Under the glorious south coast sunshine, Wolves are finally swept out to sea.
When they wash-up in League One come August, I doubt little will have been salvaged from the wreckage.
As with all too many of the previous 45 voyages, these players were nothing more than passengers on a rusty, sinking ship.
Some will be pillaged. Others will gratefully hop onto the first available lifeboat destined for clear waters.
But Captain Morgan’s first order of business must be to quickly judge whether Dean Saunders is the man to sweep the decks.
Today’s confused selection did little to help his cause.
Elokobi, hasn’t played all season – straight back in.
O’Hara, hasn’t turned up all season – straight back in.
Hunt, the only man capable of lifting the team – dropped.
Robinson, the only player capable of tackling – dropped.
Whatever his reasons, this scatter-gun approach translates badly in the wake of yet another spineless team performance.
But for what it’s worth, I’d keep him.
Sacking managers has been the name of the game for the last 18 months. Backing one must surely be worth a try?
After all, Saunders has had four months to weigh up this sorry group of losers and knows all about their crippling deficiencies. He’ll happily wield the axe.
A new face will want time to assess and make judgments. Time that will simply be wasted.
Give Dean Saunders a chance I say. A proper chance.
Empower him to chop away the rotting wood and start afresh.
After riding the waves of unrest, what we need is some stability.
Because only a steady ship can allow plain sailing.
Sack em all, including Deano…
Morgan you better do something…
Dean Saunders should be given the chance to re-build.
He has already proven he can’t manage Wolves, so what’s the piont in keeping him, hoof football, clueless team selections like today.
Would normally agree with you mate but not today. Were relegated and hoof football will probably the only style that will get us back up next season. Having read Deano’s interview after the match he seems to know that there are serious problems with lots of the players and will get rid of the lot. We’ve been killed by the apathy of our highest profile players, I hope they are all very proud of themselves. When they look back on their careers will they admit to themselves they gave up and rolled over?
Shameful really, but I was over this relegation by February and am not in the slightest bit upset. Maybe in the long run getting rid of all the rotting carcases this club has carried for too long will be a good thing.
Please Moxey go now.
Morgan if you have to stay I can accept that but sack that fool please. He is killing our club with his bad decision making and we need someone who puts Football first now and forever. There is a Football team attached to you home building enterprise after all.
If we keep Deano and he gets us promoted then what?
Back to square one that’s what, he has had 20 something games to get Wolves out of trouble and failed miserably. Both Saunders and Moxey need to go with 80% of the players. Morgan now more than ever needs a Director of football.
Despite some baffling team selections again today I agree with Thomas. A new guy might be tempted to give some of them a chance when Saunders will simply clear out.
JOKE CLUB!
DESERVE RELEGATION
I’d back Saunders out of the door only because I carnt bear the sight and sound of him mumbling his nonsense.
We may be in league one I’m mean the first team but, hay we’ re in The Premier Acadamy League well done Jex Steve how much a year it that worth then £25,000’000, £30,000,000 no don’t tell me let me guess £40,000,000 now your really kidding £60,000,000 wow just think what players we can get for that money………………….what do you mean no money for being inThe Premier Acadamy League but Jez and Steve, Steve said that it’s vital to the clubs future……….oh ok so we’re not going to Old Trafford and Anfield then we’ve still got to go to Strewsbury and Walsall oh has someone told Jez, Steve and Dean ?
Get Martin O’Neil in. He would command respect, he has a point to prove.
Just got up after night shift and decided to read Express & Moxey I mean Star. Can I just say Martin Swain are you shagging Moxey because by the dribble I’ve just read in your colum it sounds like it quote ” Wolves need Moxey more than ever now” what a load of bollocks, need him I wouldn’t let him clean the showers. Apparently we need his negotiating skills yeah right ok who negotiated £42,000 for Johnson and O’Hara without further clause in case of another relegation. Swain your so far up Moxey, Morgan’s arses it’s hard to tell which one of you is putting out this dribble. What you AND the Express & Moxey I mean Star need to do is come of the fence and have the balls the question the owner and C O and ask the questions the fans want asked instead od pandering to M M in case the cut your freebies.
Unbelievable ” Wolves need Moxey more than ever ” sorry I just had to Blogg it again, UNBELEIVABLE, Swain
Thomas full credit and respect to you for having the decency to keep going…..
Shame we didnt push for this after Christmas instead of sacking SS. I think he will keep Downo as he will be ok in that league, but has show his ineptitude in the Championship.
As i keep saying, its time for a financial investigation into the” management of the supposedly well run club”. after all surely the primary objective would have been to retain championship status to challenge for the Premier!! But what do i know about business eh?
Before anything else happens Morgan and Moxey need to go. Until then we’re just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
As a manager Saunders is at his level in League 1, but he’s established he’s pretty-much clueless at Championship level so why keep him on?
Enjoy the summer everyone!
I don’t believe Saunders and company would have been relegated if he had been in charge the whole season with the opportunity to bring in the players he whould have bought. Every manager must have the right kind of players to match their tactics. The players we have now is brought in by 3 different managers. I don’t doubt Saunders abilities as a manager BUT it’s a pity that Solbakken couldn’t get enough time to finish his revolution at Molineux. The Truth is we wouldn’t have been relgated. Maybe it’s time to hire a director of football in the vein of Frank Arnesen. When big money is at stake and supporters are shouting “sack the manager” chairmen tend to pull the trigger a bit too fast. If I remember right Solbakken had over 32 percent wins which is ok statistical speaking.
Should give a shout-out to the 2000 fans there who supported the team through that garbage – and the Brighton fans too come to think of it!
“You stupid bastards, you let your fans down”
Yup, sums it up right there. I look forward to the clear-out…and maybe to a Wembley trip too…
I agree with you about his team selection today we needed to win and Saunders either didn’t play our best players or they were played out of position and that’s the crux for me regarding Sauders I don’t believe he’s the man to sort this mess out and for one major reason HE’S TO NICE and LIKABLE in the players eyes and in general what we need is someone with authority who going to lay the law down I’ve give you an example Johnson should never have played again after his drunken show at training and not just that his gestering to the fans not matter the provocation he’s rotton and he should have been shown the door that would have shown not just the players but Morgan to the manager meant bussiness . No he’s not the man for me I’d go for O’Neil he’s hurting at the minute and he’ ll have a point to prove.
And he been down there with Wycombe !
Dead right, a manager who will put the fear of god into them for under achieving.
If i was on that money – no chance of that – i was all left foot. I’d be the first and last from training and play my guts out like my life depended on it.
Back to the wine.
I can understand all these comments. We’re all hurting at the present time. I’m old enough to remember all those years ago when we very nearly went out of business. We got out of it then and we will this time. I think the future is bright.. I know we’re all impatient but time will heal the wounds and we’ll be a successful club again.
not sure what to think anymore Thomas….id probably stay with dean as weve gone through too many managers of late but that is the only reason. all I know is that we NEED a football man behind the scenes to decide on football matters . moxey is unable to stay but will be kept. if it is proven that ohara wound the fans up he should be pushed out. its a mess but if handled more professionally by mr morgan we can start the rebuild immediately…or drop another league probably
O’Hara should never have put a Wolves shirt on again after his petulant showing against Huddersfield. He was great when he came on loan but since then he signed he has done nothing except the odd assist. He has not scored all season even from an attacking midfield role and rarely tracks back. God knows why Saunders brought him back and hopefully some other mugs will come in for him and pay his inflated wages.
Say what you like about Henry but at least he puts the effort in and he is the first to admit he has had a poor season. Alas l think it is time for the likes of Ward, Henry and Doyle to move on. We have some really promising talent coming through as the Under 21’s have shown with their results and the emergence of Davis and Batth who should have been given their chances earlier ahead of the likes of Johnson and Henry.
Up front we need to recall Griffiths who is a natural goalscorer even though he says he would rather stay up at Hibs.
As for Saunders it looks like we will stick with him but like many others l worry about his tactics, team selections and ridiculous post match comments!
As gutted as we all are, Division 1 might do us some good in making a fresh start with some new faces and building confidence with a few wins.
I think we will bounce straight back next season even if DS does manage to keep his job. Getting back to the Premiership will no doubt take a little longer.
I agree it was a very strange team selection. I’ll keep an open mind on Saunders until he explains why Siggy and Hunt were warming the bench. However any business that has just dropped approx. 75 million quid in a 2 year period would immediately send their CEO packing and that is the minimum I expect from Wolves.
Moxey won’t be sacked because he knows too much and Morgan won’t want he to spill the beans unless Morgan gives him a massive pay off, I doubt that though Morgans to tight.
Three major problems have to be forcibly removed from the club, Moxey, Saunders and Johnson for us to stand a chance of going forward.
