God Help This League When We Start Playing Well Again — Notes for Wolverhampton Wanderers Friday, 22nd Dec 2017 11:14 by HarryFromBath HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Molineux by delving into their forums. “The league table looks wonderful this morning”, “Something beautiful is happening, and to see it happen feels like a dream”, “I am so happy with the club at the moment. When we play badly we still win and this is the mark of champions. When we click back into gear, it will be fun to see.” “We are the real deal, I tell thee.” Wolves go into Saturday’s game four points clear of Cardiff at the top of the table and on an eight-game unbeaten run. Recent successes have been built on hard work and solid defending rather than the free-flowing football displayed in their earlier games. “We keep winning. We keep answering the questions”, “It wasn’t pretty at Hillsborough [a 1-0 win last Friday] but it doesn’t have to be. Everyone knows we have the quality to beat anyone but we also have the character to pick up a result against any kind of opposition and in any kind of game.” “I has been a while since we played really well”, “We have been off form in the last few games”, “After a very impressive November, this is the third consecutive game in which we have looked off form”, “I don’t understand the jitters. The method is good but we are lacking a final ball at times.” “What is unfolding here is the quality of our defensive capabilities. We haven’t bee a great attacking force in the last few games but we haven’t yielded much at the back. The boys in midfield and up front can’t produce magic on a consistent basis, but I’m certain that this will return in the future.” Nuno Espirito Santo“Nuno is the professor, cool, calm and methodological while Mick McCarthy is the straight-talking Yorkshireman. They used different methods to get their teams to pile on the points and to keep us believing”, “I haven’t seen a manager more single-minded than Nuno, he knows what he’s doing.” The 43-year-old took over at Molineux at the start of summer having managed FC Porto last season. Fans have highlighted his tactical shrewdness, calm methodological approach, motivational ability and intense focus on constantly improving the team as ha has got to grips with the Championship. “I was so pleased to see the perfectionist Nuno unhappy with our recent displays”, “I like how we all knew he was going to rip them to shreds after that Birmingham performance [a recent 1-0 win at St Andrew’s]. I was getting scared just watching him in the dugout”, “He will keep the team focused.” “I have faith that Nuno will figure out the puzzle of teams now being so scared of us that they will park the bus before the game has started. He will find ways around it”, He is trying to hammer out our deficiencies. He’s the most tactically astute manager I have seen in 40 years supporting Wolves.” Sharp Passing Football and Rock Solid at the Back“Technically this is the best Wolves side I have ever seen, crisp passing and movement along with hard work”, “Our players have so much ability in them to up their game if needed”, “Some of our passing and movement is sublime”, “We seem to have lost our zip up top in recent matches.” “This is a flat spot for us”, “We aren’t dynamite at the moment but look solid when defending”, “Our play is based on decision-making, picking the right pass to execute Nuno’s tactics. The wing-backs’ sharp interchange of passing with the central midfielders is essential to the system’s success”, “You can’t win them all 5-1”, “We have to remember that this is a very young team. It is still learning, especially in the forward areas. The really top sides just keep playing, knowing that the chance will come eventually. It all comes down to experience and our lads are still far from the finished article.” RuddyBennettCoadyBolyDohertyNevesSaissVinaigreCavaleiroJotaBonatini
The starting XI (above) for last Friday’s 1-0 win at Hillsborough was set out in the 3-4-3 formation to which fans have become accustomed. The side was largely full strength with the exception of Ruben Vinagre who replaced the injured Barry Douglas in the left wing-back role. “Defensively this is the best Wolves team I have ever seen. In this league titles are often won on a strong defence and you don’t get any stronger than this one”, “Never mind conceding just two goals in the last eight games, there have only been two shots on target against us in the last three games.” Fans have praised the side’s “outstanding and utterly convincing defending” with centre-halves Willy Bony and the improved Conor Coady standing out in the backline. “We are the only team to have stopped Manchester City scoring this season [in a Carabao Cup tie at the Etihad in October].” Wing-backs and are encouraged to add width to attacks and support the wingers and wide attackers in stretching defences. Barry