Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Wolves blog: Transfer cheer
Friday 11th January 2008, 8:29AM GMT.
It’s nice to be able to sit down and write my blog with some positive news finally echoing from the chambers of Molineux after the miserable time we have had of late, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
Two signings – David Edwards from cash-strapped Luton and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from Plymouth was welcome news yesterday.
Edwards is a player who plays predominately on the left wing and will hopefully replace Stephen Ward who has valiantly tried but failed in this position all season.
Sylvan started his career at Man Utd before becoming Ian Holloway’s first signing at Plymouth in 2006.
He is another striker who is coming to Molineux with a decent ratio of games to goals (3 to 1).
As we all know, Freddy had an even more impressive record at Southend (nearly a goal every 2 games) and for whatever reason, hasn’t been able to replicate this form at Wolves.
Players like Eastwood and Jarvis have yet to find their feet at Wolves and with fresh acquisitions already on board and with more yet to come, you have to think that Mick has to offload players.
We have a bewildering display of expensive failing strikers at the club; Bothroyd, Elliott, Keogh, Eastwood, Ward.
Out of these five players, I still feel that Keogh has the most to offer playing behind what will now be our sixth striker, Ebanks-Blake, who is reportedly a player with strength and pace.
I’d like to see Bothroyd and Elliott shipped out, but I’m not sure who would be foolish enough to take either of them.
These two signings are a big boost to a club that is in dire need of a lift.
Again Mick has signed players that are young (both 21) and hungry for success.
Unfortunately with the business end of the season now with us, we can’t really allow either player the luxury of too many games to bed in.
And just as new faces are arriving at Molineux, we must also wish Mark Little the best of luck on his loan move to Northampton.
Although I agree that Mark probably does need a bit of toughening up, I also think that given our current form he should have been given a chance in the first team.
After the two acquisitions, I am slightly more optimistic for our chances against one of the in-form sides in the Championship, Neil Warnock’s Palace, on Saturday.
Hopefully results can begin to change and fans can look ahead with renewed confidence for the remainder of the season.
I hope that Mick is still on the hunt for a decent centre half in the window and a ‘Mark Davies’ type midfielder, oh the irony.
I have to say that the way that you never normally find out about a transfer at Wolves until it actually goes through is a credit to the club.
We never seem to fall into the trap many other clubs do of washing our dirty linen in public.
Anyway I hope both players prove to be a success at Wolves and perhaps the team can start looking more balanced with wingers playing on the wing and strikers who actually score goals.
Wolves fans, what do you think? Have your say below
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Christ, I am a plymouth fan and i am infuriated.
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Having seen Blake play i think he is an excellent signing, and at 1.5million a steal aswell, however i thought it was a creatve midfielder that Wolves were crying out for, as for the lad from luton i know nothing.
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It seems unlikely that they’ll be available for tomorrow though – which is a blow!
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Jarrod, good morning to you.
The exasperating thing is that we already have creative midfielders in Mark Davies or Stephen Gleeson.
Anyway, the club needed a boost.
All the best.
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I totally agree wbabomber. Whilst these signings are great and a step in the right direction all of our attacking creativity and spark comes out of one player – Michael Kightly
One win in seven springs to mind.
Still you can only live in hope, the transfer window is still wide open!
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Is it my “we are Wolves – anything could happen mentality” or have we still yet to CONFIRM the signings?
I agree Nathan we do need a creative player but the two “signings?” can only boost our squad and hopefully give us Wolves fans something better to watch and cheer for.
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Couldn’t agree more Nathan. Bothroyd and Elliot have to go. I had the misfortune to be at the cup game last week and Bothroyd was a complete waste of space. He’s had far too many chances now and must go. The biggest insult to all of us when he blatently dived in the penalty area and had a go at the ref when he got booked for it !! Wolves do not need or want players with that attitude.