Once thats done appoint a manager with vision and who builds a team that plays football not hoof it. Appoint a Director of football who also has that vision. Morgan be happy to sit in the background and leave the decision making to those with the relevant experience (not a shit financial director!).
Once thats acheived begin building a new squad in line with new vision, let the dross go bring kids in if they are good enough and make key signings to both the coaching and playing staff to support the new philosophy.
Above all dont panic if at christmas things are looking ropey, Rome wasnt built in a day and Barca and Swansea took even longer!
In other words do what we should have done with Stale!
I listened to the match until half-time and then turned it off, I could not listen to it any more.
What happens next will be anyone’s guess. I have no idea and it seems those in charge at Molyneux have no idea.
One thing is certain is that there will be a lot of players leaving for pastures new – Doyle, O’Hara, Johnson, Sako, SEB, Hunt, Ward, Berra, Foley, Henry, Elokobi and one or two others.
What we will be left with are a group of promising youngsters. It is going to be very hard for them. What we need desperately is a leader on the pitch. we have nobody in the current squad that fits that description.
Saunders will probably stay, though it is interesting (slightly) that Doncaster have moved Bryan Flynn into the Director of football role, thus leaving the manager’s position open.
I was not too pleased when he was appointed and he has shown that he is not anywhere near competent at this level. If he went I would not miss him.
I don’t know what is going on at the club but I can only hope that this kick up the backside will result in a complete rethink and rebuild. We can only hope
Who knows, we may see the Phoenix rise from the flames……..Out of darkness cometh light (albeit a dim light at the moment)
I’m looking forward to the next season already. We’ve got two excellent keepers in Ikeme and Henessy and great prospects in Batth, Doherty, Sigurdarson, Sako and LEIGH GRIFFITHS (which I believe have the mentality and abilities required by Saunders. Maybe he could have kept us up if he had been given the chance) and with a whole pre-season I believe Doumbia has what it takes to succeed. These are the players for the future. And hopefully Ismail gets the chance to shine in the first team. The fundaments are already there to build on further.
Are Ikeme and Hennesey going to be fit again ? A broken hand is very serious and H hasn’t played for 12 months. He might be another Matt Murray.
Doherty is out of contract and with the need to cut costs…
Don’t leave out Mcalinden. He’s a goal machine.
Griffiths won’t come back to us…he is a boyhood Hibs supporter. Why would you leave the club you dreamt of playing for to play in the English 3rd Division! He wouldn’t play for us in the Championship!
Hope he stays far away from Wolverhampton! Him and his twitter antics
Went today and the fans were a credit to the club. Gallows humour aplenty, 2000 of us out sang 28000 of them, a record attendance for the fake a****n (you’ve never played us before…)
Just a word on o’hara. After another example of why he’s awful the chant came “40 grand, you’re having a laugh”. O’Hara ironically applauded the fans (sorry, customers) leading to chants of “Saunders, get him off’ and “10 men, we’d rather have 10 men”. Hunt changed things for us to little avail. A scuffle for Johnson ended up with “9 men, ‘
So onward and downward. As long as we keep singing I don’t care
A quick drop-by from me to wish you all at Wolves the best of luck next season – you don’t belong in League One and I have a feeling you will bounce straight back. A great club with a great tradition……and with great support. Your frustration today was plain to see and totally understandable from what I saw on the park, but you all conducted yourself with good grace and with fabulous humour which kept us in the blue and white stripes highly entertained. Hurry back guys, The Championship is the poorer for not having you around. Good luck, best wishes and, to maintain the theme here, bon voyage.
Thanks for your message of support. Good luck in the play-off’s and hope you get in the Prem.
Much appreciated good luck in the play offs your in good form can see you going alll the way.
Believe me it means a lot to us wolves fans that other supporters can see and feel our pain. We
Deserved to get relegated, we have been so poor over the last 18 months. Thanks for the words of sympathy and the best of luck in the play offs, I hope you achieve the dream, there is nothing like being
A premier league team.
I wouldn’t get too sympathetic. Were the shoe on the other foot, Wolves fans would sneer at a ‘little club’ like you (see Sleachy’s ‘fake a****n’ crack above) contemptuously compare histories, attendances, honours and the like, and happily declare that they’d never play you again. Their demotion will be beneficial to them as they’ll look forward to consistently using that phrase which has the terms ‘big fish’ and ‘small pond’ in it. They don’t do ‘noble’.
You might think we don’t do ‘noble’ but at least we do ‘loyal’ in huge doses…
Can’t say I’m surprised. Sacking Stale was a mistake – I remember wolvesblog and others hoping for automatic promotion at one point. Hopefully we can keep SEB, Hunt and Sako – at least Sako is in contract. Hopefully we can get a few decent players due to the parachute payments and with the (forlorn?) Promise of championship football next season.
What really galls me in scunthorps relegation, so I can’t even make it to that away game – I doubt I’ll be going to m(any) home games…
Good blog again Thomas, usually agree with everything you say but have to disagree today when discussing Saunders. Technically he is poor, there is no rhyme or reason to any of his decisions and his soundbites are lamentable. I feel he has been unfortunate to have such a bunch of wasters to pick from, however his IMPACT has been non existent. Danny Bath played 2 games when Johnson was out, he was MOM in one and scored and played well in the other. Hasn’t played since! Yet Johnson walked back in whilst still antagonising the fans. His lack of activity to change the system, players last week was shocking and he appears to see3 the bleeding obvious 20 minutes after everyone else. My call would be Owen Coyle and give him time and possibly a Director of football to eliminate Moxey doing anything other than the accounts!
Well that’s it down we go all what’s needed now is a good clear out of the players. Likewise with the top management. As they have proved they haven’t a clue how to manage a football club. Thank the Lord I haven’t renewed my season ticket. At the age I am 76 with the management at the top of the club. I can state now I will be dead and gone when the Wolves play premiership football again I am sad to say. The only hope now as I see it the owner sells the club a Moxey goes and we buy some footballers. Today my father is turning in his grave.
youll still be around greyrex !:) if not , I personally promise that I will come and dig you up and take you back to a premiership game at molineux..you may need to buy a ticket though as by then I wont be able to afford one ! UTW
You won’t be able to turn you back on The Wolves! The old gold n black. The club of Cullis, Wright, Broadbent, Mullen. Of Flowers, Knocker Knowles, Doog & Richards. What about Mike Barrel Chested Bailey, captain of “my” Wolves of the 70s = Munro, Hibbitt, oh what players! And Waggy the wizard on the wing – god bless him and hope he returns to the best of health. Then there’s the main man – the one and only – Steve Bull – from the mean streets of Tipton – whose goals graced Molineux and Wembley no less! Molineux, Molineux!! And before all them the Major and goal machine Westcott! These greats and many more have represented Wolves with pride, passion and respect. Remember Rae and Ince in midfield. Remember these great players and managers and forget this sorry lot who currently parade as “Wolves” players. They not fit to clean the streets around Molineux! They will be gone soon and good riddance. But you my friend are a fan and we are the ones who really make this club. For We are Wolves!!! Keep the faith – and anyway I don’t really need to tell you that because you have kept it long enough!!! Up the Wolves!!!!
Sorry but have to disagree with you Thomas. I posted this on the tail end of the last blog but it is probably more appropriate here.
Personally speaking I find Dean an embarrassment with his comments. If you saw his performance on “Final Score” you will understand where I am coming from. He sounded like TC – lost and out of his depth. He appears clueless with his tactics. His team selection today only served to reinforce that opinion. I really don’t think he is the man to rebuild the club and the last 20 odd matches have made that clear. This is two championship relegations in two years for Dean.
Like many others I was frustrated with some of the performances Wolves produced under Staale. It was frustrating at times but I accepted that you can’t change the world in six months and that many of the players he inherited just weren’t up top playing the style he wanted them to play. I was a little concerned by the way our second half performances fell away and felt that perhaps a little more emphasis needed to be put on fitness but overall it was the lack of effort from the players that was the most damning factor. With Staale I could see that he was trying to change things; he was trying to change a style that just didn’t cut it in the premiership into a style that would. That takes time and although we all got frustrated at times I think most of us felt there was a plan and when he brought in his own guys things would gradually improve.
I would like to say I can see hope under Dean but I simply can’t. We have reverted to the style that took us down from the premiership and has now taken us down from the championship. It is hoofball at its worst. Next year, if Dean has his way, we will pay Kaspar Gorkys £25k a week in the third division and he is no better than Berra. He’ll clatter a few strikers and bring cheers from the crowd but he can’t play it out of defence and set up attacks. This is the sort of player I fear we will bring in and is indicative of the sort of football we will end up playing.
