Wolves' Fans Verdict v Leicester: No need to panic

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match?

Clinical (adjective); very efficient and without feeling.

This is a word I feel we may be hearing often, at least over the next few weeks, when discussing a Wolves performance.

For the best part of half an hour we dominated this game as if we were the home side. Rui Patricio was so rarely involved he could've pulled out a copy of ‘Viva Nuno' and read @petalengro's musings of our promotion-winning campaign.

Unfortunately our dominance yielded only a couple of rasping efforts from distance that connected with the Leicester woodwork and a weak effort from Doherty that was cleared off the line.

As has happened many times in the past at this level, our failure to convert chances when on top came back to haunt us. While it could be argued that Coady's touch made dealing with Albrighton's cross difficult for Doherty you get the feeling that his decision to channel his inner Peter Crouch and head the ball toward goal rather than back in the direction it came from was a bigger contributing factor to us being a goal behind despite Leicester not having had a shot on target!

That moment seemed to have a massive effect on Doc and his performance level after it took a nose dive. This seemed to shake the confidence of those around him too and our defending started to become a little more erratic as Leicester got into the game a bit more in the 15 minutes before the break, culminating in a second goal before the break which lead to more questions being asked of our defending.

A few fans had pointed out Coady's slow reaction to closing down Richarlison and in turning his back on the shot for Everton's second goal last weekend. Many will be questioning him again for Maddison's strike yesterday. At this level it's unacceptable to let someone shoot without pressure from the edge of the box. The unfortunate Bennett had tried to close the shot down in Coady's reluctance to but only managed to get a touch which diverted the ball beyond Patricio's grasp.

The second half was much the same as the first. We had a lot of the ball and pressed high but all we had to show for it was a couple of poor misses from Bonatini, a rasping Neves volley that was too close to Schmeichel, and another rattle of the woodwork from Jonny.

It's nowhere near panic stations yet but we do need to learn quickly that our finishing must be better and we have to defend with much more urgency if we're to make our excellent control of possession count for anything.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Neves and Moutinho controlled midfield very well. We had a lot of the ball and they kept us moving by switching play often and shuffling Leicester's defensive unit around well. Moutinho was very unlucky to smash a shot against the bar from roughly the same area that he had missed from in the last two games against Villarreal and Everton. I get the feeling we will often see him pop up in that space just outside the area to shoot from range this season.

Jimenez was also impressive again in leading the line during the first half and, like Moutinho, was unlucky to see his effort from distance smash against the post with Schmeichel beaten. It was a strange decision to move him out wide at half-time to cater for Bonatini's introduction as I’d have liked to see him through the middle with Traore tormenting the full-back and putting balls across the box. The Spanish winger was a constant threat in the second half but did tend to sit quite deep and want the ball played to feet rather than running in behind. While he does have the ability to beat full backs regularly from this standing start, it will be good to see him work on mixing it up and looking to run into the space behind the defences onto through balls too.

Of those who struggled, Doherty and Costa were the biggest standouts. Nothing seemed to go right for Doc. From his weak early effort on goal, scoring the own goal, then some poor control and passing early in the second half before he was eventually replaced following a wild swipe of Jamie Vardy's left boot that put the Irishman down holding his knee and left us up against ten men for the second successive weekend. Hopefully it was just one of those days for him and he can come back with an improved performance when we return to action.

Costa was barely involved in the first half as a lot of our good play came via Jonny down the left or from balls into Jimenez through the channels. The one opportunity Costa did get to have an influence on the game ended with his skying a shot which probably hasn’t landed yet. Traore's impressive performance will threaten Costa's starting place more than anyone else.

Natalie Wood

What's your verdict on the match?

Just not our day? Possibly... but there is no doubt there is slightly more to our defeat to Leicester than just bad luck.

Our game vs Leicester was always going to be a big one, they are the sort of team that we really should be competing well against if we want to take our opportunity to be a serious team in the premier league.

The first 20 minutes we played superb, absolutely played them off the park we could of and should of been at least 2-0 up with Moutinho smashing the cross bar and Doherty missing an absolute sitter. We were by far the better team and it did seem a matter of time until we scored. Moutinho and Jonny in particular stood out.

Leicester’s opening goal was slightly unlucky- I don’t think the ball could hit Dohertys head that perfectly again if they tried 20 times! But it did really take the stuffing out of wolves. After that we seemed to just lose momentum for the rest of the first half. Just before half time Leicester got another stroke of luck for their second goal. It looked like a deflection off Coady but ultimately it didn’t matter, Leicester had one shot on target and somehow had managed to be 2-0 up!

