Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Time to unleash The Hoff?
Friday 4th December 2009, 9:17AM GMT.
I was flying out of Zurich airport on Sunday just as we kicked off against Birmingham, gutted that I couldn’t find a method to follow the game in the air, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
By the time I landed in Vienna, I had a dozen texts waiting on my phone from Rachel, who was making use of my seat in the Steve Bull and kindly keeping me up-to-date with the joyous events unfolding at Molineux.
I think the words, rubbish, clueless and pathetic were used as the basis for most of her texts. By the time I had stumbled into Charlie P’s, an Irish Bar on the outskirts of Vienna, I caught the final five minutes which, by all accounts, was Wolves best period of the game.
As well as meeting my heroes, Dieter Meier and Boris Blank of Yello, whilst in Vienna, I went to watch Austria’s most successful club team, Rapid Vienna, in a training session. One of their players, Christian Thonhofer, recognised that I was wearing the colours of Stefan Maierhofer’s new club and came over for a chat.
Christian, pictured above, is good friends with the Hoff and spoke to him on the phone soon after the Birmingham game.
I won’t share everything that Christian told me regarding their conversation, but he did say that the Hoff was desperate for a proper chance to show what he can do in gold and black and couldn’t understand why Wolves were playing the long ball against the Blues whilst leaving him on the bench.
Now I’m not saying that Stefan Maierhofer is the answer to all our current woes, but with Sylvan Ebanks Blake struggling to convert the few chances he is getting at this level and with no one else chipping in with goals, maybe the time has come to start Stefan against Bolton.
I watched the Birmingham game when I got back to the UK and it really was an incredibly abject performance. All the talk about a relegation scrap and taking a kicking from Arsenal and Chelsea had obviously taken their toll on the players.
The belief and confidence that was there as a result of a successful season in the Championship has now ebbed away to the extent that the player’s look beaten before they have kicked a ball.
I’m getting sick of reading statements from Wolves players saying that they don’t expect to get any points against the bigger teams of the Premiership. I want to read that they have got the passion and determination to go to the likes of Anfield and Old Trafford and put up a fight.
It should be a privilege to play for this club and the majority of the squad need to realise that wearing a Wolves shirt might be as good as it ever gets.
Mick must surely know he got it wrong in the summer. He sounded confusing when saying that on the one hand he is happy with the players he has got but then admits that the club has players with experience, just not Premier league experience.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! I know he couldn’t say it, but wouldn’t it be refreshing if he said, look I couldn’t sign who I wanted in the summer so I’ve got to work with what I’ve got.
Apart from a third of the £18 million spent to bring in Kevin Doyle, I would argue that the other £12 million has been wasted; spread too thinly bringing in too many average players with no top flight experience.
It’s obvious the team is a bit of a mess at the moment, with Mick doing his old trick of trying to wedge square pegs into round holes, ridiculously playing four centre backs against Birmingham.
And unfortunately the desperation of the January transfer market is never an ideal time to address the problem. Players in form are usually players who have something to win with their current club.
Would Kevin Nolan or Jermaine Beckford want to swap almost certain promotion parties to come and join in the fun of a relegation battle?
January isn’t a time for gambles and somebody like Nigel Reo-Coker would be a welcome addition and a potential leader to galvanise a squad that are beginning to look far too battle weary with only a third of the season gone.
The Birmingham loss has hit everybody hard and understandably some frustrated fans are calling for the heads of the four M’s’ McCarthy, Morgan, Moxey and Mr Clipboard.
But for a little luck this season we could have found ourselves in a much healthier league position and I wouldn’t be an advocate of a change at the helm, just yet.
Notlob come to Mol tomorrow and, as well as starting with the Hoff, I would also switch Jarvis to the right wing, now that Kightly has been cruelly hit with injury yet again. Ward should come into the left back slot and I would keep Hahnemann in and fill the middle with Henry and Castillio.
