Dugout Discussion

Johnstone absent for West Brom after positive Covid-19 test as Boly returns for Wolves

West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) misses the Baggies’ first DGW19 fixture following a positive Covid-19 test.

Ahead of the Black Country derby at Molineux, Sam Allardyce explained:

Covid has kept out Sam [Johnstone] and Matt Phillips for us, as well as one or two other Under-23s that would probably have been in the squad.

Grady [Diangana] pulled or tweaked a hamstring, so we had to make a change there.

Asked by BT Sport what he has been trying to fix in training, Allardyce responded:

I’ve tried to fix the fact that we’ve got to stop conceding goals that are avoidable. Our concentration levels sometimes lapse, in split seconds and moments. It only takes the opposition a few seconds to exploit that. That is the focus when we’re out of possession.

In possession, it’s really about trying to get more quality in the final third. Create more chances in open play, which has been extremely difficult for us.

Wolves boss Nuno, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, said of his side’s recent leaky displays:

“We (have) made big mistakes, especially in defence. We must be compact and from there can grow positives. “We have to go back to our main foundation; a clean sheet.”

The Portuguese manager has duly reverted to a tried-and-tested back three. Nuno revealed in the embargoed section of his media offering that Willy Boly (£5.4m) would start for West Brom’s visit.

Boly is joined by Conor Coady (£4.9m) and Romain Saiss (£5.1m), while the Wolves teamsheet suggests that Pedro Neto (£6.0m) will operate at left wing-back.

The winger was a doubt for this afternoon’s kick-off, as was Adama Traoré (£6.1m). The latter also starts the match in a front two alongside Fabio Silva (£5.2m).

“Adama didn’t play the last game, he had a problem. He is better, so he is ready to go. Boly had an injury for some while and [now] he’s good.” – Nuno

Daniel Podence (£5.4m) remains sidelined, along with Jonny (£5.4m) and Marcal (£4.8m).

“Let’s see. We have Adama and Boly coming and joining (training). Let’s see how they are for tomorrow. We still have Daniel out. We have work to do. Jonny, Podence, Marcal are out.” – Nuno speaking on Friday

Wolves XI: Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Neto, Neves, Dendoncker, Semedo; Moutinho; Fabio Silva, A Traoré.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Button; Gibbs, Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea; Snodgrass, Livermore, Sawyers; Grosicki, C Robinson, M Pereira.

1,347 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Big Sam are you Mourinho in disguise?

  2. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Allardyce record of no relegations is going to be finally scuppered.

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He would have taken any job to get back into the PL circle. This isn't about Brom, and that's unfortunate

  3. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All-action Boly

  4. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Saiss A?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Either no assist or the corner taker.

      1. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        They always gave assists to the one closest to the ball when rebound.

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        There is 0 chance the corner taker gets it. Its either Saiss or no assist

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah, watched closer. Agree.

    2. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Surely

  5. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Congrats to Boly captainers.

  6. Kane and Ablett
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    #Bolybandwagon

  7. Booked4Dissent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Boly absolute haul

  8. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    When wolves score 2 in the first half against you

    It’s time to panic

  9. Solly86
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I think I may have got away with one here;

    - Log on to find I forgot to make my transfers yesterday.

    - Check my cup opponents team to see they have taken a -28.

    This does mean I get a 28 point start then doesn’t it? As looking at their team I wouldn’t imagine I will outscore them!

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes it does

  10. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Get innnnnn Bolyyyyyy

  11. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Saiss is like Kolarov. Fantady gold when he plays.

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No assist

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saiss can defend.

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1 GW late?

  12. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Boly fk says Miley.

  13. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bet there are some cup opponents with Boly in their team

  14. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly essential

    • 20LEGEND
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Please give me Neto assist

    • aborg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly haul...I have a feeling the low owned players are going to haul this dgw !

    • mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Glad to see no Neto involvement in either goal as a seller.

    • ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Big Sam has made WBA even more garbage. Another sack incoming?

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone got Big Boy Boly?

      1. sledger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        1.4 % owned

    • teneighty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Show some big Willy love!

    • @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Justice for Slaven

      • EffPeeEll
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Adama Traore 11/10 to have at least one shot on target.

        Seems reasonable-Double ya bubble.

        Posted earlier

        anyone else on it?

        1. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Which bookies that for?

        2. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Nah hes too wide, doesnt get into positions to shoot as hes right footed playing wide right.

      • IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        So Boly gives away a pen and is now on for max bonus? FPL is broken..

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Goal and assist

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Irrelevant.. he gave away a pen. That’s unforgivable

            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Is it though?

              1. IRBOX ⚽
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Absolutely. As a high quality defender myself that is the worst offence committable

      • Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank goodness Allardyce is corrupt. It would've been an awful few years for England.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Best manager ever, statistically.

      • Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lets be real WBA will not keep a cleanie...

        1. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          What makes you say that? :O

      • Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Soucek masterclass vs this WBA's set pieces defending

        1. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Licking his lips.

        2. Il Capitano
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can't wait

      • Ha.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Stones > Boly (-4)?

      • Davros
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gameweek is already a disaster! 0 from 1

        1. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          That's like 3 points better than top 10k average.

      • Party time
          3 years, 2 months ago

          So Ogbonna will haul against West brom

        • Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cresswell going to get a mega haul vs WBA

          1. Nanoelektronicar
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            And Soucek, and Antonio, and who knows else. And KDB next week.