Wolves banter 10

05 Feb 2026 12:40:15
So man united and Liverpool have been sniffing around mane, so expect him to go in the summer. until they change the rules which favour man utd, Liverpool, arsenal, Chelsea ect, notice it's the same names year after year, and other clubs are allowed to financially compete with those named clubs.

05 Feb 2026 16:47:54
You would hope that a lot of of these younger players would see how their career will stall moving to a bigger club where they will be cast aside and forgotten about. He should stay and get game time with us and keep developing.

05 Feb 2026 07:25:34
Good article from LongmyndWolf but couple of comments if I may.
‘And if we are heading into a relegation fight, ’ IF? have you looked at the table lately?
And regarding ground development… well I can guarantee we won’t be seeing cranes above Molineux in 12 months time and as for fans sitting in the rain - I reckon the crowds we’ll be getting next season with all fit under cover quite comfortably.


(Well maybe not that comfortably in the Steve Bull, but that’s another thread). 🙄

05 Feb 2026 10:08:40
The Graham Hughes stand still being a thing after 23 years is frankly a disgrace.

Over the next decade or so if the ground is redeveloped with PSR rules being a thing and I believe the percentage of wages to income getting stricter not only staying in the Premier League is going to become a pipe dream again, but even competing in the championship could become difficult. There are some big clubs (and Sandwell) struggling in the championship now having been Premier League sides in some cases for as long as we were.

I believe the following is there and the club is big enough to hold it's own in the Premier League, but the infrastructure and right people to implement it are not.

The lack of revenue growth, reinvestment in the ground and making sure the youth academy produces prospects of value is where the fundamental failures are and that has impacted everything we're seeing now on and off the pitch.

05 Feb 2026 10:16:15
Hi 3G, actually I didn't and certainly wouldn't have written that. Having been away for a couple of days and only just got to read my post I was surprised to see that it has been 'modified' somewhat.

However, I must say, very nicely presented. Although the core of my post is there some things appear to have been omitted and others added such as the point you mentioned. I'm not sure why, maybe the Eds have a new AI editing toy (lol).

So over to you Ed's, why?

{Ed033's Note - Sorry about that, i read your post and thought it was well written and didn't need altering but the AI 'modified' it when it re-presented it.

05 Feb 2026 10:21:41
You are probably correct about the following being premier league level Acle, you are also correct about the infrastructure, that can be developed with the correct ownership of the club, the problem is that Fosun will ultimately decide who that ownership is, if and when they decide to leave.

05 Feb 2026 11:03:31
Thanks Ed033, it's not a massive problem but maybe something you should keep an eye on. If it adds or emits things that can change the intended tone of a post as well as the content that may have unintended consequences.

For example, considering we have been rooted to the bottom since the season kicked off to suggest we are heading for a relegation battle makes the poster, me in this case, sound ridiculous.

Other than that, it did do a very nice job (lol).

{Ed033's Note - I've made an alteration.

05 Feb 2026 12:18:23
That's kind of what I was angling at Arddunby. Infrastructure, income are all things possible by the owners and as far as I'm aware don't get hit by PSR. The issue is even if the owners did want to do it it needs the right people to execute it all, and previous recruitments leave much to be desired.

Just on our academy it should be a place developing young domestic and overseas talents that either supplement the first team or are sold for the supposed 100% profit to help supplement improving the first team. Other than Mane for a few weeks so far this season (hopefully he has a fantastic career), our academy developments are hugely disappointing and that's at the doors of the owners for who has been recruited to operate it.

Unfortunately with the value of the club going to be decimated by relegation I can't see Fosun as an investment company letting go any time soon. Also who know with the next owners whether we'd get sense and progress, or a bunch of clowns who still could end up being worse than what we have now as crazy as that may sound in this moment.

06 Feb 2026 18:13:10
Can't do much with the spending rules.
Could fix the stadium but suspect the problem is as much with the council as with the owners.

05 Feb 2026 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Here2McStay has posted a new article entitled, Celtic Board Debate: Money, Strategy and Communication

04 Feb 2026 20:51:09
Great thread this afternoon which focuses the mind on our finances and present position.
In my opinion we have never recovered from the Covid measures in 2020 it ruined momentum on our Europa league run, it unsettled Nuno not being able to travel to Portugal and our strength is fans at Molineux both for support and revenue which was ruined by lockdown. None of this was the fault of anyone at our club up to then we had great momentum owners, management, players and fans pulling in the same direction.


I am hoping this transfer window is the start of a recovery as for the first time in a long while we controlled the situation and negotiated well both on incomings and outgoings. Let’s hope we can continue the improvement on and off the pitch. As a club and fanbase we know how hard relegation to the Championship is going to be and I hope we can stick together and fight the situation head on.COYW

04 Feb 2026 15:07:27
Good note.
Both of your two main threads are bang on.
Recruitment has been beyond abysmal - so so many very obviously poor players bought for substantial sums and put on large contracts - whilst the selling has been worse!
Additionally the total failure to develop income streams and control costs has been scandalous.
Sadly Jeff has not had his eye on the ball!
However whilst I love your optimism I don't think the club is going to spend money on the ground when it's far from full which it will be in the Championship, if they didn't when it 'was sold out.

in the Premiership
Indeed now I would argue that every penny that can be spared should be spent on the team to get the club back to the Prem or at least stabilise it in the Championship.

