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GSPN Daily Wolves - Fulham Thoughts and FA Cup Preview
4 Plays4 minutes ago
Chris goes solo to look back at the Fulham loss, before a look ahead to this weekend's FA Cup tie against Fulham.
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Transcript
Reflecting on Fulham Match
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey everyone, welcome in Daily Wolves fans. It is i it is Chris once again here behind the mic chatting to you as we look back at a frustrating result against Fulham and then look ahead to tomorrow's match against Bournemouth all over again in the FA Cup this time.
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep, welcome back to GSPN Daily Wolves. um It's just me solo today. The boys are, you know, out and about in the world, living the dream. ah so it comes to me to think back to that crushing defeat.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by now you've all had time to digest it, I'm sure. There's so much coverage out about it. But I think the most frustrating thing we can all agree on was the fact that the lackluster second half, more than anything,
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
was the thing that really hurt because the first half, whilst, you know, the ridiculous conceding of a goal within the first minute was an atrocious mistake, there was going into half time, you'd got to this sense of optimism with the fact that after that first goal, we came back, we kind of took control of the game, the team looked...
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
almost adamantly frustrated to have gone behind because we looked dominant for a period leading right before the goal that period leading up to it it was all wolves after that initial opening few minutes and uh you know coming up to the equalizer we'd kind of pen them in it was just you know chance after chance there's some really good good opportunities even before the equalizer from jiao gomez to take control of the game And so going in half-time at after Jao Gomez, thunders a strike in
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was a really angry hit. ah And it felt like, you know, we shouldn't have let that first goal happen. This is where we should be now starting fresh, back at one one And you thought this is only going to go one way, or at least I did.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
felt optimistic that we'd come back in after half-time and, you know, continue where we left off and push on for the win and continue the good form we've seen the last few fixtures. Because despite the loss against Liverpool, the performance was strong.
Second Half Struggles
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I had faith. And then I think, guys, that the second... half, the the sadness came from the fact that it felt like we were watching pre-Vitor team. It felt like the performances we'd seen and some of the crushing defeats under Gary O'Neill, where we were just passing it around back and forth.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And after the fact that we conceded again so quickly in the second half, The desire to push back for another equalizer to get back in the game just seemed to kind of, I don't know if it was sucker punched out having done it twice on like two halves in a row within the opening moments.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
or what But there was just no urgency after that. It just kind of fell flat. Everything just went dead. And we had so much possession. I mean, absolutely, you know, Fulham didn't want the ball, didn't need the ball, essentially, even though they did create a few more chances to really put the game to bed on the counter.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
For the majority of the time, once they got that second goal, they just set up wall after wall of players and were like, right, you just come at us and we'll just we'll just sit here strong and do a but perfect away performance. We'll do what needs to be done.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Break us down if you can. And we couldn't do it because we had there was no space and there was no creativity. No one was making good runs or any effort to kind of do something dynamic. It was just...
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
passing around at the back from side to side. And it was just, it just became boring, to be honest. I started to almost lose interest because you knew that nothing was happening.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It never felt like there was any opportunity to get back into a game after that. So i think that's the most crushing thing.
Defensive Errors Analysis
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the most um key thing as well that struck me watching it, watching the goals we conceded and watching them back again was I think it's fair to say, or at least in my opinion, at least one of those goals doesn't happen.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
if aga is in the team ah if he's fit and bueno's on the bench and aga starts because i think at least one of those goals he just stays strong and he's quick enough to intercept uh even you know one-on-one and just just be strong and shove someone off the ball and take control of it and or intercell just cut it off the feet before it even gets through because he's so quick and strong And agile.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he doesn't let that happen. I think Bueno had a bad game. I know a lot of people are blaming Saar. But I think for me, even before it gets to Saar in the situation for the second goal, it's once again just too easy for Fulham to break through.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
too easy once again and so i has to make the star is forced in the decision of whether to stay or go and i think part of that is he knows that he's got the beating that um excuse me that Munez has the beating of Bueno at that point, that he knows he's got the beating of him and that forces Sarr to make the decision because he's seen it happen already once in the first half.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that that forces his hand. So I understand the frustrations against Sarr and I'm not saying that he didn't make a bad choice, but I am saying I think...
