You could probably just about tolerate 180 minutes of turgid, one-paced cup football if your team at least emerged victorious from the tie.
With that in mind, Blues fans will probably feel satisfied with their night’s work. Good luck to them I say. I don’t begrudge them the win.
For Wolves and Mick McCarthy there’s no such consolation.
We were awful, both individually and as a team.
But lets start with the former.
Elokobi was a liability throughout. Yes, he made a vital goal-saving lunge in the first half (which I thought was a foul by the way) but his total lack of awareness and incompetence on the ball make me shudder everytime he has possession.
Sadly though George, you narrowly miss out on the numpty of the match champagne.
No, that’s most definitely reserved for another deserving culprit.
Step forward Stephen Hunt.
We all know he’s been woefully anonymous in recent times, but his performance last night was taking the flippin’ Michael.
He sauntered around, half a yard off the pace and quite obviously just couldn’t be arsed.
You can normally tell within the first 10-15 minutes of any match whether he’s up for it or not. If he is, ala Blues at home last season, you’ve got a real player on your hands.
80% of the time though, he doesn’t show anywhere near those levels of interest and isn’t the type of player who can operate effectively in cruise control.
He was easily the worst of a very poor bunch.
Still, however bad individuals were, the manager must shoulder much of the blame for the team performance.
Anyone who comes out two days before the game has even kicked off and proclaims ‘It’ll be Doyler and Sylvan up top’ as if that’s some sort of declaration of attacking intent is living in cloud cuckoo land.
That says to me, that in his head it doesn’t matter who else he plays because two out of form forwards, both dining off past accomplishments as opposed to anything they’ve done recently, will get the job done.
That was never, ever going to be the case.
I said in my preview I’d play 451 because we needed to make better use of the ball in the middle of the pitch and not just hoof it long to the forwards.
Well low and behold what did we do?
The same thing we always do in a 442 of course, pass it around the back four, run out of ideas and shell it long.
Nice one Mick.
He got two bites of the cherry in this tie and patently didn’t learn his lesson from the first taster.
I despair.
You can only imagine what the millions who tuned into ITV made of it.
Like them, I’d rather have watched Coronation Street.
I’ve been a vocal supporter of MM for a long time but now even I agree it’s time for a change. We were clueless, uninterested and piss poor. If they were not bothered why throw Fletch on at the end and risk injury chasing a lost cause? And of course what makes it even worse for me is that I live in Birmingham smack between st andrews and villa park, so the stick I’m getting today will probaly be a lot worse at the weekend, without a minor miracle!
Great blog, Hunt and Elokibi were liabilities.
Doherty should come out with some praise as he was excellent at RB, should be second choice behind Foley but we know how Mick operates that he won’t be.
Embarrassed to be a Wolves fan this morning, and with Morgan`s statement last week that results must improve, the silence from the boardroom is defeaning.
Of course results (and performances) won`t improve under this dinasuar of a manager, who unfortunatley has mispent and misused the promotion legacy by showing no understanding of what is needed in the modern game. Pace, movement and athleticsm are basic requirements at all levels, as shown by the mighty and unlucky Milton Keynes at QPR on Tuesday, with another exWolves youngster Gleeson excelling in midfield.
Like you said Thomas, we change formation at a whim, not having spent MM`s tenure developing a way of playing. I agree Hunt & Elokobi were awful, but so was Mijas who isn`t mobile or quick enough for any level of the English game. We were one light in midfield, as we were at St Andrews and MM doesn`t appear to see that his 2 man midfield is outmanoevered week after week.
We pass but dont move, everything is static because the players are`nt quick enough or good enough, but worse of all they just don`t seem bothered or interested. This is where MM has taken us to, if this continues how long before the supporters take the same view, or have they already given the empty seats last night.
For goodness sake get a new manager in who can turn this around, before things get even worse.
Agree much here – MM is the major culprit he keeps reverting to his favoured brand of 4-4-2 which has yielded so few good performances or results in over 2 years.
I agree with everything Thomas has said. It’s agony to watch these stone age tactics and the way possession is lost after one or two passes.
But I don’t despair of our players, I’m sure they would thrive with modern coaching methods. Think what a clever player Kevin Doyle is, how he’s wasted racing all over the park. There are plenty of others who have all the basic skills. A few weeks ago I said how I thought Milijas and Guedioura would do well in a passing team, and the response to that was that Milijas is too slow and Adlene can’t pass. I don’t agree, they just need the confidence of the coach behind them and a system that makes the most of their talents. Nenad has a brain, I loved his goal against Manchester City in the league cup. As for Adlene, if he can’t pass why did we sign him when we had him on loan for half a season?
Sorry Mick! But don’t worry, I’ll be there on Saturday cheering the lads on.
Wolves are the worst team in the Premiership…we are lucky that we are not bottom of the pack…but , still the teams below us play much better football than us. What is the use of having three decent wingers when we dont have a pure centre forward ? Why didn’t Wolves keep the Hoff when at least he would surely hit one of the many crosses coming his way! We lack ideas, we lack creativity and in my honest opinion Hennessey and Fletcher are the only two players keeping us above water. I was never one of the Sack Mick brigade…but, now I believe that the time has come for a change before it is too late. A team bereft of ideas and class….just graft and hard work. That alone , will not save us this season…we have ridden our luck so far….I dont believe it will be again this season. We have to start winning….and fast.
