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2025 here we come!
31 Plays7 days ago
Nathan and Chris start the new year with a bumper episode. Looking back at Tottenham vs Wolves, plus transfer talk. The Vitor Era so far and Cunha's ban, among other random thoughts :)
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Transcript
New Year 2025 Welcome and Adjustments
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey, everyone. Happy New Year. Welcome back to Daily Wolves in 2025. It is me, your host, Chris, today. And with me is Nathan. Happy New Year, Nathan.
00:00:22
Nathan
Happy new year Chris, happy new year everyone. It's good to be back in 2025. Feels weird to say that. I feel like
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Optimism for 2025 and Wolves' Future
00:00:29
Nathan
it's going to be another couple of months before I'm used to it, but yeah, it's good to be back.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the year of the wolf pack. We're back, Nathan, we're back.
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's upwards and onwards. And um obviously we have been, like many people out there, um waylaid by Christmas food and everything else. So we have been a little less active than we are during our regular season weeks over the Christmas period.
00:00:36
Nathan
It is.
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I hope
Wolves' Recent Performances and Vito Pereira's Impact
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
you'll forgive us because, you know, it's the festive season. And but basically it's hard to get off my sofa basically when I'm that way down with food. I'll be honest with you, Nathan, I'm not not going to lie.
00:01:02
Nathan
No, I mean, um it's completely valid. It's completely valid. It is the time to just stuff your face and enjoy yourself, isn't it? um But I guess the podcast production takes a bit of a hit on that point of view. But we are we are rumbling into 2025 with a fair bit of optimism, aren't we? So yeah, look looking forward to this one.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah yeah and the victories and the well the points have helped in general with the the distraction and the vibe as well. um Obviously I yeah hopped on I think after I think it was the Man U game but since then we've had the Tottenham game so that's where you and I are going to start today because we haven't had a chance to kind of
00:01:38
Nathan
Yeah.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Collate our thoughts from that game, and it's now that game made it seven points from possible nine across across vitor's first three games in charge in a really intense little period of games really in the space of about a week or so in the Christmas period which is a hell of a thing to come into
00:01:57
Nathan
Yeah.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we would have, how how we've been first part of the season, arguably, people would have been happy with a couple of points maybe, but seven from nine. I mean, we can go into the game itself, but how are you feeling after that, that run and after that game itself?
00:02:15
Nathan
I mean, it's it's an absolutely ideal start for Vito Pereira and his reign at Wolves. I mean, seven points out of three games and a possible nine, as you
Strategic Adjustments and Tactical Insights
00:02:24
Nathan
said. And in the process, seven goals and only two conceded, I think is absolutely fantastic. And if you weigh up how poor we have been defensively for the first part of the season up until Vito's appointments, I think it really just Yeah, you've got to, you've got to just respect the work that he's been able to put in that short amount of time. And I guess part of it is that new manager bounce. and But yeah, fantastic. Great point in away, I suppose that you mentioned, but I mean, it's yeah, it's fantastic.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I watch the game and um like you say, that there's obviously an element of new manager bounce, which I think we will touch on a bit later, but um it seems or I hope that there's more to it than that, because once again, the it's a set formation, like he's got this clear image of what seems to have a clear image of what he wants to do, how he wants them to play, which is hopefully easier for them to grasp and get a consistency in.
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we saw we saw some changes, but with three games in such a quick like in such quick succession, I think rotation in some ways was good.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, I think at least one was forced, because I'm trying to remember now, we had changes at the back, didn't we? We were defensively.
00:03:42
Nathan
ah Yes Totti dropped out um and Craig Dawson came in to start in his place and it was actually interesting on that that he still went with Santi Bueno as the middle of the back five centre half because Craig Dawson under Gary O'Neill was always kind of the one who was in the middle and
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was it.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:04:02
Nathan
To me, that makes sense because he's our slowest centre-half, but it was interesting to see Craig Dawson on the left, and I thought Santibreno again had a fantastic game, and he's had a brilliant start among other players that have had brilliant starts under Vital Pereira, so and long may that continue.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's looked pretty solid. I think Doc has been arguably one of the games of the the players of the last three games since he's moved into that kind of center back role as well. And Sumedho going out to win back where he should be. and He's just been outstanding and gives us so much more comfort in the air. I've mentioned before about the fact that he's so good aerially. I just think it really helps shore up that back line and from corners and set pieces.
00:04:42
Nathan
Absolutely. I think it's his, his overall, we know, we know how experienced he is and how many years he spent in, in English football, obviously with his short spell at Spurs as well. And then coming back to the wolves, I mean, his, his ability to read the game is fantastic. And then in the air he is he has been immense. And then just the overall link up play that he's got with the players around him, he is assured on the ball, having played wingback for most of his career or fallback for most of his career. I mean, it's, yeah, it's been really good to see cause I'm a big fan of doc and I did think the first part of this season he he was poor and whether that's down to playing in the back four or the fact that he is losing a bit of his legs but this back three system just seems to suit him perfectly and hopefully I mean I'm sure we'll come on to sort of the transfer rumours and everything else that's going on at the minute but hopefully he can continue to solidify that position because he's been he's been really good so far
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah. And that back five in essence is not that dissimilar to how it would have been under Nuno's. So he also has an understanding of it from that because it's a, it's a very similar setup. I don't know if that's the Portuguese element, but it even is playing that as wingback before he's got sure like, it feels like he must have an understanding from that sense that it just continues on in that same frame of mind.
00:06:00
Nathan
Yeah, definitely. you'd You'd think so, and it obviously haven't played the wing back position under Nuno. and now playing the centre-half position, it can only help sort of game IQ. Whereas when he's at fallback, he's just so exposed, I think, in the prem, he's just not got the pace to keep up with the electric wingers.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:06:16
Nathan
Whereas Sommato has that pace, and then if we are struggling for periods of games and we we can camp out in our own half and be quite comfortable in our shape, and I don't think that's something we could say under Gary O'Neill at all, really.
00:06:28
Nathan
But I do think in the last you know last three fixtures under Pereira, we've looked a good block,
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And is it, is it just me or do they
Controversial Penalty Incident and VAR Debate
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
look, they look closer together, like they look more aware of where they are. The back line, I mean, um, I don't just meet, and they do cross the pitch generally when actually, when they're, especially in their defensive shape. But I mean, as, as a back line, there, there seem to be less gaps before than there seems to be acres at times where people could just roam through and they seem a little bit more aware of each other and and just closer together as a group.
00:06:59
Nathan
Yeah, just less leaky in general, isn't it? I mean, I think the the fact that there's a double pivot that's so, so clear and under Vito and that sort of Jal Gomez and Andre Lenkop has been fantastic so far.
00:07:13
Nathan
And they are very clearly instructed to not wander too far forwards.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:07:17
Nathan
Whereas under O'Neill, there was a bit of Jal Gomez could roam a lot further forwards than him and it felt like there was a little bit of swapping around. Andre was what has always been more defensive minded but there was a lot of chopping and changing in that sort of three-man midfield sometimes two-man under O'Neill so may have brought a bit of confusion but defensively having those two in Jal Gomez and Andre sat in front of the three centre-halves it just makes that central defensive part of the pitch so much more compact and I think yeah you're right it just less less sort of balls through the channel in between the centre-halves I thought that was a theme under O'Neill of easy sort of three balls that are split in our centre-halves and we haven't seen as much of that so yeah it's been good
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i I think if Totti hadn't been injured, I think he would have potentially stayed in that spot. It feels like Dawson is now officially the backup. And and I think Vittor mentioned in at least one of his interviews that he
00:08:12
Nathan
Yeah, I agree.
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
pretty much once like it feels like he's looking more for fullbacks slash center back crossovers because he mentioned wanting to play us one center back with a full back either side which Doc actually fills that that role because he can do he's done both and can do both and and so Totti essentially as well having been left wing back before or left back can also fill that mold
00:08:31
Nathan
Yeah.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
seems to fit into what he wants to do. Dawson is there for like the the older statesman that's kind of the ah the the emergency backup now, the odd one out.
