Nuno commended his team for taking risks in that grandstand second half and rightfully so.
There was a zip, a sparkle and an invention to their forward play that’s been lacking of late and was again absent in a laboured first 45.
Aside from a well constructed Raul Jimenez goal that was incorrectly ruled out for offside in the build up, Wolves were just too predictable.
Without Dier or Alli or Vertonghen or Dembele who limped off in the opening minutes, there was a sense Spurs were there to be got at defensively. We just didn’t ask enough questions.
Spurs had done little to seize control by the interval and despite the incision of their own forward play in a 10 minute purple patch, it all felt far too easy for Pochettino’s side.
Lamela – the outstanding attacker on the night – created and finished his goal expertly but the free header for Lucas Moura three minutes later was more troubling.
If our recent attempts to overturn a deficit were anything to go by you’d have been forgiven for filing this one away and hoping to keep the score down.
That was certainly my mindset once Harry Kane made it three with their first meaningful attack of a second half Wolves had dominated having finally dialled up the intensity.
With no real cutting edge and Bonatini deployed on the left wing it seemed like Nuno felt the same.
But credit the Brazilian who wrestled back possession by the corner flag and fed Jimenez for the first penalty. It was a touch surprising he didn’t want to take it himself, but thankfully Ruben succeeded where he’s failed a few times in a gold shirt.
Fellow sub Morgan Gibbs-White personified the fightback, bringing pace and mobility to the midfield in favour of the metronome like influence of Moutinho.
Match of the Day pundits were purring over the England youth international’s cameo and it’s easy to see why. He would have had one of the assists of the season had Helder Costa not squandered the opening.
The speed he manipulated the ball and the bravery in possession he demonstrated to drive Wolves forward in search of a way back was outstanding.
If his rapid upward trajectory continues, he will be starting games in the Premier League before the season is out.
Jonny did well to coax another mistake out of Juan Foyth in what was another strong outing for the Spaniard in my opinion. Credit Jimenez too for wanting the responsibility of getting his team back in the game. Whatever his shortcomings, he certainly doesn’t hide.
It’s a shame we couldn’t push harder again for an equaliser but just to have a chance of taking something against big 6 opposition having been three goals down is borderline miraculous.
And despite the third consecutive loss, Wolves can feel better than they did after Watford and Brighton for at least breaking through.
If that second half is what taking risks looks like, I’d say they’re most certainly risks worth taking.
Gutted about the offside goal that wasn’t. Absolutely terrible decision.
We’ll be fine, one day soon it’ll all start clicking into place.
Yes we were robbed, but for me the best game of the season so far. MGW was electric and if he can produce that talent from the start we would have no issues in scoring. It’s time that Costa was rested, he just seems to be an headless chicken when in possession. But the overall feeling is good, we scared the life out of spurs and should have come home with a point at least in MHO. UTW
I believe Costa was one of the best and mobile players against Spurs. The problem in the first half was the lack of mobility up front. In the second half we saw a totally different team where the attacking players interchanged positions and played some impressive unpredictable football – like they did last season.
The result? It is what it is …… Wolves played some excellent football to make the game respectable and once again, we received some rave reviews in the media despite the loss.
Is it not time to replace Moutinho taking corner kicks? Every corner it seems gets cleared by an opposition header.
Is it time to move Matt Doherty to the left? He cut in again from the right for the second match in a row and his left foot let him down. We have to score in these situations.
Maybe it’s time Nuno’s staff teach them how to kick with their weaker foot.
I thought Nuno said he wanted to make the players better but this fundamental weakness seems to go unaddressed.
I noticed around the 20 minute mark of the game that Cavaleiro had the ball in a great scoring position but took around two seconds to switch the ball from his left foot to his right foot. And, of course, the defense had two more seconds to get their and shut him down.
Maybe I should make a YouTube video on how to improve your kicking/passing with your weak foot. Whatever they have done to date certainly isn’t working.
And what makes you the expert, eh?
I’m not an expert but I taught myself to do just that as a teenager in an hour or two. It isn’t that tough but they don’t seem to be able to figure it out.
Yawn. Maybe they don’t want to figure it out. As has been said before, there are more one footed players than two footed. You obviously have a bee in your bonnet over this ….. live with it as you are becoming boring AGAIN.
Tim, just out of interest, what level did you play at?
And have you any coaching experience that could help Nuno learn from your experience?
Does it matter? If someone can tell them how to make their players better, would you say no, you have to have all of your badges?
And that’s the problem with you guys.
Can you imagine if there were players in the NBA that said they could only dribble the ball with their right hand? Or defensemen in the NHL that couldn’t skate backwards.
In Canada, you have to learn to skate and if you want to get to any level, you have to learn these things and practice for years to get good.
In football, you run, which any healthy kid can do and if you can’t kick with both feet fine, because you are too lazy to actually improve yourself.
I guess it’s fine if you all have the same approach to learning a sport.
