Following their highly awaited promotion to the English top flight after six years, Wolverhampton Wanderers have done a commendable job so far this campaign, though their points tally of 16 does not seem too outlandish.
They have had a balanced record so far, with four wins, four draws and four losses in twelve games as they stand 11th in the league table, four points behind Manchester United.
Let us take a brief look at how Wolverhampton Wanderers have fared so far this season.
Standout performers
The midfield duo of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho has attracted a lot of attention this season. So much so that they can even be compared to the best duos in the Premier League. Neves, in particular, has made full use of his potential and has remained unfazed by the reputation and strength of the opposition.
New signing Raul Jimenez has been impressive as well. But unlike what you would normally expect from any striker – that is to score goals, Jimenez has played a key role in creating chances for his team, racking up 17 key passes – a tally only bettered by Matt Doherty and Joao Moutinho.
And finally, Wolves’ trusted back three of Ryan Bennett, Conor Coady and Willy Boly has been key in providing solidity to their side’s defence, having conceded only 13 goals – least by any team outside the Top 10. Boly has been the standout with 34 tackles, 24 interceptions and 46 clearances.
Underwhelming performers
Not many players have underperformed for Wolves this campaign, which is certainly one of the many positives to take from a relatively decent start to the season. However, Ivan Cavaleiro’s fitness issues will remain a problem while Leo Bonatini‘s presence in the side has been completely overshadowed by Raul Jimenez.
The manager and tactics
Nuno Espirito Santo’s renowned 3-4-3 formation has worked like a charm so far this season. As iterated earlier, the back-three has performed well so far but it’s the fullbacks who have played a key role for Wolves as both Matt Doherty and Jonny are technically gifted players, who can not only spite forward but are also good at reading the game.
In midfield, Wolves boast the services of Neves and Moutinho, both of whom excel in retaining possession and while they may not move forward at every given opportunity, their deeper positioning allows the two attacking midfielders to become more expressive in the final third.
And that’s where Jimenez comes in. The Mexican’s ability to hold on to the ball and link up with teammates even in tight spaces has been effective. But they will look to improve on their end product, with the newly promoted outfit averaging only a goal per game this season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored