17 Aug 2023 07:39:06
{Ed's Note - Thefutureisoldgold has posted a new article entitled, Wolverhampton Wanderers Player Ratings v Manchester United

1.) 17 Aug 2023
17 Aug 2023 12:15:02
Good post, I think Wolves played very well, as well as I've seen them play in months. However, I do feel like United allowed them to play that way with a very poor performance. United didn't look fully fit or match sharp. Our off the ball movement was pretty much non-existent, which mean that we couldn't move the ball quickly enough. While our passing was poor, often just behind the player or into feet when they wanted the ball played ahead of them. That took a lot of the momentum out of our attacks and gave Wolves the opportunity to get into their defensive shape. Tactically I think we got it wrong as well, which left massive gaps in the heart of midfield with Casemiro often finding himself up against 2 or even 3 players, which made it too easy for Wolves to waltz right through the heart of our side.

I actually thought the ref had a decent game right up until the penalty incident. He let some challenges go for both sides, and made a couple of decisions that maybe didn't need to be made. However, I didn't feel like he was particularly bias towards one side or the other. Both teams had decisions go against them that they could feel aggrieved about and others where they might feel they got away with a decision.

It really is just that penalty incident that seems to have dominated the narrative of the game, and as such the Ref has been punished for it. While I don't think there is much dispute for it being a penalty I definitely feel it is one of those incidents that is much easier and clearer for those watching at home with with multiple angles and slow-mo replays to feel confident that it was a foul and a penalty. In real time at pitch level for a Ref having to watch multiple things and possibly with a restricted view I can understand why that might not have been given by the on field Ref, who should only make a penalty call if he is 100% sure it is a penalty.

When you watch it back Onana never looks at where he's going until the last second when he's aware he isn't going to get to the ball, he's watching the ball the whole way, ultimately he doesn't get there in time and misses the ball, his speed means there would be absolutely no way of him pulling out. He is clattered to the ground just as much as the Wolves player. The second Wolves player there also unbalances Kalajdzic and also plays a role in the incident sandwiching Kalajdzic between Onana, which is why the Austrian comes off worse in the incident.

I don't feel Onana's actions stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity as all Kalajdzic would have been able to do at best was head the ball back across goal which is what he did anyway. While the keeper ended up on the floor with the ball live and in a dangerous part of the penalty area.

It is a foul, but I don't think its as clear and obvious as is being made out, especially from the Ref's perspective at full speed at pitch level. After all not all coming togethers are a foul. For me the problem comes from VAR's decision to not overrule the on pitch decision or direct the Ref to watch the pitch side monitors. For me that is where the problem is, and where the mistake was made.

2.) 17 Aug 2023
17 Aug 2023 15:54:17
I agree. Was it a clear and obvious error by the referee? Well, if the majority of United fans, after having the opportunity to see the incident in slow motion, think it should have been a penalty - and you can count me amongst them - then it most certainly should have been. It was the VAR official who took the responsibility upon himself who was at fault for not asking the referee to take another look at it.

3.) 17 Aug 2023
17 Aug 2023 17:08:42
My, and again I say MY opinion on it is 2 players went for the ball both missed it and clattered into each other. How do we award a foul to one of them?

4.) 17 Aug 2023
17 Aug 2023 21:57:31
Pity he didn't just not bother going as the two Wolves lad had already messed it up and got in each others way before getting clattered by the keeper.

5.) 18 Aug 2023
18 Aug 2023 09:58:51
Personally I thought it was a penalty however unless the rules have changed based on what has happened before it is not.

I was quite interested to see dermot Gallagher ref watch say he thought it should have been a penalty against us but last year when Jose sa took out a Leeds player he said it was not. Not sure why he has such a different take on two similar incidents unless there has been a rule change.

6.) 18 Aug 2023
18 Aug 2023 10:02:47
MBD i agree. He faceplants the players shoulder. This talk of player being punched in the head are from people who haven't even seen the incident. It's reckless and could have been given but what gives it the mass hysteria and scrutiny is when it happened in injury time, the score and also gives them all something to talk about. I haven't heard anyone moan about the handball in the area, correct decision imo or Antony taken out by Sa when Antony chipped him. If Onana's is a penalty then that should be aswell.