Merry Christmas everyone.
I’m not sure whether one of you asked Santa for a televised trip to Vicarage Road, or the gods (Sky) have just been kind to us, but it’s happening.
I was looking back at previous Boxing Day clashes from the blog era, which include:
- A comfortable (albeit forgettable) win over Crewe last season.
- A miserable home defeat to Peterborough in the year we went down.
- A battling point at the Emirates (the day after Boxing Day that one).
- A miserable home defeat to Wigan.
- A narrow (slightly unjust) defeat at Anfield.
No real notable highs but a few sickening lows. Hopefully Kenny Jackett can be the manager to bring us all more festive cheer.
Watford
They come into this fixture seven points ahead of their opponents and occupying the final play-off position.
Slavisa Jokanovic is their fourth manager already this season, but looks to have cemented his tenure, for the short term at least.
There are a couple of familiar faces in their lineup including Sebastian Bassong and Adlene Guedioura. Troy Deeney is their 9 goal top scorer.
Wolves
Suffice to say I wasn’t impressed against Brighton. Neither the performance or the result were up to scratch and the style (or lack of) was a major concern.
I know Kenny Jackett had to make changes with the defeats piling up, but I don’t think we have the players to be as direct as we were last weekend.
The above is the team I’d pick, possibly even with Ricketts coming in also to one of the full back positions. If we don’t keep the ball better tomorrow, I think we’ll be punished by a decent side.
If we can get an hour of Nouha Dicko, our prospects will significantly improve.
The gaffer
Predictions
I was looking at Watford’s lineup from their win at Reading and they’ve got lots of useful players with good experience of this league and the Premier.
Their forwards (Vydra and Deeney) are probably as good as any pairing we’ll come up against this season, so the fear is we might just get blown away.
With 23 goals already at Vicarage Road this season, only Derby (25) have scored more at home. And with Wolves having conceded 20 away, the figures don’t bode well.
It would be a massive blow to see the gap between ourselves and the play-off places widen, but that might well be the case.
2-1 defeat for me. Prove me wrong lads.
Up The Wolves.
Firstly a merry Christmas to both Thomas and Ben and a big thank you to you both for producing a very enjoyable blog through good times and bad. Christmas cheer ends there for me unfortunately as I really can’t see us getting anything out of this game. Hopefully Price will start and we’ll get back to playing the possession and passing game that got us where we are, or even better where we were a couple of months back. I won’t be making the trip to Watford but will have a good shout at the telly instead.
A very Merry Christmas Ben and Thomas, outstanding work this year, really enjoyed the short time Iv’e been on board. When I ran my charity I had to update it constantly albeit through a web manager, but it is hard work so you are to be commended.
Llike you Thomas I was not overjoyed with the performance last weekend, nothing short of a lazy lethargic showing. I feel Kortney Hause was a week link in the defence, the second half when they all woke up it got slightly better. I’m going for a hard fought 1-0 to the boys.
COYW.
Merry Christmas all fellow Bloggers.
🙂
Have to win this one and Brentford on Sunday. Dicko and Sako will take them apart with a couple of goals each. All over by half-time but, unlike Millwall, no sitting back and resting. Come on Wolves, make my Christmas wish come true.
wish i could be more positive….opt for an away loss.
Merry Christmas to all Wolves Bloggers.
Watford have a few injury problems by all accounts.
We have a few problems.
Hello from Los Angeles!!
I hope everyone is having a great Christmas. Woodywolf and I have escaped to the USA to get away from our alarming slide.
Anyway, Merry Christmas bloggers. I wish I could spread more cheer with my prediction.
Can’t see us getting anything here. Not impressed kenny is trying to change our style of play.
Get price in the team and get back to the possession football we were enjoying so much not so long ago.
Merry Christmas and God bless us, one and all!
I’ve just been sitting in front of the telly watching the Wolves Champions DVD, highlights of last season, (bought for me by the ma in law) while sucking on my Wolves lemon bon bons and wearing my Wolves cuff links bought for me by the present Mrs DOOGooder.
