The first 20 minutes of the game on Saturday said so much about this Wolves team. We totally dominated midfield, had a succession of shots and corners, got players into the danger area, had shots cleared off the line. We pummelled them. If it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped to avoid Leicester having more punishment.
But they scored from the only two attacks they had in that period and that proved to be a knockout blow
One point that no one has mentioned is our lack of physicality and our small stature.
Having a midfield and attack who are small and weak does not help. The average height must be about 5ft
6 ins and most are off slight build. We need more bulk around.
To be clear I think Semedo, Ait Nouri and Bueno (on limited evidence) are arguably good enough to do their full back duties in a back five when there is closer support behind them but the evidence of my own eyes ( and I’m guessing stats might bear this out) says not so much when we only have two central defenders. I agree on his current form Jonny is the worst but when he is/was on form for me he was defensively the soundest. Marcal was ok defensively too but he’s gone as have Saiss, Boly and Coady. All these changes of personnel and a system have led to Sunday, probably the worst defensive display since Fosun took over.
Such a weird game yesterday. 61% possession. We had more shots on target than Leicester had shots at all. Diego Costa alone had more shots in the game than the whole of the opposition combined.
They had 4 shots on target, all of which ended up in the back of the net.
We dominated the first 10 minutes of each half, but in the end our heads dropped so far that most of the players were just desperate to get off the field. It was that aspect of the defeat I found most disappointing.
Somehow the players, many of whom are very good, need to regroup. This will depend to a great degree on the coaching staff.
Are they up to the job?
Not sure.
I don't think that defensive display was the worst since Fosun took over. The worst by far are the 4-0 defeats to Burnley and West Ham in Nuno's last season. We were completely bullied in those games and could have lost by more.
Yesterday the opposition only had 4 shots on goal. Claiming it was the worst defensive display is a complete overreaction.
The most concerning thing about yesterday is the complete lack of direction and leadership.
OK, it was one of our worst defensive displays. The goals were far too easy. Defence went totally missing for three of the goals.
I agree about the lack of direction and leadership and would add fighting spirit. When was the last time we recovered from falling behind? Contrast with points dropped after going in front already this season, eight, I think. Regarding all of which Coady was a big, big mistake. Our loss is pretty much like for like Everton’s gain. You never know what goes on behind the scenes but unless someone knows better I put the blame on Lage who was always a risky appointment as all out managers under Fosun have been. With Nuno, the risk paid off.
Be a bit of a blow if Villa get Amorim in...
Fosun have been in charge for over 200 games now, the showing yesterday can be pi$$ poor without being the worst under them.
The owners have been making one bad decision after another for a long time and if they get the next big one – who takes over from Lage & when – wrong we can kiss our time in this league goodbye.
I have very little faith that they'll get it right.
The next appointment is absolutely vital and there has to be a concern that Fosun will take a look at the league table and make a knee jerk appointment despite the fact we said a week ago we’ll take our time until after the World Cup.
Villa appear to be knocking on the door of Sporting rather than settle for them saying their manager isn’t available. And some reports now saying his release clause had been changed down to £10m which is a pittance in this game if he’s the right man for the job. We are now directly competing with Villa to get a top manager, and that’s a competition where you can’t help feeling we will finish second of two
Leeds quite likely after a new manager as well in a few weeks.
League table all very tight and ripe for a climb upwards if we could only get our act together. Notice that West Ham are currently one place above the relegation spots. If they win at home to Bournemouth tonight they will be in the top half
It's a shame we don't look like we will manage another win in 2022 at the moment.
And that is the crux of the problem.
If it is 2023 by the time the new manager comes in then we will have played at least 17 games and could be facing a massive uphill task to close the gap to safety. Plus the new manager will be coming in just as the window opens, surely we need someone in now so they can treat the break for the World Cup as a pre-season and have assessed the squad before going into the market for much needed reinforcements.
When most managers are sacked, they tend to take a lot of the coaching team with them. Are we really short on first team coaches now? Surely it's only Steve Davis, Jamie Collins and Neil Roberts left; which doesn't seem like a Premier League coaching outfit.
I imagine we are going to keep getting worse as it doesn't seem to me like we even have the coaches to make up for the missing head coach.
Football returns after the World Cup on Boxing Day and the fixtures for the holiday period have now been finalised.
We are away at Everton at 15:00 on Boxing Day which will be on Amazon.
On New Years Eve we are at home to Man Utd at 12:30 on BT
Then on Jan 4th we are at Villa at 20:00
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
What have the Romans ever done for us?
That was tongue in cheek.
I have no problem with where players and managers come from so long as they do their best and in the process hopefully improve the team. There were a fair few French guys at Arsenal and that never seemed to do them much harm.
My problem is that, by and large, it has closed the clubs eyes to other sources, particularly those with Premier League experience. I’m thinking of players like
Bowen, McGinn, Ings and Madison and managers like Graham Potter and Eddie Howe.
On a number of occasions Fosun have said they would look closer to home but recently, with the exception of Collins this hasn’t happened.
