elland road

Leeds United 1-1 Wolves – Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves continued their impressive unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw against a struggling Leeds United side at Elland Road. Wolves left frustrated having conceded a 93rd minute penalty, just three minutes before full time. However, a poor second half display where Wolve struggled to assert any control and gain any momentum means Leeds’ equaliser was more than deserved. Bruno Lage’s men, therefore, missed out on the chance to move into the top four but are sat comfortably in mid table ahead of returning to Molineux against Everton on Monday.

 

Jose Sa

Yet another superb display from the new Wolves shot stopper who has settled into life in the Premier League with ease. Sa made some good saves in the second half to keep the home side at bay, including an excellent stop from a Gelhardt effort just ten minutes from time. His distribution was once again impressive as he looked to get Wolves up the pitch in the second half to combat the sustained Leeds pressure. 8/10

 

Max Kilman

Kilman put in another assured display away from home and is quickly becoming Wolves’ most consistent and reliable defender. He dealt with almost everything that came his way, particularly in the second half as Leeds asserted their dominance. 7/10

 

Conor Coady

Coady has quickly put his early season slump behind him and is now getting back to his best. He was assured defensively, and he tried to involve the wing backs with his distribution whenever possible. He was comfortable on the ball too, impressive considering the high and intense press that Bielsa’s Leeds side are known for. 7/10

 

Romain Saiss

Did relatively well for most of the game but will be disappointed with his involvement in the penalty that ultimately gave Leeds the equaliser. While he was by no means the only player at fault here, he must improve when players are running at him, especially in the penalty area. 6/10

 

Nelson Semedo

Like Saiss, Semedo played well until his challenge on Gelhadt gave Rodrigo the chance from the spot. He was excellent down the right-hand side in the first half and played a crucial part in Wolves’ goal, crossing for Jimenez whose deflected shot fell to the feet of Hwang. Semedo had little choice but to do something with Gelhardt running through on goal, but the defending was clumsy to say the least. 6/10

 

Joao Moutinho

Did the basics well as we have now come to expect but didn’t have any meaningful impact on the game. Was beaten far too easily in the midfield, a recurring problem. 6/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

A surprise inclusion with the omission of Ruben Neves, and like Moutinho had no real impact on the game in what was a weak Wolves midfield. He misplaced too many of his passes and didn’t break up the swarm of Leeds attacks in the second half. 5/10

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

A refreshing performance at left wing-back from Ait-Nouri who many fans had called for in recent weeks. He looked to get forward with the ball and linked well with the front line. He was solid defensively and withdrawn late for Ki-Jana Hoever. 7/10

 

Adama Traore

Cut a frustrated figure at times with Leeds clearly working on marking him out of the game. Wolves didn’t have the ball for sustained periods which meant Traore didn’t have many opportunities to run into space on either flank. He linked well with Jimenez when he did have the ball. 6/10

 

Raul Jimenez

A strong performance from Wolves’ number nine despite not getting on the scoresheet. He played a pivotal role in instigating the press from the front which during long spells of Leeds possession, helped prevent the number of clear-cut chances the home side had. 7/10

 

Hwang Hee-Chan

Hwang, like Jimenez, contributed an awful lot defensively with his non-stop running and energy. He also gave Wolves the lead poking home from eight yards after a fortunate deflection in his path. 7/10

 

Subs:

Daniel Podence

Came on with 15 minutes to go and brough some much needed energy and fresh legs. His dazzling runs produced two chances for Wolves late on, one of which he will no doubt feel he should have done better with. 6/10

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

Came on at right wing-back for the final ten minutes and looked comfortable, dealing with anything that came his way. 6/10

 

Ruben Neves

Played the final few minutes but should have done better in the build-up to the Leeds penalty, failing to put pressure on Gelhardt before he got into the penalty area. He was passed far too easily as were Moutinho and Dendoncker throughout the game, which must be addressed in the January window. N/A

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

villa park

Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves – Player Ratings

by with No Comment Player Ratings

Wolves made it nine points out of nine after a stunning and unexpected comeback at Villa Park on Saturday. After a poor first half where neither side really had the upper hand, Villa took control and found themselves 2 goals ahead thanks to Danny Ings and John McGinn. Wolves had produced next to no goal threat in the second half but gave themselves a chance following an excellent move finished off by Romain Saiss. A cleared corner then led to a goalmouth scramble which saw the ball deflect off Captain Conor Coady and into the net after Max Kilman had hit the crossbar. And Wolves produced then produced the most unlikely of wins after a deflected Ruben Neves strike found the bottom corner to send players, fans, and staff crazy. There were great scenes at the final whistle in what feels like a big moment in Wolves’ season ahead of a trip to Leeds next week.

