Match Thread: Wolves v Everton KO 8pm 1.11.21
Hammer the Toffee?
By Ivybridge Wolf
November 1 2021
As we start November, I think most Wolves fans would have been satisfied with the prospect of a Molineux win to elevate us to 7th in the league? That’s this situation in this topsy turvey (form wise) season where our previous exciting new attacking football accrued nothing and a return to the more tried and tested Wolves approach of the last 18 months helping to shoot us up the table and out of the danger zone. 3 points in the bag tonight and 7th is exactly where we’ll be and knocking on the door of at least 2 teams directly above us. Just one issue …. we have to beat Everton first!
Wolves come into this match on a 4 match unbeaten run and if not for the last minute and deserved equaliser by Leeds, we would have had a record sequence of 4 consecutive wins in the premier league era …. yes, football was indeed invented in 1992!!??.
Despite that unfortunate penalty giveaway, along with less than scintillating form, the Wolves management and squad will surely go into this Monday night match with a great deal of confidence. The three central defending combination of Coady, Kilman and Saiss having been playing pretty well overall, in particular the assured Kilman impressing of late. Boly is reported to be back for selection, though it is doubtful he’ll start. Sa appears very solid and capable of making great and vital saves. Marcal is unavailable so another outing for Ait-Nouri and Semedo appears likely, though in critical defensive duties, my heart is always in my mouth when Nelson is involved!!
Personally, I’d like to see an immediate return to the starting line up for Neves. On form alone, picking Moutinho ahead of him last week at Elland Road did not make a great deal of sense … unless there were fitness problems unbeknown to me. Anyway, get Ruben back in please! As for Hwang and Jimenez, they should be fairly easy picks. Whilst questions were posed about Hwang post Villa game, you can’t argue with his goal tally and there are early signs of a fruitful partnership emerging with Raul …. Long may it continue to develop. By the way, it's worth knowing that Jimenez has scored in all four premier league appearances against Everton.
That just leaves Traore. I hope he keeps his place tonight. He can’t be as anonymous for two matches running?
Everton beat us home and away in 2020/2021, so it’s time for a bit of payback, but equally, they will be reeling after that dreadful 2-5 home defeat to Watford, who themselves lost at home to Southampton on Saturday. Back to Everton, they also lost their previous match versus West Ham so we must expect the Toffees to be up for the Molineux challenge, they themselves will advance to 6th with a win. I am certain if we up the pace and speed of passing and thought, our attack can cause them many problems, however they too are dangerous with perennial Wolves pain in the backside, Richarlison, who is available and very likely to start. He just seems to have that dreadful habit of causing us so many problems. Some players do. Think Kevin Phillips. In addition, Everton’s new boy, Andros Townsend has oodles of ability, has played incredibly well for them this season and can score from the most unlikely of angles and distances! If we can stay close and harry him, Richarlison and Gray that’ll be a major tactical plus for Wolves.
A word of warning for all Wolves fans …… Mark Lawrenson has predicted a 2-0 win to us. That’s an omen worse than any unspeakable Halloween trick or treat left over from last night.
Enjoy the match, it’s on Sky with an 8pm kick off. Please leave your thoughts and comments in this thread before, during and after the game.
Up the Wolves!!
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:12:06:10:08:10 by Cheshire wolf.
Neves does indeed get in, at the expense of Donk, however Trincao gets the nod over Traore. Whilst not surprised with the latter, I would have liked to have seen Traore.
Away from Wolves, very sad to see Nuno sacked today. Is 10 matches ever enough. Yes, Spurs were dire versus Manchester United but Levy and the board created a set of circumstances whereby it was easier for Nuno to fail, rather than succeed. Good luck to Nuno, an absolutely gem of a man.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:01:19:26:17 by Ivybridge Wolf.
Well, for your information I’m sat in a Chester pub surrounded by family & friends who are all Everton fans, but still wearing my colours proudly.
Very hard to predict this game and think we will have to play very well to get 3 points. Looking for Trincao to show some of his early promise and Raul to get another goal or two. Also hoping Neves will boss the midfield again.
What a shame, we are playing well
Wolves 1 E’ton 0
Absolutely delighted for Kilman.
1-0
Although it was a terrible back pass the lob from Jimenez was sheer class
Well done Max, in fact well done everyone.
More of the same please.
Wolves 2 Everton 1
Time for Traore personally- cant keep the ball as well and need an outlet
UTW
Wolves 2 Everton 1
Great three points, well done lads, and another step up the table.
Great first half. Everyone played well. Very pleased for Kilman, not only for his goal but generally speaking. Surely Southgate has to look soon? Good finish from Raul.
At half-time you could almost sense the second half was going to be different and Sa, who made a fantastic save late on, gave us a heart attack with that @#$%& around with that clearance.
m-o-m for me was probably Neves and despite nails being bitten down to the quick, a good win and being 7th at this stage in the season is no mean achievement.
to put pressure on ourselves by passing back and then losing the ball?
First half: A comfortable, controlled, dominant performance, closing down, crisp passing, ball retention, often great movement and real pressure on Everton. They got off lightly being just 2-0 down such was our superiority. A brilliant performance.
Second half, well, a different story when we lost the first half verve and invited pressure. They got the goal, it was all a bit nervy but we hung on via a great late Sa save, though Trincao should have put us out of sight! And yes, we did our fair share of f@nnying around!! Couldn’t for the life of me understand what Traore didn’t get on, totally puzzling.
Still, we are up to 7th which is highly creditable given the start of the season. The first half was a joy to watch at times, so encouraging. Pickford played his part with 2 excellent saves from Neves and Trincao. I was thrilled for Kilman, a great headed goal and always lovely to see Jimenez score, and I just loved the way he dinked it over Pickford.
MOM of the match was given by Sky to Raul who played so well, not just the goal, his passing, positional play, guile and effort were all excellent, however I would have plumped for Neves - outstanding for me tonight.
Onward and forward now. That’s 5 matches unbeaten, a nice little run and we’re now off to Selhurst Road for a tricky away fixture.
UTW!!