PHIL SMITH ANALYSES WOLVES PERFORMANCE AGAINST ASTON VILLA AND GIVES HIS PLAYER RATINGS
Rob Edwards first away games in charge and it’s the West Midlands Derby at Villa Park. Villa have made their home a fortress so a tough ask but can the boys show some spirit and fight and get something out of the game?
Sam Johnstone – 6
Wasn’t really called upon too much throughout the game and couldn’t do anything with the winner which narrowed into the top corner.
Jackson Tchatchoua – 6
Possibly his best game. Offered a lot more going forward and set up Larsen’s disallowed goal for offside. Needs to work on his end product.
Yerson Mosquera – 6
I am always on edge when Yerson plays as you just never know what he is going to do as he is very unpredictable. Almost scored a wonderful header which Martinez brilliantly saved. Was solid enough.
Emmanuel Agbadou – 6
Most definitely his best game of the season and hopefully a sign he is starting to get back to the levels of last season so we can start to keep some clean sheets.
Toti – 6
Growing in confidence with another solid display. Back three certainly suits him better and his passing moving the ball forward was also a lot better.
David Moller Wolfe – 5
Showing signs he is getting to grips with the pace and Physicality of the Premier League. Offered an outlet first half going forward but tired as the game went on. Needs to getting closer to the winger at times and block balls into the box.
Joao Gomes – 6
Always a willing runner and will give 100% getting stuck in. Needs better decision making when in and around the box.
Andre – 5
Not at his best but didnt play badly, maybe a result of high expectations as we know what he is capable of but didnt hit those levels to impact the game.
Jean-Richer Bellegarde- 6
Back in the starting lineup and playing out wide. Drove us forward and pressed the Villa defence well at times. Great ball into the box for Larsen across the 6 yard box was a peach of a ball.
Jhon Arias – 4
Blocking the view of the keeper to deny Larsen a goal was frustrating as another decision goes against us. An improvement but still not showing nowhere near enough as we struggle for goals.
Jorgen Strand Larsen – 6
A goal ruled out for offside and other chances that he didnt take but a much improved performance. We need this week in week out from now on as going a whole month without a goal is shocking. Bellegarde’s ball across the box if we had a certain Steve Bull as our number 9 would have seen the ball defender and the Goalie all in the back of the net. He needs to show that hunger to score.
Subs
Mateus Mane – N/A
Not enough time to make an impact would like to see him earlier on against a tiring defence.
Tolu Arokodare – N/A
Again on too late to make an impact.
Tawanda Chirewa – 3
A strange substitution and whenever I have seen him come on he looks nowhere near the level required for the Premier League.
Hugo Bueno – 4
Can feel a little aggrieved to be finding himself on the bench considering he is amongst the highest wing backs / full backs for chances created in the whole of the league. With some better finishing he would have some assists to his name highlighted again today with Wolves wasting anything he tried to create.
Overall
A massive step in the right direction we limited Villa who are currently in the top four to very little and created some good chances of our own. We need to see this level every week from now on and hopefully that first league win to come in midweek in a massive game at home to Forest.
ARTICLE BY PHIL SMITH
A lifelong Wolves fan being going up the Molineux since 1993, seeing the good the bad and all that in-between. Following in the footsteps of my Dad and Grandad before me. Wolves will be forever in my blood.