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Wolves 0-0 Bournemouth: Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Disappointing is the sole word to explain Wolves’ midweek match versus Bournemouth. Wolves were looking for their first win of the season against a side that conceded nine goals on Saturday but walked away with a scoreless draw instead.

 

José Sá

Sá was not asked to do much during the match tonight, with Bournemouth only providing two chances on target. Wolves attempted to play out of the back with Sá only attempting three long passes compared to the 12 he attempted versus Newcastle on Sunday, according to sofascore. It was overall a very conservative performance in possession and he was not challenged defensively.

5/10

 

Nélson Semedo

Semedo played very advanced and looked impressive at times in the first half. He made smart plays, moved well and did not make many mistakes, but he struggled to add to the attack in a meaningful way. He received the ball in advanced areas but failed to play the ball into dangerous areas with any consistency. He was taken off early in the second half after appearing to pick up an injury.

6/10

 

Nathan Collins

It was a relatively quiet performance from Collins. He did not make many mistakes, but he struggled to progress the ball as Wolves played out of the back. Bournemouth aggressively pressed the Wolves’ back line and Collins played the ball side to side more often than up the pitch. 

6/10

 

Max Kilman

In the first half, Kilman’s passing ability was on full display, offering multiple long passes into dangerous areas. Kilman has established himself as a very consistent player with a relatively high ceiling. Tonight was not an excellent performance but he continuously delivers on what is expected of him. 

7/10

 

Jonny

It was a quiet game from Jonny. He began on the left side, but after Semedo’s injury, he switched to the right, where he struggled to get a hold of the game. In attack, he did not offer much and struggled to find a rhythm with Gonçalo Guedes or Pedro Neto.

4/10

 

Rúben Neves

Neves spent the better part of his night playing in the middle of a back three. He was dropped very deep to aid with the Bournemouth press and his ability to pluck out runners down the pitch was relatively neutralized. He was still tasked with being a focal point of Wolves in possession, leading the team with 109 touches (per sofascore). Despite the large volume of touches, the deeper role hindered his ability to help create chances.

5/10

 

Mattheus Nunes

In the first half Nunes, positioned on the right wing, did an excellent job sending the ball into the box with crosses. The problem with Nunes attempting a high volume of crosses was the lack of Wolves players in central areas due to his wide positioning. Nunes was attempting to put the ball into danger, but too often there was no one there to receive the ball.

5/10

 

João Moutinho

Moutinho was one of the better performers tonight, but that is not saying much. Moutinho, with Neves, dropped deep and Nunes in an advanced role, was completely isolated in the midfield at times. The 35-year-old midfielder was very active the entire match and at times had to carry the midfield alone.

6.5/10

 

Gonçalo Guedes

Guedes struggled to get into space on the attack, moving side to side rather than exploring vertical runs. He is a player that prefers to create his own opportunities rather than sending the ball into the box, attempting zero crosses, according to sofascore. Overall, he was held very quiet and was a nonfactor before being subbed off.

4/10

 

Raúl Jiménez

Tonight was a very rough match for Jimenez. His most notable moment was a missed sending a shot wide of the goal in a one-on-one with the keeper. The missed opportunity on top of many passes where Jimenez was nowhere to be found made tonight’s performance dreadful. 

3/10

 

Pedro Neto

It was not a good night for the usually exciting Neto. Midway through the first half, he seemed to be cementing himself into the match with an ambitious attempt from outside the box, but the second half was a very quiet one for the winger. 

4/10

 

Subs:

 

Rayan Aït-Nouri

Ait Nouri entered the match and immediately showed why he should have started. He is confident and skilled on the ball but was unable to make much of an impact. 

5/10

 

Daniel Podence

Today he was not at his best, but his intent and creativity made the stagnant Wolves’ attack look slightly energized. The two best opportunities of the match came once Podence was inserted into the match, with one being his header that was cleared off the line. 

7/10

 

Adama Traoré

Traore has struggled coming on this season due to a lack of effort and tonight was more of the same. 

4/10

 

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Five Things We Learnt From Bournemouth 0-0 Wolves

by with No Comment Five Things We LearntNews

Well, that was terrible. An incredibly drab 0-0 draw with Bournemouth was probably both your average Wolves fan’s worst fear and tragic pre-match prediction. I’d try to summarise the highlights but beyond Nunes’ first half attempt striking the bar and Podence’s header (yes header) being blocked on the line, this really was one of the low points of Bruno Lage’s tenure in charge of the Old Gold.

Here’s five things we learnt:

Something is very, very wrong

Perhaps the heading is a slight understatement. On paper, Wolves have a squad that’s easily capable of challenging for a top half position, maybe Europe if we’re feeling generous. None of our midfield three would look out of place in Europe, Jose Sa was one of the top keepers in Europe’s top five leagues last season and there’s enough exciting young talent dotted throughout the team to make even the most passionate Football Manager player jealous. So why are we in the relegation zone having only taken three points from a kind set of opening fixtures?

