comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 30 minutes ago
U21s playing in the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy tonight with an away game at Port Vale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, shame we're still under Tier 3 Covid restrictions here or I may have been able to use my connections at the Vale to blag a seat in the directors box again tonight.
One of my least pleasant away trips ever was to Port Vale in the bad old days when we were sinking down the divisions. Stood on open terraces, freezing cold, throwing it down with snow, and we were three down inside 20 minutes. One of those days when you thought ‘why am I doing this?’
Noticed on BBC that Hulk has been released by Shanghai and is likely to move to England on a free. 34 years old Striker who played with Nuno at Porto, built like Traore looks a bit like Jimenez with a beard. A short term option?
Just reading about expected goals stats, which I've always dismissed as nonsense, but apparently we are at the point in the season where this stat is at its most telling in terms of predicting how well teams are creating and defending against attempts on goal.
Wolves are performing closest of any PL team to their expected goals totals, so 11 scored versus 10.7 expected. 15 conceded versus 13.9 expected. So this tells us that we are generally converting the good chances that we create but not necessarily displaying any stunning finishing from areas where you're less likely to be scoring, Southampton for example are massively over achieving largely thanks to Ing finishing and Ward Prowse's freekicks (21 versus 11.8). What does it all mean, I guess that we generally as a team get the results we deserve out of games for the quality of our attacking and defending, we arent over or under achieving to a great degree or being lucky or unlucky. Given we're tenth now, it's probably a decent indicator that that's where we will end up unless we sign a world class striker in January or suffer bad luck with injuries, poor form or dodgy VAR calls.
The loss of Raul is a massive blow and that coming as the team were going through a spell of change due to the different formation has compounded the difficulty. I think it would be a great achievement to finish in the top half now.
One of the motivations for changing to 4231 was to improve our attacking options but the loss of Raul could more than cancel that out. And with 4 at the back I think we’ll struggle to maintain the excellent defensive record we’ve had since returning to the top flight.
A slip down the table is a real threat now unless we get a settled and effective defensive set up, and bring in a Raul replacement in Jan that lands running
comment by tartanwolf (U17641)
posted 30 minutes ago
Noticed on BBC that Hulk has been released by Shanghai and is likely to move to England on a free. 34 years old Striker who played with Nuno at Porto, built like Traore looks a bit like Jimenez with a beard. A short term option?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes please. He would do nicely until the end of the season.
Until January we need to at least start games with Silva in my opinion, five games isn't it which can be a decent sample size. If after five games he isn't looking anywhere near ready then we can go into the transfer market, simple.
To sideline him right now to me would be a little pointless and do nobody any favours. Also I think we need to give up with any major expectations, it's a strange season, we look flat with so few games so let's use it to transition and blood some youngsters, we won't be going down.
Aït-Nouri instead of Marcal for one, if Ait-Nouri isn't going to see games up against a year stop gap he has no chance when Jonny comes back and we won't be signing him and instead watching the CL a year from now wondering how we screwed it up with him.
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
He may not be the real deal right now Goldi, but now is the best time to see if he has got some potential. We really don't have a choice at the moment and what better time to see what he can do. Playing time is what'll make him better.
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 15 minutes ago
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
in the past i have been described as the incredible bulk
Not a lot of experience in the U21s tonight, Hoever, Buur & Shabani probably the most notable names in the side.
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 4 minutes ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 15 minutes ago
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
in the past i have been described as the incredible bulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the past i have been described as the incredible sulk
Midfielder Taylor Perry can’t stop scoring for the young Wolves teams recently and he’s put them ahead at Port Vale tonight
U21s went out to Port Vale 2-1. We had more possession, more shots, more corners but less goals
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And we excelled against Liverpool
Listening to an interview with Dendoncker online and as a kid he used to play striker. Since being a professional he has always played in defence or midfield, and he does put midfield as his preference
I don't think Gems idea of Dendoncker up front is that daft to be honest. Especially if Nuno doesn't trust Silva yet
comment by Cinciwolf in the desert (U11551)
posted 37 minutes ago
I don't think Gems idea of Dendoncker up front is that daft to be honest. Especially if Nuno doesn't trust Silva yet
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think it's so much a case of not trusting him but more a case of not putting the lad under so much pressure too early in his Wolves career. Silva is undoubtedly talented and he has looked pretty comfortable in his appearances so far but asking him to lead the line for 90 minutes against Chelsea, Spurs and Man U is really akin to chucking him in at the deep end and yelling "Swim"
I'm not for a minute suggesting that Silva be totally left out but rather that he should continue to make appearances from the bench so that he can gain more experience and build confidence.
comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 18 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And we excelled against Liverpool
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn't play a striker against Liverpool though. We turned our 4-2-3-1 into a 4-3-3-0, then wondered why we had no focal point in attack and no one to hold the ball up.
