Wolves Fans' Verdict v Yeovil: Pleased with progress

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Well if ever a game lived up to its billing it was this one. First round of the rubbish energy drink cup, a sparsely filled Molineux, 200 Yeovil fans completing a sponsored 94-minute silence and playing a team that had eight put past them three days earlier.

All the ingredients for a mundane affair that would probably be settled on penalties. Fortunately, we were spared that chore and, two games into Nuno’s reign, we’ve won two without conceding. What’s not to like?

On the whole not a lot. There’s a style of play developing that either the A or B team are going to play…it’s not going to be all-action, but we’re going to be very solid, organised and much better at retaining the ball. However, I’m not sure I’d put us on too many goals galore coupons this season.

I think last night told us a lot about the players vying for contention and it wasn’t positive. The midfield three of Edwards, Ronan and Price failed to deliver performances that would get Nuno purring, whilst Graham had one of his most frustrating evenings in a Wolves shirt…admittedly not helped by poor service to him.

In terms of positives, I enjoyed Norris’ distribution and composure, thought Bennett was solid and Bonatini again impressed with his hold-up play and ability to bring other players into the attack. I think a certain E&S journalist might be colour bind looking at his verdicts on Leo and Nouha (Ed – !!!).

Vinagre shrugged off a careless first 45 minutes to deliver a very promising second-half, adding much needed energy and tempo to our attacking play.

It was also good to see Bright’s cameo, which definitely helped unlock the Yeovil bank of ten. He’s got a smorgasbord of tricks on him and that can be crucial to creating space in packed defences…if he doesn’t know what he’s doing, how can defenders stop him?

Derby will be a big test on Saturday and it will be interesting to see how the system/players react to going a goal down (hopefully that doesn’t happen). I’d settle for attending a game at Pride Park and not watching a team of ‘whoppers’ get humiliated for 90 minutes.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Super Dave looks like a fish out of water in this system, as his biggest strength of arriving in the box is defunct with the way we play. He doesn’t move the ball quick enough either and that first pass somehow managed to find eight-year-old Billy from Wednesfield, sat in Row J of the Family Enclosure.

Price is neat and tidy, very neat and tidy. But there’s no penetration with him. He’s like the type of mate you wouldn’t mind taking your missus out. He’d treat her nice, make sure she got home safely and you wouldn’t have to worry about him making a move on her.

Another disappointment was Ronan. There’s plenty to come from this lad, there’s no doubt about that. However, pre-season and last night he failed to impose himself on the game and his touch and distribution got worse as the game wore on. Wolves fans have a narrative with him though so it wouldn’t surprise me if he walked off with man of the match.

Dicko before his goal did little to stake a claim to lead the line. He looked sluggish, slow to the ball and his touch deserted him on a lot of occasions. However, as soon as he scored he looked a different player, almost like the old Dicko…we just need the old Dicko consistently and not just for a 20-minute cameo.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? A bit more mundane than Saturday with less than fancied opposition.

Most Wolves fans fancied the tie as an away trip as we have only played them once in a pre-season friendly. And for large parts of this game there was a friendly feel with our squad players trying to catch the eye of Nuno whilst Yeovil were trying to make good the horrors of their eight-goal opening day loss.

To be fair we dominated the game without creating too many chances despite Dicko and Bonatini teaming up as strikers.

Dicko needed the goal which came courtesy of a pinpoint Jordan Graham corner only a few minutes after Yeovil had spurned an excellent chance to take the lead.

We certainly looked better with the introduction of the more attack-minded Enobakhare and Jota but in the end our fourth consecutive 1-0 home win eased us into the second round draw.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Norris and the defenders looked comfortable but none of our more offensive players stood out.

Man of the match for me was the left wing back Vinagre who grew into the game and made some encouraging moves as the game wore on.

Shame he was not even named in the 30-odd-man squad in the match day programme!

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? Back in 1980 Yeovil were in the Alliance League while Wolves were winning the Carabao Cup. It was called the League Cup in those days. With Wolves beating Crawley, Cambridge, Newport and Barnet over the last two seasons, Yeovil must have feared the worst.

In four days they had lost about 100 away fans...Wolves had lost 20,000 home fans. Where were you all? What else is there to do on a balmy autumnal evening in Wolverhampton? Answers - c/o tourist info.

No sign of Zyro, Mason or Gibbs-White in the squad. Why? Only Boly and Bonatini were rewarded with a start after Saturday. Vinagre (18 years old) and Ronan (19) looked like the first two with a ball into the playground at lunch. Their energy and enthusiasm brought a smile to one's face.

