Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd comes round to the merits of Michael Mancienne and lobbys for the recall of Carlos Edwards ahead of the visit of Burnley.
When Michael Mancienne came on in the snow against Swansea for the last 10 minutes of the game, I thought like he looked like a little boy lost and completely out of his depth.
He looked very slight against the raging bull that is Neill Collins and I questioned why manager Mick McCarthy had taken a punt on him.
I’d seen him in action for the England under-21s and remembered how impressed I had been at his speed, movement and footballing brain.
Yet when he came on against the Swans, albeit with frozen legs, I just couldn’t see how he would fit in at centre half in a league that is renowned for it’s large marauding, bulldozing forwards.
So when the Cardiff game rolled around a few days later, most fans, including myself, expected that Mick would start with Collins and Richard Stearman at the back, now that the latter had chosen patisseries as his weapon of apology to get back into the team.
Give Mick credit, I though he had huge kahunas to start the game with Mancienne. His positioning was a bit suspect for the Cardiff goal, but apart from that he was easily our best player on the day.
He read the game superbly and even shrugged off being flattened by goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. Mick has tried to bring him to the club for a long time and if Mancienne continues in this form, it would be great if we could extend his loan into next year.
Mick continues to stick by Ikeme and confine Wayne Hennessey to bench warming duties. I don’t think you would have found a single fan amongst us who could have predicted that at the start of the season.
Ikeme was dreadful against Watford and I fully expected that Hennessey would regain his place and everything would go back to normal.
We have all realized that Mick is certainly his own man, who will make his own decisions and not be swayed by public opinion.
Ikeme has regained his confidence with a couple of good performances since the Watford game and deserves his place in the starting line-up on merit.
So where does that leave Hennessey? Do we want or need the big transfer fee he would no-doubt command if he were to leave in the summer?
There can’t be another club in the country that has such a breadth of talent fighting for the starting goalkeeping spot. That said, but it’s unlikely that we will have the luxury of three top keepers on the books at the start of next season, even if we get to the promised land.
I wasn’t sure about Micky Gray’s inclusion against Cardiff and was surprised that Carlos Edwards hadn’t been given another run out.
Although fairly ineffective against Swansea, you could see that there were definitely glimmers of a decent player trying to break out. Carlos had set up one goal and I thought he had impressed enough to get a game in South Wales.
I’d certainly like to see Carlos starting against an in-form Burnley side that have recently done something that Wolves failed to do - beat Reading.
We go into the Burnley game riding high at the top of the league and four points clear of a stuttering Birmingham side.
We are also seven points clear of Reading, who after giving us a right good ‘shoeing’ have failed to carry that form through to the subsequent games.
Burnley seemed to have hit gold in the form of ex-United player, Chris Eagles, who banged two goals in his last game. When he plays, Kevin McDonald is a quality player in central midfield.
It should be a tight game but hopefully we can get over the line by the odd goal, but our first draw at home this season wouldn’t be a disaster.
Under his tenure, Glenn Hoddle appeared to make it his mission to mastermind as many draws as he could at Molineux. He would probably be appalled at Mick’s gun-ho attitude to winning.
Enjoy the game and have a bostin’ weekend.
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57 Comments
The God’s seem to be with us this season, following the purple start to the season we had a stutter but so did everyone else. Mick cannot seem to make a bad decision and seems to having a winning mentality this year. We could even be seven points clear come Monday and have the likes of Jarvis, Craddock and Hill coming back into the squad. It could all go wrong but I really cannot see how with this squad, hope we can extend Mancienne’s stay and even make it permanent in May.
Predict a big win tomorrow. 3-0
Nice positive blog Nathan.
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Mick has made some dodgy decisions over the last two years but you have to say that he has made a lot of damn good ones too. Mancienne is certainly a very good move and showed clearly his abillities against Cardiff. He is the kind of player we need to make into a permanent move when and if we make the Prem. I do believe some of our players will be found out in the prem so hopefully Mick can get a couple more loan signings in from top clubs that we could possibly turn into permanent signings. Lets face it the prem top 4 have a lot of quality surplus.
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I think the plan would be to play Micky Gray away from home where his experience in defensive situations is more useful than having a right-winger out on the left-wing toiling away.