She, meanwhile, is wearing her Wolves fashion scarf, bought by me for her (the PMDG’er, not the mum in law).
I am pleased to note that we both feature in the away win at Bristol City.
Haven’t got to the Swindon match yet but I have high hopes.
No chance at home matches, you never get to see the upper tier of the Steve Bull.
I hope that all this spending at the Wolves shop will help towards the purchase of a couple of new players.
Feeling positive so I’m going for a draw.
Merry Christmas to you all can’t see it being much of a game tomorrow and we never seem to do well on sky but I will go for a scrappy narrow win
Merry Christmas everyone. Would like to reiterate what a geat blog this is within lots of sensible comments and no bad language.
Price has to start and agree with Thomas’s team except I’d play Rickets instead of Hause as I don’t feel he gave us an option going forward (he is after all a centre half).
Watford strong at home and with goalscorers in the team the omens aren’t good.
Agreed, Whitestone.
Nothing I saw last week gave me much encouragement s ave for Jack Price and Nouah.
Hope week wrong!
COYW!!
3 nil defeat I’m afraid, ain’t convinced the way we’re playing that we can get a result down there.
Hope I’m bloody wrong tho.
Up the Wolves.
Prove me wrong boys.
Merry Xmas to Wolves bloggers near and far.
Not expecting any festive cheer at Vicarage Rd I’m afraid .. only a boxing day hangover.
Watford will be simply too strong.
Not sure about Hause as left back tomorrow .. he was a weakness last week .. so might suggest Iorfa as left back and Ebanks Landell coming in at right back or vice versa.
Enjoy your day folks ….
Completely stuffed with grub today and feeling as imobile as Clarke can be …this fixture is looming for me with trepidation…
It’s the time to hang on to the play offs and a point I reckon would be a result..
My Xmas wish is not just for Dicko to score or Sako to swing one in,but for K Mac to have a flamboyant game with a dominating role on the break..
DB will have his work cut out and Ikeme needs to have a blinder..
Here’s to the New year everyone and be as positive as KJ….I’m not so sure..
COYW
Difficult game obviously. Going for a scoreless draw and will be very pleased with it.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Victory in the making.
One glass too many,
Maybe like Kenny,
But victory for the team,
Glean’s in this alcoholic dream,
RVLP with pace
Scoring a brace….
Watford away hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Just can’t see us getting anything from this one.
Not looking forward to TV tomorrow night just hope For one of those strange results Xmas throws up occasionally
Happy Christmas to everyone.
Can’t really see a win here but I won’t predict a loss so a draw it is. Let’s see if they prove me wrong & take the 3 points.
Come on Wolves.
I would take a point tomorrow, heart rather than head – maybe wishful thinking.
UTW
Merry Christmas to every one on the Blog,
Especially to Ben and Thomas for their hard work in keeping it going and allow us Fickle fans to vent our frustration’s…
Sorry but being realistic can only see defeat in this one..
Merry Christmas! I think this one has Boxing Day hangover written all over it unfortunately!
Ever the optimist……..
Difficult to be too positive about this or about Brentford frankly. If we get a point or three it will be at Vicarage Rd not in west London though.
Season’s Greetings to all. To some extent I share the uncertainties/pessimism expressed by most of those who’ve predicted so far. But I can’t bring myself to predict a poor result, things have got to change at some point and Boxing Day is as good a time as any – similarly to reverse the TV curse. If we can just a) get back to the possession figures of the early part of the season – and in so-doing take the pressure off the defence – and b) improve the attempts to on-target and on-target to goals ratios.
A happy and fulfilling 2015 to all Wolves followers.
Happy Christmas to all, and a big thank you to Thomas and Ben for tirelessly working on this excellent site.
Going for a drab draw and a good away point. Watford seem to be on a high this December, with the new Elton John stand and everything. Hope we can spoil the party a little and at least keep a clean sheet somehow.
Firstly, Thomas, putting a blog up on Christmas day is going above and beyond the call of duty, you get a medal, in the shape of a pie.
