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Ipswich 1 - Wolves 2! What a week!!
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6 points in 5 days!! Wolves are looking up not down! Will and Chris dissect a rollercoaster week as a Wolves fan.
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Transcript
Wolves' Emotional Rollercoaster
00:00:02
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work Welcome in, everybody. Welcome in, Daily Wolves fans. It is I once again, Chris. We are here with so much to discuss after an epic win today away at Ipswich. But before we get dig into any of that, I'm not alone.
00:00:23
Speaker
We are not alone in the universe. Today with me is my original buddy in crime, Will. Hey, Will. Hello, hello. Yeah, as you said, the the original duo back again. And I think, Chris, it's it's a long time we've been doing these recordings now, you know, um near enough a whole season and then some.
00:00:44
Speaker
um But I think that this week, this this little run of results has to be the most sort of positive setup for us
Ipswich Game Analysis
00:00:57
Speaker
to record. And I think,
00:00:59
Speaker
Well, yeah, I was thinking before we started, because obviously we're all everyone's re everyone's really happy going now into your new working week, everyone, because you know we've got the big win against Ipswich, which is what we wanted. But if we look back at the week, because obviously we've got to do some catching up,
00:01:17
Speaker
This, for me, is one of the most typical Wolves weeks that you'll ever have. Yeah. Because we've had the high of, obviously, we went into the West Ham game. You and I both felt, we both said before that we thought, we got the scoreline slightly wrong, but we both thought we were going to win. And lo and behold, we got the three points.
00:01:34
Speaker
And we're like, we go 12 points clear of Ipswich. I'm like, come on this is great. This is amazing. And then typically, what do they do? Ipswich go and win game pull it back to nine.
00:01:45
Speaker
And it just felt like, okay, that's getting things a bit back, you know, making this game a little bit more exciting at the weekend. And also makes few rumblings in the wall's crowd, typically, like, here we go.
00:01:57
Speaker
You know, it's all going to be thrown away again. lo and behold, first half of this game, we go a goal down. And the panic, there's a momentary panic of, oh, my gosh, it'll be six points.
00:02:10
Speaker
It's all hair-shaped. Yeah. and that Because we never do we never as a team, no matter who is in the squad or what division we are it's pretty much never smooth.
00:02:21
Speaker
And so it just feels like for me this was typical. you know The high of Tuesday, then Ipswich win, then the closing of the gap, then they go and score first today just to put the pressure on and put us through the ringer and keep the tension going that little bit longer. But then then it all came good because out of darkness comes light, Will.
00:02:40
Speaker
Yes, yes, you've got that one in early today. I did. We can do another one, don't worry, but just it just seemed apt. Yes. um No, 100%. I mean, you summed it up very nicely so far. I think, you know, and not to be too sort of cliche and cringy, but this is why, you know, you you love football and especially Wolves.
00:03:02
Speaker
um Yeah, certainly a rollercoaster. of of emotions um and but it's not even all of that stuff on the pitch it's the rumblings outside of of you know the the football itself with the whole Cunha situation which we left on a bit of a cliffhanger last episode and um you know the Yeah, we'll discuss more
Player Highlights and Contributions
00:03:27
Speaker
of that. yeah no yeah No doubt.
00:03:30
Speaker
But I will say what I'm thrilled with or with him being out the squad, and I think we touched on this last episode, is Larson has really shone during this period of Kuni not being there.
00:03:42
Speaker
yeah Back into goal scoring form. if we look back at the West Ham game for a moment, for me, i know that I know the shot was deflected, but just the way he didn't hesitate in taking that snapshot, the moment the ball fell to him, was for me the sign of someone in confidence. You know when they're just they Because he had the brace before that in the previous game and it just seemed to give him a lift. And so the snapshot for West Ham, I know it took the nick off Kilman, but it's those little things where the look starts to turn your way as a striker where, you know, oh, I've got the confidence. I'm just going to whack this. And it just falls. It it just goes the right way because that's just what seems to happen when you're in form.
00:04:24
Speaker
And yeah he's just in that zone again. and he and he does it again today. And I'm just so happy because it shows that we're going to be... I think we're playing more cohesive as a team in all these games.
00:04:35
Speaker
Three wins on the bounce. They are playing more as a team because there isn't one superstar that's just kind of wandering around the middle of pitch. Yeah. um I like the sort of passive aggressiveness in that in that last comment.
00:04:49
Speaker
um But I do want to mention, and i'm sure I'm sure Chris... and you're already aware of this, but it just, on on the Larsson topic and the confidence that he's on, and like you said, that goal against West Ham, which, you know, as you mentioned, that there was a lot of fortune about it, but you make your own luck, especially when you're high on confidence, you know, you tend to create chances for yourself, not even out of nothing, but, you know, um i think it's it's a it's a just reward for the efforts put in.
00:05:28
Speaker
um And I think it comes off the back of, as well, the Stevie Bull ah content that's been going out lately, in which he's laughing and joking with a But I think it's joke with a hint of you know seriousness to it when he's saying shoot more, shoot more.
00:05:46
Speaker
and And it's true, you know that's that's what you want your striker, your number nine to to do. Get a shot off when when possible. and um As you mentioned, without someone ball hogging and um' trying to everything by themselves um for for the cameras.
00:06:09
Speaker
yeah that that um ah like the words you said when you said the more cohesive um going forwards and Yeah, you know, it's good. You you can see it all around the pitch as well. There's a proper sort of team spirit. I think, strangely, given our league position, I think we're a team full of players high on confidence.
00:06:32
Speaker
Yeah, we are. I mean, to touch on that again before we dive fully into the today's game. We're kind of focusing on the midweek stuff for a sec. Gomez, obviously, ah as in João Gomez I'm talking about for a second, was, I thought, fantastic in that West Ham game.
