After a hectic start to the season, Halfy’s back, refreshed and ready to deliver another magical match thread
Do me a favour guys and nobody mention our post international break record
Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/412459
One match ban enabled
Wolves defender Wily Boly is suspended following his sending off against Everton, so Jesus Vallejo could make his Premier League debut.
Wing-back Matt Doherty is in contention despite missing international duty with Ireland because of minor surgery.
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger might make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a knee injury.
Pedro returns after missing one game with a hamstring problem, but N'Golo Kante remains out with an ankle injury.
Mateo Kovacic is fit despite withdrawing from international duty with Croatia.
@Wilsonfooty: Last time I saw Wolves play at home to Chelsea was an FA Cup fifth-round tie in early 2017. Wolves were just outside the relegation zone in the Championship and the visitors topped the Premier League.
It would have been tough to conceive that within 18 months you could make a case for Chelsea being underdogs at Molineux.
Not that Nuno Espirito Santo will see it like that - after all, Wolves still haven't won a league game this season despite six wins from six in Europa League qualifying.
Chelsea's very youthful side have - as you might expect - shown both promise and naivety. This will not be dull.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: "He [Frank Lampard] was a fantastic football player and a very good young manager. For sure, he'll be successful. I admire him a lot.
"What I know and see from him is a very nice person, he has his ideas well, he's trying to put them across."
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard: "[Antonio] Rudiger will have an important role to play. I know how important he has been for the club with his personality, character and quality as an international defender.
"We have missed him as we have missed a few front line players... leadership is important in a team, particularly when everyone is saying how young we are. I don't want a young team for the sake of it.
"I want leaders within that and Rudiger has to take on that responsibility."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Has been deleted as usual, nobody cares what the bouffanted buffoon has too say
Wolves are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games (W6, D4), with their most recent Molineux defeat coming against Crystal Palace in January
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Chelsea's most recent league victory against Wolves was at Molineux on 2 January 2012, when Frank Lampard scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute.
Wolves took four points out of a possible six against the Blues last season, one more than they managed in their first eight Premier League games against them.
Chelsea have won five of their past seven top-flight matches at Molineux, although Wolves have claimed victories in two of the last three such meetings.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nuno Espirito Santo's side are unbeaten in 10 home league games since losing to Crystal Palace in January (W6, D4).
It is their longest undefeated run at home in the top flight since an 18-match streak from 1971 to 1972.
Wolves have lost just four of 13 Premier League games against the established top-six sides since promotion in 2018 (W4, D5).
They are winless in their first four league matches (D3, L1) - the past four times this happened to them in the top flight they were relegated.
Raul Jimenez has eight goals in eight starts for Wolves in all competitions this season.
Jimenez was the only player to score against Chelsea home and away in last season's Premier League.
Ryan Bennett is one short of 100 Premier League appearances, including 61 for Norwich.
Chelsea
The only time the Blues have won fewer than two of their opening five Premier League games was in 2015-16.
They have conceded nine Premier League goals this season - only Norwich, with 10, have a worse record.
Chelsea have already given 703 minutes to English players aged 21 or younger in this season's Premier League, more than in any of their previous 14 seasons.
All three of their Premier League away wins this calendar year have been against newly-promoted sides; they are winless in their other eight league matches on the road (D2, L6), scoring just once and conceding 21 times.
Tammy Abraham could become only the third player aged 21 or under to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances, emulating Cristiano Ronaldo (2006) and Dele Alli (2017).
💦Wolves v Chelsea💦
posted on 16/9/19
Here I am
Laptop has gone belly up again. Getting a new hard drive fitted and should have it back Wednesday/Thursday.
A bit miffed as I have a cracking preview done for the Braga game on Thursday but it's on my laptop desktop so I can't access it.
Anyway in a nutshell, Braga are about as good as Torino and we beat them twice. Boly will be available and hopefully Nuno will stop fecking about with the back line and put Bennett back in, Doc will start and with Jonny on the left we may look something like the Wolves that were so hard to score against.
2-0 Wolves COMB
posted on 16/9/19
Jamie O’Hara confirmed as new boss of Billericay Town. Good luck to him.
posted on 16/9/19
Good luck Jamie. Still playing and now managing at a few levels higher than the gutter. Always good to see people over achieving
posted on 16/9/19
Wolves will go into Thursday’s game only one off the bottom of the Premier League but Braga are doing no better as they are 16th of 18 in the Portuguese top flight. It’s their worst start since 1993 and defeat against Wolves may well see their manager shown the door
posted on 16/9/19
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 8 minutes ago
Wolves will go into Thursday’s game only one off the bottom of the Premier League but Braga are doing no better as they are 16th of 18 in the Portuguese top flight. It’s their worst start since 1993 and defeat against Wolves may well see their manager shown the door
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God I hope not. 'New Manager Bounce' might see them thrash us in the return leg
posted on 17/9/19
‘Cracking preview’
posted on 17/9/19
"Thread Master"
posted on 17/9/19
Herb
posted on 17/9/19
comment by Cinciwolf---- jealous little scottish to$$er (U11551)
posted 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
Nah, back last night Goldi. Haven't had a cold for three years but naturally picked one up in the UK. Now i am home i shall be able to watch Wolves games again. Hate the British coverage, it is so archaic.
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Rights holders eh, but its what brings the cashola.
Talking of which, what are we to make of Fosun looking to sell a stake in the club? I wonder if they have a partner in mind already? It may be that they have decided that its going to take more investment than even they can muster to bring us up to the level they expect. Could lead to boardroom unrest further down the line though, seen that elsewhere.
posted on 17/9/19
Don’t understand the motive of Fosun here. Would someone really want to put £70m in and have another company calling the shots? And haven’t we always been lead to believe that money is no barrier to what Fosun want to achieve at the club?