Wolves 1-0 Olympiacos: We're All (virtually) Off To Germany Verdict Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

Ach, let's face it, they outplayed us for 70 minutes. They were excellent. It's a long, long, long time since I've seen a team do that at Molineux. Probably even pre-Nuno, none of our PL losses have followed that pattern. It was like us in the 90s when teams would just pass round us.

But we got the job done. You don't know how delighted I am with that, especially after the week I've had. I've had to watch it on my own, in the dark, with a pint of orange squash and a pack of painkillers, but I don't care. We're going to the quarter finals of a European competition.

Rui, Rui, Rui. What a Wolves legend already.

 

[Deano]

Proud of the players, they were up against it against a good team tonight apart from a couple of lapses they were as well organised as normal. the few times they got in Patricio was excellent.

Loved the bit at the end where all the staff were huddled and Nuno told them all that they were fantastic but "it's not done" - we have made a European quarter final something I never thought I'd be able to say in my life time. We now probably have to beat Sevilla , united and inter to win it - going into the games knowing we are underdogs in them all but also knowing at our best we can beat them all.

 

[jd1981]

Really had to dig deep there doesn’t matter how you progress as long as you do. Tuesday night is effectively playing a CL side who wouldn’t look out of place in the last 8 of that competition. Performance levels need to go up by a number of gears to stand a chance.

 

[prawnking]

Fantastic achievement, lots of improvements needed if we're going to go further, but even if we don't this is a bit of a landmark. And it's knockout football so you never know.

I'd like to see our counter attacks a little more clinical and we need Jota and Traore firing on all cylinders again, but Rui was just outstanding.

My kids are ecstatic tonight and thanks to Nuno and all the players for this. I keep reminding them that I started watching us with three sides to the ground, and I'm so happy to be watching this phenomenal era with them

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Sevilla are very good.

But let me remind you that a Paul Lambert Wolves team won at Anfield. Deserved to as well. You don't know.

 

[Charlie Wolf]

Defensively we were solid and equally proud of the lads tonight

With some extra guile quality and confidence we could have won by two or three, but hey that’s Wolves

No criticism from me we were great

 

[Jabbawolf]

They were a good side - outplayed us through midfield and down the flanks - kudos to Rui and the back three - apart from that, no great shakes.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Sevilla are very good.

But let me remind you that a Paul Lambert Wolves team won at Anfield. Deserved to as well. You don't know.

We need all eleven to be at the top of their game to progress. And as always a little luck would help!

We are always in it in a one off game

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Statue of Rui outside the Mol if we win it!

Overjoyed at the result, it was a tough watch and they played very, very well. Can't say I enjoyed their goal being chalked off, its just not football, but under the circumstances I'll take it.

Well sone wolves and Nuno, off to Germany we go...

 

[slink]

Sevilla are very good.

But let me remind you that a Paul Lambert Wolves team won at Anfield. Deserved to as well. You don't know.

They are and they have a very good manager and a squad that have improved throughout the season. They were excellent tonight and i would say at our best we are as good but as i said in the matchday thread we aren't at our best so i think it will be a game too far but Wolves are in a Europa League quarter final, never thought i'd be able to say that. As you said in the OP we were outplayed for the majority of the game tonight but Tuesday is a different game and who knows.

 

[Jinky]

I’m amazed we didn’t concede with the number of crosses they put in throughout the second half. FINALLY a decision goes our way with VAR and Rui had a worldly.

We can’t play with those tactics and expect to win against a side like Sevilla (or Utd, or Inter), but I don’t see Nuno having an alternative in such a short space of time. Not a huge fan of calling out individual players, but Jota was absolutely terrible this evening. Traore not much better and as I said in the match day thread, I still think Adama is better used off the bench as an impact player. I’d personally go with Neto/Raul/Podence on Tuesday.

Blow to lose Jonny - hope it’s nothing serious but didn’t look great and not much time to recover. He would have been massive for us with his pressing style against some top sides.

All that said, delighted to get through - well done to them all. Quarter finals of the Europa league. Bloody hell.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Phew. Rode our luck and missed opportunities to make it a lot more comfortable. It’s hard to believe we’ve got to the quarterfinals when not too long ago we were watching successive 0-0 draws in the Championship under Jackett. Our organisations and desire got us over the line and who knows how far that can take us?

