Football Daily Monday Night Club: O’Neil withdraws from Wolves & disturbance in the goalkeepers’ union
Nov 3, 2025
Join Andros Townsend, former winger and current pundit, Shay Given, ex-international goalkeeper, Rory Smith, a seasoned football journalist, and Ryan Lester, host and Wolves supporter, as they dissect Wolves' managerial vacancy. They explore the club's decline and what kind of manager is needed next. Shay shares insights on the goalkeeping group dynamics and the challenges of writing memoirs, especially in light of Mary Earps' controversial autobiography. Plus, they analyze recent performances at West Ham and the football landscape around Celtic and Rangers.
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Wolves' Vacancy Is Structurally Unattractive
- Wolves' managerial vacancy is unattractive because ownership lacks ambition and the squad has been weakened repeatedly.
- That structural decline makes it hard to recruit a high-quality manager who won't damage their reputation there.
Prefer Preseason Projects Over Immediate Returns
- Young managers should prefer clubs where they can do a full preseason and build their methods away from intense pressure.
- Avoid jumping back into a toxic or unstable environment immediately after a short, mixed spell.
Fan Poll Sinks O'Neil Return
- Ryan Lester ran a Wolves fan survey where 93% of 2,500 respondents opposed Gary O'Neil's return.
- That strong fan backlash was a major factor in O'Neil withdrawing from consideration.
