Mick McCarthy insists Wolves now have a genuine battle for the goalkeeping spot after resting a ‘jaded’ Wayne Hennessey.
The Welsh international number one was dropped for the first time in his Wolves career for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Swansea, when boss McCarthy handed Carl Ikeme his second League start for the club.
Hennessey paid the price after giving away a penalty, getting sent off and scoring an own goal in his two previous games.
Matt Murray is also approaching full fitness and McCarthy believes Hennessey has a battle on his hands to stay first choice.
The Wolves boss said: “We’ve got three very good keepers and there’s not a lot between any of the three of them. We’ve got a genuine battle now and it would be nice to have three players in every position of that quality.
“I spoke to Wayne and just felt he looked knackered and jaded on Tuesday night and he’d admit that. Things weren’t happening for him.
“I wouldn’t say he was particularly out of form, but he’s had almost 18 months of pretty constant football including summer internationals. We expect a lot of our young players.
“In his first season he got Player of the Year, got into the PFA team and got all the plaudits and it’s then a question of can he keep that level of consistency going?
“He was knackered and after the game on Tuesday he looked a bit flat and deflated. Sometimes players need a breather, just to come out of the team and have a look from the outside.
“He’s the Welsh number one. He’s still a fantastic keeper but I’ve got a squad of players and I thought Carl was excellent.
“He was at no fault for the goals and I feel sorry the players in front of him maybe didn’t do him justice and he had to pick the ball out of the net three times.”
McCarthy challenged Hennessey to rise to the challenge from the other two.
The manager said: “Wayne has got to react and be part of it, which he will do. He’s got the number one shirt at the moment and he took it (decision) like a man in the right way.
“He’ll get himself back in I’m sure.”
56 Comments
Got anything to say RAFFO any more mindless comments
Sorry but Wayne would of saved Swansea’s 2nd goal, i thought Ikeme was too slow coming off his line.
Wayne is the best keeper in the league and it was a stupid decision to drop him.
That’s one way to right down the value of a saleable asset Mick
I’ve heard a bit of a worrying rumour that Mick and Hennessey have had a bit falling out…anyone else heeard anything? Hope this isn’t true or he will be gone in the Jan transfer window…
Never mind the goalie, get rid of Collins he is a liability, far too slow and a complete donkey. He missed 2 good chances against Swansea and was all over the place at the back. Get Shackell in.
Mick needs to sort it out soon or Reading and Birmingham will be running away from us.
Shudnt drop hennessey now. If we dont show him loyalty he wont show us loyalty and fair play to him if he goes to arsenal or everton in january
What would have been said if Hennessey had played and had a nightmare game and then afterwards we had found out that MM had known Hennessey was jaded and knackered (by Hennesey’s own admission) Everyone would have been up in arms and would have asked why he didn’t play Ikeme.
MM spots a problem and makes the obvious change to cover that problem and people are still slating him, the poor bloke hasn’t got a chance with some of the idiots on here.
There’s nothing wrong with swapping around some of the outfield players but you stick with your keeper. They are generally confidence people, so well done Mick again. Looks like you’re going to do another Freddy this season on Wayne.
Is MM repeating his Freddy Eastwood style of management - lay into a player as soon as he has a bad game, drop him, talk about him in the press - oh, and then find that you have destroyed his confidence, and the player doesn’t want to play for you again.
Everyone knows that WH is the better keeper - MM just thinks he is rafa benitez.
jon u fool,went missing the other day da ya,told u season was over there an disgrace just like you
The best I can make out of the situation with Hennessy is it may be MM’s way of getting Matt Murray back into the team.
I’m only guessing but I would like to see Matt back.
Murray will be back soon. The true Number 1 goalie!
Wayne is without doubt best keeper in the Division.
But,to comment that the young lad is ‘JADED’!!!
Do us a favour - get him in a factory doing 39hrs wk - then I agree he will be ‘JADED’.
