Is it Wingback time once more?

[Jefe]

Albeit with a very limited dataset against the worst side in the league, I felt we instantly looked more comfortable within ourselves after reverting to a back 5 yesterday, and did more than alright at the back seeing as we were down to 10 for 50 minutes. Kilman and Dawson were able to play their more native game, and with Santiago Bueno set to come into contention this week, with Toti waiting in the wings, you fancy a wealth of our options will once again be in central defence.

I have seen little to suggest GON can drill this lot to be solid in a back four in the same way JL was able to (at home anyway). Like Nuno in 2021, is it time to face facts and revert to the tried-and-tested to grind out the required points? It'll be Groundhog Day again and it won't be pretty, but when is it ever? I could see a wingback team along these lines in the near future:

Sa

Dawson - S. Bueno - Kilman

Doherty -- Lemina -- Gomes -- RAN

Bellegarde
Sasa ----- Neto​

 

[Matt]

I personally would switch us to a back 5 and accept our limitations as a team, as I think we’re going to have to grind results out if we want to stay up. It gives us two ways of playing:

Sa
Bueno - Dawson - Kilman
Doherty ———————————— RAN

As a base, which can then be played with:

Lemina - Gomes
Hwang - Sasa - Neto
(343)

Lemina - Gomes - Doyle
Sasa - Cunha
(352)

Lemina - Gomes
Cunha
Fabio - Sasa
(3412)
​

It gives us a solid base, with a plan B and C way of playing. It’s not perfect for our squad, but is the best way of staying up imo.

 

[Aimless Balls]

I don’t know if it’s a great idea but I don’t know if there is a great idea. This particular group, our right would be hammered all game, teams will overload and draw Dawson out wide all game and we’d be compromised. Dawson looks so rickety that I think he’s a sub now, or he’s in the middle of a 3 but he can’t be there for me unless he can play it out with his head.

I’d put Max back out at RCB and have Toti on the left, Santi in the middle if it’s true that he can play a long pass. It’s got to go out wide to the WBs because Lemina and Jo Gomes don’t want it, so someone’s got to get it there and Max isn’t great at that either. Sa will kick it to Gary.

On that subject, I don’t think Lemina and Gomes are a great fit in a 2 going forward, even if Bellegarde is deep. I think it’s either/or. I think in this formation Bellegarde and Gomes or Lemina, and Cunha would be behind the strikers. On the fence with Semedo-Doc but that’s the difference between a defensive back 3 and an attacking one so Doc.

Sasa, I want him on at the end of games fresh off the bench for desperate crosses, corners, defending of corners etc so I’d probably start Hwang and Neto up front. No hold up in those 2 but Cunha could be the conduit and it could be a fluid 3.

So I’d consider:

Sa
Max-Santi-Toti
Doc-Gomes-Bellegarde-RAN
Cunha
Hwang-Pedro

Press press press

 

[TheConcourse]

Yes.

Sa
Kilman Dawson Toti
Doc Lemina Gomes RAN
Cunha Neto
Sasa

I’d also play Cunha in a deeper CM role.

 

[OLDGOLD]

I am never sure formations make that much difference when you have forwards who don't score, defenders making individual mistakes, players getting sent off and appalling refereeing decisions. Our skill set and application need sorting more than any system imo.

 

[Chisels_n_ommers]

If we play wingbacks and Sasa (who I think will score goals), we need to look at wingbacks who can cross a ball.

On the right, neither Doc or Semedo are good crossers of the ball - but Doc always offers an out ball for the keeper (float it to his head like in the Nuno days) and Doc offers a far post goal threat.

On the left, RAN can't cross a ball. His delivery is rank.

Bueno is a very decent crosser of the ball.

 

[SakosRightFoot]

Sa

S Bueno Lemina Kilman

Doherty Doyle Gomes H Bueno

Sarabia Cunha Neto

but wild and will never happen but Lemina can do the Coady thing, Sarabia plays to allow Doherty to go on the outside of him and I think he’s pretty underrated, it’s no coincidence we’ve looked worse using the ball higher up the pitch since he came out of the team.

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

I think our whole backline is more comfortable in a 5.

 

[Alex Rae The Substitute]

We can’t score, so it’s vital to stop us conceding. Five at the back will give us a much more solid back line.

It will also get one of our most recent frequent goal scorers, Doherty, back on the pitch.

 

[Bryce]

Albeit with a very limited dataset against the worst side in the league, I felt we instantly looked more comfortable within ourselves after reverting to a back 5 yesterday, and did more than alright at the back seeing as we were down to 10 for 50 minutes. Kilman and Dawson were able to play their more native game, and with Santiago Bueno set to come into contention this week, with Toti waiting in the wings, you fancy a wealth of our options will once again be in central defence.