And therein lies YOUR problem, Timmo.
Canada.
The rules of football, and I mean real football, not throwball, state only the goalkeeper can use his hands, you are not allowed, under any circumstances, to wear skates, and if you dribble too much with your right hand, you will be sent off for being a pervert.
I suggest YOU learn the sport of football, or as North Americans call it, Sahcah.
And while you are at it, learn the art of knowing when to shut the fuck up, and stop trying to tell us how to play a game we have been playing since before Canada was invented.
Clives good at dishing it out but when I do likewise, he tends to complain so instead of rebutting, I will just post this exerpt from today Express and Star:
Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)
:
:
There is a difference between the top six and the rest, nicely summed up by Kane’s goal – having a right-footed shot saved by Rui but smashing in the rebound with his left foot – and Costa poking a one-on-one wide for us from a similar distance.
:
:
And Clive is happy with that because ??
As Brompton so succinctly puts it
Yawn
Our man Tim is actually talking a degree of sense here. To be reasonably strong on your wrong foot does give a player so many more options. Ken Hibbitt was so much more effective because he became almost two footed. Three of the best players in the Premier, Hazard, De Bruyne and Kane are all more than adept with their wrong foot.
Sea pigeon,
I’m all up for anyway that we can improve our coaching & team/players, but! And this is a big but! Anyone who really thinks they can “teach themselves how to play with both feet in 2 hours & even more startling can be a fekin delousional mentor & film editor to provide a you”fekin”tube video” needs a serious check up from the neck up.
Let’s leave the coaching to Nuno & his back room team, and Martin Scoursazee to make video nasties.
Crumbs of comfort from our latest of 3 losses has to be Morgan Gibbs-White.
I’ve thought him lacking in game presence & influence when I’ve seen him come on before & when he’s been give a full game in the league cup. But boy oh boy did he change my mind yesterday.
Great attacking intent from him, just brilliant that through ball to Costa for his 1 on 1 miss.
Some sloppy defending which was punished by Spurs. But it’s the Prem we’re learning all the time.
Hope we get something from the Emirates, it’ll underwrite our very good start to the campaign. It’s still early days, but even in defeat it’s great to watch.
Having had time to reflect on Saturdays game and seeing the highlights, I understand Nunos comments regarding maintaining shape and organisation. A good Spurs team opened us up down the left – we missed Jota’s tracking back and we improved our pressing/harrying when Cav went off? Pochettino referred to conceding ‘cheap’ goals- I prefer to believe that our probing long passes had stressed their defence and were creating holes for our forwards to run into. Lack of goals was a feature last season and Traore seems to mirror Bright’s head down approach with little awareness of colleagues. Prefer to see Jota back next week for we will need all 11 closing down spaces and then countering at pace. Just a thought- is Rubens influence lessened with Moutinho in the side, the midfield was much improved when MGW came on.
For the first time in 18 months, I have to say Bennett was off the pace a bit, and our defense let us down.
For me, all three goals were avoidable.
The first went through Patricio’s legs, which should never happen, the second was a free header and bad marking, and the third was down to not closing Kane down quick enough.
But, once again, a pathetic linesman’s decision, and we are screwed.
If punishment can be meted out in retrospect to players, or cards rescinded, why not rank bad decisions by officials be punished in some way?
VAR has it’s detractors, but surely it has to come eventually?
The speed of the game today is far too much for three men, let alone one, to make critical and often point – losing decisions.
Yes, it will make the game longer with several stops and starts, but if it means correct calls, and getting us, and obviously other teams as well, back into games, surely it’s worth it?
Thoughts?
Anyroad, we fought back magnificently, and the only thing, apart from the final score, that royally pissed me off, was Match of the Day, over here.
The commentator rattling on about how good we were, but they showed nothing of it, except Costa’s miss, not even the wrongly disallowed goal!
We had them on the ropes in the second half, and I think they will be fired up during the week, and Arsenal’s non losing streak will come to an end next weekend.
At least the shit lost as well!
FOwb
Clive, I’m sure VAR will be with us in the next seasons. But in truth we’d be on the same points if we had it now.
Yes, yesterday’s would have potentially given us 1 point, but, Bolys hand if god would have been disallowed & 1 less point.
Should we have? Yes & now please, because we seem to talk about the mistakes & could mean the difference promotion/relegation or a cup!
I’m in 🙂
Am I the only person in the world that thinks that Boly’s goal against Man City should stand?
There was absolutely no intention as Boly’s arm was outstretched to break his fall in a diving header. Boly did not turn his back on the ball as his head actually made contact with the ball.
There was no time for him to withdraw his hand between the ball touching his head and hitting his arm. Anyway, in the middle of a diving header, it was virtually impossible for him to withdraw his arm.
There is no basis on which that can be called deliberate handball.
I agree 100%
His hand was there to cushion his fall, a natural, instinctive reaction, without even thinking.
