Something in the Making: Lam Matteo

[Matt10]

Fixture: 5
West Brom v Wolves

2-3
Luke Moore 2'
Ebanks-Blake 31'
Teixeira 54'
Keogh 62'
Matteo 79'
-----
Caution: None

Super deflection
Matteo's great positioning results in first win of 2019 for Wolves

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk

Match highlights (yes, icon of WBA is wrong)



"We pressed on and it paid off. I am proud of our fight today."

Next Match: v West Ham (Home) - 4th, 10 pts

Mr. 7.0
Matteo gets best rating for Wolves

After assisting two goals and then scoring the match winner - who could argue?

"Yup, the boot change worked - I played great today, and was very confident when I had the ball."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 6
Wolves v West Ham United

3-0
Keogh 7'
Matteo 14'
Matteo 73'
-----
Caution: Behrami (West Ham)

Wolves dominate at home
Lam Matteo continues incredible form

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk



"There are things you just cannot teach a player - a gifted player such as Matteo - he singlehandedly created this win - and that's not something a manager will admit often."

Table Position: 14th, 6 pts
Next Match: v Burnley (Away) - 12th, 6 pts

Out of this world
Who said #13 is an unlucky number?

The winning goal last week, now two goals and an assist - could it get any better?

"We are a strong side - and teams need to fear us. Look what we just did to the fourth place team - I won't let use drop under the top 10 this season - it's time to make a difference."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 7
Burnley v Wolves

1-2
Maierhofer 8'
Own Goal, Mears 56'
Gudjonsson 85'
-----
Caution: None

Wolves great fortune continues
Tyrone Mears own goal proves winner at Molineaux

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk

Wolves jumped three spots in the table after their victory against 12th place Burnley tonight. All thanks from Molineaux Stadium went towards Burnley defender, Tyrone Mears...



"We held a great sense of composure tonight - our opening goal was well designed with the big man scoring - and of course the constant pressure resulted in their mistake - and us with the points."

Table Position: 11th, 9 pts
Next Match: v Blackburn (Home) - 12th, 9 pts

Good Showing
NOthing to write home about

After a bit blazing form - Matteo shows he's human

"Making my mark every single game, whether it gets on the sheet or not."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 8
Wolves v Blackburn

1-2
Keogh 29'
McCarthy 37'
McCarthy 69'
-----
Caution: None

Sweet Benni ruins Wolves momentum
Blackburn forward scores double in win away from home

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk

Andy Keogh opened the match with a tight finish from a tight angle, but the Wolves defense were unable to contain the leagues best "pro", Benni McCarthy, as the South African notched two goals for his side...



"This wasn't the way we wanted to show the home side that we are a team to be feared. We let their players run circles around us - it was a definitely poor effort that I hope never shows itself again."

Table Position: 14th, 9 pts
Next Match: v Sunderland (Away) - 15th, 8 pts

Not Really There
Time for a shoe change?

Matteo is hoping to make a mark against Sunderland

"That loss hurt a bit - but the season is early and let's just hope we can avoid those type of displays."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 9
Sunderland v Wolves

4-5
Karl Henry 14'
Rootz Eliquelo 21'
Bent 24'
Bent 35'
Matteo 44'
Iwelumo 47'
Bent 61'
Iwelumo 68'
Keogh 92'
-----
Caution: Bent (Sunderland) Bardlsey (Sunderland)

Goalfest ends with Wolves victory
Second half sub Andy Keogh notches match winner

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk

The Stadium of Light bore witness to one of the highest scoring matches all season - the victory marked an incredible comeback for Wolves. The side was down 3-1 at near the half time mark, but Lam Matteo's blast from outside the box equalized coming into the second half.

From there it was Darren Bent who scored a hat-trick in the match, Bent scored the last goal for Sunderland in the 61st minute.

Chris Iwelumo made the score 4-4 however seven minutes later after Matteo shot the ball within the box - but the deflection off Craig Gordon was met well by Iwelumo's header, and into the back of the net.

Kevin Doyle was subbed out for in-form Andy Keogh. Andrew Surman looped the ball over the Sunderland defense in stoppage time, and Keogh took advantage of the slippery surface that allowed the ball to skip into his path.

From there, the striker made no mistake and volleyed the ball into the far right corner of Gordon's goal - victory for the away side.



"Victories like today are the ones that prove we have geled as a team finally. I'm proud of our display - and the boys surely deserved this win - our goal is to continue this form and get into the top tier of the table."

Table Position: 11th, 12 pts
Next Match: v Arsenal (Away) - 15th, 10 pts

Scoring, but fatigued
The shoe change worked

Matteo showed high awareness in front of goal, and also defended superbly in today's game.

