AliousThe manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gary O’Neil, has acknowledged the need for a tactical shift after a concerning run of six defeats in their last nine Premier League matches.
The defensive frailties exhibited by Wolves provided Crystal Palace with numerous opportunities, ultimately resulting in a 3-1 defeat.
O’Neil pointed out that the team’s mistakes, particularly those stemming from their attempts to build play from the back, must be addressed to better align with their strengths. He reflected, “There are valuable lessons to be learned from the recent games. The initial strategy worked well for the majority of the season, aiding us in matches, but the recent phase indicates the need for tactical adjustments.”
Emphasizing the urgency to evolve the team’s play in order to secure Premier League victories, O’Neil added, “We must devise a more effective method.”
When discussing the errors made while playing out from the back, O’Neil commended his players for their resilience but acknowledged the necessity to capitalize on the spaces left by aggressive man-to-man pressing, such as that employed by Crystal Palace. He recalled the team’s success against Everton and Brentford and noted that players like Channy and Matheus Cunha are still regaining their form after recovering from injuries.
O’Neil is considering strategic tweaks rather than a complete overhaul, recognizing the significant impact of the absences of Dawson and Pedro on the compact squad. His focus is on enhancing the team’s performance in the upcoming summer and extracting the best from the existing squad.
Despite a subpar first half in the season’s final home fixture, Wolves showed improvement in the second half. Nonetheless, O’Neil expressed his discontent with the team’s overall display, especially their tendency to concede goals quickly after gaining momentum.
In an unforeseen turn of events, goalkeeper Jose Sa withdrew from the starting lineup shortly before halftime due to illness, with Dan Bentley stepping in as a replacement. O’Neil praised Bentley’s composed performance, noting his contribution to the team’s stability.
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