Taylor warning for Wolves
Thursday 23rd April 2009, 11:50AM BST.
Graham Taylor has warned Wolves to be ready for a return to the Land of the Giants in the Premier League next season.
See also: Archive: Wolves are going up, insists Graham Taylor
The former Molineux boss, genuinely thrilled to see Wolves back in the big time after a five-year absence, is keeping his fingers crossed his old club can survive the daunting challenge now awaiting them,
But Taylor has watched England’s top division advance at a “frightening pace” in this first decade of the new Millennium and is urging Mick McCarthy’s players to ready themselves for a physical challenge they will not have faced before.
The former England boss said: “There is an awful lot of energy in this Wolves team and there is pace and hunger as well. I like that, it gives them a good working base.
“But the athleticism they are now going to be up against is a big concern. I always feel that when I see the TV cameras panning down the line of players before games, I don’t need to be told what match I’m watching.
“It’s there staring back at you. They boys in the Premier League now are 6ft 2in-6ft 3in athletes; they are bigger and more powerful than ever.
“They are smaller men outside the top flight and Wolves are going to have to deal with that.”
Taylor, who missed out on taking Wolves into the Premier League when his side lost in the play-off semi-finals to Bolton in 1995, is full of praise for owner Steve Morgan.
The Wolves supremo stuck with McCarthy during last season’s rising tide of criticism, as the team struggled to match the excitement generated in the manager’s first season.
Taylor said: “I’m pleased for Mick McCarthy especially. I’ve always maintained that a manager needs three years to be properly judged.
“At the end of last year, I was so pleased Steve Morgan didn’t cave in to some of the pressures.
“I’ve always had a lot of time for Mick. He never got a chance at Sunderland. But what happened when he got them up to the Premier League will not sit easily with him and he will want a fair crack this time.”
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Thanks for those words ….
…. shame you didnt get us promoted ….
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Wise words from GT.
I think we can all assume its going to be a rollercoaster of a season next season!
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I completely disagree with Taylor. I think the championship is a far more physical league. I do agree that the premiership is played at quicker pace against the majority of the teams. I think if we can get 5 quality additions before pre-season training and bring in a couple in january to frashen things up we have a great chance. We already have 4 more points than albion won it with last season and our players are getting better with their tender years. 5 quality players 2/3 having proven premiership experience is the key and another goalscorer. Alot of established premier league teams will not be able to handle the pace of alot of our individuals along with ingredient of experience we can do it.
-Calum Davenport
-Steve Sidwell
-Tom Huddlestone
-Joe Hart
-Jason Scotland
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I remember the camera panning down the teams when arsenal played is in the cup – there be giants! But remember David & Goliath?
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it aint all about 6ft plus players its about ability and pace mostly – look at torres, rooney, fabregas, they aint all 6ft plus monsters they are good footballers – look at olifinjana he was big 6″2 but was probly the biggest p***y i have ever see in a wolves shirt. as long as we fight and contest every ball like stoke, fulham , hull do then we will be ok!!!!!! i wish these ex managers etc would keep ther thoughts 2 themselfs ther is a reason why you are not at the club anymore!!!!!! bring on the barnsley party!!!!
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Have no doubt at all that if Sir Jack had stuck with Taylor he would have been the first Wolves manager to get us to the Prem
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good words GT, but also remember not all teams have tall players who are great athletes, take a look at arsenal small players with great ability, so it shows it can be done.
this season i would like to see 100% total support behind the players for every game, i would like to see positive and constructive comments on message boards, lets forget and leave behind the negative moaning, nothing is to be taken for granted and we must not expect it’s our given right to be in the premiership, we must earn that once again.
so lets make this era the next magical era and step by step write a new chapter in the history books of WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERES
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i think burnley would be a good argument against those comments , there seems to be an increasing number of championship sides that get to or get near major trophy finals. i have a great respect for G T but i believe the standard of football in the championship is a lot higher than it used to be.
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Will you all stop mentioning the name TOM HUDDLESTONE. Why would Spurs want to let him go?? He’s been a regular for the last few months. Face it, we won’t get him so stop going on about him. He’s too good for us now.
Also i’d like to add, if Gareth Bale was any good why is he playing for Spurs’ reserves? He is not what we need and i’ve seen his name mentioned too many times too. He can’t defend for starters.
Jamie O’Hara is not what we need either.
I would be surprised if we get Mancienne aswell, heard a strong rumour that he will be marking Messi in the Nou Camp next week. So why would Chelsea let him go if they think he’s that good?
