Wolves remain winless in the Premier League after a draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Wanderers drew 2-2 with the Eagles, squandering points from a winning position after overcoming a goal down to lead. Following Trevoh Chalobah’s first goal, Wolves took the lead through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Joao Gomes.
However, poor defending allowed Marc Guehi to equalise.
Wolves were probably fortunate at the end, when Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal was ruled off for a foul on Jose Sa, who was deemed to have two hands on the ball.
Gary O’Neil remained belligerent after the loss, but the Wolves manager is now under intense pressure.
He may just have one game left to save his job. Here are three reasons Fosun could be fired if Wolves do not defeat Southampton.
Many Wolves fans have lost trust. It is always critical for owners to listen to their fans, and it is obvious at this point that many have turned against O’Neil.
On Saturday, fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ at O’Neil, and the owners don’t need a volatile Molineux.
Wolves fans have also rallied behind the squad. However, there have been occasional boos, which is entirely understandable.
O’Neil’s failure to beat Southampton this weekend could be the final straw. One can only image the fury inside Molineux if Wolves do not secure three points against a relegation opponent.
It has currently one win in 20 Premier League games, with none since April.
Defense all over the place
Wolves have been dreadful defensively this season, and despite a recent formation adjustment, there is little promise that things will improve.
There is some sympathy for O’Neil here, considering Max Kilman was not replaced. He then lost young player Yerson Mosquera to a long-term injury.
Despite this, O’Neil must accept responsibility for the 27 goals conceded in just 10 Premier League games.
It’s a terrible record that will lead to relegation if nothing changes. The attackers’ efforts will be meaningless if the defense remains as poor as it has been.
And it’s not just the defenders who are to blame. Nobody seems to have a clear idea, especially on set-pieces. Lee Naylor chastised Goncalo Guedes for his’schoolboy’ defending against Palace on Saturday, and there was a mix-up between Strand Larsen and Sa on the opening goal.
It’s now 0 clean sheets in the previous 22 Premier League games, which is absolutely unacceptable.
International break is coming up.
Following the game against Southampton, there will be another international break, which can be an ideal moment for clubs to make managerial changes.
They provide a limited window for a new coach to come in, settle in, and work with players who have not been called up to national teams.
If O’Neil fails to win against Southampton, Fosun may decide to bring in someone for the interim period before the Premier League returns. There are various possibilities available at the moment. Some have urged for the club to hire David Moyes, a man with extensive Premier League experience who did an excellent job turning things around at West Ham United. Graham Potter has also received praise from some supporters, while Sergio Conceicao could be a fantastic fit for Wolves.
Leave a Reply