Bladesince59
Active Member
Agree with almost all the comments but think all were given too many out of 10United – Despite not scoring and another loss, it was much better today. We looked like a side that could compete and we actually saw far more of the ball today. We also had chances – mainly in the first half. I thought we definitely deserved something from the game but another game where we have failed to score and for all the better play, we lacked that real attacking thrust when it mattered. Wolves only had a few chances of course but they took the one first half with a good ball and header. First half they had all the ball but actually we had the three or four decent chances with Brewster and McAtee all having opportunities. They were not sitters with only maybe the Brewster one he needs to do better (the one where he ran in). However, we remain powder puff in front of goal despite us doing better in general play. Yet, we got into the opponents half and had play in their final third. This is more than we have had most of the season. We made the home team get frustrated and gradually got on top even if we could not get level.
Second half we did really well with the ball and midfield we controlled the game for spells and we also were able to move it around better and get men up – we saw Bogle, Anel and Trusty also coming forward in general play and set plays. I thought with better decisions or if we had taken more chances in terms of those little moments in the Wolves final third, then we may have create more (we created very little 2nd half). However, Wolves sort of tried to settle for the win and ended up hanging on which was weird really as if they had kept the ball and gone at us, they surely would have got more goals? The big positives is better games from the likes of Anel and Brewster and we looked more compact and organised and not shipping away goals/chances like we have done.
It was much, much better in terms of a lot of aspects but it is all comparative when we have been getting done 5’s most weeks recently so being competitive is an improvement. We actually were well in the game and had as many, if not more chances – first half. Still we lost and not sure we tested the keeper enough or created enough that final half hour (only the one Brewster half chance second half) for all the better play. Wolves saw it out and will just take the win. For us, it will be a game where we at least saw some rays of light and hope and we did not get thumped but we might not play as well as that again all season and we have to take points/score goals when we play like that.
Ratings:
Grbic 5/10 – Did not have much to do first half really in terms of actual saves. A few routine things but then the first time we give them a proper chance, it ends up in our net. Given no protection at all. Had a few other shots that he was at full stretch for that went over but oddly, the Wolves keeper had made more saves in that first half. He was kicking long more than the short play outs, which seems a new ploy to just get us out and not take chances. Second half he flapped at a cross and then kicked one out. Did take a cross though and a good ball out to set him clear. Saved one shot at the end but kicked it straight to them. Does not look totally convincing. Not sure what he was doing on the Souza injury – he needs to boot it out – if Wolves had put it in the net, then it would have counted.
Bogle 6/10 – Started the game by losing his man a few times and not being tight enough. When he did get close he was grabbing the shirt too much. To be fair he did get out and had a few decent runs up the pitch but one pathetic dive was disappointing. Involved in setting up the chance for Brewster with a flick. He was nowhere near his man as the cross came in for the goal. Second half we saw less of him as an attacking force really. He did link a few times but the lacks the power and pace to really go past his man – at the league below he could do that. He then gave some cheap fouls away near the end to stop any momentum.
Larouci 5.5/10 – Started well with some decent defensive pieces of work where he shadowed it out and also got up the field a few times but his final ball was poor. On the goal he is asleep and needs to be aware of the man near him but just leaves him. I am not sure whether it was his designated man (Semedo would be probably?) but he was in the build up and closest to him and should see him move inside him. He either needs to talk to Robinson or go with him. He seemingly does neither and just stands there. After this he made a few decent defensive interceptions again. Second half he ballooned another cross over but then did well soon after to get back. Went off not long after. His overall performance was more like a 6.5-7 but his fault on the goal has to be taken into account.
Ahmedhodzic 7/10 – Better today in that he did some good things both defensively and attacking wise. Started with a few bits of good cover play but then a clumsy and unnecessary tackle when Neto got away. He also then started to lose his man and not get tight enough as we saw a number of free headers come in. He always seems at full stetch and seems to have lost some pace or maybe this league is just much quicker and he is struggling. He did have chances though and got forward a few times – could not sort his feet out first half and then had one blocked second half. Helped another on right at the end too.
Robinson 6/10 – Along with the rest of the defence, he started ok and some good blocks/tackles but then he was guilty of ball watching when crosses came in. Not great to see him squaring up to Souza after even if he did feel he could have done better. Some might see they are showing some spirit but it’s not a good look and Wolves will have seen that and think they had gone. Seemed to lose his head after this and lost the ball a few times or overplayed. Not even sure we created much from his throws really.
