Match Thread: Newcastle United v Wolves 12.03.23 KO 4.30pm
Gerrrin in!!!
By Ivybridge Wolf
March 12 2023
Wolves travel to St James’ Park this afternoon (for clarification, not in Exeter) with a tough challenge which could put further daylight between us and the relegation zone. I write ahead of all the Sunday afternoon matches and hope they have been kind – Saturday was a mixed bag though nobody overtook us. Not that it matters, keep control of our own business, and we’ll be okay, irrespective of others! And the evidence is that we’ll be okay, no doubt with the usual bumps along the way that we are so accustomed to.
With the crucial win last weekend still at the forefront of our mind, it seemed appropriate to get this match review off with a wonderful picture which captures that tremendous goal. Quite brilliant from Traore and a moment I will remember for a long time, a match that will be recalled for many reasons, ultimately positive.
And so the Wolves points tally post World Cup increases to 17 off 11 matches. If we repeat that in the next 12, we’ll all be wondering what the fuss was about!! Perhaps. Nevertheless today, versus Newcastle, beware the wounded soldier. In 2023, from 7 premier league matches, Newcastle have shuffled down the league from a lofty 4th place to 6th having only won one and with just 3 goals. They’ve lost their last three (all competitions) and scored none, albeit against Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. Almiron has scored 1 in 13 and Wilson 1 in 16. When will these sequences end? Wolves fans will be wary of our ability to end such runs .. it’s worth remembering that since Howes appointment only Manchester City and Liverpool have won at St James’ Park. However, Newcastle have amassed many dangerous players, some excellent footballers who will want to put things right in front of their own. From their squad list, Joelinton is suspended today.
Wolves will be buoyant after Spurs. Make no mistake though, if we play anything like we did in the first half, there will be trouble. Can’t see Newcastle squandering such an advantage when at home. But Lopetegui got things right at half time, added to that the enforced change after Costa’s injury, and the reformation in the second half was much more positive. Much has been said about the Nuno Old Boys coming up trumps to deliver the victory, and it’s all true. Neves, Moutinho and Traore conspiring to thwart Tottenham and I was thrilled to witness such a superb effort from Jimenez proving there is life on the pitch after such a serious injury. The big question is, as always, what side will JLo pick? Surely the back 4 (assuming it will be a back four, frankly, I’m not sure!) did enough to remain the same? That certainly includes Jonny, though appreciate Ait-Nouri could be pushing him. Kilman and Dawson, are a shoo-in, a partnership which is developing extremely well, and more than ably aided by Collins last week. Neves is wonderful – ‘nuff said, though what about his midfield partners? Lemina was excellent last week but subbed in the tactical change. Moutinho came on and added drive. Nunes did what Nunes is doing of late – not a great deal. As for the front line, then the only player I can confidently predict will start is Jimenez and that in part due to Costa’s unfortunate injury (reported as out for a month). I suppose if we are guessing the line up, then so will Eddie Howe – that’s not a bad thing.
Now for some statistics, or rather some questions. Of the last 15 topflight Wolves v Newcastle matches, how many have we won? Answer = 2. In the same 15 matches, how many have Newcastle won? Answer = 3. That means a colossal 9 draws and all incredibly ending in the same scoreline of 1-1. During Newcastle’s recent poor run they have also drawn against relegation candidates Bournemouth (A) and West Ham (H), the score? 1-1. For those who like a flutter, it’s 14/5 for the draw and 7/1 for 1-1. You heard it here first.
Enjoy the match today, it’s on Sky with a 4.30pm kick off and our last match live on TV until we play Crystal Palace on Tuesday 25th April. In that time Newcastle will be screened 5 times! I’ll be down the pub with the 'Ivybridge Wolves' mob and looking forward to it. Let’s hope we make the most of the camera’s and we see a performance akin to last weeks second half and v Liverpool. If we do, we can really extend the safety net we all desire.
Please leave your comments and thoughts about this fixture in the thread below, as always ‘Up The Wolves’.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:26:16:54:20 by Ivybridge Wolf.
I would like to see Cunha start up front with Raul again and wonder whether Joao will get a start ahead of the unproductive Nunes who is regularly hooked at half time.
Sadly I will miss this game and be unable to offer comments as I will be flying home after a week in Fuerteventura - when I booked we were still playing on a Saturday!! I had decided that when I arrived back in Manchester I would avoid looking for the score and wait to see it on MotD2, but it’s now looking doubtful that the programme will be on or worth watching!! Oh well it may just have to be the highlights on the Wolves App after all. I hope it is a good game and a good result for us.
Agree about Cunha Chesh, some good signs of a partnership developing with Jimenez. If only he’d have put away that golden opportunity last weekend v Spurs, Raul laid it on a plate for him.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:12:14:25:51 by Ivybridge Wolf.
Wolves recall striker Raul Jimenez.
Adama Traore returns to the starting XI along with Joao Moutinho and Daniel Podence.
Wolves XI: Sa, Nelson Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Castro Otto, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Lemina, Podence, Traore, Jimenez.
Subs: Bentley, Ait-Nouri, Collins, Neto, Hwang, Matheus Cunha, Toti, Nunes, Joao Gomes.
So Podence returns from nowhere, Sarabia not even on the bench. Moutinho , Neves and Lemina all get a start. That surprises me tbh.
Again an interesting selection, Lopetegui doesn’t fail there!
UTW
It is so tight at the bottom, we are just 3 points off the relegation zone having played the same number of games as the majority of those below us and before our 27th fixture today. We are only 5 points off the bottom of the table and still a relatively unfavourable goal difference, although by no means the worst.
Big match coming up!
Good luck to the lads!
COYW
I was fancying our chances for this one, but the team selection comes over as a bit too much, well, tinkering.
But I assume JLo knows better than I. UTW!
Neves also down insured at half time whistle.
Different game if they are down to 10 men and we score the penalty.
var needs to be scrapped because 9 times out of 10 they side with the ref.
Hard to stomach yet again! Oh well on to dirty Leeds another massive game now.
A frustrating watch where the first half didn’t provide much positivity without being under the cosh, well before the first goal that it. We hung in there a bit after that..
I genuinely couldn’t understand taking Adama off at half time, for me he had Burns potentially on toast, but Jlo has made some astute replacements of late, so what do I know? Without Adama, we couldn’t get down the wing even though we had some good opportunities.
In the end, we equalised which was fantastic and from that moment on I thought we’d see it out. How wrong.
As mentioned the non penalty in the first half was a major turning point. I thought it was a clear penalty. VAR took about 2 seconds to dismiss the claim, gobsmacked. And the foul which led to their first goal ….. never a bloody foul.
Having said all that, it wasn’t a good Wolves performance. Disappointing and frustrating. That’s despite Podence hitting the post and Pope making two excellent second half saves.
So we remain on 27 points, a mere 3 points above the drop with 11 matches to go. Next up Leeds. A massive match awaits.
Good to see you comment on the game Rusko!
UTW
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:12:21:45:48 by Ivybridge Wolf.