Relegation? No chance

[Deleted member 9202LYK]

Our problem is that we don’t have two decent centre halves to rub together. Not pulling out all the stops to get Dias was the biggest open goal we’ve missed.

We build a system to protect inadequate centre halves - and the Prem will always break a system eventually.

obviously rauls injury and selling the hottest striking property in world football (who makes salah, mane and firmino look a bit average) havent helped but we can’t keep a clean sheet to save our life which means for most of the game we are chasing and not playing to our strengths.

 

[Tojo the grass]

We should be able to get a couple of wins and a couple of draws at least, so I think we are safe, I will be pleasantly surprised if we finish above twelfth though.

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

If your in the bottom 5 after 38 games you deserve to be in the bottom 5

we haven’t played 38 games

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

I’m not sure what it is, but there’s a definite reluctance from a significant proportion to admit this season has been very bad in relation to expectations.

I find that strange because people aren’t calling for Nuno to go. I’m disappointed with us this season but I recognise Nuno has to be given the chance to turn things around. If there was a real anger to Nuno I could understand why people want to defend him given what he’s achieved, but there’s not.

The team is not playing to its potential, we’ve scored a higher percentage of set pieces goals than any Premier League team and we’ve shown bottom six form for over half a season.

It’s a worrying trend and there are no real positives to take, other than the fact we probably won’t go down!

Another strange aspect, the same posters who think we’re better than the Villa’s, Leeds’ etc. also seem to be the ones against the criticism. They think we should be good, but don’t want to address the fact we’re not.

Good post
Although shouting for Nunos head is a bit premature, i get where you are coming from

We have not played well for about a season or more now,the seeds were sown after the first lockdown imo
For whatever reason the electric breaks and clinical finishing just seemed to evaporate with the onset of Covid,and yes we had Jota Raul etc all fit and firing at the time,or perhaps misfiring is more accurate

Traore went back to his old ways,and our defence started to creak,i have no idea why it happened, but it hasnt really been adressed since

An average to poor window in the summer didnt help,we didnt bring in the CB or CMF we were all crying out for,and of course the subsequent injury list of Boly ,Saiss, Podence, Jonny, Raul, Marcal, and departures of Jota and Doc compounded it all this season

Its probably a mixture of injuries,poor form,and poor tactics with a dash of poor planning thrown in,but we are not where we all hoped to be at right now,thats a fact

 

[Axle]

I still think we need two more wins to be safe.

In addition, l think another five wins should be what we are aiming for to get the momentum for next season.

We saw how poor momentum cost us last season and something we couldn’t shake off this time around, so the reverse could / should be true this season.

 

[Leamwolf]

Dismal used to be 15th in the Championship, or worse, so I'll take this season ever day of the week.

This is a unique season in every way even without taking the injuries we've had into account. We're hardly on our own in under performing this season.

If we're 15th again this time next year then questions need to be asked but I proffer we won't be

I don't really venture on here anymore as its such a relentlessly negative place and can see that things haven't changed. Same old names

We do need to start judging wolves on a new metric though to the Premier league era of football where we were more miss than hit in terms of success till fosun took over.

this new “fosun” wolves is a different kettle of fish, to compare this wolves to McCarthy’s wolves is a bit of a joke as McCarthy didn’t have fosun funds or uncle Jorge to get us top talent (bar silva) on the cheap. Same goes for clownders, jacket and even the times under Taylor and hoddle.

you can’t compare the wolves team of jackets last season to the one nuno got. As the starting 11’s are poles apart, it was a champ man/fifa cheat code team for the championship

we are as a club looking to be the best wolves team ever and for me the only fair way to compare this wolves teams performance this season is against the previous two seasons in the prem.

As we have never had the access to the next level on the football ladder like we have right now

 

[wwbug]

If we get relegated from this position with the teams we have left to play then we will have deserved relegation - and they will be very many extremely angry fans .
Nuno would be sacked . In fact he should be gone if we are anywhere near relegation in 5 matches time .

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

If we get relegated from this position with the teams we have left to play then we will have deserved relegation - and they will be very many extremely angry fans .
Nuno would be sacked . In fact he should be gone if we are anywhere near relegation in 5 matches time .

This would be the worst collapse in PL history I remember.

Won't happen....one imagines!

I can't see a scenario in which Nuno leaves (nor should he), but the knives will be out of we have a bad start to next season.

 

[Leamwolf]

This would be the worst collapse in PL history I remember.

Won't happen....one imagines!

I can't see a scenario in which Nuno leaves (nor should he), but the knives will be out of we have a bad start to next season.

