Wolves 3 v PNE 2 - a mental game verdict thread

[darlowolf64]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/player-ratings-wolves-3-2-preston-north-end/

"which the clueless Martin still managed to make a hash off, fumbling around in his pocket like a man trying to grab a hot dog from a vat of oil and ending up having to call him back onto the pitch to show the red card. Did I mention he was terrible? He was terrible."

Excellent Dan, nearly spat my tea out

 

[ndorsetwolf]

Had the night to sleep on this one, so better able to be dispassionate in my verdict.

First half Preston did a number on us, by closing down quickly and stopping us from palying with a flow. If they thought that a bit of foul play was necessary, then they were quite happy to oblige. The referee should have been much quicker with the cards, this may have cut this out much earlier. As it was, he eventually lost control, leading the later melee.

For all that they looked quite tidy, first half I never felt that Preston were going to score, and for the last 15 minutes or so I thought we started to get a hold on things, culminating in Cavaleiro's opener.

We then started the second half in much better form, leading to two more quick goals. Bless Wolves at this point. They obviously felt that the game was in danger of becoming pedestrian, so they decided to up the excitement by gifting Preston two goals. Seriously, the defence seemed to switch off at 3-0 and it nearly cost us. For all that, I still think we had enough to score more if necessary. Indeed on a couple of the breaks forward towards the end of the game, it almost looked as if we couldn't decide whether to go for the goal or the corner flag.

Anyway, a win is a win is a win, and three more points in the bag. I don't think we will face many sterner tests than that this season.

 

[east-coast-wolves]

I think Preston probably were the best team we've played so far. Even out of the teams who beat us, Sheffield United were handed Coady's red card and Cardiff were just dirty, didn't attempt to play football. I believe they could be up around the playoffs in May, particuarly if they focus on playing more than they did yesterday. They clearly can play, but their card stats are not good.

I thought we were way off it. I will give some credit for that to Preston's high press, but we really should be able to deal with this still. They harried us into a lot of misplaced passes. I'm also gonna go ahead and blame the ref. The Preston lot seemed to think he gave us everything and some of their bookings were ridiculous! I'd say they should have had a lot more bookings tbh. He never had control of the game, and the brawl at the end was entirely his fault. Our pen I thought was soft (but probably the correct call), and both of Pearson's bookings were totally deserved, so at least he got them right. Overall though, not good. And we won, so we can still complain about the ref when we win Frank

Good to see we can win dirty we when need to, doesn't have to be pretty every week. Not the first time our games have descended into a goals fest when I'd prefer us to just see it out though. We must get better at this.

Win's a win, and I'm looking forward to the City game.

 

[LG Wolf]

https://oscillatingwildly.net/player-ratings-wolves-3-2-preston-north-end/

Agree on the whole DW but Jota doesn’t backheel for our first goal, their right back kicks it with his left foot.

 

[LG Wolf]

Anyone else notice Saiss pull into the RWB position, effectively taking Doc's spot, knock the ball in field to Neves for him the hit a first time ball to Doc who had already made the run, knowing Saiss was covering his space? Happened a few times but PNE quickly wised up and it nearly cost us a goal at 3-1 as Douglas had already got forward on the other side in anticipation of Doc getting a cross in. Interesting little tactic.

 

[Kenny]

Got to say the oddest thing the ref did yesterday (apart from the Red Card stuff ) was after a Preston player had pulled Jota back by the neck. He gave no freekick for it or waved an advantage but when the play stopped he called the player over and spoke to him about the incident and warned him. So if he saw it and it warranted a talking too, how was it not a free kick?

 

[PuntsWolf]

He spent all pissing game talking to players and then they did it again and he didn't book them. So what exactly was he saying when he was taking to them? Idiot

 

[Johnny75]

Got to say the oddest thing the ref did yesterday (apart from the Red Card stuff ) was after a Preston player had pulled Jota back by the neck. He gave no freekick for it or waved an advantage but when the play stopped he called the player over and spoke to him about the incident and warned him. So if he saw it and it warranted a talking too, how was it not a free kick?

In the same odd vein it did make me laugh when a free kick was given and Johnson stood over the ball to stop Neves taking it quickly. Neves went and megged him and put Bonatini in on goal. Johnson then ran up to the ref and complained to him about not making Neves retake it.

 

[Dinowolf]

Douglas has started to worry me. He is giving the ball away too much and he was daydreaming for their second on Saturday and let his man run into the box unchallenged which lead to the OG.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Douglas has started to worry me. He is giving the ball away too much and he was daydreaming for their second on Saturday and let his man run into the box unchallenged which lead to the OG.

He will need to take care as does have a challenger for that position unlike last year when we didn't really have anyone

 

[AndyWolves]

In hindsight Preston made one chance on their own, we gifted them the rest. We made our own chances and put 3 past the tightest defence in the league.

We may have not been at our best due to Prestons tactics but we were more effective at putting the ball in the net.

A tougher challenge than villa and another opportunity for Nuno to learn

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Got to say the oddest thing the ref did yesterday (apart from the Red Card stuff ) was after a Preston player had pulled Jota back by the neck. He gave no freekick for it or waved an advantage but when the play stopped he called the player over and spoke to him about the incident and warned him. So if he saw it and it warranted a talking too, how was it not a free kick?

If he played advantage, then that would explain why a free kick was not awarded.

 

[Kenny]

No advantage was played though...well he certainly didn't signal for it and all other times he played advantage he did signal for it.
So he bollocked a player for not fouling a player

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Preston are a tough but to crack. But cracked it was. We have played 6 of the top 8 and taken 10 points. 10 men v Sheff UTC and could have had a point, out kicked by Colin but learnt from it and entertained v brizzle. I can confidently say we look a class apart from our team of the last two seasons both in personnel and tactics and this is with a manager and star players who " got no championship experience" Good tests coming up in bogey teams QPR and Norwich. Beat both of those and I will be on cloud 9.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Haven't lost at Loftus Road since 2008, not that much of a bogey team

 

[Parkins left foot]

Haven't lost at Loftus Road since 2008, not that much of a bogey team

Will be happy to continue that run as am up there - though unlikely to be able to see that much as my ticket indicates a restricted view (sounds as if most of our tickets fall into that category)

Play to our strengths and they won't be able to live with us - play poorly & it's still a game we can lose

 

[Norman Deeley]

Going to need to go up this if we're to keep Nuno - both Everton and WHU will be sniffing round him next week if they have any sense

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Agree on the whole DW but Jota doesn’t backheel for our first goal, their right back kicks it with his left foot.

I think you're right, my mince pies must be going.

Changed it now

 

[Lupo]

I don't have any concerns of Nuno going at this point at all. He signed up to a project at Wolves and is fully committed to it and being top of the Championship with the Fosun adventure is surely more appealing than a relegation battle at Everton and West Ham plus he is linked to us by his friendship with Mendes. He's going nowhere soon

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Are we seriously going to have posters shitting themselves every time it looks like a premier league managerial role is coming up?