At the risk of upsetting a lot of Leeds supporters, I don’t think they’re very good.
As a consequence I expect the further we get away from that game the worse the result is going to look.
They pressed well and were generally tenacious out of possession but it’s concerning how little they had to do with the ball to get the win.
Our attacking players should have done more damage with the possession they enjoyed and we should have managed things better in our own half to avoid inviting them onto us in dangerous areas of the pitch.
Perhaps home advantage and the addition of another useful attacking player will help deliver a more favourable outcome on Saturday.
Fulham
You never want to play a newly promoted team early in the season and especially coming in off a great performance against Liverpool.
Their tails will be wagging so Wolves have to nullify that exuberance and control the game. We couldn’t do it against Brentford last season in one of the more pitiful home performances of the campaign.
Aleksander Mitrovic scored more goals in the Championship last season than Wolves managed in the Premier League and he’s also out to an early lead this season following a brace on opening day. I’ve always felt he was a top-class striker and 46 goals in 74 for Serbia backs that up.
João Palhinha seemed destined for Wolves and I was shocked to see him sign for Fulham. I’m keen to get a good look at him on Saturday and see what he brings to their midfield.
They’ll be without Harry Wilson and summer signing Manor Solomon at Molineux with Marco Silva lamenting their lack of cover in attack this week. They did add Man Utd midfielder Andreas Pereira and he has plenty of talent.
In defence, they’ve recruited Issa Diop from West Ham and they’ll need to be tighter defensively than they’ve been in the past to have any chance of staying up. I do think they’ll be towards the bottom of the table by the finish.
Wolves
Coady out and Guedes in does balance the squad better – whatever else you want to say about those deals. I’d expect the new guy to go straight into the side.
Is he the definitive answer to our goalscoring problems? It’s hard to feel confident about another out-to-in attacker but he did lead the line well for Valencia last season.
The team conjured up a great goal against Leeds and several other good chances so I feel confident they can improve the goal-a-game average we’ve seen in recent seasons. There’s certainly a commitment to attacking with greater purpose.
I’m not sure about the fitness of Moutinho, Hwang or Traore but it would be handy to have any of them available if only to give Bruno a few options from the bench.
Predictions
Nobody correctly predicted the 2-1 scoreline at Elland Road but a few did get on the board by guessing the outcome.
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!
Fulham will have the only proper striker on the pitch and that is a concern. For a good couple of years I had that lovely smug feeling about Raul being the difference maker.
But hopefully the combination of adding Guedes to the attack, home advantage and a genuine desire to get on the ball and create will cancel out what they bring to the table. I’ll give us the edge.
Hope you’re right mate
Can see goals
Last week: Disappointing but not unexpected.
I think we are in for a serious struggle this season, given the lack of reinforcements in the team and on the horizon.
Fulham should be a winnable fixture, but I’m not seeing it.
?
Can we do it on a hot sunny afternoon at home on a Saturday afternoon? Of course we can! Come on wolves
worried that Guedes is gonna need time to gel
Assuming that Thomas’s starting xi is correct, we will have a decent side out but that is all it is. If we need to change things at any point, we don’t have anything off the bench that will worry Fulham. I will go for draw but will not be at all surprised, if we are not left underwhelmed. If we don’t win, it’s no wins in 9 for Bruno and that can’t continue for much longer. I fear for us this season
I think the addition of Guedes is a definite positive for our side. Even more so would be the return of a couple of injured stalwarts. Would love to see Traore on the bench, ready to come and cause even more havoc with 30 mins to go. And if Semedo is also up for he fight, it would be good to see him at RB with Jonny switching to LB (and RAN having a rest).
I still worry about the dilly dallying at the back. Also the lack of shooting from outside the area (whatever happened to Neves’ bombshells ??). I’m sure Bruno is taking care of these things as I have mentioned them before (and I’m sure he listens).
Let’s keep optimistic with the predictions. Going for a 3-1 win.
Start of season matches are never easy to predict. With a brand new Portuguese compatriot spearheading our thrust we should offer more threat going forward. But my goodness, more of those chances must be converted.
Sa, Ait-Nouri and Jonny must improve on last weekend’s performances. Then throw in the conditions. During the game tomorrow it’s going to hit 35 degrees. Drinks breaks or not, that’s going to have a huge impact on the way the game will be played.
Fulham played so well last weekend. They chased, pressed and harassed Liverpool, giving them no time on the ball. They strung together effective attacks, and frankly Liverpool can consider themselves fortunate to have escaped with a point.
We will not find tomorrow easy. That much can be predicted with some certainty.