Having been in the away end last night i was surprised even with the tv cameras there to see such a poor home crowd.I can see why MM is getting panned on here because your team reminds me so much of us last season and a new start with a good manager has improved us and i think you need the samew before you end up back in the championship .
I wish you had watched Coronation St. too, then I would have not had to read that drivel, why not serve up constructive critisim, rather than just post anti Mick articles?
Who could we get in that would be better than Mick?
Why is it Micks fault the reserves are carp?
Why isnt Morgan putting his hand in his pocket to sign Bassong, Jone et al?
The Steve Bull Stand has been posponed, why? are they going to spend on the team???
Blame MM
Hmm, I suspect you glanced rather than read mate.
With all due respect, I feel my criticism, particularly of McCarthy, was constructive.
But you’re fully entitled to your opinion.
Answers to your questions below:
Who could we get in that would be better than Mick?
Where in the article did I suggest he should be sacked. Again you didn’t read in detail before replying. I simply pointed out that he got it wrong last night, which he unquestionably did given the performance.
Why is it Micks fault the reserves are carp?
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but did he not sign each and every one of those players? Hmm…
Even so, I acknowledge it wasn’t our strongest team, but he could done better with the players he had. Again, it goes back to systems and style of play.
Why isnt Morgan putting his hand in his pocket to sign Bassong, Jone et al?
You’d have to ask Steve Morgan.
The Steve Bull Stand has been posponed, why? are they going to spend on the team???
See above answer.
You want constructive criticism?
The players are ruled through fear.
Fear of doing something to upset our glorious manager and then getting dropped like a hot spud.
I agree with Scooped, the players are being coached to play anti – football, to kill the game, stop the other team (ha) getting possession, thereby nullifying their scoring opportunities.
To have three of our players, in control of the ball, inside the opposition’s half, with no opponent within ten yards, is to me, pretty good.
Why do we then hoof the ball back to the keeper, who thumps it upfield for the forwards to hopefully get an edge, like we do EVERY TIME WE KICK OFF, at which we have sadly had plenty of practise.
This is a “tactic” drilled into the players by the coaching staff, otherwise they would’nt do it.
The coaching staff are supervised and chosen by the manager, therefore it is his fault we are so bad.
As stated many times on here, we have the players in the squad, who have the footballing skills to keep us in the division, but not the management.
I too watched MK Dons run rings around QPR the other night……….excellent football. Why can’t we get their manager?
There are a lot of young men out there, with good modern footballing brains, who would jump at the chance to manage a Premier League club, so why not get one, we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
We need an egg, not a fuckin’ fossil.
Get that useless lump of rhetoric spewing waste of skin out of our beloved club, Morgan, and make sure that other walking disaster, Moxey, goes with him.
Villa must be rubbing their hands with glee after watching that shit last night.
FOMM
Great comments Clive ……I feel embarassed to call myself a Wolves fan today . No ref to blame , nobody else to blame this time . Clueless and when you witness Swansea passing the ball around on Sunday , MK Dons passing the ball around against QPR it tells me we have not got enough players with basic ability . Thank you Mick but time to move on . Big changes are needed throughout and needed now !
Not progressing the development of the Steve Bull stand must be weighing heavily on the conscience of MM. I take it to be Morgan’s way of saying you’re in the departure lounge. But then booing is not allowed (and I agree that it is wrong and I shuddered during the Newcastle match) then staying away is the only option left for a disillusioned supporter, right ? I for one will keep going when I can regardless how shite we play coz but In hope rather than expectation. We never look like winning a game nevermind thumping another team but at least we only let in one per game now.
Clive please name these managers you would like to manage us?
The players are living in fear of the fickle fickle fans, no wonder we are gaining good points away from home against London clubs, our away support is good.
did you see the attendance yesterday? Too many fans for them? Maybe they should step down a few leagues. We have a stadium miles away from the pitch yet people blame the fans!
Hang the DJ – what utter nonsense. We are 19th in the Away Table… it’s the home form keeping us out the relegation zone!
One thing I imagine we both agree on is that Jez wishes all the fans were like you!
How many times does it have to be repeated, it is the manager who picks and coaches the players, and stifles the life out of any creativity.
Not many on here are bitching about the players, but all of us, on here and on other blogs, are bitching about McDickwadhead.
As to new manager ……N. E. Won.
FOMM
Ha ha, ‘limiting the other side’s scoring chances?’
When do we EVER keep a clean sheet?
Good tactics Mick…
Good comment Clive!
also was very impressed with your new stand and hope to see it finished in the prem next season,hope you get a result against the vile sotv.
I’d disagree the worst player on the park for me was Hammil, he was ball greedy and couldn’t cross for toffee. For all of his failings at least Hunt tackled back!
