Halfway through our Asia Trophy final and I started thinking about what I’d trade the silverware for, were we to end up winning it.
Three points against Leicester on the opening day? A signing in the next seven days? A fit Matt Doherty? A secret transcript of Laurie Dalrymple’s alleged misdemeanours?
I was hard pushed to go against any of the above, but when Patricio clinched the trophy against the champions with a third penalty save, I’d warmed to the prospect of the lads lifting it.
It’s no secret we need to supplement our wafer-thin squad, while a strong start to the Premier League (not to mention the Europa) is key, but to see Guo, Jeff and Nuno grinning like Cheshire cats with the Asia Trophy was an uplifting sight afterwards.
The significance should not be downplayed. Heading out to China was the wish of our owners and to finish top of a four-team pile at the end of it all can only validate their investment in the first place, in front of the audience that means most to them.
In other words: If Fosun are happy, then we should be too.
Whether a friendly cup win correlates to greater philanthropy – and even greater ambition in the transfer market – is impossible to say, but it can’t have done any harm when Nuno’s moody dark eyes are next fixated on Jeff, his threadbare squad behind him, and then back at Jeff again.
It also underlines our status as a serious Premier League player, not only mixing it with household names Newcastle, West Ham and Man City, but prevailing in our old gold shirts which half the continent will never have seen.
The feel-good factor is clear to see on the pitch too, as the close-knit group look as disciplined and organised as they ever did last season, with two clean sheets bearing testament. We just need a few new faces to help them out.
The most pleasing aspect of this final win was the professionalism of the young lads who came on near the end, most of whom I barely recognised, save for the bumfluffed Luke Cundle who I swore delivered my papers.
They were well drilled and knew their roles to the letter and they didn’t look out of place against esteemed opponents. In Dion Sanderson, we saw a particularly mature performance with no little ability, suggesting that Nuno might just have unearthed a gem.
The experience our wolf cubs gained will go a long way and again, if Nuno can deliver a trophy with such scant resources, then imagine the possibilities with some stellar new signings, Jeff?! For the foreseeable, incomings at Compton will assume precedence in a sub-plot that is slowly gathering pace. We’ll see what the coming days bring.
Whether it’s Ruben Dias, Patrick Cutrone or absolutely nobody, the first team as it currently stands remains strong. Adama Traore looked explosive as a wing back, while Vinagre dazzled once more in a twinkle-toed cameo.
The rest, as we know, were consistent and able against an incredibly good side. And in goal, we have a world class operator who virtually won the cup on his own.
It might not equate to an open top bus parade, but don’t sniff at the Asia Trophy for its football feng shui.
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Agree with all mate and as you say, making FOSUN’s bigwigs proud on home soil can only be a good thing.
On the game itself, I was dipping in and out but it’s clear Man City are operating on a different level. Still, it’s no coincidence Wolves yet again absorbed the blows and hung in there to the end to pounce on the opportunity.
Patricio was superb and quite literally the difference between victory and defeat. That must have been his best performance for Wolves. And well done to the lads who stuck their penalties in when it looked for all the world that Bravo would stitch us up again.
Like others have mentioned I thought this whole Asia Trophy thing combined with the Europa League commitments in pre-season was going to spell disaster but that reassuring game-by-game mentality Nuno has introduced continues to make everything seem routine.
Get through Thursday with a comfortable victory, bring in those extra bodies and we’ll be good to go.
I’m going to coin a new phrase for our style of play against most top teams. Rope-a-dope.
Wow Bennie boy… yet another classic mate….
I watched the game via a Somalian stream but who cares about that…. we absorbed it all like a tenor lady and sank our teeth into Citeh when it mattered most.
After all …’we can only beat what’s in front of us…’
I’m in total agreement with you on Patricio…. what a keeper, what saves and what courage to continue fighting the cause following Sterling’s rake on him.
So on to the Crusaders on Thursday when we start the Europa assault and the on the countdown to our premiership bid for the top Six… year 2
Btw Tim … rope a dope was a classic Mohammed Ali para phrase…
Yes, I was joking.
