I don’t read many autobiographies but felt compelled to dip into Sir Alex Ferguson’s latest book.
I wasn’t in the market for anecdotes about David Beckham’s hair or Diego Forlan’s masterful tennis skills, I simply hoped to gain insight into what made the Scot so successful.
And whilst I wouldn’t say I discovered one definitive revelation, Fergie did impart a few pearls of managerial wisdom in amongst all those headline-grabbing tales.
1. Give a player an inch and he’ll take a mile. Be tough on discipline or players run amok.
2. No player is more important than the manager. If any individual (regardless of talent) tries to control the dressing room, they must be removed.
3. Most important of all – don’t compromise.
The obvious connection amongst all these titbits is ruthlessness. Ferguson was notoriously fearless of the big decision if he believed it was best for the team.
Kenny Jackett has shown similar traits in a brief tenure as Wolves head coach, seemingly unperturbed by ruffling feathers.
Publicly calling out Wayne Hennessey for his refusal to play at Gillingham was just the latest in a long line of actions that stated in no uncertain terms – I’m the boss.
After exiling egos in the summer, he’s since re-populated the squad with young, ambitious players that can be shaped into his team. His ideas, his philosophy.
And guess what? They can actually play football. Ricketts, Golbourne, McDonald, Henry and Jacobs are all acquisitions that even the most critical supporter would struggle to find fault with.
It’s perverse that only in recent games, camouflaged by bad results, have we seen glimpses of what Kenny Jackett’s Wolves are capable of.
Against Leyton Orient, Tranmere and again in Friday’s loss at Priestfield, we saw a Wolves side dominate possession and boss large sections of the game.
Unfortunately, individual errors at one end and squandered opportunities at the other have resulted in criticism of our head coach based on a few bad results rather than praise for an encouraging improvement in performance levels.
I believe as a football fan you have to accept that a) you will never agree with any manager’s team selection all the time b) you won’t always play well when you win and c) you don’t always win when you play well.
It ultimately comes down to trust. Do you trust, based on everything (results, style of play, tactics, recruitment, management style, etc) that the manager (or head coach) will ultimately deliver success?
In the case of Kenny Jackett, it’s a resounding yes from me.
Not since Mick McCarthy was shown the door have we had such clear and decisive leadership. And where Mick failed (too much loyalty to old players, one-dimensional football, no fan rapport), the signs are that Kenny will succeed.
But perhaps most encouragingly of all, there are signs that for the first time in a long time, a Wolves team is developing an identity. The fact that that identity looks like being a team that play neat and attractive football only makes it all the more pleasing.
For these reasons I hope Kenny stays for a long time and continues to play it as he has done, with no compromises.
The comparison is wrong. Ferguson would never publicly criticise his players as Jackett did in November when he singled out Griffiths and Sako. Neither player has done well since.
And the Hennessey issue, Ferguson would have dealt with behind closed doors, not announced what had happened on national TV and made a massive soap opera out of the situation with the media and with supporters.
Jackett has done well for Wolves but he still has a lot to learn
I wasn’t making a comparison on specifics mate, simply stating that Ferguson was his own man and didn’t let players rule the roost.
And didn’t Fergie publicly state Rooney didn’t want to play last season in much the same way Jackett spoke of Hennessey? See:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22502958
But as I say, you’re suggesting I’m directly comparing him to Sir Alex, which I’m not. I’m saying that the underlying theme of Ferguson’s reign was be ruthless, which I feel KJ has shown he’s capable of.
what a load of tosh———–we want a proper manager
Name him then! Who would you want to get in that would justify sacking yet another manager and causing further mess?
you tell me what Kenny jackett ever achieved then
the man for wolves should have been STEVE bruce
when they had chance——– and there will be futher mess if this lot carries on
Utter tosh. KJ is inspiring. We are already playing much better football. There will always be some lapses, but, mark my words, he is going to be a great manager for us. We need to give him time.
In hindsight you have a good point there but he’s hardly gonna leave Hull City for Wolves! The mistake with sacking McCarthy was having no back-up in place (at the time Bruce wouldn’t have been well accepted) and the board shouldn’t make the same mistake with Kenny Jackett especially when we’re still in and around the promotion places
Although performances weren’t great at the start of the season, Results were better..
