Wolves 3 United 0 - view from the sofa

[Woodwardfan]

I think the challenge of introducing 4 new players to the team and to keep the rhythm and spirit alive is a big one.

Wilder and Knill knew that but have embarked on it because it was needed. The benefits may not come too soon but will in due course, maybe too late for this season. Wilder's subs have been erratic I agree. I was surprised how often he was talking to that younger lad rather than Knill during the game.

Why we have not signed cover for left wing-back is a bit frustrating.

How we incorporate game time for Duffy, Brooks and Holmes is interesting.

I'm a big advocate of 3-5-2, always have been, but there have to be major contributions from the wing backs going forward. Neither wing back provides enough in the final third, though Baldock at least gives it a go. Freeman would improve that side. I hope Baldock can play left side as well. Duffy is a career right winger by the way and Carruthers can play left side, though I appreciate fans would take some convincing about the latter. Stevens needs a rest, it's painful for him at present.

Do we now have a quality squad and will the new signings bear fruit? It has to take time but surely the answer is 'yes'. Trust the management to have spent that money wisely and have patience. Promotion this season was not on our agenda in truth, more a period of consolidation at this level and incremental improvement. In the cold light of day only Clarke's goals made the big difference and maybe a little complacency from the opposition teams who now treat us with the utmost respect. Bit panicky Deadbat IMO.

We will be stronger next season if everyone keeps united and supportive.

I think we'll beat Leeds and kick on. In a month's time we'll be OK.

 

[JohnDenver]

Moore's taking a lot of stick, but he has split second call to make and gets it wrong. Once he's committed, as goalies are expected to do, he tries to take ball, man, the lot... He can't be thinking about the fact Blackman is injured as he comes for the ball - it's just a poor decision, But remains his first mistake since Hull.

Deserved red. Live and learn. Move on.

Were fans so judgemental in the pre internet days?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Moore's taking a lot of stick, but he has split second call to make and gets it wrong. Once he's committed, as goalies are expected to do, he tries to take ball, man, the lot... He can't be thinking about the fact Blackman is injured as he comes for the ball - it's just a poor decision, But remains his first mistake since Hull.

Deserved red. Live and learn. Move on.

Were fans so judgemental in the pre internet days?

Pre-internet, pre- television , tv replays, mouthy pundits; in my time there was a pre-radio live sport and no dedicated football programmes, just the Green 'Un and to a smaller degree The Star.

Yes we were judgemental but we had nobody to tell, other than schoolmates and family and neighbours!!

Social Media ups the intensity full volume and has us mixing with folk we would never otherwise give time of day to. It also brings us into contact with some very astute and knowledgeable fans and we learn so much. Striking the happy medium is the key and it took me years!!

 

[Newbury Blade]

I was at the game and agree with your report but not so sure why it will be harder next season. People say this every year but teams coming down unlikely to be as good as Wolves (or Villa/Derby probably). Also look at how much stronger our squad is after both windows. No reason why this improvement can’t continue and as new players bed in we have every reason to be optimistic for next season.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I need to stop making any comments because in 'the view from wolves' before the game, I said we'd been in every game this season, even the ones we'd lost and then that happened!
Hopefully we can't be any worse than that this season. What has Mark Duffy done wrong? Should be playing for me.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Fuck me, spot on Deadbat, but people were getting villified in the Shout Box for saying we were poor, which your report more or less says.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Disappointing game from our perspective, we started well but I felt the first goal as in many games would be decisive and guess what another wonder goal from outside the box, we don't seem to score these. From then on against a confident well organised and highly skill full side was always going to be difficult and it was.We offered no threat but at the start of the season most of us predicted there would be days like this home and away where we are outplayed. The season is definitely not over for us, but need to look at how we can improve the number of chances and be more clinical especially at home

 

[sitwell]

The Fifa generation have decided we are crap ,this season is over and half our players are shit after one game. The same players who comfortably beat Norwich away 2 weeks ago. We are building both for later in the season and the future ,but some decide to go straight into negativity mode after losing to a club who have spent fortunes ,on top of their game in their best performance for years. Wilder will not panic like the spineless fools who cant take a defeat now and then ,he will defend his players who will come good again next week ,when we start the campaign for the play offs. Personally Im not that bothered about getting in them as its too early for us yet ,but we have Wolves Villa and Derby out of the way now and an entertaining run in to look forward to. 7th and win the Fa cup will do me

 

[Woodwardfan]

I see what you're saying mate but the point still remains, wolves status shouldn't mean they can field champions league players in the English 2nd tier. Good luck to them, they aren't doing anything wrong I just have an issue with the premise of 'fair' when the rules allow something that is anything but.

How can Wolves be within spending limits? Aren't they just going to pay the fine in another 4/5 years like Bournemouth are still arguing about?

 

[Deadbat]

I was at the game and agree with your report but not so sure why it will be harder next season. People say this every year but teams coming down unlikely to be as good as Wolves (or Villa/Derby probably). Also look at how much stronger our squad is after both windows. No reason why this improvement can’t continue and as new players bed in we have every reason to be optimistic for next season.

