Is there really a match tonight?
After Saturday’s legal high and the mouthwatering prospect of Chelsea’s visit to Molineux in the next round, can there be a more stark contrast?
But regroup we must as there’s still a considerable amount of work to be done in the league.
I find it very difficult, given how Wolves are playing and the feel good factor, to envisage us slipping down into relegation strife.
But even so, everyone will feel better when there’s a bit more distance and a few more places between ourselves and the bottom three.
This is a really tough fixture against a team who continue to succeed against the odds.
Barnsley
It must be so frustrating for Paul Heckingbottom to see his best players continually getting picked off.
Defender James Bree and captain Conor Hourihane were the latest to leave with Aston Villa recognising the talent both possess.
They follow Wolves academy graduate Sam Winnall out the Oakwell exit door after he departed for Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the month.
Reinforcements have arrived in the shape of Leicester midfielder Matty James and Leeds’ highly rated youngster Alex Mowatt.
But it’s a big ask for a team with so much upheaval to continually regroup and consistently win matches as the Tykes have been doing this season.
They’ve won 7 out of their last 10 matches in fact and come into the game just a point outside the play-offs. The 23 goals they’ve conceded at home is the highest of any team in the league.
Wolves
Signing a genuine superstar like Helder Costa for £13 million seems unfathomable when you consider we’ve dined out on budget recruitment, free transfers and loans for so long.
If we can fend off summer interest, he’ll be a key addition next season, particularly if the goal is still promotion from the Championship.
In the here and now I can’t see the Portuguese man getting a rest tonight. I’d have Bodvarsson and Mason down as definite starters and probably Price too.
But it will be fascinating to see if Paul Lambert rewards any of Saturday’s heroes who haven’t been in the team a chance to stake a more regular claim. I’m thinking about Hause, Evans and Saville in particular.
The injury to Ivan Cavaleiro is a blow because despite inconsistent performances, he’s still a threat down that left flank. Andi Weimann’s performance at Anfield proves he’s a more than able deputy though.
Paul Lambert
Predictions
We’re in a great place right now. The performances are improving, the manager has stacks of options and the whole club is bouncing.
I thought yesterday’s announcement about season tickets was also fantastic. Not only is it great value, it also shows an intent to get Molineux full again.
Despite the fact Barnsley are seventh and we’re down at the bottom, I’ll back us to get the win and hopefully avenge the 4-0 tonking they handed out at Molineux.
2-1.
Up The Wolves!
It might be difficult for the players to motivate themselves!
I’d play Price & Evans in midfield.
Bright behind the striker & start with Ronan instead of Costa.
Anyway for me a draw.
Anfield was a wonderful place to be on Saturday.
Tonight and Burton on Saturday are important games to get away from the relegation zone.
I’m a bit concerned that Helder took a knock on Sat (that bloody short run off strip and the advertising hoarding) plus Cav is injured, so imo we won’t be so effective on the counter, which is our usual away tactic.
Be interesting to see who Lambo picks tonight. Will the players who missed out on Saturday have a point tp prove, or will it be a gigantic hangover?
Hate to be negative and really hope I’m wrong, but I think we’ll have too many tired legs after Anfield.
Prove me wrong lads.
COYW!
Tough game tonight after the highs of Liverpool. Back down to earth with a hard fought score draw. Would love Dadi to get on the score sheet.
I am usually pessimistic, but think we have a real opportunity to push on here, competition for places should ensure that no-one has a let down
Pretty much impossible to predict PL’s selection. He always springs a surprise but nearly always gets it right. Because everyone has to earn their place I believe they’ll stay focused ‘cos a certain Chelsea will be at the Molineux soon and everyone will want to be playing.
As Thomas tells us Barnsely have lost some of their best players so hoping Wolves continue to ride the wave.
IF Evans and Saville are fully recovered from Saturday’s exertions I would have no hesitation in starting them tonight. The difference is marked with them in the team. They protect the centre backs and can both use the ball well. We are so much tighter and more compact with them in the team.
JDB probably deserves a start although there is an argument to play the same team again with the same tactics and look to hit Barnsley on the break. On the other hand those who weren’t involved on Saturday will have fresh legs.
I would like to see Bright in the 10 role playing off the striker although Mason can also do a job there.
I have the feeling that we are starting to get there as a team. The starting eleven is becoming clearer. We have Costa. Weimann looks useful and Graham will be back soon as will Zyro. We’ve some good youngsters coming through. We are not there yet and to get something tonight will be a big ask. I can’t help feeling it depends so much on who is selected. There are so many inponderables but I think the team above could struggle.