All these players Jackett has brought in who can play football but aren’t winning games and getting results.
The Jury is still out for me.
If we don’t get automatic promotion this season for me Kenny and Kevin and Jez and Morgan will have failed us again.
Wow , a beautiful summery of where we are at present . It seems so easy to be critical given our recent form / poor results . Read into that as you may …but for all our good football the strange results early season – poor football but wins versus good football = losses .
I’m lost in the horrors of the last few years – still – so that everything seems so difficult to comment on . A great performance against Preston on Saturday , with goals added , may return my feelgood factor . But , why does it have to be so hard being a Wolves fan ?? Is it the norm for all footie fans of all clubs ? Probably .
It seems we all know that we need an experienced target striker , for Griffiths to feed off . But KJ is still tinkering, it seems, with the cutting edge of the team . I keep watching the space for news of reinforcements . Please not for too long .
Come on Kenny , come on Wolves …please don’t allow this season to dwindle again into the horrors of recent campaigns .
UTW
Iv’e endured the ups and downs of Wolverhampton Wanderers since 1960, in all that time we have had limited successes and many highs and lows as all teams do. We are in league one which was in part a result of past regimes and management styles that obviously did not fulfil our expectations as fans, football is no longer cheap, but still we turn up week in week out in all kinds of weather. My comment is that in all that time I have witnessed many different team styles and formations, but I do feel like the author of this message the style of football we are playing at this moment is worth turning up to see at last. Sako, Doyle,Griffiths, cassidy and Mcallinden will find the goals, even the wonderful Steve Bull didn’t score every game. I find myself being a patient Wolves fan now that in itself is a rare thing, but I like what I see and I am certain the goals will come.
Well done Kenny, “Don ‘t compromise” look what Fergie achieved when he got His team together.
As you say the men he has brought in are all doing an OK job. He has not bought in a central attacking player/goalscorer or an attacking central midfielder. Lets hope he does because eventhe “Fabulous Fergy” had problems with many of the men he inherited -the Chris McGrath crew . You need to build a team of your own men. Griffiths, Sako, Siggy Doyle , Cassidy and many others are not his own men.
Unfortunately, I think the Manager/Head Coaches we have had since the Morgan/Moxey era began, have all had to compromise the footballing side, to the financial side.
To me, this is where the seeds of discontent lie for players and Managers at Wolves.
For instance, O’Hara, played one game, was going to be considered more, now disappeared – Was that a footballing or financial decision?
Same with when Forest came in for Sako, did finance concerns dictate he continued playing for us-Or for the good of the footballing side of Wolves?
I think Jackett’s hands, (like all the other Managers), are tied by his contract with M & M….
We may still be promoted or make the play offs, but Morgan is not rich enough to sustain us.
We don’t need a new Manager we need a new owner!
Someone who has more money than sense, like Vincent Tan…
At least we would know that football came first at Wolves, not Redrow….
Well written and well reasoned as ever. Now that the dust has had chance to settle, it’s a bit easier to reflect. In the not too distant past I seem to remember us winning against a far superior Swansea team as they quietly and patiently perfected their passing game under Martinez. We’re not at that level yet but my point is that if we want to see attractive football, it’s got to start somewhere. I think if we can dominate games and get a settled squad the results will come. The biggest problem for Wolves is we haven’t got time to be patient. We need results this season more than we need to look pretty. Failure to get promoted does not bear thinking about.
I agree with most of the comments – but for the life of me I can’t see why KJ keeps subbing griff, like Stuart Alves said regarding Bully the same can’t be said about griff has he hardly finishes a match.
How many time’s did we see Bully missing chance after chance in the first half of matches only to go on and get 2/3 or even four in the second half plus Bully had a partner in muchy who you could hardly call a target man.
KJ should pick griff EVERY match + another, we keep on hearing about getting another striker? why when we already have around five plus a couple in the u21s, remember winnall! we had him and he moved on because of the lack of chances here, now he is being looked at by numerous clubs.
I know it’s stating the obvious, but this is what happens when you keep buying, we have the players to rip this league apart if only the coach could see it!
I will support him 100% because he’s our manager sorry head coach, but he needs to get it sorted and soon because a loss on Saturday to pne will see the numpties start to turn re cliff above.
wearewolvesayewe.
