“I will not give you clues, but football is gonna change,”
Like Bob Dylan, Nuno’s convinced that the times they are a changing.
Watching today’s game, you can see why.
In the first half, newly promoted Sheffield United played with the assurance and verve you’d expect from one of England’s established top six.
Lys Mousset, a virtual cast-off from Bournemouth, and otherwise Championship journeyman David McGoldrick terrorised our makeshift back three with their clever movement on and off the ball.
The former was the beneficiary of our lacklustre start, prodding home after being inexplicably left free by our dawdling defence.
It could have got worse from there, with Coady and Dendoncker falling foul of the Blades’ clever passing down the channels.
But after keeping the opposition’s probing at bay, we steadily grew into things.
The second half was a tale of old gold dominance, with the Doc’s headed equaliser from Raul’s ingenious cross somehow proving to be the only home strike of the afternoon.
With our Mexican talisman and the maestro Moutinho in vintage form, it’s hard to see how we didn’t manage to win the game.
But credit to the opposition, they dug in and were worthy of the point.
Though it was frustrating we didn’t manage to get the three points, seeing two teams do their best to bag the three points was a refreshing experience.
There was none of the skulduggery we’ve seen from teams such as Burnley and Brighton on their most recent visits to Molineux, though Baldock should have seen red for his cynical foul on Jota towards the end of proceedings.
Still, two teams, playing with confidence and identity, trying to win a game of football ought to be a sight to be celebrated in the high stakes world of today’s Premier League.
Time will tell if Nuno’s bold prediction about the future of the beautiful game comes to pass.
But one look at the table suggests that this season provides a unique opportunity to break up the fabled ‘big six’.
With Wolves unbeaten in 9, you have to fancy our chances of being one of the teams to do just that.
Agreed Ben. I’ve spoken to a few fellow fans who were disappointed with the game but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Apart from a bit of time wasting by their ‘keeper, The Blades came with the intention of winning.
The thing that impressed me most about today’s match was that the longer it went on, the stronger we got.
That is testament to the physical and mental strength that Nuno has instilled into the team.
Such a shame that we switched off for the first couple of minutes. It destroyed the atmosphere for most of the first half.
Sheffield are a good, if overly physical, side but they looked knackered and were hanging on for grim death in the last 15 minutes. A poor referee who completely bottled what should have been a red card didn’t help.
I was convinced that we would bag a winner in the last few minutes, but a draw was a reasonably fair result and I think we all would have settled for that at half time.
All in all – a proper game of football.
Good write-up mate.
I expected to be impressed by Sheff Utd and wasn’t disappointed. They exploded out of the blocks and could easily have picked us off with a second before we got the equaliser.
We were hanging on at the start of both halves in fact and did well to come through those periods and eventually dominate. There’s a tinge of disappointment we couldn’t finish them off as it’s clear they were hanging for the final 15, but it’s still a decent point in the context of the whole game.
Wonderful pass from Jimenez for the goal. He didn’t even look up, just knew Doherty would be making that run and they cash-in for the second consecutive game. Mightily impressive from both of them.
Special mention for Kilman who was excellent. That must spell the end for Vallejo? To come from Madrid, see three senior defenders get injured and still not be able to get a game is damning.
Interesting Nuno didn’t make a sub at all actually, which again probably says much about the paucity of this squad.
West Ham will be a very different challenge but I fancy us to win that one.
Slightly worried if Nuno said that. But a draw was fair. Blades had some good chances. So did we.
No worries Cheesy, that was from the start of the season
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/24/nuno-espirito-santo-coca-cola-football-wolves
I believe that a draw was a very fair result from a most entertaining game. The Blades came to play and to win. They showed that their position in the league is no fluke. That we fought back so well after such a poor start reflects great credit on our determination
Chris Wilder has been brilliant in the way he has set up the Blades to compete in the Premiership. Very solid and composed at the back, a midfield which gives nothing away but is able to provide rapid support to the front two, and a talented, opportunistic striker. [ I reckon that he has modeled his system on Nuno`s coaching manual !! ] Most impressively, he has achieved this considerable success on a shoe string budget.
In the event that Nuno does decide to move on, we could maybe do far worse than going after Chris Wilder as our next coach
It’s hard to define a fair result, I think we dodged a thumping home defeat in the manner of Chelsea. If McGoldrick could finish like Abraham or Jimenez , we would have been sunk within 60 minutes.
However, this squad is almost used to being a goal down (although I wish it wasn’t) and to find an equaliser was commendable. Although you could argue we were trying to win it at the end I don’t recall a clear cut missed opportunity to do so. Disappointed maybe but ultimately grateful for one point.
