comment by Sir Halfy.Last years European Thread Master #P... (U11570)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
Gosh this preview’s gone on track, wouldn’t happen on a match thread .....
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The preview threads are based on free speech. All topics are permitted. Verbal abuse of fellow posters is encouraged as it is one of the few things that makes me laugh at the present time

comment by Cinciwolf in the desert (U11551)
posted 2 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by Psycho Wolf (U8869)
posted 2 minutes ago
I know injuries haven't helped but that is what a squad is for so it is only the club to blame for the huge gulf in a fit wolves and an injury hit one.
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i take that as saying that the club should have players in reserve to take over seamlessly from our injured top players

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No, they should have players able to lessen the blow hence I mentioned the club being to blame for the HUGE gulf between fit and unfit. Injuries to key players is obviously going to have some kind of impact.

For us a handful of injuries means we can only beat a non league side with one shot on target all game or a team playing with nine men for a third of a game. Good enough? Not for me.
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The real problem isn’t that the players we have in reserve to bring into the team because of injuries aren’t good enough. The issue is that they just aren’t there!

Highlights the ridiculous notion that we could muddle on with an 18 man squad indefinitely. Every single sensible poster knew we were asking for trouble with that strategy, only one thought it was a good idea.

We have inadequate cover at centre back.

We had no replacement for Doherty, so solved that problem by selling him! 😂

We have no options in the centre of midfield.

And finally, we had no cover for Raul.

All these issues have been well documented and ignored, and come back to bite us on the ass,

comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 9 hours, 4 minutes ago
Despite wolfie's vehement opposition to a back 4. I have a sneaky feeling that that will be Nuno's option for this game. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see:

....................................Ruddy
.....Semedo.......Saiss..........Kilman........Jonny
..........Dendoncker.....Neves.....Moutinho
.............Adama..........Willian.........Neto
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I don't necessarily vehemently oppose a back four, I just believe with the players we have, we are better with a system that got us to 7th place twice and we were doing ok before Jimenez got injured, even including the 0-4 defeat.

We have to go with our strongest side against Southampton and that will include Coady, who has played in every game bar one I believe. So it's a back 3 and if Jonny isn't fit, then Hoever deserves another crack on the left, as I thought he did well against Leicester. I actually agree with DJ, who I believe prefers a back 3.

2-1 for me.

Posters should remember that it is Nuno who wants a small senior squad, backed up by younger players. With the injuries we are having, it'll be Nuno who sorts it out and he will do. So all those criticizing him for the lack of strength should sit back and relax, 'cos things 'ain't gonna change.

As for Lone Wolf' suggesting that we have no options in midfield. That's total bollox. We have an abundance of different players. The only problem is, we haven't got the creative ones that would make a huge difference.

Semedo was lined up to replace Doherty and is getting better as a wing back, which is why I don't like seeing him as RB. He will get better, just like the Doc did when he was moved to a wing back.

So if Lone Wolf and others wish to state that problems are being ignored, then take it up with the club. I for one am quite happy that things will improve as the season progresses and have every confidence in Nuno, even tho' I disagree with him playing a back 4. But I''ll accept his decision about that.

I’m sure Nuno will be relieved about that.

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Psycho Wolf (U8869)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
Also I don't know why but people seem to forget we got battered with a full side 4-0 to west Ham in our favourite formation.
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what is that supposed to mean - liverpool had 7 put past them by villa when vvd and gomez were fit
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I certainly haven’t forgotten the one game against West Ham when we conceded 4. Just as I haven’t forgotten the 76 games that took us twice to 7th in the table with one of the best defensive records in the division.
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Entirely my point. Teams have wised up to what is a one dimensional style of play.

Entirely my point. Teams have wised up to what is a one dimensional style of play.
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Impossible to argue with this. We have been found out this season, and in truth the cracks were appearing long before the injury to Jimenez.

Although we won 3 and drew 1 of our four matches in October, we only scored 5 goals. Jimenez was coming deep looking for the ball as our service to him was non existent. This season we have been one of the least creative teams in the league, that’s not just down to one striker being out either.

Teams have got wise to our “rope a dope” tactic. We need to find a new way of playing to stay a top half Prem outfit.

The recent games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester have seen us match all three of those top half teams and not concede a goal against any of them. That despite us fielding teams well short of our strongest. Had we been able to field;
Patricio
Boly, Coady, Kilman
Semedo, Neves, Dendoncker, Jonny
Traore, Jimenez, Neto

I think that team could well have seen us beat all three of those top half teams and win many of the other games where we’ve slipped up over the winter. The reason we have dropped points is because we haven’t been able to cope with having half a dozen first team squad players injured, including some of our best players like Jimenez, Boly and Jonny. Leicester are third in the league but I don’t think their first choice team is any better than our first choice team. And I don’t think their manager is better either.

