The midfield is arguably a very powerful place on the pitch, warranting probably the most touches and involvement. Particularly within the trendy iteration of the sport, they’re tasked with build up and ball development, arriving in and across the penalty space to complete probabilities and defending in transition to guard the defensive position.
Wolves‘ midfielders this season have averaged 92.8 touches per 90 between them – Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina – however aren’t fairly managing to place their print on the sport, making lower than two progressive passes per 90 between them, and solely 0.33 key passes per 90 between the pair.
Gomes made 38 appearances for Wolves final season, scoring two targets and offering one help in 2,865 minutes performed.
In the meantime, Lemina made 39 appearances, scoring 5 instances and offering one help in 3,261 minutes performed. Neither are fairly nearly as good as Ruben Neves, although, are they?
Ruben Neves’ time at Wolves
Neves was signed for Wolves from FC Porto again in 2017, becoming a member of the membership for a charge of round £15.8m, a file charge paid by a Championship membership on the time.
Solely 20-years-old again then, however clearly extremely rated by his switch charge, Nuno Espírito Santo obtained his man, having beforehand labored with him in Portugal.
The Portuguese midfielder was described as a “elementary” participant for Wolves by Jacek Kulig, and that’s precisely what he proved to be through the years, making 253 appearances in all competitions, scoring 30 targets and offering 13 assists.
His performances for the Previous Gold through the years earned him a solidified spot within the Portugal nationwide set-up, making 52 appearances for his nation. Neves was offered in 2023 to Al-Hilal for a charge of £47m forsaking England having been on a “totally different planet” to a few of his friends, in line with the Athletic’s Steve Madeley.
How Neves now compares to Lemina & Gomes
The present midfield partnership for Gary O’Neil’s aspect consists of Gomes and Lemina as a double pivot. Different choices within the squad are Tommy Doyle, Boubacar Traore, and new signing, Andre.
Wolves have not obtained off to the perfect of begins this marketing campaign, shedding two of their opening three Premier League video games towards Arsenal and Chelsea, and drawing their different versus Nottingham Forest, leaving them on only one level after three fixtures.
So, one might argue that they could effectively lust after Neves. Here is how he compares to their present choices.
Neves (22/23) vs Lemina vs Gomes (23/24) comparability | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stats (per 90 minutes) | Neves | Lemina | Gomes |
Objectives | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.06 |
Progressive Carries | 0.84 | 0.97 | 0.95 |
Progressive Passes | 6.51 | 2.30 | 3.44 |
Photographs Complete | 1.80 | 1.55 | 0.88 |
Passes Tried | 62.9 | 44.5 | 43.5 |
Key Passes | 0.96 | 0.61 | 0.68 |
Passes into Remaining Third | 6.03 | 1.97 | 2.48 |
Tackles | 2.36 | 2.73 | 4.35 |
Interceptions | 1.54 | 1.22 | 0.63 |
Blocks | 1.76 | 1.09 | 1.73 |
Stats taken from FBref | |||
As you possibly can see when evaluating these three midfielders, Neves is way and away the higher passer, finishing almost double the quantity of progressive passes, with 6.51 per 90, in comparison with the three.44 of Gomes, and a pair of.30 of Lemina.
A move is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the subsequent contact is a minimum of 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s aim or any accomplished move into the penalty space.
He additionally averaged probably the most passes tried, probably the most key passes and greater than double the variety of passes into the ultimate third than O’Neil’s current choices in the course of the pitch.
While Lemina and Gomes provide stable defensive contributions and higher carrying capability than Neves (each averaging extra progressive carries per 90), the midfield lacks a controller who’s assertive with their passing and instructions the ball.
That is one thing Neves supplied in abundance and one thing we’re positive O’Neil would admire on this Wolves aspect.
