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00:00:01
Oneil Gone - Post Ipswich Fall Out
20 Plays5 days ago
All of the carnage, all of the aftermath! The decision was finally made, but what next?
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Transcript
Weekend Chaos Recap
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey Wolves fans, welcome in. It is Chris with you for some reaction from this weekend's absolute chaos. I wish there are any of the other team are with me today to discuss this in more and like have a bit more back and forth, but I think everyone is just collapsing and and in absolute carnage and diastrates from everything that's gone on. Of course we suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Ipswich. And I hate to say it, people. I hate to say it, but I was right. In our pre-match podcast on Friday, I did predict that we would lose. It hurt me to do so. It absolutely hurt me to do so, but the stars
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
the stars were aligned it was written in the wind written in the wind written in the sand what's the phrase who cares it was written and it came to pass and so we once again fall to another defeat at the hands of Ipswich I mean bless them they played as a team and we'll get into the ah Other headlines in a second, but just a quick comment that fair play tips, which I think they play as a team. They showed what it is to be a team and play as one. And we have some outstanding individuals, but it's not working as a team. And we saw absolute carnage and pandemonium again at the end of the game. And it.
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
If it wasn't a defeat, then maybe just two games on the truck that have ended in absolute, you know, ah just horrendous displays of behavior on the pitch. Maybe that's the tipping point. Maybe that's the thing that is just, you know, it's gay tarnishing wolves at the moment because all the media is turning not just about our form, but it's now discussing the behavior of the players and the behavior of the team. And and that probably had an impact in everything that's gone on.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we actually, we delayed ah recording last night immediately after the game thinking we'll wait and see if there's any more info comes out about the game itself, the post-match comments or anything else that happens.
Gary O'Neill's Dismissal
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And lo and behold,
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
This morning, the news comes out that Gary O'Neill has been let go by Wolverhampton Wanderers. I don't wanna say, i'm I mean, there's many people out there, Will and Nathan are probably one of them here right now are going rejoice. On the one hand, yes, rejoice.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i don't want I feel like i I'm not the type of person to say rejoice because i you know at the end of the day, I wanted the best for our club and I wanted nothing more than to see the team successful under Gary O'Neill because that would mean we'd be higher up the table and it would be well. So it's a shame it's had to come to this, but I am, I'm going to say relieved.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
more than rejoicing because obviously we know there is still an absolute mountain to climb ahead of us but something had to change and at this point the the only foreseeable change that could be made being that in this short time frame mid-season we are not going to see a change to the board and we're not going to see a change to anything else in the way the club is run so it has to be the manager at this point i mean and we've debated it and we've seen it and i've spoken about even i've come full circle on this podcast recently discussing the reasons why i was now in the o'neill out camp the fact that even if he has been like previous managers seem to be let down by
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
the lack of money being put into signings, it
O'Neill's Tactical Critique
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
doesn't. It doesn't relieve him of the faults made in terms of his tactical decisions, his substitutions, the diabolical set-piece situation which seems to have worsened, not got better since we got rid of the set-piece coach.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the lack of ability to change things when they are going wrong, the lack of ability to have the strength to drop players that are not performing, the indecision in in the formation at the back, the inconsistency, the now beginning to throw players under the bus, the excuses that we've heard in in not having people that have played many Premier League games earlier in a press conference a few weeks ago when we all know that's not true and then discussing and most recently and highlights at a match of the day the point that he was starting to throw the team under the bus it was no longer we it was you know me and them
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and saying that he's never had such a hard job to coach such a group of players.
Timing of Management Change
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And really, it is untenable. I mean, it was untenable a long time ago, but there was no mistake in my mind that the decision had to be made. And it's just a shame it's come so late. We all feel that it should have, everyone out there, the public, you and me, most fans out there feel that this should have been made a long time ago.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now we have become a very unattractive proposition for all the potential managers that they have been talking to in the background during this whole vote of confidence, strangeness that we have seen during the week. And if I sound out of breath, it's because I'm ranting people and I'm just frustrated. I'm both relieved and frustrated at the state of things. and where we are, the fact that I've predicted a loss against my own team, which I have never done before, but I mean, you know, it's just, we all saw when they it was 1-1 and Ipswich get the corner in the dying seconds of the game. I am there saying,
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's gonna be a goal. you We all knew it. Everyone knew it. You could see it happening because we are so bad at them and we leave everyone unmarked.
