You can only put 11 players on the pitch and as it stands, Wolves should have 11 good ones.
Beyond that, things aren’t great.
With only one significant addition, several departures and still more talk about key personnel leaving than new talent arriving, it’s been a summer of frustration.
I suppose all we can do is go a game at a time, hope the team performs and doesn’t suffer further injuries.
We’ve got an easy start apparently, but a trip to Elland Road on opening day feels anything but straightforward.
Leeds
On the one hand, Leeds stayed up by the skin of their teeth and have sold their two best players so could be considered relegation candidates again.
But all that money has been re-invested into the team and delivered five first-team additions to bolster a squad that was creaking last season.
They do have short-term injury problems again with Cooper, Ayling, Foreshaw and Firpo all likely to miss Saturday’s game along with Stuart Dallas who is out for longer.
Patrick Bamford is fit again though and scored twice in their most recent pre-season victory. His continued form and fitness will again be pivotal to their prospects.
Question marks remain over Jesse Marsch and their summer rebuild so it does feel like they arrive at the starting gate as one of the real unknown quantities of the Premier League. As always with Leeds, it promises to be anything but boring.
Wolves
Despite everything going on (or not going on) off the pitch, the team have performed well on it throughout pre-season.
The above XI represents what I expect to see and honestly, what else is there to do? With Raul and Traore both out and Hwang still getting up to speed, senior options are limited in forward positions.
At the back we’ve got a few more bodies but it seems like that four is set in stone unless we pick up last-minute injuries. I certainly hope Conor Coady doesn’t leave (on loan or otherwise) as we need his presence in the dressing room, if not always on the pitch.
Predictions
As always, if you’d like to join in with the Prediction League this season, 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!
It would be nice to get on the board early this season after the trio of losses last year, but as we know, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Their new team might need time to settle and with experienced players out it does open the door for us to go there and get a good result.
The new shape should make us a more potent attacking threat too, but who is putting the ball in the net? We’ve got some great creators but not a lot of finishers. That remains a big concern.
.
A draw would be good but more importantly when you go to Elland Road you hope to come back without getting kicked senseless.
Well off we go again, with the usual uncertainty about having a reliable goal scorer still hanging over us. On the other hand, apart from Raul’s injury, pre- season went pretty well for us and we seem to have an interesting and quality new group in defence and an exciting and creative front trio of Gibbs-White, Podence and Neto. Let’s hope all 3 find their feet quickly and steer clear of injuries.
I think that our midfield still needs a new face to join Moutinho and Neves at the expense of Dendonker, but I am hopeful that we have some candidates in our own squad to fill that shortfall? Cundle, Chiquinho and Connor Roden maybe?
Difficult to provide a confident scorecast, given the uncertainties about both teams, so I’m starting off the new season with a predictable safety-first speculation.
Come on Wolves, (and Fosun)! Make this year breakthrough year!
More than ever to attempt to predict this opening game is going to be pure guesswork. What with them having virtually half a new team and us seemingly about to implement a new defensive system that, to date, just hasn’t suited the players at our disposal. Added to that we now have more substite options (how will that suit our squad which is very short on numbers and quality outside of the starting eleven?) and, hope upon hope, the return of a fully fit Neto who, before his long term injury, was producing the kind of form that had commentators salivating.
I’m at a loss but can’t predict one with so many imponderables,so:
Looks like Dendoncker is currently the winner of the “Who benefits most from the new shape” contest.
Coady might be the loser.
Raul’s wife says his injury isn’t as bad as people are saying. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the bench.
Oh … idont know , I just think that the form we were on at the end of last season we should have been in a relagation battle .A couple of seasons ago we were sure we were gong to be a champions league side.
Sometimes we play football that could beat anyone but then we can’t score a goal .
It’s glaringly obvious where we need to strengthen but so far we haven’t. Linked with everyone, signed no one . I can’t say I’m that optimistic but then the few players we have got are good . I don’t fucking know
The first team is a reasonable one that should do well, but the lack of depth is clear for all to see. If we get a good result, I really hope that the powers that be do not believe that what we have is enough. A few goals by Morgan G W or someone else and that may convince Jeff and co that no forward is required or needs to be purchased.
Shame that Cody is unlikely to be first choice but the best team must be picked.
We should just have enough to defeat Leeds in this early game!
