It has been a very tough start for Wolves in 2024/25 so far, with the defence having looked vulnerable at times.
Currently, Wolves are bottom of the Premier League table after six games and have conceded the highest number of goals with 16.
While there have been some positive signs, Wolves certainly need to start getting points on the board.
Key to this, will be a big improvement in the defence.
Wolves have now lost Yerson Mosquera to a long-term injury, meaning Gary O’Neil has just three senior centre-back options until January; Craig Dawson, Toti Gomes and Santiago Bueno.
Toti has played four of Wolves’ six league games, playing centre-back in three of those.
Arguably, he has not looked completely comfortable while playing as a centre-back, but there is one person who might be able to help him out.
Craig Dawson can help Toti Gomes to improve his form for Wolves
Toti has made 72 appearances to date for Wolves’ first-team, and in most of those games, he has operated on the left of a back three.
That is a position that has generally suited him quite well.
This term, Toti has played centre-back in a back four and has looked shaky at times. In the opening game against Arsenal, he looked a total liability.
Against Chelsea, he was again poor as the Blues attacked him and Rayan Ait-Nouri relentlessly.
Toti moved to left-back against Forest and fared better. After a couple of games out injured, Toti returned to the starting XI against Liverpool to partner Bueno.
So far, the Portuguese has not once played in a pairing with Dawson – and one feels that this could be key to helping Toti settle in the middle of a back four.
Dawson couldn’t play against Liverpool due to illness. The veteran did start though against Forest, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
It’s Brentford this weekend for Wolves and Dawson has recovered from illness and will likely start the game. Toti may well be his partner, over Bueno, and the 25-year-old could really benefit from having such an experienced player alongside him.
Dawson has previous with Kilman
Many Wolves fans are of the opinion that after Dawson joined Wolves for just over £3 million in January 2023, the form of Max Kilman generally improved.
Kilman had not been in good form in the first half of the 2022/23 season, but he started to perform better when Dawson arrived and bolstered the backline.
Kilman responded very well to his arrival, and even admitted that he had guided him through a game against Liverpool, which happened to be Dawson’s Wolves debut. He said: “It’s great for everyone. It was great playing with him, you can see his experience and he’s a natural leader.
“He’s very strong and guided me through the game and collectively, defensively, we were really solid.”
At the moment, Toti seems like a player who needs that experienced head next to him.
He still does not have many minutes playing as a left-sided centre-back in a four. But with Dawson to his right, this could potentially make life a lot easier for him.