Hwang we go

By Ivybridge Wolves
March 30 2024

Wolves travel down the road today to play high flying Aston Villa in an always hotly anticipated local derby to be screened by Sky with a 5.30 kick off. This will be our first match since the crushing mayhem that erupted out of added time with Coventry City in the cup quarter final. Can Wolves put that behind them on the pitch or will player absence again limit our attacking ability? Not like it was just the lack of key players which contributed in our defeat, Coventry won absolutely fair and square and therein lies the concern for today.

Let’s start with our squad members who have been injured. That’s relatively simple as Dawson, Bellegarde, Hwang and Neto are definite nonstarters who are all in various degrees of injury and recovery, perhaps Dawson the closest to getting back (as reported). As for Cunha, he has been rated as 50: 50 in the E&S yesterday, so let’s wait and see. I’d love to see his driving runs back on the pitch, taking the game to the opposition, however not at the expense of further risk. In Gary we trust!!

We certainly need some impetus up front, to help keep the wheels turning on this otherwise decent season. Fraser looks a young talent, it will be interesting to see how he develops over time, especially with the added interest with him being he is Wulfurnian born and bred (well, ‘Tetnull’), however following a decent start versus Brentford in the cup, he’s struggled a touch in subsequent matches since, including Coventry. That’s not a criticism, more of a reflection of the deep end Wolves have had to throw him in. If he plays later, I wish him all the luck in Brumagum!!

As for the rest of the team, as long as they are fit on the day, I don’t imagine there’ll be a revolution in team selection. After a promising cameo in the cup, might Hugo get the nod? Joao Gomes had a very good outing last week at Wembley for Brazil v England and let’s hope he can bring more of the same at Villa Park. What a shame he won’t be gracing the hallowed turf once again but in Old Gold next month. With Chelsea, Newcastle and Fulham playing prior to our kick off, it is possible we could drop 3 places in the league, though obviously this would be corrected with a win. Villa on the other hand will be targeting this match to further their Champions League ambitions, especially with Spurs playing Luton beforehand. Local derby or not, the Villains will want to get their fans onside …. There in lies our opportunity because any thwarting of the Villa front line could easily turn into fan frustration and tense – particularly if Tottenham have leap frogged them in the table. The annoying though dogged and gritty McGinn is suspended, and the influential and battling Cash picked up an injury for Poland in the week, so might the Villa bite be dampened?

In the betting, Villa are 3/5 for the win, we are 4/1 and the draw 100/30, so the bookies odds are against us, nevertheless Villa are without a win in the last 6 League fixtures versus Wolves (we’ve won 3 and drawn 3) and in our 8 visits to North Brum in the premier league, we’ve won 3, drawn 4 and lost just one. Apparently, did you know Unai Emery is also winless v Wolves? Form prior to the international break for Wolves was P6 W4 D0 L2, whilst Vila was P6 W3 D1 L2 – both pretty even.

As I write Pre match, given our ongoing injury list and as we are playing at Villa, I’d be delighted with a draw (and ecstatic with a win) and I certainly can’t see us going down in tepid form today. Talking of draws, 1-1 is how it ended up at Molineux in October, a match I attended. It was largely forgettable as a contest, Hwang’s opener quickly snuffed out by Villa. Sa had to be on form (he’ll make his 100^th Wolves league appearance today) with Villa sending pulses racing by hitting the post with the final touch of the ball. If you fancy a reminder, brief highlights can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obP5Wz5-850 .

Whilst I will watching with others from Ivybridge Wolves, I’ll do my best to pop a few observations down (technology willing) and invite you all, as per usual to offer your thoughts prior, during and post-match in the thread below. It’s the Villa and whilst I personally would always prefer to see them pip Spurs to the post in ‘the battle for 4^th’ (should there seriously be such a thing?), let’s get into them today and push them with all we have with the aim of a maximum 3 point haul, get one over them and show a bit of Black Country fight!!

As a final thought, what do you make of the media chat about O’Neil and Manchester United? Sounds like typical media talk to me – a load of old rubbish filling otherwise empty columns!

Enjoy the match and UTW!!

Match Thread: Villa v Wolves 30.3.24 KO 5.30pm

Discussion started by Wolves , 30/03/2024 11:37

Wolves
30/03/2024 11:37

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:23:16:34:25 by Ivybridge Wolf.

