If you wanted a Premier League fixture to bring you back down to earth, this would be it.
In fact, there are two interesting challenges for Wolves to navigate before setting the sat nav for HA9.
A Burnley team scrambling for points after four consecutive defeats and a Man Utd team still licking their wounds from that FA Cup shellacking.
All eyes will be on team selection, but whatever Nuno
Burnley
When I saw the Clarets first hand back in September I thought they were
I would go as far as to say it was the most one-sided 1-0 victory I’ve ever seen Wolves enjoy. Joe Hart had a great game to keep the scoreline down.
Credit to Sean Dyche and his team though, they’ve steadily improved and the points accrued before and after Christmas have given them a very good chance of staying up.
Things haven’t gone well in March though and with Cardiff just two behind having played a game less, there’s a considerable amount of work to do.
What they do have in Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood are a couple of strikers who’ve proven they can score goals in the Premier League, which may just give them the edge.
With 3 wins, 4 draws and 9 defeats from their home matches so far they’ll probably need to improve that run rate if they’re to retain their top flight status.
The home end
Some comments from a popular Burnley forum.
We need to put Wolves on the back foot from the off, play for a point and they’ll take us to the cleaners, just like they did down there.
Wolves have way too much
With our last 4
It’s crazy to even think we should be playing for a “don’t lose” at home to any newly promoted side,
Keep it tight hoping to nick 1, and reacting if/when anything changes.
I think we’ll nick
Wolves
I suspect we might see more changes to the first XI tomorrow than against Utd in midweek.
I wonder if Nuno might consider reverting to the shape from earlier in the season to accomodate a couple of the fringe players e.g Cav and Costa?
We comfortably saw them off playing this way at Molineux and as they’re a team likely to bypass the midfield anyway, do we need that extra man?
He probably won’t but it’s one possible solution if he wanted to shuffle the pieces around.
The poll
[interaction id=”5c9e1093c4817453e9e205bb”]Predictions
It seems like a long time since the draw at Chelsea, but well done to Marney, Croydon Wolves,
vicsmith holds a narrow 1 point advantage at the top of the overall table, but Wolvo Dave and Teddy Eley (thanks to that 3 point return) are within striking distance.
As always, if you’d like to join in simply leave your prediction for the game in the comment section below, which is where you’ll find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
We’re a better team and have better players. Their motivation should be greater though and home advantage is handy. Had this game been at Molineux, I’d have fancied us to clean them up. Very tough to call but so I’ll just sit on the fence. A point wouldn’t be too bad for either side.
Difficult one – so many factors to consider. Clarets fighting for survival. Will we have an eye on Tuesday or Saturday? What will the team be?
Who can ever second guess saint Nuno but if I was to try I’d say he’d put out our A team tomorrow and rest one or two for Utd who are likely to want to come and settle a score.
I still think tomorrow will be close though as Burnley are better than their league position suggests.
Completely agree with the first Burnley fan post. If they sit off and let us dictate the game, like at the Mol in September, I think we’ll win this this comfortably.
Interesting thoughts re 343 from Thomas. I can see where he’s coming from. You do have to play 343 if you want to fit Costa in.
For me, I’d go full strength v Burnley (fitness permitting after internationals), get on the front foot early and then pass them to death. Let our quality shine through. United can then be the game which is a bit more of a ‘free hit’ and gives some of the lads an eight-day break.
On the proviso that Nuno goes full strength (or near enough) with our usual 352 system, I’ll go for 3-1.
Raul and Jota have found the scoring polish for their boots. 1~3 to wolves.
Put Ruddy in for Rui to give him gametime ahead of next week
Jimenez might be knackered so maybe come off the bench
Traore over Costa potentially
Vinagre to keep on doing what he has been
Very Exciting Times
COYW
We very rarely lose to Burnley at Turf moor so I think that run will continue 2-0 wolves
Nuno’s mantra is one game at a time, and to win that game.
