saiss) the fact that Edwards is picked week in, week out regardless of form means he deservingly bears the brunt of most fans’ criticism.
Don’t let 10 goals fool you, we’ll never get promoted playing this guy every week.
Of course, ‘Deadly’ wasn’t alone when underperforming tonight. His bearded counterpart churned out one of his worst performances in a Wolves shirt and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson continued his excellent impression of Tomasz Frankowski with aplomb.
Crumbs of comfort could be found in Silvio’s solidity, Morgan Gibbs-White’s youthful endeavour and the long awaited return of Jordan Graham but, truth be told, this was a damp squib not dissimilar to the dross served up on Saturday.
I’m yet to be convinced that Lambert possesses the ruthless streak that is needed to arrest this malaise but the efficiency of Andi Weimann and Ben Marshall since their arrival in January, coupled with his feats at Norwich in years gone by, suggest he knows enough about the Championship to at least engineer some improvement on this term.
Whether that faith is misguided is a question that won’t be answered for some time so perhaps it’s wise that for the time being we relish the prospect of a Molineux free summer.
Well, I guess I won’t be sorry to see the back of this disappointing season. I feel it a little harsh though, to judge Lambert without the benefit of the summer window. His two signings in January showed an eye for a player and a few more in the summer like them and we could well be on an upward trajectory.
Ever the optimist, I am. Pointless otherwise, this football thing.
Yes, we’re not leaking goals longer, and we have a team, a foundation to build on. A Goalkeeper, one central defender and a couple of central midfielders, Sako and perhaps a central striker and we’re there. That’s not a long distance to travel. A couple of months and we’ve arrived.
I for one am by means convinced as to the wisdom of signing Weiman on a permanent basis. He is very average when played out wide, and is impotent as an out and out striker. Although he displays endless energy, running around like a blue arsed fly, and demonstrates some nice touches, it is palpably clear that he is not a natural goal poacher. He seems to me to be another Dicko – albeit a somewhat improved version of that perpetual failure — in that he promises much but actually delivers little
We already have a clutch of non striking strikers, who must be moved on. Surely the last thing we need now is yet another. How essential it is that we somehow sign a proven goal scorer.
It would matter not if he remains virtually anonymous for eighty five minutes, but can then pop up to scramble a winner with some degree of regularity.
I think you underestimate his value Mike. Especially in a side that wants to press high up the pitch. His finish against Liverpool was class and I feel he has it within him, if used correctly, to be a very useful forward for our team.
Agree he is very average at best and couldn’t get in the Derby Team.. who are not ripping any trees up themselves..
We need to aim higher..
I do agree with you mate!
I have said,this before but surely we have to give Pl a pre season and chance to.get his own players in, we all know that we need to get rid of players but it’s easier said than done to to it, I mean they are comfortable at wolves on half decent contracts, we will have to cut our losses on most of them.
If fosum say what they said they were going to do when they took over they will have to break the bank get some proper experienced prem players in, I’m hopeful it will be done this summer,
I wouldn’t mind Joe ledley at palace who I’d out of contract that is the sort of players we need. Break the,bank try get crouch in pay him decent wages.
Up the,wolves
Selling Macdonald was the key reason in our decline. There is no creativity in our awful midfield. Great to see Jordan return. He is creative, imaginative and a team player.
Nope. Zenga and injuries on key players like Graham, Zyro and Dicko counted just as much. However I agree that we lost a valuable player, a player which should have been replaced by a better player.
I fully agree. We now have zero midfield. Period.
For last night`s game, PL stated that he needed “fresh legs”. Edwards, who at best is nothing more than a substandard trier, has played virtually very game, and is clearly knackered. Yet, there he is again, no doubt first name on the team sheet, and duly comes up with his usual dire showing. Does he have some sort of hold over PL ?
Then, to compound problems, he is paired with the totally inept Price, a proven failure who at best is an average division 1 performer. How could PL possibly expect this duo to provide any mid field supremacy or influence ? What chance do strikers really have when faced with such gross crap in the key central midfield area ?
Yes PL should be given the summer to shape his team. But this process cannot be one of papering over the cracks. Nothing less than a mass clear out of gross mediocrity will suffice — particularly so when it comes to the midfield.
I think ruthless is the key word.
For 2 years these players have been way below the standard required. They have had their chance.
While I don’t think we can just get rid of everyone and start again, several squad players need to be moved on.
PL needs to bring in players who can deliver because if he serves up anything like we’ve seen this season it will get him the sack.
Don’t show blind faith to underperforming players. The likes of Evans, Saville (I could go on) aren’t kids. They just aren’t good enough.
A new spine is essential and if we can bring in experience and creativity in midfield with a 20 goal plus striker, we will do ok.
It’s small margins in this league but we need to address our failings and not pretend everything is ok. Far from it. This majority of this squad is crap!
It is a sad fact for us long suffering Wolves fans that we are most likely to have another season at least of this before there is any chance of a promotion challenge .There are too many modest players in the squad several of whom PLthinks can still make it .We will finish with fewer points than Kenny Jackett did last year so no progress has actually been made despite the big talk .As is often said the league position never lies .
Realistically, if PL does not win 12 or 13 games of the first 20 next season (given he has adequate backing in the summer) then he will start to come under enormous pressure from restless fans. Where we are by November/December could define the season.
Great summary of the general malaise we’re in Ben.
I watch Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher dissect Tottenham’s attacking prowess on Sky. They break with 5, sometimes 6 players into the box, at pace.
On the rare occasions we do break – exclusively like a Ford Fiesta stuck in 2nd gear – we have Bodvarsson up front on his own, running away from the goal and down the channel, and one midfielder 20 yards behind him. It’s so laughably impotent it genuinely makes you want to adjourn for an early coffee break, or just anything, as it is so, so boring.
Make no mistake, this football is worse than anything Jackett served up, or Solbakken. The reason being as that Jackett, in particular, had no squad to work with of note, and had Stearman, Afobe and Sako sold from under his nose. (Ok, he handled McDonald terribly if you take that on face value and was also equally obdurate and stubborn)
I just can’t see what Lambert trying to do. The team is so lacking in pace and mobility that it is almost literally impossible to score, barring a set play, mistake, or ‘wordly’ long range screamer, which never happens anyway.
