It’s five defeats from five against Liverpool since returning to the Premier League.
Of course, they’ve been exceptional in recent times but when you consider the points we’ve plundered against the other top sides, it’s almost an anomaly.
There’s no disgrace in coming up short against such an intimidating outfit with a laser focus on winning the league but that’s not happening this season and injuries have crippled their momentum and morale.
If we’re ever going to inflict some pain, now feel likes the ideal opportunity.
With a highly presentable run of games in April, a positive outcome here would give us the platform to regroup and push up the table after the international break.
Liverpool
It shouldn’t have got this bad, even with injuries wiping out their preferred options in central defence.
The team that saw off Leipzig in the week to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals contained 7 of what you’d call their ‘title-winning XI’ and two of the replacements were Thiago and Jota – not too shabby.
And yet, somehow they’ve contrived to lose 6 of their last 7 Premier League games to all but extinguish their chances of even making the top four.
What’s probably more worrying for Jurgen Klopp is the lack of goals from a side that haven’t been able to stop scoring in recent years. With the world class talent they have, it’s not been good enough.
Diogo Jota was flying at the start of the season, making us all look on with envy as he flourished alongside Salah and Mane, but injury has scuppered his chances of truly excelling.
All eyes will inevitably be on him on Monday on a ground where he’s enjoyed so many spectacular moments.
Wolves
It would be great to see Willy Boly back in the side for this one. Even though the defence has done alright, he would certainly improve things.
Other than that, I’d probably stick with the same team, although there’s certainly an argument to suggest Fabio is due a start with Willian Jose looking unlikely to get a chance, let alone score in recent outings.
The Brazilian has got to be better than what he’s shown lately. I agree that he doesn’t get great service, but at the same time, top players make things happen. Raul Jimenez would almost certainly have scored 3 or 4 in the same games.
I haven’t seen anything about the return of Daniel Podence, but you’d hope if he’s not back for this one then he’ll at least return for the winnable games in April. Although he wasn’t at his best prior to getting injured, he still offers another dimension to our often one-dimensional attack.
Last time out
We got walloped 4-0 at Anfield earlier in the season. It was a game we were doing well in until Conor Coady gifted them the opener and things quickly went south in the second half.
In this fixture last season, we were desperately unlucky to lose and we had them rocking after Raul Jimenez’ equaliser. But I suppose you’d call it a champion’s performance to dig out the win late on.
Predictions
Well done to BG for being the only person to correctly predict the stalemate at Villa Park and collected a maximum.
Bedford Wolf still has the outright lead in the overall table at the end of Gameweek 28.
As always if you’d like to join in, simply leave your prediction for this game in the comment section below, which is where you’ll find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
Although we’ve been terrible in the first half all season, I feel like Saturday was the first time it was really acknowledged by Nuno and the team as something that had to improve. As a minimum then, I hope we’ll be sharper in our tackling, more precise with our passing and with an intent to do more than just camp out and defend.
Despite their struggles, they’re dangerous opposition with some of the best attackers in world football at their disposal, so we have to respect that.
I’m going for a hard-fought point and Willian Jose to break his duck.
Yes me too. Though I’m thinking Bolly as likely to score as anyone (even if he doesn’t make the bench!)
I think wolves played badly and the wolves players were not bothered l am not a big fan of Diogo jota he is money greedy
With Liverpool struggles at the moment we must have a chance a 1-0 win for Wolves .
Time for that well-earned win.
Even an out of form Liverpool represent a real threat. But given their downturn Wolves shouldn’t be over awed. Players of the standard of Neto and Traore should be able to prosper against Liverpool ‘s makeshift defence. If Alexander-Arnold plays he has a tendency to leave space behind which should allow Adama room to run into providing he’s proactive. Indeed Liverpool ‘s back line play with a high line giving opportunities to counter attack.
The obvious danger lies in their front three, especially Jota, the curse of the returning player!
I’m hoping for, but not necessarily expecting, a win.