I think under Dean we will continue to play hoofball. It MAY just get us out of the third division but I doubt it will get us any further. Morgan WAS right – we did need a complete change in style and in Staale he possibly appointed the right man BUT he didn’t back him financially and he didn’t give him time. Why the hell have we reverted to a style that has already failed us so dismally? Why has SM gone back to a style that he recognised needed changing?
I can’t remember feeling as depressed about Wolves as I feel now, looking forward to another season with Dean in charge. I can see it taking another two or three seasons just to get us back to where we were when we sacked Mick – a decision that I agreed with. Please Steve, let him go. If we were going to give anyone time it should have been Staale.
We need to get in a manager who knows what is required to get to and stay in, the premiership. We also need a DoF. We’ve all known this for some time.
Hear bloody Hear!!!
The plain fact is that, although a nice guy, Stale had just lost at Luton, and I was there at home to Ipswich, up there the worst with the worst I’ve seen us play. You can say he didn’t have time but for me we would still have gone down. Maybe some would prefer to let Stale build from the bottom than Saunders, but how many fans would not be screaming for his head if he had taken us down?
I don’t believe Stale would have taken us down, certainly not if he’s been allowed to get rid of a couple of players and bring in more like Sako and Sigurdarson. It was Johnson and co who let us down.
Hi Rich, I agree and made it clear that some of the stuff we played under Staale was awful. Personally I feel that was as much the fault of the players who could, or would, not adapt to the style he wanted to play.
Norwich lost to Luton but they didn’t sack Hughton. They are still in the prem and we are in division 3. I know where I would rather be. Sacking Staale was a knee jerk reaction with a transfer window coming up.
Yes, I would have been devastated if we had gone down under Staale and I would have moaned like hell on this blog. However, the difference is that I really do believe Staale had some sort of plan. He was brought in to change our style completely and having done this a strong chairman would have backed him for at least a couple of years. Support as regards time and money would have accelerated this process.
The style we play at the moment just doesn’t cut it. It has got us consecutive relegations for goodness sake. I fear we will continue with this style under Dean. I see NO silver lining.
The fact is that we don’t know if Staale would have taken us down but its a fact that Dean has. Not only do I think that Dean hasn’t got a plan – I don’t think he’s got a bl**dy clue. I can’t say I’m sure that Staale would have taken us where we wanted to go but I’m bl**dy certain Dean won’t.
Sacking Saunders is the easiest decision Morgan will ever have to make and yet I’m still not sure he will.
The guy is a bufoon. He talks constant rubbish to the media, makes awful tactical changes and makes awful team selections. Not to mention the way he cowardly dropped Danny Batth to bring in Roger fucking Johnson. He still wants to keep Gorkks too, amazing stuff.
We need to rip this club apart and start from scratch. Before even appointing a manager we need to create an identity, a philosophy and any new manager needs to agree to that or he isn’t the right person for us. Personally, I’d start with a young team trying to play an attractice style of football. Karl Robinson, Uwe Rosler, Davis at Crewe all decent enough candidates.
For goodness sake, even Donny fans were split on him and they were top of the league.
Spot on Louie.
I listened to Saunders speak at a dinner on the Thursday before the Burnley game. He actually said the words “I loved being a player but I don’t particularly like being a manager if I’m totally honest”
How can he motivate if he has that kind of attitude?
Nice and funny bloke (too nice) but for me wrong bloke.
Axactly your dead right he is to nice and the over paid McCarthyites know it, your spot on that’s what I blogged earlier in my response to Thomas. Dead right, These Are The Days !
I think Karl Robinson is a good call! Former player – done well at MK Dons. Wont take any sh!t from the rotten lot who dont give a damn! The problem is that it will not happen neither will DS being sacked – even though I hope to god he does get the boot. Morgan cannot afford to pay him off just like he was not keen on getting Griffiths back from HIbs cos that means he has to pay his wage! I heard Pat Murphy on 5 live saying Morgan’s got a lot of questions to answer. And he is right. What’s happenned over the past 18 months or so all smacks of something insidious going on behind the scenes. I’m afraid when Morgan spoke of his first meeting with Moxey where he was persuaded to “buy” Wolves, it was the start of a very unholy alliance.
Karl Robinson never played for us mate, it was Carl Robinson!
This is the problem, we lack an identity. We have an arrogant, smug and out of touch Moxey who has alienated the fans with his condescending comments and decisions throughout his time. His appointments at managerial level reaffirm the view he does not have a plan, he swings from Hoddle to McCarthy to Solbakken and then to Saunders, all extremes to the last manager and there is no strategy whatsoever. Moxey’s time at Wolves has culminated in failure and he has to go. We need to show humility, end the arrogant soundbites that have come through the club. Saunders has to go but Moxey needs to exit, he is a PR disaster.
How about Martin O’Neil as Director of Football anyone ?
Great idea but you’d have to catch him first.
He’d run a mile!
I’d rather have Graham Turner… if only Shrewsbury didn’t love him so much. It will be good to see him at Molineux again
Maybe he could be approached as director of football. ie Someone who knows the game and knows what he’s doing
Manager, Graham ” The Turnip Taylor ” for director he’s manage Wolves and knows what the fans expect and demand give all for the shirt and the fans will support you.
On top off baffling team selection today all Saunders has said about Wolves future is that he wants to keep Borkiss – sorry thats not enough for me goodbuy Deano.
Its not about sacking managers Thomas, its when you sack them. Saunders arrived because we were adrift of the play off positions (9 points) not faced with a relegation battle. He has proved to be a disaster. Tried to say at start of season on here that we desperately needed to replace our relegated squad, especially our captain Karl Henry who was not fit for purpose, along with several others. Plus all the shit he spouted week after week in the E&S but was never capable of backing it up. I have renewed my season ticket because I support Wolves and that will never change. Sure it all stems from Morgan but there are quite a few who should shoulder responsibility for our demise.
Spot on bemused wolf! It took both Solbakken and Saunders one evaluation period each where they gave all players a chance. In these periods we lost many points. As in the previous seasons we were haunted by injuries.
Armageddon approaches.
Dean says we need to do a brighton ….. so that’s go into administration and move the ground to Worcester then… thats about what Steve Morgan has worked towards since he bought the club.
Remember the players belong to one company and the ground and assets to another. Morgan can send one to the wall without the other.
He might even try and sell the ground to Coventry. Anyone for Covhampton City playing at Molineux in blue and gold halves !!!
You and Saunders are cut from the same cloth. You both spout absolute bollocks.
It was a joke. And you will need to get a sense of humour because the next 12 months are going to be very trying.
Last time we were here we dropped straight through again. Only 3 players made the first match in the third tier from the team that played in the last game in the 2nd tier. And we lost. By the end there was no one and we went down.
You ain’t seen nothing yet.
Regrettably I agree…I don’t think we have seen anything yet!
Rats deserting a sinking ship comes to mind!
He can’t sell the ground to anyone, as far as I’m aware the freehold is still owned by Wolverhampton City Council who have granted a long lease to the football (?) club.
quote from wikistadiums site :
Molineux Stadium is a football stadium situated on Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton which is owned and operated by Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
See attached link
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2…s-at-molineux/
The Council owns the freehold, WWFC has a 999 year lease, this is to ensure that the land is secured for football purposes (although on that basis and the events of the last couple of seasons the covenant has already been broken)!
I hope you are right mate. That is one thing I’d wish someone could 100% clear up. Exactly what damage can Morgan do to Wolves off the field? We already know what he can do on the field!!!
Martin is right. Morgan tried to buy it a few years ago and the council said no. There is also a restrictive covenant on the land which states the land can only be used as a football stadium.
The football club ie Wolves !986 Ltd is listed as a separate company to Wolverhampton Wanderers Properties Ltd which owns Molineux. Both companies are ultimately owned by Steve Morgan’s company Bridgemere. via a holding company Wolverhampton Wanderers Ltd The football club(1986Ltd) has posted total profits for the last 3 years of £ 31,213,000,whereas Wolves Properties posted total losses for the last 3 years of£18,540,000.Most of these losses were down to depreciation charges totalling £17,848,000. ie putting money aside to cover stadium redevelopment.As I have said previously I understand this means profits made by the football club will have been used to cover property costs. It is correct I believe that Wolverhampton Council have granted a 999 year lease on Molineux.But there is no reason why Steve Morgan could retain the property business and sell off (for a tenner or many tenners) the football side.That could put us in a Coventry type situation whereby the football club pays rental charges for the use of the ground.This is possible,I believe,but Steve Morgan has always indicated his commitment to both the football and property companies.
Correct Jack never owned the land either. Council hold the free hold and also stipulated that it be used for football purposes only.
Can’t move to Worcester. The ground at St George’s has seen it’s last game and Worcester City are playing at Kidderminster next year.
Wish we could move to kiddy. I could walk it !
