It’s been widely documented that today marks Mick McCarthy’s five-year anniversary as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers football club.
And what a five years it’s been, for the club, for the supporters and for the man himself.
Here’s a brief summary of my opinions on each of Mick’s seasons at the helm.
Year 1 – 2006/07
Greatest success – Picking up the tatters after Glenn Hoddle’s traumatic era, building a team with little to no resources and miraculously getting us into the play-offs. We lost 4 out of 5 encounters with Albion but the memory of Jay Bothroyd’s goal and Matt Murray’s heroics in the 1-0 home win will never be forgotten.
Greatest disappointment – Getting tonked at home to Albion in the FA Cup was probably the low point (not least because of the ‘Pie and a Pint’ debacle) but everyone appreciated the club was in transition and our rivals just simply had better players.
Overall – A strong first season at the helm for Mick. I think most fans knew that both manager and players had overachieved. Better times were ahead, particularly with Steve Morgan taking over the reigns from Sir Jack with the promise of investment.
Year 2 – 2007/08
Greatest success – Although this season would ultimately end in disappointment as we narrowly missed out on the play-offs, Mick made several important additions to the squad, bringing in the likes of Foley, Jarvis and SEB, who as we know would ultimately make big contributions to the success that followed. The best match was probably the 3-2 away win at Charlton featuring that goal from SEB and a dramatic late winner from Karl Henry.
Greatest disappointment – Not making the play-offs – simple as that. After doing so well in his first season and bringing in better players, fans expected to make the top six as a minimum. Sadly though, the likes of Kightly and Jarvis both missed huge chunks of the season and the whole Freddy Eastwood saga caused the first serious divide between manager and fans.
Overall – A real low point in McCarthy’s tenure. The fans felt the team was more than capable of making the play-offs but team selections, specifically the constant emission of Eastwood, were pinpointed as a major factor in our failure to do so. Many wanted the manager gone.
Year 3 – 2008/09
Greatest success – Winning the Championship. A whole generation of fans had never seen us lift a trophy but that all changed in 2009 thanks to Mick. Everything just seemed to fall into place. Kightly and Jarvis played were finally paired together and other key additions were made in the form of Sam Vokes, Dave Jones, Richard Stearman and the awesome Chris Iwelumo. These players were ultimately the difference between missing out on the play-offs and winning the league. Mick identified them and brought them in. Simple as.
Greatest disappointment – Not much to quibble about this time around. Some of the performances after New Year were very poor but we got over the line, which was fully deserved having practically sat on top from start to finish. Mick squeezed every drop from the players and got big contributions from everyone.
Overall – Couldn’t have gone better and his stock was at an all time high. However many questioned whether he’d be able to keep Wolves in the Premier League having struggled to make an impact there when manager of Sunderland.
Year 4 – 2009/10
Greatest success – Keeping Wolves in the Premier League. Mission accomplished. A few of the players he brought in, combined with the majority of the Championship-winning side he also assembled got the job done. Convincing Kevin Doyle to sign from Reading was a real coup and the likes of Milijas, Zubar, Mancienne, Guedioura and Hahnemann all made vital contributions to the cause. Mick also made a strong decision in completely switching tactics half-way through, adopting a 451 formation that delivered us our best run of results all season.
Greatest disappointment – Not spending big on a defender. We were linked with everyone during the summer of 2009 but only the unknown quantity of Ronald Zubar and the returning Michael Mancienne were added. We cried out for Premiership experience but got diddly-squat. Money was wasted on the likes of Halford, Surman and The Hoff, who all promised much but delivered zip. Fielding a weakened XI at Old Trafford incurred the wrath of Britain as well as a large group of his own fans.
Overall – Success. Keeping us up was the challenge and he did that – with games to spare too. You might argue that Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley were poor competition but we finished above two other sides as well. Mick proved he could manage in the top tier and I think more or less everyone was thrilled for him.