To get relegated with this squad and the resources at his disposal, that would make his job untenable for me!

needs to look at the coaching staff too this summer, as something is wrong with the players and our style of play that is deeper than the number of injuries we have had.

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

To get relegated with this squad and the resources at his disposal, that would make his job untenable for me!

needs to look at the coaching staff too this summer, as something is wrong with the players and our style of play that is deeper than the number of injuries we have had.

I don't necessarily agree. If we have another mediocre-poor start to the season, then yes, by all means it's time to consider all possible alternatives. Until then though, one must remember this is the same set up that saw us romp the title and finish 7th twice. 3 overs and one underperforming season suggests there's far more right than wrong with the approach.

I do agree that the style of play is vastly inferior this year though.

 

[Leamwolf]

I don't necessarily agree. If we have another mediocre-poor start to the season, then yes, by all means it's time to consider all possible alternatives. Until then though, one must remember this is the same set up that saw us romp the title and finish 7th twice. 3 overs and one underperforming season suggests there's far more right than wrong with the approach.

I do agree that the style of play is vastly inferior this year though.

Oh, I am not saying he goes this summer as we are stopping up.

what I am saying is, we have an excellent man manager and motivator in nuno. Who is tactically very good, just this season with no pre-season and injuries hasn’t been set up for a great season. Before Rauls injury I thought 10th would have been a good finish, I am fully aware the gap between 7th and 10th can be tiny in a league like the prem.

does nuno need to freshen up with a new coach, like a specialist attacking skills coach to add to the crew we have or a defensive coach who specialises in 4 at the back? Sometimes a little change to the voice or new idea can invigorate a set up that has on the whole been together 4 years and done great things in that time.

just ideas as the club and team have all the foundations there, we just need to build on it as we go forward with the plan.

 

[Manic88]

Our problem is that we don’t have two decent centre halves to rub together. Not pulling out all the stops to get Dias was the biggest open goal we’ve missed.

We build a system to protect inadequate centre halves - and the Prem will always break a system eventually.

obviously rauls injury and selling the hottest striking property in world football (who makes salah, mane and firmino look a bit average) havent helped but we can’t keep a clean sheet to save our life which means for most of the game we are chasing and not playing to our strengths.

Not football manager though is it?
One season with us and he’d have gone to City

 

[VancouverWolf]

Oh, I am not saying he goes this summer as we are stopping up.

what I am saying is, we have an excellent man manager and motivator in nuno. Who is tactically very good, just this season with no pre-season and injuries hasn’t been set up for a great season. Before Rauls injury I thought 10th would have been a good finish, I am fully aware the gap between 7th and 10th can be tiny in a league like the prem.

does nuno need to freshen up with a new coach, like a specialist attacking skills coach to add to the crew we have or a defensive coach who specialises in 4 at the back? Sometimes a little change to the voice or new idea can invigorate a set up that has on the whole been together 4 years and done great things in that time.

just ideas as the club and team have all the foundations there, we just need to build on it as we go forward with the plan.

I said pre season on the ‘what position do you want improved ‘thread that I hope we sign an specialist attacking coach.
Yes we squeaked into 7th twice but our GD compared to the 6 clubs ahead of us was lousy.
I think Nuno might need some fresh eyes on our tactics.

 

[Bacon Sandwich]

Oh, I am not saying he goes this summer as we are stopping up.

what I am saying is, we have an excellent man manager and motivator in nuno. Who is tactically very good, just this season with no pre-season and injuries hasn’t been set up for a great season. Before Rauls injury I thought 10th would have been a good finish, I am fully aware the gap between 7th and 10th can be tiny in a league like the prem.

does nuno need to freshen up with a new coach, like a specialist attacking skills coach to add to the crew we have or a defensive coach who specialises in 4 at the back? Sometimes a little change to the voice or new idea can invigorate a set up that has on the whole been together 4 years and done great things in that time.

just ideas as the club and team have all the foundations there, we just need to build on it as we go forward with the plan.

Don't disagree with any of that, but one coach we desperately need is someone on throw-ins. I laughed when Klopp hired a throw-in coach. but ours have been awful this year. I was watching Brighton last night - fast, accurate throws to a man in space. Look at that complete ****-up of a throw that lost us a goal against L/pool.

 

[colwall wolf]

we haven’t played 38 games

But after the amount of games we are deserving being where we are

 

[Flump]

Not football manager though is it?
One season with us and he’d have gone to City

Don't talk sense like that, the idiots like to convince themselves that if only Wolves did exactly wot dey fink we should do, then we'd win the league.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

Don't talk sense like that, the idiots like to convince themselves that if only Wolves did exactly wot dey fink we should do, then we'd win the league.

