Gary O’Neil has to make some moves.
The balance of the team isn’t right. We predominantly enjoy possession in safe areas of the pitch, are still largely ineffective in attack and – increasingly these days – open for business at the back.
On top of that, there remains a lack of physicality in the team – not enough height or strength, which gives most teams the upper hand before a ball has even been kicked.
Crystal Palace exposed those deficiencies and we’ll be sitting ducks tomorrow if changes aren’t made.
The good news is that there are options at the manager’s disposal to address these shortcomings if he chooses to use them. More on that below.
There will be no shame in losing to Liverpool, but if we do end up on the wrong side of the result, I hope it’s after seeing a smart approach coupled with the right application from the players.
Liverpool
There was a five-minute window in their game at Newcastle when I was mulling over whether Jürgen Klopp would be around for much longer at Liverpool.
Then they came back to win in the most Klopp way possible and since then, the dynamic has shifted. They smashed Aston Villa, added that much-needed midfield signing (Ryan Gravenberch) on deadline day and suddenly things are looking rosy again.
Can they sustain the level of performance and results to make a title challenge? I think that’s a big ask for a team still looking for the right combination in the engine room, but if they get that right, they’ve got the quality.
I can’t see them taking the Europa League seriously, in the early stages anyway, so a lot of the big guns will be spared midweek football and that might give them the legs to keep foot to the floor in the league.
Virgil van Dijk misses this game after talking his way into an additional suspension, but the Reds should otherwise be operating with a full deck as they look to avenge the 3-0 whooping we gave them last season.
Wolves
I think it’s either got to be a back three or at the very least, a change in personnel. The shrewdest thing Lopetegui did in his short tenure was bring Toti in at full-back. He recognised teams were punishing our lack of power and he invented a solution. That’s what top coaches do.
For all the recruitment, I’m staggered we didn’t prioritise a more defensive-minded left-back. We’re overloaded with options (which was probably part of the recruitment problem) but all prefer the ball at their feet.
Ait-Nouri has done well against Salah in the past, which may justify his selection tomorrow but I thought he was awful at Palace. And if he’s so good going forward, where is the output?
I also saw a stat about Nelson making more tackles than nearly any other player in the league, but if that’s the case it’s probably because he has the most opportunities. He embodies the problem of the team – good between the boxes but poor at either end.
If you’re not going to bring Doherty in or use one of the centre halves at left-back, I think a back three or another more defensive-minded option in midfield is a must. Basically, we’ve got to do something.
And again, Sasa to start up front. Surely he can give us an hour at least? If you’ve got the Austrian up top and one of Doc, Toti or Santi Bueno in the defence, I think that’s more like the physicality required to be competitive in the Premier League.
I’d have thought Tommy Doyle and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde would also be in consideration, with the latter more likely due to his ability to fill the void left by Matheus Nunes down the right. The above is the type of team I’d put out anyway.
Predictions
3-2 didn’t seem like an obvious scoreline at Palace and so it proved with nobody getting it correct. Well done to Sheffieldwolf though who is top of the leaderboard at the end of Gameweek 4.
If we get anything tomorrow it will be a fantastic result, but I don’t see it. Liverpool have just got too much firepower and I think they’ll score enough goals to win with a degree of comfort. I’ll say 3-1.
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.
Up The Wolves!
Start Doherty start Doherty start Doh…
Well, please yourself but don’t come running to me when it all goes tits up.
Funnily enough, I’ve got a positive feeling about this game.
It’s probably because I keep having that dream about last season when we gave them a right old seeing to and kept the ball for about ten minutes with the entire stadium shouting “Ole!” as every pass found a man in a gold shirt, while red shirted chickens with their heads off scampered about like…. well… chickens with their heads off.
Come on lads, just for me eh?
Pretty please?
Yes, I’m with you all the way Thomas. I don’t, realistically, expect us to sustain a great win over Liverpool.
I still want to see Doherty on the field, as I think he’s useful at both ends of the pitch and there’s no doubting his commitment either.
I’d rather see players that want us to win as much as the supporters do, than those that appear not to be fussed.
Definitely Sasa up front, as he unnerves defenders. It’s actually good to have big fellas in the team, as we have been a bit short (see what I did there) in that aspect.
Sadly, it’s a 1-3 score line for me too.
Realistically it’s got to be considered a free hit. We sometimes conjour up something magical when the odds are against us – look at last season. I’ll be watching this from a bar in Arillas, Corfu, so don’t really want to put a dampner on the holiday.
