“Nothing is by chance,” said our chief executive Jez Moxey on September 5 2011. “You get what you put in in life generally.”
With seven points from the first three games of last season, he continued.
“Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve, or what you put in. But when you get an opportunity and this is a horrible phrase: ‘when preparation meets opportunity’ – or whichever way it is! – you get this offspring called good fortune, or good luck.
“And we believe about making your own good fortune or luck in life.”
A spectacular nosedive of 35 league positions since the snake oil seeped owes nothing to luck, presumably.
From another Jez Moxey pledge that ‘we can get in the top three, four or five clubs where we can compete in Europe’ (E&S March 15 2011) to a New Year message that ‘we should all expect better’ in the Npower Championship.
You don’t say!
Another thing Moxey – or the deafeningly quiet Steve Morgan – fails to say is how we got into this extraordinary mess in such a short space of time.
I’ve tried to help, by pinpointing six glaring opportunities which sadly lacked the requisite levels of preparation.
1. Alan Curbishley and the half-baked bun fight. (February 2012)
The less said about our attempts to replace Mick the better. There was an opportunity, but no preparation, being as we failed to lure Curbishley on two separate occasions. Quite what the terms broke down over will never be known for sure, but alarm bells rang when the Londoner allegedly said that his vision for the club didn’t match the owner’s. What vision would that be exactly Steve?
The upshot: Steve Bruce dawdling, Walter Smith dalliance and embarrassment of national laughing stock proportions. Oh, and Terry Connor.
2. Morgan’s missing treasure chest (May 2012)
During our end of season dinner in May 2012, Steve Morgan said: “The one thing about Wolves is that we’re in great financial health and we will have a very good treasure chest when it comes to the playing side.
“There will be changes – some players will come, some players will go. We are more committed than ever.”
A month or so after uttering these words, we sold our three best players for something around £28million to add to the treasure chest.
We gave Solbakken around £10 million to a) replace our only talented players in Jarvis, Fletcher and Kightly and b) improve what we already had.
The upshot: A treasure chest that only Frank McAvennie could ever believe in and an unwanted maths lesson: Minimal investment + proven failures = disaster.
3. Director of football debacle. (May 2012)
Upon the position that casts more longing gazes down the A41 than a 5-1 thrashing, Steve Morgan said the following:
“Stale understands we may well be bringing in a football development director but we felt it wrong to make an appointment at the same time as the manager.
“But the director of football is something that’s still very much on our mind and it’s a system he’s used to working with.
“We’ve got two or three people in mind for the post. We don’t rush into making a decision.”
At least Morgan got the last bit right, as he really didn’t rush into a decision, embarking on U-turn instead.
The upshot: Solbakken forced to work with Terry Connor for the opening handful of fixtures, with Lange and Weiser arriving ad hoc, in June and October respectively. Head of recruitment and football development roles are not filled until the New Year.
4. Pedro Geromel and Vadim Demidov cold shoulders (July 2012)
Stale Solbakken identified two centre backs to finally rectify a shambolic defence.
Pedro Geromel chose Mallorca, despite Stale stating at the time: “Those clubs from Spain are having financial troubles. Maybe it’s a chance for us to step up and do it.”
We didn’t do it.
Next up Vadim Demidov, who flew to England after a deal was agreed with Sociedad.
“It’s not as clear-cut as some people would like it to be,” said Jez Moxey.
Clearly, as he went to Frankfurt.
The upshot: Georg Margrietter and Solbakken lumped with a defence which we knew was substandard. (52 goals against in the Championship and we still play three of them today!)
5. Adlene Guedioura signs for Forest (July 2012)
And not for the reason I rated him so highly and he scored a 30 yard screamer past us.
The first training session Stale Solbakken took as manager was the first day he was undermined by Jez Moxey.
“The manager makes the decisions on the buying and selling of players,” said Jez Moxey.
Clearly not, when Solbakken said he was sold without ever speaking to Adlene either way.
Whether Guedioura was a world beater or otherwise mattered little. The manager was forced to take responsibility for a transfer, which – according to those inside Molineux – had nothing to do with football.
The upshot: Our new manager is unfairly associated with an increasingly irrational decision which – despite Moxey’s claims – was not made on footballing grounds.
6. Blackburn 0 Wolves 1 (October 2012)
A victory that could have been seminal goes down as a mere flash in the pan.
Deploying a 4-5-1 system for the one and only time this season, Wolves stifle their opponents and break away to win, featuring a more advanced Doumbia and a holding pair of Davis and Henry.
What happened next? The system is scrapped and we win 3 out of 16 games thereafter. The first genuine question marks raised over our seemingly sensible manager.
The upshot: The first signs of genuine incompetence by Stale Solbakken, as he persists with the very formation that got Mick McCarthy the sack.
Quite what 2013 brings us is unsure, but judging on the last 18 months, an ‘offspring of good fortune’ is unlikely.
Great Summary of one of the most troubled times in the history of the club.
What can anyone say after that. Whoever comes in will be up against it for the start and the worst part of all is I don’t see these 2 going anywhere soon.
I could excuse Morgan if he was cut Moxey adrift, let Jez be the fall guy for a change.
But Why should he, we are still making money, which is the ultimate job of a CEO.
But for how much longer can it go on.
I posted this at the end of the last thread for anyone who hasn’t seen it.
Found it on twitter and it lightened the mood…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei7-pzNGU9I&feature=youtu.be
Just Heard Odriscoll has turned down Barnsley.. The plot thickens.
Great thread. Gross incompetency of the lowest order.