Discipline and Leadership Issues
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the same thing happens again and it's not coincidence at this point and I don't care how many times they say we are working on it on the training ground clearly you are not working on it well enough because nothing has changed and the disruption and the behavior means that this group of players clearly do not respect him as a disciplinarian I'm going to say at this point because that is a part of man management right you can be uh, their buddy at times. You can be a, well not, not a buddy, you can be an ear to talk to, you can be a shoulder, you know, an arm on the shoulder of people when they need that support, but you have to as a manager be able to find the dividing line to discipline, enforce and show leadership when necessary, and it seems from what we've been seeing and the carnage we have been seeing that that is not the case, and I know it's a different
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
industry but there's principles of management that carry across in all industries and I like many of you guys out there have been a manager in different industries in my time and and you can just see that it looks like a group of people that have got he's got too close to them and there is no they may like him because they all speak about liking him But liking him is not respecting him as a leader. And clearly at times he has not shown the bottle to bench people that needed to be benched. Lemina being one of them, and I've made this point again and again that's been points we've seen his form drop. we He finally, after the, you know, his his outburst against Bowen, Lemina I mean, at the west end of the West Ham game, almost gave him the excuse to strip him of the captaincy and finally make some kind of change there.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But earlier in this season there's periods where Lamina should have been dropped and should not be playing because his performance has been subpar and his emotion that like he hasn't emotionally been able to cope with the burden of being captain especially during this intense weird period that we're going through with all of these losses and the clear confusion in the camp.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I firmly believe that, I mean, it's done now, it's done, but this should happen a long time ago. And I firmly believe that this is the right choice because all the hallmarks we are seeing are of a manager who can't manage. He can coach in some form, but not manage effectively at this point in time.
O'Neill's Future Prospects
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not a Premier League club, not to this level. He will hopefully go away and learn his trade.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, more steadily in a lower league or maybe just be an assistant coach or whatever it is. Cause you know, there's elements that are there. And by all means, he is a very likable person, but it needs a different approach to lead people in this way and to have the respect that they are not going to have these kinds of outbursts when the pressure is on.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
On a side note, the only other things I kind of want to say on the game at this point, because to be honest, I want to forget it. ah It was, let's let's just overall say, poor first half. really not impressive an atrocious goal to concede for the first one it was just like it was just like i was watching some comedy kind of comedy show the way the amount of defenders back blocking after dalap manages to just like run single-handedly and manhandle his way into the box and then And then still the ball is just allowed to go from one hit switch player to another. Doc makes one block on the line, but then no one pushes out quick enough to kind of block the next shot. And then Totti clears it into Doc, which then rebounds into the net. I mean, it was just a, it was just, it was just, it was comical. If I wasn't supporting them, I would be laughing at them because it was that atrocious.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think you'll see another goal like that anywhere all season, because it was it was diabolical, quite frankly. Second half, we see some people come on who we've been saying for a while, want to play, have looked good when they've come on, and are not getting enough chances. And I'm going to speak mainly here for me personally, and when the other tea other guys come on one of the pods later in the week, they may have some separate thoughts.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me personally, Doyle and Gedge, they need to be playing more and I hope whoever comes in, and we'll get onto that in a second, so watches back some, ah obviously presumably I would if I was coming and watching back some of the recent games and looks at stuff.