Year 5 – 2010/11
Greatest success – Again, keeping Wolves in the Premier League. Some fans wanted more, but I always felt the league was going to be a lot tougher and therefore the challenge was greater. The signings of Hunt and Fletcher looked questionable at the turn of the year, but proved vital come May. His tactics were questioned throughout but he pulled off masterstrokes in the wins over Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and of course, West Brom.
Greatest disappointment – Poor defensive signings for the second consecutive season. Van Damme, dubbed the saviour to our left-back quandary was almost immediately re-branded a midfielder and promptly left on the first ferry home, Mouyokolo barely played but looked a yard off the pace when he did and Mancienne suffered the worst of his three seasons on loan. Again, we begged for proven Premiership class but none was forthcoming. His tactics, whilst sometimes brilliant, were more often strange and seemingly illogical.
Overall – For me – success. Yes, it took basically the last kick of the season to keep us up, but it was a ruddy hard Premier League and to get more points than we did the season prior was a noteworthy achievement. It could have been better, but it could so easily have been worse.
Securing a third consecutive season of top-flight football, when you consider what he inherited is some achievement.
Yes, he’s spent some money, yes, he’s made some mistakes, yes, he’s the most stubborn, belligerent son of a gun you’re ever likely to encounter, but he’s unquestionably the best manager we’ve had for over 30 years.
Fact.
A very good summation.
I don’t agree with all of it though.
Pointedly, you mention that some fans wanted him gone after 2 years, because of bewildering tactics.
Times haven’t changed much, have they?
He did what was asked of him, but he is not a good tactician; he is far too loyal to mediocre players, putting far too much emphasis on shifts; he is far too stubborn and arrogant; he does not have the necessary management skills for this level of football and I do not believe he even has a keen sense of a good player.
Thank you for what you have done…….and goodbye.
I don’t know who to suggest to replace him, but if we are going to become a perennial Premier League force, for many, many years, we need a completely new management and coaching team.
I will continue the FOMM campaign ad nauseum!!
ad nauseum is right.
sorry that should have been here – boring!
Hi Thomas, a regular reader of your blog, this being the first time I’ve felt obliged to contribute.
Clive, you and many others are entitled to your opinion, but your logic really does baffle me. As Thomas refers, the gap between ourselves and WBA in the 2006/07 season was, despite somewhat deceiving league positions, astronomical. With having only 16 players when Mick arrived, the gap painstakingly looked like it was going to grow ever bigger.
Since that season, Albion have yo-yo’d up and down and having finished strongly last season can be considered to have made ample progress since that season. Yet despite this, we took 4 points off them last season and in my opinion can hope to finish above our Sandwell Town counterparts this campaign.
What a testimony to Mick that we are in a position to do that. He has closed the gulf when he had absolutely no right to do so. I honestly believe no other manager would have us anywhere NEAR this position had they been in charge for the last 5 years.
For heavens sake, let’s pat the guy on the back and leave him to continue the wonderful job he has done.
Thanks for the kind words mate. Suffice to say I agree with the points you make.
The Albion team we faced that first season frightened the life out of me. The fact we were even able to compete with them was testament to the job Mick did cleaning up Hoddle’s mess.
Really lovely to hear from long-time readers as well as our treasured regular commentators.
boring. very very boring.
excellent blog, the analysis quite rightfully weighing up the good and bad!
Other low points – almost leaving to coach korea (but didn’t…), plus the lack of a cup-run. Anybody predicting a run this year??
High points – realistic, sustainable, proud success. best manager, best players. FACT.
It’s been a great five years, and there’s hopefully more to come.
The best thing I think, is that he has put together a team that works their socks off and genuinely care about our club!
Well done Mick.
Quite right. It’s the fact that it genuinely matters to them which we should thank Mick for. Priceless quality for the club as a whole.
