sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 4,080
Stockdale 7 - personally I wouldn't blame him for the goal as it looked like Goldson had it covered and I can't imagine he didn't give the guy a call (and I guess we'll never know if he did). Otherwise, did his usual of making good saves alongside generally excellent distribution, even if there were a couple of poorer (by his standard) balls in the first half.
Bruno 9 - only let in one cross all game and it led to the goal, albeit it was an unfortunate goal to concede. Otherwise he was tremendous. Like another poster said, he's clearly one of our most talented footballers and at times he makes the game look so easy. Unlucky with his effort that hit the bar, and considering he essentially had the right flank all to himself, he got through a ridiculous amount of work.
Goldson 8 - he was excellent aside from his one mistake. Doesn't deserve to be dropped based on the last two performances. His pace also ensures that Bruno feels comfortable getting forward as he knows Goldson has the physical capabilities to cover him.
Dunk 8 - excellent. Calm, assured, dealt well with their attacking players and covered for Calderon so often he may as well ask for the guy's wages this week. Really should be equalised though.
Calderon 5 - tried hard but our weak link in defence. Henry ran at him time and again in the first half and we were so lucky to not be caught out. He offers nothing going forward and is severely restricting the impact Murphy has on games. When he is defending, he is so regularly out of position, either caught too far up, or too narrow. Luckily for him, Wolves weren't interested in attacking in the second half. I love the guy and his passion, but he's a square peg in a round hole.
Stephens 6 - I thought he dictated the game in the first half. Unfortunately, I think a lot of his natural game is restricted in a midfield two as he isn't given the license to get forward. Slowed the play down far too much in the second half where incisiveness and a speed in our midfield passing was needed. Clearly tired.
Kayal 7 - tried and tried. Still looks a class above at this level, like Bruno, but needs a rest. Too much of the creative burden is falling in his shoulders in central areas at the moment, yet by playing in a midfield two, much of his attacking instincts are restricted, just like Stephens. Played well, nonetheless, without finding the key.
Murphy 7 - our best creative outlet, but suffers from having no overlapping full back behind him. It's retreading old water, but I'd expect him to improve again once he has one on the outside. Nonetheless, his performance today was much improved, even if it again lacked an end product.
Crofts 4 - played in a strange, inside right position, neither supporting the midfield two, nor offering Bruno support on the right, nor getting forward enough to be a threat in the box. I'm not blaming him for this mind - it was a massive tactical error by CH and I'm surprised he persisted with him for so long when it was clear that he was negating a lot of the good work Bruno was doing.
Zamora 4 - unfortunately we just couldn't get him in the game. Didn't win much in the air, didn't hold the ball enough, didn't look like scoring really. The most worrying aspect for me was his lack of movement though, particularly in the second half. When you're dominating possession, it's the small incisive runs into the box or to drag defenders away that open up space, and he simply wasn't at the races in this regard.
Wilson 7 - gets an extra mark for playing despite being clearly ill and shattered. Tried hard, unlucky with a couple of efforts and looked to link with the other forwards. Unfortunately, he lost the ball on the half way line leading to their goal where a little more nous would've meant he'd held it. He was playing in a strange position, almost as a wide forward but up alongside Zamora, meaning his pace in behind was negating, but the Wolves back line could easily double up on him and push him into less dangerous areas. Possibly a result of Crofts position, possibly an instruction from CH, but it simply didn't work.
Manu 5 - had a couple of promising moments where his pace in behind looked to have caused some issues but his final ball wasn't good enough. Looks to have the attributes to be a good player, but appears to totally lack the brain to be one.
Hemed 4 - unlucky with one situation late in the second half where he brought the ball under control but couldn't quite get a shot away. Otherwise I don't remember him being on the pitch.
CH 4 - just got it wrong again. We have two right footed players on the left, one of which won't overlap the other meaning that our left side is naturally narrow. Bruno offered a lot of width but was asked to command the whole right flank as Crofts played a strange inside right role, yet never supported Bruno or the forwards or midfield two enough to be fully effective in either role. That meant we lacked any true width. He compounded that by asking Wilson to spend the first half running out to the right to try and support Bruno but this negated the option in behind that his pace and directness should offer us, meaning that his best work was done in areas that couldn't hurt Wolves. All of this left Zamora hopelessly isolated, particularly with Crofts aforementioned lack of support. It's a shame, because he's having to deal with a severely depleted squad due to injuries and it's little mistakes which are costing us, but he seems unable to organise the team to grind out results now that he doesn't have his big players, and that's a worry.