If these signings do go ahead (and Jez states on the Wolves site that they are not done deals yet !!) then they have to be good for us. I also think that a pairing of Eastwood and SE-B up front with Keogh just in behind would be a formidable partnership
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I agree that we are in dire need of a goal scorer and hope that Blake is the answer. As you’ve mentioned, we already have a proven scorer in Freddy, but it doesn’t matter who you play up front if the service to them continues to be so dire. MM needs to sop Foley and D.Ward from launching the ball into orbit as any decent center half will always be able to deal with that. The same scenario is stifling Jarvis who looks a decent winger if he is given the ball to feet and in the right area.
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What a difference a transfer makes!
Anyone up for a chorus of Super Mick yet?
K.T.F.
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Dropping Stephen Ward, yer having a laugh. Who ever MM signs will not make the 1st team for at least 3 weeks, purely on the basis he wants to trust his failing “favourites” i.e Ward, Elloitt, Henry, Jay B.
However we shall see…. oh by the way both players havent signed yet! If Moxey balls this one up then he needs to be sacked for failing to do the job CEO are meant to be doing!
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Lets hope the new boys come in and give us all a lift that we desperately need…Hola Hermano´s, Adios Amigos……
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This will be MM’s 7th striker and the midfield has been a disaster this season!
I hope these new signings prove to be a success but who he plays up-front now is anybodys guess?
It seems that neither Gleeson, Davis, Gobern or Rosa will get into the team and I just don’t see where the balance is?
Is Edwards a left winger, what about Jarvis, who is going to be the creative midfield, Kightly still injured, so many questions so few answers.
I think that one thing is now clear, MM will be here until the end of the season although if he doesn’t turn the results round it will be a very uncomfortable ride.
For a so called quality manager he sure has made a mess!
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To buy another striker amazes me. Why oh why. I know we are not scoring at the moment but I don’t think that is all down to the forwards, they are simply not getting the service to score. We are crying out for a central midfielder who passes the ball forward and can run forward instead of crabbing from left to right. Central midfielder, left back and a left winger are called for. If this Edwards guy plays on the left then that will be a good start. Think about it Mick, do we really need 6 forwards?
I agree with the blog about getting rid of Elliot and Bothroyd.
Any more transfer rumours, it’s obvious that only wolves know who they are really after so we may aswell make something up – i’ve heard fat Frank is coming to play in the middle of the park……….
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10 – How can you blame Jez Moxey? Ridiculous post. He has done everything right – it’s other clubs that have been premature in their announcements. I think he & MM have done an excellent job – these 2 good signings came ‘out of nowhere’, despite dozens of rumours re others. Good business, Jez!
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Elliot wont be sold (It’s MM son so dont even think he will be sold)
Bothroyd is as good as good……………
I have a feeling Sunderland might come in for Keogh, personally i hope not.
MM wont sell Ward, Eastwood is possible though.
We need a left winger…………..
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14
Quote of the year so far:
“I think he(Jez) & MM have done an excellent job”
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Yes, Edwards plays left midfield.
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These two players sound great buys but we are not yet forgetting that we need a left back and a centre half to replace neil collins who is a total waste of space
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Post 10 ridiculous, “if” and it’s a big if, these deals fall through, they will not be Moxey’s fault. Some wolves fans are just to quick to get on certain individuals backs, MM, Moxey etc.
Good business Jez!! Keep it up!!
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Like nearly all of us, i haven’t seen anything of Edwards and not much of SEB. However, i was reading a blog by Chris Kamara a while back and he stated how he though SEB could perform in the premiership in years to come. Considering he evaluates every game, every week, he sounds like a good acquisition!
Someone above has also mentioned playing Keogh behind two forwards. Have to say, given the fact that we lack creativity it’s a good point. We all know Keogh isn’t a natural finisher, he shows that with his indecisiveness in front of goal. But when it comes to holding the ball up and creating time and space, he’s pretty good at it. Saying that, i genuinely think Henry has got a football brain and is pretty good at picking out a pass, problem is Mick has got his two central midfielders sitting deep with no link to attack.
