‘Streetwise’ was the buzzword for Paul Lambert after the Sheffield Wednesday debacle.
We do need to be more streetwise but I think there are far more fundamental issues the head coach must address, some of which were of his own making on Saturday.
In simple terms, the team was unbalanced. Saville on left, Coady and Edwards in the middle – it was too cautious, too safe, too much about destruction and not enough about playing football to be effective.
With the game already lost at the interval his changes were equally perplexing; Connor Coady ending up on the right side of midfield for example.
There are two or three players who must come back into contention, but most important of all is a team selection that offers enough going in both directions.
QPR
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink survived being embroiled in the corruption sting a few months back but floating around in midtable was deemed unacceptable.
One QPR supporter I heard speaking about his departure wasn’t unhappy to see the Dutchman go, saying the football was tedious at best. Seems to be familiar theme.
Tedious isn’t a word you can use to describe Ian Holloway or the teams he manages, so one imagines more exciting times lay ahead.
The encouraging debut win over Norwich was followed by a 3-0 thumping at Ipswich last weekend so the rollercoaster is already well and truly in motion.
It’s three wins, three draws and three defeats from their home games thus far, with 14 goals conceded (only Rotherham and Barnsley have shipped more) so Loftus Road far from a fortress.
As well as Karl Henry they have two forwards Wolves were heavily linked to last season in Conor Washington and Idrissa Sylla. In another twist, QPR came close to signing Bodvarsson in the summer before Wolves upped the anti and won that particular race.
Wolves
There’s a generally accepted idea that last season’s players are reliable and will run around, whereas the new crop don’t put in the hard yards but are more technically blessed.
But I disagree that it has to be one group or the other. There needs to be a mix. The above eleven (with the exception of Stearman) is the team that won our last two matches against Newcastle and Brentford. Predominantly new players.
Equally, the other two wins we’ve managed against Reading and Blues came with Walter Zenga using last season’s squad with the addition of Bodvarsson. But that team was more balanced than Saturday with the likes of Mason and Wallace heavily involved.
And that’s what it comes back to – balance. We’ve got to get a mixture of qualities into the team rather than just setting up camp to be difficult to breakdown and hoping for the best.
For me, Hause and Iorfa are making far too many clumsy mistakes in and out of possession to be considered. Saville and Coady should also be replaced for more forward thinking alternatives.
Ikeme should also be back in goal without question. Lonergan was slow off his line in the build up to the second goal and although he’s capable of making some fine blocks, Ikeme is the more reliable all round performer.
Paul Lambert
Predictions
Tough to foresee anything other than defeat after the misery of the weekend. My fear is that the defeat sends Lambert deeper into his shell in terms of team selection.
He’s talked about taking risks, going for it and playing on the front foot, which is all great. But you’ve got to have the footballers on the pitch who can do the damage. We didn’t have that Saturday.
I think QPR are very hit and miss, so hopefully we can at least capitalise on a few of their frailties while trying to disguise our own.
1-1.
Up The Wolves!
I fear for us today.
Well, I actually fear for us most days, so no change there then.
I think you have opened a big can of long wriggly things putting Stearman and Edwards in your starting line up Thomas, but I agree that they both should start and that Iorfa and Hause need a break.
How is it that they can perform for their country and not for their club?
Answers on a post card to Mr Paul Lambert.
I think we will lose tonight but, as I am probably in the relegation zone of the prediction league anyway, I am going to predict a win.
Delusional perhaps, hopeful certainly.
Sums up Wolves supporters perfectly.
I thought we were playing tomorrow Mark!
What scares me more than anything is if Thomas’ line up bears true then with Stearman AND Baath in the back four then we are in for a lot of goals being conceded.
So …………………………
I told you I was delusional!
I’ve just cancelled my overnight stay in London.
Mrs Miggins B&B
‘Dunwinnin’
Stanlake Villas
Shepherds Bush
Shame! It’s a classy joint.
So that’s where the Wolves stay then DooG?!!!
No wonder we can’t win, when the name of the place is Dunwinnin!!!!
The problem is Brompton we don’t have better than Batth and Stearman. We only have Iorfa and Hause who are both looking leggy, frail and ponderous in possession.
The Batth/Stearman partnership got us out of League One and up to 7th in the Championship, so we know categorically we can be more successful than we have been with those two playing together. And that was in a team that predominantly attacked meaning they were more exposed. The key word there is ‘partnership’. They have an understanding and we should lean on that to get us through to January at least.
If we had some towering, no-nonsense center half to call upon I’d be using them believe me. But we don’t, which is an indictment on various managers and owners who’ve overlooked the problem.
Good point made, as usual.
I am still debating whether to go to the pub tonight or not!!! Might be able to find a quiet one where no-one knows me lol.
I don’t think we are as bad as our league position would indicate. I also think PL is a half decent manager. I can see us winning this one.
Well said that (delusional) man.
You wait and see young man. If I’m not correct I’ll present my next prediction in my underpants.
Then I definitely hope you’re correct.
Oh ye of little faith.
I predicted a win myself Steppenwolfe, but my prediction didn’t hold the same level of threat as yours. Congrats on getting the score spot on though.
I tend to agree in general but on current form (i.e. what we saw Saturday) we’re exactly where we deserve to be.
That was our nadir Thomas. It coincided with the first set of neap tides after the super moon. The tides are now rising so it stands to reason that our form will improve as a result. Historically we have performed much better on rising tides. As a student of WWFC you should be aware of this.
The tide is high and we’re holding on . . . . . .
I don’t really see where the goals are going to come from at the moment, so it is hard to back us for three points.
Definitely need a striker in January. Top of the shopping list. If you’ve got someone who can rattle in a few goals, you can make a decent fist of staying up even if the team is generally poor.
Hoorah. Someone singing my tune.
