Wolves 2 Southampton 0 - Liam Keen and Nathan Judah analysis
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello, I'm Nathan Judah and I'm here with Wolves reporter, it's Mr. Liam Keane.
00:12Liam, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Southampton 0.
00:17That means 3 points, that means Wolves win a game of football.
00:20How are you feeling, Bebe?
00:21Yeah, it's been a long time since we've been able to say this, hasn't it?
00:25A second Premier League win in 21 Premier League games.
00:30Positive, you know.
00:31Dangerous day for ALA, come on.
00:34Our first clean sheet in 23.
00:37Yeah, what was that? Always happening.
00:40And it feels good.
00:41It does feel good.
00:42Thank God we're...
00:43It's not going to be the performance that's going to blow you away.
00:45It wasn't a great game of football.
00:46It wasn't a great game to watch, it was poor.
00:49It was always going to be a little bit boring because of the way Southampton play.
00:52Southampton are fantastic at keeping the ball.
00:55Luckily for Wolves, Southampton, with all due respect, have got very little substance
00:59at the end of that possession.
01:00They've got zero quality.
01:01They've got no quality going forward.
01:02They created next to nothing, bar the VAR decision, which we will come to.
01:07They created next to nothing and that suited Wolves.
01:11Wolves created chances, they scored two good goals.
01:15They needed a little bit of look, a little bit of quality from certain individuals.
01:19But it's a massive win and it's a win that eases pressure on Gary.
01:22It's a result that gets this fan base something to cheer about, gives them a little bit of
01:26unity at the end.
01:27Moves them up the table.
01:28Moves them up the table and moves them in the right direction.
01:30They need to have a lot more to add to this but it's a step in the right direction.
01:33Absolutely and it's a small step because there is still a lot of issues to cover and that's,
01:37you know, they're going to have to play a lot better than that in the upcoming few games
01:41if they are going to get points, 100%.
01:43But let's rewind back to the start of the game.
01:45We saw the team sheet.
01:46A lot of people are gassed at seeing Pablo Sarabia.
01:49You were quite shocked to see Pablo Sarabia in the starting line-up after the Crystal Palace.
01:52But that's what Gary O'Neill has paid to make the big decisions and he didn't shy away from it.
01:57And look, instant gratitude, instant payback because one nil up in two minutes.
02:03That's just the start this team needed.
02:05Yeah, you tweeted after the goal that it was a ballsy decision from Gary O'Neill to play
02:10Pablo Sarabia and that sums it up pretty well.
02:13Absolutely no concern on my part to admit that before this game I thought,
02:19what on earth is that team's decision to play Pablo Sarabia?
02:22I mean, was he brutal?
02:24He was brutal, that's what.
02:25I mean, you wouldn't know.
02:25He was sorting off on holiday as usual.
02:26Trying to burn some calories running along.
02:30He was bad last week.
02:31He really was.
02:33And regardless of the result today, I would have stood here and said,
02:36the decision to start Pablo Sarabia, in my opinion, was a crazy decision.
02:39Yeah.
02:40And then in two minutes, it's justified pretty quickly.
02:42Now, did Pablo Sarabia have a great rest of the half?
02:45No, not really.
02:46And then came off.
02:47And then came off for half time.
02:48He did have a little bit of a knock during the half, so we're going to speak to Gary
02:51and find out whether that's a knock or a tactical decision to take him off.
02:54It looks like it may have been a knock.
02:56But he was great the rest of the half.
02:58But what he does do is he offers technical ability, intelligence,
03:01positioning, and quality in the final third when he gets in those positions
03:05and receives the ball.
03:06He makes a fantastic run.
03:07Cunha does brilliantly with the run in the initial instance.
03:10Makes a fantastic run in the box.
03:11One-touch Brownsdale, and that's his quality.
03:14I didn't think it was the right decision to play him, and it was justified very,
03:17very quickly.
03:18It was a great goal, and it got Wolves the perfect start.
03:20Yeah, look, in a make or break game, which a lot of people thought this was
03:23for Gary O'Neill, you know, you have to win this game.
03:25You go with your experienced guys.
03:27You look at Carlos Forbes.
03:28You look at, you know, people like even Balaguard who came on in the second half.
03:31These are the people who haven't really made an impression.
03:33So you go with your tried and tested.
