Wolves Premier League Struggles 2024/25: A Tactical Breakdown Of Gary O’Neil Tactics

Wolverhampton Wanderers have managed just one point from their first seven Premier League matches, conceding 21 goals—an average of three per game.

This marks their worst start to a Premier League season since 2018/19, which was their first campaign back in the top flight after promotion.

Since 2018, Wolves have experienced their fair share of ups and downs, finishing as high as seventh and as low as 13th.

While they’ve struggled for consistency in recent years, they’ve usually managed to remain in mid-table.

However, they seem entirely off the pace this season.

In this tactical analysis and team-focused scout report, we’ll analyze key statistics from the current season, focusing on their defensive and attacking issues, attacking inefficiencies, and problems with progression. 

Where Did Wolves Issues Start?

Wolves issues are rooted in their status as a selling club.

They have been known to develop great talents, especially among their Portuguese players.

Matheus Nunes was sold to Manchester City for €62m, weakening their midfield.

Pedro Neto followed, joining Chelsea for €60m, leaving a significant gap in their attack.

Defensive stability suffered when Rúben Neves departed for Al-Hilal for €55m, and Maximilian Kilman’s transfer to West Ham United for €47.5m further disrupted their backline.

The forward line was also weakened by Diogo Jota’s earlier move to Liverpool for €44.7m.

Morgan Gibbs-Whites transfer to Nottingham Forest for €29.5m, along with Nathan Collins move to Brentford for €26.85m, compounded their problems, stripping the squad of both defensive and creative depth.

While these transfers generated significant revenue, the Wolves have struggled to replace that quality, making it difficult to compete for higher positions in the league.

All of these players have left in recent seasons, a period in which the club’s decline has become more evident.

Wolves have traditionally excelled at buying under-the-radar players, but they have failed to produce new talent to fill the void left by these departures, contributing to their current struggles in the league.

Gary ONeil Tactics & Philosophy

At Wolves, under Gary O’Neil’s tactics, they have implemented a counterattacking style, using pacey wide players to exploit spaces left by opposition defences.

His approach encourages quick transitions and the use of wide flanks to punish teams on the break and catch them off balance.

Defensively, ONeil prioritises compactness and organisation, ensuring his team remains disciplined without the ball.

His sides maintain a low-risk shape in a 4-4-2, minimising the gaps between lines and half turns.

This focus on structure allows them to stay competitive even against stronger opponents, frustrating teams by denying them space to operate effectively.​

Wolves Statistics For The 2024/25 Premier League Season

Wolverhampton Wanderers Shots Map

Despite attempting 75 shots and generating 8.58 xG, the Wolves have only managed nine non-penalty goals, slightly overperforming their xG.

However, the issue lies in creating situations that can generate more xG and increase their scoring opportunities.

For comparison, Southampton, currently 19th, has generated 8.3 xG, while Crystal Palace, in 18th, has 9.52 xG.

This puts Wolves in a reasonable range for xG among teams in the bottom portion of the table.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Shot Assists Map

The shot assist map shows Wolves have generated 4.89 xA (expected assists), leading to five assists so far.

The majority of passes leading to shots are concentrated on the right side, indicating a preference for attacking through that channel.

The low xA total reflects an underlying problem—Wolves are