The Bench

[Miniwolf]

Looking at the squad now when everyone is fully fit we will have players missing out on a match day. Its great that we have a more solid looking bench even if we picked up an injury or two but with a fit squad I was wondering who would miss out. Would it depend on the opponants or cover for certain positions.

For example a starting X1 of
Patricio
Boly Coady Kilman
Semedo Neves Dendoncker Marcal
Podence Jimenez Neto

And bench of
Ruddy Traore Silva Moutinho Saiss Hoever Vitinha

That leaves out Ait Nouri, or does Hoever miss out and Ait Nouri in ? Or Vitinha miss out and both wing backs on the bench. A nice problem to have as I think last season Nuno was looking at his bench with little confidence but will he rotate them so they dont get disheartened at not being included on a match day or will it change depending on tactics. They are all young talented players and I think many of us are excited to see what they can bring and its great we have decent cover for any injuries. Also the possible emergence of Ottasowie and Shabani adds other options.

I guess there will always be debates as the squad is announced as to why a particular player hasn't made the bench, but we have to consider there are only so many spots available and someone will miss out if we have no injury issues. It keeps everyone on their toes aswell to keep their place.

 

[WolfLing]

It's a lovely problem to have for once!

I think with the demanding nature of the wing-back positions, you have to have cover for both right and left on the bench, whilst at the same time having cover for both outside CB positions.

Hoever can cover both positions on the right, so I think he will remain a fixture on the bench.

Marcal, Saiss and Kilman can cover both positions on the left, but all of them are more defensive options. Ait-Nouri offer something different as a specialist, more attacking left wing-back threat.

So whether starting, or on the bench, I don't think we need all 3 of Marcal, Saiss and Kilman in a squad of 18.

With the starting XI you've picked, we have Dendoncker and Marcal that could cover in defence if necessary, so I would go with Ait-Nouri in place of Hoever or Saiss on the bench. Of the 2 of them, Hoever drops out for me, as despite what I said above, it would be harsh to drop Saiss completely and Traore can cover at right wing-back if absolutely necessary.

It's Kilman playing so bloomin' well that's caused Nuno a selection headache!!

 

[bennymacca]

Looking at the squad now when everyone is fully fit we will have players missing out on a match day. Its great that we have a more solid looking bench even if we picked up an injury or two but with a fit squad I was wondering who would miss out. Would it depend on the opponants or cover for certain positions.

For example a starting X1 of
Patricio
Boly Coady Kilman
Semedo Neves Dendoncker Marcal
Podence Jimenez Neto

And bench of
Ruddy Traore Silva Moutinho Saiss Hoever Vitinha

That leaves out Ait Nouri, or does Hoever miss out and Ait Nouri in ? Or Vitinha miss out and both wing backs on the bench. A nice problem to have as I think last season Nuno was looking at his bench with little confidence but will he rotate them so they dont get disheartened at not being included on a match day or will it change depending on tactics. They are all young talented players and I think many of us are excited to see what they can bring and its great we have decent cover for any injuries. Also the possible emergence of Ottasowie adds another option.

I guess there will always be debates as the squad is announced as to why a particular player hasn't made the bench, but we have to consider there are only so many spots available and someone will miss out if we have no injury issues. It keeps everyone on their toes aswell to keep their place.

Good post. Not to mention a returning Jonny next year and loanees like Jordão, MGW and Campana who would be eyeing a spot

 

[Sketchead]

It's about time we had a strong bench where you could feasibly put any of them on and be confident they'd do the job. A nice problem for Nuno to have. Going to be interesting to see how many games we can get out of Hoever and Ait-Nouri, particularly if we want to sign the latter long-term, he'll need games to prove himself and also encourage him that he should sign.

 

[Oh When the Wolves]

Would leave out ruddy

 

[Fenrir_]

Where's Jos...?

 

[Miniwolf]

Good post. Not to mention a returning Jonny next year and loanees like Jordão, MGW and Campana who would be eyeing a spot

Good point, Jonny will come into the mix at some point and returning loanees such as the 3 you mention could be pushing for a place also. Its good to appreciate how step by step the squad strength is developing.

 

[Deleted member LP 3925]

This is a good thread. Just waiting to see which miserable sod is going to be first to put his woefully negative slant on this?