Cracking result. Fair play. I feared the worst when I saw the side. Must learn to trust in PL 🙂
We can beat premier league teams away so surely we can do the same in the championship.
Like the look of Weimann and I am sure that Bodvarsson will score given how good he looked at Anfield.
The defence is starting to look much more solid and I predict a clean sheet.
Could be a kickback after the Liverpool result, but hoping for another 3 points tonight.
Let’s hope the bubble doesn’t burst tonight. A job still needs to be done. I’d love to see Jon Dadi get the reward he deserves for some pretty stoic performances recently and get among the goals.
After the Lord Mayor’s show for me
Who knows what the team will be or how they will perform after last Saturday’s exertions.
They say good things come in threes so
1 Beat Liverpool
2 Costa signs
3 Good win tonight.
Onwards & Upwards
With fingers crossed I hope for a 1-0 win. There might be a rest for Costa. I can’t see who would replace him though. Please not Saville on the wing. He might have done well at Defensive midfield, but he offers nothing on the wing (where has played a couple of times.)
Great news about Costa, the pessimists among us will say that there is almost certainly a get out clause at the end of the season if things go tits up but the optimists can counter that at least we have him until then and, with a four and a half year contract, if he does go to a Premier League club it will be for a damn sight more than £13m.
As far as tonight is concerned, what can we expect?
If Paul Lambert has done his homework on Barnsley as well as he sussed out how to play Liverpool then we have the players to win.
But, as previously mentioned, there could well be an ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ feel about the team.
If we want to be taken seriously as a club that is going places we have to maintain the standard set on Saturday.
I’ll leave selection to Mr Lambert as he seems to have got the hang of it now.
Talk about getting the hang of it I’m starting to worry that I might be turning Scottish because I am beginning to understand what PL is saying in his pre and post match interviews.
Is it me or is he going slightly Yam Yam?
No, it’s me isn’t it.
Or maybe it’s the new battery I’ve just put in my Babel Fish.
Douglas Adams fans will know what I’m talking about.
As for tonight, let’s go for a win.
What like McLaren going a bit Dutch and Barton a little bit French Doog? Mind Yamyam ay so easay to get roight ay it.
That well known scouser Jan Molby was another fine example of the species.
Good news indeed!! Costa probably has a release clause similar to Ola John. It is, according to sources, a “custom” among portuguese players to have such a release clause. If someone buys him now, I’m sure it will be a better deal for Wolves than for the team which would end up buying him.
We be stopped losing games ( blip at Norwich) normal order is being resumed
We be stopped losing games…………….?
Who are you – Farmer Giles?
Ooh-arr!
‘Ere. Nuff o’ that me ‘an’some. Us ain’t all called Giles.
We have Tuesdays off. Barnsley are decent too.
I went to the Molineux yesterday for a Disabled fans meeting, the guy at Wolves was saying'”what a complete Plank Walter Zenga was as a manager and all at the club were panicking with the direction South in the league we were going”. On the other hand he said, “that in Paul Lambert, we had one of the best Technical directors in the business and that everyone throughout the club loved him”.
I was at the Fans Parliament and Lambert stated, “there was no money to buy Costa and it would be sad to lose him at the end of his loan spell”.
Well how things have changed in a few weeks, our style, method of play, set up, tactics and all round enthusiasm have all gone up and we as fans are enjoying it. Even at Norwich we were getting back into the game and had it not been for Carl Ikeme’s error of judgemnt (justified IMO) the league position would look rosier.
Suddenly PL has been given the green light and the money to secure Costa, oh how it’s changed indeed. At the fans Parliament it was brought up about lowering the prices. Well it seems they have listened, If all goes how they want it to, as an OAP I can watch Wolves for £7-50 a game and my Grandson can watch for £50 for the season.
I was the first person to buy on the early bird last year and I will be there this season.
Good time to be a Wolves fan again.
Me and Jen de Wolf are off to the game tonight and I really expect to see Conor Ronan and Morgan Gibbs-White at some point with their 15 year old fresh legs, also Bhatt, Coady and Dadi. So I’m up for it, PL will be up for it and with the feel good factor, the lads should be up for it.
So Wolves 2-0 Barnsley for me.
COMB’s
Wolves sign Portuguese money seeker for more than Barnsley FC is worth.
