Wolves attempt to revive their season at Selhurst Park tomorrow with owner Steve Morgan adding his presence to the united front around Mick McCarthy, writes Martin Swain.
Morgan heads for the Crystal Palace clash having refused to fuel the flames licking around his manager’s ankles by calling questions about McCarthy’s future as “irrelevant” and adding: “I don’t want to enter a dialogue about Mick because anything I say is likely to be spun on misinterpreted.”
But, if he shied away from offering McCarthy his unqualified backing during this difficult campaign, there is no doubt that Morgan believes the raging debate about the Wolves manager is an unfair one at the moment.
“Despite what some people might have you believe, we’re not in crisis, we’re not fighting relegation,” said Morgan, who believes the constant disruptions caused by injuries have been the biggest factor slowing Wolves’ progress.
“Perhaps expectations were set too high. Mick’s put together a very young team – we must have the youngest team in the division by a long way and that bodes well for the future.
“But when we have a full squad back together then judge the players, the manager and myself.”
And, in a follow-up to chief executive Jez Moxey’s appeal for the fans not to let the season “implode”, Morgan added: “It is obvious that everybody, especially young lads, react better and respond better to encouragement.
“I know the fans are frustrated, we all are. But if you have a bag of sticks, the easiest way to snap them is to separate them. If you put those sticks together, they won’t snap.
“They are unbreakable. If we stay together we will be unbreakable.”
Morgan was stepping into the public arena at Molineux to relaunch the Wolves Aid programme which no-one should doubt is a cause close to the multi-millionaire’s heart.
Having raised more than £4m over the last five years for more than 100 causes around his native region in the north west, The Morgan Foundation is venturing into his adopted home.
It will give a minimum of 10 per cent of its £1.5m annual budget to Wolves Aid and that £150,000 input each year will make Wolves Aid the biggest charity of its kind in the game, according toThe Football League Trust.
That kind of commitment to the wider family underlines Morgan’s determination to build something of substance during the era of his ownership and he has quite obviously concluded that a management regime-change at the first whiff of trouble does not send out the right signals.
But there could be rocky days ahead as, with Morgan’s blessing, the club attempts to steer a new path of restraint through a fan base which has a notoriously short fuse.
Sam Allardyce, one of this season’s casualties of a group of supporters’ demands for instant success, reckons multi-millionaire businessmen running clubs buckle when “people start shouting at them.”
Morgan said: “Yes, I saw those comments of Sam’s but nobody is shouting at me yet. And I certainly don’t want them to do so.
“A few things have been said to me but listen – I know they are disappointed, we all are, but I am urging them to stay patient.
“Two-thirds of our squad must be under the age of 22. They are young lads, human, and they will react far better to encouragement than they will to the fans booing them.
“I know all the arguments about the supporters paying their money and having the right to say what they want. Of course, that’s true.
“But we’re in it together. Nobody goes out on the pitch to give anything but their best,” he added.
“Wolves is a big club. It’s a big community club which means so much to the people.
“Even folk who don’t like football want to know ‘how are the Wolves doing?’ Kick one ankle and everybody limps.
“Our forebears have set the benchmark high and we’ve got to rise to that challenge, take it forward. We’re not shirking that responsibility.
“We’ve got together a group of young players with bright futures ahead of them but I still think that if we can get a few results together, which will be easier to achieve with the fans shouting for them, we can make the play-offs.”
36 Comments
here here Morgan!
Utter rubbish, if the players are not up to it and expectation is lower, how about a reduction in ticket prices! What chance of that!!!
Sounds like the dreaded “vote of confidence” to me.
we can only hope wolfski
WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH. LOOK WHERE WE ARE MORGAN! IF WE LOSE AT PALACE THEN HE HAS TO GO! END OF! GET A MANAGER IN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING AND STOP ALL THIS SPIN DOCTOR NONSENSE!
Hypocrits! when were winning will be the best team on the earth according to you lot, wolves fans are famous for being facists! why are expectations so high, were not as good as we think we are, just get behind the lads, and you never know there could be a repeat of last year! stop being optomists and be realists!
Mr morgan with the greatest respect i have just returned from Helmand province and have been proud to have no fewer than 20 18 / 19 year olds with me, all who fought like men so sorry cant take this age thing if they are not good enough dont play them, christ sake you are suppose to be a team going for the Premier league not trying to get out of the conference.
I can understand where Morgan is coming from.However the facts are that since December the results are that of a relegation team.No one wants a manager to lose his job but he is ultimately responsible for the team.Some of the performances this season are some of the worst I have seen in the last ten years.There is no real sign of an upturn.The injuries arguement dosn’t really wash as apart from Kites the others [when selected] have just not played well ie Oli Breen [who is well “over the hill”.The fan’s SHOULD GET BEHIND the TEAM but should also criticise the manager when he makes blatant bad decisions.Which THIS MANAGER HAS DONE ALL SEASON LONG
Well said Steve, shut up moaning and start supporting.
