The 25-man squad rule comes into play in the forthcoming 2010/2011 season and I’m starting to wonder who in the Wolves setup won’t make the cut.
The homegrown palaver isn’t an issue for us, so it simply comes down to a straight scrap in order to determine which players are good enough and which aren’t.
I’m sure we all have our opinions on who will and who won’t be included, but from what we currently have on the books, I’d make an educated guess that our 25 might be (as it stands):
- Hahnemann
- Murray
- Hennessy
- Zubar
- Foley
- Craddock
- Berra
- Mouyokolo
- Stearman
- van Damme
- Elokobi
- Ward
- Kightly
- Hunt
- Jarvis
- Mujangi Bia
- Guedioura
- Henry
- Jones
- Milijas
- Edwards
- Doyle
- Fletcher
- Ebanks-Blake
- Vokes
That would leave Ikeme, Halford, Keogh, Hill and The Hoff on the outside looking in. No great surprises there I’d say, as I can imagine all five of those players being moved on before the start of the new campaign.
Ward and Elokobi might be looking over their shoulders too, particularly with van Damme on board. Do we really need both of them now? I’d say no, but given that Mick selected these two players in his starting 11 regularly last season, it’s hard to believe they won’t even make a 25.
One thing’s for sure though, should Wolves draft in one or two new faces, things will really get interesting.
For example, if Mancienne returns, would that spell the end for someone like Richard Stearman or even Dave Edwards?
Or if another striker is brought in, does that mean Sam Vokes will be off, either on loan or permanently?
I’ll be watching developments both in and out of Molineux with particular interest over the coming weeks and months, and so should you.
We could be in for one or two big surprises.
Neither Sam Vokes nor Mujangi-Bia will be in the squad as both are young enough to avoid inclusion yet still be allowed to play.
Ah, interesting. I suppose that explains why we kept Bia.
Had he been deemed part of the squad I’m guessing he would have gone back.
So in other words, it’s pretty pointless. Teams will still have huge squads, just full of youngsters.
Rich – doesn’t that make it the point – encourage teams to develop young players rather than buying and warehousing the best in the world?
But if you look at our players who are in danger of not making the squad – Halford, Hill, Keogh, Hoff – and consider we’ve bought in five new players, nothing has changed
I don’t think we were the target fo the rule – we don’t have a huge squad – and the only way to get one is to develop academy players/buy 18 year olds
Yeah I think U21s are additional to the 25.
Regarding Goalkeepers, is Murray’s contract up or does he have another year? I guess any one of him, Ikeme or Hennessey (£3m to L’pool?) could be out the door.
I’d be disappointed to see Stearman & Milijas go because I still think they have something to offer but if they start getting left out the 18 in August then I can see them moving before the window shuts, both for personal reasons and due to Moxey seeing £ signs and pressuring MM (probably get £2m for each of them).
Generally though it’s a well-balanced squad now with multiple players in each position.
Surely Milijas won’t be sold. Even if he can’t get in the team, what an option to have on the bench.
My old man always points out our best run last season was 3 wins in 4 against Bolton, Spurs and Burnley, where Nenad was pivotal.
Hard to argue with that.
Consistency is a problem of course.
Yeah i would be loathe to lose the Milijas option but I don’t think we can take it as guaranteed that he is here beyond, say, January.
The Fletcher & Doyle partnership will surely be given every chance which means 4-4-2 and limited chances for midfielders? Henry is a given, at least one of Hunt/Jarvis/Kightly, possibly two.. plus not convinced Milijas will be ahead of Jones, Guedioura, new signing (?) in the queue.. I fear, even Edwards to be honest!
Hope he stays cos like you say he is a great option from bench. Encouraging that Mick mentioned he’d spoken to Nenad whilst in South Africa anyway. Not given up on him yet it seems..
I’m pretty sure Milijas is staying. The problem is i don’t think he cares enough, and i think Mick knows that too, which is why Edwards may get in ahead of him. But he also knows he can throw him in to add that bit of quality
P.S. I don’t think Moxey does any pressuring. Mick’s not the type to accept it, he’d be out the door
I think that Milijas will come in to his own this season. The difference in his game from July to January was amazing, started sticking a foot in, picking up fouls, tracking runs etc. He had a very different role with Red Star Belgrade (from what I can ascertain) and he’s almost had to learn an entirely new role. If he’s done that then he’ll be a really valuable player, as Thomas’ old man points out – can be the difference in close games.
