As frustrating as a two week break can be at such an early stage in the season, Ståle Solbakken no doubt appreciated the timing.
The checklist was simple: Get the ship in order (laters Terry), rally the troops, settle down for the long slog ahead.
And as we re-enter the fray at Molineux on Sunday, I think everyone is hoping to see improvement against a hotly-tipped Leicester side.
The Foxes saw off early pacesetters Blackpool last time out, winning comfortably by all accounts despite the 1-0 scoreline.
But their away form has been poor thus far, losing 2-1 in both of their games at Blackburn and Charlton.
Still, when you look at their side – St Ledger, Morgan, Dyer, Nugent, Waghorn – they’ve got players who know how to win in this division. I think they’ll be right at the top come the end of the season.
Wolves
Despite the many new arrivals, it will probably be the name of Karl Henry that gets the biggest cheer come Sunday. The skipper’s return is timely, as we’ve looked woefully open through the middle in the games he’s missed.
Kevin Foley is also back in the groove and I would throw him straight in too. His composure and ability to put a foot on the ball from the back is something we know from experience can be invaluable at this level. Be good to see Margreitter in there alongside him, to freshen up the defence. New faces are needed I feel.
I’d like to see a change up front too, with one of our new strikers given a run from the start. Either is fine really.
When we need to be more direct in games, we need a more direct threat and with a Doyle/Ebanks-Blake genericclomid.net partnership, I don’t think we have that. I’d like to see a more imposing physical presence up there in the Chris Iwelumo mould.
Peszko has yet to convince me so I’d like to see what Boukari can do.
We should have a much stronger bench for this one too, with options for most positions. That can only be a good thing. The less we have to rely on youngsters, the better.
Opposition view
Here’s a few snippets I lifted from Leicester forum, Foxes Talk:
“Can see a loss here sadly. Wolves in need of a pick me up and last season is still fresh in the mind where we didn’t win 2 in a row til March. We concede too many sloppy goals away and there always seems to be a hard luck story. If we take the game to them like we did against Blackpool we can win but we must be more clinical in the final 3rd.”
“I think we’ll win but then I always do, Wolves have done little yet to suggest they will be a force this season, no idea who their manager is, lost some decent players over the summer.”
“Wolves away isn’t an easy match and the fact that our away form hasn’t been great so far I’d settle for a point.”
Predictions
12 people correctly thought we’d get stuffed at Cardiff. Of those 12, just 2 got the correct scoreline.
Well done to kwolf and Tettenhall Wolf for doubling up. A single for the other 10.
I’ll say score draw this weekend. Hoping for a big improvement, particularly as we’re at home. Leicester are a tough proposition though and if they setup with an extra man in midfield, I worry we’ll be overrun.
On balance then – 2-2.
Up The Wolves.
I honestly have no idea what’ll happen on Sunday. With that in mind…1-1.
same here heart hopes 1-0 win
Having been positive last time out and we lost I am going to be very negative in the hope that the result is the opposite again. Still with me ?
Wolves 1 – Leicester 3
Unless SS has worked wonders with the back four, I fear a defeat, but on reflection think we should get a draw. 2-2. Secretly hoping for a win.
Wonder if the bloke Clive met in Alaska will be there.
Ebanks-Blake instead of Doyle ? Have we been watching the same team Thomas ? Think Nouble should get a chance. Sundays result ? No idea !
My summary would be they’ve both done ok in spells, but to me SEB still carries the greater goal threat even if he doesn’t get as involved with the build-up.
Both teams tend to let goals in and both teams have the ability to score a few goals. Therefore I know all Wolves fans will understand my logic behind this score prediction…
0-0
Sorry I can’t agree with your front 2. Doyler deserves a start with someone different and for me that has to be Nouble. I’d also like to see Peszko out there for most of the game, he is a creator of good chances. It just might work. 2-1 the Wolves
A 4-1 victory to Wolves.
Stale has many different possibilities up front. The sound of Nouble and Doyle is an interesting proposal. Doyle’s ability to flick/pass the ball through on one touch + Nouble’s lightning pace= A destructive dual weapon.
My choice pair would be Sigurdarson (provided he’s fit) and Doyle. I know a lot of people have been rating Nouble since Northampton, but I just don’t see it. He didn’t float my boat at all.
Spot on blog thanks. I reckon its about time these players started earning thier money. Has to be a change up front as well, EB and Doyle are too lightweight, and even the manager says the championship is much tougher since we were last there. Play that big free transfer from West Ham, tell him to get on the end of the wingers work, then I fancy a 2-0 win.
Interesting no premiership club came in for Berra, frankly no great surprise to me at all, I`d rather see the Austrian lad who seems to have a bit of pace in there. Only ongoing problem is at left back, and i`m sure Foley may get a game at last. Happy days!!
