The January 2025 Transfer Thread

[Templeton Peck]

I don't love Sa but I think we can get away without replacing him just about. Not the case with our centre backs.

 

[Squeak]

We were talking about that on the way home from the match, what's brought on this sudden change of attitude? it started under GON and seems to have improved more since Vitors arrival. Is he happy to play here or is he trying to put himself in the shop window? Looks a completely different player and character from 12 months ago.

When you are wanted by your coach, it makes a huge difference to you mentally. His body language is still awful most of the time but he can play and he knows where the goal is. He's been putting the work in since he came back for pre-season and finally he is getting some rewards.

 

[C.L.D]

Guedes shit attitude preceded GON. He never wanted to be at Wolves from the start.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's still a very weird player, sometimes he strikes the ball like you'd expect off someone playing in Soccer Aid, he can go from trying really hard to chucking in a Darren Ferguson impression inside 30 seconds, he's quite big but also at times ridiculously weak, he can obviously finish and yet I would never put any money on him scoring any non-open goal, etc etc.

Long term I don't see it being a success story. His career doesn't suggest that he's a good player, he's been at big clubs but done very little. Between now and May he'll probably do in a limited fashion.

 

[sycophantia]

When you are wanted by your coach, it makes a huge difference to you mentally. His body language is still awful most of the time but he can play and he knows where the goal is. He's been putting the work in since he came back for pre-season and finally he is getting some rewards.

I've seen no evidence of poor attitude or body language from Guedes at all this season.

Edit. I've not seen all games this season.

 

[big mean bunny]

I think he has sulky/lethargic body language, and our fans seem to hate that as it's associated with bad attitude. I actually quite like the current setup with him though. As he and Cunha effectively play the same role in completely different ways, Cunha drops deep and into space and inside and than Guedes adds depth to the attack as does the opposite as goes wide and beyond defenders, so it's causing a lot more questions for defending teams.

 

[The Bear]

I'd file Guedes in the same folder as Hwang. Capable of good spells and a purple patch of output, but probably not sustainable long term as a regular starter.

Both are the type of player you should be cashing in on as soon as you get a good bid for them. We should have sold Hwang for £20m when we had the chance as he's unlikely to ever replicate those numbers or get 10+ goals again.

The issue is those players behind them aren't potentially any better in terms of succession plans so you end up keeping 5 or 6 players for 2 wide positions and none of them settle into any kind of form.

I do have higher hopes for Rodrigo though. I like his attitude, energy and the fact he always looks to get into the box wherever possible off the ball, which is what you want from a winger.

 

[Alan]

Personally I think it's pretty understandable that Guedes has looked shit under Lage and O'Neil, just like 95% of the squad did.

There are so many variables at play that simply declaring a player to be irrevocably shit is a bit of a dangerous game (no, I'm no angel in this regard; this is a hypocritical high horse for certain). Not many get to this level without some genuine ability and it's the confluence of tactical knowledge, man management, squad chemistry, etc. etc. that ultimately leads to talent living up to potential on the pitch.

 

[Tony Towner]

In his first spell he didn't want to sign, didn't want to be here and didn't try. That's all on him and to a degree Mendes, nobody else.

 

[sycophantia]

In his first spell he didn't want to sign, didn't want to be here and didn't try. That's all on him and to a degree Mendes, nobody else.

This is all true, I would have been happy to see him gone before this season, he looked very ordinary and a bit of a twat. If (it's a big if) he can maintain his current form and attitude it's a real bonus for us. If he reverts to type then I'll be back to he can fuck off.

 

[Alan]

In his first spell he didn't want to sign, didn't want to be here and didn't try. That's all on him and to a degree Mendes, nobody else.

I'd have to be reminded of the evidence of all of this (not saying there isn't any, but like "China isn't interested in foreign football" it seems a narrative that has stuck without an equivalent amount of necessarily reputable information to back it up). Not difficult to imagine signing here, spending time with that dipshit Bruno, and realizing that there would be no benefit in trying to stick it out.

To put it another way, if he really signed because he was forced, a better playing environment at the club could have gone some way in alleviating that. We had no such thing in place under Bruno, nor Gary.

