Even before Raul’s injury, I was looking at our December fixtures with some trepidation.
Getting slapped around by Liverpool is no disgrace, but we’ll certainly need to play better against Chelsea and Spurs if we want to get anything.
Man Utd, for all their faults this season, have still crept up the table and that will be a really tough assignment too.
On paper at least, Villa at home and Burnley away look our most likely route to collecting some points, but as always with this Wolves side, you really never know.
Villa
I look at Villa and think they’re a better version of what they were last season – more dynamic going forward but still struggling to get that balance right between attack and defence.
What they did to Liverpool was extraordinary and a similarly comprehensive win at Arsenal showed they’re highly capable at full tilt.
But that’s been tempered by shipping 4 goals at home to Southampton, 3 to Leeds and coming into this game on the back of consecutive defeats to Brighton and West Ham.
In mitigation, how they lost at West Ham is anyone’s guess and the decision against them in the last minute was farcical.
With their games in hand and what looks like a decent enough run over Christmas, they could still end the year much closer to the top of the table than the bottom.
Ollie Watkins has been a revelation since signing from Brentford and given their attack the impetus it was sorely lacking last season. Most of Villa’s threat has come through him and Jack Grealish or a combination of the two.
Ross Barkley was another astute addition by Dean Smith but my understanding is he’ll be missing this weekend with injury.
In Luiz, McGinn, Mings and Cash they’ve got plenty of other useful players and if they’re allowed to control the game, have more than enough to cause us pain.
The away end
A couple of views lifted from the pre-match thread on the Villa Talk forum:
Sad situation with Jimenez, but it clearly benefits every team Wolves play until they find a decent replacement for him. But their manager is good and they’ll be up for it. We’ve lost 4 from 5 and desperately need to claw our way up a few positions in the table. If we lose and don’t play well, you have to think Smith will be under deeper scrutiny from ownership. We still haven’t drawn yet, so I’m predicting 1-1.
I think Wolves will look to not lose again, they know that they are in abit of bother because of losing Jimenez, they dont have Jota either. Despite they have lost power in places and valuable squad members for one reason or another, they still will give it the good going against us. I hope this is one game we do show that we deserve to win, I wouldn’t like an outcome like the Leeds game, especially a game we shouldn’t of won. Smith has to come out on top or at least I hope he does but we as a fan base also have to realise that we ourselves are not at full strength with Barkley still out, I think we need him for this game. Someone will be saying play Conor others Ghazi, I say do not start either and hand Ramsey his first start to the season, Ramsey has all the good there to do what Barkley does and I think it would be right to start him and wrong to play anyone else. It’s a game we can win with right choices however a game we will lose if not careful.
Wolves are usually good at bouncing back from defeats and despite the perception that they’re struggling more than usual this season, this is actually their best start to a season since being promoted. A draw wouldn’t be a bad result.
1-1. Traore to score a class goal cutting in from the right and smashing one with his left foot. Jack to score the winner in the last minute only to be chalked off by var because he chose to wear the thick Alice band and it got flagged offside.
Wolves
I think Nuno has to either go with a back 3 to make us more solid or commit to playing with a recognised striker.
This could be a good game to sit in and break because Villa have shown already they can be caught out on the counter.
But equally, handing them the attacking initiative could be a dangerous game as they’ve shown a more clinical edge at times this season.
As much as I like seeing us get more bodies forward, I still have that concern that whatever shape we deploy, it’s never going to rain goals so we’re still probably better off keeping things tight.
We could really do with a couple of those bonus goals from set pieces that have been lacking so far, which make the difference to a side that don’t get loads in open play.
Last time out
It took a Ruben Neves special to get us going in this fixture last season in a game we should really have won by more than the odd goal. Rarely do we dominate a game so much.
Things were more cagey at Villa Park post-lockdown but Wolves still managed to score the only goal and see it out with a degree of comfort.
Predictions
Well done to AussieWolf who pessimistically predicted the 4-0 defeat Anfield to claim the only maximum of Gameweek 11. Mildenhall Wolf leads the way in the overall table.
As always if you’d like to join in, simply leave your prediction for this game in the comment section below, which is where you’ll find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
Even though this is the best points return we’ve managed at this stage of a PL season, I do get the concern some are showing.
