I’m not surprised, just disappointed.
Cardiff, as expected, made it difficult for Wolves to play; marking tightly, giving away niggley fouls and generally denying their opponents any sort of fluency.
Unlike the wins over Middlesbrough and Derby, we didn’t win enough of those mini battles and you always felt the momentum was with Neil Warnock’s side.
They’re an impressive, powerful team, full of pace and menace. Zohore and Mendez-Laing were the danger men and really exploited the space down the sides of our back three.
Miranda struggled to get to grips with the impressive Zohore in the second half and that was the root cause of their opening goal.
Boly too had a few shaky moments and when he let the ball bounce between his legs, Mendez-Laing was quick as flash to run on the overlap and power home the winner.
That was a costly mistake because Wolves had got back into the game thanks to a well developed Bonatini equaliser and tails were up.
But once Cardiff got ahead for the second time, it felt like there was one inevitable conclusion.
Those are the moments that determine these horrible, knife-edge contests and Wolves were five per cent off it today.
There were positives in the shape of Enobakhare who I thought was excellent again and unfortunate to be taken off.
Jota too stuck to his task well and didn’t allow himself to be bullied by some rough treatment. He looks like he can handle the physical challenges that lie ahead.
Another goal for Bonatini too and those are the finishes we need, inside the box latching onto any little flick that might come his way. He had a strong second half.
Neves and Saiss weren’t able to influence the game as they have done previously and that really restricted our attacking potency.
I lost count of the number of inch perfect diagonal passes we saw at Derby, affording our wingbacks acres of space to play in the forwards.
Today, against a well disciplined Cardiff side, we rarely got into those key positions and for that you have to credit the opposition.
We saw some some dark arts for sure, as you’ve come to expect from a streetwise Warnock team, and they could easily have been a man down before half time, but these are the challenges you need to rise above if you want to be a top Championship side.
The time wasting, the gamesmanship, the off the ball fouls – it’s a dog-eat-dog league and the refs can’t see everything. You’ve got to find ways to win whatever the opposition are doing.
There’s still lots to feel good about moving towards what looks an easier run of fixtures, but this was a reminder about how hard this team has to fight to play their brand of football.
It was never going to be easy.
Fair summing up. Was always going to be a difficult game. Not too downhearted just disappointed.
We will have better days.
Ha!…..I read with interest some of the frankly, RIDICULOUS predictions on this blog yesterday !
I particularly liked/laughed at the 5-1 from ‘Clive in Houston’ and 4-0 from ‘Karlir’….. thanks you guys, you’re SPECIAL!!
Just two things from me, firstly Gunnarson has just found Neves in his pocket whilst on the coach! He’s dropped him off at the services, you can pick him up from there!
Secondly…..” WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, I SAID WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!”
Regards
A Bluebird!
PS: London Wolves Loyal?!….. Cheers for the “Croeso I Wolves……. Mother#####r! We enjoyed!”
Well, you certainly taught us a lesson by being magnanimous in victory.
I was impressed by Cardiff. They look well set for a good season. I expect them to be right up there all season if they can keep hold of the big man up front.
Magnanimous? Maybe not!
But some of those posts did display a certain lack of respect for a team whose start was equal (if not better defensively) to yours!
The use of the word ‘motherf####f’ was probably not required, but it WAS a direct quote from one of your guys!
I’m sure you’ll be there or there about at the time of reckoning but maybe the disregard of others in a tough league will come back to bite you on the arse!?
Rgards
How was it equal when you were playing lower standings teams?
Hi Taff
You have to understand that to London Wolves Loyal mother*****r is a term of endearment.
He normally shouts it after we’ve fed him a few pounds of raw sheep.
As far as being there or thereabouts is concerned, I think we’ll both be in with a shout when it comes to the crunch.
Bore da Taffy boy .
. ok .. we ll give you that one
Two weeks till tha transfer window shuts …. zohore will be sold and back to midtable you will go
Glad to see you all made it back to your coach safely
Eich gweld yn fuan mother f######$
The season is a marathon – not a sprint. And our team are the strongest in the long run, although Cardiff impressed me with their team work and team spirit yesterday. A deserved victory.
A Wolf doesn’t concern himself with the opinion of Sheep.
Cardiff deserved the win on chances created and goals scored. Not too unhappy with 9 from 4 very difficult games.Can’t sign off without a word about the referee. WHAT A COMPLETE FUCKING ARSE.
Magnanimous? Maybe not!
But some of those posts did display a certain lack of respect for a team whose start was equal (if not better defensively) to yours!
The use of the word ‘motherf####f’ was probably not required, but it WAS a direct quote from one of your guys!
I’m sure you’ll be there or there about at the time of reckoning but maybe the disregard of others in a tough league will come back to bite you on the arse!?
Rgards
Well Taff, you can see the result.
However your team did not play the better football.
In fact, you set out to play a game which went against the rules.
You won by off the ball fouls and the reliance of refereeing incompetence.
Had there been an official prepared to give the football a chance we would have won.
Over the season, I hope football wins.
We shall see.
Do you really believe our comments before the match influenced the match directly :=))) Perhaps they made the players complacent? :=))) What’s your theory Taffy?
This was like being mugged by the school bully while the teacher holds his coat and looks the other way.
I’ve been watching football for 54 years and rarely have I seen so much ‘off the ball’ stuff going on. First half in particular when we had the ball in our half our three forwards – Enobakhare, Bonatini and Jota – were being kicked, pulled and jostled even though the ball was 50 yards away. I though ‘ankle tapping’ went out with flared trousers but apparently not.
