Gary O'Neil - tactics

[Hawkguy]

Breaking a press means you either go over the top and win, or have skillful players who can break you out and then keep the tempo. Wolves have a lot of good, skillful players, but then the ball comes to Fabio or something and the move is gone. Time to get pressed again.

If you have even one weak link in a press break, it's brutal...as Brighton showed.

That said, it's the kind of thing where the manager can make a big difference.

I agree with this. But our last 3 managers have not been able to avoid it. I can't remember far enough back to remember if we struggled on it under Nuno. I think we did, especially the last year or so.

Luckily, most teams either aren't fit enough for the constant press to stay on or just don't use that style of play, or we'd be in big trouble haha.

 

[Rubberball]

There seem to be a lot of sock puppet club accounts created on the mix of late.

 

[TelfordWolf]

Very surprised Boubacar has not featured yet.

 

[so-called fan]

Very surprised Boubacar has not featured yet.

It's disappointing. I hope he get a lot of tomorrow's match.

 

[Wolf in Kenilworth]

Very surprised Boubacar has not featured yet.

Pay careful attention to the team tomorrow.
It may be very telling.

 

[MacTrizzle]

Pay careful attention to the team tomorrow.
It may be very telling.

In what sense do you think?

 

[Bacon Sandwich]

The way we're going in getting rid of players the only tactic Gazza the Gaffa will need is counting up to 11...

 

[Wolf in Kenilworth]

In what sense do you think?

In the sense that if he doesn’t start he’ll be sold by Friday.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

In the sense that if he doesn’t start he’ll be sold by Friday.

Just mental to imagine we could sell Nunes and Boubacar in the last week of the window. Surely that couldn't happen? Lemina-Gomes-Hodge for CM when the first two will be lucky to get to 10 games without suspension?

 

[goldeneyed]

It's disappointing. I hope he get a lot of tomorrow's match.

Yes Boubacar needs to start to feature. He is a very good player in the making and let's for once not bug*** up his development.

 

[goldeneyed]

I think we need to revert to 5 3 2 for now. That means getting in a quality CB pronto. Our full backs are really wing backs - all four of them. Play to their strengths don't lay bare their weaknesses.

 

[Hot Fuss]

Great to hear the managers name being sung again tonight. Go on Gaz lad.

 

[brianm]

I think we need to revert to 5 3 2 for now. That means getting in a quality CB pronto. Our full backs are really wing backs - all four of them.

Not a bad shout after today...

 

[Eastyorksyeltz]

I think we need to revert to 5 3 2 for now. That means getting in a quality CB pronto. Our full backs are really wing backs - all four of them. Play to their strengths don't lay bare their weaknesses.

Always was the way. Our centre backs and goalkeeper aren't able to "play it out from the back" either. How long do we insist they keep trying to do so?

 

[sillytuna]

Hopefully this works wonders for the forwards, especially the two strikers. Sasa could be the real deal, if he stays fit.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Delighted for him (and us obviously) tonight, good to see him really appreciating the support he got from the South Bank at the end. Really hope he proves the doubters (me included) wrong. I didn't think the 3 ATB worked though (I know that sounds laughable after a 5-0), against any half decent PL team we'd have got destroyed down the middle, (admittedly maybe not so much with Lemina and Gomes, but still).

 

[SoCal_Wolf]

I think that a back three might be good for certain teams/matches. Glad to see him trying it out. With Doc in the RWB role and RAN in the LWB position, we really should have that formation in our back pocket...

I think that Lemina and Gomes are much, much more mobile than when we had Neves and Mouts as the two midfielders...

 

[VancouverWolf]

Great to see Doc back in the team. I said in the last two comms threads that Doc should come on as he brings an attacking edge to the team. Something that Semedo doesn’t have.

 

[Mugwump]

Hopefully this works wonders for the forwards, especially the two strikers. Sasa could be the real deal, if he stays fit.

Sasa does like like the type of striker who scores scrappy goals. He hasnt connected cleanly with either he has scored but they went in.

 

[wolvesaywe]

Couldn't make it last night. Sounds like a good performance but more importantly, what was GON's body language like?

 

[SoCal_Wolf]

Great to see Doc back in the team. I said in the last two comms threads that Doc should come on as he brings an attacking edge to the team. Something that Semedo doesn’t have.

They couldn’t have been more prototypical Doc strikes either: back post header and ghosting underlap near post strike! Makes one smile don’t it?

 

[SoCal_Wolf]

Sasa does like like the type of striker who scores scrappy goals. He hasnt connected cleanly with either he has scored but they went in.

The good strikers do seem to bundle in quite a few ungainly goals, don’t they? Take those all day long…

 

[brianm]

Sasa does like like the type of striker who scores scrappy goals. He hasnt connected cleanly with either he has scored but they went in.

He's such a unit (while still having some good technique) that I fancy him to bundle a few in.

I think a lot of his movement has been pretty good too.

 

[Big Saft Kid]

He's such a unit (while still having some good technique) that I fancy him to bundle a few in.

