Half time in the game at St. James’ Park was a pivotal moment in the season.
It was the first game without Willy Boly and Nuno’s experiment playing Matt Doherty in the back three had failed.
Cue a change of formation, Dendoncker into defence, Traore further forward, Doherty in his natural position and all of a sudden – the team comes alive.
After salvaging a draw that afternoon the team have continued playing on the front foot and looked significantly better for having done so.
Despite consecutive league defeats, they should still feel confident heading into this one.
Newcastle
The Geordies themselves embarked on a fantastic run of results after the spoils were shared in October.
They just kept climbing until a poor spell over Christmas checked that progress.
Defeats to Man Utd, Everton and Leicester, combined with a mounting injury list has left Steve Bruce with some issues to resolve.
Still, you would have to say that so far he’s done a much better job than many anticipated given the situation he inherited.
And with a couple of players returning tomorrow, including the enigmatic Allan Saint-Maximin he’ll believe they can build on a solid first half of the season and avoid getting sucked back towards the bottom three.
They’ve managed 3 victories from their 10 away matches thus far (including wins at Spurs and Sheffield Utd), but crucially lost the other 7.
They don’t score a lot and despite being well-drilled defensively for the most part, when things do go wrong, they tend to go badly wrong.
The away end
Some comments lifted from the pre-match thread on the Not606 Newcastle Forum.
Perhaps hard to see us getting anything more than a point although with the recent games and form, a loss is the most likely result for this one (63% Wolves win, 23% Draw, 14% NUFC Win). In more positive news there are rumors abound that ASM, Dummy, Clark and a few other of the missing injured will be back in contention for the game. Wouldn’t expect any of them to start but we could have a half decent bench for this one. Lacselles and Carroll are rated at 50% possibility to play in this one. Get all the doom and gloom around the club currently but once we get this one and Chelsea the following week out the way I don’t think we have a top 6 teams to play until the final 5 games of the season so fingers crossed we can pick up the points needed so that we will be safe before then.
Bad to worse beckons I fear. Wolves, like Leicester, are simply much better, particularly in the management department. They press higher and fast, which kills our pedestrian attempts at “football”. Hoofball will be employed for 89 of the 90 minutes, in spite of it never working, and I imagine we’ll persevere with 3-5-2 (well, 9-0-1) even though it 1) doesn’t work and 2) never will.
I’d expect us to stick to 3-5-2 (5-3-2 in reality) and try and match up Wolves in the middle of the park. Myself and Captain had this debate earlier in the year for the reverse fixture and I honestly think that is the way to go but I don’t think we have the quality with the injuries we have to do so. I’m going for a 3-1 loss with Fernandez getting our goal.
Wolves
I think reverting back to the 343 shape ultimately accounted for Patrick Cutrone. Barring injury to Raul, he was never going to get the opportunities with just one center forward position up for grabs.
He needs replacing though and even with Nuno’s preference for a small squad, it’s got to mean at least one new face is imminent.
If Jota remains out tomorrow, Neto is the only viable option.
I thought he did quite well against Man Utd but the combination of him and Vinagre down the left is erratic. He’ll be better served with the steady presence of Jonny backing him up.
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The Poll
Predictions
Nobody predicted the 2-1 defeat at Watford the last time out so it remains as you were at the top of the Prediction League table with Iceni Wolf leading the way.
If you’d like to join in this week simply leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided.
That’s where you’ll also find my best guess for this one.
Up The Wolves!
The squad is threadbare, especially if Jota remains out, which seems likely.
But if the above XI is on the pitch we’ll still have a very good chance of winning the game.
Newcastle will make life difficult, particularly if some of their more influential players like Lascelles and Saint-Maximin – who both gave us headaches in the first half at St. James’ Park – are back in the picture.
I’m back us to get it done – just about.
A win would be nice, to get us back on track, after 2 defeats, we shouldn’t have lost to Watford!! Hoping we spring out of the traps from the off.
The recurring theme for the whole season is why we have such a ludicrously small squad .The answer is Nuno .I desperately hope he has learnt his lesson .
