I hope the club manage to get the new head coach in place before next weekend.
This one feels like more of a free swing but we want to be prepared going into the Forest game.
That said, Bournemouth have experienced a ‘caretaker bounce’ since parting company with Scott Parker so maybe Davis and Collins can do the same for Wolves.
With the players missing and the form coming into the match, taking anything from Stamford Bridge would be a brilliant achievement.
Chelsea
The Blues acted swiftly to replace Thomas Tuchel and it’s so far, so good for Graham Potter with a narrow victory over Palace in the league and a more comfortable win over AC Milan in the CL on Wednesday.
He’s earned his chance to prove himself at an elite level and it will be fascinating to see what he can coax out of a talented squad.
I’m not sure many fans will believe Chelsea can compete for the title this season but if they’re in the top four and pushing in the cups, that should afford Potter the time to shape his team.
Raheem Sterling was the marquee summer signing and he’s got 4 goals across all competitions so far. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also has 2 in 2 since joining from Barcelona.
They’ve won 2 and drawn 1 in their home PL games so far but all have been closely contested with plenty of drama – late equaliser conceded to Spurs, late equaliser ruled out for West Ham and holding on with 10 men to beat Leicester.
Wolves
It’s ambitious to hope Diego Costa can do a full 90, but it would be good to see him in from the start to give the attack a proper focal point.
I haven’t heard anything about Pedro Neto but I’m going to assume he’s out. With Raul, Hwang, Neves and Collins also unavailable, that’s a hefty dent in the squad.
Both Traores should come into the side to give us more power and you’d imagine one of Toti or Mosquera will be playing in that back four this time.
Whatever they go with, it should still be a capable XI and I would hope to see them make a solid fist of things.
Predictions
Well done to Wokywolf, Ash k, Lord Twix, Shrewdsimon and Aussiewolf for correctly predicting a 2-0 defeat at West Ham.
Rich remains at the top of the overall table at the end of Gameweek 8.
As always, if you’d like to join in with the Prediction League this season, it’s simple – just leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided. Then repeat for every preview article throughout the season, making sure you always use the same email address to make your prediction. Your email is what ties you to your overall score.
You can read my prediction for the game in the comment section below.
Up The Wolves!
Palace were able to get after them last weekend and there’s no doubt they’re still finding their feet with all the changes, but they’ll probably beat us.
A couple of wins will have put the wind in their sails and by contrast, we’re looking downtrodden and beaten up with all the players missing.
Hopefully we can make a game of it, but I’m not expecting a lot beyond that. A goal would be nice.
A free hit but with the squad having something to prove.
Being relatively early in the season, a couple or so of decent results could shift us into mid table area. That’s what our lads have to aim for. Tomorrow l hope to see the bounce back starting with a few players having an unexpected opportunity come their way.
Will go for a draw and hope for better.
Agreed GFH.
.
Doesn’t fill me with confidence , would love a Costa goal from an Adama cross(like we nearly got last week)
Stranger things have happened. We’ve beaten the odds before to take points from the top teams and, if they are given their heads and told to just go out and play, who knows.
Stranger things have happened.
Arguably, anything could happen. With a change in personnel on and off the pitch it makes it difficult to predict how the match may go. Same could be said for Chelsea still with only two games under Potter’s belt.
Both sides, too, have talent in their respective squads but have been under performing. Ordinarily I think I would sit on the fence for a game like this and predict a draw, but I worry that it will take more than simply a change of manager to overcome our total lack of confidence in front of goal at the moment – it looks endemic. Whoever we end up bringing in permanently will need some time to turn this around I feel.
My only positive thought – Costa must be particularly fired up for this one. If he is the spark that we need, then this is the match where it must surely come to life.
Sh1t I was looking forward to seeing Podence play at Center Back this week, ah well.
Wolves have to go there and give it a real go and get Costa scoring 2-1 to the Wolves.
We’ve only lost once at the Bridge since promotion and actually have a decent recent record overall against Chelsea. They’ve looked vulnerable at times too but unfortunately we’re in a bad place ourselves. We can only hope for some sort of caretaker bounce, and that the players feel reinvigorated with new voices in the dressing room, as the demanding boss no longer hanging over them. As Thomas says, this really is the free hit before the crunch match with Forest next week, so let’s see what we can do.