Cannot see anything but a hard fought thrashing of Watford tomorrow.
No, I aint bin drinking, the cops are like flies on the a….n around holiday time so no booze for the Clivemeister yesterday or today.
Positive waves emanating from across the pond, me laddos, Christmas stuffing in the air!!
FOwb
I know I don’t always agree with you Clive, one thing I will always agree with you are your comments regarding the unmentionables.
Also it’s nice to see someone picking the lads to win, how anyone can predict the lads losing and still “think” they are Wolves fans is beyond me, you might think it! but never actually say it, that’s why that lot up the road take the piss out of us because some of our lot give them the ammunition.
Me I always think we will win, I never have them on the coupon because they always do me down, has for the unmentionables I don’t hate them……..I detest them!
Happy new year to all “Wolves” fans!
Merry Christmas everyone! I’m feeling a little positive but l think its the alcohol kicking in. A draw will do me.
Agree with clive. Been on the piss all day feeling pretty chilled. No doubt will regret it in the mornin. Watford 0 wolves 48…. seriously … probably a 2-2 draw.
Ace blog as usual, fancy Dicko to salvage a point against a good team. Merry Christmas bloggers!
Agree with Twixfix about EEL and I think that I would have VLP instead of Edwards. If VLP can get his first goal,p others will follow. As I have said, I don’t think that KJ has actually decided to change the team’s philosophy,but time will tell.
Mjy prediction of a win is a tad optimistic, but I can hope.s
Hiya Jerryd … hope you’re making (have made) a good recovery and are having a good Xmas …
My “positivity stage” lasted one week. I think we are likely to lose again this week – but hey let’s be positive again – a draw!
Always poor on TV (sad smiley)
Sheer pace up front with VLP and Sako as the wing men, with a revitalised and pacy Dicko leading the line and a little help from Graham to keep their defence under pressure.
Can see all this pace leaving Watford with an extra man defending, thus bringing McD into play a hell of a lot more.
I actually fancy is for this one if we play the pacey game with McD and Price supporting the attack with good passing and close control.
KJ returning to his home club ? A win for us !
Cannot do Boxing Day without live football so will be heading to Watford to hopefully see a much improved performance after last Saturday’s poor effort. Disappointed to see Brighton play us at our own game and successfully use the possession tactics we were utilising so well previously. Hoofing the ball to no one in particular doesn’t work so will expect some tactical changes for this game. Time also to improve the conversion rate and to put away some of the many shots on target.
Thanks Thomas and Ben for another year of informed narrative; I hope you will be looking for another celebratory theme for your next piece but wouldn’t be prepared to put a very large bet on it based on last weekend’s spectacle.
Against my better judgement i predict a close win for wolves, as stated above KJs old club an all that.
Hoping to watch this in a bar in Los Angeles with Tettenhall Wolf, 9.30 am local time. Don’t let us down lads! Happy Christmas to Thomas, Ben and all fellow bloggers.
Not very positive at all
Will be overjoyed if we escape with a point
Hope your hangovers aren’t tha bad tomorrow morning chaps ????
Hard to see us doing better than “nearly / if only / a touch unlucky”.
Merry Christmas
well this proved right last week and would be more uplifting if achieved tomorrow..Oh for return of the fast pass and move style..,,,but lets take a point for now..anyhow
thanks Thomas..amazing work
Great blog, thanks for your hard work. Merry Xmas everyone.
Can’t bear to predict a loss, so I’m hoping for a festive point!
Merry Xmas to all of you can’t be there today cos of work but hope we come away with a point COYW
Great review again. I’m very much of the same point of view. And for the second week running I’m matching your prediction… can’t see the festive cheer coming from the lads I’m afraid.Will have make out own fun.
Can’t see anything good coming from this one unfortunately.
Thanks to Border Wolf for providing Xmas Day lunch. Very enjoyable.
Merry Christmas to all from the land down under.
Can’t see us winning away but a point would be nice. Dicko to score.
