Palace (H), 22/11/25, 3pm - Build Up & Match Thread

[Elephant Pyjamas]

So, what side will we see tomorrow, will Edwards have had a chance to put a stamp on it? Possibly, but with so many players away it's going to take a couple more weeks.

Key thing tomorrow is not conceding, particularly early on, the players are so devoid of confidence at the moment that a goal just kills them.

Edwards will likely play direct, high press, aggressive football, that's what he did at Luton, and what he did at Forest Green, lots of crossing, lots of "flick on" stuff, with the likes of Tolu, Munetsi and JSL this will suit us, we obviously have issues. Goalkeeper and RB/RWB the most obvious ones, along with a lack of creativity. However, we do know that the likes of Agbadou, Krejci, Andre, Gomes, JSL and Tolu all have it in them to perform well if they have the confidence to.

I think Tolu despite his height is a more "in behind" type of striker and he might work well with Munetsi (yeah i know) or JSL, but we just haven't really seen that even tried out yet.

I think Jackson is pretty terrible, however, if we can try and utilise what he can supposedly do (use his pace, get forward, cross), and cover his defensive frailties with Mosquera in behind him (in a low grade Doherty and Boly way) then perhaps that can work - but obviously we've seen little evidence of that so far, but I have also never seen a player so terrified with his body language and confidence, can RE help with that? Maybe.

I also think RE needs to pick a captain and stick with it, difficult given how poor everyone's form is, and that we have such a vast lack of leadership.

What I think we will play:

--------------------SJ
------------Santi Krecji Toti
-----Jackson Andre Gomes Hugo
-------------Arias Munetsi
------------------JSL

What I would play:

-------------------SJ
--------Mosquera Krecji Toti
-----Jackson Andre Gomes Wolfe
---------------Munetsi
-------------Tolu---- JSL

A fresh start to a degree, no one expects RE to do anything (especially on here) so he has nothing to lose really.

 

[Lycan]

Excited to try that new pub in Queen Sq.

The football will be shite.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Doherty:

We’re in a poor spot right now, but it’s far from over. There’s still a lot of positive possibilities for us, and me for one firmly believes that. Then it’s up to us as leaders in the group to convince everybody else that there’s still a long way to go in the season. I do truly believe that.

I have the belief that Rob Edwards is going to get us out of this and then we can remember everything that’s been said now and give them all the thumbs up when we stay up at the end of the season.”

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Reaction to those comments has been positive, you don't see it that way Tredman?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Well, if the players don't have some form of belief then it obviously is beyond saving, so there is a positive in the comments I suppose.

 

[Jack Regan]

Reaction to those comments has been positive, you don't see it that way Tredman?

Same shite he (and others) was spouting under Vitor. Less talk more action might be useful.

 

[prawnking]

Yep, do your talking on the pitch. Unfortunately we have a squad full of footballing inarticulates.

Maybe save the second paragraph of 'giving it back' to people until you've actually won a game of football again. I hope the players aren't really that thin-skinned, as they and the club have had a massively easy ride from fans and the media alike until right at the end of Vitor's tenure

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

On welcoming Edwards back to Wolves

“I’m very pleased for him. On a personal level, I know Rob quite well. I think it's a dream job for him and it's a big thing for him, considering the situation he was in [at Middlesbrough], it shows how much he wants to be here, and obviously he loves the club. Fair play to him, I think it's going to be great for the club.

“I always thought he was destined to manage Wolves, and fortunately for him and for us that that's happened now. It's something that he's going to absolutely attack and just give everything that he's got. He really does love the club, and that makes a big difference.

“He cares and he has a feeling for the club. He knows what the fans want, he knows what the club needs, and that type of thing is kind of priceless, you can't buy stuff like that. He’s been in the building before, he knows how the club works or how it needs to work to be successful. It is exciting.”

On how Edwards will change things

“He’ll have his identity, and obviously he believes in that, and it shouldn't take the players much convincing. We should be on board straight away with what he believes. Rob’s a bright guy; he's obviously a very good coach and manager. So, the way he sees things is probably the right way. We just have to make sure that we take it on board and carry out the instructions that are being given to us.

“When a manager comes in, we’ve got to listen, we’ve got to react to what they're saying, their ideas that they want. We just have to be fully attentive to what they want to do and carry it out, because at the end of the day a manager’s game plan, they feel, is what's going to get you success in the game. We’ve got to listen to that, and we’ve got to do what they're telling us.”

On everyone being on board

“They have to be. They better be. They’ve got no choice but to be. We're in a poor spot right now, but it's far from over. There's still a lot of positive possibilities for us, and me for one firmly believes that. Then it's up to us as leaders in the group to convince everybody else that there's still a long way to go in the season. I do truly believe that. I have the belief that Rob is going to get us out of this and then we can remember everything that's been said now and give them all the thumbs up when we stay up at the end of the season.”

