Wolves’ switch to a back four has highlighted some glaring squad issues, including a lack of wingers at the club, but Vitor Pereira is still trying to find solutions.
Hwang Hee-chan and Jhon Arias are the club’s standout options out wide, but neither have been in great form, and there is a real lack of goals and creativity up front.
Rodrigo Gomes is another player who has been used out wide by Pereira in recent weeks, and Gomes has been left with no defined position since the switch away from wing-backs.
The Portuguese head coach is under immense pressure at Wolves, and his future at the club could be in question if results don’t start coming in.
The Old Gold manager is not shying away from the challenge, and he is set on finding a way out of the bottom three, and his latest hint showcases his commitment to trying to find ways to fix their situation.
Vitor Pereira suggests he could use full-backs as wingers
Perhaps if Wolves had opted to switch to a back four earlier in the summer, they might have been able to target another wide man in the market.
However, the switch in system was a result of their poor form, and it was quite the unexpected change.
Nonetheless, Pereira’s tactical shift has seen improved performances over the last couple of weeks, but the squad is not built to play with wingers.
In order to combat the issues within his roster, the Portuguese head coach is looking for solutions within his team.
Speaking to the Express and Star, Pereira suggested some of his full-backs could be used further up the pitch.
He said, “In training we are trying to play full-backs as wingers and wingers as full-backs, to find solutions. We are trying to find solutions with players playing in more than one position.”
Wolves have plenty of players capable of playing at wing-back, but their options are less versatile in the deeper full-back role.
Rodrigo Gomes, for example, has been deployed out wide in the back five, but he has never been selected to play a traditional full-back position for the Old Gold.
However, there could be some unique options for Pereira.
Who we could see change positions
There are a few players who could be suited to different roles at Wolves.
Jackson Tchatchoua has the pace to hold width up top, and it would be a completely new position for the Cameroonian.
However, he has been compared to Adama Traore recently, and his combination of pace and power could be a key asset in attack.
Additionally, Hugo Bueno has shown himself to be a creative cog for Wolves, leading the way in chances created (11).
So perhaps Pereira wants to position him in better areas to provide the likes of Jorgen Strand Larsen or Tolu Arokodare with those chances.
It remains to be seen what the head coach decides, but he is looking for fixes for Wolves’ problems, and it could spring up some surprising top performers for the club.