One. That’s how many points Wolves have accrued from their four fixtures against the bottom three.
With the possible exception of a purple patch in the Fulham game, they haven’t played well in any of those matches either.
The obvious problem is these teams aren’t so adventurous going forward, thus fewer spaces to exploit in the ‘transitions’, which is where pundits have lauded Nuno’s setup.
I think this can be addressed in the summer by new personnel, namely a more attack minded central midfielder and options up top to supplement – and hopefully not replace – Raul Jimenez.
For the remainder of the season, I think there just needs to be greater pace and intensity to our attacking, particularly at home and particularly against the strugglers.
Cardiff
It’s looking like a tough ask for Cardiff to stay up with the fixtures they have remaining, but I wouldn’t back against them.
I can predict they won’t get to 40 points, so I think they need to hit the mid-30s and hope Southampton or Brighton struggle down the home stretch.
After they saw off Bournemouth and the Saints to get back-to-back wins things were looking good but heavy home defeats against Watford and Everton – games where they would have fancied their chances – have seriously dented confidence and their goal difference.
Neil Warnock said he already knew his team for this game after the 3-0 defeat to the Toffees in midweek, which underlines that he – perhaps better than anyone – knows precisely the approach to take with Wolves.
The away end
Some comments from the match thread on a popular Cardiff City forum:
The only way we can beat Wolves is to attack them.
If we go there looking for a point and let them control the ball I can see nothing but another 3-0 loss. I think we will get a draw 1-1
I said we’d beat Watford 2-1 and draw with Everton 1-1, but after seeing the last 2 performances I struggle to see us beating Wolves tbh. I reckon it will finish Wolves 2-1 Cardiff.
Can see us playing hard but no goals. Wolves good at home, 2-0 to them.
Wolves
It was pretty limp against Huddersfield and I think maybe a few heads should roll to freshen things up.
Saiss is probably unlucky to find himself outside the starting XI anyway, so giving Dendoncker a breather isn’t a big compromise.
Bringing in Vinagre is just about adding some vibrancy to a team that looked leggy in midweek.
As mentioned post-Huddersfield, Traore isn’t getting enough minutes in my opinion so should be first in line from the bench.
The poll
[interaction id=”5c78fee6c31fa11dd12740a9″]Predictions
I believe I’m correct in saying not a single person predicted defeat against Huddersfield so it’s as you were in the Prediction League Table with Wolvo Dave leading the way.
As always, if you’d like to join in simply leave your prediction in the comment section below, which is where you’ll also find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
We really need a decent performance to bounce back from that dismal display against Huddersfield. This game is the chance to do that.
We all know how much we love Colin! I hope we can give an upbeat performance and have a real go. I want to see goals, goals and goals!
Onward’s & Upwards
We can’t allow Cardiff to force us back and make us defend our 18-yard box as much as we’ve done in the last two games against them.
They played Paterson up top earlier in the season and I couldn’t get my head around why we dropped so deep when surely it was impossible for a player of his type to run in behind?
I saw nothing of their defeats to Watford and Everton but obviously, those teams found a formula, which we need to replicate.
On the basis we dominate the ball and push them back I’ll back us to win. Hopefully it pans out that way.
I imagine Warnock will have got his team fired right up for this. I’ll go with a draw.
Yep, I can see where you’re coming from Bagsy. But I’m even more pessimistic than you and so I’m going for a defeat here I’m afraid, just to nail on that very apparent fact that Wolves struggle against teams who give them no space and no tolerance in midfield and, in so doing, strangle our way of playing.
And all that’s quite apart from the fact that we all know they’ll be kicking lumps out of players as well!
I have a dream . . . . . . . . and not a very nice one!
Does anyone recall Leeds’ humiliation of Southampton in 1972? A 7-0 thrashing; playing ‘keepy-uppy’ for chunks of the second half?
At the time time I thought it was a dispicable thing to do to your fellow professionals. I still do.
However, please can we do it to Colin tomorrow?
No?
OK, I’ll settle for three!
Here we go again ! All the pundits have got us winning this game from Muppet Merson to Lawro. Even the Sun Newspaper has us down to winning 4-1 . You know what that means ….were destined to lose !
Nuno needs to get the players fired up for this one . Colin certainly will have his lot up for kicking seven shades of sh*t out of us and lobbing long balls into the box.
The players have to stand tall and get stuck in ! Give em a taste of some of their own medicine . If it means kicking Bamber & Co up in there air then so be it .
I agree with Saiss in for Dendonker, who I thought had a terrible game midweek . Also spot on with Vinagre in for Johhny who looked a little tired. Surely Traore needs to get some match time….with his pace he could make their defence look bang average .
COYW
You read the S*N?!!!
When teams double up on our wingbacks to stop that play there is more space through the middle so we should be trying to do that more . I was atHuddedfield on Tuesday . We need to be far better tomorrow or we will fail to win which Lumley means finishing 7 th is much less likely with the fixtures to come .
I think we will come up with the goods and win 3-1
Wolves have to man up for this one. Can’t let another bottom three team do the double on us. More than just points at stake here, but pride too.
Come on Wanderers, let’s win this!
Come on guys. That Manga and Bamba have to be the 2 worst defenders in Prem history.
Too much doom and gloom about following 1 bad performance and result.
They will be back on it Saturday make no mistake.
Lets make plenty of noise from the start and emjoy a good game
We’ve been sluggish recently and need to get back to winning ways. Yes, there is a 4 point gap after us and Watford, but that’s no excuse for complacency.
A couple of changes as commented above will mix things up a little and hopefully do the trick.
I did predict Huddersfields score; where l went wrong was us not getting the 5 that l said we’de get – I’ll never win this prediction league.
Just as the history books don’t show how we thrash some teams, but only get a 1 – 0 win, Burnley comes to mind, so they won’t show how abysmal and pathetic and crap we were at Huddersfield.
The dust has settled, we cannot change anything, so let’s move on.
The red faced Wanker revels in the shit pile at the bottom of the league, it’s all he has ever known.
Now is the time to kick the shit out of him.
His style of playing is anti football, out of the sixties and seventies, where he belongs with all the other dinosaur managers.
Nuno has overseen some pretty poor performances in the last few weeks, and I’m sure he is as pissed off as we are, and will have the lads steamed up for this one.
If, on the other hand, we don’t turn up, again, and get stuffed, then heads will deffo roll.
Watching our Jeff talk about aiming to be the best team in the world, reminds me that failure is not an option ( name that movie!) and will NOT be tolerated.
Colin, watch out.
A wounded Wolf is dangerous, a wounded pack is fuckin’ deadly!!
FOwb
We were poor against Huddersfield, would play Traore from the start and let him have a half to run at their defenders
need some steel in midfield so agree with Saiss getting a game but he is the most likely to get booked
going for a draw but would love a win
The main reason we lost to Huddersfield was because early on we sat back, let them have the ball and grow in confidence. When we got the ball, HF pressed relentlessly and we gave the ball away cheaply. This would happen far too often throughout the 90 minutes.
We should have been the ones taking the game to HF. Think West Ham at home a couple of weeks back, we pressed from minute one, which led to us enjoying plenty of possession higher up the pitch. We didn’t relent all night. You have to earn the right to play. Under Nuno, due to our superb defensive shape and danger on the counter, we’re occasionally prone to sitting too deep. HF exploited this well.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is that we need a West Ham performance v Cardiff – dictate the game from minute one, give them no time on the ball, and we will naturally play higher up the pitch and box them in. What we can’t do is match them for physicality like we tried at their place; I still don’t understand why Nuno went against his philosophy. It didn’t work and we just kept sitting deeper and deeper through the second half. It was hard to watch.
Re changes, I can see why Thomas has gone with Vinagre. His pace would freshen things up but I think Jonny has been impressive going forward in recent weeks. He and Jota looked dangerous at times on Tuesday night. However, Jonny was so knackered that Mooy went around him on the counter for the goal. That wouldn’t have happened to a fresh Jonny.
All for Saiss coming back in. Performed admirably when called upon in defence and midfield. I thought the Donck was poor v HF; ponderous in possession. Neves was too but he’s not going to be dropped.
Fast start, dictate the game on our terms, 3-1.
UTW!
We all know this is going to be a tough game, it always is. We must be up for the fight, win the fight and them dominate them with our football. I feel we always get dragged down to scrapping, which is what they want.
Saiss to come in for Neves for this one to make the midfield a little more solid.
Wolves 2-1. Jota, Jimenez (pen)
Spot on Luke.
Not looking forward to seeing Colin’s Orc ball again and Ruddy and the back three need to deal with the inevitable aerial bombardment.
COMBs!
9Only one change for me and that’s Saiss in for dendonker .
Moutinho and neves need an enforcer to give them the chance to play their beautiful game and Saiss is that man.
Vinagre is still a little green and it will need seasoned pro’s for this one.
The comment from cardiff above says they need to attack …well if they do that we will murder them and I don’t believe they will .
It will be long range balls into the box and playing for set pieces …. the tried and tested Cardiff way ..oh and kicking us up in the air at every opportunity.
Saiss will have to be hard but careful or we could end up with one too many set pieces and one too many bookings.
Overall we have more than enough for them and patience will be the key.
We will win but not by many
Saisse yes, but leave Dendoncker in and take out the lightweight Moutinho.
And I agree with Traore up the right wing, just in case we want to play 70s football against Colin.
That’s correct Tim, why don’t we leave out our classiest and currently most effective player?
Hmmmmm. Can’t get any worse than our performance at Huddersfield. Can it?
Have no idea what went wrong but something is not right. Want to see us perform like I know we can, but am feeling a tad uneasy about this one.
Going to predict negatively in the hope that I get it wrong.
Not sure about leaving the Donk out. He gives us a degree of physicality in midfield which we’ll need against Cardiff. Maybe Saiss for Neves if we want to play them at their own game which could be dangerous. Vinny for Johnny may give us a bit extra going forward.
One point from 4 games against bottom 3 – imagine if we’d won those where it would have put us! Lets hope that statistic has changed at the end of the game. These are the sort of games I expect us to win.
Everyone
The number of fans from the bottom three who would swap places with us
I think it’s flattering that some teams already set up to stop us , of course it’s never nice to lose but at the end of the day , or season, we will finish miles ahead of them and will get stronger next season too , I’d take our philosophy any day
Looking forward to watching this one and I know I’m in a massive minority but I like Colin and for sheer entertainment value I hope Cardiff stay up
Utw
We have not won any games against the current bottom 3 teams. I don’t see us doing it again. Prove me wrong please.
Have to believe we are too good to lose this one. I am hoping we don’t spend too much time thinking about Colin and his thugs. Instead we should believe in ourselves, our strengths and play our brand of football.
This is what got us where we are. 7th, 1/4 finalists and universally praised. 2-0.
Not especially optermistic about this one.Warnock will tell his players to get in our faces.
They will wined us up both on and off the pitch.
Nuno still cannot find a way past teams who press us I’ll be very surprised if we get anything out of this game .
It’s the last curse Nuno has not managed to dispell.
2.0 to them hope I’m wrong…?
If we are going to be wined up off the pitch, mines an Apothic Dark.
This one really is impossible to predict, we were crap in Yorkshire, they’ve been crap all season (but still beat us after we took the lead). The only certainty is that it will start 0-0 so I’ll go for that and hope the boys prove me totally wrong.
Don’t like this one a,few years back I would say a definite loss just because we are wolves, but I can see a little blip on its way after the draws we had and the defeat to Huddersfield
What I will say is if we score first it opens it up Cardiff then have to attack a bit more, thus play in to our hands ?
If Romaine is to come in, I feel it should be for Ruben rather than the Donk. The Donk after all only came into the team at Christmas so is less likely to be feeling the pace at the end of the season than the other midfielders, and Ruben didn’t exactly cover himself in glory on Tuesday either. Also, a fresh Ruben off the bench could cover for any of the others who may be struggling later in the game.
Otherwise, it’s pointless trying to beat Cardiff at their own game, so our game needs to be spot-on so before they can make their physicality count, the ball has already gone. Our boys will still be smarting from the Huddersfield debacle, or they bloody well should be, so I think we’ll see a fired up Wolves claim a comfortable three points.
As you rightly point out we dont turn up against the lower teams and i dont see any reason to think this one will be different
2-1 to cardiff
if i may add – i watch (rather than comment these days) the Wolves faithful turn on each other online after every defeat and whilst im perplexed at those who slag off the team and manager, im just as confused by those who say we shouldnt be worried about these defeats. There’s a clear pattern of dropping points against teams who play a certain way, this isnt something we’ve just witnessed on tuesday against uddersfield. We must therefore be asking why Nuno hasnt come up with a plan b yet – 3/4 of the way into the season.
Until we do, we are seriously undermining our true potential.
Well put Adamant…!
Bang on Admant. Agree completely.
Interesting match. Cardiff is probably just gonna sit low and try to deny Wolves space in midfield. If they succeed, I believe perhaps a formation change 3-4-3 with Traore and direct wing play could turn out to be the antidote. Hopefully we’ll score an early goal
The thing that’s been in common with all our failures against the bottom teams is that as soon as one of our guys gets the ball, there are three opposing players snapping round his ankles.
Which, according to my maths (I got an O level in it so I can say this with some authority), that leaves only seven outfield players left to deal with nine of ours.
So, if we move the ball forward quickly, we have men spare, with a load of pace, who can cause some damage.
But we tend to panic, slow down and pass sideways or backwards, which only encourages more men to press us and push us back.
Eventually the ball gets passed back to Patricio which results in a throw in to them around the half way line.
There ends the Mark Earl coaching lesson. I hope Nuno has taken note.
In the words of CJ from The rise and fall of Reggie Perrin, “I didn’t get where I am today by travelling all the way from sunny Melksham to ‘Colourful Wolverhampton’ to watch anything less than a convincing win”.
So I am hoping that my coaching masterclass has been noted and will be acted upon.
I’d start with the same team as in the week and bring on Adama and Cav if needed, with enough time left for them to make a difference. I don’t go with ‘leggy and tired’. These blokes are FIT – with a capital F I T !
On paper, we are a zillion times better than Cardiff.
Let’s make sure that we translate that superiority on to the Molineux grass tomorrow.
In my excitement I forgot to give my prediction.
I don’t know why I bother really, Clive predicts 5-1 every week and it seems he’s got the same points as me from one fewer prediction!
And your point is?????
love the DOOGooder’s tactical masterclass drop neves for dendonker and play traore in a front 3
Still in shock from the Huddersfield game, more the performance than the result. Even more shocked when we moved back to 7th the following night when Watford conceeded the 5 goals that allowed us to climb above them on goal difference. Think Cardiff will fancy their chances this week so going for a no score draw.
Have been thinking for a few days about our failings against the ‘weaker’ clubs. My take on it is that the players have bought into Nuno’s system and can operate it with ease. When they play the big clubs they know that they have to use that system but with energy, drive and determination or they will have problems. Against the lesser clubs they seem to go through the motions of playing the system, keeping the structure but without any dynamism – its almost as if they think the system itself is enough to guarantee victory. Well, they have had more than enough reminders that that is not the case. With Cardiff (the essential anti-footballers) tomorrow, they have an opportunity to show that they have learned their lesson.
Just need to trust in Nuno after, let’s be honest, 3 disappointing results in the league. Either the system needs another tweak, or a few changes of personnel top get our pace and intensity back. It will come sooner or later.
When I woke from my slumber a minute ago my Pg Tips was cold ….. what a strange dream….
it was a Saturday in early March and as the clouds of rain cleared it seemed that Wolves were playing a 442 system? …..surely not….against a team in Blue ? ….no Ryan Bennett and 4 attacking forwards, Adama and Helda on the flanks, Raul and Diogo up front with only 2 holding midfielders and wing backs reverting to full backs …..what a ridiculous dream eh !
Ah well back to work…. it ain’t going to happen is it ….. I fear the worst at 4.45 against these over aggressive, clumsy and talent less Muppets who despite the outcome of this game will be back in the Championship soon …..
It has to be better than last match – doesn’t it?
This will be a very tough game in my opinion. One or two changes to the team might enliven us, but we will need to have battling players out there. I, personally would give the fabulous Moutino a rest and give Saiss the start; Cav a start with a well battered Diogo resting. Traore would come on first, wide on the right and Moutino and Diogo on after, barring injuries. Adam should come on with a good 25 or thirty minutes left.
This is a really hard one to predict but I’ll go for a 3-1 win to Wolves, but…
Well there’s the first change
Ruddy to start
easy game 4-0 just play our way and they will have no chance
I feel like there are always goals in these games. Will be tough but I hope we see a positive performance.
Never easy against Cardiff but we will edge this one see Colin trying to soften Nunno, as his wife says he is her favourite manager.
Good to see Ruddy in goal.
I’m all for playing the same team week in week out, right up until a game like Huddersfield, so I believe we need to look at heavy legs, fatiqued minds and gee these people up.
Personally I would go for three changes to the starting line up, Dendonker and Jonny clearly struggled on Tuesday so I would defo rest both. Also, Doherty had a poor showing by his standards so rest him too.
Lets do a cardiff, right back on Cardiff, play Saiss, who is without doubt our toughest player, the most physical by a long shot. Play him instead of the Donk.
Then 1000% agree, play Vinagre, (I love the kids tenacity and drive) in place of Otto.
Now controversially, play Traore on his favourite right wing in place of Doherty, but, for Christ’s sake, give him the ball, those full backs would not be able to live with his pace a d stregnth, they are donkeys.
When these guys get weary, bring the usual guys back into their slots and throw Colin a curve ball.
I think we are as up for this as Cardiff will be, we know the history, the players know what to expect, they will want to prove a point too.
So for me:-
Wolves 2 Neves blinder, Jota.
Cardiff 0
Back on track me Bambinos…
With the correct tweaking (not Twerking DOOG) then a result is possible.
Not being Nuno but being me… I would rest Neves for Saiss and Jota for Traore….for the following footballing reasons , which tomorrow we won’t see much of from Cardiff.
Playmaker Neves wouldn’t get a chance to deliver those defence splitting passes from 4ft in the air following yet another hefty Bluebird challenge…. it’s going to be that sort of game and likewise Diogo will be kicked shitless if he’s on the pitch. Referee protection is rarely seen nowadays so it boils down to raw meat versus brute force sadly.
I truly believe that fatigue played a factor on Tuesday and our players should be motivated enough to play for a starting slot v Chelski and Man U in a few weeks time.
We certainly owe Colin some payback and after all their last two games haven’t gone down too well for them, so Warnock will be steaming if tomorrow is another bad day at the farm…
Referee is Andre Marriner…. could have been a lot worse…. nobody could be worse the Roger East..
I’ve not got a good feeling about this one but really feel the need to wipe the smug expression off Colins face.
I like the idea of Saiss as he gives us a bit more bite – providing he keeps his cool.
Cardiff will be up for this but our lads should be chomping at the bit here with something to prove.
So Wolves please get out there and prove it!!
I have been pretty disappointed with the performance recently (especially as a month or two ago I thought we were definite contenders to fight for a top six place and now we are definitely fighting for “best of the rest”).
The guys just don’t seem to have been “up for it”.
However I just heard about Nuno putting Ruddy in goal – I think this shows that he really is prepared to take action to maximise the chance of victory. Good on him!
So I was going to go for a draw in order to hedge my bets – but not now!
This one is difficult to predict as we just have no idea which Wolves are going to show up! We need some steel here so would bring in Saiss and leave in Dendonker, and leave out Neves. And Tarore has to feature, either to start or come on early in the second half. Tough game with a lot of bookings, and believe Bennet is on 9 he has to be careful.
After the Huddersfield debacle I’m more worried about Cardiff in the league than Man U in the cup! Nuno’s natural footballing philosophy, his whole ethos, his whole being, is suited to the purest form of the game. He can’t get down and dirty. Nuno would prosper in the Champions’ League but he might struggle in League One. As Fosun have their sights set on the former I guess the latter doesn’t matter! That said, the mark of true champions is to be able to grind out a win on a cold Tuesday night in, err, Huddersfield. We’re not the finished article yet.
Nuno cracked the Championship in style at his first attempt. He’s surprised most people in the PL at his first attempt. He will be hurting after Huddersfield, but learning. It’s almost providence that we should be facing Cardiff straight after Huddersfield. I don’t want Nuno to get down and dirty, we’re bigger and better than that. I do want him to learn how to counter the down and dirty teams, and ditto the down and dirty coaches. I’m going for a response against Cardiff. 2-0
Here we go again. Cardiff have just been hammered 5-1 and 3-0 at home. Guess who is next on Colin’s radar. He will have spent the last few days working out his agricultural approach to the game which will involve lots of massive players colliding around the six yard box trying to get on the end of a 1. Corner 2.free kick 3. Long throw or a combination of all three resulting in Sol Bamba scuffing a shot off the inside of his mouth in to the net. Exultant Colin will punch the air and his blue anorak will flap around in the wind in celebration.However it won’t prevent a 3-1 wolves win. Colin will say that the referee was useless and a 5 year old could do better. Advocating that Andre Marriner needs to go on a ‘ I am bloody useless at everything I do so I need to go on a make better decisions for Colin’ course. He will then say how much he likes Wolves and wish he had the money to spend like them. His horrible face will then disappear from our screens. And his rugby team slips closer to the abyss. Never mind Col your next visit to the West Midlands will be Sandwell Town away in September. In the Championship. If you are still in a job. Adiós.
A bit off topic but we would just like to say a very happy birthday to the legend that is Barbara Singh (Mrs ExiledWolf). Quite fitting that our opponents tomorrow are from Wales. Have a lovely day in the Algarve.
I second that commotion!!
Thanks for the birthday wishes, I’ll expect lavish gifts at the next meeting – C’mon Car…………Wolfies (it’s me – the Welsh Wolf in sheep’s clothing)
If you’re in sheep’s clothing Dougie, don’t whatever you do bend down in front of a Cardiff City supporter!!!!
Hey Dougie …. please give Barbara a full on KISS from the Twix’s mate.
Happy birthday luverly Lady….
Xxx
I’ll be happy to see Traore start, and Saiss and Vinaigre, and trust the few days rest have refreshed the others enough to give us a smooth win
Neves is not that lightweight. He weighs around 175 lbs. Just a couple lbs. less than Boly. Moutinho weighs in at 135 lbs. so he can start on the bench and come on later if necessary.
So him (Neves) and Saiss can handle the heavy going in the middle of the field along with Leander.
Put Traore in at right wing and let him show how old school football is played.
I would consider his runs to the goalline as min-set pieces. Just have him get there and either a nice cross in the air for Dendoncker or Saiss to try to head in or a pass on the ground to Raul.
Obviously, things change depending on who else is on the pitch.
Neves is a couple lbs less than Boly ?
Are you sure Tim !
He wears that well then
Sorry. I’ve just seen a different weight for Boly. Much higher than I’ve seen elsewhere.
Elsewhere says 81 kg. Wolves site says 97. Not sure how the two numbers can be so off.
Excellent evening. The six fingered in breds are 2-0 down at Leeds. Jolly good. More f**kin beer……and FOWB.
Heard a whisper tonight, Traore, Cav and Costa to start up front.
Saisse for the Donk.
Ruddy in goal as Nuno announced today.
Hope it’s not three wingers again, we are shit in the winter, and it’s coming about two PM tomorrow. Lets hope we shall over come.
Another whisper.
The shite are now 3-0 down (77 mins)
Four Nil Stew, but they were worse than that, by a mile. Happy days.
Trouble us don’t we all hate those Yorkshire inbreds too? Don’t want them getting promoted.
Clearly we learned nothing from the Huddersfield game in November so no surprise that without different tactics we lost again. Unfortunately I can see no reason to think it will be any different against Colin’s Cloggers.
For me the main changes for this game should be ion the bench, the constant presence of Gibbs-White and Costa, who provide nothing when they get on the pitch needs to change, give some of the others a chance, they can’t do any worse.
I would love to see the steam erupting out of Colin,s ears after a good thumping from us but not much confidence it will happen.
Wolves 0
Cloggers 1
I’ve been getting carried away with our world beating credentials of late so I’m reigning it in this week.
A solid draw me thinks.
Jeeeez, what to do with this one? I’d like to think that after the Huddersfield bag of shite that we’ll “react” with a rock hard performance against Colin’s bunch but confidence is not high in my opinion. Am I out of order to question whether Nuno has it in him to get our lads fired up for this? He likes his system, doesn’t like to deviate much from it and changes are few and far between.
OK, get a grip Dave. Nuno will sort this and to that end………..
No one predicted a loss at Huddersfield, that is, except my old man with his warnings of complacency. I soon put him right and said Nuno wouldn’t allow it. Well I still don’t think we were complacent just a bit knackered. When we did eventually get going nothing came off and we got deservedly punished.
Don’t think Nuno was too impressed and rumour has it has upped the monkey glands this week to boost the boys vigeur.
Hope it does the trick and Colin’s sent packing back to taffshire with his devils tail between his legs.
Ps pleased with the inclusion of Ruddy, nothing against Rui but it sounds like a good plan to give big John game time before the cup match.
Colin is a real Jekyll and Hyde character- charming in front of the camera and a master of the dark arts on the pitch. He has a track record of underhand and unsporting behaviour and will do anything to get a result tomorrow after being hammered twice in the last two games. Cardiff will literally be fighting for their PL life and I expect Diogo, if he plays to be fouled repeated in the first few minutes until the ref loses patience and gets his cards out. For that reason I would start with Traore and bring Jota on after half-time. Imperative we go at them from the off and run the defenders ragged. Hopeful of a win but with Colin you never know. Not the end of the world if we lose but we should compete and show us that they will not be intimidated.
So here come the Taffs….
Colin & a la la la la la Bamba are in town with a wish to be the 2nd team to do the double.
So let me take you back to Carduff last year, 0:1 till 92 minutes then 2 x peno’s and still Colin could get anything out of that game & told our Nuno several time to Fec’toft….
So onto today, Colin praises our Nuno… Big John back in goal…. and the shite lost 4:0
Tomorrow please let John pass the ball to build from the back, use Saisse to boss the midfield & let Jaoa & Ruben feed the balls to our pace in attack.
Traore to come on for Doc after 60 mins to put the fear of Christ up Sol & their back 9.
John to also ensure Pattison doesn’t hinder access to the ball from set-pieces.
Fek Uddersfelt that’s in the past, fek Colin he’s in the 60/70’s & let’s allow our Wolves to emulate Leeds with a resounding 4:0 and send Colin home with 4/5ths of fek all.
PS reckon Colin’s missus is gonna get some stick off the twelfth man tomoz after he admitted that she likes “our Nuno”.
Cardiff have a history with us of being awkward and uncooperative customers. Never more so than in 1955-56 when, early in the season a visit to Wales saw us win 9-1. I was one of the many who turned up in the second half of the season expecting great things from the return fixture – only for them to win 2-0. Isn’t football a great game!
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/08/21/classic-match-report-cardiff-1-wolves-9-1955/
I’m not sure about leaving Dendoncker out – was he that much worse than everyone else at Huddersfield? I think we’d miss the presence he normally contributes and would like to see him given another chance along with the rest of the team.
Prediction seems more difficult than usual, but I think we’ll bounce back and win – so COYW, let’s see what you can do!! 🙂
A solid performance with just a little sparkle on top should get us over the line
So upset to
Hear news of Sandwell Albion
Ah well.. there’s always next year
Meantime our boys are facing a classic Championship fixture
They out muscled us last year .. mainly off the ball and that was an early lesson
Let’s not be surprised tomorrow… Mr Wanker will have them ready to
Break legs
My team would be based on
Who
Can handle that kind of shit
Not Neves or Moutinho
Time to
Field some thugs.. who can also play top quality football too
Think big eff in
Belgian Saiss and Traore to
start and Cav
No prizes for elegance
My dad used to tell me “Always expect the unexpected”
So I used to go to the Mol expecting the South Bank to catch fire or the floodlights to collapse on me or a mole to pop up under the penalty spot or some crazy thing to happen like the sprinklers to come on during the game or a cat to come on as a substitute for the opposition. Any way my motto now is “Expect the expected”. Jordan Ayew has only two good games a year in him. He saves them for us. 0-1
Bonkers ay we?
Come ooooooooooooooon lads, please!
I’m with Barry Bucknell!
Can’t you do it yourself?
Strong players only against this lot . I’d have Saiss and Dendoncker on the pitch for this one
Also I would have preferred Adama to Helda as you’ve got to catch Adama to try and kick him
We always owe these a thumping
We ain’t gonna beat them at their own game Matt. They’ve been practising for a long time. We need to impose our game so they don’t get the chance to out-muscle us.
We really need this one today with a couple of difficult games to come. At home with a big crowd, I trust the boys will be motivated to show how good they really can be and not be intimidated by lesser teams. Plan B might be required but tactics, we’ll leave to the manager.
Everyone will be a bit worried after Huddersfield, with what happened earlier in the season. I am not.
Tuesday was not good, but we still tried to play football. Over the years I’ve seen so many bad performances that were 100 times worse than that.
Pleased for Ruddy. I expect us to bounce back in style. Cardiff will be hard to breakdown, so an early goal will help.
Crossed my mind as perhaps others on this Blog, part of Nuno’s thinking is that Ruddy will deal with Colin’s penalty area shenanigans. He has experience of all levels of English football so is better equipped for Colin’s nasty tricks.
.. and very psychological from Nuno with Colin still smarting from the Ruddy penalty saves last year.
Ruddy could do with a clean sheet today, so could I. C.O.W !!!!
Not sure why my previous post on this thread has disappeared – I won’t bore you all with a repeat of my deathless prose, but just leave my forecast.
COYW
Yep, I knew after last week we will all start having doubts about our ability to beat a struggling team. I keep trying to be positive. I don’t think this game will have many goals in it. I reckon there could even be a red card somewhere. So going for a squeaky 1-0 win.
I’ll back us to win but far from comfortably.
Really difficult to call this one as I think both teams will be wanting a reaction. Changes will be made on both sides and it might come down to who wants it’s more. Warnocks given them a bollocking and they’ll fight like dogs for the points this afternoon.
Wolves are all over the place with regards to consistency at the moment. Another game that we should be winning, but will no doubt struggle with. Having said that, the sun is shining, and my wife and I are nipping down to Lulworth Cove for a few hours, so feeling upbeat.What has that got to do with anything? Nothing really, but my last few predictions have been based on blind faith and optimism, and got me 0 points.
Lovely Lulworth. Lucky lad.
Bit noisy with all those tanks firing.
Don’t care who plays as long as they all bloody turn up and play Colin at his own game. If it’s wearing the other colour shirt kick it.
Time to find out if we are a bunch of faries or can we really sort out the so called little teams. Suspect the answer will be NO we can’t and that Colin will kick us all over WV1. only hope I am wrong. Head says we will loose heart has no bloody idea.
Not the least bit surprised that Ruddy is replacing Patricio for this one. We will need his physical presence in the 6 yard box to counter the threat from Cardiff’s front two – they battered Patricio in the reverse fixture.
A tough one to predict but I am going for a win.
Nuno will have sorted out the Huddersfield debacle, Coleen will be wetting his panties after 20 mins!!
3-0 to the Wolves
Hearing that bigger changes afoot today, team revamp.
Ruddy
Bennett Coady Boly
Saiss Dendonker
Vinagre Traore
Jota Costa Jimenez
If this is right, Nuno is definitely going for muscle, the only lightweights in there are Costa and Vinagre.
Could it be we can out muscle Colin.
Mind Games.
It will be interesting to see the team at 2pm.