Sad that the footballing team lost on the day but we will bounce back and undoubtedly finish many places higher than Warnock’s toe rags.
Two worries for me – Miranda; is he good enough? Looks the weak link at the back to me. Bonatini; neat player and two goals in two home games is good but I don’t think he is going to scare defences and the sooner we sign the ‘big expensive striker’ the better.
Off to Brentford next week. Can’t wait.
Final thought: referee’s rating today 0/10 (I would give a minus but don’t think it’s allowed). Clueless and no understanding of football whatsoever, fell for every bit of play acting and time wasting and seemed to guess at most decisions. And guessed wrong!
OODCL
If he can score goals, I don’t care how scared the other team is.
A timely reminder of what lies ahead. We will not win every game. There will be times when physical teams roughshod over us courtesy of less than competent referees. Neves will not be able to control every game we play. Mistakes will be made.
But let`s keep this one defeat in perspective. Nine points from our first four games, played against top teams in our division, is far better than many of us could have expected. We have the building blocks in place. If we stick to our guns in terms of the way we play our football, and if we continue to get behind our team in numbers and with loud voice, I have no doubt that this will be a very rewarding season.
Taff Tafferson – what a stupid and pathetic comment. This is a Wolves Blog for Wolves fans. Why do you feel the need to come on here with your insults and gloating? How sad are you? Oh and as for Neves he will need an ambulance to get back after being kicked and elbowed throughout by your ‘footballers’. I know you lot prefer your rugby but didn’t realise you’d crossed over into football. Oh hang on, you haven’t.
Prediction: Saturday 7th April 2018. You will be mid table at best, we will be top two.
Yakki da.
Gutted only one game but some off the cuff reactions. Enobakehare is a special talent he will soon be courted by premier league clubs. Not convinced by Saiss today always seems to be back on his heels we needed to get the ball forward more quickly run at them more. If you are playing 3 at the back do you always need 2 holding midfielders ? Thought Bonatini too quiet at times. Galls me to say it but they just about deserved it. Good to see Matt.
Enobakhare reminds me a bit of Maradona. Is actually strong for a guy at his age.
It was the first time many of these players faced this kind of opposition and they have to learn what they can do in response.
If they get too physical back, will they get a red card? How is the referee letting some things go and not others? This is new to them and they will have to understand what they can do physically in return. I’m sure some of them were bristling and wanting to react but afraid of the red card.
It is a learning experience and there were two mistakes, as I understand it, that led to their goals.
I’ll take the same 9 points every 4 games for the rest of the season.
We all know there are different styles of football in the championship and Warnock is good a putting together a squad that can cope with the different challenges. He has a squad that all fight for each other and bring the best out in each other. There are no superstars in the Cardiff squad whereas Wolves have spent a lot on some players. Cardiff tried that a few seasons ago and it doesn’t always work. Check the stats Wolves had 60% of the possession but Cardiff had most attempts on goal by a long way. I just think we wanted it more.
Why are you on this site/blog?
Because its one of the best.
If all you hear or read is one sided how can you form a balanced opinion. Just trying to help and not being unpleasant or offensive. I actually have always liked Wolves and play golf with someone you may remember Bobby Woodruff also of Cardiff. I am just a home club supporter and would not consider supporting another club. Best of luck for the rest of the season.
All views are welcome as far as I am concerned mate.
But my view is that with a half decent referee we would have been playing against ten men today. He was complete crap!
Having said that, your lot did what they had to and Mr Warnock has once again proved his worth at this level.
Say hello to Bobby W. Now that was a throw-in.
Always a Bluebird,
You won it fair and square.
This is the nature of Neil Warnock and how he likes to set up his teams and everyone knows that. You have a few good players there and they shone today. We were tactically Naive today despite our manager stating he had looked at them prior to the game.
I wish you well this season, obviously I want the same for us, good luck, we’ll see you at your place for the re-run.
Unfortunately I was spot on with the prediction.
I’m dissapointed but almost glad we got this game out of the way. Other teams will see this as the template to beat us, and given that Cardiff required a couple of slices of luck and a dodgy referee to beat us is bet on us to beat the next team that tries to stifle us like this.
It also gives us a bit of impetus to sign another game changing striker. Some one who could create the bit of magic to kill off games like today.
A really good, measured and accurate analysis of the game, Thomas.
Next ……………
Prediction was correct sadly. Another dark day for football. But it’s about winning and in fairness to warnock he hasn’t had the money wolves spent this year. What’s really disappointing is we’ll be now facing this all bloody season! will be interesting to see if nuno uses the squad now or not…
As I said on the last thread, that was the worst refereeing display I can remember watching.
If that was a ‘firm’ ref, I’m a Cardiff City supporter.
What a complete joke!
Having said that, Cardiff kicked us off the park in the first half and were too street wise in the second.
Neil Warnock knows exactly what to do to gain an edge in this sort of match and his side carried out his instructions to the letter.
I’d like to say “Fair play to him” but does fair play include continuously elbowing and kicking off the ball?
This probably sounds like sour grapes, and probably is.
Today we just weren’t street wise enough to overcome a strong Cardiff side. That, coupled with a referee who ought to have his whistle shoved where the sun don’t shine, meant we were always on a loser.
Well and truly ‘Warnocked’.
Having watched the match on WolvesTV the foul on Saiss just before half time was a red card offence.
If a supporter had elbowed someone in the throat like that they would have been arrested and taken to the police station.
A whole team of muggers and bullies.
So we lost this game.
9 points from first 4 games is what I expected when looking at the fixtures.
