According to a sports journalist far worthier than most, good football managers solve problems.
Bad ones create them, apparently.
So as our historic season in the Premier League approaches the finishing line, we can give Big Mick a big pat on the back for finding a number of dilemma defying solutions.
Tightening up the team; pushing Ronnie to right back; giving Mancienne a midfield mindset; even reducing a Stephen Hunt shaped hole in the unlikely shape of Foley have, to a lesser or greater extent, solved some head-throbbing conundrums which could have turned into a migraine.
Such decisions, not to mention an admirable belief in Elokobi and the ruthless dropping of Wayne Hennessey, have portrayed our manager at his very best.
Big Mick. An indefatigable, assiduous, and downright stubborn bloke. A gritty, decisive leader, who is an inspiration to every one of our young and hungry players (well, maybe not Mairhoffer!).
At his best, he has solved more complications than Countdown. At his worst, he has created one or two for himself through a refusal to drop his ‘favourites’, and a propensity to play the odd round peg in a square hole.
When times were once hard, fans pointed to a Freddy Eastwood headache, a botheration of poor defensive purchases, and an ongoing quandary at left back.
It’s a fine line I guess.
But now, as we look forward to our penultimate game of the season, Mick’s stock has never been higher. He has never been more decisive, he’s never been more resolute. He’s never been better.
So as Merlin basks in the glow of the Golden Palace on Sunday May 9, he’ll know there is another teaser that he’ll have to get his thinking cap on for.
What to do with his squad in the summer.
When he first came to the club, his clarity and conclusiveness was a wonderful first impression.
Ince. Out. Kennedy. Out. Cameron. Out. No messing, no sentiment, and no time for passengers as the introduction to a new club chapter was written.
Now if Jez Moxey’s statement about winning a trophy is true, then surely Mick needs to find that axe from 2007 and get swinging once again.
He gives it ‘full frontal’ to Friend, Vokes, Ward, Keogh, Mairhoffer, Halford, Little, Bia, Hill, Castillo and thanks them for all their hard work.
Like Jemal Johnson, Darren Potter, Craig Davies and Michael McIndoe before them, they were of their time and served an important purpose. But would they have ever helped Mick get to where he wanted?
One thing’s for sure. Whether he does or he doesn’t show them the door, he’ll not get any questions from me.
Great post Ben.
Not all of his decisions have been good ones this season, but it’s great to have a manager who isn’t afraid to make strong calls. And now he’s got us to where we want to be i.e. still in the Premiership, he deserves enormous credit, particularly as we’re all in agreement at the lack of resources he had to play with.
I’m in agreement with your list of players to chop:
Friend, Vokes, Ward, Keogh, Mairhoffer, Halford, Little, Bia, Hill, Castillo
But I can’t see him getting rid of Ward. If he’s happy to deploy the bloke at left-back, left midfield and even center midfield against Blackburn, his versatility will give Mick an excuse to keep him around.
Other players who might well move on:
Stearman
Surman
Iwelumo
Milijas?
I suppose it depends on how many we bring in.
I’ve said all along I think the squad is bloated and we need to ship 7 or 8 out and bring in 3 or 4 players of real quality.
Just hoping the rumours of players like Hooper and Maynard prove wide of the mark. Good Championship players, but we’re already looking to sell five or six of those, so we need to be more ambitious.
Out comes the favourites myth again, of the supposed favourites, Keogh and Ward have been dropped recently and Collins sold, Mick picks the best team for the job in his mind, I don’t always agree with his choices, but I believe he picks them on merit not favouritism. Good to see one of the favourites setting up the equaliser on Saturday!!
For the record, I thought Ward was excellent on Saturday.
Agree, he was good. He wasn’t quite Jarvis, but he did set up the goal and wasn’t too bad going forward. Gave us a bit more in defence (though Jarvis works very hard)
There could be a lot leaving. I would get rid of Ikeme, Iwelumo, The Hof, Friend, Surman, Halford and Hill. There are people like Little who I can see going (feel sorry for him, thought he was really good. Ward can go too, he’ll be kept by Mick. Obviously the loans like Castillo and Bia.
