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Crossover Special: Wolves image

Crossover Special: Wolves

S2425 E59 ยท Daily Fulham
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38 Plays29 days ago

Gavin is joined by Chris from the Daily Wolves team for a view from the opposition. The pair break down the season so far and give their takes for the upcoming clash between the two teams.

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Transcript

Introduction and Crossover with Daily Wolves

00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back everybody to the Daily Fulham Podcast. This is your home of all things Fulham. And today we are continuing our build up to the weekend's game as Fulham play host to Wolves. With that being said, this is our crossover episode. So allow me to introduce, give a warm welcome from the Daily

Chris's Thoughts on Fulham vs Wolves

00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wolves team. We have Chris. How are you doing, Chris?
00:00:28
Chris
Hello there. Thanks for having me. Yeah, I'm doing good. I'm ah anxious for the weekend, like everyone, I'm sure. But yeah, I'm doing good. Thanks. I'm surviving the snow. We've had snow the last couple of days. um i'm I'm cold.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, it's ah feeling very wintry all of a sudden at the minute with the very cold temperatures we are getting.

Impact of International Breaks on Wolves

00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we are just coming off the bat. Well, it's coming to an end now, isn't it, the international break. And I don't know how you feel about it. It seemed like it's been a bit stop start so far, isn't it, with three international breaks in the space of three months. And I don't know, are you happy to see the back of the international break or as a Wolves fan this season, do you look forward to the international break?
00:01:04
Chris
There's been points when they've had they've helped us, I think, at times, but as a football fan in general, I think, yeah, there's too many and we've had this discussion on our own podcast. I think the next one's not till, is it March now or something?
00:01:16
Chris
Thank heavens it's a much further away.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:01:18
Chris
But yeah, ironically, this last one is the one that I think has come at the worst time for us, having gone on a little mini run of three games on beaten and then finally getting a win. And just as we got the first win of the season, we've now like, got we've gone into an international break when arguably that morale would have been at the best point to then come and play you guys. So I'm sure we'll get further into that, but it's a little bit sad for us that we had

Wolves' Morale and Management Concerns

00:01:40
Chris
a break.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was saying this before. It never seems to come at the ideal time because if you've lost the game, you just want to get another game out of the way as soon as possible to get that winning feeling. And if you're like for them, where you've had back-to-back wins, you just want to carry on the momentum.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It kind of kills it. The only ideal scenario for an international break to come is if if you're riddled with loads of injuries and you've got the possibility of those players coming back.
00:02:00
Chris
Yep.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so yeah, it's exciting for all football fans now. We can just look forward to the Premier League cutting for us for that. ah No international breaks now until March. Let's just focus on Wolves and then you managed to secure that elusive win in the last game against Southampton. How big was that? How much was the relief ah as the seasons go on and the results continue to not go your way? And, you know, we subsequently managed to get a win on the board. So every Premier League team has now secured three points. How much of a relief was it to finally get that win against Southampton?
00:02:33
Chris
Yeah, huge relief. It's ironic that, yeah, the teams around us obviously also getting points at the same time, but overall, huge relief. You can see it in the players, the

Challenges and Fan Reactions

00:02:42
Chris
squad. really needed it um the fans really needed it but you can see the relief at the final whistle amongst the players they've obviously been under performing at times and then but also just some a mixture of bad luck or like sit one person making you know a huge error here and there and ah you can see though it's the the way we've fallen
00:03:04
Chris
behind in games and then got deeper and deeper defending trying to hold on to leads when we've had them. And you can just see it in the general play. The plays got more anxious over the last few weeks as they've been desperate to get points. So ah hopefully there is a sense of a little bit of relief and they can carry, like we said, carry some of that morale. It would have been nice to keep that going if we hadn't had the break.
00:03:24
Chris
But I'm happy that there was a lot of pressure on the manager to get something from that well to win that game against Southampton. I think if we hadn't won that game event against Southampton, there would be.
00:03:36
Chris
There's already an uproar for people saying that they want Gary Neil to move on as a percentage of the fans, not everyone, but some that want Gary Neil to move on and a replacement found. I think that win has obviously bought him time. Otherwise this international break would have been a chance to make a change you know in that in that gap. But the winners

