Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
A few home truths for Wolves
Friday 27th November 2009, 9:15AM GMT.
Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd has a few home truths for players and management as the team bid to get the results needed for the expected relegation fight ahead.
Now everybody, take a deep breath and get ready. The fight starts now.
We had Bob Hope of getting anything against Chelsea and Arsenal. So why do some fans think that calling for manager Mick McCarthy’s job after two impossible games is going to be the answer to our Premier League survival conundrum?
I may have been one of his fiercest critics in season’s past, but Mick took this club from Championship mediocrity and delivered what we all wanted – a chance to mix it with the top teams.
It hasn’t exactly gone to plan, Mick would admit that himself. A couple of wins at this stage in the season isn’t good enough. We may have had injuries to key players, but last season’s team that scored goals for fun and was reasonably solid at the back are now finding those goals harder to come by and have been exposed at the back on many occasions.
In my opinion I think that Mick got it wrong by thinking he could compete in the Premier League on the cheap and we brought in too many average players over the summer.
I bought a pair of astroturf trainers the other day. Now usually I fork out a few quid for a decent pair of Nike but I thought ‘no, I rarely play on astroturf,’ so I saved a few quid and got a pair of Admirals from Ebay for a tenner. Thirty minutes into the game in my new boots and my feet were in tatters.
I got home, put half a dozen plasters on my toes and heals and threw the things in the bin. I paid under the odds and got what I deserved – something that wasn’t fit for purpose.
As you probably know, I’m a big fan of a tenuous analogy and that one is right up there! But hopefully you get the drift that spending a million quid here and a couple of million there on a player is fine in the Championship, but not at this level.
It’s no coincidence that the one player Mick did spend big on, Kevin Doyle, has probably been our most consistent player along with Karl Henry in the top-flight this season.
Who else has Mick brought in that has really made any difference so far? More to the point, which players has he brought to the clubs that are any better than we already had?
Ronald Zubar has found his feet and is finally giving Kevin Foley some real competition for the right-back spot. But surely money has been wasted on Stefan Maierhofer, Nenad Milijas, Andrew Surman and Greg Halford?
Premier League survival can’t be done on the cheap. I’m not advocating we put the club at financial risk and chase the dream as other clubs have and still are, but the lack of serious player investment on our part for three or four quality acquisitions in the summer could cost us dear.
I’m sure Mick was banking on the majority of his existing squad making the step up and that hasn’t happened enough.
Yes, Karl Henry, Christophe Berra, Dave Edwards and even the often derided Andy Keogh have upped their game, but it’s no coincidence that scoring in open play has been a problem with players like Matt Jarvis, Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake failing to deliver so far.
The three may have been beset with injuries, but with the January transfer window beginning to loom large, time is running out for Jarvis, Kights and SEB to make their mark or I fear they could fall down the pecking order when new recruits join the club in 2010.
The passion for the fight from the fans is unquestionable, you could hear that again on Saturday at Chelsea with the unwavering support. Obviously we all get frustrated when we see our beloved club embroiled in a relegation battle.
But mindlessly berating Mick for coming out and stating the obvious about being in this relegation dogfight isn’t helping the cause.
Let’s have constructive debates about what the clubs needs to do to address the problem. Simply calling Mick ‘thick’ and then coming up with a list of alternative managers isn’t really showing any solidarity for the fight.
After seven games without a win, it’s imperative that we get at least four points from the next two games, both at home, firstly against Birmingham on Sunday and then Bolton on the following Saturday.
On Sunday, Mick needs to have faith in his players and play them in the positions he brought them into the club for. I think he should play Jarvis and Kights on the flanks and keep David Edwards in the midfield alongside Henry. Let’s send out the right message to the Blues that Wolves are going out to win the game.
I’d shove Keogh back in up front alongside Doyle as well. They may have similar styles of play, but our best bit of form earlier in the season was when they played together and I just think Sylvan needs a little more time to regain his fitness and sharpness.
Mick needs to revert to 4-4-2, with a backline of Richard Stearman, Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra and Zubar -if fit. I do sense that Mick is making noises about bringing George Elokobi back into the team, but I really do think that the top-flight is a level too high for George.
Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey had a nightmare on Saturday, but apart from a few flapping incidents he has been fairly consistent so far. With Carl Ikeme now on loan at Sheffield United – where I am sure we wish him the best of luck – that really only leaves Marcus Hahnemann to challenge and that is a bit of a worry.
Mick has tried to play down the significance of the next two games and added that after 13 games it’s ludicrous, or Yorkshire twang to that effect, and that we the fans are placing so much importance on these games.
I’d say to him, take a look at the fixture list and you will understand why. Our next three games are against the ‘B’s’ as we know. Next to visit Molineux are Man City, a must-win against Wigan – then Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Man Utd.
We have to be looking at a minimum of seven points from the next three home games. The back-to-back away days to White Hart Lane, Old Trafford and Anfield are daunting trips where anything gained is simply a bonus.
On another note, I am flying out to Vienna early Sunday morning to see a Swiss band called Yello play in an old cinema, which will hopefully be more fun than it sounds and therefore I’m missing the game. Unless there is a bar where Rapid Vienna fans go to watch the Hoff playing for his new team, but the likelihood is that I’ve got no chance of catching the game.
Perhaps I could take the Hoff with me? His old team, Rapid is playing SV Salzburg on Sunday afternoon and he would probably be quite happy to return to play for them as I would be to take him!
