Lets discuss Fabio and his future .

[SA Wolf]

I really wanted / want him to succeed but after 3 years it is fairly clear to me that “prime Robbie Keane” he is not. I genuinely do not understand why we paid £35M for him; now the fee is not his fault but the suspicion remains that it was a big favour in return for Moutinho and Neves. If we had paid £10M for him it might still have raised eyebrows but might have been worth a punt, as it is the figure paid is a ludicrous amount.
As for the minutes played, he has to earn minutes on the pitch and 4 different managers don’t seem to have wanted to play him consistently, and remember they see him every day in training as well as on the pitch and have seen the scouting reports from his loans.
I am sure he will have an ok career somewhere but I just don’t see the raw talent that suggests he will be a PL player any time soon. I hope we can get a decent loan for him with obligation to buy, and a decent sell on clause, and that he does well somewhere, but I don’t see us getting more than £10M for him.
I really wish him well but it would be better for him and Wolves if he moved on, I think.

Andy, this post is almost word for word what I was planning to write.

As a Wolves' fan; I want all our players to succeed and when Fabio arrived with all the fanfare, I was excited. Wolves was on the crest of a wave under Nuno and following our first foray into Europe since God's dog was a pup; splashing money on 'outstanding' prospects seemed the next logical step. Along with signing a Barcelona fullback; Fabio represented the next step into Fosun's wish of really shaking up the Premier League establishment. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got!

Quite early, it appeared to me that Fabio was 'Emperor's New Clothes' and the furore surrounding him was BS. When some of us voiced our doubts, we were told that we were buying potential, that he wasn't the finished article and he would develop, get better and we'd either get the striker we all craved or would sell at a huge profit to one of the European elite.
Well, we've waited and waited and waited!

Sadly (and I genuinely mean that), Fabio and Wolves will part with no upside for either party. Wolves will have money sent down the drain with a huge loss and the player's reputation is at an all-time-low.
I guess the quicker we put this episode behind us and hopefully learn from it, the better for all concerned.

 

[The Wolf In The North]

Jonny Phillips is a journalist , its his job to tell the truth. You cant call him or that shameful. But whoever told Jonny Phillips may be at fault.

That would be my distinction, yes - if he's paraphrasing then he's doing the player and the club a disservice, but if he's just reporting what he's been told, then okay, that's his job, but the dismay shifts to whoever told him, and what the goal was of putting it in print.

Either way, I can't see what purpose there is in putting this out there (at this time). No one benefits in mid November, it's just gossip-mongering. It's not phrased as opinion or conjecture, it's "the coaches at Compton have said" and how does that help the player in any way?

 

[Andywolf74]

I don’t feel what looks like an inflated fee for Silva was any type of favour. Business is business and unless there was some contractual obligation to pay £35 million for an unproven player then why would you?
I feel the signing of Silva was made at the time we got carried away with our previous successful Portuguese signings and thought filling the team predominantly with Portuguese players would continue to improve us. Over the next couple of seasons we ended up with a squad who were starting to struggle in the Premier league and nearly resulted in relegation last season. I personally think the type of player we’ve brought in over the last two windows are a better fit for the Premier League and results are starting to show this.
£10 million for Silva in January or next summer would be great and I personally would wish him well wherever he moves to.

 

[Minimalist]

I don’t feel what looks like an inflated fee for Silva was any type of favour. Business is business and unless there was some contractual obligation to pay £35 million for an unproven player then why would you?
I feel the signing of Silva was made at the time we got carried away with our previous successful Portuguese signings and thought filling the team predominantly with Portuguese players would continue to improve us. Over the next couple of seasons we ended up with a squad who were starting to struggle in the Premier league and nearly resulted in relegation last season. I personally think the type of player we’ve brought in over the last two windows are a better fit for the Premier League and results are starting to show this.
£10 million for Silva in January or next summer would be great and I personally would wish him well wherever he moves to.

I think in the past we declined certain opportunities to sign players that we then went on to regret not signing. Ruben Dias being possibly one. We took the punt when Silva became available….

 

[AndyY]

Wonder how many of the people slagging off, and writing off, Fabio were doing the same thing 6 months ago with Hwang.

Believe it or not, players can improve. Hwang is 27, Fabio is 21. So I would say the potential for Fabio to improve is much more than Hwang

One of the differences with Hwang, is that we are now playing him in his proper position, closer to the middle, rather than out wide. So, it’s not that he has improved, it is more to do with us finally playing him in the position he is best in,

 

[Elokobi Wan]

If Fabio comes good at his next club, feel free to rub my face in it. But I'm sorry, it's enough now. I wish him the best.

