Wolves (A) - Sat 16th Sep 2023 (12:30pm)

[Trumo]

Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous.

 

I don't ask for much.

 

This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up.

 

Wolves got rid of Lopetegui (or he jumped, depending on which version you read) in the summer after a transfer window that seemed to consist of shipping key players out. He was replaced by Gary O'Neil, who himself had been shipped out by Bournemouth after getting their Championship-level squad to punch above their weight and comfortably retain their Premier League status. Under Nuno Holy Spirit and Bruno Lage, Wolves had been a side that did not score enough goals, and that was a theme under Lopetegui too. It's been a factor this season so far too, although the general squad upheaval can sort-of be used in mitigation, but we won't know for sure if it's just chronic and ingrained, or fixable. Let us not be the test of that.

 

Last season's corresponding fixture was in that early-2023 low point where we looked awful and nobody bar Baj and Harvey was playing well. I can't remember if we were worse than at Brighton, but we were bad. VERY bad. Not one you want to recall, that's for sure. I think we even allowed weightlifter Traore to register an assist, and he's built a career on looking electric without any actual end product. Saint-Maximin without the purple patch. They couldn't score in a brothel, and we were making them look like us against the red Mancs!

 

Against Villa in our last game, we looked generally sharp and cohesive, and more of the same would be welcome at Molineux. The game comes after an international break where several of the squad are playing on the other side of the globe, so availability will need to be determined late by Jurgen. Thiago might actually be ready for this one, and new boy Grav might also be available to make his debut. The other thing to contend with is the PL's ridiculous decision to schedule a Saturday lunchtime fixture after an international break, where many players don't arrive back at their clubs until Thursday. Considering our next game after this is on Thursday night in the Europa League, why on earth do we need this game to be scheduled for the Saturday lunchtime slot? Whatever the circumstances, attitude, concentration and application need to be spot on, and a (black) country mile better than in last season's fixture. We're without Virg through suspension after his ban was extended for one more game. Never mind. Just go out there, do the right things and come away with another 3 points. Get it done!

[an tha]

We have the early kick off after the next break for international shite too...

 

Could be a very strange looking team we field here - TAA/Konate doubts.

 

Does Gomez fill in at RB or centre half?

 

Endo in defence?

 

Can Mac Allister start after playing in La Paz early hours of this morning?

 

 

[Lee909]

Any word if Trent is fit or not yet?

 

If not I guess Endo/Quansah at CB and Gomez at RB. 

 

Getting shown pretty early how short we are at the back. 

[VladimirIlyich]

19 minutes ago, Lee909 said:

Any word if Trent is fit or not yet?

 

If not I guess Endo/Quansah at CB and Gomez at RB. 

 

Getting shown pretty early how short we are at the back. 

Endo is taller than a lot of Japanese,

[Pete]

3 points and on to next game will do.  

[Megadrive Man]

Alisson

Trent/Tsimikas

Gomez

Konate/Matip

Robertson

Endo

Szoboslai

Jones

Salah

Gakpo

Jota

 

 

[bizzle10]

Big game for us this need to show our quality against the bottom teams away from home

[Reckoner]

After the very encouraging performance against Villa I’m trying not to get too optimistic but I’ve been looking forward to this since last week. I think most international players will play significant roles what with Thursday being a reserve/ kids outing.

Dear God, I just can’t handle another crushing defeat after getting my hopes up.

[LFC 6 Times]

What we do at CB if Trent out? Imagine Gomez covers there. Thiago surely back by now too? Would get Graverberch 30 off bench.

[Bjornebye]

Start Nunez, doesn't matter who else plays. 

[an tha]

1 minute ago, Bjornebye said:

Start Nunez, doesn't matter who else plays. 

Might be a problem there.

[Bjornebye]

Just now, an tha said:

Might be a problem there.

 

Don't be such a spoiler 

[an tha]

45 minutes ago, Bjornebye said:

 

Don't be such a spoiler 

I'm in a bad mood today.

 

Here is our record in the 1230 kick offs last season:

 

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool

[Megadrive Man]

1 hour ago, LFC 6 Times said:

What we do at CB if Trent out? Imagine Gomez covers there. Thiago surely back by now too? Would get Graverberch 30 off bench.

 

Thiago had a setback.

[manwiththestick]

21 minutes ago, an tha said:

I'm in a bad mood today.

 

Here is our record in the 1230 kick offs last season:

 

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool

Urrgh!

[Creator Supreme]

4 minutes ago, Megadrive Man said:

 

Thiago had a setback.

Deviated hymen?

 

22 minutes ago, an tha said:

I'm in a bad mood today.

 

Here is our record in the 1230 kick offs last season:

 

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool

Frigs sake!

[diamondjoe]

0-4

Darwin brace.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

2 hours ago, an tha said:

I'm in a bad mood today.

 

Here is our record in the 1230 kick offs last season:

 

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool

The good news is, it's a new season and none of that is in any way relevant.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[bossy]

Wolves are better than they appear to be if you get my drift… in and out 2-0 victory for the Reds please.

[Creator Supreme]

Same as last season, 3-0 to Wolves.

[an tha]

1 hour ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

The good news is, it's a new season and none of that is in any way relevant.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

Hopefully

 

The same challenges exist though.....shortest preparation time, players coming back from ridiculously long journeys...The early start.

 

There is a big difference between the 1230 sat slot and the sunday 2pm or 430 ones....even the sat evening slot.

 

Hopefully we handle those challenges better than last season/are better prepared.

 

We've got the early slot after the next break too....

 

 

 

[manwiththestick]

How many players did Wolves have away?

[Pidge]

Quite a few, all the Portuguese, the african lads, the new Brazilian striker and Hwang at least, although he didn't have to leave the UK for their games against Wales and Saudi.

[dylstar]

Tierney on VAR again....

[an tha]

14 minutes ago, dylstar said:

Tierney on VAR again....

It is almost like they are trying to provoke us now.

 

He was on VAR in the Bournemouth game where he failed to intervene in the Mac Allister red card that of course was later rescinded.

 

So after such a failure so recently - here he is again....