FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

FFTVERDICT

FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 43

RAULJIMENEZ

TheMexican’scontributionwasprematurely

questionedinsomequarters,but 20 goalsand

assistsinhisfirstPremierLeagueseasonlaid

anydoubtstorest.Jimenezalsoleadstheline

unselfishly,alwaysclosingdownopponents.

KEY PLAYER

9

TH

VIEW FROM THE STAn DS

DAVE AZZOPARDI @TALKINGWOLVES

The big talking point among the

fans is Europe! Let’s just hope we

can get past the qualifying stages!

Look out for Max Kilman. Morgan

Gibbs-White and Ruben Vinagre

are integrated into the first team

but it’ll be an interesting year for

Kilman, who is a bit older, at 22,

and an England international at

futsal. Just under a year ago he

was playing non-league football,

but he made his Premier League

debut at the end of 2018-19.

He could be given some more

first-team minutes this season.

The player I’d happily drive to

another club is Leo Bonatini,

unfortunately, as I never like to

out a player. He was a fantastic

goalscorer for us but hasn’t found

that form since promotion, and he

isn’t good enough for us any more.

The one change I’d make to the

club would be the ground capacity

• I know it’s in the works but so
  many fans won’t see European
  football at Molineux this season.
  I hope we can increase it in the
  next few years and stay in the
  Europa League – or even better!

The opposition player I secretly

admire is Bernardo Silva. I’ve got

a soft spot for him – maybe I hope

his Portuguese roots will bring him

to Wolverhampton one day...

The fans’ view of the gaffer is

that some class him as one of

the best Wolves managers of the

modern era. His style of football is

the best I’ve ever seen at Molineux.

If he left, he should be replaced

by Jose Mourinho. He has the links

with Jorge Mendes, and – love him

or hate him – he’s a serial winner.

We’ll finish in the top half.

FIVE-POIn T PLAn

1

GOBBLE UP THE MINNOWS

Last term, Wolves picked up more
points against the top six teams
(16) than the bottom six (13). Even
rock-bottom Huddersfield, who won
three games all season, did the double
over them. When Wolves were playing
3-4-3 in the first half of 2018-19, some
teams did a job on them by putting an
extra man in midfield to outnumber
them. Nuno tweaked the formation to
3-5-2, which helped – but as Wolves
are still at their most dangerous when
they’re counter-attacking, they may
look to isolate poorer opponents before
taking their chances. Whatever works...

2

KEEP RAUL JIMENEZ FIT

With £32m club-record signing
Raul Jimenez still involved in the
Gold Cup well into July, 11 days
before their first pre-season friendly,
Wanderers need to wrap the Mexico
international in cotton wool to ensure
he can match or better the 13 Premier
League goals he netted last season.
Once Diogo Jota joined him in a front
two, there was no stopping them.

3

WORK OUT ADAMA TRAORE

That Traore made just eight starts
in the league, with one goal and
one assist, suggests Nuno is yet to
work him out. He’s tried Traore as a wide
forward, a striker and even a wing-back,
with little success. The 23-year-old is
allegedly the world’s fastest footballer
and indisputably a truly elite dribbler,
but his decision-making needs work.

4

TRUST IN JOAO MOUTINHO

Ahead of his 33rd birthday, it’d be
easy to assume the Portuguese
magician is slowing down. He is
not. Eight league assists don’t begin to
convey Moutinho’s impact last season;
the club’s Player of the Year controlled
games in a way no other Wolves player
can. Many fans say he’s the best they’ve
seen in old gold. If he continues to have
an occasional rest in the domestic cups,
Moutinho can exert his influence again.

5

RING THE CHANGES

There are times when Nuno needs
to freshen things up, and Helder
Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro leaving
creates two more spaces on the bench.
No doubt Wolves have a plan, but their
season began on July 25. Chop chop.

SEASOn PREVIEW

TheBluebrickis

a few minutes from

the train station and

15 minutes from the

ground. Bizarrely for

its central location,

Molineux has few

away-friendly pubs.

@WeLoveWolvesare

a good source for the

latest comings and

goings; TV presenter

@JacquiOatley is

a lifelong Wolves fan

with her finger on

the pulse of football.

Wolvesfailedto

score against the

teams who finished

bottom of their

division in each of

the past two years.

Faggotsandpeasrepresent the

old-school culinary triumph of the

Black Country, so don’t knock it

until you’ve tried it. Bostin’, ayit!

Havea pintofBanks’sbitter.

West Park is also worth a visit

when the weather holds, or

even for a scenic winter wander.

MATCHDAY PACK

AWAY PUB

SIGn ATURE DISH WHILE YOU’RE HERE...

DID YOU MUST FOLLOW

K nOW...?

AUGUST

11 Leicester (a)

19 Man United (h)

24 Burnley (h)

SEPTEMBER

1 Everton (a)

14 Chelsea (h)

21 Crystal Palace (a)

28 Watford (h)

OCTOBER

5 Man City (a)

19 Southampton (h)

26 Newcastle (a)

NOVEMBER

2 Arsenal (a)

9 Aston Villa (h)

23 Bournemouth (a)

30 Sheffield United (h)

DECEMBER

3 West Ham (h)

7 Brighton (a)

14 Tottenham (h)

21 Norwich (a)

26 Man City (h)

28 Liverpool (a)

JANUARY

1 Watford (a)

11 Newcastle (h)

18 Southampton (a)

21 Liverpool (h)

FEBRUARY

1 Man United (a)

8 Leicester (h)

22 Norwich (h)

29 Tottenham (a)

MARCH

7 Brighton (h)

14 West Ham (a)

21 Bournemouth (h)

APRIL

4 Aston Villa (a)

11 Arsenal (h)

18 Sheffield United (a)

25 Everton (h)

MAY

2 Burnley (a)

9 Crystal Palace (h)

17 Chelsea (a)

FIXTURES

Consolidation, with a run

in Europe, may be on the

cards for this thin squad.