06 Feb 2026 18:17:46
Now's the time to enlarge the one stand by 10, 000. It would show confidence in their plan and not affect revenue as much while in the Championship, if we are there next season.
Might have a few seasons to improve the other stands, too. Nothing is for certain.

04 Feb 2026 11:14:41
{Ed's Note - LongmyndWolf has posted a new article entitled, Wolves, Recruitment Regrets and What Comes Next

04 Feb 2026 10:03:48
I was wondering if someone in the know could give a quick rundown of Wolves's debt, at last time of writing. A work colleague of mine has tried to say we have no debt, and I have spent ages trawling though the archives trying to find the post to prove him wrong!

04 Feb 2026 10:53:13
I'm sure Thefutureisoldgold will respond to that request WolvesNutta as he's posted plenty on that subject.

04 Feb 2026 12:47:59
We are in debt roughly to the tune of 250 million ish nutta, we owe 100 million on a loan fosun took out and I think around 130 million to fosun themselves, so technically they could write that off and then another 20 odd in other bits and bobs but that was on the last reporting year so could of changed, either way we are certainly not “debt free” as some posters seem to think

04 Feb 2026 13:28:51
Thank you Long, I wait with baited breath 😊

04 Feb 2026 14:59:40
Thank you De Wolf

04 Feb 2026 15:19:05
De Wolf - plus another £70m net to other clubs on transfers yet to be paid for so circa £320m in total
From the accounts which as you say are from May 2024 so a bit out of date the club has £30m of cash bank debt as you say of £100m, net debt to clubs of £70m and net debt to Fosun of approx £180m.


Sadly many fans still have no idea how bad the situation is and this has allowed Jeff to "get away with it".

04 Feb 2026 17:58:24
Thanks for the clarification gents, much appreciated

02 Feb 2026 23:46:48
Free agents that can be signed after the window closes:

Saint Maximim
Sterling
Zouma
Alacer
Sergio Ramos
Bakayoko
Dawson
Lingard
Ryan Kent
James Rodriguez
Oxlade Chamberlain
Oxford
Payet
Ramsey
Deulofeu
Abeid
Bernat
Bonaventura
De Sciglio
Masina
Denayer
Amartey
Aurier

03 Feb 2026 11:45:00
Saint Maximan is at Lens now rated

02 Feb 2026 21:38:15
Armstrong announced now
Still waiting on angel gomes

02 Feb 2026 20:42:45
Well, what an underwhelming Transfer Window that was. At the time of writing this post, some 90 minutes after the Window closed, still no incoming players announced.

I see it as the club have done absolutely nothing to plan ahead. They've not brought anyone in to integrate them ready for the Championship next season and neither have they brought anyone in to try and save us this season.

It looks like they've given up and we are now in limbo.

02 Feb 2026 21:31:22
Angel and Armstrong are done, they'll be announced in due course prob with a sale on shirts too.

02 Feb 2026 21:46:57
Armstrong deal announced, 3½ year contract

03 Feb 2026 10:13:01
To be honest I've been pleasantly surprised goidwhile, I imagined more outgoings without replacements.
To get the money reported for larsen is also a surprise and the relatively small outgoing spend would actually suggest that Fosun, (given our impending relegation), have actually acted responsibly.

Of course it remains to be seen what impact the new lads can have, good or bad, but fresh blood is rarely a poor thing as a whole.
Agbadu has also brought something in and off the wages bill so another positive from my angle.

We've got to face the reality of relegation, and the task ahead, mitigating against further struggles is now the imperative and maybe, just maybe, Sh II is doing that.
Having said that, it wasn't the most exciting of windows and not a lot of interest in players all round, so who knows?

03 Feb 2026 10:59:11
Yeah a very typical Fosun transfer window, where they promise a lot but in reality we are now just weaker than when we started the window. I understand that you have to sell Larsen at the price offered but as ever it's the transfers in (or lack of) which disappoints me.

On which note what exactly happens if Jackson gets a nasty injury? Cause I didn't especially rate however, but we now seem to have just one right back in the squad? As usual, same Shi different day! 😭

03 Feb 2026 15:15:36
It wasn't an exciting transfer window but it wasn't a bad one. Fosun aren't going to spend a lot when we are basically relegated. Letting Larson go for 48m is good business. Signing Armstrong who is championship proven and a different type of forward to Tolu is a good move. I can't comment on Gomes as never seen him play but I believe he is an attacking midfielder which we have been crying out for.

We have Bellegarde who has just come back who was probably our best attacking player until the injury. Summer is going to be very busy and important if they want to bounce back up. We need to bounce back up otherwise if you don't first time around you can be stuck there for a long time.

