When we lost at St Andrew’s in April it was probably considered a minor upset.
How times have changed.
Currently it’s Blues leading the play-off charge and Wolves drifting in no man’s land.
The balance of power shifts quickly and often in the Championship and the reality is there probably isn’t much to choose between the sides.
But confidence is key and you wonder how much is left in the tank after three straight demoralising losses?
Birmingham
Well done Gary Rowett. The Blues manager has made a mockery of the club’s well documented problems and a lack of spending power to build a stable, consistent side.
Only table toppers Brighton have won more games this season and even after last weekend’s defeat at Hull, they’re still just a single point outside the automatic promotion places.
There’s a lot of experience throughout the spine of the side like Tomasz Kuszczak, Paul Robinson and Clayton Donaldson.
The talented Demarai Gray brings pace and trickery. No doubt speculation will once again resume about his future in January.
Home form hasn’t been spectacular thus far, with three wins, a draw and two defeats. St Andrew’s is far from a fortress.
Wolves
Realistically, Mike Williamson was probably as good an acquisition Wolves could make given the timing and circumstances.
I expect he’ll go straight into the team even if Dominic Iorfa is considered fit enough to take part. I doubt he’s come to sit on the bench.
The five man midfield worked quite well against Boro, particularly in the first half, so I reckon we’ll see it again on Saturday.
I think Kenny might go narrower though, sacrificing one of the out and out wide players in favour of Jed Wallace.
Other contenders for a start include Jack Price, the returning Jordan Graham and possibly even Carl Ikeme after some accused Martinez of being softly beaten last time out.
The gaffer
Predictions
Perversely, whenever we’re doing well I hate the thought of a local derby, but on current form, I think it could be just the tonic.
To lose a fourth game in a row and against our near neighbours would be a new level of misery, but I think we might pull a performance out of the bag.
I’m going for an unlikely, narrow victory.
2-1
Up The Wolves!
Agree, Williamson has to go straight in. I’d also like to see Ikeme and Price recalled. Think both our defence and midfield would benefit from two of our most consistent performers.
It’s vital to get KMac creating and Price is key to that, although I expect KJ to stick with Coady despite not impressing recently and is probably a contender to get a red card in this type of game.
Afobe has to stay up top, the withdrawn role stops him from hurting teams where it matters most.
I’d also like to see Graham involved. Surely he deserves a chance and is high on confidence after a successful loan spell, so he should be a positive addition and he’s ex Villa.
Ikeme
Iorfa Batth Wiiliamson Golbourne
KMac Price
Henry Edwards Graham
Afobe
yup, i pretty much agree with every word JDW … the improvement was ther for all too see against mboro … im not gonna wind myself up by going on about how we’ve got ourselves in this position, but it is a position nonetheless and one which i just dont see us winning so im going to go for a spirited 2-2.
Desperately need a good result and with a new central defender in hopefully should settle the defence who for the first 70 minutes against boro didn’t look too troubled. Fancy us for a narrow victory
pretty worrying how close we are to a full on crisis and potential relegation scrap. always thought we were too good to be in that situ, but that’s nonsense. need to turn it round, hopefully will start on saturday with a tighter defence
I like the look of that line-up John De Wolf. Certainly on the Price issue. When he’s in the side we just seem to click. I thought Byrne had his moments in the first half against Boro, but he looked a bit lightweight. I like the idea that Graham will turn up full of confidence and want to stick one over the Blues. Maybe a bit more out of hope than expectation, but what’s the point if you can’t cling onto those romantic Roy of the Rovers type notions.
I’m glad you can have so much confidence in the team.
I swear every time you predict a Wolves win!
Brum are on a high, we aren’t. I don’t see us stopping the rot. Would like to be proven wrong though.
Unfortunately, I agree with you Alex.
It will surely take Williamson some time to settle in.
After a spirited 60 mins against Boro, we fell away alarmingly towards the end.
Hope I’m wrong, but can’t see us getting anything at St Andrews.
COYW!
That is incorrect Alex. Although I probably lean more towards optimism, in recent times alone:
I correctly predicted we’d lose against Boro.
I incorrectly thought we’d lose at Fulham.
I correctly predicted we’d draw at Preston.
I correctly predicted we’d lose at Boro (in the cup).
I correctly predicted we’d draw at Brighton.
Alex confidence plays a much bigger part than most people understand. Couple that with positive thinking and you’re a goal up at kick off. Therefore with all things being action v reaction no confidence and negative thinking produces just the opposite.
Houston we have lift off!
IronMike to keep a clean sheet and score on his debut………….
What? You think I am mad?