Gonna take more than a goal or two to take 3 points from Ted Lasso and his Yankee reinforcements. Hope I’m wrong.
I think Lage is right about going to a back 4 gives us more chance of scoring but you need a striker on the field to do that and we don’t have one. But we still have some very good players out there to put the ball in the net 2-1 to the Wolves.
UTW ….. here we go again
More questions being asked than answered at this point. Hope the season breaks Wolves way.
Since I lost my wife in February, I’ve been lurking rather than actively contributing – you can imagine that football was far from being uppermost in my mind. The beginning of a new season seems as good a time as any to make a new start, so here I am – like the proverbial bad penny.
It’s been a frustrating transfer window so far hasn’t it? So little real information, but so many pitfalls along the way. The ‘back four’ has been long heralded, let’s see how it works out. It did strike me that CC made a success of his role as a central defender after a change of position. Might he be about to make another move – this time further up the pitch. His passing from defence has been pretty good, might that translate into a role in midfield, or will his move – as some journos seem to be suggesting – be to a new club rather than a new position. Does Bruno have something in mind other than having him on the bench?
Last season started with us playing very well but not getting any points, our pre-season preparations seem to have gone rather better than last time, so I’m hopeful that we may make a better start, absence of Raul notwithstanding. Neto seems to be pretty much back to his best and DP looks to have found a new enthusiasm – if only for attacking people rather bigger than he is. MGW has always had a lot to prove, but this time he is surely half-way there following his exploits last season. I do though take St. Kitts’ point that early success with our current squad might be taken to justify a lack of signings. We’ve had quite a journey over the last few years, I think we have enough about us to ensure that the journey – upwards of course – carries on. I hope nobody has cause to remind me of that thought as the season draws to a close!!
So what about Leeds. One of my best footballing experiences took place when I wasn’t even at Molineux. I was in the Grand Theatre when we played Leeds at the end of the season and managed to prevent the success they cherished. It was an amazing evening, someone in the theatre had a transistor radio and regular updates we whispered round the building. Wolves goals we greeted with spontaneous applause – at a totally inappropriate points in the performance. Back in those days hardly anyone liked Leeds and I’m not sure that’s changed all that much. I’m sure it will be an entertaining game, I think our new defence will be up to what may not be all that much of a test, and I hope we will depart with all three points, having beaten the old enemy. If the Lionesses can do it, why can’t we?
COYW, let’s be ‘avin ye.
(a very) Happy new season to bloggers old and new.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Hope the boys can put a smile on your face COYW
Thanks Andrew
Jazz sorry for your loss. Awful thing to go through. Let’s hope the Wolves help with 3 points at dirty Leeds.
All the best.
Thanks Marnhull.
Yes, three points would be a good start. I suppose what I really want to see his season is our team playing up to their – in most cases quite considerable – potential. Let’s hope we’ve seen the last of games we should have won and didn’t. I know we’re a few short of the squad we’d all like to see, but we’ve got some terrific players – and I’m making comparisons going back to 1953 – and I know we all want them to succeed.
Sorry to hear this sad news Jazzwolf … having exchanged a few emails last year (Which blogger quiz) .. I know what a lovely man you are…
Much respect to you … hopefully we can link again … regards Mike
Thanks for your kind words Mike, my best wishes to you and yours. Keith
Sorry for your loss, mate. I hope Wolves can provide a little comfort over the season.
Thanks WP.
Yes, let’s hope they do – for all our sakes!! I’d like to see Bruno getting some success, he certainly seems to have the enthusiasm.
When I first started playing footie, 150 years ago, old Mr. Perkins of Hill Avenue Infant school fame put me at left back, and told me full backs are not allowed to go over the halfway line.
What tosh I believed for ages! How that skinny old pratt haunted my dreams of scoring the Wolves winner at Wembley.
What joy was released when I realized a hundred years later, I was a superstar, and could score and stuff!
Fast forward to Elland Road in two days time.
Yes, or No, whichever is the right word in this context, we have no “striker”, but I thought the rules said anyone can shoot and score, as long as Mike var Dean sez so?
Just coz we have a couple of injuries, and no PJB’s to back up a non existent forward line, don’t mean we won’t score.
The added bonus to this, the opposition won’t have a clue who to mark.
Whom to mark?
Whoo to Mark?
Mark Who?
Mark my words, lots of faces egged covered this weekend.
