GEORGE LAKIN SHARES HIS LATEST THOUGHTS ON WOLVES FOR BBC SPORT
Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Whisper it: Wolves might not actually be that bad.
At least not as bad as we all feared after the first five games.
Despite building a squad overloaded with centre-backs for a season of rock-solid five-at-the-back football, we somehow look better with most of them on the bench.
New signing Ladislav Krejčí, first used in midfield by Vítor Pereira, and Santiago Bueno, who seemed surplus to requirements in the summer, are forming a surprisingly solid partnership in an old-fashioned back four.
Krejčí is a natural leader and organiser, something we’ve missed since the days of Conor Coady and Rúben Neves. You don’t captain Sparta Prague at 23, end a nine-year title drought, and lift a domestic cup unless you have something special.
He wasn’t cheap (the fee will exceed €30m) but that’s what it costs to compete in the Premier League, and so far he looks worth every penny.
Calls for a back four have come and gone before, usually followed by panic and a return to a five after we start shipping goals. But this feels different.
Great defences are built on partnerships, and in Bueno and Krejčí we have two players who read each other well, who are tough and physical but also comfortable on the ball. Krejčí might even have the best first touch in the entire squad.
Sam Johnstone also adds calm behind them, and with João Gomes and André screening in front, you can see the spine of a proper side taking shape. The heartbeat from which everything ticks.
As we edge into October, it seems Vítor Pereira is finally close to figuring out his best system and starting eleven. Now he must trust it. Give it more than 45 minutes, and resist the urge to throw on defenders when we’re in the ascendancy.
Saturday night proved we have a squad more than capable of competing. Besides, shutting up shop rarely works in the Premier League, sit deep for too long and someone will pick the lock, as João Palhinha’s 94th minute gut-punch revealed in the most devastating fashion imaginable.
ARTICLE BY GEORGE LAKIN
George fell in love with Wolves the moment Colin Cameron fizzed one into the bottom corner against Plymouth Argyle on the 31st December 2005- during his first ever Wolves game as a child.
He loves digging a little deeper when it comes to Wolves, often conducting his own research to help him read between the lines and increase his knowledge and understanding of all aspects of our great club.
George is passionate about reaching and uniting all corners of the Wolves family, young and old, near and far. So make sure you don’t miss his weekly column exclusively for Always Wolves this season!