Happy New Year to you all.
I’ll admit I much prefer sitting down to write my blogs when I’m full of positivity for my beloved Wolves.That’s quite tricky at the moment, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
Saturday’s game against Sheffield United was about as boring as football can get.
It was a dire game, fought out mainly in a congested midfield and both teams were as inept as each other in front of goal. Dire probably sums up the 4 games over the Christmas period.
Three points from a possible 12 with just two goals scored.
When MM decided to substitute Keogh with Elliott, a player who is to football what Britney Spears is to motherhood…. I braced myself for the crowd’s reaction.
It was perhaps even more severe than I expected.
As it turns out, Keogh was withdrawn for good reason, but why replace him with Elliott, who does nothing for the cause?
Elliott wasn’t the only one who was next to useless against Sheffield United.
The only players who put in anything like a decent shift against the Blades were Foley, Gray and Hennessy.
I’ve mentioned Bothroyd many times in my blogs. He remains a frustrating enigma.
He wasn’t bad in the first half, he held up the ball quite well and although he plays far too deep for a forward, his distribution was good at times.
And then in the 2nd half he really couldn’t be bothered.
At one point he picked up the ball in his own half, trotted up to the halfway line and then realising effort was probably involved to take on the Sheffield defence, aimlessly hoofed the ball up field.
I’m bored of the countless chances we have given Bothroyd to come good. Time for him to be an enigma somewhere else.
And I wonder if Mick currently chooses his midfield from a hat or with a flip of a coin?
Henry, Olofinjana, Gibson and Stephen Ward, three central midfielders and a striker, how does that comprise a balanced midfield?
It’s as bewildering as when Twoddle used to play Kenny Miller on the wing.
I know good players can adapt to play in a variety of positions, but wingers play in that position for a good reason.
Not one of these four players have the pace or crossing ability to play on the flanks and therefore the forwards are starved of service and most of our play ends up blundering through the middle.
So if I and most Wolves fans have made this observation, why isn’t something done about it?
Why has Stephen Ward been allowed to play virtually every game as a passenger on the left wing?
I know McIndoe going was more his decision than MM’s, but why haven’t we tried other players rather than just Ward on the flank?
And was Jarvis really part of the League One team of the year last season?
I know I’ve said it for a couple of weeks now, but what about Gobern, Little or Gleeson being given the opportunity to show what they could do in this position?
Alas, I think mine and other fans’ views are just are not being listened to.
George Olofinjana who on his day can be an immense midfielder was just as useless as any of the midfield quartet at the weekend.
Will he be missed when he goes to the African Nations?
Well yes, but mainly because it’s unlikely that Mark Davies will be given a chance to take his role in his absence.
Mick likes players who try and put in a shift. Well I can run around for 90 minutes but I’m not much kop at kicking a ball, so I probably fit into his current requirements brilliantly.
I feel like I’ve been bleating on the same subject topics for weeks now.
Give the kids a chance, play wingers, stick with Freddy and Keogh, start playing through the midfield and above all else play players in their correct positions.
And now the big question, what about Mick?
Have we fallen out of love with the man we pronounced as a Merlin less than a year ago?
I’ve backed him all season but recently I feel like I’m the only Wolves fan left wearing my Mick McCarthy fan club badge.
Through the mere fact that teams are all beating each other, we are still in touching distance of the play-offs.
But Mick’s tactics lately leave a lot to be desired. Our football is bland and uncreative.
So what if we don’t concede many goals, it’s the business end of the pitch that really matters.
We go to the Molineux to be entertained and I’m racking my brains to think when I last enjoyed a game, possibly Charlton.
But let’s face facts, Mick is here for the remainder of this season and if we don’t go up then Steve Morgan is unlikely to give him another chance to make it to the Premiership.
So, with a bit of a dabble in the January transfer window and with the return of Kites, Breen and Craddock and maybe the introduction of some of last season’s successful (non-Irish) youth, perhaps the Merlin can still turn things around.
Otherwise the rest of the season could well be as drab as it has been at Christmas and we will finish in the dreaded mid-table position.
It was a relief to miss out on Steve Howard, he really wouldn’t have been the answer to turning our season around.
I quite like the rumour about Robert Earnshaw who looked excellent last time he played at Molineux, but would he enjoy our currently long ball game?
Anyway, no doubt we will be chatting a lot about the transfer window in subsequent weeks, so I won’t dwell on it too long.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2008 and a reversal in fortunes for the men in Old Gold ‘n’ Black.
Wolves fans, what do you think? Have your say below
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69 Comments
The problem lies in the midfield not with the strikers get two attacking midfielders in Jan or the season is over
Nathan - wow, thats a BIG blogg !!
Did you really write “The only players who put in anything like a decent shift against the Blades were Foley, Gray and Hennessy”.
Surely its this “put a shift in” mentality that is ruining your club.
There are some clubs in this country famous for their “football style” - Spurs are one, may I suggest Albion are another - and i would include Wolves in this also, so to hear fans (and managers) talking about shifts - well it baffles me.
Also - how does a keeper put a shift in ?
Anyway, happy new year to you.