 

[Axle]

This is a good thread. Just waiting to see which miserable sod is going to be first to put his woefully negative slant on this?

Yeah but the central midfield is so weak etc. etc. blah, blah,

 

[quirky_birky]

If Saiss doesn't make the starting line up then I think his versatility guarantees a place on the bench. Midfield, CB, now LWB. He might even do as cover for Patricio!

 

[Phitsanulok (Poole) Wolf]

Missed out Shabani as well

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

Good to see a strong bench which most importantly Nuno will trust
I think Vitinha will be the one to miss out

 

[WolfLing]

This is a good thread. Just waiting to see which miserable sod is going to be first to put his woefully negative slant on this?

We're already out of the League Cup too, so no way to placate players that miss out with cup football until January.

Those players are clearly going to start getting annoyed about missing out on the 18 and start playing up.

The squad harmony will be shattered and it wouldn't surprise me at all if we're relegated by Christmas.

Mendes will asset strip us and Fosun will sell.

We will be the next Bolton or Wigan.

No negative enough, or too far?

 

[Keyser Soze]

As @WolfLing said, it's Kilman's breakthrough that has thrown the spanner in the works as without him in the match day squad, it's perfectly 'balanced' with both RWB and LWB being covered comfortably and all positions going forward too, which was probably the design in our recruitment plan

Now we have one extra defender to fit in (2 when Jonny is fit) and I've been struggling with who this would be (when all are fit) for a while and its harsh on someone

I'd love Ait-Nouri to be match fit and ready to start at the weekend because (especially at home) him and Semedo gives us a double threat and a balanced attack going forward... however, with Marcal and Saiss fit and unlikely to be left out as senior players... I have a feeling it might be him to miss out initially as Nuno can point to him as the new arrival and that he has to wait for his chance when speaking with the player, as opposed to a player being dropped as Saiss or Marcal would be at this stage. Better Man Management

So as much as I want Ait-Nouri in the starting 11, and there's no doubt this player has signed to play games and won't be content for long to be left out, I think Nuno will be more likely to do this and then bring the player in when someone else has to drop out or he can't possibly justify leaving the player out any longer as he's 100% and ready to go

Then also leaves us with a small cluster of players that can step in if required additionally to the one left out (Otasowie, Burr etc.) and then Jonny can return slowly over time so as not to risk his long term fitness

 

[arctic rime]

This is a good thread. Just waiting to see which miserable sod is going to be first to put his woefully negative slant on this?

There will be about for sure

 

[CelebrityWolf]

Vitinha will be the one to miss out mostly I suspect.

Ruddy, Saiss, Moutinho(or whichever of our main three mids isn't starting) Hoever, Aït-Nouri(Marcal) and Traore for sure make the bench.

Hard to see Silva not on the bench either

 

[WeAreTheWolvesII]

Good position to be in. There were times last season when you thought we will only ever use two of those players from the bench and that's not good enough really.

Patricio
Boly, Coady, Kilman
Semedo, Neves, Dendoncker, Marcal
Neto, Jimenez, Podence

Ruddy, Hoever, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Moutinho, Traore, Silva

That's what I expect Nuno will do on Sunday.

Personally, if Vitinha is the creative spark that we hope he is (still not seen enough to judge) then I think he has to make the bench as we still lack someone to open up a team centrally if Podence isn't on it, or from deeper.

In that case, Saiss or Ait-Nouri have to miss out. Would probably be Saiss for Newcastle at home because we may require a more attacking LWB to change the game. Although, his versatility makes that a slightly brave decision. Either way, good position to be in.

 

[Miniwolf]

Missed out Shabani as well

Good shout, I'll add him in with Ottasowie.

 

[Norman Bell]

We're already out of the League Cup too, so no way to placate players that miss out with cup football until January.

Those players are clearly going to start getting annoyed about missing out on the 18 and start playing up.

The squad harmony will be shattered and it wouldn't surprise me at all if we're relegated by Christmas.

Mendes will asset strip us and Fosun will sell.

We will be the next Bolton or Wigan.

No negative enough, or too far?

Not at all, in fact I would say if I did not know you had clearly done this as a Mickey Take I would put it down as fairly moderate compared to what does get posted on the Mix !

 

[WW1963]

Good post. Not to mention a returning Jonny next year and loanees like Jordão, MGW and Campana who would be eyeing a spot

And not forgetting the summer transfer window, having broken even this year.