Possebon, again, we don’t want young kids for the prem. We have enough. We need old heads. Not baby’s.
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No offence to those who wrote and chose the new wolves song but I have to be honest I don’t really like it. It’s to long and it’s too hard to remember and sing.
So I thought I’d put forward a song I’ve written as a possible alternative.
To the tune of Jerusalem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73eB-aAo8Eg)
And did the Wolves, In days gone by
Rome over Europe’s pitches green
And can the pride, held for our side
Till this very day still be seen
We will go fourth, with heads held high.
The wanderers will never die.
WE ARE THE WOLVES, It’s clear to see,
Pride, passion, faith and history.
What do you think?
We are Premier League say we are Premier League!
Tom Smith
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Taylor I liked you at the Wolves, but you’re talking tosh.
Unless Iniesta, Messi, Krkić, Puyol, Xavi have had a growth spurt recently, these are all players who belong to a club that would do pretty good in the Premier League!
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thanks for the good wishes Graham. but u dont need 11 six footers. u need a variety of different skills. if u can play, size doesnt matter. people like Bremner, Gemmill,Ardiles, Ball, Keegan, Best etc wernt exactly Giants were they? You had a great chance to get us up in 94-95. u spent more money than any Wolves manager at that time. u led the table yet lost the title by 6pts to a novice manager (who spent less than we did) in his 1st season at Boro. i often think where we might be now if u had got us up back then when the premier was in its infancy. u even lost the playoffs and failed to hit the ground runnin in 95-6. when u wer sacked we were 6th from bottom! that let in the awful McGhee/lee era which set us back 6yrs. its nuthin personal graham but when u have won something major or managed for several consecutive seasons in the top flight then u can tell the owners of Wolves exactly what they need to do next season.
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What about this for a wish list???
Michael Mancienne
Kevin Nolan
Jermaine Beckford
Joe Ledley
Greg Halford
Tom Huddlestone
Marlon Harewood (Not sure)
James Morrison
Jermaine Pennant (Not sure)
Come on Jez, should get a little bit of change from £35million for these boys.
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People keep mentioning Jason Scotland – he’s 30 years old…and too slow for the Prem.
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Bring on the inflatables! LOT AND LOTS AT BARNSLEY!
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Wise words as ever from Graham.I can remember Dave Jones saying the last time we were there, that he was fed up with seeing our midfielders being overpowered especially in the last 20 minutes of games. Christophe Berra has been quoted as saying it is faster in the Championship than the Premier. The guy needs a reality check and quick.Mick has got us up that steep hill,all we want now is for him to climb a mountain.
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Taylor is right. He was right about being given three years. He was right about a bit of patience – both he and Dave Jones should never have been sacked. Hoddle was different, like O leary at Villa, he never wanted to be at Wolves and saw us as a stop gap.
In terms of the Prem, he is right about the need for big physical athletes. We need some big physical lads throughout the team. When we play away next year we will have to play 5 in the middle with two holding players who can really mix it and tackle to stop other teams playing. I’m not sure we possess those players – sorry Henry and Jones. We need some tough tacklers and one one of them has to be 6ft 2. We really need a leader in the middle of the park and and maybe he could be a little un. Nicky Butt would be my main target if Newcastle went down. The fact of the matter is that we’ll end up going for perhaps the best of Championship players – I think Joe Ledley is good, but not 7 million good (he’s 6ft and can play left back, left wing and in the centre which is great.) Some Prem veterans – Dunne and Boatang would be good (I accept Boatnag is getting on). I’d also go for Albion players. Greening is class and I don’t care if he is ex WBA. So was Bully. Plus if we stay up who cares. I am concious that WBA have some good players that we could go in for. Letting stupid local rivalry get in the way for what is best for Wolves is daft. Plus it’ll drive them mad, if we creamed of their best players!
I also think that some Wolves fans need to wake up to the fact that up and coming players like Tom Huddelstone are not leaving Spurs for us! Julio Arca might. Mancienne probably won’t join us but could join us on loan
We will have to play in two different ways next season – attacking hard and looking for wins at home and scrapping for 1 nill wins and draws away. I don’t think we will be able to play Kites and Jarvis against the top 6 as we will leave just too much space behind them.
The most crucial thing is our start. We were scared to death last time. Apart from Ince and Rae no one had the experience. Going in this time we have internationals at U21 level and Welsh players but still little Prem experience. I’d want at least 4 Prem bloodied players in that first 11. The crowd will also need to remember that it’s going to be very hard next year and we will get turned over. Hopefully not as bad as last time. Losing 0-4 to the likes of Charlton was pretty bad. Still look where they are now!
