Wolves vs West Ham | Carabao Cup 2nd Round | 26.8.25 | Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

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 Odds: 
WHU: 21/10
Draw: 12/5
Wolves: 13/10

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[Massive Attack]

The season has already got shades of Roeders last season when we had to rely on chucking Ian Pearce up front it was getting that desperate. Player/manager bust-ups and early subs at half time. All the ingredients are there just as soon as the injuries to key Players start to mount up as well.

Don't forget AFCON this year will strip us of half our defence.

Shit, good point. Wan-Bissaka, Diouf, Aguerd will all be off.

[Lee Trundle]

The season has already got shades of Roeders last season when we had to rely on chucking Ian Pearce up front it was getting that desperate. Player/manager bust-ups and early subs at half time. All the ingredients are there just as soon as the injuries to key Players start to mount up as well.

Don't forget AFCON this year will strip us of half our defence.

[Massive Attack]

The season has already got shades of Roeders last season when we had to rely on chucking Ian Pearce up front it was getting that desperate. Player/manager bust-ups and early subs at half time. All the ingredients are there just as soon as the injuries to key Players start to mount up as well.

[zico]

As everyone else has said Bowen is far better on the right, he isn't a back to goal type of player.  I would seriously stick Soucek up front, and with Bowen on the right and ideally a fit Summerville on the left they could pick up Soucek's flick on's etc.  I honestly think he would do better than Fullkrug.  He has to go back four as well.  AWB isn't a wing-back but is a very good right back.  Diouf does look decent.  It's who plays centre half, again as others have said we miss a Dawson, Reid or even a young version of Ogbonna.  If we could get two central midfielders with legs I would also play Paqueta deeper with those two midfielders next to him, so a 433 of sorts.  Yes a 4231 could work but I would still play Paqueta deeper, you certainly don't want him stuck out on the left, Moyes tried that and it didn't work.

[dealcanvey]

Bowen is only a threat when playing wide and running at defenders and cutting in. Why these managers play him as a striker which takes away so much goal threat is madness. He can’t play with his back to goal his touch is not good enough. We should try to move Tobido on he is a complete over priced duff.

 

Totally agree.  For me at this juncture, we have a few key players, and the team and setup almost picks themselves as the goal has to be to maximise the performance of those players:

1. Bowen...best and most effective position: Right wing
2. Paqueta...at his best when given free reign to go get the ball and make play.  Don't let him get it in dangerous areas to much as he misplaces passes. Good at through balls.  Good physically for a player of his type in the air.
3. Diouf...suspect defensively. Sticks a great first time or second touch cross in...doesn't need to get to the byline.
4. Wan Bissaka...good in the tackle, good at ball carrying from deep, good at moving infield in tight space. Can't cross.
5. Mavropanos...best CB in the air. Prone to a fuck up.
6. Soucek...good at late runs into the box to meet crosses.  Good last line blocker.  Can't run or tackle effectively.
7. Fullkrug.  Not great at hold up play, but ok, and good pedigree in the box when given service.

Once you look at that, we clearly have  RW, ACM, LW, RB, CB, and no. 8, and box striker.  We have a team that is going to be good at attaking crosses.  We have one wide player that excels at sticking the ball in the box, and another that is a fantastic wide player for both assists to players in the box and scoring goals himself.

The only formation Potter should be contemplating is 4-2-3-1.

We need someone who is aggressive and can run around Soucek in the pivot to hide his limitations.  We don't need overlapping fullbacks, but those that are defensively secure.  we need to attack down either flank much more than through the middle.  And we need our wingers to receive the ball wide, and not 'in field'.  And we need to put good balls into the danger zone.

So our key positions are:

GK - 
RB - Wan Bissaka
RCB - Mavropanos
LCB - 
LB -
RDM - Soucek
LDM - 
RW - Bowen
ACM - Paqueta
LW - Diouf
CF - Fullkrug

Those are the players that can actually impact the game for us in a positive way....contribute to us scoring goals.

The 'open' slots is about supporting the rest of that cast to be as effective as they can.

- Mavro is strong but prone to rickets...needs someone quick next to him to try and recover when he makes a fuck up.
- Diouf needs someone dependable behind him who can feed him the ball effectively.  No real need for overlap.
- Soucek needs players around him in open play...possible a full back that inverts to make an extra man and a midfielder with running and aggression.
- And we need a competent goalkeeper.
- Paqueta's job need to be to set the wingers away in space, and then to get in the box with Fullkrug and Soucek.  Those three in the box to attack crosses will be dangerous against anyone.

