Wolves are taking on Manchester City in their next Premier League game on Saturday.
Wanderers are in a tough moment right now, having taken just four points from their first six games.
Last night, Wolves also exited the Carabao Cup at the hands of Ipswich Town.
Wolves were 2-0 up and had enjoyed a good first 20 minutes.
But a horrible 70 followed, and Ipswich turned things around to win 3-2.
What should have been a morale-boosting win, turned out to be a confidence-breaking defeat.
Wolves now have to try and bounce back against arguably the best side in club football right now.
It’s going to be a really difficult game, but maybe O’Neil can increase the chances of a result by doing something he has not yet done in the Premier League.
O’Neil should bring in Toti Gomes and start with a back three against Man City
So far in the Premier League, O’Neil has started Craig Dawson and Max Kilman as a pairing every time.
This has not been particularly successful.
Neither have really done well in these first six games, and one wonders if it’s now time to go to a back three – especially against a side as potent as City.
They are going to dominate the ball, and Wolves need that solidity at the back.
So O’Neil should consider fielding a back three from the start, for the first time in the league this season. This has to be the team to do it against, otherwise it could get ugly quickly.
Toti has shown since coming into the picture at Wolves that he is a solid defender.
Despite scoring against Ipswich on Tuesday, he had a bit of an off night.
But tactically, it may make sense for O’Neil to bring in on Saturday.
Wolves can then play with wing-backs, and Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo both know the roles well.
Counter attack could be the way
It would be no surprise if O’Neil went with his fastest frontline on Saturday.
That would be Hwang Hee-chan, Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha.
Maybe the best plan is to try and defend as resolutely as possible, and then launch counter-attacks where possible with that speedy trio. Perhaps it’s not particularly bold or adventurous, but Wolves would surely love to take a point against City.
Having a back three does make sense.
Erling Haaland is just such a handful and may well need two centre-backs marshalling him throughout the game.
If Wolves did get a point against City, that could actually do wonders for confidence.
