Osborn, Gilkes, Williams, Hahnemann, Doyle, Hunt, Henry, Golbourne and Gorkks.
To coin a clichéd phrase from matchday programmes up and down the land – ‘they’ve worn both shirts’ (with varying degrees of success). This isn’t the only link between the clubs in semi-recent history either.
Wolves last two promotions to the top flight have also come at the expense of the Royals, as the clubs have predominantly yoyoed around the leagues. And because of that yoyo-ing, this is actually the first fixture between the two sides in over five and a half years.
Reading have fine Championship pedigree of course, winning it twice in the last decade. Nigel Adkins came within a point of taking them into the playoffs last season too as they narrowly missed out on the final day.
Reading
I’m not sure I fear a trip to the Mad Stad like I would have done in previous seasons, but that’s more to do with my confidence in Wolves own performance levels of late.
Perhaps I should be more worried though? Reading have won three of their four home matches so far with a defeat to Huddersfield the only blotch on an otherwise impeccable record.
They’re an attacking side with some good players like Simon Cox and former QPR forward Jamie Mackie. Defensively though there seem to be question marks.
A late defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last time out pushed them back towards midtable so they’ll be keen to reclaim some ground in front of the Sky cameras.
View from the opposition
Thanks to Royals supporter Dan from The Tilehurst End Blog, for giving me the inside scoop on his team’s progress:
Reading are very much a team in transition. Takeover drama off the pitch and a gigantic injury list on it means that we’re really not sure what our expectations should be this season. Certainly if you had a fully fit squad and a bit of cash to spend in January then you’d be expecting at least a play-off push but with key players like Jem Karacan, Garath McCleary and Danny Williams out until around Christmas and a starting lineup currently full of inexperienced academy products, we could just as easily get bogged down in midtable. Credit has to go to Nigel Adkins for the way he’s handled such dramas and while we’ve rarely been spectacular, we’ve been solid throughout the season and the only game we’ve looked outmatched in was a 4-0 hammering at Forest.
Wolves
Whether it was tiredness from Wolves or an increase in performance from Bolton, the second half last week dipped well below the standard we’ve come to expect. I felt a lot of that came down to the substitutions.
The above team has good balance and shape, two facets we’ve come to expect from a Kenny Jackett side. But in trying to shut the game down against Bolton, I felt the manager abandoned the principles that have largely served him well.
I’ve seen Tommy Rowe in two substitute cameos thus far and in both instances he looked out of position and off the pace. Hopefully there’s much more to come from him when he gets a more sustained run.
Our other summer addition, RvLP hasn’t featured in the last two games, which seems odd given that he’s been consistently strong, particularly at Molineux. Maybe he’ll return on Sunday?
The fitness of Nouha Dicko will also be crucial, as without his pace and power, the team is undeniably weaker.
The gaffer
Predictions
Well done to the plethora of people who correctly predicted victory over Bolton. With more points to play for in the PL this year, it’s great to see the changes in the table every week. It’s look more competitive than ever.
I really fancy our chances at the moment. Even when the performance levels dip, I feel Wolves are almost playing within themselves and can go to another gear if they really need to, as we saw after falling behind at Charlton.
We’re never brilliant in front of the cameras, but I think we’ll do enough to get a result and I’m going all in for the three points.
3-1
Up The Wolves
OK, just learned that Dicko is ruled out for the game … I cannot fucking believe that Jackett, for all his good work, has not sorted a replacement. As a result, we have no striker, unless sako can do his job and clarke’s i dont see how we will score. first reverse of the season definitely on the cards.
i will hold out hope that one of the midfielders will score, for a 1-1 draw.
My feelings exactly adamant, but as this is my nearest away fixture (about 7 miles) I fear the worst with Nouah sidelined. Time for the much maligned Clarke to start earning his salary. They managed to sign Glen Murray from Palace who is proven at this level. Hope I’m wrong, so that I can gloat at all my mates who are Royals’ season ticket holders!
Kenny has identified, I think, 3 strikers he would have liked to sign but we could not agree fee/wages.
Don’t blame the king for that, rather praise him for what he has achieved without the financial support he deserves.
Thomas,
I watched Tommy Rowe play on Tuesday night and this is my opinion only, he had a good game, bith he and Jacobs were slow to start but I thought he got into his stride and he was passing balls diagonaly across the pitch like Willy Carr or Mr McDonald.