It may be that Cutrone insisted on leaving but as with Cavaleiro in the summer they are basically selling before buying which is dumb .They have nobody lined up as yet .
I’m sure they have a list of forwards and they are talking to the players and their teams.
They will try to get the one at the top of the list for a good price. If not, they will move down. These things take time and teams get more desperate nearer the end of the window, which I think is what Wolves like to take advantage of.
Sorry this is the flawed thinking which let us down in the summer . Cavaleiro was sold ( which Wolves fan would not love him in the squad now ) without a replacement . They worked their way down the list as you suggest they are now doing and got Cutrone who ultimately is a failure . They have in effect sold him now at a loss as I understand it and are now desperately short of players . This is not smart recruitment in anybody’s book. Who is available off the bench now up front . Only Ashley Seal.
As you will remember, Nuno preferred a small squad and to rely on the U23s if there were injuries.
Don’t blame the recruitment strategy, blame Nuno. He still believes that small squads are best.
They are unless you have injuries.
I think they probably could have gotten more players if Nuno had wanted them to.
We will see in a few weeks.
I only have one thing to say to your post Nick, what a load of shit.
On wards and up wards you mighty Wolves
With Sheffield winning tonight, it is crucial that we win this. Much too early for this to be a “must win” but it is important that we don’t fall too far behind the rest.
And hopefully Nuno and the players will recognize that football is played over 90 minutes not the last 45 minutes!! This has been a common theme for most of the season.
We have not yet destroyed a team and feel it is overdue, and maybe against Newcastle This will be it!!
Need to get back on the winning trail and if we play the way we can 3-0 easy.
Newcastle evidently struggling with injuries. Just read on Twitter that Saint-Maximin is still out, which is a relief. He caused us problems in October. Schar, Shelvey, Lascelles, Manquillo and possibly Yedlin all out.
Looks like we’ll boss possession, with Newcastle sitting in and pumping it long. With their injury issues and general bad form, I’m hoping Moutinho and Neves can take the game by the scruff of the neck and carve them apart. Fast start and an early goal imperative, or it could be a long afternoon.
Agree with the usual starting XI, bar Jota. I’d like to think this will be enough to overcome Newcastle.
Just trying not to think about the bench and threadbare squad at the minute.
I watched the video yesterday of the first team training, interestingly, Vallejo and Cutrone were both there but no sign of Jota. I’m more concerned about Jota being missing that Cutrone moving out. They said it was a dead leg with bruising, it seems it’s a lot more if he’s not even training with the rest of the guys.
I had the same epiphany moment with the Newcastle game when we were losing 1-0 at half time with a great big hole in midfield, Dendonker came on, filled the gap and the rest is history.
I can’t see anything other than a Wolves win tomorrow, like Adrian above, I believe we should not have lost to Watford, but we did so I have to get over it.
Wolves 3
Newcastle 0
Come on me babbies, onwards and Upwards, let’s get this show back on the road.
Oh yes,
Good luck to Patrick Cutrone, thanks for the best song for ages, I wish you well you certainly played your heart out every time you wore our shirt.
Bloody all round nice lad too.
Like
Wolves 3
Newcastle 0
No matter what Nuno says about every game being treated the same, the stats – and the quality of football played, simply don’t reflect that.
We seem to have trouble picking ourselves up for the more mundane games, of which it might be said this is one.
On paper, playing a weakened average side, this should be lambs to the slaughter given we should have a reasonably well rested near full strength team. Nevertheless I’ll bet Lady Prawny’s fake fur mittens that we’ll make harder work of this than it should be.
I might start watching Fiorentina if he is playing. I would like to see how he does with a team that plays a complimentary style.
And I wonder what the Patrick Cutrone song sounds like in Italian.
Particko Cutroneo
Particko Cutroneo
He love the Pizzao
He love the Pasto
The laddo’s
Funky Magico
Looking ahead with 20/20 vision (excuse the pun) my forecasting cannot get any worse this season.
