Given that we conceded three goals, it feels odd to be saying a defender stole the show.
But Yerson Mosquera was just that good.
Maybe some battle-hardened Premier League attackers will expose frailties in his game, but from what I’ve seen so far, he’s got everything.
We knew he was aggressive in the tackle and strong in the air, but today showcased his ability to hold possession and consistently pick the right pass.
He capped a fine all-around display with an assist for Morgan Gibbs-White, measuring a ball over the top that was well finished by his teammate.
It will be fascinating to see who Bruno Lage chooses at Leicester in that first game and whether Conor Coady plays himself into contention in the final few weeks.
If the skipper does get back in, his positional play and organisation could supplement Mosquera’s physicality nicely.
Had Coady’s voice been booming out from that back four today I suspect one or two of those goals might have been prevented, with Wolves undone by a simple chip over the top, a counter-attack from a corner and an individual error from Hugo Bueno.
It was a shame for the young full-back as he’d setup Ki-Jana Hoever for an exceptional goal moments earlier to bring his side back into the game.
And as good as that finish was from Hoever, it’s a bit concerning how little our forward players have offered in all three of the pre-season games so far.
Trincao in particular has existed on the periphery of the games, with far more of the play flowing through makeshift winger Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Yes, it’s still early days but I’d like to see a bit more from our marquee attacking signing to give me hope he can be a difference-maker this season.
Back to Blighty now and with Coady and Traore joining the squad, we can hopefully begin to see Bruno’s team crystallising at Stoke.
I can only echo your words about Mosquera, who excelled in all aspects of the game. Early days I know but he looks scary good.
Much more watchable match and there were some notable contributions from several of our youngsters.Luke Cundle looks ready for first team outings and several others impressed. The result is the biggest disappointment.
Really hope Trincao comes around. He should be at Neto levels – based on his background and resume. I think he’ll be a key player.
Yes, he need to show more predatory instincts and take on defenders and get some shots on goal himself also. He was doing a good job creating a lot of room for Semedo by moving into central positions. It will be exciting to follow his future development. Still early days.
We need a quality baller winner who will get stuck in midfield .the lad from Barca so far has done little to justify the hype surrounding his loan. Pyshically he looks lightweight to be that player who gets stuck in and does the dirty stuff I know that’s not what he was brought in for……but he is no better than Neves in fact he is not even on a par with Neves IMO.
The lad from Columbia played well but…..there is a massive difference playing against Las Parmas in the sun the Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League but it’s an encouraging performance.
We still need quailty additions in midfield up front and at the back and we need then here soon to give them time to gel with there new team mates the manager and his systems.
I just hope if any of our best players are sold….which to me defeats the object of building a team we aren’t left with little time to try a replace them throw how you could replace Neves and Adama I don’t know.
Over to you Jeff……!
Social media already awash with the typical Wolves fan of old doom and gloom merchants.
According to some, we are already relegated, even to the third division, we are that bad!
When will it sink in, to all of them, and I include blog members as well, that pre season friendlies are just glorified training exercises, for fitness and trying out plays, ideas and combinations?
We have a bloke who’s only been with us a month, still trying to get the lad’s names right, and stuff me, he’s already out the door if some are to be believed.
This is not the beginning of the season, not even the beginning of the beginning, just tippy tappy play footie, getting to know everything.
GIVE THEM ALL A FRIGGIN’BREAK, FOR DOG’S SAKE, GET OFF THEIR BACKS AND LET THE FUN BEGIN AT LEICESTER, NOT BEFORE!!!
Jeeeez, there’s no pleasing some people.
Ears burning yet, anyone?
And I didn’t swear neither!
/
Well done Clive…..and the Blog wasn’t bad either unfortunately the doom and gloom is in most Wolves fans DNA, me personally agree with you up to a point, I’m more concerned regarding in comings and espeacilly out goings.
Paul…you agree with Clive? You’re posts are the very definition of the doom and gloom Clive is referring to.
Fun begins at Molineux for me Clive. Got my Celta Vigo ticket today. To say I can’t wait would be something of an understatement.
I am jealous, ya bugger!!