Doyle's Playing Time Argument
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Doyle came on yesterday and looked like someone that wanted to take the game, take the game to Ipswich, take command and was direct and looking as always, he wants to get the ball forward to people, he wants to be quick and aggressive so many times we are slow and passing it around and just fanning about and and going backwards and he's a forward-thinking player not him not necessarily himself because he's not quick on the ball he's not a runner that's not his game but as we've said before
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not to that caliber, but in that Nevez molder wants to sit deep and splay the ball out and he's got a beautiful range of passing. you know Yes, he's young and he's still a bit raw at times, but I think he needs to be playing more. And he showed it yesterday because at this point in the season, the state we are in, we need calm heads. We need people that are going to be direct and understand the situation and want to play, want to do it and want to fight.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he's shown it. He showed it against Brighton when he came on, and yes, there's an element of looking what he did there, but that moment late in the game against Brighton, when he's one on four, intercepts the ball, immediately plays it forward on the counter that leads to a goal, he makes impactful decisions. He takes a chance, he makes a choice, and then he's quick, he doesn't delay, he looks up and he plays it forward.
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we need that. We need that in the game. The rest of the midfielders are too similar. They can't all keep playing together. It's not right. Gedge, again, comes on. ah He's yeah know we' seen it earlier in the season when he's coming on for like 10, 15 minutes, but he gets assists. He gets goals. He's looking sharp. I know he's not as strong defensively, but he looks like at the moment, because it's Konya and Strandlassen up front. That third spot keeps flicking around.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It g has has shown it again that he deserves a chance to maybe get more starts there. Whether he goes later this season in January or the summer, i I don't care. Right now, I want people that can have an impact in the game and he's having an impact in the game and he did it again. So those are my quick thoughts on that. Konya. Oh my gosh, Konya.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I need to take a breath, people. I need to take a breath before I talk about Konya. And before it, so in that breath, I say, I'd say I'll take a breath. I'm going to read something to you. So it's not really taking your breath, but I'll remind everyone that here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zancaster came out the clear winner.
Zencastr Promotion
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those oms and ahs. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and it delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zancaster. All right, so Konya, my word, my word. The biggest thing, again, that we've seen a few times in the last two, three games,
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
is he seems to feel like it's upon him, for better or worse, to single-handedly save the game. And I get that he is capable. But once again, running into dead ends, just running, it's all right. Yeah, get past one or two people, but if someone else ahead of you has a better position, it's not always on you to hold the ball and try and keep running past the entire team.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
without passing it to someone who could get a shot off or so or an assist. But no, so many times he ran and ran and ran into dead ends and then turns around and goes backwards trying to keep it and then work it to go around someone else and ends up he gave the ball away several times by consistently holding onto the ball for too long And then just ending up getting, getting bashed off the ball because he's running into dead ends. It's, it's not, I get it. I get it. Again, he's emotional and he is wanting to prove himself. Maybe whether it's selling himself because he's had enough or whether it's because he feels like no one else is doing it, whatever. and He just needs to stop and start realizing that they need to be a team. They are currently playing as individuals and he is a prime example of that.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Too many people not playing as a team. Doyle, trying to play as a team member, wants to pass it immediately to someone who can help benefit the team. Cunha at the moment is playing like a superstar, but he's playing like a solo superstar. he is He's holding onto the ball too long and is winding me up. It is driving me into the ground and it's so frustrating. I love him. Don't get me wrong. Don't don't hear what I'm not saying.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he is fantastic and he has been fantastic for us but whatever's going on right now and hopefully with whatever shift is coming we get some changes but he needs to share the ball occasionally you can't all do it yourself in any walk of life you need to trust the people around you and right now it feels like he doesn't trust the people around him My gosh, where do we go from here guys? I mean, there's so many, let's focus for a minute on the new since then. So, well, we've mentioned the conceding goal right at the start that the goal that turned it all around the losing.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
to of the set piece in the dying seconds of the game, which we could just see coming. You could see it happen the moment Totti headed that ball out for a corner kick. Why he did that, I do not know, but we just knew it was a goal and it was, and it was terrible.
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then we get the news this morning.