00:08:50
Nathan
Yeah, I mean, Dawson's legs are quite clearly going. There was a couple of moments in the Spurs game where he lost control of it a little bit, and it was only in the sort of corner flag area, so it weren't too catastrophic. But there were a couple of bits where I did think for um was it the Spurs going back a few days now?
00:09:10
Nathan
I think it was the Spurs first goal where it got cut back and I just felt like Dawson was a lit, I don't know, two or three years maybe even last season he would have been able to get to it. It's just little bits like that where you can see age catching up with him but he is a fantastic backup to have and there's
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
Quality of Goals and Individual Performances
00:09:25
Nathan
an experienced head around the dressing room I think he's you know really important in that sense similar to what
00:09:32
Nathan
kind of code he was I guess as a leader in that sort of back line because Santi Bueno doesn't strike me as a leader. I'm i'm not convinced on Samedo being the right choice of captain although we've done very well with him as captain. I think I don't know if I see him as a leader.
00:09:47
Nathan
either so it's just Craig Dawson does kind of scream out to me as that centre half who's got the experience and seems very vocal on the pitch as well so he is good to come on and I guess shore up the defence if we're we're going into the last 15 minutes of games when we're ahead ah but yeah I agree with you I mean it Vitor's got this seems from what he's talked about is wanting this dynamic back five with, as you're saying, the sort of dock as a right-sided center back.
00:10:16
Nathan
But if you also had a ah left-sided center back who could play full back, you've got this ability to have overlapping center halves when you're doing, when you're attacking down one flank.
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:27
Nathan
And we've seen that a lot with dock and tomato that's worked really well, because dock obviously knows that role inside out of overlapping, um even inside runs and that sort of stuff.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:36
Nathan
And it causes defenses, all sorts of troubles. So yeah, I can see the vision.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And doc is doing like the Cody S cross field balls all the time since this change as well. Uh, he's roamed, like you say, occasionally he's allowed to roam forward and be more aggressive, get on, try and get onto it. Like he had a harder ahead of hotter ahead of towards the end of the Tottenham games, potentially win it. You know, he still gets up into offensive positions, but he's, he's clearly got, he's been.
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clearly got an understanding of when he needs to be in the in the back, be defensive, but he's allowed to roam when they're really, really pushing it. And those crossfield balls, he's he's nailing them. There's some beautiful passes coming out of and Doc's boot, which is just amazing.
00:11:16
Nathan
Yeah. I know. I know. It's not something good associated with his play either, is it? Like that sort of arriving late back stick and getting his head on things, that that's definitely something that we've seen over the years.
00:11:27
Nathan
But the cross field balls, you're right. I mean, I just, I don't know, maybe he had a chat with Conor Cody after Leicester, the Leicester game or something.
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:32
Nathan
But yeah, he's been, he's been really good at that.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:35
Nathan
Really, really good.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if we if we look at the like more of the game itself, that first goal, um the I feel so happy for
Set Piece Strategies and Player Development
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hwang Hee Chan, to be honest, too two goals in two games. He needs it, especially, you know, we're going to be out without Konyu for at least a couple of games. Again, we'll get more into that. but He picked up a slight knock in the Tottenham game anyway and was pulled off as a precaution by all accounts, but if he gets some rest, great. So we we need so the likes of Huang to be back in scoring form and to be back on that morale train. And so when, in the Man U game, when Kun Yu got the opportunity to pass to him unselfishly and help basically give him that goal, that that winning goal, it was
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mentioned in in the little solo response I did that I think that was just fantastic from the team element and for Huang and for potentially being without Qnya. And now in this opening goal, it was a great set piece.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought it was really well worked. It's a brilliant finish. I mean, it's like in off the post, he curves it almost round everyone. Keeper's got no chance. And discussed in the after match interview that it was something they'd worked on that week with Vitor and Vitor told him like, just please score that.
00:12:45
Nathan
Yeah.
00:12:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a beautiful goal. Like do it again. And it was the same the week before with Konya with the... Sorry, a few days before with Konya with the corner against Man U. That was something that Vitor had actually targeted them doing and they did it. And this is, again, with very little space time on the training ground. You've got to think between coming in as coach and then having ah the odd day in between these three matches over the Christmas period to already be working set piece situations which have come off.
00:13:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then looked more solidly defensively, which is arguably why we're seeing him practice the set piece defending it before kickoff, because he's not getting, he's not had much time off off game time to do it.
00:13:15
Nathan
Yeah.
00:13:27
Nathan
No, it's really, it's really impressive. And I mean, the first thing that we were all, we all know how Paul had been at defending set pieces, but to actually be able to find time to work on the offensive set pieces as well it is great. And I think you're right. Huang took his goal brilliantly. And we do need to,
00:13:44
Nathan
to sort of spread our our attacking, I guess, output in a way because when we identify the first few games of the season and just everyone's obviously talking about Cunha and rightfully so, he's been immense and then Strand Larsen's been sort of playing second string to Cunha but the other players haven't had any of that limelight or, and rightfully so, I guess they haven't scored any goals or been directly involved in in creating big chances and i think that huang's involvement in both those games has been fantastic the united games burst game and that free kick is not an easy one to convert because he knows as soon as that ball's placed down for the free kick obviously it's something that they practice so huang's already got you know the gameplay whatever in in his head it's hard to then go and produce it with such accuracy because i i mean i don't rate foster massively as a keeper but
00:14:38
Nathan
He's a big man and he really, you know, he put it where he literally couldn't get a hand to it. So now I thought, yeah, credit to Huang and yeah, fantastic away draw and to be part of that, fantastic.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so I was feeling really optimistic after that first goal. It was another great start. We looked pretty confident. This game felt like there was periods where, you know, against the likes of Leicester, we pretty much dominated that game for the most part, but it was Leicester.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
who are obviously on a bad run. Man, you aren't playing at all to their best. They're on a bit of a bad run as well. But I felt like, again, for long periods of that, we were well in control. Even before it went to 10 men, I felt like we were still in and a good position to go on and win that game.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
This game, there were periods where Tottenham had more of the momentum, but you know it's it's at their stadium. I know that, again, they've had they're patchy. You never really know which side of Tottenham is going to turn up. But they've still got offensive plays in if they've gotten a lot of defensive injuries. But then they can they come back into the game and we did concede another set-piece goal. And I was a little bit worried then, because then it started to turn. What did you make of the goals that they scored?
00:15:50
Nathan
um I think, I mean, I mentioned it a little bit earlier, I think that their first goal is a very good goal, really well worked and they kind of carve us open, but there's, I don't know, I don't know if it's me being super harsh.
00:16:05
Nathan
It feels like any goal we concede, I'm going to think, um sorry, I'm thinking about their second goal actually, it was really well worked.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:16:11
Nathan
Their first goal, I mean, conceding from a corner is just, yeah. I kind of wiped that from my memory because I didn't want to bring up all the trauma from the course. We've conceded from them, but yeah, conceded from a corner is not not good enough. I think we needed, you know, you need to challenge at the very least. And again, we didn't challenge, you know, there's no one going up with him properly to sort of put him off. But their second goal, I thought was well worked. And I think, as you said, you come up against a team that's got that much quality if they do string some
00:16:43
Nathan
some good pieces of play together and you can see sometimes you've just got to put your hands up and say, oh, that's a decent goal. You know, we've done everything we could in that moment, but I don't know. My, my critical side was thinking that Craig Dawson could have done a little bit more. Um, sort of, it's like when you watch things back and you feel like some things are going a bit too slow,
Vito Pereira's Managerial Philosophy
00:17:05
Nathan
I don't know if it's that, but it might just be me being super critical. Um, but what did you think of, uh, of their second goal?
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Wait, the second goal, sorry.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:17:14
Nathan
So the first the first goal was the the header, right?
