Our brutally honest Wolves mid season report card for BBC Sport. Who is flying, who is floundering and why fans are still backing Rob Edwards to lead a great escape.
Which player is flying?
“Flying” feels a bit strong for our current form. It would be great to see anyone really hitting those heights right now because even a small spark of brilliance would help our situation. If I had to name one, I would say Ladislav Krejci has handled the switch to the Premier League the best. He has settled quickly, looks composed and rarely hides when things get tough. Joao Gomes also deserves a mention. He always shows heart and fight and he never stops working for the team, even if he has not quite reached his usual high standards this season.
Which player is floundering?
You could argue that many of them are floundering because we were clearly lacking leadership and direction. We need a settled captain, a settled team and a settled management structure. Ideally, Rob Edwards will sort the on-pitch leadership issues quickly. He has already said in his early interviews that he wants every player to step up and be a leader, whether they are on the pitch or on the bench.
Jorgen Strand Larsen is probably the most disappointing player so far. After scoring 14 goals last season, many expected him to kick on and develop even more. Instead, he is struggling. The service to him has been limited, but ever since those summer offers came in, he has not looked like the same player.
Tactically I think we…
are naive. We have conceded some very soft goals and made unforced errors that have gifted the opposition chances. We need focus and mental strength for the full 90 minutes, not just in patches. It will be interesting to see what Edwards does here. For me, I would like to see players in their natural and preferred positions, instead of trying to squeeze them into a rigid managerial idea.
I want my manager to give me more…
Consistency. Vitor Pereira made 31 changes to his starting line-up in the first 10 matches, the most of any club. He often said players had to earn their place and subsequently he kept rotating. But the constant changes created inconsistency and uncertainty. He also shifted systems several times. I want Edwards to give us more stability in selection and system, so the players know their roles.
Our fans seem obsessed with…
The Championship. Many fans were convinced we will go down and were packing their bags for a Championship tour.
But they should be thinking about…
Getting behind Edwards. He put himself forward for a very tough job. He is one of our own and deserves – and will get – our full backing, even if the odds are not in our favour. He has committed to us, so he deserves the same commitment in return.
My expectations for the season were…
Not very high but I never thought we would be rock bottom and cut adrift after 11 games. Honestly, I had major concerns about Wolves’ preparation in pre-season. Now I am hoping for a relegation battle and, against the odds, to pull off the greatest of great escapes.
Score out of 10 for the season so far:
It is very hard to give a score. I sadly cannot give it any more than a 1/10 for the season to date. Wolves’ problems run much deeper and start with how the club is being run.
One sentence on how you are feeling right now:
Depressed, but ready to back Edwards and the boys until the end. After all, the club motto is: “Out of darkness, cometh light.”
