Wolves 2-1 Chelsea: Verdict Thread

[Tredman]

None looked that serious, but Nuno said wait and see at the end.

Assuming we stay with 3 at the back Boly is difficult to replace - Hoever perhaps? Big ask though, switch Saiss or Kilman over?

 

[AndyWolves]

None looked that serious, but Nuno said wait and see at the end.

Assuming we stay with 3 at the back Boly is difficult to replace - Hoever perhaps? Big ask though, switch Saiss or Kilman over?

We either go to 4 ATB or, as you say, bring Kilman in. I'm not sure about Saiss at RCB though - I seem to recall he struggles there a bit?

 

[Paul]

A left footer on the right is a very awkward thing to watch

 

[Tredman]

Nuno likes the idea I think, makes an attacking pass forward to the WB a good option. Boly on the 'wrong' side was excellent - both defensively and much more so at bringing the ball out of defence, I still think we miss that.

 

[AndyWolves]

I think though that Bolys left foot is better than Saiss' right foot

 

[Throbber3]

I was pleased to see the fight the team showed in the second half , after conceding. No heads dropped. Nelson Samedo looked a lot happier second half than first half as there were 2 against one pretty much every time in the first half. Why did Pullisic change sides? He had no impact after they scored. Marcal and Nelson looked a bit ropey at times in the first half. The introduction of Otasowie gave the midfield a real drive. It seemed to bring Neves 20 yards further up and that enabled better link up play with Neto and Podence. Podence really does look a great signing , growing in confidence game after game. He seems to have a Jota like feisty streak too, no bad thing. Fabio showed some very neat touches but as others have said , he needs a bit more strength about him to make his presence truly felt. As to the goals we don't score tap ins do we! Both were very well taken. It is a very tight top half of the table too.

 

[prawnking]

I thought with the personnel and formation changes we've had this season we might have lost that Wolves spark that has been a vital part of this team since Nuno took over. Good to see the players dig deep and reveal it!

Not saying I want us to abandon trying anything new, but it was comforting seeing familiar patterns of containing teams, patience then explosive last half hours that we've seen (especially against some big clubs) during our Prem tenure. A full Molineux would have loved last night.

I'm excited to watch Fabio develop in front of our eyes, I feel a goal is close for him and he'll get stronger in Raul's absence. Certainly not a passenger.

Marcal and Pod played well, Neves grew into the game and Neto is such a bloody natural goalscorer.

I think we still have work to do with this team in an offensive sense. For the first hour we were mostly predictable and pedestrian, need more imagination and penetration when the time is right. You'd expect that to improve in the second half of the season.

Got to be a confidence boost for the team, that win, and great to see the first team squad containing so many talented young players. You could tell as the game went on there was no way they were surrendering to a third loss in a row if they could help it

 

[prawnking]

Oh and Johnny75... you may be on to something with the Vitinha love-in...

 

[Jabbawolf]

On a different note, it was refreshing to have a game officiated properly - some good advantages from Atwell - goal line technology giving a goal correctly, and VAR ruling out a penalty that wasn’t one - for once the ref and the tech weren’t the talking points.

 

[Throbber3]

On a different note, it was refreshing to have a game officiated properly - some good advantages from Atwell - goal line technology giving a goal correctly, and VAR ruling out a penalty that wasn’t one - for once the ref and the tech weren’t the talking points.

I have not been a fan of Attwell for a while, but he had a good game last night. I didn't really notice him and that is always a good thing to say about a ref.

 

[Wolvensam]

I'm hoping Podence and Neto are starting to put to bed the "why did Wolves sell Jota/Doherty" commentator bingo as well. Neto has 4 goals and 3 assists now and Podence 3 goals and 2 assists. Diogo got 7 goals and 1 assist (in the Premier League) and Doherty 4 goals and 3 assists. It's just all getting a bit old now. They are two very capable players and that's why we sold who we did.

 

[Lycan]

I'm hoping Podence and Neto are starting to put to bed the "why did Wolves sell Jota/Doherty" commentator bingo as well. Neto has 4 goals and 3 assists now and Podence 3 goals and 2 assists. Diogo got 7 goals and 1 assist (in the Premier League) and Doherty 4 goals and 3 assists. It's just all getting a bit old now. They are two very capable players and that's why we sold who we did.

Just need Adama to start chipping in now as well. If he can rediscover the form that made him so unplayable last year we'll be a threat to anyone in this league.

 

[Wolvensam]

Adama's problem is the minute he gets the ball he has 3-4 players on him (and the same will happen to Neto soon enough). Admittedly his decision making is way off at the moment too - see Villa at the weekend where we were 4 on 3 and he took the shot rather than passing it. He's a stereotypical confidence player I think.

