It was the manner of the defeat that upset me most. Arsenal were not that good yet we let them dictate the game.
We do seem to let opponents have too much of the ball and the tempo we set is usually slow.
Not doom and gloom just disappointment.

I don’t think what we did yesterday was very different in approach to our usual game. The usual game of chess in the first half and then stepping up the gears after the break. It’s the approach that’s taken us from the championship to 6th in the top flight and more often than not it works otherwise we wouldn’t be in such a good position. For thirty minutes after the break we were totally in control but couldn’t find the equaliser then got caught as we over committed going forward. I do think we got the balance of the team wrong on the day and that’s not with the benefit of hindsight, I said the same as soon as the team was announced. The lesson learned is that Traore’s position is on the right of a front three not as a central striker or as a wing back. I’m sure Nuno won’t go with that set up again. He will either start Traore on the right or use him from the bench in the last half hour

Obviously then, teams are sussing us out and are not falling for our plan. Arsenal used the same plan but pressed us more than we pressed them and got the result they wanted.
We didn't.

Arsenal are a much better team than Villa or Bournemouth and took advantage of us being unbalanced. If we had started with Jota instead of Traore or both instead of Dendoncker I think we would have seen a much better team performance. Actually the final nail in the coffin was taking Doherty off, who was doing well on the right. That made us even more imbalanced and lead to Arsenal regaining control in the last ten minutes

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 27 minutes ago
I don’t think what we did yesterday was very different in approach to our usual game. The usual game of chess in the first half and then stepping up the gears after the break. It’s the approach that’s taken us from the championship to 6th in the top flight and more often than not it works otherwise we wouldn’t be in such a good position. For thirty minutes after the break we were totally in control but couldn’t find the equaliser then got caught as we over committed going forward. I do think we got the balance of the team wrong on the day and that’s not with the benefit of hindsight, I said the same as soon as the team was announced. The lesson learned is that Traore’s position is on the right of a front three not as a central striker or as a wing back. I’m sure Nuno won’t go with that set up again. He will either start Traore on the right or use him from the bench in the last half hour
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comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 16 minutes ago

I do think we got the balance of the team wrong on the day and that’s not with the benefit of hindsight, I said the same as soon as the team was announced.

Before the team was announced you also said,
"But personally I would be happy to see any two from Dendoncker, Traore, Jota and Neto start”
So you got what you wanted. Sadly you can’t have it both ways.

Any road up, as far as I'm concerned yesterday's game is best forgotten. And so we move on to Wednesday with the next preview thread.

..........which will be posted immediately after the Burnley v Sheffield United game this afternoon.

I think we will beat Sheffield, they will slip down the table I’m sure.

But I have been saying that since September

comment by Oldgoldilox - 1 Carl Ikeme (U17303)
posted about 5 hours ago
Quite natural to feel a little disappointed after a defeat especially given that we know we can play better than we did yesterday but did we really expect to win all 9 restart games? Others have dropped points and will do so again, we still have a very good chance of qualifying for Europe again and a decent chance of the champions league still. It could be much much worse.
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I dont mind losing if we play ok. That was one of the most passive performances I think I have seen though. It didn't feel like we even tried to win the game.

I've heard that Podence has had to go back to Portugal for personal reasons and that was why he wasnt in the squad yesterday. Hope all is ok with him.

I imagine he will be missing for a few weeks at least now as their is still a quarantine period for people returning to the UK from Portugal.

*there

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 6 minutes ago
I've heard that Podence has had to go back to Portugal for personal reasons and that was why he wasnt in the squad yesterday. Hope all is ok with him.

I imagine he will be missing for a few weeks at least now as their is still a quarantine period for people returning to the UK from Portugal.
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He is back from Portugal. He has been tested (negative) and is currently in 14 days quarantine.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Oldgoldilox - 1 Carl Ikeme (U17303)
posted about 5 hours ago
Quite natural to feel a little disappointed after a defeat especially given that we know we can play better than we did yesterday but did we really expect to win all 9 restart games? Others have dropped points and will do so again, we still have a very good chance of qualifying for Europe again and a decent chance of the champions league still. It could be much much worse.
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I don't mind losing if we play ok. That was one of the most passive performances I think I have seen though. It didn't feel like we even tried to win the game.
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Exactly how I feel about it Tam. I watched the game in a local sports bar and did something that I have never don before in 60 years of watching Wolves - I walked out before the final whistle.

The stats describe the game differently. We had slightly more possession than Arsenal, more shots, more touches of the ball and more passes.

Where Arsenal got higher stats than us were in defending. They made more tackles, more clearances, conceded more fouls and got more yellow cards

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 31 minutes ago
The stats describe the game differently. We had slightly more possession than Arsenal, more shots, more touches of the ball and more passes.

Where Arsenal got higher stats than us were in defending. They made more tackles, more clearances, conceded more fouls and got more yellow cards
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The only stat that matters is they got more goals than us. Sugar coat it all you like but it was a bad day at the office for Wolves. Hey Ho, you can't win 'em all.

Let's put this to bed and where's the next preview thread Gem lad?

Big game Wednesday now, instead of looking at those ahead of us we find ourselves looking at those behind us. We generally bounce back well so fingers crossed.

comment by wolfieintheSunshineState (U16306)
posted 5 minutes ago
Let's put this to bed and where's the next preview thread Gem lad?
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It's sitting there waiting for you to comment on it pal.