View Full Version : Wolves V Villa - Verdict
Bahama Wolf
30-07-2005, 18:36
Thought someone would have started thread by now..only heard from CannockWolves on Commentary Thread who went to the game and has really echoed all we were hearing from the Commentators. Big plusses has to be Cort and Kennedy who have obviously followed their DVD's to the Tsmileys/smiley36.gif Ofinjana continues to improve and Naylor and Oakes have carried on where they left off last season. It seems that everyone is now familiar with Hoddle's required style, and that players can come in and out when necessary, and to think Ince and Camara (possibly) waiting in the wings , it really looks encouraging for the season especially if Hoddle does get his icing on the cake!
I would of replied but Deutsch (or whatever his name is) wasn't bothered about the game so I had a few more beers than usual and can't be bothered to give anyone a post match analysis. We did win if you didn't already know.
Bit annoyed that locals didn't go when the Vile made an effort, about 2900 of them turned up.
Bit annoyed that locals didn't go when the Vile made an effort, about 2900 of them turned up.
Its a day out for the Villa fans,therest of themare in Weston Super Mare.As for the 'local's its like the Circus i suppose - you only want to go if you know the clowns will be there.
Papa I understand what your saying but I don't think £10 adults £5 kids is too much to ask for when you have been without football for weeks.
If we had lost today's game you would of had loads of people on here giving it loads when they couldn't be ar$ed to get up and go to the game. I thought it was just nice being back in my stand seeing all the usual faces.
Papa I understand what your saying but I don't think £10 adults £5 kids is too much to ask for when you have been without football for weeks.
If we had lost today's game you would of had loads of people on here giving it loads when they couldn't be ar$ed to get up and go to the game. I thought it was just nice being back in my stand seeing all the usual faces.
very very true
The Bear
30-07-2005, 19:55
Great first half.
Oakes made two or three great saves from Phillips and Angel, but also nearly let Phillipsin with a mixup in communication with Lescott. Good solid display overall- 7.5
Cort looked sharp and confident with some good movement, linking play well all around the pitch - 8
Ricketts drove forward with the ball a lot and always found himself in some decent space due to good movement. Made a couple of great forward runs too. Perhaps should have done better with the chance right in front of goal. My MOTM - 9
J-Lo was a usual good performance. Solid and commanding- 8
Edwards still seemed dodgy to me. Good headers, but often out of position. Can't see him starting ahead of Craddock, Gyepes or McNamara - 5
I have to say McNamara didn't really do much of note apart from one decent cross from deep and a good sliding tackle on the byline - 6
Gyepes looks quite comfortable. Good jump on him - 7
Naylor seemed steady. Got forward more than stayed back it seemed. Good work for the first goal at the first and second attempts - 7
Kennedy was much improved. Wanted the ball and made good use of it. Great shot after a poor Sorensen throwout which the keeper touched onto the post - 7
Seol. Breezed in and out of the game. The fancy dan stuff wasn't particularly effective at times but putting Samuel on his $$$$ was the highlight. Nearly scored when he found himself unmarked in the centre after a good run off the ball but Sorensen saved well. Couple of overhit crosses and doesn't seem to want to run at people at the minute - 6
Olofinjana ran our midfield in the first half, even tackling fairly well. held the ball well and played players in. Good all round display. His goal bumbled over the line from a few yards but did well to get in that position to take it - 8
Good to see Ndah again. made one good run down the right and was nearly put through by Cort who over hit his diagonal pass -6
Miller was his usual self. One minute causing all sorts of problems, the next not looking as if he was bothered. Still the usual poor first touch. Great pass for the secong goal btw. 7
Clarke looked very up for it when he came on. Great run from the left hand side, though he might have a go himself but laid of to Cort who didn't get his shot off in time. 7
Overall a good performance and a confidence boosting win over an almost full-strengthVillateam. I did feel at times our midfield was far too narrow when we didn't have the ball meaning our fullbacks came higher up the pitch leaving space behind them which Villa often made good use of with Solano (fantastic cross for their goal) and Phillips. Something for Hoddle to keep an eye on.
Oldgold Wolfcub
30-07-2005, 20:01
Has the pitch been widened and what condition does it look in?
