There’s no denying the non-performance against Huddersfield was a worry, but I don’t think we should be too disheartened just yet.
Other than Watford, it was the only game the lads haven’t turned up for this season so we can probably chalk it up to an off day.
Certainly though, teams have figured out that pressing this Wolves team in key areas of the pitch can disrupt their rhythm.
The lack of physical power, particularly in midfield, is also an area the opposition are exploiting, which is a concern given who we’re playing tomorrow.
Cardiff
Prior to last season, whenever someone said ‘Cardiff’, Wolves supporters had one unified thought, which had nothing to do with the Bluebirds.
But that mind boggling finish to the game back in April means we’ve now got two memories to cherish from the Welsh capital. It was little surprise Neil Warnock was so spikey in the aftermath.
Admittedly, I thought they might fall away after that morale sapping loss, so massive credit to them for getting over the line and making a go of it in the Premier League.
It initially looked like being nigh on impossible to survive, but a couple of wins have put them right amongst the pack of five or six teams duking it out at the bottom and a win tomorrow would put them up to 15th.
I’m still intimidated by the raw strength they have with the likes of Bamba, Manga and Morrison at the back, who will ask a lot of questions from set pieces.
Further forward I’m not sure they’ve yet brought in sufficient quality to give them what they need to be truly competitive, but players like Harry Arter and Bobby Reid give them useful options in addition to what they had already.
The home end
Some comments lifted from the match thread on a popular Cardiff City fan forum:
Really want to win this, the feeling when the full time whistle went in the last fixture was up there with the 3-0 defeat to Swansea and play off loss to Blackpool.. don’t think I spoke to anyone in work the next day and didn’t even say a word to my parents the whole weekend.
3 1 to cardiff own goal gift from us,neil to run to the canton at the final whistle after giving nuno a W.nky wanders hand signal and giving the canton end the not so familiar victory salute 3 times.
Going to be tough, and they will have something to prove after the Huddersfield result. I have a feeling this will be a scrappy draw.
Wolves
There must be a temptation to make a change in midfield, particularly with a midweek game to come against Chelsea next Wednesday.
It’s a big call to drop to Moutinho but I’d say there’s a good chance we’ll see Gibbs-White or Saiss either tomorrow or next week.
Up front I think Costa is vulnerable as his wait for a goal or notable assist drags on, so Traore should get a run out in my opinion.
On the other side it’s Cav or Jota and I may gave the latter the edge as every chance he could rediscover some form against a familiar foe.
The poll
[interaction id=”5bffda06ad2c174f51e3027c”]
Predictions
Not many points shared last week in the Prediction League table with most people forecasting a positive result. vicsmith still leads the way with 19 from 13 predictions.
As always if you want to join in the fun simply leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided, which is where you’ll find my best guess.
Remember, keep a consistent email address to ensure your score is tracked correctly in the table.
Up The Wolves!
Simply a must win game.
Wolves 1 nil winners fingers crossed.
Forgot to put my score.
Colin will have little trouble getting his team up for this one. Many of them were around at last season’s weird game. Plus his style (if you can call it that) is perfect at rattling opponents. Wolves, currently, can be rattled quite easily.
Would accept a point, for lots of reasons would love a win.
Forgot to make my prediction
The wrong fixture at the wrong time for me. We’re rocking a bit and they’ll be very keen to avenge what went down in April.
What are the odds of it being a Friday night game again? Ridiculous.
Certainly if we can enforce our style and get our midfield into the game we should dominate, but they’ll make that tough and I can see us getting undone from set pieces.
Prove me wrong boys.
After 6 games without a win Nuno must make changes we cannot fall any lower in this division we desperately need a player who knows where the goal is come on Nuno shake this 90 million side up
Two teams desperate for three points, not least because of the last games’ incredible finale.
We can’t, surely, be as bad as we were against Uddersfeeled, and I foresee a massive improvement on that debacle. Saisse in for Moutinho, with Dendonker waiting in the wings in case even more physicality is required in the midfield.
Otherwise, no change, as Traore seems to spend more time on his bottom than his feet and we won’t have time for sitting around.
So disappointed in the display last week that I’ve been offline virtually until today. To my mind Jimenez was the only guy who came out with any real class, although one or two others were okay; so, so disappointing. Fair play to Huddersfield, their pressing and midfield work paid off big time.
Cardiff may not be the game we need as they, too, will be in our faces but we have to learn to battle and overcome these teams with strong, physical players. Letting N’Diaye go, I felt, was not a good move and Saiss must wonder what he has done wrong and can not be match fit at present. Morgan oozes class but, I feel, at his age, needs to be introduced with care as at present; we don’t want him picking up a serious injury whilst his body and joints are still developing. I can understand the desire to throw him in fully as he looks so good.
I think we may win two to one, but anything is really possible…
We might have gone 5 games without a win, but under Nuno, we have never gone two games on the trot playing as crap as last Sunday.
The players will know that they let us down, and some of them must be looking over their shoulders at replacements who are chomping at the bit to take their places.
Colin makes dinosaurs look young, and his tactics and style of “play” reflect that, he should have been pensioned off years ago, and put out to graze in a meadow far away from football.
Their players will be so up for “avenging” last season, they will go over the top, and at least three will be sent off, and Colin will be banished to the stands for foul and abusive language, and that all in the first twenty minutes!
We cannot play as badly collectively as we did against Huddersfield, so will romp out easy peasy winners.
We’ve never gone one game on the trot playing as bad as last Sunday Clive, never mind two.
I wish I had your optimism Clive . Very nervous about tonight…if we don’t get a result we could be right in the mire . With Chelsea next week and then Newcastle away god knows what will happen. Just don’t want to give the shite fans anything to be pleased about ! Still fingers crossed
I sooooooooooooooooooo want us to win this game and thought we would smash them a few weeks ago. The performance against Huddersfield was horrific however and has me questioning the whole team. I think that the lads will be nervous knowing that they need a much improved performance. Cardiff on the other hand will be thinking that they have an opportunity for 3 points and will want a bit of revenge.
