I’m glad we’ve managed to put 35 points on the board ahead of this fixture.
On the basis we (probably) won’t lose all 8 of our remaining games, we should stay up.
But that doesn’t mean defeat here won’t have us anxiously peeking over our shoulders in the weeks to come.
Even a point at Craven Cottage should extinguish those lingering fears and given they’ve won just 2 of 16 home matches (against the two other sides in the bottom three), it’s not a big ask.
Why then, do I suspect we’re not going to do it?
Fulham
After winning at Anfield last month, the Fulham survival charge was in full flow, but three consecutive defeats have checked that progress.
With seven games remaining and trips to Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd still to navigate, the door is creaking shut.
But more enticing fixtures against Burnley, Newcastle, Southampton and well, us, give them hope they can get to the mid-30s and at least put pressure on those immediately above the dotted line.
Defensively, they’ve sharpened up as the season has gone on but have paid the price at the other end of the pitch with just 24 goals scored. Only Sheff Utd (17) have managed less.
Scott Parker said they’re not ‘streetwise’ after surrendering a second-half lead to lose 3-1 at Villa Park on Sunday and that’s probably a fair assessment.
Individually, they’ve got a lot of good technical players and plenty of pace in the attacking areas, but have lacked the know-how in key moments to get the necessary results.
I think it will be them or Newcastle that drop and currently I’d just about give Newcastle the edge based on them having played a game less with three more points on the board. But it’s going to be close.
Wolves
I was surprised Nuno went ‘all out’ against West Ham given that the back three has given us the platform to survive. I’d revert back sharpish on Friday.
We can’t give Fulham any gifts so if Moutinho is fit, I’d put him into the midfield and shift Dendoncker into the back three.
Failing that, I’d bring Kilman in and keep Donk in the midfield. Either way, we can’t afford to be so open.
There’s a huge temptation to start Fabio in place of Willian after his expertly taken goal against West Ham, but we need the presence of the big man to help us get a foothold in the game.
Last time out
We won a tight game at Molineux earlier in the season thanks to Pedro Neto’s excellent strike.
It was a functional performance and Fulham missed a golden chance to equalise late on. That result now seems huge in retrospect.
Predictions
Nobody correctly predicted the 3-2 defeat to West Ham.
Bedford Wolf is joined by Mildenhall Wolf at the top of the overall table at the end of Gameweek 30.
As always if you’d like to join in, simply leave your prediction for this game in the comment section below, which is where you’ll find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
This is a massive game for Fulham and I fear we’re too flakey to get a result, particularly without Boly or Jonny to anchor a creaky defence.
I hope we can go there and do a job on them, but I fear we’re going to get edged out by the odd goal.
Please prove me wrong lads.
After Monday’s debacle I can’t see us getting anything from this other than another defeat.
Fulham have lost their last three games and you can only see a win for Fulham?
Fulham fighting for their lives, we’re drifting, two strongest defenders out of contention, rife with mistakes and low confidence…
You=34th in Prediction League and 20pts from 29 predictions ?
We ALL have our own point of view…
Haha, nice one, and another image ! Well done you
But checking my prediction league points,, really! I don’t even do that .
How old are you ?
Utw
MARNEY, I was checking your Prediction position and points to see if you had any qualification for picking holes in my post….. sadly not.
UTW
P.S. I am in my 70’s.
Mildenhall
I don’t predict wolves to lose and don’t always predict so the prediction league has no reference to my qualifications, it’s just a bit of fun for me , just like you searching for little images to match your narrative on your posts is probably a bit of fun for you !
All good though
Utw
Good posts Marney- I think it maybeMW’s way of saying ‘ look at me, I am top of the Prediction League’!
Hi woodend, I didn’t think anyone took it seriously, or that he was top!
Still, I hope he wins it and enjoys the all expenses paid trip of a lifetime to the Maldives as the top prize.
Utw
BELLEND WOLF, Thanks for your contribution…
MARNEY, ******.
I had better stop posting. So your suitability to comment is based upon prediction league points???? Jesus girls.
STEPPENWOLF, Good advice to yourself…
Another great post Mildenhall.
It’s difficult to argue with that sort of logic.
Here’s hoping for a win tonight eh?
After the shambolic performance on Monday this is the game to put that right Fulham are struggling this is are chance to put some points on the board 2-1 the Wolves.
A few of these starting XI players need to have a long hard look at themselves and step up. Win this and any worries about being sucked into a relegation scrap are gone. Fulham certainly aren’t going to roll over, they’re going to be scrapping for everything in the game.
It’s so frustrating to watch because we all know if the players on the pitch turn it on, they’ll win comfortably they have the quality. Like I said, certain individuals need to address their poor form and step up (donk, neves, Coady).
I cannot wait to get this horrendous season over with, roll on summer.
I’d put Kilman in ahead of Jack of all trades master of none Dendonker .
I keep saying this for the size of him he should be able to put his weight and size to good use get stuck in but all he does is run round with his hands held up In the air as if he is surrendering which he basically is.
