Mick McCarthy believes the nastiness of some previous Black Country derbies has gone – because the sides are so familiar with each other.
With so many connections between the two sets of players, McCarthy is expecting a typically full throttle affair, but without some of the nastiness the fixture has generated since the Steve Bull era.
Tonight’s Molineux sell-out clash will be the seventh meeting of the Black Country rivals in the last two seasons after colliding in the Championship, FA Cup and play-offs.
Several players between the camps share long term friendships.
Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey and Albion striker Ishmael Miller were schoolboys at Manchester City, while Wolves pair Michael Gray and Jody Craddock played with Albion striker Kevin Phillips at Sunderland.
Albion keeper Dean Kiely and Wolves skipper Gary Breen played together for the Republic of Ireland and Wolves’ Kevin Foley and Dave Edwards and Albion’s Leon Barnett were at Luton at the same time.
“What we’ve got is two very good footballing sides playing and if I look at the games we’ve played since myself and Tony (Mowbray) have been in charge, they have been ultra-competitive matches,” said Wolves boss McCarthy.
“There’s been no bad feeling in the games as such and no one should suggest there has been any spillover.”
The Wolves boss believes his players are familiar enough with the Baggies.
“I don’t know whether I need to start warning our lads of any one of their players,” he said.
“Everyone is well prepared and organised in this league so there won’t be any surprises for us or Tony and his side. They know what we’re about at this stage – we watch each other on a regular basis and before each game we will have four reports on the opposition. I don’t think Tony’s team is going to play any differently, and we’re not going to play any differently.
“The players have all played 40-odd games and they’re all fully aware of who plays for West Brom.
“We’ve seen them enough on television, we’ve played against them and lots of the players who faced them last season are still here.
“So we’re aware of their strengths and their weaknesses. I tend to concentrate on how we’re doing.
“Tony has probably had the same conversation about us. We’ve got plenty on our locker for them to worry about to be quite honest.”
11 Comments
SPOT ON MICK..THEY SHOULD BE JUST AS WORRIED ABOUT US..WE DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS AS LONG AS WE TAKE 3 POINTS OFF THE TESCO’S.
AND TO KEVIN PHILLIPS..AS THEY SAY IN THE THEATRICAL WORLD..BREAK A LEG SON.
CRUISING INTO THE PLAY OFFS..THE MCARTHY WAY..IN STYLE OF COURSE..OH YES.
TYPING THE SOUTHBANK WAY… WITH CAPS ON… OH YES
Break a leg in the theatrical world is euphemism for have a good performance , good luck etc.
So I am presuming you are wishing KP a good game and I should not read any other connotation into your remark. Nice of you to wish him well
I hope its entertaining and no over enthusiastic tackling.
Up the Wolves
Magic MICK walks into a function room and the host said where do you to sit Mick he told the bloke im always comfotable sitting mid table.ALWAYS LOOKING DOWN AT THE DINGLES
2# HAPPY..HAHAHA..NICE ONE!!
3# WIZARDS..NO THE OTHER WAY WAS THE INTENDED WAY.
MARCHING ON TO WEMBLEY PLAY OFF GLORY..THE WOLVERHAMPTON WAY..IN STYLE OF COURSE..OH YES.
BAGGIE 9.. HAHAHA WOW YOUR A FUNNY GUY..ALMOST AS FUNNY AS MOWBRAY SAYING YOU’VE GOT A CHANCE TONIGHT..HAHAHAHA HILLARIOUS.
BEATING THE BOGGIES THE SYLVAN WAY..WITH EASE OF COURSE..OH YES.
It’s amazing how this derby has come along at such a critical stage of the season. The importance is almost on a par with last season’s play offs. A win for Albion and we should make top 2, a win for Wolves and you should make the play offs but I suppose a draw is the likely result. It should be remembered that a defeat for either will not finish either of our chances.
2- classic!
8 - Spot on, themowbrayway.
Nice postings on this one keep it up boys,
Boing Boing