If we were losing in a 4-2-3-1 but you could see genuine pace, devilment or ideas then I’d accept it.
But insisting on playing David Edwards at the fulcrum of the side, while dropping any player to suffer alongside him, is lunacy.
Ben is right. He hides. He is laughably one paced and technically indept. Did anyone see Izzy Brown repeatedly leave him for dead, dropping a shoulder, speed of thought, fleet of foot?
We should be signing him (isn’t he on loan from Chelsea?). Dale Stephens is out of contract at Brighton in the summer. We should be signing him too. Why not? Newcastle signed Ritchie from AFC Bournemouth. It can be done. The bald lad next to Brown last night is also a loanee isn’t he (Mooy?). Why not look at him?
Fuck it, get two Browns in at the same time – get up to Celtic Park and pay whatever the rate is for Scott Brown, make the snarling bastard our captain and build a team around him. Oliver Norwood can’t even get in the Brighton team…Sign him.
Then there’s Pocognoli as their full back. Why didn’t we take him from WBA? Were we even looking at him?
The fact most will laugh at these names will say more than Paul Lambert’s gruff mumbles in a press conference. Because after years of Moxey and Morgan’s pragmatism, we are now unable to aspire. We think that Saville, Edwards and co are what we deserve because we’re Wolves and that’s how it is at Wolves.
NO IT ISN’T! Even if we don’t sign this calibre of player then at the VERY LEAST please say we’ll have a go and bring some aspiration back to the place.
This brings me onto the next big issue…Kevin Thelwell. I simply don’t have any faith in him in identifying these players, on the grounds that every midfielder he has ever identified is a one paced, methodical, ‘vanilla’ nice guys who ruffle the hair of an opponent rather than their feathers.
He has presided over one Bomb Squad, which is embarassing enough. Thanks to the lunacy of 4 year deals for the likes of Lee Evans, we will now need another one if we are serious about promotion. That’s simply unacceptable.
It doesn’t need 3 or 4 players in the summer, it needs a root and branch overhaul of the whole system.
If FOSUN are serious about getting us promoted, then Lambert should be skating on thin ice right now.
Thelwell should be sacked, at least 10players should be told to leave – including David f**king Edwards and the whole thing should start all over.
Seven should be brought in.
We should then be realistic thereafter and give it two seasons.
I will give Lambert the benefit of the doubt for now, but if a slate isn’t wiped completely clean then the 3 / 4 new players will be enough to maintain our current status as a middling Championship side, no more.
Thanks for the feedback Ben. Brilliant summary on your part too. I’m in full agreement with every point. Mediocrity should not be accepted at Wolves. The fans deserve better.
Well said! Agree totally.
The Morgan/Moxey induced mind-set hangs over a lot of us I feel and I said that very thing a week or so back. We need to set our sights high as high is where we are supposedly aiming to go. The financial prize for gaining promotion to the PL is now reckoned to be £200m a season. Yes, £200,000,000. A season. Every season. Spend £40m or even £50m to get there. Get up with the ‘big boys’ like Bournemouth, Watford and Burnley. Fill the stadium every match. Expand Molineux to 40,000. Spend even more when we get up. Aim for the top 6 of the PL not survival like Sandwell Town. Aim for automatic promotion as champions not trying to sneak into the play-offs. Do it NOW! Otherwise the gap between the PL clubs and the rest of us widens year on year and it will not be too long before the gap, already resembling a chasm, will be totally unbridgeable.
OODCL
WOW…. SPOT ON
Everything you say here regarding the huge mediocrity of the existing squad makes enormous sense. However, I think the key part of your narrative is the damning reference to Thelwell.
This guy has zero pedigree.: zero meaningful experience: He is in fact a self proclaimed guru, completely unworthy of the position he is in. Look back at his track record over the years in which he has had influence over our player recruitment, and you see an abysmal record of huge magnitude. The hundred thousand here and there regulalry frittered away on useless ” Ones for tomorrow “– whose tomorrow will never come — aggregates to a tidy overall sum. The guy has been a complete failure.
Going forward if we allow this nit wit to have any input into recruitment program, then surely we will quickly get out of this division. But down and not up. Thellwell should be the top of the list in any clear our schedule
Ben, a great read and I very much like your thinking, BUT don’t you really believe that it’s all about Fosun’s ambition. Saying and doing are two very different things as we all know well and goo.
On the beach, winding down, safe, he needs a pre season, blah, blah, blah!!
I am sick and fuckin’ tired of all the excuses for ineptitude.
These overpaid employees of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and I include everyone, are a disgrace and a laughing stock.
If Lambert needs a pre season to realize what we can all see, week in, week out, then he needs to go.
Now.
These people, I will not insult others by calling them players, are together, supposedly training and being assessed on an almost daily basis.
If the assessors cannot see the glaring lack of quality, and in most cases, ability, then the club is in a sorry state.
From the fitness coaches to the tactical and playing coaches, the whole lot need to be picked up by the scruff of the neck, shaken until their eyes bleed and cast aside.
Bollocks to contracts, pay ’em off and fuck ’em off.
If Lambert cannot see he has the biggest opportunity he will ever get in his life to produce a wonderful, winning team using Fosun’s fortunes, then he is woefully inadequate.
Back when he was appointed, he talked the talk.
Sadly, he has proved, time and again, he’s a fuckin’ cripple.
Saville, for fucks sake???
Trigger, you need to be fired.
The sandwell bottom dwellers must be loffin’ their month old socks off in their hovels, as they sit 8th in the prem.
That pisses me off as well.
Bloody hell Clive, you’re pissed off and you haven’t even BEEN to Bedford yet! Just you wait my lad.
Ewdards while there’s a hole in his backside will never get us out of this League. I just don’t get it what does Lambertt see that we don’t .
2 thirds of this squad is SHITE absolutely SHITE either that or is the manger the coaches the tea lady or just every last one at that frustratingly cozy football club called Wolverhampton Wanderers oh and add Jeff and Fosun as well.
Words cannot express the ineptitude and miss management on all fronts of OUR club.
Here is my take on last night’s insipid performance.
Burgoyne – on a par with Lonegan so not really the answer. It looks like Ikeme is the only ‘keeper that we can have any confidence in.
