When Mick McCarthy fielded a weakened team at Old Trafford in 2009, he would reportedly have been sacked had he not delivered victory against Burnley the following weekend.
Ståle Solbakken certainly shouldn’t fear such severe repercussions tomorrow, but I’m sure he’ll be relieved all the same should we collect maximum points.
A 6-0 defeat is always a tough pill to swallow, regardless of the circumstances. But like many others have said already, a decent return from the next two home games and the massacre of Stamford Bridge will be a distant memory.
Wednesday are equally in need of the points after a run of 5 successive defeats if you include their midweek League Cup loss to Southampton.
Their problem is obvious given the fact they’ve conceded at least 2 goals in all 7 of their Championship fixtures to date.
Jay Bothroyd is a player we know well and will certainly be a threat if he starts. They also have young Everton prodigy Ross Barkley on loan, as well as striker Rodri from Barcelona B.
Wolves
The team should really pick itself for this game after last week’s comfortable win at Peterborough. I’m not sure anyone really showered themselves in glory in midweek to put themselves into contention.
The only two players from that eleven who might not make it are probably Foley and Peszko wih Stearman and Boukari the likely replacements. But I’d like to see if last weekend’s team could repeat the performance against better opposition.
What’s obvious is that we need to get at Wednesday as there are goals to be had. That said, I’m confident our forwards will do the business at the minute so it will probably come down to keeping the back door shut. Three consecutive clean sheets in the league? It’s been a while. I can’t even say how long. Anyone?
Opposition view
Thanks to Richard Fidler, Sports writer at The Star in Sheffield, for his take on the game:
Important for Wednesday to stop the rot and show they can keep a clean sheet. Not yet crisis time for the club but it’s a very bad run of results.
Jones has had to bring in new faces but they’re taking their time to gel. Some fans thought the good times would carry on after last season so they’re getting a bit of an awakening of how tough the Championship is. Not losing at Wolves would be an excellent outcome at the moment.
Wolves will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Still have good quality in their squad. I see a 1-1 draw.
Predictions
48 people said we’d get the win at London Road and a stonking 12 of those also got the 2-0 scoreline.
Well done to wolves4ever, johnok, robc306, slider, steppenwolfe, these are the days, vladamir, wight wolf, hamlet, rob in london, mark and woody wolf. They all take the maximum 2 points on offer.
Logically we should win tomorrow, but I’ve yet to be convinced about us at home, which is strange given that we’re undefeated. Perhaps that’s a positive thing?
Despite a nagging doubt telling me to go for a draw, I’ll back us to come through comfortably.
3-1.
Up The Wolves.
Ben’s ticket up for grabs
Forget all this ‘South Bank (North Bank)’ posturing and the vocal banter that accompanies it.
When it comes to the number one vantage point to watch us play Sheffield Wednesday, there really is only one place to sit……Ben’s seat in the Billy Quiet upper.
Unfortunately, Benny boy is cursing his sister for arranging her wedding on the very day we play the Owls so he’s had to give up his ticket.
Such are his levels of chivalry that he’s offering it to one of you lucky blogger friends.
If you want it, just leave a comment below laying claim. The first person to ask for it gets it.
Thomas will meet to deliver, under the Billy Wright statue at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Well said Thomas. Just got back from the gym, feeling pretty good about myself and life in general. I think that last week’s performance was a good platform on which to build and confidence must be pretty high in spite of the mid week hiccup; so I am going with your score.
3-1 to the Wolves.
good write up as usual. i cant see a wednesday team so low on confidence taking anything from a wolves team with 9pts from 9 n 2 consecutive clean sheets. that said im going 2-0 wolves, think we’ll get the job done early on, COYW
Going for 3 clean ones in a row in the league.
Wolves 3 Sheffield Wed 0
Don’t remember it ever being reported that Mick would get sacked if he lost v Burnley, but maybe that’s just me!
Team picks itself. 1-0 win, Doyle winner
It’s alluded to in this article:
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2012/02/13/seeds-of-doubt-sown-when-transfer-funds-dried-up/
One of the better E&S pieces of recent times.
