Seeing as Wolves have proven they can get a result against pretty much anyone, a cup success feels more realistic than ever.
OK, we’ll play the second string tonight but so will Leicester (probably) and our reserves aren’t too shoddy these days anyway.
The Foxes were the last and only team to beat us this season and on the balance of play they were fortunate to get the victory.
It would be nice to avenge that result and advance to the last 16 of the competition. With home advantage there’s no reason that shouldn’t be possible.
Leicester
If I were a Leicester fan I’d be even more invested in the cup competitions having already achieved the impossible dream of a Premier League title and Champions League football.
It doesn’t seem like they’re destined to make a swift return to those lofty heights, so a comfortable top half finish and a tilt at the remaining silverware on offer must constitute success for Claude Puel’s side.
They lifted the League Cup in 2000 and are more than capable of doing it again. They’ve never won the FA Cup in their 134 year history so I suppose that might be the one to pursue with greater vigour?
A 3-1 home victory over Huddersfield on Saturday will have lifted spirits after a stodgy performance and a 4-2 defeat at Bournemouth the previous weekend.
Fleetwood were brushed aside 4-0 at the King Power in the last round and the Leicester teamsheet was packed with Premier League talent. I think their second team is stronger than ours on paper, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much in a one off game.
Wolves
I did a reasonable job of guessing the team in the previous round, but didn’t expect Nuno to field so many youngsters. They’ll likely be involved again, but I’m not sure they’ll start.
It would be great to see Cav out there again. It’s tough to see him forcing his way into the starting XI anytime soon, but I think he’s well suited to the pace of Premier League football so I hope he can get some game time.
Dendoncker hasn’t done enough to even make the matchday squad lately. I suppose someone has to miss out but that does suggest he’s not quite hit the heights in Nuno’s eyes.
As always, all eyes will be on Traore in the hope he can produce the magic to win us the game. He was pivotal in the victory over Shefffield Wednesday in the second round.
The poll
Predictions
No PL points up for grabs in the cup so it’s all just for larfs. I’ll back us to get the win inside 90 minutes. 2-1.
Up The Wolves!
Keep getting first go! Can’t add a lot to your insights Thomas. We have a lot of good players to select from who are unable to make it into a starting 11 whose form makes their being dropped unlikely.
It will be good to see Cav having a run-out and I will be interested to see how Dendoncker works out.
Think we’ll have some come back to offset Leicester’s fortuitous win. 2-1
Good open game in front of what looks like a healthy crowd of 20000+
2 – 2 after 90 and a win on penalties.
This would be my team, these lads beat Sunderland 7-0 last night, givem another run out. Such is the stregnth in the whole squad lately, I bet these guys would go again dor the team?
Sondergaard, Iorfa , Molberg, Kilman, John, Csoka, Heredia, Alves, Samuels, Diallo , Ennis
That aside, I feel a 3-0 coming on.
Wolves 3
Leicester 0
No relations allowed Stu.
I am on my way down soon. Will text you when I am there.
Wolves 3
Leicester 2
I would love a decent cup run and there is no reason not to have one .Whilst it is not realistic to expect the first team out at the start Why not have several of them on the bench to change the game if needed ..Why not do it ? The first team can hardly be tired and we are talking about the last 30 mins for heaven’s sake .Theynearly all played many more games last year and Coady andDoherty can do it .I expect to be disappointed though sadly .
Really looking forward to this one. As mentioned before, my best mate’s a Leicester fan, so we’ll be making the trip up from Bedford.
I’m slightly worried about the strength of their predicted XI tonight – Ward; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Iborra, Silva; Albrighton, Okazaki, Gray; Vardy.
I agree with Thomas, I can see a slightly more experienced XI fielded by Nuno. Traore and Cav could be a frightening prospect together in full flow.
Feel MF battle will be key, as Iborra and Silva are both very savvy operators on the ball. I’d feel much more comfortable with Neves and Moutinho up against them, but that of course won’t happen.
Play this lot, these young guys beat Sunderland 7-0 last night at Telford, they would give their right arm to go again. Well done the U23’s
Sondergaard, Iorfa (Buur 73′), Molberg, Kilman, John, Csoka, Heredia, Alves, Samuels, Diallo (Dias 73′), Ennis (Sauvage 62′).
On a serious note, I can’t see why we can’t get our own back on Leicester and with a noisy Molineux behind them I see the lads doing well.
Wolves 3
Leicester 0
I’d be inclined to rest Doherty as well even if only to give someone else a run out in that position. Hope to see Cav back soon, I just love the way he plays. No idea about the result at all as my position at the bottom of the prediction league attests.
I doubt nuno will make 10-11 changes for this one. Would love to see Cav get a decent run out and looking forward to seeing what Dendoncker can do.
Think we’ll win this 2-0 with traore and MGW to score.
Can’t decide if I’m bothered about a cup run if I’m honest
All I want is a decent prem finish so we can attract better players for next season, especially with our ground redevelopment / plans
I will take a win though especially v Leicester who I don’t really like, would definitely give some youngsters a game.
1 1 after extra time lose of penalties
Nuno has the winning mentality running through the whole club, and this will stand us in good stead for tonight and the rest of the season.
Can’t see us losing unluckily a second time to Leicester, nor in fact losing to anyone for the rest of the season!
Lovely piece in the Electronic Telegraph about how Brucie is on borrowed time in Aston.
