A balmy evening in Belfast sure feels like a long time ago.
A love affair with something new, where nothing felt impossible and time in an ornate Irish bar felt infinite.
Forty-five days have passed since we embarked on that Crusade and in the space of 45 minutes against Chelsea, it felt like a lifetime.
Maybe the cynics are right and our Europa adventure is incompatible with the Premier League? Poles apart? On yesterday’s evidence they have a point.
We looked jaded and weak in the face of a teak-tough Chelsea side, who looked fleeter in foot and sharper in mind for large parts. (The opening 20mins was a fair contest before the wheels began to fall off). They were just the better side, as we resembled a leggy under-12s side battling uphill against the under-14s.
Befitting of a 2-5 scoreline, our defence looked hopeless, with Vallejo, Saiss and Coady all struggling, the latter in particular must have ached for Willy Boly’s presence. And is our lightweight midfield in need of a Mario Lemina-type player to lighten the load? We were linked once, which maybe tells its own story. Up front, Jota and Jiminez looked to be running on empty.
In short, we looked short.
As our 130th anniversary at Molineux was commemorated on the day, some context must be taken though, however the embryonic Premier League table might be looking.
Once upon a time, an occupational hazard was a training session on the North Bank car park or a boot up the arse from Eddie Clamp. Now it’s a departure gate and journeys with club and country.
Times change, alright. And irrespective of this humbling defeat, we’re in the best place we’ve been in years, able to at least view the video wall history montages with smiles, rather than sadness.
But with the Europa League workload looming large (not to mention Crystal Palace thereafter), it’s fair to say we’re thinly spread right now.
No point regretting it though. More productive to make changes by bringing Doherty and Boly back – and taking each day as it comes.
Agreed on all counts mate.
We were ok (but not much more) prior to their opening goal.
The game was lost in the response to going behind, similar to the home defeat to Watford last season. Loose in possession and then clumsy in defence.
Nuno says he made the decision to drop Bennett but Mr. Reliable, Boly and Doherty should all come back into the side immediately. Saiss, Valejo and Traore all had roles to play in the goals conceded. As I’ve said before, we’re a team built to win games by conceding zeros and ones so can’t give anyone anything.
Looking for positives I thought all the subs looked sharp and offered something that the team lacked prior to their introductions – intensity. Good to see Doc something close to his best getting in behind to setup Cutrone’s goal – who I also thought got through a lot of good work in the second half.
I think playing Cutrone and Jimenez up top with Jota slightly deeper is a good tactic when we’re chasing games and hopefully in less catastrophic circumstances that can rescue points.
A reserve team on Thursday please Nuno and back to serious business at Selhurst Park. We need a win from one of the next two or panic will start to set in.
At times yesterday I thought it was 2003/2004 under Dave Jones. Remember the early season tonkings Blackburn Chelsea Charlton. Being torn apart by slick opposition. Is this SSS (second season syndrome) ? Did we do enough to bring in better than what we have? Is the early season Europa adventure having effect? Are we being ‘found out’ ? I will still argue we have not become a bad team overnight. We have had a tough set of opening fixtures. It’s early days. All this needs to be thrown in to the mix. That said I would like to see 4 points from the next two games to steady the ship. We go again next week.
4 points from the next two games seems unlikely when we’ve got 3 points from our first five … if anything we’ve slowly got worse with each passing game.
I proposed to a friend that perhaps the prospect of getting into the top 6 was less likely or held less reward vs effort than success in Europe and we would focus on that – so far that would appear to be the case.
We could be bottom if Watford pull something out the hat against Arsenal but for some reason I’m not particularly worried – reinforcements will arrive in January and I still think we will finish about mid table. If we get some measure of success in Europe then this will have been another big step forward.
As an aside i thought Vallejo looked great, and a very useful option to have from the bench. Doherty is still some way off form but the sooner we get back to our trusted back four the better.
Palace ? Who the f*ck is Palace …
Better than being in the Chumpionship though ay it. Like Sandwell Town.
The first job of a defender is to defend. Bennett and Boly are both good at that and without them our porosity was frightening. Those two, with the Doc, returning will see an upturn in our fortunes, I’m sure.
Traore, for me, remains at the moment an impact sub when you need one.
Nuno always preached that success comes from solid disciplined defensive unit which gives nothing away. But now we have moved away from this platform
Traore cannot defend. Saiss is not a Premiership quality central defender. The Spaniard is at best very average. Without the reassuring presence of Boly and Bennett around him. Coady’s limitations were cruelly exposed
Surely it’s time to get back to basics. This third rate European excursion must not be allowed to threaten our long term Premiership am notions.
