Fan column: Wolves' next two matches incredibly important but not season-defining

They demand a minimum number of points from a chosen number of matches suggesting that the earth will turn on its axis if their objective isn’t fulfilled. But life continues regardless and those same fans quickly settle upon the next clutch of games and set another arbitrary target that must be delivered. 

With only seven games completed so far, this ‘must win mentality’ is surely simple self-indulgence with no foundation. Fair enough; but our next two fixtures against promoted Sunderland and Burnley should they be lost, will certainly lead to serious misgivings about the direction of our season. 

Already we have been comfortably brushed aside by the other promoted outfit when Leeds outplayed us at Molineux. Must win games usually occur in late April or throughout May and significantly we face all three of these clubs during that period. 

Should our position be improved by then, what transpired back in October won’t carry much relevance. But right now, you couldn’t put a price on the relief on offer from a couple of positive results. Season defining? Unequivocably no, but important? Gosh, yes!

Watched the U21’s win at Wigan in midweek; a creditable performance and overall, a decent game. It’s a tough ask for inexperienced youngsters to compete against seasoned lower-league professionals. The more developed physical strength of the Wigan players was evident but a determined Wolves resisted stoutly. 

Mateus Mane won and converted a late penalty and he is highly rated at Molineux and already on the radar of the first team squad. The transition from academy games to league football is daunting and I wonder just how effective a diet of age-range matches against other academy teams at Compton or at minor grounds really is in shaping players for the future.

 Many of the best Wolves’ players of the past were schooled in the much- missed Central League. 42 matches per season played at first-team venues between competitive teams comprising of promising youngsters alongside hard-bitten pros. 

It wasn’t unusual to see full-internationals in the line-ups; returning from injury or simply out of form. The standard was high; the learning curve steep. 

There has been speculation lately regarding investment and turnover of staff in our academy. At all levels, we appear to be at a crossroads right now.