Nov Player of the Month
By Wolves December 17 2023
Having garnered four points from two consecutive home games, Wolves head back on the road today on a far from easy challenge to the London stadium for a televised clash with West Ham United, in the knowledge they have failed to win in their last thirteen visits to London.
It will be an interesting game today, as Wolves have recovered from a loss at the Emirates and been unbeaten in their last two games, whilst West Ham suffered a 5-0 thrashing at Fulham last weekend, but then won their midweek Europa League tie against Freiburg, so both teams will be setting out to gain more points today. West Ham has not been a happy hunting ground for Wolves since 2019 when goals from Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto secured a 2 - 0 win, but ther confidence which has grown within the squad this season should encourage fans that a positive outcome is very possible.
Gary O'Neil has declared that Rayan Ait-Nouri is fit to play, whilst Pedro Neto is still recovering from his hamstring injury but will hopefully be ready to return by next Sunday for the Chelsea game. November Player of the Month Mario Lemina has also recovered from the slight hamstring issue which caused him to leave the pitch last week and there are no other injury concerns within the squad. O'Neil is delighted at the news that Andy Fincher has also regained full fitness and been able to return to the squad, but fears today may be just too early for him to feature!! Wolves will also have benefitted from having an eight day break since their last game, whereas West Ham played last Sunday and again on Thursday, so squad rotation may be the order of the day for them.
Todeay's game will kick off at 2pm and will feature as part of Sky TV's Super Sunday production. Highlights will also be available on BBC's MotD2 this evening. Our referee will be the quite experienced Chris Kavanagh with Jarred Gillett on VAR duty
This board will endeavour to provide regular updates on the progress of our team in today's match, and members and visitors are encouraged to post their own observations and join in the conversation.
Match Thread: West Ham United vs Wolves
Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 17/12/2023 11:24
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:12:28:10:55:31 by Cheshire wolf.
A few changes and Jose Sa doesn't make the squad - presumably a recurrence of his injury so Dan Bentley starts in goal. Interesting that neither Bueno nor Ait-Nouri start at left wing back, Belleguarde starts perhaps in that position or in midfield also. Line-up:
First corner to Irons eventually cleared after much head tennis in the six yard box. Another Irons corner on other side needed put over the bar by Dan B. Then to other side but cleared.
Good play into Hammers area and Cunha gets our first shot away, collected by Fabianski. Free kick conceded by Dawson after a poor pas by Hwang taken by Ward Prowse but well caught by Dan B.
Wolves are far more attacking in possession so far in this game than last week. Corner taken by Wolves and cleared forward to Kudus who rounds Nelson and slots left footed past Bentley.
Hammers 1 Wolves 0
Good effort by Cunha from outside the area yields a corner off Fabianski which is eventually claimed by Fabianski.
Second goal is just as easy for Kudus as soon as he gets th3 ball, totally unmarked by Toti and he passes it into the net
Hammers 2 Wolves 0
Cunha’s shot blocked then Hwang’s shot goes for a corner which is cleared. Toti taken out by Soufal with no punishment after VAR check. Bowen swivels and shoots through Dawson’s legs and hits the base of the post with Dan B stranded. 4 added minutes to play
Silly foul by Toti on Kudus to get first yellow card of the game. Some of Wolves passing has been particularly poor, Gomes has been pretty ineffective. Zouma gets a yellow card after bringing down Cunha. Gary O’Neil also shown a yellow card. Titi gets a shot away in the area which takes out Alvarez. Corner headed back in by Dawson & put out but whistle goes for half time.
A very poor and disappointing performance from Wolves so far although they have tried to attack far more in this game than the last. Far too easy for Kudus left unmarked and found by good passes to then go on an score past Bentley. Not sure the new formation is really working so far, and Hwang has hardly been in the game.
Half time West Ham 2 Wolves 0
No changes as we restart. Hammers attacking & get another corner headed over by Zouma. More poor passing by Hwang & Nelson. Serabia working hard but we are struggling to match the skill of Hammers at the moment.
Slack back pass from Dawson made life difficult for Dan B. Semedo puts a fine cross in which eventually goes for a corner. JRB tries a shot from outside the area but too high
Great break down left side and crossed for Semedo to put across the area and Pablo converts. VAR to check for offside and it will be close. Taking an age!! Goal chalked off by about an inch!
Belleguarde taken out again by Coufal and this time he gets a yellow card. Ref concerned about JRB and calls trainers on. Down to ten men at the moment. First match in 16 that we haven’t scored in.
Seven added minutes just about played now and it looks like we’re in for another away defeat. Not a good performance from Wolves today, but Hammers took their goals very well to move up to 7th place. Serabia put the ball in the net but judged to be offside by a fraction which was a shame as it could have motivated an improvement from Wolves. Chelsea up next!!
West Ham 3 Wolves 0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:12:17:16:01:05 by Cheshire wolf.
We are to easy to play against away from home.
Poor all over the pitch and there seems no plan how to play, it's like we are waiting to go a goal behind.
We are so slow at starting games simply not good enough.
Playing in our current style encourages the opposition so regardless of whether we are playing at home or away we are walking a tightrope and points will be hard to come by. The last few matches are indicators of our shortcomings and although we have picked up points it has been fortuitous and results could easily have gone against us which would have left in a poor position. The euphoria of finding ourselves in the heady heights of midtable will soon be replaced by uncertainty and worry as we tumble down the table unless something drastic is done. I know Neto is due back but he alone will not be able to give us all the answers we need and the talk of a striker being a priority seems a bit pointless when week after week we leave two strikers twiddling their thumbs on the bench. The team doesn't seem to have an identity, a game plan or a plan B. Some difficult games ahead in what is going to be a long season I'm afraid.
Burnley ….. Forest ….. West Ham …… a trilogy of poor performances.
I only saw the second half but we didn’t impress at all. Our goal was close but looked like offside from the off. Too much huffing and puffing, sideways movement in our approaches towards the West ham box. Too slow and deliberate.
What a disappointment.
We’ll probably give Chelsea a good hiding next week now! In a dream that is, but we can still hope.
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