Iorfa – what the hell has happened to him – is this really the player that West Ham were going to pay £9m for?? Poor control, awful distribution and Van La Parra had him on toast all night
Baath/Stearman – last gasp defending and ‘big hoof’ clearances are not the future. They both fail to deliver confident performances and are clearly not the answer.
Silvio – reasonable but caught in possession a couple of times. good distribution and got forward a few times in the second half.
Gibbs- White/Marshall – did OK in a struggling team
Edwards/Price. Appalling displays!!! poor first touch, dreadful passing (Edwards gave the ball away with a 3 yard pass for the goal!!) and went missing when they really needed to show some character. Get rid of both of them ASAP.
Bodvarsson – God loves a trier but he is clearly not the answer to our lack of goals.
Weimann – worked hard as ever but desperately needs some help up front.
Mason – looked bright in the second half (for Bodvarsson) and probably worth keeping for next season.
Dicko – Haven’t seen anything to indicate that he will ever be the player that he was before his injury.
Graham – looked bright at times but clearly not fit. It will be good to have him back next season.
Given that this lot were considered the answer after Saturday’s appalling display it just shows how much there is to do to turn us into a reasonable Championship side – never mind a side capable of challenging for promotion.
Too many journeymen
Too many has-been’s
Too many might-have-been’s
Sorry to sound so pessimistic but I think that Lambert will need to perform miracles to turn this dross into a decent team.
Anyway – on to Derby on Saturday when my more optimistic side might make a come-back after a few pre-match pints.
OODCL
Well said Rasmin,Ben,& Clive.
I agree with everything you say here on the blog.
Pl ank hasn’t got a clue again he flails his arms about like a Tic-tac man at the races but the only thing that’s racing is my f##king anger at coach who’s like most of the rest we’ve had the past 10 years or so,he’s limited and imo average league 1 coach.
Some fans talk about giving him a pre season + a dozen games then see where we are, but the it’ll be to late again.
Let’s all get real this squad needs a complete overhaul give or take a few.
We must keep costa and cav and build a team around them,as long as it’s not the plank.what a total waste it’s been at home again.Fosun should give us season ticket holders a refund.
Excellent summary Ben and I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. I was beginning to think it was just me who was mystified and deeply disappointed in equal measure whenever Edwards is played. I have similar feelings towards Batth, Price and Saville (and a few others too). Honest endeavour is great but there is no substitute for quality. As I said recently we need to shift out the hoofers and huffers, the workers and triers and replace them with footballers.
In terms of Lambert he has had 6 months now (or will shortly as he was appointed on 5th November) and the January transfer window. His tactics, systems, reluctance to strengthen where it was clearly needed, his dislike of ‘foreign’ flair players, his love for very limited ‘honest’ triers, his team selections, his substitutions – everything really – have been safe, uninspiring and very limited. That’s down to him. No-one else. Not Zenga. Not Jackett. Him. I remain totally unconvinced that he has the 21st century ability or vision to lead us to promotion.
OODCL
Anyone that thinks Ewdards can play in midfield deserves 6 months alright………..in PENN Hospital.
I don’t think he should start every game. Even Edwards need a break to charge the batteries. It would benefit his play greatly as well as the team.
A break of about 12 years? lol
Season ticket holders sold down the river….AGAIN same shite different owners.
I didn’t go last night
I stayed at home and watched Chelsea beat a very skillful Southampton team
Both sides hardly made a bad pass, there were the odd one or two but even they were mainly interceptions where the opposition player had read the game so well he got there first.
It was a joy to watch, with Chelsea being a little flattered by the scoreline but deserved winners.
All the time i was keeping my eye on the wolves score and thought we may get a draw at one point
But, as usual it went wrong, did i care ? not a jot.
Watching the superb passing and movement and incredible skill in front of me on TV and comparing it with what i could have been watching cold and frustrated and fifty quid worse off i knew i had made the correct decision
My conclusion after another glass of vino and a calm down was pretty much the same as many who have spoken on here
They have said we are light years away from teams like i watched last night … we are not… we are complete universes, galaxies, and any other massive distance name you can think of away away away away away. .. lots to be done
I am 61 years old . will i see wolves in the premier again ? probably.
Will i see wolves in the premier under Fosun ? probably
I think Fosun will have a bloody good shot at it and will not give up after many many millions have gone up in smoke over the next couple of years
Having very deep pockets is a requirement to get the basics right which they will do
To get to Chelsea standards requires bottomless pockets and rocket ship investment which they will not do
Fosun are a very very rich company but they are far from stupid
Wolves as an investment will not work for a while as the club is rebuilt. They know that
But when premier stability is achieved i firmly believe we will be moved on for a very handsome profit…Thats life now days
The only real difference between Morgan and fosun is that these boys WILL put there money where their mouth is ……SO
ENJOY NEXT SEASON EVERYONE ,,, IT WILL BE VELLY ENTERLESTING
I find it difficult to understand how people can blame Fosun.
Their take over last year was too late and they turned, in haste, to Mendez for advice.
His acquisitions have kept us up, although the obvious Lambert signings Marshall and Weimann, certainly helped.
The spine of the team is appalling and unless Lambert is an imbecile he knows that.
After we ensured safety, (thanks Helda), what else could Lambert do – other than ‘look’ at the ‘dross’ he inherited?
Surely their ineptitude on the pitch will determine their footballing fates.
No, for me what happens this summer, will be far more exciting than the last few games.
I think most of Mendez’s players will be sold, including Costa, Cav, Prince & Saiss.
They will be replaced by Weimann, Marshall equivalences.
I do not mind if I am wrong!
I’d also get a new goalie and not be reliant on any player, ‘returning from a serious injury’, ever being as good as they were, before they were injured.
Surely, ownership wise and Manager wise, we are in a much better position than this time last year?
As they said in Dad’s Army.
“Don’t Panic!”
They are running the club they did not listen to the fans re: recruitment everyone myself included was telling them recrute proven championship players then there was the Walter fiasco you cannot absolve them of blame completely.
Then there’s the Mendez influence and Costa side show buy him to sell him.
What in a month?
I think you are expecting far too much!
Neither Rome nor Wolves were built in a day.
In the past decade have a player to surpass Costa?
The £25,000,000 we get for him, will enable us to rebuild without any of the spending restrictions.
Better business than Morgan/Moxey/ ever did.