Think that players are dictating what happens.
The job is a nightmare and what happens if Saunders and O’Driscoll turn it down.
Up the Orinoco with no paddle comes to mind.
Complete and utter shambles.
#1 Curbishley turned us down after the contract was offered – the real problem was that there was no Plan B and the timing was crap – Terry Connor was the result!
#2 Feel we could have hung on to at least one of those players even if they all wanted to leave! Fletcher we couldn’t replace but am happy with sako even if he has faded recently!
#3 We never needed a Director of Football to play well on the pitch – our crap run of games were for other reasons. U-Turn was a mystery however – don’t think the board said the exact reason!
#4 We don’t know the reasons why they never came to Wolves or if Stale was interested in either at all – could have just been rumours…though I think Stale said one of them he’d tried to get and one of them wanted to stay in his home country – we don’t know why we couldn’t get them if we were after them, maybe money couldn’t influence the decision?
#5 You honestly think Moxey sold Guedioura without consulting the manager??? If you don’t agree with this Stale as well as the board should be blamed as he would have seen him play from the DVD’s – obviously he didn’t rate him… Adlene was decent but replaceable and Doumbia seemed to be the ideal replacement…at first!
#6 – WHY 4-5-1 was never tried again I’ll never know – something needed to change, why not the manager?
Certainly food for thought this blog
*why not the formation?
Well posted Ben,Just goes to show how badly we need a Director of football on our board,somebody who nows a bit more than the muppets we have ruining the show,or circus thats what we’ve become. shambles.
As usual Ben your spot on, It’s scarey how badly our club is now run , definately time for change at the top.
An alternative point of view, for what it’s worth.
I cannot speak for everyone on this blog but I know I am guilty at times of being too close to the subject and obviously blinkered in my opinion of Wolves. For this reason I often read other blogs such as BBC Sport as it always contains comments from contributors who are not Wolves supporters.
A post this afternoon that helped me think about the bigger picture suggested that the Wolves boo boo boys have already posted enough negatively about Saunders to put him off applying and why would O’ Driscoll want to work for his favourite club; how will his season ticket holding parents feel when things don’t work out and fans are calling for his head? Perhaps it is time to realize that we are not the desirable club we once were, after all we can see the multitude of problems so I’m sure any potential manager can as well.
Look at the wikipedia for the managerial records of messers ODriscal and Saunders, it is one thing to say we have not got the pulling power we once had, it is another to lower our sights so dramatically.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wolverhampton-wanderers/9784165/Wolverhampton-Wanderers-to-appoint-Dean-Saunders-as-new-manager-following-FA-Cup-exit-at-Luton-Town.html
MOXEY HE HAS TO GO TIME FOR A REVOLT ON FRIDAY MOXEY OUT
Where did it all go wrong ……where do I start? should I attempt an in depth war and peace blog or a very brief bullet pointed summary ( I’m in the I pad so bullet points I think )
I liked mick but perhaps we were a little to loyal, it started to go tits up of the pitch the day mr rosy cheeks charged into the dressing room after we lost three nil to LIverpool’s 125 million quids worth of talent. It was I admit a reaction to a couple months of dross we had churned out,however lets us all remember what we are …at best a bottom 4 premier side at worst mid champoinship side. Morgan was looking for another MCarthy a decent honourable man who didn’t want to spend a fortune and bring in a team of 15 including their own masseur. He was perhaps shocked that there are not to many football managers out there who posses these qualities. Curbishleys cockiness on sky when asked about the job spoke volumes and why perhaps he is still yet to be employed.
Moving forward the displays under Stale have been shocking but perhaps I’m one of the very few who don’t blame him fully, yes I would have sacked him but I wouldn’t have employed him in the first instance.Moxey or Morgan wouldn’t have ever heard of the guy lets be honest so who put his name forward, as far I can see no one has ever told us this.
I’m a person who looks at stats and as supporters we can only really gauge the success of a manager over a period of years, just view Saunders record, is he the man for the job?
So where did it all go wrong…….don’t blame Moxey he only acts on Morgans strategy ( if we can call it that ) so I reckon Morgan having a strop in the changeing room is perhaps where it all started.
Roy Hodgson alerted Moron to SS
My geordie house mate, who has had a bad week himself, has just come in and asked ” how’s it going at the pantomime?”
http://video.ak.fbcdn.net/cfs-ak-snc6/v/738436/390/2754573400553_51465.mp4?oh=74eea5a777dc68df9ea9fc524865f5b4&oe=50E9DE6A&__gda__=1357503184_4ed4636b0b9a16f3e8615a9eb3eab73f
Just watched the Stale interview he did today, a very decent man, obviously doesn’t want to stick the knife in, his big regret “I wish I had been stronger in the last transfer market”…so he was obviously in a battle with someone over the spending policy…wonder who????…amazing considering the treasure chest and the parachute payments???
We are in for another crap January I believe, fantastic support from the management again.
Good luck Stale, you are best out of it I reckon, at least you can walk away, we have to stick with it!
UTW
Its all over Dean Saunders is our new Manager according to Tim Nash on twitter
Bring on league 1
Just watching geromel play for mallorca on sky sports 2. Mallorca are playing athletico madrid who are the europa champions and thrashed chelsea 4-0 in europe super cup final. He looks a very accomplished centre back, good on the ball and reads the game well. UN-FUCKIN-BELIEVABLE
Dean Saunders it is Then
Wolves are a club showing real ambition under Morgan and Moxey
Looking forward to League 1 next season
I will still Boycott on Friday night in fact I may boycott the rest of the season.
