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Forest blues and the magic of the cup
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Chris & Nathan discuss Monday's defeat, they also take a trip down memory lane and look ahead to the magic of the cup...
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Transcript
The Exhaustion of School Routines
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello everyone. Welcome back to the Daily Wolves podcast. My name's Nathan. I'm your host for today and I'm joined by Chris. Chris, how are we doing?
00:00:16
Chris
I'm doing all right. Thanks Nathan. Uh, as I was saying to you, I'm a bit tired, uh, for all those other parents and people out there, kids went back to school this week, trying to get back into the routine of the school runs and all that stuff after having a few occasional, you know, chill mornings. And, uh, um, i'm I'm exhausted to be honest, dude, I'm halfway through the week and I'm gone.
Reflecting on Wolves' 3-0 Defeat
00:00:35
Chris
I'm spent.
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
back in full flow and no doubt the Wolves 3-0 defeat on Monday evening really, really helped that course as well.
00:00:44
Chris
Yeah, yeah, very, very much so.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
how How are we feeling then? It's ah it's a few days since um yourself and and James had the the immediate post-match reaction. how How are we feeling now? You've sort of been able to watch the highlights back. What's um what's the feeling on that game now that it's kind of settled?
00:01:05
Chris
Um, the feeling on the game is still, I think. There's still elements of hope, I think, from the fact that going forward without Kunya, we showed that we can create chances.
00:01:17
Chris
I know we didn't put the ball away, but I think on you know it's one of those things on any other day we could have had two or three.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:24
Chris
I mean, Larsen could have had a hat trick himself. ah So i'm not i'm almost i'm not too I'm not too worried about that half of the pitch.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:31
Chris
it just It just emphasized how short we are in squad depth at the back and how much we can't wait for the new rival of
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:40
Chris
i
Defensive Struggles and Squad Depth
00:01:41
Chris
but do I'm going to slaughter that name.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do, do, do something like that.
00:01:43
Chris
Thank you. yeah and um And potentially anyone else. And it also just made me think about how
00:01:52
Chris
I think we all looked at that team sheet when it was announced and thought, eight nori in the back three? No.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:59
Chris
that that was That was the one thing. And that first goal of theirs particularly, he's kind of, you watch it. And I remember thinking at the time, he just gives so much space.
00:02:10
Chris
He's like, he's in no man's land. He's running back with Bueno. Bueno is kind of in line with Gibbs White the whole time. I know there's a bit of a gap, but he's at least between him and the goal.
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:20
Chris
But, but when the ball comes across to the winger, eight nor he is neither here nor there. He's just in the midst. He's in literally no man's land. And he's got so much space then to pick out the pass back to Gibbs white. And that was the one thing. And we felt, I think all game, he just showed that he's not, he he can't go there.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he kind of like didn't make, didn't make Elanga make any decision.
00:02:45
Chris
Hmm.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he kind of just stayed in a, as you said, like a really neutral position, which I guess, you know, we can understand given his inexperience playing ah in a more central defensive role, but yeah, absolutely gave him, gave him all the space in the world and time to kind of, yeah, get his head up and pick the right pass.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I thought that, I mean, that first goal altogether, the fact that we were on the the attack and had sort of the on the front foot really and that one pass through the midfield leads to the whole pitch opening up that just can't happen and having watched it back I mean Tommy Doyle really does rush in and you know he's not known for his pace so yeah I'd argue in that position he should really just have held back a little bit more and had the awareness of kind of right if I if I get beat here they're onto our back three and surely when you line up the way we've lined up
00:03:17
Chris
Yeah.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
he was a little bit inexperienced um especially of eight Nori so a bit frustrating I mean and then the second goal I don't know I thought it's just a big lump up field and no one challenges for it I don't want to like everyone's appealing I watched it back today and I think Tommy Doyle and the back three all have their hand up because I'm assuming they thought Hudson was offside
00:04:03
Chris
Hmm.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even so, like we know that they play through these phases, even if the player is offside, you've got to
Individual Performances and Key Players
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
attack that ball. You can't let it, the the equivalent of a goal kick and it's like bounced and landed in a Doy's feet without a challenge.
00:04:13
Chris
Yeah.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you just know, if you went up for that header as as Matt Daugherty, Hudson Daugherty isn't challenging him in the air, is he? So it's, yeah, frustrating really, especially right before halftime.
