Manager Mick McCarthy believes he could have found an answer to Wolves’ central defensive dilemma – left-back George Elokobi.
He has been chasing another centre-half all summer and has given up on Hearts’ Christophe Berra and Norwich’s Jason Shackell after having bids rejected.
McCarthy turned to Elokobi in yesterday’s 1-0 friendly win against Dundee, with the former Colchester man playing the last 19 minutes in a tactical switch, which saw half-time substitute Darren Ward forced off just 25 minutes after coming on.
The Molineux chief liked what he saw from the 22-year-old.
He said: “I’ve always fancied a left-footed centre-back and I know George has played there. I’ve fancied him there before so I thought I’d give him a game. I’ll probably do it again.
“Although he’s not 6ft 2ins tall, he jumps and heads the ball like he’s that tall and he’s got blistering pace.”
Ward’s early substitution was no sleight against the former Crystal Palace and Millwall man, who remains on the transfer-list.
He said: “I told him he’d done nothing wrong, just that I wanted to play George at centre-half and I had to take someone off.
“Darren had had 25 minutes, he’s still on the transfer list and he did his job like the great pro he is.”
McCarthy, who has played different teams in each half of the three senior friendlies so far, revealed he intends to use the warm-up games as a trial ground for positional changes.
Elokobi’s switch to centre-back saw Stephen Ward come on at left-back – four days after scoring two goals as a striker at Hereford.
He said; “Stephen Ward scored two goals in the last match but he was substitute out of 24 yesterday, yet he’s been fantastic. I like to have a look at things and see how players adapt.”
96 Comments
what about BOBO ?? any news on that one ?
does that hint that were giving a contract to ian harte? we still definatly need a midfielder & defender even if we get harte.
OH MY God
I dont believe this,iv been backing the lads and manager 100% on the blogs,but i cant understand this,taking Ward off after 25mins,switching Elokobi to centre half and playing Stephen Ward left back.Trying Elokobi @ centre half fair enough but Ward left backs a joke.Bewildering.
Does this mean naylor is coming back!!!!!!!
round holes, square peggs.
Not sure about the positon changes but winning is a habit
And looking at positives Mick. You can then sign another strike, instead of a new defender….
Elokobi at Centre half - fair comment - but what is this with Mad Mick playing S Ward at left back? I like to experiment? You did that throughout last season and look at the end result! When will he learn that S Ward is NOT a full back or left wing or left midfield - Its not the lads fault but he cant play in those positions - He is a striker/ centre forward ffs
Oh lord what are in for?!!
What next, Hennessy in midfield and Kightly in goal?
Elokobi to centre back is one thing but Stephen Ward at left back? We have a shed load of players who can fill that role now, particularly with Harte in on trial, why play a supposed striker there?
Bizarre!
here we go again guys, muppet will do anything to fit his favourites in, donkey ward at left back, whats next?
Stephen Ward left back!?
Now i have lost all faith.
This scares me to death!!!
Elokobi cost us a fair few goals last season due to his lack of experience and know-how of certain situations. I don’t know what he’s gonna do next when he’s near the ball.
He has pace and strength, but you need brains at centre half. Breen and Lescott read the game really well and made defending look easy sometimes. Elokobi doesn’t have a clue.
Mick don’t give up on finding a new centre back. We need to strengthen that area desperately. Look at who we have at the back at the moment - Craddock, Ward, Collins and potentially Stearman. They just aint good enough are they?
Here we go again …….
What an idiot! Why not try Ward in goal next week. I can’t see MM seeing in the new year at Wolves.
It’s April the 1st isn’t it ?
Surely this a joke ?
Only thing George has been consistent at is commenting in the E&S most weeks.
Finally he see’s the light.
George is the answer.
Ward at left back LMAO,
In my opinion, Elokobi could definitely play at centre half - he is strong, quick and does not shirk a tackle. His only problem is his passing lets him down sometimes.
My only other concern would be if MM moved him across, who would play at left back when he said last week that he does not see Gray or Jones in that spot?