Fowb
1-1 after 90 mins…penalty shootout
It seems that no matter which eleven Nuno picks they all know the system and exactly what they should be doing within it.
A second string might be a little rusty but should still be capable of giving us a win.
It’s a great opportunity for some fringe players to put themselves forward for first team selection but BOY! will they have to play well to winkle their way into the Premier League side.
I hope Cav gets some time because I feel that he is probably the most likely to eventually be in contention for a starting place in Nuno’s favoured team.
2-0 I reckon.
Good opportunity to give the squad players game time- Nuno’s backroom staff have done a sterling job todate keeping the first eleven fit and this is not just down to luck. I would retain Cody to anchor the defence but give the remainder of the first team a night off. Home advantage should help us to a 3.2 win and we all like a cup run!
When I look at the calibre of players on our 2nd team: Cav, Bonatini, Traore, Dendonker, Saiss, Vinagre, …, it makes me realize just how far we’ve come from the days of Moron and Muppet. I bet Nuno could win the Championship with our 2nd team too!
Let’s win this cup!
Wolves 2-0 Leicester
Winning is good for morale, good morale is good for the team. I would like to get a decent cup run and think we have the squad to do that.
Don’t think Cav has recovered from his back injury so would be surprised to see him in the squad. Would expect Dendoncker to feature along with Hause, Vin and a few youngsters.
Expecting a victory tonight.
2-1 to the Wolves 🙂
Second attempt as my first one vanished when I hit the post comment button 🙁
Now I can’t remember what I had written…
Oh well, a win it is. 2-1 to the Wolves.
Oooh now I have both of them back
🙂
I do believe we didn’t concede a goal in open play in this cup last season and we haven’t yet this season. Fortress will not be breached tonight. I like the idea of a Fortress. Preferably with a moat round it. I might buy one and open it to the public. Strictly no Shite fans allowed. Well Shite fans could come in but only to be put on a medieval wrack and have eyes gouged out and stuff. Any way WWFC 2 FOXES 0.
I’d love a good cup run and if I were nuno I’d be targeting this, we only have 3 trophies to go for I can’t see us winning the prem so why not go for a cup. I think this will be easier than the FA cup to win so why not go for it. I know the prem is the main focus but I think we have more than enough to avoid a relegation battle so a few more games in this cup won’t do any harm. Lifting a trophy would really stick it to the Albion. My brother in law is season ticket at the Albion and its killing him I can tell.
It’s nice to hear people from other clubs on the WM phone in actually give us credit which proves how good we have been.
I’ll go for us to squeeze past in a tight game 1-0.
Wolves to win 5-2.
Full on game tonight so much to prove for all the wanabees .
They all want a piece of that first team.
Wind em up and let em go nuno.
Wolves 3 shitty o
The irony. Everyone is suddenly pro European for the Ryder Cup. Best get them Italians and Spanish out. Bloody Foreigners.
Oooops. Mixing politics and sport COD. Never a good plan.
Sorry mate. Couldn’t resist a cheeky dig. Take your point.
Another win for our almost invincible squad. 2-1 to us.
It’s good to see Cavaleiro and Dendoncker in the starting lineup. Regarding our subs, Pote doesn’t ring any bells.
Hopefully a comfortable evening for our boys: 2-0 should do it.
As a rule, newly-promoted sides don’t care much for cup matches. Their primary aim is to avoid relegation. We’re no ordinary newly-promoted side; we’re the best side ever to come up from the Championship. Relegation is for the birds; the Bluebirds?
Nuno has a golden (old golden?) opportunity tonight of blooding some wolf cubs and a few secondary first-teamers. I’d be happy if Traore gets a start for once, he’s faster than Vardy. Maybe Doc and Coady to get a rest? Cav to start on the bench?
Revenge is on the cards. I see 2-0 Wolves and they won’t be soppy deflected goals.
Pretty strong line up for Leicester tonight, up against very much our second string. Won’t make much difference though. We’ll still marmalize ’em.
The mighty Wanderers 3 v 0 Them.
This review didn’t arrive in my inbox until 9.27 pm. so anything I write will be with the dubious advantage of having followed the match on texts from the E&S and BBC.
Leicester put out more first team regulars than us as far as I can see, but I still thought our line up was impressive before kick off. They weren’t though, were they !
Disappointed, as those players could have enjoyed more game time with a Cup run, but hey ho, we concentrate on the League now.
Slight consolation in Man U losing……….
Last night’s game confirmed we are still work in progress. Nuno and his staff and the players have done magnificently so far but comparison of our “second string” vs. Leicester’s showed that they had just a little more strength in depth. Nothing really in the game last night and could have gone either way. I think we will finish somewhere around mid table this season and i think it may take a few more transfer windows of concerted investment to get us seriously challenging top six. As long as we continue progressing that’s fine as it will become a question of when not if – as everyone knows the game changer could be a 15-20+ goals a season striker in the PL and as yet we haven’t got one nor it would appear come too close to signing one. I think finding a potent goalscorer plus continuing to upgrade our squad generally will very much be on Thelwell’s agenda for the next 12 months to 2 years.
Defense was quite impressive , up front was a tad short considering who was playing but midfield was very very average .
We really do need to find another class midfield player come the jan. window because if we lose moutinho or neves i am afraid saisse is not the answer and young gibbs is still learning.
Still at least we learnt a few things last night.
p.s would conor ronan have done a better job ?