Not sure Millijas fits with the wolves ethos of ‘putting a shift in’. Undoubted quality in the left foot but one paced and anonymous at times.
I think we would be mad to sell Stearman, but agree that he seems out of MM’s plans at the moment.
If Keogh stays to “fight for his place” he’s certain to be in the 25.
I can’t see Matt Murray getting a squad number at the moment. The list of 25 isn’t for the whole season, we submit a new one at the end of the January transfer window. Hopefully Matt will be fit by then.
Finally, I like Stearman but I’m not sure Mick does anymore.
I’ll be gutted to see Stearman leave. I still think he’s got what it takes to do well in the Prem.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say he’s got more to his game than Berra.
But Mick doesn’t seem to fancy him at center back and I can’t see where else he can get in.
Unfortunately I can see him leaving for peanuts.
Does Keogh fighting for his place basically mean no one is interested in signing him or paying his wages?
Who wants a striker that doesn’t score goals?
Capello will take Keogh I’m sure
Ddid you know that in Mick’s second season he scored ten and set up eleven? In a year when we scored hardly any goals and didn’t do very well. He had a good partnership going with SEB
I didn’t know that to be fair, and it’s an interesting statistic. But to be honest I think the club has stepped up a notch since then.
If it comes down to it with the restrictions of the 25 man squad I’d rather give SEB another season than Keogh.
I would also ta SEB rather than him, but I just thought it wasn’t that fair when you said he’s a striker that doesn’t score goals.
As someone mentioned earlier, we don’t need to include Geoffrey & Vokes.
So that leaves space for Hoff & poss Keogh or Manncienne.
I would also consider leaving Kightly & murray out til Jan & send the out on loans to get match fit & bring in a couple of loan players.
What do you reckon???
Hi Grace.
Well, I’d definitely send Murray out on loan if he gets anywhere near ready to play. Still have my doubts whether he’ll make it back, as much as I’d love to see the big man between the sticks.
Kightly could be fit by the time the season starts. We need him playing for us, particularly with Hunt out. Mick thinks very highly of him so can’t see Kites being loaned out. If can play, it will be for Wolves.
I’m intrigued by the defensive midfield situation; after Henry we don’t have another specialist there. I would love us to sign another tigerish ball retainer of his ilk, but assuming the worst case scenario and we don’t sign someone to cover/ compete with Henry who will play there?
I reckon Zubar, Van Damme, Guediora, or Foley would be players MM gives a chance to if Henry was unavailable, but given his stated desire for competition in every position I suspect we will see reinforcements here soon.
Mascherano might be leaving Liverpool this summer….
Well, I reckon the reports that we’re waiting to hear about Mancienne are probably accurate and if we don’t get him, then this N’Daw fella will more than likely be on his way.
That would provide cover either way.
Guedioura could do a job there though I think. He’s certainly got all the attributes. He looks like a really great find and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on with a full season to go at.
I saw N’Daw play for St Etienne (on the tele) last season and he looked the goods in a team with a shambolic defence behind him. Great competition for Henry.
Loving the new mobile lay out. The fact I can work out which posts are replies to which is great. Not sure if the full site has changed, I’ll have to get online properly soon.
Anyone know when the squad has to be named? If you aren’t in the 25 are you frozen out? Could be some big names falling by the wayside at sone clubs. Would michael owen get in united’s first 25???
Cheers for the feedback on the mobile site Kwolf. Been working on that today. Hoping to customise it even more over the coming weeks when I can get my head around it properly.
Think me and you are perhaps the only ones who use it on a regular basis 🙂
It’s great for checking comments when you’re out and about.
I use the mobile version all the time too, like when i’m on my break at work like now. It’s great
Ward will have two different squad numbers, just so CL can be sure he’s in.
For my money, Stearman is a future full international ( is he English I forget?) but CL is pig headed about certain players who piss him off, so I fear the worst, unless he has a serious rethink.
But then, he likes Ward and Keogh, so………………
Is there any rumor to the truth about Keogh going to Barnsley, please?
I’ll pay his train fare, as long as takes Ward to carry his bags.
How strictly is this 25 man squad bollocks going to be enforced?
I forsee arguements from certain teams from Manchester and London, and circumnavigation of the rules.
However a case can be made for under 21’s, if mental age is taken into consideration, for example, all the England squad acted like babies……
Thought for food.
