It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone at Wolves how well Brentford have started the season.
They were a solid, well-drilled unit in League One and, aided by some smart acquisitions, have continued their upward trajectory.
Wolves have been going in the opposite direction recently, struggling to find the sort of consistency that fueled a 3-0 triumph at Griffin Park back in February.
The Bees will want to avenge that painful defeat and continue making in-roads at the top end of the table, whereas the visitors are desperate to arrest a worrying downturn in results.
It’s nicely poised.
Brentford
Three of Brentford’s top performers from last season departed over the summer – Clayton Donaldson, Adam Forshaw and George Saville. That left a hole that needed filling.
In came forward Andre Gray from Luton, midfielder Alex Pritchard from Spurs and winger Moses Odubajo from Leyton Orient. Three astute signings that have all done the business.
Their home form, as it was last term, has again been the bedrock of their success. They’ve won five of their eight games so far and lost only once.
Mark Warbuton’s team also come into this fixture on a four game winning run, which includes victories over both Derby and Notts Forest, two teams who’ve comfortably dispatched their opponents.
Wolves
There wasn’t enough pace or trickery in the Wolves team last weekend and that invited Forest forward. I think Kenny needs to be bolder in his selection:
I was mildly horrified that Michael Jacobs was linked with Birmingham. He hasn’t done it yet but I still feel he has a lot to offer in the Championship, for Wolves.
Dave Edwards was sensational last weekend, but perhaps his energy could be better employed deeper to help shore up a creaking defence? If not, Lee Evans offers more than Tommy Rowe, even with a broken hand.
Rajiv van La Parra brings speed and physical presence. I like James Henry but he was poor against Forest and I think the Dutchman is overdue another run in the side.
The sooner Scott Golbourne and Nouha Dicko are back in the side, the better, but Danny Graham showed glimpses of class on his debut and with pace around him, could be a decent fit.
The gaffer
Predictions
As with most heavy defeats, nobody (at a glance) took the maximum return from last week’s 3-0 defeat.
Three straight losses could easily become five with this fixture and a home game against in-form Bournemouth to follow, but I don’t think Wolves are as bad as they’re being made to look at the moment.
Confidence is fragile and this will be a tough examination, but I think we’ll get a point.
1-1
Up The Wolves.
We’re wobbling right now and nothing seems to be working. I don’t know anything about these new loan signings, so no idea what sort of impact they might or might not have.
Hate to disagree with you Thomas… but we are as bad as we look (at present). The confidence and spirit seems to have evaporated. It can be turned around, but I am not optimistic that this will start on Saturday.
Agreed Ash.
I think it will take some time for Kenny to right the ship and can’t see anything in the recent performances by our midfield and defence to have any optimism against the Bees.
Looking forward to my first trip to Griffin Park.
COYW!
We look fragile and seem to lack pace and power. Lack of loan activity won’t help the cause. Can only see a reverse of our last game at Brentford.
Like Thomas I can see 3 defeats becoming 5 and with bogey team Brighton coming soon it could be a bad time until January
I know we have had major problems recently but I think that we will end both runs this weekend. Our bad run and their good run
Don’t often predict a draw, but this would be a good return on recent performances.
Would love to see a return rto winning ways but it seems a big ask following recent form .
I’ll take a point right now.
But Come On Me Babbies, we need 3 if at all possible.
Return of the goals for Wolves as Sako celebrates his 100.
I’m not being negative .. it’s just as I see it.
We’re in a really bad spell, … lacking in confidence .. unable to fend off attacking pressure .. wobbly defending .. lack of cutting edge .. squad with average strength ….
Sadly NOT BACKED BY OUR CUSTODIANS ..
I’m now concerned that Jackett is just towing the party line…
It’s another bad day …
When Kenny came in we were in the doldrums. He quickly found the right formula and eventually got us playing some lovely football, and breaking all sorts of records.
