Spurs 1-0 Wolves: Verdict Thread

[BeaverWolf]

I strongly disagree that that will magically solve our issues. It could help, but we need more than that.

So what exactly? We have just spent serious money on a quality player. We have some good players returning from injury. Be optimistic.

 

[BeaverWolf]

Such an odd debate.

If we were going to sack Lage, it should have been done at the end of last season, and for the record, I was all for letting him go.

You don’t sack him when you’ve finally given him some useful additions to the squad. And let’s not forget; he still carries a lot of respect over in Portugal & was obviously an influential figure in the signings of Nunes & Guedes (who will both be massive players for us this season). You don’t bin him off after half a week of working with them both.

For me, you can’t think about sacking him until you sign a striker. If the form carries on and the lack of goals carry on after that, he goes. I’m also sorry to say that I don’t think Raul is the answer. He looks (quite understandably given what he’s been through) absolutely miles off the player we once had.

As I said earlier in the thread, we’ve basically thrown the first three games. It’s Fosun’s responsibility to now go out and attain their top forward target (or one of) in the next week, because we have to start getting points on the board. Once this is done, if we’re still not scoring, and still in/around the bottom three, we’ll have no choice but to let Lage go.

Seems completely obvious to me, though. If we have a CF in the side, we’re probably 4-6 x points better off this season already.

Lage needs time & we all know he/we need a striker. Lets hope Raul improves - he showed some signs today. Traore also looked a threat - 3 players on him every time he got the ball.

 

[Aikiwolf]

The view in this thread is probably more negative than I walked away from the ground feeling.

The first half we were by far the better team, though Podence as a false 9 doesn't work and hasn't ever worked.

Guedes probably had the best of our opportunities but ran the ball wide when he was through on goal.

Second half we just didn't manage to get going, even then Spurs only managed 1 goal (sloppy marking/World class movement - take your pick).

Unfortunately Dendoncker and Adama were really poor when they came on, Raúl did OK as did Hwang and Semedo. Though I'm not sure why Semedo played on the left?

We need to start picking up points soon but we've backed Bruno at an odd time, before the season kicks off then we'd have beaten Leeds and or Fulham but now we have backed him I can't see us sacking him soon.

 

[BeaverWolf]

Newcastle
Bournemouth
Southampton
Liverpool
Man City
West Ham
Chelsea

I don't think Lage is winning more than two of them and he'll get sacked. We're just wasting time and tanking a season but that's our own fault.

That’s the spirit. Sign a fantastic player, just lose to a very good team away from home, lets throw in the towel.

 

[Alan]

So what exactly? We have just spent serious money on a quality player. We have some good players returning from injury. Be optimistic.

I was optimistic about Bruno for a long time. Heck, I was practically ready to anoint him as a defensive genius last December.

Funny how 9 months of generally shit play, with nary a hint that we know how to improve, will change your mind about a manager, eh?

I'm glad you've got more credit in the bank for Mr. Lage, but I sure as shit don't.

 

[Jinky]

Lage needs time & we all know he/we need a striker. Lets hope Raul improves - he showed some signs today. Traore also looked a threat - 3 players on him every time he got the ball.

Nah, Adama will be gone by the end of the window. Literally couldn’t look any more disinterested if he tried. I noticed it in the “behind the scenes” video when Nunes joined. Barely looked at Nunes & was practically walking away when they high-fived. Was also terrible when he came off the bench today. Has pace to burn but didn’t use it and did the standard overhit cross 2-3 times. He’s gone.

I feel bad saying it, but we need to sign a replacement for Raul. Not someone to compete with him. Absolutely appreciate what Raul has been through and it’s an incredible achievement to get back playing at all - but he’s miles off the player we bought and until he starts showing some signs of scoring regularly at this level again, we need better.

 

[sycophantia]

This is the thing for me. The mythical "15 goals" striker doesn't happen by himself. Even the best forwards have to be supported by what's happening behind them. I don't have much faith in that side of our game right now.

We might sign a decent forward by the end of the month but we aren't ending up with someone as good as Harry Kane, not unless we feel like doubling our transfer record.

Kane scored 17 last season in an ordinary Spurs side, obviously we're not getting a 'Kane' but a good goalscorer absolutely immediately better, of course our other forwards need to be better at decision making.

 

[BeaverWolf]

The view in this thread is probably more negative than I walked away from the ground feeling.

The first half we were by far the better team, though Podence as a false 9 doesn't work and hasn't ever worked.

Guedes probably had the best of our opportunities but ran the ball wide when he was through on goal.

Second half we just didn't manage to get going, even then Spurs only managed 1 goal (sloppy marking/World class movement - take your pick).

Unfortunately Dendoncker and Adama were really poor when they came on, Raúl did OK as did Hwang and Semedo. Though I'm not sure why Semedo played on the left?

