The summer of 2016 will live long in the memory. Parts of it anyway.
Sleep inducing monotony for nigh on two months and then machine gun activity ever since.
New owners, new manager, (some) new players and a brave new world where anything and everything could happen.
And whatever your persuasion it certainly won’t be boring, which is merciful relief after the dullest end to a season I can recall.
I was a fan of Kenny Jackett, if not the regime he was working under, but if he had to be collateral damage for the bigger picture to improve then so be it.
I’m not convinced by Walter Zenga, but I hope he’s given fair opportunity and resources to be successful.
Rotherham
After looking League One bound for most of last season, it took an unbelievable run of results under Neil Warnock to keep the Millers up.
They’ll be disappointed he didn’t stay, as it seemed an excellent fit. But Alan Stubbs is an interesting choice and will have plenty of enthusiasm to make his mark as a coach at this level.
They’ve brought in players regularly over the last week, which may work to our advantage as it will be impossible for the head coach to know his best team. Similar to us I suppose.
To give you the insider perspective, I got this from Rotherham fan Dean (follow him on Twitter here):
It’s been a turgid summer in South Yorkshire, with Millers fans venting their frustration over a lack of recruitment. With a new managerial appointment comes inevitable expectation of improvement on last years survival miracle worked by Neil Warnock, but finding the right players has been tough.
The stamp seems to be value for money, rather than the scattergun approach of last summer that saw a host of average signings by Steve Evans, and a season consisting of three managers.
This time around will be another hard 9 months of graft, but with players slowly arriving through the door until the end of the transfer window and an ethos of trying to play more exciting football, we’re hoping for better – and to find the right blend of being entertaining whilst picking up points to enable a comfortable campaign.
Wolves will also be hoping for a much better season, but with the sacking of Kenny Jackett, I guess Saturday’s game between the clubs will be met with a dose of mystery. I’ll stay well clear of predictions, other than I think the game has potential for a few goals. With the tough start we have with both Villa (is that word allowed?) and Brighton away to come, I’d be content with a point to get things off and running.
Wolves
Even though I’ve been less than impressed by our recruitment to date, there is a logic that the combination of our existing work horses and what are hopefully better technicians could work nicely. Here’s my fancy new predicted lineup graphic:
Tomorrow I’d imagine Zenga will pick largely from the battle hardened group of Championship performers who’ve gone through a vigorous pre-season.
I am hoping to see big Jón Daði Böðvarsson start up front though, as I’m not convinced about Joe Mason’s ability to lead the line. Niall Ennis is another option but he’d probably be more effective from the bench.
It’s all complete guesswork at this stage of course, until we get a flavour for how Zenga likes to setup, his preferred personnel and the readiness of our new players to step in.
The manager
Predictions
The Prediction League is back for the 2016/17 season so I hope you’ll all join in with the fun.
If you’re new to the game, the rules are simple:
- In every match preview (such as this one), enter your score prediction in the boxes provided in the comment section below.
- Please ensure that you comment using the same email address every time you make a prediction. Your email address is what connects you to your overall score. If you use multiple email addresses, your scores will be split and you’ll appear lower down the overall table.
- The overall table can be accessed on the Prediction League page here. I can sometimes be a bit lax in updating it, but you’ll always see a note above the table as to when it was last updated.
As for tomorrow, I’m going for a score draw. Much like Dean the Rotherham fan, I can see there being goals at both ends and I also suspect they’re a better team than most pundits – who have them down for relegation – are giving them credit for.
2-2.
Up The Wolves!
Onwards and upwards…
It is nice to have a striker that we can get excited about for once. Rotherham were poor last season until the end, and so not winning would be disappointing.
Pre-season hasn’t been great, so it will be interesting to see how we perform. Hopefully a new manager will give the team a spark that’s been lacking for the last year.
I’d be surprised if Costa doesn’t play or come on at some stage, as left sided creativity has been an issue ever since Sako left and Graham got injured.
I’m also a little concerned by the lack of experience in the form of Zenga and players signed but we have to give them a chance and if Fosun are serious about getting to the premiership, results will dictate the futures for all concerned.
My team would be:
Ikeme
Iorfa Batth Hause Doc
Henry Coady Price Costa
Mason Bodvarsson
Sorry, just think too many changes and no games to test anything will catch us cold, and give Zenga and Shi a slap in the face of how hard this league really is.
Got to be positive at the start of a new era.
I imagine Zenga will start several of the newcomers so I for one can’t wait to see how it all goes off.
Rotherham were only saved by Warnock, now that he is gone I’d hope the lads could chalk up an easy first victory.
I like the fancy new predicted line up graphic, very snazzy!
I’ve got no idea what team Zenga will pick, what formation they’ll play or even who any of the new signings are, but I do know that it’ll be fun finding out.
Predicting a win on the basis that it’s still early in the season so I’m still an optimist.
UTW
The Zenga bus is coming, COYW!
Going for a positive guess, 3-1 to the Wolves.
No idea so I have parked the (slightly less ample than a few months ago) DOOGooder backside
firmly on the fence.
I think a draw would be a decent start to the new campaign so I’m copying Thomas.
Me too Doog
Just hope we don’t get hammered.
COMBs!
Too early for the newcomers to make any impression whether they are actual footballers or just happened to be coming out of Lisbon’s Job Centre at the right time. On a more positive note, three of them allegedly fill the 3 positions we really wanted filled: striker, left wing, centre defence, so that can’t be a coincidence, can it?
