Bruno Lage

[Contrarian]

Your view is idiotic. You are saying he is one of the worst managers in the division based on? It is an absolute fact he had us tenth last season despite allegedly being one of the worst managers in the division. It is also an absolute fact he hasn't been allowed to put his own team together. It is also a fact he has won a top flight title in Portugal. Awful coaches don't do that, regardless of the division.

Not being up there in the midlands, I know virtually exclusively neutrals. And they couldn't believe our fans wanted Bruno gone last year. Regardless of results, must have been 10% wanted him gone from the start and never changed their minds. Only to disappear during our good run than reappear during the bad run. Best way to explain it is, if you can see how entitled Villa fans appear to us when they talk about their top 4 challenge every year, that's what us wanting Bruno gone appears like to neutrals. "You've got some quality players, but also plenty of bog standard mid-table-at-best players" was said to me. Good luck finding a manager who can turn our current squad into Champions League contenders. (and blaming Bruno for transfers is absurd as it's obvious he's not got the players he's asked for)

 

[GoldenHorseshoe]

tomorrow is our start with Fubotv…….compared to DAZN’s streaming at 720, it streams in 1080.
Doesn’t seem to have a highlights feature for any the games like DAZN did but at least we can supposedly save every game indefinitely.
At first look , it’s not as intuitive as DAZN but that’s ok.

It took me a while to set up on my TV, the phone was easy. It wanted me to sign in to Samsung account first, which I'd never set up before. Then sent a code to the phone, putting passwords in with the TV remote was also tricky, screwed up a couple of times.

Luckily I did all this Friday afternoon to be ready.

Now set up it starts well and keeps me logged in.

 

[VancouverWolf]

It took me a while to set up on my TV, the phone was easy. It wanted me to sign in to Samsung account first, which I'd never set up before. Then sent a code to the phone, putting passwords in with the TV remote was also tricky, screwed up a couple of times.

Luckily I did all this Friday afternoon to be ready.

Now set up it starts well and keeps me logged in.

Be aware…..I was watching the game and glancing at the comma thread but because of the lag, I knew that Podence had scored and Leeds also scored……probably over a minute …..might even have been longer.

Doesn’t seem to be any highlights of all the league games so have to go to YouTube and find them all individually…..was nice having them in one place.

Another little annoyance. We were watching some of the Canadians women‘ soccer on Fubotv over the last 6 weeks or so but several times Fubotv wanted me to log in again. But it won’t let me use the tv remote to do so….there’s no onscreen keypad……lucky I have a wifi keyboard I use for YouTube,( faster).

 

[Contrarian]

Be aware…..I was watching the game and glancing at the comma thread but because of the lag, I knew that Podence had scored and Leeds also scored……probably over a minute …..might even have been longer.

Doesn’t seem to be any highlights of all the league games so have to go to YouTube and find them all individually…..was nice having them in one place.

Another little annoyance. We were watching some of the Canadians women‘ soccer on Fubotv over the last 6 weeks or so but several times Fubotv wanted me to log in again. But it won’t let me use the tv remote to do so….there’s no onscreen keypad……lucky I have a wifi keyboard I use for YouTube,( faster).

I mostly watch on streams and they are invariably a minute or two behind. Sometimes hide my phone during matches as friends text me about goals 2 minutes into the future! Specially annoying when they support rival teams and gloat about a goal while I'm watching us take a corner...

Must admit, at tense moments, I've checked the live updates just to see if we've sneaked a goal a few minutes after the bit I'm watching. After doing this in the home match against Liverpool last year, became convince it was me that cursed us as we were in their half with less than a minute to go. So avoid that now.

You get used to watching football 2 or 3 mins behind the rest of the world. When actually at a match, have caught myself not wanting to look at my phone, in case the live match in front of me is a minute behind the internet scores...

 

[GoldenHorseshoe]

Be aware…..I was watching the game and glancing at the comma thread but because of the lag, I knew that Podence had scored and Leeds also scored……probably over a minute …..might even have been longer.

Doesn’t seem to be any highlights of all the league games so have to go to YouTube and find them all individually…..was nice having them in one place.

Another little annoyance. We were watching some of the Canadians women‘ soccer on Fubotv over the last 6 weeks or so but several times Fubotv wanted me to log in again. But it won’t let me use the tv remote to do so….there’s no onscreen keypad……lucky I have a wifi keyboard I use for YouTube,( faster).