I’m hoping we can grab a win on Sunday, but I’ve got a sneaky feeling the game might end up as 1-1.
Enjoy the game, I’m gutted I can’t be there.
Up the Wolves!
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To be fair – we know that MM tried to buy a ‘better class’ of player but we just couldnt get them …. due to wages but mainly other clubs offered either Euro football or more stability in the Prem.
I’m not saying that i’m over the moon but i’m sure people like Halford (no disrespect) were about 6th or 7th on Mick’s hit list!!
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Nathan– but last season’s team that scored goals for fun and was reasonably solid at the back are now finding those goals harder to come by and have been exposed at the back on many occasions.Many a goalscorer in the lower divisions has found the step up to the next level a leap to far.Trevor Senior and Kerry Dixon are 2 names that spring to mind, although i do believe that Kerry was a one season wonder at Chelsea.The Defence as the goals sagainst column will testify ( 52 )was never consistent and subject to too many changes of personnel without ever really finding a consistent back four.If we are to have any hope of staying in this division then we must get an established line up playing in the posistion that they are best at,cut out the schoolboy errors and learn how to defend set pieces ( Seven conceded from corners so far).With reference to being able to watch the game live i am reasonably confident that you will be able to find a bar that will show the game as most European countries major cities have an English or Irish bar showing live sports.Good luck and enjoy your weekend.
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Like you say, sensible debates; not abuse. I may not agree with everything you say but I certainly agree shopping on the cheap carries risks. Then again we carry little or not debt. Tough call, but the reality is we don’t have the quality. The balance of the side is not of this division. The manager is wearing his chances thin, as to whether he is, himself.
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SACK MICK NOW! Why let him waste even more money on garbage in January? How about getting Megson in who will probably be sacked soon? Megson and Ince, great duo.
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There is no debate to be had. Mick is like your astro grass trainers, no fit for purpose.
We all know wat is going to happen. Come the transfer window we will have a new bloke managing the club who will demand a proper budget to bring in some proper players.
We are embarrassing at the moment. We’ve lost at home to Portsmouth and drawn against Hull. Simply not good enough.
Creative midfielder, striker and a new goalkeeper must be on the wish list for the window. Oh and a new left back and left winger.
Don’t want to sound defeatist, but I think we should all get ready for Championship football and be prepared for Albion to be passing us in the opposite direction.
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I stil say SACK THICK MICK we finished way above the Blues and Burnley and look where they are. There is only one person to blame for that
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VERY FAIR AND SPOT ON ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE MARKET
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Elokobi-left-foot (5). Do we really know whats going to happen come January? Are Morgan and Moxey really going to sack Mick and ruin all his good work?
How about supporting the club and trying to help them through this sticky period? Mick has done wonders since he has been here.
Every club in the land wants the ‘creative midfielder’, they don’t just grow on trees you know. And a creative midfielder like Fabregas, Scholes, Giggs even Jimmy Bullard don’t come cheap.
We might scrape through at the end of the season or not, but sacking Mick would be daft.
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Keogh up front????? Apart from that good blog, agree with most of your points.
Steven Ward to come back in at left back, then play either Zubar or Stearman with Craddock.
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Far too diplomatic. We need a clean sweep of change at Wolves from the board down to the bootroom.
The fact that fans are still singing the manager’s name when we are 2nd of bottom is just bizarre.
In my day, Wolves were fighting for the league title. Ok, that was back in the 50′s, but at least we had a club we could be proud of.
Now we are nothing more than a joke.
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A lot of valid points made here. I do not believe that Milijas is a bad signing. Serbia cruised into the World Cup and he is their captain. Kites will not be playing for a few games, Castillo was awful against Chelsea, so we need to play both Jarvis and Milijas against Blues, Bolton and Burnley – our only real creative players within the midfield. You may have a point about the merits of bringing Keogh back in. As for the back four, we must accomodate Mancienne and Zubar, as we need the extra pace.
Get into the Noses from the off. They are solid at the back and have old heads in the middle but have not got any prolific goalscorers up front!
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Nathan – I don’t think you understand the transfer policy. Mick TRIED to sign Richard Dunne, Michael Owen, Sami Hypia, Damian Duff – The club were extremely ambitious but with the greatest of respect to our club they went onto bigger money at clubs in Europe. The AMBITION was there. We are a newly promoted side and I am over the moon with Doyle, Milijas is quality and has just taken some time, Surman is a great prospect, The Hoff we cannot judge yet, Halford has been effective, Zubar is starting to show he can make a difference at this level. No need to fear blues lets attack them from the start and put them on the back foot. When Foley, Kites, Jarvis, Iwelumo, Murray, Wardy are fully fit we will soon start to pull away from the bottom 3. WE ARE WOLVES.
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Still believe your reasoned piece is admiral-able; for some to discuss reasonably clearly causes nike-mares.
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One thing we all agree on is that we haven’t signed any prem quality players except Kevin Doyle and that stands out so much it shines like a beacon.Kevin is head and shoulders above the rest of the side.I knew it would be difficult to get the right players but i also believe the manager, chairman and the fat controller all thought the squad was better than it really is.We have without doubt wasted most of the money on championship players and Maierhofer is the worst player i have seen at Wolves for years.I would actually prefer Kevin Kyle! He was unable to jump and clumsy as a baboon but he didn’t cost 2 million.