Us having gained 6 points out of the last 12 over the Festive period is acceptable, however should have been 9.
Will be interesting meeting Watford so soon again after we dispatch Manure next Wednesday; l feel we still have a score to settle with them and where better than at their ground.
Now, tomorrow, 3 points all the way to help progress my pitifull start to the first 1/3 of this season in the prediction league.
Should be easy enough at home
Before commenting on the Toon game…a bit of a rant !!!
What the feck is going on with our recruitment policy ? With Jesus and Cutrone departing we have an ever depleting squad as it is . I thought we were going to strengthen the squad…not let players go…ffs . Where are the replacements ? I know someone will say calm down we are only 10 days in but we need signings desperately !
Imagine if Jimmy gets injured…then we are fooked !
Rant over….Happy New Year everyone…on to tomorrows game. I think we should win this game quite comfortably . As has already been stated , we didn’t deserve to lose against the scousers and Watford…well what can I say. As Dr Nuno says ‘we bounce back’ and I think we will starting tomorrow.
By the way…still tickets left for Man Utd away next Wedesday.
COYW
After the last couple of games, would be happy to steady the ship with a draw
It’s January.
Someone’s left the bloody window open and we’re losing players through it.
Maybe we should open another one to let a few new ones in.
Never understood this window business. In the old days you could buy and sell players when you wanted.
I suppose we have to have faith in our recruitment policy, but it’s a bit of a worry.
As far as tomorrow’s concerned, I reckon it should be a reasonably straight forward win, and then out for a couple of beers and a bite to eat with our visitor from the colonies.
He’s met John Richards you know.
We should be too strong for the Toon and all over them for much of the match. My only concern is that Dubravka is a quality keeper (probably their best player) and, considering our wastefulness with half chances, I worry that we may find it difficult to get the break through.
But we have shown great character in never giving up so I’m backing us to get it done in the end.
I think we are all concerned at the lack of activity. I hope Nuno is in charge – I would find it truly disconcerting if it is not so .We do not need him to be an unhappy bunny! There are many siren voices trying to tempt him and I am sure if the master plan is derailed he will be tempted by pastures greener.
Tomorrow seems of secondary concern almost. Should be routine, should be 2 -0 , should have new bodies….
I thought we were beaten fair and square at Watford and I thought we looked a bit laboured up front against man United to be honest
Newcastle always seem to play well at wolves so I’m going for a narrow win
Is clive over for this one ?
Will be in the Novotel all weekend, the Leaping Wolf around 1.30 tomorrow, and Novotel for dinner after the match. You coming up?
Yes mate … I’ll pop into the goalposts for about 1 30 ..
great stuff
No excuses about being tired now. Our boys had a good rest and should be fired up. Would be terribly disappointing if the result wasn’t a win for Wolves. 2-0 my tip.
We should have beaten them at their place and if VAR was any good – which it obviously isn’t – we would have.
No mistakes this time around. After the luxury of for once not having a midweek game our lads should be primed and ready to obliterate old fat head’s boys and no amount of flailing elbows from sick-note Carroll will stop us. I just hope we start at a fast pace and get at them right from the off.
If the Newcastle team were as good as their fans they would be a force to be reckoned with. But they are not. The Newcastle team is poor, devoid of quality and built in the image of their hapless manager.
Wolves to win and win comfortably.
And Jamie Carragher to give the Man of The Match award to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
OODCL
p.s. with Cutrone, Vallejo, Neto and Jordao being our four Summer signings in 2019 is a success rate of 25% really good enough?
p.p.s. just how small a squad is still acceptable? 15? 14? The way we are going we might find out very soon!
Can’t really judge Jordao as he got injured almost as soon as he stepped off the plane.
True but that’s one of the reasons I haven’t rated him as a success. Even before he got injured he hadn’t featured for the first team until the first Caraboa C up game so was not exactly a great signing to enhance our first team and push for a place in the starting eleven.