They just don’t get it do they.
http://m.skysports.com/article/sports//8383982
On sky sports it says saunders has the job
I may open a book on how long it takes before someone says “Saunders out”…
I’ll offer 2/1 that someone will say it if we lose the Blackburn game
haha
Saunders OUT!!! Moxey OUT!!! Morgan OUT!!!
Steve Bull would have made more sense than this..
I think most, if not all fans know that singing such stuff misses the point entirely Tettenhall Wolf. We all got behind TC and Stale as a rule, so we will all rally around Saunders I’m sure, despite our understandable misgivings.
I’m actually pretty pleased with with the appointment, for the following reasons:
1. Didn’t Thelwell work with Saunders in the past? If so, this might just suggest a bit of structure and internal sustainability that we’ve been crying out for.
2. He might just be cut from the same kind of cloth as Morgan, personality wise at least. Sorry if that’s an insult Dean, but you get my gist. Ie, if he looks SM in the eye and says the squad is utter shit (which it is), Morgan might actually take notice.
3. It is decisive, suggesting that whether we want him or not, Morgan did want him. That counts for something.
I am looking at it as a positive, while retaining my belief that any appointment is largely insignificant to the workings – and countless false promises – of our owner and CEO.
Maybe they’ll speak at the press conference tomorrow. all the best Deano!!
C’mon Ben
Last seasons Champions league winning manager is sitting at home twiddling his thumbs and we hire this guy !!
And don’t say he wouldn’t come to Wolves because he went to that lot down the road when they were in the championship.
It smacks of no ambition at all on the part of the owners.
You yourself have quoted them above, about what their ambitions are for this club.
Some one really needs to get hold of them and ask them some serious questions about their motives.
Everything I say comes with the whopping great caveat in the shape of the blog Nige, so I’m with you.
As for the manager situation, i tweeted that its like getting excited about the BBC replacing a director general.
In the grand scheme of things, that’s my take on it all, and I want some questions answering more than anyone. Some of those quotes in my blog could do with being repeated as well.
I am posting purely as a reaction to the appointment itself, which, as I say, is virtually irrelevant to the intentions of Steve Morgan as a whole.
I have a hunch he’ll do ok, that’s all!
I would love to hear the full press conference whenever it is though.
I agree entirely, Ben. I’m happier with an appointment such as this than getting in some overpaid big time Charlie (I’m referring specifically to managers of Mark Hughes’ ilk).
It certainly is decisive and I don’t understand why some fans are annoyed that he appears to have been lined up prior to Solbakken’s departure. 10 months ago fans were moaning we hadn’t lined someone up before sacking Big Mick. Clearly this board will never do anything right in some fans’ eyes.
I noticed a comment somewhere about RDM and people saying he hasn’t been approached because of the Albion connection. It’s nonsense. He hasn’t been approached because he’ll be first choice for any Premiership manager’s job which comes up this season and he wouldn’t have come to us. Why would he? It’s not exactly an appealing proposition, now, is it?
I just hope we don’t waste the January transfer window for the second year in succession.
The Scandinavian experiment well and truly failed, but I think a large number of senior players should also be considering the parts they played in said failure. There’s no point going into who those players are because we all know who they are. And this “they wouldn’t play for the manager” rubbish does nothing for me. They’re wearing one of the most famous and easily recognisable shirts in football…if nothing else they should be playing for that.
Done deal then.
I can write the upcoming statements.
He ticks all the right boxes (means) he is cheap and wont argue.
Of course with the new team joining it was not possible to bring in any new players in the time available.
Interesting to hear Donc say they have a Plan B, we dont have a plan A
Wikipedia already showing Saunders as Wolves manager
`It’s the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you’re mad, then dangerous, then there’s a pause and then you can’t find anyone who disagrees with you.’ (Tony Benn)
This is how it will be with this appointment. C’mon me babbies!
Exclusive… video of the boardroom when Solbaken got the sack.
We need something to put a smile on our faces!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei7-pzNGU9I
Exclusive… video of the boardroom when Solbaken got the sack.
We need something to put a smile on our faces!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei7-pzNGU9I
If we wanted a manager to get us out of the Championship we may as well stuck with Mick. I fully bought into the long term plans which as long as SS was backed with the cash to make the changes required would have paid off in the long term.
Now Saunders – my heads gone!
according to Vital Doncaster saunders has got the job! he took them down last season, and this season has them in the top two? I think, I have heard he is Morgans personal friend, I have also heard off a mate who heard it on radio 5 live? that Jan Molby recommended Stale to Morgan over drinks in the liverpool old players lounge – is this were our club football is being done, how long before we become Wolverhampton Wanderers in association with Liverpool. F.C
I have been a staunch supporter of Jez and Steve – but no more, they are taking the club for a ride, funny that Stale was told he had the sack when he phoned Jez to discuss transfers over the next few day’s (Tim Nash on twitter) they couldn’t even have the decency to have him in and tell the guy to his face.
I still believe that given the chance and once the injuries cleared up has they are and with a few new players added Stale would have turned it around.
Ok losing to Luton didn’t help, but remember we lost to Chorley under Turner after he had only been in charge about three months was it, the club stuck by him and look were he took us, I belive the board have panicked and with the transfer window open knew that by sacking Stale by the time a new manager had assessed the squad it would be firmly closed!
Let’s hope Saunders can turn it around but with the mafia that is Mick’s old players he has a job on his hands.
Ah well onto Friday and three points!
