Wolves must ignore outside noise and focus on Premier League survival

National World - LocalTV

A look at how the early predictions are rolling in for Pereira’s side.

Transcript

00:01Charlie, let's look at Wolves and let's start with the sort of elephant in the room, the outgoings this summer.

00:07I mean, it's been a massive hit really to the squad in terms of depth, in terms of proven Premier League talent.

00:13They're going to be taking a bit of a punt on players coming in who haven't really had any experience in the top flight in England.

00:21I mean, it starts obviously with Mateus Cunha, Ryan Aitnora, your two best players really from the last season.

00:27So that's a massive hit in itself.

00:28Then Tommy Doyle, you feel he could have been a fringe player, but Pereira obviously has made that decision.

00:34And then obviously we mentioned the importance of the skipper, Nelson Sameda, who's out the door as well.

00:40A massive loss in him.

00:42You know, Pablo Sarabia, yes, maybe wasn't the greatest talent, but did chip in at times when he was needed and he was confident.

00:50And then obviously Bubakar Traore and Goncalo Guedes as well.

00:55Two more big names really in terms of that squad depth.

00:58I mean, it's been a real outgoing summer for Wolves in terms of the headlines.

01:05Will it affect them as much as it could?

01:07Because obviously when teams do massive overhaul clear outs, it can really come back to bite them.

01:13It's definitely difficult, isn't it?

01:15Looking at it on the surface, you've lost best attacker at Wolves in Mateus Cunha.

01:20There's a lot of money there, at least.

01:2262.5 million is a record sale.

01:25Ryan Aitnora, 33 million plus some add-ons to match the City.

01:28That feels a bit low considering he's such a proven asset.

01:31And especially in the back three in the Pereira, the perfect kind of left wing back City have signed him.

01:37He's one of the top players in the division in that position.

01:39So that's a huge loss.

01:41But there is a lot of money there.

01:43Semedo as well, you mentioned, is probably even more important than Aitnora in terms of his experience and his leadership as well as the captain.

01:50That's a huge loss.

01:51But there is a lot of money that has been brought in.

01:53They have made some exciting signings.

01:55It's just that unproven nature, as you mentioned, Charles.

01:57It's going to be quite difficult for the likes of John Arias and Phil Lopez to make a difference immediately out front.

02:03We quite often see when players come in from South America and from Spain that it can take a year or so for them to properly settle.

02:11It's going to be incredibly difficult.

02:13And they are the big signings up top.

02:15They are meant to be the ones replacing Cunha, replacing Sarabia.

02:19Can he do it straight away?

02:20It's going to be difficult.

02:21But at least Jürgen Strand-Larsen has signed permanently.

02:24I think that's quite a big move.

02:26Scored 14 goals in his opening Premier League season.

02:28There's been talk he's an option potentially for Newcastle United as a striker option if Alexander Izak goes to Liverpool.

02:35So he's a fantastic player.

02:37Someone who could be the talisman figure this season.

02:40And of course, in midfield, Andre and Joao Gomez, I think, is probably one of the best partnerships outside the big six,

02:46if not the best partnership outside the big six.

02:49Maybe Aston Villas, Telemans and Kamara could trump those.

02:52But, yeah, it's going to be very difficult for Wolves.

02:55But they have still got some great individuals.

02:56And I expect they'll probably go and spend some more money as well to replace those who have left.

03:00Yeah, it's obviously not been an awful summer in terms of incomings with those few you mentioned there.

03:07And obviously, full-back cover with Wolves.

03:09Wolves by name, now Wolves by the club as well, which is pretty interesting there.

03:14He said it's a match made in heaven.

03:15I mean, that is showing a bit of a change in their transfer strategy because, you know,

03:21over the last few seasons, Fosun have been very slow to react.

03:24It seems like, you know, they've got their players in and they're seemingly making good progress in terms of their transfer strategy.

03:31That means January could be another interesting month, as it was this year.

03:34But they are showing backing towards Vito Pereira.

03:37He's a man who obviously captured the sort of hearts of the fan base.

03:41But it's so important now that he really knuckles down on the pitch.