Barnsley have a Barnsley born chairman, manager and captain and are constantly written off and underestimated as opponents look at squad value not team spirit, energy and pace. Wolves better be at their best on a cold rainy Tuesday night, otherwise another ‘gubbing’ on the cards. If they are, then it shows they can adapt and a late season charge beckons.
Yep. Your lads are doing you proud for sure. I won’t hear a word against Helder though(see, we’re on first name terms).
If he was a money seeker, he’d have stayed on his loan deal and secured a big money move to the Premier League at season’s end. So there.
Unlike some others on this blog, I am far too young to understand whatever the Lord Mayors Show means.
Must be a World War Two reference.
Anyrode, enough of this tired legs and minds bollocks, above all else, tonight is payback time.
They stuck four past us at The Mol and we must put at least the same past them tonight.
Forget Chelsea and dreams of Wembley, focus on the six must get points at stake tonight and at Burton on Saturday.
If we lose both games, we are right in the thick of the relegation shit, and going down would almost certainly mean losing Costa.
I for one would hate to see that happen.
FOwb
With the last performances in mind I’d say it’s almost theoretically impossible. If it happens I’ll convert and become a disciple of the chaos theory.
Has to be Hause and Stearman continuing in the centre of defence. No place for Batth thankfully. Can see Ronan coming into the side tonight as well. Would keep Dicko up top. Edwards and Dicko with the goals
I would certainly keep Hause alongside Stearman rather than put Batth back in.
As for the result tonight – we just beat Liverpool for Christ sakes, so none of this pigging nonsense about tired legs etc. We am Wolves Ay We, so …………………
Gonna check if I can get a ticket on the gate tonight. Forogt all about this match with the Liverpool High!!
Thought your tent was right next door to their ground?
Tek yer boots, you might get a game!!
Your memory must be as bad as your geography. I told you I no longer live there since I inherited that fortune.
Hi mate
You can pay cash at the turnstiles, I checked earlier.
Thanks ian but I left wofk too late to travel.
Hopefully we will revert to the 4231 system PL started using which offers us a lot more creativity going forward with Edwards in a more withdrawn role where his particular attributes can best be utilised and enables a creative player like Mason or Enobakhare to sit in behind the striker.
Even so I am wary of these Tuesday night games after our experiences this season so am feeling a bit pessimistic and for once am predicting a defeat – don’t do that very often at all – though will be following the game on the radio and various live score apps as eager for a win as I was last Saturday.
As I never seem to be able to beat the bookies and they make us favourites tonight I will go along with them. Evans and Dadi both earnt there place tonight but so has everybody else that played Saturday, so I’ll leave it up to the boss and back him to come up trumps, just hope it’s not the Donald Trumps.
You are gonna get in trouble for bringing politics into the blog!!
Just sayin’
The blog police are ever watchful, bless ’em!
The only police that bother me are them ones that used to sing de do de doo dah dah and other pretentious crap back in the 80’s.
You’ll get “stung” for that as well!!
That’s awful. Hands up officer I’ll come quietly.
expect quite a few changes tonight but trust PL to get it right, think Bod will start and score then Dicko to come on and get his deserved goal, hope the changes in their team affect them.
Collymore can shut his face, see villa about to pay 10/15 mill for Brentford striker presumably to replace the bloke who cannot get out of his house gates who in turn was signed to replace flabby – we know who has got the better deal.
Great offer by the club on season tickets
COYW we are going places – Liquidator back and get them fuc–n Redrow signs down today.
What a contrast, Liverpool Barsnley Oakwell Anfield. I don’t know about the players but I’m still drained from my excertitions on Saturday.
I think there will be changes Dikco for one he tryed his best Saturday but its just not happening for him at the minute a example, he had the ball at his feet in the box the secound have and dwelt to longon it he seemed to be in two minds whether to pass or shoot and ended up doing neither he scuffed the ball and the defender nicked it of him.
I’d play Dadi and Wiesman up front my be start with Evans and Saville and see how they go.
We need to win really to put some day light between us and the bottom three but after Saturday a draw would not be a bad result…….!
Not sure of the team but the spirits should still be high
Pinched this one off BBC twitter,
” both wolves scorers stearman and weiman sounding like a Geordie woman asking her fella not to leave !
We are on the up with a score to settle, they won’t be looking for forward to playing the Wolves tonight. COYW.