I trust MM without question, but I always worry when players begin to be played out of their natural positions.
Square pegs…….round holes???
Though is Mick says he’s capable, then so be it.
FUNNILY ENOUGH BOYS THAT COULD MAKE SENSE.
IF BIG GEORGE CAN CUT IN CENTAL DEFENCE..THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR DAN JONES TO TAKE OVER AT LEFT BACK..HENCE STRENGTH AND PACE AT THE BACK.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN ASKING FOR I THINK!
This is just another excuse to give another ex Sunderland & Irish fullback (Harte) a contract!!!
No tell you what lets wait until the season starts to experiment….
why are all you lot who comment on the E&S so negative. He played stephen ward at left back for a little bit. to accomodate big georg at centre back. We have wanted a bir strong, pacey, strong in the tackle centre half for years and finally we have one in big george.
The real wolves fans saw this ages ago and even last seaosn i heard lots of wolves fans saying he would make a greta centre back.
for me, foley stearman elokobi harte … is a great back four very pacey with two big centre halfs. stearman the tall lanky one who will win the headers, elokobi the strong one who hard in the tackle. get off his back and support him!!
UP THE WOLVES!
ward at left back????i feel sorry for the lad!!!
Elokobi at CH fair enough, he’s strong and pacey but S Ward at LB??? Now I am worried, OK he says he’s trialling but we need to play to our strengths not weaknesses. Wardy is a Striker end of
So no more signings then? I do not have the confidence I’m afraid in the present squad in an indredibly tough division this year. We will do well to improve on last years standing.
you can see what kind of a season we’re going to have :
Plymouth A 7 Wolves 8
Accrington Stanley 4 Wolves 6
SWFC 6 Wolves 6
Should have kept Breenie another 6 months…
about time, george is what wolves are looking for the lad is raw but has pace and along with stearman this looks like a good partnership,craddock is average,ward is one of the slowest players i have ever seen and collins is a complete muppet in the same league as hindmarch
Don’t think you read this one, Ward will not be put at left back, it was just to release Elokobi to fill the CH role.
I tell you what…Kelvin Langmead isn’t a bad shout.
Very consistent for Shrewsbury albeit at a lower level.
Started out as a centre-forward so he’s got the pace.
Elokobi put some excellent crosses into the box from the left wing whilst overlapping last season, would rather keep him at left back and play an actual CH in the middle
Does this mean that Stephen Ward is going to be in our starting eleven somewhere every week? What logic is there in a bloke who has had a run out up front and scored 2 goals to be put at left back. Surely experimentation is about trying out where people can play not where they can’t. Does anybody wonder why we question what Mick is up to sometimes. Oh and yes while I remember, why didn’t we try to sign Peter Halmosi or Wes Hoolihan?
He knows he isn’t going to play Ward at left back. Stop looking into something like u normally do. He is left footed and could even have been the only sub left so in order to play George at centre half, Ward was asked to play there. Any excuse to have a pop i thinks like some of u normally do.
24 - If he’s a striker I’m Ronaldo.Lets not delve too deep MM’s got to put his boy in somewhere .I know where I’d accomadate him — two sugars please !
I don’t think Mick is seriously considering Ward as a fullback. Maybe after Ward scored two goals Mick wanted to bring him back to Earth…
I disagree with Mick. Ward got a brace and he should have played again to help bolster his confidence. He is a ‘confidence’ player and a run might well see him solving a problem.
It was interesting to read the reports at how Iwulemo knocked down crosses from Kites/jarvis to the waiting SEB. Very much shades of Wagstaffe to Dougan to Richards…
Moses Mick WILL lead us to the promised land.. and especially so if he buys a proper centre half.
poor old wardy he says he will play anywhere but I bet he secretly longs for a game up front as an out n out centre forward, cause when he does he usally sticks em away ,play the lad where he feels comftable mm.
At the end of the day it was a friendly, it doesn’t hurt to try new things out.
Oh no Mad Mick has lost it just as thought we had turned a corner!
