As timing goes, the international break arrived when Wolves needed it least.
Three straight league victories amidst a trio of encouraging, controlled performances against much fancied opposition had built up a mini whirlwind of momentum.
History has proven picking up the baton after a two week hiatus is seldom straightforward, so this fixture represents another interesting challenge for our burgeoning young side.
Blackpool
If you were writing a handbook about how not to run a football club, a few chapters about Blackpool’s summer of discontent would make compelling reading.
Having somehow contrived to diminish their playing staff to just a handful of senior pros and become the comedy act of the football league in the process, chairman Karl Oyston now seems hell bent on prolonging the laughter.
Managers have been contacted and interviewed this week despite Jose Riga still being in the post that he himself only occupied back in July. What happens next is truly anyone’s guess.
The squad has at least been strengthened, numerically speaking, but the results have been both damning and conclusive – five games, five defeats. Zero points.
If there’s a grain of hope for the Seasiders it’s that all of their defeats, save for the 2-0 opening day loss at Notts Forest, have been by a single goal. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Wolves
Assuming no international hangovers, the starting XI on Saturday should mirror the settled team we’ve come to appreciate of late:
With another game (Charlton away) hot on the heels of this fixture though, the likes of Jacobs, Henry, Rowe, Ricketts and Saville could all get their chance to stake a claim in the next week.
It will be interesting to see how Kenny rotates personnel in and out when injuries, suspensions and fatigue enter the equation.
Just how effective those fringe players are will likely dictate whether or not this squad can sustain the pace at the business end of the Championship.
The gaffer
Predictions
Five people are already into double figures in the Prediction League, which is some achievement from just five fixtures. Well done to Dave H, ManxWolf91, vicsmith, MosmanWolf and in particular MrAussieWolf who leads the way with 12 points.
I can’t predict anything other than a Wolves victory for this one. While a law of averages screams Blackpool can’t continue losing forever, I expect them to struggle on for another week if Kenny can get even a decent percentage out of his team.
They have some capable individuals amongst their hodge-podge of a squad (Ranger, Delfounso, etc) but Wolves are a well-oiled machine these days, so I’m not expecting any slip-ups.
2-0.
Up The Wolves.
And their one will be a dodgy penalty!
Kevin McDonald to score twice as every man, woman and child inside Bloomfield Road stands to appreciate the majesty of his performance. The whole of Scotland stay up late to watch their greatest ever player on the Football League Show and are so moved by events south of the border that they vote an emphatic No in the referendum and the joyous UK population spontaneously break into a chorus of Five Hundred Miles by The Proclaimers.
…or a Dicko brace and 2,000 pissed yam-yams at the seaside.
Either will do.
Thomas
With you 100% on the McDonald worship, you omitted to add that whilst McDonald was saving the Union Gormless Strapon and Mark Magoo were home in bed playing Rock, Scissors, Paper totally oblivious to his exploits in the name of Big Liz from Beckinghem Towers.
You Engerrlishh can Tak awa oor Freedom.
But, yell never tak oor Benefit payments.
🙂
May not be the walk over everyone is predicting, but we should have too much for the Seasiders. UTW!!
Can’t see anything but a wolves win. My only thought is I’ve tipped on the low side, but given my current record I’ll just take the win. COYW
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE.
Generally I always fear playing a team on a straight run of defeats but Blackpool is an exception to that! Do feel sorry for their fans though but their situation surely is desperate!
happy day/night by the sea
Come on you wolvessssssssssss
Off to the Royal Albert Hall this weekend for the last night of the proms.
I shall be taking a union flag and a ‘This is our love…’ Wolves flag to wave at the Queen.
Will this be the first time that the old gold has been unfurled at this event?
Look out for us.
As far as the football is concerned – Wolves to stroll to another victory.
Can’t see much improvement from Blackpool, their manager went off on his hols rather than doing the tinkering that he should have been doing with the squad……have to admit, I’d have done the same given the lack of backing from the board though.
I fancy a big win. We are playing fantastic and they are awful.
Think we may see a couple of changes to the starting line-up, but same result.
I think due to the layoff, we will be a little rusty.
1-2.
Blackpool have lost all five games so far but all have been tight games score wise so i expect this to be all so.