There are many instances of penalties not being given for ball to hand reasons, this is no different.
At last, somebody else who can see the wood in the trees. Boly’s goal was completely unintentional hand ball and was duly allowed.
I mean, if we’d scored from a shot that went in off the post, would the away side have complained that it was ‘our’ post that cheated the ball into the net? Absolutely not! Well done Nippy.
On another thread, is it only me that turns up at half time, cos we only really put the hammer down from 46 minutes in? I’d suggest they imbibe whatever’s in those drinks/oranges before the match kicks off!
I’ve been trying to make this point to a Citeh supporting friend, but he just can’t see it. He’s still sore about it.
An upset citeh fan? Oh well, the sooner they get used to it, the less it will sting!
When you consider the drastic effects these diabolical decisions can have on a teams ability to compete and the huge financial implications that go with that they must introduce a penalty system for officials AND it MUST be published so that fans can see what action is being taken. Officials in our game are now professional and they must be forced to accept responsibility for their actions and decisions, having retired officials on TV saying “He will be very disappointing with that decision” or “They will discus that at there next get together” is not enough, action needs to be taken, now.
How about beheading?
It’s a mistake by the lino, shit happens.
If var is introduced, maybe it can cut out obvious misdemeanours like the off side goal, but there’ll soon be something else to moan about, it’s just the way people are.
What us fans need to take on board is that we have a newly promoted side populated mainly by kids. We all need to ease up on requiring Champions League football next season and give em a chance to grow into the Premier first..
Only a matter of time before Dendoncker debuts.
Excellent write up Thomas.
I thought Lamela did well but was allowed a lot of space – as was Kane with two bites of the cherry and Moura had a free header. We don’t normally let those things happen. You have to be able to reach out and touch them in your own box.
Again we created chances. Jimmi’s goal should have stood and Costa should have at least hit the target.
We could / should have got something. Difficult one up next.
From having one of the best defences in the premier league to leaking two easy goals in the space of three minutes . Yes Raul’s goal was not offside but by that stage the damage was done ( Deja vu Watford).
Gibbs White was amazing . Surely he has start against Arsenal . Costa wasteful in front of goal , Bennett struggled .
In Nuno we trust…but something has to change before the trip to the Emirates !
The only good thing is the shite lost and there asperations of bouncing straight back into the premier league are disappearing fast
I would be extremely surprised to see MGW start at Arsenal. It’s a place where we will need to be disciplined, with men behind the ball and when we have possession use it wisely. Not the sort of game for a raw, wildcard player for me, as impressive as he was yesterday.
So I guess they can’t say anymore that the reason Dendoncker can’t get into the team is because the starting defense is playing so well and they don’t want to break things up.
Yes they can. The defence does not close down as quickly as they have in one game and you think it should be changed? Unbelievable.
Spurs are a world-class side away. They have only lost twice in their last 17 away games. We are not the only side that finds it difficult to stop their rapid and sleek movement.
Barca may not be quaking in their boots. Even Inter beat them. Very good, yes, but World class?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dendonker before long. I feel our previously virtually unbreachable defence has been showing a few cracks of late.
Steve, I believe getting in a top rate striker will go some way to alleviating some of those cracks. A few seasons ago our strikers were being put under pressure to score more goals as our defenders were letting lots in. We now find ourselves in a similar position where our defenders are being put under pressure to concede less goals as our strikers are failing to score.
#Justmyopinion
I believe opponents have identified a weakness on the right-hand side of our defence. That seems to be where most goals against are coming from. No doubt Nuno has identified the problem and is working on it, maybe by making the change/changes others have suggested.
This is true buddy, but we’d conceded two well before half time on Saturday, so the strikers hadn’t had that much time to get on the scoresheet.
It was an eye-opener though how much we improved when young Morgan came on. You wouldn’t necessarily say that midfield was a weakness for us, but he definitely took us up a level.
First 20 minutes or so reminded me of the Everton game – we were standing off them giving them too much respect. Spurs exploited the indecision in our defence – for both the first two goals the WB’s were left unsure whether to tuck in or stay with the Spurs players left in wide positions. Their players simply glided into the gaps and scored. Like Watford, got to give credit to the opposition management for identifying the possibilities.
Bennett was below par at Brighton and poor yesterday – maybe time to give Dendoncker a start ? MGW was superb and for me the MOTM – he gives our midfield a cutting edge when chasing the game. As for the Jimenez goal, I can’t say anything others haven’t – time for VAR (especially after missing out on 2 penalties at Brighton).
Just think we are giving teams too much respect if we had gone at them like we did from 3 down, still this is our first season but no reason we cannot breach Arsenal’s defence.
VAR should be bought in ASAP as our disallowed goal was one of several incorrect decisions in the prem.
Stirring second half fight back and as pleasing as it was to see us come back into the match we sadly put ourselves into that position by giving away two soft goals. The second was most disappointing, once again switching off having just conceded.