Ward’s ‘I’ll play anywhere’ quote has actually come true!
What is it about this guy MM loves so much?
I really don’t know why people are so upset at the idea of Stephen Ward at left back - he’s left-footed, has good ball skills, plenty of commitment, and whilst he doesn’t have the pace to be a brilliant winger he’s got plenty of it for playing at left back. It could well work - and wouldn’t it be nice to have a full-back who can overlap and cross well?
…and as for Big George at centre-back, a lot of us have thought it would be a good idea from the very beginning.
Brummie Bob- Don’t agree mate he is very one footed we need certainty in the middle of the park please keep looking MM the answer is near –I feel it in the air-Must admit watched training and some players look very fit and eagar to go–Waiting to see the new boys perform I think we have a lot to see in this new bunch or “Young and Hungry” players or should I say “Young Guns”. Colin Cameron still putting in a Shift nice to see led by the Crazy man- AR—-Crazy Dave
Would we play Ebanks Blake at right back? Clearly not.
So why is this muppet playing Ward at left back? He is a STRIKER Mick, get him up front. You don’t see Gray or Jones as a left back but now Ward can play there? When will Mick realise that putting a shift in does not mean a player is good enough to play there.
At times last year we ended up with 4 strikers on the pitch with one on each wing, we had better sign some more strikers if we are now going to start playing them as full backs.
And George is not a centre back, he may be quick but he can’t read the game and will give too many goals away. We need his pace going forward to score goals.
Mick’s team for next friendly;
GK Hennessey
LB Ward
RB Ebanks
CB Elokobi
CB Stearman
M Kightly
M Bothroyd
M Elliot
S Hughes
S Keogh
S Iwelumo
This should utilise all of our strikers…
And the award for the biggest over-reaction to a friendly match substitution goes to: 90% of the Wolves fans posting on the Express and Star Website!!
I can’t believe some of you lot, McCarthy is probably never gonna play Ward at LB in a competitive match, he just needed to fill the hole to put Elokobi at centre half.
Any excuse to have a pop…
Surely Stearman and Craddock are going to be first choice centre halfs?? Big george can act as cover.
I really fancy Wolves to get promoted this season, i like the look of the squad nad all you wolves have to hope is that mad mick doesnt start doing some crazy things!!
The only sub left after 25 minutes for left back,i think not, noones Knocking trying George at centre half,but putting Ward at left back is a joke, come on.
35- when did i even mention anything about a striker?? read my comment before commenting… idiot!!
ward is a good player but we have rubbish negative supporters who knocks a player who runs himself into the ground for the shirt!! disgraceful support!!!
don’t support the team then stay away from the molineux we don’t need you or wnat you!
35 Dont call me an idiot mate mis-type meant 26 Sorry I don’t hail from Dudley and therefore not as perfect or knowledgeble as you.Let me know when you are about to make the first ever mistake in your life.
46 Just realised Major mistake already made if you think Ward is a good player !
With only six left backs in the squad, McCarthy had to try another one to be sure that place is covered in case of injuries..?.. lol
(Elokobi, Gray, Daniel Jones, Harte, N.Collins, L.Collins - all played there before)
Super Mick was only playing Stephen Ward at LB to accomodate for George Elokobi. He will never actually play Ward at LB. By the way does anyone remember Didier Drogba playing in defence. No-one was having a go at the Chelsea boss.
You’d have thought we’d have shipped a goal a minute with Ward at left back for all of 20 minutes yesterday, at least judging by the over-reaction here.
What was the score again? in a pre-season run about??
He likes to see how players adapt but yet he refuses to try dan jones at left back who actually wants to play left back seems a little silly.
no1
Yogi says he hasnt seen bo bo for ages but will ask mr park ranger when he sees him next……..
Dudleywolf - I can see your thoughts he is quick and strong, however his distribution is poor and he is clumsy and im still to convinced he is better than gray at full back. He is very raw and had alot to learn! As Gray isnt a full back he is now a winger in mcCarthys eyes i think Harte will be a good accusition and george may struggle to start.