Not sure how this season is going to pan out but I feel we have a good 11 but very little behind so let’s hope for no injuries.
I think we’ll be ok here and get off to a good start, Leeds however I feel will struggle again this season.
I’ve just watched Brunos interview and when the interviewer asked about any more arrivals Bruno was very animated hand gestures moving on his seat and his answer was interesting. On the one hand he was saying it needs to be the right player at the right price yeah ok but then he said the squad needs to be cable of coping with injuries like Raul’s and bigger so clearly he feels there is more investment needed whether that is forth coming is very up in the air it’s seems.
What Scott Sellears and the other very well paid recruitment team have been doing is anyone’s guess we are constantly being told they are working very hard behind the scenes….doing what exactly because one new recruit since the window has been opened when they have known for months what Bruno needs the back up striker for Raul’s we’ve been waiting for 2 years has still not been resolved.
With no recognised striker to replace Raul it has made our task harder to come away with 3 points against Leeds. They will be up for it and will want to get off the mark and try and put behind them there brush with relegation last season they have lost Phillips but reinvested all the money in what looks like decent players.
We need to get over our own hangover from last season and with basically t he same 11 bar Collins just changing the system and formation might not be enough……hope I’m wrong.
Are we back already?…seems like we hardly stopped. I don’t know… seems like a solid enough 3 pointer but we are reliant on Neto and Podence for now it seems. Honestly, I could run recruitment better and I know next to nothing about talent scouting. I’m pleased that it looks like we’ve got at least another 6 months of Adama. He may not score but he takes two and sometimes three of the opposition out of the box creating space. I am hoping MGW stays and plays. It’s his time.
Get used to this kind of result guys. Bruno gone by end of September after walking and the 2023/2024 season will be one spent in the Championship. Neves move on deadline day just about sums it up. Hope I’m wrong. What a mess
Greetings Bloggers All,
Pep managed last season OK without a ‘recognised striker’, not saying that Bruno is the new Pep but tactics boys, tactics.
I suppose you’ve seen the report that the Toffetti’s want a bit of CC?? In a world of sniping tramps that takes the biscuit. As if..Neves is a second choice Frankie de Jong.
Talking of wind ups, Leeds at the w/e, a team that would be scrubbing the floor in the Championship if we hadn’t gone AWOL at the end of last season. Can’t wait for the contributions from our plucky West Yorkshire fan club when we return the favour first up. It’s going to be noisy.
1 lv & COYW.
COYLU!
Finally a healthy Leeds team will score on the run.
Can’t be Mr Perkins of Hill Avenue Infants School, the ‘skinny old prat’ who thwarted Cloive’s Wobbly dreams, can it?
Well here we go again, a good first team 11 and virtually no back up. It only takes a couple of injuries to key players ( as Raul) and we will really struggle.
No centre forward, no reserve midfield !
Leeds are very beatable if we put away our chances, but long term unless we get replacements in any dreams of European soccer is fantasy.
Not sure how such good sense can be disliked! Takes all sorts, I suppose.
Need more firepower, but we have enough for Leeds.
COYW
This is not exactly how I saw the start of the season! With just one notable signing and Raul injured. However, we do have a good starting 11 which should create more chances using a back 4 system which hopefully PN DP & MGW can latch onto and put chances away.
My gut feeling is we have enough to see off Leeds but I do remember that nightmare match not so long ago.
COYW and make us proud
Trouble is that it’s become more of a squad of 16 game, not a team of 11 game. At the moment we have very little of note on the bench, particularly if chasing a game when good substitutes and substitutions are vital.
Well after finishing with pretty much the worst ratio of points to picks last season the only way is up for me. Sadly I am not sure the same can be said about Wolves… I just do not understand the current strategy for buying or selling players. Hopefully there are some nice surprises before the transfer window closes. Either way, should be a fun season – with the knowledge that if we make a terrible start we can always regroup after the world cup and start the season again from there!
A lot has happened since May, and our once sparkling, promising first season under Bruno fell off a cliff.
We will have a new Prime Minister in a few weeks, inflation is double digit, filling your car with diesel will treble it’s value in most cases and England’s Women have shown the men how it should be done. Take a bow ladies.
But some things never change. Wolves supporters views on Fosun’s stewardship of our beloved club for example.