00:06:49
Speaker
The couple of runs he made from midfield were just more dynamic than we've seen him do for most of the season, to be honest. and I was really impressed. he get and in the He's gone and signed a new five-year contract. i mean Yeah.
00:07:02
Speaker
Fantastic, absolutely buzzing. I know, again, he may not see that five years out, but at least for me, that shows a sign that he's at least going to be here next season because no release of Worlds and he's earlier in his Worlds career still. And I feel like he's, I don't know, I feel like we've got him for a little bit longer. Yeah, I agree. I agree.
00:07:23
Speaker
um So there's him. And then for me, both today and in the West Ham game, Minnetzi, is a factor. like He didn't get the assist for West Ham, but it's it he's the one that Agbedou plays it to for that goal, but the in the building for that goal, with a yeah really long through ball. It cuts through the midfield in an instant because Agbedou's got such a hammer of a kick. It's just like no one can stop him.
00:07:48
Speaker
and But it's Minetsi's run that he's looking for because, again, Minetsi runs beyond... beyond Larson a lot or like alongside him and he's dragging defenders away which creates the space for the shot when it rebounds when when it rebounds back to Larson so again Minetzi whilst he's not always putting the ball in the net his presence around Larson with Kunja not being there and Minetzi being up there alongside him in that in the square essentially and then pushing into yeah running past him he's creating I think
00:08:23
Speaker
He's actually helped Larson immensely in this little flurry of wins in Larson's goal frenzy because he is he's making defenders think about where to go because he's always alongside or he's he's overlapping him a lot and it's creating little pockets of space for Larson to get those shots ah Yeah, I think Omnette,
00:08:44
Speaker
I'll be honest, Chris, I'm not 110% sold. No, I'm not saying it's a long-term solution, but in this spell, I feel like he's been important. Yeah, ah and what I'm about to say about him, I mean this in the absolute best way possible.
00:08:59
Speaker
you know it's ah It's meant as ah as a full-on compliment, whether or not if, you know, Minetsi, if you're listening, which I somehow doubt, ah I'm not sure he'd take it as one.
00:09:10
Speaker
But the phrase I would use to describe him is rough around the edges. Oh, yeah. But for his effort, you cannot fault him. And that is why he's getting picked.
00:09:25
Speaker
I think it's that simple. you know and I think what sums it up is the passage of play late into the second half against West Ham. when he ends up carrying the ball, beating one man sort of down the line. But you can tell as he's dribbling with it, he's almost staggering. and then just yeah He manages to win a throw-in.
00:09:44
Speaker
and it It had a hint of Romain's size full-time against Middlesbrough away.
Wolves vs. West Ham Insights
00:09:50
Speaker
he just collapsed on the pitch out of pure exhaustion. and Vitor and his assistant coach...
00:09:58
Speaker
Going mad, celebrating on the ah sidelines. um But I think i think that sums me up, that passage of play, that um you know the the physicality and the and the work rate that brings is, you know, you you you couldn't swap that for for anything.
00:10:17
Speaker
um It's fantastic. um And again, another thing, ah not meaning to take the ah spark out of things, but um as as a fan of football, you know, watching watching this without my Wolves hat on, and I saw a fair few West Ham fans say this actually afterwards, I saw on their social medias, and it actually came up on my ah TikTok, which is weird. Anyway,
00:10:44
Speaker
and I thought they looked awful. I think, like, ah that West Ham looked really... I mean, I don't know about you, Chris. Obviously, we both predicted a 2-0.
00:10:56
Speaker
But at 1-0, I was never really worried. And it was like... Apart from, I think apart from Jao Gomez, the midfield on both sides really just lacked energy.
00:11:10
Speaker
And I think it was a typical display from a team in West Ham who... you know, they're safe, aren't they? yeah you You know, they're not fighting for anything. I think it was a typical, i don't know if it's too early to say this, but I do think they were on their jollies. I do think they were. I think, you know, don't know. There's just something about it seemed seem quite flat. But having said that, with three points in the back pocket, which were three big, big, big points, given the way the rest of the week went, who cares?
00:11:42
Speaker
Yeah, I mean... Going through what you said there, in terms of the Minetsi thing, I think, yeah, we talk about the team ethic over the last few games. The fact that you've got the likes of him and Bellegarde and Andre and Gomez who basically all just run themselves ragged. ah yeah You know, you clearly, this sort that's what Vitor likes. He likes to people that just won't quit.
00:12:05
Speaker
And they're all they're all people that won't quit, pretty much. We've seen it from all of them in different ways over recent games. In terms of West Ham, yeah, they weren't great. And most of their chances, actually, as always, typically for us, but their two best chances really both came from mistakes from Totty.
00:12:24
Speaker
Yeah, I wasn't going to mention it. I'm going to mention it. Because I love Totty. I think he's fantastic. And to be fair, he's had an amazing run of games prior to that without a mistake. like he's been We've mentioned how he's been fantastic since he came back from injury. He's been pretty solid under Vittor.
00:12:42
Speaker
Yeah. and All the clean sheets and just generally been outstanding defensively. So he's kind of due again. He's due a game where he's going to do something. Yeah. um And hopefully that's just like if he can make it like one game in six or something where he has those spells, then that's fine. That'll do. Yeah, that'll do.
00:12:59
Speaker
Because both the chances that came from like Bowen breaking down that side. were both yeah errors for the first one was where he tried to clear it, but he was right next to bone. It just bounced off his legs and yeah went yeah and then he broke free.
