It’s funny how any fixture can become a grudge match.
On paper, this one would normally be a prime candidate for that prized post-midnight slot on Match of the Day. But no, no, no, hold your horses – this is big.
The Gary O’Neil Derby.
El Gazzico.
The Cherries are desperate for a win. Wolves want to keep the good vibes going. Gary just wants vengeance.
Let’s get it on.
Bournemouth
After John Eustace was ruthlessly sacked to make way for Wayne Rooney the other day, I saw someone on Twitter commenting that football club owners shouldn’t go looking for problems.
The logic being that Eustace was going along fine, so why rock the boat? The same could be said of Bournemouth’s treatment of O’Neil.
There must have been a feeling that Andoni Iraola was a significant upgrade, but he’s only been managing for a few years longer than his predecessor and has zero experience of the Premier League. It was a risky move and the early signs aren’t good.
Maybe it will prove correct in the long run, but after a winless start (three draws and five defeats), including that 3-0 humbling at Goodison Park last time out – the pressure is enormous for his side to deliver a victory tomorrow.
In mitigation, they’ve had a lot of injuries and a tough run of fixtures to begin the campaign (not quite as hard as ours mind) – I thought this was an interesting graphic in a decent post on the BBC Sport site.
But they’re the lowest scorers in the league so far (5) and conceding three against an Everton team that hardly scores must have set the alarm bells ringing.
Wolves
I think if Lemina and Semedo weren’t suspended it would be difficult for Gary to change the team following two excellent performances. But in their absence, he might be tempted into more radical changes.
But if we’re following the mantra of ‘don’t go looking for problems’, I’d stick with the same shape and just make the easy, like-for-like decisions – Doc for Semedo and Boubacar for Lemina.
It’s handy to have Bellegarde back again because we can easily change shape and get that extra attack-minded body in midfield, but I’d start with the more defensively rigid shape to make it difficult for Bournemouth in the early parts of the game.
Predictions
Well done to Teddy and Liz who correctly predicted 1-1 against Aston Villa. Apologies to anyone who couldn’t get their forecast in prior to that game. The server went down on the website and there was nothing I could do to get it back online until later in the day. We’re also having some technical issues with the site that need to be resolved so the current Prediction League table isn’t quite correct. I’ll try to look at that this week.
I’m backing us to come out on top tomorrow. They need to win really and I’m hoping that desperation opens them up to mistakes that allow the likes of Pedro and Cunha to break at speed. That’s where we do the majority of our damage.
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!
.
I’m hoping for two correct scores on the bounce…….
I would start with 3 at the back, and change it later if required. Bournemouth will want to win this game and so we should get a few good opportunities to score. However, if Bournemouth score first, they will likely fall back into a defensive formation, and in recent years we have struggled to breakdown this type of formation.
We have scored in nearly every game, so slowly we are overcoming that issue, even though everything seems to revolve around Hwang and Neto!
Having started with a difficult schedule of games, this is a very winnable game. Us Wolves fans know what a banana skin that is!!
Looking at that table printed above we have had an unbelievably envious start to the campaign based on those ratings …. and it will also highlight the deficiency of some of our current close rivals if their form continues as the season progresses… and as for Chelsea… the mauling they will receive this weekend will make the headlines where as our own destruction of the Cherries will be reported as us beating a football team in disarray after appointing an inexperienced manager/coach, praising the likelihood of our players moving to London or the North West in the New Year and stating we’ll be alright come the end of the season ……is that on 33 or 45 rpm that record
COYW
cherries 0 Wolves 3
I was denied prediction points by not being able to post my 1-1 before the Villa game, I demand an inquiry…
As for this one, it’s difficult to call. We’re going in with some form – and Neto in electrifying form, as well as Hwang banging the goals in. But they will be targeting this one as a home win.
I don’t think all of our problems have gone away with two decent home performances. Remember how poor we were at Luton, it could be another one of those games – and we’re missing key players. Bournemouth are less direct but it’s a tight ground and they can make it difficult for teams.
All that being said, I’ll back us to grab a tight victory.