Cardiff won’t be top 6 in May & will lose the return fixture on Welsh turf – as long as we don’t get the same referee.
How they kept all their players on the park is beyond believe. How he & the fekin useless Lino in front of the Billy Quite missed corners, hand-balls & off the ball incidents beggers belief.
Keep the faith, we’ve still got a cracking team of footballers and manager & expect a return to normal next week.
I’m not too disappointed to be fair, we were beaten, we were out muscled and we were not as sharp as previous games. Cardiff fans coming on this site and gloating well why not. We do it every game to date and will do in the future.
We were beaten, but we will learn from it, we will come back stronger and down the line some other team will smack our arses. We will be there with a shout at the end of the season, of the matches Iv’e managed to see so far I’m pretty happy, no one wins every game so fair play to Warnock and good luck to his fans.
When our new player 6′ 6″ 21 year old Striker pitches up on Monday, we can give him a run out on Wednesday against Southampton and I will be there to see it with Newark and Sue.
Onwards and Upwards.
6’5″, mais oui?
That’s the one Tim. Give or take an inch.
If my mate is correct he will be here tomorrow, £7m, so 24 hours should tell us.
He’s not the big one they were talking about, the other one is promised by deadline day,so the non firing department should be dealt with.
Yes, it was an even match. If our shooting attempts were better we could have won it.
Not happy, but we were out muscled today by a team who pressed and fouled their way to beat us by what ever means their manager requested.
Having said that they played and pushed us to the limit,but when you have to play against 12 men standing and one being the ref, there’s only one outcome a loss.The ref if you can call him that was abysmal, he’s gotta be a taff to give so much to the away side.
If we’re gonna win promotion we need a striker and a attacking midfielder asap . I’m sure NES knows that after today’s defeat.Roll on Costa we need you.
Southbank Resistance got it spot on, when he called it Warnock’s anti football.
You know the writing is on the wall when the time wasting starts in the first half.
Every one of their players were cynical, and at least two should have been off before half time.
Off the ball knocks and pulls and niggles, none seen by either “ref” or linesmen.
If this had been a Prem match, and dog help us if that fare is turned up in the Prem, then any of the even half decent refs would have got tennis elbow from the whipping out of red cards.
This was not one of the worst referreeing performances I have ever seen, it was by far and away the most disgraceful, pathetic excuses for adjudicating ever.
Sunday morning refs are better than this clown.
That notwithstanding, frog filled cheeks Warnock was bitching and moaning all game long.
And what about the blatant time wasting, none of which got penalized?
At least all our players tried all game long to play football, not hoof and clog ball.
Those neanderthals who come on this site gloating and criticizing us for our predictions need a reality check.
They remind me of the band of soldiers in the jungle, who came across a crocodile infested river.
The first three soldiers attempting to swim across with a rope, got eaten.
Up jumped a short arsed taffy, who yelled ” give me the rope”
So they tied the rope around his waist, he discarded his Doc Marten sheepshagging wellies, and swam across the river, no problem.
After he had helped all the others acoss he was asked how he didnt get eaten.
He took off his shirt, and tattooed across his scrawny chest was “Cardiff for Promotion”
He said ” not even a fuckin’ crocodile would swallow that”!!
Onwards and upwards, it was a moral victory for us.
We appreciate fair and reasoned comments, and thank you to those from the opposition who bothered to post them.
And for the others, pick a vowel
G* F*UK Y**RS*LV*S
A frustrating day. We played well in spells and when it went 1-1 there looked to be only one winner. A couple of defensive errors ultimately cost us.
It was also frustrating at times to see us in promising positions around the box but having no-one in there waiting or willing to gamble. It’s difficult to get goals from intricate one twos or jinky runs, as we saw today. Prolific goalscorer still needed for me.
I’m still confident though. We showed enough today to suggest the first three games weren’t a fluke.
Cardiff were a horrible, cynical side and they did what they came to do.
Don’t like having to say it but Wolves will get turned over like this again whilst we continue to be the gentlemen of the Championship; our players are going to have to learn to play dirty in order to be in the reckoning next May.
Is there any video review of games for missed calls in football? I seem to remember that being discussed in some sport not too long ago.
If that were the case, Tim, the whole match would be replayed, with an actual referee in charge.
Personally I thought all our forward play faltered as soon as the ball reached Enobakhare. An undoubted talent but all those needless touches slow momentum and allow the opposition time to settle. Add to that his poor final ball and I struggle to see why it was considered unlucky for him to be replaced. Once Cav was on we looked far more cohesive as a team. Unfortunately a defensive error by Boly cost us what I truly believe would have been a late winner.
The boys will learn a lot from this game and it will prepare us well for other agricultural teams in this division. Hopefully we learn quickly!
Warnock did the business on us..We weren’t clever enough or street wise today..
These games will come and go..We tried to play football but will meet teams like these..Ipswich will be another..
Postive side is we still have Costa to come and once two quality strikers are brought in the hold up play plus quick thinking of strikers will see the final third become lethal. .
Bright Enerbarki very wasteful and still think he needs to be loaned out..Cav much better when he came on..
LISTEN TO YOURSELVES!!….
Last time I looked it was a mans game! Yes SOME teams ARE physical!… but C’mon fellas, it was hardly UFC stuff eh?
As for the “what are you doing on a Wolves blog?” Comments. It’s an open site guys, it’s interesting to gauge what others think, isn’t it?
Gloating?… maybe, but as I said before, none of the comments I made were personal to ANYONE on this blog!! The only offensive word used was a DIRECT QUOTE from one of your own the previous day!!