Does anyone really have a clue what could happen on Saturday? Or for the rest of this season in general? I haven’t got the foggiest.
Tough to call, think we have a little bit more quality though.
I think score draw also
I ain’t got a clue!
But I’m optimistic.
I see that the Chinese do like stripes and budgies after all. £140M for that!
Mr. Lai, they saw you coming.
Mr Shi, Mr Xai, Mr Lai this is now China Town.
Who is going to say it first? ” We got considerably more money than yow.”
Just a quick question to Amanda.
Why do you feel the need to denigrate fellow Wolves fans when we’re all on the same side and we all want to see the same thing for our club?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion without having to take a load of personal insults from you or anybody else for saying it on this blog.
Personally, I don’t give a toss what you choose to call me.
Name calling and insults represent an argument lost as far as I’m concerned.
If you disagree with an opinion then give yours by all means. But resorting to petty name calling and childish remarks just makes you look like a bit of a saddo.
I’m sure you have a partner and plenty of friends to accompany you to Rotherham but I doubt that you would have the balls to say to them face to face what you write on the blog, or you wouldn’t have them long. (Balls and friends).
And if promotion is a delusional target what is your ultimate ambition for the club?
I know that you’ve received a lot of stick from regular bloggers but – if we’re going to carry on acting like stupid kids – to use an old school phrase, you started it.
Why not try and lighten up, make your points in an adult way and think of us all as fellow human beings and Wolves supporters.
However if, as some suspect, you are a closet fan of them up the road… please ignore this message and crawl back under your stone.
Hi Doog,
I also got a tiresome insulting reply from Amanda, but ignored it with the contempt it deserved.
Don’t let the irritating closet-Albion fan get under your skin – as Thomas wrote on the original post she doesn’t deserve the airtime on this weblog.
As far as I’m concerned I’d add her number of GCSE’s an air-head beautician can achieve (1 in gel nail technology) to her total number of functioning neurones (1) to get a rough idea of her IQ.
Stop the negativity.
An easy win for the boys.
2 sides with plenty of new recruits. the difference being our recruits are of a better quality.
as simple as that
Chinese wolf/ Tibetan Wolf
The Tibetan wolf was first described by British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1863 after having received a skin donated to the British Museum from Chinese Tartary. Calling it the “GOLDEN WOLF”, he described the specimen as being similar to the European wolf in dentition and cranial measurements, but with shorter legs and a greater degree of fulvous-coloured fur on the ears, flanks and limbs.[5]
So much uncertainty can only mean one thing… Cancel each other out. 0-0.
I can’t remember the last time we went into a game with absolutely no idea how things might turn out. I can’t wait for tomorrow I’ll be there with the two thousand odd fans. I’m going to be optimistic and say we’ll kick the season off with a win. Bodvarsson with both goals
At last we start…………………………
A draw will be a good start.
No idea really. Is Iorfa fit after last week/
I suspect Zenga will only start one of his new players, probably Silvio if Iorfa is not fit Or Costa if he is.
Tactics and team shape should be interesting personally if we have the skills I think we should go 4-3-2-1 to start the season.
Got a feeling that this is winnable whatever happens.
Just hope we play 4-4-2
A new season begins and I don’t really have any expectations, just hope, because I really don’t have any clue how Zenga’s line up will look like. I hope he will choose his 4-3-1-2 system with with the following players in the line up:
Ikeme
Iorfa- Batth – Hause – Silvio
Henry – Price (or Coady) – Costa
Teixera
Bodvarson – Mason (or Ennis)
Positive but one or two adverse results early on might not be such a bad thing with the window still open. I would be tempted to overload on some strikers like Crouch and Nugent some experience and knowhow appropiate to this season. To get up among the likes of Newcastle, Derby, Norwich, Villa, Brighton and Sheff Wed we will probably need it.
I doubt that all the recent signings will start (too risky), but expect Bodvarsson and Mason to play up top in a 4-4-2, and Silvio to start somewhere. As Clive regularly beats me in the Prediction League I’ll follow his approach but go for a more conservative score.
Let’s hope the Zenga’s boys can apply some Portuguese flair and seal a convincing win to start the season off nicely.
It is, of course, impossible to call on the result of this game. Both teams have bought in new players and managers so we’ve nothing really to go on.
I’d like to see a 4-4-2 with Mason playing off Bodvarsson up top and hopefully Helder Costa out wide supplying the ammo. Of our newbies, I hear that these two are the nearest to match fitness.
Iorfa is training after his injury scare so I expect our tried and tested backline to start, after treating us to so many lovely 0-0’s last year.
As usual, my scorecast is made with my wildly optimistic hat on. I don’t expect anyone to guess correctly……..except Brompton of course who is already polishing up his crystal balls.
Too much excitement, bound to be a big letdown.
We will start as we mean to go on for the rest of the season.
All the new blokes will get a game, they will feel like there are five million Wolves fans behind them, and get so fired up the goals will flow.
This scoreline, and more, will be a regular part of the season for us!!!
Its nice to be underdogs, less pressure, and the arrogance of other “big” clibs will be their undoing!
I hope all the new bloggers will partake in the prediction league, its a bit of fun, despite Chalkie the Cheat in his M62 tent.
FOwb
Who knows what is going to happen. Well I aint got a clue, but I predict a win, so ……..