In my view we should have played the second team or as near to it from the start in the Europa .Priority always has to be the Premier League.Our strength last season was the consistency of selection .We know what works ,we dont need to experiment, and we know also that our players can perform and can perform well.So a change in philosophy please Nuno, consistency of selection, and try and keep the best team playing only at the weekend as far as possible.If this means a weaker Europa League team then so be it.We need to be promoting success and pushing up the league alia last season, not fighting relegation.
It always makes me slightly annoyed (well, very annoyed actually) when a player, like Coady, has a bit of a mare, and ‘fans’ start slagging him off:- “He can’t defend”, “He’s got no pace”, “Drop him” are just some of the informed comments from people who obviously know a lot more about the game than Nuno and his backroom staff…. and me of course.
Yesterday was truly awful, and Connor was caught out a couple of times – as was Rui, Jesus (who, incidentally is certainly NOT the Messiah), Neves and most of the rest.
But he is the ONE constant in our two seasons of almost unbroken success.
He’s played every game, and marshalled the defence superbly. And against a very good and quick Chelsea attack, in which a certain Tammy Abraham starred, he’s probably earned himself enough brownie points to get away with a poor performance.
Having said that, we need to get our regular back five together ASAP, and we also need to remind Ruben Neves that he IS allowed to operate in the opponent’s half should he so decide.
For me, he is the biggest disappointment this season.
Nuno needs to galvanise his troops and earn his bread in the next few weeks.
The longer we go without a league win, the harder it becomes to get one.
See you all on Thursday!
I am afraid the small squad so loved by Nuno is now finding us out .It is fine sticking to your ideas but the Europa League marathon has showed (as sadly many of us predicted ) that we are much too thin on the ground .When players are not performing you have to have replacements .Look how wellDoherty and Cutrone did when they came on .Proper new and fresh legs .The naiveness and stubbornness of this was shown when Nuno suggested recently he had 60 odd players to choose from .That I am afraid was just stupid .The priority has to be the PL as we have to get a couple of wins soon or we could be in a relegation fight .
I was also sad to see Fosun already trying to cash in a bit of their investment despite all the talk of long term investment it is wise to remember this is just a bit of business for them .
Nick spot on your certainly not wearing rose tinted glasses like a few on here….!
Mine are actually gold-tinted, I’ll have you know.
The way i see it is we have a first 11 then apart from 1-2 coming of the bench we are short we do not have the strenght in depth or the quality to leave players out and this has got to be Nunos fault because he likes a small squad.
Totally agree dek we have a first 11 a couple of good subs and thats it .
We simply do not have the numbers or quality to sustain a two pronged attack on the prem and the europa .
Thomas is correct in that nuno should play the reserves on Thursday and see how we do.
If we lose then its no great shakes in my book.
This is degenerating into a shambles even at this early stage .
Poor old conor had no chance with nuno playing saisse and vallero along side him the bloke was virtually playing all three positions and as for midfield cover …. well … where was it ?
The European adventure should be used to blood the other players and the first team need to regroup and go back to the basics of last season before every one loses heart and the whole shabang blows up.
The premier league must be our priority not Europe.
Starting with our true first eleven and a convincing win at palace.
Absolutely spot on. We failed miserably to strengthen in the summer so that we cannot compete effectively in two competitions
Presently we have become a rag bag of very tired individuals. We are no longer a team. Priorities need to be established. Fast
Dek,
You’ve hit the nail on the head son…!
I think it’s pretty clear that Nuno doesn’t really see too much of a future for Bennett but his catch 22 is that every time he drops him the replacement has a nightmare. To my mind, to replace him when Boly is also out was always going to be folly when we’re up against a potent attacking force. At least Bennett knows how to defend so until we can find a ball playing central ‘defender’ who can also defend, the good doctor may have to eat humble pie.
All comments bang on for me. Treat the Europa as a testing bed for the likes of Kilman, Neto & others.
Yesterday was frankly humiliating, we were embarrassing defensively, not holding & using the ball in midfield, Traore as a wing back is a Europa experiment only. In the ultra competitive Prem we have to have a quality tested player. What a relief it was to see Doherty’s number 2 shirt getting ready to come on in the dugout.
The surety of Doherty & Cutrone’s up and at em approach were really the only pluses yesterday. Our first half non -show even made the parading of former greats at H-T seem flat.
