Vitor Pereira signed a brand new contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers in September.
However now in November, the Portuguese supervisor is now not on Molineux’s radar, with the Previous Gold nonetheless with no win after 10 video games within the Premier League this season.
Will probably be an enormous process for whoever takes over the reins after Pereira to attempt to flip Wolves’ depressing season round, with a shock return for Gary O’Neill reportedly being thought-about at one level.
Nevertheless, the previous Wolves supervisor declined a shock reunion regardless of being stated to have entered into negotiations over a return to the top-flight underground membership.
This may very well be a blessing in disguise for the West Midlands, contemplating O’Neill met a troublesome finish to his earlier spell with the Previous Gold…
What went mistaken with O’Neal with the Wolves?
Going again to your earlier supervisor to attempt to proper a sinking ship hardly ever ends properly.
O’Neill managed to maintain Wolves afloat throughout his first season in cost in 2022-23, as a depleted Previous Gold facet soared to 14th within the league standings, shedding gamers like Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez.
His second appointment obtained off to a disastrous begin, however his appointment wouldn’t have received the assist of Molineux’s already disaffected public.
Actually, the Wolves had a dismal document of simply two wins in 16 video games by the point they have been known as to motion, and had conceded a disastrous 40 factors alongside the best way.
O’Neal’s Wolves document | |
|---|---|
managed video games | 100 |
victory | 31 |
draw | 17 |
loss | 52 |
Variety of factors | 135 |
Variety of objectives conceded | 178 |
Accrued factors | 110 |
Supply: Transfermarkt | |
So it will have been seen as far-fetched to anticipate O’Neill to return and be a transformative appointment, with Wolves chairman Jeff See admitting it was “too late to chop ties” with the 42-year-old when he was sacked.
Fortunately, issues labored out for Pereira within the brief time period. However now Wolves want one other recent thought to tug themselves out of an analogous mess, as a former Previous Gold participant turned profitable supervisor continues to be linked to the emptiness.
Wolves’ standout O’Neal replacements
Wolves have had quite a lot of distinctive names and former Molineux purpose machine Robbie Keane even threw his hat into the ring.
However it now seems that present Middlesbrough supervisor Rob Edwards is excessive on the precedence listing to exchange Pereira, with talkSPORT naming Edwards as a “sturdy candidate” to win the job.
Former Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag has additionally been linked with curiosity, however Edwards has now secured the job forward of the Dutchman.
The present Boro supervisor has a launch clause in his contract with Riverside and will quickly return to the Premier League.
Given his connections with the membership each as a participant and as a former Beneath-21 coach, he could also be a simple match.
That is earlier than you contemplate the incredible job he did with Luton City, who’ve planted themselves on the backside of the Premier League all through the 2023/24 season.
Regardless of all of the adversity, the favored Edwards got here near protecting Luton within the Premier League because the Boro supervisor made the Hatters a troublesome workforce to attempt to break down.
Consequently, the minnows that season drew 1-1 with Liverpool and misplaced 4-3 at Kenilworth Highway towards Arsenal all the best way. Remarkably, this was the final time the Gunners scored three objectives in a soccer match.
Mikel Arteta even praised Edwards for a way he made Luton “troublesome” to beat, with Wolves desperately needing the identical grit and software to tug themselves out of a dire gap.
However it wasn’t only a battle of attrition, Edwards additionally managed to remodel Carlton Morris into an 11-goal hero within the prime flight. That shall be music to the ears of underachieving Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has scored only one league purpose this season.
Nevertheless, as you may see within the spotlight video above, the imposing Norwegian managed to attain 14 objectives at residence final season in a bid to develop into Edwards’ subsequent focus as soon as the previous Luton supervisor is handed the reins.
Will probably be fascinating to see whether or not Edwards finally ends up buying and selling his place on the prime of the EFL for an additional underground battle within the league above, with journalist Graham Bailey describing it as a possibility “arduous for him to say no”.
It could nonetheless be a while earlier than he performs on the Riverside Stadium, however it might be time for Edwards, who was beforehand hailed as “one of many brightest and finest younger managers in English soccer”, to embark on a return to the Premier League.
Wolves followers, is not {that a} good factor?
