Match Thread: Leicester City v Wolves 22.12.24 2pm KO
Good luck
By Ivybridge Wolf December 22 2024
It’s been a big week for Wolverhampton Wanderers …. Again. A dreadful result last weekend in a match where the side demonstrated, yet again, their lack of defending prowess, inability to retain the ball and when on top, unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Put that together with a sprinkling of ridiculous ill-discipline at full time, it added up to the end of Gary O’Neil as manager. It had to happen. Fosun and Shi / Hobbs, after issuing the ‘vote of confidence’ one week, embarked on the search for a new manager the next. Quick and early media reports turned at to be true with Vitor Pereira installed as the 7th Wolves manager under Fosun (excluding Kenny Jacket) and since 2016 with an 18 month contract agreed. He is the third Portuguese at the helm after Nuno and the one we don’t talk about, Pereira is also another man from the Mendes footballing camp.
Vitor Pereira gave his first Wolves press conference on Friday and, without giving loads away, he offered a brief indicator of how he wishes to manage and where the priorities lie, as he sees them. He came across well, spoke well and showed excitement and enthusiasm to be in the premier league, whilst not under estimating the challenge ahead. It’s been a long, drawn out and painful period to get to this point in 2024/25, so I wish him all the best in his endeavours to get this team playing and to avoid the drop.
Leicester City provides a tough opener for Vitor and Wolves. The Foxes sit on 14 points, 5 clear from us and in 17th position in the league, 2 ahead of us. They recently sacked Steve Cooper and installed Ruud Van Nistelrooy as their manager and naturally, they will be keen to put even greater daylight between us and them.
From the press conference VP stated Sa and Sarabia remain unfit to play, plus he is without RAN after that saft full time outburst earning a second yellow. The other talking point is what is happening with Matteus Cunha? His full time madness prompted the FA to charge him with misconduct with the outcome still awaited after he had until 19th December to explain his conduct. One report this morning suggests the hearing will take place during this week, so Cunha would be eligible for selection. His absence would be significant, however justified, as we have only scored 6 goals in the 10 matches he has missed since joining Wolves. Maybe any ban will take effect from Boxing day onwards? To be resolved. On a more positive note, Joao Gomes returns from his suspension because after last weeks performance it would be difficult to see how the likes of Andre and Bellegarde could be selected, both very underwhelming. Nevertheless, under the new regime, let’s see how Vitor plays it.
The headline statistic for this match is not great, we have failed to beat Leicester in any division at Leicester since 2007, that is remarkable! Added to that all the goals conceded stats plus defeats in a calendar year, worst since 83/84, etc etc, it really doesn’t make terrific reading, but this is precisely why Pereira has been brought in. We just need that new manager bounce! After Wolves and Saints, Leicester City are the next in the poorest defense list this season having let in 34, therefore there remains hope to cleave their defense!
A couple of milestones for a couple of great Wolves servants, should they get to play in this match. Matt Doherty will get to play his 300th league appearance for Wolves and on the other side Conor Coady will his 400th league appearance of his career. Congratulations to both players, both have played hugely influential roles for Wolves!
It’s over to the Wolves players now. Can they find enough in themselves to assist Pereira and us fans to kick start this ‘new era’ and come away with 3 points. Should we lose, the gap to The Foxes will widen even further to 8 points, a seriously hefty points difference.
Good luck to Vitor Pereira, good luck to the team!
The match is a 2pm kick off at the Kingpower Stadium, please leave your comments and thoughts in the thread below, let’s all hope for something far more positive, cohesive, skillful and entertaining.
UTW!!
Match Thread: Leicester City v Wolves 22.12.24 2pm KO
Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2024 09:04
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:06:12:17:31 by Ivybridge Wolf.
So difficult to predict this one, two new managers, new team formations?
Both teams letting goals in for fun so could be a high scoring game but your guess is as good as mine.
It will be interesting to see if our new manager has been able to bring about any changes despite his lack of time with the squad.
Cmon lads.
After a sedate 8 minutes, Vardy through on goal, Sa does just enough, in fact he does well to advance out of the penalty box to clear 3 times! Vardy left Bueno for dust
A Wolves free kick was cleared, a hopeful ball into the box, poor Leicester marking / defending and Guedes skilfully redirects the ball into the net!!!!
Sounds like a much more controlled game, fewer stray passes and a commitment to attack their box whenever sensibly possible. Three nil at half time, who could have guessed, must make the half time talk much easier than the past few weeks and confidence must be getting a real boost.
Time to ensure that the second half maintains the same commitment and endeavour as the first, no sitting back and inviting pressure.
A bit of pressure from Leicester and a sequence of les than convincing Wolves defending, thankfully comes to nothing. We don’t we to provide any encouragement to the opposition!
71 gone. Wolves =fans with a sequence of ole’s as we keep the ball, then Semedo fouled, 30 out, Cunha goes for the direct shot along the ground …… just wide.
Wolves fans enjoying themselves and in good voice.
Overall pretty comfortable except to say we still need to strengthen in defence. Great to see pereira punch the air in front of the fans .
What a brilliant and important win. I was shocked at how bad Leicester were, but you can only beat the side that’s put in front of you and we did exactly that. Just 2 points behind leicester now.
Impressed with Guedes again, another in this resurgence of form since being brought back into the side. Another smart display from Cunha, we’ll really miss him if he does get suspended.
Big win but it's only a start, some tough games ahead.
Had a feeling we might win today with the new manager bounce, let's hope they can keep it going.
A bit of christmas cheer for wolves fans, all the best to everyone on here have a good one.
A valuable three points but, let's face it, Leicester were not hard to beat and we will face much tougher opposition in the coming weeks. But nonetheless a good start and if Vitor can get the squad to improve on yesterday's performance then we may see some decent results coming our way. We can but hope.
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