Oh for Mick Bailey’s power in midfield yesterday! Maybe it’d be a good idea to rest Coady for once this Thursday. I don’t know but I hope Nuno does.
Really need two wins in our next two Prem league outings or it’s going to be tough to stay away from the yawning jaws of the Prem trapdoor.
Yes no doubt a 5-2 reverse at home is a big reality check. I have faith we can change the gears, and rise once again as a breath of Prem fresh air. But the scratch defence yesterday gave me nightmares! Boly, Bennett & Doherty badly missed.
Bad day but we move on could not believe the slagging that Coady received from a few near me in the North Bank the same slagggers who left before the full time whistle.
Bennett should have been in the squad even thou l can see Doctor Nunno reason for leaving him out.
Wolves Aye We
I’m afraid if your not doing your job then you get bollocked in equal messure Coady has been heaped with praise when he’s played well that’s the same in any job.
Also just because fans go early why does that seen to make them less of a fan than those that stay till the end they’ve paid there money if there not liking what there seeing why should the stay…..I’m sure you would criticize them if they stopped till the end and boo…….do you think they were not frustrated and disappointed to be beaten 5.2 and watched there team struggle….?
The fact is our sqaud is to small and not good enough to cope with the Europa and the Premier League.
We are now desperate to get players back that were playing week in week out last season which tells me we didn’t recruit no where near enough numbers and quality in the summer.
This is a massive under sight by whoever.
We should you think have learnt from Burnley but no.
If you look at the teams who compete in Europe on a regular basis there sqaud are 20 to 22 first team players not under 23’s first team players who can slot in and out of the team and in Citys case may be more.
I would seriously put out the under 23″s in the Europa game on Thursday? and concentrate on getting the first team ready for Palace .
Premier league football something we have only been involved in for 4 seasons out of 40 is far more important than Europe.
Nuno needs to stop experimenting with Triora and give Coady a kick up the arse.
We can make excuses all day long about not have enough time with the squad but other teams see the manage it .
I always think that when things start going wrong (in football), the thing to do to address the problems to start with is to go back to basics and play the `simple` game. Good movement off the ball and simple, quick passing; this has been the major casualty of a jaded team.
In this instance, revert back to what we were good at and what suited us; Doc and Otto at wing back, Bennett, Coady and Boly at centre back, Moutino, Neves and Dendonker/Saiss in midfield with Jotta and Jimenez up front for all league games; Traore to come on as an impact player with half an hour to go.
For me The Europa Cup is secondary, and I shall scream if any one says it has no effect on the team; the history of previous teams exploits proves differently as do my eyes; all else is self delusion imo. You cannot recover sufficiently within two , three or even four days to compete with fresher squads; the modern game is so dependent on athleticism and sharpness.
We have some players who can only benefit from regular Europa games as they are not first choices in the Premier League.
After Christmas, if we have enhanced our squad, we may be able to cope better, but we can not allow the present form to continue; we must at present prioritise on league games imo.
Last season, against the top six, we defended and broke quickly to effect; this season we seem determined to go head to toe against these sides on an equal footing. Though admirable and the way to go when we have such a rich squad, we are not up to that standard quite yet and little differences mean a lot at this level. By all means let’s have a real go at those around and `below` us, but let’s do what we know has worked with the top clubs… We will be all right but our confidence needs a boost as at one time last year before we went with two up front. In Nuno we trust!
Yes totally agree on the Europa. My brother a bloody Liverpool fan has been banging on for years about the non-fit between European success & league championships. He blamed Liverpool’s loss of last season’s Championship & City’s winning of it on Liverpool’s success in Europe. So even amongst the elite of the elite rotating squads & maintaining form is tough. Wolves have probably peaked too soon. Maybe needed to miss out on Europe & consolidate in the league this season.
As always, very sound perspective Debenham.
Chelsea are no mugs after all, and I did warn how much I rate Abraham in my 2-0 prediction lol; he knew what he was doing staying with Chelsea. But that first goal was a brilliant ‘worldie’, and second was somewhat unfortunate in how the ball ping ponged about. After that it was an uphill battle.
However the first problem was obviously the untried new defensive selections; I really like Bennett’s reliability, and to be honest I don’t think an attacking talent like Traore can be expected to defend all that well. And Neves ? he needs to have forwards he can get those slaking passes to; I’m sorry we let Cavaleiro go.
