Wolves have got off to a difficult start in the Premier League, losing their first two games of 2024/25.
Wolves were beaten by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in their first game, and were then put to the sword by Chelsea at Molineux last weekend.
After a good response in the first-half to going a goal down, Wolves were taken apart by the Blues in the second, with Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer wreaking havoc down their right side.
It was a very poor showing from Rayan Ait-Nouri, who came in for a lot of criticism after the game for his positioning.
Ait-Nouri is a special talent, but there remain question marks over his ability to play as a left-back in a back four.
Former Wolves full-back Andy Thompson is concerned about the Algerian, and feels Wolves may have actually been a bit hasty sanctioning one transfer deal this summer.
Andy Thompson questions Gary O’Neil’s decision to send Hugo Bueno out on loan
Ait-Nouri has undoubtedly looked more comfortable operating as a left wing-back during his time at Molineux.
Last term, he was superb when he was permitted to bomb forwards, with Toti Gomes able to cover the space he left behind him.
This season, O’Neil has changed the system to a back four, with Toti playing as the left-sided centre-back and Ait-Nouri as the left-back.
It just hasn’t worked so far, and Thompson has questioned why O’Neil sanctioned the loan exit of Hugo Bueno to Feyenoord.
He said on Matchday Live Extra: “We just got rid of the other lad who was a left-back, we sent him out on loan, which I was surprised at.
“I was surprised with us playing a back four that it probably suited Bueno a lot better than Ait-Nouri.
“Clearly that’s what the manager wanted, to play four at the back. I just thought that Bueno was more of a left-back rather than a wing-back, Ait-Nouri is the opposite to that. He’s (Ait-Nouri) learned a few lessons today and last week.”
Bueno loan deal looking strange in hindsight
Bueno needs to play regularly this season after spending a lot of time on the bench last term.
So from that standpoint, it is understandable why Wolves sanctioned a loan move for him.
But that said, O’Neil has changed the system to a back four and used Ait-Nouri at left-back – and the Algerian has not had a good start. And actually, there has been very little evidence to suggest that Ait-Nouri could be a viable option for that position. He has been much better as a wing-back for Wolves.
But Bueno was allowed to depart and now O’Neil has some thinking to do. The manager surely cannot continue with Ait-Nouri as a left-back. Toti is an option, but again, it is not his natural position.
Wolves may well have been a little hasty in loaning Bueno out. Surely, the Spaniard would have been a better fit in a back four, with Ait-Nouri perhaps playing higher as a winger.