Watching from the stands at Ashton Gate on Saturday, club legend Andy Thompson was full of praise for Goncalo Guedes, Andre and Rodrigo Gomes.
The former full-back, covering the game for Matchday Live Extra, saw Wolves create a plethora of chances against their Championship opponents, but progress through the narrow margin of 2-1.
While Thompson wanted to see the Old Gold kill off their opponents earlier, he was pleased with a number of individual performances, with Emmanuel Agbabou also receiving praise for a positive debut in the defence.
Progressing in the cup
Thompson said: “We let them back into the game. They were there for the takings and, considering the amount of opportunities we had in that first half, you've got to be more clinical. That's where you've got to make sure you see teams off and we allowed Bristol City opportunities. We did it a little bit in the second half as well, where we were a little bit sloppy with the ball as a team, but we always looked in control at the back, and we’re through to the next round, which is the main thing.”
Wolves creating chance after chance
Thompson said: “They looked really comfortable throughout the game. That first 35 minutes, it could quite easily have been six with the opportunities that we had, and they weren't difficult opportunities. The one for Guedes where the ‘keeper’s off his line, he had a little bit more to do, but there were two simple ones to side foot in. All he had to do was make decent contact with both of them, but he got his feet all muddled up.
“Hwang as well had a couple of easy chances. He had the one in the second half which just bobbled up to him, and he had an easy chance to keep it on target. It even skipped up for him so he could take the bobble out of it, he had to just volley in, and got it wrong. Then he's had the one where it’s a great ball from Guedes, but he came over it too firm and it goes straight over the bar. You’d be concerned if you weren't making opportunities, but you can't keep missing easy chances. They were easy chances to put your team out of reach.”
Goncalo Guedes catching the eye
Thompson said: “I like him because he's quite direct. He's positive. When we talk about passing it back and square, he's not like that. He gets at the back line, gets at the defence, and he seems energetic when he's doing it. He keeps going, credit to him, he doesn't give up. Once he gets into those positions, he's just going to settle himself a little bit, because he could have quite easily had two or three. He'll be kicking himself that he hasn't scored because he said he's had some good chances.”
Solid debut for Emmanuel Agbadou
Thompson said: “I love watching him. He comfortable on the ball. Don't get me wrong, he's not going to get the time and space in the Premier League as he did today, but I think that he grew into the game. He started to keep things simple. I think he came to realise that he can't do the things that he probably did before in France. He's willing to have a tackle, he wants to play, he loves that switch ball. It's still going to be difficult for him to settle in straight away. It was a great opportunity today to come into the side, coming up against a Championship side, no disrespect to Bristol City, but I think that he's come to the side, FA Cup, it's not a league game, and it's given him the chance to get into the action.
“He looks like he's got all the attributes that we've been looking for in a central defender, but he needs to be careful in the Premier League, because they're cleverer, they're stronger, they're sharper. He's got that physicality where he's able to protect the ball, but he's got to know when to get rid of it and when to get play that ball forward. I thought he was better in the second half and I don't think he took as many risks. I thought he was a lot better by not giving that little chance to them or giving them a chance to get the ball off him. I think he was more tidy with his passing and his delivery.”
Welcome to the family, Emmanuel 💛 pic.twitter.com/BdzOnT6rB2
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 12, 2025
Andre forming a strong partnership with Joao Gomes
Thompson said: “I think he’s found his feet now. All the games that he seems to be taking part in, you can see that he's sharp, he’s a clever player. He seems to do the right thing. I think that he probably was struggling, I don't know what it was, maybe the language barrier or being with players that he didn't know, but with Joao Gomes, he seems to have settled down.
“It does help, same nationality, same international team, so it probably feels a little bit easier with it, but no doubt about it, the two of them work so well together in that central midfield, disrupting players, can pass and they're willing to accept the ball because they're so strong. Gomes is great at, he has been for quite a while, but you've got the pair of them now, where everything seems to go through them. They seem so comfortable in there. I'm not just talking about Bristol City, I'm talking about the Premier League as well, they've looked a good pair in there.”
Rodrigo Gomes continuing to impress
Thompson said: “He's still got a lot to learn, but you've got a player, by the looks of it, who's willing to learn and listen and do the right things. If you make a mistake, can you get back? He's one of those players who is infectious with the way he plays, and you're hoping that it's going to rub off on other players. Don't get me wrong, he's got to sometimes settle himself when he gets the ball, or settle into a position, but I'd rather have somebody like that in my side who's working to get the ball, to make sure that he gets it and makes it difficult for teams. A manager, as a coach, he must absolutely love him and he looks like he's a dream to work with.”
