Verdict: Frustrating Wolves season ends on a high

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? At start of the season, I fully expected this game this game to either lead to the play-offs or be a promotion party. How wrong can you get?

As it was, it turned out to be a rather entertaining game and a rare home win for a change.

The range and quality of passing was better than we have seen for months. The defence looked pretty solid and we were creating chances...or rather, we were missing chances. Some things do never change.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? It was a massive highlight to see Jordan Graham back starting and sending the full-back dizzy. You have to think what might have been. He gets you out of your seat with his runs and trickery. We haven't had much of that this season, except for a few Costa performances.

I thought Bright played very well too. Intelligent runs and moving into the right spaces gets him into scoring positions. He could easily have had a brace. It will come with more first team games.

I'm not the greatest fan of Batth, but happy to say he had a very good game. He usually does when he scores which proves it's all about confidence.

Coady, Hause, Silvio and Dicko all did well too. Edwards, Saiss and Weimann had quiet days. Mason disappointed when he came on for half an hour.

Well, that's it for three months. I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on Wolves this season. It's opinions that make the game fun.

There are lots of things still to be decided – who's staying? Who's arriving? Who won player of season? When's the new kit revealed?

Enjoy the cricket. Roll on August.

Heather Large

What's your verdict on the match? It was definitely an improvement on our last few matches. While it certainly hasn't been the best of seasons, ending it with three points on a sunny Sunday still felt good.

Preston weren't much of a threat and we looked in control for pretty much all of the 90 minutes.

Before kick off I was dreading a repeat of the Blackburn game but, although it was slow moving at times, it was reasonably watchable and we were unlucky not to have scored a couple more.

It's been a funny season. We've had the craziness of Zenga, the highs of beating Liverpool at Anfield and Villa at Molineux and some truly shocking home games that are really best forgotten.

So, it's going to be interesting to see what happens this summer, who goes, who stays and who we bring in. I'm pleased to hear Lambert says he wants to see the club shaken up and that hunger to succeed brought back.

The latter has seriously been lacking this season, especially at home when we've made a habit of sitting back and inviting the opposition attack us rather than taking control from the get-go.

Hopefully we can start next season in a much stronger position.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? It was great to see Graham back and he immediately made a real impact.

I thought Dicko was again one of our strongest players, he's looking better and better and more like his old self every game.

Enobakhare continues to look really promising although he was clearly gutted to miss his chance to score. I'm sure we will see much more from him next season.

Peter Abbott (London Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? There was a fantastic supporters' club flag parade pre-match to welcome Wolves for the last game of the season. Well organised. Well done again Wolves fans.

We found easy opposition in Preston and an early headed goal. Great start and a then strong performance from scorer Batth and alongside him Hause with another improving, solid game.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Harry Burgoyne - superb stoppage time save to seal the win. Will he be our regular no.2 next season?

Silvio - another improving performance, defending was fine and advanced with confidence including a good firm shot just past the post. Coady - no requirement for anything other than a relatively quiet game.

Saiss - I like this man and defensively he looked the part athough I still worry about some of his forward passes.

Edwards - one-man midfield, simply ticking over, and of course, may yet be player of the season.

Dicko - I'm sure he wanted to be involved more, but generally quiet game, clearly disappointed when replaced by Jon-Dadi.

Weimann not particularly involved from wide, must wait and see whether he will be purchased for next season.

Jordan Graham's first start for over a year, made time on the ball to show his skills, although to me his crosses lacked penetration.

Saving the best to last, Bright Enobakhare, such a pity he couldn't score, whacked the post and one touch too many with a golden chance. Golden future ahead.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Another season draws to a close, another season of underachievement, frustration and a home record that is so horrific it wouldn’t look out of place in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.

The Chinese billionaires arrived and hopes of a new era of football domination was sprung. We should really have known better; it’s the Wolves way isn’t it to snatch glorious defeat out of the jaws of a treasure chest of riches?

The appointment of Walter Zenga, arguably a better Instagram user than football manager, set the scene. He came to WV1 with a CV that would impress only one person…Jeff Shi, who probably thought he might be a good stand-in for Ikeme’s inevitable 10 game absence from the team each season.

As predicted, that ended in tears and we appointed a more British option in Lambert. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but there has been glimpses that he could be the man. ‘Could’ being the operative word.

For me, I’m giving him a 6 out of 10 and the summer to really stamp his authority on the squad before I consign him to the managerial dustbin. Yesterday was a better performance than a lot of home games (it wouldn’t take much would it?), but it did also underline a lot of what we already know.

Hause, now maturing into the centre back we all hoped he would be, should be joined by an experienced, commanding partner, whilst Coady can do a steady enough job at right-back.

Up front, Dicko should be seen as a bonus if he returns to form and not the solution. We are crying out for two goal scorers, who simply put the ball in the net. It appears to be the missing ingredient for most of our strikers, who work hard, run a fair bit but don’t actually do what they’re paid to do. The fact that Danny Batth has outscored both Dicko and Jon Dadi tells you everything you need to know.

