Bang on and thanks for the insights. Moving forward three defensive midfielders isn't the answer, was concerned non injured Andre was pulled at half time yesterday when Lemina had been erratic, at best, this season. A 5-2-3 looks our best option. Was always concerned with replacing our captain and best player, leaders too, with unproven PL players. With the club stagnating off the pitch too (I'm even getting car parking "offers" now as well as the hospitality discounts ) the air of optimism we had only last February has disappeared quicker than my hair
Think Andre may also have been a bit weary from his international escapades. Agree on formation but maybe room to get one of the three much further forward. Interesting aside on the car parking there DW, didn’t realise it had come to that!
Spot on Johnny great article we have to see what happens next I mentioned it on a fan collaboration blog about what direction we are going to turn next as I am concerned the way we are going. We played better yesterday the system we played GON needs to play it more often as it proves it works but harshly robbed of a good point which would have boosted morale but we still have to keep the faith and believe we can get out of this situation as the next 8 games will tell us where we will be come what may but I don’t want to see us bottom of the league as our team is good but we will wait and see.
Another great article - thanks. The problems, with regards to the atmosphere, started when the club shafted the fans in the summer, with the large season ticket rise. Most fans now feel a disconnect from the club. A fatal error, in my opinion. Since 25/02/24, the only teams we have beaten are: Sheff Utd, Fulham and Luton. Two of those clubs were effectively Championship teams in the making, so our only decent win - in eight months - was against Fulham (2-1). I have to laugh that we are pinning our hopes on beating Palace at home, one of the teams that always seems to play well against us. I think the big issue is the lack of goal threat in the team, as only Cunha, Larsen, Ait-Nouri and possibly Lemina seem capable of scoring. Semedo, whilst a natural wing-back, will never score more than one goal per season as he seemingly has a brain-freeze whenever he views the opposing keeper. We might as well get Private Frazer back from loan as we are doomed, I tell you, doomed.
I think that feeling of disconnect exists across the PL as owners try to maximise matchday profits, which means season-ticket holders are not taken care of as much as they could be.
I'm firmly in that disconnect category. I've been pushed away over the last few seasons, increasingly unwilling and then unable to commit to the prices now charged to watch a game.
I've gone from attending my regular dozen or more games per season to what I expect will be zero this season as a result of the increases year in year. This season's hike was a step too far.
I'll do my 'following' from a distance from now on, for the foreseeable at least, and continue to shake my head at the emails telling me tickets are once again on general sale.
To quote from a piece I wrote for Dazzling Dave: I think we need to understand that the link between fans and club, throughout football, has been stretched to breaking point. It is now a game played and watched largely by people on above average wages, with any hint of it being a ‘working class’ game long gone. It is now a middle-class sport with the more feral, tribal and emotional aspect of fandom being secondary to the stock market listings of the respective club. If that is what you want, then commit your emotion to the ‘project’ and enjoy it. If you preferred football in the past, when the contract between player, club and fan was alive, then leave its current version alone.
I think it is important to note that Wolves are not the only club to feel the ire of its fan base. Tottenham also felt a backlash over their plans to reduce concessions for pensioners – a problem that most clubs will have to address, given the rapidly ageing demographics of those who sit in the stands. The Premier League seem to think that everything in the garden is rosy, where it comes to stadium occupancy, as most games are sold out. However, the amount of grey hair and beer bellies on display is scary and football is at risk of pricing out a whole generation of younger fans, who cannot afford the entry fee and whose preferred form of entertainment seems to come almost exclusively from smartphones. The pips are most definitely squeaking at admission prices up and down the country, as we see at Molineux with empty seats now on display. Clearly, being a genuine ‘fan’ of football involves long hours of expensive dedication for little or no reward. For clubs like Wolverhampton, it probably involves even more hours of effort for even less reward, as our chairman alluded to this past summer. However, he has a point as our last major honour was the League Cup in 1980, a competition that the big boys now consider the last resort in trophies.
