Wolves 3 Bristol City 2 Boxing Day verdict thread

[slink]

Well that was better but we still made hard work of it with shithouse defending. It feels like i say this every week but the referee was atrocious, honestly it sounds stupid to say but it looked like he was clearly cheating. He only gave the penalty because of Flint's reaction and so he had to give it because he still took forever to give it and that was pretty much the only decision we got all day.

I know Fosun are not liked by a few and some have questioned Mendes's involvement but without them we would be getting relegated this season as Costa and Cavaleiro are a class apart and are dragging the team forward.

Ikeme - He's still not good enough. Had no chance with the first goal but definitely should have come for the second and that would have been danger over. Distribution isn't good enough either but we all know that by now and i don't think a new keeper is on the agenda by the looks of it.

Coady - He's better at right back than he is in midfield but not a lot better. He can't really defend well enough but he really wasn't put under any pressure as they didn't have a left winger. Did put in an excellent cross for the second goal though.

Batth - No idea what he was doing for the first goal and he just stood next to Flint for the second. Right now he's by the far the weakest of the centre backs and by a long way. Distribution was poor as usual.

Stearman - Was by far our best defender and won pretty much everything that came down his side. Intercepted well and came forward a few times in the first half with a bit of skill and he was the one who hacked clear at the end and after seeing the highlights it didn't look in so what a clearance. Like Batth shows so much passion but is backing it up with his performances right now.

Doherty - Another that can't really defend when he's left on his own but he comes forward with great effect. He could have had at least 1 more goal today and his pass in the build up for the penalty was class. Still believe he could make a central midfielder.

Price - I though he was brilliant today, did a little bit of everything and tried to get us going forward when he could. A few clever fouls too when he got caught out of position which was good to see as we are sometimes too nice. Would still like to see him next to Saiss.

Edwards - Didn't get a lot on Costa's corner but got enough and got us off to a good start. Should have scored to make it 2-0 and he really doesn't get involved in the game enough in open play but when he does score it makes up for it a little.

Costa - He may be expensive to keep but we have got to do all we can to keep him next season because he's class. Great corner which we do clearly work on for the first goal and his finish for the second was outstanding. A constant threat.

Bright - He has got some ability but you can tell he hasn't played many games at professional level and he is quite naive. Not sure he is ready for this league yet but if Lambert thinks he is then he has to play most weeks because that's all he needs is the experience.

Cavaleiro - He will frustrate the life out of many fans because he doesn't always cross it when they want him to and when he does a lot of the times no one is near it but that's more to do with the movement of our players. He's always a threat like Costa and we have a real player on our hands here.

Dicko - Chases down well but i'm struggling to see what he else he is doing well at the moment. He's miles away from being the Dicko of old and i'm still not convinced he will ever get it back. Swap strikers today and we would have been winning comfortably in the first half.

SUBS

Mason - Did well when he got involved and was in the middle of a great turn before Flint handled it. Good be a good squad player to have.

Bod - Put himself about well but wasn't really a threat to score a goal. Probably deserves another go instead of Dicko though.


Today was the first time i think we may be getting there. We were well in control in the first half and we looked like the only winners in the second half yet still had to come from behind and nearly gave it away. If we can get another couple of wins in the next 2 or 3 games who knows.

 

[Lycan]

Cheers Slink.

 

[AndyWolves]

Baath looked caught in two minds. I reckon he could do with a break for a bit and Iorfa should come back in.

Saiss should come in for Edwards although it's hard to drop him whilst he's scoring.

I think we need options in the number 10 role although it's frustrating Tex doesn't get a chance there

 

[TornadoTed]

I wouldn't mind seeing Mason in the number 10 role, he is a neat and tidy footballer.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

A very enjoyable game.

I felt we seemed to be in total control for large periods with Price and Edwards both playing well.

Ikeme - 5 - I felt he was at fault for Flint's goal, i haven't seen it since but Flint got a header in around 4-6 yards from goal. Now flint was a giant, but Ikeme has about 2 ft over him if he comes to punch, very poor command there and throughout, he is normally more confident than this. Didn't have a lot else to do.

Doherty - 6 - Very average, as ever at times he linked well at times with Cav but looked slow and cumbersome defensively without really doing anything particularly wrong.

Coady - 6.5 - Tried hard, but caught under the ball a couple of times, lovely cross for Costa and he is very committed, far too committed at one point where he needlessly went charging in to get a booking he deserved.

Batth - 7 - Won probably around 30 headers from long balls forward, but didn't do enough (along with Ikeme) for Flint's goal. Generally was ok though, and certainly not as bad as some others i've read have said. Was perhaps too easily beaten for their 1st though, although Abraham did do well with good play.

Stearman - 7 - Again had a decent game, couple of nice Stearman drag backs that we have seen many times in the past, which are usually coupled with some stupid mistake, however today i don't really remember him making an errors.

