Wolves 2-0 Brentford: Verdict Thread

[Aikiwolf]

Something else that occurred to me, when we got the penalty turned down (it looked nailed on from where we were but we were as far away as you could be in the North Bank) we reacted really well, Brentford did put us under pressure for 5 minutes or so but unlike a few games ago we didn't lose our shit and subsequently our composure and defended well and worked our way back into the match.

It was a nailed on pen. Right in front of me and I'm amazed it wasn't given.

Sadly we won't get another apology as we ended up winning anyway.

 

[Tony Towner]

Gomes and Lemina were both good today, as from what people have said they were last week. The notion that you wouldn't bring Neves straight back is is batty though. He's our best player by a mile and would work perfectly well in a 2 with a ratter beside him and don't change a winning side has always been a red herring when it comes to the best players.

 

[jd1981]

Well got out of hospital this morning after a horrendous episode of diverticulitis ( if you know you know) Thankfully listening to the talkSPORT updates was a joy sounded comfortable in parts delighted for Costa as he’s worked had for that.
Sounded more coherent than last week against a better side this week.
I think JL has a good reset ability similar to Nuno. After Forrest I thought we were in serious danger now we may only need 1-2 more points.

 

[Alan]

Gomes and Lemina were both good today, as from what people have said they were last week. The notion that you wouldn't bring Neves straight back is is batty though. He's our best player by a mile and would work perfectly well in a 2 with a ratter beside him and don't change a winning side has always been a red herring when it comes to the best players.

I'd love to see numbers on this but doubt it's something that anyone has tracked.

I do think it's also worth noting that Ruben was... well, he wasn't very good the last two matches he played.

 

[YoungWolf]

I think Ruben will come back in for Gomes. As long as he doesn’t change the shape I’m happy

 

[Tony Towner]

As an example Haaland missed the City game against Liverpool, Alvarez scored, Haaland plays the next game. Going back nearly 40 years, Rush missed a game Robinson played and they won, Rush played next week if fit. Your best players are your best players

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Neves doesn’t have the tenacity and energy of Gomes or the physicality of Lemina. Two wins, two clean sheets, nice dilemma for Lop but if Lemina is fit I’d stick with the same team.

 

[Carsy]

Also, on Sa. I do agree that he is replaceable, and he’s one I would look to replace potentially. But he wasn’t all bad and made a decent saves, one just after half time, holding onto that header, and also got a touch on toney shot at the end. So wasn’t all bad

 

[Tony Towner]

Neves doesn’t have the tenacity and energy of Gomes or the physicality of Lemina. Two wins, two clean sheets, nice dilemma for Lop but if Lemina is fit I’d stick with the same team.

Neither have the passing ability of Neves, it's not like for like. He's head and shoulders better than either.

 

[Carsy]

As an example Haaland missed the City game against Liverpool, Alvarez scored, Haaland plays the next game. Going back nearly 40 years, Rush missed a game Robinson played and they won, Rush played next week if fit. Your best players are your best players

I guess with those examples though city were winning previously with Haaland playing. We weren’t winning with Neves playing, but have picked up 6 from 6 since he’s been gone.

I’m not adverse to him coming back in. As you’ve rightly said, he’s our best player. But I wouldn’t draw direct parallels to teams like Liverpool and city who will have been winning before.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Neither have the passing ability of Neves, it's not like for like. He's head and shoulders better than either.

We’ve done quite well replacing his passing with mobility and energy.

 

[Alan]

We've played better in the last two matches without him than the last two with him. I grant you that his absence is not the only thing that changed in that time, but for a player's name to be on the team sheet in pen, it can't just be because they're the "most talented", it needs to be "most effective".

FWIW in a best case scenario, Neves comes back in, has a stormer, and we forget the whole conversation. But I'm currently not at all sold on the idea because I can't just ignore that we've played well and gotten results without him.

It's a weird spot, for sure. I don't envy Lop having to make the decision.

 

[Tony Towner]

We’ve done quite well replacing his passing with mobility and energy.

We've played a sensible formation. Play one with your best player and maybe good things happen?

 

[Wilf Wolf]

We've played a sensible formation. Play one with your best player and maybe good things happen?

Formation is one thing but the energy and physicality have contributed too.

 

[Jinky]

It was a nailed on pen. Right in front of me and I'm amazed it wasn't given.

Sadly we won't get another apology as we ended up winning anyway.

Agreed. Was very surprised at the number of people saying it would have been soft.

Raya literally comes out, gets no where near the ball and takes Toti out. It’s a penalty.

Obviously we’ve won, so everyone’s happy - but it’s another shite decision that’s gone against us. Toney being a bellend and screaming at Toti while he was lay on the floor wasn’t great either. The cock.

 

[Carsy]

We've played better in the last two matches without him than the last two with him. I grant you that his absence is not the only thing that changed in that time, but for a player's name to be on the team sheet in pen, it can't just be because they're the "most talented", it needs to be "most effective".

FWIW in a best case scenario, Neves comes back in, has a stormer, and we forget the whole conversation. But I'm currently not at all sold on the idea because I can't just ignore that we've played well and gotten results without him.

It's a weird spot, for sure. I don't envy Lop having to make the decision.

It’s a nice position to be in. It’s what lops paid to do.

Naturally if anyone is saying neves doesn’t get into our best 11 now after 2 days is incredibly foolish. I just don’t think it’s a ‘get him back in at all costs’ because of how the last 2 games have gone.

I get they’re professional footballers, but If I was lemina or Gomes, I’d be disappointed to be dropped. Also if I was nunes and we reverted back to previous formation and he’s dropped to accommodate, I’d be scratching my head abit

 

[Alan]

We've played a sensible formation. Play one with your best player and maybe good things happen?

Genuinely (as in, I'm not already convinced that he can't), can Neves cover enough ground to play in a CM pair in a 4-4-2?

 

[YoungWolf]

Genuinely (as in, I'm not already convinced that he can't), can Neves cover enough ground to play in a CM pair in a 4-4-2?

Yeah, easily

 

[Carsy]

Genuinely (as in, I'm not already convinced that he can't), can Neves cover enough ground to play in a CM pair in a 4-4-2?

Yes, it’s an absolute myth he doesn’t cover ground and recover the ball.

 

[Tony Towner]

Genuinely (as in, I'm not already convinced that he can't), can Neves cover enough ground to play in a CM pair in a 4-4-2?

He played in a midfield 2 when we finshed 7th in the league and made a Europa Cup 1/4 final.