Elland Road probably wouldn’t have been Ståle Solbakken’s preferred destination for his Championship debut. It certainly wouldn’t have been mine.
Leeds are no great shakes these days, but with their ferocious home crowd behind them and Neil Warnock in the dugout, it’s a tricky opening day assignment.
As Wolves were labouring to a penalty shootout win over Aldershot last weekend, the Leeds players were already in the bar with their feet up having dispatched Shrewsbury 4-0.
Looking at their goalscorers in that games – Varney, Norris, McCormack – you immediately recognise familiar foe. These are players who know what it takes to win games in this league and that makes them a dangerous proposition.
Wolves
What concerns me most about Wolves is that we seem to be playing a more defensive shape, yet still conceding goals. If we’d been absolutely watertight against Shrewsbury, Southampton and Aldershot, I’d be feeling more confident, but we’re still seeing the same old problems.
Going forward, I worry we’re not creating enough clear chances, which is hardly surprising when you take Kightly, Jarvis and Fletcher out of a side that was struggling anyway.
The stats from the Aldershot game say differently, with Wolves registering 20 shots on goal, 13 corners and 66% of the possession. But it certainly didn’t feel that dominant.
As for the team, I’d like to see Matt Jarvis starting if fit. We simply can’t afford to have an attacking player of his quality sitting it out. If he leaves, we replace him and move on, but until that moment arrives, we need him to play.
Fletcher, I’m less bothered about. I think we’ve got adequate cover in forward positions to go on without him for the moment. If no deal is agreed come the end of August (which I highly doubt) then he too will have to put his toys back in the pram and play.
This would be my preferred team:
As you can see, Edwards is the other player I’d bring in on the right of midfield. The above team has good Championship experience and the requisite quality to get the job done in a tough game.
However, I’d be surprised if we saw this. I have a strong suspicion it will be the same starting eleven that took to the field against Aldershot with David Davies and Anthony Forde maintaining their starting births. As promising as both of those players are, that team wouldn’t fill me with confidence given what I saw last weekend.
Opposition view
Thanks to Tom Hill from Leeds blog Through it All Together for sending me his thoughts ahead of the game.
Wolves have got a good squad, good fans and if you can settle with the new boss and his ideas then it could be a good season. You’ve done well to keep the same team, although I’m stunned at the money people are offering for Fletcher and Jarvis. Really don’t think Fletcher is worth it but I like Jarvis.
This season is absolutely massive for us in terms of one big push with Warnock. We’ve made 10 new signings and against Shrewsbury we featured eight of them. Warnock will tighten us up defensively and hopefully we will be harder to break down. We’ve acquired well and we move freely with the ball now and our players should be difficult to mark.
In all honesty I have no idea what to think about this game and your chances. But will go with a 1-1.
Predictions
The Prediction League is back and for the very first time in the Championship.
All being well, there will be 46 previews and 46 chances to guess the outcome and score. I’m changing the rules slightly this year, with 1 point for the correct outcome and just 2 points for getting the correct score too. This, I feel, places a greater emphasis on consistency.
Anyway, if you want to take part, just leave your predictions below as a comment. Can I please ask that you write your score at the end of your comment, so it’s easier for me to tally them all up when distributing points?
I’m going for 1-1 at Elland Road and I’d certainly be content enough with a draw. It’s definitely a nice fixture to get out of the way early.
If you’re at the game Saturday, have a great time and get behind the lads as you always do.
Up The Wolves.
* I answered some pre-game questions for another Leeds blog, The Scratching Shed. You can read that interview here. I’m also apparently in the matchday programme, so look out for a familiar face if you buy one.
* A final reminder if you want to join our Championship Fantasy Football league, go here and register a team. The code you need to join the league is 3515.
I am looking for the defence to step up and for us to start the way we intend to continue. Maybe an optimistic fool but a Wolves win 2-1 (SEB and Doyle the scorers, maybe Edwards
Always a tough game at Elland Road, and I feel we won’t have either Fletcher or Jarvis playing. Leeds have a decent side and a 4-0 win over Shrewsbury shows how clinical and in form they are.
