18 Nov 2024 14:21:11
Mikebayleaf's comments below raise an interesting point. Are the Coach and the Sporting Director (and the Club) on the same page? I think was the question. Whether you like GON and/or Matt Hobbs that's a pretty important point, imo.

Is everyone pulling in the same direction? why have only 2 out of the 8 summer signings started a Premier League match, irrespective of some early promising signs from several of them. We know Lopetegui walked out over Wolves emerging transfer policies but is GON suffering from the same issues? ie, holes in some parts of the squad whilst seemingly overloaded in others, but with players he doesn't feel he can use.

Would a new Coach/Manager quickly fall into the same hole?


1.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 14:39:04
Larsen has started 11, Andre and Johnstone have started 5 each, Doyle 2 and Gomes and Forbs have started 1 each. Lima hasn’t started and neither has the injured guy. Think that’s more than 2 player making a start.


2.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 14:41:18
Longmynd, we have "lurched" along since Shi released Dalrymple and the other senior management and decided he could run it all himself.
I think it is finally going to tell this season and we will go down.
What happens next.who knows?!


3.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 15:57:54
I think we'll get relegated this season also, not because of Shi. GON has had money to spend, but not spent it wisely in my opinion.
I do agree with buying youth, but I also believe in buying players that are upgrades on the current squad so that we can improve. Not sure we've done that. Johnstone is no better than SA. That's £10Million wasted. Again hope I'm wrong, but a poor points haul over the next 4 games and everyone will be clamouring for GON to be sacked.


4.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 16:02:24
Thanks for the correction Goat but why does only one out of eight get to play regularly, does that mean that the rest aren't ready or no better than what we already have?


5.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 16:08:20
Competition within the squad, less injuries and suspensions to create opportunities. Maybe some players are taking time to settle in a foreign country are 3 possibilities that quickly come to mind.


6.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 17:31:52
So forbs is officially the fastest player in the prem.so why does he never get a game?


7.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 18:16:51
Will be interesting to see if we have more than 10 points from 15 games, as when JLO came in and worked wonders to get us out of trouble.


8.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 19:28:09
Thing is though Black how exactly do you know that GON is the one making those calls?! Cause when asked about the window he said 'it didn't go how I was told it would' does that sound like the guy calling the shots in transfers to you?!


9.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 20:28:14
I honestly don't know BB 11. I can't honestly believe Shi picks the players can you?
I can believe Shi gives Hobbs and GON a budget to work to and that includes player sales such as Kilman, Neto etc. If GON has little or no input into player sales/purchases then he is purely a coach. Given players bought by Hobbs and told to mold a team. Maybe you're right and that's why we appear overloaded in some areas and very light in others. GON was in a strong negotiating position though when he signed his 4 year contract so you would've thought that he would have put something in it to have some input into player sales/purchases?
I agree though he wasn't overly impressed with how the transfer window went, but not sure if that was because we hadn't bought in a CB he or whoever had identified.


10.) 18 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024 21:01:58
Speed isn't everything Buxwolf. We used to have one of the quickest (and built like a tank) in Traore, but his decision making was pants most of the time.


11.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 08:07:25
Somebody will provide figures I'm sure eastmids, but I think we scored more goals with traore on the field than when he wasn't.


12.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 10:40:43
I think our goals per game average has increased since Adama left the club.


13.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 11:44:20
To be honest Abbeywolf scoring goals hasn't really been our problem this season as it. All our troubles are at the other end.


14.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 14:51:44
That's fair Black, as none of us really know. I suspect Gary plays a part in the discussion but it would just be interesting to know who has final say on such matters (not that we ever will). You are also quite right that GON needs to learn from this current situation because he clearly isn't asserting himself within the process nearly enough if he is unhappy with the final out come. He is young though and only in his third year of management, I suspect he will be FAR more savvy at his next club for the experience he's had with us! Doesn't help us now mind ?


15.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 14:55:52
That isn't what Abbey was saying Wandering, you can't compare it to when he left as its an entirely different team/set up/manager. What Abbey is suggesting is that during Troares time (at the club) our expected goals was higher when Traore played than it was when he didn't. I haven't crunched the numbers but I wouldn't be surprised if Abbey was correct on that front.


16.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 20:31:10
Correct bb, I was posting in response to eastmid, who seemed to think that there was no benefit to traores speed, I know he was devisive but when he was with us particularly the latter period, I think he enabled us to score more if only by causing the opposition to defend against him or bring him down giving us free kicks. Could Forbes provide the same?