One all draw with both teams feeling disappointed at the end. Hope the boys prove me wrong.
I’m not very good at predictions at the best of times, so this week is not looking good for me. If you are right Thomas with your team prediction I see a humiliating defeat coming. For me it would be Ruddy in goal, Saiss in place of Moutinho. An extra man in midfield,possibly Dendoncker, I’ve yet to see him play, but he surely deserves a chance after last weeks shambles. Costa and Cav to the bench and Jota and Traore to start.
Given that my skills as a football manager are only slightly better than my ballet dancing attributes I suspect Nuno will go his own way, but without a good shake up I can’t see a win in Wales.
I expected us to beat Huddersfield and struggle a tad against Cardiff, however I now feel we will get a reaction from the boys, it won’t be pretty and we will probably only get around 50 minutes of actual play so I’ll take a draw .
This is the kind of game we could lose and if we do ! I just hope that most fans keep things in perspective, we aren’t playing badly ( apart from last game) so keep the faith,
Also worth remembering we had an 18 , 19 and couple of lads around 21 playing last game , how many premier league teams could have said that last week! Can’t speak for you lot but when I was that age I didn’t know the shit from the shovel, but I know I responded better to encouragement than criticism , the future is so exciting regardless of this result, keep the faith, I know the amazing away support will make it well worth me setting my alarm for 2 45 am Saturday, even though I’m spending all Friday on a very boozy golf course!
Utw
I must have been standing too near the Gluwine at the supermarket this morning, because I have this feeling that we will bounce back tomorrow night in Welsh Wales.
I bleedin hope so, because Dougie, Mr & Mrs Lowves, RikRak, his chums and me are all going to be here, a long way to go on a Friday afternoon to be disappointed again.
I just feel there is no way these lads will play that poorly again, so they will be well and truly up for it. Having watched Cardiff a few times this season they leave it all to late on in the game, so if we can get a good head start on them we need to tighten up the back in the last 10 minutes, expect an aerial bombardment late on and then Di’s yer Uncle.
As disappointed as I was with last week, I firmly believe we can get back on track, if we can middle through these next few games and sort out the scoring department in January then we can push onwards and upwards.
For me it’s a confident ,
Cardiff 0
Wolves 3
Come on me Bambinos
I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to statistics which is why I find fivethirtyeight.com so fascinating.
Over there, the stats suggest there’s a 38% chance Cardiff will Win; 32% chance Wolves will win; and, 30% a draw . . . . . about as ‘knife-edge’ as it gets.
Me? I’m going with my heart, as always!
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I’d like to see Nuno go with three in midfield, playing Saiss in the deeper role. Ideally you’d want a bit more physicality, like an N’Diaye type, but Saiss likes to put it about still.
I know Nuno won’t venture from 3-4-3 but when teams go with three in midfield and look to press, it really does unsettle us. At the end of the day, Nuno wants ‘control’ and likes to do that through possession – an extra man in the middle of the park could go some to negating the press allowing Ruben and Joao more time on the ball to give us that ‘control’.
It’s high time Dendoncker comes in for Bennett. As I’ve eluded to before, I’ve a lot of time for Bennett and how he took his chance last season by adapting to Nuno’s coaching methods. I just feel he’s becoming increasingly erratic, especially in possession, and I think he’s found his level. Dendoncker is a Belgium international at the end of the day; he’s young and he’s more than likely going to be the future.
I’d be tempted to start Traore. Yes, he fell over too easily v Huddersfield, but he didn’t half cause some problems with his pace and direct running. Cav was simply awful but has been brilliant on the whole since his return from injury. Costa wasn’t much better on Sunday and has had his fair share of chances. As for Jota, I was extremely worried by his reaction to giving the ball away on Sunday – he just didn’t look bothered.
How is it that somebody built like the proverbial brick outhouse, but with shortish legs and a low centre of gravity can be:-
a) So bloody quick
b) So easy to put on their backside.
But enough about the PMDG’er.
Traore really is a conundrum.
But so is Costa. So unplayable one week and so awful the next. He’s another who gets pushed off the ball way too easily.
And so is Jota. This man should be terrorising Premier League defences, I still think he has the ability to do so but needs a double dose of confidence, a goal would do wonders for him.
And so is Neves. What’s happened to the superstar we were all worshipping a few weeks ago? Is he unsettled? Is he tired? Has he just been found wanting at the top level?
And so is the Doc. How can he be so dynamic one match and so lethargic the next?
I could go through the whole team, with the notable exception of Coady and possibly Gibbs-White, although he hasn’t really had enough game time to be judged accurately.
I think that therein lies Nuno’s biggest problem.
We all know that, playing at their best, Wolves are a match for nearly every team in this division. We certainly don’t lack ability.
Consistency is what we lack and it’s Nuno’s job to get that consistency into the team.
You could also argue that we lack a clinical striker, but if we play to our potential we have plenty of men who can put the ball into the net.
I hope, and think that we will bounce back against Cardiff. If not, then we have a big problem because the fixtures are coming thick and fast and they won’t get any easier.
Wolves to win tomorrow.
It is hard to keep the faith after the performance we witnessed last week. Maybe playing away will relieve the pressure on the lads, but I doubt it. I just do not see how Nuno can get them back to winning ways, especially in 5 days since the last shambolic performance. Cardiff are on the up and they will have too much for our boys to handle, hence regrettably I cannot see anything apart from us getting a good thrashing. Time for Ruddy to come back, Patricio does not seem able to see the ball from distance shots.
Nice to see Clive from Houston nicking my easy peasy! If only predictions were so simple. I think Thomas has it right, wrong match, wrong time and we are too vulnerable. I think we will be outmuscled and all our fancy work will be beaten by their greater physical stature.