It was terrible, but lets put into context. It was our reserves, MM made ten changes from the side that played at Spurs. MM wanted some answers on players and whether they were up for the challenge and in my view these are the answers he got.
De Vries – Ok pulled off a couple of saves and looked relatively solid.
Elokobi – Still a liabilty probably should have conceded a penalty for that tackle. As much as I like him if anyone offers cash for him we should snap their hand off.
Berra – Good but still prone to the game costing mistake probably wouldn’t have played had Johnson been fit.
Stearman – Looked relatively solid in the middle and offered a decent attacking outlet down the right at the end. Was unfortunate that the linesman seemed to have brought the wrong glasess.
Docherty – Solid but his inexperience led to him being caught out of position on a couple of occasions. Unfortunate to have to go off injured.
Hunt – Terribly out of form. Looks like he lacks the confidence to take anyone on. May be loan him out for a month. Denied a goal by a superb reaction save from Doyle
Jonsson – Looks ok, not going to offer us anything going forward but is useful at breaking things up. Decent cover for Henry and Frimpong. Personally I’d like to see him tried at left back next.
Milijas – Poor by his recent standards to many passes went astray and he never really looked like creating to much. His lack of creation combined with our wingers ineffectiveness lead to our strikers feeding off scraps.
Hammil – Worse than poor as he combined his lack of form with holding onto the ball for too long and not tracking back. Lost track of the number of times that he ignored the simple pass into space for Doyle or Ebanks instead opting to take on three defenders, before losing the ball and then not chasing back. Based on this performance hes got a lot of work to do knock Jarvis or Kightly out of the team. A shame as he like Hunt really adds something to the team when hes on form.
Doyle – Obviously bereft of confidence and more importantly supply, he still managed to make himself a nuisance to the opposition defence. Had a few moments where him and Ebanks looked to combine but just lacked options.
Ebanks-blake – For me the most effective of our attacking outlets (Until Fletch came on). Worked bloody hard without ever really threatening the opposition goal. Another one that could benefit from a spell on loan to get match fitness and sharpness. Possibly worth while now if were reverting to 451. His touch let him down on occasion but he didn’t let the opposition defence have time on the ball and was generally an effective out let ball.
Guedierra – Typical performance, lovely crossfield ball and shot followed by giving posession away cheaply. Jekyl and Hyde another one who didn’t show anything new to merit a first team start.
Fletcher – Lets face it if he had of started he would have scored. We are just miles more effective with him up front. That said I wouldn’t have started him either he is too precious a commodity to risk on games that in reality don’t mean anything. Premier league survival is key not an FA cup run.
Ward – Wasn’t on long but with one tackle looked more comfortable than Elokobi at full back.
On the face of it it was a terrible performance and a horrible result, but the cold reality is it didn’t matter, neither manager really wanted the distraction or extra injury risk of a cup run. However, a performance like that against Villa at the weekend would not be tolerable and would have to see heads roll.
Missed the game due to copious amounts of alcohol. Thank you for a great review of who played and there performances. Glad i was unconcious.
You were definately better off!
Would like to step in to defend Hammil here…
OK, on more than one occasion he tried to take a player on when perhaps he should have played a simple ball but at least he’s willing to try to make something happen. Don’t forget, our best two chances of the first half came from Hammil. Firstly, his superb cross which SEB narrowly missed, and secondly his chipped through ball that led to Doherty’s cross.
There were far too many players last night (Hunt, Milijas, Doyle) who looked scared in possession. Our midfield is so static it’s almost painful to watch. There has been much criticism of the long-ball tactic, but when midfielders aren’t providing options, what choice do defenders have?
My concern is that with Hammil excluded from a decent run in the team, how long will it be before he too adopts this “safety first” mentality that leaves our midfield so bereft of anything approaching creativity? McCarthy needs to sort this out…fast.
Firstly an excellent blog.
I agree with Adrian about the players being bemused as to how they are asked to play.
In Doyle’s case I think he has given up on McCarthy and cannot wait to get a transfer. It can be the only explanation as to why such a good footballer has become average.
Hunt and Elokobi were a disgrace and SEB not much better.
To all ‘let’s keep MM as manager because he has done so much for us’, do you think the same about Hunt? – That he should always be in the team, cos he scored the goal that kept us up last year?
Hammill, Johnssen, Milijas and Guedioura are better players than MM allows them to be.
Also, am I alone in noting that in MM’s pre match interview his words were slightly slurred, with an undercurrent of aggression, or ‘pissed’ to put it simply?
What a disgrace we are….
I heard that somewhere else about McCarthy’s post match interview, anybody have a link?
blues fan : a lot of your comments about how your team plays is the same we were saying under mclies in the prem.
i think it’s players paid too much who don’t have to play at 110 % to pick up 10k plus a week.
whether they try or not or win or lose they still cream off most of the clubs income.
bring back a win bonus and slash their basic wage to an unliveable 5k a week!!!
have seen the press call last night’s game boring, but i have seen many games live or on tv the last three years just like it.
many games are boring now it’s just pace that makes the difference and most often not skill.
this lack of skill within the british game is why england struggle.
put a spanish team under pressure and they play the ball on the floor and pass and move out of defense whereas most english teams just hoof it and hope to win the second ball when it lands on the floor again.