03:35You go with the experience.
03:35And yes, he wasn't great for the rest of the half, but he scored that very
03:38important goal.
03:39Calmed things down a little bit.
03:41You go into halftime.
03:41Balaguard comes on.
03:42There was some sort of guy who came on the pitch, an imposter.
03:45Never seen him before.
03:46Neve...
03:47Neves.
03:48Ruben Neves.
03:49Who am I kidding?
03:51But let's be honest.
03:52Like you say, not a great game of football, but a great goal.
03:55And Mateus Cunha is the most important person in this squad currently.
04:01Because without Mateus Cunha, Wolves, I would fear for Wolves' future.
04:06And it's so important to keep this guy fit because he is quality.
04:09Whether you're losing, whether you're drawing, whether you're winning games,
04:12he is often the best player on the pitch.
04:14Most likely the best player on the pitch.
04:16And that, a stunning goal, outside the box.
04:19I said, shoot.
04:20I said, go for goal.
04:21I said, go for goal.
04:22I said, this is just your range.
04:24No, no, no.
04:24But to score a goal, to score a goal like that.
04:27Not just...
04:27If it had been scored for, it doesn't make any difference.
04:29Great timing.
04:30They're all over the shop this lot.
04:31To score...
04:32What are you doing?
04:33It's finished.
04:34It's finished.
04:34What are you doing?
04:35I can't believe it.
04:36The guy's partying.
04:37We've got to go louder.
04:39Well, it couldn't be louder if you tried.
04:41To score a goal like that.
04:42What?
04:47Mikey Bowers is fuming.
04:49He's fuming.
04:50Look at him down there.
04:50Great song.
04:52Who sings this?
04:54Pretty.
04:55Wonderful.
04:56To score a goal like that.
04:57In front of the South Bank.
04:59Outside the box.
05:00In front of Ruben Neves.
05:03In front of Ruben...
05:04What a song.
05:06What a song.
05:09Look at that.
05:09The work experience guy.
05:10In front of the...
05:12Cordia.
05:13Astonishing.
05:14That's a really good goal.
05:15Oh really?
05:16Excellent.
05:17Were we talking about the goal play?
05:18Yeah, look...
05:19In front of Neves.
05:20Yeah.
05:21Mateus Cunha is a wonderful, wonderful player.
05:25I completely agree with you.
05:26Walser...
05:26That's why.
05:27There you go.
05:28Walser are over...
05:29One second.
05:30There he is.
05:32Walser are over-reliant on him.
05:35If we're going to take a negative,
05:36put a positive in.
05:37He's a fantastic footballer,
05:38who has got what Walser intended for him to win,
05:40which was a 1-0.
05:41It's a tough game.
05:42Takes a sting out of the game.
05:43Salah hasn't had nothing left to offer.
05:46It's a wonderful goal.
05:47In front of his old mate.
05:48Happy days.
05:49I can't believe it's still playing.
05:51It's unbelievable.
05:52Erm...
05:55Wonderful.
05:56There were a couple of nervy moments in there,
05:58weren't there?
05:59At the same time.
06:00Talk about the VAR goal.
06:01That went four walls for once.
06:03Yeah, I think Walser...
06:05I've heard a little bit of luck
06:06when it comes to VAR.
06:07Erm...
06:08In my opinion,
06:09they've got a little bit of luck.
06:10Smedo is very clever the way he steps across Fernandes.
06:13Very, very clever.
06:14To allow Fernandes to...
06:15Oh, there we go.
06:16To allow Fernandes to initiate the contact.
06:18Very, very clever from Smedo.
06:20But I do think,
06:21if I'm honest,
06:22Walser may have got away with one.
06:24If the on-field decision is no goal,
06:26I can understand it.
06:27The reasoning's there.
06:28To re-referee the game,
06:29have it as a goal on-field,
06:31and then retract it,
06:32I think is unfair.
06:33I think is unfair on Southampton.
06:34And if that was a Wolves goal,
06:36we'd be absolutely furious.
06:37So I have to be fair.
06:38But Wolves have earned a little bit of luck.
06:40They got it.
06:41And they used it to their advantage,
06:42fortunately, on this occasion.
06:44Erm...
06:45Look, a clean sheet as well,
06:46which is very important to this team.
