VAR is needed: Five things learned as Wolves draw with champions Man City

In a stunningly entertaining game, Wolves drew 1-1 with Manchester City in the Premier League.

The match was a thrilling way to start the weekend, as both sides gave it their all for every minute of the 95 played. The energy and attacking focus saw a match that flowed from back-to-front with a pulsating energy. What did we learn?

1. Vincent Kompany is finished

One of the big worries with Manchester City at the start of last season was how much of their defensive solidity relied on the physically fragile Vincent Kompany. Well, Pep Guardiola found a way to move beyond that and City didn’t miss Kompany at all. Amusingly enough their biggest setback of the season occurred against Liverpool in the Champions League when they brought Kompany back in the side.

If it was disguised by the quality of the opposition at Anfield, here at Molineaux it was made plain: Vincent Kompany is finished as an elite-level defender. He can still be of use to City, obviously, but the way in which Wolves repeatedly exposed his rash decision-making and positional ill-discipline must have worried Guardiola.

Kompany was constantly trying to play on the front-foot and getting caught-out by quick passing exchanges and neat movement by Wolves. Furthermore, for Wolves’ goal, the ball sailed right over Kompany’s head as he misjudged the flight of the ball and didn’t jump, allowing it to drop for Willy Boly.

2. Wolves on the hunt

After a summer of ambitious spending, Wolves’ Premier League campaign began in less than impressive circumstances. A draw against Everton and defeat away to Leicester left people wondering if all the Wolves hype wasn’t going to amount to much. But against Manchester City we saw the true capabilities of Wolves’ squad be unleashed.

Their 3-4-3 shape compacted and allowed them to defend against City deep at times whilst also pushing forward and pressing the life out of the Premier League Champions – with either defensive system enabling Wolves to spring forward on the break with incisive attacks that cut through the Champions’ defence. They didn’t get any joy from these breaks, but that owed much to the defensive quality of Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker’s recovery pace and Ederson’s quality in goal.

The way that Wolves isolated Vincent Kompany on the break or, once Adama Traoré came on, launch raids down the right at Benjamin Mendy, bodes so well for their Premier League future. The ability to pinpoint the weaknesses of the opposition or simply just play to their own strengths will likely lead to a side that, when facing sides not as gifted as City, will cut opponents apart.

3. VAR is needed

After it’s phenomenal success at the World Cup, everyone is kind of in love with VAR. And rightfully so, because it helps to get the correct decisions made. Mistakes are nearly always corrected, and injustices are far less frequent. These are good things, and given how the Premier League was early to adopt goal-line technology, one must have thought that England’s top flight would pick up the VAR baton.

But no, the Premier League didn’t sign up for VAR. The archaic La Liga did, but the Premier League wasn’t interested! And we saw one of the first major decisions where VAR would have corrected things today as Wolves’ first goal was, after slow-motion replay, a clear instance of handball. It was understandably missed in open play but VAR would have sorted this decision out. Should this decision (and thus result) prove to be a pivotal one in the Premier League title race, City will be understandably aggrieved.

4. Rui Patricio is a saviour

Everyone was astounded when Rui Patricio signed for Wolves. This was some kind of madness; a world-class goalkeeper playing in the Premier League for a side that wasn’t one of the traditional big six; hell, for a side that wasn’t even in the division last season. This was a true callback to Edwin Van Der Sar’s move to Fulham back in 2001 when they, too, were a newly promoted side.

Then Patricio took the no. 11 shirt, and even though it was because the no. 1 was retired in a touching tribute to Carl Ikeme who was forced to retire following his battle with leukaemia, it still felt odd. Maybe Patricio wouldn’t bring the class? He conceded four goals in his first two games, and doubts were understandable. But then City came to town.

Patricio was absolutely colossal against City, dominating his penalty area and making a series of quality saves. Even when Gabriel Jesus directed a header right at his feet, he not only saved it but cleared it well at the same time. Patricio was the main reason Wolves won a point today and he will only get better as he gets more acclimatised. Wolves’ no. 11 is well and truly their no. 1.

5. City need not panic

There will be a tendency to overreact to Manchester City dropping points, especially against newly promoted Wolves. Many will point to teams struggling to defend their title and this being the first example of City not having the same ruthlessness as they did last season.

Except last season City drew early with Everton, and that only served to propel then forward. And moreover, City were stupendous against Wolves. They were utterly dominant for the vast majority of the game with Sergio Aguero hitting both post and bar with excellent shots and Raheem Sterling whacking a shot off the bar too, and the goal they conceded should have been ruled out too.

Obviously the form of Leroy Sané and the injury to Kevin De Bruyne are things to be concerned about, but overall Manchester City are still playing wonderful attacking football and this result will only redouble their focus to continue to do better as they look to defend their Premier League title.

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