05 Feb 2023 08:27:51
I think Klopp is feeling the heat, that interview had him making some uncharacteristically bizarre comments which is indicative of managers under pressure.

Ok, so beating Liverpool 3-0 was a great result and with the newbies out there from the start we could see the difference throughout the team.

Some, like me argued for a new striker while others felt the goals would come from a variety of players and who cares so long as they come. Yesterday was definitely 1-0 up for the latter but with a goalscorer could it have been more?

Am I being greedy? Maybe, but to quote Maggie T 'one cuckoo does not make it summer'. I guess it will take several matches before we see if this is a one off or a growing trend.

The advantage of this approach, especially with two good quality players for every position is injuries should have less of an impact unlike the Jimenez incident which undermined everything.

Still as long as we take the points personally I don't care if it's a dog running on the pitch that scores. Thoughts?

1.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 09:00:34
I think as long as they've done enough by the end of game 38 at the latest then we can say and judge whether the transfer window has been a success or not. Hopefully we're well clear of the drop before then but survival has to be first and foremost to move forwards properly next season.

Yesterday was 3 big points as every win between now and the end of the season will be. Most importantly will be beating the bottom half teams as winning those games also stops those sides picking up points and adding pressure to wolves to pick up points elsewhere.

2.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 09:28:59
I'm assuming alexwolf, that those around us, such as Everton next week, will have to play Liverpool at some point and I don't think they will all be taking 3 points so in some respects we can view yesterday's result as a 4/6 pointer over them. The future really is in our hands now and the next 3-4 games essential to maintain the momentum. If we can take the next 6 points Southampton Bournemouth and take something at Fulham I think we'll be well on our way to safety before the tricky finish. Everton did themselves a similar favour beating arsenal. My dilemma today is what result do we want with Leeds v forest?

3.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 09:30:33
Great waking up today.Still pinching myself

4.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 10:10:45
Exactly Abbey. We won't win them all either but making sure teams around us don't beat us will make the job of survival much easier.

Leeds / Forest is a good shout. I think a draw is best we can hope for. I'm slightly one sided though so anything but a Leeds win.

5.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 10:18:12
Forest vs Leeds a draw, then Man Utd to beat Leeds on Wednesday

6.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 10:56:51
Good call steveSL Leeds have a game in hand I didn't realise.

7.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 11:31:49
20 points so far from 21, so still less than 1 point a game average. We need to get that average up quickly to over 1 point a game for a realistic chance of not being in an end of season dogfight. Yesterday helped, 6 points from the next 2 matches will give us an excellent chance to gain some breathing space and put us on 26 from 23 and therefore on course for the 40+ needed to secure the season with a few games to spare.

8.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 12:31:57
Great result yesterday and we are looking like a team again but bit worried that people seem to think our next 2 games will be 6 points, I obviously hope we do get 6 points but Southampton away ain’t no walk in the park, they beat city there a few weeks ago and it will almost be a do or die game for them so they will be well up for it, don’t think a point would be the end of the world but hopefully 3. Then Bournemouth at home is a game we should be looking at 3 points but again they will be fighting for there lives and they will look at it as a 6 pointer as we will but at home we should win, 5 points from next 3 games a minimum, 6 or 7 points would be great and 9 would be amazing ??

9.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 13:35:08
Wolves 64 I'm not sure anyone has said 6 points is guaranteed, but if we lose both we are back in serious trouble! 2 draws or 3 points wouldn't be the end of the world but based on realistically needing 6 wins to be in with a chance the task becomes much more difficult.

Of the teams left to play the more realistic point scoring games at the moment look like.