Expect us to be overrun yet again in the middle and all the talented guys to be kicked up in the air at every opportunity first half .
I can see at least one Cardiff thug being sent off and then we will take control second half .
We will win this one because Colin won’t get away with his rotational fouling with these refs and football will win the day .
It won’t be a pretty game but it will be pretty interesting to watch I reckon.
Hold your nerve Nuno
Well we should know what to expect from Warnock and his bunch of thugs, so I hope we are all fully prepared for it. We just have to outclass them with the kind of football we have seen earlier in the season. I too would like to see some changes. Surely Dendonker has got to be ready for a game by now. Otherwise what is the point of paying good money for such a player. Tough to predict. Gut feeling is a draw, but I am crossing my fingers and going for a win.
It’s going to be a bruising, bullying encounter so although I would like to see MGW given the green light from the off, I think maybe Saiss is the better option for tomorrows evening game.
We just cannot perform as badly as last Sunday, it was one hell of an ‘off day’ for pretty much all concerned.
1 point from the last 15 available is basically c–p; flipping grateful for our accumulation of points over the first few games of the season. Any gap below us has been eradicated so I think a return to what we know our team are capable over the next few games will be just what the doctor ordered.
It’s hard to predict a loss for our boys but I cant see us out battling Cardiff and that’s what it will boil down to in my opinion. They will have a huge point to prove and more can be quite confident. I dont feel any need to worry just yet and I’d be more than happy finishing mid table come the end of the season. I’m not sure who I would go with but I think maybe cav and traore to start for power and pace to try and force them back a bit. I worry about their strength at set pieces. I’d take a point now if I was offered one. Come on boys please prove me wrong.
They can’t be as bad as last Sunday surely can they?
Heart over head time for me.
I suppose most people have noticed Colin has no eyebrows. I’ve never understood why women pluck or shave theirs then pencil them back on, Colin only has to pencil his on before putting on his make up, wig, dress and high heels and tottering off to the local tranny bar Call him Coleen!!
As for tomorrow a bruising game from Cardiff but I fancy a tight win, therefore 1-0 to the mighty Wolves
No reason they can’t win this one if they show up. But I don’t know if they will. I haven’t seen any consequences for the last limp and unacceptable display. Should never have happened. Period. There are no excuses. Let’s see if they have pride to make amends, or just don’t care and repeat it. I’m gambling on this team having pride and character.
Would love a win, but after last weeks shambles, a draw would be more than welcome. COYW.
NOW HEAR THIS!
Because Sky have changed the Liverpool match day to Friday 21st December, the PMDG’er will not be able to attend the game. It’s her firm’s Christmas meal and she can’t get out of it.
This means that I will have a spare ticket in the Steve Bull upper.
If any blogger fancies spending a couple of hours sitting between a grumpy old fart (me) and an even grumpier old fart (the lady who sits next to the PMDG’er) then let me know via the blog and we’ll talk Turkey. Well, it is getting near Christmas.
MESSAGE ENDS.
Mrs CFH out of town that weekend.
I could slip over for the day, if you cover my airfare etc.
Thanks in advance.
No problem. As I’m stopping over you can share the double bed if you like.
But no hanky panky!!!
Worry about Neves form, all our midfielders seem to have the same style, even mgw comes on and starts to put through passes something that Neves is doing less and less. We need to perform tomorrow following the dreadful Huddersfield game. Would play Traore instead of Costa but he must stand up crikey he is built for a challenge. They will have to be ready on set pieces and get back to passing around players instead of individual taking their man on and giving possession away. Neves needs a holding midfielder to allow him to flourish on the edge of the box.
Still shell shocked after last weeks debacle ! Surely we cant play that bad again ? I am praying that Nuno will bolster the midfield for this game. He’s got to or we are simply going to lose . Either Dendonker or Saiss sitting behind Nevez and Moutinho then play two upfront.
I would like to thing we could win this but Colin will be out for revenge and this is gonna be a ruff and tumble game ! I will take a draw
Agree about shoring up midfield by playing Saiss or Dendonker with Ruben and Jao against the likes of Gunnarson. Worried about both midfielders lack of match fitness.
This is gonna be ugly.
Hopefully a fighting draw with Boly to score from a set piece
Nuno’s side have tended to bounce back after crap performances. Brighton after Watford was a much better performance, its a travesty that we didn’t win on the south coast to be completely honest.
Cardiff will be viewing this as a must win and it will obviously be hyped up as Colin’s night for revenge too.
Too big a game to call so I’ll sit on the fence.
We were overrun in midfield agInst Huddersfield .Everyone could See that .Yet Nuno refuses to tweak the formation to add the extra man there in this type of game .Like all Wolves fans I love Nuno and all he has done for our club but I fear his inflexibility is a real weakness which makes us vulnerable as it will at Cardiff .He really should be at least prepared toplay Saiss assuming he is fit .He. Was great withNeves last year and in this kind of game you need that toughness but I am not holding my breath .
So, which Wolves are going to turn up tomorrow?
I hadn’t expected us to lose to Watford, Brighton or Huddersfield. Equally I’m not expecting us to win (or pick up any points) against Cardiff. We have lacked physical strength and muscle in midfield allowing the likes of so called lesser sides get the better of us.
Cardiff will bombard our goal with aerial crosses which will highlight our defensive flaws. I hate to bring it up but since Barry Douglas left, our own threat from crosses, corners and free kicks has diminished.
Hoping I’m wrong but i foresee a tough night tomorrow. Despite what we may think of him, Warlock is a wily old fox who will have his players chomping at the bit, ready to wreak revenge for last season’s defeat. It will be a test of our physical and mental strength – can we cope?
At the end of a recent score prediction post I wrote that “all I wanted for Christmas was a striker”. In the light of recent results, I think I might need to make one or two additions to that list.
Hoping to look a right idiot by the end of the night.
