Last season’s sensational double over Spurs was perhaps Wolves’ greatest achievement of the campaign, not least because both of those crucial wins came at times when we desperately needed them.
Having triumphed the previous week against Bolton, victory at White Hart Lane gave the club their first ever back-to-back wins in the Premier League and the perfect springboard to push themselves away from the relegation zone heading into the new year.
When the return fixture rolled around in February, Wolves were very much back in the brown stuff, following a run of poor results capped by a demoralising last gasp defeat to Blues. But the team really dug-in, scored a quite-brilliant goal and shut up shop to grab another priceless three points.
Happy days.
Thankfully, things aren’t quite so precarious for Wolves right now. A five-point return represents a solid enough start to the season and had it not been for a few moments of madness in the dying seconds of last weekend’s game, things would have been even rosier.
But this is unquestionably our toughest match so far, on paper at least. Tottenham have great quality throughout their squad and boast a formidable home-record, despite that shock defeat to Wigan. They’ll be keen to rectify that with a handsome win on Saturday.
Harry’s boys were of course in action in the Champions League on Tuesday, so it’s up to Mick and Co to make sure we capitalise on any potential hangover from their midweek exertions. They’ll also be without big names such as Defoe, Dawson and potentially Luka Modric. However, it’s worth noting that even with these players sidelined, the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Robbie Keane, William Gallas and Wilson Palacios could still only make the bench for their game against Werder Bremen, which demonstrates their strength in depth.
As for Wolves, Christophe Berra will sit this one out following his late sending-off at Fulham, with Richard Stearman favourite to deputise. Unless Mick decides to revert to a 4-5-1, I reckon that will be the only change from the side that started at Craven Cottage. So, that’s a team of:
Hahnemann
Foley
Craddock
Stearman
Ward
van Damme
Henry
Mancienne
Jarvis
Doyle
SEB
There are options available of course. Mancienne could slot in alongside Craddock at the back, with Jones returning to the midfield. Alternatively, one of the forwards could drop-out if we switch to the more defensive-minded 4-5-1 system. It’s a difficult one to call this week.
Prediction League
Three doom-merchants got the result spot on last weekend against Fulham, correctly forecasting a 2-1 defeat. So well done to Aikiwoves, BAZZA (Selly Oak) and Mark Lawrenson (yes, Lawro) for picking up the maximum 3 points on offer.
New kid on the blog still leads the overall table with 7 points.
Don’t forget, if you want to join in with the Prediction League, simply leave your prediction for each game in the comment section of the official preview (such as this one).
This the first weekend I’m going to predict defeat for Wolves. I fancy us to score but shifting our settled back-four around will leave us more vulnerable at the back. 3-1 to Spurs.
If you’re making the trip down to the capital, have a great time and roar the lads on. I hope lightning will strike twice for you.
Up The Wolves.
2-0 Spurs i´m afraid.
Spurs 2-0 Wolves.
I think they’ll be motivated for a bit of revenge for the six points we took off them last year …
I’m afraid i can’t see anything else than a defeat this weekend, though you never know what you’re gonna get with Spurs. Lost to Wigan, battered Bremen yet still didn’t win. We’re always capable of nicking a goal though so i’ll say 2-1 to Spurs
Spurs 1 – 0 Wolves
I’m not so sure Wolves will lose – Spurs had a tough CL game midweek, have a weakened back line and Lennon is out of form. If we can keep it tight then we could sneak a win.
1-0 Wolves
Spurs 3 1 Wolves – I think Spurs will look for revenge after last seasons double. I can see Rodney Trotter grabbing a goal or two.
Our only hope is that they are knackered after Europe – and on the plus side Defoe, Modric, Dawson and now Van der Vaart are all missing.
So I hope Jed is right and we are all talking out of our arses! Come on me baaabbbies!!! A draw would be great!
Sorry but I can’t see us getting anything this weekend, 3-0 to spurs. Probably another Keane hatrick against us.
Hopefully the ref hasn’t jumped on the dirty wolves bandwagon because it’s going to be difficult enough without conceding a foul for every bit of physical contact.