Douglas is seen as a converted full-back and less of a threat on the left, but the more energetic Matt Doherty enjoys the opportunity to push forward on the right flank. The team’s fluidity and dynamism is built around the midfield pairing of Romain Saiss and Ruben Neves. Saiss has a more containing role, breaking up play and play the ball simply but Neves is widely praised for his technique and ability to set up moves by linking in particular with the wing-backs. This has faltered in recent games. “We struggle against teams which pack the midfield and squeeze us”, “The opportunities for Romain Saiss and Ruben Neves to get the ball to the wing-backs have been more limited now that other teams are wise to it, and we haven’t been really able to stop it.” Weariness Going Forward“We are giving the ball away far too easily at the moment. We weren’t doing that a few weeks ago”, “Our tempo is way too slow. What has happened to our intensity and desire?”, “Our sharpness in the passing and hunger to play the beautiful game was missing again at Hillsborough.” Wingers Ivan Cavaleiro and Diogo Jota have been erratic lately, while replacement Helder Costa is being used as a bench option as he builds fitness after an ankle injury. Their two goals scored in the last three games have come from good individual moments rather than clever or intricate team play. “Forwards are making poor decisions and there is a lack of movement at critical times”, “The front three look jaded physically and mentally, with poor decision-making all round”, “I just wish we didn’t play at such a pedestrian pace”, “The front three make wrong choices or execute them badly.” “We clearly need a striker to alternate with Leo Bonatini in January. This is absolutely imperative if we are to maintain our push for the automatic places.” There is wide agreement on the need to add an athletic striker to complement the technically adept Bonatini who plays in a withdrawn role. “We need some beef up front. There is often no option when our wingers beat their man out wide, it fizzles out”, “We need another striker, a bullish gritty opportunist goalscorer who can win things”, “We could do with a striker with a bit of pace, who could play off the shoulder and run in behind.” Sheffield Wednesday 0 — 1 Wolves“A dire game, but we won and that’s all that matters”, “A good three points but it won’t take up too much space on the end-of-season DVD”, “It didn’t look good but we defended well and took all three points. On to Ipswich”, “Sheffield Wednesday weren’t bad, but they suffered from a lack of ideas.” The visitors won the game courtesy of a low Neves strike from distance on 34 minutes after the Owls had cleared a Wolves corner. Wednesday’s Morgan Fox was dismissed on 85 for a second caution, this being the third game in a row in which Wolves have seen an opponent sent off this way. RuddyBatthCoadyBolyBennettNevesSaissDohertyCostaCavaleiroJota
“Nuno showed great management when the Owls brought on their giant [Atdhe Nuhiu]. Out went Vinagre and in came Danny Batth. Ryan Bennett, on a yellow card, moved to right wing-back with Doherty switching flanks. Batth came in at right centre-back to deal with the inevitable crosses.” “That was tough. Tough to watch, tough to stay warm and probably tough to play”, “Wednesday gave us little space, just as we gave them little space as well. In the end it was a bit congested”, “We worked so hard that nothing was ever going to get through our defence”, “Now for Mick.” Wolves 0 — 0 Sunderland“We are going to have days like these during the season”, “It was a numbing experience, both the temperature and the football”, “Sunderland did to us exactly what we did at Manchester City and got the same result”, “Ipswich will do exactly the same thing. Indeed, everyone will.” “These games happen.” Sunderland prevented the hosts from scoring despite being dominated both in terms of possession and shots. The Wearsiders were also reduced to 10 men on 62 minutes when Lee Cattermole was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards in just as many minutes. “That’s it. Chris Coleman instructed Sunderland to flood midfield with up to eight players at a time and boot us up in the air at every chance. That’s how to stop us”, “We were too tight in the middle of the pitch against a compact defence. We couldn’t get a cross in without hitting a first defender.” RuddyBennettCoadyBolyDohertyNevesSaissDouglasCavaleiroJotaBonatini