We beat them because we scored ONE more penalty than Citeh !!!
First off, a Happy belated 80th Birthday to Dooglegooder.
I am proud to call him a mate, and I will be waiting at the Novotel bar for that drink he promised me, last season!
Second, Tim, we beat most “top teams” last season, and it was by playing liquid, counter attacking football, excellent skills and brilliant strategy, not by hanging on for dear life against the ropes, while a big ugly opponent tried to bash us to pieces by brute force.
So rope a Tim don’t cut it.
We had as much of the game as City in the second half, and I agree, our young ‘uns looked as good, if not better, than theirs, and Vinagre is going to be superb for us this coming season.
Those two performances will, I hope, slip under the radar of most of the upcoming Prem opposition, and once again, we will take them by surprise, especially as we seem to be super fit, super organized, and picking up where we left off last season.
Roll on Thursday, let’s get the ball rolling with a comfy win.
See y’all in a few wicks.
FOwb
Cheers Clive, I might well stand you to a (small) drink before we go and stuff Man Utd.
The PMDG’er increases my pocket money every birthday and it’s now up to two pieces of eight and a fistful of groats.(That was a Clint Eastwood film wasn’t it?).
Sounds more like The Pirates of the Caribbean, Doog, don’t think Eastwood was in that one. Thanks for Making my day !
Great to see the benefits of the u23’s playing the same formation as the first team reaping benefits as the last 10 mins I thought we played better than Man City and the lads could have won it in normal time.
Patricio had a great game and the saves and penalty saves at the end it was good to see his kicking has improved as well regularly picking out Dendonker and keeping the ball in play.
Excited for Thursday and if we can get 3 or 4 transfers in then even better.
I strangely enjoyed the Final all through. Man City had a well thought out plan in their use of their much larger and experienced squad, though to listen to the pundits most of their squad was unavailable! Yes, we had no one missing, idiots! They threw everything at us and were amiss not to get the breakthrough. With only the kids to fill in we could not attempt to go for it at such a pace and well done to the team, Patricio, for holding out. The quality of their changes allowed them to again really go for it after half time and, again, we managed to withstand the assault.
Didn’t our kids do well; completely unfazed.
To my mind, Gibbs-White is a really good player but not quite up to the required standard as yet; a season out on loan as Conor Ronan has done would allow him to realise his potential to my mind.
I must mention one lad who stood out above all for me. Sanderson looked the part, recovered well when required and was able to more than hold his own against top opposition in winning back the ball and using it intelligently ; keep working lad; you could be a top player, all being well. Vinagre is already there warranting games. It was Rui Patricios’ best game ever for Wolves despite still not liking having to deal with the ball on the ground. Looking forward to Thursday when I shall travel across from Suffolk.
3 years to the day since Fosun purchased the Mighty Wolves. At that time, Transfermarkt valued the Wolves squad at £25 million. The squad including Cav & Costa (they still belong to us) are now valued at £272 million. Yes we have incurred financial losses along the way, but our assets now, far outweigh those losses, which all looks good on Fosun’s Balance Sheet. They promised when they purchased the club that they had a vision of making Wolves one of the best teams in the world. To achieve this, it’s important we increase our profile in China, which this tour has notably achieved. Would it not be magnificent to see China’s Amazon, Ali Baba as our shirt sponsors in the near future so we can compete with Manchester City without breaching UEFA FFP Rules. Who would have dreamed 3 years ago, that this Thursday we will be embarking on our first European Tour for 40 years in front of a Molineux packed to the rafters. New players will undoubtably be donning the Old Gold & Black Shirts before the transfer window closes. Those players will no doubt be better than Cav & Costa who sad to say have not quite reached the heights to take us to the next level. The Academy is now starting to bear fruition producing future Internationals for many countries. As much as Steve Morgan was disliked at the end, we should thank our lucky stars that he sold the club to the right Chinese owners, unlike the other 2 Midlands Clubs which I will not even name. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
I was in the Spar shop in Gornal this morning and the background music was going ‘Ruben Ruben Ruben Ruben’ and I thought jolly good. They are obviously playing that as a tribute to Wolves Asia Trophy win. The tribute was to the four Ruben’s. Never Vinagre Dias (probably) and er……… Ryan Bennett. Although he is not called Ruben he does have a R and N in his name so he is approximately half Ruben. It was only later on that it dawned on me ‘flipping Eck you knob head it wasn’t Ruben at all. It was Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby by the Kaiser chiefs’. But I quite like it sounding like Ruben. A lot more people should be called Ruben. Like Rodney Trotter off Only Fools and Horses. It would be brilliant if he was Ruben Trotter. Or Doctor Who. Doctor Ruben would be much better. I would even nominate one of the Dalek’s as a Ruben as well. Come to think of it next door neighbours cat is probably called Ruben as well. Any way enough of talk about being called Ruben. Well done Wolves on being champions of Asia. Next stop Europe. Thursday. Cor wait.