Then you have the centre of the park. This is where I’ll know by August if Lambert is going to succeed. If we rock up for the first game with Dave Edwards as the first name on the teamsheet, you might as well prepare yourself for a lower half finish again.

Yesterday summed up exactly what he doesn’t bring to the team. Yes, he chased people down (a lot of the time they do actually go past him when he gets there) and he can play a square six yard pass...well most of the time.

However, what he fails to do is take any control of the game, fails to spot passes that could open the game up and slows our play down too much. There was an example first half when Saiss found him with a great pass in oceans of space in the centre of the park. Dave somehow managed to drive to the wing, into a ruck of players, turn back and lose the ball. And as for his arm movements, Jesus wept…I’m surprised one of the planes heading for Cosford or Halfpenny Green haven’t landed on the pitch before now.

I’m not saying get rid completely. There’s probably a role he can play…a bit part role where his running might help us close a game out or get behind tired defences. It’s certainly not the rock that holds the midfield together.

Saiss had a much better game yesterday, with the slide rule pass to Bright a highlight. He also needs to raise his game and consistency levels to ensure he starts to cement a place in the team.

There were some good bits from yesterday. I though Graham’s return to action was fantastic. He had more tricks than Paul Daniels in the first half and his delivery into the box was something else.

Bright also grew into the game. He’s got cracking feet and can make things happen, but unfortunately is like a jigsaw…goes to pieces in the box. He just needs to get that first goal off his back and he’ll be fine and someone we should see a lot more of next season.

There was one big question from yesterday. The future of Silvio, which I’m led to believe is not at Molineux.

On yesterday’s performance, you can see there is a player there, the bigger question is how often will you see that player. I’d probably offer him a Costa coffee season ticket card as an incentive to accept a pay-as-you play deal.

So Paul over to you. Be brave, be bold and be ambitious. If you settle for the cosy club and same-old, you’ll probably be looking for a holiday come Christmas time.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? I love watching a good winger torment his full-back so it’s Jordan Graham for me. A lot more to come from him next year.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? Far better but unfortunately far too late.

We saw a team playing with belief and desire and the only worry was the Inability to convert any of the several second half chances. But at least we made the chances.

Danny Batths best header of the season put us in charge from the first minute and nice to see Jordan Graham on from the start even if he did over elaborate at times.

All in all a nice way to end a strange old season. Hope everyone has a nice summer

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Everyone was fine to be honest so we take that as a sign of hope.

Sarah Connolly

What's your verdict on the match? Well after all that can be said about a disappointing season, it was still very nice to sign it off with a win in the sunshine.

Although it very much had a 'last game of the season with neither team having anything to play for' feel about it, I still feel we got going a bit more than we have in recent games.

We offered a lot more going forward, mainly down to the magical feet of Jordan Graham. You just couldn't tell that he's been out for 15 months which is incredible.

He was on fire so much in the first half, you could see and smell the smoke at half time! Dicko seemed to have a boost in confidence as well and quite often broke away from their defence. A lot of people seem to feel we should maybe let him go but I think after a pre season and with a good partner next season (like he had in Afobe), we will see him back to his best.

I think Saiss also had a good game in control of the midfield, and Silvio impressed at the back. With it being his 13th game in three years, would he be worth the risk? Based on his performance yesterday, I'd be tempted to say yes.

We kept Preston at bay throughout the game, although they never really got going, and Burgoyne did well with the little he had to do. It was just nice to see us play some attacking football, it's been a while since we've said 'we should have had three or four'.

We need to distinguish a style of play, we've chopped and changed so much this season that it's hard to say what our style is. We played well here although there is still much to do. Lambert had a lot of work to do over the summer if we are to hit the ground running and be serious contenders next season. Whether he will be able to do it remains to be seen, but I remain confident he can do the job.

The interesting part happens now. One of our biggest summers for a long time and what happens during the summer will define our expectations for the season. No pressure, Paul and co.

It's been interesting offering my views up this season. Although it's not been a season we've wanted, it's hard not to believe that next season we will come good. It's the eternal hope that kills you, but it's what keeps us coming back. Disembarking the rollercoaster for this season, but will be straight back on it come August. Have a good summer, let's hope it's a productive one.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? I don't think anyone had a stand out 'bad' game. We'd asked for a good performance to finish the season and I think that's mostly what we got.

Enobakhare should have probably have scored two goals, but I think that's just a lack of experience. We've seen a few times this season that he is full of talent, he just needs to work on his final touch. He may not quite be ready for first team, but I'd hate to lose him, maybe a loan would do him good?

Hause was absolutely solid at the back again, as he has been for the majority of the season bar a few performances. If he stays, he will be a very key player for us at the back next season.

Man of the match for me though has to go to Graham. It was so exciting to see him literally carry on from where he left off as though he hadn't been out at all. Within the first minute he created a chance and an assist for a goal. Now what would we have given to have had that for the whole of this season? Understandably he tired towards the hour mark but after a full pre season under his belt, I think he will also be a very exciting player next season.