Southampton
Bournemouth
Leeds
Everton
Forest
Leicester
Villa
Palace

The less realistic matches look like:

Fulham
Brentford
Brighton

Largely to totally unrealistic point scoring games would seem to be:

Spurs
Liverpool (even based on yesterday)
Chelsea
Newcastle
Man U
Arsenal

10.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 14:48:00
Long- the problem is buddy that peeps talk about this mythical 'goal scorer' without EVER saying who that actually is/was?! Again I ask you fella,just give me a name as I'm intrigued ? You might as well say 'If Wolves had signed a unicorn then who knows we could have scored more?!'
It's not that anyone thought we didn't need more goals it was more of an acceptance that buying the six we did was about the need to achieve performances EXACTLY like yesterdays! And like you allude to can anyone honestly say that those three goals agaisnt Pool weren't all about the new signings?! Sarabia with a stunning through ball leading to the first. Cunha entirely made the second by holding the ball up and picking out a great cross, not to mention Dawson rattling it in (nb Graham he's now in front of Woods numbers wise:). I would EVEN say the third which was a combo of Mountinho and Adama came as a result of the signings! Ya see for the first time in the Fosun era what those signings give us is a bench full of players that can now actually impact the game! Neves goal (and what should have been Rauls goal) ONLY came about cause we had quality players on from the bench (Mountinho, Adama and Raul) all with fresh legs and all at a point in which Pool had us right under pressure! Then there was Lemina, who was everywhere yesterday. Sa suddenly had his best game since I can remember, the first week he has some senior competition in the form of a 29 year old previous club captain sat on the bench, is that just a coincidence, I suspect not!
I think one or two have misunderstood the point posters like myself were trying to make. For clubs like Wolves or any other club outside the top four come to that there is no 20 goal a season striker that you can just place an order for when times are tough in front of goal! We weren't scoring chances because we weren't making enough quality chances, in contrast (as they even said on Motd last night) we could have been five up in the opening 20 mins yesterday! That's what Lope and the signings have helped fix, we suddenly look like team capable of being dangerous in attack again! Quick mention for Lope on that note, the way he had us perfectly prepped for Pool shows the mans quality! I honestly think this guy will go on to be the best manager Wolves have had in my lifetime, exciting times a head! It's just one game granted but then whens the last time we played anything even close to that well?! COYW ?

11.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 15:51:23
Bullys it's not down to the fans to name available strikers, the club employs a whole department of people whose sole job is to scour world football to find, scout, target and sign players. Many of whom, most of us will never have heard of.

We already have three strikers, one long term injured, one trying to recover form after a long term injury and one who just appears to be past it. That log jam is probably why the club hasn't sign someone in reality. How many would still want a fully functional Jimenez type to partner Cunha?, irrespective of our other signings.

It's more about options up front to me, as substitutions can mix it up and win games. But forwards have to be able to put the ball in the net our strikers can't so they need replacing.

12.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 16:19:23
Bullys agree with your comments pal I'm sure our scouts are looking Longmynd but finding a natural striker won't be easy.

One last word on yesterday. I felt dreadfully sorry for Raul yesterday he looked totally bereft after he missed that chance. I was desperate for him to bury it, not for the scoreline but for him. Knowing that confidence is a massive thing for these guys that I'm sure would make all the difference to him. You just feel get one then he'll be on it again. Maybe that's just me and wishful thinking, hope not.

13.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 17:25:43
Agree Ken, all strikers go through barren patches and after the injury rauls had every chance must be on his mind. Get that goal, get the confidence and it's amazing how things can change. On the other hand we would have let him go if we could have found a replacement apparently, so it's not for the want of trying. But when your in a relegation fight who are you going to get that's of the quality to improve on jiminez? I think the goal then goals will come.

14.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 17:45:37
Abbey I'm sure he's banging them in for fun on the training pitches, let's hope he gets the one that gets him on his way soon otherwise sadly he will be moved on. There's not a great deal of sentiment at the top of this game is there except perhaps from us oldies who can maybe sympathise!

15.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 19:35:04
Sadly very true Ken, but his name is written in wolves history for which we'll always be grateful.

