Just got back, haven't read any other views, so hopefully not going over too much ground.
Strange performance, as prior to Donk's goal we were fucking awful, looked devoid of confidence, couldn't retain the ball, lacked desire, we were just dreadful.
Then of course, we see a decent corner and what was a really good header from Donk, and all of a sudden we are on the front foot and we look good, there's fluidity, energy and some quality.
Ruddy - made 2 good saves that were more luck than judgement and one fucking howler that i can't understand firstly how he did it, and how it didn't go in. He also kicked several goal kicks straight out of play when trying to find RAN or Hoever, so a mixed bag, but i don't want to see him near the no 1 spot ever again ideally.
Hoever - Probably our only player that wasn't poor in the first half an hour, and he got better as the game went on, despite looking knackered, created a good chance for Hwang (that was a penalty surely) defended pretty well, even when Son came on, and kept the ball well, something he struggles with often. There was one wild slice out of play, but that aside i thought it was probably his most consistent performance for Wolves so far?
Mosquera - Not on long enough to judge, stretchered off so it looks bad, but i THINK he was amongst the posse on the side watching on at the end? I may be wrong, but if it was him, you'd hope his injury wasn't too bad.
Boly - Considering he'd been out a while, not too bad, not at peak Boly form, and got sold a little easily for Ndombole's first goal, but that aside i thought he played well - appeared to be wrestled to the ground on a corner in the second half, Marcel stylee??
Kilman - He was ok, some slack passing, and a couple of ok crosses, could perhaps have done more on the Kane goal if i am remembering correctly? I think he got caught square?
RAN - Dreadful first 30 mins, not helped by Ruddy and Hwang selling him short with some really bad passes, but he improved as the game went on, hope to see him start on Sunday - that is, if he is well enough! He looked like he was walking home from a really heavy night on the beers when he went off, not sure what happened to him, looked a bad challenge? No booking though..
Neves - 5 or 6 truly dreadful passes in that first half, lost possession on the goal, and really didn't look himself. His free kick was better (deflected) and he hit the bar late on (deflected). He's going for the top corner with his penalty, which comes with the risk of it going high and wide, and that's exactly what we saw. Lead to a bloke behind me in the Billy Wright (!) repeatedly calling him a useless cunt, and shouting "how can you miss a penalty?" Prick. Anyway - Neves, in summary not at his best tonight.
Donk - A goal and an assist, who would have ever predicted that. Can't really recall him doing a great deal else, but his presence in both boxes on set pieces was valuable, and his goal really was a good goal.
Podence - Our best player on the night, a constant threat, won free kicks, beat his man regularly, kept the ball well, and of course finished his goal superbly, lovely goal that. He must start next game.
Fabio - Tried hard (as ever) but nothing really came off, he needs to try and gather the ball in when it comes into feet, rather than trying to lay it off immediately, this will come with age and experience i guess, but he was way off the pace tonight, Spurs CBs had him for dinner.
Hwang - Shocking first half an hour, made bad decisions, sold RAN short two or 3 times, couldn't beat his man. Then we saw an improvement after our 1st goal, and then second half when we saw him more centrally, he was showing Fabio what he should be doing, sticking his arse into the defenders, holding the ball, winning free kicks, harrying and hassling, and we got the reward for his endeavours when he dispossessed Ndombele which ultimately lead to the 2nd goal. I thought it was a good performance when more central, but really poor for that first half.
Subs
Coady - Looked flustered initially, I couldn't understand why he came on as RCB, but after their 2nd goal he swapped with Boly, as we started to get ourselves into the game he improved, and you could see his verbal influence growing. I imagine he'll have got some criticism for their 1st goal, but i felt he was let down by the awful pass from Podence, but perhaps if he's more composed, he doesn't twat it off Ndombole.
Adama - Excellent until moved central, then a bit of a passenger, his first run creates a chance, then another where he fires it across the 6 yard box with no one around to tap it in. He does seem to work better with Hoever than Semedo, which is odd really.
Semedo - excellent! Desire to win the ball, defended well, got forward well, should have bloody shot at one opportunity though, probably lacking confidence after Watford. Oh and god knows why he didn't recognise he would need to start getting ready when RAN was down, took an age!
Moutinho - One good corner, one awful (short) corner, scored his pen, that was about it. Oh and an overhit pass to Adama that he should have done better with.
Not sure what to make of it really, i was terrified where the club was going after that first half an hour (relegation, devoid of hope, we were that bad), then we really seemed to sort ourselves out after the Donk goal, and looked threatening again. Despite the obvious ultimate loss, i hope we have got a bit of confidence from the fact we scored 2 and fought back.
* We scored in the first half!
* Other than the Asia cup, when was the last time we won a penalty shootout? Our record seems to be awful?
* Ndombele involved in all the goals at some level tonight, scored, assist, marking (!) Donk, dispossessed for the Podence goal.
