Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Wolves watch £3m defender
Tuesday 1st April 2008, 11:36AM BST.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is running the rule over £3m-rated Hearts stopper Christophe Berra as he assesses his defensive options for next season.
McCarthy watched the 23-year-old in action during Hearts’ recent 4-0 home defeat to SPL leaders Rangers and is now believed to be considering whether to make a move for the Tynecastle club captain.
Berra is believed to be under contract until 2011 and as such, Hearts would want around £3m.
“I know Mick McCarthy was at the game against Rangers, but whether he was there to watch Christophe or not, I don’t know,” said caretaker-boss Stephen Frail.
“When our players are doing well, there’s obviously going to be interest in them.
“Other clubs are always on the lookout and I think it’s just a sign that your players are doing their jobs.
“He’s done well recently and we wouldn’t want to lose him.”
Hearts managers would want to keep their best players before, but that’s not always been the case under controversial owner Vladi-miar Romanov.
Six-foot-one Berra was selected for the Scotland squad for the first time in the 1-1 draw against Croatia last week, although he was an unused substitute, and has played for the Scots ‘A’ team.
Berra, whose former team-mate is Albion striker Roman Bednar, has made 96 SPL appearances since making his debut for Hearts in 2003 and is known to be a stopper-type centre-half and reasonably quick.
He was the surprise choice to take over the captaincy when Craig Gordon joined Sunderland.
But he has quickly become a highly respected performer for the club, making 35 League appearances last season as Hearts finished fourth in the SPL.
Wolves’ central defensive personnel for next season is uncertain at the moment, with Jody Craddock out of contract, and Gary Breen is 34, McCarthy is also looking at longer term options. Both of his experienced centre-halves have been out injured for periods this season, while Rob Edwards is currently sidelined with an ankle problem.
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Well he isn’t irish and hasn’t played for Sunderland which is a change.Whether he he is any better than what we have already got or capable of making the step up to the premiership is another matter.
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Interesting… looks like MM will be here next year then if this is the case.
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got to better than we got and young and true not irish
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6′-1″ stopper CH.
I would prefer a 6′-4″ tall stopper unless thislad can jump like Billy Wright.
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I hope that Paul Ince is interested in him too……
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Craddock has been good when he has played and i havent really seen Edwards, but as for the rest of them at centre back time to move on, Breen way too old and slow, Collins not much of a clue and Ward isn’t happy at the club.
Our attack is starting to work but we need the firm base at the back. We have good keepers and the right and left backs look good and do their jobs but Charltons second goal on saturday night really summed it up.
Mick McNugget – what you have said worrys me cause it does look like he will be here next season and im still not sure about him.
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Before any numpty tries to tell you otherwise I can confirm that he is QUICK.
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My cousin lives in Edinburgh and goes to watch Hearts quite regularly – he rates Berra as one of the best prospects in Scottish football. A young centre-half with pace – isn’t this what we’ve been crying out for?
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If he played in a 4-0 defeat, he can’t be that good.
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the wolf give it a rest it’s just not funny anymore. Henry, Edwards, Blake, Eastwood, D Ward also don’t meet the criteria you stated.
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Instead of looking overseas for players why not give the likes of Rosa and Freddy a fair crack fick mick?
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Thanks E&S for alerting other clubs to this – I’m sure that if we miss out Mick and Jez will really appreciate it!
2 – Of course MM will be here next season…how many times does Morgan have to say this before people start to believe it?
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The speculation’s starting early on this,isn’t it?
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9. Castlecroft Wolf
that was the most stupidest comment I have ever read on any comments page.
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Anyways, i’m sure that’s added a load of confidence to the current defenders eh!? Excellent timing Mick! Well done!
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At least he’s looking for a defender – it must finally have clicked with him that we got no one at the back who is good enough for next season in either the prem or cola league
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Good news. He looks like the sort of player we need to replace ward, collins, edwards and breen. I’d keep craddock as he is a consistent performer and bring in a couple more. The board gave MM three years to achieve promotion and he is on track to do that. That is line they have always taken and it isn’t going to change unless things dramatically nose dive in the remaining matches.
