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Wolves fans have been searching for answers as to why the club have struggled so much in 2024/25 so far.

It has been a really tough first couple of months, with Wolves rock bottom of the Premier League table after seven games.

Gary O’Neil has taken just one point so far, and fans are growing increasingly concerned. But O’Neil is still backed by the Wolves board for now.

The fixture list was very tough, and no one really expected anything other than a difficult start. But some have been alarmed with the way Wolves have performed, with the defending especially bad.

There are several reasons why Wolves are where they are right now. And former winger Matt Jarvis pointed to something that has cost O’Neil dearly.

Matt Jarvis insists Wolves have been stung by Max Kilman and Pedro Neto leaving

Wolves made just two major sales in the summer.

Max Kilman completed a £40 million move to West Ham United, while Pedro Neto left for Chelsea for around £52 million.

Alan Shearer suggested the Neto and Kilman sales have hurt Wolves when analysing the defeat to Brentford on Match of the Day.

Shay Given also pointed to their departures as a reason O’Neil has found life difficult this season.

Now, Matt Jarvis has offered his thoughts – and he believes that Kilman and Neto leaving in the summer has genuinely cost Wolves ‘massively’.

He told the Mirror (print edition, 09/10, page 55): “The biggest problem for him is they sold his best two players in Max Kilman (circle, top) and Pedro Neto (circle, bottom) and they have struggled to bring anyone in to cover those positions.

“It’s extremely difficult if that happens to any team. You don’t want to keep selling your players but ultimately, with financial restrictions, I think that’s the reason why they had to do it with Kilman and Neto and that’s cost them massively.

“I get that the fans are disappointed because the results haven’t been good enough
potentially some of the performances too.”

Jarvis does back O’Neil to turn things around for Wolves, adding: “For me, he’s gone through all the hard part and deserves that run of games to show what he and the team can do.

“But I’m fully confident they have the players, attitude and manager that will get them through it.”

Wolves must turn performances into points

O’Neil has received the backing of his superiors, but the Wolves manager undoubtedly needs points on the board now.

There have been positive elements in some Wolves performances this season. But you can only get away with that so many times before questions get asked.

O’Neil needs to find a way of converting performances into points. Former full-back Andy Thompson has suggested Wolves must become ‘horrible’, and certainly there is an argument for Wolves to just become nastier, more direct and more competitive.

Two more very difficult games lie in wait. It’s Manchester City at home followed by Brighton away next, but after those games, expectations will be huge.

Against City, we could very well see O’Neil go to a back three with wing-backs, just as he did last season at Molineux.

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