We reached a point a few weeks ago where this upward trajectory felt like it would continue unabated all the way to Europe.
Surely not we have not somehow, in the space of a month or so, suddenly come unstuck. We have 2 tough fixtures coming up, and they may both prove too much for us at this stage, but I still feel as though it will turn round again at some point.
KJ’s team selections have been getting odder, but at least his bad choices are as a result of tinkering as opposed to blindly sticking with sub-standard players. He’s ruthless with his selections (as proved by Group 3), so I fancy him to identify and then strip the dead wood sooner rather than later, and in doing so allow new green shoots of growth to emerge.
Having said all that, I’m climbing the fence for this one. 1 each.
UTW
Time to turn it around – got to be positive!
As much I my heart wants to think we will win my heads over ruling it. On the loan signings we need men not boys.
In Bully’s colum in the local rag even he’s asking the question why are we not going for players like Bent I’m not a fan of Bent but the reason why Steve is an 18 year old will cost £3,000 aweek or less a player of Bents calibre will cost you £25,00 £30,000 aweek .
Brenford have invested that’s the difference just like Bournmoth and there reaping the rewards NOW not buying for the future on potenial but proven players.
Yes, Bent’s wages would be greater but if his goals were to fire us into the prem we would reap that back hundreds of times over. Are we suggesting that Brighton can afford his wages but we can’t . . . . WON’T is more likely.
Another deadline day passed and little to show for it. How predictable was that? Sorry, it all just indicates a total lack of ambition as far as I am concerned. I’m uncertain why I haven’t becomed numbed by this – it happens every deadline day.
Sako on his 100th with the winner
Is Jack Price injured?
We always seem to do well with him in midfield with McDonald.
Bring him back I say.
‘Loans signings’ are desperado stakes.
Love to see us reverse fortune.
I predict a win but not the end of our troubles…..
Price is on loan at Leyton Orient
🙂
Actually Sevlow he got injured and returned to us a while back. KJ said his physical stature didn’t suit the championship.
However his stature is very similar, if I’m not incorrect, to one Lionel Messi…..
Does that mean, according to KJ, that both Messi and Price, couldn’t cut it in the Championship?
Personally think Price compliments McDonald better than Evans……
Yes, he did come back in October but has now returned, as he was on Twitter about it. Hopefully he should return to us in January a better player.
Thanks Sevlow, I didn’t know he’d gone back to Orient.
Mistake by KJ methinks……
why has Jackett lost faith in Price and Jaccobs….?
Not confident at all on this one.
Perfect match to turn things around.
We need this one
A change of fortune..at least it’s what we want..I haven’t heard the update on Dicko..and I’d like to see Sako Dicko Graham playing together …I haven’t heard the update on Golbourne either so add him in too and we have a route down the left..
Alternatively its a lone Danny Graham again on the break with Edwards behind him ..
I can see us defending and then looking for creating about 5 chances and taking 2..
DB get your arse in gear and play it out not hoof it..
K Mac you can’t keep playing like shit either..
I love saying this…it’s only Brentford ….
COYW for F….sake..
I was going to predict a defeat but then remembered that when we won in February my good ladt and I had gone to Reading to see our new granddaughter. Well we are going down again this weekend, coincidence or lucky omen, who knows. However we could just get hammered.
Like others I think we wre probably in deep dodah until Golbourne and Dicko are back.
If we lose this one I think it will be a long winter with scarce hopes of even reaching the playoffs.
Tipton,
She’s almost a year old, She will change your life beyond all recognition now, so get her up to the Molineux as quick as possible, she deserves the best.
🙂
Sadly I can’t see that happening as my brother in law is a Spurs supporter! Sad I know but never mind. But all is not lost, Tipton Exile has 2 grandsons and 1 of them (mine) will happily watch Wolves on the telly and shout when they score.
I just can’t see anything improving until Nouha comes back. Hopefully Danny Graham can put some real pressure on their back line to stop them pushing up and stopping us playing our football.
