The agony and ecstasy of being a Wolves fan
Monday 23rd May 2011, 11:00AM BST.
I write this blog with what can only be described as a befuddled brain, for two reasons, writes Tim Spiers.
Firstly, because numerous beverages were downed yesterday proceeding that living nightmare which masqueraded itself as a football match.
Note to self – cider, whiskey and champagne, while appearing like a jovial enough combination on first glance, do not lead to a happy hangover.
Secondly, I’m finding it difficult to work out how we contrived to lose what on the face of it was a must-win game, but still managed to somehow preserve our Premier League status.
What an incredible day of drama, tension, anguish, desperation, exultation and exhaustion – hopefully never to be repeated ever again.
It was a day that began with relative calm, in the peace and serenity of 16th place with the possibility of a comfortable afternoon in store.
But this is Wolverhampton Wanderers we’re talking about – it’s written in the club’s constitution that nothing can ever be done the easy way.
Surely though even the most negative, pessimistic, glass-half-empty supporter wouldn’t have dared to predict what would happen next.
A capitulation of Devon Loch proportions took place as in our biggest game of the season we served up the most calamitous 45 minutes imaginable.
Some of the defending on show was absolutely atrocious – the occasion had got to the players and the door to the abyss was blasted wide open.
Michel Mancienne was the football equivalent of Forrest Gump, running round in circles with no purpose and no clue as to what was going on around him.
Playing like Titus Bramble’s goofier, less talented brother, Mancienne had a hand in all three of Blackburn’s goals and it was no surprise to see him hauled off at half time.
But he wasn’t the only guilty party – gone was Jody Craddock’s usual assuredness, as was Stephen Hunt’s terrier-like snapping at heels.
Karl Henry picked up what was an unfortunate booking but then a few minutes later pushed a Blackburn player in the chest, right in the Howard Webb’s view.
Hardly the act of a responsible captain; in fact in the context of the game and the season it was utterly nonsensical.
The farcical situation was summed up when three players all went for the same ball as it dropped into the penalty area. One second later it was 2-0.
Put simply, they all panicked.
When Junior Hoilett skipped nonchalantly past two despairing challenges and slotted home Blackburn’s third, the apocalypse had arrived at Molineux.
From 4.45-5pm I took a leaf out of Mancienne’s book and wandered aimlessly in a fuzzy haze around the Steve Bull Upper concourse.
I couldn’t really tell you what I was thinking – my jaw was slack and I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other.
Staring at the television screens our fate was spelled out a series of letters and numbers, only one of which mattered – 18.
We were going down and some people had seen enough, with at least 20 streaming through the exit by which I was perched.
Fifteen minutes passed and it was time for the second half. Like waking up from a horrific nightmare and willingly going straight back to sleep again, I took my seat.
Our fate was no longer in our own hands and scorelines from elsewhere became more important than what was happening at Molineux.
The comedy capers continued when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hoofed a 25-yard shot closer to the ASDA car park than the back of the net, while Wayne Hennessey kept the score at 3-0 with a superb save from Jason Roberts.
And then news and hope from White Hart Lane – Roman Pavlyuchenko, that beautiful, life-saving Russian, had scored and we were safe by the tightest of margins; goals scored.
Blackpool went in front at Old Trafford and then surrendered their advantage, while Jamie O’Hara scored a beauty but it changed nothing.
Then suddenly it was Wigan who were safe when United netted again before the news we had been dreading came through from London – Birmingham had equalised and we needed one goal to stay in the Premier League.
Looking at the timeline now it appears that seven minutes passed between then and Stephen Hunt’s incredible goal.
Well from where I was sitting hours, days even, ticked by.
But when the moment came it was worth waiting hundreds of years for.
It may not have mattered in the final reckoning, as Pavlyuchenko, the amazing Pavlyuchenko, soon sounded Birmingham’s death knell, but the celebrations which followed Hunt’s goal will stay with me forever.
I had a cracking angle of the bend and dip on his shot from my viewpoint, pretty much right behind it in fact, and it looked in all the way.
Strangers were hugged, vocals chords were ruined and dignity was lost, but my word what an incredible moment.
And then the cherry on the cake at full time when sheer relief swept around Molineux – Birmingham were down.
I’m sad to see Blackpool go, but Birmingham? Sorry, but my sympathy doesn’t stretch that far.
A poorly run club who play a horrible style of football, managed by a dour man who predictably whinged about injuries yesterday when asked where it had gone wrong.