03 Feb 2026 15:33:26
On Saturday, Mosquera moved to right back after the first lot of subs.

No doubt Fosun will come out and say the club are flush for players as Doc, Jackson and Rodrigo can play RB and Toti, Wolfe, Doc, Hugo can all play LB.

This transfer window made no sense to me. We didn't bring anyone in to mould ready for next season or anyone to try and save us this season.

03 Feb 2026 16:45:53
The position we're in we'd have to bring in players worthy of being title challengers to try and stay up. Purely because we need to win something like 11 of 14 games. Those type of players are never coming to a relegation fight.

As depressing as it is - not taking Derby's record has become the realistic aim this season.

Players for next season is a good idea, but not easy. Some won't move until the summer and may have contracts running down making them cheaper to buy. Some may be playing for clubs who may get promoted / relegated themselves making players available. Circumstances will shift over the next 6 months on who we might be able to get.

I'm actually amazed we signed anyone.

03 Feb 2026 16:57:36
Good - not sure why you are against the signing of Adam Armstrong?
Whilst he is obviously not as good as Cunha, Jota, Neto or Jimenez he is probably better than Hwang or Tolu.
He is clearly not good enough for the Prem - just like Hwang and Tolu!
But statistically he is one of the best Championship players of the last 5 years - goals scored and goals per minute - and that is where Wolves will be playing next year?.


He is cheap, home grown and on lower wages than Hwang etc.
Ps Che Adams, who I have also seen many posters running down, would also have fallen into the same category.

03 Feb 2026 17:28:05
Lima, Doc, Tchatchooa and Rodrigo makes 4 potential right backs, Bully's. Don't see how we can't be viewed as weaker as Larsen was producing nothing and Lopez needs more time and space than the Premier affords whilst, for a change, Armstrong and Angel could prove pretty inspired signings.

03 Feb 2026 19:14:16
Just hope the signing of Armstrong means the end of Hwang, otherwise why bother? I hope Gomes can capture the form from his England selection, should certainly stand out in Championship. Signing a winger would have been a good step, perhaps one out of contract could be found.

03 Feb 2026 22:53:54
Future, I'm not against the Armstrong signing. My frustration is that Fosun have just remained stagnant for this transfer window.

Armstrong is clearly a signing for next season and will plug the gap left by JSL.

The Angel Gomes move was initially reported as having an obligation to buy but this has since changed to option to buy so again.

I personally think we should either go down fighting or begin planning for next season and I don't think we've achieved either.

04 Feb 2026 07:46:01
Both Angel and Armstrong can be seen as planning for next season and Fosun were also after Adams (not the most exciting but that's where we now are). Not exactly Fosun's greatest supporter but credit where it's due and I think they've done okay this window.

January is notoriously difficult for trading (we were involved in 3 out of just 7 final day deals) and there's still the prospect of moving Agbadou on as the Turkish window is still open.

04 Feb 2026 11:47:46
I think the point that Good is making (and I agree) is that in typical Fosun fashion they had basically given up on the window before they started! Our first win on the season was on the 3rd Jan, by the end of that week we were 14 points off survival. So if we had actually got say 2/3 quality loans ready to go through on the 1st Jan in reality we may have just started to build up steam on the minor miracle that is survival! Whereas what Fosun have (typically) done is left the team to flounder till the last week of the window and basically shrugged on gone 'well we are already down now so no point pushing ourselves'!
Now I'm not suggesting for a second that they should have pushed dangerous transfers through, but they could have (for example) signed Gomez on the first day of the window instead of the last?! I'm not saying it would have made a difference in the long term but it's more what it represents.

We should have put up a fight whereas in truth it feels like Fosum accepted relegation around early Dec! What also seems to be forgotten in all of this is the season ticket holders. Because signing loan players on the 1st Jan may not have kept us up but it would have at least demonstrated a GENUINE effort to go out fighting rather than this whimpering mule we currently seem to be! That's just how I feel with it anyway 👍

04 Feb 2026 16:12:11
BB and Good apologies you make very valid points.
Guess I am so beaten down by the negatives that the tiny flicker of good news - Fosun are indeed accepting relegation but are at last preparing, albeit for the championship, after years of seemingly ignoring the future - took my eye off the ball.
To be honest though I suspect it would have taken a little bit more than Gomes A or indeed anything that could have reasonably been expected to make that miracle a reality but you are correct Fosun should at least have had the decency to show some effort given how appallingly they have treated the fans these last few years.

04 Feb 2026 21:33:41
No worries TFG buddy and yes I agree that incredibly Fosun have managed to reduce our expectations to such a low level that we don't expect much from transfer windows these days. I will admit that as its turned out it would have made no difference, largely due to Forest and Leeds having good runs in Jan so it's largely academic at this stage.


Will we get past Derbys record, I'm not sure as to date the only team we've beaten will be going down with us! What a mess Fosun have created, my latest worry would be is RE actually good enough? I'm not convinced, I was starting to come round but after Bournemouth managed their (only) second away win of the season without really getting out of third gear now I'm not so sure! Time will tell but (as usual:) I agree with you TFG old pal, any notion that we will take the Champ by storm ssems VERY presumptive right now! COYW 👍🐺