We're not going to win the league with that team, but it lends itself to a clear method of play, and clear tactical approach to scoring goals.

Really don't see why it's so hard.  Potter is clearly a self righteous, moronic, and pretty unintelligent cսnt if he can't sift through the detritous of his own theories, and work out he has some effective players at his disposal that he just needs to maximise.

 

 

This is the only way forward in order to get the best out of our players.

GK is a mess. Still think Ramsdale on loan would have made more sense than signing Hermansen permanently and now looking to get in a 3rd!

Diouf can play LW certainly plus hopefully Summerville will be back at some point this decade. Scarles is a good defensive LB. 

CB is a massive problem. We miss a Collins/Dawson/Reid no nonsense type player in that backline who wont be bullied. Not sure Mavrapanos is the answer either. He is the best of a bad bunch but still struggled with Larsen last night.

If the two African DMs come in that could be a big step forward and I would like the club to take a gamble on Hackney. No way can the club sell Paqueta.

Has Potter played a back 4 ever with us or anyone else? Seem to think like he may have for a game.

If he sticks to 3 at the back against Forest he really has given up.

[stubbo-admin]

So our key positions are:

GK - 
RB - Wan Bissaka
RCB - Mavropanos
LCB - 
LB -
RDM - Soucek
LDM - 
RW - Bowen
ACM - Paqueta
LW - Diouf
CF - Fullkrug




 

This is exactly it. You get a pen and paper, write this down. Identify your strongest players in their strongest positions, see what's left and send scouts off around the world to find those players. SO WHY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS HAS NO ONE BEEN ABLE TO FUCKING DO IT. 

Beats me.  These modern managers have become 'geniuses' in their own minds.  All this talk of philosophy etc.  Woke managerial nonsense.  Maximise the talent at your disposal but looking at their talents and making a plan to make them work.  Manage...not design.

[stubbo-admin]

Rumour that Sangare is also now on his way for a medical? 

if true ( im skeptical because this lad is good albeit injury prone I think which may be why Forest lettinh him go or maybe its FFP and they need to sell?) .  But even if he does rock up with the lad from Monaco, as I opined earlier we need another centre mid because these 2 are defensive midfielders primarily.  Fernandes from Southampton or the Jerry from Leipzig sound like the attacking ones?  We need one but if we do actually get all 3 Im guessing its because Sully has Paqueta lined up to go? He’s always wanted the cash for Paqueta since the City £85 million offer. An ambitious owner keeps Paqueta. Sullivan always setting the bar at retaining Prem Lge status only. If this happens its proof beyond doubt of Sullivans ambition. 

He's not injury prone at all.  he's had 1 big hamstring injury his whole career..before that nothing of note at all and been fit after it since January.

[Sir Alf]

Rumour that Sangare is also now on his way for a medical? 

if true ( im skeptical because this lad is good albeit injury prone I think which may be why Forest lettinh him go or maybe its FFP and they need to sell?) .  But even if he does rock up with the lad from Monaco, as I opined earlier we need another centre mid because these 2 are defensive midfielders primarily.  Fernandes from Southampton or the Jerry from Leipzig sound like the attacking ones?  We need one but if we do actually get all 3 Im guessing its because Sully has Paqueta lined up to go? He’s always wanted the cash for Paqueta since the City £85 million offer. An ambitious owner keeps Paqueta. Sullivan always setting the bar at retaining Prem Lge status only. If this happens its proof beyond doubt of Sullivans ambition. 

[honky cat]

So our key positions are:

GK - 
RB - Wan Bissaka
RCB - Mavropanos
LCB - 
LB -
RDM - Soucek
LDM - 
RW - Bowen
ACM - Paqueta
LW - Diouf
CF - Fullkrug


 

This is exactly it. You get a pen and paper, write this down. Identify your strongest players in their strongest positions, see what's left and send scouts off around the world to find those players. SO WHY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS HAS NO ONE BEEN ABLE TO FUCKING DO IT. 

[Sir Alf]

Agree on Bowen. His first touch is not good and his passing not quite up to being played centrally with his back to goal. Like Paqueta, for all the excellent work they do, both are guilty of cheap turnovers which often result in goals against opportunities since z’we dont have the legs to handle counter attacks.  Tbf Bowen is less of an issue than Paqueta in that sense who frustrates as games go on, he tires around 60-70 mins and falls to floor in every duel and gets dispossessed. He needs to come off around the above time period imo and should play deeper as he is another who cannot play that well with his back to goal. All his best work last night , mostly first half, was when he was dropping deeper. But I can see why he stays on. He is one of our only sources of creativity going forward. Orford and Potts probably the next best which shows the limitations of this squad.  

