JOHN TARAS SHARES SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM WOLVES MATCH WITH MAN CITY
The most talked about event today was the 95th minute winner for City. Is VAR any use, are the Officials always favouring the top clubs. We’ll visit this later. Firstly.
1. Wolves performance unrecognisable
Finally reverting to a back three produced our best defensive performance. Everyone knew their role and Haaland never got a sniff. Well done Craig Dawson. We were organised, if City got past one man another Wolves player was there to cover. Gary O’Neil seemed to be stubbornly against this change.
It seems that this defensive three is a must going forward. With the two wing backs covering each flank Wolves coped with virtually every City attack. Safe in the knowledge cover was always there!
Gary O”Neil must realise this is the best setup for the players we have.
2. Midfield three?
Andre, Lemina and Gomes. Three combative players who covered every blade of grass today. They stifled City today, not giving them an inch. But when played together we sacrifice a creative role which minimises our attacking chances. We need to change the team to suit the opposition. When Doyle came on for Andre he had to fulfil the same role as Andre. Defensive duties instead of being able to play his natural style. Next up is Brighton, hopefully he would have more chances to play his normal role! O’Neil needs to be flexible and not rigid. What we learnt today was that if you get the ball to Larsen in the box he will score a goal! Sticking with the same format has only got us one point!
3. Cunha
Last season he was a star. Today he was subbed. One shot off target during the game. As with the midfield three, I think we learnt today in the situation we’re in anybody can be subbed!
4. Today we still lost, that's four in a row at Home!
Now it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. I had to chill out after full time before I could collect my thoughts for this piece. But I so wanted to put down my thoughts on what we learnt today!
Wolves went toe to toe with the Champions for 94 minutes and 30 seconds. Yes City had 75% possession and 18 corners but we learnt today that Wolves had the desire, hunger and skill to repel it all!
Gary O”Neil in his after match comments apparently touched on whether subconsciously Officials favour the bigger Clubs. O”Neil has to be careful in case the League charges him with disrepute! I’m not bound by the same limitations.
Wolves fans would have been shouting foul over the decision to allow the City winner. But I’m not surprised by it sadly. We learnt today that it is still happening weekly. Prior to the goal in the 93rd minute Guedes was fouled three yards outside City’s box. Firstly a two handed shove in the back but then a tackle from behind! Play on said the “impartial Official”, not for the first time in the game. This would have put Wolves on the edge of City’s box with a chance on goal. But also time was nearly up.
Then we come to VAR. Replays show and my more learned Always Wolves colleagues point out that Silva had moved out of Sa eyeline when Stones headed in! That was the view the Ref was shown on playback. What was omitted was the shove by Silva on Sa putting him off balance in the lead up to the goal. So we have learned today that VAR is still not fit for purpose. It’s still subjective depending on the Official’s interpretation of what is important. It lacks consistency and fairness.
TO CONCLUDE
In conclusion we have learned today that Wolves can compete for 94+ minutes and be deprived of a share of the spoils by once again the Officials actions not their own.
But we have learned today that this bunch of players can match the team second in the League. Lads apply this type of effort and commitment to the rest of the fixtures and points should come!
ARTICLE BY JOHN TARAS
Wolves Member for several years but follower since the 70’s. Now retired and looking forward to being involved in discussions.
