Wolverhampton Wanderers

Can you name the four players who have scored at least 20 goals for Wolves in the Premier League?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

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The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.

First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.

I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.

From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.

The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.

We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.

None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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Every June, on the day the new league fixture lists are released, there are a few dreadful bores who point out that every team will play all the others twice in a roughly random order, and it doesn’t really matter all that much.

I should confess here to often having been one of those bores, but that view may need revision in the light of Wolves' current predicament.

Gary O’Neil’s opinion after the galling defeat by Newcastle - that Wolves had gone "toe to toe with a team that are going to be higher up the league than us" - attracted critical commentary from some fans who felt it was evidence of a negative mindset.

But O’Neil had said nothing but the truth, and had in the same breath pointed out his team might well have beaten a more fancied side.

However, there may be something in the words of an exceptionally disappointed captain, Mario Lemina, though we should make allowance for them being said in the moments immediately after the game when the emotion was highest.

"We need to change this losing mentality now, and get back to work and win games now.

"We fought a lot, it’s not about the performance of the players, it’s more about sometimes luck, and we didn’t have it. But we need to create more chances to have luck."

As you will have read elsewhere on this page, O’Neil suggested that the statistic adding Wolves' winless Premier League start to their poor run at the end of last season was "irrelevant".

He is right. Unfortunately, and however unfairly, Wolves - and therefore O’Neil - are destined to keep hearing those numbers until the league victories arrive to change them.

They are the sort of widely quoted numbers that sometimes cause club officials to make rash decisions, even though O’Neil is clearly building a team with potential on relatively limited resources and the fixture list handed them an unkindly demanding start.

Wolves play three Champions League teams in their next four Premier League games and feasibly could play well enough to find themselves in winning positions in any of them.

If they do, they will need to trust their luck, and hold their nerve. If they don’t manage it, it may be the leadership of the club who will have to hold theirs.

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

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves ended last season with only one win from their final 10 Premier League games and are winless in four league outings in 2024-25.

Head Coach Gary O'Neil has said it is "irrelevant" to compare the end of last season with the start of this one and, given the changes in playing personnel and formation implemented, he has a point.

But whether you look at the shorter or longer term, the statistics are far from ideal.

As with anything, context is key.

Nine of the 14 games stretching across the two seasons were against teams that finished in the top half in 2023-24, while injuries to attacking players in the closing months of last term left Wolves' already threadbare squad down to its proverbial bare bones.

Already this campaign, they have faced three of last season's top seven.

They may only be averaging one goal scored per league game this season, but there are positive signs. Mario Lemina's well-worked goal against Newcastle showed what can happen when they get it right.

According to Premier League statistics,, external seven "big chances" have not been taken - just six clubs have a higher total - and only Manchester City (four) have hit the woodwork more times than Wolves (three).

It is at the other end where the major problems have arisen. Only Everton (13) have conceded more than Wolves' tally of 11 in four games this season.

Some of those can be put down to Wolves' switch from a flexible back five to a back four, which has left them more open, but others are simply because of basic errors - Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood being left unmarked to head home from corners, for example.

Looking ahead, things do not get much easier for Wolves. Three of their next four games are against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City - all of whom finished in the top four last season.

It may be during a slightly kinder run of fixtures during November and December when this team will truly be judged.

Dave Azzopardi
Fan writer

Find more from Dave Azzopardi at Talking Wolves, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup game between Brighton and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Kev: Another performance that highlights what we are and where we are at. We are an exciting work in progress. Lots of new faces under a young manager, with the highlight again being Carlos Baleba. He is another player off the Bloom production line who looks destined for a great career. Winning when you're still finding your new identity is very encouraging. Roberto de Zerbi who?

Hugh: There is so much talent going forward. Baleba is so composed, powerful and confident. Adingra is so gifted. Ferguson looks like he is getting back to his best. We are a bit shaky at the back, but I think that can be put down to the lack of minutes together? At least I hope so! Exciting times ahead. Hurzeler is still unbeaten and it is setting up to be a very interesting game on Sunday!

Phil: The overall passing from Brighton was amongst the worst I've seen in a long time. They gave away the ball so many times, including goalkeeper Steele who gifted Wolves their second goal with a touch that was never going to reach the Brighton defender. It was very surprising and disappointing for a Premier League side.

Peter: I thought we looked quite poor in defence to be honest and we were quite lucky to get through. We are still through though, so I suppose that's all that matters. I did think Baleba looked very good and he scored an absolute cracker. A nice cameo and goal for Ferdi too. But we have to tighten up the defence and please stop mucking about in the area!

