Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Owner cranks up pressure
Saturday 21st July 2007, 12:00PM BST.
Wolves owner-in-waiting Steve Morgan has put boss Mick McCarthy under pressure – by revealing he expects promotion next season.
Morgan’s edict, already passed on to the players by McCarthy, brings a brutal end to last season’s low-expectation culture at Molineux.
The new owner’s demands have been revealed by McCarthy’s influential lieutenant Gary Breen, who admits his team benefitted from a “safety net” of goodwill during last season’s promotion challenge.
A Championship play-offs position was an unexpected bonus, but now Morgan has made it clear he wants an instant return on the hefty investment he is bringing to Molineux.
Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Wolves owner-in-waiting Steve Morgan has put boss Mick McCarthy under pressure – by demanding promotion next season.
Morgan’s edict, already passed on to the players by McCarthy, brings a brutal end to last season’s low-expectation culture at Molineux.
The new owner’s demands have been revealed by McCarthy’s influential lieutenant Gary Breen, who admits his team benefitted from a “safety net” of goodwill during last season’s promotion challenge.
A Championship play-offs position was an unexpected bonus, but now Morgan has made it clear he wants an instant return on the hefty investment he is bringing to Molineux.
Breen, who is hoping to repeat the promotion trick he achieved with his Wolves gaffer at Sunderland three seasons ago, welcomes the challenge and is convinced Wolves can make the leap.
“The mood in the dressing room is that we’ve got to get promotion and I think that is shared by everyone at the club,” Breen said.
“It was brilliant because we came back for the first day of pre-season training and the manager came in and told us straight away: ‘Listen – the chairman (Steve Morgan) has told us we have got to get promoted’.
“That is great because last year we probably had a bit of a safety net with people telling us we were doing well because no-one expected it. I think the team always thought that wasn’t good enough and we knew we needed to be setting ourselves high standards.”
Morgan has sanctioned a £4m transfer outlay this summer, allowing McCarthy to bring in proven Championship quality in the likes of Darren Ward, Stephen Elliott and Freddy Eastwood. Highly-rated Matt Jarvis has also checked in.
Breen believes the fans could be just as important.
“We were quite lucky last year because although the season ultimately ended in disappointment there were some real pluses that emerged,” he said.
“The first thing was the bond that developed between the manager and the fans, and then the affection that the supporters felt for the team.”
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
This sort of irresponsible trash from OUR E&S is just what crap journalism weve come to expect.McCarthy has been a revelation in 12 months. A target of improvement is called for, but it seems that some people are never satisfied. ITS PURE GREED.
Report abuse
This gives me cause for concern. Everything that was done last season couldbe in jepardy by placing pressure on what is still a young and inexperienced squad. Morgan, behave and let Mick set the expectations until you actually plough some of your money into the squad. If he is quoted as saying he wants and instant return on his investement, perhaps we should actually see some investment first or at least a guarantee that money will be spent if we get in the premiership.
Report abuse
I Guess when you really wanted to buy Liverpool … only the prem will do?
I mean what did the E&S expect him to say … “Oh I don’t mind if the club i’ve just put £30mil into stays in the Championship for a couple of years before we push for promotion”!
I’ll only start to worry if he’s too quick to stop trusting Mick. Or if he starts influencing the signings by forcing Mick to fill the team with overpaid under loyal pretty boys like at WBA!!!
C’mon Lads show him you can do it!!!
NO PRESSURE!!!!
Report abuse
Me thinks the second word to morgan from MM should be – off.
Report abuse
hey lads no pressure, hahaha
the highest your going to finish is mid table, then all you sad little fellow fans at the custard bowl will be moaning at mick because he cracked under the pressure just like your team will, your gunna have a shock when your team falls apart
hahaha im lovin it
boing boing
Report abuse
If this story is true its crazy,McCarthy and the players dont deserve this pressure,the team will fail and we`ll lose the best manager we`ve had in years.Agree with Veinsofgolds “target of improvement”.
