Wolves fans are ready to back Gary O’Neil, after he was appointed by the club following the departure of Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui left the club just a few days before the start of the new Premier League season, after growing frustrated with the financial situation.
The 56-year-old reached an agreement to leave, having felt the club moved the goalposts with their communications to him regarding new signings.
Lopetegui initially felt he would have scope to bring in new players if he kept the club up.
Wolves apparently did say there would be scope, but then informed Lopetegui at the end of the season about the worrying reality.
O’Neil is now in place, and many Wolves fans – while not blown away by the appointment – are ready to back the 40-year-old.
But what can fans expect from the former Bournemouth manager tactically…?
Wolves’ old formation could be making a return under Gary O’Neil
O’Neil’s formation preferences and tactics were discusses on the latest Express & Star podcast.
Journalist Liam Keen said he spoke to a Bournemouth reporter to gather some information and insight about O’Neil.
Seemingly, O’Neil is an advocate for the 4-4-2.
But Keen also suggested that we could well be seeing three-at-the-back at times, which was of course a system Nuno Espirito Santo loved.
He said: “In my conversation with this reporter, the first thing he said was that they often played to match the opposition. So sometimes, it’ll be that the opposition plays five at the back, so we’ll play five at the back.
“At the same time, he did also play a 4-4-2 or a variation of that where it might be a 4-4-1-1 which, whether it’s by design or not, is very similar to how Wolves have been playing in pre-season. Whether it’s a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-1-1 with low narrow wingers… Wolves have been doing that during pre-season.
“At Bournemouth he would often playing Philip Billing as a false nine or just off the striker and play Solanke up top, or often Kieffer Moore played as well. I think that could suit Wolves. Because we both agree that Matheus Cunha is not a number nine. He plays better off a striker.”
Gary O’Neil’s tactics will be very interesting to observe
It is going to be really interesting watching the Wolves players under O’Neil.
It sounds as though he will have no problem bringing back a three-man defence with wing-backs if the situation requires.
And that would suit the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matt Doherty.
Encouragingly though, it sounds like O’Neil’s preferred system is similar, if not the same as the one Wolves had been using in pre-season.
It’ll be really interesting to see what he does against Manchester United.
It’s a very tough first game and obviously, it is at Old Trafford. United should have more of the ball.
So it probably wouldn’t be too surprising if O’Neil chucked Toti Gomes in at the back, along with Craig Dawson and Max Kilman.