Wolves 1-1 Southampton Verdict Thread

[Del Woppio]

Agree there EP, you wouldn't know by looking at them which is the 'raw kid who needs some time in the reserves' and which is 'one of the most accomplished wing-backs in world football'.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think Semedo has been pretty good. Each to their own I guess. I also think RAN is very good already and could have a ridiculously high ceiling.

 

[sycophantia]

Thought Semedo and RAN had mixed games really, apart from their part in the goal we conceded, a few other errors/ poor bits of play, but you're gunna get that especially from RAN as he's so young. Semedo made a couple of good forward runs resulting in decent possession and RAN put in a lovely ball for Podence to have shot on target, plus a good cross which landed right on Rauls nut but he fucked it up. RAN does look a bit lightweight in defence but I'm confident the coaching team can sort that out. Hopefully he'll get a bit more confident going forward as I thought he turned back a few times whrn he could have taken his man on

 

[Jinky]

If you put current day Barry Douglas in the starting 11 v Southampton, he probably performs to the same level as RAN. Maybe his delivery would have been even better?

RAN is a young lad, has time on his side and the signs are promising that he will grow as a player at Wolves. But his level of performance in the two games since his debut hasn’t been fantastic - and I suspect that’s why he’s being criticised (not by me, FYI). It’s entirely understandable that a new player of his age in a new country with new surroundings - one who doesn’t speak the language yet - is a bit up and down. But this is the Premier League and it’s unforgiving.

I haven’t read most of this thread so apologies if it’s been mentioned. Nuno is quite loyal with his players and likes to give them a run in the side if he can - so it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see RAN start v Arsenal, but if we go 4 at the back (which we won’t) I think I’d prefer to see Marcal in there for now.

 

[White Wolf]

Ait-Nouri's a bit undisciplined in how he plays still, but that is to be expected. Couple of moments where he looked to have wandered out of position, and he ended up getting in Neves' way and denying him space for a shooting opportunity in the first-half. Not like I have a mass of complaints though, Semedo is equally at fault for the goal, he switched off and you can see by his reaction that he knows that. I think it's a shame that most of the focus seems to be on RAN for some reason though, Dendoncker and for the first 70 minutes Jimenez and Moutinho all performed worse than him. Was mentioned by someone else but Dendoncker didn't work starting in more advanced positions, and for a lot of the match I thought Moutinho had a bad day doing the same.

I'm still disappointed in our set pieces, the short corner routine hasn't been working for quite a while now - had the three goals from it in February but I don't think it has worked since? Needs some work.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

That'll be Blackburn Rovers' 31 year old Barry Douglas who has never played a second of Premier League football, who two clubs ditched as soon as they got promoted.

There wasn't anything wrong with Ait-Nouri on Monday, he was fouled by Armstrong, not sure how that's his fault. Pretty sure staying down in a gamesmanship style is the kind of thing that people keep saying we should do more of, being as everyone else does.

 

[PuntsWolf]

It wasn’t a foul (yes refs have given fouls for similar, but they are stupid, and Marriner is notoriously lenient, which I prefer). He certainly wasn’t hurt and you can’t have gamesmanship from your LB on the edge of your own area when you don’t have the ball. When they are playing on,you should probably just get up after 5 second, you might look a bit stupid, but not as stupid as getting up 20 seconds later when the balls in the back of your net.

He wasn’t bad in the game, but when he had a crucial role in a goal conceded it’s going to get highlighted. I certainly haven’t picked him out, I listed the series of mistakes that led to it. I’ve said Donck was awful and he should have won the ball before that anyway and everyone knows the rest.

 

[Jinky]

That'll be Blackburn Rovers' 31 year old Barry Douglas who has never played a second of Premier League football, who two clubs ditched as soon as they got promoted.

There wasn't anything wrong with Ait-Nouri on Monday, he was fouled by Armstrong, not sure how that's his fault. Pretty sure staying down in a gamesmanship style is the kind of thing that people keep saying we should do more of, being as everyone else does.

Yep, that one. His defending wouldn’t have been any worse and his delivery would have been better... probably.

Obviously RAN has a massive ceiling but we need to be patient with him.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I don't mind you picking out left backs who might have played better than a 19 year old who is evidently learning on the job, but not Baz.

I saw nearly every game he ever played for Wolves, he would not have been better than that.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yep, that one. His defending wouldn’t have been any worse and his delivery would have been better... probably.

Obviously RAN has a massive ceiling but we need to be patient with him.

The first paragraph is absolute fucking balls.

The second paragraph is bang on. Unfortunately the first paragraph suggests it’s unlikely you will be following the advice of the second.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

No way it's a foul on RAN, Armstrong just stands his ground and RAN jumps for something that he's blatantly not getting near as a result.

Think he's shown himself to be a bit rash in the challenge a few times so far, the penalty against Leicester and one he should've conceded on Zaha too, which is probably where I'd classify his involvement in Southampton's goal. Sometimes you're better served by not trying to win the ball but instead to just try and steer your opponent away from danger, keep yourself in the game and pick your moment rather than just dive in at the first opportunity.

It's not a massive glaring error, just needs reining in a bit at times I think, can't knock the enthusiasm.

I'd be more concerned with some of the half errors from Semedo given the gulf of experience he has over RAN, just seems to do some odd things at times. Looks a natural footballer one minute and can then get caught under the ball like it's the first time he's ever defended a long pass another, the way he was left for dead by Justin against Leicester and the daydreaming again Southampton were really slack and not what I would've expected with his reputation. If those moments are a common part of his game rather than settling in issues then I can see why he's no longer playing at the very top.

 

[Johnny75]

Yep, that one. His defending wouldn’t have been any worse and his delivery would have been better... probably.

What a load of nonsense.

 

[Alan]

We've had Semedo and RAN for, what, five games?

We're very, very impatient at times.

 

[prawnking]

We've had Semedo and RAN for, what, five games?

We're very, very impatient at times.

Assessing and critiquing players is perfectly normal. Not sure why it freaks some people out.

I haven't seen anyone deliver a final, unchangeable, premature conclusion on any player, just first impressions

 

[Paul]

So having an opinion on a player is acceptable, but having an opinion on someones opinion is baffling to you ?

 

[Freddeno]

RAN is a very good player but really need to handle the ball more quickly with his first touch so he can put a cross in before being blocked.

 

[Jabbawolf]

RAN is a very good player but really need to handle the ball more quickly with his first touch so he can put a cross in before being blocked.

I think his first touch is great, and is one he uses to actually change direction and progress rather than just control it - funny how we all see things so differently..

 

[Jabbawolf]

Assessing and critiquing players is perfectly normal. Not sure why it freaks some people out.

I haven't seen anyone deliver a final, unchangeable, premature conclusion on any player, just first impressions

Many people’s first impressions often seem to be unshakeable and influence everything they then see by that player.

 

[sycophantia]

Many people’s first impressions often seem to be unshakeable and influence everything they then see by that player.

think everyone can be guilty of that, me included. Although both Doc and Traore managed to change most peoples minds I think, unfortunately Adama hasn't been at his best so far this season and so peop le are starting to question his usefulness again.

 

[prawnking]

So having an opinion on a player is acceptable, but having an opinion on someones opinion is baffling to you ?

Obviously that wasn't my point. I just disagree with this oft-mooted idea that it's 'too early' to articulate an opinion on something, whether it's a player or something else.

No one ever has an issue with a positive opinion that is 'too early', only when it's critical. If Jinky had said RAN is amazing and the best LWB he'd seen Alan wouldn't have said a peep