04 Oct 2020 00:04:36
Ruben Neves needs to start performing or else he will be the next one up the road with Jota.

1.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 08:20:39
For what it's worth I think you might be right. I could see either him or Adama leaving next year.

I think it will be a case of which one we can get the most money for at that point.

Barring getting more european football of course which is entirely possible. You might see both stay. But in any case I couldn't see us losing more than one big player each window. Makes everything a lot more sustainable that way.

Jota went this window and its completely balanced the outgoings. It's just smart business, Fosun have proven they can do it. Time will tell if we can keep the team moving on same upward trajectory.

Exciting times.

2.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 08:32:12
he's very underated he's playing in a deep position at the moment if donks was along side him he could be given that free roam role and Excel at it when he's on it he dictates the pace of the game and everything goes through him so your comment is just laughable and makes no sense I'd understand if it was a fair point but it's not.

3.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 09:17:14
what jota did brilliantly was drop ack and make that attackng link
between defence and attack, neves for all his qualities doesn't have that which makes podence all the more important, donk and neves will break up play but west ham played round them and tbh we may as well not have had a midfield for the use it was., for me podence has become vital in a short time and without his attacking option I see us struggling to break many teams down,

4.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 10:06:05
I think a couple bad results and fingers get pointed very quickly. Some issues need to be sorted, but Ruben is far from becoming obsolete! Bit far, he is a midfield metronome keeps the play ticking while breaking the play. Not to mention his range of passing which is second to none. Add in the occasional worldie and he's still our wonderkid from Porto! I think it's a case of tweaks or additions to get the best out of them and yes honestly to get that midfield working properly

But to say he isn't fit for purpose I agree is laughable.

5.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 10:33:44
Agree with most of this thread West Ham lined up 451 and overpowered our midfield 2, when our attacks broke down they just came straight back at us.

6.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 10:39:32
Agree to an extent cornishwolf.
I think the first priority is to tighten up defensively and rely on the counter attack for now.
After shipping 4 goals against West ham and it could of easily of been a few more I think 3 up top is leaving the midfield over run and having last seasons both wing backs out of the the back 5 we need an extra man in midfield to help the defence until all is back like last season in defencive back 5.
It may not be pretty to watch for a while but getting results is priority.
This is just my thoughts.
Against West ham neves had a great opportunity to score on another day could of scored and changed the game completely so all is not lost and something positive to build on.
FWAW.

7.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 11:52:14
Neves is a brilliant player but he struggles to finish chances inside the box and he isn't particularly mobile getting forward. His natural position is 2 yards inside the opposition half. We need to find a way to keep width, switch play free up Neto Podence or Traore to run at defences, get support into Raul and fall back into a solid defensive shape. Glad that's Nuno and his team's issue not mine.

8.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 12:55:08
As usual an interesting and thought provoking thread
Tom I was wondering why you believe we will be selling "top" players regularly going forwards?
Subject to the impact of the virus we don't need to for FFP reasons and as a football strategy it is v v risky.
Wolves currently will not, ( unlike Liverpool when the sold Coutinho), be able to attract ready made superstars to replace the players we sell so will have to gamble on unproven talent (as we are doing this year with Silva, Vitor, Hoover and now seemingly the French lad) .
Also this year have we really sold a top player? Jota obviously had been a star for Wolves and did have the potential to be so again but at present was merely a squad player unlikely to get much game time ahead of Podence, Neto and Traore let alone Silva! Vinagre was never more than a squad player, Costa was considered below standard and Doherty the one first 11 player who has left was given away not really sold!