Perhaps gentlemen, some of you (like one or two of your team) need to ‘MAN UP’……. otherwise it’s going to be a long season!!
Good luck anyhow!
hey Taff,
no issues with you gloating, for sure 12 from 4 we’d do the same, however, a two sided story and an “unbiased view” needs both sides to be accurate and not considered thru rose coloured glasses. You won simple, we’ll get over it.
However, I’m sure having three separate off the ball incidents at exactly the same time is not “fair reason”, the challenge on Saisse that was given a yellow card would have been given Red in any other game (i.e.Arnautovi? yesterday) .
We’ve done & had done to us a fair amount of hard tackles over the years, I’m all for it, but you cannot condone some of your players antics? If you do, then I’d suggest your views could be classed as bolox rather than rational.
As far as man up, let see how the return fixture ends up before you blow yourselves off into oblivion.
PS, no need to use CAPITALS to emphasise your emotions, we probably understand English better that ewe.
In the first half Saiss, in front of the 4th official was elbowed in the neck.
The ball was 40 yards away.
It was strong enough to knock him to the ground.
Why was your player not sent off?
A similar offence committed on Jota, in front of the linesman also went unpunished.
It’s more than hard tackles, it is blatant cheating.
Maybe you are here out of jealousy that we win without resorting to being ‘con men?’
To quote an English Poet, not a Welsh one:
“It matters not who lost or won
“But if you played the game.” – Kipling.
I’ve only seen Saiss play in the flesh about five times, but my opinion was, and is, that he looks a bit of a donkey.
Very little passing ability, too easily knocked off the ball and not much pace.
What do the rest of you think?
Doog,
Saiss has played three outstanding games this season, but like many of his fellow Wolves players, he was wide of the mark yesterday, he is ten times the Saiss we saw last season and hopefully with the new team should develop.
If I were looking at a position to stregnthen though, it would indeed be his, (he is a red card waiting to happen) IMO.
If we could find another Neves then it would be heaven, but real gems come along rarely in footy. Also, there’s also Conor who I still believe could make that position his own.
a bit tired maybe?
I too had my doubts last season DG, but I’ve seen most of the games this season and he’s really stepped up. Been improving with every outing, until yesterday.
Doog I don’t like to disagree with you, but I think Saiss has played a key part in the 9 points that we have secured. His passing is usually accurate, I rate him and think that he will continue to play behind Neves and allow our £15M star more space to go forward and score.
I always liked Saiss, I think he will get better still. None of our team should be judged too harshly after Saturday’s off the ball ‘Slagrest’.
Cheers mate, Jerry
Taff,
You are indeed very welcome on the blog, it is an open site and I have no issue with your comments, as a fairly decent blog we are open to some trolls from other clubs, using this as a tool to frankly come on here and rip into Wolves fans, you did not and your opinion at the end of the day is yours and valid. We were beaten, we can complain till we are blue in the face, but Neil Warnock did his homework better than our boss Nuno. Our players can dish out just as much as any other team, (ask Hull).
So Taff,
You are very welcome on this site, your opinion is valid and I would rather we talked of the game and not get into a bun fight as it’s just a game of football and we will have forgotten Cardiff City by 19-45
pm on Wednesday when we face Southampton.
Enjoy your season, your team are playing well, we’ll see you at your place on Saturday April 7th, perhaps we could have a beer before the game and talk of how we’re both doing in the league.
Good luck with your season.
COYW’s
DOOGooder – Romain Saiss? I’d say he’s several trillion millennia better than either Price or Edwards or both put together. But then again as dear old Manuel once said “I know nothing. Nah-theeng. I am from Bedford”.
Ok he’d didn’t say Bedford I bastardised that part. Or Warnockised as it’s now known.
OODCL
No complaints about the result we were beaten by the better team. You have to earn the right to play football and we couldn’t cope with Cardiff’s physical play.
For me we need two more signings for a successful season. That striker we keep talking about but also a hard as nails Alex Rae type midfielder. Like Doog I’m far from convinced about Saiss especially in a two man central midfield. Without those I’m not convinced we’ll last the distance.
I’m with Clive on this game.
Welcome to championship ‘football’s Nuno.
Thought it was a good game but from the first exchanges I thought Cardiff were going to be a tough nut to crack.
Mendez-Laing & Zahore for them were top class, why do we seem to get rid of so many very good strikers? Vokes , Andre Grey etc.
We’d have to lose at some point. I have confidence in us coming back strongly. But we do need a bit more intimidation ourselves & a mean dude striker who can hold the ball up for the considerable talents of Bright, Costa, Jota & Cavaleiro.
The two goals we conceded were due to poor defensive play, not due to the referee or the physicality of the opposition. Our coach will have learnt a lot today and will strive to put it correct.
Nine points out of twelve,great start to season.
Your spot on with that Hancocks.
Also two of our better players had a couple of wobbles and we were punished – Miranda for the 1st and big Willy for the second.
I would add that we’d have won if the ref hadn’t bottled it and we’d been playing 10 thou, as Colin W would have parked the bus with no attacking options.
For me, we need a little shake up now, Sarfumpton will see a massive change of personnel and those will be pushing for a start against Brentford.
The wheels have nowhere near come off the wagon, but we might have picked up a slow puncture. Lets get it to Quickfit and have our new striker in for 26th
PS, they’re doing a re-make of Mrs Doubtfire and I hear Colin W is taking the lead role
Two cliches for you;
Warnock’s team did a job on us.
We didn’t earn the right to play.
Apart from the most abject display of refereeing I have ever seen in over 50 years of following football there were a couple of other factors.