I see the usual moronic anti morgan/moxey cretins are out.
You people ARE NOT and never will be Wolves fans, I think you need to look at the money spent starting with the wages, then look at how long it took us to get to the premier pre M/M, ok mistakes have been made of which apologies have been made, if KJ is operating under restrictions made by the two Ms what sort of coach does that make him, plus he must be a lier because he stated that he ratea the two Ms highly oh sorrrrrry he’s only saying that to keep his job.
Until we get rid of the shit that call themselves fans but in fact are only interested in stirring up discontent and trouble will we be able to move forward as a club.
If you want owners like Tan well **** off and support one, or would you rather morgan change our colors to blue and white stripes/red and white to show he is thinking about the football side.
Remember what was said when some of our illustrious fans wanted Mick out! well the same applies to the two Ms.
Oh and remind me again were Ipswich are today! Thanks for that numpties and your wisdom.
let’s hope you don’t get the chance to do it again but this time it could result in the end of WWFC.
What a deluded fool you are. The damage that these two idiots have inflicted on our club is inestimable or haven’t you noticed we’re in the third division thanks to these people. As for McCarthy no-one ever doubted his ability to get teams promoted he’s just totally incapable of taking things to the next level. Regarding Moxey, what a wonderful CV the man has, four relegations including one with Stoke, who have gone from strength to strength since he left. I guess you are related to either Moxey or Morgan or else a Baggies fan causing mischief. And don’t you dare suggest those who don’t share your views aren’t true Wolves fans, I have missed a handful of home games in the last 55 years and certainly know who I blame and will never forgive for our demise.
I think ‘John’ may be the knob who used to post as ‘JohnWolf’ on this and other blogs. His mindless ranting can only be compared to that of (the Harry Enfield character) Frank Doberman…
Goodness certainly pressed your buttons!
Happy New Year…..
Well said Martin absolutely agree.
PL to league one in 18 months…
Morgan and Moxey the only 2 Morons and cretins who have managed to do that in the history of football….
Mistakes certainly have been made.
That’s moving forward as a club…
And by the way it was your beloved Morgan who got rid of Mick not the fans…..
Too early to judge – not taken any crap but also not managed a win in the last 7 games in League 1.
Agree with almost all of that Solbakken and Saunders failed to put there stamp on the team and the terminal decline of the old one continued. Kenny has made a great start but he may need to follow through now with promotion this season to keep everybody happy and the momentum on his side.
Just one little point you seem to have forgotten, we are playing in the third division. The new signings look good at that level, but how will they get on on a bigger stage. All the players ‘exiled’ are now playing higher grade football than Wolves. Players such as Ward and Berra are doing well for their new clubs chasing promotion to the Premier .Even Johnson did well for Wednesday apparently. McDonald and Henry look the best of the new bunch ,but McDonald struggled with Burnley in the Premier. Against Man City he was taken off at half time and went straight to a pub. As for comparing Jackett with McCarthy don’t forget Mick took us to and kept us in the Premier for 3 years. One day that achievement will be recognised by all Wolves fans. Does anyone seriously think Jackett will achieve anything remotely comparable now that the money is running out. We can dream, we can hope, but if we compare it is best to do it from a level playing field.
I just looked back at our early season blogs when we were winning every match, at least not losing, and after each match report there were around 20 to 30 responses, on average.
Now, after a poor streak, the knives are out, blame is being thrown around, and all sorts of conspiracy theories being bandied around, and a million replies to each blog offering.
Oh joy!! The pleasure of being a Wolves fan!
Give the bloke a chance, and stop comparing him to previous managers. He is doing things the way most of us have been screaming for over the past three years, sorting out the defense and midfield, and most of all playing the kids when he can, not to mention getting rid of Henry, Ward, Johnson et al.
McDickwadhead was and still is a dinosaur, the fact that he’s got clipbored with him sez it all.
Solbakken was hardly given a chance, and Saunders was a clown.
Morgan and greasel have zippo football knowledge, the proof for all to see is their previous appointments as managers, and keeping McDickwadhead way past his sell by date, which for me was the first Prem visit to Old Trafford.
We can all guess, but none of us know exactly what is going on with regards to KJ’s hands being tied behind his back, and let us not forget, we had a really bad run back in 2008/09 but still maintained top spot and went on to win the title.
