Not a great week.
Another couple of key performers limped off at Newcastle in what turned out to be a fairly limp showing overall.
Matt Hobbs has since been doing the rounds talking about the need to sell a top player every year to keep moving forward.
Maybe we just have to accept the reality of where we are as a football club in the era of PSR and hope the net result is more Brighton than Leicester?
On the sunnier side of the street, we have the comfort of looking ahead because we’re not going down and at least the club has the common sense to try and tether Gary O’Neil to a juicy new deal.
With the FA Cup quarter-final on the horizon, it would be easy to let this game slip by but I hope we don’t. It was depressing how things fizzled out under Bruno Lage in his first season and that hangover carried on into the next campaign. We don’t want a repeat.
Fulham
It’s a bad time to be playing the Cottagers. They’ve despatched Man Utd and Brighton in their last two and are gathering momentum. If they win tomorrow they’ll move ahead of us and into the top half.
In Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz they might have unearthed a gem. His consistent run in the side has coincided with their upturn in fortunes and is one to watch.
Raul Jimenez was just getting going himself before picking up another injury, but he might have an outside chance of featuring after returning to training. Adama Traore is back and influencing matches, albeit from the bench. He’s scored one and assisted one in his last two.
Like us, they’re probably exceeding expectations. Having sold Mitrovic in the summer, plenty of people thought they might get dragged down, but it’s been another very tidy campaign including a run to the semi-final of the League Cup.
There will be danger again in the summer with highly rated defender Tosin Adarabioyo out of contract and Joao Palinha continually linked with a move away. Keeping hold of Marco Silva is paramount – he’s got the experience and know-how to help them maintain and where possible, build.
Wolves
I strongly believe Gary O’Neil should consider starting Nathan Fraser tomorrow.
I like the cut of this lad’s jib. He can get his body in and protect the ball, move reasonably well when he’s got it and isn’t afraid to pull the trigger.
We looked so passive at Newcastle without a proper striker and you’d have to say nobody could have done worse than Hwang in leading the line against Brighton. What do we have to lose?
Hopefully, Pedro, Joao and Jose are back to give us more of a first-team vibe. Otherwise, I fear it’s likely to be a real uphill battle against this resurgent Fulham side.
Predictions
Nobody had 3-0 to Newcastle last weekend so that’s nice and easy.
I’ll be honest, despite what I said in the intro, I’d swallow another defeat tomorrow to beat Coventry next weekend. But it’s not a straight choice and no reason we shouldn’t push for a result here. Fulham are going well, but they’re far from unbeatable.
That being said, with the injuries, their form and the return of some former players, it’s got the whiff of pain and suffering. But I’ll push that down and go for a 2-2 that just about keeps us on track for a top half finish.
As always, if you’d like to join in with the Prediction League this season, it’s simple – just leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided. Then repeat for every preview article throughout the season, making sure you always use the same email address to make your prediction. Your email is what ties you to your overall score.
Up The Wolves!
Early bird catches the worm on most things in life with the exception of the prediction league, where timing has no relevance to my own ability to predict an outcome of a football game let alone the correct score,goal scorers or performance of the team.
I watched the Fulham away fixture last season at around about the same time of year in a bar in the Alps in France with my son ,both of us adorned in replica shirts ,Guiness at £10.00 a pint and very little snow on the runs back to the resort
This year Ill be on the ‘ piste’ by 5.00pm as I cant see past us losing this one despite the sizable injury portfolio ….Good luck to GON negotiating his new contract, another win would certainly do no harm to adding numbers to a well deserved remunerative package
I don’t drive 250 miles every home match to see a defeat!
But, having said that, like you Thomas, if I could choose, I would prefer one tomorrow rather than the following weekend.
But let’s look on the bright side.
Spring shoots are breaking out of the soggy ground, the sun has actually shown its face a few times in the last few days and I can feel the blood stirring in my veins (the PMDG’er had better watch out), so I’m going to be optimistic.
A win by the odd goal will do.
And I hope that Raul is given a rousing welcome on his return to what was his golden place…
Our Golden Palace.
It’s a game that’s definitely winnable but again, I’m wondering where the goals will come from.
Totally agree Thomas why not give Fraser a chance from the start he’s the only natural CF we have. After the disappointment against NC time to bounce back then get ready for next week.
Problem is we’ve been here before. Didn’t we same with Fabio? “Why not throw him in… we’ve got no other strikers we can use”.
But maybe he was too young to handle the pressure and responsibility and it turned a really promising talent into everyone’s whipping boy. I get this is a good chance to blood the boy, but let’s not forget he is still just a boy.
I don’t think Fraser is anything like Silva of a couple of years back. Stronger physically and mentally and not easily shrugged off the ball. More similar to Ferguson at Brighton. I do hope he gets a start today.
Keep the faith UTW
The Newcastle game was clearly a game too far for such a small and injury hit squad. Hopefully all the players are now rested and those with minor knocks have had time to recover and are ready for Fulham. As with all games in this league it’s not going to be easy tomorrow but Gary O’Neil is usually a man with a plan so I’m still daring to be positive.
I’m fearing a wrong result here with the added irony that Traore will come on and prove a point..
I still think we shouldn’t of sold him.. he changes games.
Not this one hopefully..
A win by 1 goal I reckon we are able…
Netto to score…
My mind is on Coventry and the semi finals.. we could well end up at Wembley which would be absolutely brilliant..
Wouldn’t it just….
COYW
We didn’t sell him Steve. He ran his contract down
We should of renewed Prawny
No doubt he’ll play …
watch him tear down our left side..shiiit…
The form guide and our injury list doesn’t look promising. We have talent in the side, but where will the goals come from? At least we should be better rested than a week ago. Anything is possible. GON has pulled rabbits out of the bag before and this side has shown plenty of character.
Difficult to commit to a positive result for a prediction for this one, though.
I think this contradicts Thomas and the DOOGooder but I’d prefer a win next week as opposed to this week .. reason being that a Wembley trip, even in the semi’s , would probably be a Wolves’ Twilight moment for her ladyship and myself.
I’ve done a few semi finals, Hillsboro, Villa Park so another one would complete the set ..
Onto tomorrow when we greet Fulham and two of our firmer brothers .. again, just like last week, I think our already stretched to the limit resources will not prevail… which will be a disappointment following the VAR howlers at Craven Cottage and of course the simulation.. and not forgetting the ‘mild’ head butt from Vinicius and not given 2nd bookable offence from Tim Ream ..
Can’t see who’ll score tomorrow…
Yes .. we’re owed something tomorrow.. but I’ll swap that for some luck next week ..
I think you’ve misread my post mate.
I would prefer to win next week.
But why pick one when you can have both?
Well winning next week could turn out to be party time chez Dougie, Barbara and Trish .. ooooh … must remember to get some Prosecco …
Apologies if I got confused.. as you know .. it doesn’t take much ..
I just read that Adama was offered £100,000/week so, if true, what point does he have to prove? He was valued pretty highly.
If Gary is signed for two more years and still can leave in the summer, what is the point in extending his contract? He can still leave whether he has two years left or four.
I would imagine that a new contract means a higher salary, which may well encourage loyalty should admirers come a’knocking.
This fixture usually has little stress but I’m guessing that considerations of beating Coventry will be prioritized…. Both in who gets to play and how we play.
Yep give Fraser a start.
(Meantime I see occasional reports that Silva is doing well at Rangers…
which might increase his value?)
Hope the Mol get a glimpse of Raul and Adama and a chance to cheer them that Lopetegui denied us last year
I’ll take a draw
Hoping we can hold them and nick one ourselves.
COMBs!
Another tough one to call. A few weeks ago we would have been targeting this as a comfortable home win but they have hit some great form and look a really decent team these days having finally got it right after years of yo-yo-ing.
I believe Fulham haven’t won here in something like 40 years, which is an immediate worry. They have some dangerous players (we know a couple of them fairly well) and if we aren’t on it we’ll be punished.
I’m concerned by the lacklustre starts we’ve seen recently. As good as we’ve been overall this year, we too often let the opposition settle into the game and knock the ball around, allowing them to get comfortable and grow into the game. Against a top team, it’s a clear game plan but the same shouldn’t be the case for a team below us in the table. I can see the frustration building in the stands if the same happens tomorrow.
There were signs last week of cruel injuries and the cup run beginning to catch up with us. We played the second half without Neto, Cunha or Hwang (as well as Gomes). Take the three best attackers out of any side – Haaland, Foden, De Bruyne out of City for example, or Liverpool’s front three – and they become a totally different team. So it was a tough ask last week.
Let’s at least hope Neto’s fully fit and we can get at them from the off. A tight game expected, but I’ll back us to get the win.
Fulham’s form is pretty hot and our injury woes make us look fairly toothless. Bank on Traore to assist / score.