FOWB
Hennessey have done some big mistakes so sell him. And I hope Halford, Maierhofer, Hill all leave.
Milijas got tallent! We need him. But we need another midfielder to create chanses for our strikers, like henry does. So who will be choosen? Milijas, Edwards. Jones . Guedioura?
Why have Kightly as part of the 25 when he is hardly likely to feature. I would also put Keogh in the 25 and not Bia
Kightly is likely to feature though, he should be fit for the start of the season.. And it looks like Keogh’s going
Prepare for the rath of the Kightly fans Dazza!
I’m with you – if he isn’t fit leave him out until January. Same with Murray – cant see him ever being fit now. Seems like a lifetime since he played in goal for us.
Stourbridge, what’s your problem with Kightly?
There ain’t a hope in hell of Kightly being fit for the start of the season. If he can’t get fit by January, get rid, waste of wages , that could be going to a player that could actually participate
Hi Rich, its not a massive issue I have with Kightly to be fair – more the reaction you get on here when you say anything bad about him!
IMO I think he was poor for long spells in our promotion winning season, and remained in the team based on past performances rather than form. To be fair to him he was never really fit this year (another issue I guess) but from the cameos he did make I saw nothing to suggest he will be a force in this league.
I also had a conversation with my mate last summer to say I didn’t think SEB or Kightly would make it in the Prem due to their lack of pace (and that Jarvis would be a more influential player). It’s nice to be right!
Nothing would make me happier than to see Kightly play 30 games and score 10 goals from midfield next season, I just think people go overboard about how good he actually is. A snip at £25,000 none the less
Fair enough, i wasn’t having a go. I just think that injuries aren’t a reason for not liking someone or at least giving them a chance. I’m not sure what being a Kightly fan entails but i know i back him because of what he’s done in the past.
You’re damn right about Jarvo, brilliant, but if he’d have got injured early season we could be having the same debate about him
Realised when you asked what my problem was with Kightly I missed a massive opportunity to say “Because he f**ked my sister!”
I like to wind up the Kightly fans, because I’ve got pelters on here every time I say anything negative about him.
No different to me thinking Guy Whittingham was the second best out and out striker I have seen at the Wolves behind Bully! None of my friends agree but that’s just the fun of football I guess (like disallowed goals – goal line technology, no thanks!)
I too am loving the mobile set up Thomas. V good! This prince boeteng looks a bit tasty doesn’t he? What are the chances of him?!
Ah, more people using the old mobile site than I thought then.
Can’t see us getting KVP mate. He’s destined for bigger things. Lots of interest from big hitters abroad so he’ll be getting top dollar from somewhere a long way from Molineux me thinks.
Not that i wouldn’t love to see him in old gold.
Strong, fast and skilful. Starting to see why Spurs thought he was hot shit years ago when they bought him.
I thought as much about boeteng. that gyan looks a class act too. any player who performs in the world cup can expect a dozen enquiries, must be nigh on impossible to lure a world cup star. ooh eck, Ghana bottling it!
Just don’t let him near the penalty spot!!!
We should give Kightley the benefit of another season at full fitness.
He got injured right at the end of our championship season, and hasn’t been properly fit since.
On his day, as we all saw and loved, he is fuckin’ quick and good.
He needs some full games undr his belt at the top level, to see if he can cope. I for one hope so, coz he fits the Molineux mould.
Ward, Keogh and others have had their chances at this level, and blown it. Te least we can do is give Kightley the same chance.
FOWB
We said the same about Murray…. how many years ago?
Yes, and in his case, the team blew it.
Murray should have gone long ago, but who would want him and his never ending injuries?
Shame, coz in form he was probably the best keeper in the country.
Interesting that the three so called best players in the world, Messi, Rooney and Little Ronnie could only manage one goal between them in a collective 13 games.
This gives more ammunition for arguement of limiting non nationals in club teams.
But wasn’t it great to see that arrogant little shit, Dago Madonna, given his come uppance yesterday??
FOWB
Surely was, even the belly of God couldn;t save him
Who the f*ck is Kevin Constant?
He’s that bloke who can’t play golf, has webbed feet, dreams of fields, screws Whitney Houston, dances with footballers, delivers the mail, shoots Frank Nitty, and thinks he can clean all the oil out of The Gulf of Mexico with a salad spinner.
FOWB