All will be forgiven if we get 3 points against villa.we are just a poor footballing side punching above our weight .
I felt a bit sorry for Doyle and SEB last night – if you swapped either of them with their bloke Rooney then Blues would’ve won that match even sooner.
But what are our strikers working with? A defence that can’t pick a pass between them.. a midfield that includes two guys (Milijas and Hunt) who have the mobility of a pensioner and Eggert Jonsson who looks solid enough but has no creative skills at all.
That left Hammill to create and, while he has skill and drive, his decision-making is woeful – in a football sense, I’m afraid he’s just a bit thick.
Please tell me Jarvis and Foley might be fit for Saturday?
The first match was bad, but to turn up for a replay at home, on national telly and put in that excuse of a performance is unforgivable.
One other thing – 10 changes for the FA Cup? I want a manager that cares about a trophy that we actually have (had) a decent chance of winning. The silverware won’t be coming from anywhere but cup competitions for the foreseeable future. A change of attitude is needed here from the manager.
I get that we can’t risk injuries to key players and the Premiership is everything but I can’t remember the last time a player went down with an ankle sprain by just not being arsed.
I agree with the sentiment that we were poor and lacking in a cutting edge, I like MM but I am far from certain that a change of manager would be a bad thing. However like any manager he can only use the players available to him and can only buy those players compatible with our system of play and that will come to play for us, not forgetting our alleged wage structure.
I have to disagree.
Our system of play is woeful, and he is responsible for it, not the players, they do as they are told, or else.
Yes, he can only use the players available to him, but who makes those players available….him, and who coaches them…..him.
While all the good is being coached out of them, just so they can run around putting in a zombie like shift, it is no wonder there is no creativity or vision or spark of genius on the pitch.
All individuality has been driven out of them, for the sake of a sweat soaked shirt at the end of the match, covering slumped shoulders after another inevitable defeat.
FOMM
The longer I wayched this pathetic display the angrier i became, in the words of MM “NOT ACCEPTABLE” How stupid to change 10 players, 4 or 5 maybe. Anything less than a win against Villa has to result in the overdue sacking of MM and a serious reshuffle of the players not good enough for the Premier League. Draws will get us relegated. We have been banging on about the quality of these players for so long know, I’m beginning to question the intentions of Morgan, If he doesn’t care about the team and the fans only money, then maybe he should go and sod off back to Liverpool. this embarrassing display is furthur confirmation to the millions of disapointed viewers that these players have no business being in possibley the best league in the world.
Being old and with a lot of time on my hands these days, I have looked up Mick’s wonderful record as Wolves manager in cup competitions:
2006/07
FA Cup
3 Oldham H 2-2
Oldham A 2-0
4 Albion H 0-3
League Cup
1 Chesterfield A 0-0 5-6 pens
2007/08
FA Cup
3 Cambridge H 2-1
4 Watford A 4-1
5 Cardiff A 0-2
League Cup
1 Bradford City H 2-1
2 Morecambe H 1-3
2008/09
FA Cup
3 Birmingham A 2-0
4 Middlesbrough H 1-2
League Cup
1 Accrington H 3-2
2 Rotherham A 0-0 3-4 pens
2009/10
3 Tranmere A 1-0
4 Crystal Palace H 2-2 Replay 1-3
League Cup
2 Swindon H 0-0 6-5 pens
3 Man Utd A 0-1
2010/11
FA Cup
3 Doncaster A 2-2 Reply 5-0
4 Stoke H 0-1
League Cup
2 Southend H 2-1
3 Notts Co H 4-2
4 Man Utd A 2-3
2011/12
League Cup
2 Northampton A 4-0
3 Millwall H 5-0
4 Man City H 2-5
Probably the biggest embarresment was the Palace player (Butterfield I think) who hadn’t scored for something like ten years and scored a hatrick in 12 minutes (may have been 15 minutes)
I rest my case against McCarthy.
For the last 3 years the cup has been a side track we haven’t needed other than to blood our reserves. Teams in Wolves position cannot afford a long cup run anyway. We effectively have 38 cup games to play each season already! Once we’ve established ourselves in the league and are a bit more comfortable each maybe we can chase silverware like Stoke and Everton did albeit unsuccessfully. Till then, although it’s terrible at the time watching it, I’m not as depressed as I would be if we had put in that kind of performance in a league game (like we have done on occasion recently).
So Sheffield does this explain the woeful perfomances of Doyle, Hunt etc last night ? If its true that we don’t actually give a shit about these competitions should the club come clean and inform the fans of their lack of interest ? Based on performances did you think that any of last nights team, Berra excepted, can get into the team on Saturday ? Some would think that the cups are a stage to press for first team selection but obviously not, based on what we saw. Questions temperment and moral.
