Wolves Fans' Verdict v Manchester United: We're off to Wembley!

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match?

What a game. Nights like this are why we come, week after week, to watch our team. Taking those trips to Carlisle, Crawley and Gillingham in League One. Long trips and late nights, time off work, and not always for a positive result. We did it in the hope that, one day, our club would rise back to where it had once stood, proudly amongst those in the upper echelons of English football.

Here we were, Molineux packed to the rafters, taking on arguably the biggest name in English football in a battle to reach the final four of the World’s biggest domestic cup competition. The pre-match show felt louder than usual. The home crowd buzzing with excitement more than nerves. We were up for it. United fans being drowned out with ‘Nuno Had A Dream’ every time they piped up with the Ole’s at the wheel song. Well, the wheel fell off!

We were absolutely superb all over the pitch from start to finish. Defending deep with a compact shape, looking to get a foot in when the moment was right, and breaking at pace, but also having the presence of mind to know when it was the right time to slow things down and keep possession for a spell. It was no smash and grab victory. We were the better side.

But for some outstanding saves from Romero we could have been ahead well before Jimenez swivelled his hips and fired the ball home to spark limbs - the like that haven’t been seen at Molineux in decades. Amazingly, they were outdone within minutes as Jota did what Jota does. Running from halfway, leaving a defender eating grass, and rifling home a second goal that saw grown men crying in all four sides of the ground. Oh, how we’ve waited for this. Not even the late United consolation goal from Rashford, seen by about 80 of their fans as the rest had vanished with ten minutes remaining, could take away from the joy being felt in the stands.

It’s the magic of the cup, and Nuno is our sorcerer.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

No blotches. No sub-8 ratings. Near-perfection all over the park. Ruddy was safe all night, the back three imperious (will Bennett get back in?), both wing-backs were solid defensively and always offered us outlets. Donk was everywhere, his energy unmatched by anyone else in the centre of the park. And Ruben. Finally, he looked back to his best. Spraying passes effortlessly around the pitch, popping up in areas to try long-range efforts, snapping into tackles. The wonder kid was back.

The biggest shout out has to go to the front two and, as ever, the man who is 5 foot 7 of football heaven.

Diogo never stopped running. When it wasn’t always going his way, even when he’d spurned a great one on one opportunity, he kept returning to the well, wanting the ball, pressing their defenders, looking for that link up with Raúl.

Oh, Raúl. What’s that fee to make his loan permanent? £30m? Bargain! Sign. Him. Up. Another display of superb hold up play, great defensive pressing, and another goal. Sí Señor... give the ball to Raúl and he will score.

Then there’s the man who ran the show. Signed to little fanfare for £5m as an over-the-hill 32 year-old looking for his last payday. What a crock! He schooled £90m+ Pogba in how to control a game. No frills. No moaning at the referee. No posturing or gesticulating. Just pure footballing excellence. Winning tackles, recycling possession, creating space with his movement. João did it all. He capped it off with a brilliant bit of dribbling to beat three United defenders as he drove into the box and created the chance for Raúl’s goal. An absolutely brilliant footballer and a pleasure to watch. Easily the man of the match.

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match?

1. These foreigners will never do any good. They don’t know the history of the club or what the FA Cup means to the fans.

2. Lambert was right about Saiss. He’ll never make a footballer.

3. Where are the goals going to come from? Jimenez and Jota will do well to get 5 all season between them.

5. We’ll lose to Liverpool so I ain’t going, it’s too expensive.

6. Manchester United? That’s the end of our cup run for another year.

Just a few of the comments heard, this season.

Well, Nuno thinks differently and when he says we are going to prepare meticulously and we will be ready, he means it.

The best atmosphere I could ever remember, at Molineux, was the League Cup semi-final against Swindon, in 1980. A mere 39 years ago. Last night surpassed that fivefold, even though there were 10,000 less inside the ground.

The players were awesome; the fans were awesome.

The second half was as good a Wolves performance as I have seen. We took the game to Man U. We controlled the game from midfield. Our defence looked very comfortable and we created chance after chance.

