Platitudes and well-meaning praise won’t help Gary O’Neil much right now; he is in desperate need of points, and unfortunately for him and Wolves, they have very few.
After eight matches into this Premier League season, their point total stands at just one. They were close to adding another point against Manchester City on Sunday, being just 27 seconds away from a deserved draw. However, football is not always fair.
While Wolves fans generally support O’Neil during this tough period, there are some calling for his dismissal, particularly on social media. Yet, at Molineux, the atmosphere felt different. Following the typical post-match boos aimed at the officials, there was a spontaneous round of applause from the crowd, indicating a fanbase willing to stand by their manager despite the team’s struggles.
It seems that O’Neil still has the backing of his players, too. After the disappointing 5-3 defeat to Brentford before the international break, Mario Lemina stated that only “liars and cheaters” would blame O’Neil for Wolves’ current situation.
Similarly, Pablo Sarabia, who has been less influential this season after a strong previous campaign, showed his passion when John Stones scored a late winner for City. Sarabia was visibly upset about a missed foul in the lead-up to the goal. The situation worsened when a potential offside was reviewed, and despite an initial flag, the goal stood.
Instead of earning a point, O’Neil had to take solace in his team’s performance, which was characterized by determination rather than flair. After the match, O’Neil expressed hope that the positive efforts at the club were being recognized. He mentioned that he received supportive messages from many within the Wolves community, who understood the challenges of integrating younger players and dealing with fixture difficulties. He accepted full responsibility for the team’s situation.
Wolves initially took the lead with a goal from Jorgen Strand Larsen, one of two imposing Norwegian forwards in the game. The other, Craig Dawson, did his best to contain Erling Haaland, who found it difficult to shake him off.
Manchester City’s equalizer was a beautiful strike from Josko Gvardiol, but City struggled to break through Wolves’ defense otherwise. Pep Guardiola’s late introduction of former Wolves player Matheus Nunes seemed more about the storyline than a tactical necessity.
O’Neil hoped to develop a team that, despite finishing 14th last season, had once been considered potential European contenders. O’Neil had even been mentioned as a candidate for Manager of the Season. However, the departure of Max Kilman to West Ham and the inability to adequately replace him has complicated matters.
Wolves are not the only team to suffer a late defeat at the hands of John Stones this season; Arsenal can relate.
O’Neil is focused on his upcoming match against Brighton next weekend, after facing seven of the top eight teams in their first nine games—a challenging start to the season. The fixtures have naturally divided the season into manageable sections, with the next set of matches against teams they will want to outpace by May.
While a season cannot truly begin in November, it can certainly be defined by how it unfolds. Fortunately for Wolves, despite their point shortage, things are not beyond repair. Adjustments are needed, but a complete overhaul isn’t necessary.
With no other options readily available, it seems O’Neil will remain at the helm. The era of quick fixes is over, and a coach like Graham Potter, who is currently taking his time before returning to management, likely wouldn’t choose a club facing a strong relegation threat as his next project. So for now, O’Neil is the man in charge.
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