Jose Sa

Produced an excellent save to deny Danny Ings in the chance of the first half but otherwise had little to do. Sa had no chance with either Villa goal. His distribution was good and his celebrations for both the second and third goals means that September’s player of the month is slowly becoming a cult hero. 7/10

Max Kilman

Once again produced a solid defensive display on the right-hand side of defence. Despite the return of Willy Boly from injury, Kilman has done nothing to suggest he should be replaced in the starting Xi having been one of Wolves’ most consistent players so far this season. 7/10

Conor Coady

What a moment for the Wolves captain! Just his fourth Wolves goal and in truth he didn’t know an awful lot about it. That didn’t stop the sheer emotion of the moment spilling over. The joy and passion on Coady’s face at the end was infectious after coming under pressure due to his poor early season form. 7/10

Romain Saiss

Struggled at times to deal with the Villa front line and was far too easily outdone by McGinn for the opening goal of the game. He did however contribute to the Wolves comeback, getting the goal that started the final ten minutes of madness. He was an effective aerial presence in the box at set pieces causing problems as Villa became nervy late on. 6/10

Nelson Semedo

Did relatively well in the first half getting Wolves up the pitch in rare moments of possession. He did seem to struggle more in the second half defensively and failed to link play with Hwang and Traore to produce any meaningful attacks down the right flank. 6/10

Joao Moutinho

Moutinho produced his usual calm and measured display on the ball without having any great impact on the game. He does seem to become less effective in a three-man midfield with Leander Dendoncker and Ruben Neves seeing more of the ball in what was a crowded central area. 6/10

Leander Dendoncker

Introduced into the XI to match up the three-man Villa midfield and did his job effectively. He broke up play on several occasions and looked to give Ruben Neves the chance to play forward whenever possible. 6/10

Ruben Neves

After being relatively quiet for most of the game Ruben Neves came alive in the final ten minutes to spearhead the Wolves comeback. His pass to Daniel Podence for the first goal was sublime and perfectly timed. Neves increased the intensity of the entire team in search of the equaliser and winner and will of course claim the winning goal despite the initial effort being tame. 8/10

Fernando Marcal

Yet another below-par performance from Marcal leaving many supporters wondering just what Rayan Ait-Nouri must do to earn a chance in the side. Marcal struggled defensively at times in the second half and contributed very little going forward, often slowing down the pace of any attack Wolves had. 5/10

Adama Traore

Played more centrally in the absence of Raul Jimenez and produced the best Wolves chance of the first half beating several Villa defenders but his shot was straight at Emi Martinez. After being marked out of the game for most of the second half Traore produced another moment of magic as a bursting run through the midfield won Wolves the free kick which ultimately won the game. 7/10

Hwang Hee-Chan

After the heights of his brace against Newcastle summer signing Hwang Hee-Chan was less than impressive at Villa Park. He failed to link attacks with Traore which will of course improve over time. He also gave the ball away for the second Villa goal despite being under very little pressure as the ball came towards him. 5/10

Subs:

Daniel Podence

Podence came off the bench and alongside Neves really did change the game for Wolves. His energy certainly rubbed off on the rest of the team and Villa really struggled to deal with his pace and technicality. He also produced the assist for the first Wolves goal squaring Neves’ excellent pass for Saiss to tap home.8/10

Fabio Silva

Came on alongside Podence and added energy to the Wolves front line without having any real impact on the ball. Although his playing time is limited Silva will have to do more when he is given an opportunity if he is to stake a claim for a place in the starting XI. 6/10

Raul Jimenez

Much to the surprise of everyone watching on Jimenez was not introduced until the final few minutes of the game. Lage said that he was left out of the side having played three games in a week for Mexico, only returning to Compton after traveling back from South America on Friday morning. You would expect to see Jimenez back in the side for the trip to Elland Road on Saturday. N/A

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

Wolves stadium

Southampton 0-1 Wolves – Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves picked up just their second victory of the season winning 1-0 at Southampton on Sunday afternoon. Raul Jimenez got his first Premier League goal in an incredibly emotional moment in front of the travelling Wolves fans, with an assist from goalkeeper Jose Sa. Sa made some important saves in the second half in what was a poor game, but Wolves came out victorious and head back to Molineux next week to face Newcastle United.

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Jose Sa

Quite easily the new Wolves shot stopper’s best game in which he commanded his area well, made some vital saves including a double save mid-way through the second half, and played Raul Jimenez in for the winning goal. His distribution is certainly helping Wolves’ more attacking style of play as he begins to look like a real bargain. 8/10

 

Max Kilman

An assured performance from Kilman on the right-hand side of defence as he dealt with anything that came his way. He did not impose himself on the game in possession as he has done in previous games, but his defensive display was faultless. 7/10

 

Conor Coady

Came in for heavy criticism after his performances against Brentford and Tottenham but the Wolves captain looked back to his best on the south coast on Sunday. He was confident defensively, organising the back three throughout the game. He was also good on the ball, looking to link play with the wing backs at every opportunity. Hopefully his early season slump is now behind him. 8/10

 

Romain Saiss

Saiss, like Kilman did what was required of him defensively, which was a big improvement on his recent performances. Many had expected Wily Boly to return in place of Saiss but the Moroccan captain will have given Bruno Lage a selection headache going forwards after a confident display. 7/10

 

Nelson Semedo

Could and perhaps should have put Wolves ahead in the first minute but his shot was straight at the Southampton goalkeeper. Otherwise, it was an impressive display from Semedo who looked lively down the right hand side. Had a couple of concerning moments with the tricky Djenepo but in general dealt with him well. 7/10

 

Joao Moutinho

A quiet afternoon for the Portuguese international as he looked to keep possession with many passes going astray from those around him, particularly in the first half. A solid if not unspectacular afternoon. 6/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

A surprise inclusion in place of Ruben Neves but perhaps deserved a Premier League start after impressing and getting on the scoresheet in midweek. Dendoncker provided Wolves with something they have been missing this season, the ability to break up play in midfield and prevent teams dominating the ball in the middle of the park. 7/10

