Wolves have had their 2023/24 campaign graded as the home straight of the season beckons, with two key frailties now highlighted.
It’s been a season of exceeding expectations for Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side.
The summer of 2023 presented the Old Gold with an overwhelming task in hand, seeing key players depart, FFP restrictions cloud the transfer window and Julen Lopetegui leave his post.
O’Neil arrived just days before Wolves’ Premier League opener at Old Trafford, starting his time at Molineux with just one win from the opening six fixtures, as it became expected that the club may face a battle to stay up.
Since the first six games, 22 fixtures have passed in the Premier League, seeing the Old Gold defy the odds and place themselves comfortably in the top ten.
With 10 games to go, O’Neil could still secure European football next season in what has been a remarkable first campaign for the former Bournemouth boss.
Wolves have had their 2023/24 season graded
This morning, The Athletic put together a comprehensive analysis of the Premier League’s clubs this season, grading the performance of each team.
Journalist Steve Madeley summed up Wolves’ campaign, grading O’Neil’s side a B, breaking down the highs and lows of their 2023/24 calendar so far.
“It feels like a harsh grading given the feeling of positivity that Gary O’Neil has brought back to Molineux.”
“It would have been an A had Wolves not been careless in giving away two opportunities in cup competitions, first in the EFL Cup at Ipswich and then, much more heartbreakingly, last weekend in the FA Cup defeat to Coventry.”
“And it would have been an A* had they found better solutions to breaking down low-block Premier League teams at home.”
“They are really the only two areas where O’Neil and his side can be faulted this season.”
Wolves have plenty left to play for this season
As detailed by Madeley, there have only been a couple of shortfalls this season at Molineux.
In recent weeks, O’Neil has shown some progression when it comes to his side winning games at home, most notably through the gritty victories over Sheffield United and Fulham.
Against the odds, Wolves have shown their perseverance despite combating adversity from the start of the season, which Madeley commended when looking ahead to the final 10 games.
“A place in Europe is still possible through a seventh or eighth-place league finish.”
“It is a tall order, given the mounting injury issues at Wolves, but this team have risen to challenges repeatedly.”
While Wolves have shown enough progression to inspire the squad going into the 2024/25 campaign, there’s no ruling out that O’Neil could drive his inspired side to even greater heights before the summer.