What a boring week. Not very much going on at Molineux right now, so why not take a trip with me down memory lane?
Ahead of my preview to this weekend’s game against Fulham, I thought I’d look back at our play-off winning team of 2003 and ask one simple question: where are they now?
Matt Murray – Poor, poor Matty. That glorious day in Cardiff was about as good as it got for our injury plagued keeper. He played in the 5-1 defeat to Blackburn in our first ever Premier League game, but missed the rest of the season with injury. Managed one full season in 2006 and won numerous accolades, including our player of the season award and was also named in the PFA Championship team of the year. A string of different injuries kept him on the sidelines right up until his retirement just two weeks ago.
Dennis Irwin – I’ve seen some decent full-backs pull on the gold shirt over the years (and some unbelievably crap ones too) but none compare to Dennis Irwin. He rocked up at Wolves at the grand old age of 38 and still looked a world-beater. After helping us gain promotion in 2003 in his first season with the club, Irwin extended his stay for a second year in an attempt to keep us in the big time. Hung up his boots following our relegation and now works in the media. Amassed 75 appearances for Wolves in two years and will always be remembered fondly.
Paul Butler – Performed admirably for Wolves as they were relegated from the Premiership in 2004 and really should have stayed at the club longer. Wanted a two year deal, but was only offered a year’s extension, so packed his bags and left for Leeds. He remained at Elland Road for 2 years, making 100 appearances before an unsuccessful spell at MK Dons saw him move to Chester City in 2007. He played 35 times for them before falling out with the manager and being released in the summer of 2009. Currently working towards his coaching badges.
Joleon Lescott – Having played a crucial role in getting us to the Premier League in 2003, he sat out the entire season with a serious knee injury. Many believe, had Lescott played that year, we might not have been relegated. As it was, he eventually regained fitness, played a large chunk of the 2005-06 season for Wolves, making it into the Championship team of the year before securing a big-money move Everton. He was a massive hit at Goodison Park, winning numerous club awards and finally making his debut for the full England team. Controversially moved to Man City in 2009 after a monumental transfer tussle, but was dogged by injury problems in his first year at Eastlands. Seems to be back in his groove now and started for England just last night in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland.
Lee Naylor – Shovel-foot remained with Wolves right up until 2006 having made 293 appearances for the club. Mick McCarthy granted him his wish to accept a move to Celtic and he spent four years north of the border winning various trophies with the hoops and even turning out in the Champions League. Fell out of favour towards the end of last year and trained with Cardiff City over the summer having been released from Parkhead. His old Wolves manager David Jones saw enough to sign Naylor permanently and he has since forced his way into the Bluebirds side.
Shaun Newton – Divided opinion throughout his four year Molineux stay but a player I always thought was quite underrated. Eventually left in 2005, moving south to West Ham and helping them win promotion in his first season. Struggled to get in the Hammers’ team from there on out and was eventually farmed out to Leicester, first on loan and then permanently in 2007. Only made a handful of appearances for the Foxes before being released. He’s been without a club ever-since. According to Wikipedia, he was ‘Convicted of nine charges connected with a scam to dodge speeding tickets involving his former West Ham teammate Teddy Sheringham in July 2008, for which he received a 28-week suspended prison sentence, and a 12-month driving ban, with an order to do 180 hours of unpaid community service.’
Paul Ince – What can you say about the guv? An inspiration in his four years at the club and a giant of a figure throughout those turbulent times. Played 115 games for Wolves and wrote his name into Molineux folklore. Wanted the manager’s job when Hoddle left in 2006, but when Mick McCarthy was hired, he threw his toys out of the pram and left. Joined Macclesfield as player/manager and saved them from relegation. Moved to MK Dons as manager and was equally impressive, helping them gain promotion and win the Football League Trophy. Made a massive leap by taking the job as manager of Blackburn Rovers, but a string of poor results saw him sacked after just 177 days in charge. He spent a brief spell last season back at MK Dons but is currently without a job.
Colin Cameron – ‘Mickey’ as he was known by the Wolves players, apparently because of his resemblance to Mickey Mouse, went on to play for the club until the summer of 2006, when many of the ‘old guard’ were released, kicked out or basically told to shove-off. Has subsequently had spells with Coventry, MK Dons, Dundee and Arbroath. Still playing to this very day, at the age of 37, for Cowdenbeath, where he’s also assistant-manager.
Mark Kennedy – ‘Sparky’ was another player culled in the summer-massacre of 2006. However, it is believed he was actually offered a contract but decided to move-on. Spent two years each at Crystal Palace and Cardiff before moving to Ipswich a few months ago. For some reason, he seems to relish playing against Wolves and never seems entirely thrilled to come back to Molineux. Strange given that he’s played more games for us than any other club.