Not that it really mattered who else had gone down and who’d stayed up – the only thing that counted was that, by the skin of our teeth, we’d survived.
There’s something a touch unedifying about wildly celebrating a defeat, as there is about being so jubilant with finishing 17th.
But in an incredibly competitive division, much tougher than last year, survival is an achievement to be proud of.
It’s been a rollercoaster journey of monumental highs and soul-destroying lows.
Mistakes have been made and there’s work to do during the summer but, as Mick McCarthy always said, it was all about where we on May 22.
Which can be summed up in four sweet words: We are Premier League.
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This is our last get out of jail card for the Premier League,if we dont buy quality proven defenders at this level you can expect more of the same.
Please Jez no bargain basement two for one offers and Mick ditch misplaced loyalties for the good of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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I think this sums up as well as anything can the emotions of yesterday. I had my little radio and 5 Live along with my son texting me from his Uni about the implications of all those goals around the country.
My daughter is 39 weeks pregnant and she later did the slowest pitch invasion in history but she wanted to be there to tell my first grandchild what happened so shortly before he or she was born.
My dad went to his first game the day he moved to Wolverhampton in 1933 and this family love affair is clearly going to go on for ever.
I had messages of support from literally all over the world yesterday and everyone knows
how proud I am to be one of the Wolves family.
So now we can look forward to seeing our Baggie friends again with the only note of regret being the relegation of Blackpool who have become so many peoples second team.
Thank you to Sir Jack, Sir Mick, Steve and Jez and of course all our wonderful players.
So proud to be a Wolfie!
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Spot on Tim, life as a Wolves fan is worse than taking the Saw ride five times a day with your seatbelt hanging loose. I’m still dazed and confused, and feel terrified to celebrate properly! Yesterday had a real “did that really happen?” feel to it. I think Mick goofed by picking Mancienne who looks utterly shot as a Premiership player, and I dearly hope we’ve seen the last of him at Molineux (Cardiff will surely be his next port of call as a former Wolves player, even though we’ve never signed him permanently).
I hope Mick now realises that we cannot survive for much longer with a Championship defence. All the talk is about Roger Johnson, but we also need a proper left-back and Stephen Warnock would be the obvious signing. I’d love us to bid for Samba, but he’s destined for a top-six club. Who knows – if Man City splurge like they’re tipped to, we could even get Joleon back!
Do we need another striker? Depends if the current ones feel the need for a change. Bolton and Newcastle need strikers – I reckon there might be some bids for Fletcher and SEB. As for midfielders, let’s just get O’Hara nailed down and take it from there.
Up the Wolves! Baggies fans may crow away about finishing in 11th, but they’ve never done three seasons in a row in a Prem.
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Yes, indeed we are “Premier League”. Good job Lady Luck was obviously wearing half a dozen Wolves scarves though, or it would be the Brummies sighing those lung-busting sighs of relief, not us.
I’ve never, ever witnessed such capitulation in just one half of a football game as I did yesterday, despite the mega-tastic stakes being so high. Talk about rabbits caught in headlights! Or was it another case of taking their foot off the gas, just as they did after winning at Villa Park? A combination of both? Answers on a postcard, please.
Let’s face it, every football club needs a lucky manager. Ron Atkinson has always said that. Yesterday, Mick showed just how lucky he is.
Time to rely on talent alone, now, Mick. You used up all your ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ and decent ‘Community Chest’ cards, mate.
That kind of luck never comes around a second time. It kinda makes up for John McGinlay’s cheating all those years ago, don’t you think? All I know is that, next season, we’d better cash-in on such luck and make the most of it.
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did you honeslty expect Blackpool to beat utd, or blues to beat spurs? 9 times out of 10 those 2 teams would have lost those fixtures, and it would have taken amazing efforts by both blackpool and blues to get anything from their matches. It wasnt luck that we survived, but the fact that every team played every other team in the league twice, and after 38 matches we finnished above 3 other teams.
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After the excitement of staying up; we need to look at the side and make important improvements that are long overdue – the Stephen Hunt goal would have been just enough to keep us in the Premier League – But we cant live on last minutes of hope and nail biting
Our defence are far too unreliable for the Premiership as our goals against column shows So time to make major changes
Left back a priority and a commanding centre half with some pace a must!
