After a defeat at Anfield and a late loss to a penalty at home to Villa, the last thing Wolves really needed is a visit from Chelsea, however this could be the best time to face them.
Wolves may well be feeling dispirited at the moment after being soundly beaten by Liverpool then suffering an extra time penalty aginst Villa having had almost all the attempts on goal, but Nuno Espirito Santo will no doubt be raising the spirits of his team to take on tonight's challenge full on. Chelsea have suffered a lot of injuries to important players during this hectic season, but still boast possibly the biggest and best squad in the league to choose from.
When asked in his pre-match press conference about injuries to his squad Nuno admitted to 'issues' but gave no more details. However he will be without Joao Moutinho who was wrongly sent off at the end of Saturday's game, so presumably Ruben Neves will start. Nuno has expressed that he has faith in young striker Fabio Silva, and that he will learn through playing against good teams whilst Raul Jimenez recovers from injury, and his goals will come.
The big question will be whether Nuno will continue with playing four at the back - which on Saturday excluded Willy Boly - or return to a three man defence and attempt to revitalise the threat from the left wing back position.
Tonight's game will be screened on Amazon Prime, kicking off at 6pm. Our referee will be Stuart Atwell
This board will carry updates on the progress of the game, and members are encouraged tro post their own observations for the benefit of those unable to watch it
Match Thread: Wolves vs Cheslea
Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2020 16:05
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:12:28:11:09:40 by Cheshire wolf.
Yes hopefully, we have a team who can still, on our day, produce a decent performance but very nervous ..... the last few matches have not provided much in the way of evidence that we will perform! Life as a fan eh? Well, the last few days have increased the navel gazing - a very difficult couple of days to get positive vibes after the Villa result .... and the way we played.
Stating the bleeding obvious we have to start converting chances and opportunities, however numerous or few they might be. Goals will get us out of this apparent lull. Look on the bright side, we could be Arsenal fans ..... or Albion.
an angry wolf Chelsea are nowhere near pool or city football wise so disagree with the article - they lost to Everton last match and are certainly beatable
Seeing as they beat us 5-2 at Molineux last season then completed the double over us later in the season, then added some high quality players in the close season I still think they pose a huge threat to us, however they are of course always beatable.
Boly is back and we revert to a back three/five for tonight's game. Adama drops to the bench and Neves replaces Joao. Line-up:
Looks like a good lineup, perhaps time for Neves to put in a performance and hopefully will be able to get forward a bit more with Donk covering. Hoping that our forward three can show their potential and reap some reward tonight. Semedo has still to convince me but may fare a bit better in this formation. All to play for. Good luck lads.
All the Chelsea attack is coming down our right back position and looking a bit ominous. Having said that a corner on the other side should have resulted in a Giroud goal.
Clever touch from Fabioto earn a free kick but too far out. Neto earns a corner. Short corner ends up with Semedo & his short is high & wide. We need to get the ball into their box!! Free kick for Chilwell to put into our area. VAR checking for handball but nothing
Wow, despite not scoring that was a great header from Zouma - like a salmon - with the freedom of the river to jump ..... no one near him. Extremely lucky to still be 0-0.
HT.
Well. The seemingly permanent question persists, who might score for Wolves? When we do get an opportunity there’s either no support or we we pass it sideways and back’uds.
Chelsea attacking with far more purpose and appear to be targeting our right back position i.e. Semedo. I don’t think that’s coincidental.
Walking a bit of a tightrope, tried and tested formation but a little more eagerness to get forward has exposed us at times. Podence skills are outrageous.
Would like to see Traore on with Neto playing through the middle and perhaps RAN to increase the pressure.
Looking forward to one of our “ better in the second half “ games.
Cmon lads.
Come on guys!! Dicing with death here.
The TV commentary is all about "why don't Wolves attack more?" when in reality Nuno will have been at pains to avoid the pain of the last two games.
Semedo having rings run around him but all in all we are doing OK against a good line up. They will get frustrated and after both teams lost at the weekend there could be fireworks .
Adama struggling with his knee after being kicked by Giroud. Thiago Silva just does enough to deny Boly
Great goal from Podenceto level it
Wolves 1 Chelsea 1
Corner to Chelsea off Semedo but to no good
Wolves have a fabulous win against the team with the worst squad in the League!!!
