Wolves 0-0 Leicester: Verdict Thread

[Tony Towner]

Having Fabio as the only backup to Raul next year, would demonstrate we haven't learnt our lesson

 

[prawnking]

How do you propose Fabio becomes that plan B or even develop into plan A if his path into the team is being blocked? He won't develop by not playing any games.

I'm not proposing he doesn't play at all.

Nuno spent the money on him and it's up to him to decide when Fabio is ready, but so far he doesn't look ready and if Raul breaks his leg in 2021/22 gameweek 3 then I don't think we'll be looking too clever, unless the next six months see Fabio develop at a rapid rate. Which I'm not discounting, of course, but he'll still just be an 18 year old.

Like I said, maybe an option that can also play wide and stop us flogging both Raul and Pedro could be a happy medium.

 

[Tony Towner]

Amyway WJ is on loan for free to the end of this season. That suggests to me that the Summer purchase is an option in name only and will happen

 

[YoungWolf]

I haven't said Jose is necessarily the answer, but we've all been wringing our hands for the past three months and saying losing Raul is the reason our season nose-dived and Fabio isn't ready.

You don't call someone your best player then have no vaguely suitable plan B for their absence. Let's learn our lesson

Yeah it's going to be interesting what we do this summer isn't it?

I think if WJ does well we may well sign him. Might allow us to play 442/352 as well as the 4231/343. Give us three options for the two spaces rather than 3 into 1. I think Nuno wants the team to be more flexible (he's picked a strange time to start doing that a we've discussed), so maybe that will become the plan.

If we don't sign WJ we effectively have to pay a loan fee. I guess the alternative is what we have discussed previously in terms of a wide player/striker, but getting one equally good at both is also tough!

 

[YoungWolf]

Amyway WJ is on loan for free to the end of this season. That suggests to me that the Summer purchase is an option in name only and will happen

if we don't sign him there's a 'penalty' we have to pay for that.

 

[Tony Towner]

if we don't sign him there's a 'penalty' we have to pay for that.

Ah ok, hadn't seen that.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Jose and Jimenez competing up top and Silva off on loan for a year.

 

[prawnking]

If we don't sign WJ we effectively have to pay a loan fee. I guess the alternative is what we have discussed previously in terms of a wide player/striker, but getting one equally good at both is also tough!

I just don't want to leave Fabio exposed again, at least for next season. I don't see that helping his development either.

People make the Kane/Raul comparison, but when Spurs lose HK they still have senior players in Moura, Vinicius and Son that can do a job there. We don't.

 

[Premier Quality]

if we don't sign him there's a 'penalty' we have to pay for that.

Do we know how much it is?

 

[YoungWolf]

I just don't want to leave Fabio exposed again, at least for next season. I don't see that helping his development either.

People make the Kane/Raul comparison, but when Spurs lose HK they still have senior players in Moura, Vinicius and Son that can do a job there. We don't.

Yeah, that's why I'd be quite happy with a Son type who could do that role at that point. I like Hwang but we passed up the opportunity it seems and he went to Leipzig. Daka can play wide as well as up front I believe though...

Do we know how much it is?

No idea!

 

[Jinky]

There’s no scenario in my mind, where we don’t sign Jose this summer.

He looks excellent. Yes, slightly on the periphery of the Leicester game, but I don’t think that’s all on him.

He’s got a great touch, great awareness and good movement. The goals will come, that I am certain.

If we have an option to sign a forward who is seemingly good enough for this level (which he looks like he is) for less than £30 million, we absolutely must take it.

Fabio will still get minutes in the league here & there, he’ll no doubt start most cup matches - and he could even potentially go out on loan somewhere if we are comfortable with our options here.

For me, it’s not even a debate. We’ll sign WJ in the summer.

 

[AndyWolves]

For me it's a decision we make nearer the summer. It's still a bit too early to really know where either player will be in terms of ability come the start of next season.

 

[sycophantia]

For me it's a decision we make nearer the summer. It's still a bit too early to really know where either player will be in terms of ability come the start of next season.

This is my view too, which is why I'd like both Jose and Silva to get as much time on the pitch as possible, thought bringing on Silva for the last 30 minutes on Sunday was just about right.

 

[prawnking]

At full strength we have Semedo/Hoever/Jonny for the RB/RWB slot and Jonny/Marcal/RAN/Saiss for the LB/LWB, and neither position is as vital as that CF position.

Whether it's someone like WJ or a versatile senior player in the squad, it's clear we need someone to share the load with Fabio. I think it's very optimistic to think he'll be levels better by the end of summer

We've literally seen how the alternative plays out

 

[AndyWolves]

I'd have no problems at all with us going for someone who can play all across the front three. I'd be surprised if we signed WJ to share minutes with FS, I'm not sure WJ would be that keen either.

 

[Throbber3]

Raul behind WJ in a 4411 formation that Nuno used before at Porto I believe? I may have that wrong? Fabio can come on for either.

 

[Tony Towner]

After seeing WJ play I don't think either of them offers what you'd need to be the 10 in that system. I think it'd be too one paced

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Raul as a #10?!

 

[slink]

If Raul is fit and ready to go then for me it's a no to WJ. Not because he's not good enough but 3 players for that 1 position when 1 of them is nearly a guaranteed starter and the other you have invested a lot of money in time in and will need minutes then having another doesn't make sense to me if we're still going with 1 up top. Not having Raul as the 1 behind a striker either, he's a striker play him there.
If Raul/Fabio get injured then it leaves us where we have been before with either no sub to bring on or a young lad with a lot of pressure so for me we need to target a player who can play as a 10 but could also play upfront/false 9. That's not going to be easy though but would be a better solution than having 3 strikers for 1 position.

I know lots has been said about a Son type who could play wide or upfront and yes i get that too but if we're going to a formation with a player behind a striker we haven't got that player yet where we know we have at least 3 players who can play wide.

 

[YoungWolf]

Tbf, I reckon Raul would do a lot better job as a ten than Sagbo or Clarke

I reckon they'd have the makings of a decent partnership up top though. When we play 4231 we basically defend in a 442 anyway, too.