Deja vu
Rotherham 4
Wolves. 6
Lobo, that wont count unless you record it in the boxes
This may be the most difficult game to predict for a long time. With the Portuguese contingent behind the local lads in fitness preparation, we can except little or no input from the newcomers yet. Dicko is still a few weeks away too. Maybe we will unveil Peter Crouch today, and if so I would expect a goal from him in a short cameo appearance.
Whatever happens tomorrow we will have no grounds for complaint, as we are hardly the finished article yet. I expect however a gritty nervy performance and a narrow win.
Some of the games against this lot have been quite remarkable in recent seasons. However I expect a very cagey first half hour while the recent and many additions on both sides take time to gel into the various systems employed.
At least our new recruits should be of higher quality and in the end better players should prevail. Whether tomorrow will show much of the exciting new dawn all the fans are craving is open to debate, but clearly the fans have the appetite to find out witth a truly amzing away support again, so roll on 3pm tomorrow.
Have to go for the win, and why not 3-1.
Rotherham 17
Wolves 0
only kidding boys and girls.
I see you have had a similar preseason to us.
last year we ended well but have lost several from that squad and more importantly Warnock.
we had a squad of 12 up to 2 weeks ago. we now have 16.
you guys bombed a bot at the end if I remember rightly.
so, two new managers and two teams who dont really know each other.
significant factor for us is that we dont have an out and out striker having lost both of them in preseason. we only have danny ward who tends to play behind the striker…our manager looks like he prefers slow posession at the back and quick neat interchanges in front of the defence.
do expect to see a different RUFC than the last 2 seasons. I think we will try and play more possession which could be suicide.
prediction: could go either way or a draw.
Enjoy the season and finish lower than us.
Nice words mate. Good to see you on our blog. Good luck for today, but not too much.
I am sadly expecting a slow start with a bunch of strangers practcally introducing themselves before kick-off.
Going with all the positives that a new start can promise..
not a negative bone in my body !!
( yet ) ?
Who’s going to score for us Mason Bod or even Costa ?..with Talisca almost with us then if ever there was a chance for Innis to make his mark then this is the opportunity while we are still building .
If Zenga is pro youth and wants to be risky radical from the off then play him .
DB has the world on his shoulders if we clean sheet then he’s going to be there for quite a while I wish we could support him with a cool strong experienced bloke….ok then I’ll shut up.
Henry I’ll predict will play like a player possessed he said ‘Pele? the real Fu@&£ng Pele’ to our new guy who couldn’t join us..ie he is fighting for his place proper..fair play to him..
2-0 up for me and then a give away goal but I have never been so nervous to see how we will start the season ..none of this lax stuff everyone is playing for their lives..
There is too much at stake not to..
COYW
While I don’t think it’ll be a strong side we put out I reckon we’ll have enough to get past Rotherham. Even the players here from last season will want to make an impression on Zenga.
It’s a brave new world, but I think we’ll still be hungover from the last one.
I never like signing players after a run of a few games in an international tournament (Bodvarsson) but maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Both teams desperate not to lose . Wolves prob 4 5 1 lone striker .
Defensive slog I reckon
I think it will be a comfortable win 3-0 with new boy bodvarrson netting and edwards and danny batth. Will see new winger costa run rings round rotherham full back and bodvasson have centre halves in his pocket. Come on you boys.
Start the way you want to finish. I am feeling quite positive about the upcoming season (aren’t we all at the start).
UTW.
Hello all, and welcome to another season. Really excited about this one for all the obvious reasons. I’m hoping WZ will be the right fit for us, but deep down expecting him to be gone before the end of the season. He looks like the sort of guy you wouldn’t want to mess with, so hopefully we will be treated to a 100 per cent performance. My head says score draw, but fingers crossed for a positive start.
Wolves just edging it, with a debut goal from Bod.
Looking forward to seeing how the team sets up tomorrow and which of the new guys start – possibly only Silvio and Bod? If the latter does start I’d like to see Mason in support.
The Millers also have a new manager and some new faces and it could well be a scrappy game. A draw away would be a very reasonable start, but a win would be awesome.
We’ve had a really poor pre-season and I think only a week for the new manager to settle in and get his ideas across will be a bit too short. I have a feeling the first couple of months we will be finding our feet a little bit. I’m hoping for a draw which in these circumstances and away from home I’d be happy with be in reality I think it will unfortunately be a narrow defeat.
Two ex Wolves in the Rotherham squad – Anthony Forde and Greg Halford. I liked the look of Forde when he first came into the team but sadly he never pushed on to be a regular. Hopefully neither will score tomorrow as all our ex players seem to do.
UTW
We will have an unbeaten season.
Have great confidence in Zenga.
Eternal optimist.
Wolves 3
Rotherham 1
I feel quietly confident about this one. Nice to start against another unpredictable team. Would love to see some of the new players on show. Seems pointless rushing to get them in then playing same old same old!.
Not a very original forecast but Suspect that the game will be a major anti climax after recent excitement
Draw away and win at home isn’t a bad pattern tho..
UTW
Agree 100%, Vic
Come on Wolves – new season, new start. Moxey Out 🙂
Go Wolves… This is the big one
Uncertainty,2 teams with new managers and very recent additions to the squads. However, rose tinted glasses re coming out early this season and will hopefully be on until next May when we get promoted through the play offs (just to make the season longer and even more exciting.) 3 points tomorrow defo.