Wow, that was quite something to get off your chest Rasmin. I wasn’t at the match so I can’t quibble with your report on this depressing debacle. I too thought the selling of KMac to be scandalous. I don’t know who’s brilliant idea that was but it wasn’t Zenga or Lambert, or for that matter Jackett. Maybe it was Moxey?
I’m of the school that still says Lambert must be given the summer window and, at least most of, next season. I can’t see how he can be ruthless right now as he can’t sell players right now. Almost everyone seems to agree that his two signings have been successful. If most of the squad Lambert inherited is dross, he can’t do anything about it until the transfer window.
I’m actually not particularly worried about another poor home performance. I’d actually be more worried if we started to win at home and therefore kept the old lags on for another mediocre season. No. Last night was probably another nail in the coffin for several players.
Anyone seen the news flash? Simultaneous raids by the taxman at West Ham and Newcastle. 180 officers investigating. Of course, we all know what’s going on. Privileged and over-paid players are also benefitting from not paying their share of tax and NI. Even Messi was done for tax dodging. The more they earn, the greedier they are.
And Big Sam was associated with both of them.
Interesting.
Houston, we have a problem. Greed…
Arrests made, computers seized, documents seized.
Maybe Big Sam’s tax records are in there somewhere?
What tax records?
They disappeared, along with Trumps, and Obama’s birth stickyfoot!!
I think this all goes back to Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson who played for both Newcastle and West Ham in the 1960’s/1970’s.
It may not be right, but with nothing to play for in these final games, reading too much into our last few performances is a fruitless exercise.
These points have already been mentioned but are worth reiterating.
Fosun should be taken at face value as demanding and expecting a return to the Premier League and will provide considerable resource to achieve that aim.
Paul Lambert needs to be judged 20 games into next season, assuming he is backed in the Summer transfer window.
A few players need to be moved on but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Most of our team will play much better football with the confidence a good pre season and early winning streak will bring.
It is galling to see a certain team towards the top of the prem. Makes our predicament feel even worse.
UTW
20 games is way too much unless we’re winning 80% of them. The ins and outs will probably shape our season, but hear me now if after a dozen games we are in the bottom half of the table that’s most likely where we will finish. Again.
Another Wolves season splutters disappointingly towards the end, with the team lying down and being rolled over by the likes of H’field, Wigan, Burton etc. It’s patently obvious the there is a significant dearth of talent at the club and I’m doubtful now even that PL knows his best squad, let alone team. Lee Evans gets a 3 year contract and doesn’t even get on the bench !! If the club has such faith in such a young player, he should be a regular.
Massive clear out needed, and some proven players of quality brought in. If the club mean business, then the Summer is the time to prove themselves.
There will be lots of experienced quality players available during the close season. Don’t condemn the fans to more underachievement and disappointment.
Mutt,
Unfortunately, most of our so called players are incapable of playing better football.
What we see is what they have.
Back in the dark ages when I used to play, I gave 100% every match, no matter what the circumstances, because I loved to play football.
Simple.
If this lot do not love playing, and playing to their fullest, then they have no business being anywhere near a football club, unless it is the shit, and they can run around like headless chickens over there all day long.
The other thing lacking is pride.
Pride in the club and the shirt.
If these overpaid brats are not proud of the club giving them such a priveledged existence, then fuck ’em with the rough end of a pineapple.
Sideways.
At the risk of getting lambasted by the doom and gloom merchants, and yes I was there last night – get a sense of perspective!
‘The Lambert is crap -get rid’ types -do you never learn? Is your memory span so short that you cannot remember what happened after M.McC or after Kenny Jackett?
I am no apologist for Lambert – but give the guy a chance!!!
Apart from a rookie goalkeeping mistake it was a 0-0 draw to a team in 3rd place and play-offs secured. Dave Edwards hit the post and had a header which a foot either side of the keeper would have counted. The same Dave Edwards whom is crap,crap,crap – how many goals this season? Yes Huddersfield had their chances likewise, and had some decent players on show. After they scored they appeared to shut up shop and we were unable to break them down.
Now I am not delusional – the same as everyone I can see the flaws and limitations of the players on display, including or especially Dave Edwards.
Clearly we need to clear out of those no longer in Lambert’s plans, and clearly we need to an influx of 4-5 decent in return. Lambert knows this and has said as much.
With the season over Lambert is clearly giving the whole squad the chance to demonstrate their ability/lack of. Wouldn’t you be doing the same?
Lambert is giving the kids a chance. Wouldn’t you be doing the same?
Now can we get a grip on reality – how far away from Hudddersfield are we?
Or for that matter Leeds/or Reading/or Fulham/ or Newcastle – all of whom we have beaten this season.
Given the Fosun funding for transfer dealing over the summer I am optimistic that Lambert can get his own team in place – NOT the one he inherited – and one that can challenge for promotion. Only if he fails in this can the doom and gloom-mongers give the gloating ‘I told you so’ until then he has to be supported and given the chance to prove himself.
Well said. I hope you don’t get lambasted by anybody. There is a depressing tendency for emotions to run from high to low immediately after particular results. We beat Leeds away, high fives all round. We lose to Huddersfield, a better team than most of us imagine, and suddenly we’re crap. We all need to get a grip, and a sense of perspective.
The wisest words I ever remember from Mick McCarthy were just after 3-1 win at West Ham in the PL. We had very surprisingly outplayed them to go 3-0 up and their consolation goal flattered them. Mick said “we’re not suddenly Barcelona” . It was his way of saying to keep a sense of perspective.
Lambert himself has said that the number of players leaving in the summer will be well into double figures. We can only properly judge him when he has assembled his own team. He needs to clear the decks first.
Unfortunately a lot of football fans want instant success, have no patience and want Champions league football – all to happen in two seasons. If a manager does not produce the goods in a season, or half a season then he’s out.
PL walked into a complete and utter mess and now, after less than 6 months there are people calling for him to go.
Let’s judge him on a season, with his own choice of players rather than what he inherited.
Pauluswolf – don’t worry I am not going to lambast you!
I 100% totally, utterly and categorically disagree with just about everything you say but your view and opinion is every bit as valid as mine. That’s the joy of being a football fan in general and a Wolves fan in particular – we all see the same thing but still see something quite different from each other.
