Date: Saturday 14th September
Venue: Molineux
Kick off time: 15.00
Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/412316
One match ban enabled
On Saturday Wolves welcome Chelsea to Molineux for what will be the home side’s first Saturday game this season.
Wolves last game, away to Everton, served as a reminder as to why Nuno Espirito Santo has his preferred starting 11. By starting with Adama Traore and Ruben Vinagre instead of first choice Matt Doherty and Jonny Castro, his side looked defensively vulnerable and as a result recorded their first loss of the season.
Chelsea’s last match was against a determined Sheffield United side who held their hosts to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge coming back from 2-0 down at half time.
With this game following an international break, both Wolves and Chelsea have players who will have been away on international duty. For the likes of Wolves players Raul Jimenez, Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, Romain Saiss and Joao Moutinho it means that they have had little or no rest since the start of the season with the Europa League commitments bringing 2 games per week.
Frank Lampard has a squad of 26 to call upon, a squad who have played 5 games since their season started. Nuno’s squad of 21 have played 10 games so far this season and are starting to show signs that the decision by Nuno to work with a small squad may not have been his best idea since his arrival in Wolverhampton.
Both sides have European games coming up after this tie. Chelsea will face Valencia on Tuesday in a Champions League game and Wolves will host Braga on Thursday in their first ever game in the Europa League group stages.
Missing from the squad will be Matt Doherty who is recovering from knee surgery. Wolves will also be without left side centre back Wily Boly who is suspended following the second yellow card he picked up in the dying seconds of the Everton game. Nuno will have a choice for Boly’s stand-in, new boy Jesus Vallejo who is able to play anywhere in a back 3 or utility man Romain Saiss who plays in that position for Morocco.
One positive for Boly is that he will be spared any racial abuse which seems to be a popular activity on social media for Chelsea fans.
Gems prediction: 2-2
Wolves v Chelsea Match Preview [LIVE]
posted on 12/9/19
The club are celebrating 130 years of Wolves at Molineux on Saturday. What was it like back then Gem? They had to drain a pond and lift some trees didnt they to lay the pitch?
posted on 12/9/19
Cheeky beggar
posted on 12/9/19
16 year old Wolves academy player Jack Scott played for Northern Ireland u21s this week. The second youngest player ever to do so
posted on 13/9/19
Neto has been bigging himself up in front of the SSN cameras saying he's aiming to become the best in the world. A laudable aim and nothing wrong with a bit of self confidence, but keep it to yourself maybe for now eh?
posted on 13/9/19
Neto has made a bright start with us and look like he could become a good player, but got a way to go yet. Expect to see him get a start against Reading and some sub appearances in the meantime.
posted on 13/9/19
Evidently Doherty and Saiss are fit and in contention for a game tomorrow
posted on 13/9/19
Doc's surgery was for a small personal non football related problem it seems. Circumcision I bet.
posted on 13/9/19
Do it seems everyone apart from Boly is available and to me that means we should return to playing as close as possible to the 11 that did so well in the second half of last season. The team selection at Everton was a bit unbalanced to me partly because Moutinho, Jota and Jonny were rested. Playing two wing backs that are better attacking than defending lead to Everton pulling our defence all over the place at times. And up front Jiminez and Cutrone are competing for the centre forward spot and don’t make a great pairing, just as Jota and Neto are competing for the supporting role and need one of the centre forwards alongside them.
I would go for Saiss rather than Vallejo to replace Boly and otherwise field the ten regulars to get our first win on the board. And we need improved performances from Neves and Jota who are so important for us. Chelsea certainly beatable
posted on 13/9/19
Agree DJ. We need to go back to basics, and we need to get back to winning ways.
🐝
posted on 13/9/19
Ironic that the first Wolves game I will not be able to watch this season will be one while i am actually in the UK .