Dull as ditchwater FC

[sycophantia]

I think the reason we don't generally let in many goals isn't because we have amazing individuals in defence but because we prioritise defensiveness as a whole team. Our attacking strength has almost exclusively come when in transition.

That's served us well, but moving away from that when we still have similar personnel with similar traits leaves us in a bit of a halfway house.

It may be the first rough stage of an evolution, and it currently isn't harming us points-wise, but I think it's fair to muse on these issues.

Aside from Semedo as a straight swap for Doc and Marcal as Jonny cover, I can't quite make sense of our summer recruitment either. They look like players with potential for sure, but I'm surprised we didn't get a solid midfielder who could really contribute to this style development

think these are all fair comments, its early days, as for the youngsters we've bought in, we'll see in a few months time if that was the right move.
i'm a bit surprised Vitinha hasn't been on the bench, would have thought yesterday at about the 60 minute mark would have been a good time to give him a run out, stil not sure if he's been bought in as an eventual replacement for Moutinho or as more as an attacking midfield option. As he's only on loan surely he needs to start to feature sooner rather than later

 

[YoungWolf]

I wondered if Vitinha hasn't been fully fit. He's been in the training videos but to not even be on the bench in the last two games I think it's more likely he came back from international break with a knock or something.

 

[Derby Wolf]

Interesting article on The Athletic from TS this morning, highlighting how many appearances it’s been without scoring for certain players (I assume Boly is in there because he’s perceived as a threat from set pieces).
Simply put, if we lose Raul we are in big trouble. Some of the others need to start chipping in.

PLAYER	APPEARANCES WITHOUT SCORING
Adama Traore	25
Joao Moutinho	31
Ruben Neves	32
Willy Boly	33

Theres definitely a valid point there with the others but for 15 of those 33 games Boly was out with his injury. Can't score on crutches.

You'd likewise consider Dendoncker a threat but his last goal was Everton so whilst valid there's definitely some selective statistics going on here.

 

[Dire Wolf]

In my opinion, whether it's a transition in style thing, a lack of goalscorers thing, a generally defensive mindset thing, we are certainly not as entertaining to watch as you would like, nor as entertaining as we have previously been. Neutrals or non Wolves fans I know used to say what a fun to team to watch we were, now their view is that we are a bit boring. I don't think they are wrong.

But it only seems to have been since the return from lockdown that this has happened. There were games pre lockdown break where we were pretty dynamic and fun, but apart from one or two good displays, over the last few months we really haven't produced a lot of exciting games. We are dull. Pragmatic, and we can grind out a few good results, but we aren't very exciting to watch anymore. I hope that changes.

 

[sycophantia]

In my opinion, whether it's a transition in style thing, a lack of goalscorers thing, a generally defensive mindset thing, we are certainly not as entertaining to watch as you would like, nor as entertaining as we have previously been. Neutrals or non Wolves fans I know used to say what a fun to team to watch we were, now their view is that we are a bit boring. I don't think they are wrong.

But it only seems to have been since the return from lockdown that this has happened. There were games pre lockdown break where we were pretty dynamic and fun, but apart from one or two good displays, over the last few months we really haven't produced a lot of exciting games. We are dull. Pragmatic, and we can grind out a few good results, but we aren't very exciting to watch anymore. I hope that changes.

We've always been cautious, pragmatic etc since we've been back in the Premier league, its just we haven't been as explosive on the break for a while, not sure what the reason is, probably other teams have changed to combat it. Nuno alluded to the fact we needed to change or at least tweek our style after the Seville game, I guess we're in transition

 

[Dire Wolf]

We've always been cautious, pragmatic etc since we've been back in the Premier league, its just we haven't been as explosive on the break for a while, not sure what the reason is, probably other teams have changed to combat it. Nuno alluded to the fact we needed to change or at least tweek our style after the Seville game, I guess we're in transition

This is true, we have based our play on a solid defence. But we also could carve teams open with quick passing and fast break attacks that created plenty of chances. We did that against Sheff Utd but since then we rarely look capable of carving a Christmas turkey let alone a Premier League defence. It's disappointing to watch how ponderous our attacking play can be at the moment, knowing that we are capable of some great stuff when we turn it on. We just don't turn it on very much.

 

[AndyWolves]

Is Nuno the right man going forward? I know it sounds massively entitled to even raise the question so I'll accept any abuse that comes my way.

I feel we've hit a bit of a plateau in where we've got to and our pragmatic style will ultimately only get us so far. I'd really like us to keep that pragmatism when required but also be more adventurous when we need to be.

