By the time we all sit down to enjoy our Christmas turkey, we’ll probably have a decent idea about what the second half of the season has in store for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Prior to December 25th, Mick and the boys have two winnable home fixtures, which could see them either catapulted towards midtable or plummeting towards the bottom.
And the first of those clashes is a Molineux derby of sorts with Stoke.
The last time we locked horns was on a cold Tuesday night back in April, with the Potters trouncing us 3-0 after one of the meekest Wolves performances you’re ever likely to see.
As Ben and I skulked away from the Britannia that evening we were both convinced Wolves short stint in the top flight was at an end.
That loss was soul destroying for the simple reason that Stoke wanted it more than us, despite our need for the points being far greater than theirs.
Contrast that to the impressive home victory Wolves scored on the opening day of last season; a performance which should provide the blueprint for our tactics in this game.
Stay disciplined. Defend set pieces. Match their effort. And when we get the ball, pass it.
There’s no use going blow for blow and attempting a direct game against the side who have mastered it. The only way we’ll enjoy even a modicum of success is to play through the midfield.
The Team
I’m still expecting a 442, so that really only leaves one place up for grabs, which is down the right where Dave Edwards is a doubt. If the Welshman is fit, I’d expect him to play, simply because his height is useful for defensive purposes. Assuming he’s not though, I reckon the team will be:
Hammill and Guedioura could be other options down the right, but Hunt is probably the most likely replacement.
Hoping to see more inspired wing play from Jarvis in this one against a side he’s consistently struggled to perform well against. His contribution will be key in this one.
Prediction League
The majority predicted we’d lose at Old Trafford last weekend, with 23 pundits getting the correct outcome.
Only one person got the 4-1 scoreline though, which was, er, me. So well done to me for picking up the maximum 3 points. Everyone else gets a point.
Tough one to call this weekend.
Stoke have been poor on the road in recent years, but already have a couple of wins under their belts this season.
I’m going to say a score draw. 1-1.
4 points from this game and next Tuesday against Norwich would represent a decent return, so lets hope we get it (or hopefully more).
If you’re heading to Molineux for this one, have a great time and get right behind the lads.
Up The Wolves.
Just play in both games as if your life depends upon it please.
It’s gonna be an interesting match.
How will our defence cope with Stoke’s long ball game?
– Crouch is a handful, so it’s a big challenge that awaits Berra and Johnson. Their longball game should guarantee us at least equal percent of possesion. I believe our wide men are key members in breaking down a tough defensive unit like Stoke. And if O’Hara can get himself up outside box area, ready to receive 45 angle passes from the wings, we should get our chances and maybe a couple of goals.
A difficult match to predict the outcome of, but I’ll go for a 1-0 victory.
Ever the optimist, I’m going to call it a win for us.
I can’t see stoke being completely muzzled though. Then again I can’t see us scoring more than 1 or 2.
So logically… i’ve been lead to say 2-1.
C’mon lads, 3 points definitely up for grabs here.
We’re probably more suited to playing the likes of Stoke than a better footballing side. They are a much improved side though with a clear game plan and some pretty useful performers. If we play well i think we can get a point. 1-1.
1-0 Ward winner, 98th minute.
The 8 mins added on for Kenwyn getting nobbled by Jody again like last season?! I’d love a 1-0 love it!!
The performance was so dreadful at the Brittania, I left just after an hour of play which was the earliest I have ever left a game where my black and gold heroes were playing.
The severe and deserved criticism that followed to both MM and his players may have contibuted to us staying up, and I can`t see us playing so badly against Stoke this time. With their three six foot centre halves, I hope we can play on the deck, and send them back up the M6 with a 2 – 1, defeat. I was going for a two nil, but it wouldn`t be a proper Saturday at the Mol unless we had a squeaky bum last 15 minutes.
More words of wisdom from our dear leader on the sanitized site today.
“When we play four or five games, we are playing for fifteen points”
??????????????
Where does he come from?
My prediction, which I dreamed, Wolves 0 Stoke 4.
FOMM
that would be a nightmare for Wolves fans
No kidding! Let’s make sure our one and only ‘complete cock-up’ game this season is the QPR game…
Nice easy stroll at the Britannia…..
Stoke 1 – Wolves 2.
Back to back wins and all that.
Yup, 1-0 win this. Can’t predict loss against such a boring side.
O’Hara injured… Henry and Milijas in the middle then I reckon. I guess against Stoke the two in the middle isn’t AS important as against say, a passing team. So let’s get the ball into Nenad’s feet and go from there!
Where did you hear about O’Hara injury?
Haven’t spotted it anywhere yet.
I’d play Milijas too if he is injured, but pound to a penny we’ll see Edwards in the middle and Hunt on the right.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2011/12/16/wolves-midfielder-jamie-ohara-ruled-out-of-stoke-clash-through-injury/
Pretty syre Edwards is out too, so a midfield of Hunt-Henry-Milijas-Jarvis I reckon. Maybe Guedioura could fit in at right mid or in place of Nenad.
i’m in a good mood today so i’m gonna say 3-0 to the wanderers. no other reason.