I always enjoy reading your posts Bedford, but as I remember, this is the first one I’ve actually agreed with. 🙂
Bugger! I’ll have to stop that then ASAP. Lol. Likewise I enjoy your posts (which I always tend to find myself reading in a broad Devonshire accent for some unknown reason) though don’t agree with many if any of them. Let’s carry on jousting shall we though as its more interesting that way. See you on 6th May. I’ll get the Scrumpy in!
Careful Bedders. I take promises like that seriously. Although, on second thoughts, I’ll let you off. There are many good things in Wolverhampton, but there ain’t no proper scrumps.
I agree with pretty much all of that paulus. Good post. Brave man.
From all the teams listed above we are light Years away from them..
7 wins from 22 at home is a disgrace whoever is in charge… and shouldn’t be tolerated…
Give Lambert as long as you want… hopefully you prove me wrong.. but we are going nowhere…
Ill give you 1 name.. Warnock…I hate the guy but Look where Cardiff were when he took over to where they are now.. He hasn’t had a Summer or a pre season… the examples are out there same with Big Sam at Palace.. Good Managers can make a difference by getting the best out of what they have…
Neither Jackett Zenga or Lambert have been able to do it… Fact…
Desperately disappointing performance last night. Again. Our players clearly can’t cope with playing at the Molineux.
I have always been in the camp that stability and long term planning bring sustained success so I am in favour of giving Lambert a fair crack of the whip next season. He built a really useful Norwich side and signed the likes of Benteke and Vlaar at the Villa so I think he knows a bit more about players than Mr Thelwell. Speaking of which if anybody deserves to be sexually assaulted with a pineapple then I would suggest he is the number one candidate.
Big changes needed in the summer. Reduce the bloated squad (36 players with first team experience I think), be ruthless in getting rid of players who can’t handle the pressure of challenging at the top of this league and bring in better players than we have been accustomed to over the last few years.
If Brighton, Fulham, Sheff Wed, Huddersfield etc can assemble a good squad then surely to goodness it can’t be beyond the wit of man for us to do the same? Be sensible with our recruitment strategy but as Ben says aspire to bring in a better class of player.
Summer can’t come soon enough.
Still think we should go after Fabregas
With a big stick. With nails in the end.
I’m soooooo glad that the season is nearly over.
The football has been, for the most part, crap, tedious and predictably unpredictable.
And the views from a lot of bloggers (myself included) have started to sound like a stuck record.
One final piece of repetitious tedium from me coming up.
Yes, we need new players.
Yes, we’ve performed badly.
Yes (or should it be no), Paul Lambert doesn’t seem to have become the manager we all hoped he would be.
Yes, we need to make the pitch wider next season. It’s probably only a coincidence that we’ve lost 11 home matches since some moron deemed that it should be narrower, but it’s a thought isn’t it?
Yes, we need to offload the dross.
Here’s a question which will cause some discussion.
Would you want to unload a player who was second top scorer (in a poor team) for the season with twice as many goals as the man in third place?
Would you want to unload a player who’s goals have been directly responsible for earning us 8 points? (Barnsley away, Bristol City Home, Fulham home and Blackburn away if you’re asking).
Would you want to unload a player who played a key part in at least two other goals which have been directly responsible for us earning 4 points? (Nottingham Forest at home and Brentford away if you’re asking).
If you subtract those points from our present league position we would be below Blackburn in a relegation spot.
Would you want to offload him?
Yes I would!!!!!!! He’s a revolting player. You were blessed with seeing players of the ilk of Kenny Hibbitt, Skipper Mike Bailey, even the likes of Danny Hegan? I’m told these were proper footballers? Ok, to compare directly is unfair and midly spurious, but you get my point?
It is tough for Edwards detractors to state an empirically-based case to get rid of him, being as I can’t tell you how many more chances we’d create / more incisive passes we’d make / more goals we’d score by the player replacing him. (Because let’s not forget, you are allowed to replace the player with someone else. It’s not going to be a 10 man side without him like some seem to infer)
Clearly, you can point to his 10 goals and assists, and with good reason.
I would wager that we’d be way more effective, and more successful without him.
Would Dicko and Bodvarsson have scored more than their paltry share with someone more creative in the side, with vision, who could supply them? (Remember how McDonald would regularly assist Afobe with those incisive diagonal balls in behind defences from the very positions that Edwards operates?)
And how many of his goals owed to sheer Costa brilliance?
When was his last goal at Molineux? How many scored in 2017? How many of his goals were outright winners. You know, those glorious strikes to swing a tight match? What is the points correlation then?
Where do you draw the line with it?
What I can do is open my eyes and watch what I see.
I cannot erase the Wigan abomination from my mind, the ‘pass-map’ that did the rounds thereafter, nor the meek surrender to David Davis when the Blues rocked up and rolled us over. (They’d be down now if we’d have done what every other team did to them under Zola). Frankly, I’d prefer to pluck out my poor old eyes than watch him blacken a Wolves shirt again. I’m that serious.
Has he ever been good enough to base a promotion challenge from? No.
Is he a nice guy and a player who has always given his all to the cause? Of course.
It’s not his fault. Edwards is sadly a microcosm of all that needs to change at the club.
I don’t care if he’s a nice guy, or if he’s played for 10yrs so somehow deserves his feelings to supersede the fortunes of the club, as would appear to be the case.
The fact he’s a scapegoat is a sad, regrettable by-product of the many points you’ve raised above. He is now the figurehead for failure.
I just want Wolverhampton Wanderers to be as successful as it can possibly be.
Accepting Dave Edwards as a cast iron starter week after week after week – not least after seeing the legends in Old Gold like you have Doog – actually makes me wonder if you’ve succumbed to Morgan and Moxey’s Newspeak.
WE. DESERVE. BETTER!
Excellently put Ben.
Agree with your analysis 100%.
I like Dave Edwards, nice chap, limited footballer with little vision.
As you wisely say, ‘ a microcosm of all that needs to change at the club.’
Am sure Jeff Shi et al agree.
Oh dear Ben.
I thought I might rattle a few cages.
My point, as you are probably aware, is that HE has contributed those goals and assists this season. Nobody else did it.
It was poor old ‘trap a ball further than most people can kick it’ Dave.
If it wasn’t for his contribution we would be staring down the barrel of relegation.
You can pontificate all you like about his possible replacement or what might have happened if he’d been taken out and shot at birth.
The facts are there. Not statistics. Facts.
