Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"I was really surprised at how off-structure we were and at some of the bad decisions we were making," said Gary O'Neil after Saturday's dismal showing at Brentford, and he was far from the only one.

Whatever the defensive plan was, it was hard to believe it looked anything like what Wolves actually produced, which left a series of possible explanations - none of them good.

"It's not about the coach, it's not about anything, it's about ourselves," crestfallen captain Mario Lemina explained to reporters from the Express & Star and Athletic.

"He is doing really well and if we say Gary O'Neil is the problem then we are liars and cheaters."

At almost the same moment, O'Neil had his hair shirt on, too.

"I always look at what I've done to get them to that place, because that performance is my fault, not the players' So I look at myself first." And the players? "We're in a tough run, so the first place you look is squarely at yourself, which is what I'm doing. It's hopefully what the players will be doing."

A fortnight is a long time to stew on a game like that but, on this occasion, it might allow some space for all concerned to complete their internal reflections and share the results.

If that means a step back from the tactical formation O'Neil has used so far this season, as he hinted on Saturday it might, so be it.

Whatever he chooses can only work if the players are clear about their responsibilities and committed to them, as Lemina demands.

O'Neil walked across to the travelling supporters at the end of Saturday's game, followed by some of his players, and they were left in no doubt about the strength of feeling.

The recently appointed set-piece coach Jack Wilson left the club on Monday, although those in higher ranks should not imagine his departure will be enough to satisfy the more fervent critics.

Sticking with O'Neil, as the club seems likely to do for the short term at least, may yet prove to be the best option. There are still plenty of fans who support that.

Whatever happens in the next few weeks, though, those above O'Neil should be clear that fans' criticism extends well beyond the head coach, and may take much longer to counter.

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

George Lakin
Fan writer

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Wolves were once a predictable and effective team, built on a solid defensive foundation.

Our simple but devastating counter-attacking style allowed us to absorb pressure and threaten anyone on the break. The team's success was rooted in simplicity, a principle Einstein famously called the "ultimate sophistication."

Now, Wolves now seem bogged down in complexity. O’Neil, an ardent student of the game, has embraced intricate tactics and extreme attention to detail.

Upon bringing in Jack Wilson, a set-piece coach from Manchester City, in the summer O’Neil claimed: "I don’t meet too many people who go into as much detail on game plans as I do, but Jack is one of the closest."

Yet our set-piece struggles persist. Brentford highlighted this. Ethan Pinnock drifted unmarked at the back post twice within a matter of minutes.

Bizarrely, we seem to opt against going man for man, instead choosing to direct our players to start deeper and run onto the ball to clear. Complexity.

Any opposition coach worth their salt can see that there is a clear window of opportunity in playing the ball directly into the space just out of reach of the onrushing defender. The result is a free header, so place your best aerial threat right there and voila. Wolves looked like conceding from just about every set piece against Brentford. Simplicity was the kryptonite to our complexity, and it’s becoming a theme.

Football in its finest form is a simple game. The wisest in our game know this, which incidentally make O’Neil’s comments about the similarities between himself and Wilson now look incredibly stark. Wilson finds himself out of a job. His extreme studiousness adjudged to have meddled with our clarity.

But O'Neil - his master and kin - remains; stuck in the epicentre of the widespread confusion he has created. Lost in game plans that exist only in the pixels of an iPad screen. Meanwhile, his players look on in search of their leader.

Find more from George Lakin at Always Wolves, external

Image source, Getty Images

A VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.

@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.

Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.

Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.

I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Wolves have sacked set piece coach Jack Wilson with the side bottom of the Premier League.

The Scot only joined from Manchester City in the summer, becoming the club's first dedicated set-piece specialist, but it has been accepted the move has not worked out.

Wilson leaves after Saturday's 5-3 defeat at Brentford where the squad struggled from corners.

Wolves scored 15 goals from set plays last season, under the supervision of the coaches, but Wilson struggled to make the impact the club wanted.

When asked about Wilson and the trend of set piece coaches last month Gary O'Neil appeared lukewarm about the role.

He told BBC Sport: "It has become a lot more complicated and more detailed, it doesn't mean it's any better but it's the way the game has gone and you have to be able to keep up."

Wolves have the worst defence in the division, conceding 21, and have a goal difference of -12.

They host Manchester City after the international break as one of four teams still looking for a first league win.

The decision also underlines the backing for O'Neil - who was the driving force behind the decision - by the club despite their poor start.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Gary O'Neil remains safe in his job at Wolves, despite their poor start leaving them bottom of the Premier League.

Saturday's 5-3 defeat at Brentford saw some fans turn and aim the first direct criticism of the manager in his 14-month reign.

The result and performance extends the winless start and compounds what has happened before. If it was in isolation it could be put down as a one-off but because of the overall situation it is magnified further.

Of course the performance was worrying and a reaction and improvement will be expected - even if the arrival of Manchester City after the international break is next up.