Well justified decision by Mick regarding Henno being rested anybody thats been to the recent games can see he is low on confidence ,hes just not commanding the area like he did before hope its not the fact that we have lost Bobby Mimms infuence
Murray is the best keeper at wolves by still some distance and when he’s fully fit it will make for some exciting competition, We must remember Hennessey is still very much developing and i don’t think it’ll be long before he’ll be as good as Murray. I also feel Hennessey would have done better than Ikeme against Swansea, But maybe thats the wakeup call he needed!
I say get Murray back in. his quick release to both Kites & Jarvis will be a danager to anyside.
RAFFO. Never go missing me mate just cant stop laughing at pillocks like you…..Like i said the other day i think your a secret baggie..
For me, at a time when we had so many changes forced upon us by injury/suspension, the last thing you do is make more changes you don’t need to make.
Hennessey had one poor game (Reading). So Mick drops a keeper who is the best in the league and has several Premiership clubs clamouring for him. Seems an over-reaction and will do nothing for his confidence.
Then he moves Stephen Ward out of the full back position where he has shone and brings the young lad Friend into that slot and an awkward baptism ensues.
At a time of such disruption, why move more things around that have been working?
Still, all being well an attacking line-up of Kightly, C.Edwards, SEB and Iwelumo for the Coventry visit should give us much comfort!
if hennessey was ‘jaded’ then he shouldnt have played against reading in my opinion. If this is the real reason then mick and his staff should have picked up on it in training and not leave it till he played against reading
I totally agree with number 13’s comment.
“JADED” ?????????
How does a Goalkeeper become JADED????
If your going to use an excuse to drop him at least make a decent excuse!
If it is true that Mick has fell out with him then he will be gone come January. Ireland and Roy Keane all over again??????????
If the Lad and Mad MM want to know about Jaded
Go to Helmand Province with my Son then you would be tired. Sometimes managers and Players P*** me off.
i have to agree with mick , he did look very flat against reading and made a rash decision against preston to give them the penalty but i think the weird thing was ward back upfront why do that, hes been doing well at leftback and freind looked out of sorts , much rather of seen vokes start and ward a leftback back but nevermind, the break shud do us good
I can understand a player feeling knackered, but Hens is a goalkeeper. Surely it is more of a mental thing in terms of concentration than a physical thing??!!
If he was a striker i could understand it, however my mate who was at the game said it would have made no difference who was in goal as Swansea dominated it. The International break has come at just the right time for the Wolves, get your best players fit and you will back to winning ways.
Well said WBAbomber see yoi in the prem next season
It is time to sort out central defence.Collins is a useful squad player,but playing him week in week out,we all know he will make mistakes and give away needless corners etc.Currently we are awful at defending corners and have missed Iwelumo for his defending,nevermind his goals.Surely Mick it is now time to give Shackell a run in the team.
what the hell is he on about, ikeme let in 3 on saturday, henessey wouldn’t of, only player he could drop henno for is murray.
21 Well said - Anyone would think that training for a couple hours a day and playing 2 games in a week is hard labour!?! Do these players get time off in between to sleep, eat etc?
murray is my no 1 he is the best one by a mile
murray is a true no 1
wolves till i die
thank god kites is gonna be bak for the coventry game
murray england no 1
Henessey had a stinker against Reading!! A goal keeper is an athelete & any athelete or person for that matter can look jaded either physical or mental. I have felt jaded on tour in the Army, jaded doing boxing training & jaded when I’ve had too many beers.
Footballers are humans & just because they earn a good wage because we all pay to watch them play doesn’t not make them be super human!!!!
MM’s decisions have not payed off in the last two games but I’m sure any manager would struggle to replace his four best attacking players.
I see the Albion Idiots are back on here again. Wheres Terry the tool?
27above a good articulate comment best so far keep it going thanks
when are you going to get rid of ward and collins you muppet,and get hens back nnnnoooowwwww he is the best in the championship
He’s not played well for a couple of games so Mick was right. Also agree Murray is currently head and shoulders our best keeper and look forward to his return. Fortunately all 3 are better than most teams 1st choices so not a huge problem whoever plays.
