---
title: "Wolves: Sky Sports journalist slams Costa, Podence, Gomes and Jimenez’s cameo appearances"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-bournemouth-sky-sports-julen-lopetegui/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Aaron Hindhaugh"
section: "Podcasts"
published: "2023-02-19T17:10:34Z"
modified: "2023-02-19T17:10:34Z"
---

# Wolves: Sky Sports journalist slams Costa, Podence, Gomes and Jimenez’s cameo appearances

**Journalist Sam Blitz has blasted the [Wolves](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/) quartet of Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes for their second-half displays.**

### The Lowdown: Wolves struggle in the final third again

It looked as though Wolves had turned a corner under Julen Lopetegui in terms of scoring goals – something they’d struggled with under Bruno Lage – having [netted five in the previous two matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543).

However, yesterday’s slog against Bournemouth certainly brought them back down to earth at Molineux as they managed just four shots on target in the entire game despite having 67% possession ([FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/matches/eaf37ab4/Wolverhampton-Wanderers-Bournemouth-February-18-2023-Premier-League)).

That suggests Wolves were – once again – dominant in their build-up play but were let down by their more attack-minded players with that result seeing them get dragged right back into a relegation scrap.

### The Latest: Lopeteguis’ changes fail to make an impact.

[Blitz analysed the encounter post-match](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12812413/premier-league-hits-and-misses-man-citys-wastefulness-at-nottingham-forest-costs-them-top-spot-but-will-it-cost-them-the-title) and between Podence, Costa, Jimenez and Gomes they have just one goal since January 14th so they were unlikely to make an impact and certainly didn’t.

He said: ‘You can also look at the substitutes that Lopetegui brought on this Saturday. Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes were all brought off the bench – but all of them looked below par and only one of them has scored since January 14.’

### The Verdict: Attacking woes persist

Wolves struggling in the final third is nothing unusual as last season they [finished in the bottom four](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2021) for goals scored and this term they have [found the back of the net just 17 times](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table) which puts them in the bottom two.

However, the fact that three Premier League proven players and a new signing in Gomes couldn’t make an impact against a Bournemouth side who hadn’t kept an away clean sheet all season should set alarm bells ringing.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419108″\]

It’s not just that these Wolves attack-minded players failed to make an impact in the final third and rescue at least a point for the hosts, but they also only managed to record [59 touches between them](https://fbref.com/en/matches/eaf37ab4/Wolverhampton-Wanderers-Bournemouth-February-18-2023-Premier-League) during their second-half appearances which also shows a lack of willingness to get on the ball and make something happen.