Yet another reason why we should play with 5 at the back more often. The 3 CB's worked well, with Kilman back to his best as he was when playing as the right sided CB. Dawson had his best game, keeping Haaland quiet and Toti was pretty faultless on the left. All had very good games.
Semedo had his best game of the season as did Ait-Nouri and both are better suited as wing backs.
The front 3 of Hwang, Cunha and Neto worked to perfection. I questioned Neto playing on the right, but in hindsight, I don't think he would have had such a good game had he been up against Walker, so O'Neil got that right too. Cunha's work rate makes up for his lack of goals, while Hwang who was very quiet for the first 25 minutes or so, played a pivotal part on the left and took his goal well.
Every player did well, including those who came on as subs and my MoM goes to Neto who just edged out Dawson.
O'Neil's game plan worked and it could well be the same next week against Villa.
5-2-3 could also be changed to 5-2-2-1 if we wanted to play an out and out striker.
Well done GO and the lads for an entertaining game even though we had far less possession on the day.
It isn't yet another reason though is it?
Playing a back three against city isn't revolutionary.
Much as today was great and we did fantastic we need to pump the brakes a little in terms of the bigger picture. It isn't some kind of mystery as to how to go up against city, every season they get done like this a few times.
The real issue is how we will play when we are expected to take the game to the opposition and see more of the ball.
Villa next week will tell us far more than this game will have done today in reality.
Great stat that we win 2-1 despite having only one shot on target. This was a way of playing that worked well on the day but shouldn’t be seen as the benchmark for playing against most teams in the division
The reason I prefer 5 at the back is because we can play defensively against the likes of, City and play more aggressively like we did against Blackpool. It also got us into Europe
I do think we need a more solid base to work from and if back 5 gives us that until we can invest in some a stronger defensive full backs then I'm fine with that. Especially in the upcoming games.
How we work Bellegarde in to that formation though I don't know.
The back 3/5 works in games where we need to crowd the middle and can hit teams on the break. I would use it next week against Villa too.
Where it doesn't work and it didn't work under Nuno either, is in games against teams that sit back against us or play mostly without the ball. When we come to play the likes of Sheff Utd, Burnley, Luton, Bournemouth etc. Even the likes of Crystal Palace at home, we should be looking to play on the front foot and getting that extra attacker on the pitch.
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 6 minutes ago
The back 3/5 works in games where we need to crowd the middle and can hit teams on the break. I would use it next week against Villa too.
Where it doesn't work and it didn't work under Nuno either, is in games against teams that sit back against us or play mostly without the ball. When we come to play the likes of Sheff Utd, Burnley, Luton, Bournemouth etc. Even the likes of Crystal Palace at home, we should be looking to play on the front foot and getting that extra attacker on the pitch.
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Exactly this. These matches will ultimately be the ones that define our season as well.
I very much doubt we will face any team who will sit back and defend and I use Luton as an example
You can very much doubt it all you want. We have those sorts of games every season.
We are not going to be seen as a threat this season. Completely different from previous ones. Plus, we're more of an offensive looking side, as opposed to previous managers who were more defensive.
If the bottom club can be used to prove my point, there's not much more I can say.
We played away on a narrow pitch. When we play them later in the season at Molineux and points are becoming more crucial, I guarantee they will set up with men behind the ball.
That's without mentioning we played over half of the game with 10 men.
Forest played Brentford at home today and only had one shot on target all game. They barely threatened or looked to go forward for long periods of the game. If they are doing that at home to Brentford, then do you really think they we attack us at Molineux?
The last two games have reiterated my view that the jury is still out on O’Neil. We got it right yesterday and became the first team to beat City in the league this season.
Last week we got it very wrong and Luton had by far their highest possession figures in the league this season. The sending off didn’t help in that, but Luton were already well on top when it was 11v11.
Yesterday we had 3 shots last week we had 3 shots. So disappointing we didn’t adopt a more positive set up at Kenilworth Road.
The line up we used yesterday may well be appropriate against Villa next week. But in the away games that follow against Bournemouth and Sheff Utd it will be disappointing if we don’t adopt a more positive setup.
We have the potential to be an effective attacking team against all except the top teams. Compared to last season we have new faces to call on in Bellegarde, Kalajdzic, Fabio plus Neto is playing better than ever, Cunha is improving all the time, and Hwang has become a real goal poacher. Be criminal if we don’t spend more time playing in the opposition half against these kind of teams so we fulfil our scoring potential.
The problem is when we play a more attacking style, we get picked off at the back. Just don't trust us playing a back four, we're conceding too many, notwithstanding ridiculous penalty decisions. And when we do come up against teams that put men behind the ball (and we undoubtedly will given the way Neto is hurting teams on the break) the danger with the back five is that we revert to that horrible horseshoe of doom that drove us all nuts in Nuno's last months.
Are we intelligent enough as a team to switch between formations depending on the opposition? Not sure but on balance I'd rather keep clean sheets and trust that we've got some players in decent form (at last) up front that can nick something for us.
Flexible is the way to go for me.