Lets hope we get in the 3 to 5 Prem quality that we have needed for 3 seasons in the Prem
PS MM was right to keep Hunt on and that goal Spurs win aside would have meant that we stayed up on our own merits (Im not a MM fan either but credit where its due – Maybe we also need a Prem capable Coach ala Ray Wilkins instead of TC and a better Goalkeeping coach ala Bobby Mimms?)
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I have never felt so drained at the end of watching a football match. I guess deep down we all knew that we wouldn’t stroll to an easy victory and spend the afternoon celebrating, but at 5.40ish I thought we were going down and the promise of extra games and a trip to Brighton didn’t quite console me!
After happy clapping my way through the season to balance the negativity so many seem to love to post whatever the situation this is where I feel we are. The need for most of a new defence is clear.
GK Hennessey is quality, and those who doubt him forget he is a young keeper and improving all the time. New back up may be required.
RB Foley / Zubar are fine at RB but Zubes is too accident prone to play CH.
CH Stearman might be OK eventually but has work to do and needs experience along side. Berra is not good enough and will not improve as he does not have the physical attributes (mostly the ability to turn round in a hurry) Good enough for Rangers though. Craddock has been a great servant but should only be kept to coach if he has the skills (no room in a 25 squad for sentiment). Mancienne has not made his case, especially against more physical teams, time to let him go. So we need 2 new players (minimum!) in this position.
LB George is a fans favourite and Jez might be too scared to unload him, but at best he is second choice. Definitely need a quicker player.
Otherwise OK except for replacing anyone who wants to go (maybe Milijas and hopefully not Doyle or Jarvis).
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Agree with everything you’ve said, I also try to be positive.
I think we do need some defenders but I do like Foley.
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I think your 5th paragraph summed it up for just about everyone in the ground.
This was the why the Premier league is the best in the world. Last day of the season, and all the attention was focused not on the top six but the bottom six. Shakespeare could’nt have written any better drama.
I too feel sorry for Birmingham, but I’m glad it’s them rather than us.
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I feel sorry for Blues too, I got some bluenose mates who despite the banter that’s gone on recently I really feel for. We had a glimpse of that pain in the last few minutes yesterday.
However, Wolves survived and hopefully we will bulid and strengthen for next season. For those who have had a swipe at Steve Morgan and his motives for being at Wolves, I hope you saw the emotions he went through along with us. He is a true (adopted) Wulfie !
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And me. We know what they went through yesterday afternoon, but they went through it with no extatic release at the end!!
Keep right on, Blues fans…
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Last week I said we could lose and still be safe, but, didn’t need reminding of that sitting in the Steve Bull with ten minutes to go. Everyone seemed to know the importance of each goal as they were scored around the country, but the memory of the tremendous Wolves support chanting “We only need one goal” and then Steve Hunt scoring THAT goal, and the celebrations, will stay with me a long time.
Yes, we made errors at the back in that awful first half, but, I think we too should recognise how (surprisingly) well Blackburn played. We should also recognise how well MM did to change things and inspire things at half time when we seemed to have both feet in the Championship.
Time now to clear out some of the squad and get in a few top quality in those key positions we are all aware of. For those Steven Ward knockers, he was one of the few who had a good first half with some intelligent running and link play and he did his job soundly when moved to LB. A valuable squad player IMV
One point. I thought George has played really well when put into the centre back role (twice). Okay, yesterday Blackburn had taken their foot off the gas a little, but, he won everything in the air, where Jody and Mancienne had struggled.
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6 – Albrightondek. Agree with you about the Brummies. Obviously, we’d take Wolves’ survival over any team, every time. However, losing Blues means that it’s not good for the West Midlands region economically, and not good for those of us who want to see ALL our local clubs -even Walsall, if God were to intervene, lol!- playing at the top level.
Commiserations, too, for Blackpool FC. I think we’ve all admired their spirit and fresh, courageous attacking football. Maybe they’ve been a bit naive, yes, but I salute Ian Holloway’s gung-ho attacking intent. He certainly lived up to his post-Wembley success that they’d go into the premier League all guns blazing. So, I’d much rather joke club Wigan had gone down in their place. A half-emty DW Stadium makes a mockery of the Premier League and embarrasses their town. Just stick to rugby I say, boys.
Good riddance to West Ham, though. You won’t be missed.
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hello my old mate..some good points, I feel for Blues too but glad it’s them and not us!!!
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Me, too, Sue. That said, my generosity only extends so far. It’s their loyal fans -rather than their club- that have my genuine sympathy.
