With the arrival of Ola John and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, that’s now eight summer additions through the door for Wolves and counting.
The challenge for Walter Zenga is making sure the new bodies are more help than hindrance.
For instance, we’ve been successful thus far by adopting a narrower shape and foregoing an out-and-out winger, so where does John fit in?
Matt Doherty continues to be a revelation at left-back, so do we really want to disrupt that progress by allowing Borthwick-Johnson to walk straight in?
These are the decisions that could define our season as greater strength in depth develops.
Cambridge
All I know about Cambridge is that they’re currently bottom of the football league after drawing 2-2 with Carlisle at the weekend and Shaun Derry is their manager.
Last season they finished a respectable 9th, just a handful of points shy of the play-offs so will be disappointed at such a sluggish start.
I’d like to offer greater insight but it’s been tough to find forums or media with anything of interest.
One obvious note of caution is that they dumped out Sheffield Wednesday in the last round, winning 2-1 after extra time with two very well taken goals.
But that was on their home patch against a much-changed Owls team. To come to Molineux and emerge victorious would be a much greater scalp.
Wolves
We know Walter Zenga is a fan of rotation as he said it himself after Saturday’s victory. Tomorrow will likely see at least five or six changes again and possibly even more with several Molineux debuts.
That’s a complete guess at the starting XI based on those who didn’t feature at Birmingham and those who we don’t have replacements for.
Up front is where we’re lacking options and I hope to see at least one addition to further swell the ranks, with the hope Nouha Dicko will also be fit and firing after the international break.
We’ve been linked with Jordan Rhodes again today after seeing a big money bid knocked back for Derby striker Chris Martin a few weeks back. Either of those players would be great signings in my opinion and put a marker down about our immediate ambitions.
Predictions
Hard to foresee anything other than a comfortable home victory in this one. Even with a much changed team full of players who barely know each other, there should be a significant deficit in quality.
We normally find a way to concede but I’ll back us to score a few – 4-1.
That’s an unusually adventurous prediction for me but such is the feelgood factor right now, why not?
Up The Wolves!
I think we will swat these aside and do well in the cup for a change. I’m going with 3-0
3-1 to the boys!
We have massive potential right now.
We need competition for places but we need to rotate.
The concept of a 1st XI is outmoded.
Zenga is demanding a lot from his players, both physically and psychologically.
I’d give JDB a rest tomorrow so he’s fresh for Huddersfield.
But we will win comfortably.
3-0
Based upon the sense of increased Wolves threat, a long awaited trouncing of this team, bottom of League 2,should be expected.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-two
3 years to the day that one of Wolves’ most cherished sons was laid to rest. Thank you Waggy, for the memories & for encapsulating footballing greatness. Rest in eternal peace.
http://www.wolvesheroes.com/…/waggy-true-idol-of-the-molin…/?
Without a doubt my all time favourite Wolves player, you dazzled and bewildered me and I thank you Waggy for those Old Golden memories. RIP.
7-1 to Wolves, do it for Waggy
Here here to that. Simply brilliant footballer and a lovely man too.
R.I.P. Waggy – remembering the good times
Totally agree Stu. Waggy was a true great and it was a privilege to have seen the likes of him and Dougan and Richards.
7-1???? I suppose it doesn’t count, but that is a tad unrealistic Stu.
Wolves 8 Cambridge 0
Couldn’t tackle a fish supper – couldn’t head a ball to save his life.
Put a ball at his feet and he was a genius. Definitely the best winger that I have ever seen in over 50 years of following Wolves. RIP
OODCL
Waggy crosses to Doog who heads down for John Richards to score……
5-1 to Wolves and **** what Clive thinks
Well said. Never to be forgotten. Always will be loved.
I hope with all these players coming in Walt does not loose sight of the main thing winning teams DONT need changing just look at Leicester?? last season 2-0 tomorrow night
Conftable win for us tomorrow evening, probably change it a bit from Saturday, would be lovley to get a,decent cup.run! Cmon the wolves.
Going for a 4 1 win.
Obviously we are going to smack the snot out of this lot
5-1
Wenga’s Wolves at Wembley
Sounds good, dough it?
69
The numbers of places that separate Wolves and Cambridge United who currently sit 92nd in the league standings.