Hopefully having a ‘mobile’ forward will automatically create some holes in the opposition! We will see…
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I’m not sure that Edwards is a left sided player….I thought he was more right footed and I don’t think he played left sided at Shrewsbury…I’ll update when I’ve spoken to my mate who’s a Shrews fan. I also thought he’s one who likes to get into the box in george’s role..
Not sure about Keogh behind the front two when his strength is forward running at defenders…? As for SEB…he’s proved he can score this season in contrast to Freddie who plays too deep and is usually a yard behind the crosses into the box…
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Good signings no doubt, but we still need a creative midfielder to feed the strikers. I keep saying this, but why don’t we put all our efforts into signing JOE LEDLEY, he is young creative and scores goals – meets all the criteria. I’d still like to see Mark Davies given a run back in the team when he’s fully fit.
I hope these two play against Palace, we need to change things to get going again.
Boothroyd should definately go, Elliot is not a bad player, but with everyone on his back he won’t be on his game. He is prone to injury. He needs support to get going again….. :0)
Good signings..
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SEB looks an excellent buy, although very much in agreement that at least 1 of the existing lot will need to go. Couldn’t agree more with Bothroyd and/or Elliot – but likely that no one will want them so I’m worried that Freddy will go for a bargin price.
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Hope these signings make as big an impact as last January’s did. I too have lost patience with Bothroyd – we don’t need flicks & tricks & dives – ship him out now. I think our treatment of Elliott has been a bit harsh though, seems he’s attracting the flak because MM’s not playing Freddy – not Elliotts fault. Where does the signing of Ebanks-Blake leave Freddy now? Seems to me that we are a better side with Keogh than without him, ‘cos his off-the-ball running creates space for the other striker, so with that in mind, there are 4 strikers chasing one position alongside Keogh.
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kightly injured again but we have definatly signed ebanks-blake
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I was extremely surprised to find that Edwards played much of his time at luton on the left midfield.
hopefully he can move into the middle but i dont hold my breath, he’ll have to be something special to oust Karl henry and his 37% pass sucess rate!
it looks like the chances of obtaining a genuine playmaker are zero or less!
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Mick seems to have pulled off two crafty signings here. kudos to him.
agree though, that we need someone creating oportunities behind the front two – can only hope.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!
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Time to be positive,difficult game tommorow.Against a manager we struggle with!Good luck to the new players UP THE WOLVES!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have to say as striker was required. However this is not the end of the spending and critisism of transfer windows signings is indeed premature.
Well done fat controller for making a great deal work for WOlves. Obviously you had the agents help but good work.
Well done to MM for working under extreme pressure. I know you will prove the vocal few wrong. And the silen majority right.
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I dont think SEB is 100% MM target as he is not the type of player to put in a shift. Dont matter if you have talent if you dont put in a shift you dont play ask freddy.
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Great news! This will give everybody a lift from the tea-lady upwards. No offence to the tea-lady!
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Kightly is crocked again and out of tomorrows game!!!!!!!!!! I can see him out for a while with this problem.
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Silverstone, I agree with your comments re. number 10.
Unfortunately he is typical of some of the Wolves fans that are posting on this site just lately.
If we had signed Rooney he would be complaining that we should have signed Ronaldo.
And yes, well done Jezz
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Another fine blog…
Great signings, very excited to see SEB in the gold ‘n’ black.
Edwards is a left sided player, he has played there all season for Luton.
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What array of expensive strikers all were cheap except for freddie, keogh was 600,000 all the rest were free transfers.
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Edwards is a central midfielder or can play right midfield.
He is a player who will push foward into the box from midfield.
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this lad blake will get goals but only if the supply is there big blow is that kites is out tommorrow against palace
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According to wolves website SEB has just signed and maybe playin tomoz.
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defence defence defence please mick get that sorted and anouther midfielder
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Nice to see Morgans Millions being spent so wisely.
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14
dont worry it was a dream you can now wake up
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too early to talk about shipping elliot out i have a hunch the kid will come good. centreback i’d like to see at the mol is coventrys elliot ward he was the best player on the park a few weeks ago and with cov having money troubles he could be in our price range
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I am a albion fan and even i have to take my hat off to these signings. Nice one wolves, maybe next time you can give us a game hahahahaha.
