Wolves Fans' Verdict v Fulham: Maestro Neves makes win so easy

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match? As we head off into another International break, with a third of the season gone by in the blink of an eye, we’re guaranteed to be sat at the top of the pile by the time we return in two weeks at Reading. The most amazing thing about the opening 16 games is that this side has dropped 13 points!

Billed as a clash of the ‘pass masters’ of the division, Wolves conceded more of the possession to Fulham and were fairly sloppy by our usual high standards at times when in possession. Yet win number 11 of the season duly came, along with an impressive eighth clean sheet in 16 games.

There are few things certain in life. Death, taxes, and a Leo Bonatini goal seem to be the only things you can bank on. Goals from Romain Saiss though? They’re as rare as the proverbial rocking horse droppings. Saiss rose to head home a sumptuous corner from Douglas after nine minutes and is one of 13 players to score already this season in only 20 games. While Leo gets the plaudits for reaching double figures for the season before the entire Birmingham City squad, it’s plain to see that Wolves have weapons in their armoury to hurt opponents in many different ways.

While not at our free-flowing best we still had enough quality to put Fulham to the sword. Douglas’s wand of a left foot has cast its spell and magicked up seven assists for the season now, including three goals this week. His free-kick delivery for the second goal surpassed his earlier effort for Saiss’ opener. Once we’d created the two-goal cushion it felt like we were going through the motions for the rest of the game.

Neves knocking the ball around in midfield, dictating the pace of the game like a jockey easing a horse to a 12 length victory on the bridle. You felt that, if we needed it, we could’ve stepped up two or three more gears but that the players were content to see out a fourth game in 10 days with as little fuss as possible.

So off we go into a fortnight break where we supporters can bemoan having to watch a second rate England performance instead of club football. On the positive side, the break will give Nuno the chance to work with a few players who have been short of fitness and game time such as Costa and Marshall and try to get them up to speed with the rest of the first team. Maybe we’ll be even more potent when we return...

Who played well – and who didn't impress? On a night where we weren’t quite as sharp as we have been this season Cavaleiro stood out as being particularly sloppy. Being one of those who’ll be left behind while others jet off for International duty may benefit him and give him a chance to recharge the batteries.

In terms of those who stood out, Boly was like a brick wall at the back. He’s an absolute man-mountain and looks near unbeatable in the air or on the ground. Douglas to his left, while not quite back to the standard he set earlier in the season, looked better than he has in his last couple of home games and was right up there with our best performers on the night.

However the pick of the bunch has to be Neves. He patrols the centre of the park like a Portuguese man o’war, trapping and paralysing the opposition with his raking passes and delivering stinging tackles to regain possession. He is making a mockery of all of the comments about the foreigners not being interested once the temperature drops and the weather turns.

If anything, he seems to be getting better as weather conditions are worsening and seems to revel in rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in to a bit of the dirty work of a midfield battle just as much as floating another beautiful through pass to our marauding wing backs. I get the feeling that the best is yet to come from Neves, which should strike fear into the rest of the division.

Natalie Wood

What's your verdict on the match? I’m struggling to remember a game where Wolves were in as much control as last night. It almost became a training match and for the first time in years a calm and relaxing final 10 minutes.

Ryan Bennett was brilliant as was Willy Boly – both excellent athletes with strength in the air and great composure throughout the game. We didn’t even give Fulham a chance to get into the game....although if we are being honest they didn’t seem to want to get in the game!

Fulham committed the number one crime against wWolves...they gave them space. With a touch of space Wolves are absolutely untouchable. Now time to enjoy an international break top of the league and cruising...you would have guessed this would be our situation this time last year.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Neves again was just on another planet...I can hardly believe we get to watch him in a Wolves shirt. Douglas was also brilliant, he worked his socks off throughout as well as creating both goals with two excellent set pieces.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Nothing better than a Molineux stroll under the floodlights to welcome in the international break.