I like to think that it wasn’t really a 2-5, and as with that 0-6 to Southampton some years back, we’ll be back with a win next time out.
Agree about Cavaleiro, but, I guess he wanted more games and who can blame him. Though the Europa Cup and other competitions may have kept him busy…
Ugh ! That was really ugly. It seems last season is coming back to bite us. The ‘Big 6’ now have an idea of how we will play and set up to counteract it – see Lampard’s post-match comments. That need not be a disaster provided we can start seeing off the lesser lights (relegation candidates) that we failed so badly against last season. But the Burnley match suggested we still have to find solutions for them.
There’s plenty of criticism on here already, so what positves can we take from yesterday ?
1. We drew the second half against a very good team.
2. When we play with urgency (at 0-3 you have no choice !) we look like a completely different team.
3. Doc came on and we looked a lot more threatening.
4. Cutrone looks like he has something to offer.
5. We haven’t become a poor team overnight and the PL is a marathon, not a sprint.
What a load of old shit
Sloppy nervous foitball
Put the back four back together Nuno
and do your tinkering in Europa league
Watched the u 23s before the game and that shabani
Looks mint
After 30 mins there wasn’t s great deal of difference between the two sides.
It took a stunning curler from the Chelsea CB to break the deadlock and this put Chelsie in the ascendency. Personally I thought they were a bit fortuitous with how the opportunity materialised as the ball cannoned of Jota to Tomori from the left corner space , he was unmarked and whoosh… 0-1.
Come on … it’s always uphill when a stunner goes in and before you can fart it’s 0-3.
OK there were some poor performances and I’m totally adamant we’re playing some square pins in round holes (Traore)…. and also missing the likes of Boly, Doherty and Bennett…. 3 key components of our resilient rearguard.
A huge plus for me though is … “oh Patrick Cutrone…..” and he deserves a start .
Let’s not all get too down guys …. Chelsea we’re OK … we weren’t….
Room for improvement and I trust Dr Nuno to get it back to how it was…..
‘…I thought they were a bit fortuitous with how the opportunity materialised’
Spot on. It was a short corner routine that they completely messed up, and I honestly believe the guy hit the shot out of frustration as much as anything else.
One final point, teams are now very aware of our counter-attacking capability and plan accordingly. There were at least 3 occasions yesterday when we were looking to break out and one of our players was fouled or balked around the half-way line. Why ship a goal when you can take a yellow card instead ?
Bang on Lord Twix there first goal changed the whole game .
As I watched Tomori advance to the ball I thought… “defender shot … this is a row Z …. “ … so no disrespect to the outcome but 9/10 times that would have blazed over.
Cheers for the comment mate… and yes it completely changed the dynamic…
Strange article in local rag FOSUN looking for investment in Wolves………..Are they looking for an exit route or genuine investment……?
Good question Paul There’s been no hint of anything like this up to now, but apparently Fosun are feeling the pinch. Is that why we didn’t add to our squad in the summer? It’s an issue that certainly needs addressing that’s for sure.
We are 5 points off 3rd place ffs ! Not exactly the end of the world is it ?
No but to get those five points you need to win games…… Something we haven’t managed yet.
Could be bottom by the end of the day…….Only 12 points from the top….!
Hiya mate … when the big screens were reviewing our history the headlines stood out….
“Bhattis out”….
“Judge orders Wolves to close “….
Training on the North Bank car park…
Doesn’t it make you realise that we’re still in dreamland….
Don’t worry…..
Dreamland Twix really, to stand still is to regress….. It’s because i want us to stay n ” dream land” i mean Premier that I’m not sticking my head in the sand telling myself? everything in the garden is Rosey……..Come on wake up…!
Paul mate… I’m not sticking my head in the sand at all.
I’ll shout …. Abandon ship AFTER we’ve hit the iceberg BUT certainly not before…..
No, but if we fail to stop this negative trend then it will soon become so.
Cutrone looks a real handful. Quick and very strong.
Good to see him get his goal. He gave the team a lift when he appeared.
Agree with that. Cutrone certainly stirred it up a bit. Think he could be summat special. Apparently that lad we got from Bayern Munich is a bit special an all. Midfield bloke. Cor remember his name!
Shabani
And he’s fucking Mint
Some really interesting comments on here this time round.
Yes it was a very poor showing and lot’s of players need to up their game and get back on it, Nuno needs to look at his tactics and his refusal to deviate from his style of play, horses for courses springs to mind.