00:13:14
Speaker
Bone didn't even try and intercept it. It just literally ricocheted off him. And then the one later in the game, he had multiple chances to clear it. And it was that thing of when he's in, i think when he's not got time to think and he just clears it or he just runs or he does something.
00:13:29
Speaker
He's fine. But when he's got five, six seconds and that seems like an eternity in football sometimes when they oh my God, what do I do now? Because I've got all these options. I could do something.
00:13:40
Speaker
um He just then hesitated so long he mugged it up all over again. And that was the, what was it, like 90th minute when it put the that was their one true opportunity and yeah so so what all of that stems back to the fact that really we were the masters potentially masters of our own downfall once again and West Ham outside of that didn't create anything from open play of both errors really Yeah, and to be honest, I'd forgotten about that when I said that I wasn't worried at any point.
Ipswich Victory Significance
00:14:09
Speaker
And that second incident, especially, I was worried. And I'm going to quote Vitor when he said, um tonight, Totti was trying to kill me. think, you know, he's, a I mean, he doesn't mince his words, does he? He's great.
00:14:25
Speaker
but I think even the player can take that in a real kind of respectful way because he said in a jokey way, but clearly he knows he would have, like a day he's he's ah yeahy and he know he made a mistake.
00:14:35
Speaker
Yeah. ah that even Sorry, even with the first chance though, that um what I will say is that Doc made a great block on their first opportunity early in the first half. Yes, I remember that. I know that Bowen played it slightly behind, but even so, Doc tracked all the way and did what he needed to do, put himself in the right right position to block the shot.
00:14:57
Speaker
Yeah, and um I mean, so so that we don't dwell on ah those incidents, Chris, I sort of hinted at before, them it's just as well that we won that game. It's just as well that West Ham didn't create much.
00:15:12
Speaker
Because, um again, i'm I'm offering you another quote here, actually. I'll fast forward on to Wednesday when Ipswich went away and beat Bournemouth.
00:15:23
Speaker
Yeah, sure. And I saw a I think it was Agpadu I saw an interview from where he said he was watching the game on Wednesday and getting angry. ah I wasn't getting angry. I was and the same sort of...
00:15:38
Speaker
vain is how you introduced today's episode but i just i just thought yeah it's just typical it's just absolutely typical wolves in fact i wasn't even fazed by it because i think i just accepted already that you know as you said it was never going to be that easy for us was it yeah it couldn't have just been simple it couldn't have been simple No, no. Yeah, it was just typical. They haven't won in so long.
00:16:06
Speaker
And then we get 12 points clear and then they close it back to nine. But so going into the weekend then, obviously, we're back at nine points. And add to that, obviously, that Vittles got the touchline ban, had the touchline ban and the first ah assistant coach because of they both got yellow cards in
Strategic Adjustments and Outcomes
00:16:27
Speaker
the game against West Ham. Yeah.
00:16:28
Speaker
Of the one game you kind of wanted Vittel to be at the sideline for, it would have been this one, arguably. So, it just added another level to this whole game. Unchanged line-up. I mean, you don't break a winning formula, right? yeah So, same again. No changes.
00:16:43
Speaker
I was happy to see Rodrigo Gomez back on the bench. And, like, the bench is looking a lot more solid generally. Everyone's back full Yes, yes, yes. Gage Gomez is there. Like, everyone's looking pretty solid again. And, um you know, it kicks off and... first few minutes, not too bad. But then Sucker Punch is always... Really, they only really had a couple of chances and otherwise Sarr didn't have to have much to do. But of course, they go and get the first call.
00:17:10
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. um I actually, unfortunately, missed them the first sort part of the game. Not that I would be able to watch it in any way um legally. So, you know, I'd never do that.
00:17:25
Speaker
I just want make that clear. But yeah, i Chris, as I was telling you off air, was recovering from quite a hefty evening the night before. So anyway, I missed the first part of the game. I thought, I'll tune in.
00:17:37
Speaker
I just saw 1-0. And again, the same reaction as when when i saw that Ipswich were beating Bournemouth. It was just Ah, yeah.
00:17:48
Speaker
You know, here we go again. Six points difference at the end of the day. You know, that' was right that's where my head was at at that point. And and i sort of I sort of, as annoying as it was, even if we had lost today, Chris, don't get me wrong, you know, um that would have been worst case scenario.
00:18:10
Speaker
I still think we'd be absolutely fine. I still just do, just because the games we have coming up are winnable. it still would have made it a little bit more of a squeaky bum time yes yes and i said that um to my girlfriend earlier i said that it was getting squeaky bum time and she gave me the weirdest look as someone who doesn't follow football were you talking about the football or something was talking about the football yes um so and i i didn't bother explaining it either i just thought you know it's too late in the day
00:18:43
Speaker
ah Well, if I can just run through that first goal, as yeah you you were busy talking to your friend about squeaky bombs. and So, obviously, let's say, first few minutes, fairly even they we knew they were going come at us, obviously, um but we actually had a flurry of corners in early on in the first half, couple of chances, like their goalie made a save, and you're thinking, okay, come on, if we can just do like get get the goal to ease this down, calm everything down, fine.
00:19:11
Speaker
Typically, ah they score. Now the goal, O'Shea gets up over Aitnori. um like Like Aitnori is just kind of smothered.
00:19:21
Speaker
He doesn't push him, but Aitnori doesn't get up, doesn't get any air. ahha O'Shea, they basically looked a couple of times, a couple of times they looped the ball out that way, thinking I think that Aitnori was the weak link airily. And arguably, if you look at that back line, is one of the weakest in the air.
00:19:37
Speaker
yeah So that that was clearly a tactic because two or three times they played the ball in high to O'Shea, who was trying to get up over the top of Aitnori to head it across goal towards the lap.