Merry Christmas tovyou fellas, and to all on the blog.
The mention of former Wolves players in the Watford team doesn’t bode well. Adlene to score another screamer, anyone?
I can understand why Hyypia resigned after enduring last week’s game. Despite our best efforts to convince him he was managing Barcelona Albion, he saw two poor teams competing for the Pointless trophy.
Hope I’m wrong Watford 3 Wolves 0 I hate myself for that, 🙁
Happy holidays to all. Hope all Wolves supporters everywhere will be filled with good cheer later on today. Thanks as well for the best written and presented blog I read. A positively partisan cornucopia of conscious coupling, as Stuart Hall may have said (can you still mention him?).
However, am not filled with the holiday spirit myself. Family illness and a sick car have left me feeling glum, and even a spirited 1-0 loss would help lift my mood. Here’s hoping for even better golden news.
Think we could be in for a difficult evening.
Does depend on playing three midfielders though so we have the bodies to pass and move to, and to protect our back four. Van Parras pace will always be more effective in away games where the home team will leave space for the counter attack. These 5.30pm games, particularly on Sky often throw up strange scorelines, lets hope this one goes the black and gold way today.
Not sure what to make of this one. On the basis of having too much to drink over the last 2 days, I’ll go for a goal feast and Wolves victory.
The bookies go 3/1 for Wolves win, and similar price for Silviniaco Conti at Kempton, so that will be my double for the day.
I’d like to see a Dicko/RvLP pairing up front to try and stretch their defence.
But I doubt it’ll happen so we’ll go down to a team high on confidence at the moment.
Tough game this. Hopefully with dicko back the lads are up to the test. All about high pressure and winning the ball in the opposing’s side of the pitch.
I sense a beating but its xmas so gotta stick with me babies
The news that Deeney is a potential injury doubt is certainly helpful. That said Watford have looking very impressive everytime I’ve seem them play, not that that’s been too often, hard to see us getting anything from this one unfortunately. Hopefully I’ll be proven completely wrong!
Hopefully I’m wrong again!!!
I’n torn between an optimistic battling draw and a pessimistic walloping…….as it’s Christmas I’m looking on the bright side 🙂
Will be a tighter game than many are imagining. esp if Deeney doesn’t make it and Dicko does. Soah Nuoha Noel is on the cards. Merry Christmas one and all, thanks for keeping me entertained and informed as I feed my Wanderers addiction.
Like others, it’s a good time to thank Thomas and Ben for the best blog site in the universe! Happy Xmas from the Peak District to the Wolves blogosphere! Snow forecast, so sun now expected, but probably not over Vicarage Rd. One of those big days of the season, Sky cameras, festive cheer, shedloads of expectation……why am I pessimistic??!! And Thomas’ prediction piece sealed it! Guedy probably rubbing his hands in anticipation. Right, must go cook some turkey – yeah, I know, bit late for that!
Gonna be difficult but we could do it. Come on me babbies!
Forgot to say, fantast blog. It brings me and others lots of pleasure, well guys.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hard to see us getting anything from this one.
No Sky so I’ll follow our progress in the village pub with a sustaining Guinness to soften the blow.
Happy Christmas bloggers.
Sticking my neck out I’m hoping for a win if KJ plays his strongest XI from the start..UTW.
A stirring comeback wirh a last minute equaliser.
Just up off of night shift and down to the local. I think against the odds the lads will serve up some Christmas cheer and 3 points. Happy holiday to one and all.
Merry Christmas all.
Hoping we can wrap up the year with much needed points – a draw would suit fine at Watford.
COYW
Think it’ll be tough
Showing Arsenal at the pub. Come home and having to listen to the Watford commentary on player. Sound like we are doing well. Their keeper having a great game – damn.
Hell of a result and could have been more by the sounds of it.
Back in the mix.
Just hope we get players in to replace Sako and Dicko in January. Don’t want to lose out on promotion place for lack of investment.
Get in got my prediction wrong, but i don’t care.
