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thefutureisoldgold3's rumours posts with other poster's replies to thefutureisoldgold3's rumours posts
17 Sep 2026 13:26:48
I wrote this in a post a few weeks ago but it looks even more pertinent now.
Whilst the 2, 35 year old players signed were/maybe still are too good for this league it was crazy to think they will be up to playing week in week out over a long season.
Whilst I don't rate Jackson at all he is at least a warm body who can cover Trippier as can Yerson - when fit! However at number 9 Wolves are either relying on the very young and inexperienced.
Neave or Armstrong who clearly can't play a traditional 9 role and has proven this regularly in his time at Wolves. By the way I think Armstrong is a perfectly good champ player but as a 10 off a 9! This was a major mistake!
As I posted earlier surely it would have been far more sensible to have signed the HG boy Lankshear from Spurs - signed for Boro for £10m, (with add ons of up to another £10m but which you will be delighted to pay as it means he been a success), rather than Said, (where Wolves had other options even before signing Bertrand), even before his injury!
If game time was the issue and with Raul already signed it might have been surely he could have been persuaded that Raul was not going to play week in week out or probably next season barely at all and that he was in the short term at least a great mentor to learn from.
Another bad mistake from the recruitment team that may prove to be, depending how long it is before Raul is up to full speed, very very costly and certainly far more than the few pence extra signing Lankshear would have cost!
1.) 17 Sep 2026 14:30:39
Tfig3, totally agree, but Wolves wont spend the money, and when they do its normally the wrong choice. Now Wolves have Armstrong and the young lad from Newcastle Neave, personally i would play Neave against WB. He is more of a natural striker than Armstrong and his showing last night seemed very positive.
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 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 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 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 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 09:52:09
Fosun - who is this exciting prospect Adriano you said we signed?
6.) 05 Sep 2026 13:32:04
Adrianno "AJ" Morrison is a 17-year-old, exciting talent in youth circles.
Plays as a winger and is skillful.
Might be one to watch as the season progresses.
thefutureisoldgold3's banter posts with other poster's replies to thefutureisoldgold3's banter posts
22 Sep 2026 23:28:02
I have left it a couple of days for the dust to settle and won't give ratings to the individual players as that doesn't seem to engender any response.
So I have put down, what I hope you will agree is, a balanced view of the game both pros and cons.
Pros
A win, a clean sheet, a very good performance especially in the first half, several players - step forward and take a bow Mr Toti - having their best performances for a long time!
Cons
Firstly more a mea culpa from me - again sorry Mr Lopez! I was highly sceptical when numerous posters on here and elsewhere said the Championship was extremely weak.
From what I have seen they were correct and there is a chasm between the bottom of the Prem and the middle of the Champ with about a dozen sides in the Champ who are oceans away from challenging the better sides at the top of the Champ.
As an aside despite their good start to the season it would appear Albion, who were genuinely awful, are one of those bottom half teams
More seriously Wolves created as many as double digit "moments" - "could haves" and "should haves" - in the first half alone but went in at half time at 0-0.
Whilst I accept that not all "could haves" become "should haves" - poor decision making, poor passing from the creator, poor movement and/or touch from the putative finisher and naturally defenders interventions - and not all "should haves" become goals - poor decision making and poor finishing plus as we saw this week intervention by goalkeepers and other defenders- 0 from as many as a 8, 9 or even 10 is simply not satisfactory or sustainable.
Wolves can not expect to beat even weak sides like Albion 1- 0 on a regular basis as, as seen earlier on this year, luck and or quality - WHU showed both - will inevitably mean that Wolves will concede occasionally and unless Wolves score from their numerous opportunities points will be dropped.
Although widely lauded for his work rate, Armstrong was only minimally involved in just one of the multiple "moments" Wolves created. For the main striker this is worrying but not surprising. If Raul is not able to get up to speed this shortcoming may become a concern.
Ironically Munetsi was involved in 3 "moments" in the first half alone but of course did not finish any of them - albeit their goalie made an excellent save for at least one of them.
