Wolverhampton Wanderers

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have only won one of their past 13 league games, so Gary O'Neil will be putting pressure on himself because he knows that he can do better.

As a relatively young manager, he is invested in proving that he can do it at the top level. It is also only his second job in the Premier League and there is never a guarantee of getting another shot.

I am sure he is not reading comment sections online; however if he is, then he can see the discontent from fans. But he does not even need to read that because he knows himself that the results have been disappointing.

Their performance this season against Arsenal was perhaps unlucky. O'Neil said he was trying something out that day and it did not work and that is not the end of the world. On another day, Chelsea would not have scored six goals at Molineux either. And yet having that number attached to the club and manager means people will always remember it. It is hard to move on from.

For the fans, though, they have not seen their team win enough games and they will be expecting more. Football is about winning and when you are not, it is harder to maintain a belief in what you are doing.

That goes for players, the manager or fans.

Nedum was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

6-2 is a ghastly result to suffer at any time, especially in the first home game. But beyond the anguish of the second-half defending against Chelsea, there were a few positives to salvage.

Wolves scored twice in the first half and came close to a few more, all the while exchanging fire with high-level opponents.

As Dazzling Dave wrote in his Fan Voice on this page: "It's great to have this free-flowing attack - but at what cost?"

For some, the formation was the problem. An occasional theme of recent years at Molineux has been a desire for a back four, with an assumption this will lead to a more attack-minded team. Instead however, there has been a gradual return to a back three with wing-backs, the base from which promotion and European football were won.

When the teamsheet arrived at Nottingham Forest, some thought that the switch back had happened. Come kick-off, though, Wolves started with a back four, and I now wonder if the formation debate may be a red herring. In part this is because formations are increasingly flexible during games as tactical study grows ever-more sophisticated. The more significant factor in Wolves producing a much more sturdy defensive effort may have been the re-introduction of Craig Dawson.

Wolves’ senior defender had been a substitute for the first two games, with Yerson Mosquera and Toti preferred in central defensive positions. In Nottingham Toti stepped over to left-back, and gave his usual wholehearted effort.

It is not to denigrate the efforts of the two younger players to say that while they bring great energy and maybe offer something more creative to the team, Dawson remains, for now, the club’s best stopper. Wolves looked steadier for his presence.

"If we watched our first three games," said Gary O’Neil that evening, "they’ve been unbelievably entertaining. We’ve come off on the wrong side of a couple of them, but they’ve been entertaining."

We can all get behind the idea of a Wolves team that wants to put on a show, and O’Neil certainly is, adding: "They’re a fantastic group. They have quality, they have heart [and] they have a little bit of craziness.”

That "crazy" energy will serve them well. Footballers like to entertain, and every fan wants to be entertained. Wolves should still strive to do that - but securing the defence must remain the first order of business.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Newcastle at 16:30 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Image source, Getty Images

Some 61% of the Premier League meetings between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have finished as a draw (11 out of 18) - the highest percentage of any fixture to have been played at least 15 times in the competition.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Wolverhampton Wanderers have long been known for their Portuguese flair, yet the winds of change are bringing a new Brazilian influence to Molineux.

For years, Wolves relied on Portuguese talent, thanks in large part to their connection with agent Jorge Mendes. Recent transfer windows, however, have marked a shift in strategy.

Now, the focus is on weaving Brazilian brilliance into the team. Key signings like Andre and Pedro Lima, joining established players Matheus Cunha and Joao Gomes, indicate that Wolves' recruitment team is seeking talent across broader areas, especially in South America.

Cunha has quickly proven indispensable up front. His adaptability and attacking flair provide Wolves with a significant advantage. Whether leading the line or playing deeper, his agility and ability to score key goals make him central to Wolves' strategy.

Gomes nearly clinched player of the season last term and rival clubs are certainly taking notice. His tenacity in midfield, along with a mix of defensive grit and flair, brings balance to the team.

Andre's arrival further boosts Wolves' midfield strength. Gary O’Neil appears focused on enhancing dominance in this area, potentially offering more protection to the preferred back four.