03:45I mean, let's be honest, his short sort of spell so far has not really made that many errors as a Premier League manager.

03:52So maybe that's something that Wolves really need to hang on to is the way Pereira started

03:57and hope this sort of, you know, early manager phase doesn't really die out

04:02and he can really try and get some good results again this season.

04:05Now, I think every confidence in Pereira as a manager, he's charismatic, he's pragmatic as well.

04:10He's good at getting the best out of a bad situation.

04:13Got to remember, Cunha was suspended for several games,

04:16three or four games after being sent off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

04:20What a silly moment that was.

04:21He was able to cope without.

04:23Strand Larson, you could probably argue, was better when Cunha wasn't on the pitch.

04:27So that's another positive.

04:28You've got the likes of Rodrigo Gomez, who might want to step up this season,

04:31who didn't quite have the opportunity last year.

04:34Maybe he could play in either wingback position or as part of the front three as well.

04:38So you've got that as a positive.

04:40Wolves, as you mentioned, he's a proven player.

04:43I think Wolves typically sign players that aren't as proven,

04:46but he is in his prime years already or heading into them anyway at 23.

04:50He's been a consistent starter in the Eredivisie for the last couple of seasons.

04:55And he's quite a physical player already and someone who can really lock down the left flank.

04:59Of course, not proven in the Premier League, but is proven in a top flight.

05:03I'm hoping he'll be able to be a good replacement for Ait Nuri.

05:07On the right, though, it's difficult because Mark Puebill went to Atletico Madrid instead of Wolves.

05:12Juan Luis Sanchez rejecting Wolves in favour of Napoli.

05:14Talks potentially of Julian Ryerson from Dortmund.

05:18These are all if, buts and maybes.

05:19They're not really definitives.

05:21They're not players who are showing a proper desire to play for Wolves,

05:24unlike Wolves on the opposite side.

05:27It's tricky. Wolves need to find someone who's capable down the right-hand side

05:30because Semedo is such a critical part of Pereira's system.

05:34But every faith in Pereira as a manager, he does get the best at the bad situations

05:39and should be able to help Wolves push on next season.

05:43And finally, obviously, the Premier League predictions start to roll in across social media, etc.

05:49I mean, it seems like a lot of people are writing Wolves off.

05:52They're writing in terms of relegation, that dreaded word that has been hovering over Molyneux

05:58for the last few seasons now.

05:59They want to make sure they are sort of that stabilised mid-table side.

06:03It's obviously a big-ass, a lot easier said than done,

06:06but the home form has a massive sort of impact on that.

06:09You look at the likes of Crystal Palace.

06:11I mean, they go through a lot of ups and downs,

06:13but then tend to just come through a bit because of that home form.

06:18I mean, obviously, the last two seasons in Wolves' favour,

06:21the teams who've come up have gone straight back down.

06:24People are throwing Wolves in to be one of the clubs to go down

06:27and one of the new guys to stay up.

06:30What do you sort of think in terms of your predictions

06:33and where Wolves can end up?

06:34Because it is a bit precarious when you are losing such important players.

06:39Yeah, it's going to be close, I think.

06:41But I think the core of the team is there.

06:43There are some exciting new additions.

06:45It depends how they gel.

06:46But they could be very good.

06:48Someone like Arias could be incredible, for instance.

06:51But someone like an Agpadu at centre-back,

06:53having a partnership with Gomez and Andre in midfield,

06:56having Strand Larsson up top,

06:58these are such great players.

06:59And to get relegated would be a shock, I think,

07:01if you've got those individuals available.

07:03If they start getting injured,

07:05then maybe Wolves could be in trouble.

07:07But I think if Wolves can keep those core players fit

07:10and raring to go and confident,

07:11then I think they'll have every chance of being absolutely fine

07:14and potentially pushing into mid-table.

07:16Sunderland is a worry.

07:18Probably the team before the transfer win, though,

07:20everyone was said it would be 20th.

07:22But now making some incredible signings

07:24could be the team to surprise everyone.

07:26We'll have to wait and see.

07:27But I think Wolves, just about with the players they've got,

07:30will be OK.

07:30OK.

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