Well that was a really enjoyable game of football, probably our best away performance for a considerable time, and I was really impressed with how we approached the game. The penalty is my fault. I said - OUT LOUD - that "apart from the two bookings United should've had and the bookings for Neto and RAN that the ref's actually had a good game*", so I take full responsibility. I then compounded that error when I saw VAR were looking at it, and started celebrating. I'll learn from that, dust myself off, and go again.
What impressed me most was that we rarely turn 'dangerous situations' into good chances, but we absolutely did that yesterday. The Cunha and Sarabia chances flashed wide, the Cunha sitter, Fabio's three half chances...there was plenty there, and 3-1 wouldn't have been especially flattering.
Sa - geezer is a bomb scare, but reckon we're stuck with him for another season.
Semedo - was excellent
Dawson - Like the pre-season rustiness was a figment of my imagination
Kilman - Not great, some positional and decision making mistakes, but some good stuff too. Played like the average midtable CH that he is. £15-20m would be fair, turning down £30m and giving him a payrise is braindead.
RAN - I didn't think he was as bad as some; AWB and Anthony is a really tough gig, and they both played well. RAN's got a lot of ability - a higher ceiling than Bueno for me - we just need to let him learn a bit now with a run in the side
Lemina - MOM for me, he was absolutely outstanding.
Gomes - Couple of dodgy passes but was largely excellent.
Nunes - Don't like him off the left, he's got so much ability we just need to get him in the middle and let him learn through it
Neto - looked a lot like he's over his injury to me. Still quick, excellent work rate. Couple of things didn't come off but that's the nature of the beast
Sarabia -I thought he was anonymous when we were in possession barring his decent shot. He's just not got the physical attributes for the game over here
Cunha -Such a good footballer, his carrying was excellent. Play him off a striker, or even as an 8. Please, for fucks sake.
The penalty, well what can you say. I think you'll do well to find a worse decision for the rest of the season tbh. I frequently sneer at the people that think it's corruption, or an anti-Wolves agenda and what not, but it's becoming increasingly difficult. I'll still manage it obviously, because I'm impossibly smug and filled with self-importance.
Good game, great performance, good start, plenty of encouragement. Gaz's next few teamtalks have already written themselves. We've gone to Old Trafford and battered them, take that into the next few games.
*Actually writing it out, he was basically wrong on four different yellow card decisions, and that that was still a decent refereeing performance speaks volumes.
