The Athletic’s Tim Spiers has predicted how Nuno Espirito Santo will line Wolverhampton Wanderers up against Sheffield United.
On Wednesday evening, the Old Gold will travel to Bramall Lane to face to face Chris Wilder’s Blades (per BBC).
The Molineux club does so on the back of being beaten 2-0 by Arsenal at home after lining up in a 3-5-2 formation with Adama Traore up front (per Transfermarkt).
However, in the latest episode of The Molineux View podcast, Spiers revealed his belief that the Portuguese manager will make a subtle change to his starting lineup.
He said: “I think he’ll go 3-5-2 with [Diogo] Jota. I think they miss Jota when he doesn’t play. They’ve got a better record with him in the team.
“I think Traore goes back to the bench like he has done in the two away games they’ve played so far and he can come on after an hour if they need him.”
Earlier in the same podcast, Spiers explained the thinking behind having Traore on the bench.
He said: “If you look at the way they set up against West Ham and Villa, leaving Traore on the bench, that’s a 90-minute game plan right there, because Traore wasn’t dropped, he was placed on the bench with a specific intent of him coming on in the second half to do something, to create or score a goal. So, he’s not dropping him, that’s part of the game plan to wear the opposition out.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what Spiers had to say, he believes that Nuno Santo will start Diogo Jota over Traore against the Blades, which is the reverse of what he did against Arsenal.
Which of the two would you rather started up front alongside Raul Jimenez against Sheffield United?
Adama Traore
Diogo Jota
With Wolves’ Spaniard having picked up a weak 6.59/10 match rating against the Gunners (per WhoScored), Spiers’ prediction will perhaps not come as a surprise.