Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace: Verdict Thread

[Carsy]

Just catching up - glossed over the last couple of pages but pretty much got the theme… I think.

On Lage, I’m fairly happy to an extent where we are. If you had said at the start of the season we would’ve been in with a legitimate chance of top 4, and even now we still have a legitimate chance of top 6/7. Ofcourse 3 losses in a row does leave a negative feeling, especially with the brand of football. His body of work at benfica does have some relevancy. Yes, they were favourites in 90% of their games, so it’s the equivalent of managing city or Liverpool. If he was manager of either of them, I’d wager he wouldn’t be playing this cautious style. That being said, it does show he can play a certain brand of football.

I don't think we are fun to watch currently, but as previously mentioned losing the last 3 amplifies the negative feeling. I want a better brand of football, however if we were playing a better brand and meandering in 13th position, I’m not sure I’d take that over current situation (that’s down to opinion) others may vary

On nuno going it’s abit like going over old ground. Best manager in my lifetime, but the last season was poor with lots of mitigating factors of course. I just think the ‘cycle’ had come to an end. Usually if you hit the reset button, you freshen up the squad as well. We simply haven’t done that. Take the amount we’ve spent out of the equation (as it’s inflated by the silva transfer) we haven’t sort a great deal, the squad needs refreshing. That’s not an excuse for the brand we are currently playing, but a potential reason for it. The core of our team hasn’t really changed in 3 years.

I’d like Lage to be given some funds/signings this summer. I think he deserves that chance given the season so far and go from there. It may well change to style of play etc. can only judge that if that happens Ofcourse. Common consensus is we’re a mid table team. We’ve been fighting above that for majority of the season.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Ta, can we pin this post to the top of the page please. Takes something to get Cybers full agreement too.

Never mind pinning it to the thread, can we print it off so we can all sign it and send it to Jeff Shi.

 

[The Bear]

Personally I think Lage tried to be attacking in his first three games and thought "jeez these guys can't finish their dinner" and reigned it back in to how the squad are used to playing.

He's managed to get results so he's not tried to reinvent the wheel without new players. I'm sure now we're in a bad run of three straight losses though he'll be forced to adjust something in the way we play. If he doesn't he's an idiot.

 

[YoungWolf]

Personally I think Lage tried to be attacking in his first three games and thought "jeez these guys can't finish their dinner" and reigned it back in to how the squad are used to playing.

He's managed to get results so he's not tried to reinvent the wheel without new players. I'm sure now we're in a bad run of three straight losses though he'll be forced to adjust something in the way we play. If he doesn't he's an idiot.

I don’t really get that first bit because if we have bad finishers creating less chances doesn’t really make a lot of sense?

 

[The Bear]

I don’t really get that first bit because if we have bad finishers creating less chances doesn’t really make a lot of sense?

In the sense that if we can't score enough we have to win 1-0 so play with more defensive solidity and more on the break.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

We conceded three in those three games (one a cheat penalty) and Sa had pretty much nothing to do vs Spurs and United for 90% of the game.

If we were getting cut to ribbons every time we lost the ball (as we were in pre season when we played a back four) then it would make sense, otherwise no.

 

[Tony Towner]

In those 3 games and 3 goals one was a goalkeeping error and the other a soft penalty (although I think it was)

 

[Derby Wolf]

In the sense that if we can't score enough we have to win 1-0 so play with more defensive solidity and more on the break.

Which only works until the opponent scores first and we're hopelessly lost. We haven't chased a single game and took the handbrake off. I could accept it a bit more if we had plan B's or even if we played Norwich and Burnley as we did at the start of the season and then the top 8 teams a little more conservatively (if we must)

It still feels at times we never shed the newly promoted mentality (especially in first halves under Nuno) whereas we should be imposing ourselves.