Back to The DRAWing board , predicted wins recently to no avail
Boly in rest Moutinho and play Donk in midfield
COYW
Slightly concerned about this one, yes they have been in pretty poor form but they looked pretty good against Leipzig and I think Jota looked lively but we can however get at their centre backs if we play with good intent. All the talk since Villa has been about addressing starting games poorly but this is not the game to go all gunho. Defend well and play with good intent when we have it.
Will the curly perms of Terry McDermott and Kevin Keegan feature at left and right back for Liverpool? Will Sammy Lee be seen coming out of the Penn Chippy prior to kick off with kebab and chips? Will Steve Heighway take the Heighway West ? Will Crystal Tips off Crystal Tips and Alistair become the first 1970’s cartoon character to sail single handedly sail across the Atlantic? Will Jurgen Klopps teeth fall out ? Who knows. WWFC 6 Liverpool 2.
Tough one this as am torn between head and heart. My head says 1-1 but my heart says 2-1 to us. I am also mindful that we haven’t beaten Liverpool at Molineux in the league since August 1981 which is ridiculous.
The team you have said Thomas is pretty much what I expect it to be. Am not a fan of Silva thus far despite the E&S pushing him forward at every opportunity – how can they possibly have given him a 6/10 for his 12 minute largely anonymous substitute appearance against Villa last week whilst giving plenty of others who played the whole 90 minutes only 5/10?
Roll on the end of this season – cannot wait for it to be over and we can all re-group in the Summer and come back to normal/real football again in August (hopefully!).
OODCL
There’s a Scooby Doo reveal moment coming in May when Jose’s loan finishes and Jeff Shi and the gang realise it was actually Grant Holt playing up front for us the whole time.
This should be the game that Traore shines, coz he wants to impress Kloppie.
However, Kloppie has his beady eyes elsewhere, how to shore up his leaky defense, how to keep Salah’s agent happy, how to sneak the Germany manager job while still getting paid by Liverfool.
Traore has missed that particular boat, I fear, by underperforming all season.
As stated above, this is the perfect time to finally get one over them, despite the supposed “Curse of the Returning Player”
After the recent abject first halves, I expect a positive reaction and a three goal lead by half time.
Our clocks go forward tomorrow so don’t call me too early.
Thank you, fans
More than any other game I think it is imperative that we start well in this one. Liverpool are in disarray in the PL and the last thing we need is to give them a reason to believe. Shut them out in the first half at the very least and we have a good chance to break a second hoodoo this season following on from our win at the Emirates earlier in the season.
Prediction wise though, I have to go with the Champions.
We owe this lot one so hopefully we can finish this months games in a good position to crack on in April with some, what should be, easier teams to get a good points tally from. Where have we heard that before!!!
Liverfool are nowhere near how they were last season and it is baffling how they have ended up with such a bad run. They must not be under estimated though, but it could be a good time to play them.
About time we put such a poor string of results at home against them to bed.
A big mate of mine is from the Wirral and a tranmere fan , well except for the last two seasons when he was a Liverpool fan, he has now reverted back to being a tranmere fan so I guess that’s a good sign for us ?
Neto is going to be a super star and he will want to be motm Monday and I won’t be surprised if at full time he picks up that accolade.
Switch traore back over to the right to start this one , dendonka in the middle to mess with their midfield and have a right go at em .
An extra 4 days to prepare
Three weeks off after the game
All the pressure on them
This has wolves win written all over it .
Come on you wolves
While football may be 90% physical, the other half is mental. This explains why both our team and theirs have hit an unexplainable rut (ours is over, of course).
Didn’t City start the season as though they were a spent force and then they regained their belief in themselves and went on that winning streak?
One of the regular posters here trained paramedics or something similar to that.
I have a question or three for him.
Shouldn’t Raul’s skull have mended by now? Why would he need a helmet? Aren’t bones that have broken and mended stronger than before? If so, is that not the case in skull fractures?
If so, then is this mainly psychological? Or does it prevent the brain itself from receiving some of that energy and moving around inside the skull? And if it absorbs energy, does that make it harder to head the ball with force?
If ever we are to beat them now is the time.
We’ve done it before and this time it wouldn’t be such a great surprise.