The long and short of it is something just isn’t clicking. We can have all these players but if the team as a whole isn’t creating any chances, then we’re going to struggle in a league as competitive as the Premier League. We’ve always struggled to break down the more defensive teams but to have only four shots on target against a team that is widely tipped to go down…isn’t ideal. Until the last 15 minutes, you could probably count on one hand the number of times we got the ball into Bournemouth’s box and, against a team which conceded nine last time out, this is simply not good enough.

Chief amongst the culprits last night were Jimenez (more on him later) and Jonny; but in truth I could easily have listed any one of our starting eleven. To put it simply, when a squad of this quality is struggling to beat (or even score against) the likes of Bournemouth, Fulham and Preston then eyes have to turn towards the person in the dugout.

We need to talk about Bruno

Bruno Lage has now been in charge of Wolves for 48 matches in all competitions. The last time Wolves scored more than once in the Premier League was Match #38 against Chelsea. The last time Wolves scored more than once in the Premier League and won was Match #31 against Aston Villa (so there’s a silver lining). There have been problems outside the manager’s control of course; Neto’s return from injury springs to mind as does last season’s mess of a transfer window. But questions have to now be at the very least entertained about how Bruno has this team set up and, more importantly, his mid-match tactics.

Let’s be fair: last season is not this season and, in truth, the formation itself isn’t really the problem. Wolves were on their way to three points last week until Hwang hee-Chan decided out of the kindness of his heart to gift Newcastle a draw. Individual errors have played their part this season. Wolves have continued to look mostly solid at the back but something isn’t quite clicking with the three up top. It’s no coincidence our best chances against Bournemouth came when Podence and Traore entered the field of play.

Whilst they were undoubtedly the right subs, introducing them with only 15 minutes left of the clock has to be queried; sticking with a clearly sub-par Jimenez for the entire match was also strange. Bruno isn’t a lost cause yet, but it’s not hard to see, especially with the upcoming run of games (Southampton, Liverpool, Man City), real questions being asked of his managerial ability in the coming weeks. The #BrunoOut group of Wolves fans will have plenty of ammunition from this game and with five points picked up from our last 36 available, it’ll be hard to argue against them.

Defensive Stability

I thought long and hard about a positive takeaway from yesterday’s game before finally settling on the performance of Kilman and Collins. Transitioning to four at the back was never going to be easy but – whisper it – it appears to be going off without a hitch. Collins looks to be an astute bit of business and Kilman doesn’t look too out of place in a back four.

It’s not perfect by any means; there were a couple of times against Bournemouth things looked a bit dicey. It’s obvious as mentioned last week that Kilman is going to have to get used to there being no Coady-like figure lurking just behind him, and the space between the centre backs and the midfield is something to keep a cautious eye on, but the early signs are this particular experiment hasn’t failed.

Trouble up top

It’s fair to say that Raul Jimenez’s injury threw our last season under Nuno into complete disarray. It forced Fabio Silva into a starring role far too early for anyone’s liking, caused an absolute madness of a January transfer window (Cutrone recalled! Gibbs-White recalled! Cutrone gone again! Willian Jose in!) and robbed Wolves of one of our best players. What’s more worrying is that it still seems to be affecting our season nearly two years on.

We can all agree that he hasn’t been the same player since his return from injury, and we should perhaps be thankful he’s even able to run around a pitch but he looks a player out of confidence and, crucially, out of position. The number of times the ball was fired into the penalty area only to find absolutely no-one was frankly a joke. Bournemouth were clearly playing for a point from the start and packing their box with players but too often there was either no one challenging or a winger who’d sprinted their way to the back post.

Raul’s strength used to be his link up play but we now have a spare midfielder who can do this job as a result of going to four at the back. Wolves’ exciting new signing Saša Kalajdžić will provide his first real competition since he joined the club (Sorry Patrick). It might just what he needs to get firing for Wolves again.

A successful transfer window?

This is the last match Wolves will play under the looming shadow of the summer transfer window. Results have obviously not been fantastic, and neither have performances, but many a Wolves fan (this one included) will be happy with the work done in the market over the last two months.

We all knew big signings were needed and for a long time it looked like this wouldn’t be the case. But something changed only a few weeks back, suddenly Wolves’ ‘we need to sell to buy’ was thrown out of the window and the club has splashed the cash on a new CB, CM, winger and forward. Nunes looks to be a fantastic piece of business and Collins too has proved £20m was a worthwhile fee to acquire his services. Guedes looks bright (albeit a little dimmer against Bournemouth) and Kalajdžić looks set to terrorise defenders with his frankly absurd height and equally absurd ability holding up the ball in the box.

