You’d have to be a gloomy forecaster to have predicted that outcome at half-time.
Wolves made an in-form Liverpool look ordinary in the first half, with Neto and new signing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde proving a handful for the visitor’s makeshift defence.
It was the former who created the opening goal all on his own, before handing the otherwise impressive Cunha a gilt-edged chance to make it two.
When the Brazilian somehow conspired to miss, a buoyant Molineux was left hoping it wouldn’t come back to bite us on the backside.
Alas, it did, with the old gold continuing the trend of missing chances and then falling apart the minute they come under any sustained pressure.
Granted, Jurgen Klopp had the luxury of being able to sub in two players with a combined market value of more than £120m, but the drastic drop in our levels was unacceptable.
We showed none of the intensity or positivity that made the opening 45 so entertaining, retreating into our own half and squandering any possession that came our way.
O’Neil’s substitutions didn’t help matters either, with Silva churning out the sort of anonymous showing that we’ve sadly come to expect from him.
Surely Kalajdži? should have featured?
The less said about Sa’s exploits for Liverpool’s second the better. His world-class save at Everton aside, the Portuguese is becoming a liability. Bentley must fancy his chances of dislodging him from the eleven.
Although these aren’t the sort of fixtures that will determine the trajectory of our season, we are going to have to smarten up if we’re to keep away from trouble.
At this level, you cannot expect to be as profligate as we are and not be punished for it.
The trip to Luton already feels vital.
There is a worrying lack of leadership in this squad. At the times, we start to worry, we needed someone to step up and get everyone’s heads back in the game. Instead as shown at palace and Brighton if we concede one it’s likely a team can punch us for two or three cheap goals without reply.
O’Neil is starting to worry me with his preference of Fabio over Sasa are we starting to see irrational favouritism again? Also where was Santiago?
I think Santi didn’t play a lot before signing with Wolves so he is not in game shape.
There is certainly more to the story of Sasa and Gary than what Gary is saying.
I think Sasa’s personality is maybe too laid back for Gary’s liking. Of course, that is complete speculation.
It’s ridiculous Neto’s crossing has been wicked since the start of the season and instead of playing our target man with a terrific goal scoring record, we continue with the screech look-a-like.
Spot on right Chesterwolf. The preference for the useless Silva over Sasa is inexplainable.
Could it be that Shi has inserted a clause in GON`s contract whereby if he fails to include his wonder-boy in any game he gets fired !!
I agree. Maybe the crack reporters at the E&S should ask Gary. You’d think Sasa could come on for 10 or 15 minutes at least by now.
Luton game is massive now. If we can’t pick up 3 points there then things are going to look very bleak!
The classic game of 2 halves. It seems we are incapable of putting together 90 minutes of football and yet again our chronic failure to find the net when we are on top has come to haunt us. I very much doubt whether Liverpool would have come back from
3-0 down at half time which it should have been, but a mere 2 shots on target in 98 minutes tells its own story as does only 5 in 5 scored in the PL to date and we’re shipping goals as well. GD not looking good. We won’t win enough to stay up scoring a goal a game No good saying it’s too early to tell because a pattern is developing and it’s not a good one.
There was a lot to be encouraged about in the first half but it was again a case of Groundhog Day.
Luton away looks like a massive 6 pointer already, specially with Man City next up after that.
First half we were well in contention. Second half we were woeful. But you sort of knew Liverpool woul turn the screw. And they did. I always give everyone a chance. But Silva today? Brushed aside. Just stood there looking like a twit. We needed Sasa up front. An outlet. A focal point to relieve the pressure. Luton is massive. You just know it will end 1-0. Luton. And i am normally optimistic !
Same old…. same old. Look good and play great for a long period, fail to score when gilt edged chances appear, and then pay the consequences when we fall to pieces at the back when we come under any sort of pressure.
I am astounded that given our continuing lack of penetration, GON refuses to select Sasa up front. In his limited appearances so far he has always presented a threat — and he scores! Is there something we don`t know about?
Why leave Sasa on the bench and bring on the useless Silva, who replicated his usual contribution of running around like a headless chicken without ever presenting the remotest threat ?