We are being linked with Keane, Maynard and the young one from reading who was really good at Liverpool. Don’t want Maynard, decent player but only in bits and doesn;t look like a Mick player. I can see what you mean about the favourites thing, but we all do. I for one think Chris Iwelumo is playing the wrong sport, but Thomas and Ben don’t and would keep him. I’m sure lots wouldn’t care if Milijas left, but I would. In the end it’s what Mick thinks. Hope he thinks he needs a left back though 😀
Oh and I would keep Vokes, good player with good future I think
Vokes but not Surman? From the sounds of things Vokes looked average at League 1 level with Leeds, whereas Surman was Southampton’s best player at Championship level.
Ask a few Southampton fans, he was massively overrated and Vokes showed he could score in the CCC, he’s also 3 years younger.
Yeah Vokes scored a lot from the bench. I watched Vokes for Leeds, and I thought he was good. Then went onto boards to see them slating him. He’s not all about goals too, he is probably the best of the big men at our club.
I was gonna say we haven’t seen enough of Surman to judge him, but one thing’s for sure; Ward aint going nowhere.
As for the ‘Vokes crap in League 1 speak’, did we all not see him have a good season in the Championship? I know i did. Perhaps cuz he was on loan, he didn’t give it his all. I like Vokes, but if we’re to go after another striker or two and keep SEB, i don’t think there’s room.
I don’t see Ward going anywhere.. I think Mick would have him on bench even if we make the progress we all hope over the next few years. I’d expect Keogh to stay too.
I think you have to remember the intangibles at the club – this isnt Championship Manager – its a tight-knit squad with a good atmosphere and a culture of hard-work that Mick has done well to build.. he won’t be overhauling that too much.
Agree with the others – Halford & Maierhofer will be the tricky ones – big wages and no suitors I fear.
Stearman and Milijas will really depend more on their attitude I’d have thought – are they agitating for a move?
I only see us making 4 or 5 signings this summer so don’t expect too many shocks through the outdoor.
From the E&S…
Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has revealed big investment will continue to restore the club to its former glories long term.
Continue? After our display in the January transfer window is he taking the p*ss? I think the word you are looking for fatty is ‘start’ – not ‘continue’!
I would love to see Keane back at the Wolves, (he comes in third behind Bully and Ince on the best Wolves players list in my lifetime) but I think it is highly unlikely. A great line to spin to sucker a few more of us into snapping up season tickets only to find out we have paid £2million to sign Scunthorpes 19 goal Gary Hooper!
Good post Ben – I agree it is time for a major changing of the guard (if we can afford it!). I would add BCO and take off Ward from your list of casualties I think.
Vokes has to stay. The lad’s only 19 and has shown a lot of promised.
Keep him, shift about 7 players and get 3 or 4 top class players.
I’ll say it now. We won’t get Keane this summer.
And you can quote me on that.
Hallam, any thoughts on Maynard? I don’t mind being linked with a player like that. A bit of pace is always useful. Look at Darren Bent…A championship player with Ipswich, most would have said to leave alone due to lack of Prem experience. Charlton make about 10m on him, and the rest is history.
Agree with Keane, doubt we’ll get him, but its nice to dream.
Ive heard opposite reports on Surman. I spoke to about 30 Saints fans over the course of the season (through work, I’d hasten to add!) and EVERY one of them said he was a class act, so not sure what’s gone wrong there.
Jury out on Vokes for me.
On first hearing of the Maynard interest, i thought it was good, but he’s another unproven player at this level. How do we know hw won’t flop like SEB?Hooper from Scunny? Can’t be serious surely? I do think Gary O’Neil’s good though. But we need to get away from signing Championship players. I like Mick, but one thing against him is that i don’t think he can attract Premier quality, like Allardyce does for example.