"I'm just happy we won the match - defending was not great, but we played our hearts out - glad I was able to grab a goal myself."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 10
Arsenal v Wolves

2-1
Ebanks-Blake 6'
Rosicky 26'
Senderos 38'
-----
Caution: Hill (Wolves)
Sent Off: Matteo (Wolves)

Gunners put Wolves in place
Senderos scores improbably winner in first half

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk



"It was a match of chances, ones that we feel should have been scored. Shame about Matteo's red card - I plan on appealing the infraction considerably. The next match against City is what will define us as a team - I hope we can regroup after this loss."

Table Position: 14th, 12 pts
Next Match: v Manchester City (Home) - 5th, 18 pts

Controversial
Footage results red card lifted

Matteo apparently had struck defender Ashley Cole with his head, but upon further review the FA Board have deemed the red card an "unjust" punishment when the striker simply tilted his head up skywards, not knowing Cole was directly behind him.

"I still don't know why Ashley (Cole) was so close to me...talk about close marking."

[Matt10]

Fixture: 11
Wolves v Manchester City

2-3
Petrov 9'
Matteo 36'
Jarvis 53'
De Jong 64'
Robinho 87'
-----
Caution: None
Sent Off: Toure (Manchester City)

10-Man City recovers in victory
Robinho super sub nails late winner

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk



"When Toure was sent off, I felt good - not great, but good. As soon as I saw Robinho enter the match, I knew they (Man City) were pressing for the win. It was a bold move on their part - but Robinho is a bold player, he sliced past the defense, and scored a wonder goal. Terrible result."

Table Position: 14th, 12 pts
Next Match: v Blackburn (Home) - Premiership Cup, Round 2, 1st Leg

What Goal? Big loss.
Matteo scored a beauty, but is indifferent

Despite scoring a cheeky left footed goal - Matteo has been seen quite upset.

"I guarantee you they would not have scored that goal if I were on the pitch - subbing me in the 70th minute - ridiculous. I'm not one to start anything - but that was frustrating."

[Matt10]

Premiership Cup: Round 2, First Leg
Blackburn v Wolves

3-1
McCarthy 2'
Iwelumo 45'
McCarthy 67'
McCarthy 73'
-----
Caution: Doyle (Wolves)

Sweet Benni's hatty beats Wolves
Bad string of performances increases for Coyle's men

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk



"He couldn't be denied today. I'm not sure if we even saved one of his shots. Benni McCarthy is becoming an incredible players with age - he's the equivalent of Steady Teddy (Sheringham) at this point. We have some work to do for the next leg - and it will not be an easy match against Pompey in a couple of days."

Table Position: 14th, 12 pts
Next Match: v Portsmouth (Away) - 15th, 12 pts

Good display, an assist.
Matteo gets most impressive and a 7.0

Only had 2 shots all game, all on target though. His through pass to Chris Iwelumo was precise..

"We are trying our best to get our form together - it's a shame the boss won't play me up top."

[Matt10]

Matteo rested, back for second leg
Tireless, finally got a break

Owen Coyle opted to rest Matteo, who had shown some visual signs of "utter" fatigue - but the midfielder/striker is now ready to go to try to combat the 3-1 deficit from the first leg.

"It's good to feel energetic again, I'm sure we will put up a good fight against Blackburn, and hopefully advance."

[Matt10]

Premiership Cup: Round 2, Second Leg
Wolves v Blackburn

1-2
Matteo 44'
Emerton 50'
Roberts 63'
-----
Caution: Diouf (Blackburn)

Wolves beaten 5-2 on Aggregate, eliminated
Struggling continues for usnure Coyle and Wolves

Johnson Peoples, wolves.co.uk



Even though there was a strong 3-1 cushion against them, it seemed that when Lam Matteo scored the opening goal in Molineaux, that his celebration was too much.

Blackburn continued to press on after the first half goal, and Brett Emerton found himself open in the box - neatly finishing. Jason Roberts is the super sub for Blackburn, and the pest for the Wolves defense considering they had to deal with Benni McCarthy yet again.

Roberts found himself on the scoresheet not too soon after entering the match - his powerful header left Murray no chance.

Final score on aggregate was 5-2, an incredible series performance by Blackburn - or just pathetic excuse of play by Wolves, Coyle feels it was the latter.

"We did not compete. You have matches where you're in it to win it - but this leg battle was not even one, we gave up before the match started."

Table Position: 15th, 16 pts
Next Match: v Manchester United (Away) - 6th, 27 pts

Opening goal
Matteo improves January resume

Blistering pace, left Rovers in shambles...