He is not a defender which means putting a very square peg in a round hole at least Kilman can defend and put tackles in.
This is a massive game IMO lose this and the psychological damage could be devastating for our hopes of staying out of the bottom three and ultimately relegation.
5 or 3 at the back would rather win 1.0 than lose 3.2 the performance is secoundary for me win at all cost I don’t. think even a draw is good enough because we have some tricky games coming up not least Sandwell Town don’t want to be going there desparte for points because we all know what will happen.
Every team in the bottom half we have to play will be relishing playing us even the Blades who are certainly down they would love to piss on our chips.
Nuno has to sort the defence out its easier to win a game from 0.0 than 1 or 2 or even as against West Ham try and come back from 3.0 down. This is not time for experimenting lets get to 40 plus points and safety first.
If anything the Hammers game has hopefully opened Nuno’s eyes and both Jeff and FOSUN eyes to the fact 3 years on from promotion this team or should I say squad needs a major overhaul and investment in new reading made and up to Premiership standard recruits in almost every department if we are to achieve previous heights again.
Wolves to win
Fulham were the first football team I ever watched live. My Grandad (God rest his soul), was a Londoner born and bred, and loved The Cottagers. (No smutty remarks thanks Clive).
Fulham were the eternal underachievers.
They had a team then that they would probably be happy to field on Friday.
The likes of Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Hill, Tony Macedo, George Cohen, Graham Leggat, Trevor (Tosh) Chamberlain, Jimmy Langley, Maurice Cook, Roy Bentley, Bill Dodgin… and a certain Welshman called David Edwards.
But even with all that talent to call on they were always hovering around, or in, the relegation zone.
Since then, I’ve always had a soft spot for them and their lovely little stadium.
But I wish them nothing but Hell’s fury, fire and brimstone, on Friday. Plus a couple of own goals and several red cards.
Then we can get the three points that we need, relax and put this benighted season behind us.
I would bring Kilman into the back five, drop the Dead Donker (see what I did there? and start with Fabio. Give the boy a chance to see what he can do over 90 minutes.
I am sticking with my usual 2-1 prediction in spite of my concerns about Fulham’s form and our frailty.
Please lads… please…. Pretty please?
Fulham have lost the last 3 doogooder , and 4 out of the last 5?
True, but they have been playing a lot better football than their position would warrant and haven’t had the rub of the green in many cases.
Same could be said about us? As an aside, I see no benefit in continually looking for a scapegoat in this most difficult of seasons. How quick some are to criticise players when it’s clear they are giving 100%, what more can we ask of them? Leander is an established international player , not playing with confidence atm but has a good record with us which is worthy of respect and credit in the bank. Fabio’s only crime seems to be his price tag- give the guys a break. Whoever wears the shirt and gives his all deserves our support. Narrow win on Friday.
Some great players there doogy woogy.
When I was 7 in 1972 I had a school bag with Fulham fc in big white letters on a black background.
I was sooooo cool. With me shoulder length hair, shorts shorter than a West Brom awards ceremony and a really dapper pair of platform shoes…what a look..and add in my Fulham bag.
A proper Dandy.
Always been fond of them since then..
Favourite away game too
Halcyon days
No doubt we’ll have a great second half but I’ve no confidence in how this team is set up by the manager at the moment.
Great to see two well worked goals scored though. But it must be soul destroying to watch the ball get towards the final third and then the lateral passing starts. There is a penalty area, we’ve got speed, lets attack defenders and draw them into tackles or just let them back off like we did on Monday….I truly hope for a reaction but I’m struggling….
Yeh, I can see the same scoreline here. We carry little threat and our defending has been abysmal. With that in mind the following 2 changes are essential:
1) Fabio must start in place of Jose
2) We must revert to 3 at the back
And I’ll add that Kidman should play too.
If we make those changes then I think we’ll be much improved, but I’m not confident that Nuno will make them and hence my scorecast…….
Nicole???
Yeh right! A nice typo from me there, although Nicole might well be an improvement!
Kidman though, would be even better.
Hope your 3-0 proves true!
3out of the bottom 4are down
Wolves are not even close to going down.
Create a similar amount of chances on Friday as we did against a decent in form ammers team and we will win , simple.
I would imagine the guys in charge will use the remainder of this season to see who is able to switch from a three- four at the back
because we will need to be more flexible next season.
The days of playing one way every game are gone because you get worked out by the top teams.
This is a shahite season for loads of reasons, keep the faith and back nuno and the boys for the remainder of the season.
Come on you wolves
Waking up to watch a match at 3am is never easy, but thats what myself and a number of other Wolves lads do in Hong Kong most midweeks. So by 4am on Tuesday most of us chatting on Whatsapp were ready to head back to bed. But we never do. We always (for our sins) see it through, continue with the banter and usually focus on the positives rather than the negatives of each game. Against Wet Spam it was no different. Dire first half barring the goal and then played well second half.