Leeds 2 – 1 Wolves. (McCormack x2, Ebanks-Blake)
We always seem to win 2-1 in the opening games but my head says 2-2 so that’s what I’d go for!
As for the team I think I’d pick Bjorn over Doyle personally if he’s fit – if not then he can be subbed in! Jarvis should do well for us too if he’s around!
I would bet against Jarvis starting and if that’s the case I would say a draw is the best we can hope for.
So a draw it is:- 1-1
Leeds 1 Wolves 1 (SEB)
Would love to be more optimistic, but with the team so unsettled this has Leeds win written all over it. Do believe we will get stronger as the season progresses, but suspect we will be in for a rocky ride over the first few months.
Leeds 3-0 Wolves 🙁
I think we’re not in the state of mind where we can claim a victory, but this league becomes real now, and the cameras being there can only help. I think both Jarvis and Fletcher will play a part to try and ensure they get their moves.
1-1 Draw with Ebanks-Blake getting our opener.
Bollocks to all the negativity, Leeds will be shitting their nappies when the Mighty Men from Molineux come calling!!
They stuffed Shrewsbury, that perennial powerhouse, 4 – 0. Whoopdee friggin’ doo!!
Nah, we are gonna stuff ’em right up the Elland Road.
Leeds 0 Wufflers 1
Come On Me Babbbbies!!!
FOWB
you’ve got no chance you Wimpy Wolves, cowered out of the premier league u pussy’s, were super Leeds with the BEST keeper and defence in the league, we will win 2-0 comfortably, you got no chance of hitting the back of the net. COOOOOOOOME ON THEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
same old leeds ?…….suddenly feeling a lot more optimistic.
How does a Leeds fan manage to string two words together coherently?
We dont do the anonymous keyboard warrior stuff on here otherwise i would call you a leeds twat.
I was feeling all miserable and pessimistic about this, especially as we’m on the tellybox which generally doesn’t go well for us, but then I noticed that Bully is up at the top of the page and went back to my happy place.
A nervous and rusty performance, won near the end by a defensive mistake.
2-1 to the Wanderers
(Any Brighton residents reading this, we’ll be in the Lion & Lobster – see you there!)
don’t what how or when just need to not LOSE!
PS nice to see the ICONIC BULLY on the top of this page…..my we could do with him tomorrow!
BRING BACK BULLY….nice header BTW
I think Stale has already hinted he will start with Blake so Moxeys crown jewels could be on the bench or under lock and key.Still a bit concerned about Johnson he is trying hard to put things right but against Aldershot still looks prone to getting out of position and too easily knocked off balance.I am too superstitious to publically predict Wolves results.
Sorry but I have lost all faith in Ebanks-Blake so its Leeds 2-1 for me.
So what can we expect from our team after three years of attrition and struggling to survive and then relegation from the premiership.
I suspect the manager, nor the players even, certainly the fans have absolutely no idea whether our premiership period has left any benefits in the tank. I fear the damage from relegation still lingers in the corridors at Molineux, and it will be a massive relief to get this first game over, so we have a benchmark for everything in the Championship.
Well after seeing the Olympic closing ceremony, and seeing Eric Idle (was it?) singing “always look on the bright side of life” – why not a win for Wolves to surprise and delight everyone connected with the club, not least our new manager. So a big 3-1 win for Wolves, couldn`t care less who scores, I`d take a Ward hatrick now his move to Sunderland is off!
Until the uncertainty regarding Fletch, Jarvis, and others is settled, we’re in for a rough patch.
Leeds 2 – Wolves 1
I think we all need to lighten up a bit. If we line up anything like Thomas’s team there should be far too much quality and experience at this level for a Leeds team with 10 new signings. A season opener at Leeds is a wholly different ball game than a runout in a Mickey Mouse cup against Aldershot. The Boys will be up for it.
2-1 Wolves!