9.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 13:36:34
Victory - All you need is 14 players!
But seriously I think we can all agree the system worked really well over the last 3 years but is now looking awful!
So what has gone wrong?
Re your issues:
Keep width - 2 WBs and 2 Wide forwards in the system so that should be easy - although new WBs have to prove they are as good as the ones missing - v early days yet but big ask.
Switch play - we have really good passers of the ball Coady, Neves, Moutinho and Podence!
Wide men run at defs? Traore def does that as does Neto.
Support Jimenez - well a bit of problem there both before and def now, {Doherty, {a RWB! } was principal support player previously! }
Solid def shape - unchanged in system but seemingly struggling greatly due to Moutinho's legs and new WBs still to prove quality Marcal due to injury and Semedo only just arrived.
What has changed then?
Well both WBs are missing
Jonny is injured and so is his replacement Marcal - who looks limited but ok
But Doherty only just replaced by Semedo a v different type of player and unlikely to be able to give us the same things that Doherty did - attacking threat, physical presence in both boxes and "out ball". Hopefully he gives us other things - pace, skill on ball, passing?
And Moutinho has got old and lost his legs
Solution
1) Must buy a ready to play now box to box CM with a physical edge and goal threat - LC?
2) Assuming we can't correct the error of giving Doherty away, (you don't know how good someone was until they aren't there! ), buy a new ready to play new LWB (who can give you two way play unlike Marcal) so that the 2 WBs BETWEEN them can give us what Doherty did on his own.
Sadly despite the vast amount of money spent so far this summer we have done neither of those things.
Consequently whilst the squad might be far far better in two years time, (Cleary Nuno believes it will! ) the first 11 to day is markedly weaker, (presumably we, {not me! }, are happy to have a down year to consolidate)
However looking around the league - not just the big 6 who have all moved away from us - but Everton, West Ham, Newcastle, Leeds and others, {who have had far better summers and often spent less money than us in terms of preparing for 2020/ 21 football if not future seasons} now look like serious threats to us and the " down" year could be painful.
Fingers crossed for a reaction from all this afternoon!

10.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 16:26:00
3 Points, by no means perfect but job done. A nice present of a midfield player tomorrow would be nice. Nice touches from a few today. We are not the only ones struggling a bit at the moment. Hopefully a bit more fluency will come after the break but with so many players away it may sadly take a bit longer!

11.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 19:20:56
Agree with you thefututeisgold Doc was a crafty player that didn't stop at the last pass forward he kept running for the 1 2 with Adama usually or was the pivotal player so Adama could run in then it's a case of lining up Raul

Neves isn't a box to box player when do we see him in the final third unless he's lining up a shot at the edge of the box?

Jota the opposite he runs at defenders so does Podence so the side isn't balanced but the skills are there across the park

What are we missing? The killer ball forward we were so good at from Coady or Moutinho or even Saiss maybe Nuno has changed the strategy I don't know

There were some strange results this weekend so last week at West Ham probably not so weird

Concerned we have out 6 points from the bottom 2 clubs and all matches from now on will be tougher.

12.) 04 Oct 2020
04 Oct 2020 20:41:14
I think we will definitely sell if we don't get european football. Is as simple as that.

Like I said wouldn't see it a problem keeping any of em if we do.

Way football is going this season we might find it tough. Early days of course. Neves Adama ect will need European football in the coming seasons.

13.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 08:06:54
Tom - ok. So you think it will be the players wanting to go not us exiting them. let's hope not but fear you are correct!
Suspect our failure last season to secure Europa again has already impacted on us this summer.
Incredible to think that we are now "expecting" European football only a couple of years on from struggling in the Championship.
Must not forget that!

14.) 05 Oct 2020
05 Oct 2020 16:13:02
Yeah 100% future, it's a funny old game. We have come a hell of a long way.

I do think many of our younger squad such as Neves + adama ect have long term aspirations of been in the champions league, and why shouldn't they. Would say if it's a matter of if they are patient enough to stick around for the fruition of our project. If we have a couple of average seasons the might second guess it.

Then we would be in a position of trying to get the best price for them naturally.

That said Traore looking to sign new deal potentially. These are all very much maybe situations

I always hope for the best and that they all stay. I guess there's still a realist in me at times.

15.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 09:32:08
Future, I do not believe its a case of what's now gone wrong at all.

It is a case of a new style of play as Nuno has said numerous times of late they are trying something new a few new ideas.

To me it is clear we are going through a transition period, I think Nuno set up the old squad and tactics to reach where we are from the championship and 7th was as far as he believes that style will take us give or plus a position or two.

I believe he is now looking at playing a more attacking style further up the pitch more akin to the top 6 clubs style of play.

If you look at the normal style we sit back compact defend everyone knows their job inside out, and then hit on the break.