– Yes, too much negativity isn’t good. Did the team play good football against Betis? Yes. Did they play good football against Las Palmas? Nooo, they played horrible. Is it a big deal? No it’s only a friendly. Do the players themselves know they played a terrible match? Of course they do. And as professionals they have to cope with us fans expressing our views. I don’t think it’s a difficult fact to swallow either when they know it themselves ;=)
Confused because I thought we looked better in the first game! Certainly more solid and compact anyway.
Definitely shouldn’t read too much into pre-season friendlies, agree Mosquera looks very good indeed, after such a short time, he’s so assured.
Hopefully w’ell tighten up at the back, where their second goal was pretty embarrassing with really only Neves getting back to tackle the breaking player.
Lage is an unknown quantity at this level in the English elite league, that will leave many Wolves fans with some worries and misgivings.
But it has to be a case of trust he’ll get it right, hopefully helped by returning players and additions. I’d have to say I wouldn’t have a clue about who our best 11 would be at present. Maybe this could be MGW’s breakthrough season, he’s looked good in pieces of action so far. You just feel at times he does the difficult stuff then wrecks it by going for another dribble when maybe a simple pass or shot would be a better option. His goal was brilliantly made and he took it well, it will give him confidence. It would be really good to see a home grown amongst the Portuguese and League of Nations talent!
What Ive seen so far I wonder if Trincao is built for the premier league.Hopefully just a settling in period.
Time for Lage to get his first team resolved in the next three pre-season games it’s going to be a tough start.
BE POSITIVE
Only friendlies, we’ve a great squad which the management team last season ran out of ideas with. TBF to Nuno no fans, pandemic etc didn’t help anyone’s moral.
New season, we are a good side who with more positive play and support can beat anyone in the Premier.
Come on Wolves!
After three friendlies it seems Lage’s style of play is becoming clearer – back four, high defensive line, pressing the opposition higher up the pitch, looking to get more possession and playing on the front foot – pretty much the exact opposite of how we’ve played for the last four years!
Not wanting to be negative, just an observation is that I can’t help but think for this system to work we need two things as a priority. First, an experienced centre half who is used to playing this way and secondly, an overhaul of the midfield.
We’ll need two box-to-box midfielders who can put themselves about and support both the defence and attack, a bit like the Rice – Phillips partnership for England at the Euros. As much as I rate our current midfield I’m not sure they’re mobile enough for the way Lage wants to play. Las Palmas ran through us far too easily at times yesterday.
In terms of new signings Sa and Mosquera both look useful, think Trincao may need some time to adapt to English football though.
Otherwise, some encouraging signs, Gibbs-White has stood out for me and how good is it to see Jimenez back and looking like his old self.
After another week on the training pitch I’m hoping for a step up against Stoke and Coventry.
Actually enjoyed the game.
Attack missed the presence of Raul and Cutrone is not the answer.
A front two of Raul and Fabio looks OK but need a plan B when one gets injured.
Mosquera was excellent, especially the distribution from defence to attack.
Sa looked good and should provide better cover and distribution than Rui.
Overall the squad additions should provide a step up from last year.
Really impressed with Cundle in the midfield, a tiny dynamo who showed some exquisite pieces of skill and whatever they are feeding MGW on please continue and can I have some.
I was on holiday and couldn’t see the match on Wolves TV. So, we won one, lost one, against two good clubs in Spain, after losing to Crewe. I see that Man U beat Derby 2-1 but lost to QPR 4-2. Friendlies are just that. Nothing to get too excited or despondent about.
RIP Dusty Hill
“That Li’l ol’ band ftom Texas”
Lived in Houston Clive, didn’t he? Not everyones cup ‘o JD, but we ole bikers loved ’em.
Yes, I bid for a fence at one of his properties a while back.
Didn’t get the job, but I bragged to my fellow workers I had got his business manager’s card!
Billy Gibbons lives down the road, a little West of Houston. Don’t know where Frank Beard lives.
Seen ‘em in concert a time or two, good rockin’ music!
Perhaps because of your lack of beard he took offence to your quote?
I second that emotion.
No one else like ’em.
A TOP band with rock, soul and a whole lot of ballZZ!!
Always liked ZZ Top. No frills rock n roll. And they obviously inspired Nuno in the facial hair dept. RIP Dusty.
Interesting spooky comparison…..
Last time Wolves speedway won the league was 2016.
That was the start of WWFC winning run to the championship in 2018.