Whilst Fulham are not in a great run of form at present, they do have players that can hurt you so last night could have been a potential banana skin. Not for this team, not for Nuno.

The boys from the cottage were as insipid as their gentrified away following, continuing the sponsored silence that the Aston lot started back in October.

And that complete lack of threat was down to the way Wolves played. Neves and Saiss controlled the centre of the park with ease, allowing the three magicians up top to do their stuff.

Again it helps having Coady and Boly in the side, two genuine ball players who often instigate attacks with their measured passes. The latter looked like he was in second gear all night, squatting away any Fulham advances with an arrogance that befits a team flying high at the top of the table.

The more we bossed proceedings, the more Kmac retreated...in fact, he was that deep near the end he could have been manning the tills at Asda.

Second half was a cakewalk. A Wolves side – with flashes of brilliance and creativity – comfortably seeing out a game against a decent Championship side and one of the pre-season promotion contenders.

I’m having to pinch myself that this is actually happening. We look a proper footballing side, a proper footballing side that has a Portuguese international dictating the Molineux orchestra.

Is this finally payback for the years of crap we’ve endured, the missed opportunities, the failed promotion challenges, the putrid football, sitting in the sidings at Central Rivers after losing 4-2 to Derby?

Is this the footballing gods finally admitting no fans should have to suffer the bland egotistical football of Hoddle or the complete ineptitude of Dean Saunders without something good happening?

Maybe, just maybe.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Like many times this season, I don’t think any of the starting eleven performed under a 7/10, which says a lot about our consistency.

Star man was a certain Mr Neves. When he’s on form, Wolves are on form and he appears to have re-discovered his early season tempo with back-to-back impressive performances.

The amount of time he creates for himself is a joy to watch and he has an ability to switch play left to right that leaves the opposition unable to set themselves for our attacks.

It’s an absolute pleasure to watch every week, nearly as good as a hour of Darcey Bussell or back-to-back shows of Four in a Bed.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? They cant play on a cold wet November night they said. Perhaps it wasn't quite cold enough for the haters but they are now running out of misguided jealous remarks.

What is true is that November is usually a graveyard month for us. But this is no normal season. Some of the football we play – and even more so with the moves we attempt – is way beyond anything most of us can remember.

At times it is simply a joy to watch and to know that we are part of something special.

We won this at a canter and the final score could have been anything. Nuno, you are a diamond.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Usually I wax lyrical about Diogo but against Fulham, out of 11 stars, one sparkled even brighter than the others – Ruben Neves oozed class and worked his socks off all night.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? The two rounds of Championship games this week had four home wins in 24 games. So much for home bankers then. But, how many of us thought we would lose this game? Surely not since the heady League One days and 100 points have we been so sure of three points at home.

Our confidence was not misplaced. Few refs show a card in the first couple of minutes regardless of the severity of the foul. This ref did. Another card 10 minutes later helped set the tone for the match. We were not going to be kicked off the park.

It turned out pretty much as we all would have scripted it. An open game with plenty of neat passing played at a good tempo. Fulham played a high defensive line that just begged diagonal, over the top, through balls. Cue Mr Neves and a couple of charging wing backs and our game plan worked a treat.

Doherty was generally more successful then Douglas and the way we worked the ball at times was delightful.

Two Douglas set pieces brought the goals in a manner that looked routine. Failing to add to that half time lead is the only area of criticism. On the counter attack we always looked likely to score while our heavy pressing often won the ball high up field.

How we played without the ball was pleasing to see.

A Ruddy fumble and a couple of half chances barely threatened yet another clean sheet. After starting the week with a poor result we still managed to meet the two points a game average.

Well done to all concerned.

Who played well – and who didn't impress?

Ruddy made one slip but was otherwise well protected by our defensive shield.

Doherty had an excellent game. His form is consistently high at the moment. Douglas lacked the pace to reach some of the through balls early on and also got turned in defence. He is steady however.