00:17:16
Nathan
I'm i'm getting all, get yeah.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
The first goal was the pure header, which I mean, it was a solid header, but yeah, I think it just feels worse because of the fact we've conceded so many already this season. And this was the first kind of set piece concession under the Vitor era, let's put it that way.
00:17:29
Nathan
Yeah.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm not going to panic too much because we've still seen overall improvements. in the last three games in in terms of set pieces.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We'll see how that continues. But yeah, i was I was a little bit disappointed with the with the manner of it. Obviously, we had the penalty incident before their second goal. And the it's one of those where the camera angle that VAR looked at, it's a penalty.
00:17:52
Nathan
yeah
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
The camera angle from behind the touch line that shows the front of their bodies shows that quite clearly it's... um Is it Johnson? I forget his name. The...
00:18:09
Nathan
ah Yeah Yeah, Brenna Johnson, yeah, yeah
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. He knows Andre is coming and just puts his foot in front of him and kind of trips him up. And so he's the instigator of that. There's been discussion about how it correlates to the one that got, was it not given against Somato earlier in the season or given there was, and it was a similar thing, but the difference there is Somato had the ball and was already like protecting that ball and had control that he had possession of the ball and the other person came in and down the back of his leg.
00:18:27
Nathan
Yeah.
00:18:33
Nathan
Yeah.
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is different for me because neither of them are in possession of the ball.
00:18:37
Nathan
Yeah.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
The ball is going towards the touch line and they're both running for it kind of 50 50. And he clearly from the one angle was just like, I'm going to put my leg there and brings Andre down. So for me, I get why it was given. It's another one. either that I get why it was given, but you know who was actually instigated that tackle.
00:18:59
Nathan
Yeah, I think it's, you can almost see these things happening when you're watching it on on the telly. Like it's, it's so frustrating because you can't not run towards the ball.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:19:11
Nathan
Like Andre's not going to not run towards the ball.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can see the look of anguish on his face afterwards. He's pleading. He knows he knows he didn't he didn't instigate that.
00:19:14
Nathan
So yeah, he's not, he's not, he's not going into,
00:19:22
Nathan
to clean the ball up and completely missed it and
Transfer Window Speculations and Strategies
00:19:25
Nathan
take Brennan Johnson out. He is making an attempt to run towards the ball and Brennan Johnson has just come across his running lane, I guess. But that's just the nature.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, not even his body, just his leg. He hasn't even yeahn't even put his body across him.
00:19:35
Nathan
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just put his leg across him with the intention of going down.
00:19:40
Nathan
i i I think that those type of fouls, i I still see it as a foul. I think simply because of the way football is now, it's it's a bit of a gray area because a lot of players nowadays are obviously, you know, as attacking players, instigating contact and sort of initiating it by putting the leg in front in unnatural positions so that there's contact and therefore they fall over.
00:20:07
Nathan
And then when you look back at it at VAR, you see the contact, so it's penalty. So I think it's, I mean, i get penalties have been given for less contact, but sometimes, but sometimes, sometimes less contact.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know that we've seen yeah against us here.
00:20:22
Nathan
It's more of a foul, but then where's the gray you know that that's where the grey area is because you know could be taking a big swipe and just clip someone's toe and that can really hurt.
00:20:34
Nathan
And that that's a pen, but at the same time, more contact like this Andre one, but it doesn't feel like an actual foul, but I do think it is one. It's a bit of a weird one.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know. It's just frustrating because I know I can see that it's not on Andre hasn't actually done anything wrong.
00:20:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And it frustrates me and on a bigger tangent. And I feel like this is is a thing we should have for like a wildcard Wednesday. I also feel the part of the issue is with the people always putting out their leg for these kind of things is is there are too many penalties given and and what I mean by this is that's a situation where there is still so much that needs to happen for that to even be a goal because it's going to the it's like it's off to the side going towards the search line the ball's about to go out there is like so much work to be done for that to be anywhere near a shot and target
00:20:52
Nathan
Yeah.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it feels like there should be a there needs to be a slight tweak where that's not a penalty, but that's a freaking inside the box or whatever it is. I genuinely feel that because then you're not going to have everyone always looking for the penalty because they're not going to get a shot at goal if they just go down.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you get what I mean?
00:21:39
Nathan
it's yeah it's
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you get what I mean?
00:21:40
Nathan
this The whole thing with the penalty area is weird because if you pass it back to the keeper and he picks it up, then it's an indirect free kick in the box, right?
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:48
Nathan
And you could literally be making a save as a keeper, as in like, you know, poor backpass and you go to try and save it and then all of a sudden that's, you know, an indirect free kick.
00:21:58
Nathan
But what, you know, and then you've got the whole box area and you're writing if any foul in the box whatsoever is a penalty. And I understand that rule, and I i do agree with that rule, but I see a point in that there could be some improvements to it, because players will always be looking to fall over, even if they're you know if they're if they've got their back to goal and they're running away from goal in the box, any sort of clip or touch or something, they're looking for a foul.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:29
Nathan
So yeah, I don't know fully what the answer to that is, but you know,
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, yeah I don't want to derail this, it just bugs me because you get them given for people literally on the touchline that are running away from goals. like there's not then they They were never going to take a shot, and now they get a shot, and it can have game-winning consequences, and I feel like that's frustrating.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, on the bright side, SAAR save your penalty.
00:22:46
Nathan
Yeah.
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Awesome. I don't know if anyone's seen the video going round of why. One of the reasons that he saved it is Hwang Hee-chan on the touchline, pointing in the direction that he needs to go because he knows that Son from like the position or what Son does, his routine, he knows what Son is going to do.
00:22:50
Nathan
Yeah.
00:22:57
Nathan
Yeah.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was beautiful. So well done Hwang Hee-chan and shows fully where his dedication lies because well, because that's his teammate for South Korea.
00:23:09
Nathan
Yeah.
00:23:13
Nathan
yeah
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yet he gladly just like, nope, go that way. Go that way.
00:23:18
Nathan
hey yeah He can take all the selfies with him before and after the game as he wants as long as he's as long as he's on our side when when the match is on.
00:23:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, but yeah, their second goal I thought was well worked. Like you say, there was a moment where I think Dawson almost pulls out because he's worried about giving away another penalty. Obviously, because they just had one as well and um very mindful of the contact in the box because they were just going to go down otherwise.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, overall, I think it was actually a pretty well-worked second goal. But yeah, what can you do?
00:23:44
Nathan
yeah
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then um and then we had good periods again in the second half, but I just didn't you didn't feel like anything was quite going to come. It was never a cutting edge. We saw some good substitutions again, though, in terms of seeing more people getting minutes.
00:24:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Forbes came on, you know, we're seeing ah we're seeing the squad, I think, I think used a bit more. And sure enough, it kind of works because then later on, I don't want to say out of nowhere, because we looked solid all game.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had periods where we we were pushing. It was a bit of back and forth.
00:24:15
Nathan
Yeah.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Strandlarson. I love this man so much.
00:24:20
Nathan
Very good.
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Once again, almost out of like that. I mean, it was a great pass for Nate Norrie, I will say, because he to see that run, because he he looks like he hardly puts his head up as he's cutting inside and he just slides it through.
00:24:26
Nathan
Yeah.
00:24:31
Nathan
Yeah.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the timing of Strandlarson has been offside a few times recently. He's always on the edge. of someone is and he's always like he's always pushing that off sideline but that ah left foot as well left foot finish near post into the top it was smashing yeah
00:24:47
Nathan
What a finish. What a finish. I mean, ah I was watching it in my family and we thought, whoa, has he scored from there? And then the first feeling set in of like, oh, the offside, that horrible, sinking feeling of like, oh, we've got to see the lines get drawn on this again.
