Wolves v. Swansea City Competition - FA Cup Stage - Third round Date - Saturday, 6 January 2018 Kick Off - 15:00 Venue - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton After two encouraging PL performances under new Manager, Carlos Carvalhal, the Swans' next match is a Third Round FA Cup Match against the runaway leaders of the Championship, Wolverhampton Wanderers. The dilemma for Carvalhal is whether to rotate his squad and play 'fringe' players so that he can see them in action in a competitive fixture, or whether to play what he currently considers to be his best XI in the hope of building on the win at Watford and building on the encouraging performance against Spurs where arguably the team deserved to pick up a point. Whatever Carvalhal decides, his players will face a confident and buoyant Wolves team who will surely be back playing Premier League football next season: indeed, at the moment it looks like they will be replacing us. Swansea and Wolves have played each other on 33 occasions (including last season's Football League Trophy match when the Swans fielded their Under 23s), with the Swans winning 9, Wolves 13 and 11 draws. Swansea's last visit to Moulineux was in October 2011 - our first season in the PL - when it ended 2-2 in a game that saw Wolves stage a stunning late fightback to hold the Swans to a draw and ease the pressure on (then) manager Mick McCarthy. The hosts trailed 2-0 at the break and seemed certain to be heading for a sixth successive Premier League loss after Danny Graham slotted the visitors ahead from Mark Gower's clever, dinked pass and then Joe Allen converted Graham's inviting cross to double the lead. But Kevin Doyle's close-range shot gave Wolves hope and Jamie O'Hara's fierce strike denied Swansea victory. The match saw the Swans at last claim their first away point in the PL but had seemed certain to secure the win after outclassing Wolves for much of the game. Looking ahead to Saturday, in a match that sees the bottom club in the PL away to the top team in the Championship, I think that if Carvalhal selects his strongest team, then the Swans should be good enough to get at least a draw. If he selects anything less than his strongest XI, then I suspect that Wolves will win by 2 or 3 goals.
I wouldn't be surprised if Wolves rest more players than we do. Hopefully Bony is back, maybe Ki will play if he can free himself from his cotton wool. Any idea when Bartley is fit to play? I can see this being a draw which won't please both teams
We should use this as a final pre season game to get our game plan/tactics etc ready for Newcastle. Use the next 11 days to prepare fully for that game. Hopefully Bartley can get a run out. Anyone know if Ki, Bony and Leon will be fit?
Bartley on the bench last night. Last night there were a few instances of players not being on the same wavelength (though TBH fewer than previously). The cup game would be a good opportunity for Carvalhal to see fringe players but he also needs to give his new combinations game time together. Unless we are bringing in full backs this week he should use our under 23s IMO. I'd be in favour of using the game to experiment - (Assuming our injured payers are not available Nordfeldt Lewis Bartley MVdH Reid Gorre Fulton Britton Clucas McBurnie Abraham
Wolves are a better outfit than us ATM and i fully agree that they are firm favorites and should win......Carvo after two games is showing that he can improve things but he definitely needs to bring in 2 or 3 players to do his job properly as he will struggle with most of our lot as they are not good enough and couple that with fading has beens then Carvo has a tough job to do......
A win is a win and breeds confidence. What better way of proving you are better than the championship than beating the leaders on their own patch? All out for the win for me.....
Having chatted about the game it would be a very good opportunity to pick a team with partnership Carlos expects to use against Newcastle. We know he won't get the tranche of players needed (if any before the end of January) so he needs to see what he can get from who he has. Obviously it will be good to win but using the game to prepare for Newcastle would also be time well spent.
Would like to see Reid at RB and there could also be starts or at least bench for Gorre, Fulton with Leon or Mesa. Fer and Routledge prob starters with Ollie up front, no idea who will be selected at LB, surely we can't risk starting Olsson. I see Bartley played for the U23's last game out so its him and VDH at CB. This is the pairing I was hoping to see this season but injuries and managers insistence on picking fekkin Fernandez all the time stopped that. Nordfeldt Reid Bartley VdH ??? Gorre Fer Britton (Capt) Routledge McBurnie Bony Can't believe the fekking luck some people get. Under Calvahal it seems, Sanchez will be selected for another ten games or so, so he can continue to 'find himself' while ****ting all over our midfield There has to be a joke in there somewhere but don't see it through the tears of my despair.
I'd go with a full strength team in order for essential playing partnerships to develop. Sanches to continue his recent development as he scores in a Swans 2-1 victory
I don't think we will weaken significantly, but still believe that Carvahal is still trying to work out his best side, so should see some changes.
A bit of a conundrum. Carlos says he needs to see the rest of the squad in action but he also needs to get a settled team. Clement fielded almost a different side every match and look where that got us. Not too many changes for me as we tread a slippery slope.
