With Gary O’Neil on track for a Premier League Manager of the Year nomination Wolves have their very own Winston Wolf
Gary O’Neil tried not to sit back and bask in the plaudits after another clinical London raid by Wolves and sparkling displays by some of his players.
Instead, he spoke of improving Pedro Neto’s contributions out of possession and broader understanding of his role in the team, and of refining two-goal Joao Gomes on the ball.
O’Neil promised to keep working until Wolves had cracked the puzzle of how to beat those teams who sit back and deny them space to counter attack but it was impossible to hide his delight.
Another slick and impressive away win on Saturday, 2-1 at Tottenham, another one of the self-appointed aristocrats of the Premier League toppled, and his team eased on to 35 points.
That in itself is a laudable achievement for Wolves in a campaign they started in disarray when Julen Lopetegui quit.
Just as he did at Bournemouth last season, O’Neil parachuted in like Winston Wolf, the world-weary problem-solver and cleaner-upper portrayed by Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction, and set to work.
Wolves have taken 15 points from the Premier League’s traditional Big Six this season. They have completed a double over Chelsea, beaten Manchester City and punctured the Angeball revolution twice. Sixteen points from the past eight games is Champions League form.