Fully expect Carlos Edwards to start at home though, he played a lot better than previously against Swansea at home setting up Ebanks-Blake’s second.
McCarthy’s choice of Mancienne in the starting line-up is significant in one further point, it shows that Neill Collins is not the McCarthy favourite you all cry about.
Sure Mick admires him and sees him as a big part of the squad, but Collins has never been gifted a first team place as some whingers like to wail.
Looking forward to saturday and hopefully a confident attacking performance now our slump has been terminated.
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Go the wolves 4 nil
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Mancienne is the sort of player that we need to be signing permanently. As for the Hennessey saga, he may be a shot stopper but is very poor off his line. Ikeme is doing well and Murray is our best keeper. The conclusion is sell too big for his boots Hennessey. It was his fault he lost his place initially by being sent off at Preston. No one has a god given right to walk straight back in.
Burnley are doing well but I am expecting another win. The two strikers are on fire and there is pace at the back. 3-1!
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HENNESSEY&EBANKS…WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT….THEY WILL NOT BE AT WOLVES NEXT SEASON
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thats more lke it nathon good blog mate.
better put some padding in ya pants guys cuz we are gunna be up and down like a pair of prostitutes nickers tomorrow.hope we can turn em over but nathans right a draw would not be the end. COME ON THE WOLVES
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Now we have “pace at the back” no one will ever score against us again - FACT!
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5. Cok on our kid
Murray best of the 3 keepers .. saves shots and dominates area.
A keeper has to dominate and come for crosses not just stop shotsas it takes pressure of the centre backs .. i think waynes confidence has gone a bit this season on the crosses. But hes a kid and will get it back. 3 quality keepers .. no way they can all be kept happy
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To be honest the blog seems a little nieve. Micky grey played away at cardiff to back up ward on defensive duties as we were away from hom,e to a very good side.
Ikeme has done ok, but Matt Murray is head and shoulders above both him and wayne and I have heard that we have mancienne as chelsea want to soften us up to get wayne, aslong as matt murray is fit i dont care! We should get kasper schmeichel in to compete for the no.1 spot.
I think the line up will be changed for tomorrows game and i think we will win 2-0.
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wait on a minute boys hennassy could play for most prem clubs and he said the reason he isnt going is because he doesnt want to play 2nd fiddle to a prem keeper so he isnt going to like it when he is taken ovr by outr reserve keeper?
and shut up to big for he boots hes an insteration to our academy proving that no matter who is ahead of you you play well u will start games .there is one major problem with all out keepers?
murry - major leage ijurys
ikeme- poor shot stopper
hennassy -poor in the air and coming out for balls.
great points about them
murry- almost imposible to beat in a 1 on 1, and comes out for nearly every ball.
ikeme- comes out for most balls and isnt that bad of a shot stopper.
hennassy-amazing shot stopper .
what do you chose ? they all have weakness but i dont think the defence dont trust ikeme 2 much like when hennassy first started as keeper, but i think he will get their trust if he stays and i bet anyone that hennassy will start against burnley.
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Yet another decent article Nathan.
Great post no 3, spot on!!!!
No 1, not sure abour the gods being with us this season, I think we have had our share of bad luck this season, we have had loads of injuries & a couple of unfair suspentions, added to that our keepers went through a spell of scoring goals for the opposition & at times we have decided to give teams a goal start on us 7 times as I recall, then this young squad of players are showing some real grit & character, which I think is as important as thier undouted ability & flair.
I’ll go for 2-0 tomorrow, SEB & Kites.
Keep the faith.
Wolves forever.
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Good one Nathan. I would like to see Carlos Edwards play too. A subject that will not go down well with the fans, Michael Kightly…dont you think Kightly has been off colour recently and may be better played off the bench. And who would take his place Dave Edwards? Micky Gray on the right?
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Alright blog Nath.
Murray off to Hereford, who would have seen that coming?
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Totally agree with Caribean wolves!! keep it going Wolves, there is a good vibe around the molineux at the moment and with all my fellow wolves mates.. Can’t fault you Mick and the boys it will be a 3-1 win tommorrow!!! My only negative comment is that people are still going on about Murray coming back in between the sticks.. I personally dont think its a good Idea and this should be put to bed soon as its getting boring.. The guy is to injury prone everyone knows that.. we need to sell him get the money and put the feelers out for a replacment. He did us very proud and we will nevr forget that but we have gotta move on!!! COME ON THE WOLVES
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A draw at home to burnley you’d take?