Being in the US and a relatively new Wolves fan it is often difficult to follow the team too closely although I read the blogs and the E&S daily. I see all of the complaining and lamenting to see off MM but what I don’t ever see is are reasonable suggestions for a suitable replacement. I mean someone who could come in and really interject some much needed life and determination. MM’s tactics are poor, of that there can be no doubt but it’s still incumbent on the players to perform in what ever system has been prescribed for them that night. I don’t have a problem with the 10 changes, the reason’s are clear (although I don’t see the point of bringing in Fletch off the pine at the end) but if the players you have are not going to perform then what is the point of berating the manager? All you can do is support the team and ride the wave and hope that a managerial candidate emerges, until then it would be nice to see a little more creativity. . .from anyone.
Anyone I think would do a better job than MM.
I think many of the players have lost confidence in him.
He rules by fear and stunts the creativity of the players.
You ask who to replace him with?
Personally, if I was Morgan I’d bring in Darren Ferguson tomorrow.
He has learnt well at Peterborough.
He is young and intelligent in the way he get’s his team to play.
His Father Sir Alex must have taught him something and he’s an ex Wolves player.
He’d keep us up.
I certainly think he could do no worse than McCarthy and I suspect McCarthy is taking us down.
He failed completely at Preston and took them from being a mid table championship club to relegation even with all of his Dad’s loan players.
I’m all for speculating on MM replacement but at least let it be with someone with a better record at least at Championship level.
He was learning his trade at Preston and Peterborough are playing above themselves. He is tactically astute and can do no worse than McCarthy. You throw a name in the hat!
He’s a big fish in a small pond at Peterborough. He’s doing well at the moment but it’s a hell of a big step up. Lets see where he is in a couple of seasons.
That’s the problem I can’t at the moment, because the managers were likely to be looking at don’t have great records anyway.
The most experienced managers:
Bruce – Unlikely, To do anything as he needs huge amounts of money, although he did do well establishing Wigan on a relatively limited budget
Strachan – Got a fairly decent record but tarnished it with his time at boro. Is he the man for a promotion fight if the worst happens?
Hughton -Unlikely. Did alright with Newcastle doing ok with Blues. Might want a move back to the big time but would cost us a lot to wrench him away from Brum.
Di Matteo – Limited experience, questionable success. But likes his teams to play football.
Warnock – Mirror image of McCarthy except less successful at keeping teams in the top flight and infinitely more of a prick.
Curbishley – good record but again unlikely we would be able to get him out of retirement.
Ince – Crap
Dowie – Crap
Anybody else?
We could go for someone young and unproven but without the time to bed in the squad and change the style of play it’s likely to lead to relegation. Martinez nearly got Wigan relegated in his first season and hasn’t done much since.
The fact is the kind of sea of change in style that we want to see at Wolves takes years to bed in Swansea have been playing pretty football for years now under Rogers, Sousa and Martinez, mostly without success.
If were looking for someone to have the Hodgson effect, of the list were probably looking at Bruce or Strachan as they will change the dressing room without overly changing the tactics.
As for me, despite everything I’m still on the fence as I can see the point some of the stuff that MM has introduced and I still maintain that if we do end up getting relegated there is probably no one better to send us straight back up. But I’m frustrated that after three years we still haven’t solved the basic problem of no decent left back, no pace in the team especially at the back, and a midfield that can’t pass.
I’d gamble on him rather than have McCarthy for the rest of the season regardless of how you analyse his performance. He is young, astute and in the mould of Rodgers and the chap from Norwich, etc. I would not like anyone of the old school you mention. We should be looking to the future and, despite how you see Ferguson, I still think he’d be more likely to keep us in the Premiership than McCarthy…
Not that he is the most exciting manager but I would have suggested Alladyce. He is a massive wolves fan and although his teams were lambasted – at least they were comfortably safe in the Prem. God knows why Blackburn let him go. Big Sam did an awesome job with Bolton. Other option would be Curbishley – if we can get him out of the commentary box and into the technical one!
And Mccarthy is proven at anything other than Championship level ??
He’s kept us up two seasons running and in doing so has achieved more than Holloway who was being touted as a footballing genius last year or Coyle who looks like he’s going to get a fairly established Bolton side relegated. Or Warnock who spent loads and still ended up below us.
The football may not be pretty but it achieved the required result. Now my argument is that its time after three years that we should be solving some of the problems we came up with. MM has done one he’s got a striker who can score goals at this level a rarity in our position. But whether hes up to the other challenges, sorting our lack of pace, our lack of a decent left back, our lack of creativity and our inability to control possession in games is questionable.
You might look at Brendan Rodgers as an example of failing somewhere but still being capable… Rodgers was sacked by Reading leaving them21st in the Championship, having won only one of their 11 home league games but he is seemingly doing a good job at Swansea?
McCarthy should realise that if you do not have the quality in central midfield, playing 2 up front is not attacking as they will not get any service. I know I am a stupid, ignorant, paying fan who is a just an annoyance in the eyes of Moxey and McCarthy but it is staggering how this expert manager cannot see this.
