Wolves were condemned to their eighth Premier League defeat of the season by Everton last night.
Goals from Alex Iwobi and Michael Keane either side of Ruben Neves’ equaliser have moved the Toffees up to fourth in the table.
That is ultimately where Wolves want to be, but hopes of that this season are now fading very quickly.
Here are a few takeaways from last night’s game:
Silva isn’t ready
Young Fabio Silva has a really bright future, but Wolves really need someone with more experience to lead the line.
The 18-year-old is extremely raw and still finding his way in the Premier League, and has that huge transfer fee hanging over him which he did not ask for.
Against Everton, he wasn’t helped by being asked to play from the left, but he seemed to lack confidence and gave the ball away quite a few times under no real pressure.
Perhaps it’s time for Patrick Cutrone, with Silva to contribute from off the bench. Silva’s time will come, it just feels like he’s being asked to do too much too soon.
Neves of old returning
Ruben Neves was by far and away Wolves’ best player last night.
His passing was on point, and he took his goal superbly well after good work from Rayan Ait-Nouri down the left.
He almost scored what would have been a goal of the season contender in the second half, and also hit the bar/post with a late free-kick.
He’s got his mojo back, and that is a major positive for Nuno.
Willy Boly is badly missed
The team is obviously missing Raul Jimenez a lot, but another man Wolves could do with returning very soon is Willy Boly.
The Ivory Coast international has not featured since the last Premier League game Wolves won, which was against Chelsea on December 15.
One wonders if Keane might have scored had Boly been in there conteseting the aerial battle not Romain Saiss and Ait-Nouri.
The starting XI misses the £67,000-a-week star (Spotrac), specifically the player of last season after he had returned from his ankle injury.
He just provides that steel and presence and for all Wolves’ issues regarding goalscoring, the defensive solidity just isn’t there without Boly.