All our immediate competitors will have their bad spells, and we will come through ours and WILL get automatic promotion.
with regards to John ( above ), you need to go to bed earlier so you will be fresh for kindergarden in the morning.
Have a nice day, y’all
FOwb
I take it the ‘bad run’ in 2008/09 relates to Fri 26 Dec when we drew 1-1 with Sheff Utd and which was followed by D, L, D, L, W, D, L , L , D, L 8 Points from a possible 33. That season was immense. Yeah, you are right, even after that bad run we were still in 1st spot. In fact that season we hit the top spot after our 4th game, dropped to 2nd after our 10th game, up to the top after the next, down to 2nd after our next and when we hit top spot again on 28 Oct we stayed there for the rest of the season. Cracking season that one.
Wish I hadn’t looked at my records now – On Sat 10 Jan 2009 we were sat in top spot on 58 points. We played Preston at Molineux that day and lost 1-3.
Hope that does not happen this Saturday.
UTW/FOWB
I went to that game and then went to see the Crankies in pantomime in the evening. Two pantomimes in one day!
Actually the bad run started after big Chris Iwelumo went from playing like a combination of Alan Shearer and Denis Law in one to…. well, the Crankies on a bad night at a swingers’ party.
It all started after he misseed that siiter for Scotland. I remember the Sun recreated the oppurtunity with a Granny, a toddler and a West Highland Terrier…….AND THEY ALL SCORED! He was never the same again
I remain on the fence with. There’s no denying jackett has pedigree for starting footballing revolutions at clubs:if only we could guarantee to be in the same place as Swansea in 5 years! But and the big but is do the men behind the coach have the same ambition?
Much of my opinion on jackett depends on this next month if as I fear griff and sako go on big money transfers without replacement jackett is barking with no bite similar to solbakken and even Saunders! Keep those two and strengthen or even sell but bring in quality replacements and I’ll keep the faith!
I remain on the fence with you. There’s no denying jackett has pedigree for starting footballing revolutions at clubs:if only we could guarantee to be in the same place as Swansea in 5 years! But and the big but is do the men behind the coach have the same ambition?
Much of my opinion on jackett depends on this next month if as I fear griff and sako go on big money transfers without replacement jackett is barking with no bite similar to solbakken and even Saunders! Keep those two and strengthen or even sell but bring in quality replacements and I’ll keep the faith!
Thomas I the only thing I want in regard to AF is that KJ wins the league or at least the runners up slot.
Its great to play lovely flowing football and win, but for me at the moment i would accept winning at all costs, just to get us out of this league and then KJ will get all the plaudits he deserves and rightly so,but until that happens the verdicts out imo,
Just a thought do you think the player’s he’s bought will pull up any trees in the championshite if we get there.UTW.
Don’t know who this john is,but all he’s doing is stirring up trouble imo,Gotta be a baggies fan.
Diatribe we don’t want,so who ever this john is keep it shut.
Sorry for the double post bloody phond
A great start for Johnson at West Ham – maybe he will celebrate with a few beers before training!
Remember fans chanting for Hennessey when Johnson had an argument with him. Turns out they were actually both tw@ts.
Great blog. Spot on.
Good football or not.
There is only one way to play football and that’s to win…
No prizes for pretty and losing…
Nice if you can be pretty and win but that takes more money than Morgan will throw at it.
Great blog .I agree 100% with what you have written.
Like to make a general observation on the managerial merry-go-round. In recent seasons i think there has been a sea change. In the past you could identify managers who had a successful formula which would translate from year to year and from club to club. These days things are far less predictable. Many of the rising stars of one season are gone the next. Managers who will ‘always keep you up’ take you down. Managers can even make a come back (Steve Bruce). As clubs compete to get the best man in situ its going to get a harder one to call. Maybe now managers dont have the control they used to have. Anyway not the sort of general comment thats hugely popular on a fan blogsite but i think clubs that appreciate and factor in this change will make wiser decisions.
Great West Ham debut for Relegation Roger!!!
Must have enjoyed that, much like old times in the blooz and Wolves defenses!!
Couldn’t happen to a drunker bloke!