I can’t see Moxey going – Morgan will be thinking “Who would ‘advise’ me then” ?
I also can’t see Saunders going (tho’ I wish to God he would) ‘cos he’d have to be paid off £750.000 and he has a track record of doing ok at Div III level.
I very much like the idea of Martin O’Neil as Director of Football. I’ve never really worked out why his sides were successful – there was nothing particularly distinctive about their styles – but at the moment I really don’t care. I simply want someone who understands the game to be involved in the decision-making process at Molineux.
Nothing really matters but the ability of the man to manage Wolves over a successful 3 to 5 year period . Nothing Dean Saunders has said or done shows he is good enough . We must have a fresh start snd rebuild this squad . A squad built from scratch by Saunders doesn’t bear thinking about . No way should he stay he is lightweight .
Thats what Stale was supposed to be doing but we panicked when we weren’t winning enough to get promotion.
Yes, exactly! And the sitting-back-football-strategy Solbakken stands for looks so silly compared to Saunders aggressive approach when losing. They looked very passive, not in the game at all. But the stats numbers are clear. Solbakkens approach was more efficient, even when he didnt have the players he wanted to his disposal.
Talking about Managers, Players and Tactics is I am afraid completely futile and a waste of time and breath, while Moxey is there. It is as simple as that.
In the land of the blind the one eyed man is King, Moxey wants to rule over mediocrity.
While he is there no ambitous manager will want the job or be considered. Does anyone think McCarthy (who I wanted fired as soon as we were promoted), Connor, Stale and know Dean has anyhting to do with running the club or bringing in players.
Moxey will not cede one inch of control to anyone. Morgan as presided over that.
As far as i am concerned if Moxey doesnt go, Morgan must. Until that change is made save your time and money.
I am not sure Curbs was the man but there is a reason why he walked in and straight back out.
Not one opportunity to strengthen us has been taken by Moxey. Ye I wanted Mad mick gone but not for clipboard.
Every opportunity or change made has weakened us.
The selection today was I believe hugely meaningful, dont risk anyone we can sell and might be wanted, put in a few who will be gratful to hang around next year and whatever you do dont win.
I honestly beleive they want us to be hugely thrilled and thankful when we perhaps get promoted next year. Its their plan, its their comfort zone.
The thing is do not be surprised if we struggle again next year with these clowns running us.
Agree totally couldn’t of put it better NY Wolfe. I
I would just like to point out that I won the Wolves Blog fantasy league 😀
That just shows us what a pessimist/realist you are! 🙂
Theres a story in the national media that Roger Johnson tried to give his shirt to a fan and the fan gave it him back ! I am worried the only way we will get rid of some of these players is to put a contract out on them.
Well done for getting this report out so quickly Thomas.
You certainly wrong footed me!
I’ve already posted this on the old blog but I feel so strongly that I am putting it on this one too.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I was listening to the BBC 5 Live Extra commentary and the first thing I felt as the final whistle went was a sense of relief that it was all over.
Closely followed by a huge wave of anger –
Anger at O’Hara running straight down the tunnel after the game (and hopefully out of our lives altogether)…
Anger at the way that Morgan has proved that he knows absolutely sod all about running a football club…
Anger at the whole team for playing virtually the whole season with no heart…
Anger at Henry’s comment “We’re too good to go down”…
Anger at the lack of team strengthening when it was obvious we weren’t up to it…
Anger at the fact that Moxey is still in a job…
Anger that ordinary, hard working employees at Wolves will probably be out of a job…
And anger at myself because I still bloody care!!!
Deån Saunders has spouted some pretty spurious rubbish since he was appointed manager, but he got one thing right when he said quite confidently:-
“We’ve got the squad to get out of this division”.
How right you were Deån!!
Cheers for that, remember the comment ” To good to go down” but not the moron who said it. Gob shite.
Saunders has proved twice that he is out of his depth at championship level. We need rid as soon as possible and we need to employ a manager not a comedian. I’m embarrassed by Saunders, his ridiculous quotes, lack of tactical nous and crazy selections. Thanks for nothing, goodbye!
I believe it matters very little who the manager is while Moxey still holds the purse strings. His natural inclination is to go for the cheapest option. With our financial muscle we should be able to cruise through League One but if Moxey is still there I feel we may struggle again.
Martin Swain described us a few days ago as a “deeply unhappy club”. Dead right – Moxey again I am afraid – with his contracts where some players’ wages were cut and others’ were not – a sure way not to have a team spirit.
Re Morgan’s statement tonight and the funds which will be available for new players. Are these the same funds which were in the war chest and the treasure chest we heard about previously and which amazingly disappeared when the manager tried to use part of them?
40+ years of supporting them and I enjoyed the 3rd and 4th division campaigns more than I have the last three.
The club is run like a business now and frankly the goods aren’t fit for purpose so why bother going ? Under this regime I shall find it hard to carry on and with three more stands to rebuild I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere soon.
There is something fundamentally askew at Wolves.
Until it is addressed then who the manager is, is irrelevant.
Will we keep Baath, Davis, Cassidy and Griffiths?
They are assets of more value than Ward, Foley, Elokobi (why did he play?), O Hara, Johnson, Henry et al…
We need a complete change.
A new owner, a new CEO and let them choose a new manager.
If we could get rid of Doyle, Ebanks, Henry, Ward, Berra, Johnson – then maybe we could afford holding on to Sako. I really hope so.
The biggest fallacy that I keep hearing is that players will leave.
Who is going to want any of this lot ?
And if the squad is already too large , how can we talk about bringing players in ?
Who is out of contract?
I think history tells us NOT to change the manager. We did that last time and it did not help.
Be interesting to know who people would like to keep and who they would like to go. Perhaps we could each pick 11 to stay and 11 to go and get a consensus.
I think we may have Moxey to thank for that – tying them up on long term contracts and ones that didn’t consider relegation to the Third Division.
just tried reading all this but i’m too drunk for it to make sense. came someone just sing it too me in chant form so i can catch up? ta
also, by the way, the copper who headed the ball was the best player in anything approaching old gold all afternoon.
DANNY BATTH’S FROM BRIERLY HILL, BRIERLY HILL, BRIERLY HILL
DANNY BATTH’S FROM BRIERLY HILL, FUCK OFF JOHNSON
Danny Batth has already won promotion from Div1 with Wednesday who wanted to keep him. But he wanted to come back and play for his home town club. He had to wait half a season for his chance gets Man of match scores a goal then gets dropped in favour of a loan move that had desperation and no future written all over it – and the welsh chuckle brother is so pleased he wants to make the situation permanent !
Ps i’ve got welsh heritage and love mid-wales (well quite like it anyway).
Pps most championship clubs make loan moves for strikers – yes that was another major cock up.
Saunders has to go and if Morgan had any bollocks so should the fat toad.
Saunders has been proved clueless at this level and blatantly dilusional in his assessment of matches. I do not trust him one bit to sort out the shit we now find ourselves in. I don’t want to watch hit and hope football, not even in league one.
We have the resources and youngsters to deliver an attractive and winning approach at league one level, but not with Saunders. Suggesting we keep the oaf that is Gorks fills me with despair – what young Danny Batth must think god only knows.
I don’t profess to know who the man for the job is, but it sure ain’t the clueless Welshman. Please, please, please get rid Mr Morgan.
Well what can i say…..a awful season which started off so promisingly has ended without as much as a whimper….i have watched OUR club for close on to 40 yrs and to see us slip into the lower reaches of the league today was heartbreaking.Morgan has failed to deliver on his promises and the players collectively failed to live up to their responsiblilties.We had a squad which should have been safe…should have been challenging for promotion….but whatever is coached into them in the week doesn`t transpire itself on to the pitch.I watched today as we played aimless balls into nowhere,2 mistakes cost 2 goals but overall we were poor,it seemed like we were afraid to take chances,afraid to move the ball around,it was a shambles.What is going through Deanos head baffles me,Elokobi at leftback,i thought i was seeing things,Dicko on the wing was a complete waste of time,no impact whatsoever,OHara playing the same passes everytime..and the petulant clap towards us when we reminded him of how much he earnt just showed that the time for him to go is now.I could go on but we all could, we all feel let down by the board and the players,they have to take the blame for this,we turn up and support them but they have to give something back and judging by today`s (and the season`s) effort they have given nothing…if they knew us they would know that if you put your heart and soul into it we will be behind them…too many couldn`t be arsed and that`s why we find ourselves back in League 1.
Saunders is not the answer I am afraid. He has proven already that he is tactically inept. He has to go.
However, first out of the door must be Johnson followed very quickly by O’hara. We have to find a passing circus that will take these two clowns off our hands. Neither should be allowed to wear our shirt again even if it means making them train with the academy and playing in the reserves if no one will take them off our hands.
