Wolves Vs Crystal Palace Preview
Most will see this as little more than a nice kick about in the sunshine.
After all, both teams should be content enough with what they’ve done over the 36 games to date and feel there’s cause for optimism heading into 24/25.
But according to this article, each position in the Premier League table could be worth as much as £3 million and with Wolves still able to finish as high as 9th or as low as 14th, that’s a potential £15m swing.
So climb back off the sun loungers lads – I wanna win this.
Palace
The Eagles are unbeaten in their last 5, winning 4 of those matches. When you consider they saw off Liverpool and Newcastle as well as demolishing (an admittedly poor) Man Utd in that sequence, eyebrows should be raised.
Personally, I’m not surprised. When they came down at the end of last season I thought Olise and Eze ran rings around us all night. It was astonishing that we managed to keep them out and win the game.
The problem has been keeping those two fit and firing. Those who know better about the goings on at Selhurst Park might say I’m wrong, but I suspect had they both been available all season, Roy Hodgson would still be sitting in the dugout.
That’s not to say Oliver Glasner hasn’t taken them forward. His arrival along with midfielder Adam Wharton and full-back Daniel Muñoz seems to have refreshed a previously tired looking Palace side.
There’s a vibrancy to them at the moment that spells big danger for us on Saturday in a fixture we don’t win too often. Yes, we got the slightly unjust win last season but lost each of the previous 4 before that and also the game earlier in the season down at Selhurst.
As well as those mentioned above, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been on a red-hot scoring run, so that’s another issue for our weary looking defence to contend with at the weekend.
Wolves
I’m really hoping Pedro Neto is back for this one, but it’s probably a sub appearance at best given that he didn’t make the squad for City.
Without the cut and thrust of our own flying winger, we need to have more possession in this game and that means reverting to a proper front three or bringing Doyle back into the side.
If we don’t keep the ball well and it becomes all about Olise/Eze running the game for long periods with us sitting back and hoping for a counter, I really fear the worst.
I lifted this from the BBC site, which is something Gary needs to think about over the summer: Wolves have conceded 60 Premier League goals this season – their most in a single top-flight campaign since 2011-12 – when they finished bottom (82). Since the start of February they have conceded 29 times in 15 games, with only Sheffield United (46), Luton (40) and West Ham (38) shipping more in that time.
I do think that stems from personnel as Semedo and Ait-Nouri don’t offer too much resistance and with the midfield more aggressive in the press, the defenders don’t get much protection generally. That needs addressing.
Predictions
A few said 4 but nobody was bold enough to predict a 5-1 walloping at The Etihad last weekend.
Given Palace’s recent upturn in form and our bungling end to the season, I’m mightily tempted to forecast another defeat. It doesn’t take great imagination to see them tearing us a new one, does it? But maybe the sun is going to my head because against my better judgement I’ll back Gary to extract one last big effort to see us sign-off at Molineux with a flourish – 3-2.
As always, if you’d like to join in with the Prediction League this season, it’s simple – just leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided. Then repeat for every preview article throughout the season, making sure you always use the same email address to make your prediction. Your email is what ties you to your overall score.
Up The Wolves!