There are many problems for Rob Edwards to solve at Wolves, and yet another has presented itself.
The Old Gold’s attacking prowess has been far from ideal, and with just seven goals scored in 11 games, Edwards needs to get his team firing.
The new Wolves head coach typically starts jobs strong, and that could be a boost for the Wanderers even if the fixtures could be kinder.
However, a new statistic shows a big issue with Vitor Pereira’s team over the season so far, and it is one Rob Edwards must fix.
Wolves have the highest percentage of backwards passes in the Premier League
If there was ever a more damning statistic to highlight how poorly Vitor Pereira had Wolves playing in the final third and getting the ball up the pitch, we may have just found it.
Opta has determined the direction of every pass made by the Old Gold this season, and for fans who wanted direct attacking play, it is clear they did not receive it.
According to the data, Wolves pass the highest amount of their passes backwards out of all 20 Premier League sides at 18.1%.
| Team | Backward passes % |
| Wolves | 18.1% |
| Nottingham Forest | 18.0% |
| Man City | 16.7% |
| Bournemouth | 16.6% |
| Everton | 16.5% |
For supporters, it reinforces the feelings they had about the team. They often played too safe. They rarely took risks, and there was no creativity within the team to push up the pitch.
When it comes to forward passes, they rank an average 11th place with 32.5%, but the frequency of playing the ball backwards is a concern.
Edwards will need to come in and shake off this trend if he wants fans to get onside. Unfortunately, that means one Wolves man could lose his place in the team.
There is already quite a pessimistic feeling around the club, and trying to constantly recycle the ball in order to be safer in possession will unearth groans from the crowd.
An exciting style will get fans on board with Rob Edwards quickly
If Wolves begin to look like a team that can actually score goals, that would be a massive step in Edwards getting their backing.
There are many out there who are still unsure of the appointment, but from the early signs, the former Old Gold player is buzzing to be back at Molineux.
When Wolves came calling, the decision was clear for Rob Edwards
Wolves also play fewer through balls than 18 other Premier League sides – only Tottenham have played fewer – and Edwards has a solution to fix that issue.
Fer Lopez can help the Old Gold be more creative, and the arrival of a new head coach will likely delight the Spaniard.
Vitor Pereira seemingly did not fancy him based on his lack of minutes, and Lopez has not impressed when given a rare chance.
However, this new era is sure to give him a fresh start like many other Wolves players.