Wolves 2 Bournemouth 0; The I hope their Chaiman is ok Verdict Thread

[Parkins left foot]

Don't think that Costa has been awful - just not as good as the other options we have for his position

 

[Tredman]

tredman, where did the matchday threads touch you? it's ok, this is a safe space. just point and we can let the healing begin.

Right in the goolies.

 

[Aikiwolf]

@ Aikiwolf

Tbh I thought Helder did OK today, he missed a great chance which I put down to lack of confidence tbh.

He ran at people and moved the ball well, however he had a few moments in which he lost the ball cheaply. Let's be honest, if Jota hadn't pulled a hammy he wouldn't have been on the pitch.

He was nowhere near as bad as his previous recent performances tho.

 

[t3ch]

Tbh I thought Helder did OK today, he missed a great chance which I put down to lack of confidence tbh.

He ran at people and moved the ball well, however he had a few moments in which he lost the ball cheaply. Let's be honest, if Jota hadn't pulled a hammy he wouldn't have been on the pitch.

He was nowhere near as bad as his previous recent performances tho.

I can't disagree with any of that. ugh what a waste of a perfectly viable arguing point.

 

[Tony Towner]

I would have put Traore on at half time instead of Costa, made for him to hit them on the break when they were going to be overcommitted. I wouldn't say fans have lost patience with Costa, but there was more than the odd comment in the North Bank at points in the second half. More over him easily being knocked off the ball than the miss. That said, 2 assists in a game and a half.

Useless fact. Cav has the best minutes per goal ratio in the PL.

Pointless thought, if Raul had a yard or two of extra pace he'd be a £100m centre forward.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Big Ryan Bennett and he's number five
Big Ryan Bennett and he's number five

Everybody needs a Bennett in the middle
Everybody needs a Bennett

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I would have put Traore on at half time instead of Costa, made for him to hit them on the break when they were going to be overcommitted. I wouldn't say fans have lost patience with Costa, but there was more than the odd comment in the North Bank at points in the second half. More over him easily being knocked off the ball than the miss. That said, 2 assists in a game and a half.

Useless fact. Cav has the best minutes per goal ratio in the PL.

Pointless thought, if Raul had a yard or two of extra pace he'd be a £100m centre forward.

I think a bit of extra composure in front of goal would do more for his value than an extra bit of pace, you wouldn't accept someone like Lewandowski missing some of the chances Jimenez has this year and he's not exactly been held back by fairly pedestrian pace. Jimenez is a proper footballer though, genuine team player that understands what's going on around him rather than the McCarthy definition of someone who just runs around a lot, some of his assists this year have been exactly the sort of thing I love to see from a big centre foward, little lay offs with their back to goal, shame he's not quite as composed facing the other direction at times.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I have to admit I love Raul Jimenez. He is superb for us.

 

[Tony Towner]

I think a bit of extra composure in front of goal would do more for his value than an extra bit of pace, you wouldn't accept someone like Lewandowski missing some of the chances Jimenez has this year and he's not exactly been held back by fairly pedestrian pace. Jimenez is a proper footballer though, genuine team player that understands what's going on around him rather than the McCarthy definition of someone who just runs around a lot, some of his assists this year have been exactly the sort of thing I love to see from a big centre foward, little lay offs with their back to goal, shame he's not quite as composed facing the other direction at times.

There were a couple of times today when he got the ball just inside their half with only the keeper in front of him, but he had to check or try and lay it off because he didn't have the pace to get away from the centre half. Not a criticism, just musing what a player he would be if he did have pace. I agree about the finishing, although I can't remember him missing any major chances for a few weeks.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

There were a couple of times today when he got the ball just inside their half with only the keeper in front of him, but he had to check or try and lay it off because he didn't have the pace to get away from the centre half. Not a criticism, just musing what a player he would be if he did have pace. I agree about the finishing, although I can't remember him missing any major chances for a few weeks.

