I hope Wolves can get this deal over the line for Saša Kalajdzic or another forward with similar characteristics.
Raul got on the scoresheet in midweek and remains our only viable opinion up front but his (understandable) loss of heading ability has contributed to our blunt attack.
9 of his 40 Premier League goals have been headers and it’s telling that he hasn’t scored one since fracturing his skull.
Once Preston got into shape, particularly in the second half, we lacked the power in the penalty area to unsettle their defenders and that’s been an all too familiar story for over two seasons now.
Despite this deficiency, there’s more than enough quality in this Wolves side to win Premier League matches and they need to start delivering.
Newcastle
It was the Magpies arriving at (and leaving) Molineux without a victory last season but they were victorious on opening day this time and have followed that up with two credible draws against Brighton and Man City.
Eddie Howe must be delighted with that start, even if they did surrender a two-goal lead against the Champions last Sunday.
The cash injection has so far focused on fixing their defence with goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Trippier, Targett, Burn and former Wolves target Botman all arriving a St. James’ Park.
There’s a nice balance in midfield with plenty of physical power and technical capability. They also have a goalscorer in Callum Wilson and a back-up in Chris Wood who scores nearly every time he steps on the pitch against us.
£60 million forward in Alexander Isak is imminent too, but hopefully not in time to feature on Sunday.
They’re bouncing though, no doubt about it and will come with expectations of winning.
Wolves
We’re definitely seeing more of the ball and rightfully so given the players we have in midfield, but that possession has got to translate into creating chances and scoring goals.
There are several decisions for Bruno Lage to make but I think the above XI is something like what we’ll see at the weekend.
I expect Semedo to make his way back into the team but which of the other two full-backs drop out is anyone’s guess. Ait-Nouri gives you more width but Jonny is smarter positionally and a better passer. Neither have been great so far though so can have few complaints if they’re benched.
In midfield, do we pick the three best technicians or sacrifice one for the physicality and penalty-box presence of Dendoncker?
You would have thought the front three would be as above, but Traore got his goal in midweek and Daniel Podence is still the only player to score a Premier League goal for Wolves this season. Both might be considered.
There’s so much industry between Neto and Guedes, that you’ve got to think all those hard yards will eventually pay dividends with some returns.
Predictions
Well done to Desert Wolf for being the only person to get any scoreline correct so far this season by predicting a 1-0 loss against Spurs.
It is Desert Wolf who leads the way in the overall table at the end of Gameweek 3 (under their original pseudonym).
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!
I’m hoping home advantage (despite what’s certain to be vociferous away support) will give us the edge.
The midfield contest will be interesting. They’ve got more power in there, but we’ve got the better passers so I hope we can establish control and feed our front three in good areas.
Eddie Howe teams don’t tend to sit deep and contain and that could be to our advantage if we’re able to handle their attacking players.
I am finding it a little bit difficult to bother this weekend after the news about clive a man i have never met in person but had a very brief chat with at the last bloggers do courtesy of lord twix and his phone . It was odd in the last bloggers quiz that every question that was about someone who had done something completely mad when following the wolves the answer was clive and my very brief conversation with him will live in my memory for ever.
So onto Sunday and a very tough one on our journey of re- invention and in honour to the legend i can predict only one scoreline.
Hiya Spikeyboy… brilliantly put …
I could copy and paste your comments a thousand times over …… it would summarise all of our feelings…
agreed
Now Clive is controlling the fabric of space-time from the depths of an induced coma, it matters not what the nouveau-riche, brand new Rolex, goldie looking chain Gang consider a game of football or who they put on the pitch.
My thoughts are with all Clive’s proper mates and family. An emotional Five for Clive, let’s get this done.
1 lv and COYW.
Sad news about Clive – I have never met the man, but his spats back and forth on here are always the highlight of reading for me. The way he writes, and leaves out the bait is pure genius!
Hope him all the best, thoughts are with his family at this dark time…
One for Clive this weekend Wolves!
For Clive …
Looking for 3pts here to get the season running.
But boy, do we need a 2nd striker and quick.