Come on lads, let’s double our point on the board
‘points’
I’ve been pondering our best approach for this game for the best part of the week and sympathise with O’Neil as it’s a tough call to make. If you go five at the back, you lose a man in midfield, which is the area of the field that is most likely to determine the outcome of the game. In the fixture at Molineux last term, we won the midfield battle and Liverpool consequently couldn’t cope with us (although some slapdash defending on their part did help our cause).
Likewise, if you go two up top, you’d most likely have to leave Neto out, and he looks like our best route to goal at the moment. So I’d stick with a 4-3-3 and perhaps try and pack the midfield with a more combative trio – perhaps Doyle, Gomes, and Lemina?
All of this pondering may of course be an exercise in futility, as the most likely outcome is an away win. Liverpool have started strongly and have a ridiculous amount of firepower. If Odsonne Edouard can bag two against us, I imagine Diaz, Gakpo, Jota, Nunez and Salah will fancy their chances.
If we can keep the scoreline respectable I’d be happy – we’ve been handed a pretty rotten run of fixtures, so I think we just need to gel a new-look team together and try to build some momentum through some decent performances.
Liverpool’s defense is not the strongest, Virgil VS is still out and I seem to recall that two their other backs are injured, so perfect for our struggling attack!
I agree that in general terms, we need some steel in our side so changes would be welcome! I will leave that to the coach.
Depending on fitness, I would start with Sasa as we won’t get a lot of play up front, and Fabio does not add anything outside the last third. However, in the two International games (against poor opposition) that he just played, he scored 3 goals and assisted with 3 others, so his confidence will be sky high!
This is a home game which always helps, and we beat them last season I believe, so hope rings eternal. If they show grit, fight, and determination, I for one will be happy, irrespective of the score!
Would love a repeat of last season but can’t see it this time. They’re in a good place at the moment and we’re not.
The worrying thing is our home run in the second half of last season was built on defensive stability and clean sheets. It clearly wasn’t sustainable to shit house 1-o wins every week and so it’s proved.
Can’t see anything other than a comfortable away win tomorrow. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
Might as well give it a go have Sasa up front to unnerve their defenders just keep it tight at the back 2-1 to the Wolves.
Excellent summary, as ever, Thomas and I agree fully regarding our physical fragility.
We have had too many ‘fancy dans’ in the side and given our ongoing predicament, we need players who can front up and win their individual battles.
The fascination of football at this level is that you cannot predict a performance and result like the corresponding fixture last season – but we go in hope, which is what I do tomorrow.
I can never predict a loss and with the resources we now have available we can but hope that GON can conjure a combination and strategy to frustrate Liverpool and provide another famous win.
Just need to find my gold tinted glasses………
I agree about the need for strong and sizeable defenders; Toti and Doc for me, but I shall be surprised if GON goes for that; pleasantly though. I think we will lose this game unfortunately, but football is `a funny game` so I’m hoping to be proved wrong of course.
We definitely need to see more of Sasa, who seems to have the habit of scoring where others would miss or have their efforts saved. I trust the medical staff to assess his readiness though after such an awful injury, so I shall be surprised if he starts. I wish it was otherwise but, in his case, patience is a virtue, perhaps.
3-1 to Liverpool, aargh!
With you on most of your points mate. Conceding 3 against a relatively poor Palace in that second half capitulation was criminal. I hope Gary has the courage to introduce some of the new lads plus give Doc a run out.
Impossible to suggest a lineup as other than their names I know nothing about the new boys, haven’t seen any training or have a Skooby Doo about Sasa’s level of fitness.
All I know is Liverpool, despite last year’s blip usually find a way.
Given we know Sasa Is good at least for the last half hour and they’re without VVD, we might be able to nick one.
I’m just hoping we put in a decent shift.
Lose decent players bring in players of unknown abilty and this is what you end up with. Shi and Co gambling with our Prem future.
Hopefully only unknown to us and not to the club.
Would love a repeat of last year – but cannot realidtically see it.
Will need to get the points from Luton in the next match.
Agree with all others Sass + Doc to start and a midfield of battlers.
Despite all hope springs eternal…..
.
Taking both of my sons to this one’s its a special day for me
Topped with a special win
Hope you all have a fab day Matt.
Best wishes from me too to enjoy your special day!