English translation of Rueben is Robin!
You are another Ruben then mate ! Wolves ay we !
A pretty meaningless trophy you might say.
But it’s a trophy.
We beat two Premier League clubs, including one that is considered to be one of the best ever teams in the history of the competition, and we didn’t concede a goal in open play.
Meaningless, my spotty bottom!
I flip my lid at these “new found” critics of Man City, they blame everything bar their inability to beat boring defensive Wolves. Like the Everton knob who came on facebook and crowed about us fans jumping from the rooftops stating, “we would now go on to win the league”.
Jealous springs to mind, boring, meaningless comments from the City elite, FFS they are nothing more than the new team on the block, but they know we are in the game now, they can see the clout we have and they’re bricking it. Knocked out of the European Championships by Spurms FFS and now we’ve took “Their” Chinese trophy away from them too.
Last week they were crowing how they were counting this as their Quadruple, that’s how much it didn’t matter to them. They are like pigeons playing chess, if they lose, they shit on the board and then strut around as if they had won anyway.
We beat them our way, they had a full team out, we didn’t, we didn’t have our main striker or even Saisse to fall back on, at the end of the game there were more of our kids on than full team players.
So FFS City fans, shut the fook up, let us enjoy our moment, but as someone commented, beware, our style of play gets us the results We want, you ran yourselves into the ground and our team sat back and soaked it up and at the end of the game our boys looked fresher than your guys. If Jota had kicked your Goalie in the face, instead of pulling out of the shot, we would surely have played the game with one less player.
I have to make an observation, Nuno claims it’s one game at a time, he said we were focused on next Thursday and this was just a friendly. I’m having none of that, look at the faces of the folk that matter, you tell me Fosun are going to settle for 7th again this year.
Not a chance in hell.
You are right Stu. I used to like Man C and their fans but I am having a rethink. I went on ‘,blue moon fan forum this morning and apart from two or three contribution’s they were mainly up their own arseholes. The jist of it. They had a load of kids on. So did we. We just parked the bus. When Mendes gets bored we will be fucked. So will you when the oil magnate pissess off to Barcelona. The pitch was shit. Same for both. Yeah they were the better team but in four meetings in the last 20 months they have beat us once. Three times scoring only 1 goal. The other game a very dodgy penalty and sending off gave them the game. Would have been nice to see a bit of humility and recognition for our game. They must hate playing us. Long may it continue.FWAW.
Citeh are clearly the best side in the premier league by a country mile.
The first 25 minutes of the match was a blur.
The majority of matches are a Citeh whitewash (remember FA Cup final) and when teams beat or draw with Citeh it is by the odd goal.
Wolves have played them three times – 2 draws (conceding only ONE goal) and a loss at Citeh ONLY AFTER Big Willy was sent off.
Wolves were superb absorbing all the City pressure and restricting them to a handfull of chances and when they did get through Rui had his best game in a Wolves shirt and, in my opinion, in the second half the Wolves kids were much better than the Citeh side.
I had to laugh when the commentator said City were playing without four first team players whereas the Wolves had a full strength team clearly he didn’t notice the absence of Doc or Raul.
It made my day when Nuno picked up the trophy and the camera panned to a shocked Pep looking glum.