It won’t be pretty but it will be decisive.
My glass is always half full, but recent games have put the confidence levels at rock bottom, we had moments of McDonald making his way back last week and in the first half we did try to play, but Forest mugged us good an proper in the second half and that’s where I see our problems this season, second half. We just seem incapable of playing two halfs with the exception of Derby where we did’nt perform in either half.
Even Sako was below standard last week and it was only late in the second half when he got frustrated that he really turned it on. Kenny’s big claim when he arrived was the training and fitness levels, they were going to see us through. Well the boys are picking up injuries left right and centre lately a lot of them stress related, (muscle stress)
So now we have the new academy, let’s get the fitness levels back, reduce the injuries and reduce the stress levels for the fans, Kenny has brought the beautiful game to Molineux, but I think our make up is smudged at the moment, COYW, get it together.
Danny Graham with a peach of a goal in the second half.
Back on track, smooth over the cracks and put a smile back on our faces.
🙂 🙂
A creditable away point. Sako to score with his crystal encrusted boots.
no confidence at moment.
Another defeat I think unfortunately. I don’t think this is the game to stop the rot.
Wouldn’t it be good to take 3 points from this game? Wouldn’t it be good to take a point away from this game? But ………………….. I do not feel that this is the game that is going to get us back on track. We will get back on track, but not tomorrow, therefore I predict:
Even after witnessing last week’s debacle I still can’t bring myself to predict a defeat.
So I was going to say it would be a draw.
But as I haven’t got a baggies hope in the Prem of winning the prediction league, and if we lose I won’t get any points for a draw, I am going for a win.
It’ll be close, but Graham will open his account and Sako will christen his crystal boots with a trademark screamer.
I like your logic. It now makes me feel guilty that I chose to go for a loss. Hopefully I am wrong and I now want to get no points on the prediction league.
DOOG has a very good point there, I’ve no hope of winning either or even the top 3 like last year so I’ll keep the faith and go for the win here.
Sako to christen his new boots and score a blinder, the corner will be turned and we’ll get back on track.
Come On Wolves.
Back to basics time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some major tinkering, with the aim of keeping a clean sheet. Possibly a start for Saville on his old stamping ground ? Probably Clarke on the bench so he can be brought on and switch to 4-4-2 if necessary. Can’t see Edwards being used in a defensive role – its not his style at all. The major question is what the back 4 will look like – lots of potential combinations now Hause and Iorfa are being mentioned as ‘possibles’. I’d settle for a point after the last 2 outings.
Crikey, this prediction stuff has become difficult. I’m a bit of a happy clapper I admit it, but this time my head had got to rule over my heart. I’m hoping that Danny Graham gets off the mark and that he eventually signs full time, and I’m hoping as well to see the return of Scott Golbourne who very skillfully set up the third goal in last year’s corresponding fixture. I hope I’m wrong this week, I would gladly sacrifice prediction league points in return for a confidence boosting decent performance.
I’m hoping we can turn the corner after a bad run of games. Brentford will be looking to avenge last year’s defeat but a draw will be a step in the right direction.
I feel like a hopeless romantic with this prediction, but I’ve backed it up with a couple of quid at the bookies. It’s time for the back 4 to get a grip and I think they will on Saturday. Anyway I’ll be at Brentford and we never lose when I’m watching — well perhaps occasionally.
i hate predicting losses but trying to think from an unbiased and logical point of view and there seems to be only one outcome here… I’m hoping i’m outta my vulcan mind though
I’ve just heard that Dicko s not playing ..he must be proper hocked..Danny Graham – 2 goals then..
Wish I was there..I feel
A good result coming on…hopefully we will become one of their bogey sides….
It’s as plain as the nose on yer arse that their winning streak and our losing streak are going to end tomorrow.
It used to be us with a good run coming to an end, thanks to some other’s bad streak ending.