Even if he does, still doesn’t mean he’d have come good at this club.

We need not just talented players but ones that fit the club, and much as I like Fabio and see he has masses of potential, it seems as though he just doesn’t fit Wolves right now.

 

[Aimless Balls]

Wonder how many of the people slagging off, and writing off, Fabio were doing the same thing 6 months ago with Hwang.

Believe it or not, players can improve. Hwang is 27, Fabio is 21. So I would say the potential for Fabio to improve is much more than Hwang

It’s not a crazy comparison. If you look for a player currently succeeding under Gary whose game most resembles Fabio’s, it’s Hwang’s. I think if Fabio’s got a role in the team, it may be as Hwang’s backup on the left in the 3-4-3 -> 4-4-2 Pedro system because Hwang doesn’t actually have to play like a winger in that and he’s not a winger, really. He’s a presser and a poacher whose best skill is running where they ain’t. If he could hold it up he’d be a 9. Don’t need him near the build-up. If Hwang’s not scoring he generally doesn’t look great, and he did not look great for a long time. I can’t say these good games are worth all the poor ones. We’re another season or two from that. And he’ll go off the boil again, of course.

I think that if Fabio routinely got the chance to survey things from the weak side of the pitch while Neto is on the other side running the show he may have the chance to be the only real kind of goal-scorer he could be- reading and running and tapping it in. He‘s never dominating anyone physically, he’s neither quick nor fast, and he doesn’t have a heavy shot. He’s not a loan away from becoming physically gifted, nor is he 100 15-min stints as a lone striker in the PL away from being a PL lone striker. We can’t operate on blind faith 3 years in, we know some stuff about the kid. You earn faith as a striker by having scored goals or having tools which portend goals. It will come? What will come? There’s a player in there? Cool.

I watched many of Fabio’s appearances last season and I’d be shocked if we ever regretted selling him. He did not show some continental superpowers, just the same stuff and it worked a bit more often in those leagues. I’d understand if we never played him again but if we did, I’d say give him a shot in the a Hwang role of the Pedro Neto show if Hwang can’t be in there. Too slow for that as well? Probably, but we could say we gave him every chance.

 

[DJMolineux]

One of the differences with Hwang, is that we are now playing him in his proper position, closer to the middle, rather than out wide. So, it’s not that he has improved, it is more to do with us finally playing him in the position he is best in,

Whatever reason you come up with, Hwang is making a bigger contribution now than many were saying he was capable of six months ago.

 

[ombyman]

Andy, this post is almost word for word what I was planning to write.

As a Wolves' fan; I want all our players to succeed and when Fabio arrived with all the fanfare, I was excited. Wolves was on the crest of a wave under Nuno and following our first foray into Europe since God's dog was a pup; splashing money on 'outstanding' prospects seemed the next logical step. Along with signing a Barcelona fullback; Fabio represented the next step into Fosun's wish of really shaking up the Premier League establishment. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got!

Quite early, it appeared to me that Fabio was 'Emperor's New Clothes' and the furore surrounding him was BS. When some of us voiced our doubts, we were told that we were buying potential, that he wasn't the finished article and he would develop, get better and we'd either get the striker we all craved or would sell at a huge profit to one of the European elite.
Well, we've waited and waited and waited!

Sadly (and I genuinely mean that), Fabio and Wolves will part with no upside for either party. Wolves will have money sent down the drain with a huge loss and the player's reputation is at an all-time-low.
I guess the quicker we put this episode behind us and hopefully learn from it, the better for all concerned.

Totally agree, but you missed out the bit where the militantly gold tinted glasses brigade would fight to death to defend the deal, quoting harry kane (because every striker comes good aged 22 or something)

The reality, is anyone with football knowledge and eyeballs knew it was dead in the water.

(Obviously he will now win multiple balloon doors and form a partnership with Bellingham to dominate club football for a decade.)

 

[Rabid Wolf]

Harry Kane spent numerates years in lower league before starting for Spuds, It's something Fabio should have done instead of going to Belgium especially if he can't hack English football.

 

[wolfslair]

Harry Kane spent numerates years in lower league before starting for Spuds, It's something Fabio should have done instead of going to Belgium especially if he can't hack English football.

His planned development schedule went out the window when Raul had his injury.

He has really suffered from what happened as he wasn’t ready for all of that pressure as such a youngster.