I expect changes in personnel but yes, Thomas, 2-0 sounds about right
Incredibly important this one..I fancy a few draws around us inc Sunday Forest Derby… a win puts us at the top…or there abouts..
They should be almost lining up to score here ..will KJ encourage all to finish them off early ?
3-0 at half time would be nice but ….
and why not?
I have six players that can score…
Let’s steamroller them…
COYW
I reckon a draw’s the best result there mate. If we win we’d still go above Psycho’s boys, but it would also keep those pesky Rams at bay. I reckon both those teams are going to be serious contenders this season.
Watford’s trip to The Valley could see them drop points too, difficult away day at local rivals. But their lad upfront Deeney looks the business, they’ll be there or thereabouts too.
If Sako and Dicko can get 30/40 goals between them, with contributions from our vast array of other skillful players chipping in, I see no reason we won’t be near the top of the pile ourselves.
Whichever defender drops out of the line up first gets replaced by Ricketts FFS!
My palms are stinging from all this happy clapping, I’m off to douse them in cold water.
UTW.
I cannot believe the circus that is Blackpool at the moment. We will crucify them and deservedly so. Sorry Tangerine fans but you have got to get rid of that Pratt of a chairman and bring back Olly.
For Blackpool …….see Wolves of old, useless manager, no board backing and mediocre players unable to win.
For Wolves …………see, nothing like we’ve seen for years, manager who knows what he’s doing, Board woken up and players playing their hearts out with one touch, direct ,on the floor football of quality and quantity,
For the result, ………..see two changes, Evans and Sako to be sacrificed for Rowe and Saville, RVLP moved forward supporting Dicko who will be replaced by McAllinden after we go 3-0 up to rest tired legs. Dangerous Dave to have another stormer.
Wolves find that killer instinct to finish a team off at last, only one winner.
🙂
Interesting comment. You thinking Rowe for Evans and Saville for Sako?
I have literally no idea where KJ is planning on playing Rowe.
He’s talked about him as a central midfielder and a left back, but from what I’ve seen on YouTube I’d be pretty happy with him on the wing too. Don’t forget Gareth Bale used to be a left back too, so we’ll probably end up selling him to Real Madrid for half a billion quid in a couple of years.
That said, if you’re gonna drop RVLP or Sako, you’re surely not looking much further than Jacobs or Henry. We all know the pair of them can do at job at this level, and how’s sitting out 4 wins in 5 for motivation? They get the shirt and they’re gonna be dying to give the manager something to think about.
I also reckon Saville is looking at Edwards’ shirt and thinking “that guy’s made his career being a box to box midfielder. I’m one of those, but I went to football school at Chelsea, while you went to Shrewsbury (even if Joe Hart didn’t turn out half decent)” [but I’d take Ikeme over him any day]. Not sure I see him coming in on the wing, think either Evans or Edwards will be the one to make way.
Whatever permutations we see of the XI in the coming week (3 games! Brilliant!!) I fancy KJ and the lads to bring more smiles to our faces. Looking forward to seeing how he employs his new resources and decides on his new best team.
The thought of it being better than this one is shit eating grin inducing.
goals goals goals
Even with our defenders suffering so severely (see screenshot from express & star), a win is the only outcome. I never predict but I’m so confident and Blackpool are so all over the place that I would not be surprised to see 8 go in. (Here’s hoping eh)
In the 20 odd years I’ve followed The Wolves this is exactly the sort of fixture we’ve ALWAYS struggled with; us on roll, them on bad form, international break… the runes do not bode well.
HOWEVER!!!! Thus far under KJ all that superstitious clap trap has been marked as exactly what it is – irrelevant.
I don’t think this will be our best performance of the season, but I cant see the unfortunate Seasiders besting, or even equalling, our impressive team.
We will tower above them, illuminating Bloomfield Rd until we build our own pleasure beach therein. And scrape another 1-0 thanks to a hapless deflection off a tangerine arse.
Walsall Illuminations were way better than Blackpool’s, they didn’t even have a Shoe People section. Might as well not have bothered, waste of everyone’s time.
And orange is just a cheap Gold. Never forget this.
In King Kenny we trust, UTW
Predicting a win here.
To lose would be a bit surprising based on our current form!