As we now know Dicko is a non starter I fancy Rowe in supplying Leon up front as the press have indicated he may be in.
A Win for the Wanderers please.
🙂
I’ll say draw & hope for a sneaky win.
The curse of the TV cameras will strike again…
No Dicko, no goals
Got a bad feeling about this one – more so now Dicko has been ruled out.
They have attacking strength in-depth – they will give our much-vaunted defence a serious test. Defensively they look experienced enough to cope with Leon.
Another toughie, another away draw
It’s a real blow about Dicko.
Does that sound smutty, or is just me?
I nearly spat out my tea all over the keyboard when I read about him missing the match.
But, like Thomas, I have confidence in our team and think that we will be more than a match for Reading.
Whether we can translate that superiority into goals, especially now, is the only problem.
How about starting Henry out wide and giving Van the man a go up front?
He’s got the pace and control to worry any central defence.
If it doesn’t work out we’ve always got Clarke in reserve.
Wolves to win, narrowly.
On another subject, did anyone watch ‘Marvellous’ last night?
The story of Neil Baldwin, the Stoke City kit man.
A cracking piece of television drama, almost restores your faith in humanity.
What a great bloke!
And big respect to Lou Macari for what he did for him.
Macari: “How do you do it, Nello? How do you stay so positive?”
Neil Baldwin: “I always wanted to be happy, so I decided to be.”
We could all learn something from that man.
Without Dicko I fear the worst – hopefully Sako will keep finding the back of the net.
Ok no Dicko – but don’t panic. I am local to Reading and my son and I will be attending. On the plus side I will be bringing my boots – just in case I am called up. It is a game of ‘walking football’ is it not? If not I may be in a little trouble….
So our striking back-up is Clarke or Mac although Van the man can also play as a striker.
I would suspect that Clarke would be Dicko’s replacement. What a great chance for him to show us all what a great finisher he is. Providing he gets some decent service I see him banging one in the onion bag, with Sako actually busting the onion bag with a thunderbolt free-kick.
Reading do have goals in their side but we have such a solid and strong defence I will only allow them to breach it once.
I am so looking forward to a day out with my son and seeing my beloved Wolves, it’s a rare event for me these days ‘cos I am poor (donations accepted).
P.S. Did anyone watch the Ryder cup golf early this morning? I only caught a few mins but I did spot a England Flag with a Wolves crest – well done to whoever that was.
🙂
Onwards & Upwards
Saw that Sevlow, English flag with the Wolves logo, bang in the middle of every tee shot. Wonderful.
We’re taking over the world!
A lot of wasted chances without Dicko, give one away end it 1-1
I think our defence will be breached but we’ll head home with 3 more points in the bag.
One-nil to the Wolves yet again :0)
Clarke to be the goal scoring threat he hasn’t been up to this point and bag a brace! Can’t help but feel i’m wasting my prediction.
There are definitely goals in our team apart from Dicko, but they’ve been lacking of late. I’ll go for a stalemate in the hope that our back four and Ikeme are so solid we’ll hold out.
first time I’ve forecast a loss….hope I get no points
A Wolves win simply because I’ve caught the winning bug . Clarke to start endearing himself to be fans with the winner , and our defence to continue to keep us safe at the back .
Hope it’s all that simple !!
Even without Dicko I think we will get our regulation 1-0 win. Best defence in all the leagues, but not the best attack! This could be the final game before we get a loan player in on a 93-day deal expiring, handily, on 1st January. I feel KJ has identified loan options already and will proceed with all due haste.
Can’t see anything but defeat in this one.
Dicko out.. They have tremendous fire power and we are on telly before the S**t up the road.
Difficult morning at work on Monday I predict..
Oh dear, no striker no chance, I hope RVLP will play upfront and then maybe just maybe we can knick something, but i fear the worst. We will really get to see what it’s going to be like in January for a few weeks when Mr Dicko (and Mr Sako, but not this weekend hopefully) is away for the cup of nations. Lets hope Mr Moxey and Mr Morgan have got their long arms attached, not their short pincers and we can get the loanee in to help us keep pushing on.
If Clarke plays, we must go 4-4-2 as he is a poacher not a sprinter like Dicko. What about ex-striker van la Parra up front in the Dicko role with Leon in behind? I predict the usual 65% possession but failure to take chances costing us all 3 points.
Can’t see any other result now. It’s now or never Leon . Van la parra should start up front personally I think .