Interesting line up you suggest. I would agree with most except Tex on the left. His “get up and go”seems to have “got up and went” unfortunately. I would rather see Cav starting up in that position. Having said that I believe we are good enough to match most teams, but confidence is so low we wouldn’t like to face anyone. I think we are on a loss again
Tex out wide is based on him playing there in our last win against Brentford and winning us the game. Since then he’s been used inside and it hasn’t worked. Left mid is his position for me, backed up with more solid players in the middle. That said, Cav is a viable option and certainly offers more than Saville. If he could simplify his game to making a yard and crossing he’d be a very good winger in this division.
Unfortunately I just feel more of the same. It will be a poor team selection and we will lose because of it. I hope I am wrong and PL sees sense and makes some changes – in the main Batth, Saiss and Cav back into the starting squad. Out Stearman, Coady and Saville. Only Bathh back in as we don’t have other options. Saiss can play as a central defender that’s defiantly worth a go alongside Danny, what do we have to lose!
I’ve heard Saiss can play at the back but doesn’t strike me as having the physical attributes to cope. Would be interesting to see though.
Well I don’t think that the league table lies at this stage of the season. Useless at the back, a midfield with a lack of creativity and an inability to protect the defence plus a powder puff attack. I struggle to see where the next goal is coming from (unless it’s a defensive howler like we regularly gift to gleeful opposing teams) never mind a victory.
We just need to fight,fight, fight for every single point and then fingers very firmly crossed for the January window. Let’s all pray that Fosun are not thoroughly pissed off by then because there must be an increasing possibility of them deciding to cut their losses with their WWFC experiment.
I don’t think Fosun can be too pissed off given that it was their mistake to squander millions based on little more than Jorge Mendez’s recommendation. And then just hire a coach with no experience of the league to ‘make it work’. They made fundamental errors, which they’ve more or less admitted to. Bringing in Lambert is a positive first step (despite dross we saw Sat) in my opinion and the second step is signing established Championship quality in Jan. If that happens, I think we’ll stay up.
Thomas, A lot of sense spoken there but, it needs to happen. Not scoring is a real worry coupled with shipping goals it’s not a good combination. We need to do something different and quickly. It’s my belief that if we slip in to the relegation places heads go down and the mountain that we have to climb get higher.
Yesterday one of my mates a life long Villa fan said “Paul Lambert the only manager with negative bounce”
Tonight’s result needs to be nothing less than a win.
Difficult to look forward to this match as I suspect we will will get more of the same from PL. I certainly wouldn’t argue against the team selection from Thomas, it might just shake a few people up. I was going to make the trip to Loftus Road tonight but really can’t justify spending all that money at their ticket prices, so it will be a night down the club..
It’s tomorrow night mate. Only pointing out so you don’t have a wasted trip to the pub. 🙂
Everybody says I don’t know what day of the week it is, looks like they’re right. Thanks
Wasted trip to the pub?
Ikeme
Doh, stears, Baath, silvio?
Costa,Saiss, price, cav
Bod, dicko
Wingers?
Twin strikers?
Ball winning midfield?
Exp at the back?
But Jim, thats not modern football!!!
Jim,
Love it, that’s a winning team mate, so PL will never play that one buddy.
I like your style JIm.
I’ll paste in part of an email I sent to Ben earlier in the week….
Whenever (and I mean whenever) Wolves have been successful in my 25 odd years of supporting the club, it’s been because they’ve had a balanced team. Balance to me equates to: A decent goalkeeper (preferably a good one), two centre halves who kick and head everything as a minimum, two full backs who can defend, pass the ball, overlap and deliver crosses, central midfielders who can pass and dictate the play, wide players who can beat their man and strikers who either get on the end of crosses or are quick enough to run in behind. Straying from this balance has always caused problems.
Following the above logic against Saturday’s team, this would be the obvious assessment…
Lonergan – Not good enough, swap for Ikeme (slow off his line on Sat for second goal)
Doc – Good enough (albeit poor game Sat)
Stearman – Fulfills criteria
Hause – Fulfills criteria (still too sloppy in possession for my liking though. Batth could be a safer choice)
Iorfa – Can’t pass so should be dropped. CBW or Silvio to come in. Both better passers.
Price – Fulfills criteria
Coady – Runs but can’t pass. Can’t accommodate both him and Edwards. Edwards better.
Edwards – Doesn’t fulfill criteria, but in 451 can be considered as striker and does get on the end of crosses, so can be accommodated with better technicians around him.
Saville – Doesn’t fulfill criteria. Bring in Cav or Tex and make them run more.
Bod – Currently not fulfilling criteria but starved of service. Give him a short run with better service. If failing swap for Dicko.
Gotta win eventually
Fully agree with all of the above comments – I don’t see where the next win is coming from with the present form. PL has one hell of a job on his hands and the Jan transfer can’t come quick enough.
Still in blind optimism – and the fact that I’m no longer fussed about the Prediction League here’s to Nouha and Bod coming good and slamming home some goals!
Holloway is a wanker and will be rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of the third worst team in the division visiting his shitole tomorrow.
Paul Lambert has deliberately set up the team not to score in the last two games to lull everyone into doom and gloom.
He knows Fosun are dying to spend more money and canny Scot that he is, has given them ample room and time to see that the present crop of players are shit and need replacing.
So at QPR, we will throw off the sheeps clothing, come howling off the blocks and stuff ’em 5-1.
Absolute total bollocks I know, but crap as we are, I will never predict a draw or a loss, and things could be worse, we could have born in sandwell.
Richmond Arms on Fountainview tomorrow afternoon, meeting Houston Lobo for an afternoon pie and a pint, whilst watching Holloway’s shower get nicely stuffed.
Anyone in Houston is more than welcome to join us.
Houston Lobo is 6ft 14 inches tall and I am the good looking bloke imitating Santa Clause!!
But Santa doh tell them lot to FOwB twice a week though Clive
PL dare not try that again with such a narrow, defensive poor quality line up as he did on saturday.
My Line up would be:
Ikeme
Doherty Stearman Batth Borthwick Jackson
Costa Texiera Saiss Carveillio
Dicko Bodvarson
Although I tend to think your team is bit too kamikaze mate, it would be nice to try out all the ‘footballers’ together to see if that produces a better outcome. At least the defeats would be easier on the eye. I’ll give you £20 if that team every starts a game. Feel free to remind me of that (but it will never happen).