Bear, i'm very surpised, everything you saud above was spot on aprt from Seol. I thought he was excellent, looked dangerous everytime he had the ball and whipped in some good crosses. Even my Villa fan father-in-law who came with me thought Seol played superb. He said he's probably worth about 5 million now.smileys/smiley32.gif
Excellent performance going forward. A little bit still to work on at the back but thought we looked solid when the Hungarian International came on.
Overall........i'm excited and confident about the season smileys/smiley32.gif
The Bear
30-07-2005, 20:14
Has the pitch been widened and what condition does it look in?
It looked in superb condition. Really smooth and lush grass. Couldn't really tell the width from 2/3rds of the way up the Billy Quiet upper (normally in Stan Cullis lhalf way down). CannockWolf said it definitely looked wider from the stan Cullis in the start of the commentary thread.
Bear, i'm very surpised, everything you saud above was spot on aprt from Seol. I thought he was excellent, looked dangerous everytime he had the ball and whipped in some good crosses. Even my Villa fan father-in-law who came with me thought Seol played superb. He said he's probably worth about 5 million now.smileys/smiley32.gif
Yeah he did have a half-decent game. It's just that a lot of his running came to nothing. and he didn't want to run or cross much. Preferred to cut in and pass or lay it back instead of driving through the gaps or at his man. The highlight was a spell in the first half where he beat Samuel a couple of times and got into the box, only to overhit his cross or miss his pass. Good shot from the run through the middle, and almost reacheda ball in the 6 yard box at a stretch.
Other than those spells I felt he drifted in and out of the game and didn't look *totally* committed. I'd say about 90%. I think he can do better personally, but it's only a friendly and shouldn't judge too harshly so I'm still happy with his performance.Edited by: The Bear
cannockwolves
30-07-2005, 23:13
As I have said in another post the pitch looks superb, and from where i was in the stan culis stand you could tell the pitch was wider. In fact i was sure i could see a faint line running down the full length of the pitch about a yard inside the current dead ball line.
I was very impressed with the performance today. Cort and Kennedy stood out for me but they all had reasonable games. Jackie Mac was put under a lot of presure and i was not that impressed. He was OK but not outstanding.
I think we have two really good strikers in cort and miller, and on todays performance cort will get more goals. But i really do think we need another striker capable of finishing. If we loose miller or cort. Ndah is way off, there were times when he had the chance to really open up but bottled it to some extent. I saw vio at Hednesford the other week and he too looks a long way off match fitness. Its a long time to the Jan transfer window if we have a problem.
Goldwolf
31-07-2005, 00:43
I was very impressed with the performance today. Cort and Kennedy stood out for me
You can get odds of 18.5 to 1 on Cort being top scorer in the Championship this season on Betfair at the moment. I'm tempted to wager a fiver because he's had a great pre-season, is looking sharp and fit and is a guaranteed starter in Hoddle's formation. The way the side is set up then if he's playing to his potential he is going to score goals.
As I have said in another post the pitch looks superb, and from where i was in the stan culis stand you could tell the pitch was wider. In fact i was sure i could see a faint line running down the full length of the pitch about a yard inside the current dead ball line.
I was very impressed with the performance today. Cort and Kennedy stood out for me but they all had reasonable games. Jackie Mac was put under a lot of presure and i was not that impressed. He was OK but not outstanding.
I think we have two really good strikers in cort and miller, and on todays performance cort will get more goals. But i really do think we need another striker capable of finishing. If we loose miller or cort. Ndah is way off, there were times when he had the chance to really open up but bottled it to some extent. I saw vio at Hednesford the other week and he too looks a long way off match fitness. Its a long time to the Jan transfer window if we have a problem.
McNamara has no need to be outstanding, I'll take 7/10 every game from him! All we need is a steady professional performance, like those we got from Irwin and he will be a huge benefit! I was surprised at just how small he is though!
Kennedy looked very good, very mobile, covered alot of ground and generally passed well. His midfield partner was very good too. Olofinjana stamped his authority on the game in the first half, making some important strong tackles and using his body to hold players off.Olofinjana scored a great goal, with a wonderful team move a superb assist from Cort, who was also very good, despite being criticised for joining in with the team play and drifting deep and moving wide by many, who would prefer him to just stand up front, so that they could call him lazy smileys/smiley7.gif! Seol was superb, too, IMOand turned Samuel inside out on various occasions, he does drift in and out of the game, but at times he must be very difficult to defend against!