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These are the days (9)
Are you Mick McCarthy ?
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For all the so called ‘fans’ who are knocking these two signings, I would much rather have a 21year old Ebanks-Blake for £1.5million than a 32year old Steve Howard for £1.5million (what Leicester have just paid). As for Edwards I don’t know much about, but then again I didn’t know much about Kightly before we signed him! And at least our manager has realised the problems and is doing something about it with these (and hopefully more) signings.
Now come on lads, it’s obvious that MM’s staying, otherwise SM would not have give him so much money to spend, so we need to back the team and back the manager. Lets show these two new signings how good the fans at the Golden Palace can be, lets raise the roof on Saturday.
Up the Wolves!!
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What a great signing!
He and Eaastwood are our best forwards if you ask me, I say sell Bothroyd, bench S.Ward and line up like this:
Hennessey
Gray
Craddock
Ward
Foley
D.Edwards
Henry
Gibson
Kightly
Ebanks-Blake
Eastwood
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Bothroyd is too good a player to let go. He has more ability than anyone else in the team in my opinion. He tried to be a bit too fancy against Camebridge but is very good at holding the ball up and has great technique. His attitude has improved a lot this season so it would be foolish to give up on him now.
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SEB & Edwards two excellent signings, we now need a left back and a center back who is quicker and stronger than the one’s we have got (apart from Craddock who has been outstanding when he has played)
As for wingers Jarvis is right footed and can stand in for kitely until he is fit. As for Edwards I’ve seen him play a few times for Shrewsbury, mainly on the left of midfield and he is quicker and more dynamic than our current midfielders
(apart from Kitely who I believe will get more space due to Edwards rampaging up the left wing).Overall Wolves will have more balance and threat when attacking and defending.
As for the under-performing strikers on Wolves books, I believe at least two of them will be moved out. With Bothroyd and Eastwood being the likely casualties. Bothroyd because he is lazy and Eastwood who doesn’t appear to fit in with MM’s style of play.
UP THE WOLVES! LETS CREATE A GREAT ATMOSPHERE FOR THE TEAM ON SATURDAY!
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pip said: Jan 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am What array of expensive strikers all were cheap except for freddie, keogh was 600,000 all the rest were free transfers.
I think the expensive bit is referring to how much these players wages are a big drain on the club’s resources.
Shame about Kites
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Bob, let’s hope that this is a sign of how good this guy really is.
p.s. what do you normally sing on the terraces to get Sylvan motivated and firing on all cylinders? His name is a mouthful for the chants I can think of.
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Kightly injured again
no way should he been put on against mighty Cambridge
questions need to be asked who gave the O.K. Medical/fitnes coach/or manager
this was not a good dicision,this lad could be out for months,however S Ward is available
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we should play a diamond formation, with keogh behind freddy and SEB. i think edwards can play in the middle aswell. plz mick get rid of neil collins..i know he has scored some vital goals this season and he would be a good player if he could DEFEND, and considerin he is a defender isn’t good.
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Annoying about Kites, But Big deal! 22 years old and injured again, he should be able to run it off at his age…
And ‘normal service,’ Kites changed the game against Cambridge and you say we shouldn’t of played him?! It was aparently done in training so that had nothing to do with it.
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Andy (46)
Can’t be Botheroyed started with Arsenal and got rave reviews. They shipped him out! 7 clubs before he came here! at his age!!!
That tells you all you need to know about him.
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I’m a Plymouth fan and I’m disgusted at the way he (SEB) has treated us.
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Yeah ivor, doesnt feel right does it.
well lets tell you about our Kenny Miller – we could have got between £1 – £3Mil fro him, but he lingered like a bad smell till the end of his contract so Celtic could get him on the free….
lets tell you about our Joleon, we were practically raped at only £2.5 mil for the “already being capped” defender…
the list continues…its all swings and roundabouts matey.
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46 Andy:
Your rants RE: Bothroyd.
