Wolves Blog

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Thomas

Luton Vs Wolves Preview

Blog, Luton Town

We can take some positivity into this from the Liverpool game.

The first half was excellent and the only disappointment was the players couldn’t provide sterner resistance to the inevitable onslaught that followed.

Everything but the finish from Cunha against Liverpool

Neto is finding some real form, Bellegarde didn’t misplace a pass and I thought João Gomes looked sharper than he has done for a while. All of those things are valid causes for optimism.

But tomorrow is different. Tomorrow is all about the result. I’m not going to say we can’t afford to lose this early in the campaign, but defeat would underline in bold exactly what this season is about.

We know Luton away is going to be markedly different to Liverpool at home and I am concerned about whether this team has enough to combat a more direct and robust approach.

Luton

It’s zero points from four games for Rob Edwards and plenty of people are writing the Hatters off already.

But their next three games are Wolves, Everton and Burnley, so it’s probably wise to hold out on any firm predictions until they can be weighted against those around them in the table.

Missed chances cost Luton last weekend

Brighton and Chelsea both beat them by three but the margins were thinner against West Ham and in particular, Fulham, last weekend. They could easily have won that game.

Everybody knows the drill. They’ll let teams have the ball and sit in their 352 shape, but when they get it, they’re going to be direct and physical. As mentioned above, I don’t think that’s a bad tactic against Wolves.

Whatever they do tomorrow, I think everyone would agree they’re going to be in and around the bottom three. It’s not just quality, it’s a lack of experience at this level that will end up costing them.

Ryan Giles was dropped for their trip to Craven Cottage last week so he may not feature tomorrow. I felt Wolves were wrong to let him go, but time will tell on that one.

Wolves

Last week, the first half proved me wrong about the full backs who were both excellent. But I felt their performances deteriorated as Liverpool took control and Ait-Nouri was at fault for their equaliser, getting sucked towards the ball and leaving Salah free to get his cross-shot away. Fine margins, but that’s the Premier League.

I suspect Gary O’Neil will stick with the same XI but I would personally look to get some more height into the team to cope with the threats that Luton pose. That probably means Toti and Doc coming into the back four.

I’d still like to see Kalajdzic get a start, but who do you drop? Cunha has been excellent save for some horrendous finishing, Neto has been the star man in the last two games and Hwang has three goals from limited minutes. You could play Cunha deeper to get Sasa on the pitch but that would mean dropping Bellegarde and he was outstanding against Liverpool.

There are all sorts of configurations for Gary to consider and we have greater quality than Luton, so he’s got to earn his crust here.

Predictions

Well done to Aquilador, DebenhamWolf, Wokingham Welsh Wolf, Prawny, Wokywolf, Lord Twix, Desert Wolf and Winchcombe Wolf who all correctly predicted the scoreline against Liverpool. Sheffieldwolf remains top of the leaderboard at the end of Gameweek 5.

I’m very concerned about the team’s ability to navigate a challenge like this one, but we have better players than Luton and I’ve seen some good things in our performances, so I am going to predict a victory. I’ll say 2-1 to the old gold with Neto to get on the scoresheet.

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.

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Wolves Vs Liverpool Preview

Blog, Liverpool

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.

Lacking authority at Selhurst

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.

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Crystal Palace Vs Wolves Preview

Blog, Crystal Palace

Matheus Nunes never wanted to play for us so it was correct to get rid.

For what it’s worth, I think he’ll do well at City. His undoubted quality will be a miss but it seems like Wolves will end up stronger in the aggregate.

Goals and signings galore – a better week

Enso Gonzalez, Santi Bueno and Tommy Doyle are safely through the door, meaning we’ve added a player in each third of the pitch to give Gary O’Neil much-needed options.

I’d still like a centre-forward (who might well be Che Adams) and maybe another attack-minded midfielder. As I write this post, reports from France suggest we’re close to signing Jean-Ricner Bellegarde from Strasbourg.

Maybe we’ll end up with all the players we needed after all – even if it is a mad trolley dash at the 11th hour.

