Which WOLVES Team Was Worse: 83/84 or 24/25? 

Given our terrible form this season, I have lost count of the number of times I have heard references to our 83/84 season, when we got relegated from the old First Division. Therefore, I thought it might be ‘fun’ to compare the respective merits of the two teams. Just to clarify, I am comparing their performances for this season only, and not their entire Wolves careers, as the 83/84 team contained some absolute legends.  

Goalkeeper.

Season 83/84 saw both John Burridge and Paul Bradshaw sharing the duties. Burridge was, and presumably still is, known as a ‘character’, with his eccentric personality to the fore. However, he was also a class ‘keeper and prone to brilliance between the sticks. Bradshaw, nearing the end of a consistent career, also had a handful of games that season, and he is, of course, best remembered for his 1980 League Cup win. I would score both at a solid 8 out of ten. 

By comparison, we currently have the erratic Jose Sa and the shambolic Sam Johnstone, who both score 5 out of ten. A clear win for the 83/84 boys. 

Right back.

John Humphrey v Nelson Semedo. An interesting one this, as Humphrey was a very capable full back with a solid tackle. Semedo, by comparison, is certainly quicker and looks a better player, but he has been plagued by inconsistency since joining Wolves. Both get a reasonable 7 out of ten. 

Left back.

Geoff Palmer v Rayan Ait-Nouri. A hard one this, as Palmer was a club stalwart who played 496 games for Wolves (15 goals). A hard tackler who always gave his all. ‘Zico’, as he was affectionately known, also whacked in a rocket of a penalty. Sadly, by this season, he was played out of position at left back and was past his best. Rayan, on the other hand, is a far more gifted player, albeit his skill is sometimes under-played in the final third and over-played when defending our goal. Funnily enough, they both have similar hair styles but that is not enough to save Palmer from coming in second in this race. 6 for Palmer and 8 for Ait-Nouri, the winger forever trapped in the body of a defender.     

Centre Half 1.

John Pender v Toti Gomes. Pender was young, capped at Irish U/21 level, despite being born in Luton, and was a decent header of the ball. He was probably thrown into the First Division before he was ready and suffered as a result, like so many that season. Toti is Portuguese, very fast and athletic, but sadly prone to error. Indeed, one writer (me!) said ‘he sometimes resembles a piano falling down a flight of stairs’. Harsh but true, as he does sometimes lack skill on the ball. However, he is whole-hearted and has the pace to get himself out of trouble when it inevitably arises.  

5 for both of them. 

Centre Half 2.

Alan Dodd v Craig Dawson. Both players were vastly experienced and produced solid performances, despite the chaos reigning all around them. Neither possessed great pace but were adept at reading the game and helping those around them. Dawson edges it for me with a 7 against Dodd’s 6. 

Midfielder 1.

Kenny Hibbitt v Mario Lemina. On paper, one of the easiest decisions, as Hibbitt was everything you want in a midfielder; determined, skilful, capable of scoring goals and just an all-round iconic figure. Some great images of Hibbitt as well, with his sweat-streaked, matted hair clinging to his face as he tackles for the ball. One of the best volleyers ever seen at Molineux and an excellent ‘diver’ against Spurs! However, at this stage in his Wolves career his influence was on the wane, and he didn’t even manage a single goal in 23 games for the term. Spurs fans, though, still booed him when he was warming up at White Hart Lane, unable to forgive him for his 1981 Fosbury flop in the FA Cup semi-final that year. Poor Lemina, after a stellar season in 2023/24, has struggled to produce such form this time around, with perhaps the burden of captaincy weighing on his mind. One can only hope that he kicks on post-Christmas and plays to his usual high standard. Hibbitt with a 6 and Lemina a 7. 

Midfielder 2.

Peter Daniel v Joao Gomes. Daniel was a classy midfielder/right back who played 194 games for Wolves (16 goals). He was at the fag-end of his Wolves career this season, which was ended by a serious leg injury. A consistent presence but not one with star quality. Unlike his competitor, Gomes, who has a fantastic attitude to the ball – i.e. he wants to win it at all costs, even if it costs him a booking (or half a dozen). Gomes is clearly primed to have a successful career and will inevitably be transferred for 60m in the summer, if we stay up, or 35m if we go down. 

Daniel with a 6 and Gomes with an 8. 

Winger 1.

Tony Towner v Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. Oh dear, two very average players, neither of whom can be relied upon when the going gets tough. Towner was a one-season wonder, whom we wondered what all the fuss was about, despite his previous good form at the likes of Brighton and Rotherham. He scored 2 goals in 35 games that season and was patchy at best. Bellegarde is a player who we are constantly told ‘will do better next season.’ A player who infuriates the crowd by constantly cutting back, rather than trying to beat his man with pace and skill. Might do well in the Championship next season. Oops, I have done it now as well. Both with a 4 for me. 