[I noticed on set pieces (not corners) that we had a very dis organised back line, someone should be "calling it" on the penalty spot, or on the edge of the box, but there was none of that, meaning that attackers steal a march, as we nearly found to our cost in the final seconds.]

Cavaliero - 7 - One of those days for Cav, seemed resistant to knock the ball into the box early, wanted to beat their full back first and it was frustrating at times, but like Costa he makes things happen and is exciting to watch. He works hard when he loses it and has a great technique. He had a good effort int he first half well saved, and his penalty was excellent when i didn't have a lot of faith that he would score.

Costa - 7.5 - I love watching him, he gets you out of your seat, scored an volley, and works his bollocks off. People moan about Mendes (unfairly) but he has brought us two really exciting players in Cav and Costa who with a more solid backbone behind them and a goal scorer to assist they will be fantastic.

Price - 8 - Great range of passing throughout, committed, solid and a leader, if this is a standard performance from Price then his critics don't know their arses from their elbows.
However, he was at fault for their first goal when he was the wrong side of their midfielder meaning he didn't intercept, but made a great tackle in the build up to Wolves second.

Edwards - 7.5 - Very good performance, worked hard, scored a good goal, almost scored another 2 (one a superb save following a Cav shot) and made numerous tackles and interceptions, particularly in the 2nd half.

Bright - 6 - Seemed to lack confidence, which is odd, lacked the confidence to run at their defence and his passing was a bit off, with a bit more confidence he may well be the conduit between CM and Dicko/Bod that we need, but not on today's performance.

Dicko - 6.5 - He needs a goal to go in off his arse, trying hard, but looks frustrated, can't remember a chance that went his way and certainly looked far inferior to Abraham for Bristol. I do feel that if/when a goal comes his way we will see a return to the Dicko of old.

Subs

Mason - Could have scored instantly, when combining with Bod, lovely skill that lead to the penalty.

Bod - Another that needs a goal, offered something different when Bristol's cumbersome defence were tiring.

Ref - very card happy, gave some very strange decisions yet he gave us a (nailed on) penalty and didn't give them a goal at the death that may have been (he seemed to bottle the decision by blowing up) so can't criticise him too much. I feel that if Flint hadn't made it so clear with his body language that he had handled it, then the ref wouldn't have given the penalty.

Lambert - Seemed like a man possessed! I don't recall him being so animated in the technical area at Villa as he was today? And at the end getting the squad to do the Icelandic thing, it was at massive odds with my perception of him. It was actually very "Zenga"

As an aside, Graham was the player interviewed in the corporate area before the game, (he speaks very well, seems intelligent and wasn't just cliche ridden.) he is starting running again tomorrow, and hopes to be back playing (for the reserves) in mid January (the 15th of January 2016 was when he got injured) so a year out.

Overall a very enjoyable day and match.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Forgive me Richard, yes Ive said you need replacing along with Daniel, but that goal line clearance was once again shit hot.

 

[SSB]

Have to say I was sat 7 rows back in the Stan Cullis right behind the goal, it looked very dodgy at the end, in real time it looked a goal but I may be proven wrong.

Not the only North Banker I've heard say that.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

 

[Tony Towner]

That's not in, but as Stearman's boot isn't in a position to clear it when that still is taken I would imagine it was over the line at some point.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Delighted as I am that we won, without a new goalkeeper and a new back four, we have little hope of getting promoted from this division any time soon.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

That is not in. Whole ball over the line no. Optical illusion as ball is in the air

 

[jd1981]

Inconclusive evidence Lino couldn't see it due to players being in his way. It was hardly a foot over the which some of their players were implying.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

TV also said not in. Certainly not conclusive

 

[Premier Quality]

Definitely wasn't all over, as they said on the championship show, the ref got it right.

 

[The Bear]

As mentioned, the ball would have been a bit further over the line by the time Stears boot connected.

I reckon it was probably just over and we got away with one because the linesman didn't have a clear view.

 

[YoungWolf]

Lambert has said he left Saiss out because we are losing him for a month. At least he does seem
To rate him as going forward I think he should Definitely be in our plans

 

[Jamwolf]

Delighted as I am that we won, without a new goalkeeper and a new back four, we have little hope of getting promoted from this division any time soon.

Man of the match undoubtedly the Bristol City defender Flint. I don't know whether it was instinct or sportsmanship, but all credit to the lad.

If we are looking for a striker, what about their Tammy Abraham. Strange first name, but looks lively, and a well taken goal.

 

[Carrotdude]

Lambert has said he left Saiss out because we are losing him for a month. At least he does seem
To rate him as going forward I think he should Definitely be in our plans

Makes zero sense though - we're losing him for a month so let's make that worse by leaving him out for even longer than we have to

 

[Banjo]

Only my second game of the season (the other being home v Leeds - Zenga's last game).

On balance, not an unfair result. I agree with Lambert when he said that some of our forward play was excellent but that we're still a million miles from where we'd want to be.

