Bring It On!!

By Wolves
December 31 2022

After the joy of a late, late victory at Everton in his first Premier league outing, Wolves Manager Julen Lopetegui faces a real challenge today when Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United are the visitors to Molineux for his first home League game.

Having achieved the three points needed to lift his team from the bottom of the League on Monday, JL will be desperate for three more today to enable Wolves to jump above West Ham - who lost at home to Brentford last evening  - and out of the bottom three, with the added possibility of climbing into 14th place, as there are so many teams involved at the bottom of the league. However this will definitely not be an easy opportunity to take, as Man Utd have won their last two games and Ten Hag seems to be getting them playing the way he wants them to. Marcus Rashford has benefitted from his World Cup experience and seems to have found new confidence in attack alongside the refreshed Anthony Martial, whilst Casemiro has given extra solidity in midfield alongside Fernandez.

JL appears to have a fully fit squad with Jonny, Daniel Podence and Boubacar Traore being declared fit to start. Clearly however Chiquinho, Neto and Kaladjic remain on the sidelines recovering.

A few questions will be answered this afternoon:

Can Diego Costa score a goal for Wolves at last?

Will Raul Jimenez get a chance to score against Man United again before he possibly leaves the club in the transfer window

Will Hugo Bueno retain his place at left back after the goal scoring exploits of Rayan Ait-Nouri?

Will Matheus Nunes return to a starting position after having a very positive impact as a substitute at Everton?

Will JL have been able to influence the defensive approach between Collins and Kilman to cut out careless passes?

Back three or back four?

All the answers and more will come to pass in today's 12:30pm kick off. The game is being screened by BT Sport and will be refereed by Robert Jones with Darren England on VAR Duty

This board will endeavour to provide regular updates on the progress of today's game in search of a positive outcome. Board members are encouraged to post their own observations and join the conversation.

Match Thread: Wolves vs Manchester United

Discussion started by Wolves , 31/12/2022 10:18

Wolves
31/12/2022 10:18

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:01:08:16:22:03 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 11:45

One change for Wolves today as Matheus Nunes does indeed start at the expense of Joe Hodge who drops to the bench. Bueno retains his place at left back with Jonny and Ait-Nouri on the bench.
Line-up:

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 11:56

Rashford starts on the bench today due to ’an internal disciplinary issue’. Maguire also on the bench with Luke Shaw still playing in central defence so we will have to hope Costa can unsettle Shaw!

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:35

Nunes playing in a fairly central role with Joao more advanced. Free kick to Wolves 25 yds out, wasted by Joao after a short pass from Ruben



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:12:36:34 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:38

Nervy play at the back leads to Ruben conceding a corner, Casemiro heads it on and it deflects just over off Nunes.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:42

Good pass up to Hugo who earns a corner off Varane. Wolves playing well so far

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:48

Crazy play by Semedo making a lazy pass back to Sa but gives it to Garnacho, who brings out a good save from Jose. Very lucky!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:12:50:00 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:56

Antony’s deflected shot almost wrong-foots Jose but he gets on to it. Great tackle by Wan-Bissau’s to stop Joao getting a shot away. Costa breaks but a very weak shot

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 12:58

A very soft yellow card shown to Semedo after a foul on Garnacho. Free kick 25 yds out ultimately wasted. 0-0



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:12:59:17 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:03

Good effort shown by HCH. Great tackle by Collins to deny Martial after he’s played into the box. Wolves break quickly Pod passes to Ruben & his shot goes for a corner, which is cleared. Game stopped for a head injury to Malacia but he’s fine

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:07

Good play between Ruben, Costa & Joao, but Pod’s shot is well blocked

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:08

Antony unmarked in the box gets a header away straight at Jose

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:11

Casemiro aggressively blocks off Ruben but no card!! JL not pleased

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:14

Ruben puts a ball on Costa’s head but again insufficient power to beat De Gea. Wolves putting some good spells of play together, bu5 lacking the final ball as we enter last two mins of first half.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:16

One added minute

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:20

Scramble in our area to finish the half with Jose collecting a low header from an offside Antony. Generally quite a good showing by Wolves against a team full of threat from left right & centre. Jose has had to be alert and rescued Semedo after he sold him short. As usual lacking the final pass and the final shot, but some promise there.
Wolves 0 Man Utd 0

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chicagowolf
31/12/2022 13:26

Much more positive play from Wolves but nervy at the rear. Trying to keep the ball has given us plenty of short back passes that end up getting putout for a throw in anyway.
On balance we have been better than them, and way better than earlier in the season. Adama and RAN on after 60 minutes as usual?

