Let's talk about Nuno....

[redvictor]

Didn't realise the hug he gave Figueroa was actually a bear hug. Looks like he's been helping Nuno get through this psychologically.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1360951011750391812

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I have no idea why he does those tortured analogies or lame metaphors unless it's to meet a word count. They aren't amusing and don't offer anything to his pieces

Pretty simple really, if you can do that kind of thing then do it by all means where appropriate and it won't sound forced. Nothing wrong with making people laugh.

If you can't (and he can't) then seriously don't as it will look awful.

He still hasn't found his own voice as a writer which after 18 months (?) at The Athletic is a bit disconcerting. It's no good to sort of half-nick ideas and structures from other people then not execute them properly. His stuff is numerous notches below the majority of the pieces on there.

 

[The Bear]

I think we ought to take a moment to congratulate Nuno on turning things around in the last four games.

A run of Arsenal, Leicester, Southampton and Leeds wasn't an easy run. But to come out of that with three wins and a draw when the team was basically on its arse both mentally and with the performances, deserves a lot of credit indeed.

 

[PuntsWolf]

He’s found the formula.

I’ve always felt sick speaking negatively about Nuno. Moments like last week at Saints, the Nuno moments montage or Twitter, genuinely bring a tear to my eye. Literally the best moments of my life following wolves. I love the guy to bits, but I don’t take back what I’ve said previously as my thoughts were purely on a footballing level not personal level.

All I ever asked for was for the last 1/3 Of the season to show we were heading in the right direction to kick on next year. Im happy that we are currently looking like doing that.

 

[BillyDee]

He’s found the formula.

You mean solutions..?

 

[Wolvensam]

Dragged us out of it again. Full credit to him, but a big summer ahead where we need to sign those difference makers to the first eleven. It won't be cheap either...

 

[AndyWolves]

Fine margins make all the difference. I believe you get more of those fine margins when you approach things positively

 

[PuntsWolf]

Fine margins make all the difference. I believe you get more of those fine margins when you approach things positively

Been my issue for god knows how long. We played the right way and made our own luck.

Before we played the wrong way and were the wrong side of it.

 

[redvictor]

I think we ought to take a moment to congratulate Nuno on turning things around in the last four games.

A run of Arsenal, Leicester, Southampton and Leeds wasn't an easy run. But to come out of that with three wins and a draw when the team was basically on its arse both mentally and with the performances, deserves a lot of credit indeed.

Hear hear....

 

[The Bion]

It does need colouring a little, IMO

We were insanely lucky against Arsenal. Could and probably should have been 2 or 3 down.

Played ok against Leicester without ever really looking like scoring.

1 awful half, 1 very good half against Southampton

Decent performance against Leeds, little bit of luck

If we can keep chaining performances together, that'll be a better indicator to me of progress, whether we get the result or not. Getting and keeping players healthy will help with that, obviously.

If we're up against, I dunno, Liverpool in a couple weeks, I won't mind losing if we're positive and have a go at them, like we did last season. We went 1 down but kept pushing, equalised and had them on the back foot. As opposed to what happened at Anfield a few weeks ago which we won't go into...

I do think the players are getting some confidence back, and with that comes enthusiasm, willingness to try things, creative expression, etc. It was evidently very fragile for a while there, probably for the staff as well, so let's hope they can keep it going.

 

[sycophantia]

It does need colouring a little, IMO

We were insanely lucky against Arsenal. Could and probably should have been 2 or 3 down.

Played ok against Leicester without ever really looking like scoring.

1 awful half, 1 very good half against Southampton

Decent performance against Leeds, little bit of luck

If we can keep chaining performances together, that'll be a better indicator to me of progress, whether we get the result or not. Getting and keeping players healthy will help with that, obviously.

If we're up against, I dunno, Liverpool in a couple weeks, I won't mind losing if we're positive and have a go at them, like we did last season. We went 1 down but kept pushing, equalised and had them on the back foot. As opposed to what happened at Anfield a few weeks ago which we won't go into...

I do think the players are getting some confidence back, and with that comes enthusiasm, willingness to try things, creative expression, etc. It was evidently very fragile for a while there, probably for the staff as well, so let's hope they can keep it going.

Think this is incredibly harsh on us. Don't think we were 'insanely lucky' against Arsenal, a bit yes, then took control. Thought we were good against Leicester who are no mugs, created the better chances, would have won but for a worldie save.
Agree about Southampton.
Yesterday, our best first half of the season, came under pressure a bit last 20.
You could say we were unlucky in some of the previous 8 games.
Thats not to say everything is rosy of course, we must start scoring more goals from our chances and good attacking positions and we've got to sort out our defending from set pieces, we've been poor at this for much of the season.

 

[prawnking]

I'm glad at the points haul, as it settles everything and everybody down.