This year Wolves speedway are flying high again, top of the league after half of the season.
http://www.wolverhampton-speedway.com/premiership21.
Wolves speedway wins
2002 – playoffs at Cardiff in 2002/2003
2009 – top of the championship 2008/2009
2016 – top of the championship 2017/2018
Perhaps a sneaky top 4 bet for this season?
Or relegation, which would in effect be finishing top of the second division!!
Now watch the comments!
How dare you make comments like that!
I am mortally offended and am, even as I type this, stamping my feet in frustration and annoyance.
I’m so angry, I’m seriously thinking of taking you off my birthday card list.
Ooooohhh!
What he needs is a kick up the quatrain’s.
Congratulations to Ben Whittaker guaranteed at least a Bronze following today ‘s win. Proud Wolverhampton boy – helped to fund himself selling pies at The Molineux.
Article in Express Star regarding redevelopment of Molinuex the Council are saying there are no issues there end the infurstructure is not a problem as the club have lead us believe to quote the Council they are fully behind the club in what that want to do with Molinuex.
Jeff ‘s is quoted as saying its finances that are holding up plans. So with 10,000 plus fans on season ticket waiting list potential thousands more walk up fans Wolves cannot afford to even build a 500 seat tempory stand and loyalty points scrapped a generation of fans locked out and revenue lost.
FOSUN still reported profit for the last financial year despite the pandemic perhaps Jeff could ask the billionaire owner of FOSUN for a few quid to spend at Carvers.
Noticed Liecester are going ahead with there ground expansion plans….if only we had a billionaire owner.
I’m not talking issue with your opinion of Fosun which you have made perfectly clear, but I must point out that what you are saying about the finances is completely incorrect.
The last accounts published were for the year ending 31 May 2020 and showed a £39.2m loss caused by the pandemic. The accounts for the year ending 31 May 2021 have yet to be released.
I suspect Fosun will never redevelop the ground as it would take too long to recoup the investment and they probably have a 15-20 year exit strategy.
Paul & Newt.
Fosun have repeatedly said that team building comes before stadium building, which I agree with. Hayward and Morgan had it the other way round. Hardly a success were they? A look at the two teams that have rebuilt stadiums, Arsenal and Spurs, confirms that the playing side has suffered as a result of stadium redevelopment. Even my local team, Chelsea, saw the light and ditched the new stadium. I look forward to Wolves having the shabbiest stadium in the Champions League.
Hi DWW, like you I’m not too bothered about the stadium expansion. It is now looking very dated but team investment as you say is more important.
Just my opinion but I suspect that the long term future of the game will lie in building streaming services rather than physical bums on seats, so what would be the point of massive stadiums that are half empty.
Love your optimism about the champions league ?
Childish comment
Thats all well and good if they actually invested in the team. Also it was FOSUN who made all theses grand promises of stadium redevelopment with bold pictures splashed all over the Express Star and also stated that Wolves need to be self financing…….they can not have it all ways……bigger stadium bigger revenue its simple.
Also Arsenal are in the same boat as U.S. Ask there fans billionaire owner not willing to back up all there promises…….sound familiar. Spurs well they don’t have a billionaire owner and have borrowed and issued shares.
I get slagged off left right and centre for critising FOSUN but I’m not the one who make all the grand statements saying we are going to do this and do that only to go back on EVERY promise they have made I am holding them to account.
We have a billionaire owner……..even Sir Jack doesn’t come close and Morgon , but at least they saw the importantance of having a stadium fit for purpose have you seen the outside of the Steve Bull stand recently.
Investment is not all about the team the Acadamy either it’s about the club as a whole neglect one and it effects the other.
I’m sick of hearing the same dribble from Jeff and Co: I wouldn’t mind if they actually put some real investment in the team but it’s the same old same ones for the future to sell on so other clubs can get the real benefit and we star t the same process all over again or loans.
Some one blogged recently about the 4th and 3rd Division days I some times think I’d rather we were back there again at least we knew the owner was fully committed and didn’t come out with bull shit excuses about finances while sitting on billions.
Jeff said in the past the team would not suffer due to redevelopment of the stadium well it’s the other way round know or Jeff would have it appear.
In the last 18 month Wolves have only actually purchased 2 players the rest have come and gone on loan………some investment.