00:04:27
Chris
No.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause I thought we were, I don't think we deserve to be necessarily one nil down on the balance of things, but definitely not two.
00:04:38
Chris
No, I mean that first goal, like you mentioned, about 8-0, I know he's not a centre-back, but he he has been a left-wing back, he's got defensive experience, and so it's just the fact that there seems to be no attempt to then, once the ball does go out wide, there's no rush to close it down. you know it doesn't Even then, there should be an instinct, right? To just go go there, quickly shut him down and make it harder for him to do anything, but he doesn't, he just kind of ambles and leaves them all that space. And then the second one, you mentioned it similarly to me the other day, Doc kind of lets it go over, bounce and go over them. It doesn't preempt the ball. And then even then, it's not like 10 years ago. you you I mean, you should play to the whistle anyway, but they will just keep going now. You have to you have to just carry on.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. And I think, you know, we're going to, obviously we'll focus in on the, on the three goals that we conceded and, and naturally so, but how Stranlarson hasn't up, I was trying to make an excuse for him, for the,
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
either one really, but I honestly can't. They're both, you have to score both those opportunities. The ball in for the second one um is absolutely perfect. If he glances it, it's in.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he gets a good connection on it, it's in, but he's just found that sweet spot in the middle where the goalkeeper is. And and yeah.
00:05:58
Chris
It's a, yeah, it's a beautiful cross from Gomez. I mean, I thought he was actually had, I thought he Gomez had a pretty good game again.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:06
Chris
And it just makes you sad that he's had to wait for O'Neal to go to get more of these opportunities because O'Neal kept going. He's not ready. He looks a handful, you know, and we've seen him play at left, yeah.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looks more than ready.
00:06:17
Chris
We've seen him play at left wing back and, you know, and up front. And either way, wherever he is on that left, he seems confident and capable. and the crosses are just beautiful and it's what Strand-Larson needs and I know he didn't put it away but you know that's what we've been begging for for Larson to get is more crosses into the box and similarly with Lima on the other side we finally got a glimpse of Lima and some he's got a beautiful cross on him.
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was about to say, Lima on the other side as well, some two really bright sparks. And it's good to know that we've got that depth in those two positions. And I guess it's just the depth and in centre after waiting on this Agra do sign in to to bring it because we we don't want to see a nori at centre half again, ideally.
00:06:56
Chris
No,
Impact of Injuries on Team Structure
00:06:57
Chris
no, I mean, I think the most shocking thing was the was the um was the confusion over the fact that the the somato injury kind of came out the blue, you know, that we saw that back line up and everyone was like, where is somato?
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:07:10
Chris
Because that was a very last minute addition to the injury reports.
00:07:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:15
Chris
And so obviously, even if he's anywhere either in that back three or ah right wing back, potentially you know, one of those goals doesn't happen because he's not going to leave doc in his vulnerable position. As we spoke about how positive Lima is, but arguably not as defensively minded as Sommado and some of those opportunities wouldn't have, wouldn't have fallen the way they did.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, true. he was He was positioned very high up, especially if we look at the their second goal on that goalkeepers clearance. He is quite high up, and arguably, he'd want him to be a bit further back, especially knowing that Doc's main weakness is his pace.
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I thought they were positive performances. It was weird, actually. I think that starting line-up is almost what you'd expect to see whilst playing away against Bristol City and the Cup.
00:08:03
Chris
Yeah, yeah.
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was almost like it was a preemptive kind of cup squad with a few youngsters in there. Tommy Doyle, ahead of a head of Andre who wasn't able to make it to the game, I believe, because he was still traveling back or in transit or whatever from from Brazil and the birth of her his son. but Yeah, Strand Larsen has to score it one of those chances after four sales in golf for Forrest was brilliant. And it was like the perfect away performance. And we know those Nuno performances so, so well, but we had to score at least a couple there. I know they always kind of say, Oh, the goalkeeper, it just hit him. And you've got to give him a bit of praise. Like it is a very good save from his header, but from a Wolf's perspective, he has to score it.
00:08:51
Chris
Yeah, no, I think that goalie overall had a great game. He did make a few good saves. I mean, that, that shot from Gomez, I know it's fairly close to him, but the power on it, I mean, it, you know, it was, it was a rocket. Um, and and he made a couple of other good saves because Larson had another decent shot later on.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:06
Chris
So I think that the keeper did have a great day. And I will say, though, that I know, like you said, Larson's got to put at least one of them away. However, I do think, as is always the way on socials, people are being a little bit harsh on him and forgetting all the good work he's done so far this season, because I'm seeing so many posts of, you know, he's rubbish, all this and like, we you know, he's not good enough. But you've got to think seven goals already, a couple of assists in a team that hasn't been doing well.