Is it the snow?
Wolves 4 Stoke 1…. Hopefully that will sort out the hangover planned for tomorrow!
I’m off for a night out with a Stoke fan later, so I should be diplomatic. In fairness though, I can see it eing a 1-1, so I’ll go with that. Fletch being the main man for us once again.
Lots of changes due to injury…think we will see the impact of our lack of investment in teh team over the summer…wolves 1 – 3 Stoke. Still the new stand looks nice!
I think I’ve found a formula to these games… Just above the relegation zone, we’re in a similar position to the games vs Wigan and Sunderland… 3-1 win, 2-1 win… So this game I’d say will be a 1-1 draw…
We can win this but for some reason I feel pessimistic about this game…not even Louie being there can calm me! 😛
Oh, and I’ll be out all day during the game…just like the Wigan game! Good sign? 😉
2-0 to us. Flying home during the game so I’m going to be agitated even more than I usually am.
Oh dear, Jamie’s out then, thats a big loss. Wolves 0 – 1 Stoke. The winner from some set piece with one of the big tall players heading it in a crowded box with lots of pushing and shoving, we’ll huff and puff but wont have the quality to open them up to create a scoring chance. Crowd will boo, McCarthy will call us muppets.
3-0 Sjoke – they will simply be too strong for us (2-0 halftime no doubt) – As a stoke born and bred you have no idea how hard it is to predict a loss against the red and white sh*te.
McCarthy OUT!
Just laughed my arse off at Berra getting fined for speeding. Oh the irony.
I was told he bear-hugged the arresting officer to the ground.
Yep. Johnson was travelling with him and ended up getting himself in trouble, insulting the officer whilst trying to protest Berra’s innocence. Moxey called a press conference later that day to announce that Berra’s speeding fine would put us in financial jeopardy and set the building of the new stand back by at least a year.
1-1 draw, Fletcher to score. Jones knicks one as a late sub.
1st clean sheet in the league since August (here’s dreaming anyway).
Wolves 2-0 Stoke (Fletcher & Millijas)
Can’t see us winning this one unfortunately. I’ll go for 1-1. Fletch’s forehead to the resuce yet again
Wolves 2 Stoke 0
Johnson to score his first & our first goal, then play a blinder in defence, followed by a Fletcher bullet header, against the run of play, in the 72nd minute.
So saieth the soothsayer I consulted on the matter and he has quite a reputation in the world of esotericism.
However the sceptre of Clive’s dream hangs over me, like a bolt of MM philosophy – Could well be 0-4 to Stoke….
I expect a tough game as ever against Stoke, but they aren’t all that away from home, and some of their team have been to Turkey and back. 2-1 Wolves. COMB!
2-1 Wolves. fletch at the double again!
I am worried that it will hard for Fletch to head a goal against the big, strong Stoke defence – and how else are we going to score?
Wolves 0 – Stoke 2
Just got back from the Big Apple-with the same old same old claptrap. Jarvis don’t talk about having a plan-just do it.
Real foreboding that Stoke will be too strong and score more goals-1-3.
Micks squad for the umpteenth time is woefully thin and without Edwards energy will be passing back again. No plan, no clue, FOMM
Wolves 1-1 Stoke. Good enough. Norwich becomes must win…
With O’Hara and Edwards out its gonna be a tough game,pulis rested his first team players this week so they will be fresh for the fight,Hard one to predict,trouble is our squad as never
been strong enough.we failed to add to our squad in the summer when there were better players around, who’s to blame I’M not going to say it was all MM’s fault but the whole management must take the blame for their shortsightedness now MM got to resurrect the
squad in the jan sales with a war chest of just 3 mil.i don’t think so.Back to the match i’m
going for a nervy 2-1,Its in all our own interests to get behind the lads of this our first of 2
games this w/k.UTW.
I agree with this – we need good January transfer business to be sure, but we may be reliant on loan deals if we don’t have enough money for the permanent ones. I am feeling optimistic though that’ll we’ll land at least one good player – Frimpong maybe? I think almost all of us would want to see more than that though
There were some BBC statistics talking about heavy Stoke losses after away games abroad but like you say that’s irrelevant!
Not predicted one right yet so I don’t know anything.
I’ll throw it up in the air and say 1-0 Wolves and yes, it is a derby – a Staffordshire Derby. Wolverhampton is still Staffordshire if you were born before 1974. like me. Natch.
Yes like you i’m a staffs boy and yes again it’s a staffs derby.Stoke have’nt beat wolves at home in 14 top flight games,lets hope it remains the same..wolves win.
Wolves 1
Stoke 1
I’ll take it
I think we can win this game, 2-1 to Wolves.
0-0. A scoreless thriller
Just read the sanitized site, and McDickwad is fawning over Pulis, about how they are mates, and he admires the way they play to win, and general arse licking.