This was the transfer window that was to demonstrate the owners level of commitment to our club. No more excuses. No FFP restrictions. A new coach who had done so well until March. A number of players who had elevated Wolves from the also rans of the Championship to Premier League top six potential coming to the end of their time with us.
And yet, almost 3 months on, we have signed one, just one senior player.
So, if there were any doubt left as to Fosun’s plans, their level of commitment to Wolves, we should by now all be open eyed and fully aware of their strategy and what it means for us.
The good news. Since 2016 they have guided us from 4 successive years of second tier mediocrity to an established Premier League, Top 7 finishes twice, FA cup semi-finalists, Europa League quarter-finalists, the likes of Neves, Moutinho and plethora of talented internationals playing for us under an exciting new coach.
However, many of us want more. Fosun’s heralded arrival with promises of making us one of the biggest clubs in the world did little to manage the expectations of fans who support one of the founders of English football and 3 time champions, albeit heady days few are around to recall.
Bad news ? The reality is the top six are set for now and we cannot realistically compete on financial terms. We have to make the most of every opportunity to squeeze every drop out of every revenue stream.
We have to use our relationship with Gestifute to identify less obvious talent in the hopes of unearthing gems like Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto. Not all of the new players will work out. But that can be said of any player at any club. But when you pick up Neves and Moutinho for £20m combined – it’s a great relationship to have.
We need to tap in to new markets like Mexico when our principal striker can drum up so much interest and shirt sales. Money that helps swell the coffers and keeps us self sustaining and viable.
Anyone in doubt of Fosun’s commitment to Wolves should take heart from Guo Guangchang’s attendance at one of our preseason games. They are in it for the long term and will keep our club safe. By all accounts they look after the employees at Wolves well and did so through the pandemic.
We are a well run, stable Premier League club. In the world of today, post pandemic, war raging not far away, tensions as high as ever among global big hitters, rising living costs etc etc, we are more fortunate and better off than most.
And for that, whilst we can’t go out and splash silly money on a striker or midfielder with no promise of Champions League football, for that, we should all be grateful.
UTW
Reading CFH stuff reminded of my dismal start at school
I couldn’t get into my junior school team but a lot of them failed their 11+ so when I got to the grammar school I was one of the candidates for the U 12’s
Unfortunately in the last games session we had I got picked as goalie and saved a couple
We played Darlaston first
I let in 16 ( actually 18 but ref lost count)
Next game was only 12-0
Then a triumphant defeat of 5-0
At which point the games teacher made me left half
I will bore you more with that saga another time
Just trying to rake my mind off Saturday
I celebrate reaching 70 tomorrow night so sat at 7 am I will be hoping my tv record system works
When I eventually … hangover permitting…watch the game I’m hoping our new revolutionary 4 man back row has worked and Neto/ Podence have conjured a magic bullet
The season needs a good start ( first 5 games 10 points) or we’re done for I think
No 16-0s please
UTW
Happy Birthday, hope you get a win to celebrate. COYW
WOW we have only met once at the last bloggers do but no way would i have put you at the big 70 you have worn very well marin if its any consolation im 4 years behind you but look 10 older …..should have moved to america obviously
Happy 70th birthday, mate. I hope Wolves come up with a nice birthday present.
We have a starting 11 who showed some decent form pre-season, but I worry about the lack of options on the bench. Given the very thin squad, really hope the talk of our captain and MGW potentially leaving aren’t true. Hope our recruitment pipeline delivers soon. Leeds will be well-up for this first game. Very hard to predict, but am going for an optimistic draw. UTW
I think our recruitment pipeline needs Dynorod!
Well, if Man City can do well without a recognised No 9, why can’t we?
We have quite a few players who have the potential to put the ball in the back of the net; all we need is for it to happen on a regular basis. Raul will soon be back with us.
A back 4 may suit us as our squad now stands; really feel for Coads though.
Really has been frustrating during this transfer window with so many ‘in the knows’ with their speculations up till now coming to absolutely zilch.
Come on lads, bring it on!!!
To answer your question , when I last looked we didn’t have De Bruyne ,Bernardo Silva , Mahrez, Foden, Sterling (I know he’s now gone to be replaced by that elusive centre forward ) not mentioning that bench warmer Greasy.