On a more serious note HAPPYS BACK!
You were missed - I was worried. Is it day release and do you get one of those nice bracelets round your ankle???
29,im here but as usual when youv lost the dingle mods get a strop on and dont publish any of our comments,aye boing boing donk sshhhhhhhhhhhhh
ps thanks for missing me xxx
The chances are we won’t keep Jarvis and kightly fit all season.We looked so narrow on saturday without wingers it was like watching Wolves 2 seasons ago.We really need cover for both wingers to give SEB and Iwolumo the ammunition to score.The lad from Barnsley looks useful.
All of a sudden the idiots are running the asylum again! Get a grip will ya? Suspensions and a rash of injuries = tough times. Some people expect the moon on a stick! We will get back to winning ways very soon, hopefully against Coventry. My disappointment is that Jarvis is out for longer, however, give Carlos Edwards a chance to get up to speed and fit in. We may see him as a very able replacement. Don’t lose the plot, keep things in perspective. The world has not ended.
Is it a coincidence that we have changed our goalkeeper coach?
We have had a settled keeper situation for some time now …coincidently ( ? ) for the duration of Murray’s injury.
But as soon as the news came of Murray’s impending return to full fitness, the Mick immediately started talking up Hennessey and has subsequently indulged himself undermining both WH and Ikeme.
I have drawn the obvious conclusion. You can all draw yours.
Incidentally, Murray should be fully fit by the end of the international break.
MICK OUT!! Some of you lot MUST be wind up merchants as no on could be as stupid as to turn on the manager after the start we’ve had. Mindless!
I can understand dropping Wayne if his form is dipping but when you’re forced to make so many changes to the starting XI through injury and suspension it wasn’t wise to throw Ikeme in like that.
That said, don’t think it had much impact on the final score. Thank god for the break, hopefully get SEB and Jarvo back for Cov
Ikeme had a good game and the comment about the second goal missed the fact that he looked clearly offside. The linesman was scared of the reaction from the Swansea fans behind him, as he had rightly given another offside decision.
Our forward line was out but Swansea will beat a lot of teams down there. We need to give Shackell and Friend a go at the back!
HappyClapperWolf said:I see the Albion Idiots are back on here again. To be fair with sensible comments,anyway to hear your lot talk you’ve got the 3 best keepers in the world!LOL!Good job Murray aint fit yet or Carson wouldn’t be in the England squad.Wanna borrow DEANO ?
Nice of Mick to drop Hennessey to rest him up to play for Wales next week. To bring in Ikeme and Friend to the team when we had so many injuries was ridiculous. We needed to play our settled defence and it cost us 3 vital points.
I wish people would stop criticising Ikeme he wasn’t at fault for any of the goals it is second game and played really well against Bristol City. Also Henno dropped a clanger against Reading if you are going to be childish about it! Give players support who play!!!!
Hennesy might not have been so jaded had he not been out partying the night before the Reading game.
Abd then he punches the ball in the net for the first. He was useless that game. MM saying he is jaded is a ruse, Hennesy is starting to believe all the hype about himself.
Anyone could see that Hennessy was totally rubbish against Reading. Thats why he was dropped.
And so Ikeme only let 3 goals past him. At least hehad no chance with 2 of them and he didn’t score an own goal either.
Hennessy is one ofthe best keepers in this division when he is sharp and on his game…..and at present, he isn’t.
S…welcome back Murray. Still the better of the 3 we have.
As for Swansea, you take Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo and one other from the front out of Man united and they would be useless, Same with Torres and Gerrard, or Drobba and Joe cole…that lot of foreigners at Arsenal….ANY team, take the top four players from that team and it’ll have a major effect on the team. That includes defending as well as attacking.
We were a team in disarray. We still are.