So, reading between the lines, he has already decided we are going to lose, and he will set his stall out accordingly.
My question, however, is, how come we get so many injuries during training?
O ‘Hara out now, and how many others before season’s end?
Training methods too rigorous?
Too many shifts being put in, just to impress his royal prickness?
Makes you wonder.
Be interesting to see how many headers Johnson wins tomorrow, if he can actually get off the ground.
Kinda reminds me of the Hoff, 6’7″ tall and 6’6″ when he jumped!!!
FOMM
I can believe the pally-pally banter. Actually Pulis has fronted up for us indirectly. I remember when Wenger was complaining about our infamous 11 changes made for Old Trafford and Pulis told him to stop ‘moaning like an old drain.’
You are right about Baldrick. Rooted to the ground he was when Jagielka and Terry scored in the successive losses to Everton and Chelsea (I think this is why MM dropped him).
Wolves 1 Stoke 1. Stoke has done well lately while we continue to be mediocre at best. So I can’t see us do anything special today. I’ll settle with the point.
UTW
3-2 Wolves, I’ve got to haven’t I after the premonition………….you guessed it Zeli second half hatrick. I promise that I’ll get back to reality after this one but for now……….in Zeli we trust!!!!!
Ah, Mick didn’t go for the premonition thing……no Zeli on the bench. Can I edit and go for 3-2 Wolves Fletcher, Zubes and Hennessey injury time winner (more likely than a Doyle goal of late)
Wolves 1-2 Stoke. Not feeling too great here with Jamie out – let’s hope the visitors are too excited about Europa to notice us.
I’ll go for a 2 – 1 win, which is unusually optimistic for me, but we need to turn the corner!
Late, yoda is. For a prediction is there time, hmm? A 1-1 score I predict. Herh herh herh.
We could have won that game, but we end up throwing it away! Dammit – it was looking promising as well!
Well, there we are.
Another glorious defeat, snatched from the jaws of victory.
Stoke City, fuckin’ Stoke City, that perennial powerhouse of English football.
What a fucking joke we have become under this prick.
Another winless streak starting, with more pain and suffering no doubt to one of the high flyers of the Prem, on Tuesday, Norwich.
Merry Christmas, clappy happers, make some positive spin out of this “must win” performance.
There is only one turkey in Wolverhampton this Christmas, and he really needs stuffing, like we get stuffed every week.
Really big FOMM
Never in 40 years of supporting Wolves, have I felt so embarrassed by them as a team.
The manager needs to go and very poetically put Clive.
Time’s up MM. That win bought you a lucky blip but we should be beating Stoke on our turf. MM out.
“Pennant turned the ball back into the path of Etherington whose deep cross was converted by Crouch, who got in front of left-back Stephen Ward on the far post.”
Quote from Telegraph report.
Enough said
You should start a notebook/file on Stephen Ward mishaps!
Then you should take it to a British court and present it as evidence on how s**t Ward is!
Simples! 😛
Don’t need to, just show video of our performances this season, and I’ll get the sympathy vote!!!
No spin on this one Hamster, they were an insult to the shirt and the club.
FOMM
That’s Ward, one of our best players this season. I missed your posts leading his countless goal saving tackles. How about pick on someone who deserves it, Milijas, Johnson, Doyle?
And was it Thomas who said we didn’t need O’Hara in our midfield two?!
What about game saving performances, what he’s fuckin’ paid to do, along with the rest of our absent defence???
No excuses for anyone from Morgan down to the subs.
Shambles, relegation is more than they deserve.
Line them up against the wall and shoot the fuckers, only make sure it is not one of our staff or they’ll miss!!!
Disgrace.
Come on you happy crappers, make something out of yet another fiasco.
Must win, my arse.
Fuckin’ disgusted.
FOMM
We played well first half should of had more goals though to show for it ,Don’t know what was
said at halftime by mm but we did’nt look half as affective as we did in first 45.Defence let it
slip again, we need to concentrate for the whole match and not switch off like we always do,
Before the game i thought 4 points out of 6 would do but norwich game now a really big game
if we lose that one we’er doomed.got to say the ref was crap he should have sent off woodgate
but he bottled it and would have made the difference.I think mm must go now and be done
with it he ain’t got no plan B.Christmas or not its time to go.
Forgot to mention Johnson’s walking a tight line again,He walked up to the stan cullis stand
and sarcastically started clapping the fans,WHO Does he think he is.PRICK.
At least Doyle found the back of the net – Shame it was our own.
Well, what an attractive proposition we are for any would-be signings in January.
Onuoha? Give me a break.
We are running out of time-if we really want change, as window nearly upon us.
£4.5M-Thats a laugh-wait and see, Shambles.FOMM.
£4.5? Is that an improvement on the suggested £3 or…
At any rate, I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing loan signings instead of permanent signings… but there better be some – inactivity in this transfer window will be inexcusable!