With just a week to go in the international break, anticipation is building for Rob Edwards’ first outing as the new Wolves manager.
There are no easy games in the Premier League, but Crystal Palace is an especially awkward side to come up against.
Oliver Glasner has done a superb job at Selhurst Park, turning the Eagles into one of the most solid defensive outfits in the country and a lethal force in transition.
As such, Edwards needs a strong starting XI to face Palace that isn’t going to give them an easy time of it at Molineux. The first step, and the most difficult, is deciding on a back line.
Harry Watling and Rob Edwards watch on.
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Rob Edwards needs to figure out centre-backs at Wolves
We all remember just how many changes Vitor Pereira consistently made to his lineup, particularly at the back.
But the new manager needs to land on a consistent two or three to get into a rhythm at the base of the team. Fosun have promised Edwards no sales this January, so he should have all the below names to work with.
The 42-year-old has used both a back two and a back three in the past, so just how many centre-backs he will be picking is unclear.
The best thing to do, then, is to rank the five natural centre-halves in terms of startability — beginning with the player who will be on the bench more often than not.
Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera stretches out his arm.
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5. Yerson Mosquera
Mosquera is at the bottom of the pecking order to start at the back. After a year on the sidelines, he is yet to break back into the side fully, and hasn’t done enough this season to leapfrog any of the other options.
When he plays, the 24-year-old shows his quality, and he can definitely force his way into Edwards‘ plans. For now though, he’s fifth.
Wolves captain Toti Gomes puts his hands on his hips.
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4. Toti Gomes
The expectations that were on Toti at the beginning of the season will no doubt sting, as the Wolves captain hasn’t been close to first choice at the back.
When he has played, there have been a fair few mistakes, and the confidence just isn’t there. He needs to show more.
Santiago Bueno slides in on Xavi Simons while playing for Wolves.
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3. Santiago Bueno
Bueno is far from the first name that pops into your head when you talk about Wolves starters. But the Uruguayan has started seven of the 11 league games this season, both in a pairing and in a trio.
And he’s been solid. He scored Wolves’ only away goal of the Premier League season against Spurs, winning Pereira a rare point, and as it stands he’s the third-best central defender in the squad. If Edwards goes to a back three, he’s in.
Emmanuel Agbadou plays a ball for Wolves.
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2. Emmanuel Agbadou
One of these days the nostalgia glasses will come on, but we’re still holding out hope for Agbadou. The Ivorian has been poor this season, a far cry from the dominant force that arrived at Molineux in January and willed the team to survival.
But we’ve seen Agbadou’s quality with our own two eyes. There’s just no way he can be ranked any lower than this. Hopefully, Edwards can help him rediscover confidence.
Ladislav Krejci playing for Wolves.
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1. Ladislav Krejci
The outstanding summer arrival, Krejci has been a breath of fresh air at Wolves. We knew the Czech would be a technical weapon at the back, with sharp passing and intelligent decision-making. It’s his defending that has been such a pleasant surprise.
The concerns about the 26-year-old were that he wouldn’t adapt to the pace of English football, and his label as a defender/midfielder hybrid led many to assume it was a master-of-none situation. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Krejci has been Wolves and Pereira’s best player this season, and should be the first name on the teamsheet for the new boss.
It feels like we’ve been campaigning for Agbadou and Krejci at the back all season. They are the two who — if form is found — will be the greatest assets for Edwards, and a duo whose skillsets complement each other nicely.
If Edwards then goes for a three, it’s a tough call between the backups, but that’s the order we’d go with. Now we wait for team news next Saturday.