 

Fernando Marcal

A below-par performance from Marcal who had started the season well. Marcal struggled defensively with Coady and Saiss covering for him on more than one occasion. His passing was out of tune with those around him leading to possession being lost on more than one occasion. 5/10

 

Daniel Podence

A deserved start for Podence after impressing in both games he played in the Carabao Cup. He did not live up to those heights here, with many of his passes going astray. He was however direct and looking to link with Jimenez and Hwang wherever possible. 6/10

 

Raul Jimenez

What a moment for Wolves’ number nine as he finally gets on the scoresheet in the Premier League. It was an extremely good finish which sent the Wolves away end barmy. Jimenez had a lot to do once he received the ball from Sa, but he left two Southampton defenders on the floor as he slotted past McCarthy. 8/10

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Hwang Hee-Chan

Given his first Premier League start in a Wolves shirt and provided great energy in his pressing and will win the ball back. He forced Southampton to give up possession in good areas but failed to have any impact on the game with the ball. 6/10

 

Subs:

Adama Traore

A surprise omission but he did come on for the closing stages of the game. Didn’t have too many opportunities with the ball at his feet but did help Wolves get the ball up the pitch as the aimed to see the game out. He was in a great position for a late counter attack, but Jimenez failed to get the ball across to him, opting to go for goal instead. 6/10

 

Ruben Neves

Played the final ten minutes and kept the ball well as Wolves controlled the game to get the three points. N/A

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

Came on alongside Neves and looked calm on the ball with little to do defensively. N/A

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

Billy Wright Stand Molineux

Wolves 2-2 Tottenham (2-3 on penalties) – Player Ratings

by with No Comment OpinionPlayer Ratings

Wolves were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening after fighting back from two goals down against Nuno Espiritio Santo’s Tottenham, only to lose on penalties at Molineux. It was a poor start to the game with Wolves two goals down in the first half an hour as a frustrated Molineux watched on, but Leander Dendoncker’s header five minutes before half time changed the game. Daniel Podence restored parity in front of the Southbank but Wolves failed to capitalise on the momentum, and had John Ruddy to thank for keeping the scores level. Having converted their first two penalties, Wolves went on to miss their next three and Spurs went through as deserved winners.

 

John Ruddy

Couldn’t really have done any more as he make two excellent saves in the second half to ensure the tie went to penalties. He almost let one slip through his gloves too but his misjudgement only resulted in a corner. In the shootout Ruddy saved from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to keep the home side in it, but Wolves could not convert their own penalties. 8/10
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Yerson Mosquera

A frustrating start to his Wolves career continued as he lasted just nine minutes before having to leave the field through injury. N/A

 

Willy Boly

It was great to see Boly back in the starting XI and he reminded Wolves fans what they had been missing in defence. He will have been disappointed with the first Spurs goal but otherwise put in an assured display. Without Boly the game almost certainly would have been over before penalties. 7/10

 

Max Kilman

Struggled with the defensive shape at times which was not helped by changing personal both before and during the game. He didn’t look his usual self on the ball, particularly in the first half as Wolves were uncomfortable and the crowd became frustrated. Much better in the second half and is likely to keep his place in the side on Sunday. 6/10

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

There is a lot to like about the youngster now in his second season at the club. Hoever uses the ball well and looks to link play down the flank or come inside to get up the field at every opportunity. There is still work to do defensively, and he could certainly do with improving his strength, but that will no doubt improve as he gains experience. 7/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

Just a second start of the season for Leander Dendoncker who, like many, struggled as Spurs dominated the early stages of the game. He covered a lot of ground as we have come to expect but he lacked conviction with his passing. His performance improved in the second period, and he began to get a foothold in the midfield, looking to set Hwang and Traore down the fright hand side. 6/10

 

Ruben Neves

A disappointing night for Ruben Neves who started the night as captain as Conor Coady dropped to the bench. Neves’ passing was nowhere near the standards which he sets and he, along with Dendoncker, failed to assert any control in the midfield in the first half. He went close on two occasions in the second with a long range deflected effort as well as a free kick. His penalty in the shootout was blazed over and rather summed up his evening. 5/10

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

A promising performance from Ait-Nouri who was good on the ball and looked on take players on at every opportunity. His crossing was excellent, including a superb corner which was converted by Dendoncker in the first half. He left the field with concussion with just ten minutes remaining, but will certainly have given Bruno Lage food for thought ahead of Sunday. 7/10

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Daniel Podence

Another player who will also have given the Head Coach food for thought is Podence. Took his goal extremely well but also looked like Wolves’ most threatening outlet, particularly in the second half. He looks fit and ready following his injury set back over the summer, and it won’t be long before he finds himself in the starting XI for a league game. 7/10

 

Fabio Silva

A frustrating night for Fabio Silva, who although it was not entirely his fault, just could not get going. He cut an isolated figure at times with Wolves on the back foot for most of the first half. His first touch was poor, but he was not helped by those around him who didn’t exactly give him the service which he thrives upon. He was withdrawn at half time as Bruno Lage looked for a way back into the game in Adama Traore. 5/10

 

Hee Chan Hwang

There was a lot of excitement for Hwang’s full debut, but he failed to live up to the heights of his performances against Watford and Brentford. His first touch was poor, and his movement was not quite on the same wavelength as those around him. This will certainly improve over time as he spends more time on the training pitch with his new teammates 6/10