Even if that was the case. He'd have probably been worth 100m plus, would have been a huge profit which could be reinvested.

 

[wwbug]

I don't necessarily agree. If we have another mediocre-poor start to the season, then yes, by all means it's time to consider all possible alternatives. Until then though, one must remember this is the same set up that saw us romp the title and finish 7th twice. 3 overs and one underperforming season suggests there's far more right than wrong with the approach.

I do agree that the style of play is vastly inferior this year though.

This isnt the same set up.
Jimenez is injured , Jota and Doherty were sold . So it is different. And it will have failed massively if we get relegated.
Nuno would have shown a massive management weakness - the ability to adapt .

 

[Flump]

Even if that was the case. He'd have probably been worth 100m plus, would have been a huge profit which could be reinvested.

You can't make a player come to a club when he doesn't want to.

Well known, highly rated players like Dias, would be inundated with offers. If you were him, (and not a Wolves fan), why would you sign for Wolves when you know that Man City and other top CL clubs are interested?

 

[WeAreTheWolvesII]

You can't make a player come to a club when he doesn't want to.

Well known, highly rated players like Dias, would be inundated with offers. If you were him, (and not a Wolves fan), why would you sign for Wolves when you know that Man City and other top CL clubs are interested?

Everything we were told at the time said he wanted to come to Wolves.

Yes, it could be wrong, but that's what we were told. And a lot of those top clubs were hesitant to sign him, which is why he didn't move for another year.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

You can't make a player come to a club when he doesn't want to.

Well known, highly rated players like Dias, would be inundated with offers. If you were him, (and not a Wolves fan), why would you sign for Wolves when you know that Man City and other top CL clubs are interested?

Were man city interested 2 years ago? From memory it seemed we wouldn't pay the release clause outright but he wanted to move.

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

I said pre season on the ‘what position do you want improved ‘thread that I hope we sign an specialist attacking coach.
Yes we squeaked into 7th twice but our GD compared to the 6 clubs ahead of us was lousy.
I think Nuno might need some fresh eyes on our tactics.

Agree with both you and Leam here. Fresh eyes never hurt

 

[Fifty Niner]

If we get relegated from this position with the teams we have left to play then we will have deserved relegation - and they will be very many extremely angry fans .
Nuno would be sacked . In fact he should be gone if we are anywhere near relegation in 5 matches time .

Nuno will only go if we get relegated, which we wont. Given what he has achieved so far he has pretty much a free hit this season if he doesn’t achieve the set target, which is 10th minimum I think?

As other posters have pointed out, we have been mostly poor since the re-start last year. I know people pointed to our long season and number of games but we had 2/3 months off like everyone else before the restart. After we were outplayed by Sevilla, Nuno recognised we need to change but all the things he stated he wanted the team to become has not transpired. Pretty much the opposite. No pre-season and early international breaks didn’t help either.

After a rest and a proper pre-season, the 21/22 season will be the key one for Nuno.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

Nuno will only go if we get relegated, which we wont. Given what he has achieved so far he has pretty much a free hit this season if he doesn’t achieve the set target, which is 10th minimum I think?

As other posters have pointed out, we have been mostly poor since the re-start last year. I know people pointed to our long season and number of games but we had 2/3 months off like everyone else before the restart. After we were outplayed by Sevilla, Nuno recognised we need to change but all the things he stated he wanted the team to become has not transpired. Pretty much the opposite. No pre-season and early international breaks didn’t help either.

After a rest and a proper pre-season, the 21/22 season will be the key one for Nuno.

The last part is something that I don't think we will get. The euros cuts the pre season down and a large proportion of our squad will be playing and likely to the latter stages. Itll be a short pre season again.

 

[wwbug]

Nuno will only go if we get relegated, which we wont. Given what he has achieved so far he has pretty much a free hit this season if he doesn’t achieve the set target, which is 10th minimum I think?

As other posters have pointed out, we have been mostly poor since the re-start last year. I know people pointed to our long season and number of games but we had 2/3 months off like everyone else before the restart. After we were outplayed by Sevilla, Nuno recognised we need to change but all the things he stated he wanted the team to become has not transpired. Pretty much the opposite. No pre-season and early international breaks didn’t help either.

After a rest and a proper pre-season, the 21/22 season will be the key one for Nuno.