Nathan Blake – After relegation in 2004, Blake was released from the club and joined Leicester City. He didn’t score a goal in 14 appearances and was quickly sent out on loan to Leeds, where he did find the net in one of his five outings for the club. That would be his last ever professional goal though as injury cut-short his loan spell and he was released by the Foxes at the end of 2005. He was hit with a six-month ban later that year for testing positive for a recreational drug. Decided to call time on his professional career after that, despite having a trial at Stoke City. Currently running his own property management business in Wales.
Kenny Miller – Yet another player to leave for nothing in 2006, which is quite barmy really when you consider that he was our record signing at the time. A player of great natural ability in my opinion, Miller moved to Celtic and played 33 times for the Hoops before moving back to England in an attempt to save Derby from relegation. Scored four goals for the Rams but quickly jumped ship when they bit the bullet and joined re-joined Rangers for £2 million. He’s remained at Ibrox since 2008, but constant rumours about various Premier League clubs being interested in the striker continue to circulate.
Subs
Dean Sturridge – Deano displayed some of the greatest natural finishing I’ve ever seen in his four years at Wolves. However, he fell behind Miller and Blake in the pecking order in 2003, hence why he could only muster a place on the bench and never really got into his stride again. Only managed 5 appearances in the Premiership and was eventually released in 2005, moving to QPR. Having failed to score once in 11 games at Loftus Road he was again released and dropped all the way down the leagues to sign for Kidderminster Harriers. Despite being lauded as their biggest ever signing, Sturridge only managed 6 games, having been dogged by injury throughout his year with the club. Spent some time working for Radio Derby but is now concentrating on coaching.
Adam Proudlock – Once celebrated as a shining example of the brilliance of our academy, Proudlock never fulfilled the potential he showed in his formative years. Wolves farmed him out on loan to all manner of clubs including Clyde, Notts Forest, Tranmere and finally Sheffield Wednesday, where he would eventually move permanently following our promotion in 2003. Scored a few goals at Hillsbrough but was moved on to Ipswich in 2006, where he only managed two appearances in as many years. Moved to Stockport, where he enjoyed a semi-successful spell, before turning out for Darlington and finally Grimsby last year. Currently without a club having been released following the Mariners relegation from the football league. Trained with Hungarian side Ferencváros over the summer hoping to get a deal, but has slightly lowered his expectations by joining Kidderminster on trial. Still only 29 years-old.
Subs not used: Michael Oakes, Marcus Edworthy, Alex Rae
So there you go, from speeding ticket scandals to premature retirements and even a trip to Hungary and back.
It’s amazing what can happen in the space of seven years.
You are 100% correct, young Thomas ………..a boring week!!!
FOWB
Apart from Doyler and Adlene’s goals! Beauties!
Interesting stuff Thomas. Especially like the stuff about Newton – not heard that before!
Sturridge was the best natural finisher you have seen – what about Bully??????
How fat does Proudlock look in that photo? We should sign him again, play him up front – he would make SEB look athletic! ha,ha,ha!
I didn’t say Sturridge was ‘the best natural finisher I’ve ever seen’, I said he ‘displayed some of the best natural finishing I’ve ever seen’.
When he first arrived from Leicester in 2002, he was dynamite. Everything he hit seemed to go in. Half chances were dispatched with consummate ease and some of his finishes were outrageous.
He was more in and out the following season. I don’t think Dave Jones ever forgave him for nonchalantly chipping a penalty over the bar in a 4-1 home win against Grimsby. He was taking the piss before the game had been won and never got back into the side properly after that.
Proudlock’s career really has gone down the toilet. Just has the look of a guy who didn’t want to put the graft in to make it at a higher level. When he left Wolves he was supremely overweight. A summer session with Tony Daley would get him back on track I’m sure!
So can I sleep easy that Bully is still the ‘best natural finisher’ you have ever seen?
My second (after Bully) would be Guy Whittingham (believe it or not!!) when we had him on loan from the Villa. I was gutted we didn’t sign him and ended up paying millions for Don Goodman! (Don was ok – but I never forgave the fact he used to be Albions talisman!)
As if by magic…
AFC Telford United boss Andy Sinton plans to cast an eye over former Wolves star Adam Proudlock in tonight’s friendly with Chasetown.
The Bucks boss confirmed Proudlock, 29, who was linked with a summer move to Midland Alliance side Bridgnorth Town, will start the match.
And if the striker impresses it could earn him a contract at the New Bucks Head.
Cant belive he is only 29 – what a waster!
I can’t believe Sturridge was here for four years. I tend to remember January to May 2002 and block out the rest. He netted 20 goals in that time and was on fire. I love him just for that time
I remember that spell – he was in great form.
