With no game at all this weekend for Wolves, having been so unceremoniously dumped out of the cup last week, I am free to let my mind wander to higher things.
Right, having done that, now would also be an opportune time to review Wolves’s activity in the recent transfer window. For all the positive news coming of Molineux last summer, and for all the positive action we are assured took place this window, Wolves net gain is 2 loanees from Belgian club Charleroi. Is this enough?
Our esteemed CEO, Jez Moxey, reports that several over-the-odds and/or record breaking bids were made for three players: 7m for Adam Johnson, who untimately ended up at Man City; 5m for Stephen Hunt who stayed with Hull; and an undisclosed bid to bring Robbie Keane back to Molineux on Loan. Keane opted for the delights of Scottish football instead.
Any of these players (with the arguable exception of Keane, where sentiment may have won out against rantionality) would have improved the team. Wanting them shows ambition and no fear of splashing the cash.
It’s easy to say with hindsight, but the odds of ever having to part with the money, however, were always small. However cash-strapped Hull might be, they would be prepared to gamble their balance sheet for another six months rather than part with a player who could be key to their Premiership survival to a relegation rival. Johnson and Keane were always likely to have a choice, and always likely to chose a safer option. I suspect, however that despite these objections, the management believed they might pull off one of these deals so I’m not going to criticise the lack of spending.
So, we have two low-cost loans – ultimately a gamble. Handily, on the basis of two half games, it seems they may have hit the jackpot with Guedioura, who looks to be just what the doctor ordered in midfield. I’ll diplomatically say that’s it’s too early to tell with Mujangi Bia.
The business of the transfer window was disappointing, although not unexpectedly so, but I still maintain Wolves have just enough spirit and quality on their books to stay up this year. But if they do, things have to change in the summer, because there won’t be many years worse than this in terms of the quality of the field.
