OPINION
Having gone nine games without changing his starting line up, it is time that Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo makes some alterations.
After Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Watford, there is no doubt that certain members of this Wolves team cannot be allowed to continue from the start moving forward.
Namely: attackers Diogo Jota and Helder Costa. The pair have just one goal between them this season, and are a large part of why Wolves have looked so toothless in recent weeks.
Nuno’s side produce such wonderful football in their build up play, but it all comes to nothing once they approach the opposition goal.
They’ve scored goals this season, true, and they’ve certainly won games, but their tally of nine strikes in nine games is worse than the 11 mustered by 18th place Fulham.
It’s simply not good enough for a team of Wolves’ quality, and changes have to be made. Jota has coasted through games this season and simply hasn’t looked like the same player who terrorised Championship defences last campaign.
Costa, on the other hand, hasn’t been much better – although he has at least registered a goal this term. Again, their approach play is good, but there is no end product from either of them.
Adama Traore showed what he could do off the bench against West Ham earlier this season, but saw his match-winning contribution rewarded with more bench-warming.
Ivan Cavaleiro has looked good in the few cameos he’s made this campaign, too, but like Traore hasn’t been able to penetrate Nuno’s starting eleven.
That needs to change moving forward, because Costa and Jota haven’t been playing well enough to justify their continued inclusion. Nuno has options, he just needs to use them.