Whilst I was initially riled by the arrogance of Klopp’s post Leipzig match remarks regarding ‘ the trouble Wolves would be in’ on Monday, they are current PL champions, and are looking for a spark to revive their season, as Tim mentioned in an earlier post. I would restore Willy if fit and expect an onslaught of Biblical proportions in the first half. If we are still in the game at half time, we can go on to win it, introduce Fabio immediately and play the front 3 much closer together and be very fluid in the positions they take up. All 3 are very good technically but often lack support at key times. Heart says 2.1 Wolves
Swapping Adama and Pedro over to their supposedly unnatural wings, so that they could cut inside, worked very well at the start.
Great for them, not so good for Jose or Silva, because the crosses that would usually come from the byline on to the head of the onrushing striker (maybe rushing is too strong a word for those two), just don’t materialise.
Perhaps it might be a good shout if Nuno gave them license to chop and change positions at will to unsettle the Liverpool defence and give poor old Jose a chance to break his duck.
I hope that the reds haven’t turned a corner after their European victory in the week. I was chatting to my next door neighbour who is a Liverpool fan (apart from that he seems like a very nice chap), and he was saying it was because Clippety had moved Firmino back to midfield, where he is a match for anyone, from defence, which apparently is a position he hates, and now everybody is happy and they are once again the well oiled machine we have come to know and hate.
Well, Monday will tell.
It would be nice if WE could get back to the well oiled machine that we had come to know and love.
Either way, I expect I will be well oiled by the time the game starts.
And, hopefully, well happy by the time it finishes.
I do of course mean Fabinho, nor Firmino.
Talk about well oiled machines.
I haven’t touched a drop…. Honest!
Could go either way
Oh, where to start! If I was looking from the viewpoint of a neutral, on paper no better time to play the Liverpool as they have struggled during this part of the season. Then a win in Europe may have rekindled that winning mentality though, which is a concern. I hope we don’t show them too much respect, but play the quick attack minded football that used to define us. Boly back in, Donk or even Otswawie in midfield. Be on the front front and don’t let Jota score a blessed hatrick.
Wishing for a win, hoping for a draw, dreading another Citeh result. My future son – in-law, a born and bred scouser, has been very quiet of late, but will chirp away merryily if they win, so come on lads, we owe them one.
Definitely a win for wolves..
Hard game Monday, I’ve been told by good source in club Adama is going refused a new deal, moutino going, gibbs white being sold, 3 loan players avaible for reduced fee, so a interesting preseason, money is tight , finally big respect to Chris wilder, wolves aie we.
For most of this season, my thoughts were which Wolves will turn up? But that is exactly the question I am asking of our opponents!
Suspect Liverpool will begin strongly, so would definitely start with Jose and not Fabio as we will be defending far more in the first half, and Fabio is hopeless at defending.
If we play well, and longer than 45 minutes, with a bit of luck we can win this game! Need to ensure we do not make any silly mistakes.
Lots of transfer speculation today about Wolves’ summer business for some reason, makes you wonder how or if players are affected . To be confident about winning on Monday, I would want to have seen evidence of a fully functioning attacking unit in Traore, Jose and Neto but they haven’t clicked. I would also like to have seen our midfield quartet dominate possession and create opportunities going forward but no, haven’t seen that either. So I am fairly sure that we can defend properly if everyone is thinking clearly. So another 0.0 is possible but can you really expect Liverpool ‘s attack to continue to malfunction?
Traore and Neto potentially should give TAA and Robroy the runaround but will that be enough? .If you were Klopp, you would be saying, “This lot are half asleep until half time, start fast and kill the game”. I’ll take a point now with fingers crossed.
The arrival of this game highlights how far we’ve regressed from last season. In the corresponding fixture last season we gave them a proper scare and could have won at a raucous Molineux. And what a moment Raul’s equaliser was. The ground shook to its foundations in what must be up there for modern Molineux moments, despite the overall result. As gutting the blow of their late winner was, I just remember the pride I felt after that game at going so close against one of the best sides the Premier League has seen.
This time around it’ll be a sterile environment, almost making the whole thing seem pointless. But there’s an argument to say we’ll never have a better chance to beat them.
I feel we can get something from this game. Boly back will be huge. Passing accuracy for me will be key. Basics. Everything else follows.
