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Wolves blog: When Maggie met Geoff
Friday 24th October 2008, 6:00PM BST.
Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd wilts under the footballing views of Maggie and Geoff ahead of the trip to Watford.
It seems that this week everybody from Bully to the Pope has voiced their opinions on Keogh’s alleged booing, by a small section of the home crowd at the Coventry game.
Apart from the ironic cheers that went up when the poor lad was subbed, I didn’t hear any audible boos from the Steve Bull Stand during his time on the pitch.
I came out and defended Keogh three weeks ago in the blog saying that he obviously works hard for the team and some of the crowd shouldn’t perhaps put the lad under the pressure that they do.
You have to feel for him being constantly played out of position as he does, but I just don’t think that a full-strength Wolves side has a place for Keogh in it.
I would say that his best position is probably in the hole behind the two strikers, but can you ever see Mick playing that formation? With Carlos Edwards not yet up to full match fitness, Keogh is still likely to be propelled into action on the flanks, which we can all see doesn’t suit him.
I agree with Bully, the Pope, Barack Obama and the EU that booing one of our players achieves nothing. It’s just unfortunate that a small section of the crowd feel that this is the best method to expressing their displeasure of Keogh’s recent performances.
I’m not a big Keogh fan, because I don’t think he has improved enough since he arrived from Scunthorpe in January 2007.
He does deserve more respect from the crowd, but he has to toughen up and start putting in better performances, that shove the criticism of his play back down the throats of people like me and all those non-believers at Molineux.
It hasn’t been a brilliant week. We won a game against Coventry that we barely deserved and then we were humiliated at Carrow Road. Come on own up, who had money on Freddy to score the first goal? I thought Eastwood drifted in and out of the game very much, as he did on the odd occasion he wore a Wolves shirt.
We seemed to be missing our mojo against Coventry. The quick incisive passing of our early season form wasn’t there, also absent was the hunger and desire for the majority of the game. You would struggle to pick out anyone who really excelled, apart from Ikeme.
Don’t you sometimes wish you could mute some of the fans who sit near you at the game? Where I sit in the Steve Bull Stand, it has been pretty much the same season ticket holders for a few years now. There is an Irish lady who sits behind me, so I need to be quite diplomatic now in case she or anyone who knows her is reading!
Let’s call her Maggie so that I don’t get whacked on the head next time I sit in front of her at the game. Maggie has never bothered to learn any of the players names in the eight or so years she has sat where she does. I can constantly hear her bellow, “come on number 9!” and “move your backside number 7!”
When she takes a dislike to a player, we get a running commentary on his every touch. This week’s target for her displeasure was Chris Iwelumo, who according to Maggie is useless.
When I diplomatically pointed out that he had scored eight goals so far this season, she deemed this as “lucky”. She commented on Iwelumo’s every touch with “see” and “ah what a surprise, offside.” It drives you mad.
Beside Maggie we have another professional pundit, let’s call him Geoff. We all know a Geoff. He likes his opinion to be heard above all others. He also likes to dazzle us with his facts about Wolves teams from yesteryear and how much better they were than this shower we have now (his words not mine.)
Geoff will praise Mick when we are winning, but as soon as we fall behind, as we did against Coventry, the praise turns into harsh criticism. Suddenly Geoff is letting everybody know that McCarthy has no plan B, that Michael Kightly is overrated, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is fat, Richard Stearman is lightweight and so on.
What can you do? Sit and suffer in silence or throw hot Bovril all over them? I wouldn’t recommend the latter.
Anyway, this isn’t a Dear Deidre page, so I’ll shut up about feelings and keep the subject on football.
It looked like a lot of the players were running on empty against Coventry and it was no surprise that we turned over at Norwich.
Some dreadful goals conceded and almost comical defending at times. Stearman’s red card could prove to be very costly for his involvement in the next few games. His one match ban could finally give Jason Shackell the chance to stake a claim in the team, after his big money transfer in the summer.
If Mick really is going to shake things up at the back, has the time come to give Neill Collins a rest and try something completely different at the heart of the defence?
Neill was the boo-boys target last season and I think most of us could see why. Yes, he is tremendous in the air and ships in with the odd goal, but he can look slow and cumbersome when faced with pace. Norwich striker Leroy Lita proved that in midweek.
We all have an opinion on the perfect starting Wolves XI and I would like to hear your views below on my selection. If everybody was fit I would plump for :-
Hennessey, Stephen Ward, Shackell, Stearman, Foley, Jarvis, Jones, Henry, Kightly, SEB and Iwelumo.
