Villa 0-0 Wolves: Verdict Thread

[Wolvensam]

Coady is a much better player than some people give him credit for. He has his weak points, but so does every other central defender. At least we found out he works in the opponents box!

Agreed. He was in some dreadful form but has come out the other side now.

To buy a defender that retains Coady's good qualities - distribution, leadership, reading of the game - whilst improving his weaknesses (strength, heading) won't be cheap.

I'd be willing to give him a pre-season to get used to a two with Boly, build that partnership and sign a younger CB who can wait in the wings.

 

[Tony Towner]

No, just no. We absolutely have to sign a first choice centre half. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.

 

[Wolvensam]

I agree there needs to be competition, but we just aren't a club who splash it out on a big name player - Raul is the anomaly really but that was after a season with us. We either sign young players or pay modest fees (Moutinho, Marcal). I can't see that changing, and we won't attract that level of player without European football.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Very generous appraisal of him too.

 

[Jinky]

Coady & Boly is definitely our best option in a back 4 at the moment. At least when Coady was going through a downturn in form you could see he was still trying. You could tell he was frustrated and that it meant something to him - the same cannot be said for some of our other players. I’m also pleased that Nuno has started to let him go forward for set pieces, because he’s a legitimate threat from them (should have scored two yesterday!).

Forgetting formations and such, the first position I would be looking to improve in the summer is an upgrade on Moutinho. He’s on a downward trajectory - where as Neves next to him has started to look like a real leader this season. Let’s not forget he’s not even held his new baby yet, but has just got on with it (De Gea, for example, has flown home and is now missing a few games to meet his newborn). Neves is proper captain material - the least we can do is get someone in the team next to him to help out. Moutinho is still a fine squad option for another year or so, especially with his experience - but he shouldn’t be in our best 11 next season.

Realistically we need to strengthen all three departments with readymade first team players next year - and then hopefully we’ll have more luck with injuries (although we are still one of the least affected clubs in the PL this season with injuries, believe it or not).

 

[Wolvensam]

Very generous appraisal of him too.

I'm not sure I'd call it generous. He does have decent distribution, leadership and reads the game well. Nine times out of ten he is in the right place at the right time and doesn't "lose his head".

I agree with Jinky (gasp) that the CM position is the absolute priority for me, then probably another attacker in the mould of Jota so we can mix it up, then a CB.

I'm not saying CB isn't a concern, it is, but I'd be willing to give Coady and Boly a couple of games together in pre-season and at the start of next season. It could be something that can be resolved on the training ground.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Who do you think was not trying, Jinks?

Apart from Cutrone and José, they're fair game as they haven't tried, they're bone fucking idle the pair of them.

 

[prawnking]

Agreed. He was in some dreadful form but has come out the other side now.

To buy a defender that retains Coady's good qualities - distribution, leadership, reading of the game - whilst improving his weaknesses (strength, heading) won't be cheap.

I'd be willing to give him a pre-season to get used to a two with Boly, build that partnership and sign a younger CB who can wait in the wings.

I think our wings are pretty full tbh! We need a first choice CB.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I get it . A certain poster doesn’t like WJ. But every other post slagging off for identical reasons is getting Manhattan project history makers tiresome.

oh, and WJ works for me and my sausage fingers for typing

 

[Wolvensam]

I'm just under no illusion that we're not going to sign a Dias level player. I'd ship Bennett and Kilman on which leaves us with three CBs, plus Dendoncker who can sort of do a job there.

We'll likely sign a youngster on loan from Porto or elsewhere in the Leite mould who will take a couple of months to settle. I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I can't see us spending big.

I think our wings are pretty full tbh! We need a first choice CB.

Are they? We only have Neto and Traore, Podence at a push but he's more of a 10. MGW is a 10.

 

[PuntsWolf]

I'm not sure I'd call it generous. He does have decent distribution, leadership and reads the game well. Nine times out of ten he is in the right place at the right time and doesn't "lose his head".

I agree with Jinky (gasp) that the CM position is the absolute priority for me, then probably another attacker in the mould of Jota so we can mix it up, then a CB.

I'm not saying CB isn't a concern, it is, but I'd be willing to give Coady and Boly a couple of games together in pre-season and at the start of next season. It could be something that can be resolved on the training ground.

His distribution is decent yes, nothing outrageous, it’s definitely overstated. Much like leadership. Good to have around the squad but I’m not actually sure his shouting on the pitch makes us any more or less organised defensively.

