Reading are the best warns Mick

Tuesday 27th January 2009, 11:29AM GMT.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy orders his side to attack.

Mick McCarthy takes Wolves to the Madejski Stadium insisting Reading are the best team in the Championship.

The Wolves boss claims Steve Coppell’s outfit are the side to beat, despite his own team holding a five-point lead over their second-placed opponents.

But McCarthy will be “raging” if his players weren’t determined to show them “the real Wolves.”

Wolves want to end a run of four league games without a win and are sniffing revenge, after the 3-0 defeat at Molineux in September.

McCarthy said: “They’re the best team in the league. The points tallies say we’re the best – and we are so far – but I think they’re the strongest team in the league.”

The Molineux chief has heartily endorsed his players’ desire to show Reading “the real Wolves” after that humbling Molineux setback.

He said: “I hope that’s the case. If I was a player, that would certainly be the case.”

But McCarthy is also insisting the Reading game is no ‘winner takes all’ contest.  But he is admitting the clash could be pivotal to the destiny of both teams.

A Wolves victory would put them eight points clear, while a Reading victory would close the gap to two points. Birmingham can leapfrog Reading, but only if they beat Derby and Wolves win.

Asked if the game was pivotal, McCarthy said: “Whoever wins, we know the points difference. If we win, people – not us – will be saying we’ve got an unassailable lead.”


  1. 1
    Weav

    There a good team , but show them to much respect and we will get hammered like at Molineux…

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Dr Wolf

    If we let Reading take all six points from us it would be difficult to argue we deserve to be above them in the league.

    Come on Wolves, get into them and break them down, come home with the points and the season is there for the taking!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    bill

    what is he on about ? you cant say the opposition is better than you on the day of a game like this and dont tell me he is trying mind games its not his style.
    If we go there and play with attacking flair there is no reason why we shouldnt get a result. If we go there worried and try to defend we have no chance.
    Get a grip Mick and try to keep things positive..you could sign another centre back and put Collins out to pasture while you are at it !

    Report abuse

  4. 5
    Jon

    We have got to attack them thats when we are at our best.Lets have a good go and go for 3 points not 1

    Report abuse

  5. 6
    wolvesmod

    What an Idiot.

    He said this last time we played them to try and put all the pressure onto Reading, yet they spanked us 3-0.

    Mick, just shut up and do your job. And worry about our own team.

    Report abuse

  6. 7
    WOZZZA

    THIS IS THE BIG ONE, ALL DOWN TO TEAM SELECTION LET’S HOPE M M GETS IT RIGHT.WHO ELSE BUT COLLINS AND HIS DIVERS BOOTS WILL PLAY. I WILL BE LISTENING IN AS USUAL ON WOLVES WORLD 1,800 MILES AWAY TINIES BY MY SIDE GO FOR IT LADS.
    WOZZZA, CALLAO SALVAJE , TENERIFE

    Report abuse

  7. 8
    George Berry's Yead

    I think Mick has started playing the press a bit over the last few weeks.

    He must have heard all this “Reading are the best side” nonsense. Well behind closed doors Mick and his players will be ready to show who is best. We’ve been top all season, I know if I were a player or manager I’d be ready to show everyone who the best team is tonight. But I wouldn’t come out in the press and do it (unless my name was Mark McGhee).
    Fire em up Mick! Give your all lads! Lets do it!

    Report abuse

  8. 9
    North Bank Muppet

    Why arnt they top then,,why bull up the opposition just befor playing them. Show them no respect,do a Swansea get at them let them worry about us.Sorry Mick Wolves are top of the league,Redding are second best.

    Report abuse

  9. 10
    Tim

    Just gotta keep our heads tonight and get out there and do the Job…. A win would be fantastic but a draw would be sufficent in my eyes… Just gotta do it though its pointless saying that Reading are the best team we all now they wont be a push over but don’t drill it into the players before the game.. Come The Wolves

    Report abuse

  10. 11
    Mark B

    Fingers crossed and just remember we lost 3 players that night.
    Come out of this unscathed and at least a point and we can go forward.

    Report abuse

  11. 12
    Los Lobos

    Lets take the game to Reading and play with confidence and spirit, so many times Wolves have bottled this type of situation in recent years. Lets have a performance to make us proud WE ARE WOLVES

    Report abuse

  12. 13
    Chris

    We need at least a draw from this tonight. Reading are a bit wobbly at the moment as well so should be a good game.

    I don’t think Mick is an Idiot seems a bit personel. He’s had a good playing career. Not a bad manager. Chances are his garage is as big as your house. Your clearly not a Wolves fan maybe a blue in disguise

    Cmon you Wolves

    Report abuse

  13. 14
    London Wolf

    wolvesmod – you’re a total tool.
    the only reason you get to read about your club is because mick takes the time to answer stupid questions from the press – in this case undoubtebly about his thoughts on reading and the game tonight.