Happy_baggie
Happy New Year!
I’m not one for usually commenting on my blog, however….
“Shift” was probably the wrong word to use. Really, Foley, Gray and Hennessy were the only players who were any good against the Blades and along with their good play also had the effort to match.
Anyway, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. We were awful.
Problem areas/Areas we need to strengthen(to keep things simple):
Left Back - even if Gray was the best player on the pitch on Saturday.
2x Centre Backs - Craddock and Breen on their day… nothing to complain about - their age and slowness and injury proneness is a major problem
2x Centre Midfielders - Not enough competition in this position - and no strength or presence in the current squad - even with Oli ( who has been dire last 2 months )
AN ATTACKING MIDFIELDER - Denes Rosa!!
Striker - NOT A SUPPORT STRIKER! An old git who knows where the net is - i,e (sadly) Kevin Phillips…
Who to kick out?
a) Easy decision - STEPHEN WARD
b) Jay - unfortunately - even if i think he’s brilliant - he’s just too lazy!
c) Elliot - offload him - only one to show hunger atm in front of goal - but looks an idiot most of the time in doing so - nobody likes him either lol
d) Darren Ward - curap!
Just some thoughts anyway =)
I’ve said it before and totally agree with Jez, our major problem isn’t the strikers its lack of service to them. Apart from Kites we have no one in midfield who is capable of consistently providing quality ball to the forwards. Confidence is low at the moment and we are shot shy but I go back to one of my previous comments - for every goal Bully scored (and I saw a good many of them), he may have missed 2 or 3. But even the legend himself needed the service to be given the chances.
Don’t waste time trying to bring Tesco reject, Goofy Earnshaw to us , we need attacking midfielders!
Nathan, Youve pitched it about right with the exception of keeping MM until the end of the season. He makes glaring errors. Ignores the reserve team and fails to offer any development opportunities for players doing well. None have been promoted to the 1st team bench.
MM has to go now so does the entire back room staff. There are still links with the deep past its time to cut those ties and start afresh.
Steve Morgan is taking too much time to see the obvious.
Bothroyd is at his peak - he has no hunger no desire. But dont forget MM has stood and watched all of these half hearted performances,watched him stay deep, watched him take corners — and still pick him next game. If you let a lazy man behave lazy then thts what he will do.
MM has no flair, hes ok at longball, hes ok at seige mentality, but he cant see the wood for the trees when it comes to creativity. WE HAVE NONE.
Ward is not a winger, Karl Henry cant pass, Olofinjana cant tackle and he chicekn out of every 50/50 ball
Put simply we need the following to happen
Steve Morgan must WAKE UP
Get a new manager -complete with a new back room team
Then BUY the following
A genuine left back
A genuine left winger
A genuine midfield dynamo
A genuine midfield general
The strikers will get goals if the midfiled create chances, but that requires MM to have a midfield and select the right 4.
He doesnt ahve a midfield - despite the fact he’s had 18 month to get one and he has spent 6 million
And he isn’t capable of selecting the right 4 even if he had them, disagree? well Foley can cross but MM stands by and lets “Jay cant be botheroyd” take the free kicks and corners. Not once loads of time game after game!!!!
I know this is a radical idea but it just might work …..How about IF the big tall centre forward (might be Botheroyd) tries going in the box and Foley crosses the ball and maybe ……just maybe, Wolves will score a goal.
2 - It baffles you how the hell do you think we figure it out ???? Quite right we don’t. It appears blatantly obvious to even the dourest Wolves fan that its the midfield balance that requires urgent remediation.
Nathan - I guessed you meant performance - but isn’t that an example of whats wrong with wolves at the moment ?
Mm has got everyone, players, fans and himself thinking in terms of effort over skill and sweat over style.
You have the players to be a good footballing side and should be creating chances for your forwards - who actually ain’t bad players either… but its all got a bit lost in the MM/ Karl henry school of “putting in a shift”.
Only my opinion and i will wait for the “regular” naff off comments to arrive any minute.
Happy Baggie- Are you still on the new year booze? Albion famous for football style? 50 years ago maybe this last month maybe inbetween Ho HO
Try telling that to George Ndah — career ruined by a leg breaking clogger I recall
There are too many ‘coincedences’ for my liking this season:
1 McIndoe up and left
2 Our fitness coach ‘leaves’
3 Assistant manager ‘retires’
4 Chris Evans ‘leaves’
5 MM showing his one dimensional tactical expertise to the nth degree.
6 MM’s signiongs this year have to be summarised as ‘iffy’ to say the least
All is not well in the state of Denmark (aka Molineux)
Weird isn’t it ?
We spend the last twenty years bemoaning the absence of a vball-winning midfield footballer since Mike Bailey. Sorry, Keith Downing, you only counted as ball-winning midfielder, not footballer.
Then, like London buses, we get two together: Alex Rae and Paul Ince. Miraculously we get two more: Big George and Karl Henry. We should rejoice, not moan. Though the two shouldn’t play together.
When George comes back, move Henry to cover Centre Half. Bothroyd needs to go elsewhere to continue to fail to deliver his potential - just like Stan Collymore. Was Jarvis really the best Championship left winger last season ? If yes, please show; if no, please go.