Yes a bit of an eye opener where machinations behind the scenes are concerned. It also confirms my suspicions regarding MM’s unfair exit and rather ruthless undermining over an elongated period rather than a sudden rush of blood after losing to Liverpool. It also puts forward a more benign perspective of our CEO that some supporters may vehemently disagree with. Much of the article has been the subject of rumour and mis-information over the past 12 months and I wonder who has been responsible and why ???
As ever UTW and support Ståle’s vision which I think/hope is about players taking more responsibility for their on-field decision making rather than having blind loyalty to your manager, doing as you’re told and putting in a “good shift” whatever the score. Tomorrow WW3-Owls2 and the show rolls on !!!
Don’t have to do much to do a ‘better’ article for them though…
was interesting though
I will go with that 1-0 wolves to win – fancy Johnson to score lately, he deserves a bit of luck for his efforts so far
Definitely need to get Boukari in for Peszko. I’m gonna go for a Wolves win 2-1. SEB and Sako with the goals. 3 clean sheets would be nice but I can’t see it yet….. a lot of improvement still to be made at the back i.e. we would have shipped more had Ikeme not been in great form.
Shotgun the ticket if it is still available?
Nice blog. It keeps me up to date as I have been in South America recently. I am now back and ready for a game. Cheers George
Yes mate. You were the first so ticket yours. Will email you now.
Thank you very much. As a student it is much appreciated. Can you send the email to confirm as it hasn’t come through yet. Just so that I can book my train tickets. Cheers
I’ve emailed you mate. It read:
Yes, you’ve got the ticket so I’ll meet you at 2.30pm by the Billy Wright statue. I’ll then meet you in the same place after to get the ticket back as it’s a season ticket.
Can you text back to confirm? My picture is on the blog here: https://wolvesblog.com/about
…so you can recognise me.
If you can email back to confirm, that would be great. tom@thomasbaughmedia.com
p.s 2-1 wolves SEB and Sako
Can’t believe no-one’s claimed the ticket yet. Very generous Ben. I’v already arranged to go to the Palace game on tuesday or i might have asked for my second freebie courtesy of our great blog.
Anyway, prediction 3-1 Wolves. And why? I just copy Thomas now, he knows his stuff.
Oh they have now. Well done.
Pleeeeease can I have the ticket thank you very much I had to give mine up after a crappy divorce but I’m availabe Saturday. I have 1 for tues in the new stand so I’m looking forward to that. I’m going 2-0 wolves keep
My first game since The Great Debacle of last season. Haven’t been able to face it bit I am out of therapy
now.
Wolves 3 Owls 1
I think it is very unsporting of Ben to leave it until now to make his ticket available.
I would have bought first class air tickets and dropped everything for a chance of something free from Ben!!!
Easy win termorra, Wufflers 4 the others 0.
FOwb
Thought of you this afternoon.
Was in an ‘upmarket’ local pub having lunch,(invited).
A drunk, upmarket city boy wanting to impress someone I was with knew the chap began regaling us and had obviously been on a ‘bender’. One of his tales went like this:
“I’ve been celebrating selling a Bentley to an idiot from WBA. He’s a footballer, someone called Nibo (think he meant Nabo). He gets £22,000 a week and can’t write. Can’t even spell the word football…I mean what is WBA?”
A 2-2 draw I reckon.
bothroyd is bound to score after his twitter row with his own fans after their last game. (How dare they accuse him of not trying?!) We should have enough firepower to beat them though. 3-1 wolves.
Still a few nerves but i think we will get the points, SW 1 – 2 Wolves.
Agree totally that the team picks itself at present . Would really like to see Foley keep his place ….
Wolves 3 Owls 0
Ps , nice to have a wolves blog badge
….then we can spot fellow bloggers….assuming of couse we’d want that !!
I keep thinking this’ll be a draw bbut… 2-1 win!
Here is a link for streaming the game:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/live-online-football-streaming-watch-wolves-v-sheffield-wednesday-npower-championship/
I won’t be able to watch as I’m at a wedding in Yorkshire, funnily enough, but my folks will be there keeping me up to date by text.
Given all the good omens and how comfortably we should win this it’s tempting to predict a draw, but balls to it, I’m going for 3 points.
Wolves 3 Owls 0
COME ON ME BABBIES!!!!