A director of football is imperative. Forget Martin O’Neill he won’t come. If Morgan won’t sell then he has to get a football brain onto the board.
Well said Linden, probably wouldn’t stop at just those three.
The last time we were in the third division,we had a 50 goals a season striker,a young man with pace,strength,never say die belief and a hunger to score and then to score again.He went on to play for England. He was supported by an excellent foil with bags of pace who would run the channnels all day and scored 20 goals that season.These strikers were miles better than those that turned out for us this season. If we want to win promotion back to the Championship quickly,somebody somewhere needs to search high and wide,and be prepared to pay the money for two new strikers who are fit to wear the shirt and step into the shoes of Bull and Mutch, and before them Andy Gray,,John Richards, Derek Dougan and Ted Farmer.That is what we expect Steve Morgan.
I stood in the South bank at Brighton this afternoon about 1 hour before kick off listening to the Wolves starting line up, not believing what I was hearing. No Hunt, no Siggy, no Robinson, included in the team OHara, Elokobi (who I love, but not the last game of the season when being injured for the best part of it), Dicko and a far from fit Sako. So much for my hope of being relegated with all guns blazing, total inept team selection.
Being resigned to the fact of our drop before the game, I thought Deano might be the man to get us through league 1 next season due to his previous experience in that league. After todays game I think it may be better if Morgan gets rid, start with the right manager who is going to build us from scratch rather than inherit what ever Deano might put together.
Another thought to ponder on, the team next year will more than likely include three or four of our up and coming youngsters, do we really want these players being moulded by Saunders.
COME ON ME BABIES
“After todays game I think it may be better if Morgan gets rid, start with the right manager who is going to build us from scratch rather than inherit what ever Deano might put together”.
Absolutely spot on – get the right guy in NOW and it ain’t Deano. Having Dean for a season will only make the process of rebuilding much, much longer and waste money.
Well thank god that seasons over. Another poor performance when the stakes were so high. Dont know what to make of O’Hara today, he is a total waste of space and i hope to never see him in the old gold again.
On a brighter note, well done to Brighton and their supporters, they were superb today and i really hope they go up (im sure those who were at The Amex will agree).
Have a good summer everyone… WE ARE WOLVES!
My replies to some excellent but sad posts make it clear that Thomas you have got to be kidding in wanting Saunders to stay on! Please remember this is the guy who in reference to Burnley prior to last week’s game said words to the effect “it’s not as if we are playing Man U”!! I mean come on. Just the nonsense that comes out of his trap is reason enough to get rid. More than enough on here have commented on his lack of tactical nous and wierd team selections! He simply has to go. Great write up though in such trying circumstances. I thought I was gonna be OK with relegation – sort of resigned myself to it weeks ago. But the reality of it today has knocked me for 6! Gutted! FFS!!!
My predictions for the summer.
Morgan, moxey and Saunders to announce that the club has learnt lessons but we should be prepared for transition period. Promise appointment of director of football to assist dean (no appointment will be made)
Saunders and moxey to stay.
Clear out of talent sako siggurdson sold, Doherty, Batth and griffiths released. Some of the old guard go but majority stay as other teams not prepared to meet their fat Salarys.
No money spent despite fees raised. Club blame fans as reduced season ticket sales and gates mean we have to live with a new financial paradigm.
Couple of free transfers and loan signings made in window Saunders announces he’s happy.
Squad struggle to make the adjustment to league 1 after bright start we slip down the table. Cassidy, macalinden and reckord inexplicably loaned out to league 1 teams.
Saunders sacked in December after poor run leaves us well short of the play offs.
Club ‘struggle’ to appoint new manager until conveniently far enough into the jan transfer window that no new signings can be made.
I dare not go much further as everything I’ve predicted for last two seasons the muppets in charge have done even worse.
Agree with you sheffield wolf. Please get shot of saunders now. All those players who want to go,go! Do review, get coyle, flitcroft or o neil. Bit sad, but things may get worse yet!
Just 18 months ago, we were 3rd in Premier League after 3 games.
What a shambles we have become.
Owner, Board, Managerb& Players – hold your heads in shame.
The fans have backed you through all this and deserved much more.
Not going to over complicate this.
Fans chanted for Micks head… He was sacked! Now the same fans are blaming Morgan for sacking him….
Fans chanted for Stales head… He was sacked! Now it was the wrong thing to do and blame Morgan for sacking him!
Steve Bruce wanted the job all I heard from most Wolves fans was we don’t want that pile of s**t! Guess what all I hear now is what a bad decision not to hire him!
We all need to stop being so hypercritical and realise not only Morgan, Moxey have to take a lot of blame for where we are, but we also need to take some of it too.
Your right of course we fans have to take some of the blame but the majority lies with the two men at the top.
They were the ones who failed to appoint curbishley because they wouldn’t give him the assurances he wanted.
They were the ones who appointed a complete novice after saying it was a job that needed an experienced head.
They were the ones that said we weren’t a a selling club before proceeding to sell our three top assets leaving no time to sign replacements.
They were the ones who appointed stale saying they would back his choices to change the philosophy of the club before refusing to release the funds for his first choice defensive targets.
They were the ones that promised a director of football before refusing to sign one.
They were the ones that said stale would be given time before sacking him six months later.
They were the ones that authorised the release of our number one right back and the loan of one of our leading centre backs to our relegation rivals.
They were the ones that failed to appoint a true wolf and proponent of the possession football we were trying to adjust to in odrisscoll. Instead choosing to spend money we didn’t have for transfers on hiring a manager who’s cv amounts to 1 championship season one relegation.
They were the ones that fAiled to react to our deep problems instead loaning in players who offered nothing different from what we ready had.
Luke there is a lot in what you say but thats the social media i have learnt it comes with the territory. Fans can call it wrong aswell. It wasnt working under Mick and he refused to change it. He thought other premier league clubs would come for him and they didnt.
Ps You dont have to listen to the fans if your winning matches.
SheffieldWolf you are very right not just one bad decision from the top so many, they failed us big time! and please don’t think I’m trying to defend the two idiots at the top because after sacking Mick and appointing his assistant I don’t think ill ever trust them to run the club. But the fans need to realise that they also played there part in our demise by putting pressure on to sack our most successful manager of recent years!
On Dean Saunders he seems like a nice honest bloke and honestly looks likes hes hurting big time. What ever is decided on his future, if he stays or if we bring in a new manager lets just make sure as fans we get behind them not just for 2 months but for the long haul as I truly believe we need stability not this sack a manager every 6 months.
Nice to see the comments pouring in though shows we care about our club and lets just hope lessons have been learnt by all and we can once again we can be a force to be reckoned with.
We’ll never die, were keep the gold flag flying high!
Luke – it is very easy to blame the fans but we only reacted to situations caused entirely by very very bad ne ludicrous and irrational decisions made by Messers Moxey and Morgan. If they had come out and said lads it Bruce or TC and explained what went wrong with Curbs – we might have accepted Bruce. You cannot blame the fans for not wanting Bruce anyway! And there are/were lots of options out there that were not explored and should have been explored prior to sacking MM. Moxey and Morgan seem to not have heard of the term contingency plan. You are completely wrong to blame the fans…because…we are Wolves!!!
its the problem for all owners…the fans DO carry a lot of weight and of course the owners want to keep them onside..this is made worse thanks to the internet…there will never be a right decision made because some fans will always disagree or well all look back using hindsight to dissect the decisions. you would need skin 2ft thick to be an owner
I understand your point, but I can’t think of one good decision that Steve Morgan has made since he took over as chairman. And for that, he deserves our contempt.
Good point Luke but I feel that a strong Chairman would have made the right decision to start with and then had the courage of his conviction and stand by it. That didn’t happen with Staale.
I felt Mick had to go but not when he did – perhaps 9 months before. Mick was possibly the best guy to get us out of the Championship and back into the prem – I just don’t think he was the right guy to keep us there.
I also think there have been other, p*ss poor decisions by Morgan and Moxey which hamstrung Mick, Staale and if I’m honest Dean as well. Wage structure, length of contract, transfers and so on. Mick’s transfer record wasn’t great.
I moaned like fc*k about the performances under Staale at times but soon came to realise it was the players. Wouldn’t I like him back now – not many!! Sacking Staale for Dean was like getting Ken Dodd in to solve a mathematics problems Einstein was struggling with.
Wolves fans didn’t chant for mick out. We were dire and he needed to go and nothing to do with the fans. It was west brom fans chanting “one mick McCarthy” but you probably didn’t realise that did you.
Wolves fans did not chant for stale or mick out. To blame fans for the complete mismanagement is pathetic.
