January 2021 Transfer Window

[Wolvensam]

Donk is a good DM to a point, but one of his big strengths is his stamina, which is only really an asset if he’s getting forward because he can get back as well. His passing is decent, but not really progressive, lots of sideways and backwards stuff. He can’t dribble with the ball, isn’t technical enough to create chances and can’t shoot.

what that means is that he’s a limited defensive midfielder, that can only do a third of the role (defend, not progressive passing and can’t progress the ball through dribbling or one touch pass and move).

He’s also out of form at the moment so not doing the defensive bit well either, but that should be temporary.

personally, I think we need more than one dimensional footballers - our midfielders, even though they will be stronger in some aspects should be able to defend and progress the ball, to contribute to the defensive effort and to create or finish opportunities.

our defenders should be able to defend and contribute to build up play.

our forwards should be able to create and score as well as contribute to the shape.

we moved Bennett on because he could defend but not contribute well enough. Traore is rightly criticised for not scoring enough. I don’t see why dendoncker is okay to only do part of his role.

he’s not a defender either, square pegs in round holes still isn’t the right way to go in my view.

I suppose my argument for this would be Kante (in no way am I saying Dendoncker is as good as him!) isn't a very progressive passer or scorer either, nor is Jorginho particularly. I think to call Dendoncker a limited footballer is harsh, he's pretty good at the defensive midfield side of his game. You just need the midfielders alongside him so he can execute that role.

What we're missing alongside Neves/Dendoncker is that box-to-box midfielder. Dendoncker hasn't got the finishing ability for it, but Neves hasn't got the engine for it either.

 

[Premier Quality]

Neves is excellent defensively, and offers superb passing and technical ability. He doesn’t score enough goals, but that’s partly the tactical role he’s given - he contributes to more than one aspect of the game, where Donk doesn’t.

theoretically, jorginho’s passing is a bigger part of his game than his defensive work.

 

[AndyWolves]

The further forward Donck goes the worse he gets, the further back Traore goes the worse he gets

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Come home, son.

In all seriousness you don't get many of those kind of players these days, they're a bit out of fashion, much like a classic #10 such as Özil.

 

[Wolvensam]

What we really miss is Moutinho, let's be honest - and it remains to be seen whether he can capture that form or Vitinha can step up and fill the gap long term.

 

[Wolvensam]

Neves is excellent defensively, and offers superb passing and technical ability. He doesn’t score enough goals, but that’s partly the tactical role he’s given - he contributes to more than one aspect of the game, where Donk doesn’t.

theoretically, jorginho’s passing is a bigger part of his game than his defensive work.

I think Donck is a bit of an unsung hero. OK he's out of form at the moment, but he is normally an essential cog in our play with his engine. His finishing does need a bit (a lot) of fine tuning, but the fact he's taking up those kind of positions is pretty promising.

 

[Premier Quality]

Come home, son.

In all seriousness you don't get many of those kind of players these days, they're a bit out of fashion, much like a classic #10 such as Özil.

I don’t know if you ever watched the manageress when you were young Deutsch? (I think you’re a bit younger than me, but not hugely!)

Was an interesting view of tactics at a time there wasn’t a massive amount of tactical conversation, but the general view at the time was that a midfield needed a tackler, a passer, a runner and a winger.

Obviously the game has moved on hugely since then, and players can’t just do the one aspect any more - and that was a lot of the criticism of poor old Dave, that running around a lot and the occasional goal wasn’t enough contribution to the team.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I did! I was about 10 at the time, like.

Yeah, that's basically Kenny Dalglish's blueprint. Then he did it again when he came back at Liverpool in 2011 and it looked hilariously rubbish. The game changes.

 

[Johnny75]

I suppose my argument for this would be Kante (in no way am I saying Dendoncker is as good as him!) isn't a very progressive passer or scorer either, nor is Jorginho particularly. I think to call Dendoncker a limited footballer is harsh, he's pretty good at the defensive midfield side of his game. You just need the midfielders alongside him so he can execute that role.