Report abuse
Why knock him ?? He’s obviously a very successful man and i for one love the fact he wants us to be the same. Whilst ive enjoyed the low expectation, youthful exhubarence of last season, if he wants us to be in the premiership i’ll settle for it too. I know people are gonna say ” don’t put pressure on a young squad” but my point is pressure is the only way that the players, young & old, will cope with expectation. Let em get on with it and grow up quick. Morgan, i think, will put his money where his mouth is and we should all thank our lucky stars he’s willing to do so. Look at the boggies down the road in sandwell, turmoil, sinking ship etc,etc. Is this because of too much pressure to go up last season ?? I don’t think so. My opinion,for what its worth, is that they have so called big game players who didn’t play as a team & who believed all the hype aimed at them. Too many individuals who got caught out as overpaid over rated prima-donna’s!! What we have is a hungry do-or-die attitude and i doubt very much a little expectation will diminish that attitude at all. Mm & Morgan i can see being a dream team and as long as the fans stick with them i can’t see anything wrong with the future of the team we all love.
Report abuse
i cannot see morgan as the die hard wolves fan. purely business,
he cant wait for the prem then his first move to resale it, £30m +£10
should be easy to recoup
Report abuse
Good one dudley baggie dont bite to our news just cos things arent going to plan down the poorthorns(what a dump)lets just see what happens eh
Report abuse
Hey, Dudley Baggie! I’ve met some dopey baggies in my time but you definitely qualify for a hale and hearty “thicker than normal” commendation.
You knowledge of football appears even lower than that of English. Mind you, what can you expect..
Report abuse
dingles always crack under presure but i think you have got anough to stay up.boing boing going up.
Report abuse
Whats up with wolves fans these days? Well done Mr morgan, its about time we had positive stance here (hoping you are gonna back it up with dosh) I am fed up with settling for this and that, promotion is a must and should be made that way as Mr Morgan rightly says.
Report abuse
Too right! – Well said Steve Morgan! We have been fannying about in the lower leagues for far too long. And I am sure MM expects promotion this season too. So all you lilly livered Wolves fans who are mincing on about ‘pressure’ need to get a grip. There is always ‘pressure’ in any successful organisation – so get used to it. Steve Morgan expects Wolves to be a power in the land sooner rather than later, and so should we! – If you can’t cope with that go off and support Walsall. Champions League within five years! – Come on you Wolves!!!
Report abuse
well mr morgan by the time sir jacks hands over the deeds we will be in the prem any way this year of you takeing over up the wolves
Report abuse
Hopefully when we have games especially at home when the result is not going for us has it sometimes dont.I hope all the people who want to build up the expectations are fully behind the team until the last minute, not groan & moan which we have seen may times before & have a go at the players.Long live the Spirit of 07/08.Pure class.
Down to the boggies.
Report abuse
dudley baggosh—– we didnt crack under the pressure of the playoff final like your selves
Report abuse
Keith (bloxwich) said: Jul 21st, 2007 at 1:39 pm Whats up with wolves fans these days? Well done Mr morgan, its about time we had positive stance here (hoping you are gonna back it up with dosh) I am fed up with settling for this and that, promotion is a must and should be made that way as Mr Morgan rightly says.
nch said: Jul 21st, 2007 at 1:47 pm Too right! – Well said Steve Morgan! We have been fannying about in the lower leagues for far too long. And I am sure MM expects promotion this season too. So all you lilly livered Wolves fans who are mincing on about ‘pressure’ need to get a grip. There is always ‘pressure’ in any successful organisation – so get used to it. Steve Morgan expects Wolves to be a power in the land sooner rather than later, and so should we! – If you can’t cope with that go off and support Walsall. Champions League within five years! – Come on you Wolves!!!