Bully is right, if we can’t beat Bolton at home then we don’t deserve to be in the Premiership and the players need to shake off the nerves, show some bottle and get stuck in from the off.
Enjoy your weekend and keep believing.
UTW!
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WHAT THE CROCODILE HAT .. WAS THAT! ..THERE’S NO POSTBOX, NO SHUTTLECOCK AND WHERE’S THE JELLY GIRAFFE?.
WHEN THEIR FRUITY ACORN GETS THE BALL .. I WANT YOU TO SNOWFLAKE HIS TEAPOT .. HARD!!!
NOW THAT’S THE KIND OF MANAGER WE NEED DOWN THE MOLINEUX. LET’S FACE IT, HIS TACTICS MAKE MORE SENSE THAN MCARTHYS.
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What was the point in signing him if he never get the chance to kick a ball! Not even from the subs bench! Anyone know how Foley is?
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if either Henry or Edwards start on Saturday, I shall get up and leave the ground before even a single kick of the ball.
These two are second rate championship players, sell them to Derby or someone, and lets play ur best players, for once, just once, this year and let’s see what they can do!
Castillo and Milijas to start, PLEASE !
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Why don’t we stop dancing around the facts? SACK THICK MICK NOW!
Lets get a manager in who may be able to attract some quality in the January transfer window.
As for Ward, Hoff, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Berra, Hahenmann, Craddock, Stearman… all rubbish. Mancienne and Doyle are the only players who would get anywhere near other Premiership teams.
If we lose tomorrow then I will be in the bar starting the chant to sack mick…. WE WANT MCCARTHY OUT, WE WANT MCCARTHY OUT!
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Again a reasoned piece aimed at stimulating reasonable consideration and remarks. Don’t really know whether said ‘macro H’ is any kind of answer to our woes. He’s a risk but then again so is what we are being offered so far.
The respoonses from Mick and Karl Henry have been lame/uninspiring-suggesting something of what leads us to be in this mess so far. As for Moxey, he’s just more of the same we have coem to expect.
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The time has come to show some confidence in Mick’s summer signings. He says he is happy with his ‘lot’ and if this is the case then play them! Lets see Milijas and the Hoff play from the start and give them a chance.
How can we judge the Hoff at the moment on the back of 10 minutes here and there?
Mick got it right last season, give him time to get it right again. Stop calling him THICK and get behind the team.
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Should have got the Hoff on ages ago, Keogh is Championship level (a good sub maybe)and SEB well off the mark (overweight and lazy).
While we are at it lets have a look at the other ‘quality’ signings and get Milijhas & Castillo on and drop Henry… Me thinks this is all a bit radical for Super Mick, his pride comes before our performance!!
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And they say us wolves fans are fickle??…..
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Where is the passion and noise coming from the club? Mick, Edwards, Henry… all they have spouted is that we are in a relegation battle and we won’t get anything against the big boys. Well, dah! Really?
There is no passion, no fight… we are doomed at the moment.
Unfortunately if we can’t beat NOTLOB tomorrow, then Mick will be grabbing his Yorkshire mac and buggering off back to the Dales.
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What has SEB been eating? Just how did he get so many goals in the last 2 seasons? Get him out of the team and get him on a diet and get Daley working on his fitness.
Bolton tomorrow is do or die. Simples.
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Back in 2006, i said that MM would get us up but wouldn’t be able to take us to the next level. The first 14 games shows why this is the case and the summer signings apart from Doyle haven’t improved what we have already got. The long ball game is because the players haven’t got the confidence to do anything else. People who come on here suggesting we sack MM, forget it. He has achieved his number one objective in Moxey/Morgans eyes. The club will be self financing for the next few years with promotion and the parachute payments. I’m afraid we have become a yo yo club.
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If we beat Bolton and Burnley,it will only delay the inevitable. Cant score goals,defence is weak and the midfield is average championship standard.I cant see anyone decent coming in the Jan window.On the assumption Morgan wont sell ,he needs to start planning for life in the Championship now and start making wholesale changes.If Bolton can get a point at Fulham can you honestly see us beating them?
