Match Thread: Manchester United v Wolves 8pm 14.8.2023
By Ivybridge Wolf
August 14 2023
Welcome back readers and contributors to the Molineux Way. The first match of the season is upon us again. As we all know, it’s been a quiet summer for Wolves, nothing much has happened other than a number of very decent high-profile signings coming in and so all Wolves fans, without exception, look forward to 2023/24 with extreme optimism. Anyway, that’s the view from a parallel universe …… there’s been so much written about our difficulties of the closed season, I’ll try not to go there and cover old ground, however here we go again and we’re up against Manchester United, at Old Trafford for our opener. Easy peesy!
Out with the old and in with the new as Gary O’Neil takes his first match in charge. In many ways, todays fixture could be judged a ‘free hit’ for O’Neil and his players because he hasn’t yet had time to impose significant influence plus Man Utd are expected to win and comfortably so, early odds put them at 2/7 whilst Wolves are 9/1 (worth a bet?). We have been in turmoil as widely documented, they have home advantage, they finished strongly last season ending up 3rd in the table and add to that they did the double over us last term, perhaps Wolves should just hand them the 3 points? A recipe for an unlikely upset? Or perhaps a point?
Whether it is a ‘free hit’ or not, I am sure Gary O’Neil will not necessarily see it that way and he, like us, will be hoping to see a performance that can give us a bit of pride and hope at this early stage. We had been used to seeing our side competing with every team under Nuno, but that feeling has slowly evaporated to a large degree and so whilst my heart says we could get some kind of result, my head says otherwise. Hearts and heads don’t win matches.
All the very best for Gary O’Neil tonight. Certainly not top of the list of most fans as a replacement for Lopetegui, but at least he has premier league experience both as a player and a manager, he knows the league. Great to see a ‘home grown’ manager get a chance too, if a man from Beckenham can be classified as ‘home grown’!! He has made well over 200 appearances in the premier league for Pompey, Boro, West Ham and Norwich and he took over as Bournemouth manager in circumstance reminiscent of gaining the reins at Wolves. Whilst often regarded as being on the negative side at the Cherries, he got the job done and transformed relegation certs into a premier league outfit for another season. His departure from Dean Court was harsh in the extreme. Wolves are not Bournemouth, different players and different expectations, nevertheless I wish O’Neil every success.
Who will get picked? Not easy to predict, but that is no different to any Lopetegui selection. I’ll have a go: Sa, Kilman (excellent to see he’s signed up again), Dawson (our best 2022/23 signing), Doc (yes, get him in straight away), Ait-Nouri, Lemina, Nunes (has to perform this season and quick), Neto, Cunha, Gomes and Fabio. On the latter, if he stays, now needs to score goals. Fabio’s arrival courted much controversy and given our current financial plight, it now makes even less sense, BUT if he converts opportunities from here on in, then many sceptics (I include myself there) will be put in their place …. And it’ll be good news for Wolves. Aside from him, if the players play to their ability, we have the basis of avoiding a relegation scrap, but will they gel? Will they score goals? As always, the Molineux crowd will have a part to play.
Ahead of tonight, a few more statistics for you:
- Manchester United haven’t lost at home at all since September 2022.
- Manchester United have won their last six home premier league matches.
- Manchester United only conceded 10 home premier league goals in 22/23, the fewest of any side.
- Wolves managed one away clean sheet in 22/23.
- We’ve lost our last two opening fixtures.
- Our last 8 away league matches read W0 D2 L6 F1 A15. Oh dear.
- According to Opta we have a 0% chance of winning the league and 16.47% chance of relegation (relegation favourites are Luton 62.25%, Sheffield United 48.98% and Bournemouth 48.90%).
- Opta predict we’ll end up on 43 points.
Finally, whilst I haven’t mentioned much of our recent club chaos, if you haven’t already, I recommend the E&S Jonny Phillips article which sets out his commentary on all things Fosun (link from The Mol Way https://www.thefootballnetwork.net/boards/read/s115.htm?115,17395445 ). What exactly are their current motivations?
Enjoy the match, it’s on Sky Sports at 8pm and if the weekend fixtures are anything to go by, it could be finished by 10.30pm! I will be catching up with my Ivybridge Wolves mates and finalising our travel plans for the Brighton match on Saturday, however please feel free to post before, during and after the game with your comments and thoughts. I will be trying but the signal is a bit ‘iffy’ in the pub.
Let’s hope this is a season of greater positivity, stability and maintenance of premier league football for 2024/2025.
Up The Wolves!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:27:14:22:15 by Cheshire wolf.
Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman (Capt) Ait-Nouri, Nunes, Joao Gomes, Lemina, Neto, Sarabia, Cunha
Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Doherty, Toti Gomes, Hodge, Traore, Hwang, Kaladjic, Silva
I haven't watched any build up yet. I am assuming it's the Sky Manchester United appreciation show, maybe with a 2 minute slot on our recent troubles.
