Brentford 2-2 Wolves - Verdict Thread (16/03/26)

[Wilf Wolf]

The fourth first half where we’ve offered absolutely nothing going forward until the final
moments. Its dreadful to watch and I doubt it is doing anything for planning for next season.

Angel looks better in the ball than anyone else and would be a decent option in the Championship. I think there’s a chance we get him as I doubt PL teams will be forming an orderly queue to sign him.

Mané has gone off the boil, opposition teams have worked out what he’s trying to do and nullified him. Needs a break. I overall he’s a talented player but not likely to b we a standout in the Championship. If we get a silly offer I’d take it.

Plenty of time before next game to work on a back four, probably won’t happen but we’ve got an opportunity to see how Santi and Krejci or Mosquera can do which could make a big difference as to how we play next season. We certainly need to plan for something different than has been served up in recent first halves.

 

[Sniffer]

Angel Gomes getting booked for winning a challenge was quite bizarre.

 

[sycophantia]

Why can’t we start games as we played the 2nd half. All this ‘keep it all 0-0 till halftime’ rubbish is stupid given the frailties of our defence.
Unlucky not to have nicked it though. As for Atwell !! Pulled us up for the slightest touch and yet let them get away with everything.

We didn't set up for 0-0 last night imo. We were just lacking in energy and terrible on the ball. Thought the first half was very flat from both teams, unfortunately some poor defensive work combined with a couple of good Brentford moves fucked us up.

 

[sycophantia]

Angel Gomes getting booked for winning a challenge was quite bizarre.

Also the yellow for Armstrong for an 'elbow in the throat' of a Brentford player, actually an arm in the chest and hardly any force.

 

[Mel Evo]

We didn't set up for 0-0 last night imo. We were just lacking in energy and terrible on the ball. Thought the first half was very flat from both teams, unfortunately some poor defensive work combined with a couple of good Brentford moves fucked us up.

Bit generous. We were lucky to go in only one back. Although they weren’t great, that goes for almost every team we’ve played this year in a season of general low quality in which we’ve stood out for lowering the bar in almost every match.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Also the yellow for Armstrong for an 'elbow in the throat' of a Brentford player, actually an arm in the chest and hardly any force.

Yeah if it was an elbow to the throat as SA thought it was, then he should send him off.

Cheating cunt.

 

[Loki]

I'm fucking delighted.

I could do with the rest myself.

 

[sycophantia]

Bit generous. We were lucky to go in only one back. Although they weren’t great, that goes for almost every team we’ve played this year in a season of general low quality in which we’ve stood out for lowering the bar in almost every match.

Not generous at all, we were appalling, I just dont think Edwards set us up to be negative, just dont think he's very good at that, makes me quite nervous for next season where we should be setting up to dominate teams.

 

[Mel Evo]

Not generous at all, we were appalling, I just dont think Edwards set us up to be negative, just dont think he's very good at that, makes me quite nervous for next season where we should be setting up to dominate teams.

Ah, right, got it. Well I’m not sure if he sets us up to be an awful watch and succeeds, or has a plan to bring something positive to the game and fails. But it amounts to the same thing. I’m minded it likely is what Punts has said, and being wedded to a regressive interpretation of 5 at the back means anything constructive is impossible. When we did get forward in that first half, the player with the ball looks up and finds virtually no support at all.

 

[Langers]

The only members of yesterday's back line I'd want to keep next season are Krejci (even though he had a few blunders last night) and Santi (who I don't particularly rate but will be fine in the championship)

I'd like to think we can improve on Hugo Bueno who I really don't think much of, Mosquera is just annoying and needs binning and I'd rather play a tonne of set cement at RB than Tchatchoua.

Whenever we set up with these jokers in the XI, we're giving ourselves too much work to do because you can guarantee a fuck up each across that back line. And it also depends what version of Sa is behind them as well - more often than not he instils about as much confidence as my very clumsy 15 year old daughter when she's washing up our fine china.

Even though we're going down a division, I really don't think it's unreasonable to ask us to improve on that lot.

It's a shame because the way we attacked deserves a few more plaudits - but it's balanced out by the shit goals and overall chaotic nature of that back line.

 

[Tredman]

Santi in a high line when we are trying to be on the front foot could be terrifying.

 

[Tony Towner]

Santi in a high line when we are trying to be on the front foot could be terrifying.

I think he reads the game well enough to compensate at champ level, would definitely need pace alongside him though for when a ball over the top or through the middle exposes him.

 

[Langers]

I think he reads the game well enough to compensate at champ level, would definitely need pace alongside him though.

Agreed - and ideally not someone who constantly suffers from brain farts and ill discipline.

 

[Tony Towner]

Agreed - and ideally not someone who constantly suffers from brain farts and ill discipline.

Yeah it's not him plus Mosquera or Toti

 

[Jinky]

The only members of yesterday's back line I'd want to keep next season are Krejci (even though he had a few blunders last night) and Santi (who I don't particularly rate but will be fine in the championship)

I'd like to think we can improve on Hugo Bueno who I really don't think much of, Mosquera is just annoying and needs binning and I'd rather play a tonne of set cement at RB than Tchatchoua.

Whenever we set up with these jokers in the XI, we're giving ourselves too much work to do because you can guarantee a fuck up each across that back line. And it also depends what version of Sa is behind them as well - more often than not he instils about as much confidence as my very clumsy 15 year old daughter when she's washing up our fine china.

Even though we're going down a division, I really don't think it's unreasonable to ask us to improve on that lot.

It's a shame because the way we attacked deserves a few more plaudits - but it's balanced out by the shit goals and overall chaotic nature of that back line.

Spiers & Judah mentioned they've got a podcast coming up in the next few weeks (presumably when relegation is confirmed) where they'll go through the squad and talk about each player and whether they are likely to stay or go. Jackson was an interesting topic of conversation - because they hinted that they thought he might offer something in the Championship, despite looking woefully below the level required in the PL.

They also said we are "extremely unlikely" to keep Andre Gomes if we go down.

Probably be worth a listen when it comes out.

 

[Tony Towner]

He's still going to be out of position, he's still not going to get close enough to his man and allow crosses in, he's still not going to be able to complete passes further than 10 yards and he's still not going to be able to cross a ball. He'll just not be doing those things at a lower level.

 

[Tredman]

He'll be as much use as German Phil was last time we were in the Champ. Hopefully he starts the same number of games too.

 

[prawnking]

The Championship is still a tough slog so we can't be complacent () and have too many 'they'll do' players in the first XI.

They won't 'do'

 

[Langers]

I really wouldn't miss the likes of Sa, Johnstone, Bentley, Mosquera, H Bueno, Doherty, Tchatchouha, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Hwang at all if they were to leave. I don't like any of them, they're not very good and I wouldn't want any of them in the squad next season - as PK says, they won't 'do' at all. And TBH there are probably a few more I've either tried to forget about or have genuinely forgotten about.

I know they won't all go (who would sign some of that lot for starters!) and we'll be stuck with expensive shitehawks but it doesn't hurt to dream.

 

[Alan]

We didn't set up for 0-0 last night imo. We were just lacking in energy and terrible on the ball. Thought the first half was very flat from both teams, unfortunately some poor defensive work combined with a couple of good Brentford moves fucked us up.

I hate parsing this out. So often it gets talked about as if the team under pressure just isn’t trying or doesn’t want to attack (which, if ever true, should result in wiping out the coaching staff), but equally I don’t know what you would point to to properly decide “we were shit” or “they were good”. Other than the “eye test”, which is as subjective as it gets.

@YoungWolf would this be something you’ve heard coaches discuss before?