Stephen Warnock moved to defend Gary O’Neil on last night’s on Match of the Day, after Wolves slipped to a third defeat of the season – believing the players have bought into his ideas and coaching style.
Wanderers lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Wolves went in 0-0 at the break, but then found themselves behind after a goal from Odsonne Edouard.
Hwang Hee-chan equalised, but Palace edged ahead again through Ebere Eze.
Edouard would then score for the second time to put the game beyond Wolves, with Matheus Cunha scoring nothing more than a consolation.
It’s been a tough start for Wolves having lost three of their first four Premier League games.
But on Match of the Day 2 last night, Warnock offered some perspective…
Stephen Warnock defends Wolves manager Gary O’Neil – thinks the players clearly enjoy his training sessions
After Wolves’ game with Palace, Warnock offered his thoughts about the game and the situation at Wolves.
Given the exit of Julen Lopetegui when it happened, and the crazy summer the club had in the transfer market, it is perhaps no surprise that Wolves have taken just three points from a possible 12.
He believes having watched Wolves so far, the players find O’Neil’s training sessions enjoyable.
Warnock said: “They have lost key players, Moutinho, Neves, Traore, Jimenez, Nunes. You look at those players and if you take them out of any team, they are going to be struggling.
“I think the big thing with Gary O’Neil is that when you go into a changing room you need to make training entertaining, fun and challenging and make the players buy into it straight away.
“I think he has done that, and we are seeing the performances on the pitch, they just need a few more goals.”
Gary O’Neil needs time at Wolves
Yesterday’s result was another frustrating one.
But the signs are there so far that Gary O’Neil can turn things around.
At least Wolves are creating chances in games.
What O’Neil needs to work on is getting his players to pull the trigger sooner.
Too often against Palace, Wolves worked the ball into a good area before either not having a shot or taking a shot too late.
Once again, the issues lay in the final third.
But O’Neil has not even been in the job for a month yet, and patience is required, especially after so much chopping and changing with the squad.