Our thin squad is often used as a stick to beat the club with, but there have been advantages to working with a smaller group.
Picking a consistent XI with only minor turnover in personnel over time is a good way to build understanding between players and establish patterns of play. Case in point the first half of the season for Wolves.
Getting a few more bodies back is good, but I think Bruno has made wholesale changes in the last two games and that’s contributed to the slump.
The wingbacks got injured so that was unavoidable and might be the main reason there was such a worrying lack of cohesion throughout the team against Palace.
But two experimental front three combinations have failed miserably and with enforced changes elsewhere, I think he should have stuck with the more tried and tested up top.
We don’t want to lose four in a row, so even if this becomes about grunting out a result with an ugly performance to address the slide, so be it.
Watford
There were a few triggered Watford fans earlier in the season when people – including myself – pointed out they fire a lot of managers. They’re now on their third manager of the season.
On reflection, they probably should have gone straight to Roy in the first place, as I think he represents the best chance they have of staying up.
Results haven’t exactly been great since he stepped in, but an important victory at Villa Park and a draw at Old Trafford were both pocketed without conceding a goal and tightening the team up defensively was essential.
Arsenal put three past them at the weekend, but they scored two themselves and more than had their say in that game.
I suspect they might have left themselves a bit too much to do over the last 11 games, but with Leeds and Everton flailing you never know. Interestingly, both of those clubs, along with Burnley and Brentford still have to go to Vicarage Road so those will be the games that decide their fate.
They’ve been better on their travels to date with three wins and three draws from their 13 matches and just 16 goals conceded, which is highly competitive.
Wolves
I was glad to hear Bruno kicking off after that meek surrender on Saturday. He shouldn’t have gone in so hard on Hoever, but the point he was making about ‘too many kids’ was probably a veiled dig at the owners over the lack of backing he’s received.
The above is the XI I would be picking subject to availability. We can’t allow ourselves to be overrun in midfield again so a third body in there makes sense.
I thought Jonny did some good things in possession after coming on (despite giving it away a few times too) and with him and Ait-Nouri in the side I think we’d get more control in possession and attacking thrust in the final third.
Podence is an infuriating player because his all-around play is often appalling, but he also looks the most likely to deliver returns around the penalty area. I wouldn’t be upset if it was Hwang or Neto in that position though. Raul must start.
Last time out
We got a deserved victory at Vicarage Road – our first in the league this season – thanks to two of the scruffiest goals you’re ever likely to see. But we took control of the game in the second half and were good value for the three points.
The last game between the sides at Molineux feels like an eternity ago but was that early season 2-0 win that we used as a springboard to climb the table. Matt Doherty scored the opener and an own goal secured the points. They did beat us later in the season but it wasn’t enough to save them from relegation.
The odds
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Predictions
Well done to @#£&?!/* (yes, you did read that correctly) who was the only one to guess the 0-2 defeat to Palace on Saturday.
Brompton Wolf is clear at the top of the overall table at the end of Gameweek 27.
As always, if you’d like to join in, it’s simple – just leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided. Then repeat for every preview article throughout the season, making sure you always use the same email address to make your prediction. Your email is what ties you to your overall score.
You can read my prediction for the game in the comment section below.
Up The Wolves!
Polite request – when commenting in the preview article after the game has finished, can you not place score predictions in the boxes, please? It confuses the system. Many thanks.
Watford are going to be well up for this so if the team start as they did against Palace, we’ll be in big trouble again.
I don’t anticipate a Roy Hodgson side is going to press high and that should suit us and allow the midfielders to get on the ball. Can we create enough with it though after blanking twice in a row?
The back three have made costly errors lately and I’d go as far as saying have cost us the results against West Ham and Palace because all the goals could easily have been avoided. If they sharpen up, we’ll have a good chance of getting a much needed win.
But I suspect we might not quite get over the line and some of their forward players worry me so I’ll go for the draw.
Well we seem to be in freefall these days. As soon as we got into a very positive looking position in the table, following an excellent winning run, we then went into a complete reverse.
Same old problems.
1) No bite and control in midfield. Creativity yes, but you have to have control of the play first.
2) Not enough of a goal threat and that’s been our bugbear all season really.
So once again it’s boring PeteRobbo I’m afraid. A low scoring draw for me.
Anything but a win in this game will surely kill off any chance we have of a top 7 finish and the season will Peter out to a mid table finish .From the really good 40 points we had after 24 games that would be seriously disappointing .
Bruno needs to go back to picking his strongest side each game and I too am in favour of staring with three in midfield.They simply must start well as Palace was a horror show .
Well… my predictions are in tatters after boldly backing the lads for wins in the last three games.