I still believe MM deserves his season in the Prem, although it is becoming increasingly likely it will only be one season.The last two results were totally expected but we have failed previously against teams in “our league” and the next two games will make or break us.
I will still support the team and will not call for the managers head this season,but i do believe we have missed an opportunity to improve the squad with players better than we already had.
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MikeQB (9) What other options up front than Keogh do we have at the moment? Hoff? Useless. SEB? Off the pace and struggling.
Until Iwelumo is fit, I don’t think Keogh is a bad shout at all.
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The summer recruits have not been good enough and the majority of players have not made the step up. It was fool hardy of Mick to think the players he had were good enough to stay up without serious reinforcement – did he learn nothing from being relegated with Sunderland?
I’ll try and bite my lip until after the Burnley match, by which time we’ll have either 7 or 9 points or Mick will be out. To think that our season doesn’t depend on these games is a joke. are you telling me not beating the 3 B’s isn’t a problem, as we’ll probably beat Spurs, Man Utd and L’pool away? Get a grip!
There is now unfortunately a ridiculous amount of pressure to beat the 3 B’s due to our poor start. We’re factually currently the second worst team in the league!
Owen Coyle is playing his strongest and unchanged team for the fifth consecutive game at the weekend. Mick doesn’t have a clue what his best team is as he changes it every week. The reason for that is the quality of the players he’s bought into the club.
I feel the squad now lacks confidence and we’ll do well to get a draw against a Blues team who have adapted better to us so far.
Maybe I’ll be wrong and we’ll get the results, but if we don’t we need a new manager and new players in place come January.
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In January we need a left back, a quality central midfielder, and a striker. Wayne Hennessey needs to prove himself this sunday the last few games he seems to have fallen asleep.
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4. Go back to Sandwell and try and get a sponsor. Plenty of spare seats there for the fizzy pop league. Megson is the worst manager in the premier league.
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Nathan dont you think yourself and Mick have to negative attitude,,firstly why shouldnt we expect to get anything from Chelsea or Arsenal. Did Steve Bruce think that last week? Your advice last week was to rest our best player which we did,none of the other players involved in the Ireland France game were rested,yet we could afford to rest Doyle..We need to score goals and you advise bringing Keogh back,what is Andy Keoghs goal scoring record..We now have two home games,and you are asking for four points,why not six Nathan??whats your idea,iff we dont expect maximum points in the next three games,how many can we expect away to Spurs and United..Your support for Mick getting us to the Premiership is fair play,,but iff we fail who is to blame,,the Fans???
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laughingwolf, I think your living in the land of the cuckoo and clouds.
How was the AMBITION there? Buying Surman because he is a good prospect is poppycock. We don’t need prospects we need proven quality.
Halford has been effective? Explain? He looks like he is wearing lead boots, utterly useless.
If we had real ambition, then we would have paid whatever was needed to get the RIGHT players in. Penny pinching and crossing your fingers does not constitute for great transfer success does it?
Zubar and Doyle have come good but the rest have been as useful as chocolate kettles.
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Nathan, interesting reading as always. My only problem is that having see the team play against Chelsea I was not that happy about the committment of some of the players. It was as if they were resigned to defeat before a ball was kicked. I would have asked my players to get stuck in and play in a more combatitive way. As a supporter I want to see my team giving their all and I did not see it. A few yellow cards, some dirt on the shirt etc. Mick is responsible for getting the team fired up and all I saw was a face of despair as soon as a goal went in from the bench! What sort of example is that. I would have preferred to some some fist pumping and telling the lads to kick some arse! To be blunt we were too polite and friendly to Chelsea and that will never work!
Hoping for some blod and thunder on Sunday!
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When we have a fully fit squad for home games we should be going with:
Murray, Foley, Zubar, Craddock, Mancienne, Kightly, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Doyle, Ebanks Blake.
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Silasluzny! Sacking mick is not the answer, you will not get a more honest Manager than MM he tells it how it is You obviously want us to go down to the fourth division again what is it with you and Ince no way is he ready to be a Premiership Manager yet he has already proved that how long did he last at Blackburn?. We will still be in the Premiership at the end of the season. Kevin Doyle will do it for us on Sunday. Matt Jarvis crosses on saturday to Kevin Doyle yes. Nathan knows his football but I dont agree with all
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Linda *10
where is the joke?? being in the premier league is a joke??
Now Hednesford town….. thats a joke club!!
Why is it bizzare too, to support our manager? We sing his name cause we appreciate what the club/management/players are trying to do!
I agree with Nathan, too many players I think Mick expected to step up haven’t. I think he thought we had more, now come on, we all thought we had some special quality too (Kights, Jarvis, Blake, Foley, Hennessey) to name but 5.
And yet, we name the likes of Berra, Henry and Keogh as our performers. I didn’t expect it, and I am sure Mick didn’t think it would either.
As for the buys I disagree, Doyle has been great, Zubar looks class.
Milijas we call can see has quality, its just taking time. The hoff needs to toughen up, but when he does he’ll be a handful.
I agree with Halford, journeyman player I thought Wolves had moved away from.
Surman looked good last week, and looks one to work with going forward.
Castillo seems inconsistent, too many bad games, too many games he disapears.
Sacking Mick will solve nothing. MM will need the season to prove it, he will get money in January no doubt, lets see what he brings in. As Vespa Wolf said, I am sure he had bigger players that he was looking at, in January more might come.