Thoughts with 5 for Clive.
It’s a 5 for Clive.
I’ve been fortunate to witness a fair few thrashings of the magpies; 5-0 in November 1968 and 6-2 in March 1982 come readily to mind. And who can forget the Bully inspired 4-0 demolition on Tyneside in January 1990? Isn’t there a popular result missing from this sequence?
March 1992!
Sending warmest wishes to Clive and his family and loved ones wherever they are. I don’t suppose Clive would remember Gene Autry but a rousing couple of verses of Deep in the Heart of Texas seems appropriate right now.
My forecast against Newcastle is one of those ‘I am Spartacus moments’ 5-1.
So sorry to hear about our Clive, so for him it’s got to be 5 for Clive
Not really important under the circumstances but going for a draw.
I dont think there can be any doubt about the scoreline on Sunday.
Hopefully a much needed win 2-1 to the Wolves.
.
5 for Clive
FOWB
UTW
Got to get a result here,
For all their Hype Newcastle are still beatable
Get semedo on the right and RAN on the left
Change things up at 60 if it’s not working and throw adama on to do foot races with St Maximan
Another tough game against a side that is bang in-form and due to add a really prodigious talent in Isak to their frontline. Like you Thom, I’m hoping home advantage might edge it for us – but I may be letting my heart rule my head there!
UTW
Yep! I agree with you completely Ben. That’s the major consequence of getting off to a bad start in terms of few points accumulated from the first 3 fixtures. It just heaps more pressure on each successive match.
Newcastle have started well and certainly won’t be easy. I’m hoping that Nunes and Guedes start to really show their worth and that the new back 4 can remain secure and keep the opposition at bay. I’m worried about the lack of a terrier ball-winner in midfield too. Maybe it would have been worthwhile trying to keep Coady with that in mind?
The other things that worries me daily are the continuing rumours about some of our best players being sought by other big clubs. Players like Neves and Neto are the ones I’m talking about. We have to keep them.
Meanwhile, as for today? My respects to Clive for sure but as for a scorecast I’m with Ben on 1-1.
C’mon you Wolves!!
Can’t all come together
Could it all come together this weekend? A distinct possibility.
The mould has been set and without to much of a wobble we should be able to keep all 3 points at home.
Thinking if you Clive- hang on in there buddy.
Looks like a draw on paper – but it’s a Clive for me too.
This is going to be a tough old match and I think it’ll be a struggle for us to get the win. They are – in the words of a foreign manager – in a good moment and we’re not really, despite a much improved performance against Spurs. If we don’t win, Bournemouth becomes a pressure game but I suspect most of us would take 4 points from the next 2.
COYW…(and CLIVE)
Have a feeling wolves control well. Give up a late equalizer.
I decided to give the Prediction League a miss this season as I find it impossible to predict a Wolves loss. Hence my usual lowly position.
I’ll make an exception this week.
Five for Clive!
Stay strong mate.
We have difficulty in scoring. Hopefully our defending is resolute.
Come on Wolves
Time for our first win
FOWB
Quite fiond of Newcastle and their Geordie supporters. But don’t like media hero smiley Eddie because of the cynical diving squad that he took to promotion. Nor do I like the source of their new found wealth – the rotten state that is Saudi Arabia. So hopefully they go down to a Clive.
Ok rant over. Newcastle are an obvious threat but I believe our new recruits with the very good players we’ve kept despite the siren voices of the usual suspects gives Wolves a good squad. Why is it the London orientated media think that a so called “big six” club has only to beckon for players to scamper to them while the club holding their contract will rollover?
Head says 2-1 to the men in Old Gold
But this weekend is all about the heart, so it can only be….
As Doogy Woogy says…
‘A five for Clive!!
Come on me babbies’
I can’t be sure … but I think Cliveyboy got this scoreline from one memorable game at Molineux when the mighty Wolves beat the then team that had done the double the previous year.. Arsenal.
A late autumn afternoon in November I think…
Tomorrow will be a replication of that game .. years gone by ..
