Wolves fans and Nuno – a unique bond

While the game's many broadcaster and authorities make it harder to believe that these days, it of course does still ring true.

Plonk 22 guys into a field in front of 30,000 empty seats and it's just not quite the same, is it?

Supporters are the game's lifeblood, its spirit, its essence and its soul.

And amid the fabulous football, the spellbinding skill, the sensational goals and the oh-so-many victories, the rejuvenation and resurgence of Wolves' barmy army has been one of the prominent features of this most enjoyable of seasons (so far).

Seven Molineux sell-outs, a highest average attendance since 2009/10 and endless sell-out away followings have added noise, colour and fervour to the runaway leaders' thrilling campaign.

It's impossible to quantify just how much of a difference a passionate and rowdy fanbase can make to a team's performance. It can't be judged in terms of points.

But individuals frequently talk of it adding five or 10 per cent to their game, providing just that little bit more motivation or adrenalin when cajoling tired legs to make that 20-yard dash and retrieve a loose ball in the 90th minute.

At the centre of it all at Wolves is Nuno Espirito Santo. They sing his name, he waves at them (during every single match), they applaud and worship him, he celebrates riotously in front of them after a victory, particularly away from home.

They have accrued a bond that's rare in football. The Nuno love-in extends beyond a repertoire of songs, comedy merchandise and a regular swooning on social media whenever the man speaks, as it he were a fabled philosopher.

It's difficult to recall a more popular Wolves head coach/manager. Mick McCarthy had cult hero status too (they made t-shirts of him celebrating with crutches and wore magician costumes to a game at Sunderland for 'Merlin the Magician. as his opening gambit as Wolves boss) but the Yorkshireman always had his detractors who felt his old fashioned ways couldn't take Wolves forward.

With Nuno the criticism, well, it doesn't exist.

Their relationship is a powerful thing. It's more than an affinity.

"The fans are who we work for," Nuno said today.

"When you have 5,600 of your fans at an away game you feel proud.

"It's fantastic and we are very thankful for it,

"The numbers have shown people follow us, people support us in all the stadiums and the atmosphere has been fantastic, at Molineux and away from home.

"We know the effort that people make with so many miles and tough conditions with cold weather and raining.

"We are thankful and at the same time we try our best for them to be happy.

"There's something inside English football, I think the atmosphere in English football is really good.

"It's respectful. When you go to a game, you go to play and compete and the away fans are respectful to you, the home fans welcome you and this is true all over the Championship and Premier League.

"This is how football should be done. People go to see the team and support but also to watch a good game – it's what you are selling, good football."

Overseas managers often talk of English football's almost unique atmosphere being an alluring factor in wanting to manage on these shores.

Nuno was described as 'cold and emotionless' at Porto and criticised for his staid touchline demeanour.

Contrast that with the fiery, intense, explosive character we see now...whether by accident or design, the Wolves fans lap it up.

Walter Zenga had that too and was popular, despite indifferent results on the field. Combine Nuno's Zenga-esque passion with the substance of one of the best teams the second tier of English football has seen and you have an unbeatable combination.

No one knows how long Nuno will stay at Wolves but you suspect it'll be many, many years before there's a more universally popular man in the Molineux hot seat.