“Unsettled – Gibbs-White, Neves, Traore and Coady still all linked with moves away”.
load of shit this tag line btw. Twitter people are the ones driving this, Not a single Journalist has spoke on this… except maybe “forrest want MGW” – They wont put up the £35million asking price for him so it wont happen.
It’s reported that they have, and we’ve turned it down.
Almost certainly isn’t £35m up front. Probably comes with lots of conditions.
New season and renewed optimism. Despite all the transfer rumours we have kept our squad together and we’ve had a good pre-season. Unlike the start of last season, our August fixtures are good for us. Leeds have lost their best players. So a Wolves win for me.
Nice to be back in the world’s toughest competition – predicting a Wolves result !
Firstly, like some others on this blog, I simply cannot understand the process of signing up players. I would have thought – approach said player, make him a decent (or even indecent if he is that good) offer as a wage, offer decent offer to the other team. If he takes it, all well and good. If not, move on. We seem to have been linked with scores of players in the last 6 months. One worked (Collins), but nothing else! So are we under valuing these guys ?? In the meantime, with about 24 hours to go, we are still not sure of the players we currently have.
With Leeds having so many injuries and hoping the above mentioned players are all available, I would like to think we have enough to overcome Leeds and come away with three points.
I don’t think you know how the game of high level recruiting works.
As a matter of fact, buying automobile can be more complicated than you seem to think recruiting is.
Well one thing you can certainly say for Bruno is that he’s not afraid to make big decisions, if the rumors of Coady’s impending departure are to be believed. I guess it’s a call that will go one of two ways for the manager – either the formation change works and we score more goals/win more games, or it doesn’t and he’s sacked. Either way, I applaud him for his bravado – even though I don’t agree with the decision to ditch Coady’s leadership qualities.
Anyway, on to Saturday. Tough game to call as Leeds, like Forest, look to be one of the wild cards of the season. It’s easy to see them either being decent or terrible, so this is a hard fixture to read. On that basis, I’ll play it safe and go for a draw.
Opening day victory
I’m usually optimistic, but there is a real sense of unease and uncertainty in the decision making at the moment. Coady should stay, inspirational leader and MGW as well unless we have a proven quality player ready to come in. Imagine if Bruno is sacked in a few games time and there is no Connor in the building! Do others think that the Board are waiting to see what the first few games bring to decide the future of Bruno? From various journalists articles I sense they imply the players are not fully convinced either. Saying that UTW
Wolves 2
Leeds 1
Bloody hell. What’s going on? So many posts above. Must be some kind of record for the day before an away game! OK, there will be more posts at the start of any season but there’s an valance of them today.
With our squad depleted in quantity, but not in quality, we can still give a good account of ourselves until reinforcements arrive. Against a changed Leeds side I think we can avenge that controversial result at Elland Road last season. 2-1 0r 2-0.
I hope Brompton Wolf isn’t going to hang up his crown. I know he’s bored of winning but when a man is bored of winning, he’s bored of life! (from a famous quote about London by Dr Samuel Johnson).
I’ve heard Mystic Meg is taking a year off to polish her trophy cabinet. 1 lv
Nice one, Wuss. And it’s fuller than our trophy cabinet. I wonder if she’s still reading these posts given that she knows in advance what we will say?
And who will win.
It certainly looks a spicy opening fixture… I’m pretty sure will be trying to live up to their tag of .. ‘Dirty Leeds’ .. kicking and trying to get into our players faces…
and judging by the recent battle of Benidorm.. that won’t be too difficult.
So it will be vital to keep our 11 on the pitch.
It’s 11 v 11 on the day and we’ve got 11 good starting players… however the bench will need to be strengthened.. quickly.
That said we’ve still got some PL experience in there.. maybe not in the positions we need.
I’m full of optimism tomorrow… as usual on the opening day… and I’ll be celebrating a win and also Marin’s 80th birthday…
Neto with the only goal… as Leeds definitely won’t score..
80 he reckons hes 70
Oh … did I make a freudian slip ….
I only put down 80 cuz he looks nowhere near 70 …
And whilst I’m on … you don’t look your age either mate…
Right … enough compliments for one day …
ahh! thats cause i drink wine ……..by the gallon
And it’s why only look 50+ … yeah..!!
I think Wolves get off on the right foot tomorrow. A goal or assist for MGW will show Large that he cannot go any where. Going to be a fun one. Wolves 2-0 win. COYW
At least i wont be in a bar in a foreign country with 7 leeds tossers this time round …i had to eat humble pie that day .