From my perch in the North Bank, I spotted the same glaring mistake I spotted two weeks ago at Everton and also last year at Newcastle away. If you have a great gaping hole in midfield, teams will run at you and punish you. If you stand off the attacking team you don’t stand an earthly of catching them if they are up to speed by the time they reach you.
When we closed the door in midfield and close-marked teams running at us, we were successful and results followed..
FFS, yesterday we had no midfield, there was a hole you could fit a Tammy Abraham’s in and boy did he exploit it, poor Coady did not stand a feckin chance. Boly would have been all over three of those goals and Bennett would have floored Mount long before he got near the penalty box to score.
Our biggest claim to fame last season was our fitness and consistency, how the hell can Nuno prepare for an injury to Doherty, then once he recovers he goes and has a problem which is medical but not football related. He experimented with a new formation and admitted yesterday that the players he played in those positions, failed miserably.
Also, our summer purchases were not as good as previous years under Fosun, in my own opinion I do believe we are missing a trick by not signing guys up before the transfer window opens, we could introduce new players into our system when they became eligible to play, not when the window closes. Other teams seem to do this successfully, why can’t we.
On the topic of the Europa league, I am loving it, it’s amazing visiting these weird and wonderful venues, long may it continue. We’re a better team than our position in the league shows and we will sort it out.
Let’s take 6 points from the next two games and get back into a routine, then we can chill, start to enjoy our team again and come January see where to strengthen our weaknesses and move forwards.
All is not well in the camp, but it’s certainly not reversible by any stretch of the imagination.
Glass half full.
Stu better team than our League position …… You are joking.. .. next it will be we are to good to go down .. really i would have given you more credit.
Are you Tim in disguise?
You can take the Mick Clive that’s fine……..Just shows you’ve no argument or anything to say.
The point of blogging is to discuss, debate and share differing opinions.
Not to start slagging off anyone who disagrees.
Paul, you are better than that.
Not slagging off I’m disagreeing Clive ……I don’t resort to piss takes your right I’m better than that.
There a few bBloggers on here who think they are untouchable well I don’t care who you are if I disagree with you I’ll say so…..I’ll put my view across intelligently and people can agree or disagree….as they say that’s life.
Paul,
Opinions are like arseholes, we’ve all got one.
That’s mine.
I’m not going to start slagging my team off, just because we’ve lost two PL games, “I give myself more credit than that”
I’m not slagging the team just because they have lost 2 games I’m looking at the bigger picture I’m not blinkered I am pointing out we’re I think things have gone wrong , like recruitment for instance we have brought I player and 2 in on loan fact.
We are Premier League team if we were still in the Championship we would have brought in more than that every new season teams buy sell players.
And yes I citizise the team and Nuno I pay good money to watch them I’ve spent over £250 on shirts and training gear alone this season.
So I will carry on critiseing where I think it’s warranted and give praise in equal measure.
Your right you have your option and I have mine I don’t agree with you on this occasion I’ve been a Wolves fan 45 years and most of those have been disappointment but I’m still here and I’ve seen where thing have gone wrong in the past and there are similar issues with the present like lack of investment season after season.
Even know alarm bells are ringing regarding FOSUN commitment. Again look at the summer recruitment or lack of and now FOSUN are looking for additional investors, they are worth Billions. This not so long after the sacking of Dalrinkle the MD.
Coincidence who knows time will tell. One thing I have learnt as a Wolves fan is to spot the signs when things are quite as they should be and I will put my views across
Paul.
Love the passion mate.
No offence taken and certainly non given.
It’s a blog to express your views and that’s what we are both doing.
🙂
Stu,
Same here it’s because we care …..and that will never stop,like a child you never stop worrying or caring.
No probs mate .
I love this blog. Every single person who has made a contribution has done so from the heart. But what makes the blog special is that there is no out pouring of vitriol. No trolling. No personal attack. Every one accepts the opinion of others. Sure there may be a challenge but in a constructive way . Everyone should be very proud of themselves.
But I aint bin on yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well yo am the exception
100%.
That’s what we all have, and what we all share with every football fan in the world.
100%
Hindsight.
And yet none of us is 100% right, nor 100% wrong.
We all see the same game a teeny bit differently from one and other.
Each and every player is someone’s favorite, and each and every player has his detractors.
The only thing I am 100% sure about is, no matter who dons the club colors on Thursday evening, they will get 100% support from the crowd.
Our good Doctor has his set ways and preferences, but he also has his support team, who, like us, see the games slightly differently, and will tell him so.