totally agree with both
Report abuse
Dudley tesco bag,
at least with our boys they are going to be there at the start of the season,wearing the shirt with pride. By comparison your lot are bottling it before a ball has been kicked. Bong,Bong and farewell to Kamara,Koumas,Robinson,Mcshane.Davies and Gera. Please comfort yourself with Davies comments ” I want to leave the poorthorns but I still want to give 100% for the team “. Sounds to me like a statement by a bloke who.s already cracked up
Report abuse
so if we dont get promoted what? mick gets sacked,
we need to give a manager time, something weve never done, specially this manager, hes worth it,
at last we get some hunger and youth and right away wham heres the pressure as if there isnt enough
Report abuse
Mr Morgan will own the club. He wants to take it to the next level. I am sure he will do that. Next year again may be 1 season too soon, hopefully not, but then if it doesnt work this way with the current manager and club staff, he will no doubt want to do it his way.
Whats wrong with that??
Report abuse
can we all just for one season enjoy our football and ignore the E&S playing devils advocate.hopefully Mr morgan will be able to spend the rest of his investment inthe promised land.
Report abuse
wolves fans this team needs a little pressure on them to grow up! this is a good thing! if u read the full article in the paper it says mccarthy has told them the chairmen wants promotion! steve morgan said might not of said this, it might of be one of MM plans!! he is a great team manager he know what the players wants to get the best out of them! have faith in them!
the dingles are going up!!
Report abuse
Last season I watched thhe best football I have seen for Years
If we have a season half as good again I`m quite happy no matter if we go up or not
Report abuse
Morgan is obviously not aware of the way things work at Wolves, he’d better learn. What’s he going to do if we don’t go up, fire the best manager we’ve had in years? The man’s a football fool! Stick to what you know Morgan and let MM run the team. Good luck to Mick and the lads, there’s no pressure from us, THE FANS!!
Is it true that Morgan wants us to play in red next season?
Report abuse
now weve got a owner who wants prem footy and it look like nothing it gonna stand in his way. hard words by morgan but theres no sympathy in getting what u want in football. we have been promised things far to long and never got what we deserve . hopefully mr morgan and mm Can get us there and keep us there UP ME BABBIES
Report abuse
tywyn wolves,At least WE did get to the playoff final.Unlike yourselves.After WE battered you lot all season long.
Come on you BAGGIES.Boing Boing.
P.S. 4-1 to the albion.
Report abuse
@tywyn wolves;
“we didnt crack under the pressure of the playoff final like your selves”
This is correct.
You cracked in the semi finals.
Report abuse
Thats the man we need! Just getting into the playoff’s is not enough. This is a guy with gusto, he wants to get there. MM and Moxey are happy cats to just about make it, Moxey has proved he has no idea (got lucky one year)how to get to the Premiership and how to stay there. With any luck Moxey will be history and a new man will push to buy the players required to get there. We need Premiership soccer back again. MM can do it if he is given the right backing of money for good players. Afterall if he gets what he askes for and doesn’t perform, like any other manager he will have to answer for it.
Report abuse
tywyn wolves (16) – no, you did it in the semis against us – twice !
Report abuse
lmao poor dingles sayin we bottled it we BEAT u good and proper, we won at ur ground b4 we even walked on the pitch in the play offs , HAHA dont criticise what until u can better the albion , and as for morgan pfft i hope he another bhatti brother.
Report abuse
Let’s not confuse high expectation with negativity and getting on players’ backs if results don’t go as we want.
High achievers have high expectations and are POSITIVE.
Will the real fans stay behind the team if they are doing their best?
Of course we will!
Will this squad ‘die’ for the team all season?
Of course they will!
Come on Wolvwes, I want you to do well and I will stay right behind you!
Report abuse
Merlin Mick himself has already set his sights on promotion. He has already set the bar high for his young team and to be honest I am quite confident thay we can be there or therabouts at the end of the season. Mick knows when to put expectation on his squad and when to play it down. This season wolves need their players to understand exactly what the expectations are. We now have a squad strong enough to drop underperforming players, so this kind of talk should gee up the players. Of course Morgan expects promotion. He is after all buying a massive club that should be an established premiership side.
Hey Dudley Baggie, make sure you turn up early at the Hawthorns for home games next season. I hear the first 11 to turn up get to play.
