Wolves - Norwich Match Thread

[Langers]

Is Nuno trying to hard to shoehorn Benik into the side. For me since Afobe has come in we have lost shape a he'll of a lot. Got away with it against QPR but not tonight. Leo coming in tonight would have allowed greater ball retention and better chances, with Afobe he wants balls through and on the last man. We haven't ever played that way under Nuno.

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Norwich played a higher line so I could understand him coming on but he wasn't very good. Tbh I'd rather see what Mir had about him if he's reluctant to play Leo.

 

[playtheace]

I thought it was a fair decision. And it wasn't his first foul. The ref got a few decisions wrong towards the end but I didn't think he was THAT bad overall. We've seen far, far worse this season. He was no Steve Martin.

I agree, Neves did another stupid foul earlier on.... totally unnecessary.
Referee wasn't that bad, he let Coady's bad tackle go in the first few minutes and Jota was niggling quite a few times (he also kicked out at one player just after his yellow but luckily missed)

Would like to know if Costa was injured because that was such a strange sub, let the other team worry about how we setup.

At the end, I'm sorry but how many times in a match do you have the opposition's goalie in your box?...get the fucking ball up the other end..I mean Ruddy had done it umpteen times tonight for some strange reason.

Thought Coady was rattled too many times tonight too.

oh yeah Afobe, just doesn't work in this team..ends up with us lumping it and I thought we had been there and done that.
Abd 2nd half when he did get it (out wide) we had no one in the box at all.

Gibbs White is a pleasure to watch.

 

[Tony Towner]

Whilst I would like to see what Norris can bring, wouldn't have a problem if Nuno keeps faith with Ruddy - sounded as if he saved us from conceding earlier which would have been potentially more damaging.

Reality is that that late in the game we need to ensure that the ball is a long way into their half (or preferably well into the Steve Bull Upper tier) - goals from 35 yrds will happen - goals from 75yrds very very very rarely

Ruddy had 4 real saves to make in the entire game - the first goal he had no chance with, a second half shot he held, the corner in injury time that he spilled, but that's a touch harsh although it was a save he should make and the equaliser that he royally ballsed up.

 

[lemonjelly]

match report especially for the super kind trips!

for the first time, I think we saw potential complacency (which I have no doubt will be addressed by Nuno), combined with a confused team/poor subs. I'm deflated, but not despondent. For periods, we still showed we are a class above norwich.

proper game of 2 halves. We started well, for 10 mins had solid clean possession. Some nice passing generally. Coady and Bennett went in tough early on, and the ref had a word with Coady. Then Coady & Boly completely switched off, letting Norwich in, and they really should have scored.
The gulf in class was immediately shown, as Jota, with some sublime skill turned most of the norwich defence, and scored.
N'Daiye is left unmarked to head in from a corner.
Norwich's equalizer flattened the crowd a little, which surprised me. Silly free kick to give away, then we weren't aware at our defending, and it was a simple header for them.
Neves booking did the same - he could have been booked earlier for the foul in the corner, but if the fouls wasn't sufficient, he'd probably have een due one for accumulations..

Boly was absolutely immense most of the time. Looks so good on the ball too.

Costa was also very lively. Some great accelaration to beat 3 norwich players in one go, and he almost went past another 3. He was excellent tonight.

We seemed to focus on attacking down our right. Douglas made a few good forward runs that weren't seen, and when he eventually was played in, didn't make the most of it.

2nd half was a bit bizarre. Costa went off (injury?) and Saiss on. For me, a bad change. Suspect Nuno wanted to shore up the middle, but we ended up playing a wierd 3-3-2-2 formation that wasn't working. We had no real width or outball, and norwich grew into the game. To be fair, they hadn't let their heads drop at 2-0, as we could easily have gone on to score 2-3 more in that first half. They took their chance, and then with lots of decent close passing caused us problems.

Afobe comes on, and doesn't resolve our shape issue. MGW then comes on for N'Daiye in an attempt to remedy this, but Norwich's tails are up, and they continue to believe they can get something out of the game. However, Gibbs-White shows he isn't out of place in the team, by showing numerus touches of good control and passing. How he doesn't score is beyond me. Twice I was convinced he would score.

The last 10 mins are just batshit. Ref loses the plot, fails to give numerous obvious fouls (or gives them the wrong way), and norwich somehow score with a distance strike that no doubt everyone is struggling to comprehend.

Very weird game. For moments in the first half, we were awesome. However, for most of the 2nd half, we looked very disjointed.

Have to say though, how fucking good is Ruben Neves. The man is amazing.

Also lovely to meet the jinfamous jinky, and the irrepressible t-dan for the first time.

 

[Jinky]

Pleasure to meet you too, LJ.

Nuno has said he hooked Costa at half time and brought Saiss on because he wanted us to “retain possession more”. Wrong call for me, I’m afraid, Nuno.

 

[StuardoWulf]

First howler from Nuno tonight buts its easy to be wise after the event.

 

[Banjo]

I think the idea was right in that there were big spaces in the middle for us to take control over, but the problem was the players didn't seem to know what the formation was and what they were meant to be doing. That played into Norwich's hands in my view.

Incidentally, this from a Norwich mate after the game:

"And THAT is why most of us were happy to let Ruddy go. Has that woeful howler in him almost every game..."