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Subs:

Conor Coady

Came on much earlier than anticipated due to the injury to Mosquera. Had an extremely poor first half, putting Boly in a very difficult position for the first goal when in truth it was an entirely avoidable situation. Looked uncomfortable on the right-hand side of defence but improved as he moved back into the more familiar centre. He, like many, didn’t have his best night in a Wolves shirt. 5/10

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Adama Traore

Came on at half time and injected some much-needed pace and energy into the attack. He got Wolves up the pitch, but his end product was once again lacking despite getting into some good areas down the right-hand side. He was less effective in the middle of the park where Spurs crowded him out too easily as Traore didn’t get the help he needed from those around him. 7/10

 

Nelson Semedo (Concussion Substitution)

Played on the left-hand side for the final ten minutes and looked to get involved in attacks as Wolves searched for a winner. Was comfortable defensively without too much to do. 6/10

 

Joao Moutinho

Came on in the closing stages and added greater assurance to the midfield. He dispatched his penalty superbly which cannot be said for the others. Perhaps most importantly, Moutinho had a well-earned rest ahead of Southampton on Sunday. 6/10

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

King Power Stadium

Leicester 1-0 Wolves – Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Bruno Lage suffered defeat in his first game in charge of Wolves after a first half Jamie Vardy goal gave Leicester all three points at the King Power Stadium. It was an impressive performance from Wolves and the noisy travelling support showed their appreciation at full time ahead of a full return to Molineux next week. With five senior players unavailable, and new signings expected in the coming weeks, Wolves’ opening day performance was certainly something to build on as the new era gets underway.

 

Jose Sa

A Premier League debut for the new Wolves number one who put in a confident display. He dealt with everything that came his way with good shot stopping and aerial ability but could do little with Jamie Vardy’s clever flick which led to the winning goal. Wolves’ fans saw glimpses of what he can do with his feet too, with the Portuguese looking like a solid replacement for Rui Patricio. 7/10

 

Max Kilman

A very impressive defensive display from Max Kilman who limited Leicester’s threat down the left flank. Kilman was impressive on the ball and looked to link play with the midfield which meant he found himself in advanced positions frequently in the second half. He had one shot blocked at close range and has done himself no harm at all in staking a claim to be a first team regular under Bruno Lage. 8/10

 

Conor Coady

A poor display from the Wolves captain following his return from the England Euro 2020 camp. He was partly at fault for the goal, failing to move towards the cross and clear despite having an obvious special advantage on Jamie Vardy. Vardy caused problems all afternoon with Coady’s lack of pace a concern. He did redeem himself on more than one occasion with a last-ditch tackle, but his performance will have to improve if Wolves are to persist with a higher defensive line. 5/10

 

Romain Saiss

Like Coady, Saiss struggled with the pace of the Leicester forward line and was often found slacking in the higher defensive line which Lage wants to implement. He was strong in the air when defending set pieces, but his struggles have highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. 6/10

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

Given his chance from the off with Nelson Semedo having missed a week’s training due to COVID-19 isolation and Hoever certainly did not do himself any harm with an impressive performance. Hoever was strong in the challenge and defended well in partnership with Kilman. He looked far more comfortable on the ball in comparison to last season and looked to link with Trincao down the right-hand side. If he improves his final ball Hoever could become an excellent option at right wing back this season. 7/10

 

Joao Moutinho

Was widely tipped to leave Molineux this summer but Moutinho looks set to stay for a fourth season in the West Midlands. He produced a solid display on the ball with an obvious increased intensity in comparison to last season. His pass through for Traore to create the chance of the first half was sublime, but his set pieces were poor and led to him giving up duties to Trincao in the second half. 6/10

 

Ruben Neves

Like Moutinho, Ruben Neves was solid in the midfield and didn’t really put a foot wrong. He will have wanted to have a greater impact on the game in the final third as he plays in a slightly more advanced role under new Head Coach Bruno Lage. 6/10

 

Marcal

The forgotten man from last season had an excellent pre-season and continued this form into the league. He looked comfortable at left wing-back and looked to contribute to attacks where possible. He will perhaps be disappointed to have let Ricardo put the cross in for the goal but otherwise had an impressive afternoon and could be a very useful option if he can remain fit this season. 7/10

 

Francisco Trincao

Wolves’ second Premier League debutant showed glimpses of quality and technical ability without having a real impact on the game. He had one good chance cutting in on his left foot in the penalty area, but his shot was blocked. He also showed to be a competent set piece taker which will be a welcome sight to many fans after causing much frustration last season. 6/10

 

Raul Jimenez

A very welcome sight to see Wolves’ number nine back out in competitive action again in front his adoring fans. Jimenez did not get into the game as he would have wished, but still showed glimpses of his old self in his hold up play and aerial presence in the penalty area. Hand any of Traore’s glaring chances fell to the Mexican Wolves would almost certainly have walked away from the King Power with something to show for it. 6/10

 

Adama Traore

The main talking point of the afternoon was most definitely Adama Traore. Used his pace to great effect all afternoon and terrorised the Leicester defence who quite simply could not cope with him. Quite how he didn’t score one of his three glorious chances only he could answer, and he will no doubt feel responsible for Wolves not taking at least a share of the spoils. There is no hiding it, Traore should be scoring the chances that he created. 5/10

 

Subs:

Leander Dendoncker

Came on to add more physicality to the midfield as Wolves pushed more men forward in the second half. Did his job well without having any real impact on Wolves going forward in their search for an equaliser. 6/10

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

His fresh legs injected great energy into Wolves just as they started to tire, and he was at the heart of the late spell of pressure from the away side. Unfortunately, none of the half chances that he created resulted in the equaliser Wolves so desperately wanted. 6/10

 

Fabio Silva

Played the final five minutes meaning he had little chance to get into the game. Would have perhaps been better to bring him on earlier and try to stretch the Leicester back line more. N/A

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

molineuxstadiumturnstile

Wolves 1-2 Man Utd Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves’ season came to an end with a disappointing defeat against Manchester United at Molineux. Goals from Anthony Elanga and a controversial penalty dispatched by Juan Mata either side of Nelson Semedo’s first Wolves goal was enough to give United all three points. Wolves were dull and uninspiring to say the least, but the match was of little importance as 4,500 fans enjoyed being back inside Molineux for the first time in 14 months and bid farewell to the greatest manager in the club’s modern history. It was an emotional afternoon for those inside and outside the stadium, but attention turns quickly to Nuno’s successor and the summer transfer window.  

 

Rui Patricio

 Could do little about the two United goals and pulled off an excellent save when Brandon Williams was through on goal mid-way through the first half. Was largely untroubled in the second period. Speculation continues to mount over the Portuguese number one’s future, and if he is to go, he has been an excellent servant during his three-year spell in the Black Country. 7/10

 

Willy Boly

 It was great to see Boly back on the pitch and looking more like his old self for various reasons after suffering long term effects of COVID-19. He put in a solid performance, intercepting United’s persistent through balls and dominant in the air. 7/10

 

Conor Coady

Visibly upset at the final whistle as the man who changed his career departs the club. As for the game, Coady was his usual self, attempting to spread the ball and utilise the wing back whenever possible. A couple of momentary lapses in concentration led to United half chances. The new man in charge will have a massive decision to make on Conor’s future in the Wolves side. 6/10

 

Romain Saiss

 A substandard performance from Saiss who looked a yard behind the pace of the game. He clumsily went in late on Van De Beek which led to United’s penalty. The decision was harsh considering the United midfielder took another two steps before going down, but there was absolutely no need for Saiss to go to ground. 5/10

 

Nelson Semedo

One of his better Wolves performances at it led to his first Wolves goal in front of the Southbank. He was a constant threat down the right-hand side and would have created many more chances if some of the other attacking players on the field were on the same wavelength. He linked well with Fabio Silva on a number of occasions, ending a poor season for Wolves’ record signing on a promising note. 8/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

Played in his more familiar central midfield and put in a solid display. He set Fabio Silva away with a positive stride forwards which ultimately led to the goal. He was a physical presence in the middle of the park, but it remains to be seen if he will still be a Wolves player next season. 6/10

 

Joao Moutinho

Followed on from his recent poor performances and was largely ineffective at both ends of the pitch. He like so many others, seems to be a player who could have played his final game at Molineux. How fitting it will be if that is the case that fans were there to show their appreciation for the midfield maestro who for two seasons was superb and a joy to watch. 5/10

 

Ruben Neves

Was more conservative in his play as has been the case for most of the season. Neves seems more reluctant to play through balls and break lines of defence, but that may well be down to a lack of movement and physical presence ahead of him. He won the ball back in transition in important moments in the game. 6/10

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Couldn’t live up to the heights that he produced since being re-instated into the squad in April. Elanga had the better of him to head home the opener, and Ait-Nouri’s attacking output was poor, creating no clear-cut chances. There is certainly a player in there, but it remains to be seen as to whether Wolves will take up the option to sign him on a permanent basis. 5/10

 

Adama Traore

Only played 27 minutes before being withdrawn through injury. He was a threat early on and Wolves clearly missed him as they created little in the second half. He has been selected for Spain’s Euro2020 squad, meaning Wolves have more players in the Spain squad than Real Madrid! 6/10

 

Fabio Silva

Lively and enthusiastic as has been the case all season with Silva. He finally got to play in front of Wolves fans, and he marked the occasions with an assist, playing a vital role in a great move. He couldn’t link with Willian Jose as he did with Traore and Semedo which meant his output reduced as the game went on. 7/10

 

Subs:

Willian Jose

Came on for Traore in the first half and had no impact on the game at all. Wolves’ early fluidity disappeared as they failed to fashion a clear-cut chance to equalise. It was his first appearance in front of fans at Molineux and it will almost certainly be his last. 4/10

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

Played the final half an hour and injected some energy into the midfield. He played further forward than Dendoncker but couldn’t link with the forwards as Wolves saw little of the ball in the final third. 6/10

 

Fernando Marcal 

Returned for a long-standing injury problem and played the final eight minutes. N/A

 

Matthew Cooper is a Talking Wolves founder and Digital Editor – you can follow him on Twitter here.

 

Goodison

Everton 1-0 Wolves Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

 

Wolves endured defeat in their penultimate game of the season as they lost 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. Richarlison’s header early in the second half earned three points for the hosts despite Wolves’ first-half dominance, and Nuno’s side now have to suffer just one more game of a miserable season against Manchester United on Sunday.