Back to normal tomorrow night, hopefully, Shaun and I are stopping over for this one. Anybody know of a good watering hole in the centre ? preferably one with no blue in it.
Hi Witley. There are plenty of good pubs in Cardiff centre. I was in O’Neill’s in St Mary’s Street last night, 5 mins from Central Station. A great selection of beers and big sports screens.
I guess most city centre pubs will have Cardiff fans.
O’Neils it is then, thanks for that Wolf.
Make sure you don’t flash your colours in any of the pubs!
UTW!
Cheers Taff, I only wear my colours at home games and cup finals, It’s been a long time since I wore the shirt away.
Sensible mate – most Bluebirds are decent people, but there are some nutters around. I hate ‘em, but I am from Newport!
Take care.
UTW!
I hope to be in O’Neill’s about 5.30pm. Somewhere near the bar. Hopefully see you there.
I don’t think the formation needs changing or the midfield needs augmenting. It should be enough with Dendoncker in for Bennett (as he is more comfortable on the ball) and the back 3 playing 10 metres (thats yards plus 30 inches for all you Brexiteers) further up the pitch to enable us to squeeze the midfield and compete for 2nd balls. In attack, Jimenez plus any 2 from 4. Maybe also Saiss for Moutinho who has gone quiet recently.
Get real,Jack. Your maths is useless! More like 34 inches actually.
Mental arithmetic never was my strong point…
There are three types of people in the world.
Those who can count, and those who can’t.
If I keep predicting us to win we’re bound to get one, right??
Jota to finally get on the scoresheet. He’s looked better recently.
A very tough game to have after last weeks performance and Cardiff will be up for the fight. Got to let our superior football overcome them but if we’re not on it I fear we will get turned over. Come on me babbies!
Nuno sprang a surprise last year by picking Afobe on the right side of the front three and I’m would guess that Traore will come on for Cavaleiro likewise this time around. … I’d also be inclined to pick Dendoncker over Vinagre (as much as a talent he is … it’s going to get pretty physical from the off) and as such raw 19 year olds will be targeted, no doubt, for some aerial bombardment. …. that’s the team selection done as I would continue with Costa, given his excellent performance, albeit last year against the Bluebirds.
Biggest scrap of all will surely be in the dugouts as the tiniest of sparks will cause a pretty big explosion tomorrow.
We’ll need to improve a lot from last week but I’m confident that a Neves knows where the goals are and I’m expecting another classic curler from the maestro.
No penalties tomorrow…. just sendings off…
Tomorrow’s official …Andre Marriner….ermmmm
Neves’s body language v Huddersfield said it all to me. The bright lights and culture of Turin are calling! Having visited the city, Wolverhampton simply does not match up frankly.
The team must put up a far better and battling performance v Cardiff – as others have blogged it was atrocious last Sunday. Utterly abysmal for the (very) quiet Molineux.
On the plus side we are still mid table with December almost here and I would have happily 1 settled for that in August although on current form I think we are nearly bottom!
A draw will be a good result. I go for 1-1.
BOG
Well I’ve been to Turin too and there’s not a decent boozer or curry house to be found!
Now that is a very good point SP – almost as good as the point we will get tomorrow evening.
My wife is Italian from a village north east of Naples. That’s one place Wolverhampton has the edge over – Naples – which the pick pocket capital of Europe and home to some right thugs on match day.
And you can’t get a decent pizza in Naples either, how weird is that!
Ice cream is good though!
COMBs!
I must admit BOG, watching Ruben on Sunday I was thinking exactly the same thing. 🙁
There’s never going to be a time when we want to play Cardiff. Every game will be demanding from now on and each team we play will know our formation/style and how to try to thwart it.
As long as its 10 vs 10 in the outfield then Nuno’s formula should work…but its highly dependent on the two wing backs being superhuman…and doc and vinaigre weren’t even close to superhuman last time out so neves and moutinho got done repeatedly.
I agree with those who are calling for our bigger buggers to be out there so start cav and traore ….I’ve no idea if dedoncker fits the bill…but we have to match muscle power and trust that our sharper skills and technique will counterbalance the clogging we can expect
Think it will be tight…but ever optimistic
Apparently Nuno claims he’s sorted out the problem, picked the team and all ready to shake hands with Colin and let battle begin. I do hope to see a bit of muscle added to our squad, and an early goal would help.
We play better against class teams but seem to fold when lower class teams come out fighting. We must match those teams blow for blow, figuratively speaking !
If we don’t get anything at Cardiff then I believe we will get sucked into the trauma at the wrong end of the table.
Colin will have them wound them up and ready to kick seven shades out of any Wolf that shows mimimal talent.
For me this game is a must win!
Shocking as last week was, it certainly seems that, at present, we’re a better outfit on our travels. Bar bad luck at Leicester and bad finishing at Brighton we might still be undefeated. With this in mind, coupled with a rocket from Nuno and professional pride coming to the fore I’d forecast an odd goal win. So:
Just don’t think we will have 2 bad games on the trot. Nuno will have sorted them out and we will win 2-1
Neil Warnock always wears a very nice anorak on the touchline. It has a hood and pockets in the front. I am very impressed by it. So much so that I went in to TK Maxx the other day to look for a similar garment. After searching for half an hour without success I decided to ask the assistant. “Excuse me” I said ” Do you have any Colin style anoraks in stock”. She gave me a very puzzled look. I explained further. ” It is normally blue with a hood , pockets and surrounds an arse hole”. Now we were getting somewhere. “Ah yes she said. Neil Warnock wears one doesn’t he. And he is quite fond of sheep”. Smirking I said ” Yes that’s him. Talking of sheep, is there anywhere around here I can get a baa of chocolate?” And off I went with my Colin anorak for a walk in the countryside where I saw some sheep ……….Any way moving swiftly on and it is back to business tomorrow night as Colin’s Cloggers are made to look like platform 1 on that station in Wales called summat like Llllaaanffairfestinioggogogoh. Or something. At least 2 goals will be crashed into the City net. They probably get 1. After the game Nuno shuts Colin’s head through the bog window outside the Cardiff dressing room after he complains about Nunos celebration. Colin said I love Nuno.i love Wolves. Do you like my new anorak? Cardiff 1 WWFC 2.