Five at the back works in some games but won't in others.
comment by Oldgoldilox (U17303)
posted 7 hours, 34 minutes ago
The problem is when we play a more attacking style, we get picked off at the back. Just don't trust us playing a back four, we're conceding too many, notwithstanding ridiculous penalty decisions. And when we do come up against teams that put men behind the ball (and we undoubtedly will given the way Neto is hurting teams on the break) the danger with the back five is that we revert to that horrible horseshoe of doom that drove us all nuts in Nuno's last months.
Are we intelligent enough as a team to switch between formations depending on the opposition? Not sure but on balance I'd rather keep clean sheets and trust that we've got some players in decent form (at last) up front that can nick something for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Great post.
We've got a bed quilt that won't quiet cover our head and feet at the same time. We pull it up and our feet are cold, or we pull it down and our head gets chilly.
As I said previously, we need to keep it as tight as possible at the back to give ourselves any chance of picking up points.
In our last 5 games against Villa we’ve won 3 and drawn 2. Hope we can extend that positive run
There has been 133 games in total. Wolves have won 43 Games. Aston Villa have won 56 Games.
In 44 previous Premier League meetings against sides managed by Englishmen, Pap Guardiola had previously lost only once - against Graham Potter's Brighton in 2021.
That's a good recent record, I keep thinking back to that those two games against them in the promotion season, the first one was quite early in the season as I recall and we battered them at home, fantastic atmosphere and really set the tone for the rest of the season, Bonatini and Jota were brilliant that day. In the game at their place though it was quite different, it was us that got battered.
It will certainly be a lively atmosphere on Sunday. Villa having a good season and will be super confident after their thrashing of Brighton. And Wolves spirits certainly lifted by Saturday’s result. Plus a battle between two of the most in form scorers. Watkins is joint 2nd and Hwang joint 5th in the Premier League
Looks like Wolves may have dodged a bullet by not taking on Michael Beale after he was sacked by Rangers last night. Former Wolves full back and lunatic Kevin Muscat is one of the names being rumoured as his replacement
Former Man City and England forward Francis Lee has passed away. Remember going up to Maine Road to see him make his debut for City against Wolves
Played for Man Cheaty when they still had some integrity 👍
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Wolves v Man City Match Thread
Page 4 of 6
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posted on 1/10/23
Yet another reason why we should play with 5 at the back more often. The 3 CB's worked well, with Kilman back to his best as he was when playing as the right sided CB. Dawson had his best game, keeping Haaland quiet and Toti was pretty faultless on the left. All had very good games.
Semedo had his best game of the season as did Ait-Nouri and both are better suited as wing backs.
The front 3 of Hwang, Cunha and Neto worked to perfection. I questioned Neto playing on the right, but in hindsight, I don't think he would have had such a good game had he been up against Walker, so O'Neil got that right too. Cunha's work rate makes up for his lack of goals, while Hwang who was very quiet for the first 25 minutes or so, played a pivotal part on the left and took his goal well.
Every player did well, including those who came on as subs and my MoM goes to Neto who just edged out Dawson.
O'Neil's game plan worked and it could well be the same next week against Villa.
5-2-3 could also be changed to 5-2-2-1 if we wanted to play an out and out striker.
Well done GO and the lads for an entertaining game even though we had far less possession on the day.
posted on 1/10/23
It isn't yet another reason though is it?
Playing a back three against city isn't revolutionary.
Much as today was great and we did fantastic we need to pump the brakes a little in terms of the bigger picture. It isn't some kind of mystery as to how to go up against city, every season they get done like this a few times.
The real issue is how we will play when we are expected to take the game to the opposition and see more of the ball.
Villa next week will tell us far more than this game will have done today in reality.
posted on 1/10/23
Great stat that we win 2-1 despite having only one shot on target. This was a way of playing that worked well on the day but shouldn’t be seen as the benchmark for playing against most teams in the division
posted on 1/10/23
The reason I prefer 5 at the back is because we can play defensively against the likes of, City and play more aggressively like we did against Blackpool. It also got us into Europe
posted on 1/10/23
I do think we need a more solid base to work from and if back 5 gives us that until we can invest in some a stronger defensive full backs then I'm fine with that. Especially in the upcoming games.
How we work Bellegarde in to that formation though I don't know.
posted on 1/10/23
The back 3/5 works in games where we need to crowd the middle and can hit teams on the break. I would use it next week against Villa too.
Where it doesn't work and it didn't work under Nuno either, is in games against teams that sit back against us or play mostly without the ball. When we come to play the likes of Sheff Utd, Burnley, Luton, Bournemouth etc. Even the likes of Crystal Palace at home, we should be looking to play on the front foot and getting that extra attacker on the pitch.
posted on 1/10/23
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 6 minutes ago
The back 3/5 works in games where we need to crowd the middle and can hit teams on the break. I would use it next week against Villa too.