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If I was boss, team for tomorrow would be:
Hahnemann
Stearman (if Foley still out)
Craddock
Berra
Ward
Castillo
Henry
Milijas
Keogh (free role behind front two breaking from midfield)
The Hoff (at least he runs about a bit and might win some headers)
Doyle
In reality though I expect long balls to Halford on right wing to win knock downs or get line outs, sorry, throw ins.
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You look very chummy with Christian Nath!
I still believe we have a very good team to compete in the Prem but they look like they are so low on confidence its untrue. Come on lads, how often do you get to play in the top level of UK football?
Nath is right, show some pride in the shirt, for some of you this is the highest level you will ever play, and for some of you its too high as it is.
I think we will win 1-0 tomorrow and then we need to go to Manure and Spurs and really believe that we can get something not just roll over and have our bellies tickled.
The fans deserve better than this.
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i dont understand why people want drastic changes and saying that the likes of craddock an sterman are rubbish !
the fact is they have been arguebly are tow best defenders
MM conistently is changing the team but the midfield remains the same ! henry and edwards are just not good enough.
my team for saturday
Hahnemman
Stearman
Craddock
Mancienne
Ward
Jarvis
Castillo
Milijas
edwards ( just that we have nobody else)
Doyle
Keogh
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Forgetaboutit… already relegated. The winnable games have been and gone at home. Hull, Pompey and now Birmingham.
Look at 2010′s fixtures at the Mol and you will realise that we will be passing the Tesco’s on the way back to the Championship.
Sad, but getting rid of Thick Mick, the clipboard and Moxey is the only way to move this club on and have a slim chance of survival.
And can people stop saying “simples”? Makes you sound like a moron.
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1. southbank barmy army – Well said and you are spot on mate. If we do not win on Saturday then we should all give up!! There is also this Tranmere/Aldershot thing coming up, will it be another Chorley?? I can remember watching all 3 games back then, the only thing I can say is that it was worse than what is happening at present!! UTW……….
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100% agreed Nathan. I have been left very depressed by the performance on sunday.
The Hoff may not be the answer but how much have we seen of him. Maybe his pitch time doesnt total 1 half! I think he should play because if we going to play huff ball, people may think that he doesnt win many headers but he wins more than SEB will!
I like the thought about NRC from Villa, but here is another one for you from Villa. NICKY SHOREY??? Answer that left back problem, has premiership experiance!
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MUPPET MICK OUT !!!
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Spread too thinly on too many average players.Spot on Nathan. Everybody knows it and now we have to live with the consequences.
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HELP!!
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great blog bro, sounds like you had a superb time in Vienna.
Mick did an excellent job in getting us promoted and as champions as well. But he seems to be struggling at premiership level.
Here is my stupid idea: Should the transfers happen from the chairman down instead of the manager down? i.e. once promotion is attained then a premiership level manager is also put in place (as a matter of course), as well as premiership level players.
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I fear we’re gonna get beat again against Bolton, he’s got to do something to change the way we’re playing, surely SEB has gotta be dropped (who’d have ever thought we’d say that) I haven’t rated the Hoff when i’ve seen him play for us so far but I agree he’s gotta be worth a go against Bolton. I don’t think MOrgan’s silence is doing himself any favours, he’s got to come out and back Mccarthy or sack him. Hope you enjoyed the Yello concert Nathan, wish i’d have been there instead of at the game last week.
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To give us any chance tomorrow we must pick the Doyle/keogh combination with Edwards & Jarvis & Milijas to start…I would drop Mancienne ( out of form ) Ebanks ( Out of form/lazy) Halford ( not good enough )
I would give the Hough his big chance tomorrow, retain Hannerman, and how far away is Chris, someone who may succeed with a few games under his belt.
