Wolves’ Fan Writer Assesses Team’s Performance and Managerial Pressure

Dave Azzopardi, a fan writer for Wolves, provided responses to questions posed by Glen de la Cour, a Southampton contributor. Azzopardi was asked about the sentiment among Wolves supporters regarding manager Gary O’Neil’s position, specifically whether the upcoming match is considered a must-win for him, given the team’s recent performance. He was also asked if a victory was anticipated. Azzopardi confirmed that a significant portion of the fanbase views the game as crucial for O’Neil. He noted that while recent matches have shown some encouraging aspects, the team’s record of only one win in 20 games (spanning the current and previous season) is insufficient. Consequently, he stated that some Wolves fans are not eagerly anticipating the fixture. The contributor inquired whether Azzopardi expects the team and manager to improve their league standing as the schedule approaches Christmas, given that the upcoming fixtures appear less challenging on paper, following an initial run against prominent clubs. Azzopardi expressed hope for an improvement, asserting that the team possesses sufficient quality to contend with most opponents in the division and “should not be in this position,” despite a tough initial fixture list. He acknowledged that the schedule becomes more favorable closer to Christmas but emphasized the importance of Wolves securing victories to build momentum during that period. He concluded by stating his belief in the team’s strength and his hope for a significantly higher league position by Christmas. The discussion then moved to Wolves’ defensive issues, with Azzopardi being asked whether the poor record stems from inadequate organization and tactical arrangements or from individual defensive errors by specific players. Azzopardi attributed the defensive problems to a combination of factors. He noted that the team’s attacking performance has been satisfactory, with a reasonable number of goals scored, but acknowledged their “awful defensive record.” He highlighted regular concessions from set-pieces as a particular worry, mentioning that the new set-piece coach was dismissed last month without significant improvement in that area. Azzopardi stated that goals conceded are rarely due to exceptional opposition play, but rather “normally from our own errors, whether that is gifting the possession to the opposition or poor defensive positioning.” He concluded by stressing that if O’Neil remains in his role past the current weekend, this defensive aspect will require immediate attention.