Wing back revolution

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

I for one think our wing backs are the key to our system. We need them to be athletic and adventurous and clever enough to take up spaces that pull defenders apart giving our wide players freedom.

Last season our worst performances were when Doc and Jonny got pinned back and couldn't influence our attacks.

Whilst Vinagre is only a rumoured departure is it possible Nuno thinks upgrades here are the key to stepping up into top 6?

 

[pacamac]

No sign of upgrades though

 

[Aware Wolf]

It's right.

As much as Doc and Jonny have served us really well for two years, if the club wants to get even better we need to upgrade on them due to the importance of this position in our formation. Jonny slows us down too often on the left by being right footed, I personally think he'd be a more effective attacking threat on the right. Doc was great going forward and was given a licence to, but there will be even better options out there.

 

[WolfLing]

I for one think our wing backs are the key to our system. We need them to be athletic and adventurous and clever enough to take up spaces that pull defenders apart giving our wide players freedom.

Last season our worst performances were when Doc and Jonny got pinned back and couldn't influence our attacks.

Whilst Vinagre is only a rumoured departure is it possible Nuno thinks upgrades here are the key to stepping up into top 6?

I think so yes.

Doc and Jonny are safe defensive choices. But I've never really liked Jonny being right-footed and being on the left. I think we need a left-footed option there go outside, especially when we have Jota cutting inside.

Vinagre could be that player long-term, but he's just not where we need him to be yet. I would personally want to keep him for another year and give him more game time, but it is a risk.

Marcal might be a short-term option, but certainly not a long term one. With him playing so well for Lyon at left centre-back in a 3, I think he might end up as an option there instead.

Jonny could end up as our first choice right wing-back, depending on who we sign. Esteves for example would offer a good option initially and then be good cover for Jonny and be his long-term successor.

Say for example we let Vinagre leave but go out and sign another extraordinarily talented youngster like Rayan Aït Nouri for example, along with bringing in Esteves as expected.

We would have Esteves and Traore as options at right wing-back until Jonny is fit, then Jonny as first choice with backup from Esteves.

And then Marcal at left wing-back, being pushed all the time by Aït Nouri.

Possibly even Ghoulam to come in too!

Those options are certainly more balanced than Doherty and Jonny were, but not necessarily better defensively.

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

Long-term for me is Jonny moves to right. I always expected Vinagre to grow into LWB role.

This was even before the Doc sale.

 

[JayStringer]

Doc and Vinagre are good in attack, a little more suspect in defence (not to the same degree.) Jonny is good defensively, not as effective in attack.

The next step is to have players on both sides who are adept at both.

 

[Stoichkov]

I for one think our wing backs are the key to our system. We need them to be athletic and adventurous and clever enough to take up spaces that pull defenders apart giving our wide players freedom.

Last season our worst performances were when Doc and Jonny got pinned back and couldn't influence our attacks.

Whilst Vinagre is only a rumoured departure is it possible Nuno thinks upgrades here are the key to stepping up into top 6?

agreed but spiers says a 31-year-old LCB is our new LWB?????

 

[Halesowen wwfc]

or we could be looking at all out attack wing backs and stregthen central defence and bring in a proper defensive midfielder to add extra protection for the back 3. I.e adama on the right, a neto type on the left, the new brazillian left side of defense and palinha def mid. Neves and moutinho a bit further forward in midfield. Would mean traore and neto for example defensive duties would be more akin to bodies getting in the way rather than defensive talents and an over reliance on the quality of our centre backs but just a thought. A lot of people have questioned vinagres defensive capabilities and suggested he wld be better as an outright winger. Why not just put an outright winger there like neto

 

[Sussex Wolf]

I think this is a key part of the evolution Nuno talked about. More attacking wing backs combined with greater protection from the three CB’s, would make a significant difference without fundamentally changing our formation. Add in better depth on the bench for central midfield and for Jiminez, and we can build on our solid foundation.

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

agreed but spiers says a 31-year-old LCB is our new LWB?????

Firstly, quoting Spiers helps no one!!! He's putting 2 and 2 together like most of us.

Secondly, it does look likely that this guy could play LWB. It's hard to argue that he's not an upgrade when he has solid champions league experience. Not one of our current defense has that. He might have played LCB but its still experience.

