George Lakin

This is a beautiful, beautiful tribute. One that makes you realise that right at the heart of the most glorious memories for Wolves fans in the modern era is Diogo Jota. His arrival marked the start of our uprising. Willing to join a team languishing in the Championship, in a country he didn’t know, in a city he’d probably never heard of... simply because he bought into our dream. His willingness to lift our club and city off the ground will never be forgotten. He put us back on the map. His willingness to take a chance in life is a lesson for us all. And 'willingness' is the word I use to describe him because boundless willingness is what made a humble, down to earth young lad from Portugal a symbol of hope and fearless ambition in Wolverhampton. A symbol now immortalised. In the Championship, he excelled. Not bullied physically in one of the most demanding leagues in the world. In fact, he bossed it: tenacious, physical, dogged, determined. No one could handle him. We knew he was a star from the get-go. Soon, so did the entire Premier League- then the whole of Europe. Has a newly promoted club ever taken the Premier League by storm quite like Diogo Jota's Wolves? Then he scores our first European goal in 40+ years. He scores back-to-back European hat-tricks at Molineux against Beşiktaş and Espanyol. He was a history maker. Redefining who we were. We hadn’t dreamed of heights, or nights, like this just a few years prior, yet here we were, with him, Neves, Moutinho, Raúl Jiménez and co. A true golden era. One that he spearheaded. The sky was the limit. Perhaps the very peak of that period, and Jota’s finest moment in a Wolves shirt, was his FA Cup quarter-final goal against Manchester United in 2019. A storming run from the halfway line and bang. Ecstasy. Jubilation. We were going to Wembley. This was us now. An unstoppable force. A footballing force to be reckoned with. Mixing it with best. Beating the best. And it was all thanks to Diogo. It was a goal that embodied him as a person: spirited, determined, a true force of nature. In fact, he came to embody everything that was 'Wolves' at that time- we saw it all on the pitch, and we were just riding his wave. It was palpable. Ultimately, he created a legacy. A figurehead in a period in which we rose from the doldrums to the elite in rapid fashion. It was dizzying. It was a period we’ll never forget. And one, right now, we can only dream of reaching again. But we have the memories. The priceless, timeless memories. Around Molineux are the words “OLD GOLD”, with the acronym: Our Loving Devotion Guides Our Lifelong Dream. Diogo Jota was a man who didn't take these words lightly. In the years he gave us, he lived and breathed them. Because for a brief moment in all of our lives -a special moment in time- he made that lifelong dream a reality. He was everything you could ever want from anyone that wears the shirt, and we were proud of him beyond words- even after he went to Liverpool and won it all. Why? Because we knew he was destined for greatness. We knew he deserved it all. He shifted our entire universe. He shifted the entire stature of our club in modernity. In many respects, he made us what we are today and what we strive to one day become again. He's engrained in the DNA of Wolves, and he always will be. How many can say that? His achievements as a footballer are truly immeasurable. As a person even more so. Diogo Jota, you were a special, special player. Thank you for the huge part of yourself you gave to us all. We are a club forever in your debt. May you and your brother rest in everlasting peace.

@bonesjones Same 😂😂🤞🤞

@GesLakin Yep. Gonna take a miracle of biblical to keep this lot up. But, I'm backing RE to do it. It's the hope that kills you...🤣

Given the set up he opted for, and the quality of the opposition, that's probably as good of a first 45 mins as RE could've dreamed of. We're so painfully limited technically, this the only way we can compete. Set pieces defended well too.

@bonesjones Good teams always gonna cut through us, relying on a slice of luck every game as well unfortunately 😭

@GesLakin Rode our luck a few times, though. Agree about the lack of quality, it's been an issue for ages. Palarse are a good side.

Ft Chelsea Good luck, Rob 👍

@joshuabuckley Frustrating but true yeah. Undeniable though that you can see an extra determination to make up that half yard when defending compared to recent weeks.

@GesLakin It's easier for long-time fans to say play for the shirt. Most of these players probably knew nothing about Wolves until they were being signed. The manager's style has a way bigger effect on them.

Can't fault the effort so far, but makes you wonder where this determination and fight has been. You play for the shirt before the manager. Need more from JSL, his role is crucial, has to stick. Each admittedly scarce moment he gets just has to count for something.

@molineuxmusings Ye I don't disagree at all, I just think he'd be starting from a positive place, whereas with someone like Gon or a random unknown enforcer type - not so much. Truth is I think I'm just in desperate need of some 'feel good' surrounding wolves, something wholesome 🤣

@GesLakin I’m sure he would, but a solid PR image will never survive whatever happens on the pitch. Fact is, if things don’t go his way, the mask will slip like it does with all football managers. If the players like him and buy in, the rest follows

Don't think Edwards keeps us up but given the mess we're in we could do a lot worse than bringing in a good honest bloke like him who's one of our own. All things considered if the approach is successful and he leaves a solid job at Boro to help us, he'd get my full backing.

@molineuxmusings Not about being a bastion of society more that he's clearly a decent bloke who presents himself well. Given the toxicity that's come to surround us a figurehead of his ilk might ease things. Gut just tells me if he got it he'd represent wolves well, which we need rn.

@GesLakin Which means it suits us, so we won’t care about the manner of his departure. Footballers/football managers will work a situation in their favour wherever possible, I don’t think any of them are particular bastions of society.

@molineuxmusings Na I think it still does if wolves is where his hearts at

@GesLakin Not sure the ‘good, honest bloke’ line holds too much water if he engineers his way out of Boro

@StPaul197173 That's how I see it, not making out he was a club legend or anything but that does show very clearly his affinity to Wolves.

@GesLakin Clearly love's the club if willing to walk away from a good club, chairman, fanbase to chance his carrier at molinuex.

@t_j_mcg It is a good point u make about the Luton double dip I can't lie.

@GesLakin Not that I expect him to, as we’re relegated anyway, but couldn’t stop the ship from sinking at Luton. 1 eye on next season is another comment being banded around, August is a long time away and long time to keep losing, it doesn’t just work like that. Another poor Fosun recruit

@t_j_mcg I'm saying I would buy in to that as something to hang on to irrespective of feelings towards owners which would remain totally unchanged tbf

@t_j_mcg Not lapping it tbf - it's uninspiring but he clearly has a spot for us and that might work better than a cold appointment right now given how distanced fans feel from club currently. RE wouldn't be blagging his affinity to Wolves if he came here and quit boro, it'd be genuine.

@Vaughany1973 Gut says yeah due to how well he knows the club +they've proven themselves to be utterly useless up to now +his approach seems to be more to win ppl over with charm/warm-strictness rather than being an enforcer, which can work, and the latter didn't work under vp anyway.

@GesLakin Do you think he"ll get the respect of all the players?

@TheRealRichie_G Not denying that, but equally not sure most fans are even emotionally available enough to be played like a fiddle at all anymore. Overwhelming feeling surrounding Wolves for myself and most other fans I speak to in person these days isn't necessarily anger, it's complete apathy.

@GesLakin Fosun play fans like a fiddle every single time

Bring me Ten Hag 100m war chest in Jan Another double over united Survival on goal difference Pretend there's a plan Fall out in the summer behind the scenes Sacked by Nov 26 We go again. Vintage wolves.

@bonesjones 🤣🤣

@GesLakin I hope those headlines are clickbait, surely even Jeff isn't that bloody stupid?

Vp gone, but we need a miracle. A big name with a point to prove, because right now we feel like last season's Southampton, and replacing Martin with Juric was completely ineffective. So who has the gravitas to shift the tide?

Well he did always say all he needed was another cb Got about 15 now