Posts in category: Opinion

Wolves 2-1 Everton

After 45 minutes of front-footed intensity, it looked like Wolves were ready to roll through Everton like the proverbial hot knife through butter. Optimistic fans, shivering under the lights on a cold Monday evening at the start of November, could be forgiven for thinking this would be an easy one or that four or five goals were ready to flow.

By the final whistle, nerves were starting to shred and Wolves just about held on to claim three points. On the balance of play across two very different halves, both sides could make an argument for deserving something out of the match. At half time it looked like a massacre could be on the cards, until the wise old hand of Rafa Benitez shored up his side, changed tactics and sent his men out in the second half with renewed vigour. 

Even with the initial two goal cushion it would be great to see Wolves really shake loose, put these teams to the sword and add that vital cutting edge to the dominant possession. Max Kilman’s header was a long overdue reward for a fantastic start to the season. Raul’s chip was a delightful finish after a bad mistake from Ben Godfrey. Credit to the lads for not letting their heads dip after a marginal offside call ruled out Hwang’s false opener.

Hwang’s endeavour was beautifully merged with a masterful midfield mix of Moutinho and Neves pulling the strings, spraying passes across the field.

Strangely, as both sets of legs tired, there was once again no sign of the explosive Adama Traore emerging from the bench to terrorise the opposition. Bruno Lage still needs squad additions to bolster his options and add fresh impetus in the New Year. 

As Traore’s contract talks rumble on it is becoming increasingly more likely that he soon may ply his trade elsewhere. He remains a viable threat from the bench but at this stage of his career, with lofty ambitions, Traore will want to be a key player moving forward. On this occasion the Spaniard’s services were not required and his current teammates did a sterling job in his absence.

Crystal Palace 2-0 Wolves

While Brentford at home was bad, at least the game ended with six forwards on the pitch in a Championship Manager-style formation change to salvage a point. This was just a bit depressing. Little fight, little urgency, tactically exposed. Worse than effort, there was a distinct lack of quality and creativity. Palace ran us ragged and getting in at half-time without conceding was a minor miracle. 

So here ends the unbeaten run. Shame really because things were just starting to get exciting. But that’s what mid-table teams do. They fluctuate between highs and lows. They turn in a meek and feeble display just at the point when incentives are high and a win would earn a place in the top six. That’s why Trincao and Semedo are at Wolves not Barcelona. “It is what it is” as the hackneyed modern day phrase reminds us.

Palace bullied, attacked in numbers and showed general positivity. Grasping the initiative early on, they never let it slip. In the first half at last Wolves restricted the home side to only a few chances. The referee and VAR provided controversial talking points, with the man in the middle awarding a penalty before changing his mind. Any help from the officials would’ve been welcome. However, Wolves were the architects of their collective downfall and were extremely poor in the second half. 

For the first goal, the enigmatic Zaha bottled up his growing frustration, slipped in behind Semedo and finished off a through ball. The defensive reaction was slow. The overall reaction was non-existent as Wolves toiled to stay in the game, while creating little in return. 

The Eagles were hungrier, fresher, and wanted it more. Traore came on too late and his wing back positioning didn’t work out. Trincao put in as poor of a performance as any Wolves player in recent games as Palace outnumbered Neves and Moutinho in midfield. 

Their higher pressing and energy made the difference. When playing so defensively Traore’s pace on the counter attack is a favourable outlet, rather than seeing him shackled in a more defensive role. Trincao isn’t physical enough for these types of battles, which leads to the question: is the overall squad too thin on quality and quantity?

Wolves 1-0 West Ham

Saturday afternoon and West Ham roll into town. Not gonna lie, it was a scary thought. They were on form while Wolves’ last outing was a soulless loss to Crystal Palace.

Reenergised and reinvigorated after yet another tedious international break, Wolves weathered the early storm and scored a tremendous win over a team in form. Of all the duels taking place across the park, the home side certainly won the midfield battle. The outstanding Neves, situated alongside the cool head of Moutinho, overran Rice and Soucek. Neves is a master of the engine room who makes the team tick when he’s “on it”. The Portuguese international was combative, displayed great passing ability and comprehensively dictated the tempo.

Not alone in delivering a stellar performance, he was joined by the sprightly Podence, a diminutive magician who played the killer pass through to Raul who in turn produced a sublime finish on the 58th minute. At the back, Kilman, Saiss and Coady converged to create a rock solid unit that the Hammers could not breach. 