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That is the problem with Taylor -
Thinks its all about the physical game at the expense of skill
…. Yeah, like Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips (to name a few) cant ‘hack-it’ in the Prem’
On your bike Taylor and take you ‘knock it long’ aproach with you ‘cus it’s oudated mate!!!!
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I think some of the comments re’ GT are a little harsh.
I, I’m sure, along with many others, believe that had he been given the time he would’ve taken us up and established us in the prem, just a shame a bunch of muppet fans hounded him out.
He is absolutely right about the prem, it is much quicker and although the CCC is very physical, the prem brings a different kind of physicality….
I have faith that some of our players will survive and more than likely do well in the prem, but that remains to be seen, I certainly agree that we will need to toughen our team up a little though, although I appreciate what Henry does, along with DJ, I’m concerned that they will be overun in midfield, especially if we stick to 2 flying wingers….
Anyway, here’s hoping for a succesful summer of signings then onwards and upwards..
UTW
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players out of contract in the summer we should have a look at –
BALL (MAN CITY)
HYPIA (LIVERPOOL)
MURPHY (FULHAM)
MIDO (WIGAN / BORO)
FULLER (STOKE)
DAVIS (POMPEY)
EDGAR (NEWCASTLE)
VASSELL (MAN CITY)
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5-fulham and stoke seem to be safe from premiership relegation because they are both very physical sides who get in your faces and don’t mind to rough it up abit albeit fulham to have a better footballing individuals in their squad.
I think we need at least 5/6 very good, seasoned premiership campaigners for us to have a ‘sporting’ chance. centre of midfield is key in the prem in my opinion and we need an ‘ince’ type player in it, just has it has needed for parts of this season too.
I’m under no illusions though that MM and taff have a battle plan for next year and i, like most supporters would take 17th position next year NOW
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No.5 If it wasn’t for GT we wouldn’t have the likes of Keane and co that came through the ranks! He developed the youth set-up that brought us such players. I think we sacked him far to early and he should have been given a chance!
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Hopefully MM will completely ignore this advice! On this basis MM should be looking for players in the Guinness Premiership not the premier league.
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Graham Taylor’s words should be valued and they make sense.
Wolves worst error of recent times was letting the ‘boo boys’ have their own way and the club letting him go. We have been in a mess since MM came and have much to look forward to now. Even if we have a bad run and we will or even if we get relegated MM should be retained. Good stable management will mean a good team at some point.
My only fear about going up is that the average Wolves fan will be on MM’s back soonest and things will go from a positive to a negative quickly. Give MM 3 ‘cast in stone’ years regardless of what happens and we may see the Wolves back to what they were in the 70′s a top 10 team in the top flight.
We have young players who want to develop into better players, buy well and buy players who want to play for the club and fans.
Wise words Mr Taylor and it was a sad day when the club let you go because we would have been in the Premiership alot sooner and been a much stronger/richer club too.
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Finchy —
BALL – C*ap player … have u seen him?!
HYPIA – Will want about £50k a week (never gona happen)
MURPHY – Good call
MIDO – Fat and Lazy. no
FULLER – Stoke wont sell to a rival
DAVIS – Good call
EDGAR – Unsure …
VASSELL – Old and past it .. how many goals this season
It’ll be Arca, Marlon King, Bale, O’Hara, Johnson and Wheater
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I have to agree with Taylor on one thing. The players in the prem are typically bigger than those in the Championship and we will be out mussled if nothing else if we don’t get a good blend of bigger players..
Staying up will be a massive challenge, you only have to look at the yo yo behavior of most of the teams promoted to in the last ten years to see that.
I hope MM can get some deals going quickly so that whoever comes in will get a full pre-season in..
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I,m sorry graham but dont want to see a stoke type wolves in the prem, they may survive the prem this time but will be sussed out next season,imagine watching that rubbish week in week out.No i want to see a free flowing fast passing game using wingers which as always been a tradion at the Moll
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Lets face it the gates were open for you this season all competition had been removed ask yourselves why it took 5 years
Lambs to the slaughter, also you mention 4 points
clear of the baggies like I said you had no competion this year also Birmingham city were better that you they proved this a few weeks ago. can’t wait to be entertained
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I can remember watching Arsenal at the Mol – when we were promoted – boy they were huge players everywhere – it looked like Junior school Vs Seniors
GT a good man who was the persuaded the likes of a young Robbie Keane to join Wolves instead of Forest and had alot to do with the blue print for our reserves/ youth system
Apart from that he didnt do much did he? There are some ungreatfull numpties about1
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Lets get in these guys faces, build a team that portrays the name, Quick young hungry wolves for the clever fast moving stuff. And a couple of Pack leaders big ugly mean (thinking about it better get four of these for the red cards we will get). HOWWWWWLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
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Hawthornjodie – since you clearly only have one eye and it is positioned up your posterior, would you not be better employed in a circus?
