A fringe benefit of Premier League status is skipping that banana skin first round tie.
It’s straight into a tough old assignment though, assuming Nuno opts to field the reserves, as you rarely get an easy game at Hillsborough.
As I say every year I’d like to progress and now feels like our time to really challenge for one of the domestic cups.
Saturday demonstrated this group can compete with anyone on their day, so it’s simply a case of using the squad intelligently and hoping the draw is kind to us.
Getting past the Owls is job one though.
Sheff Weds
It’s been an indifferent start to the Championship campaign for the blue half of Sheffield, with two wins, two losses and a draw from their five matches.
Perhaps that’s no great surprise after a difficult campaign last time out coupled with their inability to do business over the summer due to an ongoing transfer embargo.
Still, looking down their teamsheet from the weekend victory over Ipswich, there are plenty of familiar names with the pedigree to help them push up into contention.
Our old pal Steven Fletcher came off the bench, while the likes of Forestieri, Bannan and Reach are all capable second tier operators.
I suppose that’s the benefit of the play-off setup? It means teams that are transitioning can keep their season alive by staying within shooting distance of sixth place. Feels like it might be a big ask for the Owls this time, but not impossible.
Wolves
The only position Wolves wouldn’t appear to have two senior players is right wingback, but Nuno could rotate out the other 10 players from Saturday if he wanted.
Without knowing anything about Dendoncker that’s still a pretty strong lineup and one you’d hope might get the job done, particularly if Wednesday also use their squad.
While most of the attention would be on the new signings there are plenty of others in the above XI who will be looking to force their way into Premier League contention so motivation shouldn’t be an issue.
The poll
Prediction
No PL points up for grabs in the cup, but just for fun I’m backing us to progress with a narrow 2-1 victory.
There’s no extra time in the competition any more so we won’t be seeing another marathon contest like the game at the Etihad last season.
That should motivate both teams to go all out for the win and make it an open, entertaining game.
Up The Wolves!
I’d love a run in the League Cup. In fact, I’d rather us get to the final in this comp over the FA, due to the ludicrous decision to play the semis at Wembley.
Can’t say I’m overly excited by the thought of Batth lining up anywhere in our back line. He’s just not cut out for the way we play. I’d be tempted to include Saiss at RCB and put Goncalves in MF alongside MGW. Try and dominate possession from the off.
Going to H-bro for the first time tonight , don’t know what to expect but it should be fun.
I’d love a cup run but fear it could be a crap night for us on the pitch. Shelf Wed will have something to prove whereas I’m not sure Nuno’s men will be as fussed.
I wonder whether Vinagre will play RWB with Giles on the left? We use 2 right footers in the 1st team, so why not 2 lefties tonight?
Traore to cause havoc. 2-0
I’d like to see a wolves side win this cup
I’d also like to see Ryan Giles getting a place over Vinagre as Vinagre is getting some premier league action
I would also like to see Wednesday back in the top flight where they belong so beating them might do them a favour
U t w
Let’s get a first win under our belt then kick on
I am for a cup run we seem to have depth
I would play some first teamers though just threshen things up
I’m going for a 2 1 win
Hillsborough a happy hunting ground for us and we meet up again with their manager The Keyboard Player out of Sparks. Well Ron Mael won’t be smiling tonight as we beat them 3-1.This cup ain’t big enough for the both of us…..
I am impressed, not a F- word in the whole three lines of your post!
I have suppressed the punk spirit that lurks inside me. It may be difficult when I have had a few beers mind. I will try my best to behave..
Thank you, I will reciprocate…not.
Fuckin’ amazin’, innit??
Doe yo start……..
CLIVE…How droll are you…not.
A good chance for some of the fringe players to get some much needed minutes. Interested to see how Dendoncker gets on as I can see him going straight into the starting XI when he’s fully fit, unfortunately at the expense of Mr Reliable Ryan Bennett.
Won’t be the most attractive game of football but I’m backing wolves to grab a couple of goals.
2-1 utw
Finding it hard to feel any enthusiasm for this competition. Hope we win, not bothered if we don’t.
I predict
We will get our second goal just in time to ‘beat the clock’
And ‘the number one song in heaven ‘
Will be
Nuno had a dream
Utw
Oops
2 – 0
To us
Brilliant competition to get the fringe players going.
Don’t think I would play db though as I don’t see him as a fringe player.
Can’t see us losing this as there is so much class in that second squad.
3.0 wolves
I just hope that we’re more up for it than the last time we headed north (to Sunderland) when it looked like we were on the beach.
It’s a very nice beach at Sunderland but I don’t think that Sheffield is particularly well blessed with golden sands so we’ll probably be OK.
It should prove a good run out for some fringe players who will have something to prove to Nuno. Dendoncker will almost certainly start and I’d give Ryan Giles a go too.
I also hope that Patricio will be up there to watch John Ruddy and learn how to pass and generally distribute the ball to our players.
Great shot stopper he undoubtedly is…
…But his kicking is absolute pants. Particularly those long high hanging balls aimed at Doherty. His clash of heads against City on Saturday which left him dazed and confused was an accident just waiting to happen.
Us to win 2-1
Strange as it sounds, you may find that the poor kicking is actually a tactical move. I read recently that Bielsa specifically tells his keepers to kick the ball out of play so that the outfield players can press the opposition higher up the pitch. Just thinking aloud…
Big fan of Rui though, he’s an upgrade on Ruddy for sure.
Interesting Ben.
Throw-ins have long been a bugbear for me. Almost every one now would have been a foul throw back in the day. And, you’re quite right, most just present the ball to the opposition.