Close one but hopefully a win! Then crack on with the squad reenforcement!!
The first of many one nils
One nil to the Wanderers
One nil to the Wanderers
One nil to the Wanderers
Waaaan nil to the waaaaanderes
My only question is where is Chalkie?
Still having this year’s t shirt designed?
You had better be quick, Brompto, or you will miss the cut off prediction time, which Thomas has promised is now 2.40 pm today!!
Your time, not mine!
Don’t have a clue. I expect to see all four of our new appointees on the pitch at some time, and how quickly they gel, if they gel at all, will give us some idea about how the season will shape up. I’m not expecting too much though, we usually are slow starters.
A note to Amanda. Thanks for your acerbic comments, but please keep them to yourself, they’re not clever or needed. And please try to discover on your keypad where the apostrophe key is. That’s the most annoying feature of your posts.
So happy that the football is back. It is certainly going to be a rollercoaster ride, as it always is at the wolves – hold tight and enjoy the ride!
I can’t see us winning this one, will be happy with a draw
Up the Wolves
The first victory of many. Onwards and upwards.
Slightly off topic….
Jez Moxey has left Wolves today to be replaced by……..wait for it……….Kevin Thelwell. According to official website the role will be split between Thelwell and another current employee between football and commercial.
Not really the experienced CEO I was hoping for.
Just off on the annual pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey to watch Van the Man tomorrow night.
First proper trip out since the all clear.
To all you fans (and partners and friends) who are making the trip to Rotherham, God speed.
To all the rest of you, have good weekends and I hope to resume banter on Monday.
Enjoy the great man Doog – Let’s hope he’s in a good mood….
I see Chalkie Brompton is playing the waiting game – I reckon he’s waiting to see everyone else’s prediction then work out the average score and go for that. Playing the percentage game. Just to annoy him I’m gonna do mine at the very last minute. 0-0? 1-1? 2-2? 16-14 to us? Who knows. Yet!
Had a brilliant chat with Stevie Bull at my son’s wedding last night. Will post some highlights and pics in a bit.
Expecting an Italian goalkeeper to organise defence. From that basis expect (with creativity wide left) comfortable win. If you want evidence of how a sound (Italian organised) defence coupled with quick counter attacks works think Leicester.
If we intend to do well this season this is the place to start. There’ll be stiffer competition ahead.
Starting off positive, so let’s have a win, don’t care how the goals go in off the defenders backside will do as long as they go in.
Neither Manager sure of his best eleven, no proven goalscorer been seen in a Wolves shirt for some time so goal scoring opportunities are not guaranteed however both teams will include players who will not be familiar with their team mates so mistakes will be made. So goals will likely come from errors even if opportunities are not created. Two unknown teams may well cancel each other out leaving each with a frustrating draw to start the season.
Italy to come to a standstill tomorrow as everyone gathers at the local trattoria to watch il big one on a dodgy internet stream
There are too many strangers at the club at the moment and I think that could be a telling factor for the first few games. Also, despite all the euphoria the most we have spent is £1m on a second division Icelandic striker so not sure there is enough quality yet. Best we can hope for is a draw I think
Haven’t bothered posting much as it would appear nobody is entitled to their own opinion anymore, snide pointless comments etc etc.
Not sure what to expect but I’ll cheer the team on no matter what. We’re here, we can’t control it so let’s enjoy it & see what happens.
I still won’t predict a loss so 3 points to start the ball rolling.
Come on Wolves.
At last we have our fottie back and I am soooooo glad.
No idea who Walter will put out tomorrow but he may surprise us all.
I have purchased a flagpole and have a Gold & Black Union Jack flag to fly, unfortunately I have not installed the flagpole as I just had my garden refurbished and it now has new turf put down. My ‘Molinuex’ rose has flowered – Yes there is a rose called Molineux :-
Anyway I am rambling on here……….
Wolves to win to get Walter off to a good start.
Just a pointer – we have only lost to Rotherham once in our last 19 meetings and we usually score at least 2 or if not then nil.
Not sure what Zenga will play but am surprised Williamson hasn’t got a shirt number.
Absolutely no idea – wonder if an Ennis loan is on the cards given the lack of squad number, but perhaps reading too much in to it. Still not convinced by the goal scoring, but am convinced by a first game lack of defense for a new Rotherham side.
Henry & Wallace to score
I had assumed it’s because of his age. I think Academy players can get drafted in later.
I’m an optimist at the start of every season but I’ve gone up a peg or two this year. We can’t possibly lose can we?
Tight game which could go either way.
I’ve always gone with my head and got no where in the prediction league. Seeing as I have absolutely no idea of how we will play or who we will play I’m going with my heart. Come on boys let’s get off to a flyer.
“I had a dream” so said MLK.
Well so did I last night – really I did no kidding. It was a barmy situation (which most of them are) in which I was totally lost in a strange land and fell into a pit (Handsworth border country) frantically trying to find out the score from South Yorkshire.
It was 1 0 to Rotherham before I disappeared into the sink hole. After frantically scrambling out and running and running and running from very strange beings wearing shell suits I reached the safety of Bilston. Breathlessly I fell into a newsagent and chucked a tanner on the counter for a pink. (I told you it was barmy).
Headlines “Wolves Trump Millers at New York Stadium” (geddit?). The score was 3 1 and that fellow bloggers is the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth. So put a fiver on it.