After watching us struggle in pre-season and all the off-the-field drama, I can’t see us getting off to a particularly confident start. However, Leeds are surely not as strong as us, so although we won’t be at our best, I predict:
Leeds 1 Wolves 1 (SEB to score)
The end of the season is anyone’s guess, but if we sort out our defence, the team gets used to Stale’s tactics and SEB hits the ground running, I don’t see any reason why we can’t manage a top six place come next May. But they’re very big ifs!
A comfortable 2-0 win for Wolves. Far too strong for Leeds.
Chaps
I’m a Leeds season ticket holder and not got a clue what will happen Sat! We have 10 new journeymen players mostly free. As usual sold our best players Snodgrass to Norwich, Howson to Norwich and Johnson erm… to Norwich…
Not got a clue what the team will perform like, you have premiership players and should give us a good hiding. But its a funny old game.
An honest view mate. Thanks for contributing.
I was reading the Guardian’s preview to the Championship season and none of the bloggers interviewed really fancied their chances.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2012/aug/10/championship-2012-13-season-preview-bloggers
…someone is in for a pleasant surprise at least.
Should be a n excellent game. I see Wolves coming on strong towards the end of the game to rescue a hard fought point. Leeds 2 – 2 Wolves.
Here’s to a opening season belter
3-2 to the wolves.
2-0 to Leeds same defence same mistakes. Our attack to hold the ball but create nothing.
The reason why Edwards wasn’t involved according to Solbakken was his involvement in the national side. So I believe the starting eleven would be very much alike Thomas line-up, with the exception of Fletcher. I want to see Fletcher up front with Ebanks Blake or Sigurdarson, or Noble.
Doyle played himself out of the team in the cup match. I would also add that we haven’t conceded more than one goal in any matches except the one against Southampton. We have a stronger central midfield, strong enough to dominate away against Leeds.
It would have been a disgrace not to play Fletcher because of the transfer rumours. He has to be given the opportunity to play himself away from molineux.
The championship is stronger than ever and we need a good start. Watford’s cooperation with Udinese combined with Zola at the helm is a very exciting combination. Blackburn has also added some exotic players.
I predict a 3-1 victory for wolves.
Goalscorers: Fletcher 2 and Noble one.
I am afraid it is going to be a ‘stale’ mate (sorry) 0-0
Comfortable victory with all the goals in the first half
Dirty Leeds 0 – 2 Wolves
dirty leeds 3 wolves 0
I’ll be optimistic
Wolves 2-0 Leeds
Same old problems for me, too sloppy at the back and no clue up front.
Leeds 3-1 Wolves (SEB)
Still a bit concerned about Johnson he is trying hard to put things right but against Aldershot still looks prone to getting out of position and too easily knocked off balance.
It’s another 3 years till I draw my OAP, However I will go round this numpty all day long.
After clinching a Champion’s league place in last season’s prediction league by basically predicting that we’d lose every week I somehow hope that that strategy isn’t going to cut it this season.
I know nothing about the Championship or Leeds, so it’s a hail Mary from me: 2-3 Wolves
Big wake up call-Leeds 3 Wolves 0.
As the Leeds poster said, they have 10 new signings, one of which was apparently sent off a stupid amount of times last year (a proper Warnock player). They also signed Dickhead Diouf who is a decent player but can lose his head. I reckon it wont end 11 men each and hopefully in our favour, we’ll win 3-1.
Am not convinced by SEB.
Jarvis and Fletcher should both start, whether they like it or not.
Think I will go with Alf and KWolf in predicting Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Hope I am horribly wrong……..
Me neither.
Don’t think Leeds are too strong but we seem to be in some disarray.
Think we’ll struggle to draw 1 – 1.
Horrible match to start. Can’t help feeling we’ll start the season badly before finishing in our customary 10th position 🙂
Leeds 2 Wolves 0 Hope I’m wrong.
Looking forward to a new direction this season. Quite pleased with the way the club has managed business over the summer, even though it leaves a feeling of uncertainty. I will go with a 1-2 to Wolves.