If Morgan had sacked McCarthy when most fans expected him to ie last game against Blackburn then we would no be going to League One. Morgan choose not to and to defend McCarthy even though it goes against the grain he never gave him the funds real funds he promised ” well never be in this situation again ” speech and oh yea the so called WAR chest if he did trust McCarthy with bigger funds as some people are putting up as a defence for Morgan then he should of sacked McCarthy the minute after the Blackburn game, no Morgan thought with a few quid McCarthy would carry on making a silk purse out of a pigs ear. The only thing the fans have tried to do is point out where the manager was going wrong, we’re the fans wrong in calling for TC head no we could see a million miles away would M and M listen yes but only as with MCarthy when it was to late. The only thing the fans are at fault for is following there hearts instead of there heads.
Should read didn’t surport McCarthy not did
Ive heard Pferdepferde has put a grand on Hull going straight back down so Bruce will be a gonner there.
Nah.. the odds were too short.
It’s obvious from all these posts that the overwhelming preference is for Saunders to go – see all the ‘likes’, and no likes for posts which suggest he should stay.
If Morgan has any sense he can see how poor Saunders has been. Many of the perverse team selections are dictated for commercial reasons, putting players in the shop window, or preserving their first team status, or saving money – all that down to Moxey ‘s way of running a football team. But Suanders took far too long to see what we all knew, and his tactics were rubbish, his interviews pathetic.
I think Morgan has been embarrassed by the foul up under his ‘control and he will make a lot of changes.
Don’t really have anything to add. But wanted to thank Thomas and Ben (and all the well thought out commenters) for a fantastic blog that has really helped keep the spirits up in the worst season I have every seen as a relatively young fan.
It’s nice to be reminded that we aren’t just supported by people who decided that our dugout was the perfect medium to show their displeasure.
Thanks again guys, keep up the good work and thank good it’s all over!
I always try to reflect a little after a game. I watched the palace amd posh games and also bits of the Hull v Cardiff and the last few minutes of Watford v Leeds and all those games you saw all the teams that played whether they won or lost give everything in effort and commitment. I also had reports from our game at Brighton and we were a beaten side before we kicked off, no commitment no pride, no surprise there, not been there all season. We need to get rid of the deadwood of most of our senior players. they would have got Sir Alex the sack.
Still not sure on the manager, I personally would give him the benefit of the doubt with a pre-season and new squad. The common concencus is Mr moxey has to go. I think he will fall on his own sword.Hoping a new director of football to be appointed. Most of our younger player have played at this level, so we will have something to build on. New chapter, new beginning. The fans that go next season will be the true fans. After the hurt and the humiliation dissapear, the taste of success will be even sweeter. Never gets boring supporting the Wolves. Finally congrats to everyone making this a great place to air our views.
Morgans recent relegation statement: http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/statement-from-steve-morgan-040513-808025.aspx#uyzijJqVqiDX6AJd.99
“One positive outcome of the season has been the emergence of some of the former Academy players into the First Team squad. It is the younger players who will play an essential part of the team going forward. These will be supplemented by recruiting new players for the challenge ahead. I confirm that funds will be made available for this purpose within the confines of the new Football League financial fair play restrictions.”
The league 1 financial rules has been mentioned by some forum members before.
When Morgan now guarantees funding, I’m afraid this actually means he is not allowed to spend big money, under the league one rules he refers to.
Can someone please shed more light on this – maybe it’s room for a separate blog topic on this crucial financial part?
Can’t even be bothered to read it – fed up with the sh*t that comes from the top. It’s time they learned to walk the walk.
The critical thing seems to be that you can only spend 60% of revenue on wages. Whether ‘parachute payments’ count as revenue or whether its limited to gate and TV income I don’t know. (A £16 million parachute payment goes a long way towards meeting a £25 million wage bill….)
I went over the top with O’hara yesterday Thomas grateful if you remove that one thanks.
I didn’t think it was over the top mate, I thought it was bang on,and you wrote what any half decent person was thinking anyway!
Can’t say I really felt anything when our relegation was finally confirmed. Awful mismanagement from the board and a dreadful squad of players have consigned us to League One football – and I have absolutely no intention of ‘gracing’ Molineux again until big changes are made. I’ll happily go to some of the away matches and stand side by side with supporters who deserve so much more. But Moxey and Morgan won’t be getting another penny from me for the foreseeable future. That many other supporters feel the same is a terrible indictment of how our club is being run.
Love the club, hate the board (and players).
Nice video of Brighton fans here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY9AfAxyp0E
Nice to get the blame for our relegation from a racist Scouser here https://twitter.com/MissDLloyd/status/330700012533198848
Nice to see Mark McGhee in Brighton town centre after the game.
Nothing else was nice.
Mr Morgan I have read your statement, three times to be exact!
How serious are you? Well it will be easy to guage in a very short time? I await your sacking of the CEO who has presided over the last 13 years boom and bust and now to this new low! You cannot expect us to take you serioulsy if you do not change a cancer that has grown inside our club since some fool bought him in the first place. How many more times do you have to hear Stoke fans say when he left it was the best day ever for their club? How many poor decisions have been made concerning players who should be playing for WWFC only to lose them over a few thousand pounds wages? Measure those few thousand against where we are now and the millions you have lost – the man is an accountant who is above his station – get rid or lose the fans forever.
We still dont know why Curbishley didn’t come – money by any chance?? Moxey goes if you really are serious Mr Morgan. The man is a liar and has no credibility on the terraces!
Secondly, most footballers are thick!! Can’t string a sentence together, spent their school days hoofing leather rather than educating themselves. So beloved brothers and sisters are you seriously expecting these shameful excuses for a Wolves team to bother about their performances – a few aside (and it is a few) they are brainless wasters who in the real world would be on minimum wage if employed at all. Shameful and Shameless – the defence are a joke and have been for countless years and nothing has been done about it! You build a football team from the back – always, no defence no successful football team!
I am as you can tell devastated – however do we roll over? No way! My 10 year old son was confronted by a Villa fan a few years back attempting to convert him to the Vile! He looked at this guy put his hand on his heart and answered quite simply “No way, I’m wanderers til I die” Have I ever been more proud? – the guy was speechless. The Milk has been spilt its time to show the world why we are one of the greatest clubs in existence – Over to you Mr Morgan!
Hear hear – excellent post, and well done to your kid as well!!
I feel like the bloke in the bar in The Fast Show – one minute I think DS just isn’t up to it, the next that we might as well stick with him and on balance, it’s just, but only just, the latter. And by the end of this post I’ll probably have changed!! I’d like to think of there being a good, hungry, game-changing manager out there in the wings, but we have no evidence that the ownership will have a clue about who an alternative appointment should be and things have turned out well for Doncaster ultimately, following a DS relegation and rebuilding.
As for the team – it has to be built around the youngsters who have not been given as much experience they merited and, in the case of Batth, prematurely put back on the bench. the experience needs to come from some wise, committed and battling players who know a bit about L1, as well as one or two from the present staff – e.g. Hennessey and/or Ikeme will have to show they are still up to it after injury before their value is re-established: Elokobi has a huge heart and came from L1; with the right balancing players, Henry and Ward could still do a job (hated though they are by many and arguably their time has come and gone, I’m not sure they have given up on us in the way others have); Hunt could terrorise L1 defences and shows the necessary passion. The big problem also will be that a clearout depends on other clubs wanting to buy, as so many others have pointed out.
We need a break from all this, but I expect a busy summer of scouring the blogs and back pages for crumbs of comfort. In the meantime, I have my hometown team, Stamford Town to support in the EvoStik South playoffs – a bit of solace! Saw them yesterday and got talking to another fan who also was a Wolves fan! You can guess the conversation that followed.
Thanks to all Wolves bloggers for bringing a bit of sanity!
Good points,
It is all about team work moralle and passion. I am mad at the players for sure but on the other hand they have had 4 Managers and umpteen tactics thrown at them. On top of that have watched management make bad decision after bad decision. I know they are over paid to play, but sometimes its more than the money.
We need some leadership from the top before we can expect a team to gel and have a core passion.
Not toally sure about Henry and Ward, but funnily enough I agree about Elokobi, not prem player but will run through walls for you.
Moxey must go though the team will never settle when they see Morgan reward failure.
I think you’ve truly hit the nail on the head with your last comment .
Rewarding failure will only breed more of the same thing . Let’s hope the next week or so will
give us something positive to chew on . My greatest fear right now is that nothing ,or little, will happen .
Credit to the players who came over to us at the end though . Even Roger Johnson wanted to give his shirt to the fans – sadly no takers – 🙂 …as for O’Hara …I hope the rumour of his move to QPR is true .
Forever the Wolves .
History tells us that Morgan lies, Greaseball spins and Beano makes it up, heaven help us.
Will these jokers come up with a workable plan? Never in a million years…clueless.
