A look at Wolves with their tight squad issues that have caused them a few problems over the last couple of seasons with injuries to some of their star players. As the summer approaches, they must be sure to keep their big names to make progress next season.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Charlie, on to Wolves and now their squad issue is no secret really, obviously it's been touched on by Gary O'Neill and current players in the media as well.
00:12They are so threadbare in this squad with so many young players on the bench, for example.
00:19It's not the ideal time for them, but maybe it's a bit of a blessing that they, for example, didn't make it to Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final.
00:27That could have been a real embarrassment if they had to line up with so many youngsters.
00:32What do you make of it and how much do they need from the summer really to get rid of this problem?
00:38There's going to be a massive rebuild, you'd hope, in the summer in terms of rebuilding some depth again.
00:44Wolves just haven't had depth in numbers whatsoever this year and they've had lots of injuries as well,
00:49which hasn't helped things and injuries to key players, especially in forward positions.
00:53That's why they've really struggled to keep going.
00:56They had some good momentum at the start of the year and fans and those away from Wolves are talking about them as potential European contenders.
01:03I don't think that was ever really going to fully happen just because of their lack of depth, as I mentioned,
01:08and the likes of Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan suffering big injuries.
01:13Pedro Neto, of course, out for the rest of the season is a massive blow.
01:16Matheus Cunha just can't seem to get consistent again with his fitness.
01:20He's had a rare calf issue as well, which hasn't helped.
01:24You mentioned the youngsters against Arsenal.
01:26Just as an example, there were five teenagers on the bench and Tawanda Turay were making his first Premier League start as well,
01:33against title challengers, no less.
01:36The Wolves dug in that game and they showed their resilience and they showed why they're going to fight for the badge and the fans got behind them.
01:42I think that kind of sums up Wolves and the tail end of this season as well.
01:45That's what it's going to be the rest of it.
01:47We might see Pedro Neto towards the end. Hwang Hee-chan is building his fitness back.
01:51Matheus Cunha is going to hope to get back for the final few games properly.
01:55But in order to build some actual momentum, I think we need to look ahead to next season and the transfer window as a whole, really.
02:02Obviously, the transfer window coming up, it's important that the Wolves get some new names in.
02:06But how important is it that they also keep some of their star players that have got them this far this season?
02:12In such a small squad, they've managed to stay fit for the majority of it.
02:16And the likes of Neto, Cunha, Hwang and these top players, they're so important to Wolves.
02:23Oh, they really are. They've been outstanding.
02:26Once again, they've not been inconsistent enough with fitness, but that's not their own fault.
02:29It's just been unfortunate circumstances and pull-ups and taking knocks in games and whacks.
02:35So you can't blame them for that. But when they have been fit, they've stepped up for the team.
02:38And Matheus Cunha, for me, I think he's just been tremendous.
02:42You'd expect so, 45 million from Atletico Madrid, but two hat-tricks and a bucketload of other goals as well.
02:48And just getting involved in the general build-up play to goals has been very impressive.
02:52And then an honourable mention as well to Mario Lamina, who's really stepped up for his team, playing an array of positions.