The Premier League, in terms of its depth and physicality, is like no other and catches out quite a number of imports from less competitive and less physical leagues. We have two examples of this right now - Guedes and Nunes - who are both struggling to adapt despite coming to us with very good reputations and at a big cost.
I’m starting to worry we’re going down the same road as another of Mendes projects - Valencia.
Villa appointment Unai Emery. There are no outstanding candidates out there for us though.
comment by wolfieinFL (U16306)
posted 3 hours, 8 minutes ago
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right my prediction of 13th is miles away
What did you predict top 7?
So you predict Europe based on the squad and then slag the squad off
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 2 hours ago
Villa appointment Unai Emery. There are no outstanding candidates out there for us though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, have to admit that is a big slap in the face isn't it. You could put a case forward that Unai Emery is in the top 20 managers in Europe, perhaps higher.
Surely this confirms it is the guys running the show that are the problem right?
comment by wolfieinFL (U16306)
posted about 7 hours ago
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I still don't understand this Portuguese angle.
I don't care where they come from so long as they are good enough and I personally think it is just about impossible to judge any of the new guys when they have effectively been managerless since they arrived.
Gallardo probably gonna go to Villareal as well.
Unreal
Argumentative as usual, but my views haven't changed on the reliance of both players and coaches coming out of Portugal, plus Mendes making a bunch of money in the process.
Our squad, even now, should be at least mid table, but there is a lack of urgency among this squad and it cannot be blamed entirely on Lage.
The sooner the club dispense with little Jeff the better. He has tried his best, but unfortunately, he lacks the knowledge of the Premier League and has been conned by Mendes.
Right now this club has to look for a genuine, experienced coach, if we are to avoid the dreaded drop. Thankfully, time is on our side.
Good players can adapt quickly at this level and the new arrivals have had time and should be showing off their skills, no matter who is in charge. Guedes didn't even get off the bench, so it's about time people started to wake up and not keep making excuses for Mendes and the players he suggests to buy.
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Wolves v Leicester Match Day Thread
Page 6 of 8
6 | 7 | 8
posted on 24/10/22
The first 20 minutes of the game on Saturday said so much about this Wolves team. We totally dominated midfield, had a succession of shots and corners, got players into the danger area, had shots cleared off the line. We pummelled them. If it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped to avoid Leicester having more punishment.
But they scored from the only two attacks they had in that period and that proved to be a knockout blow
posted on 24/10/22
One point that no one has mentioned is our lack of physicality and our small stature.
Having a midfield and attack who are small and weak does not help. The average height must be about 5ft
6 ins and most are off slight build. We need more bulk around.
posted on 24/10/22
To be clear I think Semedo, Ait Nouri and Bueno (on limited evidence) are arguably good enough to do their full back duties in a back five when there is closer support behind them but the evidence of my own eyes ( and I’m guessing stats might bear this out) says not so much when we only have two central defenders. I agree on his current form Jonny is the worst but when he is/was on form for me he was defensively the soundest. Marcal was ok defensively too but he’s gone as have Saiss, Boly and Coady. All these changes of personnel and a system have led to Sunday, probably the worst defensive display since Fosun took over.
posted on 24/10/22
Such a weird game yesterday. 61% possession. We had more shots on target than Leicester had shots at all. Diego Costa alone had more shots in the game than the whole of the opposition combined.
They had 4 shots on target, all of which ended up in the back of the net.
We dominated the first 10 minutes of each half, but in the end our heads dropped so far that most of the players were just desperate to get off the field. It was that aspect of the defeat I found most disappointing.
Somehow the players, many of whom are very good, need to regroup. This will depend to a great degree on the coaching staff.
Are they up to the job?
Not sure.
posted on 24/10/22
I don't think that defensive display was the worst since Fosun took over. The worst by far are the 4-0 defeats to Burnley and West Ham in Nuno's last season. We were completely bullied in those games and could have lost by more.
Yesterday the opposition only had 4 shots on goal. Claiming it was the worst defensive display is a complete overreaction.
The most concerning thing about yesterday is the complete lack of direction and leadership.
posted on 24/10/22
OK, it was one of our worst defensive displays. The goals were far too easy. Defence went totally missing for three of the goals.
I agree about the lack of direction and leadership and would add fighting spirit. When was the last time we recovered from falling behind? Contrast with points dropped after going in front already this season, eight, I think. Regarding all of which Coady was a big, big mistake. Our loss is pretty much like for like Everton’s gain. You never know what goes on behind the scenes but unless someone knows better I put the blame on Lage who was always a risky appointment as all out managers under Fosun have been. With Nuno, the risk paid off.
posted on 24/10/22
Be a bit of a blow if Villa get Amorim in...
posted on 24/10/22
Fosun have been in charge for over 200 games now, the showing yesterday can be pi$$ poor without being the worst under them.
The owners have been making one bad decision after another for a long time and if they get the next big one – who takes over from Lage & when – wrong we can kiss our time in this league goodbye.
I have very little faith that they'll get it right.
posted on 24/10/22
The next appointment is absolutely vital and there has to be a concern that Fosun will take a look at the league table and make a knee jerk appointment despite the fact we said a week ago we’ll take our time until after the World Cup.