Elliott to cover for Kightly on the right, then leave.
Obviously Keogh & Freddy up front with generous use of Davies, Gleeson,et al. in a sharper midfield.
It’s easy. And this Division is easy, once we get it right again.
Keep Mick; keep the faith.
Naff Off
By means of a “shift” is a player turned up and actually did what he was paid to do, and gave 100% doing it, too many players either dont care, or simply just dont want too!
I agree the wingers situation is dire, I was looking at our last reserve game and seeing how many players in that team were what we were about last season…young hungry players who want to play (Davies, Gleeson, Little) and they are not getting a chance!
Think the defence still needs a tweak to be fair, someone who can play with the ball would be good back there as they seem to jsut lump it!
Think Foley and Gray do well.
We lack a ball playing central midfielder….sorry to say it but we have not had one since Alex Rae I reckon!
I think Jervis still needs to be given a chance and Kites is the obvious right wing choice. Gobern should be around along with the likes of Rosa, Gleeson and Davies.
As for Strikers, Bothroyd just doesnt do it for me! Top players are quality and work hard too, at times he lacks both! I agree with Elliot, he tries but just lacks quality!
Need another striker, Earnshaw sounds good, I would much prefer someone to ask pompey if we could have Nugent on loan!! Now that would be a good signing!
Happy new year to you all, C’mon the wolves
Nathan:
I take it that MM has slipped down your list of ‘all time greats’?
Cashman - I see you didn’t pick me up for including wolves in my footballing teams though.
I’m talking about tradition - In the 70’s WBA were the best team in England for maybe 3 years - according to the media and people in the game.
I have watched that reputation be torn to shreds through the 80’s and 90’s but never forgot it - and now its back.
Wolves should also be looking to return to their former great playing style - you have some good players but your management is holding you back.
Hey Happy_baggie please wash your mouth out ! We might be Wolves fans but no he hasn’t got us believing in it we have seen thro it hence the animosity that is growing at a pace.
But you are spot on when you say it has got lost in his one dimensional thinking of ‘putting in a shift’
By the way happy new year
MM needs to go, but sadly that is unlikely to happen while we are still bouncing along around 8th/9th position and only a few points off the play-offs. It seems to me that any chance of automatic promotion went out the window after the Watford home match and that we’ve been playing “catch-up” for the following months.
I really suspect that everything may come to a head though after tomorrow’s match with Cambridge, which is quite likely to be one of the surprise results of Round 3……we may actually score 2 !!
My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that we’ll struggle on all season and become jealous when WBA romp away with this league. MM will make excuses at the end of the season and be given one last chance to make a promotion push 2008-2009 season. After an appalling start to the season he’ll leave mid October and by the stage we’ll have wasted seasons 2007-8 and 2008-9….haven’t we been here before ??
Nathan I find it completely bizarre that you say you are unhappy with the entertainment, unhappy with team selection, unhappy with tactics yet remain a fan of Mick McCarthy. Do you not think he might have some responsibility for all these things? I am unhappy with all these things too but do not pretend to be supportive of MM and his approach to the game.
When only two out of 15 home games this season have provided reasonable entertainment and the goalscoring record is 8 from the last 14 games then this is a long way from what I want for my football club. And I don’t consider an improvement on that to be one of the unreasonable expectations that Wolves fans are supposed to have. That 14 game period includes the ‘good run’ that MM and the players seem to want to get back to. It includes the 1-0 wins against the likes of Preston and Barnsley that were dismal entertainment. If the only thing that matters is the result then are they suggesting to Wolves fans that they should stop home and watch the results on teletext rather than paying £27 a game to be bored?
With regard to your points about Bothroyd I completely agree. He has been given plenty of chances but has not delivered. But why should we be surprised by that. His career average is one goal every 5 games. If Freddy Eastwood had been given the same run of games we might not have been happy with his workrate either but as his career goalscoring average is more than twice as high as Bothroyd then we might have seen better results.
Nothing we do in the transfer market will change the fact that McCarthy is a negative manager who puts pride in his team putting a shift in, rather than in their creativity, flair and goalscoring record. What Morgan’s views are on our quality of football and league position who knows, cause he seems to be one to keep his thoughts to himself. But hopefully his ambitions will match those of Wolves supporters and that entertainment and success are both things we should be striving for. I personally do not believe we will achieve either under the current manager.
Nathan.
Sorry if this reply lacks the venom sometimes required on this site. Regarding your clubs present situation, long term fans have been there before and got the T-shirts, some of them very threadbare T-shirts. As a Baggies fan and likewise with Blues fans, we’ve all invested lots of time, money and blood sweat and tears in our respective clubs for a very sparse return over the years. The turn around when it comes can come very quickly, as with us, we were up s— creek without a paddle before the arrival of Thompson and Megson. Some ungrateful wretches still slag off Gary Megson despite what he achieved for the club (perhaps some similarities here with MM, Megson did fantastically well with what he had to work with. Some fans expect a Harrods banquet while shopping at Aldi.) I’m not trying to cozy up to the Wolves, that’s never going to happen but I respect Albion, Wolves and Blues fans, after all they have the strength of character not to take the easy option of becoming a Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal glory hunter. In this respect we are ‘Brothers in Arms.Happy New Year one and all, even I suppose the glory hunters.