00:25:03
Nathan
Um, but yeah, what, what a finish. First touch and finish was brilliant. And eight Norway on his week of foot as well for that through ball.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:11
Nathan
and Um, I'm picking up two assists for that. So FBL players would be well, happy if they had him.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:16
Nathan
Um, yeah.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will say I was, um, for me that, that, um, pass vindicated at Nori a bit. Cause I was actually getting a bit with frustrated with him during the game. And I'll tell you why. And I don't know if there's just me or anyone else notice, but it felt like every cross he put into the box before that would hit the first man, every chance he got.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he would either overrun it and get it to the byline and then cut back and hit the first man again or just get like he would never put the ball in early he'd always go a bit longer and then cut back and forth and then hit the first man and it was just never going anywhere and there was a point with me i was just like just bring on gomez so he can whip ball in because i know he's going to whip it in like first time every time he gets
00:25:50
Nathan
Yeah, I think you know something about Ignori, I did notice that and ah just generally about his performances is he tends to run out of steam
Optimism for Wolves' Future Under Vito Pereira
00:26:00
Nathan
fairly early on in games. I don't know if that's what you're noticing as well, but he we know how much quality he's got on the ball and we know that he sometimes comes across as nonchalant lazy almost because of his kind of way of controlling it and sort of walking around at times. But when it gets to the latter parts of second half he tends to just run out of steam a little bit and looks like he's genuinely struggling cardio wise. I don't know if that's just me sort of noticing it but he
00:26:33
Nathan
i just i know he covers a lot of ground on sort of on the overlap and going forwards a lot but it felt like it feels as though there's always more of a threat coming down the left side of it now this could just be positional but i just feel like he's always recovering more in that stage of the second half compared to somato on the other side when i think of moments where somato is nowhere to be seen and i i know some of that is mental but my feeling is starting to be a little bit, some of it's also physical.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get what you mean.
00:27:03
Nathan
I don't know, I guess it's a trade-off that we get with him, isn't it?
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I think it's more factual than you think. There's been games in previous season where he's always like the first one to go down with Cramp, pretty much. He's always, for a long period, there was a period under La Patega, I think, where he was always coming off with like 15, 20 minutes to go because he he has not always been the fittest. But for me, even before that, even in like the first half, there's still many a time where he just, he's always hitting the first guy or he's so, I think because he knows he can dribble past most people, he almost feels like he has to,
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
has to try and take on every guy and just like find a way past one or two before he then puts just a ball across the face of the box and it's like sometimes sometimes Ryan you could just you could just whip in across like you don't even need to always go past them it just just just whip it in
00:27:51
Nathan
I guess it that's that's the trade-off that we have with him though, right? Like this sort of, you know, him not being like exactly the fittest um or the one with the most, let's say, and game management knowledge, like his, you know, picking to take it past someone or picking to put it in.
00:28:09
Nathan
is the trade-off that we have for his like brilliant one-off moments and the fact that he is one of the only four backs in the league who has the ability to take it past you know three, four players at a time and to also cut in on his weaker foot and put in a through ball like that. I don't know many left backs that can do that in the prem.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:28:31
Nathan
So, this but yeah, I guess it's that trade-off, but on the balance of things from the Spurs game, you know, to assists and all that matters is that we got that that point.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, I mean, ah as I say, it was vindication. I just pointed out that I was like so happy that he did something to redeem himself for me because I had been getting a little bit frustrated just watching him hit the the defender again and again.
00:28:42
Nathan
So, you know, it's...
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like, come on. But anyway, um, but yeah, so strength, loss and no great finish. And he just continues to be an unsung hero in some way. I know he's now getting songs, but. What I mean by that is that everyone's going on about Konya across the league in terms of his performances, but you've also got to look at how many goals he's Strandalarsson has scored in his first season in the Premier League in his team that isn't has been in a relegation battle so far.
00:28:54
Nathan
Yeah.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what his seventh goal. And he's got a couple of assists like he's, he's just valid.
00:29:23
Nathan
Yeah,
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like at the moment, he's valid for money. He looks fantastic.
00:29:27
Nathan
yeah he's been brilliant so far. Absolutely brilliant and considering the amount of chances he's actually getting in games to have the conversion rate that he's got is is amazing.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:35
Nathan
um I wanted to make a quick note on Mike Guedes. When he came on against Spurs, I thought he was electric.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:43
Nathan
he was brilliant and Strandlassen also coming on and getting the goal obviously but just it was really good to see that that rotation didn't really drop our levels by much. We know that Cunha brings so much attention from the opposition that it works so much in our favour at times but when he even when he went off it didn't it didn't feel like there was a panic it didn't feel like there was a I don't know, a lack of threat.
00:30:10
Nathan
We still had threat going forward. We still had opportunity. And it was good to see that Guedes's form seems to be, and his confidence just seems to be getting better and better.
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:30:21
Nathan
um And really under, under Pereira, he's, he's been absolutely flying. And as Will mentioned in one of the previous episodes, he's smiling as well, which is something that we didn't actually know he could do until recently.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, no, I really like him.
00:30:32
Nathan
So yeah.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's great. I mean, I never thought like two, who would have thought like two years ago is that none of these words would have been coming out of my mouth, but I really like him right now.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We've got so much more to get through today. We're going to go a bit longer than normal because we've mainly covered the Tottenham game and there's still so much to go. But I'll take this moment in between to remind everyone that this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team.
00:30:43
Nathan
Yeah.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day.
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:31:15
Nathan
every day.
00:31:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Except around Christmas, because you know we have families and all that stuff. and so So let's move on a little bit. So overall though, as we've said, that made it that awesome, I say awesome draw. I mean, I think, yeah, we would have been happy with the draw probably, especially weeks ago in this terrible form. I made it seven from nine, great Christmas overall, great Christmas period. Vitor has a dream, has come in and no one would have expected, like most people didn't know who he was, um has had a massive impact.
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as we kind of summarize some thoughts on his first three games in charge, which we've done a little bit with some of the formation stuff, but it's worth noting Doyle, for example, came out in an interview recently, was asked a few questions about the new manager and the change of management. And I'm going to quote this because there's some interesting things I think to just dig into.
00:32:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
He says, the change was probably needed near the end. You can see how a lot of lads are kind of revitalized and a lot more lads are getting minutes and the squad is being used. Everybody feels good and the changing room is in a great spot right now and I think that's down to the manager and his staff. We just feel a lot closer and you can feel it on the pitch now. We're fighting, we're playing with that enthusiasm, we're holding accountability accountability of each other and the manager holds us accountable as well.
00:32:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought the most interesting thing, I mean, you you might have other nuggets that that stand out for you, but it was when he said about, um, a lot of, a lot more lads are getting minutes and the squad is being used.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That felt like a real hit on, not intentionally, like he's spoken by all accounts.
00:32:51
Nathan
a dig.
00:32:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's spoken still quite well of Gary Nilsen as a person, but in terms of the coaching and the situate, or the, should we say the control of the squad? That's a very, that's quite a prominent sentence.
00:33:05
Nathan
it is It is. I don't think it's, as you said, it's doesn't it's not a direct dig at O'Neill. I mean, ah from what we've been able to see in the in the various reports and different players is there's not really been any negativity about O'Neal as a person or man management style or anything like that. I think it's just this guy, the new guys come in with bags of experience, a completely different way of working and it's working for us so far. I think so i think that's, yeah, it's it's a good
00:33:40
Nathan
It's a good sign that Tommy Doyle's coming out with that. And he hasn't had that many minutes under Vito Pereira either.
00:33:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:33:47
Nathan
So it's it's good to hear that even the sort of fringes players are getting that sort of recognition. I have to say though, on Tommy Doyle, i didn't I don't think he's been that good when he's come on recently.
00:34:02
Nathan
He's not been as assured as he's been almost under O'Neill, but no, it is. it's good to hear that there's that positivity around the new management and yeah when I i remember first seeing that quote and thinking and all that's a bit of a digger O'Neill but when you've just sort of read it back to us there I yeah I don't see it as that I think he's just kind of highlighting that the new management is good.