A great spread of forecasts this week – demonstrating the uncertainty that is in the minds of many of us. I was like most last week, confidently predicting a victory for the Wolves and also like most I was dismayed by the atrocious performance. Right from the moment that Doherty leisurely trotted back in pursuit of the ball leading up to their first it seemed to me that we were relaxed, over confident and treating the game like “a walk in the park”. You just cannot do that in this league!!
I am hoping that Nuno will have everyone motivated for tomorrow. A couple of changes of personnel may help to keep people on their toes.
I still think we have the skills to succeed – and, hopefully, we will be up for it.
I’ll plump for a Wolves victory – but I recognise that it may be more out of hope than belief.
Need to react after Huddersfield. I don’t think anyone saw that performance coming. Adding to the drama is the fact that we go to Cardiff. Last season is a night i will never forget but my God Colin and his mob will want revenge. For this reason i would put a bit more grit and fight in to our team so i would pick Saiss and Jota. Would also probably start Adama.
TRUST NUNO AND BACK THE LADS
On past evidence I can’t see Nuno changing the starting line-up let alone the tactics!
Clearly the huge bonus on offer to finish in the top half of the Prem had no effect on the performance last Sunday. Perhaps the embarrassment of being turned over by a bottom club for the second gameweek running (and a strong word from Nuno)will.
So I’ll go for ….
Huddersfield was a major disappointment that made me sulk like a child for the rest of my Sunday and most of my working week. I think we’ll be back on it tomorrow night and show the difference between a team that will finish in the Prem come the end of the season versus a team that will be scrapping for points but probably won’t amass enough in Cardiff……
#COMB
Neves and Co are going to say sorry…….
Well the last performance has certainly made a few people on here finally wake up.
Yes, we’ve had some good performances, particularly the one against Arsenal, but we didn’t win that one. We tend to flatter to deceive. A good return from our early games had the pundits purring about the team and so, when results turned south as in the last 5 matches or so, (maybe not performances, but certainly results), there were repeated comments from Mr Spiers and others on MOTD that there was no need to panic and that we were/are merely in a hiccup in our season. Mmmm…well maybe, but is it not equally possible that we were something of an unknown quantity in the PL earlier on and that now other teams have analysed our style and have sussed us out, causing this bad run of results which might be more the norm than our earlier season return?
At any rate, Nuno’s insistence that, come what may, we will never change our style and our approach worries me. If it’s true that we’ve been sussed out then sticking to our principles is surely going to fan the flames of our downturn. I hope not, but I do think that we must reassess our status and do our utmost to properly identify the reason(s) behind our fall from grace.
Cardiff away is a real tester right now. On the one hand, it’s a return to our Championship opponents and that might suit us at the mo’. On the other, Warnock hardly needs any encouragement to rough us up and get some revenge. I foresee a bruising encounter and wonder if our frail midfield will be up to it. Can Moutinho and an under performing Neves really manage it without ball-winning reinforcements to help them?
If we lose here then one thing I do hope is that messrs Spiers et al finally quit the “it’s only a blip” narrative and wake up to the very bad run that we’re on. As for a forecast? On the one hand I feel like being an optimist and going for a rebound in our fortunes and on the other I fear the worst. That suggests that I go down the middle and go for a draw and that’s what I’m going to do – Cardiff 1 Wolves 1………hopefully….. pretty please, pretty please!
Right game at the right time. what are we made of?
In ar ‘ouse on Friday nights we have a takeaway. This week will be no different, probably go for a KMC myself. That’s kebab meat n chips for the uninitiated. Probably wash it down with a can of shandy bass. No point going mad is there?
Well, that’s my prediction sorted anyway.
Nuno should pick the biggest player for each position and they can do some bench presses before the game to look as big as possible.
I heard their training for the game this week was mainly in the gym doing weights.
There was once an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs called Conn Smythe who was famously quoted as saying “If you can’t beat ’em in the alley, you can’t beat ’em on the ice.”
I’m going for a 1-2 score.
Last Sunday’s game for me was epitomised by Docs ‘amble’ leading to the first goal. We were never up for the battle. No wonder the Mol was so quiet, all good teams have leaders and if we had seen some fist shaking from the senior pros the 12th man would have got right behind the boys. I have noticed when we go behind, we seem bewildered and uncertain. Conor C shows passion but Bennett and Boly should be handing out Boll..kings. Where’s the fear of letting down yr mayes? Mike Bailey, Alex Rae, Paul Ince would not have accepted such lack of commitment. When Huddersfield started their ‘ole’ passing our pride should have reverted to tight man to man marking and hitting them hard even at the expense of fouls/ yellow cards. Let’s throw off this fear factor of playing Colin’s bullyboys by starting strong, solid and giving as good as we get. Our superior movement should then open gaps but if we go down let’s at least roll up our sleeves and have a go. Going for a narrow win.
Does the comeback start here, or the downward spiral continue? I worry that we can’t score goals or defend big guys at set pieces, so we need to be at our skilful and confident best (which we are not currently).
Teams might have sussed us out, but Neves and Moutinho have the class to be able to rise above being kicked off the park. Hopefully Friday will be when they get back to showing how good they are.
A difficult call this, but aren’t they all? It probably explains why this blogger is not doing so great on the predictions front.
Sunday was a chastening experience for all those of a gold and black persuasion. And now its on to the Stadium of Hard Knocks. I’ll be happy with a draw against Cardiff.
Below is an interesting piece on the Warnock/Nuno rivalry
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-v-wolves-neil-15465735
The Warlock will be out for revenge big time, just hope all our players get through it unscathed.