Crystal Palace

The best business Palace have done is keeping Olise and Eze. I know the former is injured (great for us) but with those two on the pitch at some point combined with Roy’s ability to create stubborn opposition, I can’t see them getting into trouble.

Matheus Franca, another young attacker (also injured), has been brought in for decent money from Brazil and Dean Henderson will likely become their new number-one after sealing a move from Man Utd.

A deserved share of the spoils at Brentford last week

They’re reportedly looking for a striker in the final hours of the window so may well be circling the same pool of players as us.

A win, a draw and a defeat so far solidifies my view that they’ll be midtable certainties but if the new faces make a difference, there’s no reason they couldn’t push higher.

I thought they were really good at Molineux last season, despite the fact Wolves ended up winning the game. It took a big defensive effort to keep them out.

Wolves

With Nunes gone, the substitutes making a difference in the win at Goodison Park, players staking their claim against Blackpool and the new signings potentially being available, we could see changes.

I put the same graphic up last week and nothing has really changed my opinion. Sasa has two goals (and should have been given a penalty) in the three appearances he’s made so far. He’s effective and he needs to be on the pitch.

Sarabia did well against Blackpool so is perhaps at the front of the line for occupying that space down the right. I can see him being useful on what always seems a tight Selhurst Park pitch.

Doherty not only scores goals and gets into smart positions high up the pitch, but he also makes us more physically robust, so I just can’t see the argument for leaving him out, even if you lose some balance by playing him (or Semedo) down the left.

Predictions

Well done to vicsmith, Rich, Desert Wolf, Prawny, Chesterwolf, AveburyWolf, Dandy Wolf and Steady Eddie who all correctly predicted a 1-0 win at Everton. They all collect a maximum. Sheffieldwolf leads the overall table at the end of Gameweek 3.

I don’t think I’ve predicted a victory yet, but I’m feeling saucy after an encouraging week. We’ve been beaten down at Selhurst Park, losing on our last three visits if memory serves, but I think we’ll do better on Sunday. 2-1. Sasa to get the winner.

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!

Wolves 5 Blackpool 0

Blackpool, Blog, League Cup

When the weatherman says it’s rainin’, you’ll never hear me complainin‘.

Yes, the forecast called for a dry, cloudy evening but it was pouring goals at Molineux tonight with Wolves making a splash.

Fabio got the goal his efforts deserved

Our second string side lacked any pace or width so it was all about picking Blackpool off with fluid passing through the lines. One paced at times but ultimately very effective.

It suited the likes of Doherty, Sarabia and Jonny to a tee. They luxuriated in stroking it around and waiting for the right moments.

Pablo showed how effective he can be – albeit against meagre opposition – with incisive runs in behind and lots of disguised through balls.

Fabio and Sasa both profited from his work, finishing calmly to all but settle the game inside 25 minutes.

Blackpool had their say, hitting the woodwork twice and blocking Wolves in their defensive third for extended periods. They were probably worth at least one goal on the balance of play, but were ultimately restricted to pot shots from distance before being soundly punished on the counter as the game developed.

Matt Doherty, playing at walking pace for much of the contest, picked his moments like the seasoned pro he’s become and showed the quality in front of goal we know he possesses. I think he should be in the team on Sunday.

It was great to see Nathan Fraser get what I believe is his first goal in professional football and several other youngsters get minutes under their belts.

Less pleasing was Joe Hodge pulling his hamstring, which almost certainly rules him out for a spell and further reduces Gary O’Neil’s ever shrinking options in midfield. Please do something about that Jeff.

Boubacar Traore did some good and not so good things but I can forgive him for being rusty with such limited game time in recent months.

Wolves were wasteful in possession at times and Traore, Toti and one or two others will have to sharpen up if they’re to force their way into first team contention.

But, we scored five, we didn’t concede and we’re through to the next round.

I ain’t complainin’.

Everton 0 Wolves 1

Blog, Everton

Football can be a simple sport.

Winger crosses the ball, forward puts it in the back of the net.

Sasa is off the mark

It’s been so long since that’s even been an option for Wolves, I was almost too shocked to celebrate.

