Kevin Doyle scored at Goodison Park last season
Following last weekend’s opening day victory over Stoke, Wolves will head to Goodison Park high on confidence and feeling they have every chance of picking up another positive result.
By contrast, the Toffees lost their first game to Blackburn thanks to a massive clanger from Tim Howard. They’ll be keen to turn things around quickly and put in a solid performance in front of their own fans.
Wolves came within a whisker of winning this fixture last season, so David Moyes won’t be underestimating the boys in old gold. That being said, there’s a lot of quality in the Everton side so they’ll rightly feel they’re favourites to edge this one.
Tim Cahill is one player we’ll need to guard against, particularly from set pieces, and he knows his side are in for a scrap if they’re to emerge with anything come Saturday. “All Mick McCarthy’s teams are well drilled and fight very hard and they have a bit of flair as well. We have to make sure we are firing on all cylinders and ensure that as a squad we are ready for a good Wolves outfit.”
It will be interesting to see how Mick sets his stall out and whether or not key players such as Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher are fit enough to feature from the start.
Assuming everyone is fit, I believe Wolves will field the same side as last weekend, with Fletcher and SEB once again leading the line, but with the possibility that one of those players can be shifted out wide to adopt more of a 4-5-1 shape.
So that’s a team of:
Hahnemann
Foley
Craddock
Berra
Ward
van Damme
Henry
Jones
Jarvis
Fletcher
SEB
I also hope to see Kevin Doyle feature at some point. He of course scored in this fixture last season and was a thorn in their side in both matches. When he returns to full fitness, he’s an automatic first choice in my book.
Prediction League
For those of you who haven’t noticed yet, I’ve added the prediction league table to a brand new page, which you can access via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking here.
It’s not too late to join in, so if you’d like to make a prediction, simply do so by leaving a comment below.
Not that I’m showing off or anything, but I correctly predicted a 2-1 victory for Wolves last weekend. Well done also to Ben, Sam 2.0, New kid on the blog, Jub, Ezz and Rich for getting it spot on.
This week, I fancy a score draw so I’ll go for the same result as last season – 1-1.
If you’re going to the game, have a great time and roar the lads on.
Up The Wolves.
Really enjoyed this game last year. Great atmosphere in that old stand. Unfortunately I see us being beat. Everton 3-0 Wolves. Very pessimistic I know but I’ll be going for a big Wolves win next week against Newcastle.
Any team who uses pink as an away strip is there for the taking.
1 – 0 to me Babbies!!
FOWB
Will you be predicting 38 victories this season Clive?
Your unflinching confidence often brings a smile to my face.
No, don’t be silly.
At least 46, you forgot we are gonna win the Cups as well!!
FOWB
I saw Everton’s previous match and was not impressed. They played very continental, very untypical Everton. They’ve got a lot of players but a continental style of football doesn’t get the best out of their players. If this is representative for how Everton is gonna play this season I’m afraid a place on the lower part of the table is inevitable. I belive a direct playing Wolves will create more chances, create a lot of counter-attacks and win the game 1-3.
I’m thinking there’s going to be a sneaky 2-1 to Wolves. The line-up issue is very interesting. It’s quite a turnaround to go from 4-5-1 home and away to 4-4-2 home and away in the space of an off-season.
That said I’d toast our guts to go two-up front, even if we got burnt but put in a good performance – as being able to play that way away from home is a great tool to have in the armour.
Craddock to open the scoring; Jarvis to skin the lot of them with the second goal of the week from Wolves in as many weeks.
I did state (on twitter admittedly) that we’d win 2-1 last weekend and David Jones would score. If I bet on these things then they would never happen, so i won’t start now!
Wolves to sneak an unbelievable 1-0 win, courtesy of a Van Damme header in the last 10 minutes.
We’ll defend like trojans, Craddock will bust his head open, Berra will get sent off for being fouled by Saha, but we’ll hold on. Oh, and the red won’t be overturned by the Premier League either, so we’ll be without him for the Newcastle game.
im also going for a sneaky 2-1 win to the boys. Seb and Fletcher to cause a lot of problems.