Ebanks-Blake and the words lightweight in the same sentence must be a first!
3-3 on balance.
I think a draw would be a decent result at the moment, settle the ship. But its still a bit early in the transition and Leicester have an experienced and decent side, Wolves 1 – 2 Foxes.
Wolves 1-2 Leicester.
Did I really just type that? 😐
1-1 score draw – Leicester are a tough nut to crack, and based on what I saw against Blackpool we need to be too!
The return of Karl will hopefully tighten us up a bit at the back. I’ll go with 2-1 Wolves
If fatty Blake starts, we will lose.
If the defence is not drastically altered, we will lose.
Give ALL the new blokes a start, let them have their heads, and see what happens!!!
I predict a stuffing…5 – 0 to the Mighty Wufflers.
It also appears I have a new, silent fan, who wishes to remain incognitimus.
I can respect that, Mr Wycherley.
Give The Johnson a smack upside the head when you meet in the pub tonight, please!
FOWB
Wolves to win 4-3 after being 0-3 down at halftime!
Who says lightening can’t strike in the same place twice?? ;o)
Difficult to know which way this one will go…Im just not sure we have turned out corner yet. Think this one will go against us. Wolves 1 – 2 Leicester…
Wolves 4-0
Time to keep a clean sheet and puts some goals away and prefer Doyle to Blake, certainly to start.
Agree with Clive we should play ALL the new players…
Ståle has had two weeks with the ‘lads’ or “le garcons” and this could be the turning point….
A clean sheet, I predict, will be a portent to a winning streak, equivalent to our previous losing streak…
Let’s hope my prediction is not a fantasy and I don’t, like our defence, once more end up with egg on my face!
1-0 to Wolves, surely we’ll win at some point!
No idea about this one. Flipping a coin … 1-1 Doyle to score.
Henry back will make a big difference and there are goals in this team. Could we possibly keep a clean sheet? No probably not. Therefore 3-1
2-1 to wolves. I think we get this one.
Guaranteed 2 in a row for the KWolf here I’m afraid.
2-2.
No dice.
F*ck off Jez you total arsebiscuit.
If he doesn’t fuck off at least you can dunk him in your tea
Really hope he shakes up our porous back four.
2-1 Wolves win (please!).
i think the fresh faces are definitely needed, margeritter should start and i think pesko has seemed to give us a bit of something while on, so i would start him. Doyle looks gone, last year looks to have killed him of and i dont no what will bring back the doyler we all no n love. even so im goin for a 3-1 wolves win, we have to make molineux a fortress this season especially against sides with as much quality as this leicester side. all in all i would be happy with just a good strong display.
It will be some weeks before SS knows his best team, then, hopefullythings will improve. In the meantime 0 – 2 🙁
Wolves 2 – 1 Leicester…
I hope…
Wolves 3 – 1 Lester Piggott
Was that a James reference? Love that tune
I’m going for a barking mad clean sheet and a narrow victory. Nothing surprises me now.
Wolves 1 – Leicester 0
I don’t want to be overly negative, but we’ve been out played by everyone apart from Barnsley. Leicester seem a pretty decent outfit, and have a decent record down here. It’s Wolves 1-2 Leicester I’m afraid. Prove me wrong boys. UTW.
Yeh but Bully always used to get em tho didn’t he? Who was that big centre half they had that he used to boss off the park?
2-0 wolves.
I’d go one step further and start sigurdarson and nouble up front. Doyler and SEB have done nothing for me so far. Play boukari and sako on the wings and we’ve got a whole new attacking force that’s hopefully brimming with a bit of creativity (we shall see).
Doyle has to play before SEB especially after heroics for Ireland. Would have SEB with him anyway the other two Sig & Nou do not seem fit or good enough yet other than for a subs role.
I don’t think you can predict a Wolves win with any confidence in these hangover days. Anything could happen, I would like to say 2-0 & hope it can be a springboard to lift the gloom at Molineux.
Feeling optimistic for once, Wolves 2-0 leicester. Boukari and ward.
Clean sheet! Nah given up on that line. Gonna take a while to turn this ship. 1-1 but with some bright performances from ziggy and doyler.
Can you believe it’s 8 years since the famous 4-3 come-back.
Keeping positive and going for Wolves 2 Leicester 1 this time.
Come on Wolves, time to get the season going……
Now THAT was a game!
Wolves 0 leicester 2
I still think we are in transition big time. A loss for me.
Wolves 1 Leicester 3
I still think we are in transition big time. A loss for me.
Wolves 1 Leicester 3
Pls delete.
