Wolves (A) Thread

[Norbs]

Yep, it will almost certainly be Gomez and Matip at CB again. Unless Quansah is fit which will free Joe up for RB. Otherwise I have no idea who plays there. Anyone know? Could we try Doak?

Joe is a better RB than he is CB, he'd probably be a worldie in the right side of a 3 man defence

[Scratch]

No VVD, extra game ban (and a £100K fine for him too). Expected really.

[Kenneth]

He’s club captain, can’t be getting extra bans for crap like that.

[spud_gun]

Can't really argue with that. Silly foul by VVD in the first place and you shouldn't be reacting to a justifiable red the way he did.

It'd be good to this approach on a consistent basis from PGMOL and not the case of VVD being made an example of.

[baitman]

Can't really argue with that. Silly foul by VVD in the first place and you shouldn't be reacting to a justifiable red the way he did.

It'd be good to this approach on a consistent basis from PGMOL and not the case of VVD being made an example of.

let's see... but we will be disappointed though.

[Norbs]

No VVD, extra game ban (and a £100K fine for him too). Expected really.

Obviously not bothered about the fine, but really relieved it's just one extra game and that that game is against Wolves

[SB]

Hopefully TAA & the rest of the back line will be available

[Fosterbloke]

Hopefully TAA & the rest of the back line will be available

You mean the one that ended the game against Villa?

[SB]

You mean the one that ended the game against Villa?

TAA Matip Gomez Robbo hopefully

[SB]

Saturday 16th @1230pm

I know it’s early but I was going to start a post about who’s away on International duty & where etc but thought we could keep that in here with the build up stuff.

Team selection could revolve around who of our South American stars are traveling back to their country for matches & likely return times often play a factor in availability.

So Trent has pulled out for England & is a doubt for this one.

Quansah pulled out of the U20’s but no details available.

Ibou could be available but that’s it for now.

VVD is still waiting to hear if there’ll be any further punishment from his sending off but could be available. Extra 1 match ban so not available

Gravenberch has pulled out of the Dutch U21’s matches to help him settle in with us.

Bajetic is ready to return most likely from the bench & Thiago continues to keep the physios busy.

So I’d imagine we’d have the following players away on international duty but I can’t confirm them all as I’m not sure who has Friendlies scheduled

Alison , VVD, Robbo, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo, Diaz, Jota, Gakpo, Nunez, Mo then if the U21’s are playing I’d say Elliot & Jones , Doak etc would be involved their too. The boss must really hate international distractions.

So any other players away or any other news please?

Endo played 90 mins for Japan vs Germany & they won 4-1.

Elsewhere, Bobby Clark and Calum Scanlon started and played 70 minutes as England under-19s clinched a 4-2 win over Switzerland.

Clark was a threat throughout and helped set up England’s second goal of the afternoon after winning the ball off the goalkeeper and setting up Southampton‘s Dominic Ballard.

Seventeen-year-old Trent Kone-Doherty, meanwhile, was described as a “bright spark” for Ireland U19s in their 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his “close control and dribbling” a highlight of his outing.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Kostas Tsimikas and Dominik Szoboszlai are all expected to be in action on Sunday.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Endo played 90 mins for Japan vs Germany & they won 4-1.

Elsewhere, Bobby Clark and Calum Scanlon started and played 70 minutes as England under-19s clinched a 4-2 win over Switzerland.

Clark was a threat throughout and helped set up England’s second goal of the afternoon after winning the ball off the goalkeeper and setting up Southampton‘s Dominic Ballard.

Seventeen-year-old Trent Kone-Doherty, meanwhile, was described as a “bright spark” for Ireland U19s in their 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his “close control and dribbling” a highlight of his outing.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Kostas Tsimikas and Dominik Szoboszlai are all expected to be in action on Sunday.

Gakpo was good against Ireland.

Very very good. Was popping up all over the pitch and his through ball that led to the Dutch penalty (which Gakpo scored) was a peach.

At times it looked like all the best play and invention for the Dutch came through Gakpo. Him and de Jong have a hell of an on pitch understanding too.

Similar good link play between Gakpo and Dumfries.



VVD looked less good though. He looked harried at times, moaned and whinged after every 50/50 with Idah. Moaned at the ref during the set up to every corner against the Dutch. Hacked a lot of balls into touch and generally looked like playing against an Irish team that were willing to have a go was troubling him.

He was also very lucky to have a foul blown in his favour when Idah outmuscled him to go clear on goal. In live play it looked a poor decision and the replays showed that VVD was beaten fairly and that he was the one doing the fouling.

Ake and de Ligt looked far more assured than him all game long, though Ake is a bit of a moaning ****wit who likes a dive.

[SB]

So VVD plays centrally in a back 3 for the Dutch yeah?

[Doc_Piptorious]

So VVD plays centrally in a back 3 for the Dutch yeah?

It was a 343 that turned into a 541 when defending. VVD was the middle CB.

Was the first time that I think I have looked at VVD play and really seen a lot of flaws in his game.

The whinging and moaning was not good to see either. Showed how uncomfortable he was in his individual duels. Even before balls were played in for set pieces he was moaning at the ref. Seemed to be letting everything get in his head.

He was not terrible but he "only" looked decent rather than the best defender in his team and he was the defender Ireland targetted most often and that we got the most joy out of.

Think VVD was lucky we had Idah starting last night and that Ferguson was not available to start. Idah gave him a 50/50 battle for 90 minutes, Ferguson could have done that but added more pace and finishing ability.

[RedReet]

It was a 343 that turned into a 541 when defending. VVD was the middle CB.

Was the first time that I think I have looked at VVD play and really seen a lot of flaws in his game.

The whinging and moaning was not good to see either. Showed how uncomfortable he was in his individual duels. Even before balls were played in for set pieces he was moaning at the ref. Seemed to be letting everything get in his head.

He was not terrible but he "only" looked decent rather than the best defender in his team and he was the defender Ireland targetted most often and that we got the most joy out of.

Think VVD was lucky we had Idah starting last night and that Ferguson was not available to start. Idah gave him a 50/50 battle for 90 minutes, Ferguson could have done that but added more pace and finishing ability.

I made a similar point about Virg last year. He's so used to totally dominating forwards, that when it wasn't happening, he continually looked to the officials to bail him out and was riding his luck far too often. He seemed reluctant to change his approach, even though his body was no longer up to it.

Thankfully towards the end of the season he seemed to adjust and play more safely, which is what we need of him if he's going to continue to play into his mid 30's.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I made a similar point about Virg last year. He's so used to totally dominating forwards, that when it wasn't happening, he continually looked to the officials to bail him out and was riding his luck far too often. He seemed reluctant to change his approach, even though his body was no longer up to it.

Thankfully towards the end of the season he seemed to adjust and play more safely, which is what we need of him if he's going to continue to play into his mid 30's.

Last night he looked like a totally reactive defender rather than a proactive one that read the game better than the attacker.

Idah is a willing runner and a fairly robust attacker and he seemed to give VVD all he could handle despite Idah not being the best in terms of technique.

Were it not for VVD being a bit quicker than Idah, I think he would have been in a lot more bother last night.

Think if PL managers watched him last night, then a lot might be thinking of ways to target him.

Aso think VVD is lucky when he comes up against the likes of Haaland that Haaland does not have the workrate of someone like Idah as that makes Haaland a bit easier to play against when it comes to physical battles.


Think last night was my tipping point with VVD in terms of thinking he needs to start being phased out ( as in not being a nailed on starter) from the end of this season.