There is a real talent there, but the situation isn’t helping anyone anymore and he will probably get back on track when he leaves us.

 

[Timberwolf]

Jonny Phillips is a journalist , its his job to tell the truth. You cant call him or that shameful. But whoever told Jonny Phillips may be at fault.

Lol…a journalist’s job isn’t and hasn’t been for years, to tell the truth…what have you been smoking?

 

[Timberwolf]

(Obviously he will now win multiple balloon doors and form a partnership with Bellingham to dominate club football for a decade.)

I think the merit in Balloon Doors is over-inflated.

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

I don’t feel what looks like an inflated fee for Silva was any type of favour. Business is business and unless there was some contractual obligation to pay £35 million for an unproven player then why would you?
I feel the signing of Silva was made at the time we got carried away with our previous successful Portuguese signings and thought filling the team predominantly with Portuguese players would continue to improve us. Over the next couple of seasons we ended up with a squad who were starting to struggle in the Premier league and nearly resulted in relegation last season. I personally think the type of player we’ve brought in over the last two windows are a better fit for the Premier League and results are starting to show this.
£10 million for Silva in January or next summer would be great and I personally would wish him well wherever he moves to.

If we managed to get £10 mil for him,on the books its probably a profit with amortisation
Obviously a big loss in reality but for FFP purposes ok

 

[WolfLing]

His planned development schedule went out the window when Raul had his injury.

He has really suffered from what happened as he wasn’t ready for all of that pressure as such a youngster.

There is a real talent there, but the situation isn’t helping anyone anymore and he will probably get back on track when he leaves us.

He did really well to come into the side that season and get 4 league goals. Especially considering that our joint top scorers only had 5.

I actually think Lage had more to do with him losing confidence, when he had a stinking season in 21/22. Despite being lauded as a coach who was great for the development of youth players, Lage was actually the opposite. We can see that by the way he publicly criticised Hoever.

Gary O'Neil seems to be the type of manager he needs to improve again. The problem now is game-time.

There's very few combinations of our front 3 that would see him start at the moment.

Fabio still has 2 more years on his contract from next summer, plus an option of another year. If he goes on loan again, it's very unlikely he'd be happy to come back and try a third time to break into the side.

If we did opt to loan him again, we would need to try and loan him to a club that could afford to pay what we would want if he manages to start scoring for them (i.e. not a Dutch side). Difficulty with that is that sort of club is probably above his level at the moment.

I think he should just stay here, knuckle down and keep trying to improve. He's a good third striker option and will continue to be next season.

Maybe all he needs is a bit of luck, and a goal.

 

[nomadwolf]

Gary O'Neil praises Fabio Silva while laying down challenge to Wolves striker

Gary O’Neil has been pleased by Fabio Silva’s response in training as he calls for the Wolves striker to prove his worth.

www.expressandstar.com

“I’ve spoken to Fabio a lot about what we need from him,” O’Neil said. “A consistency in the way he works, especially we need to see a real intensity all week, and he needs to be really consistent with his actions on the pitch as well.

“Being more secure with the ball, still being a goal threat – he’s a young number nine playing in the hardest league in the world, so when I give him these things to improve, it’s normal.

“He’s been really willing in the last few weeks. He’s worked harder than he was at the start of the season, he’s really trying to force his way in..."

 

[fleck1]

I'd imagine the article wasn't a surprise to Fabio and talks between player, manager and the club have been going on about his future. The way GON has tried to bring the group together as one id be shocked if this was just thrown in to the public domain. Hopefully its a case of a mutual agreement and all parties would prefer a fresh start and its the club looking to create a market

 

[Rowzed]

Many would take £10m for Fabio
if we were offered a 21 year old Portuguese U21 striker at £10m would that be a good deal?
if so why sell?
if not who would buy?
the only reasons for parting ways is if the money released improves the squad, or it’s more than he is ‘worth’, otherwise it’s foolish

 

[brianm]

Many would take £10m for Fabio
if we were offered a 21 year old Portuguese U21 striker at £10m would that be a good deal?
if so why sell?
if not who would buy?
the only reasons for parting ways is if the money released improves the squad, or it’s more than he is ‘worth’, otherwise it’s foolish

The lad is on 80k a week according to Capology via FBRef. Wolverhampton Wanderers Wage Details, All Competitions | FBref.com

No, a Portuguese U21 striker on 80k a week sounds insane for 10m in a vacuum because the wages sound insane for a project player. If he was on something more reasonable for being a total project, then maybe.