Am I imagining it or did tight-arse Bramble crock him in a preseason game against Newcastle?
I was sure Rae played more for us that season before shipping out!
A fair few fans still allude to that team as being a kind of a benchmark for future seasons, often comparing it to Mick’s Championship winning side.
Such a strong side on paper, but it finished 4th (at least I think it was 4th)I’ve said this many times, but I wouldn’t swap Karl Henry for the Ince or Rae of 2003, much as I admired the pair of them.
Of the players I would swap in a hypothetical world, only Lescott, a fit Matt Murray and an Irwin of 2003 would come into the reckoning, who could play left back?
I’d swap Henry for a ‘vintage’ Ince or Rae any day of the week – they added something extra in shooting and scoring!
Agree with Lescott though – great to see him back in an England shirt last night (at a time when Berra gets replaced by a 40 year old!!)
Murray or USA is a tough one – I’ll go with Murray too, based ion the fact he (should have) more years in front of him.
You’ve gone and thrown ‘vintage’ into the mix SW! I remember watching Ince in particular, thinking ‘Jeez, how good was he 10 years ago?!’
It used to embarass me watching him cover the pitch with more enthusiasm and gusto than most of the other players put together (as a 38 year old!). He must have pulled his hair out playing with Olofinjana!
You’re right. Great seeing Lescott last night. That team looked a million miles better than the World Cup one. Younger, hungrier, and pressing like a Premier League side. Loads of intensity and no shortage of skill.
Please Fabio, no more Terry or Lampard. If he recalls either I’ll be livid.
Oh and a first cap for Jarvis too please!
Opta stat says England have only lost one game when Gerrard has played without Lampard (that’s once in 17)
That’s a pretty revealing stat. I would have thought the management would get the message now and do the right thing.
I thought I wouldn’t give a toss about England after the World Cup but I really enjoyed Tuesday night. Always fun winding up the Mrs by telling her we definitely will win the Euros.
I find it amazing that after scoring that superb goal at Reading, Alex Rae didn’t feature in the final
Aahhh the play off final – the happiest day of my life (dont tell that to the wife though!).
Rae was an unused sub believe it or not! Still at least he made up for it with the cracker he scored in the Prem the following season.
I read earlier that we were relegated with 33 points – hard to think we finished 15th with just 5 more points last season.
Yeah, it was a much stronger league then. We were trying to catch Man City, Everton and Newcastle who were all much stronger than us. We got quite lucky last year with Burnley, Hull and Pompey.
It was said how better last year’s crop were, only 5 points in the end
I would be interested to have seen last years team playing in the PL in 2003… would they have also been relegated?
With the same points total they would have been relegated – Everton finished just outside the relegation places with 39 points!
Of course they would, half of them were still in nappies then, like some on this site!!
FOWB
So we stayed up because the league last year was poor? I actually belive as ALL of the PL money shifts towards the “big 4…5…6″… it’s a lotterbetween 10 or so teams as to who stays up. This year someone will stay up with record low number of points… hopefully us… as long as he drops Ward, we should be OK
Balmy old day in Brisbane today, first week in Spring and heading off to 30deg… Lord help us in Summer, we’ll all melt or, even worse, bruise our feet
Is that 30 degrees F or C?
We’ve just had the hottest month on record in Houston, an AVERAGE of 89F, and mostly 100% humidity as well.
Why am I here, when I could be in Dudley Street, watching the miserable, grey cloth capped brigade, with their Asda plastic bags in each hand, slumped shoulders, and life sucks expressions, waiting for the next overcrowded bus, to take them to Bilston, or Wednesfield, or sunny Whitmore Reans.
Fuck that, I’m off to Alaska on Monday, for a fun filled, wildlife watching cruise, no phone nor laptop, just whales, mooses, bears, seals, eagles and of course, if I’m really lucky, Wolves!!!
FOWB
C. He lives in Brisbane. Enjoy Alaska Clive.
There’s always one.
Thank you for the geography lesson.
FOWB
t’OM , I see we are not on Foxtel tomorrow night on viewers choice. They are giving us the delights of Newcastle/Blackpool or West Brom/Spurs instead !
Clive… you will be pleased to know that a traditional English fish and chip shop has opened less than 1/2 hour drive from me… it serves that long lost delicacy… the deep fried Mars bar ! oh… and curry sauce and mushy peas 🙂
Looks like we’re in for a nice, peaceful time on here without you mate.
Hope all those endangered species survive your visit and that all your hot air doesnt melt too many more glaciers!
Proudlock has signed for telford on a trial
he got 3 on his debut against chase town, a qoute on the BBC from Andy Sinton says:
“He needs to up his fitness levels, but I’ll talk to him about his future and I’d love to have him on board.”
so he’s still fat then?!