Wolves have exceeded expectations this season under Gary O’Neil after losing a host of talent in the summer, with commentator Mike Taylor suggesting that the Old Gold are a better side without Ruben Neves.
Gary O’Neil has reintroduced the good times to Molineux after the worrying moments of last season.
In the 2022/23 calendar, the Old Gold ended the campaign as the Premier League’s lowest scorers, managing just 31 goals in 38 games under both Bruno Lage and Julen Lopetegui.
While Lopetegui managed to revive Wolves by keeping them in the top flight, the Spaniard left his post just days before the start of the 2023/24 season due to concerns over squad depth after seeing an abundance of star quality leave.
One of the players to go was Ruben Neves, who after six years at Molineux, departed to seek a new challenge in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy in the Midlands.
Losing Ruben Neves was an inevitable scenario for Wolves
Once lauded as being an “outstanding” figure for Wolves and one that could “run the show” by journalist Tim Spiers, Neves was one of the catalysts for the Old Gold’s success under Nuno Espirito Santo.
The now 27-year-old arrived when Wolves were in the Championship, showing season-upon-season just how integral he was to the club’s midfield, consistently acting as Molineux’s metronome.
The Portugal international said farewell to the Midlands after years of speculation regarding his future as his quality shone through at the club, leaving behind a legacy made up of 253 appearances, 43 goal contributions and one crucial promotion.
With all that in mind, it was a bitter feeling for Wolves to part ways with their strongest asset however, the extent to which the squad have actually missed the midfielder is surprising.
Wolves are now a better team without Ruben Neves
The subject of Wolves’ progression without Neves is an interesting topic, with commentator Mike Taylor sharing his verdict on O’Neil’s side without Neves.
Speaking on the Wolves Weekly podcast, Taylor said:
“This season, the fantastic player that Ruben Neves undoubtedly was and is, Wolves are a better team since he left.”
“There are a number of reasons for that but they are a bit freer. Not to knock Ruben Neves at all because he’s a fabulous player and one of the best players to play for Wolves in the last generation.”
Based on the season that Wolves are having under O’Neil, it’s difficult to argue that Neves would improve the current squad, who haven’t suffered a detrimental impact from the Portuguese ace’s departure.
The style that O’Neil plays at Molineux doesn’t require the keys that Neves possessed, with there being a lot of truth to Taylor’s comments regarding the freedom the midfield now has, with no need to have one sole figure to rely on.