Full strength team please.
The Prem has finally woken up to the fact that we are a very good team, and difficult to beat.
Our mindset has to be win everything we compete for.
Three very important games in 8 days, but all eminently winnable.
I think our guys will be well up for this one, as usual, and Jimmy The Nez to score a hat trick.
easy 5-1
And Manure to do us two favours in three days, beat Watford and lose to us!
It’s great to get the international break out of the way and back to normal business. Or as normal as can be, given what’s on the horizon.
To be honest, I’m not expecting much from either this or the Man U game, so any positive return will do me. It’s already been said but I too would be happy for a full strength team tomorrow and some players rested on Tuesday.
With so many variables over team selection, potential formation changes to accommodate wingers, our inconsistent form against struggling teams and so on, trying to predict how this next week will go is in the same ballpark as trying to figure out how Brexit will turn out! (That was just an analogy, please keep your political opinions to yourself. There’s a 50% chance they’re wrong and a 100% chance they will cause an argument!).
I think I would take a place in the final and 0 points from Burnley & Man U given the chance, but if we lose both those games we’ll be lacking momentum and confidence. Play full strength both games and we risk injury / fatigue undermining the Wembley performance. What a conundrum! Rather Nuno than me, that much is for sure!
I trust Nuno and the lads though, 6 points and a place in the final is also one of the potential outcomes. Fingers crossed we get it all our own way.
UTW!
Dumb shit!
Forgot to put score in boxes
I was gonna point that out to you, but then I realised if you wanted points in the prediction league you’d probably go for a different prediction tactic.
I’m inclined to follow the one game at a time mantra. But no doubt Nuno will be looking closely at each player who’s been on international duty and select accordingly.
Jota who I think will have travelled furthest may be judged as requiring a rest. If so Costa’s recent form would lead me to prefer Cav who’s provided decent cameos off the bench, or Traore, if he can connect his brain to his feet. I love Traore’s attitude but too often he makes poor decisions for the final ball.
Burnley are desperate for a result and with Dyche at the helm pose a threat. But with the wind behind us and any distractions ignored I expect a win.
Sorry meant to say Jiminez has travelled furthest!! Age catching up (again).
With a full strength team I think we can nick this. COYW.
Maybe a few changes to keep the squad all employed. What we do need to do is stop late goals going in in 90+ minutes – 3 games out of the last 4. We were doing that a while ago, but the tables have turned recently.
Defo 3 points tomorrow though.
Who can second guess Nuno ? not me anyway.
But having a discussion on the potential team is what the blog is all about and its testament to the superb progress wolves have made that no matter which line up Nuno plays you just cant see it being a bad one.
The bamboozling conundrum for the pub landlord at Burnley is not his own team selection but ours.
Who knows what formation we will play ? although that is probably the easiest thing to predict. But who knows who will play in that formation and who will be brought on from the bench to change the game?
Wolves have so many permutations its mind blowing and i really dont think mien host Dyche has the tactical nous or the players to combat that huge problem.
I just cant see any other outcome but a wolves win and a convincing one at that .
A superb synopsis as ever …..International fatigue will probably be a factor with Raul however the Portuguese boys and the Irish fella didn’t get tested massively, me thinks…the question is, I believe, are Burnley a better team than Everton ,West Ham , Spurs or even Chelsea?…NO …
I was listening to a comedy sketch show on the radio recently and a character was asked how the vegan diet was going ?….Like an otter sliding off a river bank ! … was the reply
I have a feeling we maybe contributing to their demise in this league and the Clarets joining our striped neighbours …. who definitely resemble the consequences of this dietary lifestyle
Just keep plugging away at the last 9 possibly 10 games and we will be the happiest bunch of Wolves fans this side of the Midlands. 7th place will be one hell of an achievement, to progress to the final would be dreamland, to win it and get 7th then they better get in touch with Marston’s to stock up with the Amber Nectar.