 

[WolfMan]

The general consensus on here before a ball was kicked was it was going to be a really tough season, Lage wouldn't be able to play his attacking style with the players in the squad and if he did, we'd do well not to get sucked into a relegation battle. Now 3 quarters of the way through, we're sitting comfortably top half, and he's an idiot for not playing an attacking style of football, with the same squad of players. Funny how things change!

 

[Tony Towner]

Not if you understand context

 

[SSB]

I’d be reasonable happy if we stopped fucking about with goal kicks. Whoever has decided that’s our best tactic needs sacking immediately. Has anything positive come from one of the stupid little routines?

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I’d be reasonable happy if we stopped fucking about with goal kicks. Whoever has decided that’s our best tactic needs sacking immediately. Has anything positive come from one of the stupid routine?

When they’ve sorted that perhaps they could move on to throw ins and realise we don’t have to concede possession most of the time.

 

[Johnny75]

The general consensus on here before a ball was kicked was it was going to be a really tough season, Lage wouldn't be able to play his attacking style with the players in the squad and if he did, we'd do well not to get sucked into a relegation battle. Now 3 quarters of the way through, we're sitting comfortably top half, and he's an idiot for not playing an attacking style of football, with the same squad of players. Funny how things change!

You've written that as if nobody, including your good self, has watched a game this season.

 

[Dire Wolf]

I’d be reasonable happy if we stopped fucking about with goal kicks. Hoever has decided that’s our best tactic needs sacking immediately. Has anything positive come from one of the stupid little routines?

That bloody kid, responsible for everything bad at Wolves...

 

[Tony Towner]

That bloody kid, responsible for everything bad at Wolves...

No, because although he's the only player he mentioned by name, he meant all young players...

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I've been digging Lage out a lot lately. But seriously, what the fuck is this?

“We don’t have the profile to play against these teams [Crystal Palace] with body contact. When they are defending, they are very strong, they don’t concede too many chances, they manage the ball very well, and we need to find our style to play. We didn’t play.

“The first 45 minutes we didn’t play, we tried long balls against Crystal Palace, in three or four touches we lost the ball, we didn’t dominate the game with the ball and without the ball we gave them 45 minutes without being aggressive, the balls, the duels. The penalty is a good example, one man between four players and we give a penalty. It’s not about the defeat, it’s about the way we played.

“When you look at the second-half, we created at least six good chances to score one goal and change the game. We were more aggressive. We cannot be afraid to play, we have our style, with the ball for more time. If we have the ball, we are not defending more time. In these games, especially that one, we gave 45 minutes where we didn’t have the ball and were not aggressive, solid and compact when defending.

“That’s why the people said you are mad – no, but very disappointed because we’ve worked eight months and come to this position, so we cannot give 45 minutes, especially at home, to our fans. We need to be there, win lose, and after we analyse the game and move on. 40 points – I don’t want anyone comfortable. I want them to have confidence to continue to play our game with no fear. Let’s improve our game with the ball.”

A mix of gibberish and plain old delusion.

Six good chances? Where? Total rot.

We had more of the ball in the second half because Palace let us, and we did nothing with it.

If they're really strong at the back (debatable) then why did we play no centre forward and put 5'5'' Podence through the middle?

He's being very, very strange lately.

 

[Tony Towner]

It's delusional shit. Tomorrow is going to go a long way to determine whether he's still here in May. Lose that and you pretty much guarantee Sunday and we go into freefall

 

[Tony Towner]

If they're really strong at the back (debatable) then why did we play no centre forward and put 5'5'' Podence through the middle?

2 Summer signings at centre half, both of which we could have gone for but didn't, a lad from their academy and a crock

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Only 2 sentences that I'd say are outright wrong. The rest isn't exactly a great read but I think the premise is about right.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Only 2 sentences that I'd say are outright wrong. The rest isn't exactly a great read but I think the premise is about right.

The premise is we played badly first half and then everything was fine and that is utter nonsense. If we’d played until midnight we wouldn’t have scored and we haven’t made six good chances in the last three games.