Honours Are Even At Forest - Talking Wolves Podcast

Wolves Content Creators Cup: www.justgiving...
Dave and Jord discuss Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest, a quick preview of our next game against Newcastle United, discussing the deadline day action and we answer your questions!

[@dylanwolf]

Sam Johnstone had an OK match, but had Sa conceded the Forest goal, he'd have been hugely criticised. Personally I'm not convinced that Johnstone is an improvement on Sa. I don't agree that Sa is as poor as most people think. I don't agree with Jordan's assessment of him at all. Forest are a tougher proposition these days and we had to dig deep in that second half when we failed to retain possession and get upfield in the manner that we had in the first half. But with Dawson restored in the back four we seemed more disciplined in defence. I'd say that Lemina and Andre will be the duo in midfeld, as I think Joao Gomes has seemed a little off the boil at the moment. You have to feel for poor Tommy Doyle, he comes in and plays really well, but currently he is surely waiting for an injury before he gets chosen for the starting XI. Toti was a better bet at full back, releasing Ait-Nouri to play further forward. Semedo did OK in the other full-back spot. Will Pedro Lima be ready to feature this season, I wonder? Full back is our weakest spot at the moment, I think. Assuming that Strand-Larsen and Cunha retain the two most forward places, that leaves only one wing position to fill. Not being at all a fan of Hwang, I'd rather see Rodrigo Gomes have a decent run there, with Bellegarde and Sarabia as the alternatives. I'm not too worried about Chiquinho being loaned out, I'd say he was a little overrated. Then there's Forbs too. A strange purchase this I think. I'm not sure he's going to be good enough to get into the first team. Hopefully I'm really wrong! Newcastle were lucky to beat Tottenham. I see no reason why we shouldn't gain a victory over them. Surely we can't continue to concede daft early goals at Molineux and hobble ourselves in every match. I thought we were a bit lucky that neither Joao Gomes, nor Bellegarde received second yellow cards at Forest. They both committed fouls that could easily have been carded. Discipline is one issue I'd like to pose a question over. I'd say that Gary O'Neil does us no favours by getting himself booked during and after matches. As manager he should be showing restraint, as a matter of providing a good example to the players on the field. Passion is all well and good, but actually, as in the Chelsea match, the players letting passion rule over maintaining formation and playing with cool intensity, when a decision goes against us, is a recipe for disaster. Our disciplinary record has not been good, and in the end that costs us points. And discipline comes from the top. Plus showing dignity in the role of club manager would improve Gary's chances of being respected and listened to by the game's authorities. Thank you for the podcast dylanwolf in the billyQ -----

[@Cal97g]

Sorry mate, but Sa is fully wank

[@matthartshorn9483]

We've got such a hard start to the season. I won't be judging GON untill after GW 8. he's trying a new formation with new players with a very tough start. Bed them all in find the formula and pick it up and end well.

[@kingjinder5421]

Playing NF i wouldn't exactly say is such a hard game, and you say he's trying his new formation where in fact he had the whole pre-season doing so. Shouldn't be judged from GW8 should be from GW3 and we weren't the best.

[@matthartshorn9483]

@@kingjinder5421 look at our games except forest up to GW 8

[@matthartshorn9483]

@@kingjinder5421 I'm not pleased with the results were getting either but I'm not gunna say sack GON before that for sure.

[@jackmullin8962]

He had all pre season to test the back 4. Went forest on Saturday and he went back to a back 5 and wolves looked much better. Almost had an Identity. Much more solid with Dawson and Semedo back in!

[@matthartshorn9483]

@@jackmullin8962 I'd rather he try something new and have the nerve to say it didn't work and try something else. Can't stand it when managers like kompany and the soton manager just say this is it then get relegated.

[@ashleyburns6752]

It was amazing seeing our goalkeeper not being erratic, and actually distributing long balls to midfielders and strikers that actually hit the target. How is Rodrigo Gomes behind Guedes, Hwang and Ait Nouri (and now Forbs?) in the pecking order for wingers? I know Ait Nouri has great tricks and can dribble, but he doesnt have the finishing ability or unselfishness to be any threat on the wing.

[@chaoticrager1722]

Yes i agree we maybe needed a central defender for a back 4 but i think more importantly we needed a proper left back as Ait Nouri and Totti cant be trusted enough for me to play there all season. Each team we played this season are targeting our left backs as they recognize this to be our main weakness rather than whoever plays in the 2 central defence roles. Newcastle will be tough to try and get 3 points then we play Villa away.....then after that we got man city and liverpool at home and brentford away.....but lets hope during the international break GoN can sort the left back position out.

[@Cal97g]

If we're lucky this season Jord will pick up some ball knowledge

[@R9-GOAT]

Lads. We cannot play 4 at the back. We will get relegated, we cannot win a game.

[@xGJHP]

Get a couple new faces on the podcast lads only if it's temporary. More enjoyable listen if it's 3 or 4

[@TalkingWolves]

@@xGJHP will do son 🫡

[@jeffreysort7219]

Still miss the three seasons ago intro music 😂

[@TalkingWolves]

It was copyright striked for some reason. Gone but never forgotten

[@YamYam.777]

Another week without Mcooperwrites, Oh David you really are spoiling us. 😂 #Freetheband

[@jubalc12]

I give the transfer window a6/10. GON had targets in mind for his back 4 but has to change his plan completely to what we had last season it seems, so that’s my reasoning. Plus he did say he wanted premier league experienced players and sadly this hasn’t come to fruition.