However, although so far this season he has been involved in far more "moments" than would be expected from a midfield player and has scored 2 goals, given the paucity of his other activities - offensively he is barely involved on the ball at all although to be fair he works hard defensively - unless he is scoring very regularly like some modern day Gerd Muller, ( when he could bring a stool on to the pitch and sit for 89 minutes reading a book for all I care!), he is a passenger in the side.
Given there are 3 better options : Doyle providing control and progressive passing, slow Traore providing defensive impact and physicality and James with his all-court game - plus seemingly just as much goal threat as Munetsi - it is bizarre that he continues to be selected.
Net net though it's been a better start to the season than I thought it would and the emergence of Djiga and Lopez has been an incredible boost to the side.
Thoughts?
1.) 23 Sep 2026 07:13:49
Agree with what you write there Tfig3, scoring is our obvious flaw, (their keeper was outstanding on this occassion), Armstrong gets alot of flack and questioning, as you have, but watching his runs I wonders onetime if it's not being seen by our players, or used continuously as a ploy? We're balls played for him at the time he's beginning to move then things may be different, (although we all know the chence(s) he's spurned.
Toti, for all my moaning og him before, turned in an almost flawless performance, maybe the hype and expectancy of the Derby match drilled it into him ?
As for Fer, I thought he had a very quiet 1st, and was willing him to go further forward, that aspect resulted in the goal.
Agree re Munetsi, can't criticise his commitment or energy, but slightly as with mosquiro, it can mislead. Surely Doyler James or Traore can give us more.
One final point wrapping it all up, Tripper.
Having trips back in the the team seems to 'polish' off some rough edges, his experience was so evident to me when he put his hand on morgans shoulders and had 'a word' in his ear.
That letting the opposition know where they stand, I'm sure he gets our lads into line as well. Why his ge not the permanent on field skipper?
2.) 23 Sep 2026 10:54:04
Hopefully the club will now be looking to sign a 15 to20 goal per seazon striker in the January window.
3.) 23 Sep 2026 12:50:24
I'd welcome the signing of a 15-20 goal striker, but who should make away given that we have a full squad?
4.) 23 Sep 2026 13:10:14
Tbh I'm not sure I can agree with much you've said there future, other than that Toti had one of his better performances. It seems he performs better in the bigger games, I remember a few games in the prem against top sides where he was much better than against lesser teams.
As for the comments about the quality of teams in the champ I'd argue that Hull who were a mid table team for much of last season are proving the transition can be made in to the prem and equally most of the recently promoted teams have done quite well in the prem albeit with some money spent for most of them.
It seems to me the championship is a very competitive league where anyone can be beaten. Another example is Blackburn turning over both Millwall and Middlesbrough arguable one of the teams who are oceans away beating the upper sides in the champ.
As for some of the comments about players, for me it's not coincidence that Munetsi is scoring and being in the right place for quite a few chances. I think credit needs to go to CP for utilising him in a way that can have an impact and possible Armstrong for his runs that create space for other players. James possibly is the better option which in time I think we will see as he becomes a regular first teamer. The jury is out on slow traore for me, his energy is great and is good a breaking up play but always seems to be chasing the ball instead of being in control. And again I feel like credit needs to go to CP for the organisation and the fact we made West Brom look terrible, the pressing and break up play from Andre in particular was outstanding and often gets ignored or just put down as the oppo being poor.
5.) 23 Sep 2026 14:49:23
Armstrong Boubacar Traore Munetsi there's three for starter's.
6.) 23 Sep 2026 15:27:31
The same Munetsi who is joint top scorer?
7.) 23 Sep 2026 16:20:33
Let's see if he's still joint top scorer in afew weeks time?
8.) 23 Sep 2026 16:22:03
Deep this has been discussed before and obviously it would be Neave.
If a striker came in to replace or compete with Raul in Jan that would push Neave down to 3rd choice for the
2nd half of the season. (I don't count Armstrong as a cf but instead rate him highly as a 10.)
3rd choices rarely play and he leaves in the summer anyway so it is highly probable he would never play again so why keep him?
Rated and Goat
You can't dispute Munetsi's "moments" and indeed goals. He is much much more heavily involved than a midfield player has any right to be.
However Munetsi has 2 goals and no assists this season - given he does virtually nothing else, (he barely even touches the ball and often those touches are unsuccessful), that is not enough.
