A new update on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil’s future has come ahead of his team’s game against Crystal Palace.
Winless Wolves face relegation rat race
Wolves heroically battled back from 2-0 down to get a draw at the AMEX Stadium in their most recent Premier League match, with Matheus Cunha scoring in stoppage time to complete the turnaround after Brighton lost a golden opportunity to make it 3-1. After the game, O’Neil raised his hands, confessing that he had gotten it incorrect in the first half.
“I’m a little disappointed in myself for starting with five [in the back]. I know we did well with a five-back against Manchester City, and I thought the guys deserved another.
“Go for it.”I didn’t believe a five-back formation would work well against Brighton today, but we were quick enough to change it at halftime.
“At 85 minutes, when Brighton scored their second goal, I thought I was going to be stood here answering some more tough questions.”
However, the reality of Wolves’ situation hit in once more, as they are one of three teams that have yet to win a game this season and are currently 19th in the Premier League about a quarter of the way through the season. They have only two points and have conceded a staggering 25 goals, five more than any other team in the division. Gary O’Neil has two games to save his job.
A new report claims that the Wolves manager is under increasing pressure to produce results at Molineux. So far, it is widely acknowledged that Wolves have had one of the most difficult starts to any Premier League season, having faced all of the current top five (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa), as well as Newcastle United. However, there is set to be a shift in tone, with Football Insider stating that the next two games are critical to O’Neil’s future in the Wolves technical area. The Old Gold face 18th-placed Crystal Palace in their next game, before a massive battle with bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
during the November international break. Wolves’ upcoming five games
Crystal Palace (Home)
Southampton (Home)
Fulham (away)
Bournemouth (Home)
Everton (away)
They further suggest that poor results in those games will “change the mood” in the Midlands, with the upcoming games “critical” for O’Neil’s future, though it is noted that the Wolves manager “still has the backing of the changing room.”
However, failing to pick up points against their main relegation opponents may be too much for both Wolves supporters and the board, with the danger of relegation to the Championship becoming increasingly realistic. Should the Wolves part ways with O’Neil during the international break, any incoming manager would benefit from a favorable run of fixtures, with the Old Gold not facing a member of the “top six” again until Boxing Day.
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