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A line drawn in the sand for Lalley
Tuesday 22nd December 2009, 9:30AM GMT.
Wolves’ Sporting Star columnist John Lalley hopes that the win over Burnley has finally drawn a line under the Manchester United debate so the game can move on.
It’s a bit like trekking to the doctor for the inoculation, painful and irritating at the time but beneficial in the long run. Post Burnley, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy might happily claim that he is not looking for ‘vindication’ or ‘justification’ but I bet he feels personally vindicated and fully justified in his actions at Old Trafford last week.
The match with Burnley was hardly a classic and the action unfolding in front of us emphasised the root of our manager’s dilemma. Essentially at Molineux on Sunday we witnessed two sets of Championship players operating in the Premier League, with survival at this level the sole purpose of the entire campaign.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can indulge himself in the luxury of being critical of the Wolves approach at Manchester United, while conveniently overlooking that his own club with his closest ally David Dein were prime movers in the creation of the Premier League back in 1992, to enable clubs such as the Gunners to drive home still further the chasm of disparity that now exists in English football.
Since its inception, this money-gushing cartel has made its prime target the increase of the divide by whatever means to ensure that no credible challenge to their all embracing power can exist.
Only Blackburn have been able to stick a pin in this exclusive, protective bubble and that was back in the early days when a local tycoon could fund a club and achieve a measure of short-term success.
For Wolves fans, the enduring disappointment is that Jack Walker managed to bring the fleeting triumph to Ewood Park whilst we scandalously squandered a glorious opportunity to embark upon a similar project under Sir Jack Hayward at Molineux.
The two Jacks seem hopeless anachronisms now – instead the English game is gripped in the hands of overseas investors and the dismissal of Mark Hughes at Eastlands is simply the latest example of the impatience naturally generated when a club like Manchester City splash out £500million plus on summer signings and aggregate wages.
For the likes of Wolves and Burnley this kind of profligate monetary madness holds not an iota of relevance, it is a fantasy world where neither club can dream of existing.
Yet Sky Television, as it did from the outset, will continue to insist that fans enjoy the rare privilege of sharing in the experience of the world’s finest competition – stronger than La Liga, Seria A, the Bundesliga and anything South America has to offer.
Hardly surprising that their marketing people continue to stress their claim after shelling out £1.7billion to televise such matches between 2007 and 2010.
Sat aside these astronomical figures, I suppose I should have been deemed grateful at investing a mere £41 for a ticket in Old Trafford’s East Stand last Tuesday, but I wasn’t and remained pretty under whelmed all night.
As our coaches arrived at the ground, the giant blood-red neon sign lit up the darkness. It simply says plainly and largely ‘Manchester United’ without bothering with the optional words ‘Football Club’ which for a fan are the two most important words in the lexicon.
They are more an institution, a world-wide conglomerate, a massive global mega-store of merchandise owned by an American with no more understanding of Salford, the Manchester ship canal or Sir Bobby Charlton than the average Eskimo. Yet United carry a larger debt than any other Premier League club – in their case to the tune of £700million – but no doubt their credit is cast iron.
When the Wolves team was announced, we all knew that any outside chance we harboured of cocking a snook at the big-shots was done for.
It’s stretching credulity to imagine Stan Cullis handing Sir Matt Busby a similar kind of team sheet back in the days when the two clubs were the closest and fiercest of rivals in English football. But those days are gone – the leveller of the maximum wage of Billy Wright and Duncan Edwards has been blitzed by the free market of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
I didn’t like our manager’s decision or the precedent it may set, but I understood his reasoning. In hindsight, it seems to have worked to our benefit. Three wins in our last four games at this level is riches indeed. On the other hand, we might just as well have beaten Burnley had our first choice players turned out against United.
Burnley’s team played Arsenal on the Wednesday, yet came on strongest at Molineux late in the game. Who knows? There is no definitive answer, McCarthy took what he thought was a prudent and sensible decision and achieved his aim for the club.
Like all the other travelling fans last week, I felt short changed having endured a lousy trip to the North West, but the last thing we need is to continue to make an issue out of it. Both manager and fans have had their say and made their point – both parties have a valid perspective.
But the bottom line is that we all share the desire for a successful outcome at the season’s end. Time to move on.