The MM witchhunt obviously won’t work and encouragement to a yound squad of players will.
Do it! Simple as.
STOP GOING ON ABOUT A YOUNG TEAM!!
so what if we have “young team”? thats not an excuse, MANU won everything with a young squad.. if they are good enough thats all that matters…
I believe we do have a good “young squad” but most of them are on loan or in the reserves…
still think mr morgan is waiting for the end of season to stamp his mark on the club….
I think Morgan has lost the plot. Especially for us fans. He came in with great gusto to take over the reigns and to help us move back into the Premiership. The indication was that the agreement called for a 30M investment. I didn’t see the agreement and can only take that as stated by the upper management of the team.
The problem here is that he has used very little of that 30M to bolster the team and in fact now he has the nerve to state that the reason for the poor showing is that we (he has) have a very young squad. Hey sunbeam, its what you have paid for!
Why didn’t he go and get some 16 year olds on the team? Cost even less and then he could state the same nonsensical statements.
Morgan, you have possibly conned us. If you truly wanted to build a team and get us moving upwards then you surely needed good quality experienced players.
The young players will learn their trade with Wolves as many of the new young players have in the past, and simply get sold on to Premiership teams.
Maybe that is the master plan? Cultivate players for sale, like battery hens. Make yourself lots of money and avoid what the fans are seeking which is Premiership football.
Another poor excuse from the man who has done less for the team than the team has for him. Afterall he can stick his chest out as Wolves owner. All for 10 quid and a few quid on second rate lower level players.
Maybe I missed something in his master plan. Whatever that might be. I think only of what he is trying to achieve and I am 100% it isn’t what the fans would want to happen.
There’s been scientific study on the effects of football supporters when their team loses. I wish I could remember the name of it. Anyway, it shows that fans who go to a game full of hope suffer serious stress levels when their teams loses and this stress level does not diminish within an hour - it goes on for days. It’s a scientific study based on the physiology of human beings. So, telling people to act counter to that is somewhat unproductive.
Morgan - get your team to win occasionally, then your fans will feel a lot less stress and they will feel more inclined to cheer.
And you don’t need science to tell you that. Just half a brain.
Due to their form off late,Wolves & Mick McCarthy in particular have come in for an hell of a lot of stick.But I would like to point one thing out,which proves how good the club in general is.
As you may or may not know, I’m a disabled Wolves fan.When I e-mailed Lyndsey in the ticket office regarding tickets for tomorrow’s game, she told me the ticket was £18 for one + one free for my helper!
Unfortunatly my son & daughter who normally take it in turns to meet me at the station can’t make it tomorrow & are unable to collect the tickets from Mol.
I’ve mailed Palace & am still awaiting a reply to see if I can collect on the day from their office.
The morale to this tale?
If you are disabled or know someone who is,register the disability with Wolves & get the same ticket access, at prices that I enjoy!
See you at Selhurst tomorrow!
C’Mon you Wolves!
7 RM Agreed - If you’re good enough - you’re old enough!
SM states that “we are not a club in crisis” and “we’re not fighting relegation”
Has this man actually looked at our stats for the last 3-4 months?
Has he noted our centre halfs and the serious lack of pace or abillity they have?, not to mention the combined ages?
Has he sat through the dire, dire games home and away and still had the strength to muster a smile after each debarcle? Or did Moxey and MM make sure he attended the easier games where we managed a draw or a win?
MM tactically is less than inept - If you gave the man world class defenders ala Dennis Irwin (at his prime) - he would still tell the man to “prove himself” and play one of his chosen few! That is the sheer arrogance of MM - who now believes all the premature “In Mick we lust” fans that spout off claims of “loyalty equals blind faith” and if you dont worship at the temple of MM you cannot be a “loyal” supporter - What utter, utter BS!
As soon as can no longer qualify for the play offs - SM ahould in our view get ready to oust Moxey and suggest he takes up a career in politics and MM and crew
Bring in his own people and start again - BIG BRUSH and out with the old garbage!
MM spouts off hot air about what the players should do - yet he doesnt go to the away crowd at Cardiff - but lets th players take all the stick - agrees that they deserve it
A bit like the american leaders in World War 2 - We’re RIGHT behind you men - YEP - about 10 miles and onwhere insight!
Not the act of a real LEADER - because real leaders lead from the FRONT and are not shy of taking flak
NB* Whilst we’re at it - We really need a real CAPTAIN who can put his foot on the ball and boss the players around him - TWO things we are sadly also missing with MM in charge!