Come on Wanderers. Believe!
I’d be happy with a point however going for 3
Mike (BOG) Just heard about Elaine. Philip must be devastated. Couldn’t send a private message as I don’t have your details. But, thinking of him.
Steve
Hello Steve
Many Thanks for your message regarding Elaine, I will certainly pass it on to Phillip. Very sad time for the family as you can well imagine.
On a far lighter note and having just read your previous message, my email address is uptonm.wolves@virgin.net
We can then maybe swap notes on Tamla Motown / Northern Soul / 60’s and 70’s pop as I understand you are an aficionado. I would be delighted to share vinyl collection information and all things music from these genres.
All the best
Mike (BOG)
As bad as Liverpool have been at home recently they’ve been ok away.
At our best we could lay a glove on them but couldn’t find the killer punch. They’re not the team of last year but neither are we so I find it difficult to reason that we can beat them.
Preparing for the worst whilst hoping for the best.
Morgan gibbs white being sold u heard it here first
I heard it on Twitter but it was probably from you.
Hardly Nostradamus are you? As you know so much, which Championship club is it?
The mind boggles ! So many of our bloggers find some find faults with Wolves (quite rightly) and say so. But when it comes to predictions so many are gung ho and utterly Wolves Positive.!.
Just to remind everyone, these guys are having a bad run at the moment. Is that a good sign for Wolves ? I think not. With our reputation against ending bad runs and the fact we are playing the current champions, who also happen to be classed as one of the top teams in Europe – these are not good signs.
Take my advise. Predict with your head not with your heart. OK so I am way down in the prediction league, but that’s because I did not stick rigidly to my rules .
So wish we can win this one. My head says 2-1 to them up north. Any points to us will be a bonus.
We played against the reigning champions last season- three times- and beat them every time.
Just sayin’
I reckon they’ll nick it from us again…
On the theme of celebrating mediocrity and Thomas’s excellent previous analysis, a draw, let alone a win would be an achievement. We still need a few more points on the board to ensure safety, so I would happily take a draw
.
I’m not optimistic about this match. It’s possible that we’ll suddenly click and passes will reach the intended recipient, crosses will be seized by someone in an old gold shirt, and defenders will anticipate attacks by the red brigade. But unlikely. (sad face emoji)
Now that they’ve finally won a match Liverpool are likely to go forward now, and make a determined effort to move up the table, especially now that they have Jota back.
After the match we have 4 days wonderful racing from Cheltenham to look forward to, so all will not be lost. (cheerful face)
Of course I shall continue to have my usual mug punter’s bets on various unlikely Wolves possibilities, but ‘a goal in each half’, or ‘Wolves to score a goal’ (outsider) is probably the nearest I’ll get to a winning bet !
Happier days may come in those future ‘easier’ fixtures perhaps. (wry grin)
As above I love the positivity of the score line predictions.
But, despite their CD injury problems they are still a formidable side, whereas despite the recent upturn in results we are a definitely weakened team from last year.
The return of Jota also worries me.
Against my better judgement I am going for a score draw.
They have Jota who knows and will expose our defensive frailties. Nevertheless we should be up for matching them as a minimum requirement. I can’t see us scoring, but they may not breach our outstanding keeper either.
Roll on the end of this season , which has been one to forget for many reasons.
Liverpool are still excellent and will have too much for us ! Rebuild with quality loan
players not the poor acquisitions of this year.
A lot of fans predicting a Wolves win or draw. I hope you are right but I can only see a low scoring defeat.
I hope Wolves win then they can sack Klopp
Then he fuck off abroad and take and take Jota with him
The second ^take^ was a mis take
Can we have the edit button back
Despite their losing run I fear that they will still be a bit too strong and Jota will terrorise Dendonker all night. Poor old Donk will look like a corkscrew after 90 mins.
I can’t see us getting diddly squat from this game and I’m going to forecast with my head rather than, as I usually do, with my heart. A first time for me; 2-0 to Liverpool, no, 2-1; they can’t defend at the mo…
I am really starting to worry about the club’s future as China appears to be on the hitlist of the States and ourselves with regard to human rights and the fallout over Hong Kong. We shall soon know our fate with what occurs over the summer. I felt the failure to do any ground improvements over the past season or so was the indication that second thoughts were taking place. Of course I may be being a little paranoid, but, hey ho, there seems to be a surfeit of that going around and I am all for having my fair share.
