What happened after the Arsenal win?

[Kandi1977]

If we’re pinning bad performances on an excuse of not having Lo Celso available then I fear we’re going to be making excuses lots of times for a long while!

Very true. Lo Celso has had very little impact in any game he's played. For me he's pretty bang average. Martin Ødegaard is a much better player, who influence games a lot more than Lo Celso. He's neither the solution, nor the problem.
Our biggest problem has been the CB'S. I'd be happy with playing Tanganga and Rodon for the majority of games left. Yes, they are both raw, inexperienced and will make mistakes, but it's not like the current pairs are not making plenty of mistakes!
I'd let Tanganga and Rodon try to build understanding and a partnership. Think most fans would accept that.

 

[90291Spur]

Many of these lads are knackered. I believe that Wet Spam was our 40th game of the season. I also believe that last season, when Wolves had to play Europa qualifying, almost every article about them mentioned that fact (it's hardly mentioned in the narrative of our season).

 

[parklane1]

Many of these lads are knackered. I believe that Wet Spam was our 40th game of the season. I also believe that last season, when Wolves had to play Europa qualifying, almost every article about them mentioned that fact (it's hardly mentioned in the narrative of our season).

Good point which gets lost in the hysteria of our results by some.

 

[AdamB]

Many of these lads are knackered. I believe that Wet Spam was our 40th game of the season. I also believe that last season, when Wolves had to play Europa qualifying, almost every article about them mentioned that fact (it's hardly mentioned in the narrative of our season).

Some of this we've brought upon ourselves though. Taking very full squads to eastern europe when only between 11 and 16 of them will get on the pitch doesnt make sense, particularly when you have a home leg in which you could rectify things. Beyond the current round, games will obviously get harder and we will need to take stronger squads, but I do think Jose has been overly conservative with the back-up strength he's taken away from home

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

Very true. Lo Celso has had very little impact in any game he's played. For me he's pretty bang average. Martin Ødegaard is a much better player, who influence games a lot more than Lo Celso. He's neither the solution, nor the problem.
Our biggest problem has been the CB'S. I'd be happy with playing Tanganga and Rodon for the majority of games left. Yes, they are both raw, inexperienced and will make mistakes, but it's not like the current pairs are not making plenty of mistakes!
I'd let Tanganga and Rodon try to build understanding and a partnership. Think most fans would accept that.

Glad the is someone else on this board who does not rate Lo Celso.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Many of these lads are knackered. I believe that Wet Spam was our 40th game of the season. I also believe that last season, when Wolves had to play Europa qualifying, almost every article about them mentioned that fact (it's hardly mentioned in the narrative of our season).

We have played 9 games more than them so far

 

[SteveAWOL]

Son’s annual purple patch (when he scores worldies like prime Bale every week) also ended around the time of NLD...

10 goals from 21 shots over first 11 PL matches
3 goals from 24 shots in the 13 PL matches since then.

For comparison, Kane’s figures are:

8 goals from 41 shots over first 11 PL matches
5 goals from 41 shots in the 13 PL matches since then

 

[90sSpursBook]

Teams figured out our Kane to Son tactic

I'm not sure conclusively whether this is the case or not but as soon as one team does it successfully it of course becomes the blueprint and is then easy for others to replicate. This was why Bergwijn was a positive impact because he was also drawing defenders.

I reckon Leicester were the first to really find the formula but negating Son and Kane also relies heavily on scoring first and not chasing the game which opens up space.

In fact of the 28 league goals Kane and Son have scored between them only 2 have been scored when we've been behind (Southampton away and Liverpool away) - the other 26 have all been scored when we've been level or already ahead.

Against City and then West Ham they seemed to defend really good positions that either denied Kane time and space to turn in deeper positions and/or denied Son space to run in behind. Against West Ham they seemed to defend in such a way that Sonny could only receive the ball wider than the penalty area.

 

[billyiddo]

I'm not sure conclusively whether this is the case or not but as soon as one team does it successfully it of course becomes the blueprint and is then easy for others to replicate. This was why Bergwijn was a positive impact because he was also drawing defenders.

I reckon Leicester were the first to really find the formula but negating Son and Kane also relies heavily on scoring first and not chasing the game which opens up space.

In fact of the 28 league goals Kane and Son have scored between them only 2 have been scored when we've been behind (Southampton away and Liverpool away) - the other 26 have all been scored when we've been level or already ahead.

Against City and then West Ham they seemed to defend really good positions that either denied Kane time and space to turn in deeper positions and/or denied Son space to run in behind. Against West Ham they seemed to defend in such a way that Sonny could only receive the ball wider than the pelanty area.

i thought it was Lampard that nailed it first in the 0-0 league game at the bridge

 

[90sSpursBook]

i thought it was Lampard that nailed it first in the 0-0 league game at the bridge

Yes - very true. Had forgotten about that. I guess he was so concerned about stopping us that he blunted their own attacking plans which therefore resulted in a very dull match.

 

[billyiddo]

Yes - very true. Had forgotten about that. I guess he was so concerned about stopping us that he blunted their own attacking plans which therefore resulted in a very dull match.

sounds familiar

 

[elltrev]

I'm not sure conclusively whether this is the case or not but as soon as one team does it successfully it of course becomes the blueprint and is then easy for others to replicate. This was why Bergwijn was a positive impact because he was also drawing defenders.

