Hull 2 - Wolves 1 dissapointing end for our U21s verdict thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's hit on 4-3-3 for now and in principle that's fine but we don't play it properly at all. The wide players aren't equipped to support the striker and provide enough goal threat themselves, the midfield doesn't have anything like the right balance and we don't have a single ball player in there at the moment, it means your striker is frequently isolated and having to drop in for a pass from midfield, hold the ball up, challenge in the air, work the channels and be available in the box when it's out wide - a completely thankless task. Dicko would do pretty much all of that better than most forwards in the division but he'd still struggle for chances while we're playing like this.

In isolation it wasn't so bad last night, you're away at a team who should be comfortably better than us all over the park so setting up to contain is ok in that kind of game and we did definitely deserve a point. The thing is we have no way of switching from that, so we play this shape at home against teams who aren't that fussed about taking the game to us and it fizzles out into an appalling 0-0 slog where virtually nothing happens. You'd think the manager would have realised this by now but obviously not.

I'm not too fussed about Coady and Mason not being in the team because frankly neither look worth more than about 1/10th of their respective transfer fees based on their showings so far in a Wolves shirt. They're shite signings, I don't want us playing them just because we stupidly wasted our budget on them, they have to justify a place in the starting XI. Coady is a rubbish footballer and Mason is incredibly anonymous for long spells, I hadn't seen a huge amount of him for Cardiff but on what I've seen for us so far I'm baffled why we thought he was possibly worth that much money. Granted we don't exactly cater for forwards at the moment (as above) but I expect a lot more than what he's served up so far, easy to forget he's on the pitch sometimes - in that role Sig provides more nuisance value if nothing else.

 

[Freddeno]

I got a bit wind up last night, combination of redwine bottles and that Ive had enough of this shit...

 

[PuntsWolf]

Yeah not sure what mason is good at. Comparing him to Afobe (maybe unfair but technically is fair as he cost more), then when Afobe got the ball he could run with pace, beat a man and could score from anywhere. Mason doesn't seem to really have much pace, skill or trickery. He's scored a few poachers goals but he certainly doesn't seem a #10. Don't see what he offers over ALF other than being a few inches taller.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

As others have said didnt deserve that, a young team were holding a team chasing promotion quite comfortably (Hull reminded me of ourselves in the 90's when we always seems to fluff it on the run-in against mediocre opposition).

There is the bones of a decent championship side there if we had a decent manager who could establish a pattern of play and recruit a couple of players to fill in the gaps, but unfortunately we havent.

As for Siggy tried hard but one incident summed it up for me, halfway during the second half Helen won a decent flick on but Siggy was on his heels so Davies cleaned up without too much effort, a natural goalscorer would have been gambling on winning the flick on, if Siggy had he would have possibly been through.

 

[Papper]

I'm not too fussed about Coady and Mason not being in the team because frankly neither look worth more than about 1/10th of their respective transfer fees based on their showings so far in a Wolves shirt. They're $#@!e signings, I don't want us playing them just because we stupidly wasted our budget on them, they have to justify a place in the starting XI. Coady is a rubbish footballer and Mason is incredibly anonymous for long spells, I hadn't seen a huge amount of him for Cardiff but on what I've seen for us so far I'm baffled why we thought he was possibly worth that much money. Granted we don't exactly cater for forwards at the moment (as above) but I expect a lot more than what he's served up so far, easy to forget he's on the pitch sometimes - in that role Sig provides more nuisance value if nothing else.

It seems these days that a couple of million gets you a run of the mill player who may or may not come good. To buy proven young and hungry you are talking of figures at least triple that. The stakes are ridiculously high and the latest SKY deal has made it worse. The right spark in amongst that lot could improve them no end but there has to be method from the coach and this season has left a lot to be desired. I hope we can hang on to the youngsters.

 

[malta mick]

shortly before their first goal, was there not a definite pass back to their keeper who picked it up ? was sure i saw it happen.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It seems these days that a couple of million gets you a run of the mill player who may or may not come good. To buy proven young and hungry you are talking of figures at least triple that.

I don't think that's necessarily the case, we bought Afobe 15 months ago for £2m. We just haven't identified players properly and in the case of those two I'm not sure what it was that our management and recruiting teams were seeing.

Mick - he played it back with his thigh, no backpass.

 

[malta mick]

thanks DW - i'd half looked from the screen and as i looked back and saw keeper collect - wondered why no claims from Wolves players though

 

[The Bear]

A few did claim a back pass.

 

[Papper]

I don't think that's necessarily the case, we bought Afobe 15 months ago for £2m. We just haven't identified players properly and in the case of those two I'm not sure what it was that our management and recruiting teams were seeing.

Mick - he played it back with his thigh, no backpass.

True, Afobe was an outstanding bit of business. Doubts on his fitness and all that. He's tried Coady everywhere and it's not really happened. Dave Edwards is better at doing what I thought Coady would do. I feel a strong defence will take away the defensive slant of our midfield set up. Williamson may be massive for us next season (if fit).

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Am I alone in thinking that Williamson may not play for us again.

 

[Tony Towner]

Yep

 

[Dinowolf]

Am I alone in thinking that Williamson may not play for us again.

No you're not Frank.

He's been injured for 5 months now, that's more than a hamstring pull.
Has he played at all recently? Is there any news of his fitness?

 

[Kenny]

No you're not Frank.

He's been injured for 5 months now, that's more than a hamstring pull.
Has he played at all recently? Is there any news of his fitness?

Been the same update from KJ for about 5 or 6 weeks now. The hamstring is fine but he has suffered complications with, to avoid being subtle, his arse cheek muscles. Trains on a Monday and then the new injury kicks in and ends his comeback. Seeing various specialists to try and sort it.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Let's hope they can get to the bottom of the problem.

 

[NoodleWolf]

Let's hope they can get to the bottom of the problem.

I'm sure the physios are really getting behind him.

 

[Dinowolf]

Let's hope they can get to the bottom of the problem.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Am I alone in thinking that Williamson may not play for us again.

I said it in January..

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Unlikely we'll see him again this season now, 1) there's no point and 2) our reserves season has finished so he doesn't really have the chance of getting any match practice. I don't think it's something that's going to end his career though so he'll play next season.

The lesson is not to buy injured players, we did it with Hunt and he was never the same player as he'd been before at Reading/Hull (plus when he came in to the team was evidently miles behind everyone else for sharpness...so he might as well still have been injured, he was actively hindering us by being in the team) and we've done it now with Willo, the first third of his contract is going to be a total write off.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Unlikely we'll see him again this season now, 1) there's no point and 2) our reserves season has finished so he doesn't really have the chance of getting any match practice. I don't think it's something that's going to end his career though so he'll play next season.

The lesson is not to buy injured players, we did it with Hunt and he was never the same player as he'd been before at Reading/Hull (plus when he came in to the team was evidently miles behind everyone else for sharpness...so he might as well still have been injured, he was actively hindering us by being in the team) and we've done it now with Willo, the first third of his contract is going to be a total write off.

Not to mention the transfer fee as he'd have been available for nothing if they'd waited until summer.