A heartfelt message to ‘Clive from Huntsville’ to pull through….
Thanks for the card both .. xx
Lord Twix
Like theDOOgooder, I will predict this one time this season.
Will be watching with Geordie pal who I was torturing this time last season
How their fortunes changed with money
I won’t admit it but after seeing him in Euros I wish we had stumped up the dosh for Isak
Instead we need to ensure he flubs his opening lines
Raul to
Score all of our 5
COY CfH’s
FOWB
Clive ’em.
I’m pretty worried that we may have to wait until midweek for a true shot at win, but nonetheless…
I don’t always have time to read all the comments but I always look for Clive’s and today I’ve read them all.
Only one possible prediction. Clive Strong.
Best wishes to Clive, Marla and family at this difficult time.
Only one score to go for this week…
UTW.
I think this will be the start of our revival! Only one possible score, Five for Clive!
Five for Clive – no other score line possible.
There was a chap on telly the other night pushing an enormous marrow about in a wheelbarrow. Well that sort of thing is not for everyone i’m sure. I certainly don’t have any marrows in my garden and i’m pretty sure someone like the pop star Ralph McTell doesn’t have one either. If he did have one he could then sing “And let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London, i’ll show you an enormous marrow to make you change your mind”. Similarly, Sting out of The Police could certainly enliven his lyrics by singing “Roxanne. You don’t have to put on the red light. Those days are over. You don’t have to sell your enormous marrows to the night”. Those lyrics are so much better. How about Meat Loaf ” I would do anything for an enormous marrow.But I won’t do that”. So on to Sunday and Eddie ‘all my players are better divers than an olympic swimmer’ Howe will be going back to the Toon with an enormous marrow on his head as WWFC turn in a vintage display and triumph by 5-1. After the game Bruno Lage said ” Actually my favourite record is by Bryan Adams and goes ‘You know it’s true. Everything I do. I do it for an enormous marrow ‘. I put it on in changing room and lads love it”. Eddie Howe said ” it’s never pleasant standing in the dug out with an enormous marrow on your head. But you just dust yourself down and play a happy tune. Mine is by Kate Bush and goes ‘Heathcliff. It’s me I’m Kathy i’ve got an enormous marrow’. It’s a classic”. WWFC 5 TOON 1.
StuWolf.
Thank Dog as Clive will say, thank you guys and thank Houston medical centre.
Update from Marla a few minutes ago.
Prayers are clearly working! Around 3 PM today Clive was extubated and I had the doctor put him instantly on a BiPAP machine (they prefer going straight to a tracheostomy). They have him comfortable with a bit of morphine until all the previous sedative wears off. If all goes well tonight, then tomorrow they’re going to switch him to a nasal cannula hopefully. And then if that goes well, he will come back home and have hospice help as/if/when needed He’ll be home where he will be happy and free of a tracheotomy which he never would’ve wanted.
So from my perspective, today was a miracle day! But I also think the prayers had a lot to do with it, too! Keep the prayers coming because he still has a long hard road ahead of him
You can’t keep a good man down!!
FO Big C
That is really encouraging news about Clive, thanks for the update StuWolf. I rarely do the prediction league and objectively would go for a draw here but I’ve got something telling me we will get an avalanche of goals in extra time…….
Thanks stu, that’s good to here.
Utw
Fowb
Both teams could use a win, so it feels like a draw. But I think Clive knows best on this one. 5-1 Wolves.
I always go for a 2-1 victory. But not this week.
Can I just say I’ve not met any of you fellow bloggers but a finer bunch there cannot be.
Come on Clive, tell me I’m an over emotional wanker!
Thanks for the latest update, Stu and Marla. Happy with that. Just keep fighting, Clive.
I see the Geordies have signed Alex Isak. That’s irrelevant as there can only be one result on Sunday.
UTW and
FOWB
Should be a good game Sunday and I actually think we’ll score. Guedes with the goal!
For Clive… nothing else to be said.