 

[Tony Towner]

I'd have to be reminded of the evidence of all of this (not saying there isn't any, but like "China isn't interested in foreign football" it seems a narrative that has stuck without an equivalent amount of necessarily reputable information to back it up). Not difficult to imagine signing here, spending time with that dipshit Bruno, and realizing that there would be no benefit in trying to stick it out.

To put it another way, if he really signed because he was forced, a better playing environment at the club could have gone some way in alleviating that. We had no such thing in place under Bruno, nor Gary.

He wanted out under Lopetegui

Julen Lopetegui: Goncalo Guedes wanted to leave | Pablo Sarabia will undoubtedly help us

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui discusses Goncalo Guedes' loan move to Benfica and the addition of Pablo Sarabia to his squad.

www.skysports.com

His 'performance' against Chelsea after Lage had left and he was took off at half time by Davis was disgusting.

No issue with him being given a chance now, but you can't rewrite the previous history, he was a disgrace.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Personally I think it's pretty understandable that Guedes has looked shit under Lage and O'Neil, just like 95% of the squad did.

There are so many variables at play that simply declaring a player to be irrevocably shit is a bit of a dangerous game (no, I'm no angel in this regard; this is a hypocritical high horse for certain). Not many get to this level without some genuine ability and it's the confluence of tactical knowledge, man management, squad chemistry, etc. etc. that ultimately leads to talent living up to potential on the pitch.

He looked absolutely shit for PSG and Portugal before we signed him.

 

[Alan]

He looked absolutely shit for PSG and Portugal before we signed him.

I’m aware!

I dunno man, sometimes the vitriol leveled at some players gets to me. A hypocritical high horse, as I say. I’ve gone too far on slating many players many times.

Re: Lop; fair enough as it’s probably the closest to the truth we can ever expect to get, but IMV he’s not an unimpeachably reliable narrator, himself. Suppose I would rather give the benefit of the doubt to the guy still putting on the badge and making an effort to get us out of this mess.

 

[Kenny]

We currently have the Valencia version of Guedes.

Never ever a £27m player or indeed one that has moved for around £100m and he wanted to join us as much as Deutsch wanted him here.
However he now looks settled and therefore we get a glimpse of something decent.

His body language doesn't help him at times and he has a great poker face....or is just miserable 99% of the time.

 

[Alan]

RBF is real!

 

[HanDoJin]

Who knows what’s gone on in his private life, wife, girlfriend, kids, sick parents. Who knows.

Was lazy as fuck when we first signed him. Seems on it now so let’s how it lasts because the alternative is Bellegarde

 

[prawnking]

We currently have the Valencia version of Guedes.

Never ever a £27m player or indeed one that has moved for around £100m and he wanted to join us as much as Deutsch wanted him here.
However he now looks settled and therefore we get a glimpse of something decent.

His body language doesn't help him at times and he has a great poker face....or is just miserable 99% of the time.

I'm not looking any further than this season, just want him to contribute consistently. He owes us that much.

I actually think he's shown a decent football brain in his mini-renaissance with us so far. Some unexpected shots, imaginative pass choices, and he definitely knows how to buy a foul.

Not particularly likeable but could be a bit of an anti-hero for us if he helps keep us up

 

[sycophantia]

I'm not looking any further than this season, just want him to contribute consistently. He owes us that much.

I actually think he's shown a decent football brain in his mini-renaissance with us so far. Some unexpected shots, imaginative pass choices, and he definitely knows how to buy a foul.

Not particularly likeable but could be a bit of an anti-hero for us if he helps keep us up

He's quicker than I thought previously too, although that might be he's just putting some actual effort in.

 

[Jinky]

Could it be as simple that he wanted to play and wasn’t getting many minutes? Throw in all the other contributing factors (new country, language, weather etc etc) and it’s easy to see why moves don’t work out from time to time.

I’ve never really bought in to the “lazy” stuff. People carry themselves in different ways - whenever players within the squad stuck up stuff on their socials he’s always smiling and enjoying himself.

I’m pleased he’s seemingly been given a new lease of life - long may it continue.