43 got agree with you, overeaction or they can’t read?? He played Ward at left back so that he could move George across. Thats all there was to it he’d run out of subs and needed to fill the gap on the left. Some people will use any stick they can find to beat McCarthy with. I saw a post on an earlier story which said lets get ready to boo them at Plymouth!! Totally unbelievable, what an attitude, I think some people need to check the definition of ’supporter’in the dictionary. Here it is for those of you unsure what you’re supposed to be doing: “to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want them to succeed”.
Craddock n stearman are the way forward ! craddock with his experience and commitement and leadership stearman for youth pace and determination 2 do well !
come on the wolves (Y)
(45) pip read the article before jumoing to conclusions, 25 minutes into the second half!!!
jumping
AIN’T ANY GOOD AT FULL BACK, JUST LET HIM KEEP HIS COLUMN IN THE E&S, HE HAS FOUND HIS CALLING!!!!!
43. Totally agree!!
Mick is the only sane one round here.
There is a problem with Elokobi and Ward, both have n`t had the benefit of years in a proper academy set up, learning the ropes of a specific position or two. The other thing in common is that I don`t recall any rightwinger getting past Elokobi last season, and I don`t recall Ward getting past one full back when he was on the wing. I`m sorry but Hereford is his level, Elokobi has raw potential - I hope!!
to all you negative supporters who are slagging off ward and MM, just a quick question.
why would Stephen ward make a rubbish left back?
Lord above! How on earth are our team going to get through next season as some of you can barely wait to get your daggers in to whoever you don’t rate. Pre season fiendlies are used to bring your squad up to match fitness. Ward was given a run out for twenty minutes to keep him ticking over. Playing him at left back allowed Elokobi to be tried at centre back and did not affect the balance of the rest of the team chosen to play for the second half.For any player to experience playing in a different position to their normal one in a friendly can only assist in their football education and appreciation of teammates’ input into a game. Still, it offered a faint opportunity to all the whingers to have a go at their latest scapegoat. And, boy, do they need a scapegoat! And, yes, nothing more level headed and insightful people regarding the human condition will say will alter the opinions or mindset of those who have to pick on others to feel superior. But I for one will not be scared to stand up to the bullies who hide behind their posts on such sites. I bet most of them experience road rage when within the `safe` confines of their cars. `Out of darkness` may some of you come.
For gods sake it is a friendly. Experiment as much as you want. Who cares. If we find something new out like Ward is a new left back, then great news. If not then does it really matter. If he did it in a competetive game then fair does.
Do waht you want to do Mick. Just get us promoted. Just becasue you do what I think is odd does not make you bad. It just makes you different. You are a manager and I am not, and that is problably why I do not do your job. Keep up the good work and come on the Wolbves.
Well said 63.up the orange and black.
65 Who plays in Orange and Black? Wolves colours have always been Old Gold and Black even if the club cant get the colour right!
What is mm playing at!! no way is Elokobi a centre back, he is a great left back who can put in a good cross in from time to time when we are attacking,him and craddock work well together. S.ward a left back you are having a laugh. the bloke prove it at wrexham when he scored two goals. he changed the game, give him a chance up front.
Come on mick sort it out.
Also watch out for stearman he is class player and i bet he will be player of season!!!!
Think sam vokes looks a great prospect,big strong and with a great shot,if your gonna try a player in a different position sureley you give the guy 90 minutes,whats the point in 25 minutes,its pointless and proves nothing.
55. Realist
And here is the definition of “happy-clapper”.
An idiot who believes everything he is told and has no opinion of his own, just reiterating yarns spun by the Pie-man in his spinning factory! Start thinking for yourself… you will feel like a real grown-up then.
I have supported Wolves for over 50 years, I don’t support the current management failures. There is a big difference between the two!
Ward at left back?!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Er, pls tell me this is a joke?
Just cough up for Beevers or Shittu. Play Elokobi in position. Don’t understand the obsession with Ward.