I don't have any issues with the formation, I've always been a fan of 3 CBs, I just wish we could be more adventurous sometimes in how we approach games

 

[sycophantia]

Think Nuno has earned the right to a bit of patience from us, I know we're a tough watch at times atm but that comes with being a football fan, as I said earlier he has had one full week with all the players together so far this season

 

[sycophantia]

Is Nuno the right man going forward? I know it sounds massively entitled to even raise the question so I'll accept any abuse that comes my way.

I feel we've hit a bit of a plateau in where we've got to and our pragmatic style will ultimately only get us so far. I'd really like us to keep that pragmatism when required but also be more adventurous when we need to be.

I don't have any issues with the formation, I've always been a fan of 3 CBs, I just wish we could be more adventurous sometimes in how we approach games

well yes that does sound entitled, its a problem with the modern sense of wanting everything and wanting it all now... satisfaction from football (and life) is never that straight forward, give the guy a chance, its a bit soon to start questioning whether Nuno can progress his own career as well as Wolves

 

[prawnking]

Is Nuno the right man going forward? I know it sounds massively entitled to even raise the question so I'll accept any abuse that comes my way.

I feel we've hit a bit of a plateau in where we've got to and our pragmatic style will ultimately only get us so far. I'd really like us to keep that pragmatism when required but also be more adventurous when we need to be.

I don't have any issues with the formation, I've always been a fan of 3 CBs, I just wish we could be more adventurous sometimes in how we approach games

I'm some way away from thinking about succession to Nuno, but I don't think it's heretical to talk about these issues. It'll happen some day. We all know that in general the PL is pretty hire em/fire em, even if that doesn't seem to be Fosun's way.

I doubt Nuno is unaware of his pragmatic nature, and I'm sure he's trying to evolve along with the team.

I think as soon as we up the adventurousness we increase the risk of conceding more regularly, and I think working on that balance will take up a large chunk of this season.

I think it's fine to question any manager privately, for me though Nuno has so much credit it would take a huge collapse to start eroding that bond, and even though we've been unconvincing this season the points haul has still been good. We just don't want to be under-performing AND not getting points.

I think fans (and players) do get tired of managers and want something new, and we forget that new managers always bring their own Achilles heels and favourites and blind spots.

 

[PuntsWolf]

A friend as told me a stat that in the last two and a bit years in the PL we have had 60% possession or more in 11 games. We have only won one of them.

And that game was... Man City!

 

[YoungWolf]

We just don't want to be under-performing AND not getting points.

This is my main concern right now. We've got away with it to a certain degree so far, but it isn't sustainable. As I've said earlier, I think we are playing catch up fitness wise so I think performances will improve much like they did last season, but we need to do that pretty soon.

 

[Premier Quality]

Nuno is clearly the man to take us through this evolution, we’re lucky to have him.

I am looking forward to playing a LWB at LWB though, it’s so important to our system.

 

[sycophantia]

Bloody hell.....some sensible views on here this morning

 

[YoungWolf]

Nuno is clearly the man to take us through this evolution, we’re lucky to have him.

I am looking forward to playing a LWB at LWB though, it’s so important to our system.

Yep, get Ait-Nouri in for me. I think Marcal will play there in games where maybe we are trying to defend a little deeper but against Palace I'd be trying to avoid the same issues we found yesterday

 

[sycophantia]

Yep, get Ait-Nouri in for me. I think Marcal will play there in games where maybe we are trying to defend a little deeper but against Palace I'd be trying to avoid the same issues we found yesterday

I'd love to see him in against Palace but Nuno's cautiousness extends to chucking new players in early....looking forward to it

 

[Tredman]

If not RAN we must start Marcal.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

This is my main concern right now. We've got away with it to a certain degree so far, but it isn't sustainable. As I've said earlier, I think we are playing catch up fitness wise so I think performances will improve much like they did last season, but we need to do that pretty soon.

I don't quite subscribe to the first bit:

Deserved to beat Sheff Utd, Fulham and Leeds. And we did.

Deserved to beat Newcastle, didn't thanks to the only shot on target they had in the entire second half.

Didn't deserve anything vs City although created enough in the second half that we could have nicked something.

Deserved to get battered by West Ham, got away with 0-4, we were awful.

Don't care about the League Cup.

I think if anything we're slightly below what our performances have merited, basically thanks to that poxy wall and ridiculous free kick award.

 

[Jabbawolf]

I’m glad there has been some good debate - my post was intended to be provocative - no doubt that Nuno is the man, but I just want him to be a bit more adventurous with the players we have.

 

[sycophantia]

I’m glad there has been some good debate - my post was intended to be provocative - no doubt that Nuno is the man, but I just want him to be a bit more adventurous with the players we have.

When I saw the title, I was a bit 'shit, this is going to be a moan fest' but actually its been an enjoyable discussion. I think we 'd all like to see a more adventurous style and I think we will do eventually