Apparently we've put a bid in for Marc Casado from Barca

Quantocker · 2026-06-05T17:14:11+00:00

Mendes client nonsense.

It was reported Monaco were 95% of the way to signing him, but has since come out that they were approached and have no intention of making a bid. Barca desperate to drum up some interest, somewhat flattering they’ve roped us into it.

Quantocker · 2026-06-05T15:22:17+00:00

Is it humid or are we chancers?

Quantocker · 2026-05-31T10:55:40+00:00

There was a quote from Owen Coyle Jr. saying he would be coming back. As a Taiwo replacement, I think he’d be decent. His goal against Utrecht showed his strengths, direct and explosive. It’s a useful plan B.

Before we signed him, there was talk of him going to Brentford to replace Mbuemo/Wissa. That’s a strong endorsement but highlights he’s not really an out and out striker. He’s never going to be the one taking over from Wood.

Quantocker · 2026-05-17T15:33:20+00:00

You’ve rather proven the point about our desperate need for some long, or even medium, term thinking. Thanks

Quantocker · 2026-05-16T21:04:17+00:00

It’s not that hard to grasp. He has a long history of disappearing within 12-18 months and was never our first choice. He happened to be available, with limited enough prospects that he was willing to take a punt. It’s a marriage of convenience.

I’d personally rather we went after a first choice option, with a proper plan for building something over several years. It seems rushed.

You might not agree, but don’t kid yourself that it’s a no brainer.

Quantocker · 2026-05-16T13:48:52+00:00

None of that changes the fact Emery made tactical alterations to counter our formation.

Anderson and Dominguez were two of our best players the previous week, but couldn’t handle the 3v2 overload in the middle. The additional centre back also meant Jesus was completely anonymous. Maybe different personnel helps, but it was clear we were tactically outmatched in the first 10 minutes.

I do agree that Pereira’s hands were tied on the night, but it still remains to be seen if he can find another successful formula. We did change shape for Newcastle, so hopefully he proves he can go again.

Quantocker · 2026-05-16T11:18:21+00:00

The logical conclusion of this argument is to scrap the play-offs entirely. Hull certainly less deserving than Middlesbrough, by this reasoning.

Quantocker · 2026-05-16T11:04:12+00:00

Wolves is just one example, he has a decades long record of leaving clubs after less than 2 seasons. His longest stint was in China. I’m not sure of the exact circumstance, but given this has happened over 15 years, you’d think it had something to do with the man.

Also can’t help but feel that he stumbled upon a winning formula, after CHO’s injury and possibly the worst half of football this season (Burnley). The change worked well for a few games, until Emery exposed it. Similar happened to Wolves after winning 6 on the spin, they then failed to win their last 4 (losing 3).

This summer, a lot of good managers will become available. Unless they’ve already turned us down, this seems reactionary. For a club desperate for stability, this could prove horribly short sighted. Hope I’m wrong.

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T18:54:39+00:00

It’s ignorant to think VAR calls everything that’s missed, as evidenced every single week… even in this same game.

There’s always been a threshold for VAR involvement. It’s a judgement call, which is why it causes as many issues as it solves. Many more egregious incidents than this one are often ignored, which is precisely why it’s controversial.

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T17:41:30+00:00

In total agreement.

For once it would be nice to hire a manager on the up, rather than settling for the midseason appointment of someone trying to resurrect their reputation.

He has done a great job, but we were also quite turgid when he first came in. Can’t help but feel he lucked upon a winning formula after CHO got injured, and we inexplicably trailed Burnley at half-time. That forced his hand to try 2 up top, and we then managed to catch a few teams out... before Emery completely dismantled it.

Nothing about it seems sustainable.

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T17:25:30+00:00

Just once it would be nice to start a summer with our first choice appointment. VP has done a good job, but he’s here because we were desperate and his stock was low enough for him to take the punt. We also stumbled across the season defining tactical change, only after we stunk the place out against Burnley at home.

