Wolves 1 Man United 1: “another Neves-esque classic goal” The Verdict thread

[Norman Deeley]

Expected goals is interesting. Man Utd won by 1.15 to 0.31 but given that a penalty must be around 0.8 on xG that suggests the game was quite even in terms of chances created. Given that we didn't play well and that Doc was largely a passenger that makes it look a better performance

 

[lemonjelly]

I disagree but that's not unusual.

new sig anyone? :icon_wink:

 

[Rui_CostCo]

We were fairly comfortable to be honest until they scored with what was a really high class move.

That was my view from the bar stool, and any neutrals watching too.

United had lots of possession but we weren't allowing them many outlets and at times they looked bereft of ideas as to how to break us down.

Destruction implies an absolute assault on the goal with shots peppered on and off target for fun, which clearly was not the case.

As I said previously, past sides playing slightly under their absolute best WOULD have got hammered, United would have moved the ball through us with ease and had people leaving at half time fearing for an absolute drubbing. Not this one. Not under Nuno.

 

[Banjo]

They didn't pepper us with shots, but they were scarily dominant at times during that first half. I certainly wasn't used to seeing us give away the ball so much. It wasn't that they were hammering us; it was that we've become used to watching us use our possession well, and we weren't able to do that during the first half on Monday night. What's pleasing is we found a way to get around their high press in the second half.

Someone I was speaking to after the match made the good point that Man Utd's high press was probably only so relentless because it's this early in the season. They were literally sprinting after every pass we made between the back three and the midfield. As soon as Boly passed to Coady, Rashford had sprinted into Coady to close him down (rushing Coady into trying a miracle pass, giving them the ball back and then they'd come at us again). To keep up that intensity all season round is going to require some serious fitness from the Man Utd players.

 

[Banjo]

Oh, and I know it's already been mentioned once, but the description of the goal as "Neves-esque" in the thread title is annoying me more than it probably should. It would require anyone other than Neves to have scored it in order to describe it as "Neves-esque"..

 

[Kenny]

Well the thread title is James-esque

 

[Norman Deeley]

Oh, and I know it's already been mentioned once, but the description of the goal as "Neves-esque" in the thread title is annoying me more than it probably should. It would require anyone other than Neves to have scored it in order to describe it as "Neves-esque"..

But as Neves was only 6/10 and therefore a shadow of his former self, surely Neves-esque is correct...

 

[Boozad]

 

[Banjo]

But as Neves was only 6/10 and therefore a shadow of his former self, surely Neves-esque is correct...

:tiphat:

 

[The Bear]

We certainly weren't comfortable in the first half. They had constant pressure on us even if they didn't create chance after chance, because we kept giving the ball straight back to them. It was no surprise when we conceded.

 

[b3h]

OK where did the 6/10 come from lul. Missed it

 

[Dinowolf]

We certainly weren't comfortable in the first half. They had constant pressure on us even if they didn't create chance after chance, because we kept giving the ball straight back to them. It was no surprise when we conceded.

Agree with this and feel that the problem with Doherty affected us badly.

Apparently he was injured/broke down during the warm-up, was given meds. which didn't work and was taken off at half-time feeling ill. I think we gambled a bit leaving him on so long but luckily got away with it thanks to other players' efforts.

It gave Man U the advantage they needed to press us high up the pitch and stopped us passing our way out of trouble like we usually do as we were effectively playing with 10 men. In fact it was worse than that as Doherty was just there, but not there, making things difficult for our other players.

Eventually Man U scored although if Willy Boly had been half a second quicker he'd have stopped the shot.

When Traore was sent on it re-balanced the side and we played much better, and with a bit more luck with our chances esp. Jiminez when he hit the post, we could have won the game.

What a goal from Neves and what a save from my MoM Patricio

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

In that first half they had one shot on target. One.

We were on the back foot but we WERE comfortable

 

[Dinowolf]

In that first half they had one shot on target. One.

We were on the back foot but we WERE comfortable

I wouldn't personally use the word comfortable but agree we were on the back foot.
We have a tremendous defence which had to work really hard to keep us in the game.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That's what we do though, isn't it?

 

[MARKakaJIM]

That's what we do though, isn't it?

It certainly lacked the control that's usually on display though. United weren't getting up against the backline more than being kept at arm's length by the midfield.

They generally kept United at bay but it was closer to a backs to the wall effort than the usual composed defensive performances.

 

[Tom Hark]

OK where did the 6/10 come from lul. Missed it

Alan's patent rating scale #wheeloffortuneesque

 

[Charlie Wolf]

They didn't pepper us with shots, but they were scarily dominant at times during that first half. I certainly wasn't used to seeing us give away the ball so much. It wasn't that they were hammering us; it was that we've become used to watching us use our possession well, and we weren't able to do that during the first half on Monday night. What's pleasing is we found a way to get around their high press in the second half.

Someone I was speaking to after the match made the good point that Man Utd's high press was probably only so relentless because it's this early in the season. They were literally sprinting after every pass we made between the back three and the midfield. As soon as Boly passed to Coady, Rashford had sprinted into Coady to close him down (rushing Coady into trying a miracle pass, giving them the ball back and then they'd come at us again). To keep up that intensity all season round is going to require some serious fitness from the Man Utd players.

Good post

I would only add that after last seasons dominant performances against Man U, and ole coming under some serious stick, they were always going to go at us like a fuckin steam train.
That said they have improved in a lot of departments (to the tune of circa£160m), but Nuno worked them out in the second half. Good point for me

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

It seems from info coming out after the game, that playing the first half with virtually 10 men, also added to the pressure yernited were able to exert. It certainly left Benno with a load more shit to look after than usual.

 

[sycophantia]

Good post

I would only add that after last seasons dominant performances against Man U, and ole coming under some serious stick, they were always going to go at us like a fuckin steam train.
That said they have improved in a lot of departments (to the tune of circa£160m), but Nuno worked them out in the second half. Good point for me

I don't remember dominating Utd last season? We contained them well and had more control when we broke out but the games were very similar