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Wolves 2018/19 better than Keegan’s Newcastle United 1993/94 – You’re having a laugh

5 years ago
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Phil Neville made a fool out of himself very early on this season, when claiming (see below) that Wolves were the best ever promoted team to come up out of the second tier in the Premier League era.

A fair few other pundits/’experts’ joined in, as Nuno’s team made a good start to the season, including getting a few decent results against the better teams.

Now we are two-thirds of our way through the season, we have a bit more to go on in terms of matches and stats.

So what do they suggest, compared to Kevin Keegan’s 1993/94 side?

After 25 games in this 2018/19 season, Wolves have this record:

Played 25 Won 11 Drawn 5 Lost 9 Goals scored 33 Goals against 32 GD +1 Points 38 Position 7th

This was Keegan’s NUFC team after 25 games in 1993/94:

Played 25 Won 13 Drawn 6 Lost 6 Goals scored 44 Goals against 23 GD +21 Points 45

This was Keegan’s NUFC team after the full 42 games in 1993/94:

Played 42 Won 23 Drawn 8 Lost 11 Goals scored 82 Goals against 41 GD +41 Points 77 Position 3rd

At the moment Wolves are averaging 1.52 points and 1.32 goals per game.

After 25 games, Keegan’s NUFC were 1.80 points and 1.76 goals.

After 42 games, Keegan’s Newcastle were 1.83 points and 1.95 goals.

I think Wolves are a decent side and Nuno has done well with decent backing in the transfer market but still a long way sort of that Kevin Keegan team, in terms of quality, excitement, goals scored AND goals conceded.

The Mag – 26 November 2018:

Interesting stuff from Stan Collymore after this weekend’s results.

Wolves lost 2-0 at home to Huddersfield who were bottom, making it only one point in the last five matches for the recently promoted club.

Stan Collymore giving it both barrels when calling out the likes of Phil Neville (see below) and others, for their comments on Wolves after only a few games this season.

Collymore declaring it ’embarrassing’ when pundits such as Neville were saying Wolves were the best promoted side there had been in Premier League history.

The reality being that now after 13 matches they have scored only 12 goals and won four matches, against Palace, Southampton, West Ham and Burnley, all clubs involved in the relegation struggle.

Stan Collymore says it is ‘not even close’, with Kevin Keegan’s 1993/94 side and the Forest team a year later, clearly being top in the Premier League era, when it comes to the season after promotion.

Then when it comes to all-time records, Forest are top dogs. Collymore pointing out that Brian Clough’s team came up and won the First Division in 1977/78 AND then won the European Cup the next two years.

Stan Collymore:

“Not bagging Wolves fans because  haven’t heard any claim it.

“But what an embarrassing shout by pundits claiming 3 games in that Wolves are best promoted ever.

“Not even close. 1 point in last 15 and threw it in at (h) against bottom of the league!

“An affront to Newcastle United in 1993/94 and Nottingham Forest 1994/95.

“Facts don’t lie.

“Premier League era, Newcastle 93/94 and Forest 94/95 finished 3rd on 77pts (1.85 points per game).

“Joint best Premier League record for a promoted club

“All time, Forest were promoted (1976/77), won the league (1977/78) with back to back European Cups (1978/79 and 1979/80).

“No other team comes close to that.”

An article by Matthew Robson on The Mag – 18 November 2018:

Phil Neville had plenty to say not so long ago.

Specifically, back in late September.

Only half a dozen matches into the season and Neville insisted, without being prompted, that Wolves were the greatest side to come up from the Championship (see below).

When questioned about the Newcastle United 1993/94 Kevin Keegan side, Phil Neville was adamant, even KK’s side weren’t a patch on this Wolves side.

Coincidentally, when Neville made his Wolves comments, they had just drawn at Old Trafford. Back then Man U weren’t great and now we know that for sure, Phil Neville though with his red and white glasses on.