My head tells me that Thomas is right. We look good in areas where we are not a direct threat to the opposition. Going forward in the final third we just fizzle out. And at the back we look panicky. If we’re like this tomorrow then we’re looking at a reverse of that 3-0 win last season. This can’t go on. GON hasn’t had a preseason so I hope he’s getting to grips with the squad as we go. Doc has to play a major role tomorrow. He was Premier League player of the month exactly five years ago. Given the right team selection tomorrow, and the return of the fighting spirit we showed at Old Trafford, plus a fair crack of the VAR whip, I’m forecasting a shock 2-1 win for us.
I hope I am wrong but we might be humiliated…
Really not sure what has happened to the writers of this blog – maybe the stress of following wolves is catching up with everyone, but who knows.
Last season, we Have lage who doesn’t win a match in 10 games, and everyone is upbeat, as if we are on some journey.
Now, we are playing some good football, scored 3 goals in our last 2 prem games and all of a sudden, we are unbalanced…
Last season we have 4 players under 5ft 5 and I would moan about it, because podence and co was awful. Now we have a taller team, and all of a sudden we aren’t tall enough?
We was unlucky not to get anything against United and Palace… Brighton was a blip and Everton swung our way for once.
We have scored, 9 goals in 5 games this season in total? That hasn’t happened in years…
Who knows, However, Liverpool are missing a lot of players for this match.
He has to start what he presumes is our best 11 tomorrow. Sure, we will loose, but if we perform how we performed against United I will be more then happy. I just want to see some sort of cohesiveness – I will be watching in a rough liverpool pub… It is always made better by a win.
Good luck in the rough Liverpool pub, WFIL, you’re a braver man than me.
Ahh.. another game another prediction.. I wanted to go draw, but I like the idea of a win against the odds!! I think GON should keep Fabio in the 11 especially after his work over the break..
I know we’ve wanted for ages to see more goals. but if we can’t keep our defence from leaking shots on goal, we’ll have a hard time staying up. Sa can’t save them all. I think it’ll be progress if we keep Liverpool to 2 goals.
Start Sasa and see how he goes. You can always pull him off if he runs out of steam. Have someone playing off him – Hwang. Neto out wide. you can always change it.
Think Thomas’s team is pretty close to it.
Diaz running against our defence terrifies me.
“Sasa Kalajdzic has been voted Castore Player of the Month following a successful August for the Austrian.”
Not bad for someone who’s not fully fit and has only played 78 minutes.
How can they not start our player of the month for August?
Looks like Jeff couldn’t resist a few pounds and went with a gambling company to sponsor their training kits.
I don’t know – seems kind of sleazy and desperate.
We would all be happy nay delirious with a well deserved victory …..against this in form version of the opponent I cant see it at this moment though ….hope springs eternal the issues to date have been addressed both at the back and upfront and we confound both pundit and my own belief system with a win
Well, the good news is – we have been scoring a few more lately, and Liverpool have a bit of a shortage of players at the back for this one. I am feeling stangely positive for some reason, but I’m not brave enough to go with my gut for my prediction.
Need some points but that may need to wait for Luton.
Liverpool have looked stronger defensively this season but Trent and Van Dijk will be out. Hoping for a point at least!
Yet another tough hurdle to jump tomorrow.
Would be nice to replicate last years 3/0 and even nicer to have some more karma following our 2-1 cup win at Anfield allegedly.
It’s time to give tgd Doc a kick and also play Toti at left back .
Just can’t see Silva cutting it yet up front so I’d find a place for Doyle in midfield.. (that’s probably us playing with 13 by now)…
We’re approaching the moment where getting some more points are vital .. another defeat and we’ll be re-recruiting JLo…
Maybe we will see a throwback to the happy days of Doog and Richards? Start the giraffe and play anyone who can run through onto his deflected headers(?Hwang)
Reds play a high line and if Neto can provide the ammo who knows?
I correctly predicted our 2 goals at Palace and I’m going again
There’s just a bit of an issue tho.. they will respond in kind .. with or without Doc or Toti
4.30am start here so recording will be played after media black out at 730am
UTW
Good one Brian .. I’ll message you .. lol..
A little nervous about today’s game, Liverpool appear to have addressed their weakness in midfield and have plenty of options in attack. A glimmer of hope with some potential defensive absentees. Also, interesting to see if any of our new additions can make an impact. I wouldn’t be against a 5-3-2 / 3-4-3 for this game, despite my nerves I fancy a draw, I don’t know why I just do.