For the Watford game, I think Carlos Edwards needs to put in his first decent performance. It will also be interesting to see if Mick sticks by Ikeme after his howler against the Canaries.
A quarter of the season gone and we are sitting in the top two which is superb. Rather than discussing boo-boys in the next blog, it would be much nicer to be boasting about thumping a very average Watford side on Saturday and annihilating a really good up and coming Swansea side on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend and try not to boo the missus if she burns the tea!
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Spot on Nathan. The team you’ve selected would be mine too, especially including Stephen Ward. He’s been a revelation this season, on several occassions being my Man of the Match. This was moreso against Coventry when he produced some crucial last-gasp tackles to stop us going further behind. Fair play to Mick McCarthy for persisting with him and giving him this slot.
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Ward is no left back! yes he has played well there but alot of goals come from his side of the pitch due to him being out of position! Hill should start when fit. my team would be-
Murray
Foley
Stearman
Shackell
Hill
Kightly
Henry
Jones
Jarvis
Seb
Iwelumo
the side picks itself really.
Collins is ok but not first XI-i’d have a bench of-
Edwards
Edwards
Vokes
Keogh
Craddock
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Lol – good blog Nathan. And in answer to your question, I personally would give Geoff a Bovril shower as it’s probably the only way to shut someone like that up. And as for Maggie, well I would tell her to support her adopted team, and if she doesn’t want to do that then she can clear off and watch Shelbourne or Finn Harps in the Eircom league instead!
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Has everyone forget George Elokobi at left back ????
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errrrr….sorry that should have been forgotten
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Good blog nathan and i agree with your team, i know square pegs in round holes and all that but stephen ward has been a revelation this season at full back and he does not deserve to be dropped. Jones has to start in centre midfield with Henry, who does all the nasty parts of football so well.
What I would like to see is Wolves Sign another striker and winger, we are allready seeing that the strengh in depth Blues have compared to us is massive. Can we afford to go into any game like we did at swansea with a sub standard side.
With a quater of the way through the season we are in a position most of us would not have imagined lets grab the bull by the horns and take advantage.
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Just one point about keogh. When has “working hard” been an asset. Isnt working hard a given? when people praise players like this i just cant understand why as giving 100% should be the only thing that a player can do week in week out without fail.
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On WM on Saturday, Franksy said about a certain section of the crowd want Mick and the team to fail, and are just waiting for it. I am going to say what I think now. Make of it what you like.
I don’t like Mick. He’s stubborn, stropy, arrogant, negative, and worst of all, quick to have a go at the fans. He jepordises the club’s chances of success by picking his favourites over better players. I need not mention a certain situation last season which I have commented on enough times. Collins cost us goals and points last season, and this season, but still gets in the team. Keogh just does not have the strength or stamina for this league, but has, over the last 12 months or so, been played ahead of better players.
I don’t like the way he has set players up against each other. Take Cardiff last season. Collins and Eastwood were left on the bench. The fans wanted Eastwood. They were fed up of Collins’s incompetant defending. But he chose to bring on Collins. And he was booed. By his own fans. If I was Collins, I would have rather stayed on the bench than come on to be booed by my own set of fans. And the same with Keogh and Elliott. They were booed because Mick had set them up against Eastwood.
“We were the masters of our own downfall.” MM told BBC WM on Tuesday. No, Mick. You have been the master of our downfall. You don’t care how us fans feel! All you care about is your ego! There was no booing of Keogh on Saturday. He had a bad game and fans were screaming with frustration.
Make of this what you will, but to get out of this League, we need to get rid of Mick!
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Excellent! Have a good weekend all
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As requested my starting 11 would be:-
Murray
Foley
Hill
Stearman
Shackell
D. Edwards
Henry
Kightly
Jarvis
Vokes
Seb
Up The Wolves
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4,Swanleywolf
I haven’t forgot George, I just don’t expect to see him back this season. He is of course the first choice left back, I ay soft!
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Na Na Naaaaa Georgey Elokobi!!!
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2. Totally agree about the left side. Scoring twice at Norwich should get us something.
I really cannot see why Collins is in the team or even on the bench – useless. I think Stearman can be class but must get frustrated playing with a clown at the back!
3-1 Wolves.
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Excellent blog Nathan !! Think you’ve hit the nail on the head and probably ruffled a few feathers in to the bargain !! I think the only change I would make would be to give Hill a run out at left back and see how he goes (assuming he’s fit).