O'Neil has credit in the bank but, soon, Wolves will need to win and climb away from the bottom. O'Neil is realistic and honest enough to admit that, results have to improve in order for the club to stay in the Premier League and for him to remain at Molineux.

There is only so long a difficult start can be blamed for their position, even if the team has been competitive in the majority of games.

Indeed, they have perhaps been one win away from an acceptance that it has been a tricky opening and an acknowledgement the points tally was good enough.

They are scoring goals, a tally of nine is the best in the bottom five and higher than seventh placed Newcastle, but their defence is the worst in the division.

Wolves have conceded 21 goals in seven games and that is not sustainable. The long-term injury to Yerson Mosquera compounds the failure to bring in a replacement for Max Kilman. No-one needed hindsight to know the defence needed bolstering in the summer.

Yet the bottom line is O'Neil is not in danger yet, sources have told the BBC, and there is still plenty of confidence in him and the squad at Molineux.

Image source, Getty Images

A Wolves-related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Richard asked: After the international break, Wolves have Manchester City at home and Brighton away. The imbalanced opening fixtures list is then addressed with eight consecutive games against bottom-half teams. Should Gary O'Neil be given time to try to turn the corner? If so, how long?

Phil answered: There is no getting away from what a poor start this has been for Wolves, with O'Neil himself expressing his disappointment at how far away his side were from what he expects when losing 5-3 at Brentford - and don't forget they also shipped six at home to Chelsea.

All the indications from Molineux at the moment are that they are solidly behind O'Neil. He signed a new four-year deal in August and the club have publicly declared their support for him again recently.

To give context, it's a tough job for O'Neil. Don't forget he lost two very important players in defender Max Kilman and winger Pedro Neto, so they are still trying to adjust to that.

O'Neil has done a good job at Wolves and deserves time - but he will know as well as anyone that results need to improve.

The next fixtures, as you point out, are tough but then he will hope to get Wolves' season into its stride.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

Wolves players Nelson Semedo, Rodrigo Gomes, Anna Morphet, Tammy George and Beth Roberts have been getting involved with inclusive, disabled sports movement Super Movers for Every Body.

Super Movers for Every Body is a movement aimed at getting more children into inclusive sports by providing equipment packs to UK primary schools and Paralympic sport teaching and learning resources.

West Midlands primary school pupils at Wolves' training ground were also joined by Para canoe medallists Laura Sugar and Jack Eyers to unbox the new equipment.

"It's really important for disabled people to play football, to play sports and get out because sport is for everybody," said defender Semedo.

"All of us should be able to play this. They are very capable of everything and just need to keep going."

Read and watch more about Super Movers here

John Bennett
Final Score reporter at Gtech Community Stadium

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The fact that I was sitting only a few rows behind the Wolves boss Gary O’Neil on Saturday means I'm not at all surprised about how scathing he was about his team's performance.

You could sense the frustration and anger as he watched what seemed more like an NBA game than a Premier League game at times, with absolutely no control in midfield and the action swinging from end to end.

Great fun for neutrals like me, but not so much for the Wolves fans, who made their feelings clear to the players after the full-time whistle.

O'Neil talked about there being "no structure", being "far too open" and giving themselves "no opportunity" in the game because of "the level of defensive shape".

I admire his honesty - and the assessment - is spot on but it is very worrying for the Wolves supporters.

I remember seeing them against Arsenal at Molineux towards the end of last season and, despite the fact that they eventually lost the game, being impressed about how solid, disciplined and structured they were against such a top side.

There was none of that on Saturday and it is now a staggering 21 goals conceded in just seven games.

It will feel like a long international break for O'Neil, particularly when you consider that their next opponents are free-scoring Manchester City.

Image source, Getty Images

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

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Ian: Wow! It took us a little longer to score our first goal this week. Our defending at times was too narrow, allowing Wolves to attack down the flanks. Brentford look dangerous going forward. Damsgaard, Norgaard and Janelt worked tirelessly in midfield. Lewis Potter's confidence is growing every week. Happy times at the Gtech!

T.Z Bee: Strong individual performances from Damsgaard, Janelt, Mbuemo... well, pretty much all the team really. They're starting to gel as a unit too. Sepp van den Berg is proving a real asset and I love Ajer rampaging forward. I feared a really tight defensive game. I was wrong.

Mitch: Absolutely mad game - chaotic defending but a deserved win. It was really entertaining, which is surely the point.

Nige: What Thomas Franks has achieved with a limited budget and an injury-hit first team is incredible. In Thomas and Mathew we trust.

Wolves fans

Goldvein: O'Neil needs to read the riot act to a lot of these players to pack in all the showboating every time they score a goal. The lack of concentration is a big problem. His attitude is all wrong. He needs to act like a manager and not like a mate to his underachievers.

Dave: Not the best result for us but I can't fault the commitment of the players. When you score three goals away from home you expect a point at least. The fans who complain about the poor defence will be the same ones who wanted Max Kilman to be sold. Careful what you wish for, especially when calling for the manager to go.