I don’t care if it came off Sasa’s head, shoulder or any other part of his considerable anatomy, the only thing that matters is he was there.

From the Everton defender’s body language, the message was clear – ‘How am I supposed to deal with this guy?’.

We saw similar at Old Trafford. He unsettles defenders and creates chaos in the penalty area.

It’s precisely what we’ve been missing and the reason that the Austrian must play every minute he’s fit enough to be considered.

Without him, we’re still playing in front of the opposition almost hoping something opens up and, as we know from considerable experience, it usually doesn’t.

To Fabio’s credit, he got into good positions himself today but squandered another clear run on goal and mistimed his run for the finish he did manage to guide beyond Jordan Pickford.

He’s still not enough of a focal point to effectively lead the line on his own and with Matheus Cunha anonymous, we didn’t ask enough questions. It’s Sasa and one of those two for me.

Pedro Neto showed an admirable amount of effort and tenacity, which was ultimately rewarded with the assist for the match winning moment. It was a superb cross too.

Jose Sa made some huge saves to keep us above water when it felt like the momentum was swinging towards the home side and for that I think he has to be Man of the Match.

The performance generally was probably the worst of the three we’ve had, lacking any of the energy or purposeful attacking we saw against Utd or Brighton.

But when you get the result, none of that matters.

Simple really.

Everton Vs Wolves Preview

Blog, Everton

Nothing will be decided by next Friday but two significant things will have happened.

The transfer window of doom will be closed for a start with Matheus Nunes (and possibly other key players) either still at the club or sold.

Positives to take from Brighton despite the heavy defeat

On the other side of that, Wolves will either have done nothing or something to help Gary O’Neil make a decent fist of things.

I think we need more experience and physicality at both ends of the pitch. A centre half and a centre forward would do just fine for me. Wishful thinking?

Before any of that, there’s the small matter of a game against the only team in the Premier League suffering more than us. We dare not lose.

Everton

I didn’t see their game against Villa but from everything I’ve read, it was a massacre from start to finish. To compound matters for Sean Dyche, both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi went off injured and have been ruled out of tomorrow’s game.

That’s good news for us but bad for an Everton side yet to score a goal in their opening two matches. They did have one harshly ruled out against Fulham on the opening weekend and were unlucky to lose that match on the balance of play.

Another long and busy season ahead for England’s Number One.

In a bid to bolster their attack, they have added young Sporting Lisbon striker Youssef Chermiti and fellow forwards Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison, but the latter is still some way off returning from injury.

Che Adams is another player they’re close to signing despite well-documented financial issues. Like us, what they do between now and the end of the window may tip the scales one way or the other.

Given everything that’s going on at the club and their form in recent seasons, it would be some achievement if Dyche was again able to keep them afloat.

Wolves

I’m just going to say it – I think Matheus Nunes deliberately got himself sent off against Brighton. He was already on a yellow and knew what the outcome of those late handbags would be and even had a couple of bites. If it wasn’t deliberate, it was idiotic, which is only marginally more forgivable.

Gary O’Neil played a back three a few times at Bournemouth so there might be temptation to fill the void by bringing Toti into the side. If he wanted a like-for-like replacement for Nunes, I guess Sarabia would be the closest match.

I’d try Matt Doherty at left-back, I’d play Neto down the left and I’d be trying to squeeze what I could get out of Sasa Kaladzik. We need players that are effective in the penalty area.

Whatever he does, this is a good test of O’Neil’s tactical acumen and it will be interesting to see if he’s more pragmatic in his approach or continues to play aggressively. I hope it’s the latter, but whatever gets the job done.

Predictions

For the second week running, nobody got the scoreline correct but then again, a 4-1 home defeat is a bold forecast.

Well done to AgentCyan, Ash K, PeteRobbo, Sheffieldwolf, Wokywolf and t’OM who’ve got the outcome of both games correct. The question is, will they all go for a third straight defeat?

I myself am going for a draw. We’ve looked a better side than Everton over the two games each side has played so far, but I do worry about our ability to navigate this particular challenge. It’s going to be a hot atmosphere, even this early in the season. Both teams know what it means. 1-1.

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!

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