If you’d said to me on the day Gary O’Neil was appointed we’d be 10 points above the relegation zone after 16 games I’d have been surprised and delighted in equal measure.
That’s why I can’t be too critical about some of the more agricultural aspects of the last two performances, particularly having yielded another four precious points in this cut throat competition.
Yes, I think we could have done more to force the issue, particularly in the second half against Forest, but both sides came with a high level of motivation, determined to close the spaces and make playing through difficult. When that’s the primary game plan of the opposition, it’s not easy.
The next two games should make for better spectacles but will be just as tough for different reasons.
West Ham
Victory and progress in Europe last night will have done the bubble blowers good after the chastening experience at Craven Cottage last weekend.
Fulham have been on the up but that pummeling still raised a few eyebrows. In times gone by that’s the type of flakey away performance you might have expected from them, but they come across as a more solid, reliable outfit these days, so the shock around that lop-sided result is a testament to the good work David Moyes has done.
It always seems like a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ Moyes will be moved on (they were even linked with Gary O’Neil in one potentially spurious story this week) but I can see him carrying on there for years if they remain stable.
Their owners had their hands burned with Pellegrini the last time they looked to make a more progressive appointment, so I think they’d need a hefty old shove to make the change.
When they put it all together, they can beat anyone and despite their last result they’re just three points off the top six so when you factor in their success in Europe, it’s been another tidy first half to the campaign.
I like Bowen, Ward-Prowse was an excellent addition and Paqueta must be quality because City wanted him – so plenty to think about on Sunday. Michail Antonio is the only injury they have and if he is still out that’s a bonus because he can be a handful.
Wolves
Still no Pedro Neto but hopefully he can play some part in the remaining three games of 2023. Rayan Ait-Nouri could return and he’d be a handy option. I’m not sure about that Bueno/Toti axis down the left.
I’m surprised how little game time Bellegarde was given in the last two, but maybe that’s a nudge from the manager that he needs to do a little more. Offensively I think he’s a big weapon but we have seen players run off him in the build-up to goals so there might be something there holding him back.
Sarabia had a hand in the goals we scored against Burnley and Forest so there’s definitely an argument for keeping him in. Elsewhere, I don’t foresee any changes.
Predictions
Well done to AussieWolf, t’OM, Positively Negative, PeteRobbo and Ash K who all got the scoreline correct last time out.
I don’t get any predictions correct these days so you might as well keep it moving, but I’ll go for another 1-1. We’re usually good for at least one but remain charitable at the back at times. A hard-fought point would be a good result. If we had Pedro I’d be feeling more upbeat about our prospects but without him I think teams came step onto us more, particularly away.
As always, if you’d like to join in with the Prediction League this season, it’s simple – just leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided. Then repeat for every preview article throughout the season, making sure you always use the same email address to make your prediction. Your email is what ties you to your overall score.
Up The Wolves!
A tough game and I would happily settle for a point now to keep momentum going. My expectations for this season were very low and so far GON and the team have exceeded them. Notwithstanding the great VAR robbery I did at one point wonder whether we could flirt with a push for the last European place but unless we do some very astute business in January I think the last two games have indicated that whilst we are an ok side, there is still a quality gap that needs to be bridged.
Hope Semedo can stop being out jumped at the far post
Tough game
Could well lose, hope for a draw but would love a result
I seem to get predictions right when I am conservative, so i’m going for a 2-1 loss this week. Feel our squad is just not clicking at the moment… Agree we need Pedro back to give us some more go-forward and threat in the box.
It’s strange that Gary is still attracting criticism from certain quarters when we consider the strides made with Hwang and Cunha in particular, neither of whom could hit a barn door last season. Ait Nouri is also looking like he might fulfill his potential too.
Gary certainly seems to know his starting line-up and with some astute dealings in and out next month we should be able to banish any relegation fears.
With regard to the Forest game, I wasn’t surprised at the stalemate- any team coming off the back of a shellacking is going to setup to be hard to beat, first and foremost. Anyone remember the home game against Blues the week after their 9 nil mauling- we all expected a comfortable home win and had to sit through a boring 0-0.
I am therefore more upbeat about Saturday thanks to West Ham’s European success. They will be buoyant and looking to take the game to us- whether we are able to break quickly and take advantage remains to be seen. You never know with Wolves and I’m going for a cheeky away win.
Going for the conservative draw.
GON will play Sarabio and not Bellegarde.
Great to have Ait back, but too soon for Neto I’m afraid.
I think the the Irons are a good team with 2 sparkling performers as Thomas highlighted and we seem to be capable at best, on this current run. A few poor individual performances in the team during the recent 2 game home games has led to the positive vibe from prior games waning to the point where I decided to review our League position after 16 games of last season to at least cheer the soul a little. At that point we were in limbo and at the very bottom of the league with all around awaiting a transformation in fortune ….it came and we survived .