Throwing a £35 million 18 year old in at the deep end from time to time is exactly what we should be doing. People act like no 18 year old has ever made it in the Premier League before.
Only giving him the odd appearance from the bench will stunt his development. We now have the ideal opportunity to give Silva a run of games. We can always rest him when things are not going well.
Precisely my point Tam. With no CF against Liverpool we were never going to score, we have to have a focal point in the box to make the most of crosses coming in. Adama in particular puts in high crosses which are going to sail over the heads of Neto and Podence. Silva is too lightweight (at the moment) to make the most of high balls into the box.
You say we can always rest him when things are no going well and replace him with Who?
comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
Precisely my point Tam. With no CF against Liverpool we were never going to score, we have to have a focal point in the box to make the most of crosses coming in. Adama in particular puts in high crosses which are going to sail over the heads of Neto and Podence. Silva is too lightweight (at the moment) to make the most of high balls into the box.
You say we can always rest him when things are no going well and replace him with Who?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silva barely played against Liverpool though. He was fine as a focal point against Arsenal the game before. The reason we didnt have a focal point was because Podence started through the middle on his own. He is not going to hold the ball up or occupy defenders, as his game is to play off a striker and play in pockets of space (which weren't there without a focal point).
Everyone is saying Silva isn't ready, but he hasn't really had a chance yet. The one real chance he did get to play against Arsenal he was fine. People's solutions seem to be to go back to a back three and be more defensive, which will make games even more difficult when we have no way to get out our own half. Give players like Silva and Corbeneau a chance to play in their own positions. If we aren't going to do that when we have a crisis, then we never will.
If it doesnt work out, we have January to do something. At least we will know, rather than playing a month of dire football with no forwards.
Sign in if you want to comment
Wolves v Aston Villa preview [LIVE]
Page 2 of 4
posted on 8/12/20
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 30 minutes ago
U21s playing in the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy tonight with an away game at Port Vale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, shame we're still under Tier 3 Covid restrictions here or I may have been able to use my connections at the Vale to blag a seat in the directors box again tonight.
posted on 8/12/20
One of my least pleasant away trips ever was to Port Vale in the bad old days when we were sinking down the divisions. Stood on open terraces, freezing cold, throwing it down with snow, and we were three down inside 20 minutes. One of those days when you thought ‘why am I doing this?’
posted on 8/12/20
Noticed on BBC that Hulk has been released by Shanghai and is likely to move to England on a free. 34 years old Striker who played with Nuno at Porto, built like Traore looks a bit like Jimenez with a beard. A short term option?
posted on 8/12/20
Just reading about expected goals stats, which I've always dismissed as nonsense, but apparently we are at the point in the season where this stat is at its most telling in terms of predicting how well teams are creating and defending against attempts on goal.
Wolves are performing closest of any PL team to their expected goals totals, so 11 scored versus 10.7 expected. 15 conceded versus 13.9 expected. So this tells us that we are generally converting the good chances that we create but not necessarily displaying any stunning finishing from areas where you're less likely to be scoring, Southampton for example are massively over achieving largely thanks to Ing finishing and Ward Prowse's freekicks (21 versus 11.8). What does it all mean, I guess that we generally as a team get the results we deserve out of games for the quality of our attacking and defending, we arent over or under achieving to a great degree or being lucky or unlucky. Given we're tenth now, it's probably a decent indicator that that's where we will end up unless we sign a world class striker in January or suffer bad luck with injuries, poor form or dodgy VAR calls.
posted on 8/12/20
The loss of Raul is a massive blow and that coming as the team were going through a spell of change due to the different formation has compounded the difficulty. I think it would be a great achievement to finish in the top half now.
One of the motivations for changing to 4231 was to improve our attacking options but the loss of Raul could more than cancel that out. And with 4 at the back I think we’ll struggle to maintain the excellent defensive record we’ve had since returning to the top flight.
A slip down the table is a real threat now unless we get a settled and effective defensive set up, and bring in a Raul replacement in Jan that lands running
posted on 8/12/20
comment by tartanwolf (U17641)
posted 30 minutes ago
Noticed on BBC that Hulk has been released by Shanghai and is likely to move to England on a free. 34 years old Striker who played with Nuno at Porto, built like Traore looks a bit like Jimenez with a beard. A short term option?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes please. He would do nicely until the end of the season.
posted on 8/12/20
Until January we need to at least start games with Silva in my opinion, five games isn't it which can be a decent sample size. If after five games he isn't looking anywhere near ready then we can go into the transfer market, simple.