16.) 05 Feb 2023
05 Feb 2023 20:13:33
Long- you've answered your own point fella! Do you seriously think if such a striker existed and was in our budget we wouldn't have signed them?! Why wouldn't we, we've just spent a fortune so why not on this magical striker you speak of?!
I would also point out (as I have MANY times) we did sign said striker for £43m! Unfortunately for some bizarre reason one or two of you have decided he ain't a striker!
It's worth pointing out here only 8 players scored 15 goals or above last season of those 8 just ONE plays for a team outside of the big clubs playing in Europe and that was Jamie Vardy! So by your reckoning Long that's an AWFUL lot of Prem scouts not bothering to do there job then?! Also Vardy has long been an anomaly in this league as (frankly) lower league players capable of consistently scoring in the Prem are in fact even rarer than unicorns! We could sign a lower league striker every season for the next decade and likely STILL never find another Vardy! Add to this EVERY other club is trying to find them/get to them first!
Here in lies the problem everyone wants a TOP goal scorer but it's just not that easier. Look at WHU they spent £35m (with add ons) for Scamacca, so far he's looked decent but with just 8 goals last season is he likely to be prolific first season in the Prem, no! And so it is, the only truly TOP scorer doing the rounds at the moment is Victor Oshimen. The same player that reports this week are saying might be to exspensive for United, so how are we even close to competing for a player like that?!
It's too easy to say its not my job to find them whilst moaning that those whose job it is can't find um! Sometimes the easy answer is the correct answer and so it is. We signed Cunha cause the club believe he could fill that gap, that of course is a gamble! Saddly it HAS to be else he'd already be playing for a top four team! What you and other posters seem to be unhappy with is the reality of the Prem transfer market?! I mean on that point I agree with you I'm just not sure what Lope or Fosun are supposed to do to fix the realities of an entire transfer market?!

17.) 06 Feb 2023
06 Feb 2023 16:26:57
Interesting thread coming on the day that Kane overtakes Jimmy Greaves scoring record at Spurs. Kind of bangs home the point of how rare these guys are! We've been lucky in having a few at our club though there haven't been that many. I think we will be ok with the players we have, you never know the scouts may come up with the real deal soon!

18.) 06 Feb 2023
06 Feb 2023 18:09:20
Bullys, very interesting, but just to be clear about what I actually think:

Have I criticised or moaned about Fosun/Wolves or their employees? - no
Do I think that the scouting/player acquisitions people have delivered? - yes
Do I think Fosun responded well to our 'managerial crisis'? - yes very much so
Do I think we've had a great transfer window? - yes and I've said as much on here
Do I think we've bought the right players in to rebalance us? - yes, as above
Do I think as a team we'll score more goals from now on? - yes
Do I think Wolves are back on track and will climb the table? - yes
Do I think Saturdays result is a sign of things to come? - yes
Do I think Cunha is a great acquisition worth £43M? - yes
Do I think he is good at disrupting defences and creating chances for others? - yes
Do I think he will be a prolific goal scorer himself? - no
Do I think we will part company with Costa/Jimenez in the summer? - yes
Do I think we should replace them with another striker? - yes

I hope that clarifies things.

19.) 06 Feb 2023
06 Feb 2023 19:04:31
Excellent points as usual, Bullys. Even the top four clubs struggle to find a 'striker '. Newcastle have arguably got one in the injury prone Wilson, Man U have had to resort to a Burnley cast off but he's hardly going to set the world alight, Arsenal haven't got one and Man City have a one-off. Even Chelsea with their zillions can't find one! Folks need to realise that ones that make it in the premier league are rarer than hens teeth.That's why clubs have to approach trying to score and win matches in different ways.

20.) 07 Feb 2023
07 Feb 2023 11:23:38
Totally with you on all you say Long. 100% Excellent response and no waffle. Realistic.
Of course ideally we need a striker or 2.
No of course we can't afford a top man.
But there are tier2 box men / finishers out there.
As to asking for names, I gave 3 as starters as asked for ( to no comment, acknowledgement, comment) on similar thread a couple of weeks back.
None of us know Fosun and management thinking, though some seem to appear that they think they do.
We are all avid fans, this is a forum - friendly and with differing views-thankfully.but we all should be allowed to express them

21.) 07 Feb 2023
07 Feb 2023 14:36:41
Absolutely Rollo, keep it simple and concise. I'm not sure where me wanting a top striker or moaning about people at Wolves not doing their jobs even came from, but it wasn't from me. Of course there are strikers out there of the kind you suggest, other clubs find them.

