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Man City 1 - 0 Wolves, Match Reaction
22 Plays3 days ago
Thoughts from the Man City loss as Chris checks in for a quick reaction episode
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Transcript
Review of Last Friday's Game Against Manchester City
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome in, Wolves fans. Welcome in. It is me once again with you, Chris, here at Daily Wolves. And, oh my gosh, um we are doing a slightly late response to this week's game last Friday against Manchester City.
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But, you know, it was the bank holiday and the rest of the team, I'm sure, are out swanning around in the sunshine or whatever they got up to. I'm here solo just to cover some thoughts on um ah kind of a bizarre game,
Wolves' Season Performance Analysis
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought. I don't know about everyone else out there, but it it fell a bit flat, second half particularly.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind of died off and it almost felt like both teams kind of cancelled each other out to an extent and once Manchester City got their goal and they were they did look for a second but they were also happy just a kind of just keep us at bay as much as they could that second hand second half and cancel out our endeavours because of course yes we did lose 1-0 to Manchester City um which is slightly heartbreaking and I think um It says something about how far we've come this season and on this rollercoaster of a season where we've gone literally through the bottom of the barrel at points and then come out the other side in a way we never would have expected around December. to It says so much that you know we are disappointed to have gone to the Etihad and not come away with something, whether it was a draw, whether it was a three points match.
00:01:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
given how earlier parts of the season we were just leaking goals and looking like there was only one way down, ah to be now feeling a little bit sombre that we we didn't put away some of our chances and ah make more of a game of it, I think shows after this streak of six wins on the trot prior to that performance that it shows how far we've come under Vitor Pereira.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to try not to get too doom and gloom because whilst I am disappointed that we didn't we didn't get something from it, I think we have to look at the bigger picture of of what a difference the team is now to where we were before and how far we've come.
Line-up Surprises and First Half Strategy
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was a bit of an odd one as well. Obviously, Strand-Larsen Not making the line-up, ah which was slightly surprising. They didn't announce any injuries prior to the game, really, at the conference, press conference leading into it. Whether or not that was just keeping things quiet, we're unsure.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think, um I mean, we managed first half without him because obviously they set up the stall ah with Cunha. I mean, they they put him down on the team sheet as essentially up front as the number nine. But we know that's not where he was.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Bellegarde and Minnetzi who were basically pushed way past him because Cunha does what he does and drops deep and likes to roam around and stroll. So ah it was Bellegarde and Minnetzi who were basically the forwards for large majorities of the game, the ones pushing up um with Cunha dropping deep.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so whilst ah he was marked as the, listed as the number nine, essentially on the team sheet, we know that's not where
Second Half Analysis and Defensive Efforts
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cunha was. And I think first half, we could caught them off guard a little bit, Manchester City, as we yeah we had a very strong half an hour or so one point where all of the chances came, which we'll talk on.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But once Man City kind of got their goal and got to grips with what we were doing, made some tweaks at halftime and in the second half with the subs that they made, I feel that they then kind of they marked Cunha out of the game. They battened down the hanchers a little bit. And once they shut him down, he was always sworn by two or three people and and then nullified everything going forwards.
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were just happy to kind of kind of keep us at bay. And that's why the second half really did feel a little bit like a non-event. And I know some people got frustrated, I think, on social media that we didn't we didn't create more in the second half.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I feel like that's where once Cunha was kind of marked out of the game, that we did miss Larson up front just for something different, just for something contrary to Cunha, someone to hold the ball up a bit more than the likes of Bellegarde can.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Because I know, you know, for all the people comments people have made about Larson not holding up the ball well, in recent weeks, I think he's actually done pretty well at that. And he definitely would have given it more of a contest and been more of a focal point up front in the second half.
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
When we were struggling to get out of our own half defensively, And even then, though, we nullified them to a large extent. yeah Both ends, both teams, I think, nullified each other a lot. And it shows that something that Saar didn't actually have much to do other than the goal and a couple of other, you know, efforts for the large extent of the the game, their possession was outside of our box. They were kind of passing it around and really didn't manage to breach our defences too many times.
