please log in to view this image Saturday 11th November 12.30pm Premier League Molineux Stadium Van de Ven joins our extensive injury list and may be joined by Maddison, too. Perisic, Solomon, Sessegnon and Whiteman are still out and Davies probably is. Romero and Udogie are suspended. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Johnson. Subs: Forster, Emerson, Dier, Skipp, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Gil, Richarlison. League form: DWWWWL. Wolves: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Hwang, Lemina, Doyle, Ait-Nouri; Cunha; Kalajdzic. Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Bueno, Otto, Traore, Bellegarde, Gomes, Sarabia, Silva. League form: DWDWDL. Ref: Tim Robinson. VAR: Paul ****ing Tierney. TV: TNT Sports. How would you like to line up for this one and how do you think we actually will line up?
The biggest test to date of the system (specifically, how many training hours are in the legs of current squad fringe players for the system) . Some confidence given how Dier et al performed in the 9 vs 11, or is that countered by how sh*te Kings Rd FC are in attack ??
Apparently Porro didn’t train yesterday. We could be without our whole first choice back four if he’s picked up a knock and isn’t fit. It’s not gonna be a pretty watch even with Porro, let alone without him as he’s currently the only defender capable of meaningfully aiding attacks. We could line up with: Emerson, Phillips, Dier, Davies… That’s a relegation calibre defence.
The way we fought on Monday could be a good sign. The players battled for each other and showed real fight. Of course I'm not happy with what we're left with but I think it could be the making of the team.
No Maddison looking like confirmed after withdrawing from England. Sensible decision. Short-term pain for hopefully long-term gain. Give him a few weeks off to get fully rested before the first game after internationals and then into the Christmas period. I know it looks bleak but dier did a good job on Monday when he came on and with what Ange is doing, who knows, he may have actually tried to improve some players.
Won't be pretty tomorrow, Wolves have played much better than their results show and have played some very good football in the matches I have seen. Add to that VAR doing them over on a couple of occasions I will be amazed if we get anything tomorrow because we will have a lot of reserves and the officials will give everything their way. Likely starting XI - Vicario, Porro, Dier, Phillips, Emerson, Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur (or Hojbjerg), Johnson, Kulu and Son Finding 7 Subs maybe fun!! Forster, Dorrington, Hojibjerg, Skipp, Gil, Veliz and AN Other
Davies is apparently still not fit enough to start and might not be able to feature at all. What's Danny Rose up to these days? Anything from Milan yet?
When it comes to our bench, two things to additionally keep in mind are i.) The U18s play Saturday morning ii.) The U21s have a PL Cup match Sunday afternoon Given the U21s will already be losing Ashley Phillips for Wolves, that almost makes me think we'll have one of the U18s on the bench rather than have the U21s line up without Dorrington on Sunday
I don’t think it’s as bad as it looks. Still think we’ll win tomorrow and Ange has done such a good job, wouldn’t surprise me if some of these players start putting in a performance. so many teams in a similar situation so anything could happen through December with so many games.
Ange has said Porro and Davies have both trained and will be available. He still says we have to be careful with Bentancur. So thinking something like Vic Porro Dier Phillips Davies Sarr Bissouma GLC Kulu Son Johnson The question marks are whether he plays Emerson over Davies, and whether he tweaks the midfield, maybe putting Sarr more advanced, or starts Bentancur or Hojbjerg or Skipp, or goes for a wildcard in Maddison’s place like Kulu or Gil. I’d be surprised if Phillips doesn’t start the game as we don’t really have anyone else. Davies partnering Dier would give me kittens.
I don’t see Ange putting faith in Phillips to start, think he’s gonna go with one of Emerson or Davies at CB, with the other playing LB. Think it’ll be: Vicario Porro, Emerson, Dier, Davies Sarr, Bissouma, Hojbjerg Kulu, Son, Johnson Have a feeling it’s gonna be a painful watch for a while now though. Davies, Dier and Emerson in a high line and no creative midfielder… and here I was thinking Halloween had ended over a week ago.
Yeah this is exactly how I think he will go. If nothing else the players coming in have loads of experience which hopefully will count for something. My worry is that we continue to play the high line with that defence. I’m sure Gary o’Neill will be planning for those tactics and loading up quick players to try and get in behind. I really hope I’m proved wrong but I can see this ending up messy
I think Ange prefers Hojbjerg over Lo Celso and tbh while that doesn't make sense on paper, it does in practice. Hojbjerg is limited but at least gives 100% and occasionally chips in with a moment of quality. Can anyone remember the last time Lo Celso did either of those things? Must be pre COVID. Agreed re Bentancur. Needs made must against Chelsea but he was clearly a few yards off the pace and not fully fit. No point risking him when he can use the intl break to do more work on his sharpness. I personally think if Davies is fit enough to start, we should push Porro further forward, shift Kulu into a number 10 role (I think he could actually play it quite effectively) and use Royal at the back: Don Gigi Royal Dier Phillips Davies Bissouma Pape Porro Kulu Brennan Son The bench will be wafer thin especially at the back but midfield is pretty well stocked with Bentancur, Skipp and Hojbjerg.