Apart from an inability to score, our weakness at the back must be a matter of huge concern. A goalkeeper who is prone to making at least one costly error per game, and a left back who simply cannot defend, are problems which if not resolved, will continue to haunt us big time
Maybe its time to abandon the four at the back solution and to revert to a structure which will at least make us far harder to beat. Even at this early stage of the season, the need to grind out results has become very apparent. Dirty 1-0 victories will be much welcomed in the coming weeks
Over £100 million spent in 3 years on 3 “goalscorers” – Cuitrone, Silva and Cunha. Oh for the days of Jota and Jiminez. And yes, the continuing bit part participation of Sasa is starting to become a bit mysterious.
Forgot the £28 million blown on Guedes.
It’s amazing why O’Neil just won’t play Sasa over that clown that is Silva – he’s just has no control in his shooting – ballons the ball countless times over the bar with his headers – he’s just not a proven goal scorer – useless – as is Cunha who is also hapless in front of goal – and yet O’Neil just keeps on playing them..
The ammount of excellent crosses from Neto in the 1st half – if Sasa was up front he would have gobbled up at least a couple and we would have been out of sight by half time instead of just 1-0 ..
I just know what’s he’s got against him – his minutes on the pitch and goal ration is second to none !
Well said Chris
Silva
What he can`t do
** Run fast
** Head the ball — he seems to get smaller when he tries to jump!
** Dribble
** Score
What he can do.
** Impersonate a clown
** Not much else
** Take a massive salary of 80K per week for doing nothing
Solution. Cut our losses and get rid of him ASAP He`ll be worth very little on the transfer market but surely something will be better than nothing
The club is supposedly in a poor financial state and needs to make a profit. So if we gave the wonder-boy away wed save GBP 4,160,000 per year. Mr. Shi, wouldn`t this help a bit with the finances ?
I blame it all on myself Mike..
Fyi : I actually sent, what I thought was a well thought out quite lengthy letter to Gary O’Neill – ( as it was International Break week ) welcoming him to the club – with a couple of suggestions, especially around the ‘ powder puff ‘ attack we persist in fielding – when there are other options readily available – with players getting splinters sitting on the bench !
1) If you look at the link of Sasa’s goals in Germany, he just has that goal poachers natural instinct – strong neck reflex muscles, ideal for scoring whip lash headers and a very sharp goal poachers instictive approach scoring some wonderful goals out of nothing – all of these attritubes which sadly Fabio Silva does not NOT possess !
2) Cunha possess’s some excellent skills – but we only see them ‘ now and again ‘ and just not good enough to be considered as some sort of centre forward – who like Silva will just NEVER ever score a hatful of goals !
3) Young Fraser – give him a chance – look at the young 18 year old lad, Ferguson I believe, who plays for Brighton who scored a hatrick 2 weeks ago – why can’t Fraser be allowed to do that – he’s a proven goal scorer for the U21’ and there’s Farmer too ?
Anyway, I said all that in my letter – got no reply and Fraser was dropped from the squad – I rest my case – so all my fault – sorry Mike !
Cheers
Chris
Chris, you`re right, particularly about Fraser and Farmer.
The purpose of an academy is to get quality young guys to a place where they can be first team ready. Other clubs, notably Brighton, seem very willing to give these quality youngsters an early opportunity, a policy which seems to be working very well.
But we seem reluctant to do this. Decent kids, who `s abilities have been talked up, simply get loaned out, and then they seem to fade away. Why is this ? Where do we get any benefit?
Young Fraser seems to be a kid with outstanding prospects. He`s fast, and he shows an ability to make the best of any goal chances that come his way. So why not give him an opportunity?
Silva arrived at about the same age having cost a fortune, and being Paid 80 K per week. He`s proven to be an abject failure, yet for reasons unknown we still persevere with him. Why is he being treated so differently from those home grown kids, who appear to have greater ability and potential ?
I can only concluded that there`s something fundamentally wrong with the structure of our club. I doubt that much will change for as long as Mr. Shi holds the reins.
I’m probably alone in this view but Silva had no support close to him especially with Neto having run his race by the time the former came on. He couldn’t fail to look like a headless chicken and even if he isn’t Prem standard yet, I can’t question his effort.
My possibly naive takeaway from the game was “too good to go down”
But can anyone explain the mass of empty seats before the game was dead ? If us as fans are less committed than the players, why on Earth would they want to stick around ?
The owners have refused to accept they made a most terrible acquisition of Silva ( no surprise as they would lose face ) so carry on in the hope one day he will come good .I don’t believe he will .He should be sold for whatever they can get for him .
Kilman is no captain I am afraid which does not help the team when they need lifting .