Report abuse
If this report is correct (i doubt it is, just a bit of creative pre season editing) Do you really think MM and the lads are just here to make up the numbers in the Championship ? Have you seen the passion in his and the players faces. If it is true however Mr Morgan dont try and teach your grandfather to suck eggs.
Report abuse
haha nice one E&S draggin the wolves fans down from cloud 9, im sure he does want us up there as do every other chairman in our league, MM is plannin to get us there asap he aint happy in the championship! leave us be we are having a small slice of luck for a change!!!! come on me babbies!!!
Report abuse
I’m confident MM can deliver under pressure. He’s a class above his high spending under-achieving predecessors, from Turnip through to Hoddle.
Report abuse
What the hell is all the fuss about.Why the fear of ambition all of a sudden.Hands up all you wolves fans who don`t want to be promoted this season.None, I thought so.
Maybe people should get real,life is all about ambition and football even more so.Given this then what is the problem with Morgan being ambitious or demanding,maybe he thinks that every second spent outside the premier is a second wasted,because I sure as hell do.
Keep the faith and believe.
Report abuse
I don’t see why mr morgan shouldnt have his say about the team he owns, obviously he’s going to want to see them rise into the promised land but can £30m really do it over a number of years? personally i wish him all the best but as for “nch” you honestly believe wolves can be in champions league within 5 years? be lucky if your top half of the premiership if you ever make it there.
Report abuse
The last time a made comment regarding the quailty of the journalism at the E&S they were removed!!Well it is nice to see that others have been able to put their view across without being moderated.
I think the comments in the article,if true, are putting unneeded pressure on Mick McCarthy.
Its all very well Mr.Morgan saying things like that but it doesn’t help.That’s if he really said it!??
Did the reporter who wrote the piece check to see what he meant and what he would do if we don’t go up?And at the moment is it his money thats been spent?I thought the deal had yet to go through.
Report abuse
I love these baggie fans coming on here havin a dig, not that their club is in safe hands, I rather have Morgan then Peace!
Report abuse
we were all delighted whith what a young team did last season with no expectation..if we dont start well the moaning will start and the knives will sharpen..its human nature and it doesnt matter whether morgan wants to sell us at a profit when prommoted .he has invested money and should expect a return and under mick who is the best thing to happen to our club in years he will get it.loving ireland missing the molineux
Report abuse
I wish I supported a proper team with real passion and drive like the Mightly Wolves !!!
Report abuse
Looks like somebody will be looking for a new job at xmas.
Report abuse
so dudley boggie you think we’re gonna end up mid table i do hope thats 7 places above yow sad lot,and as for saying we’ve got to go up this season by morgan he should be supporting the lads not demanding top two places.
Report abuse
Well he upset a lot of the liverpool board for his outspoken behaviour so i guess we can expect worse than this.
We will get promotion anyways:)
Report abuse
HaHa
Albion fans telling us our team will crack under pressure and fall apart.
Your the ones that are under pressure, no players and a rubbish manager. Your the ficklest fans in exsistance, you’ll lose one and you’ll be calling for Mowbray’s head.
We have faith in Mick. If we dont get promoted, we will come close. Mick wont get sacked because the fans wouldn’t stand for it.
Report abuse
its about time there was some good expectations, the money footballers get paid a bit of pressure shouldn’t hurt them, should it? I agree with Mr.Morgan, we need prem football in 08/09.
Up the wolves
Report abuse
i totally agree with him.he’s an extremely succesfull person who unlike sir jack wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.all his working life he has had to be ruthless to get where he’s got & if mick can’t get & keep wolves there he’ll be out the door.infact if we don’t bring in a couple of class defenders by august11th mick will be under huge pressure
Report abuse
Maybe Mr Morgan should spend his time cranking up the pressure on the solicitors to get this deal done – and leave the team to those who know best. UP MM Up The Wolves
Report abuse
MORGAN dont try throwing you weight around until you have thrown some of your cash around, of yet we aint see any so SHUT IT!!!!!