Not this time.
I got six numbers correct on the Texas Lotto this week, ( unfortunately, not all on the same line) so I feel it is an omen that six goals will be scored, and they will only get one of them.
I am like LordDoogooder, I cannot predict us to lose, or even draw, so bollocks to the prediction league, a 5 – 1 blowout for the lads.
I will win the persistent prediction league hands down, as you lot chop and change willy nilly each week!!
FOwb
Reading some of the comments from Wolves ‘fans’ on FaceBook and I honestly have to question if some of them even know there are 11 players in a team. Quite bizarre comments coming from them.
Anyway back to sanity and you knowledgeable folks that make this the best Wolves blog going.
KJ is going through a rough patch, as is the team. This is a testing time for KJ and the team.
Our defence has gone to pot, we can’t score, we are in the doldrums. We know we have to get out of this and quickly otherwise we could soon be at the wrong end of the table. I believe we are good enough to finish mid-table.
I saw enough of Graham on Saturday to see that he has quality, and goals in him. Edwards would be my choice to play just off him. The main point here is the service given to our striker – If they don’t get the service then we won’t score, pretty obvious but for a number of games now we seem to have stopped our full-backs from going forward. I don’t know why.
VLP looks a better bet than Henry on the right and gives more balance to the team going forward. However, Henry probably does more defensively so it’s not an easy decision for KJ.
I am hopeful that we will get back on track with a result, though not easy, and finish November off with a win.
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
we will tighten up at the back, but fail to score, again..
I believe tomorrow is turnaround time. We put 3 past them last year at their place why not now! Lady luck has to finally help us out. They are playing good footy but we have to just knuckle down and focus. The reason I picked this score….I beat them 3-1 in FIFA 15 so there…. Good luck lads….
Not a return to better days, but a rare blip in what looks like being another difficult winter.
I seem to recall we weren’t playing too well this time last year either. Difference is, in this league you don’t get away with it.
And two years ago we were showing Ståle the door round about now. What is it about the dark months that brings out the worst in us?
A point from a hard-fought draw to stop the rot!
Hoping we have them slightly more figured out than the rest of the Chump
Thanks to my Man City supporting brother in law I had the exceptional good fortune to be at the Ethiad on Tuesday, and saw football of the highest order, particularly from those ba***rds who bombed everyone`s chipshop.
A top lesson in keeping possession, passing and movement from Bayern Munich with outstanding contributions from Robben, Ribery and Ageuro from the home side. Great match, and a great experience, several million galactic miles away from predicting this weekends score I`m afraid.
The notion that we aspire to be like Everton is a classis load of bollucks, what steps has the club taken in the last 6 months to support KJ in that regard. None whatsoever as all the fans can see. I hope all these lads the academy are signing come good very quickly, because Morgan won’t splash the cash to get in the experience better players needed to mount a promotion push. First Derby then Forest and 8 goals to nil, that’s where we are, going nowhere, certainly not towards an Everton model.
We need a win tomorrow, I don`t think we`ll get one, and I`ve passed on a trip to Rome to see Man City play there, going instead to use my season ticket for my football fix that week at home to Bournemouth. Bayern to Bournemouth – no wonder I`m pissed off, what`s their average gate – under ten thousand? where`s the money Morgan.
its not in wolverhampton wanders or ever likely to be while morgans the owner….!
Tomorrow will tell us if we’re in trouble or not. Last season, teams showed us too much respect, big club etc., probably the biggest club outside the Premier League. We’ve been sussed this season and have to re-invent ourselves. This will take time. If things don’t improve, the board have shown in the past they can be suddenly ruthless (McCarthy and Solbakken sackings), and Kenny may come under scrutiny. The likes of Tony Pulis and even Roy Keane could be turned to, but this is wild speculation on my part. Kenny is still the best man for the job, but the players have to put an old-fashioned McCarthy-ish shift in…
Desperately need to stop the rot at the back. Watching this side defending set peices of late has been a truly terrifying experience. Graham definitely showed signs he can do well at this level before the flood hates opened up in the 2nd half. And Sako in particular will be keen to bounce back from a dissapointing performance last weekend for his 100th game. Hoping for a hard fought draw that ends this recent collapse in form!
