‘We need to get him on’: O’Neil urged to start Wolves ace who’s not played a single PL minute
Molineux legend Steve Bull believes Gary O’Neil should consider changing Wolves’ formation and starting Matt Doherty.
It has been a tough start for Wanderers so far.
It’s just three points taken from the first four games, and there are early signs that this could be a difficult season.
But there have also been some encouraging moments, which O’Neil will be focusing on.
But just one win so far might suggest a need for change.
And Bull believes that should come in the form of reintroducing a back three – and starting summer signing Doherty…
Steve Bull wants the return of wing-backs at Wolves
Bull believes that O’Neil must now consider reverting back to the system Wolves had so much success with a few years ago.
Wolves recorded back-to-back seventh place finishes in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo.
And his use of a back three and wing-backs was key to that, as well as a run to the FA Cup semi-final and a Europa League quarter.
Bull said: “Gary O’Neil is still dipping his toe in the water with the team at the moment and it will take a bit of time, but if it was down to me I’d change to a back three.
“With a back four we’re getting caught out. Doherty is on the bench as a wing-back, but he causes more problems in the opposition box than in our box and we need to get him on.”
So far, Doherty has not yet featured in the Premier League since his return to Wolves.
But he did start against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup and scored two goals.
Matt Doherty starting against Liverpool could be a good shout
Bull is not alone in thinking it could now be time for Doherty to start for Wolves in the Premier League.
Nelson Semedo was poor last time out against Crystal Palace, and has not really kicked on from his outstanding performance against Manchester United.
It’s Liverpool up next for Wolves, and a back three with wing-backs might not be such a bad shout.
And if that is being considered, then it’s hard to argue against Doherty starting. He probably suits that wing-back role better than Semedo, and Wolves could have a bit more defensive solidity with a third centre-half.
Explained: Why Matheus Nunes’ Man City transfer strike at Wolves was pointless & had no impact on £53m move
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has explained why the strike Matheus Nunes went on ahead of his transfer to Manchester City was pointless.
- Portuguese made it clear he wanted move
- Stopped attending training
- Deal done at full asking price
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Portugal international midfielder took matters into his own hands when learning that he had become a top target for the 2022-23 Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup Treble winners. City saw an initial £47 million ($59m) approach knocked back, leading to Nunes going AWOL at Wolves.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
A deal was eventually done on deadline day at £53m ($66m), with City youngster Tommy Doyle included in that package as he moved to Molineux on loan. Nunes ultimately got his wish, as he headed to the Etihad Stadium, but O’Neil is adamant that his questionable behaviour played no part in that.
WHAT THEY SAID
O’Neil has told talkSPORT of Wolves doing a deal at the asking price they always had in place: “It’s difficult for me to talk about now because Matheus is obviously at Manchester City. I don’t want to talk too much about Manchester City’s players. That wouldn’t have been how I chose to handle it. I know players nowadays have a lot of people advising them on how best to do things. As a club, we were always really clear on how the process would go. We had a valuation for Matheus. We also had things we needed to try and get in place to make sure we could replace him within the next few days.
“So that the offer we received, if it had got to the level we were happy with, we were always going to give Matheus our blessing and allow him to move on. But the way the player behaves in that situation doesn’t change that. It doesn’t bring the price down, it doesn’t make us more keen to do it or not do it. There’s a lot of things that go into a player moving clubs, especially at that time in the window. It’s not how I would have chosen to do it. But before that time with Matheus. A very talented boy. Good kid, works his socks off every single day for us. Hopefully the move goes well for him.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Nunes has signed a five-year contract with City and will be hoping to make his debut for the Blues away at West Ham on September 16, having been an unused substitute in their 5-1 victory over Fulham prior to the international break.
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