Wolves' Squad Analysis

00:03:54
Chris
on the back of two draws before that has probably bought him a few more weeks.
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So to just just on the manager situation, do you think if things didn't go to plan against Avanton, if it was maybe even a draw that he wouldn't be in charge for this this upcoming game?
00:04:07
Chris
Yeah, I think potentially so. um I mean, well, it is debatable. Ironically, the club gave them an extension in the summer, having been one of the lowest paid managers last season after doing well with this last season. And obviously kind of protecting their asset, because at that point a lot of other clubs were interested in a young, interesting English manager. but so And then it's not all gone to plan.
00:04:31
Chris
and they there's a part of them obviously don't want to let him go but yeah I think especially if we had definitely if we'd lost that game then yeah I think he would have been gone.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what is the sort of consensus ah amongst the the general fan base? Do they, you're never going to get 100% either way, 100% back in full carry or no, you'll always have those dissenting voices. So what's the atmosphere, I guess, been been at games? Have have they backed the manager all the way? Or they have people that are getting a bit tense and and there and the anxiety being there because of the lead position and potentially wanting to change?
00:05:03
Chris
It's been, like you say, it's a percentage, but at points a large percentage. And there has been considering, I think for a long time, Walsfans in general are fairly supportive and loyal and and knowing that that we opened with a really strong, like tough opening set of fixtures.
00:05:21
Chris
There was a lot of leeway given that you look at. It was well spoken of in the press that we had the toughest open of anyone. you know We opened against Arsenal. We've played all of the top six, I think, in the first eight games. And so it's been an incredibly tough run in playing Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool. like You can reel them off. We played all the the the top few teams. So there was a lot of leeway given. But then as it's gone on, and then we've played some teams that we should have got more points from and haven't,
00:05:50
Chris
there was a few boos at the Crystal Palace game due to some of the sub and more than when we lost ah the game away to Brentford there was boos from the away fans and when you're getting boos from the away fans at

Raul Jimenez's Legacy and Transfer

00:06:01
Chris
Wolves the away contingent are the you know arguably the most loud and loyal you know they're they're the ones paying them money to travel across the country and will give everything away from home and when they're doing the subs away at Brentford because of the situation there you know that you've lost a percentage of them quite heavily so yeah that it's definitely been a kind of walking on eggshells since that makes sense.
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, you've had steady finishes the last couple of seasons of 13th and 14th. We remember prior to that, the sort of glory days, I guess, under Nuno, seventh place finishes, ah doing well in Europe. Were you anticipating a relegation scrap before a ball had been kicked this season?
00:06:40
Chris
No, not at all. That's the isoronic thing. We've been very optimistic in the summer. You know, after last season, we were for a period pushing towards the European spots, then decimated by injuries. And the last few games, you know, in that losing run, we basically were playing under 21s up front because we had no senior players. So it was kind of.
00:07:02
Chris
At that point, it was everyone was like, yeah, it's OK because you know he couldn't help it. but so And then in the summer, yes, we lost a couple of big signings in the likes of Neto and Kilman. But there was still a sense that there was a lot of strength in the squad and some of the players that were brought in whilst not replacing necessarily those players, because there was a lot of fans saying that we did need another centre back, and we do, to make up for the loss of Kilman.
00:07:25
Chris
But we brought in a lot of other wingers. We brought in another great midfielder in the likes of Andre for a Brazilian midfielder international. Like we've got, you know, we've got, I've mentioned it a few times on our, on our other episodes, but if you look at our squad overall, you know, the the spine of the team, there's three Brazilian internationals, the likes of Cunha, Jagomez, we've got Andre.
00:07:44
Chris
you You've got some experience in the back with the likes of Craig Dawson and we've got a Portuguese international in goal.