The inquiry was conducted at VAR headquarters .
Declined
I put this up very late on the previous blog – the final entry – and realised I should have waited a few hours. For what it’s worth, this is what I posted.
Interesting collection of training photos released by WWFC …..
https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20231019-gallery-squad-reunited-after-the-international-break/
The most interesting picture shows Jonny stretching to reach a ball before Neto can collect it. . His body position looks almost exactly the same as that for Gomez in the penalty incident against Luton. Guess where his left arm is – up in the air as a natural balance aid to compensate for the long stretch with his right leg. The Howard Webb etc comments on why a penalty was the correct decision kept going back to the ‘unnatural arm position’ and suggested the no-one in their right mind would have their arm so high.
Don’t these idiots understand anything. There’s often talk about using the opinion of former footballers – it should perhaps be suggested that they obtain the advice from qualified physios or sports medics who actually understand how the body works – balance e.g. – and stop basing decisions on their own ideas of how things work. A referee is not normally called to stretch out his leg in the way players often need to.
Net result – we wuz, yet again, robbed – releasing the audio of the aftermath of decision such as this only convince fans of how pathetic the system is.
In a moment of whimsy, I imagined something like the Dam Busters raid being made with radio communications of the same standard as seems prevalent on VAR. They’d have probably ended up bombing Derwentwater or even Loch Ness!!!
2-1 to Wolves, hopefully.
Have always despised Bournemouth ever since RVLP was wrongly red carded Dec 2014 we lost 3-1. They were very physical and referee gave us nothing
also can never get away tickets
and they have no fan base
and their badge looks sh*te
No point having a grudge if you’re not going to Hold it
Anyway …score draw?
This is going to be another ‘three points in the bag’ match.
COYW
Banana skin and a half this one. I suspect wolves will struggle again to create chances and Bournemouth will have the lions share of possession. It’s got bore draw written all over it.
I wonder if Iraola will be on the hot seat soon. Think this has a draw written all over it.
If you had asked Gary a few weeks ago who he would prefer to beat, Man City or Bournemouth, I wonder what he would have replied? His heart would have said Bournemouth but his head, City, I guess.
Gary’s achievement in keeping the Cherries up was greater that JLo’s keeping us up. And I bet JLo couldn’t have kept the Cherries up! Iraola might be thought to be a significant upgrade on Gary, and so might JLo be as well, but I wonder. Give Gary a fancy Italian or Iberian name (and accent) and I wonder if people might think twice.
Tomorrow is personal for Gary. A potential banana skin maybe as it will be personal for the Cherries too. 2-0 Wolves.
They’ll be lost without Adams!
Well I’m that confident of a win I’m going of my usual 2-1 and go 3-0 to the Wolves. Keep them quite in the first 20 minutes the bang go for the throat if Neto and Whang are on form 3 points to the Wolves.
Score early and it could be a goal fest. Too soon to say we’ve turned a corner but the signs are positive.
Going for 3 points and goals.
Won’t be easy, but hopefully another 3pts in the bag.
3/5 at the back is clearly a better set up for us.
I would also be advocating the same team as Thomas,
Fingers crossed GON gets the result he deserves for his shabby treatment
Even though I predicted a Villa win, I am sure I tried to change it to a 1:1 draw, but the server was down so I reckon I deserve a point ???
To be fair it was a hard landing after predicting the Man City win!
Hard to know where we’ll be after another pointless international break… so I am going a draw…
Let’s keep the positive vibes going.
Think we’ll nick this one.
Hope so – first goal is important.
COMBs!
El Gazzico made me chuckle. Up the Wolves!
Confident of clocking up another away win.
I don’t think Bournemouth are as bad as their league position suggests. This is where we find out how good Lemina really is.
He’s a miss but we’ve got options for his spot who will be chomping at the bit to prove themselves.
It’ll be good to see Doc get a start too and see for ourselves if he’s as good as he was.
Agree regarding the replacements and we are in danger of underestimating Bournemouth.
Would like the win but will settle for a scrappy away point.
I also declare my dislike of Boringmouth.