UTW!!
Our biggest games are yet to come, as in, the 6 pointers.
Wolves have done exactly as GO promised in his press conference and have attacked whenever possible and they certainly aren’t here to make up the numbers. They have had a few chances but struggled to get their shots on target. Midfield have done quite well and the back four have reduced Utd to minimal efforts on goal.
An enjoyable and impressive game so far, for a first of the season under a new manager at Old Trafford!! I was there for our game in !ay and this showing is much better.
Man Utd 0 Wolves 0
Fabio being prepared.
I haven’t seen so much attacking play at absence of passing back from Wolves for several seasons!
Varane scores with a header after Wan Bissaka puts it on his head. Typical!!
Utd 1 Wolves 0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:08:14:21:35:52 by Cheshire wolf.
Quote:It won't matter, both are utter donkeys that couldn't finish their dinner. The goal scoring records of Cunha and Silva are 6 goals in 72 appearances for wolves, neither should be anywhere near a premier league team.Ivybridge Wolf
By the way, Cunha, Sarabia and Neto up front - all can score goals, none are goal scorers. I wonder which GON favours as first sub to come on up front, Silva or Kaladjic?
7 added minutes!! Not sure where from after no injuries.
Man Utd 1 Wolves 0
Can't ever remember us playing that well at old Trafford, but at The end of the day it counts for nothing.
Robbed of a clear penalty as usuall at the end, sa does that it's a penalty all day long, you just don't get the rub of the green at old Trafford.
Gutted for the boys but we have to be happy with the performance, if only we could start putting the ball in the net this season might not be as bad as the pundits are making out.
On to our Bogey side Brighton then.
I was pleasantly surprised with the performance, especially the speed with which Cunha carries the ball forward, and the passing skills in tight spaces from most all of the players. Seems GON set the team up to play as they did against Rennes, rather than trying to change things around before his feet are barely under the desk. He's got plenty of positives to build on after that effort.
I read an interesting piece recently about how poorly Wolves, and especially Semedo, defend against deeper crosses heading towards the far post. I was reminded of it after seeing the goal we conceded.
I know it's a broken record, but it is so annoying that the club have not brought in just the 3 players or so needed to strengthen the squad for the season ahead. A couple of injuries could stop this improvement dead in its tracks. I'm also beginning to wonder if Fosun turned the taps off entirely in a display of spite and power because of having to agree a pay-off compromise with JL and his assistants.
Anyway, there's plenty for the fans to get behind at home to Brighton and it should be a cracking atmosphere. UTW!
We move onwards and upwards.
Firstly to the penalty. Loads over the net, almost a frenzy but it’s simple, it was a penalty …. The end. Robbed of an opportunity in quite a disgraceful manner. There were sound issues in the pub (7 Wolves fans there to 5 Man Utd were there) so when the ref walked towards the half way life, we assumed a VAR review, but no, instead he issued a yellow to GON and play resumed - madness. Anywhere else on the pitch that kind of challenge would be a free kick.
So this morning we now have another PGMOL greeting card to say sorry and we got it wrong, issued and signed by Howard Webb. Well that makes up for it doesn’t it?!!! Thanks Howey.
As for the performance, lots to be happy about. Not much evidence of sideways or backwards movement, very positive with plenty of players coming out of it well. Enthusiasm and effort, great to see and in the second half in particular, Wolves were the better side. But how many chances did we create and squander. The penalty decision was pivotal to our defeat, our quality in front goal was pivotal in preventing a Wolves win. We simply have to find the net. Cuhna was probably culprit in chief in not scoring but there again he was one of our best players on the night, terrific runs and frightening a sometimes panicky MAn Utd defence. To be honest, the game confirmed Cuhna would really benefit from a CF to play off. With current resources, next Saturday I’d play (never thought I’d say this) Fabio in place of Sarabia as I thought there were signs of good play when he come on yesterday.
So yes, a traumatic week for Wolves, but a very pleasing and pleasantly surprising effort. Which we lost! Pleasing enough to now be looking forward with optimism to travelling up to Molineux on Saturday v The Seagulls and hopefully put that 6-0 drubbing firmly to bed.
What about O’Neil? Too early to judge, Im sure, but I was impressed with how he conducted himself and in particular how he spoke in interviews after the match. Were we more attack minded last night? Maybe a little. I really liked how he praised the team too. A decent introduction for him (but. We lost!!) and I think the type of match which should guarantee him a warm Molineux reception this weekend. I have read today that despite Howey saying sorry, O’Neil will not have his yellow for stating the bleeding obvious, rescinded.
Overall, as Ian Dury once said, reasons to be cheerful, in terms of goal scoring, more what a waste.
UTW!!