Bored with moaning about fosun, shi, sellars ,transfer policy or no transfer policy, whos leaving whos staying , so its just footy for me and all i can see is we have a very decent first team yes thats about it but we do have a very experienced and skilled first team which has more than enough talent within its ranks to score more goals than leeds u bloody knighted …raul or no raul.
Why i detest leeds so much goes back a long way as it does with many on the blog and i would have laughed my socks off if they had gone down … but they didnt and we have to do our bit to ensure they get de moted this season .
lets please stuff the knuckle dragging morons.
Are those the knuckle dragging morons with six toes, bucky teeth and BO ? Glad you shook off your JA stalker. 1 lv
Here we go again boys & girls !! Not sure on the transfer front but according to Sellars there are still a couple of new faces expected….hope so !
Why dont we sell MGW and buy Nunes from Sporting ?
Anyway enough on transfers onto the game . In the absence of Jimmy i think our scoring chances will be limited . However I expect us to prevail.
COYW
I would take the 35 million for G-W in a heartbeat.
There are probably plenty of better midfielders around for half that price.
Leeds are likely to flood the midfield. A tactic which has regularly been our undoing given our two best midfielders are ball player rather than enforcers. (For 5ft 7 Moutinho does get stuck in though)
Assuming we do go four at the back which seems likely I’d favour a 4-1-2-3 formation utilising Coady as a quarterback/sweeper and sacrificing Dendonker and use our pace and the width of the pitch.
Even without Raul I think our starting 11 looks pretty good whichever formation we use. The issue continues to be strength in depth in some areas however our recruitment team, despite taking an awful lot of stick aren’t stupid, They did come up with possibly the steal of the season last summer in Sa and may just have done it again with Collins. They will be as aware as the rest of us as to where we’re short.
We’re slow starters and Elland road is an intimidating place to start the season so I’m going for a tight draw.
I actually agree with that formation and thinking Prawny …
Why not play to our strengths.. I can see Coady in the starting eleven but not the sweeper.
Just back from Berlin and boy was it hot! From what I’ve gleaned from the various pre-season reports we’re looking fit and the new system is working out. We’ve got to get a new striker in, but with Neto back to his best I think we’ll have more than enough tomorrow. Here’s to a successful season…
Our big #9 Podence to get on the scoresheet!
Definitely in a relegation fight. Just looked at the table and we are bottom lol.
Good luck in the Prediction League bloggers. Hope to catch up with one or two of you at the Newcastle game. Stay safe.
You were definitely going to predict a Desmond there.
What we need is a good start(obviously). I feel strangely optimistic that we will get a positive result tomorrow, even though last seasons performances don’t warrant it. I’m a big fan of Podence, really hope he steps up this season. With Neto back, and MGW hopefully coming of age, there’s reason to be optimistic.
Nice to be back for the new season, hope you all had a good first part of the summer.
I will avoid commenting on the lack of transfer activity I assume we all bored to death by that subject by now, can only hope we get some new faces soon to strengthen and don’t loose any more of what we have, Coady and MGW included.
Have got a reasonably good feeling about tomorrow even if only because of Leeds injury list.
I like the idea of sacrificing Dendoncker and playing Coady in front of a back 4. He came as a midfielder 7 years ago, no reason not to put him back in there.
Will be a tight game I think but fancy us to win a pretty hard fought ( in all senses) game.
Feel we could have a good season finishing in top 7-8.
Hold on mate …. PJB is readying his response to para 2.,
Cut and paste job! Close game, they will come out all guns blazing and our new back 4 system will be thoroughly tested. Bamford will be a handful and I fully expect him to score. Second half we will be in full control and a brace from Daniel to seal it.
Already made the suggestion of alternative roles for Coady Your Lordship. Great shame to cast aside one of the club’s greatest ever servants. Sadly I know there is little sentiment in modern football but aside from that with the size of our squad as it is we can ill afford to let a man of his qualities slip away.
If they really want to sell Coady Fosun must be in desperate need of every penny.
I totally agree to keeping Coady ..
He’s got plenty of added value over and above being on the pitch ..,
It’s always the dilemma for players not wanting to warm the bench and I truly see Coady as having a role to play in front of the back four .. Calvin Phillips for instance.. he also provides alternative formations (going to a back 3/5 for instance).