I think since we played them, there is only one point between us with points gained. 16-15 or something like that
Like him or not brucey has done a great job so far
Not too fussed at all regarding catrone if I’m honest, I’m on record for wondering what it was he brought other than running around a lot, championship standard for me
Hopefully we bring in a couple of first team players because top four is wide open now with Kane out, Chelsea scratchy , arsenal not spending and dodgy at the back , and Man U simply awful
Tatdmf
Utw
So Serie A is Championship standard? Is the Italian national team Championship standard.
I’m hoping he goes back to Italy and becomes a success again so people will stop thinking Nuno is so infallible.
Although I was only talking about Cutrone being championship standard, now you come to mention it, yes. Serie A. Is championship standard bar a couple of teams
I’m not sure he has played for Italy yet has he ! Under 21s yes but the first team!
Either way , he is at a bottom 6 serieA team now which I think is a good place for him to be at , maybe he can rebuild his confidence there and come back stronger
Good luck to him though, he is a trier
Utw
Serie A is much better than Championship standard but, at the moment, Cutrone isn’t. There’s a big difference between Under 21’s and the senior team. Vallejo is Spain’s under 21 captain for heaven’s sake!
No probs with this one we will stuff them Bruce has got too many injury problems of his own.
Think we need a result on Sat to turn a bit of a corner form wise. Its been a great 2019 and just feel that a few people a getting too twitchy regarding signings. I trust the owners and I trust Nuno. If the right players for the team are out there we will get them if not then we will wait for the right players.
Newcastle are always better than you think against the Wolves (even when they are crap every other week). Reckon this will be a dull game that we will just about win 1-0.
Yes, we are short of a few players and in key areas. One or two more injuries could leave us struggling, so let’s hope we can get a few signings of good quality. This will be very difficult at this time of year however. Again, Newcastle can play very well on their day so I’m hoping that we are on our game with Jimenez back to his wonderful best. I will go for a 3-1 win if so.
Looks like they will have a few players returning from injury – on the field or on the bench we don’t yet now. Nonetheless, their squad doesn”t instill me with fear and, provided we can keep our preferred XI (as per above) on the pitch for the majority of the match we should win this.
Agreed Wolfman
2-1 for me too.
Back to the old formula, 1-1 draw or 2-1 to Wolves…
( Anyone remember this punch-up between Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney?)
No point beating City then losing to Watford. We have to win these games if we want to establish ourselves further up. Fair enough, the Watford game was on very tired legs. But this one isn’t. So let’s be having it, Wolves!
Despite some people’s belief that Fosun have billions ready to spend, the freezing of all transfer activity pending the ultimate removal of Cutrone has shown this is not the case. Whether caused by FFP, the sinking of Thomas Cook or some other factor Wolves are a lot closer to needing to be self financing than a lot of us had realised.
Despite the excellent profits received and due on Costa and Cav we are currently out of pocket on the summer spending and that will need to be taken into account in this transfer window. I do think we will buy but I just don’t see the 30 million plus buys.
As regards the criticism of Nuno for the small squad, can we firstly remember everything he has for this club. Then cut him some slack, about 5000 miles of it.
He will have had players like Cutrone and Vallejo recommended to him as being first team ready. They weren’t, and combined with the injury to Jordao this has put a lot of pressure on the squad. One of the reasons Nuno doesn’t like large squads is because those people outside the direct involvement can’t be intensely coached and potentially can affect team morale if they feel unappreciated. He looks for players with the temperament and maturity to keep on working and looking to improve even with restricted game time. Exhibit A Traore, Exhibit B Neto, Exhibit C Vinagre, as compared to Exhibit D Cutrone.
Neto we need you in the box quicker and more often. Assuming Nuno has kicked your bum on this, a hard earned win.
Jeff Shi has insisted that there is money available for transfers.
The fact is, Nuno was not expecting us to proceed as far as we did in the Europa league and that we would need the additional players.
As far as Cutrone goes, Nuno says he wants players who can give the team something different but he really wants someone who is as much like Raul as can be but maybe finishes a little differently. He would probably not let Steve Bull on the pitch because he is not like Raul.