I was more relaxed about things prior to Arsenal and Raul’s injury. Whatever else we’ve done well in recent seasons, we’ve won a lot of games by virtue of the fact we’ve got a bloke who sticks the ball in the net.
For that reason, I’d be playing Fabio. It’s clear to me that he lacks the physical attributes to really have his say, but that will come and I’m assuming we’ve paid £35 mill because he has that instinct of getting into the right positions, which is precisely what we need.
There haven’t been many draws so far and that seems a logical outcome here.
As a minimum, I’d like to see us get 4 points from Villa and Burnley and pick the pockets of at least one of the other sides.
Yep, I’m with you Thomas. Score draw for me.
We will see what happens.
This is a must win game for me living in aldridge and surrounded by the numpties .
Mings is vastly overrated but is very good in the air so crosses will be wasted up high especially as our two forwards are midgets .
The best way is through the middle and that’s where neto and podence are masters .i can see both of them getting a goal .
Its 433 for me and traore will rip target to bits (or will he do his usual trick and have a mysterious injury )supplying the cutbacks so loved by our two diminutive forwards.
Keep it on the floor and we will wipe the floor with this lot.
Broadly agree with Spikey here. Not sure where the goals will come from but fingers crossed for the teenage megabucks and our Daniel for knocking two in. Our defence evidently had an off day last weekend (I’m sharp with my insights this week). Due a win I feel.
Closely contested derby here so I’m going for us to edge it
Both sides have been a bit hot and cold this season so far so it’s a difficult one to predict. Barkley has been immense so far this season and seems to bring the best out of Grealish, so I’m glad he is not playing.
I am concerned about where our goals are going to come from but I think the back line will be determined to see a clean sheet after last week so I’m going for a narrow win.
Win needed here
Hoping for a vast improvement on last week and Nuno has kicked a few backsides an optimistic 3-1 score.
Something has to give. we are conceding (and scoring) about 1 goal a game at home so far in 5 games. They are scoring at the rate of 2 goals per away game but do concede. Its a difficult one to predict. Is this the game where everything clicks ? Is this the game Greasy doesn’t get fouled 480 million times ? Or their striker goes down like a sack of spuds. We have beaten them last 2 visits to Molineux and not only beat them but made them look silly. Not sure this will be the case tomorrow. Agree 4 points out of Villa/Burnley will be a decent return. In which order the points come I’m not bothered but it would be good to put one over these again and once again remind them to MIND THE GAP ! I’ve got my sensible head on so will go for a 1-1 draw in this one. On the proviso we then beat Burnley.
Semedo cannot play RCB imo so it has to be a back three and Kilman coming back in
Play Dendonker up front ?
Feel that Ait Nouri could replace Marcal
Just hope we beat the Vile
Agree with Thomas I am deeply concerned now we have lost Raul for at least 3 months.
Acquisition of Hulk as rumoured would be an ideal stop gap.
We have now lost Jota, Docherty and Raul so where are the goals going to come from?
Fabio is still learning how to play at this level, and remains to be seen if he is worth the expense.
Still cannot lose to the Vile so a 2-0 win with Podence and Neto netting one a-piece.
Agree with most posts, this is a must win game. A draw will probably see us failing to average a point a game through Dec. on current form.
Thomas’s team selection spot on. Definitely no start for Neves in his present mood and Fabio has to start with a £35 million price tag, like it or not Nuno – the chips are down.
Sadly I’ll go with the flow, 1-1 draw.
Stick your score in the box pjb
Well that’s if you want the chance of an all expense holiday of a lifetime to Hawaii by winning the prediction league!
Utw
Silva has to start whether Nuno thinks he is ready or not he’ll never know if he keeps bringing him on off the bench.
I would bring Siasis back in midfield he’ll add some bit plus he has a goal in him. Dendonker for me is ineffective runs a round alot but no end product.
Just a qick one on the Window coming up we should have identified targarts by NOW and go for them as soon as Window Opens a try and get a proven stricker in and I mean someone who is playing regular first team football at the top Level IF possible I know they are hard to get but that should’nt stop us trying.
No more kids pelase….!
Paul
Think we know what happens in the window largely depends on the whims of Uncle Jorge.
Paul again
Did wonder about Saiss v Dendonker and on reflection think you are right. At the moment he offers more in both defence and attack, but I always worry about an early red card.