I think mick will have them keyed up and with stoke playing a similar game on the deck it will work well for us. Yeah we’ll be under pressure a lot but its another caption fantastic (craddock) time to shine.
Cant wait for this match, hope i can watch it out here in KL
*everton not stoke. Doh
I going for a 0-0 thriller.
I’ll also guess at a 4-5-1 formation. Fletch on his own up front. No SEB, instead we’ll have Guedioura to bolster the midfield. Otherwise, same team as Thomas.
Tough call this one. Everton, apparently, didn’t play there “first team” at Blackburn last week but despite that, I’m going for Wolves to sneak it by the odd goal 0 – 1.
Didn’t play their first team? Fine ‘em £25,000 the bloody cheats.
Everton are perennial slow starters, and after last week (first half at least), i remain full of confidence. 1-0 to Wolves. I will be avidly checking my phone from my weekend away in Torquay
1 – 1 Draw. Fletcher and Saha to score.
I recon 2 zip to the Toffees unfortunatley…..
Arteta (who apparently is now eligible for England…… and I’d take that) is overdue a barnstorming, match winning, “Match of the Day man of the day analysis”
Anyway, in addition – this is funny and I recon Sunderland will make a mess of them on Saturday….
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x996oj_west-brom-helpline_sport#from=embed
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8k75x_west-brom-fans-6_fun
I work in W*st Br*m and I can quite easily attach these personalities to my colleagues and customers from this shit ole.
VD and Fletch a doubt for Saturday apparently.
Where did you hear this dboy?
Hope it’s not true
A Sky Sports hack – probably means they’re looking for stories to fill the relentless Breaking News bar:
http://twitter.com/James_Fielden/status/21583610409
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x83ciz_west-brom-fans-3_sport
2-1 Wolves Fletcher and Jones to score just like they did against Stoke!
‘Just’ like they did against Stoke Jed?
You mean with Jones flicking one up from the edge of the box and smashing it in off the underside of the bar and Fletcher getting his head on a looping, deflected cross from Berra to bundle it over the line?
I hope so.
even if Jones scored after it hit him on the arse and a shot rebounded in of Fletchers heel during a goalline scramble I would be more than happy – but it would be nice to see Jonah take the p*ss again!
I think we’ll go back to 4-5-1 for saturday and fully expect doyle to come back in if he’s fit again.
I’ll predict a 0-0 as well. Put that last week and we won so hoping for the same again this week
So you’d rather us draw 0-0 than win?
No mate obviously want the win which is why i’m predicting the wrong score again. I never get scores right so i’m hoping my jinx continues and we come away with the 3 points!!
Oh, i get you now, sorry
Chris P, shouldn’t you always guess we lose then?
A cagey 2-1 win, with our winner coming in the 75th minute!
Went to the pub with me mates and got one of my mates’ girlfriends on the wolves train after our impressive display!
I think Doyle will start, with SEB and fletcher on the bench as a precaution, and a midfield bolstered by guedioura to shackle arteta and pienaar if hes playing.
UTW
Everton 3-1 Wolves. Apologies!!!!
Everton 2-1 Wolves. Goals by Saha, Cahill and Craddock.
same team as last sat (if fit!). Flexible in that fletcher will drop off right side into 4-5-1 if needed, but starting off 4-4-2 def. Cant see us keeping clean sheet so going 2-2 having been 2up. Jarvis (i think he scores all of his goals away) and SEB with one off his arse.
El Plim
2-2
Both by Fletcher. If he’s fit that is!
Having watched him for the 1st time last weekend, I think that he is a class act! Let’s hope he stays fit all season. What a prospect of him linking up with Doyle on a regular basis. With SEB stepping up from the bench with 10-15 mins to go if either of them tire.
everton 3 – 0 wolves.
Staying positive Hallam.
always do
way i see it:
we lose- got points in the prediction league
draw/win – even better.
tactics.