With so much uncertainty off the field…and our new manager still bedding in I’m predicting a slow start to the season and then following the January transfer window where appropriate players will be bought in I see a charge to the playoffs at the end of the season…with our mans tactical nous paying off in the end! Why not…don’t forget he had worked out Barcelona a long time before any of the other managers! With this in mind I still think the start of the season has come a little too soon for us…
Leeds 2 – 1 Wolves (SEB)
UTW!
I think it will be 3-3, wolves will go 3-0 down and scrape it back with SEB, Doumbia and a diving header from Johnson in the last few minutes.
3-3 (SEB, Doumbia, Johnson)
Some of our Fans are Clueless(Dirty Leeds) Leeds have bought very well and the star of the show will be the Beast ( Rod Austin in Midfield- hard as nails can pick a pass and loves to attack and weigh in with plenty of Goals- Paul Green and Aidy White will also cause Wolves Problem- At the back we are pretty solid now- Preseason won 6 out ot 7 games- drew the other and kept 5 clean Sheets scoring 25+ Goals- We will dominate Midfield be defensively solid and Clynical from Free kicks and corners- Goals throughout the team with 10 different scorers pre season- all this before we even Discuss EHD who will get loads of stick.Leedsmhave bought very well replacing luxury players with leaders.Rod Austin International was best player in Norway last year and voted player of the year- Peltier is a class act and Kenny and Pearce are very solid- Adam Drury will be best LB in the championship this year IMO.
It’s a better feeling to be optimistic than pesimistic before the season kicks off – we’ll just have to wait and see how long it last. I would give wolves pre-season dice throw 4. There is an uncertainty among us wolves supporters which might be caused through the uncertainty on how our team is gonna cope with teams from championship. With the exception of Southampton, Wolves played against teams from lower divisions, and the last cup match just adds to the “we don’t quite know how strong our team is”, as no defenders have been brought in to strengthen the defensive departement.
Leeds 1-1 Wolves
Doyle (75)
Well, this is it!!!!
Thomas, loving the contributions from other clubs’ blogs. Really good to hear their opinions and to get the word around about Wolves Blog!!
Start of season games tend to be a bit cagey. So I thought 1-1. Then I thought about Aldershot and wondered if that’s our cagey game out of the way. So I thought maybe 2-0. But then I thought (possibly a hangover from last season) about my worries about our defensive and goal scoring abilities. So I came full circle…
1-1
I’m away this weekend and if it wasn’t for those knuts Fox Soccer scrapping npower championship games and a highlights show over here (in favor of – get this – the humdinger of a competitive league that’s the SPL!!) I’d have been able to rock up to a bar at the beach and watch it over breakfast, a bit like I did in similar circumstances in ’06 when Bothroyd notched an absolute beaut.
So I hope there’s similar parallels, and I’ll go for the same score — 0-1.
At least you’ll get to see the Old Firm games…oh, wait…hang on…
3-0 To Leeds
Unless we can get Jarvis to play, then it might be 3-2 to Wolves.
Very unsettled at the Mol at present.Leeds to win 2-0.
Looking forward to Leeds.
Few great memories of Elland Road – I will never forget the Don Goodman winner in the FA Cup QF 1998 or having a pre-match drink in The Peacock in 2005!!!
I’m always an optimist and I’m still a believer. My forecast is Leeds 1 Wolves 2.
Out of Darkness Cometh Light
Wolves will win 2-1 (Doyle and Doumbia)
2-1 Wolves 2 goals from SEB
Glad to see a few more optimists commenting. I stand by my 2-1 win to Wolves. The core of the team out to prove themselves, enough talent there. Another week of adjusting to SS under their belt. Leeds are by no means a “jelled” team. And we are THE WOLVES.
I see a few candid comments from SS regarding Warnock this might be interesting and where he makes himself known to fellow managers. I see really great odds of one or other or both being banished to the stands……….OMG that means TC and the clipboard, please no.
I see Sunderlad and West Ham calling Jez’s bluff, I might be wrong but I suspect they will both be gone very soon now. After all he never discloses the fee anyway so we will never know if he folded or not.