It will be another season of struggle .If they are around the bottom at Xmas which seems likely they may buy a proper striker which they should have done sometime in the last 3 years .
Neto must be hoping he can get away next summer and play for a team that has a forward who can score .
Depressing times .
Nick
For “the owners” read Shi/Mendes. But let’s not also forget that the owners also own 25% of Mendes’s agency so they win both ways. Mistake for WWFC probably, mistake for Fosun maybe not.
I guess the answer is – you don’t have to be the captain to rally the troops. If Kilman can’t do it, surely Lemina or Cunha can. Or Dawson.
Neto and Bellegarde were fantastic.
If Sasa had been on instead of Cunha in the first half, I’m sure Liverpool’s confidence would have been shattered.
Why didn’t Cunha keep his feet on the floor instead of that silly jump. He might have connected with the ball instead of being out of control. Also, that was a wild all too familiar sitter he missed.
Poor old Silva had another game of chasing rainbows.
It was good to see the Doc finally come on, but if he’d been on in the first half even he might have been on the end of some of Neto’s crosses.
Disappointing outcome but hey, I got three points in the predictions league.
It is a very small consolation though, I’d rather the team got the three points instead.
We will have to smash Luton next week…
COYW
Neto back to his best pre injury. He is class.
Bellegarde an absolute powerhouse driving forward. Looks like we could have landed a gem.
Lemina and Gomes forming a formidable partnership in the middle.
As often happens, a momentum shift at half time, but we’d expended too much energy for too little reward in the first half.
Why oh why do we sit back in the second half?
Kalajdzic should either have started or come on at 60.
Lots of positives. We battled well and put bodies on the line to hold out until the 85th.
With other newbies to come we’ve plenty of quality forwards but need Cunha to discover his scoring mojo, Kalajdzic to be given more time on the pitch and Silva to show the sort of form he regularly demonstrates for Portugal U21s.
UTW
Muttleigh
Agree with you, lots of positives but we don’t want to fall into the “too good to go down” syndrome / way of thinking. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Lopetegui scenario there is no doubt that he performed a miracle in keeping us up last time and he did it by grinding out results mainly at home. We continue to struggle to score and now also struggle to defend. We also seem naive and to lack capability with game management and we aren’t doing much grinding. I fear our best hope is that 3 or more teams are inferior to us.
Good points PJB.
Funny enough I thought GON was the right man. When he took over Bournemouth he rapidly tightened up the defence and ground out results to keep ’em up. Just what we need to do now. I also thought Dawson would be more of a leader and dependable, solid defender like Conor but he seems not to be, anymore. We must accept what we have and do the best we can with it. We should have determinedly parked the bus after half time because we were knackered. GON could even have brought Sasa on as an extra CB for one of our lacklustre forwards. Ugly football, I know, but a point a game would suit us fine atm.
A measured and considered reflection as expected Muttleigh.
I agree Sasa should have come on. An outlet from the onslaught. We hardly made it out of the half way line second half. I guess we aren’t Liverpool and we have a long way to go before we are.
Why oh why are we incapable of playing 90+ minutes? A great first half , albeit we could only score once. If only !!!! we had got a second before half time. Liverpool were there for the taking in that first half. But that second half – awful – but the same happened against Brighton and Palace. GON has to make some changes for next week and for me, I’d bring in Bentley, Doc, Sasa, Toti for starters. And where is the leadership on the pitch? No one seems to be shouting and screaming and organising the team.
Yes indeed. We shredded Liverpool in the first half by playing gung-ho attacking football capitalising on our best weapons like Neto’s unstoppable running with the ball which they had no answer to. But then, having seen how superior we were playing that way in the first half what did our inspired manager come up with for the second? A complete change to a defensive mindset trying to hang on to our slender lead which played directly into Liverpool’s hands by allowing them free access to the ball and consequently the freedom to dictate the play instead of having to deal with our first half superiority which was created by the attacking approach. It was a dreadful and elementary error and cost us the game. You’re going to have to wake up and do much better than that GoN, but I’m yet to be convinced that you have what it takes.
When your on top and don’t take your chances this is what happens Wolves should have been at least 2 nil up but for Cuhna missing a sitter. Why the hell is Sasa sitting on the bench according to GON he is not fit enough how is he going to get match fit without playing. The result is disappointing but especially the first half had everything we wanted to see now to Luton and put a performance like that should have 3 points in the bag hopefully.
