Wolves 1-0 Sheff Utd: Verdict Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

You do highlight how poor our goals are without Raul and Jota. Neither of whom have been replaced adequately.

I maintain Neto has a higher ceiling than Jota, and as ever if the current PL champions who also won the CL a year earlier come calling, he isn't likely to want to stay at Wolves anyway.

We couldn't plan for what happened to Raul and it was fanciful to imagine we could replace him like-for-like in January, in the middle of a global pandemic (we'd still have had a two month gap without him regardless). I'd rather we'd have signed better than José but it's not like we did nothing and didn't even try. Anyway you like the big lummox

 

[Johnny75]

I do and think there is a player in there ( I know I’m on my own there).

The more I watch Neto and Jota the more I think they are very different players. Jota is a centre forward who can play wide or deep, Neto is a wide/ inside forward without that instinct for goal Jota has.

 

[PuntsWolf]

We kind of are getting results though, at least what you would expect given what we can send out most weeks. The margins have always been quite fine between us finishing 7th and being where we are now. In 2019 we were six points better off at this stage. Had scored eight more goals (hardly surprising given this was the peak of the Raul/Jota front two, neither of whom have had any proper role this season), conceded two fewer. It's not a huge stretch to find those six points out of certain games we've drawn/lost this season.

I'm honestly not arsed about what Jeff said three years ago, if fans want to hold him to some kind of standard where they take every statement he ever makes 100% literally then that's up to them.

We are objectively far more exciting when we play four at the back, which we never did at all until this season. Unfortunately it's more exciting at both ends and we can't sustain it at the moment.

I know, but as I’ve said, results hasn’t really changed my view.

As for the final paragraph, I said it back in December, but I don’t really think it’s true. Saints barely had anything and that was with a back 4 containing Kilman, very raw RAN, and underwhelming Semedo. Positonally they were all over the shop and looked messy but we were still relatively solid. Arsenal literally created nothing, same for Villa. Liverpool didn’t have a shot of note until Coady fucked up. Spurs scored from a set piece and then offered nothing. Albion and Brighton set pieces and penalties. “Wolves can’t play with a back 4” is definitely a myth for me. Because we go to fulham with a 4 and stink the place out with pragmatism for 30 minutes.

 

[Paul]

I do and think there is a player in there ( I know I’m on my own there).

No your not ! Some of his passing yesterday was excellent, he was in the right place to score and I do think he'll get better and better, I just don't think he's the answer for us but I would so love to be proven wrong.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I know, but as I’ve said, results hasn’t really changed my view.

As for the final paragraph, I said it back in December, but I don’t really think it’s true. Saints barely had anything and that was with a back 4 containing Kilman, very raw RAN, and underwhelming Semedo. Positonally they were all over the shop and looked messy but we were still relatively solid. Arsenal literally created nothing, same for Villa. Liverpool didn’t have a shot of note until Coady fucked up. Spurs scored from a set piece and then offered nothing. Albion and Brighton set pieces and penalties. “Wolves can’t play with a back 4” is definitely a myth for me. Because we go to fulham with a 4 and stink the place out with pragmatism for 30 minutes.

What about when Arsenal ripped us to bits for 35 minutes at Molineux and should have been 4-0 up, or West Ham looked like scoring off every attack...

We're far, far, far too open. I don't mind us changing shape, from an objective point of view most of those games have been entertaining, but I don't massively enjoy us losing the ball 70 yards from goal and we've conceded six seconds later.

 

[PuntsWolf]

What about when Arsenal ripped us to bits for 35 minutes at Molineux and should have been 4-0 up, or West Ham looked like scoring off every attack...

We're far, far, far too open. I don't mind us changing shape, from an objective point of view most of those games have been entertaining, but I don't massively enjoy us losing the ball 70 yards from goal and we've conceded six seconds later.

Arsenal was just bizarre, we were just bad, couldn’t pass it 5 yards, lacked confidence and they sensed that and went at us. The West Ham game away we were lucky it wasn’t 9 with a back 5 and first choice team! The home game against West Ham the 3rd goal is nothing to do with formation, that’s just dreadful play. The first is stupidly having 9 men ahead of the ball leaving a 3 v 2! Then not solving it with a foul, then dreadful 1v1 defending by Saiss!

4 at the back doesn’t need to equal 8/9 ahead of the ball same as 5 doesn’t need to equal 8/9 behind it.

 

[The Bear]

I don't see Neto being a better goalscorer than Jota, but I do think he'll be a better all round player. Certainly a better dribbler.

 

[northfield wolf]

Without the crowds, its like every game is played on nuetral territory, the players feel it, so does the management. Our injuries to key players hasnt helped, and we never replaced Jota. Were still unsure what system to play, so put all this together, with our points tally, and we aint done too badly.

 

[Alan]

I do and think there is a player in there ( I know I’m on my own there).

The more I watch Neto and Jota the more I think they are very different players. Jota is a centre forward who can play wide or deep, Neto is a wide/ inside forward without that instinct for goal Jota has.

You're not entirely alone on Jose (I don't think he's a world beater but I also don't think he's as bad as some do).

 

[Jabbawolf]

You're not entirely alone on Jose (I don't think he's a world beater but I also don't think he's as bad as some do).

It’s great that £20M can get you “not as shit as you thought he was”....

 

[Alan]

20m can also get you "completely, totally, utterly shite". Swings and roundabouts innit