Points noted Paul. But I can’t for the life of me want Wolves to be back in the 4th and 3rd divisions. Wouldn’t be much fun for the players to train in the car park? If you sometimes wish for that, why not make your wishes come true and find a team down there with a straight-talking owner? Good luck with that.
We hear from the Jeff time and time again about the importance of growing the fan base……there’s no need to grow it……they are out there but can not get in because there is not enough seats.
This idea of global market is all well and good but what about your home market what about those fans in the very city the club is named after and surrounding areas.
Everyone has been saying how soulless football has been without fans and some bright sparkhas blogged they don’t need fans just stream the the game there’s no need for bums on seat……what planet has he been on.
It has been well documented FOSUN have not suffered during the pandemic there loss are down but they have still made profits mainly due to there medical supply business.
It was me that mentioned streaming Paul and I think you have misunderstood my comment as I never said football doesn’t need fans, I just opined on how I think the sport will evolve.
I live on the real planet where things change whether we like it or not. Personally I hate the idea of streaming but just as satellite TV changed football back in the early 90’s, it will change again with the internet.
Wise Chinese proverb say tree that bends in the wind survives the storm.
Actually Paul you don’t get criticised for your views on Fosun particularly, it’s because you keep on endlessly repeating them.
I agree with you I do keep going on about it because they haven’t given me a good reason not to.
And I’ll keep going on until they show me they are serious about building a football team capable of competing and a stadium worthy of the team…….there words not mine.
Old Bushbury (Whestone Grove) proverb ” don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining “
I do have a little niggle with Bruno’s approach at the moment but I hope he can allay my fears and prove me wrong.
It’s to do with the high line the defenders are seemingly being asked to hold. Against very quick counter attacking Premier League teams I feel it can be asking for trouble. Leicester will be a case in hand with Vardy standing on the shoulder of the last defender ready to break.
We were caught out this way in the last friendly against Las Palmas and paid the price. Do we have defenders quick enough to negate this? In the main, I think not at present…
Maybe I have this wrong and our switch to a more attacking emphasis, which I love, contains some defensive ploy to counteract this.
I like the look of the new lad at the back and will be interested to see how he deals with Premier League forwards in our game and their abilities to con refs that they have been shot, etc. He did look to be a real classy guy, but it’s early days and difficult to judge as yet.
I think money for the team should come first, particularly during change of management, but cannot understand why the corner at the South Bank has not been filled in over the time of closure; comparatively low cost for the addition of more fans being able to support the team would send a much more positive note to the fans.
The team has been working incredibly hard in Spain so I’m hoping this bears fruit in today’s game, which I shall be watching intently. To my mind, I would want us to not make so many substitutions as previously with the opening games due soon. With two close games I would expect two mainly different squads to be used with the late attendees, Traore, Dendonker and Cody building by getting some time in each game. Pure speculation and probably nonsense but the nearness of games I can attend is getting me over excited…
DW, I must say it has crossed my mind about us playing with a high defensive line. Very early days yet of course, but I often think that a lot of teams will “do a Wolves” on us — play defensively and break fast on us. Coady and Boly are not the fastest.
The first three games will really test our new system so we will soon find out!
Boly is injured, and there is absolutely no guarantee Coady will be in the starting line up.
I feel he has reached his peak, is too slow and will be used as a sub at best.
If he reads our blog, hopefully he will get pissed off and incensed, sharpen up his game and prove me wrong.
But I don’t think so.
Clive maybe Coady could be moved to a central role in midfield.
Only one Danny Baath, sign him up
Watched the game looked rusty although Stoke have 2 weeks on us. I thought Stoke stopped us playing they pressed us every time we got the ball.
Set pieces still a big concern oh and the short corners have returned with exactly the same out come as last season which was ended up passing backwards. Why we keep playing it short on corners I don’t know Raul is back get the ball in the box I hope this isn’t going to be the norm like last season. There was a lot of sideways passing and backwards passing midfield seemed lost as what to do.
Interesting to hear what the fans had to say coming out of the ground and most if not all said we need quality signings and quick.
Agree regarding Boly don’t think we can rely on him know as a first choice and he has become injury prone.
Lots of work to be done on and off the pitch before Liesceter with the current group of players and without any quality signing can see us getting turned over.