2-1 2-1 2-1 to the men in Gold !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS can someone stick super LEEDS back in the cupboard please.
I think it will be a very tricky game close one to call,so i’m sitting on the fence a bit ,so i’m
going for a 1-1..Just a bit worried about our defence as usual..
would be nice to get something.UTW.
There is still over 24 hours to go before kick off, so plenty of time to ruminate on favorite Wolves Leeds games.
There was the cup semi final, of course, where Richards hit the post, and we were unluckily beaten. It was after that match, walking back to the car, when Mark G Davies saved the life of a vicar. No shit. We were very despondent after the result, and this vicar wearing a Leeds scarf passed us, and patted me on the head saying “Never mind, sonny”
I turned round to beat the snot out of him, but Big Mark pulled my arm, and said “Not a vicar, Clive, not a vicar”. So he will go to heaven.
And then of course there was one of the Molineux highlights of my life, when they came to town on a monday night, having just won the cup, and needing only a point to win the league as well.
All those fellow bloggers who were there that night, will, like me, surely admit that was one of the two or three most exciting times to be a Wolves fan. South Bank full to the brim with Leeds and Derby fans, North Bank choir in full voice ( we all fuckin’ hate Leeds the most popular song of the night) and a magnificent 2 – 1 victory, despite Bernard Shaw’s deliberate handball in the box, which the ref missed, and despite all the post match rumors of bribery.
As Frankie Valli sang ” Oh What A Night”
Y’all can tell I’m bored.
I’ve just took a look at the Prem Fixtures, and see that Liverpool could be top on goal diff at the end of this Saturday, coz they’m away at the shit!!!
FOWB
I have seen some right bust ups with Leeds-after the FA cup game in 77 they hated us for years. But to be fair they beat the **** out of me in 74.
Yes, that Monday at the Mol was certainly one of my ‘old golden’ memories too. Took the girl friend as a special treat though I’m not sure she was too convinced about who’s treat it was. Couldn’t get into the enclosure so ended up as possibly the only two Wolves supporters in the South Bank. Touch and go whether we survived after I spent three minutes screaming my head off after the Doog hit the second.
Ah, those misty, burgundy, memories of Gold and Black ghosts……
“Hi Ho… Hi Ho… We are the North Bank Choir.”
Always remember a game against Chelsea with the whole North Bank singing:
“Oooh…Oooh…Oooh…Osgood belongs in Dudley Zoo….”
Doubt they could sing that today without prosecution in the name of political correctness.
Great post Clive.
When the shit and Astle came to town we used to sing “zigger, zagger, zigger”………………but I KNOW I cannot put the rest on here!!!!!
Hell Clive Astle theres a name from the past is my memory failing but I always thought he was the last of the Brylcreem boys and reminded me of Geoge Formby. I hate to say but he could stick in the net though.
On the subject thoughts on the best header of the ball you have seen????
For me I think it was Geoff Hurst, despite his WC Hat trick I didnt rate him much till I saw him at the Mol a few times, he seemed to have real hang time and arched everything uncoiled a powerful header. Used to make the ball ping with his head in an era when the ball didnt ping a hell of a lot. Saw him score of the back of Phil Parkes head once and Parky had great reactions ball was through his arme of the bar and bounced back in of Parkes head.
Not sure for Wolves but defensively and surprising maybe but Duggie Woodfield never seemed to miss much with his head, maybe I was very impressionable back then
Yes, Duggie Woodfield was good, had a long throw as well.
Hughie Curran scored some belters, Astle was OK, Tony Hateley could knock ’em in, and of course The Doog, Jack Charlton with his 6 ft neck, but for reading the game and being in the right place for a decent header there were two outstanding players in my opinion.
Bobby Moore, and our own Frank Munro.
If I had to choose, I would say Munro was a better all round player, he just oozed class, and never seemed to be in a hurry, for me the sign of a great player.
FOWB
Frankie Munro, a class act top to bottom, taken way to soon. Tough as nails and could dish it out if needed, but I dont think I ever saw him lose his temper. Even some of his famous incidents seemed to be cool calm and hard lol. Remember seeing him first time I was down close to the action, you could feel the guys energy and toughness. Muscles on his ears my mate said.
