How O'Neil has added bite back into Wolves' play

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 13.

Manager analysis: Gary O'Neil

Gary O’Neil’s positive tactical approach has breathed fresh life into Wolverhampton Wanderers.

FUL

3-2

WOL

Highlights Available

close

TV Info - Broadcasters

After 12 matches of 2022/23 they had scored just five goals, but despite facing seven of the top eight already, Wolves have struck 16 times at the same stage this time around.

On the back of beating Tottenham Hotspur with two late but deserved goals, they travel to Fulham on Monday with tremendous self-belief.

Able to adapt

Wolves’ 40-year-old head coach is versatile in the formations he deploys.

By using two left-sided defensive players in Toti Gomes and Rayan Ait-Nouri, O’Neil can seamlessly shift between a back three and back four.

This is something he does on a game-by-game basis, mixing up the shape of his side to keep opposition managers guessing.

Wolves' formations used under O'Neil

Ait-Nouri can play anywhere down the left side and in attack, the likes of Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are all versatile enough to drop into midfield or take up wider positions too.

This allows Wolves to transition between different formations in-game with ease.

In possession O’Neil likes to create 3v2 and 4v3 overloads and his fluid system helps to manufacture those situations.

Difficult to play against again

After gaining promotion from the Championship in 2018, Wolves quickly earned a reputation as a team that were difficult to play against. Well organised but also hostile in their approach, they rarely let opponents settle on the ball.

This aspect of their play faded a little across the last two campaigns, but O’Neil has brought it back in abundance.

Midfield pair Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina are natural ball winners and throughout the side, Wolves work hard as a collective to create turnover situations.

No team regains possession or wins more duels than O’Neil’s side, who are also among the division’s best tacklers.

Wolves' defensive stats 2023/24

*Rotate screen to view table in full

Out of possession Wolves tend to be narrow, packing the central areas, often dropping their striker back into midfield to close down opposition players.

This shrinks space inside a congested midfield, enhancing their prospects of regaining the ball. From there, they break brilliantly at pace.

Getting up the pitch quicker

Last season Wolves were too slow moving the ball forward, progressing upfield at an average rate of just 1.25 metres per second.

This was the second-lowest "direct speed" in the division, but under O’Neil they show far greater thrust and directness, with his side progressing the ball upfield at 1.71 metres per second.

Fast-paced flair

One of Wolves’ main strengths is their pace in forward areas.

Both wing-backs and most of their attackers love to run with the ball at speed. In fact five of the Premier League’s most successful dribblers this season feature in O’Neil’s side.

Cunha is exceptional with the ball at his feet and has completed 31 dribbles, but Neto with 23, Ait-Nouri and Hwang with 20 each and Nelson Semedo with 19 all offer quality in this department too.

In essence Wolves are built to win the ball back in central areas before breaking at speed and this is something they have done excellently this season. No team have fashioned more shots from fast breaks.

Wolves leading the way 2023/24

This tactic arguably works best against the strongest sides, so there may not be as many opportunities to counter against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

But when Wolves do create those transitions, Marco Silva’s side – who have lost key man Joao Palhinha to suspension - will have to defend well to contain them.

Wolves may only have 15 points on the board but after getting through a challenging fixture schedule there is now real belief at Molineux that they can finish in the top half.

Premier League

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
9	West Ham WHU	38	-14	52
10	Crystal Palace CRY	38	-1	49
11	Brighton BHA	38	-7	48
12	Bournemouth BOU	38	-13	48
13	Fulham FUL	38	-6	47

View More

O’Neil has developed a clear identity and an exciting brand of football which is popular with a Wolves fanbase who demand wholehearted effort and attacking intent.

They feel like a team that is together, and on the rise.