Molineux legend Andy Thompson has suggested that the Wolves players lack the same kind of hunger as Pedro Neto.
Thompson was speaking after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to West Ham United, for which Neto was once again unavailable.
Neto has been on the sidelines since pulling up injured in the game with Newcastle United at the end of October, and Wolves are now starting to miss him.
Performance levels have dipped in the last few games, with Wolves appearing to lack ideas in the final third. Sunday’s game with the Hammers was only the second Premier League game this season where Wolves have failed to score.
Neto was brilliant before his injury, racing to the top of the Premier League assists chart with seven. He was taking responsibility in every game, and Thompson reckons the other Wolves players just don’t really have the same kind of hunger as the Portuguese…
Andy Thompson believes Wolves are really missing Pedro Neto and his hunger
Thompson was talking to Mikey Burrows on the Wolves Weekly podcast, and the duo were speaking about how Wolves have been lacking someone who takes responsibility in the final third of late.
Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha have been in the goals, but there have been occasions where Wolves have progressed to the final third and wasted opportunities.
Thompson said: “The thing with Neto, what he’s got is that hunger hasn’t he? He knows. He knows what he wants and he’s not showing off, he’s saying ‘look at the end of the day I’m a good player and I’m going to prove it’.
“He’s a winger, he likes running at people, he’s got the ability to pick people out. He drives them forward and up the pitch. It’s about being selfish in a way. You want to make sure you cause teams problems. Sometimes, you need someone like him on the pitch to show some people the way sometimes. I think that’s what he does for our team – he shows people the way and what to do.”
Wolves fans will be hoping to see Neto back in action very soon. Apparently, he could be in contention to face Chelsea on Sunday.
Neto always stepping up for Wolves
£50,000-a-week star Neto is certainly direct, as evidenced by his seven assists and one goal in the Premier League so far this season in just 10 appearances in the competition.
When he plays, you do just get the feeling that he is going to take responsibility for Wolves, with his pace and dribbling two major weapons.
He was a bright spark for Wanderers before his injury and since he has been on the sidelines, Wolves don’t feel the same force in attack, even though Hwang and Cunha have both been lively.
The suggestion here from Thompson is that other Wolves players aren’t showing the same level of hunger as Neto. Realistically, they are probably all hungry and want to win every single game they play, but Neto’s direct style of play and quality in the final third perhaps just makes him look hungrier than the others.