Despite fielding their strongest XI (above) the West Midlanders could not find a path through the Wearsiders’ defence. “Sunderland were very compact and had everyone back defending. We were passing it from side to side trying to find space. They were far from the walkover many predicted.” Birmingham 0 — 1 Wolves“A massive win, not very pretty at times”, “An absolutely awful performance. We had no composure or fluency”, “It was a terrible display. We couldn’t string five passes together and our control of the ball was terrible, but it doesn’t mean I’m not thrilled with the win or the battling side of our game.” “We were poor, Blues were poorer.” Wolves won this West Midlands derby after Bonatini’s eighth-minute shot was ruled to have crossed the line. Blues’ Harlee Dean was the opposition player in this instance to be dismissed for two yellow cards, receiving his marching orders in the 83rd minute. RuddyBennettCoadyBolyDohertySaissN'DiayeDouglasCavaleiroJotaBonatini
“Blues were there for the taking, they were torrid.” The starting line-up (above) saw Alfred N’Diaye replace the suspended Neves in midfield and many Wolves fans felt that Neves’s passing was greatly missed. “We lost control of midfield completely and wasted chances when we did create them.” Goalkeepers and Central Defenders“John Ruddy commands his area well. He hasn’t been tested too much shot-stopping-wise thanks to our secure defence.” The 31-year-old keeper arrived from the Canaries in July. “He has the occasional flap but has also made critical saves that have earned us points”, “He’s solid and reliable.”  John Ruddy v Leeds“Ruddy is comfortable with the ball at his feet which suits our play”, “He gets the team going with quick distribution, releasing it quickly to build attacking momentum”, “He has made big saves when needed”, “It’s a breath of fresh air to see him rolling or passing the ball out to one of our players.” “Danny Batth’s stature was more suited to dealing with the Owls’ big unit when he came on.” The 27-year-old youth product “has adapted well to the new playing style. I am glad to see that the hoofing has been coached out of him. The difference is that the midfield makes itself available for him now.”  Danny Batth“Roderick Miranda does very difficult things well and simple things badly.” The 26-year-old one-time Benfica man “offers more attacking creativity than Bennett on the right side of defence, but he has a tendency to switch off or get caught on the ball. This often means giving chances away on a plate.” “Ryan Bennett is solid if unspectacular.” The 27-year-old ex-Norwich man “is decent defensively but makes poor decisions going forward. He plays the safe defensive pass when his winger is available”, “He’s composed, good on the ball and makes telling interceptions, part of a very solid back line.” “Bennett played solidly against the Owls but showed some stupid petulant behaviour when fouling Jordan Rhodes and pushing him as he tried to get up before half-time”, “He played solidly but risked getting sent off. He was far better in the second half and remembered that he was a professional.” “Conor Coady has been outstanding defensively, and his leadership and range of passing have been hugely important. I didn’t anticipate just how well he would adapt to that central position.” The 24-year-old former Terrier “is showing desire, drive, leadership and ability, an amazing transformation.”  Joe Mason (R) celebrates with Conor Coady“Nuno said that Coady was his man for the middle of the back three within hours is watching him at training”, “He organises the back throughout the game”, “I would like him to take responsibility on the ball more often. At times he is reluctant to go past halfway with 30 yards free for him to attack.” Willy Boly“Boly is in ‘thou shalt not pass’ mode.” The 26-year-old Porto loan signing “is a solid tank at the back. He controlled Birmingham’s forwards without breaking sweat”, “He’s magnificent and rarely plays poor passes. He’s so massive that forwards simply cannot back into him. He just stands his ground.”  Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City) v Willy Boly“Willy is so calm and make it look easy and effortless”, “Any long balls and he just stands behind the forward and heads the ball clear, no arms over shoulders and no fuss. He’s a rock, and his footwork is incredibly neat for such a big man. He can hold a ball, spot a pass and he also tackles really well.” Wing Backs and Wide Defenders“Ruben Vinagre did well at Hillsborough.” The 18-year-old Monaco loan signing “is not as effective as Douglas but a decent replacement”, “He’s a good attacking wing-back who gives us better options trying to break forward or break weaker teams down”, “Play him against sides we aim to open up.” “Vinagre can be outstanding or poor, but he’s a very decent threat going forward”, “He loves getting forward but teams will target his lack of stature. As good as he his for his age, he lacks strength and gets undone defensively too easily”, “He has real ability and allows us play our fluid passing game.” “We certainly miss Barry Douglas’s set-pieces when he’s out.” The 28-year-old one-time Dundee United man “is a conventional left-back who is learning to be a wing-back. He slows us down particularly at home, as he rarely beats an opposition full-back on the outside or hits the byline to make a cross.” “Douglas doesn’t have the pace of Vinagre but is currently a better defender, although he struggles occasionally against quick wingers”, “He’s the safer player”, “Play him against the more agricultural sides and against the stronger sides in the division. He really is an asset with his classy left peg.” Matt Doherty“Nuno has brought the best out of Matt.” The 25-year-old one-time Bohemians youth player “always looks for the ball and always drives forward using his strength”, “He needs to take a bit of pace off his crosses. He consistently hit the ball too hard when crossing after making one of his lovely runs.”  