We’ve sold well too; forcing Nottingham Forest to pay over £40m for Gibbs White is fantastic bargaining at a time when our other outgoings may have been questioned. Loaning out Coady to a divisional rival seems a little too friendly for my liking and tonight showed we left it a little too late to boost our forward options. Overall though, we’ve strengthened where we needed to strengthen, just perhaps a little too late…

Still, at least we still have Hwang.

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The Opposition Preview: Southampton

by with No Comment NewsOpposition Preview

Wolves are back in action again this weekend – with Southampton coming to town. We spoke to Southampton writer Dan Hargraves to get his lowdown on all things Saints.

How has the start of the season gone for you?

I don’t think any Saints fans can complain about our start really. Seven points from five games with three of last season’s top six in there as well as a Leicester side full to top players and a Leeds team who have started well. Our new players have all gelled instantly and we look like a solid team who will be hard to beat this year.

 

Are you happy with the transfer business that’s been conducted by your club?

I’m happy, but a statement signing would make me delighted. It’s been the first summer under our new ownership Sport Republic and although we haven’t got crazy money available to spend, we’ve purchased players who fit our ethos whilst next to no players have left (yet). The only criticism I’d have is that we’re yet to break our transfer record which, in modern terms, is pretty low at £20m, with us in desperate need of a top striker, although that could change in the final days of the window.

 

What is your opinion on your manager?

I’ve always liked Ralph Hasenhuttl as a person but there were plenty of doubts at the end of last season that he was the man to take us to the next step. Instead, the club opted to change the backroom team and it’s looking to pay off. I will always want Ralph to succeed at Saints but he has been known to struggle to break bad habits whether that be team selection, formation change or in-game management. It’s been a good start but let’s see if he’s finally learned his lessons in a couple of weeks.

 

What is your team’s typical formation and style of play?

Generally, a 4-2-2-2 has been trademark with Hasenhuttl but we’re currently playing with a 4-3-3 that can be moulded into a 4-2-2-2 or a bit of a 4-2-3-1 mid-game. He experimented with a back-five throughout pre-season and in the first two games of the season but it clearly didn’t work and the new set-up has earned us our seven points.

 

Which player do you tip to have a big season for your team?

There are a couple of our new signings who have looked excellent but I’m going to back new defender Armel Bella-Kotchap. At just 20 years of age, the German has been an absolute monster at the back alongside Mohamed Salisu and has seriously impressed early on in the season. Leaking goals has been a major issue for Southampton for a number of seasons now and it’s a habit they’ll need to break to progress. Let’s see if he’s the long-awaited solution.

How do you think you will do this season?

Despite a good start and an impressive transfer window, I still think the league is ridiculously competitive and a top-half finish will be a real achievement if we were to reach it. It’s not impossible, but I don’t think we’re there just yet. As long as we steer clear of relegation danger throughout the campaign I’ll be content. Let’s say we’ll finish 12th.

 

What are your thoughts on Wolves?

I have to be honest, I still worry about where the goals are going to come from for Wolves. I was also shocked to see Connor Coady depart on loan but Nathan Collins has looked excellent from what I saw of Burnley last year and Wolves this. The winless run since April is also a concern for me. I think it’s a typical situation where once they’ve got that first victory they’ll kick on and start ticking and become the competitive outfit we know they’re capable of being. Hopefully, that doesn’t come on Saturday!

Who from Wolves are you worried about playing against?

Despite the lack of goals for his standards last season, Raul Jimenez is always a worry given his good record versus Saints. The same applies for Pedro Neto. Nathan Collins also scored against us last season! It’s also going to be about how we break down what is a solid defence because I don’t see this game having many goals in it.

Score prediction for our game?

When you’ve just beaten Chelsea at home for the first time in nearly ten years, you’re bound to be confident for a game against a side that could well end up close to us in the table throughout the season. We’re yet to win at Molineux in the league since Wolves came back up but something’s got to give eventually right? I’m expecting a tight game but think that Saints will edge it 1-0.

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Wolves Transfer Targets: Saša Kalajdžić

by with No Comment NewsTransfer TargetsWolves Rumours

When the summer transfer window opened it was clear that Wolves needed a new striker to compete with Raúl Jiménez and Fábio Silva, both of whom struggled in the 2021/22 season. When Silva was subsequently loaned out to Anderlecht, the need became even more urgent. So, when it was reported with just days left of the window, that Wolves had agreed a fee of around €18 million (£15.4m) with VfB Stuttgart for the signing of Saša Kalajdžić, there was a collective sigh of relief throughout Wolverhampton. But who is the Austrian forward, and can he bring some much-needed goals to the Molineux?

Who is Saša Kalajdžić?