[stubbo-admin]

Bowen is only a threat when playing wide and running at defenders and cutting in. Why these managers play him as a striker which takes away so much goal threat is madness. He can’t play with his back to goal his touch is not good enough. We should try to move Tobido on he is a complete over priced duff.

 

 

Totally agree.  For me at this juncture, we have a few key players, and the team and setup almost picks themselves as the goal has to be to maximise the performance of those players:

1. Bowen...best and most effective position: Right wing
2. Paqueta...at his best when given free reign to go get the ball and make play.  Don't let him get it in dangerous areas to much as he misplaces passes. Good at through balls.  Good physically for a player of his type in the air.
3. Diouf...suspect defensively. Sticks a great first time or second touch cross in...doesn't need to get to the byline.
4. Wan Bissaka...good in the tackle, good at ball carrying from deep, good at moving infield in tight space. Can't cross.
5. Mavropanos...best CB in the air. Prone to a fuck up.
6. Soucek...good at late runs into the box to meet crosses.  Good last line blocker.  Can't run or tackle effectively.
7. Fullkrug.  Not great at hold up play, but ok, and good pedigree in the box when given service.

Once you look at that, we clearly have  RW, ACM, LW, RB, CB, and no. 8, and box striker.  We have a team that is going to be good at attaking crosses.  We have one wide player that excels at sticking the ball in the box, and another that is a fantastic wide player for both assists to players in the box and scoring goals himself.

The only formation Potter should be contemplating is 4-2-3-1.

We need someone who is aggressive and can run around Soucek in the pivot to hide his limitations.  We don't need overlapping fullbacks, but those that are defensively secure.  we need to attack down either flank much more than through the middle.  And we need our wingers to receive the ball wide, and not 'in field'.  And we need to put good balls into the danger zone.

So our key positions are:

GK - 
RB - Wan Bissaka
RCB - Mavropanos
LCB - 
LB -
RDM - Soucek
LDM - 
RW - Bowen
ACM - Paqueta
LW - Diouf
CF - Fullkrug

Those are the players that can actually impact the game for us in a positive way....contribute to us scoring goals.

The 'open' slots is about supporting the rest of that cast to be as effective as they can.

- Mavro is strong but prone to rickets...needs someone quick next to him to try and recover when he makes a fuck up.
- Diouf needs someone dependable behind him who can feed him the ball effectively.  No real need for overlap.
- Soucek needs players around him in open play...possible a full back that inverts to make an extra man and a midfielder with running and aggression.
- And we need a competent goalkeeper.
- Paqueta's job need to be to set the wingers away in space, and then to get in the box with Fullkrug and Soucek.  Those three in the box to attack crosses will be dangerous against anyone.

We're not going to win the league with that team, but it lends itself to a clear method of play, and clear tactical approach to scoring goals.

Really don't see why it's so hard.  Potter is clearly a self righteous, moronic, and pretty unintelligent cսnt if he can't sift through the detritous of his own theories, and work out he has some effective players at his disposal that he just needs to maximise.

[Mex Martillo]

Although the defence get most of the blame and yes they should do better on the last goal but its about stopping their midfield dominance and the crosses getting in so easily. The “Snail Collective” this week was Guido, JWP and Soucek. They have to work double hard chasing the ball as theirlack of pace puts them at a disadvantage. Guess what ? After 60 kins they were done as a 3. Changes were requured and the timing if Irvine coming on was right but it was obvious we needed the whole midgield being freshened up and especially after their 4 subs came on. We scored a second and that was the trigger for Potter to go conservative, defence first and it cost us the game. He doesnt have many options in the squad but he does have some.  Potts, Orford, Irvine would have added some energy. No certainties and hindsight etc but you could see we had no energy left in the middle of the park and had to try stop them controlling the game. 

Everyone but Potter could see this.  He just froze and crossed his fingers we could hold on.   

 

 

Well said Sir Alf and appreciate that it was concise, almost to the point. It was obvious. It’s a cliche, but the best form of defense is attack. Taking the ball up the field helps the whole team and what’s more is what your support wants to see. I find it insulting that Potter didn’t try and change what was happening. He was preparing subs when we went in the lead. But the goal changed his idea and then he left it until it all went tits up and we lost again. Crap management.

[kinglewy]

Bowen is only a threat when playing wide and running at defenders and cutting in. Why these managers play him as a striker which takes away so much goal threat is madness. He can’t play with his back to goal his touch is not good enough. We should try to move Tobido on he is a complete over priced duff.

[fraser]

Who was the dickhead giving Jarrod stick? He needs a good kicking.