I’m not feeling so confident for the present.
The Watford game will be a bit of a tough one, as they need the points more than we do. We have gone a bit soft at Molineux, I fear.
A draw for me this time I think… Nah, scrub that… we’ll do them 2-0.
Roy has bolstered them as would be expected and they will be up for a fight. But they would settle for a point away at Mol I reckon. My worry is that after three straight defeats our players may settle for a draw as well.
I can’t countenance anything but a win however.
Scrappy fame
Bruno’s comments may not have gone down well with the players, but a fourth loss in a row would hurt them more.
We need to win this before the wheels fall off. The benefits of Semendo/RAN are far better than Jony/Marcel, the latter who are just not great attacking wing backs— a crucial element of our game philosophy.
Hoping for a couple of goals, as the past two seasons our goal tally has been extremely disappointing — and I am being VERY diplomatic!
I fear that Bruno Lage is looking to blame somebody, anybody, other than himself for the last three performances. Team selection has been off recently and I don’t agree with the too many kids remarks – the last good performance was away at Spurs when Cundle played in midfield and Ait Nouri left wing back, plus he shouldn’t have let Gibbs-White, who had an excellent pre-season, go out on loan. For some reason, Cundle has not been selected since an excellent performance at Spurs. Hoever has a lot of potential but like any young player needs support. If Lage didn’t think he’s training well enough he should have selected the classy Jonny surely. I agree three in midfield but I’d suggest Cundle who has a goal in him. Jiminez simply must start with one of Neto, Hwang of Podence beside him. Chiquino should be given more minutes too. Wolves simply must bring Gibbs White back at the end of the season and give him a damned good run next term. I hope for a good positive and aggressive showing in this must win game but fear the opposite and a boring 1-1 draw. Either way I’ll be there.
I think his comment was aimed at the attitude of the kids rather than the quantity James.
They have great role models with the likes of Moutinho who by all accounts trains like every session is a cup final – even when he knows he’s not playing.
It may not be very woke calling them out but it might just benefit their careers in the longer term.
Start of the season lost 1st 3 games; 4th game played Watford and won 2- 0.
Lost last 3 games; who are we playing next – Watford!!
Result – got to be 2-0.
Simple economics – if only!!!
Economics would entail some money being involved, so clearly not that simple. Maybe at a push if you’re a betting man.
.
Well, Saturday was a triple whammy for me.
Broken fuel pump on me truck, broken fuel pump on me tractor, and seemingly a broken, or spluttering fuel pump in the Wolves engine room.
And it was Mrs. CFH’s birthday to boot!
But, all good things come to and end.
Much as I admire Woy for all his time in football, he really is the dinosaur of all dinosaurs.
He’s McCarthy and Brucie’s grandad.
His sell by date is long gone, and he is surely just taking the piss, and a nice retirement cheque, by turning up with his cane and zimmer frame every day at Watford mind the Gap.
If our players have any pride and balls, they will absolutely marmalize Watford tomorrow, a mega backlash from our previous few performances.
If it turns out they don’t, then tomorrow until May is going to be a tortuously ( is that a word?) long, long
time.
Let us hope it is the former, if only it will shut up, temporarily at least, some of the woodwork leaving, so called Wolves fans, on here and other social media outlets…..like Jackanory.
Oh, I love to waffle verbosely at 4 in the morning!
Keep the faith fellow bloggers.
My predictable prediction has been right twice in the history of this blog.
Once when we beat Forest to go and stay top of the second division under McCarrthorse, and the other time when we beat Burton on our way to the second division title, under Nuno.
So, even though we aint in the second division, thank dog, perhaps its time to be correct again.
Then y’all can bow down before me.
Five One to me Babbeez!
You have a tractor?
Of course.
He’s poorly bad right now though.
And beehives.
And big rescue dogs
And room for more
Blimey, so much space. I walk from my letter box to the front door in 5 seconds.
Hope y’all don’t pay too much for your water ?
Nothing.
We gotta well!
You should moan. My letterbox is on my front door.
After zero points in three for both the team and my predictions I’m tempted to ask “How the hell should I know”
But in the spirit of the league and hoping for some sort of redemption I’m going to fight against the logical part of my brain and let the foolish/optimistic part make the prediction this time out.
We have another chance to end this dismal run we have got to put Jiminez back in and get the team on an attacking foot straight away 2-1 to the Wolves .
