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Wolves - Middlesbrough 24/10/15 Verdict Thread

I also put this more onto the manager than the players to be honest.
I thought we had a pretty good first half. Some decent passages of play, a few interchanges that worked, and a really good goal. I was relatively optimistic. My only concern was the back 4 didn't look solid to me - the instinct was that boro would score.

It was interesting that the side was still lop sided - although I suspect this was tactical. In the first half, Coady clearly had licence to push forward - MacDonald was regularly with/in front of the back 4, whereas Coady and Edwards were pushing up supporting Afobe. VLP was also very forward, yet Byrne was frequently behind Doherty, with Doherty almost tucking in as an extra CB at times.

I thought Byrne did fairly well. Looked to run with the ball, some nice touches, and wanted to link play up. There were also times when he ran on for a return ball that never came, but should have.

Hause was excellent til his injury. Best defender on the pitch.

Our goal was very well worked, and really, at HT we were, like the Derby game, in the ascendency.

KJ's changes fucked things up though. VLP being so far forward occupied Friend & Boros right side. When Henry came on, he played a lot more defensively because of his lack of pace. That allowed Boro to hammer our left hand side, which they did repeatedly through the 2nd half. Prior to the change, boro were wary of VLPs pace being a threat. KJs own sub changed all that. You saw us retreat further throughout the 2nd half. The end result became inevitable because of our own tactics. We should've come out for the 2nd half firing, aiming to score within 10 minutes. Had we done so, we'd have won at a canter. Instead, trying to preserve a 1-0 lead was a farcical choice, and blew up in our faces.

The 2nd half ref does have to have some culpability, because players who were repeatedly cautioned in the first half had a fresh start. In reality boro should have had at least 1 CB sent off for accumulation of challenges. The foul on Golbourne was right in front of me, & clear as day, his shin was taken. The foul on Edwards too - shocking that the ref thinks a mans leg is the same as getting the ball. Clear yellow card all day. And how Afobe can be given offside for running around a defender I really do not know. Also, they cleared 3 or 4 off the line, at least 2 of those were by players who should have been sent off.

Martinez - could have done better with the first I guess. Allowed Nugent to hamper his kicking for too long imo.
Doherty - had an ok game.
Baath - again, ok. Nothing spectacular.
Hause - I really thought he was excellent. I hope his injury isn't serious. Pick of the defenders on display.
Golbourne - one superb cross that highlighted what a good player he used to be. Wish he'd do that more often. Did ok with VLP, struggled when Henry came on. If his foot injury hasn't improved, I'd be looking at this position with some urgency.
Coady - offered absolutely nothing in the first half. Needs to consider his yellow card a game mentality. However, needs to improve his contribution. So far, I see little to suggest he's an upgrade on Jack Price. Did ok at CB.
McDonald, - had moments when he was great, but as has been said, didn't do it for 90 minutes. I think I'd be looking to upgrade tbh. He did make some excellent challenges on the ground to cut up play.
Byrne - don't get the negativity, thought he did well. Wanted the ball, wanted to be involved. Did a lot of defensive work. Did a lot up and down the right hand side. Looked to create, importantly was the one player who DIDN'T slow things down, & there's hope for me there. Start the blues game please.
VLP - caused concern for the boro defence, and we fell apart a bit when he came off down that side. My instinct was that if anyone should make way, it should be him, however the change was wrong - Henry shouldn't have been the one. Perhaps Ojo, though I agree with slink, I don't get the point in him being here.
Edwards - I thought he had a very good game. Cracking goal, some good movement and runs with the ball, and a few very good tackles.
Afobe - immense. How he didn't get a goal is beyond me. Thought he was superb.

Subs
Price - Almost had a super goal, save for a goal line clearance. I believe he should be a starter every week purely for his communicating and organising abilities.
Henry - Totally ineffective on the left. Looked far better on the right for a few minutes. Wrong substitution by KJ.
Ojo - as stated, not sure what his game is, or, I have to ask if we're playing to his strengths.

KJ - fucked it up. Stop this defensive crap. Play more confidant attacking football. We've goals in us. Stop worrying about other teams, and play to the genuine strengths we have. Because to me, it doesn't look like we're doing that.

The good stuff - seeing darlo, aiki & sam, deutsch, paddy, parkin and a few others, meeting lycan & brother darlo!
 
The decision to sell Stearman for "footballing" reasons is now coming home to roost. So many people questioned the decision. Looks like they have been vindicated.

Selling Stearman was deff a serious error and I do not understand it in any way.
 
I wish we'd taken a leaf out of their book tbh. If someone had taken the opportunity early on to actually make contact with Fabbrini maybe he wouldn't have made us look so foolish chasing him around.

They did the exact same thing to us at the Riverside last year. It's not cheating, it's clever and I wish we'd do it more. I've said it before, we're far too nice to our opponents.

That is a very interesting point. Did you like Kevin Muscat? I did when he played for us. I'd have hated him if he played against us.
 
Noticed the Middlesbrough fans were holding up a "£20s Plenty" banner before kick-off. What were Wolves charging them in the away end?
 
Noticed the Middlesbrough fans were holding up a "£20s Plenty" banner before kick-off. What were Wolves charging them in the away end?

£27 In that stand I think.
 
Wasn't there a major child abuse issue in Middlesbrough in the early 90's? So area where a major event happened + scummy child abuser celeb = he is one of yours.
 
Just watched the goals, the penalty could have been given as a free kick on the edge of the box on another day.
 
A major stretch giving he hasn't palyed for them since 2010.

I know. It was weird.

Coming from the same guys who sang 'there's only one Bin Laden' at a Sikh PNE fan though. That particular group aren't known for their wit.
 
Wasn't there a major child abuse issue in Middlesbrough in the early 90's? So area where a major event happened + scummy child abuser celeb = he is one of yours.

Yes in Cleveland in the late 80's I think. Families who were innocent were having their kids taken off them by social services. We used to sing "what's it like to shag your kids" to them, so you could argue we've evolved slightly in 25 years
 
He was buried in Scarborough too, but I don't think they actually put up a statue. There was a headstone. There was a statue of him in Glasgow IIRC.
 
Whatever, the guy was scum. Just a sham he didn't get done when he was alive.
 
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