LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Christian Eriksen of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester United FC at Selhurst Park on September 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Former player feels Wolves boss has been let down.
Former Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes head coach Gary O’Neil has been let down this season by a lack of investment from owners Fosun.
Wolves find themselves bottom of the Premier League with one point from eight games so far this season.
The club sold both Max Kilman and Pedro Neto for big fees and brought in promising young players, while also failing to sign a centre-back.
O’Hara, who played for Wolves from 2011 to 2014, has sympathy for O’Neil having to work with a self-sustainable business model.
“I hope they can turn it around,” O’Hara said, speaking at the Copa del Cure Leukaemia tournament at St George’s Park.
Premier League VAR table shows Newcastle advantage as one team have HUGE right to feel aggrieved
Newcastle have had six VAR decisions go in their favour.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been on the wrong end of VAR decisions more than any other team in the Premier League over the past five seasons, with a staggering 20 more calls overturned against them than in their favour, according to EPSN. West Ham United are next in line, experiencing seven more negative decisions.
Since the introduction of VAR in the 2019/20 season, among the 13 teams that have remained in the top flight throughout, Brighton & Hove Albion have benefited from nine additional favourable decisions, while Newcastle United have had six. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal join Wolves and the Hammers as the clubs with more decisions going against them than for them.
The Midlands club’s unfortunate record worsened when John Stones’ last-gasp goal was allowed following VAR review, despite being initially ruled offside. Wolverhampton manager Gary O’Neil expressed his bewilderment at the call, suggesting a possible unconscious bias among officials.
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Following his remarks, the Football Association has reached out to O’Neil for his comments. Despite the controversy, O’Neil stressed that he does not believe there is any deliberate bias against Wolves, stating: “There’s no chance people are purposely against Wolves – if we ever get to that, then the game’s in a bad place.”
“But is there something in the subconscious around decision-making? Without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves? Referees are human, and Manchester City scoring a last-minute winner is a big thing, so maybe there’s something subconsciously that you’re less likely to get those decisions.”, reports the Mirror.
O’Neil expressed his bewilderment, especially after a similar situation led to a different result for his team. “It was similar to a goal [Wolves had disallowed] against West Ham last season,” he explained to Sky Sports.
“We sent an image to referees showing with proof that the West Ham keeper could see the ball, but the reason we were given was the player was in close proximity. The same argument could be said here but we just have to accept it.”
