Well, this is it.
Wolves finally kick-off their second consecutive season of Premiership football tomorrow, as Stoke make the short trip down the M6 for an opening day dust-up at the Molineux.
Optimism is never in short supply in game one and both sets of fans will feel this fixture offers a realistic opportunity to stick three points on the board early doors.
Last season's 0-0 will live long in the memory (for being boring)
Most predictions thus far seem to point towards a close contest, which isn’t surprising given the two draws between the sides last year. I think everyone can agree that whatever the result, we hope to enjoy a far better spectacle than the paint-dryingly boring nil nil played out at Molineux towards the end of the last campaign. That was possibly the worst game of football I’ve ever been subjected to.
By contrast, the match up at the Britannia was a heart-pumping, action-packed game of two halves, so we know the teams have what it takes to put on a show and with Wolves almost certain to go 4-4-2, it should make for a more open affair.
Interestingly, Stoke had failed to make any significant additions to their squad prior to Wednesday, but the club record £8 million signing of Sunderland striker Kenywe Jones has given the Potters a massive boost ahead of tomorrow’s opener. Wolves know better than anyone how much of a threat the Trinidad and Tobago international can be after his goals in both matches against us last season.
Wolves will also have to guard against the Delap throw of course, which they did admirably in both fixtures last season. Disappointingly, it doesn’t seem like Ronald Zubar will make it back in time to play, which is a huge loss considering the power and pace he injects into our back four. In what’s likely to be a highly physical encounter, I suspect Kevin Foley won’t able to contribute as much.
It also seems that we’ll be without our talisman and shining light from last season, Kevin Doyle. If this proves to be the case it’s a massive loss but we’ll all hope that record signing Steven Fletcher and an improved SEB can plug the hole.
The other quandry is who Mick chooses to play on the opposite flank to Jarvis. Last week I was lauding Greg Halford for a recall, but judging by last week’s team selection against Bilbao, it seems far likelier to be Stephen Ward.
So, here’s my predicted line-up:
Hahnemann
Foley
Berra
Craddock
van Damme
Ward
Henry
Jones
Jarvis
SEB
Fletcher
Prediction League
We kick-off the all-new prediction league this weekend and if you want to join-in, all you have to do is enter your predicted score in the comment section below.
I’ll record and publish a table for you all to see.
I realise that there’s been some confusion this week, with people posting their predictions in the Interview with a Stoke Fan, so for this week only, I’ll take all the predictions from there. So it’s up to you whether you want to update your prediction and post it below or just leave the one you’ve added to that previous post.
In future weeks, please only leave predictions in the preview. It will always be titled ‘Wolves Vs Whoever Preview’ (The whoever corresponds to the team we’re playing. No jokes please.)
Seeing as it’s the first game of the season and I’m feeling optimistic, I’ll go for a 2-1 Wolves win, despite my better judgment telling me that momentum might have swung back towards Stoke with their new signing and our injury problems.
If you’re going to the game, have a great time and roar the lads on.
Up the Wolves.
A slightly more optimistic (bordering on naive) 2-0 to Wolves.
My prediction……………if that useless sack of shit Ward gets on the pitch, anywhere, for any part of the game, we will lose.
If the Cowardly Lion cannot see that Ward is not a footballer then he needs to go as well.
Simple.
If Ward pulls on a Wolves shirt again, he will think he can play football, and nothing will change. If he gets booted out of the squad and the door, perhaps it will sink into his thick Irish brain tht he is fuckin’ useless.
How many times do we have to say it………….Fuck him off, McCarthy.
Having ranted that, I still think we are gonna stuff ‘em 4 – 0
FOWB
Wolves 1-0 Stoke. I hope you’re wrong about Ward playing!!!!
2-1 Fletcher hat-trick.
Own goals don’t count towards a hat-trick mate.
Don’t they? Bit of a long running gag that one, that isn’t funny.
SEB will score.
I’ll go one all – Fletcher and Jones the scorers!
Wolves 2(Ward 2) Stoke 1
I’m so excited about the start of the season but I’m a bit worried as I’ve got a strange feeling of optimism about the season ahead. Wolves always seem to do the opposite of what I expect them too, was fully prepared fpr relegation this time last year and look what happened.
My prediction is 3-2, probably goting to be a draw but, as I said, I’m feeling optimistic.
nil -nil i’m afraid!!!!
Wolves-2 Stoke-1
I hope Ward doesn’t play on the flank, I feel he doesn’t offer anything in that position. he’s far better at left back.
I’m going for 1- 0 Wolves Jarvis
Yeah, left back in the changing room.
FOWB
3-1 Wolves. Fletcher, Jarvis, Jones and Foley to string a few passes together. Stoke to be completely befuddled by this new, bizarre way of moving the ball about.
2-1 wolves. SEB and a trademark Craddock header from a set piece.
Please get better soon Super Kevin Doyle, I’m missing you already.
nil-nil I reckon.
I’ll go with 2-0 Wolves. One each for SEB & Fletcher.
0 – 0 Stoke will sut up shop when they have Kenwynne sent off after 3 minutes for elbowing Craddock
I’ll stick with 2-1 to Wolves. Thank god for Fletcher, otherwise we’d be in trouble without Super Kev
2-2
I’d rather see Halford or Guedioura on the right, Jarvis on the left where he belongs and Ward watching from the stand.
Looking forward to a 6 hour+ round trip up the M5. Hope it’s a good game!
2-0 to Stoke
ever the optimist.
1-0 Wolves – hooray.
Seeing as we have failed to strengthen in key areas, Doyle injured and Ward probably playing , I’ll go Wolves 0 Stoke 1
and a typical start to the season
Oh how we love our team!!!!!!!
If you lot are so dour in your predictions against who for me is a relegation contender, what are you gonna say when we play the big boys, such as Bolton, Wigan, West Ham etc???
4 – 0 to us, no doubt in my mind.
And the shit to lose, whoever they play.
FOWB
wolves 2 – 1 Stoke (fletcher to get both)
cant wait for this – unfortunately im in Kuala Lumpur atm and the game isn’t live – have to wait until the other 3pm games finish then they show it afterwards. Not quite the same but it’ll have to do!
Wolves 1-2 Stoke
Wolves 3 – 1 Stoke
I predict 2-1 to us with Jones and Fletcher to score.
Got a funny feeling that KenwynJones will hobble off injured and we’ll survive a Keogh inspired stoke 2nd half revival!