So its all down to if we go there to Fulham and give them a game from the first whistle or as others have pointed out fall behind and have to chase the game. Surely we must have,one of (if not the) worst first half record of the Prem. Is that because we can’t score? Our current out and out striker Jose is yet to score. Friday night (Saturday morning HK) we simply can’t afford to start with him. Start with Silva and let’s take and maintain the lead. Put Fulham under the pressure instead of ourselves.
Last season out first halves would have put us 19th in the table. Our second halves taken alone would have put us 3rd. Yes, that is right. (of course, I’m talking of goals for and against only).
Nice one Jason, I love Hong Kong but not been for ages, is Ned Kelly’s still there? Keep getting up early and glad you can still focus on the positives
Utw
Agreed. I stayed in HK for a couple of nights in 2007 on the way back from the Ashes in Oz. Wanchai. There was a great pub called the Bull and Bear amongst others in that area. Happy days.
HK Wolves
Well, l got the goal fest and 3-2 result correct last game; shame it was the oppo’s that scored the 3 though.
I see Friday night we will come out of the starting blocks all guns a blazing and be 1 to the good within the 1st 5. Good old Willian comes good – finally.
Not sure whether we keep the 4 at the back or not; will leave that one to the more technically minded bloggers.
I still think we will take home all 3 points and retain that much needed breathing space.
Not optimistic. This is the poorest wolves team since Nuno took the reins – I think in current form our championship winning team would comfortably have beaten this group. It is of real concern how we have regressed and seem incapable of being coached out of it. I hope I’m wrong but if we do stay up it will be a case of stumbling to safety rather than a confidence instilling emphatic win at Fulham
I’m going for draws for the remaining 8 fixtures so we should be safe by 8th May after we play Brighton
roll on the end of the Season
Gotta win this one
From the last 5 games, Fulham have taken 3 points as opposed to our mighty total of …….. 2 points.
Win this and we are 12 points clear with them only having 6 games left, which makes us pretty much safe I would think. Lose and it’s squeaky bum time as a certain Scottish ex-manager used to say.
Personally, I would happily take a draw now to maintain the gap between us.
Silva getting ready with max confidence
He is getting slightly better with a very good goal last week ..
Netto should shine as will Traore its Nuno’s tactics on the line yet again..
With Sheffield and WBA all but down, amazingly, we are still looking over our shoulders. Fulham’s head is teetering on the block. This is almost a must-not-lose game for us. Even if we lose it would take an unlikely run of results for us to go down. The teams beneath us cannot win all their games as some play each other, and others have tougher tasks against teams higher in the league. We need at least a point to breathe a little easier on Friday night.
Cav is probably going to fulfill the usual ‘ex-player scoring against us’ hoodoo. We need to find room for Kilman, and by the way, the hoodoo works both ways. Kilman was in Fulham’s academy as a teenager. Realistically Kilman’s only chance will be if Moutinho is still injured, and Donk moves up to midfield. Donk’s goal against the Hammers was a timely reminder of what he is capable of.
I’m tempted to give Jose just the first 45 minutes in the hope he will break his duck, but Silva must have more time now. 3-1 Wolves but for god’s sake give it a go from the off…
Not yet decided on how this one will pan out.
A lovely kick up the arse for all our so called first team would be to be dropped, and the second eleven put out at kick off.
But, we haven’t got a second eleven.
We haven’t got a first eleven worthy of the name, either.
I am finally fed up of high expectations, even level expectations, before a kick off, only to have them dashed and trampled on by the underachievers who pose as Wolves players.
Forget the injuries, every team gets them, now is the time, and has been for ages, for those who are fit to step up and be counted.
What happened to our backs to the wall mentality?
Can’t they see beyond the next paycheck?
Don’t they realize, if they don’t pull their socks up, and we go down, there might not be a next paycheck soon.
If nothing else, play your bollocks off to shine in the shop window.
Too much easy money in the game, they just don’t care, and it shows in their attitude on the pitch.
Still, never gonna predict a loss, so 5-1 to we.
Solid win. Fabio scoring both goals with left and right shoulders
Can’t wait for this wretched season to end. This is another fixture that I normally go to and I have some fabulous memories of Craven Cottage dating back to 1967.
I nearly got my 1-3 prediction against the Hammers, but I’m not sorry as Fabio scored that second goal to show what a skilled young player we have there. Great first time ball control and pin point accuracy with the shot
On Friday I expect it to be the other way round, 3-1 to us, with Fabio scoring again.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/56666080
Mir looking even better
How cool was that!!!
It doesn’t say much for La Liga if the other four made up the top five goals scored.
But Mir’s was a lovely goal.
Get the lad back. We need finishing of that quality.
Unfortunately, we saw video of Willian Jose doing the same dort of thing in one of the mickey mouse leagues.
Hasn’t worked out as planned in our league yet.
Shows what you know about football if you think La Liga is a mickey mouse league. It may have taken a slight dip but Real still managed to tonk the scousers.
Doesnt everyone?
Excrpt us.