Saša Kalajdžić is a 25-year-old Austrian international who began his career with Austrian clubs SR Donaufeld Wien and Admira Wacker Mödling, before joining Stuttgart in 2019. He is of Bosnian Serb descent, having been born in Austria to parents who were refugees of the Bosnian War. Having played a notable role in keeping Die Schwaben in the Bundesliga last season, he has previously been linked with moves to the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United earlier in the summer. His 6 ft 7 in height and slender build has drawn comparisons to former England striker Peter Crouch. He is much more than simply a target in the box however, as Stuttgart journalist Simeon Kramer told TW’s Dave Azzopardi: “In Austria he used to play in attacking midfield… he has a good first touch, and he knows how to play with the players around him”.

What is Saša Kalajdžić’s style of play?

The Austrian brings with him strong goalscoring pedigree, boasting an impressive record of 22 goals in 51 Bundesliga appearances. His height and physicality in the box make him a good fit alongside wingers like Pedro Neto and Adama Traore, who regularly look to drive to the by-line and cross the ball into dangerous areas. Naturally, Kalajdžić’s stature will also provide a major boost to Wolves’ threat from set pieces. Last season the team recorded the second least shots from set pieces in the league according to The Analyst, indicating a lack of a consistent option from corners and free kicks. As the tallest outfield player in the Premier League, the Austria international will immediately provide a significant upgrade in this capacity – whether by winning headers himself, or by occupying defenders and allowing other players like Max Kilman and Nathan Collins to get open opportunities. According to FBref, Kalajdžić last season won 6 aerial duels a game with a success rate of 59% a game – both among the most impressive marks in the Bundesliga.

However, the Austrian’s skillset is far from limited to winning headers. Over the last two seasons he has proven to be one of Europe’s most adept strikers at holding up the ball and creating chances for his teammates His frame not only makes him a danger in the box, but also allows him to shield the ball effectively from defenders. As Simeon Kramer put it: “It’s very difficult for a defender to get the ball from him… He’s nearly unstoppable”.

How will he fit with the team?

Goal-scoring wingers like Neto and Gonçalo Guedes could thrive with Kalajdžić acting as a focal point and bringing them into play. In 21/22 he recorded an expected assists stat of 0.26 per game, along with 1.47 key passes – once again among the highest marks for Bundesliga strikers. His abilities in hold-up play make him similar in this aspect to Jiménez, meaning Kalajdžić should fit comfortably in with a team which knows how to work around a player with his playstyle. He is more than willing to get involved in build-up play, as Simeon Kramer explained: “He will come back to midfield often to get the ball and launch an attack himself”.

The one notable concern to mention when it comes to the Austrian is fitness. The forward played just 15 times in the Bundesliga last season, although he impressed whenever he was on the pitch. However, the season prior he featured in 33 out of a possible 34 league outings, so Wolves fans have reason to hope that with a full pre-season of recovery, Kalajdžić is back to full fitness and ready to put last season’s struggles behind him.

 

You can keep up to date with all the Wolves rumours as they happen over on the Talking Wolves Twitter.

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The Opposition Preview: AFC Bournemouth

by with No Comment NewsOpposition Preview

Wolves face Bournemouth on Wednesday as Wolves still chase their first league win of the season. We spoke to Craig from Up The Cherries In All Departments who gave us the low down on Bournemouth.

 

How has the start of the season gone for you?

I didn’t expect us to beat Villa on the opening day because of our defence but we played really well. However, the wheels fell off against Arsenal. We were poor defensively and didn’t control the midfield which has been the problem for us. I have tried to phase the Liverpool game out of my memory.

 

Are you happy with the transfer business that’s been conducted by your club?

Two of our new signings are currently injured which doesn’t help but Neto is a good signing from Barcelona. I expect him to come in over Travers. Tavernier played really well against Villa but has since not performed well.

 

What is your opinion on your manager?

Last week I would have said he’s done a decent job but since that Liverpool defeat, I think my opinion is changing. We are starting to see the cracks appear that we saw last season. My concern is that the decision he’s making, especially around substitutions doesn’t make any sense at all. I don’t think he has the knowledge or the willpower to turn it around.

 

What is your team’s typical formation and style of play?

We’ve switched between playing a five at the back to also playing a 4-4-2. Last season we played with the back five but the wingbacks would actually get forward – however this year they aren’t. Our strength is in midfield but most things going through Lewis Cook. I think for our game, we will revert to the five at the back.

 

Which player do you tip to have a big season for your team?

Lewis Cook. He is an outstanding player but he’s also very injury prone. He’s the heartbeat of our team and I just pray he has an injury-free season.

 

How do you think you will do this season?

My heart says I think we could stay up and could probably finish 16th or 17th. My head says we will finish 19th. Everton will finish rock bottom below us.

 

What are your thoughts on Wolves?