Also… Just read this on the Suppress and Stir, such a breath of fresh air following the anti-football of the MM era. Pay particular attention to the bit about angled balls / playing for the second ball. Can’t wait to start singing “who the fuck are Barcelona?”
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2012/09/28/players-make-their-case-as-wolves-boss-gives-them-a-screen-test/
I saw some Tweets this week (maybe via a BBC journo?) on the subject of tactics following a study on how goals are score in the lower leagues. Angled balls were pretty crucial I seem to recall.
So I’m going for 4 assists via angled balls for a 4-0 home win!! :o)
You had too much beer the other night!!
I have too much beer every night. Sue me
Thanks Sleachy! Deffo gonna try this out tomorrow. If it fails then there is always the live comentary on Wolves Player for us “distant observers”. Due a business trip back in November and need to check the fixture list for taking in maximum home games whilst back in Blighty. Clive, fancy tagging along? My hotel will be on the company and we can share tocut costs.
Just joking Clive before you take me up on the offer.
2-1 wolves. Wednesday have been looking extremely shaky of late and if we can get ahead we’ll win.
Another strong showing hopefully at home! 2-1 home win! Would start boukhari.
I always dreaded the sight of Bothroyd in a Wolves shirt and was very pleased when he left. Undoubted talent but very rarely bothered to use it. So I hope he starts and doesn’t come back and bite my rear-end. I’ll go with the team you’ve picked and 2 -0 to Wolves.
I’ve been listening to the Ryder Cup on the radio and they’ve just interviewed two guys at Medinah in Wolverhampton Wanderers shirts with ‘1974’ on them. Those were the days.
Clive didn’t tell us he was going to watch the golf.
Come on Europe! Come on you Wolves!!!!
Watching?
I’m playing!!
My Avatar thingy when golfing is “Tiger Woods”, so if you think its Tiger out there, you are wrong, it is the one and only Clive From Houston, in heavy disguise!
Pity I lost the first game, but actually, like every Ryder Cup match I play in, I throw the game coz I’m European, and points mean prizes, Bruce.
It’s not an avatar thingy.
It’s just an avatar
😉
Am expecting us to keep up the good work…and see a 3-1 Wolves win tomorrow.
I’d love the ticket but I’m a million miles away so I can’t go…seeing the men in gold is a distant dream for now!
I’ll go for a 2-1 win to Wolves.
Another clean sheet.
Wolves to win 2-0.
Am going with a 4-0 win.
Sooner or later we are going to win comfortably.
Another clean sheet first and foremost.
Agree with Sleachy re Ståle’s comments about DVD’s.
In the 70’s we’d have called him a ‘head’.
Do they test managers for marijuana use?
He certainly goes into it in detail which is very refreshing compared to the “he put in a good shift that lad.”
Win for us.
Wolves 2 Owls 1
No worries about the Chelsea game I think SS learned a few things and could care less abut the piss pot. I think it signaled a resolve yo win Championship.
#-1 to Wolves same every week
Is three clean sheets too much to hope for? I fear so. Wolves win 3-1.
I reckon we’ll win 3-1. Not confident we can keep another clean sheet but sure EBS and Doyle can do the business.
I think we have too much quality for them and our first 11 are really starting to find some form.
Wolves 4 Owls 1.
Let’s get this League run back on the road.
What ever happened to the League Cup. I remember when we used to enter that competition.
Big opportunity now with two home games approaching. Hope the team is as above!
Wolves 2 Sheffield W 0
UTW
Fancy us to edge it 2-1.
Wolves 3 Wednesday 1
I feel this might be a draw but I’ll go with the prediction I had already posted in the Chelsea blog.
3-0 Wolves.
Not sure what to make of Wednesday, they started well but have dipped..
I believe we can maintain our unbeaten run… C’mon the lads.. I can’t wait to get in tomorrow..
Wolves 3 – 1 Sheffield Wednesday
I’m going for another win but don’t know what score ?.i’ll go for 2-1.
U.T.W. Doyler a brace.
Have to go for a 2-1 win … nail-biting finish as usual 🙂
Wolves 2 – Sheff 1
I’ll go for a 2-1 win. UTW.
Will be a comfortable win despite the scoreline
I’m going for a 2-1 win
UTW
Goal feast Wolves win 3-2.