 

John Ruddy

 

Brought in for seemingly his last or penultimate Wolves game, with his contract expiring next month. Had very little to do other than pick the ball out of the net, but did make a good save from Calvert-Lewin in the second half. An error-free evening to close out Ruddy’s Wolves career. 6/10. 

 

Willy Boly

 

Started his first game since the Burnley debacle following a spate of long COVID and coped well. Boly dealt well with the threat of Calvert-Lewin and his tackling and distribution was good on the whole. Was withdrawn for Dendoncker on 79 minutes, presumably due to fitness reasons. 6/10. 

 

Conor Coady

 

Had a much quieter evening than his 13-clearance game at Tottenham on Sunday. Recovered well from an early slip that nearly let the Toffees in, but was otherwise pretty much untroubled. Played a couple of trademark long diagonal balls that have been at a premium this campaign. 6/10. 

 

Max Kilman

 

Slotted back into the starting lineup after being an unused sub in North London on Sunday. Wasn’t particularly troubled like his defensive colleagues and popped up with a few touches in offensive situations as Wolves’ set-piece count rocketed up in the first half. 6/10. 

 

Nelson Semedo

 

Received plenty of the ball in the first half and linked up well with Traore down Everton’s right, which hasn’t always been the case this campaign. His attacking output lessened in the second half, just as Wolves’ did, but his defensive play was impressive. 6/10. 

 

Ruben Neves

 

Was reintroduced to the starting XI after being rotated against Spurs. Did a lot of the hard yards in mopping up after Moutinho’s struggles and kept the play ticking over well. Ultimately lacked the killer ball to create opportunities when Wolves needed it most. 6/10.

 

Joao Moutinho

 

It’s not been Moutinho’s finest season by any stretch, but this performance was probably his worst. The 34-year-old looked completely bereft of any composure in midfield, his passes were almost entirely underhit or overhit and his crossing was entirely unsuccessful. It would be quite the surprise if Moutinho starts in a gold shirt next season – his age is certainly showing. 2/10. 

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

 

Like most of his teammates, Ait-Nouri had a decent, if unspectacular, game. Was a constant presence on the wing, especially in the first half, like Semedo, but lacked a good enough final ball from open play or set pieces. Has certainly enhanced his chances of a permanent move to Molineux in recent weeks. 6/10. 

 

Adama Traore

 

As so often in recent weeks, Traore was Wolves’ best player. Had he not been on the pitch Wolves would have certainly had almost zero attacking threat, with Traore beating players for fun in the first half especially. Should have done better with a first-half effort as the ball fell to him from an Ait-Nouri corner, but his shot was tipped over by Pickford. 7/10. 

 

Fabio Silva

 

Was largely ineffective and anonymous, which may be more the fault of Wolves’ gameplan rather than Silva himself. Had one good opportunity in the first half, but his attempt on the turn was deflected over the bar by Mina. Should get one more start against Manchester United before Raul Jimenez hopefully retakes the starting berth in August, should he get the all-clear. Silva will probably be happy to revert to his bit-part role next season. 5/10. 

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

 

Was one of Wolves’ brightest players in the first 45 minutes, with most attacks going through either him or Traore. Saw a technically brilliant volley saved well by Pickford in the early stages. His impact on the game lessened as he moved from a central position to the left side in the second half but was still hugely unfortunate to be withdrawn for Jose just after the hour mark. 7/10.

 

Willian Jose

 

Replaced Gibbs-White on 68 minutes. As with most of his Wolves career, his movement and first touch were poor. Reports this week that Wanderers will not be signing him on a permanent deal will be welcomed by most of the Molineux faithful. 4/10. 

 

Leander Dendoncker

 

Did nothing of note. N/A.

 

Vitinha

 

As above. N/A.

 

James Wynn is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

1024px-View_of_North_Stand_in_Tottenham_Hotspur_Stadium

Spurs 2-0 Wolves Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves fell to a disappointing defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with goals either side of half time from Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg giving the home side all three points. Wolve defended resolutely in the first half, spearheaded by captain Conor Coady, but conceded two poor and avoidable goals which put the game beyond them. Adama Traore was threatening on the break but often cut an isolate figure as Wolves failed to assert a spell of sustained pressure on the Spurs goal. 

 

Rui Patricio

Following a week of speculation surrounding his future, Patricio turned in a performance of quality against Tottenham, keeping the score at a respectable two. He turned Harry Kane efforts onto the post on two occasions and commanded his area well as Wolves improved in their defending of set pieces. 7/10

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

Kept his place in the side following a solid display against Brighton last week. Hoever struggled up against Reguilon and Bale and lacks a general defensive presence when the ball is put into the box. He had little impact going forwards on the break on a disappointing afternoon but an important learning curve for the nineteen-year-old.  5/10

 

Conor Coady

A rare occasion where a defender on the losing side was given man of the match, which speaks volumes about the overall Wolves performance. Coady was excellent defensively, particularly in the first half where he cleared just about everything that came his way. He was also dominant in the air against Harry Kane from set pieces. He will however be disappointed to have let Kane through for the opening goal, but the poor defensive line which ultimately played him onside certainly didn’t help. 8/10

 

Romain Saiss

Reinstated back into the side and put in a solid if not spectacular display. He made few mistakes and was an aerial presence in the box. The Moroccon captain’s distribution left a lot to be desired at times, and he certainly looks more at home in a back three. 6/10