I know he can be abit clumsey. But to PJB Donk has been to ineffective for the size of him he should be bossing the midfield Winnipeg the ball back breaking up attacks but he does’nt where as Siais does and he chips in with goals.
In fact our midfield goal tally is stocking, so bad dont thing any of our midfield has scored this season.
Is that Christmas stocking??
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I reckon we will go back to the old gameplan – back three, sit deep, let the opposition have most of the ball, attack on the counter – but will be interested to see how that works without Raul as a focal point. Would love to see Fabio do something special.
I’m going for a narrow 1-0 win, after VAR chalks off a Villa goal in the first half.
I think it will get worse before it gets better unfortunately.
On a brighter note my fundraising for my Christmas Day swim in the icy North Sea in support of MacMillan Cancer Support and in memory of my late wife Julie is now up to £2,830 so only another £170 to hit my £3,000 target!
OODCL
Well done bedders, I know only too well how hard it is to fund raise so great effort buddy.
Sending man hugs…
On to the game, great to see Raul and Jonny on the training ground in one guise or another, both still a ways off, but nice to see them both healthy .
I fancy us to get our act going tomorrow, but that means Naff all to Wolves, we’ll see who turns up with the coach.
Tight 1-0 my brain is screaming, living on our nerves until we plug the Jimenez gap, I’d like to see two come in. We have all other areas covered, so let’s concentrate on a striker, yes we have some consolidating to do in some ares but me, I’d concentrate on two strikers and play them both.
I’d love to see us going forwards and terrifying defences like Liverpool and City do.
Wolves 1
Villa 0
Can’t see us going back to three @ the back tbh
We didn’t away at Liverpool so why would we at home to villa .
Start on the front foot , get traore running at them both fro the wings and through the middle, give him the same freedom that villa privilege Grealish with and there will be goals.
It looks very much like a 0-0 but I’m going 2-1 to the boys ,
Penalties ( if we ever get one ) should be for neves and you never know , it may boost his confidence enough to start shooting again, in fact how about the whole midfield start shooting !
Come on you wolves
Totally agree
?
I think we need to get points with this one to help give us some momentum going into some more very tough fixtures. That said, if we aspire to be one of the big boys, we have to be ready to play with the others on a regular basis and not just depend on getting enough points during the season from the more mediocre teams.
I can see this as a 2-2 game but l really want the 3 points
How bad is it, with the loss of 1 player, that heads are already settling for a draw, at home, against the vile…..
I will have to adjust to just reading this blog after games for the match report, because this rollercoaster of a blog is energy draining.
It’s either pick an opinion or pick a side at the moment.
this is villa… scraped survival last season, had a good few results at the start of this season without there fans around, one of there key assets is out, we are at home and looking to bounce back. Why does everyone think we will take and “be happy” with a draw in this fixture. We have the man power to put out a “second” team and still give villa a good game because they are bang average (I mean, we know what a talent Jack is but…)… and the fact we are the best team in the west midlands. 3-1.
with you all the way …. well said
Will this be the humbling the Brummies surely must crave after we have passed them by in recent years?
It may be but please to God let’s give it a right go. I believe we still have the better first team even without our top scorers of recent years.
I feel we have come out the traps pretty sharp in many games this season and we have been a little unlucky not to score more early goals.
So I’m going with a 2-0 half time lead, I think they will get back into it second half and run us close but we should just about hold em. Hopefully Tom Daley gets disqualified.
Must not lose 1-1
All the way !!
Teams fairly evenly matched for the first time in a while, and we’ve generally struggled of late. Expect this to be a test but backing us to come out on top. These are the games you really miss. UTW
I wouldn’t want Saiss to start a game in which Grealish is on the other side.
The Alice-banded one would spend even more time flouncing about on the floor than he usually does. And Romain could well end up spending more time back in the dressing room, as the referee falls for Jack’s rather unsubtle tumbles.
I think we should attack Villa and that Silva should start, with Traore having a free rein to go wherever he wishes – as long as it doesn’t include ‘helping out’ the defence.
Villa look twice the team that they did last season but we should really have the measure of them.
I’m looking for three points here.
We’re going to need them.
Oh Yes, nearly forgot.
I thought you’d all like to see my early Christmas present to myself.
Tres chic, I thought.
I hope you are referring to the shirt.
Note: It’s a Joke!
Joke taken!
There is a picture of Uncle George and Jeff on that t shirt. I bet Paul AD 67 and PJB have already put their orders in. (Only joking chaps)…
xl please .. how much do i owe you ?
