Brighton & Hove Albion (H) build up 19/9

[Deutsch Wolf]

That's hardly comparing apples with apples is it, Ivanovic has started five games and been horrible in all of them, at fault for goals in virtually all of them and opposition teams are now playing on him as a clear weak link. Which of the Wolves players in the team I mapped out does that apply to?

Plus virtually none of our players are "in form" nor have they been all season, so it's a moot point. It's when "form" is reduced to binary factors like let's play Edwards all the time because he's knocked in a couple of goals, and then you're waiting for him to have an inevitable awful game before you put in a clearly superior player, that it becomes an absolutely farcical argument.

What holds more weight, Edwards' temporary, ultra short term supposed good form (which I saw next to no evidence of, but that's by the by) or all his displays over the last eight years and everything you know about him as a footballer when you're deciding whether it's a good idea to park him out wide or in a central midfield two? If Aguero is injured for Tuesday's game vs Juventus who should play up front, Bony or Iheanacho? After all the latter scored on Saturday and Bony did not.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Only 2 wins in 10 against this lot and they are the form team. We need to be set up better and play a darn sight better than we have if we are to beat them, but we are Wolves so will probably raise our game ( optimist?) The first thing we need is a clean sheet. This is a game I would happily take a 1-0 win from. I agree that pretty much the whole first team is on bang average form at the moment and low in confidence. This is the first "must win or at worse not lose" of the season and its a bit bloody early for one of those for my liking! Also a worry that others will have had a midweek game to get points from. We could be close to the bottom 3 by Sunday if it all goes wrong. So the season starts here...........The right team..... in the right mood....... with the right result.... please

 

[darlowolf64]

I can't see him relying on three young raw attackers behind the striker, with only a handful of Championship games between them.

They may only have a "handful" of Championship games but Wallace has played 128 League games, Byrne 122 League Games and Ojo has played 15 Championship games in 2015 so it's not like they have no game time between them. I'd rather be playing an attacking three of Byrne, Wallace, Ojo with 265 games between them than a defencive central pairing of Hause 62 games and EEL 48 games.
The attacking positions gives more freedom to "make mistakes" than the defence.
What would you rather have... Young, exciting attacking players or young, inexperienced defenders?

 

[Langers]

I know Batth played for an hour for the U21s but has there been any indication of him being ready for Saturday?

 

[Lycan]

I know Batth played for an hour for the U21s but has there been any indication of him being ready for Saturday?

Nothing official, no. Wishful thinking on our part I think.

 

[ROVERT47]

I'm gonna miss this one, first home League game I've missed for ages, could be a blessing in disguise.

 

[The Bear]

How come we don't have a game tonight like everyone else?

 

[darlowolf64]

How come we don't have a game tonight like everyone else?

Weren't we supposed to be playing tomorrow night, away to Fulham but because Chelsea are home in the Champions League it's been put back two weeks...

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Chelsea are at home tomorrow and we were scheduled to play Fulham then as flum were on sky on Sunday.

 

[North West Wanderer]

Alf is never a loan frontman ever.

 

[Johnny75]

Alf is never a loan frontman ever.

I would agree with that, although Afobe can be as he did pretty well with Delli Alli behind him for the McDons and can play in a 2 as shown with Dicko, Grigg and Bowditch

 

[Langers]

Most importantly in the build up to this game was the choice of ales behind the bar in the Western yesterday evening. Having Jaipur AND Absolution out wide with Holdens in the middle and Bathams and Franklins NZIPA on the other flanks gives us plenty of quality all over the park.

I only hope there is some left for Saturday.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

I can't seem to shake the fear that we are looking at being on the wrong end of a slapping here.

 

[Langers]

I can't seem to shake the fear that we are looking at being on the wrong end of a slapping here.

If so, my last post becomes even more important.

 

[Lord Knows]

I know Batth played for an hour for the U21s but has there been any indication of him being ready for Saturday?

I think Kenny has stated next weeks game is a little to soon but he could be in contention for the following weeks midweek game. Kenny seems quite pleased with the performance so I for one expect an unchanged side.

 

[Lycan]

Alf is never a loan frontman ever.

Alfie 9, Afobe 10. Hardly asking him to play as a lone frontman.

 

[North West Wanderer]

Alfie 9, Afobe 10. Hardly asking him to play as a lone frontman.

The way we play it, it is.

If it was a genuine 2 up top ALF could feed off Afobe far better.

 

[YoungWolf]

Agree with that NWW. Play them as a two and get the best out of them.

Last season what we probably lacked when we switched to the 442 (which still worked very well overall) was, despite the good work of Jack Price, a midfielder to go next to McDonald who could provide defensive quality as well as being able to go forwards. So signing Coady was a good sign of intent to fill that gap, but the loss of Sako And failure to replace him like for like has meant we haven't pursued with it. I think dropping deeper has affected Afobe a little and isolated Dicko, hence his lack of form too.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Agree with that NWW. Play them as a two and get the best out of them.

Last season what we probably lacked when we switched to the 442 (which still worked very well overall) was, despite the good work of Jack Price, a midfielder to go next to McDonald who could provide defensive quality as well as being able to go forwards. So signing Coady was a good sign of intent to fill that gap, but the loss of Sako And failure to replace him like for like has meant we haven't pursued with it. I think dropping deeper has affected Afobe a little and isolated Dicko, hence his lack of form too.

This is it really, Coady stops you getting played through so easily so you should be able to play 4-4-2. You look at our goals and points per game record from when Afobe arrived last season and it's top two material. We actually do have wide options now as well so we should be able to give it a go.

I will never understand what possessed Kenny Jackett, a man I respect and have a lot of time for, to play Dave Edwards on the left of midfield.

 

[Lycan]

There were a number of games towards the end of last season where the opposition number 10 had a great game (Fabbrini for Blues, Kin Bo-Kyung for Wigan, Vossen for Boro). I think that was a tactical problem rather than a Jack Price problem, I don't think that if you exchanged Coady for Price in those situations that you'd see much change.