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Lupy
30/03/2024 14:29

Looking forward to the match but realistically it is going to be a tough challenge with our depleted squad. Expect a bunch of teenagers on the bench who, despite an abundance of willing, will probably not have the experience to influence the outcome. Somewhat a shame that we have so many out on loan when we need all shoulders to the wheel.
But as long as we put in a respectable shift we shouldn't be too critical and who knows GON may be able to squeeze something out of this and further enhance his position.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 16:59

So Chiwome makes his PL debut today and no sign of Cunha on the bench after all the promising build-up. We are light on the pitch and on the bench for this game! Line-up

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Ivybridge Wolf
30/03/2024 17:14

Chiwone gets his chance then ..... look at that bench .... I wonder what the combined age is!

Everything crossed, UTW!!

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:35

Very promising start by Wolves Nelson earns a corner which comes out to Doyle but his shot is wide

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:39

Luiz puts it in afterca good save by Jose but Watkins was offside before he shot, so chalked off.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:46

Making good usebof Nelson up the right wing so far. Great ball in to Ait-Nouri from Santi but he shoots at Martinezfor a corner but Max can’t get powerr behind his header

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:49

Pablo picks up a stupid yellow card for a pull back on Diaby.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:52

Pablo gets a shot on target but straight at Martinez

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 17:58

Best chance for Villa as Watkins gets into the box but he surprisingly puts it wide

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:00

Yellow card for Tielemans for a foul on RAN

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:03

Villa getbtheir first corner which leads to a good save by Jose from a Pau Torres header

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:07

Free kick to Villa playrd out to their left, crossed for Diaby to smash in with a left footed shot
Villa 1 Wolves 0

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:21

Konsa shoots well wide, as Wolves struggle to keep their early hold on the game. Two added minutes have been played and it’s half time. Ait-Nouri had a glorious chance to give us the lead but failed, whereas Diaby took his chance very well go give Villa the lead at the halfway mark. I don’t remember seeing our young centre forward Chiwome touch the ball in the first half, possibly due to bad positioning or perhaps poor service.
Half time: Villa 1 Wolves 0



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:30:18:37:57 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:41

Gomez gets Wolves a free iick on the edge of the Villa area looks like Doyle will take but Pablo puts it over the bar. Another strong start to the half from Wolves

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:47

Jhon Duran has replaced Watkins at half time. Chancefor Mario but he can’t get any power behind his header. Nelson gets another corner for Pablo to take but freekick given against Toti for a foul on Martinez

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:52

Deigne and Zamiolo replace Moreno & Rogers for Villa. RAN replaced by Hugo Bueno

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 18:55

Villa break and Konsa floats a ball across the area intended as a cross but it drifts into our net.
Villa 2 Wolves 0



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:30:18:56:30 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:00

Chirewa replaces Tommy Doyle. I don’t understand wh6 Traore is being overlooked

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:11

Yellow card for Chirewa or preventing a free kick being taken. Chiwome replaced by Nathan Fraser

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:13

Kilman and Duran clash and both get yellow cards. Traore on for Gomez and Doc replaces Semedo, looking ahead go having another game in 3 days presumably



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:30:19:17:02 by Cheshire wolf.

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:21

Yellow card for Toti after losing his footingvand bringing down Bailey. Nine added minutes to play as the ref’s assistant needed a new battery early in scond half

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:26

Deigne booked for dissent. Corner headed wide by Mario

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Cheshire wolf
30/03/2024 19:32

All over and Uno Emery gets his firstvwin over Wolves. In fairness the gulf between the quality of the teams was very clear especially comparing the attacking players considering our injured numbers upfront. We worked hard but never really looked like getting anything out of the game.
Aston Villa 2 Wolves 0

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essington wolf
30/03/2024 20:18

Don't really think there was much between the teams.
We lost the game because of the forward line, villa had a cutting edge when it mattered and we didn't.
No surprise with so many injuries to our senior strikers, I certainly didn't see a gulf in class between the teams.
Injuries are costing us now which is a shame because we were going well.

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Ivybridge Wolf
30/03/2024 21:39

Agreed, whilst thoroughly disappointed with the result,
I didn’t think there was much between the teams except in that all important and crucial element up front were we so short of ideas. A shame because for a long period in that first half we were easily the better side and if only RAN had have put his chance away, then things might have been different. Not to be, but overall our creativity and forward line cost us tonight.
Onto to the second match at Burnley in the trilogy of claret and blue opposition. I really hope we manage to get something on Tuesday night, maybe Cunha might get an opportunity?
UTW

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An angry wolf
31/03/2024 12:26

I didn't watch the game, but apparently there was a break for Iftar so 2 players could break their fast for fcking RAMADAN in the game yesterday. Villa park was used as a makeshift mosque last year, no doubt molineux will be not far behind. Utterly disgusting and another step towards the islamification of this country. Some things are more important than football and both clubs are becoming increasingly less British each year that goes by.

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