Spurs are obviously a top quality side and I thought we more than matched them for large parts. But the first 15 minutes of the second half neatly summed up the diffeeence between the sides. One had a deadly finisher in Kane and the other didn’t. Yes we got two goals but none were from open play. Costa was guilty for spurning a golden chance, while it should be said Lloris was in inspired form.
Of course it could have been a different game had Jiminez’s goal been given, one of the worst offside calls I can recall in recent times, or had Neves sweet piledriver crept in.
It’s all been said above about MGW but what a prospect we have on our hands. Good to see him get the game time, needs more than the odd 10 minutes. Thomas made a great point about him offering that drive from midfield that perhaps we lack with Neves and Moutinho.
I was baffled by the decision to withdraw Cav and put Bonatini on. For me, you can’t have Bona and Jiminez on the field at the same time. Credit where it’s due Bona made a difference but not a Prem player for me. Traore should have been given more time to run at the Spurs defence too.
Plenty of positives to take though, we gave them a mighty scare and we’ll beat plenty of teams in this league.
We have lost 3 on the spin but you know what we have lost no momentum whatsoever. The team is getting stronger and stepping up to the plate. The results will surely come.
I will have to study the costa chance but I think lotus got his fingers to it. Regardless, I was happy with his overall contribution.
I had 2 spurs next to me in j10. Cheeky beggar I swear he gave me a little elbow when they scored the second! Returned the compliment when we scored our second. They were bricking it at the end and kept blaming the fixture pile up, they couldn’t believe their eyes and ears as we fought back. I had to remind them it’s not like feckin Wembley here. Needless to say gentleman that I am I shook their hands at the end, just a bit of banter. Don’t know how they got in though.
Should be another cracker at the Arsenal. That’s a very hot ticket indeed.
Putting aside the disappointment of the result, I hope the game was a bit of a season changer in a way. I hope Nuno now tries to actively integrate others into the side more. MGW added so much energy into the side in place of moutinho and I don’t think it was coincidental that neves looked back to his old self for the last 30 mins. I also think it is probably time to give vinagre a more regular start ahead of jonny, again for attacking reasons. Finally, let’s see how dendoncker does instead of Bennett and traore instead of Costa. Probably too much change in line up at once for nuno’s liking but I don’t think it is by chance that we have only scored one first half goal this season. I think with more energy on the pitch from the start we might stand a better chance of scoring the vital first goal and then look to control games from there if necessary bringing on the likes of moutinho, Bennett, Jonny etc to add control etc. Worth a go at Arsenal?
Maybe now’s the time to see if Nuno has a plan B because just two in the middle of the park isn’t sufficient against the stronger teams. Also the wing back system means that those with space in the final third tend to be Johnny and Doherty and, time and again, their final ball lets them down as does their shooting.
A possible plan B would be to revert to a back four with Neves just in front this allowing Moutinho and MGW to play slightly further forward. Bennett would have to be forsaken. At times he looks an accomplished defender but every game his passing is suspect and yesterday it was deplorable.
For anyone unlucky enough not to have seen this, it shows how far we have come since the days of tacky and crusty.
This was one of the most moving tributes Iv’e witnessed at old or new Molineux. Well done and thank you for such a wonderful moment and the true respect pai to the Leicrster club and our fallen solidiers from WW1.
Proud to be a Wolves fan at 19:45 last night. (And the team were epic too)
https://mobile.twitter.com/wolves/status/1059010110062841856
For a great majority of the game I thought it looked like a very experienced Premiership team against an inexperienced one . But those last 20 minutes or so convinced me that it is just our self belief that is lacking, we just need to believe that we belong in this company. This is what has happened at Bournemouth and is why they are doing as well as they are now.
As an ex goalkeeper of ‘The older I get, the better I was’ school, I have sympathy with Patricio who was nutmegged for Spurs’ second goal.
It’s a modern trait that ‘keepers now stay up and spread themselves when faced with a one on one with an advancing attacker.
It used to be that they would go down and the ball would be chipped over them if they mistimed their movement. Now the striker purposely aims between the legs. It happens much too often to be lucky or coincidental.
Either way the ‘keeper can look a bit of a turnip when the goal goes in.
What I have NO sympathy for is the non existent marking of a five foot nothing Spurs player who had the freedom of our six yard line to head in their second goal.
Neither do I have any sympathy for a defence that concedes a goal almost direct from a long punt upfield from the Spurs goalie.
But, after all is said and done my sympathies go out to the team as a whole who gave it everything in a thoroughly entertaining game which, if it hadn’t been for a blind linesman and a profligate Costa, we could and maybe should have won.
Man of the match in my opinion was Big Willy Boly.
He was immense.
Is there a better central defender in the Premier League? Possibly Van Dijk of Liverpool but name me another.
And Morgan Gibbs-White is starting to fulfill his promise. Some of his slide rule passing was straight out of the Neves textbook and his pace and directness was just brilliant to see.
