Zubar hailed after Premier debut

Monday 19th October 2009, 11:31AM BST.

WOLVES V SWINDON 10 GD 25Wolves’ debutant Ronald Zubar has been hailed as a ready-made Premier League player after making his bow.

Blood-stained defender Jody Craddock, who had seven stitches in a gashed head after a clash with Joseph Yobo in Saturday’s hard-earned 1-1 draw at Everton, was also saluted by boss Mick McCarthy.

Zubar came in at right-back to replace Kevin Foley and produced a quality performance to suggest the Player of the Year could struggle to win his place back.

The manager said: “Ronald was excellent and played very well. He now looks like someone who can play in the Premier League. He was disappointed by their goal because he got done down the side, but he had a really good debut.

“When he came here, he looked way off, but now he’s got his wife and baby over here, he’s settled in a house and he’s training really well. That bodes well for me because he was a really big signing.

“He’s much better at communicating now – he speaks the language, well certainly better than Segundo Castillo!”

McCarthy has no qualms about playing Zubar at right-back.

He added: “Ronald has played loads of games there for Marseille.”

The Wolves boss was also impressed with Craddock, who produced a Man of the Match performance.

He said: “Jody produced the kind of performance I appreciate, because it was full of real guts going off and coming back on again.

“He had seven stitches in his head and I told him he’d have a headache in the morning, but he said he had one already.

“Jody’s been terrific, and was excellent on Saturday. He is one of those guys managers and team-mates love and supporters appreciate.”


  1. 1
    John De Wolf

    Im glad Craddock came back in, he’s the only one with any ‘real’ experience.

    I still think Mancienne deserves a chance at left back though. Not convinced that George is the answer.

    Also relieved Zubar FINALLY got his chance. Maybe his performance will persuade Mick to give milijas a chance now, he’s got to be better than Edawards!

    For me Kites, Henry, Castillo and Milijas are an obvious first choice midfield. Edwards and Jarvis are squad players in this league.

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  2. 2
    Sandwell massive??

    We should go 3-5-2 away.

    Hennesey

    Berra Craddock Zubar

    Halford Edwards Castillo Henry Kites

    Doyle Blake

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  3. 3
    SUPERSTARDJWOLVES

    QUALITY!

    Foley for left back me thinks……

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  4. 4
    Brightonwolf

    Great start for Zubar, our weakness continues to be on the left – Elokobi is struggling at this level – try Foley or Mancinne!!

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  5. 5
    carl33

    zubar played ok but foley is streets ahed at rught back , lets not start playing people in second choice positions, did halford honestly look better than jarvis at left wing,
    comment 1 is right about edwards, he will run all day but to win matches we need the likes of castillo and milijas, they must look at edwards in training and henry to some exstent and think whats going on here, we have to change that team for saturdays home game

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  6. 6
    Willy

    What a hero Craddock was on Sat.. He’s been much maligned over the years, but that seems just to spur him on. Couldnt imagine Wolves without him now!

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  7. 7
    Shelfield Wolf

    Got to crowbar Mancienne in somewhere after everyone made such a bloody fuss about signing him in the first place (even though he had, like, 20 mins prem experience).

    Certainly worth a try at left back but admit that positionally, he’s not good enough at centre back and we don’t have time for him to learn on the job. Craddock is considerably better. Desreves to keep his place.

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  8. 8
    ilkeston wolf

    Zubar should be the last one to feel bad about conceeding. It was all down to Elokobi marking fresh air in centre of defence and leaving his Russian winger with oceans of space to run into and score. Yes a lovely lad as MM describes him but unfortunately not up to this level. Mancienne has to return as left back, a position where we have never replaced Naylor, 3 years on.
    That said, almost as proud of the team as at Wigan. If we can get another finisher in January we will be fine. Regretfully SEB is another who is proving to be a bit short of the quality needed at the higher level.

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  9. 9
    Louie Silvani

    Jarvis not in any of your teams?! he’s what we need with Kites. Kightly was marked a lot with Jarvis they can’t put two on botoh of them. Jarvis is so quick he will be trouble for some players. i can defo imagine without craddock, mancienne in his place. Can’t wolves fans see he is a future england star, Capello has already recognised that, as has Mick. Foley at left back a good idea, George looks lost a lot

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  10. 10
    Norwegian Wolf

    I remember Eddie Stuart doing the same thing as Jodie Craddock in the 1960′s, and I would love to think that the same ethos was being resurrected at the Golden Palace now.

    We need to treasure Jodie and nurture him through his remaining footballing years, as Manure have done with Giggs.

    The way he leads by example is why he is the club captain and we should build on that example.

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  11. 11
    wolves lad

    ow bout
    hennesey
    foley zubar berra mancienne
    Halford castillo milijas jarvis
    ebanks-blake doyle

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  12. 12
    LAUNZWOLVES

    JODY CRADDOCK WHAT A LEGEND AND ZUBAR WHAT A PERFORMANCE COME ON WOLVES BRING ON VILLA!!!!

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  13. 13
    rob

    my team for villa would be.

    Hennesey
    Zubar Berra Craddock Mancienne
    Kightly Henry Milijas Jarvis
    Doyle Blake
    We need to play positive at home. I dont think this team will play. Think it will be castilo instead of milijas. Theres no point in playing halford if we havent got a target man up front. Come on lads the season has been OK so far. But we need to step it up if we wana stay in this league. Starting with some home wins…..

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  14. 14
    Ad Mant

    13) Rob absolutely agree – we have to start both Kights and Jarvis – Halford’s only good for his throws so must make way for the far superior Zubar and ofcourse King Craddock !

    COME ON YOU WOLVES

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