Wolves Fans Express Their Anger Amids Poor Season Starts, What Is The Reason

Wolves Express Their Anger Amids Poor Season Starts, What Is The Reason

Latest Tommy Doyle comments prove why Wolves fans are so distant from Gary O’Neil

Wolves are preparing for their must-win Premier League fixture against Southampton.

The Old Gold must get the better of the Saints if they are to turn things around after a dire start to the season.

As the November international break approaches, Wolves are still without a win in the Premier League, spelling danger for Gary O’Neil’s position as manager.

Wolves’ poor start continues from their abysmal finish to last term, with the Midlands club recording just one win in their previous 20 league fixtures.

Gary O’Neil criticises Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle

On match day 10, Wolves showed encouraging signs however, were unable to win against Crystal Palace in a bottom-of-the-table clash.

The hosts came from behind to lead but Palace found a way to equalise from a lapse in concentration.

Conceding twice in disappointing circumstances to Oliver Glasner’s side wasn’t the main talking point from the game, as O’Neil came under fire for his decision to hook Tommy Doyle just after the hour mark.

Since then, the manager has spoken out about Doyle as a player, with comments that come with confusion, via Express and Star.

“He came from Manchester City’s academy, obviously he had a successful time in the Championship, but still isn’t proven at Premier League level,” O’Neil said.

“We’re still helping him with adapting to that. He has big belief in himself and thinks he should play every minute of every Premier League game, as you expect the players to.

“But he’s still a young central midfielder with not much Premier League experience, a lot of ability, a great lad.”

After publicly stating that Doyle is not quite up to Premier League standards, O’Neil insisted that it’s on him to judge where the midfielder is in his development.

“I think a large part of him expects to be playing every week. He has a big belief in his ability, I don’t think he’s happy with his watching brief.

“Maybe when he first got here I think he understood that he was learning and that there was going to be a time to adapt.

“But I know he feels like he’s ready. Of course, then it’s on me to judge how ready he is and what week suits him best.”

O’Neil’s comments will frustrate fans

O’Neil wasn’t particularly harsh about Doyle however, his decision to go public with his assessment of the player who is in good form is rather puzzling.

The question has to be asked, would the boss have come out and said such things had he not received backlash for substituting the Englishman?

The coach did the same thing as he publicly criticised Jorgen Strand Larsen after hooking him against Manchester City, with a theme being noticed.

O’Neil’s comments represent an instance of overcompensating for a decision that was widely criticised.

Fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ when Doyle was withdrawn against Palace, to which the manager has now come out and used his players ‘inexperience’ to prove a point.

At a stage when Wolves have to stick together in all areas, supporters will be unhappy to see O’Neil publicly criticising a player, who is giving his all, merely to validate his actions.

The January transfer window is set to be a decisive period for Wolves, who find themselves in an early relegation battle.

In their previous 20 Premier League fixtures, Wolves have recorded just one win, telling of the issues that Gary O’Neil has to quickly resolve.

Glued to the bottom of the table, there’s a real need to turn things around if the Old Gold want to ensure a chance of survival.

As we near match day 11 of the season, some thought will be had to the Christmas period and the drama of the January transfer window that will follow.