The Newcastle game is the second of four away games in 9 days which is a difficult schedule in anyone's language. We have gone 7 games unbeaten now and it would be quite an achievement if we can stretch that over the next week or so.
Newcastle aren't doing great and it looks like they will go into the game without Scharr, Carroll, Ritchie and Lejeune. But they are still difficult opponents on their own pitch.
Be good to see Neves, Jota, Jonny and Traore return to the team for this one. And wouldn't be surprised to see Kilman retain his place if Bennett is not fit.
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/414039
One match ban enabled
Looking forward to this one, first away game for a few years and am hoping for a good result too ...
article in daily telegraph
Meet Raul Jimenez - Wolves' global superstar with more followers than his club
All Raul Jimenez wants to do is watch a film. “Whenever we go to the cinema in Mexico, we have to get taken in two minutes before the film starts," he says, shaking his head in bewilderment. "We sit in a little room and wait for everyone else to sit down, or it becomes very difficult. Then, afterwards, there are people outside waiting for me..."
Not that Jimenez is complaining - this is simply the reality of his life back in his home town of Tepeji, 47 miles from Mexico City. Jimenez might be a local hero at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where his goals have played a vital role in establishing the club as a Premier League force, but he is a national superstar in Mexico.
The numbers tell the story. Jimenez's Twitter following now numbers 3.3million - almost seven times that of the main Wolves account. Only two other Premier League players - Sergio Agüero and Mesut Özil - can lay claim to being more popular than their clubs on social media.
It helps that Jiménez is now the only Mexican operating in the Premier League, after Javier Hernandez’s departure from West Ham, and his popularity continues to have jaws dropping at Molineux.
Since he signed on loan from Benfica last June, and then completed a club record £32 million move in the summer, Wolves have amassed 450,000 Facebook followers in Mexico and an increase of 271 per cent in website traffic. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of their YouTube audience live in the United States and Mexico, with 13million minutes of the club’s channel viewed south of the border.
“I love that support - it means so much to me," Jimenez says, as we chat in a dressing room at Wolves' training ground. "Even when the Wolves matches are on at 7am, they are watching them.
“I get messages all the time on Twitter and Instagram from people back home telling me that they have bought a Wolves shirt. It’s amazing that it can happen.
“Some people are either going to love you or hate you but, yes, I think there are more people who love me! I am doing this for me and my family, and all the people who support me.”
While Jiménez is massive in Mexico, he is also big in the Black Country. The 28-year-old has proven a huge success since his arrival, spearheading Nuno Espirito Santo’s forward line and possessing all the qualities required to succeed in English football.
Last season he was voted the players’ player of the season - scoring 13 goals with seven assists - and many Wolves fans idolise him. There is a brilliant chant which includes the lyrics “Si Senor, give the ball to Raul and he will score”.
He has made leafy Tettenhall his home, living with his girlfriend Daniela Basso and a new addition: three-month-old puppy Dobby.
“The Wolves fans make me feel like I’m at home and I really appreciate it,” he says. “When they sing the song it gives me energy. This kind of football is good for me. It’s easier to play in a team with team-mates like these. Everyone has been amazing and we are only just starting.
“It is just the beginning. There is only a quarter of the season gone and we have a lot of time to keep improving. We know it’s going to be tough because of all the matches but we are all prepared.”
Jiménez’s importance to Nuno is underlined by the amount of games he has played: Sunday's trip to Newcastle will be his 77th game for club and country since August 2018.
He has played on despite fracturing his wrist against Chelsea in March, and the workload is even more impressive when you consider he has only had four weeks of rest in 15 months.
Earlier this month he was excused from Mexico duty by Gerardo Martino, while Nuno also gave him a week off to recharge over the international break.
“I’m always proud to represent my country but I really appreciated the rest. Here at Wolves the mister gave me a mini-holiday, and I think I needed it,” he says.
“In the summer most of my team-mates have a month and a half [off], I only had 12 days as I played in the Gold Cup [for Mexico, where he was named player of the tournament]. The rest was positive for me, so I could be disconnected. It has been very hard but I always want to be playing.”
How did he spend his week off? “I visited Stonehenge, Salisbury cathedral and Bath. It’s another part of England I didn’t know. I’ve been to Bristol - it is a lot like Birmingham. The houses and history are special. My girlfriend always comes with me, she likes to visit but it would be better if it didn’t rain!”
It has been quite a journey to Wolverhampton for Jiménez. He made his debut at the age of 20 for Club América after coming through their academy, with the support of parents Raul and Martha particularly crucial.