I think I am going mad……seriously I am either that or the football season is around the corner which is normally enough to drive and self respecting Wolves fan nuts. But not this season.
Up we go!!!!
BOG
Bring back the Pink!!!!
Agreed, as long as Tim Spiers don’t write the Wolves stories.
If our new signings,other than the iceman,are not yet up to speed yet it seems that we’ll have a lack of invention and creativity so set pieces may be our best bet for a goal. The Rotherham fan (Ian Davies) doesn’t feel too optimistic but I think they’ll have to be really crap not to score against our sieve of a defence.
Perhaps some of the newcomers can come in and make an impact from the bench.
I’ve no idea why but I actually think we’ll win…..probably because Rotherham will have players that haven’t yet gelled, us likewise, but because I think Alan Stubbs will play the defence card …Zenga will play the go for the jugular card…it’s a narrow win.
I know it’s all fantasy but heyho here we go ….
Although I’ve gone with a positive result it doesn’t really reflect the balance of my mind at the moment.
We will most probably win and lose this game. I know I’m confused too….
JDB to get a couple and James Henry to seek the other. Defensive disorganisation will cost us one (or maybe more).
I’ve no clue what’s gonna happen.
I see no reason to change from my prediction every week.
If sticking to the same is good enough for Clive, it’s good enough for me!!!
I’m happy with how things are transpiring at this point in time, (work in progress)
Like Steve Showcase I see no bearer of the No 5 shirt as yet, I fully expect to see it on the back of a certain Brazilian over the next week or so. In the meantime I’m hoping Zenga and co were as impressed as I was in young Naill Ennis and that he starts tomorrow. Playing alongside decent players will bring him on leaps and bounds.
2-0 for me, Ennis and Bodvasson to nick em.
COYW’s
And so it begins………
New season , new manger, new tactics!
Score draw !
I’d like to see Ennis start along side Dadi The lad from Iceland. I think Ennis will cause defences problems ans would be a big foil for the big Icelandic.
I would also like to see us play 4, 4, 2 I think that’s amore attack minded formation. I think tomorrow’s game will be a good indicater on Walters tatics, formation and ability to adapt to different problems.
I’m going for a win, why I don’t know I’m trying to be positive.
Can’t wait for Brompton any longer – bet he flipping copies me – but after thinking 0-0 all week then moving to 1-1 all today I then wavered on a 2-1 win to us before finally coming down on the side f a 2-2 draw. Reason? The 2008/09 Championship winning season we started with a 2-2 draw at Plymouth.
Hope all four of the new boys play. Hope Batth doesn’t though I know he will. Hope Saville and Henry don’t play either. Roll on the signing of Talisca! Plus two more at least. Striker and winger – plus centre back maybe?
Traveling up there tomorrow and have no idea what formation, tactics or team I’m going to see. Guess we are lucky Rotherham are one of the relegation favourites. I just hope we get off to a positive start and have a go. I wouldn’t mind seeing Eniss get a game thought he looked the one positive in pre season.
Absolutely will smash them to pieces with our new belief and strength
3-0 wolves
Like many others I have absolutely no idea how this one is going to go, I will be surprised to see more than 1 of the new players actually in the starting 11 tomorrow (possibly Bodvarsson) and after such an awful pre-season I’m not convinced our regular players are thoroughly match fit either,
Hopefully we’ll sneak a win, but to be honest I’d be happy enough with a draw.
JdP, StainesWolf :
I’m sorry we let Kenny Jackett go as we needed stability more then anything with all the other big changes.
I feel that it will take a whole season to find out our best first team line-up and squad players. Zenger is untried at this level and I doubt whether he will last the season.
Why did we not try to recruit Bruce, whom we’d let down before. we owed him.
I’m not optimistic about tomorrow and am predicting
Rotherham 2 Wolves 1.
Sorry ! Hope I’m wrong.
John.
Sticking my neck out a bit but I think we can win this so I’m going for 2-0 don’t ask me why.UTW
The new icelandic striker will put the ball in the net two times!
Well here we go again.
Like many others, I have no idea what our team will be tomorrow, what formation Zenga will employ and what his tactics will be.
Pre-season performances have been poor. The bulk of tomorrow’s team may be made up of the “old guard” who were unimpressive last season. I’m just glad that our first game of the season is away to Rotherham and not against one of the more fancied teams.
Early days and I hope for better when we hopefully improve the squad further (and soon).
2-3 both teams with new additions and new managers so both will want to make a good start but I think we will just shade it.
Different subject, just watched the wolves I player video of jez moxey leaving interview, I must say that towards the end I began to feel sorry for him and I really think he was getting a bit tearful. He took all the abuse full on and let’s be honest, most of it was pretty hostile, he has always stayed loyal to his employers (yes I know he got paid a packet) I for one wish him well at Norwich and hope he gets a warm welcome by our travelling supporters in a couple of months time, lets be honest it has not turned out too bad, has it ?
???????????????????3?
?????????????????babbies
Translated as :- Off to Rotherham tomorrow hoping for a good game and 3 points
Come on me Babbies
You too will now have to learn Chinese!!!
That didn’t work Chinese characters did not transfer, Ah well still hoping for 3 points!!!