Brentford 3-0 Wolves
Had enough of a negative weekends. Despite my reservations I will plump for the positive because why not? Agree with RVLP, need pace on the wings to take the pressure of McDonald so he can do his thang utw
Less onwards and upwards, more backwards and downwards. Defence is poor, Strike force unpredictable whilst the mid-field all too predictable. Not optimistic.
Well I’ve been consistently wrong in the recent spell so here’s to being wrong again.
The fightback starts now.
If anyone thought we would cruise through this league without setbacks they are deluded.
KJ has transformed this club in a very short period and I have total faith that he will sort out the problems and stabilise the team.
Happy Clapper I may be but after some of the owners, managers and players I’ve suffered over 56 years of supporting Wolves there is much, much worse.
DON’T PANIC!
a repeat of last season – because I hope so.
Sorry but no confidence at the mo!!
Another blank for the lads
Think we’ll score but not confident about our defense. Another defeat.
Game plan has to be, keep it tight, try to frustrate the hell out of them and pinch a one nil win on the break. We need an ugly win to get us back on track. I’d be happy with a draw and it’s probably more realistic. UTW
The last few games have been a wake-up call to this team and this game is perfect for them to regain the form shown at the start of the season – against a side on the crest of a wave. We ended their 19 game unbeaten run last time and we can stop a four-game winning run this time.
Optimism continues to dissipate
A draw to halt our worrying slide down the table.
It all depends who he plays, Gotta play Golbourne,The van man,and Evans. but he’s the boss
and he should know better than we.UTW.
We need something.
Mark Davis ..a shake up piece to say the least..we have been ‘coo-ing’ In the small world of 1st division ..now in the chumpionship the clues are there..
Man City type status and play is down to £150 quid …I’d be pissed off if we had spent that sort of dough and not come up with world class play and incidently they still might not go through..
Wolves and us as fans deserve more … the club should be rubbing shoulders again with Liverpool Arsenal Man U etc..
Ownership and investment hold the key ..it’s the ones like Southampton that play into the hands of the Morgan’s moxey’s of this world as they have to develop and that’s our route as well..
It’s the odds of doing it that worries me and ultimately if KJ is good enough to coach the younger players and change strategy at the right times..
mmm…
Thats £150M quid
How we could do with a win, we have got two tricky games which could not have come at a worst time .
Hope this is the game where we dig in and find some fight.
COME ON ME BABIES
Disappointed in the lack of a new face on loan, hopefully we have something lined up for January or our good start will have been a waste.
the only thing lined up for January will be excusses like…we tryed our best…..the tpye of players (cheap) we are looking for are not avialable would not improve the sqaud and so on……….and on and on…blarr de blarr excetera….excertera.
Im surprised Moxeys not shovving the Christmas catalogue at the next home game.
Can see us winning but can sense an improvement.
I hate to predict a defeat for the wolves but try as i might i just cant see any thing else.
the only fixture I was able to watch last season, whilst on a rare trip over from CA (managed to convince Bees’ Box office I was a supporter to blag 3 tix). the team looked great that day and McDonald bossed the midfield all game. Griffin Park is a classic old ground with a pub on each corner and we silenced their crowd and knocked them off the top of League One….somehow can’t see a repeat tomorrow…maybe we need to learn to ‘park the bus’ as we look incapable of scoring right now
fingers crossed for a dull draw
I have a feeling we will play 2 up front tmw, earlier in the week, KJ was saying that Graham needs a strike partner and now I hear that KJ is backing Leon as he’s in the right frame of mind.