The sending off as noted by Portuguese MoW .. plus that fact that millions of years ago they knocked the mighty WOLVES out of the FACUP 1-0… all those years ago .. and broke the friggin post !
Reg Cutler and Ollie Norris are names etched in my archive memories..
I’ve been fortunate to get a ticket previously.. and they were rarer than David Dickenson’s wallet… but alas .. not this time .. which says a lot about a club with a 10k capacity .. and a fan base whose average age is 85.
Our Gazza was shabbily treated , having saved them from deserved relegation and I just hope that the gods bite their Ar@e for this.
I don’t think we’ll overly miss Semedo or Lemina since we’ve got decent replacements…
Whoever scores first will be in the driving seat and Neto, Hwang or Cunha have the nous to create a goal of two ..
A back 5 will do me with 2 and 3 in front .. and as they say ..
Dover for the continent.. Bournemouth for the (in)continent… COYMW.
That brought back memories your Lordship —- see attached — I’m sad to say I was there and witnessed the whole sorry affair. I seem to remember they had one guy whose contribution was more or less limited to jumping up and down in front of WWFC throw-in takers – he didn’t endear himself much to the crowd!
Also back from those dayas, does anyone remember the security arrangements that used to keep the South Bank – all 30,000 of us – under control. It consisted of one regular policeman and a special constable who looked exactly like Charles Hawtrey. A far cry from the army of stewards they use now. It says a lot about crown behaviour.
COYW – time for revenge [supposed to be a better dish if served cold]
Absolutely Jazzwolf .. I was there .. the little git was Ollie Norris … jumping up in front of the thrower/in….
Just goes to show that gamesmanship and shithousery existed in those days ..
good recollection mate .. x
Going for the win – I think Fabio or Sasa get the start and would love to see Jean-Ricner back in midfield with Sasa!! Let go Wolves!!!!
Everyone, but everyone is going for a win! Tempted to go opposite but…
Its a seaside town and they should not be in the PL…more like League 1
So lets help them on their way lads
I think its a goal fest ….two for Hwang and two for the giraffe, in a second half onslaught.
Meantime here’s a fun read from the New York Times’ sports site
won’t spoil it …
https://theathletic.com/4821753/2023/10/18/premier-league-stadium-rankings/
UTW
Oh..and another good read
https://theathletic.com/4885122/2023/09/22/pedro-neto-wolves-premier-league/
Looking forward to this one although I doubt it’ll be a classic. We’ve played well against the better sides in the league because we’ve got a clear strategy on what exactly we want to do. We need to step up against the bottom half teams. It would be a big win for GON tomorrow and would push us further away from that bottom three. A point wouldn’t be bad away from home but I want revenge from last season so I’ll back the lads to get the job done. Sasa to come on and score the winner!
we’ve cracked it boringmouth haven’t a prayer Gaz is gonna stick it right up em cpt Mannering!
Greetings.
With all the charm of a soggy pensioner shivering in a beach hut, this fixture looms on the horizon like an angry bank of Cumuli Nimbus and storm tossed chip wrappers.
El Gazzico indeed.
He saved the Cherries from relegation only to deliver the coup de grace this season, at the head of his fit and hungry wolfpack.
I recommend knee blankets, thermal slippers, a flask of Horlicks and a big bag of Humbugs to distract the Seniors from the on field carnage as their beloved team fail to register a shot on target.
They say dementia is cruel, but who is Eddy Howe? and I’ve never heard of Liverpool. Hope Gazzbo finds time for a nostalgic game of Cleudo.
1 lv & COYW
This is one they really should win, which probably means they won’t…
It should be a relatively straightforward win, but suspensions and rumours of some niggling injuries is making me a little more cautious – so maybe a draw.
A bit like Luton maybe not be a gimme, we need full energy and concentration, every point needs to be earned in the PL. If we match them for energy we should win on quality.
O’neil’s revenge!! Think anything other than a win would feel disappointing.
The Cherries form in the PL says they are leaky at the back and don’t know how to score at the other end either – especially at home. Yes, they have had a tough draw so far but the Toffees last time out showed that who their opponents are isn’t their only issue.