Andre's performance in Brazil's international game this week was applauded by the country's media as the best on the pitch.

Young prodigy Lima shows immense promise, with raw talent ready for development. Investing in youth like Pedro points to Wolves' foresight, acknowledging the advancing ages of players like Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty.

After navigating financial constraints, Wolves have actively pursued emerging talents in South American markets, bringing fresh prospects to Wolverhampton.

The Brazilian influence at Wolves shows adaptability and foresight. This key transition is about blending styles, adopting fresh philosophies, and embracing the global talent pool.

As Wolves advance, this Brazilian chapter might just lead them to success.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

The Premier League’s summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Wolves had a net profit of £32.9m.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - related to Wolves that nobody else is talking about.

Here are some of your replies:

Alex: When Fosun bought Wolves there was an ambition to compete with the best Premier League teams. This seems to be slowly diluting with staying away from relegation being the ambition. I understand the need to be financially self-sufficient, however we are second lowest net spenders. Team aside, Molineux needs investment. When and how?

Steve: We are in an odd situation, and will be until our owners sell us on. We are treading water - not forging forward but continually attempting not to sink. Staying still in the Premier League only serves the owners. Please sell us to owners who want better, to succeed and build profit at the same time. You can't tread water forever.

BG: Under Nuno Espirito Santo, everyone was on the same page. Since he left, good players have gone and not been adequately replaced. The club has gone backwards and Fosun has lost interest.

Lee: No-one seems to be asking where all the money is going. We have had an income of over half a billion (sales, prize money, TV money sponsorship etc) in the past two seasons alone, yet the club is always saying there is no money available for transfers unless we sell more players. So where has that income gone?

John: The Championship beckons, unfortunately. Gary O'Neil is tactically inept and seems unaware of what is happening on the pitch. We got unbelievable lucky last season and I cannot believe he was given a four-year contract.

Dairve: If Wolves' past 20 Premier League games had been from the start of the season, we would be bottom and on course for relegation. We would be looking for a new gaffer about now...

Chris: Rayan Ait-Nouri is way overrated. He cannot defend and his final ball is poor. He makes eye-catching runs and performs a trick or two, but inevitably leaves space in behind. Why he was attracting the big clubs at £60m is beyond me.

There's always so much noise at the start of the season and 2024-25 has been no different.

We've even asked you this week where you think Wolves will finish, based on the start to the season and how the transfer window unfolded.

But now we'd love a bit more detail. When it comes to Wolves, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us over here, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you for your thoughts on Wolves' transfer window, their start to the season and where you believed they would finish.

In our poll, a healthy 55% of you think Gary O'Neil's side will finish between 11th and 17th in the table.

Here are some of the comments you sent our way:

Gareth: Wolves are now a player trading platform interested only in buying players for resale at a profit. They are no longer a football club looking to build a team for success.

Andy: Wolves' owners do not understand the needs of the manager and have let him and the fans down again this transfer window by not sorting out the defence which is worryingly poor and has been for 12 months. Why strengthen an already strong midfield when other areas are in more need?

Berty: Probably similar thoughts to most followers in confusion as to how we have failed to solve the longstanding defence issues. The transfer window seemed to start OK with early moves but yet again Wolves were losing out right to the end. Scratching my head as to how we are in this position now. We have still attracted decent attacking propositions.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

"Still," said Gary O’Neil, when asked to ruminate once again on the extent of Wolves’ summer transfer business, "we did what we could do, and we signed some good players, but I think we still had the second-lowest net spend in the window. Above Man City, interestingly - maybe we’ll finish above them…"

If O’Neil occasionally sounded disappointed during the transfer window, you could understand why. Any manager would surely like to have a bigger budget available if they could, or at least as big as most of their rivals. Wouldn’t we all?

However, while O’Neil noted last week that his club could not stretch to complete some of the deals he and Matt Hobbs had hoped for, Wolves did make some interesting investments.

Taken individually, all the major deals looks sound. Fan criticisms of Wolves’ summer business have been about what they did not do rather than anything they actually did.