Matt Doherty“Doherty galloped forward all game against Sunderland but failed to produce a single cross of note. As consistent as he has been, an improved final ball is needed to really push his game forward”, “He creates so much space for others even without the ball, but he still need to work on his final ball.” Central Midfielders“Jack Price is a Nuno style player, good at keeping possession but happy to move the ball quickly if possible.” The 24-year-old youth product “is working on bringing the ball down and playing it rather than heading it back to the opposition”, “He’s a very tidy player who can slot straight into the team.” “Alfred N’Diaye adds a useful physical presence in some games.” The 27-year-old loan signing from Villareal was on loan at Hull for the second half of last season and has appeared regularly from the bench in recent games. “He’s a good option for smashing open a defence with his pace and power.”  Alfred N'Diaye v Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City)“N’Diaye is no Neves but still has much to offer. His defensive work is decent but he lacks discipline in the role and is sloppy with his terrible passing”, “He gives us a bit of fight but doesn’t have the composure which Neves brings. He is unlikely to offer us that bit of magic in a congested midfield.” “Romain Saiss keeps us ticking over going forward.” The 27-year-old Morocco international and ex-Angers man “chips in with decent passes and helps us control possession and tempo”, “Playing with better players has improved him, but he’s not a great player. He really has a chronic lack of pace.” “Tick, tock, Saiss is steady but unspectacular”, “He has his role, a left-footed deep-lying playmaker on the right side of midfield as a foil to Neves”, “He gets caught in possession partly due to being so one-footed and he can be hesitant on the ball”, “He excels at passing to members of his own team.” Ruben Neves“Neves is a Champions League quality player in the Championship.” The 20-year-old £15.8m summer signing from Porto “is the difference in our team in every way”, “He’s magical, isn’t he? He barely wastes a ball, is always in control of his surroundings and he turns up just when you need him to.”  Ruben Neves“Neves has a profound effect on the way we play”, “He constantly tries to make things happen. He has astonishing touch and ball control”, “We lack fluency without him and lose the ball under little pressure”, “He passes out wide quickly and accurately, and can pull a piece of genius out of the hat.” Wingers and Wide Attackers“Helder Costa is a constant threat but he’s not quite back on top form.” The 23-year-old ex-Benfica man has been frequently used as a substitute in recent games. “He wasted a superb chance away to Birmingham trying to be cheeky in a one-on-one. Three times he tried to be clever and wasted it.”  Helder Costa“Costa looks sharp on his day and is capable of outrageous bits of skill to hold the ball up. He can run rings around players”, “His ankle wasn’t right against Sunderland. He moved gingerly for most of the match after pulling up on a run”, “He spends too much time on his backside looking for cheap fouls.” “Diogo Jota is our most explosive player this season. I hate watching less able players trying to take the legs from under him on every occasion.” The 21-year-old loan signing from Atletico Madrid “is a class above everyone even having a bad game. He has moments of skill when he just glides along.” “Jota’s our most potent attacking force. He’s very good at drawing fouls and gets up like a Duracell bunny but it must take its toll. He needs a rest”, “I hope he’s not struggling with being kicked about every game, He has been poor lately”, “He has flashes of majestic talent but is far from his best.” Ivan Cavaleiro“Cavaleiro frightens the life out of defenders.” The 24-year-old ex-Benfica and Monaco man “brings so much pace, skill and ability to drive the team forward and he rarely loses the ball”, “He had one of his poor games at Hillsborough, constantly being offside and causing many moves to break down.”  