00:19:48
Speaker
They did it several times through the first half more. So clearly they'd been targeting that and it worked. It worked to bring that one, that first opportunity that they tried it um because he got high enough above Aitnori to put it across goal. And there's the guy that we know is going to be the threat, the lap putting it in with absolutely no problem.
00:20:07
Speaker
um They looked at VAR, but it was it was clear. that They looked initially for a show on the back at Ain't Nori, but it wasn't it wasn't enough there. and um I agree there wasn't enough there.
00:20:17
Speaker
um And then, yeah, strong, good hair that puts it away. And there we go, squeaky bum time.
00:20:25
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. um Like said, after that, I sort of accepted it, really. You know, ah i wasn't... i wasn't um I certainly wasn't envisioning a comeback at any point.
00:20:41
Speaker
Well, no, but but what I think, it shows how far we've come as a team across the season since the days that seemed so long ago now under Gary O'Neill's reign.
00:20:53
Speaker
and That we've come so far now under Vitor that not only have we kept several clean sheets and things and we've got been you know picking up more points now, But on top of that, that now they've actually come from behind in a game and won, which feels like they haven't done in forever.
00:21:10
Speaker
um and And in such a strong way, I mean, I know it's Ipswich and and they don't you know they've they've got a bad record, obviously. But even so, this team would have just collapsed a few months ago.
00:21:23
Speaker
yeah yeah. I mean, we lost to them. we were What was it? We were we were leading and the last time we played them at Molyneux and ended up throwing that game away. you remember that? and so yeah Yeah, I remember it. Trust me, I remember it Yeah, exactly. So it's not like we haven't seen it before.
00:21:38
Speaker
ah To have the spirits turn it around, basically dominated the second half. um I mean, the shots tally is, I know that so a lot of them are from distance and not necessarily always on top. I mean, 22 shots to six. Wolves had 22 shots overall with an XG of 2.57 to Ipswich's 1.1.
00:22:01
Speaker
I mean, it just, and then seven shots on target to Ipswich's two, one of which was the goal. So it gives you some scale of it. What i also loved to see, though, is while we were chasing that equalising goal, eventually,
00:22:16
Speaker
Vitor makes the changes that we need around the sixth minute. He's like, come on, we need we need something to happen. He's up there and in the heavens. He's obviously given them already a big talking to at halftime because they were, say, we were clearly dominating, but without that like final... Cutting edge. Cutting edge, thank you.
00:22:37
Speaker
And who do we who do we bring on? Who's the saviour? My man, Sarabia, comes on. Yeah. Like along with Rodrigo Gomez. And not only that, but he shifts to a four at the back and and makes it more attacking, which we haven't, he doesn't, I mean, he's, he's pretty much solid five, three, two. Yeah.
00:22:56
Speaker
Yeah. Sorry. Five, two, three. But anyway, and so he puts, um, he brings on our savior, Sarabia and a bit like when he came on against Tottenham, was it a season or so ago? yes Yes. Yes. A goal and an assist. Yeah.
00:23:10
Speaker
um And just like he did the business. He did the business. I mean, ah you can, I'm going to give you a moment to talk about what you made of the subs, the tactic change, and then and you can go where you want from there.
00:23:23
Speaker
um First of all, I'm going to backtrack to the fact that we just use expected goals, XG, on the GSPN Daily Wolves podcast, which I think is a first. I think, Chris, I thought, ah you know,
00:23:38
Speaker
I don't I just did i didn't expect that, especially from you. I didn't expect it. It's not a first. Definitely not a first. I have mentioned it before, but it's just the fact it was so massive. and Yeah. like It was worth pointing out.
00:23:51
Speaker
Yeah. um But no, I mean, the Tottenham game is the obvious comparison, as you said, about Sevabria. And it's it's funny, actually. I was...
00:24:04
Speaker
having a conversation on the way back from the West Ham game about Serbia and about the fact that ah You know, i weirdly, and I might have said this on the podcast before, I weirdly feel like he could get more minutes, more goals and more assists in a team up the top end of the table than sort of sitting on our bench as our highest earner.
00:24:27
Speaker
um But the one thing I think nobody can fault him for is A, his passion and B, his professionalism and... Luckily for us, he has the quality to go with both of those things.
00:24:41
Speaker
and and And that show today proved pivotal. And um as we've already mentioned about the West Ham game, another Larson goal taking him to, is it 11 or 12? 11, isn't bad.
00:24:59
Speaker
andtu assist not bad Yeah, um well, this is it. For all the faults um you know people pick out about him and the faults that I've picked out about him, you really can't complain with with that goal output. I mean, you spoke about the XG there and how how much of a difference there was.
00:25:19
Speaker
that you know so You can't fault it. You really, really can't fault it. No, and he was injured for a few weeks as well, if you think. yeah That's not a whole season. Yeah, um so yeah just just all round great scenes and ah I'm going to pick out a moment actually after the final whistle
Celebrations and Fan Interactions
00:25:38
Speaker
which I'm... Oh, was it? No, it wasn't. it was head who sorry Sorry, no, i I was getting ahead of myself. Yeah, it was the um yeah second goal, the
00:25:50
Speaker
last one, um the celebrations with the crowd and Andre. For anyone who hasn't seen it somehow, he takes someone's phone not off them, who's celebrating with them, and does a little selfie video, which, ah yeah, i'm sure I'm sure that will go down as a sort of something of an iconic Wolves there meme once this season comes comes to a close. Yeah.
00:26:16
Speaker
Yeah, it's already i can break down the um the well we get to the break down the goals, but so we what did you make, though, of the fact that Vittor made those changes, the change into four at the back and bringing on those players? I mean, were you impressed? I mean, obviously post-game, it's fine say because it's looking back.