I am going for a Clive.
5-1 to Wolves.
Debut starts for Borthwick-Jackson, Oniangue, Costa and John. Might Dicko feature?
UTW
No chance of Dicko he played tonight at Telford 65 mins.
Cambridge lead us with 5 wins to our 3 and 4 draws from the last 12 meetings. But these are different times.
We have a large squad these days and no doubt Walter will be using it tomorrow night – queue an appearance from Henry? Maybe.
Going for a win but not expecting a lot of goals – so Wolves 3-1 Cambridge
Onwards and Upwards
🙂
It will be interesting to see who Walter plays tomorrow but it might take a while for people to gel. Still, we’ve got to win this – haven’t we?
3-1 to the Wolves.
Sad loss, Stu, I agree.
Will never forget Waggy giving John Kaye twisted blood down the poorthorns, two seasons running.
And who will ever forget that pinpoint pass to Kenny Hibbitt for his classic goal against the double champions, Arsenal back in the snow of 1972?
RIP Waggy, we may never see your like again.
Bothwick Jackson starting for sure. A natural left footer and his attacking prowess will add further excitement to our game.
Goals galore at molineux tonight. 3 – 2 and into the 3rd round we’ll go. It’s about time we had a good cup run. I too think he’ll make changes bringing in players like Costa and the prince. Another tough game on Saturday so rotation surely has to be the best policy here. Come on wolves no slip ups
Lots of new blood, all out to impress, so long as they follow instructions a five nil win is on the cards.
Jase the HK Wolf holidaying in Phuket. Come on the Wolves.
Looking forward to this game as I’m sure we’ll be seeing some of the new signings. I think we should ALL predict 5-1 out of respect to Clive. Mind you I think after all the games he’s predicted, I think he would be upset if we all got it right. I certainly feel confident of a 5 goal Wolves score.
RIP Waggy as said above with Dougan and Richards, but will not forget Frankie Munro central defender with a lot of class, always smiled when he dipped under the ball fooled the defender and the ball ran through to the goalie. Really liking the way we are going now, forward still required and just have to get the players to realise they will not play some games due to the squad size (hopefully the wage structure we may have now ? will help to sort that out) hold on to our quality (Iorfa would seem to be under pressure now if switching Doherty – was it only a few weeks back Morgan was supposed to be selling him – Opps did not want to mention that idiot’s name again – we need to keep all the quality) UTW and 5 – 1 win tonight
As a Paramedic, I had the privilege to treat & serve Frank Munro in the Nursing home at Hardwick Court, Cheslyn Hay. He was completely off the grid in all things life, but any mention Wolves and he was straight into normal mode again. It’s a good job we don’t know what will become of us, so guys and gals, stuff your memory banks full of this present Wolves rollercoaster like the late, great Frank Munro did. I can testify that it served him well in his final years, for all the suffering he went through he did have such great memories.
Great man indeed. 🙂
Thanks for the reply, Hardwick Court approx. 1/2 mile from me would have loved to listen to his memories, as you say make the most of each day and make the most out of the Fosun turnaround.
I lived in Huntington most of my childhood travelling away with my mate Roger Palmer, (Geoff Palmars brother) on Harpers coaches from Heath Hayes, then onto Don Everall.
Happy days
Competition for places now and they’ll all be out to impress.
And, I can’t see Cambridge scoring against our much improved defence.
I predict Wolves to win 6-0
Its great looking forward to wolves games again
Cambridge sound shite but I always admired Sean Derry as a player . ( we’ve all seen him play a hundred times !! )Good solid hard working player and if he’s organising a defensive side then they will be well drilled for a big game .
Narrow win 2 v 1
Should win this at a canter.
I will go for a Clive
5 – 1 to Wolves
We regularly struggle against lowest tier teams in this competition when there’s a general lack of atmosphere because of a lower attendance and expectations of an easy victory. Tonight may not be any different given Walter will presumably be tinkering and Cambridge will probably be ‘parking the bus’. An odd goal win for me therefore so it’s 2-1 to the Wolves.
Although ‘on paper’ we should waltz through this with a spring in our step and the breeze caressing our golden hair, things rarely turn out that way.
