Wolves are broken – whatever the table says

Despite three wins in a row and strong points-per-game projections, Wolves fans remain emotionally scarred by last season's relegation and unconvinced by manager Peixoto's tactical approach.

Wolverhampton have won three games in a row for the second time this season and sit as the highest-ranked relegated club from the Premier League, a point off the Championship summit. Manager Cesar Peixoto has accumulated 27 points from 14 matches—a pace that would yield 89 points across a full season—and key players like Raul Jimenez have returned.

Yet the fanbase remains fractured. Despite winning 1-0 against Cardiff City, podcast host Ryan Leister described the performance as "utterly pathetic…garbage", reflecting a deeper malaise. The core issue is that 12 of the 14 players with the most league minutes this season were part of last year's disastrous relegation, and supporters have not forgiven the club's hierarchy for the incompetence that led to it. Chants against owner Fosun continue at home games.

Peixoto himself has struggled to convince the majority. His recent criticism of the "environment" created by supporters backfired, and the football remains tactically conservative—Wolves rank ninth for expected goals per game and 10th for touches in the opposition box. The fanbase demands not just results but attacking intent and excitement, something absent for years: Wolves have scored a goal per league game or less in five of the last six seasons.