I agree , but I was saying if we did get relegated . We have a lot of the easier teams to play in the next six matches. That partly explains our position today, the fact that we have not played these weaker teams more than once. But I do still think Nuno is too defensive and rigid . And that has led to a lot of our problems.

 

[Fifty Niner]

The last part is something that I don't think we will get. The euros cuts the pre season down and a large proportion of our squad will be playing and likely to the latter stages. Itll be a short pre season again.

Forgot about the Euros.

 

[Flump]

Everything we were told at the time said he wanted to come to Wolves.

Yes, it could be wrong, but that's what we were told. And a lot of those top clubs were hesitant to sign him, which is why he didn't move for another year.

Told by who, the notoriously-reliable-with-Fosun-signings gossip pages?

Were man city interested 2 years ago? From memory it seemed we wouldn't pay the release clause outright but he wanted to move.

I took it as we were talking to them, but then they sold Felix for a hundred and plenty million to Atletico, so suddenly Benfica could put a silly money price tag on him.

And it's all very well saying that with hindsight he would have been worth silly money, but you have to remember that it would've taken it away from elsewhere if we'd splashed it all on Dias. We might not have been able to afford Neto, for a start.

 

[Fifty Niner]

I agree , but I was saying if we did get relegated . We have a lot of the easier teams to play in the next six matches. That partly explains our position today, the fact that we have not played these weaker teams more than once. But pI do still think Nuno is too defensive and rigid . And that has led to a lot of our problems.

I think many will agree. It seems Nuno wants his team to become more creative, less predictable, score more goals etc but he doesn’t yet know how to do this. So he seems caught between his usual way of setting up and trying to get his players to be something else. Which might explain the number of comments from pundits saying the players didn’t look as though they have played together/know what they should be doing. Our performance v Liverpool was much better and showed what most fans have always believed, we are a far better team when they play on the front foot.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

Told by who, the notoriously-reliable-with-Fosun-signings gossip pages?


I took it as we were talking to them, but then they sold Felix for a hundred and plenty million to Atletico, so suddenly Benfica could put a silly money price tag on him.

And it's all very well saying that with hindsight he would have been worth silly money, but you have to remember that it would've taken it away from elsewhere if we'd splashed it all on Dias. We might not have been able to afford Neto, for a start.

Maybe but I'd rather have Dias than Neto. We'd have probably finished much higher up the table last year (as Neto wasn't really a huge factor bar the last 7 games).

By the same respect it might have meant we didn't have to put up with Cutrone and his **** song, which I am here for.

 

[WeAreTheWolvesII]

Told by who, the notoriously-reliable-with-Fosun-signings gossip pages?


I took it as we were talking to them, but then they sold Felix for a hundred and plenty million to Atletico, so suddenly Benfica could put a silly money price tag on him.

And it's all very well saying that with hindsight he would have been worth silly money, but you have to remember that it would've taken it away from elsewhere if we'd splashed it all on Dias. We might not have been able to afford Neto, for a start.

The Express & Star, who I guess by your tone you won't believe, which is fine, up to you.

But Dias wasn't really coveted by the elite clubs at that stage and I believe he would've come to us.

 

[Flump]

Maybe but I'd rather have Dias than Neto. We'd have probably finished much higher up the table last year (as Neto wasn't really a huge factor bar the last 7 games).

By the same respect it might have meant we didn't have to put up with Cutrone and his **** song, which I am here for.

Yes, it's all very well saying with hindsight you'd like a world class player. But that's utterly pointless. With hindsight, we should have signed Mbappe when he was 13, I'm sure he'd have been interested then. It's very different when you're Wolves, and deciding whether or not to put all of your eggs in one basket.

That was the summer we had to spend £30m to keep Raul already, so we weren't awash with money. Is it *really* such an obvious call that we should have spent all of the rest of our budget on a centre back, when for 2 out of 3 seasons in the PL, defence has been our strength?

The Express & Star, who I guess by your tone you won't believe, which is fine, up to you.

But Dias wasn't really coveted by the elite clubs at that stage and I believe he would've come to us.

From the E&S article talking about the link:

"Dias is one of the highest-rated young centre-halves in European football and is reportedly being tracked by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The 22-year-old Benfica player has been capped 11 times by his country and featured in their Nations League triumph last month, playing both games."

So I really don't understand how it's so obvious that we had an unobstructed chance to sign this gem who was simulataneously obviously a future star worth splashing all our money on, but also so unknown that we weren't competing against anyone else for his signature.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

Yes, it's all very well saying with hindsight you'd like a world class player. But that's utterly pointless. With hindsight, we should have signed Mbappe when he was 13, I'm sure he'd have been interested then. It's very different when you're Wolves, and deciding whether or not to put all of your eggs in one basket.