Most clearly, they did not manage to directly replace Maximilian Kilman, whose sale presumably made a number of the new signings possible. But O’Neil has not been left without realistic defensive options. Craig Dawson was only a substitute for the first two games, while Santiago Bueno – a full Uruguay international – has stayed on the bench for all three. Matt Doherty, if required, could also cover.

Barring a terrible crisis, Wolves should not face the same predicament as in the second half of last season, when O’Neil often stood in front of a bench of teenage substitutes, talented but entirely unproven.

"As you see," he said on Saturday, "Tommy Doyle was pushing Joao [Gomes], Andre will come in and push Joao and Mario [Lemina], Guedes is pushing Bellegarde and Channy [Hwang], so it’s different to where we were at the end of last season.”

In the spring, Wolves' squad had quality, but ultimately fell on quantity and their season tailed off. Addressing that issue on a restricted budget - by Premier League standards - without diluting the standard is a delicate task.

It will be a few weeks yet before we have a clearer idea of how well they achieved it.

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

The dust has settled on the transfer window, the Premier League is well and truly back, and we are into the first international break of 2024-25.

So we want you to predict where Wolves will finish in the Premier League this season - thinking about the start to the campaign and summer transfer business.

Submit your prediction here

And also, please tell us what is the one thing - good or bad - you have learned about Wolves so far in the campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Despite the flurry of last-minute transfers, I can't help but feel a bit uneasy. The new signings look promising and should strengthen the team, but there are still gaps that could cause issues.

On the bright side, Wolves have bolstered their squad depth. Last season, we were hit hard by injuries and had to rely heavily on academy players. So in that respect, we are now in a better position.

I'm eager to see how the new players perform. Wolves secured Brazilian midfielder Andre on deadline day, and he seems like a great catch. With the midfield already well covered, it will be interesting to see how Gary O’Neil integrates him into the team. Carlos Forbs, the new winger, is another player to watch, and I hope he finds his feet quickly.

With Max Kilman, Pedro Neto, and maybe Jose Sa leaving, we've lost a bit of flair and experience. Gary O’Neil wanted more seasoned Premier League players, we've got some young talent, but they're untested at this level.

However, there's a significant concern in defence. We are lacking a centre-back and a left-back, which falls short of making this a good window. Even with Kilman's early departure, I feel Wolves haven't adequately replaced him. Yerson Mosquera returned on loan and seems capable, but we lack experienced players. Craig Dawson’s return to the squad against Forest and the addition of Sam Johnstone added much needed stability to the defence, thanks to their leadership.

Against Forest, it was clear that Wolves were vulnerable on the wings. The left-back position worries me, with Toti stepping in. There was some improvement, but we still looked exposed, and Premier League teams will capitalise on this.

Overall, I rate the transfer window 7/10. I'm excited to see what the new talent can bring to the Premier League but remain concerned about our defensive gaps.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves winger Daniel Podence has signed for Saudi Pro League Al-Shabab for £5m.

The 28-year-old, who joined from Olympiakos in January 2020, made 108 appearances for Wolves and scored 16 goals.

He spent last season on loan at his former Greek club.

Molineux sporting director Matt Hobbs said: "I’ve got nothing but positive words to say about Danny. All my dealings with him have been easy, even when he was in a difficult place, and when people are like that, you want to look after them when it comes to moves.

"This is a lift-changing opportunity for Danny and his family and one he leaves for with our best wishes. He’s a great guy and will always receive a warm welcome back to Molineux."

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Martin: We were good, more solid than last season, but there is still work to do. We are stronger on the left than the right. We played well and kept battling for the win which is good to watch. Jota Silva was lively when he came on as was Ramon Sosa which is positive. Some nice tricky football in there throughout. Not an easy opponent but one point feels a fair result.

Andy: A pity not to take three points but we would have lost that last season. We look so much surer at the back, particularly from set pieces. Lots of encouraging signs - we played well but Matheus Cunha is a different class. He owned the first half but Morgan Gibbs-White took the second.