Boly defended well but was careless with his distribution at times. Coady played like Beckenbauer in his prime. He sniffed out any danger and got it sorted without fuss or bother. I still wonder who looked at him, saw an ok midfielder and uncomfortable full back and decided, he will make a perfect central centre half. Whoever it was - take a bow son. And thank you!

Bennett almost goes unnoticed. He was solid on the deck and in the air. Saiss started really well and it was good to seem him get on the end of a set piece. Not so good to see him get booked again.

Neves was outstanding throughout. Possibly his best game so far. Man of the match. Even his contribution without the ball has improved. He looked in his comfort zone all night.

Jota was a little disappointing. Too often he takes an extra touch when the goal seems at his mercy – I guess I expect magic from him all the time now.

Bonatini had a typical game...scored again! In the right place at the right time to have scored more too. Worked tirelessly.

Cavaleiro, like Jota, was disappointing with his end product. He looked out of sorts, perhaps three starts in a week caught up with him.

Enobakhare carried on where Cav left off. I was surprised Costa did not get 30 minutes replacing Cav to help his fitness. N'Diaye and Marshall had a few minutes at be end.

Adam Virgo

What's your verdict on the match? Many of Wolves’ foreigners proved that once again, they can do it on a cold night in the Championship. Not winning in November had become something of the ordinary in recent campaigns but under Nuno things are completely different. I’m sure not many are surprised that a stop has been made to the November hoodoo under Nuno’s Wolves so quickly.

All these worries that we’ve had about previous seasons or away grounds we’ve struggled at just get swept away by this current team. Players like Boly, Neves, Jota etc. Don’t need to fear things like that with the levels they’ve played at and with Nuno in charge, there’s no panic.

We were in control of the game from start to finish even though we never really got past seconnd gear but considering the tight schedule we’ve had these past couple of weeks, it was totally understandable. We’ve still come out of the game with another huge three points and a clean sheet though so no complaints whatsoever.

Not so long ago we weren’t great at set pieces from an attacking sense but we were so vulnerable defensively from them. In the past few weeks it’s like that has been completely turned on it’s head and it’s the other way round now which is great for us.

Fulham never really threatened us, they had a couple of ‘nearly’ moments and their best chance was through a Ruddy mistake where McDonald should have probably scored, shame his finish was lacklustre like his performance though.

McDonald couldn’t get anywhere near Neves all evening. He may as well have been in the crowd admiring his performance like the rest of us he was that far away from him, maybe then he could have learnt a few things.

Not often us Wolves fans say this but for once the ref actually had a good game I thought. Stamped his authority down early and didn’t let the players get away with too much, especially early on which was good to see. He could actually control a game properly and not like some refs we’ve seen this season, no names mentioned.

It wasn’t our best performance in an attacking sense or even in general but some of the passing on show at times was mind blowing. When do you ever watch a Wolves game now and not see an unbelievable pass? Very rarely. A few beautiful pings from Boly and Coadini and of course some sublime passes from Neves who looked full of confidence after his Portugal first team call up earlier on in the day.

Overall, a comfortable victory without breaking too much sweat and top of the league going into the international break. So many positives for us fans at the moment and hopefully it continues to keep getting better.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? The last part of this question is slowly becoming pointless under Nuno’s Wolves because it’s rare I come out of a game anymore and feel like a player didn’t impress.

Everyone played well but obviously there’s a few standouts like in every game. My man of the match was Ruben Neves. He makes passing a football 50 yards look so effortless. Forget sending people to the moon and back, they should get Ruben Neves to ping a ball from Molineux to the moon instead, especially with his passing range.

Him and Saiss controlled the midfield completely, the three Fulham midfielders may as well have been ghosts because neither of them did anything of note and didn’t trouble us in the middle of the park at all. Fulham just cared about keeping possession that was going nowhere and then you get Neves who can unlock a defence and create an attack with one ball, that’s the difference.