As much as we worship Nuno he can be a bit pig headed at time,s 5 games without a win and “We will not change”, lets hope something changes after last weeks shit shower.
Find it hard to predict us scoring again so sadly it looks like 6 without a win.
2-0 to the Blues
I’m coming to the conclusion that, just don’t think the team is as balanced and adaptable as we were last season and it’s a bit of a concern.
After last week’s effort I’m of a belief that anything could happen tonight…and quite possibly will!
As for raw talent, it’s a win for us all day, but if it gets attritional….
I’m backing us out of blind faith and hope. Same as last time, let’s break those Taffy hearts boys!!
UTW
I can understand not changing the style in which we play but that doesn’t mean we can’t change the personnel
Gibbs white along side neves
Ryan Giles on the bench in case Vinagre s nerves haven’t settled
Dendonker should be on the bench in case Rubens poor form continues
apparently Bennett not trained this week and has not travelled so Dendonker gets his chance
Hope for the Best expect the worst
need to be physical, maybe Saiss anchoring midfield to give a bit of bite
COYW
I’m hoping Nuno has succeeded in tightening up the defence and that we manage a rare clean sheet. If we do I’m going for a Wolves win because I think we’re due to scrape a goal from somewhere. It does depend on the defence though, I can’t see us suddenly becoming prolific. COYW
Was in Wolverhampton for ten days and flew back to South Africa on the Friday before the Huddersfield match – generally always go to one game when I’m there, but thank goodness I just missed that one.
Hope they can bounce back quickly – we know that they have all round talent, but need to convert that into goals. Going to give them the benefit of the doubt, with crossed fingers.
Will be watching the game with anticipation on Wolves TV.
Nuno will not change his style of play or his formation. Also he will not replace Bennett or Patricio, why would he?
I often watch the last 5 mins of that game against Cardiff and it still seems unbelievable to watch what happened.
So no change to formation or players.
How they will react is going to be interesting.
I am going for a draw
Mike
Think we will score but lose prove me wrong boys, good luck ?
Going to be a very tough game. Been thinking for a while that Saiss or Dendoncker should come into the midfield against teams like this who want a scrap. Huddersfield outfought is similar to how Cardiff did on the 1st game last season. We learnt our lesson after that so hopefully we will again.
Can’t see Cardiff not scoring so going for a 2-1 Wolves with another late goal just to pee Colin Wanker off.
I’m not sure what happened last night – now where have I heard that before? – but my post a little after midnight was there and then it wasn’t.
The local paper, Wales Online, reports that Nuno and Warnock kissed and made up after the end of season league manager awards. But it probably won’t take much for Colin to lose his head again.
Onto the game today and I agree with those calling for a midfielder enforcer (Saiss, I guess) to support Neves and Moutinho.
I see my post from last night (12:17am) has turned up again. Thomas, does that mean double points if my prediction comes up? Well you can’t blame for asking…..
I think I’d bring Dendonker in either midfield or at the back he has height and strength and should be able to mix it with the Cardiff Neanderthals.
Gibbs-White, i don’t think I’d start him but if Costa is not performing I’d do a swap at half time.
I think we used up all our luck for this fixture last season so we are going to have to play really well to get anything out of this one.
Play Ruddy. This is his ground.
Nuno is more likely to change his hair style than his playing style
I’m travelling down to Cardiff with trepidation.
Gibbs-White must be close to a start; as is Ruddy, in my opinion.
I trust Nuno to have them ready. Fingers crossed.
We’re in for a tough old night and this prediction is not made with any real confidence but i’ll back us
One thing is for sure. We ain’t gonna out-physical Cardiff.
So is it worth trying??? Just keep passing it around and run the legs off ’em.
All the talk about Colin getting his lot up for revenge and having the mindset to beat us is great, but what is equally important is their fear of repeating their fuck ups of last season.
Missing one penalty can happen to anyone, but to miss two, both in extra time of injury time, at home, when top of the league could be within grasp if they both go in, has got to be front and centre of their tiny minds.
We have our bogey teams, we are also theirs.
John Ruddy Stadium will be rocking tonight……………in the away end!!
Simply a game we must not lose. Not feeling confident though, can see us getting beat, but hoping the boys are really up for it. Think I’ll sit on the fence.
I think wolves will be back on it tonight and get some sort of result. This run will end soon and tonight is when it happens
I wouldn’t describe this as a must-win game, as we have useful points on the board. But, after that rocky horror show against Huddersfield I feel our season is at the crossroads. Another bad performance will be demoralising, as teams below pick up points and creep up on us. With our newly-creaky defence I can see goals but I’m betting we can match them. 2-2.
Bennett injured, so Saisse in for him and Traore to replace Cav
I agreed with Ben R’s assessment last week after Udders match. I’m worried we’ll be outmuscled in midfield again this week. I don’t see this as a game to start MGW and I’ve never been entirely convinced about Saiss. I’m not sure where we go in midfield . . . . .or wide for that matter. We badly need a win; we ought to be too good for this lot but the pessimist in me is winning out.
Nervous about this one. I’d be grateful for a draw, fear a loss and hope for a win.
I’m sitting on the fence.
Hopefully we’ll get our mojo back tonight although after the last game at Cardiff they will be up for it. I expect a tight affair but fancy us sneaking the winner in injury time…
Don’t really know what to expect here. I agree with what some on here are saying with the ability to change shape etc to meet certain teams, or if a match just isn’t working. I like what Nuno is doing but think some flexibility is needed at times.
Also worried by lack of goals & confidence in some players. Think last year I said I wanted a striker for Xmas – same again this year!
Will go for a win but not confident. Surely we can’t be as bad as last week!!!
Come on Wolves. Start playing!!!!