Shaun: You can see that although the team have only played two Premier League games, they are forming a good understanding. Sosa and Jota are looking good. Once they have been with us another month or two i can see them starting matches. Sangare should be able to last 90+ minutes but has improved. Elliot Anderson looks to be a bargain. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

Coxsy: One mistake cost us the goal but on a positive we are much improved this season. We've been the better team. To be honest, I'm disappointed we have not got seven to nine points from the first 3 games.

Wolves fans

Kye: Good point! Sam Johnstone looks a good signing and it is comfortable on the ball. Michael Dawson was as solid as ever. VAR again doesn't like us as it was definitely handball from Chris Wood. Solid performance from all. Jorgen Strand Larsen looks very good.

Steve: Nothing different from what we have seen before. No cohesion at the back, a soft goal let in and no real attacking force yet. Seems like a replay of the second half of last season. I hope the manager manages to get them all to gel. It’s up to the players to support the manager and themselves.

Steve: I think it was a good game of football. Excellent goalkeeping by the new lad, while the defence is slowly improving and the midfielders along with the attackers are looking better. Cunha was busy, Mario Lemina looks sharp and Nelson Semedo is his usual self. I'm confident that, after the first win, many more will follow. Gary O'Neil's barmy army indeed.

Rob: Initial luck has run out for this out-of-depth manager. One win in 13. What a record.

Watch all the highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures with Gary and the team.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa

• West Ham 1-3 Man City

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil, speaking to BBC MOTD: "Improvement and it's a tough place to come.

"A fairly even game and a fair result. Lots of good bits and crazy bits, but a good solid away performance where we looked a threat and we weathered pressure. It looked like we could have scored a winner.

"It was a poor goal from us to concede, but we were able to bounce back. Off the back of a busy week and a tough week - the 6-2 defeat to Chelsea, cup game and transfer window."

On Sam Johnstone's debut and Jose Sa remaining at the club: "A good debut and he has not played much recently, it was a good start to his Wolves career.

"It's an unsettling week, there is a lot going on, Jose Sa had a bit going on.

"I had a big decision around goalkeeping and we decided it was Sam today. But Jose will be back training with the group when he returns from Portugal. The idea is him and Sam fight it out for the shirt."

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have conceded at least one goal in all but three of their away league games since the start of the 2022-23 season - only Morecambe (2) have conceded one or more goals more times in that period across all teams in England’s top four divisions.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Straight down to business.

Sam Johnstone was introduced to his team-mates after signing from Crystal Palace on deadline day and thrown straight into action against Forest 24 hours later.

His arrival saw a reshuffle of the goalkeeping pack with regular number one Jose Sa absent from the squad and rumours of a move to the Saudi Pro League intensifying.

It meant Johnstone was in the spotlight the start and he was not given an easy ride with a busy Chris Wood and a dogged Forest side buoyed by their home fans.

Wood got the better of him at the first time of asking, rising highest to head home a corner as Johnstone watched the ball bounce out of his reach and into the corner.

Johnstone was convinced Anthony Elanga was offside and causing disruption but his protests were ignored.

He had to respond as Wood continued to be a threat and Johnstone did - clawing another header behind for a corner after pushing away a dangerous free-kick from Morgan Gibbs-White.

All-in-all, it was a solid showing from Johnstone, who played his part in a hard-earned point at the City Ground.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Forest fans, have your say on your side's performance, external

What did you think of that display, Wolves fans?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are seven Premier League games this Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

All times BST

Follow all the action and reaction here

BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Leicester v Aston Villa

• West Ham v Man City

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F.

Sutton's prediction: 0-0

This is the Nuno derby. Wolves fell to pieces against Chelsea, I'm slightly concerned about Wolves.

They were actually pretty comfortable against Southampton, I think they deserved to win that one.

Wolves fell to pieces, they're clearly missing Max Kilman who they sold to West Ham. I just wonder what damage that second half will do, the way Chelsea really rolled them over.

But I think this will be a close one.

Adam F's prediction: 1-0

This is a tricky one to call.

Read the full predictions and have your say