Wolves were always going to struggle in the opening weeks of the 2024/25 season.
Gary O’Neil was dealt a tricky hand, with Arsenal up first in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium. Wolves lost 2-0, but there were positive signs.
The following weekend, Wolves hosted Chelsea and after doing fairly well in the first-half – they really capitulated in the second, going on to lose 6-2.
Wolves bounced back in the Carabao Cup by beating Burnley 2-0, before getting their first Premier League point of 2024/25 with a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.
Pretty much, Wolves have started as most people thought they would in terms of results.
Fans will now hope that Wanderers can try and kick on in September, although more tough games await.
Key to Wolves improving will be the form of Mario Lemina, who has arguably been Wolves’ best player so far this term.
Why Mario Lemina is surely Wolves’ Player of the Month for August
Lemina was outstanding last season for Wolves, which was highlighted by the fact he claimed the Supporters’ Player of the Season award back in May.
He turned in so many inspirational performances in the centre of midfield alongside Joao Gomes, and at times he popped up everywhere in games for Wolves, even playing out of position amid injury problems within the squad.
This term, Lemina has pretty much picked up where he left off in 2023/24.
So far, he’s started all three games for Wolves in the Premier League, and also played a large chunk of the game against Burnley in the Carabao Cup after the injury to Boubacar Traore.
Wolves may have only picked up one Premier League point so far. But Lemina can certainly hold his head high.
In the draw with Forest, Lemina made a whopping 10 tackles. That was the most of any player at the weekend across England’s top four tiers
It was also the most by a Wolves player in a Premier League game since Jonny Castro Otto made 11 in 2019 against Crystal Palace.
Not only that, he also made nine ball recoveries against the Reds and provided the assist for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s equaliser.
After three Premier League games, he is joint-third of all players for inteceptions made (8), and joit-fifth for tackles (12).
Incidently, Wolves have now opened the vote for the first Player of the Month award, with fans able to vote for their winner here.
Lemina has made a great start after assuming captaincy
So it has been a solid start for Lemina on a personal level and few would have really expected anything different
He was tremendous last season and Wolves fans know that he went through a tough time midway through with the sad passing of his father.
The £9.7 million signing was inspirational in the way he returned and still kept really high standards, and Lemina has done a great job so far this term after being named the new captain after Max Kilman left.
You so get the feeling that Lemina absoutely loves playing for Wolves and relishes wearning the armband. He is a brilliant fit for the role and will no doubt be a key man once again this season.