00:09:35
Chris
And the one thing you can say, right, is he's in the place to get the chances. I mean, that's half the battle right in any of these. For me, that's that's that's the key. And I think Steve Bull has said it himself.
00:09:47
Chris
he'd as If your striker is in the right place getting the chances, he's happy because that at some point it's goingnna it's going to click.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and Yeah.
00:09:53
Chris
And if you're if you're not getting the chances, then you're doing something wrong.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I completely agree. i think we yeah Bigger picture. He's been brilliant for us this
Evaluating Strikers Beyond Goals
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
season. and As a striker overall, I know that they're ultimately always going to be judged on how many goals they score, what are their goal contributions, but his overall play and just the way he brings other players into the into the attack and fold is brilliant.
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think that I can't remember who I saw say this recently I think it might have been Alan Shearer or someone um just saying like when they played when they came off the pitch their main thought was did I make it difficult for the centre-halves and I think that Strand Larsen most games in Premier League this season can come off and say I made those centre-halves work pretty hard.
00:10:30
Chris
Mhm.
00:10:38
Chris
Yeah.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you know his physicality, his runs are brilliant and his overall reading of the game I think is very good because for Stryker you don't always get you know sometimes to make the wrong passes at the wrong time but you don't see him give it away like in our own half very often which I think is you know again we're not talking about him and he helps out so much as well defensively from corners so there's so much to his game so much more than just those goal contributions so yeah I agree with you I think it it be ah It would be yeah a little bit rash to say that you he's poor.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:11:14
Chris
Yeah, and given that you um weren't here on the initial match reaction, once you've done the update, I think you're about to do. I do have a couple of questions for you about the game, but I'll let you carry on.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, the update I was going to do is saying that that three-nil defeat um is obviously another three on our goal difference as well and leaves us outside the relegation zone by one goal, both on 16 points, Wolves and Ipswich, which um it's it's crazy how fast things move in the prem, but you know a week ago we're talking about hooking up the table a little bit and all of a sudden you you get sort of reminded very quickly, Ipswich, a couple of good results and straight back into the into the mix almost.
00:11:39
Chris
Yeah.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, how how do we feel about our position at the minute?
00:12:04
Chris
Yeah, I feel a little bit, I mean, obviously we've had that rush of optimism from the three results that got us out of the relegation zone. yeah It's the fact that Ipswich have pulled off these recent results, which has made it a little bit more scary. It just goes to show that, you know, anyone on any day in the league can actually pull off a moment against anyone. It's a tough league all round. I mean, they go and beat Chelsea and draw against Fulham.
00:12:31
Chris
um I'm a little bit worried knowing that our next few games include the likes of Newcastle and Arsenal and whoever else. It's ah it's a tough run of four or five games, but that first half against Forrest showed the amount of chances we, like we just mentioned, the amount of chances we had.
00:12:49
Chris
We're doing that against a team that, you know, whatever you, you think of the players on paper, their lead position and their run of results shows that they are on, they're on a flyer. And yeah, that for a large chunk of that first half, we were dominating.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:03
Chris
I know it's our goals results game, but we were dominating a large period of that game. And I know, like we said, on another day, Larson scores a couple of those. So if, you know, Smedo gets fit and we get this new guy in maybe one more, there's a more, with a more stable back line.
00:13:20
Chris
I would hope that we can get some unexpected points from this run of games. So I'm going to pin my hat on that and not go completely doom and gloom.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, I
Zencaster Shoutout
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
agree. I agree. And before, um, I know you said you had a a couple of questions for me before we, we hear those. I just want to give everyone a quick reminder that here at the global sports podcast network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4k video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ours. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it's delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more. So, Chris, you said you had a couple of questions for me.
00:14:02
Chris
I do, I do.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Put me on the spot. I'm ready.
00:14:04
Chris
So my first one was, you've watched, ah you said you've watched some of it back again. What did you make?
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:10
Chris
What are your thoughts on Huang's performance in the game?
