Football News: Ratings and Review: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

Regardless of your views re the offside decisions this was a very good Wolverhampton Wanderers performance, with several players having their best ever games for Wolves, and a very decent result - even if both our goals were very scrappy affairs to put it mildly.

Firstly and again perhaps controversially, I would add that I thought for the first 75mins+ the ref was fine. However as the temperature rose and the crowd got involved in that last 15 minutes or so sadly he was caught up in the emotion and lost his ability to view the game dispassionately and failed to ref from a detached viewpoint. You would assume that refs are trained to resist this kind of pressure but on Saturday he failed that test with far too many clear and obvious fouls not granted.

The one on Cunha on the edge of the box may actually have been a penalty and even more outrageously, the two handed shove in the back by Konate, who unsurprisingly couldn't keep up with Traore as he ran away from him, was one that any non visually impaired human must have seen. He, the ref won't be happy with the overall performance despite as I say doing well for 75 mins +.

Ratings:
Sarkic 6 - Couldn't be blamed for either goal - some think he might have done better with the first but in my view that is harsh. However like Sa he needs to improve his distribution.

Lembikisa 6 - Did well and showed promise. Again many blame him for the first, but it was a great run and an amazing finish, so let's not be too harsh.

Collins 8 - excellent! Once more I don't blame him for losing the ball - deep in Liverpool's half - for the first goal.

Gomes 7 - best game ever for Wolves. Sadly the second is his fault, but a very strong performance in a game that suited him down to the ground. He is an out and out defender and a good athlete. However today he was surprisingly good on the ball. Top marks all round sir and very unlucky not to have scored the winner!

Otto 6 - Started slowly, but came into his own later. A better effort. Could he recover under JL? A massive plus for JL if he does!

Traore 7 - First half he had Robertson on toast and created 3 or 4 good chances that once again were squandered by our misfiring CF - in this case Jimenez. Many on here will blame Traore for this, but fortunately they don't pick the team and if JL can get him to play like this every week (and then get him to sign a new contract) he will be a major force for us going forwards.

Hodge 7- Best ever game for Wolves. He harried well and moved the ball efficiently.

Neves 7 - A standard i.e. excellent performance.

RAN 8 - An excellent performance. Surely this is his best position as it allows him to do his stuff without defensive responsibilities / pressure. Being pernickety he needs to improve his composure in front of goal and know when to pass rather than die with the ball - but come on he is performing very well and miracles take a little longer. Also don't want to sound like a Traore critic!

Guedes 6 - Best game ever for Wolves. Looked more interested and certainly has talent on the ball (like Trincao). Struggles with the physical side of game and questions must exist over his mental suitability. Why our recruitment team don't focus on this I just don't know - too many weak minds and not enough warriors these days!

Jimenez 4 - A poor performance and one must question if he is still "checked in". Seems to have lost all of his touch and judgement as well as his pace. Sad but he and Costa are mere shells of their former selves and neither can play a this level now. We need to move on and stop playing - as we have for over 2 seasons now - without a proper CF!

Subs:
Cunha 6 - best game, but from a very small sample. Nice touch and vision but worried re fitness and physicality. Early days though so still hopeful!

Hwang 7 - very good effort - as always! But seemed to have a better touch and idea as to what he was doing than normal.

Nunes 7 - A class act that is starting to purr now that JL has arrived. Again like RAN needs to improve his decision making and pass rather than continue the dribble a fraction earlier. Also needs to pick the pass better. Several times we, not just Nunes of course, butchered chances by either passing the wrong way ignoring the free man to find a less well placed colleague or died with the ball.

Semedo 6 - Didn't jump out at me either way but solid enough. Given his age and supposed value should though surely have been a major upgrade on Lembikisa but maybe he wasn't?

Bueno 6 - No real impact either way but like Semedo, ok.

Fear we may have missed our chance, but we go again in a replay. Hopefully Liverpool will find it a game too far although for us, massive matches are stacking up! Exciting times and what an amazing turnaround. Well done JL!

Written by Thefutureisoldgold January 09 2023 14:09:41