Love this Wolves side and Fosun.
This is a bummer…
No premiere league football this season thanks to stirling losing the ball ?
It’s not what we won that counts, it’s where we won it.
Shanghai, home of Fosun International and within the biggest untapped market in the world for the Premier League. As Stu’s photo shows, this win, however it was achieved, is massive for Fosun and, by extension, our beloved club.
As for how it was achieved, sure we didn’t show much of the flowing footie we know we have in the locker, but Citeh have spent many hundreds of millions to ensure teams can’t do that against them. But the key was defensive organization of the very highest order. Every time a Sterling or a Sane broke past his man, there was always another one there to foil them. And when all that failed, we had a world class keeper in inspired form. Hats off to Rui Patricio. Star man.
Finally, a word on Adama Traore. I’ve had my doubts about his worth since we signed him, but no one would be more pleased than me if I were to be proved wrong. And there are some definite green shoots poking through.
As the man sang “Where do I begin?” And yes, the Wolves Love Story continues. For the benefit of younger readers, I refer to the Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw film.
This was an Exiled family trip and Barbara and I plus grownup kids Henry and Grace landed in Shanghai late on Monday.
Monday saw me and Henry making the nearly 21?2 hour trip to Nanjing (coming back was a touch quicker – 1 hour on the bullet train). The first half was good, the second a little more pedestrian. It wasn’t helped by the fact that a running track separated the pitch from the spectators. An interesting sight was that of Fosun bussing in their employees and giving them yellow tops to wear. Nevertheless, we might get some new Wolves fans out of them.
Saturday morning saw me succumb to the poor air quality in Shanghai and I was close to not making the game. Went we did, me and Henry, and found Hongkou Stadium to be a proper ground, admittedly in need of a few creature comforts.
In the first half Man City were their usual assured selves but Wolves stuck to it, thanks to the Sterling penalty miss and some brave work from Patricio. I feared for the guys in the second half, remarking that City’s reserves were a touch better than ours. As it turned out, Wolves gave as good as they got. And so to penalties…..
Four of us stuck together, post-match, and made our way, eventually, (taxis were a nightmare) to the bar where Wolves had organised a Beer with Bully event. More Wolves fans, local (including one who studied at Wolverhampton University!) and international. I also had extended chats with Bully himself and Tim Spiers. I got back to the hotel at 3.30am and as we had a 6.45am taxi pickup there was little point in sleeping.
We got into Vienna this afternoon and I’m still feeling like death warmed up – bad chest rather than excessive alcohol consumption. Hopefully the Vienna air will be good for me. Back in Wales late Thursday.
Sorry to hear you’re suffering Dougie.
But you looked pretty chipper coming out of the Man Citeh game.
Around 13 minutes 35 seconds into Dazzling Dave’s latest vlog on Youtube (Champions of Asia, fans eye view).
Get better soon mate.
Thanks Mark. I hate the idea of wasting a Vienna evening but I’m having an early night.
Sounds like a pretty hectic schedule Dougie. You’ve hardly had time to draw breath, and not much to breathe in either, it seems. Some of that clean Austrian air will get you back and rocking buddy. And a bit of sleep, of course.
Helluva’n experience though, I’m sure. And well done to you and yours for cheering on the boys so far from home.
Thanks Steve. It was a fabulous experience and we met some great people. And, yes, the Austrian air is definitely better for me.
I was especially pleased that my son Henry enjoyed the experience. He used to enjoy Molineux some 10 years back but thinks the game has become cynical, something Steve Bull was agreeing with on Saturday night post match.
Where are you now on your epic odyssey?
Central Sweden Dougie, but we too were in Vienna a few weeks ago. Beautiful city, but warming up this week, I hear.
Great win nice to hear the Sky pundits comment how superior our young subs were to Citys, the City are commenting on there little twitter’s that with respect it was only Wolves and not to win and go out on penalties is a little worrying, they need to be worried .
We couldn’t ask more of our team. They showed that their fitness is way ahead of most. The coaching staff Nuno brought in have been a revelation, much like the players they have brought in.