Do you know he gave him stick personally or was it aimed at the team in general? 

[greenie1]

Who was the dickhead giving Jarrod stick? He needs a good kicking.

[Massive Attack]

Not starting a single Striker whilst having THREE specialists all sat dumbfounded on the Bench is a special kind of spastic I've not seen before from a manager and we wonder why we struggled to score 1st half! 

I could just imagine the side eyes all Wilson, Fullkrug and Marshall had with one another behind Potters back on the touchline. 

He didn't play 1 until the 87th minute!

[fraser]

 

Sums up what you know about this club, you fucking idiot.

collyrob is right, there's enough people at the club to cսnt off, Bowen is the absolute last of them. I wouldn't expect you to know that, you're about as West Ham as Ferret.

What's that got to do with anything you sad name-calling cuntflap.
And what a surprise seeing these two idiots clinging on to eachother.
Hard core fans aren't you, "I said so" and "I'll back the manager "!

So someone says back the manager 6 months ago and they are not allowed to change their mind is that your reasoning you thick fucking moron? Unlike you I believe in giving managers a chance, he has had his.

 

 

Everyone is allowed to change their mind, but what makes you a thick cսnt is you don't accept others opinions unless they're aligned with yours..you call others cunts and not proper West Ham fans when they want the manager out, but then when you decide you want him out its fine, but then if you change your mind and want him in again everyone else that still wants him out get called cunts and not proper West Ham again. 

[goose]

there were a few glimpses last night of what could actually be achieved.............. Paqueta was much more effective playing further up the pitch closer to Bowen. 
Bowen was a threat when he pulled out to his natural position on the right.
KWP & Diouf both looked competent going forward.

but Potter will ignore all of that and go back to defensive crab football with Bowen wasted and Paqueta giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

[Mad Ferret]

Decent side.


 

That side was taking us through to the next round until Potter decided to turn into Moyes and not freshen it up.

[twoleftfeet]

Who was the last manager we had who would get a lead and then keep going at it? Bilic? 

You have the foot on the oppositions throat and then you take it off, very frustrating.

Oh and what has happened to Summerville? It's the longest groin strain in history.

[Lee Trundle]

Decent side.

 

[Mad Ferret]

Guarantee wolves draw millwall next just to stick the boot in.
We are in a state at the moment.

Millwall would do us comfortably at the moment, so saved us the embarrassment at least.

[twoleftfeet]

He is the club captain and is not immune to fans reaction after a collective capitulation like this.

 

Sums up what you know about this club, you fucking idiot.

collyrob is right, there's enough people at the club to cսnt off, Bowen is the absolute last of them. I wouldn't expect you to know that, you're about as West Ham as Ferret.

What's that got to do with anything you sad name-calling cuntflap.
And what a surprise seeing these two idiots clinging on to eachother.
Hard core fans aren't you, "I said so" and "I'll back the manager "!

So someone says back the manager 6 months ago and they are not allowed to change their mind is that your reasoning you thick fucking moron? Unlike you I believe in giving managers a chance, he has had his.

[Eerie Decent]

He is the club captain and is not immune to fans reaction after a collective capitulation like this.

 

Sums up what you know about this club, you fucking idiot.

collyrob is right, there's enough people at the club to cսnt off, Bowen is the absolute last of them. I wouldn't expect you to know that, you're about as West Ham as Ferret.

What's that got to do with anything you sad name-calling cuntflap.
And what a surprise seeing these two idiots clinging on to eachother.
Hard core fans aren't you, "I said so" and "I'll back the manager "!

You have never lived in England, you've never been to a West Ham game, you're as thcik as mince, and you're on here trying to dig out proper West Ham fans.

Ain't there a forum for women's football enthusiasts that you can post on?

[Tomshardware]

Although the defence get most of the blame and yes they should do better on the last goal but its about stopping their midfield dominance and the crosses getting in so easily. The “Snail Collective” this week was Guido, JWP and Soucek. They have to work double hard chasing the ball as theirlack of pace puts them at a disadvantage. Guess what ? After 60 kins they were done as a 3. Changes were requured and the timing if Irvine coming on was right but it was obvious we needed the whole midgield being freshened up and especially after their 4 subs came on. We scored a second and that was the trigger for Potter to go conservative, defence first and it cost us the game. He doesnt have many options in the squad but he does have some.  Potts, Orford, Irvine would have added some energy. No certainties and hindsight etc but you could see we had no energy left in the middle of the park and had to try stop them controlling the game. 

Everyone but Potter could see this.  He just froze and crossed his fingers we could hold on.