Ivan Cavaleiro“Cavaleiro has scored a couple this season cutting in and shooting from distance. Very nice but he unfortunately appears to believe he can do it every time. He has outrageous skill so we have to take the rough with the smooth”, “He has an annoying habit of overplaying it and could be more direct.” Strikers“Bright Enobakhare is a good option to bring on against tired legs.” The 19-year-old youth product has been used as a substitute lately. “His scoring record is patchy but he adds something different. His more maverick and unpredictable style gives opponents something different to deal with.” “If Bright’s football brain was as good as his feet he would be our best attacking player. He has all the ability in the world but really needs to sort out his decision making in the next 18 months”, “He was very disciplined against Birmingham, dropping deep, keeping the ball and playing it simply.” Leo Bonatini“We all know we need another striker to take the burden off Leo.” The 23-year-old Brazilian is on loan from Saudi club Al Hilal. “He has been fantastic and his hold up play has been excellent, but he is neither fast nor great in the air, so we concede that area even when defending from the front.”  Leo Bonatini celebrates scoring for Wolves“Leo plays a withdrawn role, but he was quieter than usual at Hillsborough and didn’t make enough runs. He didn’t even look likely to challenge for crosses”, “He plays too deep when we need a quick player up front to run in off a pass from the wide strikers, or one played centrally from midfield.” Wolves Fans’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Bring on the Tractor Boys and a warm welcome for Mick”, “This is going to be a toughie, make no mistake”, “It will either be 0-0 or 3-0, hopefully the latter”, “We have to get an early goal or we know how Ipswich will approach the game”, “Getting that early goal and scuttling the plan is key.” “We have never beaten Mick since we fired him.” With three-quarters of Wolves’ fans predicting a home win, the mood is confident but not excessively so. The most popular score prediction is a 2-0 home win. Their pre-match comments give some insight into their apprehension about the game. “This is a tough match. They have the ability to dig in and spoil, yet have undoubted Championship strikers who can score and cause problems up front. We really need to get out of those lower gears for this one and play to our potential to get the victory. Very excited yet nervous in equal measure.” “Mick will do his utmost to try and spoil our game and hit us on the counter attack”, “Ipswich are a bit of a bogey team. I also think that some of ours are fairly exhausted and not at their best”, “They will make it tough, so it will be interesting to see if we find the solution to breaking teams down.” “Ipswich are the joint-second highest scorers but have the eighth worst defence so it should mean we will get opportunities”, “Their Derby win shouldn't be taken at face value because they are a bit of a bogey side for the Rams and have won six and drawn three of their last nine visits to Pride Park.” Wolves Fans’ Views on Mick“Mick McMucker is up with his boys absolutely relishing the idea he can clog up our beautiful new machine that is working so wonderfully and bring it to a shuddering halt. Nothing would give him more pleasure than to take three points and leave us with that numpty feeling for old time’s sake.” “Hope we give him a good welcome. Personal judgement being put aside regarding his management abilities he is a very decent and honest person, a rare thing in football nowadays so it seems. Some time ago when asked to explain an Ipswich defeat he replied, "Simple; we were terrible (or similar).” “It’s all set up for a Mick smash and grab”, “I can see them nicking it if I’m being honest”, “Never dismiss a Mick McCarthy side in a game they go into as underdogs”, “We pulled off some great shocks under his helm. Like him or loathe him, he’s got Ipswich punching well above their means.” “Mick is unique, a one off! Ipswich are indeed fortunate to have him. He’s kept them in or around the play-offs almost every season while working on a shoe string budget”, “In his interview after Ipswich’s win against Reading he mentioned that he was ‘still getting stick’. Surely not? Ipswich are on the outskirts of the play-offs having spent next to nothing.” “Ipswich fans should be grateful for what they have got given the stringent budget he's had to work with. This is when Mick performs at his best, choosing the young and hungry along with loyal servants from past clubs and trustworthy journeymen.” “Mick has a curse over us. Fear the worst. He's never lost to us since leaving and he'll be damned if he starts now. No one should be surprised if he tries to spoil the game and leave with a point in a dull 0-0 draw”, “I can see him tripping us with a bit of dead-ball action after killing the game.” WebsitesThe busiest Wolves message board is the knowledgeable and well-informed Molineux Mix.
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