Trusty 6/10 – He was back in the team after poor form saw him lose his place and thought he was ok in the first half in that he made some blocks and won the odd challenge. Another who seems to grab the shirt but then when he balls come in from wide, he is often nowhere near his man. A few wild passes or clearances to start the second half kept Wolves in our half. However he ended the game more front foot and won his battles and also got forward and nearly got in on the chance at the end.
Souza 6/10 – Felt he was ineffective largely first half as they sort of passed through out midfield. He was neat and tidy the few times he has the ball but not sure he really made any key interceptions or tackles and then ends up getting in a bust up with Robbo. Seems frustrated with the rest of his teammates and probably regrets coming here. Second half he saw more of the ball and helped us link things as we had more possession. He was at least able to get into better areas and was involved in some of our better moves too.
Norwood 5.5/10 – Largely anonymous really first half. A few sideway passes and then some long balls to nowhere but he did not have many touches and they got through us and their midfield dribblers found space and gaps. Did get more in the game in the second half and was better with the ball as for once we actually had more possession and felt helped us control the ball.
Hamer 4/10 – Another that has to do way more. He shies away from physical contact (two 50-50’s he completely neshed) and whilst he put one good ball over the top to McAtee, he was not really on the ball anywhere near enough and the game just seems to pass him by. For one of our so called better technical players, he has to impose himself more but his fitness and lack of pace means that he struggles with players who have these attributes. Second half he at least got on the ball a bit and had one run that led to a corner and another few moments but made an absolute mess of the free kick chance on 75 minutes. Kept making poor choices and the wild shot at the end summed him up. I have been disappointed with him this season – he shows flashes but way off the standard of this level (as are most).
McAtee 5.5/10 – He had a few good runs and moments but often got crowded out of it or lost it, going down too easily. Had that one good chance but let Dawson get back and his shot was weak. Her was a threat in terms of getting on the ball and always an outlet but not sure much came off for him at all despite him keeping going and trying to get on the ball. He keeps running and always offer that channel ball but too much of the time he either does not have the help or gets muscled off it. I thought we played well today but the two main creative players, Hamer and McAtee did not really create much or look a goal threat despite having more of the ball than they have for some time.
Brewster 7.5/10 – Best we have seen him for a long time, maybe ever in the Premier League! I am not getting carried away as he still did not score and had some good chances but at least looked a threat in the sense that he had those two shots from the corner that were decent enough efforts and he nicked the ball away from the defender a few times and held it up. However, he missed a really good chance when he did get away and needed to do much better or take the pass, to his left. He did well to get away and draw a yellow card for a cynical tackle. Then won a foul with another good run. He was lively and a threat all game and played intelligently. Much better and hopefully something to build on but we have heard it all before.
Subs –
Osborn 6/10 – Decent enough as we were going forward more and helped us keep the ball as we looked the more likely.
Osula – Not sure he had many chances, he ran after a few or tried to get on the end of a few flicks.
McBurnie – As above. Flicked one on near the end but felt he came on too late.
Davies – Cannot recall him doing much but at this stage we were relying on long throws.
Manager: Wilder 6/10 – A better performance but still a loss. We never looked like getting hammered today and were not as wide open as we have been, so that is a positive and we stayed well in the game. We deserved something and had the better chances but we did not take them and they took theirs with more naïve defending costing us. We did look more solid and actually had control of the game and ball for long spells second half and our shape was much better with another changed side and playing almost the only lads we had left! I do think he should have made the changes earlier – I would have out McBurnie on alongside Brewster with 20 minutes to go. The subs were too late really to make an impact.
Wolves – They have been flying but were poor for long spells today. They showed flashes and clearly have some talented players. O’Neill has done a good job there – I thought they might struggle and do down but have been playing well as a team and picked up some impressive results. They will be comfortably mid table and nowhere near being in a relegation threat. At the Lane they were not great and today despite some good moments, they seemed to get scrappy and were poor second half. If United had got a point, they could not have argued really. The crowd became nervous and they were not able to sustain any possession really and ended up almost hanging on right to full time.
Opponent Man of the Match – A few lovely footballers but Neto stands out. Great dribbler and always able to take the ball away from opponents and get in those dangerous areas.
Opponent Weak link – I like Hwang but thought he was poor and completely ineffective today. A few of their players were not really at it and they ended up losing possession quite a bit second half.
Referee/Officials – Darren Bond. Thought a fair few of the 50-50’s went for them but at least VAR saw sense with the coming together of the two United players at each other and the Souza penalty. The rest of the yellow cards seemed pretty clear cut really. Not sure that there were many big decisions that affected the game.