I’ve still not lauded his enthusiasm, team spirit and leadership qualities…,
He’ll be missed that’s for sure if there’s no place for him.
All that and more. Huge loss to the club on many fronts if we just treat him like an ordinary mercenary. And as above it’s not as if the squad is over subscribed with players who can fulfil multiple functions. Real club men these days are a rarity and Connor Coady has stated on many occasions – ” I love this club”; surely all this has to be worth al lot more than his expected transfer value.
Unfortunately it seems we are caught up in the complexities (vulnerabilities?) of Fosun’s finances and in retrospect the last few transfer windows seemingly reflect their creeping liquidity deterioration (crisis?).
They will not peddle him but will allow him to leave if he wants.
Pretty pessimistic about this season as a whole, but hoping we stay just above the relegation fight.
been talking in the pub with dek an old school and wolves mate for some time now about coady playing in front of the back 4 and being the enforcer i really do believe that would work but whatever transpires we should not let him leave he has been a total inspiration to this club .
So we should force him to stay, even if it negatively impacts his chance of playing for England in the World Cup?
Why don’t you want Coady to have the thrill of playing in the world cup?
Maybe because he’s a Wolves fan.
A few bad results and we’ll be back to a back five quicker than you can say Conor Coady.
“And when we got home our dad would slice us in two with a breadknife”. So said one of the 4 Yorkshiremen off Monty Python. I predict similar scenes around Elland Road by about 17:30 tomorrow evening. Well, not so much people slicing each other in two with breadknives, but more like exclamations of ‘eee bah gum, Norman Fookin Hunter would not a stood noh messin abaat like them lilly livered bunch o namby pampy bastards’. Amazing what a 4-0 defeat will do. As this what will happen with Neto Podence MGW and an own goal taking care of business. So. Leeds 0 WWFC 4. And reading the Express and Star tonight Bruno is ‘confident’ of incoming signings before the transfer deadline ends. Hope he is right ! But hey! The Old Gold are back in action and the excitement is in the air for a new season. And the weather is looking lovely for the next week and a half at least according to the BBC weather bloke. All good. I can feel a few beers coming on !!
So here we go again but without the highly expected overhauled team but that said the change of shape does appear to have made a positive change going forward. Even without a striker I fancy us tomorrow. Our 11 is good and we should be able to hurt Leeds
“Attacking football? We’ve been doing that for years!” -Leeds United
Good luck and well wishes to all the bloggers this season.
WAFH Leeds and I do .. however….who the hell is going to score without our new purchased strikers we should of bought in the other parallel universe…
Just like old times waiting for the one again..admittedly Jimenez was the one once but not def at the moment ..Fosun you have let us down give or take not selling Neves.Yet.
This game 2-1 with a dodgy penalty at the end ..
Shit loads of trepidation and Worry coming up without doubt unless we sign players…..
Good news! Palace losing tonight means we have moved up to 19th in the table !
For all the above, the majority of whom are “predicting” a Wolves win I applaud you. But according to the bookmakers (who aren’t stupid) you appear to be voting with your heart rather than your head. I hate to revive the awful phrase but I’m afraid unless there is a serious rethink at Molineux you are what used to be labelled Happy Clappers.
I prefer to avoid predictions and only bet on creatures with 4 legs.
But for those who do bet on humans or collectives of same Leeds are favourites to win at about 13/10 with the draw and away win around 2/1.
It makes me unpopular but I like to think I’m objective and believe we are in for a very hard time in the short term under the stewardship of an organization which has much more to worry about than a provincial football club in a small corner of the UK when it’s global HQ is in Shanghai.and it’s principal is an entrepreneur operating in very difficult circumstances.
Political broadcast over .
Nevertheless Forever a Wolf regardless.
And I’ve stumped up my 600 odd quid again to back it up.
Amazing football fans voting with their hearts rather than heads, what next?
New season, new first day optimism is my usual go-to, however, I can’t give it the full beans just yet. An opening day draw will do. Come on me babbies!!
Looks like I’m first one out of the sack this morning. had a restless night thinking about my massive Lottery win, Well Wolves away ticket lottery that is. So I’m off to Leeds on the seven forty train for a day on the lash, such joy.
The mighty Wolves to send a message to the rest, “We are back, big time”
Dreaming is for free.
