Leeds (A) 19/10 Build-Up & Matchday Thread

[Tony Towner]

We’ve started with it in every game? (Bar maybe West Ham but Neto was still dropping very Deep)

Donck/Joao neves Neto
Raul Podence

Has basically been the shape the majority of the time. I’m not sure I quite get the plan from Nuno with this one as it’s extremely lopsided and I’m not sure it benefits some of the individuals

Not in the sense Dino was saying with 2 centre forwards and 3 CMs

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think we see more of that first half against Sheffield United. Both Neto and Podence had floating roles and either could drop into an AM role while the other pulled wide.

 

[Alan]

Dan's team for me, as well.

 

[pacamac]

Patricio
Semedo Boly Coady Saiss Marcal
Dendoncker Moutinho
Podence Jimenez Neto (Podence & Neto to regularly switch as they tend to, but stay as a wide top 3)

 

[Lycan]

Cooper & Llorente both out injured for Leeds

Sent from my GM1920 using Tapatalk

 

[Dinowolf]

I think Cooper's having a fitness test on the day.

BTW isn't time you changed your sig?

 

[Jinky]

Some interesting debate on the molineux view podcast this week, regards the “best 11/team to play against Leeds”.

Spiers is adamant that Adama should start and should be in our starting 11 more often than not. He seemed to be basing this on his performance for Spain against Portugal. It’s interesting to see that Adama hasn’t made a single suggested 11 in this thread. For me, he’s more of an impact player. But Spiers is concerned that we are putting too much pressure and reliance on Neto, in terms of his role in the team and what we are asking him to do.

There’s a suggestion that we could play three in midfield, Neves, Moutinho AND Donk - and have Podence playing up top with Raul (similar to the second half v City where he looked dangerous), and I wouldn’t be adverse to this.

For me, controlling the middle of the park is key - having two attacking wing backs getting up and down the sides gives you the width, which means you can afford the extra body in the middle. A few have suggested we will move away from 3-5-2 now Jota has gone - but for me, I still think it’s our strongest formation to start games. Then let Traore/Neto come on to kill teams off.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Would that be when he didn't start for Spain? :icon_lol:

I don't think 3-5-2 has been our best bet for quite some time. We moved away from it quite early last season and haven't ever gone back to it with any particular regularity.

Eventually I think we can look at Raul and Fabio as a proper front two but the latter needs easing in, I don't really fancy any of the other options. Podence and Neto don't do what Jota used to, and Adama is never going to be enough of a goal threat.

 

[YoungWolf]

Adama just needs to work his way back into the team IMO. He had a really good spell when it was him, Raul and Neto as the front three and he was beginning to vary his movement and run inside more often where he can be so much more dangerous. He's reverted too much (maybe instructed, tbf) to just hugging the touchline and receiving deep. He does it well, getting to the line and clipping it in but I don't think it is that effective a tactic, certainly not against teams who just sit off us.

 

[The Bear]

Would that be when he didn't start for Spain? :icon_lol:

I don't think 3-5-2 has been our best bet for quite some time. We moved away from it quite early last season and haven't ever gone back to it with any particular regularity.

Eventually I think we can look at Raul and Fabio as a proper front two but the latter needs easing in, I don't really fancy any of the other options. Podence and Neto don't do what Jota used to, and Adama is never going to be enough of a goal threat.

Agreed. We need two of our attacking players to try and replace Jota's goals. I can't see any one of them doing it on their own alongside Raul.

 

[Carrotdude]

Well Ronaldo’s just tested positive for Covid so god help us if Rui in particular has to isolate.

 

[Sniffer]

Ronaldo has now tested positive for Covid 19. Hopefully our players will be free of the virus and can come back and be allowed to play.

 

[BGreenWolf]

All of our lads in the Portugal squad have tested negative as it stands- it's only Ronaldo that has had a positive test.

 

[Sniffer]

All of our lads in the Portugal squad have tested negative as it stands- it's only Ronaldo that has had a positive test.

Podence was quite close to him at dinner last night.

https://twitter.com/Cristiano/statu...https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54528942

 

[Tredman]

Good to see Rui as far away as possible.

Does go to show the utter stupidity of playing internationals as it stands.

 

[Sniffer]

Good to see Rui as far away as possible.

Does go to show the utter stupidity of playing internationals as it stands.

There was positive cases in the Juventus group that stopped Aaron Ramsey from joining up with the Welsh squad but Ronaldo was allowed to travel.

The Independent reported....

The entire Juventus squad have been in "fiduciary isolation" after news of two non-playing members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

That has not stopped six players - including Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo - from leaving the Juventus 'bubble' to play for their countries over the course of the next few days.

"Aaron has just followed the protocols he's told," Wales manager Giggs said when addressing the situation.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Marçal is in training. I imagine he'll play LWB then.

 

[PuntsWolf]

With Wolves not getting results until Sunday it makes a mockery of the situation. A player could be positive on Friday and then infect his team mates for the next 2 days, but then they won’t find out about it until Sunday...

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

I love this thread (bar the Covid bit) as it actually shows what a good window we've really had, regardless of the "are they any good now or have we overpaid" arguments. At no point last season did we have this level of debate, opinion and choice about the starting 11. Virtually every one of this 18 could start and it could be justified, whereas last season we realistically had 13/14 options of which only 12 were really considered starters.

We're actually really debating who to leave out of the 18, with DW going with our £10m RWB/RCB from Liverpool, Dinowolf offering our CL semi finalist and extra week to fully recover from injury and Bear suggesting leaving out last weeks stellar performer Kilman. We also seem to have viable options for an off colour Moutinho (if indeed you think he is!)

Great strides that I'm sure will ultimately prove beneficial.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

We could go all Warnock and leave the keeper off the bench...