How Cardiff City can stop Wolves

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How Cardiff City can stop Wolves

Postby NIGELNIGLE » Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:54 pm

The inside track on Wolves, their glamorous new signings and how Cardiff City can stop them
They've been described as the 'best in the Championship' but just what should Neil Warnock expect against Wolves

Neil Warnock out to prove there's more than one way to skin a cat against big-spending Wolves

Hull coach Leonid Slutsky described them as the “best team in the Championship”, and while Cardiff fans might have something to say about that, Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves team certainly look like staking a serious claim for promotion.

We caught up with chief Wolves writer Steve Wollaston from the Birmingham Mail to learn more about a side who have invested a staggering £19 million over the summer.

Here’s the full analytical lowdown on Wanderers...

Manager

Nuno Espirito Santo


Despite boasting a Champions League medal, Nuno’s playing career was modest, but he has begun to make a name for himself as a progressive and emerging coach. Successful spells in charge of Rio Ave and Valencia, where he took them to fourth in La Liga, earned him a return to Porto. Failing to win any silverware in his first season, Santo resigned, joining Wolves nine days later.

Nuno is clearly a manager who likes to implement a slick style of play, describing some of his side’s movement so far as “beautiful”, “magic” and “like poetry”.

The key signings from Wolves’ summer spending

Ruben Neves

Wolves whipped up a media frenzy when they completed a deal to bring in £15million man Ruben Neves from Porto over the summer. Neves had previously been linked to Europe’s elite, with Manchester United and Liverpool seemingly most interested, so for a Championship side to lure the Portuguese international was an unprecedented signing.

Neves sits at the base of Wolves’ midfield, orchestrating the rhythm and tempo of the game. Despite Neves’ role as a deep-lying sitter, the central midfielder will still look to involve himself in attacks; his thunderbolt of a finish against Hull in midweek attests to his threat going forward.

Leo Bonatini

Wolves landed Brazilian striker Bonatini on loan from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, where he netted 15 goals last season, after joining from Portuguese side Esotril, where he found the net 24 times in 53 appearances.

Diogo Jota Completing Wolves’ trio of young and gifted is Diego Jota, on loan from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. The Portuguese likes to play just off the centre-forward and will roam across Wolves’ forward line; with a goal and assist already to his name, the 20-year-old is full of confidence.

Weaknesses

The Bluebirds have completed the least passes in the Championship, but the fact they sit on the summit is testament to the direct and purposeful way in which they attack. Against Wolves, Cardiff’s attacking style has another chance to thrive, as the home side will look to claim the lion’s share of possession.

Nuno’s side has not yet been tested with an offensive line as deliberate as Cardiff’s and the speed City have on the break, the pace of Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, could unravel their 100% start.

Against Middlesbrough and Hull, Wolves’ looked particularly fragile in defending set-pieces and balls into the box; both of Hull’s goals originated from balls being whipped into the area, with the keeper left flailing for the first goal and sloppy marking leading to a rash challenge which brought a penalty.

The Wolves’ boss admitted that his men struggled when it came to set-pieces; three days is not enough time to address such a glaring weakness, so the Bluebirds will need to capitalise when they can. Youthful sides have plenty of positives, but they can also have repercussions and the Bluebirds should do all they can to exploit inexperience.

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How Cardiff City can stop Wolves

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