Marshall Munetsi: The Unsung Hero

There’s been plenty said about Matheus Cunha. 

And understandably so.

Will he come back in or not?

But what about the man who’s stepped up in his wake and looks set to keep him out?

A Reborn Strand Larsen

There’s no denying certain players have looked better for having Munetsi by their side- not least our number 9. In fact, head coach Victor Pereira put it simply:

“Marshall is a physical player that runs a lot, creating spaces every time in the box with him. It means that when the cross comes, the markers a lot of the time go with Munetsi and Larsen is free to finish, and this is teamwork.”

But I think it’s more than that.

The Relentless Workhorse

Munetsi leads the press.

He harries tirelessly, without waning as the game progresses.

Much of that work used to fall on Strand Larsen, especially with Cunha playing behind him and contributing next to nothing off the ball.

Now, that burden has been lifted.

Munetsi’s arrival has freed Strand Larsen up — allowing him to be more selective, more calculated. When to go, when to hold. Passing the baton, sharing the workload. No longer endlessly chasing shadows and looking worse for it. It’s made a tangible difference. The goals that had previously dried up have returned in abundance.

Rethinking the Cunha Question

So rather than focusing solely on whether Cunha should walk back into the starting XI, perhaps the more important question is: what would the team lose if he did?

Because the player he’d likely replace is Munetsi.

Yes, Cunha brings technical prowess that Munetsi simply doesn’t possess – few do. But would Cunha be willing to put in even half the work rate of the Zimbabwean?

That, in essence, is the real question.

And on balance, I think it’s that work rate – that sheer effort – that has seen us look more cohesive, more united, more complete in Cunha’s absence. 

Perhaps the risk is actually higher in bringing him back- as a consequence we might see all the workload that had burdened Strand Larsen return with a vengeance. To what effect? Frustration, once again, for the Norwegian.

Going Forward: A Role Reimagined

For me, Cunha’s role – at least for the remainder of this season – mirrors that of Pablo Sarabia.

Another player with undeniable technical quality. One who can change games in a flash. But again, as with Cunha, there are always lingering question marks about his physicality, and his willingness to dig in.

Right now, the starting XI feels settled. It looks like a team that can stay in any game, battle any opponent.

And when Munetsi and Bellegarde have spent 60-70 minutes pressing, running, wearing teams down — that’s when someone like Cunha, or Sarabia, becomes a lethal option.

As we saw against Ipswich.

Depth, Not Disregard

It would be farcical if Cunha didn’t feature at all between now and the end of the season – even if his long-term future at the club is in doubt.

To not utilise a weapon as devastating as him would be cutting off our nose to spite our face.

We’ve got a real chance to match -or better- last season’s 14th place finish. That’s no small feat. And I’m sure it’s in Pereira’s sights. Cunha can absolutely help us achieve that.

But his role has changed.

He’s no longer the talisman.

He’s now the “give us a bit of magic as the game wears on” man – a role Sarabia has played to great effect.

Still an important role. Just not the role.

A Team Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

One thing’s for certain — under Pereira, Wolves are no longer a one-man team.

And while Cunha is brilliant, I’m all for the identity we’ve built in his absence. A team that works hard, fights for every ball, and never gives opponents an easy ride.

Munetsi, with all his bluster, embodies that spirit more than anyone.

He’s not flashy. Not particularly gifted with the ball at his feet. His stats don’t leap off the page.

But football isn’t played on paper.

It’s played on a pitch. Eleven versus eleven. Where spirit, determination, camaraderie, professionalism, trust, and sheer endeavour count for more than any spreadsheet can capture.

Munetsi encapsulates all of it.

You try beating a team of Munetsis with flicks and tricks. It won’t happen. You have to work as hard as him to beat him – and not many are up for that fight.

Talent vs. Graft

As the old adage goes: hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

And nowhere has that been proven more clearly than in the Munetsi vs. Cunha comparison.

Munetsi would walk through walls. The question is – what is Matheus Cunha prepared to walk through?

For me, Munetsi keeps his place a thousand times over.

All hail a different kind of talisman at Molineux — the water-carrier who has washed away the petulance and arrogance that nearly destroyed us.

A Symbol of Change

It’s easy to see why Pereira loves him.

How long before the fans do too?

Munetsi has stepped up. Delivered everything asked of him — and more.

Everything a certain Mario Lemina was unwilling to do.

We were left in the lurch. Full of big personalities, afraid of the dirty work that makes a side hard to beat. We were a soft touch.

But not anymore.

And long may it continue.