I think that Wolves are going to win. This would be excellent. I live in Australia, where people don’t pay much attention, and people are starting to notice us again. Was asked the other day by a QPR supporting mate: “I want to put a bet on who to go up. Derby + Wolves + 1 other, what do you reckon ?” It’s nice to be in that sort of company.
I’m a knock kneed chicken,
I’m a bow legged hen.
I haven’t had a wank since I don’t know when,
I walk with a wiggle and a woggle and and a squawk,
We are the Wanderers….boot boys!
At least, that is what I think I learned, along with Baldy Scooped, the last time I went to Blackpool, five million years ago.
We were in his A35 van, with no scarf, but a pair of Wolves socks tied on the wing mirrors!
Classy!
And we won, 2 – 0 I think.
Y’all do not even need to look at my prediction, this is the no brainer of all no brainers.
If you ever write a book or record an album will you please call it “Wolves socks on the wing mirrors”?
I reckon it sums you up pretty well.
You mean Classy, don’t you?
Because why not?
Hoping for a very entertaining game. Henry to lay down his claim to first team football with a stormer on the right wing.
Going for a 2-1 win as so far no one’s gone for that score. Can’t see B’Pool scoring – but who knows. As long as we get the 3 points!
No-one went for that score until you did mate lol
My gut is telling me it’s going to be a draw, But I can’t let myself go there. The feel good factor just won’t go away!
Much as I’d like to go for a big win, I can’t help being reminded that ‘pride comes before a fall’. I can’t bring myself to predict a loss or even a draw, so I’ll go for a scrappy win.
Let’s hope that they don’t become a banana skin!
Time to put those scoring boots on.
Go Wolves !!!
On paper . . . . . . .look a good bet for 3 points
Easy peasy. Comment too short? But I’m a man of few words.
Blackpool v Wolves on 19th Sept 1959 was my first Wolves match when I was just a month short of 7 years old. I still remember a few bits about the game and the fact that Stanley Matthews was injured, so I did not see him play. The result was 3-1 in favour of Blackpool. Saturday I expect that result to be repeated, this time in favour of Wolves.
Sako and Dicko have booth been away and are back at Wolves today (Friday). Bearing in mind we have another match on Tues KJ may leave these two on the bench.
Marching onwards and upwards !
🙂
Evans and VLP’s time to get on the scoresheet.
A tough one. They have yet to win, King Kenny has just won the manager of the month award. This would usually spell disaster in days gone by. But a new era and fresh hopes.COYW!
Although Blackpool have lost every game so far, no one has really tonked them. If we get off to a flyer we could well be the club that does this to them, but I”ll go with a comfortable two- nil.
I had a dream!!!!
Come on me babbies – let’s rock!
What, no clean sheet?
You don’t know Brompton very well, do you?
He NEVER has clean sheets!!!
Ex Army officer, someone cums in and cleans the sheets straight away, no trace no blame
🙂
As others have said this used to be the type of game we dreaded. Us on fire them at the bottom, obviously we would F**k it up big style. Add to that the fact that Saint Kenny has just won manager of the month and you just know what would happen.
Not this time though we should stuff them big time.
COYW
Got to be a win
No mercy on the league’s whipping boys.
I reckon we’ll do ’em.
Solid win to keep the momentum going
Blackpool’s miserable run has to come to an end sometime……..next week maybe.
I’m in the home end for this one and so expect to be sitting on my hands throughout the guaranteed glut.
Cant see any chance of needing to politely applaud the seasiders. Not strong enough to breach the Batth/Stearman wall.
Hope I’m not jinxing them
Can’t help but feel sorry for Blackpool fans. Their club is a mess. We’ve been there ourselves. However, the curse of the international break, coupled with playing a team we are supposed to be dead certs to beat, has banana skin written all over it for me. If Mick, Terry or Stale were still in charge I’d fear the worst. KJ is savvy enough to guide us to a win, but it won’t be goals galore.
Tight game but we’ll win,
Black pool will feel hard done by and say a draw would of been the correct result,
But it’s a funny old game
Hiya Rich … I have spotted that you have got the same Predicting Name (but different email address) than “Rich” lower down the prediction forecasts.
Can you notify Thomas .. and he will probably amend one of them if that’s ok ….
You never know..