Credit where credit is due – I think they were more dangerous than we were, especially in the first half. However there are a couple of things that can be improved. Jota is nowhere near what he was last year. Maybe he is trying too hard, but his connection with Jimmy is lacking to say the least. I wonder if he feels a bit left out with the new Traore/Jimmy partnership?
Dendoncker is a bit of a roller coaster. He is either very good or awful. I’m afraid yesterday was the latter. At one stage I was even hoping he would get subbed by Vallejo! Yep, that bad. Which brings me to the lack of subs. Why?? Both Jimmy and Jota were knackered with 15 minutes to go. Fresh legs on the bench. I wonder how Cutrone must be feeling.
Let’s hope we stay up there with a good win against the hammers on Thursday.
I’m in the minority. But, I’ve found Cutrone to be a useful player (albeit, with few goals). I think with some time he’ll find his way again.
No one yet has mentioned the woeful referee and his total lack of consistency.
Our guys get booked for farting on the opposition, who collapse as though hit with a magnum bullet, while their lot try, as every team seem to do, to reduce Diogo’s height by a few inches.
Sheffield are not a dirty nor cynical team, but did get away with more than they should have.
The Donk had a poor game, but overall, if this was our “bad day at the office”, then I am more than happy with the result.
They looked like they had played on the Braga shitpile on Thursday, not us.
I thought Kilman was steady, and had a good game. Nothing spectacular, more Ryan Bennettish.
To be brutally honest, a draw was a fair result, we could have been buried before the end of the first half of the first half!
Nice to see other teams wasting chances, not just us!
Bring on the ‘Ammers at Nicks Place on Wednesday.
Should be fun, it’s their lot’s watering hole of choice as well as Houston Wolves!!
Fowb
The officials were poor and their inconsistences made for unrest on the pitch and in the stands. VAR continued to be contentious ,looking for penalties that hadn’t been seen or appealed for and not being communicated on the screens.
I think we dodged a thumping home defeat . Playing on Thursday night in Portugal in those conditions , against quality opposition on a dodgy pitch has to be physically and emotionally draining. Much as I respect and admire Nuno for not using excuses I have some sympathy for the players having to cope with another game so soon. Sheffield had a full week to plan and prepare to do a job on us which they did and they will certainly do a job on plenty of other teams.
More quality additions to the squad required to cover for injuries and suspensions.
Not sure if to be happy or sad! We did not win, nor did we lose, but admit a draw was probably a fair result. However with all of these draws I feel that we are missing a golden opportunity to really well and truly break into the top six, but such are the tribulations of being a life long Wolves fan. Arsenal, Man U etc. won’t be poor forever, and Spurs are now getting results. Today’s game, definitely a red card that was missed, and agree Jota is off the pace a bit, probably trying too hard to score. A win against the Hammers will be pleasing!
Seems odd to me that, a few days after what must have been an exhausting match in the mud, Nuno didn’t use any subs – after minimal changes to the squad. Not much faith in the depth.
Maybe he felt they needed the exercise.
Generally agree with most of the above but feel it’s a fairly generous view of Sheffield United. Yes at times they played very well, in the first half in particular. But they resorted to blatant time wasting within 15 minutes of the kick-off and trips and shirt-pulling throughout. In all they received 5 yellow cards from a ref who was prepared to let a lot go unpunished, including a red card foul.
By the end they were hanging on against a Wolves who’d played in pouring rain on a pitch that resembled a beach, just three days previously.
Having said that Wolves were, for long periods, off their game. Dendonker had reverted to his earlier form and Jota’s anxiety to score affected his decision making.
But I was not disappointed with a draw, especially given Thursday’s heroics.
“The times they are a changing”
Well, believe you me, they are. (Have)
We will not be disappointed with this transfer window, we are sitting joint 5th in the greatest league in the world and we will buy to consolidate that position, then we shall move forward into a new level. Speculation by some people, yes I know, but from the fans Parliament, the vibes encourage me. I do believe “the times they are a changing”. But, at a level the like of we dared only to dream of 3 seasons ago pre Fosun.
Anyway, that’s the stuff of dreams for next Month, on to the game.
I attend Wolves hoping to be entertained, watch two teams slog it out with skill, goals and atmosphere in abundance.
Well I was not disappointed yesterday, they came to us with a well deserved creditable record in their first year back in the PL, they have been putting in the work and reaping the rewards. Two seasons ago we would have collapsed at the constant running at us, the closing down and the desire to win the game (causing fouls with the speed they play at). We played on Thursday and they had a week of preparation, but like Clive said, ” they looked knackered, out of steam and out of ideas in the second half”
The noise levels rose from the Wolves fans as we pressed with the same 11 players for the whole game, I don’t believe Nuno doesn’t trust his bench, quite the opposite. But, I do think this was his strategy to beat Sheffield, keep the same team on the whole game, we unsettled them by keeping a settled team throughout the game, their changes affected their game not ours, so we grew as the game went on.