I have seen little to suggest GON can drill this lot to be solid in a back four in the same way JL was able to (at home anyway). Like Nuno in 2021, is it time to face facts and revert to the tried-and-tested to grind out the required points? It'll be Groundhog Day again and it won't be pretty, but when is it ever? I could see a wingback team along these lines in the near future:

Sa

Dawson - S. Bueno - Kilman

Doherty -- Lemina -- Gomes -- RAN

Bellegarde
Sasa ----- Neto​

It’s an option

 

[bod101]

Nope a back 5 won't make a blind bit of difference it will just increase the negative play.

 

[Bryce]

Nope a back 5 won't make a blind bit of difference it will just increase the negative play.

Depends
3412 could be good
SA
Bueno Kilman Toti
Doc Gomes Lemina RAN
Cunha
Sasa Neto

 

[Dan G WWFC]

JRB is suspended for 3 games let's not forget.

Sa
Beuno Dawson Kilman
Doherty Lemina Gomes RAN
Neto Sasa Cunha

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

We have to go to 5 for Saturday for Saturday. Sasa up top with Neto.

Doyle in the free role

 

[Super Ted]

We have to go to 5 for Saturday for Saturday. Sasa up top with Neto.

Doyle in the free role

Can Doyle play?

 

[Kingswood Wolf]

JL made us into a team that could play a back 4 and keep clean sheets. All undone in a month by a PE teacher.

 

[Bostin]

It's a yes from me, especially with Doc back

It seems to be a GON tactic that Semedo tucks in alongside Dawson at RCB when we're out of possession, which means we get absolutely shafted down the wings.

I thought it was a one off to deal with Jota and Gakpo, but saw it again on Saturday

 

[AndyY]

Absolutely yes. Suits the majority of our squad and will give us the protection and support at the back that we clearly need.
Need to keep clean sheets, and players like Cunha, Bellegarde, Neto, Hwang (and Doc and RAN) can play on the break,

 

[SteveBullsKnee]

Would be the first nail in the coffin if we did

 

[Sketchead]

It has to be against Man City this weekend to try and protect our goal difference. Otherwise it will be a massacre.

After then, I'm not sure. Probably not.

 

[Minimalist]

JL made us into a team that could play a back 4 and keep clean sheets. All undone in a month by a PE teacher.

Errr, what was the score in his last competitive game? Or v Brighton? We certainly hadn’t perfected the back 4!

Also , though he did mostly play a back 4 , most of his success came playing with 3 cb’s on the pitch.

 

[WickedWolfie]

Can Doyle play?

No. Both Citeh and us announced his arrival as a season long loan.

 

[WickedWolfie]

Would be the first nail in the coffin if we did

Second nail.... GON's appointment was the first.

 

[WolfLing]

One thing I noticed Saturday was when Dawson was dragged into wide positions first half in a 4, or second half in a 5, he looked very uncomfortable.

I'm not sure he's the answer at either right centre back, or centrally in a 3.

He's far more suited to playing in a back 4. But teams will have seen Luton overloading their left on Saturday and see that pulling him out wide works a treat.

Haven't got a clue what S. Bueno is like either, so I just don't know what's best?!

 

[Minimalist]

One thing I noticed Saturday was when Dawson was dragged into wide positions first half in a 4, or second half in a 5, he looked very uncomfortable.

I'm not sure he's the answer at either right centre back, or centrally in a 3.

He's far more suited to playing in a back 4. But teams will have seen Luton overloading their left on Saturday and see that pulling him out wide works a treat.

Haven't got a clue what S. Bueno is like either, so I just don't know what's best?!

I agree I’d not have Dawson pegged for a wide cb spot in a 3. However I’d think the central role would suit him even more than a back 4; even less need to get pulled out wide where, as you say, he can look uncomfortable.

 

[Peszkywolf]

Nope a back 5 won't make a blind bit of difference it will just increase the negative play.

At the moment though we're playing a 460 formation, or a 640 in 2nd half when we're getting pushed deeper.

 

[North West Wanderer]

Albeit with a very limited dataset against the worst side in the league, I felt we instantly looked more comfortable within ourselves after reverting to a back 5 yesterday, and did more than alright at the back seeing as we were down to 10 for 50 minutes. Kilman and Dawson were able to play their more native game, and with Santiago Bueno set to come into contention this week, with Toti waiting in the wings, you fancy a wealth of our options will once again be in central defence.