I have no doubt we will add to the squad before long.
Well done to the whole of the Wolves set up.
Outstanding!
Loved watching the game. Loved hearing Wolves were lucky. Just about the luckiest team in the world it would seem.
I agree with all written above. As a Wolves supporter of many decades I have a tendency to look on the bleak side. So was beginning to be concerned over the lack of incoming players. But no longer: the team look as well organized as ever and had Jiminez been available could well have snapped up a chance. Traore is improving, the youngsters who came on showed maturity and ability beyond their age and Vinagre is surely going to be a great player.
All in all the future looks gold.
To those of the Blue Moon persuasion where does it say teams should stand back and let you show off. If you spend all those tens of millions and still can’t beat a well organized defence maybe it’s because too many of your players have the wrong attitude.
well said hw .
man city could be in for a mighty big fall when other teams get to grips with a method of beating them .
because we have.
But you’ve got to have a system and the right personnel to fit it. So City won’t fall but we’ll rise.
Greetings from sunny Antalya in Turkey ! Been over here since 14th July and it’s 42 degrees c today . Too fookin hot !
Can someone please explain what we are doing in the transfer market ? I’m getting conflicting stories in the foreign press over here . One minute it’s Ruben Dias next it’s this Italian lad from AC Milan . Next day e are linked with Ivory Coast defenders
Will miss our first European adventure this Thursday but will be watching on hesgoal on my sun bed
COYW
Just wanna protest most strongly at the mainstream press. The Sunday Express I had to search for news of the ‘Premier League Asia Trophy’ winners. And there it was tucked away in the left hand corner. But not the headlines you would expect ‘ Wolves repel city to lift the Asia Trophy ‘ no the headline was ‘Pep is sure that Kevin return will boost his squad ahead of the new season’ . No fucking mention of Wolves winning the bastard thing. Then to cap it all there was a full page devoted to Spurs in Singapore and a full page devoted to Chelsea in Japan. makes my fuckin blood boil. Chelsea were nothing until 1993 when the Russian took over. I’m madder than a frog that was diagnosed with psychosis.
Absolutely spot on CofD. No wonder so many kids, irrespective of their geographical location, are drawn to the ‘Big Six’ when news of anyone else in the mainstream media, MOTD et al, is so limited.
And here we have Clive from Hastings wearing this years model, look at the drop off the shoulder and the seams draping over his slender waist.
Isn’t he handsome??!!
I would
There is a tendency in the UK media to label this competition as a glorified friendly. The Premier League didn’t lend it’s name to it for nothing. I read that the trophy is considered official. The trophy is of significance in China, and it’s a massive feather in Fosun’s cap to win it. I’m sure Nuno didn’t want to be jetting back home a few days before the Europa League starter for nothing. No, a magnificent result and far more valuable than actual meaningless friendlies, for more reasons than one.
Wolves also were great ambassadors for the PL in China. Man City seem to have drawn criticism for not being! I’m very surprised as City is part owned by the Chinese.
For me Patricio was MOTM. That kick to his head would have been a red card if it was a Wolves player! Of course, City were all over us like a rash in the first half but we absorbed it all. The second half was more even. Boly was gutted to be subbed, what an attitude, never giving up! The kids came on and I felt anxious for them but they seemed unbelievably mature and knew their roles. This no doubt is a result of Nuno’s way, which is drummed into everyone, including maybe the tea ladies! The whole club is singing from the same hymn sheet. Young Sanderson looks a gem and I felt for the kid who successfully took a penalty after Coady had missed.
I like having FOSUN on the shirt. Any chance that will happen any time soon? Gold socks to match the shirt colour would balance the strip better.
Isn’t it great to win something that not many people thought we would. Now City are fed up with us, isn’t that even greater.
It’s a positive start to the season, let’s sort the Irish out on Thursday and get the party started.
Can’t really sponsor themselves so I doubt it somehow,.