I’m starting to feel a little confident, which I’m not used to so 3-1win . Just happy foley is back and back in is correct position.
My last memorable meeting with the Owls, as always seems to be the case nowadays was “back in the day”.
I was stood on the old South Bank Terrace. Extra time in some cup or other (FA I think, but in reference to recent Chelsea drubbing posts, none of them really matter this season), led to penalties at the bank end.
We trailed early, possibly 2 to 0, and my steps led me toward the back of the terrace exit. We pulled one back, saved one, scored another, saved another etc. etc. I headed back to my spot on the steps…. and we went on to win the tie.
The statisticians amoungst us can maybe fill in the blanks, but it was a turnaround beyond any other I have seen in any shoot-out since.
But anyway, reminiscing aside, based on current performance, rested players and past memories, blah! blah! blah!……4-1 Wolves ( in no particular order… but if worth extra points…SEB, Sako, Doyler, Siggo.
Come on me Babbies!!!
I just can’t shake that ‘wev’e won 3 league games on the trot we are bound to lose the next one’ mentality. Still the optimism shown by most on here has pitched me up a little. I predict an entertaining draw; 2-2 and yes Bothroyd will definately score.
I think they will score first and we’ll win 3-1.
3-0 Wolves, another clean sheet and another win even though they didn’t play that well!
In Solbakken We Trust!
Wolves 2 – SW 0
3-1 Wolves
SEB with a brace!
Today we will win 2-0
Wolves 2 -1 win
Bothroyd to score, but Wolves to win
3-1
I’m ready to take my hatrick ball of correct results….
Wolves 1 Wednesday 0
Another clean sheet for me anyway.
You earned it! 😛
Cheers Hamlet… All wins which is nice… I don’t count Chelsea…that didn’t happen really.
Right – that’s it… I’m predicting a win 2-0 Wolves
Good strong performance again. Professional all round. Good run , great for confidence. Poor owls side tho. Happy days . Marching on!!Utw
Followed the game on the BBC Sport site, At one point it had the possession statistics at 97% – 3% in favour of Wolves. I assume that this was a bit of a glitch, even so another good three points so I’m happy and the wife will be able to enjoy another weekend without a severe thrashing.
just got in from game. Besides the first 5 minutes we were never in danger. Doumbia in Midfield looks a class act. Solbakken is starting to shape a very good team.
I listened once again via pirated Wolves Player log in details, with Any Thompson giving colour commentary.
Any win is a good win, and with all around us slipping up, we could be promoted by Christmas!
Seriously, another priceless 3 points, and if we are still in a very strong position by January, it will give SS more bargaining power, and make us look attractive to potential signings, with a view to them being useful in the Prem.
6 points from the next 2 games will surely put us top.
Nice to see the shit didnt win today.
FOwb
Watched game on wiziwig. Should check it out . Was streaming live from 5 different streams . Good quality.
Just back from my first visit to Mol this season. Sat in the god’s, the view was awesome. Where else do you want to be when the sun comes out on a Saturday?
I’m pleased to conclude that probability will play a much less siginifcant role in our results this season. I don’t yet dare to dream of the P word as I can see there are a few other teams that can also do the business in this division. Under Stale though we are definitely now going in the right direction.
What can i say,We bossed it but theres a but we must finish teams off with goals,just think we we need a pacey striker from somewhere to get past the defences..not complaining though.
Great to win 4 on the spin and another clean sheet,roll on,UTW.
AND NOW YOU GONNA BELIEVE US?
AND NOW YOU GONNA BELIEVE US?
AND NOW YOU GONNA BELIEVE US?
WE’RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE!!
Left the wedding in time to catch the highlights at the hotel. Through my drunken happy clappy eyes I can now confirm that we are the best fucking team in the whole world.
Just love em, all the little bastards, especially Doyle who was involved in every single highlight. What a guy.
Fletch ripping the prem to pieces… Imagine if we’d sacked put a shift in Mick a season sooner and got saint superman stale in sooner?!
Probably a little over the top but you get the point.
YES LADS!
Oh, and touch wood on the top bit. Sorry if I fucked it
I just wonder why you ever doubted we are the best fucking team in the whole world!!!
We are the ONLY team in the whole world.