It reminded me of Tottenham away. The fans watching sensed the first goal a full 10 minutes before we scored. The players then went on to surpass our expectations. No sitting back to hold onto a one-goal lead. We go and get the second.

What a goal that was. Luke Shaw was turned one way, then the other way before falling over like a drunk! Jota had the goal in his sights and there was only one ending to this move (akin to Villa last season).

United huffed and puffed, but we were outplaying them by now. Their subs made no difference. They could not get the ball into anywhere dangerous. For long periods, they just could not get the ball!!!

The memories of the end of the game will last a long time. Let’s hope it’s not another 39 years. The look on people’s faces. The happiness. The North Bank Bar. It’s what dreams are made of. Nuno’s dream.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

This is easy. Five 9s and six 10s.

The core of the team were simply superb. 10 out of 10s for Jota, Jimenez, Moutinho, Neves, Coady, Boly.

Man of the Match was Moutinho. He’s football heaven.

We made the mighty Man United, with Ole at the wheel, look ordinary. Just look at the play on 88 minutes. Moutinho wins possession in our half. A 22-pass move follows with Man United chasing shadows.

Oh and on a personal note: I’m really disappointed with all these late goals we are conceding in added time!!!

I wish my Dad could come with us to Wembley and see Nuno’s team play. I’m sure he regretted introducing me to Wolves when he could see the years of pain he had inflicted on me. I’d like him to know all is forgiven.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match?

The dream is still alive. A challenging week has seen us perform amazingly well against Chelsea and now United. If anyone wants to know Wolves DNA then these two games demonstrate it perfectly.

For twenty minutes patience was the name of the game as United played countless square balls in their own half, achieving nothing. If they thought that would allow them to calm the crowd and let them then take over then it did not work.

Although our passing accuracy could have been better, and we did try to force it too much, once we got the ball and moved it forward we looked the most likely team to score.

We protected our box diligently and frequently won possession before United had created a chance. Our counter-attacks then came into play as we looked to Jimenez or Jota with an outlet ball. Both were brilliant at finding space and protecting the ball as markers then closed them down.

Some inventive corners provided a couple of half chances and a delightful Neves through ball presented Jota with a chance on goal. It was saved but was the best chance of the half. We were not afraid of competing hard in midfield either, two United breaks were halted on halfway as two fouls on Pogba saw us collect a couple of cards.

Any inferiority complex we might have had, had well and truly gone by the second half. Once our midfield had started to provide closer support to our front two we kept the ball better, advancing it wide through Doherty, and looked an all-round damn good team. Neves and Moutinho in particular constantly looking to find the open man and help create a chance.

We maintained a good work rate and energy level and made United look far from unbeatable. Our efforts were successful as Jimenez persistence was rewarded when a neat turn beat the keeper and the noise level was turned up a notch. It had been on the cards as their keeper had already made two good saves from a Jiminez header and Moutinho shot - both looked to be heading into the top corner of the goal.

Amazingly, almost at once, we increased our lead. Defending our own third, we broke up play and a perfect Neves pass allowed Jota to show his pace, amazing strength before rifling in an unstoppable second goal.

The feeling in the ground had suddenly changed from thinking we could win, to believing we would win. How good a feeling was that? Even VAR could not spoil things. We managed the game out well from then on. United were the ones chasing the ball but rarely getting close. Deep into added time we did lose our clean sheet, but the game had been won by then. As thousands of United fans could not wait to go home, everyone else was in no hurry to leave at all.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Only a couple of long-range efforts brought Ruddy into the game.

Doherty and Otto's position on the pitch is often a good barometer of how things are going. Starting off quite deep they gradually advanced as we saw more of the ball and looked an attacking force. Both had good games against tough opposition.

Boly looked a very good defender indeed. Headers, tackles, blocks are all high on his to-do list and he ticked all those boxes well.

Coady represented 27,000 of us. He played like we wish we could play like. Never say die, screaming, pointing, desperate to win every ball. The perfect captain – left everything out there on the pitch. You have to love him to bits.

