General Wolves News

[Sniffer]

https://www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD/photos/a.390405490981/10159263637550982/

Really ?

8th wouldn't be a surprise in my opinion, don't know about Everton though obviously swayed by their spending. On paper they look to have spent well but it doesn't always seem to pay off for them does it.

Everton have significantly strengthened this window. I'm not sure they're up to that level, and their defence is still a bomb-scare, but I don't think that's unjustifiable.

If you think he's wrong there's a competition on here for you to take part in.

https://www.wolvesforum.co.uk/showthread.php?36485-New-Contest-Premier-League-Table-Prediction

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

“We need more players to help us. We need to make good decisions, so we cannot make mistakes like we did before.”

The parting words of Nuno Espirito Santo at the end of Wolves’ marathon 2019-20 campaign.

What feels like about a week later, their 2020-21 campaign kicks off on Monday with Wolves having signed three first-team players (Fabio Silva, Fernando Marcal and Vitinha) and let three go (Matt Doherty, Morgan Gibbs-White and Bruno Jordao).

Jordao and Gibbs-White played a combined nine minutes after the June restart, so in terms of viable first-team options, the new trio represent an upgrade, even if the squad still looks a little unbalanced with no replacement yet for Doherty.

The Irish wing-back’s shock departure to Tottenham could signal a phase of evolution in this Wolves team. They’ve perfected a counter-attacking defensive style in a 3-4-3/3-5-2 system (very successfully against the league’s elite teams) and last season became more adept at breaking down sides intent on frustrating them. But to become regular top-six finishers, Wolves may need to open up, get creative and boost their goal tally.

How to do that without sacrificing the defensive stability that’s served them so well for three years is the conundrum for head coach Nuno to solve as he embarks on the next phase of his tenure and plots a course for the Champions League.

That could potentially involve a change of system, but after barely any time with the squad between seasons, it’s unlikely he’ll unleash anything too drastic on Sheffield United on Monday night. Instead, we’re likely to see the tried and trusted three at the back.

Rui Patricio (goalkeeper)

An unflappable and impressively consistent presence throughout 2019-20, ironing out a couple of flaws from his debut season (namely, poor kicking and an occasional weakness from crosses). Grew into the role and seemed to communicate better with his defenders too. Oh, and he can produce genuine worldie saves to boot. Still only 32, he’s got a good few years left in him yet.

Willy Boly (centre-back)

The transformation in Wolves’ defensive fortunes when he returned to the XI in February following a prolonged injury absence was quite stunning. They had kept a solitary clean sheet in the three months Boly was missing, before his comeback sparked a run of seven of them in eight matches.

Conor Coady (centre-back)

The perennially unanswered question of, “How would he fare in a back four?” remains redundant while Wolves are playing with a trio. With his exceptional organisation and ability to instigate attacks, he is indispensable in this system.

Romain Saiss (centre-back)

Looked vulnerable this summer with Wolves widely expected to go big on a new centre-back, but with no addition as yet on the cards, the shirt is surely his. Left-footed centre-backs aren’t plentiful and he was an underrated presence for much of last season.

Adama Traore (right wing-back)

Nuno appears content to go into the campaign without a recognised specialist senior right wing-back in the squad, feeling that Traore is more than capable of filling in there. He did so at the start of last season with generally favourable results. He quelled Raheem Sterling’s threat at the Etihad but was occasionally careless — against Torino, for example, when trying to dribble out of his own penalty area. It won’t be boring. And baby-oil sales have rocketed in Wolverhampton.

Ruben Neves (central midfield)

Will the evolution of Wolves coincide with the evolution of Neves? Indescribably good in the Championship when he did things with a football that this correspondent didn’t think possible, Neves has sporadically sacrificed his ridiculous individual talents for the good of the team in the Premier League with a more defensive role. His passing range is sometimes underused in a deeper role but at times last season (take the Everton game in July) he ran the show. More of that, please.



Joao Moutinho (central midfield)

Thirteen assists across all competitions and Wolves’ primary chance creator, but Moutinho looked shattered towards the end of their marathon season, when he was dropped at Chelsea and withdrawn earlier against Sevilla. The 34-year-old will benefit more than most from the extra rest without European football. That means Wolves should too.