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11. I assume you are happy with our defence then?
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timmis, i think some clubs have other sources besides the Express & Star, some even their own scouts…
and i think you will find it is with disbelief that many of us face the prospect of the mcnugget for another season. that bloke has more lives than cleopatras cat.
southbank genius, sadly i think Wolves will push cov for 2-3 mil for freddy to subsides a bid on this Berra chap.
This player sounds the business, and with our Kight-in-shining-armour returning next season is looking up. If only we could loose the muppet.
Come On You Wolves !
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he must be good if his side can lose 4-0, thats not bad you know! DONT BUY HIM! we need to play, ward at right back, breen and craddock in the centres and elokobi at left back, that is one of the best defense you will find in the championship because they are all brick walls!
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Firstly – 11 – do you know where Scotland is? Guessing you have never been there as its not ‘overseas’ LOL.
Secondly – this lad is quality – genuinely awesome – i mentioned this signing the other week to my girlfriends step dad (Who is Scottish and loves his football) – he didnt believe me when i mentioned his name saying surely a player of his calibre can’t be going to the Championship… He desperately wants him at Rangers… I dont think anything else is needed to be said.
Finally – when was the last time Wolves pushed out £3,000,000 for a defender… Open your eyes people!
Going up the McCarthy way!!
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Gulp! Just seen that Mick is up for ‘Championship Manager of the Month’ for March, but don’t worry fellow wolves Phil Brown will be bound to win it and that’ll be THEIR season over. The curse never fails!!!
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its no secret, lots of clubs have been watching the kid for a while.Craddock and Breen are coming to the end of their careers, Rosas not good enough, Freddie is being given a chance coming off the bench, i wouldnt drop SEB or Keogh.
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In football there is no smoke without fire. The smoke signals coming from Scunthorpe say Wolves want their goalkeeper, Joe Murphy, who has international aspirations and wants a move. If he comes here it won’t be to be a back-up.
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11-
shut up, it is idiots like you that ruin wolves.
where would you play rosa, you do know he has been injured for 4 months and played his first game back for the reserves the other day.
get your facts right genius.
also would you drop seb or keogh, when they are just getting some understanding, i hope not, but you are one of those freddy chanters after 5mins, so you probably would.
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19…… After the Korean episode MM is ‘bomb proof’ and is here to stay for as long as he wants.
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“McCarthy watched the 23-year-old in action during Hearts’ recent 4-0 home defeat”………….4-0 HE MUST BE GOOD HAHAHAHA
BOING BOING!!!!
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19# AD MANT
got it in one matey.. yes the one thing that’s as certain as anything can ever be is..FREDDIE WILL BE GONE IN THE SUMMER AND MCARTHY WILL STILL BE MANAGER.
and your point of selling fred to fund another major siging is spot on. i love freddy and will be sorry to see him go. i would have loved to see fred keogh and seb as our regular strike force, but it’s never gonna happen.
a move for fred will kick start his career again, and hopefully the money will buy this kid or another one to strengthen the defence.
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Ad mant
The muppet as got us back into 6th place, it is about time the I hate mick posters got behind mick and the team , we are now in a good position to make the playoffs lets not blow this chance in the next 6 games let us all be 100% BEHIND MICK AND THE LADS.
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Well so far it’s only taken Mick 18 months to not find a good quick center half that we need.
May as well buy another couple of stikers in the summer Mick rather than this guy
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It was to Rangers who are currently top of the SPL, silly Baggie.
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Nathan Baggie, you’re an idiot, crawl back under your rock.
You can tell the season’s coming to an end, the press are speculating about summer signings.
I would hope we’re looking at all up-and-coming players, that’s the only way we’re gonna go forwards – or do we want to got back to the Graham Taylor/Mark McGhee way of paying over-the-odds for 30 year old-plus players?
It’s been obvious our defense has struggled, Charlton showed we cannot defend straight balls into the box and that we cannot defend against big centre forwards.
If we can make a profit on Eastwood in the summer then MM deserves a pat on the back. He’s been on the fringes this season and will be again next, he just isn’t good enough.
God, I’m looking forward to this run-in!!
UP THE WOLVES!!!!
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Sounds interesting – certainly a position we’ve needed strengthening for some time now. Think we need to make two signings for this area – Breen & Craddock are old, Ward is just cr*p. We’ll be very light there next season.
No disrespect to those up north, but at £3 million for a Scotland ‘A’ player, it’s just a painful reminder how cheaply we let Lescott go for.
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I live in Scotland and Christophe Berra is an avaerage player who is no better than Russel Anderson who signed for Sunderland for £1 million and is rumoured to be a free agent at the end of the season.
Anderson has ten years of top flight SPL football and also has international experience.
Berra has been one of Hearts better players this season, however they have had a poor season and are £38 million in debt. If Wolves do go in for him they should not pay over the odds as the old firm are not interested.
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27.
yeah i suppose Hearts played him in defence on his own.
you lot lost 1-4 to Leicester and let in 3 goals against Colchester, what does that say about you defenders if thats the way you view things.
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Can someone still tell me why some people are still slating Mick, we have every chance of being in the play offs after a difficult season, and they still find excuses to have a go. Apart from not signing a centre back what is it that people have against him exactly ohh and the ‘Freddy’ question.
Look at the team we have, who do you think brought about that, the most exciting players in the team mick has signed or given them their chance.
Just because some idiots weren’t happy it seems to me that alot of sheep have started following their lead, instead of bleating they make that embarrasing freddy bleat every time we miss a goal, or they’re otherwise not happy.
Remember Hoddle will you, that was terrible half ar**d management, a team with no heart all wanting to leave. And what do we have now, the club is in a very healthy position, and its not all down to MM but he has played a big part in it, surely the thickest idiot would be able to realise that.
And for the people calling for Big Sam, have you ever seen how his teams play football
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Blimey – the idiots are out in force again!!
11) Overseas? and why mention the Rosa/Freddy thing yet again, on an article regarding a Scottish international defender?? And you call yerself a genius!
20) Talking of geniuses – Billwolf says he would play Ward at right-back!! That’s WARD – a centre-half who is not exactly blessed with pace and he wants him at right-back, despite us having one of the best right-backs outside the premier in Foley! Wake me up somebody and tell me it was all a bad dream!!! (Or have the lunatics finally took over the asylum?).
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“We got not Strikers!” So he gets a really good one. (SEB) Whingers moan about not dropping him and playing Lord Freddy. “We need quick Centre-backs.” He looks at one, and still you whinge. Elokobi may yet turn out to be the other quick centre-back we need. He was also signed by MM. Give the bloke a break. Who knows how many players MM would have liked to have brought in but they wouldn’t come to us, or clubs were asking silly money for. You sit there in your overstuffed armchairs, and knock, knock, knock.
Try at least giving him credit for the things he has done well. Sure he’s made mistakes. we all do. Sure he’s not perfect. None of us are. He is Wolves through and through though. How many of you would have turned down the chance of trebling your wages to stay at a club you believe in. He did. (The South Korea job.) The abuse had already been very strong, and he could have easily shoved two fingers up, and said, “Have it. I don’t need this.” he stayed because he wants to be manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. My team. Your team. That means something to me. Darling Freddy gets the chance to move downwards to a lesser club, and jumped at the chance. He played on Saturday like he wasn’t interested. Did he run to congratulate team-mates who had scored. NO!! Why the love affair with him from certain sections of our fans? The same fans who knock a good honest manager.
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ERR HEARTS CAPTAIN…GET HIM IN!