Using the TV remote to type stuff is a nightmare, hit the wrong button and you get kicked out, start again. I did buy a wireless keyboard but the smart TV wouldn't accept it. The wife snagged it for her WFH office, so not all bad, for a kept man

 

[VancouverWolf]

Using the TV remote to type stuff is a nightmare, hit the wrong button and you get kicked out, start again. I did buy a wireless keyboard but the smart TV wouldn't accept it. The wife snagged it for her WFH office, so not all bad, for a kept man

I’m right handed but over the years I’ve become adept with using my left for ‘typing’ on the tv. I use YouTube a lot so if I want to type something long I’ll use the keyboard.

 

[peter&thewolf]

No excuses now Bruno you've been backed you've turning it to your team, you've got your back 4

 

[Flump]

No excuses now Bruno you've been backed you've turning it to your team, you've got your back 4

What a weird thing to post.

a) I'm not sure Bruno cares about your warning
b) He still has the "excuse" of having 3 senior midfielders if he wants it

 

[WickedWolfie]

Not being up there in the midlands, I know virtually exclusively neutrals. And they couldn't believe our fans wanted Bruno gone last year. Regardless of results, must have been 10% wanted him gone from the start and never changed their minds. Only to disappear during our good run than reappear during the bad run. Best way to explain it is, if you can see how entitled Villa fans appear to us when they talk about their top 4 challenge every year, that's what us wanting Bruno gone appears like to neutrals. "You've got some quality players, but also plenty of bog standard mid-table-at-best players" was said to me. Good luck finding a manager who can turn our current squad into Champions League contenders. (and blaming Bruno for transfers is absurd as it's obvious he's not got the players he's asked for)

As someone in the Smoke l agree. There was, though, even more disbelief at Nuno going at the end of the previous season.

 

[OsloWolf]

What a weird thing to post.

a) I'm not sure Bruno cares about your warning
b) He still has the "excuse" of having 3 senior midfielders if he wants it

Everybody seems to be pointing their fingers at Jeff and Scott. And whilst I agree he hasn't been backed enough there is really no excuse for losing 7 of his last 10 games. He's got a very decent PL squad available imo. Bruno has not done well enough, at all!

 

[wolfslair]

Everybody seems to be pointing their fingers at Jeff and Scott. And whilst I agree he hasn't been backed enough there is really no excuse for losing 7 of his last 10 games. He's got a very decent PL squad available imo. Bruno has not done well enough, at all!

So losing our best cb in max, best rwb in semedo, neves and podence in a thread bare squad isn’t any mitigation?

 

[Flump]

Everybody seems to be pointing their fingers at Jeff and Scott. And whilst I agree he hasn't been backed enough there is really no excuse for losing 7 of his last 10 games. He's got a very decent PL squad available imo. Bruno has not done well enough, at all!

If you're going to complain about losing 7 in 10, are you going to congratulate him for the winning run that had us in 5th place? Because it would be weird and illogical to focus only on one and not the other.

 

[peter&thewolf]

What a weird thing to post.

a) I'm not sure Bruno cares about your warning
b) He still has the "excuse" of having 3 senior midfielders if he wants it

I don't think it's weird at all, it wasn't really his team, more Nuno's, now he's shaping it into his own team and being backed, where he wasn't before, the buck ihas to stop with him at some point, what's weird about that

 

[OsloWolf]

If you're going to complain about losing 7 in 10, are you going to congratulate him for the winning run that had us in 5th place? Because it would be weird and illogical to focus only on one and not the other.

No it wouldn't. Makes total sense to focus on current form.

It's just so black and white with some fans. This is ALL on Jeff and Scott. But has Bruno really done that good lately? I would say our squad is superior to the Leeds one, wouldn't you?

 

[Flump]

I don't think it's weird at all, it wasn't really his team, more Nuno's, now he's shaping it into his own team and being backed, where he wasn't before, the buck ihas to stop with him at some point, what's weird about that

*Something good happens*

WELL NO EXCUSES NOW, EH!


It just seems weirdly negative to me - rather than thinking "oh, an exciting signing for Wolves", your first thought was "right, this means if Bruno messes up, now he has no excuses!".