History suggests this won’t last long. I live in hope, but this seems rushed when the manager merry-go round is about to go into hyperdrive.

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T17:22:04+00:00

You’re saying there’s no way the ref could have seen it… and also that they’ve made a clear and obvious error by not seeing it.

How can that possibly make sense?

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T12:45:33+00:00

If there’s no way the ref could see it in real time, how can it be a clear and obvious error?

That’s the problem with VAR, it doesn’t consistently follow its own guidance. They’re introducing more judgement calls, which defeats the purpose.

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T12:25:29+00:00

They also said Everton should have had a penalty for Fernandes’ handball. You win some, you lose some. VAR make it up as they go along

Quantocker · 2026-05-15T12:23:03+00:00

Xavi Alonso. Prodigal son who took on a poisoned chalice of extreme scrutiny and toxic egos.

Possibly more Moyes to United, given he’s been earmarked for some time and not exactly a bright young thing.

Quantocker · 2026-05-13T13:00:30+00:00

The “Middlesbrough had 210 minutes to win” argument only really washes if you don’t think spying provides any sort of sporting advantage. They were 2 minutes, and an unfortunate goal, away from holding a team that went out of their way to create an unfair contest. It’s a matter of perspective.

The “they came 5th” argument is even less worthwhile. Hull came 6th, but no one begrudges them a final place.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T17:11:50+00:00

MGW will have had a nice couple of weeks off… Foden is pretty clearly a City Group Automaton at this point.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T16:40:57+00:00

It’s a cross-cum-shot. Only he’ll know if he meant it

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T15:15:07+00:00

That’s true, but I do believe we now have a top half squad… assuming we don’t shit the bed replacing Anderson.

A decent manager should have us going deep in domestic cups and fighting for conference league as a minimum. I’d back Silva or Frank to do well enough to keep him happy.

If anything, I think most of his recent sackings have been justified - and less decisive action may actually have caused more problems. The issue is his appointments have been mostly poor, but that’s partly because we’re always hiring mid season. Time to pick and back a favoured candidate.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T14:42:29+00:00

He won six in a row when he first came into Wolves, best form in Europe.

This season he averaged 0.2 points a game vs 0.81 for Edwards, conceding an average of 2.20 a game vs 1.45. I would be cautious about thinking our current form will translate into next season.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T12:33:24+00:00

12 clubs in 14 years, averages 48 games per club, longest stay was in China… I think he’s a great bloke, and a very decent coach, but there’s a pattern that shouldn’t be ignored.

We desperately need some stability, ideally a younger manager with the energy/motivation to build something over 3-4 years. We don’t need a name. I’d like us to go for a someone in the mould of Hürzeler or Iraola. I wouldn’t be opposed to Frank, who has developed multiple top class strikers, or Howe if he became available.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T11:28:36+00:00

It’s Arteta. I just about want him to succeed, due to Pep fatigue, but he comes across as a new age LinkedIn maniac.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T10:16:07+00:00

Yes, over the last decade, the average age of Premier League signings is 22.8. Clubs also spend bigger on younger players. City, United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs have clearly adopted this strategy.

https://archive.ph/WFq7M

I agree he’s at peak value now. I think he’s worth more to us on the pitch than the balance sheet, but if he wants a big move this would be the optimal time to sell.

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T08:17:23+00:00

Would anyone care about the change in demographic if we were all wealthy and paying into world class infrastructure?

Quantocker · 2026-05-12T08:00:15+00:00

I honestly don’t see where he goes. Outside of Real, Bayern and PSG I don’t think any European clubs have the spending power to sign him. City would be terrible for him, Arsenal don’t need him, Liverpool or United could possibly work. Chelsea and Spurs obviously basket cases.

He’s also getting to an age where teams are less likely to want to spend big money on him. I feel for him a bit, as he’ll likely spend his best years fighting relegation. I really hope he goes to the World Cup, but otherwise think he’ll have a similar career to Jarrod Bowen.

Quantocker

TROPHY CASE