Jimenez's Revival at Fulham

00:07:53
Chris
The spine of the squad is really strong.
00:07:54
Chris
and um Overall, actually, the starting 11 is pretty solid. And there's some players there that were getting to a bunch of teams, couldn't particularly probably get into any team right now. And so the hopes in the summer, we were going to push on top part, you know, at least not being a battle for sure at the relegation and hopefully be pushing to the top half of the table. And then it just all just got all to part, quite frankly.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there is one player that you mentioned that I just want to pick up on because he has been linked with Fulham. Fulham fans will know the name Andre because he's been linked with them seemingly for every single transfer window for the last three or four seasons.
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it looked at some points that he was going to come to Fulham, but never came to pass. Maybe

Wolves' Tactical Adjustments

00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marco Silva just didn't give that green light in the end. And he he ended up going to Wolves, didn't he? And I know we he started okay.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think his first game, I think he had some records that wasn't about completed passes, but I know he's been out of the team the last few games.
00:08:46
Chris
um
00:08:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
what What's the story there then?
00:08:48
Chris
So I think that there is the story that lies in with the confusion with the fans confusion with Gary O'Neill in trying to fit because yeah he came in did amazingly uh Andre I mean and yeah got some unprecedented record of like 40 odd passes on his debut with no like every complete wizard every pass was completed and he's been fantastic. And he won the Fans Player of the Month in his first month with Wolves. So you could everyone was seeing the quality, and then he's not been in the lineup. And yeah it would seem as if that Gary Anil doesn't quite know where to put him and how to make use of the player. He wants to play a certain way. ah so It feels like he's trying to fit the players into the formation he wants and not necessarily match the formation to the players that he's got.
00:09:39
Chris
So it's like a square pegs in round holes sometimes, because he really wants to play a certain way, like he wants his four at the back, and he wants to do certain things. But

Fulham's Form and Key Players

00:09:46
Chris
now he's got these, a variety of amazing holding midfielders. You've got Mario Lomina, Joe Gomez, Andre, those three alone, and he's trying to play them all at once, and they don't necessarily work all at once, because they've got a lot of similarities. So then trying to mix in Tommy Doyle into there, who we bought from Man City, and then deciding how many players he wants up front in the likes of whether we go you know three up front or like a four, two, three, one or whatever it is. I think he's just confused about where to fit Andre. He didn't necessarily, I think the club bought him because at that point it was a, this is a great value and we can get him. And we're and now becoming one of those selling clubs where we buy someone who's got this potential to be good for a couple of seasons and then make us a massive profit. And that's the goal at Wolves, I think at the moment.
00:10:31
Chris
But he is, I think the manager is struggling to know how to fit all of the cogs. And it's like, just play the players in the places they're good. That will make us happy. But he's not necessarily doing that. And that was a bit of a ramble. And I hope that kind of makes some kind of formation of sense.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. ah The other thing I wanted to touch on which you said in passing there was about Wolves' run of fixtures. They did have a difficult start to the season. They were playing a lot of the big boys, a lot of the teams that finished high up in the league last season and then are continuing to do well at the start of this season.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now I can see looking at your fixtures, weekend game courses are going to be a tough game, going to Craven Cottage because full of confidence. But after that, you've got like some form of Everton, West Ham, Ipswich and Leicester. Do you feel like this could potentially be, even though it's November, December, be a season defining month?
00:11:25
Chris
Yeah, yeah, again, we've we've spoken about it a lot on Daily Wolves that this month, this period, November to December, this is now our season very much in terms of what's happened with the first half with being before that win, you know, we were up four, four, five, I think four, five points of drift at the bottom of the table. And that win has now put us within one point of drift. But so this make or break period, you know, you like you say, we're playing the Alexa VIP switch, Bournemouth yourselves and, you know,
00:11:54
Chris
eton or in this period, which again is huge. So this is the section of our season now after this horrendous start where we have to, we have to get the points. We have to climb the table. This is a make or break. And it's make or break for the team. It's make or break for Gary and Neil. it's It's like, this is it. this is This period will probably decide a big part of what goes on in January.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I 100% agree and i can think I think the saving and grace for those teams that have struggled to win, that've only mount mustered one win is the fact that there's been other teams as well that have struggled to get wins. So you put Ipswich, Southampton, Crystal Palace, Wolves in the same ballpark. No one's detached at this stage of the season. so one win, you're back out of it. So there's every chance they're looking at those fixtures up until Christmas that wolves can get points and get themselves out of it and maybe start looking higher up in the table and towards mid-table. It does represent

