Where will Wolves finish 2023/4?

[YoungWolf]

Treading water this season does not mean the plan is to tread water forever tbf.

Planning to tread water for even just a season is a very complacent way to behave

 

[Alan]

Planning to tread water for even just a season is a very complacent way to behave

I think it’s extremely risky. Whether it’s complacency or not I think will tell in more time.

I’m just guessing at the most positive possible version of what Fosun might be thinking, in truth.

 

[YoungWolf]

I think it’s extremely risky. Whether it’s complacency or not I think will tell in more time.

I’m just guessing at the most positive possible version of what Fosun might be thinking, in truth.

I can see that! Fair play. I’m too angry to see any upside at the moment tbh

 

[Alan]

I can see that! Fair play. I’m too angry to see any upside at the moment tbh

I think Fosun have been massively caught off guard by how different it is spending £35m on a footballer vs spending it on a piece of equipment. I think the lack of return from Cunha, Nunes, Guedes, etc, has scared the piss out of them.

I’m hoping that this season, with essentially two of the relegation spots nailed on from the word go, we can hit a bit of a reset button, stay up, and get back in the market in a less stupid way.

But man, even going with that, it’s so fucking risky. I don’t think Fosun have the appetite for the Championship again, but I also don’t think they’ll want to sell at what would surely be a cut value in that league.

It’s a scary bet they’re placing.

 

[WsWolf]

Looking at the business Hobbs has done, he's absolutely nailed it for me. I don't see the need for those 35/40m signings when we can operate with the Gomes & Lemina type deals. It should be quite straightforward to do that and be self sufficient, we just need to sell at the right time.

 

[Wolftone]

I've gone 'Fairly Comfortable'. We have the players to achieve this as long as the players are prepared to accept the new regime.
As long as Sasa is fit and Silva remains in the first team squad.
We could do with another centre back though.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I’m just guessing at the most positive possible version of what Fosun might be thinking, in truth.

That was Lee Carsley.

 

[Alan]

That was Lee Carsley.

Afraid I’ve no idea who that is.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Afraid I’ve no idea who that is.

He's someone else we interviewed/considered for the vacant job.

Google him, he was probably Fosun's first choice..

 

[Tom Hark]

11th to 14th, though I fear it's probably heart ruling head. I definitely don't think we'll go down.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Planning to tread water for even just a season is a very complacent way to behave

Only needs a slight current to sweep you away. Trying to be positive we have a fairly young squad so if we do stay up and add to the squad next summer we could see an improvement. Being more realistic we’ll probably lose a couple, a couple get injuries or lose form and suddenly we’ll be nailed on for relegation. Makes keeping Kilman even more difficult to understand as we could replace him for far less than we receive and it would allow us to strengthen elsewhere giving us some squad depth to cover for injuries and loss of form.

 

[Johnny75]

Going down, think we'll finish 19th

 

[The Saturday Boy]

If nobody else leaves our squad depth is not an issue with possible exception of central defence.

3 Right Backs
3 Left Backs
4 Central Midfielders
5 or 6 that can play wide midfield/forward roles
3 or 4 that can play central up front

All of these players would be considered genuine first team.(not included Hodge for example)

Some of them, however, have not yet performed fully, are on the wane or are Matt Doherty....but I don't think squad depth is a real issue - getting a performance out of them is. Can we score enough goals to keep us out of trouble and be good enough defensively not to concede. We have mostly been good enough defensively and we have looked more threatening pre-season.

This is a mid table squad imo.

 

[Tredman]

With a League 1 manager and 2 injuries away from disaster

 

[YoungWolf]

If nobody else leaves our squad depth is not an issue with possible exception of central defence.

3 Right Backs
3 Left Backs
4 Central Midfielders
5 or 6 that can play wide midfield/forward roles
3 or 4 that can play central up front

All of these players would be considered genuine first team.(not included Hodge for example)

Some of them, however, have not yet performed fully, are on the wane or are Matt Doherty....but I don't think squad depth is a real issue - getting a performance out of them is. Can we score enough goals to keep us out of trouble and be good enough defensively not to concede. We have mostly been good enough defensively and we have looked more threatening pre-season.

This is a mid table squad imo.

We needed to trim the squad anyway that’s for sure. If we replace Collins, we’re not in a terrible state but we’d also need a wide attacker in I think (especially if we eventually find a buyer for Podence).

For some reason it seems we want Cresswell too.

 

[Sniffer]

I can't fathom the Cresswell interest. A fee, huge wages, no sell on value and a position where we have three options and have just sold another. If we are trying to cut back on spending then it makes no sense on any level

I thought it was a Lopetegui thing, having seen him and Doherty against his sides in European matches.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

With a League 1 manager and 2 injuries away from disaster

I don't think O'Neill has ever managed below the Premier League and most clubs in the bottom half of the table are a couple of injuries away from "disaster" if we're using hyperbole.

I look at our squad, in depth and quality, and it is no worse than half the division.

 

[prawnking]

I think a lot depends on what the transition between Lopetegui's coaching staff and GON's, you'd presume there may be a drop in quality it's fair to say, and the focus may be different.

The biggest grey area for me is O'Neil's inexperience. This isn't someone who has cut his teeth at lower levels, he was Liverpool U-23s assistant manager when we sold Jota to them!

He'll be learning and making mistakes and developing on the job with us, and we're a different beast to Bournemouth. Risky for us, but it's a choice the club has made in the cold light of day during close season... so we'll see

 

[Tredman]

I don't think O'Neill has ever managed below the Premier League and most clubs in the bottom half of the table are a couple of injuries away from "disaster" if we're using hyperbole.

I look at our squad, in depth and quality, and it is no worse than half the division.

To be more accurate he hasn't managed below the PL as he actively couldn't get a job at that level.

 

[Tony Towner]

Of the 3 genuine options for number 9. One is ineffective there, one has a litany of injuries and is coming off his latest, the other let's say has plenty to prove. Numbers are fine, it doesn't take a lot of searching to see the issue that lies behind them though.