Possibly…………
Onwards & Sideways.
oooooh a clean sheet now that IS daring 🙂
What is a clean sheet ?
One that hasn’t been crapped. So we have no chance after Morgan & moxey have been around
If there is one club in a false position in the Championship it is Birmingham City.
their bubble has burst last week and their slide will continue on Saturday lunchtime.
Kuszak is due a big mistake and it will come on Saturday.
Henry and Afobe to score to stop these Blues fans getting above their station. Some of them are even talking about the play offs and promotion. LAUGHABLE.
No doubt the away fans will have to run the gauntlet of the Blues scum after the game as per usual. By far the worst ground to exit in the country. A HOLE
They got red tide here
Its killed a gazillion fish
It is an knock on effect of Hurricane Patricia
That has nothing whatsoever to do with anything football related but I thought y’all might need a bit of a change of topic away from how putting Tim Spiers in the team would prevent an own goal by greasel who just signed a new contract to eat 500 pies every saturday while selling all the other players.
As you can probably tell I’ve had a few.
Laguna Punch
Two kinds of rum, pineapple juice and some sweet green stuff
Bostin
Especially after 3 of them!
As to Brum, bollocks
All bad runs come to an end and ours is at their muck heap
To everyone of an old gold and black persuasion, get behind whomsoever dons the shirt, and kick the snot out of the bluenoses
Fowb
Hoping we turn the corner! A loss to Blues would be sore.
The turning point of our scrappy season? You can’t beat a Derby for another scrap either and Blues is always a good game..Another match I’ll miss..
Will he switch the goalie ? and will our new defender bloke save me from Harri Carri re EEL coming back from injury..he could be just what we want to help DB..Add in Hause when he’s back ..= defence block out then we constantly clean sheet win by odd goals and get promoted!…….easy..
I forgot.. (nothing) is easy with Wolves..
But ..by being strong at the back could keep Afobe who should score here ..
This is Jordan Graham’s chance to show what he’s worth…
I would play Coady apposed to Price but it’s a big decision ..as is to play Wallace or our best club player Dave Edwards..
K Mac to control the game..
Hope again..
2-0 then they get a penalty …
COYW
They really do have a small squad but Rowett has got them organised playing with belief and in a groove. Having said that there away form has been more impressive the Hull game being there first defeat.
We dont have a small squad but we do have an abundance of midfield and wide players. KJ has been culpable in not finding a more settled side. If he starts with all our best players and a solid shape i think we can get something.
Still leaking goals but here goes…
I really want to see Ikeme reinstated. Martinez may be potentially a better keeper, but I don’t think he’s better at this moment and we won’t see the benefit from any eventual fulfilment of that potential. The keeper is an integral part of the back four,even if he doesn’t make up the number. There’s a reason our defense has gone missing this year and it ain’t all about Stears. I think we switched keepers around early doors and then gave the shirt to the wrong one.
Interested to see what Williamson can do. Most Newcastle fans seem glad to be rid, but hey, they hounded Pardew out of the club so what do they know.
I feel a committed, 90 minute performance like we saw for 70mins against Boro’ should be enough to see off our ‘noisy neighbours’. I hope so. There are few teams I like us to beat more.
I’d go with your team Thomas but start with Byrne and swop just after half time when he seems to run out of steam.
I would also bring on Price for Coady at the same time, as Coady will be on a yellow and in danger of a red and Price, with his close link play with Macca, will be able to take advantage of a tiring blouse defence and feed Afobe for a late winner.
It”s an easy game, this prediction business, isn’t it.
Now where am I in the prediction league?
Oh! Bugger!
Sorry, I forgot the most important change.
Bring back Ikeme!!!
Got to be Ikeme in goal for me with Iorfa if fit in the back 4. Price is surely better than Coady, and has the added advantage of getting KMac playing better. Time to give Graham a go, or why bother to recall him from Oxford.
Onwards & Upwards.
I guess that derbies can go either way as form goes out of the window but . . . . . . I would probably settle for a draw right now.
Can’t see us winning in the current predicament, but hopefully a draw will be a good result.
Just in case you missed it above Kenny, here’s tomorrows team sheet Please.
Ikeme
Golbourne, Iorfa, Williamson, Batth,
Price, McDonald.
Graham,,Edwards, Henry
Afobe
Subs,
Coady, Deslandes, Byrne
Underwhelmed by the signing of Williamson, but lets give the man a chance. I’d like to see Ikeme back, and anticipate another ‘could go either way’ derby.
Wolfman,
Like you I’m uninspired by events at Molineux, not just the latest signing but the whole season. We have to take Solace that he is worth 1o EBL or Doherty, so I’m behind him.
We’re actually better than Birmingham and it’s high time to prove it. Ikeme in goal and Williamson starting will inject much-needed confidence in the defence. Once sorted at the back we will break forward and create havoc, as we did against Fulham and Huddersfield.
I just love your optimism Dances. Love it. 🙂 It’s really lifted my spirits.
Not many Wolves managers survive 5 straight defeats nowadays so KJ should be very worried. Could be 7 by next weekend which may prove terminal.
Still… on the brightside… we’ll probably play like gods and smite all sorts of Blues this weekend.
I got the Boro prediction right last week-not that it gave me any pleasure, I was just being realistic. I can’t see anything improving tomorrow sadly.
I agree that Ikeme and Price have to start and Coady should be prevented from getting on the coach unless he can drive it or carry the kit.
I think Kenny will be conservative in formation and go with very little width in an effort to battle for a point. I suspect he would take a point now if offered – so would I.
3 points and an exciting game.
Just a word on the Williamson debate
If he turns out to be better than Stearman, will the club be justified in signing him permanently, for the same or more than we got for Stearman?
The decisive word here is “if”
Irrespective, on the assumption he plays at Small Heath, he should be given 100% support.
Fo wb
Hello Rocket man. How’s it all hanging?
In answer to your question – no.
Purely because he’s three years older than RS and will presumably have fewer games left in him.
But if he proves to be the cement that holds the defence together for the rest of the season (loan extension permitting) and helps us to a play off win at Wembley I reserve the right to change my mind.
Here we go again!
It’s hard to be a Wolves supporter these days.
The weekend will be perfect if Wolves got 4 goals and B’ham 1.
Yes I belive in Santa and its snowing in hell.
Wolves forever!
I so wish I could share your enthusiasm and optimism – but I can’t. I dont think we are good enough at the moment and somehow KJ seems unable to fire up the team for longer than 20 mins.’at a stretch. Hope I am wrong.
.
You may be right.
Maybe next year 🙂
There is always a next season.
Im gonna play ”Promised You a Miracle” by Simle Minds on full volume
if Wolves have their 4 goals Saturday.
And enjoy 4 pints on my local pub 🙂
another TV game
Comcast ch 429 BEiN on west coast
And the boys rarely show off on such occasions..
Last year only one point from Brum games which is one way we missed playoffs
Nowadays two average teams who will produce minimal entertainment in a scrappy draw
But at least that would stop the rot
Here’s to optimism
Anything but another defeat.
Play without fear and we can do ’em big time. Time for the Wolves top show their teeth.
Can’t see us getting anything from this…
Watching the game at the home of Blues fanatic so even more nervous than usual. Actually went to the game in April with same mate and sat amongst Small Heath supporters. Easily the nastiest I’ve come across. Took more pleasure in semi obscene chants re Wolves than they did in winning. Pathetic. So from the bucolic Cotswolds very much wishing all the best to away supporters tomorrow.
I’ll hope for an optimistc result.
Well our blogger who said we were still to do business in the loan market seems to have a reliable source.
Wolvesare back in for Newcastle Striker Ivan Toney who we refused to sign from Northampton last season due to an undisclosed medical problem.
The clot thickens
StuWolf,
“The clot thickens”. Was that a clue or a typo? Thought for a minute the undisclosed medical problem was a blood clot! Actually there was an undisclosed medical problem. Paying out half a million for a kid would have raised Morgan’s blood pressure sky high…
Naw,
We chased him forever, followed his progress then at the 11th hour we pulled out and made an excuse about some medical issue. Northampton venomously denied it and he played week in week out, then got taken up by the Newcastle.
Nothing but misery at Blues, and one step closer for a Kenny walkout………….
Hoping Mike Williamson will help plug the gaping hole in our defence.
I hate playing blues we never seem to play well and with it on the TV I can only predict a loss. Que my phone receiving a load of messages taking the piss out of me and my team.
My son is a bluenose.
He’s a nice bloke. Good husband for my daughter. Good dad for my grand daughters.
Stable job, puts food on the table, keeps a roof over their heads.
But he’s a bluenose.
Oh well, everyone is allowed to get something wrong.
I am hoping that is your son-in-law. If he is your son and married to your daughter….
It’s not a happy hunting ground, but a derby is as good a place as any for unpredictability and a turnaround. We have no idea how Ikeme (that took three goes with predictive text and inaccurate fingers!) is showing up in training, but all things being equal, it’s time for him to have a chance. He’ll know better what the derby means to us. Price for me, not Coady, and having given him a chance last week, Byrne should not be immediately ditched. Williamson did some daft things at Newcastie I seem to remember, but he should be good for the Championship and could well be just the tough nut in defence we’ve cried out for.