I’d like to at least see us score but can’t see that we will get anything out of this game. This is an opportunity for a number of our players to show what they are made of, but no Neves, Collins, Neto etc etc. Hopefully we can turn it around at home next week with a new manager appointed.
Tough given the injuries and suspensions.
Can’t see anything but a loss after last week’s insipid display.
I’ll be at the Bridge tomorrow with high hopes. High hopes for what? A new beginning. It’s not the beginning of the end, more the end of the beginning. Fosun must realise that this Premier League lark needs both money and expertise by now. They have served the apprenticeship. Now is the time to get really serious about joining the big boys.
It’s too soon for the new manager ‘bounce’ as we haven’t got a bleedin’ new manager! Hopefully Lopetegui will be hired by then and in the stands looking on. His past good relationship in the Spanish national team with Costa should yield dividends in the ‘goals for’ column. At 33/34 years old, Costa is not past it. He has years on Ronaldo. Lopetegui could also unlock the enigma that is Adama Traore. The Costa-Traore brief cameo partnership against West Ham looked very promising, and just the sort of direct attack we have been missing in the Bruno pussy-footing strategy.
It’s not too soon for the caretaker manager ‘bounce’ though, and I hope for a tight draw. Realistically with Neves out (yellow cards totting up) and no Collins, we’re up against it. I predict an honourable defeat, with Costa getting on the scoresheet to set Stamford Bridge alight. 2-1.
On a good day and a fit squad, I would have gone with an optimistic draw prediction. However, with all those top players missing, I don’t think we can do much – except Pray to Jesus.
I’m going for the same score as you Vic. We’ve struggled to score all season long so far and Chelsea really hit their stride in the second half against Milan.
So given our lack of a goal scoring threat and Chelsea getting into a groove with their new manager I reckon a 3-0 defeat at the Bridge is a real possibility.
I’d love to be proven wrong of course!
Started supporting Wolves when I was 7 and for the next 57 years, have faced off against my brother, who is a fanatical Chelsea fan! Bragging results from this game lasts long and loud, until the next meeting of these two teams. When we went down to the Championship, I had about 30 or more straight years of grief as Chelsea had won the last game! He would remind me every time I saw him!
But in recent years the results have been far more favourable to Wolves! Indeed, last year we were undefeated against Chelsea. Did I ever let him have it, even though he now lives in the West coast of Canada! Over and over again!!
Alas, it does not look promising for tomorrow, but I shall not give up hope, I will be there cheering for Wolves shouting for a miracle, even if we are losing. And, please, please, please, give me one goal so he can hear my ROAR from 5,000 miles away!!!
No manager, and plenty of injuries, all I ask is that we show some backbone tomorrow, Wolves, just show some backbone, and I for one will be happy!
I too hope we can land the new manager before next weekend. Forest and the run of games thereafter will arguably dictate whether we’re going to spend the season in a relegation dogfight. I still haven’t seen anything to convince me that it should be anyone but Lopetegui for the job, so I’m hoping we can convince him to join. He should – at the very least – make us more difficult to beat in the short-term, which is handy when you’re trying to steer away from the bottom three.
As for this game, I sadly can’t see anything other than a defeat. Chelsea are finding their feet after a bizarre summer transfer window but their mid-week result against Italian champions Milan was something of a statement for Potter and the new regime. I think he’s an excellent coach and will do a good job there if he’s afforded the time to do so.
I like the look of your team selection Thom and would advocate Adama coming back into the side. He’s the only real point of differentiation we have in attack and is always handy in tough away games when you’re reliant on quick transitions up the pitch.
Hopefully we can build morale by giving a good account of ourselves here and then get the new guy in early doors next week. Molineux should be rocking for the Forest game and a good result and performance there might kick-start the season. Fingers crossed!
Let’s have the best players available playing in their natural positions and concentrating for 90mins and there is always the possibility of a result
Stirling will probably have field day against our rookie defence. No more injuries or cards and avoiding a -3 or more would be a result in many ways. Give chem and the new Traore starts, use Costa and the other Traore cautiously.
Very much hoping Julen still wants to come and the club can meet his terms. CV and personality check out highly favourably, roll out the Spanish red carpet I say.