Your having a laugh.
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happy with 1-0, burnley aint easy
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Why dont morgan buy mancienne he aint spent anything yet.
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Try spending some of your own money morgan and buy mancienne for us,lets see how intent you are.
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11) I was one of the 350 fans that went to Cardiff and there is not a chance of Hennessey playing. Ikeme saved 2 points at the depth and inspired confidence in the defence claiming a ball by the penalty spot.
This is what a squad is all about. Collins would have expected to play last week with Carlos Edwards but did not!
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Nathan I am amazed that you thought Manciene wouldnt cut it at Championship level hes quality
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6,were do u get seb goin defo in january i would like to no,heno maybe but not seb,and wolvesmod prob the best thing u have eva sed on here,take a draw at home to burnley absolute joke thats wat kind of fans are surporting the club jokers,u am still a muppet tho
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shud be a gud game agenst the wirld stars of burnley,will you be watchin us on the box,aye boing boing donk
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In the academy, Ikeme was always rated Higher than hennessey, The only reason that has changed now is because Hennessy got a chance when he went out on loan and took it with both hands and wile he was doing that Ikeme was injured. So I rekon a good run in 1st team wether it be at wolves or out on loan will do him a power of good and he will b a fantastic keeper!
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Writting on the Wall KH’s days numbered this lad from The “Arsenal” The cardiff game yes he played really well, he can jump tackle and looks the part, If he settles he can only get better. The Gods are with us -I do not think so just look at our injury list-With Matt Back it will certainly lift the weight from MK who I thourght was poor against Cardiff-Perhaps just a bad day at the office but he looked off the pace and seemed to be carrying some meat-Just my view but I still say we need a good solid and experienced defender in the January window-
Will be shouting the lads on Saturday I have given up trying to predict what Mad Mick will spring on us but I and the missis are enjoying the BUSS–_ go for three one on Saturday with a sending off–Hope the Refs up for it—Keep the faith all–Crazey Dave
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11,
lol
spell check & a dictionary for you for xmas…………
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16.Wolvesmod
In current form I’d take a draw against Burnley as well.
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bet yow wish yow ad a bloger like our jarrod dow ya, jarrod,aye boing boing
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Terry i may just have to watch u on telly, if only for the almighty laughter that will erupt every time (and there will probably be many) the ball ends up in your net! it beats paying £20 to see a comedian down the civic anyday!
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11. go back to school
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18 Get real - any club can only buy a player if -
1. The club want to sell him
2. The player wants to move.
Mancieene is a class act, one that even Chelsea with their money would want to keep. Remember everyone saying we should get Tommy Huddlestone?
Two seasons on he is a regular in the Spurs team and scoring goals!
Would you like Walsall to buy Kiteley if he first went on loan there? Enough said
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to be fair ikeme went on loan to stockport too and had a mare. he let in 7 in one game! matt murray is by far the best keeper we have. wayne should be sold to arsenal for 5mil with a sell on clause and get kasper schmeichel to comepete with matt and carl.
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20) Only 350 went to Cardiff? What happened to our away support????? Looking on from afar and heres hoping again.
Gold and Black through and through
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21, he best cut it at chumpionship level cuz he gunna e there along time, aye boing boing donk
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23 - silly question terry, course we won’t be watching you lose on TV & staying in the bottom 3
See you at Crewe if you go on the train (although I know you should really go on a coach so that you don’t get lost)
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“Under his tenure, Glenn Hoddle appeared to make it his mission to mastermind as many draws as he could at Molineux. He would probably be appalled at Mick’s gun-ho attitude to winning.”
lol, great stuff bro
Great blog again. Burnley are always a bit of an awkward team to beat. However we shouldnt be settling for a draw with both strikers fit and on form. 3-1 (so long as I don’t turn up to watch the game!)
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33, yes i know pathetic support aint it,our reserves tek more away than that,aye boing boing donk
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33.