00:34:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree. um I think, yeah, he's still been a bit limited for minutes, obviously. I mean, it's hard to push into that when you've got Jow Gomez and Andre is as the two like keys now in that pivot. and well I'll touch on the Lamina situation in a moment, but I think um at least when he has come on, he's still... You always know that even if he's having a bad game, I think Tommy Doyle is the kind of guy you always know you're going to get 110% effort.
00:34:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
no matter what like he understands and respects the situation and even in that you know my new game wasn't amazing when he came on but he had the one moment that was critical in the build-up to the second goal when he you know he's he's fought to get the ball back and he's immediately like we said before he always wants to play it forward that's pretty much his thing and it's worked again because I know It was an open situation. They were right on the halfway line, but he's done. He did the the thing that needed to be done. He did it. He just got the ball and got it up pitch was all he needed to do at that point. So he'll still do what what you need him to do.
00:35:28
Nathan
Yeah, I do think that mentally he seems to be really on point and you're right. It feels as though almost every single pass he's making is a forward one and at times in games we really, really need that. I think the if I'm going to be sort of devil's advocate or on on the flip side of that is that His lack of pace means that when he gets caught out, because he likes picking it up so deep, if he ever gets caught out or plays a poor ball from those positions, then we are really exposed and we saw it in the second half against Spurs.
00:35:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:36:00
Nathan
Obviously, he's been brought on to try and create something and get us that equaliser. And he lost it somewhere near the halfway line. And Kolezewski ended up rounding Saar and it sounded when I recovered really well and cleared it almost off the line.
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I remember. Hmm.
00:36:14
Nathan
And it's just moments like that where you go, oh, you know, we we really don't want someone giving it away there, especially when they can't recover. Mario Lamina gives it away there. He does have pace to then potentially recover. Tommy Doyle doesn't. So it's, again, a trade off, I guess. But I do agree with you on his on his positive forward play. I think that he definitely, it does feel as though we've got a lot more attacking intent when he's on the pitch.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. Um, but yeah, so I think it's good to see, and even if he's not getting many minutes, I think when he comments about other people getting minutes, you know, we've, so as you mentioned, we've seen more of the likes of Gedge. We've seen more of the likes of even just Forbes and in, it feels like people are being scattered in or being subbed on earlier or just, I I can't explain it very well, perhaps, which is not good for an audible podcast, but the they they even just in the three games we've seen, I feel like the use of subs and the even we've mentioned the rotation with three games close together with rotating people because of resting like Strandalast and obviously was on
00:37:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
was not on at the start and ke ended up coming on and scoring the winner. I feel like under O'Neill, I mean, he may not have done, but correct me if I'm wrong, if you think different, I feel like he would have just stuck with his normal guns and just gone however tired they are, just put the same guys out there.
00:37:39
Nathan
Yeah, I think it did feel as though O'Neal had some sort of, I guess every manager does, but he had specific loyalties to certain players that I just feel like maybe, as you said, stay on the pitch for a bit longer than they should have.
00:37:52
Nathan
And Pereira has shown that he will just ring people off um because he sees the bigger picture.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm hmm.
00:38:00
Nathan
And I think part of that might be just down to the manager's experience. ah you know We don't actually know if O'Neal had those specific loyalties, but I mean, we we spoke about it at length when Lamina was captain and about him sort of being, you know, forced into the starting lineup at times in odd positions. And, you know, Pereira is not making any of those types of sacrifices, I guess.
00:38:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't think you will.
00:38:27
Nathan
And sometimes they sometimes they do work, though. you know like Sometimes if you do have an outstanding player, you've got to find a way to get them into the team, and yeah the other players are almost playing for them. And I think Cunha is one of those players where defensively he doesn't do much work, although it has been improved. He's not very good defensively. So shape-wise, we're a little bit off at times. but is absolutely amazing going forward.
00:38:49
Nathan
So you're going to make that sacrifice.
00:38:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:38:51
Nathan
um It's just weird. I think when O'Neill made those types of sacrifices with a defensive midfielder, it feels a bit bit odd when you've got three of them, you know, so yeah.
00:39:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it also feels like Kanye's going to possibly get even more free reign under Pereira. That's how it seems. It feels like he's just going to be even more enveloped into that number 10 role to be allowed to to roam or I mean, I may be wrong on that, but the way he speaks about him in terms of his quality, his leadership and his, you know, his flair. And he just, I don't know, I get a sense that he's going to be as long as he's with here.
00:39:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to be allowed in the prayer of maybe to just push that even a little bit further.
00:39:32
Nathan
Yeah. And you know what, I think the fact that I know he was injured and he was brought off for the for the second half, but the fact that players were able to come on and just seem like they had that confidence to go and, you know, run at the opposition, especially at the attacking players that we've gotten.
00:39:49
Nathan
Rodrigo Gomez has played, feels like he's played more on DeVito Pereira than he did altogether under O'Neal.
00:39:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:55
Nathan
And he's been he's been brilliant. Guedes just is taking people on and, I didn't know he could play the way he's been playing if I'm being completely honest like I didn't know that this was this was the guy we were buying originally right but I've we've just not seen it for the best part of three years so it's been it's been great to see and then you know we know the quality of Stranlarson but Forbes had a couple of moments against Spurs where he was showing how electric he is I know he doesn't seem like a polished
00:40:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know yeah
00:40:27
Nathan
Um, item yet, but he is so quick and it, you know, it's just, it's just nice to see these different players playing with a bit of confidence and showing what they've got.
00:40:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looks,
00:40:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah.
00:40:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:40:37
Nathan
And I think we've seen more from some of these fringe players, as Tommy Doyle was mentioning, seen so much more in the prayer than we did under O'Neill.
00:40:45
Nathan
And it's kind of like, well, you know, where were they sort of thing.
00:40:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think it current encourages you, like we said Doyle's not actually had that many more minutes to what he was already getting, but his positivity in that comment implies seeing those around you that were also on the fringes gets minute, get minutes to only encourages you right to think that I'm going to get more chances. I'm like, if we're, if I'm playing well, or I'm showing on the training pitch that I'm doing certain things.
00:41:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm gonna, people that people are being given opportunities and so it just raises the the spirits. I mean, it's got to, it's got to.
00:41:20
Nathan
Yeah, 100%, 100%.
00:41:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, Kunya, again, load more to go. So Kunya in that match came off early. Apparently he said he said to the bench that he felt a little something, didn't feel confident to run at 110% speed kind of thing and so asked to come off to rest up and we saw him with the ice pack.
00:41:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, silver linings, this could actually be, apparently it's nothing serious. So hopefully just a bit of rest. I mean, three games and in a short space time, he does such a lot of running. So, um, but the good news is around, we were waiting for the, the ban, the potential FA ban to be unveiled because ah FA just went on holiday over Christmas and the likes of Lester and everyone were going like, why is couldn't you playing against us? Because this guy should not be here.
00:42:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for once, we've kind of got off lucky with the FA, but they all went away for Christmas, had their turkey sandwiches and stuff as we waited for a decision, thinking it's going to be five, six games. so It's a two match ban has been unveiled for misconduct. So he will miss the forest game, which is the next game on the sixth gen and the cup game against Bristol city. I mean, this is the best thing that could happen, surely. And bear in mind that if he is carrying a little lock and would potentially maybe you have to miss a game anyway to rest up, surely this is the best time. This is the best possible outcome for this.
00:42:49
Nathan
Yeah, I think there's two, I've got two points of view on this. and From a Wolves perspective, this is ideal. This is absolutely ideal. A two game ban for something that, in my opinion, should be minimum five, six. If we look at other bands that have been handed out throughout the season four, you know, I'm thinking of Kuda, some thinking of other players that have shown aggressive You know, some form of aggression on the pitch, which is sort of, it's not welcome at all and shouldn't be tolerated at all. Um, but from all perspectives, absolutely fantastic. But from like a just general sort of trusting the FA perspective. I mean, you said, you know, they're in Turkey sandwiches for Christmas. Um, not even a full roast. You know what I mean? Like they just don't know what they're doing. They're like the, the fact that he's been able to take someone's glasses off.