Nuno seemed to want Cutrone to change the style of play he uses and give up much of the approach that made him a success. Then he complains that he is not scoring enough.
He is a former goalkeeper and I don’t think he really understands how offensive players are not the same kind of machines that defenders and goalies may be. They use intuition and reading the play and look for things that break down. You can drill that into them
can’t
I think that if you look at the improvement in Adama Traore’s game since Nuno has been working with him, it proves that you certainly CAN drill different methods into players.
If they are not able, or prepared, to change their game to suit the way the coach wants his team to play, then they don’t deserve to be in the side.
Still kicks the ball like a girl with his left foot. But yes, they have improved his skills at kicking the ball on the net and crossing the ball – but that is something every 16 year old should be able to do if they are in some top team academy. He is so good because they finally righted a wrong of his poor training at Barthelona.
Not that I am complaining – I’m very happy that he has been improving so much.
I even suggested last season that he just needed some basic skills and adjustments to really improve his final product.
Tim, if you like I can kick you in either ball with my left foot & prove that there will be some power in it!
Enough crap please that women can’t kick a bloody ball!!!
Your standards for kicking a ball hard are pretty low. And I didn’t say women, I said girls. Big difference.
The average girl or woman will kick a ball with much less force and the same aged man. That is a fact. Do you say otherwise?
I’m 60 and I can still run faster than most 15 year old girls. Of course, I am an exception.
Yes you are an exception of being extremely sad!
My suggestion is get a life!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=32&v=_elAniehSU8&feature=emb_logo
You’d certainly need to be able to run faster than a girl, Tim, if Border Wolf was chasing you in her size 6 hobnails trying you kick you in both balls.
Size 6? I’m a 7!!
Most pedophiles say the same thing.
What happens when you catch them?
This could be frustrating afternoon .
Almost certainly a nine man defence as a point will do them.
We will need to be very patient to get a result from this and must not get caught on the break as we havent got boly to get a last breath equaliser this time around.
lets hope they play as bad as they did against the vile.
need to be at our slippery best and get between their lines .
neto and raul to break them open.
Cutrone …..he loves the pizza and loves the pasta
He obviously doesn’t like faggots and pays!!
My geordie buddy usually is up for a ‘bottle of whisky of your choice’ bet for the winner…we’ve traded bottles of late but this game is often a draw. I’ve offered him the draw but as yet no response,,,,,,hmmm. We SHOULD win this comfortably…1-0 at half time and 3-0 by the end…but somehow I suspect we won’t keep a clean sheet.
I’ll then go and buy myself a nice Highland Park to celebrate.assuming my mate Alan stays sitting on his hands.
Meantime I continue to scan the media for snippets of news on new signings,….but its quiet…too quiet. Whoever we eventually bring in needs to ooze quality….don’t care if they are 32 or 22…just be sure they are lifting the team…and by my reckoning we will have 50-60million available…surely that will fund a couple of high class arrivals?
Just secured tix for Crystal Palace on May 9th….look forward to reconnecting with all at Bloggers’ Ball.
OODCL….and UTW
It’ll be good to see you again mate.
Yep , I’ll second that Hope that you are bearing up mate .
UTW
Well Christmas out of the way rested and raring to go
That’s me hope the team feels the same
Easy 3 pointer
Hard fought win, lots of possession and let’s hope Raul and Adama have their shooting boots on. I think we need to brace ourselves that the right players will not be available this window and we will have to soldier on with the present squad. This summer will see a number of quality acquisitions as we saw in 2018.
Currently sitting in the Novotel, having just put down the phone.
Dr. Nuno called and after the usual pleasantries about how was my flight etc, he assured me the lads were aware of my visit, and they would win 5-1 for me.
He did initially suggest they would score 70 in honour of my parents 70th wedding anniversary tomorrow, but I said it might be a bit boring, and their keeper would put his back out, and Broosie would commit hari kari by half time.
I have to recommend a fabulous little restaurant down by the West Park.
No, its not A Park View, its Chez Dougie and Barbara Singh.
