Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has transformed a host of areas at the club, with one thing proving to be a drastic upgrade to what the Old Gold became accustomed to under Julen Lopetegui.
Not many could have anticipated just how influential Gary O’Neil would be to Wolves in such little time.
The Englishman was hired just five days before the 2023/24 Premier League season opener, yet has managed to get the best out of his squad despite the woes surrounding Molineux in the summer.
Lack of funds due to financial restrictions saw Julen Lopetegui step away from his role after expressing his concerns about the lack of squad depth going into the campaign.
O’Neil took on the job in the Midlands with little time or room to manoeuvre the squad to his liking, however, early signs have shown just how much he has improved one thing that suffered under Lopetegui.
Gary O’Neil has bolstered Wolves’ defence without new signings
The key area that the manager was instructed to improve on his arrival at Molineux was the lack of goals scored in the squad.
In the 2022/23 season, no side scored fewer Premier League goals than Wolves, who netted just 31 in the entire campaign.
While the Englishman has seen his side eclipse last term’s tally already, his impact on the front line isn’t the 40-year-old’s only achievement since taking over from Lopetegui.
Under the Spaniard, Wolves had little to no creativity coming from their defence, seeing the likes of Nelson Semedo extremely limited to influencing play in advanced areas.
The former Real Madrid boss preferred to position his defence in a flat back four, whereas O’Neil best exploits his defenders by playing a back three with two wing-backs in support.
How much Gary O’Neil has boosted Wolves’ full-backs
You only need to take a look at the statistics from last season in comparison to this season to see just how much the boss is getting out of his defence on the flanks.
Take Semedo for example, last term, the Portugal international averaged 1.71 progressive carries and 3.76 progressive passes per 90 under Lopetegui, where he now averages 2.95 progressive carries and 4.20 progressive passes per 90, via FBref.
On the opposite side, Lopetegui failed to recognise the greatly versatile asset he had in Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is a key member of O’Neil’s current squad, despite falling out of favour with the previous boss.
The Englishman has added an entirely refreshed dynamic to the Old Gold’s back line, reshuffling the one-dimensional structure of Lopetegui’s squad to source additional cover and a greater balance for the squad in general.