Sensible head on
We win 2-1
Heart on my sleeve though …
The diver gets sent off for consecutive maladies
I like the bugger in an England shirt too
Can’t see us scoring many so I’m sticking with a narrow win.
Need to start Fabio . His link up play with Danny and Adama is a joy to watch especially against the Gunners .I just hope that we go and get Maxi Gomez in the January window. He would be an ideal player and would fit in to wolves style of play.
The game itself is going to be tight but I can see us edging it.
COYW
Don’t know what we’ll play and not sure Nuno has decided yet. Quite like Thomas’s team selection or maybe slip Neves into midfield and play Podders, Netters and Adama up front. Don’t see lots of crosses being productive unless the Donk can get forward. With 3 in the middle that becomes more likely.
Derbies notoriously difficult to predict but fancy us to sneak it by a goal.
Potentially any result you can think of. But though our form has been mixed Villa ‘s of late has been poor and I think they will miss Barkley. Watkins early season form seems to have declined.
On the other hand Jiminez will, obviously be a big loss. Does anyone else think it might be possible to use Donk as a target up front. The idea of Traore in a free role has it’s attractions but I ‘m not sure he has the game intelligence to carry it off.
So I ‘m not sure but, because I always do I’ll go for a win.
Great to see Raul ( and Jonny) back at Compton this week and this will lift the lads for a game where any result is possible. Raul’a football calendar has been non stop and exhausting for 2 years and he should now be able to rest, recuperate, sort out his dodgy wrist and hopefully able come back raring to go. I share bloggers concerns re Grealish conning fouls from Saiss although I support giving the Donk a rest, he is lacking confidence particularly in his finishing. I don’t advocate giving the initiative to Villa by reverting to 5 at the back but Semedo will get roasted again if he has no cover in midfield. We have excellent, technical players but Podence, Silva and Traore are easily dispossessed and we need a forward who can hold the ball and play others in. Happy for us to grind out a draw, we under-estimate this Villa side at our peril.
I read somewhere that Tim Spiers doesn’t think Nuno is confident of Fabio’s abilities at this point in time. There is an expression that if he is good enough, he is old enough but what if he is not good enough now?
So I’m guessing Nuno will go with the same 3 at the front because playing against AV is not the same as playing against Liverpool. That game was an anomaly where Conor made an uncharacteristic mistake which changed the whole dynamic of the game.
The main issue is if Wolves can stop Grealish from having one of his good games.
As someone has been saying, get Adama the ball in their penalty area and see if they foul him. Nothing wrong with him zigging and zagging and having one of their defenders stick a leg out and kick or trip him accidentally.
is not going to be pretty , i think maybe revert to 5 at the back
would like to think we can win this but going for the safe draw
There’s no way that I’d be playing Fabio, I’m afraid. If none of us knew his price tag then, at this stage of his career, I think we’d be hard pushed to claim that he’s currently anything more than a league 1 class forward. That’s not to say that he can’t develop in years to come but years is what is needed and in the here and now he’s not got the attributes to cut the mustard.
We should still have enough to get one over Witton though especially as we usually come back strong from a bad day at the office (even without our talisman, hopefully).
100% agree Pigeon. He’s nowhere near ready for the cut and thrust of the Premier League. Has some skill yes but is slow and too easily knocked off the ball. He needs time to develop but that’s not whilst playing for the first team. Those who are calling for him to play must be blinkered by the money forked out for him in my opinion.
Was going for the win at start of week, sad to say I have changed to a draw the nearer the game gets so sending my prediction now before I change it to a defeat.
Clealy 4 at the back helps our attacking/possession game, so I’d expect it to continue for a winnable home match. Whilst Silva may not be the finished article what he can bring to the party is the ability to hold the ball up and bring Neto, Podence and Traore into the game so worth starting with him up top. We can always revert if it isn’t working or we need to close up shop. I’d expect to see some changes insofar as Nuno will need some (relatively) fresh legs for Chelsea on Tuesday. So maybe Saiss and Hoever in.
This is winnable, so I’m going for us to sneak it.
Fabio silva to open up his wolves account!
Glad you said that……positive thinking.