Brendan Rodgers was the right man in the right place at the right time. The fact is he has benefited from being at a club that has been playing the passing game for years. Martinez instilled it, Sousa kept it going and Rodgers is benefiting from it. If you want to see the difficulty of setting that kind of team up look at the struggles Wigan have found themselves in the last couple of seasons. The fact is if Wolves were to change for a Rodgers type manager now it would more than likely result in our relegation we simply don’t have the technically gifted players to play that way.
So the way I see it we have three choices: We can appoint someone like that who will more than likely get us relegated and take three or four years building a squad sufficient to challenge for promotion again.
We can stick with Mick and hope that his slowly slowly strategy works out and eventually we improve the squad enough to gain more leverage in the league.
Or we can twist FOMM and bring in a Bruce, Strachan or Warnock who play in a broadly similar way and might bring a Hodgson effect on the squad. But you run the risk of it being a massively expensive flop.
All three ways aren’t particularly appertising. Anybody else with a suggestion?
Yes get rid of McCarthy is my suggestion.
Your argument falls down because what you say needs sorting out, McCarthy has failed to sort out at all. He has not grasped the basics and you seem a kind of apologist, who would stick with a failure.
Perhaps, if Ferguson came to Wolves and replaced yer man McCarthy, and he kept us up, you would be saying Sheffield – ” he was the right man in the right place at the right time.”
Very Feng Shui……
I am not that fussed about style of play I really am not. All I care about is us being where I think we can realistically aim for which is winning more than 4 games in 20 and a relegation dog fight every season. The style of play is not that noticeable when you are winning games – I just think the 442 obsession is an indication that this man is a bit limited at this level.
I don’t think you can compare Bruce, Starachan or Warnock to Roy Hodgson either! Hodgson has a brilliant track record and a real coup by the Albion. I appreciate it didn’t show “stability” which everyone is obsessed with, but it showed good timing from Jeremy Peace. To sack Di Matteo when they weren’t even in relegation shows what good direction and taking risks can do. Instead what do we say: STABILITY.
It’s a word-trick on the part of the board too.
FInancial stability is a good thing. That’s what prevents the club going into administration.
Managerial stability is something altogether different. That logic relies on the premise that changing your manager is an intrinsically negative thing to do.
I fundamentally reject that premise.
Hi Alex. You’re quite right to point out there are no outstanding candidates. Personally I would have happily had Martin O’Neill or Mark Hughes – managers who know what it takes to finish in the top half of the Premier League consistently.
Some will say that we couldn’t have attracted them but I take the view that the manager is the most important person at the football club. Wolves pay Stephen Hunt £30k a week and Jez Moxey a multi-million pound annual bonus – I think we should be paying double their money to a good manager.
HEAR ! HEAR ! Couldnt agree more. Sad fact though is we are stuck with him, he spends low and knows full well that WHEN he gets us relegated he will be in pole position to get us back up… and we laughed at wba being a yo you club… we are the worst team in this division, even though we certainly dont have the worst squad.
In all fairness to Mad Mick a yo yo club is still a bloody long way from where we were 5 years ago. We were probably closer to being a Yo Yo between championship and league 1.
Again, that’s just not true is it. We finished 7th in 2005-06 and – despite the myth many are keen to perpetuate – we were 6th favourites for the Championship title in Mick’s first season.
Some would have you believe we were favourites for relegation even though this was never the case. If you or anybody else can find a shred of independence evidence to support that I would back down but the fact is we were 8/1 shots to win the league!
And we finished 5th so the bookies were just about spot on.
When Mick survived last season when we came from behind against Sunderland in the last minute, people were talking about replacements. Names such as Poyet and Lambert were touted. Lambert is now going to get a top six job so we have missed the boat. Since the fans have talked about Allardyce, Hughes and O’Neil. For me these three would have raised the bar. Now they are all off the market there is going to need some serious vision from Moxey which I am not convinced he has. I also don’t think he is a risk taker and imagine he would plump for safe hands as opposed to an unknown which is a major fear.
If Steve Morgan is astute i think it would be possible to spot a rising young manager before they actually get themselves into the Premier League with another club – perhaps someone like Eddie Howe or Lee Clark.
I give Ray Wilkins a go..
If team’s like Sunderland and QPR can get managers like Hughes and O’Neill it’s sad that we don’t seem to be able to attract them. You’ve seen the immediate effect of Sunderland’s change by them shooting up the table (although they were underachieving badly) and I think QPR will be next as they not only have money, but a manager who can attract great players (which Mick cannot).
Curbs would be good or Gordon Strachan, but I don’t think we will sack Mick.
I’m afraid I can’t see any way out.
In the past I’ve watched us and when we’ve lost I’ve thought, “OK, fair enough, we were unlucky.”
But this season I think the excuses have to stop and we feel the right to expect to see some good football after 3 seasons, but let’s face it, we’re shit.
If Mick gets a drawer against a better side he’s full of praise, but what about results against Albion & QPR for instance? We expect better, hence the anger and disappointment on this blog.
I hope I’m wrong, I hope we start climbing the table starting against Villa, but I like many can’t really see much sign of improvement in the grand scheme of things.