06:48They're going to need some clean sheets.
06:50It's a great song.
06:51I'm glad it's not VAR.
06:52My voice is going hoarse.
06:53Yeah, clean sheets have been a massive issue,
06:55hasn't it?
06:56Set pieces.
06:57They looked a little nervy
06:58from a couple of set pieces today,
06:59but luckily didn't concede.
07:00And that's going to be really, really important
07:02going forward.
07:03Because...
07:04Look, hypothetically,
07:05had Wolves lost this game,
07:06had Wolves made the decision
07:07to relieve Gary O'Neill of his duties,
07:09whoever was replacing him,
07:11their first job would have been
07:13make us harder to beat.
07:14Yeah.
07:15Tied to the back.
07:16100%.
07:17Going forward, it's not the issue.
07:18Wolves are scoring goals.
07:19Erm...
07:20Defensively, they've conceded far too many.
07:21They conceded 27 in 10 for today,
07:22now 27 in 11.
07:23Erm...
07:24Premier League games.
07:25And that has to be improved upon.
07:26So...
07:27Erm...
07:28It was, again,
07:29set in the right direction for performance,
07:30but to get that clean sheet
07:31would be really important
07:32for those individuals at the back as well.
07:33And I thought they all had a good game.
07:34Dawson had a good game.
07:35Erm...
07:36Sneijder much better.
07:37Aitonori...
07:38A little odd at the moment.
07:39He's given the ball away a lot.
07:40Yeah.
07:41But he does offer a threat.
07:42Yeah.
07:43And I thought Totti was very good as well.
07:44So...
07:45Erm...
07:46Definitely a set in the right direction.
07:47Er...
07:48Gary O'Neill there,
07:49in front of the South Bank,
07:50giving it three fists.
07:51Yes.
07:52Look, I mean, the fan base is split.
07:53I think you can quite easily say that.
07:54You might think maybe people
07:55favour Gary O'Neill out
07:56rather than Gary O'Neill.
07:57You might think that maybe
07:58But it just shows that
07:59that was a big result.
08:00It was a big result for the team.
08:01It was a big result for Gary O'Neill.
08:02Erm...
08:03It's still broken to a certain extent.
08:04They still need a lot of work.
08:05I think.
08:06I think everybody knows that.
08:07But at the same time,
08:08do you feel like he's bought himself more time
08:09or do you think that that's...
08:10he hasn't got any time left?
08:11No.
08:12I think he has to have bought more time.
08:13Erm...
08:14And is it a case of buying time?
08:15Or is it a case of, you know...
08:16To some degree.
08:17To some degree, yeah.
08:18Because I think you can only go so long
08:19without winning games.
08:20Erm...
08:21The performance of the team
08:22is really good.
08:23I mean,
08:24the performance of the team
08:25is really good.
08:26I mean,
08:27you can only go so long
08:28without winning games.
08:29Erm...
08:30The performance has been OK in spells.
08:31I think there's been better performances
08:32than what we've seen today.
08:33I agree with that.
08:34I 100% agree with that.
08:35Erm...
08:36But at this point,
08:37it was all about results
08:38and they had to get that result.
08:39So I think it does.
08:40Erm...
08:41And it gives them a platform to build from.
08:42Erm...
08:43Gary O'Neill's going to need to use that wisely
08:44and they've got a really good
08:45run of fixtures.
08:46Erm...
08:47Look,
08:48there's no guaranteed win
08:49in any Premier League game.
08:50But with the run of fixtures
08:51they've got up until
08:52erm...
08:53Boxing Day
08:54it's a really favourable run
08:55where they can...
08:56they should be putting
08:57some more results together.
08:58Erm...
08:59Results,
09:00at least the foreseeable
09:01will be far more important
09:02than performances.
09:03Eventually you've got to try
09:04and marry the two together
09:05but just get results.
09:06Erm...
09:07After today,
09:08you've got to go on
09:09and build from that.
09:10Yeah,
09:11Fulham,
09:12Bournemouth I believe.
09:13Yeah,
09:14Everton away,
09:15then West Ham away,
09:16Ipswich here,
09:17then Leicester away
09:18and that takes you into Boxing Day.
09:19You want to be getting
09:20at least two to three wins
09:21in those games,
09:22don't you really?
09:23I think it's going to be
09:24a massive one.
