Changes abound for both sides ahead of the first of two crucial consecutive home matches for Wolves. Molineux welcome a Chelsea side that has been through their own ‘relative’ turmoil which has seen the sacking of Graham Potter. In steps Frank Lampard once again to take the reins, so recreating ‘Frank Lampard’s Chelsea’ (FLC) once again. As for Wolves, team selection has been hit with Ruben Neves receiving his 10th yellow card of the season v Forest (it felt inevitable), resulting in a two-match ban. No Neves for Chelsea or Brentford.
The Potter Chelsea era came to an end after the 0-2 home defeat to Villa and then midweek and managerless they turned out a poor 0-0 v Liverpool. Chelsea have only won four of their past 20 Premier League fixtures, drawing 8 and losing 8. Before the international break they played two of our relegation rivals, beating Leicester 3-1 at the King Power and drawing 2-2 v Everton at Stamford Bridge. They have a goalscoring issues too, having netted just 29 goals in 29 games – only 6 more than Wolves! Indeed, if we keep them out today it’ll be Chelsea’s third successive match without scoring, however v Wolves, I wonder what the odds on that is? For those that can’t erase the memory, Wolves lost tamely to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
Wolves come into this match having accrued just 5 points from our last 7 fixtures, true relegation form, a period which has produced a sequence of alarming performances and only tempered by a win v Spurs in one of the most weird games I have witnessed – we were terrible in the first half. Last weekend’s effort at the City Ground has been roundly and correctly criticised because we were dreadful, particularly the second half. It was a miracle that we came away with a point, though other midweek matches showed how important that point could be. Nonetheless we remain a thin slither off the relegation places – a mere single point with form to raise the alarm bells of any Wolves supporter.
With Neves out, that brings about the big question of who will fill his boots? There is a massive opportunity for other midfielders to raise their own game and help take the match to Chelsea … but are they up for it? Lemina, Nunes, Moutinho. B Traore, Hodge and Gomes have all been tried before with varying success and misfiring failure but who will actually be picked today? I’m guessing Lemina, Moutinho and Nunes – but it is a guess. Lopetegui is unable to settle on our best side which is a big worry in itself and overall whether it be midfield, defence or attack there have been so many personnel changes in our first XI, it makes it difficult to predict who will walk out at 3pm. From last week, I’d like to see Bueno in the side from the off at least - A lad who is positive and prepared to take on the opposition and a better defender than some of the others. Up front, whilst I’ve said it before, I’d like to see Cunha and Jimenez together, though they need creativity and so I’d go with Adama too. If he does get on the pitch (I think he will), it’ll be Adama’s 150th Premier League appearance for us – congratulations to him in advance. Will Podence be selected? He’s so in and out of games, yet he popped up with a great equaliser last week, after which he goes and seemingly ‘simulates’ spitting at Johnson for which he now faces further FA scrutiny. Ultimately, I don’t think anything left his mouth but his actions appeared to show possible intent. A bizarre and sad sequence of events.
That leads me to current Wolves team discipline. Conduct off and on the pitch is led from the top – Lopetegui that is. Over the last 4-6 weeks we have all witnessed increasing poor behaviour, spats, moaning, whining, arguments, and petulance on and off the pitch by Wolves players and coaching staff alike. It wins no friends in football and in my view opens us up to additional examination from the authorities and officials – sometimes unwarranted. I accept that we’ve had some dreadful decisions go against us, but if we played better football, we wouldn’t have such a focus on such events. Nevertheless, you get the feeling Wolves are now only a moment away from boiling point or (in some situations) losing the plot altogether and I feel we are close to becoming a bit of a joke – at the very least. Such poor team control will only serve to backfire, we don’t need unnecessary aggro in a relegation fight – if only such passion could be directed towards performances on the pitch to win bloody matches! I hope Lopetegui sorts it out, and quickly.