Fernando Marcal (left wing-back)

Versatile (he can also play centre-back), experienced, committed and low risk, costing just £2 million. Marcal, a Champions League semi-finalist with Lyon a month ago, will probably get the nod here over Ruben Vinagre. He’ll also probably also earn a suspension or two (three reds and eight yellows in 22 games last season) and spoke of his “fighting attitude” on arrival this week. In fact, to any fast right wingers looking to emerge unscathed running a gauntlet of Marcal and Saiss… all the best.

Daniel Podence (right forward)

After biding his time to make his first Premier League start (he signed from Olympiakos in January but didn’t start until July), Podence made a tantalising impact over the final weeks to hint he could become a key player this time around. He’s got the lot.

Diogo Jota (left forward)

Was bereft of confidence after the restart and he ended the campaign out the team, but it would be unwise to write Jota off. The ultimate streaky player performed well for the majority of last season and just needs to turn those missed one-on-one chances into goals to become the superstar he has threatened to be.

Raul Jimenez (striker)

Keeping him at Molineux would be the biggest achievement of Wolves’s transfer window. He has been linked repeatedly with Juventus but as it stands, he’s staying. Forty-four goals in two years and the fulcrum around which attacks will be built. Mercifully, he won’t be flogged this season, with young whippersnapper Fabio Silva arriving to ease the burden.

 

[Tony Towner]

He's definitely all in on Marcal as LWB

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Can't be true, he's wearing number 5!

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

He definitely all in on Marcal as LWB

I think Ruben will start at LWB unless he's had a dramatic falling out with Nuno, which given some of the rumours about his house and his car seems possible.

It was only a month ago that Ruben was superb against one of the best teams in the world, dropping him for a player that's only been training with us for a week and hasn't played LWB for over 6 months seems a risk that Nuno wouldn't usually take.

 

[Del Woppio]

I agree. For all the talk of Ruben being suspect defensively etc, I actually think his bigger issue has been his decision making on the ball - presumably because of the need to impress, to try and dislodge Jonny. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do with a few months of guaranteed football ahead of him.

 

[Alan]

I still think the constant focus on Saiss needing to be replaced is a red herring at absolute best. He was equal to Boly over the course of last season, IMO, even if he doesn't always look so imposing as the big Frenchman.

 

[sycophantia]

I still think the constant focus on Saiss needing to be replaced is a red herring at absolute best. He was equal to Boly over the course of last season, IMO, even if he doesn't always look so imposing as the big Frenchman.

I said in another thread don't think Saiss is a priority to upgrade atm, obviously if we can get one in, that would be excellent but think it is probably going to be 21-22 when it happens.....possibly January.
As for Vinagre, I really want him to have a run in the starting eleven so we can see where he is in his development, he has been fine defensively in the last 3-4 games he's played

 

[prawnking]

Yep, it's the area which will hurt us least if we don't upgrade it in the next window or two. At least one wing back and the Vitinho/Silva signings more crucial imo

 

[t3ch]

while our defense is far from bad, I do think it's important to keep pushing for a new CB

our record when boly was vs wasn't in the squad is pretty telling, and those couple extra points squeezed would have been crucial come season's close. not suggesting we need 3 world class defenders, but having someone else with just that bit of extra quality would probably go a long way.

 

[sycophantia]

Yep, it's the area which will hurt us least if we don't upgrade it in the next window or two. At least one wing back and the Vitinho/Silva signings more crucial imo

Yeh I agree

 

[Tredman]

Wtf, Elgar was a wolves fan.

 

[Tony Towner]

Are you taking the piss? Wolves trivia 101

 

[lemonjelly]

did you not know that tredders?
he also composed "bang the leather for the goal"

 

[Pablowolf]

Wtf, Elgar was a wolves fan.

Yeah! He used to cycle from near Great Malvern to Wolves for matches!

 

[Tredman]

Meh, must have passed me by. Good to see you are all watching the one show though

 

[Keef]

youll be telling us next you didn't know he was a composer

 

[lemonjelly]

none of us are watching the one show. we're too busy gobsmacked at you not being a superfan, and pressing f5 on the transfer thread.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I have watched The One Show before when they inexplicably put the FA Cup draw on there. I got very confused at how what a total non-sequitur of a programme it is.

The last Partridge series took it off very well.

 

[Tredman]

You’re missing out on a right treat.