Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Strongest squad of all – McCarthy
Monday 4th August 2008, 11:58AM BST.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes he has a stronger squad than the one that finished last season.
McCarthy has allowed Gary Breen, Seyi Olofinjana and Freddy Eastwood to leave and replaced them with Richard Stearman, David Jones, Chris Iwelumo and Sam Vokes.
There may still be one more signing after Ian Harte, who will give a decision on a short term deal today, before the transfer window shuts.
McCarthy said: “We’ve lost three players – Gary Breen, Seyi Olofinjana and Freddy Eastwood. I’ve been delighted with the four signings I’ve made.
“We’ve got Richard Stearman, who I think is going to be terrific, although he had a tough time of it in the first half on Saturday.
“He’s forming a new partnership with Jody Craddock, Kevin Foley and George Elokobi. avid Jones was excellent on Saturday and we’ve signed Sam Vokes and Chris Iwelumo.
“We had a terrific end to last season, so there was no need to make that many changes. The players are a season older and a season wiser from the start of last season.
“We’ve got a nice squad of players, but whether it’s the strongest I’ve had here will be determined at the end of the season.”
McCarthy admits he may struggle to keep expectations in check.
He said: “How the hell am I going to keeper expectations on the ground? I’m not bothered – people can expect what they like.
“We’ve got to go out and play and I’m not interested in what anyone’s opinions are good, bad or indifferent.
“The players have to be single-minded and they have to go and win football matches, that’s all.
“When I say I’m not bothered, I want people to think we’re a good team and that they’re a great bunch of lads who play good football and win matches.
“Anything else I don’t give a tu’penny about.”
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After watching the Blackburn friendly, I can’t help but be optimistic. I agree with MM that this squad is strong, but still worry he will pick Ward ahead of Jarvis, if Saturday was a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Plymouth. This would lessen Kightly’s threat on the other side IMO.
I have no axe to grind with Steven Ward, he looks to have improved a great deal, but with Mick stating all last season how he wants Jarvo and Kites in tandem, it would amaze me if Jarvis didn’t get a starting shirt?
Just a small worry! Up the Wolves!
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Defense-wise
Richard Stearman is all you need at the back lol, he’s like a brick wall.
Craddock, Collins and Ward are good enough in my opinion.
Everyone slating and booing Collins but he scores goals for us and remember the partnership with Edwards – they were brilliant until Rob got injured.
So lay off him boo-boys, put yourself in his boots, he’s still young for a CB and I believe he will get loads better.
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I agree that your squad is looking better than last season, and I think the players will have learned a lot from last season – but WHY does MM continually insult the fans with his “i don’t care what they think” statements ??
I’m sure Tony Mowbray doesn’t pick our team based on what the fans say either – but he doesn’t go around slagging us all off either… McCarthy is just weird !!!
The CCC is going to be tougher this season than last – but that may help you as teams will all take points off each other and so (like last season) no one will run away with things – but you have to keep up with Brum, reading and derby.
Anyway – I genuinely wish you good luck for the season.
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Remind me,where was the ‘terrific end to last season’? Terrific for Stoke,Hull and the other promoted team,not quite so terrific for us.NOT a moan,a fact. If we don’t have a great start are we going to say we don’t look at the table till May like we did last year or can we look at the table from August like everyon else?
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1. Ward is a striker I feel so yes Jarvo is a lot better on the wing because of his sheer pace and dribbling ability.
Ward however will always give 100% so it’s not a bad position to be in is it?
There’s always Dan Jones we could try on the left too who’s also a very accomplished set piece taker. So i think Mick knows his first 11, just have to wait and see who is in and out.
I think Jarvis will be in, Mick wouldn’t big up the wing play of Him and Kites if he wasn’t first choice surely.
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From the picture, it looks like our one last signing could be the old man himself! Go for it Mick!
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3. Thats nice of you HB, I thought we were just a mid table makeweight but here you are genuinely wishing us good luck.
Lets face it mate your going to need all the luck in the world to get anything from Arsenal.
And I’m not having a pop – Just your pre-seasons have hardly looked promising have they?
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I know MM is out spoken at times and could be more tactful. Who really cares though if he shuts the boo boys up and with the squad he’s put together gets us into the Prem. There are a lot of positives that Mick has brought into the Wolves! I personnally really hope he does the business this season and with the quality he’s brought in I feel more optimistic than the previous 3 years.
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Mick huffs and puffs but at the end of the day Ipswich, QPR, Palace, Birmingham, Reading, Derby, watford, Burnley and Forest are all ahead of us in terms of ability and strength of squads.
I hope for his sake he is sacked sooner rather than later as I don`t want to see the whole ground turn against him before Morgan pulls the trigger.
I like the guy but he ain`t got what it takes anymore.
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Have to agree with 1 100%, although Stephen Ward always gives 100% and very rarely does anything wrong, there is never any real threat from him, surely Jarvis has got to start, on the strength of his goal alone.
Elsewhere, I thought George was outstanding.
Stearman looked shaky first half but improved as the game went on, which is to be expected with nerves etc. The defence does concern me slightly, I think we could do with another centre half, but wouldn’t be the end of the world if we didn’t.
Also, I thought Iwelumu was excellent and was a menace every time the ball was near him, and it is nice to see that someone apart from Seb can score a penalty!
Finally, I think Ince may have a tough time on his hands next season because I thought Blackburn were awful after Santa Cruz went off, hope its just a blip!
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Let me sum up MM’s 3 years here and the general feelings around the club.
1st Season: We were genuinely just glad that we’d see some committed football by our players who gave their all for the team week in week out, but was sometimes simply not good enough. None the less we overachieved and got some investment.
2nd Season: With Wolves new signings we got ahead of ourselves and the attitude changed around the club. Instead of seeing that our squad is still young and learning at Championship level – We expected them to fire us to the Premiership. While undoubtedly we could have performed better, the fans attitudes were generally negative and losing Kites certainly didn’t help.
3rd Season: Remains to be seen, but having kept the majority of the players together for 3 years I believe we can learn by our mistakes and become focused on getting promoted. Although we may not take the league by storm, I can only hope the lads gel together and play fast flowing football like we did against Blackburn.
Come on Mick! you’ve brought the faith back to Molineux (which just shows how fickle football fans are)
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Elsie – Yes I wish you luck – but I still feel the playoffs are your best hope so I guess that still makes you mid table…..
As we haven’t picked the same team twice in pre season I wouldn’t try to judge how our season will go based on results at Swansea and Ipswich – they call it PRE season for a reason !!
However if get anything from the Arsenal game it will be fantastic – its the wigan and bolton type games we need to be winning….
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im all for giving Stephen Ward a chance up front, he looks bigger,fitter,stronger and he puts in 100%,thanks Happy Good Luck to you guys, wouldnt it be great to have wolves and Baggies in the prem.Stearman looks the business.
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Ward is a striker NOT a left wing/ midfield or anywhere else
Great result Sat – BUT Blackburns two goals showed why we need 2 centre halfs with some pace- unless we are going to attack on BOTH flanks and do a Newcastle/ Blouse under SB – slow defence but plenty of scoring potential
The new signing from Derby Dave Jones looks more than capable of spraying around passes and Jarvis should really be starting on the left as we want BOTH flanks operational and not heavily reliant on just Kites
Why not look at possible loanees from Prem teams to cover centre half – N Collins sorry just not good enough – scores goals and gives away as many as he scores in pens
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Personally I don’t look at the table until July Mick…….Lets see us perform before you start shouting off, oh sorry too late.
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3. He slags the boo boys off and rightly so HB.
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12 Are you a nutter?
how is playoffs mid table? it’s a top half finish…
Sorry HB but your ability to analyze everything seems to be very poor at the moment.
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Having met MM a couple of times now, I can confirm he is forthright as everyone knows and has a very fixed view on things. Well that’s ok a lot of the time, but sometimes you do need to be able to be a little flexible and adapt. I’m hoping that is what he is becoming a little more flexible and adaptable. Too much bloody mindedness can be counter productive…
Hopefully, he is more aware of this now. All football managers have their favorites and even when some players are having a bad time they still pick them. This is not good form. We have some excellent emerging players and I hope they are given a chance.
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If the “best you can hope for is the playoffs” then what would you call it – I call that a mid table team ??
As I say, I think you have better players this season but the league is also tougher…
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Happy I dont think the fans take it personally. He is from Yorkshire and thats the way they speak. Very forthright. When he says he doesnt care what anyone thinks I dont think he is trying or even insulting fans but nice try.
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I think the starting 11 is virtually sorted other than the centre midfield pairing. Who would you choose??Personally I would have Davies Holding and Jones just in front.
Any other choices on midfield two?
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18 Agreed BUT if MM doesnt want to be “mis qouted” by the media – or if he makes comments about not caring what fans think – Has he really learnt anything?
We have a good number of young academy players who are internationals at their respective age groups – these are the ones that need to be brought through soon, if not this season or we may well see them doing well somewhere else and even end up trying to buy them back for a fee!
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Great to witness the south bank chanting for Mick on Saturday. He has built a team which can achieve promotion and proved against Blackburn (albeit in a friendly) that they do have the talent to play attractive football. I share the concern over favouring Ward, particularly when Jarvis came on and made such an impact. Stearman looked nervous for the first half hour but he was up against one of the hottest properties in the Premirship. We have a side that has been built to win at this level and some of them, if they continue to develop, could play at a higher level. The future’s bright, the future’s Gold & Black!
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Happy’s on the pills again
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One more CH please – Danny Shittu or Calum davenport
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A stronger squad = agreed BUT! We need 1 more signing, we need a centre half with pace, it was clear on saturday that craddock has not got the legs anymore. Last season D.Ward was slow, got turned more times then a screwdriver and as for Neil Collins, I have not seen anyone defend as poorly as him.
1 centre half and I think Wolves will have a great chance of automatic promotion.
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9) What a clueless assessment. Most of those teams are lucky to be on a par with our squad. Blues are a concern and Reading – but they have lost a couple of key players. Derby have had a major overhaul and QPR for all their money have not signed much!
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Hey happy word has it your realy big mick?
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28 Shhhhhhh. This is the only way i can call you names and not get stick on a saturday.
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I can see no point playing ward on the wide left. He does not have the skill or the pace to do anything with the ball when he gets it. Jarvis was running at defenders and his goal against a supposedly top class goalie was electric. Surely Mick can see that Ward doesn’t offer us the same forward movement. Maybe he should play him up front instead of Keogh who looks as lightweight as ever. I think things look good for this season but players must play in their best positions. We do need more cover at centre back, I hear Shittu is available again.
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Its a long season and unless we are miraculously lucky with injuries we are going to need cover in all positions. I’m pretty confident that Jarvis will get his chance and I think Ward will provide reasonable cover when needed. Best of all though it looks like we’ve got some reasonable cover for SEB, Iwelumo looks well up for it and whether both start or not haing two strikers that can physically unsettle a defence is a real bonus. Still not getting carried away though.
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3- Happy, I agree with what you say about MM and Tony Mowbray. Much as I hate to admit it, when I’m listening to the interviews on the radio on the way home from matches Mowbray always comes over really well and talks a lot of sense.
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I can see the plan to build a squad over 3 years to win promotion and be young enough to add somme experience when promotion is acheaved to keep us there.
MM stated this when he arrived, i think he has built the squad (from nothing) and now we have a chance. I hope this comes off because I will be there all the way.
See you all saturday (nice o be able to say that again!
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