1-1. Fingers crossed it’s enough to keep us in Champions League positions!
Everton 2 Wolves 0 .. Everton won’t play as badly as they did at Blackburn in fron of their home fans, and we will be dodgy at the back
Everton looked a very good team at Wolves last year so to get a result we’ll have to perform well.(can’t see Howard jumping over the ball again this year!)
If he’s fully fit, Doyle will be back and Seb will be on the bench.My head says Everton but i’ll go for 1-1.
You reckon? It’s not like Mick to just drop someone who, in eyes, played well. I can’t see SEB been dropped at all. Hope i’m wrong
Everton -1 Wolves-0. Sorry! Hope I’m wrong though and we get 3 points!
Just for the record, Lawro has gone for a 2-0 Everton win.
Here’s a link to his predictions for this weekend’s game:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8927978.stm
He got nothing last week in our prediction league for forecasting a 1-1 against Stoke.
I thik we’ll get a draw at goodison this weekend. After winning last week I think Mick will set the stall out to not get beat this weekend and switch to 4-5-1. A repeat of last years 1-1 would do nicely.
All we need to do is get at them early doors….get there fans disgruntled score a couple of goals and go home with 3 points…simpulzzz
I’m going to have to go for a everton win unfortunately, 2-0 I reckon. They’re a good team and after last week they’ll be playing out of their skins to get a win. I’d love to be wrong though.
I think we’ll go back to 4-5-1 and hopefully Mick will bring Guediora back in. Not sure who he’ll play up front though, Doyle’s obviously proved he can do the job brilliantly but neither Fletcher or SEB deserve to be dropped after last week. Unless injuries force his hand it’s a pretty tough decision for Mick, nice to have a choice though.
Always risky agreeing with Lawro
Would you really be ok seeing Doyle sitting on the bench? SEB may have had a decent game, but that shows you how bad he was last year
Oh yeah, I’m definately wrong then. Not going to change it now though just in case he’s right for once. I’m actually one of the few people in the world who likes Lawro, so I’m not too bothered.
I’m going for a 1-0 Wolves win.
I’ll go for 1-1 (Jarvis)
I’ve changed my mind. 4-0 in blackpool style. The scousers will fireball our coaches and demand the head of yakubu on a pike and we’ll sing about joleon lescott all the way home
Wolves are six to one to beat Everton with Sporting Bet – great value in a two horse race. Pile your money on !!!
admittedly missed the first predo..but plenty of time to catch up. 1-0 Wolves. Might be misplaced, but how nice to feel so confident at the start of a season!
Fletcher and van Damme are probably scratches.
Can’t bring myself to bet against Wolves just yet so I’ll go 2-2.
Having said that, we struggled against lower league opposition in pre-season playing 4-4-2 against 4-5-1 and Everton are a tough side. We’re going to need a lot of luck.
I’m going for a 1-1. I fancy ebanks-Blake to score and guedioura to change the game off the bench
Those two tackles were fantastic, and delighted for SEB
Ben I am begining to think you’ll coast this prediction league with your measured, leisurely style of guessing the score after the final whistle.
Other than that, I can’t comment. My (Made in China) cable TV box of tricks crapped out on me, so I didn’t see the game
Wolves were excellent second half.
Surely Adlene on the right, Jarvis on the left next game.
That’s what I’ve wanted to see from game one!
Great point, well done MM for changing it round – it made a massive difference!
Great result, the only downside being that Elokobi was badly show up as one of the worst players in the PL. He should be nowhere near the starting line up for next week, and Guediora just has to play.Well done lads, lets beat the Toon and get back on that CL spot!
Its so funny watching games out in asia. Apparently we are so much weaker than everyone else and we dont have any decent players on the bench. When guedioura came on they were like, ‘oh yeah – we forgot about him’
Not the best game to watch, very scrappy first half, but great result after a much better second half. Jarvis ran his socks off again, henry battled well, and guedioura added the necessary bite to change the game.
Wardy played well too !
Jarvis for England !!!