The Hoddle effect was clear to seetoday, he has turned a bunch of average players, who were poorly coached and mis-managed by Jones, into a team capable of playing the sort of one touch footballl on display today! The passing and movement shown from everyone today was superb, and we played the sort of 'total football' that the dutch would be proud of (smileys/smiley17.gif), with Miller often filling in at left back, as Naylor bombed forward!
Overall it was a decent game, and a good performance, escpecially the first 20 mins, and Olofinjana's goal, which showed just how well we passed and moved today!
I missed the first half but the WM comentators sounded well impressed and i'd have thought they would be biased towards villa...an embarrasment of riches!
Sounded like we could tear them up at will,....and subs that weren't just substandard replacements!
Fit Hungary & Dangerous
Love it.
Edited by: Flex
Afterr the way the team played today, with passing and movement very high on the agenda, I'm starting to wonder will Kennedy and Olofinjana be our regular Midfield partnership. They can both pass very well, as can Ince of course, but the advantage with these two is the mobility, the pass and move style requires hard work, lots of forward runs and players to cover others who make the forward runs. This all requires a high level of fitness and high energy levels, perhaps Kennedy and Olofinjana would benefit our style of play more thanb Ince next season? On todays it wouldn't bother me too much if this was the case!
The Bear
31-07-2005, 01:08
I'm notgetting too excited about today.
Yes we were very good at times, but we also had periods of possession where there was no movement upfront and a lack of ideas, usually resulting in Villa getting the ball back (i.e Ball comes forward from defence, Miller/Cort/Seol all standing waiting for the ball to be played forward, and Ricketts gets disposessed - OR Seolnothaving any options or ideasafter beating Samuel,smacks it at a defenderand Villa break and score).
It's definitely a very encouraging performance but it wasn't nearly as good as the first half against Ipswich last season.
Eek! - Just realised I forgot Colin Cameron's score. He had a decent game when he came on and looked to get involved with everything he could. Couple of decent shots at goal and moved into space to join attacks well, but no end product whenhebroughtthe ball forward - 6.5
P.S - I felt that especially when Villa had their spells of domination at the end of the first half andduring the second half, we really missed Ince in the middle. Olofinjana had gone off the boil by then and neither Kennedy or Ricketts wanted to get stuck in.
Only Edwards and Lescott came forwards to put any committed tackles in but that left us too exposed. It left Gavin McCann to run themidfield in the second half and we really needed someone who could win the ball back.Edited by: The Bear
not getting too excited i can understand but this time last year we got nobbed 6-1..
progress enough for me
The Bear
31-07-2005, 01:20
Echo (http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10307~692720,00.html).
We could have had 4 or 5 in the first half too though Glenn!!
And we still have The Rat on a leashsmileys/smiley1.gif
And we still have The Rat on a leashsmileys/smiley1.gif
Hahaha, lets hope there still is time to get rid of him if hes not part of Glendas plans
I dont think Glenn's gonna let him go so easy. Thats the beauty of it..we dont have to.
Black Suit
31-07-2005, 06:48
'not getting too excited i can understand but this time last year we got nobbed 6-1..
progress enough for me'
Que?Edited by: Black Suit
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Quoi ??? smileys/smiley1.gif
Essex Wolf
31-07-2005, 15:56
Although I only managed to listen to the game on the radio the performances of certain players stood out just by their involvement. Oakes, JLo, Olafinjana, Kennedy and Cort all sounded very impressive whilst Ndah and Gyepes when they came on seemed to be getting involved and doing quite well. Certainly heard enough to be encouraged.