This was definitely a game we could have won .. we had numerous chances to put Liverpool to the sword .. Cunha. cones to mind .. and in the end we concede 3 goals by way of silly decisions and bad luck .
That said .. let’s just dump Silva and move forward without him .. he us simply NOT PL standard .. and never will be .. his acquisition was a huge gaff .. just get rid ..
I must heap praise on Bellegarde and Neto for their magnificent efforts today…
I didn’t realise, at the time, that Sa’s blunder happened so close towards the 90th minute mark .. and how quickly Liverpool cashed in on the error … even more so with the 3rd…
We just do not have forwards possessing such clinical finishing. .. no pace, cutting edge , clinical finishing..
My overriding worry is that we look reasonably well but lose and therefore get Zero points ..
It’s not sustainable..
Luton now is a MUST WIN ….
£43 Million pound and he cannot hit a barn door, and this is why we are in shit with FFP because we squander what money we do have on players like Cunaha or what ever his name is.
O’ Neil again has to take a lot of responsibility for this result his subs why not the big man start or come on the Doc played out of position at right wing back second half.
It’s all well and good that O’Neill saved Bournemouth but he was only there as manger for the last few games to me he looks out of his depth.
If we lose at Luton the knives will be out I know we have had a tough start but 4 losses out of five I was at least expecting a draw or two in there.
Make no mistake things could turn ugly if we don’t turn up at Luton for both Half’s and win.
The Recruitment department need sacking whoever recommend Cunaha.
I agree we’ve spent nearly £80 million… on 2 ‘ Duff ‘ Centre Forwards who have no idea how to score in the Premier League and the owners are just loathe to admit their mistake and off-load with huge losses …. especially Silva – I really wish they let him leave in the last window and just cut our losses and move on – apparently he wanted to leave – but was persuaded to stay – why ?
Now, unfortunately, for whatever obscure reason the two of them are hogging the majority of our attacking options – continunally shooting blanks – whilst Sasa and proven goal-scorer Fraser are just sitting there watching paint dry – its very strange what’s going on ?
It’s clear O’Neil is going to be a manager with ‘ favourites’ regardless…… as already he’s got a habit of naming a number of particular indivuals – ( which is no bad thing ) but it’s a dangerous game if you are ignoring other players – like Sasa which can be very dispiritating for the player..
I agree Cunha missed a sitter but apart from that miss he was excellent in the first half in particular and it was a big mistake by GON taking him off
I disagree Cunha was brought to score goals and he cannot hit a barn door from 6 yards……..if we had paid £10 million for him I could may be see his value as a squad player but £43 million we sold Jota for £40 million and Cunha couldn’t lace his boots.
What ever else he contributes the bottom line is he was brought to score goals……..and he hasn’t and doesn’t look like he can or will for a massive fee which is totally unwarranted .
Fair enough although I have to say the consensus of the fans around me at the match thought it was a major mistake subbing him given what he was offering the team. Maybe it was different where you were sat
Cunha wasn’t just brought in to score goals. You only have to look at his previous record to know that . The fact is he’s highly mobile which lone central forwards have to be and he therefore brings a lot to the overall team play. I agree that he can’t hit a barn door though and maybe he’d be more suited to a marauding attacking midfielder role.
12 wins required from 33 games, already starting to look a tall order . Hope that GON does start to pull us together into a more effective unit . 11 goals conceded even before considering our pathetic strike record is concerning to say the least. Anyway, I’m looking forward to going to Ipswich, early taste of what a mid week championSHIp fixture feels like again! Thanks Jeff.
Good Luck SCW – not sure we’ll get much change there – Ipswich seem to be on fire – think Luton is the key game for the lads to get a confidence booster of a win and 3 pts and that team needs to have …… Bentley, Doc and Sasa – as the 1st 3 names on the team- sheet, regardless + the obvious – with young Fraser as ‘ supersub’ and a win is then assured !
12 more wins? Nowhere near that will be needed ( 8 or 9 probably with a fair few draws thrown in) but whether we get anywhere near nowhere near that is another issue.
For all the missed chances, and there were again too many, I blame Sa totally for this defeat.
His ridiculous kick and then his waving his arms about when he should have been getting back and concentrating on the resulting Liverpool attack, cost us their second goal, cost us our momentum, cost us our confidence… and eventually cost us the game.
I can’t believe that a goalkeeper who has been playing at a decent level for many years can be so bloody awful at distributing the ball and so worryingly poor when he has the ball anywhere near his feet.
