Jorgen Strand Larsen came in for a lot of criticism from Wolves fans after the defeat to Nottingham Forest, but Lee Naylor has suggested a potential way of getting him to improve.
Wanderers crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Molineux on Wednesday night, giving one of the most abject performances of the season to date.
After showing positive signs against Aston Villa, Wolves fans actually had some optimism ahead of kick-off.
Check out our Wolves player ratings from the defeat to Nottingham Forest
Forest, whilst having improved under Sean Dyche, were a side loitering just above the relegation zone, and it was an opportunity to get that first win.
But Wolves were far too timid, and the lack of adventure and ingenuity was startling.
The forward players were so poor, with Jorgen Strand Larsen’s struggles continuing.
He was largely anonymous for Wolves, and then when the ball did come his way, he struggled to hold it up and link play.
But for Lee Naylor, the answer doesn’t lie in dropping him, it lies in supporting him in a different way – specifically, with a different player.
- READ MORE: Four things we learned from Wolves’ loss vs Nottingham Forest, including the Tchatchoua problem
Lee Naylor wants to see Hwang Hee-chan and Jorgen Strand Larsen play in a strike partnership
The season Strand Larsen is having is truly alarming.
Last term, Wolves’ number nine was absolutely brilliant, and finished the campaign with 14 non-penalty goals to his name. Most people felt he was one of the signings of the season.
But he has suffered massively from Wolves’ summer that saw key players leave.
But while the service to him has been poor, and he’s had fitness issues, he has also been found wanting.
But former Old Gold defender Lee Naylor believes Rob Edwards can help his number nine by playing Hwang Hee-chan alongside him.
What has happened to Jorgen Strand Larsen at Wolves?📉
He said on Matchday Live Extra: “I’ll be honest, Hwang looked sharp when he came on. That’s one thing I did see. He’s trying to do positive things. He got a corner for us down in this left-hand corner. He’s trying to do things, he’s trying to do little one-twos in and around the midfield, passing it on to the forwards.
“Some of it is not coming off, but he’s trying it. I don’t mind that at all. He’s looking sharp with it. So why not? I’d like him a bit closer to Strand Larsen.
“I think Hwang’s got the quality, Premier League quality, we just haven’t seen it for a while that’s all. If we can get him back to what he is, what he can be, it’ll be like a new player for us.”
- READ MORE: Who is Jorgen Strand Larsen? Meet the Wolves striker who has been compared to Erling Haaland
Hwang and Strand Larsen pairing could work
This is interesting to consider, because Strand Larsen is clearly struggling right now, and Wolves have to get their number nine firing again.
It hasn’t worked with him leading the line on his own, and his partnership with Tolu Arokodare also hasn’t borne fruit for Wolves.
So it might be an idea to get the more mobile Hwang in alongside him.
The South Korean has had success previously playing in a front two, or when he’s been instructed to get into central positions in the box from the left side, where he can attack crosses.
Previously he’s worked well with Raul Jimenez, and then in the 2023/24 season under Gary O’Neil, Hwang was excellent when he got into central positions.
Given nothing has really worked for Wolves in attack this season, Edwards may have to consider this pairing going forward.
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