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super mick mcarthey all those boo boys go down your club westbrom let the proper wolves fans support there club all the way back to the prem.ps upthe wolves
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Good stuff! Get the bloke in!
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Post 11:
I didnt realise Freddy or Rosa could play at the back?
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Ad Mant and Larry Talbot – Classic comments!!!
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i think looking at this young player is a step in the right directon, it does not take a clever man to work out that freddy has no future but what has he done anyway when he does come on?
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3M surely we could put the money for a striker?? we not signed one for 2months lol
finally new defender maybe mick isnt so bad after all
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all you so called fans read post 38 he is a true wolf nice one m8y.
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38 Breretonwolf:
That is the best comment I have read in a VERY long time!
There is not a single arguement I disagree with. Unfortunately, your wasting your time trying to convince some(wolveswolves for starters) cos unfortunately, what you say or Mick does will never be good enough! Teams will never succeed if we have 25000 fans with attitudes like that.
Great comment though mate!
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why do people always blame the E&S for reporting stories -you bloody moan when you don’t hear what’s happening and then you maon when you do.
12 Timmiswolf – I read about this story yesterday in one of the national tabloids – so give it a rest!
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If berra was any good we wouldnt have a chance of getting him.
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46 i am a true wolf too – i love Wolves but MM is not my favourite manager.
All this anti Mick has not come about just because of the very poor way he has managed certain players, the media and the fans this season, he has consistently baffled the majority of supporters with bizarre team selections and statements throughout the season.
This forum is a true reflection of how wolves season has gone – we are poor and the anti mick brigade come out then we play well and the happy clappers come out – it’s all about opinions.
I support the team and Wolves FC always but i am not happy with alot of what we fans have had to endure from the manager this year.
He has repeatedly played players out of their natural positions – his decision to stick with S Ward on the wing and leave Matt Jarvis (part of the League 1 team of the year last season and bought by MM) on the bench still baffles me!!!
He brought KK in on loan stating he would make a good impact player and then started games with him!!!
Fans questioned these and other similar tactics and were slated for not backing the team!!
So when MM finally decided to start with Jarvis, uses KK as a sub and the results improve it is SUPER Mick Macarthy again?!?! (He has only done in the last few weeks what fans asked for months ago! Imagine where we would be if he hadn’t been so bloody stubborn and pig-headed!)
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Oh No Thats means another season with that idiot McCarthy AS SOON AS MY SEASON TICKET COMES AND McCarthy is in charge im selling it or Burning it
MM OUT!! Defintley if he sells Eastwood
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NEWSFLASH – The BBC has just announced that Baggies fans have complained they are not getting equal coverage with other clubs in their programming schedule. They have therefore decided to put “Crimewatch” on twice a week in future.
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51. Oh No. Please don’t get rid of your season ticket.
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51: Good, let’s hope Mick’s in charge for a few years to come if it keeps “fans” like you away.
11: I think that is the most idiotic comment I have ever read, firstly, i don’t know how you would get to Scotland but it certainly wouldn’t be overseas, and secondly why would he play Rosa or Eastwood in defence?
Numpty
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BreretonWolf (38) excellently put. SCOTTY (51), please burn your season ticket cos it’s you and your ilk who are dragging the rest of this club down. I for one am behind Mick and the Team thoroughly. IN MM WE TRUST
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51. See ya!!
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51,who you going to sell it too,
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Not a bad post BreretonWolf. With regard to the non-celebrations of Freddy, I’d noticed that on more than one occasion. Sometimes, you never know what these “stars” are like behind the scenes – quite often what we see as stubborn pig-headed management can often be explained by players being difficult and not fitting in with the rest of the squad and generally, we would never be told about it. I wonder what the likes of McIndoe and Bothroyd are really like behind the scenes ? I played plenty of amateur football over the years and I encountered plenty of bad apples in the changing rooms that upset team morale etc. Of course Freddy is a terrific talent and I’m one of his biggest fans and it could just be down to his frustration with MM, but…….I wish I was a fly on the dressing-room wall sometimes.
