Date: Tues 25th September
Venue: Molineux
Kick-off: 19.45
This game is Live on BeIN Sports HD13
In the previous round of the competition, on August 28th the Foxes welcomed league 1 Fleetwood Town to the King Power stadium. Claude Puel made 8 changes to his side who, unsurprisingly beat Joey Barton’s lads by 4 goals to nil with Schmeichel, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Pereira, Albrighton and Ward given the night off.
On the same evening, Wolves travelled to Hillsborough to take on Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Nuno Espirito Santo also made 9 changes from his regular first team. Patricio, Bennett, Boly, Castro-Otto, Neves, Moutinho Jota and Jimenez were all rested and Costa on the bench. At the same time, he gave a chance to no less than six U21 players. Wolves ran out 2-0 winners after a second half goal from Leo Bonatini and a well taken penalty by substitute Helda Costa.
Since the two sides last met in August, Wolves have drawn with Man City at home, beaten West Ham away and humbled Burnley at home. On Saturday they visited Old Trafford and after putting in a fearless performance, came away with a well earned point.
During the same period, Leicester have beaten Southampton away, lost to Liverpool at home and lost to Bournemouth away. On Saturday they hosted Huddersfield at the King Power and after going a goal behind, came back to win comfortably by 3 goals to 1.
If Nuno and his players need any further encouragement before this game, a good, hard look at those results should give them all the confidence they need to progress to the next round of this competition. Interestingly only 3 teams in the Premier League have conceded fewer goals than Wolves so far this season; Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, the current top 3 in the league.
Nuno will almost certainly field the same starting 11 as for the Sheffield Wednesday game with a possible appearance of Ivan Cavaleiro on the subs bench. I expect Claude Puel will do something similar.
Gem’s prediction 2-0
Wolves v Leicester Match Preview [LIVE]
posted on 24/9/18
We should smash the foxes, they ain’t done nothing decades, 4-0 Wolves I recon
posted on 24/9/18
These much changed line ups will doubtless have some good players on both sides, but they will be teams that have never played together before and probably won't ever again. So fluent football rarely happens in these games.
Don't think this has anything to do with lack of ability, or motivation, just like having 11 new signings and expecting them to play as a team from the word go, it doesn't happen.
Looking forward to the game despite that to see some faces playing a competitive game that we haven't seen this season. For Wolves the main interest will be seeing Dendoncker, Traore and Bonatini play from the beginning and also some of the promising youngsters like Gibbs White, Vinagre and maybe Watt and Goncalves.
Possibly even Iorfa who hasn't had a first team game for Wolves for about 18 months. Easy to forget how promising he looked at one stage
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/16349/9946873/dominic-iorfa-wolves-full-back-impressing-with-pace-and-power
posted on 24/9/18
"These much changed line ups will doubtless have some good players on both sides, but they will be teams that have never played together before and probably won't ever again. So fluent football rarely happens in these games."
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This is very true. So it might just come down to which side settles quicker. I always think the key to these things is picking a side with a clear formation and good balance. Not something our manager is always known for.
posted on 24/9/18
I think we are all aware of how good we rated Iorfa 3 years ago. That's why he was getting called up for the England U21's along with Hause. Both seem to have gone backwards a little, more so Iorfa and I'm sure we will not keep hold of the latter for long as he couldn't't get much game time at Ipswich on loan.
Nuno has a squad of about 24 or so players which he works with on the training ground and I'm sure he mixes his sides up during those sessions, so I'm not sure they're strangers to each other and seeing that they all know the system we play, I don'y think that the style of play will differ that much tomorrow, if at all.
Not sure we had much of a problem beating Sheffield Wednesday in the last round with 9 changes or so.
posted on 24/9/18
Saw this on the BBC Sports website:
“...the player is fast becoming a Premier League star. The same is true of Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, whose teams seem to impress me every time I see them. There is something of the Jose Mourinho about him - but with a touch of class.”
I think Nuno has far more class about him and is way more likeable. Hasn’t won anything in comparison to Jose (yet) but I’m sure he will...just hope it’s with us!
First bit was about Jota.
posted on 24/9/18
That first bit about Jota was a bit of poor journalism in my view, I think it was Garth Crooks, almost written as if he was an undiscovered gem and he had discovered him. Jota was our leading scorer last season, he's hardly gone under the radar.
posted on 24/9/18
I dont normally rise to the bait but I read this article but some Geordie doughnut and felt it my duty to respond:
https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/09/phil-neville-makes-laughable-wolves-and-newcastle-united-comparison/
Check out the comments.
posted on 24/9/18
comment by Oldgoldilox - 1 Carl Ikeme (U17303)
posted 3 hours, 36 minutes ago
That first bit about Jota was a bit of poor journalism in my view, I think it was Garth Crooks, almost written as if he was an undiscovered gem and he had discovered him. Jota was our leading scorer last season, he's hardly gone under the radar.
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Oh Garth Crooks is a moron at the best of times. Still, good to get recognition for the players we have. I think we’ve had someone in his team of the week most weeks this season.
posted on 24/9/18
Wolves U23s beat Sunderland 7-0 today and were 5 up at half time. Goals from Samuels, Ennis, Diallo, Heredia, Alves and 2 from Iorfa. The fact Iorfa played means he won’t play against Leicester tomorrow
But Gibbs White, Watt, Goncalves, Giles and Ashley Seal didn’t play, suggesting they will be in the squad tomorrow
posted on 24/9/18
I'm sure Iorfa will only play for the U23's this season and will probably move on in January. A shame really as he showed a lot of potential a while back. I'm surprised we couldn't move him on during the summer.