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So happy with yesterday carnt stop smilin
Just readin Karl henry might be off to qpr let’s hope so n let’s hope he moves for Roger Johnson like it says n let’s get Ohara for 5mil
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The agony and the ecstacy where dying became life.
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Im still shaking even though its Monday and 12.35 pm, has i said yesterday im 61yrs old, ive had/seen many ‘highs & lows’ following Wolves, but yesterday’s roller coaster was something else. I could have saved Steve Morgan millions,has ‘i sxxt enough quality bricks to build the NEW SCS myself’ But like many supporters ,this must be the last season we put ourselves in this situation,make no mistake, yes we got away with it by 1pt, but it came so much closer than that. And now MM is after 2 CH’s 1 LB and 1 Mid’fler? Yet a lot of ‘numpties’ have been saying for two seasons we need two top CH’s and one top LB? So please lets get them in once and for all,there’s a few who are better than what we’ve got here,like Bougherra ( swop for Berra ),Johnson,Dann,Dunne,Cuellar, and LB’s like Warnock,Ridgewell, 1-2 Midf’ler’s Vaughan,Jenas,Adam, alongside O’Hara, and another good GK Gilks, we’ve got a top GK in Hennessey,but need good back-up. Players like Stearman who’s still learning his trade,Jody would be an ideal back-up cover,id send Mancienne back, and a good young striker like Shane Long.Anyway their just a few players,as im sure other fans will name many more too. WELL DONE AGAIN TO EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH WWFC: UTW:
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Had we not scored our second then surely Birmingham would have played out for a draw. They only conceded at the end because they commited so many players forward in search of a winner.
So, results aside, that Hunt goal kept us up.
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Yes, although we did have to rely on other teams not loseing, it was the TWO second half goals that kept us up. The Hunt goal on its own wouldn’t have been enough – it would just have deen fate’s way of kicking us in the unmentionals..
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It’s never been easy supporting Wolves!
Firstly I’d like to congratulate the team for doing the Great Escape.Perhaps MM should have shown Steve McQueen how to ride a motorbike.Perhaps he would have been able to jump the 2nd fence…lol
Secondly, I see QPR are after the master of the sideways pass, Henry.LET HIM GO, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE.
Thirdly, Jamie O’Hara wants to stay.Sign him up now, before someone else poaches him.
Forthly,I see MM wants to sign Roger Johnson.Please Mr Moxey,release the funds to make this possible “The club’s survival secures the £80m in Premier League revenue, TV rights and gate receipts”.
Mick McCarthy has been told he can bring in two centre-halves, a left-back and a central midfielder, which could see captain Karl Henry join promoted QPR
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!
WTID
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It was a miracle that we survived and I think Mancienne will not be getting a call again from Wolves after that, he virtually sent us down on his own. We need quality now at the heart of our defence, instead of players with obvious weaknesses, you need to be good on the ground as well as in the air, which is a problem several of our defenders have had. The whole team needs strengthening with better central midfielders, and maybe even a forward with something special to shake things up.
At least 5 top quality players we need, I just hope they really pull the stops out to get the best now, so that we are never close to this position of relying on other teams again.
I also feel we need a good under 21 keeper, as we don’t want to waste 3 positions out of the first 25 again. Every player counts in a long season.
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Today I am in a dream I have such a headache (Nothing to do with the wine and cider consumed)
What a match so frightening after going into halftime at 3.0 to Blackburn. When they restarted I could not bear to watch I felt sick we had no chance and that did not happen to me at a Wolves Match and the most important one too.
I sulked would not stand up then suddenly it changed they were playing hard no longer headless chickens. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
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86 minutes gone of the last game of the season, we were relegated.. You know the rest!
Incredible.
They really put us through it yesterday, none of us more so than Steve Morgan! He MUST now open his cheque book wide as an act of self preservation if nothing else, LOL!!
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Just echoing the sentiments of a fair few people posting on here.Well done!
Who I would realistically like to see signing include:-
O’Hara, Scott Parker, Lee Bowyer, Roger Johnson, Marc Albrighton & if he would come back Joeleon Lescott.
Thank you & goodbye:-
Karl Henry, Mancienne, Berra, Milijas, the Hoff. Greg Halford, Andy Keough, Steven Mouyokolo.
Lets not be put in this position again.We have been lucky this time,Please spend the money & consolidate our position.
WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE,SAY WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!
