Date: Saturday 4th January
Venue: Molineux
Kick off time: 17.31
On Saturday Wolves welcome Manchester United to Molineux for their FA Cup 3rd round tie.
Just 10 months ago the same opponents came to Molineux for an FA Cup game and were sent back to Manchester empty handed after a 2-1 defeat, Wolves goals being scored by the in-form front pair of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota.
This season Nuno Espirito Santo has favoured a front 3 with Jimenez and Jota being joined by Adama Traore who is gaining quite a reputation for being one of the most difficult players to defend against in the Premier League.
Ole Gunnar Soskjaer has described his squad as a work in progress and certainly the inconsistency of his side’s performances throughout the first half of the season has been noticeable.
This inconsistency was perfectly demonstrated in October when, after losing to West Ham, drawing with struggling Arsenal and losing to Newcastle, they went to Anfield and became the only team thus far this season to take a point from the league leaders.
Again, in December, after beating Spurs at home and their Manchester rivals at The Etihad, just 2 weeks later they were beaten by bottom of the table Watford.
Both Wolves and United are nurturing young players and giving them first team game time to improve and develop.
For Wolves 20 year-old Ruben Vinagre, 22 year-old Maximillian Kilman, 19 year-old Pedro Neto and 18 year-old Owen Otasowie have all featured recently and shown their potential.
For United 19 year-old Brandon Williams, 22 year-old Daniel James, 18 year-old Mason Greenwood and 22 year-old Aaron Wan-Bissaka have all featured recently and have all impressed.
Both teams come into this on the back of midweek defeats. Wolves losing 2-1 away at Watford and United getting beaten 2-0 away at Arsenal
Just 2 places and 1 point separate the two sides in the table and both have qualified for the last 32 in the Europa League. With the two sides so equally matched it is likely to be a close fought contest and the result is not easy to predict but with the home advantage Wolves may just clinch it at the end.
The game will be shown live on BT Sports
Gem’s prediction: 2-1
Wolves v Manchester United Preview
posted on 3/1/20
comment by bostonwolf (U17353)
posted 30 minutes ago
I think some of you are a bit harsh on Cutrone.
Talk of him producing nothing, he has scored 2 goals in Prem in very limited playing time. Jota has scored three having played far more matches.
I would hang on to Cutrone for the rest of the season and now that Jota is out for a while we could give him a chance.
We paid 23 mill ? for him so there must be something there.
Some were saying Neto was useless, now he is worth a go.
Don't jump to conclusions too quickly.
COYW
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You're right, I stand chastised, I am being too harsh on him. I do think that PC has potential and I don't want to see him go back to Italy. He has actually scored 2 in the league and one in the awful cup game against Villa but as Spangles says, his options are limited. He doesn't make a good partner for Jimenez and unless Raul gets injured I can't see Cutrone replacing him.
posted on 3/1/20
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 3/1/20
So Nuno's update today in a nutshell:
Jota got damaged by Watford's Kabasele, has had an MRI scan but will not be available for a while.
Boly is back in training, he's running and making good progress.
Traore is going nowhere.
Vallejo is leaving
After tomorrows game they will concentrate on bringing in new players.
posted on 3/1/20
Halfway through the first half of the U23s game at Leicester and we are losing 3-0. Going to drop out of the top division unless the new coach improves them
posted on 3/1/20
They don't seem to have any goal threat at all. 4-0 down and missing sitters fro 7 yards out!
posted on 3/1/20
5-1
posted on 3/1/20
It seems that bolstering the thin senior squad with the best of the U23s has left the young lads struggling now. They are probably missing Elliot Watt as well since he went out on loan.
posted on 3/1/20
Looks like you might have some Wolves interest on the island soon gem. Real Mallorca interested in taking Rafa Mir
posted on 3/1/20
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Looks like you might have some Wolves interest on the island soon gem. Real Mallorca interested in taking Rafa Mir
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That would be excellent. I could keep an eye on his progress and report back
posted on 4/1/20
comment by bostonwolf (U17353)
posted 22 hours, 47 minutes ago
I think some of you are a bit harsh on Cutrone.
Talk of him producing nothing, he has scored 2 goals in Prem in very limited playing time. Jota has scored three having played far more matches.
I would hang on to Cutrone for the rest of the season and now that Jota is out for a while we could give him a chance.
We paid 23 mill ? for him so there must be something there.
Some were saying Neto was useless, now he is worth a go.
Don't jump to conclusions too quickly.
COYW
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I agree