I can imagine that any superiority in our players will be counteracted by the fact they won’t have played together before, because I see Walt giving many of his new acquisitions a run out in this one. Cambridge, of course, will be right up for it and will battle us all the way, but despite their heroics, I think we’ll just pinch it 3-0.
What a difference a few weeks makes. Early days but at least I’m full of hope. £10 has to be a bargain. 4 -1 to the Mighty Wolves.
after jumping the chickens counting the bridges crossing the guns I predict Wolves 3 Utd 0
I posted this on the last thread but nobody will see it now so I’m posting it on this one as well.
So you’ll all have to bloody well read it.
On this day in particular I’ve been thinking about the reasons for narrowing the pitch this season.
Presumably the decision was made before we started picking up all these players, several of whom can take advantage of some width.
Being brought up on a diet of rare Winged Waggys racing down the touchline I like to see a bit of wide play.
In memory of the great one and in the hope that we will have more who will thrill us with their wing play…
can we have it restored to its full width again please?
And Wolves to win 3-0.
We haven’t lost with it being narrow yet, so don’t change what aint broken. I do agree though and discussing it with the wife she also said she likes it wide.
How does she know?
Oooh! That was a bit below the belt.
I should have said she would like it wider tbh lol. Many years ago I was laughed at when I said I had six inches. I could not understand the laughter as I thought most women liked it that wide.
Pretty much what everyone has pointed out – goals, changed starting XI etc.
3-1 Wolves for me.
Finally a time for a good cup run? Hope so.
The next player to enter the Wolves Arena, should be Steve Showcase’s No5.
Wolves are in very advanced talks with Romain Saisse, Moroccan 24 year old CB, skillful, good stopper, 6’3″ and has scored goals.
Played regularly for Angers in France, is out of contract next year so should be one we are buying.
Rumours from inside Molineux, that deal should be done today, fingers crossed.
(A whisper) shhhhhhhn
Boro have called a press conference today,
If it’s someone they are bringing in, then Rhodes one would presume drops down the food chain.
Our catering contract must be up for grabs, so he may fancy a nibble at our table, we will take their crumbs, what a feast that would be. (Just a whisper)
What was your take on the match last night Stu?
How did the boy Dicko do?
Is he still going to be our main man with Boogy or has Mason staked his claim?
Mark,
He was doing what he was told to do, not running too fast, not getting carried away with silly runs. At half time he took his shirt off (I think it was to impress Jen DeWolf) and his body is incerdible, he don’t have 1 ounce of fat on him, he’s a lean mean fighting machine. But his twists and turns were still there and his speed is certainly there but as I say, definitely being controlled by the physio guys.
A couple more weeks and I think he will be with us. We have the Albion U23’s at Molineux on Friday and I think him and some of the surplus players will be playing.
One’s for the future…..
Conor Ronan was out of this World last night.
Bright Enhokabare was brilliant in the box on many occassions
Donovan Wilson took the wing apart when he came on
But all the great moves went through Ronan, but we scored 3 good goals then our defending was downright criminal, twice they scored within 1 minute of us going ahead.
Do they need a number 5 too?
Just read in romanian newspaper that Steaua should sell Stanciu to an investment company / english football club. Could be WW? Walter’s old club…
Stu – I understand that he can play centre back but his best position is central defensive midfield which is where he played all last season and he was voted his clubs player of the season. Am imagining Walter seeing a massive central midfield trio of Saiss, Oniangue and Coady as an impenetrable barrier in front of the defence with flair from the likes of Teixiera, Dicko, Bodvarsson, John, Graham etc up top.
Very strong squad now so rotation should not hurt us.
Wolves 4 Cambridge 0
Clean sheet surely this time. Agree with Robin good opportunity to rest JDB – 3-1 Wolves
I’m with you 100% on the pitch width DOOG but I don’t think you can chop and change the width to suit style of play or the opposition. As far as I’m aware, clubs have to provide details of pitch dimensions to the league authorities before the season begins and are unable to change it for the duration of the season. We might well be stuck with wingless wonders for the time being unfortunately.
My guess is that it was Walter’s decision to go for a narrower pitch because he stated on arrival that he prefers to play a compact style. I hope I’m wrong for future games but I think the narrow pitch contributed significantly to the dreariness of the performance against Ipswich. The more exciting games may well come away from home as a result.
