Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: Verdict Thread

[Loki]

I probably get pelters for saying it, but I think Raul is not going to be the player he was.

Not from me. I was concerned about what effect his injury would have on him when/if he returned. I just hope Neto can come back with his pre-injury form.

 

[YoungWolf]

Zoom out and ignore the injury - he's been on a slow but steady decline that started sometime in winter 2019/20.

Sorry what

 

[Alan]

Zoom out and ignore the injury - he's been on a slow but steady decline that started since at least winter 2019/20.

Fucking thANK YOU

Actually not sure on that timeline but this started before his injury. He misses Jota desperately.

 

[Del Woppio]

First thought - the disallowed goal, from the only replay I've seen Xhaka knocked it straight in, yet offside was given?

Raul made a play for the ball so was classed as interfering. Rightly I think

 

[Jabbawolf]

First thought - the disallowed goal, from the only replay I've seen Xhaka knocked it straight in, yet offside was given?

He was forced to play it due to an offside Raul.

 

[Carsy]

First thought - the disallowed goal, from the only replay I've seen Xhaka knocked it straight in, yet offside was given?

Raul jumps for the header. Whether he connects or not he’s come across the eyeline and interferes with play

 

[pr0sl0]

Fucking thANK YOU

Actually not sure on that timeline but this started before his injury. He misses Jota desperately.

Not sure how much of it is Jota/the team around him - Jota wasn't looking like he'd turn out like he has, we wouldn't have accepted £45m for him otherwise - but for Raul the ratio of bad games to good was already starting to tip in the wrong direction in the second half of that 19/20 season.

I say "slow and steady" because it's not like he became ineffectual overnight, but if you could chart his impact on games the line of best fit would be on the same trajectory pre-injury as before. It's felt like he's become a little bit less of the player he was, month by month, for the last two years at least.

 

[WsWolf]

Fucking thANK YOU

Actually not sure on that timeline but this started before his injury. He misses Jota desperately.

So do I.

 

[YoungWolf]

Not sure how much of it is Jota/the team around him - Jota wasn't looking like he'd turn out like he has, we wouldn't have accepted £45m for him otherwise - but for Raul the ratio of bad games to good was already starting to tip in the wrong direction in the second half of that 19/20 season.

I say "slow and steady" because it's not like he became ineffectual overnight, but if you could chart his impact on games the line of best fit would be on the same trajectory pre-injury as before. It's felt like he's become a little bit less of the player he was, month by month, for the last two years at least.

This is rubbish. Scored 5 in 11 after project restart then 4 in 9 before the injury. His form at the start of that season was OK but he scored some brilliant goals. To say steady decline from winter 19/20 is nonsense. Think about his performances against city, Spurs, Southampton, Liverpool in that time before the pandemic

 

[WsWolf]

According to the sky stats we didn't create a single 'clear cut chance' which tallies with my thoughts really. We don't have great finishers anyway but the fact we don't create anything of quality for them means we'll always struggle. I think that's a mixture of personnel, tactics and style but it really needs a overhaul if we are to push further on.

 

[YoungWolf]

Fucking thANK YOU

Actually not sure on that timeline but this started before his injury. He misses Jota desperately.

Confirmation bias because you’ve been slagging him off all season

 

[Alan]

Confirmation bias because you’ve been slagging him off all season

Because he's been pish almost all season.

His influence from open play has been waning for a while, but he still could magic things out of nothing before the "incident". Now he isn't adding that nearly as often, if at all. He doesn't occupy defenders, he doesn't make clever runs, and he doesn't fight for the ball half the time.

It's not good enough.

 

[YoungWolf]

Because he's been pish almost all season.

His influence from open play has been waning for a while, but he still could magic things out of nothing before the "incident". Now he isn't adding that nearly as often, if at all. He doesn't occupy defenders, he doesn't make clever runs, and he doesn't fight for the ball half the time.

It's not good enough.

I’ve said nothing of his form this season. I think he’s had good games and bad games (more bad than good recently too) but jumping on the back of the “he’s been in decline since winter 19/20” is just such total shit

 

[pr0sl0]

This is rubbish. Scored 5 in 11 after project restart then 4 in 9 before the injury. His form at the start of that season was OK but he scored some brilliant goals. To say steady decline from winter 19/20 is nonsense. Think about his performances against city, Spurs, Southampton, Liverpool in that time before the pandemic

He didn't stop having good games overnight! But goals don't tell the whole story - his link play is such a big part of his influence as a player as well, and that's the time period when his all-round consistency began to fade a little (and then a little more, and then a little more...).

I want him to come good, and I certainly don't think we should get rid or anything. I'm holding out hope that it's down to the team around him as much as anything specific to him - after all, it's not like anyone else is clicking up front.

 

[Haggstone]

I dunno man, he wasn’t exactly prolific when we signed him. He had a great two years or so with us, the form of his life really. I do fear that maybe his career is going to fizzle out unless he finds something from somewhere. It doesn’t help that we don’t exactly lay easy chances on a plate for him but it’s more than that I think.

He’s very very fortunate to be alive, he’s just started a family. If I’m honest, my priorities and focus would shift if I was in his shoes.

 

[Mild 'n' Scratchins]

It's still a mystery to me that the powers that be, see fit to let Jordao and MGW go out on loan but keep Dendonker! It's not all on him, this defeat, but he does sweet FA! The performance is general had a lot of heart, as expected, but when it mattered, lacked quality in the final third, as we've sadly become accustomed too. Trincao the worst offender first half, take you pick second half. Pockets of sunshine from Podence but even he was frustrating. Raul is way, way off his game. Probably time to try Hwang again. Oh well, we lost to Arsenal tonight. You watch we'll go beat their rivals on Sunday!

 

[Del Woppio]

Raul has been poor for the majority of the season, there's no getting away from it. He he's had a few 20-30 minute spells where he looked 'back', but he's not managed to put together anything like a three game spell where he doesn't just look anonymous for most of it.

 

[Alan]

Louie, I've literally said in the post "not sure about the timeline".

I've gotten pelters for calling out Raul this season. So yeah, it's nice when someone finally agrees.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Raul made a play for the ball so was classed as interfering. Rightly I think

But that law has changed (wrongly)

 

[YoungWolf]

Louie, I've literally said in the post "not sure about the timeline".

I've gotten pelters for calling out Raul this season. So yeah, it's nice when someone finally agrees.

Look at how quickly we fall apart last season without him.