And how many real teams are there in Spain?
Three?
I case my rests
100% agree with Thomas regarding selection and formation but I differ with the result.
I think we’ve got enough up front to sneak it and as a back 5 enough to keep them at bay.
Time for a win
another ordinary point
Once again the game plan crumbled in the first 20 minutes against the Whammers, two points from the last fifteen available.
How sad to look back at the past seasons, winning the championship, two exceptional seasons inside the top 10 of the premiership, the quarter-finals of the Europa Cup and now, a complete shambles of a side that is incapable of playing football for the first 45 minutes of the game.
We have on these weekly previews and reviews blamed just about everything you can think of and all of them have probably played their part in our season.
Some of the players must hang their head in shame at their performances and so should the man who put them out there, yet his part in the failure to improve seems to be continually immune from blame by most. It takes me back to my early day’s in the 50’s, look at what we achieved then..they still sacked Stan Cullis.
What an end to the season that finds us looking over our shoulder and having to play 5 of the teams beneath us in the league, can anyone, given our past record against teams in that position honestly say they expect us to beat any of them…I Can’t.
Flum 1 Wolves 1???
Yes Kiwi they sacked arguably the most successful manager Wolves ever had. And bit by bit it was downhill from thereon pretty much until Jack Hayward stepped in and then Fosun and Nuno. So don’t see sacking Cullis as a useful precedence when going through a downturn.
Nor do I see how Fulham will suddenly become a competent EPL team and overhaul Wolves however poor our current form. And Clive when did you go from happy clapper to the voice of doom? I’m predicting a Wolves win.
Finally snapped after that disgrace on Monday.
But, a win tomorrow will put my shit eating grin back in place!
Shit-eating grin. Well that certainly explains all of the cr@p that comes out of your mouth.
Just friendly banter, mate.
Friendly banter back at you
Fuck off
Anticipation keeps the excitement high, hope is what kills you… Not sure who said that but it sums up our season.
Agree with most, kick up the jacksy required, Silva gaining confidence, it’s Nunos tactics that may decide it.
Flum have more to lose than us, which means they have to go for it, that will leave gaps for Pedro and Adama to exploit, some sweet crosses into the box, Donk, Jose and Fabio to get on the end of them and thump 3 nil, videoprinter correction (grandstand anyone!) we will concede 1 it seems to be written into our constitution that we have to let a silly goal in, so 3-1.
Oh, nearly forgot, as DOOG pointed out on my last blog I should say, don’t give away 3 goals in the first half and give yourselves a mountain to climb. :-).
I worry that if we lose this then we will definitely be dragged into the relegation battle, with other teams battling for their lives.
Yes we should have the class to win, but that doesn’t give us automatic right to do so.
I don’t know what Max Kilman has done wrong to be absent for so long, and with Boly missing he should be an absolute start in a return to the back 3.
After his well taken goal Fabio should be due a start.
My prediction for the ‘ammers game was – “got a 0-0 draw written all over it” so not confident of getting this right.
I will settle for another draw which should make us safe.
I think we’ll win. I agree Fulham have it all to play for but I thought we created some good chances against West ham, we need to be more clinical. Seeing Fabio take that chance really pleased me and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Podence being back in contention is also good news. Tight game but I think we’ll nick it
It’ll be odd to see Cav’ lining up against us, if he does.
As has been said by many, three at the back with Kilman please. If we do, we win, but Nuno may be in experimentation mode.
.
Three at the back please with Kilman being one of them. We just do not have the players at the moment for a four. Play the young kid Silva and go for it.
If we did that I think we would have more than enough to beat Fulham
Fulham are not West Ham. I don’t think we should be too negative about our chances against the Cottagers based on the last result. In fact, the first half an hour aside, I saw plenty to encourage me against a very good Hammers side on Monday. Plenty of shots, a couple of goals, including a fine one from Silva and dominating possession.
For sure Fulham are fighting for their lives, and that potentially makes them dangerous. In fact I think they will be desperate to win this one as they are running out of ‘winnable’ encounters and desperation often makes for rash decisions.
For us too I think this is an important match. A result should see us definitely safe but will also set us up for a month of matches that are very winnable. If Silva can nab another tomorrow , who knows, goals in successive may just unlock his confidence just in time for a late surge.
Anyway, this match may not always be comfortable but I think in the end we will get the job done.
I think my eyesight must be fading !! In my prediction against the Hammers I said I couldn’t see any goals being scored in that game. Legend Victor!!
Look, we really should win this. I think Nuno will lose a lot of friends if he tries the 4 at the back again (and fail-again). Hoping he comes to his senses, I think both teams will settle for a draw.
On a slightly different subject, many have been the posts of who Wolves should be looking at from the teams likely to go down and I believe a worthy consideration would be Fulham’s Lookman who is currently on loan for them. Every time I see him in action, he seems to be in a different class to all around him. Just this once, I hope that will not happen against us.
Hoping for a win so we can stop worrying about the bottom and start planning for next year.