Nelson Semedo

Playing out of position on the left-hand side essentially nullified his main strength of bringing the ball forwards down the flank. He struggled defensively and was once again caught out of line playing Kane onside which led to the opening goal of the game. 5/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

Won the ball back in the centre of the park to break down Tottenham attacks but was relatively ineffective going forwards, with his passing failing to stick to the three playing ahead of him. 6/10

 

Joao Moutinho

Passive and ineffective as the Spurs midfield bypassed him on almost every occasion. He tried to get the ball to Traore whenever possible, but Wolves’ attack building was far too predictable, causing little problems. 5/10

 

Adama Traore

Wolves’ main attacking outlet, looking to get on the front foot at every opportunity and was at the heart of every half chance Nuno’s side had. He came closest to goal in the second half cutting inside on his left foot but firing just past the near post. He was often isolated with little support in the box and cut a frustrated figure at full time. 7/10

 

Vitinha

A disappointing game for Vitinha who failed to live up to the hype of his previous two performances. He was outmuscled on numerous occasions and had very little impact with the ball at his feet. 5/10

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White was not afraid to get involved and showed for the ball at every opportunity, but it was not midfielders’ day. He like Vitinha, struggled physically and had next to no impact in the penalty area. 6/10

 

Fabio Silva

Often isolated on his own up front seeing very little of the ball. He had a couple of half chances created by Traore on breakaways, one of which won a corner but in truth he never really threatened Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal. 6/10

 

Subs:

Willian Jose

Came on in the second half and brought his usual strength of hold up play which meant Wolves could keep the ball higher up the field. However, he posed no goal threat at all which added to the frustration as Traore got into a number of good crossing positions in the second period. 5/10

 

Ruben Neves

Added some much-needed energy into the midfield but it was too little too late for Wolves. It was a surprise to see Neves dropped from the starting eleven and the performances of Dendoncker and Moutinho certainly didn’t justify it. 6/10

 

Theo Corbeanu

Introduced for his long-awaited senior debut and played predominantly on the left-hand side. He provided a new-found energy but saw little of the ball in his ten minutes on the field. 6/10

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

Steve Bull Stand

Wolves 2-1 Brighton Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves earned their first win in three weeks as they came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at Molineux. After Lewis Dunk gave Brighton the lead from a corner after 13 minutes, the Seagulls’ captain then swung the game in Wolves’ favour when he was sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity early in the second half. Substitute Adama Traore drew Wolves level with a quarter of an hour left, before Morgan Gibbs-White’s first league goal for the club earned Nuno’s side three points in the last minute of normal time. 

 

Rui Patricio

Had very little to do besides picking the ball out of his net and didn’t face a single attempt of any kind in the second half. Could have relieved Wolves of some first half set-piece pressure by coming off his line, but that just isn’t his style. 6/10.

 

Ki-Jana Hoever

Not his finest performance in a Wolves shirt. Coped well enough defensively but his attacking output was almost always ineffective. His crosses from open play or the simply horrendous short corners always either flew into the empty stand or hit the first man. His time will come. 5/10. 

 

Conor Coady

Did well. Failed to keep out Dunk’s header in front of the far post but was otherwise pretty much unchallenged by Welbeck or Maupay, but did get a yellow card for clumsily taking down Zeqiri off the pitch. His distribution was solid. 6/10. 

 

Max Kilman

Enjoyed his first league start in three months and two days and did well. Wolves’ defence looked hugely improved when compared to their last outing at Molineux against Burnley, and Kilman was a big part of that. Was relatively untroubled except for set-pieces, which he and Wolves finally got a grip of after Dunk’s dismissal. 7/10. 

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

A second straight impressive performance for Ait-Nouri, who has done his chances of a permanent move to Molineux no harm. Was constantly up and down the left-hand side and had no problem with Jahanbakhsh and later Moder. 7/10. 

 

Ruben Neves

Not his best performance.  Wasn’t able to dictate play in the way he’d have liked following Dunk’s goal, with Wolves being hugely ineffective while the Seagulls were a goal up in the first half. Not a surprise to see him withdrawn as Nuno looked to attack following Dunk’s red card. 5/10. 

 

Joao Moutinho 

Clearly wasn’t at full fitness following his two-game absence. Was run ragged by Brighton prior to the dismissal, while his insistence to play the ball short to Hoever at corners was questionable to say the least. Nevertheless, Moutinho should have had an assist after his through ball was woefully mis-controlled by Jose at 0-1. 5/10. 

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

His best game in a Wolves shirt by far. Was given just his second league start since returning from Swansea in January and was clearly determined to make an impression. The 21-year-old was popping up here, there and everywhere trying to win the ball back and deservedly picked up his first league goal for Wolves at a crucial time. Thankfully, that meant we can gloss over his shocking open goal miss just five minutes earlier. 8/10. 

 

Vitinha

Wasn’t as influential as he was in the Black Country derby on Monday, but still offered Wolves a link from midfield to attack that they lacked so badly in February and March. Wolves’ gameplan seemed to go through Gibbs-White this time rather than Vitinha, as Nuno tries to see what all his young players can do ahead of a big summer. Was still surprising to see him withdrawn for Dendoncker after Traore’s equaliser. 6/10. 