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:33

Rashford on for Garnacho & Adama on for Costa

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:38

Pod down injured after challenging Antony. Might be his knee again.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:44

Free kick skied by Fernandez from 15yds out. Jonny ready to come on.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:46

Casemiro gets his overdue yellow card for a foul on Pod. Step up Ruben and he brings out a good save from De Gea.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:51

Utd break but Fernandez is way offside before missing with a shot. Fred on for Erikson. Poor clearance by Max gives Fernandez a chance but he shoots wide. Not sure why we’re playing without a striker

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:52

Good defending by Semedo to keep Shaw out, and now he’s replaced by Jonny

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 13:58

Period of intense attack from Utd but ends up with a shot wide from Casemiro. RAN & Toti being prepared so we’ll probably go to a back 3 again. Nunes trodden on by Fred and down hurt. We’re currently still in bottom 3 but on Same points as West Ham & E’ton

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:01

Great break by Collins and he’s brought down by Fred who gets a yellow card quite rightly. Toti on for Joao & RAN on for Hugo. Free kick from Ruben low straight into the wall. Three man centre backs now

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:04

Rashford wiggles between three defenders after a one-two with Fernandez and scores well despite Jonny trying to pull him over.
Wolves 0 Utd 1



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:14:07:57 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:06

Some of Jonny’s passing is dreadful

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:08

Raul replaces Podence. Van De Beek replaces Martial



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:14:09:16 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:13

Rashford gets his second with a rebound from Jose being looked at by VAR as it hit his hand before going in. Disallowed & remains 0 - 1

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:16

End to end now. Rashford booked for interfering with a free kick Ruben was about to take

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:18

Poor pass from Toti causes us problems but Jose deals with. Crazy risky play in our area by our defenders. Only five added minutes despite several lengthy stops

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:21

Good puts in a good cross for Raul for a corner. Antony & Fernandez replaced by Maguire & Elanga. Another corner and a great reflex save to deny Raul

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Cheshire wolf
31/12/2022 14:25

All over and we lose to a solitary goal after a very encouraging performance from Wolves. We now have to wonder what difference Matthews Cunha will make for us up front. Meanwhile we remain in the relegation zone.
Wolves 0 Man Utd 1

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Andy Fincher
31/12/2022 14:42

Lopetegui must be knackered after that. He never stops.
Overall a good showing and if we can keep playing like that, and hopefully with a goalscorer coming in, we will be alright. The lads kept going to the end and I thought Raul had nicked it at the death with that header.
I was just beginning to think that Semedo was having one of his better matches and then he put in that dreadful back-pass. Sa was fantastic today and that must have been Collins' best match by a mile.
Pretty much the same story at the top end of the pitch but, early days though these are, Lopetegui seems to be getting things together and I for one am feeling more confident of survival.

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essington wolf
31/12/2022 14:59

Thought we played ok probably deserved a draw but it's the same old story we can't score goals.
Thought the ref was poor yet again, it seems we are playing against 12 men most weeks.
Think we need 3 or 4 quality signings, let's hope cunha is the answer to the goals or this season ends one way.

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Billericay Wolf1
31/12/2022 15:21

Be interesting to see the difference Cunha makes up front, (tho' not a big goal scorer of late. ) He will have to get another striker to support him. Won't be surprised if Raul leaves, although it was a great save by De Gea to stop him scoring with his header. If we can repeat today's endeavours against so called 'lesser teams' then we should be alright. They looked much better today.

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Lupy
31/12/2022 16:41

Have been away on family duty today so thanks to all for the match commentary much appreciated. Seems we put up a good show. Looking forward to match of the day.

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Ivybridge Wolf
01/01/2023 12:20

Happy New Year all 👍🥳

Sorry I was unable to contribute yesterday, thanks for the thread Chesh.

It was a battling performance and what a shame that late Jimenez header wasn’t a foot either side of De Gea. I believe we deserved a draw, certainly good enough for the point but, alas, not good enough to win it. We know goals are the issue and maybe Lopetegui’s high energy touch line management style will help to will the ball in the bloody net! Failing that, perhaps it’ll be Cunha or another January new recruit?

Villa up next, wouldn’t it be great to put one across ‘um?!!

UTW folks!!

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Risca TM
01/01/2023 22:30

I'm worried in that a disrupted ManU were there for the taking, and we should have come away with at least a point.

Clearly there is no magic wand the new manager can wave to remedy the problem of creating and scoring goals. Time is running out unfortunately, and looking at Villa's performance today you could argue they are going to be tougher opposition than ManU.

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