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Pedro (19) Do you come with subtitles?
What was the point chucking Doyle into the Lion’s pit last week against Chelsea just for him to come away and be even further demoralised?
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Nathan you started well but then named a team of which all but one played championship football last season, and there lies our problem
As for we expected to loose against Chelsea and Arsenal well yes, but there’s going to be teams of that calibre in each third of the season so at this rate we’re on for 30 points, lets face facts we’re going down.
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12 laughingwolf,,how do you know we tried to sign those players,how hard did we try?? what did we offer??Hull took Bullard from Fullham,are you trying to say Duff thought Fullham were bigger and better than us..Did we try hard enough,or did we offer peanuts.
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Reason why people call for his head is because they are THICK and FICKLE! Its ok to criticise Mick for decision made and players bought but do it in a constructive manner. Calling the man that has delivered us promotion as champions stupid is hard for me to get my head around.
A point on the Hoff, how can you judge a player that has had no real time to make an impact. 10 or 15 minutes here and there doesn’t help. I remember Villa fans saying that when he came on against them in the UEFA cup he changed the game.
Against Chelsea on Sat we just played the long ball to a lone striker who is about 5ft 8. Would it been more productive to play the Hoff and give him some game time in a game we are always going to lose??? He would of provided a target up front and would hold it up better than SEB.
I have had enough of Halford though. I have given him time and believe he provides something different with the long throw and being good in the air, but lacks quality. At the game on Sat he was in space and Hennessey wanted to throw the ball to him. Halford said NO, and pointed to the other side of the pitch!!! I want players to want the ball and fight and that was it for me his time is up. Avoiding the challenge and the fight for survival, shirking his responsibility is unacceptable.
Personally I think the players need to look at themselves. After the match on Sat some of the players wanted to go off the pitch. But “Thick” Mick stopped them and made them stand there for a couple of minutes and clap the fans that hadn’t stopped singing or supporting their team. The fans are not going to go down without a fight but will the players???
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21. Wolvesonandon
Thanks for your comment. We showed Chelsea far too much respect and we were defeated before we stepped on to the pitch at the bridge.
Sunday they need to get the tackles flying in and not be afraid to pick up the odd booking.
I’m still gutted that I won’t be there. Anybody know of a bar in Vienna showing the game?
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23. purewolves
Wouldn’t it be a dull world if everybody agreed with everybody?
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wolf (26). Trouble is who is good enough from the summer signings to be named in the starting 11? There lies the problem that the players we brought in were no better than what we already had.
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Comment 4,,,, Typical albion fan, Stupid little boy!
Aslo
laughingwolf said: Nov 27th, 2009 at 11:13 am Nathan – I don’t think you understand the transfer policy. Mick TRIED to sign Richard Dunne, Michael Owen, Sami Hypia, Damian Duff
The problem LaughingWolf is that those players were on HIGH wages! Not in a million years would Wolves ever pay that sort of dough week in week out, and apart from Dunne, the other 3 have a history of injuries. Wolves for years have lack nouce in the transfer dept. Granted, SEB, Kites, Jarvis, have been a success but we have had some duffers especially this season, Castillo, Hoff, Milljas, Zubar, Halford, have all been a complete waste of money. I would have rather wolves gone for experience but 1st teamers rather than bench warmers.
We need a commanding centre half pity about Dunne, but Lucas Neill would have been ideal, A ball winning commanding midfielder again someone like Dieter Hammann would have been quality, and a 10-15 goal striker some like Jason Roberts would have been brilliant for us. But as other fans have said and as nathan commented, if you buy cheap,,, 9 times out of 10 you will not get value for money.
I am a wolves fan, and I love the club, but I am never been a true MM fan because I think he is a 1 trick pony and I think he is living on borrowed time. As for our owners and chairman,,, I am surprised they aint said much in the media…..
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Sad to say, but after BIRMINGHAM via Jerome Cameron inflict another humiliating defeat, can someone grab the worst manager in Premier league history, kicking and screaming out of Molineux, before he has chance to spout his ‘put in a shift’ ‘we could have had two’ speeches: As the great bard of Birmingham broadcasting Butler was minded to say; ‘Mad Mick, on ye bike ‘!
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Nathan—Try these.
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We are down but not out! Awinit vital in the next 2 matchs otherwise that little confidence the team has left will be shot. I believe we tried to compete without putting our financial state at risk but also perhaps unecessary bought too many utility players who Mick and the players themselves dont know their best position. Less players more quality on those bought but until the transfer window we are stuck with those same players. Do we gamble and buy more or do we show more faith in the ones we have. Mick has earned the right by getting us promoted more time until at least the gap between 3rd and 4th from bottom gets bigger. Up the wolves!
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It’s all irrelevant – just rest your voices tomorrow and give it everything on Sunday. If the players are struggling for confidence we need to lift them. If you want to stay up GET BEHIND THE TEAM!
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31 totally agree, we shopped in the bargain basement and got what we paid for
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next 2 game if we do not get 4 points muppet mick
must go.he change players every week and how we
play none of them know what they are doing.because
we can not play the ball out of defence all that
happens is hennessy kicks up field 70/90 mts to no
body as we do not play target man this season. the man is clueless, play the best player in the right position and don’t keep changing things before it to late,who going to come to wolves if we are bottom no one any better than the 40 odd average player we have now.