00:43:42
Nathan
forcefully and get away with a two-game ban when he's already a little bit injured.
00:43:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He elbowed in from behind beforehand if you watch the full clip.
00:43:51
Nathan
so i just don't understand it surely other clubs are looking at it going like this is this is just wrong and i mean we don't know exactly how they categorize these types of offenses and whether or not it's sort of how compliant some players are afterwards when they're under investigation but it's just bonkers surely it should be more
00:44:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, you say that, so I did look into it a little bit. So, um Liam Kean of the Express and Style, the local paper around here for anyone listening overseas or anything, explained that, I mean, again, I don't know all of the details of why they've chosen to put it under certain categories, but it was listed, that charge, if you read the thing, is listed as misconduct, not violent conduct. It's categorized under misconduct, which changes, which changes the potential like penalty, the punishment, if you like, what's the word I'm looking for? because Because they have certain categories of obviously ban or punishment for different different categories. Now, why it's not, why elbowing someone and ripping off their glasses is not violent misconduct, I do not know, but it was misconduct, okay? Which apparently puts it in like the three match ban category normally. Now, because it was, he didn't appeal, he accepted full responsibility
00:45:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
with no appeal and it was his first offense with the FA. He has never been charged for, like looked at for anything previously because he's generally a good person normally and lost his thing and put up no appeal.
00:45:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
He gets a match taken off the ban for a first offense. So it would be a three match ban. It becomes a two match ban because it's his first offense and he, and he didn't appeal. He just accepted it.
00:45:33
Nathan
i I mean grace absolutely no no no and it's really insightful really insightful because I didn't know those those little details to be fair but um fantastic for us but absolutely bonkers how how is he only getting one extra match ban compared to Bruno Fernandez who's got two yellow cards Bruno Fernandez has just kicked someone twice late right and he's got a one match ban because he got a red card from from two yellows and two
00:45:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm just giving you the facts. I'm giving you the facts.
00:45:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both those kicks were vindictive. We know that. Let's just say that.
00:46:02
Nathan
Yeah, but but then Kunia goes and elbows someone and then rips his glasses off and only gets two. I i think it's bonkers. I think it's absolutely bonkers but great.
00:46:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I mean, he was under the emotional stress of the Gary O'Neill regime. So let's just put that into consideration as well. Okay.
00:46:19
Nathan
That's it. That's it. And the the FA obviously were just trying to, you know, they had only one admin person in over Christmas, didn't they? And they were just living off of celebrations and I don't know, not being able to see what violent conduct is.
00:46:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm glad I could give you some insight though. You learned something new there about the whole first offense thing and the, uh, the minus one with no appeal.
00:46:37
Nathan
I did. I did. I did.
00:46:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're welcome.
00:46:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so, so silver linings there in terms of couldn't use band, which is fantastic. The next game is, uh, forest on January 6th, which by the way, anyone like anyone who wants to go to that game, they're doing a buy one, get one half price offer, uh, which is nice start to the new year to try and make up for them.
00:46:41
Nathan
Yeah.
00:46:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess everything that's going on in the ticket prices and everything else they've had to put up with the season. So make the most of that. Now we got a draw against them, one of our few points in the first part of the season, and which, looking back at it now, considering the run they are on and where they are in the league, are they still second as I record this?
00:47:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not sure, they're like the second or third.
00:47:17
Nathan
Oh I'm not sure, I'm not sure.
00:47:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um they But I mean, the heady heights, the heady heights, Nuno's living the dream again. And so you look at that now, that one point against Forrest actually away. not bad all things considered but by that but that was early in the season not in their full flow so i'm optimistic going into that but konyu will not be there now if lamina is fit again okay there's a couple of things to bear in mind here one is we spoke about the the whole ah how Zhao Gomez and Andre are working really well. There's this like straightforward two holding like the pivot, it's it's working. The choice to put them in there was potentially made a bit easier on Pereira coming in because Lamina picked up his injury right around the same time.
00:48:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's two things to talk about here, because we're in the January transfer window right now, we're waiting for news on potential centre backs coming in, which is the one thing that everyone says we need and wants. However, there is rumours coming out that Lemina is now being looked at by the likes of Al Shabab for a potential outgoing from Wolves, and apparently since then another European club is now looking on the back of that.
00:48:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're, I've got so many questions based off this, Nathan, but if you're Pereira, do you bring Lamina back in or do you just stick with the two? i um I know my thoughts, but I'm asking you. And then also if you're wolves, like if you're wolves, bigger picture or Pereira and wolves or however you want to look at it, are you willing to let Lamina go at this point? Is, have we got too many midfielders? Is he one you're willing to go ah like away from? Where, what are your thoughts on all of this?
00:48:53
Nathan
Okay, so on the on the let go front, out of LaVina, Gomez and Andre, LaVina would be the one that I'd be willing to let go. and He's 31 years old, so he's the oldest out of three. He is, I mean, at this stage in his career, probably the most like, injury prone. He's also on run of form, on maybe more of a downhill, sort of relates to his age bit of it.
00:49:16
Nathan
um And no, I wouldn't bring him in and to the next game. The only thing that I think could play in Lamina's favour to get in a start in places, Andre going off injured against Spurs and the, whether or not that, I mean, it didn't look too serious.
00:49:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:49:33
Nathan
He was walking around the pitch without much of a hobble, but the fact that there might be a knock there and that maybe you'd want to be safe with Andre, but I think Andre has been immense.
00:49:44
Nathan
So I just start yeah I wouldn't change it. I mean, it would be on the bench. and But the fact that he's got the Al-Shabaab Saudi carrot dangled in front of him at the minute, um you know, 31 years old, go over there, make some, make some sweet cash before he retires. I don't know.
00:50:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree. I i wouldn't, if like you say, if Andre's fit, but or if both the mid, you know, Jaggum isn't Andre a fit, I wouldn't start him. He'd be on the bench, um because like you say, his runner form and how good those two are working as a partnership, I think they are, at least for the foreseeable future, the future of that midfield. Now, who knows what will happen in the summer, but for the rest of the season at least, I feel like that is and pretty much set.
00:50:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then in terms of the bigger picture, do we let him go? I kind of agree because I think for one thing, if you can get, I think he's got six months left on his contract. If you can get any kind of decent fee off a Saudi club for Lamina at this point, like saying his career with such a short space of time left on his contract, especially if you, if Pereira is not looking at renewing it, like if he takes a look at the squad in the short time he's here and he's like, he's not gonna be a big part of my plans come the summer, then and why wait? I mean, I know it's nice to have the depth, but you've still got Doyle, you've got,
00:51:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You got Trey or when's Trey or is you back from injury actually? Cause you've got Trey or a still as well.
00:51:12
Nathan
I think he was he was an ACL, so you'd probably be looking at yeah the whole season out.
00:51:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So all season.
00:51:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay. So who else I'm trying to think now my brain, my brain is just blank. I've always felt like that's pretty deep for us in midfield, but now that I'm saying it, I'm not actually sure.
00:51:26
Nathan
yeah i mean it would It would bring us from from four Premier League-quality sentiments to out down to three, which is a massive that is a massive jump.
00:51:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:51:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Then again, the caveat that Pereira might say, look, if you're going to let the meaner go, I want someone else in and in centimeter, that's not out of the realms of possibility.
00:51:37
Nathan
so yeah
00:51:45
Nathan
Yeah. Yeah. And as you say, if you get, if you get a 10 15 mil for the meaner, you, you'd surely snap the hands off. Um, and I, we might come onto it, but looking at the rumored numbers for some of the other players that we might be looking to bring in.
00:51:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:52:03
Nathan
Yeah. You take that amount of money, wouldn't you?