Wonder where MM was watching the players from when they were getting verbal abuse from the Wolves fans at Cardiff?
Listen to the expert
I shall zis only once.
WE WERE A BETTER SIDE UNDER GRAHAM TURNER.
13 Kent Wolf - the BEST thing about the Wolves at anytime is the supporters (fickle and non fickle) who care enough to voice their opinions and dont just sit there in silence
Even Forest fans that we took to the Mol some years back stated that we had the “best songs”, “friendliest people” (as the fans around knew they were Forest fans at a Anglo Italian Cup game) and “great sense of humour”
So we really know different to the so-called Daily Mail survey garbage (that does not disclose any real research or where the survey took place)
Hope you enjoy the game 9and its not a damp day) and anytime your at the Mol we’ll be more than happy to buy you a pint!
UP THE WOLVES!!!
i always thought of all the players who play for wolves as my heros but having read RM comments hes just returned from helmun province i must declair the he is the one we should call a HERO well done RM AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE
That,ll do for me, youve heard it from the horses mouth…mick aint going nowhere, so save your wasted energy moaning and calling for micks head and i hope use it positively to back the club.
Hopefully the boo boys will get behind mick and the boys and support.
I know results on the pitch aint been great this season so far, but mr morgan has a very valid point, just when have we been able to put our strongest team out for a number of games?
The answer is not even once let alone a dozen games.
I think we could have coped without one or two for a month or so but lets be realistic weve not got enough quality in numbers to cope with the bad luck we,ve had.
I bet mick doesnt even know his best eleven, how could he, theyve never been all available.
The fact is through no ones fault we,ve had no consistency, no chance for pairings to gel, same back four etc etc i could go on.
The club as a whole deserves a break and some of our fans aint helped the cause.
As mr morgan says…weve got the youngest squad in the division by a country mile. Be patient, give it time etc.
I honestly believe we are heading in the right direction, ok i admit we,ve had to mark time for most of this season but, we,re in better shape, the kids are gaining valuable experience, the squad has improved and in my opinion as a club we,re not ready this season for promotion to the premiership.
Lets get behind the boys as one, when our fans are in full voice molineux is jumping as we all well know.
Barmy army
The futures old gold n black
If you see a bloke,possibly with a walking stick, wearing a White away shirt, with Cagga 50 on the back, just sat “Hi Dave”
It will be me!
17 Welsh Wolf - Hear Hear Agreed
19 Kent Wolf aka Cagga 50 No problem will look out for you - Do you sit in SB/ NB , BW or SB stand?
You say the players are very young well if you cant play at 18 you never will more than half we have never have or will you must sack MM know while there is still some good managers about like sam or give ince a chance.
Take my hat of to you Kent
keep the faith thanks people
bring some money with you the beers are on you kent I am hoping to get to the game mite have to tell the misses a little porky could take her and the kids but christ no not london prices
Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey are unlikely ever to comment on the position of Mick McCarthy in a negative way.
Privately I imagine that they are exasperated about our form and performances this season and towards May may make decisions on the overall future of our Management set-up.
Steve Morgan is a remarkably successful Businessman and Jez Moxey (for all his faults) has steered Wolves through fairly troubled times. Sue he’s not everyone’s favourite, but I don’t particularly believe he’s the mug that everyone paints him out to be.
Both Morgan are Moxey are astute Businessmen - They will be more than aware that the revenue generated in the Premiership with increased ticket prices and capacity crowds for each home match + Sky TV payments is their goal four our club. Frankly I do not believe they will be relishing another season in the Championship with home games against Swansea, Doncaster and possibly Carlisle or Walsall.
After this season’s debace they will act, but will not make any public utterance until the axe falls.
11 - It doesnt work when an owner buys the players, the manager highlights who he wants.
We have seen this before at other clubs but it doesnt work and creates a rift with manager and owner.
How can you blame the owner knowing as little about the agreement as you admitt and also have you ever thought that Mcarthy
has got the players he wanted and didnt ask for more…………….
The owner cannot just rush off and buy who he wants, he lets the manager highlight targets with his scouts.
I think your whole post is too harsh on Morgan at this point. I hope you turn out to be wrong but at this junction I cant really agree. The buck usually stops with the manager its up to Morgan to get the right staff in. But who would have been happy if he sacked Mick at the start of the season. No-one.
At the end of the season we will see where we are and whats done about it if its not where we want to be. Then we can judge who has done what right or wrong.
“I don’t want to enter a dialogue about Mick because anything I say is likely to be spun on misinterpreted.”
