LIAM BERRY LOOKS AT THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED FROM 3 LEAGUE GAMES UNDER LOPETEGUI
Since the World Cup break, Wolves have won away against Everton with a dramatic last gasp winner, lost to a second half Marcus Rashford goal at home to Manchester United, and drawn one apiece at West Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
Let’s take a look into what we have learnt from the three Premier League games:
1. Nunes quality
Since signing in the summer from Portugal side Sporting, Matheus Nunes didn’t have the best of starts in England.
A lot of questions about his decision making were asked, and playing in a ‘number ten’ role clearly wasn’t getting the best out of him.
Now, he is playing in a double pivot next to Portuguese counterpart Ruben Neves, and his quality is starting to shine through.
Especially against United, Nunes was excellent, and it will prove a difficult task to keep him at Molineux come next season, with big clubs like Liverpool reportedly sniffing around him.
In the meantime, his influence could be vital in helping Wolves climb the table.
2. razor sharp rayan
Rayan Ait-Nouri has struggled this season, and, with Hugo Bueno breaking into the first team and looking so comfortable, he hasn’t had much of a look in at left back recently.
All of a sudden, it seems like the French-Algerian has a new role in the team, and he has certainly responded.
The fullback is being utilised further forward, giving him more freedom to use his dribbling skills. This license has allowed him to get forward and score the last minute winner against Everton, having scoring in the Carabao Cup victory against Gillingham a week earlier.
He ialso went on a fantastic run against Villa, and was only denied a wonder goal by a save from World Cup winner Emi Martinez.
Again, like Nunes, clubs across Europe are perhaps taking a closer look at the young fullback/winger, so at some point Wolves may have a decision to make regarding his position and his future.
3. PODENCE MAGIC
Another player that has shone through during these three Premier League games is Daniel Podence.
Scoring twice in three, Podence has seemed to excel under Julen Lopetegui.
His goal against Villa showed pure skill and composure in the penalty area, which Wolves have lacked in the past.
Losing him to injury at half time was probably part of the reason Wolves weren’t as effective in the second half, and Podence has become a key part of the team’s attacking threat and found some consistency since the World Cup.
4. THE LOPETEGUI EFFECT
Since Julen Lopetegui started working with the squad during the World Cup break, it feels like there has been a clear atmosphere change.
The Spaniard appears to have re-united the team after such a difficult first few months of the season and improved morale, something which has been lacking since the Nuno days.
He has helped the team get off to a promising start and, fingers crossed, the improvement will continue and Wolves can carry on picking up important results.
5. SURVIVAL OF THE WOLVES
At some points in the season, you would have looked at this Wolves squad and the way they were playing and found it hard to believe that this group of players would keep the team afloat. And that wasn’t down to any lack of quality, just the way they were performing and linking together as a team.
The past three Premier League games have sparked belief, and the atmosphere around the club seems high, something which is going to be crucial for a relegation battle in keeping everyone confident.
With tough games coming up, Wolves are going to need every last point they can pick up, and even causing an upset or two – with Manchester City and Liverpool just around the corner after the cup games and West Ham – might just change the course of the season.
ARTICLE BY LIAM BERRY
I am a life long Wolves fan that is passionate for the club. I am a sixth form student who loves writing about things I love!