Excellent blog post – We are very luck to have a manager like Mick McCarthy! And as for the year 4/5 disappointments, Johnston’s signing was a step in the right direction right? 😉
One I posted earlier on another blog
I was more than happy with the appointment of MM after the disgrace of an effort by the last guy (not even worth putting his name down). Was delighted with the first season and disappointed with the second. Obviously the 3rd was outstanding and to stay in the prem for the next 2 seasons has been great. I was a bit fed up near the end of last season with the way that MM tends to continue to pick players that are well out of their depth in this league such as big George (yes his attitude is faultless and his effort, but his skill and quality are fairly non-existent). This for me is Micks biggest fault. I cannot believe that hand on heart he cannot see the issues with certain players but he still brings them in out of a sense of loyalty and the putting in a shift syndrome. There are not many teams whose complete fan base can be happy with their incumbent manager and I am sure there is no one manager with the possible exception of Fergie that fans feel get it right every time. What I do admire about Mick is his effort and straight talking of which there is not enough of in most workplaces. All in all I am more than happy with the man who has brought more success to Wolves in the past 5 years than a combination of many in the past 25. For the constant knockers of MM they need to get a grip on reality and ask themselves who would have done better and for how much? Onwards and upwards and please lets have a decent left back brought in, I would be happy with no other signings as long as we get a decent LB
I know united fans who during last season were bemoaning siralex and saying he’s past his best, this team isn’t as good as the 1999 one and so on…
Most managerial careers will end with the sack. Most fans believe their team is only three players short of greatness and that a new manager can transform lead into gold. I remember the 80s a bankrupt club and near derelict stadium then the transformation of the club by Graham Turner, Steve Bull and Jack Hayward. Integrity is not a quality much in evidence these days when every player and manager has his price but I think Mick is a man of integrity. He deserves respect which does not mean fawning adulation or uncritical acceptance of every decision made.
But the idea of following a campaign whose slogan is “I don’t know who to suggest to replace him, but if we are going to become a perennial Premier League force, for many, many years, we need a completely new management and coaching team.” is laughable. I look forward to hear it chanted from the terraces.
Thanks for the last five years. It’s been emotional
Weighing up the pros and cons of Mick i’d give him a big thumbs up for everything he has achieved even going as far to say with what he started we have over achieved. The club is in an excellent posistion and had someone offered any of our fans the 5 years we have had 5 years ago i think 99% would of snapped the hand off. All micks teams give 100% and you can argue they arent good enough but he seems to be looking at the right areas to improve the squad. He did identify both Johnson and Dann and had we got them i think we would be mid table comfortable.
On another note the lad from Hearts has signed for Rangers so maybe Ridgewell. i am also suprised that we havent stuck our noses in for Foster if the 1 mill loan and 4 mill if blues dont come up is true i think thats outstanding Value. Im still confident with have another big signing in us but if not the 2 mentioned player would do me nicely.
Yes, very interesting that Wallace went to Rangers. I really thought he’d end up at Wolves before the start of the season.
It looks increasingly likely that Elokobi will start the season at left-back. Surely Ward can’t be expected to again act as cover as well as being our fourth choice striker?
I suspect we’ll either get a left-back or forward and a midfielder. Both loans probably. Spearing and Bertrand are names we’ve been linked with and I’d be happy enough with those two on board,
Dontcha love this blog??!!!
I stick with my opinion, if we are mid table and respectable at the end of the season I will eat copious amounts of humble pie.
Of course I want us to do well, like everyone else.
But, if we are adrift come Christmas, what then???
I hope this will be a moot discussion as we go top of the table over the new year!!!
Didn’t you say you’d eat humble pie if we stayed up Clive you tinker?
Still choking on it……..key lime flavored is best!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll sttle for you drinking the gravy of your bile and contempt
This made me chuckle.
Clive. I am sure that if we are adrift at Christmas behind QPR, Swansea, and Norwich many fans will join your relentless and unneccessary criticism of McCarthy. It’s a bit of a no-brainer really and therefore not very helpfull to the debate of MM’s reign so far! Likewise, if we are mid-table all fans will be happy at the end of the season. It will be our highest ever PL finish.
Surely this is an appropriate time to realise that that since he joined the club that somehow despite him not being a ‘good tactician,’ he has accidently taken us further forward than we have ever been and there is not a case to bring (allbeit unnamed by you) manager in.