I would never put him, or any of the present bunch, in the same team – or league – as Hibbit, Wagstaffe, Knowles, Bailey etc.
But, even with Fosun’s millions, we aren’t going to magic a team to match those legends for some time yet – if ever. So I wouldn’t offload one of the few men that knows where the net is, just yet.
On your final two points. Succumbing to M&M Newspeak.
Nope!
WE DESERVE BETTER!
Yes we do!
Yes.
Even though not agreeing with you will probably cost me a bottle of Lemoncello.
I agree wholeheartedly with Ben on this one, he needs to go. Whether it’s as soon as this summer is immaterial, he’s not good enough for the standard we claim to be aspiring to.
DOOGie – how can I put this?
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO* YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
* = typing error
Guess that’s a Yes then.
Of Course we would… He’s Crap !!!
ANSWER:::: BLOODY YES, HE IS TAKING UP A SPACE WE COULD PUT SOMEONE INTO WHO CAN PASS A BALL , TRAP A BALL , WIN A BALL AND LAST 90 MINUTES DOING ALL OF THAT EVERY MATCH HE PLAYS.
BUT WE BLOODY HAVEN’T BLOODY GOT ANY BLOODY BODY WHO CAN BLOODY WELL DO THAT!
You’d rather be relegated then would you?
This is getting too much for my delicate eyes. Far too many bloodys for my sheltered upbringing. Best way to solve this is for me and DOOGie to have a bare-knuckle fist fight in the car park of the APV at around 6.30pm on Saturday 6th May. What do you reckon? All Bloggers welcome to watch. Then they could stay on for the meal afterwards – once they’ve helped mop up the blood and assorted body parts littering the car park.
I should just point out that said blood and body parts would almost certainly be mine as whilst I am a slightly built chap of no more than 5 foot 2 inches the DOOGooder is a hulking great brute standing at least 6 feet 7 in his stockinged feet. Why he insists on wearing stockings I don’t know but lets all be PC about this and pretend we haven’t noticed or if we have that we don’t mind.
It’s not me that insists on wearing stockings, it’s the PMDG’er.
She says she finds suspender belts sexier and they are easier to get off.
Which reminds me of the old chestnut.
Him: “If I’d have known you were a virgin I wouldn’t have tried to make love to you”.
Her: “If I’d known you were going to make love to me I’d have taken me tights off!”.
You’re on!
But I’ve not been well, so I am volunteering the PMDG’er to take my place.
She’s got a mean left hook that’s been compared to ‘Enry’s ‘ammer.
Perhaps we can hire Molineux and ‘Get it on’ as pre match entertainment.
Joshua and Klitschko eat your hearts out.
Ok. Mind you as I had to go and get my blood pressure checked this morning and also had an ECG maybe I can bring in a ringer – sorry meant allowable substitute – too?
Now where’s my telephone directory?
Ah yes, T. TY. TYS – yes there he is Tyson, Michael.
Hey ……. no cheating. Clive will be watching.
Hiya mate …just got back to read .
You’ve not been well …hope it’s fine with you …. !
As regards the PMDGr wearing sussies etc …can she make sure she brings them on the 6th ….oh sorry DOOG was it you that likes to wear the gear …. in which case …. that would be worth seeing at the Ballbash.
My money is on you (or Sue) regarding the 10 rounder with Bedford…x
Glad you’re both back safe and sound old chum.
I’m in full fighting fettle thanks. I was just throwing a ‘sickie’ to get out of having to thrash Bedders to within an inch of his wife.
It’ll never go ten rounds.
“He disses me, he’ll fall in three!”
Dave Edwards’ powers are so persuasive that he’s got the first ever flippant response from Doog. I’m stunned!
As I pointed out above, nobody can give you a cast iron case for us being better off without Edwards, as nobody else is given a bleeding chance! There lies the rub.
I find it bizarre that a) you are so staunch in your defence of such a limited player (having seen way more talented central midfielders than I ever have) and b) you’d then come out with petulant ‘you’d rather be relegated would you?’ (Equally impossible to quantify)
It’s official…Dave Edwards is our footballing Brexit!
Yes.
Dave Edwards compared to say, Alex Rae, is a Division 4 player.
We need someone better than McDonald this summer in that position.
Am not sure Fabregas would fancy, as Clive suggested the West Midlands, but I am sure the Fosun machine can attract someone to excite us all, much more than Dve Edwards every will.
Jeff Shi’s recent interview suggested that PL is going to be here for the long haul. I have no problem with that, provided we see him produce a team that can turn in consistent performances. (What we have witnssed this season has been surreal in terms of quality of performance). My concern with PL is that some previous managers have been able to step into similar situations and been able to stablilise the team and its performances relatively quickly – (e.g John Barnwell came in when we were in trouble and stopped us leaking silly goals with immediate effect). PL has had 6 months, including a transfer window, with no visible progress in the stability/quality of performances.
Lets give him the summer, see who goes and, more importantly, who arrives and take it from there. But he should bear in mind that whilst Jeff may back him, there is no guarantee that Jeff will be around forever…
On a positive note, Huddersfield’s away kit is even worse than ours – a lot worse…
I think the addition of Marshall & Weimann in January, were crucial to us staying up.
The team Lambert inherited was far less skilful than Barnwell’s.
I don’t disagree with your points, but the gist of my post is the lack of consistency of performances. Yes, the squad is less talented than Barnwell’s but any squad should be able to deliver reasonably consistent performances relative to its ability.
Paulsawolf,
If your’e getting lambasted then let me know and I will bring the vaseline, roll my kegs down and we’ll get lambasted together, because I thought I’d watched a better game than Saturday too, the guys were at least trying and me and Jen de Wolf lost count of the times 50/50 balls just spun away from us as if some magnet was pulling them toward Huddersfield playes.
It’s just amazing the times last night that our guys went in hard for a ball to see it bounce off legs , knees and hands (yes hands, you blind bastard, ref) only for it to roll a Huddersfield glo stick (Dog almighty, their strip makes our away kit look bearable).
Edwards, Price, Iorfa all continued to give the ball to opposition players the whole evening, worst performance from Price ever in a Wolves shirt. He was definitely on the beach.
Danny Batth pulled off one of the most amazing passes to Jordan Graham Iv’e witnessed since Kenny Hibbitt, but Graham has obviously (and sensibly) been told to take it easy and didn’t make the most of it.