[@matthartshorn9483]

No need to apologise Dave it was a decent pod. Seems like we need a couple new faces anyway.?

[@TalkingWolves]

The commitment levels currently are not good!

[@HSwanny]

Just seen you guys won the creators Cup!! Congrats lads!

[@mikeevans1994]

We need a channel of Jords travels and stags and weddings

[@TalkingWolves]

He’s abroad more than he’s in the UK that lad 🤣

[@5uper5kill3rz]

@@TalkingWolves when's the Wolves Creators golf tournament coming?

[@TalkingWolves]

@@5uper5kill3rz 😂😂 When i can hit one 100 yards consistently

[@matthartshorn9483]

One thing that bothers me is Sa and Hwang are best friends. Is it coincidence Hwang has dropped off if he knows he's pal is off? Or is that reading into it too much?

[@jaybristowe2346]

If you need your bestie constantly by your side to perform, you ain’t cut out for this

[@jackmullin8962]

Conspiracies lol? 😂 nah hwang just isn't playing / performing good enough. Ever since his interest from France. Maybe he wanted to move?

[@matthartshorn9483]

@@jackmullin8962 who said conspiracies?

[@jamesboswell9324]

50:00 Asset stripping? ROFL. They've spent loads on the club if not always effectively. You should have been a fan when the Bhatti brothers owned us.

[@matthartshorn9483]

If you watched Forbes for Ajax he was constantly getting the balls in the box and there was hardly ever anyone there. So if you go off stats only he didn't look that great but clear chances created he had plenty.

[@originalnuttah967]

With the Turkish transfer window closing on September 13th, something tells me Wolves will look to offload Sarabia. His age, wage and the potential to recoup a fee somewhere close to what we paid makes me think he won’t be here come October

[@menacingskull101]

Diego Cost really was a weird one. However, I genuinely believe we would have gone down if we didn't sign him. He gave us a target man which changes the style of play. Mainly though, the changes he made behind closed doors. He brought the team up

[@mikeallan8049]

All the complaints we have about players away on international duty, need time to gel, give it time etc are just as relevant to all the sides in the Prem. im not sure that even after a pre season we really know our best 11

[@nathancloete5796]

Gary has to play a 3 at the back and im happy Johnstone is the new keeper

[@nathancloete5796]

Toomy and andre together in the midfield that will be class

[@jamesboswell9324]

I'm a bit confused here, so please correct me if I'm misunderstanding you. On the one hand you both seem to agree that we've got the best squad we've ever had in the PL. You also both seem to agree that GON is the right manager at the club. However, at the same time, you both say you are expecting attendances to drop in part because of price hikes (which I obviously understand) but also because (and let me quote Dave at 48:00) "quality of football and results". To my mind that's all a bit of a non sequitur. If we've got a decent manager combined with a good squad then why are you expecting the quality of football to be worse?

[@KitCalder]

Relative to the price hikes perhaps?

[@jamesboswell9324]

@@KitCalder Yes that's a fair point and certainly a factor to be considered, but it still doesn't explain the lowering of expectations though. Good squad with depth + good manager = (or should =) improvement in performance and results. My suspicion here is that deep down there's a lack of trust in GON. A lack of trust I happen to share, but one that I openly admit to.

[@matthartshorn9483]

Dave next year you should open up and FPL league for talking wolves subscribers. Get the winner on a pod at the end of the year.

[@TalkingWolves]

@@matthartshorn9483 we already have a FPL league mate

[@matthartshorn9483]

@@TalkingWolves DOH. when did you advertise that?

[@jamesboswell9324]

You are so wrong Jord. If GON is rock bottom at the end of October he'll be gone. Bank on it. (Hopefully we won't find out.)

[@jamesboswell9324]

Dave, you surely can't seriously be saying Fosun should have backed Lage anymore than they actually did? The amount they spent that summer nearly ruined us. Thing is the manager is key to success. So you have to make sure you've got the right manager and THEN back them. Lage was crap. I wanted him sacked at the end of the season (and I was right). GON may turn out to be a failure too. Let's wait and see. If we're flying in January then I agree that he should be backed again, but frankly we could easily have a new manager by then.

[@TalkingWolves]

In the January of Lage’s first season we were doing very well, you can’t deny that. Its easy to say he was rubbish now because form fell off a cliff from Feb/March onwards but it could have been very different had he have been backed

[@jamesboswell9324]

@@TalkingWolves I don't deny it, but you miss the important point. On the basis of his early success (which is undeniable) lots of fans then demanded he was backed in the summer despite his horrific end of season - and the outcome was that Fosun DID back him massively and the result was a disaster. So why presume it would have been much different if they'd backed him in January? We also knew that the same thing had happened at Benfica when after a fabulous start, it all fell away. Btw, I just looked him up and apparently he's now in Brazil - and up to now he has win ration of about 25%. Terrible again.

[@TalkingWolves]

@@jamesboswell9324 He’s left Brazil now he’s actually favourite for the Benfica job again!

[@jamesboswell9324]

Correction: He was appointed early July 2023 and sacked 3 months later on October 3rd, after an eight-match winless run.

[@jamesboswell9324]

@@TalkingWolves We've crossed over, but you're right.