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I now read that Zubar has been injured in training. what on earth is going on? how many players have been injured during training this season? i know they like to play like match situations, but this is getting crazy – we must have the most injuries in the Premiership !!
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Once again when we stay up and avoid championship football the real supporters will have the last laugh including me
I will be there sunday travelling up from kent to watch and SUPPORT my team to a successful win.
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just in relation to players MM brought in this summer….was it just me or did MM keep saying he wanted to bring in players with prem league experience to help us stay up? from the list of new signings, exactly how many fit the bill? we have the hoff & , zubar, surman etc etc – so the answer is ‘hardly any’ nuff said
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The reason Kites, SEB and Jarvis have not performed is that they have been injured and are still not up to speed with the Prem game. I believe Milijas will still have a big impact on the team, as long as he gets some games under his belt. Surman I hope will also produce the goods. Edwards has improved over the last few games and looks a decent player. I am a big fan of Wayne Hennesey but maybe it is time to give Marcus H a run in the team, he is very vocal and I feel has a more physical presence. Dont forget it is only November, if we can pick up 6 or more points from the nect 3 games we can move forward from there. UTW !
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Thanks MaltaWolves. I might drop them an email to see if they showing the game!
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Nathan, It was not a critism of you I was just saying I agreed with most of what you were saying but not all of what you were saying. Can I ask you a question why do we not try scoring from outside the box and not keep trying to walk the ball in and do you think that Wayne is not the same goalkeeper since Bobby Mimms left us.
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Malta Wolves, I love you!
That pub is showing the game! Guess where I’m going straight from the airport?
I owe you a pint.
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I just cannot see how McCarthy getting the boot at this stage of the season will help either the team or us! Who could have done a better job given the circumstances?
Of course he has made mistakes but who doesn’t, though it has to be said, he has not done too bad a job so far!
The players he brought in during the close season have taken time to adjust it’s true but most have also suffered injuries and neither have helped.
Shopping for bargains was always going to be the way for no quality player is going to join a newly promoted club knowing that there would only be ‘pittance’ of a salary on offer – we do not have an Abramovich to bankroll the club.
Mick’s biggest mistakes IMHO have been the tactics he has employed and by playing players out of their best positions.
I think everyone will agree that Mick’s tactical nous is not all that clever so perhaps we should go down the road that several clubs have done and appoint a Director of Football to assist Mick with tactics and player assessment? If that was to prove Mick WAS inept then Wolves would quickly find out! Mick would get the boot and for those people calling for his head, would be extremely happy!
As for the negativity which has come from McCarthy recently, yes I think he has been sending out the wrong vibes and should instead be talking about what we should be doing and let the opposition worry about us, anything less can only add to the lack of confidence.
On the low confidence front, the proof was borne out by the reserves against Fulham the other night. We put out a strong team but still lost 0-2 which just shows how bad it is right now.
Obviously we need wins to put that right and we need them quickly but many things need to gel to do that. Whether Mick and his staff can get it right only time will tell but the changes must happen soon before the points gap begins to widen and that will mean that relegation won’t just be a word, it will become fact!
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15 – I don’t care how off the pace, SEB is. He is a match winner and keogh is not.
If we want to win games he plays simple really.
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vespa wolf said: Nov 27th, 2009 at 10:14 am
“i’m sure people like Halford (no disrespect) were about 6th or 7th on Mick’s hit list!!”
Halford said Mick called him the instant Sheff Utd lost the playoff final and Halford was available.
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Pretty much on the mark Nathan.
However I think overall Jarvis has had a fantastic season, and been one of the players who HAS stepped up to the challenge. Every game he’s been benched we’ve looked limp.
SEB’s demise is a mystery and must he be dropped, Keogh is the only reasonable replacement – a glaring sign that we dont have nearly enough up front
Now I havent called for the manager to be sacked, but it is difficult not to dish out the feelgoods when a large portion of Wolves fans confuse negatvity with pointing out the bleeding obvious.
These are the same people who bleat out we’ll thump Brum, Notlob and Burnely … we wont, we are going to have to play much better than we have all season.
A splash of reality, as mentioned in your article, is required so we do not delude ourselves. Major investment is required in Januray or its simple – we go straight back down.
Its not negatvity – its plain bloody fact.
Right, now for Sunday
Zubar if fit must play
Doyle and Keogh up front
and please, FFS, Jarvis must start.
Perhaps Mancienne’s ready to return too.
COME ON YOU WOLVES !!
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I think tomorrow is a must win game and the only way we’re going to do it is by attacking them, for that reason I would start with a midfield of Kites, henry, milijas and Jarvis with either Doyle partnering either ebanks or the hoff. I would deffinately put foley in at right back and I would also consider putting mancienne in there somewhere wheather it be lb or cb as both larsson and benitez are tricky customers so could do with a bit of pace in the back 4. The crowd have deffinately got to be the 12th man and sing there heart out for the whole 90mins. I think we can beat them!!
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I’m sick of this, truly pig sick of it.
If any of you planks would have been shouting your mouths off running the manager, team, new signings down at Scarborough Away in ’87 we’d have run you off the terrace. You don’t know what suffering is! Knock the stadium back down, pit a shed up at the top of the south bank, tarrace it so it’ll only hold 12-13k again and barbed wire the lot of you clowns out! Maybe then we’ll have our club back.
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Time too get over the hangover boys, forget the bars and the bees, and the 3B’eees. Let’s get down too some business, and get the job done. 3B’eeees could be two too many.