 

Daniel Podence

Hasn’t had a good few weeks, and that continued against Brighton. Minus one good turn from a short corner early on Podence was completely ineffective again. He seemed more intent on trying to argue with Ben White than provide a goal or assist, which is becoming a running theme. Withdrawn for Willian Jose midway through the second half. 5/10

 

Fabio Silva

Had another good game. Looked threatening in the second half, broke free down Brighton’s left-hand side on a couple of occasions and provided a brilliant assist in a tight space for Traore’s equaliser. After some struggles in the winter months, Silva is beginning to show glimpses of why Wolves spent £35m on him. 7/10. 

 

Adama Traore

Played just 30 minutes, but was Wolves’ man of the match. Everything went through Traore and he was asked to almost single-handedly break down a stubborn Brighton side, which he did so with ease. His equaliser was built up, and taken, superbly, while he was a constant threat as Wolves pushed for a winner. With rumours of contract talks ongoing, Jeff Shi needs to present Traore with a blank piece of paper and let him write whatever numbers he wants on it. He is crucial to this team. 9/10. 

 

Willian Jose

Was fairly anonymous minus his poor touch when put through by Moutinho. Wolves would be mad to pay £20m for his services in the summer. 5/10.

 

Leander Dendoncker

Did nothing of note as Wolves pushed for a winner and then looked to hold onto their three points. N/A. 

 

James Wynn is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

Hawthorns shithole

West Brom 1-1 Wolves Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves avoided the embarrassment of defeat against West Brom at the Hawthorns but will have been disappointed not to come away with all three points. Fabio Silva’s fortuitous opener put Wolves ahead at the break after an impressive first half display, but poor defending led to Diagne equalising for the hosts mid-way through the second half. Both sides had chances to win it, but it was Wolves who ended the stronger side without threatening Sam Johnstone in the Albion goal. Despite their pending relegation, Albion will no doubt be delighted to have taken four points off Wolves this season.

 

Rui Patricio 

Kept Wolves in it with two superb saves after the break, both from close range. The Portuguese shot stopper had a relatively quiet first half but dealt well in tough conditions, looking confident coming for the ball in a crowded and physical penalty area. 8/10

 

Nelson Semedo

Contributed well going forwards looking to link and support both Otasowie and Vitinha on the right-hand side. However, as often happens when Semedo plays in a back four, he should have closed the cross down far quicker which ultimately led to the equaliser. 6/10

 

Conor Coady

Recovered well from last weekend’s humiliating performance against Burnley, certainly looking up for the Black Country derby. Coady organised the back four well and was not afraid to play balls in behind, hoping to take advantage of the poor conditions. 6/10

 

Romain Saiss 

Will be extremely disappointed to have lost Diagne for the Albion goal. Prior to the cross coming in Saiss seemed to have his man under control, but one lapse in concentration meant Wolves’ lead was wiped out. Besides the mistake he was relatively comfortable and proved an important aerial presence in the box. 5/10

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

An impressive all round performance form Ait-Nouri who is benefitting greatly from a consistent run in the side. He was assured defensively and contributed well going forwards, being more direct in his running and causing the Albion defence problems. 7/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

A difficult game for the midfield which in truth, neither side could dominate. Dendoncker certainly covered a lot of ground as we have come to expect and was not afraid to do the dirty work and break up play. He was unable to have any meaningful impact on the game going forward. 6/10

 

Ruben Neves

Like Dendoncker, Neves certainly relished the derby game and the poor conditions, launching himself into numerous tackles and winning the ball back on almost every occasion. He had several long-range shots on goal, all of which were frustratingly wasted. 6/10

 

Owen Otasowie

Justified his place in the side and was seen in yet another position as he played to the right of Vitinha in the three behind Silva. Was confident on the ball and wanted to get involved at every opportunity. He did waste possession on occasions but his willingness to get on the ball and play is something that should not be discouraged. 7/10

 

Vitinha

An excellent performance form Vitinha which has Wolves fans wondering why we have not seen more of the youngster. He was direct and wanted to create a chance at every opportunity, including a long-range effort which was well saved by Johnstone. His link up play with Silva was impressive and certainly something to build on, but the moment of the match was his neat flick into the path of Semedo which ultimately led to the goal. 8/10

 

Adama Traore

 A frustrating night for Traore who will have been disappointed not to have exerted a greater influence on the game. It certainly wasn’t for the want of trying, but the conditions were against him and Albion had clearly planned to crowd him out of the game at every opportunity. 6/10

 

Fabio Silva

A rare start for the Portuguese wonderkid and a second goal in a black country derby. There was a huge slice of goof fortune in the deflection back off Silva which ultimately led to the goal, but it was the bit of luck that both Wolves and Silva deserved. His link up play was impressive and he has surely done enough to warrant a start against Brighton on Sunday. 7/10

 

Subs: 

Daniel Podence

Came on for Otasowie mid-way through the second half and struggled to gain any kind of foothold in the game. His passing was poor, wasting good opportunities to counterattack. He was brushed off the ball on two occasions and hasn’t really seemed himself since his injury. 5/10

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

Followed on from his impressive cameo against Fulham to exert more enthusiasm into the game. The Stafford born midfielder will know exactly what the game means to the fans, and certainly didn’t disappoint in his short time on the pitch, flying into tackles and looking to get forward whenever possible. 6/10

 

Max Kilman

A short stint at left back from Kilman following Ait-Nouri’s injury. He had a faultless ten minutes, defending well and trying to keep the ball as Wolves looked to put pressure on Albion as the game drew to its conclusion. 6/10

 

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.