Wolves fans

Steve: A battling performance from Wolves. Unfortunately, and as usual, it was only a battling performance and not a win. Maybe they will come good eventually - I hope it's not in the Championship next season though, but that is looking more and more likely. There doesn't seem to be much belief from the players. The talent is there, but is the belief?

Bob: O'Neil has to get rid of his obsession with playing four at the back. He needs to get the defence tight and organised. We have the cattle but no idea how to use them.

Luke: I said this team will be bottom by Christmas and it looks like I'll be proven right, unfortunately. The manager is the biggest problem.

Don: The club shouldn't have given a four-year contract to this inexperienced manager after last season's end run. It was a big mistake.

Miguel: We might be going through a period of bad results but we should look at laying the blame on the players that are being picked to play and then the manager. If I was on the board, I would suggest that the club puts O'Neil on probation for the next few matches and, if things don't improve, then start looking for a replacement. I would maybe look at Gareth Southgate.

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Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has been speaking to BBC Radio WM following his side's Carabao Cup exit: "There is frustration, of course. There are lots of positives but obviously the main thing is always the result, of course it is. We know that the run of fixtures we are in is brutal.

"We made a lot of changes but the team still functioned well. We made some errors without the ball in the first half that gave Brighton a little bit too much joy. Once we managed to get that tidied up with the players, they were able to follow the plan much better.

"We were the better side, which takes some doing here. We should've won that second half with no problem. Of course, should have's and could have's aren't going to help us, but moving forward you can still see that we're giving ourselves good opportunities to win football matches against tough teams.

"Unfortunately, at this moment in time, we haven't managed to turn one [result] our way. The lads are still taking a lot of heart from how well we're able to do on the road against a tough side that haven't lost yet this season.

"Gutted to lose again. Gutted that the lads gave themselves such a great opportunity of getting a big result on the board for us. Just that last little bit let us down and the sucker-punch at 3-1 made it difficult.

"So far, my guess would be that we have been second-favourite in every game. I think we will be for the next few as well so we're having to fight against the odds at the minute. We are doing enough to get results, but we are falling a bit short."

On giving some of his other squad players the chance to impress: "I thought [Goncalo] Guedes was excellent. He has obviously had a tough few years with injuries and being unsettled at the club. He showed quality, he was bright and he worked unbelievably hard for the team.

"So there were lots of positives in that, but we will always come back to the result."

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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It is tough times for Wolves manager Gary O'Neil after another game without a win for his side.

Wolves are now 18th in the Premier League and have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.

O'Neil's side made a good show of themselves in the opening game away at Arsenal but were ultimately beaten 2-0 by the title contenders.

That was then followed up by a disappointing loss at home to Chelsea, a game in which Wolves shipped six goals.

Wolves' only point in the league came away at Nottingham Forest before being narrowly beaten at home to Newcastle, despite leading for much of the match.

With Aston Villa away up next, O'Neil may well start to feel the strain of having just one point from a possible 12.

Wolves finished in 14th last season, 20 points above Luton in 18th, and may have had ambitions to push on.

However, after a tough run of form, their ambition for this term may well be to remain in the Premier League.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton’s performance, external

What did you make of Wolves’ display?, external

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

Follow reaction and read the match report

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Three Premier League teams are in Carabao Cup third-round action on Wednesday:

• Brighton v Wolves - 19:45

• Coventry v Tottenham - 20:00

Kick-off times BST

Follow live text commentary of those games

Wolves, Bournemouth and Fulham are interested in Cameroon defender Joel Matip, 33, who remains a free agent after leaving Liverpool during the summer (HITC), external

Meanwhile, Gary O'Neil has joined Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and West Ham in admiring Red Bull Salzburg's 24-year-old French defender Oumar Solet. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil says he's not "willing to risk really important players in key areas of the pitch" in Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie with Brighton.

After only picking up one point so far this season and with difficult games against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City to come before November, O'Neil has said changes should be expected for the cup.

"It's a game we want to win but a game we will probably need to make changes," he said after Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle.

Craig Dawson is one of the players O'Neil described as "high risk" with the prospect of academy players coming in to take his place.

"It would be tricky to put too much on Daws. Yerson (Mosquera) has some issues with his calf and we were slightly concerned about him going into the Newcastle game, so it would be a big risk to put him out there.

"Toti (Gomes) will probably miss it with his hamstring issues. There are some decisions which need to be made but I'm not willing to risk really important players to us in key areas of the pitch with a big game coming up against Aston Villa.

"We could see young lads at centre-back at Brighton."

Despite sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, O'Neil is remaining positive and he hopes his players feel the same.

"There is a few things that impact confidence: one is results, the second is performance and you can take belief from the way you played and the lads understand that," he added.

"They know, especially with the draw being away to Brighton, with the tough Premier League games we have had we have to keep giving our best all the time."