Ex-Wolf Watch

[lemonjelly]

From the guardian;

Jiménez back to his best for Fulham

There are very few second acts in football. Once a player suffers a significant loss of form and confidence, it is extremely hard to get back, particularly if that period away from the heights goes on for more than a year or 18 months. It was in November 2020 that Raúl Jiménez sustained a fractured skull against Arsenal. At the time he was one of the best classic centre-forwards in the Premier League, a goalscorer who led the line. There were signs, perhaps, last season that he was at last starting to return to his best, but now – four and a bit years after the injury and aged 33 – he is definitively back, holding the ball up, winning headers, finding angles. He set up Calvin Bassey’s winner and on another day could easily have had a couple of goals himself, putting one thumping header just wide and drawing a flailing save from Matz Sels. Jonathan Wilson

For Raul himself I love seeing this. We all loved what he brought to our team at his best.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

From the guardian;

For Raul himself I love seeing this. We all loved what he brought to our team at his best.

Yeah it was a very good performance.

Similarly Adama got an assist, should have 2 more assists with better finishing and he should have scored himself too, absolutely murdered Williams.

Raul though looks so confident and skilfull once again, he's the essential "good touch for a big man" forward.

 

[Lupo]

The cross into the box for Smith Rowe was probably one of the most sublime I've ever seen Traore do

 

[Kenny]

I think in general most agreed Raul had to leave us but it is another player that Lopetegui treated like shit and then had the nerve to throw his toys out of the pram in that interview with Ballbag when he did leave

Feels like the more I go back to the final parts of his time at the club the picture is that Lopetegui is just a massive twat.

 

[lemonjelly]

We know adama has these flashes, usually 1 in 5-10 games. I am hoping he has had his feb purple patch, and isn't as useful to fulham next tuesday.
Raul we will need to watch closely. Hopefully Agbadou is back for then, and at full fitness. Dread to think what peak Raul could do to santi Bueno.

 

[Langers]

Dread to think what peak Raul could do to santi Bueno.

I dread to think what Ian Ormondroyd in 2025 could do to Santi Bueno.

 

[sycophantia]

We know adama has these flashes, usually 1 in 5-10 games. I am hoping he has had his feb purple patch, and isn't as useful to fulham next tuesday.
Raul we will need to watch closely. Hopefully Agbadou is back for then, and at full fitness. Dread to think what peak Raul could do to santi Bueno.

Obviously I only really see him on motd these days, but from that small sample he seems less 'explosive' but more consistent than with us. Of course that might be cos they don't show his shit bits on highlight shows.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Obviously I only really see him on motd these days, but from that small sample he seems less 'explosive' but more consistent than with us. Of course that might be cos they don't show his shit bits on highlight shows.

His run past Williams for one cross was insane, Williams isn't slow and it was over about 8 yards, and Adama ran the "long" way around him.

I loved/love seeing him doing that, it's a great watch.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I don’t think that Santi in the ‘Coady’ role is anywhere near as bad as people make out. Where he struggles is by being moved and exposed as a RCB or in the middle with two less physical players either side of him.

Toti Santi Agba is fine as a three with Doc and Djiga to replace them when needed before Mosquera hopefully comes in next season. Letting Santi go or writing him off leaves the ‘group’ exposed. He’s fine at doing a job.

 

[Tony Towner]

He's slow, weak and often cowardly. He's spent the majority of the time he's played this season in the middle of the 3 and has been mainly shite.

 

[sycophantia]

I don’t think that Santi in the ‘Coady’ role is anywhere near as bad as people make out. Where he struggles is by being moved and exposed as a RCB or in the middle with two less physical players either side of him.

Toti Santi Agba is fine as a three with Doc and Djiga to replace them when needed before Mosquera hopefully comes in next season. Letting Santi go or writing him off leaves the ‘group’ exposed. He’s fine at doing a job.

He has the occasional half decent game (did ok Sunday) then throws in a few horrific performances.
The issue is, we don't know if Agba is going to be out long term.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

For the majority of the season we’ve not had any sort or dominant physical presence in our back three. Now we have I’m sure that Santi in the middle would be fine and he has looked as such when we’ve set up that way when he’s come on.

 

[Tony Towner]

There's also no comparison to what we ask Agbadou to do in the middle of the 3 to what we did Coady. The only way it's similar is on the starting line up graphic

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

He doesn’t dominate and is lacking if an aggressive CF targets him. Coady had the same issue when an Antonio or Zohore (for example) pinned him one on one

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

There's also no comparison to what we ask Agbadou to do in the middle of the 3 to what we did Coady. The only way it's similar is on the starting line up graphic

Not suggesting it is. Agbadou and Coady are very different players regardless of position. My view was on Santi being in the middle with Agbadou RCB and Toti LCB - and my thoughts are that with two commanding players either side he is fine.

 

[Tony Towner]

Not suggesting it is. Agbadou and Coady are very different players regardless of position. My view was on Santi being in the middle with Agbadou RCB and Toti LCB - and my thoughts are that with two commanding players either side he is fine.

In that formation then you are consciously moving Agbadou over and picking Bueno over Doherty or Djiga, whilst changing the way you defend. Seems mad to me.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Santi Bueno is shit.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I assume Djiga (or Danso before him) is/was signed to be the third CH which would make Doc and Santi cover. I’m no Doc fan but think both he and Santi are good enough cover for a team in our position, especially with Mosquera still on the payroll next season. Bottom half team don’t have great fourth and fifth choice centre halves.
Would I improve it? Undoubtedly but given what I expected at the start of the window it’s okay.
What’s equally confusing is why Meupiyou doesn’t appear to be anywhere near, even for a few minutes, given his supposed reputation.

 

[sycophantia]

I assume Djiga (or Danso before him) is/was signed to be the third CH which would make Doc and Santi cover. I’m no Doc fan but think both he and Santi are good enough cover for a team in our position, especially with Mosquera still on the payroll next season. Bottom half team don’t have great fourth and fifth choice centre halves.
Would I improve it? Undoubtedly but given what I expected at the start of the window it’s okay.
What’s equally confusing is why Meupiyou doesn’t appear to be anywhere near, even for a few minutes, given his supposed reputation.

Personally I think Doc is significantly better at CB than Santi and certainly more consistent.
#Docfanboi

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Personally I think Doc is significantly better at CB than Santi and certainly more consistent.
#Docfanboi

I think so too, and I've spent most of the last 15 years wishing Doherty would go back to the League of Ireland.