Wolves were embroiled in a horror show at Molineux after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Just when things started to look up for Wolves after two straight wins, positivity came crashing back down at Molineux, leaving the fans calling for Gary O’Neil to be sacked once again.
It was a performance dominated by errors for the hosts as Jose Sa produced a disaster class while Toti Gomes and Craig Dawson were both guilty of committing errors.
Defensively, the Wanderers were a shambles, exposing the problems O’Neil has had all season long with the need to strengthen his back line.
At the other end, the only shining light for Wolves was Jorgen Strand Larsen, who scored a well-taken brace while several others struggled to impose themselves on the contest.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rodrigo Gomes (right) chasing down AFC Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wa...
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Gary O’Neil needs to drop Rodrigo Gomes after Bournemouth
Summer signing Rodrigo Gomes made only his third Premier League start of the season, rewarding him for his display at Craven Cottage.
Gomes was a bright performer against Fulham, wreaking havoc down the left flank with his pace, skill and agility in wide areas.
The 21-year-old earned O’Neil’s trust to start at home to Bournemouth, but the Portuguese winger blew his chance to impress.
Rodrigo Gomes stats vs Bournemouth Statistic
Minutes played 45
Touches 29
Accurate crosses 0
Successful dribbles 1
Ground duels won 1
Possession lost 11
MORE WOLVES STORIES
It was a dreadful outing for the jet-heeled wideman, who was hooked at half-time by O’Neil, with Dawson coming on in his place.
On an afternoon of many poor performances, Gomes was up there with the worst and it’s become clear who should replace him against Everton.
Goncalo Guedes deserves to start after terrific impact vs Bournemouth
There were calls for Guedes to start against Bournemouth before the game and he justified why he should have been selected after making a terrific impact from the bench.
With Wolves chasing the game late on, the Portuguese attacker replaced centre-back Toti and occupied a position on the right flank.
The 27-year-old made an instant impact as well, sending a slide rule pass into the path of Strand Larsen, who powered his finish into the roof of the net.
Guedes didn’t just supply an assist, he was quality in and out of possession, as he won three ground duels, completed 92% of his passes, and attempted two dribbles.
Indeed, the former Valencia star is now deserving of a start on Wednesday, especially given how he statistically compares to Gomes.
2024/25 Premier League stats Goncalo Guedes Rodrigo Gomes
Minutes per game 16 36
Goals 1 0
Assists 2 0
Big chances created 2 0
Accurate passes 76% 65%
Successful dribbles 33% 40%
While Guedes could leave Wolves in January, his current performances warrant further starts, with the above table showing how he’s significantly outperforming Gomes.
Related Posts