I had the most exquisite turkey pie there last night, thanks a million guys.
And honorable mention to the Twixfix Towers café.
Brilliant sausage sandwiches, about which I had been salivating all the way from Manchester Airport!
Clive, Shaun and I will be in the Slug and Lettuce at 11-30am if you fancy early doors.
January’s new moon is known as the wolf moon, not the toon moon, that was last month. This can only mean one thing. Certain victory to leave Wolves howling and the toon in tears.
Superstition aside I expect us to have had a good few kips since last wik. Cells will be recharged and primed to punch our way through in this game. Tougher without the human cannonball Jota but the juggler Pedro is gaining and with Raul and Adama starting we should have enough to break down the black n white lines with a dash of old gold.
Just read that historically, strikers that sign over the January window do not score much the second half of their first season so let’s not assume we are going to get someone in who will score 8 or 10 goals.
Positive or what?
Mate you are fucking boring. Scrolling through people’s comments and after every other one there’s some drivel posted by you. Bore off.
You’re talking in riddles. 2nd half of first season when bought in January. Does that mean March to May???
Belated happy New year to all. Just got back to sunny Dudley this afternoon. Totally knackered after about 1 hours sleep on the 11 and half hour overnight flight from Cape Town to Heathrow. Just let you lot know a funny story about Boxing Day at the cricket in Centurion. There we were England shirts/hats on watching on next to a hospitality suite on side of ground. A load of Boks were in there and invited us in. We didn’t pay for a drink all afternoon. Got totally wrecked and ended up giving them the Gornal Wolves flag. Drunkenly saying ‘well we can always get another one when we get home’. So the flag went missing in action. The Bok chap who took the flag (he was totally wrecked) saying he was going to put it up on his wall when he got home and just look at it all night. Friendly bunch. We finally got away with the cricket ground in darkness! More tales to follow. The game tomorrow. 2-1 hard fought win to the mighty Wolves.FWAW.
Wish I could have been there Cheesy.
Worth a visit if you can get over there mate. You don’t spend your money. There were 3 of us. First night there got out for late afternoon. Between us about 18 pints and a steak meal each in the pub up the road. The whole lot came to about 15/16 quid each. A day at the test match about 8/9 quid. Just need to have your wits about you over there and stay on the main drag. All the best mate.
We need new players coming in so I’m trusting Fosun & Nuno to do what needs to be done.
Disappointing about Cutrone as I thought he showed promise, but by all reports he’s just not settling here so best of luck to him.
Hoping for a home win.
COYW
It should be three points and I’m sure it will, but their returning wounded soldiers will make a difference depending on how many of them there are. They have some useful players who have been sidelined recently and this has obviously had a bearing on their slide down the table.
Our boys though, have had a few days off and will be chomping at the bit to right the wrongs of the last couple of weeks.
As for young Patrick. He was a trier, that’s for sure. But that’s not enough nowadays, although it means he’ll leave with all best wishes from me. What really matters is who replaces him.
It’s good to be back to normal and a Saturday 3pm. Wolves 2 Newcastle 0
With Sheff Utd winning against West Ham as we speak we’ve got to leapfrog them again with a win against the Magpies, come on me babbies!!!!!
They are going to hard nut to crack, backs to the wall for them. one goal to settle it
1-0 to the boys
I will be watching on hesgoal.com. and expect a positive outcome.
Watch out for them buffers!
Wolves win Nunno and staff will have the correct players coming in during this month.
An early goal for us is vital to open up the game. I think we will score first (for a change) then take advantage of them opening up to bag a second. Possibly conceded a late one to make the finish unnecessarily nervy
With Sheffield winning tonight, it is crucial that we win this. Much too early for this to be a “must win” but it is important that we don’t fall too far behind the rest.
And hopefully Nuno and the players will recognize that football is played over 90 minutes not the last 45 minutes!! This has been a common theme for most of the season.
We have not yet destroyed a team and feel it is overdue, and maybe against Newcastle This will be it!!