I don’t give a flying forklift what we do between now and May, Iv’e had a great ride this season, I know Nuno won’t sit on his laurels and will give it 100%, just please don’t go to Liverpool and roll over, if they are to win the league then they have to beat the best team in it, so I want a right ding dong of a last game, unlike feckin Sunderland.
Tomorrow it depends on tired jetsetters to be fair, our record after the International break is pretty crap, but I live in hope.
Burnley 1
Wolves 3
Then, Bring on the reds…
Think we may go for this one and maybe rest a few for the man utd game tues and hopefully be full strength for the FA CUP next week.
Burnley are fighting for their lives so that will be a difficult game and think man utd could be a different challenge this time.
But 3 or 4 points would be good to come away with.
So 2 -0 to us and 1-1 against man utd UTW.
Spot on Stuwolf, such an incredible season and player management for the next week is paramount. We trust Nuno implicitly on team selection and I would continue with the 352 shape which has been so successful since December. I would start Cav/Costa/MGW in place of our match winners for both games but have them on the bench until say 65 minutes then come on to save a game or keep match sharpness. If we are to beat Watford we will need the A team firing on all cylinders. Score draw for me.
This could go either way, the Watford game is the big one.
No point going into the selection conundrum so I’ll keep it simple. We’ll score from a free-kick outside the box because they were practising them today after training and missing all the ones I saw!
Saturday will be another exciting day – I truly look forward to game days now rather than face them with fear and trepidation. Our performance levels are a pleasure to behold.
Three great games over 8 days and on paper Burnley should be the easiest. Obviously they will be fighting for everything in order to try and secure their premiership survival – whereas Wolves will have an eye on the next two very high profile games.
We don’t have a good record after international breaks but I think confidence is oozing through the side and eventually our quality will prevail.
From a tactical perspective I would like to see a full strength Wolves side to try and secure three points – then if any rotation before the semi-final is required we could do that against Man Utd.
Three points on Saturday, one point on Tuesday, and a win at Wembley would be my dream outcome.
Isn’t it great to be able to look to three games with such optimism!
Need to be at our best vs Burnley and I know that’s a big ask given Jiminez’ involvement in the international break.
A lot could just depend on quirks of the day (ref, early goal, how high Burnley press us…). My life won’t be over if we don’t take all three points this time.
But we absolutely can win this.
Bit like Stu really, we have had such a good season I am personally in dreamland any way. Trust that Nuno will have sorted out the knackered from the just tired of the boys back from the international break and select the best team for the job, he always has so far.
We should win this but would take a loss if it meant winning next Sunday. Not bothered about Ole he will find out that lightening can strike twice on Tuesday.
A win for me just about
Who ever gets put in that wolves side is going to want a Wembley place
Talking of Wembley… who likes the shirt I made ?l
I was reading one of my old football annuals today with a report of the 1959/60 season. Burnley won the league by a single point. Second? Wolverhampton Wanderers!
We scored 106 goals that season (63 at home, 43 away), 21 more than Burnley, with a GD of +39.
A repeat of that next season should help us finish one place better 60 years on.
As for tomorrow, I think we have too much in the tank for Burnley.
Once our players are switched on we will win comfortably in the end. If they are not 100% focused, I can see us losing. Very important game and almost ( not quite) a must win! If we win we may have significant breathing space, lose and the battle for 7th is well and truly on! Close to full strength for this game and a few “rested” against Man U. Stay rock solid early on and two goals in the second half!
Burnley will be desperate to get 3 points. That would mean them playing attacking football which is just what we like. Problem is that Dyche doesn’t often play attacking football. He seems content to stick 10 men behind the ball and hope for the best. Pretty damn boring to watch.
Whichever way they tackle this game we still have more than enough to collect the 3 points.
Be interesting to see how we line up!
🙂
Like others have said I think this is very difficult to call.
2-1 Wolves with a later winner.