I think we’re in for a pasting. No Neves, makeshift defence, and shot confidence. We should be happy if we can get though it with no injuries or suspensions and our goal difference not too tattered.
Hoping, that it was all Lage and him gone frees up the players to play with confidence again, but I worry the legacy of Lage is that we lost all of our dressing room leaders at once. This is exactly the time we would usually turn to Coady, Saiss and Ruddy to motivate the lads. I’m just not sure we have that ability anymore.
Anything can happen in football, but I’m not expecting much with, yet again, a depleted squad lacking g depth in important positions…
3-1 loss, I reckon…
Thinking of the road trip that Wolves are on, it feels that a significant turn has just been made following Bruno’s dismissal. We simply had to change direction as we were careering towards the cliff edge.
A manager with potential and by all accounts a really nice guy, Bruno had completely lost his way. And the players trust and respect. And the fans support.
Wolves’ next decision, who to take the wheel, will clearly shape our fortunes in the short and medium term.
The favourite is Julen Lopetegui. Fosun had seriously considered him in 2016 before he’d taken the Spain job, otherwise he may well have been our coach instead of NES.
A number of supporters are pointing out Sevilla’s poor start to this season. That is a shallow and short sighted view which fails to acknowledge not only his pedigree and achievements for the previous 3 seasons, but also the fact that almost without exception, every manager is sacked at some point in football, most several times. Such is the nature of the modern game.
He became the victim after a poor run of form that had begun following the enforced sale of key members of his squad.
Anyone who has managed Spain, Real Madrid and lead Sevilla to
3 seasons of success in Spain is a quality coach, and his appointment, which looks likely, will be a significant coup for Jeff Shi.
Wolves is an incredibly attractive proposition to any ambitious coach with our talented squad and infrastructure, not to mention our place in the best and richest League in the world.
Any manager will tell you it is far more appealing and easier to take a new job where there are issues, particularly when it’s largely down to performance. The only way is up. It’s hard to take over from from a successful and popular coach.
That’s Wolves main issue and certainly not a lack of ambition or support from the owners.
In the meantime, the interim coaches should feel little pressure and can’t do any worse than Bruno had managed over the last 6 months. Some of the players need to reflect on the part they have had to play in our dismal down turn of form and sacking of Bruno. They also need to feel the gaze of our new incoming coach on them who no doubt will watch the Chelsea game for signs of who is up for the fight to save our season.
So get this appointment right and the new man can release the handbrake allowing the players to play with more flair, freedom and ambition, pump up the tyres and raise morale, get us out of first gear so we can pick up some speed and momentum and get us back on the right road.
Then, they’ll be no stopping us.
UTW
We don’t lack depth, Lage refused to use the whole squad and gave a false impression that we lacked depth. Campbell looked lively last week as Lage uncharacteristically threw him on to try and save his neck. I hope we see Campbell and Ronan tomorrow and not just for 5min at the death, with at least one starting. Traore and Costa upfront with Podence sitting in behind them. Samedo, Mosquera, Kilman and Jonny. None of which will happen though.
The Neto injury is Bruno’s legacy, he should not have been starting for the last 3 games. 100% his fault and his unbreakable faith in his failing team. So glad he’s gone, whatever happens. Whoever comes in I hope ignores all the bollocks in the past and treats everyone equally whatever their history, transfer fee or experience. Bruno is gone! All hail the new Messiah, whoever that might be (at least till Xmas anyway).
With all the shackles of Bruno removed, our boys shall play with total freedom and blow Chelsea away.
This is the start of our teams comeback!
If you believe that you’ll believe anything… :-))
Someone’s got to be positive, so why not me!?
COYW
Crippling injuries, Neves out and low confidence don’t bode well. Look forward to the new manager appointment, but would be surprised if we get anything out of this one.
We’re really gonna miss Neves for this one…
Hoping against hope that our recent record against Chelsea prevails.
No manager, no Ruben Neves, no Neto, no Raul, no Conor (Oops sorry – let it lie!), no Collins, no Sasa.
No problem.
Let’s get something out of this.
