Rob Edwards’ advice for Mateus Mane is exactly what Wolves have been lacking this season

It was another 1-0 loss for Wolves under Rob Edwards when they faced Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, but this defeat had a different feeling than the one against Aston Villa.

The Old Gold looked to have turned a corner with their performance against the Villans, but at home to Sean Dyche’s side, it became clear that was not the case.

There were not many great performances in Wolves vs Nottingham Forest, and that was a blow after such a promising display just days prior.

Rob Edwards’ half-time team talk spoke volumes about the situation at Molineux, and it does provide some concern for the rest of the season.

After yet another defeat, who was the most disappointing Wolves performer vs Nottingham Forest?

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Mateus Mane was one of just a few positives to take away from the night, with the youngster offering some bright moments during his nine-minute cameo.

And his manager, Edwards, was left impressed with him and provided him with some advice that perhaps the rest of the Wolves squad should hear.

Rob Edwards tells Mateus Mane to take more risks

Wolves have had no creativity this season, and that has been a big issue.

After 14 games, the Wanderers have just seven goals. Across those matches, they are 17th for expected goals (12.8) and last for big chances created (13).

It is a major worry for Rob Edwards to fix, and it remains to be seen if he even has the right players to solve this problem.

The Wolves head coach wants to excite with his style, but this season, there have been no signs the squad can do that.

However, whether or not the players are fully capable of adding more spark to the attack, Edwards’ advice for Mateus Mane should be taken on by the rest of the team.

Speaking after the game, the Wolves head coach said about Mane, “He’ll take a risk. I probably wanted him to shoot when he had that opportunity later on. He said he could have, so I said, ‘You’re on the pitch; you’ve got to believe in yourself.’

“Maybe these younger ones are a little bit more risk averse and not being burnt by making a mistake and then hearing one or two grumbles or something like that. But he’s done well, we like him, and we had to try and change things up a little bit.” (via Wolves).

Risk-taking has certainly been one thing lacking this season. Often, the Old Gold have been guilty of making the easy sideways or backwards pass, or simply passing the ball forward with no real idea of what to do next.

Edwards telling Mane to take more risks, and admitting that he believes the winger can, is exactly what Wolves need right now.

Mateus Mane is no doubt pushing to start for Wolves, but while that advice was for the youngster, it would be better served for the rest of the squad as well.

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The rest of Wolves’ squad need to heed that advice

Everything right now seems way too safe and way too cautious. Wolves can often be seen with nine or ten men behind the ball, and when they win it back, there is nobody to whom they can give it for a counterattack.

It is like they are too scared to lose the ball and are worried about conceding more than they are looking to score a goal.

The Wanderers need wins, and the only way to win a game is to score goals. While Edwards’ advice for Mateus Mane is to take more risks, the same should be applied to the rest of the squad.

Because they need to hear those same words just as much as Mane.

Results aside, Wolves’ performances have given fans nothing to cling onto, and relegation looks firmly set in their eyes.

And you cannot blame them for thinking that. There are no players on this side who are willing to try to produce a moment of magic to excite fans.

Rob Edwards must get this point across. Crazier things have happened in football, and if the Old Gold can start scoring and start accumulating wins because of it, who knows where they can end up come May?