When the team news came out for Wolves vs Bournemouth in the early afternoon, one exclusion didn’t make much sense to fans and not long into the match, it became clear Vitor Pereira made the wrong choice.
The opening stages saw Bournemouth swarm Wolves and it looked like they might be in for a very long afternoon.
FBL-ENG-PR-BOURNEMOUTH-WOLVES
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
And Bournemouth’s first goal was down to a mistake from someone who was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI.
Vitor Pereira picked Jean-Ricner Bellegarde over Andre and he gave a goal away
When the team news emerged, many were surprised to not see Andre’s name on the teamsheet, given the Brazilian’s quality.
Nothing against Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, but it felt like the Brazilian duo in the middle of the park was about the only stable aspect of Wolves’ play in pre-season, and against Man City.
Bellegarde joined Joao Gomes in the middle of the park, and not five minutes into the game, he received the ball at the edge of his own box and tried dribbling out from the back.
Antoine Semenyo wasn’t having it, nabbing it off him and slipping James Tavernier through on goal.
MORE WOLVES STORIES
1-0 Bournemouth.
Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Vitor Pereira fields a more attacking lineup against Bournemouth
Bellegarde started last week in the front line. The addition of Jhon Arias to the starting lineup was the correct decision, but it should have been in place of the Frenchman, rather than Andre.
Pereira took criticism for the lack of attacking firepower fielded against City, so maybe leaving Andre out was an attack-minded decision.
But his stand-in has cost Wolves a goal, and the attacking play in the first 45 minutes wasn’t much better than last week.
The lack of an established front line at this point is an issue, and experimenting is natural, but Wolves’ midfield of Andre and Joao Gomes is the side’s biggest strength at present and perhaps not the place to be trying new things.