From last weekend there’s only one way to go – upwards. The match is broadcasted, so I hope the players do they uttermost to entertain us. Hard to tell what changes he’s calling before this match. If it was a home match he would probably start Dicko and Bodvarsson up front. Away he’s probably going to stick with a 4-5-1 formation, as Thomas has predicted.
Not a lot to say after Saturdays sh-t, its down to the players now to show something for the club.
Will go for wolves win out of loyalty and do not have a clue where the goals will come from possibly Dicko and Cav ?
I can’t see us scoring and his team selections so far have confused the already muddy waters in my noggin. So sorry guys and gals, I’m going with my head, the heart is broken. QPR 3-0 Wolves
I think it’s symbolic we keep bumping into each other in the bog before every match, given what the team keep serving up 🙂
Iv’e taken put a re-straining order on you. See you in trap two against Full em.
Currently it is difficult to suggest anything other than a defeat or at best a draw. Where the hell are our goals going to come from. Hence we need Edwards on the park as he generally provides one off the top of his bonce. We have to stop this downward spiral into the relegation zone so it might as well be tomorrow. If we dont we will probably be in it come 5pm on Saturday. Come on lads, do us a favour and bag 3 points.
I agree about Edwards. I still think the simplest route to victory is two wingers getting crosses in for Bod and Eds to attack.
Doherty surely needs to be dropped now? Surely?
Agree he looks a bit half arsed at times, which is frustrating when we’re getting tonked every week, but I still think he’s our best full back when both he and and the team are anything close to firing.
He was our player of the season last year and I agreed with that. But on current form he’s got to go surely. Gave away a stonewall pen on Saturday in my mind.
Can’t really see a win as got no idea where the goals are likely to come from. Going for a draw more in hope than expectation.
Come on lads prove me wrong!
I thought Pearson a better option as manager to Lambert, though I was happy to give the latter a chance.
Nevertheless, I am disappointed by what i have seen.
Today he said there should be a ‘togetherness’ in the squad then made a distinction between the ‘Foreign’ players and the ‘British’ players.
A distinction his team selections reflect with the advantage to the ‘British’ lads despite, in my opinion, Prince, Saiss & Cav, being better than the ‘Brits’ Lambert seems to want to build a team around.
It’s sad.
For sure if Savile plays we will lose and I am sure Lambert is considering it.
Unless we play some ‘foreigners’ we will lose also…
The negativity runneth over…
I shall join Clive on fantasy Isle as far as the prediction goes….
I definitely didn’t want Pearson, but agree on everything else Robin.
It is disappointing that PL seems to have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. I think he’s looked at it and thought ‘lots of players who don’t know the division is why we’re losing, so I’ll play those who do know it’. It’s too simplistic. He needs to properly assess all the performances this season (the few good and many bad) and see who has contributed. I don’t think he’s done that because, as you say, I think he’d have seen something in Prince, Saiss and Cav.
But you never know, he might surprise us.
If we’re lucky enough to get another sit down with him at some point soon, I’ll definitely repeat this point to him.
Thanks Thomas.
I wasn’t keen on Pearson either I just felt, in the ‘two horse race’ that it came down to, I preferred him to Lambert.
Jeff Shi, obviously disillusioned with WZ’s cavalier approach, & ‘managing’ from a distance during International Breaks, must have sought advice from Thewell who recommended sticking with the ‘lads’ who know the ‘nitty-gritty of the Championship’ and get rid of Mendez’s imports.
Unfortunately it is a short sighted approach because, potentially, (other than the Under 23 squad), the ‘foreigners’ are better than those brought in during the MM era.
The January transfer window will, from what Paul Lambert has so far displayed, see all our ‘Johnny Foreigner’ players moved on and replaced, either by lads such as Ronan or Bright Hare; plus a good solid centre half, ( probably Scottish), and a centre forward , (with Championship experience) , who ‘can knock in a few.’
We may well escape relegation like that, but I can’t help but feel that a reasonably adventurous manager, could have developed and integrated some very good players we brought in during the summer, who at the moment, must be wondering what the hell they did in a past lifetime, to end up at Wolves unable to get a game.
Honeymoon over I see. It lasted 1 game.. I don’t give us a chance
It was more of a dirty weekend Nige 🙂
If that’s the team lambert puts out then we’ve got a chance to win but I doubt he will
He likes to play with shit players so we will probably lose again .
He’s the wrong appointment for wolves . We ve gone backwards
I don’t think that’s his exact criteria when mulling over the team selection matey 🙂
Saturday was a backwards performance but I think long term PL will do alright.
I doubt it but I hope I’m wrong .. my guess is that it ll be another 45 years before your old man is proud enough to get that tie back out !
At least that will be one positive then 🙂 #polyester
Thomas’s team seems to be the best of a bad pick- from group although I prefer Cavaleiro to Texeira.
For some reason beyond which I can’t give you …. I think we’ll win with a Boddy bullet header and a Costa curler into the bottom corner….oh and King Henry to get sent off…..zzzzzzz
Agree with the Holloway adverb…. (is it …wanker that is ..or is it an adjective ?)…who cares he is still one..!
I love a specific prediction Twix. We used to get loads, but now not so much…
I think we definitely need , still, to protect our brittle back four so Saisse and Pricey for me with Costa and Cav providing the pace to hit ’em on the break. Either two up top or Oniangue playing behind Dicko as a No10.
All the omens are against us, but often that’s when we upset a few apple carts. I can see the Granny Smith’s hitting the deck once more.
Saiss and Price would be an interesting combination. Maybe we would totally dominate the ball? If I was the gaffer I wouldn’t want to die wondering. Can’t see PL going for it though.
Anything other than a win or draw will see us in bottom 3 come 9.45 tomorrow night. So I am going for a draw. Our away record is actually not too bad so clutching at straws I think we will get something from the game. Hopefully PL has had some more time working on our frailties and the players now realise we are in deep trouble. So 1-1. It’s about time we get a soft penalty or free kick and that is how we get the goal.