He is a great shot stopper but that’s what ‘keepers are paid to do. I really think it’s time to give Bentley a chance between the sticks.
And I also think that Silva needs to be given a rest. It must be really tiring running aimlessly about and getting muscled off the ball constantly.
Such a shame about the result when we witnessed 45 minutes of total domination over the reds, and should have been at least three goals clear by the break.
There are so many plus points to be gained from that first half performance but unfortunately, plus points don’t morph into real points if you can’t put the bloody ball in the net and your heads go down when you concede a goal.
Where’s a Conor Coady figure when you need a leader and super strong character to kick your backside and pull you through difficult periods in a match?
Oh, yes, Leicester.
The way things are going GON will be gone well before Christmas; not sure if Terry Connor is available, but pretty sure Dean Saunders probably is. We spent 6 years courting Lopetegui and he performed a miracle; that ended well didn’t it Jeff..
At the moment we have no steel and just too easy to walk through. We can’t score, haven’t since Lage’s tenure so we must make ourselves difficult to beat…. a point is better than nothing. Defence starts with the strikers…. everyone needs to step up a gear or two.
Football is 90 minutes + so why is it we can only play 45 minutes???
In all of the games this term we have dominated the first 45 minutes of all games and then come the second half we implode on ourselves. The mind boggles.
GON must take some of the blame for his substitutions and tactics.
I know it’s still early doors and I hope he can turn things around, but football games are judged on results. So unless he can turn things around beginning with 3 points at Luton I fear his tenure at the golden palace will be under threat.
Graham potter is still available.
Forever trying to be the optimist there were signs of a decent team emerging. However I’ve been an apologist for Fabio since he was thrown in the deep end far too soon but despite getting little or no support from his teammates it’s becoming clear the premier league may not be for him.
Still think we’ll be ok though.
O’Neil needs to take captaincy off Kilman he is not mature enough he is not a leader give it Dawson and his form and concentration have dipped massively the last 18 months.
Since Coady left his development has stalled
I still have some optimism (although it may be temporary).
Horrid fixturing with 3 home games in the first 7 – and those are Brighton, Liverpool and Man City. So points hard to get early doors.
We have shown some signs of good attacking football (but only in parts).
The Doherty substitution was strange , he clearly didn’t know what his role was.
Anyway next week against fellow relegation candidates is massive
I am not as pessimistic about our start as most people seem to be and there are several positives to take away from our start.
There is no shame losing to United and Liverpool. The gap between the top 6 is widening especially due to Financial ‘fair’ play restrictions. Being able to bring on the likes of Diaz and Nunez off the bench, we don’t have these options. As for Brighton they are just a fantastic team. Palace away, never an easy game.
After Lage and Lopetegui l like the fact we have given a young English manager a chance. He speaks very well and l like the way he is trying to play exciting dynamic football against United and the first half yesterday.
It is obvious there is a problem up front but we now have some options. I think Sasa will start against Luton and get his chance. The criticism of Silva is over the top. Yes he is no lone striker when playing one up front but when GON goes to 2 up top he could be good playing alongside someone else.
I really like the look of our central midfield. Give me Gomes (superb yesterday), Lemina and Bellegarde over Neves, Podence, Moutinho and Nunes anyday. (Obviously l am not criticising Ruben here l just think the former combination give us a more dynamic midfield).
We have 2 in form wingers in Hwang and the brilliant Neto, rather than Adama who unbalanced the team when he came on.
Hopefully Santiago Bueno and Toti can give Kilman and Dawson some competition who have struggled a little this season.
I do agree with giving Bentley a run in the team, Sa has been frustrating for a while his distribution is abysmal.
I am much more positive this season than last. Getting prima donna’s like the Podence, Nunes and Lopetegui out of the club is a major plus for me.
Lets judge the team later in the season. GON has done an awful lot in a short space of time. You are not going to dominate teams like Liverpool for 90 minutes. Jota would be first choice striker for us, he is probably 5th choice for them. It is not the likes of Liverpool we are competing with!
The gap between the top 6 isn’t widening. Being astute can be worth its weight in gold which is why the likes of Brentford, Brighton and hate to say it, Villa, are challenging the status quo never mind Newcastle with the backing they’ve received. There’s a top one (Man C) then Arsenal. The other European places are really up for grabs but not by us unfortunately.