Difficult to estimate how much GoN has managed to improve our performance levels during the break. Prior to it we were the same old same old, being somewhat flakey defensively and toothless up front. Add to that the fact that we’re up against Liverpool and I find it hard to be optimistic.
Looking at the goals for and against for both sides so far this season I’m afraid I feel compelled to predict an away win.
Like others I want a repeat of the 3-0 last season (2 – TWO – goals at “our end” of the ground. (Almost) unheard of!)
Liverpool’s defence can be got at (and then they argue amongst themselves). A fast start please.
I’m risking a win prediction – but would settle for a draw.
Sadly think we are going to get done again.
I’m going with my heart…….
utw.
Free hit, my arse.
Sorry, but most of the blog has given up before a ball has been inflated, let alone kicked.
It’s football. Anything can happen. And a few short months ago we beat them. 3-0.
So, let’s believe. Be positive.
Starting – totally agree regarding Kalajdzic – he causes problems for defenders – and Toti. And Doherty. He’s got to be worth a start. He’s our secret weapon.
I’m so looking forward to seeing Bellegarde, Doyle, Gonzales and Bueno play, but guess it’ll be bit of a wait.
In the meantime, set up the best team we have to play how WE want to play, not fall over ourselves trying to set up how best to play Liverpool. We’re at home. Get behind our lot and get on the Liverpool players backs. Make it intimidating.
Show no fear from the whistle and play to our strengths.
We will either win or put in a great performance, or both.
Realism is overrated.
UTW
Hear,hear, Muttleigh. Good to see some positivity on here.
I’m usually filled with the same positivity as you Mutt1eigh, but just not today…
Liverpool have a very poor record in early kick offs and some injuries. We will start with a couple of the new signings and hopefully get a decent draw.
GON is going to need time to settle down his new players – and that includes our even newer players. Still, I’m optimistic that Wolves will get something from this match.
I’m looking forward to seeing it all unfold from my new vantage point in Billy Wright W3. Of the new boys, I’m particularly interested in seeing Bellegarde and Gonzales. I seem to recall that the Uruguayan coach deemed Santi Bueno to be not be fit enough to play in their last couple of matches. Similarly, I’m reading Doyle hasn’t played a lot of football since the Euros and will need a little time to get up to speed.
It is probably too early for a new dawn but I’ll settle for a decent lunch.
Oh cheers Dougie … samosas it is .. and maybe a cheeky Prosecco followed by Barbara’s famous lemoncello..
fingers crossed ..
I’m your chaperone btw…
It’s a little known fact that grumpy Irish pop star Van Morrison and Liverpool’s Virgil Van Djik are distant cousins. How do I know this ? They both have ‘Van’ in their names so it is a reasonable assumption. They both own a Ford Transit Van in which they keep stuff like beer and new socks. In another amazing coincidence I bet not many people know Czech star Patric Berger and me, Cheeseburger of Death are also distantly related. It’s obvious isn’t it? We both have ‘Burger’ in our name as well as having a stock of burgers in the freezer. Probably. Talking of names. Did you know Jurgen Klopps middle name is ‘Norbert’. It’s rather excellent but when he is directing operations from the dugout tomorrow he certainly won’t cone across as a ‘Norbert’. In fact there are not many people at all called Norbert. Well. Not in Gornal anyway. But enough of this silly banter and on to the serious business. WWFC could be about to embark on a run of results against Liverpool similar to the early 1980’s when we trounced them 4-1 in 1980. 1-0 in 1981. And 1-0 in 1984. And they were a very good side then whilst we were a bit rubbish. So who says lightning can’t strike twice (apart from Michael Fish). I was also encouraged by how close we ran them last season in a few battles. . For this reason WWFC emerge with a 2-1 victory with goals from Sasa and Hwang. After the game GON said ” I played Van Morrison to the group in the changing room prior to kick off It seemed to have the desired effect”. Klipperty said ” Someone posted a note under our changing room door prior to kick off. Our captain read it out to the rest of the players ” LADS. DID YOU KNOW YOUR GAFFER’S MIDDLE NAME IS ‘NORBERT”. It seemed to put our boys off their game. I demand an investigation!. Where Howard Webb ? ” WWFC 2 YNWA 1
Interesting stuff Cheese.
My own research had established a link between ‘Norbert’ Klopp and Danbert Nobacon of Burnley anarcho punk rockers Chumbawumba sometime in the early 90’s. Small world. Possibly. 1 lv.
Lest we forget Norbert Balogh ex Hull City and Hungarian international. But I remember Chumbawumba. Did they not throw an egg at a politician the once?
