Wolves fans knew it would be a tough start to the season.
When the fixtures were released, there was a collective groan as supporters realised the club would be facing Arsenal and Chelsea in the first two games, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Liverpool all to come in September.
Wolves have taken just one point so far, and have also just gone out of the Carabao Cup to Brighton in the third round.
Despite how Wolves have started in terms of results though, there have been some positive signs.
But Wolves have definitely looked weak defensively, and the failure to land a new centre-half with experience does appear to be stinging already.
And arguably, there is one specific thing about Wolves’ defending this season that Gary O’Neil must address rapidly.
Wolves have a new Achilles heel: inverted wingers
It is becoming increasingly common these days for teams to set up with inverted wingers.
Often the purpose of this is to get players to come inside on their stronger foot, to either take a shot at goal or to cross the ball. Sometimes, the full-back will follow inside, creating space for a reverse pass for an overlapping full-back.
Inverted wingers can be very dangerous, especially ones that are also comfortable going on the outside and mixing it up.
This season, Wolves have dealt with inverted wingers really poorly.
In the first game against Arsenal, Rayan Ait-Nouri allowed Bukayo Saka to come inside on his left foot and find the far corner. That goal, which was Arsenal’s second, killed that game.
Last weekend against Newcastle, with the scoreline at 1-1, Harvey Barnes came inside from the left, striding away from Matt Doherty, before unleashing a brilliant strike into the top corner. As good a hit as it was, it was avoidable from a Wolves perspective.
And then just last night against Brighton, Simon Adingra capitalised on Pedro Lima‘s inexperience. He came in from the left, also skipping by Santi Bueno, before finding the far corner. It was another feeble defensive effort from Wolves.
O’Neil must address this issue immediately
There maybe has to be a bit of sympathy with O’Neil here, because it should be obvious that full-backs need to show wingers who are playing on the ‘wrong’ side down the line.
The manager actually did say after the loss to Newcastle: “We speak to the full-backs every day about showing the wingers outside, all the time, literally every day since I’ve been here.”
He can only give instructions to his players in the hope they actually carry them out.
But Wolves have now conceded three times from players cutting inside and shooting with their strong foot.
Somehow, there needs to be more protection inside in case wingers do try and come into the middle. Wingers just cannot be allowed to move into dangerous central positions.