The Doyle/Keogh is a must from the start
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personally I think the hoff is what we need, I think he’ll bring the best out of doyle aswell. I remember last time we were in the prem we couldn’t score goals, camara couldn’t hit a barn door. Then when it was too late we put him up front with cort who used to win the odd header and they both started scoring. Hopefully the hof could be the catalyst for doyle. but lets not leave it unitl it’s too late. I agree with castillo and milijas in mid field aswell, as milijas will look for the forward pass and the through ball rather than hoofing it or passing it sideways or backwards. The sooner we can get foley fit the better as well
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4) What are you on about? Mancienne has been poor this season. As for your assessment of four of Wolves players, I totally disagree. Ward is our current best left back. Stearman has performed better than anyone at the back and is one for the future. Jarvis has put plenty of crosses in and players like Sylvan at Chelsea have missed what can only be described a sitter. Milijas is captain of a Serb team that cruised into the World Cup and is one of our best creative players.
We need to put the Blues nightmare behind us and give it to Bolton. Wholesale changes are needed and we have owed them one for a very long time.
Let’s have no negativeness tomorrow. It’s do or die. Wolves 3 Bolton 1.
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I would put up Sylvan Ebanks-blake for transfer or loan in the January window as he has proved to most of us that he is not up to Premiership football, and cannot fit in with the structure led by Kevin Doyle.
I would doubt any Premiership Club would want him now, so may be a second tier club and a deal or exchange for a more adaptable striker
I would bring back Volkes and run him in the team when we can recover him, a massive mistake in letting him out on loan, really great potential…We should look at the several cash strapped clubs and those facing Administration, as ther is much talent to be reaped…Ambrose and Moses from Palace for a start, and for Gods sake, get a new Manager, someone with balls like Neil Warnock or for all his faults both on and off the field, ElTel’ Terry Venerables would soon have our lads believing in themselves
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HERE WE GO AGAIN BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
WE WANT MICK OUT BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGG !!!!!!
WOLVES FANS HAVE SHORT MEMORIES I CAN REMEMBER GOING HOME AND AWAY IN THE OLD 4TH DIVISION BUT THESE SO CALLED WOLVES FANS WHO JUMP ON THE PREMIERSHIP BANDWAGGON WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FOR YEARS DO MY HEAD IN
LOOK AT THE CLUB THEN AND THE CLUB NOW YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO YOU SUPPORT
OR MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO END UP LIKE CHARLTON AND SOUTHAMPTON ETC IN LEAGUE 1
GET REAL GET BEHIND MM OR GET THE HELL OUT !
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Is this the same Wolves that was going to show us how it would be done????? What happend to we won’t do an albion ???? At least next year you will have a chance in the championship because we will not be there, we all know what happens when we are both in the championship … we go up and you do not/
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Looks like we have got to put up with this garbage. Moxey’s declaration of total support for MM has comdemned us. He even came up with lame excuses in his defence. Just wish Steve Morgan would show his hand. Sorry guys and gals looks like we are doomed to more square pegs and round holes football. (I use the word football lightly by the way) Ah well Bolton tomorrrow (yawn) just hope the pies are hot it could be long cold afternoon. Keep smiling and come on you Wolves
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I would rather spend another £500 and see us winning every week and winning another title than putting up with this gross in the Premiership. The league is boring and the standard of refereeing is appalling.
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good blog bro.
I hope this comment is acceptable?
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Can people give the ‘Thick Mick’ thing a rest. I’m Irish and a Wolves fan for years – since 74 League Cup Triumph. Irish people are no thicker than anyone else, and lots of them support Wolves.
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i will give any body 50/1 odds on naming the 11
players muppet picks for saturday,if we do not win
he has to go NOW he totally clueless any body with
half a brain cane see that,i told you all that when he came that he might get us up but no chance
of him keeping us there. you can not make 3/4 changes every week and think the team will play
well it a no brainer.