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We are only on about making four new signings and the transfer pot will not be as much as last season and we will probably have £15m to play with. Assuming O’Hara is £5m , that leaves £10m on 3 players – not a massive amount and we also have a rigid wage structure. Roger Johnson would be a good signing but I feel that sides like Liverpool will be in for him. Interestingly our skipper is linked with QPR. This is how I see the squad looking plus the spaces:-
Hennessey, Ikeme, Foley, Zubar, Stearman, Craddock, 2 centre halves, Elokobi, Edwards, O’Hara, Milijas, new central midfielder, Guerdioura, Hunt, Kightly, Jarvis, Hammill, SEB, Fletcher, Doyle, Ward, new striker
Sell – Berra, Mouyokolo, Henry, Jones, Halford, Keogh, The Hoff
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maybe we will bring in 1 or 2 loan signings?
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Good point. If you notice there is two places available in what I envisage the squad to be. On that score, no Mancienne please!
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I was so happy to see blackburn do a WBA downturn in the secnd half, It made all of our fans sing out loud,me included
THANKS WOLVES WE ARE.
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Very funny Sir Terry. Does the 3-1 defeat still hurt? We will finish above you next season…fact!
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brummierobwolves
Don’t you ever get tired of saying…fact?
You only been correct once all season…fact
Adéu
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Hellfire!! I have only now stopped shaking enough to post on here. What a 90 minutes that was, all the emotions as stated above, and still today can’t believe that happened! Wolves normally let us down on the big occasions, and the scoreline says they did yesterday, but, and a big but, they had done enough in the previous 37 games, ie goals scored, and points amassed, well done team!!
Now we need to strengthen at the back and we will have a decent side for next year in the Prem. By the way Baggy fans you will be entering the dreaded second season syndrome next year, ask the Bluenoses what thats like! C’mon Wolves!!
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They don’t need to ask the Bluenoses, Cyprus Wolf, as they’ve already experienced ‘Second Season Syndrome’ previously.
Having never managed three in a row -unlike ourselves- I’m sure they’re very well acquainted with it, lol.
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Where are all of Micks numpties now that we have stayed up, they know who they are, I bet they all feel gutted today, its so embarrassing for them.
Where are you?
Lets be having you.
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As one who still thinks mad Mick should go I am happy to take the mantle of numpty. We stayed up because other teams assisted us.
Mm couldn’t motivate his team to stay in the premier league and let blackburn look like barca against our twits.
It is not embarrassing to have a different opinion to the lemmings,in fact I think you should be embarrassed for backing such mediocre and dross inspiring management.
My opinion is that he still has to go. More likely Morgan will give him til November.
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Shewolf-don’t agree that Mick doesn’t motivate his team, I think that’s one thing he does… He couldn’t do much about the 1st half on Sunday but he must of got into for the 2nd.just my opinion.
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Now the dust is settling and the relief has worn off, it is clear that only a hair’s breadth separated us from relegation, and that we spent all season at the bottom of the league. How anyone can have faith in MM’s qualities after watching the shambles of the first 45 (even 60) minutes yesterday is beyond me. The team had no nerve and no strategy. Only Hennessey and Fletcher looked to have Premier League quality up to that point, though Hunt and O’Hara came good later. We were the only team of the 5 in danger playing at home – a huge advantage, which we threw away like rabbits in the headlights. Watching Clipboard and MM twitching together in the few minutes before halftime was a depressing but familiar experience.
Interesting MM subbed his (hapless) captain just before the end – more to signal the end of an era than for the applause, I reckon. The failure of leadership on and off the field, and the sheer lack of footballing intelligence, was obvious to all those not in love with Mick and his ‘honest John’ image. I fear that if he stays we are just in for more of the same, with or without a replacement for Henry, Elokobi, Foley, Mancienne etc.
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Unfair criticism of MM. Yes they played like boneheads in the first half and Mick was in meltdown like the rest of us that the strategy that had been working fine was in disarray, but,what can he do on the sidelines ?
Halftime came too late to stop the third, but it allowed him 15 minutes to talk it through, remind them of the position they’d got themselves into and make changes.
Those two goals saved our skins.
If he hadn’t we could have conceded another three and be looking forward to a trip to Brighton.
Give the bloke some credit.
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You’re out of order pal. If it hadn’t been for McCarthy lifting their heads and making the right changes we were dead ducks.
Mick McCarthy is staying as our manager. Get used to it.
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What a day yesterday was, I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything like that and I will never forget it, well done to Mick and the lads, also a special thank you to the owner who is running our great football club the way a club should be run.
Bit fed up of the Mick haters now you are boring me into the ground, I’ll admit I’m not MM’s biggest fan but I’m a firm believer in stability at a football club brings success, so get off the guys back he has got us promoted and next season will be our 3rd consecutive one in the best league in the world!!
And no I don’t want Martin ‘the bottler’ O’Neil as our manager, he spent millions at Villa (a lot more than MM has) and as soon as he’s told he must sell a player worth 10m for 25m he throws his dummy out the pram and walks.
We need to look forward now to next season, firstly get O’Hara signed up he has been a breath of fresh to our team since January, then we need a LB and two CB’s I’d love us to go for Stephen Warnock at Villa failing that maybe Gibbs or Bridge on loan for the season??? As for centre backs we need 2 because none of ours are Premier League quality, possible targets could be Roger Johnson, Scott Dan, Upson, Bassong, Wes Morgan, Yobo??? Idea’s on a post card please.
Depending on what’s left in the kitty after O’Hara, 2 CB’s and a left back a nice big powerful defensive midfielder would be nice too, however think we may have to wait another season for that.
So possible team next season:
………….Henners………….
Foley…Johnson…Morgan…Warnock
……..Henry……O’Hara……..
Jarvis…….Doyle……….Hunt
………..Fletcher………….
Subs:
USA
Stearman
Zubar
Guedioura
Hamill
Ward
SEB
I think 4-2-3-1 formation is defiantly the way forward with Doyle being asked to do the donkey work and dropping back into midfield when needed which frees up Fletch to get in the box and do what he does best!!!
Should be an exciting summer……… UTW!!!
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Just watched some of the televised coverage as it happened ‘live’ on Sunday. Very entertaining for the neutrals, but, I’m glad I was at Molineux.
We all know where the weaknesses lie and it’s great to see the manager and board have already targeted certain areas, but, I think now is the time to say to the manager and his current squad “Well done, thanks for some of the highlights this season, but, please try not to put us through that again”
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Deal to bring Cov goalie – Westwood as back up is done according to a relaible source.
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24, ‘Great to see the Manager and board have ‘Already’ targeted certain area’s’. Get real, the majority of fans have been crying out for those positions to be sorted out prior the the halfway point in the season. Never mind certain area’s, we need root and branch changes, starting with a bright young intelligent coach, of which there are many available.
Ill health prevented me from attending yesterday which was certainly not improved by half time and during the final ten minutes I was running short of Morphine, Ventolin and Oxygen, almost a Bridge Too Far.
Of course, nervousness played a big part during the first 45 minutes but having thankfully survived at the end I thought the lack of humility in the dressing room at the end was disappointing. We won Nothing, We survived by the narrowest margin and whilst the relief was all consuming We barely deserved the silly celebrations on view live to the nation.
Thank Goodness we made it but everyone at the club should think hard on a quote from Hamlet, ‘To Thine Own Self Be True’ We ‘aint good enough and major changes are required if Mr Morgan’s building works are to come to fruition and be needed.
For finishing second in the EPL, Chelsea sacked a truly capable, dignified and Top European Coach yesterday. By comparison we are running a Benevolent Society for Wannabee’s !
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Farmer Ted that is what we want, but can you really see mm delivering the goods.
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We were there, we suffered along with with everyone else (boy, did we!), but we were glad to be there. FARMER TED has got it in a nutshell – I’ll leave it at that for now. UTW.
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As CH’s play alongside each other,therfore they need to get a good understanding,which can take time,some partnerships work others dont. So why not go for a ready made partnership and buy Johnson and Dann? They’ve played together now for a couple of years,and seem to work very well as a unit,and have a very good understanding, which means its not going to be a ‘risk’. We may have to pay a high price for the pair, but if we dont want another year in the bottom three we must address the defence situation,once and for all no matter what the cost is or risk losing £40m+ and our BPL status? UTW:
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I think that all the talk about MMs HT team talk is very exaggerated. We actually started the second half quite flatly.What really kick started the revival was the news of Spurs taking the lead against the Blues which lifted the crowd and ultimately lifted the team onto the two goals. Mick seemed in two minds about what to do having Guediuora stripped off for well over ten minutes and not doing anything withhim.
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Brilliant another season in the PL
Who ever is in charge for our new season, 2 CB’s, LB, new Captain, better tactics and attacking football with goal scorers restored to their true position please.
Clear out the poor purchases and reduce our wage bill.
Eventually a new stadium and all our dreams fullfilled
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Understand the talk for a “New” defense, but all that is required is a 10 % improvement. Half a goal per game improvement will see us right. There will always be games that will be lost – we just need to stop the wins turning to draw’s or even worse the draw’s going to losses in the last 10 minutes
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In principle, agreed. However, there isn’t any extra 10% to be had, unfortunately. Our team have run at full throttle all season.
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Listened to the BBC World Service at 3.00am here.What a rollercoaster of two hours.Still we made it by the skin of our teeth and thanks to help[ from ManU & Spurs(2nd time).Sounds like they bottled out in the first half.the two second half goals were welcome.However we can’t let this happen again.I would hope that Wolves learn from this experience.We have a defence that is not up to it and that is a priority plus other signings.I would hope that during the close season with the 80 Million,some of that is going to be invested in quality players.However i do get the feeling that much of that money will go to ground improvements.Many teams have invested in ground improvements rather than players only to find out they end up in the lower divisions.Don’t blow this opportunity!
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well, wwfc stayed up and all the anti mm people will be dissapointed.
thanx for the 4 points jackthehat.
and who said the romans never did anything for us. utw.
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Kenny, why will the anti MM people be disappointed. We love our team and that is why we want this deadwood manager gone.
You on the other hand also love your team, I presume, but you want MM to stay.
It is called debate, it is healthy, but doesn’t make either of our opinions correct.
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Hi Tim,
Great blog a very enjoyable read, without being there, obviously, you have captured what all you Wolfies must have been going through!!
Nerve shredding i know but worth it if you come out the other side celebrating, even if it was a 3-2 loss in a must win, which actually turned out not to be a must win.
One last thing i must comment on, your description of Blues…. a team who play a horrible style of football…. people in glass houses and all that mate????
See you next season and congratulations on avoiding the drop.
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That was possibly the most gruelling football match ive ever had to sit through ever in my life.
Im an ex North Banker living in Sydney and have seen a fair few heart pumpers over the years, but nothing compares to what i witnessed and the emotions i went through.
I must apologise to my neighbours who would have been woken by my mad screaming at near 3am sorry but it had to be done.
Im still buzzing now, it hasnt sunk in.
Thank you Wolves I can come over and watch you in the Prem as planned if we stayed up.
OUT OF DARKNES COMETH LIGHT.
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I live in Singapore and followed it on BBC text updates… at Monday 1.20AM ish, well it does not matter, Wolves got there…
And you are right, there is more silverware to be had elsewhere, yet nothing like the highs and extreme lows to be had when you follow the Wolves…
We live to fight another year, please in 2012 lets have it settled earlier and we nice n comfortable in mid table…
UTW
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Absolutely spot on 1 Wolfhound. For a club which was a founder member of the league in 1888 and one of the first to play in Europe, it is an absolute disgrace that headlines like agony or ecstacy should ever be written.
How does a club start off playing Barcelona in European competitions and end up in the third division or losing to Chorley in a cup match?
The answer can only be down to incompetent management on and off the pitch. A board of directors which will not invest sufficient money in good quality players. keeping faith with managers who are clearly not up to the job.
The look of relief on Morgan’s face when we were safe but he still refuses to change the manager by acknowledging that we only stayed up because of a Russian scoring a goal in a match 100 miles away. Refusing to acknowledge that the manager has displayed incompetence in the transfer market and tactically on the pitch.
Is this what we have to look forward to every season? Will we get dumped or survive thanks to A.N. Other’s efforts miles away?
The management have stated that they are looking for a mid-table finish next season. If that is the case I ask the following questions.
Will they invest sufficient money to bring in decent players and clear out the dead wood?
If we are struggling in the bottom 4 by Christmas 2011, will they replace the manager?
Now Morgan and Moxey, before we buy that Earlybird, let’s have some answers.
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Tim, one point……..you say in the end Hunt’s goal may not have been necessary, but you should remember the sequence of events: the fact is that once Birmingham saw we were ahead on goal difference, they threw everyone forward which allowed Spurs acres of space on the counter with Pav taking full advantage. If Hunt hadn’t scored when he did, Blues would have continued to play out time and WE would now be in the Championship. Hunt has paid off his fee 10 times over!
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