You can take the man out of wolverhampton but you can never take wolverhampton out of the man.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/ambitious-wolves-fan-tries-crowd-8686934
The trouble is, he split his face wide open from Skull to cheekbone, blood everywhere, not his best dive of his life. If he’s still alive he should come to Huddersfield where a certain RVLP will show him how it’s done (not)
Has Clive copped off with Amanda? He’s very quiet!!!
I’ve just seen the video footage of the attack on the Watford fan Nic Cruwys.
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2016/08/22/revealed-full-horror-of-attack-on-football-fan-nic-cruwys-after-wolves-game-is-caught-on-video/
There’s not a lot nowadays that makes me really lose my rag but seeing that has certainly got the blood boiling.
Those cowardly bastards need putting away for a long time.
And I hope they rot in hell.
I was there watching Waggy find Doog and Richards with Frank and Mike Baily in the middle too..
The closest I’ve seen to Wagstaff is prob Sako..hope I’m not degrading him in your eyes Stu…
Those were the days and dangerous ones away I recall..anyway how the hell are we playing Cambridge talk a bout a soft draw ..
Innes a hat trick if he plays and I expect most of the first team to be missing..Time for WZ to see some of the others inc our youth..
I hope EEL doesn’t play he is thankfully off the lists so far and with Walters eye he should only be allowed a cameo type game and then Offski..
I was going for a practise type match performance and a clives result but for his sake I’ll go 4-1
Will Dicko get a run out?
COYW and Sako plse.
Dicko is not yet ready mate. He played in the U23s for 65 mins.
Just not your day Steve,
Ennis played pretty naff last night, we were disappointed.
But Conor Ronan. “Out of this World”
Please !!
don’t let it be true Brompton
lol. Had to scroll back up to see which post you were referring to.
If you have a minute watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIus4F0Xu8g
Robin,
Feckin A as Clive often says. That will be sung on the terraces.
Brilliant.. LOVE IT.
Brilliant isn’t it and hilarious!
Just watched the blues game again in a state of soberiety with a focus on the prince, I may have been a tad harsh in believing he didn’t touch the ball , he was better than that considering the occasion ! That can happen though when you watch a derby after a few sherbets, it’s all about getting the result isn’t it ? Anyway I have to say I was very impressed with Wallace , he is stronger than the last time I saw him and now looks championship ready , I didn’t know he had that kind of game in him !
Anyway I wouldn’t mind a big game next up so hopefully no extra time tonight
Wolves 3 Cambridge 1
I shall be glued to teletext tonight hoping the lads get another win. While it is early days, we are away at the league leaders on Saturday, and having our best inform 11 players starting that game is a must.
Would Rhodes be a bit of a luxury, he`s not the target man player that clearly the side desperately needed, and are now thriving on. If the manager is looking at 2 players for every position, then Martin from Derby would make more sense that Rhodes. Nice choice to have though.
Just bought tickets for the vice presidents lounge at Chesterfield next Tuesday to watch our under 23s, these include comfortable leather seats, car parking, with a choice of food on the night, nothing like slumming it in NE Derbyshire. Looking forward to seeing the future wolves stars. Mind you we may have bought a few more by then, maybe they will be needing a game.
For tonite though, I`ll join Clive in a 5-1 – he`s got to get one right this decade.
Should be s straight forward win (fingers crossed).
Looking forward to seeing how the new players fit in!
Easy, comfortable win 3-0 at least tonight, regardless of the starting line-up. We can’t lose momentum so fast. I hope Ola John is included, who’s going to stop this deer?
6-0 to the Wembley Wanderers tonight!
Can’t see how Cambridge will score tonight, they have been crap so far this season. Having said that, they’ll probably win 4-0. Can’t imagine which team Zenga will select but good opportunity to rest Doherty, Batth & Mason in preparation for Saturday.
Hopefully a comfortable 0-3 scoreline for tonight with an Iorfa goal in the mix.
Could be 5-1, But you never can tell with cup football.
His name is, Zenga, Zenga, Zenga
He’s taking us to the Premier, the Premier, the Premier
Is that’s the way we like it, we like it, we like, it
Well no, we F king love it, we love it, we love it.
Ohaoooooo, Ohaooooooo, Ohaoooooooo
Hard to see us getting beat but you never know….3-0 Wolves!