To sideline him right now to me would be a little pointless and do nobody any favours. Also I think we need to give up with any major expectations, it's a strange season, we look flat with so few games so let's use it to transition and blood some youngsters, we won't be going down.
Aït-Nouri instead of Marcal for one, if Ait-Nouri isn't going to see games up against a year stop gap he has no chance when Jonny comes back and we won't be signing him and instead watching the CL a year from now wondering how we screwed it up with him.
posted on 8/12/20
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
posted on 8/12/20
He may not be the real deal right now Goldi, but now is the best time to see if he has got some potential. We really don't have a choice at the moment and what better time to see what he can do. Playing time is what'll make him better.
posted on 8/12/20
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
posted on 8/12/20
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 15 minutes ago
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
in the past i have been described as the incredible bulk
posted on 8/12/20
Not a lot of experience in the U21s tonight, Hoever, Buur & Shabani probably the most notable names in the side.
posted on 8/12/20
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
posted on 8/12/20
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 4 minutes ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 15 minutes ago
I’m told he’s incredible that Hulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
in the past i have been described as the incredible bulk
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the past i have been described as the incredible sulk
posted on 8/12/20
Midfielder Taylor Perry can’t stop scoring for the young Wolves teams recently and he’s put them ahead at Port Vale tonight
posted on 8/12/20
U21s went out to Port Vale 2-1. We had more possession, more shots, more corners but less goals
posted on 8/12/20
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And we excelled against Liverpool
posted on 9/12/20
Listening to an interview with Dendoncker online and as a kid he used to play striker. Since being a professional he has always played in defence or midfield, and he does put midfield as his preference
posted on 9/12/20
I don't think Gems idea of Dendoncker up front is that daft to be honest. Especially if Nuno doesn't trust Silva yet
posted on 9/12/20
comment by Cinciwolf in the desert (U11551)
posted 37 minutes ago
I don't think Gems idea of Dendoncker up front is that daft to be honest. Especially if Nuno doesn't trust Silva yet
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think it's so much a case of not trusting him but more a case of not putting the lad under so much pressure too early in his Wolves career. Silva is undoubtedly talented and he has looked pretty comfortable in his appearances so far but asking him to lead the line for 90 minutes against Chelsea, Spurs and Man U is really akin to chucking him in at the deep end and yelling "Swim"
posted on 9/12/20
I'm not for a minute suggesting that Silva be totally left out but rather that he should continue to make appearances from the bench so that he can gain more experience and build confidence.
posted on 9/12/20
comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 18 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Biggus Dikkuss (U8869)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
personally, without raul i dont think we have the threat up front to warrant changing the formation to a back 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We really struggled in the Arsenal game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And we excelled against Liverpool
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn't play a striker against Liverpool though. We turned our 4-2-3-1 into a 4-3-3-0, then wondered why we had no focal point in attack and no one to hold the ball up.
posted on 9/12/20
Throwing a £35 million 18 year old in at the deep end from time to time is exactly what we should be doing. People act like no 18 year old has ever made it in the Premier League before.
Only giving him the odd appearance from the bench will stunt his development. We now have the ideal opportunity to give Silva a run of games. We can always rest him when things are not going well.
posted on 9/12/20
Precisely my point Tam. With no CF against Liverpool we were never going to score, we have to have a focal point in the box to make the most of crosses coming in. Adama in particular puts in high crosses which are going to sail over the heads of Neto and Podence. Silva is too lightweight (at the moment) to make the most of high balls into the box.
You say we can always rest him when things are no going well and replace him with Who?
posted on 9/12/20
comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
Precisely my point Tam. With no CF against Liverpool we were never going to score, we have to have a focal point in the box to make the most of crosses coming in. Adama in particular puts in high crosses which are going to sail over the heads of Neto and Podence. Silva is too lightweight (at the moment) to make the most of high balls into the box.
You say we can always rest him when things are no going well and replace him with Who?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silva barely played against Liverpool though. He was fine as a focal point against Arsenal the game before. The reason we didnt have a focal point was because Podence started through the middle on his own. He is not going to hold the ball up or occupy defenders, as his game is to play off a striker and play in pockets of space (which weren't there without a focal point).
Everyone is saying Silva isn't ready, but he hasn't really had a chance yet. The one real chance he did get to play against Arsenal he was fine. People's solutions seem to be to go back to a back three and be more defensive, which will make games even more difficult when we have no way to get out our own half. Give players like Silva and Corbeneau a chance to play in their own positions. If we aren't going to do that when we have a crisis, then we never will.
If it doesnt work out, we have January to do something. At least we will know, rather than playing a month of dire football with no forwards.
Page 2 of 4