O'Neil In, Out and Shaking it all about

[sycophantia]

Just feel that for a player of his technical ability he could do so much better, sometimes try that bit harder and put his body on the line.

Dont think you can accuse him of not trying, his defensive work is outstanding most of the time, the odd clanger. His attacking play remains poor (although I think he did ok going forward today) and I don't know why, it looks like he just lacks confidence which is odd.

 

[sycophantia]

While we're all praising the squad and GON for yesterday, think its worth highlighting Gary's effect on RAN, always looked a good player but with some rough edges. Lopetegui obviously had some positive effects on the team and club but it felt to me like he wasn't keen on Rayan.
We're seeing the best of him currently and have been for a number games, especially his fitness. There was a time when it seemed he rarely made it past 75 minutes and was happy to get subbed, yesterday he was seething about coming off.

 

[Tony Towner]

Wouldn't argue with a word and I think he's underpraised defensively, but he needs to turn his attractive play going forwards into production. Still 0 goals and 0 assists for a team who relies heavily on their wing backs offensively

 

[PuntsWolf]

Wouldn't argue with a word and I think he's underpraised defensively, but he needs to turn his attractive play going forwards into production. Still 0 goals and 0 assists for a team who relies heavily on their wing backs offensively

Put a few cut backs on a plate which should have been converted but there is still room for improvement. He’s found himself in goalscoring positions plenty though and the stats say he hasn’t even hit the target once.

 

[sycophantia]

Wouldn't argue with a word and I think he's underpraised defensively, but he needs to turn his attractive play going forwards into production. Still 0 goals and 0 assists for a team who relies heavily on their wing backs offensively

Yeah I think that's fair. For ages I thought he was usually going to trip over the ball when he was driving forward. His defensive play has improved consistantly since he arrived imo. I have more faith that he can improve even more now than I did 12 months ago.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

Yeah. GON has been good but has some way to go to match Nuno 18/19 and 19/20. I felt like those teams could beat anyone on their day

Teams like Manchester City and Spurs for example?

 

[The Dude]

That last bit is huge for me, I was against going back to 3 CHs as it's such a shit comfort blanket and it had made us so awful to watch for literally years whenever we did it (the peak Nuno days by now being ages ago in football terms).

Longer term we need better CHs so we aren't locked into one shape but we're making it work for now.

Also shouldn't be understated what he's done with Hwang. He's looked at what he can and can't do and turned him into a player none of us could have envisaged 4 months ago.

Too many people put too much emphasis on the 3 CB's. It's not the millstone some would have us believe...

The current formation is quite fluid with Toti slotting in at LB while RAN gets forward...

I'm still trying to make sense of how CB's are the furthest ones forward on occasion!

 

[The Dude]

1 from United.
2 from Luton.
3 from Fulham.
1 from Sheffield United.

You can definitely include 2 from Newcastle. The fact is the big decision in that game tangibly cost us 2 points.

 

[Walshes Wolves]

Sometimes a manager is just the right fit for a club, at a given time. Nuno wasn't a world beater, before he came to Wolves, but he was a perfect fit for where we were and gelled with the support and the city of Wolverhampton. There was a connection there, that maybe a more successful manager, might not have enjoyed.
It is possible, that a more successful and experienced manager, than GON, would not have had the same connection with the squad and not have accumulated the same amount of points with the players we have. I am not comparing GON to a highly successful manager, who knows how to deal with a team of superstars, but he has definitely improved several players, during his short time at Wolves and has done well with the players he has at his disposal. He appears to be a decent fit for where we are as a club at the moment and long may it continue.

 

[Walshes Wolves]

Also shouldn't be understated what he's done with Hwang. He's looked at what he can and can't do and turned him into a player none of us could have envisaged 4 months ago.

This is a key point for me. GON has definitely improved several players. Lopetegui hardly made any use of Aït-Nouri, but he looks a superb player now. Sarabia and Cunha look a different class now, too.

 

[Dire Wolf]

He's the only opposition manager to have kept a clean sheet at Molineux in 2023 apparently.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Klopp did as well in the replay that shouldn't have existed.

 

[Dire Wolf]

Klopp did as well in the replay that shouldn't have existed.

Must be a PL statistic.

 

[The Dude]

This is a key point for me. GON has definitely improved several players. Lopetegui hardly made any use of Aït-Nouri, but he looks a superb player now. Sarabia and Cunha look a different class now, too.

RAN apparently had some personal issues and was taken out of the firing line.

 

[Wolvensam]

Sometimes a manager is just the right fit for a club, at a given time. Nuno wasn't a world beater, before he came to Wolves, but he was a perfect fit for where we were and gelled with the support and the city of Wolverhampton. There was a connection there, that maybe a more successful manager, might not have enjoyed.
It is possible, that a more successful and experienced manager, than GON, would not have had the same connection with the squad and not have accumulated the same amount of points with the players we have. I am not comparing GON to a highly successful manager, who knows how to deal with a team of superstars, but he has definitely improved several players, during his short time at Wolves and has done well with the players he has at his disposal. He appears to be a decent fit for where we are as a club at the moment and long may it continue.

I think this sums it up nicely. I’m sure all football clubs are the same but sometimes a manager just gels and it can be special - Mick McCarthy, Kenny Jackett and Nuno have been that in my time supporting Wolves. GON may be that too, who knows.

Whether he was brought in initially as a stop gap this season or not I hope the higher ups are willing to give him a fair crack next year and a decent two transfer windows. Obviously the jury is out whether he can push us towards the top half of the table/Europa League places but he’s clearly what this squad of players needed.

 

[lemonjelly]

Coaches voice contrasts O'Neil 's styles at Bournemouth & here
https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/gary-o-neil-wolves-bournemouth-tactics/

 

[Lupo]

Thread on the BHA forum about Lopetegui leaving Wolves and GO replacing him. Page 1 has posts from August 8th/9th when they (Seagulls fans) were predicting a long, hard season for us, Page 2 is where someone resurrected the thread after last night and asked if people had changed their views now

[Albion] - Lopetegui out, O'Neill in (probably)

Lopetegui left Wolves earlier today, and Gary O'Neill looks set to be appointed. Does this count as the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season? I'm slightly surprised that O'Neill is being appointed, but he was quite harshly treated at Plucky, and deserves another shot in the...

www.northstandchat.com

 

[Alan]

That extra 'L' they keep appending to his name does my head in.

They seem a rational bunch, tho.

 

[The Bear]

That extra 'L' they keep appending to his name does my head in.

Does my head in too Allan.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Some of them maybe.