17.) 19 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 22:18:38
For a brief period -Nuno's second season? - Traore was unplayable. We were not high scorers - although v tight defensively but that is another discussion - but Traore, (and Doherty for all the Doherty haters out there), were major contributors to not only our attack but our whole set up.
Although statistically Traore's threat was often far greater than his reality, (we simply didn't score heavily as we were basically a very controlled/defensive side that often relied on playing on the break, frequently through Traore), that not only meant opposing teams were more cautious attacking wise for fear of leaving him room but also his very presence created time and space for everyone else in the team, (he would often be double or even treble marked!)
To date it would be very unfair to compare Forbes to Traore as the young lad is still finding his way and - if only for that brief period at least - Traore was a superstar of the game.


18.) 20 Nov 2024
19 Nov 2024 22:40:57
Long -good post.
I said at the time of Andre's signing that it meant the transfer window was rescued from being abysmal to just bad as he is undoubtedly a class act bought cheaply.
However it is clear that he was not the player required and it is also clear - both by the fact they new players largely aren't playing but also by the terrible defence/results - that we didn't buy the players GON needed/wanted to play his preferred styles, 4, 3, 2, 1 or 4, 2, 3, 1.
Sadly we also didn't buy the players to play the 3, 4, 3 style the rest of the existing squad was suited/used to playing.
Following the sale of Neto and the signing of Larsen it probably now means we need to play 3, 4, 2, 1 or 3, 5, 2 but we didn't buy the players to do that either!
No adult CB to replace Kilman or either a quality WF or second number 10 alongside Cunha to replace Neto.
The only discernible thread running through our transfer dealings this summer was, " did it have a yellow sticker on it and could we on-sell in the future at a profit"
There was seemingly zero thought to actually playing and winning football matches!
Sadly no one, except probably GON, at the club seems to realise that you have to win matches to stay in the Prem and if you aren't in the Prem a few million or even tens of millions made from transfer dealing goes nowhere in replacing the 100s of millions lost over the next few years.
So in answer to your q - no I don't think GON and the club are on the same page (no manager since the early days of Nuno has been.)
In fact the only difference between Hobbs and Sellers appears to be that at least Hobbs on the whole buys pretty good players not Fabio and his ilk.
Without any joined up thinking however this is not enough and we are - although most non Wolves fans seemingly still don't believe it - now in genuine trouble!


19.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 09:18:51
ps In "Traore" post above I obviously meant Nuno's second season in the Prem not his second season overall


20.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 10:08:58
Adama Traore was with us for 5 seasons of which he spent 6 months on loan at Barca.

In total he was available for selection 170 times, playing 157 games (starting or coming on as a sub) as opposed to 13 games when he didn't play.

157 games - 162 goal = 1.03 goals per game

13 games - 22 goals = 1.69 goals per game.


21.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 11:52:14
I genuinely appreciate the effort Wandering buddy but that doesn't really prove anything! There's FAR too many variables in that for it to mean anything! Who did we play in those 13 games cause it's possible we didn't play a single top 6 team in that period or then there is the different managers and there playing styles as Adama spent most of his time playing in a defensively minded/ counter attacking system?! The only way to crunch those numbers and for it to actually mean anything would be to look at just the period he was in the squad and compare our goals per game and see how they correlate to his playing minutes and his non playing minutes. Now in fairness I don't have the time or the patience for that (and I understand/expect you don't either:) but simply focusing on the less than 8% of his contract with us and using that as a metric doesn't tell us a whole lot to be honest. I do appreciate the effort though ?


22.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 11:53:10
So right Future, as usual you are bang on point sir! So good to have you back and posting buddy! ??


23.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 14:01:25
I'll break it down season by season:

In 2018/19 we scored 31 goals in 29 games that he played compared to 16 goals in the 9 games he didn't play (Everton, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Leicester, West Ham, Huddersfield, Man Utd, Watford and Fulham).

With 1.07 goals per game Without 1.77 goals per games.

In 2019/20 we scored 50 in 37 compared to 1 in 1 (v Leicester)

With 1.35 GPG Without 1 GPG

2020/2021 we scored 36 in 37 compared to 1 in 1 (v Everton)

With 0.97 GPG Without 1 GPG

2021/2022 we scored 38 in 37 compared to 2 in 1 (v Everton)

2022/2023 we scored 27 in 34 compared to 3 in 4 (v Leeds, Newcastle, Man City and Leicester.

With 0.79 GPG Without 0.79 GPG

He was actually available for 173 games NOT 170 as I originally posted and missed 16 games.

What it shows is that under Nuno in 2018/19 and 19/20 we averaged more goals when Adama didn't play.

But under the other managers it was roughly the same whether he played or not.