Still everyone has their own thoughts and beliefs but frankly, no point getting wound up over something that we have absolutely no say or influence in. Apart from that troll we had on here whose name eludes me, he needed telling.

Unlike the last lot this management team know their business and that's the point, it is their business. I'm pretty sure Fosun don't check on here to see who I recommend, all I can do is offer my support and comment on their decisions as I see fit.

22.) 07 Feb 2023
07 Feb 2023 17:18:37
If you check Rollo, you will see that I made comments and I recall that all were non starters in my view. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think that you highlighted Brereton Diaz ( not good enough in my book but signed up by Villareal anyway), Kieffer Moore (not sure if you were joking) and Gyokores (risky in the extreme).

People seem forget that a supposed generational talent 'striker' was signed for £35m from Porto.Look where that got us!And the star of the future from AC Milan for£16m now plying his trade with his home town club.

People also seem forget that probably every club in the premier league, Bundesliga,La Liga, Series A is also seeking a proven goalscorer but they don't grow on trees. Just ask Chelsea!
People also need to realise that having so called striker may not actually fit into Lopetegui's favoured playing style.
It's easy for people to say what we need as if you just have to nip round the corner shop. Get real folks.

23.) 08 Feb 2023
08 Feb 2023 09:22:25
And Rollo, I think you also mentioned Ocampos. He's not a striker, hasn't done much in the last couple of years and surely Lopetegui would have gone for him if he thought he was up to it given he used to coach/manage him!

24.) 08 Feb 2023
08 Feb 2023 15:53:34
Thanks for the response Long and apologies if my post seemed targeted at you, it was more generic it just happened to be you that asked the question.
Also just to clafiry a few things myself, Rollo I saw your suggestions at the time but as not a single one of them was seasoned enough to be so much as 'proven' at Champ level I was left confused as to why we would pay good money for ANOTHER striker that hasn't even achieved as much as the ones we currently have on the books?! Frankly I'd sooner give Fabio another try before randoms who have simply had a good 18 months in the Champs!
Long I am a little confused by your responses which in themselves seem a little confused fella. You started a thread on weather or not we needed to have signed another striker then ended it by' clairfying' that you were perfectly happy with our business and that therefore another striker wasn't necessary at this time. Apologies but which is it? Do we need another striker or not because I can't tell from your posts which seem to be directly in conflict with each other?! Surely either we signed well in which case you are happy with the business (as you later clarified) or we should have done better/got another striker (which was your starting point)?! Which is it buddy cause I'm struggling to see how those two entirely different views aren't somwhat conflicted?! Also as you are clarifying things just so I understand what constitutes a 'prolific' striker? Last time Cunha was used as a striker he scored 12 in a season is that prolific or does it need to be more than that to qualify as prolific? According to Rollo you just have to bang a few in at Champ level so Ebanks Blake for example would have been prolific despite not being close to ever be good enough for the Prem! ?

25.) 09 Feb 2023
08 Feb 2023 23:28:15
Bullys no apologies necessary and no offence taken. In my original post I asked the question along the lines of do we think the 'new' team will see us through or like me do we think we should have found a goalscorer. With hindsight perhaps I should of said "another striker".

I rate Cunha but his goal scoring has not been great of late. I know he's very good at getting into the box and setting others up and so it proved to be against Liverpool. He may prove me wrong settle in and grab a hatful, hope he does. It doesn't matter who actually puts the ball in the net so long as everyone plays their part. At the moment Costa/Jimenez aren't and Sasa can't.

There was talk of letting Jimenez go in January, that didn't happen but I'm pretty sure he and Costa will go in the summer, so my mystery striker/goalscorer will have to be found then.

So yes, over the moon with the changes Fosun have made and the transfer window but I do feel we will still need further help up front to give JL options.