Total guess work as to what our line up is going to be. However, I’m not that sure that we’re going to be playing open, free flowing, attacking football under an Italian goalkeeper! I hope I’m wrong. I’m going for an optimistic 1-0 Wolves with our new Icelandic striker to do what the last one found bloody impossible!
Like the rest of you, absolutely no idea so I’ll sit on the fence and predict a draw. I hope we play entertaining football at least and get the season off to a good start
We should steamroller these guys, setting up unrealistic expectations for the rest of the season. FWIW I reckon we’ll come 7th.
If winning every home match and drawing every away match is title winning formula, I’m going to predict exactly that for the rest of the season.
So, it’s 1-1 for me & can’t wait for the real fun to begin.
I predict China to win and the soul of English football to be booted into oblivion. Can the whole of English football be taken over now so people will wake up and smell the tea? But hey, who cares as long as we’re winning! As for Zenga, his comments so far show he’s taking us for fools, please show us some respect by talking less bull Walter.
The old guard gradually on the way out. Really as it should be. I don’t wish ill on Jez. But things change and evolve. The revolution continues. Rotherham here we come……
A brave new world and full of optimism as I sense the new owners have positive intent and mean business.
I agree with the line-up with one exception – I’d like to see Coady as far away from the pitch as possible – he offers little as demonstrated by a turgid second half performance against Swansea last Saturday.
Here we go!
Not sure we will start the season well but these are one of the weaker teams in this league so I will be disappointed if we don’t take all three points
A new start, hopefully we will be up and running with a 1- 2 Wolves win
One of our easiest wins of the season to get the Zengaboys party started…. Boom Boom Boom Boom.
Come on Wolverhampton Lisboa!!!
A wake up call for Walter and Jeff.
First time on here or any other chat room/blog/etc. I’ve not lived in Wolvo since Doog was around but have indoctrinated my kids and hopefully my grandkids. I try to make the pilgrimage when I can. I’ve just found this blog and like the banter and informed views, but not the vitriol when it rears its ugly head. I don’t see the need for it or understand it as we’re all on the same side.
With all the developments at the Mol I’m really up for the season and having just seen Newcastle lose to Fulham anything can happen. So I’m going for a fingers-crossed narrow win for starters.
Well said that man. And welcome to the blogosphere.
Hoping 4:45 brings a pleasant surprise. Jon Bon Jovi to score – oh oh, we’re livin on a prayer!!!
Be careful you don’t upset Amanda or it will be bad medicine and you could be wanted dead or alive.
Gotta be positive.
Looks like Newcastle (the favourites?) have discovered just how difficult it is in the Championship!
Barry you need to read some of my old posts on this subject. It was only last Thursday night that I was explaining to a few bumkins just how long this road is and how steep is that mountain at the end.
Welcome ianmwolves , Iv been reading this blog for years and started posting last year , stick around because the few silly posts lately seem to come from one blogger who I don’t believe is ‘one of us ‘ and I can assure you this is very rare , it’s the lack of wums that attracted me to this blog over all the others in the first place as you can get intelligent and formative feedback from those who get to go to the games , the next best thing if you don’t live local anymore , and if we get stuffed you can always rely on the likes of cheeseburger to put the smile back on your face Utw
Wally’s gonna get a Championship schooling tomorrow…
We aint even played yet and Walter has got us up the table.
Come on me babbies!!!
Starting off with a conservative prediction; reckon it might be a tight affair with both managers realising how tough this division will be. COYW!!
Our fans will pull us over the line.
Sitting on fence here
Out of Darkness…
Couldn’t be more apt.
Cmon.
Tight game but I feel in my loins a Win!
I say 3 – 0 to wolves fair enough we got new players to fit in but Rotherham only just stayed in championship by skin of their teeth and I am sure wolves can beat them! FWAW
Draw for me.
Not yet convinced about most of our cheap signings.
Hopefully more players to come.
Woefully under prepared for the season but hoping for a draw nevertheless!
Just reiterating on Barry bucknells comment above .. Welcome back to our world Newcastle !
Not as wish any ills on them or Fulham as both are great clubs with honest football fans , but as exited as I am about the future .. Remember how sides used to raise their games against us in division 1 ? Because we were wolves , well now well be know as ‘high spending wolves’
Even bigger target s
Hope This Brazilian has quick feet when he’s facing Joe Barton with a lit cigar
I’m optimistic for the future, but two new teams, two new managers, two new systems and I’m not sure we’re going to have enough fluency to ” bother ’em “.
Sorry 😉
Wolves to win but will be a tough match, looking forward to seeing the new signings play. Hopefully they can make a real difference to us. Good luck Walter Zenga fingers tightly crossed.
Zengas management track may not be superficially attractive, but he’s done solid jobs in Seria A and winntrophies in tough eastern Europe leagues, where pressures from fans and owners must be similarly high. Winning a trophy at any professional level is tough. I don’t think a lack of championship, or even English football experience, will count against as much as people think, given his immense wealth of managing and playing experience in other testing leagues/cultures/pressuring situations from owners and fans.
Above all, I think he can energise and enthuse a team which took a confidence and performance hit last season. It goes without saying we need to rely on a solid back and central unit: all top teams do. I’m not expecting free flowing football, maybe in half a season it will improve, but a solid defence and faster counter attacking and clever hold up play with swift orchestrated support, will hopefully get us the more goals and better results we all crave. And obviously better players, which I think we already have relative to last season, and more on the way.
Cautiously optimistic for the season and think we should have enough tomorrow against a less experienced unit.