Wolves 2 Chelsea 1 & up to 9th place
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:12:15:19:59:42 by Cheshire wolf.
Doom and gloom, doom and gloom and we’re 5 points off the top 😂😂
What an incredibly weird and wonderful match. Just didn’t see that end coming, although we grew into that second half as it developed ..... but still didn’t see it coming. Hit the ceiling as that fabulous Neto winner went in. Blood pressure off the scale.
A great win, 3 most valuable points and some real second half entertainment.
Familiar performance, slow for the first half or more and then strong finish. However we did it, great result.
Feared the worst when Chelsea took the lead and that was never a penalty but two fantastic goals. Neto and Podence were good all night.
Was hoping Samedo would be looking more solid by now but I'm still not convinced by him. He looks good coming forward now and again but defensively I worry.
I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of Vitinha. He's shown some nice bits and pieces in the matches he's come on.
Otasowie came on and generally did very well, I thought. When Donk was subbed, I raised more than an eyebrow (you wonder what goes on behind closed doors), however a good match for the young lad.
Still can’t quite believe we won. A big thrill after the desperate events of last Saturday.
Silva had the ball in the back of the net with a nice finish but ruled offside.
Some nice touches and he is clearly getting onto the same wavelength as his teammates.
Some good holdup play and more confident with the physicality of the game.
Early days but showing some moments of skill and determination.
an angry wolf I had a phone call at 6 pm that lasted the entirety of the match so was unable to see it , how was silva?
Some nice touches Angry and he gets around the pitch well. He put the ball in the net but was clearly offside. He plays like a youngster - enthusiastic & energetic but will surely grow into the league with matches and will need to fill out a bit to be able to put himself up against big lads like Mings & Zouma.
Nuno has just said Otasowie came on because of a problem with Donk & Boly hurt his hamstring towards the end, so we’ll have to see how things are by Monday.
an angry wolf I had a phone call at 6 pm that lasted the entirety of the match so was unable to see it , how was silva?
Showed up ok now and again but overall I thought it was his usual kind of match, not rubbish by any means but he isn't the answer in attack at the moment. Still a bit lightweight I think.
Scored a goal but was well offside.
Cheshire wolf Joe Cole on Prime “Zouma should have brought down Neto & taken the yellow”. He would have been sent off & missed the next match you bloody fool!!
Neto’s skill and movement meant Zouma didn’t get a sniff. He wasn’t even in the same county 😁
an angry wolf I had a phone call at 6 pm that lasted the entirety of the match so was unable to see it , how was silva?
Showed up ok now and again but overall I thought it was his usual kind of match, not rubbish by any means but he isn't the answer in attack at the moment. Still a bit lightweight I think.
Scored a goal but was well offside.
Agree with that Andy. I don’t know what to make of him. He’s young, plenty to learn, glimpses of promise and I am trying not to be too judgmental ...... just cannot fathom that price tag.
Yes, Silva needs a goal but seems to have plenty of confidence. Undeniably talented but he will have to bulk up. Only 18 but he should get some tips from Adama and more pies. I think in a couple of years we'll think we paid a bargain price for him!
Ivybridge Wolf Doom and gloom, doom and gloom and we’re 5 points off the top 😂😂
What an incredibly weird and wonderful match. Just didn’t see that end coming, although we grew into that second half as it developed ..... but still didn’t see it coming. Hit the ceiling as that fabulous Neto winner went in. Blood pressure off the scale.
A great win, 3 most valuable points and some real second half entertainment.
In Neto and Podence we trust.
If Semedo is a top flight ex-Barca player then Wolves cannot make do with such mediocrity. Out expectations are so inflated that we are having a better season and yet it is not good enough.
Just before the COVID thing, way back in January I went to see us narrowly beaten at old trafford in the FA cup. The taxi driver was a Man City fan; he told me that before they won the prem, he believed that if city won he would be happy forever. But that now after several wins , and finishing second they were more miserable than ever.
Ah, the joy of being a sports fan
Indeed Cheshire, it shows how times have changed as in the past if Wolves were playing I'd be either at the game or turning any phone off. I said a few weeks ago Neto and Podence were decent players but they lack the height required to be on the end of crosses so it's no surprise we have changed our shape a little in recent weeks. Silva looks like he needs a decent meal ... surely it isn't the reincarnation of Keogh with girly hair and he will show something eventually.
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