Hence my comparison with Gerd Muller.
I'm pretty sure James will have similar goal output but will also contribute to the overall game far far more than Munetsi.
9.) 23 Sep 2026 16:58:23
Goat as i said I thought the league would be of a higher standard and closer to the bottom end of the Prem but from what I have seen so far this season it does not appear to be.
But lets not look at opinions and views but analyse a few facts.
Whilst Hull have started this season well the stats clearly show, in contrast to what you say and I thought, that historically at least we were badly wrong.
Even the best sides in the Champ i. e. the ones promoted, struggle to survive more than a year or two in the Prem.
In the last 12 years more than 60% of the sides promoted have returned to the Champ within 2 years and the vast majority of them are returning in the first season.
So in reality even the top end of the champ has been well below the lower end of the Prem.
With respect to your comments about the competitiveness of the champ sadly these are also contradicted by the stats.
These show the points gap between say the top few sides - i. e. the promoted ones and those who came very close - and even upper mid table teams over the last 7 or 8 years has been massive - high teens to well over 20 points on several occasions.
Consequently it is certainly fair to say that historically the teams at the top of the champ are indeed an ocean away from the upper mid table sides let alone as i said the lower mid and below sides in the Champ.
15 Sep 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Ratings v Sheffield United
1.) 15 Sep 2026 15:08:13
Just watched the first half again.
Even from just 45 minutes it is clear i was wrong on a few ratings.
On second viewing i think i was generous to Jackson - who lost countless headers and actually stood on the ball and fell over once when he received in space - so reduce his mark to a 5
Maybe I was generous to Mane who turned over the ball more than I thought,
But I was clearly wrong - as most of you seem to think anyway - on Andre.
Far better than my initial thoughts so upgrade not just to a 6 but a 7
Sorry initial impressions aren't always the best!
2.) 16 Sep 2026 12:56:05
Just on a slightly different note. has anybody seen mane head the ball yet ???. I noticed against sheff utd twice he let them have the ball by not even jumping to challenge. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed.
14 Sep 2026 09:00:02
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Ratings v Sheffield United
1.) 14 Sep 2026 12:09:17
Not much to mull over there, Tfig3. Just different views over Andre. I agree with the media; I thought he had an influence all over and m.o.m for me.
Bueno offers an awful lot of possibilities going forward; he provides a decent cross and can get shots away, and can take defenders on, which brings me to Mane.
It's hard to criticise him, he's got so much talent, but he seems to seek out defenders when he's got the ball in space and takes time to decide what option to take.
Kreiji can be a bit 'reckless' at times, and was certainly lucky not to be given a red, but the back line is better for him.
All in all, 3 points, and who cares? As someone else has already said.
2.) 14 Sep 2026 13:22:32
Isn't it the sign of a good team? Didn't play particularly well, but still won.
PS: Most football managers moan, but Sheffield United seems to pick the biggest whingers going. Warnock and Wilder are not much better. I'm not sure he's stopped moaning yet about yesterday's result. In all the interviews I've seen, not once has he mentioned the clear and obvious penalty we were denied.
08 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Ratings v Birmingham City
07 Sep 2026 23:08:44
For me the defensive issues over the first 5 games have been 3 fold:
Neither of the full backs are strong enough defensively. Consequently, crosses are coming in far too easily and far too often - the return of Trippier and possibly the new guy Konan (sp? ) should alleviate this.
The Gks and CBs have been weak dealing with the crosses. However going forwards Sa should be, despite his issues at WHU, a major upgrade on Bentley and Krejci is a massive upgrade on Toti so the ability to deal with crosses should improve.
The CM is disjointed with Munetsi leaving Andre exposed, either due to poor positional discipline/inability or instructions, and Andre making errors, (possibly as a result? ), so that shots are being allowed from the edge of the box. The inclusion of James should alleviate this.
The goals conceded, to a not insignificant extent, can be traced to these 3 factors.
Against Blackburn both goals come from crosses down the left - Wolfe and Toti
Against Preston the goal is a shot from the middle that the Gk should save - James tries to close down but can't get to the scorer.
