Wolves v Brighton Preview [LIVE]

DJ, I never mentioned passing and as usual you make a mountain out of a mole hill. Stats mean nothing at all and as the dribbling was reference to Traore, I need say no more.

Southampton U23's got a 1-1 draw at WBA which leaves 3 teams on the same points with one to go. We win that last one and we not only stay top, but get promoted.

I was always told passing stats mean nothing so presumably dribbling stats mean far less.

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted about an hour ago
One of the cliches that gets spouted when things aren’t going well is that the team doesn’t have a plan b. For that reason I wouldn’t advocate getting rid of all three of Traoré, Costa and Cavaleiro cause they do give us an option to change from the usual formation. And as we only have a small squad now then reducing that number would mean us needing to add quite a few in the summer to get to a more sensible squad size of at least 20

As for wolfies naive point I don’t think any team would score many goals if they didn’t see the benefit of passing, possession, dribbling etc to get into positions to score. Or is he advocating hoof Ball?
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We need a big upgrade in that area to progress and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see us add two players to that area this summer which will leave two of ours basically without a job.

Costa has to go for sure and I don't see Cavaleiro getting games next season assuming we upgrade. No problem giving Traore another season though I don't see it ever working for him here.

comment by Cinciwolf--He's only going for another pr... (U11551)
posted 44 minutes ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted about an hour ago
One of the cliches that gets spouted when things aren’t going well is that the team doesn’t have a plan b. For that reason I wouldn’t advocate getting rid of all three of Traoré, Costa and Cavaleiro cause they do give us an option to change from the usual formation. And as we only have a small squad now then reducing that number would mean us needing to add quite a few in the summer to get to a more sensible squad size of at least 20

As for wolfies naive point I don’t think any team would score many goals if they didn’t see the benefit of passing, possession, dribbling etc to get into positions to score. Or is he advocating hoof Ball?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We need a big upgrade in that area to progress and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see us add two players to that area this summer which will leave two of ours basically without a job.

Costa has to go for sure and I don't see Cavaleiro getting games next season assuming we upgrade. No problem giving Traore another season though I don't see it ever working for him here.
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The problem with Traore is that Nuno either plays him centrally which doesn't suit him at all or as a wing back to replace Doherty. For all his speed and trickery, he is nowhere near as effective as Doc and as a defender he is quite frankly rubbish.
Traore is a winger, full stop. On the one occasion I remember him playing wide with Doc still on the field (can't remember the actual game) Doc kept overlapping with him and taking up Adama's dribbling space so they just get in each other's way.
I agree that he is an option to change things - plan B if you like - but to accommodate him we have to revert back to 3 at the front and probably also go with a flat back 4.
Maybe something like this could work?

Patricio
Bennett Coady Saiss Boly
Moutinho Dendoncker Neves
Traore Jimenez Jota

We started the season with a 3-4-3 set up, but it didn't work out that way. Traore was perfect in that formation, but in a 3-5-2 he is more useful as a sub and 18m is a lot for someone warming the bench. He has a lot to learn as a defending wing back and quite frankly, if we stick to 3-5-2 then I see no place for him.

I agree with the general point gem that it’s difficult to fit Traoré, Costa or Cavaleiro in the 352 formation so yes it means going back to a 343 to give any of them a game. But as we saw early in the season it doesn't best suit Jota playing in a 3, much better playing off Jiminez. But a squad should never be about replacing a player with someone that does exactly the same. And Traoré for sure gives us something different. And if we bring in another striker in the summer we don’t want a Jiminez or Jota clone, we want someone that adds their own game to the options

When you look at City’s attackers Aguerro, Jesus, Sterling, Mahrez, Silva, all very different players and Pep can pretty well choose any 3 from 5 and still score for fun

Cav has got some important goals for us this season, it may well be time for him to move on if he wants regular football though. Traore was excellent against Cardiff and looks on the cusp of being a good player but needs to consistently produce the goods. His pace gets him in to brilliant positions on the field but he invariably frustrates from those positions.

Costa just looks devoid of confidence, I really thought the goal against Spurs would set him back on track but he ooks a shadow of the player he was. Sadly I think he's the one of the three that needs to move on.

Karl Henry back at Wolves. Good appointment, (even though I don’t see eye to eye with him on Twitter over Brexit). 🕷🕸🦟

With you on that one Bute. Karl wants the UK out of the eu so we can be self governing. Are we supposed to draw from that he thinks our parliament actually warrants more power?

Tomorrow’s match programme will be a special edition to commemorate the last time Wolves were champions, 60 years ago. That team managed by Stan Cullis won the league the previous season as well and were runners up the year after.

Still some work to do Nuno before you match that and get a stand in your name