“I told them when I was four that I would be a footballer,” he says. “I had no idea about the life, but they told me to study too. Everyone helped out - my mum and dad were working but still took me to training, my grandparents, uncle and aunties were there too. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
After breaking through with Club América, he appeared at the 2012 Olympics and his reputation was growing rapidly. He played for three full seasons there, though some of his memories of that spell are tainted by tragedy.
At América his strike partner for two years was Christian Benítez, who was known as ‘Chucho’ and made 30 appearances for Birmingham City. ‘Chucho’ died at the age of 27 after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest.
“He was very important for me and really helped me to grow and be what I am today,” recalls Jiménez. “He said very early to me that I would be the next No. 9 for Mexico. It gave me a lot of confidence and sometimes you need to hear those words.
“I was at home when the news came through about him passing away. All the team went from the training ground to the church and prayed for him. You never expect something like to happen to someone so young. Sometimes I find myself thinking of him and it’s difficult.”
Jiménez’s European tour began in 2014 when he moved to Atletico Madrid, but regular football eluded him. It was the first time he had spent time away from home, and he found it tough living in hotels. He remembers Tiago, the former Chelsea midfielder, for his help off the field.
Benfica then signed him a year later for €9.8million and although he played more frequently it was still another frustrating period. He scored 31 goals in three years for the Eagles, but the personal call from Nuno in the summer of 2018 sparked his career back into life.
“He told me he wanted me. He liked my style and said I will have to come here and fight for my place. He wanted me to be his centre-forward but I had to compete,” he says. “At Wolves I had the opportunity and I have taken it. I have paid the manager back.”
Jiménez is now fully settled in Wolverhampton, a key player in the Nuno revolution. Wolves are playing in Europe for the first time since 1980 - Jiménez scored in their Europa League win on Thursday night - and earlier this month secured arguably their best Premier League result with a 2-0 win at champions Manchester City.
Jiménez is aiming high. “We want to do something special. Why not think about the Champions League? It will be difficult but we only finished nine points behind the top six last season so why not think bigger?
“It’s not going to fall from the sky, we need to work for it. You have to have a big target. If we were just happy with tenth place, it doesn’t feel important. When you dream big, I think you can do it better.”
All our euro games are on Mexican TV it seems since the group stage started and you can tell they are only interested in Jimenez and we had the usual goollllllllllll celebration for his penalty and the closing credits just had the penalty on repeat and nothing else.
Being the highest drawing side in the PL throws up an interesting stat:
Only one side, Watford have won fewer games than us, zero;
But only one side, Liverpool have lost fewer games, also zero.
Not sure precisely what that says.
I read into that that Tam is right and we are the most boring side he has ever ever seen
Impressive performance so far from Leicester tonight.
i predicted at the start of the season that chelsea would be top 3 and leicester top 6 - perhaps i should swop that about
Holy shat just seen the score
And we drew with these 1-1
Just seen our stats from the weekend. Were we really that bad? 4 shots in the entire game? Saints had 14 <wtf>
How good is James Vardy? Imagine him alongside Jiminez.
He isn't very good but would fit our system. One trick pony
Oh and he is a rat faced so for that reason alone it is a no from me
Might be my favourite result of all time, looks like becoming 9 in a few seconds
Hattricks for Perez and Vardy, has that ever been done before in the prem?
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted less than a minute ago
Hattricks for Perez and Vardy, has that ever been done before in the prem?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not for those two players at the same time I wouldn't have thought.
Said a few games into the season that Leicester would probably finish above Spurs, Man United and Arsenal. They look a good side.
Sadly if we had got 2 goals up on Southampton we would probably have taken our foot off the gas and then conceded late in the game. We would have won 2-1 not 9-0. Having said that I’m not convinced that Leicester are are much better side than us.
yeah i thought they could crack top six. Always liked Rodgers and never understood the ridicule
comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 26 minutes ago
Sadly if we had got 2 goals up on Southampton we would probably have taken our foot off the gas and then conceded late in the game. We would have won 2-1 not 9-0. Having said that I’m not convinced that Leicester are are much better side than us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We rarely have our foot on the gas until the second half anyway to be fair.
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 2 hours ago
Said a few games into the season that Leicester would probably finish above Spurs, Man United and Arsenal. They look a good side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Said previously how fantastic their performances have been. When they won the title, some folk were wondering if it was an anomaly. And we can nderstand their questioning. But they have proved doubters wrong in the best way. Hope we emulate them soon!
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Newcastle v Wolves Preview [LIVE]
Page 1 of 3
posted on 25/10/19
posted on 25/10/19
The Newcastle game is the second of four away games in 9 days which is a difficult schedule in anyone's language. We have gone 7 games unbeaten now and it would be quite an achievement if we can stretch that over the next week or so.