Lambert has said that he’s assessing the players to see if they’re good to go again after their heroics on Saturday. I hope he will make some changes; we do have plenty of options, and although Barnsley have better league form than us, we’re on the up and will surely have gained confidence after that great win. It would be good to see one or two of the young lads get a start.
3-0 tonight and again on Saturday
According to Lambert, Costa was completely knackered after his efforts on Saturday. With that in mind we have to find a right sided replacement. Ronan? Mason? Who knows?.
I expect a few changes elsewhere, DB probably back but It is impossible for me to guess PL’s team sheets.
A narrow win for me.
DB might have already played his last game for us.
Just sayin’
3 goals for us, a clean sheet, a couple of changes to the team to keep them all on their toes and we leave with 3 points. Job done.
Chelsea FA Cup game 5-30 pm Saturday 18th
I don’t care who plays
Just want 3 points really need them let’s start climbing the table build momentum cmon my boys going for a win tonight.
Back to the harsh reality of Tuesday’ nights battling in Yorkshire
Expect lots of changes from Anfield heroes as they will be drained
But we have a decent depth of talent nowadays and as someone has said it won’t be long before Zyro and Graham are available
We’re still not worldbeaters however and a scrappy point will do for me
Sticking to my tried and tested formula (over 3 games) of predicting a draw thus ensuring a win.
Same here, it’s worked so far.
Barnsley are a much better team than people give them credit for. Hopefully the fact they have lost some of their key players this window might work in our favour. Saying that I expect a tough game tonight and a narrow defeat.
Playing well the bonus of Costa signing is immense ill take 3 points please
After all the euphoria, fully expecting us to lose. So hoping for a draw.
Back to this crap league after seeing us at anfield it put a lump in my throat as that’s the sort of grounds we should be playing at ..(ask Costa)
Back to this game ..stinks of a draw but no doubt we will have the chances to win..- depends on the defence ..Steers / Hause for me..HB in goal my tip for a future star..
I hear Jordan Graham is close to fitness..just saying..
2-1 to us which keeps the dream alive and possibly only 10 points between us and the top six..
COYW
Can see a hangover from the Liverpool game. Draw would be a good result I feel
Here we go again.
Lots and lots of good things coming out of the Mol over the last 24 hours…and an impressive season ticket offer thrown in…well done Fosun..I’m in….
Regards tonight ..well this will be tough..physically and mentally and I fear that our exertions on Saturday will have a bearing.
We have an improving bench strength and I think this fixture, coupled with Barnsleys work rate, comes up a bit too soon for me.
Hopefully we can grind out a draw.
I will be really impressed with PL if he can get a decent result tonight after Saturday’s high.
I’m guessing he’ll try to refresh the team but I’m hoping he can keep the Stearman/Hause partnership intact. I would also like Bodvarsson and Mason to start, with Dicko coming on later.
Apparently Ben Marshall is on the way to the Mol for a medical
Happy with a point, on a cold rainy windy night in Yorks….still predict a win though lol
I can see us struggling to match the heady heights of Saturday but I’ll back us to get a point.
Impressive over achievers this season a draw would be decent result.
Just in time for a prediction. Back to earth with a bump against a solid Barnsley. A scrappy win.
The Liverpool win would have done wonders for confidence, which was on the rise anyway. Nothing wrong with Barnsley’s confidence either though I would imagine and the praise heaped on our Anfield performance will surely spur our opponents on to greater efforts.
Tough, tough game tonight my friends, but I fancy us to sneak it. Perhaps with a late winner from Weimann.
Oh dear. I’ve just seen Adam Hammill starts for Barnsley. Looks like we’ll have to score two then.
Ooo aaarr
One nil already
I be loik s that
Blimey, we are on a roll. Play offs may not be an impossibility?
Got to be happy with those 3 points. Aint got a clue how we played, but I don’t really care lol
played em off the park, by all accounts. Dangerous Dave really dangerous !! Same again at Burton please.
Fan……bloody……..tastic. Is this really happening or am I dreaming lambert tactics spot on again, Villa lost Bues lost and best of all Ipw.shite.
Have we really turn a corner……..after years of false dawns and disappointment have we finally found a manager with the minerals who knows how to motivate and set up a team instill pride, passion, belief and dicapline……if we have turned a corner……hold on tight folks for the ride of our lives…..roll on Burton..!
If we continue to play as well as we are now then Chelsea, be scared, be very very scared
Blimey. First time I’ve got a prediction right since Brentford 0 Wolves 3. ?
As Clive says, in 10 years time it will go down as three points.