I enjoyed the game, they had a good reputation coming into the game, we could have stolen it at the death, but as with many games this season we are lacking that killer punch all to often.
A £60 m wizard in the box for January, who knows? But, we are joint 5th in the greatest league in the World, we’ve just qualified for the knockout stages of a European competition, we are 2 maybe 3 years ahead now of Fosun’s master plan.
Me, I’m A Happy Clapper, I’m getting exactly what I pay for.
Off to Salford tomorrow night with Mr & Mrs Lowves to see the U23’s, then bring on the Hammers on Wednrsday. “I’m living my dream” I truly am.
N,B
Remember….Ko on Wednesday is 19:30, it’s caught a few people out, it’s changed due to (Amazon TV)
I’d rather spend £60m on Dias. A BCD back three. Clean sheets are the key.
Stuwolf i agree we need a striker in Jan window why he did not bring Cutrone on.We just dont score enough goals if we had converted half of the draws into wins we would be second or third in the league.
I believe we may all get what we want. These guys are serious.
I agree with much of Happy Wanderers comments, especially regarding Sheff U’s trips and pulls on our runners which repeatedly stifled our attempts to build counter attacks. However, they came and were very impressive generally and well worthy of the point with which they left.
I did feel we looked tired after 27 games this season. Not physically. In fact we ended the game stronger than them. But we looked, I felt, mentally jaded. Passes went astray, notably repeatedly from young master Neves, and we seemed to lack that incisive creativity which is normally a hallmark of our game. There doesn’t appear to be any let up in our schedule though, so for sure quality strengthening is required in January.
Overall though, as a guy who like competitive games,a most enjoyable couple of hours.
Towards the end of the game the big screen said ‘VAR checking for red card’. What red card? The chap next to me had no clue and neither did the woman in front of me or the bloke behind me. No idea. Who for – us or them? When? What? Where?
And then the penny dropped. Those cheeky chappies at Stockley Park, obviously bemused at the utterly inept Daniel Coote’s failure to issue a second yellow card to Sheffield United’s Baldock after he’d attempted to hack Diogo Jota’s legs off, were checking to see if the referee actually had a red card in his pocket. For possibly the very first time this season VAR got it right when the decision was displayed on the screen – “VAR DECISION – NO RED CARD”.
OODCL
I really enjoyed the game (if not the result) probably aided by the fact that I missed their opener.
A draw seemed a good result given how good The opposition were on the day but I can’t help feeling that if the players had been available we may have benefitted from going to three in the middle.
A few questions have come up as to why we didn’t use our subs. Well that’s easy to answer. They’re not good enough. I still like Cutrone and think his time will come but that time isn’t now. Might he benefit from some regular games on loan whilst we employ the wizened experience of a Defoe type player capable of shaking things up for the last 20 minutes? A bit more depth and tough games like this (and Braga) are ours for the taking.
Not sure what to make of yesterday. Sheffield United are a good, solid pl side and were a very difficult opponent. Positives were Kilman, a good pl debut, defensively solid and I think over time will become a threat in the opposition box at set pieces. Also, our fitness levels continue to impress and we definitely were the stronger team in the last 15. We are tantalisingly close to becoming a top team with a handful of top quality additions upfront and in midfield being priorities in my opinion. If we are to genuinely aspire to champions league places, I think Jota will need to score more consistently or become an impact sub and we need a box to box powerhouse who can arrive late to get on the end of the all too frequently unconverted supply into the box. If you look at the table the key difference between the current top four and the rest is that they average 2 to 3 goals per game whereas the rest are typically 1 to 1.5 per game. Defensively we are good enough to warrant more points on the board, unfortunately we simply don’t take our chances enough and that has pretty much been a feature of this team for a while now.
Defensively we are only good enough with big Willy. Better finishing would have seen Sheff Utd score a few.
Good point Sea Pigeon, but I feel we proved remarkably resilient considering we were without Willy, Romaine and Ryan B.
There are a couple areas of our game that can look a little out of tune at times. One is that relationship between Doc and Donk. When put under pressure they don’t do each other any favours and no -one could really describe their relationship as intuitive. Jota is another example of a machine part that currently needs some fine-tuning.
BUT the sum total of all those parts, even the currently clunky ones, means that no matter the weather or terrain, when you turn the key in the ignition this machine always starts and keeps going till we get to the destination. How we have maintained that durability through the number of games we have played and the changes to our back three is a coaching masterclass.