Jarrod Bowen should’ve scored. Mikhail Antonio was flown home early at huge expense only to spend the entire duration in Max Kilman’s back pocket. Dropping back deep to defend a lead resulted in a nervy final few minutes, but Wolves held firm and there was no Leeds-style sting in the tail.

Now to the difficult stuff. While grabbing a win over Norwich and bogey team Burnley would appear an easier task, these are the teams Wolves have faltered against in the past. Nuno notoriously struggled to prize stubborn teams apart. Can Bruno produce the winning formula and send his team flying into a haunting December schedule?

Nestled neatly in sixth position, if the club can keep building and insert some quality squad additions in January then suddenly the garden is looking rosy.

Norwich 0-0 Wolves

Imagine travelling all the way over to a team Norwich, revitalised under Dean Smith, in those horrific weather conditions? Massive salute to the resilient souls who braved the trip. Given the lack of options on the bench it seems half the squad didn’t fancy it either. Joking aside, the cheque book needs to come out in January. Let’s bolster the squad and have only one goalkeeper back on the sidelines.

Anyone watching from the stands will have witnessed an away side sloppy in possession, with little to no link-up play or fluidity. The gaffer clearly likes Trincao but there have been games this season where he’s offered next to nothing. A freezing afternoon’s work up against a hard press was never likely to be the Portuguese winger’s situation of choice.

Norwich got their tactics nailed on. Targeting Ait-Nouri early down the flanks, they seemed happy to allow the young Frenchman to press forward in the knowledge that his final ball was likely to lack efficacy.

While the attack was feeble, the defensive remained resolute. Between the sticks Jose Sa is solid and dependable when called upon, while home striker Timo Pukki was guilty of fluffing his lines on more than one occasion. A more clinical striker would have repeatedly punished Wolves for their slackness.

Coady marshalled the back line admirably. Saiss got stuck in when required and Kilman….well, it’s King Kilman now. Strong and reliable, yet too unfashionable to gain international recognition, he’s been one of the finds of the season. 

When pacey powerhouse Adama Traore finally entered the fray he was once again deployed as a wingback, in what is surely a political move rather than tactical. Looking more and more likely to move in January, Traore’s entire career has been fits and starts. From amazing to frustrating and somewhere in between. Just when he looks set to become a world beater his form tails off. 

Yet again South Korean international Hwang was unable to impose himself on the game, despite his usual willingness to chase and run. At least Wolves did not get beaten or concede a late heartbreaker, so there are at some slim positives to be taken home.

Steve Wellings is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team

Wolves 2-1 Newcastle

Not long after Jeff Hendrick had slotted home Newcastle’s equalising goal, the dreaded proposition of yet another 1-1 draw loomed large. Hendrick’s smart finish seemed wholly unavoidable. Was it the referee’s fault for not protecting Jose Sa? Was it the fumbling defenders who failed to stick a boot through the ball and “get rid”? Was it Francisco Trincao who, just moments earlier, had rattled the crossbar, passing up on a gilt-edged opportunity to extend Wolves’ lead? Take your pick.

Raul Jimenez Christmas Cards On Sale Now!

Thankfully, Hwang Hee-Chan had other ideas when he slotted the ball home in the second half to send the home side into raptures and help drag Wolves out of their persistent stalemates with the Magpies. Hwang’s energy and work rate was faultless, and he was withdrawn late on as a result. There was barely a blade of grass that he failed to cover as the South Korean’s partnership with a vibrant Raul Jimenez flourished before our eyes.

Make no mistake, Newcastle were poor. Steve Bruce cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines as his average side (injuries accepted) toiled fruitlessly to grab a point. Imagine travelling all the way from Tyneside to watch that? No wonder the fans’ frustration is never too far from boiling point. 

Meanwhile, the home side’s frustration was aimed mostly at the referee. Being the man in the middle is a thankless task at the best of times. There was an argument to suggest that Sa was fouled for the Newcastle goal. But any fan would want their striker to go for a ball that was there to be won rather than “bottling out” of the challenge. 

Should the game have been stopped as Sa lay sprawled on the deck after the challenge? Possibly. The ref was close to blowing until Sa sprang into life in a vain attempt to save the situation. Blowing every time a player hits the deck is a dangerous road to go down as the more streetwise performers will find a reason to collapse each and every time the opposition side attacks.