I don't think it's so much a case of him completely missing sitters, other than that airshot against West Ham, more than he doesn't seem that relaxed particularly when 1 on 1 with the keeper. I think it's just a skill he's not particularly adept at, like when Cavaleiro went through for the second today I could easily imagine Jimenez in the same position just lashing at it and blasting it straight at the keeper, his finishing is generally fine when it's instinctive like the one that was ruled out against Spurs and when given something to work with like when he hit the bar after stealing half a yard on the defender last time out. I'd have it down as a mental flaw rather than technical, it's perhaps something that could be improved with practice and the right coach to help him process those situations better.

Your examples with running from half way provide an interesting thought, given the way he's faired in 1 on 1 situations previously, even if he'd had the pace to get away from the defenders would you have backed him to finish it off like Cavaleiro did? There are very few players I can think of that would have been able to do all what Jimenez does, plus have the pace to run defenders from half way and have the composure to finish pretty much anything that comes their way. Drogba at his peak, Cristiano Ronaldo at times when he's played more like a centre forward, few purple patches by the likes of Adebayor maybe, people like Lewandowski and Dzeko probably have more composure than Jimenez but lack the same yard of pace, then people like Aguero or Henry have the pace and compsure but don't do the link play as well.

 

[Aikiwolf]

I can't disagree with any of that. ugh what a waste of a perfectly viable arguing point.

Sorry, I'll try to post something more reactionary and arguable with next time! Something like "I'd have brought on roadrunner Traore instead of Costa"!

 

[Premier Quality]

Big Ryan Bennett and he's number five
Big Ryan Bennett and he's number five

Everybody needs a Bennett in the middle
Everybody needs a Bennett

Love that!

 

[The Bear]

And good finish from Cav after I thought he'd knocked it just too far in front of him. He must easily have the best goals per minute ratio of everyone now.

Useless fact. Cav has the best minutes per goal ratio in the PL.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I have to admit I love Raul Jimenez. He is superb for us.

He has been good and he has improved his finishing of late. I think the combo of MGW Raul Jota looks best

 

[Carrotdude]

Costa definitely started poorly in this game but was better towards the end, he was showing good movement throughout though which is something you don’t get from Traore. It is frustrating when he miscontrols or misplaces a simple pass or gets pushed off the ball too easily though. One thing I’ve noticed that grates is he never bothers going for headers, just looks at the defender near him and sort of vaguely jumps towards them.

Still in the end he was better than the last couple of times I’ve seen him and I’m glad his miss didn’t cost us and he got himself an assist with a good first time pass.

 

[Aikiwolf]

I thought we were very disciplined today, happy to let Bournemouth play the ball sideways in front of us and they created nothing.

Moutinho was superb in the first half, all over the pitch. Neves was quiet but effective, grew into the game as João faded a little.
Boly had a superb final 20 mins, he is such a good defender, unbelievably composed on the ball and great in the air! Plus he didn't have one of his brain farts that he has every few games.

Raul was simply superb today, a well deserved motm!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Love that!

It was sung away at West Ham I believe. Great song for him though.

 

[The Bear]

Last on MOTD....

Seriously.

 

[Aikiwolf]

Just a though, no mention of Diogo yet, had a superb 40 mins up until his hamstring went. Hope he isn't out too long, he was just glhitting form!

It didn't look like a foul from the Southbank, how did it look from the NB?

 

[Lupo]

The conditions were awful today, cold, wet, windy, bleak and must have been pretty shit for both sets of players.

An enjoyable game, I felt our first came against the run of play and if I were a Bournemouth fan I would have been pissed off at that point.

Raul is a great player, I have liked him from the start and those who judge him purely on goals scored do him a great disservice. He is pivotal to our attacking play and I really hope we sogn him.

Great to see Jonny back, it was like he had never been away. Sad about Jota just as he had rediscovered his form, hopefully nothing too serious.

Costa was pissing me off with his half arsed attitude, so many times he shied out od getting stuck in but he did contribute too in Cav's goal. Such a great feeling when he buried that.

Looking at the table tonight feels good. 7th and the illustrious teams which sit above us especially after our poor run of form, 9 out of 9 happy days.

Bit of a free hit against Liverpool but at least we have made up some ground recently.