On the latest instalment of the Sky Sports Football Podcast, Gary Neville offered his assessment on why Wolves have been struggling this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men slumped to a 13th Premier League loss of the campaign on Monday night as West Ham raced into a 3-0 lead at Molineux.
Despite Leander Dendoncker and Fabio Silva pulling a couple of goals back for the Midlands side, it wasn’t enough to earn themselves a point and left them without a league win in five outings.
After securing consecutive seventh-placed finishes since returning to the top flight in 2018, Wolves have suffered a drop-off in form this time around, and Neville believes he knows why.
As heard on the podcast and Monday Night Football, he said: “I feel like they’re a little bit struggling with their identity. They’ve been a team that, to be fair, have been methodical, and you could almost read like a book until tonight; how it was going to be watching Wolves over the last two or three years.
“But I think in terms of trying to search for that, what would be more excitement, more goals, less methodical, less pragmatic, there is obviously going to be some pain along the way. And what we’re seeing here tonight is pain.
“They’ve gone from methodical, never see them counter-attack, never come out of their shape, to what would be, to be fair, Leeds United almost at times, you know, charging forward, charging back, no real shape in terms of sustaining attacks. You don’t expect that from Wolves.”
TIF Thoughts on Wolves…
The prolonged absence of star-striker Raul Jimenez through injury has had a big effect upon this Wolves side this season.
Jimenez fractured his skull against Arsenal back in November and is yet to return to action, which has forced Espirito Santo to set his team up in a different formation.
Since he arrived at the club, Wolves have predominantly used a system involving three centre-backs and two wing-backs, but in recent weeks the 47-year-old has changed to a back four, however, they are yet to see the benefits.
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