It’s more of rhetroical question really, as I’ve seen from comments on previous posts that we all remember Wolves trying to sign Modeste M’Bami the last time we went up. Of course we all know his agent is our old friend Willie McKay, so the chances of this deal actually happening immediately become more remote. If we can get him though, he certainly seems to have the pedigree to do well for us and on a free transfer, you can’t really complain.
Modeste M'Bami - Causing Deja Vu
Anyway, here’s a few other interesting similarities between now and the last time we came up.
When we got promoted in 2003, Roman Abramovich had just started splashing the cash at Stamford Bridge. This time round it’s Man City trying to buy their way to the top.
When we got promoted in 2003, Man Utd made a high profile sale to Real Madrid (David Beckham). They sold someone this summer for a few quid didn’t they? And who was that to?
This one’s a bit of a personal one, but the last time we were in the Premiership we played Arsenal at home on Saturday 8th November (which is my birthday). This year we’re playing them at home on the same weekend albeit the 7th instead of the 8th.
Needless to say, I hope this is where the similarities end.
But the sense of Deja Vu is somewhat disturbing.
If Wille McKay is so much as been to a game to watch this guy I would be thinking twice on approching him.
He is the worst of a really bad bunch who will whore any player he thinks he can get his 10% off.
Agree with you about Willie McKay mate!! Almost guarantee he’d be on more than 10% though.
Obviously we’d all rather have nothing to do with him but this M’Bami is supposed to be a decent player. Sometimes you have to do business with people you don’t like. Remember James McCarthey who we were trying to sign from Hamilton was represented by McKay!! Strange how as soon as we are back in the premiership again this guy comes sniffing around again though!
He’d go up in my estimations (just a little) if he got the deal for that rat Camara to sign for Hull though!! Couldn’t think of a team i’d rather see him play for. Won’t know who to abuse first when we play them, Brown or Camara
Not sure about M’Bami. Haven’t seen him, no nothing about him, but recall him deffing us out in 03. Is he any better now than then? Certainly more experienced. Not sure about everyone else, but I’m just feeling a sense of anticipation now.
Can’t wait for this season to crack off, and with Balde being shown the door, I just have a hunch one or two might be coming in.
It seems the market is picking up now, and it just feels like the activity is being stepped up a bit.
As for deja vu…In that case, I hope we draw Leicester City in the semi final of the FA Cup and are 3 down at half time!
Speaking of which, I heard Camara was having a trial somewhere or other. Can’t believe I voted him as our POY when Rae should have got it. I figured that if he won it, he’d have an allegience with us and would want to stay. What a plonker.
Abuse Camara or Brown first…..mmmmm…tough one.
I would go for Brown before the game and Camara all the way through. Either way, I will be hoarse Monday morining.
I though that McKay was McArthers agent, double glad he didn’t come to us now, 2 decent games and he would have had a transfer request in. McKay is poison, pure poison.
im pretty happy we can do the job with the squad as it is but add macienne and maybe M’Bami and this massive austrian guy (anybody else heard of him to replace big chris!) then i’ll be confident we’ll be ok.
no sense in being pessismistic now, micks had all summer to read 606 or the various wolves blogs. i think hes made up his mind. bring on saturday!
Sam Mk.II – agree with you. Mancienne on board. And hopefully M’Bami and Maierhofer to come – never seen those 2 play but M’Bami’s pedigree is pretty obvious. There are genuine reasons why he has left Marseille and Pompey but I will obviously be sceptical we are being messed about until he signs on the dotted line. Even so, great opportunity for us. As for the big Austrian.. his pedigree is less obvious but at over 6’7” him and Halford with his long throw look a good double-substitution late on to me!
Me and Bazza told you about Mancienne and all we were met with was distain. “Ooooh don’t start all this ASDA nonsense”. It was a reliable source and has come to pass. Great news!
@kwolf – Credit where credit is due mate, you did say it was happening and we doubted you.