Match Predictions: Fulham vs Wolves

00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
an interesting in clash on the weekend. There are some old faces, previously wolves, that will be coming up against.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah raul himez talk talk to me about ra him andne How do you remember his time at Wolves? Initially he came in and he was scoring a lot of goals. wasn't dna and and They had that terrible well-known head injury and then subsequently he wasn't firing after that. What are your memories from him is ah this time at Molyneux?
00:13:09
Chris
Yeah, I mean, legend, he's, he is, you know, hes he's a huge part of that brilliant period that you spoke about when we got into, you know, seventh twice and and he was scoring some absolutely amazing goals for us and doing well in Europe. And at that point at his peak, I mean, there were some big clubs, you know, again, linked with him that he could have gone for a ridiculous amount of money at that time.
00:13:32
Chris
Then sadly, a horrific head injury. I mean, absolutely devastating. And to be honest, just to see him at one point, it was just a case of to even see him walking and then running. And even to playing again is just a miracle. No one thought he would get back to the level he's at.
00:13:49
Chris
And there is a part of me that is very sad. he Well, not part of me. I am very sad he left the way he did. It was kind of felt at the time that, um you know, we were in difficult circumstances when La Pategi came in to kind of save us ah the season before last. And um he was he's like he's He was kind of frozen out of the squad at that point. Yes, he was still, recovering you could argue he's still recovering. It was only a couple of years after that horrific end head injury and still recovering his his sense of being. And ah knowing that it was his last contract and he was going to get the go that summer and knowing he was on the bench for the final home game of the season and he didn't get to come on and say farewell to the fans that it really felt like the, yeah.
00:14:36
Chris
ah How do I put this? Yeah, Lopategi just did him a bit of a harsh one there and you could see his family he and his family were in tears that day because Wolverhampton was but a big part of his experience in England at that point and he and the fans loved him and didn't get you know he didn't get his swan song that that a lot of people wanted him to have.
00:14:54
Chris
And so i'm i'm I am so happy to see him doing well now, to see him being re like reborn into something of if his former self, because that was... on like we We just never thought that would happen, and we didn't see that. It didn't look like his own old self for a long time at Wolves, which is why he eventually got moved on. um But I am also absolutely petrified, therefore, that he's going to score against us.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i was so I was thinking, how do you think Wolves fans would react to ah Aral Jimenez winning goal set up by Adama Triore?
00:15:24
Chris
Oh, yeah, yeah, it's that is my that thing that's given me nightmares, to be honest, and it's it's going to happen because that's what happens to wolves. Like, that's just that's just written in the stars. I'm sure it is. But ah yeah, yeah, um I love him. I want him to do well. Just not against us, please.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, before we come on to more of a chat around Fulham, I just want to echo what you said about Raoul Jimenez about his career being revitalised. I think there were stages during his spell at Fulham, even though he's been here for just over a season, that he looked like people were writing him off. Moniz came into the team second half of last season and was scoring every week. And then, Jimenez didn't start the campaign because Moniz was the guy in possession of that position, but he was struggling to find the back of the net and Jimenez got his chance.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah was scoring was scoring on a regular basis and even when he hasn't been scoring goals he's been contributing to the team so um yeah at 33 years old he's still banging in the goals for Mexico as well he scored he scored away on international duty so ah hopefully for Fulham fans that can continue going forward for the rest of the season.
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before we come on to more chat around Fulham let me just tell you all about our sponsors here at GSPN and that is Zencaster
00:16:25
Chris
Yeah.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. So Chris then,
00:16:59
Chris
I will say, oh sorry, on on a lighter note, sorry, I met Jimenez a few times during his spell in Wolverhampton. He's a lovely, lovely guy. Yeah, so I do wish him all the best. He's a great guy.
00:17:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah that's that's That's great to hear. ah So, Chris, are you looking forward to this fixture or are you slightly nervous, concerned, given the way Fulham have been performing?
00:17:19
Chris
It's a mixture I am, I am, ah i' ah looking forward to is probably the wrong, probably the wrong phrase. I am quietly hopeful that given, as I said, this kind of hopefully putting a like, what's the word i phrase I'm looking for, but we've like so maybe stem the tide slightly having two good well say it went to say two good draws but one good draw like the d2-2 away to Brighton was a good result coming from two nil down as well and then the draw against Palace and then a win against Southampton I'm I'm hoping that that is giving a glimmer of hope to maybe you know getting something I'd be happy if we get a point away from from Fulham because I feel like that you like you mentioned you guys have been on form you're having a good start to the season
00:18:05
Chris
I think so a point for us would be would be massive at this stage of the season going into some of these bigger games we spoke about from our point of view in terms of like Eberton and Ipswich and everyone so I am quietly hopeful but and yeah at the same time I am dreading it and anxious and like yeah it's just worried just worried it's all gonna go wrong.
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, from a full perspective, it's exciting times, back-to-back wins, back-to-back London, Derby wins, seventh in the table. And if you if you look at the table, there's only, I think, four points between third place and, is it 13th or 14th?
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
My United down in 14th. So it's really congested, which you don't often see at this stage of the season, normally certain teams are separated, but it's only been Liverpool and Manchester City have separated themselves from the rest.
00:18:42
Chris
Mm.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So everything's going to plan at the minute. And I i saw a start earlier that was, um I don't know how much of attention you pay to XG at 4 or XG against, but it gives you an idea of of how sort of games pan out and Fulham after the opening loss on the first day of the season against Manchester United, they've actually won XG in every single game.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So let that would be a word word of warning to you Wolves fans, that and that's against good teams. And then as well, Man City at the Etihad, for instance, they played Aston Villa in there as well. So Fulham, despite being seventh, sitting pretty in the league, I think a lot of fans will be actually feeling, you know what, they've chucked away a lot of points because I think they've dropped 10 points from winning positions. and a couple of those games but in particular. The Everton game at Gooderson was a 95th minute equaliser. West End game at home where they battled them was a 95th minute equaliser. So it's going really good as well as any fan could have hoped for, especially maybe with the loss of Pelina in the summer, which is often talked about and you know how they were able to replace that. But I think it's it's been a dream start really.
00:19:54
Chris
yeah yeah you Yeah, as I say, i'm I'm a little bit scared because you did it that you have looked solid, so I am anxious. I am i am anxious, but you know I'm going to stay quietly positive at the same time. It's um it's a weird it's a weird concoction being always found. It's always tense.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think the Wolves approach will be going into this game?
00:20:15
Chris
Um, to be honest, I think, well, for the first part of the season, Gary Neil tried to play this four at the back that he would did all preseason. He's very much wanted to do that. However, some of the recent points have been gained with a shift to five at the back, like we did last season when it wasn't quite working. And I think they're away from home. That's probably the safest way to go. Um, because we look a lot more solid with the three center backs and then, uh, Samado and eight Nori at wing back allows eight Nori to Rome.
00:20:44
Chris
because he's so get dangerous at that with when he's got the security of another defender behind him. However, a big part of that, and you may have been coming onto it, is going to come down to the health of our centre backs because we're carrying a few knocks there, which is actually the only silver lining of this break. but so Because we lost a couple of defenders, Mosquero got an ACL injury in the like third or fourth game of the season, so we've only got a few healthy senior centre backs.
00:21:10
Chris
And so if we play the back three, it's actually then a young twin under 21 on the bench because that's all we've got. But one of our seniors, Santiago Bueno pulled out of the Uruguayan squad during the international break due to injury and is a doubt for the weekend.
00:21:25
Chris
So our back affirmation will depend on injuries. It will depend on how many senior center backs are fit. we are that We are that short at the back. So I'm very scared.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I actually think Craig Dawson, he does add a lot towards him. I mean, you you watch him far more regularly than I do. But I always kind of felt he's sort of an underrated, underappreciated center half. And he's got that experience, know-how of the division.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's He's been in relegation scraps as well. I mean, in his in his time at West Brom, he would have been at West Ham as well.
00:21:51
Chris
Yeah, he he's...
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think he's probably a key figure. And they do. Is is Lamina, he's he's the captain, isn't he?
00:21:58
Chris
Lamina's captain, we call Dawson Ballon Dawson, because he is amazing. And I mean, when we've played the likes of Man City the last couple of seasons, the way we play against them with that five, he is usually assigned to Harland, has marked Harland out the game basically every time we played him, because he Harland is that big kind of old school in a way player that just likes to uses strength and Dawson just likes that battle and likes to be in his face and just completely marks him out of the game. He's hardly had a sniff each time so and because when he's got the back three dawson Dawson hasn't got the legs. He's never had much pace anyway but now he's in his 30s and he's lost some the some of the speed that he did have.
00:22:35