Although I don’t know the guy or his family he has been an overwhelming funny and nothing short of brilliant contributor to this blog ever since I’ve been here and I trust if there’s any chance he can overcome this and return to the fold he will continue to do so ….. all the best to you Clive and your family
So many fives for Clive! He MUST get better….he still owes me a pint from one of the early West Park gatherings! But then, that was my only Bloggers’ gathering, so who can blame him (and who would dare!)? All the very best Clive….the blog and the Wolves need you. Keep fighting, keep heading for the high five.
For Clive.
Happy birthday to the great Twixness. Have a good one m’lud.
Head say’s a scrappy 1 – 1 draw but it has to be 5 for Clive
I’m still struggling to see us scoring the goals required to win.
The Toon are bouncing and look good. Saint Maximan looked unplayable against City. Until we start scoring its difficult to predict positive results in all honesty.
Gotta be Five for Clive enit, can’t see toon pulling one back though ?
Soccer Saturday did n’t let me down. Which is to say I predicted they’d let us down: twenty minutes about Newcastle United and twenty seconds, almost, on Wolves. Wolves fans are going to hate me for this said Jeff Stelling moving things on. Well at least you got that right Jeff. But you don’t care, if your did you’d stop doing it.
No score draw in my books…
Thinking about and hoping for the best for Clive.
I’ve yet to get anywhere near this term score wise, but am going for a 2-1 win with no real confidence. Just hope we play well and eventually get another leader of the line or we may struggle til Christmas…
These fuckers are gonna be diving around all over the place. Expect a dodgy VAR penalty against us. As we all know. VAR is very fair and reasonable. As we wollow in bottom of the 3 year VAR league since it came in. Not by a slender margin. A massive fuckin distance. We are minus 10. Next one up is minus 4. Draw your own conclusion. Expect more of the same Sunday.
I ever bother with the prediction league but I’ll do it just put this once in honour of Sir Clive
StuWolf.
Bloggers.
It’s with the heaviest heart and with deep sadness that with the permission of Marla, I pass this message on to you guys.
At 9-40pm last night, our great friend and fellow blogger Clive from Houston passed away.
He was not strong enough to overcome, stage 2 cancer, Alzheimers, Motor Neurone disease and such devastating breathing difficulties all in such a short period of time.
As Clive would say, I am Fux#@£ gutted, I have lost a truly amazing friend, many of you have lost even more as you knew him longer than I.
I am so sorry to do this on this forum, but you all knew him and many of you like me loved him for the honest, fair, gentle and kind person that he was.
Rest in Peace dear friend, this World will be a lesser place in your passing.
Rest in peace big pussycat you have left s lot of sad people behindXX
Rest in peace Clive, me and Sue have cried tonight, love you so much.
RIP Clive 5 – 1 ????
FUCKIN HELL. That is truly devaststing news. I am gutted. I don’t know what to say.
Rest in peace lovely Clive .
Fuck off west brom
I just can’t believe this … so terrible … and Clive .. you will be sorely missed by Lilian and myself.
.. as the great man would blog …
FOWB…..
FUCK OFF West Brom
An awesome man gone too soon.
Why is life so cruel!
I will be travelling down tomorrow morning. Hopefully we can gather and drink a toast in memory of such a fine man.
Our hearts and love go out to Marla at this time ??
I read Stu’s post on FB a few moments ago. I can’t actually believe it. I was chatting with him a few weeks ago & he was sending me jokes as always. Whenever I’ve lost one of our dogs or just felt down Clive was always there picking me up, sending messages, telling me I’ll get through it just keep going.
Clive you were a great friend & I’ll miss you, I’ll miss the jokes being sent via messenger, I’ll miss your support & I’ll miss your banter.
I’m totally gutted.
In honour of Clive there’s only 1 prediction I can do for tomorrow.
RIP Clive
5-1
FOWB
?
sorry for your loss . i know you were close
5 for Clive.
Traore hattrick.
FOWB
StuWolf
I first met Clive at the PVH in brilliant sunshine, he was sitting outside the back doors . Jenny and I walked in and he got up and came over and I told him I was Stuwolf.
We have been friends right from that moment.
