Rob Edwards had a tough start but has prompted gradual improvement at Wolves, and he has put that mainly down to ‘bold decisions’ that were made in January.
Following a 4-0 defeat to West Ham United, it is only a matter of time until Wolves’ relegation is confirmed.
Unfortunately poor decisions and preparation last summer have cost the club, and it will now be all about trying to bounce back.
Wolves have at least been better in 2026.
The loss to West Ham was awful, but before that we had seen clear improvement under Edwards, and the manager has now touched on what he thinks has been behind that upturn.
Edwards insists ‘bold decisions’ in January have helped Wolves
Edwards hasn’t left room for interpretation when assessing Wolves’ recent progress, suggesting it has stemmed from decisive action, rather than natural improvement.
He has pointed to the club having trimmed the squad in January as the moment where standards were reset.
That process removed players and reduced competition for places in a way that clarified roles. The squad now reflects a more direct alignment with his demands.
He said (via The Official Wolves Podcast): “January was important. It was. We made some, I suppose, bold decisions as a football club.
“We shortened the squad down. And everyone that remains has been part of it and everyone’s been involved, which has been good.
“Look, you always make key decisions, important decisions, on a weekly basis. But there’s a few people that have come into the team and I think they’ve really excelled, and performed really, really well.
“It’s the lads that go out there and do it, and we try and give them some structure and some ideas, and they’re the ones who go and implement it.”
Of course in January, big names like Jorgen Strand Larsen, Emmanuel Agbadou and Jhon Arias all moved on. Those players were not fringe names, and their departures reduced both depth and experience within the group.
All three had drawn criticism for their performances, and some had even questioned their commitment to the cause.
The fact Wolves – who had seven points before the January window and have picked up 10 since it closed – have improved doesn’t reflect too well on them.
Wolves facing huge summer
The January window established a direction, and it also raised expectations around what comes next for Wolves.
With the squad reduced and reshaped, the next phase will demand further decisive action in the transfer market. There’s no doubt this next window will be one of the biggest ever for the club, as Championship football beckons.
Edwards has already set a precedent by showing a willingness to make difficult calls. That approach will now be tested again.
It is absolutely paramount that Wolves attract the right kind of players, so that Wanderers can have a genuine crack at bouncing back immediately.
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