Winger 2.

Mel Eves v Cunha. My heart wants me to pick Mel, a nice guy who once gave me a lift to the train station from the ground after a match. Often used as a striker, Eves scored 53 goals for Wolves in 214 games. Pacey and with an eye for goal, Eves was one of our better players in 83/84, even though he only scored 3 league goals that term. What can I say about Cunha? Great on the ball and our only obvious tactic when it comes to scoring goals. Sometimes it feels as if the rest of the team are only on the pitch in order to give him the ball, as he is very much the Schwerpunkt of our attack. He reminds me of a balloon that you blow into and then let go when inflated – in the sense that you never know where it is going to go. That is Cunha to a T. I cannot imagine him being a natural David Moyes pick, if he ever becomes our manager.   

Eves with 6 and Cunha an 8. 

Number 9.

Andy Gray v Strand Larsen. If we look at their overall careers at Wolves then you would have to say that Gray would win, as he is still the last player for us to score in a major final. However, despite being as brave as a lion, people often over-estimate how many goals he scored for Wolves. In fact, he only managed 45 in 162 appearances in total, and a mere two, in nine games, for 83/84. Often injured due to his bravery, Gray would later carve out a niche for himself in footballing punditry, with his debut commentary stint being the Sherpa Van Trophy final between Wolves and Burnley in 1988. He also achieved success at Everton when he left us for £250,000 this term. By comparison, Larsen is big, strong and equally brave, although it is early days in his Wolves career. He already has more goals than Gray managed with the prospect of more to come.   

Therefore, Larsen edges this one with 7 points to Gray who gets 6. 

Second Striker.

Wayne Clarke v Hwang Hee-Chan. Wayne Clarke was our top goal-scorer in season 83/84, with a mammoth 6 league goals. He was a decent enough player who often played in the number 10 position, before it was known as that. Skilful and with an appreciation of the players around him, Clarke was probably a player born ahead of his time, and his attributes would be better recognised in the modern game. Sadly, he was not even the best player in his family, to use an amended cricketing sledge, with brother Allan Clarke being a Leeds legend.  

Hwang, this season at least, has vastly under-achieved. In fact, for the whole year (2024) he has appeared distracted, as if something is bothering him away from the pitch. When on form he is capable of quality goals, and he remains our best one-on-one scorer. However, he has largely flattered to deceive for months of his Wolves career and so cannot beat the talents of Clarke. 

Wayne with a 7 and Hwang with a 5. 

Sub.

Danny Crainie v Goncalo Guedes. Danny was a talented winger who had real ability and was a bargain 25k signing from Celtic. He had lovely tousled hair and was our version of Charlie Nicholas, who was then lighting up Arsenal and the surrounding nightclubs with his sparkling personality. Young Danny was not as good on the ball as young Charlie, but he won over a lot of fans for his efforts on the field of dreams, otherwise known as Molineux.  

Guedes, by comparison, is not a patch on Crainie, despite costing a wee bit more on the transfer fee front. Guedes is certainly an equally talented chap, but he never seems to enjoy playing professional football. 

Crainie wins hands down, with an added point for sticking two goals past the Albion that season in our first win of the campaign, November 26, 1983 (3-1 at Albion). 

Crainie with a 7 and only a poor 5 for Guedes. 

Squad Depth.

A clear win for the current squad, as players like Sarabia, Forbs, Guedes, Gomes, Andre, Doyle, Bueno, Doherty are miles better than their 1983 comparisons. Against the current benched internationals, we had the ‘talents’ of Dale Rudge, Billy Kellock, Mark Buckland, Billy Livingstone, Steve Mardenborough, to name but a few.  

Therefore, I give the current squad an 8 for depth with only a 3 for the 83/84 gang.   

Manager.

Oh dear. Graham Hawkins and Gary O’Neil were clearly out of their depth. In addition, both managers were handicapped by a lack of funds, but Hawkins at least never wasted 10m on a goalkeeper that was never needed.   

Hawkins and O’Neil with a 5.   

Shirt.

The Tatung embossed Wolves kit of 83/84 is perfect, with the colour being just the right shade. I did see a Tatung electrical shop once and entered it to see what all the fuss was about. Most of the goods were poor imitations of Sony products and failed to excite, which makes their sponsorship that season seem somewhat apt. Tatung, of course, are Taiwanese, so hopefully our Chinese owners keep their hands off them! Our current shirt, whilst decent enough, is not a patch on the 83/84 one.   

Tatung with a 10 and Debet with a 7. 

Final Scores: 

1983/84 Team: 100 

2024/25 Team: 101 

Thankfully our current team just about edges it, which gives us some confidence going into the remaining fixtures. Just as well, really, as the 1983/84 team had a shocking record of: P42, W6, D11, L25. Goals For: 27. Goals Against: 60. Points tally: 29.