Vítor Pereira Rumors
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gary Neill is finally out. There's that sense of relief. And finally, it's about time. Should have been done. Should have been done ages ago. And yes, I mean ages ago. But the questions are now, of course, what's happening? Who's going to replace what's going on? And ah supposedly they will have someone in place for the game against Leicester.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, there's been several, obviously, rumors of different managers in the recent days, but in the last 24 hours, the front runner taking the lead is Vital Pereira. I'm pronouncing that wrong, but Vital Pereira, I'm going to say. Currently, currently the Al-Shabaab manager in Saudi Arabia, and they are apparently in talks with them. And there is a buyout clause to get them out of out of there around 800,000 pounds, a million euros or so, which apparently is believed not to be an issue wolves are willing to pay if the agreements can be can be made. And so it's interest it's an interesting signing. It's obviously not their first choice because all accounts are in recent weeks. you know we We've heard this book spoken to the likes of David Moyes who've turned them down and some of these other names that have been banded around.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So not a first choice. There is credentials on his CV. Some good stuff, but some of it is from quite long ago. 56-year-old Portuguese manager won two league titles with Porto in 2012 and 2013 and the Greek Super League with Olympiacos in 2015.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he's moved around a lot. So he's not necessarily a long-term guy because more recently his successes have mostly been in the past, in the earlier parts of his career. And now it's kind of shifting around and most recently in Saudi Arabia.
00:18:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't know obviously that much about him. I am not ah someone that follows a lot of European or other leagues around the world. um Currently Al Shabab has been in charge there since February, ah finishing eighth in the Saudi pro league last season. They currently six six after seven wins from 13 games.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
always wants to play in the, manage in the Premier League, has been up for various jobs before, including at the likes of Everton and Chelsea, um but has never got the opportunity and has been always wants to do it so that they are someone that is up for potentially the challenge.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are they the right man for the job? Or is it that they are the only man for the job? That remains to be seen. But they have one stuff. They have done stuff, which is more than you can say, um greatest to, you know, for whatever you think of Gary and Neil, Gary, Neil has had what this is, was his second managerial job. but And the first one was only a year less than that, even. And so there's not, you know,
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
As a manager, not much experience. This guy, whatever you however you look, whether the successes are further away or more recent, there is management experience there all around the world and has won titles in different countries. So there is at least some ah some heritage there and potentially some respects to be garnered because they have been there and done it at different leagues.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
around the world. um I believe also previously managed Jao Gomez in South America at one point as well, so potentially a reunion there. So will they will that come to pass? Will they be announced in the next 24 hours, 48 hours? I guess we will find out. But Whoever it is, whether it's this person or whether it's someone else, supposedly the decision will be made or the announcement will be made in the next few days.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
There will be someone in the dugout by all accounts for the Leicester game. But obviously, there is not much time to do anything for that besides pick a lineup and inst to try and instill some discipline because we cannot cannot be the laughingstock that we are currently being. We cannot have people just just causing fights at the end of every game.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need structure. We need someone who's going to come in and put some discipline in the dugout, in the dressing room, and just batten down the hatches.
Defensive Needs for Wolves
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we can score goals. We've seen it. We just need someone who can shore up the defense. And I get that until the the window ah comes that they've just got to work with what they would have. But you're, I am adamant this team has the capability to at least not be conceding like we are conceding. It's not rocket science. We've spoken about it all season. There's some basic principles that are just
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
being missed. It's schoolboy errors in many ways and it needs to be sorted out, hopefully, between that and just playing people in their right play positions. I've had enough of Belegard, you know, I don't understand what his, I don't understand what his role, what his position is. I don't understand, like if you had a blank cheat, uh, tactic sheet and he was the first name on it, I don't know where you would put them. I don't know what Belegard's role is.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
someone explain it to me, but I don't think it's wherever he's playing right now. And then under Gary O'Neill we've seen Jaggum is played as a winger, we've seen Lamina played as a centre back, we've seen people all over the place but never really where they're supposed to be. It's not a square peg in round holes things, it shouldn't be complicated, just put people where they are best at playing and work in that way. How hard is it?
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
At this point, I feel like I could win a couple more games than Gary O'Neill has managed as manager. And I'm sure you all pretty much feel the same. I'm sure Nathan and Will feel the same. It doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense. I am just glad we've had the change. I'm really glad.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't, I'm glad right now that it that we've got something happening. I suppose that's a glimmer of light because something is better than nothing. Cause we were sitting on nothing and now at least something is happening. I mean, great, I guess.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've got one more thing to discuss after my last reminder. And we've got so much to talk about this week. but and And I'm sure when we get together with the team, it's going to be a lot of interesting back and forth and dissection. But I just wanted to make sure we get something out to you, even if I'm solo, just to rant and rave a little bit to update on some of the things that you're all reading in social media because um I can't not, I can't not talk. ah But I will just remind of everyone, this podcast, that was deep breath. Did you hear that one? This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, in the star area of the show when I was summing up some of the stuff from the game itself, we didn't mention the stuff from before the game, which happened, I think was announced after our last episode, which was the captaincy being shifted.