Still, onwards and upwards as there were positives from today's performance.
Bruno 9 - only let in one cross all game and it led to the goal, albeit it was an unfortunate goal to concede. Otherwise he was tremendous. Like another poster said, he's clearly one of our most talented footballers and at times he makes the game look so easy. Unlucky with his effort that hit the bar, and considering he essentially had the right flank all to himself, he got through a ridiculous amount of work.
Goldson 8 - he was excellent aside from his one mistake. Doesn't deserve to be dropped based on the last two performances. His pace also ensures that Bruno feels comfortable getting forward as he knows Goldson has the physical capabilities to cover him.
Dunk 8 - excellent. Calm, assured, dealt well with their attacking players and covered for Calderon so often he may as well ask for the guy's wages this week. Really should be equalised though.
Calderon 5 - tried hard but our weak link in defence. Henry ran at him time and again in the first half and we were so lucky to not be caught out. He offers nothing going forward and is severely restricting the impact Murphy has on games. When he is defending, he is so regularly out of position, either caught too far up, or too narrow. Luckily for him, Wolves weren't interested in attacking in the second half. I love the guy and his passion, but he's a square peg in a round hole.
Stephens 6 - I thought he dictated the game in the first half. Unfortunately, I think a lot of his natural game is restricted in a midfield two as he isn't given the license to get forward. Slowed the play down far too much in the second half where incisiveness and a speed in our midfield passing was needed. Clearly tired.
Kayal 7 - tried and tried. Still looks a class above at this level, like Bruno, but needs a rest. Too much of the creative burden is falling in his shoulders in central areas at the moment, yet by playing in a midfield two, much of his attacking instincts are restricted, just like Stephens. Played well, nonetheless, without finding the key.
Murphy 7 - our best creative outlet, but suffers from having no overlapping full back behind him. It's retreading old water, but I'd expect him to improve again once he has one on the outside. Nonetheless, his performance today was much improved, even if it again lacked an end product.
Crofts 4 - played in a strange, inside right position, neither supporting the midfield two, nor offering Bruno support on the right, nor getting forward enough to be a threat in the box. I'm not blaming him for this mind - it was a massive tactical error by CH and I'm surprised he persisted with him for so long when it was clear that he was negating a lot of the good work Bruno was doing.
Zamora 4 - unfortunately we just couldn't get him in the game. Didn't win much in the air, didn't hold the ball enough, didn't look like scoring really. The most worrying aspect for me was his lack of movement though, particularly in the second half. When you're dominating possession, it's the small incisive runs into the box or to drag defenders away that open up space, and he simply wasn't at the races in this regard.
Wilson 7 - gets an extra mark for playing despite being clearly ill and shattered. Tried hard, unlucky with a couple of efforts and looked to link with the other forwards. Unfortunately, he lost the ball on the half way line leading to their goal where a little more nous would've meant he'd held it. He was playing in a strange position, almost as a wide forward but up alongside Zamora, meaning his pace in behind was negating, but the Wolves back line could easily double up on him and push him into less dangerous areas. Possibly a result of Crofts position, possibly an instruction from CH, but it simply didn't work.
Manu 5 - had a couple of promising moments where his pace in behind looked to have caused some issues but his final ball wasn't good enough. Looks to have the attributes to be a good player, but appears to totally lack the brain to be one.
Hemed 4 - unlucky with one situation late in the second half where he brought the ball under control but couldn't quite get a shot away. Otherwise I don't remember him being on the pitch.
CH 4 - just got it wrong again. We have two right footed players on the left, one of which won't overlap the other meaning that our left side is naturally narrow. Bruno offered a lot of width but was asked to command the whole right flank as Crofts played a strange inside right role, yet never supported Bruno or the forwards or midfield two enough to be fully effective in either role. That meant we lacked any true width. He compounded that by asking Wilson to spend the first half running out to the right to try and support Bruno but this negated the option in behind that his pace and directness should offer us, meaning that his best work was done in areas that couldn't hurt Wolves. All of this left Zamora hopelessly isolated, particularly with Crofts aforementioned lack of support. It's a shame, because he's having to deal with a severely depleted squad due to injuries and it's little mistakes which are costing us, but he seems unable to organise the team to grind out results now that he doesn't have his big players, and that's a worry.
Still, onwards and upwards as there were positives from today's performance.