He is not mccarthy like dinosaurish, pigged headed, narrow minded and arrogant.
He listened last year when things were not going right, and I’m damned sure he will be listening now.
No, three points from five games is pathetic, but there are still 99 points up for grabs this season, plus three cups to play for.
Yes, we were all pissed off with Saturday’s efforts, or lack of them, me as much as anyone, but it’s no use finger pointing and blaming all and sunday, we are better than that, and we WILL come good.
The players who under performed will know better than anyone, and will also know that no place is sacrosanct, and they’d better buck their ideas up, or get dropped.
Unless you are two years old or younger, we have all been a lot worser off than we are now.
Once again, boys and girls, keep the faith, nothing is rotten in the state of Denmark!!
Things may look bad but our first six fixtures would have been difficult with or without the Europa.
As fans, we expect to win them all. But, from the outside looking in, the only one of these we were favourites to win was against Burnley. So, three points is about right.
Onwards and upwards but maybe not until Watford at home at the end of the month.
Wolves, ay we?
Well this certainly was one game where we cannot blame the European commitments, seeing we had a break. Everyone seems to find some sort of excuse as to why we lost. I have one. Chelsea (a long term top 6 team) were superior to us in every aspect of the game. Their passing was crisper, quicker and more accurate than ours. Their shots were on target. So let’s give credit where credit is due. Sure our players were not up to their usual standards, but it’s difficult to look good when you can’t get the ball in the first place.The only anomaly I see is that we seem to have the one plan – 3 5 2, absorb pressure and counter attack. We need to be more flexible. I like the idea mentioned earlier of a 4 3 1 2, and a bit more ball possession.
And although like many others, in Nuno we trust, I seem to recall the same phrase uttered for every manager we had in the last 10 years (maybe except for Clipboard).
Would second what you say about flexibility or lack of in Nuno’s team set ups.
Following MOD this weekend it’s interesting to note that both Eddie Howe & Lampard change their back 4’s to 3’s to suit the opposition. I’m sure Nuno knows best but the quality of the Prem is so high you just cannot stay static & inflexible. There lies defeat & worse.
Against Chelsea with Boly out might we have not gone 4 at the back? Freeing up Traore for a more or less total attacking role? It’s plain to me that defending just isn’t Adama’s game. But giving him carte- Blanche to roam the wings might unsettle teams more. He seemed restrained to me because he’s so uncertain how to defend!
Well l predicted we would get found out,and we were.Lampard had a plan and exploited our weaknesses.l am not going to lambaste the coach or the players yet,but put this performance down to the international break,as highlighted in a previous post.Also looking @the results this weekend is it a coincidence that all the Iberian coaches (nes,pep,silva,emery)all had defensive issues.I am worried because l don’t think there is a quick fix solution,not just defensively,but more in midfield.So for Thursday,l hope we go for a full strength side and try through organisation build momentum for Sunday.
The wolves jigsaw puzzle analogy:- when one piece is missing the picture still looks good
When two pieces are missing the picture looks sort of ok
When three pieces are missing the whole thing goes to shite and you may as well put it back in the box until you find your three pieces.
Thats the problem with wolves at the moment.
We are a jigsaw puzzle thats only any good when all or nearly all of the pieces are there and in the right place.
Until nuno has a bigger box of replacement pieces that will still fit together even when he loses a few he will struggle.
And trying to shove a piece into the hole that doesn’t fit wont get him anywhere.
Quality and strength in depth is the absolute key to playing in two competitions .
We just dont have that at the moment but we will in a few seasons time
Europe has come way too early in our very tender development or has it?
No longer can owners throw thousands of millions at teams and buy success
it has to be done within the financial rules and it will take time.
The key to obtaining quality players is either finishing in the top 4 of the premier or somehow getting access to the champions league via another avenue.
The squad we have managed to put together will not finish in the top 4 of the prem.
but it may well win the Europa league.
maybe just maybe that is the thinking going on behind the doors at molineux.
Mid table uninspiring prem season but win the Europa cup and qualify for the champions league.
Its a long shot but come the end of the season wouldn’t we all go for that ?
You don’t have to be a cynic to have doubts about the Europa League. At the end of last season I feared the potential downside of finishing 7th and also thought Prem teams would not allow us to play our game this season. Both appear to be biting us in the bum. I’m not quite sure why the Europa effect is so punishing, and with an international break and no Europa match it can’t be the reason for this drubbing. But the other reason I feared the Euro qualifiers is that new players would not be signed in time to integrate into the squad and provide real rotation options – again that’s turned out to be true. Not hindsight……I blogged to that effect last season.