Ignore Lyon fans. We have fans who say Doc is and always was ****. Didn't say it so much before he left.

 

[Sussex Wolf]

agreed but spiers says a 31-year-old LCB is our new LWB?????

I think he’s wrong and just putting 2+2 together. I think he provides cover there, but is intended primarily as an upgrade on Saiss at CB. Saiss provides cover at CB, but also in midfield.

 

[Stoichkov]

Firstly, quoting Spiers helps no one!!! He's putting 2 and 2 together like most of us.

Secondly, it does look likely that this guy could play LWB. It's hard to argue that he's not an upgrade when he has solid champions league experience. Not one of our current defense has that. He might have played LCB but its still experience.

Ignore Lyon fans. We have fans who say Doc is and always was ****. Didn't say it so much before he left.

CL experience at LCB, not LWB. Big difference

we'll see. I'd rather have WBs that were able to push forward

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Firstly, quoting Spiers helps no one!!! He's putting 2 and 2 together like most of us.

Secondly, it does look likely that this guy could play LWB. It's hard to argue that he's not an upgrade when he has solid champions league experience. Not one of our current defense has that. He might have played LCB but its still experience.

Ignore Lyon fans. We have fans who say Doc is and always was ****. Didn't say it so much before he left.

Its not just Lyon fans though, I believe there was even a prominent journalist who said he was a bit naff at LB but was reborn as a LCB. At any rate, this guy looks like a downgrade on Jonny and I would honestly rather play Vinagre at LWB than have bought in a 31 year old who is at best a short term stop-gap. While we ship out our only fit specialised LWB.

 

[WolfLing]

agreed but spiers says a 31-year-old LCB is our new LWB?????

Yeah, strange one that. He's been great left side of a back 3 for Lyon, but apparently he's earmarked for LWB?

Unless it's just short term until Jonny is back, then he goes to compete with Saiss for left centre back.

 

[Halesowen wwfc]

I think this is a key part of the evolution Nuno talked about. More attacking wing backs combined with greater protection from the three CB’s, would make a significant difference without fundamentally changing our formation. Add in better depth on the bench for central midfield and for Jiminez, and we can build on our solid foundation.

Be interesting to see what role johny has on his return if this is the direction we may be going in. Almost as if not playing with wing backs at all. 3 central defenders, 1 def mid, 4 across the middle and 2 up top. The sale of doherty and potential sale of vinagre could suggest this is the direction

 

[Sussex Wolf]

All this assumes Vinagre is leaving and that Marcal is our first choice LWB. Assuming there is a plan, then I don’t think that is it.

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

CL experience at LCB, not LWB. Big difference

we'll see. I'd rather have WBs that were able to push forward

Isn't some of the criticism aimed at him that he's decent going forward but not so much defensively? Or have I made that up?

 

[Miniwolf]

agreed but spiers says a 31-year-old LCB is our new LWB?????

I suppose that depends on if Spiers has actually spoken to Nuno about what he plans to do with Marcal, which I doubt he has so he can't really know for sure.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I suppose that depends on if Spiers has actually spoken to Nuno about what he plans to do with Marcal, which I doubt he has so he can't really know for sure.

Spiers doesnt really seem to be the type to make stuff up. If he says it, usually it means he has to have heard it from someone at the club.

 

[Miniwolf]

Spiers doesnt really seem to be the type to make stuff up. If he says it, usually it means he has to have heard it from someone at the club.

True, but this feels speculation to me. Only Nuno and his closest coaches will know the plan for Marcal at this point imo, unless he has already trained with the squad last week.

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

Spiers doesnt really seem to be the type to make stuff up. If he says it, usually it means he has to have heard it from someone at the club.

I just don't think Wolves work that way anymore. We announce deals when done. Cant see anybody letting him know about potential deals etc.

Thats not to call him a lier. I just don't think his sources are at Wolves. I think the network of journalists at the Athletic share what they hear and it could have come from various sources in football - none of whom know about Wolves activity in the transfer market

 

[Martin Riggs]

Until Nuno comments on Marcal or picks his 11 for the opener, no one knows for sure where he'll play. Remember Dendoncker was being signed to play centre back according to the experts but has only ever played there as an emergency.