‘I’m not available and I shouldn’t be linked with any jobs!’ Good man. Honourable man. I agree with Gary O’Neil that the score line last week flattered Newcastle somewhat and we didn’t have any luck with the goals. I do hope Raul and Adama are given a fair reception at Molineux as they both served us well and gave us a lot of moments to cheer. This is certainly going to be tricky. We’re usually defensively solid at home recently and as regards the question a few are posing ‘Who’s going to score?’ Most, if not all of our outfield players have scored this season, due to the way O’Neil encourages the team to play, so I imagine we’re all happy with anyone scoring. I too would like to see some of the players on the bench given a start, particularly Fraser, but have complete faith that Gary knows better than I do. A win would be nice, but happy with a draw.
Same comment as last week. Would be happy with a point; buy I’ll take 3 instead.
Hopefully not he same result as last week.
One game at a time, as the old bard used to say. And this is a game they can win at home. Dig deep lads and get it done. Results breed confidence.
Current form shows a marked difference between the teams.
They are on a roll and their performances of late have been matched by results.
If anything, we have been rather flattered by our results in recent matches with wins against the Blades and Seagulls hardly achieved in swashbuckling fashion. Unfortunate against Newcastle, especially given our injuries and lack of recovery time but very toothless up front.
Latest is though that Pedro, Jose and Joao should all be ready to go and with the home crowd, including me and my Balti Pie, driving them on, it will be the Old Gold who take the spoils.
Three games in six days for such a small squad is too much and I blame the flat performance at St James Park on that alone. A week later, fully rested, I expect our Wolves to be totally different beasts.
I agree this is a challenging fixture, and would also swap losing to Fulham with winning against Coventry – a trip to Wembley would be a highlight of the season, even if we lost to Man City or someone like that. I was at Wembley 50 years ago as a 13-year-old boy and have never forgotten that wonderful day.
However, I can see that we might win, or at least draw, this match, and would also go for Fraser from the start. He is quite Steve-Bull-like as a player, big, strong and puts himself about, and is not afraid to shoot, as some current players seem to be. How is he going to get better if he doesn’t start, and with Cunha and Hwang out it’s an ideal opportunity.
Think we might scrape another 1-0 victory, therefore. And Wembley here we come!
We’re running on empty and Fulham aren’t exactly pulling up trees so a I’d envisage a close one. The law of sod could well come into play with our two old boys being involved but I’m still banking on us jest edging it.
Forgot to mention. Frazer is still a boy. He’s nowhere near a starter yet. He’s good for the last half hour at best.
Time for a rebound after some much needed rest.
Obviously Newcastle was a game too far for an injury-hit and fatigued squad. My philosophy is that we need to immediately bounce back now, rather than look ahead for a win against Coventry. A point or three tomorrow please. And beat Coventry.
I don’t know what Adama is earning at Fulham but it may be less than the rumoured £100K a week offered to him at Wolves. I don’t think he was motivated by money. He just wanted out, like he did when he moved to Barca (and look a pay cut?). Barca didn’t work for him and so far injury stalled his Fulham gig until a game or so ago. It’s time for him to be taking his chances consistently. I reckon Gary could have got him going but now we will never know. He remains an enigma.
Marco Silva owes us nothing. But, it would be nice if he does what Lopetegui didn’t and allows Raul Jimenez a cameo so we can say our farewells to a great club servant. That said, a Fulham defeat might not put him in a mood to do Wolves any favours.
Not sure where a Wolves win will come, but GON has done a fantastic job in getting so much out of his squad. Fraser up front is a good call.
The usual mantra is ‘one game at a time’ and I’m happy with that. The Coventry match is for another day.
Could go either way especially with a returning Adama if not Raul.
But we should have Pedro + J.Gomes back. Give young Fraser a start.
Hopefully we can win this as well as the win v Coventry
Can’t see it ,dried up puddles have more depth than us don’t think we’ll be setting the world on fire again till after the international break
I suspect much of our good form earlier the season had a lot to do with limited rotation and we’re paying for that now. Fraser is exciting but we run the risk of putting too much pressure on young shoulders by playing him too soon. Last thing we need is another Fabio. Better a few sub appearances and a good championship loan spell to build his first team experience away from the limelight first.
I suspect we’re in for a fizzle to the end of our season with our performances reflecting where we really are squad strengthwise. Right now I’d take tenth and a trip to Wembley.