Citeh dont like it up em captain nuno
Good news is I have got Thurs and Fri off this week. Temps around 32 degrees in Wolvo on Thursday. So. Me thinks Thursday afternoon pub, ice cold cider/lager, beer garden and England v Ireland test match. Then in to Wolvo may be a few more jars then off to The Temple to renew acquaintance with my seat on the North Bank for the first time since April. The Pack is back !
Too right Cheesy looks like tomorrow night is going to be a little warm.
I will apologise in advance but I think I’m going to have to subject you all to me in shorts!!! Far too warm to sit in jeans!
Border I’ve seen Stu and Twix in shorts anyone else could only look better!!!
Thanks for that wonderful compliment Ken….
My legs have stood the test of time and being compared to Borders pins… well I’m flattered…..
Shorts it is then!
Brilliant Border…. don’t be bullied by folks in deciding whether it’s shorts or not….
At least they’ll be able to get some fresh air tomorrow night….
Thanks Twix. Bringing my 8 yr old nephew to his 1st proper match as well so hoping he enjoys it. Tipton will be there & ive forced the tractor boy into a Wolves membership & he has a Wolves top! Progress!!!
Matrimonial harmony at last eh….
You ladies always get your own way eventually….
Great story….
Thanks Twix. Yes very true we do get our way in the end
Seen better legs than yours on a table!!
Easy Tiger, easy.
Think of that Blood Pressure.
I’m watching Sporting play Loserpool in Yankee Stadium.
They should do whatever they have to to sign Bruno Fernandes. He has been brilliant.
“One small step for Wolves.
One giant leap for the National Press”
A feature on Nuno in the Telegraph this morning.
First of many this season I hope.
Yes DOOG, at last big coverage in The Times this morning. Interview with Mel Eves, the last player to score in Europe for Wolves (against PSV). He’s still annoyed by the award of a penalty against Wolves.
He was in the same class as me in Wodensfield Primary lol.
a quick mention on wearing shorts at the footy
make sure you dont stand any where near someone else when having a pee or they will quickly become your enemy.
i stood next to robert plant in the steve bull loo the one time i wore shorts, he also had shorts on and we both gave each other some suspicious glances as to whos splashes were going on our legs
good job it was him.
but i dont think he was too impressed with me
You are supposed to point Percy at the porcelain, not other people’s legs.
And it would also make my job easier if your aim was better.
The word’s caretaker, Clive
Obviously one Plant that didn’t want to be watered.
Sorry I won’t be able to make tonight’s game. I’ve seen a few Wolves European games over the years but would have loved to have witnessed our return first hand.
Trouble is, the PMDG’er & I – and our bank account – are still trying to recover from a long celebratory weekend in London .
But when I heard that Border Wolf was breaking out the shorts I very was tempted to try and get a ticket.
Oh Well, I’ll just have to make do with Lord Twix’s shapely appendages at the Man Utd game.
I hope all of you enjoy a brilliant night!
Hmmm I’ll take that as a compliment (I think!!).
I can confirm I’m at Tiptons now & yes I have cut off jeans on!!!
I can also confirm not an overly pretty site
I am here, waiting to start our European journey.
Looking forward to meeting a few bloggers too. Where will you all be?
#excited
I’m there in spirit
They will spot me Clive, as I will be the “tanned bald guy” in shorts.
With the short arms and deep pockets!
No pre-match review that I can see. Do we just do them for league games?
For what it’s worth my prediction is 4-0 Wolves tonight.
I’ll raise you to 7-0 Dances.
I’m not so sure it’s going to be as easy as some might think, they are not just going to lie down and die.
2.0 to wolves, we know what happens when wolves fans get over confident, Torquay and Watford ring a bell…!
Hmmmm!
Room for improvement I’d say.
Just shows the flaws inherent in the system.
Can barely beat a part-time team.
But we did. They played two banks of five and their manager said it was the best he has ever seen them play and he has been with them for 20 years. Yes, there is room for improvement, but we won.
Well we just shut out Man City 5 days ago. Just shows the ebb and flow of football.
We have yet to let a goal in pre season and when teams park the bus it’s not easy. It’s clear I think that we need a top attacking midfielder to progress as MGW is not yet ready.