We were using the same players for (effectively) the 5th consecutive game. Fatigue has clearly set in.
We have no ‘plan B’. With Hoilett and M-L occupying our wing-backs they couldn’t get forward, leaving Neves and Saiss to face a 3-man Cardiff midfield.
We are going to come up against these sort of ‘spoiling tactics’ (blocking, holding, time-wasting and simply fouling) more often than not, so lets not delude ourselves that this was a one-off.
We can (and will) play a LOT better than that. I doubt that Cardiff can.
Good summary Thomas. ‘Nihil desperandum’ as they used to say in Rome.
First I’ve seen of this year’s new look Nuno model Wanderers. Overall I think we were out thought, out fought, and outsmarted by the canny Warnock.
Out-thought – Wranock had picked how we liked to play and stopped us doing it; and worked out what we didn’t like (dead-ball positions) and worked on getting them. Someone remarked on this blog after one of the earlier games how Nuno gave Ruddy a real ear-wigging for kicking from the hands rather than rolling the ball out to one of the back three. You’d have needed all your all toes as well as your fingers to count the number of times Ruddy was forced to kick by Cardiff’s tight marking of our back three. Warnock also worked out how we liked to play through our wing backs and negated them as an attacking threat. You could probably count on one hand the number of times Douglas and Doherty threatened the opposition byline. Lastly Cardiff spent most of the first half punting the ball into the Wanderers left back area and then putting the defender (usually Boly) under such pressure they were forced into giving away a corner or a throw-in. Before half-time Cardiff had managed six corners and at least the same number of long throws into the Wanderers box. Although they didn’t score this aerial bombardment was uncomfortable and caused chaos. Wolves, in comparison had to wait until 10 minutes into the second half before they earned a corner.
Out-fought – as a Cardiff supporter on the journey back to London noted, their usual style is to bully the opposition, in particular in the middle of the park. Both Cardiff goals came from Cardiff players bullying (quite legally) both Miranda and Boly into making mistakes whilst trying to play out from the back, and they out-muscled us in midfield where the threat of Neves and Jota was neutralised.
Out-smarted – Warnock realised if Wolves were allowed to establish rhythm and tempo they would win easily (he acknowledged in his post match comments that Wolves in their first three games had steamrollered their opponents). So the tempo of the game was constantly broken up by Cardiff so successfully that it wasn’t until the 37th minute that Wolves produced any tempo or rhythm. When it wasn’t tactical fouling by rotation (that way you don’t get two yellow cards) to slow Wolves down, it was a series of mystical ‘injuries’ – these generally took the shape of a Cardiff player receiving treatment on the ground for two minutes, then when they returned spent the rest of the game running around like a 3 year old colt in the Derby. All legal gamesmanship, and very successful in breaking the game up.
I’ve always taught managers who work for me I don’t mind them making mistakes provided they learn from them, and there’s quite a lot for Nuno to take his players through. However, one lesson for him to learn quickly is that in the Championship you can’t expect referees to protect players, the standard of refereeing is very poor all round, and the practitioners of the dark arts off the ball are many, not few. The Saiss ‘forearm smash’ is a good example. The referee booked the Cardiff because of the reaction of the Wolves bench and the crowd, not because he saw the incident. He realised ‘something was up’ but had he seen the deliberate act of violent conduct he would have only one course of action.
Still where we’re at now is like being at the end of a three and half lap burst, the 1500 metres. We’ve got a marathon of 46 matches to cover, so I’m not despondent. There’s enough football playing talent in the Wolves side, and learning how to play football when our opponents don’t want to let us play is maybe a useful lesson we can pick up from Cardiff (as well as how to put away your chances).
I think there are a lot of similarities between ourselves and Cardiff apart from having a substantial, solid, long suffering core of support. Both clubs have previously tried to establish themselves as premier league teams by injecting cash and employing average British managers. Both failed in the attempt and suffered the financial consequences. Both clubs have subsequently employed a string of managers with limited ability including Scandinavian representatives. But at least Cardiff avoided the deaths of the third tier. But where we stand today is in very different places. If I was a Cardiff fan today I would be ecstatic, not just for being top of the league but for also bloodying the nose of a club that has had the unfairly earned fortune to be owned by
people with access to top quality players and coaches only restricted by ffp. I would be convinced that the opposition supporters are now living a life of privilege sipping champagne in the gilded surroundings of the North Bank bar discussing how amusing it will be to watch the ignorant welsh oikes given a footballing lesson. Yet maybe even when imagining the cataclysmic reaction to the result amongst home supporters and wading joyfully through the supporters blog spreading further acidic maunure of reality. Deep in the dark recesses of my mind I would consider the future. For even though I wouldn’t want to recall it I would know that Warnock has been here before. Notts County, Sheff Utd, QPR. When he is given time and even the smallest budget he can fashion a team capable of promotion. He is probably even better at this task than his peers McCarthy, Bruce and Holloway, but the end result is just the same and usually ends in financial tears. The reason being that in the prem physical exertion and mental fortitude can never in the long term overcome a shortfall in quality. Our current strategy is different and despite yesterday’s difficulties which have created understandable uncertainties in some quarters. Most fans still believe that it is access to massive financial resources which will ultimately present the route to an established prem team. Time will tell if funds continue to be available and whether the current emp!oyees are up to the task in hand. But for the moment it is Cardiff who win the day and for the moment it is almost nice to consider that there are other routes to success than money. But if there are I think I prefer the Huddersfield route rather than the Don Revie inspired Warnock route.
I suppose you could say it was a game that had everything, except a referee. Without law enforcement, anarchy reigns supreme, which it did in this match.