 

[Parkins left foot]

We weren't that great - but we won so I'm not really that fussed

Thanks to Rui & the back 3 who managed to repel everything (oh and VAR as well - would have been livid if that had been chalked off for us)

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Overjoyed at the result, it was a tough watch and they played very, very well. Can't say I enjoyed their goal being chalked off, its just not football, but under the circumstances I'll take it.

I don't think it's off (well, not from my 30+ years of watching football anyway) but then their shite keeper jumps into Saiss and gets a foul for nothing, so...

Jota was good when he came on - we needed him as Adama was a disaster tonight - but please sort out your one on ones man! Just a first time sidefoot there and he could hardly miss. Tie over. Might have saved me a lot of stress.

Or save your goal for Tuesday

 

[The Bion]

It's a bit odd as we played 3-5-2 for the best part of the 2nd half of last season and I don't remember us retreating anywhere near as much as we tend to now. I guess it has to be energy conservation due to the long season, which would be totally understandable. We're really going to be pushing it to try that for another 3 games, mind.

Podence getting suspended, and for something so daft, is a real pity as well. He was (again) bright and lively, pretty much the only one who was, and we're going to miss that. Neto has to come in for me, but I'm not sure Nuno will do it.

Rui earned his crust tonight and then some. Never really looked flustered either, what a guy. Thought Neves stepped up a bit 2nd half as well, he won the ball high up the pitch more than once and it should've led to more.

Well, here's to a few days of watching other teams suffer. We're the underdogs now, for sure - somehow I think it'll suit us though.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Jota was absolutely terrible this evening.

Absolutely disagree mate. Link play was fine, gave us plenty of legs but crucially gave us plenty defensively. A lot of interceptions back in our half and doubling up where they'd tried to overload on their right. Not a glamorous job but he did it very well.

Of course he should score but such is life.

 

[jd1981]

This is the elite level now said it this morning we’ve just beaten a side who’ve coasted to their league title and could easily have been unbeaten. They’re a very experienced European side so it was no surprise we had some backs against the wall moments.
We have to improve Tuesday but I think the fact it’s a one off gives us a better chance don’t need to worry about away goals etc.

 

[Jinky]

Absolutely disagree mate. Link play was fine, gave us plenty of legs but crucially gave us plenty defensively. A lot of interceptions back in our half and doubling up where they'd tried to overload on their right. Not a glamorous job but he did it very well.

Of course he should score but such is life.

Constantly made the wrong decisions. Should have scored. Even at the end, literally as the final whistle blew, he miss-hit a pass straight to their centre back. No idea what’s going on with him at the moment.

That said, wrong night to be critical. I’m delighted to get through, but I would go with Neto ahead of Jota as it stands (not writing him off in any shape or form, FYI. He’s just lacking in some form and we’re not blessed with time to let him play himself back in to it).

 

[YoungWolf]

We just deservedly went through against a very good team. Started the game really well, good intensity, capitalised on their mistakes. And throughout the game, we’ve had the better chances. They accumulated plenty of shots from distance plus a header in the box (not as easy a chance as people will have you believe).

I thought Vinagre did okay but he doesn’t defend as intelligently as Jonny (obviously) as he gets too tight to Saiss or presses too early, so it created space down that side at times. Saiss covered that side amazingly I thought, really assured performance from him when it could have been more chaotic.

Best Raúl has played in a while, the break did him good and Podence is a really quality footballer. Such a shame that Jota essentially did the same thing as he did against Everton as again he got himself in good positions while he was on the pitch (Podence should have passed to him when he had his shot). He does look short of confidence still, for sure.

For all their possession they really didn’t create a lot, I think to say they outplayed us is unfair in my opinion. From 75-85 I don’t think we got the balance right but for the final minutes we killed the game really well.

Sevilla will be an even tougher challenge so I hope we have Jonny back, and that we can field a full strength team. Hopefully this has served as good preparation!

 

[MobNet Wolf]

Cup football is about being in the next round. Tonight was a resounding success.

Maybe not the composure we’re used to, but you win in whatever way presents itself.

352 for me on Tuesday. I think we need to hark back to our most disciplined games of last season (when we were a greater underdog).