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in the jockey fuller is out of contract
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fulham like 2 play football and have a bit of pace in the side – stoke dont get enough credt i have seen them a couple of times and they can also play football and again have 3 or 4 players with pace!!! not jus long ball football with big strong players!!!!!
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think most managers like players have thier good and bad points, if you analyze the top ten in the premier they have basically, some very good british players and some awsome players from various parts of the world that make-up the first eleven, obviously we need to and will i’m sure buy experienced premier class players who will keep us up, our curent team need complete overhaul .
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JODIE – SHUT UP!!!!!! WE PLAYED BLUES 3 TIMES LOST WON AND DREW WE ARE 6 POINTS CLEAR OF THEM THE SEASON IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT!!!! YOU BEAT MIDDLESBOROUGH AND TOTTENHAM THAT DONT MAKE YOU BETTER THAN THEM YOU CLOWN!!!!!! TIME TO TURN YOUR PLAYSTATION OFF AND LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD!!!!! BYE BYE SANDWELL!!!
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BALL (MAN CITY) Poor, journeyman
HYPIA (LIVERPOOL)Great Player, top signing
MIDO (WIGAN / BORO)No team player
FULLER (STOKE)Real Pace, good signing
DAVIS (POMPEY)Good Player, good signing
EDGAR (NEWCASTLE)Unproven
VASSELL (MAN CITY)Passed is best
MURPHY (FULHAM) Top Player, would be top signing
In the jockey, they are out of contract, no fee involved.
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Congratulations, and a big thank you to Mick and the boys. My £10 each way at 14/1, 2 hours before the first ball was kicked is looking pretty good now. But, just out of interest, does anyone remember roughly 12 months ago, a certain Michael Mcinndoe was spouting about how he’d made the right move to Bristol C. cos they were in the play-offs, and we didn’t quite make it?………Wonder if he still thinks that?? Was the right move for us anyway, cos he wasn’t good enough to clean the boots of Kites and Jarvo!!
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We all have seen it before,we reckon our teams will survive the premier it’s a tall order,both of us fans love our clubs,but it ay easy,you need some good backing and a lot of luck with the ref’s every week you will see,good luck wolves you need it.
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stourport wolf. sounds interesting need to play with a few words but the basis of a good anthem .
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stourport wolf, i quite like it and i agree much better than the new song, Jeruselam is a very English song and i could see it pumping out of the mighty south bank… The hairs are standing up on the back of me neck just thinking about it.
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let’s all give hawthornjodie a big ‘ahhhh’
28- don’t take you’re sour grapes out on us. just because jeremy has taken the peace out of you and all your fans by pocketing all your money again. bet you are all excited this summer ain’t ya, about all these top players coming your way like cox from the mighty SWINDON. suppose he’s got to be better than those future dutch superstars you signed.
go have a lie down dear and leave us premier league teams to worry about it.
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ppl seem to forget that aylor started the whole youth policy at wolves, he was never gien enough time, best players daley, froggatt and thoms were injured all season, don’t forget mcginley headbutted david kelly then scored the winning goal in th play offs, we should ave been promoted that year!
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Poor HawthornsJodie is just feeling bitter .. Poor lad.
When you beat Manchester City you were all bragging about ‘beating the richest team in the country’.. Who was it that whaled you last week? Oh yes, Man city.. So whose better? We all know the answer.
Albion fans can only come on here and say ‘You won’t survive’ etc etc.. Because they had to change the ‘You won’t make promotion you will bottle it’ record. I’m sure that was very disappointing.
I came on here this time last year and said the stripey lot would come straight back down.. I was right.. You will have to wait a whole year to see if you are :D
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28 – Get a Life and please do not stir up Crap and agrivation
All the true Baggies Fans have given us congratulations – It’s been difficult for them to accept as it was for us last season but this year as of – last both teams have done it with Credit.
Understand your comments about “lambs to the slaughter “- and we are very aware of the task in front of us. However please don’t be smug enough to think you will rule the world over the Championship – there are going to be just as many Hard teams in that division – and if you are where we are this time next season and we are still in the Prem it will be the best thing for All Midlands Football.
So please eat your “Sour Grapes”
all Baggies Fans are not like you.
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