00:26:38
Speaker
But what were you thinking at the time? ah At the time, I was thinking, again, Chris, I've got another quote coming your way. I was thinking very much the same. um Actually, no, sorry. thats Actually, the opposite, sorry, of what um Vitor has since come out and said that he was saying.
00:27:01
Speaker
um so By all means, we needed we needed something. We needed we needed to get um you know a point. It was very much a game that we simply just just don't lose. Just don't lose. So that switch to a four surprised me.
00:27:17
Speaker
um But having said that, Vitor, vtorn credit to him, was sort sort of the opposite. um Because he said... he was saying his players at half-time and making those substitutions, which you'd imagine were sort of, yeah, pre-planned then, that the he he doesn't care if we lose 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, but just he wanted pressing, he wanted more intensity and more speed in our passing and attacking movement. And if there's anyone to create ah that, you know, and create...
00:27:55
Speaker
those those chances that you said we had so many of, then it was obviously Sarabia. and um yeah I think that message certainly evidently got through to the players. and um Luckily for us, we we are here to ah <unk> a tell the tales and reap the rewards for it for the gamble. yeah The first goal, by the way, people talk about hold-up play.
00:28:20
Speaker
Larsson's um involvement Sarabia's first goal He's not going to get the assist because at first, Sarabia has a shot that bounces off someone and it comes back to him and then he takes it on his left foot and it's the quick, unexpected change that catches, I think, the goalkeeper out, unable to get across. and And it's a good finish, even though it's not the strongest. It's just, it's it's again, it's instinctive on his left foot.
00:28:47
Speaker
But The build-up to it, it's ah it's a looped ball into the box. Larsson brings it down. He's going to the byline. It's quite a high ball. He brings it down with his foot.
00:28:59
Speaker
Turns, he's holding off the defender. And he doesn't panic or rush. He doesn't just lash it back across goal. You see him look around and he purposely like loops the pass back across field to Sarabia.
00:29:13
Speaker
I thought it was a beautiful piece of... from play and did you notice I mean I thought that was exquisite um yeah 100% 100% and it's you know again it's it's the little things like that that confidence brings you that composure like you said once you're taking it down um you know, even even the strength. that I've seen people um over the course the season question his strength and i have I have as well, you know, and but he uses his body really well.
00:29:48
Speaker
um As you said, I actually thought, yeah, it was a really nice finish in the end from Sevabia, although it wasn't, you know, it's hardly going win goal of the season.
00:30:01
Speaker
But like I said, it if there's any player in in our team who's going to, pull off a goal like that. um and especially in a game like this. It was yeah was bound to be him.
00:30:15
Speaker
It was. And then the second goal, he um again, it's this time he gets the assist. He puts in a beautiful quick pass across the loss. Again, it's kind of a a classic striker's finish, isn't it? It's just yeah a box-in-the-box kind of move. Just gets a toe-poke on it, essentially, as he's falling over. But it's all all that you need.
00:30:38
Speaker
It went to VAR and I thought, oh, here we go. They're not gonna yeah going to give it a moment of glory for once it went our way. But what will say is that although Sarabia got the goal and the assist, I thought actually Gomez had a massive impact in his, Rodrigo Gomez, sorry, in coming on.
00:30:59
Speaker
was actually massively impactful in that all of that stuff as well. like Because it was his he was often getting the ball and just we know what he's like, he drives at people, he moves at pace.
00:31:10
Speaker
And he was, because it had been quite, want to say slow, but obviously he just takes it up another level every time. it's going slowly and being passed around, Gomez is someone that he gets the ball and you saw every time he got the ball and he's near the halfway line, he's just rapid and he just pushes forward.
00:31:26
Speaker
And he was putting in, it like at one point, I think Larson almost got another goal. There was a header that ja went, I think, just over. And it was a beautiful cross from Gomez. um I think arguably the sun was in Larson's eyes at that point, the angle he was looking at.
00:31:39
Speaker
But I feel like although he didn't get the assistant goal, Gomez was in and like very impactful in that that whole sequence of events. Yeah, 100%.
00:31:51
Speaker
I also wanted to highlight the um looped ball over to Sarabia from Andri. um I thought it was a lovely pass. The one thing I did want to mention though, and again, credit to Sarabia, did well to just roll it across across the front of the goal.
Ipswich's Challenges and Future
00:32:08
Speaker
um But, I mean, especially at that point well, when you spoke about the domination had and and Ipswich, everyone was deep in the box.
00:32:21
Speaker
um everyone you know Everyone was back in a defensive shape. And the ball from Andre, as much as I thought it was good, it was like I said, it was a looped sort of floating curled ball just slightly switching the play over to the far hand side to Sarabia.
00:32:35
Speaker
A sort of looped ball over, the sort of a curling one and with Ipswich being so deep and so defensive um I just don't understand if I was an Ipswich fan I would be fuming with the amount of space that Sarabia had to to be able to slide the ball of across so easily and under such little pressure. Because, you know, we've spoken before about as much as he's a great player, he's hardly the most physical. So in the same way they they sort of took advantage of that for their first goal with Ait Nuri and that being a bit of a mismatch, I don't understand how how you're giving...
00:33:15
Speaker
and you know our most creative player that much space in in inside your box in the sort of final dime minutes of a must-win game.
00:33:26
Speaker
um like so So as much as it was a great ball, ah' I'd be questioning that if I was an Ipswich fan. Well, I think they've got a lot of things to question, um sadly. Yeah, yeah.
00:33:38
Speaker
the you know They've given it but Well, what can I say? I mean, they they've got promoted probably far sooner than they ever expected to the Premier League. And so, but sadly, those things tend to catch up with you.