Let’s Go Wolves!
Don’t think this will be pretty but time for a clean sheet then onwards and upwards
Here we go. Finally decided that if we play 3 at the back we should take 3 points.
So, based on that thinking alone:
Fulham v Wolves
Over the past 50 + years or so (especially during 70’s and 80’s) an away trip was always something we collectively mused over before the big day. If the plan was to travel and support the team at – just for example – Cardiff City, Stoke City, Birmingham City, Millwall, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool the discussion was yes of course we are going – but let’s be a little cautious with the colours lads and maybe avoid the pubs eh!
However, if the away trip was visiting – just for example – Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers (The Fernhurst has been a cracking away pub for years with superb meals), Ipswich Town, Leicester City you could reasonably expect to get by without much “bovver” and drink in a local hostelry.
In the second category I firmly place Craven Cottage – the homely stadium of tomorrow evenings opponents Fulham. Loads of welcoming pubs at Putney Bridge (The 8 Bells) and also along the road from Fulham to Chelsea.
A stadium that still possesses that most unusual feature – floodlight pylons. How I miss the towering floodlights at Molineux and elsewhere.
Well before the legendary stadium designer and architect Archibald Leitch erected the first stand on behalf of Fulham FC in 1906 at the current location, the original Cottage itself had stood on the land since 1780 although it burned down in 1888. (Leitch also built the pavilion which stands in the corner of the stadium and is now referred to as “The Cottage” to this day and he was also instrumental in transforming the “New Molineux” between 1925 and 1935).
Some renown scholars, members of high society and a very famous nurse are thought to have lived or resided for a while at the original cottage including Edward Bulmer-Lytton who wrote the Last Days of Pompeii about the eruption on Mount Vesuvius in AD79 (nothing to do with Portsmouth FC), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creator of Sherlock Holmes, Florence Nightingale who tended the wounded at Crimea and even Queen Victoria – apparently. There was also a connection with the family of Anne Boleyn.
Before Chelsea became the “it place”, Craven Cottage attracted the artisans and film stars to watch their fixtures in the 1950’s, 60’s and even into the 70’s as the masts of sailing boats and dinghies bobbed up and down on the River Thames which virtually laps up the walls on the “popular side”. Comedian Tommy Trinder was chairman for a while with bandleader Chappie D’Amato – who despite his Italian name was born in Fulham – as a director. Also spotted in the crowd or at The Queen Elm pub afterwards, at various times were Honor Blackman then playing Cathy Gale in the Avengers, jazz singer Annie Ross, DJ “Diddy” David Hamilton and latterly luminaries such as Hugh Grant, Richard Osman, actor Fulton Mackay (Mr Mackay of Porridge fame), actor Patrick Mower, BBC reporter Emily Maitlis and actor Nigel Havers.
Despite the fact Fulham have never won any trophy of note, over the years the club has produced some fine footballers. Johnny Haynes, who was converted into a deep lying number 9 (probably a doppelganger for the Hungarian Hidegkuti who along with Ferenc Puskas, in 1953 blew England away 6-3 at Wembley), remains the master of the reverse pass to this day with defence shredding accuracy as lethal as steel shears. Haynes became the first £100 a week footballer in 1962 – which is equivalent of £1,829 a week today – when the maximum wage for footballers was abolished in January 1961 following a threat by former Fulham player Jimmy Hill and the PFA for all players to go on strike. The FA caved in three days before the planned action. If Haynes had not been around in the 1950’s and early 60’s then Peter Broadbent would surely have won more than his 7 England caps.
Other notable players from way back then included Bobby Robson, World Cup winner George Cohen, goalkeeper Tony Macedo, Graham Leggat and blonde centre half Bobby Keetch who was often seen in Wheelers Oyster Bar in Old Compton Street, Soho discussing Pop Art and birds but not football.
Football teams always visited “The Cottage” expecting to win, but when matters go awry on the pitch things get out of hand as typified in 1966 when Fulham, then bottom, beat league leaders Liverpool. Centre forward for Liverpool Ian St John was so incensed he felled Mark Pearson of Fulham with a left hook so clean and explosive it could have graced Madison Square Garden when Sugar Ray Robinson was in his pomp.
Well, what of tomorrow evening. After watching Fulham beating Liverpool a few weeks ago where they were excellent, and then inexplicably caving in at Villa Park when they were far the better side, for sure we will have a battle on our hands. Cavaleiro is odds on to score – naturally. Other players that catch the eye include Lemina (scored at Anfield), Reed and Cordova-Reid.
It was painful in the extreme to witness such a first half capitulation v West Ham just after the half hour. It could/would have been even worse if Antonio had not been substituted.
I pray Nuno does not go with that formation at Craven Cottage because Fulham also have pace up top.
Having said that Wolves had far more of the play overall, more attempts and corners etc but of course the only statistic that matters is the result. Our winless run continues and whilst with 35 points we should be OK, complacency is the last characteristic we can allow to creep in. In addition, guys PLEASE don’t concede first AGAIN. It’s a national embarrassment.
