Villa verdict

[WickedWolfie]

Just need a Cundle hat trick on Monday now...

 

[S G Wolves]

Any booing during GSTK?

Nope, lots joined.

 

[Perton Wolf]

Shout out to Jose Sa, had a lot of stick lately but the save from Buendia was top drawer

Agreed. Always a good shot stopper, it's the other parts of his game that's the issue.

 

[O.W.E.I]

A few renditions of **** on the villa

No Stick Your Coronoation Up Your **** either?

 

[Big Saft Kid]

Blimey I can finally relax! Felt tense all the way through that just watching the clock tick down and expecting a sucker punch at any moment. I should have known better. This performance was everything the Brighton one wasn't. Bottle, guts, energy to burn...PRIDE!!!! JL I salute you! Sometimes I haven't been your biggest fan, but there can be no argument with 30 points from 20 games. ****ing brilliant! Next season could be very interesting...in a good way !!!

 

[Perton Wolf]

It wasn’t 442
It was 4 2 3 1
This formation has won us the last 4 home games
Every time we have played a different formation of late we have lost

No it wasn't, when Hwang came on we played that and then 5 atb when Collins did but it was definitely 4-4-2 before that. What game were you watching?

 

[O.W.E.I]

Nope, lots joined.

Bloody Hell.

 

[Starsky]

Just little signs in the last 2 games of Pedro coming back;looked like his old self when he roasted Konsa. Get a good pre season into him and to have him back firing next season will be superb.

 

[Wolf in Kenilworth]

Effort, fight and aggression.

I have never seen us high press like that before. Absolutely superb.

The poster who commented on our final ball or decision was right. It’s shocking.

He’s fixed the defence and the midfield. Once he fixes the forward line we will be flying.

 

[Jd132]

For me, today was the story of the two players that have turned our season round stifling the two players that we don't have, the likes of which we need if we are going to be 14 points better off at this stage next season.

Lemina man marked Buendia all game, he was looking for him the whole time, and time-after-time he stopped him despite Buendia himself looking very good. And Dawson pocketed Watkins expertly- he got a couple of sniffs but that was it.

If Wolves add a Buendia type attacking midfielder who has that extra split second of calm on the ball and a Watkins type finisher who can grab 14 goals in a PL season- we can be top ten next year, no doubt.

The right hand side worked well, Nunes was detailed to mark Ramsey and spent much of the game expertly marshalling him allowing Semedo to only have to deal with Moreno. The Costa-Cunha link up continued to look decent- working as a pair clearly suits them both.

Finally, special mention to Toti Gomes as well. Scored the goal with a towering header that just couldn't happen if any of our other left backs were on the pitch, saw Bertrand Traore hooked at half time and picked up a Chiellini-esque booking on Bailly too. Loved that performance!

Well done to Lopetegui and team- I can't wait for next season!

 

[SmiffyWolf]

Comedy gold they think Nunes should have given a penalty away for handball.

I wonder if the same tool thought the ball wasn't over the line against sheff utd a few years ago.

 

[Rednal Wolf]

The realisation that Mouts is no longer up to it has seen a massive difference in the midfield and in turn our results .
JL has done a sterling job in steering us clear . Well done to the lads today .
Passports back in the drawer Villa ......Wolves are again pride of the Midlands

 

[Ercall Wolves]

No it wasn't, when Hwang came on we played that and then 5 atb when Collins did but it was definitely 4-4-2 before that. What game were you watching?

OMG we started 4 3 2 1
Even Mel Eves said it on Radio WM after the game
What game was you watching

 

[lets all have a disco]

I know loads of villa, like I do Albion......i know we all have a bit of football banter at times , but my golden rule is match day is off limits to proper fans cause emotions can run high....anyway I never get any aggro from Albion fans......

It's constant off the villa divs ....when I walked out at Wembley after the Watford game my messages taking the **** was none stop off villa divs. ...I thought the didn't care about us.....I wouidnt do it me Albion mates cause by and large they are proper fans .... obviously a few days later we might take the **** ....but villa lot are a special type of divs at times....