We aren’t always going to have our ‘mojo’ with us all the time and we’re just gonna have to accept that. We also have to decide whether we are true Wolves fans and cut out the booing of our own side. The opposition must love it when that happens !! Just imagine the boost it must give them.
As I’ve said on more than one occasion if any of us had been offered 2nd place in the league with a quarter of the matches gone we’d have bitten the hand off regardless of the couple of humiliating defeats we’ve had.
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Hi Nathan, great blog.
One thing i would throw into the hat for discussion is, are the players tired?
You probably have more players who are representing their countries than any other Championship side. As we all know the amount of games in the championship are vast.
It would explain why you started so well and have recently tailed off.
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I think its about Ward was probably dropped. As much as he has done a very good job at left-back, his inexperience in playing that role is starting to surface.
Come On Wolves!
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Hi Bomber
Good point about the internationals. We have had a lot of players away and they looked a little lethagic against Cov. 2 games a week doesn’t help either.
But thats what they get a healthy wage for, so lets hope they get back to what they are good at against Watford at Vicarage Road, which really is a dump!
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I aint being funny but all of us on here could work hard if we had the chance to wear the gold and black of Wolves. It makes me laugh when players get praised for “working hard” i’m sorry but it takes a lot more than just running around like a headless chicken. Spot on with the comment about Keogh not improving. People seem to forget time and time again that he’s played all his football at SCUNTHORPE.
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How very dare you …. me and my husband (Geoff) have been in these seats since you were a ‘grass high to a knee-hopper”
!!!!!
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Team assuming everybody fit – never going to happen.
Murray
Elokobi
Stearman
Craddock
Foley
Jarvis
Jones
Henry
Kightly
SEB
Iwelumo
I’m doubting seeing Murray back anytime soon. So Hennessey. Obv. Elokobi too. Although Craddock’s not quick I do feel we’ve lacked a bit of worldly experience at the back and Jody still has at least another decent year in him. Plus I’ve not seen much of Shackell, likewise at leftback in Hill, so I’d replace with Ward.
I think the central midfield seems to work best with those two. I’ve not been convinced by any other partnership there.
wbabomber it is interesting that just before the downturn in form everyone came out and said there would be no compromising on the pace we’d play as all the players were fit enough to keep it up, but certainly something is missing.
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honestly, i need to stop logging on to the e&s.
it depresses me beyond belief.
2nd in the league and the consensus amongst the seeming majority is that we should sack our manager.
a majority of people have nothing positive to say about our team – and we’re 2nd in the league.
a majority of people dont rate hard work ??
sure, it’s a prerequisite, but do you remember paying a lot of money and wages to players in their swan song days too much money during the hayward era ?
do you remember that old saying “all we want is for the team to put in 100% and we’ll be happy ??
2nd in the league and people are calling for the employment of big sam.
amazing.
what happens when we sack mick, employ sam, and he loses 3 games on the bounce ?
who do we employ then after we’ve sacked him?
doesn’t it suck having a manager that wants young, hard working, and in some cases darn good players playing for our club, that dont cost the earth and safe guards the future of our club in the long term ?
seriously, the albion fans that come on here and knock us are right, we are some of the worst supporters about.
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Nathan-i agree with your team to an extent but there needs to be someone in the back-field who marshalls our defence-Experience and a wise head missing-We have at times in our lost three looked lost and shambles at time–I think we rate our players a little higher than they really are-This team is no better or no worse than any other at the “Asda Dome” over the past five years-We were lucky to get up last time 69points-We are on course to better that surely but we have to trust in MM and at times his decision and selection leave a lot to be desired.
This Blogg beratted Higginbottom when we went after him that is the type of players we want at the back-Strong vocal and experienced-I do not see that at the moment-At the Swansea game we can assess for ourselves how our team performs after the drumming we had at their place we owe them. I rely on the away fans for reports on our performance away of course-Sometimes I think you reporters watch a different game-MM has to get the lads in a good frame of mind for Watford being to confident a spouting a lot of reteric does not win games– Crazey Dave
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If the small numbers of so called supporters continue to barrack AK and some of the other players then there is only going to be one result, and that is further lack of confidence resulting in more losses.
Support the team, we have to help keep them at the top of the league!!!
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The biggest problem I have is we have strength in depth, we have a reasonable sized squad etc. So what happens when a player gets injured. Does MM promote the replacement who is busting a got to get in the first team? No he uses one of the so called utility players.
E.g. Last year he said he sees Micheal Gray not as a full back but more of a wide midfielder. So what happends when Jarvis is injured! He moves Kightly and plays Keogh. Or plays a non match fit loan player.