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Appears to be a simple decision.If we go up or not.
Get him bought get it sorted for later!!!
Breenie is going to be a safe stop gap for next season and ongoing so doing something about it now is critical.
UP THE WOLVES!!!
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we sold jo for 5 million so how come they value him at 3 million, forget it mick look in the lower leagues there is talent out there come on you wolves
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This sounds like Mick is actually listening to the fans, for once.
We need someone who is both authoritative, remember how good it was to have the Guv’nor running the show? But also with some pace, even when he left us Incey still had more pace than what we have now!
In fact, why not complete the loop and bring back the Guv’nor as the manager. Now we will really take-off!
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Did we not agree the sale of Naylor to Celtic before the season finished? This could already be a done deal, not took any notice of this geezer before but it seems that some of you have and have friends who have seen him play and it seems he looks OK. If Old firm fans see him as an attribute then I’m OK with that. Our current defence needs sharpening up without a doubt and I beleive that Mick realises this too otherwise why is he eyeing him up. D Ward must go, he is completeley crap and others are ageing so that is where we do need to strengthen. Hope Freddie does stay tho as well, I’m sure he won’t be so grumpy once he gets his chance and a couple of goals behind him
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It won’t happen. He is not Irish or a reject from Sunderland.
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played him on football manager 07…quality on there but this is real life
and id still say he is quality. he’s a good age and with the addition of ANOTHER centre half we will be solid. I’d like to see wolves buy him, another CB, a young CB and another midfielder, preferably someone with experience.
good signing if we make it but £3m? that pricetag maybe much but maybe just right to ensure we get his signature
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If McCarthy buys a scottish player will he be a McNuggett ?
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51 -
I wonder why our away form is great but home form not so good?! becuase its idiots like you shouting for freddie when we have two srikers playing extremley well and training ver hard (more than freddy at a guess)
lets get behind the boys like we did last season and get an automatic spot because no-one else seems to be getting the league by the scruff of the neck and go for it!!
Berra looks like a good player! But if Naylor is a regular for Celtic then he may only be average championship player and not worth the 3m quoted.
Come on lads lets get behind the boys and beat them lot to promotion and we can see the muppetts (Skinner and Chiles) crying in the play-offs again!!!!
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Just come back down from Edinburgh, and Hearts fans are rubbin there hands together and laughin at us as were persuing yet another slow centre half….. come on Mick spend 8 mill on a couple of young fast centerhalves !!!!
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20.billwolf.have you gone mad ward rightback,he’s too slow and clumsy as a centre half never mind rightback,foley is the best rightback .elokobi yes leftback and maybe craddock but breen you may as well stick the billy wright statue there.(probably faster)and as for not buying a player because his team lost 4-0 utter nonsense!seem to remember us getting beat many times by 3 or 4-0 scorelines with players like joleon lescott,dean richards,keith curle,robbie keane even the great s.bull in the team so you’re saying you wouldn’t buy any of these players because of this,TALK SENSE MAN!we need 2 new centre halves at the end of the season with pace and if this one fits the bill like it sounds he does then lets get him.”at last he’s realised nice one mick”
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mike25. why don’t you shut up. what about before he was injured (which hasn’t been 4 months i think a bit less)and rosa had scored about 11 goals in as many games and scored again last week for the reserves and looked to me to be a hard working,goalscoring midfielder when hoddle was in charge which we have lacked this season, olofingana 3 goals is not good enough although he has played well recently but rosa should have been given a chance this season and so should freddy as he has been of late.and don’t tell other wolves fans to shut up as they aren’t gonna listen to you as we all have our own opinion as this is a message board for all to air their views.SOUTHBANK FREDDY CHANTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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50. gotta say everything you have said is spot on mate!
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51.
I bet you have a season ticket (wink, wink) ;)
Listening to beacon and posting drivel on the E&S does not count.
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