Report abuse
here we go again tesco town baggies- coming on our site to grunt off again (pigs)me thinks you are c——g your selves because we are buying young, hungry, quality players- while your lot are diving for the nearest life-boat to jump ship, never mind dudley baggie you have always got the mosque and baggie9 is that what you did at wembley – cracked under the pressure from the mighty!!!!rams?,pity you didnt play pompy last time you were in the prem who knows you may have survived!!!
Report abuse
Although the cooments do worry me, due to the fact that the last thing we want is the chairman being one of those regular panic-button pressers, but i think MM expects the pressure!
Good luck lads!
Report abuse
Well said Morgan, we were in the play offs and spent well this season already..Why shouldnt we get promotion.
As for the Tesco fan..get back to your sinkin ship… hahaha and Derby is my second team.
Steve Morgan is a winner, the guy wants to take us to the top for gods sake..now stop winging and all stick together.
KiwiWolfffffffffff
Report abuse
Looks like the same old story starting again, is it not a coincidence that the one season we have no sky high hopes, we have a brilliant year? Lets hope we are not going back to the bad old days. Just hope Morgan said that in a not to serious way or else it will all go pear shaped. Lets stop this stupid pressure we always put ourselves under and just get behind Mick and the team 100% even when things are not going our way.
Report abuse
i better get down the poorthorns and give them a quote for some new doors (revolving doors)nice to see all there loyal players leaving
Report abuse
i think ill give up on the wolves now
Report abuse
Nothing wrong with positive presure and aiming high but if things don’t work out immediately will he give Mick time?
If we do up will the funds be available to Mick or will the die hard Red sell and run off with a nice chunk of profit? I must admit there is concern at the back of my mind.
But hey, we are the Wolves and nothing is ever staright forward.
Report abuse
Morgan is asking alot of the team considering he only spent four million.If you dont like it go back to Liverpool.Give MM a chance with support and encouragement they can do it.
Report abuse
will be in the prem next season. so no need to frett. keep the faith and back merlin mick
Report abuse
Let’s face it Wolves have to go up this season. However, Morgan must know this is a tough division to get out of. However, I think Sir Jack has picked his man well! Why? He sees in Morgan a focused football mad individual who desperately wants to own a successful and established football club in the Premiership. There is a lot of kudos for rich businessmen for owning a successful club, and Morgan is an ambitious man. I always thought that Wolves really should aim for the occasional season or two in the premiership to get the money to re-invest and then spend some time in the Championship and then back to the premiership. However, Morgan is a man who may actually be able to take Wolves atleast back to the level occupied by say Everton, Spurs, Villa and Newcastle.
He’s made a 30 MILLION commitment. For that he expects his club to be competing with the best. And I don’t blame him. If Mick makes the playoffs he’ll get probably just about earn himself another season.
Report abuse
to the tesco bag i would say thet your getting quite jealous of our great young squad.We actuelly won a play off final-did you? just worry about how you will replace all those mercenaries you used to have.Regarding Mr.Morgans comments,i am worried by them,but lets stay calm until he takes over and then hopefully the media will ask him for clarification on what he means.
Report abuse
Success brings high expectations; and last season we finished 5th, we outplayed B’ham and the Baggies for long periods at Mol in the last five games of the season (despite losing both games 2-3), and we’ve spent £4m on new players. If you don’t expect us to finish higher than 5th, what planet are you living on? If we do much better than that, then it’ll be promotion, won’t it?
Well said Morgan, Mick and Gary!
Report abuse
With the new Sky TV deal for Premiership and parachute clubs, we’ve reached the point of now or never! If Wolves don’t get promoted in the next couple of seasons, possibly next season, then Wolves will never again become established in the top division.
You guys and gals who want low expectations, face facts! Your stance amounts to saying you want Wolves to become Walsall, mark 2–forever!