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I... It's a tricky one with Huang. I've got a kind of swing between two positions with him. There's times when I think his movement and work ethic and decision making is brilliant because it always seems to to come off. And there's other times where things don't go his way and I think that all that movement and effort was just a fluke.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
not the effort being a fluke, but the sort of goals and chances he creates for himself. Because I think of that that last and first chance where Huang checks inside, Huang shooting, I don't think he's trying to pick Larson out there.
00:14:49
Chris
Yeah.
00:14:53
Chris
Oh, no, even it was a shot. You can tell it was a shot.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's shooting, right, yeah.
00:14:55
Chris
Yeah.
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think over some of the commentary they were saying that they thought he was picking him out.
00:14:59
Chris
No, for me, it was blatant.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, yeah, blatant shot.
00:15:00
Chris
Yeah.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a couple, that moment where Marillo made a, sort of had a poor touch and Huang is in and we've got about, we've got four players on an overload in that position and he decides to take a shot and it's his standing foot that takes out of the way.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it might be just in the moment now, having watched that game that I'm thinking this, but I just think there's times where When I hear the rumors about people coming in for him and the money that that surround it, and I think part of that is maybe the the sort of marketing element that comes with Hwang.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I think just take the money. Just take it because if you come in 25 million for Huang tomorrow, I'd snap your hand off.
00:15:43
Chris
Right.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because i I think the season that he had last season, I really hope I'm wrong, but I think that his output last season is probably more likely to be his ceiling rather than his floor, if that makes sense.
00:15:55
Chris
Right.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So I don't know if that answers your question, but yeah, that's kind of my feeling of Huang at the minute.
00:16:01
Chris
Yeah. It kind of does. And I guess I asked for the same reason we spoke about Lars and, you know, obviously on social media, he's an ah easy target for everyone to, to pick on. I think particularly with being, you know, the, the nationalities from, and then the links to Asia and Fosun and that whole, the thing that you mentioned, marketing yourself in that very pitch.
00:16:25
Chris
So I think he's always an easy target on social media for however he performs. And so I think it's worth asking from a trying to focus it on a football perspective, you know, and and may and make sure we are always looking at the right angle, ah so if that makes any sense.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, yeah.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, yeah, I think, yeah, look, there's the the finances and whatever that largely is irrelevant to his, I guess, football and ability right now, because he's a Wolves player and we want to see him do as as well as he can for Wolves. I think he he does work the defenses hard because he makes a lot of runs.
00:17:06
Chris
Hmm.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that is one of the constants in his game is his his high high energy. um I do think that he can improve on certain like... quality elements in his game.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he does, I do think at times he had stuff to the wolves, the wolf squad, and he he seems to have this ability to be in the right place at the right time, similar to Strand Larsen. He always pops up with important goals in important games for us.
00:17:29
Chris
Yeah.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that that speaks for itself. um And I guess this is the side of me swinging between two opinions on him, because as you're kind of saying that I'm remembering his goal against City um at home, I'm remembering his goal away at Brentford, you know, like,
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
games like that where he shows his his quality.
00:17:47
Chris
Hmm.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I think, I guess what you what you do know with Huang is you know what your you know what the kind of the ah level of output you get in, if that makes sense. Like the, you know, he's going to close loads, like the defenders down, you know, he's going to be in shape defensively. Whereas there's other attacking players where depending on the day, you're not a hundred percent sure of what you're going to get out of them, I guess. So I guess from that perspective, I can see Pereira and O'Neal, I think may have seen it the same way as like, he's a fairly reliable,
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
choice. um so
00:18:27
Chris
Yeah. Cause for me, you had periods in that game, like you said, people, I think always focus on the negatives for some of the reasons we mentioned. So like you, you mentioned the one where he's got choices, but he skewed it off because it hit his standing foot and other moments like that. And people forget the other moments in the game where he has, I watched it.
00:18:47
Chris
I watched it live and then some bits since where he has defensively worked hard. Even, you know, in like our third of the pitch to kind of win the ball back at points or upfront.
00:18:57
Chris
Like we mentioned the first chance for last and where it's his drive forward and then cut back in the box and the shot that even creates the opportunity.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:03
Chris
And then once again, he's got that little cutback that he did so well against Newcastle a season or two ago. Was it where he literally leaves the defender in his bum, that lovely move where he does he just like he's going so quick and then he stops dead and brings it back.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:14
Chris
And that creates the moment. So, and I think people just forget, i'm not saying it's I'm not saying he's doing that all the time, but I think we forget sometimes those moments when we focus on all of the negative aspects as well.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I do agree. I do agree.