However, it’s absolutely impossible to say with any degree of confidence what the actual outcome will be, let alone the score.
Then again this is Wolves, best team in the world, so we’re going to be scorching tomorrow (literally), bang in a couple of fabulous goals, Guedes on the scoresheet and Sa will keep us in the game at the other end.
We need to kickstart our season, give ourselves something concrete and positive to build on and talk about.
UTW
Our defence is in for some serious testing tomorrow, that is for sure. If that holds up overall, with home advantage, we ought to be good enough for all 3 points.
Got a feeling another decent addition will be arriving through the doors so l am fairly confident of a top 10 finish this season before we get back into Europe next.
This is a game that on paper, we should win. However they have what we crave– a striker that can finish, and score goals from half-chances, and that always gives them a fighting chance!
The addition of Guedes is definitely an improvement but he is by no means prolific. Let us hope he fits seamlessly into the team.
If we lose this game, major concerns will be aired by most of the fanbase, and that will soon be followed by panic! That would be almost 10 games without a win, and if we can’t win against either Leeds or Fulham, we will be in for a long season. Thinking about it, I am beginning to panic already!!!
Not withstanding the above, a comfortable win for Wolves.
I think Guedes will make a big difference to our Forward line and expect him to score 2-1 to the Wolves.
I’m looking for some magic, I have my magic wand ready……?
On last week’s showing they did way better than us. Hope I’m wrong but …….
Goals: Guedes 2, Neto
2-0 at halftime.
Just get it done.
Fulham were high pressers last season and started their first game like that v LIverpool last week. This high press allowed them to control the majority of the action areas of the pitch. Its time this weekend to see if our new back 4 can deal with a very pressing team, how we maintain possession, what mistakes we make at the back and how we link play with the front line.
I have a feeling Wolves will have enough though, the introduction of Guedes should offer too much quality up from not to allow more goals to be scored, and with Guedes, MGW, Podence and Neto all able to switch positions and play anywhere across the front line we should be looking to add this confusion to the tactics.
Should be a fun game Saturday but I can see Fulham scoring
It’s all a bit of a stab in the dark at the moment. With some good fortune Guedes should add some much needed sharpness up front.
My big concern from last week would be our wing back / full backs or whatever they are now. They looked all at sea. On the plus side they’re both good players so should sort it out fairly quickly.
We could also do with our early season injury list shortening. Then I don’t think we’ll be in too bad shape.
i’ve got a bad feeling about this one , however i try to be optimistic
Where you drinking tomorrow Matt?
See you in the Lych Gate, usual time?
If……. our defenders can deal with Mitrovic and
If…….Guedes leads our frontline and scores or assists Neto and Podence….
It’s a wolves win for me, but it will be tight.
Tight indeed m’colleague. Last week I over-confidently predicted we’d get a draw at Leeds. This week we’re at home and obviously I’d like us to win. However, mindful of last week and also wary of a Fulham side who always play good football, I’m opting for a draw at home.
Don’t feel great about this at all. Fulham were bang at it last week and looked a decent side and I’m already having nightmares about Mitrovic. Brentford last season was a good example of what could happen tomorrow. Let’s hope not.
Until we can add some proper depth to the bench, I fear that we will regularly be found out in the latter stages as our starting eleven tires. Even more so when it’s drainingly hot.
Come on boys, prove me wrong.
My initial optimism before the Leeds game has been subdued somewhat. How will the new forward get on? What effect will there be in the dressing room without Coady? Can we manage to score more than one goal in a game? Heart says a win, head says maybe a draw. God help us if we lose.Early days I know, but with Spurs up next, I think, we need a confidence boosting win.
Think positively, after rain.. “cometh light”
Feel sorry for Fulham on Saturday.
On the general form shown by both teams last week this looks like being a repeat of last seasons start but without Wolves playing so well.
Are Hwang and Moutinho available?
Even if they don’t start, they would add a little depth to the bench. In the heat,quality subs could be vital. But playing with the ball is easier than chasing after it and that’s what we need to do. Look after it like a precious jewel and we will be rewarded with the win.
Mitrovic – Scored a header when being defended by Trent – and a Penalty… Other then that, he did not threaten the goal – His hold up play was decent.
I thought Fulham’s attack was what let them down against Liverpool – They always broke when they had chance but it would come to nothing. Did we not see Brentford go 2-2 against Liverpool for there first game? And Leeds 3-3? its not a good tell tale sign.
Every team should be up for it – when Promoted, at Home against Liverpool – I think we will see that drop off tomorrow.