09:25Leicester away
09:26week after has to be as well.
09:27Bournemouth here as well
09:28at the end of November
09:29will be three points.
09:30This is one more
09:31for the podcast
09:32and for the Keenan-Judah
09:33show next week
09:34but in terms of
09:35the future of Gary Neill
09:36do you feel that
09:37it's very short term?
09:38Are we going
09:39game to game here?
09:40Or do you think
09:41that the hierarchy
09:42looking long term
09:43is not about that?
09:44Or is it all
09:45about circumstance?
09:46I think circumstances
09:47will play a big part.
09:48I mean if you go away
09:49to Fulham for example
09:50and get thumbed
09:51and play really poorly
09:52I don't think they're
09:53going to let this manager go.
09:54I think they appreciate
09:55what he offers.
09:56There'll be plenty
09:57on social media
09:58that will argue against that.
09:59There was a specific
10:00game plan today
10:01that wasn't exciting.
10:02It wasn't enthralling.
10:03It wasn't going to get
10:04people off their seats
10:05but it was a game plan
10:06that Wolves
10:07sort of had to play
10:08to get a result
10:09but the way that
10:10Sadamson looked
10:11after the ball
10:12if you pressed
10:13too aggressively
10:14in the middle third
10:15of that pitch
10:16Sadamson will play
10:17through you
10:18and open you up.
10:19Equally Wolves
10:20were a little bit
10:21nervous about
10:22the specific game plan
10:23they got through it.
10:24I think if the players
10:25listen to the game plans
10:26it's proof
10:27Man City here
10:28was proof
10:29being the last goal
10:30the last minute
10:31winner for City
10:32it's proof that
10:33if you follow the game plan
10:34you can get results
10:35with this manager.
10:36I think the board
10:37are backing
10:38what he offers
10:39but you have to get results.
10:40So this is a great step
10:41but you have to continue.
10:42Two very quick points.
10:43Sam Johnston
10:44was on the bench today
10:45just by the team sheet
10:46that we saw
10:47so it was the first time
10:48that Sam Johnston
10:49and Jose Sarr
10:50and Sam Johnston
10:51which was meant
10:52that he's lost his place
10:53in this side.
10:54And you'd have thought
10:55that Jose Sarr
10:56would expect Jose Sarr
10:57to be in goal
10:58for four in a way.
10:59Yep.
11:00It's a big blow for him.
11:01It's Jose Sarr's shirt
11:02and it's up to him
11:03whether he keeps it
11:04or lose it
11:05and whether
11:06Johnston can
11:07nick it back off him.
11:08Yeah a slight error
11:09from Wolves
11:10in tweeting out
11:11the teams
11:12which they quickly deleted
11:13within about five minutes
11:14or so
11:15and put out the right team
11:16and it had Bentley on the bench
11:17rather than Johnston.
11:18It was Johnston on the bench
11:20because at that moment
11:21we didn't realise
11:22but it was Johnston
11:23on the bench.
11:24He's back.
11:25He's fit.
11:26He's available
11:27and he's not playing.
11:28And he's second choice.
11:29He'll be disappointed
11:30with that.
11:31We'll always be disappointed
11:32in general
11:33to have made a ten million
11:34acquisition
11:35and him to lose it so quickly
11:36but it's up to him
11:37to battle
11:38and get back into the season.
11:39Well you've got to go
11:40with the best eleven
11:41that's going to win
11:42and that will be the case
11:43going forward
11:44from game to game.
11:45Gary Neill's always said that.
11:46And finally for me
11:47January
11:48I might as well
11:49send him in.
11:50Might as well send some more
11:51send him in.
11:52Yeah, yeah.
11:53We'll have a whole team full of them.
11:54He's on crutches at the moment
11:55after knee surgery
11:56but he still walks into this side.
11:57I knew you were going to say that.
11:58I set you up for it perfectly.
11:59But I tell you what
12:00you take him back.
12:01Of course you do.
12:02He's a fantastic lad.
12:03He's a good looking lad as well.
12:05For all that's to do with
12:06Southampton Hill
12:07follow the Postman direction
12:08and make sure you log on
12:09to expressonstar.com
12:10because it's the first time
12:11this season
12:12in Mikey's life
12:13so he can't interrupt the
12:14COMM!