Apart from Newcastle last season (who arguably now create a big 7 with their new financial clout) and the now relegated Leicester when they won the league in 15/16, no team outside the big 6 has finished in the top 4 over the last 10 seasons and only Everton once in the 10 seasons prior to that. The gap is definately widening and the big 6 is being cemented by design due to their popularity and subsequent TV viewing figures because of the vast advertising revenues that come with that popularity. The rest of us are fed crumbs from the kings table. It’s the European Super League by stealth Hindsight.
One of the substitutions may have been dubious but Lemina and Bellegarde were totally knackered so that forced O’Neil to replace them, ditto Ait Nouri who also had a knock and Semedo was crying out for more cover, hence Doc for Hwang. Only Silva coming on could really be criticised in my view yet many have been clamouring for him to be given more opportunities. If Silva hadn’t come on, some would be saying why not as he notched 3 while on international duty.
I am struggling to comment after having witnessed an exquisite first half performance followed by poor substitutions and a second half collapse
I appreciate that Sa is under criticism for his distribution that led to the second goal but he is still, a fantastic goal keeper that made some brilliant stops yesterday , unfortunately he becomes a scapegoat .The !big problem is game management. The fact that we have conceded 11 goals this season and 10 of those have come in the second half of the games is in my opinion the issue that needs a game plan built around it .
If we can’t see out the games then we need to start differently.
I’ll leave the who should play up front and who is useless there to the many who have commented on it above.
The (other) obvious thing to me was that the substitutions came too late. The team had played their hearts out 1st half. It needed refreshing for the inevitable Liverpool come back (their game v Newcastle anyone?).
Watched this in the bar of the hotel in olhao and guess what ??? 4 pool fans 2 from scouse land and 2 from ireland the women had the biggest gobs !
So we lost but i saw enough first half to believe gazz is getting somewhere with this lot after being here for such a short time the first half as we know was truly superb and caught the scousers well and truly by surprise.
The second was a lesson to our gary to pay attention to the wizardry of mr klopp . he doubled up on the left first which gaz reacted to ( full marks for that ) then he very quickly switched to the right which gaz reacted to too late.. goal number 1.. eventually he did see it but then because we were so concentrated on the wings being overloaded we forgot the middle and thats where klopp switched to next, 2 more goals job done .
They pulled us all over the place second half and it should be a lesson learnt and one we should use ourselves in the future .
The other problem is this obsession with the crown prince who imo is quite simply not up to it in any way shape or form it really is like playing with 10 men when he comes on its a shame because he tries his heart out but he needs another loan away and some fairy dust sprinkling on him.
Cunha couldnt finish his dinner so sasa has to be played at some point even if just for a target man then maybe Sa might be able to kick the ball straight and Cunha could run on to it miskick it and score.
Gaz your subs and your timing of them are pretty crap give your head a wobble and sort it out.
Still think we will tank luton and boost the confidence a tad before being kicked in the nuts by city.
Such fun !
I can’t believe some of the comments on here. We only spend £40m on a player and we expect him to be able to head a ball into an empty net from six yards. Some people’s expectations are so unrealistic. In Jeff and Jorge we trust, generational geniuses.
I thought my game plan of predicting a 3-1 loss was actually working at half time and was looking forward to an unexpected win. I’ve just watched the first half playback and, boy, were we good! Fragile defending is costing us big time… We’ve got to have Toti in that defence somewhere and hope that the new guy is useful also. The Cunha miss proved very costly; we know a one goal lead is not good enough in this league.
Sasa had to come on and Fraser is worth a look at for the last twenty when it is prudent . I’m a fan of Costa but he is nowhere near strong enough to lead the line yet; still a boy.
I’m expecting Neto to leave for Arsenal at Christmas, I’m afraid. It was great to see him getting his mojo back in the first half, but where was the finishing again?
To cheer yourselves up, just watch the first half on playback, and, yes, I do understand we have to play two halves, but we are capable, but badly need a good win. Next week could be very nervy or, with some luck and application, a turning point, regarding results.
Then I’ve got my ticket for the nearby Ipswich fixture and will be proud to be a little part of the away crowd for once. Hopefully; nothing’s ever sure in this game… COYW.
Debenham I like your positive perspective and sorry for being a devils advocate but being great for one half of a football match is like saying “ I was fantastic on my driving test until I hit the car in front … our pilot was magnificent on the flight, unfortunately the landing didn’t go so well…. My heart surgeon did a great job until the half way point, he just couldn’t handle the insertion of the new valves”
In other words, one half counts for sweet f.a., if you can’t handle 90:minutes+, you are ultimately doomed to failure, don’t torture yourself by kidding yourself otherwise. We are in the most competitive league in the world, half a job is no job at all.