00:52:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
For sure. So yeah, that's so we'll see how that plays out, but I don't know what other people think out there, but i think yeah I think for me, he's on the bench at least for the next game, and ah or or as long as you know those two are fit and ready to start in the centre, and with the time expiring on his contract, if they're not looking long-term to renew it, then I'm afraid.
00:52:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
As much as he has been a savior in many ways in the last, what, two years or so, a year and a half, I think you've got to look at the bigger picture and say, yeah, get some cash while you can. The other interesting one before we get on Players In and Players Out is Sam Johnston. Sam Johnston, we've heard all this back and forth on the goalkeeper situation. I mean, we didn't want him. No one wanted, the Wolves fanbase did not want this guy, right? I don't know anyone that really wanted this keeper here.
00:52:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's come in, he's played a bunch of games at points. Sar's been in and out of the team. At one point Sar wasn't even in the squad a couple of times because of the like upset. Pereira coming back in means Sar is back in after Johnston had just been in the week before under O'Neill, which is crazy.
00:53:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now Johnston could be on his way out apparently. the All those current rumors are linking him to Spurs, is to become the new backup at Spurs. I don't think this guy wants to be a backup, but then again, maybe he just sees that as a bigger club.
00:53:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But what do you what do you what do you think? Are you happy? i'm To be honest, I'm happy for him to go.
00:53:29
Nathan
it's
00:53:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I prefer Sar. I want Sar to stay.
00:53:33
Nathan
it's it's it's a complete circus of a situation I mean it's mad how quick things can change in four months like he comes in we're expected to see him as our number one for the whole season and then it's all back and forth and now he looks like he's on his way out again I mean it's it's weird I
00:53:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmhmm.
00:53:50
Nathan
All right, to be honest, I think I mentioned it previously. I don't really mind what happens with it. It's the only thing that in my mind, I would want out of it is try and get as much back on the 10 million as we can.
00:54:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:54:02
Nathan
I can't imagine we'd get loads back on it, but, um, just get as much back on that 10 million and just, you know, sort of.
00:54:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:54:10
Nathan
Yeah. Except that it was maybe a poor decision.
00:54:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean we don't need for keepers, and as much as it's nice to have competition for the number one spot that's superior to Bentley. If he doesn't want to be here and he's not going to play, and it's just going to cause you want that, you know, as, as professional, however professional he may or may not be.
00:54:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
you want people but want to be here right you want to keep that morale up while they've got this motivation going and this turnaround and try and keep the momentum and keep everyone confident and jeed up and if you've got someone there that's just going to be getting more down every day because they just want out then then just do it
00:54:46
Nathan
Yeah. Yeah, it's not it's not good to have around the dressing room either, is it? But I mean, yeah, Dan Bentley is your your sort of set in stone number two. Tom King is your set in stone number three. You know, there's no what would be nice to see is maybe a ah younger goalkeeper someone sort of come through. I mean, um we haven't spoken much on this podcast about our academy and sort of the players we've got coming through, but it would be nice to just see something that we're producing more locally in the goalkeeping area.
00:55:18
Nathan
I think the last one I can remember from our academy, was it Harry Burgoyne? Was he the last one who was...
00:55:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:55:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You pushing my brain to the brink there, it's late.
00:55:23
Nathan
I don't know, I'm throwing names here.
00:55:26
Nathan
But, yeah. I don't know. It doesn't make sense. As you said, four goalkeepers is just bonkers. So maybe, yeah, get rid of Johnston and then see see what's out there. Because I'm assuming that Pereira trusting Saari might want to also change his is number two or three, maybe. I don't know.
00:55:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, perhaps, perhaps. But yeah, I just thought that was crazy that that's going on. But um obviously, the big one is centre back, centre back slash fall back based on what we mentioned earlier about, prayer as desires in the back line. There's been a bunch of names linked, right, because everyone knows that's what we're looking at. So I think that Twitter or, you know, social media is going to just link us to every centre back under the sun.
00:56:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you, I believe, have one or two names that are potentially more like in the lineup than others.
00:56:10
Nathan
yeah
00:56:15
Nathan
Yeah, the the main one that's come out or the main one that I've seen on across different social media platforms is a staff called Danzo, who's a 26 year old from lens who's an Austrian international. um He kind of fit seems to fit the profile that Pereira is looking for and the other names that are linked.
00:56:35
Nathan
are of a similar profile as well. So I'll just read them out or the two that I've seen is there's one who's called Ordonez. He's a 20 year old. He plays for Club Bruges in Belgium at the minute who's also got a similar profile of sort of they're all athletes.
00:56:49
Nathan
He seems to be the ones that are really made of all you know over six foot big strong and super quick. That seems to be the the profile and then the other one that they were apparently looking at I saw today is Tanganga.
00:57:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's easy for you to say.
00:57:04
Nathan
25 year old
00:57:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry.
00:57:07
Nathan
25 year old who plays for Millwall at the minute in the championship. So yeah, how how much of this is true? I don't know.
00:57:18
Nathan
Danso is the one that was the most linked. He's playing for Lenz at the minute. He was in the academies at MK Dons and Reading and also spent time on learning at Southampton.
00:57:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's the name that I've heard the most as well.
00:57:28
Nathan
So there's, you know,
00:57:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:57:31
Nathan
Yeah, so it seems as though he's at 26, Austrian International, there's a bit more of an experience side to it as well. And he seems to be more of what I personally would like to see, someone who's got a bit more experience, who's got experience in in and around um sort of English football as well. Maybe that's one that makes most sense. The other two are kind of, I'd say, unproven. And we've already got that kind of those project center halves in pond and met you. So Yeah, fingers crossed that maybe this dancer won't pull off. I can't say that I've watched much of his stuff, but from the, from the little highlight reels that I've seen as he's, he's quick and fairly strong. Um, so potentially could do that, that left-sided center half position or maybe be down the middle.
00:58:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that is the kind of role, I think the mold that would tick the box because it's the one place, right? We want, this needs to be someone that can come in to the starting lineup essentially, or be competing for that starting lineup from day one.
00:58:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It can't be another youngster. It's so, it's, it's so important that this is someone that can be immediately fighting for that spot.
00:58:40
Nathan
who is ready, who is ready.
00:58:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:58:42
Nathan
I mean, the the only thing is we're paying but going to be paying January tax on it in the sense that we'll be paying more than we would have in the summer probably.
00:58:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:58:50
Nathan
ah The rumoured amount was around 25 million, which, you know, that's a big hit. um I don't know how much the club and Fosun are willing to stump up for Pereira, but potentially Lamina going one way, you know, and that would that would sort of balance it out a little bit.
00:59:09
Nathan
Who knows? but Yeah, it's promising that all these rumors are happening. I feel like in the summer, we got a couple of names and we were always beaten to it, but you know, almost immediately after we heard about the rumor, whereas now it feels like there's a little bit more weight behind this Danso one and the talks are kind of happening. So fingers crossed.
00:59:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'll just be, it's one of those where I think I said to you that I'm almost at a point with the amounts of names that I'm seeing things. I just want some solidity. I'm not going to get too excited about any, I'm not going to get too excited about anything until I see it.
00:59:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I want, I just want them to hold the shirt until someone's holding the shirt and I've seen the posts.
00:59:45
Nathan
Yeah.
00:59:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like, yeah, just, just give me someone. I just hope we get it done soon. They've known for so long. Now, even before Pereira that this is the key area, I do not want to be waiting till like the last day of the window for for a decision here.
01:00:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want it done.
01:00:06
Nathan
No.
01:00:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want something done soon, like really soon.
01:00:07
Nathan
No. You've got to, yeah, we've got to trust Uncle George here. We've got to, we've got to trust that he's got, you know, the deep pockets of folks who hopefully come to the front as well.
01:00:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. um Before we kind of roll into the closing segments, we'll just take a moment to remind everyone that, you know, here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we did spend a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zancaster 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.
01:00:46
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. Now I feel like I did that really well considering as I was doing it, although now I've not my microphone, my cat just leapt into my face as I was doing it and then maximized and minimized all my windows so when one fell swoop so I couldn't see what I was doing. But you're welcome everyone. Well done.
01:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. um i'd like to have I'm an open door here. I just tell it how it is. um Now, I was going to say closing um segment type thoughts. is there anything Before we go any further, is there anything we haven't touched on?
01:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Actually, I have' just thought of one thing we mentioned kunya earlier. Apparently contract talks are in discussion at the moment for renewal of the contract. Now, obviously a big part of that will be hoping to make sure that if and when because I'm pretty sure.
01:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd be absolutely gobsmacked if anything happened with him in January. The club aren't looking to sell him in January. Pereira doesn't want him to go in January. If we're going to make sure we continue this run, stay out of relegation and push further at the table, we need him.
01:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's a case of obviously they don't wanted to extend it, but also in case anything happens in the summer, maximize the value and extend that contract as much as they can. And apparently talks were kind of on hold for a bit when things were looking really gloomy.
01:02:06
Nathan
Yeah.
01:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But they're back on talks back on.
01:02:11
Nathan
Yeah, yeah. That's brilliant. Whoop, whoop. What great news to start 2025 with. But I think for Cooney, it makes sense as well, because he's as went on, he got better and better and better.
01:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
01:02:24
Nathan
And for him to get the best move possible, if that's what he wants to ah to a big six club or European club, you'd think he'd looked look at that at the end of the season after having a full top class season in the Premier League um as I say that Chris's cat is a Literally fighting Chris off his mic at the minute
01:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah sorry guys sorry guys it's that time of day they're going like it's a ginger tommy he goes wild at night time he just absolutely causes havoc it's true what they say they are just insane insane in the membrane um yeah i think just checking through on this i think we've covered everything pretty much we covered the totnam game some victor thoughts doyle obviously we've got forest up next we will do some previews to that but i mean how are you feeling overall i guess to sum up about 2025 what lies ahead in terms of we've had this little spell of three games now. Fittles got a few days training or will have had a few more days than he's had previously going into the forest game. Let's not just think about the forest game considering we will do preview hopefully squeeze in a preview at some point for that but are you how you feeling for the coming weeks months like
01:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
01:03:33
Nathan
it's it's it's so weird isn't it like we've gone three games got seven points and all of i've i can't remember last time i was this positive about wolves probably under nuno i don't know it just it's it's a weird it's a weird thing um
01:03:48
Nathan
Now I'm feeling good overall, it seems as though this guy has ah has a good plan and seems as though he's got he's got all the players that are on side and hopefully we've got some good football to look forward to and I really back the squad that we've got so yeah just just optimism, looking forward to it, seeing what we can do.
01:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he exudes, I think when he speaks, in all of his interviews and conferences, the manner in which he speaks, and I presume this, and it was interesting seeing some of his stuff in the dressing room after the game that was on Amazon, actually, because we they do extra cameras, don't they, in the dressing room afterwards.
01:04:22
Nathan
yeah
01:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has, he's very sure of himself. you You can hear that in all of the discussions. There's no ifs, there's no buts, there's no uncertainty.
01:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
No matter what the answer is that he's giving, whether it's a tactical thing or a bad player, there is always always in a like ah an assured answer.
01:04:39
Nathan
Yeah.
01:04:44
Nathan
Yeah.
01:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I feel like that confidence and assurity as a manager, when you're, you know, speaking to the team and and you're very confident in your decisions and you've got a clear line of what you want to do. We spoke before about discipline.
01:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
about structure about how obviously that was going out the window and that had been kind of lost under a kneel and I don't know the way he presents himself with this assured line that gives me faith that it's gonna maybe that's helping the dressing room maybe that's That's got to be good for the players, right?
01:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
To have that death, that certainty, because it felt like under Anil, there was often a lot of uncertainty wavering more and more, especially as the ran the bad run continued.
01:05:27
Nathan
Yeah.
01:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this sense of always being the underdogs and like, oh, I can't, you know, can't get the best out of them. This is the best I can do. We've got a tough fight. We've got a tough fight because we're up against a great team.
01:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was always very much we were not great and everyone else was great. And now we've got someone talking in a short space time about it's all about confidence and just belief and And, you know, he comes across with this kind of assured line each time.
01:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i'm I'm aware I'm waffling a little bit. But do you get where I'm coming from? It just there's a very different presence.
01:05:57
Nathan
I do. I do, I do.
01:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a presence.
01:06:02
Nathan
Yeah, he, I mean, his his interviews after the United game, his interview after the United game, ah I think was particularly good where, I mean, all of them have been good so far when things are going well, it is, it is fairly easy to, to seem confident and I guess exude that kind of, um, I dunno, I don't want to say arrogance, but you can see he's got, he's got a bit of,
01:06:24
Nathan
Yeah, ah not overconfident, but he's got that confidence stance about him. And as you said, he kind of clear direction on what he seems to be saying. I think what will be interesting is when things don't, you know, eventually we will lose a game under him or there will be something that goes wrong.
01:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm hmm.
01:06:42
Nathan
That's what I'm sort of waiting to see. but I think that's the real judge of a manager's character. And as you were saying, I think O'Neal did spend a lot of time saying, Oh, I'm not sure about that. I'm going to have to work on that. Or I'm not 100% on what went wrong. I'm going to have to watch that back. um you know And I know a lot of managers say that, but I almost prefer someone like Nuno, who never gave the press anything but was sure and stern in his answers. And Pereira has gone or has that same style. ah Maybe it's just a Portuguese style in general, where it's like,
01:07:15
Nathan
this is my way of thinking and these are kind of going to be my template answers or these are going to be my main thoughts on it and I'm not going to veer away from it whereas O'Neill it felt like he was having proper conversations with the interviewers on sort of like almost giving too much and I don't like that whereas Pereira just sort of saying we've got a lot of work to do these are the bits to be working on
01:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
01:07:37
Nathan
that's that and not getting kind of bullied around of it um and you know the the interview has brought up his previous you know failings at getting the Everton job and the Chelsea job um and he's just sort of you know brushed it off said yeah a lot of work's gone into this I'm here now and um I'm ready let's go for it and it's good to hear
01:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And I think finally, I just, um, we know, and he said it time and time again, it's been all about the premier league for him, right? He wants to be, he's wanted to be in the premier league for a very long time. Like a really long time. He's been working towards this. He keeps talking about from like his whole managerial career. So whichever team it ended up being with, he doesn't want to screw this up. Like whatever you think about whether he wanted to be at wolves or someone else.
01:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
he doesn't want to screw this up because he wants to stay in the Premier League. He wants to show that he can do this. If he's been fighting this long to be a Premier League manager and and been that much, you know, that obsessive over it, then this is one person who will want to make sure that he is successful.
01:08:43
Nathan
Yeah. Yeah. And it's, you know, whether he's doing it for him, I mean, I'm sure he's doing it mainly for him, but then also focusing on the team and the rest of it. Great. Great. stump Long, long may his reign continue if it keeps going like this.
01:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So on that bombshell, um, fingers crossed that that means, you know, 2025 long way to go still, but we're halfway through the season and maybe there really is that light at the end of the tunnel.
01:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe it's going to be a good one, Nathan. Um, fingers crossed we will.
01:09:15
Nathan
It will be. It will be.
01:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it will be, it will be. Yeah. Because let's just remember everyone. Um, actually before I say, I'll just say it's been great to see you again, Nathan. It's been great to see you after this festive season.
01:09:25
Nathan
good Good to see you, Chris, and good good um good to see or not see here and be there for everyone listening as well.
01:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep, yep. And I hope everyone out there had a lovely festive season. um If you've been working hard in the likes of retail or any industry that doesn't stop around the festive season, I hope you get a break soon. And if you have enjoyed a break, I'm, you know, well, you've got to go back to work now, like the rest of us, so get on with it. ah But we love you. And just remember, we've seen it once again, that out of darkness, come a flight. Goodbye, everyone.