Villa appear to be knocking on the door of Sporting rather than settle for them saying their manager isn’t available. And some reports now saying his release clause had been changed down to £10m which is a pittance in this game if he’s the right man for the job. We are now directly competing with Villa to get a top manager, and that’s a competition where you can’t help feeling we will finish second of two
posted on 24/10/22
Leeds quite likely after a new manager as well in a few weeks.
posted on 24/10/22
League table all very tight and ripe for a climb upwards if we could only get our act together. Notice that West Ham are currently one place above the relegation spots. If they win at home to Bournemouth tonight they will be in the top half
posted on 24/10/22
It's a shame we don't look like we will manage another win in 2022 at the moment.
posted on 24/10/22
And that is the crux of the problem.
If it is 2023 by the time the new manager comes in then we will have played at least 17 games and could be facing a massive uphill task to close the gap to safety. Plus the new manager will be coming in just as the window opens, surely we need someone in now so they can treat the break for the World Cup as a pre-season and have assessed the squad before going into the market for much needed reinforcements.
posted on 24/10/22
When most managers are sacked, they tend to take a lot of the coaching team with them. Are we really short on first team coaches now? Surely it's only Steve Davis, Jamie Collins and Neil Roberts left; which doesn't seem like a Premier League coaching outfit.
I imagine we are going to keep getting worse as it doesn't seem to me like we even have the coaches to make up for the missing head coach.
posted on 24/10/22
Football returns after the World Cup on Boxing Day and the fixtures for the holiday period have now been finalised.
We are away at Everton at 15:00 on Boxing Day which will be on Amazon.
On New Years Eve we are at home to Man Utd at 12:30 on BT
Then on Jan 4th we are at Villa at 20:00
posted on 24/10/22
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
posted on 24/10/22
What have the Romans ever done for us?
posted on 24/10/22
That was tongue in cheek.
posted on 24/10/22
I have no problem with where players and managers come from so long as they do their best and in the process hopefully improve the team. There were a fair few French guys at Arsenal and that never seemed to do them much harm.
My problem is that, by and large, it has closed the clubs eyes to other sources, particularly those with Premier League experience. I’m thinking of players like
Bowen, McGinn, Ings and Madison and managers like Graham Potter and Eddie Howe.
On a number of occasions Fosun have said they would look closer to home but recently, with the exception of Collins this hasn’t happened.
The Premier League, in terms of its depth and physicality, is like no other and catches out quite a number of imports from less competitive and less physical leagues. We have two examples of this right now - Guedes and Nunes - who are both struggling to adapt despite coming to us with very good reputations and at a big cost.
I’m starting to worry we’re going down the same road as another of Mendes projects - Valencia.
posted on 24/10/22
Villa appointment Unai Emery. There are no outstanding candidates out there for us though.
posted on 24/10/22
comment by wolfieinFL (U16306)
posted 3 hours, 8 minutes ago
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right my prediction of 13th is miles away
What did you predict top 7?
So you predict Europe based on the squad and then slag the squad off
posted on 24/10/22
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted about 2 hours ago
Villa appointment Unai Emery. There are no outstanding candidates out there for us though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, have to admit that is a big slap in the face isn't it. You could put a case forward that Unai Emery is in the top 20 managers in Europe, perhaps higher.
Surely this confirms it is the guys running the show that are the problem right?
posted on 25/10/22
comment by wolfieinFL (U16306)
posted about 7 hours ago
Perhaps all you bright sparks can tell me why it is, we continually go for players from Portugal?
Ok, they got us out of the Championship and apart from two 7th pace finishes (with a back 3, I might add), what have the Portuguese ever done for us?
Why has no-one addressed the fact that our two latest recruits have done very little, if anything to stem the side? Costa seems to be a far cry from what he was before and I don't think he will be the answer.
Shi has to hand over the reins to someone who knows what he's doing. If not, then we will lose our better players in January and be in for a relegation fight for the remainder of the season.
A far cry from pre season predictions on here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I still don't understand this Portuguese angle.
I don't care where they come from so long as they are good enough and I personally think it is just about impossible to judge any of the new guys when they have effectively been managerless since they arrived.
posted on 25/10/22
Gallardo probably gonna go to Villareal as well.
Unreal
posted on 25/10/22
Argumentative as usual, but my views haven't changed on the reliance of both players and coaches coming out of Portugal, plus Mendes making a bunch of money in the process.
Our squad, even now, should be at least mid table, but there is a lack of urgency among this squad and it cannot be blamed entirely on Lage.
The sooner the club dispense with little Jeff the better. He has tried his best, but unfortunately, he lacks the knowledge of the Premier League and has been conned by Mendes.
Right now this club has to look for a genuine, experienced coach, if we are to avoid the dreaded drop. Thankfully, time is on our side.
Good players can adapt quickly at this level and the new arrivals have had time and should be showing off their skills, no matter who is in charge. Guedes didn't even get off the bench, so it's about time people started to wake up and not keep making excuses for Mendes and the players he suggests to buy.
Page 6 of 8
6 | 7 | 8