I really can’t see where the next win is going to come from at the moment so the best I can hope for is to grind out another away draw which in the present circumstances wouldn’t be too bad a result.
For the life of me I can’t fathom out the best team from our vast collection of under-performers. I too would probably drop Iorfa and go with the Stearman-Batth partnership and shift Hause to left back perhaps? And sorry but I definitely wouldn’t play Teixeira or Oniangue (I think he’s injured anyway) as I just don’t think they’ve got the stamina or bottle for the division. Swap them for Price and Cavaleiro and I could live with that line up. Also Bodvarrson looks knackered as well so perhaps a run out for Dicko from the start?
On the shopping list for January – a centre half who can defend, a centre midfielder who can boss a game and a centre forward who can score. Sadly I think that’s probably much easier said than done especially with Thelwell on the scene….
I really like the look of Jim’s line-up. Some doubt has been expressed about whether Bod and Dicko would make a partnership but really they’ve spent very little time together on the pitch working in tandem. But I’d think they have complementary attributes ie heading down/on, shielding the ball, laying it off as against speed, running on to through passes. Just like Doog and Richards in other words……if only either could find the net! But with Cav and Costa putting the crosses in, yes, we might score.
My prediction, with Jim’s team……..2-1 to us! Come on Paul, you know Jim’s right!
Found a bar in the square in Krakow that shows live EFL.let’s hope mines not the only Wolves shirt there.
Maybe it is time to put the players who refuse to perform or try hard on the bomb squad and get them out of the locker room.
This may need the same kind of extreme measures that Kenny used with the players who were responsible for the double relegation.
“Two individual errors cost us” that’s a big heap o bullshit right there PL. Most fans would appreciate a healthy dose of honesty like “abject performance saw Wed pretty much out of sight by half time” …
Lamberts selections for the first two have been so far off the mark that it begs the question how much if any research has he done on the squad ?
That said – even a broken clock is right twice a day so i’ll forget the form guide and go for a Wolves win. 2-1
Can see a hammering unfortunately.
Gobble gobble gobble the flock of turkeys have begun their December basting without the ‘o’.Gobble gobble gobble.
Wolves have drawn 8 of their last 12 visits to Loftus Road.
So another 0-0 or 1-1 high possibility.
Scalped Buffalo Bill from Buffalo,PidWolf,Doggerdodo and the NarkfromtheArk get your old heads together and bets on and support 21 Bet our Wolves partner.
WTF are you talking about Amanda. All too clever for this country boy
We should be looking to beat a side as poor as QPR but I fear Lambert will play a very similar team and shape to last Saturday. If he plays Lonergan, Price, Coady, Edwards, Bodvarsson and Saville then we are doomed and a real pasting could be on the cards.
My team in a 4231 system would be;
Ikeme
Silvio Stearman Iorfa Hause
Saiss Oniangue
Costa Teixeira Cavaleiro
Dicko
Subs: Lonergan, Batth, Doherty, Edwards, John (if fit), Enobakhare, Bodvarsson
I will be there at the West London hovel they call Loftus Road tomorrow night. Don’t let me down lads!
An optimistic draw I think !
Just to clear up doogs confusion I don’t think Rangers on Thursday will be as good as Wednesday on Saturday. Therefore I forsee a reversal of fortunes.
Jim’s team looks a reasonable proposition. Given JDB looks knackered I wonder whether it would be worth starting with Dicko and Cav up top, purely because they both have pace. But then we’d need somebody to pass (accurately) to them so,no, it won’t happen…
He’s got to put Saiss back in given how lacking in confidence the defence is. Together with Price it might offer just enough protection. Tex the only ‘creative’ outlet, but will he fancy it on a cold November night ?
There’s some pints in thissun forus.
Carl, come on my son. If the buggers in front of ya woe troi, av a goo yerself! It’s only a titchy greuwund. Bost their onion bag! Arve forgot Saturday already.
I suppose it’s too much to ope for graypays and Bovril in Shepherd’s Bush.
Ben, arve giddup trying to use Microsoft Word and that predictive text thing. They bugger up my comments, Word done a glowbul change of “doe” to “do” last time. Even oi couldn’t understand what oid writ. Doe the people who wroit their software know that these are toe tally opposite waerds!
Blah Blah Blah Blah, I see that Mother Goose is going off on one again in time for the panto season.
I would have thought that Aman Duh would pour scorn on statistics from a bygone age.
What have previous results got to do with what’s going to happen tomorrow.
And why should all of us decrepit bloggers place our bets with Bet 21?
Are you now employed by them ever since the hairdressing and beauty business went down the pan Widow Twanky?
The memory of blogs past is very commendable Doog….great comment..!
I just cannot see how Cavalerio does not get a start and a run in the side? He is the most exciting foreward we have and if he gets scoring we could get on a roll (maybe getting carried away sorry).
There was a clear difference between us and Sheffield on Saturday while they looked a well drilled confident team were player knew is job and trusted each other, we had some players with zero confidence ( Hause, Iorfa,) and some trying to do everything and leaving gaps everywhere ( Price ,Coady) . Yes we want to see a more attacking approach but for me getting players doing their jobs right would help , my concern is there seems to players who want it and some that play like it’s not their problem. Lambert as one eck of a job on his hands question is, Is he up to it ?
PL says he wants the players to be more offensive, after Saturday’s game I can’t see how they can get more offensive they were that awful.
Close game with neither side wanting to lose but Bod scoes the winner in the 75th minute.
Still with Norwich playing the way they are at least the obnoxious pie man will get sacked before the end of the season.
……………………………. and another c**p November is finished.
Really worried after last Saturday’s horror show and Lambo’s muddled team selection and subsequent comments.
As none of us have any idea what team PL will select it’s so difficult to predict the outcome.
If he plays Cav, Costa and Dicko, we’ve got a chance of getting something at The Loft, but the school boy defence is a huge concern.
Against my better judgement gonna brave the West London traffic.
Come on lads look as if you care. Newcastle, Reading, Brentford and Villa games showed that there is talent in the squad.
