Image via sport.net
It’s nice when Wolves get gushed over in the media, says Wolves Fancast host David Evans.
Following Wolves’ 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Molineux, you would be forgiven to think that it was Wolves that actually won the tie and broken Klopp’s unstoppable streak.
Yet despite all their efforts, the run of the green was still with the champions-elect as Firmino’s bulldozer winner sent the red men another step closer to securing the Premier League title.
The finale of last night’s tie was a carbon copy of the ending of ‘School of Rock’.
Wolves did not win the tie but received the adulation and encore from the attending fans.
Nuno’s men, once again, earned the moral victory.
Now it’s time for them to turn valiant efforts into valiant points.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a piece to critisice the performance last night. Wolves were splendid as they usually are against a traditional top side.
Liverpool, easily the best team in world football at the moment, were made to look average in the second half, and Wolves will rue misses from Jimenez and Jota, and a couple of wrong decisions from Traore to at least make sure the tie was drawn, if not won.
A couple of defensive errors from Coady, or not, however you want to argue it may have given Liverpool the victory, but it was another performance in awe of watching.
These are the fine lines between the side always being the ‘nearly men’ of the top 6 or becoming the force many are predicting they will become.
That one decision by Traore to go forward rather than hold back. That one chance to either thwack it or try to place it in the corner. Or to follow the loose man.
These decisions flipped the other way can push Wolves into the top 4.
It’s great to see the club continuing the trend on Twitter, and be the new darling of the Premier League.
But they need to make sure that they become that force, rather than the indie darlings who don’t quite make the same transition onto the big stage.
We’re truly building a side with the fire power to make this transition. Traore is the player every kid wants to be in the school playground.
His partnership with Jimenez, the Mexican sensation, is flourishing as he starts to gain the plaudits he deserves.
They’re the most in form duo in the Premier League, and it is so exciting to watch.
With a returning Jota and the brickhouse that is Willy Boly, Wolves are in a fantastic position to push forward, with only the Europa League to deal with, to disturb the status quo.
With a January additional of Podence in the works, we may also have the final piece of the puzzle (no not that one) for Wolves to add that final bit of quality to push the team over the line.
These are the moments which can push the club from enticing quality Premier League players to those who can take the side into the next stratosphere.
Last season Wolves earned eye catching results against the ‘top 6.’
Then, this was a surprise, a newly promoted team taking the Premier League by storm.
Now, apart from the double over City, Wolves need to start turning surprise into expected. These ‘moral victories’ into actual wins.
As the table becomes as crowded as Mr Burns’ catalogue of diseases, Wolves need to grab the opportunities they’re being presented with, without undeservedly dropping down the table.
We talk about ‘look where we’ve come from’, but we need to move on from that thinking as a fanbase if we’re going to move on as a club.
Even though it is book ended with games against Liverpool, the form table does reads LLDWL.
One victory in 2020 so far. Of course there will be more. Wolves need to match the performances against the top six with those lower down the table.
Wolves are certainly a team on the up, but it’s time for the men from Molineux to move on from being seen as the ‘nearly men’, to ‘the men’.
Listen to the latest episodes of Wolves Fancast here:
Leave a Comment