τWhether you have been a Wolves fan for 40 years or a Wolves fan for 10 years, the transfer window just gone would have most likely been your most exciting to date.
Thanks to Fosun, Nuno, and super agent Jorge Medes, Wolves have been able to not only attract big players to the club, but also have been able to splash out.
With only 5 league games in, it’s clear that some signings have been positives.
Let’s look at some of the comings and goings in detail:
Outs
Always the least exciting bit of a transfer window, and also sometimes the sad bit as was the case this summer.
Silvio was released, someone who struggled to get a game last season due to unfortunate injuries.
James Henry and Mike Williamson were sent out on free transfers with Henry falling out of favour and joining Bolton on loan.
The loan list is very long this year with the likes of Iorfa to Ipswich, Mason to Burton, Ebanks-Landell to MK Dons and Lee Evans to Wigan.
Honourable mentions to Duckens Nazon who appears to have a very bright future after his loan to Coventry City, and everyone’s favourite food critic Paul Gladon.
Seeing Wolves let Iorfa go to Ipswich was a bit of a surprise, but at least he will be getting regular game time. Could he be one we live to regret?
Andy Lonergan had a poor season for Wolves last year, not appearing often and when he did he would often make mistakes. Many won’t begrudge his move to Leeds United.
Jed Wallace ended up being a failed Kenny Jacket signing sadly and never happened for him, moving to Millwall for an undisclosed fee.
George Saville is also a player to go for an“undisclosed fee” to the London side, had an average season, probably most remembered for hitting the post against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Oh what could have been.
A cult player in the making, we saw the surprise exit of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
A player who always gave his all in every game and deserved many more goals then the very few he got.
Without his post-game clap, who knows how bad the Wolves fan melt-down could have been.
He brought the fans together at the end of the game and made home and away wins the little bit better.
Let’s talk about “Dangerous” Dave Edwards.
A player who made 307 appearances over 11 different seasons. Played for Wolves in the Premier League, Championship and League One.
Featured in two sides which gained promotion and scored 44 goals. His most memorable full season at Wolves happened to be his last where he scored 10 goals in 53 appearances for the club.
To let him go for just 1 million is a shame, but at 31 years of age, he served the club very well and everyone wishes him well at his new club Reading.
A great man on and off the pitch, it could be Wolves loss and Reading’s gain.
Nouha Dicko, the last remainder of the Sako, Dicko and Afobe trio.
Another sad departure but once again is due to him not fitting the system.
A very good striker who just seemed to be getting back into his stride at
Wolves.
A £3.5 million transfer to Hull could turn out to be a good singing for them.
Over on deadline day, Jordan graham had a late loan move off to Fulham on a season long loan.
Like most big players at the club, he just doesn’t fit the current system at the right forward and or a right wing back position.
What is surprising is to see such a good talent go to another championship club, possibly a promotion rival.
The New Boys
For the most part, this has been a terrific window for incoming players. The best perhaps.
Wolves have certainly brought that in abundance. Highlighted by record breaking signing Ruben Neves.
After netting a goal of the season contender early on against Hull City, It has
been a great start for him and as of right now, seems to be worth the money.
Onto a slightly surprising good signing for Wolves early on seems to be left wing back Barry Douglas from Konyaspor for just over a million pounds and has also started the season brilliantly.
Another defender which Wolves have brought in this summer is Roderick Miranda.
It’s tough to decide if this is positive or negative so far.
He’s had a good game or two but has also struggled, notibly in Wolves 2-1 defeat to Cardiff.
We will have to wait to see how this one turns out, but there have been some good signs early on for the 3 million pound signing.
Despite Wolves being the “Big spenders” in the Championship this year, we have made many additions to the side which are free transfers which shows that Fosun and crew know how to get their business done.
The best of these free’s has by far been John Ruddy.
After joining the club due to bad circumstances, he has surely done Ikeme proud in between the sticks.
Will Norris as current back up keeper signed from Cambridge has also done the same when featured, a small undisclosed fee, not a bad deal at all.
He may already be eyeing for Ruddy’s place in the side.
The same cannot be said for right wing
back Phill Ofoso-Ayeh. Mainly because he is currently being this seasons Silvio due to injuries.
Ryan Bennett is the third free transfer this summer, who was evidently not signed to be a starter, but was included in the Wolves team which managed to beat Southampton in the
Carabao Cup 2-0.
Finally, we are onto the last section of the transfers for this summer, the loans.
A transfer strategy which could badly effect Wolves if all doesn’t go to plan this season in terms of promotion.
The loan signings we have made may have been the best bit of business of the entire window.
Starting off with Ruben Vinagre. Signed from Monaco, the young Portuguese wing back has played the role of the back up to Barry Douglas and has done so very well against Southampton and Brentford in the Scotsman’s place.
Moving on to the beast of a man Wily Boly.
He has been the heart of that Wolves defence so far this season.
Despite being very tall and strong, he comes off with a few fancy flicks at times too.
Boly has been solid all round and will be a crucial to Wolves this season.
Onto the attacking side of things, the loan Signing of Diogo Jota has proven to be huge.
A similar player to Helder Costa, can dribble very well, is skilful, can assist and also score a goal.
A striker has been something Wolves have needed for a very long time now.
A problem Wolves have failed to solve in their last four windows.
If Leo Bonatini is the right man for the spot is really yet to be decided.
But the man from the Saudi League has played his part as the striker so far.
Despite scoring in his league debut, he will need to show his worth once he is up to match fitness.
Alfred N’Diaye on loan from Villarreal CF had a short loan spell at Hull and is a very strong defensive midfielder.
On another day, this signing would make
lots of fans happy, but like most defensive midfielders, he’s not gonna play up front and will not score 20+ goals in this league.
However, he strengthens the midfield heavily and is the best positive, and perhaps the only positive to take out of deadline day.
In Review
Take out the final day of the window, this has been one of Wolves, if not THE best transfer windows in their history.
Shi’s recent comments that a striker wasn’t a priority late into the window is questionable, but Wolves have added pure quality.
Wolves have actually done what Lambert suggested at the end of last season and provided a real shake up of the club.
Fosun have put their money where their mouth is and not only spent but used their friendship with Jorge Mendes to add a style of class we wouldn’t have thought we would have seen at Molineux.
Despite the grudges of the press.
It was time for sentiment to watch goodbye and Wolves to enter a new dawn.
Ultimatley, this summers spending spree will be determined, as always, by results.
Has the foriegn continent under-estimated championship experience or have they ushered in a new standard?
Time to play the game.
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