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Exactly right Lalley. Well put. Mick McCarthy will indeed move us forward but we really do need to unite behind this WOlves team. I am at a loss as to why some fans insist on being so Anti Mickj and the boys. It seems totally counter productive.
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Agree. Its time to move on as we aint gonna get an apology from Mick or Jez, as they show a complete lack of empathy for the fans. I don’t think Morgan was happy bunny though, so lets hope Mick keeps winning!
However, I hope we give it a go against L’pool as that is arguably an easier game than Man city. Also I’ve already bought my ruddy ticket!
Happy ’12th in the league’ Xmas!
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It has taken alot of arguements and debates to fully convince me but I now fully agree with Micks decision. Even if we had beaten utd could we have really afforded any more injuries just as we had started to show fight again. An injury to just about any present 1st team player is a major blow as confidence as returned to those with a 1st team shirt. Mick also finally knows who should be in the 1st team. Up the wolves!
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Drawn a line, most definately.
But, I’ll never forgive him for tarnishing the great name of this club. No excuse is justified for doing that.
I am annoyed that despite a huge fan backlash, he says he would do it again. Well that’s great, but shows an utter disregard for the fans. If you EVER do it again, I hope Steve Morgan sacks you with immediate effect.
If you don’t do it again, I wish you well, and thank you for a memorable 2009!
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Mick McCarthy is the best manager Wolves have had in 20 years. Why some people continue to question his ability is beyond me.
“In Mick we Trust”
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I like the points made. I am sick of moaning about it, Im not going to get my money back. :( Shame as I have just spent £100 to get car fixed exactly a week after £100 was spent on the game.
I think I would of just liked to actually of heard the word sorry from someone at the club. Not the PR spin and media rubbish.
Just a statement saying “Sorry to the fans that travelled and are disappointed, we know they spent a lot of money in difficult financial times and expensive time of year. (then the PR rubbish)”
Sorry does seem the hardest word!
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Totally agree with your comments John but that match will take a long time to be forgotten after the way in which McCarthy seemingly waved the white flag before a ball had been kicked.
No one knows what the result against Burnley would have been… but we won, that’s all that matters plus the 3 points that went with it and come May if we manage to stay up, hopefully the OT fiasco will be just a memory and not a very vivid one at that!
Fans do matter though and a hint or 2 from Mick would do no harm if ever he contemplated that move again. Wolves fans could then decide to go to the game or stay at home – no complaints would follow from anyone and certainly Mick would not receive the criticism he has just received – but you never know!
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The whole situation summed up beautifully. Sack Swain now!
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No , I disagree , I do not believe we can move on until our owner Mr Morgan, sides with McCarthys actions against Manchester United in public.
I believe that Mr Morgan will not side with McCarthy for bringing the game that he, and we the supporters, into disrepute.and one can only hope and trust that Mr Morgan realises he has a ‘stupid Cowboy’ at the helm, and acts to replace him as soon as possible.
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I tend to agree with most of your article.
However I still do not feel it was necessary to make so many changes against Man U. With just a few extra key players we could well have got something from the game.
Now, as you say, we have to draw a line move on
and continue supporting the team as we always do,
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Agree.
Other than that the dubious morality of the Premiership per sae, might continue to be brought more into the open i.e. other than the whims of grossly rich men being over indulged.
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I have just seen a report that ‘muppet Mick’ is after Lee Carsley, the aging Birmingham player unable to hold a place in their side, and the ‘mongrel’ who took big Chris out of the game against Birmingham last season in the Championship, with a foul that should have seen him red carded.
I for one do not want to see Carsley at Wolves. and repeat previous pleas that Morgan rids himself of this manager of ours
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Burnley take 1 point from the 2 games in question, Wolves take 3. Mick has made his point.
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So why bring it up again lalley, it was a week ago! its only your lot at the Express and Star that keep stirring it up-has you say it’s time to move on.
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The last four words of the above article should be taken by all that have Wolverhampton Wanderers in their hearts. TIME TO MOVE ON.
Onwards & upwards
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MM was totally vindicated in my opinion. I believe he should not have rested 10 players but considering our growing list of long term injuries and the fact that nearly all our players have had some sort of injury this season, a lot would not have been able to play two difficult away fixtures in the space of 4 days. The only ones who might have been able to play were Stearman, Berra, Henry and Milijas – for 60 minutes only.
