By Ivybridge Wolf
December 1 2021

Wolves follow up their rather disappointing away performance versus a thankfully toothless Norwich side with a Molineux clash against Burnley this evening. Still, Wolves did not come away empty handed at the weekend earning just their second draw of the season. Tonight, in front of the home crowd, Lage and the side will surely want to get onto the front foot to a much greater extent and seek to emulate recent home efforts against West Ham and Everton. We are it seems, consistently inconsistent at present!

Nevertheless, whilst a bit cliché, it will be a hard match in prospect in spite of Burnley’s league position and given their away point at Chelsea only 2 matches ago. Indeed, their players should be fresh as their Sunday home fixture versus Spurs was postponed due to snow. Burnley certainly set themselves up as a team very difficult to beat as exemplified by our record with them over the last 3 seasons. In fact, it makes for sad reading of P6 W1 D2 L3 which includes losing home and away last term, 2-1 at Turf Moor and for those who can’t erase the memory, 0-4 at Molineux in a pretty tragic April display and a Chris Wood hattrick. Wood was superb, and with a goal at Turf Moor too, Wolves don’t need to look too far as to where danger lies. Oh, and then we have to think about Cornet too - a player who can certainly find the back of the net.

Somehow, Lage needs to find a way to hustle and hassle and take the initiate. Changes to the line up will have to be made, unfortunately Ruben Neves picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Carrow Road on Saturday and has earned an untimely one-match suspension. This is a blow, Neves returning to some very good form of late, arguably our best player versus Norwich and we will miss his closing down and range of vision and passing. Looking to the rest of the side, Sa, Cody, Saiss and Kilman will pick themselves whilst Ait Nouri and Semedo likely to retain places, however a bit more attacking intent and creativity with better quality ball retention and dangerous crossing is required of both wing backs. Moutinho will stay but who is in for Neves, Donk seems the more likely given our managers comments. Both Trincao and Hwang had rather ineffectual games last weekend, personally I’d draft in Traore (but please not as wing back), though there’s another headache for Bruno to balance because Podence’s return remains on hold due to continuing COVID isolation. Personally, I think Trincao should be on the bench. Someone somewhere needs to inject a bit of pace and energy into attack – like we did against the Hammers.

Whatever the line-up, our Wolves team will appreciate the importance of this match tonight. It is the first fixture of seven in December including Liverpool (H), Man City (A), Chelsea (H) and Arsenal (A). As it stands, we are 6^th in the table, 20 points from 13 matches and whilst it’s been a bit up and down at times, most Wolves fans would have snapped your hand off at this position, especially after losing our first three in a row. Certainly, if we are still 6^th or 7^th (or better!!) come the January 1^st 2022, there is no doubt that will be a significant achievement.

Back to tonight, current form of each side is similar, both having only lost 1 match in their last six as follows:

Wolves: W D W L W D

Burnley: D L D W D D

The bad news tonight, Lawrenson has predicted a 1-0 win to Wolves on the BBC.

This match is being televised live by Amazon Prime with a very traditional kick off time of 7.30pm. Traditional, that is, for those of more mature years and good memories!! Additionally, it was announced earlier that as of this morning tickets were still available as Burnley supporters will not be located in the lower Steve Bull stand, instead occupying the North Bank corner.

Please feel free to contribute to the match thread below, most importantly enjoy the match and everything crossed to bust the recent Wolves v Clarets trend for 3 precious and timely Wolves points!

UTW!!

Match Thread: Wolves v Burnley 1st December 2021 KO 7.30pm

Discussion started by Wolves , 01/12/2021 14:25

Wolves
01/12/2021 14:25

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:12:06:10:09:47 by Cheshire wolf.

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Lupy
01/12/2021 18:31

Hopefully we can repeat the same sort of performance we produced against West Ham if not it may be a long cold night.

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Ivybridge Wolf
01/12/2021 18:48

Subs: Moulden, Ruddy, Hoever, Trincao, Silva, Cundle, Bueno, Campbell.

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chicagowolf
01/12/2021 19:23

we don't often have two weak games in a row, but we will miss on-fire Neves.
Despite what Bruno said earlier this really is chance for Donk to lay claim to an opening slot.

