Thanks!!

By Ivybridge Wolf
May 25 2025

It's the last match of the season at Molineux versus Brentford! From a Wolves perspective, how will this season be reflected upon? For many, myself included, it’s not quite phoenix from the flames but close enough as Wolves have seen a massive turnaround in fortunes with Premier League status confirmed and by some margin. A win today would result in a 14th place finish, something considered pure fantasy in December. The appointment of Vitor Pereira has been the clear catalyst for transformation, whose style and approach has been embraced by the players. No doubt this Wanderers squad will change significantly in the closed season, nevertheless with Pereira at the helm, there is good hope that Molineux will witness a better whole season in 25/26. We have a man to trust and get behind …. who needs and has earnt the backing from Fosun.  

I am looking forward to match with 31,000 others, the buildup, the match itself, end of season awards and an opportunity to give them all a round of applause in what I hope will be an enjoyable lap of honour. Joao Gomes for player of the season? He’s my pick. I also look forward to the opportunity to remember Gary Pierce whose death was reported yesterday … for those Wolves fans of the 1970’s, who could forget his fine contribution to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

To the match and opposition. With all the confusing nonsense of European qualification and the 17^th placed side qualifying for the Champions League, it’s easy to lose track of whether Brentford can still qualify for Europe? The manufactured media frenzy of who will qualify for the Europa Conference league has been ridiculous, but almost impossible to side step! All of that aside, Brentford are a very decent outfit with numerous excellent players who gave us a right going over in the 5-3 victory at the Gtech Stadium and there is absolutely no doubt they will be there to win today. Their surprising defeat to Fulham last weekend (ex Wolves influenced) was their first since April 2nd away to Newcastle. In fact The Bees have won seven of their past nine top flight away games and so after Wanderers fine six match winning run, Wolves will need to fight and battle to ensure they do not end with four defeats in a row, that would be a real shame on the final day.

The side selected will be interesting. Perhaps too many alterations at Selhurst Park midweek, so will Pereira look for the strongest side to start and / or allow a nod to give time to players in their final moments in Old Gold. The opening line up at Palace didn’t have the balance and concluded in disappointing fashion, similar to the Brighton game. Surely Joao Gomes will start? Will Cunha too, one of a number either certain or likely to leave WV1. Strand Larsen has a late fitness test after he was substituted midweek and now his reputation has grown, his absence will be a loss to the Wolves side. To prove that point, Strand Larsen has scored seven top-flight goals since the start of March and that is more than any other Premier League player in that time! Who’d have thought that in December? Djiga didn’t do enough to justify another start so expect to see Semedo back in, another in his Wolves swan song. Coming up against the likes of Mbeumo and Wissa, our defence need to be alert and strong …. In Agbadou we trust.

On that note, here’s a statistic all Wolves fans will be mindful of ….. Wolves have lost their last seven final games of the season, For 2 Against 19!!! It’s really time to buck that trend today!

Finally a word on Cunha, one of the players to make his final performance for Wolves today (should Vitor pick him!!!). His temperament and outbursts this season have been unfortunate to say the least, though for me he will be remembered fondly as a key player over the last few seasons, a player to get us off our seats and thrill and excite us. A player who can really change things on the pitch and often has done just that. I wish him all the best in the future with just one parting puzzlement …. Why on earth Manchester United?!! That said, thanks for the memories Mattheus, get stuck in today and end on a high.

All the best to all Molineux Way contributors and readers and all Wolves fans on this day, the last match of the season. Thank you for your support for a season which started in such desperately sad circumstances following the loss of Cheshire Wolf. Enjoy the game and please leave your thought and comments in this thread. As mentioned I will be at Molineux and leaving very shortly, so will not able to contribute ….. and we’ll be late home today!!

Everything, and I mean absolutely everything crossed for a win today.

UP THE WOLVES!!

Match Thread: Wolves v Brentford 4pm 25.05.2025

Discussion started by Wolves , 25/05/2025 09:00

Wolves
25/05/2025 09:00

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:06:12:21:09:18 by Ivybridge Wolf.

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Lupy
25/05/2025 09:45

Thanks for all your efforts this season Ivy, much appreciated by myself and, I am sure, all the others who keep this select little forum going. Like you I am hoping for a good last match, a last hurrah for some players and an opportunity to help the team to one more good result in front of a very participative home crowd.
Brentford are a "full on " team and will give no quarter so our squad will have to be quick out of the blocks and ready for 90 minutes of combative football, I can already anticipate a card or two being shown, go steady young Gomes!!
Starting eleven needs to be more balanced than recent selections and if VP gets it right we should be able to challenge for all three points.
Cmon Wolves.

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Andy Pandy
25/05/2025 10:27

Good introduction Ivy. I would agree with just about all of it.