Vinny: Dreadful, absolutely dreadful. It must be obvious to everyone that it's already a relegation battle. Time to change the manager possibly.

David: Dreadful defending again but no surprise to see us bottom of the table at this stage. It was obvious when the fixture list came out that we had by far the toughest start, and we’ve got Manchester City at home and Brighton away next. Hopefully, salvation arrives in November with home games against Crystal Palace, Southampton and Bournemouth. Let’s not panic just yet.

Wolves do not intend to sack manager Gary O'Neil and will give him time to turn his side's fortunes around after six defeats in their opening seven league games. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Premier League clubs including Wolves, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea have been monitoring Santos' 18-year-old Brazilian defender Joao Pedro Chermont. (Caught Offside), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-2 Fulham

• Everton 0-0 Newcastle

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It’s the furthest I’ve seen the group from what we wanted to look like. An unbelievably disappointing afternoon for us. Crazy, crazy goals we gave away. We were wide open.

"There’s a lot to think about and a lot to put right. We’ll get straight to work. Some players will be away [on international duty] but we need to find a way for the team to be better than this afternoon. Today was so loose. [We made] crazy decisions with and without the ball. It was a really poor performance.

"The responsibility is on me. Of course the players are going to make decisions, but I need to give them something that makes them make better decisions than they made today, make fewer mistakes than we made today. It’s the worst game I’ve been involved in as a coach.

"I’ll do the best I can with the group I have. The club do what they can do off the pitch. My responsibility is to find results. This league can be tough. There are no hiding places. We can do better than that."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manager Gary O’Neil defended his team after last weekend’s defeat at home to Liverpool, but Wolves can have no complaints with the outcome at the Gtech Community Stadium after a desperate display left the visitors still searching for their first Premier League win of the campaign.

O’Neil’s side responded well to Brentford’s first two goals – replying first through Matheus Cunha, then Jorgen Strand Larsen – but their efforts were undermined by some truly woeful defending for the Bees’ subsequent two first-half efforts.

Lemina conceded possession far too easily in the build-up to Christian Norgaard’s strike, while nobody in a Wolves shirt picked up Ethan Pinnock from Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner in first-half stoppage time, giving the defender time and space to put Brentford 4-2 ahead.

The half-time whistle was met by a chorus of boos from Wolves’ travelling supporters, who have now seen their team concede 21 goals in just seven games this season – two more than relegated Sheffield United had at this stage last term.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone denied Pinnock again in the second half as Brentford continued to carve out the better openings, and Schade should have done better when he shot straight at the Wolves keeper prior to Fabio Carvalho's late finish.

The last time Wolves picked up only one point from their opening seven games of a league season was 60 years ago, when they ended up finishing second bottom in the old First Division.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at the Brentford Community Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

If the court of popular opinion is anything to go by, no one is safe at Wolves.

Chants of "you don't know what you're doing" were directed at manager Gary O'Neil, while the ownership also came under fire as supporters in the away end sang "we want Fosun out".

The first seemed like a response to O'Neil's substitution as midfielder Andre came off for forward Hwang Hee-Chan, in a logical change given Wolves were 4-2 down in the 57th minute, but the real reason behind the anger was simmering frustration at the general state of play.

That was being well-beaten by Brentford to lose their sixth of seven games, seeing the west Midlands club rooted to the bottom of the table, still without a win, last failing to gain a victory in seven matches during the 2003-04 season.

The attacks at the ownership during the match, which ended 5-3 after late Fabio Carvalho and Rayan Ait-Nouri goals, could be down to the constant need to balance the books with star players Pedro Neto and Max Kilman sold this summer, and the subsequent investment not matching the money received.

O'Neil was also exceptional in his first season in charge and signed a new contract in the summer but has voiced his concern about some of the transfer activity that followed.

The 41-year-old is now trying to establish a new way of playing without key players and despite Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen getting on the scoresheet, they were poor and deserved to lose.

Wolves could still get themselves going but there will be questions asked about whether the manager is the right man for the job during the international break and whether the club as a whole are in a state of managed decline, with an imbalanced squad and a lot of inexperienced players.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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What did you make of Wolves' display?, external

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

Follow reaction and read the match report

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

It has been a hectic start to the Premier League season with some clubs making a fast start while others are yet to get going.

But whose boots are made for walking the most so far?

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has walked the most after six games, just 0.1 km more than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Interestingly, Haaland and Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo walk a lot despite being forwards.

Maybe the reason why Haaland has been able to establish himself as one of the fastest players and why Semenyo has made so many sprints is that they conserve their energy for the biggest moments where they can make the most impact.

Meanwhile, it is not just distance walked that we have tracked.

Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has spent more of his time on the pitch walking than any other player in the Premier League so far.

It is also interesting that both of Tottenham’s centre-backs spend so much of their time walking, given Spurs' high possession, high pressing, style of play.

This might mean Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven can conserve energy for when things get a bit chaotic (or they fancy a marauding run)?

This could especially be true for van de Ven who has been the fastest player in the competition so far.