I’m remaining optimistic, the loss of Dicko will undoubtedly be a blow to our attacking edge but we still have a rock solid defense and a creative possession-hungry midfield. Would love to see VLP upfront with the tried and tested midfield 5 behind him.
Pity about Dicko but hopefully one of the others will chip in with a winner.
I have willed Leon to live up to his undoubted ability but even I am starting to believe a poor attitude is his downfall…….I fear Kenny thinks the same.
I still think we have enough to scrape through this one.
Wolftone
For f*** sake keep the faith
Clarke hatrick?
IN KENNY WE TRUST
Not overly confident with Dicko out but I can’t bet against the lads!
Dicko out …not good news at all..
Sako to respond by bombing in shots..our goal from outside the box
perhaps..
It just shows the importance of the striker subject…
It’s all on Clarke for a tap in ( he can’t miss them all)…his biggest moment so far this season…no pressure …even I am rooting for him ..
COYW
Could go either way but ever hopeful.
Tough call this one but I think we’re good enough to get the draw. Love Clarke to prove me wrong though.
I think SOIAW will be correct and Kenny will play 4-4-2 with Leon and RVLP up front.
A betting man would pick 1-0 to WWFC but with Reading’s inexperience and Leon coming good I think a 2-0 scoreline is on the cards.
Clarke in reserve ? Please leave him there – he won’t suddenly wake up – I’m with those who go for Van la Parra to start, and happy to leave it to Henry, Sako, Baath etc etc to score the goals.
I’m going for a 1-1draw, disappointed Dicko isn’t playing, about time Clark started earning his crust.
Up the Wolves….
Watch out for the surprise package of van la parra replacing Dicko up front with the royals stunned by two early goals. Clarke then comes on as late sub after wolves dominate the whole game and inadvertently ,defending a corner, heads the ball into his own net to give reading an undeserved consolation 🙂
Going for a draw hoping for a win. Confident in the lads to at least take a point!
Sutton Coldfield wolf ..I see your a Clarke fan too lol
Reading don’t look to be what they were. No worries with this one
Humm, well not so confident this week. One each for Clarke and … Who knows? Sako? Scott G? We play like the last 45 against Bolton and we’ll get a smacking.
Close one but we should have enough to cope
One player out and so are the doubters!!
Our goal hungry mid fielders will finally find their booting shoots and a bagfull of goals will result.
El Maestro knows what he is doing.
The faith is being kept in Florida
Reading to the slaughter house
FO wb
Hard to predict a score when you don’t know who’s going to replace Dicko, or what formation they’ll use.
I’ll stick with a win though.
I see you’re as bad at predicting as I am.
However, I’m sure that you made Kay,s birthday a winner!
Give her our best wishes and love to you both.
UTW!
Thanks Doog.
Kay’s sister jetted in last night to be with her so she’s made up. Just got back from a great meal with friends and she’s really enjoyed the day.
Thanks for your best wishes.
And the Wolves go marching on ????????
With Dicko in I’d have been looking for a win , Clarke must be near his last chance so come on Leon show us you want it,
Clarke hat trick please
Bad time to lose el-D! 3 points would be superb, but not sure we have enough goals without Nouha.
Shame Dicko not playing,but still think we can win it with what we got.
Don’t know who’s gonna score the goals,but dreading this moment when our best striker gets injured,i like everyone else have stressed we need another striker but I think we need 2,
not gonne knock KJ think he’s doing all he can to remedy the situation.
Lets hope Morgan backs him if he finds that man or men.UTW.
It’s worth remembering that Wolves right now have one of the best defences in the football league right now – undeniably not having Dicko is a real blow and Clarke hasn’t (yet, hopefully) proved himself but Reading aren’t suddenly going to be tearing us a new one! Have a feeling it will go one goal either way, dunno which way so I will go for the more optimistic guess!
I think KJ has probably known all week that Dicko wouldn’t be fit so hopefully they’ve sorted it out in training. Less pressure on Clarke as it’s an away game so if selected he may prove us wrong.
While the team keep winning, I’ll keep predicting 1-1
I loathe Reading, only live 10 miles away. They do blow hot and cold , think will will do well to get a draw though.
Hopefully even though the cameras are on, We can pinch a win. Will be tough so I’m going for a draw and hope that Clarke can get off the mark.
