Just how good were/was/is/are (Wolves Edition)

[nimrod]

do you think he could have been an effective wing back in the sort of system we play now?

i guess it's all subjective given a lot depends on how good the rest of a team is and how well a system works to avoid exposing weaknesses.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think maybe, in games where we're expected to win, perhaps. But I wouldn't put him on the same page as Vinagre and a lot of our fans don't like him either for reasons unknown to me.

Oh and DJ dropped him for about two thirds of a season for Mo Camara. Brilliant, thanks for that.

 

[Lycan]

I think Naylor's issue was that going forward he was a bit one dimensional. The Craig Noone of the left back world if you will. He had a few tricks up his sleeve which worked well for him but if he came up against a team who had him figured out he quickly ran out of ideas.

Sent from my GM1920 using Tapatalk

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He bloody loved a knock down the outside which went a bit too far.

Frequently had the best hair in our team, year on year.

You and I watched a CL game together the other week where he ripped it up :icon_lol:

 

[sycophantia]

Another one I liked, pretty much the same view as DW

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

23. Helder Costa

Hélder Wander Sousa de Azevedo e Costa (born 12 January 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Championship club Leeds United, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Premier League, and the Portugal national team.

He has represented Portugal from under-16 all the way through to the senior side.

On 29 July 2016, Costa moved on a season-long loan to Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he made his debut on 6 August as a substitute in a 2–2 draw at Rotherham United. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 EFL Cup win against Cambridge United on 23 August. He scored his first EFL Championship goal on 17 September 2016 in a 2–0 win against Newcastle United at St James' Park, before scoring in the Midlands derby 1–1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park on 15 October 2016. Costa was also praised for his performance against Premier League side Liverpool in the FA Cup, with Wolves causing a shock 2–1 win at Anfield with Costa gaining an assist for both Wolves goals.

On 30 January 2017, Costa signed permanently on a four-and-a-half year deal worth a reported £13 million, breaking Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer record at the time. After scoring 12 goals and 8 assists in all competitions in his first season, at the annual end of season awards, he won the 2016/17 Wolves Player of the Season Award, also picking up the Players Player of The Year Award and winning Goal of the season for his skilful goal against Cardiff City.

Costa scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season, in a 4–1 win against Leeds United on 22 November 2017. Costa picked up a winner's medal during the 2017–18 EFL Championship with Wolves winning the league, contributing five goals and 6 assists in the league over the course of the season.

Costa made his first Premier League appearance on 11 August 2018, in Wolves opening game of the season in a 2–2 draw against Everton. He scored his first goal of the season on 28 August in a 2–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup. Costa scored his first Premier League goal (following Wolves's promotion from the Championship in 2017–18) in a 3–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on 29 December 2018. He made 30 appearances for Wolves in all competitions during the 2018–19 season as he helped the side to a 7th place finish, qualifying for the Europa League.

On 3 July 2019, Costa moved to Championship club Leeds United on loan for the 2019–20 season. The deal will become permanent in July 2020 for a fee of around £15 million, with Costa having signed a four-year contract with the club, his deal lasting until the summer of 2024.

 

[Tony Towner]

He's shit and there are countless matchday threads to prove it [emoji3]

 

[Deano]

He was brilliant when he signed. Not sure what has done for him, whether it's injuries or lack of confidence, probably a combination of both . He's nowhere near the same player any more and that's gone on too long to suggest he will get back to that player again.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

There was a period not long after Lambert took over where he looked like he could be anything he wanted to be. So exciting to watch.

Would have to agree that it seems unlikely now that he'll ever find that form consistently again.

I was really hoping that the goal vs Spurs last season would have him kick on but it wasn't to be. Pretty obvious the gig was up in that Shrewsbury away game, he was horrific.

Doesn't seem to have done brilliantly for Leeds. Some good stuff but not what we had (or thought we had).

 

[Tony Towner]

I wonder whether he thrived on been the main man which he was for the second half of 16/17? Wasn't the same player once Neves and Jota came and stole the limelight, which coincided with his injury

 

[Kenny]

Probably never recovered from the deal that was signed 15 minutes before we played Forest fell through...

For me, the extra defensive work he had to do in the Prem took some of his game away. He never hid from it and did a great job but for a while the majority of his work was not being done in the final 3rd. Still had some moments, the part in Mout's goal at OT for example but his confidence was slowly being chipped away. Then once we went to 2 up top that was him done.

Absolutely loved him in the Championship though and his goal v Cardiff is one of my faves. just wish his ankle hadn't been tapped at Anfield or he would have scored one the best ever. What we paid for him was great value just for the entertainment value and when Leeds sign him next month we will make a couple of £ on that as well.

 

[The Bear]

The away win at Spurs was his best Prem performance IMO.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He was only on for half an hour, came on for Adama.

He was very good at Old Trafford, these being the days when our fans didn't get annoyed at drawing with Man Utd

 

[The Bear]

Still, that's the only performance that sticks in my mind.

 

[Derby Wolf]

I don't think there's a player I've been more desperate to see come good than Helder. He played well at United, in the second half v Spurs at home (aside from the gilt miss) made his Portugal debut and scored v Scotland, good assist v Bournemouth, assist at Newcastle and each time I was so hoping he'd push on and get back to where he was in 16/17 despite the evidence like Cardiff away where he was spineless at best.

He was the only reason to keep going under Lambert and I think if he scores off that dribble v Liverpool we're talking one of the FA Cup goals.

I've tried wracking my brains why he's such a shadow, maybe its because he was technically proficient in a team of Dave Edwards, George Savilles and fat Matt Doherty's and it amplified how good he was? No, you dont have the wherewithal for that Cardiff goal if that's the case.

Was his motivation hit by money? was it sports psychology after his injury? I even.thought maybe Nuno may have tethered him a little by not taking risks and been more cautious but the fact he's not done much with Leeds rules that out too.

Wish him well.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Probably never recovered from the deal that was signed 15 minutes before we played Forest fell through...

What are you referring to here?

 

[Kenny]

What are you referring to here?

When he did his ankle in the warm up and missed that game (and many months after) within minutes the rumour was Lambert had been told a bid for Costa had come in and been accepted and he was not allowed to play him again that season to protect the deal.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

When he did his ankle in the warm up and missed that game (and many months after) within minutes the rumour was Lambert had been told a bid for Costa had come in and been accepted and he was not allowed to play him again that season to protect the deal.

Ah, i'd not heard that one!

 

[Kenny]

Ah, i'd not heard that one!

But it came from some reliable ITK's though!

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Seem to remember him taking a while to get up to speed with things when he first arrived, early appearances looking very weak and timid, then he was about the only good thing about the team through most of Lambert's spell before getting injured and reverting back to weak timid performances before he was sold.

Perhaps the good spell was just a purple patch?