Whatever team W Z puts out I think it will be 3-1.
Looking forward to see the new lads.UTW.
Absolutely love that you tube video Robin, me and my wife are singing it already. Hard to see anything but a win tonight 3-0.
Saville at left back according to the official teamsheet. Who saw that coming?
I’ll go a storming comeback from being behind at half time. 4-2 to us.
Having seen the team I don’t know what to make of it. No out-and-out striker, but two midfielders at full-back… and what appears to be a 4-4-1-1 formation, or is it 4-2-3-1 ? Either way it looks like midfield could be jam-packed tonight.
We generally make hard work of these sort of ties, so I’ll go for 2-1 (to us, naturally).
Mmm interesting team selection. I’ll go for a narrow win.
Wolves 2
Cambridge 1
‘interesting’ indeed, why do we always put out a team designed to make things difficult. We were lucky to get through according to WM radio.
1-0 get in. Costa
2-0. Wallace get in
2-1. Damn. Elito.
Northampton are beating the shit. So good so far
Well …….. they were.
Penalty Wolves ………. Henry to take ……… damn ……. saved..
Why we never make this easy for ourselves God knows. We are Wolves ay we!
Northampton have equalised though !
We’re through…………… NEXT.
OH, yeah…………. come on Northampton..
Wolves having sent for the SA Iss, what,s it all about Alfie ?
No 10 and 11 ?
http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolves-set-to-compete-with-sunderland-for-championship-defender/?
No 9 I think unless I have lost track. Not sure if this will happen though, but thanks for the update Amanda.
And then there were ten.
Sunderland preparing for Championship next season and rebuilding?
Yes ……. Northampton win 4-3 on penalties.
Get a friggin’ life, Chalkie, you are hogging the site!!
Alfie wont fit in, Amanduh, they dont speak Portuguese in Yorkshire, thah knows, ask McDickwadhead, currently using a translator in Tractorland
Sir Terry of Tinseltown.
Why would Wolverhampton Wanderers professional scouting team,if reports are true, go for a player who would,nt fit.
It,s a good job that your Wolves team building opinions are worthless.
Derby win 14-13 on penalties bet that was good to watch.
Get to bed Yankie boy and shut the fek up!
Didnt know you could count that high, Chalkie, you must have taken off your smelly shoes and socks!!
Dae go tonite but 2 absolutely brilliant things happened. 1/ the fuckin shite went out 2/ we went through. Good enough for me and I have taunted the shit fans at work already. Some folks will say that its sad but not me. Love it.
My Albion season ticket arrived today and they go and get knocked out of the cup, damn, dash, bother, blast and fiddlesticks.
Every little helps…
Cheeseburger.
Some folks on tnis blog aren’t as fortunate enough as you and I to be able to attend every home and away game, they can only manage a few, still they try their best when time, distance, finance or wive’s / husbands allow.
But….
Because of that they don’t have the indignity of full on 90 minutes of abuse, both verbal or physical we have to endure to support our team Wolverhampton Wanderers at SOME grounds on our travels.
I am not a violent or particularly nasty person but I won’t tolerate in any way, anyone attempting to physically or verbally abuse me. I will feckin give as good as I get, in most instances so far in my life I have given a lot more.
Now if that attitude or my choice of words offends, annoys, upsets, bothers or makes ANYONE think I’m Sad on this page, in any way shape or form, please be assured that I don’t give a flying Feck.
I attend football and football stadiums are full of 15000 – 25000, people who swear, curse, throw insults at each other and are to be honest in some instances quite viscious towards each other, unfortunately that’s the environment of football, Sad, but it’s a fact of life and much as I would like to take my Grandkids to the games without them learning 20 new swear words a game, it just won’t happen.
I get frustrated and irate with things said and done in the name of football, but I cannot comtrol that. My only course would be to become an armchair supporter, that will not happen as I love my team and love the atmosphere.
I have been on this blog for around three years now, some of the people getting on soap boxes need to step back a little and read some of their own posts, there are many forms of abuse, verbal, sexual, not only the physical and downright nasty. At one time or another all forms have been used of offered on this blog by some of the very folk callind us sad.
So all I would say, is…..