My friend, a boro fan, says O’Neill is absolutely useless. Admittedly, that’s only one opinion, but as a boro fan he should know useless when he sees it…
Can’t really say I have seen much of Maynard this season, apart from those few amazing goals he has scored. Could be worth a punt?
Surman I’m still unsure about. Some touches you see him make are fantastic but sometimes he just gets lost, my Saints mates have said that Adam Lallana was the star last season and this (except Lambert), think I’ve spoke to you about this and the JPT before haha.
Vokes simply must stay for me.
I will now paraphrase the Mighty Scooped. In fact I plagerize him 100%!!
If MM was in charge of the best World Eleven of all time, Ward would be his pick for left back….or left wing, or keeper, anywhere, he would play him no matter what.
Is he a love child?
Is he bonking his wife/daughter/sister??
Ward was, is and forever more will be CRAP.
If MM cannot see that, and doesnt shift him out this summer, then he doesn’t know squat from a hill of beans.
(Local Terminology)
Only Doyle, Zoobs, George, The Yank, Henry the Crab and Matt J should be left as certainties, with Mancienne if Chelsea will sell him for a reasonable price.
Who will come in is obviously going to be rumored all over the place, ( bad grammer what I wrote is ) but I think we true fans should wait, see and hope.
But I agree, we need to be looking at quality, team minded, Prem experienced players, no Premie Donnas. ( pun intended)
FOWB
How funny would it be if MM was in charge of the best world 11 of all time. It’d be 70% irish players. Do you reckon he’d be able to get Paul McGrath out of the pub long enough to play?
Ah Nick, a bit harsh on us Spuds !!!
Hard to disagree with most of the “outgoing” list… I would hate to see the likes of Milijas go, Ok he’s not the most physical presence (interesting to see him end up as right full on Saturday) but he has class and a sweet left foot & is one of the best crosser’s of a ball in the prem.. Also he is one of the few midfielders that doesn’t look back when he gets the ball. Hopefully, we’ll get a good lookat him in SA in a more attacking role. Has anyone see Surman play ?? Credit to MM for a strong finish, The 7 points from the 3 Clarets was vital, and lest we think that we have the greatest defence in the world, remember that we gave it a go in those games… I thought the team selection for last Saturday was shocking…. A team of full backs & a formation of 8 1 1…. at home… OK, it was great to see SEB score & we all left happy, but the fact that 50 or so Blackburn fans outsang over 25,000 of us for 81 minutes, reflected what was happening on the pitch !! So, please keep the little attacking quality we have, we all know who needs to go, so hopefully the management can take a cold, dispassionate look at the squad & get rid of 7 or 8 & buy quality rather than quantity.
Forgot to say that Paul McGrath was & always will be the best footballer that Ireland has ever produced…… & actually did arrive for a qualifer with a few jars on him, allegedly !!!!!! Oooh, Aaah, Paul McGrath…..
Leinster – I heard a great line from Big Ron when he was manager at Man Utd. Somebody asked if he was concerned that McGrath, Whiteside and Robson were on the pop too much. He said he wished a few of the others would get hammered with them, as they’re the best 3 players at the club!
Have you read McGrath’s autobiography? What an amazing read. Very sad, but very inspirational reading about his experiences.
Fergie said he could have been the best defender ever.
Where are these adverts coming from?
Thomas, Ben, do your stuff and adios them toot sweet!!
Anyone remember certain Irishmen named Best, and Dougan??
Not interested in North or South, they were Irish, and extremely gifted.
Especially George. For me, only Pele was better, ever.
Forget Cruyff, Madonna, (Hand of God, my arse), Ronaldo, and anyone else.
I saw Pele play in a freindly for Santos at Villa Park in 1973 (think) when we had the rolling power cuts (thanks to Scargill and his tosser miners,) and Pele just mesmerized the Villa players.
