Match Threads Wolves vs Spurs - Match Thread - EPL Day 2 - KO 2:00 pm

[GutBucket]

Missed the match, not surprised Reguilon played deeper with the threat of Traore.

 

[wrd]

Missed the match, not surprised Reguilon played deeper with the threat of Traore.
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Traore spent majority of game terrorising Tanganga and Sanchez, only moved to right late on.

 

[theShiznit]

We have too many one paced midfielders and not just in body but in mind too. They take too many touches to do anything with the ball, take too long to spot a pass, jog into space.
And in forward positions we have very little appreciation for where the space is or weight/timing of pass and the first touch of a lot of our players is hit and miss and when you have to focus so intently on that first touch it's very hard to be aware of what's around you...

It's rare to see a man in possession for us with more than one option for a pass and we very often pass to a man that has no option but to go backwards.

Squad still needs massive upgrading for me otherwise our game is still going to be massively reliant on individual brilliance.

 

[ultimateloner]

Yes. Having Dele haring all over the pitch like a man possessed has also made a big difference. He’s been defending from the front, as does Bergwijn.

Nuno had highlighted Dele's stamina more than once; that he can run 90 mins.
Physical conditioning is clearly a high priority for Nuno and Dele has that.

 

[Delboy75]

Wasn’t able to watch it live. Just caught first half. Wolves huffed and puffed but really didn’t create anything clear bar the Jimenez shot from Traore cut back. Not sure whether to say we are very disciplined or it’s very unimaginative and rigid in the 433. We literally hold the shape almost all the time in compact straight lines. Happy to give Nuno a pass right now with all the distractions and that atmosphere was tough today. So ultimately considering it’s a very good 3 points. Apparently it was bit better in 2nd half which I’ll try watch tomorrow and might change my view.

 

[jolsnogross]

We have too many one paced midfielders and not just in body but in mind too. They take too many touches to do anything with the ball, take too long to spot a pass, jog into space.
And in forward positions we have very little appreciation for where the space is or weight/timing of pass and the first touch of a lot of our players is hit and miss and when you have to focus so intently on that first touch it's very hard to be aware of what's around you...

It's rare to see a man in possession for us with more than one option for a pass and we very often pass to a man that has no option but to go backwards.

Squad still needs massive upgrading for me otherwise our game is still going to be massively reliant on individual brilliance.

Yeah, I watched Liverpool the other day and you don't see them struggling to play out from the back and through midfield nearly as much as we are, and it's pretty basic stuff from Keita and Henderson that makes it happen. They and others in the side provide passing angles and options. We just don't appear to move into space quickly and in coordination to play out of a press.

Maybe it'll take some time to transition from being a Mourinho team, because it looks like we can only play counter attack at the moment. Moura and Bergwijn were not careful in possession at all today and we suffered a lot because they only wanted to break and invariably lost possession, when it would've helped to vary it a bit and just hold possession so we could all push up.

Take Kane and Son out of our side and we're pretty average. It's a great thing we have them and hopefully that's still the case in Sept.

 

[easley91]

Didn't see the game in its entirety. The Spurs TV interviews were all about the defensive work and how much better we were in that department.

I saw the stats and Wolves had most of it by the looks of it. Were those attempts the kind to force Lloris into saves or were they comfortable efforts to deal with?

 

[KaribYid]

Didn't see the game in its entirety. The Spurs TV interviews were all about the defensive work and how much better we were in that department.

I saw the stats and Wolves had most of it by the looks of it. Were those attempts the kind to force Lloris into saves or were they comfortable efforts to deal with?

They "dominated" the match and looked threatening but they actually didn't trouble Lloris much. He had one save to make iirc (one v one with Traore) whilst their keeper was a lot busier.

Wolves final ball let them down quite a bit but I also felt like our defenders made a lot of key blocks/interceptions.

 

[PCozzie]

Didn't see the game in its entirety. The Spurs TV interviews were all about the defensive work and how much better we were in that department.

I saw the stats and Wolves had most of it by the looks of it. Were those attempts the kind to force Lloris into saves or were they comfortable efforts to deal with?

Couple of decent long range efforts straight at Lloris, but the main chance was the Traore 1v1 which Lloris got a block on. Wolves spent a lot of time around the edge of our box but we scrambled well and mainly kept them to half chances with a few decent defensive blocks thrown in. You'd have expected a team with a proper CF to have taken a couple of the better positions that Wolves got into though.

 

[walworthyid]

tough little ground that

Theyve not beaten us in the league since 2015 and have only managed 2 draws since then. They've beaten us twice in the FA Cup though, once at Selhurst and I had the misfortune of being at the match, in the Palace end! Absolutely shocking we were that day.

But overall our record against them home or away is excellent.

 

[easley91]

They "dominated" the match and looked threatening but they actually didn't trouble Lloris much. He had one save to make iirc (one v one with Traore) whilst their keeper was a lot busier.