Withdrawing Jota and Costa at half time was a good move, both had played well but gave possession up easily, Jota also looked absolutely shattered by half time!

We were again the better team in the second half, getting into some really good positions but with little to show for us. Our lack of quality in the final third is starting to concern me, I just can’t see Bonatini cutting it at this level and Jimenez looks great in many ways but I just don’t see him being a goal machine.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

I think it’s safe to say Doherty had a shocker. Probably one of his worst performances in a wolves shirt but I was quite shocked to hear other fans really going after him, he is probably one of our stronger players normally and a real key to our game. Neves also had a poor game with some really lazy passes and defensively he looked poor.

Traore looked superb when he came on- one to watch for sure! I think my man of the match though would be Jonny Otto, he looked really bright and made some great runs.

Ultimately even though it was an ok performance there is no getting away from the fact we just didn’t cut it at the top! At this level we can’t afford to be wasting chances. We are only two games in and I’m sure it will take some time for all the players to take the step up to this league but we need it to start clicking into place soon!

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match?

If we had won our opening two games we would not have gone over board, so collecting just one point is no reason to either. Veterans of our previous PL campaigns will not be surprised how the games have gone.

Existing players have to raise their game to a higher level and at the moment they are not all doing that. Equally the new players have to be at the right level. As a whole, we are playing better than we were last season - of course, we need to.

An unchanged eleven started the game on the front foot, passing well, winning challenges, finding space and doing it all at a high tempo. For twenty five minutes it was a joy to watch.

In that time we had beaten the keeper twice but hit the woodwork while Doherty had a dreadful miss.

Unfortunately all our good work brought no reward and by the break we trailed by two goals and had lost the game.

Nuno swapped Costa and Jota, both of whom had been below par, for Traore and Bonatini.

Scoring first is hugely significant at this level, so chasing the game from 0-2 was a tough ask. Leicester stayed deep so Neves had nowhere to spread the play. We were closed down quickly, even when Vardy had been shown a red, Leicester were able to have two or three defenders lined up to block Traore.

The Bonatini change did not work for me. He looked ineffective from December and continues to now at a higher level. His positioning was a liability as he took up the places Jimenez had been. Two half chances he had were wasted.

Our set pieces were poor. We had plenty of corners and a couple of long range free kicks, but didn't look like scoring from any.

With Gibbs-White replacing Doherty our 3-4-3 evaporated and our shape was lost. His positioning also looked strange as he just dragged a defender towards Traore or Jimenez and denied them space.

More than once last season Nuno made puzzling substitutions. Today, changing to a back four without Doherty, a midfield of Neves, Moutinho and Saiss and attack of Traore, Jimenez and Jota would have been my choice.

The line-up with damage limitation in mind next week will be interesting.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Patricio had no chance with either goal and had little to do, with only two shots on target.

Doherty had a poor game. Missing the chance to put us 1-0 up and then giving a goal away. He looked weary even in the first half. He needs to raise his game to avoid being a weak link. 3-4-3 needs effective wing backs.

Jonny looked better than last week and played further forward to support the front three.

Bennett was generally ok. Careless in possession once or twice, but also made a couple of well timed tackles.

Boly and Coady too looked more in control than last week, just slightly unsure and nervy when closed down and an obvious pass is not available. Had Coady not turned his back on Maddison then there would have been no deflection for the second goal.

Neves looked a cut above in the first half. Leicester however also had a star in midfield and Maddison made a greater impact on the game with his goal. Pity he is not playing with Neves. Ironic that Neves struck a shot as cleanly as the Leicester player, but without a deflection it was easily saved.

Moutinho played well and was unlucky not to score early on.

Jota, although below par today, he was still our top scorer last season and being replaced by Bonatini did not improve things. He needs to be more robust when challenged and make more first time attempts on goal. Taking an extra touch usually sees the chance gone.

Jimenez again looked an excellent signing. His workrate and touch were impressive while he also looks to have goals in him. MOTM. He made a delicious pass when Jonny hit the post.

Costa wasted a chance early on and failed to hold onto the ball at times. He was replaced at half-time.

Traore came on looking to impress. Starting on the left he soon switched to the right. He has the speed to beat players and pick out a pass too. Crosses to Jimenez and Bonatini could have brought goal's. An encouraging debut.

Bonatini wasted two chances, failing to hit the target when well placed.

Gibbs-White was chasing the ball but found it hard to make an impression other than getting booked.

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match?

Very, very unlucky Wolves.