Bloody great result .
Bingle jells, Bingle Jells, Bingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to see The Wanderers win away, on Boxing Day, and the shit lose at home, again!!
Bring on The Boddingtons!!!
Ho fuckin’ ho!!
There is a Father Christmas! Well done KJ and the boys.My last pint tastes even better.
Got our team back, the performance was dominant, Dicko played his socks off, the two full backs were excellent, Danny Bhatt back at his best, Stearman chucking his body in to stop attacks. Very difficult to pick a man of the match tonight, they feckin deserved it well done Wolves for true spirit, determination and guts. Solid performance.
Another record broken, first Boxing day away win in 48 years.
Everyone of you get your arses down to the Molineux on Sunday, come on youv’e definitely got feck all better to do on a wet Sunday, let’s get behind the lads and Stuff Brentford. We need to give ourselves that boost by beating them again after they stuffed us. We have our strongest formation now, no extra injuries, so come on me babbies.
Pot of gold wating at the end of the rainbow, grab it boys.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Can’t make it mate. I have my Blackpool tickets though. Are we going to meet up in A Parkview or the North Bank Bar?
I do believe Doogooder is coming up for that one, so maybe the Parkview.
But as I’m a Tart, I’m easy either way.
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
Still waiting for greasel to mail a check for my airfare…………………..
Brilliant result. Watched the match on wiziwig, great stream with full audio. I don’t mind not getting any points on the PL if we pull off wins like this.
Was a bit traumatic at the end Stu..jingle Bells…
Wouldn’t be Wolves if it wasn’t Steve.
Condiments of the season mate, Stafford White with snow tonight. Uttoxeter got 4 ”
🙂
And North Yorkshire full of the transparent wet stuff.
I think Price makes a huge difference.
He’s clever with his passing.
He reminds me of Messi and should be one of the first on the team sheet.
Thought RVLP’s dink and run for the cross brilliant….
Bring on Brentford…
Watford head coach Slavisa Jokanovic:
“It’s simple. The opposing team was stronger and faster.
“They played liked adults against kids in some parts of the game, especially in the first 45 minutes.
That’s a compliment the lads should take into second half of the season, especially as a fair few of ours were / are kids.
Home games 442, away games 451.
Superb win. Relieved a lot of pressure. God save the queen. We don’t fuckin care..
Happy xmas Brompton I saw wiziwig with 3 advert overlays leaving a 3 inch visual square through a permenant squint.
Perhaps I’m doing something wrong !
RE wiziwig if you look carefully you can see small crosses on the ads which you can use to get rid of them; then use the bottom right symbol to enlarge the screen. You need a good fire wall as one of the ads, usually relating to out of date flash drive etc. will have some kind of virus in it. On no account download anything. If you haven’t got a good fire wall leave it alone.
Re the game ; I thought it was a good fighting performance but we need to finish much better. I the last few games we have put away about a quarter or a fifth of good goal scoring opportunities. VLP is as guilty as most but puts defences under a lot of pressure; he has had 2 solid blows to the head in recent weeks I’m not sue if that is helping or hindering the cause.
Our man of the match for me was Jack Price, what on earth was he doing out on loan?
With his quick crisp passing, we looked like the team we were last year. Completely transformed the team in my opinion.
Could not agree more he was the best player on the pitch for me, closely followed by the two young full backs. Who cares about the prediction league it was great to be proved wrong.
Yes the full backs have real promise and I don’t think many players could manage that effort by Hause. You can’t learn that sort of power.
Always look on the Bright side of Life, Doo Doo doo doo doo dooty doo too doo.
🙂
Missed last couple of games/ predictions I’ve been working over Christmas but I’d have predicted a big loss on this one so glad to be proved wrong.
Let’s hope this is the turning point now for our season and our bad patch is behind us something that encourages me is the top six teams at present haven’t had there sticky patch yet and they will so if we can recapture the early season form I a gree with Jackett automatic promotion should not be discounted
Still need a decent striker though to cover Dicko, Sako absence…….!