Wolves Fans' Verdict v Aston Villa: Very frustrating

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

We all knew that the Carabao Cup was way down on the list of priorities for Nuno but I certainly didn’t expect him to field such a youthful side. Wholesale changes throughout the starting XI and subs meant I had to be prised away from The Wellington to get a taxi to Villa Park. I think a bit of perspective maybe needed though. If we would’ve played Crystal Palace last night and bowed out in the same manner then Wolves fans probably wouldn’t have batted an eye lid but because it’s the Villa, fans feel a bit more disgruntled which is fair enough. The decision to rest players may look a little futile should we go to Arsenal and come away with nothing.

Man of the Match

Looking at our future prospects last night, it’s clear to see why Max Kilman is the one who’s tasted the first team the most this season. The gigantic defender imposed himself well on the game and was calm on the ball. He didn’t have a lot to do but when he was called upon, he did his job.

Something to Improve

Despite making a huge number of changes, Wolves’ style of play never threatened to burst into action until the second half. It’s so frustrating to watch at the minute and even with different personnel, Wolves just can’t seem to start a game. I get the plan would be to frustrate Villa but I’d like to see us have a go at teams in the first half. Credit to the lads who played though, it was a huge occasion for them.

Clive Smith

Reaction to the Result

Quite an anti climax. With over half the team (and all the subs) plucked from half term holiday, the game was men against boys. The boys mainly had only other boys around them for support so they ran around a lot but rarely got the ball or kept possession. Were it an EFL Trophy game it may have been a more useful experiment.

Man of the Match

MOTM was probably Bennett. Kid of the match was Kilman. Sympathy vote goes to Cutrone who was constantly thirty yards away from another Wolves player, tried to close down three defenders and ran miles and miles.

Something to Improve

Well team selection would be a start, but as we are out of this competition that won't happen. Playing the same formation at all levels sounds good in theory, but when the pace and strength of players (and opposition) is different, then things have to change. A fifty yard diagonal ball from Coady to Doc can not be repeated by two under nineteen kids.

Adam Virgo

Reaction to the Result

Once I saw the line-up, including the bench, I didn’t expect too much and I wasn’t surprised we lost. The kids gave it their best but we found it difficult to get any real control of the game, understandably. Nuno’s decision to not have any first team outfield players on the bench was frustrating because to me it was like he’d given up before we started. I understand we have to rest players due to a busy schedule but 20-30 minutes for a few players wouldn’t have done much or any harm but it’s done now and we have winnable games coming up that we need to take advantage of.

Man of the Match

Taylor Perry had a decent game in all fairness, some sloppy passes here and there but he did well for the goal. Cutrone should have scored at 2-1 but everyone misses chances and all game he was pressing and acting like a leader, it was a tough game for him because he was very isolated at times and he could have easily just given up on pressing but he continued all game.

Something to Improve

Considering the team will be completely changed on Saturday I feel like anything said on this won’t mean too much but something that does need to be improved is the squad depth and that’s a fact. The game clearly showed we need more players to compete if Nuno is that willing on resting all of the main players because it’s fine starting a few young players but all of them together pretty much, you’re leaving them with very little chance of winning.

Rob Cartwright

Reaction to the Result

We were outside the ground when the teams were announced. I expected lots of changes, of course, but I didn’t expect the extent of which we would give youth a chance. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many teenagers play in a Wolves first team. I can’t say I agreed with it. We had 5,700 fans supporting a team with quite a few players we had never heard of, never mind never seen play. We expected to get rolled over and to their credit we did not. Lots to be happy with in terms of individual performances and good to see the tactics of the first team go right down through the club. These boys knew what they were doing. I came away very frustrated. If we’d played a half and half team, like in the previous round, I think we would have won the game; even if we had kept some experience on the bench. Coady & Doherty were in the stand with the fans for heavens sake! We just lacked the physical strength to compete, especially in midfield.

Man of the Match

I really like the look of Jordao. He uses the ball well and has good movement. The other stand out player was Sanderson. He had his work cut out with Villa strong down their left side. I think he did well both defensively and trying to move the ball forward. I can definitely see him getting a first team place in the future. I’m afraid Ruddy let us down. He should have done better with both goals in my opinion, though I have only seen them live and the second was through a crowded box so I did not have a clear view. Perhaps he didn’t either!

Something to Improve

The biggest frustration was how isolated Cutrone was from the rest of the pack. Our midfield played too deep and didn’t appear to have the speed to break quickly. Just once we managed to do that and this created the equaliser! We were caught off-side far too often, with Cutrone the main culprit. Inexcusable really as this is all about timing your run. It was great to see him get a goal, but he missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-2 when through one on one with their goalkeeper. Overall, I’m disappointed we didn’t want to progress.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

Nuno I love you but please do not do this to us again. If we have no intention or ambition of winning the trophy, simply don’t enter the competition. Even a half decent side would have beaten the Vile dross but instead we had a team of Under 12s some of whom 99.9 per cent of the away following had never heard of. The pitch simply looked too big for some of them.

Man of the Match

No one stands out but Vallejo had his best game in a Wolves shirt.

Something to Improve

Team selection and the understanding of what a local derby means. Yes there may be bigger fish to fry but Vile are now two games from Wembley and that should have been us.