Credit please where credit due. What MM has achieved in the last five years is really quite remarkable, and he deserves all the thanks from the legions of Wolves fans.
Some may say he has been lucky in that he was the right man, in the right place etc to awaken a genuine sleeping giant, and get the club back into a place where it should have been years before with its traditions, history and support base.
The point made earlier in the blog about MM`s loyalty to players well out of their depth is well made and one I agree with. As a consequence we have a massive squad lacking in genuine premier class in many positions. Next season will be just as hard as last year, and team selection and tactics will be under even greater scrutiny.
On the other hand Morgan is right that stability is important so lets hope MM gets it right next season, and has another successful year by keeping my team in the premiership for the fourth season,
lets
Who says that? Look at all those before him who couldn’t do it, with much more to spend.
It’s been a success. Look where we were to where we are now. Simple as.
SUPER, SUPER MICK, SUPER, SUPER MICK, SUPER, SUPER MICK, SUPER MICK MCCARTHY!
How different this particular blog would be without that Spurs goal against Blues in the eighty-something minute! This shows the fine margins you work with as the manager of a lower level Prem team.
MM starts with a clean slate again for me this season – but I will already begin to doubt his skills if we do not address the left back issue.
Roll on the new season, roll on someone other than Ward at LB!
RE Charlton game – bloody hell, I forgot that Karl Henry used to score goals!
yeah but how different that last day would have been if zubar hadn’t wasted 2 points against bolton, or if foley had just headed the ball clear before it dropped for the winger at blackpool. how different would things have been if bully never recovered from early knee injury, or if a hurricane had killed sir jack in the bahamas, or if hitler had won the war, or if the cuban missile crisis sparked nuclear war.
we stayed up. deal with it.
I agree that our left back position is a major weakness and needs to be addressed if we are to have a more comfortable season this time around. But our weakness in one position shouldn’t be used as a decisive criticism of Mick’s time in charge. 5 years ago we’d have killed for a squad where we only lacked real quality in one position!
I might also add that if you’re going to have a dodgy left back, I can’t think of a dodgy left back I’d rather have than Big George.
Already have! Got my TPS ordered and Sky Sports remains active – cant wait for 13 August! 22 days and counting!
Still say we need a LB though.
Actually, it was Hunt’s goal that kept us up. We would have stayed up on goals scored even if Pavluychenko hadn’t scored to make it 2-1..
And the Charlton game… there was a much much better goal but Karl’s was also brilliant. Have a look at the goal and you see freddy Eastwood jogging slowly in the centre circle while Henry legs it to get on the end of Kevin kyle’s cross!
I’ve been reading the blog since it started and now just venturing in for a comment. I suppose as I spend most of the year outside of the uk I feel it difficult to comment (although I see that doesn’t stop others!!).
Mick – for me I always find it hard to talk about him objectively because I dislike him so much, always have done, long before he was our manager. But when I consider the long years under Sir Jack, all those managers and all that money spent and zip until Dave Jones got us up, what Mick started with after Hoddle and the relatively small amount spent to get us up in 3 seasons and having stayed up, well I can only doff my cap and say fair play to him. Where we go now I guess is a whole other argument.
One other thing – Thomas I was meant to comment on the blog you did about the design of the site. What about adding a small space for topical short discussion on; press articles, transfer gossip, during and immediate post match comments and the like, as I see mostly this is done on the most recent blog even if its irrelevant. It could be limited to a smallish number of characters in a Twitter type way.
Great stuff everyone.
Good blog. Difficult to argue with much of that. If I’d had me a deadly accurate crystal ball 5 years ago, I’d gladly have settled for that record with arms open. (Plus I’d do much, much better in the Prediction League 😀 )
PS. Mick’s aged 10 years in 5, don’t you think?
In the words of the wise and wonderful Borat – Great success.
He’s talked the talk and walked the walk. Is he something like the 4 or 5 longest serving Premiership manager now? (Fergie, Wenger…Pulis….now I’m strugging).