Great news about the new acquisition and to see that we’re acting quickly in the Transfer Window. A Saunders – Cassidy strike force will definitely arrest our goal scoring problem. That’s what we’re talking about isn’t it?
Unlike Wolves this… Seems like this deal was done quite a while ago. Usually it’s played with a straight bat.
Nevertheless, it’s all a bit shit isn’t it?
If I’m correct, yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of when we dumped Newcastle out of the same cup 3 – 2. What a game that was…. Kennedy ghosting in to slot home etc…etc…etc….
10 years. Seems like a hundred.
This appointment makes no sense at all
His win % at Doncaster is only 39% in a lower league,
Solbakken was not far behind that in a league higher
Why cant someone in the media get hold of these 2 clowns and ask then some serious football questions. This club is slowly sliding further and further into abyss
Can’t see him getting the best of these players.
Most of them have won the championship and played in the premier league, they need someone who has achieved more than that in management its the only way the manager will earn respect.
How can they respect someone who has never managed at a higher level…?
How can they have any self respect when they lose most of the matches they play in. These are the dregs left after the talented players were sold – and plenty more with football brains were moved out, like David Jones and more.
Its Steve Morgan who should go ,he should try and sell the club asp.But he will not till he as rebuilt Wolverhwmpton’Why do people always blame Moxey when he has to go with morgan,s ways all the time
Maybe this is part of the sale…Saunders is very close to Graeme Souness…who if memory serves me well was heading a consortium to buy Wolves.
Please wait with gloom and doom talk, I’m sick of it. Let’s wait and see what kind of moves he does on the transfer market. And how the players we have fit into his philosophy. At least he’s done well taking Doncaster up to the 2nd place after a relegation. Just 25 percent of the relegated teams from premier since 1990′s have managed to secure promotion from championship. I really don’t know if the same goes for relegated teams from championship though, but it’s something.
Been confirmed by Sky Sports
http://m.skysports.com/football/yourclub/416?teamid=206
Well that’s this season down the shitter. What a farce. Just when you think it couldnt get anymore desperate. I know we are all guilty of ‘Wim a big club’ bias but jesus christ, is Saunders the best we could get? Cheap, cheap and cheap. Just a yes man. I thought Blackburn couldnt be topped for comedy value but at least they spend money on players.
The sooner this Morgan fucks off the better. Im sick of the sight of the man. Does he shit give a damn about Wolves. Here’s hoping the ‘spend no money to make the club look more attractive to other potential buyers’ rumour is true.
I used to be ok with giving the new manager a chance, but I am so blinded by rage at Messrs Morgan and Moxey right now that honestly I want this to blow up in Saunders face to spite Morgan. “This is not a job for a novice” – sound familiar?
What a total farce. And i haven’t even gotten to the spineless shit for brains players we ‘employ’ every Saturday. I feel sorry for Stale. Just once there was a glimmer of hope and change, but alas, like Morgans’ treasure chest, I’m now left more dark and empty than ever before.
I’m actually certain they are planning to invest in new players due to the time of the appointment. Smile and the sun smiles back to you :=)
Out of darkness cometh light
I hope you’re right! I’ve been certain of a few things myself with the Wolves but they’ve never been what I’ve wanted to be certain.
I agree Haywood
The only thing Morgan is good at is driving people away from Molineux
He is doing a great job at that and must have some building plans ready for when there is no one left
Good luck Dean Saunders.
Please drop Ward & Berra.
Hope u keep us up.
Wolves supporter for 50 years and its been a roller coaster.
To look back is like Orpheus in the underworld, so I shall look forward.
Think you could be a great appointment.
Surprised the job wasnt thrown open for at least a week to see who might be interested. Looks like another big gamble but this time one with less potential. As for the war chest and transfer incomes they will be used as an extra parachute for our sky diving leaders as ticket sales plummet.
Yep its skyfall time
Going to be years now before we are anything like ready to eat at the top table of the Premier league.
Maybe forever….
Looks like you lot might need directing to a page that is already calling for his head…FFS why write the guy off this early? Solbakken had a lot of hype about him but has failed/wasn’t given the time to succeed here (whatever your views are) so really we’ve NO way of knowing what Saunders will be like!
Just give him a chance!
While my comment above stands i will be there on friday and i will be backing Dean while i think there is at least a chance he can turn things round.
According to a Donny fan, DS is a long ball merchant, and according to him League One is about his level. Please let it not be true. SOD on the other hand was a much better manager, who preferred the continental style of play. Is this just another cheap option for the 2 clowns upstairs? Time will tell…..sigh.
It seems that Morgan had made up his mind to give Suanders the job anyway, but if S O’D prefers the continental style the players wouldn’t have wanted him would they.? Long ball all day for our bunch.
Still think though that Saunders will improve things considerably, the players will heave a sigh of relief and get on with playing their old style football with a bit more enthusiasm. Saunders did score the goal that beat Brazil 1-0 for Wales after all – isn’t that better than drawing with Barcelona ?
Ridiculous appointment . How does one man constantly manage to anger so many of us supporters when we are supposed to have the same interest at heart .
It wasn’t long ago that Moxey was sneering at Newcastle and West Brom for sacking managers and look at us now… that guy really is a PR disaster… also, I don’t get this idea that this is good timing2 to coincide with the January window… Saunders will not have time to assess the squad, draw up a shortlist of players and then sign then while the new head of recruitment has only been in the job a week. The sad thing is that maybe this would have been the perfect time for Solbakken to make the signings after having time to assess the squad during first half of the season, obviously now we will never know.
Excellent points.
Dan that would be far too sensible a solution for this board!! you will see my previous posts on SS.