Stop trying to kid yourself.If Bothroyd WAS that good, he wouldn’t have come to the Wolves in the first place.
He insists on taking free kicks / corners when his height would be of better use in the box.
He’s got no balls & isn’t fit enough to lace Bully’s boots, never mind wear the “Old Gold”.
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Loyal-Cannock-Wolf:
You’d have had JohnDeWolf & Neil Emblem running off Cruciate ligament injuries because they are profesionals!
Get back to Cannock, the village is missing it’s idiot!
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Andy 46.Are you ‘avin a laff?
Bothroyd has been a dismal failure since he signed. Why do think he has had so many clubs? Lack of motivation coupled with a frustrating gift for under achievment would be my guess. He has the heart of a jelly and will run all day in pursuit of keeping out of the way in case some of those rough boys from the other team tackle him and make him cry. He is allegedly over 6′ yet fails to win anything in the air, he is the tallest winger in the world.I will admit he shows rare flashes of skill, very Colleymore like, but these are few and far between. Mick has to continually massage his fragile ego ( only succeeding in damaging his own credibility whilst doing it). Bothroyd should be sold.
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Kightly injured 4 palace game…BIG BLOW… wat a difference he makes!!
line up…
Hennessey
gray
ward
craddock
foley
D.edwards
henry
olifinjana(not sure if he has left 4 african cup of nations)
gibson
ebanks-blake
keogh
!!UpTheWolves!!
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THE REASON EASTWOOD CAN’T REPLICATE LAST FORM IS OBVIOUS HE DOES’NT GET A GOOD GO
COME ON MM GIVE HIM 5 STRAIGHT GAMES AND YOU WILL SEE HOW GO HE IS.
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2 Very good signings it’s been a slog through the christmas program but the next month will tell,when wolves will be pushing for the top six and who knows top 2! it will be interesting to see who micks preferred 11 will be’ when he has a full squad fit and who knows maybe another signing or 2, and on the word of kightly sometimes when a player is very sort after and is wanted by another club and the player does’nt want to leave personal Things arise! dont forget the january window is still open i’m not going to much into it but you can see kightly loves it at wolves and could be a massive superstar if! no not if when wolves reach the premiership.to tell you the truth i can’t wait for the window to close.
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Eastwood does not get picked ahead of Bothroyd. jarvis does not get picked ahead of Ward. Ebanks Blake taken off when we were looking for goals. Edwards won’t get picked ahead of Oli or Henry.
Why give MM any more transfer money – does anyone believe it will make a difference?
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we have an array of talented, if misfiring forwards. so what do we do ? we buy another forward.
there is a desperate need to get a central midfielder, central defender and left back.urgently-before the present freefall becomes too great to recover from.
we have the will, the fanbase and the resources to have waltzed through this league.
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Last 8 winless games, common factor Bothroyd, 611 minutes of football 0 goals, 7 starts 6 full 90 mins. Last 5 90 minute games for Freddie, 4 wins and a draw. It’s not rocket science Mick, great fan of yours but your love affair with Bothroyd will get you the boot. Play Freddie.
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We need Big Sam or Paul Ince. Last chance for Mick saturday. I see why Mick brought Ebanks – Blake off, i didnt think he looked dangerous due to him travelling up and down the motorway. Come on Mick, get it together, you can do it!
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Macarthy’s reasons for taking his new striker off are pathetic and an insult to the working man!!!
He had travelled up the mway from Plymouth and looked knackered!!!
The more he talks the less sense he makes, he really does not have a clue. We are now closer to the bottom than the top of the league. Action is needed now but please Mr.Morgan not Sammy Lee.
We need the Guvnor!!!
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WHY NOT MORE INFO ON MARK DAVIES AND GLEESON SURELY BETTER THAN
MIDFIELD WE HAVE NOW AND THEY WONT
GET FIT OFF THE BENCH
COME ON MM GIVE THEM A CHANCE
THEY MIGHT SUPRISE YOU
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A team devoid of tactics, leadership on and off the field and an inspirational manager
Nuff said!
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