Vitor Pereira had plenty of praise for one Wolves player after the win over Bristol City that may have Gary O’Neil feeling uncomfortable.
Wolves are into the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating their Championship opposition 2-1 at Ashton Gate.
Wolves ended up making hard work of it, after dominating the first 40 minutes or so of the contest.
Wolves scored through both wing-backs Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes, before a silly free-kick was given away just before half-time, which was scored by Scott Twine.
But Pereira will take the win, and there were again plenty of positives to take.
Potentially the biggest of the day was the performance of Rodrigo Gomes, who looks to really be finding his feet now at Molineux under the new manager.
And after the game, Pereira made his feelings about the youngster crystal clear.
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Pereira insists Rodrigo Gomes is a Wolves player for the present
Rodrigo was very much on the periphery under former manager O’Neil.
He started the opening game against Arsenal, but then pretty much found himself welded to the substitutes’ bench.
He only went on to start two more Premier League games after that under O’Neil. But Rodrigo has now started three of the five games Pereira has been in charge for.
And the new manager is liking what he’s seeing.
He gave a glowing verdict of Rodrigo after yesterday’s game, telling the media (paraphrased by journalist Nathan Judah): “Rodrigo Gomes has fantastic energy , fast player , capacity to want to come back & help team the defensively , even when he was sick for 5 of 6 days, he was still Rodrigo when he played – he gives me two options on the right and the left – he’s a player for NOW.”
Some Wolves fans suggested Rodrigo is the new Pedro Neto after the win over Bristol City, and the similarities are definitely there.
Gary O’Neil begged to differ about Rodrigo Gomes
Pereira’s comments about Rodrigo are so great to hear, and it must be nice for the player to get that kind of praise after a difficult first few months in England.
The final line is very much at odds with what Gary O’Neil said about Rodrigo not long before he was sacked by Wolves.
O’Neil had suggested that Rodrigo was not signed to play a prominent role in his first season, saying (via E&S): “Sometimes there needs to be a realism attached to the situation around some of the boys, what we signed them for and when they’re going to be ready.
| Rodrigo under O’Neil | Rodrigo under Pereira |
| Appearances – 10 | Appearances – 5 |
| Starts – 4 | Starts – 3 |
| Minutes played – 360 | Minutes played – 277 |
| Goals – 0 | Goals – 2 |
| Assists – 0 | Assists – 0 |
“We’re working hard to get them ready as quickly as possible, but Pedro Lima was not signed to help the Premier League campaign this season.
“Rodrigo Gomes was signed to help in bits as a back-up, same for Carlos Forbs, they’re very, very young with no Premier League experience.”
O’Neil had also said Pedro Lima wasn’t signed to help Wolves’ Premier League campaign this season, and he’s another player Pereira has given some minutes to early doors.
Some fans weren’t happy when O’Neil made those comments, believing Rodrigo and others had plenty to offer. Thankfully, Pereira has given them chances, and certainly, Rodrigo is now looking like a real livewire.