I just hope we get promoted because if we don’t I fear that Jackett will probably go the way of Solbakken and Saunders and we will be back to square one. I know Jackett would see not getting promoted as a failure, and in the context of League One and our relative wealth and size, it would be, but we were at a nadir last season and Jackett has demonstrated a real sense of purpose, giving the young players a go, having faith in their abilities and dispensing with the overpaid numpties that have brought the club down. If we do fail to go up I just hope he gets backed by all at Wolves for another season at least.
Enjoyed this blog Thomas, and to me it’s a confirmation of how far we’ve come that we can laud our manager’s style and ethos, rather than focussing on yet another disastrous decision from our ownership.
All of the people here and elsewhere on line who are criticising the manager at this point of the season are a little short-sighted in my view. Things could and have been a lot worse, and the only thing that’s keeping us out of the top 2 places at the moment are goals.
I’d be very surprised if Kenny doesn’t bring in a striker, but McAlinden is back, so perhaps he could be a foil for Griffiths?
Absolutely spot on Thomas, never agreed with a post more.
As for those on here slagging off KJ, some even unbelievably calling for his dismissal, well let’s just think for a moment what he’s achieved in a a little over 6 months.
1. Addressed the financial situation of a team plummeting two divisions by off-loading overpaid, underachieving prima donnas(at the same time, finally addressing the problem LB position).
2. At long last, giving home grown talent a chance. Evans, Davies, Ismail, McAlinden, Cassidy have all gained experience and Batth, Doherty, and (to a lesser extent Ebanks-Landell) have established themselves as excellent prospects.
3. Instantly got Griffiths back on side and changed a guy who didn’t want to come near the club into the club’s top scorer, having signed a new contract.
4. Made a series of excellent signings at affordable prices and wages. Ricketts, Golbourne, McDonald, Henry and Jacobs. All good players and, with the exception of Ricketts, young with many years ahead of them.
5. Got the team playing ‘proper’ football, passing and movement and played on the deck.
6. And with all this change and youngsters coming in, keeping us at or near the top of the league.
7.Shown huge respect for the club and it’s history and treated the supporters likewise.
What more can you ask of the man?
The team and the club are moving in the right direction. Yes recent results have been poor but the football has been good.
Don’t blame KJ because Kevin Doyle can’t score goals, don’t blame him because Griffith is too small to be a conentional striker, don’t blame him because Cassidy has fluffed his chance.
He knows the CF position needs sorting and i’m confident he will do that in the transfer window, depending on how much financial support he gets.
Personally, i am astonished how much he has achieved and i think we are very lucky to have him.
Thanks Martin.
Couldn’t agree with a comment more 🙂
I’m with you there Martin.
100%
I shall also be with you on the 25th.
Tickets sorted for thee, me and the present Mrs DG’er.
See you in the bar for a swifty, followed by a pleasant, sunlit stroll through West park to the home of football where we’ll take Bristol City apart, playing swift, skilful attacking football and finishing off all the chances we create.
Sorry, went off on one there.
But we’re football fans – we can dream…
…Can’t we?
Love jubblies. But what happeneed to the 24th? We’re doing the full monty you know.
So you’re going to the match naked are you?
Yes, we’re there Friday as well.
So I suppose you’ll be wanting a few beers Friday night.
I might have one – just to keep you company.
Good blog Thomas and a great response Martin .. to which I wholeheartedly agree. BUT .. you then add the caveat about receiving financial support. This is the knub of any manager/coach position at WWFC. Their success or failure, and the future and direction of the club , all rely on Morgan and Moxey. From where we were to where we are now is truly creditable , better football, crap sorted, younger players coming thro .. great .. but until we really financially back Jackett he will still have progress checked. Oh .. and John .. don’t spout off at the facts.
KJ is putting down the foundations and the results will follow. Hope he gets the right backing. I have ev ery confidence we will get promoted come May. If KJ does not get us apromoted this season if I was the owner he would still be my manager next season. Most genuine supporters know the job he has done soo far. He is trying to build a team that will progress through the divisions. Going through a poor spell like every team does, mainly through lack of goals. Keep The Faith.
Brilliant piece of writing Thomas!
I couldn’t agree more.
KJ is the right man, at the right time.
Give him a chance!
And those who say that Steve Bruce should have been our man after the demise of Mad Mick could well be right.
Perhaps he should have been.
