Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Southampton FC 0

News of the recent death, at the age of 90, of Sammy Chung Sammy Chung - Wikipedia took me back to my embryonic years as a Wolves supporter in the early 1970’s. 50p gained you access to the Waterloo Road enclosure on whose crumbling concrete terrace my dad and I would stand. Entry was gained through a turnstile towards the North Bank end from where we would usually shuffle our way through the crowd to a position to the left of the half-way line; and on a direct line between the Wolves dug out and the director’s box. Unlike today, back then many managers preferred to sit with their directors, perhaps calculating that, should matters turn sour on the field, a closer relationship with higher authority might defer the axe being wielded.

Thus did coach Sammy Chung rough it with his players in the dug-out whilst manager Bill McGarry oiled his...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Newcastle United 1

Twelve months ago, after three games of the Premier League Season Wolves had won none, drawn none and lost three with a goal difference of -3. They were third from bottom. After three games of the current season they had won none, drawn one and lost two with a goal difference of -2. They were third from bottom. Last week at White Hart Lane they outplayed Tottenham but once again were punished for failing to score during their first half dominance. Step forward Harry Kane to seize on a Nathan Collins error and seal the tie. But new signings Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes had offered promise and in so doing dispelled some of the pessimism that was starting to seep into Molineux bones. How then would they fare against Newcastle United, revitalised under the assured stewardship of Eddie Howe and a Saudi piggy bank of considerable girth.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Fulham FC 0

It was Benjamin Franklin who in 1789 wrote the immortal words “but in this world nothing can be more certain than death and taxes.” Had he lived to the present day he might well have added, “and Wolves’ inability to score.” Pedro Neto (twice), Hwang Hee-Chan, Daniel Podence and Morgan Gibbs-White all had good opportunities to convert but once again failed to do so. The new 4-3-3 set up was creating chances, but the longer the drought the more desperate and lacking in composure did the attempts to become.

Though recently promoted Fulham achieved a creditable draw in their season opener against Liverpool last week, they are a poor side. I counted one decent effort – a header from a corner in the twentieth minute which Ruben Neves cleared off the line – but bar that their attack was powder puff. So powder puff in fact that it required a rash...

The Saturday of a major golf tournament is traditionally known as moving day. You cannot win the tournament with a good round, but you can certainly lose it with a bad one. Or so they say. Cameron Smith began his Saturday top of the pile following two excellent rounds of 67 and 64. But over the ensuing five hours where previously his putter had been like a wand it suddenly lost its Harry Potter lustre as a two over par round of 74 ensued. Meanwhile Europe’s finest in the form of the Norwegian Viktor Hovland and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy fed off one another to shoot rounds of 66 and with it a lead of four strokes from the chasing pack, of whom Smith was now one.

Cue Sunday the 17th July and perhaps one of the most remarkable final rounds in the 150 year history of this great championship. Would Rory claim his first major championship since his PGA triumph in 2014? Would the...

England 0 v Hungary 4

Tuesday 14th June, 2022. Never has the contrasting fortunes of English national sides been more stark. Three months ago English cricket was on its uppers. Bereft of both a Managing Director and Coach its much admired Captain was also in the cross hairs, following a dispiriting defeat away to the West Indies. Whilst Joe Root’s captaincy had at times been wanting it didn’t help that he’d chosen to omit his two most successful fast bowlers, James Anderson and Chris Broad. Add on a batting line up with all the resilience of a chocolate fire guard and the failure of the much lauded “reset” only added to the general air of despond.

Fast forward to Tuesday’s record breaking run chase at Trent Bridge to defeat a strong New Zealand test side and all of a sudden the fortunes of English cricket have been literally turned on their head. And this on the back of a similarly...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Norwich City 1

Two home games barely four days apart. Yet how different in character. One set the pulse racing; the other did not. One displayed an abundance of footballing talent; the other did not. One had an outcome which still mattered. The other did not. One was a game few will forget. The other few will remember. Indeed, it is perhaps a comment on the quality of the game that the half time filler between teams of disabled Wolves and Norwich players offered greater entertainment.

By then Norwich should have been three to the good their striker Teemu Pukki missing two guilt edged opportunities before finally converting his third, wrong footing keeper John Ruddy with a less than assured strike through a copse of legs.

Following the break Wolves went to a far more progressive 4-2-4 formation and were certainly more enterprising. But the equaliser, when...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Manchester City 5

Many years ago I chatted to a chap who reckoned he had the inside track to what was happening at the Molineux. So convinced was I by his claims that I totally believed him when he said that it would only be a matter of weeks before Wayne Hennessey signed for Arsenal. Until, that is, he went to Crystal Palace.

So I’ve always been a little wary of folk who tell me that they have the inside track. But recently one or two little titbits have come to the surface which, given the inept way in which Wolves played against Brighton, would seem to offer a sliver of credence. Word on the street (Newbridge Avenue being a hotbed of such activity) is of a training ground spat between Bruno Lage, Raul Jimenez and Jonny Otto. If true it may explain why Jimenez didn’t start against Brighton and may further explain his inept performance when he was finally...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Brighton & Hove Albion 3

Six weeks ago Wolves were vying for a Champions League slot. Yet now they a playing like a side trying to stave off relegation. Too slow in possession, too many square and backward passes, too few players willing to take a risk and when they do too often failing to release the ball at the correct moment – take note Ryan Ait Nourri, Hwang Hee-Chan and Nelson Semedo. It all smacked of Nuno during the empty stadium season which is a worry given that this current season started with plenty of energy and attacking intent. Yet it has now all but dissipated.

For their part Brighton played like Wolves used to play, breaking quickly on the counter-attack and thoroughly deserving their 3-0 win. And but for a missed penalty it could and probably should have been four. It was perhaps fitting that their third and final goal should be scored by...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Aston Villa 1

First things first. Adjudicating football matches is not easy. Not only do the on-field participants disagree with many of the decisions you make, so too do the majority of the thirty odd thousand spectators assembled in the stadium. A referee cannot do right for doing wrong and it possibly explains why not a single premier league player has taken up the role. They know the job is too difficult the stick too unfairly ascribed. When a game is well adjudicated the referee is invisible. When not they become the centre of attention which is how things panned out today for poor Darren England. He sensed he was losing control but, in an attempt to regain it, yellow cards were brandished with ever more profligacy. This merely served to have the opposite effect to that which was intended. On-field behaviour deteriorated, resulting in three rather...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 v Watford FC 0

After three poor defeats in succession Wolves returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over lowly Watford. Three up in twenty minutes the game was all but done and dusted against an inept Watford unit. I gather their Manager Roy Hodgson is due a substantial pay day should he succeed in keeping his charges afloat in the Premier League. But if this performance is indicative, then his side is like a torpedoed Bismark, awaiting its final denouement.

Unlike Saturday, when Wolves failed to compete physically, here they were gifted far more space and time and used it to good effect. The game was only fifteen minutes old when Raul Jimenez squeezed the ball under Ben Foster following good work by Hwang Hee-Chan. Five minutes later a lovely move ended with Jonny crossing to Ryan Ait-Nourri whose pass across the goal was deflected in off Cucho...