Ta
Impossible to predict if it is:
Out of darkness cometh the light OR
Out of the light cometh the darkness
Wolves 2 – leicester 1
As my Dad is a Leicester fan it’s a must win game for me, I’ve already told him if Henry is back we will. My favourite Wolves Leicester games have been at filbert street watching Bully run Steve Walsh ragged and more recently the 4 . 1 win at the Walkers bowl with Keogh and Kightly on fire to get us into the playoffs . As it’s tv games only for me these days I’m over the moon it’s live on Setanta. so looking forward to the match!!
Agree with the forward line by the way.
Wolves 2 Leicester 1
That was him! Steve Walsh!
Thank god foley is fit. Would be nuts not to start him. Henry back. Stability….. 2-1 wolves win
foley at RB is a no brainer for me. Sitting in the wolves end at the cardiff game we all had a fantastic view of zubars appalling performance there. The penalty was just painful…
Early kick-off TV games tend to lack a bit of atmosphere i let my heart rule my head for the cardiff game will go the other way on this one and say leicester 2-1.I still hope that Salbakken can turn it around but the misery may continue for a week or two yet.
If Stale gets as long as it is taking me to spell his name right he should be alright !
1 -1
but secretly hoping we pull it off.
Recent history has it as a draw so i should go 1-1.
But Im sticking my neck out and the soothsayers of yesteryears with strengthened midfield, drive, new dawn, and the Molineux fortress… so sorry i cant be there, as Im at work,(sneakily watching online) predicts 2-1 wolves.
I’d love to see Wolves winning this, all while showing some spirit and bite. It’s about time, usually I’m not the one making bold claims (due to distance and being “just” an armchair/Internet supporter only) but at some point the quality I think we’ve got in the squad should materialize in a comfortable win against a decent Championship team.
2 – 0 Wolves
Think we’re gonna be inconsistent for a good while yet while all our new signings bed in. We’ll probably beat a few decent teams and lose to a few shit ones in the coming months. I’d probably put leicester in the former bracket so on that basis i’ll go 3-1 wolves. A clean sheet would be a miracle!
I’m gonna plump for a decent Wolves win, although last year we got stuffed every time the cameras were on us. Wolves 3-1 Leicester!
lo st all interest this season not due to dropping down a league but due to being run in such a lame manner with not being in debt put before having an entertaining team..really couldnt care less what happens so 0 – 4 to foxes…the only difference between this lot and the bhattis is weve got a lovely north bank and good rest of the stadium…reality check is needed me thinks
Wolves 3-0 leicester
Gotta be a draw,1-1
2-1 Wolves
Doyler keeps up the good run from the last month or so
I’m going for a 2-1 wolves,we really need the points now we’re second from bottom at the mo,so i hope he plays all the new guys if fit and suck it and see…just wondering have we got any loan player’s in yet,its been a bit quiet…
Henry will make a difference – but not enough – nothings changed defensively, can’t see SS chucking Foley in straight away (unfortunately). Agree with Clive: all the new boys should be getting a game, the others have already had their chance. Still with all that said, I think 2-1 Leicester, whilst capable of scoring, we’re still WOEFUL at the back. COME ON THE WOLVES!
It’s the dream we carry in secret
that something miraculous will happen,
that it must happen –
Wolves 2 Leicester 0
Just spent 6 hours wandering around a couple of trade shows, collecting pens and other crap, so I am having a well deserved pint of Boddingtons out of a Bankss glass…..nectar!!
Looking at the table is scary, but if we win by 2 clear goals we shoot up to 9th, so no worries…..yet.
Lovely result from Fulham, perhaps they will do what we did last year, 7 points from 3 games and then fuck all for the rest of the season!
Any money on Liverpool getting relegated?
FOWB
With our woeful back four i cant see a victory so im gonna plump for a loss Wolves 1-leciester 2 hope im wrong
For a number of reasons including bestival and the lack of anything actually going on I’ve been a bit out of touch with the Wolves this week, and after bumping into a Wolves supporting mate in a pub had thought we were away this weekend. Of course this also means I’ve not spoken to my mother this week either, which probably makes me a terrible person. But anyway, thinking we were away, and following the Cardiff and Leeds efforts, I had already written this off as a loss. The revelation that we’re at home has given me renewed optimism.
I’m going for another drunkenly optimistic win for our boys, 3-1, all SS signings with the goals.
Sing your hearts out for the lads x
Wolves 1 Leicester 3, we will be tonked, sadly.
Carry on Mr Thomas and Mr Ben – the blog is still really appreciated for your thoughts. It’s tougher now in Oz than before to get good Wolves news/analysis.
Going for a bold 2-1 win for us today! So confident I’m gonna get up and watch it!
UTW
Henry being back will make a difference alright. It will guarantee that we score nil. Wolves 0 – 4 Leicester.
Really want to see a win but can only see us getting a 1-1 draw at best. And thats with the hope that Henry and Foley return.
Surely we have to produce the goods today! If we don’t then this will be my last positive prediction until we completely turn things around.
