Jorgen Strand Larsen had another night to forget for Wolves against Manchester United – and Darren Bent did not hold back last night as he dropped his verdict.
In 2025/26, Jorgen Strand Larsen has come in for a lot of criticism this season.
He was perhaps the most popular man at the club a few months ago, given how professional he was when Newcastle United were trying to sign him. And then he signed a new contract.
But since then, it has been poor performance after poor performance for the Norwegian, and against United, fans made their feelings clear.
As Rob Edwards took him off, some fans ironically cheered Strand Larsen as he made his way off.
It was an uncomfortable moment, but one that had potentially been coming.
It was a shocking display, and what pundit Darren Bent said on Tuesday night was particularly damning.
Darren Bent says Jorgen Strand Larsen got bullied vs Man United
Strand Larsen was trusted to lead the line again by Edwards, which has been the case for weeks.
But potentially now, the manager will have a decision to make against Arsenal, because Strand Larsen was completely ineffective against United.
Data showed that he completed just 4/8 passes, and won 2/12 duels in the game. He also had zero shots.
We all know that United aren’t an elite side, and a defence of Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez was there to be tested.
Strand Larsen did not do that.
On the contrary, Darren Bent felt he actually got bullied.
Was the reaction to JSL being substituted vs Man United warranted? 🤔
It was certainly not a good evening for the Norwegian
He said on talkSPORT: “Someone I like in that team , but is doing absolutely nothing right now, is Strand Larsen.
“Strand Larsen, to be fair to him, last year he got 14 Premier League goals and I thought ‘Ok, decent’. In a Wolves side that’s a decent return.
“This season, he’s looked so far off it. No urgency, he’s massive but he’s weak. The Man United defender is Heaven and I’m thinking if I was in that scenario, you almost pick on the lesser experienced defender. You attach yourself to him, because you go right, I can roll with him, not take the mick, but you can dictate him to what you want to do.
“Heaven was bullying him. He got onto Shaw, Shaw bullies him. Mazraoui bullies him.”
- READ MORE: Who is Jorgen Strand Larsen? Meet the Wolves striker who has been compared to Erling Haaland
Strand Larsen may be Wolves’ most disappointing player this season
Let’s make one thing clear – there is barely a single player at Wolves who has been consistently good enough this season.
But there is a case for Strand Larsen being the most disappointing of the bunch.
Purely because of the remarkable drop-off he’s had from last season.
Should Wolves have sold Jorgen Strand Larsen? Alan Shearer certainly thinks so 😬
“Newcastle had a bid turned down for Strand Larsen. I’ve not seen anything this season, and it might be unfair on him, I guess, but I’ve not seen anything to suggest that that money would have been well spent.”
Alan Shearer
There are obviously some factors behind Strand Larsen’s struggles. He was struggling with his fitness earlier in the campaign as he dealt with a niggling Achilles injury.
He’s also suffered from creative players leaving, and those that are around him now are not the same level.
But Strand Larsen – as good a character as he is – has been found wanting and the criticism is understandable.
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