Chris
Having at the back three means he can be in the center and use his experience to like shepherd everyone around and make us just that bit more secure. But if we end up in a back four, then he hasn't got the pace and then we're going to be more susceptible. It's going to be a little bit more risky.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So having looked at Wolves' defence there, I mean, the statistics don't lie. They do say that you have conceded 27 goals in 11 Premier League games, which is the most of any size in the Premier League.
00:22:57
Chris
Yeah, baby.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
What would do you what you tend to put that down to?
00:23:03
Chris
Set pieces, set pieces, set pieces. um If you win again, if you get a set piece against us, whether it be at a corner, an indirect free kick, whatever, the second, whether it's the first phase or the second phase of a set piece, that is literally where nearly all of those goals have come from. We are actually really solid defending from open play. And if you look back through the matches, even against the legs of Man City and Newcastle and everyone,
00:23:25
Chris
They have hardly had any chances from inside the box. They've been shooting from distance and had very little sniff of goal from open play. We're actually really solid as a formation when the ball is in play. But once someone gets a set piece and that ball gets whipped into the box,
00:23:40
Chris
We are just, it's schoolboy defending. ah Everything is going wrong. And the only thing is they hired a set piece coach in the summer for the first time ever at Wolves. And he's been sacked within the first six games or so because it was just all going wrong. And if you look at the game against Chelsea, where we conceded six, three of those goals are identical, identical. They look like a replay of the same goal because there is no one on the far post and then, and it's just like.
00:24:04
Chris
It's like, it's every time. There is no one ever markings, like there's always a free man and it's usually an opponent's center back. Most of the goals against us have come from opposing team center backs who are just not being marked at set pieces and being left to just hide in, head in freely. And as a walls, that is what's driving walls fans crazy right now. Cause as you've seen, we're actually scoring plenty. We've scored like 16 or 18 goals or something. And we look dangerous going forward. We've got some great attackers and from open play, as I say, we're solid.
00:24:32
Chris
but get a set piece and you've won you've won the game.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it's funny you say that actually, because I believe Fulham are the only team in the Premier League that haven't scored from a free-kick or a corner this season.
00:24:41
Chris
Oh, it's going to change.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it might it might it might be Wolves' lucky day on Saturday. I think there's this statistic that comes out every week that Andreas Pereira has created more chances than any other player. 99% of them are free-kicks or corners that people just head over the bar.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think they've had over 100 corners without leading to a goal. So maybe the luck might change against Wolves or what you say in there.
00:25:00
Chris
Oh yeah, I hate to say it but it will change will change because we are unless something magical has happened during this international break we cannot defend them to the point I've been saying let's just go 80s early 90s put one on each post put a defender on each post do old school I don't care just put them on the line put everyone on the line until the ball is clear
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Before we look at some key personnel and give our score predictions, let me tell you all about GSPN. The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and the daily wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. It's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what are the major personnel changes maybe? Does everyone come back um fit from international duty?
00:25:52
Chris
Um, I, uh, I mean, I, it's mainly both Thank focused. Can't talk properly today. It's mainly focused, as I say, around our center backs. Cause when I was got a knock Dawson's been carrying a knock through the last two games. And if we you. had more center backs, apparently wouldn't have been playing. He's been carrying a nursing, a hamstring or something through those last two games. So it's really down to those center back formations up front.
00:26:15
Chris
And, and midfield looks pretty solid and we have depth there, so that's not really a concern. So, um, I reckon if there's enough fit people, you'll see either a five, three, three, or like five, and then two holding midfielders. And then the three up front. Um, but as long as Kuni's playing, as long as Strandlassen's playing, there's, there's goals. we're We're capable of scoring. It's really just whether we can keep back, we can score more than we can seed.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Is Wang Yichang still out injured then, because I know he yeah he had a good season last season, didn't he have a dozen goals, hasn't sort of hit the heights but I was just wondering, do you know about his fitness?
00:26:52
Chris