I suspect we’re in for a hiding. Fabio will obviously miss a sitter or three at 0-0, before liverpool stick 4 or 5 past us. Sasa gets on for 10 minutes and scores a consolation goal with his third touch.
The old 3 or 4 at the back conundrum has haunted us ever since we switched to 4. And it haunts us still.
We haven’t looked solid in defence since we went to a four and, for me, the reason is our full backs are actually wing backs. They were all bought to the club because of their ability to get forward quickly and make things happen rather than their defensive qualities. Apart from the Doc of course, who had his wingback status thrust upon him.
So, although I prefer personally the 4 at the back system, given our squad I’m very happy to see us return to 5 when up against the likes of Liverpool. The words ‘discretion’ and ‘ valour’ spring to mind. Besides, when we have the ball, the wingbacks give us two extra midfielders.
As for the game, I can see us getting a result against all the odds. Pool look good going forward but, like us, have their defensive issues. Hopefully we can exploit theirs more than they can exploit ours.
This prediction depends, of course, on the VAR man discovering just a smidgen of honesty in carrying out his duties.
Michael Oliver us referee and Paul Tierney on VAR …
Don’t bet on miracles Wolfstroker ..
MICHAEL OLIVER.I normally hate using the abbreviation ‘OMG’. But OMG.Never gives us f**k all. He gave the Shite a penalty 6 inches outside the box then missed their defender playing basketball in their own penalty area during covid. Doomed.
Hopefully the defense settles down enough to limit them to just 2…
Much as I’d like one, a Wolves win seems unlikely so I’ll go for a draw.
Have faith, we may have the Indian sign on the scousers.
Just move on.
Greetings Pack,
Whatever Toothy may say to his players, its not going to alter the fact they lost 3-0 last time they darkened the door of The Golden Palace. Which, the more it’s repeated, sounds increasingly like a Noodle Bar in Gornal.
Lest we forget, Muttleigh got that score line bang on. The only one of our illustrious company to do so, however improbable. WWFC have always dealt in improbabilities. A Sasa or Silva hatrick may be stretching it a bit, but if the Kloppmeister knows his onions, and most pundits agree he knows an ‘Italian Torpedo’ from a ‘Walla Walla’, he will have sat up and taken notice.
Gazzbo has been drilling the troops and is looking forward to hurting an opposition now minus VVD. Lets hope it doesn’t involve Papa Doc with Salah in a headlock.
I’m getting the good biscuits out for this one.
1 lv & COYW.
Was going to put a speculative bet on a Wolves win till I checked odds (11/2). Was looking for around 20/1..
Sadly our football club is in disarray again,
Realistically hope I’m wrong but –
I’ll be shouting for the lads come what may but not expecting anything as a result . Maybe a couple of consolation goals will be a pleasing thing.
Think we might go out all guns blazing go 2-0 up then realise we’re doing well as they have 3 players out and 3 jet lagged, at this point we revert to type and in the great wolves tradition of turning to shit we relax and let 2 in.
Going 2-2
It’s a Golden Day
Liverpool have a slightly weaker defensive lineup because of injuries, but their attacking play is so formidable that I fear they will carve us open at will. I do think we will come good as we continue to integrate the new players, but it will be a tough ask against Salah and co tomorrow.
This really could go one of 2 ways
We play badly and lose. Or
We play well and are unlucky to lose ( VAR, or deflection…)
Back 3 plus wingbacks might give us a better chance – however, I cannot see a win here.
I don’t think this is as one sided as some think. Liverpool are without a few key players and we have an opportunity to blood some of the new signings. I’d still like to see Doc starting. I’m going for us to edge this and come out on top.
I like that line up thomas but I don’t think he’ll go with that. I can see this being the reverse scoreline to last season. When we get chances we’ve got to take them today because they’ll take theirs
Couldn’t get a result against a bang average palace side so I can’t see how we’re gonna stop an in form Liverpool…even with the home advantage
Agree with Thomas the big man and Doc have to start.
My patients is starting to run out with Silva I know he scored midweek but that was for the under 21’s I’d also put the lad from City in at some point.
For me know O’Neil has to start winning games may be not this one but he has had some decent players come in and the big man is getting there there are no excuses now he has to get his selections right his tactics and subs.
Think it will be close
Hope I maintain my 100% prediction record today. If so, Wolves will have won against the odds ?
Would love it if we beat them again, but can’t see past a narrow home loss!