As Witley pointed out before the game, yesterday’s ref’ has been ‘card-happy’ so far this season, so obviously repeated fouling would meet with a suitable response. So Warnock decided that instead of fouling the guy on the ball and thus invoking the ire of the ref, his boyo’s would take out the player before the ball was played to him where neither the ref, the linesmen or fourth official, happened to be looking. Just as effective at breaking up our one and two touch passing game and without fear of penalty. Clever. Very clever. And it has the added bonus of further enhancing Mr Warnocks burgeoning reputation.
Hopefully, other teams won’t see this and follow suit against us or it could become a very frustrating season.
The one saving grace is that we seemed to escape with no bones broken, so let’s be grateful for small mercies.
Had my first look around the Museum pre-match which was informative and interesting. Then popped into the North Bank bar and met up with Bedders, LWL, Witley et al.
For a minute, I thought I was back in the museum.
It was a sour loss to suffer, yes. But then I glance at the table in which we currently are positioned number 3, only 3 points the Tractor boys and The Bluebirds. We’re in schedule, I’d say.
You’re right, of course, Karlir. I would have taken 9 from the first 12 before the season kicked off.
Hopefully we can celebrate our second premier league scalp tuesday. Graham better take his chance. It’s so strange that he’s only played as a wingback the few times he’s played so far. Rates him higher than Ronan to be honest. Strange.
This morning my grapes are extremely sour and i have my grumpy face back.
Fair play some say .. poppycock i say.
Everything welsh is abhorrent to me this morning and will be for quite a few days yet.
Winning fair and square is to be applauded which is why we all loved Leicester city the other season.
But winning using total gamesmanship and downright cheating is definitely not to be applauded.
which is why the only people who like Neil Warnock are his wife and dog.
Maybe even just his dog.
Oh and a few thousand back axle supporters ( car-diff ).
Why that referee isn’t hanging from a lampost outside molineux is a mystery.
Lets hope we dont see him again.
Nuno learns fast , thats a fact, he will now know he needs an iron man to call on in games like that a Roy keane mk2.
So now i shall go to the pub to moan further and i have instructed the wife to take the leeks off my dinner.
I am ashamed my name is David so today i shall be known as Edmund which is my middle name
i normally finish with fowb but today its
FOCC
Well said Edmund
FOCC and FOwb
Nice to meet you and your chums at the Park View on Saturday Thomas.
If you get the chance, don’t forget to email me the instructions for that App we were chatting about.
You don’t need an app mate you can get a direct link using http://www.pornhub.com according to Clive.
Hey ‘Edmund’….. loving the ‘back axle’ comment! Hope the missus listened and removed the leekes ! In fairness I can’t stand them either.
Your boys will come back after this, let’s face it it is still only 4 games in. I doubt this result will matter too much come the end of the season, in fact in my opinion it will only be a deciding factor in where we both finish in the top 6.
NES will learn I’m sure, let’s face it he’ll have too, you’ve got the likes of Milwall and Leeds to come too!
The ref was bad that’s true, but a team’s cause is seldom helped when, at almost every tackle, their players go down as if the ‘terrace sniper’ is in residence!
You do realize, Taff, that if you post more than twice on another team’s blog, you automatically become an honorary fan of theirs.
Where do you want your free, synthetic Wolves scarf sent??
Taff,
I’m feckin stealing that one matey, “terrace sniper” nice one.
I’m Scottish, these Southern softies hate me more than the Welsh. Lol
A somewhat ‘different’ match report – made me laugh anyway;
https://southbankresistance.wordpress.com/
Great write up.
I would rather watch football with Wolves than that rubbish served up yesterday.
Extremely upset as I genuinely thought that although we were not unbeatable I would of said that a draw would of been a lucky result (for them)
I couldn’t see us loosing I really couldn’t..
– And to loose to Cardiff and Warnock ..the Sunday feeling is shite..
So do we accept that we and others are expected to loose say 2 or three or do we change strategy..Nuno…?
The new striker still needed imo and Costa back in too..
My fear is confidence in the nxt match but we have an easier fixture than those around us..
I’m sure we will all be watching Cardiff to see when they get walloped…new enemy…
We let two goals in due to poor defending. I am surprised you are not screaming for a new No 5 lol.
Your sort of attacking defenders Brompton.. they can get Out of position or can get wrong footed on a break..I prefer current lot obviously but we will rely now on a better goalie who can captain the back more in these events…I thought Ruddy should of got their 2nd goal – I presume he was missighted..
I sincerely hope that DB isn’t kept for the more physical team clashes although I can see a sacrifice coming of some sort to replace Nuno’s favourite
CB’s in a physical clash..Miranda looks the weakest at the moment..
Disappointing performance and result, admittedly. But still wholly preferable to the cynical, often brutal, underhanded and unprofessional brand of gamesmanship from another Warnock team. On another occasion they won’t get such a compliant referee who has neither the ability or bottle to make the tough decisions.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ROBERT PLANT
Yes, I’ll second that.
He was in the Steve Bull yesterday. Unfortunately our seats are just that bit too far away from his to get to him without looking like we’re stalking the poor chap.
I’d pay good money to spend a few hours chatting over a few beers with that man.
Legend!
I managed to get him signed up as Baroness Rachael Heyho Flint’s replacement as Patron of the Wolves Disabled Association.
Along with Matt Murray and Conor Ronan.
So….. get him to come to the Bloggers Ball, we will pay for his meal and beer I am sure!!