And as for being one dimensional, I’ve seen us play 343, 433, 4231, 523 this season. I doubt if any team in the league have varied their play as much as us.

The rubbish cinci comes out with is just his desperate attempt to try to make everyone else as negative, depressed and miserable as he is

Another example of the danger of resting players in cup games tonight. A Burnley team that have been doing well in the Premier league lately, resting players against a Bournemouth team that have been struggling in the championship. Be happy to get Bournemouth in the QF

Firstly, we did concede against Arsenal. Actually, we were fortunate not to be 3 or 4 goals down at half time.

Anybody that could watch that first half and conclude that we ‘matched them” is stretching their imagination.

We had 21% possession against Chelsea, that’s not really matching them is it?

Also, you left out the away performance against Palace where we were really poor, presumably as it didn’t fit in with your rhetoric?

The next few matches are important, I would really like to see an improvement in performances and results.

I really hope DJ has a job in politics as the spin he spouts is truly amazing. Anyone with a different view is talking rubbish, we are only bad this year due to injuries and the best one 'we are not a negative side' Absolutely clueless.

Oh and matching those three teams We matched Leicester, fair enough. Chelsea? We were far and away the weaker of the two sides that night as 14 shots to 4, 5-0 on target and 79% testify, we defended well but lets not kid ourselves there wasn't a gulf between the sides. And presumably he isn't keeping a straight face when he says we matched Arsenal ffs. We were mauled first half and without the red cards we are never ever winning that game. He himself was saying how concerned he was first half

And as for one dimensional, it has nothing to do with formation, it has to do with the fact we are going to sit for the most part and any foray into trying to be more adventurous has so far proved too much for us so we revert to type and we have one way to attack, out wide, we do literally nothing through the middle.

We blew an FA cup semi final by going ultra defensive with a lead, we didn't even turn up in the UEFA QF and give it a go and we blew a top six finish because we were too cautious. Nuno is a safety first manager, that isn't even a debate ffs and that is why each prem season we are among the bottom few sides with regards to time spent in the opposition third.

As for being negative and depressed, anything but, that is why I want us to change because I believe we have the players to be capable of doing so, if you had to list our best players who would they be? Jimenez? Neto? Neves? Moutinho(perhaps not this season) Some would argue Traore? But yet we play a defensive set up rather than a more balanced and adventurous one, seems a waste to me. Nuno trying new formations tells me he understands we need to evolve but no doubt Nuno is thinking rubbish in DJs world.

And finally nobody has said that the injuries have not had an impact, of course they have, but to think that is the only reason ignores what we have seen in front of us prior to those injuries, many on here said they felt something was off way before Jimenez got injured and we were becoming harder to watch so why would anyone want to bury their head in the sand.

comment by TheBlackCountry (U22512)
posted 15 minutes ago
Firstly, we did concede against Arsenal. Actually, we were fortunate not to be 3 or 4 goals down at half time.

Anybody that could watch that first half and conclude that we ‘matched them” is stretching their imagination.

We had 21% possession against Chelsea, that’s not really matching them is it?

Also, you left out the away performance against Palace where we were really poor, presumably as it didn’t fit in with your rhetoric?

The next few matches are important, I would really like to see an improvement in performances and results.
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It is a bit weird this, you and I agreeing

Fack me I went on a bit there!!!

It’s been nearly 2 months since we beat a team in the league with eleven players.

That is all.

comment by TheBlackCountry (U22512)
posted 6 minutes ago
It’s been nearly 2 months since we beat a team in the league with eleven players.

That is all.
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We are matching them all though, just unfortunate to have a few injuries

Man Utd making us look creative!

comment by TheBlackCountry (U22512)
posted 39 minutes ago
Firstly, we did concede against Arsenal. Actually, we were fortunate not to be 3 or 4 goals down at half time.

Anybody that could watch that first half and conclude that we ‘matched them” is stretching their imagination.

We had 21% possession against Chelsea, that’s not really matching them is it?

Also, you left out the away performance against Palace where we were really poor, presumably as it didn’t fit in with your rhetoric?

The next few matches are important, I would really like to see an improvement in performances and results.
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I did watch the Arsenal game and they could easily have scored 3 early on, but they didn’t. Turning the game on its head was due to Arsenal conceding a penalty and Moutinho scoring a brilliant goal. Luiz not being sent off wouldn’t have changed that.

We went into the Chelsea game having conceded 8 in our three previous games so we went for a clean sheet and got it by good defending.