Saiss was ever present in midfield like always and a great header for the opening goal, his first at Molineux. What a surprise that he got another yellow card, the game back after his suspension for picking up five yellows. Don’t think it’ll be long before he gets 10 and ends up with a two game ban, luckily we have N’Diaye who has certainly showed he can fill the boots when necessary.

The back three were solid again, just like they were Tuesday night. Bennett will go under the radar a lot but he has played well every time he’s been in the team. Him, Boly and Coady with Ruddy in net have kept two consecutive clean sheets so I would imagine that will be the defence in the next game at the very least.

Willy Boly was solid like always, made plenty of good tackles and interceptions. He doesn’t drink water at half time, he drinks petrol because for a tank, that’s the fuel you need. When you’re a forward up against him, you may as well just accept that you’re not getting past. He’s so calm in everything he does as well and he never looks phased by anything. He could get shot and he’d probably just casually walk to A&E, there’s no panic in him whatsoever.

Barry Douglas, the Scottish Roberto Carlos. Seven assists already this season which for a LWB is insane. Three of our last four goals have came directly from his set piece deliveries, his left foot inswinging crosses are deadly to say the least. Both of his assists last night were superb though, poor defending on the first but a delicate touch was all that was needed by Bonatini for the second as the delivery was perfect.

Talking about Bonatini, where would we be without him this season? Ten goals and four assists, top goalscorer at the moment which could change once everyone has played but he’s a huge asset to us. In the box he punishes teams for fun and his link up play and first touch is class at times. If he stays fit for the majority of the season he could easily hit 25+ goals.

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? These games can’t come around quickly enough. Fair play to Nuno for planning in the occasional defeat to keep it interesting! Easy, easy, easy.

This was a very comfortable victory with Wolves rarely needing to get out of second gear. No longer is it “will we score today”, it’s a good feeling now it’s “when will we score the first”.

This was an entertaining game without ever being spectacular. Both teams opened brightly and trying to play football the right way. It’s just that Wolves did it far better than Fulham, much to the angst of Kevin McDonald who spent the majority of the first half chasing and chewing the refs ear. You’d think he’d be happier seeing his two previous clubs doing so well this season? Good career move Kev!

Wolves took lead with a great front post header, by Saiss, from a corner in the ninth minute. Fulham tried to respond immediately and went close when Ruddy dropped the ball to present McDonald with half a chance. That marked the end of both Ruddy and McDonald’s work for the night!

Fulham enjoyed possession without doing anything with it. Wolves looked dangerous in possession finding it easy to use both flanks and get forward in high numbers. Bonatini was having another excellent game, so much deserved when his glancing header from a free kick hit the net on 26 minutes. Game over.

Wolves got the passing going well in the second half. We could and should have scored more. Doherty was getting so far forward that he was caught offside!

Chance after chance went begging. Jota could easily have scored twice with the Fulham defence resembling Keystone Cops on occasions. Wolves were comfortable. Neves was controlling the game. Doherty and Douglas were involved at every opportunity.

All very surreal, as I don’t remember Ruddy having to make a save. When Nuno took Big Willy off on 79 minutes, I believe he was going to just two at the back, under the watching eye of Saiss. It was that easy.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Neves was on the top of his game and controlled just about everything. One wayward pass just to confirm he is human - man of the match.

Saiss played well breaking up Fulham possession and laying the ball, often to Douglas or Doherty who were both excellent throughout.

Boly was immense. Nothing gets past him – he's so assured. Coady was Coady, no need to explain. Bennett has more than justified his start in the last two games.

Jota was dangerous and entertaining, as usual. He looks a little jaded though and could do with a proper break, rather than play for Portugal U21s.

It’s nice to be top knowing no-one can do anything about that with their game in hand. Also it will last a whole fortnight. Hi Ho Wolverhampton.