 

[Elvis Wolf]

Kilman's emergence as such a dependable player, is a bonus which is welcomed Big Time.
I don't think that unrest will set in, if certain players miss out.
It would be far worse if we had a full squad of 25 players, hankering for a start.
Our squad number seems to be the blue print, for others to emulate.

 

[VancouverWolf]

This is a good thread. Just waiting to see which miserable sod is going to be first to put his woefully negative slant on this?

I think you just won.

 

[Deleted member LP 3925]

I think you just won.

I think you must be Vancouver USA rather than Vancouver Canada

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

Short of injuries etc All in all I don't see vitinha being used very much. At least not in the first half of the season.

 

[Gold Flag Flying High]

It’s such a difference to last season I feel like anyone can come off that bench and change the game or at least not weaken what’s on the pitch. It makes me wonder though if Vitinha, ait nouri, hoever, shabani, ottasawie break through this season like max has then who is up for the chopping block?

Now this may not be popular but moutinho, saiss, and marcal look the most likely to me to go at the end of this season if we have many breakthroughs. Also we Have many out on loan and I can see a few of them leaving too. Even though we keep a small squad we actually have a lot of players on loan that I can see going end of the season too.

Also on a bit of tangent here but why did we extend bonatini’s contract?

 

[VancouverWolf]

Said it before but I’m envious/jealous of you younger fans who will watch and see Wolves become a greater football team than we currently have.
2 seasons finish 7th. and steadily acquiring new young talent to improve the squad for now and the future.
This thread is a timely reminder for all on the Mix to really appreciate the history that’s happening right in front of us every time our lads step onto the pitch.
Bloody marvellous !

 

[Streathamwolf]

This thread can't be right, I am sure we bought a bunch of schoolboy prospects, we are desperately short of centre backs and non existent in midfield. We can hardly muster a PL standard first 11. Oh, and we sold our 2 best players, Raul and Adama will be off in a jiffy, not to mention Nuno leaving as he has had no support from Jeff.

 

[GoldenHorseshoe]

Where's Jos...?

Too positive for JOS, I also note the faffer is conspicuous by his absence.

 

[CelebrityWolf]

This thread can't be right, I am sure we bought a bunch of schoolboy prospects, we are desperately short of centre backs and non existent in midfield. We can hardly muster a PL standard first 11. Oh, and we sold our 2 best players, Raul and Adama will be off in a jiffy, not to mention Nuno leaving as he has had no support from Jeff.

But yet all of this could be true by the end of January

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

This thread exists because we have won two games in a row. A couple of losses and it will be "our bench is ****, we need more players now"

 

[Streathamwolf]

This thread exists because we have won two games in a row. A couple of losses and it will be "our bench is ****, we need more players now"

Sadly true.

 

[Ian]

Good position to be in. There were times last season when you thought we will only ever use two of those players from the bench and that's not good enough really.

Patricio
Boly, Coady, Kilman
Semedo, Neves, Dendoncker, Marcal
Neto, Jimenez, Podence

Ruddy, Hoever, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Moutinho, Traore, Silva

That's what I expect Nuno will do on Sunday.

Personally, if Vitinha is the creative spark that we hope he is (still not seen enough to judge) then I think he has to make the bench as we still lack someone to open up a team centrally if Podence isn't on it, or from deeper.

In that case, Saiss or Ait-Nouri have to miss out. Would probably be Saiss for Newcastle at home because we may require a more attacking LWB to change the game. Although, his versatility makes that a slightly brave decision. Either way, good position to be in.

As much as I agree with you and like that line-up, we've won the last 2 with Saiss as LWB and wouldnt surprise me if he's there again against Newcastle.

 

[Ian]

And sorry to be the negative Nellie but its actually annoying we got knocked out of the league cup, only from the point of view Id like to have seen more of the new boys getting games together.

 

[Keyser Soze]

So Vitinha the man to miss out in the end with everyone fit and available, his time will come I'm sure but someone had to miss out at the end of the day... perhaps some conditioning and strengthening he needs to do to edge someone else out but I'm sure he's first in once someone else misses out, unless there's a knock there we don't know about

With the rotation in central midfield, a bench of Ruddy, Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Marcal, Moutinho, Traore & Silva has to be the strongest bench we've had in a league game in a very long time