Anyway will leave em stewing for a couple of days ....

 

[Mark Rankines Lovechild]

I thought the work rate from all was great today.
But…Neves was superb, Dawson is top class but Lemina, for me, was MOM.

 

[Wolf 82]

I know loads of villa, like I do Albion......i know we all have a bit of football banter at times , but my golden rule is match day is off limits to proper fans cause emotions can run high....anyway I never get any aggro from Albion fans......

It's constant off the villa divs ....when I walked out at Wembley after the Watford game my messages taking the **** was none stop off villa divs. ...I thought the didn't care about us.....I wouidnt do it me Albion mates cause by and large they are proper fans .... obviously a few days later we might take the **** ....but villa lot are a special type of divs at times....

Anyway will leave em stewing for a couple of days ....

Was the same for me.. we were streets ahead of them at that stage and they couldn’t handle it.. so they just loved seeing us Devon Loch it like that.

 

[Ercall Wolves]

I thought the work rate from all was great today.
But…Neves was superb, Dawson is top class but Lemina, for me, was MOM.

There was so many to choose from today, wouldn’t disagree with Lemina

 

[Wolf in Kenilworth]

I know loads of villa, like I do Albion......i know we all have a bit of football banter at times , but my golden rule is match day is off limits to proper fans cause emotions can run high....anyway I never get any aggro from Albion fans......

It's constant off the villa divs ....when I walked out at Wembley after the Watford game my messages taking the **** was none stop off villa divs. ...I thought the didn't care about us.....I wouidnt do it me Albion mates cause by and large they are proper fans .... obviously a few days later we might take the **** ....but villa lot are a special type of divs at times....

Anyway will leave em stewing for a couple of days ....

My Albion mates are right in the case. Each time. Every time.

****ers.

 

[Hazza]

That fool Agbonlahor must be on Talk****e at some stage. Think I'll crack the champers open and listen to him through his tears.

I wouldn’t listen to him if he and I were the last people alive

 

[lets all have a disco]

Was the same for me.. we were streets ahead of them at that stage and they couldn’t handle it.. so they just loved seeing us Devon Loch it like that.

I agree they took it proper bad....it was proper hurting them deep down...... honestly I've got loads of Albion mates and I detest Albion more than anybody else but they are generally fine....I do loads of England away games with a group of us...3 wolves and can be 10-15 Albion .... obviously we take the **** but when we was at our peak my Albion mates couldn't be more complimentary.......but the villa lot deary me...

 

[Wolf 82]

I agree they took it proper bad....it was proper hurting them deep down...... honestly I've got loads of Albion mates and I detest Albion more than anybody else but they are generally fine....I do loads of England away games with a group of us...3 wolves and can be 10-15 Albion .... obviously we take the **** but when we was at our peak my Albion mates couldn't be more complimentary.......but the villa lot deary me...

Most of them have grown up being unchallenged as the best/biggest club in the Midlands. And those first 3 years undo Nuno our future was looking so bright..

I don’t think things at Albion ever looked good.. they did well for a few years, but I think their fans were well aware it could end at any moment.

 

[lets all have a disco]

Most of them have grown up being unchallenged as the best/biggest club in the Midlands. And those first 3 years undo Nuno our future was looking so bright..

I don’t think things at Albion ever looked good.. they did well for a few years, but I think their fans were well aware it could end at any moment.

Yes that's probably it.....but villa have done by and large nowt since Queen Victoria was on the throne and my mates aye 127 .......so I don't know where they get there delusion from....

 

[sc91]

Villa themselves, don't really see what they've been doing that was so special, pretty much like most Villa sides of the past, the pressure is on them now and they've crumbled. I actually see them having just as big of a clear out as we are going to.

