02 Sep 2026 21:24:44
Radical idea!
The James deal showed what could have been done and several equally good opportunities were lost to rivals - especially Boro, (Lankshear, Vitek, ACD and Phillips), who used their also limited finances, the Hayden and Rogers money, far, far better than Wolves.
With the benefit of hindsight - and many of you may think this is a totally unacceptable idea - should Wolves have targeted/spent the fees and wages on the young HG talents like James that were discussed at length on the Forum rather than Said and Jimenez?
It would have been a gamble not to take Raul when he was available, as the young HG talent may not have been obtainable in any case and Raul would have probably been gone by then.


However, as I say, with the benefit of hindsight and from an albeit very small sample size this looks like it might have been a better idea!
Thoughts?

1.) 03 Sep 2026
03 Sep 2026 00:16:07
I genuinely don't think clubs were interested in the players left at the club. Not an excuse, but all our CBs are awful in my opinion.

I think the players need to take responsibility for the view people have of them after last season, and fight and play for the Wolves.

This is the reason the squad overhaul never happened and the reason a more diplomatic and pragmatic coach was brought in. With a tactical shape and style. It's not the finished article by any means, and it's still in its early days. Last night reminded me quite a lot of the Cardiff defeat in Nuno's promotion season. Cesar's Wolves played far better last night, but anti football wasn't the tactic used against us like Warnock's Bluebirds. Last night we were punished for losing our shape, or not controlling the situation when defending. That's something, as a team, they need to take on board and learn quickly. But all 4 goals were avoidable, and two, the Mukasa ones, were very fortunate.

I think we lack pace at CB and wide forwards. But I do think the squad is pretty strong for the Championship. Yes, I wanted a squad that was like Nuno's pioneering Wolves of 2018 that all knew what they were doing.

But maybe the game has changed the last 5 years, from our counter-attack style to possession, to now pressing and being more fluid. While we are struggling to adjust to this style, many other clubs are as well. Pretty much all the bottom half of the prem can't play that style either.

Our issue was we sold pace and experience from our squad the past 18 months, with Cunha, Neto, RAN, Sarabia and Semedo leaving.

I think Raul and Trippier will be useful over the season. But we need to encourage the youngsters to keep their heads up and take players on. They are well thought of, the likes of Mane, R Gomes, Lopez, Chirewa and Neave, so we need to stick by them. There are a few games where our support may be tested before the international break. Plus we signed Said and Adriano; both look like exciting prospects, as well as they want to take players on and be a bit more exciting.

I think the team is more balanced than the last couple of years, without the sparkle of an exciting forward or a completely domineering CB with pace.

It's all about consistency. Can this squad be consistent?

Frustration and passion after a defeat is a good sign after last night.

2.) 03 Sep 2026
03 Sep 2026 15:24:25
Do you think our manager and the team (well, the defence) are oblivious to the fan's thoughts or do they think everything is going swimmingly and nothing needs to change?

3.) 03 Sep 2026
03 Sep 2026 16:58:44
Good q, BoS.
I suspect the football manager and players know what is needed, and their views are probably pretty much in line with the fans - the rational ones anyway.
The owner/club management probably don't know/care what the fans on social media are saying - so long as enough people buy tickets and merchandise.
Without advice - which is almost certainly not independent or too honest (I doubt hard truths go down well with many managers of failing businesses, and as a football club, Wolves are failing - it may, of course, not be failing from Fosun's perspective, however, which is probably not aligned with the fans' viewpoint) - they will have no clue about football.


Surely, however, they can understand results and relegation, and so are probably disappointed and maybe even confused with the outcome of their efforts?

4.) 04 Sep 2026
04 Sep 2026 07:18:29
Enso Gonzales remains at the club and is getting game time with the U21 side. He apparently starred in their latest game, and is someone, once he builds up match fitness and strength after a torrid time with injuries, who could provide competition for the wide right position.

5.) 04 Sep 2026
04 Sep 2026 09:52:09
Fosun - who is this exciting prospect Adriano you said we signed?