I shall be in the PVH tomorrow drinking a toast to Clive’s life, before and after the game .
I will be there my friend. I estimate leaving here around 0900 hrs so hope to be there between 1200 to 1230.
FOWB
RIP Clive and FoWB.
Never met the bloke but enjoyed many of his comments over many years
Best wishes to his family and friends.
I don’t think i am really qualified to say anything really. I have only ever met Clive face to face on 2 occasions. Both times we inevitably had a beer and talked about the old days. West Brom away back in the day certainly appeared on the agenda. All i can say is I didn’t know him all that well but what I did know of him was a really decent bloke . Blimey I still owe him a pint from the hotel bar when he kindly invited me to have a chat and a few bevvies at the Novotel Wolvo last time he was over ( i think). You can get a sense of people and the way they are. Clive was obviously a fuckin very decent human being in every way. Others on this blog knew him much more than I ever did so I can only speak as I find. Clive was a Black Country bloke. A true Wolves fan. We have lost one of our own.
Awful news CoD.
I am even less qualified than you to say anything, having never met Clive at all. Except, that is, through his contributions to this blog. What I saw in those leaves me very much agreeing with your last four sentences.
I’m sure those of us who pray will continue to remember Marla who must be in a maze of conflicting feelings right now. Most of us, I think, only found out about Clive’s situation a few days ago through Stu, she has been living with it for some time and must be worn down by the experience.
Rest in peace Clive and thanks for being part of our lives.
I’ve no idea what the result will be tomorrow, but there really is only one forecast to make isn’t there.
COYW – for Clive
RIP Clive
FOWB
& cancer.
Very sad news re Clive.
Only know Clive from this forum and we often didn’t agree, but what the hell it’s only a bloody game.
Clearly one of the Wolves family from my vintage.
So sorry you didn’t pull through and sincere condolences to all your family.
RIP Clive From Houston.
https://twitter.com/houston_wolves/status/1563618901925191681?s=21&t=88QSL4QHxPCEGha_uR5qTg
Fantastic tribute to Clive from Houston Wolves on twitter.
Genuinely shocked to hear about Clive and sending my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
So very sad to hear the news of Clive over the last couple of days. A wordsmith without a filter. RIP CfH no pain now cept for his family & friends.
Proper FOwb
.
Heard the news tonight while having a meal and a few drinks with Dougie and Barbara.
A few drinks turned into many drinks and some tears.
I’ve said before that Clive was like the brother I never had.
We occasionally had our little squabbles, but, if I was faced with a gang from sandwell coming at me, he’d be the guy I’d want by my side.
Sleep tight mate.
Totally gutted.
His pen was probably sharper than his tongue. Clive was just a softie, a true gent.
We’ll raise a glass to him at APV.
Sincerest condolences to Clive’s family and friends and may he rest in Old Gold peace. Maybe someone can get the Wolves crowd to do a minutes applause at the 51 minute mark as a tribute to his favourite score line?
Wanted to keep prediction separate to above condolence.
Not convinced our defence can keep clean sheets, given we conceded to a less than full strength Championship team, and gave away a penalty v Fulham.
Attacking options building, but they (and we) all need a shot of confidence.
RIP Clive from Huston, RIP.
Only had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman once…at the Novotel breakfast bar. When he learned that we were in town for the next days game he invited us over to his table and introduced us to some others. At that time he told me about joining the blog and I was given the “Dallas Bob” moniker. I cherish that weekend. From what I can tell, with my very limited knowledge, his bark was far greater than his bite.
RIP
FOwb
Very, very sad news about Clive. My condolences to his wife, Marla and his family and friends. I never met him but often chuckled at his posts. Sometimes I disagreed with him but no one could ever doubt his passion for wolves and the many tributes from those that did know him, speak volumes for him. RIP.
RIP Clive.
Yep! Well said fellow sandwich.
2 scorecasts for me this week.
RIP Clive 5 – 1
Never met but always enjoyed the comments
Have a feeling we will do it for Clive today
Out of darkness, cometh five for Clive.