Against Stoke a shot from the middle that Munetsi tries to close down - but a shot that was too good but won't be repeated often!
Against WHU The first was a shot from middle that Andre was slow to close down that the Gk also had no chance with - so despite the statement above an unstoppable shot was repeated. The 2nd was a penalty after Andre was beaten and foolishly tried to make up for it by snapping in and conceding a pen. The 3rd was a deflected shot that again Sa had no chance with - a fluke that should not be repeated often and the 4th was a corner that no one dealt with and Sa did not cover himself in glory over.
Against Brum a sensational shot - as before, indeed the 3rd one, that should not be repeated - from a cross from the left, to be fair not unchallenged, with Andre slightly off his man as the left CB Krejci was pulled out of position. The 2nd was a bizarre surely not to be repeated OG.
All in all a bizarre OG, a fluke, 3 unstoppable shots, 1 stoppable shot all from the edge of the middle of the box, a pen and 3 from crosses.
Improve the 3 features identified, (and the steps to do so are simple and indeed have begun to be taken), and at least one of the Blackburn goals is not scored, the Preston goal is not scored, WHU's 4th is not scored and Brum's 2nd is not scored.
Wolves have 4 more points and are top and everyone is happy!
Consequently hold tight and let Wolves continue to solve the issues and things should improve.
1.) 08 Sep 2026 06:39:41
Too many goals that shouldn't be repeated because they are worldies or brilliant strikes are actually getting repeated on a regular basis, so there's got to be a reason. That reason, in my view, is that lots of our players are ineffective in closing down and actually marking opponents.
Without space, none of those goals would have been scored. Surely, this can be effectively addressed by appropriate coaching.
2.) 08 Sep 2026 08:49:19
The defensive issues have been there since GON was coach. VP had a short-lived amount of joy, but our defensive record since JLO has been shocking.
As much as I didn't believe in Edwards, I think the negative football he had the team playing was because he knew the ability of the players, and was trying to stop us being spanked 4-0 every week.
We've now changed the system with most of the same personnel to a back 4 with a new coach. That will take time to work - if it does at all.
As Old Wulf says, closing down and marking are poor. But they're basics.
The own goal was beyond words as well. I was taught as a schoolboy, if you have to play it back to the keeper, play it either side of the post. That way, if there's an error, you concede a corner and not a goal. Jackson put Sa in an impossible situation with that pass. It's a mistake that just should not happen at that level of football.
3.) 08 Sep 2026 09:08:35
I think Sa gets a bum deal, as all keepers do when they concede, but we could be alot worse off without him, have we noted saves made in the games so far?
No, he's not perfect. Who is?
I'm glad he's signed a contract and glad we've got him over other choices.
I don't understand people who blame him for not getting Jackson's woeful ball, Sa wasn't expecting anything like it and wasn't anywhere close enough to stop it.
Full back wise, Tripps is the class we need, obviously. Lima maybe could be more 'lightweight' than Jackson, but crosses maybe more accurate, but until Tripps return I'd stick with Jackson.
MF, yes, Andre is isolated, Munestsi races around and pops up unexpectedly every now and then, but I think the new lad should get the nod and provide a more stable footing.
Raul adds that bit of nous, distraction and ability up front, but sadly isn't as young as he was. I've actually got big hopes for Nease (is it?). I've never seen him, know nothing of him, but a gut feeling is that, as the season goes on, he may well grow into the role with confidence.
4.) 08 Sep 2026 09:35:19
What the club needs is an experienced defender who can come in and improve the starting eleven, much like Craig Dawson did a few years ago. Someone like Adam Webster, who is a free agent.
5.) 08 Sep 2026 10:35:56
Old agreed, and that was my point 3. Clearly, too many shots are being allowed from the edge of the box. However, I think only the Whu first obviously could have been closed down. For the others, the CM was not in a bad position and was trying, but due to the skill (?) of the forward, he was unable to do so.
Abbey agreed, and I acknowledge that in my post. Although he was poor v Whu so far this season, the only goal he should have stopped is the Whu 4th - the others were not his fault, either flukes, pens, OGs or shots he has no right to save.