Saiss got the nod ahead of Bennett and it was the right decision. He has refined his tackling and is more thoughtful on the ball. These last two games have finally convinced me he can play in that position, sorry it has taken me that long.

Dendoncker worked had to break up play and, in a busy physical midfield, he just about held his own.

Moutinho found an extra level of energy for this game. His tackling and passing showed great quality.

Neves above all others managed to find time on the ball and instantly knew the pass to make. When it comes off there is that amazing wow factor to his game. A joy to watch him.

Jota was close to being perfect. He showed his incredible bouncebackability when repeatedly floored but equally at times, a balance, strength and ability to keep the ball.

When his confidence is high like it is now, his form is outstanding, and his finishing too.

Jimenez was even closer to perfection. He ran himself into the ground, he is supremely fit. His heat map would be interesting to see. He did everything you would want your striker to do, from one end of the pitch to the other. And he scored as well! But such a great team player too. Among several good performances, he was just about the man of the match.

Unusually, the bench was hardly used, with Traore and Costa getting a few minutes as our heroic front two got their deserved ovation

Gulraj Kular (Musings from Molineux)

What's your verdict on the match?

Football, eh? People might sneer at its gargantuan, capitalistic manner in this modern era but nothing in life will ever give you this feeling of euphoria like successes such as this. Bottle those feelings up and sell them because you’ll be a millionaire, my son.

I can talk about the performance till the cows come home but this was all about the raw emotion that was evoked by the scoring of each goal. I can’t recall hearing the sound that Molineux made last night at any point over the hundreds of games I’ve witnessed at the fabled place. Maybe it was the ADS (All Day Session) that everyone had seemingly embarked upon that drew this high-pitched, almost child-like shriek of excitement when Raul Jimenez swivelled and guided the ball into the net, or when Diogo Jota drove his footballing knife through the heart of the United defence, but it was a moment. These are heady times and it’s important to not lose sight of just how far we have come, just how difficult it is to actually get to the stage we’re at as a football club.

Clubs spend years and years just treading water at this level and yet here we are, at the first time of asking at the top level, muscling our way to a Cup semi-final. We’ve waited 21 years to right the wrongs of that day and maybe this is our chance now. Rest assured, Nuno won’t leave us with any regrets whatever the outcome.

What struck me most about this game was just how we managed to answer every question United asked of us emphatically and essentially came out of this looking the better side. It had shades of the league fixture earlier in the season about it but we took the lead and scored the goals at the important times.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Everyone to a man deserves a mention here and all will already be going down in the history books as the best team this generation of Wolves fans has ever seen. They’re the ones who broke the cycle of mediocrity and launched us into the stratosphere.

But one man in particular, a man I couldn’t take my eyes off all night, a man who wakes up each and every day and takes responsibility with every single breath in his body, who gives the team what it needs with every touch of a football, deserves praised above all.

Joao Moutinho, was stood over the ball about to take a corner in front of the South Bank and for a moment time stood still for me. Here he was, looking as regal as ever, his kingdom the football pitch and ruling it with authority.

I don’t know why nobody ever seemed to take the plunge to sign him earlier in his career. I’m bloody glad they didn’t though because we wouldn’t have been able to witness the kind of glory he’s serving up week after week. He is the best Wolves player I’ve ever seen and he will take some beating. To play against Manchester United and have the best player on the pitch within our ranks is a ‘pinch me’ kind of feeling. But that is what he was last night. Our Joao - a player fit to don any shirt in world football, but he’s our Joao.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match?

A small town just at the end of the M40, turning left at Park Royal. There is an international stadium there that we have not lost at, in 90 minutes, for 80 years, Wembley. The place where we beat Spurs 3-1 earlier this season. Five pounds plus per pint and almost the same for a pie. But do we care? Not a jot.

The Man U fans sang 'you only came to see United' but the 'can we play you every week' retort was magical, as was the performance of every hero in gold and black.

In truth 2-1 was so flattering to United it was scary as this could have been any winning margin. Nuno, it is your fault I have openly cried in front of family and friends, but these were tears of absolute joy! Utterly brilliant.