I can’t wait for some experienced professionals to return to the central defence. Calm heads who know what it takes to win a game.
I also feel that MM’s phrase “put in a good shift” should be banned at Molineux. This isn’t shift work and they aren’t working on some factory production line.
Excellent blog Nathan.
Nathan a decent post it is rare but I do sisagree with a couple of points. Elliot has had a raw deal I feel, he certainly has shown he has done no worse than any of the other strikers and he also seems to be the only one who looks to get in behind the defence, something which Earnshaw does well and agree he could be a good signing if we get him. As for Howard I disagreee in a way, if not him, I do think we need a big target man, you said yourself that Bothroyd held the ball up and won headers in the first half. But as you also said he does not do this regularly enough and so surely this is something we need. Like you I don’t agree with some of MM tactics. To play long ball, when the only player apart from the Centre Backs who can win a header is Ward, seems strange. I believe one of the reasons MM continues with Ward is because he is a target of the long balls, but surely he would be better up front winning them. For this reason, if MM continues to play long ball, or even wing play, we need a target man who can win headers and not the fairy that is Bothroyd. I still think MM has done a good solid job at the club and that next season should be the season when promotion should be a definite target and not just something we would like to see.
Hi Nathan, great blog (i thought war and peace was long).
I remember saying at the start of the season i feared Wolves had over acheieved last season, and this season would be interesting. From the outside looking in, it looks as though your squad lacks creativity and then consequently entertainers. My question to all Wolves fans is this, is the style of play this season any different to last season? and if it is how is it different?
If it is the same, was it Wolves fans put up with it last season because results were good??
If so, are you not now complaining about the results and not the style of play??
I do like to hear a good rant,( as long as it is not from the missus, 4am in the morning, me lying in the porch due to the key hole doing that moving around thing.)
Nathan I totally agree with all your sentiments particularly your comments regarding Bothroyd a player with close control skills but no apparent heart for the fray. Elliot can be commended for effort but like many others suffers from having the wrong role in an unbalanced team.
Olofinajana is not a Bothroyd, but he does need someone to coach some consistency into his game and to teach him how to best use his physical assets to maximum effect. Maybe again he suffers from the total in balance in the midfield area.
MM does appear to have lost the plot more than somewhat. Perhaps us supporters do not know all that goes on behind closed doors or on the training ground. But there as surely been a need for change and we did appear, last season, to have some very promising young players pushing for first team recognition. I do wonder however why if they are so good and not in our team other clubs are not enquiring about them?
MM would surely be advised to indulge in much less paper talk and also remember that the media exist on sound bite and their own interpretation of them.
I must lastly add that I totally agree with H-B’s comments about putting in a Shift its absolute nonsense in respect of our beautiful game.
6
Yes, that just about sums everything up!
I think that MM is managing a division above himself at the moment. I can’t believe he ‘hud-winked’ so many people!
I am in total agreement with Nathan on virtually every subject , and even with Happy Baggie too ! Last season Mark Little looked an excellent prospect but has been given no chance this year , Mark Davies has , unfortunately , been injured for much of the time this season but really must be given a chance now . Stephen Gleeson captains the reserves , scores regularly and plays well for the Irish U21’s but does not get a look in for the first team even on the bench . To cap it all MM goes out of his way to say that Stephen Ward is the best signing of his career…is this a career as a hairdresser because , as a winger , Ward has created nothing , has given no full back the run around and has not scored this season yet still Jones’ loan to Northampton was first sanctioned and then extended . We have , for as long as I can remember , not had a quality left back even when Naylor was at Molineux there was no cover whatsoever . The football this season has been dreadful and the tactics awful please Wolves give some of our younger players a chance and yes even Gobern if he is finally off the sick list .
19
I see your point but I don’t see MM as a Megson figure.
Megson had a clear idea of what was needed, tough, uncompromising football. It wasn’t pretty but it was very effective and he achieved what he set out to do. Bolton have taken him on for the same reason, and I think the will survive too!
MM is not in the same class, he doesn’t have a clear idea of what he wants or how to get it. It must be frustrating to stand by and watch, hence the exodus of footballing men from our club this season!
Him and Moxey are damaging the club a great deal and it is frustrating to stand by and watch!
A few mention bringing Earnshaw in, but going from experience seeing him at the Albion, if your problem is creativity then Earnshaw ain’t your man. He’s to small and weak to hold the ball up, his first touch is not the best and he is very easily pushed off the ball.
Now if you invested in creative minded players as many of you are stating you require, then earnshaw could do a job, if the ball is being put into the penalty area or a crafty little through ball to leave him one on one is presented, then i have no doubts Little Robbie will find the net.
So IMO getting Earnshaw should be decided after you know what type of player you can get in to service him.
COME ON WOLVES FANS!!!!
I know it’s hard but, It’s not over lets think possitive!!! it’s easy to keep slagging the manager off. We know that some of the players arn’t good enough, but we are Still WOLVES, if we sneek in the playoffs and end up at Wembley this blip will all be forgotton, we are only 2 points off the playoffs keep believing Lads!!!
The Futures Bright, the futures still Gold and Black!!!!!!!!!!
Mick plays with wide attacking wingers and with a stable central midfield. His style is to get creativity from the wingers, so if we brought in someone like Albion had in Greening or Koumas, Mick would tell them to play defensive and they would be useless. When players play out of position they don’t play well, Try on football manger or something and there form is about 4/5 at best. Don’t play players out of position. That’s why an attacking midfielder will not work in Mick’s team, Thus Rosa and Davies don’t get a look in!!
I think that one of the essential things that Wolves are short of at the moment (with the exception of ideas, flair etc…) is support players. We need back-up for players like Kites, Craddock etc. However i don’t think that Morgans millions are the answer to this dilemma - we should be utilising the supposed strength we have in our youth set-up. Blood these youngsters - so what if they have bad games - at least they’ll be getting experience, and they’ll play for the shirt. It is so frustrating to see wolves return to the passion-less bunch of mediochre championship players they were under Twoddle. I agree with the other voices calling for a return for Davies, & i’d like to see someone buy big george because he really is a cart-horse (could i suggest Stoke City).
We need a return of youth team players to shake up our senior side - even if they’re only used as cover, it’s great experience. In a division where most teams (with the exception of Albion) play in the Stoke vien - cover is a vital element & we are nothing without Kites & Fanny.
Come on MM - sort it out
Nathan:
I don’t know you personally so nothing I write is an attack on you, just on your blogs.
I have noticed recently that your blogs have slightly more edge to them and I hope that they continue to travel down this route.
My main frustration is that they are all too often, ‘fluffy, cozy, conservative affairs’ that seem to be written to Keep the status quo!
I believe Wolves need something radical, we have been floundering for too long.
I think that your comment about the crowd reaction being “perhaps even more severe than you expected” might alert you to the fact that most Wolves fans don’t feel very ‘fluffy and nostalgic’ about what is happening to their club.
I think the blogs should reflect a larger cross section.
Happy new year to you!
I agree for the most part here Nathan.
Also makes a lot of sense wasting energy trying to get Mad Mick sacked - cos ur right he wont get the boot till season end.
I dont agree with your rating of Breen - he is rubbish, apart frpm Craddock i dont think we have ANYTHING at the back worth keeping.
Hennessey Kights and Freddy are gems, we need to somehow hold on to them if/when we dont go up season end
Happy Baggie, well done on getting promoted, and probably thumping us 4-1 at the Mol in March.. what we can hope is that Morgan sees the light and gets us a Premiership Capable manager for next season.
COME ON YOU WOLVES !!!
come on lads it is not going to get any better if we don’t sand by our team. I know we are not the best but they are still our team. COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!!!!!
Happy new year Natahan Taking your points on board especially 3 points from a possible 12 with just two goals scored is simply dire, wolves can make up any excuse to the fans because they know they have a terrific fan base and loyal following,but what i have seen,heard,& read it’s a total farce i cant see any end to whats going on now unless the board either back mc-carthy in the transfer window or as per usual discuss mc-arthys progress at the end of january in the board room! ok we’ve missed kightly but are we really a one man team the 3 points from 12 suggest yes.
Also taking on board what someone else has said since the appointment of tony daley injuries are starting to pile up or are taking much longer to heal than usual, i just hope all these points are the topic of conversation at the next board room meeting.
mc-arthy did a great job for us last season but like the team needs to kick on and ((dire)) christmas performances have left lots of wolves fans thinking has he really got what it takes to turn this around? at the moment i would say it’s 60/40 in mc-arthys favour but saturdays game could prove a massive turning point!!
Nathan
A good blog as ever with a lot of relevant points, The thing that frustrates me about the changes between this season and last is.
Last season we had a young vibrant team that had a real go and made lots of chances playing good football, We may not taken those chances and left gaps at the back but we gained a fair amount of success playing this way. The likes of Little, Daniel Jones and Lewis Gobern all made positive contributions to the team in fact last season Mark Little was being linked to Reading and Arsenal.
This season we started off in the same vain but for some reason since the Albion game and Kightly’s injury the wheels have well and truly fallen off. It would be nice to think that the likes of Mark Davies, Lewis Gobern and Mark Little might get a game on Saturday because they just might give the team the spark we so desparately lack.
We can play fast attacking football making lots of chances imagine the success Freddy would have had last season, he would at least have got plenty of chances.
So please MM Give the likes of Davies, Little, Gobern, Gleeson and Rosa a chance tomorrow give them the opportunity show you and us they are worthy of consideration for the 1st team. The rotation of the same 16 players is not working so please take your blinkers off.
In the words of a leading supermarket “try something new today” or more accurately “try something new tomorrow”.
Give the players who haven’t been given a chance this season the opportunity tomorrow.