24.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 14:50:42
Good comment TFIOG and as Bullys stated 'bang on point'. I don't believe any Coach/Manager of any status would walk into this situation even if they wanted to replace GON.

I was particularly struck by your comment, quote "There was seemingly zero thought to actually playing and winning football matches!" It did look like they just went out and bought a group of players based on their 'future value' potential rather than much consideration as to 'who/what do we actually need?' and 'will they make the team better/stronger, right now?'

Will Fosun realise what's happening and more importantly why it's happening and row back on this policy before it's too late? Will they step in, in January to correct matters, give themselves a slap and get back to reality? Or, will they standby and watch a £500M asset become a £100M one overnight?


25.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 15:22:35
Wolves as an attacking entity have real quality.

As a defensive unit, we are suspect but I have noticed that GON and Shaun Derry were midfielders as players, whereas Tim Jenkins and the other coach never played professionally. This means we do not have anyone on the coaching staff with a vast knowledge of defending.

I did notice that Joleon Lescott was part of the England coaching team under Lee Carsleys tenure. Maybe we could approach him to see if he'd help out.


26.) 20 Nov 2024
20 Nov 2024 21:30:58
Wandering - according to your figures in 19/20, the year I stated that Traore was unplayable we scored 1.35 goals per game with him and 1 per game without. Surely that isn't as you say less but actually more?
You also have shown that after that year we scored far far less regardless of if he was playing or not, (I am ignoring the 2 in 1 you quote for 21-22 as far too small a sample), i.e. that season he made a massive difference to the team as I stated.
No one is disputing that post Seville his effectiveness went down sharply - although playing with Fabio not Jimenez would have had a lot to do with that.
However I think you also have to look v carefully at the figures you quote for goals per games played as other than in his golden year of 19/20 and the awful Fabio first season when he was asked to carry a very poorly performing team - did I mention Fabio was our main striker - he barely played.
In 21-22 you say he played 37 games out of 38 but he actually played less than 12 games FTE, i.e. he was either the sub or subbed regularly and rarely played many minutes.
Clearly therefore your goals per game numbers are not valid, even in his golden year he played less than 29 games FTE. To make them so you would v painfully need to check when the goals were scored relative to his time on the pitch - a very laborious task that no one is expecting you to do!
Also it should be noted when denigrating his efforts that although for a variety of reasons, (playing with Fabio as your partner in a very defensive side that was slowly falling/being torn apart didn't help), his contributions/effort/performances what ever all declined - hence playing less - he was "only" so "bad" that Barcelona, one of the super powers in world football, took him on loan and gave him game time - if only we had a player that "bad" today!


27.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 05:54:42
I won't bother next time. Jeez, some people really aren't happy and find excuse with everything. I'm done on here.


28.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 05:59:00
What is this love in regarding Adama?

He refused to s8gn a new contract for 3 whole years.

As for his move to Barca. He started 4 games and the rest were sub appearances so hardly a success.


29.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 08:03:08
Know what was in that contract, Wandering? Could it possibly be to do with being paid much less than a virtually useless boy just out of kindergarten?


30.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 08:34:30
He was on £48k per week here. We offered a new contract at £100k per week which he rejected.

He's now on £65k per week at Fulham but had a £4m signing fee which translates to £120k per week.


31.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 08:38:47
Fabio Silva earns £42k per week.


32.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 10:50:03
That's all hearsay Wandering unless, unlike the vast majority of us, you are privy to the nuances of what's actually on the table.


33.) 21 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024 11:31:43
Just like the rumour that Silva is on £100k per week then. But you all seem to take that fact as gospel.


34.) 22 Nov 2024
22 Nov 2024 14:02:04
Nowhere have you seen me suggest he's on £100k a week (can't recall seeing anyone else say that either). Best not to make things up to supposedly reinforce a point of view. What I do know is that he was vastly overpaid in relation to his ability and that is bound to rankle with more talented players which Traore certainly is.


35.) 22 Nov 2024
22 Nov 2024 15:34:48
And Adamas goals and assists certainly prove that.


36.) 22 Nov 2024
22 Nov 2024 15:41:02
Adama averages a goal every 884 minutes.

Fabio averages a goal every 545 minutes.

Both useless but at least Adama was exciting to watch.


37.) 22 Nov 2024
22 Nov 2024 17:18:19
So Adama earned more than Silva but statistically he was the inferior player.

I bet the next argument is that Silva is a striker as opposed to Adama being a winger.

Both of them are useless when compared to the likes of Diogo Jota and Pedro Neto.

Adama stats are below that of Pablo Sarabia but for some reason some fans love Adama but hate Sarabia.