Finally, please enjoy the photograph of the Doog at Craven Cottage in August 1967. This was my first visit and we won 2-1 on our return to the top-flight with The Doog and Mike Bailey scoring.
Wolves 2 Fulham 1 – same as 1967.
Bedfordshire Old Gold
BOG
Brilliant write up as always Mike and like you say one of the “safer” grounds where you can show your colours. Only been the once, about 5 or 6 years ago for an FA Cup tie, one of the games where we stayed over in Wolves the night before and travelled on one of the official coaches the next day. Seem to remember that the coaches have to do a u turn in a small high street not far from the ground, some of the Leon’s drivers did it in one, others got stuck. You then park up on a main road and walk down the streets of terraced houses to the ground, not like these modern stadiums on a retail park. Really friendly stewards as well. Had pie and peas and a couple of pints and then stood in the rain to watch a 0-0 draw. Still one of our best away days – and is it right that it is the only stadium with a tree growing inside ? Won’t it be great when we can do these away days again.
Hello Ian
I hope you are both keeping well.
Yes the ground is hemmed in a little with narrow streets and terraced houses with Bishops Park nearby. Trust a Leon driver to get stuck!
You are right – role on the time we can attend football games again. I assume come August restrictions will be lifted won’t they?
Looking forward to seeing you both soon.
Meanwhile all the best Ian.
Mike
Tolstoy got nuffink on yew, Ol’ pal!!!
Hello Clive
How yer doin?
Hope all is well in sunny Texas.
Nah – I only write rubbish! Story of my life.
Enjoy the game later- errmmmm well try to.
All the best
Mike
Brilliant write up and trip/s down memory lane BOG – not forgetting the Fulham “Road Show” when George Best, Rodney Marsh and Bobby Moore graced the Cottage at the end of their careers.
UTW!
Ahh yes WWW Best and Marsh plus Moore. Quite a trio that brought flamboyant offerings into a normally drab Div 2.
I think we beat them 5/1 at Molineux in 76/77 season but their presence put a few thousand on the attendance.
I would settle for a similar result tonight.
Enjoy the game !
Thanks BOG
Nuno’s gone for a back four – yikes!
Really nervous now after Monday’s first half.
COMBs!
Great write up, really catches the 70s-80s atmosphere. It’s a bit sad that the beautiful game became so tribal in the way it did. I can remember going to Old Trafford with my Dad in the late 1950s and having a drink in the pub on the main road next door or so to the side road down to the ground. No trouble, Red and White scarves much in evidence as were Black and Gold – including round my neck.
I will confess to having taken my scarf off once at the Mol, when it was full of Rangers fans, all of them aggressive and most of them drunk. It improved when one of them opened his coat and took out a bottle of scotch and seven or eight glasses – presumably from a local pub. He said “You’ll have a drink with me” in a way that wasmore a statement than a question and things developed along more sociable lines.
I have to say that the worst conflict I’ve been involved in was trying to get through up to the Cannock Road when there was a running battle between Wolves and Millwall fans. I ended up in someone’s back garden taking cover. I always managed to keep out of trouble at away games, although it was touch and go a couple of times at Everton.
For tonight I’m taking encouragement from our better stats on Monday – although I do agree with Clive that it’s the result that’s remembered. The one against Fulham I remember most was in 1959 when we beat them 9-0 at Molineux. Not hoping for a repeat, but I think we might get a result.
COYW
Great memories – love the bit about the Glasgow Rangers supporters and the whisky. Priceless!
Why are Millwall supporters always mentioned when there is a ruck? What a dreadful reputation they have. Deserved mind you!
I can’t remember the 9/0 drubbing (I doubt I will ever witness such a scoreline) as I was just 6 years old. Undoubtedly if my dad was still around he would be waxing lyrical. What a team Stan Cullis put together in those days.
Fantastic.
Thanks for sharing your memories JazzWolf – especially drinking in the same pub with the Manchester United supporters near Old Trafford in the late 1950’s.
In the words of Mary Hopkin
– those were the days my friend!
Yes, you are right about Millwall always getting a mention. The only lighter thing I’ve ever heard about them was broadcaster Danny Baker describing how as a young supporter he was given a rattle for his birthday. His older brother watched with interest as he set out to burn “UP THE LIONS” into it with a poker heated in the fire. He waited until Danny had finished before pointing out that he now had a rattle which said “UP THE LOINS”.
Ha ha ha
That’s absolutely priceless – love it.
Wonderful tale.
What is this 4 at the back that you people are talking about? We played 2 at the back.
Not sure why Nuno didn’t notice this or maybe it is some new Portuguese thing.
Wolves will win and Ivan will score a goal or get an assist for the cottagers. Is that what they are called?
Can we please start with Coady – Saiss- Kilman as the back 3, as they did an excellent job at Old Trafford ? I think José, despite his inability to score, must start if only to ensure we don’t get pinned back for 90 minutes. I’d happily settle for a point in a match that Fulham will see as a ‘must-win’ encounter.
