Concept Scouting

🇸🇪 16 clubs. 30 games. One title. Here’s how every team looks heading into the new season - squad summaries, key players, young talent and new recruits. 2-part thread 🧵

@adenwwfc_ As it is fair game for Wolves to not extend his contract

@ConceptScouting It was completely fair game for him to join spurs

Naturally a lot of conjecture on social media regarding Matt Doherty and the fact he was owed a better send-off by Wolves - but it should also be noted he left for Spurs as soon as Wolves started to plateau in 2020. A good servant for the club but let’s not go overboard.

@andyroden So your “way before the plateau” is 3 months?

@ConceptScouting It’s just not true sorry. When we beat Arsenal the following November in THAT game (season 3) we went to 6th in the league. In November! It’s Raul getting injured that started the downfall. I think your memory’s playing tricks on you 😂😂

@andyroden He didn’t leave way before the plateau. The trajectory levelled after the Seville match for various reasons. It’s not harsh to say he would have wanted the move.

@ConceptScouting He left way before we “plateau’d” as you put it. He was gonna be upgraded anyway after Sevila and Uncle Jorge got him a move to his mate Jose in order to make way for Semedo. You’re a bit harsh on him there mate.

@ConceptScouting Agree. Didn't he give some speech about joining a big club at spurs? Why should we give him a send off if he doesn't warrant a place.

@koffing131 Seemed fairly pleased about it

@ConceptScouting Wolves wanted Semedo and felt the money for Doherty was too good. I don’t think he would of wanted the move

@LukeJBailey007 It’s evidenced that was the peak. 13th place the following season.

@ConceptScouting Wym plateau? We were fresh of a 7th place season. Only difference was that we didn’t have European football

@WolfWhoWanders 😴

@ConceptScouting Sounds exciting

Some principles I can see across Rob Edwards’ time at both #Boro and #Wolves, to try and show an indication of what next season looks like; - possession isn’t important to him. the identity is not “dominate possession” - pressing aggressively isn’t a trait his team has held this season - passive pressing at both Boro and Wolves, compact mid-block that defends its shape - the intensity is about transition speed on the ball, not off it. - defensive overperformance is structured, not luck. both teams outperformed their defensive xG considerably which is a product of the system (positive) - formation is genuinely fluid - the principle is constant, the shake is not - *generally* patient build-up, not direct. vertical in intent but not direct in the long ball sense.

@valmary_rose8 I can draft a simpler version if that helps Rose

@ConceptScouting That's a long winded way of saying that he wants solid defence alongside fast counter attacking

@kierenhughes97 Don’t doubt he deserved a better send-off, the overreaction I’m seeing is interesting though

@ConceptScouting It's more that I believe he is in our top 10 appearance makers ever and has been through all the tiers with Wolves, definitely deserved to say goodbye properly

We’re living in a simulation

He’s in the top 20% for headed goals per 90 in the top 5 leagues. Top 1% for aerial duels won in the same dataset. He has 2 headed goals from 2.96xG (headers only). The variance made up of a header missed yesterday and one versus Palace along with a large volume of low xG chances. Supports that the issue is lack of creation as much as lack of execution.

@measlewolf @ConceptScouting @sab4019 Do you have any stats on conversion of headed chances that he’s had? I might be proved wrong but I think he’s a poor finisher. His greatest strength is his header clearances in our box. How and why we paid 26 million I’ll never know.

A number of Wolves fans have been playing the “what do you expect him to do with these players?” card when other fans criticise Rob Edwards for being overly negative, defensive and conservative. 30% of the ball versus Burnley. 229 passes versus Burnley’s 559. In a game with nothing to lose.

@Woodthewolf83 @measlewolf @sab4019 There has to be an appreciation for the shortcomings of players around the forward and the style of the team. Wolves recruited Tolu off the back of two seasons with creative players around him. Then put him on the pitch with very little and expected it to work.

@ConceptScouting @measlewolf @sab4019 That goal against Everton in the cup shows he can finish There is no pacing that team apart from Rodrigo IF they put pace around him he would be a decent source of supply in the air Although that being said I think Sasa is probably a better all round player

@measlewolf @sab4019 He’s objectively good in the air Steve. He absolutely lacks pace but that isn’t his game. He also underperformed in front of goal this season but that doesn’t make him a bad finisher in isolation.

@ConceptScouting @sab4019 I don’t think he’s good in the air, lacks pace and isn’t a great finisher. He doesn’t get in any other Prem side for me.

I do find the reference (not just by you) to Tolu interesting. He’s started 37% of the games and played the equivalent of 42% of the minutes this season. And when he has played, we’ve lumped balls to him with no support whatsoever. He’s missed some chances but also not been part of a team that remotely plays to his strengths.

@ConceptScouting @sab4019 I do hear you. I’ve not enjoyed it. I would say that our defenders, except Krejci and possibly Hugo Bueno aren’t Premier League quality to allow us to play in a 4. We have nothing on the right hand side and Hwang and Tolu make no decent movement. Recruitment and quality is the

@measlewolf @sab4019 There’s a long way to go from open, free-flowing football to what Edwards puts out on the pitch Steve - a blend is fine but the open play chance creation is shockingly poor. No structure, no patterns of play, players clearly don’t know their roles offensively.

@sab4019 @ConceptScouting Fair enough Si. However the new manager won 4 of his last 18 competitive matches and I’ve got a friend who’s a Boro fan who said that they’d have gone up if RE had stayed. They had some convincing wins. I do challenge anyone to play open and free flowing football with

@iconicreggiee @DeadlineDayLive He didn’t have 1 year left on his contract.

@ConceptScouting @DeadlineDayLive A player with 1 year left on his contract is naturally cheaper. Renewing for 5 years gives the club stronger negotiating power, so any buying club would likely have to pay more than they would’ve before.

🚨 Players from the relegated clubs in the Premier League who could move on this summer: Wolves 🔸 André 🔸 João Gomes 🔸 Ladislav Krejčí 🔸 Mateus Mané Burnley 🔸 Maxime Estève 🔸 Jaidon Anthony West Ham United 🔸 Crysencio Summerville 🔸 El Hadji Malick Diouf 🔸 Mateus Fernandes 🔸 Jarrod Bowen

Absolutely not to say he’s solely to blame - but positive mentality and impetus are really important factors. There needs to be both next season.

@iconicreggiee @DeadlineDayLive You think a players value increases after a relegation simply by extending his contract?

@ConceptScouting @DeadlineDayLive That's so they can sell him for more money