Wolves Fans' Verdict v Sunderland: It doesn't matter

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? No one saw this one coming!

To say I was shocked at the team selection is an understatement. I thought a mate was trying to wind me up when he said Batth and Miranda were playing. He wasn’t!

To play Batth or Miranda is risky. To play both together is like putting Laurel and Hardy in defence. What must Nuno have been thinking?

That said, three changes should not have made a difference to the result. It did here because the whole team didn’t turn up. Wolves were officially on holiday, already.

Sunderland were the mirror opposite. Their last game before League One and without a manager, they made changes too, giving youth a chance. They conjured up their best performance of the season and their biggest win.

Fair play to them. The only team that Wolves failed to beat this season; failed to score too.

They were right at us from the off. This time though, we never played our way back into the game. Their youngsters played us off the park in the first half. The aptly named Luke Molyneux running at and through our defence time after time. His league debut, I think.

Norris, so good in cup games this season, didn’t do anything to stake a claim next season. Arguably he should have done better with the first two goals. The defence was shambolic though, whatever did Coady do to deserve that?

There was a drinks break after around 30 minutes, and I’m sure the Wolves players headed to the touch line for ice creams and cocktails, in the sunshine!

Can’t say I blame them for that.

We were better in the second half. Enjoyed much more possession but without any real purpose to our play. The game called for Afobe, but we got Bonatini and Bright on 56 minutes. When Burgoyne replaced Norris with 20 minutes remaining, so did any chance to score.

Good Luck to Sunderland. Nice people and my favourite away stadium. They could easily have given us more tickets though, without too much inconvenience. Biggest smile of the day was their steward, who kept saying "see you next season" – yes, he was a Newcastle fan and wanted everyone to know.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? No one really impressed here, though I could see Costa and Jota trying to get things moving around their box, without success. Gibbs-White had very little impact and needs to speed up his link play.

Neves and Saiss were quiet throughout. Doherty and Douglas were needed more for defending than attacking.

Batth and Miranda were all over the place. Coady was fully stretched covering.

On this showing alone, Burgoyne would beat Norris to the first team bench. In reality, it’s likely to be neither of them.

Bonatini and Bright both did very little. I’m not sure what the future holds for either of those two.

So there we have it. The 2017/18 season was absolutely fantastic. This game will be quickly forgotten, but the season as a whole will stay with us for a very long time.

My player of the season is Neves, who I awarded nine man of the matches to. He sure is a wonder kid from Porto.

Have a great summer Wolves fans.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Well that was more like the Wolves we know and love. Snatching defeat from almost certain victory, genuinely looking like they can’t be arsed and conceding soft goals, it was almost refreshing to end the season in our traditional way.

A couple of players will have played their last games for us after yesterday and there was only really Jota and Neves who can say they performed at anything like their usual levels. The defence in particular were poor, with Sunderland driving a Darron Gibson size hole through it time and time again.

Norris, who I rate highly, had a nightmare, spilling the first goal and then needlessly sprinting to the edge of the box.

Anyway enough about the game, the 90 minutes were just the filling on the weekend sandwich. And what a weekend it was, with Wolves taking over the Toon, partying with Ant Spuggie and making the most of the glorious weather.

Nuno Had a Dream, We’ve got Neves and a range of good old fashioned terrace chants were belted out in numerous bars across the city, with my mate Stu Davis leaving his own Wolverhampton calling card in the Head of Steam. Not sure the bouncer, who looked like one of the hairy bikers, was too enamoured, telling me not to answer him back…alreet pet.

Sunderland didn’t disappoint either. They’re a great set of people and remind me very much of folk in the Black Country, welcoming us into their pubs, congratulating us on the title and just having some insightful football chat.

I reminded many of them that not too long ago we were in the same predicament…for their Jack Rodwell we had Johnson and Burntwood O’Hara, two real leaches on the beautiful game.

Whereas now we have one of the best managers in Europe, who has systematically put together a team capable of doing more than just finishing 17th. There is a bond between the players and fans as was demonstrated yesterday, with what looked like 100,000 turning out to celebrate the league title.