He's returned to, I believe he's returned to training now. Yeah, he got he got picked up a knock. He's been out for a few weeks. He's back training now. So he is a possibility for the weekend, maybe to be back on the bench, but I'd very much doubt he'll start even if he's back. And yeah, he, last season at one point he was absolutely flying and he is a fox in the box very much. If he, I think he's one of our best finishes. And if he gets the ball in the box, he's capable of putting it away. The thing, the weird thing was he was in double digits, went away to the, um you know the ah Asian couple or something last season never came back from it the same, got injured during it but also just there was a lot of rumors about how the the South Korean squad did that time and I think it was Klinsman was it and there was a lot of disgruntled stuff about their fitness and he came back didn't look the same player then he's picked up injuries and he's never quite been the same since he was on that goal scoring streak and a lot of people were actually
00:27:44
Chris
happy to have him out of the squad for a bit because a lot of people were booing as well when Gary Nill kept putting him on and he was not doing anything because he's been played despite not performing and so um I hate to say it but it's been a little bit nice to have some variety in the squad while he's been out but I secretly love I love him I think you know what you're gonna get he's every manager's favorite he's every manager's favorite he's always played under every manager that comes in and like he's He's a workhorse because I think they know what they'll get even if he's not. He must do it in training because he doesn't always do it on the pitch, but they like him.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, what we're coming on to the Fulham Team, use it's a bit more simpler for Marco Silva. I said this in the preview show that he's a manager that's a reluctant to change his side when it's winning, when it's enjoying good times. And Sasa Lukic was actually one of the best players. he got He got injured on the last international breakup. But to that point, he was arguably Fulham's best player as that sort of replacement for Gio Polina, who goes about his business quite quite understated understated and ah lets the more talented players, more creative player players, allows them to do do they do what they do best. He does the sort of dirty work that often gets a notice maybe by you
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just casual casual observers. um So it looks like he could potentially be back for this weekend's game But having said that he is reluctant to make changes to winning team and Sander Berger who's come in He had a shaky game against Aston Villa, and I think there was a lot lot concern um from full-on fans But after that game, he's been absolutely solid absolutely mustard ever since just improving his levels of performances ever since so and and you've seen Harry Wilson.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Harry Wilson in the last couple of games has come on around the 80th minute and he's bagged three goals. I think he the stats will tell you that he has the best goals per minute ratio in the Premier League this season.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's scoring a goal every 24 minutes. So I think for wall signs you don't be, he stays on the bench because he you might score one instead of a hat trick but he scored again in his week for Wales so he's absolutely flying.
00:29:29
Chris
Wow.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's ah It's a great problem to have for Marco Silva at the minute, because you almost want to have 15, 16 guys that could easily to be starting, but he can obviously only start 11.
00:29:39
Chris
and so
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's great options to have players like Wilson, like Athamatrori, who you'll know well, you know what Athamatrori can do with 20 minutes to go, and he he's up against tired fullbacks.
00:29:51
Chris
yeah
00:29:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not what they want to see, is it, with him warming up with his baby oil on the sidelines, is it?
00:30:03
Chris
No.
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:30:06
Chris
No, no. Is he, um he and him and his both fit for this game, right? Is that correct?
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they're both fit, but Adama Troy's been restricted to substitute appearances the last couple of games. Rhys Nelson, who's on loan from Arsenal, he's come into the fold, he's taken Adama Troy's place. So I would imagine that he would stick without Adama Troy, will probably come on the last 15, 20 minutes depending on how the game is going. ah Let's look at the game. Now, who do you think they're the key personnel in Wolves' fortunes for this game, if they are to get a positive result?
00:30:35
Chris
Kunya, it's ah it's it's and you know it's not a secret that if anything happens to Kunya this season, wolves are in even more trouble because he is like the linchpin right now. Strandlas in his scoring. um I love him. We signed him in the summer. He's a great striker, a place for Norway, um the next most famous Norwegian striker. And and he and he looks you know he he looks really sharp and dangerous as well, but Kunya playing in that number 10 off him.
00:31:03
Chris
Being able to roam from deep and you know run at people knowing now that he's got a proper number nine in front of him because last season he didn't really have a proper number nine ahead of him and he was doing that number nine role and he's not in he's not in a number nine but having coming out of Rome as a number 10.
00:31:18
Chris
and and just run at people and cause danger. I mean, if and I don't know if you saw his goal against Southampton, you know, he's beautiful goal from range. He's got, he's got so much in his locker and he's, he's not always as good. Like a lot of great attacking players, not necessarily great off the ball. You know, he can ah not necessarily track back and and give everything, but you almost don't want him to. Cause he's so, so dangerous going forward. it So yeah, if if he's having a day, it can be a great day.