After an indifferent start to a season that has been entertaining, frustrating, and promising all at once, at the close of play on Saturday evening Wolves were above Leicester and Spurs and level on points with Brentford! As the late Jimmy Greaves once remarked: “It’s a funny old game”.

Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves

Nothing quite erases the memory of the previous 90 minutes and lifts the mood like a last-minute winner. Throw in the fact that you’ve just beaten your local rivals -away from home no less- and it’s all the sweeter. 

Any regular Wolves watcher will know that, as gifted as he is, a Ruben Neves dead ball situation is no guarantee of success. Despite the parroted projections of commentators and analysts, the result often hits the assembled wall or floats off into the back row.

On this occasion a large deflection left the keeper gloriously wrong footed. As the ball nestled cosily in the net the most unlikely of comebacks was complete. Cue wild celebrations. Regardless of the method, the result is all that matters. Did it paper over the cracks of a wobbly afternoon’s work? Probably. But at five-to-five on October 16 nobody cared. Villa fans took to social media to voice their displeasure, citing unprofessionalism and a tactically inept manager who failed to hold on to a 2-0 lead.

Across the entire duration neither team looked amazing. Villa’s graft and endeavor earned them a two-goal advantage, but they looked rickety. As has been the case in a few Wolves games this season, the opposition have been there for the taking. Showing too much deference only encourages these inferior teams to push forward. Which leads nicely on to…

Leeds 1-1 Wolves

Another occasion where the opposition side arguably grew in confidence as Wolves sat back, retreated further into a shell, and let them play. Of course, holding on to a slender lead is difficult. Naturally, as the clock ticks by, focus wanes and legs become lethargic there is likely to be a retreat into a more defensive mode. But Wolves have plenty of attacking prowess at their disposal. Bruno Lage has so far proven to be a Jekyll and Hyde tactician.

At times the reckless, free flowing attacking abandon has appeared, dominating possession and forcing good quality teams on to the back foot. At other times a deeper, more conservative approach has been adopted. Reminiscent of end times Nuno – or current times Nuno if you support Spurs (this one aged badly but I’ll leave it in). It feels like Lage has yet to tweak his tactics quite right or doesn’t have the correct personnel at his disposal.

Hanging on desperately to a 1-0 lead, the men in old gold and black were moments away from another nifty three points and a potential spot in the top four no less. Who would’ve expected that after the opening three games? Eager to be the fall guy once again, step forward Nelson Semedo. Slotted into an unconventional left sided role due to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s understated fitness concerns, Nelson had worked diligently up to that point.

It’s hard to dislike Semedo. A dedicated grafter who arrived from a premier outfit harbouring a premier price tag, he is not short of honest effort. Unfortunately, he brings along the odd lapse in concentration. Caught out by some quick thinking, a moment of clown car defending ensued as our hero furiously scurried between bodies to make amends.

However, we all know how this concludes. Sitting in the ground or at home, watching through fingers, the Portuguese powerhouse bull rushed into action. Time stood still. The game eased into slow motion as an extended left arm gently prodded into the attacker. We all hoped in utmost denial that the referee had maybe seen something different.

He hadn’t. The crowd roared for blood. It was a foul. The man in the middle depressingly pointed to the spot. Some Leeds player (who cares which one) stepped forward after the commotion. Perhaps Jose Sa will save it. Nah. 1-1. You turn to your mate and say things like, “We’d have taken a point before the match” to hide the fact that you’re gutted. 

A harsh lesson learned. Next time an attacking threat dances fleet-footed into the box, and our Nelson bears down on him…best to close your eyes and pray.

Steve Wellings is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team

Watford 0-2 Wolves

After a mixed August, where performances were strong but results failed to match, putting some points on the board is all that mattered. In what was ironically Wolves’ weakest overall display so far, the 2-0 away win at Watford caused a collective sigh of relief among the faithful.

The sight of Ruben Neves bossing the midfield had been badly missed. Aside from the odd scary moment, it was compact and routine. Not as ferociously fizzing as the first three games, but finally some points on the board after a solid, professional performance. 