00:33:49
Speaker
um I do think we're going to be, well, i thought I thought it before this game, but I think that's the nail in the coffin then now for them, hopefully. Yeah. yeah But before we get on to kind of afterthoughts and some other bits and bobs, let's just take a moment to play a quick ad from a sponsor.
00:34:07
Speaker
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out as the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, 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. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the description to learn more about Zencastr.
Player Recognition and Team Unity
00:34:39
Speaker
ah Hey, Here at the Global Sports Podcast. The first time was so nice. know. It's great, isn't it, guys? There you go Professionalism at its height, as always here at VSPN Daily Wolves.
00:34:52
Speaker
um What i will say, though, before we actually move on is, though, i once again, though, Agbidou, absolute rock. Yes. yes Just so good. And Dilap, obviously, trying to...
00:35:05
Speaker
diving a lot, getting and putting himself about, trying to get the upper hand on Agvedu, but I don't think Agvedu is having any of it. He just stands strong every time and it's fantastic to see.
00:35:16
Speaker
Yeah. um You know, I'm almost getting bored of saying it, but in the best way possible, you know, he's been an absolute sort revelation to that defence. And I think he's, I think he's somewhat personifies the Vito Pereira takeover so far.
00:35:34
Speaker
You know, um yeah absolutely game-changing. If you compare that to the last time we played Ipswich and sort of defence all round compared to now with him at the heart of it, I mean, it's, you know, it's worlds apart.
00:35:48
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. um So who was your man of the match then? That's the question on everyone's lips. Well, and
00:35:59
Speaker
ah probably I probably, you know, i think I... The easy answer is Serabia. The easy answer, even even though he only, you know, got half an hour. um But my sort of love for both of the midfield two is sort of, you know, make me tempted to throw them in there.
00:36:22
Speaker
and you know what? i could It could be any of them. It could it could be absolutely any of them. Yeah. um'm i'm going I'm going to give it to Rabia, though. I am going to be boring in that sense. um But, i you know, i just... I think the togetherness all round that we saw from the squad today...
00:36:39
Speaker
um I always saw from from but i see the manager on the sidelines, the the manager in the stands who's brought that back to us and our club and and that connection between the fans and the players and the manager.
00:36:53
Speaker
um I think yeah that's that's sort of my highlight from from today and this past week. Yeah, it's it's tough. it's so It's very easy to give Sarabia the man of the match, even though he was only on for a shorter amount of time, just because a goal and assist is a great... Yeah, you can't argue with it. um A couple of other contenders, though, obviously. Agbedou mentioned solid out. mean, and I wouldn't argue with anyone.
00:37:17
Speaker
giving him a man of the match. I think this whole team more... we We discussed more of a team performance last few games. Yeah. Which makes it harder, I think, to make these choices because they're all kind of playing to an equal level. Yeah. yeah um But also, I think I'm going to give mine to the other goal scorer. I'm going to give it to Larson.
00:37:39
Speaker
yeah um Yeah. Because I feel, as I mentioned, his hold-up play I thought was pretty solid today. um the the build-up to Sarabi's goal... as I mentioned, is a description of how I thought he was aware, even when he was and he had some some chances and he put another one in the net. I mean, he's in great form. Was that four goals in three games?
00:37:56
Speaker
Yeah. I think. so So there we go. Sarabia and last and other matches. But that is, Will, some more stats for you.
00:38:07
Speaker
That is three consecutive wins for the first time since December 2023 for Wolves. Can you believe it? um and So that would have been... would that who would thought of being under? would ah know Who's in charge?
00:38:25
Speaker
was it Was it O'Neill? December 23...
00:38:30
Speaker
Yeah, it would be O'Neill, wouldn't it? Because he came yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, he came in. It's okay. I'm just trying to backtrack and try and figure out um which games those were. But and I think the most important thing about those three wins as well...
00:38:47
Speaker
um were who they were against. you know There's been so many times, especially early on the season, before you know we we sort of got cemented in this absolute mess that we have been in um over the course of the year.
00:39:06
Speaker
There's been so many times where we've played teams that on paper we should be winning or, you know, it was so many times where we said we should have won, could have won, had chances, but just shot ourselves in the foot or, you know, lacked whatever it may have been.
00:39:21
Speaker
But the fact that it was against three, when I say three, I feel harsh to include West Ham in that, but three relegation battle rivals, you know, um Southampton, the West Ham went massive, massive. And I feel like that sort of slipped under the radar at the time, but it was absolutely massive. And um this one today, I mean, it didn't get any bigger than that. And like you said, it's the nail. Yeah,
00:39:51
Speaker
um yeah as I said, I feel harsh to sort of include West Ham as a relegation rival, but, you know, that win was
Wolves' Premier League Prospects
00:39:58
Speaker
massive. And then... um to beat Ipswich away. And as you said, it's the final nail in the coffin. I think that's the perfect phrase to sum this up. um that That, you know, it was bigger than big. It was literally 90 minutes to define and confirm what we've been fighting for all season. and And that is that we're fine now.
00:40:23
Speaker
You know, we're absolutely fine. And I think we can go ahead and sort of weirdly enjoy the run-in. Yeah, I mean, it's great. Three wins, let's say, is the first time since December 2023. That's also, that's what, three wins in our, sorry, four wins in our last five games.
00:40:44
Speaker
Six games, sorry. Four wins in the last six games. Just looking at the but fixtures here. Yeah. One of those was a draw as well. So, I mean, the the form overall, I mean, no matter the opposition, is just so much more solid. It's it's ridiculous.
00:40:58
Speaker
um And that's also the first time we've had successive away games since February 2022. And before you ask who, that was under Bruno Large. Yes, yeah.