Newcastle aren't doing great and it looks like they will go into the game without Scharr, Carroll, Ritchie and Lejeune. But they are still difficult opponents on their own pitch.
Be good to see Neves, Jota, Jonny and Traore return to the team for this one. And wouldn't be surprised to see Kilman retain his place if Bennett is not fit.
posted on 25/10/19
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/414039
One match ban enabled
posted on 25/10/19
Looking forward to this one, first away game for a few years and am hoping for a good result too ...
posted on 25/10/19
article in daily telegraph
Meet Raul Jimenez - Wolves' global superstar with more followers than his club
All Raul Jimenez wants to do is watch a film. “Whenever we go to the cinema in Mexico, we have to get taken in two minutes before the film starts," he says, shaking his head in bewilderment. "We sit in a little room and wait for everyone else to sit down, or it becomes very difficult. Then, afterwards, there are people outside waiting for me..."
Not that Jimenez is complaining - this is simply the reality of his life back in his home town of Tepeji, 47 miles from Mexico City. Jimenez might be a local hero at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where his goals have played a vital role in establishing the club as a Premier League force, but he is a national superstar in Mexico.
The numbers tell the story. Jimenez's Twitter following now numbers 3.3million - almost seven times that of the main Wolves account. Only two other Premier League players - Sergio Agüero and Mesut Özil - can lay claim to being more popular than their clubs on social media.
It helps that Jiménez is now the only Mexican operating in the Premier League, after Javier Hernandez’s departure from West Ham, and his popularity continues to have jaws dropping at Molineux.
Since he signed on loan from Benfica last June, and then completed a club record £32 million move in the summer, Wolves have amassed 450,000 Facebook followers in Mexico and an increase of 271 per cent in website traffic. Meanwhile, 65 per cent of their YouTube audience live in the United States and Mexico, with 13million minutes of the club’s channel viewed south of the border.
“I love that support - it means so much to me," Jimenez says, as we chat in a dressing room at Wolves' training ground. "Even when the Wolves matches are on at 7am, they are watching them.
“I get messages all the time on Twitter and Instagram from people back home telling me that they have bought a Wolves shirt. It’s amazing that it can happen.
“Some people are either going to love you or hate you but, yes, I think there are more people who love me! I am doing this for me and my family, and all the people who support me.”
While Jiménez is massive in Mexico, he is also big in the Black Country. The 28-year-old has proven a huge success since his arrival, spearheading Nuno Espirito Santo’s forward line and possessing all the qualities required to succeed in English football.
Last season he was voted the players’ player of the season - scoring 13 goals with seven assists - and many Wolves fans idolise him. There is a brilliant chant which includes the lyrics “Si Senor, give the ball to Raul and he will score”.
He has made leafy Tettenhall his home, living with his girlfriend Daniela Basso and a new addition: three-month-old puppy Dobby.
“The Wolves fans make me feel like I’m at home and I really appreciate it,” he says. “When they sing the song it gives me energy. This kind of football is good for me. It’s easier to play in a team with team-mates like these. Everyone has been amazing and we are only just starting.
“It is just the beginning. There is only a quarter of the season gone and we have a lot of time to keep improving. We know it’s going to be tough because of all the matches but we are all prepared.”
Jiménez’s importance to Nuno is underlined by the amount of games he has played: Sunday's trip to Newcastle will be his 77th game for club and country since August 2018.
He has played on despite fracturing his wrist against Chelsea in March, and the workload is even more impressive when you consider he has only had four weeks of rest in 15 months.
Earlier this month he was excused from Mexico duty by Gerardo Martino, while Nuno also gave him a week off to recharge over the international break.
“I’m always proud to represent my country but I really appreciated the rest. Here at Wolves the mister gave me a mini-holiday, and I think I needed it,” he says.
“In the summer most of my team-mates have a month and a half [off], I only had 12 days as I played in the Gold Cup [for Mexico, where he was named player of the tournament]. The rest was positive for me, so I could be disconnected. It has been very hard but I always want to be playing.”
How did he spend his week off? “I visited Stonehenge, Salisbury cathedral and Bath. It’s another part of England I didn’t know. I’ve been to Bristol - it is a lot like Birmingham. The houses and history are special. My girlfriend always comes with me, she likes to visit but it would be better if it didn’t rain!”
It has been quite a journey to Wolverhampton for Jiménez. He made his debut at the age of 20 for Club América after coming through their academy, with the support of parents Raul and Martha particularly crucial.
“I told them when I was four that I would be a footballer,” he says. “I had no idea about the life, but they told me to study too. Everyone helped out - my mum and dad were working but still took me to training, my grandparents, uncle and aunties were there too. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
After breaking through with Club América, he appeared at the 2012 Olympics and his reputation was growing rapidly. He played for three full seasons there, though some of his memories of that spell are tainted by tragedy.
