Express & Star

Wolves Fans' Verdict v Manchester United: An emotional farewell for Nuno

Our Wolves supporters share their thoughts on Nuno's final game in charge of the club.

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Rob Cartwright

It’s been 442 days since we were last at Molineux. An unexpected 0-0 draw on that day.

It's been far too long. However, the game was a side show on this occasion.

I couldn’t get a ticket in the ballot but went, nevertheless, as a family to say goodbye and thank you to Nuno. He has given us some absolutely fantastic memories, especially the away days and our European tour.

I think he deserved another year. This season has not been great, but with no fans and the injuries it has been an extraordinary set of circumstances. I’m convinced when normality resumes, we would have bounced back under his guidance.

The game itself was a good representation of the whole season.

An injury to a key player - this time Adama Traore. A dodgy VAR influenced decision. Mike Dean giving a penalty to Man Utd. Wolves having most of the possession, most shots and most corners but rarely looked like scoring.

Yes, it had it all.

A sad day. Only time will tell if the decision made was the right one. Fixtures are out in about three weeks, but a lot needs to happen before then!

John Lalley

I had never heard of the guy, and I didn’t envy him taking on a dysfunctional club which had just finished in a lamentable fifteenth position in the Championship.

But he turned base metal into gold, solid Wolves’ gold, and rapidly transformed a mis-firing shambles into a team to be immensely proud of.

Operating at its maximum, his squad was a glorious conglomeration of skill, effervescence and unbreakable spirit and the mixture was thrilling, absolutely exhilarating. He established a wonderful and genuine rapport with Wolves’ fans, his sincerity extending to a commitment to the local community which did him immense credit and should never be forgotten.

It was management of the highest quality and if events have conspired to fracture the bond between Nuno and the club, nothing can denigrate his legacy. He leaves a club overwhelmingly stronger, established at the highest level with its reputation hugely enhanced.

Like many others, I was entranced by his charm, his integrity and his humility and even though this separation may ultimately be in the best interest of both parties given recent events, I will always be so glad that he managed this club. Blue chip, top man, Wolves man. ‘Obrigado e adeus Nuno!’

First game of the season; Wolves two up in no time at Sheffield United. Scintillating stuff; on course for another season of exciting progression. Instead, we retreated into a shell of static negativity and disappointingly, with occasional exceptions remained ensconced there for the whole campaign.

Torn between consolidating on the tried and trusted system that had served us so superbly and somehow becoming a more possession based attacking outfit, we surrendered our identity, lost our way and finished confused as to exactly what we were trying to achieve. The outcome was a diet of recurring dull, turgid football with the embarrassing paradox of a team insecurely trying to be more offensive becoming increasingly goal-shy with a dreadful penchant for failing to muster a goal during first halves of games.

The catalyst of course occurred during one of our best performances when Raul Jimenez was brutally cut down during the win at The Emirates. Neither Willian Jose, who rarely seemed cut out for the physical rigours of this League, or the waif-like Fabio Silva could ever match the stricken Mexican’s eye for goal. The glorious exception was Pedro Neto whose talent flowered magnificently until he too was derailed by serious injury.

Nuno’s insistence on a small squad virtually imploded; Jonny Castro Otto, Willy Boly, Podence and the impressive but elusive Marcal all missed so much football, that in the closing weeks we were operating with a skeleton squad desperately in need of quality reinforcements.

Some of the others who remained fit and will feature for their countries in Euro 21 and other International players should closely examine their contributions to Wolves this season; real up-front responsibility was sporadic to say the least. Yet despite these travails and the significant backward steps we have endured, Wolves survived this unforgiving league more than comfortably. It concludes poignantly and emotionally but there remains much potential at this club.

If our owners are genuinely desirous of sustained progression, there is a massive opportunity for Nuno’s successor at Molineux. Whoever it may be, he’s got some big boots to fill.

Russ Evers

Emotional in the extreme.

A fond farewell to quite easy the best manager in the last 50 odd years of this famous club.

And yes I did wipe away tears at the end.

But we were second best to Man United's third team and I am sorry but there must be changes - a lot of changes - to the team if we are to step up.

Ruben Neves stood out as head and shoulders above most on the pitch and Nelson Semedo was great going forward but appalling defensively again.

Man of the match for United was Mike Dean who got 70 per cent of his decisions wrong but - no surprise - all on the side of United and VAR did us no favours yet again.

A bit of a damp (no pun intended) squib on the Nuno reign, one that will be looked back on and longed for I am sure for years to come.

We move on and hope that Fosun have got it right and the club will always be bigger than the individual but I can't help feel that a bit of heart and sound has been ripped out. Hope I am wrong. FWAW.

Matt Cooper

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get to Molineux in time to see Nuno and his team get off the coach for the last time but arrived not long after the Manchester United team bus.

Met by a barrage of boos, the atmosphere outside the ground felt almost eerie and sombre - almost felt a little bit like a funeral. Molineux was nowhere near as busy as it would have been on a usual matchday and almost felt a little weird that we were back.

With a bit of time to kill, Dave and I popped over the road to the Leaping Wolf for a quick pint. A pub that is usually six deep at the bar on matchday was relatively full, with table service in full flow but it was at this point I felt like it started to feel like we were back. Sat in the beer garden with a pint of lager, overhearing the PA system bellowing out from Molineux. (picture attached)

A couple of swifts pints and into Molineux we went. I were met at the perimeter fence outside the North Bank where I had to don my face covering and provide the steward with my ticket and photo ID.

Sanitising stations were installed outside the turnstiles but these weren't a requirement for entry but decided to be safe anyway. I went straight through and got straight to my seat. Again, it almost felt pre-season esque.

Social distancing was in effect for most people but I couldn't help a warm embrace when I met people who I had not seen for 442 days. Social distancing also went out the window when Semedo slotted home, too. It was pure instinct to jump all over the person next to you, like you usually would.

A lot of fans had taken their masks off once in their seats but once back in the concourse at half time, most fans had put them back on. Stewards were trying to enforce this too which is understandable.

The match was poor, as it has been all season but it was amazing to be back and even better to give Nuno the send off that he deserved - I'm just glad nobody got on the mic as it was absolutely freezing.

Yesterday made me realise that I want to start making more of an occasion of going to games at Molineux. Make a day of it, go for drinks before and after the game, meeting up with as many people as possible. Let's just hope next season is a bit better on and off the pitch.

You can view a full video blog of Matt's time at Nuno's final game here.