Report abuse
we’re gonna win the league,NO PRESSURE,NO PROBLEM!The manager believes it, the team believe it,the FANS believe it,and Mr MORGAN WANTS IT,he sounds like a man who gets what he wants, WHAT MORE CAN A CLUB HOPE FOR,WHEN WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO THE JOB? MOST OF ALL THERE IS UNITY DOWN AT THE MOL,YES, WE’RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE!! BELIEVE IT!!!!!
Report abuse
A little expectation never hurt anyone. Lets forget this idea of taking part being good enough, we were positive enough last year and we showed we have confidence, it’s simply a case of pushing on.
I don’t think will phase the players at all, nothing wrong with giving them a little fire in the belly.
Promotion and big investment (unlike the lies of last time)
Just hope cynical frome town wolf isn’t right.
Come on Wolves!!!!!
Report abuse
I THINK JEREMY PEARCE IS DOING A GREAT JOB AT THE BOGGIES SELLING ALL HIS TOP PLAYERS AND THEN START AGAIN . IT WONT HAPPEN THIS SEASON BOGGIES SORRY TO SAY. ITS ABOUT BUILDING A GOOD YOUNG SIDE. WWFC WILL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT DOUBT
Report abuse
Having lowered my epectations last season I loved what the boys did.
Same again please this time with 25 more goals for and that will do for me. UP to the Prem.
Report abuse
A bit of pressure to get promotion…i should bloody hope so,a club of wolves stature, following and history should want to play at the highest level.
Dont get too excited by mr morgan wanting promotion, id be very worried if he didnt !
Increased expectation/pressure on merlins boys wont make a blind bit of difference, just make sure the support is there again like last season.
Dont get carried away or over excited about this type of pressure…real pressure is playing in games like the champions league final or the world cup.
The futures old gold people
Report abuse
All I know is, I’m returning to the Black Country from Vancouver in October and am going to catch 2 of my beloved Wolves games…
Go Wolves GO!!!!!
Report abuse
It’s a case of I’am in my money, my shout. “Leave off” let’s live a little first. But did he say it!
Report abuse
Same old start to every season, Dingles are going to do this and that and end up missing out again, yawn, change the record and get realistic.
Report abuse
I’m not sure if morgan has said this or whether its a ploy by MM, either way it could seriously backfire on us. This league is so competitive and hard to get out of that we dont need to put more pressure on the team.
We also have a history of not being able to handle it. Remember under Jones and Taylor when at once stage we were cert for promotion but lost out. The fans need to show the same patience they did last year and not be baying for blood if we do score after 20 mins.
Report abuse
The main trouble is down the Golden Palace is that we have money to spend again and the tesco town lot can’t hack it, we had with SJH know we have it with Morgan- accept it tesco town- people are interested in investing in W.W.F.C, but not supermarkets-because they are two a penny! live with it.
Report abuse
Well said Morgan! This is what business is all about – DELIVERABLES!! It all about winning, not taking part – thats why we keep score right!
Make em sweat Morgan, about time someone took charge, all these critics will be at your feet this time next year if we make it up. And I’d like to see how many of the critics above would risk $30m + even if they did have the millions like you.
Report abuse
To all the baggies fans who have made a comment on this article.
(a bad comment) 1st of all why are you on our site anyway ? i know we’re more interesting but i thought you loved your precious
mowbray !! buying crap players.
2nd there is more pressure on your team to get promotion as you have more income selling your players.
come on wolves fans !!!!! don’t let the saggies put you down.
you watch .. they’ll be managerless by christmas were as we will be cruising to promotion !!
GO HOME ALBION AND WATCH MOWBRAY
FALL boing splat
Report abuse
Well done Steve Morgan. Promotion of sack for MM… simple words . well MM start looking now cos that is as good as a 3 month notice. You WILL be unemployed come the end of the season.Paul Ince has already been told he has the job. He will bring in his own back room staff as well. Get rid of everyone concerned with the coaching side. And to all the Wolves fans who think MM is the mesiah get a grip of your silly lives. This has never managed a decent player. Roll on next season. Put in the like sof Jones, Davies now and see what happens get some games under there belt..
Report abuse