00:41:11
Speaker
I mean, it just shows it just shows the impact that Pereira has made. And I think all credit to him, especially because he came in with a few sort of question marks around him and you know this notion that he was the cheap option, which I do still somewhat...
00:41:29
Speaker
believe I don't think anyone can deny but that but again who cares you know it's it's paid off paid off massively and as I said i think we'll enjoy the running with him and then I don't mean to get too far ahead of ourselves Chris but we can start to look towards you know a pre-season Pereira and kicking on kicking on from there Yeah, I mean, I don't think he talks more and more about how I don't think he's going to let them settle. I think he wants them to keep pushing.
00:41:56
Speaker
I mean, you look at the table now, it's crazy to think that we are two points away from Tottenham. can you but i know they've got a game in hand. But we're on the first two points now. Tottenham are on 34 now in 16, which is just... I mean, I know they've always been an up-and-down team, but my gosh, that just seems so weird to say. And for to be that... Now we are ah literally looking up rather than down.
00:42:21
Speaker
being 12.3 of Ipswich because Tottenham are 34, West Ham on 35. So we are suddenly from being, was it only a couple of weeks ago, it felt like we were 10 points adrift at that time of Everton, I think it was. Now we are literally two or three points away from the teams ahead of us.
00:42:38
Speaker
So by the end of the season, because I am getting that feeling back where it feels like we can go into any game now, potentially getting points the way we are feeling. Yeah. Yeah. whether it's a draw, whether it's win, whatever, that you feel like there's at least a chance of something, or but definitely between now and the end of the season, of picking up more points. So if the teams around us continue to underperform, there's no reason we can't even gain a spot.
00:43:02
Speaker
Well, this is it, exactly. i think gain a spot and then some looking at the points difference between those teams ahead of us. There really isn't much in it at all. um And we've obviously got Tottenham coming up as our next game. And i'm and look, it'll be difficult, but I so i still am weirdly confident because...
00:43:20
Speaker
as you sort of mentioned, they're such a weird team and such an inconsistent team that gives us a massive chance. And Chris, just, you know, again, looking back at that table, we could finish about 14th.
00:43:35
Speaker
It's crazy. It's crazy. Absolutely ridiculous. So, you know, I mean, fingers crossed. Yeah. I mean, it's strange to think, like said, Tottenham is the next home game, but if they, I mean, obviously they're probably going to go and beat Southampton. I think they've got to play next, but, um,
00:43:49
Speaker
yeah they come to us only a few points
Vitor's Influence and Leadership
00:43:52
Speaker
ahead. it Suddenly that becomes a bigger fixture because we could potentially pull right alongside them, which yeah again is is crazy to say.
00:44:00
Speaker
And I think all of this also is added to to the fact that Vitor, I think he's very smart with some of his speech and his catchphrases. There's obviously the big one that's going around the crowd, ah the fans at the moment is the points, then the pints.
00:44:13
Speaker
um because he's very much this kind of like get amongst fans and try and get them into it. The celebrations after the West Ham game with Hugh when he's grabbing Andre by the scruff of his neck and they're screaming at each other, you know, and trying to get the crowd riled up before before the end of it in the last five minutes.
00:44:30
Speaker
You know, he... he and He understands that the crowd is important. and not I'm sure all managers do, but the way he's doing it, I think he's quite smart. The way he's trying to and incorporate them into the game, the way he's coming up with these things about going to get a pint with people and and celebrate and using them to charge a little bit like Nuno did different kind of character but there's an element of that i feel I don't know if the Portuguese style or what what it is similar culture but do you do you get where i'm coming from he all of this is yeah just adding to his that everything that's going on
00:45:05
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I think it's that... It's what I spoke about earlier, that connection between the fans and the manager and the players and therefore the club. It's that connection that he has... He's revitalised, completely revitalised, almost single-handedly. Not single-handedly, of course. you know I'm sure he'll say it's his team and this, that and the other. But, you know, just just the way... Like you said, the the way he talks and...
00:45:34
Speaker
how animated he he is, and I think the relief of the fact that he's guided us to safety. um It's a very Nuno-esque in that sense. in that sense as this is the sort This is the best connection I've felt with a manager since Nuno, 100%.
00:45:54
Speaker
I've got a big question for you,
Cunha's Potential Return
00:45:56
Speaker
though. as we and I know that we've run long today. We've got loads to discuss with people, plus they were on a high. you know um But, obviously, this was the last match of Kunya's ban.
00:46:06
Speaker
Now, we've touched on Kunya, that sounds wrong, a couple of times over the last week because of the fact that, obviously, he's on this ban. And while he's not been playing, he's still managed to draw all the attention to himself with all the other social media discussions.
00:46:21
Speaker
But... As we said earlier, that's three that's three wins in a row. The team's playing solid. There's been an unchanged line-up for those fixtures as well because they've been playing solidly.
00:46:34
Speaker
do you Do you bring him straight back into the line-up? ah Absolutely not. I don't even want him in the squad, to be honest, Chris. um Sod him. Yeah, I won't give him the time of day.
00:46:46
Speaker
And also, even if he... um Even if he wasn't sort of, i mean, without him, we'd be relegated. you know There is no denying that. um But even if he wasn't this this great player and this, that and the other, you simply, you don't fix what's not broken.
00:47:05
Speaker
And it ain't broken, so don't fix it. I think it's that simple. Let me rephrase the question then. Do you think Vitor brings him back into the line-up? i I hope not.
00:47:17
Speaker
I hope not. i Vitor has been very... You can tell that he came in and essentially sat down at a chat and just said, you... no A bit like you hear stories of players like Bale when he was at Tottenham and by far the best player, Hazard at Chelsea, by far the best player. you know These players got they just did get luxuries that no other player could ever get purely because of the quality that they could bring to the team.