Chatting with some fans back at the APV afterwards, we were all in agreement that although we were desperately disappointed to get nothing from the game, it was just a pleasure to have been at Molineux to watch us match a top six (possibly top four) team in nearly every department… except the one that really matters.
Putting the ball in the back of the net.
Harry Kane anyone?
How can you say Boly motm it was him and Jonny who were at fault for the first goal and he had a part in the third goal as he did not win the header a gainst Kane which then put him out of position.
Just my opinion Dek.
Who was your MOM? Perhaps I can pick out a couple of mistakes he made.
The defence were up against a world class forward line and mistakes tend to get punished. I felt we missed the closing down provided by Jota with Cav in the side.? All players make mistakes but we notice them more when goals result. I thought Helder had a very positive game- finishing never was his strong point!
Doog unable to make it last night owing to KO changes and sorry to miss what was obviously a good performance. Agree Patricio made to look silly by nutmeg but strikers are trained to shoot at goalies legs as they set themselves by keeping their legs wide apart for balance and stability.
The aftermath of Hurricane Michael here in Panama City is dire to behold. Thousands of people homeless, and thousands more trying to survive in dwellings which are literally falling down around them. Big schools have been taken over with displaced people sleeping on mattresses spread over the classroom floors, and dozens of Porta Potties in the car parks. Authorities tell us that over 50% of the City`s housing stock is either already destroyed, or will be condemned. Quite devastating. As Clive will understand, this just has to be seen to be believed.
Well I`m one of the lucky ones, as I begin to pick up the pieces. My roof is now fully tarped, the windows are bodged up, I have no water slopping around the house floors. I have clean potable water, and power. And we are alive and kicking. Onward and upward.
But I have more yet. The gift of being a supporter of a great football team. I was looking for a big morale booster Saturday through the dishing out of a thrashing to Spurs. The thrashing may not have materialized, but the boost still came anyway, courtesy of an outstanding overall performance. Thank you guys. We should all be truly proud of this team. Talent, guts, pride and commitment.
In my humble opinion the addition of just one quality finisher to complement the outstanding Jimanez up front, will transform us into a team able to compete on equal terms with any other. We are so close. Come on Fosun get the check book ready for January. This is our time.
Heartfelt sympathies again, Mike.
You WILL get through this, but a word of warning from bitter experience.
Be your own contractor, take your time hiring anyone, and don’t make that final payment, to whoever, until you are 100% satisfied.
We held on to the last $ 15,000.00, and thank dog we did, all sorts of issues, and we fired the contractor eventually, and finished the job ourselves.
Now to the legal battle!!
Good luck to you mike and our hearts go out for the awful conditions those unfortunate people are having to endure through no fault of their own it must be terrible for all concerned
Mrs CFH said I could decorate my office how I wanted.
So I did.
Clive, bit disappointed I can’t see FOwb in the picture! 🙁
Very nice, but I thought our strip was Old Gold, not orange!
Or even yellow this season!
As it goes Clive … if you are ever having trouble getting a Northbank seat … I’ve got a spare one
Want it for your office?
Not big enough for my bum.
Suppose you’ve got a point Clive
I think I’ve got the old subs bench in the shed , that might fit it
View from W2 Billy Quiet Upper…
Lovely to meet up with Brompton in the Italian restaurant and then Stuwolf, Twix and Newark Wolf plus wives very briefly by the Billy Wright statue as kick off beckoned.
A totally undeserved defeat from my vantage point. Put aside the dreadful misses and ludicrous decisions by shit face Deans and his linesmen, Wolves gave as good as they received.
Never mind onto The Emirates and a tourturous 2 hours squatting with the home supporters in the upper tier of the Clock End.
I must be barmy……
BOG
I will leave the lauding of the players to people with better memory than I, (a Goldfish would qualify if human).
But I want to make my Observation of my beloved 12th man, the worm has well and truly turned, the fans have now earned right of passage to the Premier league. No more head in hands, feet shuffling down the 6 flights of stairs, firing expletives at every man and their dog or kicking fag packets into the legs of people feeling equally bad with a defeat.
We were 3 nil down after a perfectly good but disallowed goal, the fans instead of turning on the team, they took it up a level, the decibels went through the roof and they got behind every single player on the pitch. MGW responded, Neves responded, Jiminez responded it was better than socks for christmas. We got stuck in, rolled our sleeves up and backed the team to a man.
The resulting effort was a pleasure to watch.
Coming out of the ground, fans talked about how well we lost, not the fact we lost, fans were looking forwards to the next game at Arsenal not down at their feets looking for dog shite to stand in to really spoil their night.
We stepped up from negativity, away from memories of Dick Dastardly and Mutley and thoughts of what we can achieve in the future with our new proppa backing.
We have matured, we have started to forget the crap we endured two seasons back, how distant a memory does that seem now, if we keep playing the Nuno way, he will get the required striker we crave, he will workout how to beat the top 6 and suss out how to stop cloggers like Brighton, Cardiff and others.