At América his strike partner for two years was Christian Benítez, who was known as ‘Chucho’ and made 30 appearances for Birmingham City. ‘Chucho’ died at the age of 27 after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest.
“He was very important for me and really helped me to grow and be what I am today,” recalls Jiménez. “He said very early to me that I would be the next No. 9 for Mexico. It gave me a lot of confidence and sometimes you need to hear those words.
“I was at home when the news came through about him passing away. All the team went from the training ground to the church and prayed for him. You never expect something like to happen to someone so young. Sometimes I find myself thinking of him and it’s difficult.”
Jiménez’s European tour began in 2014 when he moved to Atletico Madrid, but regular football eluded him. It was the first time he had spent time away from home, and he found it tough living in hotels. He remembers Tiago, the former Chelsea midfielder, for his help off the field.
Benfica then signed him a year later for €9.8million and although he played more frequently it was still another frustrating period. He scored 31 goals in three years for the Eagles, but the personal call from Nuno in the summer of 2018 sparked his career back into life.
“He told me he wanted me. He liked my style and said I will have to come here and fight for my place. He wanted me to be his centre-forward but I had to compete,” he says. “At Wolves I had the opportunity and I have taken it. I have paid the manager back.”
Jiménez is now fully settled in Wolverhampton, a key player in the Nuno revolution. Wolves are playing in Europe for the first time since 1980 - Jiménez scored in their Europa League win on Thursday night - and earlier this month secured arguably their best Premier League result with a 2-0 win at champions Manchester City.
Jiménez is aiming high. “We want to do something special. Why not think about the Champions League? It will be difficult but we only finished nine points behind the top six last season so why not think bigger?
“It’s not going to fall from the sky, we need to work for it. You have to have a big target. If we were just happy with tenth place, it doesn’t feel important. When you dream big, I think you can do it better.”
posted on 25/10/19
All our euro games are on Mexican TV it seems since the group stage started and you can tell they are only interested in Jimenez and we had the usual goollllllllllll celebration for his penalty and the closing credits just had the penalty on repeat and nothing else.
posted on 25/10/19
Being the highest drawing side in the PL throws up an interesting stat:
Only one side, Watford have won fewer games than us, zero;
But only one side, Liverpool have lost fewer games, also zero.
Not sure precisely what that says.
posted on 25/10/19
I read into that that Tam is right and we are the most boring side he has ever ever seen
posted on 25/10/19
Impressive performance so far from Leicester tonight.
posted on 25/10/19
i predicted at the start of the season that chelsea would be top 3 and leicester top 6 - perhaps i should swop that about
posted on 25/10/19
Holy shat just seen the score
posted on 25/10/19
And we drew with these 1-1
posted on 25/10/19
Just seen our stats from the weekend. Were we really that bad? 4 shots in the entire game? Saints had 14 <wtf>
posted on 25/10/19
How good is James Vardy? Imagine him alongside Jiminez.
posted on 25/10/19
He isn't very good but would fit our system. One trick pony
posted on 25/10/19
Oh and he is a rat faced so for that reason alone it is a no from me
posted on 25/10/19
Might be my favourite result of all time, looks like becoming 9 in a few seconds
posted on 25/10/19
Hattricks for Perez and Vardy, has that ever been done before in the prem?
posted on 25/10/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted less than a minute ago
Hattricks for Perez and Vardy, has that ever been done before in the prem?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not for those two players at the same time I wouldn't have thought.
posted on 25/10/19
posted on 25/10/19
Said a few games into the season that Leicester would probably finish above Spurs, Man United and Arsenal. They look a good side.
posted on 25/10/19
Sadly if we had got 2 goals up on Southampton we would probably have taken our foot off the gas and then conceded late in the game. We would have won 2-1 not 9-0. Having said that I’m not convinced that Leicester are are much better side than us.
posted on 25/10/19
yeah i thought they could crack top six. Always liked Rodgers and never understood the ridicule
posted on 25/10/19
comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 26 minutes ago
Sadly if we had got 2 goals up on Southampton we would probably have taken our foot off the gas and then conceded late in the game. We would have won 2-1 not 9-0. Having said that I’m not convinced that Leicester are are much better side than us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We rarely have our foot on the gas until the second half anyway to be fair.
posted on 26/10/19
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 2 hours ago
Said a few games into the season that Leicester would probably finish above Spurs, Man United and Arsenal. They look a good side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Said previously how fantastic their performances have been. When they won the title, some folk were wondering if it was an anomaly. And we can nderstand their questioning. But they have proved doubters wrong in the best way. Hope we emulate them soon!
Page 1 of 3