While many football fans like to claim that pre-season results don’t matter, the shift in mood around Wolves offers a convincing counter-hypothesis.
Fans have voiced their displeasure at Wolves’ pre-season, both the results and the lack of signings. The feeling around the club is that the upcoming season could go badly.
But now it seems people outside the club are noticing the same thing. There was a vote of no confidence from Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, with the two predicting relegation for Wolves this season.
And now, fellow pundit Ally McCoist has come to a similar conclusion, with one prevailing reason.
Ally McCoist thinks Wolves will go down due to loss of Matheus Cunha
Giving his predictions for the Premier League season on talkSPORT, Rangers legend McCoist had Wolves as one of his picks for the drop. He explained: “I think Cunha is massive for them,” referring to the Brazilian’s summer departure. Matheus Cunha was Wolves’ best player by far last season, and his loss has not been properly rectified in the window.
He also doesn’t see the recent relegation trend continuing: “I just think the last couple of years the three promoted sides have went down. I don’t think it’s happening this year.”
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With Wolves receiving more and more criticism for their inaction in replacing the many starters that have exited this summer, it’s not really a surprise to see some having this take.
His fellow pundits disagree, both picking Brentford as the Premier League side at risk of relegation.
The topic of relegation should spur Wolves into action
‘Should’ is the key word here, just as Wolves ‘should’ have more new signings as the season kicks off.
Fosun’s popularity among fans diminishes by the day, but there is a clear solution. Wolves need more players.
Unhappy Wolverhampton fans in Father Christmas hats, with one holding an inflatable banana calling for the Fosun Group club owners to leave
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
It’s no coincidence that many of the biggest names in football media are voicing their concerns over Wolves’ survival chances. It’s painfully obvious to everyone that 4 (signings) – 13 (sales) = trouble.
The opening game against Man City is far from an ideal way to set a positive tone for the season, but should Wolves lose badly, more pundits may join the side of McCoist and Lineker, and the relationship between the fans and the ownership could sour further.