Here we go….
Absolutely no idea where this season will take us!!
Genuinely excited about the unknown, couple of marquee signings and the mood of expectation will be incredible..
At this point the mood could also quickly turn the other way…
Norally on away games, well home games too I suppose, I text the team an hour before ko as we recieve it to some of my fellow bloggers. Well I can disappoint a few of you early for this game, as Ennis will not be in the squad, he is in the U23’s ( yes that’s right U23’s according to the Official Wolves site) I thought it was U21’s so maybe a typo, there is a lot going on at the moment.
But anyway, I digress for all his hard work, goals and skill during the most pontless Pre season I have ever witnessed he is not with the First team squad.
A big disappointment for me as I follow the lad and thought he has more potential than most of the first team “old guard”.
Hey Ho, I’m just a paying fan.
Onwards & Upwards
I will be there with the other 2599 cheering the new era strut their stuff.
Ennis update.
Minor injury, “he’s gutted”
I’ve put a bet on a 5-1 win and a 5-1 defeat. I have no idea. Team selection is going to be interesting for the right reasons. I’d love us to get off to a flying start but, on the other hand, defeat would highlight deficiencies that need to be addressed with further signings so, in a way, we can’t lose. Realistically, we can probably expect a cagey affair as Walter assesses his squad.
Zenga Buses .. look good in the showroom, slow acceleration but can travel at a fair pace if driven well. (No room for passengers on this ride!)
I foresee, that with all the change of the last week and WZ adapting to Championship pace, a slow stop:start opening. That said, today’s XI should be all out to impress so going for a win in a tough away patch.
We’re going to have a squad that’s champing at the bit to show what they can do. We have goals in us but need to watch our achilles heel of a defence.
Debut goal(s) for Bod could get us our dream start.
No idea really, I doubt if the pre-season side could manage to beat Rotherham , but Walter Zenga and the new players and may pep the side up.
I’ll stick to my stand by score from last season until we see how the team performs
wolves to go off to a flyer Rotherham will melt under the pressure COYW
Not sure how long I’ll stick with the predictor, but here we go. My optimistic self says that all the right words are being spoken and our new owner/manager bounce and last minute player turnover will trump theirs to raise season hopes even further beyond the current hyper-levels. My pessimist/realist self says that it’ll be half a dozen games before things come together, the manager knows nothing of the Championship, our team is essentially as bare as the end of last season and Rotherham away is about as a slippery a banana as you can get on day 1, especially as they’ll be up for showing those rich fancy dans a thing or two. And I can’t see where goals will come from for either side.
So yes, the ghost of season starters past is alive and well and it’s a good old draw. No doubt at the end of it “lots will have been learned” and there’ll be “positives to push on from”! Not quite the brave new dawn just yet.
Oops. good start – put one of the ‘1’s in the website box!!
Is Brompton waiting till 4.44pm before posting his prediction?
Did it earlier mate. Went for 2-0.
Did it at 10.04 am today. Put it on early as I did not want to get called a cheat like that fella Chalkie.
Are you at the Reading game next Saturday? If so I will see you then.
Equal parts excitement, hope and fear. Ah, it’s the good old start of the season – welcome back my friend!
In other news, there’s finally a low cost company flying to Birmingham from Sofia. Could this be the year of me visiting the Mol after more than 25 years of supporting Wolves from afar? Fingers crossed.
Scroll back up, Bedders, he snuck it in under one of my posts sneakily earlier today.
Season hasnt started and he’s already up to his underhand tricks.
I thought all the weaseling was done with after moxey had gone.
Seems Chalkie was a closet fan of his!
Pmsl. Don’t change my friend, ever. I look for your posts to make me smile. I really hope your predictions come true this season, as we all need to see a glut of goals. Take care mate.
Just on train to sunny Rotherham. Impossible to predict today really, but having the football season back is brilliant in itself! C’mon the wolves
UP THE MIGHTY WOLVES!
Slow start I think. Can’t see us hitting the ground running after the upheaval of the last 2 weeks.
Someone has a very similar moniker to mine!!
Early season optimism
Wolves win 2-0
Need to put your scores in the boxes or it wont count mate.
At the start of this, my 63rd season following Wolves, I’ve never had less idea about the outcome of this match – or, for that matter, the season as a whole. I’m going to be optimistic until proved wrong and so think we’ll get a good result today.
A very happy season to bloggers one and all – see you in the Prem?
So here is a question
Who banned The Liquidator at The Molineux?
If it was greasel, can we have it back?
It was the public. A report was in a matchday programme saying they did not like to hear 20000+ fans shouting fuck off every home game.
Starting 11 today
Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty; Edwards, Evans, Saville; Wallace, Bodvarsson, Henry.
Subs: Lonegran, Deslandes, Coady, Price, Costa, Teixeira, Mason
Thomas, I remember you writing last season that if we were strengthened by 2 or 3 players we would be a “formidable” side. Well that’s certainly happened and I expect us to get formidable as the season progresses and the new players are actually played. As for tactics, strategy and man management, that’s still an unknown. Exciting though!
Looking at the starting line-up for this match, the only difference is Jon Dadi – and why on earth isn’t Price starting?
That Clive from Houston is the bloody man, talks real talk he does. Good on ya mate and up the fucking wolves. FUCK OFF WEST BRON
Same old team different manager. Let’s see.