We will back the new manager as its our Team who we pay to watch!!!!!!
Anyway there are too many players who have just bought themselves another 6 months of excuses! It will always be an attitude of “not my fault guv”.
We need someone who will stand up to these changing room bullies! Challenge their qualities, time to play or give the shirt to someone who wants to play. Put them on development plans. SS went as far as saying a number of players were shyte, and the board didnt see it!.
Anyway Thomas/ Ben as always thank you for keeping our interest in your always well written and informed blogs. keep up the great work.
Good luck Saunders! we’re behind you (how many times have i said that in the last year? …we’re not a sacking club…. we dont want to be a yo yo club….)
Come on me babbies!
Sh*t! Hope I’m proved wrong, but it’s how I feel now!
Just bad decision after another. . . . And another . . . . .and another ….
Though this may appear a somewhat underwhelming appointment, surely he must be better than TC and SS. Let’s hope it’s a case of third time lucky for Morgan, it really is time that we saw some entertaining football on a Saturday afternoon; I’m not particularly bothered now whether we make the playoffs or not, I just want to get behind a squad of guys who are proud to be playing in gold and black. I cannot even remember the last time we scored a goal in front of my new seat in the North bank, when was the last time that we weren’t out- chanted by the away fans?
I cannot understand those already suggesting a Friday night boycott, isn’t that a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face? Moxey has already had the money off most of us as the majority will be season ticket holders; empty seats will only make WW look like a poorly supported club which we all know is not true.
Its the only only way of showing those 2 idiots that their actions alone are slowly killing this club
Sorry but if you are excited enough by this appointment then carry on and go on Friday.
The prediction is more and more will walk away from this crap and only when the club stops making money will the 2 m’s suddenly find out how they have turned the club from a struggling premier league club to a club of no ambition and a bigger laughing stock
Empty seats on sky will speak louder than a thousand words to those 2 clowns
They are doing a Blackburn only making a better job of it than the Venkeys….
I have a hunch some calling for a boycott dont go anyway (so not sure how that works). Ultimately those that want to go will and those that dont wont (stating the bleedin obvious). One of the problems facing football now is a lot of young fans cant afford to go.
Watching the Football league show, all you see is stadiums with lots of empty seats. It is a shame that more young supporters cannot be allowed in to fill the seats as nothing beats the atmosphere of a full Molineux. Don’t think it would be noticed if there was a small boycott on Friday.
Good football fills seats its simple really
Fair play to you Nige i posted my reply to Ledbury before your comment went up it was not aimed at you.regards Colin.
For the record Colin Me and my 11 year old Daughter have not missed a game yet this year
Although it is becoming more difficult to get her to go along with the football that has been served up.
She even commented on Boxing day when I dragged her along how she could have stayed at home in the warm and had more fun on the xbox cos Wolves always win!!
I agree a small boycott will go un noticed which is why more people should stay away. Just for 1 game to show the 2 ronnies we have a voice.
the game is live on the box and you can go to the pub and watch it in the warm with cheaper beer than moxey gives you.
As for a full Molineux we saw that Saturday against Ipswich and the atmosphere was not good unless you were an Ipswich fan…
I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one, I’m going to take a lot more convincing that it would be beneficial to the club for me to boycott an activity that is such an integral part of being a Wolves supporter, that is, attending home matches.
Quite a lot of people knocking Dean Saunders CV as a manager…a few points I’d make:
1. On his limited managerial experience – looks like he’s been building steadily from the bottom up – specialist coach, coach, assistant, gaffer – and has been getting good quality formal qualifications and training alongside real work. He’s also been involved with clubs at all levels – international and all levels of the domestic game.
2. His experience of the game gained from his playing career is also pretty impressive…played in about four different countries over about 20 years as well as bags of international caps. Again, he played at different levels but was a class player at his peak. Should have a great network of contacts and seems to be a well-liked bloke who has earned respect and good will.
3. He also knows the midlands well with his club list including Villa, Forest and Derby. This is probably a minor point but is worth something as i think it can be a real bonus to understand your fan base…what the club means to them, what their working lives are like…
Also thought Geoff Thomas made a good point on Twitter to counter those knocking the type of football his teams have played, which was that the ability and strengths of players dictate the style of football you play (something that SS might have done well to think about to some extent)…good gaffer moulds what he’s got into a successful team. Looks like Deano had difficult start at Wrexham and Doncaster but left both having done this.
fantastic points and well made, rather than focusing on where it all went wrong we should turn our attention to how it can all go right.
a huge part of that is solidarity and support from the terraces.
we all have our part to play.
Think everyone should also watch this, Football Focus from yesterday, 17 mins onwards:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20912516
Seems like a nice enough bloke, and yes the enthusiasm will be a nice change, if nothing else. Funny how the world turns, though. I intensely disliked him when he played for Villa.
“Character is more important than talent”, he says. Karl Henry’s as safe as houses then!
Saunders problem is he inherits a squad with apparently neither talent nor character.
Like most of you, I reserve judgement on this appointment – as Ady says, “Time will tell” of course.
However the stories of the possible influence of ex-Liverpool players on the direction and decision-making of our club fills me with foreboding and quite frankly will only confirm the suspicions of a lot of posters that the owner and CEO truly do not have a clue.
Thankfully, there is still tens of thousands of us who will still always turn up, pay our money, shout at referees etc etc…………
Good luck Dean
UTW
Just a thought..
Why cant we have a CEO who likes like the CEO at Mansfield ????
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20921259
Don’t think I would care about the football then.