    Report abuse

  14. 15
    Stoke wolves

    I would start 4-5-1 tonight to stifle their flowing passing and then change to more attacking formation as the game dictates.

    My team.

    1) Hennessey (only beacause Ikeme isn’t fit)
    2) Foley
    3) Have to be Hill (Ward unfit)
    4) Shackell
    5) Stearman
    6) Henry
    7) Kightly
    8) Quashie
    9) SEB
    10) Reid
    11) Jarvis

    Report abuse

  15. 16
    Danny Cranie

    Muppet Mick, you should hang your head in shame over the treatment of Mark Davies. The lad needed to feel wanted. Why wait until offers come in for him before you offer the lad a new deal.

    Rank bad man management!!!

    Report abuse

  16. 17
    MARCOWOLVO

    WHAT ????? Wolves are and will always be a better and bigger club than Reading, listening to some of their fans comments they feel like they have won the league already, i think we can go up there and spank them tonight, then i can run on the pitch and slap old coppells head…. BALDY !!!!

    Report abuse

  17. 18
    brummie rob wolves

    They are the best team but the best teams do not always get what they deserve.
    We need Ward back as Hill is not doing the job and the other concern is Collins tonight. Up front Vokes or Iwelumo?
    I am on my way shortly and I fancy a result tonight. We may not win but I can see a 1-1. Don’t be surprised to see Blues draw tonight.
    Come on the young Wolves warriors!

    Report abuse

  18. 19
    kent wilf

    We will have to try and do 70% better than recently

    Report abuse

  19. 20
    George Berry's Yead

    3) Ref that Blog by the Reading Goon.

    The fact that he supports a small club festers away with him clearly. It reminds me of how the Scottish always vehemently hate the English. It is pure jealousy of your bigger superior adversaries.

    That bloke on the Blog clearly has inner issues. Maybe he has a small shoe size? (if you get what I mean). People like him and Reading fans and other fans of small clubs know their place…they just need to admit it to themselves. They’ll feel a weight lifted from their shoulders and they can hopefully go on to live meaningful lives and fit in to every day society.

    Report abuse

  20. 21
    keoghandcollins

    Dad says we can both play again tonight but our other brother steve has got a bad shoulder so will have to stay at home

    Report abuse

  21. 22
    Madness

    3 – Read the blog this guy thinks we love ourselves (kettle pot black comes to mind) we should all send him notes if the correct outcome happens tonight and also in May. Come on me babies tonight.

    Report abuse

  22. 23
    Wandering Wolf

    No3 Thanks for this, to read such hatred in a so called football blog is disgraceful, surely such biased drivel has no place in football has it? Being upset to that extent is pure madness. Our answer should be to go there and do the business, and reverse the molineux scoreline. UTW

    Report abuse

  23. 24
    Laughing @ the Tesco

    Lets sign Koumas, he hated the Albion and hes available would be a good signing IMO

    Report abuse

  24. 25
    rowley,wolves

    JUST NOTICED MARK DAVIES HAS BEEN NAMED IN THE BOLTON SQUAD, WHY DID MCCARTHY SEND HIM BACK TO LEICESER WHEN HE HAD PROVED HIS FITNESS AND ALSO ALLOW HIM TO BE CUPTIED!

    Report abuse

  25. 26
    Alanis

    Isn’t it ironic that Coppell says Wolves are the best team – maybe he & Mick can dress as the respective mascots and have a half time punchup to solve it

    “YOU’RE BETTER THAN US”… “NO – YOU’RE BETTER”

    Report abuse

  26. 27
    ROBBO

    No 3.tHAT READING FAN LOOKS MISERABLE NEVER MIND

    WOLVES TO SCRAPE A DRAW TONIGHT WILL BE HAPPY WITH A WIN OF COURSE BUT A DRAW I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH.

    KIGHTLY AND SEB TO SCORE

    Report abuse

  27. 28
    pip

    More options in the squad now, quashie and the winger.

    Report abuse

  28. 29
    nils,Norway

    I think tonights fights ends in a 1-0 victory for
    my dear Wolves-team. The goalscorer will be
    Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the 76. minute!!

    Report abuse

  29. 30
    Bullys Ambition

    Mick, your doin a great job despite our recent poor run of form. Still think a point would be a good result tonight so long as we dont play with fear and encourage them to attack us. Kightly, Jarvis,Vokes and Blakey is enough to scare any defence when they r on song. Cant help feeling that you have made a mistake with Mark Davies i just hope he doesnt go on and make a big success of himself !!!

    Report abuse

  30. 31
    Stephen Hunt

    I’m off to Wigan so I won’t be facing you guys tonight.