[Matt10]

Matteo indicates departing from Wolverhampton in January

According to sources linked within, Lam Matteo has notified Wolves boss, Owen Coyle, that he wishes to leave in January.

Wolves did not complete many acquisitions this past summer due to the fact they intended on keeping Lam Matteo until the end the 2020 season, which is more than two years away.

However, sources indicate that Matteo is unhappy with the club - and has possibly shopped around already - noticing clubs that are no in the Premier League, and could most likely be a move to Ligue 1, the French first division.

"There is only speculation at this point," according to an e-mail from Matteo's agent, Arthur Van Der Lay, "Matteo is proud to be part of Wolves, but at the moment he feels unhappy with the team's recent form and the stubborness of Owen Coyle has aided in the decision to possibly leave the club."

Despite already scoring 7 goals this early season, which is what the American totaled last year, Matteo's agent addressed one true concern.

"Matteo feels that it is in his best interest to start looking elsewhere. He feels that scoring goals is what he wants to do - and he wants to do that from the striker position."

So, will we see Coyle with a change of heart and place Matteo up front - or has Matteo's last match already been played? At this very moment, Matteo's name is still listed in the squad against Man United this weekend.

[Matt10]

Welcome to the Serie A, Matteo

Naples, Italy -- American international, Lam Matteo, has finalized a highly controversial move to Serie A side, SSC Napoli - leaving the struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Premier League. Matteo's transfer fee was undisclosed, however Wolverhampton have reportedly been paid "handsomely".

Matteo is the first American to be listed on the Napoli club, but according to manager Francesco Totti, the striker has a nack for finding goals no matter what position he plays.

"Matteo is an Italian name - I don't care where he's from - it's an Italian name, of descent, he belongs because he can make goals. I am confident in our signing - and I hope Matteo great success."

As for Matteo himself, the move from his beloved England, to the hard nosed game play that is Italian football - has already been a strain as he reportedly will miss at least two weeks with a broken wrist he suffered in Wolves last match against Fulham.

"I expect to fully recover and help my side," states the striker, "I know time spent on the bench will surely aid me in understanding this style of play a lot better."

[Matt10]

After 8 weeks, Matteo finally ready
Listed as substitute, #24 versus Chievo Verona



"I'm excited - hopefully I'll make my debut soon - It's been a grueling 8 weeks."

[Matt10]

Serie A: Fixture 10
Catania v Napoli

1-2
Mascara (pk) 92'
Quagriella 93'
Quagriella 11'
-----
Caution: None


QUAGRIELLA DOUBLE NETS NAPOLI VICTORY

Johnson Peoples, napoli.ssc.it

The goals did not come fluidly - as is the case with Serie A football we are learning. However, when the goals are scored - they are sublime.

Two goals scored by Napoli's Quagriella was enough for the Naples side - the latter of course creating the most dramatic victory since the club's incredible 3-2 win over AC Milan in the first week of August.

Leading by a goal in the dying minutes of the match, Francesco Totti's men never looked giving up any goals in tonight's match - however it was an obvious penalty when Campagnaro took down Mascara in the penalty box - the Catania striker made no mistake from the spot - and evened up the score at one a piece within stoppage time.

Campagnaro's mistake was short lived however, when subsitute for Napoli, Lam Matteo, dazzled on the sidelins before perfectly slotting a through pass in the box to Quagriella - who had no problem sliding the ball past Campagnolo, the Catania keeper.

"It was a brilliant win for us. This is a match that the club needed to regain control - and a display with a purpose is what I wanted to see." - Francesco Totti, Napoli manager.

Table Position: 6th, 15 pts
Next Match: v Inter Milan (Home) - 1st, 19 pts

Starter soon?
It's about that time, Matteo

"I hope we can just continue to put up good performances - this new club is a real blessing to play for - Inter will not be easy."

[Matt10]

Coaching Job?
Out of left field, Matteo has link to J-League

First off, it's only a rumor. After all, the man is only 29-years old, and he is currently playing for Napoli. Do not get me wrong, he has not played well for Napoli so far (which is why updates are lacking as well).

Throughout 14 games, Matteo has only subbed in once.

"This is a very hard squad to get into," he stated in the league newspaper, "I haven't faced the success I did in England. I am honestly unhappy here."

In response to my question about coaching in Japan:

"I have given much thought to coaching recently. But I'm not sure I want to hang up the boots yet. If I decide to pursue any such opportunity, it will be a very difficult time for me."

At this very moment, Matteo has no links to playing for any other clubs. Although it's quite evident that he wishes to play somewhere other than Italy.

Coaching is inevitable - but if he chose to accept a position with a J-League team, he would be the youngest coach in more than 10 years.