Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Portsmouth did not make me any less concerned about them as promotion rivals. It merely confirmed my suspicion that Wolves are not quite at it this season.
There appears to be something of a relegation hangover at Molineux, although perhaps that should not come as a complete surprise. Wolves spent the latter part of last season planning their Championship promotion campaign around Rob Edwards, only to sack him before a ball had been kicked in the new season.
Edwards had been heavily involved in their preparations and recruitment before being abruptly replaced by César Peixoto in June. It was an extraordinary decision which removed any sense of continuity before Wolves had even started life in the second tier. The Guardian reported that Edwards discovered he had been sacked while on holiday.
Edwards was hired for a promotion push but ditched before the season started
Wolves Supporters Turn On Peixoto
Some Wolves supporters are already calling for Peixoto to be dismissed and replaced by Sean Dyche following Portsmouth’s late equaliser at Molineux.
That strikes me as something of an overreaction. Wolves may not be performing particularly well, but they are only four points behind West Ham and remain firmly within touching distance of the promotion places.
Their position also looks rather healthier when compared with Burnley. All three clubs were relegated from the Premier League last season, yet Burnley currently find themselves inside the Championship relegation zone.
Wolves are not where they expected to be, but neither are they in a crisis which requires another immediate managerial change.
They still have some very good players and remain capable of clicking into gear. That is precisely why every point West Ham can put between themselves and Wolves should be welcomed.
Křetínský Was Right To Back Nuno
The contrast with West Ham is difficult to ignore.
Daniel Křetínský supported the decision to retain Nuno Espírito Santo after relegation, giving the manager an opportunity to continue the work he had already started. That choice has provided the Hammers with stability during what could easily have become a chaotic summer.
Nuno knew the squad, understood the problems and already possessed experience of winning promotion with Wolves. West Ham resisted the temptation to start again — and the early evidence suggests that continuity was the correct choice.
Wolves did the opposite. They built their plans around Edwards, dismissed him unexpectedly and are now hearing calls for another managerial change just a few months later.
Peixoto deserves more time, but Wolves’ itchy trigger finger has done them little good so far. West Ham, meanwhile, are benefiting from keeping theirs under control.Set featured image
Pot,Kettle, Black ever hear of that sentence Gonzo.
I think the physicality has caught all three relegated clubs out.
The first few WHU games you could see players physically stop waiting for a VAR intervention rather than getting on with the game,
WHU have learned quicker than the others, as seen particularly against Wolves, players throwing themselves to the floor waiting for the Ref to blow up, whilst WHU got on with the game to their advantage.
Burnley would have been better placed if they had kept Parker.
Spot on Chingford! The Championship is more physical and refs seem to let the game flow more. The absence of VAR is a real bonus as refs have to do their job. Its certainly improved the atmosphere at LS although winning and scoring plenty might have something to do with it!