I here we’re looking at Thomas Heltaskelter as well…. BOOOOOOOOOOM…. There goes the net…..or seat 23 Row Z.
5th longest I think – Moyes too…
And Wenger, Pulis, Moyes have won how much silverware between them in the last 5 years??????????
We all got our opinions, but the bottom line is, we ALL want The Wolves to do well.
I dislike McCarthy as a manager, moan about him all the time and have nothing good to say about him, BUT, it does not mean I want us to do badly, just to be proved correct, quite the contrary.
If we get off to a raring start, I’ll be singing his praises with the rest of you, because it will mean he’s got it right.
I want nothing more than to win every match, get into Europe and be back as a force in the land, as we were in the early 70’s.
Then we would all have something to shout about, and not just staying in the division by the skin of Tottenham’s teeth.
So, keep bashing me, I’m old enuff and ugly enuff to take it all, and not take it personally. I would love to be wrong about him.
PS, I was once told I was the world’s biggest shit stirrer, so I gotta live up to me title!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a nice weekend, y’all.
Forget the 70’s. Forget the 50’s. Remember the majority of the 80’s and 90’s and be grateful. All ofcourse, in my opinion, you old, ugly, shit stirrer you….
Stop hatin’ player!
Yes Moyes Putney cheers.
You wanna try that again…………….preferably in sober English??????
You wha..? You wha….? You wha you wah you wah?
i know its a little off track but ive read on the Expreass and Star we have only spent 7.5 mill on Johnson and Ohara does anybody else know anything about this. If its true i think we have a couple of good quality signings left in us
Anyone see the dispatches doc on Monday night? Just watched it on iplayer and they seemed to accuse us of something as we’re offshore owned. There was a discussion on Molineux Mix about it. Surprised none of us Wolves Bloggers had mentioned it.
Late equaliser conceded as a result of cross not cut out from our left side yet again.
Total change of subject.
That FIFA bloke Bin Hamman from Qatar has been banned for life, for bribery relating to Qatar’s bid for the 2022 World Cup.
Questions.
Shouldn’t there now be a complete re vote, to hopefully get an un rigged result?
Should England re present their campaign?
Do we really care?
Afternoon cliveO. There should be a revote but there won’t be. Englands case was for 2018 so unless Russia fool around with sepp blatters wife I don’t England getting another chance. Not too bothered, not like we were going to win it!
In an abbreviation..
W<3MM
Thanks for the continued success Mick
W<3MM
I remember the first home game when Mick took charge at home against Ipswich. There were only just over 17,000 at the game, but there was more passion, desire and atmosphere in that game than all of the previous 18 months of dross that had been served up by twoddle. I think that game sums up big Mick’s reign, 100% commitment, players who care for the club and real pride in being a Wolves fan. Master tactician or not, we owe this guy a whole heap of gratitude for giving us our magnificent club back and putting us where we rightly belong.
I was there. What a match. When Cort was sent off it was like we were playing Man Utd the way we seemed to be massive underdogs. And the Matt Murray penalty save.. Just brilliant. At the end came the cheer. We’ve beat Ipswich! Then we went on to beat Leeds with that Bothroyd screamer. Great times.
I’m with Clive FOMM
Last season was a terrible terrible season and its only because we raised our games against the big teams that we stayed up. Why can’t we beat Wigan, Blackburn et al?????
We are in for another difficult season, expect nothing but a relegation scrap again. Fortunately for McCarthy the 3 promoted teams are the worst promoted teams for many a year.
Trouble with McCarthy is that we could sign Ashley Cole and he would be warming the bench while one Stephen Ward makes 38 starts and we concede 100 goals down our left side.
McCarthy has taken us has far as he is capable and I am very grateful for what he has done, but to improve we must let someone else take us to the elusve next level, otherwise sooner or later the trap door will open and through it we will fall
I agree totally what you wrote.I think time will tell where he will take us.
I still think he’s more luck than judgement MANAGER…