In reality it was a brilliant first half Conor Ronan started and played with the confidence of a guy 10 years older than him. A Ronan free kick into the area, and Hause eventually knocks it over the line. A Ronan corner and turned in by Edwards in his Dangerous Dave style. Bright collects the ball, runs across the area like a Liverpool player and slots a lovely placed ball to Ronan, he hits a ball that rockets through the crowd of players and slams against the bottom of the post. Then Edwards collects a through ball and slots it home off a rebound.
Then it went downhill fast, the players looked jaded and PL changed tired players to pep it up. Harry Burgouyne made a great stop that unfortunately rebounded back to a Barnsley player to slam in, 3-1.
Points to note.
First half good
Conor Ronan Brilliant.
Jack Price was wearing roller skates and couldn’t put a wheel right, all over the place, absolute crap, splaying passes everywhere, really poor game.
We won playing badly in the second half, we are a game in hand over two teams above us, we are 9 points off the play offs.
Not a bad weekend for a Wolves fan.
FOwb
Ben Marshall just signed. Done deal
Shit refs, we only get shit Refs.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/barnsley/10751093/barnsley-1-3-wolves
I freaking love Paul Lambert!!!
I agree with StuWolf. We were poor in the second half and lucky we were not playing at home as I feel the Molineux would have been less forgiving of some of our hoofball tactics. I know we were two up before the sending off but the red card was the turning point as far as I’m concerned. Still, it was always going to be tough after the Anfield heroics and 3 points is 3 points.
So many positives at the moment but one sticks out for me. In the past whenever we tried to make massive changes to the team for such things as cup games we have always been crap and often ended up losing to lesser opposition. Six changes to Saturday and another away win at a tough venue. PL has mastered something no previous wolves manager has, we have a real squad instead of a team. The people brought in are not second string they are set up correctly then come in and do their job in a well balanced team.
Remember all the stick that management got for offering Edwards a new contract or the stick directed at Savile Evans Baath and our non scoring forwards. Forget it, that was the KJ version of the players not the PL turbo version, completely different brand so no need to carry on with any of that criticism. Yes the Dicko and Bod version don’t come with goals but have another look at what they bring to the game, battering defenders and pulling them all over the pitch so that others can step in.
Seems like nearly every player is improving by playing these days and its great to see players reach their true potential. We all have our favourites but as the squad grows there’s not room for everyone. I like Coady but I still think iorfa is a special talent and I hope PL can help him find his way back.
Amazing six changes between two winning teams and that doesn’t include Ikeme Cav Saiss Williamson Graham Zyro Marshall Gibbs-White. Now that is a squad and most of them here before PL came. Maybe some of the previous set-up wasn’t as bad as it looked it just needed PL to add the final touches.
Jackomac.
I have to say, that is the best summary of our current state Iv’e read to date, well said that man.
As a fan I reserve the right to slag individuals and managers off and I surely did when it was the pits. As you say and I shouted at the time, it was down to the lack of any real tactical nous on the part of KJ. Good in Div 1 but struggled out of that level. The players are reaching their full potential under PL. At a meeting at Molineux two days ago for the Disabled group I help, the Wolves guy said “PL is regarded as a Technical director of considerable talent” we are starting to see the best of him and the team and now we can breathe out. Game in hand and only 9 points from the play offs on the 1st February ain’t to shabby or impossible.
Great write io Matey.
I agree mate, Iorfa is a special talent. He has lost his way big style just now which has surprised me as a good player does not turn bad overnight. He was a very capable and confident young man who I feel needs some direction to be put back on track. I rate him.
What a dead ball demon young Conor Ronan is . Started noticing second half at anfield and the same while watching some highlights last night . Absolutely deadly . What a little gem
I agree with Tim Spears ‘ whisper it quietly.. something special is happening in wv1’
Did anyone else notice what bad losers the Barnsley lot are?
The tackle on Jack Price and the player who then had a go at hime, the clear penalty and the whining yorkshire dickheads and the manager attacking the wolves bench!!!
I have decided I hate all Barnsley wan***s and hope they lose every remaining match.
Yeh whisper it Matt we are on fire going to batter this league.
Mick’s from Barrnsleey they call it northern grit (ryhmes with). Ipswich playing some shocking stuff reminds me of our last 6 months under MM.
Fair play to our new owners they have had plenty of stick re Jackett, Mendes, Lopez (close enough) Zenger, Marco Silva etc and signings but they have kept going.