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't happen. Those situations don't happen to the extent if Agbedou is in the side. Because Bueno has been good at times this season, and he's had a lot asked of him. We mentioned before that he wasn't even expected to play at the early part of the season. they were going to ship him out on loan, and then he's played in a four, he's played in a three, he's played with different people alongside him, and he's been on the bench and off the bench, and he has literally had to be the utility man.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's, I don't want to be harsh, but he's not Agbidou. We've seen within a very short space of time that Agbidou gives something different to this defense that we did they were missing before.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can see it without him there. And Fulham showed it straight away. And both ah said both Fulham goals were brought about from similar situations.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Agbadoo stops at least one of them, if not two of them, because he's got the strength and the speed to to just force them off the ball and just prevent those opportunities from happening. Either way, I mean, they still shouldn't be happening, but I think it's a different story.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but the first But the second half, even after the second goal, regardless of whether Agba is in the side or not, that performance second half was just woeful.
Kunia's Performance Concerns
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
was just woeful. And quite rightly, I think a lot of people are commenting on the fact that, yes, Kun, you can change your game. The second half, he was practically just strolling around. He's the one that should be, you know, if anything, he's the one that you want to be making the impact to showing the desire to make something happen and it just felt like he switched off.
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm at a real ah turning point, I think, with Kunio at the moment. I'm not denying that he has the ability to help keep us up and is the ability to play with any team in this league.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the contract negotiation thing and then the relegation release clause and the talk around going and then some of the performances during that transfer window where it felt like he wasn't fully here.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now moments like that in the second half of this game where he just ambles around kind of looking frustrated and then not really bringing anything to the table. can't afford to carry someone in these situations and i know at any moment he could come alive and do something but it's not you're now the like the highest paid one of the highest players if not the highest paid player on the team you've got everything you wanted contract wise now is the time to do the job not to walk around and just look frustrated and wave your arms that's you've got you've got all that you wished for
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So do what you're meant to do. People can think that's harsh, but that's just the way I see it. it's not It's not good enough. so But everyone in that second half pretty much didn't do what they needed to do.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know if it was the shell shock of the the opening half, the second half opening goal all over again or what.
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But excuse me, it wasn't good enough. It wasn't good enough, guys. And I was disappointed. And I know you all too were too. And I think people talk about the atmosphere, but I think performances like that, whoever's in the stands, how many however many people are in the stands, does not help.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
the potential for an atmosphere when you are seeing the same mistakes and then seeing performance that is lackluster and doesn't show a desire to get back in and win the game. And even when the clock is ticking down and there's still no urgency to get an equalizer.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't imagine it was a very nice dressing room afterwards.
FA Cup Match Preview
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm pretty sure Witzel would have been very stressed frustrated with that one. And he seems it from his press conferences.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully we get a turnaround performance in the cup. Now, know there's a lot of speculation about who's going to play, how strong we're going to go with the form performance in the league.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll touch on all of that, I'm sure, in a moment. But before we do, just take a quick message.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I was frustrated, guys. was frustrated with that game, like I'm sure you were. were I was really disappointed. So I'm not going to lin on linger much on that game too much because so much has been said.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So much is we've all we've all been frustrated. So let's look ahead more to the game to come as you hear this. And so or as it goes out. So next up, we have Bournemouth in the Cup.
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we got a brilliant victory against them that we really didn't expect, but were, or some of us did. I said we would win, just putting it out there. ah But overall, you know, a lot of people didn't expect us to get anything from that game.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, obviously, we've been lucky enough in a way that the teams beneath us all lost. So even though Ipswich looked like they were going to go and beat Manchester United, which is a part of me, despite our own relegation,
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
race ah Kind of wishes they'd been sucked further into it. But anyway, that's by the by. But as it is, we got lucky. We're still five points clear of the drop zone.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, if we had beat full, obviously we'd be looking a lot healthier. So the decisions the decisions over who to play in the cup take an even stronger meaning ah because because now all these games in quick succession with more big games coming up against teams around us, Vitor has some really big decisions to make, especially bearing in mind there's still injuries happening.