Critical Moments and Missed Opportunities
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, again, that shows how far we've come defensively as a a unit, how much Vitor Pereira has drilled them in into being a much more sturdy dirty team. And Agbidou, a rock again at the back, a couple of brilliant defensive headers at one point.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Doc, I thought, had a pretty solid game, apart from obviously the goal. But I think um in terms of the goal, everyone was a little bit, Out of position, a little bit coarse off guard. There was a bit of a flurry, obviously. And and it's a shame because Andre had, for the most part, a very solid game, first half particularly, outstanding.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so it's a shame that he's the one that then let the ball slip from his possession our half. And it's that break where, because he's the deepest midfielder, because that's often his his spot, isn't it? Is that anchor between ah the midfield and the defence.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so when he's the holding player and he loses possession, it is a risk reward moment, you know, because he takes the ball under pressure and and he moves forward with it or he plays it out of trouble and then gets it forward.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when he loses it there, there is a risk. And Man City pounced on that that moment. And everyone was, I think, a little bit just backtracking more than they would normally. And hey, De Bruyne does what he does.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it says something again, though, for Gomez and Andre, that for the first half an hour or so of the game, De Bruyne didn't actually have much of an impact. And because he was kind of nullified by them in midfield, he started to roam more as he does. He he started to look for ways around them. At times he was almost right winger, right midfielder, right back, because he was like, I'm not getting any success going through the middle here because these two guys are just shutting me down.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he did De Bruyne things. He went off on a tangent and started looking for where the space was, and the space was going way wide of them. you know And so De Bruyne, apart from the goal where, obviously, again, because Andres lost the ball, everyone's slightly caught off guard.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He drifts in to space in the middle and puts the ball in the net. The rest of the time, he was actually wandering around a lot on the flanks because he he couldn't get through Cunha and Gomez. So they did do a very solid performance.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But De Bruyne goes where wants to. And he's trying to make a show of it, as he does. And he always scores against us. We knew it would happen. Which is why. It was more frustrating that we didn't manage to put the ball in the net when we had our moments because we had two. We could have been two up at least.
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it would have been so different, everyone. It would been so different. I mean, the Bellegarde opportunity when he's put through by Cunha, which was a great pass. And earlier in the season when he was in that run of fine form before his slight injury...
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he would have just smashed that. We've seen him score from tighter angles. We've seen him score near post, far post, and he's not afraid to just wallop it. So it was a little bit curious that at the last moment he decided to play the ball across to Minetsi, who I think didn't expect it.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, yeah, on another day, i think Belagard just bashes that into the net and it's 1-0 to Wolves. As it is, ah Maybe caught in two minds, maybe because he's been at you know at the team not as confident as when he was in that rich vein, playing from centre mid.
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe the pressure of the Etihad, who knows. um But they elected to put it across and it was a bit too, there was a bit too much on the ball. And I think also Minetzi just expected him to hit that ball and he hasn't.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Because at one point Minetzi slows as slightly as he's coming into the penalty area because I think he's so confident Bellegarde is going to put it into the net if he'd be going full pelt. May have got it, but he had to try and speed up again as the ball comes across because I think he was like, yeah, Balagot's just going to put this in. I'll be here for a rebound.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're all good. No, that's not quite how it worked out, sadly. and then And then after that, you know, when it's still nil-nil, Ryan Aitnori and Cunha, with some brilliant interplay, as they do often do on the left-hand side,
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great one-twos. Aitnori storming into the box. we've still not conceded ah We've still not been awarded a penalty this entire season. And every time Aitnori goes storming into the box with his little dribbles around people, I'm like, come on, someone, one of these days is just going to bring him down in a way that we're going to get a penalty.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because that would have been prime. I was thinking this is the moment. Didn't happen.
Reflection on the Game and Future Outlook
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's fine because he puts in a great shot. And as he hits it, you think this is going bottom corner. No. Off the post. Back towards him.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
on his upper opposite foot, so it doesn't strike it quite as cleanly, but does get it on target past the keeper and it's cleared off the line. And at that point you're thinking, oh dear, this is going to be one of those days where we are at Man City, they are going to come back and score. Because if you don't take those chances when you're up against a team like that, even with the season that they've had, they're still a strong team, they's still fighting for the Champions League places.
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so ah it's always going to come back and bite you in the bum. And it did. And it was very, very frustrating. With all that being said, i need a breather, so let's take a quick break.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back, guys. So, yeah, I'm disappointed overall, like everyone, but, you know, we've come so far and other results in the league did actually go our way following it. Obviously, being one of the first games of the weekend, um other teams could have moved above us, but the likes of Man U and Tottenham and so on, the results all kind of went in our favour.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we and are still 13th. um We're still possible, it's still within our... possibilities to be able to get 12th, which, you know, that's still a little bit more pushing it, a little bit more unlikely, but it is there.
