Lockworks
Callum Tanton breaks down how Rui Pedro Silva’s return has helped transform Wolves’ performances, from subtle tactical tweaks to a renewed belief that has lifted results.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured one of the worst starts to a Premier League campaign in history this season, collecting just two points from their first 18 matches.
Vitor Pereira was dismissed after 10 Premier League games in charge, with his only points coming in a 1–1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur in London. A stoppage-time equaliser from João Palhinha rescued a draw, sparing Wolves defeat but still leaving a sense of frustration among the travelling supporters. Even so, the performance at least provided a rare moment of pride in what had been a bleak opening to the 2025/26 campaign.
Their second point arrived the following week in another 1–1 draw, this time at Molineux against Brighton and Hove Albion. Wolves took the lead in the 21st minute when Marshall Munetsi rifled a volley that rebounded off goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and into the net. However, a late equaliser from Van Hecke in the 86th minute denied Wolves victory. Much of the post-match discussion centred on Pereira’s tactical change: after an impressive first-half display in a back four, Wolves switched to a back five in the 60th minute, with Emmanuel Agbadou replacing Hwang Hee Chan. The adjustment allowed Brighton to build sustained pressure and eventually find their way back into the match.
Wolves then suffered three further consecutive Premier League defeats, the final game of Pereira’s tenure ending in a heavy 3–0 loss away at Craven Cottage.
This run of results prompted a managerial change, with Wolves appointing former Luton Town and Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards for a compensation package of £2 million. Edwards, who played for Wolves between 2004 and 2008, arrived as someone familiar with the club and its culture.
Results initially failed to improve, as Edwards lost each of his first eight matches in charge. That sequence, however, did not fully reflect performances. There were encouraging signs, including a narrow 1–0 defeat at Villa Park, where a spectacular strike from Boubacar Kamara proved decisive.
A significant development came on December 9th, when Wolves announced the return of Rui Pedro Silva as assistant head coach following his departure from Nottingham Forest. Silva had previously worked closely with Nuno Espírito Santo, first joining his coaching staff at Rio Ave in 2012. When Nuno took charge of Wolves in 2017, Silva followed, and the partnership played a key role in one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history: promotion from the Championship, consolidation in the Premier League, and a run to the Europa League quarter-finals, where Wolves were narrowly defeated by Sevilla. During that time, Silva also worked alongside Rob Edwards, who managed the club’s Under-23 side in the 2018–19 season.
After Nuno and Wolves parted ways, Silva pursued a managerial career of his own. He was appointed by Primeira Liga side Famalicão on December 19th, taking over a team sitting 16th in the table. An impressive turnaround followed, with Silva guiding the club to an 8th-place finish. His second season proved more difficult, and he left by mutual consent on September 20th, 2022, after a run of poor results left the side with four points from seven matches. Despite the disappointing ending, he demonstrated an ability to organise teams effectively and raise performance levels.
Silva’s tactical approach closely mirrored the structure used in Nuno’s sides, typically deploying a 3-4-3 system built on defensive discipline, compactness, and rapid counterattacks. At Famalicão, striker Simon Banza flourished in this framework, scoring 14 goals and adding two assists in the 2021–22 season. The system has historically suited physical and mobile forwards, which has encouraged optimism about Tolu Arokodare’s development since Silva’s arrival.
Silva later reunited with Nuno at Nottingham Forest, where the coaching team enjoyed further success, guiding the club to a 7th-place finish and qualification for European competition. Administrative developments involving Crystal Palace and UEFA subsequently moved Forest from the Conference League into the Europa League due to multi-club ownership regulations.
Nuno eventually departed Forest following repeated disagreements with owner Evangelos Marinakis, bringing that chapter to an end and leaving Silva available. Wolves moved quickly to bring him back, reuniting him with Edwards in an effort to steer the club toward survival.
TACTICAL TWEAKS AND RENEWED BELIEF: RUI PEDRO SILVA’S ROLE IN WOLVES’ IMPROVED PERFORMANCES.
Silva’s first match back in the dugout came away to Arsenal. Wolves produced a disciplined defensive performance but suffered a heartbreaking 2–1 defeat at the Emirates, with two own goals proving costly and the winner arriving in the 94th minute. A 2–0 loss to Brentford followed, yet confidence remained intact, particularly after a strong display in a narrow 2–1 defeat away to title holders Liverpool.
Progress was finally rewarded at Old Trafford, where Wolves earned their first point in 12 matchweeks. A Krejci equaliser and an outstanding defensive effort secured a hard-earned draw and lifted morale within the squad.
That renewed belief carried into the next fixture, as Wolves produced one of their most complete performances of the season in a 3–0 victory over West Ham at Molineux. Jhon Arias opened the scoring in the 4th minute, Hwang Hee Chan converted a penalty in the 31st, and young prospect Mateus Mane added a third before half-time with a superbly taken goal that highlighted his technical quality. The result also ended a run of 23 Premier League matches without a clean sheet.
The improvement in organisation and confidence has been clear since Silva’s return, and the January period presents an opportunity to build momentum and give Wolves a realistic chance of mounting one of the most remarkable survival efforts the league has seen.
But what has changed since Rui Siva has come in?
Several tactical adjustments appear to have contributed to this change. Edwards has moved away from consistently using a double pivot of André and João Gomes, at times deploying one of them alongside Jhon Arias in a deeper role to improve ball progression. Defensively, Wolves now operate in a more compact low block, reducing the gaps between lines and making it far harder for opponents to play through the team. The structure in transition has also improved, strengthening their rest defence and limiting counterattacking opportunities for the opposition.
The overall shape remains similar, but these subtle refinements have transformed Wolves into a far more organised and competitive side, and significant credit belongs to Rui Silva for his influence on the coaching setup.
Callum Tanton
Callum Tanton