Tamworth Wolf… do you really think he will give some of the second string a chance when they would show MM up. We need to sack MM and JM now.. why has Chris Evans left and our first team coach all a bit strange.
looking at the table we are really at a false position, I have been to all games home and away and have not been entertained at all Carry on like we are and we could shortly be in trouble
As some are already thinking in the whispers at the Mol - Was it really MM who rejuvinated Wolves or was it really down to Taff Evans??? In his absence things have gone from bad to worse!!! So should it really have been Super Taff Evans??? and his side-kick Mick?
MM has been clueless for months now and even with the 1-0 wins that we “enjoyed” prior to this dismal gloom - we could see and sense that all was not well on the pitch and that we were progressively becoming WORSE, as each match passed us by
Someone else mentioned on another thread about Steve Morgans business philosophy about keeping faith with his staff and “growing” with them - Well, thats great IF you hired the staff in the first place! But SM didnt approve the appointment of MM, and Moxey certainly isnt one of SM’s appointments either!
We see the club in the same vein as say an expensive racing car - that requires someone with talent to drive it and win races!
MM is very badly struggling to change gears! never mind race the machine that is Wolves!
NB* Sir Alan Michael Sugar once attempted to run a football team like a business and failed trying! The team are struggling to even get out of the starting blocks - So IF MM has any theories about how to solve these issues, Can he have the decency to let us all know? Or is it that MM has no idea - as he has publicly stated this in media interviews, and if that is the case - WHY is he the manager???
Without any need to lambast a man that has shown us all how clueless he is by his very actions and words - Wasnt it MM who publicly stated that he was very interested in a certain striker from Man Citeh who has reaped dividends for the Old Enemy down the Road - and then offered a lame excuse as to why he was not pursued - as “we had our quota of strikers”, and that at the time he was not available? Or does that really mean that no-one really bothered to pursue it properley?
As for one Jez Moxey - WHERE ARE ALL OF THE “PREM LOANEES”? that he spouted on about??? A Ceo who has made a small fortune out of his tenure at the club and achieved exactly WHAT???
It ceases to amaze us that there are people on here that keep defending this man as some kind of miracle worker? Compared to JP at the Albion - dare we say - What has he achieved???
Season after season of failures - ONE promotion that really is down to DJ and the team he assembled and then WHAT? A severe lack of backbone to back the manager when he really needed it!!!
Some say “We could have done a Leeds” - Actually we very nearly could have - WHY? because of the very insane actions that led to a mass exodus of players from the club and if we had not put MM and Taff Evans in - we probably would have been!!!
Our club is currently meandering - rudderless, with NO leadership or sense of direction - What is the owner doing? Why have we heard NOTHING? Not even a reassurance that someone is taking care of “business”???
It is at times like these that we, the fans need to see some resemblence of a “leader” at the Mol - and so far - NOTHING
Moxey keeps coming out with the usual useless comments that split the fans camp - “divide and conquer” BUT we dont want to hear that rubbish - We want to know what is being done practically to halt this downward slide
What’s it going to take to get some action? Drop down towards the relgation zone?
C’mon Steve Morgan lets hear what you REALLY think???
To WBA Bomber.
I understand what you are saying, and, yes, if we were winning 1-0 every game there would be less moaning. BUT the style of play is nowhere near as entertaining as it was last season. We are far slower going forward and there is little in the way of fast, crisp passing and movement off the ball. The ball gets knocked long from the back as we have less creativity in midfield (partially due to Kightly being injured) and often defenders on the ball have no option. Then they knock it long up to a three stone midget who gets eased off the ball nearly every time.
I agree with 99% of what Nathan says on this but why the ‘long ball’ tag in the last para.
As far as I can see there is no discernible style of play whatsoever. If we were actually launching the ball to a big centre forward at least there would be some sort of tactic appraent.Calling something ‘long ball’ as a derogatory term when the football is shapeless is lazy and a cop out. We might be playing some boring stuff but it is far from ‘long ball’ which actually can be pretty effective in this league.
Totally agree with 38.The current situation on the field is no
different to what we have witnessed under previous managers.Although I was glad to see Hoddle go,remember he went due to the lack of ambition shown by the club. We have witnessed this lack of ambition on other occassions most notably when we achieved promotion and Jones was not given sufficient funds.The one person who has been at the club through out this time is Jez Moxey and therefore surely he is responsible for the problems we are currently experiencing.We need leadership off the field and IMO we are not getting it.
Bridget and Tony
You have struck a cord with me, everything that could be said about the stagnation of the Wolves and possible reasons for it.
We need Leadership at Molineux, something is rotten in the corridor’s of power and the fact they have a go at the fan’s all the time, does not give you any confidence.
Why does the club not come out and tell us the real reasons behind the backroom staff all leaving. Then at least we could use our own judgement, to me it looks like lack of ambition and the lack of ability to put a successful management team in place.
C’Mon the Wolves, Keep the Faith.
11 - rthomps, excellent post, pretty much sums it up.
things aren’t working, i agree with mm that this really is the first nasty spell since he’s been here, and he will be here until the end of the season so lets stick it out.
kightly back in training, possible chance for either gleeson or davies, or god forbid gibson to play in centre mid now george the enigma is off to africa.
to all those constantly going on about rosa - firstly i agree the guy deserves a chance, but he’s currently injured.