    Good luck Wolves, watch out for my replacement Jay Tabb – he’s good in the air!!

    Report abuse

  31. 32
    Steve Coppell

    We are the better team Mick and we are going to target your weak links in defence tonight – Ward and Collins. I’m glad Breen isn’t playing he is your best defender.

    Report abuse

  32. 33
    SUPERSTARDJWOLVES

    I would love it if MM printed that blog and stuck it on the dressing room wall. The guy who wrote has got got a small weener then the small guy who was on celeb big brother. In fact that he is still cant get over the fact they lost 5 years ago made me smile as its great to hear his life has been a misery since. At least he has got one thing right wolves fans are arrogant and whats wrong with that lol. Anyway lets hope hsi misery continues if or should I say when Wolves beat Reading which if I am being honest I think we will as we both got Jarvis and Kites flying down the wings where we were starved of them in the home game!

    Reading 1-3 Wolves

    Report abuse

  33. 34
    CardiffWolves

    Its not what happens at Reading tonight that really counts…a point will be GREAT!

    Its what happens to Reading after tonight and up til next Monday…..reports indicate that tonight could be the last time Reading field Stephen Hunt,Kevin Doyle and Cisse…

    That would be a massive massive loss to them…

    ~22…by the way – no chance of going for Koumas…my wifes best mate works in the Office at Cardiff City….Koumas and Ross McCormack are headed to Birmingham….probably be announced tomorrow…

    Cardiff were offered Koumas in p/ex for Joe Ledley but Koumas does’nt want to come back to South Wales…

    Birmingham have stepped in for McCormack who nearly joined them in the summer and Marcus Bent and Gary McSheffrey are going to Cardiff….its in todays SWales papers…

    Koumas is going to Blues in exchange for Stephen Kelly going to Wigan…thats in the SWales papers too…

    sorry no Wolves news in SW papers…LOL!

    Report abuse

  34. 35
    edwolf

    to No.14, Danny, Wolves have stuck by him thru 2 years of constant injury. He has had a deal on the table for a long time and refused to sign it. Both himself and his dad refused the deal again and he’s gone. Get over it.

    Report abuse

  35. 36
    cornish wolf

    #20 Madness
    I could not contain myself I had to send him a reply. He so far up himself he must walk like a periscope.
    2-0 the Wolves tonight.
    Up The (bigger team) Wolves

    Report abuse

  36. 37
    Nick Wolf

    No3 – I’ve read the blog and think a lot of it is tongue in cheek. Though some of the comments about Wolves fans being fickle ring true! Prediction for tonight is 2-1 Wolves. I think if this fixture doesn’t stir a step up in performance then nothing will!

    Report abuse

  37. 38
    Ronjon

    If,as MM has stated that, Reading are the strongest in the league it begs the question as to why we are not. His tactics confuse everyone, including the players, and along with his persistency in playing those out of form I do wonder whether he is up to the necessary standard required for a club having a history of W Wanderers?

    Report abuse

  38. 39
    Neil

    This is from the Reading Rich blog:

    ‘Wolves fans are fickle too – they’ll praise a good win and demand a sacking on the back one poor game. One friend I know who is a Wolves fan even had the arrogance to claim they were the better team….just after they had lost 6-0 at home to Southampton, come on! They lost 6-0, you can’t get smashed that badly and be anything other than a team of walking disasters.’

    Harsh maybe? Or some truth but certainly I do remember we were still singing and chanting in a positive manner in the Southampton game, not too mention reading his article, I never knew we had rivalry with them?

    second:

    ‘In the context of this season – Wolves have been the run-away leaders pretty much since day one. They haven’t done it with the confidence or style of Reading in 2006, or even West Brom in 2008, but they have points on the board nontheless. Their wins have been punctuated with shocking displays of defensive inadequcies. A 2-5 defeat at an average Norwich team, for example.’

    Perhaps some truth in that one but still we are top, at the moment, anyway our record isn’t too bad at thier ground. 3 – 2 victory for the Wolves

    Report abuse

  39. 40
    gaywolf

    sorry mick. i cant take you seriously while you play collins..

    Report abuse

  40. 41
    besty

    the one and only cccccccccccooooooooooolllllllllllliiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnssssssssssssssss {collins} og in the first minute and then sent off,total waste of space,will mm listen now as if,2 points now we’re dropping like a lead balloon.

    Report abuse

  41. 42
    Next season...

    Well, he was right!

    Report abuse

  42. 43
    Reading Royal

    ha ha…small town club, er, pot, kettle black, 1-0!! thats 4-0 overall. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

    Report abuse

  43. 44
    West Bromwich WHO!!

    Mick, Got to be the best team talk for the opposition in history. What a p**t

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.