Wolf forced to live in scouse land, you make a great point. We seem to have gone pessimistic and doubting ourselves… We are still a class act and a force to be reckoned with. Losing Raul is a blow, but if we had sold him, like the press speculated upon, we would still need others to step up. The guys know this, Pedro and Danny boy are fast, tricky and learning week in and out, Adama too, pace down the middle, for me he needs to work on being 100% engaged in the game, at times he looks disinterested. Agree on Saiss though, his steel is needed but hairband will get him sent off. I was surprised at the Veeela comments, thought they would be gloating and predicting another Liverpool type score line. Must be a Midlands thing, fear the worst.(joke, before anyone shouts)
We are going to be up for this, put last week behind us. Be tight but I have to go with my regular prediction.
My 2-2 predictions have to be right eventually so will go again
I’m queasy about this one and refused to take on my Brummie mate in Vancouver
I’m with the group that say start the young prince, Tell Traore to cross low and expect that we will get some fireworks from Neto and Podence….if not Silva,
Our right side with Traore and Semedo won’t be able to stop Grealish and my guess is that he wins a penalty at some point
Meantime I don;t think I’ve seen any comment on Coady’s dive. It was for me a shock and a low point of the season. Whatever the nonsense from Mane, Grealish et al we can’t be descending to that level ,….please! We are Wolves.
I don’t think it was a dive. He saw a foot coming towards his face and he changed his body position, in air, to avoid a potential injury. He fell down and then got right up without looking at the referee for a penalty.
The fact that the other player pulled his foot away without making contact is not relevant – he had to start reacting before that.
Very observant Tim. It’s the divers who sprawl on the floor looking appealingly at the ref who are the real deal.
bugger me tim your really making sense just lately …please keep it up
I can’t see it as a dive either.
I think that Nuno will revert to 3 at the back and rely on Podence /Neto on the counter attack. Tight game but (providing Greasy doesn’t con the ref into giving a penalty) I predict a narrow victory.
While not wishing to take anything away from a Liverpool win which was convincing to say the least, there is point I’d like to air.
While we can but welcome fans back into the games where allowed by tier, it does seem that we’ve gone from games without fans which have nullified most of the home advantage to ones where home advantage is magnified enormously because away fans are excluded – something which surely only previously happened if there had been some gross misbehaviour deservedly punished by a ban. Given the faithful and vocal support our team has been used to at away games, even at far-flung venues somewhere in Europe, this is a significant handicap. Surely it would be fairer not to allow any fans in if supporters of either team are excluded. Views?
I’m hoping that Nuno has been working his magic at Compton this last week, hopefully working on pinpoint centres – remember DPs headed goal e.g. Keeping the ball on the ground seems like a plan, we have enough skills to make it work.
Here’s hoping for a VAR free week and a return to solid defending enabling us to return to winning ways.
COYW
Regarding the fans theme… I totally agree … there’s an injustice to those places in tier 3 and the playing field is not level…. which it should be.
Shame on the FA for turning a blind eye… but not surprising…
It’s the government that’s set the rules, not the FA (Premier League) , isn’t it? I agree with the sentiments here but if football’s powers that be went against what is being allowed and said no fans for clubs in tier 2 can attend then those clubs would soon be calling the lawyers in.
Yes Jazzwolf54….I must admit it did go through my mind that to only allow fans from the home club to attend gives that team an unfair advantage. However, clubs are desperate for money so, I guess, it’s considered a point in the right direction. Another thought is that, because of lockdown rules, wouldn’t attending matches far afield be considered an unnecessary journey and, therefore, not allowed? Just thinking. It’s a real dilemma.
Come on boys, win one for the Gipper…
You would hope that losing one player wouldn’t be the difference between us winning this one and losing but facts are facts and Raul is the only one in the team who knows where the net is.
Both teams can blow hot and cold and form is against us right now. Pre Raul’s injury I’d have had this one down as a banker but now I’m not quite as confident so I’m going on the fence.
Wolves 4
Villa 0
Yo, Chalkie, did you miss read the date or something, you got your prediction in before the game finished.
Makes a change.
No wonder you win the preddo league every season.
Chalkie The Cheat for the uninitiated!!
Just seen that Boly is not starting but Saiss is.
Have to change my prediction now cos we wont win with Saiss playing.
Don’t really care what formation Nuno puts out tomorrow as long as we win, I’m sure he’s given it a lot of thought, more than we know. Silva must now step up to the plate the only way he’s going to get experience is doing it on the field of play, so get him on, then who knows this could be his lucky day.