Don’t know about anyone else but when i scroll through the endless news snippets about wolves, every other piece is about Everton being able to get our fantastic captain for 4.5 m .
i find this really depressing
what a catastrophe!
does anyone have any theories about us getting him back ?
i was too young to appreciate Mike Bailey but in my lifetime he’s the best captain i’ve seen at Wolves
Agree entirely mate.
I AM old enough to appreciate Mike Bailey and I think Conor is up there with him.
Mike Bailey was a champion! I remember him well!
We’ve got to let Connor (and Nuno) go now. They’re just wonderfully nostalgic memories.
To keep bringing them up is like reminiscing with your wife about your perfect ex who walked out on you!
i don’t give a fuck about my ex
conor , however , still hurts
I haven’t got an ex!
If only we could have a partnership like Kenny Hibbit and John Richards… I LOVED those two guys with my whole being!
My first earliest hero, that I remember was probably Peter Broadbent… I’m an oldie. 🙂
I can admit to having Mike Bailey euphoria… and DOOG and myself have seen that barrel chested captain many times to know he was the generic father of Conor Coady …. (And no I’m not gaga)
We need some Mike Bailey’s out there tomorrow..,
I understand cloning technology has come on in leaps and bounds of late. I’m sure Conor would donate a few cells.
Instead of ‘Dolly the sheep’ we’d have ‘Conor the Captain’.
COYW…
Something is in the air…I can smell it… or was it the dog ?
The new beginning is upon us… the potential released against an overconfident Chelsea who think they only have to turn up.
Nothing to lose everything to gain round pegs round holes a smile of devilment a feeling of released shackles an extra bounce in the step this can only go one way .
Victory will be ours !!!
Thunderclap Newman…
It must have been those baked beans you ate.
And don’t call me Newman!
Totally bummed about Neto news
Let’s see how round pegs in round holes work
Toti and Campbell and Traore to
Start
Hope this isn’t a rollover
Costa to score
OODCL
Collins being out of the biggest hit for me.
What I WANT to happen – 3-0 Wolves. What I THINK will happen – see below.
I admire the optimism some bloggers are showing but with injuries, suspensions and the general turmoil I can see no justification for it.
Let’s accept this for what it is and regroup for Forest
Anyone see Fabio Silva against West Ham last night? In spite of a few goals in the league for Anderlecht, his old familiar shortcomings were on display against West Ham. He’s too lightweight for Premier League opposition. Well, at least someone at Wolves got the Silva loan decision right, in spite of all the criticism, so maybe we can sell him to Anderlecht at the end of the season.
He’ll be back.
I know it seems like he’s been around for ever but he’s still a baby.
Yes, watched the full game, Dances. Still clearly a long way to go and for all his nice touches he doesn’t look dangerous in the box. One thing that seemed to have improved slightly was his heading but that’s from a rather moderate starting point based on his performances for us.
It really irks me when people call their ground, “The Bridge “. As if it’s the only one. Smacks of arrogance to me and commentators regularly refer to it so that even those that should know better are using the term.
The place is Stamford Bridge and the real one in Yorkshire, not the plastic one in the smoke, is where Harold of arrow in the eye fame stuck it up Harald Hardrada before meeting his comeuppance at the mother of all battles in Battle (Hastings).
Will the plastic darlings of the King’s Road set meet their comeuppance tomorrow? Hopefully but it’s long odds against. Prove me wrong boys.
Football is a pretty ruthless business but wouldn’t it be great if Steve Davis a life long Wolves fan could get something against Chelsea… Sadly very unlikely. We have been dealt another injury blow but I just hope we see players in their right positions.
I wouldn’t allow them in The Mol
Sorry but can’t see us getting anything here.
Too many injuries + absentees, and awaiting Lopetegui.
The season starts again next week.
Everything points to a thrashing and the team could almost be forgiven if they submit to an embarrassing humiliation. However, despite being at what could well be the lowest point of this season, the boys are all professionals and should play with pride and no little motivation from Steve Davis.
Costa and Moutinho are two old heads who have seen it all before and Diego in particular will not want to be part of a limp performance at the scene of previous triumphs. OODCL and hope springs eternal in my heart. Backs to the wall, narrow win for the Wanderers !
Just to add to Wolves’ woes, I see that Boubacar Traore has been ill all week.