It’s our time, we ain’t seen a fraction of what we will get in the future, travelling to crap grounds will be relegated to FA cup and Caraboa matches.
We’re Wolverhampton, we’re on our way back.
At least I could get tickets two seasons ago
True that. It’s a sign of our success that means getting a ticket is near impossible. Whilst I acknowledge that re-scheduling of TV games does upset a lot of people, for people like me it’s the only way to see my team.
🙂
Stu, I note your comments re memory but can I take you back to 11 March 2016
Wolves at home to Rotherham – we won 1:0
We had lost 5 & drew 1 before we played Rotherham on a “cold & wet night at the Mol”.
3 points after getting 1 in 6 games BUT we were shite!
Last night 0 points, but I was thourghly entertained in a game we could & maybe should have won.
History lesson over – FWAW
MGW has a good 20 odd minutes and everyone now believes he should start against an Arsenal side unbeaten in 15 next week. Too many fans getting ahead of themselves…I’ll be very surprised to see him start, we can’t risk him in the midfield, great as an impact sub FOR NOW just like Traore. I think it’s time to bring in Dendonker, as Moutinho & Neves are too similar footballers – we need some physicality to beef up the midfield just as N’Diaye did so well for us last season.
After watching the game & coming home to watch it again after MOTD, I’ve read with interest the comments thus far on “this” game today.
Whilst always trying to listen/read all things Wolves, I can say I haven’t always agreed with the mercurial Dim Steers from the E&S but last night he spoke of where we’ve come from in just 2 years – maybe we should reflect on this before bemoaning an individual, a team sheet, the next starting 11 or trying to do Nuno’s job for him.
Surely we all know by now that Nuno won’t change his style of play or compromise his football beliefs. I for one would be seriously P!$¥€d off if he did.
If Dendonker starts, one of my favourites are dropped or he brings in a new loan player then that’s good enough for me.
This club has been transformed since Fosun’s tenure, & I’m sure their project WILL be realised. But not this year, we ain’t gonna do a Leicester in 2019 but for me, keep me entertained, play “this way” and lets make some “memories” that we’ll want to keep for the rest of our years.
In Nuno we trust, in WWFC I’ll remain devoted & in Fosun a big thank you on behalf of the 12th man.
COYW FWAW
Just finished watching the whole game for a second time…hoping that we would get that elusive third goal…but Costa still missed…and tripped over.
I get that we are a bit predictable…but the system works and the breath of fresh air provided by MGW showed that we aren’t far away from establishing a winning formula…that extra touch of flair and close control is what the best teams all have.
(Witness David Silva and Hazard today)
That said, when I hear that Chelsea’s current team cost 500million and read that Man city have spent 1.3 billion so far it does provide a reminder that top quality doesn’t come cheap and we will encounter some more next Sunday.
Still think the priority is a tighter defence and maybe Dendoncker will help a lot.
Love reading the plaudits for our team…but a few extra crappy points are needed by end of year..however we get them.
Meantime Molineux sounds brilliant..and that’s priceless.
Thanks for the write up Thomas. After a fair few Bintangs (local beer) to mark our last night in Bali I settled down in our room to watch the 03:45 kick off on hesgoal.com.
The picture quality was great but lost the connection immediately after they got their first. I managed to pick up reception again shortly after Moura’s goal, but still haven’t seen that. The second half fightback was worth staying up but I agree that we needed to push a little bit more late on for the draw. Absolutely flabbergasted by THAT offside decision.
Back in Blighty and sitting in a McDonald’s near Heathrow before heading off to Wales.
Dougie, good to read you and Barbie are back safe and sound. Hope to catch you both at the Huddersfield game.
Thanks Steve. Yes, hopefully catch up with you at the Huddersfield match.
Early night for us tonight methinks.
I know in days of yore, a defeat would always send me into days of depression which could only be lifted by the promise of the next upcoming fixture approaching.
But somehow, the defeats this year are different. Our play, both in style and substance is just so uplifting. I can’t hold the fact of ‘nil point’ against the players, the manager nor the owners. We play with such zest and exuberance compared to our efforts over many years. There was no ‘trying to keep the score down’ after we undeservedly went 0-3 on Saturday. We went for it and damn near pulled it back. No recriminations on any of the players. They all gave it everything they had.
And please gentlemen, lay off our Helder Costa. He is a thing of beauty when in full flow and I won’t hear a word against him.
COYW
Must meet up again soon buddy. When are you next at the Mol?
Looking like Liverpool I’m afraid Brompto’ old friend. We’ve got a good Wolves fan scene down yer when we’re on telly, so I find it hard to justify the expense of the travel if we’re on the box. Trouble is, my loyalty points will begin to be a problem later in the season the way it’s going.
It’s a difficult circle to square.
Look forward to catching up soon though. It’s been too long.