Bruno now knows Fulham’s game and we have the players/talent to pass out of there press – if we can finish our chances.
We threw away the game last week – that’s for damn sure. But you hope to get these errors out before the season hits it stride.
We have players coming back, over the next few weeks – and hopefully 1 or 2 more additions. I feel more optimistic now, than I did a week ago – that’s for sure. If we sign a midfilder – with Traore, Semedo, Moutinhio all coming back into the side. We can expect a mid table finish and another year in the prem.
As long as we finish above Everton – I am happy.
Don’t think Mr G will be match fit yet, La Liga season starts today, so maybe a seat on the bench for him.
Then again he might prove me wrong, start the game and bag a hat-trick.
What do I know?
Nothing,
Think we will come good this season, but the first few weeks will be tough. The heat tomorrow; lack of subs because of injuries; and our struggle at times with the opposition’s press, means I’m going for a draw.
After that Leeds performance I’m not convinced we yet have the players to implement Bruno’s new way .
Fulham will press the life out of us tomorrow so I pray we don’t collapse in the heat and hope they do.
Could turn nasty if we lose this one 9 or is it 10 on the trot I’ve lost count.
Just not feeling too confident about this its a long season and we will pull things round but its still early days and Fulham are a pretty much unknown quantity as we were when we caught everyone with their pants down first season.
Lets hope another weeks practice has sharpened everyone up a bit especially ait nouri.
Got to work tomorrow so its the radio for me…. fingers crossed then.
I fear the worst possible outcome
Trust my trepidation is unfounded but the writing is on the wall …..S/S to date incompetent but still
COYW
My (not New Year) resolution this season is for early predictions, i.e. no last minute ones.
It will be good to cast an eye over our two new signings, though I did see Collins in the preseason matches. Here’s hoping for a couple more before the end of the month.
I don’t know about anyone else but my man bag is coming with me tomorrow. My water bottle is going to be my best friend (sorry to any buddies reading this).
WATER BOTTLE !
BIT WARM FOR A WATER BOTTLE ISNT IT
Glass of wine …!!
Glass?
Water bottle is the container. The contents are for he alone to know.
This is a must win game I feel . Be great to welcome Nathan and Goncelo to the Mol. Cant wait to see them play in front of a packed out Mol.
Hoping for a win to kick start our campaign
COYW
As a precursor to the game .. I thought I’d check on which experienced PL referee was in charge tomorrow.
Whoop whoop..
it’s John Brooks. ??? Who on earth is this bloke… I’m guessing the ref powers that be thought .. it’s only Wolves ..!!! Let him loose on them.
I checked deeper… 4 PL games in charge … and 21 Yellow cards…. Crikey Moses…. over 5 per game average…
Could be a good afternoon.
Football wise .. I’m hoping Guedes gets a start.. he’s got good credentials and must surely offer more than last weeks’ interchanging threesome.
I’m hoping too that Neves can step up to his new captains role and put on another masterclass.
Fulham maybe good on the high press .. but that’s dangerous with Neto or hopefully Traore if he gets a call.
Fulham’s result last week was very creditable but over 38 games is what counts….
Looking forward to meeting some old faces tomorrow (nothing personal DOOG) .. it’s just an endearing expression. Lol..
Wolves 2 – 1 Fulham (Neto and Guedes)
Old faces?
That’s no way to talk about The PMDG’er your Lordship.
I demand satisfaction.
Remys at ten paces!
My second will be in contact.
Not at all confident
Too early to say very much really, but we must win.
Going for a home win with Guedes and Neto getting on the score sheet.
Me neither.
Bruno says Wolves are looking to bring in 3 or 4 more signings. That means 5 or 6 overall this window. And he says they are looking to improve the squad with each signing, not just add to the depth.
Some people here are going to be eating a lot of crow and should have to make as many postings apologizing to Fosun, the chairman, Jeff and Scott as they made denigrating them.
Bruno also said he wanted that many signings in ready for return to pre season training. He didn’t get that so I’d urge caution , particularly as you don’t know whether outgoings will also offset incomings.
They have already brought in 2 players for considerable money. Unless you are saying these stories about them offering a lot of money for Nunes are false, then they have clearly not given up on the team or trying to move the team up the table and into European positions.
Some of you have been talking about no money because of what the Chinese Communist Party are ordering and yet Wolves seem to be willing to spend 80 plus million English pounds on players this window.
£20.5million – Nate Collins
£27.5million – Guedes
£25 million – Nunes bid
What is that £73 million – plus they are still looking at others according to Bruno?