Should be an easy 3 points but the team seems to play to the level of their competition. They can beat the top teams and struggle against the weaker teams (yes, I’m looking at you Watford.) Here’s to them breaking that cycle.
I think we really should be beating this Newcastle team who for me are poor. Neto in for Jota only change from the regular 11 for me.
Hope the annual meet with Houston Clive goes well.
Disappointed that we seem to be going nowhere in the transfer market again. With even Nuno talking about strengthening the squad for a while now I expected us to have some targets earmarked, can someone remind me what Thelwells job is!
Neto has to come in if Jota is not fit, other than that it,s the usual 11 who hopefully have had time to rest up a bit after the crazy season.
We need to get back on track so hoping for 2 – 0 win
Clive, Shaun and I will be in the Slug and Lettuce at 11-30am if you fancy early doors.
The Mighty Wolves to win big today and parade Two new Mega Signings before kick off.
You heard it on the Wolves Blog first. We will need a bigger Team Bus.
Gotta be at parents 70th in morning, but will be in Leaping Wolf with Dougie Singh by about 1.15
Thought I’d try your trick with the pineapple rings last night……we only had pineapple chunks so it got a bit messy!!!
This should be a win but I’m not sure we’ll be fully back to normal – and even the presence of our esteemed transatlantic visitor might not be enough to spur us on to great things. Hence my downbeat prediction.
Nonetheless COYW 🙂
These seem to be the games that we drop points. Hope I’m wrong but I’ll say a bore draw
Not able to make today ‘s game as on a Dartmoor break to celebrate my wife ‘s birthday. So sorry to miss Clive and Dougie and all else who may be around.
Not sure what to expect from this game, all seemed so clear but recent results and lack of activity in the transfer market have caused doubts to creep in.
But sensibly Wolves should be too strong for Newcastle so am going for a fairly comfortable win.
Jackomac, above, touched on Fosun funding. I just read that Jeff Shi was quoted in the Financial Times recently (Google it) saying that Wolves cannot expect the same level of financial support now as we enjoyed in the first two seasons. Why? By my reckoning the Fosun owner may have lost the best part of a billion quid in two company collapses: Thomas Cook and the Greek-listed Folli Follie Group, since buying Wolves.
I had a email from my SIPP pension provider this week inviting me to register for the Wolves IPO. It’s now well known that Fosun want to sell 20% of Wolves . If they do, what will they do with the proceeds of selling 20%? I also know that these days most top clubs are not public companies, so maybe this is not the financial way forward for us. I am worried about all of this. Fosun saved us from Morgan-Moxey mediocrity a few years ago and I am eternally grateful for that. However I can’t at this stage see us being financially independent of Fosun just yet, so we might have to tighten our belts to get there. Alternatively, Fosun are an investment company of course. Just as every player has his price (i.e. when it’s too good to turn down), the same applies to investments. If some mega-rich person or company offered to totally buy out Fosun, and shared the same vision for the Wolves project, I would welcome it.
For today’s match I reckon it’s time for us to show our teeth. The team will be rested. We don’t need Jota, I’d rather save him for Man U next week as he scares the shite out of the red devils. 3-1 Wolves.
The way I’m reading things, Jota’s going to be out for several weeks.
Time to kick some team well and truely up the arse. As newcastle seem to have an injury list as long as the Tyne it might as well be them.
They might get a late consolation, but maybe not.
I’m in Leaping Wolf prematch with Clive, so it’s short and sweet from me.
A win for Wolves.
Some people on this blog seem to need to be abusive to other bloggers or a particular blogger.
That’s shit and not what this blog is about.
Well that was utter tosh. Toothless. They were there for the taking and we weren’t up to it.
Two points dropped.
Oh, and stop taking the piss out of Tim. We all know he’s a knobhead, but leave the pillock alone.
Poor second half I thought. We were the better team and weren’t troubled at all by Newcastle. What we lack is an impact sub(s). It could be a long second half of the season, if we don’t sign up a quality player or two. We missed Jota today with his penetrative runs. Newcastle came here for a point, and that’s what they got.