I almost forgot Keane was still at Spurs, i doubt he’ll even get on the pitch
2-2……Why not?
Was gonna go with 3-1 Spurs, but ever the optimist!
Sours have only took one point from their last two games, and it’s too much to expect a repeat of last season. Plus, I can see whoever plays at centre half will have a mare
Spurs 3 Wolves 0
Well hopefully Spurs will suffer from a euro hangover but I don’t fancy our defence. A 3-3 thriller!!
Can’t see us getting much from this one im afraid 🙁
Tottenham 3 Wolves 1
I’ll go with 1-1.
Come On Me Babbies!!!!!!!!!!
but, 2 – 1 to the Yids is my prediction. Or as Mr T said in Rocky III “Prediction… Pain!”
10 Yellows. 3 Reds and a 1 Blue card.
The Blue Card is the new “specific to Karl Henry” card…..
You’re gonna get a stuffing.
Kosher Stuffing or that ready mixed Paxo stuff?
Fair doo’s tho Yid – I like Spurs.
Yeah, cos you nailed us last season and all your best players are fit. Scared.
Spurs are a real mixed bag…and dont like it up em!!!!
1-1
I think Spurs will be hurting after the Wigan defeat. Spurs to win 2-1…
Come on Wanderers!
I’m going to say….2-2 (!)
1-2 the Wolves. Keeping le faith! (Blindly)
Spurs 3 Wolves 0
We have more fit players dboy and those fit players are better than your fit players.
Eloquently put. Shame your fit players didn’t beat our fit players last season when all the fit players played one another in front of the fit crowd.
Your WAGs are much fitter than ours – maybe that’s why the Spurs team looked so tired when we beat them twice last season!
Still, at least we wont have to watch a petulant Defoe swinging his arms around like a toddler when it didn’t go his way last season.
I also hope Rodney Trotter is getting balls deep in some more whores tonight so he is off his game by 3pm tomorrow! Or that maybe your tourette suffering, dodgy dealing manager falls out of the ugly tree again. Come on Yid, even you must admit there is no way Jamie can have come from his b*llocks, he looks more like Davros (leader of the daleks) every time I see him! Like someone has left a wax work too close to a radiator.
Whoever wins at least we might get more than our usual 5 mins at 11.55pm on MOTD as we are playing a fashionable London club. Plus it will take Lineker et al longer then that to analyse every Karl Henry tackle anyway.
Not a game most fans expect even a point from – but then we thought that last season.
Yid…. for the love of Leviticus…. go and munch some jellied eels.
Sod it. We won there last year, so I think we will win again and become their ‘bogey team’ a bit like Brighton used to be for us so many times.
We’ll win 2-1 with a late goal.
I would like to see Adlene start and think he deserves his shirt.
We go one up top with Doyle, and SEB will grab the winner off the bench.
Also, wot no Mouyokolo? He’ll be the new Zubar…Into the breach in the New Year and look like a world beater. Here’s hoping!
Totally agree Ben Adlene looked like a world beater against Spurs (at home) last season.
I’ve heard Mouyokolo is not match fit yet, as for Zubar – the sooner he is back in a right back the better.
For what its worth I’d go
Hann
Zubar
Craddock
Mouyokolo (yep, without seeing him play!)
Ward
van Damme
Henry
Guedioura
Jones
Jarvis
Doyle
I agree – except Stearman at centre half as cant afford to throw an unfit player in against a top four side.
Also might go Mancienne rather than Jones too – safety first!
However looking at my fantasy team ranking I know naff all anyway!
1-1 to Wolves 😉
Thomas maybe you should do a disciplinary prediction league, to guess the amount of cards for each side!
If i remember correctly, it turned out afterwise that Spurs players had been on an unauthorised piss-up in Ireland before our away game last year. Don’t think we can expect that sort of luck again. Love us to win, of course, but my head says 2-0 Spurs.
I’m gonna guess 2-1 to Spurs.
2-1 to wolves. my heart cant predict a loss.
well my doom and gloom prediction was correct last week but I’m feeling more confident today! so 2:2 today
spurs 3 – 1 wolves