Wolverhampton Wanderers’ tough start to the season will only get more difficult with their fixtures after the international break.
Before the players left for international duty, the Old Gold faced defeat in their opening two games of the season—a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest and defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea.The Midlands club will welcome Newcastle United following the break, followed by a challenging Carabao Cup away journey to the Amex to play Brighton. From there, Gary O’Neil’s team’s schedule only gets harder. They have to travel to Aston Villa before hosting Liverpool at Molineux.Perhaps the most important component of Gary O’Neil’s quick-witted, transitional football system—which emphasizes vertical football—is the midfield. To move the ball forward as fast and effectively as possible and cover a lot of ground, they must possess quality on the ball.
It is reasonable to state that the choices the Englishman has assembled while playing for the team are efficient in that regard.
This summer, they recruited the industrious Brazilian player Andre in an attempt to bolster their midfield. He cost the team upwards of £21 million to sign, and he will provide their midfield with exceptional quality on the ball.
The Midlands team’s midfield is a key component of their hopes of making a comeback and racking up some surprising victories.Furthermore, over the summer, Tommy Doyle’s loan from Manchester City was made permanent by the Molineux team. The 22-year-old Mancunian made an impression during his tenure with the Old Gold in the previous campaign, making 35 appearances.
For O’Neil, in the middle of the park.
These guys, along with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Mario Lemina, form an excellent core of midfielders that perfectly suit O’Neil’s system. The Wolves manager will be hoping that his team can come together and perform well in the next games.He won’t have to rely only on these four players to cover ground, though, since one of his most important midfielders could end up being a steal.The guy in question is Joao Gomes, a midfielder from Brazil. Since joining the team in January 2023, the 23-year-old has performed admirably for O’Neil’s team. He has now made 52 appearances for the Midlands team.
Since the Old Gold acquired him from Brazilian team Flamengo on the final day of the winter window eighteen months ago, he has shown himself to be a good deal. Before leaving the club that summer, Julen Lopetuegi brought him in for just £15 million.
Since the Old Gold acquired him from Brazilian team Flamengo on the final day of the winter window eighteen months ago, he has shown himself to be a good deal. Before leaving the club that summer, Julen Lopetuegi brought him in for just £15 million.
He has had great success with his profile in the manager’s system. In addition to being a destroyer at the base of midfield, he is skilled with the ball and can distribute
swiftly and initiate an offensive. Antonio Mango, a football scout, called him a “fearless” talent.In fact, his FBref metrics also demonstrate his defensive prowess. With an average of 5.11 interceptions per 90 minutes over the past year, the 23-year-old Brazil international ranks exceptionally highly in terms of tackles and interceptions, placing him in the top 2% of midfielders in the top five leagues in Europe. He also ranks in the top 8% with an average of 1.82 blocks per game.Gomes’ value has increased significantly since joining the Wolves, and he is currently valued at more than three times what they paid for him.
In fact, Tottenham Hotspur attempted to acquire the Old Gold midfield player but received a bid of £50 million, which was significantly higher than the £15 million they originally paid for him. It also requires that,If the player continues to improve, more opportunities may arise for him toThus far, Wolves has undoubtedly executed its business plan exceptionally well. They have reaped the benefits on the field since making an investment in one of Brazil’s most gifted midfielders. The Old Gold would benefit handsomely if they chose to sell Gomes.Pedro Neto’s initial exit cost of £51.4 million.
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