Problem: Morgan + Moxey + Saunders = Failure
Solution: If Morgan genuinely has the appetite to continue he must get rid of Moxey now and Saunders now.
If he does not have the appetite Morgan must sell.
We’re not talking Bad Luck or Referee Mistakes, we’re talking about a club in crisis.
Apologies + Burying heads in the sand until next season, or until Christmas, is NOT the solution.
Stale was not given a proper chance, Thomas. And he came to give the team a new style of play, a scheme, a system. This latest one here hearkens back to hoof ball …and he should be given a chance? If given it, he may succeed. He will succeed in League One probably, in the Championship possibly, and if he proves to be as good as MM there, he will even make it to the PL. Then what? Then relegation will follow……we know it all. This ‘style’ of play does not work in the PL. The record of three seasons of struggle there confirm it. ‘One for the future’ .We have had quite a number of players labelled that, and only one manager. M & M lost patience with him.
Totally agree, important point.
By giving Dean mandate to rebuild the team with new hoof-footballers, we will never survive in the Prem when we eventually get there in 3-5 years time under Dean.
We need to persuade SS to get back. His style is excellent towards first tier clubs. In Stale’s first year as a manager, he brought Hamkam from second to first tier, then finished fifth(!) in Norwegian Prem without player investments!!
Stale Solbakken Style should surely be given a new chance – that would have been really exiting. He can use 3rd tier to build momentum and spirit, perfecting his style, then do a double-relegation in reverse!!
I hope, still have a vague hope, that SS return and turn us around, cutting the deadwood and streamline our team..
The next few days are crucial to the future of Wolves because if Morgan is going to sack Saunders and/or Moxey he must do it then. Otherwise it is too late.
I can think of a dozen reasons to sack Saunders but only one to keep him – that he knows the players and that most of them are totally useless. That is the only advantage he has over a potential new manager.
I can think of a lot more than a dozen reasons to sack Moxey but not a single reason to keep him.
Moxey won’t fall on his own sword. who else would have him. Nor will he be got rid of. Can you imagine the compo!
Saunders seems to have no idea about tactics, selection and least of all motivation (except for the opposition). I cannot for the life of me see what attributes got him the job. Unfortunately, I fear we”re stuck with him until about christmas when the writings on the wall for the season.
gimme Alex Rae any day of the week.
just a statistic
Solbakken : 31 points from 78 40%
Saunders : 20 points from 60 33%
If solbakken had only performed as he had we would have got 4 more points and just stayed up.
If solbakken was sacked for his performance….. where does that leave Saunders ?
Also Saunders now has the worst win percentage since Sammy Chapman ( ignoring terry conner) who happens to be the manager who got us relegated from the third tier to the fourth tier.
And think of the injury problems Solbakken had.
It was the players deputation led by Henry to Moxey that led to Solbakkens sacking.Moxey and the senior players need to go as soon as possible, and a strong intelligent manager appointed.
P S. I am resigned after 60 years of supporting Wolves to not seeing them in the premier league in my lifetime
If this claim holds water and we have no vercacity of its truth, then Henry needs to to do some explaining to the fans!
Numb all over. I am sure you chaps saw this? I want to thank all for doing such a great job with this blog. I am sincerely grateful to all.
Happier times ahead I hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://footballblog.co.uk/wolves-dont-manager-skip.html
Weve won something – Leigh Griffiths annouced young Scottish player of the year.
But was not good enough to find a place in a Wolves team relegated from 2nd tier.
If we had no intentions of using him sell him.
Sacking the manager has not been the only game played over the past 18 months. The other game played over the past 18 months has been “appoint a loser”. The problem is that one leads to another. So I’m afraid the answer is once again obvious: Saunders needs to go and the game then to change by appointing a winner and keeping him. Bigger problem now is though that nobody will touch us. Who and why will anyone with any class want to come to a 3rd division, pitiful club? So we are probably stuck with Saunders or at least stuck in the game of appointing the next loser.
To anyone with the grand illusions that this is just a temporary set back, think again. We are here to stay for a long time. The people who are in a position to fix this could have done so very easily if they wanted to on many occasions by now, but they haven’t so there is no reason they can do it next year. Problems are indemic. Incompetence, greed and arrogance. There will be no joy at this club until an ambitious investor with real passion for this club takes over.
Other teams like the Brightons, Cardiff, Hull & Watford are leaving us in their wake. Wolves seem outdated somehow, the neanderthal style of football, the quarter finished ground with no video screen for fans to see playbacks. Even Blues have got that.
Mr Morgan certainly needs to do something, I really thought Saunders would be good for the club & sort out the winless wonders, but if anything they’re worse now than ever!
I think stability is needed in the football manager, but Saunders does seem to have made a hash of it, it says something that the fans have never sung his name. The only thing you could say in mitigation is that he had two key players out, SEB & Davis, who were starting to make us tick.
But Mr Morgan cannot appoint someone new on a whim or through an ex scouse player. He has to get a good man in & then crucially back him all the way to make this club 21st century friendly. I’d go for Owen Coyle, he’s had more success than failure & his style of football is several leagues ahead of our hoof ball.
We have been a very poor side this season & its been gruesome to watch. Wenger entrusted Coyle with Jack Wilshire on loan, he’s also got promotions, & kept Bolton in the Prem, albeit just for one season. However in the current money driven environment there are going to be more Managers with failure on their CV.
It said it all before the Brighton game two fans with clowns outfits on with Morgan & Moxey facemasks, then a loud chant of Johnson’s a wanker, & he can f**k off cos Danny Batth’s a local lad who gives a s**t about the club. A laughing stock within & outside the club.
Can we move on from this deep malaise? Its a big ask, but it should not of happened anyway, just incompetent choices have been made by an owner who is either very clever & using the club for his own gains or just naive & poorly advised.
I just want to see us bloody win & play well again, how jealous was I of those happy Brighton fans in the train to Falmer.
I share the pain.
The club more than ever needs a strong, focused leader now, capable of executing to an ambitious vision. Alas, we haven’t got one. We have a hot-head instead, incapable of making a sinlge sound decision, who has brought nothing but shame and disgrace to this football club, and who appointed a cheap clown as football manager with the unprecendented credentials of two successive relegations on his resume.
All I can say is let’s just hope we won’t be down again next year, because with the current trio at the top, I see very little that gives me hope of change.
Cheers mate I’m sure there’s many out there now sharing the pain! There just does’nt seem anything to shout about as far as Wolves are concerned at the moment.
Best just let them get on with it & remain oblivious until the new season, league 1 it still rankles!
Although there’s almost universal support amongst Wolves fans for a change of Manager & CEO, I’ll be mighty suprised if anything is changed. Saunders has only done 4 months so he won’t change him. Moxey seems immovable.
For me, Morgan must sack Moxey and Saunders in the next seven days, or I will have no hope for Wolves.
Totally 100% agree…
The general consensus of fans on here and the E&S website is that Saunders has to go. While Morgan has made no comment on Dean’s future the man himself is continually talking about next season and how he will do this and do that and make the club great again. This makes me feel pretty certain that Dean has already been told he is here for next year. I hope I’m wrong but the fact that SM has yet to say anything makes me feel that this is the scenario – if he was going to be sacked he would have been after the Brighton match – wouldn’t he? Let’s face it, the writing has been on the wall ever since he was appointed.
Sh*t, we sacked Mick at the wrong time, made a mistake in appointing TC, made a mistake in sacking Solbakken and a mistake in appointing Dean. Now I think all those errors of judgement are being compounded by allowing Dean to stay on.
Please, please let me be wrong.
I hope your wrong too, if Saunders stays as well as Poxey what does that say about Morgan.
Rewarding failure after this last season is a joke, and personally I don’t believe anything Morgan says anymore, he is a pathological liar…
No. Morgan did not make a mistake sacking Solbakken. As certain as tomorrow’s Tuesday he would have talen us down only sooner. It’s the only decision Morgan has got right in two years. But then he appointed Saunders. Oh dear…..
A pitifull statement from Morgan not a hint of change at the top or the manager. Blames players and injuries the players he has a right too injuries every team has injuries other clubs have managed. The so called established players have been allowed to get away with bad performances for far to long it started with McCarthy then T C to be fair to Stale he tried to instill some dicapline but was undermined by the McCarthyites and tried to develope and different style but senior players resisted and eventually got him the sack. While Dean has tried the ” I’m one of you really I don’t really like being a manager I much preffered playing ” that hasn’t worked either. His picture in the Express & Star says it all for me he looks like he trying not to laugh, shows no sign of emotion at all and that speaks volumes to me. He has to sell up in my eyes I would not believe him or Moxey to tell me the time, never mind instigated a revival of our football club. What we need know is honest answers some inspiration from or owner but sadly I carnt see it forthcoming.