Woy has certainly made Watford difficult to beat on their travels and he will be shoring up thd midfield even more tomorrow night by playing Elton John AND his piano in central midfield. Woy will be hoping that by Elton singing Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday nights all right….. Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday nights all right…. it will destabilise the WWFC team. Just the sight of someone in massive glasses, a hat and stripey jacket at a piano in the centre circle will result in a Watford win. But. Woy will be wrong. Because his tactics are already useless. It is in fact Thursday. Not Saturday. So
WWFC will not be derailed in any way. As we go in to half time it will already be 2-0 to WWFC and in a desperate attempt to get his tactics to work Woy instructs Elton John to sing Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday night’s all right…. Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday nights all right. But it won’t be as WWFC add a third. A sad Woy substitutes Elton John and his piano but to no avail. So in the end WWFC win 3-0. After the game Woy said ” Sometimes you need to freshen things up and I thought by having Elton John and his piano in a midfield three it might provide impetus. I think next game I will consider putting Donna Summer as wing back. What have we got to lose? “. Bruno said ” I was a bit startled when I saw Elton John in midfield for Watford . I think I will consider Robert Plant as sweeper for us at Everton on Sunday “. WWFC 3 Watford 0.
If we get Cloives tractor fixed we could put it in midfield up against Elton’s piano. I only see one splintered outcome there. 1 lv
Bruno was definitely the giveng them the rocket man after the last showing. Lets hope he’s still standing if we lose 4 on the bounce. Im expecting Podence to be our Tiny Dancer in this one as he is ovedue another goal. Hopefully we will be singing Gooodbye Yellow kit, f o back down the road to the sad wifford fans who made the journey.
There will probably a number of posts with this theme and I’m close to getting to the “can’t be arsed to post ” emotion associated with the downward trajectory and my grey cloud thinking
Disappointment frustration disillusionment ..in that order moving from Arsenal to Crystal Palace accurately describes the emotional journey through the last 3 games … from where we were to where we are is hard to take on board following that distant victory over Leicester which I suppose could now be described as in a different time
I fear that the slide will continue
Confidence ,in the coach’s ability to deliver the right system to beat your opponent must now be at a player low following his last 2 failed suck it and see personnel experiments
Combine the above with the less talented players in the squad acting out the “I will do enough to get through ” performances then why should anything change if these issues are not addressed
If identified and resolved surely we have a squad (albeit unbalanced )superior to the opposition and capable of scoring more than they do ?…..glass half empty but can’t predict a loss
“…Picking a consistent XI with only minor turnover in personnel over time is a good way to build understanding between players and establish patterns of play…”
This goes against everything Bruno says he is trying to do.
Great news about Pedro signing new contract.
Fosun got this one right, perhaps they are not as dumb as some would have us believe!!
I suspect the team have logged off now they are safe from demotion. Europe is now a distant dream so what is there to play for? Watford are hungry and look good in attack. I think another loss is on the cards.
They are better away than at home, we can’t score at home
What could go wrong?
This has 0-0 written all over it but where’s the fun in predicting that ,
So. 4-1 then
2-1 TO WOLVES.
not overly confident on this
think we need to get back to basics
would like to see Boly given a run out agree we need to start Raul
We always start with 0 and regularly end with 0. Hopefully, they’ll get 0. Not an overly exciting game beckons, unfortunately
If we don’t win this one I’m off to watch cricket
I fear the worst for a poor game…. I seriously hope I’m wrong
Can’t bring myself to post a loss
Pedro Neto has signed for another 5 years. Great business!
So Neto has signed for five years… that means one of two things… wolves are going to spend big money close season and put some more quality around him OR he’s off to Liverpool with Neves.
Which one is your money on ?
Watford !!! I still haven’t gotten over Wembley yet so we must absolutely tear them to bits not only for more revenge but to regain our shattered confidence.
I watched them against the vile and this will be no pushover but we have to pull a rabbit out the hat sometime so why not now.
Don’t like playing Thursdays though.
Everyone keeps saying Neves is off.
WHY. Not once has a reputable source claimed this. Neves last interview talking about how happy he is in Wolverhampton and wants to be playing champions league in the next 5 years. Can we stop acting like we know Neves is leaving…
Got myself a ticket for this, via a very good friend, so will be heading north full of hope and expectation.
It’s Watford for chrissakes, and as such we owe them big time. Still.
I hate to see them struggle, week after depressing week, trying to drag themselves out of the relegation mire.So, although they may not realise it themselves, anything we can do to hasten their demise and cut short their pointless hope is actually doing them a favour.
So, a couple of early goals and a solid defensive performance would do very nicely and make my long journey home one of pure joy and bliss.
Looking forward to a catch up tomorrow – and a decent win (fingers tightly crossed).
Great news about Neto. He’s young and he was on fire before getting injured. Either way, five years is good for us whether he stays or goes.