Strong team for this one Mr Nuno . We can rotate the squad for Man Utd game and give key players a rest before the big one.
Taking of which I have booked the premier inn at Uxbridge for me and my lad. So I will be driving down.
I see twat Merson and Lawro are predicting we will either lose or draw ffs ! So as per usual I’m going for a comfortable Wolves win !
COYW
Think we will get a few changes, Jimenez on bench etc and Thomas view of formation tweak.
Now then, what a season folks. Nuno to rotate several tomorrow with the incomers so so keen to perhaps stake a last minute dot com for the Big one next week. I think it will be high scoring but we will do them. If we could only win one more league game this season though, tomorrows would not be the one for me.
This season has been spectacular on so many fronts but in my days of supporting there were 2 games that required a score settling.
FA Cup quarters we owed Utd for many years after that 3-2 replay defeat. Done and dusted. Thanks Mr Nuno and Co.
May 4th 1976 the scousers disrespecting the Mol smashing down gates etc to gain entry into the southbank, us being seen off to the lower division courtesy of their 3 – 1 win (and Blue noses result that night).
To lose against Burnley for me would be completely irrelevant because we will gift City the title by beating Liverpool at Anfield (score settled, thanks Mr Nuno and Co) and then doing Citeh the week later.
What a time to be a Wolves fan after our decades of suffering. Enjoy the rest of the season folks!
Burnley are one of our favourite sides. In 127 games we are undefeated in 90. A brilliant record. Just as we always lose to Huddersfield. We always do well against Burnley. But as Arkwright is walking t dog across mooo er and comes home in the driving rain to be greeted by his wife Tracey the racing pigeon Diogo will be putting us 1-0. Arkwright will be plunged in to despair and only the soothing coohing of Tracey will save him from smashing up the outhouse in annoyance. ‘tha t bloody Dyche as gotta goohhhh. I tell thee Tracey.’ Tracey ,by now stirring some rabbit brain broth turns to Arkwright and says ‘ eh Arkwright. Cud be t worse. Thy could be a West Bromwich Albion fan’. At which point Arkwright smashes the out house up saying nohhhhhh nohhhhhh nohhhhhh. Any way the moral of this story is that no matter how bad anything seems, it can never be as bad as supporting Sandwell Town. So the score will be Burnley 0 WWFC 1. After the game Nuno said ‘no no we don’t even think about Wembley. One game at a time. One game at a time. I am glad my players were not put off by the racing pigeons flying across the ground’. Sean Dyche said ‘ we are still in a fog from the Europa league. I still haven’t got a fucking clue where Latvia is’
You been at the source again Chessy mate ? Not catching the train next Sunday gonna drive down and stay over night with all the other bloggers at the premier inn. Should be a loff !
Ad a few chap. Friday ay it. Av a great stay in the Premier Inn. As you know the bloggers on here are all supreme folks. It will be great. I have now confirmed my train ticket. Will be down in Marylebone station at 10.41. Then could be off to Camden for a few. Or Oxford Circus and Carnaby Street. A good selection of boozers in either location. Any way what really counts is we all have a massive day, watch the Mighty Wolves win, get home safely and then plan for the final! FWAW !
I think Nuno plays to win everytime. But how he’ll go about every one of these next 3 games will be different, and I am sure his main focus will be the Semi. I am pretty sure the side and tactics he picks tomorrow will have one eye on the SF. That, and the fact that players are returning from international games, imply changes to me. But ones that can and should still win us this game.
Two matches in quick succession before the semi final.
The one thing we don’t need is an injury to one of our key players.
So is it going to be difficult for the ‘certs’ next Sunday to give their all?
That, and our record after International breaks, makes me a little concerned.
However, as I’ve spent the majority of the last couple of days sat on the loo suffering from a rampant stomach bug with the World dropping out of my bottom, I’ve got more things to occupy my mind.
Therefore I’m going for a narrow Wolves win.