Also, we're still clearly short in central midfield, so if he is the type that is worrying about excuses in advance, he's got that as a legitimate fall back.

 

[Flump]

No it wouldn't. Makes total sense to focus on current form.

It's just so black and white with some fans. This is ALL on Jeff and Scott. But has Bruno really done that good lately? I would say our squad is superior to the Leeds one, wouldn't you?

I'm far from anti Jeff/SS compared to 99% on here!

It might make sense to think about current form, but if you base your judgements on a manager on the last 10 games, then you're going to be very up and down - especially as a fan of a mid table ish club. 5 year new deal was needed for Bruno at the end of January, and then we'd have had to sack him in May!

 

[peter&thewolf]

*Something good happens*

WELL NO EXCUSES NOW, EH!


It just seems weirdly negative to me - rather than thinking "oh, an exciting signing for Wolves", your first thought was "right, this means if Bruno messes up, now he has no excuses!".

Also, we're still clearly short in central midfield, so if he is the type that is worrying about excuses in advance, he's got that as a legitimate fall back.

I didn't mean it in a negative way, I want it to work out for him more than anything,

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

Sorry, but it's even more mental people wanting Fosun gone. As if we're anywhere near here without them.

 

[Contrarian]

Everybody seems to be pointing their fingers at Jeff and Scott. And whilst I agree he hasn't been backed enough there is really no excuse for losing 7 of his last 10 games. He's got a very decent PL squad available imo. Bruno has not done well enough, at all!

Which team of the 9 who finished above us "doesn't" have a very decent squad? Which cost less to assemble? Which one should we be expecting to finish ahread of?

 

[Mark Rankines Lovechild]

I’m right handed but over the years I’ve become adept with using my left for ‘typing’ on the tv. I use YouTube a lot so if I want to type something long I’ll use the keyboard.

I was wondering where this post was going when you seemed to explain the need as to why you keep your right hand free when watching TV - thought this was some sort of confession.

 

[OsloWolf]

Which team of the 9 who finished above us "doesn't" have a very decent squad? Which cost less to assemble? Which one should we be expecting to finish ahread of?

Almost every number will tell you us finishing 10th has freak season written all over it. We were dreadful, very lucky and blessed with a goalkeeper who overperformed to the extreme. Negative, defensive, dull football.

 

[Contrarian]

Almost every number will tell you us finishing 10th has freak season written all over it. We were dreadful, very lucky and blessed with a goalkeeper who overperformed to the extreme. Negative, defensive, dull football.

Yes, not denying that. What I don't get is the implication that we had a squad of swashbuckling, devastating, clinical attacking power, that got stifled by Bruno putting them on a leash each match. I reckon 10th is about as good as any manager could get out of that squad - even with Bruno's poor substitution decisions. That's just a minor detail. Nothing will make Donk drive forward and finish clinically, or give Adama a footballing brain (every manager he ever had failed at that), or make Moutinh0 30 again, or have Neto rise from the sick bed uninjured and play the whole season.. and so on.

The core of the squad *was* built to stay organised, defend deep without the ball and play on the counter. Losing the main forward personnel that made that work (Jota/Raul/Neto/Doc). Effectively broke us for the past 2 seasons. Well organised defensively (mostly!), only with minimal counter attack. Young players have developed at a reasonable rate, Bruno has done decent enough there, that being another aspect - having to throw inexperienced players in too early, because of the small squad.

To change all that required key squad changes - at last it looks like they are happening , after 2 seasons of treading water. Remains to be seen what happens this season. If we have a fit Neto and Raul back for full season, and now with Guedes and perhaps one more, then I will agree that a manager *should* be getting more out of them. Ofcourse, other teams are strengthening, too. Getting in 2 top players might not mean much when others get 4 or 5 in.

 

[VancouverWolf]

I was wondering where this post was going when you seemed to explain the need as to why you keep your right hand free when watching TV - thought this was some sort of confession.

Hahaha……jesus…..what an active mind you have.

 

[OsloWolf]

Yes, not denying that. What I don't get is the implication that we had a squad of swashbuckling, devastating, clinical attacking power, that got stifled by Bruno putting them on a leash each match. I reckon 10th is about as good as any manager could get out of that squad - even with Bruno's poor substitution decisions. That's just a minor detail. Nothing will make Donk drive forward and finish clinically, or give Adama a footballing brain (every manager he ever had failed at that), or make Moutinh0 30 again, or have Neto rise from the sick bed uninjured and play the whole season.. and so on.

