WBA 1-1 Wolves: Verdict Thread

[Nando]

What are everyone's thoughts on Dendoncker's performance last night? I've seen him slandered on Twitter, but I actually thought he did OK apart from when he somehow fell over his own shadow and lost the ball in the first half. I think he went back to keeping it simple and shielding the defence which suited him.

He was fine - neat and tidy. That is the role he should be playing.

 

[Tredman]

Doesn't offer enough and gives the ball away too many times for an experienced DM. Was dissapointed.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He did well in a very limited sense, in that he actually bothered tracking runners and challenging for headers, but this is only comparing his performance with how he's been lately.

He seems to have given up on attacking completely, his passing is complete piss and he gives away stupid fouls.

I'd say he looked like a bit of a shit Karl Henry last night and in 2021 I don't think I want that in my Wolves team. I do however know he's a lot better than that, he's had a shocking season though.

 

[sycophantia]

Thought he was ok, DM suits him best imo, as DW says, been mostly cack this season but you don't just become a bad player in one season. At start of season he was making some great runs into the box and getting on the end of passes but his finishing was woeful, could be on 6-7 goals by now, maybe that affected his confidence.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

What are everyone's thoughts on Dendoncker's performance last night? I've seen him slandered on Twitter, but I actually thought he did OK apart from when he somehow fell over his own shadow and lost the ball in the first half. I think he went back to keeping it simple and shielding the defence which suited him.

I thought he was fine, like OO he gave the ball away a couple of times early on, but he got better as the game progressed. Unfortunately his form as been so bad that the perception amongst our fans is even when he is good he is bad now.

 

[Wolvensam]

He seems to have given up on attacking completely, his passing is complete piss and he gives away stupid fouls.

I think the first part of this sentence is unfair as he made a couple of runs either down the line or into the box, certainly when we were trying to overload.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

But "complete piss" passing and stupid fouls are ok?

I'm only messing but in a two where Neves will always sit, playing like that isn't anything like good enough. I don't mind keeping him around, I've always been intrigued by him at RCH in a three but every time we put him there he looks good for a bit then pulls out a howler.

You look at West Ham when they're first choice and play 4-2-3-1. Rice sits (Neves is better than him). Soucek is the partner and he is absolutely miles better than Dendoncker on every level.

 

[Wolvensam]

I think complete piss passing is unfair too - he just plays it safe. Stupid fouls is, however, fair (see Watford FA Cup semi final).

I suppose that's the problem - if you play Neves you need a more dynamic midfielder next to him, and whilst Dendoncker gets about the pitch he doesn't really supplement that with much else.

 

[sycophantia]

But "complete piss" passing and stupid fouls are ok?

I'm only messing but in a two where Neves will always sit, playing like that isn't anything like good enough. I don't mind keeping him around, I've always been intrigued by him at RCH in a three but every time we put him there he looks good for a bit then pulls out a howler.

You look at West Ham when they're first choice and play 4-2-3-1. Rice sits (Neves is better than him). Soucek is the partner and he is absolutely miles better than Dendoncker on every level.

tbf Soucek has been probably the best midfielder of that type all season in the league

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

tbf Soucek has been probably the best midfielder of that type all season in the league

Yeah, and he cost them less than we paid for Donck.

I haven't got an agenda against the lad, he's alright, I liked him in his previous season and a half (remember it took us nearly five months to actually play him) but he's had a shocker.

I'm not sure he can give us what we need in that role if that's the formation going forward. One of the best I ever saw was Germany in the 2006 World Cup. Ballack and Frings. Both could do everything. One goes, one stays. Worked brilliantly.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I think complete piss passing is unfair too - he just plays it safe. Stupid fouls is, however, fair (see Watford FA Cup semi final).

I suppose that's the problem - if you play Neves you need a more dynamic midfielder next to him, and whilst Dendoncker gets about the pitch he doesn't really supplement that with much else.

I wish he'd done a "stupid foul" on Lingard, also his little tug on Perreira was enough to stop him shooting i felt.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I wish he'd done a "stupid foul" on Lingard, also his little tug on Perreira was enough to stop him shooting i felt.

I don't think anyone would have called the one on Lingard stupid, he should have done it. I mean crap like when we're actually attacking and he manages to break it up by barrelling into someone and giving away a free kick, which he does quite often.

Pereira just bottled it, nothing to do with Donck. On his left there he really should have been having a go rather than passing to Townsend (who actually is quite good going forward, shocking defender though).

 

[Wolvensam]

Yeah, and he cost them less than we paid for Donck.

I haven't got an agenda against the lad, he's alright, I liked him in his previous season and a half (remember it took us nearly five months to actually play him) but he's had a shocker.

I'm not sure he can give us what we need in that role if that's the formation going forward. One of the best I ever saw was Germany in the 2006 World Cup. Ballack and Frings. Both could do everything. One goes, one stays. Worked brilliantly.

A lot of them have had a shocker though, and I can see a world where a Neves-Dendoncker give and go could work (albeit both need a bit of shooting practice) but they do need a midfielder in the mould of Vitinha in front of them.

 

[Tredman]

A lot of them have had a shocker though, and I can see a world where a Neves-Dendoncker give and go could work (albeit both need a bit of shooting practice) but they do need a midfielder in the mould of Vitinha in front of them.

Neither of them have the ability to bring the ball forward and both are rather one-paced. We'd look way better with 2 DMs if they had complimentary skill-sets.

Happy to have Donk on the bench as good cover, but no more (unless Neves is off...)

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I don't think anyone would have called the one on Lingard stupid, he should have done it. I mean crap like when we're actually attacking and he manages to break it up by barrelling into someone and giving away a free kick, which he does quite often.

Pereira just bottled it, nothing to do with Donck. On his left there he really should have been having a go rather than passing to Townsend (who actually is quite good going forward, shocking defender though).

Oh i know, just seeing it voted GOTM re-opened old wounds, the most annoying mistakes in football are the ones that you know you, yourself wouldn't make in the same situation, and no i couldn't catch Lingard, but if i could i would have brought him down, as i'm sure 90% of us would. God knows why Donk didn't, especially when he is regularly giving away unnecessary free kicks.

Anyway, i digress..

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

We always talk of Neves as a sitting midfielder with Donk doing all the running, but can't it work the other way round? Neves may not be as fast, but he is more creative and has actually scored all his goals from inside the box this season.

 

[Wolvensam]

Neves is just a bit one-paced, he's never going to be able to do all the running. He's better off sitting back and dictating play.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

West Ham worked it really well to get it to Lingard but being GOTM is a farce

He didn't have to do a lot other than being able to run. He didn't actually beat anyone, we just showed him the way.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

Neves is just a bit one-paced, he's never going to be able to do all the running. He's better off sitting back and dictating play.

or sitting further forward and dictating play?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Presumably if he's further forward then he'll need to be able to shoot.

At the minute he's worse than Guedioura from range.