'Sport is for everybody' - Wolves players join Super Movers movementpublished at 12:34 7 October
12:34 7 October
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."
'Very worrying for Wolves supporters'published at 09:03 7 October
09:03 7 October
John Bennett Final Score reporter at Gtech Community Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
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.
Brentford 5-3 Wolves - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:38 7 October
08:38 7 October
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.
Gossip: O'Neil not facing sack yetpublished at 06:56 7 October
06:56 7 October
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
'My worst game as a coach'published at 18:40 5 October
18:40 5 October
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."
Brentford 5-3 Wolves: Desperate defensive display costs visitors dearlypublished at 18:17 5 October
18:17 5 October
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.
Anger simmering amid Wolves' poor startpublished at 17:19 5 October
17:19 5 October
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.
Brentford 5-3 Wolves - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:58 5 October
Who walks the most in the Premier League?published at 11:45 5 October
11:45 5 October
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.
Follow Saturday's Premier League games livepublished at 11:31 5 October
11:31 5 October
Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
Sutton's predictions: Brentford v Wolves published at 11:15 5 October
11:15 5 October
Image source, Getty Images
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Wolves are still bottom, with only one point so far, but they have actually been playing OK - including in last week's defeat against Liverpool.
Eventually it will click for Gary O’Neil's side, and maybe it will happen here, but I also think Brentford have been better than their recent results have suggested.
The Bees have scored in the first minute of their past three league games, so Wolves need to be prepared for a fast start.
Brentford did not go on to win any of those matches, but I have a feeling they will get over the line here, especially because they are at home.
Distance and sprint - which team does it best?published at 18:01 4 October
18:01 4 October
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
There can often be a lot of focus on distances covered and sprints made by teams, but how much of a difference does it really make to their success?
When it comes to distance covered by teams it is the 'battle of the B's' with Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford having covered the most ground in the Premier League so far this season.
At the other end of the scale, bottom side Wolves have run the least so far - 5km fewer than any other side.
Initially, I thought this could be due to how difficult their start has been (i.e. sitting deep and not rushing out against top opponents), but they actually rank mid-table in pressing stats (with no players missing via red cards either).
But, it is worth noting that running a lot does not necessarily equal success.
Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also been the 'laziest' teams so far yet have started the season well.
It is a similar story when it comes to sprints too - some good teams sprint a lot, some good teams sprint little.
Tottenham have made the most sprints in the Premier League this campaign, followed by fellow high-pressers Liverpool and Bournemouth.
But defending champions Manchester City have made the least – 60 fewer than any other team – and yet they have been pretty good so far too.
Looking at which teams have made the most sprints – Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea – and which the fewest – City, Arsenal, Villa – it suggests that playing style plays a part in how much a team sprints as well as just work rate.
O'Neil on injuries, Brentford and Neville criticismpublished at 14:21 4 October
14:21 4 October
Jonty Colman BBC Sport journalist
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Brentford (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "Santiago Bueno's glute is OK. Craig [Dawson] has trained a bit. Bouba [Traore] and Yerson [Mosquera] are still out. hopefully Bastien [Meupiyou] will train with the group next week.
On his side's winless start to the season: "It's a 38-game race. We know that if we play well and perform to our potential, we have a good opportunity against Brentford. Brentford will feel the same about us. We can only control us. We’re ready for this weekend and then we will be ready for the game after that. I am confident if we play like we can over the season."
On Brentford scoring in the first 40 seconds in their past three matches: "Incredible, they are big on set-plays. They use kick-off as a start of that. The lads have seen all three - we know we need to be ready. The three goals in consecutive weeks heightens that awareness."
On Brentford boss Thomas Frank: "He's done a great job of making sure they take points off the sides that aren't going to be in the top six. They are a tough side to play at their place and well-organised. They will be a test. My group know what it will take this weekend. There's not been loads wrong with the performances so far - just little bits in games has cost us points. With all of those little tidy-ups, we'll be in a good position."
On criticism from Gary Neville during last weekend's defeat by Liverpool: "It was a good assessment of that one phase, that was all. I was as frustrated as Gary. Players always have decisions to make over how direct we're going to be. Later in that phase, we get Tommy Doyle out, get into the final third and don’t have patience."
He added: "The general feeling from people that know football should be that was a fantastic effort against a top side equipped with world-class players. We gave them a real tough go and made them feel like they scraped a victory."
On the need to get a first win: "I'm confident every week the lads are going to show what is expected. When we go to Brentford, I am confident of getting a result. I'm desperate for it to be this weekend. Overhyping games can be dangerous. If we're prepared that gives us the best possible chance."
Brentford v Wolves: Did you know?published at 09:54 4 October
09:54 4 October
Image source, PA Media
Wolves have conceded 16 goals from just 9.8 xG against in the Premier League this season, the worst such difference so far this term (-6.2).
They had the fourth-best record in this regard last season (3.9), conceding 65 goals from 68.9 xG against.
'Merely competing hard will not be sufficient' in upcoming runpublished at 16:24 3 October
16:24 3 October
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, PA Media
"I'm sure at some point I'll lose my job and they'll want me out of here," said Gary O'Neil on Saturday, acknowledging the reality that touches almost all managerial careers.
"But until that very day, nothing will ever make me think badly of the Wolves supporters," he continued.
"They've been incredible to me. I think they understand the situation well. There's a lot of things at play here and we're fighting some big clubs with one arm tied behind our back at the minute with some situations that we're dealing with, on top of some injuries.
"But we are doing it with real togetherness and fighting spirit. This is us and what we are, and we're going to be the best we can and we accept the consequences."
The many Wolves fans who lingered after their ultimately fruitless battle against Liverpool had indeed shown appreciation to O'Neil and his players. The previous day, chairman Jeff Shi and sporting director Matt Hobbs had insisted O'Neil was their man, and there is no reason to doubt that strength of internal support.
Wolves have, after all, played only six Premier League games since the club rewarded O'Neil and his staff with long contracts.
As everyone knows, that selection of matches has been exceptionally difficult and with the exception of the second-half collapse against Chelsea, Wolves have put up a credible fight in all of them.
However - and putting aside that there is still Manchester City to come next - Saturday's game at Brentford begins a spell of matches in which merely competing hard will not be sufficient.
In normal times, Brentford away falls in the 'tough place to go' bracket, where an away point would be perfectly satisfactory.
That remains true, but at a time when victories have been so rare, the pressure really is going to be heightened to win games like this - an unfair situation, perhaps, but undeniable.
If Wolves do not impress in the next few weeks, then even allowing for all the current circumstances, the heat from supporters will turn on the club, even if not directed primarily at the coach himself. When that heat arrives, as we have all seen before, it is the manager's position which often proves to have the lowest melting point.
Wolves' immediate future will be more straightforward in so many ways if they avoid this scenario and allow O'Neil more time to develop his team.
In the end, though, only wins, not well-meant words or applause, will secure it.