I will let you know what home games I am unable to go to and you can use my season tkt Steve.
Thanks for that Buddy but it’s the fuel mostly,and all the other stuff, Balti Pies and a few pints of Banks’s.
Especially now I’m an OAP. The ticket price is the least of my worries.
Be great to see you when we stuff Liverpool though. 🙂
Great second half performance. MGW was excellent but I think the plaudits on MOTD were a bit over the top.
What was Rui doing for Kane’s goal? Was he worried about handling the ball?
Good write-up mate, agree with all of the points made.
No need for panic stations yet in my opinion, if anything I think we should be grateful for this hiccup as the players will learn a lot from it. The most important thing is we’re still playing well – I was at the Brighton game, which on any other day we could have won at a canter. And we should have claimed at least a point in this game, despite our poor defending for Spurs’ second and third goal.
As for the Arsenal game, I’d resist throwing in MGW at this point in time. Yes he was outstanding on Saturday, but he’s a young kid and I think he’s best served coming off the bench for now. His time will come, just like Vinagre who I also think is looking a fantastic prospect.
Personally I’d like to see Nuno tweak the formation and introduce Saiss. He’s become somewhat of a forgotten man as of late, but still has a lot to offer in my opinion. A third man in midfield would allow us to play Cavaleiro through the middle, which is where he tends to move into anyway. Would hopefully give Raul a bit more support and grant some respite to Costa, whose form has dipped off badly since the United game.
I don’t suspect Nuno will change his formation, being the purist he is. But I think it’s time to give the opposition something else to think about. Thoughts?
Yeah, spot on. Enhancement in midfield and more support for Raul I agree with. Come January, if we secure the purchase of a striker could see us not needing to change too much though. We need goals which I consider to be our top priority.
You were in the army matey, “whilst your’e marching, your’e not fighting”
A top striker now, would take the presssure off every area of the team.
You echo the point I was making Ben but someone disliked me possibly because I suggested Bennett as the one to make way!
I think it was Mrs Bennett, she’s very protective of her son.
You are a one DG!! 🙂
They didn’t dislike you, I’m sure Sea Pigeon. They just disagreed with your point.
Excellent report Thomas and not much to add to the general consensus, which i am relieved appears to be, no panic here. Nuno and Fosun you still have our complete support and trust.
My major reflection and observation is that nothing is ever completely black or white. Some (not necessarily on this site) have questioned the contribution of Jota and Costa due to their lack of goals, but I have seen so much that they have created through their courage effort and directness. They are i believe just young lads coming to terms with the best league in the world.
Some have asked for Nuno to apply a plan B, and this makes me think of a response given by Pep G to the same question. Basically be replied that he will not apply a plan B as he has a belief in how to play. He may make some minor adjustments but his half-time message would be we do the same but do it better and work harder.
Einstein said, ” first you have to learn the rules of the game, and then you have to play it better than everyone else”
Weem awlroight our kid.
We have the fifth best defensive record in the league
We have the third most shots at goal in the league
We started the season as the youngest squad in the league
When you consider that this is the first season for almost the entire squad in the premier league, we are doing pretty good imo
In fact the future is so bright we all need to wear shades
Fwaw
Utmw
It’s easy to look on the bright side Marney. It’s the only side there is.
At an extended family event yesterday (almost all Spurs supporters to a man and a dog) they reckoned Mike Dean was generous to us. At least we got two penalties out of Spurs’ favourite referee! He never gives two penalties against Spurs! Stonewall penalties but he could still have bottled. The disallowed goal wasn’t the referee’s fault it was the bloody linesman. By now he should be on his way to Specsavers with the aid of a white stick. Roll on VAR next season. Anyway, the family consensus was that we wos robbed! They were raving about MGW though. Beware a bid in January.
I’m getting disappointed with Costa’s fluctuating form. He blows hot and cold. He missed a sitter from MGW’s sublime pass. In season one in the championship I know for a fact that Chelsea were interested. He was then injured and he never quite got back to his best form.
Lots of positives from the defeat to Spurs. Any team will know that we are capable of taking the game to them. Weirdly, we perform better against the bigger teams. Man C, Man U and now Spurs have held on desperately at times against waves of Wolves attacks.
As a Wolves fan of many years most of which have been mediocre or worse my view is we need to walk before we can run. So I am simply looking to get to 36/37 points as soon as possible as I believe that total may be enough for survival judging by the current points totals around the bottom four. This means winning 7 games of football from the final 27 games. Something I think we are capable of doing. This leaves lots of room for defeats which will inevitably come in this league. I am keeping the faith and still believe we will get in excess of 40 points. But like I say. Walk before you can run.
How good is it that even when we lose a game the majority of us are still giving out very positive comments/reactions?
We are still on a learning curve in this division and, so far, we are doing much better than I had hoped.
Well done to all at Wolves for the tribute to our fallen at the start of the match. That was pure class.
