Wolves news: Opinion – Southampton game ‘a battle Gary O’Neil needs to win’

As Wolves prepare to host Southampton, the weight of expectation is heavy. After 10 games, being bottom of the table and conceding 27 goals is not where Wolves fans expected to be.

Gary O’Neil may insist that it is not a “must-win” game but the reality feels starkly different. While technically it is not a definitive match in terms of relegation – with plenty of fixtures left – the stakes are high for O’Neil and his team. This is a battle he needs to win.

The general consensus among Wolves fans we have spoken to is clear: time has run out. Initially, there was a lot of patience because of tough fixtures, but opinions have shifted and many now doubt O’Neil’s ability to navigate Wolves out of this predicament. Another lacklustre performance could lead to a charged atmosphere at Molineux, with fans voicing their discontent loudly.

There is uncertainty about whether Wolves’ owners, Fosun, see eye to eye with fans on this. With O’Neil and his team recently receiving new four-year contracts, they seem reluctant to pay severance. However, as savvy business people, they understand the financial repercussions of relegation far outweigh the costs of a managerial change. The risk of losing Premier League status is a gamble they are unlikely to take lightly.

Though we have been told that easier fixtures have arrived and better results are due, the problems persist, and even a win might only postpone the inevitable.

With a quarter of the season gone and just three points accrued, something clearly has to change. Looking at this season’s fixtures, we have only secured three points, while the same matches last season earned us 12.

We cannot keep blaming our current position on difficult fixtures.

Sometimes you have to make a change for the greater good.

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