It was great to see Raul training and we shall also find out how that catastrophic injury has affected his play; fingers crossed…
Here’s hoping I’ve got this result wrong…
I think you are absolutely correct about the world affairs concerning China. I think we have to sell in order to buy for this summer. Out goes Tarore and we will see what happens!
China appears to be preventing expenditure on “luxury items”
There was a bloke on the telly earlier. He was holding a bowl of water. Containing a fish. It was a GOLD fish. Surely this must be a sign ……of a Dendonker, Neves, Neto treble. If the fish had been a sort of a shade of green then that is different. It would probably mean a victory for Plymouth Argyle. But in my experience you dont come across green fish very much. So in this respect a Gold fish 100% means a WWFC win.
You don’t come across Plymouth Argyle victories very often either, to be fair.
AKA Cheesy?
Might be………..
Don’t you know that you’re not allowed to post under somebody else’s name.
Please resign – again – from the blog.
It’s not me. It’s next door neighbours cat.
And just to clarify matters again. I read the unfortunate incident surrounding someone using Paul AD 67 user name to post. I note I was accused by one blogger of being responsible. Let me say again. It was NOT me who did that. Only Thomas and the culprit know who it was. It was not me.
As someone has already blogged we have a knack of ending teams bad runs but Liverpool are not just any team reigning Champions just made it through to the quarter final of Champions League it’s a tough ask throw in a ex: Wolves player returning and it’s a nailed on defeat………or is it we also have a habit of throwing up the odd shock result but we will need everyone to be on top of there game from the first minute to the last.
It was good to see Nuno finally acknowledge the first half no shows. The thing is with anything in life the first step in fixing a problem is to acknowledge you have a problem once you’ve done that you can start fixing it……well done Nuno now lets go from the off.
Hard to see us getting anything despite their ordinary defence because to test that means we have to attack and moreover get in the penalty area. Set pieces may be our best bet but I wouldn’t bet on it unfortunately.
Wolves 0
Liverpool 1
I can see nothing for us in this game, if we turn up for the first half and have Boly back we might just keep the scoreline looking decent.
Wolves 1 – 3 Liverpool
All this talk about Liverpool’s bad run is missing the point. Their record breakingly bad run has been at home, not away. Their away form has been pretty reasonable and, in the games I’ve seen, it’s only fine margins and navvy gravvy’s which are stopping them being close to the team of last season. Good players don’t become bad overnight.
The return of Big Willy, with Coads and Romain, will help give us a strong base to work from and even as the away team, Liverpool will try to pressure us into mistakes so calm heads will be needed.
However, we have so much pace going forward, there is more than a fair chance we can make them rue their ambition and exact another demoralising defeat on Kloppy and his ever more grumpy troops.
Oh yes. Jota?? Who’s that then?
With their attacking riches its bound to be a win for the Kloppmeister and our ex. Plus if its in any doubt they will have the officials on side to make sure they are still box office next year . First and last goals to us though. Jose and Silva.
For those of us who regret replacing Doc with Nelson check Arsenal’s first goal. Saying that for me he was always a good wing back but not a full back, as spotted by Nuno. Plus what was Bale doing. Sweet FA. Oh whoops am I allowed to say that
I think that a Liverpool team down on swagger and confidence will love the gift that Wolves offers… They can attack for the first 30 minutes without any defensive risk until they score the inevitable first goal. That should set them on their way back to decent form and a comfortable win
The last 12 weeks games v Leeds, Chelsea,Arsenal, Leicester and Spurs. Eight games and 13 points. Not too bad really.
Hi Chessy… your a man who loves figures…what do you anticipate our final pints tally will be and could we demote the shit to the championship if we beat them at whorethorns ?