 

[Adrian_Monk]

Much improved performance after last weekend. Sa looked comfortable for the most part - we still tried to play out from the back despite our inconsistency in managing to do it effectively. At the back, whilst Villa didn't have too many clear cut opportunities, that was mainly down to superb defending from Dawson, who threw himself at everything, and an improved display from Kilman.

In midfield, Neves chased everything down and his corner deliveries were dangerous, whilst Lemina was industrious and without Attwell's nitpicking would have been even more effective. Costa and Cunha again worked well together and probably could have had a goal each on another day. Neto chased everything down, and after a largely anonymous first half we saw glimpses of Nunes' abilities on the ball (although also he should have done much better with his chance)

Our game plan in the first half was mostly to try and draw Villa in before playing long balls into the channels for Neto to chase, but with Ashley Young looking evergreen this didn't really yield too many results, especially with Martinez playing as a true sweeper keeper, mopping up our balls in behind routinely. Wolves best football of the half came via Costa, whose hold up play, whilst still a little heavy in the touch, was effective enough to give Cunha the opportunity to carry the ball with a more assured touch than we've seen from him previously, and it was their interplay that almost gave Cunha his first goal at the North Bank, when he lobbed a half volley tamely over the bar.

The goal actually looked like it was coming. Villa started the brighter, with our perennial weak link Semedo caught ball watching as Villa broke down the left dangerously. Moreno and Buendia tormented Semedo during the first half, and Buendia was often able to find pockets of space, albeit without any real cutting edge. The goal came from a retaken corner after tussling between Dawson and Buendia saw the ball bounce into the net, and once the cormer was retaken, the same thing happened again, this time without the necessity for retake as Toti crowned a solid return to the side with a powerful header that went in off the bar.

Wolves sat back and alternated between a high press, often lead by Neves, and retreated quickly into a compact low block, allowing Villa to move the ball around without looking like they would hurt us. Villa had chances, and at times they looked dangerous with Sa making some important saves and one effort bouncing agonisingly wide during the first half when it looked like it might sneak inside the post.

Overall a fairly even game, but we did enough to just about deserve the victory and Lopetegui will be delighted with the response he got after last weekend's aberration.

Sa 7
Semedo 6
Toti 7
Dawson 8 (MOTM)
Kilman 7
Neves 7
Lemina 8
Nunes 7
Neto 7
Costa 7
Cunha 7

Subs

Hwang 6
Collins 6
Moutinho 6
Adama 6

Also, a couple of observations. Walked past the Villa players coming out after the game. Tyrone Mings was excellent, chatting to supporters for ages and posing for photographs and signing autographs. John McGinn also great with both sets of supporters. Olly Watkins on the other hand ignored all pleas for autographs and didn't even acknowledge kids who had waited for him, storming onto the coach without making eye contact.

I managed to bump into Raul after the game as I walked up towards the South Bank, and he, like Mings, was more than happy to stop for photos and autographs with a big smile and lots of gratitude to the comments coming his way, which he really didn't have to do as he had his kids in the car and no doubt fancied getting home after not getting on the field again. This despite the club shop selling off Raul t-shirts on the bargain rail alongside Coady replica jerseys today, which is probably a fair indication that neither are likely to be here next season.

No booing for GSTK - it was pretty well observed. Atmosphere was a little subdued at times, although the flags (including a huge HONVED one) looked fantastic.

 

[Contrarian]

I've just spent some time on the train with some vile fans. Honestly some of the most reasonable fans I've ever met. I think people need to ignore the morons on social media, they're all divs, ours and theirs, and judge as you find...

The one Villa fan I work with, he's very reasonable. So humble, polite and decent, I almost feel guilty when we beat them! With regards to my colleague, anyway - and that I have to be ultra-polite in return. While within, feeling that we've defeated the forces of evil. As you say, social media tends to bring out the worst in many people. Add on that competitive sport was also doing this, long before social media.

 

[jonesy]

Tbf I saw both, 4-4–2 when defending and 4–2-3-1 when Attacking .

