Wolves Fans' Verdict v Chelsea: Disappointing end to great season

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

I never thought as a Wolves fan I'd feel disappointed at finishing seventh in the Premier League and still being included in a European competition, but here I am.

I think the way we started the restart and fizzled out is what makes it so frustrating as this could've been a magical season. We were simply not at the races and it was a walk in the park for Chelsea.

Two minutes defined the game and although the first goal was poor officiating, the second goal was calamitous, totally avoidable and completely reinforces the point that we need to strengthen defensively.

Despite that, we never looked like causing Chelsea any problems and looked like we had nothing to play for when it was quite the opposite. Jota should’ve been pulled at half-time and although he's been poor since the restart, this was his worst performance in a Wolves shirt for a while.

I think if we are to push on then we will need to bring in 2/3 key additions this summer if we have ambitions of qualifying for Champions League football. It's been a great season on the whole but the conclusion of it leaves a bit of a disappointing taste in my mouth. Let's just hope we can give what is left of the Europa League a real good go.

Clive Smith

Seventh then. Hardly a disaster, but it sure feels like it just at the moment.

Neither side looked very special for forty minutes. Then the dark arts, perfected by the Big 6, came into play. Five minutes later, Coady was poor, and we were down and out. Damn.

It was surprising Jota started ahead of Podence, and even more surprising the switch was not made at half time. Jota had a shocker and so did Jimenez.

Our problem throughout the game was keeping the ball in advanced positions. Neves and Dendoncker looked comfortable in the first half (and both probably vie for MOTM) but the momentum we usually find in the second half was killed off by the score.

Whenever Nuno chases the game and gambles with our line up, we lose our shape and organisation and generally offer less.

Most players were a 6/10 and we needed to be 8/10 to have a chance of winning.

To be disappointed with seventh (and no Europe) does show just how much progress we have made and the signs are there to suggest further progress can be made.

Seventh with Europe would be more palatable. It is encouraging that most of the current squad are young, improving, being well coached and gaining experience. However, money dictates so much at the top of the table and we still have some way to be able to compete with that.

Adam Virgo

A frustrating way to end the season, more-so in terms of how we played than the result. To beat Chelsea away was always going to be a big ask and we’d have had to have seriously been on our game but for me, Chelsea didn’t have to do too much to beat us, it was comfy for them in the end.

The first goal was a brilliant strike from Mount but it should never have been a free-kick. The second goal was absolutely shocking from us, we switched off after their goal, they sliced us open like a hot knife through butter and then somehow Coady can’t clear the ball and Giroud ends up in front of him.

We’ve had a very good season overall but it could have been a great season. Over 38 games, you deserve to finish where you do and no one can argue that. VAR has obviously played some part but we’re not the only side that’s had decisions go against us so no one can solely blame that on us not finishing 6th.

We could still make it a great season by winning the Europa League but that is going to be extremely difficult. Olympiacos isn’t going to be easy at all, they knocked out Arsenal and we went 1-0 down to the Greek side when they had 10 men so there’s still a lot to do before that Sevilla/Roma game. I think our side is good enough to win the Europa League on our day but it’s whether we can be on it in every game because against Chelsea we were off the pace and in the end they could have won by more.

Nuno got a few things wrong as well. Moutinho and Podence should have started instead of Dendoncker and Jota. Also how Jota stayed on for 84 minutes was beyond me, he was nowhere near good enough and he hadn’t done anything to warrant a start. Putting Adama at right wing back was questionable too, I’d have rather Jota come off, have Podence, Adama and Raul as the front three but keep Doherty on.

For us to get to the next level of say top 6/top 4, we do need some more quality in certain areas. I’d say another CB is crucial because to get to that next level, along with another central midfielder, a backup striker providing Jimenez stays and a decent cover for right wing back because against Chelsea when 2-0 down, Adama playing there hindered him so much. He was causing some problems when part of the front three and that’s where he’s most dangerous.

Our Europa League hopes lie in Chelsea’s hands now so let’s hope they can win the FA Cup final because at least we’ll have more European football next season. Then we can go into the Europa League with very little pressure on us as we’re not expected to win it, if we play our game and as well as we have all seen, for example Spurs away, City home/away then we have every chance of going far.

Rob Cartwright

Well, we can’t really fault the players here. We started on the front foot and did really well until stoppage time at the end of the first half.

We looked comfortable at the back with neither team creating good chances. With Neto and Jota on the pitch, I was hopeful of finding a breakthrough.

Alonso clearly dived to win the free kick for the first goal, which was well taken by Mount. This was one more cruel blow in a season that’s been full of them. It was the turning point of this game. Moments later, we were two behind with a calamitous goal for Giroud given too much room in our box. A killer blow.

In the second half, Chelsea were comfortable and in control. We could not work the ball into any dangerous positions.

Nuno threw the dice, on 58 minutes, with 3 more changes adding to that of Traore who came on at half time. This was a positive move, but I cannot agree with Traore going back to wing back. I would have kept him on the right and asked Neves & Moutinho to get the ball to him at every opportunity.

Chelsea remained in control until the end. Let’s hope they are as comfortable in the FA Cup Final too.

Although a little disappointed, I believe this has been an exceptionally good season. I stand by my pre-season objective of a top 10 finish plus Europa knockout stages. This was based on the higher number of games, with many ‘experts’ predicting we would “do a Burnley”.

To have exceeded both of these is remarkable with the size of our squad. The season continues on 6 August and we have more than a passing interest in the FA Cup Final. I still believe.

John Lalley

There’s no denying it; this tepid show at Stamford Bridge was a dismal anti-climax but it doesn’t in any way cloud the fact that this has been another outstanding season for Wolves.

The work-load has been daunting and will continue all the way to Germany we hope, but never has anybody uttered a word of complaint. Instead, the Europa tournament has been embraced as an adornment and not used as a convenient get out clause.

Wolves have again excelled operating with a small but completely trusted squad. Each player has appreciated to the letter just what his responsibilities entail for the benefit of the team as a whole. Pundits have waxed lyrical about the starring roles of Jimenez and Traore, but from the moment Nuno assumed control, nothing but nothing comes before the collective, close-knit priorities of achieving success as an unselfish and wholly committed unit.

He and his staff once more should look back with immense pride on another job meticulously well done. Similarly, his players have done him proud; they have been magnificent. To better the points tally from last season and miss out on the top six by a mathematical whisker is a remarkable achievement.

There was no ‘second season syndrome’ at all; the rest of the League knew exactly how Wolves would operate but finding a way to combat our style of play was quite another matter. For a brief period after the end of lockdown, we were outside candidates for Champions League qualification.

That this scenario was even contemplated suggests that Wolves have become an increasingly influential outfit in Premier League football. The chance still exists through the Europa tournament, but the question for Wolves during this truncated close season is not just how our level of progress and improvement is sustained but how it is bettered.

Player recruitment and retention will be vital but the top priority must be a lengthy extension of Nuno’s tenure at Molineux. The man is exceptional!

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

And so one of our best ever seasons (in my lifetime) ends in a damp squib. To be fair we looked nice without being threatening and we did at the end look like a team playing on fumes and running on empty.

Mount scored with a great free kick that by all accounts was given for dangerous play despite the offending foot being measured at almost 16 inches below that of Chris Wood when Burnley were disgracefully awarded a 93rd minute penalty against us a few weeks ago.

We will wait and see whilst we ponder the little bit of naivety that cost us against Chelsea. Still fair play to all concerned for breaking the Premier League points record, despite all of the appalling decisions that have gone against us this year. Bring on Olympiacos.