UTWFOVile.
I think he boys will be more settled after Raul visited training yesterday. So I am going for a Wolves win
Pisses me off, people banging on about missing Raul. He was missing for all but ten minutes against Arsenal away, and we still won.
If he’d been on the pitch last Sunday we would still have lost.
He’s injured, like most players at some point in their careers, that is one reason we have a squad.
Get over yourselves, peoples.
We are Wolves, not some podunk team from the sticks, like salford or sandwell.
Easy win despite greaseball and dean.
I’m going to commit heresy Clive and disagree. As much as I want you to be right the stats say Raul is the difference.
We’ve got the players to fill the gap but they’ve yet to stand up a d be counted.
Spot on Clive except for the last bit. It should have been 5-1 last year, we were good and Villa weren’t. The away game was tighter but Nuno had a plan and a full squad to administer it.
Times change, this game will hinge on our best assets producing the goods, pace, pace and more pace in attack, and five at the back, as the song goes.
Good banter going on above..
Should be interesting game tomorrow… we can’t score.. they can’t defend.
Personally think we should start with Neto and Traore up front and play the 3:5:2 … Semedo and Saiss as wing backs… (Saiss for set pieces).
Don’t expect to be too open and expansive and but take the scoring opportunities when they arrive.. hence a low scoring game……
pragmatic and to the point …and totally correct…injuries can happen to anyone but we have all gotten a bit emotional about rauls because of the extent of the injury and his importance to the team and he is just so lovable as a human being
Important that we get something from this game with the fixtures we have through the end of December. Believe we should stick to 4 at the back and see how we perform against team that is closer to our level than Liverpool.
Also feel we should continue with Fabio for at least two or three more games to give him a chance. I thought his off the ball movement in the game against Arsenal was not all that bad, but he looks distinctly lightweight in the air. Rooney was playing at seventeen, although I am not suggesting that Fabio is anywhere near the ability of Rooney at similar ages.
Saiss is a realistic option, especially with another game on Tuesday, so perhaps rest Dendonker for this one. By the way Dendonker needs to practice his heading, as he has had a few very good opportunities recently and not put any of them away.
Cautiously optimistic about this one, which we will will comfortably in the end!
I’d like to see Fabio start, with Neto, Podence and Traore backing him up. I see Semedo as an attacking right half, and we need a full back behind him. Hope Kilman and Marcal both start. Agree it’s a worry playing Saiss, but I do like him. It’s good we’ve got enough options for Nuno to decide what we need to partially expunge the Liverpool result.
I thought Fabio did OK against Arsenal and our forward line was lacking something against ‘pool. He’s no Raul, for sure, but he allows us to play the same shape as at the Emirates and keep pressure on their defence.
They have their dangers up front and if we play a four, they’ll need to be on their best behaviour. But Villa ain’t Liverpool and Watkins ain’t Salah, so they’re not to be feared, merely overcome.
And I’m confident we will.
Villa are better than they where last season and will prove a test but they are nothing to fear. Very interesting to see what team Nuno picks i would love 4-2-3-1 with Fabio leading the line but I have a feeling Nuno will go back to 343 / 352 with Donck keeping a check on Grealish.
Think we scrap a tight game
Would love to be more optimistic, but just can’t see where the goals are going to come from.
They spent better in the Summer than we did. They look like a much bigger threat in attack.
Connor, please, no diving; not the Wolves way!
Very nervous about this one, can see it going either way…
I think we must start with a recognised centre forward, so Silva for me. I think I would prefer Moutinho to Neves, as we play further forward and create more attacks with Moutinho in the middle.
Let’s keep Traore and Neto in too, as they Have the pace and creativity.
I’m thinking it’s a 2-1 or 2-0 win.
As my Amazon stream gave up – make of that what you will – I didn’t see our 2nd half performance v Liverpool. But I was mightily disappointed with the outcome. Ever the optimist, I had predicted better.
And never learning, I’m repeating that prediction. (And it’s only another couple of weeks before I start looking at the table.)
Got to bounce back lads, come on!!!
Lol – highly disappointed my tip was correct last week, but felt there would be a post-Jimenez hangover. And that Semedo would be pants… feeling more positive this week. Our team has goals in it, we just have to find them. I felt that Liverpool did a good job actually shutting down the people Adama was crossing to. Hopefully Villa won’t do that as well. Expecting us to bounce back this week. Just.