To be fair our ‘good form’ mainly started around Christmas. Not sure if this strictly counts as ‘earlier this season’
Not much to say about this one. It all depends on the day…
I’m going for a conservative draw, as our game with Coventry is more important than this one.
COYW
Greetings,
‘…. the whiff of pain and suffering.’ Cheers Thomas.
As for Marco Silva not owing us one, it was the Cottage that did for Neto 2 years ago. Though it was good to see Traore knock in a trademark late goal against Brighton, they, like us, were recovering from a heavy round of fixtures, not least against ourselves.
We’ve had a rest after what could have been a tighter affair in Geordieland, and should be getting the mojo working this close to Wemberlee.
I’m trusting the Mol Magic and chief Gazzbo to get us over the line. Oh for an early goal or two.
Our fortune and equity have risen hand in hand with our coach, so lets not get carried away with poachers syndrome. He was, after all. a sacked young caretaker manager with no prospect of PL footy for the season. Our stars aligned and the strength of the pack is built on loyalty and commitment. A thing Super T, gotta love him, should be reminded of on his return.
1 lv & COYW
Gary is hungry and his pack are getting a taste too.
Big effort today, every game is important.
Rest Dawson though. Would not be averse to a version of Si Senor IF we win.
I tend not to predict against Wolves. This game could well slip through our fingers though as our minds wander onto next weekend and the chance to get through to Wemberlee. Greetings and a huge thankyou to Raul and Adama but that is all they will get as we somehow conjour the right result and repay the injustices suffered in the earlier return fixture.
A tough one to call but a win tomorrow and one next week will do nicely with GON working his magic on our depleted squad .
This is difficult. The teams are closely matched and Fulham have a few ex-Wolves in their ranks.
With more hope than expectation I’m going for the narrowest of wins. Here’s hoping………
Tough game and a tough call. Narrow win for us.
Looking forward to Coventry next week (they were our rivals for promotion when I started going to matches). Will miss the SF, if we get there, as some necessary surgery has just be scheduled for 19 April.
As I am so late in predicting, all cases for a win or a loss have been made by fellow bloggers. So I will go to the most popular DRAW result – 1-1.
Thanks for the memories Adama.
What do we have to fear! Wolves to win Close game!
Sorry, the score!!
With a few players back, a whole week to prepare and cuhna back for Coventry ( not that we will need him mind) I can see a straight forward two 1-0 wins.
Fulham are below us , playing in our back yard and not good enough to keep a winning run going frankly, besides, their coach is an annoying boring moaning knob head ..
My dilemma though is should I stay up to watch the game , in Singapore so lots of places to watch alfresco but it finishes around 1 am and with a 5 .30 alarm organised to get me to the airport it’s all a bit tight .
Ahhh , stuff it, watch the game – sleep on the plane .
Utmw
Hope we can just edge this one
Very worried that our attack may be powder-puff without Cunha, Hwang and probably Neto.
utw.
There is an old proverb that says ” if you go on a skiing holiday and then put the ski’s on your head instead of your feet then you won’t go down the hill ” This might have a degree of truth. But not necessarily. You could quite feasibly advance down the slope on your head with feet sticking in the air. Slightly problematic in that it leaves you vulnerable to an attack by a vicious Siberian Albatross or something. These things have a habit of swooping in on prey and lifting them off for dinner. Pleasing then to see the second bit of the old proverb which goes ” If you do ski down the mountain on your head then be aware of the vicious Siberian Albatross. In this scenario be armed with a machine gun “. The old proverb obviously covering all bases. Personally I would definitely feel more comfortable skiing down a mountainside on my head if I had the ability to shoot any incoming Siberian Albatross with a machine gun. So what has skiing upside down and a Siberian Albatross got to do with Fulham at home ? Well everything . A swiftly approaching Albatross is something like Pedro Neto Unlike the Albatross. He won’t be stopped as WWFC seal a 2-1 victory. After the game Marco Silva said ” My grannie went on a skiing holiday once and was attacked by a Siberian Albatross. Luckily she was armed with a machine gun and shot it”. GON said ” I went on a trip to Dudley zoo the other day. I observed a giant Siberian Albatross. It was great”. WWFC 2 Fulham 1.
….. got a bad feeling about this one but nevertheless…….
Difficult to call this one as I have no idea of what time we pick so I will assume full strength except for Hwang and Cunha. Fulham will come and play which should help us
We will lose
2-2 draw for me today.
I’m hoping GON’s tactical changes pay off!!