I have seen little to suggest GON can drill this lot to be solid in a back four in the same way JL was able to (at home anyway). Like Nuno in 2021, is it time to face facts and revert to the tried-and-tested to grind out the required points? It'll be Groundhog Day again and it won't be pretty, but when is it ever? I could see a wingback team along these lines in the near future:

Sa

Dawson - S. Bueno - Kilman

Doherty -- Lemina -- Gomes -- RAN

Bellegarde
Sasa ----- Neto​

i think you’re slightly off in your formation up top in that we’d play two wider players. otherwise completely agree

 

[Jay Jay de Wolf]

3 years ago many fans on here MM were asking us to go to a back 4.. Ever since then we've had no success really scoring less goals and been thrashed on a few occasions.

Coinciding also we had our most successful period at Wolves with Nuno with him using a back 3 / 5

If it ain't broke don't try and fix it !!

 

[lostwolf]

It has to be against Man City this weekend to try and protect our goal difference. Otherwise it will be a massacre.

After then, I'm not sure. Probably not.

This for me. I don't think 3/5 at the back suits our squad now, even with Doc back, but against Citeh it's the only formation that's caused them problems in a few years! We've beat them, Brighton went to a 5 last season and won, and there was another team I forget who that did the same and got some success. Against one of the best sides there's probably ever been you just need to frustrate and hope to sneak something off Sasa's shoulder.

 

[Jd132]

I agree with the OP that a switch to a back 3 seems necessary as things stand. I would play it for every away game and against the top ten at home. Something like below (accepting the personnel could slightly change).



Against the bottom 10 at home, when we should have the inititiative, I would then simply replace the LWB with a number 10 (eg Cunha or Bellegarde) and shift the defence across.



Our current squad is actually setup very nicely for transitioning between the two with relative ease.

The only issue with the Nuno years for me, was the lack of ability to change against the poorer teams when the onus was on us. This also meant Pote and MGW didn't get the game time they would have got, had we played 4231 against the weaker teams.

If GON just took the time to watch every Wolves game of the last 7 years, I think this answer would start staring him in the face. But he won't, so it won't.

Other things this would allow us to implement from the Nuno years are:-

Goal kicks- aim every single one at Doherty's head on the half way line and bring Lemina and Sasa within 15 yards of him in case Sa's kicking is off. The passing about at the back to beat the press works about once a season whilst it seems that almost every game it leads to an opportunity for the opposition!

Corners (Offensive and defensive) - with Sasa (6'7), Kilman (6'4), Dawson/Bueno (6'2"/6'4"), Toti (6'2"), Doc (6'1") and Lemina (6'1") all on the pitch, that would finally be the equivalent of having Raul, Dendoncker, Boly, Coady, Saiss and Doc like we used to.

Pressing - Stop doing an all over press. Sit off, pick the opportunities, target particular players and be pragmatic, rather than leaving ourselves wide open with pressing that rarely works anyway.

The only problem is the passing ability of Coady, Neves, Moutinho even Saiss is lost. To make up for that, I would be using the wings more (so it would have to be 343) and going long to Sasa with far more regularity.

 

[CelebrityWolf]

If we could just start by releasing Semedo with immediate effect we would be better off.

Luton ffs, targeted him all day, says a lotone the worst team in the league even know how bad Semedo is.

 

[Beckbury Wolf]

Home 3-4-3


Sa

Lamina

Dawson Kilman
Doc Ati


Gomez Traore


Chuna Sasa Neto




Away I'd make it a 3-5-2 by dropping Neto for an extra centre mid (Bellagarde or Doyle in a driving Nunes role) and playing Sasa and Chuna upfront.

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

3 at the back works for us it’s time we do it for the greater good


Sa
Dawson Kilman Toti
Doherty Lemina Bouby Neto
Fabio Sarabia
Sasa

Bouby until Bellegarde is back

Gomes and Cunha deserve to be dropped

 

[Wolf79]

Home 3-4-3


Sa

Lamina

Dawson Kilman
Doc Ati


Gomez Traore


Chuna Sasa Neto




Away I'd make it a 3-5-2 by dropping Neto for an extra centre mid (Bellagarde or Doyle in a driving Nunes role) and playing Sasa and Chuna upfront.

Drop Neto for away games? He’s our biggest single goal threat home or away & 1st name on the team sheet atm.

 

[WickedWolfie]

Drop Neto for away games? He’s our biggest single goal threat home or away & 1st name on the team sheet atm.

Given many of GON's other decisions that's Neto dropped then....

 

[Kashmire Hawker]

Why not give it a go.

Knowing we went to 3 at the back on Saturday after the Red Card, to get a draw from the game and for Pedro to score such a lovely goal was decent all things considered.

More so, we are averaging 1 goal per game in the League, compared to the 0.819 last season, when we only netted 31 in the top flight.

And as we showed against Blackpool, when it works and gets folks scoring, it really works.

Will be interesting to see how tonight pans out.