Premier League team performance: Wolverhampton would like to avoid relegation fight

After promotion to the Premier League was a great unknown, now Wolverhampton is a classic participant of the top competition. With what squad is it going into the new season and what to expect from it?

The management team

Portuguese coach Bruno Lage was used to leading his Wolves in a three-defender system, but with the sale of two stoppers from the starting line-up, he will probably have to come off it. Moreover, it would be a shame not to use several quality offensive players for his sake.

Goalkeeper

There was a Portuguese changing of the guard in goal last year. Long-time mainstay Rui Patrício left the club, after which José Sá became the number one. He picked up a few games on his own, especially during the team’s hilarious winter passage he shone.

He will be backed up by Montenegrin Matija Sarkic, who has been travelling on loan in the English lower leagues in recent years.

Defenders

If we count on the new four-defender system, a very interesting stopper duo is emerging in the middle. Former futsal player Max Kilman and twenty-one year old Irishman Nathan Collins, who burst onto the scene last year in a Burnley jersey.

On the left side, Ait Nouri has developed into one of the league’s best left backs, but it’s questionable how the move from wing-back to classic full-back will suit him. Nelson Semedo should have the right flank under his wing.

Question mark players will be ready on the bench. Neither Toti nor Yerson Mosquera have Premier League experience, so Willy Boly should be the number three choice and the two youngsters will just be collecting minutes. Jonny alternates on both ends of the defensive line.

Midfielders

Wolves have the ideal squad for a 4-4-2 formation. Portuguese Pedro Neto is the clear aspiration for the right side of midfield, on the left it’s evenly matched between Adama Traoré and Goncalo Guedes, with the proven Traoré likely to be number one.

In the middle, the long-time mainstay Ruben Neves, a Portuguese midfielder with excellent kicking technique, must not be missed. More defensive duties will be given to Leander Dendoncker, who even plays for the Belgian national team.

There are some interesting players on the bench as well. Experienced Joao Moutinho, Bruno Jordao or the more offensive-minded Morgan Gibbs-White in the midfield, and speedster Daniel Podence and Chiquinho on the wings.

Forwards

If we count on the aforementioned four-stopper system, we would have two spike strikers playing alongside each other. Last year’s Korean Hee-chan Hwang was a great mover and didn’t get lost in the end.

Next to him, Mexican hitter Raul Jimenez is still solid. He’s not as much of a threat as he was two years ago, but he clearly still has a knack for scoring goals. Ideal in the penalty area, he is simply a classic striker.

As far as alternatives go, he’s poor at the tip. The only option is Patrick Cutrone, but he doesn’t suit the Premier League at all. So, in case of replacing one of the strikers, a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation is more likely.

Ideal line-up:: Sá – Ait Nouri, Collins, Kilman, Semedo – Traoré, Neves, Dendoncker, Neto – Jimenez, Hwang

Pick:: 13th place

Source: Wolves, Premier League