Ikeme back in goal please Mr Jacket, he isnt getting a chance here. Fire up the back 4 & push Afobe into the box. We need to start winning.
Come on lads.
UTW
I hate the Blues more than the Albion so let’s stuff them Me Babbies!!!
A draw will do me
More in hope, than confidence hoping Williamson will make a difference.
Price must play also Byrne and in there natural.
Repeat of the Bournemouth result last season for them.
Afobe and Dangerous days hat tricks and a debut brace from Williamson.
COME ON ME BABBIES!!!
Dangerous Dave! Haha
Pretty sure Jordan Graham will get a run out tomorrow, he’s not on the U21s teamsheet here at Mol tonight against Blackburn.
Easy peasy 4-1 win. Agree with most on the team with one exception.
Ikeme
Doherty Batth Williamson Golbourne
Coady McDonald
Byrne Henry Graham
Afobe
Subs Martinez, Iorfa, Price, Ojo, Edwards, Le Fondre, Enobakhare
we’ve got to stop the rot some how it was the same last October so hopefully we’re over it and start getting the points to take us back up the league COYW
We’ll win if we can play at the same pace as new blogs keep appearing. Will the next one be headed
“Goal scoring gifted gargantuan guilemeister Grant?”
A Grant Holt Hat Trick?
Could this be our ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ moment ? Remember after 5 defeats on the bounce last season we won away at SW (didn’t Leon Clarke score ? )and went on a bit of a run. I’m a big admirer of Rowett. It’s’ just a shame he’s at such a shithole but they should enjoy it while they have him cos come seasons’ end GR will be off to pastures anew.
Like a lot of fellow blogger’s its 2-1..UTW
I’m going for a good win, more in hope than judgement, as I’m not happy that we’ll be playing yet another new lineup, and I don’t think we can expect them to gel first time.
TV and a lunchtime kick-off do not bode well. A draw away would not be a bad result considering our recent results.
Here’s hoping!!
This will be a classic “stop the rot” match. Kenny won’t take any gambles .. He tends to respond (eventually) to the fans, so I am expecting Price and Ikeme to start. I also expect Williamson to come straight in, with orders to batten the hatches.
With that in mind, I am not expecting Wolves to take the match to Brum .. More likely to take their chances on the counter attack, with the hope of nicking a goal or two.
My concern with such a strategy, it doesn’t bode well for making a run at promotion .. It will take time to learn how to stop losing, before they can learn to win … By which time it may be too late.
(Ironically, if Wolves had learned that trick already, they would be in the top 5, given they have scored the same number of goals as Brighton, Burnley and Derby)
But first, one step at a time .. A hard fought 1-1 draw is what Wolves need, and what I would personally be very happy about.
Well .. I guess just about the only thing I was (thankfully!) right about .. Wolves did stop the rot! Here’s to keeping up .. So that eventually the rot will be eliminated!!
Ikeme and Price would always start in my line up. I’d settle for a point but can’t see it happening as it’s a televised game.
Hope the 2 loan signings prove their worth but on the surface it looks like desperation setting in
Grant holt with us then…that’s Martinez Williamson Ojo Holt Alf..
FIVE ..who said we are skint?
Representative of current times….
Like i said last week it’s criminal to be left so short handed and reliant on kids. The stearman sale is more embarrassing by the day. I hope the loan players do well but how desperate have we become. I remember something Jez said earlier this season that older loan players is not what we want to do as they rarely work out. Seems a bit like panic to me , should never have put ourselves in this mess.
On a happier note I thought the players really tried against boro , more of that effort and results should come.
I quite like Birmingham, especially when I ay in it. The rag market, Jasper Carrott, Bob Hatton, the bogs on Moor Street station. Toyah Wilcox, Duran F**cking Duran, White Dee, Trevor Francis…. your boys took one hell of a beating. Well probably. In fact it will be rather close but I expect a typical derby ‘form goes out the window’ game and a 3-2 win to the boys from the most miserable place in the land. I was there the other day buying a Fred Perry Jacket from House of Fraser and the miserablesness overwhelmed to the point of tears. But I got over it and thanked God I wor living in Smethwick. I’ve been to some dives worse than WV and they include Grimsby, Skegness, Middlesbrough, the beer garden at The Last Orders Blackburn, the lounge bar The Rocket Coventry, Fridays Bar Manchester. Makes Wolvo look like Covent Garden. Anyway. Lager fuelled rant over.
I’m going for a double clean sheet whammy … it’s going to be pretty dour ….
Sadly, I dont think Brum will let us off the hook … but hope I am wrong.