COYW
Sod it. Going for a deuce each from RVLP and Clarkey and emulate Notts Forest win. Pity as I like Reading having been at Uni there in the seventies and frequented Elm Road as much as finances would allow. P
We`ve struggled here in the past,without the defence we have now.We`ll keep `em out.
Sako to steal it.
Clarke hatrick!
I can dream and you never know….????
Predicting this is tough. Without Dicko could mean a backs to the wall scrap as I can’t see Clarke having the same workrate.
Reading have got some more than capable front men and having won three out of four at home I’m sadly inclined to fear the worst on this occasion. Sorry folks …
I hate Reading from back a few years when they ruined boxing day. Sidwell, Kitson and Hunt tore us a new one then so hopefully we stuff em. But I think a modest win is more likely
A draw would be a good result here considering we have to make at least one key change. I’m still backing Leon but also fancy Liam geting some game time soon. How about a goal each.
Tight one this I reckon.
Sako to bag the Wolves goal from a free kick.
That’ll do me.
Biggest fear is Live on Sky!
We’ve been told all week that Dicko should be ok, but now he’s not travelled and our back-up is well below what’s needed. Shame on you Moxey – Morgan. You’ve had all summer to sort this out.
With Dicko out the goals will have to come from elsewhere. I’ll go for Henry & Sako
Not overtly optimistic at the moment and hope I’m wrong!
Royals crushed by King Kenny’s golden revolution
Think we might lose this one, but i’m going for the win anyway.
Without dicko can’t see us scoring many but will remain tight at the back
Not feeling too confident going into this one, That said i fancy us to shade it.
Stalemate, Reading is a very solid team, lets not overlook them
Hope I’m wrong! (I usually am this season)
Losing Dicko is a big blow, and how I wish we weren’t a one striker team.
Perhaps big Leon will step up? If he plays, but doesn’t fire, then you’ve got to think that his time may well be up.
My heart is telling me a wolves win; but, without Dicko I can’t see where the goals will come from…
Come on me babbies
Will take a stalemate…but ive got a feeling.
I was going for a draw but after consulting with my eight year old, Ollie. I’ve been talked into a 2-3 to Wolves. He would not commit to a Clark hat-trick though!
Tight but respectable
A 1-0 win will be just fine.
There’s goals in that midfield. Just hope our defence stand firm under the cameras. Edwards and Jacobs to score. MacAlinden with both assists?
Going for a draw, but if we keep it tight at the back we should nick it.
I saw the Baldwin film too, Doog – inspiring stuff!
We’re not winning without Dicko. Hoping for a solid defence.
No Dicko, no goals.
I think it has all been said. I fear for this one but cannot bet against us and anyway I hate REading for all the usual reasons.
Prediction is more in hope than belief.
One from Sako, the other from RVLP.
Reading are a side in transition as stated by their own blogger. We have had so much possession in our games it’s time to turn that into goals.Even without Dicko i think the mmidfield, so fruitful last season, will start to find some goal scoring for. 3-1 but 65:35 possession and prob leave it to injury time to get the comfort of the 3rd
Won’t be televised in Bulgaria so the spell is redundant for me…and they DID televised our sole defeat this season!
Sako goal, 30ish minute.
Having missed last 2 blogs I will still go for a wolves win
Vladimir
Try
http://Www.wiziwig.tv
I’ve watched it in Vidin in the North when over there.
Worth a go.
????
Thanks for the link, stuwolf!
I’m accustomed to streams, that’s the way for me to follow the lads. In fairness I’d take even a bad one over watching Wolves game on the Bulgarian telly, as the pundits over here are a dumb bunch of twats, who know next to nothing when it comes to teams out of their oh-so-precious (puke) Big 4.
Your’e welcome buddy, I worked in Bulgaria with the British Embassy for 12 years on and off, one of my Bulgarian mates was the manager of CSAK Sofia and he helped me watch stuff I couldn’t imagine, but the TV is SH 1 T.
Good luck with it all.
-:)
In King Kenny Jackett we trusts.
keep the faith.
C’mon me babbies!
Not sure about this one , especially without Dicho, maybe a do or die for Clarke, or there is the possibility of Mclinden or Van La Parra up front.
UTW
Clarke hat trick! I’m going for blind optimism this week!!
Cant see us scoring.
Reading will be a tough side to beat but I’ll stay optimistic & say we’ll just nick it!