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Ivybridge Wolf
01/12/2021 19:26

Given player availability, no real complaints from me on team selection and happy Traore is playing in an advanced position.

All fingers crossed fro a decent match, I’m watching on Amazon Prime, courtesy of Mrs Ivybridges’s account. A bit of fortune there … provided we win that is!!

The Molineux light show has begun!

Enjoy and UTW!!

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Cheshire wolf
01/12/2021 19:30

Sorry I can’t join the fun tonight but hoping for a good result against one of our bogie teams.

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chicagowolf
01/12/2021 20:01

great break from Traore but off the bar. So close

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chicagowolf
01/12/2021 20:28

Mostly one way traffic from Wolves and we have been very precise with passes, everyone.
Plenty of good build up play Ait Mouri pushing forward on the left Semedo on the right but Adama has clearly been coached out of his one-trick-run attacks that go nowhere, but the question is whether his more cultured passing approach generates any better results. Moutinho great, spraying it all over the place. Should win if we keep this up but our lack of goals is terrifying.
Where are Neto, Podence, and Johnie when you need them.
Burnley surely must get more of the ball in 2nd half; scary thought.

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Lupy
01/12/2021 20:31

Good first half, more of the same will be required to gain some points.
Good performances all round.

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Ivybridge Wolf
01/12/2021 20:34

Sorry, I have limited access to the site tonight during the match.

As Chicago has said, plenty of decent build up play but no killer ball. I am not sure the balance and positioning of the team is quite right up front. Too many times Raul has been pulled out of position to the wing and nobody either by instinct or purpose appears to fill that gap, thus we have nobody up front for periods. Overall however we have been the better team and when Burnley have looked dnagerous our defence have snuffed them out.

That run from Traore was terrific, just 3 inches lower and it’s 1-0.

We’re off again, Wolves now attacking the South Bank - C’mon lads!!

UTW!!

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chicagowolf
01/12/2021 21:16

limping towards another 0-0

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chicagowolf
01/12/2021 21:24

0-0 Final
Two in a row gainst lowly opponents. Come on Liverpool; we are waiting for you.

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Lupy
01/12/2021 21:29

Much better than the performance against Norwich but severely lacking a cutting-edge. Where are the goals going to come from, Raul can’t do it on his own. Fabio and Raul as a pair up front?
Hats off to Traore tonight it’s evident that he is starting to play the way Bruno wants and unlucky not to score.
Another point but would rather have had three.

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Andy Fincher
01/12/2021 21:47

Overall, we played well. Defence was sound again, Kilman in particular. That being said we will probably concede four or five against Liverpool, me and my big mouth.
Dendoncker deputised for Neves admirably but will probably lose his place. Tricky as I feel sorry for Dendoncker but Neves , quite rightly should come back in.
Traore's effort against the crossbar was a great shot but surely he should have played in the unmarked Jimenez to his left.
0-0 has to be disappointing but I don't even think we missed that many good chances to score, we're not making anywhere enough clear scoring chances.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/12/2021 00:09

For me, another disappointing match, whilst solid at the back, more frustrations up front and midfield. Creativity was at a premium tonight, the moments of excitement usually involving Traore but we just didn’t do enough to warrant the 3 points. We were the better side, Burnley dug in, and we did not have the ability or quality to break them down …… except the oh so close rattle of the bar from Adama (agree the best option was to play in Jimenez). Surely Traore has earned his starting place v Liverpool.

Too much advancing forward, only to look for a sideways pass and when we did a lot of miss placed crossing. To be honest the quality of our crosses over the last 3-4 matches continue to alarm me.

Jimenez worked so hard, but we couldn’t get the support up front to either play with him, play off him, or filled the occupied space when he came deeper or hit the wings.

Onwards to Saturday and Liverpool. You never know in football, the media and bookies will be writing us off however I do believe our side always have a chance and Neves will return …… we just need to score goal!! 12 in 14 is a very low return. Has anybody seen the Jota goal v Everton tonight? If there was ever a demonstration of what we are missing, have a look at that, it’s brilliant.

UTW!!

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Lupy
02/12/2021 07:30

Forgot to mention it last night but credit to the referee on his premier debut he handled the match very well.

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