But he wasn’t appointed – largely because of the negative response of the fans.
It’s all hypothetical but I personally think that, if Kuddly Ken had been appointed then, we would at least be in the Championship now.
Maybe even the Premiership.
The main thing that KJ lacks, in comparison to Sir Alex, is the clout within the club (and access to the fat wallet of SM) in order to buy the players he wants.
This might change, the longer he stays involved.
Stranger things have happened.
But for the time being, given all the politics and general crap that goes on behind the scenes at the Molineux, he is doing a bloody good job.
And, like you, he has my wholehearted support!
…For what it’s worth.
Martins wrap up makes total sense…
In addition I would like to add that before the start if the season, like many others… I was not expecting our club (that was in disarray) to be challenging for one of the top spots. I’m over the moon where we are and the strides that have been made in improving the the side.
I may be completely on my own on this and will be expecting an influx of comments that I’m talking crap, but I will not see this season as a utter failure as is being made out, if we do miss out on promotion this season. Disappointed… Yes! but not a failure.
It does not matter how big any club is… We play in the division that our results dictate. On the flip side of this… This is our foundation rebuilding year, so If we do not achieve promotion next season, then I will see that as a failure.
Remember when we beat ManU as we raised our game? That is what is happening to us… Big fish… Tiny pond and these little bar stewards are pirahnas chasing after a decent bite of flesh!
Using this metaphor… We need to be able to swim faster and be stronger to move past these pesky little shits, of which could take time.
On the comments of requiring a striker… KJ knows where he needs to strengthen, but he can only buy whoever is for sale and who will drop a division or 2, with a likely pay cut. He cannot be expected to click his fingers and expect players to come to us just because we are Wolves. If he can only get the same standard of player as what we have already (or worse…) then we have to ply our trade with the tools we have.
…….Ply our trade with the tools with have. Spot on mate. I am glad it is not just me that is realising this – I respect your comments, they are bang on.
Absolutely brilliant blog Thomas. Everything you said are my thoughts exactly. Every player he has brought in has been good so hopefully he’ll bring in a couple more this month and we’ll go on and win the league
Well done Thomas that stirred up the passion,if we could play with the same feeling we would be walking this league.
I think we are moving in the right direction and should back the coach 100%,he is the right man for the job.
Keep the faith.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Thomas for the great blog.I agree totally with you sentiments. It’s encouraging that so many positive responses have been made, drowning out the few negative , backward looking comments. We are, in all aspects of the club, in a much better position than at the beginning of the season, due to the work of Kenny Jacket. Constructive criticism can be helpful but the knee-jerk reaction of the mindless minority does not help at all. Supporting your team is exactly what it says on the tin.
This is one of the best, most thoughtful articles I’ve read on here, nice one Thomas. I agree there’s no need to panic or worry, Jackett’s doing a great job, despite a few decisions I disagree with (choice of strikers), and the team is playing good football. We were certainly unlucky to come away with nothing from Gillingham, and if we carry on in the same vein we’ll be up automatically.
The troups here are getting restless again.lol…KJ is seemingly a good manager at the level of a championship type of team….he’s not seen £50m on the table and at Wolves he prob never will ..MM s are playing with ltd Co’s and shareholding with a return on investment..If we scape up into the championship and get to the top tier then with our resources then that is it…I just wish we had real money to buy and have a real go and to do that we need new owners…
It would be nice for KJ to comment here wouldn’t it?
The Manager or Coach at my beloved Wolves is not the problem and has not been for some time.
KJ is no SAF and probably never will be but he is a decent journeyman Coach who seems honest and straightforward.
The common thread running through the whole sequence that took us back to League Division Three (Lets call it what it really is) is Moxey.
Daves Jones was crapped on, to be fair Hoddle saw the writing on the wall and could not be bothered, Mick had things to prove and did a job for us upto a point at which time anyone with hallf a brain knew it was time to say thanks theres the door. Other appointments should never have been made.
It is so obvious what goes on at the Mol, KJ comes in full of honesty and good intentions but there is no doubt many of his recent actions are not of his making and are financially driven. I have watched as slowly he has had to start putting spin on things that he can not control or influence.