Yes, the Europa League is a great adventure, and the only game I could get to so far against Torino was a magical night. But though we are indeed in a much better place than most of my supporting 57yrs, the broad golden horizons we have now seen make it almost harder to take. Let’s hope we can turn around the Prem form soon and keep the wonderful train on the tracks.
Feeling down?
Lost the will to live?
Need a break away from Wolves?
Well, just imagine how this poor chap feels.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolves-talksport-call-wwfc-fans-16924938
Oh yes, anyone interested or going to Besiktas, tickets on sale tomorrow. I’m getting mine first thing. We’re getting 2129, £15 all tickets.
Need more Italian passion.
Not going to
Pour more petrol on the fire
Bolys stupid dig at Richarlison was always going to expose us
Coady isn’t quick never was never will be
So a makeshift defence was exposed
MGW Doc and Cutrone all made an impact …I believe our talent pool
Is deeper than some bloggers think ( but not 60 strong)
Last season it was our midfield that needed upgrading and the BF Belgian was the answer
Nuno and his Brains Trust are undoubtedly re thinking the formation and selections
Geordie’s had 3 points after 10 games last year
We have 50+ games ahead of us , hopefully
Let’s calm down, trust and be relieved and excited when Nuno’s magic sponge goes to work
OODCL
Hair raising result and a reality check on our current status…
We need to strengthen at the back to cover Doherty, Boly in particular and wtf re bennet why didn’t he play?
Buy Fosun buy…
That’s 3-4 months away, Steve. Who we will be able to attract will depend largely on our league position. It is notoriously difficult to buy the right players in the January window.
Ancient Chinese proverb says
“ yow doe look at fookin league table till albatross flies from the east and we have played 10 games ayit
Or something similar
Europa knockout stages and comfortably in mid table in time for our Xmas dinners
Happy days
Utw
As Ric ocasec would have said
“ let the good times roll “
I don’t know who sold their season ticket seats back, but if it’s any of you bloggers, thanks for the first class seats for the game.
Front row seats to a horror show from wolves.
All has been covered about the game by all on here, but I have a perspective on the squad depth aspect of our problems at the moment, that many of you have discussed.
I think our recruitment hasn’t been that bad. The key for me is that they all offer something different to our classic first 11. The problem being that Nuno is asking players to fit like for like, when they have no chance of producing the goods compared with the outgoing injured or suspended player.
The perfect example is the obsession to make Traore a wing back. My brother noticed it more than I did during the game, but he just doesn’t have the discipline to fit the role, being in poor positions and reacting slowly to danger. Doherty on the other hand can defend, finds himself in space a lot and is arguably a more consistent attacking threat.
I get where people are coming from with the squad depth and I agree the players aren’t playing at their best to date. However I think the management have to see where changing the formation or tactics can best utilise the players they have available, instead of making them play out of position.
Much improvement needed, but I think it will click at some point. Come on you wolves.
Played 11. Won 6, Drawn 3, Lost 2.
Mitigating circumstances for conceding 5 goals:
– Doherty ill/injured and underperforming all season (up to this game) so Adama understandably started ahead of him;
– Boly banned so Saïss understandably deputised;
– International break (Nuno and and co meticulously prepare their teams for every game and I think I’m right in saying we always underperform after players return from international duty).
Reasons to be cheerful:
– Patricio, Doherty-Bennett-Coady-Boly-Jonny, Mutinho-Neves-Dendoncker, Jiminez-Jota;
– Saïss has been on great form in midfield and can deputise for any of the midfield 3 if required;
– Cutrone and Neto give us much better striking options than we had last season;
– In spite of their defensive frailties Adama and Vinagre give us more exciting/attacking options left and right should we choose to deploy them against lesser teams who come to park the bus
– Ruddy perfectly fine cover for Patricio (particularly in the domestic cups)
– A glorious away victory in Torino giving us at least 6 more European matches to enjoy
For 30 minutes of the first half and 45 minutes of the second half we were not outplayed by Chelsea. Don’t get me wrong, we deserved to lose but a lucky break off Jota for a wonder strike and a 6th minute injury-time sucker punch made this a very flattering scoreline for the visitors. So, picking Vallejo over Bennett was a mistake (particularly when Doherty and Boly were already out) and the Premier League table doesn’t look pretty right now but I won’t be slashing my wrists just yet.