What we're missing alongside Neves/Dendoncker is that box-to-box midfielder. Dendoncker hasn't got the finishing ability for it, but Neves hasn't got the engine for it either.

I think you're right in that he's a worker but doesn't really have the technique or finishing of a box-to-box midfielder like Kessie or Wijnaldum. His best position for me is as a DM in front of a back 4 or as a RCB. Neves is a fairly average DM but Nuno seems to like him there, I think he's much better as an all round CM, controlling play and shooting from distance. The two can play together but not in the roles they are currently playing.

And I don't think we miss Joao, our problems are deeper than that.

 

[Tony Towner]

I can't think of a single complete midfielder in the PL in the Vieira, Robson, Keane mould

 

[Tredman]

What we really miss is Moutinho, let's be honest - and it remains to be seen whether he can capture that form or Vitinha can step up and fill the gap long term.

Spot on I think we 'Kevin Dolye'd' moutinho last week and sadly it looks as though he is going the same way.

 

[prawnking]

Donck is a squad player, playing every week. In Nuno's idealised world of 18 strong players supplemented by kids. He's one of the bench 7, Saiss is another

If Donck is the squad player then who's the first teamer/s to go next to Neves? Cos Moutinho is shot and OO and Vitinha are unproven.

I agree Donck and Saiss should be squad players, but they're not; they're starters when fit, even in our third PL season, without either being particularly exceptional. This is why I'm sceptical when we all talk about needing three first teamers this summer. Would take a big u-turn in policy/success rate to get that

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I can't think of a single complete midfielder in the PL in the Vieira, Robson, Keane mould

De Bruyne did surprisingly well when he had spells being used as a deeper midfielder with more defensive responsibility but don't think anyone would rather have him there doing that than roaming around 20 yards further up the pitch with the ball at his feet more often than not.

 

[Tony Towner]

If Donck is the squad player then who's the first teamer/s to go next to Neves? Cos Moutinho is shot and OO and Vitinha are unproven.

We don't have him, but just because he's the best option we have doesn't mean he ideally should be

 

[prawnking]

We don't have him, but just because he's the best option we have doesn't mean he ideally should be

We have a lot of problems to fix in the summer then, as we're also looking for the complete PL centre-back too!

 

[Wolvensam]

I think you're right in that he's a worker but doesn't really have the technique or finishing of a box-to-box midfielder like Kessie or Wijnaldum. His best position for me is as a DM in front of a back 4 or as a RCB. Neves is a fairly average DM but Nuno seems to like him there, I think he's much better as an all round CM, controlling play and shooting from distance. The two can play together but not in the roles they are currently playing.

And I don't think we miss Joao, our problems are deeper than that.

I think it's an interesting conundrum with Neves/Dendoncker, because they both supplement what the other lacks. I agree with you that Neves is better as an all-round CM controlling play, it's what he does best.

Oh yes, problems are definitely deeper than Joao: but he's part of what we are missing currently I think.

 

[Wolvensam]

I can't think of a single complete midfielder in the PL in the Vieira, Robson, Keane mould

Fernandinho? I know he's more of a DM but he does pop up with the odd goal.

 

[Deano]

We've lacked a creative central midfield player since we got promoted. Someone who can carry the ball and chip in with more goals and assists from central areas but as we have had 3 summer and 3 January windows to get one, it doesn't seem it's the type of player that's in Nunos thinking.

 

[Wolvensam]

We've lacked a creative central midfield player since we got promoted. Someone who can carry the ball and chip in with more goals and assists from central areas but as we have had 3 summer and 3 January windows to get one, it doesn't seem it's the type of player that's in Nunos thinking.

I'm guessing long-term he'd look to Podence and/or Vitinha to be that player. Neither are wingers, they are CAMs.

 

[Deano]

I'm guessing long-term he'd look to Podence and/or Vitinha to be that player. Neither are wingers, they are CAMs.

I don't think they are at all. I'm sure Podence played most of his football before coming to Wolves out wide and we have tried to turn him into a 10. Vitinha is really a CM not a 10 (not sure he's even going to be a conventional no 8) but we are playing him there because he's probably not quite up to it physically yet to play in his proper position.