I would just buy a season ticket so I could look at her for 90 minutes !!!!!
Nige just given you a like for complete honesty.
This morning my nephew said he was embarrassed to wear his wolves shirt, I told him the only ones that should be are those currently playing in it. At the end of the day we all support wolverhampton wanderers fc, not morgan , moxey , saunders or the players currently letting everyone down , we will be here long after they have gone .
I’m finding it hard to understand where this appointment as come from but I’m going to get behind him and hopefully he can keep us up. These blogs show lots of different opinons but all show the same passion because we all care. lets give the chap a chance and if it all goes wrong then blame the real villan Steve Morgan he’s the one who should be embarrassed.
I’ve worn mine round brighton all day.
wanted to wear it to the pub on friday to show solidarity but my mates talked me out of it.
trying to convince myself this isn’t all my fault.
I shall be at the Blackburn game . Straight after my dad s funeral . One of my fondest memories was when he took me to the wolves to see the doog, Richards , phil Parkes
Mike bailey . Steve kind on frank Monroe Alan Sunderland etc.. Just as his dad had taken him when he was a boy . Life is shit sometimes
Many of us were first taken to the Wolves by loved relatives who loved the club. My grandad took me in the seventies and stood on the South bank. Even when he was waiting a hip operation could barely walk and the South bank was a battle ground he still went.
Condolences London Wolves, what days those were.
Like your family I will always love Wolves and support the new manager but M&M are making it difficult.
You are obviously a great support, i sense a win for your Dad.
Come on Deano
Should have given condolences too London Wolves puts things in perspective.
Thats tough London wolves, thoughts will be with you Friday man. Hopefully you will be able to smile for a while Friday . My memory of being handed the”centenary of wolves book” by my old man , which I read repeatedly growing up, and still sits proudly on his shelf at home will always stick with me.
Yes, will be thinking of you and yours.
I’m sending you a metaphorical (manly) hug London wolves loyal.
You and your dad, and your dad’s dad probably, represent what people like Moxey and Morgan can never understand – true fans who will stick by a club no matter how much owners try and bugger it up.
I shall raise a glass on Friday evening to all Wolves fans, past, present and hopefully to come.
Condolences London Wolves. From the now growing Geordie Wolves.
I hope our prayers bring you strength at such a difficult time.
In time honoured fashion Wolves fans always show fantastic respect for one of our own.
My earliest memories were of my Dad taking me along on those nights in the early 70s in EUFA cup!!!
Hence the romance…
Thinking of you and yours at a difficult time.
Solbakken has been miserably let down by his players, but it was inevitable that this would happen. The wolf ‘pack’ lost their leader, McCarthy, and they have not had the confidence or the imagination to play in a style completely alien to them, under a radically different manager. Ultimately the manager gets the sack for poor performance, but the ‘performers’ remain.
I wish the new manager well, but he and the team desperately need wholehearted support; I fear they won’t get it, because he was Morgan’s choice and they were McCarthy’s.
Get in Steve well said!!
Good luck Deano, here’s a tip to help you in your new job.
The first chance you get leg Moxey over on the stairs. I know it will make a mess but boy you’ve got
some mileage to cover before the window shuts.
Oh and get the safe key out of his pocket-know you will have to get close to pie-man, but
it’s your only chance of getting some cash to build a team.
Part of me agrees with a lot of others that this was a panic decision, that given another go in the transfer market SS could have turned things round.
However, having observed the posh surrender first hand, and heard accounts of each home game from my parents who hold season tickets, as well as following events here and elsewhere on the web it is easy to understand where this panic came from. It was the only option available other than boredom.
The Chuckle Brothers analogy of the 2 Ms works well for me: dangerous idiots trying their best. I don’t think they have dark ulterior motives, are trying to ransack our club or get us relegated, that would defy logic. I think they do mean well, but it’s the equivalent of giving a handful of privately educated toffs a country to run – they don’t come from that world so they make terrible decisions with tragic consequences for the everyday folk.
The tories (another depressing bunch of dangerous idiots – although those c****s clearly have some deep rooted ulterior motives) have given us the phrase Omnishambles, and it is a tragically fitting description of our last 18 months.
From failing to back or sack MM after the Blackburn game through to hiring a woefully inexperienced manager, the Ms have displayed utter incompetence, and as they are the custodians of our Wolves, we are the unfortunate and unwitting victims.
But, for now, they are in control and Mr Saunders is their choice.
He’s a likable guy, experienced far beyond any of our playing staff on their side of the touchline, and is well connected within the British game. Hopefully he can make a name for himself in the dugout, and take us along for the ride until something better presents itself, by which time we are back in the big league.
Stranger things have happened.
We owe it to ourselves and our club to get behind him.
One of my best mates is known to me as Taffy Boing, you can imagine how much fun he’s been having today. His best effort so far – “No surrender to the Welsh FA”. If it does all go tits up, at least there’s the prospect of a catchy chant to lighten the gloom…
I think that’s a fair comment about the owner – I disagree that M&M are trying to ‘milk’ the club, or run it into the ground in some evil way.
But they are certainly incompetent, and although SS didn’t really show much reason to keep his job, the biggest issues are, and have always been, the ownership.
I think it’s too early to say that Saunders is the wrong appointment – who is to say WHO is the right appointment? Every manager is a gamble, and no one knows how it will turn out.
Roy Hodgson was sacked, Mark Hughes was sacked, Roberto DiMatteo was sacked (twice recently), yet so many people seem to think they’d be great options. Every manager has to start somewhere, and I think we need to give him the rest of the season at least to prove himself.