This isn’t a go at Wolves, good luck to them, they have come up, invested, and are having a bit of a go.

However, pundits/experts such as Phil Neville are a complete joke, how can you come out with such nonsense based on half a dozen games and a couple of draws against the Manchester club.

As it stands, Wolves have now played 12, won 4, drawn 4, lost 4. Their four victories ave been 1-0 wins over West Ham, Palace and Burnley, plus a 2-0 over Southampton.

They are now 11th in table with 12 points, having scored 12 goals and conceded 13.

If you ask me, forget all about any comparisons with the brilliant Keegan team of 1993/94, surely the comparison has to be with Rafa’s 2017/18 vintage! A well organised team that defends resolutely but hasn’t got enough quality to score goals.

That Keegan team finished third in 1993/94 after promotion, in a 42 game season they scored 82 goals and ended up with 77 points.

Taking the average over a 38 match season, Wolves would now have to average 2.4 goals and 2.08 points per game, if they were to match than NUFC KK team.

I think in reality they could just possibly match the 10th place Newcastle achieved last season.

However, with only one point from the last 12 including defeats to Brighton and Watford, Wolves and Phi Neville might just be looking over their shoulders.

My earlier article on The Mag – 24 September 2018:

Phil Neville should maybe stick to talking about his expert subject, women’s football.

The former Man Utd player showing himself up when appearing on Match of The Day 2 on Sunday night.

After having watched Wolves draw away against what looks a very average Manchester United team, Phil Neville came out with a well over the top claim.

This is what Neville and MOTD 2 presenter Mark Chapman said in their exchange:

Phil Neville:

“Defensively they (Wolves) are really solid, you saw the (Man) United game yesterday, they (Man Utd) struggled to break them down.

“They (Wolves) are the best side to ever come up from the Championship.

“I think they are brilliantly coached, I think he has got the balance right, Nuno, between defending in numbers and strength, then attacking with quality in midfield.”

Mark Chapman:

“So in the Premier League era, you would have them better than say Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United who came up with Andy Cole up front?”

Phil Neville:

“Yes, I think they (Wolves) are the best side that has ever come up from the Championship.

“They have spent money, they have got quality players. You saw on Saturday the strength in quality they have got on the bench, the quality up front, the two midfielders.

“They will not be scared to go to any Premier League ground.”

Fair play to Wolves because they have ambitious owners who are having a go and look to have a decent side BUT to suggest they are better than Keegan’s 1993/94 side on such little evidence is hilarious.

So far Wolves have played six games and only beaten Burnley and West Ham – both 1-0, two clubs who are really struggling. They have lost to Leicester and as well as the draw on Saturday, have drawn at home to Everton who played for 50 minutes with 10 men,  and got a creditable but fortunate home draw against Man City despite having only two shots on target and the away side dominating.

I think Wolves will do ok but that NUFC team was top quality.

Peter Beardsley missed the start of the season through injury and Keegan’s side won only two of the first eight matches, when you looked how the season turned out, who knows what could have happened with Beardsley from the start?

Keegan’s team finished third in the Premier League after promotion and as you can see below, they actually scored more goals than anybody else, including Phil Neville’s beloved Man Utd. As for conceding, Newcastle only let in three more than the champions.

The final 1993/94 Premier League table:

Cole and Beardsley were brilliant together and I would argue they were the greatest front two in the Premier League era, that season they scored 65 goals between them (55 of those in the Premier League).

I would be amazed if Wolves’ strikers are within a million miles of those two.

As well as many other good players, that season Kevin Keegan had six (past, present or future) England internationals, with Venison, Bracewell, Lee and Howey, as well as the front two.

Also, if Phil Neville wants to go down the nonsensical route of claiming it is all different now (reality is you can only compare to teams/clubs of the same era), then surely it then makes Man Utd’s title win that 1993/94 season as all but worthless, if football is supposedly so much better now.
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