Wolves travel to Manchester United on Tuesday night hoping to end their year with a morale-boosting victory after an indifferent start to the season.
Much was made of Wolves’ year-long 2019-20 campaign. It was 59 games and 383 days long to be precise, and it is the perhaps the obvious answer when questions arise about their current standing in the Premier League.
Sitting 11th, only victory at Old Trafford would move Wolves into the top half of the table, though that is only possible if West Ham do not win at Southampton earlier in the day.
This battle to break into the top 10 has highlighted a couple of key concerns Nuno Espirito Santo is desperately trying to address.
One area is obvious, but for the Wolves boss, the other is arguably becoming more problematic with each game that passes.
The obvious: Not enough goals
Wolves are scoring at a rate of exactly one goal a game in the Premier League this season: 15 goals, 15 matches. And having scored 51 times in 38 matches last term, it is abundantly clear they are falling behind last year’s return.
The loss of Raul Jimenez to a head injury has accentuated this problem, but even before the striker’s collision with Arsenal’s David Luiz in late November, Wolves were struggling to put away chances – most notably wasteful in their two 1-1 draws this season as 20 attempts at home to Newcastle and 16 against Southampton only resulted in one goal, and one point, apiece.
Wolves are ultimately playing without their three top scorers from last season, and while Jimenez is out for the foreseeable future, the other two no longer player for the club with Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty both moving on in the summer.
Jimenez’s absence has also propelled 18-year-old Fabio Silva into taking up a starting role in a season where Nuno was no doubt planning to use him sparingly. Zero Premier League starts before Jimenez’s injury and three since highlights that, and while his goal in the defeat to Burnley will perhaps give him the confidence to carry on the mantle, he undoubtedly needs help from elsewhere.
It could, therefore, lead Wolves into making a January signing or two, but goalscorers always come at a cost, while few clubs around them will be offering handouts if a short-term loan is what Wolves are after.
More problematic: The constant changes
In Nuno’s search for the answer, he is arguably making his task more difficult by constantly tinkering with his Wolves side.
Not only has there been a persistent change of personnel, but the flip-flopping between three and four at the back has shown Nuno is far from content with how his side should be lining up.
Playing with a back three had become a given during Wolves’ first two seasons since their promotion. It was the cornerstone of their success as they twice finished seventh in the table, with the club boasting the fifth-best defensive record (goals against) in the Premier League in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Last season the method was clear and there was a pretty settled XI to boot. Six players played 38 league matches, while five more managed at least 33 appearances, and this consistency on the teamsheet paid dividends in a manner which Southampton are arguably replicating this season.
This time around for Wolves, though, Nuno’s changes highlight a seemingly unsettled mind, a manager who is still working out his best XI following Doherty and Jota’s departures, and still uncertain where the goals will come from for as long as Jimenez remains sidelined.
Tuesday’s trip to Manchester United will be a huge test for Nuno’s misfiring side, but win, lose or draw the Wolves manager could simply be hoping for a performance that gives him more answers than questions – and a platform to build on come the New Year.
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