Wait until you see the outgoings and look at the net spend. Our net spend over the last 2 seasons has been negligible. If we add 4 quality signings before the end of the window and don’t sell anyone I’ll be the first to eat humble pie. I look at what they do not what they say and what they have done so far does not particularly impress me or many season ticket holders ,hence Bruno’s comments to try and quell unrest amongst the fan base today. The deal structure for the release of Coady for example is laughable it is so bad
By the way, based on that comment from Bruno, some of you gamblers might want to make a bet that Wolves will finish higher in the table than being predicted based on the current squad.
Wanting and getting are two different things as I often found out at Christmas.
If, and its a big if, Kilman and Collins can keep Mitrovic under control we should have enough to win this without the new guy.
Hopefully Guedes is fit enough to play and knows how to convert his chances.
Wolve to win . Just.
Mitrovic is shite.
If he were any good at all, he would have been sold years ago for brazillions.
He’s scored his quota for this half of the season, will have world cup month off, coz whatever country he’s from ain’t qualified, and will score two more, next year, when Flum are already down, again.
So , comfy, armchair watching tomorrow, whilst full montying, five goals to we, together with first three of many points.
That’s shite I wouldn’t mind in our squad.
Disgusting comment ……….did you type it wearing your shit eating grin………..
– Come on you Wolves!!! Traore (if he’s back) and Neto are going to be too much for them. Predicting total chaos for Fulham when throwing Guedes into the mix.
Another tough one to call with Fulham buoyed by their result against a top Liverpool side. It’s a game we should be winning on paper but things are rarely that straightforward, as you rightly point out by recalling last season’s dire performance against Brentford. I’m going to back us to get 3 points here though, mainly because I can’t see us getting anything more than a point out of our next two games after this one!
Time to kick start the season!
COYW…
Home win in the sunshine. Last week’s errors learnt from and training ground perfected. Flum will be on a high from pushing the scousers, so be good to take them down a peg. We will be up for this. Let’s be vocal in a positive way from the KO.
Myself and Shepton Mallet Wolves will participate in a beverage in the Combermere, traffic from Dorset allowing. Maybe see a blogger in there too?
KTF
PS: hope this hot weather hasn’t sent me delusional 🙂
I’ll be there Marnhull. Look for the camouflage baseball cap. Hopefully with a couple of fellow Ivybridge Wolves.
Wolves vs Fulham May 2019
Mitrovic missed an almost open goal…Wolves fans broke into “that’s why you’re going down…..” Fulham fans response was “that’s why we’re going down….”
Nice club and fans but we need to help them on their way again….a draw is no good
OODCL
Horrendous day today trying to sort out a late holiday booking ending in a 30 mile trip to Ipswich to sort the technical issues out with the bank. All sorted, I hope, so I feel free to get excited at seeing the `new` team and players live. Our lads should be used to the heat, unlike the fans, and I thought we were much the better team last week, but it was the same old problem with scoring. So, with the new system, will we start to improve in this aspect, scoring, and with our set up at the back will we be more prone to giving goals away? As usual I will give the team time to settle in and not be too judgemental to begin with. I had us for a two, one win last week and thought we played well enough to be well worth it.
This week, to my mind looks trickier with a promoted team performing with `starters’` adrenalin, so I will not be surprised if we mess up.
However I’m going for a 3-1 win to Wolves which, in my mind, would put the laws of common sense back in place. But, after all, this is football and nothing is ever certain; all teams in this league are really good and are capable of winning any game on their day.
Enough wittering; 3-1 to Wolves…
All I’m asking is a better Wolves home performance than the ones I was “privileged ” to watch at the end of last season. It’ll be a long journey too – no trains.
I think many are over estimating the power of Mit. He Mit score but then again he Mit not, especially with big Nat n Max at the back.
The sunshine will suit GG and his bronzed countrymen as they hook a trio of goals between em. Ably assisted by Captain Neves and MGW supplying the powder the Guedes galleon is about to set sail.
As has been previously aired, I fear we will succumb to their high press without Moutinho’s steadying influence. Mitrovic is a real handful on his day and if they go ahead it could be a long afternoon. That said we have continued to improve the technical quality of our team and should really fear no-one. Guedes to get the winner of the bench, assist by Adama.
Back in the day a chap used to sing ‘You see i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name’. Which i find to be a bit silly. I’ve never been through a desert, let alone on a horse, but i think if I did I would call my horse Doreen. At least you could get it to gallop a bit quicker by saying ” Come in Doreen. Giddy up”. As opposed to being on a horse with no name and going ” Come on er……well just blooming well come on” which the horse would probably rather upset about. The chap then went on to sing ” After 2 days in the desert sun, my skin began to turn red”. Blimey was he in South Wales ? Well Fulham will find them selves in their own desert on Saturday. Can they play on a hot sunny afternoon in Wolverhampton? I don’t think so.. The much vaunted Mitrovich will be overcome by the heat and will suffer a mirage which he thinks is a gang of giraffes in the Serengeti but is actually a gaping open goal and he runs off exclaiming “Help! Help! Giraffes! Giraffes ! “. The Fulham players are psychologically damaged to such an extent they believe Marco Silva is in fact a Water Buffalo. So WWFC step in amongst the heat induced mayhem and secure a 3-0 victory. After the game Bruno said “It is very sad when players believe there are a flock of Giraffes on the pitch, but it is what it is. Perhaps Mitrovich should have played under the shelter of an umbrella? But not sure on the rules around the use of umbrellas during a match”. Marco Silva said “Why didn’t VAR step in and rule players experiencing a mirage in hot weather should automatically get a penalty? The fact my players think I am a water buffalo says all you need to know”. WWFC 3 Fulham 0.
Same again
Goals, Goals, Goals!
We need to get some points on the board
Personally finding it hard work to maintain optimism or focus when it comes to predicting Wolves results. It would be nice to win at home for a change of mood and feel we are going in the right direction. 3 points would be a very tasty hors d’ouvre / appetiser / vol au vent / starter for 10 / snack. Whatever, the sort of game we could do with winning. We all know last week didn’t count. Let’s face it this lot are no Norwich.
Let’s hope they don’t break Neto’s leg again because he’s pretty much back on form. Sure he’ll want to bang a couple in to hammer the point home.
I had a cottage once but it kept on flooding ‘cos it was too near the river.
1 lv & COYW
Not very optimistic. Worry about the loss of Coady’s leadership skills and the effect on team spirit without Saiss and Ruddy. Not our best players but all big characters.
Having said that,I always live in hope. The Portuguese should be used to the best so ….
Not over convinced that the defence will have sorted out their issues completely, but feel we have enough forward potential to score. This might point to a draw, but I’d like to think our home record this year would be an improvement on that of last season. In a spirit of glass threequarters full optimism I’m going for the hack journo’s favourite cliche – a win ‘by the odd goal in five’.
Having said that, I have long lived in hope of seeing us repeat the events I witnessed on Wednesday, 16. September 1959 – See attached -when the match ended Wolves 9 Fulham 0. I’m not holding my breath, but it would be nice wouldn’t it.
That was the season when we finished 2nd – after being champions for the previous two years – and (last) won the FA Cup. That would also be nice!!! We can dream!!
COYW and CET
What a win!
Looks like all the goals were scored in the 90th minute.
Should win, but just picking up a point seems more likely.
I know it’s only the second game of the season but we could do with getting something today. Even though Leeds are but great I thought they where some positives in our approach play just missed the finished touch which hopefully Guedes will help with. Fulham where impressive in the draw with Liverpool so I expect a tough test
This is a critical game even this early. How will the players react to losing an inspirational leader. Can go one or two ways, I’m not confident in Bruno at all, he desperately needs a win!
Saying that come on you Wolves, let’s get this season rolling!
We don’t tend to do well against ordinary teams that press us.
I have high hopes for Guedes, but remember that Jota and Neto both took quite a bit of time to settle in before we saw much excitement from them, so don’t expect too much in his first few games.
If we don’t score earlyish, there will be mounting pressure on the front guys who will need to stay calm and make the chances count rather than desperately snatch at what is on offer.
Hope the back line starts to really gel and if Fulham’s do get a pen Sa saves it (first one ?)
Hopefully MGW does more to avoid Notts Forest spending even more money and at least we have hopefully a stronger bench
Still need more players before 1/9 though
Feeling positive. If we go with the team predicted at top of this thread then that’s got to be too much for flakey Fulham .
Wolves win!
We should beat Fulham – but think we’ll de better there we will at home…
Excited to see Guedes today!
The coach has 5 subs so he can start Guedes and if he isn’t gelling, remove him early. Why not?
Piddling little London club. Swat them away – hopefully
My Dad went to school with Norman Deeley. Useless claim to fame I know
With their press and Mitrovic they can be dangerous. Meanwhile our defense doesn’t look like it has gelled yet and it’s difficult to have confidence that we have solved our goal scoring issues. On paper, then, I don’t think this looks like a nailed on home win by any stretch. Much may depend on whether they can maintain the press in the baking Portuguese conditions and whether we have yet adapted to the new formation.
I’m going to have to sit on the fence here.