This is the first of our remaining 5 league home games this season. Chelsea, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Villa and Everton. In the face of adversity, cometh the hour, cometh the man. 2-1 to Wolves today? With a rocking and expectant Molineux and a motivated team, why not eh? A win would change the complexion of everything – it wasn’t so long ago we trounced Liverpool – it can be done. It’s the hope that kills you.
Enjoy the match, wherever or however you follow it. Please feel free to leave your comments and thoughts in the thread. For my part, I’ll be on my phone for score updates whilst at Newton Abbot races …. It’ll be a nervy afternoon … and I don’t mean getting trying to pick the winner of the 3.25.
All the best, UTW
Match Thread: Wolves v Chelsea 8.4.2023 KO 3pm
Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2023 09:57
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:18:07:54:54 by Ivybridge Wolf.
Well I'm sure an astute tactical manager like JL can trounce a team with no manager at all. If he can't, we may as well not bother with a manager and just use the funds for players. We have home advantage playing a team that has been in the bottom half of the league most of this season with no manager. I'm confident the tactical work JL has put in over the last few months will manifest itself during the match 🧐🤡
If that's you Ivy, I won't be watching the match on some dodgy stream either. The bloated prem isn't about ability of any manager, just which club has the most money. City have broken every rule going yet despite threats of points deductions nothing is ever done. This season will be my last, I will be watching local non league football next season contrary to this ongoing circus. It isn't Fosuns fault or the fault of even JL/ the players but I don't like the way the game's gone and don't enjoy it any more.
Diego Costa up front. JL playing head games with his old team. Maybe the tired old gunslinger can get off one final shot before hanging up his spurs?
Anyhow, Lemina, Cunha, and Nunes! Thank god we do have Podence at least for a day or two.
And has Collins asked for a transfer yet or is he waiting until we too get the big drop? I shudder every time I see Conor Gallagher on the team sheet. Should be some interesting battles
Well with Everton losing at Old Trafford we now have a real chance to pull away from the chasing pack, a difficult task clearly but we have beaten Lampard's Chelsea at Molineux before!! Quite an attacking team being put out by JL this afternoon with Costa starting against his old team, alongside Matheus Cunha so maybe he has been listening to the crowd? Joao Gomes starts instead of Joao Moutinho who is on the bench, unlike Raul Jimenez who doesn't feature today! A start for our top goal scorer Podence before a possible six-game suspension with Pedro Neto still confined to the bench along with Adama, whilst Matheues Nunes gets another chance to prove his worth. Max Kilman picks up the captain's armband in the absence of Ruben Neves. Line-up:
I predict a narrow defeat. After the game on the mix we will be hearing how clueless JL is until we play a team with a budget we can compete with ( next week against brentford). We will then get a result and JL will he showing " signs of improvement" having tactically turned it round lol.
Have to say I’m pleased to see Chilwell & Kante missing from the Chelsea side but I can’t see many other plusses! Peter Bankes is our referee today. And off we go
Harsh free kick given against Costa in the middle. Corner off Kilman, Nunes breaks but his cross is easily cut out, then Gomes fouled by Felix. JL instructing Dawson pre free kick, which is cut out for a corner by Fofana, Lemina’ shot goes for another corner, then Pod earns another with good play.
Max passes to Pod who gets brushed off by James in the area, then the offside flag goes up. Toti works hard down the left side until fouled by Gallagher. We need a goal to show for our good play.
At last Nunes shows his true value lashing the ball in from the right side of the area giving Kepa no chance after a header on by Cunha
Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:08:15:36:23 by Cheshire wolf.
A surprisingly good performance from Wolves and a deserved lead, can we keep it up 2nd half? Doubtful but will probably get at least a draw. Bournemouth leading Leicester
Half time and so far very good for Wolves after a tremendous strike by Matheus Nunes from just inside the area. Good play from Wolves dealing with the considerable threat of the Chelsea front 3, although I think Toti is a bit lumbering up against the dancing Sterling! Cunha & Costa haven’t had a lot of chance to link up well up front, but our midfield three of Gomes, Lemina & Nunes have all moved up well with Pod & Semedo to add the necessary threat. We will need at least another goal to seal this win and absolute concentration.hoping JL doesn’t make substitutions too quickly to upset the flow.
Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
That scruffy tramp Cucurella for Chelsea gets booked and shouts fck off to the official after the yellow card is issued- surely that is enough grounds for another yellow and a red. Lemina got sent off for much less the other week
Free kick lofted high & wide eventually by Reece James. Pulisic on for Havertz. Free kick to Wolves for a challenge on Costa by Fofana goes across to Cunha but a poor shot from him
An angry wolf That scruffy tramp Cucurella for Chelsea gets booked and shouts fck off to the official after the yellow card is issued- surely that is enough grounds for another yellow and a red. Lemina got sent off for much less the other week
Good play into the box by Cunha but no one there for his cross. Corner to Wolves poor from Joao but put back in the area, Hwang just unable to develop it. Serabia & Adama replace Cunha & Lemina
Chilwell gets a corner off Semedo easily taken by Jose. Very harsh free kick against Hwang when we could have gone on to score. Dreadful decision, and a yellow card to Chilwell for dissent. Gomes gets a lucky free kick. Five added minutes
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:08:16:47:52 by Cheshire wolf.
All over and an excellent three points for Wolves, thoroughly deserved and will make such a difference to our position. Jose Sa was hardly troubled by the Chelsea attack. A fantastic first goal for Matheus Nunes made all the difference. A great team performance.
Wolves 1 Chelsea 0
Excellent performance from the boys, credit where credit is due. Forest have lost again, hopefully they will drop like Ivy's horse did in the :325 at Newmarket ( if the rumours are to be believed as it came out of the stalls like the grand national tip a few years ago) The usual terrible decisions, Hee Chan was stopped in his tracks with what looked like a certain wolves goal in a 50/50 shoulder barge and Chilwell not booked for throwing himself to the floor diving but no matter now
We were actually odds on to be relegated earlier this season, tonight were are 14-1 on betfair. Surely staying up now hopefully at the expense of Forest being one of the teams to drop.
Just so surprised at how poorly Leicester have done this season, but not unhappy to see them in the shite now after sacking Rodgers - they never backed him last two windows, left him with an elderly team and then blame him!!
Massive win, just shows when everyone pulls their weight we are hard to play against.
Did we see the real Nunes today? Best game in a wolves shirt today and what a goal!
Thought the kids toti and joao Gomes had good games today, toti has never let us down when he has played.
Now let's push on its only one win we need more.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:08:19:13:37 by essington wolf.
What a fantastic win. Great to see positive comments about the performance which, if we can carry that forward, will be more than half the battle. I’ve only just seen the MOTD highlights and we had the lion share and I know that can be deceiving but this time it seems to reflect that we were the better side. Scoring more than one goal remains an issue, but if we are organised at the back, as we were, that’ll go some way.
The goal - what a strike, absolutely superb goal from a really tough angle. The keeper never smelt it as it fizzed passed him. Congratulations to Nunes for that and whilst I have certainly been highly critical of his season thus far, if the goal and the performance yesterday can galvanise him for the next 8 matches then I’ll be more than happy. I asked in the intro whether anyone could step up in the absence of Neves and to be totally fair, looks like Nunes did just that.
As for the horses (Newton Abbot … I’m not posh enough for Newmarket!!), won the first (short odds), got the last 10/1 and with a decent 28/1 second in the second I came home close to even. It was a stag do, delighted to say that two of the party were Chelsea fans. Out of Darkness Cometh Light.
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The usual terrible decisions, Hee Chan was stopped in his tracks with what looked like a certain wolves goal in a 50/50 shoulder barge and Chilwell not booked for throwing himself to the floor diving but no matter now