UTW!
Yes but we were playing a lot of the so called by PL foreign players and that’s what we need to do to improve, creating a divide as he seems to have done serves no purpose.
Agreed, Basher
PL needs to find the right blend of old and new and keep the dressing room onside at the same time.
UTW!
we do need to score at least one goal if we’re to win. I would start with Dicko, Cav too, persevere with Price, should get a draw, but I’ll stick with an overdue win.
Lose tomorrow at Lifeless Road and into the bottom three we go.
Frankly after no wins in 9 – just need to write that again – no wins in 9 – somehow Lambert has to pull a few rabbits out of the hat.
Whatever team I suggest is never the eleven that trots out five minutes from the start (as per Saturday) so just to say Lambert pick the same team as Saturday and my season ticket will see a pair of scissors. However put Dicko on from the start for gods sake let’s inject some real pace in the channels and surely our record signing just has to start. Lumping high balls up to Bodvarsson just does not do it for me. The team has absolutely no shape or rhythm at all partly because we never ever have a settled team which is a crucial factor no matter what.
It is very early days for Lambert but unfortunately we ain’t got time for the niceties of a “honeymoon” period. We are in the shit – end of.
Worrying times at Molineux but QPR ain’t no great shakes either.
I go for a 5 0 victory without any real justification except we have to win at some stage – don’t we?
“Enjoy” the game bloggers whether at the crap hole or on Sky and let us hope on Friday morning we will all be eulogising about a 5 0 victory.
QPR are a juncoes up wannabe club in a god awful stadium and I just wannabe happy at 10.00 tomorrow night.
Have a good trip BW – don’t forget to wave.
BOG
Not trying to be funny BOG, but in the same paragraph you said ‘if Lambert picks the same team you’ll snip your season ticket’ and ‘ we never have a settled team which is a crucial factor’.
Something tells me our new manager can’t really win whatever he does.
Sorry Wolf – you are quite right.
What I omitted to say was “just as long as it’s not the eleven he fielded at 3pm on Saturday”. Cause that was pants.
Teach me to proof read before pressing the send button.
BOG
I think the truth is, if we lose, no one wants a settled team but if we ever go on a run of wins, you don’t change a winning team.
It’s a bit chicken and egg I guess. We’re changing it around because we keep losing, but do we keep losing because we keep changing it around.
Well, I know what I mean anyway. 🙂
About right Wolf
Maybe if we clinch three points tomorrow evening PL will not have to ring the changes and the team will embark on a 20 game unbeaten run.
Maybe…….! Glass half full again.
All season I’ve been saying that I don’t know what to expect but after Saturday I now know what to expect and it’s not good or pretty.
I’d play Thomas’s team except Cav for Tex
I think we’ll score. I think they’ll score. I hope it will be us first…and I hope it’ll be in the first 15 minutes.
We are due a penalty. We might need two!
This is a tricky one. It’s been said many times that both sides are poor and both are desperate for a good result for their own self-esteem and it depends who is most desperate, etc., the usual old cliches. That’s because nobody has the slightest idea and I’m no exception.
I’m still sore from the tonking of the Joey Barton QPR visit, I’d love to avenge that again and again and again…in spades, doubled.
With fingers crossed I’m going for a score draw and with a few goals for each side and some open play. It should be entertaining…but I’ll be suicidal if we lose by the odd goal in five.
Good news – we will score.
Bad news, it won’t be enough
Hi Clive of Houston
Enjoy your lunchtime pie and pint.
See – no essay this today. It can be done!! Hope this makes you happy.
However tomorrow is another day – the subject will be – The best and worst football stadiums ever.
A personal viewpoint after visiting 85 clubs spread over about 90 grounds. (This is because the likes of Middlesbrough, Stoke, Derby, Sunderland etc have moved to new stadiums over the past couple of decades). It also includes PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA cup 1980 when a traveling companion – Jim from Sedgley whose dad used to keep the Working mans club down Bilston Street – missed the whole game after a 16 hour binge on vodka.
He was comatosed at the bottom of the stairway at the ground.
You know you can’t wait!!!
Not!!
All the best
BOG.
How you can write a novel about the sandwell crem beats me.
My son isn’t going to the game so we’ll win this 1-0, else we’d lose 2-0 like we do every time he goes!
Love the Thomas support of Batth /Steers they did get us to 7th in the league but when we started to fall then both gave goals away (Steers continued at Fulham too)and lost us matches..
We are stuck with them,but it is truly embarrassing to see them both hack around, get wrong footed and of course offer their specialities ..they both give the ball away….Continuously….It’s also true that they could between them take us down by conceding so much..
It pains me to think about it..and we could of previously bought our way out of this !!
Let’s fluke a win and see Dicko score !
– Our goalie needs to play a blinder too…
COYW
I am having a pint to celebrate tonight mate.
To celebrate me agreeing with you for once. Cheers.
Sigh. Sigh sigh sigh. And that’s without mentioning the footy.
Son in Law no. 1 is a small Heath bluenose. Soon to be Son in Law no. 2 is a West London QPR wide boy.
And I can’t even guarantee to scrape a draw so bragging rights are shared with either or both of them.
I ain’t going to predict a loss though
Bummer
Just written a long and I thought quite funny blog and lost it after I went looking for the dates when Mercury is in retrograde
I see someone is factoring in tides so I thought I’d raise my game in predicting the result
The good news is that Mercury doesn’t get there until December 19
The bad news is that we still have the same shitty team.. Even the one that played villa off their park
You know maybe we do need the cold shower of another visit to division 3 ?
Can’t get past another dispiriting performance
I think Wolves will play on the front foot and really get after QPR tonight and gain a much needed victory. Romain Saïss and Jack Price at the base of midfield with Nouha Dicko returning to form up top.
We seem to play better away so I’ll back us to get a point, though the current signs point to defeat.
Playing away in front of the cameras, tight ground, zero confidence, jittery nervousness permeating from a dispirited few in a small corner of the stadium, the only possible result is a completely unexpected well earned win.