I think a lot of his movement has been pretty good too.

He reminds me a bit of Chris Iwelumo, another big unit that scuffed a few in off unusual bits of his anatomy. But very effective.

 

[waveney wolf]

He's such a unit (while still having some good technique) that I fancy him to bundle a few in.

I think a lot of his movement has been pretty good too.

Has he got " good feet for a big man "?
He's nearly caught Silva up already,,let's hope he stays fit, he could be our saving grace

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Look so much better with a back 3 don’t we

 

[Minimalist]

I didn’t see the game.
How did those that did feel it worked with doc in the back 3? I’m a big advocate of a 3 but not sure I’d peg Doc as a regular option in there?
I’m wondering if he was given a bit of a marauding licence there, making runs past the midfielders? Bit like Sheffield Utd did for a while under wilder??

 

[RedFlagWolf]

I didn’t see the game.
How did those that did feel it worked with doc in the back 3? I’m a big advocate of a 3 but not sure I’d peg Doc as a regular option in there?
I’m wondering if he was given a bit of a marauding licence there, making runs past the midfielders? Bit like Sheffield Utd did for a while under wilder??

Doc did fine in the back three, although to be balanced they were not put under constant threat.

When Jonny was moved into the three and Doc moved to wing-back, we saw a significant attacking improvement however.

The impressive element was the flexibility that GON appeared to have implemented, it was a 3/4/5 dependent on state of play. Traore’s mobility in midfield assisted greatly.

Others have mentioned Sarabia, but it cannot be underestimated how influential and immense he was….absolute control and a joy to watch!

Whilst giving out positive vibes and platitudes, I thought the South Bank last night were great….real morale boosting choices…..Oh Fabio Silva after he scored was loud and proud and the GON chant at end was a perfect finale to promote group unity at a challenging time! You could see the appreciation from manager and players!

Bostin stuff!

 

[SuperGran]

Others have mentioned Sarabia, but it cannot be underestimated how influential and immense he was….absolute control and a joy to watch!

Was absolutely brilliant yesterday

 

[arctic rime]

Sarabia , that’s more like it !

 

[Rowzed]

Sarabia oozes quality without ego, and is the perfect supplier for forwards. Must be some adjustment for him from PSG where he had Neymar Mbappe and Messi in a team that routinely won the league. He is doing just great. Also needs two strikers ahead of him so he can choose a pass. He seems ideal to play just deep to the big unit and a live wire pair up front.

it’s a real pity that Nunes has kept him out of the team but I imagine that was so he ( and possibly Neto ) could be in the shop window without it being too obvious they were to be sold come what may.

 

[Johnny5]

Well done Julen

 

[brianm]

I’m a big advocate of a 3 but not sure I’d peg Doc as a regular option in there?
I’m wondering if he was given a bit of a marauding licence there, making runs past the midfielders? Bit like Sheffield Utd did for a while under wilder??

GON wanted to get a look at him in the role in the first half. Knows he is really a WB, but CB is very thin at the moment. He mentioned it post-match apparently.

O’Neil | ‘Professionalism and togetherness has got us through’

Gary O’Neil felt there were still areas for his Wolves players to improve despite seeing his team put five past Blackpool to knock the League One side o...

www.wolves.co.uk

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

I was appalled at GON's appointment and like many said so on here. After 4 games my view is certainly tempered and my appraisal now would be - steady start in very difficult circumstances. He's impressed me so far in that he's prepared to get the players going forward; there always seem to be 4 or 5 players in and around the box now. He already has a knack of picking pretty much the team that we on here during the week would select. That tends to keep us fans happy. He's impressed me in that he's prepared to play 2 up top and that he's prepared to look at different formations and players in different positions, eg Doc and RAN. I never thought he'd see Xmas at Molineux but early indications are that perhaps he will?

 

[CelebrityWolf]

Reverting to a back three would at least mean Semedo being on the bench because no sane person is picking him over Doc. As before, IF we go to a back three the pressure is fully on the wing backs to be creative in the final third.

 

[The Clock]

I wonder if GON will throw his toys out of the pram and walk now that Nunes has been sold against his wishes?

 

[StaffordWolf]

I can see GON using 3atb or 4atb depending on the opposition.

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

I can see GON using 3atb or 4atb depending on the opposition.

If you've got the players then that makes sense. I think you've got to be a pretty astute and tactically aware manager to change formations mid-game though GON has shown he is willing to try this.

 

[Minimalist]

Reverting to a back three would at least mean Semedo being on the bench because no sane person is picking him over Doc. As before, IF we go to a back three the pressure is fully on the wing backs to be creative in the final third.

You could play with the right wingback a bit more conservative and the left wingback having more freedom. Which might suit semedo & RAN. Almost mirror of the old Jonny & Doc.

 

[MasWolf]

Anyone else really like how GON comes across in interviews and press conferences? Perhaps it's because we have a manager with English being their native language, but I think he is very good at the media stuff.