Got a mate up here used to be at West Ham with Bobby Moore he oftens says he was better than Moore at 16, then admits the problem was he got better and I didnt. Dont think he ever made it ended up at Watford but then went into Engineering.
Jim McCalliog, remember him banging in a hatrick in a cup tie….
Yeh,i was there on that memorable monday night could’nt get into the northbank so we ran around to the north st end of the southbank and just managed to scramble in with a push,
and the only place we could see anything was against the wire mesh fence inbetween the southbank and john Ireland cowshead stand with 53,000+ crowd.so what did we do we climbed up the floodlights to get a better view and a what a view we got, and the copper’s trying to get us down but we was’nt budging so they left us to it(no health & safety then)but it was bloody cold,what a great night one i’ll remember for ever.UTW.
Imagine the wolves dressing room at the moment. Is it buzzin with new players and excitement, or it is a bit subdued because most of them want to leave.
Gutted: Leeds 2 Wolves 1
Ståle will fix them with an icy Nordic stare and mesmerise them into victory, with the unique system he has plotted for the downfall of Warnock and Leeds……
Prediction: A slow start to the season. 1-1.
Favourite match (younger generation!): versus Leeds in the FA Cup (forget the year) when Curve grabbed Hasselbaink by the throat after he missed a penalty he had just blatantly dived to win
We can keep a clean sheet.
Leeds 0-1 Wolves (Edwards 61)
Sounds odd to say it, but don’t feel that excited about the start of the season. Partly because of all the uncertainty around players leaving and partly because I went to see the last athletics session at the Olympics and I now have a further resentment for overpaid overhyped footballers who generally only care about themselves and their egos.
Rant over, I’m sure it will wear off a few games in.
2-2 Ebanks brace.
Leeds 1-2 Wolves. Here’s hoping this is the start of something wonderful
Think we have found the right man though a win on saturday might be to much to expect 2-2.
1 – 3 (SEB x2, Johnson)
too much uncertainty surrounding the club
1-3 Leeds
After watching a bit of pre season i’m a bit doubtful The team Sol wants is anywhere near ready , and won’t be until all the sales have gone through and his replacements ( Jezz permitting) are brought in. So sadly It’s a 3-1 to Leeds.
If we play as badly as we can, we’ll get tonked by 3 clear goals.
I’m going for an optimistic:
Leeds 1 Wolves 3
…based on the new bloke Sigardsson coming on and proving the business with a brace. COYW
Happy that the season is about to start
Not happy that we do not seem ready
Leeds 2 – Wolves 0
Leeds 0 wolves 1. I will be interested to see the squad picked and formation.
We usually do well at Leeds. Against my better judgement Wolves to win 2-1
Brand new bright young manager, exciting new signings in Sigurdarson, Doumbia and Peszco, clubs pleading for us to take £20m for two players who don’t want to play for us and yet, somehow, the whole thing’s a complete mess. Why does this happen at our beloved club? Every time our hopes are raised, we manage to waste a golden oppurtunity. Why? What is the cancer in our club? A question for a new blog methinks if we lose tomorrow.
My only hope for tomorrow is that Stale has a cunning plan. I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays 5 in midfield. Davis dropping back with Henry and Doumbia playing behind the lone striker. And ,if he’s fit, don’t be surprised if it’s Sigurdarson rather than Blake OR Doyle. Maybe Edwards on the right and Jarvis on the left. No point in keeping him if he’s not going to play.
I’m hoping that Stale will show his tactical nous and outwit dear old Warnock.
Leeds1 Wolves2
And yet……
Like what Ståle says today in E&S… He talks a better game than TC or MM.
Looks like Jarvis will play.
Reading between the lines of his comments I realise I have no idea what system or players will be on show tomorrow.
So, 24 hours later, I reverse my prediction.
Leeds 0 Wolves 3
Warnock completely outwitted by Ståle Solbakken, the Einstein of football…..