Hi folks, only got back last night so can’t comment on the game as we weren’t there. Been reading all the comments from both sets of fans but at the end of the day, it really is only a game. I am not going to get on my soap box but if you had seen what me and Sue saw in Barcelona it really does put things in to perspective. They won, we lost but we all go home at the end of the day don’t we ? Looking forward to getting back to normality now which means driving 190 miles to Southampton on a Wednesday night ! Wouldn’t change it for the world and really looking forward to meeting up with the top man, StuWolf. Didn’t get to the Nou Camp so will just have to wait until we are in The Champions League in 2/3 years time.
Good to have you back safe and sound in dear old Blighty.
It certainly does put things in perspective.
The trouble is, this will keep on happening in more and more places.
The bastards don’t even have to manufacture explosives any more. Just raid their mum’s knife drawer and hire a van.
Thanks Mark, don’t think that me and Sue have met up with you much lately so will have to sort that very soon.
All the best to both of you.
Robert Plant.
Zeppelin.
As I said to Clive yesterday I just about remember the band whilst he of course remembers them flying overhead in the war.
Random thought to ease the pain of yesterday. If Chris Wood is £15m, Jonny Evans £20m, Kyle Walker £50m, Coutinho £120m and Neymar £195m what would be the combined worth of Boly, Neves, Jota, Enobakhare and Costa in today’s crazy transfer market? I’m going for £300m. Any advance?
P.S. Wolfstroker – cheeky lad moy luvver!
Sorry, me ‘andsome.
This Cardiff performance reminded me greatly of the Game with Bournemouth a few seasons ago, Remember the one the season Bournemouth cheated their way into the PL..
Makes me wonder how much these managers Like COLIN bung a ref in advance It must go on based on what we have seen over the years…
MOVE ON…
Oops Nige. Your bung comment reminds me of a certain manager (no names but most of us know) who was alleged to extract bungs from players in exchange for picking them. That being the case, it’s an easy presumption to think that that sort of manager might put a few bungs out himself to get what he wanted, maybe to referees? If you do one thing that’s bent you will do another thing, as you’ve already crossed a line.
Every team that comes to Mol from now will try to do what Cardiff did. Time to work out a coping strategy.
I hate Neil F’ing Warnock, I detest his behaviour and his pathetic cheating, he’s a school bully, low life scum. May you rot in hell for your foul tactics and downright thuggery. You deserve vitriol for your anti-football, and even after elbowing, kicking and flattening those playing football, you still scream and shout abuse at the ref, but it’s you that should be screamed at, you that needs assaulting, and you that should be locked up.
Who the hell do you think you are. Retire dinosaur, football is a game to be played, not an assault with a glass bottle over the head. I’m ashamed of you and for you, you’ve lost yourself and should hang you head in shame. You’re a pariah and need to be cast out of this game forever, with this disgraceful abhorrent performance never forgotten, and every time you open your mouth to talk about football, this should be rammed straight back at you.
And for the sake of the game you and that so called team must be stopped, Ref’s need to watch this game and learn, police the rules effectively without fear or favour, then you will have to stop or you will lose week in week out, with 9 players of fewer on the park, and the game will be all the better for it.
Bye Neil, don’t gloat it will come back to haunt you like the bad smell that follows you everywhere u go
Bloody hell Amberwolf!
I wish you wouldn’t beat about the bush.
Just tell it like it is mate!
AmberWolf – I don’t think you should sit on the fence like this. Come out and say what you really feel.
I could not have said it better meself!!
Although some other teams may try Warnock’s tactics they may not be as good at carrying them out, and what’s more important, I do believe that we will learn from this match how to deal with it next time. We are getting better, and with the players still to come back from injury, we’ll be fine from now on. Four difficult matches into the season, 9 points, and after all it was only 2-1 we lost to Cardiff, despite their foul tactics.
Dear Mr Warnock (and any deluded and/or abusive Cardiff fans),
This is what a REAL football manager and a REAL man looks like.
.
Everyone loves a gracious winner NEIL. ? REMEMBER THE PLAYOFFS
Costa picked it up quick enough, does anyone recall his blistering run through the middle of Liverpools defence to lay the ball off to Weinmann, he rode tackles like Lester Piggot over the jumps. If Texieria hadn’t been such a drama queen, I think he would have eventually done well. Siass is truly a work in progress. After a weeks rest and introduction of a new striker, look out Brentford on Saturday.
The Joe Mason to Bristol City saga is gathering momentum, I expect Dicko to move on soon, (IMO only), he looked jaded and subdued on Saturday when he came on,. If we’re hearing of 2 strikers alledgedly coming in, he’s on the ground and getting it first hand so it must P him off.
Does anyone recall Costa’s run??? How could anyone possibly forget it.?
But yes stu. I agree with the sentiment. Costa seemed a bit lightweight and fragile in his first couple of games but experience gradually taught him to avoid the flying boots and he became an irresistible force for good against evil.
Costa’s run is almost as legendary as the Cresta Run in my neck of the woods. I was watching the Liverpool v Wolves cup match on TV in the hospitality area at Chelsea (the Chelsea match was 3pm kick-off). He got well and truly cheered on.
I got the feeling that day that it would be one Costa out at Chelsea and one Costa in.
I was right about Diego and I think that I would have been right about Helder if he had not been injured. This is the first time I’ve been pleased about a Wolves injury.
Diego Costa was getting the reputation of not being a team player and also a bit of a loose cannon. They reckoned he would be red carded too easily in Europe.
Well said Amber Wolf . The smug git will get his smile wiped off his face. Can’t wait for mad micks Ipswich to play Cardiff. It will resemble Wales v Samoa in the rugby world cup and hope mick lomps his teeth out.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/17/football-manager-neil-warnock-made-players-pay-him-to-get-into-t/
Check out the above newspaper report guys.
