What does Wolves post-Edwards blueprint need to look like?
Recently relegated ... and obsessed with Portuguese players and managers
The 2025/26 season for Wolves was a masterclass in instability, swinging from Vítor Pereira to interim leadership and finally to Rob Edwards in November. By that point, the psychological rot had set in. Edwards task was to remain competitive while managing the drop and thinking about how to return at the first asking. We were now supposed to be at that point - but Edwards has been STUNNINGLY sacked by Wolves. Here were my notes on why Edwards needed to be backed an article I was working on all week, but his Thursday sacking leaves these notes now tossed in the rubbish bin. Still a few are below for posterity’s sake.
Give Him a Complete Pre-Season: Edwards is a manager who knows how to navigate the EFL and construct a modern, high-pressing team. This summer is his first real chance to strip away the tactical baggage of the previous regime and implement his own system from day one.
Build a Championship Mentality: The squad needs to quickly drop any Premier League entitlement. Winning in the Championship requires a specific type of tactical arrogance blended with physical grit. Edwards must instill that balance immediately during their upcoming July and August friendlies. Edwards has gotten Luton promoted from this division previously as well as Forest Green at a lower level so he can do this job.
So now I’m going with another approach…here is what Wolves as a club, who have made a fatal managerial decision and once again have reinforced they are now more of a Portuguese club that happens to play in the Midlands with the appointment of César Peixoto. So what does this new Manager need to do to rebuild Wolves. A blueprint below.
Solve the Crippling Goalscoring Crisis
You cannot win promotion if you can’t put the ball in the net. Wolves scored a miserable 27 goals in 38 Premier League games last season. No single player managed more than three league goals. Raúl Jiménez will reportedly return, a goal scoring hero of the past for the club. But does he have the tool kit at his age and after numerous injuries to lead the line? I’m hedging on this.
Find a Certified EFL Fox-in-the-Box: The Championship demands a ruthless, high-volume talisman. Wolves must scour the market for a proven second-tier goalscorer—someone who can guarantee 15 to 20 goals in a grueling 46-game schedule. Raúl Jiménez is probably not that guy at his age in my opinion. But his leadership and veteran nous will help guide whomever that guy is.
Unlock Creative Service: Rodrigo Gomes and Mateus Mané possess great dynamism, but they were starved of service or isolated last year. Edwards wanted to recruit a dynamic central playmaker who can dictate the tempo against deep Championship low-blocks. That now won’t happen, and we might see the wrong fit here as a result.
Gomes in particular may be able to make 15-20 goal contributions at this level but needs a bonafide striker beyond Jiménez to get on the end of his crosses and service into the area. Peixoto’s track record indicates he will play in such a way that Gomes will thrive.
Leverage the Veteran Leadership of Kieran Trippier
Securing 35-year-old Kieran Trippier on a two-year deal is an absolute masterstroke of summer business. Dropping into the Championship is a massive culture shock, and his signing addresses a major vulnerability. But does a newcomer as Manager to English football understand this? Let’s hope he does.
Dressing Room Culture: Trippier has seen it all, from Champions League nights to high-pressure international tournaments. His presence will be vital in stabilizing a dressing room that forgot how to win.
On-Field General: In a division where set-pieces account for a massive percentage of goals, Trippier’s world-class delivery will be a lethal weapon for target men like Yerson Mosquera and Santiago Bueno. The new management should lean heavily on him to guide younger talents like Pedro Lima through the tactical demands of the division.
Retain the Right Core and Clean House
Relegation usually triggers a fire sale, but Wolves must be clever about who they let go. The temptation under Fosun might be a total roster overhaul, but look at the teams who bounce straight back: they keep their competitive spine.
The “Holdouts”: Wolves need to do everything they can to keep midfield anchors like André and defensive stalwarts who can absolutely dominate at the Championship level.
Trim the Fat: Players who are mentally checked out or carrying massive Premier League wages without the matching output need to be moved on swiftly. A smaller, fiercely committed squad is infinitely better than a bloated roster of disgruntled stars.
Exploit the Financial Advantage Smartly
Thanks to parachute payments, and being better run in the Prem than many other sides, Wolves will hold a massive financial advantage over a large portion of the Championship. However, they cannot afford to break Financial Fair Play (EFL Profitability and Sustainability) rules or overpay for unproven talent.
Target Hungry EFL Talent: Rather than chasing big-name foreign imports who might struggle with a Tuesday night away match in the freezing rain, Wolves should use their financial muscle to pluck the best young talent from League One and lower-tier Championship clubs. These players offer hunger, resale value, and immediate adaptability to the style of play. Again they do not have to be players with Portuguese ties or ties to Agent Jorge Mendes.