I think that’s what I intimated and, having played for over forty years, am well aware of, having supported Wolves for over seventy years. Hence we need to improve and toughen the squad. Management have much to do, but, boy, did I enjoy the first half. I said at the start of the second half with their changes, they are overloading the wide positions and playing us at our own game which told as we tired and made poor decisions. I was gutted and played the first half to cheer me up. I now feel like sh**E again. Cheers. Only joking. It is a worrying time; but as a Wolves’ fan, that’s nothing new… ? ?
Agree. Following wolves is a lifetime act of penitence. Lots of suffering with a promised redemption at the end. Personally, I think this faith thing is overrated ?
I watched Forest/Burnley last night. Forest were s***e. Forest first 2 home games Sheff U and Burnley. Wolves Brighton and Liverpool. It’s a long season.
Well, Thomas was dead right in his 3-1 prediction, and others may have been as well. I’m not downhearted as I thought the score flattered Liverpool. In fact we seem to play better against the bigger teams. Also, our blip against Brighton can be reevaluated in the light of their great win at Old Trafford.
Positives yesterday were many. Neto was awesome. A great debut by Bellegarde. Negatives? Have to include Silva. He came on with a good 30 minutes left. His chief threat seems to be running at the opposing keeper in the hope of nicking the ball away. He’s like an eager puppy wanting to play against a big dog! Forget that son against a top four keeper, and save your energy. The two goals against Palace came from Neto assists out wide into the penalty box. Neto was lethal out wide in the first half yesterday. Who can forget that nutmeg before laying on a gilt-edged chance for Cunha? Sasa would have put that away. Why we didn’t sling Sasa on at 60 minutes instead of Silva I will never know. The second half was crying out for a Neto cross onto Sasa’s head in the box. Regrettably Sa was a negative too yesterday, The awful flap against that cross in the first half and the miss-timed kick upfield leading directly to a goal. His confidence may be low, and I would rest him against Luton.
I don’t think the fixture list has been very kind to us. Next home game Citeh. Another defeat on the cards. That will be 3 of the current top 4 at home. Having said that away at Man U Everton and Palace you would probably have taken 3 points from those. Key is to not get too down about things. There are 4 or 5 sides down there we can finish above. There will be a lot of focus on Luton away. Fans will be looking at that as a big opportunity to secure 3 points. Me included. It doesn’t always work out that way. We need to stay with GON and the team. But results are what counts. J Lo was able to grind out 8 or 9 wins and keep us up. . This is the ballpark we are in. Sooner or later GON needs to get some wins and points on the board. They always say a point a game will probably keep you from relegation. I will be looking for that ratio over the next half dozen games. Just to keep us above water. Can GON deliver ?
Surprised no one has mentioned the farcical Villa penalty yesterday. How many have we had that were actually clear penalties and not given and yet this is given. Even VAR said have anothet look yet still given. I sometimes wonder what Wolves are up against.
I was going to bring up Newcastle’s pen against Brentford.. unbelievable…
The pundits even suggested that because it was at the Gallowgate end .. the crowd pressure would have swayed the decision… what a suggestion ..!
Seems like there are rules and Gsllowgate End rules ..
In point form, these are my ideas for improving our team.
1. Silva is wasted as a CF. Should be a left back (preferably left back home where he cannot do much wrong).
2. All players must do 45 mins daily shooting practise. Just shoot on the run. At goal.!! Tommy Doyle seems to have the right shooting skills – use him.
3. Sa needs to stop rushing to start a quick counter attack – Adama is no longer playing for us.
4. When we start to fade (like in the 46th minute), change to 3 at the back + wingbacks.
5. Bring on fresh legs sooner.
6. Having a 6’7″ CF available, how about we get someone who can launch some long throw ins. Surely shouldn’t be too difficult.
7. Finally, can we try and convince the FA to give points to the team that is winning the first half.
Fantastic in the first half. Neto looking like the player he was a few years ago as he gave the Liverpool defence nightmares. Unplayable.
He’s made a great start to the season and let’s hope he is well and truly back. Sadly, he tired in the second half as did the whole team. Everything we did right in the first half, aggression, quality, not giving them a chance to settle, we did the complete opposite in the second as we basically allowed them to dictate the game.