I see that specialist throw-in coaches are the coming thing now. Jurgen Klopp has just appointed one. A certain Thomas Gronnemark who holds the World record for chucking a pill (legally) 56 yards.
Jim White in the Telegraph today has written an interesting article about the skills, or otherwise, of the throw-ins today.
Worth a read.
See Clive. I’m a tactical genius. On par with Bielsa.
And it would appear you have won about as much as him, sweet f.a.!!
I won first prize in the looks competition.
I’d like a cup run, but the league has to be the priority in our first season back. I was really impressed with our showing on Saturday and would expect Nuno to rotate given the effort put in by all who started that game. Not sure if Traore and Dendoncker would be best served on the bench for now given their lack of match sharpness, but would expect the rest of the fringe players to start. Unlike seasons past, that’s no bad thing and I think we’ll get through against an indifferent Wednesday side. 0-2
The Karaoke Cup is is more than a useful outing for Wolves. A few of the bench-warmers should get a look in to keep them sharp. Add in the best of the rest and we have a very decent side capable of getting another draw away at Man City! I think Batth is a must for tonight and Bonatini. Traore I would ignore. He’s just back from a shoulder injury and he has nothing to prove. He looked awesome against Leicester and Man City, so save him for the PL. I reckon a comfortable 2-0 win to us.
Good to get a good cup run going, give’s Nunno a chance to give non first team players a run out we did well with our reserves at Man City and Southampton last season.
Safe trip to all those travelling.
Wolves to win 3 -1.
Our last trips to Wembley (for anything meaningful) had two things in common.
We won both times and I was there.
I fancy a hat trick of attending League Cup wins, so here is a promise and a threat all in one.
If we get to the final, I will be there.
I’m sure one of you kind bloggers will get me a ticket in due course.
I want Wolves to win every game in which we compete, even tiddlywinks on the team coach.
What is the point of going into any match if you don’t intend to win?
So, Sheff Wed to get creamed tonight.
Don’t care who plays or who scores, as long as we get more than them.
PS
I still love you, Mr. Death.
81,000 of us thought the Sherpa Van trophy was quite meaningful, Clive. More in attendance than the England v Scotland game the previous week!
Thought there were a few Burnley fans there, or were they ALL wearing Old Gold n Black?
So long as we stick to our system and keep our shape there is no reason why any eleven selected from the squad shouldn’t feel confident about winning this one. 2-0 to us.
Wolves teamfor tonight…
Ruddy
Coady Hause Doherty
Watt Dendoker Saisse Vinagre
Traore Bonatini Gibbs White
With no Batth in therethis looks like a team we could have put out as our first team two seasons ago.
Sheff Wed 0
Wolves 4
Hope to progress in this competition. Won’t be easy but whoever we put out should have more than enough to beat Sheffield Wednesday.
A win it is then.
I am bothered about this cup. Massively so in fact. This cup is the only decent silverware of note that Wolves have won in my lifetime as a supporter, albeit way back in 74 and 80. It would be huge to mark our revival in the English league by winning it again.
Let’s win it boys!
2-0 to us.
Go Wolves!
I’d love to see Traore start as Stuwolf suggests he will. Maybe Bonatini can finally score with Traore’s assists. We’ll go 3-o up, then Traore can come off and give someone else a run out.
Agree we can go far with the squad we have now. There seem to be quite a few waiting in the wings, apart from those who are due to go out on loan, or sold.
3-0 to Wolves
Hope I’m wrong but can’t see many goals in this lineup. Should be enough to win though, Doc to regain his confidence. Can’t wait to get Cav back. U TW.
It would be good to build on the morale boosting point from Saturday by getting our first win of the season tonight. Wont be easy but we should have too much for the home side. Maybe Bonatini could get to score – it may be the only opportunity he gets this season. As others have said Hillsborough is usually a happy hunting ground for us, so lets do t lads. 2-0 to our black and gold heroes.
Anyone know if there is audio or video anywhere for this game?
107 FM signal radio, cover Every Wolves game
don’t think I can get that in the USA 🙂
Unlike us then,your’e screwed, listening in on 107FM here in Wolvo.
🙂
Actually, you must be able to recieve it via internet, someone from the US has just had a mention whilst listening to the game over there.
Traore down the right cuts into the box, slips it to Bonatiniwho slots it home sweetly.
Wolves 1-0
A Bonatini goal. Almost as rare as a trophy in Sandwell Towns cabinet. An empty cabinet surrounded by pictures of Gary Megson and Bob Taylor. And the cultural symbol of West Bromwich. Carters Green clock tower.
Costa into the area, hauled down, Penalty.
Costa steps up sends him the wrong way,
2-0 Wolves
Just got back, the lads did us proud again, poor first half but they gelled in the second half Traore particularly, ran them ragged.
Two excellent goals Bonatini took his well, and must have grown six inches after, great what a goal can do to a strikers confidence. Costa too, he won the penalty and buried it.
Proud, very proud of our youngsters tonight, they kept the gold flag flying high!
The goals from last night..
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11484574/sheff-wed-0-2-wolves
I was very impressed by the youngsters last night. Hause looked very assured at the back. Vinagre loads of energy and pace- perhaps needs to work on first touch. Watt didn’t look out of place at all. Gibbs White got better and better as the game went on, after a nervous start. Goncalves looks like he has the potential to be Neves MkII albeit he has the build of Moutinho at the moment and Ashley-Seal had a really eye-catching 10-15 minutes as a late sub. Really encouraged by the talent we are bringing through. Well done to all the coaching staff working away from the glare of the first team set up.