Date: Wednesday January 27th
Kick off: 18.00
Venue: Stamford Bridge
On Wednesday Wolves travel down to London to take on Chelsea.
The last time the two sides met, Wolves ran out 2-1 winners with goals from Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto and Olivier Giroud.
All the Wolves players who played that day will be available for this game with the exceptions of Marcal and Daniel Podence.
Since their last meeting in December both teams have been on a poor run of form. Chelsea have played 6 league games, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 3.
Wolves’ run has been even worse with their 6 games producing 2 draws and 4 losses.
Despite the fact that Wolves have only won 2 games since the beginning of November, there has probably not been a better time to do the double over Chelsea. With Frank Lampard’s position looking increasingly vulnerable, he admitted, after recent defeat to Leicester, that he was worried about the sudden drop in form of his players.
Wolves’ poor form has been attributed, among other things, to a series of injuries with up to 6 first team players being unavailable at the same time. Not the least of these was the serious head injury to striker Raul Jimenez who has been replaced by 18 year-old Fabio Silva.
The squad has been boosted recently though by the return of defender Willy Boly and key midfielder Leander Dendoncker. Further strengthening has been provided by the addition of striker Patrick Cutrone and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, both of whom have been brought back from loan spells. However Gibbs-White will be unavailable having tested positive for Covid-19.
Another player who won’t be making an appearance is newly signed Brazilian striker Willian José.
It would be nice to say that Wolves go into this game on the back of an FA cup win which was a huge boost to their confidence. But having laboured to beat non league Chorley 1-0, it just seems that the uninspiring performances go on and on.
Chelsea come into the game on the back of a comfortable 3-1 win in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Luton Town with MoM, Tammy Abraham scoring a hattrick.
The game will be shown live on BT Sport 1
Gem’s prediction 1-1
Chelsea v Wolves match preview
posted on 26/1/21
I agree Gem. I think Doc has been a huge loss this season. Our system is or at least whilst playing a back three was so reliant on wing backs and Doc was fantastic at it. Semedo as far as i have seen so far is pretty neat on the ball but doesn't have much in terms of attacking know how and of course can't defend for shat. Doc wasn't a world beater defensively but he is certainly better than Semedo.
Not sure on Jota, i think he is being massively overrated based on a good start for Liverpool, the thing is he always has those sorts of goalscoring runs before disappearing for a spell.
Problem losing Jota of course is that we then lost Jimenez and are now relying on a kid years away from being good enough.
posted on 27/1/21
According to Transfmkt, Doc has an "unknown injury"
posted on 27/1/21
https://youtu.be/CmhlZ1O0QEk
Good fun interview with Neto
posted on 27/1/21
I always thought Jota was a different kind of player to Neto, Podence and Traore. Those three are at their best picking up the ball 30 or 40 yards out and carrying the ball towards the penalty area or dead ball line. Players best played behind the centre forward or wide. Jota though I thought was at his best played closer to the centre forward as we saw when he was played close to Jimenez and before that Bonatini. I thought too often we played him too deep. At Liverpool he has been playing 20 yards further forward and looked much better than he did with us for much of his last season here
posted on 27/1/21
Everyone always says Semedo can't defend, but he makes more clearances, tackles, blocks and interceptions per game than Doherty ever did. Its almost double in all cases.
The problem this season has been our midfield and defence. Our centre backs have been too easy to beat in the channels and even when playing in the three, have played too narrow and allowed the wingback to be doubled up on to allow the cross. If you watch our shape, regardless of formation our back 3 or 4 set up really narrow every game. It cuts out everything through the middle but allows crosses, for which the fullbacks get the blame even though they are set up to fail.
The only game we didn't do this was the United game, when Coady was sent out to support Hoever for the 90 minutes.
posted on 27/1/21
I would agree with you gem that Semedo has not fitted as well with us as Doc but then as with Doherty I think he will fit better as a wing back than full back. I think if we do go back to a back three we will see Semedo fit much better
posted on 27/1/21
Reading that in their four home games under Allardyce. Albion have scored 0 and conceded 17
posted on 27/1/21
their last away match is the problem
posted on 27/1/21
Just a tad
posted on 27/1/21
comment by GeminMallorca Wenger sort out VAR FFS! (U18318)
posted 3 days, 2 hours ago
comment by RJC (U17308)
posted 2 minutes ago
0-0
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I'd take that now but if they play like they did today against Luton it won't be 0-0
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Happy days then