This means he’s watching performances, he’s not happy with results but giving MM the rest of the season to evaluate the situation fully but it is more than likely that he will be gone in the summer. Morgan wouldn’t say this because the headline would be “adios McCarthy’ or “McCarthys very long summer break” or if it’s the News of the world or Sport “McCarthy’s sacked for being crap!”.
Before any of the ‘in mick we trust’ gang moan at me I could be off the mark but I’ve worked in media and pr long enough to know how to turn a frown upside down for the public
RM welcome back. I salute you and the boys.
I think Morgan has been canny here. He hasn’t really said anything has he?
He has neither condemned nor supported Mick. I would say he has left his options wide open!
He is right that we have a young squad that bodes well for the future.
He is right that we have suffered badly as a result of injuries. He may even be hinting that we don’t quite have a strong enough squad with that comment too.
Morgan isn’t going to be fooled easily. He has made money available (it isn’t him who actually spends it after all) and I’m sure he won’t stay patient forever if he feels it is wasted.
Him sacking Mick though isn’t a wise move right now. We need to get to end of the season when Mick, having failed to reach the playoffs (his own minimum acceptable standard stated at the start of the season) should do the decent thing and walk. No need to sack him. No need for compensation. No need for other managers to fear bad feeling within the club. A cleaner solution by far.
I just hope that if Mick walks, we get someone the fans can unite behind. Preferably someone they will allow the time to rebuild the squad properly. We need to strengthen considerably before we can hope to get promotion and, more importantly, stay there.
Don’t know where I’m sitting tomorrow, collecting tickets at Palace & I will have a free one, if anyone would care to give me a lift from Tunbridge Wells!
BTW CAGGA IS MY NICKNAME, 50 WAS MY AGE LAST BIRTHDAY
Nick 9. we will all stop moaning and stik with MM and all anjoy playing in League 1 after next season. We will finnish in bottom half this season, but let’s stick with MM and chear on Sunderland old boys (sorry Wolves) and be good uncomplaining brainwashedyesmen to Mr Moxey supporters whilst our great club is dragged further and further down.
I know there are fans in Kent.
If ANYONE wants to give me a lift to Selhurst tomorrow, i’ll give them my free carers ticket.My kids can’t make it!
Kent Wolf-lets make it simple “were do you sit”.
For all you concerned “fans” get practising on the chant after you have got rid of MM and your “new” manger has not delivered- we want ? out, we want ? out, muppets.
23. A good comment, we should all look at the bigger picture. No matter how much I defend MM, he will only be viable when the club becomes a viable business. At the moment however he’s going no where, so we should all trust in the long term plan, and support the lads
Let’s look at this logically. Mick did an awesome job last season. I recognise that and don’t wish to be fickle. However, surely I am allowed, as a fan, to pose questions that I don’t understand the answer to? Could Mick please answer the following?
Why did you let Michael McIndoe go?
Why did you send the best central defender we had (out of an average bunch) on loan to Stoke, only to have to bring him back?
When Freddy was firing for club and country, why did you destroy his confidence by dropping him?
Why haven’t you given him a fair crack of the whip since?
Why did you publicly castigate Bothroyd for ducking under a free kick whilst in the wall and completely ignore a far worse example of this by Gibson?
Why have we got seven strikers in the squad when other areas were in more urgent need of strengthening?
Why don’t you know who your best strikers are, leading to us changing the front pair not just by a match to match basis, but that we cannot even finish a game with the same chosen pair with which we started it?
How in a million years can you justify us going 4-3-3 against Cardiff, other than your personal fave, Andy Keogh, didn’t want to play midfield again?
Mick, I salute you for last year’s achievements. But what the heck is going on this season? I can’t see what you are trying to achieve, nor how you are trying to achieve it. Come on Mick, put up or shut up. And Steve, if Mick can’t, or won’t, provide a better direction and game plan than this, let’s get someone in who will (Paul Ince?).
I am in the same camp as Weston Wolf.
MM will be treated as any manager in business, as every manager should be: support in public, hard words in private.
As at work, if a manager has failed, having been given every chance, he is on a warning procedure and then out.
This is were we will be with our management. Morgan is at Wolves for success!
I think we have signed some good players. However there also many who have wasted their chance and I hope will be released.
We have the core of a good squad:
2 great keepers.
Defence: Foley,Edwards,Elokobi and I would keep Breen for some experience. 2 central defenders needed as a year ago!
Midfield: Davis, Jones, (potential)Jarvis, Edwards, Kightley. At least 1 other, ideally domineering personalities to lead by example.
Forwards: Eastwood, Keogh(squad player),Ebanks-Blake and despite having others, they can all go for me, 2 more goalscorers
Other:Let’s see some more of the acadamy involved next season.
5/6 good signings and we will be back where we belong!!
I think the summer could see some positive moves from Morgan
For the record, at home games I sit in the South Bank!