It will be a tough day tomorrow and I can’t see Wolves getting much joy. That said, we live in hope. I seem to remember Steve Davis being not too bad a coach. I’ll settle for a decent performance and no new injuries.
Maybe Connor Ronan deputising for Neves in midfield?
Neto and Boubacer out can it get any worse ?
Would prefer Amirom but he would be expensive to get
Backs to the wall job but we are Wolves so expect a reaction
.
Sorry guys.
Best we can hope for is to stsy in the Prem.
Let’s see some passion and I will be happy. Costa to make the headlines. What darkness ?
Time for a goal, lads
COYW
Liked the Davis pre match interview. Hope the players play with freedom as they are happier at work now. Very difficult with all the players missing but still live in hope. Costa telling Traore what to do was working in last match when he came on so hoping the partnership continues.
positions.
Neto now out for a while… what a disaster of a season so far. World Cup break can’t come soon enough. Staying up will be a remarkable achievement IMHO…Hoping it is not “rats off the titanic” in the January transfer window…
If we, big word ‘if’, if we get an early goal, I reckon we could pull it off.
I just don’t want them to win 4-0, in case Shi and Sellars use that as an excuse to think the position has filled itself.
So we have Toti and Mosquera, who most people seem to think are better choices at fullback than Neves and we have Nunes, instead of Neves in midfield, who Pep says is one of the best players in the world.
We have Adama instead of Pedro and people say his crosses are better.
I think we just might come out of this with a point or three.
If Pep said that it was firmly tongue in cheek. Don’t you think he’d have gone out and bought him if he really believed it.
It’s time to start again …. the stuff I’ve been hearing about Bruno ,rumour ,truth or sour grapes and vitriol makes me think that without a leash , a dog , no matter how well trained will chase the trawler and the seagulls …..ha ha … some have an opportunity to make a their mark today to make a difference and upset the apple cart and the world order …..Steve and the team STAND UP AND BE COUNTED ..HISTORY IN THE MAKING OCTOBER 8th 2022 … WHERE WERE YOU THAT DAY ?
“Probably watching an illegal stream with a bottle of Amber Ale ” said Dylan
COYW
I have a funny feeling that we will score!
But I am very concerned that naive defender (Mosquera, Totti, Ait Nouri) + Stirling = penalty.
Not much hope really. But you never know miracles sometimes happen
It’s been fairly miserable due to apathy in that final third but there are some massive doom mongers around. Couple of results for us and a few bad runs for other teams and we’re pushing for Europe.
Like a few others have mentioned I hope Connor Ronan gets a fair chance today.
Also whilst everyone is moping about how shite things are don’t forget your patriotic duty to the old gold and put your NO vote in for ‘should Steve Bruce lose his job’…last time I looked only 96 of us had voted in that direction!
Up to 101 votes now (9%) come lads and lassies let’s keep the cabbage at the shite
No Manager, players injured, players suspended, no fully fit striker, all sounds like we will get a pounding off Chelsea. BUT this is Wolves so anything can happen & I refuse to write the lads off!
As I’m nowhere in the Prediction League I’m going for a win!!
These players have no more excuses Lage has gone now it’s time they repaid there big money fees and wages especially for the travelling fans.
Still hoping Jeff might have the balls to go for Ange at Celtic they looked at him in the past he won’t be at Celtic long before another Premier League teams comes knocking.
If my memory is correct .. no sarcasm asked for .. (Doog)..
The last time we had a caretaker in charge was TC… Mad Micks right hand man …
We’ll be made a right left hand of it when we got mullered 5-0 against Fulham away .. just down the road too…
So I’m truly hoping not to repeat that memory… that said .. everything that could go wrong lately seems to have done so … injuries, illness, poor form, suspensions, and fitting square pegs into round holes etc..
Sorry to conclude that this will be another dismal day … let’s hope Costa can give us some future hope …
Adama and Costa in the starting lineup so we are having a go.
I fancy that we can nick a draw.
Never mind a draw, I fancy us to nick it. Probably gonna look stupid in two hours time mind!
In under the wire!
Caretakers can’t score goals. I don’t think this squad is so deprived of talent that we’re actually in a relegation fight…yet. Let’s see some pride today from the boys, about all that can be asked.