Good to see Sako do well and get a goal for Mali. Hope him and Dicko are good to play. I see goals. But 4-1 or 3-0…????
I’m looking forward to this weekend so much…. mainly just to get that Saturday afternoon euphoria back again but I will say how pleasant it was watching and enjoying the England game. I hope Welbeck shows Van Gaal that he was wrong to let him go. I kinda like the fella.
I used to have a soft spot for Blackpool, I suppose I still do but I hope we absolutely spank them, hard.
1 spank from Batth
1 spank from Dicko
and the final spank from VLP.
Come on Wolves!!
I totally agree with you about Wellbeck.
He’s got great pace, he can finish – when he’s played in a position that gives him half a chance – and he is a willing worker. He reminds me a bit of the boy Dicko.
At today’s prices £16m is a snip.
I really hope that he goes back to Manure and bites Van Gaal on the bottom.
I also agree about watching the England game. It was a pleasant change to see some passing and not just aimless hoofing the ball away. Still plenty of room for improvement, but pretty impressive.
And, most notable, did we miss the irreplaceable Gerrard and Lampard?…
…No we didn’t!
I’m going to go with 2-0. It would be nice if we can kill this game off early. Charlton away is three days after and will be a very tough test, so if we can take advantage of Blackpool’s problems (whilst still respecting them) it might help us not run the likes of Sako, Dicko, K-Mac, van la Parra into the ground. We saw how badly Sako’s form was affected when forced to play every game under Solbakken. this is a very demanding league physically and mentally.
I do feel for the Bkackpool fans as they really do deserve better. But with the team spirit we have going I can’t see a loss here.
Come on you Wolves!!
Whoops slip on the touch screen there! Obviously meant Blackpool!!
Late consolation penalty for them, storming performance by Wolves
Should win but it’s never completely comfortable watching Wolves play a team that hasn’t won for a while.
Here’s hoping for a good day for Wolves at the seaside.
Should be an easy three points, international fatigue and lack of momentum are no excuses!
Picking up right where they left off
This is a fixture I would have been aprehensive about in the past as we have so often seemed to turn around the fortunes of teams on a similar run to Blackpool’s this season.
But that’s all in the past now, I’m expecting another controlled performance with an unspectacular scoreline to help us keep flying under the radar in the automatic promotion hunt.
Will start slowly but will find our groove as the game progresses. Can only see a Wolves win.
Come on me babbies
Need to hit the ground running after the break.
Goals are starting to come for us but I fear the break may have affect on the defence. Plus, poor as Blackpool have been so far, they are not going to roll over and they will probably have a bit of steel instilled during their break. That said, WIM WOLVES AY WE, and we’re pretty damn good right now! Prediction: to outplay them but scoreline won’t reflect it…
looks too easy..
I’m just brimming with confidence when it comes to this team at the moment, I can’t look past a comfortable win against a side that will in all likely hood be relegated come May.
Stearman 1st goal! Get in !!!!
Might need a game to get back into the groove, but that said should have enough to still get a win,
UTW
I can see KJ starting with Rowe and Saville and resting some of the international players, especially with the next match coming quickly.
Saying that the Wolves quality will be too much for Blackpool.
Hopefully we can start finishing the copious amount of chances we’ve been producing each came. COYW
Kenny to select the right team after the break. A mean defence and goals to come . A win for the Wolves.
Walk in the park
Just about got a signal on holiday in Cornwall. A 2-0 win for us tomorrow.
Blackpool to keep there run going ?
IN KENNY WE TRUST
Late goal to grab a point after battering them for 90mins, only to have fallen behind to a 35th minute freak own goal in Blackpool’s only attack of the game
Banana skin ? Hope not !
Another 1 0 will do. Let’s not get too carried away here
Good game to blow away the international cobwebs…
Cant see Blackpool scoring. KJ may give Clarke a chance.
Bit worried about some of the over-confident predictions.
In my 62 years of experience,the majority as a Wolves sufferer,when life is going well there’s usually somebody with a sock full of sand waiting down a dark alley to bring you back to earth again……..still can’t see us losing though.
Good luck Kenny and the boys.
Wolftone
demolition time to a team already demoralised and crumbling………..