“Cardiff lost 9-1 to Wolves in the top flight in September 1955; it remains the Bluebirds’ heaviest home league defeat and Wolves’ biggest away league win.” BBC
I am happy with a draw but a 1-0 win would be an icing.
As a nipper I well remember the headline after that 9-1 win at Ninian Park.
I think the News of the World (yes, my parents read that) called it Nine-ian Park .
Hardly original!
I then concentrated on finding the reports about dodgy sexual stuff. I remember that the intrepid NOTW reporters always made their excuses and left, after discovering a knocking shop in Paddington or somewhere, surprise, surprise. The NOTW readership loved it.
My concern is over Vinagre at wing back. I was telling anyone who would listen that he was a fantastic young player before the Huddersfield game and then he had a shocker!!
Misplaced passes, poor positioning and easily dispossessed – he looked way out of his depth. I was going to suggest playing Bennett at full back and bringing in Dendonker to make his debut but, if the comments on here are correct, Bennett is injured and has not travelled so f**k knows what we do now. Letting Barry Douglas go is looking like a big mistake. I also think that we will need more muscle in midfield and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Saiss put in an appearance.
Hoping for a win but would be reasonably happy with a draw.
OODCL
Just cumin thru Ross-on-Y
Pub stop in 20 mins.
Off to the new Ninnian Park to knock fek out of Colin & his cloggers
Be happy with s repeat of last year including 2 x missed peno’s after 94 mins but think/want/hope/pray for a 1:3 win to the mighty wanderers.
Seriously thou, boys pls fek the boyo’s over
Also I’ve tried Leek soup & its shite.
COMB COYW FWAW FOwb
The first half will be critical if we can go in ahead or level then I fancy us to go on and win.
If we go in at half time then I’d be happy with a draw. Cardiff are going to in our faces which is why I think we need a bit of strength in midfield like Dendonker I think starting with Gibbs-White would put him the sights of there clatterers and would make him a target where’s as bring him on may be half time there thugs will be more tired and he could skip round them leaving them on there arses looking silly…!
I’m not panicking – but truth be told: Wolves need getting points on board. The sooner the better, and I’m hardly the first saying this.
Few things would cheer me up more than taking 6 points from the next two fixtures, which I’m still positive is doable. Cardiff away is as good place to start as any, none is going to ever forget the previous game there 🙂
It is very important that we do not concede early or first for that matter. If we stick to possession football for the first half an hour, we will win comfortably. Bring back our LIQUID FOOTBALL rather than that stagnant concrete football we played last week!
Come on, Santo. Give us an early Christmas present.
It’s no fun predicting defeats
Like everyone else bitterly disappointed with last Sunday’s capitulation, I hope we wake up to now and start to take every game on its merit and just because we can play better,attractive football we shouldn’t think we will beat those so called lesser sides.
We all know what Warnock will be saying to his troops,kick the fuck out of them and hope for the best.I
I hope we can get back to winning ways again because Chelsea Wednesday evening, and that’s gonna be something else,really tough so we must get the three points tonight.
UTW FOWB
Dudley zoo used to have a flock of about 50 flamingo’s as you walked in. At least 7 of them were called Colin. Ironic ay it. Hope it ay a bad omen!
Saiss in Bennett dropped, don’t agree with it myself, can’t see that working, but we’ll soon find out…
Just read this from bbc football
Peter Blow: Traore is like someone playing Fifa when they don’t know what the buttons do.
Still laughing now.
Come on Wolves, same again 2nd half.
It’s not looking good 2.1 to Cardiff…………don’t know what to say…….!
Oh well, bring on Chelsea.
Commenting so soon after such a disaster is not recommended so I am waiting a while
Its all over………it was a stunning winner but all the same…..we carnt seen to keep goals out or score more than 1 at the minute.
Very poor performance again. Nuno needs to drop this identity bollocks and understand that at this level you get worked out quickly and good teams are good teams because they develop flexibility to cope with different systems against them. Obstinance and intrangigensce are not virtues. Defence ok but no real strength other than boly. Midfield overrun again with zero physical presence. Forward line absolutely useless. Jimenez works hard but so do donkeys on Blackpool beach, Costa – what less does he have to do to get dropped and traore is an 18m headless chicken. We need a very good January window. Never believed the hype around Europe in 3 and the sooner we realise we are in a relegation fight with the current squad the sooner we will progress. The premier league is toughest in world and the club and the fans need to accept that, sooner rather than later if we are to realise our ambitions. Please fosun stay ruthless 🙂
Pretty sure Cardiff had us worked out last season.
Just a phase. Have some faith. We will find the solutions.
Phases happen until you change. If you are not prepared to change phases become permanent downturns. Watford, huddersfield, Cardiff…… How many more teams do we need to get on top of our midfield before we learn to take a different approach? Sorry but simply not good enough.
What’s with all of the head tennis? Get the ball on the ground and then pass it.
I would just like to welcome the 13000 glory hunters to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. This is what we have had to endure for 40 years. Like it or lump it. I will still be here.
Yes, they will be the ones calling for Big Sam by Xmas.
Bang on Chessy.
Let’s not panic, still plenty of games to go,Agreed we’re going through a very extremely poor patch.
Nuno’s got take a good look at why it’s all gone wrong and if he’s gonna become a great coach he’s the only one who can make the changes to put things right.
I still think we’ll be ok, but adjustments in play and personnel are required to fulfill our dream of staying in the premiership.
The next two games are pivotal to how we adjust with Chelsea Wednesday then away at Newcastle.
I think all Wolves fans realize we need a decent striker A.S.A.P. But hold on a minute, if we continue to play like this and continue to slide down the table right up to the January window, what DECENT striker will WANT to sign for us?
I think we will be better suited to play Chelsea because they don’t hoof it or rely on the psychical approach.
I am “allowed” 6 away games a season by ‘er indoors – who hates football- and who argues “every home game is an away game” as I travel around 200 miles to each home game. So I watched this game on Sky…….as I have already attended three away out of the six allotted!