Regarding Bruno’s comments about Ki-Jana Hoever; it’s generally accepted as a leader that you should give public praise and private criticism. It’s also accepted that it’s madness to keep doing and saying the same things repeatedly and expect a different result.
If Bruno feels, knowing far more about the circumstances than any of us, that it was the right thing to do, to come out and be quite scathing regarding Hoever in particular, and some of the youngsters in general as well as a the team performance as a whole, well I think he has more than enough credit in the bank and we should cut him some slack and trust him.
They need a rocket after the last 3 performances, and it’s the performances that have been the most disappointing thing, not just the results.
Bruno doesn’t strike me as the type who’s default is to shirk responsibility and/or point the finger of blame. Sometimes in management you need to unleash the beast, shame things up a bit, and that’s whew done.
Tough game v Watford that we need to win to jump start us out of this mini slump.
I’m confident. I think we can do it.
BELIEVE!!
UTW
Woy Will Want Watford 2 Win.
Don’t say that fast folks..
Bwuno won’t
Still utterly dislike Watford after Wembley so have to win big
Pedro Neto signing a new contract is the best news I’ve heard this week.
Vladimir Putin eating some off mussels or accidentally impaling himself on one of The Kremlin’s minarets might just top it.
We are more than due a good performance and we definitely need a win.
Pedro to celebrate with his first goal since coming back and Raul to prove that his headband doesn’t prevent him from scoring with his napper.
Can’t make it tomorrow so someone else will have to sit next to the grumpiest female fan in The Steve Bull.
Whoever it is, give her a hug from me.
And see what happens to you.
And here’s what you’ve all been waiting for.
Did t get to see Palace game but reading reports and blogs was VERY depressing and worrying
How come we can marmalize spuds and manure and then
Play like woofters?
Ah well it the Wolves innit?
Money tends to correlate with success in the PL and that says we still punch above our weight
Our payroll ranks #14
(manure rank #1)
Win the next 5 and 6th still looks on
Lose most and we’ll be slipping towards that #14 slot
Let’s have an end to that darkness lads
Well after last Saturday’s no show who on earth is brave enough to see a dramatic improvement….
The headlines that Woy had got organisation into Elton’s team, they played well v the Gooners… etc etc…
Well.. truly to my blind belief in WWFC I’m going for a win..
If Bruno plays the ‘shuffle the cards and see how they fall’ trick then I’m done for.. if he sniffs the embrocation and picks Jimi.. I’ll be ok…
Am sure hoping to bump into that plundering pirate from Plymouth tomorrow night at Dougies…
The only reason for picking a win is to witness that sulking mush of our beloved.. BEN FOSTER..
You may well M’lud.
Wolves 2 Watford 0
That won’t count mate.
After the inept display against C.Palace don’t really know what to expect.
Has to start with Raul that’s for sure, and I can’t really see Hoever getting another game unless Jonny gets injured again.
Here’s to my usual 2-0 victory.
My predictions are more of a wish list rather than any serious analysis of what’s likely to happen. I can’t see us winning this though cos Hodgson is no mug and has got Watford playing and we are a shower of shite right now. So i’m going for an edge of the seat 3-3 thriller. I would like to see Boly in for Kilman, Silva in for Neto, Ait Nouri in for Marcal. Neto and Raul on at 60min if things are going south. I’d like to see more of Cundle, he played well in a problem area and gets dropped the week after, Hoever plays awful and makes the team next week. What’s a boy gotta do to get a game round here.
I’m trying to stay positive but we have Villa in 3weeks and on our current trajectory and their ability to score i can see a cricket score on the horizon if we don’t sort ourselves out.
Keep the faith.
Tight and nervy performance expected. But I expect us to come back with at least a point. We need a reaction after last weeks rocket.
Benzima hatrick!!!! That’s the sort of belief we need.
I saw a Hornet once, it was large and dangerous and I didn’t kick it. But weez got to be on our game this time. No Deeney, so no wobbly repeats.
Even so the geriatric gangsta is getting some sorta tune out of Eltons Joannas. Let’s hope its a cover of Becks ‘Loser’. Cos that’s what I’m predicting they’ll do.
C’mon, even in our worst nightmares of hellish wretchedness there’s no scenario in which we fk this up.
1 lv & COYW.
Did we just get knocked out of the FA Youth cup semi’s by the Midges? Even though I havn’t been following the comp. closely, it’s just another reason to gaffer tape myself to an ICBM and head for the Kremlin. 1 lv.
Keeping the faith despite the bumps in the road and the roller coaster of emotions following results.
But that’s what we do.
A month ago we had grounds to be looking up at the top three and maybe another cup run.
