CRAIG HICKEY SHARES HIS THOUGHTS AND PLAYER RATINGS FOR WOLVES 3-0 DEFEAT TO NEWCASTLE
If there was fog on the Tyne today, we sure did get caught up in it as we couldn’t see the wood for the trees, its grim up North sometimes……we live to fight another day though.
JOSE SA 4.5
Jose suffered today for lots of reasons, poor decisions for the first two goals, lack of communication or poor choices, either way for me it was a factor. Communication between defenders and the keeper are really important, today that showed. I’m not sure if an injury forced the change or a lack of belief in his efforts.
NELSON SEMEDO 5.5
Got forward into good positions at times but more often than not he was having to defend too much and overrun by Gordon on the right side. He seemed to get more protection in the second half but it was a thankless task against a strong Newcastle attack.
RAYAN AIT-NOURI 4.5
Started well but quickly faded, the combination with Neto was quickly thwarted by the home side and he was caught out too many times. He was properly turned inside out for the 3rd goal, the defending was very average and no attempt to get a foot in to halt the run, it should have been stopped outside the area. I can only assume he didn’t want a 2nd yellow.
CRAIG DAWSON 5.5
If I had to pick out a defender that tried today it would be Craig or Nelson Semedo. He wasn’t helped by his team mates and exposed too much as the attacks caused uncertainty in the Wolves defence. May have got a foot in to stop Livramento before his comical finish, always Mr Reliable, today he was exposed too much.
MAX KILMAN 4.5
Max doesn’t have many games to forget but this is one of them, he has been talked up by some as an outside candidate for England duty, hopefully today will not scupper that chance. He was twisted and turned by the Newcastle front line and had a torrid day at the back. One to forget for Max, lets hope this is a lesson he will benefit from in the next match.
TOTI GOMES 5
Worked hard but had his work cut out, the left side seemed to be targeted after the first half, a great clearance in the second half off the line. Naivety in his game has shown at times this season and today was another example.
MARIO LEMINA 5.5
Mario was pegged back in the first half, Guimares ran the midfield with Longstaff and he missed his midfield Pitbull, Gomes. He had more of the ball in the attacking 3rd during the 2nd half but he couldn’t affect the game as much as he would liked.
TOMMY DOYLE 5.5
He had to play a different game today, a more defensive role which is not his best attribute, he wasn’t allowed to play his normal passing game. The quality was there but he was overrun by the Newcastle midfield and couldn’t affect the game as much as we or he would have liked.
PEDRO NETO 5
Started the game really well and made Burns work hard but he faded as the half wore on. Pedro for me has so much pace and skill and my only issue with him is the throwing up of his hands when it doesn’t go his way. Hopefully his substitution was a precaution or tactical change rather than an issue at half time.
JEAN-RICNER BELLEGARDE 4.5
I think he is struggling to achieve the level required in the Premier Laegue at the moment. There are many times that he gets the ball in great positions and makes the wrong decisions, this will change and he will grow into a good player for us. Todays game passed him by at times, the confidence to deliver or shoot is an area to work on, in my opinion.
PABLO SARABIA 7
Pablo was probably our best player today, he probed and sought the space to create and could have scored with a far post side footed effort. We had 54% of the ball today and he was the most likely to make things happen, he can change ganms but he needed others to contribute more today.
DAN Bentley (46 mins) 6
He came on in the second half and had a busy afternoon, making key stops, one in particular at his near post. The 3rd goal was a defensive calamity and there was maybe a chance to spread himself better to block the toe poke. He may get a run in the side if Jose has picked up an injury, time will tell.
Hugo Bueno (59 mins) 5.5
A tough afternoon on the left for him when he came on, left exposed by Ait Nouri at times and his fellow defenders. He played too much in our own half for much of his time on the pitch.
Chirewa and Traore (81 mins) N/A
Not enough time on the pitch to affect the game today
Player of the Match - Manny Singh Kang 10/10
On a day when there was an opportunity for a hero, this man showed determination, guile, mental and physical toughness to overcome a massively tough task. Walking 195 miles in 4 days and 8 hours, in tough conditions and raising over £40000 for Dementia UK, deserves so much credit and for me, he has stood head and shoulders over anyone else. Well Done Manny, we are all proud of you.
ARTICLE BY CRAIG HICKEY
A 53 year old season ticket holder in the Steve Bull stand. Go along with my two young lads who love the Wolves and so far, the positive times. Long may it continue.