We don’t have the luxury of being able to mess about and experiment this season, we need results.
I agree comments of 63 and 64. I feel sorry for the moaners and the season hasn’t even started yet..
Muppet Mick has no idea whatt his starting 11 are.Come the 9th August he will still be no nearer.This man is a complete liability, if Morgan had any ambition he would get rid now instead of waiting until 1/2 way through another wasted season. The squad is ill prepared, we are playing really low key friendlies, and thses are not giving us any answers.W emay as well just go and have a kick about on Tipton Park.McCarthy out!!
Great news i still have nightmares on how he lost Gera for the Baggies winner in April!
This is not encouraging at all, Mick and his stubborn ways isn’t going to change.
Staying down the Thick Mich way.
With all his so-called experience mm is still not sure who to play and where.Mick,you need a top defender,you need a atop midfielder,and you need possibly another good striker.Why not see if Coventry want to sell Eastwood?I`m sorry but good players do cost money,the team still needs investment so stop fairying about and get it sorted.The coming season has to be the one.
55:Just becasue I am supposedly a “happy clapper” that somehow means I have no opinion of my own.
I do have an opininon. It is as follows.
If you want to succeed in life you need to have the vision and application to get out there an do it. If you constantly critisise and destroy every opportunity to be succesful you will fail.
You need to have balance. A negative has to be followed by a solution, otherwise you end up with just negatives. A manager who is sacked and a team with no direction.
Right now we have a great vision, a good squad of young players and a quiet sense of optimism for the new season.
You on the other hand are ready for the funny farm if you do not chill out a little bit.
IF you want to make a contribution this season to Wolves success then please stay at home, or get behind the team.
If you are to supply constructive critisism then fine, but do not moan about every little thing.
PLAYING WARD AT LEFT BACK IN A FRIENDLY IS CALLED EXPERIMENTING. It reallly is not a reason to sack McCarthy. I remember 2 seasons ago going to Norwich away. We were down to 9 men and Ward played left back. He did a great job. Sometimes in games you have to use the players you have to deal with the situation you are in. That is why Mick is a football manager and you play championship manager.
good to see MM trying elokobi at center back…he should have played him there earlier on! i think he might work out in that position and we are short there, and we have have a few left backs..
Next season, if we’ve failed to get promoted, how much will we get for Hennessey, Kites and SEB? £15-£20m perhaps? Not a bad return for £30m invested in transfer funds (of which we’ve spent a net £7m so far by my calculations) and with senior players like Breen/Eastwood/Bothroyd(hopefully) off the wage bill as well we must have cut the operational costs down a fair chunk too.
Mr Morgan is a businessman after all - he’s clearly in a win/win situation. Promotion (and plenty of cash/potential return on his investment) or cash cow to fund the purchase of shares in his beloved Liverpool once the two yanks fall out again. It worries me that we are talking about the proverbial square pegs rather than quality signings/using the up and coming academy players to fill in these positions, even if it’s only as cover.
starting line up
1 hennesey
2 foley
3 gray
4 stearman
5 elokobi
6 henry
7 kightley
8 edwards
9 ebanks blake
10 keough
11 jarvis
If McCarthy likes to experiment in friendlies why did he not play Daniel Jones at left back at Dundee as that is where he says he would like to play?Or is it because Dan might prove him wrong when McCarthy says he doesn’t see him as a full back?
Now that would be a first–McCarthy being wrong in his opinion of what position players can play in! (I don’t think!)
80: JLW. The truth of the matter is. You hate McCarthy and anything anybody says to you is ignored. Sound familier.
68 Agreed IF Vokes is given a real chance he will be very good - Just hope he doesnt get the Eastwood treatment ala MM
come on guys lets get behind the lads george would be a great center back although i think it would waist his talents going forward. Harte would be a decent signing, a ive seen stearman play a few times and i was fairly impressed. ward at left back defo no but i dont think mick is even considering that.
