Wolves Fans' Verdict v Burnley: A shocking showing

Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Convincingly being beaten by Burnley seems to be the norm, but this one hurts that little bit more.

The team selection looked OK until I saw Otasowie taking up a false nine position. I can’t wrap my head around playing a 19-year-old midfielder as a false nine on his full debut - especially when we’ve got a £35m striker on the bench who hasn’t put a foot wrong. Defensively we were all over the place with Saiss probably having the worst performance out of the three.

We only ever really look threatening when we are counter-attacking sides - as we did against Chelsea. We’ve heard of solutions for weeks now so it’s time to start seeing these solutions because if you ask me, we’ve got a good squad that is being criminally underutilised.

Clive Smith

Last season we lost nine games, so far we have lost six. If this is transition, then forgive me, but I am not a fan. Everything about us suddenly looks unfamiliar.

Coady has not looked the same since Anfield, Moutinho looks off the pace, Neves has gone from a 7/10 to a 4/10 on a regular basis. His body language in particular is a worry, although Nuno himself looks tenser than ever.

We have no idea what our best eleven is. What did Marcal do wrong in the last game? Why start a young kid, on debut, out of position, when you have spent £35m on a 'Jimenez replacement'? Puzzling.

Ironically we started well and looked full of it for ten minutes. A careless pass on the edge of their box and a moment later our three men fail to stop their one man heading in from a yard. The finger can be pointed at several players.

From then on we were second best for over an hour. No cutting edge, unable to move the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. Our confidence evaporated. As for our corners, equally puzzling.

There were few positives. Obviously the winning and scoring of the penalty was a bonus for Silva. Otasowie acquitted himself well enough. The ball, fouls, challenges and the ref seemed to follow him around in the first half. Good experience for him. Neto was probably MOTM, he tried as hard as anyone throughout the whole game.

Lots to work on then. Certainly there are other things to worry about right now besides Wolves results, but it is certainly disappointing to those of us who care.

Wishing you all the best Christmas possible. Stay safe.

Adam Virgo

After such an inspiring comeback against Chelsea, I really expected us to kick on and cause Burnley problems but we played into their hands and have given them an easy three points.

The team set-up was completely wrong from the beginning. Playing Moutinho and Neves in midfield together hasn’t worked in any game this season but we try it again for whatever reason. A 19-year-old central midfielder got shoved into a false nine role on his first Premier League start, even though he had just recently bossed the second half in midfield against Chelsea.

We started the game positively but it fizzled out after around 20 minutes. Burnley’s first goal was a case of turning the ball over stupidly in the first place with Podence trying a flick when he should have carried on himself. We still had players back though and the goal was far too easy, Barnes should never be winning the header against Saiss and Ait-Nouri like he did.

We needed to make a change at half time, another attacker to start quickly in the second half but Nuno kept it the same, we started slowly and we conceded inside six minutes of the restart.

Silva and Traore came on far too late, and without Patricio we could have and should have been 4-0 down. When bringing on the two attackers, we change to a back four but then play Saiss, a centre back, at left back and take off Ait-Nouri, an actual left back which was baffling.

Knowing Wolves, we’ll go and get a result against Spurs but them and Man Utd in the next two, if we lose both of those then we could drop even further down the table. Win them and everything will be looking a lot more positive again.

Rob Cartwright

Turf Moor has never been a 'happy place' for Wolves with no win in ten years.

The result was predictable, the line-up unpredictable and the performance was simply shocking.

Dendoncker and Marcal must be injured not to feature. Silva should be starting each game, as the lack of central striker was plain for all to see. I was pleased for Otasowie, but where was he asked to play? He was a big fish out of water. The Burnley defence must have been laughing their socks off in the changing rooms.

We did start the game well and looked to be well on top after 20 minutes. From the first goal though, we never looked like getting back in it. The first goal is so important against Burnley. You expect an aerial bombardment with lots of free kicks and long balls into the box. I’d want Boly in my defence.

The defence were inept and looked like they hadn’t played together before. I’m not sure that they have?

When Semedo and Podence broke down the right it looked like a good attack building until Podence gave the ball away. Now with Semedo out of position, Taylor got to the byline, Kilman failed to block the cross to Barnes at the back post who out-jumped Saiss and Ait-Nouri to head home. An awful goal to concede with virtually the whole back five at fault.

It’s fair to say the defence continued in this vein for most of the game and Burnley had more chances.

It’s clear that Neves and Moutinho cannot play together. They are too similar in style and too one paced. I like both players tremendously, but not as a pair. Last night, it should have been Moutinho with Otasowie in midfield and Silva up front.

The right subs were made, but not early enough. Silva and Traore should have come on at half time when the game was still to be won. They both did well but, again, little time to impact and already 2-0 down.

The Burnley second goal was scored while we had nine Wolves players in our box and no-one seemed clear on their defensive responsibilities. It was woeful.

The only players to come out with any credit were Podence and Otasowie. The others were well below par, except for Silva in his 30 minutes or so. Kilman, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Neves were poor.

Very disappointing. How can you go from the Chelsea second half to this? Wolves are so inconsistent at the moment.

One last gripe. Please ditch the short corners. They only work if you take teams by surprise with them. If they expect them, they become a wasted opportunity. We wasted seven last night!

Russ Evers

Out-fought, out-worked, out-jumped and the architects of our own downfall. One-paced and summed up by the bizarre selection of the short corner which has yet to work.

I cannot recall a game where we lost so many headers in our own area and both goals came via this method.

Just a bad day all-round individually and collectively, and we did not look dangerous until Traore was introduced. Not good enough full stop.