Fair enough, I got a bit complacent in hoping for a win in this game, but it’s what you do when you’re on a 10 game streak, isn’t it?
I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking that we could beat a not particularly good Man U side.
But it wasn’t to be and the truth is that it was another pretty poor performance.
Again, it wasn’t a lack of effort, but more down to a lack of reserves from what I saw.
The energy levels just don’t seem to be there.
It’s no surprise and squad-wise we’re running on fumes.
Ash Young was a typical example. I thought he ran his lungs out for us and I really can’t fault him, but he’s worked so hard for so long for us this season that it’s no surprise he was shot when he got subbed.
He’s surely one that will be upgraded, along with a few others, although I’d expect he gets promoted to a coaching position or something. What an inspirational player he’s been.
Did anyone play particularly bad?
I’m often quick to criticise, but I can’t really say anyone did.
Well, I could say we were all rubbish, but I don’t think that’s fair.
If I had to pick a MOTM, it has to be Martinez, who kept us out of trouble more than a few times.
I just got the impression that they had reserves and we played players who you would ideally have rested.
The problem is that if we qualify for that conference tournament, it means the owners will probably invest more than if we don’t.
That would be a mistake, in my opinion.
Regardless of what happens from now until the end of the season (and I honestly expect us to fade), I believe now is the time to really invest in top quality players.
There’s a lot of stuff gone on over the last 20, 30 or even 40 years and it’s always been meh to me. I’ve never seen anything that has approached the Saunders years.
Taylor and O’Neil came very close.
The Little and Atkinson years were close too.
But I honestly believe Unai Emery has us on the cusp of success.
Hence I also believe that now is the time for our great owners to really invest.
Consider that normally I’d be moaning because we’ve lost.
Yet I’m totally sanguine.
We have the setup.
We have the academy (although I doubt we’ll use it, apart from making profit (£20 mill for Archer?))
We have the owners with the ambition that Ellis should have had.
It’s all there.
I’m expectant and it’ll be interesting to see where we go this year.
Bloody frustrating game, but again being irritatingly positive, it’s yet another learning curve. Emery will have more of an idea what we need in the summer.
That’s done Europe. We now have to make sure we don’t ‘collapse’. 8th will still be an excellent result for the season as a whole.
Frustrating is the right word. Wolves offered almost nothing but got the early goal from the simple corner routine we didn’t defend at all.
I made my mind up ages ago that Bailey isn’t good enough for the premier league and Traore isn’t much better. So that’s two out which need replacing.
Ramsey offered little again today and Watkins seems to be suffering new dad syndrome in that he isn’t awake to the moments in the box.
Buendia was our shining light and I was surprised when he was substituted.
I can’t fault Luiz or McGinn and defensively apart from that one corner we looked solid. It’s a shame that Moreno has lost his mojo or have the opposition got wise to him?
I’m not too disappointed because I know changes in the recruitment side is happening and our owners will back Emery big time in the summer.
Let the Dingles celebrate all they have for the season knowing there will only be one team in the Midlands that matter.
The season might be ending like a deflated balloon but clearly massive progress has been made since the bin dipper left.