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Nathan – You part time supporter! Lol!
I agree with all you say. As Zubar is out this weekend I’d go with a back four of Foley, Mancienne, Berra, Stearman. I personally don’t think we should allow a few goals to mask the fact that Craddock is poor at this level like Elokobi.
I kind-of agree about Keogh but I’d still play SEB up top with Doyle. Yes he’s struggled to adapt but he’s hardly played for a start and second, this weekend, he’s up against the kind of defence he was used to last season (not rubbish, just with a very Championship slant to it).
Up the Wolves!
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MikeQB(46)
Remind me how many games SEB has won for us this season? Scored the one goal, a pen. Keogh has scored from open play and has caused the opposition far more problems than SEB has.
Have a balanced view.
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MikeQB – Did you go to Derby away last season?
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Well said Mr Floyd Street, what a legend you were my friend!
We’ve been truly in the sewer for years, but whilst we are in the Prem, shouldn’t we do everything we can to stay? If that means a change at the top the so be it.
SACK THE BOARD, SACK THE MANAGER, SACK THE BLOGGER…. we need to tell it like it is. We are relegation certainties and Mick is garbage as are most of our team.
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Play Henry and Edwards together? You’ve lost the plot. We are in a relegation fight here, and the reason being is the players are NOT good enough.
If you are going to make bold decisions it should be exactly that, and drop these two NOW.
Play Milijas and Castillo in midfield and Jarvis and Kightly on the wings.
Drop Craddock. He may be a hero of late, but to me Mancienne was outstanding in the first few games, he needs to be back in the team.
I would go for …
Hennessey
Foley Bera Mancienne Stearman
Kightly Castillo Milijas Jarvis
Seb Doyle
If Kits isnt fit, then play Keogh out on the right, he’s rubbish in front of goal but he’s ok at making some things happen ( I might be being generous there, but to me, it shows how thread bare this squad is).
We have very few options in this team, because our sqaud is no where near good enough for the Prem League, but until January, we have to play what we have.
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(53) Paul
I know, its pathetic isn’t it? I’ve now looked at the flight times and by the time I get to the Irish bar in Vienna, I’ll have missed the entire game! Wonder if they’ll tape it for me? Have they got Sky plus in Austria?
I just SEB is off the pace full stop and I’m not that a drop in the quality of the opposition will be that much help. Hopefully he has trained hard and will prove me wrong with a sharp performance and a hat-trick to boot?
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richwolf64 (57)
It is you my friend that has lost the plot. Drop Henry? Our most consistent performer all season and replace him with Milijas who has done one good thing when he passed to Kites against Villa?
Crackers. Lets drop Craddock as well while we are it shall we? He came to a defence that was leaking goals, shawed it up and scored 2 against Stoke for good measure.
I think I can see a Tesco near your house. Bizarre.
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linda wolf-you talk about the 50s, maybe your memory is fading a bit because has I remember it when things started to go against the team the “fans” supported the team/manager not got on their backs!
As for Mick buying players-he can only purchase players with the money given to him and pay wages that are agreed at boardroom level.
4 & 6 -Sack Mick for Megson? keep your comments for the baggie page?
If any “wolves fans” have not got the guts to support our team when they need us most then you know what the second word is?
WE ARE WOLVES……………………see you sunday.
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silasluzhny – we all know your game, toddle off back to sandwell… you’ve been sussed.
Those were the days my friends. While I’m at it I’d put the Hatherton back the way it was an all!
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Floyd, so you were proud to be part of the disgraceful violence at Scarborough in ’87? What a pratt you are, young kids were running and screaming in fear from the mindless violence you and your ‘Dutchman’ cowards kicked off that day; yes some of us know who was at the front. Scum
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Cpt_wolves.. you are funny, but you know nothing about football. Sorry mate.
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I remember after getting promotion in May how I said on this forum that come Christmas we’ll all be screeming for Mick’s head, and I’m not far wrong.
We were lucky to go up and had to seriously rely on other teams’ bad form in the middle part of the season to do so. McCarthy has always been tactically inept, and is stuck in the managerial trap of playing his favourites.
The difference a manager can make is massive: take Capello v Maclaren, or the way Domenech and Maradona make brilliant players look useless. McCarthy has always had massive difficulties in galvanising a team wherever he’s been.
Sorry guys but Wolves are stone certs to go down unless someone who has more credible managerial experience is at the helm, and quickly.
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richwolf64 (61)
Really drop Henry and Craddock, really?
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Floyd – Yam right in one way, I do live in Dudley. But I’m Wovlves through and through my friend. I just want what is right for the club and none of this happy slapping clapping codswallopping rubbish.
Support the club or shut up, is that it?
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johnwolf
I just want to get the club back to where it should be and not mixing it with these non-enties of clubs.
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lots are saying we have not signed any quality but look at burnley???? it must be the style of play rather than just the players1 perhaps burnley have more desire to stay up.
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Muppet Mick stated he had unfinished business in the premier league prior to the season starting, lLittle was we to know it he meant he was just hopefull of beating his sunderland points tally!.
Ridiculous team selections
Ridiculous tactics
Ridiculous signings
Ridiculous formations
All equate to us wanting MUPPET MICK OUT !!!!
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Justin – 69, you sound like the sharpest tool in the box. Tool being the operative word.