Where it doesn't work and it didn't work under Nuno either, is in games against teams that sit back against us or play mostly without the ball. When we come to play the likes of Sheff Utd, Burnley, Luton, Bournemouth etc. Even the likes of Crystal Palace at home, we should be looking to play on the front foot and getting that extra attacker on the pitch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly this. These matches will ultimately be the ones that define our season as well.
posted on 1/10/23
I very much doubt we will face any team who will sit back and defend and I use Luton as an example
posted on 1/10/23
You can very much doubt it all you want. We have those sorts of games every season.
posted on 1/10/23
We are not going to be seen as a threat this season. Completely different from previous ones. Plus, we're more of an offensive looking side, as opposed to previous managers who were more defensive.
If the bottom club can be used to prove my point, there's not much more I can say.
posted on 1/10/23
We played away on a narrow pitch. When we play them later in the season at Molineux and points are becoming more crucial, I guarantee they will set up with men behind the ball.
posted on 1/10/23
That's without mentioning we played over half of the game with 10 men.
Forest played Brentford at home today and only had one shot on target all game. They barely threatened or looked to go forward for long periods of the game. If they are doing that at home to Brentford, then do you really think they we attack us at Molineux?
posted on 1/10/23
The last two games have reiterated my view that the jury is still out on O’Neil. We got it right yesterday and became the first team to beat City in the league this season.
Last week we got it very wrong and Luton had by far their highest possession figures in the league this season. The sending off didn’t help in that, but Luton were already well on top when it was 11v11.
Yesterday we had 3 shots last week we had 3 shots. So disappointing we didn’t adopt a more positive set up at Kenilworth Road.
The line up we used yesterday may well be appropriate against Villa next week. But in the away games that follow against Bournemouth and Sheff Utd it will be disappointing if we don’t adopt a more positive setup.
We have the potential to be an effective attacking team against all except the top teams. Compared to last season we have new faces to call on in Bellegarde, Kalajdzic, Fabio plus Neto is playing better than ever, Cunha is improving all the time, and Hwang has become a real goal poacher. Be criminal if we don’t spend more time playing in the opposition half against these kind of teams so we fulfil our scoring potential.
posted on 1/10/23
The problem is when we play a more attacking style, we get picked off at the back. Just don't trust us playing a back four, we're conceding too many, notwithstanding ridiculous penalty decisions. And when we do come up against teams that put men behind the ball (and we undoubtedly will given the way Neto is hurting teams on the break) the danger with the back five is that we revert to that horrible horseshoe of doom that drove us all nuts in Nuno's last months.
Are we intelligent enough as a team to switch between formations depending on the opposition? Not sure but on balance I'd rather keep clean sheets and trust that we've got some players in decent form (at last) up front that can nick something for us.
posted on 1/10/23
Flexible is the way to go for me.
Five at the back works in some games but won't in others.
posted on 2/10/23
comment by Oldgoldilox (U17303)
posted 7 hours, 34 minutes ago
The problem is when we play a more attacking style, we get picked off at the back. Just don't trust us playing a back four, we're conceding too many, notwithstanding ridiculous penalty decisions. And when we do come up against teams that put men behind the ball (and we undoubtedly will given the way Neto is hurting teams on the break) the danger with the back five is that we revert to that horrible horseshoe of doom that drove us all nuts in Nuno's last months.
Are we intelligent enough as a team to switch between formations depending on the opposition? Not sure but on balance I'd rather keep clean sheets and trust that we've got some players in decent form (at last) up front that can nick something for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Great post.
We've got a bed quilt that won't quiet cover our head and feet at the same time. We pull it up and our feet are cold, or we pull it down and our head gets chilly.
As I said previously, we need to keep it as tight as possible at the back to give ourselves any chance of picking up points.
posted on 2/10/23
In our last 5 games against Villa we’ve won 3 and drawn 2. Hope we can extend that positive run
posted on 2/10/23
There has been 133 games in total. Wolves have won 43 Games. Aston Villa have won 56 Games.
posted on 2/10/23
In 44 previous Premier League meetings against sides managed by Englishmen, Pap Guardiola had previously lost only once - against Graham Potter's Brighton in 2021.
posted on 2/10/23
That's a good recent record, I keep thinking back to that those two games against them in the promotion season, the first one was quite early in the season as I recall and we battered them at home, fantastic atmosphere and really set the tone for the rest of the season, Bonatini and Jota were brilliant that day. In the game at their place though it was quite different, it was us that got battered.
posted on 2/10/23
It will certainly be a lively atmosphere on Sunday. Villa having a good season and will be super confident after their thrashing of Brighton. And Wolves spirits certainly lifted by Saturday’s result. Plus a battle between two of the most in form scorers. Watkins is joint 2nd and Hwang joint 5th in the Premier League
posted on 2/10/23
Looks like Wolves may have dodged a bullet by not taking on Michael Beale after he was sacked by Rangers last night. Former Wolves full back and lunatic Kevin Muscat is one of the names being rumoured as his replacement
posted on 2/10/23
Former Man City and England forward Francis Lee has passed away. Remember going up to Maine Road to see him make his debut for City against Wolves
posted on 2/10/23
Played for Man Cheaty when they still had some integrity 👍
posted on 2/10/23
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