Good, I agree and said so regularly during the transfer window. For me, Mings was the one to go for, although I see he is now playing for Villa, so may not have been available after all, but Webster is certainly not a bad idea - and HG!
You would need to shift out another player to fit him into the squad, and assuming Santi is the one making room for B Traore, I'd guess either Jrb or Said, both of whom are currently injured.
thefutureisoldgold3's rumour replies
30 Sep 2026 21:14:21
Long - clearly the ramifications are extremely difficult to predict/understand.
I can't disagree however with the underlying thread, as elucidated by many posters on here, of just how unjust and serious this whole matter is.
Maybe HMRC might be interested as well??
As stated though the punishment for Chelsea, ( who were also guilty of very serious matters but who seemingly cooperated with the authorities and thus received a punishment that was almost insignificant and an insult to the other clubs who did not cheat), does not give me any confidence that City will ever receive a punishment that is even vaguely in line with the seriousness of the offences they have been found guilty of committing.
Sorry but at every step the Prem has been found woefully inadequate when it came to, as Ron Moore described, of running a fair, open and honest competition for the "smaller" teams in the league.
Why should they suddenly grow a pair and take on the global super power that is City.
30 Sep 2026 08:29:57
Any rationale as to how that was calculated?
Seems v exact and to be honest low?
25 Sep 2026 05:35:40
I believe you would need to lose someone as under 21 loans are not viewed the same as under 21 permanent players.
Given it would be a mere half season loan with obviously no chance of buying him, unless he was so good that he dramatically altered the likely outcome of the season, I am not sure it would be worth having to lose a squad player - unless perhaps they could be sent on loan somewhere else - to merely develop a player for another side.
Hence the Neave deal is also a little weird. He is unlikely to play much - as a back up to Raul - so doing little for Wolves but takes a place in the squad.
Newcastle however gets to park him here saving money and see him hopefully develop at Wolves expense?
21 Sep 2026 22:59:36
Agree re central striker - but maybe Neave is that player already? However he is only on loan and will be gone next summer so maybe if Wolves are looking at building for next season other options do need to be examined.
But as with LB a player would have to go out if another striker is signed.
Perhaps though if Wolves signed a real option as a challenger to Raul for this year and his replacement if Wolves go up next year then Neave would have to be the one "lost"!
Re RAN if he could be obtained especially with an option to buy for a fee that wasn't insane if Wolves are promoted it would be a massive coup.
I imagine it would have to be Konan as Bueno is HG and the club is short on them.
Both would be financially easy to lose though as neither are in the books for very much - Konan is in at zero!
However if it is only a loan for the 2nd half of the season then unless Wolves were pushing hard for promotion I'm not sure there would be much point in for any party (Wolves, City or RAN), him playing for a mid table Champ side.
12 Sep 2026 10:38:02
BB first of course I have to agree with you that Wolves transfer business - with the exception of the Lop window - has been pretty poor since Seville.
Secondly even though Bueno was the tallest dwarf last year and somehow not only played regularly - making a substantial proportion of those 70 appearances - but even won the POTS award he is simply not good enough to play in the Prem or even the top end of the Championship other than in a highly structured system that mitigates his lack of pace and power.
Thirdly the transfer fees and wages outside of the Prem are a fraction of those paid in the Prem - of the top 20 fee payers in Europe this summer 14 were Prem teams - and Wolves sadly took that to extremes and hugely over paid in both wages and fee for Buneo, (and sadly since Seville numerous others!!).
Consequently it is no surprise that Wolves are struggling to find anyone willing to pay anything like the amount they paid. As Wolves have done with numerous players this summer.
It is also no surprise that the players, who even after relegation clauses are still on far more than they should be/would be in any other league, are not keen to take transfers.
It is a total mess but numerous years of poor dealings where never going to be resolved in one window and Wolves will be paying the price for this incompetence for several years to come.
Sadly if Wolves are not promoted this year that price may be high!
thefutureisoldgold3's banter replies
04 Oct 2026 21:19:09
Deep I certainly do recall WHU selling Upton Park and banking the cash.
I was advising a firm that was owed a very substantial sum of money by WHU and was one of a team that was charged with deciding how the firm should deal with the problem of how to get the money back!