Someone mentioned morale, the game is so competitive now that everything has to be aligned to get the last gramme out of the team. I once was lucky enough to work for a company that just grew and grew was succesful and very well managed, we all walked on water and would run thru brick walls to make it happen. Then in recession we failled to make our numbers for a Month. We all expected mass changes and firings but it was business as usual and frankly the rot set in and we were never the same. It went from winning being everything to not being the end of the Wolrd. The point i make is when players see management more interested in balancing the books than success on the field, it sets a tone and an attitude of why should i worry if they dont. The cutting edge goes. KJ can try all he wants and threaten all he wants but they know he is not calling the shots and will not be given the money to replace them.
Balancing books is fine but Moxeys mistake is to focus blindly on this and to know when to invest to grow. His sweety shop style will have us at break even or in small profit even in the Conference. It is a self fulfilling prophecy and a sure way to shrink a business.
Moxey is the root cause.
Morgan is to blame becasue of his continued faith in letting Moxey run it.
SAF s success was due to the fact that he looked for and got every little single advantage there was to be had in every situation. He ran the team and any player not with him was against him and gone. In their way Bill Shankly was the same, he did not miss a trick in taking every thing he could for his team. Cloughie too made average players into good players. The reverse is happeneing with us, good players become below average with us but buck up when they move on.
Come on Morgan show some ambition or sell us, the fans are there, hell we put 28,000 bums on seats for you against Orient.
Agree totally with what u say NY Wolf
NY Wolf, you talk a lot of sense like a man who has a lot of corporate experience at a pretty high level.
I’m assuming that you’ve got a few bob (sorry, dollars) stashed away.
I know that Martin is very comfortably off, Clive has gotta be rolling in it, Thomas and Ben are well known movers and shakers in the glitterati set and I have a couple of quid put away for a rainy day.
All that, coupled with the combined wealth of the rest of the bloggers should be enough to tempt the Scouser to sell up and put the club into the hands of people who care.
I’ll get my financial department onto it straight away and see what can be done.
Do you want to ring Morgan, or shall I?
DOOG, you flatter me but I have been around a bit and like most of us can spot a failing business model a la Moxeys. Learned from some good guys its just not one thing you have to do it all right, but trust me if you keep doing the right things good stuff happens. Moxey has no idea about whats right.
I have often thought what it might take to put a group together to do the bus. I am convinced there is a great opportunity and huge pent up demand for a powerhouse team from the West Midlands, at the moment it is Villa but by default and definitly not a powerhouse. It could and should be Wolves, premiership football a product on the filed and suck in those West Midlands hungry fans. Trust me they would come, just look how fickl;e Villas fans are 50% would jump ship. I think the only thing stopping some sesnible new investment in UK Soccer is the lack of proper control. The Prem does what it wants, agents do what ever they want and are sucking the life blood, while the FA who should be controlling and running the gamne does FA. The Hennessey thing is all about players being tapped and influenced, its all about the agents and their advice these days.
Until someone gets some better control of the game sensible investment is scared away.
PS I will check my piggy bank and could possibly pay Morgan more than he paid.
God Save my beloved Wolves
Sorry I meant he does not know when to invest to grow.
Regarding SAF I still remeber when he effectively talked Villa out of buying Keano. It was cynical and clever.
How lovely to see Johnson looking like a complete clown for another team.
I worried his shite performances were down to something at Wolves (let’s not forget he looked good at blues).
But no, having watched him moonwalk from the half way line before letting YaYa have a free shot on goal I had a moment of clarity.
He was a complete waste of money – just like O’Hara. Two rubbish signings by Mick in my opinion.
Anybody realised that since ohara was let back in the first team, we have not played as well, or had the results we had, when he has totally left out. What a cock up by everyone concerned with the ohara episode. Where is he? Still trying to get fit? Unbelievable for a professional footballer to be “unfit” for this amount of time. Why has it all gone quiet? During november he was the missing link we desperately needed. Almost as funny as johnson playing for west ham. If they keep him, get your money on west ham to definately be relegated.
I suspect Mr Johnson is quickly going to be our problem again soon, like O’Hara
I agree Wolves4ever whats the scoop on Jamie boy . Lets just give the buggars away.
There comes a point when you have to take the hit . Come on Mr Moxey the “business” man you know as well as i do that sometimes you have to write your assets down or off. I wonder what we have them on the books for?