We’ve played them a few times already in the Premier League and I think the side under Nuno was a better team but Wolves still have a lot of quality. I’d say that Wolves have a better team than Bournemouth on paper. I think you’ve been playing well but there are still frailties there but you can see the qualities, too.

 

Who from Wolves are you worried about playing against?

Ruben Neves. He would walk into most Premier League sides and I hope you keep hold of him.

 

Score prediction for our game?

I’d take a point but based on what I saw at Anfield on Saturday, I think it will be a Wolves victory.

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Five Things We Learnt From Wolves 1-1 Newcastle

by with No Comment Five Things We LearntNews

After yet another 1-1 draw with Newcastle, Wolves sit in the relegation zone and will be looking to escape from it as soon as possible. A fairly even game saw a Rúben Neves rocket answered by an even more spectacular effort from Allan Saint-Maximin on the volley. Newcastle then hit the bar and Wolves had a Raúl Jiménez goal disallowed by VAR in what was a back and forth game, in which a draw was probably a fair result if slightly generous towards the hosts.

Here are five things we learnt:

Wolves have a first choice right back

Having had to win over supporters after an inflated fee and flaky opening to his Molineux career, Nelson Semedo was brilliant yesterday.

Marking up against maybe the most dangerous dribbler in England not named Adama Traoré, the Portugal international clamped Allan Saint-Maximin for large periods of Sunday’s game. The Newcastle winger had shredded defending champions Manchester City last week but Semedo nullified his threat with discipline and tenacity.

He made some key defensive interventions, including a great covering challenge to stop Miguel Almirón scoring for the visitors, and is a great outlet as a ball carrier up the right flank. With Jonny Otto now fully back and fit, Semedo has fought off the competition for his jersey with significant defensive improvement and continued attacking promise (although the coaching staff will want better end product).

The jersey is now his – Jonny and an out of form Rayan Aït-Nouri are now competing for a starting spot on the left hand side.

 

Rúben Neves is really good

Neves lived up to his stereotype with a trademark long-range effort beyond the reach of Nick Pope in the first half, but the new Wolves captain had a magnificent all-around game too.

His statistical performance makes for enjoyable reading as he got forward with 10/13 long passes completed, and 11 passes into the final third. He dug in defensively too, winning important challenges on the edge of the box and recovering the ball 10 times [Statman Dave].

He has the aura of a leader, and having two quality midfielders alongside him allowed him to cover plenty of ground and be an influence at both ends of the pitch. This was one of a number of Neves masterclasses and will leave fans desperate for a rumoured long-term contract to come to fruition, or at the very least to keep him beyond the end of the transfer window.

 

Guedes is an attacking upgrade

Gonçalo Guedes has been rumoured to be a Wolves player for a couple of transfer windows and has settled in comfortably. He looked excellent last week against Spurs and continued to be a threat at Molineux, particularly early on.

He provided the pass for Neves’ long distance goal during the second phase after a corner and showed a significant desire to get forwards. He adds ball carrying skills to a good goal record, and the hope will be that he can demonstrate the latter in old gold as soon as possible. He’s looked the brightest of Wolves attackers since coming into the side and has an assertiveness that Wolves lacked for lots of last season.

With rumours of a striker coming in there could be a lot of change in Wolves’ frontline, but Guedes’ start to his Wolves career suggests that he might get the opportunity to star as the team desperately look for new sources of goals.

 

New balance

Wolves showed that they will be much more open this season than last. This might seem obvious with the change of personnel to remove a defender from the squad, but it is apparent that Max Kilman and Nathan Collins will not be given extra protection and will be relied upon the break the press and begin attacks from centre back.

This comes with an added risk while the two are on the ball, and Collins was left vulnerable a couple of times while playing out from the back yesterday. It also means that there is plenty of space in between midfield, and Newcastle were able to loft balls into that area a couple of times. The emphasis will be on Kilman and Collins to excel individually in match ups and use their athleticism and technical ability to keep José Sá’s goal safe.

At the other end Wolves will get more men forward, even if that has currently produced the joint second lowest goal return in the league. Matheus Nunes in particular found himself on the end of half chances by making late breaks into the Newcastle box and the challenge for Bruno Lage is making this most of this new, less rigid structure.

 

Bruno Lage needs results

While 19th isn’t necessarily a fair reflection on Wolves’ first four games, they (and particularly the manager) need to start accruing points and quickly. A win today would have possibly papered over some cracks against a team missing Bruno Guimarães and Callum Wilson, and doubts about Lage are slowly solidifying with each week that goes by.

Only 4 points won from the last 33 is an indictment of the problems he has had, and while he deserves time to bed new signings in, he now has a squad that quality-wise is amongst the top seven or eight clubs in the country. If he doesn’t start making good on an unexpected level of support then Fosun may be left with a headache about the head coach.