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
going on and then obviously there's decisions about whether you know Minetsi should be playing up front or not obviously he's been doing the job i think we'll see Strand Larsson come back in for some more minutes from the start even if he doesn't go the full game Injury news updates from the conference today where that Huang is back. So most likely I would imagine on the bench, but he is back in contention.
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is back fit. So we may see him at some point to try and, I guess, suppose get some fresh legs and give him some gain time. But Rodrigo Gomez, Gedge and Agbedou are all out still. um So there's only one real gain there.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carlos Forbes is unavailable as well and missed Tuesday's game due to illness because that he wasn't on the bench then. There was a lot of speculation. Not that we would ever expect him to play.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not being in given any minutes. But just as ah again, I suppose emergency options, he's not even going to be available due to illness. So who are we going to see now, given what we've discussed or I've mentioned about Bueno in that a brief summary of the Fulham game?
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, I mean, I would kind of like to see, despite the fact that we, you know, are going to be up against it potentially and hope to try and get the win to take us into the next round.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
i would like to see Jiga. I'd like to see more of Jiga.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we could see the coach rest at least one of the back line. Now, if it wasn't for ah tired legs and age, then perhaps I would say drop Bueno, especially after the mistakes he made on or, you know, the the weakness he showed.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should we say it that way? in against the Fulham game, I would say bring Jiga in the middle as he came on for the last few minutes ah recently and put him in instead of Bueno. And let's see what he's like for a whole game alongside Totti and alongside Doc while Aga is out.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, obviously we've seen in previous cup games that Doc has had a rest occasionally because he is one of the more senior players. What is it, 33 years old? He's played a lot of minutes.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So arguably we could see Giga come in in his place on the right and see Bueno stay in the middle. um Either way, i think one of those two i think I think one of those two will potentially change for Jiga or I'd like to see him change for Bueno, but I can so understand I can see him resting Doc and bringing Jiga in there.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wing backs, I think it's a shame Rodrigo Gomez is injured because he would probably take one of those spots, maybe off 8 Nori or Samedo, either one, again, just to rest some legs and give someone else a chance who'd be just as good, just as capable.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with him still out, don't really think you'll see a change there. May see a few more minutes as a sub from Pedro Lima. I'd be surprised if he starts, but you never know.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah maybe, you know, more in the second half. Midfield. Now, ah based on recent performances and also recent performances on the pitch, I think this is where you may see, obviously in the league, we're seeing Jao Gomez and Andre certainly as the main starters.
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think at the very least, you'll see one of them dropped out to rest legs, whichever is more tired. um And so in that case, you will see Bellegarde potentially alongside, as we saw in a recent game when Jao Gomez was out, we saw Bellegarde along Andre. It worked so alongside Andre. You could see him working alongside either Jao Gomez or Andre.
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he wanted to go full bore, there's no reason he couldn't potentially rest both of them. And you could see Minetzi and Bellegarde. I'd be quite intrigued by that, even though I desperately wanted to win and get into the quarterfinals the FA Cup.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is nothing to say that couldn't happen as a potential combination. Bubacar Traore is aren't going to be on the bench again, i would presume, as a sub option at some point. and so far, every cup game, Vitor has gone strong.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But this is a different tangent.