Excellent article. Sadly most fans went into the game on Sunday believing we would get hammered,the move to 3 central defenders allayed some of those fears. It’s sad that the fact we didn’t get smashed made a collective sigh of relief and almost a celebration that we nearly got a point ! There are so many mistakes that have been made ,as you rightly said why spend a chunk of our limited budget on a goalkeeper that is arguably no better than the one we have. Did Gary O’Neill state that he was going to play a back 4 and that with 4 central defenders available we didn’t need to replace Kilman ? Investing in “promising “ young players is a risky business,you only have to look at Silva to see that and with limited funds available we need to look at the hear and now. Our club is in a very fragile state at the moment and the next few months will define what happens in the next few years.
GON has returned to 5 at the back because he has been forced to. He put Sa back into because he was forced to. GON has ro be sacked but suspect he won't as Jeff has given him a 4 year contract, it would be to embarrassing and costly to sack him, but that is what should happen. Tactics are shocking, results are shocking, he is out of his depth. Its inconceivable that Sa would be dropped for Johnstone on form, but wouldn't be surprised if GON did that. Sa needed improving on but Johnstone is an expensive downgrade and we're a weaker team with him in it, everyone can see that but GON.
It’s a harsh assessment Matthew, but I understand where you are coming from. I’m hoping there was enough in the Manchester City performance to provide something of a foundation to move forward after the unacceptable performance at Brentford.
Well balanced view but I’d like to add that Lima and Gomes had v good pre seasons that’s why we’re told business was done early, but are we being more than cute and appearing arrogant? The keeper thing is just awful. The lack of CB a basic mistake. We don’t have the players to do a back four or toti semedo and AIT. So come any new manager they’ll look at recruitment treatment of past managers and probably go nah sod that loss of reputation. So a new manager will be a gamble . Something our owners seem to enjoy too much
Surprised that Gomes has not been given more of an opportunity. Hoping Lima will be one for the future, although clearly we need players for the next game.
Bang on and thanks for the insights. Moving forward three defensive midfielders isn't the answer, was concerned non injured Andre was pulled at half time yesterday when Lemina had been erratic, at best, this season. A 5-2-3 looks our best option. Was always concerned with replacing our captain and best player, leaders too, with unproven PL players. With the club stagnating off the pitch too (I'm even getting car parking "offers" now as well as the hospitality discounts ) the air of optimism we had only last February has disappeared quicker than my hair
Think Andre may also have been a bit weary from his international escapades. Agree on formation but maybe room to get one of the three much further forward. Interesting aside on the car parking there DW, didn’t realise it had come to that!
Nail on the head once again
Spot on Johnny great article we have to see what happens next I mentioned it on a fan collaboration blog about what direction we are going to turn next as I am concerned the way we are going. We played better yesterday the system we played GON needs to play it more often as it proves it works but harshly robbed of a good point which would have boosted morale but we still have to keep the faith and believe we can get out of this situation as the next 8 games will tell us where we will be come what may but I don’t want to see us bottom of the league as our team is good but we will wait and see.
Agree that the next eight games will give us a far better picture of where the side is heading, Karl. Thanks for the comments.
Another great article - thanks. The problems, with regards to the atmosphere, started when the club shafted the fans in the summer, with the large season ticket rise. Most fans now feel a disconnect from the club. A fatal error, in my opinion. Since 25/02/24, the only teams we have beaten are: Sheff Utd, Fulham and Luton. Two of those clubs were effectively Championship teams in the making, so our only decent win - in eight months - was against Fulham (2-1). I have to laugh that we are pinning our hopes on beating Palace at home, one of the teams that always seems to play well against us. I think the big issue is the lack of goal threat in the team, as only Cunha, Larsen, Ait-Nouri and possibly Lemina seem capable of scoring. Semedo, whilst a natural wing-back, will never score more than one goal per season as he seemingly has a brain-freeze whenever he views the opposing keeper. We might as well get Private Frazer back from loan as we are doomed, I tell you, doomed.
I think that feeling of disconnect exists across the PL as owners try to maximise matchday profits, which means season-ticket holders are not taken care of as much as they could be.
