Edwards Faces Daunting Challenge at Wolves

A Fresh Start Turns Sour

Initially, the atmosphere at Molineux was brimming with hope as new manager Rob Edwards made his entrance to a warm welcome from the fans. However, the day concluded with Crystal Palace triumphantly leaving the pitch after defeating Wolves, underscoring the monumental task Edwards faces in keeping the team in the Premier League.

Wolves remain winless through their first 12 matches, recording only two points – a daunting statistic, considering that in the history of the top division, no team has survived with such a low score at this stage. The closest case was Everton in 1994-95, who had managed four points at this same point.

Edwards found himself on the defensive when questioned about Wolves potentially surpassing Derby County’s dismal record of just 11 points in the 2007-08 season. This is a legitimate concern as Wolves languish at the bottom of the table without a victory in the league for seven months.

The team has lost 10 of their first 12 encounters, scored a mere seven goals, conceded 27, and now find themselves nine points adrift of safety. Moreover, a further eight points separate them from Burnley, who sit just above the relegation zone, making a miraculous escape appear increasingly improbable.

This opportunity is a dream come true for Edwards, a Telford native, yet the situation seems overwhelming. “We possess players capable of producing crucial moments. I recognize morale is low following our defeats, but my time here has only just begun and I don’t have a magic wand,” the 42-year-old remarked.

The Current State of Wolves

A Grim Outlook

Wolves’ situation is dire — their two points from 12 matches represent one of the lowest performances in top-flight history at such a point:

• They currently have the third-fewest points after 12 games, trailing teams from the 1930s and 2020.
• The club has not secured a league victory in 16 consecutive matches, which is a stark contrast to their earlier six-game winning streak last season.
• In the context of the Premier League, they are the first side since Newcastle in the 2021-22 season to fail to earn any wins in their opening 12 games.

Quality Concerns

The effort from Wolves is apparent, yet a disturbing lack of quality and confidence amongst the players remains evident. The absence of self-belief is inhibiting the skills demonstrated by players such as Jorgen Strand Larsen, who netted 14 goals last season, while midfielders Andre and Joao Gomes also seem to be underperforming.

Edwards is expected to restore this missing confidence, although he could not have anticipated that a poor pass from Hwang Hee-Chan, just moments after he was substituted in, would lead to Crystal Palace’s second goal, allowing them to secure fourth place in the league.

“Some players are clearly lacking in belief and confidence, which is understandable given our situation,” Edwards stated, reflecting on the frustration noticeable among fans present. However, he also acknowledged that performance levels didn’t drop drastically despite the results.

Deficiencies and Positive Notes

Edwards aims for his team to enhance their running capabilities, pointing out that Wolves have covered 1194.6 kilometers so far in the season. They currently rank amongst the bottom six in terms of distance covered, and it appeared clear from Saturday’s match that sheer effort isn’t sufficient for survival in the Premier League.

The former Luton Town manager remarked, “If we can engage in more duels and outpace our opponents, good outcomes will follow. While we didn’t see that today, there were some positives to take from the game, such as winning duels and showing intensity.”

“The situation is frustrating, and we need to improve on our fundamentals, but the team’s effort was commendable. We faced some setbacks, which is a testament to the harsh realities of the Premier League.”

Conclusion

As the Wolves seek to re-establish themselves, the pressure is mounting on Edwards, who is determined to turn the fortunes of the team around despite the challenges they face.