Liam Keen comment: A strong debut and defensive woes sum up Wolves in Girona

The supporters seemed to enjoy another European trip in the sun - and so they should after little to cheer about in recent years.

But Wolves' stuttering pre-season is yet to take off with the Premier League campaign just around the corner.

Disappointing display

Wolves have so far struggled to maintain performances in pre-season and that has meant results have taken a hit.

Winning is less important right now, but failing to win in five matches this summer and losing three of them is a record Vitor Pereira will have wanted to avoid. 

Against Girona Wolves started relatively well but were toothless in their attacks. 

Time and again Ki-Jana Hoever got into dangerous positions on the right, but every single one of his crosses found a Girona defender.

Fer Lopez took up good positions and was quick on the transition to create Wolves attacks, but consistently turned back and produced backwards passes.

Wolves needed someone to take a risk and get at the Girona defence - who were offering up space - but none of Pereira’s forwards obliged.

Girona fired some warnings to Wolves with chances of their own, but the first half was essentially a training game. The teams limped to half-time with the score locked at 0-0.

The second half is where the defensive woes reared their ugly head again.

Sam Johnstone failed to catch a cross and instead punched at it, before Girona too easily were allowed to whip the ball back in again.

Santi Bueno was on the heels and caught out of position against his old team, as they took the lead. 

The second quick fire goal was a tremendous finish, but Wolves were bypassed in midfield too easily and sat off when the shot was coming.

The game was done at this point, despite Wolves’ late recovery, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.

First pre-season minutes

That late recovery came as Wolves made five changes in the 65th minute and the substitutes followed Pereira’s instruction to up the tempo.

Wolves were much better immediately, while the impressive midfielder duo began to play closer to their true level.

Joao Gomes played an important role in Wolves’ goal as he looked after the ball well and released Jhon Arias, who was strong enough to shrug off a challenge and fire beyond the Girona goalkeeper.

Arias looked sharp in his 25 minutes on the pitch - his first in a Wolves shirt - and he had several neat touches. 

Early on he won the ball back in the box and set up Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had a shot saved.

He took his own goal well and looks set to be a key signing this season - which is essential considering the goals and experience Wolves have sold so far this transfer window.

Mosquera also had his first taste of pre-season. 

The defender had been training fairly regularly in Portugal and Spain, during his recovery from a serious knee injury, but a setback with a calf strain had restricted him to no involvement in previous friendlies.

His return against Girona was very timely, as the player fights for fitness ahead of the Premier League season.

Mosquera is having to do battle with the mental and physical struggles of returning from an injury of this nature and he looked confident in his approach on Sunday night.

From a corner he also came close to scoring with a strong header that was tipped over the bar.

Mosquera was congratulated by staff and team-mates for stepping back onto the pitch for the first time and his next battle will be to get back into the starting XI. 

Captaincy

Now that Nelson Semedo has departed the club, Wolves are looking for their next captain.

There is no obvious choice in the group, but Pereira will need to pick his next skipper and in his interview with the Express & Star in Portugal, the head coach confirmed he will take his time with the decision. 

But what we have seen in pre-season so far offers us some clues - despite Sunday’s surprise at seeing Jose Sa with the armband.

The goalkeeper led the team out against Girona and wore it during the first half until he was replaced. 

Toti Gomes then wore it, as he has done on several occasions this summer, before it was passed to Matt Doherty when the Irishman came on and Toti came off. 

Until Sa was given the captaincy from the start on Sunday, Toti and Doherty have been the only two players to share the responsibility in pre-season.

Toti was even named captain on the team sheets and by the stadium announcer for the match against Lens, but it was Doherty who led the team out.

The armband has been passed around the leadership group this summer as Pereira assesses his options, but it is understood that Toti is the current frontrunner. 

But that final decision must still come from the head coach, with one more friendly to go. 

Pereira will likely name his best starting XI against Celta Vigo on Saturday and whoever is captain will probably have the armband against Manchester City on the opening day of the Premier League season. 

What is telling is that neither Joao Gomes or Emmanuel Agbadou have had the captaincy this summer. 

Both players were fancied for the role by a number of supporters but both have their shortcomings for that position. 

Wolves have lost experience this summer and with no obvious next captain, leadership could be a concern if the team find themselves fighting in the top flight. 

That is an area Pereira must consider when making his decision.

And it should also be considered by the club as they dip into the transfer window for more signings this summer.