We should have won this game out of sight, we matched them and even had 55% of the play at home, now there’s a strange statistic.
Get real you said, well let’s get real.
We are not good enough, the position say’s it all, 6 of the 11 players who started last night started the year we went down to Div1, they were suitable for that league but are not for this.
Rumour has it, we’re having 5 Portuguese players again from Mendes, if true Lambert will walk he says, I doubt it, I still think he’s full of shit and feel giving him 20 games will produce 20 games like we’ve already seen. I am however, prepared to give him his shot at glory, a pre season in Germany should be very,very interesting and will highlight how far away from reality PL is.
Got my ticket
Got my Wolves shirt
Got my leaving smile
I won’t break down and cry
Well, at least not for a while.
OK OK mr doog i give in on edwards
Lets give him a 5 year contract extension and build next years team around his vast talents as i cant condone you and mr bedford indulging in fisticuffs at the end of season doo
but if the scrap is still on can i sell the tickets please
Only if you are there, along with loads more bloggers. Come on guys, it will be a great day.
Ballbash update coming very soon.
How long ago was it I drove up to Uddersfield on a freezing cold Tuesday evening only to be warmed up by Van Parra, Afobe, and Dicko breaking at breakneck speed and win 4-0 or was it 4-1, even so I recall we could have scored more.
It was probably that game that the opposition decided they wanted van Parra`s pace in their side, and given the teams` respective league positions this afternoon , who has gone backwards, and who has made a better fist of it in the championship this year.
I do blame Morgan for asset stripping by selling big mac, and later Afobe, of course both for football reasons, and not signing adequate replacements.
I very wisely didn`t go to the game last night, but if ever there was evidence we just don`t have the right players physically, in pace or ability, to break down teams at home, then how many home matches have we lost this season.
My take on Edwards is that he isn`t good enough to play in a 2 man midfield, but better served in a more numerous midfield, breaking to support a big striker or pacey winger. How many of his goals are scored away and in that fashion.. Unless he was in the Bully class, 8 years at one club is too long in this modern age.
I`m with the clearout group, and wonder how on earth PL is going to get rid of a dozen players or so from this group of overpaid underachievers, donate to a charity shop I suspect. At least I can now give my garden some tlc on Saturdays.
We’re all in the clear-out group Mark. Some of us want to clear out more players than others but there’s not an awful lot in it. In other words there are an awful lot of awful players to clear out. In order to keep a sense of perspective by awful, I mean, not up to championship level.
I think you have a point on Edwards and the midfield. And, we are actually over-playing him; he should be used more tactically in certain formations only. He can’t be one half of a 2 man midfield. Because we are over-playing him, he’s probably knackered as well. I’ve made this point again and again. Edwards is being worked to death because he’s been first on the team sheet for us longer than I want to remember and he’s also playing for Wales. Nobody can keep that up at full performance levels.
If Edwards is knackered, at his age, playing twice a week, he should be shot.
What are fitness coaches for?
I used to play four times every weekend, train three times a week, and I wasn’t getting paid millions to do so.
Over indulged namby pamby ponces springs to mind.
Do what you are getting paid for, no one is asking for miracles, but at least do your friggin’ job!!
And then leave in the summer.
I used to play 6 times a day, sometimes at the same time for different teams, train 18 times a week and have to get up two hours before I’d gone to bed but you try telling that to the young people of today and they won’t believe you.
I used to play a few times a day, at different addresses ….. until the wife found out.
We can all continue to argue over the merits (or lack there of) of the current squad members until the start of next season and still not agree. However we can all surely agree that football clubs are in the entertainment business and generally what has been served up at Molineux this season has not entertained. Fans chatting during play is a good indicator that they are bored; last Saturday, everyone around me was talking, not necessarily moaning, just seeking the interaction and involvement that was definitely not coming from the game. Watching the Spurs/Chelsea game afterwards just highlighted what we miss out on so regularly. I feel very little affinity for PL and most of the squad and would struggle to speak up for their survival; I yearn for any changes deemed necessary to allow me to once again enjoy day trips to Wolverhampton and to feel satisfaction that my season ticket is giving me value and the pleasure of being a member of the huge Wolves family.
I ve seen Dave Edwards have some good games . Usually two or three games after he’s come back from injury . Personally I think in this division there are games that will suit his game ( winning the second ball high up the pitch etc ) but he’s played too many games this season , not forgetting his ‘sitting on the beach days ‘ last year were taken up by being involved in the euros . Helda Costa has kept us up but so have Edwards goals .
I agree that he ain’t the Kevin Mcdonald that we lost but he was constantly falling out with everyone about his contract
He did not give a fuck about wolves , and he didn’t really want to be at the club . We should however have replaced him but moxey was selling so we didnt . We have tried with Saisse and prince oranges or what ever he’s called but one constantly looses his ability to make decisions, and the other was not deemed good enough by lambert
I want changes like everyone else but I fear more of the same minus our star player for next season
How can we sign seven players when we have a squad of 36 ?
‘How can we sign seven players when we have a squad of 36 ?’
If PL sticks by wanting 2 players for each position and rebuilding properly with strength, I wouldn’t anticipate more than 12/13 of the current squad being here next season (not counting all the ‘kids’ who have played this year). But realistically I guess he’s going to have to do it a bit more slowly than that.
Some amusing and some thought provoking comments so far. Thanks guys.
I asked for changes after Saturday’s game to see how the rest of the squad measures up. I wasn’t overly ecstatic about the result but nor unduly dismayed. Wolves have some work to do over the summer.
We are in a much better position than we we were 12 months ago and I am pleased Fosun are on board. Mendes also, for the footballing opportunities he might bring (alright, he will also make more money, but that comes with the territory). My only concern is PL’s dislike of foreign players as we badly need the flair of players like Costa and Cavaleiro. We go to matches to be entertained.
Two more things: (1) good to see Jordan Graham back. (2) Rasmin, it would be good to also see you sometime at APV on 6/7 May.
Ps: No Joey Barton here next season then.
The PS is old news but I did try to post this comment a few hours back (temperamental tablet).