You really have to read between the lines with KJ… He does not tell you everything as he wants to keep the opposition in the dark.
4-1-3-2 formation to start, with a swap at 75mins to a more defensive role if we’re ahead to sit on the lead.
I’d take a draw!
Can’t see a draw, let along a win
Optimistic Jim says: inconsistency is the nature of this level. Every club will have a bad run at some point. Hopefully this is ours and we can come back stronger.
Pessimistic Jim says: but not just yet.
Schizophrenic Jim says: shut up you two.
Feels a it like when we went there last season.
– would be great if we can get same outcome.
Club is in a bit of turmoil, KJ doesn’t seem to know his best starting team, lack of signings is woeful really. Pre-season, in Aug and now with loan window shutting.
We lose Sako & Dicko in Jan and any replacements will have no time to ‘fit in’
Moan over, expect us to win, as always. Come on. . . .
When you are in a sticky patch one of the last places you want to be heading is an in form Brentford. We have been bullied by teams recently and Brentford will exploit this weakness. An early goal against and I fear the floodgates will open.
The policy at the club is clearly to find potential in young players which inevitably means we are likely to spend some considerable time in the championship. There is nothing wrong with that philosophy but you need an awful lot of patience from supporters. Not sure if there are enough who are prepared to wait.
I hope I am wrong today but I just can’t see any points return from Griffin Park.
Is it too early to be calling this a must win.
COYW
I shall be wearing my lucky chinos
I can’t make it today, which pretty much guarantees a win. 2-0 Wolves!
First time I’ve predicted a loss for a while – hope I’m wrong again.
More in hope than expectation !!!
Hopefully……
This is a really tricky game, but the way we are playing at the moment, all i can see is a tight defeat.
I can’t see us getting anything from this I also wonder about Jacobs going with sako off to Africa
Agree on RVLP, he can cause problems, but I think Kenny will be more concerned with keeping it tight rather than being too expansive, bearing in mind our goals against column of late. I would take a point just to stop the point but hopefully Sako can bang in a couple in those diamond boots.
Got to get back to winning ways after the Derby and Forest performances
Warburton’s a tossa
IN KENNY WE TRUST
remember people rome werent built in a day or piggin weeks
On the fence for this one, just need to tighten up at the back above all else, the goals will come from the talented frontmen eventually. COYW
A draw will be a good result. Come on me babbies!
Overjoyed if we scrape a point I think!!!
Cannot believe what I am watching..
What a joke, what a shambles. call it what ever you like we are now in a relegation fight this team is league one at best..
Heads out of the sand time guys…
Ricketts has started for us 4 times this year. We have lost every game and conceded 19 goals in the process. In the 5 games that Rowe started as full back prior to Ricketts return we won two,Drew two and lost one conceding 6 goals. This could all be coincidence and I’m sure Ricketts is not the sole reason for our woeful form but he is now way too slow to feature in a championship side and, next to a lumbering danny batth, any pace simply destroys us.
Ouch! I don’t know where we go now. All I know is something needs to get sorted pretty damn quick!!!!
Why is Jacobbs not starting no Stearman either I’ve never been a fan but he been playing better or no worse than the others.
Kenny seems to have lost the plot re:team selection he’s to one dimentianal, dare I say it a one trick pony shades of McCarthy creeping in.
On that not Ipswich have gone secound, still wouldn’t have him back for all the tea in china
Dreadfull, there needs to be some changes and quick. Our system has been found out and it appears our manager and the current team have no idea how to change. Lambs to the slaughter!!!!
Ready For it…
JACKETT OUT !!!
PULLIS IN..
How about Morgan out, Moxey out.
I can understand you on one level but the top and bottom who ever is in charge is money. And it will always come down to that while Morgans the owner it really doesn’t matter who the manager no it should be
MORGAN OUT………!!!!!!!!!!!
Nige….A step too far for KJ? this is free fall in its purest form..