My predictions are normally on the optimistic side, I rarely ever predict a defeat for us, it goes against the grain. I suppose I should man up and be realistic sometime? Not just yet.
After a surprisingly disappointing start for Paul Lambert I fear he will do anything not to lose tonight, otherwise the rot might set it. I can see the bus being parked in front of our goal. They say the table doesn’t lie? In our case I think the table is telling almighty whoppers. We’re nowhere near as bad as recent results suggest, it’s more that players have completely lost confidence.
I was going to predict a tight win for us, 1-0 but Lambert will play it safe and stonewall.
Dances
You’re a lot closer to the truth, than the many ‘glass totally empty’ brigade, moaning and groaning on here. It’s about a collective lack of confidence, particularly at the back. Iorfa, Hause and CBJ have dropped some real bricks in recent weeks, and they don’t have an experienced head around them to tell them to pull their socks up, put their chests out, and get their heads in the air (Lambert certainly can’t do that in the middle of a game). One of the TV pundits was talking about John Stones, and said “he’s young, and will make mistakes – what he needs is some experience around him to nurture him”. All of those three Wolves defenders are highly talented footballers who desperately need someone to talk them through games. Many criticise Wolves policy of bringing through players, but Hause and Iorfa were brought in at an early stage, and nurtured through the ranks. It would be sad to have to see them leave Wolves just to realise their true potential.
If Lambert gets the back four sorted, then you will see an entirely different team perform. I just hope it’s sooner than later.
Here’s the stats of our Glorious past and the dismal bunch that’s our future.
Memories……. that’s all we have these days, mine’s pretty feckin short too.
http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=470217
I think we gotta start cav, dicko, bodvarson and costa and possibly tex. I know that would be a very attack minded line up with hardly any cover, but we will be camped in QPR’s half and would create a lot more than the 3 measly chances we mustered on saturday. I think most teams in the league would be scared of that attacking line up. Bodvarson really needs Dicko along side him to take some of the workload, no wonder he looks exhausted.
I personally think the attacking players are good enough, just need to play in a settled attacking team. Every single game is almost a new formation and line up, no wonder they can’t gel.
If Lambert sticks to his narrow system which starves the life out of Costa and anyone with any flair, then he won’t last till xmas. Thelwell should also go if the PL experiment fails.
If Saville is starting tonight, I’m not watching it.
Agree with you about Saville in fact if he is even on the bench I will think twice
To all you die heards out there Tex is banned, he’s serving a one match because he amassed 5 points.
I hate to say this about any Wolves side, but this team is shot.
Fortunately we have owners seemingly unafraid to spend a few bob to maximise their…ahem…. ‘investment’, so Jan 1 can’t come quickly enough.
As for tonight: if we come away with anything at all points wiseI’ll be more than happy. I’m loathe to say we can’t be any worse than Saturday, because the players might have this read to them and I’d hate them to see such a statement as a challenge.
All respect to our fantastic Wolves on Tour fans, but I don’t envy you.
UTW
Hopefully at least a point, but for gods sake PL play an attacking side and give us a shout at least.
Will take a draw but hope springs eternal as they say
I think what ever happens this season, hopefully we are still in the Championship Fosun need to do a stock take of the club from top to bottom from the tea lady to programme sellers to Therwell to the coaches espeacilly, and at all levels because the last five years nothing has changed. Everything has been left to stagnate someone on the Express & Bullshit has already said the match day experience is horrible the half time entertainment if you can call it that is dire and what about some decent score boards.
Everything not just the football is stale, the whole experience of supporting Wolves is like Ground Hog Day.
Fosun need to put there stamp on Wolves going to Molinuex you could be forgiven for thinking Morgan still owns the place with Redrow plastered every where.
Come on Fosun show your intentions brighten up the place, god knows it and we need it.
As for the game Lamertt needs to pick our most creative players that means a couple of our Portugese players and Dicko. Me I’d go Dicko and Dadi in a 4.4.2 from the off less the 3 point.s tonight and we are in the bottom 3 and the damage psychologically could be a disaster fork both players, fans and the board.
My big question of the day is:
Thomas, have you enjoyed your vacation?
Not only did you write the wonderful preview as usual, but you have posted at least a dozen replies.
You obviously have time on your hands, so must be on vacation.
Sad that you spend your free time posting about the shower currently, and temporarily I hope, wearing old gold and black.
This thread has been a bit like having the Headmaster watching over one’s shoulder, waiting for a slip up!
Pity our manager cant do the same during a game
I am predicting a win because I want it to happen not because I think it will happen.
As the games go on surely we have to eventually win one.
Being televised so that has me worried.
Listen lads – all this doom and gloom is starting to piss me off !! Most of us on this blog have followed Wolves for a lifetime and we have seen some fairly shitty teams wearing the glorious Old Gold and Black – anybody remember 1983 – 4 -5 with the Chapman brothers, Buckland, Lockhart etc???
This is not a shitty team – just a group of decent players who have been suffering from a lack of direction and a loss of confidence. We have been on a bad run but – you know what – nobody died!!
We will come back from this bad patch sooner rather than later and I hope it will start tonight.
OODCL
I am still recovering from Saturday’s match. I can honestly say I have never seen such an inept performance from a Wolves team. There was plenty of effort but no organisation, movement or just about anything you would expect from 11 professional footballers.
Our defence – we are stuck with what we have – DB will be back in tonight with Hause as his partner and I don’t see any changes to the full back positions. Andy or Karl in goal? They are both decent keepers but It would not be a surprise to see Karl starting.
Midfield – we have a vast amount of them but can we select ones that bring aggression, flair and balance? It would seem not. Coady runs his heart out but his technical ability is poor, as we saw in the first few minutes when he was through on goal and it nearly went out for a throw-in. Jack Price is decent but he needs someone to give him a hand to stop us being overrun. I expect Prince Onion to be in the squad tonight – his Instagram account seems to indicate he might be starting tonight. Tex Will Not be playing as he is suspended. Dave being given the Captains armband on Saturday took a heavy toll on him and thus he was unable to play his usual game, shame as I thought he would be a good captain.