Afternoon Dodgster. The easiest bit of my answer to your question. Is Wolves may finish on 47/48 points. Current PPG 1.25 per game extrapolated forward over last 10. The tricky bit is if we can relegate WBA on 1st May. WBA current PPG 0.62 means they may be on around 21 points at that stage. Newcastle around 33. Fulham around 30. This will be game 34 so if we win it will leave 4 games and max of 12 points. So if Newcastle were to pick up a point same day then yes we could relegate them. But all this is wholly dependent on PPG remaining the same as now. In my experience PPG is normally a good indicator. If WBA suddenly win 2 on the bounce then it will alter the maths. I will keep my eye on it.
cheers cheesy me old mucker
My first comment on this blog – and I want to thank Thomas, Ben, Rasmin and others for their writeups throughout the years (I still remember reading the match report after our relegation from the championship – “under the glorious South Coast sunshine, Wolves were finally swept out to sea”). We’ve come quite a long way since then. A couple thoughts I have:
– Many have been bemoaning the loss of N’Diaye – I see Otasowie as his long term replacement
– If Podence is fit, the only way we can get him/Neto/Adama/Raul (when fit) into the team would be to go to 4 at the back. I don’t think we have the defenders (Coady in particular) to play 4 at the back. Something has to give – in this case, we have to go back to 5 (or 3) and play more ‘negative.’ To say that Nuno can’t play ‘progressive’ is nonsense – we don’t have the personnel to play a back 4 (right now).
– When Neto and Adama get to the byline, Willian needs to look somewhat alive in the box. I still think he’s the better option than Fabio in terms of starting – Fabio is far more mobile, but sometimes comes too short, taking space away from Neto/Adama
Such a shame that Molineux won’t be noisy and rocking tonight as this would have given our boys a boost against the might of Liverpool.
I’m not underestimating the enormity of tonight as the scousers seek to resurrect their CL spot this season, and just feel that they’ll have that extra quality in attack.
As much as it pains me I think Liverpool will keep their winning run going against us in the PL…..
When ever we’ve played Liverpool it’s always been a hard game and I expect it to be the same tonight.
But saying that there’s never been a better time to play them so if we turn up from the whistle and play like we can,we have a chance of getting something out of this clash, just wish we could be there to help out.?.
1-1 but hoping for the win.
A point would be a good result from this game.
7am Tuesday morning is a good time for me to watch game.
Looking forward to Boly returning.
Like everyone else I am ever the optimist when it comes to my beloved Wolves . If we get at them from the get go and play a high pressing game we should get a result . Please Dr Nuno play Danny boy if he’s fit ?
Had my jab last Wednesday at the Tipton Sport Academy . Shock horror two assholes wearing shit shirts . Couldn’t wait to leave…Got my booster at the Black Country Museum thank god
COYW
I have seen a few games against Liverpool over the years. Never easy and usually full of action and noise.
One of the best I remember was in 1980, the night Borderwolf (my daughter) actually finally in my opinion became a Wolves fan. Two of us had taken her and two of the lads from her school to watch the game. One of the lads was an avid Pool fan the other Wolves. You can imagine the banter in the back of the car on the way to the game. Nobody least of all me gave us a chance. Result 4-1 to us (Hughes, Richards, Eves & Bell). To cap the night off good old Emlyn got collared to be on This is your Life. The atmosphere in the car back to Bridgnorth was raucous to say the least. By the time we got back I was surprised the Liverpool supporting lad was still breathing,
Why do I mention this well Border has a significant Birthday this week and hopefully the lads can give her a birthday present to remember.. Not that I would like to be at her place tonight. The grandson is a Pool supporter (he has been banished to his bedroom to watch) so god knows what will happen if the Pool win. The dog will probably spend the night out with the chickens for safety.
Seriously we must have some sort of a chance of an upset tonight providing we remember that the game has two halves and actually turn up for the first one.. A tight game but one which hopefully we can win.
Grief! Was that match really 1980? Now I really do feel old!!!
Trust me, and ask Scooped, being old beats the alternative!!
We have not been good to watch of late and I am surprised to see that the unremarkable performances have lead to a plethora of optimistic predictions here on this thread…..which ever system or personnel are employed this evening we are up against a strong Liverpool team albeit ravaged by injuries. Short on confidence perhaps but not ability seems to be an issue for both sides so on paper which of the 2 teams are likely step up tonight ?
