Norwich vs Wolves (Away) 10th August 2014

[Tomasz Blazak]

Haha cheers for that, good to know my airport dash won't be wasted. Just hope Istanbul traffic is compliant now! Its frustrating as I'm based in derby so this would've been an easy away trip for me but I planned this trip to turkey long before the fixtures were announced. I get home a few days before the scum game so will be able to watch that one without any issues. Going to be canaries player on my phone for the next two after this though which doesn't look too promising after I tested it on the scum game last night!

 

[Canaryboy]

OK own up, who's nervous? 

 

[splutcho]

Me. Have been since yesterday.

 

[Canaryboy]

Me. Have been since yesterday.

I'm nervous enough to take a draw right now. First game of the season, on Sky, bad weather may affect our free flowing passing style, nobody really knows how good this Wolves team is - if somebody offered me 1-1 right now I'd take it. 

 

[Leedscanary]

Come on! This waiting is killing me! OTBC!

 

[Scott]

Predicting a draw today, but hopefully will be proved wrong by the boys. Need to let this league know we arent to be messed with early on! Come on you yellows.

 

[BroadstairsR]

We seem a bit thin up front IMO. With RVW gone, Hooper injured and Becchio ostracised we would seem to be heavily reliant upon our two new boys, either starting together up front or from the bench. 

We are missing Howson and Fer in midfield and Bassong in defence.

In fact, for the very first serious encounter of the season we seem to be stretched already, yet for one reason or another we have three players capable of doing well for us in this league this season, sitting it out for reasons other than injury.

It seems that we are not at full strength by choice, which is wrong IMO. Class performers being paid heavily to just sit it out is a situation that we are not quite good enough to be able to afford.

We have our opinions about the reasons for the absence of these three, but it does seem a rather bizarre situation for a game where it is imperative that we hit the ground running.

Already some are settling for a point when we have every right to anticipate more with a full strength squad.

If we lose we could well rue this minor undercurrent of instability which currently exists due to the situation with the two Bs. My opinion on Fer's prolonged holiday has been expressed elsewhere.

Sort it out McNally/Adams and get Fer off his backside so that he can earn his corn.

 

[BarclayBoy88]

I'm just thrilled that football is back. Hoping for a win but expecting a draw. I want to see us play free flowing attacking football!

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm just thrilled that football is back. Hoping for a win but expecting a draw. I want to see us play free flowing attacking football!

Can be difficult to get the ball down and play on a slippery pitch, anybody got any news on the weather in Wolverhampton? Has been peeing it down in Yorkshire all day. 

If in doubt long ball to Lafferty?  :wacko:

 

[Canaryboy]

We seem a bit thin up front IMO. With RVW gone, Hooper injured and Becchio ostracised we would seem to be heavily reliant upon our two new boys, either starting together up front or from the bench. 

We are missing Howson and Fer in midfield and Bassong in defence.

In fact, for the very first serious encounter of the season we seem to be stretched already, yet for one reason or another we have three players capable of doing well for us in this league this season, sitting it out for reasons other than injury.

It seems that we are not at full strength by choice, which is wrong IMO. Class performers being paid heavily to just sit it out is a situation that we are not quite good enough to be able to afford.

We have our opinions about the reasons for the absence of these three, but it does seem a rather bizarre situation for a game where it is imperative that we hit the ground running.

Already some are settling for a point when we have every right to anticipate more with a full strength squad.

If we lose we could well rue this minor undercurrent of instability which currently exists due to the situation with the two Bs. My opinion on Fer's prolonged holiday has been expressed elsewhere.

Sort it out McNally/Adams and get Fer off his backside so that he can earn his corn.

I said recently that I think there is still a fair bit of business to be done. It is likely that we need to secure departures before we see arrivals, but I fully expect Bassong and Becchio to be replaced if they leave. 

 

[splutcho]

Ruddy; Whitts, Martin, Turner, Olsson; Jonno E Bennett, Surs; wes, Redmond, Grabban.

Very confused as to why we're starting Johnson with Tettey fit on the bench.

 

[Scott]

So... Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Surman, Bennett. Johnson, Wes, Redmond and Grabban... Opinions? Seen a few moans on twitter already!

 

[Fenway Frank]

4-5-1 ? Diamond ? Does it really make any difference ?

 

[Canaryboy]

Ruddy; Whitts, Martin, Turner, Olsson; Jonno E Bennett, Surs; wes, Redmond, Grabban.

Very confused as to why we're starting Johnson with Tettey fit on the bench.

Any idea what the formation is supposed to be? Is it a diamond with Bennett right side, Surman left side, Wes at the tip with Grabban and Redmond up front? Or is it some sort of 4-5-1? 

All very confusing, but a nice change from the predictability of Hughton's tactics and I bet Jackett / Wolves are none the wiser. 

 

[Scott]

Against Celta Vigo, from what I could see Surman played quite deep, whether it will be the same today I dont know. I rate Surman at Championship level, can be a right handful, always comes up with the odd goal too.

 

[splutcho]

I gathered it was a diamond.

 

[Canaryboy]

Wolves lineup:

Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne; McDonald, Evans, Van La Parra, Edwards, Sako; Dicko.

Subs: McCarey, Henry, Clarke, Ricketts, Price, Ebanks-Landell, Jacobs.

Wolves fans also think their team selection is weird, could either Adams or Jackett have had some intel? Or is this just normal for first game of the season in a new division? 

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

imo its going to be a 4-2-3-1 like we saw with the youth team under Adams, completely unlike Hughton's turgid implementation. Proper pace in that front 3 of Redmond, Bennett and Grabban.

 

[Canaryboy]

Looks like Sako is fit and starting on the left for Wolves, I hope we see the good Whittaker today. 

 

[BroadstairsR]

Two wide men, no specific target man. 

Hoolahan AND Surman make for a lightweight and slow mid-field.

This lot will be up for it and we might get a shock at just how much we will be out-muscled in the centre of the park.

Too attacking IMO. Naïve IMO. We need one more defensively-minded operator for his game surely.

Where's our Chris when we need him?

We appear to be going from one extreme to the other.

No Tettey  ............ ugh!

P.S. I hope upon hope that I am wrong, but it does seem pretty apparent that there will be a massive lack of the hard stuff out there today.