I did miss out the palace game because the point I was making was us getting points against top half teams

My opinion is that we are in the bottom half of the league because of the injuries we’ve had. And to me the performances against Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester with a much weakened squad showed we would have been matching them in the league if we had been less unfortunate with injuries

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
Another example of the danger of resting players in cup games tonight. A Burnley team that have been doing well in the Premier league lately, resting players against a Bournemouth team that have been struggling in the championship. Be happy to get Bournemouth in the QF
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I watched that game and Bournemouth were the better side. It shows how teams in the Championship, with their tails up, can compete with Premier League sides.

I notice tonight that Cardiff won again, and Mick taking over has started the usual club recovery process he's renowned for. Would be good if they could make it to the top six.

Good win for Cardiff at Rotherham who have been doing well lately. Mick has certainly picked them up.

As for Burnley I think resting players tonight shows despite being 8 points clear of Fulham they were happy to put aside a cup run to secure their premier league place. Dyche will doubtless be content if his team get a result at palace at the weekend

Be good if we could beat Southampton then get a draw against Bournemouth or the winners of the Sheffield Utd v Bristol City tie

The shining light of our season

https://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/forum/index.php?attachments/1612895533870-png.19853/

Cinci..you really need to wise up. I've read your lengthy comments above and you say, quite rightly so, that Nuno is a defensive type of manager. You're absolutely right, but what I don't understand is why you cannot accept that. It also sounds as though, with the players we have, you want a more offensive manager. Well again, you 'ain't gonna get that.

Believe it or not, I agree with DJ in that we did match those top teams. Our defense was a perfect match for their forwards. Sure Arsenal had chances, but they only scored one. Chelsea may have had a higher percentage of possession, but they couldn't score. But then what's new about that. For the past three seasons most teams have more possession than us. However we got 7th spot twice. Our central midfield players are all defensive minded and until we get a more creative player in that spot, things will remain the same.

To suggest that we're one dimensional is crap. We've mixed it quite a bit with 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-1-2 and of course several formations with a back 4.

Injuries to our better players is the #1 reason we're not doing as well, but considering the resources Nuno has at his disposal, I think we're doing ok.

We're not going to be relegated this season, so just accept the fact that we'll finish lower than 7th this season. I'm still optimistic that we'll finish about halfway.

What do I need to accept? Nuno spoke at the start of the season about us evolving and changing our style? And I have given him credit for at least trying to do so and I fully appreciate injuries have made that more difficult.

When the argument is whether we matched a team down to ten and then nine men it is too ridiculous for words.

And we are one dimensional regardless of formation. Sit back, knock it sideways, get it wide, leave the box virtually empty, rinse and repeat. Our first halves are basically redundant and if we lead in the second half we sit deeper and deeper, it is like clockwork. We even laughably saw it against non league Chorley ffs.

And the no shat sherlock award goes to you and DJ for pointing out Injuries are the main reason we are not doing so well. But if you think that is the only reason you are deluded but thankfully the club and Nuno won't be sitting there shrugging and just blaming injuries either. We can also agree we won't be getting relegated, I have never for one second felt we would and have said from day one a step backwards isn't the end of the world.

Some people on here need to grow a spine, we are doing crap and it is a massively disappointing season and I am thoroughly fed up with it but yet I will still be up at 5 6 7 am regardless because I love this club. Feckin deal with it!!

Some posters have short memories. Just six months ago a few on ‘ere were targeting a top six finish, and saying that in order to achieve that, Nuno needed a more positive attitude. Some would say, “crying out” for a more positive attitude in fact.

Fast forward six months and the same posters now fully accept that ‘ain’t gonna “appen with Nuno in charge.

The bottom line is that ALL teams have been decimated by injuries this year, a product of playing too many matches and no pre-season. Other than Sheffield United though, no other team has fell as far down the table as us. Cheer that on if you must, but don’t criticise others for expressing disappointment in that huge backward step.

It is amusing that at the start of the season views were put forward that this would be a season of transition and that many said they would be happy with finishing mid table. That all said before we had this plague of injuries. Also that we should move away from 3 at the back and play a more positive formation.

Now all those changes have happened but still the fault is we are too negative and rigid in the approach. Truth is some people seem to follow the game to moan and find faults and even having the best team Wolves have had in their lifetime isn’t going to change that.

Wrong to say all teams have suffered as many injuries as us. We have certainly suffered more than most and to key players and for long periods of absence. We were 6th before this run of injuries started and we wouldn’t be far off that now with a little more luck with injuries. And I reckon we’ll still finish in the mid table position people wanted despite that

Nuno got fined a few weeks ago for saying ref Lee Mason wasn’t good enough for the Premier League. Now Mason has been stood down from the Premier League for his role with var resulting in players getting red cards that have since been overturned

Wonder if Nuno will get a refund?