No!
Warnock?
Cheating?
Perish the thought.
It’s been 14 years since we destroyed his “wonderful” Sheffield team in Cardiff, and I am sure he has not slept properly since.
Kind of ironic that his final (we hope) managerial job is in Cardiff.
I would have thought he would never go to Wales again in his life!!
What an utter prick!
Not making accusations, but this has a feel of Jimmy Saville about it. As for Allardyce, problem was the FA didn’t want a tainted manager but had no confidence they had the grounds and legal expertise to withstand an appeal tribunal. All part of football but, I’ve just had my 24th shower since watching the Cardiff game and I still don’t feel clean.
Yup, this smells, yet the FA swept it under the carpet. We all know that the FA do FA about these things when certain individuals are involved. Unless the newspapers do a “sting” story, it just dies the death.
Ironic isn’t it that the Cardiff owner got rid of Malky MacKay for alleged comments found after a trawl of thousands (yes, thousands) of text messages. This was after the owner’s unqualified son became director of football or something. Keep nepotism in the family! So they got rid of the manager and got relegated from the PL. Idiots. Now, they hire a crook and don’t turn a hair.
As I said earlier, Jeff and the team have to start lobbying to prevent this kind of thing.
They have to convince the league that it is in the league’s best interest for teams like ours to elevate the quality of play in the league so that television contracts can bring in higher revenue and the only way that will happen is if players of higher quality are protected in the same way as they are in the Premiership.
There is really no reason why certain things that are not allowed in the Premiership are allowed in the Championship. It is the same sport and the same country.
So get on it, Jeff. Start lobbying the league to treat Championship football as the same game as in the Premiership or more of this will come.
Better to get promotion, stay in the Prem, and let bottom feeders like wernick and mcdickwadhead wallow in their dinosaur filth.
We will be up there at the end little hiccup Saturday we got a different manager and setup up now! Let wanky warnock have his say he will be no where to be seen end of season
Does anyone know when Costa is in training is it one more week
Was it really 14 years ago that we had that wonderful day out in Cardiff, no chance WWFC being bullied that day or that season though with messrs Ince, Rae and company in our midfield.
If Cardiff intend using these tactics most games, they will soon be in trouble with missing players through the bookings top up system, lets see how they manage then chaps.
As for Saturday, for me we just never got out of first gear, didn`t or couldn`t up the tempo. Still think we will have a very good season, and if as Stuwolf says some strikers are on the way, there will be more options for the head coach to juggle. Irritated but only just.
About a year ago we went up to the hot favourites for the title, Newcastle, and beat them. By the season’s end they still took the title and we took the wooden spoon.
Fast forward to now. Cardiff will probably clock up the yellow cards at an alarming rate and pay the price.
I tuned in to an old edition of Most Haunted the other day and there was all the usual shite going on. You know stuff being thrown. Doors slamming. Weird dolls moving about on their own. Any way this psychic goes in to a trance and mumbles summat saft. There is a festering hideous spirit in the loft.The psychic later draws an image of the hideous beast. Imagine my surprise when it had the face of Neil Warnock.
He looks like Brad Pitt’s ugly uncle, Cess Pitt.
Some prospective candidates to fill a need in there, take a look at Nathal Judal from Le Harve, I think we may well be hearing a little more about him very soon.
QPR and Hull are chasing Dicko, so with Dicko and Mason possibly moving on, Nathal may fit in well and a n other expected before closing time.
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/898929611?-300:786:0#out
I read somewhere quite recently:
………. if promotion is to happen this season they simply must have a prolific goalscorer in their team……..
As you know that is what I believe too and I feel that that must be our top priority now.
I wait in hope.
Thought you lived in Yorkshire?
Nathael Julan, feckin Dyslexia. Dyslexia rools KO
So what happened Stu? Is he the guy who was coming in yesterday?
Don’t shoot the messenger.
He was in the stand with Mendes on Saturday, he will be here this week. Plus another befote end of window.
I can pass the info on, I can’t control the negotiations or the agents.
Christ!! I was simply asking a question. WTF suggested you control negotiations and agents or are getting shot at??
Easy Tiger,
Just replying to your question, no offence taken, certainly non meant. I was only trying to explain, I can be told he’s our’s and as with the Talisca saga last year, they can pull out even at the 11th hour.
I was at Molineux last night for a meeting and again I was told he is the guy coming, but nothing is certain till the fat lass sings.
If he does come to us, then were getting a very descent striker, hope that explains in an easier way.
And Wolves are, according to some sources, interested in Sylla. Long time since we’ve been involved in a swap deal.
Aboubakar is probably out of our reach, as his value has increased with his one goal in his first game for Porto, followed up with a hattrick in his last game. Last season he had better shooting accuracy than Lukaku, nr.1 on the list of players in premier league.
Just back from a long weekend at the Eastbourne airshow and missed the Cardiff nonsense, so won’t comment on that as it has all been already said. Looking instead for a clean football match from Southampton tomorrow.
On the striker front, Gallagher might have done the business for us but that ship has sailed. In my view Rhodes would be a decent acquisition as he hasn’t really done the business for Sheffield Wednesday and might have something to prove. I also think that Mendes will pull a rabbit from the hat
Prolific goal scorer Brompton.?.I know one on the south coast….
Andy Carrol anyone!!
Sick note ! Great shout if the bloke stayed fit but he doesn’t
Nice to see we got further in the league cup than warnocks hitmen, or ipshite, even if its only one day!!!