Wolves' start to the season has been nothing short of a disaster. The club currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, four points away from safety.
Hopes were high after a promising pre-season campaign under Bruno Lage, but the Portuguese manager was sacked after picking up just six points from eight league games.
Interim coach Steve Davis took charge of Wolves up until the World Cup break, but all eyes now turn to Julen Lopetegui. It is a long-awaited appointment, with the Spanish manager finally arriving at Molineux six and a half years after he was first linked with the job.
Lopetegui joins a club that is in decline, needing a calm figure to steer them away from danger, and to do it quickly. Here are three things that the Spaniard needs to address if Wolves hope to keep their Premier League status.
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Experience is needed
Wolves have the sixth youngest squad in the top flight with an average age of 25.7. Lage attempted to move the club in a new direction over the summer, selling or releasing the majority of ageing players in the squad.
Although trusting youth is a positive move, Wolves are in a position where they need experienced figures to step into the side. The departures of Conor Coady, Willy Boly and Romain Saiss mean that Wolves now rely on Max Kilman to be their senior centre half.
The 25-year-old's form has dropped this season, struggling with the added pressure as well as the switch to a back four. Partnered with 21-year-old Nathan Collins, the duo have no real competition for places, with Toti Gomes looking like a weak link when introduced to the side.
The Athletic report that Lopetegui is looking to be proactive in the market, already highlighting Atletico Madrid's Felipe as a key target. The 33-year-old would likely join on a short-term deal but could be the perfect addition to Wolves' frail backline.
TalkSport suggests that the club are interested in out of favour Manchester United man Aaron Wan Bissaka. The fullback would bring some much-needed Premier League experience to the Wolves side, as well as allow talented youngster Dexter Lembikisa to find a loan move elsewhere.
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Solve the striking problem
Arguably Wolves' most high-profile issue, they just do not score goals. The Black Country outfit have played exactly 100 league games since Project Restart in June 2020, scoring a lacklustre 92 goals in that time.
The absence of goals, combined with conceding 125 in that time, means Wolves have lost 46 of their last 100 Premier League games, winning 34 and drawing 20.
The injury to Raul Jimenez in November 2020 was the beginning of Wolves' attacking decline. At the time, the club sat sixth in the Premier League table after their 2-1 win at Arsenal.
Since that night, Nuno Espirito Santo, Lage and Davis have tried a combined six strikers, only managing 12 goals and 12 assists between them.
Jimenez and Fabio Silva are the only strikers to score multiple Wolves goals in the last two years, while Willian Jose could only net once. Diego Costa and Sasa Kalajdzic are yet to score, while Patrick Cutrone's second opportunity was no better than his first.
Silva has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances while on loan at Anderlecht, with the Portuguese youngster expected to remain in Belgium until May.
GOAL.com report that Brazil's Matheus Cunha is in talks to join Lopetegui at Wolves, adding much-needed creativity in the final third.
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Connect with the fans
Connecting with the fans will not guarantee Premier League survival, but it can certainly help Wolves get there.
The Molineux atmosphere has taken a significant hit since fans returned from lockdown, with Lage's passive style of play leading some to become disillusioned by the club.
Getting the fans onside is much easier when results are going your way, as shown by Nuno's heroic status in Wolverhampton. The Portuguese boss injected life into Molineux, ensuring the ground was at capacity every week and fans were roaring the side on.
Lopetegui has a golden chance to create history early into his tenure, facing Gillingham in the EFL Cup fourth round. A win would see Wolves advance to the quarter-finals of the league cup for the first time in 26 years. With a maximum of two 'big six' sides reaching the last eight, all Premier League clubs should fancy their chances of winning some silverware.
The importance of supporters cannot be understated. Steve Bruce's Newcastle side sat bottom of the Premier League table in November 2021. The appointment of Eddie Howe rejuvenated the Toon Army, turning St James' Park into a fortress once again.
If Lopetegui can replicate this in the West Midlands, supporters should be optimistic about survival. The 56-year-old's warm reception during his Molineux visit suggests that fans are excited by the thought of what is to come.