As the home side matched Wolves blow-for-blow early on, Ismaila Sarr’s powerful threat dissipated as Bruno’s tactics kicked in. Doing a sturdy job down the flanks, the previously flaky Marcal is not only staying fit but making that left hand side slot his own. Defensively stable, not afraid to include a bit of rough-and-tumble in his game, the Brazilian finally added a touch of attacking quality.

Bruno’s demands for intensity show no signs of abating. Not quite Marcelo Bielsa levels of pressing but an injection of athleticism, nonetheless.

Despite the two goals scored, finding the back of the net on a regular basis could be a concern going forward. If Wolves keep winning and Raul still hasn’t scored then the fanbase will hopefully remain patient as their recuperating hero persists. However, if the Mexican remains as blunt in five games’ time will the manager have a decision to make?

Also returning from injury, minuscule magician Daniel Podence’s assist was a thing of beauty. His deftness of touch was complimented by the bulldozing directness of Hwang who bundled the ball over the line. 

After some sketchy early displays Francisco Trincao is getting used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, although online talk of his performances being “excellent” are premature. The Barcelona loanee still needs to prove that he is more than a lightweight show pony. His mettle for the battle will be under scrutiny if results drop off. In a long and grueling season, every player is needed for the fight.

Wolves 0-2 Brentford

Just as we all got our tails up, reality kicks in with an unexpectedly one-sided home loss. For a supposed master of the dark arts, Marcal’s position as resident “shithouse” could be under threat after he crossed the line and got caught in plain sight preventing persistent threat Ivan Toney from advancing in the box. Given that he had been previously warned by the referee for employing WWE-style tactics it was a reckless move.

One of the side narratives across a torrid afternoon was played out along the contrasting fortunes of two opposing forwards. At the one end Raul Jimenez: a coveted international striker who has served as a prolific talisman with a song that routinely echoes across the terraces. Unfortunately, the Mexican has been struggling to find his shooting boots. No doubt rusty after a spell on the sidelines following a horrific head clash, the image of Raul tearing off his protective headband is a symbol of his growing frustration.

While Jimenez was struggling, down the other end of the pitch Ivan Toney was thriving. Tormenting the defenders with pace, power and precision as his teammates infuriated the home supporters with time wasting tactics. The gap between the two teams was so apparent that Pontus Jansson’s constant trips to the ground, coupled with the goalkeeper’s glove change theatrics, were wholly unnecessary rubs of salt into the collective wound. Even with 10 men Brentford held out stoutly.

In a crazy final push, akin to a 2-2-6 Championship Manager last throw of the dice, Wolves ended with a morass of forwards on the pitch who still could not fashion a shot on target between them.

Wolves 2-2 Tottenham – Spurs win on penalties

At least we can focus on the league now! Come on, someone was bound to say it at some point. Positive points were few and far between after a penalty shoot out defeat at home to a lackluster Tottenham side led by the ultimate king of the handbrake. Scoring twice at home was a rare treat. At one point Wolves even threatened to perform a fully blown comeback. But the minutes frittered away and fans at least did not have to suffer extra time and an even later night. 

Moutinho aside, the home side’s penalties were woeful. Dendoncker’s weak effort, sandwiched between Neves and Coady’s skyward shanks, all arrived after Hwang had initially opened the scoring with every ounce of fortune attached.

Excluding their solo miss, Spurs’ penalties were all cooly converted with assured competence. Exiting the Carabao Cup is not the end of the world, but losing is a habit that can be hard to shake once the rot sets in.

Southampton 0-1 Wolves

It wasn’t always pretty and Sa and Raul aside, nobody in the starting 11 was overly impressive but as the old cliche goes, a win is a win. It was vitally important to get another three points on the board and create some breathing space from the languishing pack below. The sight of Raul Jimenez once again finding the back of the net in a competitive match evoked the purest of footballing joy. Only the heartless would fail to embrace the emotion of a moment that was widely celebrated across the game.

And what a goal it was too. Running on to a long ball from the excellent Sa, bullying the defender out of the way before calmly slotting home – it was vintage Raul.

It wasn’t a vintage display overall. Marcal was poor, Hwang elusive and Podence non-existent apart from the times he was giving the ball away. Southampton looked toothless without the prowess of Danny Ings up front. If their form doesn’t improve then Ralf Hassenhutl and his players will soon start looking over their shoulders. That is of little concern to Wolves who have six points and a nice building block to push on up the table.

Steve Wellings is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here