I'm firmly in that disconnect category. I've been pushed away over the last few seasons, increasingly unwilling and then unable to commit to the prices now charged to watch a game.
I've gone from attending my regular dozen or more games per season to what I expect will be zero this season as a result of the increases year in year. This season's hike was a step too far.
I'll do my 'following' from a distance from now on, for the foreseeable at least, and continue to shake my head at the emails telling me tickets are once again on general sale.
To quote from a piece I wrote for Dazzling Dave: I think we need to understand that the link between fans and club, throughout football, has been stretched to breaking point. It is now a game played and watched largely by people on above average wages, with any hint of it being a ‘working class’ game long gone. It is now a middle-class sport with the more feral, tribal and emotional aspect of fandom being secondary to the stock market listings of the respective club. If that is what you want, then commit your emotion to the ‘project’ and enjoy it. If you preferred football in the past, when the contract between player, club and fan was alive, then leave its current version alone.
I think it is important to note that Wolves are not the only club to feel the ire of its fan base. Tottenham also felt a backlash over their plans to reduce concessions for pensioners – a problem that most clubs will have to address, given the rapidly ageing demographics of those who sit in the stands. The Premier League seem to think that everything in the garden is rosy, where it comes to stadium occupancy, as most games are sold out. However, the amount of grey hair and beer bellies on display is scary and football is at risk of pricing out a whole generation of younger fans, who cannot afford the entry fee and whose preferred form of entertainment seems to come almost exclusively from smartphones. The pips are most definitely squeaking at admission prices up and down the country, as we see at Molineux with empty seats now on display. Clearly, being a genuine ‘fan’ of football involves long hours of expensive dedication for little or no reward. For clubs like Wolverhampton, it probably involves even more hours of effort for even less reward, as our chairman alluded to this past summer. However, he has a point as our last major honour was the League Cup in 1980, a competition that the big boys now consider the last resort in trophies.
Excellent article. Sadly most fans went into the game on Sunday believing we would get hammered,the move to 3 central defenders allayed some of those fears. It’s sad that the fact we didn’t get smashed made a collective sigh of relief and almost a celebration that we nearly got a point ! There are so many mistakes that have been made ,as you rightly said why spend a chunk of our limited budget on a goalkeeper that is arguably no better than the one we have. Did Gary O’Neill state that he was going to play a back 4 and that with 4 central defenders available we didn’t need to replace Kilman ? Investing in “promising “ young players is a risky business,you only have to look at Silva to see that and with limited funds available we need to look at the hear and now. Our club is in a very fragile state at the moment and the next few months will define what happens in the next few years.
Thanks Sharon. I think you’re right about the next few months, maybe even weeks, being a defining period.
GON has returned to 5 at the back because he has been forced to. He put Sa back into because he was forced to. GON has ro be sacked but suspect he won't as Jeff has given him a 4 year contract, it would be to embarrassing and costly to sack him, but that is what should happen. Tactics are shocking, results are shocking, he is out of his depth. Its inconceivable that Sa would be dropped for Johnstone on form, but wouldn't be surprised if GON did that. Sa needed improving on but Johnstone is an expensive downgrade and we're a weaker team with him in it, everyone can see that but GON.
It’s a harsh assessment Matthew, but I understand where you are coming from. I’m hoping there was enough in the Manchester City performance to provide something of a foundation to move forward after the unacceptable performance at Brentford.
Well balanced view but I’d like to add that Lima and Gomes had v good pre seasons that’s why we’re told business was done early, but are we being more than cute and appearing arrogant? The keeper thing is just awful. The lack of CB a basic mistake. We don’t have the players to do a back four or toti semedo and AIT. So come any new manager they’ll look at recruitment treatment of past managers and probably go nah sod that loss of reputation. So a new manager will be a gamble . Something our owners seem to enjoy too much
Surprised that Gomes has not been given more of an opportunity. Hoping Lima will be one for the future, although clearly we need players for the next game.