We said last week that Wolves needed to win games and fast – this was a missed opportunity, and failure to win either of the next two games against Bournemouth (A) and Southampton (H) will see negativity that Lage has largely been able to avoid so far, and he may struggle to survive it.

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Wolves 1-1 Newcastle Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

It was another frustrating afternoon for Wolves fans as a spectacular late volley from Allan Saint-Maximin ensured a share of the spoils at Molineux.

Wolves had led since the 38th minute through a powerful long range effort from Ruben Neves. Raul Jimenez had the ball in the net in the second half, only for VAR to chalk it off due to a foul by Pedro Neto in the build up.

Bruno Lage’s men remain without a win in their last eleven league matches. The player ratings are below:

 

Jose Sa

There was absolutely nothing the Portuguese shot-stopper could have done to stop the equaliser. During the first half especially, Sa commanded his area brilliantly, claiming several dangerous crosses and free kicks. A smart low reflex save late-on was also much needed to deny Newcastle a winner in stoppage time. The only criticism of his display would be a couple of sloppy throws out that cost Wolves possession. 7.5

Nelson Semedo

Semedo put in an impressive all-round performance on his first league start since returning from injury, in which he continued where he left off. Semedo thwarted several counter attacks and generally handled the dangerous Saint-Maximin with relative comfort. 8 

Nathan Collins

It was a commanding display from the new signing for the most part, winning several crucial headers during the second half. His distribution will no doubt improve in this system, but a couple of loose touches could have been punished. Overall however, he can be fairly pleased with how Collins has started his Wolves career. 8

Max Kilman

It was a regular day at the office for Kilman, who continues to shine. As ever he made things look easy, dealing with any threats with his accustomed calmness and quality. He certainly did not deserve to lose a clean sheet at the death. 8

Jonny

This was undoubtedly the best performance of the season to date for Jonny, who rarely put a foot wrong. Like Semedo, he defended astutely and was never caught out of position. One would assume that these two fullbacks will keep their spots in the team for the foreseeable future. 7

Ruben Neves

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the result is that it overshadows what should have been the main headline: just how special the captain’s performance was. From very early on Neves was Wolves’ main creative outlet, and he was consistently flying into challenges and mopping up second balls when Wolves did not have possession. He also added to his long catalogue of wonder goals. It is no exaggeration to say that he was the best player on the pitch by some distance. 9

Joao Moutinho

It was a standard display from Moutinho, who recycled possession well and he made several inviting balls into the box throughout the first half. However, his influence waned as the game went on. Several players in Wolves’ relatively disjointed attack could learn a lot from his quick decision making and his ability to release the ball quickly. 6.5

Matheus Nunes

The club’s record signing certainly showed promise, illustrating the energy, strength and speed that Wolves have been lacking at times in recent seasons. However, a few poor through balls in the second half may been indicative of a tiredness that led to his authority in midfield diminishing in the final half hour. 6

Pedro Neto

It was not the easiest afternoon for the 22 year old, whose touch was missing at times and he did not take on players with his normal levels of confidence. Perhaps more than anyone else he needs a goal to really get going this season. 5

Goncalo Guedes

Guedes can be happy with his performance against Newcastle, in which is work rate and tracking back was admirable. He was involved in most of Wolves’ attacks and he claimed his first assist in old gold. Better understanding between him and his teammates will surely come with more hours on the training pitch. 7

Raul Jimenez

The Wolves number nine was a far cry from his best, and seemed ponderous at times, albeit through no lack of effort. He was unlucky to have a goal ruled out through no fault of his own, however. 5

 

Subs:

Hwang Hee Chan

Some of the criticism of Hwang has been over the top, but the Korean’s miscued clearance did directly set up the volley for the equaliser whichever way you look at it. However unlucky this was, it was not the impact Bruno Lage would have hoped Hwang would have after opting to bring him on instead of Adama Traore. 3

Daniel Podence

Podence came on in the 83rd minute and did not get a chance to make an impact, with Wolves out of possession for most of this period. 5

Leander Dendoncker

The Belgian replaced Moutinho in the dying seconds to help defend a set piece. N/A

 

st james park

The Opposition Preview: Newcastle United

by with No Comment NewsOpposition Preview

Wolves face Newcastle United on Sunday as the home team still chase their first league win of the season. We spoke with Olly Hawkins from NUFC Blog who gave us the low down on The Magpies.

 

How has the start of the season gone for you?

All in all, it’s been a really promising start. We outplayed Nottingham Forest from first minute to last on the opening weekend, paying some lovely stuff and pressing well throughout. In truth, 2-0 flattered them! Brighton away was a tough watch. We were lucky to come away with a point in the end, having Nick Pope to thank, but were sensational in last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Man City. It’s a shame we let the 3-1 lead slip, however it was a performance to be proud of and refreshing to see such a bold and fearless approach against top opposition.