At least Gray is consistant and you know what you are getting.
Also think it’s time for Henessey to be recalled. He lost his place because of a c#ck up so the same should happen to Ikeme.
Only fair
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19.Maggie
Sorry, I do really enjoy yours and Geoff’s insight, you really do know your stuff.
I’ll bring the bovril, you bring your views.
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Strange one this Mick McCarthy thing – but I seem to remember the biggest complaint from us Wolves fans over the years has been watching lacklustre performances from ageing players who one week would shine but for most just seemed to be going through the motions – and that when we were losing with 10 minutes to go there was never any chance of us acheiving a result definitely not a win – oh how we longed for players who would just be `proud to wear the shirt` and `give their all` right up to the whistle (aka Bully) even if they made mistakes!! – we wanted `fresh blood` – along comes Mick McCarthy and does all that, the first season was the most exciting football I have personally seen down the Mol in years and years and this season has had some great moments – some of our lads wont make the grade as top players and Mick knows it but look at the players we have that will, Mick McCarthy will carry on `Tweaking` the squad right through the season and will add more – I mean if Hull (who were nearly bottom of the championship this time last year) are now up the top of the premiership lets not `Throw the baby out with the bathwater` guys – one concern though message to the training coaches why do we always seem to play `naff` on a tuesday night – would it be worth having a few late night training sessions??
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Weren’t we really after Keogh’s strike partner, Billy Sharp, and he said ‘no?’
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I too sit next to a Geoff…His constant moaning about “That Bloody Key-Off” drive me up the god wall…Football should be a pleasure not a chore…Where else would you rather be on a Saturday afternoon?…Ikea?…We’re 2nd!…Cheer the **** up.
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but you did say if everyone is fit so surely george elokobi shud without a doubt be in that team. get your facts right mate
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27. Correct.
We had to settle for the second choice option – in Keogh.
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27.Filthy Raider
Billy Sharp has hardly lit up Sheffield has he?
Keogh isn’t strong enough and should be sold.
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Good blog Nathan!!!
Just to pick up on somthin u & wbabomber were talking about, our players in international games!!!
Please if I’ve got this wrong someone correct me & I’ll apologise but, only Dave Edwards played in both of the Wales games!! Vokes played in the under 21’s but that was it!!! Iwelumo only played about 10mins for the scots, SEB & stearman never made it off the bench for England U21’s! Kites was injured so never made the squad!!
So if I’ve got this right that left Henry, Jones , Keogh, Collins, Foley, Ikeme, Ward, Shackell, Friend at home all fit & with nothing to do!!
Yes we looked jaded ova the last 2 games but I can’t see how the internationals r to blame for this!!!
Up The Wolves!!!!
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Regaring the above team selections, correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t Stearman got a 1 match ban????????
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we are 2nd in the league fella’s get a grip!
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Been away for a few months but it seems as though nothing has changed on here!
1. Keogh and Collins still whipping boys
2. Fans still not convinced about McCarthy
3. London Wolf still more knowlegable than everyone else (unless they agree with his point of view!)
4. Still talking about “Big Sam”
5. Still talking about “booing”
Still we are 2nd in the league, pitty the season doesn’t end in October!
The one thing you can rely on is “NOT” being able to rely on the team being consistant!
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my team would be to win the championship
kiely
hoefkens
robinson
barnett
clement
koren
greening
gera
miller
phillips
brunt
aye boing boing donk
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We all know a Geoff. He likes his opinion to be heard above all others.
perhaps Geoff could start a Newspaper blog
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33.Nick Wolf
The selection is based on every squad member. You fool.
And 37.SouthbankM ong, is that a dig at the big-headed blogger on these very pages?
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38 cpt_wolves
Alright! Get back in your pram! I should have read it properly! Hey aint it great how Wolves fans love to rip each other to shreds!
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Good blog Nathan (or given your changing comments between last season and this should I say Geoff). Sorry to see that the man who cant hit a barn door when he plays for Reading, gunned you guys down in the week – but it shows that you still need some speed at the back. Still hoping that the blues slip up at the weekend with Wolves and Reading winning to take the top 2 spots.
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36. LOVVVL.
After months of looking at this board without posting any comments, your little gem prompted me to post. Your childish humour penned under the pseudonym terryWALSALLbaggie is (normally) right up my street and often makes me laugh, even though its squarely aimed at the team I love and have supported for 30 years.
On another note, I’ll be in town on 1st November and want to catch the Cardiff game in a decent pub in the city centre. Anyone got any recommendations?
