Brighton v Wolves (A) 02/01: Buildup and Matchday Thread

[AndyWolves]

Plenty of selection options, I couldn't really argue that strongly against anyone else's choices, although I do think we should go four at the back for this.

I've chosen the team I feel is most likely to get goals for us.

Adama gets a bench break for me, not sure what's wrong with him but he looks like he needs a rest or something. Going to give Vitinha a start and see what he can do.

Toyed with Otasowie but chose Moutinho's experience as I've already selected a few young lads

Rui

Hoever Coady Saiss RAN
Neves Moutinho
Podence Vitinha Neto
Silva​

Maybe even have Saiss at LB

 

[Tredman]

I’m genuinely amazed at people picking Podence - he pretty much turned the game against Utd, unfortunately it wasn’t turned in our favour. One of the worst performances I’ve seen in a very long time.

 

[AndyWolves]

I’m genuinely amazed at people picking Podence - he pretty much turned the game against Utd, unfortunately it wasn’t turned in our favour. One of the worst performances I’ve seen in a very long time.

Didn't he get nobbled within a few minutes of being on the pitch?

 

[Paul]

Didn't he get nobbled within a few minutes of being on the pitch?

Yes and he was only on 30 minutes but Tredman wants him shot at dawn

 

[Premier Quality]

Didn't he get nobbled within a few minutes of being on the pitch?

Someone trod on his Achilles and he couldn’t run properly - he should have been subbed

 

[MARKakaJIM]

He was wank, barely involved in anything and the team completely lost it's shape once he was introduced. If the 'injury' that had much effect on him then he shouldn't be playing again a couple of days later. Either way he's not in my side.

Think Brighton are still playing three at the back? So I'd go with the same team that started against United but swap Silva in for Traore. Maybe put Otasowie in for one of Neves or Moutinho if there are fitness concerns.

 

[redvictor]

Someone trod on his Achilles and he couldn’t run properly - he should have been subbed

On the latter not only that match, but the previous one too. I don't think he'll be in the starting 11 to be honest.

 

[sycophantia]

Hmm, wonder if Podence is going to be the new Traore.
He wasn't very effective but he did get trampled as soon as he came on. Also he came on (followed not long after by Silva) and they both struggled to get involved in an attacking sense, mainly due to us not being able to get any kind of control as most of the team were out on their feet.
Personally I'd persevere with him for now if he's not injured, especially if we play with 4 at the back....I'm hoping we have more attacking intent such as today

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I like Podence generally, he seems much more willing to take a gamble in possession than pretty much anyone else in the team. When you're setting up in a generally conservative way you need someone with that mindset to try and break the tedium of safe pass after safe pass to give the opposition something to worry about.

However, against United I can think of barely anything good to say about his performance. He's had performances before where he's struggled to get involved much or his risky use if possession has failed far more than it's succeeded, that happens and I can happily accept that. My biggest gripe last time out was how the shape just fell apart with his introduction, he was often the furthest forward of that front three and considering he was generally in the centre of it I'd expect he was meant to be the deepest, as Vitinha had been. I think that poor positioning was pivotal to Wolves' increasing lack of control as the game went on, he was too far forward to pick up any loose balls or offer the other midfielders an easy out ball but at the same time he wasn't doing anything in advanced areas to trouble United when they had position. He spent almost his entire appearance in no man's land, affecting nothing, injury or not that is unforgivable for me. I'd like to think a professional would take the view that if they mobility had been severely limited, not sure it really was but hey ho, then play with a bit more caution and keep yourself in areas you can actually do something, don't take yourself out of the game entirely.

 

[Tony Towner]

Can't comment on the United performance specifically, but this side lacks goals - less than one a game, so if fit not playing one of the 2 players who look like they have a goal in them in open play seems counter intuitive to me.

 

[prawnking]

I’m genuinely amazed at people picking Podence - he pretty much turned the game against Utd, unfortunately it wasn’t turned in our favour. One of the worst performances I’ve seen in a very long time.

I agree, he had a stinker against Utd, but Adama had a poor second half himself.

As much as I want to persevere with Adama he just doesnt look on the ball right now, whether he's carrying a knock or just tired.

Podence starts over Adama for me but it's not a huge endorsement in itself

 

[prawnking]

Can't comment on the United performance specifically, but this side lacks goals - less than one a game, so if fit not playing one of the 2 players who look like they have a goal in them in open play seems counter intuitive to me.

This is also why I wouldn't go with Andy's suggestion of the possibility of Saiss at LB.

I'd keep Saiss in the team at CB for his goal threat but for me we need one of our FBs/WBs to have (in theory) something to offer in the opposition half, so it's either RAN on the left or Semedo on the right for me

 

[YoungWolf]

Still think we should play 4231, think they will set up in 343, but may sit off us at times where we will need to be able to play forwards quickly, Podence with Neto and Traore outside him is the best way at the moment for me.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

Was discussing Podence with a few die hard Olympiacos fans today and without any help from me, whilst they rate him, his inconsistency , I.e. one game good one game bad, one half good, one half bad was the main feature of all their individual criticisms, and not all at the same time, and as I say, with no help from me.

 

[Johnny75]

I’m genuinely amazed at people picking Podence - he pretty much turned the game against Utd, unfortunately it wasn’t turned in our favour. One of the worst performances I’ve seen in a very long time.

As others have said he was nobbled and was poor.

Silva was equally as bad and the mistake was on Nuno for taking Vitinha off who was playing pretty well.

Booz's team for me. Traore was shockingly poor when Podence was on.

Bring him on with 30 minutes to go, hopefully when he can do some damage with his pace.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I hope Vitinha starts again. Would like Silva back in too.

 

[Tredman]

As others have said he was nobbled and was poor.

Silva was equally as bad and the mistake was on Nuno for taking Vitinha off who was playing pretty well.

Agree on Silva, but he at least did try.

 

[AndyWolves]

Players like Podence, Adama et Al will be inconsistent due to the nature of what they do and how they play.

They could retain possession, never get tackled or give the ball away but then that would take away their creative element which is why they're in the team.

It's why consistently good attacking players are worth so much money.

 

[The Bear]

Traore's poor second half was down to Luke Shaw coming on at half time and then Matic. They both physically got at him breaking up any counters he had with the ball.

 

[sycophantia]

Jota was often criticised for similar inconsistency, especially towards the end of his time here, in fact he was accused of being more often rubbish than good....now he's being lauded.....its the nature of flair players who often try the more difficult option. I'm hopeful he'll come good