None of that covers his glaring deficiencies. He’s not bad obviously, he’s a PL footballer, but I’m not comparing him to me or Richard Stearman. I’m comparing him to other top half CBs.

For example Watkins turned him inside out without trying for that chance he inexplicably passed rather than smashing it far corner and similar second half where he allowed him inside and Saiss was there to block.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I get it . A certain poster doesn’t like WJ. But every other post slagging off for identical reasons is getting Manhattan project history makers tiresome.

oh, and WJ works for me and my sausage fingers for typing

Well people shouldn't keep defending him for reasons that aren't even there. He's been bloody awful. I'd say he gets off lightly compared to what Fabio Silva has had, and there are far more mitigating factors for the latter.

Not many teams sign an experienced striker on loan, watch them score 0 goals in 9 games (and hardly look like scoring) then keep playing them when they're obviously not going to sign permanently AND there's an alternative there.

But you keep banging that drum, he might have a shot one day.

 

[prawnking]

Are they? We only have Neto and Traore, Podence at a push but he's more of a 10. MGW is a 10.

I meant metaphorical wings (as in waiting for a chance) not wings on the pitch! (you said get a young CB to wait in the wings).

We already have Kilman, RAN, Hoever, Otasowie, Vitinha and MGW waiting in the wings, that's plenty for me. I want someone on the pitch or we'll never get Nuno to play a back 4 unless Coady and Boly play every minute of every game

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

For example Watkins turned him inside out without trying for that chance he inexplicably passed rather than smashing it far corner and similar second half where he allowed him inside and Saiss was there to block.

On the first one, it would help if Dendoncker didn't play like his Dumb and Dumber haircut and pass the ball straight to the opposition 35 yards out under no pressure. Had we conceded there it would not have been Coady's fault.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I think our wings are pretty full tbh! We need a first choice CB.

The important position for me with 4 at the back will be your defensive midfielder. I cannot see Neves or moutinho there as they are too short and too slow. That leaves Dendonker or Otasowie. Both add the needed height for set pieces. In both boxes. We actually have the squad for 4 at the back I. A 4231 or 4132 depending if you put Fabio up top on a two. I wouldnt. Not yet.
Rui
Semedo Boly/Coady Saiss Jonny
Dendonker//otasowie Neves
Traore moutinho Neto
WJ
you could therefore play the same starting 11 as yesterday in a different formation that would push us 10 yards further up the pitch and give more emphasis on attack.

 

[PuntsWolf]

On the first one, it would help if Dendoncker didn't play like his Dumb and Dumber haircut and pass the ball straight to the opposition 35 yards out under no pressure. Had we conceded there it would not have been Coady's fault.

Agreed. Just the most recent example that came to my head of Coady being poor 1 v 1. I mean I could list plenty others if you want.

 

[Wolvensam]

I meant metaphorical wings (as in waiting for a chance) not wings on the pitch! (you said get a young CB to wait in the wings).

We already have Kilman, RAN, Hoever, Otasowie, Vitinha and MGW waiting in the wings, that's plenty for me. I want someone on the pitch or we'll never get Nuno to play a back 4 unless Coady and Boly play every minute of every game

Ah! My mistake for misreading.

But that's how a lot of top teams operate except for freaks like Manchester City. They have top players and then youngsters as a back up - see Liverpool, Leicester (who do have insane squad depth admittedly as they have a lot of good young players).

I'm just not willing to write Coady-Boly off yet. They've only played 3 games together. I'm not saying it's the solution, I'd just be interested to see.

 

[Freddeno]

i think all of Coady, Boly and Saiss can play in a four, but in an ideal world i would want a big upgrade at CB if you are gonna upgrade..not like semedo for doc(if that is even an upgrade, dont think so myself even if semedo has been much better than when he started to play)
I dont wanna see Donk in defence anymore

 

[Johnny75]

Who do you think was not trying, Jinks?

Apart from Cutrone and José, they're fair game as they haven't tried, they're bone fucking idle the pair of them.

Adama didn't try at all yesterday.

 

[Tony Towner]

I agree there needs to be competition, but we just aren't a club who splash it out on a big name player - Raul is the anomaly really but that was after a season with us. We either sign young players or pay modest fees (Moutinho, Marcal). I can't see that changing, and we won't attract that level of player without European football.

What is 'that level of player' though? Getting an upgrade on Conor Coady as defender in a 4 should be a relatively easy mission without having to go to the level of player who will only sign for a club in Europe. Even Boly is a projection as to how he'll play in that system. Having a player who has proven their ability there is an absolute must or you run the risk of again having to play a 3 and or sitting midfielders to cover them.