I wish I could be as positive about Silva as some of the bloggers here – but I really can’t. I believe he needs the rest of the season in the U23 and gain some strength and confidence. Also I did not think the team was as fluid as usual with 4 at the back. I would feel a lot more confident with a 3-5-2 counter attacking formation. Traore is not as important if there is no one in the box to pounce on his crosses. So Boly, Coady, Kilman at the back, Semedo and Marcal (wingbacks) and Neves Dendo and Mautinho in middle. Podence and Neto up front for me bringing on Traore with 30 mins to go. Hopefully we could sneak a goal from a set piece (Dendoncker header).
I give up on team selection when your front target man gets injured and the player bought in at great expense as his deputy is left on the bench, just hope he has the tactics sorted out after last weeks train crash.
Putting last week’s result down to the hangover after Raul’s injury.
Goals to Neto & Podence. I want to see Neves play and boss the game from the start – it’s about time he did.
We definitely missed Raul last week and his ability to hold the ball up and find a goal out of nothing.
But Wolves are a family, as Nuno often reminds us, and in tough times, families stick together. 100% behind this team as they find their way through these challenges. I have every confidence in them.
I have a feeling Wolves will focus on a clean sheet above all else tomorrow. Get everything back under control.
Go Wanderers!
Got a win written all over it . CMON YOU MIGHTY WOLVES !
Close but winnable
Hope you’re right Tipton
COMBs!
I predict a tough encounter. Happy to take a draw.
The next five matches will show how much we’ve regressed this season. There may well be no goals today
I don’t think that nuno gets enough credit for the amount of changes he has made. Rarely straying from the same formation and lineup for two seasons, he had now thrown in new players for the departed Jota and Doherty, and changed the formation to make us more of a threat and try to solve multiple issues. Also, Fabio is straight into the first team setup.
All this, before the sad loss of Raul to injury. I think we have the personnel to score the goals and you can’t always blame individual players for not chipping in. We just need to create more chances, and that comes down to the team as a whole.
It didn’t work against Liverpool, and probably won’t for a few seasons yet, but I will defend Nuno’s ambition in trying it and hopefully continuing with 4 at the back. My reason is simple, those on here, Twitter etc, wanting us to win things now, need to realise what it has taken, for Liverpool to be as good as they are. Other than the players, ( I think we have good enough ones), it’s their mentality, work rate and stoic belief that they are going to win every game. That came from klopps vision and an idea of how football should be played.
I don’t think wolves can expect to win things either, unless they put themselves into perilous situations with a more attacking formation. We lost against Liverpool, fair enough, but it’s more likely to work against teams like villa. If we suddenly revert to being cautious after a 4-0 drumming against the champions, and shutting up shop to stay tight in defence, it doesn’t necessarily help shift our mentality to score more goals and winning most of our games. I guess that’s my point…. makes sense in my head anyway.
Other than that it’s our work rate that needs a boost. Something I find strange mentioning, as I’ve always seen a Nuno team as hard working. But that’s what the next level requires. Across the pitch Liverpool players work tirelessly. As much as I hate how clever mane is at making sure his leg is always in the right place during tackles to win free kicks and penalties, he puts a shift in. You often see him chasing back a lost ball or pressing with intensity. Flip over to wolves, and Traore alone demonstrates the gap we have to fill before a realistic charge on the top 4. Traore just doesn’t work hard enough off the ball. Being able to go past people at will with the ball is great. But I’d rather he sacrifices half of his attacking runs, to bust a gut and use some of that speed to try and win the ball back, or at least make up some ground to help out the defence.
I really do think it will come together at some point. But we are aiming to do something in a very short space of time. 10 years to make wolves continuous European competitors and challenging at the top is some target. 30 years between Liverpool titles says it all!
I think we have enough to beat villa, but most likely by a small margin given the lack of goals. But keep the faith, it’s all part of the process. UTW
Morning all.
A local derby and a big, big game. Nuno and the team know this and l’ll be surprised if they don’t start with a back three.
That said, I’m anticipating a few goals (but not sure which way). Those photos of Raul at Compton were a sight for sore eyes and a fillip for the boys. For that reason I’m feeling more positive than I might have been.
Just here for my prediction..
Start Silva then stick Neto & Traore alongside to get the ball into the box.