00:19:30
Chris
I'm just playing devil's advocate.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think you are very good at bringing the positives. You're very good at bringing the positives into it. I think what, on a positive with Huang, is that he is very good with both his feet, which I think is part of the reason that he's able to sit defenders on their arses so much, is because he'll go to shoot on his left and it's a real possibility that he'll score with his left.
00:19:39
Chris
Hmm.
00:19:48
Chris
Hmm.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So defenders do go and throw themselves at his shots because, yeah, he can score with both feet probably pretty comfortably. but um Yeah. If I'm playing the devil's advocate on the other side is many strikers can score with both feet as well.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, it's, ah I know it's a constant, um, back and forth, but, um, yeah, overall with that gone.
00:20:02
Chris
Yeah, that's true. Yeah.
00:20:06
Chris
Before we move on, my final question was, yeah, my final question, sorry, was who would be your man of the match from, from the game? Cause we didn't actually talk about that any point on Monday. I don't don't think, did you have a, who would be, I know we lost, but who's your walls?
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just, uh, a wolf's perspective.
00:20:19
Chris
I don't know. Wolf's perspective. Yeah.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's tough on that.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I might go Rodrigo Gomez um because of the energy that he brought going forwards.
00:20:44
Chris
Yep.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that when you've got a wingback who can, and we we see ignore we do it regularly, you've got a wingback who can really you know, raise the, the energy in a stadium through moments of quality.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Rodrigo Gomez is showing it through his, I mean, a bit of skill, but his deliveries have been fantastic. Um, you know that, yeah, that cross for Larson, but he did it multiple times.
00:21:04
Chris
Yeah.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so I'd probably go him, but I thought there was, yeah, Lima can hold his head high on it for his first Premier League start. I thought he was, he was good and showed moments as well.
00:21:18
Chris
He can, but yeah my yeah he can but my I think my choice was actually Rodrigo Gomez as well for the same reasons, full of energy.
Standout Performers for Wolves
00:21:27
Chris
kind like He always wants to get past someone or get across into the box nice and early as well. He doesn't dilly-dally just like he's looking to get it in there. um And that cracking shot on the volley, like he just, you know, he's, he's a handful.
00:21:43
Chris
Um, and I like it. I think Joe Gomez did okay as a, as a workhorse in midfield. And it wasn't the best game, but again, pretty much everywhere, winning balls back and putting his heart out there as always, but yeah, Rodrigo Gomez for me.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. No, you're right on Jal Gomez. I mean, he, he sometimes goes a bit unnoticed, but the work he does, we just come to expect it each week, but it's, it's, it's outstanding.
00:22:08
Chris
Mm hmm.
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
The fact that he's able to do that for full 90 minutes, he rarely gets taken off. Well, especially when Andre isn't, isn't playing. Um, But yeah, i Nuno overall did a did a very good job on us. And speaking of Nuno, um before we we we started recording ah this episode, I rewatched the the highlights from the the forest game, but also in the in the suggested column on YouTube.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
came up a beautiful highlight um from 2017 in December. So if I cast our listeners' um attention back to 2017, where Wolves played our opponents in the FA Cup, ah coming up opponents Bristol City away at Ashton Gates in the championship back in 2017, and we beat them 2-1.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Danny Bach got a red card in the first half, they went 1-0 up. We then brought it back with a Barry Douglas free kick. These are all names that just so nostalgic to me. um And then in the dime moments of the game, Barry Douglas free kick whipped in and Backstick is his big Ryan Bennett to head it home for a 2-1 win away from home. um And in the crowd was um Nuno, giving it large, to say at the very least, to um what were Bristol City ah staff, I think, that were around him, as Nuno was, I think, red carded in the previous game or something.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, I just thought that was a bit of nostalgia that um I obviously clicked on the video and re-watched it a couple of times. um So yeah, the former times that we had
00:23:47
Chris
I mean, while you're while you're there reminiscing about So yeah, while you were there reminiscing about the Cup win over Bristol City, it gives me an opportunity to remind everyone to look even further back to not a Cup win, but back when we used to play them regularly in the league in the 90s.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:24:03
Chris
Because of course my first ever live wo Wolves experience was a way to Bristol City um in like 94 when we beat them 5-1 and David Kelly got a hat trick.