Please God make me better for next weekend or I shall have to come equipped with a load of nappies!
There are certain things that drop out of bottoms. Usually related to The Whorethorns.
Have you tried Bisto? It won’t stop the runs but it will thicken it up…..
I think this game will show why both teams are in the league positions they’re in, and our class will come through……
COME ON ME BABBIES!!!
Really difficult to call this one I think. Whenever we play Burnleh I have one overriding concern – can we avoid any serious injuries?
Yep, sorry, but messrs Bardsley et al are a bunch of thugs when you get get down to it and we have a lot of clever ball players, depending on who’s selected.
So taking that into consideration. along with my perennial, characteristic pessimism, I’m going to go for a 1 – 1 draw.
Pessimism it is Pete.
Burnley will be scrapping for their lives plus the post international break syndrome.
Let’s hope it’s not another Huddersfield.
Hard earned score draw for me.
UTW!
what with our internationals returning, the need to spread the squad over the three matches, and Burnley trying extra hard, it’s not straightforward. I think Nuno may give Traore a start. Vinagre too. I’ do hope to see Jimenez on the pitch for some of the game at least, but whatever I feel sure we beat this team. No Sam Vokes to bite us either !
Looking to carry on where we left off,I predict we’ll win again against a team who imo must be lacking in confidence a little after 4 defeats.
I do like Burnley a nice little club who have done marvellously well under Sean Dyche,I hope we’ll be to strong for them and take all the points.
UTW FOWB.
Just going off track a bit. I see Stiff Little Fingers are playing at the old star works Wolverhampton on 20th August. That is a major coup. So excited I could perm Nuno’s beard. One of THE legendary punk bands. First saw them in Wolverhampton as a spotty youth in 1979 . Brave enough to challenge the stink in Belfast with aggressive lyrics saying this is shit. We don’t want it any more. Things have moved on a bit since. Let’s hope Brexit doesn’t fuck it up.
Have had to come to McDonald’s in Timaru to get a WiFi signal…. so before it runs out I’ll get a prediction done.
Gutted not to be there but I’m sure the 12th man will play their part…. enjoys guys… bastids…
Helps with a score….
Reckon 3-5-2 for the remainder of the season, we all know Nuno respects ea opponent but doesn’t give a flying fig leaf how/what they play.
For me the next three games are important to have a very strong & fit midfield, the front & back will take care of its self.
A comfortable win tomorrow followed by a cheeky win on Tuesday.
Reckon there’ll be a few personnel changes over next two games, would love to see Adoma score a hat-trick against the Manc’s.
COMB & FWAW
Fancy them to get one at home, so predict a draw.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see a Cardiff (h) type line-up. Power in the middle (Saiss, Donck), pace out wide (Vinagre, Traore). Whatever, I don’t see us losing this one.
Nuno will rest a few here I think, the fresh guys will put on a show in desperation of trying to make the team for Wembley
3-0 up and coasting when a couple of changes brings another couple of goals
Nuno s only problem is deciding who starts against the manks and who gets the Wembley shirt
Utw
Burnley will be up for it, we may not. We have a few poor performances in the locker (disappointingly, we sometimes have been unable to turn around poor games – eg Huddersfield x2). Just a few blips in a wonderful season so far, but we will drop points between now and the end of the season.
I agree with all those that said that a strong team is a must here. Any rest for the players should be for Tuesday’s game. If Raul is already tired then Cav, Jota Traore would be a good forward line. Let’s go for the easier 3 pointer of the next 2 games.
I’m with Wolfman on the team picks
I’m less persuaded by instincts to rest players than the need to put a winning formation on the pitch .. winning gets to be habitual
At this stage of the season our squad should be glowing like fit race horses… and the key players all need a good run out tomorrow ..and Tuesday even if it’s for 60 mins.