“For fucks sake stop giving the ball away so cheaply” I screamed. ” We are asking for it”.
“For fucks sake stop committing fouls in such dangerous positions” I screamed ” We are asking for it”.
” For fucks sake stop those stupid aimless long balls” I screamed “We are asking for it”.
At the time it was 1-0 to Wolves…..but I simply knew hand on heart Cardiff would go onto win the game because they were the better team, tatically superior, found us out and simply wanted it far more than our shower did…. and by committing some of the most basic sins in football it was the recipe for disaster for Wolves – and so it proved. Yet another defeat.
One point from eighteen means a return to the Championship if this wretched run continues – probably stating the obvious I know.
Which berks kept forecasting “Europe” and “top 6” and “Premier Champions in 5 seasons” and all that utter bollox? Talk about arrogance!
Oh hang on – it was me!!
Survival then build is the now the name of the game. Get used to it. We ain’t nowhere near as good as us fans think we are. Not by a long chalk – especially as we have no real alternative options when the game goes tits up.
Night night Bloggers – onto Wednesday and Chelsea.
From a very miserable, uptight, subdued, angry and totally pissed off Bedford Wolves supporter.
Fucking albion could replace us – oh my lord.
BOG
Remember our conversation about where we will be at the end of the season now lol?
I believed it was never going to be easy, but ………. we are still 11th.
Yes I do Brompt – there was me planning trips next term to Barcelona and Madrid and Munich etc and you with the more sensible approach in these matters.
Me and my big mouth…..
What a chump I feel this morning. .
BOG
Well said BOG. Nuno has done a fantastic job over the last 12 months or so but having been a STH for the last 44 years, I , like you , would like to think I have a reasonable sense of when we are good enough vs not good enough for any particular challenge like promotion, relegation, top half, bottom half etc. This team is crying out for a striker and more physicality in the midfield. Get them in January and mid table is achievable. However, make no mistake, Fosun will not let the winless streak drift for too many games and it would be a real tragedy for Nuno if he fails to react and quickly to what is evident. My fear for him is that end of January is still a number of games away and he might be caught between a rock and a hard place in that even if he did want to change approach, where are the personnel to effect that change? For example, is there an out and out striker anywhere in our squad? Since releasing ndiaye is there any physical option to the midfield? Many might think my concerns are an overreaction but in the PL it is the land of fine margins. 3 more games without a win means our winless streak represents a quarter of our season. Some way, some how we have to get a win before the window opens so that Nuno does not put Fosun in a situation where they have to make a decision. As Dalrymple said, the roller coaster is over, fosun will only accept progression and they will certainly not entertain any risk to PL status.
Saiss had a good strong game considering his lack of first team action.
I’d put him in a three man midfield to take the pressure of Neves and Moutinho to give those two more time to get back to playing football. But I fear that Nuno is too stubborn and that could cost us with him getting sacked (never thought I’d say that, but last night was poor and we need to adapt)
UTW!
That’s an excellent post Sutton with far more sensible reasoning than my emotional rant…
God I was boiling last night – for me losing to Warnock is the ultimate insult bug they deserved the win.
(Try) to enjoy the rest of the weekend – my grandchildren will make me cheer up!!
All the best
BOG
For a while we played well and got points
Then we were playing well, but not getting points
Now we are not playing well and not getting points…
Question……what comes before a fall…………PRIDE ! Nuno is proud of the way he wants us to play and that all conquering season winning the Championship reinforced that belief to the point were he blindly won’t change.
Benik Afobe is my daughter’s favourite player. She was very upset when we sold him.
She just asked me “Dad, why don’t they bring back Benik?”
I said “No love, we’ve moved on. We now rely on Matt and Willy to score our goals.”
“Oh!” (Tears in her eyes)
I told her “Don’t worry we’ll probably bring him back in January on loan to avoid relegation”
(Smile)
“Dad, is that what they call a strategy?”
And so it begins, even Vile are taking notice
Vile language from vile people who make the club they “support” vile
Let’s get some perspective here. We lost away from home to a Premiership side by a single goal; all Premierships sides are capable of winning. It wasn’t like we were thrashed.
All this talk of relegation?
We’re in 11th place (maybe 12th by the end of the weekend if Brighton win). Can you really see the 9 teams below us turning it all around but not Wolves?
We’re a team still in development.
Don’t panic! I’m sure Nuno knows where his towel is!!
For those of you who are curious, in the pre-game interview Nuno stated what his “ideas” were and specifically stated that the shape was not immutable.
If you remember, last week I asked what the definition of his “ideas” is and this week he stated it.
More proof that Wolves read this blog all of the time.
If you remember my post a couple weeks ago of a link to an article about xGs and how they can use those analytics to determine if we are getting good chances but not scoring or not getting good chances in the first place (among other things).
Anyway, they also used those analytics to predict how well Wolves would do over the next 6 games.
Their prediction was that we would get around 7.5 points in the 6 games, which I thought was rather low and so never referenced.
Maybe they know more than we do. Maybe what appears to be obvious to us is not as straight forward.
The reason I bring this up is that they were saying at the time that we were a very good team and should be at around 4th place, if we could score an average amount of times per chance.
Maybe there is just something about this batch of games that make them harder than they appear.
How’s that for being positive.
I do have a concern that the player know what’s wrong but are afraid to, or not allowed to voice their concerns.
If DJ knows he is being forced to play too wide by Jonny, is he, as a 21 year old, going to tell Nuno of his concerns? Will he tell Nuno and then Nuno put Ivan on instead?
If Neves feels his partnership with Moutinho is forcing him to play outside his preferred style, is he going to mention his concerns to Nuno so they can try to rectify things or is he just going to put his head down and try to make the best of it? He is young, too, and doesn’t seem like the type to say something.
Just wondering if this Nuno worship and his authoritarian style has its negatives.