Nuno has a hell of a lot to do in the summer, next season is a big one for us. Main thing for me is subtly shifting his and the team's mentality away from crippling conservatism.

Hoping a rest, a quality new addition or two and plenty of time on the training field will stand us in good stead.

 

[sycophantia]

I'm glad at the points haul, as it settles everything and everybody down.

Nuno has a hell of a lot to do in the summer, next season is a big one for us. Main thing for me is subtly shifting his and the team's mentality away from crippling conservatism.

Hoping a rest, a quality new addition or two and plenty of time on the training field will stand us in good stead.

yep it seems like a more 'risky' strategy is paying off going by last night and second half versus Southampton. Its certainly much better to watch.
We won't be able to play that way against everyone though but hopefully we'll mostly be more proactive in general. Think the last 3 halves make the system discussion a bit redundant...its all about the intent.
I reckon a decent CB and CM will help us go to the next level.....jury's still out on Jose imo.

 

[prawnking]

Think the last 3 halves make the system discussion a bit redundant...its all about the intent.

I don't 100% agree with this, intent is key but with three at the back (with current personnel especially) it ends up leaning into the over-cautiousness we need to avoid if we're going to make the most of our attacking talent, and actually score some goals

We play three at the back because individually our defenders aren't good enough for where we want to be (exception would be Boly).

When we're in possession and cross the halfway line we then have the likes of Dendoncker killing promising moves by passing back to Coady constantly. I'd rather sacrifice that eventually for a more forward-looking mid.

 

[Wolvensam]

Topic change, but nice to see Costa go over last night and embrace Nuno, Doherty and Jota did similar earlier in the season.

Say what you want about his tactics, but he definitely has the respect of his players.

 

[YoungWolf]

I think what I’ve been very encouraged about in the last four games is the defensive line has definitely been higher. Against Arsenal and Southampton in those first halves we got away with teething issues in that change. In fact, quite a lot of times last night we forced Meslier to kick long rather than allow the first pass which we have virtually never done under Nuno.

We probably still had less possession than Leeds in that first 60 minutes but it was good possession, and we were playing to people under pressure to create space elsewhere. Long may that continue

 

[Tony Towner]

I don't 100% agree with this, intent is key but with three at the back (with current personnel especially) it ends up leaning into the over-cautiousness we need to avoid if we're going to make the most of our attacking talent, and actually score some goals

We play three at the back because individually our defenders aren't good enough for where we want to be (exception would be Boly).

When we're in possession and cross the halfway line we then have the likes of Dendoncker killing promising moves by passing back to Coady constantly. I'd rather sacrifice that eventually for a more forward-looking mid.

Absolutely, 3 at the back had little if anything to do with the improvement tactically. It's only benefits are pyschological both in terms of a comfort blanket and getting Coady into the side, along with disaster planning to cover individual indeficiencies. For 90% of games I'd rather have an additional CAM/forward as long as the inverted wingers don't take their space. Add that player, a Moutinho successor and an organising proper ch in the Summer along with injury luck and fans then we'll be back on track to compete for top 6

 

[sycophantia]

I don't 100% agree with this, intent is key but with three at the back (with current personnel especially) it ends up leaning into the over-cautiousness we need to avoid if we're going to make the most of our attacking talent, and actually score some goals

We play three at the back because individually our defenders aren't good enough for where we want to be (exception would be Boly).

When we're in possession and cross the halfway line we then have the likes of Dendoncker killing promising moves by passing back to Coady constantly. I'd rather sacrifice that eventually for a more forward-looking mid.

Oh yeah, probably should have said I meant redundant for this season, would still like to see us with 4 at the back for most games when we have the personnel to make it possible

 

[Wolvensam]

I think what I’ve been very encouraged about in the last four games is the defensive line has definitely been higher. Against Arsenal and Southampton in those first halves we got away with teething issues in that change. In fact, quite a lot of times last night we forced Meslier to kick long rather than allow the first pass which we have virtually never done under Nuno.

We probably still had less possession than Leeds in that first 60 minutes but it was good possession, and we were playing to people under pressure to create space elsewhere. Long may that continue

We played a high line quite successfully earlier in the season - see Sheffield United game. The two CBs either side of Coady would push up and be the extra man in midfield, with Coady back to sweep. We then abandoned it for some reason (may have been been we went to a back four due to injuries.) despite us picking up some good results.

I don't know how much that high line is influenced by having three midfielders at the back but it definitely works. It suits us. It won't work against every team but I don't want to see us get rid when we have a particularly torrid time of it.

 

[YoungWolf]

We played a weird defensive line against West Ham where they just seem to get ruined by Antonio, no pressure on the ball either. That seemed to spook us a bit (we then had a very good run of results playing 343 even if some performances were stodgy).