However seemingly comfortable sides above us at the time were eventually relegated probably due to a combination of mismanagement and lack of investment in January …..a lesson that hopefully will be learned as at that time neither Leicester nor Leeds fans would have predicted their eventual demise.
The optimism of the results and points on the board have now, after these 2 games, been replaced with a feeling that this game could be an indication to all what we are currently capable of and the definite need to dip into the market at the worst time irrespective of the result ….so its a management game and GON has to get this one right both with the starting line up and as often is the case and probably more so on Sunday the use of substitutions. West Ham will have played in the week, albeit at home,and may tire in the last 20 minutes.
The players attitude and performances seems to reflect the managers tactical decisions ….when he gets it right they perform and we create chances and unlike last season convert them.
My own score predictions ain’t been great again this season but if GON gets this one right then I can see us getting a result and another 3 points against Chelsea in the next one …. what pessimism ?
Big game this one …..I’ll raise my glass to Mr O’Neil 2-1
Well, our away form is not great but the Hammers may be fatigued after last night’s great win. I can’t understand them falling apart at Fulham but this happens in football, and is usually followed by a win, which they achieved. They seem more erratic than us as Gary has fashioned some level of consistency. Shame that Pedro is not yet ready to return but better safe than sorry. I’m torn between 1-1 or 2-1 to us but will go with 2-1 for the Prediction League. Money-wise, I’m backing a straight win and a win with BTTS to score with BetVictor, plus a bit of money on a score draw. I will come out in front with any result except a loss or a 0-0 bore draw.
The Irons are a good team and have the home advantage, so are more likely to win this one.
But… I’m going to stick out for a draw, as we seem to be able to raise our game against the better teams.
Like you Thom, I’m having a mare in the prediction league so whatever I put, expect the opposite! West Ham are one of the better sides outside the top seven – I’m a big fan of the midfield acquisitions they made over the summer. Hopefully they’ll be a little tired after their mid-week exploits in Europe, but they seem to have got the knack of balancing those additional demands, so that’s said more in hope than expectation.
Good to have RAN back as we’re desperately short of width and pace in Pedro’s absence. I like Bueno but he doesn’t offer as much going forward. I was disappointed with Bellegarde’s cameo against Forest so would keep Sarabia in, who’s belatedly started showing his quality as of late.
UTW!
You say you’re having a mate Ben .. but how much has VAR contributed to it … I Emma’s sitting pretty to bag 6 Prediction points from Sheff Utd and Fulham and ended up with a big fat zero ..
.. nils desperandum ..
… mare and was
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Feeling 3-0 either way
If I were writing this preview I’d have pretty much said what Thomas has said.
But given a draw is statistically less likely, I’m going for a narrow win
I think we’ll struggle. 4 points out of 6 looks good on paper but the performances haven’t been there. We issues down the left. Forest should have beaten us given the clear cut chances they had.
think I’d start with Sarabia rather than Bella.
we must be in the business of point accumulation over the next crucial two weeks and I’d take 6 from the next 4 games…if Neto is back in January then we could still be on for 9th or 10th …..don’t expect any new players joining soon but this squad looks of decent quality, especially with Pedro back.
Still think Semedo should be midfield and Sasa should be given a whirl.up front…come on Gaz,…take a chance man…why not?
I’ll take a draw Sunday
Hopefully we’re overdue a barn storming counter attack performance away from home. But I’ll continue with my pessimists predictions 2-0 routine home win
Narrow hammers win
And I agree with you 100% Avebury. But here’s hoping for better obviously,
I’ll go for a draw
I reckon they should have their pre-match energy drink a little earlier. They may then be up and rocking from the first whistle instead of waiting till we’re a goal down before rousing from their slumbers. How lovely it would be to actually score first and be able to play our more natural counter-attack game.
Shame there’s no Pedro but Rayan’s return is a big plus. The lad has come into his own under GON and provides a real attacking threat down the left.
Bellegarde has had a little flak post Forest but it must be remembered that he’s had hardly any minutes and is still quite new to the Premier League. Even an excellent player like he needs to get his eye in and only time on the pitch will do that.
It was good to see you and Janey at Dougie and Barbara’s pad last weekend.
How’s the cold coming on?
I think I’ve caught it.
This game has got ‘draw’ written all over it. Wham home record is fairly good. W 3 D 2 L 2. Scored 12 conceded 10. WWFC away record reads W 2 D 1 L 5. Scored 10 conceded 13. Of course the clowns in Fawlty Towers have conspired against us. All 5 away defeats by 1 goal. Three of those 5 away defeats should have been draws had VAR done its job properly. On paper very little between tge teams. A draw or an odd goal win by either side. As we are due another away win and some Fawlty Towers pay back I am going for WHAM 1 WWFC 2.