If we were to cast the first half stagnant ‘ lets see how they play first’ policy to the shredder there’s an athlete or 2 that could cause any Premier League outfit a problem …..is it likely to happen ?
I fear the worst this evening as a second half revival wont be enough against this Liverpool team irrespective of their own short comings
I wish to echo the sentiment expressed by the realistic Lord Twix and it pains me to predict a loss this evening (for the first time ever since adding my ten penneth to this site I think)….
What have we got to lose? Relegation is out of the question. Do we set out to contain Liverpool and hope for a bore draw? If we sit back in the first half and go into the break 0-0 like Fulham v Man City, we will risk being thumped in the second half when legs tire. If you sit back against the top teams and surrender possession you may as well raise the white flag. No, we have to risk a thumping anyway and go after them from the off. I would give Silva the Boy Wonder a start and guarantee him at least 45 minutes to give him the confidence and time to keep trying. In the precious few minutes he’s been granted recently he has got himself into scoring positions and nearly bagged a goal or two.
We’re now in the fourth year of Fosun’s ten year plan for regular European qualification. Earlier on we were ahead of schedule but then came the pandemic and this season’s transfer miss-steps. Being top-heavy with foreign players, we now have the the added burden of the players (and Nuno himself) being far from the support of family and old friends. Ruben Neves’ wife gave birth back home in Portugal recently, while Ruben was travelling on the team bus. How Nuno is coping I just don’t know, when Portugal has been in the grip of a severe lockdown .
We don’t hear much about the ten year plan these days. And no wonder when we still have to resort to the same counter-attacking tactics that newly-promoted teams employ in the PL. We no longer have the players available (Neto being the exception) to exploit this strategy as we were able to do so successfully in the first two seasons in the PL. The loss of Jota and Doc, the decline of Traore and the injury to Raul have all contributed to this season of struggle. After two seventh placed finishes, we all had viable aspirations of doing better this season and keeping the ten year plan on track. At best this will be a season of transition now. We mustn’t allow it to be the new normal.
Having got this rant off my chest, I’m backing Nuno to surprise us tonight by setting us up to go for a win from the off. 2-1.
Neto said we will be starting faster which may be playing a higher line
Ff tipster said Jonny had taken mahrez out and put Podence in so we shall see
Would play Boly, Coady and Kilman at the back 4 in midfield and 3 upfront
Just hope we put in a performance
Hi Dances, I agree with your view. One minor point though I don’t think relegation is out of the question just yet. With Liverpool and then West Ham, it is not impossible to see a scenario where we lose both those games and in the intervening time the relegation group I.e Fulham, Brighton and Newcastle close the gap on us to say 3 to 6 points. We will then have 8 games to play, five of which are against teams currently in the bottom six. We haven’t been great all season and I don’t fancy squeaky bum time against teams fighting for their lives – just look at the dross we served up against Burnley, Brighton and Sandwell as examples.
Time for our bi-annual beating by the scousers. Their home form may be abysmal but their away form is not too shabby – 3 wins in the last 4 so I can’t see us taking all 3 points unless we up the quality of our performances. Would settle for a point. Either Jose or Silva must be looking forward to a chance to impress against a seriously weakened Liverpool central defence. Personally I’d like to see Jose go out there and bully them around.
Hope you’re right about José Wolfman. Hopefully Willy is not too ring rusty.
COMBs!
I think my safest bet is a draw for peace in this house. If we win a sulk will follow (already had plenty of those given Liverpool’s form), if they win I’ll be miffed although not surprised.
3 points would be a nice early present & something to celebrate. Unlike getting older!
I’m not sure where the dog will end up during the match, probably our en-suite as it’s right at the end of the house! He really hates football!
COYW
Happy ‘significant’ birthday this week BW.
When you get to my age you’ll find that every birthday is significant, just because of the fact you’re still around.
Let’s hope the boys put up a show for you.
Thanks Doog, it’s one that does creep up on you. Comes as a shock when I see Wolves advertising retro gear & I think I’m sure I had that when I was a kid! Scary!