Young, old, boys, girls, people who drink in McGhees, they were all out painting our much maligned city gold and black, illustrating what a successful football team can do to unite people.

We used to shop in the Premier Poundland store (Not Gary’s version). Well now we are serious spenders and in a position to attract some serious up and coming talent to with it.

This will be the key, making sure every purchase is an improvement on what we already have and that may mean being ruthless in certain positions.

However, we also have to be realistic and talk of Ronaldo possibly joining us makes me think most of Wolverhampton is still drunk.

So here’s to next season; time for Nuno to come up with another dream and I’d love a few more wonderkids thrown in for good measure.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? It seems our season ended when Coady scored his goal at Bolton. We did not turn up at all. Let's hope they could find the right bus stop yesterday.

Fair play to Sunderland - big club, big ground, good fan base, they don't deserve to be in the third tier. They put in a shift and wanted to play today.

You know what sort of game it is when players offer a helping hand to an opposition player on the floor. It was a low key game and it's a challenge to think of anything positive to say about Wolves performance.

From the kick off we were second best and it remained that way. We had no patience in possession with our passing and too often we tried either a long ball or something too clever. Three small lightweight forwards wanted the ball to feet.

In defence, without Boly, we struggled to cope. The only thing we managed to do was get defensive bodies in the way to block shots. That was not enough.

A shot on target was tamely parried by Norris and that provided a simple tap in. Bang on half time Batth was out fought on a through ball and with Norris inexplicable having charged off his line, it resulted in a second gifted goal.

A moderate improvement led to one shot on target, having had none in the first half. We subbed two forwards to little effect. Defenders standing like statues meant it was 3-0.

It would be nice to say it does not matter, but it was hugely disappointing frankly. We have often been surprised how good we have been this season, on Sunday though though we were surprised how bad we were.

If it is true that you learn more from a defeat, and you take this game on face value, then Nuno will have learnt a lot - namely the potential shape of his squad next season.

Can't end on a low note though. A great season with many highlights. Best ever? The memory can play tricks, but winning the league, the Sherpa Van at the old Wembley and seeing Bully get 50 goals was also a season of many highlights for me.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? No sign of Ruddy, why? Norris had only let in two goals in the six cup games he had started for us.

He looked competent in those games...here he had a shocker. At fault for two goals and it could have been worse when a dive in the box could have seen a card and penalty had a less honest forward not stayed on his feet.

Doherty was running on empty. Slow to react throughout the game. Douglas made several runs to collect diagonal balls only to waste them.

Miranda and Batth were full of bad passes and missed tackles. They both struggled and even the reliable Coady falled to cover well enough.

Neves looked interested until the second goal went in, then he went through the motions.

Saiss kept going and was man of the match. He was overworked in midfield but his passing was better than others.

Costa, like Neves, gave up in the second half before being subbed. Prior to that he had failed to create much in the final third.

Gibbs-White started in the centre of attack, surprisingly ahead of Bonatini and Afobe. He looked out of place, trying too hard at times but unable to be productive. What does that say about the others two's chances of playing next season?

Jota looked the most energetic and had our only decent shot. He was well defended though and ended up being isolated.

Bonatini and Enobakhare came on but the game was done by then. Surprisingly too, Norris was replaced by Burgoyne.

Thanks to those of you who have read my verdict this season. Hopefully it has offered a view from the terrace, for those not at the games, while for those at the game, enough comment to suggest were watching the same game.

Enjoy your summer. No need to pinch yourself every week anymore. If the doubts creep in, check the final League table and you will realise it was not a dream after all.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? A fantastic weekend away with Hatherton Wolves ruined a touch by a performance thta was more like Nuno had a nightmare.

Still, it counts for little in the big scheme of things as we settle back in for a summer of beer gardens, the World Cup and pre-season friendlies.

The culprit has yet to be caught in the 'who ate Gary Cooper's pork pie' saga but it's a great season over.