We need to start picking up points soon but we've backed Bruno at an odd time, before the season kicks off then we'd have beaten Leeds and or Fulham but now we have backed him I can't see us sacking him soon.

Adama delivered at least 3 crosses resulting in 2 corners & one in another attack from the other side. He also drew 3 defenders to him whenever he got the ball. Considering his lack of playing time ...

 

[BeaverWolf]

Nah, Adama will be gone by the end of the window. Literally couldn’t look any more disinterested if he tried. I noticed it in the “behind the scenes” video when Nunes joined. Barely looked at Nunes & was practically walking away when they high-fived. Was also terrible when he came off the bench today. Has pace to burn but didn’t use it and did the standard overhit cross 2-3 times. He’s gone.

I feel bad saying it, but we need to sign a replacement for Raul. Not someone to compete with him. Absolutely appreciate what Raul has been through and it’s an incredible achievement to get back playing at all - but he’s miles off the player we bought and until he starts showing some signs of scoring regularly at this level again, we need better.

You may be right but there really was not much wrong with our performance today bar a clinical finish.

 

[StuardoWulf]

I've zero confidence in him, we do look good in possession but you'd expect that considering how much quality we have on the ball, both centre halves are excellent on the ball and that midfield 3 is as good as anything in the league bar City maybe.

I’m surprised with your obviously superior knowledge and skills that they didn’t appoint you

 

[PuntsWolf]

Our attacking plan is basically just work a shooting oppourtunity for Neves. Or a forward to cut inside and smash it into shins. Our best two opportunities fell to RAN and Donck but neither shot and Donck didn’t even touch the ball. We still never cross the ball, and the rare time we do it’s when the defence are set.

Set pieces were awful too. Maybe we should go back to the short stuff!

 

[StuardoWulf]

Yeah, Nuno was shit.

Fucking hell.

Nuno got no decent back up for 3 years and lage had none last year you gotta give people at least10 min. I have hope we will be better soon predictiction

 

[WsWolf]

I’m surprised with your obviously superior knowledge and skills that they didn’t appoint you

I'm surprised by your complete lack of intellect that this is the best you could come up with hours after it was posted.

 

[redvictor]

I’m surprised with your obviously superior knowledge and skills that they didn’t appoint you

Be careful, he'll call you a simpleton if you are not careful...

 

[prawnking]

We came higher last season than the year before so great things must be ok, very simplistic view of things. Let’s just see what happens? Until when? At what point do you say it’s not working?
Explain the tactical thinking at the back end of last season v Man City, BHA, Burnley, Newcastle, Norwich and the mismanagement v Leeds at home.

Waiting to see what happens sounds like a case of fixing the roof when it’s pissing down with rain.

I think you're getting a bit over-excited here and seem to be under the impression that the thread is full of Bruno fanboys that need enlightening.

I was just answering your question at face value. At no point have I said things are OK, I've levelled plenty of criticisms on this very thread, and I actually lay out in the third paragraph of the post you quote at what point I'd say it's not working!

 

[prawnking]

The view in this thread is probably more negative than I walked away from the ground feeling.

The first half we were by far the better team, though Podence as a false 9 doesn't work and hasn't ever worked.

Guedes probably had the best of our opportunities but ran the ball wide when he was through on goal.

Second half we just didn't manage to get going, even then Spurs only managed 1 goal (sloppy marking/World class movement - take your pick).

Unfortunately Dendoncker and Adama were really poor when they came on, Raúl did OK as did Hwang and Semedo. Though I'm not sure why Semedo played on the left?

We need to start picking up points soon but we've backed Bruno at an odd time, before the season kicks off then we'd have beaten Leeds and or Fulham but now we have backed him I can't see us sacking him soon.

I agree with most of this, but in terms of the timing of backing Bruno, there surely has to be something in play that has meant we're acting so late in the window? Combination of policy change at Fosun along with playing a waiting game for first choice targets?

 

[redvictor]

I agree with most of this, but in terms of the timing of backing Bruno, there surely has to be something in play that has meant we're acting so late in the window? Combination of policy change at Fosun along with playing a waiting game for first choice targets?

This. We've had to wait. The timing is unfortunate, but i'd rather see us signing top quality rather than fluff. Of course it's fucked us for the first couple of games but the league isn't a sprint. Get a top quality CF and get Raul firing again (if it's possible sans injury) and we will be golden.
This year is a transition. The team is set up for long term. Young players that have time to grow together is so much better than getting a bunch of 30 odd year old journeymen. Patience is the key*
* I realise that patience is long down the list of most modern fans, who must have it NOW!

 

[Jinky]

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Bit of an odd performance to reflect on in some respects. Some encouraging signs towards a bold new world but coupled with some all too familiar faults anchored firmly in the past.