Bilbrook_Wolves
31-07-2005, 16:06
Must say yesterdaysgame was one of the only pre-season games which has really impressed me! I also want to say a big round of applause to the ground staff as the pitch looked in top nic and the expansion of the pitch by a couple of yards really looks as though it will pay off for a style of play. Anyway to my verdict:
Oakes - commanded his area well, lots of talking and very brave going in for some balls made a couple of fantastic stops, cemented his place for number 1 jersey next week. 8
Jackie Mcnamara - Looks the part, you could tell with his vision and technique that we have signed a real quality player. Definatley will add strength to the defence and leadership. 8
Rob Edwards - Suprised to see him playing in the heart of defence, but a welcome one. Didnt do too badly for what was aksed of him. Sound performance. 7
Joleon Lescott - Looked the usual Jlo we adore, but caught lagging on a few occasions but communication with his other defenders rectified the situation. 7
Lee Naylor - Started where he left off last season, Naylor seems a complete diffrent player to last season to 12 months ago. Overlapping runs and crowd really gets excited when he is on the ball going forward! LLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 8
Mark Kennedy (Captain) MOM - Very good display from todays captain. Although he looked like he should be playing bass for oasis he really seemed fit and ready for the new season. Also looked bulked up which gave him a physical prescence which he lacked last season. Could of had a goal but headed round post. 8
Seyi Olofinjana - Alot of people said he really needed to improve on his physical side of the game, well today he answerd his critics by getting stuck in and good link up play. Took his goal nicely! 7
Rohan Ricketts - Fantastic Ball control, seems as though the ball is stuck to his foot sometimes, brilliant pace and likes to lick the ball round nicely. Great vision but his aireal presence isnt the best due to his size. 7
Seol - Looked very fit from his national service,put J Loyd Samuel flat on his backside on numerous occasions. Sometimes in two minds wether to pass or shoot. 8
Kenny Miller - For the first 20 minutes or so seemed to be switiching flanks and playing provider rather than striker, worked hard and even helped out well in defence. Usual moaning sometimes but we expect nothing less. 7
Carl Cort - our target man, he really seemed to have mellberg and cahill in his back pocket, the villa lad cahill looked shakey for thefirst 10 minutes and cort exploited this even more so with his dominant presence. Tap in for his first goal could of had two more. 8
Subs
Clarke - Good run in the second half hard working. 7
Ndah - Fantastic reception from the home crowd for him got into attacking areas well not fully fit but could tell he was hungry for games and wanted to pay the club back for confidence in him. 7
Gyepes - the mans like a lorry, looked strong and should partner lescott well. If craddock isnt available next week due to his knock then Gyepes will be a sound replacement. 7
All in all very impressed with the way things looked hsaping up. Im excited bout next week!
Ince??
I don't know if it's been covered in any of the other threads but I'm curious as to what role Ince will play now?
I was at the game yesterday and the way the midfield played I was struggling to think who I would drop to accomodate Ince?? I just couldn't see how on that performance yesterday who would make way for him in midfield from the ones who started??
What do others feel?
Bilbrook_Wolves
31-07-2005, 16:32
Ince??
I don't know if it's been covered in any of the other threads but I'm curious as to what role Ince will play now?
I was at the game yesterday and the way the midfield played I was struggling to think who I would drop to accomodate Ince?? I just couldn't see how on that performance yesterday who would make way for him in midfield from the ones who started??
What do others feel?
Although i gave him a man of the macth performance i recon Kennedy will make way for him
Kennedy would be the obvious choice but the way he played yesterday I just can't see it happening.
Goldwolf
31-07-2005, 23:34
Although i gave him a man of the macth performance i recon Kennedy will make way for him
If Ince isn't 100% fit (which I'm not convinced he is) it would be foolish to drop Kennedy to incorporate him really. The only thing is that Southampton may well have Dennis Wise playing and they may want Ince to combat his negative influence on our ball-players?
In the longer term I think we will become less reliant on Ince as the season progresses and I think he'll play less games than last year.
The Bear
01-08-2005, 01:13
I feel we'll need Ince especially in away games to help break up
attacks. Against Villa I thought we still struggled to win the ball
back in midfield during their periods of possession.
scottishwolf II
01-08-2005, 09:33
We will definitly need Ince this season ans as Bear says, especially
away. Having said that it is positive that we now look like we don't
need to rely on him as this surely has to be his last season....even
though we have said that a few times before...
Deutsch Wolf
01-08-2005, 09:36
Not many sides in this league will keep the ball as well as Villa, though. I see Ince's role as to play 20-25 games against the better teams, and helping to bring Davies along in his development.
paddingtonwolf
01-08-2005, 09:40
Ince will be important in that tough August and in the run-in. If we get 25 games out of him we will have done well. If Seyi has spent the summer learning the concept of tackling then we should be ok without the guv'nor.
I am trying to think of teams in this division who would keep the ball that well. Norwich maybe?
Just on SSN that Ince has said that he wont play on beyond this season. Not really surprising news.
I think he still has a big role to play this season but I feel that we wont be relying on him as much as what we have in the past few seasons.