 

Are you happy with the transfer business that’s been conducted by your club?

Prior to this week, we’d only made defensive additions in the form of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett, which was a surprise to many when we’d been crying out for goal-scoring winger and quality competition for the injury prone Callum Wilson all summer. Botman looks a classy operator, Pope has already shown his worth and Targett is a 7/10 most weeks, but it looks like Alexander Isak is set to become our new club record signing from Real Sociedad ahead of Sunday’s trip to Molineux. He’ll be on the bench at best, but it’s a serious statement of intent and the attacking breakthrough we’ve been waiting for all summer.

 

What is your opinion on your manager?

Eddie Howe has been a revelation since he took the job. Yes, he’s been backed in the transfer market, but he’s a workaholic and forward-thinking manager who seems meticulous in everything he does. We’ve come on so much in so many areas since he replaced Steve Bruce, massively improving fitness levels, enhancing our previously non existent style of play, becoming much better defensively and tactically astute. He’s also developed individuals who were previously struggling under the former coach, with Joelinton’s rise from £40m flop to midfielder powerhouse one of his many success stories.

 

What is your team’s typical formation and style of play?

We’ve opted for a 4-3-3 formation for the majority of 2022, which features one number six – who operates just ahead of the back four – and two high-pressing number eights who hunt in packs and attempt to support our front three. Our ability to play out from the back is still a work in progress, but ever-improving fitness levels have helped us press high and force errors at the back. It’s a risk reward strategy, but our dynamic midfield, mixed with Kieran Trippier’s creativity, Almiron’s endless running and Saint-Maximin’s quick feet make us a tough side to contain when we’re at it.

 

Which player do you tip to have a big season for your team?

Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian has got it all. I often sit and wonder how we managed to pull this one off when I watch him play! He has that Samba flair mixed in with an incredible engine, real tenacity in the tackle, creative spark and an eye for goal, too. It will be fascinating to see how he gets on against the likes of Nunes, Neves and Moutinho, which promises to be some battle on Sunday!

 

How do you think you will do this season?

Based on the money spent, the recent progression and momentum behind us, I feel like we could be in the mix for a top eight finish. Top 10 felt realistic and sensible a few weeks ago, but if we can end the window with a few big signings, I see no reason why we can’t compete with West Ham and end up in 8th. Our home form could be key, with Liverpool being the only side to beat us at St James’ Park this calendar year.

What are your thoughts on Wolves?

 

I saw your 1-0 defeat at Spurs last weekend and thought you were by far the better side in that first 45 minutes, yet you went from total control to letting the game slip and barely laying a glove on them in the second half. You look a quality goal-scorer away from being a very handy side, as the likes of Neto, Guedes and Podence seem eye-catching players who would benefit from a focal point up front. I got the feeling things had gone stale at Wolves prior to Matheus Nunes’ arrival, but he could be one of the signings of the summer and Max Kilman often impresses me at the back.

 

Who from Wolves are you worried about playing against?

Pedro Neto is a real livewire and someone I felt was destined for a huge move prior to his injury, but Matheus Nunes looks a top player and superb coup for the cub. His big frame and ability to glide with the ball reminds me of former Spurs midfielder Moussa Dembele, so it’ll be fascinating to see how Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton handle him.

 

Score prediction for our game?

I must say, I’d fancy us to sneak a win had Callum Wilson been fit. I know Chris Wood loves a goal against Wolves, but he just isn’t the same threat. So, I’ll go for a 1-1 draw where winning the midfield battle and Allan Saint-Maximin – who is unplayable on his day – will hold the key.

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Wolves Rumours 24th August

by with No Comment NewsWolves Rumours

Wolves closing in on new striker

Wolves are said to be getting closer to securing the signing of striker Sasa Kalajdzic according to Sky Germany.

Stuggart value the gigantic striker at €25 million but it’s understood that a bid of €20 million could be enough to bring in Kalajdzic.

The 25-year-old is out of contract in the summer but has attracted interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich this window.

It’s felt that a deal will be thrashed out, with personal terms ‘not being any issue’ as the player is extremely keen to join.

The 6-foot-7 Austrian certainly fits the profile for the type of striker Bruno Lage wants.

 

Wolves interested in Ajax midfielder

Wolves are reportedly set to open talks with the representatives of Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus to sign the Ghana international on a season long loan according to Football Ghana.

The tenacious midfielder is also said to be attracting interest from Everton.

The 22-year-old’s Ajax career has been plagued by injuries but the Ghanaian is said to be highly thought of in Amsterdam.

 

No bids for Neto from Arsenal thus far

Wolves have absolutely no intention of selling Pedro Neto this summer according to O Jogo.

The ‘door is closed’ for his departure and he’s expected to be available to Bruno Lage for all of the coming season.