Feeling More optimistic than some of you above As Looking more attack minded pre season
Predicting a win
B Positive-not just a blood type
Getting ready for the trip to Leeds. Hoping that despite having no striker that we still have a good enough first team to win it. Bench seems weak but maybe one of the kids will surprise us. My biggest worry is that the team seems to have built up a good understanding on the pitch in pre season but if we sell MGS or Neves, we lose a lot of that. Always optimistic on score.
I think with Raul out we’ll go 433 which I don’t particularly like. We need a striker on the pitch whether it be Raul or anyone else, then we can play a 4231. We’ll hurt a lot of teams in that formation! However for the Leeds game I’ll say a steady 1 1. Little Dan to score
New season, but I still can’t get our last 7 or so games last year out of my head.
The only change to our mid & forwards is MGM for Jimmi (and hopefully a healthier Neto).
I fear that the struggle for goals will continue.
But Kilman is back and healthy.
It’s good to be back, or is it? Thomas is right when he says our squad is thin – it’s laughable we’ve got to this point without a fit recognised striker – but that our current first XI is strong. Make hay while the sun in shining – I.e get points on the board before we get any injuries. Really interested to see how the switch to back 4 goes. It’s long overdue. This should, in theory, be a decent game and one we can win.
The starting 11 isn’t bad but after that . . . . . . . . .
We were pretty threadbare last season and since then we’ve let players go and done little to replace them. And Raul is injured, and Adama.
Start of the season and I’m feeling quite negative.
Not at all sure about this 5 subs malarkey. It seems yet another initiative that favours the “big” clubs with their bigger squads. It does little for the rest. It seems a decision to preserve the “status quo”.
Despite my negativity going 2 – 1 for the boys.
Nice to see everyone back.
Still looking for the cavalry to turn up and provide reinforcements. In the meantime, I hope our boys can do a smash and grab on Leeds.
Confident that we will start the season with a win. Neto and Podence will rip them apart.
Cautious 1-1 for me… we may be on the back foot for a while, but hey, new season new start!
Away win, with a few battle scars and chunks of skin missing.
Pity we couldn’t pinch Peter 70mph Lorrimer off them while we’re up there.
Good to see some familiar names. Hope all are well. Condolences to Jazzwolf54. More of the same for me.
UTW
Nothing like being optimistic for the first game, Wolves to win 2 – 0 but no idea who will score them
No idea!
(Will read comments later)
Pre-season is never the perfect predictor of the season ahead, but Besiktas and Sporting are no mugs and we performed admirably against them.
We have managed, in my view, to have taken the same players and morphed them into a completely new team. Our performances so far have bordered on the exhilarating and it’s gonna be a great match up at Elland Road. Thrilling and fascinating in equal measure.
Hi all!
Not really sure what to expect here. I was honestly expecting a few more new faces in by now including the much needed striker that’s been on the list for the last couple of seasons! Our small squad seems to have shrunk even further & I do feel for Bruno, he’s asked & been ignored so far. I’m assuming they have something up their sleeve for before the window closes!
In my view keep Coady & MGW, Neves goes without saying but we all know money talks & if the offer is big enough Fosun will sell!
Having said all that, we have a strong starting 11 so I’m going for the tried & tested prediction. If I’m a happy clapper etc then so be it, but I will not predict a loss!
Wolves win!
Alright guess I’ll give this a try this year.
MGW to score and Collins and Kilman to keep a clean sheet
I’m feeling so excited for the start of this season where things are starting to feel more like normal. We have a good starting line up although we know we are sort of a few experienced players for the squad. I’m personally hoping that MGW and Conor Ronan can prove their worth; I love Conor’s approach to the game and, barring injuries, I think he’ll make it big somewhere. Oh! for a proven goal scorer though. A few clubs are short in this area so it’s going to be difficult to get what we want; but who knows. Expecting a hard start to the season and hoping for a two – one win…
Short
At least Villa lost!
It’s going to be a tough season.
With the lack of investment in the first team never mind the squad.
Relying on the likes of Dendonker to finally come good well it isn’t going to happen.
With Matihio out it just shows how desperate we are if we have to throw Chem Campbell on in the first game of the season.
Jeff and Scott hold your heads in shame.
Absolutely tragic..reality and relegation staring us all early in the face.
.Fosun take note or sell up to another who cares.
We need investment and to not look stupid after the close season..