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Wolves vs Chelsea Tactical Preview:
– Wolves' strengths in attack
– Defensive structure and weaknesses
– Key players and issues
Disclaimer: All footage used is for educational purposes only. Copyrights belong to the Premier League and Hotstar.
– Wolves' strengths in attack
– Defensive structure and weaknesses
– Key players and issues
Disclaimer: All footage used is for educational purposes only. Copyrights belong to the Premier League and Hotstar.
Nuno's Wolves took the league by storm last season and were in contention for CL until the last few weeks. This season, however, has been lukewarm. A major change is Nuno shifting to a back 4. They also lost Matt Doherty to Spurs, and they've looked defensively suspect ever since
Line up? Nuno has used 2 formations – 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Their 4-3-3 was set up to feed Jimenez from wide, but he's out; and with a red card to Moutinho vs Villa, they're short of experience in midfield. So 4-2-3-1 (Dendoncker+Neves double pivot) is likely. (Unless they go 3atb)
What are Wolves' strengths? Podence, Neto and Traore are all explosively quick in attack. On the left (Neto is left footed), he takes on defenders or uses his bag of tricks to cross. Here he turns defenders inside out and pulls out a gorgeous rabona that almost leads to a goal.
He is also clever; his pace allows him to pass and breeze past the defending fullback very easily. Reece has to be careful about this, and has to use his strength to ease him off or tackle him early. However with Jimenez injured, Neto's crosses from the left are largely wasteful.
From the right, he is more direct; he likes to come inside and either pass to Semedo on the wing for a cross, or he tries to take a long range strike at goal. Chilwell has to be careful not to get drawn narrow to concede space on the wing. Neto will switch flanks all game.
Adama Traore needs no introduction. Prefers the right half of the field, and is adept at using his strength and diabolical acceleration to hang a cross in the air. Without Jimenez though, his crosses are easily defended. Vs Villa he put in 6 crosses and only 1 found a man.
Traore is far more dangerous if allowed to dribble inside to attack the space between LB and CB. Villa countered this by using bodies to block off his running space and showing him out wide. Traore has no option but to stick to crossing, which is the less dangerous of his threats
So why do Wolves keep crossing if they dont have Jimenez? Because they have other aerial threats who arrive in the box from deep – Dendoncker and Saïss. In the first video of this analysis it is Dendoncker who takes the shot. Here, Saïss comes up from CB to head Podence's cross.
Now to who I think is the major threat – Daniel Podence. Nimble and wily, the #10 in the 4-2-3-1 offers many threats. Because he is comfortable on either wing, he drifts to either flank and creates a numerical advantage. Here, he makes it 3v3 on the right and shows his cleverness
The most advanced runner always sets the opposition's defensive line, and you can see how Podence exploits this on the counter. If Neto/Traore attack the wings, Kante has to mark this zone to avoid leaving Podence a chance in the #10 zone for a shot.
Wolves are built for counters. When they win the ball, they use their fast and furious 3 to cause problems. Key to this is Fabio Silva, club record signing who at 18, has been asked to fill Jimenez's shoes. Silva is a completely different forward and offers a different skillset–
Silva drops deep out of possession to pressure and offer an extra passing option. This allows him to quickly release the wingers, who attack the space in behind. Here, when he releases Neto, Mings is struggling and the CB space is vacant; Podence attacks it and almost scores.
Because he isn't as quick as the others, Silva often drops deeper than them to make it a 4-2-1-3 on counters to allow the faster players to utilize speed on the break. Notice Silva's position here; he is the deepest of the 4 attackers when he releases the ball for Traore.
And again. This time he shows great awareness to start the move and then quickly breaks to the left (as Traore pulls the CBs inside). If Douglas Luiz hadn't been tracking, this would have been a great opening for him to cut inside on his right foot and score.
Up front, he shows intelligence in his movement. When Podence drops between the lines, Silva drifts left, as if making space for Podence to run into. When Konsa thinks Silva is drifting away and stops tracking him, Silva immediately runs in front and gets a shot away. Unlucky.
So what are Wolves' weaknesses? There are a few, most notably Nelson Semedo (in a back 4.) Semedo loves to attack, and is very cavalier in his defensive positioning. Here, Wolves are out of possession and he presses high. Chilwell should be looking for Timo when this happens.
Not only oblivious to Watkins moving out wide, but he marks the same man as Dendoncker. This allows Watkins to collect the ball and get into the box, and his sharp shot is saved by Patricio. Semedo's defensive positioning is all over the place and our width should trouble him.
Even when he's in position he's not very reliable. Remember how I said Dendoncker joins the attack in the nox? So when targeted with a quick long ball, Semedo often finds himself without cover. Here, Grealish takes him on, and Dendoncker is still trying to get back to help.
Wolves lost to Villa 1-0, courtesy of a penalty conceded by, guess who? Even with Wolves deep, Villa target Semedo with the diagonal. When McGinn gets the ball, he takes on Semedo and it pays off. Timo has already earned 4-5 penalties, and vs his speed, Semedo could be in trouble
Their LB spot has been problematic too, with new signing Marçal struggling vs Villa as well. Here he gets dragged out wide and leaves a gaping hole for Cash to run into. Kilman, Ait Nouri and Saïss have all been rotated more often than the others in a bid to find good balance.
From a collective perspective, Wolves could struggle with pressing. With just 234 attacking pressures in 12, they often stand off CBs, marking mids instead. Bielsa said after Leeds lost that failing to stop Zouma/Silva/Kante from playing out was a key flaw. This is the 7th minute
Wolves struggle to cope with high pressure. They have the 2nd most clearances with 302 & Patricio has a launch %(hits the ball 40 yards+) of 88%. With short players up front and 2nd worst recoveries in the league, forcing Wolves to go long could help us win it back more easily.
To sum up:
- Front 4 are a threat on the break and must be tackled/pressed as soon as the ball is lost.
- Dendoncker and Saïss get into the box to add aerial threat in Jimenez's absence. This also leaves Wolves short at the back.
- Unlike Everton, high crosses could pay off here.
- Front 4 are a threat on the break and must be tackled/pressed as soon as the ball is lost.
- Dendoncker and Saïss get into the box to add aerial threat in Jimenez's absence. This also leaves Wolves short at the back.
- Unlike Everton, high crosses could pay off here.
- Marçal/Semedo can be exploited, Timo/Pulisic should take them on.
- target Semedo with diagonals; catch Dendoncker out
- pressure defence into going long so possession can be won quickly.
- Caution while tackling; Villa had 7 yellows/1 red cause Wolves' forwards are too quick.
- target Semedo with diagonals; catch Dendoncker out
- pressure defence into going long so possession can be won quickly.
- Caution while tackling; Villa had 7 yellows/1 red cause Wolves' forwards are too quick.
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