Look at our last 3/ 4 match's no compact defence midfield not in tune with the defence it is simply not the same shape despite starting positions, its a bit of a mess, and i believe that's because the players have been given slightly different instructions that they are, as a team struggling with, that's why I say we are in for a rough ride for a time, until as before the players get used to and understand the new system Nuno is introducing. Patience people :)

16.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 16:08:35
Actually Thor I don't disagree with much of what you say - we are changing system, (although I am not as confident as you that I can see what the new system is) and have, as a result of bad luck and perhaps in Moutinho's case poor judgment, changed several players, so patience, (something I sadly lack after 50+ years of watching wolves), will be required.
However I think we were better than you think last year and could easily with just a smidgen of luck, {or as I said before bought Fernandes instead of Vitor and Silva/ Semedo) finished 3rd.
Consequently as I have said before I would have preferred evolution to revolution but luck hasn't been with us and maybe our hand has been forced.
Otto's injury, obviously not planned, has meant both WBs are missing and although highly predictable we don't seem to have been prepared for Moutinho's loss of vim (so far this year - although I am hopeful he will be better once we get everything settled down) .
It should however also be noted that most of the changes we have made to the squad are not very relevant as actually only one first 11 member has been sold - Doherty and only 1 first 11 player bought Semedo. All others are either for the future or cover for Otto (Marcal) .
The change to the system is though I agree obviously planned (or forced upon us if Doherty forced his move) as the whole system was predicated on Doherty's almost unique skill set (and possibly vice versa so he may well struggle at Spurs! ) and he was the one first 11 player sold!
It would have been better, I am sure you agree, to do this with a preseason to iron out the grmelins - like Patricio hitting balls to the RWB to head when they, (Semdedo or Traore) are small men unable to win much in the air! But we are where we are and I accept I will need to put up with a few weeks of less than spectacular results/ performances.
I think the timing is particularly frustrating though as this summer was a real chance to buy well - and we may have but only for the future not it seems today- and others have done so.
Hence whilst we are going backwards to go forwards others are going forwards.
Fingers crossed we can develop the new plan, integrate the new players and catch up the ground ceded to several of our rivals this year and next year or shortly thereafter be in a position to actually challenge!
Sorry - being retired gives you too much time to stew on these things!

17.) 08 Oct 2020
08 Oct 2020 14:46:01
Future- I generally agree with what your saying and enjoy your posts but we were NEVER going to get Bruno Fernandes! I'm afraid it's not as simple as just adding up other transfers and going well we could have got that one instead mostly because we are talking about footballers and not patio sets! What I mean is simply being able to afford a fee does not mean you can sign a player! I guarantee you that at a conservative estimate Fernandes will be on around £180k-250k a week! That's before you include the huge bonuses tied to that, add to this the fact that when United signed him he was one of the most sort after CM in the world! Like I say I generally agree with the rest but have noticed you mention a couple of times that the club should of got Fernandes (like they didn't realise till he'd gone) but I'm afraid there's no reality to it! By the time he went to United we were probs about 2 years past our window of opportunity to be honest 👍.

18.) 09 Oct 2020
09 Oct 2020 16:08:58
No I wasn't seriously suggesting we can currently compete in terms of wages or more likely aura for those type of players -we are 60 years past that (before either of us were born) . But illustrating both that we have paid huge amounts on these totally unproven kids (Iand that we aren't actually that bad already.

19.) 09 Oct 2020
09 Oct 2020 16:18:15
Oops sent by error
was saying we had spent lots on these kids, (I accept some of you seem to know more about them than me but even at best surely we have to acknowledge that they do have v little experience) relative to the amounts others were spending on proven quality - Fernandes being the ultimate option AND that we are actually not a bad side already (think we were above Man U when they signed him) and don't need to rip it up and start again to move further up the league as perhaps I felt some seemed to think we do? .
As you know I am both v cautious re change and v loyal to what we have - perhaps lack the courage for the gamble that is change having seen it blow up so spectacularly over the years ( look at the money sir Jack spent on solutions - that never got us anywhere! ) .
Loving where we have been these last two years and just want it to continue!