Granted, Liverpool brought on an extra attacker to help shift the dynamic and they immediately smothered us. We appeared to panic from that moment and we had a long old time to survive at 1-1.
A poor mistake from Sa, even if we could see his intention. No-one tracking Robertson’s run as he sauntered through with the freedom of Molineux was also criminal.
How it could have been different if Cunha’s chance went in. It looked easier to score. A real shame, not only because it ultimately cost us, but also because his overall game has been so good. He just appears to lack that killer instinct.
Fabio was way off it. Nothing came off and the ball just seems to bounce off him. I’m really rooting for him as I know there’s a goalscorer there but for whatever reason, it’s not happening here and his confidence looks shot.
The same which can’t be said of Hwang, who has started the season really well. Say what you like about his overall game but if he’s scoring goals even on a semi-regular basis he has to be in the team as that’s exactly what we’ve been missing for so long.
More positives in Bellegarde, who looks one hell of a player. Oozes class and carries the ball in the similar fashion to Cunha. They couldn’t handle him at times. He looks to be a really smart buy, considering how much we sold Nunes for.
The overall take away? Plenty of positives. It’s the old adage if we keep playing like that we’ll be fine but we have to be able to adapt to different situations, and Luton will be just that.
We wilted at Palace and against Brighton and, if you’re being harsh, we did on Saturday too, albeit against world-class opposition. Luton; zero points, Kenilworth Road bouncing… it’s already giving me nightmares. They will be targeting this one as a victory, we need to be up for the challenge.
Win that, we’re up to 6 points and things look a little brighter, before City come rolling into town.
Maybe Gary’s approach is unrealistic. A marathon runner can’t run at sprinter speeds for the whole race. Neither can a 5 K runner.
Are the athletes not in shape yet or is Gary’s plan flawed?
Maybe he can switch the forwards early in the second half if they seem to be tiring.
Wolves surely have three on the bench who can come on when they are all healthy.
Is there a local radio station (FM) that has the Wolves match commentary?
WM 95.6 usually have commentary if it doesn’t clash with the Villa game
You can get full, audio commentary of all games on the wolves app …as regards radio then is bbc WM but its only local in the Midlands . That’s all I know
ta
I normally listen to wolves TV live audio coverage, it works fine everywhere I try it EXCEPT in the ground when my mobile phone grinds to a halt and stops working, possibly due to sharing the bandwidth with 30,000 other people.
I used to listen to radio Birmingham (WM) but it became so biased towards that team that won some competition in the early eighties that I had to stop listening.
I was hoping for another radio station like 107.7 etc but it looks like the only option is radio birmingham.
I’ve always thought that mobile signals get jammed in premier league games to stop people streaming games as it seems jhappen at all grounds and its really easy to do . Also at some grounds I seem to get a signal at half time . Maybe I’m wrong
Very interesting, prior to the match I was getting 260 mbs but just as the match started it went to 5 kbs, I think there is merit in your statement.
Could well be in nz it’s buffering and that’s at 2am no problem at peak time though
My TV channel didn’t at first show the game recorded so when I eventually got to watch it I already knew the score.
So it was a bizarre experience,……even after 50 minutes I/m thinking we must have had two players sent off to concede 3 goals to the Reds…but no, we find a way with all 11 on the pitch.
We are playing some really really nice football
We are making some really really bad substitutions,,,both in timing and personnel
WE are all pretty much on the same page…why not GON?
Play the giraffe….sell the Boy Prince…keep Neto fit and fast track the lad from Citeh and 5 at the back when its needed ( Toti is good)
OODCL
We will be fine I think, but another anxious 6 months ahead I’m afraid.
Reply to MW
You are spot on with your analysis of the Liverpool match and one or two of our other matches
I wrote in a blog at the end of last season that we should be looking now at 16 man teams and making good use of the ones that don’t start
We unfortunately haven’t yet done this. There are players that appear to me to be out on their feet because they’ve given everything they’ve got but they don’t get subbed with fresh legs and fresh ideas
I think after ten games in we should be reviewing our position and go from there
We have played at times some lovely football but individual errors have cost us dearly
Another of our bloggers suggested reverting to a five at the back which I think is an excellent idea which would be of great benefit against strong opposition
Come on you Wolves
In lots of ways a jolly good evening. Vile lost in Poland to some average side. Still fully expect them to storm through with a 1982 style burst. We all know how hood they are.