Big Shock……leeds over confident, Fletcher and Jarvis play…..If that comes off I deserve 2 extra bonus points…LOL……
Leeds 0 Wolves 2
Would love to be optimistic but way too much disruption going on at the moment and SS’s team isn’t anywhere near what he or we’d like it to be. Hence I’m going for a 3-1 Leeds win. Sorry!
I am going for hopefully…
Leeds 0 – 2 Wolves
Preddo League Suggestion: It should be 2pts for a correct scoreline unless you correctly predict a result with 5 goals or more, which should net 3pts – to encourage wild and reckless guesses 😀
Speaking of which …
Leeds 4-2 Wolves
Got score draw written all over it. 2-2 with Henry and Johnson
I think Thomas’s new points system is a good idea. Predicting the exact score is pot luck and never worth twice as much as predicting the result correctly.
Live on Satanta (had to pay bloody more to foxtel) over hear in Oz, can’t wait. Leeds 0 – 1 Wolves (Johnson 80)
With the whole Jarvis/Fletcher/Kightly stuff unsettling the team a bit, plus with a fairly uninspiring pre-season, I’m going to say Leeds will pip us in this one 2-1. I’d confident with a couple of decent signings (at the back, I’m hoping), plus the introduction of Peszko and Sigurdarson, we’ll make the play-offs by the end of the season. Unless they are utter toss, in which case I think we’ll end up mid-table.
Think we will get up, Leeds 1 – Wolves 2
No evidence to suggest we’re not going to get hammered i’m afraid.
Leeds 3-0 Wolves
So want to buy into an optomistic frame of mind , Leeds are an average Championship side , lots of new faces to fit in and gel . If we’d sorted the defence out by now then l’d Rt be looking to get the right result . However , in Stale we have a forward thinking boss…..Leeds , an out of date bully type . So 2-2 for me .
nail biting 2-2
Gonna walk it lads, 3-0. Piece of piss.
Really hope we don’t have to lean on Ikeme for an extended period.
2-1 to Wolves, Ebanks-Blake and Sigurdarson to score off the bench.
Defense is still worrying me as well. Don’t think we will shut them down, but I don’t think they’ll do so to us either.
2-2
Can’t say I’m looking forward to this one…
1-0 to Leeds
Leeds 4 – Wolves 1
Its was a dream/nightmare.
No money shot – nothing.
I hate to be the doom merchant because up until a few weeks ago I had been optimistic about our chances this season, but following the off the field turmoil, the apparent disharmony in the camp and for the most part, the shocker against Aldershot, I can’t see us getting anything tomorrow. I would guess it’s going to be pretty much the same team, which worries me.
Leeds 2-0 Wolves
This game is causing me real heartburn, my heart tells me 2-1 to us, but its going to be like last season depends which Wolves team turns up.
Funnily enough I view it as being more importnat than usual openers. This time tomorrow we are going to know who is going to bleed for us and who isnt. Those who dont can go right now.
Wondering if SS and Warnock get into it.
Maybe I am just hoping but I have this thought that SS has got Jez sussed out and intends to play whoever he wants who is still with the team. On the basis “You had your chance to sell em, and didnt so now they are mine” Get off to a good start, points in the bank and defy Jez to break up a winning team. I guess i am just dreaming.
Blindingly obvious from the start of last season we needed at least two new defenders in addition to Johnson (another centre half and a left back) and yet, 12 months on as were about to embark on a new campaign, we’ve still got the pub player and a centre forward making up half of the back four. I really feel sorry for Carl Ikeme, finally he’s got the opportunity to get a run of games in the first team under his belt and he’s got Fred Karno’s army in front of him.
Leeds have made ten new signings this close season, of those ten, eight of them played last week against Shrewsbury. Consequently there could be eight making their league debuts tomorrow, all busting a gut trying to make a favourable impression on the home supporters.
Depressing but Leeds will be too powerful and strong for us tomorrow.
Leeds 2 Wolves 0
Wolves to be outplayed but scrape a 1-1 draw!