I was completely happy with our performance. We took the game to Leicester and really went for it in the first half hour. If we’d been 3-0 up it would not have flattered us. Moutinho hit the bar, Jimenez hit the post and, maybe, Doherty had the easiest chance from the six yard line where he should have buried it.

It’s not an exaggeration to say we were all over them and would have gone on to win if it wasn’t for two cruel twists of fate.

On 28 minutes, with Leicester having had not a single shot on goal, a routine ball into the box skimmed Coady’s head and rocketed off Doherty’s head into our goal. It was some header!

The Foxes tails were up, but Wolves stuck to their game only for a killer blow just before half time. Maddison, their best player, shot from outside the box. It was deflected off Coady into the net. I think Rui had it covered.

Two criticisms leading up to this goal. Jota gave the ball away too easily in their half. When Maddison was teeing up his shot Coady turned his back on him which lead to the deflection.

In the second half, we huffed and puffed without success.

We probably had the best chances to score, again. Jimenez shot saved. Bonatini skied a much better chance and also should have done better with a header. Jonny also hit the post before Neves forces a save from 25 yards.

For the second week running, we couldn’t really make the most of an additional man. The challenge by Vardy was a disgrace and unnecessary at that time and place on the pitch.

I can only recall one Leicester shot by Chilwell at the end.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Jimenez ran riot in the first half with Evans all over the place. I’m impressed with our new no.9. Costa and Jota both looked threatening, but I could understand why they were subbed at half time. They were not holding onto the ball long enough to allow other players to get into advanced positions. Traore came on and looked like he will be a handful for defences. Time after time he took on the full back and left him for dust. Bonatini had much less impact on the game!

Neves and Moutinho did well with Jonny looking like another good signing.

I’m afraid the jury is still out on Boly, Coady & Bennett as a central team at this level. Time will tell, but I think they will make it.

Doherty did well. Nothing he could do about the own goal and the awful Vardy challenge cut his game short, even though he tried to continue.

On to Man City, which I consider a “free hit”. Come on.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match?

Welcome to the Premier League Wolves! A more than decent performance as we were by far the better side almost all game but possession alone will not cut it at this level. We had eight chances, two or three of them great chances whilst Leicester did not create a single one, their goals coming from a bullet header of an own goal and a deflected twenty plus yarder.

We need to become ruthless and quickly and certain players need to make that step up from the level they looked too good for last season. Oh well it's only Man City next week. Easy.

The best quote of the day during another spell of dominant possession was a reminder that Real Madrid play in the Wolves away kit.

Adam Virgo

What was your verdict on the match?

Overall, it was a good performance away from home against a top 10 side and to come away frustrated that we didn’t pick up at least a point does show that we can compete, however we need to be a lot more clinical in future games.

If we play like we did in the first 30 minutes then we will cause problems for a lot of teams. I know we’ve got nothing for it but there are a lot of positives to take and it just wasn’t our day.

We controlled the game until Leicester scored and then it knocked us back for the remainder of the first half. We had control during the second half, even more so when they went down to 10 men which was a definite red card.

We created chances second half too, Adama Traoré being the main producer for that who has to start next week, Bonatini should have done far better with the chances he had though.

I didn’t understand the double change at half time, Adama coming on was fine for either Jota/Costa but Bonatini was introduced way too early. It made us change our shape and having him or Jimenez in a wider position isn’t really ideal, especially as the Mexican caused problems for Leicester all afternoon.

Who played well and who didn’t impress?

Raul Jimenez once again played very well, full of running and determination, did incredibly well to keep the ball in which set up Doherty’s goal bound opportunity. He caused problems for Leicester with the ball and without it by running in behind. Very unlucky with his strike that hit the post too.

Neves and Moutinho both controlled the game in midfield for large parts, the latter so unlucky with his early strike which hit the bar. I do feel as though we’ll be able to control a lot of games and keep the ball well with those two against a lot of sides, just maybe sometimes we might need Saiss/Dendoncker to come in at times.

Costa and Jota were poor but I wouldn’t have taken both of them off at half time. One of them going off for Adama would have been fine because we only needed 1 goal to get ourselves back into the game and changing the shape wasn’t the best of ideas when we caused Leicester plenty of problems in the first half.

Defensively I don’t feel like we had too many problems where Leicester hurt us. Both goals were fortunate but at the same time we could have dealt with them better. We lost the ball on the counter for both goals, Doherty could have done slightly better for the own goal and Coady shouldn’t have backed off anywhere near as long as he did against Maddison.

Jonny had a very good game too. Got forwards a lot more than he did against Everton, defensively he was sound and when he did go forward he was causing problems and creating chances.