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Billericay Wolf1
25/05/2025 16:13

Unfortunately its 0-1. But it's early days. Come on Wolves.

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Billericay Wolf1
25/05/2025 17:46

1-1 Munetsi. 42 points, 16th. in the premiership. A very stressful season. Let's hope for a great
season next. Thanks for your hard work Ivy.

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Ivybridge Wolf
26/05/2025 09:49

Thanks for your comments guys, it’s genuinely appreciated.

Yesterday then, a decent starting line up, possibly with the exception of Guedes, though assume that for JSL’s slight knock. If you watched MOTD, it wasn’t shown but Guedes missed an absolute sitter in the second half, a player whose attitude has been much better this season but still can’t hit a barn door etc.

Brentford are a good side to watch, pace, quick and incisive passing intelligence on the ball, they really put the defence under pressure which is why their goal was as good as an own goal. It was gifted, initially after a terrible Toti pass, then defensive chaos and Mbeumo put it away. An impressive player. Back to Toti, he had a poor first have, giving the ball away for fun, often in ungamely fashion! Not so long later, Brentford missed a sitter …. Which did get shown on MOTD.

Wolves were kicking towards us in the North Bank first half, have to say we didn’t have too much to get carried away with, an underwhelming half, the big surprise being that no changes were made at half time.

Second half, changes were made but it just looked we were heading for four defeats on the trot and our eighth successive last day defeat, and then the moment, a genuine candidate for Wolves goal of the season. A big goal kick from Agbadou, a lovely head on from JSL and Munetsi ran on and smashed into the top right hand corner. It was a superb goal …. When Munetsi connects with the ball, it stays hit. Very pleased for him, okay his finishing is in no way consistent, nevertheless I like his positional play and guile and he really deserved that terrific moment!

Sa was subbed with about a minute, got a good reception, and the timing suggested to me he’s going with the others mentioned.

So that was that, 2024/25 was over and with news that The Hammers and even worse Man Utd had won, we were pushed down to 16th. I found that very frustrating at FT but so much better than we all thought in the pre-Vitor era. For the future, we have to better against teams such as Brentford, Brighton and Palace, but that’s for next August.

I stayed for the lap of honour. Sadly it was a shambles, at least in my opinion. They were announced on the pitch and didn’t show up. When they did, there were so many people on the pitch (players, the back room staff, loads of player relatives) it was often hard to make out the players. The players didn’t circle Molineux as a team, all as individuals and the whole things was half hearted. There were a few players who were the exception and most certainly Vitor who clapped us all enthusiastically and with his usual passion. Cunha was the last to go round. I was surprised he even made it to the North BanK with all the selfies he was taking or getting involved with. Wasn’t the lap of honour meant to be about the players and the fans connecting??? Perhaps I’m just getting a grump old b’stard because I’ve always loved giving my appreciation to the players but on reflection, I could have been on the M5 half an hour earlier.

Rant over!!! Let’s end on a high ….. we remain in the top division, we have a very good manager and the nucleus of a good side with the hope of some great additions (Mike Cooper as keeper from Sheff United, he’s terrific, I really rate him). The Premier League fixture list is due on 18th June too ….. we go again!

COYW!! COMB!!

UTW!!





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:26:09:51:56 by Ivybridge Wolf.

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Ivybridge Wolf
26/05/2025 13:56

Forgot to mention, a lovely remberance yesterday for Gary Pierceat the start of the match.

Also the announcements at half time:
Goal of the season: Sarabia at Old Trafford.
Players Player of the season: Mateus Cunha
Supporters player of the season: Joao Gomes

It’s a shame they couldn’t have made these announcements at the end of the match, that would have helped the lap of honour no end.

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chicagowolf
26/05/2025 14:00

Nice work Ivy, and despite it being last day of the season I ended up going out for the day with my son visiting for the bank holiday.
So reading the match reports it was quite tough to find out who made the defensive errors. The boss was clearly furious but was not dumb enough to blame Toti by name. But you can guess that whoever shows up for pre-season in the reshaped team is going to learn plenty (and fast) about the coach’s view on avoiding such blunders.
Anyway, eight Premier League seasons in a row. Come on Fosun; cough up!!
UTW

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essington wolf
27/05/2025 17:17

Thanks for all your efforts in keeping our little site going ivy, only just returned today after 3 weeks in spain and internet wasn't the best so only just reading the comments on the game.
3 games and never saw a wolves win in the bars while in spain.
Oh well here's to a higher finish in the table hopefully next season.
Im Sure every wolves fan would of taken a 16th place finish at Christmas when it was looking bleak.
Let's hope vitor gets the backing from shi and fosun that he deserves.

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