Certain players have performed poorly this season in the main, but with players like Johnson starting to seem more solid the blame for lack of improvement as a club must rest with Mick and his obviously crap coaching methods.
Do the players want to get the ball to midfield only to pass back to Hennessy who then hoofs it up field where we then lose possession?
I doubt it. That’s coaching. BAD coaching. Surely anyone would know that against Premiership standard defenses you’re not going to have too much joy doing this, ESPECIALLY without a proven target man like Kevin Davies to beat defenders.
It’s a testament to Doyle and Fletcher that they have managed to fair reasonably well with this long ball tactic for so long, but when backed up by a slow and uncreative midfield what’s going to come of their efforts to flick back etc?
The fact that match after match we see the same bollocks is a worry. Miraculously we may not be in the bottom 3, but it’s the lack of improvement and intent that’s a real worry.
Wow, bad spelling from me…now where are those glasses?
Top drawer Ade.
Well said good analysis
Last nights was a performance of stunning ineptitude.
Milijas seemed unable (or unwilling) to pass to a gold shirt. Elokobi was asleep. Hunt went missing. Hammill has no spatial awareness. Doyle and E-B are bereft of confidence. The rest were barely competent against an extremely ordinary Blues side.
I don’t care about the result (I’ve lived through worse than that) but if we expect any of the starting 11 last night to step up into the Premiership and deliver a competent performance then we are seriously deluding oursleves.
The only good to come from the game was another promising performance by Doherty. I wonder when THE MUPPET will see him.
Read somewhere that Blackburn are after Hammil – I’d sooner they ship that sack of shit Hunt, Hammil is a great player, and will only get better.
Thing is, Talents such as Doyle, Jarvis, Fletch et al will all struggle under this morons archaic approach to the game. THE MUPPET would probably get Man City relegated though they would sack him before he ever got close.
Things dont look good for us, the same incompetent manager, with his dated, inept tactics and inability to strengthen the areas we need strengthening in.
Oh, and for the ignormaus who attempted to fob off that this was our “reserves”, lets take a quick look at that teamsheet again: Doyle, SEB, Stearman, Berra, Hunt, Gedioura, Hammil… not to mention Ward and Fletch for the second half – not exactly “reserves” eh… MUPPET
Ive given up calling for THE MUPPETS head… we are stuck with him… just cant quite bring myself to face life back in the Championship, especially when we really could do something about it NOW.
He did see him before and then put him in against Citeh and he got ripped to shreads. Docherty’s got the ability but at the moment the more experienced heads are getting the nod, I fully expect him to get more game time as the season progresses though much like Forde.
But at the moment Foley is the better choice, hes looked good since returning form injury and has offered a bit more nouse in that position.
“THE MUPPET” named Doherty as the best player on the pitch! That kid should definitely get a chance – maybe the only positive out of yesterday’s performance!
Feel a touch sorry for the players who are being hung out to dry (although most of them arent good enough).Mick himself has tried to keep the debate on his selection rather than his tactics.The formation he keeps returning to may have worked for Graham Taylor at Watford in the 70’s and 80’s but football has moved on.
http://www.herald.ie/sport/time-for-doyle-to-leave-wolves-behind-2993981.html – I thought this was interesting to read.
Yeah I read that too – a bit harsh on the squad as a whole… but having McMuppet as a manager is going to be detrimental to anyone with any decent aspirations.
Who, Fletcher? I can understand people saying Mick is a bad manager but to say that he makes good players crap is…well, crap in my opinion! I have no idea what’s happened to Doyle though, because under MM last season he was a decent player! Hoping that he finds his form again, or else we get a new striker before the transfer window shuts…
I have to jump to McCarthy’s defence against this article. Please don’t get me wrong, because I like Doyle a lot. He is a very good player, however he is really struggling for form. The two words that sprung to mind when reading this article were “blinkered” and “partisan”. The writer sets out his stall in the first paragraph when he makes comments regarding Doyle’s frustration and the way he looks institutionalised; you can immediately tell this is not going to be a particularly “Wolves-friendly” article.
The writer continually harps on about Doyle being stuck on the wing and his “natural predatory instincts”. I don’t know if anyone remembers, but last year Doyle did an interview and said he gets bored up front and likes to drop deeper to get more involved with the game…these are not the words of a man with natural predatory instincts.
Perhaps it is to be expected from an Irish publication that they will blame the club rather than accept when an Irish player is having a tough time; particularly a player from whom Ireland have received so much, particularly in the few seasons. But personally, I think this article was very tough on Wolves and glossed over any issues that may be Doyle’s own (and indeed Ireland’s own, Doyle’s poor run of form started after he got injured on international duty with Ireland).
As I said, please don’t get me wrong because I like Doyle a lot and I think he’ll be back. But I think this was just a moment when the ‘other side of the story’ needed to be aired. But, thank you, a very interesting article and I did enjoy reading it.
I said on here the other day i fancied Birmingham to win the tie. Wolves had some good players out there but were bossed by Blues. Im fancying Birmingham to win the play offs and sadly Wolves will pass them going the other way.