At least, as Ben says, Morgan has acted decisively for once.
Now SHOW US THE MONEY (we know you have it) and invest in the right players, get rid of the dead wood to Ipswich, and I’d also like to see Morgan contacting Liverpool for some youngsters on loan!
I don’t really know how I feel, will back Saunders 100% . As I’ve already said it’ll be about investment . He is Morgan’s mate , so hopefully he will be able to cajole something more outta the man. But I feel fresh start , fresh hope.
Morgan is really toying with us now, isn’t he! This is just a game for him, isn’t it! He doesn’t care. Let’s face it, he wouldn’t experiment like this if he was appointing a manager for one of his businesses, would he? No, he would find the best, most qualified person he could to ensure his business would flourish. But not so with Wolves; he is just looking for the cheapest way to milk his club.
I had hoped after the sacking of Solbakken that he would show contrition for his errors, and show some ambition. But he has now confirmed he doesn’t care. One cheap experiment after the bloody other. He knows that Saunders isn’t going to ask to hire prem quality players, because he knows he won’t be able to manage them. He knows he will just hire a few low-championship players a la Doncaster and bide time till next summer.
I give up. I truly give up. If there is one thing I cannot stand in life is a lack of ambition. And that is what this club is riddled with. So many better options out there: Di Matteo, Curbishley, Coyle, Wilkins, Souness … but no, he chooses another nobody from freakin’ Doncaster.
So there we are … all hail the Donkey from Doncaster. And please, before you all start the “give him a chance” crap, just remember I told you from day 1 Solbakken was the wrong guy, and I am telling you from day 1, so is this one.
Speak to you all in 6 months!
So fed up. My only hope from today onwards is that someone else comes in to buy this club. Someone who cares. Robert Plant … please buy this football club, and save it!
“If there is one thing I cannot stand in life is a lack of ambition”
Looks like your ambition is to moan and whinge and make life as miserable as possible, so that when things go wrong you can say ‘I told you so’.
He may be underqualified, he may be Morgan’s man, but he is our manager and if this is the level of vitriol he is to face before he’s even done his first press conference then we are all fucked.
I’m looking forward to 6 months without hearing from you.
I’m sorry if I gave you the impression I was interested in your opinion.
You don’t really know anything about my life or my achievements so I cannot see how you are qualified to comment on them.
Of course you have the right to be wrong, because the fact is I told you so “before” things went wrong, not “after” as you point out.
Still, enjoy settling for mediocrity and second best.
robert plants Net worth is £ 80 million, including his houses, business interests capital etc… Wolves made “with showing lack of ambition” £ 9 million when in the premier league, thye are now in the Championship where they will make a loss. A decent centre forward in the premiership costs circa £ 20 m, defender circa £ 10 million ( we need two), left back £ 8 million, wages of these players in ambitious clubs will total circa £ 12 million per year. Guess what if this “ambition was followed”..A. it still wouldnt get us a squad as good as Swanseas for eample and B. There would be no gauratee of success. We may requoup £ 10 million getting rid of deadwood but next year our wage bill will still drive us into debt. Even to that level of spending there is a risk we dont get promoted QPR year one, or if we do we are relegated quickly afterwards. The chances of getting into the Champions league is zero so there is no chance of requoping the cash….
Therfore an alternative strategy is required, Im not saying the plan will work and I firmly belive Moxey to be totally incompetent and needs replacing with a decent CEO but anyone who thinks we can buy our way out and up is kidding themselves. Some small key investments with players who can grow with the odd marque signing for £ 7 million ish is all we will get for the foreseeable future, so then its down to the quality of the manager.. Good Luck Dean most of us will be behind you
This is a bit of a left field appointment (no pun intended), not sure why we have paid compensation for him and his backroom staff rather than look at some of the available candidates who have more experience. I’m looking forward to hearing the ‘official’ reasons in the press conference rather the unofficial ones of him having played for Liverpool and living in Cheshire.
Just watched the Lawrenson interview with Saunders on Football Focus and he definitely seems a positive, upbeat and likeable guy. He played at a good level so if he has got some tactical nous, maybe this could be a very good appointment.
The question is, of course, will he shift out the shit or just try to make the most of what we’ve got? If it’s the latter he’ll have to be a football genius.
Thanks for another excellent piece of writing Ben.
You and Thomas must be sick of the sight of The Wolves Blog right now.
I was having a lively discussion with the present Mrs DOOGooder this morning about the rights and wrongs of the appointment of Deån Saunders as manager.
She made a very valid point.
She said that he was a pretty good shout for managing a mid-table Championship side.
As that is the best we can probably hope for this season, it’s a sensible appointment.
And you never know, things might turn out better. All great managers have to start somewhere.
Although I am not entirely in agreement I can see her point and, having watched the Football Focus interview with Mark Lawrenson, he seems a sound enough bloke who isn’t going to take any shit from players (and hopefully fat people with gravy stains on their shirts).
I don’t think that his appointment has been made for the right reasons but it is just possible that it turns out to be the right appointment.
And because I support the Wolves I will support Deån until he gives me a damn good reason not to!
Where did it all go wrong?
SS had a pretty decent record in European competition so he must have had something going on for him. Roy H rated him so he can’t be a complete bozo. He was brought in with a long term plan in mind but was sacked within 6 months. He had his coaching team here for less time than that and had to work with TC for some time. He has been plagued by injuries so while his record was pretty poor there have been mitigating circumstances.