Fan Reactions and Upcoming Brighton Game
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
13th, though, is still a very solid spot to be with, what, three games to go. And um disappointed but happy. i think one of the biggest talking points, and by the way, that second half, before we go there onto the next talking points, the second half, though, as I say, was kind of a dank affair as Man City made changes, marked Kunya out the game.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind of just made ah allowances for all the things we'd done to push them on the back foot. And so then it kind of went a bit stagnant. We saw a flurry of some substitutions from Vittor.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
None of them really had a massive effect. I thought Sarabia had a couple of good moments, some passes trying to make things happen. But again, without Larsson and even Kunja coming off because he he was literally nullified that second half. ah there was There was nothing much to it.
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a bit of a shame. But I think we did give a good account of ourselves. But it's that good account of ourselves that created the later talking point, which was the reactions of Vitor and the Wolves players going to the crowd, the Wolves fans, after the game.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, always go over for applause and everything. Thank the away fans for travelling. That's what we want. But there was a big debate because they did the kind of hey, hey, hey, the three cheers thing.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
to the fans, Vitor got them in line and did what they do after the victories. And everyone found that a little bit odd. And I've been listening and watching to other people discussing it all last few days and everyone's a bit on, some people are on the fence.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some people like, no, don't like it Other people liked it. I'm curious where you're all at. I did think it was a little bit odd as well. i um I'm all for it after a win.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm all for it last game of the season. regardless of result because you're saying farewell but ah I don't know i don't know doesn't feel right after a loss go over for the applause some kind of cheers maybe but not that not not that I think it's a little bit too much but that's just my opinion maybe I'm old school but so yeah I know everyone is debating it but I'm not keen and I'm curious what will in the rest the team thoughts of that when we get them back on the pod hopefully later in the week
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, though, next up this weekend coming, we have Brighton on Saturday, the 10th of May. Hopefully, we can get back to winning ways. We're back at the Golden Palace, back at Molyneux, and um hopefully the weather's going to be good.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm confident we can, I mean, at the very least, we can get a draw. I know Brighton have been a bit of a bogey team for us in my mind over recent years. We've had some massive heavy losses to them at points, both home and away.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, though, This team right now and De Vittor, even with that loss against Man City, think are a very different proposition. And so I'm confident and hopeful that we can get back to getting points on the board and continue our march to, well, let's say 12th. Should we own for 12th? That'd be nice.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
At least stay in 13th. I'm hoping Larson will be fit, hoping he can see out the season with us. It would be a shame for him to see out the season injured, because ah ah I would like him to get a couple more goals to his tally if he can. He's been fantastic for us.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it does go to show how much, whether Cunha stays or goes, and we all know which way that is probably going to go how much we need another forward. Because once again, you had a brief injury, you had a couple of weeks out earlier in the season, and in the game against Man City, and it really showed that we didn't have a striker on the pitch. As well as the team was laid out and everyone did,
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
That second half, once Cuny was marked out, there was no was no real other threat. And there was no one to hold the ball up. And it didn't, it it just kind of petered out. And um I think we missed him.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it showed that we need and another striker. Obviously, a different mould doesn't have to be the same, whether it's someone quicker, you know, to with with more pace to run onto things.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it definitely showed that, you know, you don't want to be, oh my gosh, that striker's out. we've got no one to play up front, so we're just going to play our number 10 and then everyone around him and hope for the best. We're going to play some kind of false nine thing that doesn't always work.
00:15:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really showed that that we need that sorted. We need that sorted this summer. We need another striking option. And clearly, clearly, Huang, even when he is in form, he's not a number nine and seems to be out of favour under Vitor.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did make a couple of brief sub appearances recently, but yeah It is literally very brief and he's mostly on the
Optimism for Season's End and Final Thoughts
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
bench. So clearly not really appreciated under this regime as much as he has been under previous ones. So I'd be amazed if he stays through this summer.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's a lot of incomings and outcoming incomings and outgoings going to be happening this summer to discuss during the offseason. And a lot of stuff going on there, I'm sure, because if Vitor wants this team to continue to perform well next season, not only does he want players going in, but he doesn't want to lose them all.
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
but we all know there's going to be a few big departures at the very least. So three games to go Three games to go, everyone. Hopefully we can see out the season in fine form. We've got Brighton next, then Palace away, and then Brentford at home is the last game of the season.
00:16:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm still confident, in despite that loss to Man City, that we can can get some more points before the end of the season and go out on a high and remind everyone what what that feel-good factor is like and hopefully go into the summer confident of a star a strong start next season and not a terrible, terrible beginning like we've seen the last few years. All right, everyone. So just a quick one from me, given that, ah you know, it's a couple of days later than normal for the reaction. But I hope you all had an amazing ah bank holiday weekend. And if you were working, thank you so much for all your hard work. I hope you didn't work too hard. Get some sunshine, get some breaks.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we will see you on the next episode. Until then, everyone, take care.