Improving all the time

By Ivybridge Wolf
May 2 2025

With the advent of May, Wolves face Manchester City tonight having not lost since 16th February ….. versus Liverpool. Rare heights of form and performance for any Wolves side have achieved what many viewed as increasingly unlikely at Christmas, namely Premier League survival. Yes, we have witnessed three teams relegated breaking all kinds of unwanted records, nevertheless this Wolves run has produced a points total in excess of 40, often cited (perhaps out of date these days) to guarantee top flight status. 41 points after 34 games was definitely a fantasy which has become a reality, Wolves currently above West Ham, Everton and potential Europa League finalists Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Vitor Pereira has turned this side around with aplomb and humility with the fans and team united once again, however it is clear he will be approaching the game tonight the same as any other …. To work hard, play as a team and try to win each fixture. Should we do it this evening, it would equal an all-time ‘first division’ winning streak of a seven in a row! Versus a Citizens side who seem to have reconnected with their own mojo of late will be an incredibly tough task and Wolves have been placed as firm underdogs by the bookies …. 7/1 for the win. By the way, for the record, Wolves one and only seven winning match run was achieved on 26th October 1946 when Wolves beat Stoke City 3-0 at the Victoria Ground. 3-0 to Wolves tonight would be good would it not?!!!!!  

The reality is that this match represents a very big ask to acquire all three points. As said Man City’s form has picked up (six wins and two draws in the last eight) and despite us getting the double over them under Nuno, several seasons ago, Wolves have actually lost eight of the last nine games against them …… Blue moon! City have also put a winning streak together, a victory tonight would take them to five in a row and a force going forward. They do tend to leave a few opportunities at the back, Nottingham Forest might be in a Cup Final if they’d have taken their chances last weekend, so there is hope there for Wolves supporters. Equally I don’t think City’s side will be turning up tonight and expect a routine turn over, far from it, Wolves having constantly demonstrated their fire power with Cunha, Strand Larsen and others in great form.

Haaland is training again but set not to be fit enough, though in his absence Omar Marmoush has been firing them in, all six of his goals at home. Wolves on the other hand are reported to have no further fitness issues, so is there a possibility of an unchanged side again or a few tweaks?

Whilst every player in Old Gold and Black have contributed so positively of late, this week’s lead photograph who is a bit of a rising star, Rodrigo Gomes. Largely brought on from the bench, he works so hard, possess pace to burn and his enthusiasm shines through. His goal last week was the epitome of his style and skill, at the start of the move he was yards and yards behind several Leicester players and Cunha who had the ball at his feet, but RGs sheer acceleration and sheer determination left the Leicester lads in his wake, and the way his right boot sweetly struck the inch perfect pass into the back of the net with a thud was magical! For a player who is still improving, I am sure we will see even more from this exciting lad in the future.

Enjoy the match tonight, I’ve had a little flutter and will be keeping everything crossed, not just for my bank balance, more to see this Wolves side tested and respond in a manner we have come to expect … and hope for! With an 8pm kick off, the game is being screened live on Sky and I will be following with my fellow Ivybridge Wolves friends in our regular pub. Please leave your thoughts and comments in the usual way.

Up The Wolves!

Match Thread: Manchester City v Wolves 8pm KO 02.05.25

Discussion started by Wolves , 02/05/2025 10:58

Wolves
02/05/2025 10:58

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:21:17:04:45 by Ivybridge Wolf.

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essington wolf
02/05/2025 11:28

Tough one tonight with city needing the points to get a champions league spot but we have been on a great run with 6 straight wins so would it really be a shock if we made it 7.
Whatever happens we have improved so much under vitor and as long as fosun back him in the summer who knows what could happen next season, but if he doesn't get the backing he thinks he deserves will he be another one who walks away?
I hope not.
Fingers crossed we put on a display for the sky cameras tonight, good luck Boys🤞

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essington wolf
02/05/2025 11:34

Just a note on Rodrigo, this lad has so much potential and like ivy said has pace to burn, maybe we have found the new Neto.
Only time will tell but he's got a bright future.

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chicagowolf
02/05/2025 13:52

Exciting night and a commentary in English too; wow.
Seven in a row? We can dream, and perhaps Munetsi who has been knocking on the door can get a goal to sicken them.

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Lupy
02/05/2025 14:21

Only a few weeks ago we would have been dreading this fixture so it is credit to Vitor and his staff that we travel there fully expecting to get something from this match.
Full of belief, full of energy and no shortage of talent which is now beginning to show. Cmon lads let's not be afraid let's be Wolves and hunt them down like a pack.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/05/2025 18:49

The teams are out and the bad news is Strand Larsen has picked up ‘a minor groin strain’ and will not be playing …… but Haaland is on the bench, contrary to prior information, or kidology! Bellegarde is the man to replace Larsen.

I’m unsure of the subs as yet however the starting line up is:

Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes, Andre, Munetsi, Bellegard, Cunha.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/05/2025 18:55

Subs are:

Bentley, Santi Bueno, Hwang, Rodrigo Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Guedes, Djiga, Lima

Essington- back on RG - I went up to Ashton Gate for the cup match, irrespective of the opposition, i was so impressed with this lad, who was involved in many very good things. You mention Neto, RG does have the look and feel of a similar playing style, different positions of course, but even the way he runs and weaves, he really reminds me of Neto!

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essington wolf
02/05/2025 20:43

We had our chances, should of been a couple of goals up before city scored.
City have been clinical and we haven't in front of goal and that's the difference with top sides.
Let's see what the 2nd half brings.

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chicagowolf
02/05/2025 21:43

We played with confidence during the first half but after De Bruyner’s goal and especially in the second half we were lackluster. Or Man C contained us better. Losing 1-0 is not thankfully a catastrophe but it shows how expectations have changed when it feels disappointing

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essington wolf
02/05/2025 21:50

Oh well it was good while it lasted.
Disappointing 2nd half except for the cunha effort that hit the post.
Always going to be tough once city got in front, they have that way of keeping the ball.
Perhaps we showed them a little to much respect 2nd half but a narrow 1-0 defeat there is no disgrace.

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Andy Pandy
03/05/2025 08:52

Showed they are still in form despite losing. Hit the post twice, Ait-Nouri's could easily have gone in and rebound was cleared of the line. If Bellegarde hadn't squared the ball a couple of feet in front of Munetsi he would have had a tap-in, although with Munetsi's finishing anything could have happened. On the other hand, apart from the goal, did Sa have a serious save to make? Took a couple of crosses well and had to come for a through ball in the first half but I can't think of much else. UTW.

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Ivybridge Wolf
03/05/2025 09:58

Morning all. I drowned me sorrows last night, disappointed but definitely not disheartened.

We played very well in spells, the first 30 minutes for example, and all of the Man City players know they’ve been in a match. A bit like Forest last week, if we’d taken our chances or had a bit better luck then we’d have got some kind of result. Hit the post twice, off the line, an over hit pass for a tap in …. Fine margins between what might have been and defeat. We’ll have to wait for next season for the elusive seven wins on the trot!!

I enjoyed the game although it has to be said our contribution reduced in that second half. I fancied us to get something but in the end it’s £15 to the bookies. ☹️

I hope we continue in the vein of form we’ve seen for the last three matches, I have tickets for Brighton and the Brentford finale. UTW

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