Yes, lets oust Muppet Mick, he has got it all wrong. So easy to critise when the chips are down, much more difficult to actually be vocally suportive of YOUR team?
Is it really your team or are just another Baggie having a bit of fun?
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Chelsea – if you were there youd have seen only 2 players chased the ball , Jarvo & Edwards. Yet again Henry played a killer pass that allowed our opposition to score. He may be good at stopping the ball but crap at doing anything with it. The only dribble he can do is down his chin. We need a Creative midfielder – pity lampard and gerrard are already taken and way out of our money league. SEBS has had 3 games no wonder hes off the pace. But Scored a penalty , Miss the post by centimeters and had a world class keeper pull off a world class save. Milijas passing looks class but still too slow. The Hoff has played 10 – 15 mins in what 3 games and thats it. And “Goals on Sunday” said all that neeeded to be said about Halford. Maloudas goal Where was the Wing back? And Hennessey ????? Whats that all about.still not commanding his box ! Think the 5-1 Arsenal killed his confidence . showed last week a Chelsea. Where’s Matt Murray when you need him ?
Feel we can still survive but some of our players need to pull thier finger out . UTW
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eddie stevo – wind your neck in would you? following this club in the 1980s was a privilege. I used Scarborough as an extreme example of how bad things can get, yet we supported OUR club, we never knocked them, we loved them, and they loved us. Kids today don’t know they’re born, the kids you’re refering to in the 80s sure did. I’ve never felt more alive than standing on football terraces with my mates around me cheering on MY club. Unfortunately these kids now have to sit down, be quiet and wait to be entertained… At least in the 80s we made our own ;-) Yogi was a real lad – if you know, you’ll know.
Silasluzhny – Fair play mate, if you’m Wolves, you’m Wolves. Living in Dudley it must be the fumes from the BIP in Tipton wafting over and turning your head soft. No it’s not support the club or shut up. It’s simply support the club, that includes backing the manager, the players (can’t bring myself to say the board, but you know what I mean) and presenting a united front to this league of charlies!
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Well spelt out Justin[No.69].Mick led us to the Premiereship ok,but then he proved in the summer that he couldn`t hack it in the big time with his buying.Reminds me of his Sunderland days and he proved that he hadn`t learned a thing during that time.If you have ambition it will cost you money and the club is lacking in that department big time.Just missed out on a man who could and would have given us some hope,namely Avram Grant,now is the time to go for Martin Jol,pleas,not Ince as much as I love him.Best of luck for Sunday lads,lets send the Brummies home with tears in their eyes.
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Lindawolf. non-enties ?? I presume you mean nonentities. If so just have a look at the clubs we “are mixing it with” currently and then the clubs who were around us in the 50s. With the exception of Wigan and Hull and Liverpool and West Ham who were then in Division 2 your talking rubbish. Now go and do some dusting….aaargh !!
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Nathan are you sure the game will even be on tv, it’s not on TV in the UK and Liverpool-Everton begins during it, can’t see pubs showing us over Liverpool
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Eastwood’s rubbish… how lovely and sexist, I bet your mother is really proud.
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I have every confidence that SEB will get off the mark against Blues in open play on sunday. He,s bursting at the seamsi dont care what you knockers say. oh he,s not stepped up to the mark he cant cut it in the premier league, remember that goal against charlton, say no more, he,s an out and out goal machine once that first one goes in in open play watch him go on to be top scorer for us..
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Spot on Nathan with your analysis about Wolves demise ,the only point I would make is I believe the villain in this lot is Moxley he wont sanction paying prem wages despite his pre season promises about not doing an Albion has he not learnt from our last episode in the prem.The Fans have done their bit by filling the stadium despite a 30% hike in prices,so its over to you Mr Morgan January is time to invest in the company you bought off Sir Jack for 10 quid.
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Can’t say that I agree with most of this blog. Most of the players from last season have shown that they can’t cut it in the PL. While the new ones have generally shown that they are of a higher quality.
Castillo is putting his foot in where no-one else will – especially not Henry who is too lightweight.
Zubar is quick and composed and isnt afraid to have a shot – though is prone to the odd error or two.
Milijas has a game opening deft touch that no-one else seems to have but needs a strong midfield to cover for his lack of physical presence.
Doyle – great touch and willingness but needs a better foil than SEB.
The Hoff – can’t say too much because no-one has seen very much of him. He is no worse that SEB or big Chris though as at least he shows commitment.
Halford is probably the least effective of the newcomers and apart from a good long throw – is not Premiership material.
Surman played as poorly as the rest of the team against Chelsea.
As for the “old boys” Kites, SEB, Big Chris, Big George and Berra do not look like they will take the step up.
Hennesy has great potential but only that right now. Jarvis and Edwards also have the pontential but need greater self-belief.
Henry needs more bite and to develop more attacking instincts.
As for Keough – deserves another chance. His ability to hold up the ball up-field is what we have been lacking of late.
All-all, we have bunch of average players that are lacking self-belief. A team that can well play for parts of a game but can go to sleep too easily. We lack a leader on the pitch that can push the team to really go for it.
There have been lesser teams of recent years that have done – indeed are doing – better than us because they have been led by a more inspirational manager.
MM and Connor are clearly the real culprits to the poor displays of the team and need to find some way to fire them up to perform with greater intensity and passion.
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Players for January
Sol Campbell
Reo Coker
Chris Brunt
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A fair piece from Nathan although the problems are so deep impossible to know where to satart.