But how many times have we heard the words ‘reliable source’ and been linked with all kinds of ridiculous names?
In the future, we’ll all certainly give you and your sources a lot more credit.
Just don’t get saying you’ve seen Lionel Messi at the Subway in Chapel Ash or anything like that.
Thomas – rest assured I didn’t plan to come on here dealing in speculation (I will leave that for my other Wolves site of choice), I was certain on the Mancienne move. How you ask, well sadly I can’t disclose that as I’m not sure how far up the food chain this site has yet reached inside the walls of power. I bet Jez is reading this now, “who is this guys sources – he knew Mancienne was coming even before I did?!”.
Anyway, lets hope this M’Bami proves to Mick hes the main man and we wont have to forever suffer Karl Henry’s crab like sideways passing. As per my previous post, I think distribution from defensive positions will be particularly key this season if we are playing the 4-5-1, and Henry whilst solid, is not good enough on the ball from that position.
Kwolf – in that case you won’t mind sharing the rest of the transfer action in store before the end of the season
Must admit, I really thought that it wouldn’t happen as I got the impression that Mancienne was really keen to stick at Chelsea and break through… perhaps that’s still the case and his mind’s been made up for him. Who knows – either way, great news. Will be interested to see who he’s partnered with – I agree with some others who’ven commented on his stature.
But does he add quality? Definitely.
I can reveal that Bazza is indeed Mystic Meg
Yes is does look like we have captured the loan of Mancienne. As I have stated several times on this site I have my concernes about his stature and abiltiy to mix it with a big physical forward, but I will recognise he does give you more quality coming out of the back four which will be vital for us.
Lets hope that quality will outwiegh, what is obvious to me, his defensive short comings.
Nothing has been confirmed just yet lads. I know if all the rumours are true its just a matter of time but being a wolves fan i’ve come to not get too carried away too soon!!!
…………….will be checking the official site every 5 minutes today though waiting!!
I fancy Mancienne as a defensive midfielder myself, for the same reasons EmeraldPete stated. However with our defense as weak as it is there’s no chance him playing anywhere but at the back.
@EmeraldPete – I’ve always agreed with the point that Mancienne is a little on the skinny side.
But let’s remember, good defences are built on partnerships and finding two centre-halves who will complement each other well.
So if Mancienne is lightweight, let’s play him alongside someone with a bit more strength, say Berra. In fact, I think those two could form a very good partnership at the heart of our back four.
At the top level, one of the most important abilities a defender needs to have is to be able to read the game and that’s something this young lad does very well.
Can he do a job left back? Remember him doing a decent job there for 40mins when Stephen Ward was subbed v Sheff Utd last season (1-1 draw), when Nathan Dyer was making mincemeat out of him.
I’m all for round pegs in round holes, but when we are up against a pacey right winger in particular, I think he can fill a void.
No doubt you can be as slight a player as Mancienne AND be a top class central defender. The one example that springs to mind is Cannavaro, undoubted world class and only 5″6′, but after that I really struggle, really really stuggle to name another one.
Can anyone help??
Carvalho 5’6″? Think you need a new tape measure.
Sorry meant Cannavaro. Still need a new tape measure though
OK, His offical site has him at 176cm (5″7′ and a half).
Now stop stalling and name another top flight centre half who wouldn’t have to duck if he went for tea at Bilbo Baggins house in the shire
LOL
Correction – 176cm is 5″9′, the conversion table gave me it a s decimal 5.7. Apologies.
He still short though!!!! LOL
Guys, don’t know if you have seen this column on the BBC web site about summer transfers and how they think the team will finish this year.
Anyway, they have us to finish 17th, with Hull proping up the table and Burnly and Birmingham occupieing the other two relegation spots.
I find it hard to disagree with them, what do you think??
Check it out
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/8185158.stm
Yeah, I saw that. Would be happy with that outcome. Much better than the Times who had us going down with Hull and Portsmouth and Burnley to finish 15th!