Pot Kettle black, Kettle Black, Pot. And as one person so kindly said to me, “if you don’t like it, go support the Albion”
Like I’m sure you will find a lot of similar, Holier than thou folk down there.
Rant over
Fuck off wb
Stu – not sure to whom your well written and eloquently stated rant is aimed at mate but yes remember – Cobblers!
Yes.
You and I are in total agreement there mate.
Calling other peoples’ views ‘worthless’ just because they don’t happen to match yours, apart from being downright rude, childish and stupid, rather defeats the whole idea of a forum for discussion.
If you don’t want to read other peoples’ views – don’t come on the blog.
Who you calling black – don’t want me to pull the racist card do you? Clive from Houston: Take Note.
What I like about this blog is we have gotten to know each other quite well. I will ALWAYS get stick from Clive, but that is banter and I know it. I am not alone and without it it would not be the same.
I agree with Mark’s last sentence totally.
The 2 things that struck me after reading the report on this game is that Costa and Tex were again vying for MOTM. I believe this has happened in their only other appearance. Maybe we should see them on the field from the start. And again we miss a penalty. 2 out of 2 so far. Have we got an official penalty taker ? Wouldn’t have thought it would be hard to determine who is best at it.
But the depth of the squad is really looking good and somehow it would be hard to field a bad team. Would love to see this formation for next game
Ikeme
Doc Batth Iorfa BJ
Price Prince Tex
Costa John
Bod
vic – defence spot on for me but how could you want to drop Coady who was arguably our MoTM at Birmingham?
If you can, check out Saido’s (sorry, should be Saddo’s) penalty miss. Brilliant! £22 million plus striker? My ar**!!
After 13 mins I thought my 6-0 prediction was a cert . . . . . oooops!
As for formations, whatever happened to 2-3-5? Now that always struck me as formation designed to score goals. And to win, as old Bill Nicholson once said, you only have to score one more goal than your opposition.
1,011 fans only,if all tickets sold, expected to travel to Molineux says Barnsley ticket office.
Another Molineux crowd of about 20,000 perhaps.
http://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk//news/article/2016-17/preston-away-on-sale-3266443.aspx?
Amanda,
We’re approaching the end of School Holidays by then, so hopefully your spot on. Maybe even 25,000 if we topple the Uddersfield.
After 2-1 I was thinking 7-1 was a good punt. Ce la Vie.
Bring on the Udders.
Stearman from player of the season to the conceding goals reason.
Fulham have made a terrific capture in Iceland centre-back Ragnar Sigurdsson from Russian side FC Krasnodar for a fee headed towards £3.5m.
And that spells bad news on the future first-team chances for Richard Stearman and Tim Ream.
The pair were a total £4m capture from Wolves and Bolton a year ago, and arrived with caste-iron credentials in the Championship.
But it hasn’t worked for them at the Cottage. Whites conceded 79 goals last season – the third worst in the division – with only relegated Charlton and Bolton marginally more porous.
Amanda, when you quote directly from ‘get west london’ does that mean that their views exactly agree with yours or is it just lazy journalism??
“Fulham have made a terrific capture in Iceland centre-back Ragnar Sigurdsson from Russian side FC Krasnodar for a fee headed towards £3.5m.
And that spells bad news on the future first-team chances for Richard Stearman and Tim Ream.
The pair were a total £4m capture from Wolves and Bolton a year ago, and arrived with caste-iron credentials in the Championship.
But it hasn’t worked for them at the Cottage. Whites conceded 79 goals last season – the third worst in the division – with only relegated Charlton and Bolton marginally more porous.”
Leave the Lady alone. Nowt wrong with using quotes from elsewhere, she is probably letting bloggers know who did not read it in its origin. She never actually said this was her view.
Have I pulled now?
Well I wasn’t overly sad to see Stearman go. Total commitment yes but too positionally inept in my view to be a ‘cast iron ‘defender.
Hoo feking rah,
Someone at last who had my opinon exactly. Not missed him one jot.
James Henry.
‘He is doomed Captain Mainwaring……doomed’
Amanda, after last night’s performance I fear you may be correct. 🙁
Another KJ, found his level
Tim Spiers has just gone into Molineux carring his briefcase and dictaphone (I know, he should use his finger) as I was passing on my way to Stratford 11-45.
Siass anyone????