 

[prawnking]

I'm hoping Podence and Neto are starting to put to bed the "why did Wolves sell Jota/Doherty" commentator bingo as well. Neto has 4 goals and 3 assists now and Podence 3 goals and 2 assists. Diogo got 7 goals and 1 assist (in the Premier League) and Doherty 4 goals and 3 assists. It's just all getting a bit old now. They are two very capable players and that's why we sold who we did.

I agree with you, especially the predictable commentator 'facts', but I still think it's a relevant point in terms of our development.

It's not just about last season, Jota and Doc were pretty vital for three seasons so it's a hole that needs filling, and we have undoubtedly struggled for goals this season.

I think Neto and Pod are certainly proving their worth but I hope to get more regular goals from elsewhere in the team as the season goes on

 

[The Saturday Boy]

Adama's problem is the minute he gets the ball he has 3-4 players on him (and the same will happen to Neto soon enough). Admittedly his decision making is way off at the moment too - see Villa at the weekend where we were 4 on 3 and he took the shot rather than passing it. He's a stereotypical confidence player I think.

That is why Doherty was successful with the “under lap” when playing with Traore, he was provided a hole to gallop into. Semedo doesn’t seem to do that, he rarely goes past whoever is playing in front of him. Marcal is the same on the left.

 

[Loki]

Back to the old system and it worked superbly. Semedo had a better game especially going forward though his defending is still suspect. A bit worrying that they, like Villa, recognised our weak spot and kept pummelling our left flank which resulted in their goal. Looked a lot better when Otawasie came on for a lacklustre Donk. Seemed to shore up the defence. A better game for Silva although he still looks a bit lightweight and naieve but that will improve with age and more game time which, perhaps, we can afford to give him if Neto and Podence continue to play like they did. A strong workhorse like performance from Neto and another little piece of wizardry from Podence (who`s booking was a bit soft). I couldn`t get on the site last night, kept being directed to a blank page. Have the admin got a filter in place that blocks members from being able to talk nonsense?

 

[Tony Towner]

Oh and Johnny75... you may be on to something with the Vitinha love-in...

It's not a love in for Vitinha as such, it's just that it's been damn obvious for 2 seasons that we are crying out for that type of player. He may or may not be the answer, but as he's the one we have or can theoretically play that position then he should be given the opportunity

 

[Langers]

I had to stay up late and watch the whole 90 minutes on the Amazon Replay function.

Although the commentary was a bit grating, and the pre-match chat was 75% Chelsea, I have to say that I really like the way Amazon present their coverage. I've not been able to watch many games live recently as things are a bit crazy at home so it was a really useful way of seeing it. and no Clive fucking Tydesley which is always a bonus.

Pleased with the performance overall, mainly the superb attitude we showed after conceding. after the previous 2 results, our heads could have dropped (I think we were guilty of this at Anfield - very uncharacteristic of us) but it shows why you should never write us off, or underestimate Nuno.

Podence and Neto were excellent, a real threat and both goals were clever finishes by players who possess real quality.

Couldn't help but feel that we looked more comfortable with 3 CBs, and hopefully Vitinha and Otasowie can be genuine challengers in CM.

I still think we have plenty more in our locker (I've been frustrated how little we're scoring recently) and although we've not seen loads of them yet, I think it's exciting to have Silva, Vitinha and Otasowie in and around the first team.

A really good win and it's just what we needed following the Liverpool and Villa disappointments.

 

[sycophantia]

Wondering if the 'targetting Semedo' thing isn't that straightforward, are oppositions targetting the Semedo/ Boly/Donk area?

 

[Wolvensam]

I agree with you, especially the predictable commentator 'facts', but I still think it's a relevant point in terms of our development.

It's not just about last season, Jota and Doc were pretty vital for three seasons so it's a hole that needs filling, and we have undoubtedly struggled for goals this season.

I think Neto and Pod are certainly proving their worth but I hope to get more regular goals from elsewhere in the team as the season goes on

I would agree they were vital for three seasons, but Jota spent a lot of post-lockdown out of the team and none of us batted an eyelid. I wouldn't say we have ever been a free-scoring team: we regularly grind out 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 wins because that's our make-up. And to be honest, for the first time in my Wolves supporting career, I don't panic when we have our backs to the wall and play it out: Nuno's work on that defence is absolutely exemplary, case in point with Saiss playing it to Vitinha who played it to Neto for the goal.

That isn't me saying our current goal output is fine - of course it isn't. But some seem surprised that Moutinho/Neves/Dendoncker aren't contributing when they never really have to any great extent.