Awesome Mike (BOG) another well constructed and informative write up. All good with you otherwise?
Cheers. Steve.
Cheers Steve
Hope you are all well.
We are just waiting for the date of the second jab
Our steward in the Billy Quiet phoned a few nights ago. Apparently he has received a letter from the Molineux in relation to the final home fixture v Manchester United and supporters being allowed in – around a 1/4 of capacity so approximately 8,000.
If it goes ahead not sure how the tickets will be allocated but maybe it bodes well for a full start up in August.
Enjoy the game tonight….
Mike
Shut uo shop and nick a goal.
Someone at work today said that if you have the AstraZeneca vaccine you could turn into Terence Trent Darby. I said don’t be so silly and left it at that. I mean, how many people actually metamorphasize in to 1980’s pop stars after taking a vaccine? Imagine my surprise when a couple of hours later I saw Terence Trent Darby in the Spar shop in Gornal. Weird things happen man. And none more so than tomorrow night when WWFC actually SCORE FIRST and thus confidence comes soaring back in to the team and take Fulham to the cleaners. Scott Parker, who looks uncannily like Virgil out of Thunderbird 2 , will literally blast his head off in anger and the catastrophic effect on his team will be fatal. Rampant WWFC ease to a 2-0 win. After the game Nuno said ” I hope Virgil Tracy ….er sorry…Scott is ok after his mental health breakdown.We have all been there. Including me when someone stole the tyres off my car in Whitmore Reans. We don’t look at the table. Only the next game”. Scott Parker said ” It’s weird when you turn in to Virgil Tracy but I suppose someone has to. At least I can drive Thubderbird 2 which is more than can be said for other Premier league managers. I should be thankful I didn’t turn in to Terence Trent Darby like lots of other people do. ” . Fulham 0 WWFC 2.
Brilliant Cheesie – love the Thunderbirds analogy!
COMBs!
Cheers WWW. Would life be without they occasional act of being silly ? FWAW!
Occasional?
Love reading your stuff fella.
Cheers chaps. Gorra av a loff ay ya. After all you need a sense of humour being a Wolves fan. So Fulham have won only 2 at home all season……….
You just know what’s coming…….. But hey! Life goes on. Lambs frolicking in fields. Pub nearly sort of back. Summer on the way. Cricket season back …. ………
Ha ha ha – brilliant
You can’t have seen TTD in the Spar at Gornal Cheesey. I saw him eight times down yer in Devon at the same time. He can’t be everywhere at once.
That’s due to that strong Devonian ciders you get down your neck I suspect Wolfstroker. Fancy seeing Terence Trent Darby 8 times all in one go! Keep taking the tablets chap.
Return to 3 at the back, preferably with Killman rather of than Donks! Baring really bad luck, we should have enough to win this —- on paper!
Would start with Jose as he defends and holds up play better than Silva, but would substitute him early in the second half! A win will ensure a merciful finish to the season.
Fulham are short of goals by if we defend like we did against West Ham they will fancy scoring a few goals. I like 4-2-3-1 as it gets our best forward players on the pitch. Just need to recruit some defenders to make it work. I however expect Nuno to go back to 3-4-3
So Rafa Mir is doing well in Spain and still the reports are Wolves want to sell him.
Is there any talk there about why Nuno doesn’t want him? Has he said he prefers not to play in England or does Nuno not think he can play the way Nuno wants a striker to play?
‘… the reports are Wolves want to sell him’.
Don’t believe everything you read in the papers Tim. Mostly reports are that certain other clubs are interested in signing him – a slightly different perspetive.
That’s an interesting one for me , if we were offered 12 mill now for him , would you take it and spend it elsewhere ( he was probably only worth a few mill 6 months ago)
Or keep him ?
Utw
Need a result
I think they’ll want it more than us.
Was very surprised prior to the West Ham game how many people had predicted a Wolves win. Likewise but reassured at how many people predicting a Wolves defeat.
Every time the fans are taken to the brink and beyond of exasperation and depression they pull out a result – and it’s usually away from home.
I confess I am very perturbed each time I see Saiss playing on the right side of defence,. Like many others I confess to being mystified at Nuno’s sudden loss of confidence in Kilman. So, assuming Moutinho is unable to start I would bring iKilman into a back three and swap the positions of Donk and Saiss. Jose to start and Podence on the bench.
However, I have complete faith in Nuno and unless we have more last minute injuries I think he will have us organised sufficiently to get a result here.
But this will not be a turning of the corner for our season and I think that the stakes will be high in the summer. We could start the new season with a re-fashioned team ready for an exciting new chapter. Or we could finish September with extreme disillusionment on all sides and a caretaker manager.
Hope everyone keeps their nerve, the latter option is not appealing.
Had Johny and Boly stayed fit we would have beaten West Ham. No question.
