Gary Breen has challenged the emerging leaders in the “young and hungry” Wolves pack to lead the team to another promotion push next season.
Wolves’ leading lights are a string of highly-rated players in their early 20s including Wayne Hennessey, Kevin Foley, George Elokobi, Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
At 34, Breen, fellow defender Jody Craddock (32) and 33-year-old Michael Gray are the few examples of lengthy experience in Mick McCarthy’s youthful squad.
Molineux captain Breen and Craddock are both out of contract this summer and their futures remain unclear, with the debriefing of the entire squad getting under way this week.
McCarthy is expected to oversee several ins and outs in response to this season’s failure to reach the play-offs.
But the emphasis will definitely be on strengthening with the fresh funds provided by new owner-chairman Steve Morgan.
“We don’t need any more 34-year-olds in the team, that’s for sure,” said Breen.
“There are young players here who are leaders themselves – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is one and there are quite a few of them. But that needs to come out and I’m sure it will do after a season like this. It’s up to them to take on that mantle.”
As Breen reflected on Wolves’ failed bid for the play-offs, the former Sunderland stopper concluded that the race for the promotion wasn’t lost in the final few weeks – but in mid-winter. McCarthy’s side failed to win a Championship game between December 4 and January 19.
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22 Comments
Breen has done more work for the E&S this week than he did in the whole season for the Wolves
1. Excellent!
Breen and Craddock are out of contract. Leave it that way. Time to move on, 2 new defenders.
Charlie
ATLANTA WOLVES
POst no 1 ha ha ha.Good one!
yeah i have to say Dull Amigo that is a quality one. Breen has had loads to say this week shame he didn’t put that kind of effort into playing this season or in the playoffs last season. But time is time and Breen has to go, wouldn’t mind keeping Craddock though he’s been alright for most of the season.
Craddock deserves at least 1yr contract I said when he was loaned out it was a mistake and I was proved right.
The fact that Craddock and Breen are still the best defenders at the club shows how much progress we have not made in the last 12 months. Yet there are still plenty of people that want another 12 months of standing still before we get in a new manager.
This young and hungry makes me laugh.
I can count on one hand the number of times we have looked hungry this season.
More like Young and unable.
4- he couldnt put all the effort in this season because for a majority of it he has been injured. SUPER MICK MCCARTHY. SUPER KEOGH
i would give breen and craddock another 1 year contract and bring in 3 new centre halfs for them to help mould for the premiership the season after. no im not going mad and i have renewed for next season.
8# MORON!..BUY A SEASON TICKET AND THEN WATCH FROM THE STANDS..IT ALWAYS SOUNDS BETTER ON RADIO THAN IT ACTUALLY IS!!
Breen is our best defender, fact! Craddock a close 2nd. Just shows we need more CBs.
Perhaps Gary is thinking about a new career in the media, now that his football career is over !
I’d give Craddock another year and Gray another year as well, just due to their all-round effort this season.
Breen has got to go, he has been to blame for more than enough goals this season without turning round and blaming everyone else. Get him out, send Collins, Elliott, Kyle, Gibson and Bothroyd with him and lets start building the team around the players that lead by example. Unlike this hypocritical joke!
Kightly for captain, he is the team’s most influential player!
cwf279 Charlie ATLANTA WOLVES…get yourself on soccerflow.com & worldsoccerdaily cause i’m leading a one man crusade to convert the USA to follow the Wolves & not the big 4.
Simon
is breen taking the mick? he’s been in the express every day this week spouting the same old crap, perhaps he thought he’d get into the media spotlight as his career is as good as over at wolves(well, i hope it is).
lmao 08/09 CHAMPIONS
WAKE UP. were stuck in this division… 20 years without hitttin the top 2 once? Were a championship team… You must only be a kid but get used to be the Nearly team (Y)
Never a true word said Breen, yes the race was lost in mid winter between December 4 to January 19.
Shame MM didn’t look at the table to see our slide.
Shame on all of you, nowing where you’ve failed and not standing up and admitting it at the time, to B****y late now.
It really is time Breen shut up. He’s blamed the young guns, backed the young guns, but with any luck he won’t be there next year.
I back the young players to do us proud next season, but I also hope the managment frontline and behind the scene have the guts to do the job properly, to make sure the young guns have full and massive support to do the job.
They might not let us down but will you Management?
I’d like us to keep Craddock- our best defender over the course of this season. Against WBA at home he was outstanding especially in the first half.
Proud to be a Wolves fan
Breen, lets hope you’re not here to see it then. You’re too old and too slow now. Thanx for 2006/2007 season (1st 3/4 anyway) but it is time for you to move down a league or two to see your career out
Same goes for Craddock
21. Oh what short memories some of you have…goldfish like in fact.
All the best gary great captain and leader on the park, we all make errors occassionally, but on the whole fantastic player, top pro.