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I do like Kunya and I think what's impressive is he had a good season, didn't he, last season there a dozen times as well. And the fact that he's backed that up, he's gone on to score, I think he's scored a handful of five goals so far in a team that's struggling towards the bottom end of the table. So it's shown that he can cut it at this level in the Premier League, not just do it over the course of one season. If we're looking at Fulham, I thought the three behind the striker in the last game were absolutely electric. So that's Nelson, Smithrow. Well, Smithrow doesn't necessarily always play behind the striker because he plays Andreas Pereira in Smithrow in almost dual eight positions. and But Smithrow had his best game in the Fulham shirt in that game, got on the score sheet, had another one, ruled out marginal offside. And Alex Owobi as well, or Alex Owobi for me, is so is probably Fulham's play of the season. he would be much if If I was voting on Fulham's play of the season, it would be Alex Owobi. He can play left, he can play right, he can play through the middle, he's such
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
a great tool to have that versatility for a manager. He's a manager's dream and he's been he's been absolutely superb so far. So ah those are the key personnel and the defense defensively they've been good as well. They probably not not kept the clean sheets they would like. They kept the clean sheet in the last game. But again, XG, you look at XG against, they're right up there as well. Probably, I think maybe behind Liverpool for teams that ah restrict the opposition to sort of clear cut chances. So with that being said, what is ah what is your score prediction for this in Canva?
00:33:13
Chris
Oh, this is a tough one. But to be honest, I will pretty much snatch your hand off for something like a 1-1 or a 2-2 draw. I think there's goals in it. Like said you said, if you, again, I don't like that kind of stat always either because I think it sometimes is not always that clear. But in terms of your extra G and your chances, as you said, I think there's goals in the game.
00:33:36
Chris
We, if you get set pieces, you know, I think you will maybe get your first set piece goal. We are that bad from set pieces. So that's where there's going to be goals from in in terms of conceding for us. So I will, but we are, like I said, we are all just as capable of scoring. And anyone who's actually watched a bunch of, you know, a fair bit of us will see there is actually a lot of danger there going forward.
00:33:58
Chris
so So if, ah yeah, I think I can see ah a goals draw one, one, two, two, either of those, I'll take it. I'll take the point so we can go away and play some of these teams around us and try and get a few more.
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and if you If you look back at the fixture last season, it was a highly entertaining game on it. I think it was a Monday night football five goal thriller, which for them just managed to emerge victorious. I think it was a stoppage time penalty from Willian at the time.
00:34:21
Chris
Hmm.
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Wolves will score, but looking at the defensive record, I think they can be got at, and I think for them to have the players that are capable of exploiting that, if they can get Smith-Rowe or Woebe, Reece Nelson running at that Wolves defence.
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they'll call them havoc and I think Fulham will emerge 3-1 victors for this game but I think they also must guard against complacency because ah there'd probably be some Fulham fans looking at their position in the league league and thinking oh home game against Wolves, Wolves are struggling in the table that's a game on paper you've got a good chance of winning and then you start getting ahead of yourselves thinking if this team loses if this team draws you might end the evening you might end the day four for fifth in the league table so it's important for Marco Silva to guard against complacency you know I'm sure he will he's been in this business long enough he's managed in the Premier League for long enough so um I'm sure he'll do that and the full and play to the levels that we've seen recently then I think they will emerge victorious. Any final thoughts on on this fixture?
00:35:19
Chris
Just the a bit like you said, I think you're more than capable of taking all three points, but yeah, I wouldn't be complacent. Wolves have some some some strong players. you know we We took Man City right to the wire again this season and they only won through a v a very well-discussed VAR decision. you know and Um, we've conceded it a few VR, VAR issues again, this season, uh, let us down, uh, being the only team to vote against VAR in the summer as well. And, uh, it all seems to come back to bite us in the bum. So we, we are more dangerous than our position, I think, you know, shows. So yeah, don't, don't underestimate us, even if, you know, I think it will be a tough day, whatever the result, I think it's going to be, I think it's going to be another battle.
00:36:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I definitely can see there being goals. I definitely can see it being an entertaining game. There we have it. That'll do it for today's crossover special. Thank you to Chris from the Daily Walls team for joining me today. We'll catch you all on the next one.
00:36:19
Chris
Bye everyone.