Interesting exchange about the merits, or otherwise, of our very own Dangerous Dave. The point was made that many of his goals have come from the brilliance of young Helder. Pity young Helder couldn’t lay them on a plate for Nouha and Jon Dadi too, always Dangerous Dave. Maybe Dangerous is just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, again and again.
There was a nail with a VERY big head on this blog.
And I think you’ve just hit it Wolfstroker.
Easy done when you’ve a hammer as big as mine DG.
Nice bit of Monty Python Bedford. LUXURY. I played an entire 46 game season in 3 days on one leg and when I got home Dad used to slice me in half with a bread knife.
To be honest I’m getting a bit fucked off with people lining up to throw players under the bus.
One of the most interesting things Jacket said about league 1 was that players had the ability to play at a much higher level, but only one game in 3 or 5 or more.
10 goals from midfield in one season is not to be sniffed at. At any level. Is Dave Edwards the best footballer ever? Of course he isn’t. but who else can do his job? Does he have a bad day at the office. Yup. Often. Does this make him ‘ a figurehead for failure’. Sorry mate, you’re talking out of your arse. To belittle his achievements this year, shows a distinct lack of class.
It’s clear that we need changes to push for promotion, let alone think about staying up in the shark tank that is the prem, and if i was in charge I’d trade Dave for an upgrade in a heartbeat in any transfer window, because it’s an obvious decision.
But without him, and with the fuck ton of stupid-ass decisions that have been made this year, I would actually say that without him, we might have gone down.
Hanging on to Dave Edwards is hanging on to mediocrity.
I agree with Ben.
We need a much better player in that position.
One who can score 10 goals & create 20 for the strikers!
The Only Player we can thank for keeping us up this season is from the evil agent Mendes that nobody seems to want on our team… COSTA…
and guess what He’s already sold….
Just read a report attributed to Moorhino at Manure, moaning about the number of games they have to play.
Dumb fuck
If you compete, and do well, in several different competitions, then of course you are gonna play more games than most of the other teams.
Duh!!
Also, he said his hard working players start training at 3.00 pm, but some of them are there as early as 10.30, in the pool!!
Hard life for these poor little lambs, isn’t it?
And they have a lot of injuries.
Have they the same medical team as us?
Far Cough wb
Wolf man jack . I read your posts and absolutely agree with you about P L
We are stuck with him now and your point about him having two of his kind of players in every position is fine . There are only a couple of players that I’ve seen do well at a higher level ) that I would like to see stay but the point that I was trying to make is that each one of let’s say 12 of the players to go , all have an agent who s job it is to get the best deal for the player . Usually the final decision on who to sign for happens way
into the close season
If it’s the same for in coming ( providing we know the twelve are definitely moving on without a hitch ) allowing us to recruit.. then if that miraculously happened, then what time do we have for s pre season ?
I can’t help but think that This is a real problem .
LWL, you make a very valid point about timing, which had escaped me.
I guess PL needs to tell about 10 (of the 18 or so to be moved on) asap that they have no future at the Mol. If their agents are any good they should snap into action looking for a new deal, thus enabling us to drip-feed new players in as old ones move out. But you are absolutely right – it ain’t going to be easy.
Some excellent arguments for entirely different points of view. So good and convincing that I kept changing my mind as to which side to take. Thank you all for a thought provoking collection of blogs. Hopefully Jeff Shi reads them and is inspired to do the right things in the summer: support PL and provide the sort of squad needed to take this historic club back to where it belongs.
I’m late to this thread, and don’t have the time to read all views, so FWIW here’s how I see it :-).
The result of the game is totally meaningless. What is meaningful, and the whole point behind the discussion, is the fact that Wolves are looking up from the lower half of the 2nd division to a nobody team (sorry Huddersfield) comfortably in the play-offs, despite all the opportunity and investment. They totally screwed up the transition, managerial appointments and the season as a whole.
So the real question is, did they learn from this, and will it be put right for next year. I am very skeptical, and here’s why.
1. I still worry about ambition. I hear talk of how hard it will be to keep Costa instead of focusing on how they are going to not just keep him, but buy 10 more of his calibre! Seriously, this is what it will take to get to the EPL in any competitive manner … a whole team of Costas, not just one. Problem with the club is that every time we have just one decent player (Sako, Afobe, …) they sell him instead of adding more. We need to show good players there is serious intent to get quality players into the club, and get rid of the chaff.
2. Lambert seems stubborn. Still stuck on playing Saville-Baggins and wants to build on the youth program. Not gonna work. He’s going to take us back down where we were with M&M. He needs to bring in quality. Again, 10 Costas!
3. Club still seems to be looking at Championship quality players (at best) to bring in. Ever wondered why EPL teams are coming after Costa, but not Marshall or others? 🙂
4. Edwards signed a new contract, so he’s not going anywhere.
5. Thelwell is still there …
I hope I am wrong, but honestly, I really don’t think anything is going to happen this summer. Season so far has gone exactly like previous ones: crisis before Xmas, management change, lots of noise about strengthening in Jan window, a one-off good result against a good team and nothing actually happening in Jan, a bit of false marketing about EPL intentions and a few good results gets everyone buying season tix again, performance back down and a disappointing finish with noise and promises about strengthening in summer. Sound familiar? Well, then you also all know how the cycle continues.
My only hope is that Fosun are smart and ambitious and will soon start questioning why we are buying from the 2nd and 3rd divisions if we want to compete in the 1st. So hopefully we’ll keep Costa and buy a few more. And I’ll be wrong, and Wolves will be playing for top spots next season … but right now I am not hearing the right words from Lambert, or seeing the right decisions.
We’ll see.
Go Wolves!
(11 Costas!)
Agree with a lot of what you say Go but wanting EPL standard players and attracting them are two different things however much money you’re prepared to throw at it. Plenty of clubs have got themselves up with Championship players or EPL players past their best- Ince comes to mind, but these days they are off to China or the US.
With Lambert saying that we already have the nucleus of a good team only this morning, and his report for Blackburn stating that Saville had a really good game when replacing Doherty at full back,what chance do we have.He is either blind or he is in complete denial.
What really frustrates me his readiness to excuse the players because they are tired and running on empty, without any recognition that all the other teams in the Championship have also played the same number of games.These guys get paid massive sums of money, so they need to put on a performance every game even if they don’t win.If they are not able to maintain fitness then replace the fitness coach, which is something I think they should have done a long time ago anyway.