-it was live on sky
-only away supporters travelling from molineix on the arranged coachs could attend
-5.20 kick off
If it was regular rules we took 3,000 in the week last season and albion took 800!
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30 - Did 11 ever bother going to school? What a plank!
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28,WE,LLNEVERWALKALONE
We’ve put in a transfer request for Jarrod, but I don’t hold out much hope.
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11 - henassysbarmyarmy
LOL!!!!!!!
Let me get this right!!
“ikeme- poor shot stopper”
but then you say:
“ikeme- comes out for most balls and isnt that bad of a shot stopper.”
stop drinking the heavy stuff at lunch time mate!!! it’s affecting your judgment!!!!
Up The Wolves!!!!
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Wonder if Mick will try & sell Hennessey to fund buying Mancienne?
11) According to you… Ikeme’s weakness is he’s ‘a poor shot stopper’, but his strenght is he ‘isn’t that bad of a shot stopper’!!!
Simon
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Hey Wolf_Boy…you stole my thunder!
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23 TERRYGUIN2LIVERPOOL.thats where your players should be on the box because they are looking off colour in the prem,still its taking part that counts aye it tez and at least we get to have a good laugth at the sandwell steptoes going down, down down down,aye bong bong donk eyyyyyyyy.WE ARE WOLVES
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23,Remind your dad not to forget the Baby Bouncer
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Wheres your gun ho spirit Nathan,,you would have settled for a draw against Cardiff,,and again this Saturday,,put your money on a Wolves win,,its them that should be worried about us,and willing to settle for a draw…
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At least the Albion won’t have to worry about there wheels getting pinched… as they came off ages ago!!!!!
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38) Spot on. Supporters were not happy with the bubble trip arrangement courtesy of the police.
I managed to dodge that as being from Brum would not be too happy at having to travel that extra 20 odd miles there and back.
Terry Dimwit can’t have a dig at us. Our support is miles better than theirs!
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i was saying ikeme is a poor shot stopper compared to hennassy , which is true because he does get beat by shot a fair bit . and with the strenths i said hes not that bad of a shot stopper i was just pointing out that he has more stenths than henassy but he isnt as good at shot stopping . i no what i mean and what do you mean dictionary what exactly did i spell wrong? and i want hennassy to start against burnley because i think mm has to show that you can get into the teamwhen a player isnt playing that well ,. and before you say it he has been playing well but he has conceded way to many goals for my liking.
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Terry
remember at anfield you must press the ball,play in the right areas of the pitch and look past the defeat as Melton Moanbray never heard that points make prizes
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hennassy 8 games 9 goals
ikeme 7 games 13 goals
i likje him but what does he have to do 2 gt dropped im not saying he should but what would cause him 2?
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if a player wants to leave a club then most likely he WILL leave, he has 2 and a half years on his contract at chelsea left i can see wolves signing mancienne but dont hold me to it lol its a 50/50 situation depends how much they want and it depends how much he likes the club/wants to join
as for burnley i reckon 2 - 0 to wolves
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What did you spell wrong? Hennessey for starters!
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Good blog Nathan except for “Ikeme was dreadful against Watford” - You’re joking right?
We have three very good keepers and, frankly, I’m not really bothered which one starts but it will be very difficult to keep them all happy.
As for Mancienne - very impressive display against Cardiff, hope the lad keeps it up.
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So, it was another bust up in training, Wayne isnt happy, and is likely never to feature again for us.
Something is wrong when a disagreement with mick causes our best players to be banished to Siberia.
We can only hope Kights keeps his mouth shut in training or compliments Mick’s new shoe’s hair do, socks, whatever at every possible opportunity. Oh, you too SEB!!
Great win yesterday tho, fantastic performance all round, best for quite some time and, thankfully, Ikeme is turning out to be a very worthy replacement.
COME ON YOU WOLVES
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looks good from up here top of the league and looking down on the blue noses champions
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33 I am wolves 100% but i will not be dictated on how i can travel to a game.
as i live in mk i would have had to get a train to
wolves then get coach to cardiff then bk to wolves
then train home.
it comes down to money if you have a family you
wolud understand.i class myself as one of the
lucky ones as i can go to most games but i
put my foot down on being told how to trael.
GOING UP THE McCarthy Way.
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