Pity the rest of the Brazilians couldn’t perform as well, Villa won 2 – 1, but I saw Pele play live, and there are not that many in England, or Houston, who can brag about that!!
I also saw Doog and Bestie play a time or two as well!!!
FOWB
We have more donkeys than Blackpool beach, time to wield the axe and get some thoroughbreds
Just to let you know guys, the spam ads that were appearing should now be gone.
Apologies for that.
Just found this on the website and thought I’d point it out to you all (and possibly one for the poll Thomas?)
http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2036539,00.html
Personally I would go for Zubar’s vs Palace in the cup
But from this it’d probably be Jones’ goal; it’s just like watching the Arsenal.
Yeah, I saw that one Hallam. Was thinking of doing a post on it.
I think it’s between Milijas vs Bolton and Jones vs Spurs, but I’d probably go for Milijas, just because we so rarely see someone spank one in from thirty yards for Wolves.
I thought we might get four or five like that from the Serbian this year. Maybe next season.
But like you say, Zubar’s should have been included. A sizzling waist high volley going away from goal. Maybe it was just league?
Jones. We came of age with that goal.
Jarvis v West Ham for me !
If I wasn’t married I think I’d be worried about my Jarvis infatuation!
Don’t intend to say this very often but… Fair play Jez – for asking for clarification on team changes and pointing out other teams have done exactly the same this season without any mention of punishment (suspended or not).
The whole treatment of our club over this issue was a disgrace that shows just why the Premier league is ‘full of sh*t’. How dare a promoted side pick a team from their registered squad of players! Man Utd, Liverpool and more recently Fulham have all done it (and I dont blame them) – perhaps as they are in Europe that makes it different sokme how? I think not!
Its also great how the management team said very little at the time, and now we are safe are making the Premier league look like the bunch of c***s they really are. Dignity and minimal disruption to the playing staff – excellent management, well done.
Wolves are being linked with Dindane and Hunt today – yes please to both for me. Also looking like the Robbie Keane stuff is just newspaper talk – £8million for a 30 year old seems a little flippant for a team in our position anyway.
Hopefully next season all this will go away because of the 25 registered players rule. Mind you the fact U21s don’t need to be registered could still mean weakened sides…
Yeah but Keane guarantees goals, no messing, i wouldn’t mind paying out 8 mill for him. What about Piquionne (or however you spell it) from Pompey? I think he looks pretty good
That’s true in my heart too Rich – I loved watching Robbie during his time at the club.
In my head though my worry is that he could be a player on the way down after his spell on Liverpools bench and unconvincing return to Spurs. Ok, so he is doing well for Celtic but I think I could score goals in that league as there are only two teams in it!
He’d defo be an improvement on what we have got up front to partner Doyle, but the price (and his wages) put the fear of god in me! At 30 it isn’t like there will be any resale value either (unlike our other great signings of Halford, the hof etc! ha,ha,ha!)
And while we are at it, let’s go for Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo.
All the rumors are just that, rumors.
We know that it is our policy, and a good one, to conduct transfer business in private wherever possible.
It has been a quiet week for footie news, coz we have no interest in the European Cup anymore, so the press are doing what they always do, and making shit up, to justify their existence.
Let’s wait and see what magic bunnies MM has up his sleeve, and give him time, we’ve got all summer, to go after some good signings.
Maybe after the World Cup, which England are obviously gonna win, we will have some more targets to go after.
FOWB
I assume you will be supporting England during the World Cup, Clive 😉
Is Milijas our only player going to the WC?
No chance of that – Ireland and Sunderland are not at the world cup so MM will be sh*t out of ideas!
USA might make it in as third choice keeper – but Millijas is the only one that makes the Paninni stiker album (how sad is it that I know this?)
Yeah I saw that too. Was pretty disappointed.
Can’t see why USA wouldn’t go, he has been the best keeper in the PL this season according to Opta…