Now we are looking over our shoulders while our recent rivals put their feet on the gas, we’re fretting over transfer business that may or may not happen and worrying about what’s going on behind the scenes.
So apart from the Man City and Liverpool supporters, that’s the same situation as every other club’s fans. So keep the faith, it’s still in our hands and there are 30+ points for everyone to play for.
If you were Watford, what would you do? It’s not always about what Wolves try to do. Wolves will try to win, of that I have no doubt but Watford will try not to lose .
Molineux looked great tonight and will be even better tomorrow with the roar of the crowd.
I’m banking on Wolves getting back to winning ways – and Jimenez on the scoresheet. Maybe even one from Neto to celebrate his new contract?
After 3 worrying results (and efforts) its time to bring out the big guns and ensure a better result.
So its time to tip a loss here – that should immediately get us back on track
Our once solid defence went absent in the last two games. That coincided with the unfathomable changes made by the manager. Could there be a link there ? Knowing that no matter how well you clear the ball out of defence, it’s coming back at you in the next 10 secs !!
Hopefully, a solid, stable team will re-invigorate the team to previous heights. No arguments about the team selected above (maybe consider Cundle in middle).
Going for a 2-1 win.
Please note that I used two big words – unfathomable and re-invogorating – to try and keep up with some of the Wolves Intellectuals on this blog. 🙂
There are lots of words used to describle folk both on and off this blog, but I would bet Doogooder’s next royalty check that intellectual is not one of them.
Well, we can’t get any worse, Can We?
1 – 1
Said they needed 5 in mid against Palace but I suppose if Bruno was dropping Jimenez then he had to play 3 up front.
Wonder how much Nuno would have sold us Doherty back from Spurs ? He is looking good again under Conte.
Which Wolves team attitude will turn up ? Who knows ?
Dennis is due a Watford goal, so
With three in midfield we can win this.
COMBs!
Got to pick up some points soon but first need to score. Tonight could be the night.
All well and good berating players, but would have liked Lage to have taken some responsibility for recent defeats following the bizarre squad selections. Hopefully he will get back to basics tonight – particularly with the front line. Predicting a nervy draw to stop the slide.
Who knows?
Just hoping that sanity returns sooner rather than later
I can see this being a scruffy, nerve jangling game tonight but we will scrape through with a narrow win.
Well, things could be worse. At least we aren’t Russian owned! Where now for Chelsea.
I, like everyone else is hoping for a good reaction after the last 2 woeful performances. With Watford fighting for survival, I can’t see beyond a draw.
Don’t think Kilman will be going to Chelsea now eh ??
Lol , something good always comes out of something bad
Got to laugh … they should give back all their trophies too
I have no idea!
Cant get any worse than the Crystal Palace game. The Kilman horror show in front of Soutgate ffs !
Hoping for a better perfromance tonight….COYW
SPARE TICKET ALERT!!!
I have a spare ticket for tonights game sitting next to yours truly in the Steve Bull
anyone intrested should contact me by email in the first instance at
roger.lewis@directlegal.co.uk
Don’t remember if I made a prediction or not so I’ll do it again using the same email address. Sorry if this gums up the works. Senior moment.
We must have enough in us to beat Watford at home, surely. I hope so anyway.
I’m feeling very apprehensive about tonight’s game; not a fan of Thursday games unless it’s Europa League!
Wonder if we will see Boly playing tonight?
We must start with either Jimenez or Silva. It would be rather nice if we go on the attack, for the whole game; not just the last 10 minutes!!!
Need a win lads, don’t care how!
Please can we beat these and give us something to cheer
Can’t stand Elton John. Or Reginald Dwight either
Just seen our team sheet. Happy with that.
Sa
Boly Coady Saiss
Jonny Mountinho Neves Ait Nouri
Podence Hwang
Jiminez
Gutted. 3-0 up and can’t find a stream to watch it.
Seems like that arse kicking Bruno gave the team has done the trick tonight!
Brompton, the game is live on bbc sounds.
I want to watch it
So did I. BBC sounds is all I could find.
I found one for the last half hour. Bad stream though. Listened to bbc sounds too.
Well done me babbies. Guess I am having a few beers now.
Just seen the Ruben goal on Sky Sports highlights.
The man is a genius!
I know, it was so calmly put away. A drop of the shoulder, a quick move to his right and placed to drop just over the keeper. Pure class. I will bet Steve enjoyed my seat tonight lol.
Android sideloaded apps are where it’s at for good quality streams nowadays. I use potato streams but there’s loads out there. Commentary was in a different language tonight but the stream was HD and solid. Google is your friend.
Our most complete performance of the season tonight from start to finish well happy with that!