Couldn’t have got a much worse opening fixture in Leeds – Bloody hate Warnock as well! Still, would be more than happy with a draw away to dirty Leeds. Doumbia to be MOM for us & SEB to score for us. 1-1
I stopped posting on this site a while ago. I have been reading it constantly but was living by the rule if you have nothing good to say. However a fresh season is a fresh start so hopefully I will be posting a few things myself. Although its old hat i thought I would give you my brief thoughts on last season. For me moxey needs to take a chunk of blame simply because he kept Mick far to long. Micks inability to provide us with a competetive team after 2 full seasons in the Prem is ultimately what cost us and the greater portion of blame must lye with Mick. Great guy who did his best but simply wasnt good enough for the prem like most of our players.
On the players wanting to leave, I can understand Fletch an Jarvis wanting to go as for me they gave their all and didnt let us down in any way infact it can be argued the club has let them down by not building a prem team. Kighly I feel could of stayed especially after we looked after him whilst he was injured but I bear non of our players any ill feeling. On this note Moxey has come in for some stick for not sorting out players contracts but to me they are irrelivant as if the player wants out thats ultimately whats gonna happen.
On Roger Johnson I think we need to stop the drinking chants an boohing an back him to the hilt as I think we are going to rely on him as for me he is our best centre half.
My thoughts on the new season are its gonna be a slog i think we are in a season of change an its gonna take time for things to come to fruition, I went to the walsall and Shrewsbury game an was impressed by what i saw of tonga but little else really. I think the team is to narrow with no creativity, however im not a football manager. On the young lads comming through I think davies in central midfield may be a plus and Bath maybe in central defence. I dont have any great hope for the other young lads. I think Ward splits fans but for me he is a far better left back than George and has to play although if I could buy 2 new players they would be a centre half and left back.
Im reserving my thoughts on stale till Ive seen enought to make my own opinion.
One more thing on a personal lever there is one thing that really grinds me and ive seen it mentioned on here by a couple of people. This season is the first season is in a long time i havent had a season ticket. This has nothing to do with us being in the championship or the management but my own personal finances (less hours at work an a divorce) but i dont consider my self any less of a fan than i have ever been an people who condem people as lesser fans for not going is simply wrong, not everyone can afford to go to every game. i do have tickets to the barnsleyy game though.
This is by far the best wolves site so keep up the good work lads and Clive dont go missing again I missed you more than my ex wife.
Im predicting 2-0 to leeds as I dont think we are ready for the season yet
Thanks, and gizza kiss!!!
Well, that was pretty awful, couldn’t really see the influence of Stales new system yet, early days I know but if the defence isn’t tight and we aren’t creating chances its gonna be another very, very long season…still, as I say, early days, let’s hope we kick on when back home. UTW!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. Well at least my prediction was half right Leeds scored 1!
Looking forward to match reports and comments from distant parts all I can gleen so far is that our defence was a solid as usual and we didnt exactly tire out their keeper.
How much longer until we get a defence its been killing us for nigh on 4 yrs now.
Well were back to earth with a bump! Same old defence same mistakes marking terrible and closing down ineffective. We made mcormack look like a world beater. What’s worse now we have no attack to go with our lack of defense. We were out of ideas after 20 minutes. Pezko looked decent but still didn’t really offer too much inspiration. Can’t blame seb or Doyle as they never really saw the ball. Midfield needs sorting.
If this is the best we can manage its going to be a long long slog. Solbakken has got a massive amount of work to do. First on the to do list sign a centre half who can defend a set play!
Please. Moxey, give Stale some wonga…. Let sort the defence out… My god they were terrible…
We kicked off and passed the ball straight back to the keeper to boot it upfront. That says it all.
Guedioura and Kightly both score for their new clubs. Stearmen has turned into Berra. Yes ball back to keeper from kick-off. Doyle has lost a yard. Seb too fat his touch was awful.
Ward mistake ridden. Johnson caught out regularly.
Pez and Siggy showed promise. Lost again.
Apart from that……..get some decent players in.