I reckon Leicester were the first to really find the formula but negating Son and Kane also relies heavily on scoring first and not chasing the game which opens up space.

In fact of the 28 league goals Kane and Son have scored between them only 2 have been scored when we've been behind (Southampton away and Liverpool away) - the other 26 have all been scored when we've been level or already ahead.

Against City and then West Ham they seemed to defend really good positions that either denied Kane time and space to turn in deeper positions and/or denied Son space to run in behind. Against West Ham they seemed to defend in such a way that Sonny could only receive the ball wider than the pelanty area.

Wow that's an interesting insight. I think those are also the only two games which we've got any points from after going behind. So 2 wins and 8 losses in the 10 matches in which we've gone behind. (and 7 losses from the last 7).

Does anyone know if that's unusually high, or is it fairly standard?

Edit: just looked at West Ham as a random comparison. 2 wins and 3 draws from 11 matches in which they were losing - so marginally better.

And Leicester: 3 wins and 3 draws from 12.

And Utd, wow: 7 wins and 1 draw from 12.

Maybe it is an area of weakness for us then.

 

[billyiddo]

I guess you could argue it shows that once teams are in front against us they find it easy to drop a bit deeper and shut us out/we find it hard to break them down.

edit : just realised that's not quite the revelation i thought it was

 

[SteveAWOL]

Wow that's an interesting insight. I think those are also the only two games which we've got any points from after going behind. So 2 wins and 8 losses in the 10 matches in which we've gone behind. (and 7 losses from the last 7).

Does anyone know if that's unusually high, or is it fairly standard?

Edit: just looked at West Ham as a random comparison. 2 wins and 3 draws from 11 matches in which they were losing - so marginally better.

And Leicester: 3 wins and 3 draws from 12.

And Utd, wow: 7 wins and 1 draw from 12.

Maybe it is an area of weakness for us then.

FWIW... https://www.soccerstats.com/table.asp?league=england&tid=l

We’ve scored the opening goal in 13 out of 24 PL games this season from which we’ve won 8 and drawn 5 with an average points tally of 2.23 which is just ahead of Liverpool...



In the 10 games we’ve conceded the first goal we’ve got 8th best record in the league, just ahead of Everton...

 

[elltrev]

FWIW... https://www.soccerstats.com/table.asp?league=england&tid=l

We’ve scored the opening goal in 13 out of 24 PL games this season from which we’ve won 8 and drawn 5 with an average points tally of 2.23 which is just ahead of Liverpool...

View attachment 11118

In the 10 games we’ve conceded the first goal we’ve got 8th best record in the league, just ahead of Everton...

View attachment 11119

Interesting, thanks! So we’re excellent at scoring first (only City do it more frequently), but pretty crap at holding onto leads. And not great at coming from behind either.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Glad the is someone else on this board who does not rate Lo Celso.

I think he is a decent player. He has put in some good performances and some average ones. I think he can be a decent part of this squad (assuming he can get and stay fit). I’m not sure he is the really special player that he seems to have become in some people’s minds while he has been out though....

My worry about him is that I’m not sure where he plays in a CL level team. He is not really built to play as one of the two in midfield, I’m not sure he is quite talented and creative enough to play in the middle of the 3 behind the number 9 and I’m not sure he has the pace or the ball skills to play on the right or left.

I’m not writing him off as he has done some good things in our shirt at times and he seems brave and committed. If I had to put him anywhere I’d probably play him in the two alongside Hojbjerg and shift Ndombele forward again.

 

[Finney Is Back]

I'm not sure conclusively whether this is the case or not but as soon as one team does it successfully it of course becomes the blueprint and is then easy for others to replicate. This was why Bergwijn was a positive impact because he was also drawing defenders.

I reckon Leicester were the first to really find the formula but negating Son and Kane also relies heavily on scoring first and not chasing the game which opens up space.

In fact of the 28 league goals Kane and Son have scored between them only 2 have been scored when we've been behind (Southampton away and Liverpool away) - the other 26 have all been scored when we've been level or already ahead.

Against City and then West Ham they seemed to defend really good positions that either denied Kane time and space to turn in deeper positions and/or denied Son space to run in behind. Against West Ham they seemed to defend in such a way that Sonny could only receive the ball wider than the pelanty area.

It is actually very, very easy to negate (hence why everyone is now managing to do it).... just ensure your holding midfield player goes man to man on Kane as he drops into that space centre of our half of the pitch.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Good point which gets lost in the hysteria of our results by some.

Works both ways though.... if it is a fitness thing then it also contributed to our good start to the season.

Might be my bad recollection here but I thought Wolves form fell off a cliff much later in the season than we have? (I.e. post lockdown?)

 

[Finney Is Back]

i thought it was Lampard that nailed it first in the 0-0 league game at the bridge

Yes.... they detailed Kante to pick him up I think.

 

[90sSpursBook]

Works both ways though.... if it is a fitness thing then it also contributed to our good start to the season.

Might be my bad recollection here but I thought Wolves form fell off a cliff much later in the season than we have? (I.e. post lockdown?)

Just looking at their results they didn't really fall off a cliff pre or post lockdown...they started the season poorly and clearly stuggled to balance Europa and PL in first third of the season - they didn't get into the top half until November but from then on they were always in and around 6th - 8th eventually finishing 7th. It was 1st March that we played them and they were far fresher and sharper than we were at that point.

We've almost done the opposite but a few variables at play.