The wages are going to be a problem for shifting him. Who on the continent is paying him that? It works out to a little over 4m a year until June 2026. Subsidizing the wages would eat into the fairly meager fee.

The value would be purely in getting him off the books so at least the salary can be reinvested in a player who helps the team....if you really think he just won't provide anything for just about the duration of his deal.

Ideally, 2 years left on his deal is next summer and that is when Wolves want to stick or twist. He loses value rapidly after that and it just becomes a case of running down his contract more or less.

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

Many would take £10m for Fabio
if we were offered a 21 year old Portuguese U21 striker at £10m would that be a good deal?
if so why sell?
if not who would buy?
the only reasons for parting ways is if the money released improves the squad, or it’s more than he is ‘worth’, otherwise it’s foolish

I’d take 5 mil

 

[waveney wolf]

Gary O'Neil praises Fabio Silva while laying down challenge to Wolves striker

Gary O’Neil has been pleased by Fabio Silva’s response in training as he calls for the Wolves striker to prove his worth.

www.expressandstar.com

“I’ve spoken to Fabio a lot about what we need from him,” O’Neil said. “A consistency in the way he works, especially we need to see a real intensity all week, and he needs to be really consistent with his actions on the pitch as well.

“Being more secure with the ball, still being a goal threat – he’s a young number nine playing in the hardest league in the world, so when I give him these things to improve, it’s normal.

“He’s been really willing in the last few weeks. He’s worked harder than he was at the start of the season, he’s really trying to force his way in..."

Sounds like he's lazy in training..isn't that what Bruno said about him as well ?
Just get rid

 

[Ned]

Gary O'Neil praises Fabio Silva while laying down challenge to Wolves striker

Gary O’Neil has been pleased by Fabio Silva’s response in training as he calls for the Wolves striker to prove his worth.

www.expressandstar.com

“I’ve spoken to Fabio a lot about what we need from him,” O’Neil said. “A consistency in the way he works, especially we need to see a real intensity all week, and he needs to be really consistent with his actions on the pitch as well.

“Being more secure with the ball, still being a goal threat – he’s a young number nine playing in the hardest league in the world, so when I give him these things to improve, it’s normal.

“He’s been really willing in the last few weeks. He’s worked harder than he was at the start of the season, he’s really trying to force his way in..."

So he wasn’t working hard enough in training to force his way in. Glad he’s upped it now, he’s got to keep himself in the manager’s thoughts by training well day after day.

Catch 22 for Fabio at the moment as he needs more minutes but needs to earn those minutes.

 

[Mardenboroughs Shoulder]

Whatever we think he will still be Wolves royalty for scoring twice against the **** from the Poorthorns. He is in a select group including Danny Crainie, Iwan Robert's, George Ndah, John Richards, Terry Wharton, Hugh Curran and of course Stephen George Bull.

 

[YouGottaRaulWithIt]

Hwang and Sasa have both scored goals coming on as sub. We need points, we need goals. I don't think it fair to give Fabio opportunities we wouldn't give anyone else. The team position is more important that developing a player we overpaid for.

Don't forget Sarabia and Bellegarde. Fabio is way down the queue. He needs to go somewhere else to play.

 

[AndyWolves]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1727762664254783909

 

[Kebab Warrior]

Gary O'Neil praises Fabio Silva while laying down challenge to Wolves striker

Gary O’Neil has been pleased by Fabio Silva’s response in training as he calls for the Wolves striker to prove his worth.

www.expressandstar.com

“I’ve spoken to Fabio a lot about what we need from him,” O’Neil said. “A consistency in the way he works, especially we need to see a real intensity all week, and he needs to be really consistent with his actions on the pitch as well.

“Being more secure with the ball, still being a goal threat – he’s a young number nine playing in the hardest league in the world, so when I give him these things to improve, it’s normal.

“He’s been really willing in the last few weeks. He’s worked harder than he was at the start of the season, he’s really trying to force his way in..."

Anyone else read that as ‘work hard all the time’?

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Anyone else read that as ‘work hard all the time’?

Yes. Remember the Lage outburst at the younger ones not putting in much effort in training. Think he called out Hoever mainly

 

[Bawtry Wolf]

Anyone else read that as ‘work hard all the time’?

Fabio is one of the laziest players in training or warm ups. I watched him earlier in the season at half time, all the other subs were out on the pitch with a trainer and he was loitering by the dug out and actually joined at the last minute. I’ve also noticed in things such as first team training videos that he doesn’t do a lot of the warm up exercises properly, not quite doing the full stretch or cheating it a bit. Nothing big but the type of thing that those who aren’t the best trainers do. Unfortunately for Fabio he’s not the calibre of player to do that.