Onward’s & Upwards
🙂
Just heard that Wolves scouts are looking closely at this guy
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=02a9dbbe8b&attid=0.0&permmsgid=msg-f:1616318735769572989&th=166e5153995a967d&view=att&disp=safe
now THIS is close control
sadly a yellow card or three every time he does this
Bloggers on tour.
Tonight Wolves U21’s play Lincoln in the Checkatrade trophy, they don’t stand much of a chance as they will be up against full league players, but as Rob Edwards said, ” it’s a great learning environment for them” win lose or draw they will learn, (sounds a bit like Nuno’s philosophy)
The Usual suspects will be there rooting for the boys, Ian the Newark Wing and the lovely Sue, Ken the Lowves Benbow and the lovely Carmen accommpanied by me rock Jen de Wolf and I.
The lads drew with Scunthorpe but went out on Penalties, they lost to Mansfield with a really decent showing., giving a good account of themselves. They have to win tonight to stand any possible chance to progress, slim, but do-able.
The slightly thinned out 12th man will be there with the Newark flag proudly blowing in the wind.
Anyone living that way (Mark) you can still pay on the door. Ko 19:45 pm, just to see Niall Enjis, Ashley-Seal and our lovechild Pedro Alves is worth the journey over there.
Pick you up at 4-30 I ‘ll be the one with the new away shirt on!!
Hope you have sorted out a good route as you are the navigator.
The last time I was in Lincoln was during the 3 day week in the 70’s and I had a parking ticket, funny how you remember these things!!
Hey, it’s Simmo the Watford fan here again….having watched the second half of the Spurs game I just wanted to say one thing : Morgan Gibbs-White – wow, what a prospect he is. That pass to Helder Costa was a thing of beauty and sadly didn’t get the finish it deserved. I think you guys are going to have a lot of fun watching him develop over the next few seasons.
If you’ve got a cigarette lighter, Iv’e got a lovely Austin Powers Sat Nav to keep us entertained.
“You’ve reached your destination, Groovy driving baby”
Simmo,
We do, and he will.
Thanks for the boost mate, class fan.
Cigarette lighter? My car pre-dates Sir Walter Raleigh!!
Keep watching and contributing mate, we’ll turn you into a Wolves fan yet!
We’ve had a lot of fun watching him develop over the last few seasons to be honest Simmo. Especially Stuwolf.
Get in touch with London Wolves.
He can pick you up on his way to The Molineux every home match, and because every match is a sell out, you can stand outside and listen to us score, over and over!!
Those were the days when no one took on Wolfie
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/11/07/20-years-ago-when-wolfie-scrapped-with-three-pigs/
I think we showed Spurs to much respect in the first half. I think the lack of a alturnative plan when things are not going our way is hurting us its no good playing good for 45 minutes when your 3.0 down its easy then to throw caution to the wind because your losing.
I return to to subject of a out and out striker we don’t have anyone to bully for want of a better word defences someone to out muscle defenders someone to get stuck into them and make defenders panic and lose possession.
I was surprised how we dropped of Spurs the first half when they were in possession and we didn’t win the battle for the secound balls.
Bonnie and Mendez are number 10’s they are not a number 9 striker like Kane and yes I know everyone’s after them but surley with our connections and backing we can get a decent striker in January…….?
Seen outside Billy Wright Stand Molineux this morning!
The other night, I had the weirdest dream, one of those that stays with you and you can’t shake it out of your mind.
Me and the PMDG’er were watching the Arsenal match on telly. We’d got in late and were just in time to see a long clearance from Patricio, which went all along the ground and perfectly found the feet of, I’m not sure who but he was wearing a Wolves shirt. Whoever it was skipped past two Arsenal defenders as though they weren’t there and calmly slotted the ball in the net.
Thousands of Wolves fans erupted and the commentator said “Incredible! Well, that’s game well and truly over. Four nil to Wolverhampton”.
I woke in a state of excitement (Not for the first time).
Omen? Wishful thinking? Another sign of dementia?
Who knows, but I think I’m going to put a small wager on Wolves to win.
Talking of stuffing Arsenal 4-0, (which I wasn’t, but do fancy us doing so).
Here’s what we were served up at Lincoln last night, it doesn’t do the lads heroics justice against a full league side, but it does show Ryan Giles’s spectacular goal to level it up 2-2, after Benny Ashley-Seal scored his 4th in 3 games. They are doing us proud even though they didn’t get through.
We can expect good things from the Academy in the future.
https://mobile.twitter.com/wolvesacademy/status/1060208218150969349
Crikey!! What a strike that was.
I saw him play extremely well at WB in the pre-season friendly v Stoke. Only a matter of time before he joins the first-team squad. The key match for me now is Huddersfield at home, a win will steady a few nerves and take pressure off the Cardiff game which won’t be pretty and will be the first major test of our discipline this season. Colin will be targeting Ruben to get a reaction?