Forwards – We have Bod, Nouha and Bright. Out of those 3 I expect Bod to start. With decent service from Costa and Cav he is capable. I would start Cav but I don’t think the guy can last 90 mins.
We do have one hope – November has finished, a month that has become a graveyard for Wolves victories.
December, please be kind.
Totally agree Sevlow.
Tonights line up is gonna tell us a lot about Lamberts intentions though.
Well that’s November out of the way, so maybe we can start getting some positive results. We badly need a point (at least) from tonight’s game.
As tv pundit, Holloway has regularly highlighted our defensive shortcomings. I hope we can prove him wrong this time.
I’ll be watching proceedings with considerable apprehension, but seems to be our lot these days. A draw will do for me.
….Oh and despite what PL says about attacking QPR I would expect him to tread carefully and hit them on the break. No sense in going all out and getting hammered. That will not do the teams fragile confidence any good at all.
I expect him to play for a draw in the hope the team will gain some confidence.
Of course I could be, and most likely will be, totally wrong!
Well SKY must be licking their lips at showing this game, a very recent ex -Sky pundit, and two out of form and lacking in confidence sides. Could be a glut of goals though its probably got a nil all draw written all over it.
Not looking forward to it at all, as fellow bloggers have said, we can`t defend or score, so it all points to a pretty shite game in entertainment terms. We must get something out of this game, so pack the midfield, play our pacey Portugese lads wide and try and hit them on the break.
We can live in hope of a result with 3 very needed points
I’ve a funny feeling we might just do it tonight.
It’s pretty much all been said so will just predict my usual 2-1 on grounds the if I say it often enough it will eventually be correct
Don’t work for me!!
I agree with Ikeme coming in.
I’m less sure on Borthwick-Jackson, although I don’t see an alternative with Iorfa playing so badly and Silvio (perpetually crocked throughout his career) unsurprisingly crocked (decent on FIFA 17, though).
I wouldn’t have Texeira back in. The person who needs a run on the left is Cavaleiro. I know he’s missed a few, but he’s getting into positions and given a decent run in the team I would back him to become a good player.
Bodvarsson and Dicko have both looked starved of service recently…there’s not point playing either of them if the midfield can’t create something.
I need to go back up the prediction league and in our last relegation season I came 3rd by simply predicting losses every game…it’s tried and tested so here we go!!
Just watched Saturday’s game for the third time and we won
I’m leaving the office in a few minutes to go to the match tonight via a couple of pubs. There’s no way I’m watching this one sober! Very demoralised after Saturday and praying that it can’t get any worse. The only positive I can see is that I’m meeting a few QPR fans that are thoroughly p*ssed off that: a) they are rich; b) they change managers frequently; and c) they can’t find a consistent winning team amongst their extensive squad. Sound familiar? At least their new riches got them into the Premiership, ours seem to be taking us to League 1.
I’d love to see the rot stop tonight but knowing Holloway’s style they’ll try to outscore us and probably a single goal will achieve that.
However, being a stupidly loyal Wolves fan I’m hoping against hope that I’ll have a couple of occasions to cheer tonight and am going for a narrow away win.
After saturdays no show it can’t get any worse or can it I’ll keep the faith as I’ve done for god knows how many years ,I’m going for the win 2-1 COYW
Well, the line up is more promising, but I still have little faith we will get a result. Bore draw me thinks.
After predicting 2 nil last time I’m gonna go for nil 2 tonight
I like the look of that team that Lambert has picked. Hope they do the business.
Can’t bring myself to predict a loss but we’re bound to concede. So I predict a 2-1 win for us. We’ve got to be patient and give Lambert time to sort out the squad. Hysteria on the twittersphere does not help our club in anyway. Come on me babbies!
1Ikeme
18Iorfa
6Batth
5Stearman
2Doherty
4Edwards
27Saiss
16Coady
17Costa
9Dicko
50Cavaleiro
Substitutes
8Saville
12Wallace
19Price
21Lonergan
22Bödvarsson
26Enobakhare
30Hause
Quite like the team perhaps we shouldnt take some of the things said too literally. Not predicting just praying !
Just had a few jars and suddenly i feel fine. Win 24 of the 28 left and we are up! Simple ay it …………..ay it ? Oh allright then back to me lash.
I don’t know why but I’m going to predict a win tonight.
The men in white coats are waiting for me by the door
Can’t believe it no goals given away in 1st half
If that’s the result I’m predicting big losses every week. Yes hope this is going to stop the rot and another 3 points to safety.
Celebration time first 3pts of pl this season.
Just spoke with Border Wolf as she said supporting this bloody team is bad for your health
As usual can not keep a clean sheet, great result but still hanging on at the end nearly lost it they missed a sitter, why the changes why take of Dicko and Why Saville.
Pleased with the result but perplexed by Lamberts subs noticeable we conceded after subs made……WHY
Baffulled and relieved in equal measure.
Let’s sign up James Perch in January. Clearly a die hard Wolves fan! Thanks James,we needed you.
Happy to be proved wrong..
But why Saville for Calevelrio (whatever his name is)
The defence was much better with Stearman and Saiss, who has outstanding potential .
Iorfa was excellent too.
The players seem to lack confidence in each other but am sure, with a few wins, that trust will come.
A win!
Wow what a change.
Please Mr Lambert no more Savile though, even as a sub!
Yeah let’s all be negative. We should av been 4 or 5 up by their goal. Celebrate the win for fuck sake.
Cheeseburger we played against 10 men for 70 min including added time. The subs up set the balance and were not needed in fact we conceded not long after, the saying if it not broke don’t fix it springs to mind.
We almost let them back in it at the end only they couldn’t finish……it’s a win 3 points and I’m happy for that but at the same time it was against 10 men for most of the game.
Negative I prefer realist.
Band practice tonight so missed the game.
Agree a win is a win. 3 pts. As python said “every point is sacred.”
When I saw the line up I was more positive. I look forward to the reports guys.
Jim, I think it was Sperm mate, but I get your Point.