Steve Morgan: Even more inept at runnning an English football club than a bunch of Indian chicken farmers. That’s the nicest thing I can think to say about him.
Its real simple.
Morgan carries the can, it is his show he and he alone is responsible for what is now Wolves.
Moxey is the real problem bad decision after bad decision and to me it is quite obvious Managers are expected to manage under his direction and rules. All is well until they start wanting to take some action and argue their case. Nothing will change for the better while he is there. He must leave. We cannot afford him.
I seriously doubt Saunders is the man to lead us to the promised land, but I am afraid for us to fire him becasue every new choice is worse than the last.
I wanted Mick gone but expected we would improve not promote TC.
Morgan must know he has to rebuild and Moxey is not the man to oversee it.
Until he goes any other comment is futile.
I will be castigated and black balled for my next comment, but am hoping it will sting someone into action. The shit up the road are a better club all round than we are at the moment, they are well run, managed have an owner who has a plan and is working to it. We are no longer rivals to them. Mr Morgan please note!
People get sacked when they underperform or dont follow the board of directors strategy. If moxey and saunders are not sacked, as they have underperformed, then the board of directors must be happy with them. Therefore, it is the board of directors at fault.
Theoretically correct, but in reality our Owner & Chairmen calls the shots. He has either approved or made every major decision and appointmnet. He and he alone is ultimately responsible for the quality of the product he has delivered these past years.
He has chosen to let Moxey run the club and has acted upon his flawed advice. Moxey must go as a result of his complete failure to deliver added to that surely we simply can no longer afford a man of his “calibre”.
Personally Saunders should also go, but until Moxey goes i dont think it matters. So far everytime we fire a manager we replace with a cheaper less competent guy. Unless Morgan is prepared to go for some proven capability or genuine young talent might as well keep him.
Problem is that apart from our manager (whoever he maybe) there is no other footbal nous in the club so he is simply a voice in the wilderness.
By the way Wolves4ever I do agree, but most of our board are just appointed muppets.
David Maybrick: Then say Mr. Morgan was wrong in appointing Solbakken, not right in dismissing him. Three transfer windows to put a team together, that was the understanding. But Mr. Morgan betrayed his trust in him. Even with relegation, the team would be some way there and shaping up into what Stale had in mind. Starting afresh with another manager shows impatience, besides being, to my mind, very ungentlemanly. Of course, the relevance of all this fades if the assertion of a ‘mutiny’ lead by Henry is true.
theories ideas and anger…. the truth is that none of us has a clue as to what will happen now or any time soon. so till we have any confirmed news of comings or goings its worthless trying to pre guess mr morgan
Well Morgan now you’ve relegated us for the second time in a row and a laughing stock of the whole football league,What are you going to do now,will you walk away or will you stay and redeem your self to the fans you so badly let down.
If you do decide to stay the first thing you MUST do is get rid of Moxey because he’s been the cancer thats been eating away at our club for far to long, and its about time he’s cut adrift for ever from our club.
The next thing he should do is show deano the door the job and the club is to big for him,he had his chance and he blew it,
its no good saying that he hasn’t got his team yet he’s had plenty of opportunities to change the team he inherited by playing the waster’s and leaving out the player’s who wanted to play for the shirt,hindsight is a beautiful thing…
Hopefully he gets someone like a Director of football in ASAP to oversee the new management appointment of our beloved club with the nous to sort out the dregs we’re left with ie the high earners contracts that need to be despensed with.UTW.
Absolutely agree about Morgan must get rid of Moxey and Saunders, but if I had to keep one it would be Saunders not that I want to mind…
As for the director of football that will never happen until Moxey goes, because he knows if he allows that, his position is less powerful, which means less of a big fat bonus for him.
Morgan I still don’t trust, but Moxey is nothing more than a parasitic scum bag.
How he can he justify his wages is beyond me, Morgan don’t you realise he’s making you like an idiot the longer he stays here the bigger idiot Morgan you become.
In some sick way I respect Moxey, after all I wouldn’t have the balls to demand that sort of wage and fat bonus after the last two seasons of abject failure he has overseen.
If Morgan can’t see that Moxey is the disease, then Wolves are going to be in League 1 or worse for a very long time.
One last message to you Mr Morgan, please listen to the fans, do the right thing and get rid of Moxey, and Saunders.
Don’t bullshit the fans anymore, you don’t deserve them, and you owe them more than that flimsy apology in the Bullshit and Star. Try talking to the fans face to face for a change, listen to what Mel Eves has to say, his piece in the Sunday Mercury was 100% spot on, treat our former players with some respect.
It’s criminal that we are where we are…
League 1 I still can’t believe it…
100% agreed.
It is Mr Morgans “Train Set” to do with what he wants.
Nothing we specualte will change anything.
If Mr Moxey is still there this Summer expect more of the same.
Saunders has rightly said the club is in a mess partly because of the differing groups of players now at the club (McCarhty’s old guard,the young players that have been kept on the sidelines,Solbakkens players and now Deanos loan players). These now need to be honed down into a more distinct group with a new identity.
What worries me is despite what Deano has said he is also talking about his own targets – will these reflect his lower league links and Wolves diminished status ? Will they be older players who know ‘ what Lge 1 is all about ‘ ?
Please God no.
Can stop worrying about that one.
May 15th 2012 – “Wolves to appoint a director of football”
Dec 8th 2012 – “Chairman Steve Morgan said after Solbakken’s appointment in May that a sporting director was being sought and interviews were planned.
Chief executive Jez Moxey shelved it soon afterwards, but stressed the idea is still in the background.
“It’s on many clubs’ agendas,” he said. “The reason it was put on hold is that we didn’t want too many moving parts in the summer.
“Mick McCarthy had gone and a lot of the heart of the club was changing. We didn’t want to change too much too soon. Let’s get him (Stale) in place first and cement the relationships.
“I won’t get drawn on who, when and how.”
Moxey stressed the eventual appointment may not be a Briton. “Don’t get too hung up on that, it’s more about who can do the job and does the personality fit with the Wolves culture?” he added.”
In my opinion the failure to appoint a Director of Football was probably the biggest mistake made at Wolves last year.
I truly hope that Morgan & Moxey see that this requirement is of immense importance. Running a business you need to have the correct people who have the experience to advise what/where/when and who.
What worries me is they may just keep blundering on in a sort of Mr Blobby style disasters.
Saunders has been given the sack.
http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-070513-810085.aspx
One down – one to go!
Moxey won’t be sacked. I can guarantee it. This is morgan we’re talking about…
The most important thing is to get an experienced, strong willed manager in who’ll stand up to them both on footballing matters and take no crap.
Whether they’d appoint anyone like that remains to be seen. Hopefully relegation will have served them both a bit of humble pie.
Saunders sacked.
OK,, Saunders going is probably the right thing. His team or not lumping balls upto Doyle aiming to win the knock downs probably revealed his true tactical genius… but how the hell has the fat man survived. No company in the world would put up with such an abject failure… This parasite should do the honourable thing and make way for a CEO with a feel for football..while he is there the club will never progress
sack the fat man for a brighter future
So Morgan and Moxey find their fall guy again.
In curing the ills we’ve now tried manager sacking 4 times and it ain’t got better. Could we try something else… anything else please.
And now the squad are all safe again because the new manager won’t know who to keep and who to sell/offload.
So now Moxey decides who goes purely on a financial basis. So thats all the saleable people in the squad who can play football – Batth;Sako; Doherty;Doumbia; SEB. Leaving all the people who can’t
As for saunders hoof and hope style….just exactly what kind of football do you think is played in the third tier ? Try the solbakken way and you’ll get killed.
Having said that, the one way the club could gain some credibility would be to admit that the solbakken move was wrong and ask him to come back.
Summed up a lot of my feelings pretty succinctly there.
This is my biggest fear. Dean had had some time to root out who were the bad eggs in the club and I believe was making preparations to purge the squad.
Now they’ve all got clean slates again.
Since Saturday I’ve been checking BBC Sports website from time to time hoping to learn that Moxey had, at last, gone.
I was astonished not only by Saunders’ appointment but even more astonished by the crazy decision to appoint him (as a player he averaged about 18 to 20 months per club before moving on) and who had never struck me as serious upper divisions’ management material.
Doubtless, nice little earner for <4 months "work". Will be interesting to learn (once the cheque is banked) exactly what he thought of his short chapter.
Am I the only one to feel concern that the less-than-dynamic Duo truly believe that a change of manager, alone, will be just the tonic the club needs ??
Morgan is the owner and is unlikely to walk away, if only because his investment is now almost worthless.
Another manager has gone, but Moxey survives.
Always remember that a fish rots from the head.
The Realist