𝘊é𝘴𝘢𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 - what does the data say?
I’ve pulled Gil Vicente’s full 34-game league output from last season and the popular framing of Peixoto as a high-pressing coach doesn’t hold up. His side ranked 10th in the league for pressing intensity (11.2 PPDA) and won just 17% of their possessions in the high third.
The actual model is more interesting. A compact 4-2-3-1 that defends as a 4-4-2 mid-block, then builds short on regain - only 11.4% of passes went long. Barely any direct counter-attacking. They absorb, then attack through organised positional play, with heavy crossing volume (15.2 per match) and serious set-piece detail.
He’s also genuinely adaptive. Against Porto, Benfica, Sporting and Braga: 43% possession and a passive block. Against the rest: 51% and a far more aggressive press. Two game plans, one structure.
The number that matters for Molineux - in games where Gil Vicente held 55%+ possession, they produced 1.77 xG per match and won four of six. Limited sample, but it suggests a coach who can break a block, not just manage a game. In the Championship, that’s the entire job.
Trippier as the delivery full-back, Jimenez as the 9, André in the pivot. The pieces fit the model better than they fitted the last one. The question is whether a plan built on fine margins at Barcelos scales to being the hunted side 40+ times a season.
@LiamKeen_Star@ESWolves_star We all know he is not a wingback and Sundays 4231 showed exactly what we already knew and what he is capable of with the creation of the goal when playing as an actual winger....he could be integral next season
@JamesRo75383965@ConceptScouting He took the shackles off RG in the 4231 yesterday and the team looked a whole lot more dynamic, although I appreciate that's compared to a very low bar that has been set this season
@wolvespremier His experience, professionalism and mentoring of young players like Mane would make it a great signing,people just need to be realistic that he's not going to play 50 games and probably won't score 20 goals,but would surely make an invaluable contribution to a newly built squad