Not been many teams Wolves have looked as dominant against in the first half as they did today, was generally restricted to the teams propping up the table in recent years. It's long been an issue turning that dominance into damage though, Wolves' best periods of late have always been founded on counter attacking and the players still look largely clueless when put against a set defence. They just don't ask enough questions of opposition in those situations, content to keep the ball and go side to side rather than probe and push for an opening.

A lot of goals at this level come down to fine margins. Looked to me on one replay today that Collins was stepping out to attack the ball on it's original flight, flick on took him completely out the game and gave Kane a tap in. Another day that early anticipation sees him beat a forward to the ball and prevent a goal rather than concede one.

You look at Wolves in general play and they fall short on these fine margins all across the pitch. Whether it's a man taking an extra touch, picking the wrong option, they all stack up and form a barrier to a genuinely threatening performance. Even when they pick the right option at the right time it's so often let down by the execution. How often do you see a Wolves player get a ball perfectly into their path to run onto? Appears to me, all too often, passes are just a touch behind their target or they don't have quite the right weight on them, so often the receiver has to check their run, stand a wait for the ball to arrive or get forced wider than they'd want to be.

It's why I think they find it so difficult to really raise the tempo because the football never really flows all that fluently or naturally. The core of the squad has been together for a relatively long time in football terms and they still don't appear to really click 100% when going forwards. We saw isolated bits between certain players at times under Nuno but rarely a fully cohesive unit in an attacking sense, they just don't appear to bounce off one another all that well.

As talented as some of these players are, I'm far from convinced we'll ever get to see them really let lose and play free slowing attacking football. I'm not sure they're really that way inclined.

That's not to say Lage is faultless or blameless, he certainly makes his fair share of mistakes. Odd selections, completely rudderless performances, he seems just as out of sync with the squad as half of them do with one another. I doubt he's the man to ever get a consistent tune out of this group of players, though I doubt they'll ever play a tune I'm a huge fan of regardless of who's at the helm. Everything was aligned in the Nuno era, the players suited the manager and the style suited the standing of the club at the time. You can't be a counter attacking underdog forever though if you've got your eyes on the big time and sooner or later you've got to step up and play like the big boys if you want to be one of them.

 

[redvictor]

Bit of an odd performance to reflect on in some respects. Some encouraging signs towards a bold new world but coupled with some all too familiar faults anchored firmly in the past.

Not been many teams Wolves have looked as dominant against in the first half as they did today, was generally restricted to the teams propping up the table in recent years. It's long been an issue turning that dominance into damage though, Wolves' best periods of late have always been founded on counter attacking and the players still look largely clueless when put against a set defence. They just don't ask enough questions of opposition in those situations, content to keep the ball and go side to side rather than probe and push for an opening.

A lot of goals at this level come down to fine margins. Looked to me on one replay today that Collins was stepping out to attack the ball on it's original flight, flick on took him completely out the game and gave Kane a tap in. Another day that early anticipation sees him beat a forward to the ball and prevent a goal rather than concede one.

You look at Wolves in general play and they fall short on these fine margins all across the pitch. Whether it's a man taking an extra touch, picking the wrong option, they all stack up and form a barrier to a genuinely threatening performance. Even when they pick the right option at the right time it's so often let down by the execution. How often do you see a Wolves player get a ball perfectly into their path to run onto? Appears to me, all too often, passes are just a touch behind their target or they don't have quite the right weight on them, so often the receiver has to check their run, stand a wait for the ball to arrive or get forced wider than they'd want to be.

It's why I think they find it so difficult to really raise the tempo because the football never really flows all that fluently or naturally. The core of the squad has been together for a relatively long time in football terms and they still don't appear to really click 100% when going forwards. We saw isolated bits between certain players at times under Nuno but rarely a fully cohesive unit in an attacking sense, they just don't appear to bounce off one another all that well.

As talented as some of these players are, I'm far from convinced we'll ever get to see them really let lose and play free slowing attacking football. I'm not sure they're really that way inclined.

That's not to say Lage is faultless or blameless, he certainly makes his fair share of mistakes. Odd selections, completely rudderless performances, he seems just as out of sync with the squad as half of them do with one another. I doubt he's the man to ever get a consistent tune out of this group of players, though I doubt they'll ever play a tune I'm a huge fan of regardless of who's at the helm. Everything was aligned in the Nuno era, the players suited the manager and the style suited the standing of the club at the time. You can't be a counter attacking underdog forever though if you've got your eyes on the big time and sooner or later you've got to step up and play like the big boys if you want to be one of them.

Not a lot to argue with there in fairness. The hope is that they get some time to build this squad without injuries to make them a bit more cohesive. You have to admit we have some quality in the side now, apart from the obvious lack of a goal scorer.