Wolves fans opinions divided on Max Kilman

Whenever there is a bid on one of our own players—or just speculation that one may be about to depart—there is no shortage of comment and opinion from Claret and Blue supporters. Ben Johnson, for example, divides opinion, with recent comments offering a full spectrum of suggestions from ‘keep him’ through to ‘offload him immediately.’ So, looking at the Max Kilman transfer situation, with our club having made more than one bid to secure his services, what do Wolves fans make of the pending transfer of this, their own £35 million to £45 million-rated defender and captain?

“Kilman is priceless. What the hell is £40 million quid these days? Everyone keeps forgetting that he’s a full international. There is no English defender in the Premier League who has done what he has.” Thanks to Molineuxmix.co.uk for that—clearly, Lopetegui’s target has his strong advocates in the Midlands. And presumably, this is from someone who has seen him play. “Kilman is good, but he’s no Baresi,” came from the same source, and I guess it falls on the ‘positive’ side again. It’s interesting that most, but not all, comments from this source seem resigned to losing Kilman at some stage during the window.

Wolves fans undecided on Kilman

The poll on Molineuxmix entitled ‘Would you keep or sell Max Kilman?’ is currently running at 46% sell and 53.1% keep. I wonder how this would contrast with Hammers’ fans’ opinions on buying him. Your comments are welcome below.

Wolvesforum.co.uk yielded, “He’s a competent lower mid-table centre half,” while another keyboard contributor listed a whole series of centre halves from just about every PL club (apart from ours!) as being ‘better than Kilman’—notably one of those ‘better than’ options being none other than our own ex-centre back Craig Dawson. That contributor doesn’t place Kilman’s value at £40 million then—neither, presumably, did the poster who added: “There are lots of centre halves we could sign for £20 million that are better than Max Kilman, who cannot play in a back four, organize, pass, or play in a high line.”

Podcaster ‘Wolves Fancast’ yielded, “Sell Kilman for at least £40 million” and “Kilman is nowhere as good as is made out, and if it means keeping Joao Gomes, absolutely we must sell him.” It’s quite surprising to see so many comments in favor of a sale, while Always Wolves Fan TV included: “Should not have let Lopetegui go—bound to happen, he will take Wolves players. We will drop a division…”

With Simon Leyland (C&H yesterday) reporting we have submitted another bid worth £35 million plus add-ons, taking it nearer to £40 million in total, it is clear that our own management team doesn’t share the negativity. Our head coach obviously feels there is more to come from Kilman and that he will be the cornerstone around which he plans to build a new-look defense. Just as long as we don’t ship another 74 Premier League goals next season, maybe our own comments will be more positive.

What was pretty universal was the affection that Wolves fans feel for ex-Hammers centre back Craig Dawson. Comparisons with Kilman often showed Dawson to be way out ahead in terms of commitment and bravery—which we already knew—with just his age going against him now. It’s a shame we couldn’t entice him back for just one more season.