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There really is something wrong with some of our fans. At a time when our support is really needed, instead of supporting the team, they criticise and demand the sacking of the manager! We are second in the league! Yes, we have had a few dissapointing performances, but surely this is when the team need support. Footballers thrive on confidence, that much should be obvious from our start to the season. Lets try and give tham some confidence, let them know we believe in them, not undermine tham and the manager at every turn.
Mick is absolutely justified in criticising sections of our fans.
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Look at Iain Dowie, gone and his team are a few points off the top!
I just wanted to say that its a bit of a coincidence that my ma and pa are from Ireland and are called Geoff and Margaret (Maggie) and sit together in the Steve Bull Stand.
What’s wrong with voicing your opinion. They pay their money and are entitled to it. Shut up mr blogger you fool.
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Wolf Boy
Re the internationals and the effect it can have on players. I think it isnt just down to whether they play in the games. If you are in the squad it means:
1) You have to train when other non international players are resting.
2) The travelling.
3) The hype of the games can drain younger players.
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44.wbabomber
Good point. Wolfboy, you have been given a lesson.
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Abdon – Lovely to have you back, and so so shocked that you’ve decided to pipe up when the chips are down ! You must be over the moon ?
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Welcome back Abdon. Good timing now the sun has gone down!
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London Wolf…err, who apart from you is talking about big Sam?
Simon :)
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45 cpt_wolves a lesson in wot????
my point was we had a near 1st team still at home while only 5 players where out on international duty!! two of which have only been used as subs Edwards and vokes!!!! so that only really makes 3 internationals!!
but I respect wbabombers point of view as he normally makes vaild points!! u on the other hand have made no contribution to the argument at all!!!!!!!!
Up The Wolves!!!!
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wbabomber
I can see where your coming from but lets not forget the lads who stay at home still have to train to! prob not as hard but still have to train none the less!! so I can’t fully understand why this wud drain the likes of SEB or stearman as their young lads who only trained not played!!!!!
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Im with you (8)totally agree,,,Nathan I love reading your blogs but,,,,a couple of weeks ago you and others had a go at me regarding my oppinion of Andy Keogh,give him support were your words,your support hasnt lasted long,and your not on your own,,look down the list not many people pick him in their side,,what a difference a couple of weeks makes….regards Pedro.
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wbabomber, what are you talking about?
If a player can’t play a bit of international football or even just do an extra bit of training, then they don’t deserve to play.
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London & cpt
The thing about you two is it’s all about what you think.
You don’t give a balanced opinion about much at all and seem to go on and on about ‘knockers and booers’
I have said this on another thread, but I will say it again. Support the team at the game but this thread is an excellent place to share your concirns about the team. No matter what they are!
I doubt either of you actually think that everything is right with the team else why point out that “the sun has gone down”?
There are probably few Wolves fans that believe McCarthy to be a good ‘long term’ manager and his erratic management and team selection prooves that.
If we are in the top 2 come May then I should think that people may be happier. But as I see it things are pretty much as they have been for the last 20 odd years. Boom and Bust!
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48 – Simon, there have been a few people talking about Big Sam on threads over the last week but nothing on this one. Sorry, I should have mentioned that in my original post.
Abdon – I was serious dude, I really have miseed our ding dongs !! I can accept that me and you have differnet opinions, thats fine, im just wondering what the knockers would be saying if we were in a relegation battle ? You really cant please some pople it would seem ? I just have a long term stance on Wolves. Ive said that MM will have my support until the three years he asked for (and is having) is up, as boom and bust is surely what we will get if we continually change manager ? If we aren’t promoted this season then MM will have failed and I imagine we would then see a change, but, as we’re second in the league sandwhiched between two relegated prem teams – i aint panicing !!
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Sorry can’t really comment on the current squad but its the same old crap, we are second in the league.Our best start in years get a grip and get behind the manager and the players.I was a season ticket holder for 25 years before moving to Bulgaria and still remeber the so called fans booing a player i
think they called BULLY (GOD),keep up the go work MM
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abdon
Isn’t that the idea of a forum? To say what I think? Why sit on the fence and give an opinion which you feel is shared by the general consensus?
London is right though, its great to have you back to spark some debate.
All the best.
Aye Aye Captain.
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clueless. IF you knew anything about football at ALL, you would know
Stephen Ward is not a left back. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to
realise our left side of defence is so weak, a pub team could plough
through it. Get real, and GET Rid of Ward and Collins. I’ve got nothing
against them, they just aren’t good enough.
Keogh and Henry must go too, eventually. Sooner or later you will realise
this too.
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