Whoever compiled that clearly never watched any championship games last season and knows nothing about football!
Andrew – Yeah exactly, half of the people who write these things never watch a game other than from the comfort of their armchairs.
Pete – Mancienne is 6ft 1/2 according to wikipedia (know its not exactly the most reputable source), but there are loads of defenders smaller or the same height as him. You’d already got Cannavaro but another Italian legend Franco Baresi was 5ft 9 1/2 also, then there is Jamie Carragher who is 5ft 10, Kolo Toure is 6ft, William Gallas is 6ft, Richardo Carvalho is 6ft 1/2, shall I go on mate………….
Billy Wright was really short as well Pete, and I bet he came across some pretty uncouth, big hairy centre forwards in his time. Yes, yes, I know the game has changed, but thoght I’d throw him in there, god bless Sir Bill.
Right then, my team for Sat. It’s 4-4-2 as I agree with some of the other lads on here, why not play Doyle from the off and get an hour from him?
Hennessey
Foley
Mancienne
Craddock
Hill / Ward
Halford
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis
SEB
Doyle
Yeah I thought of Billy Wright, but couldn’t get anything on him. Bobby Moore is surely another one from back in the day that was a short arse (couldn’t get anything on him either).
Still going with Craddock mate? Seriously scares me to think of him playing premiership football.
M’Bami is a holding midfielder who was at Marseille last season (with Zubar). Marseille generally played 4-3-3 or sometimes 4-1-2-1-2, both of which only allow for 1 holding midfielder. He was held out of the side by Lorik Cana (now of Sunderland) who was the club captain. It was clear he wanted to move to England before your winter transfer period (which hopefully means he was smart enough to start learning English), which meant that then coach Eric Gerets started to play Burkinebe holding midfielder Charles Kabore when Cana was injured. When he has played, he was imposing, maybe a touch reckless, but good.
He also injured one of Marseille’s centre halves in training and was apparently discipled by the manager.
He obviously speaks French so hopefully would also help Zubar settle.
Ben, spot on with your team. Spot on. I’d pick Craddock ahead of Berra. Definitely.
Ed yeah I saw that on Wikapiedia too. Can’t believe he is that tall, my aurgument about hight is a complete mute point now. Why does he look so deminutive on the pitch then, can’t understand it.
t’OM, good knowledge on M’Bami, anyone disaplined for hurting thier own centre half in training sounds like he would suite the Prem.
I would go with you too Ben, get an hour out of Doyle but I would send Volkes on ahead on Keogh for the last half hour!!!
Craddock for Berra as a) Craddock was more assured and impressive of the 2 in the last 10 games he was brought back IMO.
And b) I’d like to think the Jodester excels with a pacy guy alongside him, and is a tad more experienced.
As for Berra, I will tip him as our ‘dark horse’ this season. I think we’re all to really make our minds up on him yet, and are just hedging our bets before we start singing his name.
It feels a bit harsh in some ways, as he came in, and we went up!
I just think a lot of SPL players tend to take a while to settle (Cuellar at Villa prime example), but when they do, they can really go on to impress. This is what I hope for the big man.
It can’t be easy looking sharp every week when you’re playing Cally Thistle and co. I’m hoping that a good pre-season will mean he is up for a breakthrough campaign with us.
Pete, stats are decpetive mate. For example, Graham Onions consistently bowls 90mph for England, and I can’t get my head round it, as it doesn’t look that way.
Height is deceptive anyway…Stefan Postma was meant to be 6ft 6in according to the E&S. And they reckon Hahnemann is 6ft 2in, when he looks the same height as Moxey.
I’d say you are 6ft 4in mate.
6″0′ on the nose mate, I would never have had Mancienne as taller than me in a month of sundays.
Look if he is in a gold shirt come Saturday it won’t make a difference, I will be behind him 100%. No use starting with anything but a positve attitude.
Remember, we are only bottom because of the alaphbet at the moment!!!