00:24:15
Chris
So YouTube that one my friends because that was my that was my first game in person Like I've been a walls fan watching them on telly obviously since forever, but that was my first live experience Great days No, no, no the I mean
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So is that ah that was on telly was it can I find it can I find it somewhere on the web Yeah Yeah
00:24:33
Chris
Oh, the clips are on YouTube. I've seen them myself when I was being nostalgic one day. I was there in the flesh because at the time I i went down to Bristol for the weekend to see someone. And so we went to the game.
00:24:43
Chris
We went to the, because wolves were playing away the same weekend. And that was actually my first live wolves game was not at Molyneux was away at Bristol city of all places. And so, yeah, and we won five one.
00:24:55
Chris
Yeah.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good. was it Was it still Ashton Gate back in the in the day? Was it still the same stage?
00:25:01
Chris
I can't remember the name of the stadium.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm putting you on the spot here.
00:25:02
Chris
it may be um'm I'm afraid I'm not a big Bristol City knowledge person, so I can't remember where exactly it was.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'll I'll check the black and white highlight, shall I? I'll do that afterwards.
00:25:14
Chris
Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um um But yeah, so we we we traveled to Ashton Gate on Saturday.
The Magic of the FA Cup
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's a midday kickoff which it does feel like the FA Cup when it's a midday kickoff and it's like, you know, round two, round three, round four, that it it does feel like, I don't know, a very FA Cup thing.
00:25:33
Chris
It does. Is it midday because it's televised somewhere?
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not too sure the reason behind it, um but yeah, yeah, the people in Saudi want to watch it or something.
00:25:40
Chris
Probably in another country where it's not accessible to us.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
but and Yeah, I was... um <unk> It's a weird time because usually the midday kick-offs of when there's a ah massive rivalry or they want to try and keep the fans out of the pubs. So they put the put the games a bit but forward like the the West Brom one in the FA Cup last season. But yeah, Wolves woves obviously bowed out of the FA Cup last season um in ah in a game that I try not to remember too much against Coventry City. ah How do we...
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
what's our What's our kind of mentality going into this? I know that James and yourself kind of touched on it in our previous episode, and obviously our main focus is remaining as ah as a Premier League club next season, but are we are we wanting to dream about a little FA Cup run again?
00:26:37
Chris
I mean, to be honest, I love the FA Cup and I know our priority is the league, but I won't complain if we make it into the next round because I think as well, anything that lifts morale and momentum is good. And obviously having just lost a game, especially, I think it would be nice if we can get, oh and knowing that we're going into this tough run at fixtures as well, it might be an opportunity to focus on picking up a win. I know it's not points in the league, but just to get that feeling back.
00:27:06
Chris
and and try and ride a bit more of that wave. ah And plus, yeah, I love i love the FA Cup. So i'm I'm up for it. I'm up for it. I want us to go out there and put in a good performance, whoever's starting.
00:27:18
Chris
I think given given the fact we know we have a ah pretty small squad, obviously there's only so many changes that we just mentioned. The squad on Monday night is probably not far off some of the choices we might actually see, um but I'm up for it.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:29
Chris
I want, I'll go. Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think there's, there is something magic about it't it, isn't it? I know everyone talks about it, but there is something magic about the Epic Hub. And we, I think we really need to quickly forget Monday, as in we had a good performance and they punished us for the few chances they had and focus on the positives. Cause we really have started to build something good under, under Pereira.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as you mentioned, the the upcoming fixtures in the Premier League, just to remind all of our listeners out there, that we go to Newcastle away after Bristol, then we go to Chelsea away, and then we host Arsenal at the modern you. So the three fixtures after that are three difficult ones. So yeah, I think we do need to look at the the bigger picture and the the winning form thing and Yeah, I think that ah a defeat, I don't want to think about it too much, but a defeat at Bristol could do sort of a misery compiler to the Monday night defeat against Forrest.
00:28:26
Chris
Mm.
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, that's just ah yeah a fixture reminder, but I love the FA Cup. That when Bueno scored against Coventry, I nearly lost my voice. And then I was quickly brought down back back down to earth, but it was absolutely fantastic.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:28:45
Chris
Yeah, it was great. I will say, um, I mean, my, my memories of the FA Cup as well, go back again, going back to the nineties, you know, the likes of, uh, Don Goodman scoring, uh, you know, in our semi-final appearances against Arsenal and stuff when we had a really good run the one year, you know, like we, some great memories, some great memories of the FA Cup, even though it's been since forever, since we won it.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
do we
00:29:06
Chris
But yeah, the magic is, is there still. And, uh, i'm still an old but I'm still an old person that believes the semi-finals should not be played at Wembley. i'm Just gonna mention that as an aside, but that could be a wildcard Wednesday debate for some day.