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What is it with all of the supporters around Birmingham. If things are not completely on the up then we are all slagging off the team and not trying to build them. The Birmingham tactics were spot on on Sunday. Get stuck into them straight away. The crowd will be on their backs and their heads will go down. Come on guys………get behind them. Look at Stoke….they dont have much quality in their side, but their supporters have added that extra man and it gets results. KRO and STOV
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Players to be signed in January.
CM – Reo-Coker
CM – Kevin Nolan
LM – Joe Ledley
LB – Nickey Shorey
CB – Sol Campbell
I’d take any of them, we desperately need new players.
Tmrw is a must win game. If we don’t win then I would advocate that Mick gets the sack. Not even a draw is good enough and Bully is right – if we can’t beat Bolton at home then we aren’t good enough.
My team would be:
Hahnemann
Stearman
Zubar
Mancienne
Ward
Jarvis
Castillo
Henry
Milijas
Doyle
Ebanks
Just don’t play the long ball game and we’ll be ok.
I’d love to see the wolves pass the ball on the floor for a change, I paid for my season ticket to watch football after all!
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Alright Ry? I think your last comment made it through mate! Vienna was fantastic ta and meeting Yello was mind blowing.
As for Wolves, I can’t imagine Saturday is going to be a football fest, but we just need a win at the moment.
Give me a bell over the weekend, be good to catch up!
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28. Kiddy Wolf, I was also there during those days of the old fourth division, yes, we are in the premier league but whether it is the prem or the old 4th division an abject performance is an abject performance and as supporters we have a right to be able to complain and voice our opinions. For example a report (Defeats take toll on Wolves report)in the star the other day had Hahnemman saying that we “We were always likely to lose against Arsenal and Chelsea” Why??? with that sort of negative attitude then they will get beat everytime. To my mind we give these teams far to much respect, we should get in their faces put some crunching tackles in put them in row z if necessary just to let them know they are in for a game. And MM can’t use the excuse this time that he didn’t have the funds available, I’m sorry but he might be a ‘fairly’ good championship manager but his prem record leaves a lot to be desired. And to be honest I have never been a fan of his, the team yes, him and his ways no.
Get Steve Copell in.
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old gold… 34 I might take you up on that offer of 50/1 to name the starting 11. 10 quid on 10 different combinations, I’m sure one of them will come off. The team:-
Hahnemann
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Stearman
Edwards
Henry
Castilio
Jarvis
SEB
Doyle
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SOL CAMPBELL!!! SOL CAMPBELL!!! HES ON A FREE SIGN HIM UP FOR GOD SAKES
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John (de Wolf) none of those players would want to leave good clubs, apart from Sol, and come to this mess at the moment. 0-0 tomorrow and its goodbye Mick. Spurs and Manchester United to come, what chance do we have????????
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Avid Wolf, Steve Coppell is not the answer. Look at how badly Reading played with him in charge and he joined Man City for 5 minutes and then ran away crying.
Gerald Houllier and Steve Bull, the dream team!
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New approach tomorrow needed lets be honest.
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your right about the hoff he has got to start playing games but also milijas zubar castillo doyle theres a spine to the team with them and they should be the first names on the team sheet if fit,also most of the 5 players play international football so they have experiance on the big stage and i presume over the last couple of years they were also playing in european cups of some sort at there old clubs so once again valuable experiance which most of the players mm picks dont have,it might take time for them to gel but hey the teams mick are picking now arn’t gelling so give it a go i think its the only chance we have of picking up points to keep us in touching distance of safety and it might help to persuade better players to sign for us in january because god knows were gunna need em,,,WE ARE WOLVES,,,ilk
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Great Article. Whole heartedly agree, except I dont want mccarthy as manager.
but if we must persist with him, then we must put him under pressure to play HIS PLAYERS IN POSITION, as well as Jarvis to start, SEB to make way for the Hoff (or atleast keogh) (cringe) and lets see a fit Zubar and Milijas doing what they were brought in to do – build up play from the back and feed in Doyle
Come on Mick.
