That’s better Johnny enjoyed that article …. Let’s hopefully get the guy in and support him both on and off the pitch …..it’s going to be a tough ask to get out of this mess …may go to the last weeks of the season.
Johnny, a brilliant well thought out article on the current situation at the club. I am a 40 year + season ticket holder who travels a 270 miles round trip to the Mol every fortnight. To hear Shi's outrageous, arrogant, out of touch comments post ticket increases in the summer along the lines of if we as fans want trophies then Wolves may not be the club for us left my blood boiling - how dare he! The decline post Nuno is all down to him and his masters at Fosun trying to penny pinch the club's way to Premier League survival each season whilst hiding behind the FFP and self sustaining curtain. Let's all hope that the new manager can start to turn this rudderless ship around. UTW!
Great article Johnny - it’s a mess but at least if this guy can be given funds there may be a chance to get out of this - Fosun need to revisit their model but I think the main reason comes from within China where there is a block on outward investment which unless I am wrong is still very much in place ? Would be interesting to find out if that policy to Chinese companies operating outside of China is still being enforced.
Yes, there are clearly a number of factors at play. Fosun have been hugely successful at Wolves with their original model and it will be fascinating to see if there is a return to this or if another path can be taken that fits into their current plans.
Let's hope we can pull ourselves out of this mess with a new manager. If he gets backed in January then that will help. My only worry is we were in this position with JLo. He kept us up & then Fosun closed the door. Same with GON, poor recruitment in the summer after selling our best players. So is this going to be a revolving door where Fosun keep making the same mistakes in the name of a so called self sustaining model? Time will tell.
It is tough when there is a requirement to sell players, but hopefully we will see some progress in January. Vitor Pereira's imminent appointment could be a positive one and the club have acted in time to salvage the season.
How I’ve enjoyed reading this balanced incisive article Johnny Phillips! You’ve encapsulated the present unacceptable situation with the glorious early days of Fosun and Nuno with expertise and highlighted the recent management fiascos at all levels objectively. Couldn’t agree more about the adherence to the iPad with O’Neil and Co. One thing is for sure, you won’t get it with Pereira. With tomorrow’s match at King’s Stadium you’ll see a manager using his head and the skilled intuition that he possesses, with the immediate expectation of his players adhering to a strict code of self discipline that has been lacking of late. Good luck Vitor - you’re gonna need it but we’re right behind you 🐺
Good piece Johnny, but do the organ grinders at FOSUN have a handle on how their monkey, Shi, is running the club? You can only push your luck so far, eventually it runs out, but if FOSUN want/need to retain Premier League status, then how are they going to improve the required revenue streams so that the club can be self-sustaining? The buy-to-sell-for-profit model, only seems to be weakening the squad, season on season, and jam tomorrow players like Lima and Rodrigo Gomes, will never turn a big profit as they never play. Are Shi/FOSUN seeking advice from any seasoned football pros or administrators, or just hoping for the best?
Fosun are not so much sailing against the tide but rather cutting Wolves adrift on a stormy ocean.
I have the feeling that Shi feels bitter about giving recruitment powers to Hobbs & Co. He has deliberately scuppered recruitment plans in the 2 summers since the structure change by pulling the financial rug from under the DOF and coach at the last minute. By disappearing into eSports he can deflect the blame back on the people juggling an ever-shrinking budget. He is the cancer at the heart of WWFC
We need a teacher to sort out the babies on the staff, rather than a manager.
Top stuff as always, from the Wulfs number one scribe.
Great piece, makes a lot of sense, thank you.
Johnny Boy, remember Teamtalk years ago? Great analysis.
That’s better Johnny enjoyed that article …. Let’s hopefully get the guy in and support him both on and off the pitch …..it’s going to be a tough ask to get out of this mess …may go to the last weeks of the season.
Excellent summing up of our current plight
Thanks, Dave
Johnny, a brilliant well thought out article on the current situation at the club. I am a 40 year + season ticket holder who travels a 270 miles round trip to the Mol every fortnight. To hear Shi's outrageous, arrogant, out of touch comments post ticket increases in the summer along the lines of if we as fans want trophies then Wolves may not be the club for us left my blood boiling - how dare he! The decline post Nuno is all down to him and his masters at Fosun trying to penny pinch the club's way to Premier League survival each season whilst hiding behind the FFP and self sustaining curtain. Let's all hope that the new manager can start to turn this rudderless ship around. UTW!
Great article Johnny - it’s a mess but at least if this guy can be given funds there may be a chance to get out of this - Fosun need to revisit their model but I think the main reason comes from within China where there is a block on outward investment which unless I am wrong is still very much in place ? Would be interesting to find out if that policy to Chinese companies operating outside of China is still being enforced.
Yes, there are clearly a number of factors at play. Fosun have been hugely successful at Wolves with their original model and it will be fascinating to see if there is a return to this or if another path can be taken that fits into their current plans.
Excellent again Johnny. What a mess and so sad that we’ve lost our momentum
Thanks, Colin. I hope there is a way out of it and certainly all is not lost. It's been a tough period, no question, but there is a way forward.
Let's hope we can pull ourselves out of this mess with a new manager. If he gets backed in January then that will help. My only worry is we were in this position with JLo. He kept us up & then Fosun closed the door. Same with GON, poor recruitment in the summer after selling our best players. So is this going to be a revolving door where Fosun keep making the same mistakes in the name of a so called self sustaining model? Time will tell.
It is tough when there is a requirement to sell players, but hopefully we will see some progress in January. Vitor Pereira's imminent appointment could be a positive one and the club have acted in time to salvage the season.
How I’ve enjoyed reading this balanced incisive article Johnny Phillips! You’ve encapsulated the present unacceptable situation with the glorious early days of Fosun and Nuno with expertise and highlighted the recent management fiascos at all levels objectively. Couldn’t agree more about the adherence to the iPad with O’Neil and Co. One thing is for sure, you won’t get it with Pereira. With tomorrow’s match at King’s Stadium you’ll see a manager using his head and the skilled intuition that he possesses, with the immediate expectation of his players adhering to a strict code of self discipline that has been lacking of late. Good luck Vitor - you’re gonna need it but we’re right behind you 🐺
Look forward to more background info.
Hobbs and Mendes,shades of Richards and Moxey Managing Director and Chief Exec.
That never survived very long.
I look forward to your future articles on the club or the game in general.
Hobbs and Mendes,shades of Richards and Moxey.
Managing Director and Chief Exec.
I would like to see Hobbs have a root and branch look at the Academy.
Good piece Johnny, but do the organ grinders at FOSUN have a handle on how their monkey, Shi, is running the club? You can only push your luck so far, eventually it runs out, but if FOSUN want/need to retain Premier League status, then how are they going to improve the required revenue streams so that the club can be self-sustaining? The buy-to-sell-for-profit model, only seems to be weakening the squad, season on season, and jam tomorrow players like Lima and Rodrigo Gomes, will never turn a big profit as they never play. Are Shi/FOSUN seeking advice from any seasoned football pros or administrators, or just hoping for the best?
That is absolutely outrageous about shi… 600k a year and he’s not even present!
Great piece as usual.
Fosun are not so much sailing against the tide but rather cutting Wolves adrift on a stormy ocean.
I have the feeling that Shi feels bitter about giving recruitment powers to Hobbs & Co. He has deliberately scuppered recruitment plans in the 2 summers since the structure change by pulling the financial rug from under the DOF and coach at the last minute. By disappearing into eSports he can deflect the blame back on the people juggling an ever-shrinking budget. He is the cancer at the heart of WWFC