A point or more will be good
Hoping WH a bit tired after mid week
We are playing a London club! Time to kick a London clubs butt! That is my intellectual contribution for the night!!
Another chance for 3 points just keep it tight for the first 20 minutes.9
I would be quite happy with a point in this game. Sadly, I don’t thinl we’ll get it.
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With little real confidence, I’ll go for a2-2 draw.
Always tough on the road, Bowen has been a menace up top.
Agreed Teddy, I’m also worried about our left side after the last two games.
Hope I’m wrong but until we start games with a fully fit Neto and Ait Nourri I’m concerned about our movement and lack of a threat up front particularly away from home.
COMBs prove me wrong!
I’d like to think the players will be well rested and can revert to the better form we saw before the last couple slogs, but I can’t help but be skeptical.
I’m going for a narrow victory!
A few seasons ago London was a good stomping ground for us with bringing home quite a lot of points; not so though for a while.
That’ll change tomorrow.
The Hammers have lots of goals in them and we don’t seem to be able to keep a clean sheet. On the positive side we are still scoring consistently and they will be tired after their midweek match. Difficult call but I fear either they may have too much for us at home or that Stockley Park will get involved again.
Not enough on show in those last two home games against average opposition to give me any confidence going to London Stadium. Wet Spam could give us much trouble early doors especially if we start slow. I then expect we will be chasing the game but come back into it as they tire in second half. Would just love it if we beat em, hoping for a point but expecting a narrow defeat.
This looks as if it’s likely to be a close game so I’ll go with a draw.
I’d like to be entertained tomorrow.
Let’s go for it from the off and show the ‘ammers what we’re made of.
If we do we are perfectly capable of getting at least a draw.
A win would be a nice pre-Christmas present, but I’d be happy with a point.
If my memory serves me right .. our last visit to West Ham ended with lunatic Lage getting the chop … following a 0-2 reverse.
That game was complete rubbish and on current form tomorrow may be no different… which I’m hoping isn’t the case …
It’ll be a bonus if Ait Nouri is a starter .. but we’re going to have our work cut out to stop them scoring …..
the burning question is can we score away against them .. sorry but no .. even with Cunha showing his mettle I’m afraid Hwang seems to go awol when he’s needed the most…
I’d be more than happy to get a draw but just can’t see it ..
Can we burst West Ham’s bubble?
Yes we can!
UTW
Which Hammers will turn up? The team strolling through European competition, or the one who got spanked by Fulham? I’d like to think that with only a few days since their last European game, they are going to be a bit knackered. However, I reckon they will probably still be too good for us – Bowen is such a threat. Reluctantly, going for a narrow loss.
I’ll settle for a point.
I think they’re better than us at the moment. But I like us more.
We will need significant improvement to get anything out of this against a decent team who have goals in them..
Look at Everton go maybe we should have put 2 fingers up to the ffp
I do feel like we’re maybe longing for a break, so a loss is definitely in the cards, but here’s hoping there’s some excitement.
Seems harsh being disappointed with 4 points from two games but the performances were a little flat . I was surprised with the lack of minutes in those games for Doyle and Bellegarde. Surely when we have more of the ball these are better options. The returning Ait-Nouri should also help as the wing backs have also been very negative.
It’s still been a decent start for us January not to far away and hopefully we can add more attacking options as Sasa and Fabio don’t appear to be viable options in Oneils mind.
On way to match.
I’m predicting a draw (but hoping for a sneaky win, obvs). I’ll be at the match as a very old friend gifts me a ticket each year. It’s a good system at WHU.
We have not won a televised Sunday match since forever, well that’s the way it feels. Come on you mighty Wolves make me happy.
Have a great Christmas, one and all.
According to BBC Sport, Wolves are without a win in their previous 10 league games played on a Sunday (D3 L7). Time for a change then.
Our last 3 visits here have been absolute stinkers so let’s hope we can give them a proper game this time. Funny old side West Ham but they tend to be solid enough at home. I’ll sit on the fence.
I’ll go for a good game and some more points.
1 lv & COYW
utw.
I’d take a point and I think that’s what we’ll get. Cunha with another one
Strange team to my mind. I presume it’s a back four with Toti at left back. Maybe Lemina dropping into the back four when necessary. It could be very attacking formation or a disastrous setup allowing Hammers a lot of attacking room. Looking forward to this one funnily enough considering our form on Sundays and in London. Time for change perhaps…
Cat Killers 3 wolves 0.
Cat Killers had three chances and in the second half Wolves had loads.
F**n hate Bowen what a tw*t.
Worst performance i’ve seen for ages. I went from doubting GON to then loving GON, now i’m very much doubting GON again.