Wolves 2 Watford 0: The Verdict

[Tredman]

Special mention to suporters in rhJ10 area, we're pretty much in the further away point, WL8, and could still hear them continually singing.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Nice to have a fairly routine win. Should have scored before we did, should have had a penalty, had other chances, they only really had the Holebas header (should have done much better) to worry about.

We've stopped hoofing the ball - where did that ever come from - and we looked much more cohesive as a unit. Let Watford have the ball at points but this is just standard, they can have as much as they like of it in nothing areas when they're losing.

Saiss MOTM, immense today. Won everything and was quick across the ground. Moutinho also excellent and Neto/Doherty/Jonny all did well.

Though Watford set themselves up for a fall (don't give us that amount of space in behind), the first goal really was excellent from our point of view.

Suddenly the start doesn't look all that bad. We just needed to get that win.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

https://twitter.com/iceboxholly/status/1178020303106183168?s=19

Cheers VAR, don't bother looking at that, will you.

Farcical stuff, it looked nailed on in real time let alone that.

 

[Kenny]

Apparently VAR did look at it but went with the refs call. They dont seem to want to change what the ref says so what is the point of VAR

 

[PuntsWolf]

I don’t think it’s handball. It hits his hand, yes. But close proximity and not unnatural.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

I don’t think it’s handball. It hits his hand, yes. But close proximity and not unnatural.

Actually its now called making your silhouette bigger.
The player did his arm was away from his side thought iy was a pen.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Actually its now called making your silhouette bigger.
The player did his arm was away from his side thought iy was a pen.

Incorrect

 

[AndyWolves]

Incorrect

"Above / beyond their shoulder"

Id interpret that as being a pen

 

[Deano]

Saiss was class today. Won everything and looked assured at the back. Thought Moutinho and Jonny were the other 2 were a mention.

 

[Boozad]

Routine win. Back to basics and we passed Watford off the park, we looked like we did the last two seasons and all without Neves. A few shocking moments of losing possession with some sloppy passing but we got away with it as we dominated Watford from start to finish and they never looked like scoring.

Rui 8 - One good diving stop from Welbeck but everything else was routine stuff. Distribution had regressed back to last year but at least it didn't cost us.

Doherty 8 - Starting to get back to last season's levels but something on that side just didn't work. I'll get onto that later because I don't think it was all Doherty's fault but at least he's getting there. I think having someone in front of him stifles his game a little bit, movement was slightly disjointed due to the space in front of him being occupied but broke well and got in a great position for the goal.

Boly 8 - Solid as always. I think we may see more of him on that side over the coming months.

Coady 8 - Kept everything clean and tidy and benefited massively from us not putting him under daft pressure. Showed great composure playing out from the back.

Saiss 9 - I really want to give him a 10 because that's the best I've seen him play for, well, ever. If someone ever wants to watch a defensive masterclass then this should be in it. Outstanding.

Johnny 9 - Pure composure, had Gerard "Has he ever scored against Wolves before?" Deulofeu in his pocket from start to finish. Another unreal display of composure.

Moutinho 9 - Ran the show in the middle. Some absolutely unreal harrying and tenacity on top of his silky control and pinpoint passing.

Dendoncker 7 - Much better. Huge work rate and kept it simple. Going in with Doc to some confusion on that right hand side (yes you can get where this is going) but a brilliant physical presence throughout and never stopped running.

Neto 8 - Very cultured and his game belied his age today. A proper tenacious little fucker with some really decent movement and tracked back well. Great assist.

Jimenez 7 - Another workhorse performance and could have had a couple. Looked like he was missing that partnership with Jota but his team input was brilliant.

Traore 6 - Controversial maybe. Did take on his man and get to the byline plenty of times but the final ball was more often than not wank. It's good to see him get back and help out as well but his positioning and decision making again (at least in the first half) was causing us problems and we lost possession numerous times as he, Doherty and Donck were all getting in each other's way and losing each other. There was one point when the 5'7" of football heaven had the ball inside our half and only had Traore to pass to, Holebas was cutting the pass off and Moutinho was waiting for Traore to go one way or the other but he didn't move which ultimately led to us losing the ball. Moutinho was venting proper at him.
Maybe I'm picking flies but I can only imagine Cav adding more today. One of the few who conceded possession too often but yeah, he wasn't on his own there.

 

[Trips]

Harsh on Traore there Booz. Couple of decent crosses in the first half, picked out Jonny very well in the second half (that Jonny should have scored from) and a lovely through ball to Doc for the second goal. He had a decent game I thought

 

[Boozad]

Harsh on Traore there Booz. Couple of decent crosses in the first half, picked out Jonny very well in the second half (that Jonny should have scored from) and a lovely through ball to Doc for the second goal. He had a decent game I thought

No argument here, I did say it was controversial and that I may be picking flies. His second half was definitely better than the first as we did lose the ball a fair bit down that side in the first 45 and Moutinho was proper pissed off with him.

 

[Boozad]

Oh, and the shit 8en Fo$ter got today was absolutely fucking delicious.

 

[The Bear]

Harsh on Traore there Booz. Couple of decent crosses in the first half, picked out Jonny very well in the second half (that Jonny should have scored from) and a lovely through ball to Doc for the second goal. He had a decent game I thought

I thought it was probably his best game up front - not a high bar I know - and he looked good defensively too today.

Saiss was great, but Jonny was my MOTM. He was good both defensively and linking forwards with Neto and Moutinho.

Loving Neto's game for such a young lad. He isn't quite as tricky or as strong as Jota but his movement and willingness to get all over the pitch is great to see. He reminds me a bit of Pedro at Chelsea - diminutive but good link play and movement.

I missed Reading but if Jordao can challenge Dendoncker too then the "Mendes Two" are looking like very good buys.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

Interesting views on Traore (as always). Sky gave him MOM. There have been times when he and Doc want to occupy the same space - to be expected as the pairing is new to them - but at the same time the pass from Traore for the 2nd goal is not something I thought he was capable of.

Difficult to choose a MOM, Saiss was great - but only did what Boly does every week. Could give it to any of Doc/Jonny/Mouthinho.

Interested on peoples views of 343 v 352. Moutinho seemed to play deeper than usual, but was that the formation or the absence of Neves (who wasn't missed)? Also I thought Boly was even more willing to bring the ball forward than normal.

 

[AndyWolves]

Great pass from Adama to put Doc through to cross for our second. For me, that's a real improvement, I'm not sure if he'd have seen that pass last season

 

[Tony Towner]

Not going to get too involved in another Traore debate. Yesterday he did what he does well and what he doesn't was at it's usual levels.

What I will say is whenever he was on the ball he drew 3 players. We should be looking at that and working on sometimes using him as a decoy or a quick 1,2 as there has to be open space to exploit in the middle or left. Cav for example wouldn't draw that type of attention

 

[The Bear]

His cross for Jonny at the back post was really good too.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Not going to get too involved in another Traore debate. Yesterday he did what he does well and what he doesn't was at it's usual levels.

What I will say is whenever he was on the ball he drew 3 players. We should be looking at that and working on sometimes using him as a decoy or a quick 1,2 as there has to be open space to exploit in the middle or left. Cav for example wouldn't draw that type of attention

I think that's fair. Traore and the current way we play are not a natural fit so others have to tweak .

 

[Lycan]

Lovely rendition of 'Elton John is a paedophile' from WV1 yesterday. Not a brain cell between them.

The football was much better though, when our back 5 play like they did yesterday everything else just seems to fall into place.

Quite confused by Watford's first half tactic of giving João Moutinho (sign him up) the freedom of Molineux. What on earth were they thinking?