R. I. P. dear friend.
We are not far away but we could do with picking up some points sharpish. Our midfield three and wide forwards gives me hope of a better future particularly once we get a better presence in the penalty area which seems to be close to being addressed. Newcastle look very good they really caused Man City major problems so I am expecting a tough game
Can’t add anything to everyone’s comments. Woke up and have a sad heart.
Until we meet again Clive
We are Wolves. We are a pack. We are a family.
Only one prediction possible.
Just heard the news about Clive….I’m in Cornwall.
I didn’t always agree with Clive in fact we were poles apart but what was never in doubt was his passion and love of Wolves
Prayers and thoughts to his family and friends the blog won’t be the same.
Well said mate- it’s with a very heavy heart and difficult to find the right words. Tough game today but Clive would have been typically forthright- we can stuff them and we will!
RIP Clive. Thoughts with his family and those who knew him. This blog will be a much quieter place.
Sad news indeed
The contributions he made will be missed whatever your own view
RIP
My condolences to family and friends alike ….I’ll raise a Pastis to him here in Lyon at KO
Blimey a shock to the core i was so looking forward to the great mans next contribution on the blog
Clive was an integral part of the wolves blog . His posts were the ones i always looked forward to just to see who he was winding up next.
Clives passion for everything wolves was right there in your face no ambiguity he was gold and black to the bone and there will never be another one like him not just on this blog on any blog.
This is an Elvis moment for me as i so wanted to meet him in the flesh and get pissed standing up the bar what a mate he would have been but alas thats not to be and i feel like I’ve lost a brother i never really knew as i think from the posts on here there are a lot feeling the same way.
So off you go Clive to wherever true wolves fans go not an albion fan in sight ,say hello to the doog and waggy and frank im sure they will be waiting with open arms.
Bon voyage Clive from houston.
Just seen this awful news. So deeply sorry for Clive’s family and treasuring the memories I have of the few times we met.
COYW………….FOWB
RIP mega Wolves fan. Condolences to his family, and so many of the Wolves family who were close to him. There will be a big 5×1 hole in the blog.
I’m in shock to read this news. I haven’t participated in this blog for some time because I don’t enjoy the negativity of some bloggers, but occasionally I check in to see what people thought of a game right after, and this time I found this terrible and sad news. I’m so sorry to hear this and wish his close friends and family my sincere condolences.
I only had the pleasure of meeting Clive once, some years ago while visiting friends in Houston. He picked me up at the hotel in his truck brandished with Wolves stickers and deco. There was no mistaking which was his car! He whisked me off to his favorite pub to introduce me to some other Wolves fans and we enjoyed a few hours reminiscing about the good old days (I think we were in division 3 at the time) over a meal and several beers. He drank Boddingtons I remember. He was generous, gracious and charismatic. Gentle and kind, yet at the same time, life of the party.
I never got the chance to go out there again, and he never got the chance to take me up on my open invitation to visit me in California. About a week after I visited him I received a package in the mail. He sent me a Wolves flag which I put up in my office. I’ll remember the good man every time I look at it.
Once again, my deepest sympathies to his close friends and family.
Very sad news – RIP Clive and deepest condolences to his family. The blog will be just a little bit quieter and less exciting without him. UTW.
So we didn’t
get a 5-1 for our cloive.
I don’t think we got a 5-1 every time he predicted it lol.
We’re one decent soul down but he would have wanted us to still go for a 5-1.
A quieter blog for sureand can’t replace him but as we well know ,none of us are here forever.
It sure is a funny old game isn’t it?
My sincere condolences to Clive’s family.
I have been following this blog for a few years now and I always admired his straight, down to earth, no bullshit, posts. Living in Australia, I have never had the opportunity to meet Clive. Yet I was so chuffed when lately he actually answered a couple of my posts. I felt like a little kid who has been noticed and spoken to, by a celebrity. I have never felt sadder at the passing of someone that I never met.
Rest in Peace Clive, and if you are now in a position to help out the Wolves by having a quiet word with The Big Boss, it would be a great help.
RIP Clive