Gary O’Neil will have to pull off a tactical masterclass for Wolves to beat Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
O’Neil proved it was possible last season, as Wolves secured a brilliant 2-1 win over Man City in September 2023 – three points that truly kickstarted their campaign.
The Wanderers boss is praying for similar miracles in 2024/25 as Wolves currently sit 19th in the Premier League on one point, moving up a place after Leicester came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2.
Still, it’s been a dreadful start to the season with six losses in their opening seven however, that hasn’t stopped Kevin Nolan from predicting Wolves to produce a shock win over Man City.
For that to happen, everything will need to fall into place to nullify their world-class opponents and O’Neil will need to get his tactics spot on, including his midfield selection.
How Wolves midfield should lineup vs Man City
O’Neil has hinted at switching to a back three against Man City, starting with a defensive trio of Craig Dawson, Santi Bueno and Toti Gomes.
A switch to a three-man defence could also see a change in midfield, with the manager perhaps dropping captain Mario Lemina and instead deploying a double pivot of Andre and Joao Gomes.
Lemina put in his ‘worst performance’ in a Wolves shirt against Brentford. The 31-year-old was heavily involved in their downfall, making mistakes that cost them at least two goals.
It would be a bold decision to drop a player who offers so much in terms of his leadership qualities but ultimately hasn’t been good enough in recent months.
However, it could be a necessary switch as it could allow O’Neil to see how Andre and Gomes play together as a duo, with the former set to play a vital role against City.
Why Andre is so important vs Man City
Andre, who they signed for £21 million from Fluminense in the summer, has been one of the Old Gold’s standout performers in a disappointing period for the club.
The Brazilian international has oozed class in midfield, with Andre boasting the highest pass accuracy of any player in the Premier League, recording a 95% pass completion.
O’Neil needs the 23-year-old to show similar levels of efficiency in possession on Sunday as Wolves will go long periods of the game without touching the ball.
But the nine-cap international has shown that under the pressure of top-level athletes, he rarely panics and that level of calmness and patience will be required.
Andre is simply a ‘superstar’ talent and any joy they have in the match will likely come through the playmaking abilities of their midfield magician.