Yes Jimenez came to San Francisco but he didn’t play vs Paraguay so he just had a long plane trip back to the Holy Land.. 8 hrs time difference of jet lag
Whatever
The confidence level he and the rest have right now must be off the scale
So let’s play a side to win at Burnley and a variation that can hold manure.. even resting Moutinho we should be able to do that on Tuesday
9 games to go…
Barry Bucknell commented above on the end of the 1959-60 season when Burnley pipped us at the post and stopped us winning the league three seasons running while doing the league/cup double – we wus robbed!!! :).
I have good memories of Burnley in those days. One game in particular stands out – the papers reckoned both sides had 15 chances but we scored seven of them and them only two. I had family friends oop north and normally had the weekend with them when we played Burnley away, there were some great matches.
What about this weekend – quite a lot of uncertainties – their form/approach, our possible selection and jetlag effects. While they might work against us I’m hoping that, whoever plays, they’ll be effective and give us a win.
Tough one to predict, on overall form should be a win but they are fighting for survival so 1 – 1 for me.
This will be a close game I think a draw.
Regardless of what is to come, I think we have the beating of them with our squad players taking up the slack.
Hmm I’ll be interested to see the team selection but Butnley have been leaking goals in recently.
I’m firmly in the ‘play your strongest team’ camp for all games. However, it may well be that when Nuno assesses our trans-world travellers, he may decide that our squad players are fresher and therefore a better option. Only Nuno knows.
However, whoever gets onto the pitch, I’m sure we will have enough to do the job and goals from Moutinho (51mins) and Traore (88mins) will see us open a gap and leave us in the ‘Big Seven’ and Watford to scrap for the ‘best of the rest’.
Jeez ! Its difficult enough to predict a result, even harder to predict a score, a nightmare to predict the scorers but then you go and predict the goal times as well ! If this comes off I’ll tip my hat (if I’m wearing one) to you…
You’re welcome to put a quid on it WJ, but I’ll be keeping mine in my pocket.
I cant see nuno changing shape but I can see him making changes. I would like to see Costa and Cav given a start although I think Costas days are numbered especially now we play with two forwards. I’d start Gibbs white today as well. Same scoreline as the reverse fixture.
International breaks don’t always help us so hoping Jimenez isn’t jet lagged & they’re all up for it.
Like your team Thomas, but think I would play Traore rather than Costa right now if needed.
Hoping for a win.
COYW
Burnley 0
Wolves 4
Leaving for Burnley in a couple of hours.
We have the better team, so should win if we play at the top level. Burnley will however be scrapping for every ball, or so they should be. Happy with a draw, but feeling hopeful.
Not knowing the team selection, knowing this game is so much more important for them; just my opinion, I have literally no idea as to the outcome. So I will sit on the fence and go for a two all draw, but would not be surprised by a good win or a narrow loss.
I can see this being a goalless draw, but it would be a great time to get three points. Only eight more sleeps till the big one, bring it on.
Merson on Gillete Soccer Saturday discussing Spurs prospects in new stadium -” outside of the other top six sides Palace are the team hardest to beat, they’re the ones you don’t want at home”. So it must have been Palace not Wolves who beat them 3-1 at Wembley. Sorry guys you must have dreamt it.
Lawro’s got us down to lose again. He really don’t rate us.
Burnley are a ‘funny old team’ grandad says, he’s seen lots of 0-0s. So that’s the same for us lot
COYW
Can see us struggling in this one with everyone having one eye on next week. I’ll go for a draw
Can we ban international breaks?
Shocking performance today, but we move on.
As I suspected.
This was a tale of two teams. One whose players were determined to put their bodies on the line for the cause, and one whose players weren’t.
The cause for Burnley is avoiding relegation. So far, job well done.
The cause for Wolves was avoiding any injuries before next weekend. So far, job well done.
I just worry what will happen if we play like that against Man U.
Two defeats before a semi final against a Watford side who were unlucky to lose today will not be too brilliant for morale.