Wolves Fans' Verdict v Spurs: A much-deserved point

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Wolves showed a spirited performance against a title-challenging Tottenham Hotspur but didn’t make life easy for themselves. It took Spurs just under a minute to get the goal, which, on closer inspection, looks like a gift from Patricio - I really expect more from him and I’m sure he does too.

However, if anyone was then going to go on and win the game it was Wolves. Nuno made the right call in playing a back four but it did feel that for a lot of the game, Wolves had a lot of the ball without creating anything clear cut in terms of chances, which reaffirms the need for a striker and another midfielder in January.

Neto was probably the pick of the bunch and just like Traore last season, you feel when he’s got the ball that something is going to happen. Kudos to Semedo too, who had his best game in a Wolves shirt and looked very good when the onus was on him to attack. Wolves may feel hard done by but all things considering, a well-fought point is probably deserved.

Clive Smith

Remember the pre-Nuno Premier League days when we went into big games fearful of the outcome. This was like that. Our form, our injuries, our line-up, our bench were all cause for concern before kick-off.

Game on and it didn't take long for a head in hands moment.

Here though, Nuno's team were made of stronger stuff. Trailing for eighty plus minutes we played as well as we have in a while. Our back four still makes me nervous but the fluid front four meant we were unpredictable in the final third. Podence constantly flips from hero to villain. He finds space, has quick feet and is unpredictable, but when he loses possession it can put us in a vulnerable position, while his shooting was disappointing.

Traore and Neto both saw more of the ball than usual, Traore looked most dangerous when playing centrally while Neto looked dangerous with his pace on the wings. He showed excellent stamina as he finished the game strongly. He should be MOTM as usual although Semedo probably had his best game so far while Saiss did well in the back four.

Mourinho must have studied our recent corners and realised they were rubbish. No need to mark, nothing to see here. Saiss, take a bow son. A classic text book header.

You have to feel sorry for the England captain, despite being 6ft 2 and 13 stone, he could not stop falling over. Forty eight hours and we have to go again. Squad rotation would be good given our lads put in a tough shift. Options look limited however.

Adam Virgo

A much better performance all round and we could have even won it at the end with a more lethal touch from Silva.

The worst start possible from us put us in a difficult situation. Patricio should have done far better with his positioning even though there were a lot of players in his way. Someone of his calibre should be positioned more centrally, however no one closed Ndombele down quick enough either.

From then on, Spurs offered nothing and we took the game to them. The only negatives were us not doing enough with the chances we created and we could have made even more good opportunities from the amount of possession we had in their half, especially in the second half.

Fantastic run and header from Saiss for the equaliser and it shows what can happen when we’re not wasting corners by going short every time.

Neto was fantastic and my man of the match, however Semedo had his best game in a wolves shirt and did well in both attacking and defensive areas. Neves was a lot better and was actually attempting long shots by going forward which we all want to see more often.

Otasowie next to Neves is the best partnership in a 4231 formation because the American has the power and defensive attributes to allow Neves to push forwards more which he can then attempt shots from range and cut defences with his passing.

Tough game again next at Old Trafford but we’ve done well against United since being back in the top flight. It’ll be interesting to see if Nuno sticks with a back four or opts to go to a back three, they have a very dangerous attack but their defence can be got at for sure and our pace would cause them serious problems.

Rob Cartwright

Exclude the first minute and this was a good performance by Wolves.

It was a horrible goal to concede. Defenders all standing like statues and, not for the first time, Rui lets the ball go past him at the near post. Just 57 seconds so not the best of starts!

There was lots of Wolves possession and lots of pushing forward to get the equaliser, but insufficient creativity to unlock a steadfast Spurs defence. Once more, we had plenty of corners with the majority wasted, in my opinion, by taking them short.

Tottenham were happy to sit back on a 0-1 victory and got more than they deserved really.

Podence & Neto were both dangerous, but struggled to link up with anyone to break through Spurs back line. Traore had plenty of the ball, but I was left feeling he should be doing more with it

Silva looked decent, taking up good positions, but should have scored with his best chance in the first half. He also could have won it with a header in added time.

Semedo did well and was allowed space to get forward. His final ball into the box often letting him down. Marcal played very well up until his pulled muscle on 70 minutes.

I still feel Neves and Moutinho are too similar and one paced to play together in midfield. They did okay in this game, but no change in impetus or charges into the opposition box. They are not capable of doing this. Their only goal threat contribution was courtesy of two long range efforts by Neves.

The game was slipping away, when we had a rare occurrence. Wolves won their ninth corner and took it long, straight onto the head of Saiss to score. Well deserved but makes you wonder what was possible, even more, in this game.

We had the most possession, most shots, most corners. We really should be putting their goalkeeper under more pressure. Tottenham only showed any urgency after the equaliser. They will be kicking themselves for being so negative.

Four of our best players were watching from an Executive Box while injured. If we can get a midfielder and a striker in early January, imagine how much stronger we will be as the injured players start to return.

John Lalley

At least some semblance of justice prevailed in the final analysis. Given the atrocious start Wolves made, they deserve massive credit for remaining positive and flagging not for a moment as the game appeared to be slipping away.

In fact, Fabio should have won the game at the death when at long last he finally slipped his marker but inexplicably spurned a glorious opportunity. And that of course is the nub of our predicament at present.

Much of our build-up play in this game was excellent with the passing and ball-retention the best we have enjoyed for some time. But at the business-end of the pitch, we were bereft sorely lacking physical presence or penetration. Throw in the statistic that from midfield, Neves, Moutinho and Traore are a goal-free zone at present and you appreciate the extent of the problem.

The irony is that Saiss’s delightful finish to equalise came from a corner after we had spent the evening floundering at the set-piece just as we had at Burnley. Since Wolves returned to Premier League status, we have enjoyed four humdingers against Tottenham; every game bristling with attacking intent with both teams striving to get forward.

Not this time; the only time Spurs showed the remotest interest in springing from their bunker was when Wolves equalised and they saw that their tactics had finally been unhinged. It was remarkable that with such quality outlets as Kane and Son in their ranks, Tottenham rarely if ever threatened to hit us on the break. ]

It says a lot for the control that Wolves had exerted possession-wise that Spurs were so subdued. This has been an erratic year on and off the pitch; Wolves end it having not achieved the progress we had hoped for after two outstanding seasons at this level. Inconsistency is rife and frailties have been exposed; we are easier to play against than previously but this was an encouraging performance full of character and desire. A point was the very least that we deserved.

Russ Evers

A bold line up and nice to see us on the front foot for most of the game even if we had to come from behind so early on. Loads of character shown and some very good individual performances especially Saiss who was my man of the match.

I am still baffled as to the continued persistence in the short corner routine – and our first corner in weeks not taken by Moutinho resulted in the equaliser. We had enough to win it but a point against a team who could have gone third with a win is not too shabby.

Traore and Neves both upped their games from recent showings, so all in all a decent effort.