Wolves 2-0 Leicester (probably a bit too ambitious hoping for a clean sheet though!!!!)
I was at Lords yesterday suffering at Warwickshire’s last ball defeat, can Wolves give a great display & win today to return me to optimism? Couldn’t help smiling at the win for Huddersfield over Derby 1-0 courtesy of an Adam Hammill, wage cut to play there, cross!
You could not make it up really. I would at least like to see some green shoots of recovery today, but then perhaps we’re all too impatient with the new guy. I think the fans need something to make us believe that Solbakken is leading us in the right direction. At the moment the smell of last seasons’s failures hangs heavy. Over the appointment of the new coach, we drag our feet no one lined up, the play on the pitch not much has changed. Oh & the league position!
It is early days & there is always hope. 2-0 Wolves today.
With Sig and Seb up front, I fear we will score 1 or 0 goals. If we can keep tight at the back this means we can get a draw or even win, but if we play as before we will easily conceed 2 goals. Can we do better than 1-2?
For the record: I really hope Sol urges the players forward to score more, rather than trying to defend and soak up pressure.
Everybody’s seems to be talking about how poor our defending is. So the players work harder to defend, never risking anything going forward. Then our opponents keep coming at us. Soon the whole team are shaking with fear of how vulnerable we are at the back. And what does that lead to: mistakes in defence and lame attacking. That’s the relegation recipe.
So this is what to do: Change into an attacking attitude, exploit the opponents weaknesses, surprise them, have a go before they get organised defensively, play with speed. In defence: a no-nonsense attitude, get tight, work on marking at set pieces, but dont let a defensive attitude dominate.
Not optimistic but going anyway! Wolves 1-2 Leicester (hope I’m wrong)
OMG he’s picked the same team.
Predict 2-0 defeat. Probably be more. This guy is clueless.
Uhm – two changes? Hello? Two changes? Henry shoring up Midfield? Stears with Goal #2?
stearman for zubar is bad for worse. I need a full back not a goalscorer at right back. Their sub ran him ragged in the last 20 minutes. AND still no clean sheet. Looked a lucky win to me.
Still want Margeritter in and berra out. Foley in and stearman transferred.
Forgot to post score! 3 nil to wolves. 2 nil at present. A little bit of compassion would be nice, after all, i am a wolves fan. utw.
These internet feeds are great, aren’t they? I can truly say that we literally stuttered our way through that match, sometimes stalling altogether.
Well, OK, a nice result in the end, but I am still not convinced by much of our play. Leicester gifted us 2 goals with their defensive howlers, but we were clinging on a bit by the end.
Peszko looks lightweight and somewhat out of his depth; his dive, with zero contact, when shielding the ball, was farcical. Doumbia is a bit too similar to Henry, IMO, for them to be both starting in a 4-4-2 (come back Nenad!) On the positive side, Ikeme starts to convince me he is more than a match for Hennessey, SEB looked very good throughout, Sako is class, and Siggy looked pretty decent in his cameo at the end.
Well, they do like to put on a show for the fans don’t we? Personally I’d prefer it if victory was assured at HT 😛
Does anyone know what the row between johnson and sako was about.
Think Johnson was just giving him a rollocking for trying to take the piss on the halfway line from a short free-kick. Then he didn’t track back either. Gave Ward very little help all day and has some awful body language. Generally a shambles second half. On the other hand he basically won us the match with two good deliveries.
Cheers. For me, when they had the row, we lost concentration and then almost the match. At least we got 3 points
Great first half,
Went to sleep 2nd half..
Why do we defend so deep ??
3 points is a good feeling,
Long may it continue…
Still unbeaten at home . Great 3 points. Very mixed emotions bout dislpay. Still havent learned how to kill off games…. Or control a lead. One of our problems last year. Nuff of that now though !! A win is a win! Come in wanderers
Still unbeaten at home . Great 3 points. Very mixed emotions bout dislpay. Still havent learned how to kill off games…. Or control a lead. One of our problems last year. Nuff of that now though !! A win is a win! Come on wanderers
Nice to get 3 points even though it was hard fought,having said that much appreciated win to get us out of the bottom three. Played well enough in the first half but second half a bit jittery
even though we where 2 up.
we must learn how to finish off teams.
A worry for me is that we seem to get really tired and tend to get over run a bit.still think we need to get a few players ln,so go on and do some business sooner tha than later.
Got lucky today, a draw would’ve been the more appropriate score, as I feel they had outplayed us for most of the game, which is really disturbing. Even at 2-0 we didn’t have control in our hands..my nails officially hate Wolves for quite some time now 😉
Still optimistic for the future though, I’d boldly predict a win on the bounce vs Ipswich – there’s good potential in this particular set of players.
Damn, who’ve promised you it’s gonna be a stroll in the park being a Wolves’ supporter? UTW!