On the young Edwards he played under

“He was learning, he's still young now as a manager, but he was obviously a young coach then learning the game. But he just had something different about him, you felt it when you were around him. You felt like he had different ideas that you hadn't seen before. He was like a new generation coach really. I'm excited to see his work on the training pitch, I'm excited for him to be back in the Premier League and back at a club that he loves.

“I was impressed with him at the time, even before he took over the two games. He liked to play with full-back inside, which teams do now, but he had that idea in mind a long time ago. That would probably seem risky at the time and now everybody's doing similar things, so he was probably a little bit ahead of his time back then.”

On being a support for Edwards

“We've got a very good personal relationship, and anything that he needs from me, any feelings that I have or what I've seen, I'll be there for him 100 per cent. I am one of the captains at the end of the day, so he'll have our full support, and we'll make sure that the rest of the squad is on board as well. He can ask me whatever he wants, and I'll give him an honest answer of how I see things, and we'll have a great relationship – we always have had.”

 

[sycophantia]

From the presser,
"Doc doing well but not ready for tomorrow"
So thats him definitely starting then.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I’ve no idea how we will line up. If we’re going to be more direct we surely need two forwards close to each other. That probably means the balls into the box will come from wing backs. Perm any two WBs from six and there still isn’t one that looks up to the job. Same in the centre of defence. I hope he gives Agbadou a start, as even though he’s been awful this year, he’s the only one we’ve got who has ever looked decent in the role.

I guess it adds a bit of interest seeing how much RE changes, though unless a few of those that have been poor all season step up it will probably be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. At least I’m on the train and having a few beers in the Royal London beforehand to numb the pain.

 

[Mel Evo]

Agree with the sentiment. The complete lack of quality at WB and that the more CBs we play the more goals we leak mean I’d rather see four back there. Would allow seemingly fit for purpose FBs to play (Wolfe and Mosquera) then give us some scope for an attacking plan of sorts. Of course, who and what the four in front of Andre and Gomes would be is almost as much as a problem. Given we now have seemingly no decent wide forwards. But it would be a change to allow some sort of game to be taken to the opposition. 5 at the back is certain defeat.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I think you are going to be disappointed Mel, everything points to RE playing 3/5 at the back.

 

[Mel Evo]

I think you are going to be disappointed Mel, everything points to RE playing 3/5 at the back.

Oh yeah. I’m fairly certainly I’ll be disappointed.

Like I say, thinking of who might make up a plausible 3 behind JSL is problematic anyway.

 

[Templeton Peck]

I would play

___________Johnstone
______Mosquera Krejci Toti
Tchatchoua Andre Gomes Wolfe
_______Arias JSL Mane

 

[YoungWolf]

I’m sorry but I can’t watch Jackson again. I’d genuinely rather play Hoever, Doherty or bring back Sam Ricketts.

It’s really hard to pick a team that I’d be comfortable with. If he’s going to go 343 and quite direct I guess maybe

Johnstone
Mosquera Agbadou Krejci
Hoever Gomes Andre Bueno
Arias JSL Mane

Quite weak front 3 physically mind you.

He’ll definitely play Munetsi too. And maybe Bellegarde. Will be a lot of huff and puff and little quality.

Oh and fucking Hwang will play won’t he. Probably baked the new coaching staff some cakes

 

[Lycan]

The only thing I'm sure about tomorrow is that Munetsi will play 90 minutes

 

[YoungWolf]

The only thing I'm sure about tomorrow is that Munetsi will play 90 minutes

And complete 6 passes

 

[Tredman]

I’m sorry but I can’t watch Jackson again. I’d genuinely rather play Hoever, Doherty or bring back Sam Ricketts.

It’s really hard to pick a team that I’d be comfortable with. If he’s going to go 343 and quite direct I guess maybe

Johnstone
Mosquera Agbadou Krejci
Hoever Gomes Andre Bueno
Arias JSL Mane

Quite weak front 3 physically mind you.

He’ll definitely play Munetsi too. And maybe Bellegarde. Will be a lot of huff and puff and little quality.

Oh and fucking Hwang will play won’t he. Probably baked the new coaching staff some cakes

Very glad you've said that. I'd rather play Munetsi at RWB

 

[Wilf Wolf]

And complete 6 passes

Big up to RE if he can make that kind of improvement so quickly!

 

[NicholasG1973]

The only thing I'm sure about tomorrow is that Munetsi will play 90 minutes

This, for me, will determine whether Edwards knows what he’s doing.

Any manager who can recognise a professional football player would have him nowhere near any sort of PL squad.

You’re right. He’ll start.