News broke from David Ornstein on Monday that Arsenal had identified Neto as their top target and Jorge Mendes had offered the winger to Arsenal.

However, it’s understood Wolves’ value of at least £50 million on some way short of the Gunners valuation.

Wolves are in a strong position to maximise the size of a sale should it come to light with Neto recently signing a new deal until 2027.

As things stand, there has been no contact between Wolves and Arsenal.

 

Hwang’s former boss eyeing summer swoop

Leeds United will reportedly target Wolves forward Hwang Hee-Chan if Dan James leaves Elland Road to join Tottenham this summer according to Alan Nixon.

However, other clubs are also aware of Hwang’s possible availability.

It’s thought that Wolves are open to letting Hwang leave this summer with his minutes looking limited for the season ahead.

It’s not yet known whether Wolves would replace Hwang if he was to leave.

You can keep up to date with all the Wolves rumours as they happen over on the Talking Wolves Twitter.

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Five things we learnt from Wolves’ defeat to Spurs

by with No Comment Five Things We Learnt

Wolves are still searching for their first win of the 22/23 season after being edged out by Spurs in North London.

The team played their best football of the season in the first half against a good Tottenham side, but a close-range header from Harry Kane was enough to see off Wolves.

Whilst there were positives and moments of quality, Wolves still struggled to create any real opening, especially in the second half, and never looked as if they were going to get back into the game.

One point and one goal from three is far from ideal, and Wolves will need to start putting the ball in the net sooner rather than later if they are to have a successful season.

Here are five things we learnt following Saturday’s defeat.

Wolves NEED a striker and they need it now

From the first three games of the season, we have seen that Wolves can get into promising positions, but what they can’t seem to do is turn those positions into goals, and it’s going to keep costing them.

Whilst Harry Kane’s goal can be classified as a simple tap-in, his movement to get in behind Collins and anticipate the flick-on is what all good strikers have, and is what helps them score the number of goals they do.

Wolves didn’t have anyone on the pitch yesterday with that natural striker’s instinct, and they can’t rely on Podence, Neto and Guedes to fill this void.

Whilst the signing of Nunes showed great ambition by the club in a position that was desperately needed, a striker being brought in is now just as vital in the coming weeks, and could be the difference between Wolves being a good side or a great side.

It’s probably best to part ways with Adama Traore

On his day he is one of the most frightening footballers on the planet, the big issue is the day doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon, and it certainly wasn’t on Saturday.

For the most part, he looked uninterested, didn’t want to run and didn’t have any real impact, his head just doesn’t seem to be in it since the loan to Barcelona. With one year left on his contract and him not looking likely to sign an extension, along with the arrival of Guedes, it seems the best time to cash in on Adama and use the money to help fund a new striker.

It’s a shame because there truly is no one in world football like him, especially as someone to come off the bench he is perfect, but if he doesn’t want to be here there is no point letting him run down his contract whilst at the same time seeing no value on the pitch.

Guedes looked a real threat

Our most likely route to a goal yesterday was through the Portuguese winger (no not that one…or that one) who looked sharp on the ball and made a brilliant couple of runs in behind the Tottenham defence, one in particular where Sanchez had to make a brilliant last stitch tackle to deny the 27 million pound man.

Very direct when on the ball and was causing issues for the Spurs back line in the first half. You can see he is going to cause defenders a lot of problems this season, and he is only going to get better as he continues to settle and adapt to the Premier League.

We can’t be going into another game with Podence as a striker

Podence is a wonderful footballer and one of the best creators at the club, but what he most definitely isn’t is a striker. This one feels a bit harsh because it’s not his fault and again refers back to the lack of striker depth in the squad (it was good to see Jimenez back though, in what could be the quickest recovery from injury ever!)

For a team that currently has the second most crosses in the league, having 5 foot 4 inch Daniel Podence as the target man didn’t seem like it was ever going to be an effective tactic – and to absolutely no one’s surprise it wasn’t.

Whilst his role seemed to be more as a false nine rather than a traditional striker it’s clear to see that it is not going to be a successful long-term strategy. Wolves need to get Podence playing off a striker and creating chances, which is what he’s good at, rather than competing for headers with Eric Dier, Christian Romero and Davidson Sanchez.

The next three games are massive

Whilst there are reasonable concerns with the lack of goals and points Wolves currently have, Wolves starting 11 on the weekend was up there as one of the best in the Premier League era. The squad is very close to being complete and with the final piece (a striker) of the puzzle, Wolves would have one hell of a team.

Having said that, Wolves are winless since last season’s home win against Aston Villa, and in the current footballing climate patience is hard to come by and points will be needed against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Southampton, or Bruno Lage could find himself without a job if Wolves were to lose all three.

There is still no reason to panic and the future looks bright for Wolves, but they will want to be getting away from the relegation zone as soon as possible.