Dave Porter reveals key lessons from Wolves’ draw with Brentford and reflects on the team’s season as a whole.
Another season in the books — and what a slog it’s been. From early despair to late-season relief, Wolves fans have been through it all. Here’s what we learned from the final day draw with Brentford — and what it might mean for the road ahead.
1. It’s Finally Over
It’s been a long and gruelling season — one that must have taken its toll on even the most ardent Wolves fan. A break from it all will be welcome.
In the end, survival was comfortable and assured several weeks ago, but for long stretches, this has been a season where the blows just kept landing. While you could argue it speaks to the resilience of the club — to have kept going and found a way to regroup — it’s been anything but enjoyable. Everyone needs a break.
Wolves will want to avoid any repeat of this campaign. Another year of pressure and struggle feels unsustainable, especially in terms of supporter tolerance, which is already stretched to breaking point.
2. An Important Draw
As far as end-of-season draws go — in what was, ultimately, a dead rubber of a fixture — Munetsi’s thunderous strike actually felt quite meaningful. Wolves would not have wanted to end the season on four straight defeats.
It’s the kind of run-in we’ve sadly grown accustomed to over the years, but a loss yesterday would have tugged harder at the threads of doubt that still hang over the club and the manager. That goal was a moment that restored some positivity heading into the summer break — perhaps even shortening the mental reset and recuperation period.
It just felt important to get something from this game.
3. All Change Please, All Change
In what feels like a period of rolling, year-on-year transition, this summer must surely mark the end of the last cycle — and the beginning of a new one.
Wolves said some farewells, though oddly, there was a lot of guesswork as to who they were actually directed at. Social media had already all but paraded Cunha at Old Trafford by the time most people got home. A ‘Here We Go’ has never sounded so unsurprising.
Uncertainty still surrounds Semedo and Aït-Nouri, and both seemed to share a few ‘just in case’ moments with the fans. Should that trio depart, they’ll leave a huge gap that will need filling this summer. But all three can be well satisfied with their contributions to the club — and most will be remembered fondly.
There were also some departures that are well overdue — players who’ve underwhelmed for too long. Guedes may have technically played his last game for Wolves yesterday, but his performance barely met the criteria for actually playing.
It looks like a summer of exits — and, as such, a summer of welcomes. This window is critical for the future of Wolves. It can’t be another year of transition. It has to be the bedrock that begins the next cycle.
4. Moneyball Thinking
Semedo has been offered a healthy new contract and may yet stay at the club. If he does, many will be happy. He’s an excellent footballer who often flies under the radar, and Wolves would be pleased to keep him.
That said, his departure might actually be fundamental to replacing Cunha.
While Matt Hobbs may not be a Brad Pitt lookalike, Wolves find themselves in a remarkably similar position to the Oakland A’s in the film Moneyball (worth a watch if you haven’t already). The A’s ended a season having lost their best players and faced the reality that they couldn’t replace their contributions like-for-like. The solution? Replace in the average.
Wolves need to replace Cunha’s goal involvements. And so we return to Semedo. As good a footballer as he clearly is, his output in terms of goal involvements over the years has been incredibly poor. Wolves need to raise the average — they need output from the right wing-back position.
As good as Gomes and André are — and they are very good — they’re not going to deliver big numbers in terms of goals or assists. Wolves need contributions from all five forward positions, and Semedo just doesn’t bring them.
The answer to Cunha isn’t one player — it’s solving for it in the average. And in that sense, Semedo leaving may be essential rather than detrimental.
5. The Future Is on a Knife Edge
Wolves have something. Of the ten outfield players, the club will feel well stocked through the spine of the team.
The likely defensive trio looks powerful and imperious on paper, especially with the return of Mosquera. Not many would swap Gomes or André as a midfield pairing for any other duo in the league. And up front, Wolves have a striker who can score goals.
Yes, depth will be needed to cover these positions — but essentially, the spine gives real cause for optimism.
Exits and subsequent recruitment will dictate the future of the club. Get it right, and Wolves could be pushing for a top-half finish. Get it wrong, and it could be another season of struggle.
Wolves are at a crossroads. This is not the summer for half measures. There must be investment — and it must be right.
The next decade may depend on what happens this summer.
ARTICLE BY DAVE PORTER
Wolverhampton born, East Sussex based supporter. Old enough to have seen the descent to the bottom, young enough to not have experienced the days my friend. Not many Wolves fans to celebrate or commiserate with round these parts, so had to find an outlet to discuss the enormous highs, crushing lows and share the frustrations that only come with following Wolves.