Even after all this time, and so much frustration that goes with being a Wolves fan, i just don’t get it.
we were never really interested in progressing in the Carling Cup, and being drawn against Man City put an end to things anyway.
MM says he ‘s livid and disappointed to be out of the FA Cup, so why did he play such a crap team, to play so ineffectively?
Elokobi, bless him, just ain’t good enough. a big heart, a physical presence, but nothing else.
EBB much the same. lots of effort, but hasn’t done a thing since promotion.
MM has certainly had time to develop a style of play based on quick and exciting football, yet we are outshone by teams like Norwich and Swansea, whose managers have been around for a lot less longer.
like so many of you, i despair. and see the remainder of the season scratching around near the bottom, eking out the odd point with a gritty defensive display.
when we all dream of open and expansive football. the game as it should be played.
Fair points all, but praise to Doherty surely! I thought he was quality, seemed to be running the game from right back, even getting a decent shot in!
Nice one Thomas you seemed to have covered most of what the fans wanted to say,but like i
said earlier if we don’t want to be in the hunt for cups why play the players we already know arn’t good enough for first team football why did’nt he play some of our young guns who
would have given anything and everything to play in the FA CUP,Win or lose they would have
been a better bet than that shower of shite that played last night.I don’t usually slag off the
players but that display of football was abysmal and that goes for the so called management.
WE are a laughing stock at the moment and this so called coaching staff need to be dismantled and never be allowed to be assembled again.FOMM.And the rest of the shite who’s
with him.
If mm was going to get sacked it should of happened way before now. To get rid now would be crazy by the time we’d have our new man the transfer window would be shut how’s about get rid of clip board and get mm a new assistant someone who could breath a new lease of life into the team new training techniques new ideas he’s pick up in his own career and maybe some who would put an arm around the likes of Doyle when their form dips and most importantly maybe stand up to mm and tell he thinks he could be making a mistake or two and get him to rethink. Ray Wilkins ? Possibly
What is it about the Assistant you don’t like? Surely Mick buys the players , picks the team and tinkers with the formation? I can say I know absolutely nothing about Terry Connor and find it strange how he gets criticised ahead of the manager of the team.
Managers need a good right hand man I just feel Connor’s a bit of a light weight yes man someone a bit stronger might help mm more look how Ancholotie sorry about the spelling struggled when Wilkins was sacked just think its a better option at this stage of the season than changing the manager
But Mick must like him, maybe because Mick does not like to be questioned. Look at how he reacts when the press dare question him. Look how he reacts to the fans when we were two nil down at him to Swansea at home and on the verge of 6 defeats (I think) on the bounce – he just does not like to be questioned and gets very defensive and agitated. So we have to accept it was Mick who chose Connor and therefore Mick McCarthy is again accountable. Saturday will be interesting that is for sure!
I don’t mind losing, I don’t mind (much) looking second best to a Championship side, I don’t mind squad rotation and I don’t mind the choices made for the staring line up (actually that one I do mind as it was an obviously flawed mix of players typified by “what was that that just ran past me” Elokobi )
What I mind 110% about is the comments from friends who thought Wolves were a dedicated hard working team with obvious limitations who play with determination. What I heard was boring , boring, negative and how stupid are you for forking out for a season ticket and travelling 150 miles each home game to see them? They are my team and I have and will support them come what may like I always have but I will not renew my season ticket if McStubborn is still in charge it’s just too painful to watch knowing that with minmal intervention and an inspirational leader we could be mid table.
5 survival tips for McGit-do them and I guarantee survival:
Sign 1 decent defender (not a scottish reject or Championship wanabee) sell Hunt to pay for him (PS This advice was given last June!)
Sign 1 strong forward sell Doyle to pay for him (the guy deserves better so is no use to us in this state)
Never ever ever ever ever ever play Elokobi again, 10 men would be better (PS This advice was also given last June too to anyone who would listen-even those who didn’t know who Elokobi was!!)
Always alwaysplay Hammill-with 2-3 starts he will start to slot in and create chances for Fletcher and a n other he may also score the odd goal (Play Jarvis on the opposite wing)
Do the honourable thing and resign-Im free and I’ll take 10% of the salary to do the job 🙂
Seriously everyone must see that McCarthy should go, he has to be thanked for the immense service he’s given to Wolves but like his Championship cronies (Elokobi, Henry, SEB, Kightly) he’s not Premiership material, release him so he can go and manage Andorra as he’s so keen to return to the international stage!
I agree with this, not sure if Hammill is good enough but wow how the hell has Elokobi survived. If he was not built like a boxer and become a cult and was a skinny runt I genuinely think he would be the most hated player in modern times. People seem to think he is hilarious yet he is absolutely dreadful at football!
Re offloading Hunt,Doyle,Elokobi etc. ,easier said than done. We know they are a waste of space but so does everyone else !
kevin doyle is definitely not a waste of space but deserves to go somewhere where he can flourish, MM has run him into the ground. he has kept us in the prem but can’t carry on like this. Even Irish newspapers worrying about him.
Even If we beat the Villa it won’t make up for Wednesday.