Wolves (A) - Sat 17th Sept, 12:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[A57 the snake]

I’d like to see Philips start this one, wolves are a physical side and like to counter. It’d suit him this one.

 

[lasereyes]

Hope it's an improvement on last season's 1-0 home win though I'd take the scoreline. Wolves very negative & time-wasting from the off & one of theirs stupidly sent off (got what they deserved).

We won 5-1 at Molineux last year. KDB 4 goal fiesta

 

[Blue Theatre]

We've changed from a back five to a back four this season and whilst the results suggest we're still the same boring side, it's been a bit different.

The first two games were a write off really as the team was not settled and we didn't have a striker due to injuries and no new signings in. We played alright at Spurs (A) but lost, and that's the only 'Big 6' side we've played.

Definitely a work in progress and fans are excited about how we're trying to go. On paper we have a good team. Nathan Collins has come in and been excellent, his partnership with Max Kilman could be one of the best in the league - we hope, but they're not there yet. In midfield, Matheus Nunes has given us the pace and energy we were crying out for and showed signs of that for the first time against Southampton (our only win).

Striker is an issue, hence the Diego Costa signing (highly unlikely to even make the bench Saturday). Jimenez is struggling and the other lad we signed is out for the season. Hwang might start against you up top and whilst he's a poor footballer, he can run, so might do alright.

Big question marks on the manager now though. Last year he had a free pass as it was Nuno's team and he had limited backing. The owners surprised us this summer by splashing out a lot of money and Lage now has no excuses.

Whilst we have a good defensive record on paper, we are conceding chances. Southampton should have scored at least one, Newcastle had a lot of play and Fulham missed a penalty. Our defensive structure doesn't seem what it was, which is maybe understandable given the change, so I can see you finding the pockets and causing us massive trouble.

We've done quite well over the years against the bigger clubs but struggled against the poorer sides, I think the change is to make us more exciting against the rest but we'll now struggle more against the best. Only my opinion as the Spurs performance was perhaps our best but we ultimately lost.

Anyway, we probably go with this:

Sa
Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Jonny
Nunes, Neves, Moutinho (Nunes most advanced)
Neto, Hwang, Guedes

Jimenez could play ahead of Hwang if available but rumours he's out.
Adama Traore and Podence the attacking options from the bench and Ait-Nouri will probably come on if we're losing.

I can't see anything other than a pretty easy away win. 0-3.

Interesting, thanks. Trying to change a team's style has proved disastrous for quite a few Premier League managers down the years, so will be interesting to see if Lage manages it.

 

[chesterbells]

Cheers. The Mail is reporting…

Diego Costa has taken part in a full training session for the first time since joining Wolves and has an outside chance of facing Manchester City on Saturday.

I doubt they’ll risk him

And if they do risk him, it will be a genuine risk and they’ll be lucky to get 50 minutes out of him I reckon. A place on the bench and maybe coming on late on to stir things up is highly likely.

 

[Andouble]

We’ve seen this before. Please don’t start Stones or KDB two times in less than 3 full days. It won’t end well.

 

[Gray]

Don’t start Mahrez would be my mantra, Alvarez in his place every time.

 

[BringBackSwales]

We’ve seen this before. Please don’t start Stones or KDB two times in less than 3 full days. It won’t end well.

Why rest them? Play them both, and if they are a bit tired for the waistcoat wanker and Martinez that’s fine, they never give two shits about us

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Wolves (last meeting apart) have caused us a lot of problems in recent seasons. They play a system that cause is problems. They defend well and can play well on the counter. The upside is that Coady, who has almost played well is gone but our nemesis Adana Traore is back. We’ve had far less control since we’ve added a striker but obviously far more clinical.

We have Taylor as referee tomorrow, we have a very poor recent record under him. In fairness this is usually due to the opponents we’ve played (Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool West Ham in recent seasons) but we’re overdue a win with him as referee.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

The game can go two ways...... like the Dortmund game, where they play tight and hope to nick the first.

Or it s an open flow with goals a plenty. I think they will come at us but it will be a combo of good defending and missed shots. i expect goals +3.

 

[Cricket Blue]

Traore will have his usual game of the season no doubt