The proposed and then eventual sale of Upton park was the answer to the problem.
I didn't know it was Boris not the Central Government who did the deal but again trying to be fair I am not sure if Orient were ever a serious tenant as they were a lower league side - possibly even non league at that time.
Spurs on the other hand could have been an option but their "home" is some 3 to 4 times further away from Stratford than WHU's "home".
Consequently whilst I don't know, I strongly suspect, that Spurs'interest was minimal and sadly WHU almost certainly knew that they were the obvious and only real candidate for the stadium.
Consequently they were able to extract a truly awful deal from the Government from the Government's perspective.
However this was a deal that was made some 20 years prior when the Government failed to plan properly and went ahead and built a white elephant.
Again of course you are correct re City but I was only pointing out that the scale of the "awfulness" pales into almost insignificance compared to the truly amazing deal WHU got.
It is therefore also truly astonishing how WHU have managed to so completely mess it up!
Agreed a free £20m pa ad infinitum plus as you say the one off proceeds from the sale of your own ground would be pretty helpful for most clubs!
Not sure however in Wolves case that Fosun wouldn't have found some more imaginative use, both for the £20m pa and the proceeds of the sale of Molineux, than building a successful football club!
04 Oct 2026 14:17:47
Black - the people that I was partially defending were the post 2012 Government that had a white elephant - the Olympic stadium - to deal with and only WHU as possible tenants.
The people to blame were the Government in the early 2000s.
They not only built a stadium with zero thought as to what was going to happen after the games but astonishingly also did so in full knowledge that at almost exactly the same time, another £0.75bn stadium - the national football Stadium, New Wembley- was being built.
How and why they failed to see that a coordinated approach was the answer is hard to fathom. Perhaps if they had worked together a single truly magnificent Olympic/National Football stadium could have been built at a fraction of the price that would now be viable!
Instead we have 2 relatively modest stadiums one of which is a financial black hole!
03 Oct 2026 20:56:56
Deep I think the deal is even better for WHU now they have been relegated with the rent dropping to just over £1m
The cost of the build and conversion to a football stadium - not massively different I would imagine from building as a football stadium initially - was huge well over £700m.
The tax payer is thus effectively funding WHU to the tune of some £70m plus pa.
They benefit from a £700m + stadium with a capacity of over 60k which means they earn nearly £40m pa from match days cf the match day income of just over £20m Wolves make.
But if they had built it - they wouldn't because no one would have lent them the £700m to do so - they would be paying interest north of £70m on that debt.
They were paying over 10% + on their debt prior to the latest refinancing and with that amount of debt interest rates would actually have been far far higher!
With that amount of interest they would have been forced to sell off a significant number of their best players each year just to meet that bill and avoid breaching FFP.
Consequently they would almost certainly have been relegated, (and goodness what would have happened to them after that), almost immediately they took over the stadium.
Looking at it at it different way they get an extra £20m of revenue and all the other benefits of playing in front of 60k + for free.
A totally unfair advantage over the rest of the teams in the country that somehow they have managed to completely mess up!
Deep I know it is bash man City week but to be fair to them the cost of the initial build was modest - just north of £100m - and City paid for the conversion and expansion program of well over £300m themselves.
Thus the rental is probably only a few million less than a true reflection of the situation and de minimis in comparison with the insane deal WHU got.
Note to be fair to the government what else could they do with the stadium so WHU were negotiating with a party they knew had no other options!!
30 Sep 2026 21:28:12
Deep - good post.
I strongly suspect that whilst you are correct about "indefinitely" it is sufficiently far enough into the future for none of us to be holding our breath.
Plus if you are not stopped from winning trophies and making billions of pounds in "excess" revenues, (over the last 10 years alone they have turned over some £5.7bn. This is some £4bn more than say the average "mid table" Prem team would have made over the same period.
That even assumes that a club can remain "mid table" over 10 years without suffering the seemingly inevitable relegation that all bar the handful of Sky teams are seemingly merely waiting their turn for), why would you not simply prevaricate to extend that very lucrative and successful period for as long as possible.
30 Sep 2026 08:34:30
Long - thanks!