It’s all been a bit doom and gloom at Wolves so far this season – but one exciting new partnership looks to be forming.
Wolves have picked up just one point so far this season, and fans are very concerned about the fate of the club.
New Opta data is now projecting Wolves to finish bottom of the Premier League in 2025/26, and Vitor Pereira undoubtedly has a tremendous challenge on his hands.
But the Wolves manager is optimistic of turning things around, and certainly, Wolves have improved in the last two games.
And part of the reason for that improvement has been down to the change in system.
Against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves started with a back four.
It’s not something we see very often. But so far, that formation has largely worked out for Wolves – and there are a couple of players in particular who look quite at home in it.
Santiago Bueno and Ladislav Krejci is an exciting partnership emerging at Wolves
When it comes to partnerships and link-ups at Wolves, most people instantly think about the two Brazilians in central midfield.
Andre and Joao Gomes are arguably the two best players Wolves have, and the South American duo are very often the top performers in games.
They get through so much defensive work, and can be extremely difficult for opposition defenders to play against.
One suspects that Wolves will need them both to be at the top of their games if the club are to veer away from danger this season.
But another exciting partnership now appears to be forming at Wolves as a result of the recent system change.
Santiago Bueno and Ladislav Krejci have been the centre-back partnership in this new back four – and both have looked impressive.
Previously, the backline had been far too chaotic and mistake-prone with Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes, but there is a different feel to it now.
Bueno – branded outstanding by Hugo Bueno after the Spurs draw – has looked a totally new player this season.
And Krejci looks to be Wolves’ best new signing, having barely put a foot wrong in his four appearances for the club so far. And there is a strong argument that Krejci should scoop Wolves’ August Player of the Month.
Ultimately, Wolves’ defence had been in disarray prior to the games with Everton and Spurs. The composure that Bueno and Krejci have both brought has been absolutely ideal, and Pereira must now keep both of them in place to allow their partnership to blossom.
- READ MORE: Vitor Pereira suggests there’s an underrated part of Santiago Bueno’s game he really likes
Pereira must allow Bueno and Krejci partnership to grow
Pereira is now going between two different systems.
Against Spurs, he started with a back four, and then switched to a back five for the second-half, bringing Agbadou on to play in the middle.
It is good to be flexible and adaptive, but Pereira must ensure that he does give this budding new partnership between Bueno and Krejci every chance to grow.
They look like they are really on the same wavelength, and understand each other’s games.
They are both good ball-players, and that will be good for building from the back. But most importantly, both are calm and collected.
But both do have physicality too – Bueno has previously been accused of lacking in this department, but the Uruguayan has definitely looked more steely this term, and hopefully he’ll continue to show that.