My forecast is purely tactical to catch up with the PL pacesetters. Since most have predicted a handsome win .. and I too think we’ll win …. I’ve predicted a draw to catch up. Great isn’ t it .. playing catch up after 5 games. Wolves Aye we tho’ …
This will be a chance to improve the goal difference. We may well stick to the same team who’ve been playing so well, but there will be changes over the 3 games coming up in quick succession.
After those three matches I reckon we’ll be top of the league.
Comfoftable win
I’m a little concerned about any ring rustiness following the international break but we should still have enough in the tank.
I’ll go for……
Tough game after the break, think the first half will be tight, with wolves edging it in the second half!!!
First time blogger. Ben it’s Ben Hughes. Your writing skills are amazing mate. You should be very proud of this blog. As for tommorrow no fear at all. Just another victim of the wolves steam roller. I’ll be on here more often now. Seems like good fun
Ben Hughes
Welcome Ben.
Nice to see another blogger join this fantastic site.
If you click the link below and sign up (free) then you can add your picture (right way up ) and save. Then hey presto your pic appears at the right hand side of your comment every time as if by magic.
Oh I love this technology stuff.
If you want to change it anytime just revisit and save the new picture.
The choose photo button you used this time is to add a pic of something you like. For instance Wolves 5th goal from todays match.
http://en.gravatar.com/
StuWolf
🙂
Welcome mate. Real good to have you on board. If you have a sense of humour, you will certainly enjoy it here.
Shame about the result today, but hey ho . I do not see Blackpool staying that far down the table after their second half performance.
I thought that pic would go as my little thumbnail picture by my name. I didn’t just add it out of vanity Apologies to everyone. Lol
Arrived in Blackpool about an hour ago, washed, scrubbed up, heading for a beer parlour, was going to get bladdered and then wreck the place. Imagine my disappointment, someone’s beat us to it.
COYW
🙂
It would be just like Wolves to lose this one, while everyone expects an easy victory. Blackpool are in turmoil – not sure if they will have a manager by kick off tomorrow. I ‘m half expecting Greg Halford to be unveiled as their new manager, on the pitch!!!
Expect an unchanged team, though KJ has decisions to make with Henry,Saville & Rowe waiting .
I’m going for a comfortable win with Sako & Dicko doing their stuff again. . . .
OR will they both be “rested” Leon ‘s time may be upon us. Sweet Dreams.
My 1-1 prediction has served us well the last 3 games so I see no reason to change now
Don’t like these international breaks, because we never do very well after them.
But saying that the rest could have done us a favour after our hectic start to the season.
Two tough away games coming up and I would like to think we could get at least 4 points from the two games and at blackpool would be the best option for 3 points me thinks,Charlton could be a bit more difficult but another 3 points is possible if we can reproduce the footy we did before the break….still need a striker.UTW.
Welcome Ben Hughes and clad 1st time post and shows how to make an immediate impact!
I don’t think you needed to make an apology either as it looks like you’d take care of anyone that disagrees with how you make any of your posts!
I imagine that the pic of you is not realistic either as I don’t know many people that look sideways on.
This blog has changed a lot since I started posting with more input from like minded fans… You’ll note as you keep coming back that Ben’s posts are consistently top notch and you will be drawn to keep checking back to see others thoughts.
For the first 4 games we were dominant without being clinical. The last game it was the reverse. Fully expect a mash up of both tomorrow UTW 🙂
Feeling lucky this week for my first 3 pointer
Blackpool look doomed to the drop. We will be rested and hungry to revert to previous run.
A convincing win and happy honey badger????
Blackpool to be fighting tooth and nail, but Wolves are simply the better team.
Yeah, logic applied to football…that’s first!
Ive just read that Molineux is hosting an England game for the first time since 2008. Check out the lineup in the picture below. Some household names, especially up front for Poland but coincidentally three players for England that all went on to play for Wolves – with varying degrees of success.
The score was 0-0 and the central midfield looked slow and immobile ( i assume with Hollywood in there).
Tiddlyompompom.
Everyone’s fit and desperate to play. Those that do will no doubt grasp the opportunity to send those travelling hordes wild. Oh what joy now football Saturdays have returned once more.
I just hope we don’t start slow , like we normally do after international break, but there’s one reason why I don’t think we will Kenny Jackett !
Up THE WOLVES
I’d love to think we’d pick up where we left off – and I hope we will – but Blackpool’s run surely can’t go on much longer and I can’t see them winning.
With great competition for places (except striker) – we should not have one of those horrible “off days” for a full 90 minutes. Even if we have a slow start, we have opportunities for significant impact from the bench. Slow start here, but storm home to take the 3 points.
I’m not a fan of international breaks either, but we’ll score twice late to seal it up.
Surfing on positive waves.
Will be a hard game with a win in the final 10 minutes. I’ve been lousy picking the score so I’m playing it dumb again for a great win.
Stroll in the park
A settled, well drilled squad against a new team in disorder? This would previously spell upset for a Wolves eleven, but this team have a huge determination to win, so I’m going for that.
I just can’t see Blackpool getting anything from us.
Let’s hope I’m right.
Just to go off topic, the Express and Star this morning has the Headline Wolves fans have the most arrests in the Midland clubs or words to that effect.
Why is it that this shit paper at the earliest opportunity always gives a negative headline about Wolves.
That’s probably why i ain’t bought the crap for about 5 years.
Sorry about the moan.
Up the Wolves. ..
Tempted to go for a Blackpool win to try and close the gap with the leaders of the PL league, but I just can’t see us losing this one. COYW
Sako at the double
Let’s hope for a fun day at the sea side!
Feeling confident about this fixture – c’mon Wolves.
International break, probably squad rotation, Blackpool inspired by the arrival of the mighty Wolves……..just the scenario to make me think twice on this one. But what the hell? I’ll go with the approach that has yielded a mere 4pts so far! And I could never beat Thomas’ brilliant analysis of the Scottish independence outcome!
Games like these can bite you on your bum. Everything points at an overwhelming win for us but who knows, it might be a strange game as Blackpool are going to be unpredictable. We need to win it really as every other side in the championship will expect to beat them. Nevertheless I’m going for a big win. As loads of people have said 3-0 I’ll go for 4-0. Come on me babbies!!!
Come on you Wolves
Hiya Rich .. I’ve spotted that your predicting name is the same as one higher up the list. (But not yr email address)
Can you liaise with Thomas to perhaps make an amendment .. Thanks
Tempted to predict a Clive like score, but will go for a modest 3 -1
I expect to be seeing lots about what a difficult league this us and any team can beat any other, but fortified by sitting overlooking the sea on my Cornish holiday, Im looking forward to reading htf that happened!!
Kenny’s response when asked if happy with a point at Blackpool…
There was no pause, no time to even digest the question, a straight “No”.
KJ was and is frustrated with the lack of goals and just like last season, I can see him tinkering until he gets the blend spot on.
Nearly 70% possession again, which is no mean feat away from home. KJ described Blackpool as throwing bodies on the line and the defence being resolute.
In the past we’d have lost to teams that we bossed and we have never bossed so many teams in the way that we do.
Still in 3rd place, just outside of the limelight (just how KJ likes it).
Here’s to seeing Sako back for the start of the next game and to see a few goals.
Anyone also noting how cleanly we are playing? Discipline must be very high on KJ’s agenda so as to keep his best squad at all times as not many yellow cards to date.
Can’t wait till Tuesday!
Oh yeah… and the shit lost again!
Shame Lescotts going to playing in the Championship next season… He’s better than that! 1st bit of poor judgement Lescott has made in his career… should have gone to a better team.
We were at the match yesterday and the best I can say is, “there has to be days like that” . I am convinced we shall win this league, Kenny is too good a manager to stand for that kind of performance yesterday. As he said in the post match report, ” we had the Lion’s share of the game but couldn’t finish it off atthe crucial moment”
The RVLP shot that hit the inside of the angle in the first half was really a touch of class that was oh so unlucky to come out instead of go in.
After that we looked dare I say it, for the first time not like a team, the set up was akward, disjointed and untidy, the fact Kenny took Jacobs and RVLP off so quickly in the second half was rtestament to Kenny’s feelings.
ShrewsWolf is correct, we’re 3rd (joint 1st) in the league, under the Radar, but we have to accept in a league that is 3 weeks old….
There will be days like that.
So lets move on, I will be there on Tuesday, hoping for better finishing, the missing piece of the jigsaw.
Onwards & Upwards.
🙂