Really can’t see us getting a good result here. Obviously I hope I’m wrong but a loss is on the cards. Come on Wolves prove me wrong!
Every way i look at this game, says a Brum United win, but it is a Derby game so it could go either way, at least thats what i hope, so against my better judgement, I’ll go for a wolves win.
One last thought, all though i don’t normally do team selection forcasts, i do think Jordan Graham may start the game and be replaced by Ojo at some point.
Williamson to fit right in straightaway… by giving away a penalty like all of the rest of the defenders.
More chance of seeing a clean sheet in incontinence suffers bed after a balti and bottle of laxatives.
Hope I’m wrong. Come on the Wolves, let’s kick start our season today
“Oh, are Wolves playing today?” she asks, looking over my shoulder as I read the preview.
“Reckon so.”
“Who we playin’?”
“Brum”
“Are we gonna win? Are we?? Are we??” she bounces.
“…No…”
“Whhyyy NOOOTT??” she whines.
“Cos they’re good and we’re sh*te” I reluctantly assert.
“That’s SO unfair!” is her reply.
Oh ye of little faith, eh?
Beaming from ear to ear here.
I’ve been crying out for a bit more experience but Grant Holt????? Can’t get in the Wigan side and still getting over injuries. Is he fit or will he just come off the bench as an impact player? I think I would prefer that we gave Bright some game time. Saying that I hope he wins the game for us today. Williamson is hopefully just what we require short term. He’s several years older than Stearsy which makes me laugh a bit.
Although there were encouraging signs last week, I can’t see us getting a result at St Andrew’s.
Still can’t see a win so will keep predicting 0-0 till I do.
Kinda bummed I didn’t post my 1-3 prediction last time. Ended up mighty drunk that day but that’s what you get with two rugby games in an afternoon: first I went to see Bulgaria thrashing Finland (crappy quality but still fun) and then back to the pub for the RWC semi. Oh my woes the next day…
Wolves to win today, it’s the day of the dead or something – and who’s more stiff than Wolves?
While I’m at it: AB by 10.
A defeat to end a bad week for me and Wolves.
Hmmmmmmmm?
I hope I am wrong, but …………
So unlike me to predict a loss, but with Williamson bedding in and Holt on the bench I just don’t feel my optimistic self. Hope I’m wrong, I don’t want prediction league points earned by a loss.
Ikeme still on the bench, as is price, Ojo,Graham. My glass is half empty at the moment, well it has been for the best part of 30years.sigh.
I will only predict a WWFC win, anything else is unacceptable
Wanted to call a wolves win but it looks like they’re leaving price out again
Which Wolves player is going to put out of the game by Thug Robinson ?
Lot of pessimists blogging at the end here! But Williamson does the business, the team shows fight and we get well inside the Blouse! Nice one.
It’s a luvverly, it’s a luvverly.
Simple peeps,
Close them down, run at them, defend properly and you see what can happen.
Even those knobs on Sky could see it stick to basics and it works.
That’s two predictions tight this season.
Not long back from the game and it was a really good solid away performance. Everyone did their job, were committed to the cause. Pleased for Williamson who seemed to bring organisation and collective determination to our defence. Byrne and Edwards did really well in the first half and I thought coady had a good game as well. Well done the lads 🙂
Whilst I predicted a loss, I am thrilled to bits to be wrong. Liked what I saw today. Did not think Afobe played well, but liked the organisation at the back. Well done lads a cracking rssult.
Great result let’s make this count, no more false dawns Wolves.
Onwards and upwards….come on me babies!
A fantastic result and Deadly Dave shows us that 4411 is the way to go. IMHO the guy is just about irreplacable.
So happy to get my prediction wrong. If it means three points in the bag for the team I’ll sacrifice my prediction league position (not that I have one this season) every week.
Me too Dalmation.
Great battling performance.
Same again Tuesday, please!
COMBs!
Best two things about this game.
1) Obviously sticking up the Blues…..on their patch.
2) Robinson looking like a big,fat,useless tosser.
An observation.
Kenny said in the press “that he brought Jordan Graham back, Williamson and Holt in and that would give Bright Enobakhare a chance to get U21 games”.
Well last night he was epic, although we lost 3-2, (crap defending and Goalie error, sounds familiar.) he turned and twisted the Blackburn defence inside out.
Also, some of the big premiership teams are following Naill Ennis, well he played last night but the star of the night was Conor Rohnan who when he came on 2nd half was amazing.
Can’t wait for Kenny to give him a run in one of the easy matches, Bristol City, Bolton etc, to see if he can step up, he just loves the ball and does all he can to get it at his feet.