Special mention to lemina he never stops running and my mom

Cunha/Costa click far better than any other combo in our front line

 

[stever]

Vile fans some of the most deluded and arrogant fan base in the country.

No that's Arsenal

 

[lostwolf]

Any booing during GSTK?

Peeps like me who are 'republicans' probably mostly just stayed quiet. I'm not in the business of offending anyone for no good reason.

I've always been an old school brexit-type socialist and never sang our national anthem despite supporting the national team and, for example, being concerned about unchecked immigration like most people etc.

I'm a citizen not a subject. I hate having that ****e forced on us at the football.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Vile fans some of the most deluded and arrogant fan base in the country.

Agree why I can’t stand them UP THE WOLVES JOS

 

[henri_camara]

T

brilliant lads. Lopetegui has literally pulled of a miracle thats 30 points from 20 games. remarkable

Top 8 position over 38 games

 

[Immigration wolf]

****s mate, things nearly got a bit nasty near the burger van behind the Asda

Yes, we saw that as we were walking back to the car, it was just a few Villa w*****s giving it large as they were going up the hill to the coach park.
They got laughed at.

 

[Contrarian]

Agreed. Always a good shot stopper, it's the other parts of his game that's the issue.

Isn't that a bit like having a goal scorer who doesn't do his defensive duties? We'd have won 4-1 today if we had one of those!

I know Sa does make mistakes. But every keeper in this league has been caught out this season at some point, with this trend of playing out from the back. Overall, I think he's saved us significantly more than he's been at fault for condeding.

 

[Andywolf74]

Fantastic result and 40 points with 3 games left is a fantastic achievement. Well done JL.
We just have to continue with a front 2. Cunha and Costa are building an understanding and Costa’s chest down to set up Cunha first half was right out the top drawer.
I think our younger strikers could learn a lot from Costa, so give him a one year deal, bring back Silva, sign Gyorkes and Cunha and let Raul and Guedes go.

 

[JadeWolf]

Go back to 2pm last Saturday. If I’d have offered you a 6-0 defeat to Brighton but a 1-0 win against Vanilla, would you have taken it? I would!

 

[topcat99]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654884486818021377

“What’s with the “we” son?
Me and the other King, Bully , think Villa are ****”

 

[Timberwolf]

Well there's the apology for last week's calamity

Funny old game, football. Lopetegui has done a great job

View attachment 34505

View attachment 34506

It’s really telling that it’s still the same eight sides, just in different positions.

 

[lets all have a disco]

Villa themselves, don't really see what they've been doing that was so special, pretty much like most Villa sides of the past, the pressure is on them now and they've crumbled. I actually see them having just as big of a clear out as we are going to.

They have zero width villa...I say it constantly to my mates ... haven't done since they came back up ..... you pack the middle and force em out wide they are poor...... semedo n toti have never had it so easy against a premier League team......they are crying out for a wide player.....

 

[lostwolf]

Yes, we saw that as we were walking back to the car, it was just a few Villa w*****s giving it large as they were going up the hill to the coach park.
They got laughed at.

A few got ran off near the GW. But there was one yampy Villa nut who went running about near the Hogs, offering everyone out. Not sure what ended up happening there... I was on a beer mission.

 

[stever]

A few got ran off near the GW. But there was one yampy Villa nut who went running about near the Hogs, offering everyone out. Not sure what ended up happening there... I was on a beer mission.

He won't be getting into Picasso's later

 

[Darvo]

Blimey I can finally relax! Felt tense all the way through that just watching the clock tick down and expecting a sucker punch at any moment. I should have known better. This performance was everything the Brighton one wasn't. Bottle, guts, energy to burn...PRIDE!!!! JL I salute you! Sometimes I haven't been your biggest fan, but there can be no argument with 30 points from 20 games. ****ing brilliant! Next season could be very interesting...in a good way !!!

Did you notice when the clock started going backwards?