Wolves final ball let them down quite a bit but I also felt like our defenders made a lot of key blocks/interceptions.

Couple of decent long range efforts straight at Lloris, but the main chance was the Traore 1v1 which Lloris got a block on. Wolves spent a lot of time around the edge of our box but we scrambled well and mainly kept them to half chances with a few decent defensive blocks thrown in. You'd have expected a team with a proper CF to have taken a couple of the better positions that Wolves got into though.

Cheers guys. Just seen the extended highlights on MOTD2. Seemed most of their attempts didn't trouble Hugo like you said. I saw many rip on him for missing, but Hugo deserves credit for coming out and making himself big rushing Traore into that effort.

Looks like we had chances to score a second as well, especially after Kane came on. Would expect him to score that. Bergwijn, that skill leading up to it was insane by the way.

Only watched these highlights, but looked like we had the better chances. Again only going off this and not the full 90, so could be wrong.

 

[PCozzie]

Cheers guys. Just seen the extended highlights on MOTD2. Seemed most of their attempts didn't trouble Hugo like you said. I saw many rip on him for missing, but Hugo deserves credit for coming out and making himself big rushing Traore into that effort.

Looks like we had chances to score a second as well, especially after Kane came on. Would expect him to score that. Bergwijn, that skill leading up to it was insane by the way.

Only watched these highlights, but looked like we had the better chances. Again only going off this and not the full 90, so could be wrong.

I think that's broadly correct. We had the better standalone chances, but Wolves were the dominant attacking side in terms of territory and time spent there. Fortunately they are pretty toothless at CF. MOTD stat said they've had 41 shots in two matches without scoring.

 

[easley91]

I think that's broadly correct. We had the better standalone chances, but Wolves were the dominant attacking side in terms of territory and time spent there. Fortunately they are pretty toothless at CF. MOTD stat said they've had 41 shots in two matches without scoring.

I have learned over the years to not go by attempts or even attempts on target, or possession for how good a team was. You can have all the ball and all the shots you want, but if they're off target, long range or straight at the keeper then it's comfortable for the defending team.

Give Jimenez time and I think he'll start banging them in again. Wasn't far off from that attempt in the first half. Think Wolves will click into gear sooner or later. Was a good time to play them (like City).

 

[PCozzie]

I have learned over the years to not go by attempts or even attempts on target, or possession for how good a team was. You can have all the ball and all the shots you want, but if they're off target, long range or straight at the keeper then it's comfortable for the defending team.

Give Jimenez time and I think he'll start banging them in again. Wasn't far off from that attempt in the first half. Think Wolves will click into gear sooner or later. Was a good time to play them (like City).

That's true regarding long range efforts, as we know. Andros Townsend managed about 8 shots at goal every match without troubling the scorers very often. But I think when a team is consistently putting those numbers together for shots in the box, coupled with territory and (dare I say it) possession, then it's only a matter of time. That's why I said that a team with a proper CF, maybe Leicester are a good comparison, would have scored a couple from the positions created, if not the chances themselves.

Good win nonetheless. Last season that'd have been 1-1 at best.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Was a good time to play them (like City).

Many thought it was a good time for both opponents to play us: destabilised star striker, team learning a new system, etc. But what we found is that we have much better defenders and are more resilient than we appeared last season, once the defence is playing together and everyone is fully physically fit.

 

[El Cakey]

Gutsy (sometimes lucky) defensive performance today. Was waiting for the 85th min equalizer which didn’t come…. long may that continue. Somethings changing on the training pitch. ??

 

[TheAmerican]

Just watched MOTD2 and wanted to highlight just how close Kane was on that chance. He was clearly going to hit the far post, there was definitely room. It's a shame he didn't go a bit more middle as he would have certainly scored.

 

[yiddo]

Looking at the performance in a positive way, we managed to keep the vast majority of their attacks at arms length. Like others have said, Hugo was solid but didn't have to produce anything from the top drawer, all fairly routine stuff.

But for me the performance was very familiar. Our build up play is still so so poor, we struggle to make any kind of incisive passes. We either go long over the top from the CBs or the ball goes out to the full-backs and more often than not cut out or out for a throw. Our midfield is doing a pretty good job of protecting the defence, but there is no connection at all between the midfield & attack.
When we try to build up play, its like the midfield is not there.

The most concerning thing about this is that its not new, this happened for the majority of last season and its clearly still a big problem.
I hope a midfield player with this in mind is on Fab's list.

 

[DannyNZ]

I think that's broadly correct. We had the better standalone chances, but Wolves were the dominant attacking side in terms of territory and time spent there. Fortunately they are pretty toothless at CF. MOTD stat said they've had 41 shots in two matches without scoring.

With Traore shooting out for a throw in, lots of shots is a somewhat interesting stat.

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

Watford next weekend will be a clear indicator of where we are, playing style. Can’t be sitting back there