We Are Wolves !!!
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Nathan, I rather see Rammstein than Yello who are not in the same league. Pretty much like us this season.
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Mistyk, a daft-camp German rock band or one of the Godfathers of modern electronic dance music… mmmm, tough choice.
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WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!We have had it – we are embarrasing to watch – SEB cannot score (big and lazy)- get this team sorted Mick or you will be up the road – Wolves will be lucky to sell 15000 season tickets next term!!!
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…err, ‘making use of your seat’,aren’t season tickets non transferable? Don’t let Moxey find out!
Yes, release the Hoff, & **** them off!
The Hoff obviously isn’t a natural footballer, but firing accurate crosses or throw ins at him, (not desperate hit & hope long balls) has got to be as good as anything else we’ve got to offer.
The Halford Hoff combo should at least be something to fall back on for the last 15 minutes if things aren’t going our way. He has a feasome shot too so I’d like to see it one day. Same with Milijas…he’s a proven goalscorer. I know its against Mick’s priciples to tinker with the team & play players out of position…but why not give Milijas a try up front with Doyle.
Good blog
Simon :)
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Firstly number 33 is not me…. :D
As for the thick mick (this is to number 33) that isnt being said cause he is Irish, its cause he is rubbish and hasnt a clue what he is doing!!
Think you maybe paranoid there.
Must win tomorrow, come on boys, lets get behind them for 90mins, what will be will be. I am sure we can vent our anger when 90mins is up, not before!
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#36
Forget Joe Ledley,who is playing in pain,and requires an operation.
Sol Campbell is too much of a risk.
Mick McCarthy would make a better CB.
(Then we could have a new manager)
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Mad Mick sez beers better up north.. 2 . 0 to Wolves seb & doyle, megson to get sent off. Wolves back on track.
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Lose tomorrow and in the words of the late Josef Locke it’s “GOODBYE GOODBYE” I wish the Wolves the last GOODBYE.
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Agree with Nathan’s observations regarding last summer’s transfers; quantity definitely prevailed over quality.
Correspondingly, I’ve been far from persuaded that Maierhoffer can make a valid contribution; particularly against such as Bolton, who’ve made an art of direct, aerial football and would surely gobble us up were we to attempt to play them at their own game.
Too many fans are guilty of practicing the same narrow-mindedness they accuse McCarthy of, refusing to recognise Keogh’s merits as an intellegent, mobile foil for Doyle, releasing the latter from the need to drop deep and do the kind of linking and ball-retaining job that’s proving beyond Sylvain’s ability.
Sadly, I also agree with the contributors who suspect the game is already up as far as relegation’s concerned, we really did need to build a points base from which to slog through the scond part of the season.
Nevertheless, there would be great merit in at least registering a respectable points total come season’s end; anything above 30 would ultimately represent an encouraging platform for next season.
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thick mick has just surprised the idiots on here lol
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Quite right, Dublin Wolf. The Irish are not thick, and people are mistaking Mick’s forthrightness for stupidity.
Criticise his team picks, but not his intelligence
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at the end of the day kids micks not the one on the pitch scoring own goals and gifting peple strikes at goal..ur defence is shocking and strugles every week everytime sum1 attacks us i think thetyre gonna score! seb needs to pull his fat finger out the lazy fatty,karl henry is just total pants..for one week just play the best players! fair enugh some of these players got us to the prem but they have had ther chance and they cant cut it with the big boys so….hahneman, stears, berra, craddock, ward, keogh r wing, castillo, milijas, jarvis, doyle, the hoff. see what happens..
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MICK WILL NEVER AGREE TO THIS TEAM
HAHNEMAN FOLEY STEARMAN MANCIENNE WARD
CASTILLO MILJAS SURMAN HENRY
KEOGH DOYLE KEEP THE FAITH
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