M&M wanted a complete change in style and agreed it would take time to accomplish. The present squad were unable, and I suggest unwilling, to adopt his style of play. Possibly they saw themselves eventually being shipped out as a result of their lack of ability. I think they have a lot to answer for. Stale was never going to be able to make the on field changes that he wanted with this group of players but he was never allowed to replace them. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?
The best players were sold in the summer and it was claimed it was too late in the window to replace them. SS obviously saw a weakness at centre back but the two he identified to strengthen that area didn’t arrive and maybe that was because of our wage structure. I’m not sure how SS was meant to change things if he wasn’t backed and given the money to bring in new players. January would have been the time to do this especially with O’h back and Pzesko nearing fitness.
I’m not suggesting SS should not have been sacked although I feel he should have been given longer – that is purely a personal opinion and I appreciate time was fast running out. I think the manner of his dismissal left a lot to be desired. Sadly it didn’t surprise me after the way Mick was snubbed when he turned up with Ipswich.
Deano – I wish him all the best – it goes without saying we all do. We are Wolves. If we win a couple it will be hailed as a great appointment and we’ll all have forgotten Staale. My gripe is once more with M&M and the whole way they have dealt with this. I had this feeling SS just might have been the man, given the time, and of course, the money. He wasn’t given either.
Just read Pat Murphy who said on 5 live
“”He did get Wrexham to play bright football on a shoestring budget”.
I think that might tell us all we need to know – as if we didn’t know already!
Not sure I can get enthusiastic about Dean Saunders. After all the harping on about a ‘change of culture’ and the rest of it, this seems like a retrograde step, and certainly not an advance from Mick’s reign. I am becoming increasingly worried about Morgan’s decisions as this seems to be one rooted in his Liverpool roots. I suspect that this season will be abject from here on in. Happy New Year!
Here’s an example of our new manager being able to think on his feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFgrW7LrQE
I remember when Stan Cullis was sacked.
You’d a thought the world as we knew it had just ended.
Much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
But, we had no say in the matter.
The powers that were made the decision, rightly or wrongly, and life went on.
So it will under the present circus bigtop.
What no one has mentioned in all the pro and anti Saunders blogs is that we have no say in the matter.
We can scream and shout on here, we can scream and shout at THe Mol, but it will make no difference. A decision has been made, a manager appointed, and no matter whether we agree or disagree, we cannot change that decision.
For once, I am not going to jump on either for or against bandwagon, and be a professional, as befits my company name…Clive The Fence Man.
Bottom line, for me, is results. I have always said I would much rather watch The Wolves win ugly than lose pretty.
For the rest of this season I dont care how we win, with dodgy handball or diving decisions, just win at all costs.
The record books never show the details, just the results, and that is what this new manager must be judged on.
If he does what we all want him to do, then I dont care if he’s related by birth to morgan or greasel!!
If he doesnt, then really we are no worse off, and we can all have another field day on the blog bitchin’ and moanin’ !!!
London Wolves…deepest sympathy for your loss.
Great post this Ben, as have been all the recent blogs by both yourself and Thomas.
I’m no expert, so rarely feel the place to start saying what is right and wrong when most of the people reading the blog will have far more informed opinions than mine. However, these are my few points, just to add another voice to the topic.
1. Stale seemed a genuinely good guy, an articulate manager the like of which you don’t see many of in the English game. However, the simple matter is that he just didn’t do the business and football is a results driven game. He had to go after that Luton result. Personally, I wish him well for the future (just not if he returns to Molineux, obviously).
2. Saunders is surely a cheap option, no matter what the compensation package was to Doncaster. However, that’s not his fault. I’d love to see him given plenty of support by the fans. He’s only taken one training session so far, never mind got a few games under his belt, so let’s get behind him until we’ve got reason to do otherwise.
3. Now we have got another guy in charge, I’d love to see him mix it up more than Stale did. Sure, we’ve had plenty of injury problems, but that doesn’t account for how rigid his system became, just as Mick’s had.
4. Hopefully we’ll see some new faces from within. I’m thinking primarily of Batth and Cassidy, two lads who have impressed in League One, but are on their way up rather than their way down. Let’s give them a chance. After all, they can’t do much worse than what they’ll be replacing.
5. I just hope Saunders doesn’t become either another yes man or a fall guy for Morgan and Moxey. Ultimately though, it’s hard to see him not being either until that pair sort themselves out. At the moment Wolves may be a well run business in that we are financially stable, but surely no football club can claim it is well run as a sporting establishment with the results having nose dived as they have. No matter what anyone says, fans will always judge the success of their team based on results on the pitch.
Colin … That’s why people like Morgan can hurt us … It’s our blood not his .
Only just read all your posts . Words fail me . Thank you … See you all on Friday
My condolences to you London wolves…
Seems like our failure to act decisively in the summer transfer window cost us bigtime. Nice to see that we’ve really jumped into the January window with both feet then…
“Where did it all go wrong?”
A very restrained blog Ben.
Don’t delete it because you might need to use it again before too long (adding points 7 and 8) !
As you allude – everything will be rosy until the next time ………..
Right on Clive it matters little what we say, the owner will do what the owner wants to do. It his train set. At the end of the day all fans can do is voice opinion and displeasure.
As i said the other day like the rest of us i am Wolves til I die, thats a given. Mr morgan has to give me a teram to support.
Deano is not my first choice, but as of right now he has my unswerving support and will continue to do so, until he no longer serves it. Deano is our man, maybe he is the next Fergie.
Our problem is someone with the purse has got to take notice of the man with the football brain. MOXEY and MORGAN take note and memo to self.
UTW Good Luck Deano manage how you plyed.