31.abdonwolf
You said “I have noticed recently that your blogs have slightly more edge to them and I hope that they continue to travel down this route.”
But then you said you weren’t happy with the blog?
I think Nathan is finally coming round to how the majority of us have felt for a long time and I like the cut of his jib!
We do need a radical change, but lets face it, this is Wolves and we don’t act that quickly.
Paul Ince won’t be installed as manager tomorrow along with nearly a complete team, unfortunately.
Excellent blog.
I’ve always enjoyed reading Nathan’s musings and I’ve never posted a reply until now.
Its just so boring at the Wolves at the moment. The crowd are quiet because we are playing like a Sunday league team.
And if we are not careful, our false league position is about to come tumbling down around our ears.
Needs improving FAST!
back in the seventies we heard the phrase we have the technology we can rebuild him ( from the series the bionic man) 30 years on with the advancement in technology any chance they have the technology to rebuild Steveie Bull,s knees cos at least if they did we could have them rebuilt for him and slap him straight back in the team THEN WE WOULD SCORE GOALS!!!
Nathan, excellent blog totally agree with all you say.
Happy Newe Year To One And All..
Nathan, I thought you were just being ironic.
Leave MM alone, he is the one to get us out of it.
An incident happened against Sheffield United this week which just about sums up McCarthy’s attitude. Gray (who had a good) game lost the ball and immediately ran like mad to get it back which with a huge amount of effort he did. Our erstwhile manager applauded that more than anything else in the entire match. I know because I sit not far behind him.
One question for anybody. Does McCarthy, Moxey and most importantly Steve Morgan read these messages because I really think they should.
Does anyone know?
Nathan, great blog and I’m amazed to say I agree with pretty much everything Happy Baggie has said as well. I stil don’t think I can keep faith in McCarthy for much longer though. I will give him the benfit of the doubt till the transfer window closes
44
I didn’t say anything like that, please read it properly before you comment.
I will spell it out for you:
None of the blogs appeal to me, for the reasons I outlined. However, I think that they are better and reflect better what people think with more edge, is that clear enough?
Just another note to Nathan, do you only ever reply to people that like what you write or to Happy_Baggie?
51. abdonwolf
I try not to post many replies on my own blogs, otherwise it just looks a bit desperate!
However, the blog is my opinion, a fans opinion.
If you were writing them, then the blog would mirror your own feelings surely and not just those of the majority of fans?
I have up to now perhaps tried to be as positive as I can and sometimes that means not always writing exactly what I have wanted to say.
But thats gone out the window and I will now be giving a slightly more frank view in my blog.
I hope the majority enjoy reading my rants but I can’t please everybody and although the blogs don’t appeal to you at least it gives you a chance to discuss whats going on at the club.
So you won’t see my name pop up much on here, I’ll just give my thoughts and let everybody else discuss.
Ta. Nathan.
WOW. We can all see it but why can’t Mighty Marvellous Mick.
Attacking midfielders, creativity in the middle, avoid the use of the “slow” flanks, pass through the middle. These are some of the phrases repeated above, yet MM does not a clue as to how to fix it, mind baffling!!
Let’s hope MM reads this blog and takes a hint
52 Nathan Lloyd - First of all, Happy New Year to you and yours
It cannot be easy putting yourself up there to be “shot at” - as everyone obviously has a “different” view
Some based on logic, some based on passions/ anger and some based on goodness knows what?
You will never please everyone; but credit to you for trying to give your views
NB* Personally, we would appreciate the style you adopted today - but hey its your blog!
52
I think it is clear that everyone likes the ‘mean and nasty Nathan’
better than the ‘fluffy pink one’
Well said Nathan it,s always best to be frank with your opinions tell it as you see it, others might not like what you write but I for one am totally in full support of all your comments.
At the moment I see no way out of this mess we are in unless there is a total overhaul at the Molineux, in fact I can only see us on a downward spiral, I have never nor will I ever be a supporter of the current manager, which I believe was just a knee jerk reaction from Jez Moxey to try and appease the fans a little.
Mick McCarthy has shown time and time again over the years in his managerial career that he may sometimes have “the luck of the Irish” on his side but once he has gotten a team into the premiership what has happened to them? Correct! they have all been relegated back to this god forsaken division. I will at the moment keep my faith in Steve Morgan and see what transpires through this transfer window but I hold out little hope for us Wolves fans. This Norwegian player Hantweit, I have heard that he is very slow and clumsy on the ball, I know you can,t believe everything you hear but that is what I have been told.
I wish every English Wolves fan a very happy new year.
54. Bridget & Tony
I love writing the blog, even when it does get to midnight and my bed is calling.
Not everybody is going to agree with me. But it would be a boring time if they did.
I think my blog from now on will be a bit more frank and a lot less woolly!
Thanks for your support and Happy New Year!
Nathan Lloyd says it all: `Give the kids a chance, play wingers, stick with Freddy and Keogh, start playing through the midfield and above all else play players in their correct positions.`… This message does not seem to be getting home. Football is not a difficult game but British coaches seem to make it into the science of the impossible. Mick was born and grew up in England before someone gets too pedantic.
U2 Wolf (36). Why have Evans, etc left ?
Look at MM’s CV . He takes no arguement or contadiction from anyone. Throughout his mis-managment career, he has got rid of anyone who dared oppose him. That is why the terrific coaching staff we had here have all gone, the reason McKindoe went, the reason Roy Keane was sent home from the World Cup and the reason Freddie, who came back from success with Wales with ideas, was benched.
The man has a siege mentality.When things go wrong, he digs in & blunders with more determination down his “my way is right” path. The more he is critisisezed, the more he digs in.
He needs allies. So he makes friends with certain players. They back him in the dressing room and in the media. In return they are assured their place in the team. It is the reason the likes of Henry, Ward and Oli are undroppable.
A very good blog Nathan. It has certainly sparked some interesting debates.
I am concerned that all of the players/management want to get back to where were at 7 or 8 games ago - I am not convinced that we are any different now to how we were then - it’s just the results have got worse - even Kightly has said that ‘I think we’re only one good win away from getting back to where we were in November.’ We have put in 4 good performances all season!!!
11 rthomps Just an observation:
‘Elliott to cover for Kightly on the right, then leave.’ Surely much of our problems this season have been caused by playing people out of position so how would playing a striker on the wing help??? We have tried that with S.Ward with absolutely no success whatsoever. (apart from him being proclaimed as the find of MM’s career of course)
Finally, there is little chance of anybody promising being tried in midfield tomorrow because that would risk them becoming cup tied and hence not being available for transfer out!
60.Scottwolf1
Very good point about the cup-tied thing, be interesting to see who isn’t put in.
Happy_Baggie
Some of your comments I do agree with as to some of the others been knocked about. However one thing I will say is that you try and get it across that WBA play football now and Wolves used too but no longer do is a wee bit odd. Yes you have Goal scorers who are on fire but being honest…. That is what seperates most of the teams in each league. If you put philips in the current Wolves side … I know that we would get a lot more wins on the board and with it a better style of play.
Some of the play lately is played purely out of frustration rather than lack of skill. Not always mind as certain players are NOT fit to wear the shirt. I will say though lets give MM until the end of the season and see where we are as in this division you don’t always need to play pretty football and do need to put a Shift in! Support MM now and get rid if we go on the downward spiral at the end of the season.
You moan that we had three central midfielders and a striker in midfield, and then offer Little (a right back!!), Gobern (injured) and Gleeson (a central midfielder) as a solution to our problem on the left wing. Hypocrisy at a new level!!
You say you are “wearing my Mick McCarthy fan club badge”, but you spent the whole blog criticising him. Mick is an experienced manager who has taken Ireland to one of their best performances at a World Cup, he has also got Sunderland promoted two years ago despite having a fraction of the budget Hoddle’s Wolves had that season. People call for Ince to be appointed but hiring a manager in his second year of management, both of which have been in League Two, to get a massive club like Wolves up to the Premier League and keep them there is hardly a recipe for success. It is well known that 90% of Wolves fans still back McCarthy, but they seemed to be cowed by the more vocal 10% who in all probability didn’t bother turning up at the start of the last season as we seemed to be going “off the rails”.
The dire football is something all teams suffer from occasionally, but the ceaseless moaning and blame tactics adopted by some sections of the Molineux crowd, regardless of who is the manager or who is in team when we are not beating all-comers, is what is keeping me and a lot of other Wolves fans away from matches.
Hiya Happy, You are right missed that one, I dont rememebr the flying fifties, I remember the 70s and Wolves hada pretty good team too in those days (ask Juventus)I remember other treams that had flair and entertained, problem is I can also remember the last few games Leicester, Norwich, Sheffield Utd now I feel all sad again
SoggyWolf, just because MM was a good international manager, doesnt mean he will do any good at Wolves.Rememeber Docherty, Taylor and Hoddle by any chance?
Problem - if you haven’t got good players, no amount of training will help Wolves win. Stop blaming the Manager, and any Manager for that reason, the blame lays firmly at the feet of the Management of Wolves, buy 2nd raters, get 2nd rate games and the players because they don’t realise they are being paid megga bucks to play a game of football. Embarrassment, total embarrassment.
Don’t really know what to think about the 2-1 win over Cambridge.
We didn’t play good but their keeper was good. We need Ricardo Fuller. I’d like to see Rosa and Davies have their chance.
Soggy Wolf 63 - I was going to tell you what rubbish you were talking when I saw in your last sentence that you don’t go to watch the games. If you did go you would realise that the entertainment we have had at Wolves games this season has been absolute zero. It was the case 9 months ago that McCarthy had the backing of 90% of Wolves fans. I suspect now it is more like 20%. We looked evenly matched against Cambridge, we have scored 8 goals in our last 15 matches, and we are halfway down the league.
As someone that does go to all Wolves matches I can tell you I want better than that from my club and I don’t think we will get it under this manager.
49, the players do and i cant see any reason why management would’nt have a glimse on the odd occasion.