📅 Thursday 1st February
🕘 20:15 PM (wtf!)
🏟 Molineux
📺 TNT Sports 1
Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/460280
One match ban enabled
So that's the boggies sorted out, back to the little matter of the Premier League and a clash with Man United.
The first of a tougher run of fixtures against teams in and around us in the table. A Wolves win would take us above United who are 8th at the time of writing. Probably a good time to be playing them, United is a bit of a soap opera at the moment with the take over, average on the field performances and Rashford appearing to be out socialising whilst reporting in ill. Eric ten Hag's authoritarian regime does not seem to be going down well with United's squad, and a personal observation from seeing them play recently is that there appear to be fractions within the squad, older players regularly getting on younger players cases during games, Fernandes seems to boll*ck Garnacho for instance every time he has the audacity to take a shot rather than choosing tee up his captain for one.
Gary O'Neil will have a selection dilemma, with Joao Gomes available again after his suspension, Tommy Doyle has however been excellent in his absence and that of Mario Lemina prior, I suspect Gomes may start on the bench unless there are any lingering effects from the BCD when Doyle took a heavy knock on the knee. Matt Doherty seems to have the trust of the coach in the left WB position at the moment (maybe Paul Lambert was on to something after all) but RAN could be an option there given the pace of United's wide men. Remains to be seen whether Sarabia will be fit after missing the Albion victory, a calf problem preventing him training over the last week.
Really fancy us for this one, although United's players do have a knack of clicking in to gear in a semi-unified attempt to prove people wrong now and again. We certainly owe them one after the abysmal officiating in the reverse fixture back in August, could go any way but the most likely outcome, 1-1.
Wolves v Manchester United Match Thread
posted on 2/2/24
Always disappointing when we lose and although the last 20 mins plus stoppage time was exciting, I do feel that United deserved the 3 points. To be fair, they should've been 3 or 4 nil up before we got the "penalty". I'm not sure there was any contact, but when Sarabia scored it did seem to give the whole team a lift.
Probably one of the worst defensive performances of the season for most of the game and I agree with some who stated that United played some of their best.
I was surprised that Doherty started and can't understand why Bellegrande is starting up front. He seemed better suited as an attacking midfielder.
So, time to move on and hope we get something at Chelsea.
posted on 2/2/24
comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
Am I right in thinking that Lemina has changed the name on his shirt? It now reads "Mario Jnr", presumably as a tribute to his father who recently died.
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You are correct.
posted on 2/2/24
comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted about 2 hours ago
Pretty sure there was contact on Neto. I don't think that is the issue really, it is that 99% of players who are "touched" in the area go down and scream for a penalty. I hate it personally but I'm not sure I would want Neto to be a member of the 1%.
It went to VAR who, even as they agreed with me that there was contact, did not have to give the penalty. I have not read the letter of the law but I'm pretty sure it doesn't say that any contact in the area, no matter how slight, should automatically be a penalty.
My conclusion is that referees, and VAR in particular, should judge the contact on its severity not merely on its existence.
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VAR didn't intervene as they didn't see it as a clear and obvious error. As there was contact, they dont see it as an error from the ref. If the penalty wasn't given, they probably wouldn't overturn it as the contact was minimal so wouldn't see it as an error either. I'm OK with that logic, when it is used consistently.
The problem is that next week, a similar decision will be overturned again one way or the other, which throws everything into doubt once more.
posted on 2/2/24
Still debates about the rights and wrongs about VAR as there always will be. Last night there were three prolonged delays while var was considered and it does nothing to help make the game enjoyable to watch. I understand the claim is that they reckon correct decisions have increased from 92% to 95% since var. I’m in no position to question those stats but I just don’t believe it’s worth the bother for such a small increase in better decisions. Everyone I’ve spoken to that go to games, including some Utd supporters who encroached the pub before the game last night, would rather var was just abandoned.
Have to say what a pleasure it was to watch the game at the hawthorns last week without var lurking in the background
posted on 2/2/24
Was you at the Whorethorns last week DJ
posted on 2/2/24
Korea 0-1 down to Australia in the Quarter final at half time. Hwang has started.
posted on 2/2/24
Hwang scores a penalty for SK 6 mins into stoppage time. 1-1 now
posted on 2/2/24
2-1 to SK, Son in first half of E/T
posted on 2/2/24
Hwang not coming home yet.
posted on 2/2/24
I did go to the Hawthorns. In the away fans area. Great result and great atmosphere. Sad that things spilled over late on