Couldn’t agree more. I predicted 3-1 to us before I heard we had three first-choice players missing. We scored two as it was and would surely bettered that with those three players included. B y the same token, there is no way West Ham would have scored three with Jonny and Boly around.
I hope Nuno has learned from this and will find a place for Kilman tonight against his academy team Fulham. I’d put Kilman on Mitrovic.
Hopefully we start faster than usual and play a back 3.
Back 3 with Kilman playing please, hoping Moutiniho is fit to play & then we should have enough to get some points.
I like Fulham & after this game I wish them luck & hope they manage to survive the drop.
COYW
It’s squeaky bum time for both teams, but more so for Fulham. Wolves aren’t on a great run but, as Thomas says, the Cottagers have lost three on the bounce. Also, the Evening Standard says that Fulham are the division’s worst home team, having won just two of their 16 top-flight matches at Craven Cottage this term.
That gives me some comfort, but I’m fully aware that this match go any which way.
Yes, I’m a bit worried about this game.
Our best form of defence is attack, so that’s what I want us to do. Silva deserves to start now. He’s done well with the small amounts of game time and his goal will have done him good.
I would also like to see Vitinha.
Traore showed what he can do, so give him the ball more and get players into the box to meet his crosses.
If you saw that assist from Neto on the Silva goal, you’re probably asking yourself why our midfielders don’t try to make those kinds of passes to the CF more often.
You are right again, Tim. Thank you for helping me understand the game better.
Am I the only one who was made to feel physically sick when I read about Kevin De Bruyne’s new contract with Manchester City?
£65 million until 2025!
Given that he has probably earned(?) more than that already in his career, doesn’t it strike you as an obscene amount?
I mean, how can anyone even begin to think about spending that sort of cash?
And how can City justify paying it?
Just because they can I suppose.
This season has seen me begin to fall out of love with football in general, and seeing the ridiculous amounts of money sloshing about in the cess pit inhabited by overpaid ‘stars’ and agents, has made me seriously wonder why we keep supporting such a criminal waste of money.
Just because we have to I suppose.
We’re just poor bloody fans.
Horrendous amount Mark, but You and I will still travel up and down respectively next season I am sure. Maybe we should ask if we can apply to the club for loyalty travel expenditure.
Stop moaning Doog. Minimum wage has just gone up to £ 8.91 per hour as long as you are over 23. What more do you want to clean KDB’s bog out after he has been for a shit.
A share of the spoils beckons before I don my cloth cap and will be taking risks with the forecast at tea time tomorrow.
What irks me more, Doog, is the number of mediocre players who are able to become multi millionaires with very little talent. At least De Bruyne is the world’s top midfielder.
Have to win – nothing more to say except some need to turn up and track back when required
Getting a feeling in me roofing felt that we’re going to score two more than you…
I like scott Parker as a manager but we’ve got Fabio
Always like going to Fulham, even though I’m usually standing closer to the Thames than to the pitch.
This one must be the turnaround game, despite the absences,
And its always bleeding cold Deptford.
Got to be by far the best away day…
Singing through the park on the way to and from the ground and the lovely pubs.
Never any trouble either.
God knows what will happen!
Can someone please tell me why that goal was disallowed for offside?
Because they’re a bunch of corrupt f##ks who favour London clubs. John Moss is a joke and if he couldn’t see it was on side he’s corrupt too.
Enough said on that.
Justice was done a great goal by Traore.?
F##k VAR. How can that be offside???
VAR – a device to manipulate the outcome of football matches. Nothing more, nothing less.
It was disallowed because he was offside .
Why are we on about that for .just look at samedo performance. How long can he keep justifying picking him game after game ??? .
PATHETIC
That is a disgrace. Absolute joke. Even if was them scoring and ruled out, I would have the same feeling. Ruining the game.
Fucking David Coote on VAR tgd corrupt shite. Gave the shit that first penalty 6 inches outside the box. Missed the shit player playing basketball. Now this. Corrupt wanker.
This looks like a championship game all the way! Or two relegated teams fighting it out. Kick and rush! Very very boring up to 64 minutes. What ever happened to LIQUID football? Just a memory! More beer quickly to keep my waning interest up!!
Silva on with 5 minutes to go………ridiculous absolutely ridiculous should off come on at half time.
Nuno’s game management piss poor…!
Gibbs whyte ????????????????
Don’t give a shit about the performance tonight. It was all about not losing and to pinch it in the dying seconds is magnificent. That my friends is Premier League football for season 2021/2022.
PMSL. 3 points is 3 points.
Thank god for that. Safe or as good as. A bang average performance but the result was everything and after the nonsense of VAR at least adama restored the balance of justice
Thank F..k for that Jesus wept talk about leave it late…….Christ ..!
Well assuming we don’t manage to get another single point, Newcastle need 4 wins, Fulham 5 and the Albion 6 to overtake us, so barring a set of results more freakier than my A levels I would say we are pretty much 99% safe now.
Thank the Lord….. and relax
Rafa Mir scored 2 more goals tonight for Huesca – thoughts everyone???
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