 

[Pengwern]

GON has watched him though so he’s turned a corner & is training hard

 

[thewolffromwolverhampton]

I just want to comment on here, and say that just for reference for Fabio Silva, he is still a Wolves player. The way some people talk about him on here, and other forums/social media sites. Makes it seem like it's not the case. Can I just politely remind supporters to be more understanding of him under the mitigating circumstances of him only being 21, and still trying to mature into the adult career in his life. Many Thanks.

 

[WalsallWolf]

I just want to comment on here, and say that just for reference for Fabio Silva, he is still a Wolves player. The way some people talk about him on here, and other forums/social media sites. Makes it seem like it's not the case. Can I just politely remind supporters to be more understanding of him under the mitigating circumstances of him only being 21, and still trying to mature into the adult career in his life. Many Thanks.

It is with that in mind (and I repeat it in all my posts) when I say it is good for the player above all that he moves on.

He does not have the minerals or mentality to play for a club at the level of the Premier League, or the size and fanbase of Wolves. You cannot teach a strong mindset. You either have it, or you don't.

He doesn't have it.

And I won't even go there regarding his football ability which to be kind, just isn't good enough for this level either.

He will have a solid career and most importantly a happy career in a league such as Belgium, Holland, maybe even back home in Portugal, outside of the top sides there.

 

[old wittonian]

It is with that in mind (and I repeat it in all my posts) when I say it is good for the player above all that he moves on.

He does not have the minerals or mentality to play for a club at the level of the Premier League, or the size and fanbase of Wolves. You cannot teach a strong mindset. You either have it, or you don't.

He doesn't have it.

And I won't even go there regarding his football ability which to be kind, just isn't good enough for this level either.

He will have a solid career and most importantly a happy career in a league such as Belgium, Holland, maybe even back home in Portugal, outside of the top sides there.

He's nowhere near young Ferguson's level at Brighton.
You're correct he just doesn't have the attributes.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

He's nowhere near young Ferguson's level at Brighton.
You're correct he just doesn't have the attributes.

I remember Silva best game for Wolves in 2-1 home win over Villa and he missed about 3 golden opportunities. He played well, but a good striker would of had a hatrick that day. Think Jonny smashed one in early on

He was continually making runs

Pressing

Getting into shooting positions

Making shots

Iv not seen that Fabio since

 

[WalsallWolf]

I remember Silva best game for Wolves in 2-1 home win over Villa and he missed about 3 golden opportunities. He played well, but a good striker would of had a hatrick that day. Think Jonny smashed one in early on

He was continually making runs

Pressing

Getting into shooting positions

Making shots

Iv not seen that Fabio since

Agree yes, he was very bright that day.

 

[thewolffromwolverhampton]

It feels like have skim read through some pages of this thread. I am getting a mixture of opinions. So some people are ruling him out completely, some people are actually saying he can improve. He has talent. Yet apparently Sarabia was getting abuse, before his goal against Tottenham. Seems like in the nature of the game. Yet it just surprises me, because the price tag wasn't his fault. It was the CEO's, and the directors.

 

[VancouverWolf]

It feels like have skim read through some pages of this thread. I am getting a mixture of opinions. So some people are ruling him out completely, some people are actually saying he can improve. He has talent. Yet apparently Sarabia was getting abuse, before his goal against Tottenham. Seems like in the nature of the game. Yet it just surprises me, because the price tag wasn't his fault. It was the CEO's, and the directors.

Probably best to wait , see what happens and then judge.

 

[Ian]

Probably best to wait , see what happens and then judge.

It's three seasons down the track..... how long do you wait to make a judgement?

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

With the amount of games in December you've got to think he will get a chance to impress. Feels like a big month for him

 

[VancouverWolf]

It's three seasons down the track..... how long do you wait to make a judgement?

Fair question.
I can wait some more.

Ideally I’d like to see him get a whole season in the Championship. Playing bits and pieces in the PL is not working at this point.

 

[thewolffromwolverhampton]

Fair question.
I can wait some more.

Ideally I’d like to see him get a whole season in the Championship. Playing bits and pieces in the PL is not working at this point.

I think he started a game, and I think GON thinks because he's missed two sitters, he can't have him. Hwang has missed sitters. I say give the guy some game time. Enough for him to make an impact.