The owner, management, players and fans are all guilty in different ways of taking our once great club to a feeling of despair and bewilderment
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The problem at Wolves is in the Boardroom not the Manager’s Office.But let us all hope for 3 welcome points on Sunday.
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Nathan, good blog as ever..
Let me know how the Yello concert goes (got the new album here – actually very good – touch yello) and i’ll fill you in on the game when you get back.. 2-1 Wolves I reckon and we’ll live another day.. All the best!
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Most teams coming up have problems adapting to the Premier.If we finish fourth from bottom,it will be considered to be a successful season.There’s pleanty of games yet!It’s time for the players to show what they are made of.
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No.40 You must live in a dream world. Im not saying we are gonna go down for certain but you seem a bit over confident you fool!
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lets give em a break and remember out of darkness cometh light…mick is honest and may be not every ones cup of tea …but he is all we have and he has done us proud of a couple of years …so as a way of saying thanks lets learn with him and believe we can come through this with a couple of jan signings you never know…i believe in wolves and always hope…but im not a judge and i cant change what we have be it points or staff ..yet as a fan i will always support and believe
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Nathan, Maltawolves beat me to it. Charlie P’s is a good place to watch the game. Alternatively there is Flannagans. I usually go to Charlies and if you do make it there, then sample the the Beef and Guinness pie! I am stuck in Brno this weekend, so I have to make do with the Kings Head.
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There off again, ! Lets do a hull ! says stearman . how about concentrating on doing a Wolves, we aint bothered about anybody else, just get on with it and do the talking on the pitch…. deep in my heart i do believe we shall overcome some day.
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(83) wolvesalltheway
Is the new album any good? Its only been available on import to the UK so far. I thought I’d pick a copy up at the gig, but I think there is a deluxe version coming out with the DVD as well.
Vienna is a long way to go when Yello are not even really performing, buts its the chance to hopefully meet the band after the gig which is why I’m going.
Let me know if anybody is going to Charlie P’s for the game, I well be the one in the Wolves colours!
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Sorry, forgot to mention, Reality (75), yes the game is being shown live. I went on the Charlie P’s website and they give a full run down of the games they have on and Wolves is definately one of them.
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Nathen, Charlie P’s is great place to watch football, you most welcome. I am a Rapid Vienna fan and in our player, Stefan Maierhofer, you have truly great player who score lots of goals, we are sad to seem him go but hope he does well at Wolverhampton.
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76) Lindawolf. He’s a very naughty boy and I’ve given him a right clip round the ear and told him Santa won’t be bringing that Big Book of Football Knowledge he wanted.
Would you like it instead ?
Now I have to get back to the kitchen to rattle those pots and pans
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S E B, not motivated now he’s got his 2 million pound a year contract, mark 2
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Joey I still wouldn’t play SEB tomorrow, I just don’t think he is on the pace.
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We need to really splash the cash in January, we are so poor at the moment, no creativity in the middle of the park.
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80. Brunt, do you really think he would sign for you lot
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12.sorry to say this but you are diluding yourself if you think these players are gonna get us out of trouble because jarvis apart the rest just aint good enough s.ward: struggled against the better players in the championship kightly: he is also a good championship player and even struggled there last year but has been found out at this level.elokobi: same. seb:another who hasn’t made the step up getting chances but can’t take them.keough is probably the one player who has surprised me and should start tomorrow alongside doyle who is a great signing we need more like him in january if we are to survive. as for halford, berra and even mancienne they also look championship material and make way too many mistakes.i’d like to see the hoff given a run of games also as we play nice football but we need to mix it a bit and give him some decent service from the wide areas from jarvis and now kites is out maybe try keough on the right
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20 agree with your comments its the boards penny pinching and cheapskate effort at staying in this league with nothing but championship level players at best.where are all these proven premiership players we were promised moxey?oh yes that was before you hiked the season ticket prices up to more than £150 more than the albion and the villa and look at the calibre of players the villa have to ours(we even lose out to the championship baggies in signing jerome thomas). sorry but your charging top dollar to us fans to come and watch a very ordinary bunch of players (doyle apart) without investment in quality we will go down.i look at other so called strugglers hull, brum,pompey,west ham,bolton etc they all still have quality players in their team all with premiership pedigree,how many do we have? NONE!
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47 mike.how many matches has seb won for us this year then? none!how many has keough won? well i seem to remember him scoring the winner hitting the bar and should of had a cast iron penalty against wigan(hope i’m wrong and its just his fitness but so far seb has looked out of his depth).at least keoughs general play is good and he links up the play well
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Unless Wolves start to show the aggression and the will to win. They will be back in the lower divisions, we need to win all games from now on and with plenty of goals each game. All the fowards seem to be goal shy. I really do not think you can blame MM, he must be as fed up as I am.Forget the namby pamby ways of today,GET stuck and win and earn your big pay packets Play football and win, you only play with a beach ball !! Enough said.
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ok, lets look at the stats. We have played 14 games, lost 8, drew 4 and won 2. now who was playing, who scored and set up a winner in the only two games won
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Blake is rubbish, get Keogh back in, get Castillo back in too instead of that clown Henry. Lose next week, and the natives will be revolting
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100 Gerry How can you not Blame MM 3 left backs played yesterday gonna score a hatful with 5 CBs AND 3 LBs Totally clueless.Jiwal natives are up in arms already.
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