The only really abiding memory I have of playing Liverpool at home is the 0-6 horror from 1968 – which doesn’t augur well for tonight. But hey! It will be two injury hit teams playing most unlike themselves, anything could happen, I don’t think any result would surprise me. If the stat given above is right and it really was 1981 when we last had a home win against them then this might be as good a time as any to win again :).
In a ridiculous season I’m expecting a ridiculous game and still hoping for returns from AT, WJ and FS, so who knows? Here’s to a pundit-fooling win.
COYW
CET
Woke up felling jet lagged then remembered clocks went forward yesterday
Hope Wolves play same way ie miss out first hour of futility and play two second halves
Still think we can reach 50 points with the first of the final 15 today
Neto and Jota to score
Same team, perhaps with the return of Boly (long overdue).
I’d be happy with Silva though Jose does give us better balance.
I just hope we go at them from the off. If we sit back I’m likely to explode. The objective should be to win both halves. Get ahead and stay ahead. We will need all players firing on all cylinders, esp the midfield pair.
Woke up this morning and remembered a dental appointment and then the Wolves
game the feeling was the same for both !
Just can’t see us winning this one. Wish it weren’t so…
Agree Dandy. I can see ’em having a beano. They’ll be fired up after those weekend results and will believe they can still qualify for Europe with a big push for the top 5 or 6.
I have been wondering why the 15th of March was reminding me of something and then it came to me – exactly 41 years ago today we beat the s**t 1-0 at Wembley to win The League Cup. Nobody gave us a chance that day and look what happened . I was there, I was 14, I cried, It’s an omen, we are going to win by the same score tonight. Happy days.
Today is our 28th wedding anniversary and so far today, I’ve had a mild altercation with a security guard about going straight to pharmacy to pick up a prescription rather than join a very long queue for the main supermarket (I won), had my debit card skimmed (they tried to buy a car for £11,995, then another for £9,995), then my OH had a tooth fall out, then the central heating boiler died. One of my brothers thinks I’m due a 7-0 win tonight. I’ll settle for 2-1.
Well on paper they have, despite the injured players, a far bigger and more talented squad at Anfield. I recall last season when Klopp was heavy petting about and with Traore after the game at the Mol, if ever anything could motivate our Spanish speed meister to strutt his stuff tonight against their fifth choice central defenders – then tonights the night.
End of season I can see Traore leaving for Liverpool because he won`t sign a new contract. Well I`d take £30m plus Jota to come home to the Molineux, or cash and no p/ex say £60m.
As for tonight Traore to score his first goal of this campaign, and our defence to nullify their very talented forward line.
Hope we can finally get something against these but odds against us.
Well wouldn’t you know it!
And robbed of a pretty cast-iron penalty
Decent first half performance. Should have had a penalty after two minutes – where was VAR??? Jota did nothing and then ……..
Much better performance , quicker but no cutting edge. Defo penalty after 2 mins not even
reviewed by VAR !
Hope Rui is O K. Had to be Jota didn’t it ! As usual Silva in right place but shoulders a header!
He is hopeless !
Our inability to take our chances and Pawson’s inability to referee – he was awful tonight – cost us at least a point.
Apart from that, a pretty decent performance I reckon.
Relieved that Rui looks to be recovering.
Forget that we was Robbed of at least a point by a halfwit of a referee and VAR.
What we must do now is think about where we are gonna get another win from that’s the most important thing now.
We don’t want to get dragged into a relegation battle.
We must find a way to put the ball into the goal that’s our problem. If we can achieve that in the next few games we’ll be ok.
Then next season regroup and go again. Big changes need to be made I don’t have to tell you that, because if we have this squad of players next season it’ll be difficult to stay in the premiership.
Onwards and upwards to safety that’s our next Goal.
Good overall performance imo.
Never a better time to beat LiVARpool and we still mess it up.
Why do we only play up to the opponents 18 yard line and then give up ?
Agreed. It kills me when we get to the box and then send it back slowly over the halfway line, or even back to the GK. We never then get it back into as positive an attacking position as we started.
We may as well fizz a ball into the box, even if outnumbered and hope that some chaos creates an opportunity – like the Jonny cross that found Neves.