Now, I think he's been a super signing for us this season and he rarely makes that sort of mistake. The only real downside for me has been his kicking at times. He's certainly been an upgrade on any keeper we've had at the Wolves over recent years.

That said, we're fortunate to have Norris in reserve and I've no doubt Nuno would make the change if he thought it necessary.

 

[Alan]

Without wanting to sound too hard on Ruddy, this is far from his first howler or clanger this season, we've just been punished for very few of them.

 

[Tony Towner]

It's probably the second goal off the top of my head I'd put squarely on him, the first being Forest away, both of which were long range efforts. It would be fair to say he hasn't been the commanding figure lately he was for the bulk of the first half of the season. All keepers make mistakes, but the timing of today's lack of concentration has to ask questions

 

[Tredman]

Bit more sanguine this morning, but we do need to start playing better. Saiss and MGW to start next game, potentially Bonatini. The Afobe experiment has failed.

On a bright note got to shake mendes's hand last night, he is short.

 

[Wombat del combate]

I have a bad feeling about this since Sunday. No idea why but the last two times I felt similar were at the start of the choke (Grimsby) and when we were relegated, after Saunders' first game. Hopefully I won't achieve a very unwanted hattrick.

Re: Saiss: I had wondered at the time whether it was tactical or to get him minutes given Neves' looming suspension.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Taking off Costa & Cav was a bad move. In hindsight it's easy but bringing on Saiss with Neves already on a yellow was risky beyond belief. We looked fine the way we were, no need to change anything. It's fine inviting pressure and playing on the counter but only MGW looked threatening

Costa was Injured or so the reports said

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

You'd have thought us playing 12 would've had us winning...

To your other point, Afobe was fucking rancid. Doesn't fit the system and just not good enough on the ball. Get Leo back.

Ha ha ha my mis-type I hate this phone, never buying a cheap one again

 

[SSB]

Without wanting to sound too hard on Ruddy, this is far from his first howler or clanger this season, we've just been punished for very few of them.

I don’t believe Ruddy should have said anything negative in his interview with the E&S. It provides even more of a stick to beat him with when things like last night happen to him.

 

[slink]

Costa was Injured or so the reports said

Costa wasn’t injured, Nuno wanted more control in the middle. It looked a strange sub at the time and it definitely didn’t help us. Nuno and the team have built up a lot of credit though where they can afford to make mistakes like they did last night and we’re still walking the league.

 

[Siggy]

Only just seen the goal again didn't look as bad at the time but it's dreadful from Ruddy. He's been wobbly for weeks now on really basic stuff, would like to see Norris come in but I don't think it will happen.

HT sub was wrong but I assume it's to give Saiss some minutes before the weekend, taking Alf off would have made more sense.

Loved every bit of MGW when he came on just has so much ability on the ball it's crazy, he looks like what we hoped Bright would be.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Goal down to Ruddy I am afraid - he shouldn't be getting beaten there.

Bringing Saiss on fucked us up, and trying to accommodate Afobe absolutely destroyed whatever formation we had. He just doesn't work in our team. Bin him off and play Bonatini FFS.

 

[Tredman]

Yep, let's stick for Jota, Cav and Costa or play Bonatini. Afobe doesn't work, it was useful to try, but it's failed.

MGW will play at the highest level, he's fantastic - looks like a Jota/Neves hybrid.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Costa wasn’t injured, Nuno wanted more control in the middle. It looked a strange sub at the time and it definitely didn’t help us. Nuno and the team have built up a lot of credit though where they can afford to make mistakes like they did last night and we’re still walking the league.

Interesting the reports on both BBC and SKY sports text apps said Costa was Injured.

If it was tactical it was fucking Shit.
At half tine we were in control and looking like scoring more post half time we werw never in control.

The goal was fucking awful from Ruddy

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

After not going to a game at all last season it was great to be back at a match, I've missed it more than I thought I had! A disappointing performance (and result) but it was great to be back.

My thoughts echo most of what has already been said:

1. A draw was probably a fair result performance wise but having got ourselves 2-0 up we should not have thrown that away. The equaliser was a sickener that should have been avoided. They were putting a bit of pressure on during injury time but I thought we would manage to comfortably see it out.

2. Nuno's substitutions played a part in our performance. Putting Saiss on for Costa didn't work and then bringing Afobe on for Cav made it worse. I had no idea what formation we were playing in the 2nd half and the players didn't seem to have much of clue either. We lost our width and nobody was really attacking the penalty area. It was only once MGW came on that we started to improve.

3. Afobe doesn't fit into this team. I'd rather we brought Bonatini on instead.

4. If Ruddy saves that shot at the end then no one would really mention his performance but there is no way their player should be scoring from that far out with the last kick of the game. It was a shocking goal to concede. We gave him acres of space and then I have no idea what Ruddy was doing letting that past him.

5. I didn't think the ref was that bad. Some questionable decisions during the 2nd half but nothing major. However, I wish he'd blown his whistle a bit earlier!

6. Gibbs-White is going to be one hell of player.

Also lovely to meet the jinfamous jinky, and the irrepressible t-dan for the first time.

Great to meet you to, mate. Likewise for the other forum members that were there. It seems that you lot really are a nice bunch after all