We might get the great start we had this season but that is unlikely. I cannot see us being top in November for instance. Teams have worked us out to soome degree and sadly even though we hate others saying it'; that winning feeling and momentum from winning League One will not be there. As for teams coming down not being as good; I would argue there will not be 3 teams as bad as this year - look at the 3 that have come down; Sunderland and Hull could go right throught wo divisions and Middlesbro not doing that great either. It must be first time for a while that the 3 teams that came down are unlikely to even be close to promotion (Boro exception). The parachute payments and the money from being in the Prem means that it will always be tough to keep up with such teams. This season was an exception with the 2 struggling so badly.

There will still be teams (granted 2 will go up) from from the pool of Derby/Villa/Leeds/Boro/Fulham/Cardiff/Brentford/Bristol City + 3 teams - lets says West Brom Huddersfield and Stoke. Factor in teams such as Weds/Birmingham and Forest that will probably do better. All of these teams have and probably will spend more money thann us yet again. That is well over the half of the league.

I think a few of our players (new ones) and likes of O'Connell, Baldock and Fleck and with Coutts coming back. Many however will not get any better due to age or/and them having a real purple patch to start the season. Players like Sharp, Clarke, Stearman, Duffy, Stevens I am not sure will get any better.

In my mind next season will be very tough. We would have to spend quite a bit of money to be back in the top 10.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Wapping Blade]

How can Wolves be within spending limits? Aren't they just going to pay the fine in another 4/5 years like Bournemouth are still arguing about?

There are no spending limits if your benefactor gives (rather than lends) you the money.

 

[robbiez666]

We might get the great start we had this season but that is unlikely. I cannot see us being top in November for instance. Teams have worked us out to soome degree and sadly even though we hate others saying it'; that winning feeling and momentum from winning League One will not be there. As for teams coming down not being as good; I would argue there will not be 3 teams as bad as this year - look at the 3 that have come down; Sunderland and Hull could go right throught wo divisions and Middlesbro not doing that great either. It must be first time for a while that the 3 teams that came down are unlikely to even be close to promotion (Boro exception). The parachute payments and the money from being in the Prem means that it will always be tough to keep up with such teams. This season was an exception with the 2 struggling so badly.

There will still be teams (granted 2 will go up) from from the pool of Derby/Villa/Leeds/Boro/Fulham/Cardiff/Brentford/Bristol City + 3 teams - lets says West Brom Huddersfield and Stoke. Factor in teams such as Weds/Birmingham and Forest that will probably do better. All of these teams have and probably will spend more money thann us yet again. That is well over the half of the league.

I think a few of our players (new ones) and likes of O'Connell, Baldock and Fleck and with Coutts coming back. Many however will not get any better due to age or/and them having a real purple patch to start the season. Players like Sharp, Clarke, Stearman, Duffy, Stevens I am not sure will get any better.

In my mind next season will be very tough. We would have to spend quite a bit of money to be back in the top 10.

Just my opinion of course.

Completely agree. I believe almost every team in the league can stop us playing and nullify us if that's all they set out to do. Our defence/midfield isn't good enough to regularly stop other teams scoring. That is precisely what a woefully struggling Birmingham team did to us.

We desperately need another formation. Not one we'd use every week but one we can comfortably start with. At the moment, opposition managers know exactly what we're going to do. Regardless of whether we play 5.3.2, 5.2.1.2 or 5.2.2.1, we're still going to play exactly the same way in terms of overlapping and overloading on the wings. In league One we had better players than anyone else, so even if another team tried to stop us they struggled.

 

[robbiez666]

There are no spending limits if your benefactor gives (rather than lends) you the money.

I thought FFP covers a 3 year period, so as long as Wolves go up FFP doesn't matter?

 

[Newbury Blade]

We might get the great start we had this season but that is unlikely. I cannot see us being top in November for instance. Teams have worked us out to soome degree and sadly even though we hate others saying it'; that winning feeling and momentum from winning League One will not be there. As for teams coming down not being as good; I would argue there will not be 3 teams as bad as this year - look at the 3 that have come down; Sunderland and Hull could go right throught wo divisions and Middlesbro not doing that great either. It must be first time for a while that the 3 teams that came down are unlikely to even be close to promotion (Boro exception). The parachute payments and the money from being in the Prem means that it will always be tough to keep up with such teams. This season was an exception with the 2 struggling so badly.

There will still be teams (granted 2 will go up) from from the pool of Derby/Villa/Leeds/Boro/Fulham/Cardiff/Brentford/Bristol City + 3 teams - lets says West Brom Huddersfield and Stoke. Factor in teams such as Weds/Birmingham and Forest that will probably do better. All of these teams have and probably will spend more money thann us yet again. That is well over the half of the league.

I think a few of our players (new ones) and likes of O'Connell, Baldock and Fleck and with Coutts coming back. Many however will not get any better due to age or/and them having a real purple patch to start the season. Players like Sharp, Clarke, Stearman, Duffy, Stevens I am not sure will get any better.

In my mind next season will be very tough. We would have to spend quite a bit of money to be back in the top 10.

Just my opinion of course.

You may be right. But I wouldn’t write Wilder off yet. I think he can get better as he adjusts to this league and that could apply to at least some of the squad too.