See what we did there, we could be the new Chuckle brothers.
I got a prediction right!!!
Yippee – three points guys.
To borrow the phrase from a BBC programme eons ago “Never mind the quality feel the width”.
Yes we were fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball (so were QPR got that matter) and yes playing 10 men for over an hour certainly helped the cause and yes it was panic stations in the last 10 minutes but hey when you ain’t won for nine bleeding games let’s have a beer tonight guys!!
The fact that their goalkeeper was clearly MOM is testimony that we could/should have put the game out of sight well before the QPR goal.
So I am a happy bunny tonight guys – three points was all I wanted .
Edwards was my Wolves MOM followed by Costa because of THAT goal although both goals were blinders. Let’s face it if Lionel Messi had twisted and turned like in the penalty area then blasted it home for Barce the commentators would have been going apoplectic.
Of course we ain’t the finished article but we have to start the fight back somewhere and let’s pray we can now go 10 games unbeaten!
Have a great weekend bloggers – next up Fulham see you there!!
Off to bed dreaming that Pulis has spent the money….court case pending which of course the crem are used to as they have even harboured murderers in the past…
BOG
Agree with all of that BOG.
I did go to the pub and I thought the match was great to watch. I was totally wrong about Stears and Batth as I thought they both worked well together and were strong. I believe our defence played well.
Their keeper stopped us winning by a bigger margin and I always think that playing against 10 men is not at all that easy so am over the moon with how we played and of course the result.
If we carry on playing like this, strong at the back and if we can get a quality striker in in January then I have no worries. Still lots to do (like getting the subs right – I mean, Saviile?) but getting there.
Bugger. So close to getting a prediction right, but I was a very happy bunny in the pub quiz.
Just got in from the game. Knackered. Inebriated. But boy am I happy.
We are W O L V E S !!!!!!!!
P.s. glad PL took my advice. (Sort of!)
P.p.s. Clive – legend young man.
P.p.p.s. As Yazoo said, the only way is up!
Glad you arrived home ok – your texts suggested a legless state….
Sod the football, the best Spanish waiter in the world passed away today
RIP Andrew Sachs
The dead body sketch was the funniest thing Iv’e seen since you offered to pay for a round at the PVH, (but chose to piss off home instead)
Incredibly important 3 points..Thank God.
The Alamo with their goal ..our goals premier league standard..Can’t see why Costa can’t play on the left would be like a Sako dare I say..he’s brilliant..a bit selfish..
Another 3 points Saturday and the PL factor is rolling…
COYW
Didn’t think we were playing Saturday
3 points quality don’t care how we got them
Bit gutted to concede last knockings would of given the defence something to play with the only way is up fellas
He lives on in the Fawlty Towers experience at the Amba Hotel in Charing Cross, Clive if you are ever back in Blighty. Highly recommended!
Well, when we’re down we do like to kick ourselves up the A hole, but when we’re on the up it’s a lovely feeling.
I believe life is about turning corners, you reach a crossroad and you have choices and sometimes fate takes a hand, you turn a corner and the rest is part of your history. I’m praying that we did actually turn a corner last night. There’s no denying we were playing against 10 men, but as pointed out, that’s not always easy never the less Wolves stepped up to the plate and surprised us all.
The defence put in a great shift and for once I won’t blame Danny Batth for the goal, he had two players crowd him out and he had no way through to even attempt a header on the cross and the drop ball fell kindly for the QPR player.
Yes it was a stonewall penaly from Doherty, but it was cancelled out by their one that the ref also missed so even Stevens there. Costa was epic, and it’s only the goalie that stopped a rout, Costa, Edwards and Doherty all missing golden opportunities.
So come on PL, you see what a proper selection can do, play to win man we all know there is a team somewhere in there, Texeria will be available against Fulham to bring on instaed of Saville. (Who I believe is now on 5 yellows, so he has to miss a game)
Well done one and all last night, better performance all round.
What a difference a win makes,
24 little hours.
COYW
It wasn’t the beginning of the end, it was just the end of the beginning. A baptism of fire for Paul Lambert. Roller-coaster start. Played three, lost one, drew one, won one. By now he knows a hell of a lot more about us and can plan for January with knowledge and authority. My MOTM was Edwards. As the Sky commentary said he’s reckoned to be the best midfielder in the Championship. He would wear the captaincy well. Costa scored a quite stunning goal, twisting and turning in a mass of players, must be in the running for our goal of the season. Wayne Rooney at his best would have been proud of it. I was particularly pleased to see the smile knocked off Ian Holloway’s face.
Exactly DWW – I live in hope that one day the rest of the Wolves faithful will acknowledge the impact Edwards has on the side – He might not set the world alight but he has a head for the game and often appears in the right place at the right time – its no fluke
Costa was brilliant – if only it was he we had signed for 7 mil and not the chap we could send back to monaco at the end of a loan deal.
A win is a win, even if unconvincing against 10 men for nearly 70 minutes
Lot of work to do Mr Lambert.
Wolves Blog have you ever seen a more astonishing performance as a Wolves supporter in your lifetime but not mentioned here ?
I,m talking about the urgings of Ian Holloway QPR manager, from the touchline.
Once they were down to 10 men, it was clear to see from the SKY coverage and very audible too the passion of the man. that for some would border on lunacy.
The beating of his chest to his team and individuals, calling for greater effort and show of passion, was most extraordinary from a manager that went on unabated to the end.
He nearly got a reward from his pain and wailing like someone at a funeral. RESPECT IH.
What a fantastic individual gem of football from Bodvarsson and Costa who was electric even though he had to bemoan his service at times.
A win is a win which pleases us all but the deluded are at it again on here.
Having the spare man for 70 mins allowed Wolves to look brilliant and have so many chances, so stop the delusion that a win has brought to you.
Along with Paul Feather I too am a REALIST, as it was the same players against Wednesday and Preston that are now magnificent, in the eyes of the blog Oddfathers like Doggerdodo and Wiggy of Wyoming..
Remember the jury was out on Zenga who you worshipped and is the same still with Mark McGhee 2.