76. Golden Blood
You are wrong to criticise “Wolves till I die”. He knows his football, and well before last Christmas he was forecasting how the season would end. You and others tried to rubbish him then, but he was proven right.
He is Wolves through and through!
I am right cross at Golden Blood and the rest of the Happy Clappers. I forecast that by November you will all have stopped posting here through embarrassment.
We are at least 3 good players away from being a challenging Championship team. There is no way that the team the Thick Mick has put together will get into the top 10, let alone the top six.
If you went to matches, instead of listening to Beacon, and knew anything about football, you would realize that we are in the bottom end of the Championship class scale.
It only ever takes Mick a couple of years to really screw it up, and he has done it here, as well as every other club or country he has ever managed.
It always ends in tears. But Mick keeps taking the money!
Has anyone noticed how profitable this close season is proving to be?
We seem to be ahead in the transfer market. Mr Moxey has managed the clubs affairs really well, and we will probably end up with a more streamlined club (lower wages) and more money in the bank than we started off with.
Congratulations to Mr Moxey for resisting high wage demands and scouring the lower divisions for cheap buys with potential.
As long as the club can finish in the top 10, then the fans will have an exciting season, and the owner, Mr Morgan, will receive the profits anticipated by this shrewd business plan.
Hmmm….Elokobi and Collins, our dream central defenders with a sure fire ticket to relegation.
For goodness sake Morgan…do something!! You pontificate more than Hayward , and that’s saying something.
o my god!
i think the comment square holes round pegs sums this up!
76 “A negative has to be followed by a solution”
Isnt MM paid a very large amount of money to come up with “solutions”?
Fans are entitled to voice their opinions, especially if they pay good money to watch games - Although we dont advocate booing, alot of MM’s anti comments have been down to his arrogance which he doesnt care if made public or not
Even prior to coming to Wolves, MM showed that his arrogance wasnt just reserved for the likes of Roy Keane but even someone has mild mannered as Denis Irwin - at the time part of Man Utd’s treble winning team was told to “prove his worth”???
Its a bit like Jay Bothroyd trying to tell Kenny Dalglish how to be a striker - An absolute joke!
As for being a Happy Clapper - the definition of that is someone who TELLS people to support the club or go do something else (even if what they are watching is borderline cringe worthy ala last season) and attempts to mask their comments as being “points”
Alot of us, support the club and have done so for years, BUT we are NOT mindless people who cant see the garbage that we were served up last season and wont be told to shut up and like it!
Alot of the fans are genuine through and through and deserve far better than the crap that was seen last season - MM has to change last seasons methods otherwise we will see the same/ similar results to last season - Is that answer enough for you?
Nothing personal, IF MM cant deliver then he deserves to replaced - Personally we cant see him being any different this season - but alas we shall see!
81 Golden Blood
I don’t hate McCarthy at all so don’t come that saftness with me.The facts are that in the season before last it was a pleasure to watch us(win,lose or draw) with our OWN youngsters-namely Jones,Little,Gleeson etc- and the difference last season was he persisted in playing his favourites week after week in any position.
We needed to win our last 2 games of the season and if we had 4 shots on target in those 2 games then that was it.
I’ve been watching Wolves since 1965 and I only want the best for my team but I’m afraid this bloke has lost the plot.
B&T. Agreed. If Mick does not produce then absolutly sack Mick. But please give him a chance for gods sake.
90
jlw why aer you speaking rubbish broke up from school have you
90 And so say ALL of us! Good on yer mate
Up the Wolves!!!
92
As for the spelling & punctuation in your message I think you ought to start going to school. Idiot.
Anyone know if Michael Gray has signed or is going to sign a contract or any info???
IF you guys think that hounding someone out, constantly berating every decision they make and then expect us to improve and move forward then god help us.
We obviously have different opinions on life as well as football. I prefer to stay positive and focussed on a plan. Where as others try to rip it apart.
It takes a strong man to stand up against other people strong opinions. And McCarthy is that man.
I really hope McCarthy turns it around this season. because we will all be happy.