The core of the squad *was* built to stay organised, defend deep without the ball and play on the counter. Losing the main forward personnel that made that work (Jota/Raul/Neto/Doc). Effectively broke us for the past 2 seasons. Well organised defensively (mostly!), only with minimal counter attack. Young players have developed at a reasonable rate, Bruno has done decent enough there, that being another aspect - having to throw inexperienced players in too early, because of the small squad.

To change all that required key squad changes - at last it looks like they are happening , after 2 seasons of treading water. Remains to be seen what happens this season. If we have a fit Neto and Raul back for full season, and now with Guedes and perhaps one more, then I will agree that a manager *should* be getting more out of them. Ofcourse, other teams are strengthening, too. Getting in 2 top players might not mean much when others get 4 or 5 in.

I agree with pretty much all of that. My point (which I probably didn't explain very well) was that many seem to blame all our issues om Jeff/Scott while having seemingly blind faith in Bruno Lage (who has a very limited CV).

 

[GoldenHorseshoe]

I was wondering where this post was going when you seemed to explain the need as to why you keep your right hand free when watching TV - thought this was some sort of confession.

Quite innocent really, his right hand is holding his Guinness.

 

[tonto]

Is that what they call it now

 

[Wonder Boyo]

Didn't quite know where to out this, but didn't want to start a new thread. I am pretty neutral about Lage and think he should definitely have more time, but I do wonder if our general and match preparation has greatly reduced in comparison to Nuno and his team. I know Lage had a new video analysis room built in order to give information to the players, a good move in my opinion, but in practice the intensity of everything seems to have gone down a notch. Take the warm up before the second half. On Saturday, along with Fulham, we had cones and markers set out to do some quick exercises before the start of the second half. All the Fulham players diligently did their exercises as a team before the half started and our players came out in dribs and drabs, some had a half ***** go at it (definitely not doing it properly) and others didn't bother at all. I know it was hot on Saturday but I noticed this last season too. Surely, we either do this properly or not at all? Who is checking on this and shouldn't the players take responsibility for it? Under Nuno and his team we were meticulous.

Then we have our set pieces. I know Roberts is in charge of this and things seemed to improve at the beginning of last season, but towards the end of last season and the beginning of this, the players just seem to randomly decide what to do. On Saturday before that Neves free kick, I thought, surely he won't hit it from there? His free kicks have been awful for over a year now that was way too far out to have a shot. Seems like we had no plan, so Ruben just takes a wild swing and nearly hit it out of the ground. Surely we should have planned a scenario for a free kick in that position. I was reading that the reason Brentford flummoxed Man United with some of their free kicks on Saturday was because Frank believes the marginal gains you can get from set pieces is key for them, so brought in a dedicated set piece coach and all on field positions are planned for in detail and practised over and over again in training.

Also remember that some of our performances following Europa League games under Nuno were fantastic because we had detailed protocols to follow about recovery, included innovative ideas and equipment, along with specialist diets. Spiers did a very good article on it. I have no idea what is happening behind the scenes now so maybe we have all this in hand, but from what we see with set pieces and the half baked warming up (which shows very little discipline to me), I do wonder if things have gone down a notch or two.

 

[Tezthewolvesfan]

I'm on the fence in all honesty. Think he needs more time but I can see the bullet coming if results are not there.

 

[Contrarian]

Agree with all that , @Wonder Boyo . Would only add that I noticed a downturn in preparation after the return from Covid. Thought it was to do with the restrictions in place, also our Europa league campaign. But it never really got going again to those original levels.

Our set piece defending improved 100% last season. But attacking, it's been poor since aroung the Covid season, again. Perplexing, because for first 3 years under Nuno, we worked some great ones. It was often how we broke down a team sat back, forcing them to come out. Or how we got back into games.

Feels like it's all just too much effort now, maybe the club as a whole (staff and players) feels we can survive in this league without busting a gut. And even if we do put in the proverbial 110%, we'll never break the stranglehold of the big 6 anyway. So it's cruise control all the way.

