What do Nuno and Boris Johnson have in common?
Probably not much.
But they were both basking in the glory of a landslide victory on Thursday night.
As Britain went to the polls, at Molineux it rained goals.
Or at least it did in the second half, when we decided to get out of second gear.
Besiktas are comfortably the worst team in our group and it was clear to see from the first 10 minutes that they were there for the taking.
But we were frustratingly passive in the first 45, failing to test their stand-in keeper despite some neat build-up play.
The early introduction of Diogo Jota promised much, but I don’t think anyone envisaged him bagging a hat-trick inside 11 minutes.
Just last week there’d been talk of the Portuguese losing his way.
Fast forward to now and he’s bagged five goals in two games. Funny old game isn’t it?
Tonight’s opponents were admittedly more than generous in their defending, but it was pleasing to see the team display a ruthless streak that has at times been missing this season.
It was also great to see Dendoncker get on the scoresheet, especially after coming so close to scoring a worldie.
The kids that were called upon certainly didn’t disgrace themselves either. Buur was industrious at right back and both Perry and Otasowie looked neat and tidy when introduced.
All in all, it was a pretty special way to sign off from the group stages.
Where our European adventure takes us next is a question for Monday. But one thing is for certain, no team will be hoping to draw us.
Fabulous second half when at times our football was breathtaking.
Thought the young lads all acquitted themselves well.
I cannot wait for Sunday now when the arrogant Spuds and their arrogant fans roll up at Molineux. The way Adama, Raul and Diogo are playing right now and with two of them having a week off and the other with his confidence sky high we could destroy Jose’s prima-donna’s.
P.S. Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Gary Lineker and the rest of the puffed up luvvies – perhaps now you’ll shut up and stick to your day jobs?
OODCL
Wonderful night for our boys .Shame we missed top spot and now have to hope we get a decent draw .
However I am afraid the squad players did not really show that we have strength in depth .I am unconvinced by Cutrone he is Derain,y not better than Cavaleiro ..It is basic to learn not to be forever caught offside .He is a great worker but more of a championship striker than a PL striker .I hope I am proved wrong .Neto looks very promising given he is so young .
Spot on right. Just being industrious and a real trier will no longer hack it . Our standards now require far more.
Like you, I hope that I am wrong, but as of now if Raul is injured we would have no serious cover up front. I hope that this is addressed in January
The match made me wonder what Cutrone was thinking at the end.
He played the full 93 minutes but didn’t score, yet Jota came on and scored a hat-trick in 11 minutes! Not exactly happy I would suggest!
Cutrone must now be fearing for his future at Molineux particularly after yesterday’s news about Hwang Hee-Chan from Salzburg being under serious consideration!
Cutrone obviously still has a lot to learn but Wolves being a PL side don’t have time to wait and he could well be loaned back to Italy to continue his development and then return… possibly?
I have similar concerns about cutrone but one thing I’ve learned about a lot of our foreign imports is that a lot of them have taken several months if not a whole season before they exert their full value. Cavaliero and Costa were much better second season if ultimately deemed surplus. Traore and dendoncker took a fair while too. I hope he comes good but if not it won’t be for want of trying on his or nuno’s behalf and at the end of next season he will still have a decent resale value. If we are aspiring to be Europe regulars and compete for domestic silverware, we should expect some signings won’t quite hit the mark and even some that do, to ultimately be traded in pursuit of even better talent. The bar is getting higher all the time.
you’re right, quite a few of our players have been rubbished by bloggers only to come good with enough guidance and patience from Nuno and his team.
At half time, sat in the Steve Bull next to Dougie I said, and I quote:-
“After about fifteen minutes of the second half, I would bring Diogo on because I think he could cause some serious damage to their defence.”
I rest my case M’lud.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening began with excellent hosting by Dougie and Barbara in their new home, carried on by a brilliant second half performance by the aforementioned Jota and a gaggle of youngsters… and nicely finished off with a couple of pints of Hobgoblin in The Clarendon with Dougie and Brompton, AKA Steve Biles.
Nights don’t come much better than that. Although I did miss the PMDG’er…
…she normally pays for the drinks.
Admittedly Besiktas were pretty ordinary, but quite frankly, who cares?
Another step on our European journey successfully accomplished.
As the great diarist Samuel Pepys would say:-
“And so to bed”.
Our second string is better than a Turkish League team’s second string.
Fuck Yeah!!!!
You can only beat who they put in front of you and by putting Diogo on, Nuno is showing that he is taking the chance of going even further very seriously.
Again, Patrick doesn’t score. Not sure if he is cursed or what.
Some excellent second half performances but my attention was taken by Otasowie.
In those few touches I can see what all the fuss is about. He is an impressive unit, looks very strong and confident on the ball. That header onto the bar was excellent.
I know that you can take many of these rumours of youngsters being lured away with a pinch of salt, but purely based on those few moments I would hate to lose out on this one. Let’s get that new contract sorted.
He looks a natural in the Dean Richards mould. Hope I’m not cursing him, but maybe hold on buying that new centre back for a bit longer.
I got the impression he was playing more as a deep lying midfielder than a defender when he came on but was equally impressed. It’s difficult to make long term predictions on the basis of a few minutes ( although I also saw him v psg u23s where he also played well) but he looked to me like he could become an ndiaye/ frimpong/ yaya toure type player for us. I certainly hope he becomes as good as yaya in his pomp!
Absolutely right could play both – just like the rest of our back three.
Good write-up mate.
The first half reminded me of when I used to play Pro Evolution Soccer on my Playstation and I’d occasionally knock down the opposition level to the easiest setting to practice my shooting, but because I wasn’t used them being so shit it knocked me off my rhythm and made me play worse. Besiktas were so awful it was infuriating how little we managed to trouble them in the first 45.
They were clearly never going to lay a glove on us and once we got Jota on and started being more expansive the goals were always coming. Didn’t think we’d get 4 so quickly of course.
I thought Buur had a good game, but needs a few protein shakes . You have to be some player to make it at the top level when you weigh about 7 stone. I was surprised to learn he’s now 21 so time probably running out for him.
Otasowie had a real presence about him and unlike Buur, does have the physical stature to make you believe he could break into the team. He’s still 18 too so there’s time. I can see why Liverpool and some of the other big fish are sniffing around. Hopefully we can keep hold of him and this little taster is incentive enough to make him believe this is the place to develop.
Terrific performance second half. Rarely has a sub made such an immediate and positive impact. From goal shy to goal machine in a flash. And a flash was all it took to grab his hat-trick.
Particularly impressed with Oscar Buur Rasmusson who showed great confidence and composure throughout and a good understanding with Neto on the right hand side. Cutrone, as usual, was so near yet so far on so many occasions but I feel that, like Diogo, when the dam is finally breached, the goals will flow. I hope so, cause he seems to be a lovely fellah.
I would like to comment on Ruben Vinagre. Try looking at your teammates instead of doing all of those step overs.
Should have passed to Patrick once for a nice shot on goal but was too busy trying to be Ronaldo.
Diogo wanted it more than any other player. Watch his 2nd goal. Behind two of our players when the ball came back off the bar, but ran straight passed them to score.
I liked that, a lot.
See you tomorrow guys.