Wolves Fans' Verdict v Everton: So much better!

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

It was a much better showing against comfortably one of the worst teams I've seen Wolves play since coming back into the Premier League.

I said Nuno needed to change either personnel or shape, and he did just that.

The introduction of Daniel Podence was a breath of fresh air with his direct running and willingness to have a go, but it makes you ask the question, why has it taken Nuno so long to give him his chance?

He was my man of the match alongside Ruben Neves, who was a Rolls-Royce in the middle of the park and even popped up with a wonderful assist.

However, it could have been six or seven and we can't afford to miss the chances we had. We have to be more ruthless.

Clive Smith

For some reason, before kick off, this felt like a must win game. Two defeats had brought our world crashing down - well, not really. We toiled for forty minutes with just a couple of decent attempts on target. At least in defence, even by then our clean sheet looked a formality.

At that time, anyone suggesting we could win 5-0 would have been escorted from the building. Remarkably that is how things turned out.

MOTM Podence was the catalyst in attack and showed the enthusiasm, pace and energy we have been missing recently up front. It was his trickery that provided us with the opening goal. The all important opening goal of course! Once we scored our second, just after half time, the game had been won. Everton continued to play as if it was pre-season.

We were a joy to watch from then on. All Neves passes seemed to be forward and we had attacking options that had been harder to find earlier on. He played a pass that many would think only David Silva, Paul Pogba and Jordan Henderson were allowed to make. Diogo Jota's finish was perfect.

Adama Traore and Jota, earlier, should both have scored to make the result more emphatic.

We rarely play well for the full ninety minutes which is a level we can aspire too. It was, however, our best performance in the restart and we may have found a new player in Podence.

Adam Virgo

The best performance by far since the restart and a very comfortable win. Everton were dreadful and made it easy for us but we still had a job to do and we did it emphatically.

We were controlling the game and always on the front foot, which caused Everton massive problems, and this is why we should start certain games more aggressively going forward because we have the players to cause teams problems.

There were two real standout players in Podence and Neves. Both absolutely incredible for different reasons and giving one of them man of the match is difficult, but I would say Podence just about pips it.

The fact he hadn’t started a Premier League game before this one and to play how he did and the risks he took in attack, which is how attacking should be done, was brilliant to see.

The skill he did in the lead up to the penalty and then the roulette to win the penalty were mouth-watering. It does make you think how he never got on at all against Sheffield United when clearly he’s a very talented player, and I can’t wait to see more of him.

Neves controlled the game for fun, his passing was immaculate and his reading of the game defensively and ball retention were both sublime. The two passes he made to Jota were world class, the first one Jota fluffed his lines but then the pass for the third goal was out of this world.

The way Neves won the ball back and then plays the pass onto Jota’s chest perfectly really was special, then the finish from the Portuguese forward was lethal.

Burnley away next, very tough game and hopefully we can go there and put in a similar performance, I’m sure they’ll be a much more difficult test than what Everton were but we have the quality to win.

Rob Cartwright

Well it took a fine Wolves victory to get me back in the pub!

I don’t mind saying, I was feeling anxious before the game, after two lethargic performances. Of course, Nuno had got it sorted with an unusual shuffling of the pack.

What played out was as near a perfect game as you will see. Podence and Pedro Neto provided the impetus to go and outplay Everton right across the pitch. Neves was controlling everything in midfield, we dominated early possession and the question was would we score before half-time?

We did, but only just, courtesy of a penalty after the lively Podence was fouled after swapping onto the right-hand side. The fact that Neto and Podence can play either side is exciting. Another piece of the toolkit that will give opposing teams problems.

We won easily, scoring three goals. It really should have been more with Jota and Traore missing golden opportunities. Everton showed no teeth and Conor Coady, Willy Boly and Romain Saiss had as easy a game as they ever will. The fact Saiss didn’t get booked says it all!

Leander Dendoncker repaid the faith in him with the second, right after half time, and it was plain sailing from then on.

Neves was excellent. The perfect long range pass to Jota for the third goal was superb. Jota put it away well; he’s much better when he has little time to think and instinct takes over.

Podence rightly gets Man of the a Match for a fine debut. Full of life, skill and tricks. He also has a great shot in him and I expect to see a lot more of him.

Overall, yes - it was a Super Sunday. Top four is a big ask with only 3 games to go, but there’s still a chance and it could go right down to the last game.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

We needed a spark to reignite the season and continue our European push, and it came via Podence. A lively first start full of energy and tricks that won us the penalty, neatly converted by Raul Jimenez.

The second half became a Neves masterclass, and it was great to see Jota back to his almost unplayable best.

In truth, it could and should have been five or six, such was the difference in class and any side that scores in the last minute of the first half and the first minute of the second is always going to be hard to beat.

Few if any misplaced passes that undermined our recent performances and a far more solid showing throughout. The smiles are back!

John Lalley

All a bit frustrating; challenging as we realistically were for a Champions League spot and a couple of depressing defeats scupper that aspiration. It’s great to be back to winning ways and a delight to succeed so comprehensively; this was an excellent performance and you simply cannot keep this team in the doldrums for any length of time.

You can only defeat the opposition that is served up in front of you but this win came all too easily. I’ve witnessed some truly formidable Everton teams performing at Molineux over the last sixty years, but this outfit ranks as one of the feeblest and most inept Toffees side I have ever seen.

They took the old cliché about being ‘on the beach’ to the absolute extreme; they were absolutely hopeless. Had their supporters been unlucky enough to have been inside the stadium, the derision they would have justifiably heaped upon their team would have been on an industrial scale.

Having said that, there was plenty for Wolves to be pleased about. The first half showing of Podence was inspirational. A classy operator with a burning desire to prove himself after such limited opportunity was a powerful motivation. He must have been desperately frustrated as to how his early months at Molineux had turned out.

This was a genuine statement of intent and another example of the superb recruitment policy Wolves have instigated in the last three seasons. Once he and his colleagues are tuned into the same footballing wavelength, he will be a considerable asset.

The only disappointment was that we let Everton escape so lightly; Jota and Traore should have ensured that the game finished as a rout.

Having created so little against both Arsenal and Sheffield United, it was reassuring to see that we still retain the creativity to fashion plenty of chances in a game. Great result, wonderful third goal, pitiful opposition, but who cares?