RLP to start up front & put it in the back of the net to prove his worth. He’s faster & more hungrey than Clarke.
But can we please get another striker on the books!
UTW
Tough one on Sunday. Hoping to catch the game live at a local pub. Fingers crossed for a win! My score predictions so far have been completely wrong and I hope I get this one wrong too….
Losing Dicko is a huge blow. It was always going to happen at some stage and I fear it could cost us.
Got a bad feeling about this one – hope I’m wrong.
I think a tough tight game with dicko I would of fancied us strongly but our lack of striking options is a worry.
Nothing to worry about guys, I’ve got to work tomorrow so will be unable to watch the game. Surely this means we’ll win it! I’ll check the score as infrequently as I can bear to give us our best chance of 3 points!
1 from a winger and the other from a full back. 2-0 the lads.
UTW
Tight, but we’ll scrape it
I want to change my mind……..
A Wolves Rout 7-0 we go top.
Come on you Wolves.
I will be there to see it all. Yahoooo
🙂
With no striker we’ll struggle. Need dicko’s mobility back as soon as possible.
Sticking with 3-1 despite Dicko’s absence.
And Europe to beat USA to retain Ryder Cup!
Confirmed… We “only” need 8 goals and none against to go top tomorrow! 🙂
Can’t see anything more than a point tomorrow
I can only be positive .
A win for the Wolves .
Reading have scored in every home game this season,we need a front-man so I’m going for a draw
I was thinking about the loss, but then I realized Ikeme is the best in the league.
A draw away at Reading will be a good result for us. I’m hoping Clarke gets a goal as he needs a confidence builder.
Chance to go equal top, on TV (even in Australia), all spells doom!
The team well step up with no Dicko – I hope.
UTW.
Stearman and Batth set piece goals. Nuff said
First attempt a predicting. Bore draw.
whatever our predicament I cannot possibly predict anything other than a Wolves win. Losing Dicko is a bit sh*t but we certainly no one man team and we’ve got goals in us, although we’ve not really proven that so far this season, I’m pretty sure it’s only a matter of time. reading will be less strong than when we last played them, and we are probably stronger so that’s got to be a good thing.
Remember, we’ve still got the leagues meanest defence in tact so if we can score once I’d say we’re in for at least a point. I can’t see us letting them score twice.
I hope VLP gets the nod, and perhaps Sako plays up front as we’ve got better cover in wing positions. Sako as a striker is gotta be a better option than Clarke?
Come on lads, more possession football and an end product please!
UTW
So I’m late been on nights. Anyway Reading, a team I used to dread us playing I remember the McGee years when he used to wined them up it’s never filled me with nothing but a feeling of being sick in the pit of my stomach when ever we play Reading but and it’s a big but this Wolves team even without Dicko which is a blow knows no bounds and history means nothing to them so I’ve gone for. 2.1 win to Wolves.
I’m hoping the loss of Dicko isn’t to big, Clarke it’s your time if ever we need you to come good it’s now don’t let us down……!
COME ON YOU WOLVES……………..!
This will be tight.
Clarke to come good and get a brace.
Did someone say it was on tele in Australia? What channel?
Be happy with a point
Goals can come from anywhere not just the forwards and I anticipate a Stearman scrambled effort from a set-play this afternoon to make the difference.
I’m hoping Wolves continue on this promotion push, and a 2-0 win would be great!
In years to come this game will be identified as the renaissance of Leon Clarke, the Michelangelo of the Molineux.
Come on you Wolves. OK so Dicko’s out, that is a shame, but we will cover that. Play the same as we have and we shall overcome.
Thomas’ commentary almost shook me out of my moderate pessimism about this one, but not quite. We’ve managed to stay on the right side of squeaky draws and a narrow win recently, but I fear Reading on their own patch might turn the tables. Hopefully I’ll be wrong as is very often the case!
WOW!!! Just got back from the pub. Did not see that coming at all. 1-0 down at half time and I was feeling a tad bewildered. They certainly had done their homework and I felt they had got the measure of us in all areas of the park. Scoring fairly early in the 2nd half saw me smile as they did not defend well and when we went 2-1 up in short shrift I was beaming. A minute (ish) later and I was saying “I will be happy with the point”, even though I felt we should have kept the lead. Scoring again and I thought the writing was on the wall and 3 points were ours. Good equaliser by them though, even though we should have kept them out ………….. 1 point? Based on what I watched …….. I am happy with that.