Two wayward shots by Ronan only brought silence – once he is a seasoned pro he will get the full groan treatment.

There seems an undercurrent of negativity for Edwards and Batth which is a shame and unnecessary. Edwards is the central midfielder who gets forward the most trying to score while Danny is the one most likely to score with a header in the box! Give them your support guys.

We passed the ball to death in the first half, usually 10 yards in front of the Yeovil back eight. It was hard to find a through ball or get possession inside their box.

Disappointingly we reached half time having failed to get a shot on target. Set pieces provided the most likely opportunity, but like against Boro our corners needed some more pre season work.

Their back eight remained in position but Wolves' patience was not put off and I will try to do the same with mine. We had one scare in defence first but the ball was finally getting closer to the Yeovil goal on a more regular basis.

With 15 minutes to go we were heading for the uncharted waters of a fourth sub in extra time and ABBA penalties. But not this time.

Dicko took a leaf out of Danny's book and attacked the ball from a Graham corner. Only one result likely, headed goal, 1-0 and our name is still in the cup for the second round draw.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Norris made a solid debut in goal on a relatively quiet night. The energy of our two young lads meant the ball went left rather than right which did restrict the influence Graham could have on the game.

He is clearly a tricky winger with the ball at his feet, but playing deeper at wing back provides him with less one on one opportunities near the box. Not convinced of his defending attributes either.

Ryan Bennett, another debutant, looked competent without being severely tested.

Edwards did his usual up and down role while Price kept the ball rotating from inside the centre circle. I can't help thinking Jack needs a bit more Willie Carr / Colin Cameron in him so he offers a goal threat.

In attack there was no sign of a £5m/ £8m/ £10m goalscorer on the bench (this theme will potentially continue until August 31). Bonatini tried to escape the blanket of eight to get on the ball which he did well enough but even dragging two with him meant we remained out numbered near the box.

I do worry about Dicko however. On Saturday and here he continues to look a shadow of how we remember him. The ball does not stick at his feet well enough, his movement often looks laboured and too often he gets caught offside.

But then he scores! A weight is lifted off him, he finds a yard, a neat turn and rifles a fierce shot just over. His role might be as an impact sub rather than a starter.

Man of the match...Ronan caught the eye as he often does, but debut boy Vinagre wins my vote.

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match? Let me take you back to pre-season when I was first asked for my thoughts on Nuno.....

"Seeing 'Wolves Twitter' erupt at the prospect of another foreign manager gave me a chuckle, especially considering Nuno has a better grasp of English than most of our supporters.

"Being someone who loosely follows the fortunes of Valencia in La Liga, I'm aware of some of his previous work.

"Anyone expecting attacking swagger and flair from Nuno should think again. He's more in the mould of a Mourinho and sends out organised, disciplined sides that are hard to break down rather than looking to attack at will.

"If our fans have patience with him there is every chance that we can be successful, as his record at Valencia and Porto makes good reading"

......After watching tonight's game, I'd say a lot of fans will be getting my point.

Two defensive lapses aside, Yeovil were playing second fiddle as we had a 90-minute game of attack vs defence that mainly consisted of us pinging passes around in triangles, with the odd switch of play thrown in, but little cutting edge in the final third.

I expect to see more dynamism in and around the box when Bright and Jota are restored to the starting XI or we see the return of Cavaleiro and, eventually, Costa but, in the long-term, expect to see more performances of this ilk. Solid. Patient. Probing.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Will Norris had an assured competitive debut in goal and dealt with the minimal danger that came his way with little fuss and, generally, was well supported by his back three apart from two lapses that allowed Yeovil clear shooting opportunities.

Batth and Boly were both guilty of forgetting the game plan and resorting to hoofing it a handful of times & they contrived to allow the shooting opportunities while Ryan Bennett joined Norris in having an assured debut on the right side of the defensive trio.

Other than those it was a pretty average evening ahead of them with the odd bright spot thrown in. Price did what was asked of him, Ronan looked comfortable on the ball and both wing backs found space regularly.

One man who looks like a fish out of water in the new system is Dave Edwards.

After punting his first attempted pass into the Family Enclosure he never really got into the game. While his efforts to get forward are admirable, he got in the way of Dicko and Bonatini more often than supporting them and even toed a cross out for a goal kick that was heading straight for the waiting Dicko.

I expect to see him used more from the bench for the last 15-20 minutes of games this season when we need to apply pressure out of possession, much in the way he was used against Middlesbrough on Saturday, but don't expect to see him starting often in league games this season.