That was the summer we had to spend £30m to keep Raul already, so we weren't awash with money. Is it *really* such an obvious call that we should have spent all of the rest of our budget on a centre back, when for 2 out of 3 seasons in the PL, defence has been our strength?


From the E&S article talking about the link:

"Dias is one of the highest-rated young centre-halves in European football and is reportedly being tracked by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The 22-year-old Benfica player has been capped 11 times by his country and featured in their Nations League triumph last month, playing both games."

So I really don't understand how it's so obvious that we had an unobstructed chance to sign this gem was simulataneously obviously a future star worth splashing all our money on, but also so unknown that we weren't competing against anyone else for his signature.

I wanted him at the time personally. Thought we were a proper high quality centre half from challenging the top 4, the mbappe reference isn't really relevant, we weren't in discussions to sign him at 13 were we? We were in discussions with Benfica but in the end wouldn't or couldn't outlay what was required to get the deal done.

 

[SuperGran]

Yes, it's all very well saying with hindsight you'd like a world class player. But that's utterly pointless. With hindsight, we should have signed Mbappe when he was 13, I'm sure he'd have been interested then. It's very different when you're Wolves, and deciding whether or not to put all of your eggs in one basket.

That was the summer we had to spend £30m to keep Raul already, so we weren't awash with money. Is it *really* such an obvious call that we should have spent all of the rest of our budget on a centre back, when for 2 out of 3 seasons in the PL, defence has been our strength?


From the E&S article talking about the link:

"Dias is one of the highest-rated young centre-halves in European football and is reportedly being tracked by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The 22-year-old Benfica player has been capped 11 times by his country and featured in their Nations League triumph last month, playing both games."

So I really don't understand how it's so obvious that we had an unobstructed chance to sign this gem who was simulataneously obviously a future star worth splashing all our money on, but also so unknown that we weren't competing against anyone else for his signature.

We also were limited due to ffp and being in Europa league and their stricter rules

 

[Deleted member 11332]

We also were limited due to ffp and being in Europa league and their stricter rules

Let's be honest those rules are unenforceable, look at psg and city who just do what they want.

 

[hollo]

Last season raul scored 17 goals and made 5 assists. That's 23 goal contributions. Take that out the side and it will hurt you.
The club has been negligent in not buying adequate cover. Why didn't we get someone like vincius on loan?
The manager has to embrace a larger squad and stop worrying about keeping players happy.

 

[Deleted member 11332]

Last season raul scored 17 goals and made 5 assists. That's 23 goal contributions. Take that out the side and it will hurt you.
The club has been negligent in not buying adequate cover. Why didn't we get someone like vincius on loan?
The manager has to embrace a larger squad and stop worrying about keeping players happy.

We tried to buy vinincius allegedly. They wouldn't play ball, he's only moved because they crashed out the CL. By then we'd bought Silva, plus if given a choice of London and European football or Wolverhampton I'm sure he'd have chosen the former.

 

[theweave]

Last season raul scored 17 goals and made 5 assists. That's 23 goal contributions. Take that out the side and it will hurt you.
The club has been negligent in not buying adequate cover. Why didn't we get someone like vincius on loan?
The manager has to embrace a larger squad and stop worrying about keeping players happy.

Who other than a young inexperienced striker (which is what we bought) wants to come to wolves as cover?

 

[whitnash wolf ex.dewsbury]

Who other than a young inexperienced striker (which is what we bought) wants to come to wolves as cover?

that scots/english player from sheff.u

 

[Deleted member 9202LYK]

Don't talk sense like that, the idiots like to convince themselves that if only Wolves did exactly wot dey fink we should do, then we'd win the league.

So you think I’m an idiot? That’s a personal attack and they’re not allowed on here... you need to stick to discussing the team and not attacking other posters.

 

[Stratman Wolves]

I’m not sure what it is, but there’s a definite reluctance from a significant proportion to admit this season has been very bad in relation to expectations.

This is most unusual imo. There has been a weird attitude on the Mix about criticising Nuno's bad subs/tactics or poor play from the players. It is as if people are taking such criticism quite personally, as if they have to defend Nuno and justify everything he does.

I want to give Nuno a full non-pandemic season with a sense of normalcy before judging. He is entitled to that, but if 2021-2022 is more of the same, one has to question where do Wolves go from there.