Lamina's Captaincy Change
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did think I did touch, just touching it briefly in the midst of that rant about indecision from O'Neill. But,
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lamina being stripped of the captaincy I think was valid. I think he's proven throughout the season. He's not captain material. Lots of people thought in spirit he was end of last season. I don't think anyone really argued with him becoming the captain in the summer when it was announced.
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
because he was very much the the fan favorite and you know his actions spoke louder than words however we've seen early on in the season even not even that far into the season crying on the pitch at the end of the games shaking his head walking around looking like the world is going to end and fighting with people scuffling with people causing like upset and just looking like hanging his head and waving his arms and I was so fed up at the weekend against Ipswich, even when it was just like we were one nil down early in the game and he's wandering around and every time he misses a pass or he passes it off and the next person doesn't do something great, like he plays in someone that misses or or someone fails a tackle or does a shot and goal, whatever, anything, absolutely anything.
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just walking away, shaking his head and looking as aspirated at everything. and but not more it was like so It's so dramatic and over the top, like every the like the world is ending. And I get it. I get it, because in some ways it is, because we are in such a dire place.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's not a time for that. but the It's a time for the captain and and the players to be calm and level-headed or you are not going to get out of this mess. Which is why I mention the likes of Doyle of Gedge, believe it or not, because I think he's actually quite a calm player. People go on about the fact he doesn't celebrate much or he doesn't do much, but I think he's generally just that kind of guy.
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think in some ways that's okay, especially at this time, because we need people who aren't going to get emotional. We've got too much emotion and we need the people with the level heads to come in. And once he's fit again, for me, that includes the likes of Sarabia, because again, he's experienced and he's got the maturity to cope with this situation.
00:26:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
so yeah just my two cents worth on the whole captain thing and i will say though the replacement captain's tomato i know that again he's not shown himself in glory this last game although again people playing out of position i mean it doesn't really help the factor at all so i'm not necessarily putting that all on him But I think, generally, there was a captain. I think from the squad available at this point in time under Anil were the main starting senior players that you would look at for captaincy. I think Sommato is a good choice. Again, one of the more ah senior players of the squad in terms of age, been around, you know, played at high level clubs like Barcelona, has got a level of maturity and you never see him kind of get too carried away.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
or emotional at least to lash out clearly and professional players player of the season last year one of the best one-on-one defenders again I know not taking the Ipswich game into account but overall a solid player and I think is a fine sure ah reasonable reasonably fine choices captain I would argue and I said it in our WhatsApp group with the with the team as well that if he was not on the bench as much and was more of a starter I would even have considered giving Doc captaincy uh purely again because he just being of his age being if you take into account his previous time with wolves he's been with us for over 10 years on and off he knows the club inside out understands what it means and will give everything even if he's not at his best and so i think again that's that's just an element that you want in a captain someone that understands the club throughout and will
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
will always give their all. But given that under a kneel at least he's like in and out and mainly on the bench, I get why it's not viable. But I'm just throwing that out there. Those are those are some thoughts. Anyway team.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to sign off for now because otherwise I will literally rant at you all night long. But I hope, I hope you enjoyed some of these thoughts. I hope you put up with my renting and, um, let's hope by the time you next hear us, we will have some news on who the manager will be. Um, but as I say, by all accounts, it could be that by the time the next episode comes out or the one after that, we could hear that Bittor Pereira is the new walls manager.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if it's someone else, well, I don't know. I don't know, but surely, surely there's got to be, no, I don't, I can't. Let's just remember the, the old catchphrase. Let's just remember the old catchphrase. As of darkness, come with light. And I really hope, I really hope it's true.