00:29:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, to be honest, as a a younger person, Chris, I agree with you.
00:29:24
Chris
Mm-hmm. Yay!
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. I think it's, it's I don't know. It just feels like, obviously it's great to have a big event at Wembley. And I think for smaller teams, and especially if you're looking at like league one, league two teams, that day out is is huge.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But surely you'd want to maybe dot it around other stadiums around England just to get some I don't know, some eyes on different stadiums. Like, I don't know, I've topped my head, new castles.
00:29:53
Chris
Well, yeah, and it brings. Yeah, sorry. And it brings commerce to those different, like the the benefits before were were various, because obviously it keeps the sanctity and the, you know, the, the so like the sacred form of Wembley for the finale, where it's a special, like it's the final, it should be in the biggest place or like the, you know, the, the, the heart of football. And then having the semi-finals still be in large stadiums, whether it's somewhere, you know, like Old Trafford or,
00:30:23
Chris
Yeah. And forbid Villa park or just wherever nowadays, you know, some, somewhere different and bigger for the smaller teams.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:29
Chris
It also brings trade to those areas for that day. Like not just London because London's got enough traders. It is like spread it around. Cause it brings them the, some of the commerce and the magic and the marketing to all those other places as well.
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:41
Chris
And can still still be a massive gate for a smaller team.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Absolutely. I think the the only, the big advantage of Wembley is obviously, you know, I dunno transport access to London's obviously very good, but then also The size of the stadium means you can pack more fans into it.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Although I do feel like for these big semi-finals and stuff, so many of the tickets go away to like corporate.
00:31:07
Chris
Mm-hmm.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like the the actual general access to tickets is Wembley 90,085, something like that.
00:31:14
Chris
Something like that.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like each team gets about 30 or 20 odd thousand, something like that.
00:31:15
Chris
and I don't know.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last time I was looking. um But hey, we we ramble on, we ramble on.
00:31:21
Chris
I'm aware I've derailed the conversation again. Yeah, I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist.
00:31:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that's the magic of the FA Cup, Chris. That's what it does to you.
00:31:29
Chris
It is.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, so do do we have any any final thoughts on on the Wolves' climate at the minute, Chris? any Any final thoughts before we leave our listeners today?
Hopeful Future for Wolves with Potential Signings
00:31:41
Chris
Just that the signings can't come soon enough, obviously, we're waiting for confirmation of the signing of Agbadoo. I'm going to say that as if I said it with confidence, um because by all accounts, he's had his medical and was literally just waiting for work permits or something to come through because the rumours are that if he's cleared in time, they could put him into the Bristol City game because arguably that would be a good way to
00:31:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:32:08
Chris
get some, almost use it as a practice time for him to connect with the team and start to play with them, but without the pressure of his first game being something like Newcastle. So that would be great if they can get him cleared before Saturday to come in and and just have that experience against the lower division team.
00:32:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:25
Chris
that would I think that would be ideal. And then obviously um we're waiting for the announcement for hopefully for Kun-Yi to sign off on his new contracts, because by all accounts it's Pretty much done and dusted.
00:32:37
Chris
A new four and a half year deal with an option for an additional year. And apparently there's a relegation release cause clause of £45 million, pounds ah which even if we were to go down, that's ah that's a pretty tidy one, just so that he makes the money back.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, let's not think about that.
00:32:54
Chris
that we I know, but that covers the money we spent on him, essentially, because he was a huge signing at the time.
00:33:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:01
Chris
But it just goes to show how much they think he's worth if we stay in the league because that's that's the release price.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:07
Chris
not i mean you know So that that means they're looking for even higher, which it should be so for anything beyond that.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:14
Chris
and you know So let's cross our fingers that it's all signed off in the next few days.
00:33:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, definitely. And um yeah, if he does stay with us and and eventually leaves it, and we're still in the Premier League, as you said, it would be a bit of a ka-ching moment, wouldn't it?
00:33:31
Chris
Yeah.
00:33:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, there you have it, folks. We hope you enjoyed, and thanks for listening today. ah All we have to do is um is wait for Agabado to sign on the dotted line, but that's it from us today.
00:33:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as always, as we finish these episodes, just a quick reminder that out of darkness, Comma flight.