Lineup and Strategy Speculations
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
The last few cup games were basically seven days either the side of the fixture. There was a huge gap. This is the first time they've come within a few days of other games.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've got injuries in the squad already. So I think potentially maybe you see a couple more items of rotation. I may be completely wrong. He may just go with his strongest again.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Bellegarde has shown he's, you know, on fire right now, especially when he plays in the middle. So I think at the very least, one of them will rust out for him. And then Minetzi has the capability to come in as a sub for the other one at some point or alongside him.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Up front, I think, as I say, I think you'll see Strand Larsson from the start this time to get some more minutes under his belt. And because Minetzi, whilst he's run his socks off, hasn't put the ball in the net, said so has had a bunch of opportunities to do so.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
as I said on a previous pod with some of the guys, I think, you know, I think he will come good. But obviously we know that's not his natural position. think he's been a good fill-in while Larson's been injured.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i again, I think Larson gets a lot of flack, but seven goals first season in the Premier League can't be sniffed at. And in previous seasons, that would have been a top scorer. So I think he'll come in and start... um I don't see how you can not play Kunja.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, he probably needs a rest. But I think Kunja, Larson, but maybe if we if we can do well, get a decent lead and be winning, then maybe you'll see Kunja rested earlier.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then alongside those two, really with Gedge still injured and Gomez still injured, I think this is where we'll see Sarabia again come in for some cup minutes and get some experience on It allows a bit more rest to someone else. But we shall see.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
We shall see. Those are my thoughts on who we'll see for tomorrow. um I mean, I mentioned Bueno. Vitor did say in his one of his conferences this week, he does believe Santi Bueno is improving with his aggression and learning about how to deal with the Premier League strikers more consistently.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we have seen it in patches. He did well when he came against came on against Liverpool, ah when Agbedou went out. And he did well in that last Bournemouth game, but then just showed his inconsistencies, I guess, in that department against Fulham.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, he's a good squad player, but obviously whenever Agbadoo's in, he's not going to play right now. We've seen that. So that's that's where I think Jiga will potentially be in the line to maybe supersede him at some point in the future, if not for this game.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could happen. So that's the big news, I guess, for the forthcoming fixture. I'm excited. i want us, I think we're going to be good in this in the league. I know we're only five points clear.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got some good games coming up to take some more points and push us further up the table. And providing we don't have another slip like we did against Fulham, the performances we've been doing up to that make me believe we will be safe.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'd like to see them go fairly strong tomorrow. I'd like to see them push on because ah I think it would be great to get to the quarterfinals and take that next step. Do the double over Bournemouth within a week and bring back the confidence after that Fulham victory. Get the momentum back.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get the feeling back. Get the fans box back on side. And after that, I'm sure they will have taken a ah hosing after that game midweek. Show that they actually can still do this.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So those are my thoughts going into that. We will talk about predictions after one more quick message.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, my lovelies. So with that being said, what do we see for but actually before we get on to my match prediction for the weekend?
Club's Financial Overview
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Taking a moment to say that one of the breaking pieces of news today has been that the headline financial information for twenty three, twenty four for the club has been released.
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Overall, the financial loss for the year after interest and tax was £14.3 million, a significant reduction from the £67.2 million loss in twenty two twenty three So ah fair fair gain, and they are not at risk of trouble pit from PSR, supposedly, given this reduction.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is interesting. I'm thinking we'll do a future episode in the coming week. We're diving a bit deeper into these figures. We'll pop a link in the show notes to um the Wolves page where this information is available, where there's also access to the full documentation because it's all public figures.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah If you want to dive into yourself and then we'll dissect it a little bit with the team in the coming week. But just a quick summary on the headline there. So the loss for 2324 was 14.3 million pounds, but we are not at risk of any breaches, which is great.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yay. ah But that probably means no more spending for a bit because that's what always seems to happen. All right, so for this weekend, the cup match against Bournemouth, what do I think?
Bournemouth Match Prediction
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I've given you my lineup.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think as much as people are fearful, I'm going to be bold and I'm going to be brave and I'm going to be maybe stupid. And I'm going to say that we're going to do it again. I'm going to say that we're going to beat Bournemouth. We're going to make it to the next round.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they're going to have one eye on Europe where they are in the league. ah given that we beat them in the league as well and they want to focus maybe on their next fixture as much as we we also want to focus on the relegation fight.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think they will make some changes too. And they do have some injury concerns of their own. So I'm going to go 2-1 win. And I'm say that i'm going to say you know I'm going to be even more crazy and say that Larson is going to score and Minetsi is going to come on if he's not starting already at some somewhere and in the pitch and will get one of those two goals as well. It will break his duck.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that's even the term, think I screwed that up entirely and he will score as well. So Larson and Minetsi, the two scapegoats to get the goals in a 2-1 win and take us into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
before the risk of a penalty shootout. That is my bold prediction team. Everyone's probably shaking their heads. I'm sure and the rest of the team here are, but we'll see afterwards if I am right or I am wrong.
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So best of luck, everyone. Let's cross our fingers for another successful weekend and a return to form. And just remember, if nothing else, out of darkness, come with light.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.