Defensive errors caused each of their goals, but what was equally (if not more) troubling was how much we abandoned control over the midfield. Price I thought did his job well - quickly recycling play and looking for a forward pass - but Edwards just doesn't do enough and now he's lost any pace, his main attribute of running around a lot means we're carrying him for large periods. At the top of the midfield three was Bright, who looked neat and tidy, but failed to turn the possession he received into anything meaningful. This may take time though and I still think he can be a great link player. He needs a bit more confidence in the final third -we've all seen from the under 23 games that he's capable.

Ikeme: should have cleared everyone out and prevented their second and just didn't seem to have control of his own area when crosses came in. Not the most pressing area for improvement, but an upgrade is surely needed soon.

Coady: I've never been impressed with him, but at least his limited ability on the ball causes us less damage when he's at full back. Put in a good cross for Costa's goal, but found himself caught in possession far too often and would invariably resort to an aimless ball into the channels for the hapless Dicko to chase, which was very unfair on Dicko.

Doherty: Probably the best I've seen him play. Given the horror show against Leeds (which I had thought might see him never play for us again), he looked like a different player. It helped, of course, that Bristol offered very little down their right hand side so Doherty only had to concentrate on his attacking play, which he's always been better at. Linked up well with Cavaleiro in wide areas, but we need two new fullbacks in my view. Neither Doherty nor Coady is the long term answer if we want to look to promotion.

Batth: He won countless headers, but my God do we need an upgrade on our captain and fast. Could have done better for both goals and often looked very shaky on the ball. The amount of aimless, panicked clearances was a sight to behold.

Stearman: Also at least partly to blame for the goals, but generally performed much better than his captain. Much more steady on the ball, used possession much better (not a high bar, granted) and, in defensive terms, probably our best defender on the day (again, that's not saying a lot).

Price: As stated above, I thought he did his job well - clearing up and distributing nicely. Where we've gone backwards is he no longer has someone creative to pass the ball to (compare this to when he had an in-form Kevin Mcdonald next to him).

Edwards: Got up well for the faintest of touches to set us on our way nice and early. Disappeared after that. It never ceases to amaze me how he's got so far in his career whilst being so, so poor on the ball and still can't tackle very well (often fouling the player in the process). We need an upgrade and fast - against better teams, handing the central midfield over to the opposition will be game over.

Bright: He wasn't overawed, but did lack a bit of confidence in the final third. A work in progress, but clearly has lots of talent and could be a great link between midfield and the front three. Would benefit from a more advanced ball playing midfielder behind him.

Cavaleiro: curate's egg. He has an incredibly frustrating habit of beating his fullback and then trying to beat him again four times before losing the ball/putting in a rubbish cross/ slowing down play. He needs to shoot more often and cross more quickly. Clearly has the beating of most fullbacks at this level and needs to apply his brain more when it matters. Some good link up play with Doherty and clearly a different class at this level, but decision making is an issue he needs to work on - reminds me very much of Sako's performances in his first season with us. Oh, and a great penalty- perfect strike and unsaveable.

Costa: My MOTM- has the beating of any full back and, like Cavaleiro, should cross more quickly and shoot more often. Needs to get into the box more when the ball is coming in from the other side - which is exactly what he did for his excellent goal (an early cross, opposite winger in the box, goal). A really cultured player, so comfortable with the ball at his feet and easily in my view the best player on the pitch. We'd be stuffed without him. If only we had centre halves, full backs and central midfielders as good at their game as Costa is at his.

Dicko: We didn't play to his strengths at all today and it showed. Too many aimless balls into the channels or at his head. Dicko needs the ball early and into feet. He's still very strong, but seems to have lost some pace. Not a lot went right for him in this game, but he's still a fantastic player for the lone role up front - needs to develop a better understanding with the front players around him. Our front 4 all looked good at times today, but a cohesive unit it is not. Dicko needs a goal, of that there's no doubt, but we do need to play to his strengths more and that means getting some better footballers into midfield and full back so we can vary our distribution, which needs a lot of improvement.

Subs

Bodvarsson: Looked a lot sharper than the last few times I've seen him and has probably benefitted from a break out of the first team. Could come in instead of Dicko, but I wouldn't rush that just yet.

Mason: Came on at the same time as Bod and also had a good impact on the game. Great bit of skill to elicit a handball from their defender (whose reaction is probably the only reason why the ref gave the penalty). Has always been a good footballer, my issue with him is that he misses too many chances. A very useful player to bring off the bench in my view.

All in all, whilst exciting at times, we certainly didn't make life easy for ourselves against a poor Bristol City team who were unlucky not to come away with a point.

 

[Siggy]

I wasn't there yesterday but isnt it refreshing that we are playing attacking football for a change, I think Lambert accepts we are shit at the back and just goes for it, I am sure this will be his priority in January. So glad Cav is finally settled and doing his thing my eyes bled every time I saw a CM out there with him on the bench.

I would like to see Mason coming in for Bright like for like with Bright coming off the bench later on, clearly has talent but I think that spot would really suit Mason.