When a young lad like Kilman slots into such a high intensity prem league game as comfortably as he did, that is no fluke. He was ready to take his place in all aspects of his game.
Given the circumstances, that second-half comeback was unreal. I would love to know what Nuno thinks about this collection of players in comparison with other groups he has coached in the past. Has he always had the ability to produce racehorse performances like that from knackered ponies or is it that Nuno is inspired by the warm fragrant balmy Wolverhampton air.
Like the rest of us i have no idea where this season is going to lead, but I have a feeling we are going to achieve a respectable league position and announce the return of Wolverhampton Wanderers on the European stage.
Terrible refereeing .
Some of their stuff was reminiscent of Cardiff city tactics.
Stopping runs off the ball, taking it in turns to smash traore and jota and even with rotational fouling they still managed to get five yellow cards and should have had a red as well.
From a neutral viewpoint i suppose it was a great game but it left me very frustrated that we didn’t finish them off at the end when we had them on the ropes.
I think there bubble will burst second half of the season as the ball ran very well for them (aided by some terrible passing from a few of our players) and we all know that eventually the luck changes.
I mentioned in the preview that nuno s subs in braga let them back into the game and even if traore and jota are knackered he should leave them on because the opposition are frightened shitless of those two .
Lets hope we can get three points off the ammers on wednesday
No mention of the Steve Bull lineman. Missed 3 blatant instances when ball went out. You only have one job (these days) ………
To my eyes one blatant and two touch and go.
Thoughts are with Benik Afobi and family today tragic news.
My thoughts are with Benik Afobe after the horrendous loss his family are suffering.
The boys did well af a lacklustre start by us and a great start by United. I thought some of our lads looked a little tired mentally and physically to start with, but grew into the game. We certainly had them under the hammer for the last quarter, which was surprising. I was so pleased to see Kilman get his opportunity after some good performances recently. He’s a big strong lad but adjusts and moves well. Donk made a few rickets but also saved us on a couple of unnoted occasions in penalty area fracas. I did enjoy this game apart from the inept on occasion ref.
Fair result against a decent, well-organised team who could/should have been more than 1 ahead before we equalised.
Looking at their set-up I was thinking that maybe we should have matched them with a 3-5-2 of our own. But that depends on having either Saiss or the Donck as the 5th midfielder, which wasn’t possible. On the bench we had MGW, but he would have been too lightweight against a physical (I’m looking at you Fleck & Lundstram) midfield.
Otherwise, the only change I thought might have made a difference was Vinagre for Jonny as the latter had one of his less adventurous days in terms of getting forward. Still, onward and upward…
Watching on from the away end. With the gf whose a blades season ticket holder it was definitely a game of four quarters. In both halves blades started at a million miles an hour and tailed off for the last quarter. The intensity they closed down was impressive but when it comes to a battle of fitness there is no one who can live with this wolves side at the minute.
But for some poor decision making by Jimmy (uncharacteristic) and Jota ( boy does he need a goal) we could have been back on level terms before half time, and been out of site with 10 minutes to go. Had blades scored a second I would have still bet on us to get an equaliser by the end this wolves team just doesn’t know when it’s beat!
Three things of note:
Traore is incredible to watch at full tilt! The amount of times the ball went to him with three blades players round him and he just skipped at light speed around them! His final ball still needs a little polish but he’s 100% more effective than the player I watched last season.
Moutinho: If id known watching us dropping down the divisions like a stone under moxey, connor and Saunders would lead this I’d have scored a few own goals myself! The guy is playing a different game. It’s beautiful to watch, imagine we used to get excited by nenad milijas!
Referees, linesman and VAR: what is the point of VAR if we have linesmen that can’t give a throw-in, or a ref that can’t count the number of fouls commited by individuals. Blades are a physical side and that’s ok but the ref needs to be able to book players when it happens continually and send players off when it’s bloody blatant. Even the away fans thought Baldock had gone. They celebrated him staying on as much as their goal!
That’ll do for us.
Wolves Vs Manure in the FA Cup
Just hope it’s not moved to 745pm on the Saturday night or worse still to the Monday night as it messes up everything for us long distance supporters.
Well said Bedford it is a nightmare.
Get booking the hotel, Bedford.
Hope it’s moved to Monday night so I’ve a chance of getting a ticket. 🙂
Forget the John Lewis Christmas ad, forget the ASDA Christmas ad.
This is the best there is..
All you Wolves Dads and Grandads out there, this is guaranteed to send a shiver down the spine.
https://mobile.twitter.com/wolves/status/1201803262124388353