Not sure I’ll actually watch this one but going for the usual
Prediction.
COYW
Without Jimenez, Jota and Doc our scoring possibilities look severely diminished. Mind you, even with this highly celebrated trio we never scored much anyway! It was rare to win by more than a single goal. I know we shipped five goals at home to Chelsea last season, but a couple of four-goal drubbings this season already have raised red flags, but hopefully not white ones! We have to get a grip,
I read that Tim Spiers says that Nuno ‘does not trust’ Fabio Silva. WTF is going on? Tim Spiers is a reasonably responsible journalist and surely wouldn’t make that up. We’ve paid £35mil for a ‘generational talent, so let’s play him. He’s not ready at 18 years old? Nonsense. Jimmy Greaves was a generational talent, and played for Chelsea at 17 years of age.
I forecast a cagey match today between two very good but fragile sides. A nervy 2-1 win for Wolves.
If its not broken don`t try fix it, so for me 3 at the back and wing backs. I`d play Traore centre forward at least it will provide space for our expense right wing back to work in. Plus no point in crosses coming in from the right in the air with no height in the forwards, so play on the deck and run rings round their cumbersome defenders.
hoping for a cracking game with perfect tactics from Nuno and a super 2-1 victory.
But it was broken and that’s why Nuno is trying to fix it.
I’d like a win today. I’d like a nice sunny day at the Mol. I’d like to be there. I’d like somebody new to score, Nelson or Fab. I’d like not to be a goal behind at half time. But this is the prediction league and I’d like a few points for the right forecast.
Must not loose. 1-1.
Or even lose.
Aint got a clue what the score will be tbh
For an hour last week we were ok.
Different game today, Neto is flying, should be the difference.
Just settle in calmly please Saiss.
See if you can spot Neil Warnock in the stand behind Dean Smith. Villa have morphed into Cardiff. They’ve come to spoil the bleedin game.
If we bring out our second half game we can win this.
Villa fans flew a banner over the Molineux during the game, it was for Grealish after the wind left him in a heap and pole axed him again.
would you bloody believe it !!!!!!!!!
Semedo – a defensive liability AGAIN ! £35m MY ARSE!
One error. He was having a good defensive game up to that point in my opinion.
Agree, he was playing ok up to that point . However, At this level for 35m defensive errors should come along once or twice a season. Semedo has one or two errors every game. Put him in the Vallejo and Miranda category and get rid- he has contributed nothing offensively and will continue to cost us goals and points
I thought he had a good game going forward and in defence. Most times you get away with one mistake.
What a load of absolute bollox.
Which game did you watch.
Jesus christ almighty, give the guy some bloody credit for completely marking Greasy out of the game.
Well for what it is worth, I thought Podence and Neto both had great games and are really embedded in this team now.
The young man Silva, is progressing well too.
So a last minute penalty gives Villa the win. I am not too upset …… really!!
This is why association football is not a popular sport in North America.
Why?
Falling down whenever you’re touched and hope to get a penalty out of one of them.
Traore could have got one, too when Grealish put his arm around him.
Frustrating.
Well I did warn you.
Saiss was on the pitch.
Mike Dean, what a blinder. Isn’t time he was sacked?
Tim, when I was in Canada, I had the misfortune of going to a basketball game…. so boring, with more stops for ad breaks. Guess watching 90 mins is bit much for you lot
It’s the same number of minutes whether there is stop time or not.
So why don’t you just watch ice hockey Tim if North American sport is so superior.
Are you defending all of the diving from Villa?
Sure sounds like you are.
True Tim… Still was boring though
surely, its other opinions that make this blog the success it is .
Everyone deserves to at least add their peneth worth
I thought Silva had a pretty good game. Not “Raul good”, but good.
Agree, for an 18 year old kid, he did well. With a bit more physicality and as he learns the game he will be ok.
Agree Tim
Right at this moment I am seething.
We played well compared with some of the efforts of late.
Villa came to stop football being played, their MOTM, the goalie yet again.
Podence got pulled down by the throat and got booked.
Last minute penalty, (which it was)
Get beat by a lesser team, when we should have won by a hat full. Sky said, “Villa had one shot on goal”
My Villa supporting Brother in law phoned us straight away and can’t believe they beat us.
We do need goal scorers to come in in January.
Calm down, calm down.its only football.