Tactics were wrong, team selection was a bit naff……..but this is the manager who has bought most of the players who have won us the points so far, got us the best goal difference …..what and you still are gonna get on his back? Pathetic.
we would have beaten Reading with Jarvis and Kightley on the pitch alongside Emo. It’s gone a bit pearshaped but it’s the effect that injuries and idiot goalies have had on us….
Just like they would affect any team in the land.
But we’ll be back. Just have to have a bit of self belief….the fans that is.
ABOVE 44said] But we’ll be back. Just have to have a bit of self belief….the fans that is.
Its true i have been saying this for donckies years.
Have to agree with MM
Hennessy had a real mare against Reading & COST us the game, he was the real difference between the 2 sides, be in no doubt about that, now I aint saying the lad has all of a sudden become a dodgy keeper, because the lad has real class, but the manager giving him a ‘wake up call’ cannot do any harm.
As for playing Friend, the lad is a left back, so, whats the problem, I agree S Ward has done really well all season in that position & had a few assists, so I understand why MM moved him up to left side midfield.
Not sure about only playing one up front, but a draw, given our current injuries wouldn’t have been a bad return. But hay lets let the manager do his job thats what he is paid to do.
We are still 2 points ahead of the 2 points per game average which will win you the league & if anyone had said that we would be in this position 10 games ago, well, I think we would have all accepted that!!!!!
Keep the faith
Wolves forever.
Anyone know where the Routlegde rumor has come from???
I still can not beilieve some of you baffoons are true Wolves supporters. Put some faith in MM and get behind our team.
well done mick for having the guts to drop hennessy he lost the game for us against reading.i just wish you would have kept ikeme in for that game he did well against city and should never change a winning side.but 7 wins out of 10 cant be bad heres to the next 10 and a run that will put us top again…in mick we trust…
If WH he was out partying before the day of the game gives credence to the comment yes perhaps all this hype about his brilliance has gone to his head.
Without doubt he has had some brilliant and consistant games for us showing his stopping ability but he has a lot to learn-He for a giant lacks the ability to come for crosses does not master crosses particularly in set plays-He appears to lack bottle when he is up against strong attacking players. WH is no better and no worse than any other goalkeeper we have had-The press and MM have put him on a pedistal-
However One bad game does not warrant his dropping-Particularly to the fact he was due to play in his own COUNTRY before the Welsh Congregation-What a way to give credibily to his status-Will he play for Wales next week answer yes-Will Tosh have faith in him-YES-Will tosh want him rested -No
Lets wake up Wolves fans this team is no better than any team we have had in the past–We have put our missing players in high asteem if we think they are the b all of the Club–The Swansea game is down to MM he picked the team and I think underestimated a team on a role-
As for Reading ” Young Guns” kept to-gether and to good for us–Face it-MM put down the rules pick your strongest players and perhaps ask some of them to earn their corn—Keep the faith-For me WH can stay out if he eats bulk and gets stronger and shows some bottle in the BOX. Crazey Dave See you at the Cove game–Interesting_
I am surprised no one has mention collins, He had a shocker!
i think bob wolf had it down mate !
Swansea was a shocking performance, from a side that in so many ways resembled last years circus
mix-it-up-merlin dropping WH is farcical and reminiscent of the FE fiasco.
Point has been proven (for the umpteenth time) No Jarvo and No KIGHTLY means NO PROMOTION
Thankfully, if rumours are to be believed, MM is looking at cover for them and, with Iwelumo (who btw is in much better form the SEB) returning, it is looking decidedly less bleek than last Sat.
Mick stop the PR game, and get the back 4 sorted, our defence is a shambles.
lets pack the Mol to the rafters next Sat!
COME ON YOU WOLVES FANS !
37 Agreed
is the routledge thing true?
forget the keepers and get back to attacking confident football like the 1st few games and you will end up in the promise land like us boing boing baggies
I like the idea of competition, but still zero excuse for having the back up in goal when the team was weak anyway. The result was obvious from when the team first trotted onto the field.