00:47:43
Speaker
I think there was a bit of that. I think it's a hell of a lot of that, hence all the walking and supposed lack of effort and what have you. um but But if there's one thing VTOL doesn't do, it's take any nonsense. you know um we we we knew that before we we got to witnesses management our club. We knew that it was a bit of a... um Is authoritarian the word I'm after? I think it might be. Disciplinary.
00:48:12
Speaker
That's the one. That's the one. I don't know why I just called him. um Either way, either way you get the idea. um so ah Yeah, I'd be surprised. I really would be surprised. It wouldn't surprise me if he was on the bench, but it would surprise me if he played.
00:48:28
Speaker
Well, I mean, he's definitely going to be on the bench. You wouldn't not have him in the squad. if he if you've got Like I say, if you've got someone of that calibre available, then you you're not going to not have them in the squad. it that would be That would be... Yeah, maybe just simply use and abuse him.
00:48:42
Speaker
But what I will say is obviously, I don't think... um I don't think by any means we've seen the last of him in a Walshirt. I think he's going to get chances in the remainder of the season, clearly.
00:48:55
Speaker
But I do think it would be very harsh on a winning team to change the line-up, at least right away. I think you have to give... the team that have just won three on the bounce, the start, you know, and then have him on the bench. Yeah.
00:49:12
Speaker
And plus, you know, whatever, even if Bissell wants to look at it from the angle of, he's not played, I know he played one game for Brazil, but he's not, he won't necessarily be match fit because he's not played for a few weeks.
00:49:25
Speaker
So, um you know, maybe i' have him on the bench for the first one, let the winning lineup continue and then give him some time as a sub, but, ah you know ah I would sort of Chris sorry I would sort of like to just sort of bring him on for sort of three minutes at the end you know just so just to annoy him but no yeah i there i mean know yeah I don't want to waste any time on him in a way I agree to be honest and and you know that I've said in previous episodes I feel like we have to start looking forward we know he's going to go in the summer he clearly has mentioned it several times that he wants to go and play European football this kind of stuff and
00:50:02
Speaker
I get that a lot of players do now, but the way he's gone about it has not been great, to say that to put it mildly, i think. And so I, like you, would be fine if he, has and like you, would totally respect that we wouldn't even be safe now without his help earlier in the season.
00:50:20
Speaker
But I think given that the team have gone and performed well and managed to make us not mathematically safe yet, but pretty much there, yeah
Future Planning and Legacy
00:50:29
Speaker
um i think they've earned the right to keep going without him for now, especially we given the fact they're looking forward to bit or should be looking to what he can build for next season.
00:50:38
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. Like said, I think onwards and upwards. And yeah i think I just want to enjoy what's what's left of the season overall and I'm not going to enjoy it if Cooney is It's such a shame.
00:50:58
Speaker
It's such a shame. that yeah and you know ah It's not on the level that Lamina made it to in terms of just refusing to play. It's a different kettle of fish but it's still yeah it just leaves a sour taste that but what could have been you know for a lot of people they talk about you know some of the best players they've seen in a wool shirt and many people at various points yeah and have said that yeah he was one of the best people they've seen play in a wool shirt and skill-wise I understand but so therefore it just makes a harsher thing on his legacy that it's lot of people now just don't want him in the lineup it's shocking Chris Chris just on that um I don't mean to drag this out too much but again
00:51:45
Speaker
I'm going to put you on the spot just one one or two times. um And I know kuna can play various positions, but I'm just going to throw some names at you from recent times. so um would you would you Would you swap him for prime Jota?
00:52:07
Speaker
No, I don't think I would because I like Jota's lazy runs. i mean That's what I meant. Sorry, I that. So you prefer Jota? I prefer Jota.
00:52:18
Speaker
Jimenez? Clearly not. I mean, Jimenez is a very different type of player. I know, I know. Prime Jimenez is way up there.
00:52:28
Speaker
but And so that's what I mean. You know, people talk about him as if he's been so some sort of god and don't get him me wrong, he's been great for us and, like said, has kept us up almost single-handedly at times, but he's nowhere near good enough to disrespect us in the way that he has. Yeah.
00:52:46
Speaker
So I just think, like you said, we'll get over it. We'll be fine. And um good riddance. Yeah. Yeah. um On that bombshell, Will, is there anything else that you wanted to discuss in in this ranty, raving, joyous episode?
00:53:03
Speaker
No, I think I'm going to leave us on the high, which is, as I said, we we're looking to climb the table now, Chris. How funny would it be if we finished, like, or 13th? I just think that'd be hilarious. and But even if not, even if not, it's done.
00:53:21
Speaker
We're sorted. We're sound. And let's just all let's just all enjoy it, as I said. Let's all relax and just, you know... um Yeah, yeah, just see out.
00:53:33
Speaker
Just see out and have a good time. Have a good time. The man's told you what to do, everyone. Yes. So you can celebrate the rest of your week because Will has officially said it is so.
00:53:45
Speaker
um on that bombshell, it will leave you to enjoy the rest of it. I'm i'm ecstatic. i don't Maybe don't sound it because it's late and I'm tired, but it's been a great day and I'm so happy with the points.
00:53:56
Speaker
ah Points and then pints, everyone. yeah and then points Yes. And week. once again i love this whole week And the football club, as always, has shown us what we say time in, time out, everyone.
00:54:11
Speaker
That despite all that has gone on this season, all the downward spirals that we've found ourselves in, all the torment and all of it, out of darkness, come a flight. Come a flight.
00:54:26
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.