On the other hand we have been finding the net on a regular basis for a while now and look like we are on the up with our performances too.
The added spice of the GON derby could cloud the picture somewhat, but I think this matters more to us (and the man himself of course) than to the Cherries. So I reckon it might fire us up somewhat more than them.
It’s all pointing to a comfortable win. Famous last words, but I’ll be disappointed if we don’t come away with the three points for this one.
Think this might be a draw as we always seem to struggle against teams at the bottom, but hey this time will come out on top
Fed up with hearing from Tosser Merson with his continuous endless spouting on about how Neto is to good for us and won’t be here after January .
.
Battle at the bottom then. I see that the cherries have only scored 5 goals from 8 games so far and have conceded 18! Meanwhile, we’ve scored 9 from our 8 games and have conceded 14.
Put that together and I reckon it comes out somewhat as a low scoring draw. Yeh, I’ll go for 1-1 I reckon.
I’m confident about this one. Closer than expected, but still a positive result. Neto’s looking great, I’ll tap him for the winner.
Banana skin time 2-1
Managed to get a ticket at the last minute which is great as I am down in Bournemouth anyway for the weekend. My jacket is still soaked from a walk last night so I am hoping for some exciting football when I am sitting in it later today to make me forget the discomfort as the forecast is for more rain.
Don’t think this will happen given the recent games against them. Worried about the rumours of injuries and also that one of two of our players did not arrive back until late. I would otherwise have hoped for a win but would be happy with a draw. However as usual I will still predict a win.
it’s my eldest sons wedding day today
i’m glad we are away as i would have hated to miss his wedding
Have a great day Matt, no peeking at the phone under the table.
Have a great day Matt ..
.. like the story ..
Blimey, some very positive predictions indeed. Going for a 2-1 win.
By the way, I do believe that there would have been many 1-1 predictions for last prediction week. At least now I know it was the server, not me being penalised for being an aussie 🙂
Pleasantly surprised so far this season…long may it continue…
Not sure about the line up with the injury concerns so it’s a draw for me.
utw.
Apparently if it’s hot weather sharks come to Bournemouth. But the only sharks today will be circling the hapless Bournemouth manager as WWFC achieve a 2-1 victory. With HHC and Cunha on the scoresheet. After the game GON said “I bear no grudges at all to Bournemouth. None at all. Not one. Not one single one. Well apart from the ground is shit. Oh and the Directors are a bunch of wankers. The pies are shit. The bogs are shit. And I hate the training ground and its shitty facilities. I mean what’s good about Bournemouth. It’s full of old pensioners with their crappy shopping trolleys and false teeth. So no. No problems at all” . Bournemouth 1 WWFC 2.
I am an old pensioner with false teeth and whilst I do not possess a shopping trolly, I am nevertheless very upset by your insensitive comment.
Sorry for any offence caused. It was meant to be in humour but I apologise if you took it in another way.
My comment was in jest too, Cheese!
Oh ok chap. That’s great. Massive win for the lads today !! Wolves ay We. ! And Thomas to note the 2-1 win. After I also said 1-1 v Villa.
Yes. Great result. I watched the game sitting on a very comfy sofa at IKEA in Algarve near Faro…….whilst the girls went shopping. A great afternoon !
They’ve lost the last 3 so the international break must have been a welcome relief. They’re probably considering this their easiest home fixture yet as they’ve faced WH, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal so far. Only the loss to Everton is out of step for their usually mediocre standards.
This has got 1-1 written all over it but losing becomes a habit so i’m gonna ignore my instincts and say we’ll shade it 2-1.
Probably a must lose game for both.
I like each of Gomes, Traore and Bellegarde but Lemina is the most important of that crop and I fear he will be missed.
Got this very late so just time to make a prediction. Will then read comments.
This match will show, more than the Citeh match, what this team is made of and how influential GO is, imo.
Now read the comments. Some great stuff. Shame there’s no option for a thumbs up! UTW
time to push upwards!
RIP Sir Bobby.
Boremouth can we play you every week?