 

[Minimalist]

Didn't quite know where to out this, but didn't want to start a new thread. I am pretty neutral about Lage and think he should definitely have more time, but I do wonder if our general and match preparation has greatly reduced in comparison to Nuno and his team. I know Lage had a new video analysis room built in order to give information to the players, a good move in my opinion, but in practice the intensity of everything seems to have gone down a notch. Take the warm up before the second half. On Saturday, along with Fulham, we had cones and markers set out to do some quick exercises before the start of the second half. All the Fulham players diligently did their exercises as a team before the half started and our players came out in dribs and drabs, some had a half ***** go at it (definitely not doing it properly) and others didn't bother at all. I know it was hot on Saturday but I noticed this last season too. Surely, we either do this properly or not at all? Who is checking on this and shouldn't the players take responsibility for it? Under Nuno and his team we were meticulous.

Then we have our set pieces. I know Roberts is in charge of this and things seemed to improve at the beginning of last season, but towards the end of last season and the beginning of this, the players just seem to randomly decide what to do. On Saturday before that Neves free kick, I thought, surely he won't hit it from there? His free kicks have been awful for over a year now that was way too far out to have a shot. Seems like we had no plan, so Ruben just takes a wild swing and nearly hit it out of the ground. Surely we should have planned a scenario for a free kick in that position. I was reading that the reason Brentford flummoxed Man United with some of their free kicks on Saturday was because Frank believes the marginal gains you can get from set pieces is key for them, so brought in a dedicated set piece coach and all on field positions are planned for in detail and practised over and over again in training.

Also remember that some of our performances following Europa League games under Nuno were fantastic because we had detailed protocols to follow about recovery, included innovative ideas and equipment, along with specialist diets. Spiers did a very good article on it. I have no idea what is happening behind the scenes now so maybe we have all this in hand, but from what we see with set pieces and the half baked warming up (which shows very little discipline to me), I do wonder if things have gone down a notch or two.

Nuno did seem to have an exceptionally good backroom team that came along with him.

 

[lets all have a disco]

Nuno did seem to have an exceptionally good backroom team that came along with him.

Yes he did....but as everything was going well , we generally didn't look at all the details......we forget the stuff , like Rui kicking the ball to Doherty off every goal kick for 18 months , or constant short corners........

We did look very good physically, especially in the long Europa League campaign but I would suspect the nutrition side hasn't changed much.......I don't think anyone can disagree that Tony Roberts has done a fantastic job with the keepers....it's arguably a lot better than before ...I don't mean the actually keepers but the coaching side..

 

[Deleted member 8455jwf]

We also got freakishly lucky with injuries Nuno's first few seasons, has to be taken into account

 

[WickedWolfie]

Is that what they call it now

Well it has a white creamy head.... lol

 

[TheConcourse]

Too many unknowns to make comment on most of this unfortunately.

I’m most interested in two things:

Results & performances.

 

[Contrarian]

Well, it's Bruno's team now, for sure. Will allow a few matches for the new players to gel, but I for one won't be using the excuse of "It's still Nuno's squad & Bruno hasn't been backed" anymore.

 

[Deleted member 8455jwf]

Yep pressure on, he has gotten his big man by all accounts. Has the squad to be well into the top 10 very soon.

If Fosun are spending big again Poch is out there..

I am pro giving Bruno time, but Poch whilst isn't elite is a terrific manager and a coup for us.

 

[Flump]

Back at the start of the last season, the talk was that we do a lot more specific opposition prep now than under Nuno. Under Nuno, apparently we just focused on our own game.

 

[Ned]

Back at the start of the last season, the talk was that we do a lot more specific opposition prep now than under Nuno. Under Nuno, apparently we just focused on our own game.

Nuno’s approach seemed to be all about shape and cutting down key areas of space defensively, then hit them on the break if possible with the first phase of play, if not keep the ball and go back if necessary. I never really noticed any particular game plans for individual games as such (although I didn’t really look out for them in fairness).

Bruno seems to have a direct plan of action of attacking sides but seemingly struggles to change it if that plan doesn’t come off.

 

[Ned]

If we get the striker that Bruno wants then the pressure is firmly on his shoulders. He will get until the World Cup before people start to question his methods if things aren’t going as well as expected… but this pressure comes hand in hand with being, or wanting to be, a top manager. Hopefully he embraces and relishes it.

 

[DeWolfMan60]

Seems to have played a part in convincing new players to sign up.
Maybe if things go wrong on the pitch he should be moved into Sellars role!