By Martin Graham
More than seven months have passed since then Wolves for last celebrating a league win, a period marked by upheaval on and off the pitch. During that time, three different managers, two sporting directors and a technical director have tried – and failed – to stop the slide, while the team has leaked 41 goals.
His position has become more and more serious. With just two points amassed and a whopping 13 points adrift of safety, they are locked at the foot of the table and will surely be rock bottom come the festive period. The last defeat by 4-1 at home Manchester United extended their losing streak to eight league outings, equaling their longest top-flight losing streak dating back to the early 1980s.
A solitary strike of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde finally ended their long scoring drought dating back to late October. However, these meager positives do little to hide a sad reality: no team in England’s top four divisions has ever had fewer points after 15 games.
Fans showed their displeasure by sitting out the first 15 minutes of the meeting with United, venting their frustration at Fosun’s management. Manager Rob Edwards admitted he sympathized, stressing that while he wants the crowd’s support, he understands their anger and accepts that visible effort is essential. He warned that an instant reset was never realistic for a team still learning its demands and facing relentless pressure.
Why the decline became so extreme
This collapse cannot be viewed solely through the lens of the current campaign. Wolves had already fallen far from the heights of consecutive seventh places under Nuno EspÃrito Santo. In the five years since, they have languished in mid-table or below, repeatedly relying on managerial changes to stave off trouble.
Edwards is the fifth man to take the reins in four years and the third in a single calendar year following the departures of Gary O’Neil and VÃtor Pereira. Simultaneously, the backbone of the successful team that reached the Europa League has been dismantled. Key figures such as Raúl Jiménez, Rúben Neves, Adama Traoré, Pedro NetoMax Kilman, Conor Coadyand João Moutinho have left, while the most recent departures: Nelson Semedo, Rayan Ait-Nourii Matthew Cunha-Be deeply felt.
Summer recruitment has done little to stabilize the situation. Apart from the permanent signing of Jørgen Strand Larsennone of the newcomers had previously played in the Premier League, and their adjustment has been slow. Edwards has admitted that additional experienced players are needed, although January’s options could largely depend on how far the team moves ahead.
There have been concerns about cohesion, given the varied backgrounds within the squad, and questions about general conditioning. Edwards has pushed for higher levels of intensity, but the transition has been uneven. Former Derby striker Robert Earnshaw, who lived through the Rams’ historically poor 2007-08 campaign, pointed out that off-field problems at Derby were a major contributor to their collapse, warning that a club can effectively collapse through internal dysfunction and negativity.
Chants calling for the property to be sold have echoed around Molineux, but Fosun are expected to hang on even in the event of relegation. There is openness to minority investment – discussions have taken place with former Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor – but there is no intention of giving up control. A recent internal reshuffle, including the promotion of Matt Jackson to technical director, has been met with skepticism by supporters who yearn for radical reform.
If they can avoid unwanted registration
Wolves’ failure to win any of their first 15 league games puts them on the brink of several unwanted milestones. The longest winless start in top-flight history belongs to Bolton, who went 22 games without a win more than a century ago. Sheffield United’s Premier League record of 17 could soon fall too.
To avoid that, Wolves would need to defeat either Arsenal or Brentford, both challenging prospects, before facing perplexing trips to Liverpool and Manchester United. They have already equaled the lowest number of points seen at Christmas in a typical Premier League season, with only Sunderland’s five points from 17 games providing a modern comparison.
The story holds some hope. West Brom survived in 2004 after being bottom at Christmas and eight points from safety. Earnshaw, a central figure in that escape, believes Wolves lack the game-changing moments needed to replicate that feat. He argues that the side struggle to create enough meaningful chances and lack the decisive spark needed at this level.
He acknowledges that players like André, João Gomes and Strand Larsen have skill, but suggests that something deeper is missing, whether it’s confidence, belief or a willingness to accept the scale of the challenge. For a team already showing signs of fear rather than determination, the upward path looks worryingly steep.