In Nuno we trust.
Watched the game via a very good stream. We started off on the offensive and I was more than optimistic. Well 3 goals in 10 mins killed that.
Football has it’s up’s and down’s and this was a big down. Still having been a Wolves fan for so long it’s something I am used to. We have been spoilt over the last few seasons so when the wheels come off it hurts.
Nowt to do but carry on carrying on.
Onwards and Upwards
P.S. It may have been my middle granson’s fault as his Chelsea pillow was in prominent view, next to me on the sofa 🙁
🙂
Read all the posts with great interest, I am not qualified to pass comment on the game as I could not go as I had a commitment elsewhere. However, I winced at the teamsheet- as previously stated our success to date has been based on a rock solid and organised back five. Adama, Jesus and Saiss are all fine, technical players and against a less ambitious, talented side may have performed well within our defence. However, against a top 6 side bristling with international quality we were bound to be found out. Abraham took his chances well and justifies our pursuit last season- that said I prefer Cutrone’s physicality being in the Bully mode of attacking CF. Too early to panic- disappointed at reports of wholesale departures from the BW stand at halftime and scuffles in the toilets from the ‘Nuno Out’ fans. Nunos qualities will be fully tested steering a safe path in the PL and progress in the EL. Cutrone to start for Raul on Thursday, otherwise best eleven and gutsy win at Palace well within our means.
BBC sport have picked up on the wolves owners looking for investment and a couple of tabloids .
Seems strange I wonder if the Chinese government have had a word with what’s going on in Hong Kong ,they seem to be having a go at the UK for supporting the pro democracy movement over there they have a massive stake in the UK loads of firms not just FOSUN …… I know to much time on my hands conpiricey theorist eat your heart out.
All about it here. Like any other business, always looking for investment.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/09/14/fosun-believed-to-be-open-to-selling-wolves-stake/
For me, Nuno had probably thought Chelsea’s indifferent start meant he could play a “Europa” defence and save Bennett for Thursday… trouble was Chelsea were up for it and we weren’t concentrating enough… the Europa League is easily weaker than the PL and we need to re-acclimatise to the slog.. that said we have played top sides plus a revitalised Burnley. For me Bennett and Boly (if avail) should always start because they have the experience and physicality needed. Coady is an interceptor, an anticipator and a great passer, he shouldn’t be one v one v Tammy; Jesus looked too raw… I would have put Bennett on (not even on the bench??)and moved Saiss into MF at the expense of Donck who I didn’t really see all match… I can see a move for Kessie…we’ll come good, form v class etc, didn’t enjoy the young guys , old b4 their time – and far too negative – who knew it all behind me, berating every player… ridiculous, glad they left early and I could hear myself to have a chat in Spanish to a pair of Mexicans who came to see Raul… Cutrone looked like he means to do well, great attitude….viva los Lobos!!!
Well here we go. I am not making reference to anyone on this blog. BUT I have visited a couple of other Wolves forums and I just cannot believe it. Questions like ‘how long would you give Nuno?’ , ‘nuno wants the Portugal job’, ‘ Mourinho is lined up to take over’, ‘ Are Fosun bothered?’ etc etc etc. We have lost TWO games for God sake. The Pant Wetters out in all their glory. My mate nearly came to blow with two whingeing prats at the match last Saturday. He said summary like ‘where the fuck were you at Crewe four years ago’ . Sadly I predicted this on this blog a year or so ago. 14000 ‘fans’ suddenly come out of the woodwork when the sun is shining. When Neves is a God. When Nuno is special. Personally I will be glad when the moaning twats bugger off again and the true fans can get some tickets for away matches again. Feel better now.
Well said Cheese but unfortunately the moaning Johnny come lateleys will only bugger off when we start failing on a regular basis.
Well said Cheesy and Sea Pigeon as l said on my post Sunday the amount of abuse aimed at Coady and some of the players was disgusting Wolves fans or not l had to sit on my hands, they are not supporters in our sense of the word, travelling home on the M5 many a car was seen with Wolves colours still put the thumbs and banter with some on the services one lad travelling down to Cornwall .
They like everybody on here are the true supporters of this wonderful club.
Well said Cheesy, away at Crewe was a brillant day out. Saturday afternoons like that, is what supporting your team is all about.
Here we are all getting behind the team trying to gee them up.
Really great to see the Southbank knuckleheads knocking shit out of each other.