Some goals in that team wouldnt be expecting great possession stats.
Well, the new era starts here. Nervous anticipation don’t come close.
COME ON ME BABBIES
For God’s sake
Guess I aint getting 3 points in the prediction league. I wonder if we need a new No 5 !
Ouch. Sounds absolutely awful so far…
Ooops. Let’ s see if our strikers can pull us out the shit now.
It’s all a ploy by the players to get new signings in….honest !!
🙁
Probably end up 2-5 to Wolves ! these are usually high scoring games with Rotherham……..
Yeah, and if it is Clive will be gutted for getting his prediction wrong lol
No Brompton it ended up 2-2. Now let me think, who predicted 2-2?
Sounds like our goal settled a few nerves…
Iorfa red carded. It gets worse. I suppose this gives management confirmation of what players are needed to move forward.
Sounds like we are down to 10 men
Lol. See my post above.
YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
GET IN!!!!!!
Two of our newboys combine to make it 2-2. Come on.
Does anybody know what happened to the Wolves BLOG on match days.
Wolves fans trying to do the Icelandic clap, sounds great.
A draw away from home with only 10 men for the last 38 minutes. That will do nicely thank you. That will certainly give our management something to work from.
Really happy with that in the end. It sounded like we were getting slaughtered so to claw it back to 2-2 with 10 men is fantastic. Also sounds like Zenga isn’t afraid to make changes, which is great, and Teixiera sounds really promising!
Good start.
Yep settle for that after poor start and going down to 10. Texeira sounds a player and great equiliser from Bodvarsson.
That was a gift from……..Buddha what a result in the circumstances and Big Dodi is going to be a star..the defence..what can I say..was there for all to see ..we can only do what we’ve got to do and I’m sure it will happen..
There should be celebrations today..
It was the way we recovered& Mason could of won it..but it was as good as a win in the circumstances…
I am sure it will Steve. Was good to see a fight back. I was not there but Stu told me that their first was a defensive error, and their second was a brilliant goal. So, at the moment I am not overly concerned as our front men put away two goals. Had WE been two up and conceded 2 goalst then I would be worried.
Early days, but I am sure our new management team will react accordingly, especially now that they will be without Iorfa for the Reading game, which I am going to. Are you coming up?
Positives in there for everyone to see. The Fosun management were all here, the Benfica President was here and it looked like Talisca sitting there, but not 100% certain.
Same team as last year with the exception of Bodvasson, so you expect the same play and that’s exactly what we got in the first half. Their first goal very poor defending in the centre back, not good enough free header. The second was a beautiful goal end of, lovely strike.
Second half a lot better people trying, then out of absolutely nothing Saville got past his marker and fires a lovely left footer across the goal into the back of the net. Iorfa went for a ball as the last man and ended up being red carded. But in all fairness, we had naff all to worry about as there had been hardly anybaction down that side anyway.
Then Texira came on and the game definitely changed, he collected a ball put a great through pass to Bodvasson who went to the line and fired across goal into the far side a peach.
Costa was brought on too late to show anything but our game is definitely improved with the addition of the foreign imports, Teixira is better than we’ve seen for a while.
Roll on Tuesday, play a full team because a great opportunity to get them fit and bedded into the team.
Ennis would have had a ball today.
Great start, Down to 10 men and pull a 2-0 defeat around.
Onwards & Upwards.
🙂
They must have gone back happy. Good fightback.
“The game is never over”. – Walter Zenga
Jeff Shi reckoned we needed 5-8 new players.
We have 4 so far.
We definitely need at least 8 Jeff.
Talisca for one plus……..a centre back, a holding midfielder, a winger and a striker.
Sorry that’s 9.
Put simply the likes of Batth, Saville, Edwards, Henry, Wallace, Byrne etc are not going to be good enough to get us to where we are going.
Great turn around, and to see all the top brass there was good because they will have seen 2500 Wolves fans going mental when Dadi scored…….they will have seen what Wolves means to us they will have seen and realised, I hope what massive potenial there is not only to make us a force again but to get back there investment and more if they speculate .
If we could now invest in defence and a real creative midfielder and with Dicko and the rest there no reason to fear this league.
Only concern was no Ennis…….why..!
Paul
He was carrying a slight injury mate. He would have had a field day in tne second half. That Teixira looks the business.
Your right Stu, he would have didn’t know he was carrying a injury.
Just practicing for the future:
Hey hey hey they’re magic, you know
Dadi, Tex and Dicko
When Dicko comes back, we may be scoring shed loads.
I wouldn’t have guessed a draw anyway to be fair but excellent guess there Tom 😛
When when when will some one here believe me about conceding…
Really impressive recovery but if we hadn’t conceded the first stupid goal we would of won..
Jeff / Mendes please read this and buy a no5 before I go nuts..
Brompton I’d love to go to see Reading at home but I’m stuck in Kent for the moment..
The first game I’ll see is prob Norwich away at this rate..but by then in January we will be top of the league..
Ever so slightly positive…
Love the positivity mate. I do not believe we will go up this season though. I feel when we have finished buying the players we need (including a No 5) it will take time to establish them into a team. I believe this will be a season of consolidation, and then next season, watch out!
I hear you about conceding, but it is like the glass half full or half empty comment. You could say that had Mason put away his effort we would have won.
You have your views, and I have mine.
Shame about your busy schedule mate. Take it easy buddy.