Hyperbole is a constant blight on football, but in the case of Wolves’ next eight games, it is impossible to avoid.
The spell of fixtures between this weekend and Christmas could define almost everything for the club. The direction of the season could be decided and, by extension, the medium-term future of Wolves and owners Fosun, not to mention the fate of head coach Gary O’Neil.
Until Manchester United visit Molineux on Boxing Day, Wolves will not face a club from the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ or any opponent currently higher than 10th in the table.
They have gone from having the toughest start of any club in the division to statistically the easiest run over the next eight games.
The current average league placing of Wolves’ next eight opponents is 15th, compared to a current average of fifth for the nine opponents they have faced so far.
So, while O’Neil has been at pains to stress that the crucial run will not be easy, it is a good deal more appealing than what has come before.
If Wolves are to kickstart their campaign and give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation, they must take advantage and climb the table before the fixtures get more daunting again after Christmas.
But to do so, performance levels will have to improve. While they have suffered some misfortune, a rolling graph of their expected goals for and against shows a gap that is far too big if they are to climb the table. Compared to the high point of O’Neil’s first season in charge, the difference is huge.
So what are they facing in the next two months? Here is a game-by-game breakdown — with help from The Athletic’s experts Mark Carey, Matt Woosnam, Nancy Froston, Justin Guthrie, Patrick Boyland, Roshane Thomas, Ali Rampling and Ed Mackey.
Saturday, November 2 — Crystal Palace (home)
Current league position: 17th
Last six league meetings: one win, five losses
Last season: Palace 3-2 Wolves (Sep 3), Wolves 1-3 Palace (May 11)
Palace have been a pale imitation of the side they were during the run-in last season in which they went seven games unbeaten. Without Michael Olise, they have toiled in attack and alongside Southampton are the Premier League’s lowest scorers.
The high-intensity pressing game new manager Oliver Glasner introduced last season has been largely absent, but they were much improved in the 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday — their first win of the season. It helps that he has named the same three in defence for three consecutive games.
They haven’t conceded a lot of goals and most of their defeats have been narrow ones, but they haven’t found a rhythm or their confidence. That may have been established in the win over Spurs.
Saturday, November 9 — Southampton (home)
Current league position: 20th
Last six league meetings: five wins, one draw
Last season: N/A
Southampton supporters are dejected but conflicted after their difficult return to the Premier League because while the extreme, possession-based style of football has proven to be flawed in their early games, fans are still keen to commit to something clearly defined after years of drift at the end of their previous spell in the top flight.
Russell Martin retains credit in the bank for getting the club promoted in the first place but, as similar coaches have found in the past, it is tough to play Martin’s style of football in a league where his side invariably has inferior players to their opponents.
They played well in defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City, but in between they squandered a two-goal lead to lose against Leicester, leaving Martin under growing pressure.
Saturday, November 23 — Fulham (away)
Current league position: 10th
Last six league meetings: three wins, one loss, two draws
Last season: Fulham 3-2 Wolves (Nov 27), Wolves 2-1 Fulham (Mar 9)
In theory, the trip to Craven Cottage will be the toughest game of this crucial spell.
Fulham have performed well this season and exceeded fans’ expectations following the sale of former Wolves target Joao Palhinha in the summer. Sasa Lukic has stepped up in midfield and summer signing Joachim Andersen helps them pass out from the back.
But with Lukic currently injured, it is a game in which Wolves will fancy their chances of competing, not least with former Molineux winger Adama Traore’s form waning after a solid start to the season.
Wolves hero Raul Jimenez has finally found some form in attack, though.
Saturday, November 30 — Bournemouth (home)
Current league position: 11th
Last six league meetings: three wins, two losses, one draw
Last season: Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves (Oct 21), Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth (Apr 24)
If O’Neil is in charge by the time Wolves visit his former club, it will mean the opening three games of this sequence have gone fairly well.
They will face a Bournemouth side going well despite the summer sale of attacking talisman Dominic Solanke. New centre forward Evanilson has netted twice so far and Antoine Semenyo has scored three times.
Wolves at home is theoretically Bournemouth’s easiest fixture in the next few weeks, too, so pressure could also be on them to get a result.
Wednesday, December 4 — Everton (away)
Current league position: 16th
Last six league meetings: five wins, one draw
Last season: Everton 0-1 Wolves (Aug 26), Wolves 3-0 Everton (Dec 30)
Sean Dyche’s side currently find themselves in an inviting run of fixtures after a tricky start and they are now unbeaten in five games. But their December fixtures look very similar to Wolves’ opening period, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal their opponents immediately before Christmas.
That means they need to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone in their next five games, in which they face Southampton, West Ham, Brentford, Man Utd and Wolves.
The mood among fans remains delicate thanks to Dyche’s direct style of play and perceived conservatism when it comes to substitutions.
Monday December 9 — West Ham (away)
Current league position: 13th
Last six meetings: two wins, four losses
Last season: West Ham 3-0 Wolves (Dec 17), Wolves 1-2 West Ham (Apr 6)
It has been a mixed start to the season for West Ham United, but victory over Manchester United was a much-needed turn in the right direction. The club have yielded 11 points from their first nine Premier League games, but Julen Lopetegui, in his first job since quitting Wolves, is yet to find a system that allows his team to find consistency. The fanbase booed the team in the 3-0 home loss against Chelsea and at half-time against United. West Ham did not have an identity or a noticeable playing style.
They lack pace in midfield with Guido Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez struggling as a midfield pair. Loanee Carlos Soler was ineffective in his first league start against United. West Ham are also vulnerable after scoring. In back-to-back games against Tottenham Hotspur and United, they conceded shortly after netting the opener.
Saturday, December 14 — Ipswich (home)
Current league position: 18th
Last six league meetings: two wins, four draws (Championship, 2015-2018)
Last season: N/A
There was early-season positivity at Portman Road following last season’s surprise promotion, especially when expected defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City were followed by four encouraging draws.
But then came a run of supposedly more winnable fixtures that brought the first genuinely disappointing results of the season and might provide a warning to any Wolves fans taking an upturn for granted.
They have already conceded many poor goals and have been unable to simply outscore opponents as they did in the Championship. There are doubts over whether new goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has been an adequate replacement for Vaclav Hladky, who left to join Burnley in the summer.
Style-wise, Kieran McKenna has played with either Liam Delap or George Hirst as a target man, while left-back Leif Davis is a real creative outlet with fantastic delivery.
Sunday, December 22 — Leicester (away)
Current league position: 15th
Last 6 league meetings: 1 win, 4 losses, 1 draw
Last season: N/A
On their return to the Premier League, the 2016 champions have built a useful buffer between themselves and the relegation zone, but performances have been underwhelming and fans have struggled to warm to new head coach Steve Cooper’s battling style after former manager Enzo Maresca’s clearly defined possession-based methods.
There is a frustration among fans that neither they nor the players fully understand the plan.
Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and on-loan Brighton winger Facundo Buonanotte have been the stand-out players so far.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