I don’t want to take too much from the Huddersfield debacle but there are more pointers to our future in the last game we’ve played than in the games we played before Christmas.
We’re a bit too predictable, a two-trick pony where teams now know the two tricks.
Nuno says we play the same every game. Yes, right. They’ve all seen the long, cross-field passes from Coady and Neves to Doherty, they’ve seen the fast counter attacks. All great for us fans to watch and feast upon later. But if you have a nippy little full back to cut out those telegraphed passes and you play a 5-5-0 with little intention of attacking you have half the formula sorted.
This way they put Doherty out the game, and he forgot his defensive duties. Little guys in midfield struggle. Push us wide – – once we had three blokes lined up out on the LH touchline! One knock on Costa and he’s out. MGW soon runs out of puff.
We played to feet not to space and there was generally a terrier on us as soon as we turned, giving us no possession and little time for interplay. They had muscle and height on their side. Even the little whippets they put out seemed to be able to out-jump us, aside from Boly that is.
Don’t disrespect Huddersfield they have plenty of internationals and experience, more PL know-how than us. Even that Kachunga, the big number 9 they put on with Mooy, has German youth caps and DRCongo appearances to his name and he scored loads of goals in the Championship.
I checked out the match day programme for their results. They’ve been ‘unlucky odd-goal losers’ about ten times this season! Despite the John Smith’s stadium being a soul-less place the fans roll in, proudly wearing their blue and white, or their red and black away strip, supporter shirts. They know they’re better than their results, things will turn around, Championship champions next season. (So don’t disrespect Cardiff.)
Colin will have had us watched and now have the recipe. Out-muscle us, out-jump us, pack midfield, niggle, frustrate, man to man mark, don’t give us time, go for a draw and who knows something will come along.
We will have many more great days ahead of us and much better results against teams that play more expansively and we’ll knock over top teams that misjudge our talent but we don’t have a solution to unlocking the game-stiflers.
Along comes another one. I’m not going along today expecting a win. I won’t be too dejected. Tenth in the league will suit me, with an FA Cup victory (or hopefully at least a few more high-end scalps).
This is me for real, after my better half’s post earlier thanking people for their birthday wishes.
We’re soaking up the Algarvian sun but my thoughts are firmly fixed on the match this afternoon.
My memories of the reverse fixture, end November, are not so nice and I’m hoping for some payback this time around. It is good that Ruddy is getting a game; I would also be happy to see Cav from the start.
Is this the cup team??
Getting in some match practice.
Always tough against Colin.
I hope we turn up this time, good luck to Ruddy.
I won’ t be nice to them, fingers crossed they go back to the championship in may. 4-0, with no single shot for them on target.
Just got in – just seen the teamsheet – just puzzled as to how we will get on.
A thoughtful prediction goes out of the window. Looking at this team I’ll guess at 1-1
We really do need to get the points and the goals in. We cannot rely on others to get the coveted 7th place
As comprehensive a thrashing as we could wish to see.
Excellent, excellent performance, and response to three poor previous results.
Clive is a very happy bunny tonight!!!
And big thanks to Doogle for pointing me at the hesgoal.com site.
You’re welcome my boy!
And, as I predicted the correct score, I’m now ahead of you in the prediction league, so Ner Ner!
The psychology instructor had just finished a lecture on mental health and was giving an oral test.
Speaking specifically about manic depression, she asked, “How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?”
A young man in the rear raised his hand and answered, “Neil Warnock”
So Wolves always play the same way.
We’re predictable.
We only have plan’s A & B
We can’t seem to deal with lesser teams.
Well that game truely fect a few up on here. Lmfao.
5 changes, a precursor for our priority in the Cup, 43 points from 29 games, by far the best midlands team.
& I struggled with MOTM between 3 new starters – Vinegre, Traore & Saisse – but I’m giving it to Vinegre who really is turning into a wonderfully talented player.
Happy? tooooooo fekin right I am.
Oh & the song for Mr & Mrs Wanker just about brilliant.
Huddersfield, Fulm & Carduff to go down.
Proper fekin Wolves Ay We
It really does make me laugh. I’m in a pub in Wolvo and everyone is singing European tour. Nuno had a dream. You would think after Huddersfield we were going down to League one.Blimey . 14 points last 7 games although we are shit in three of them. Meks me loff. Really does.
Cheesie,
I day c the cat!
Was he on the bench today?
With 5 changes I was half expecting him to start.
Rick. The cat was wondering around at the top of my garden this morning. I knew it was gonna be a good day. I also saw a pigeon fly past and he had ‘Warnock is a bastard ‘ tattooed on his head. All pointed to the 2-0 win day it.