We need to move on and keep up the good work. I would suggest we need 3 or 4 new signings in the window and if Hennessey wants to go, he can do as Ikeme is a more than good enough deputy.
We can get something out of the next two games and Doyle and Ward are class!!
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i think we are missing the point of why mcarthy rested the outfield players and that is because of injuries that could have happened to our players, and that argument is backed up by the fact that burnley lost both there center halves, collins and carlisle during the game, was that through too many minutes on the pitch during the week?
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I think everyone is missing the point of why mcarthy rested the outfield players and that was because of injuries, which incidentaly was backed up by the fact that burnley lost both there center halves collins and carlisle to groin injuries, was that through too many minutes on the pitch in a week?
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look, 9 and 12, move on for gods sake, you claim that the great name of this club has forever been tarnished by the white flag at OT last week and you personally were insulted as though you have led innocent pristine holy than thou lives and have never done anything n your own self interest that has affected other people. support the club or find something else to do with your valuable time and money. utw
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We love a good moan, dont we? Lalley is right, time to end this debate and get behind the team again. After all its a fantastic feeling being twelth in the premier league, lets enjoy the moment and hope it lasts a long long time. In mick we trust!!!!!!!!!
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The decision was vindicated not just by the 9 points,but ‘touch wood’ BY THE LACK OF INJURIES TO KEY PLAYERS.I do not think it is a coincidence that Burnley’s two centre backs are now injured after 3 difficult games in 8 days.
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A very good article which covered everything. To the poster who wanted to hear sorry from Mick, I can confirm that Mick did apologise to all those who traveled and were unhappy with his selection. This interview was played on either Central ITV or Sky News on Friday.
I think it was the right decision because as others have said, we have different priorities than other Premiership teams like ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City etc. It’s not too dismilar to “Mazlows Hierarchy of Needs” basically saying that at different times people are driven by different needs. For example people work so they can earn a wage to provide for their family. While some people work to earn as much money as possible so they probably have a stressful job which pays well on success. In footballing terms this also works:-
Man U chase the Premiership Title, as do Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal etc. However, everyone knows that there is not a realistic chance in hell that Wolves or Burnley could be chasing the title at this present moment in time. Therefore our needs are to establish ourselves in the Premier League, build on that year on year, as the others have done by the ability to attract higher status players to our squad until such time as we are in a position to then go for the title.
In this “Instant Coffee” league, nowadays just because someone has invested large amounts of money they believe that they should be winning the league (Man City for example). However, as Mark Hughes will testify, things don’t just happen overnight and it is no different for teams just joining the league as it is for those moving onto the next stage.
We will play United again at home and hopefully, like the last time we played them in this league, we will win. I dont believe that we waved a white flag at all. I think we played very well. It was over 20 minutes before Man U got lucky and were awarded a fortunate penalty decision. That changed the game.
All I want to see like most of you is Wolves in the highest league and becoming one of the countries if not the best team ever.
Up the Wolves
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1. Golden Blood
Hello Jez, in work before 11.00am, must be a busy morning!
The majority of supporters recognise that McCarthy has a limited talent, and the Premiership has previously proven to be one step too far for him, and will be again this season.
By replacing McCarthy with a proven Premiership manager we can keep our beloved club up in the Premiership, and start building a Premiership presence.
Keep McCarthy and it Championship football again next season!
It is as simple as that!
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My main worry when we were promoted was that Mick, inspired by Yorkshire obstinacy, would have learned nothing from his disastrous spell in the top flight with Sunderland. I’m delighted to see, from his blatantly cynical approach to the Man Utd game, that I misjudged him. That, taken together with the negative, defensive approach to the Spurs game, demonstrates that we have a manager who knows exactly how to cut his Premiership suit according to his Championship cloth. Let’s face it, if these were the antics of a Shankly, Clough or Mourinho, we and the press would would be talking about ‘managerial genius’.
I really do hope now that the criticism received will set up a siege mentality that Mick can turn to account in terms of team spirit and determination throughout the squad. It is no coincidence that the three managers I mention (and Ferguson & Wenger) did/do this all the time.
Wolves fans and the club chairman should be backing Mick all the way in this. It’s about time that we time we had a manager able to act with the sort of low animal cunning required to succeed in today’s game.
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2 john de wolf-it’s obvious that you either did not go to the burnley match or buy a proggy or for that matter go on the official wolves site, because it has been stated by Mick in his notes that “In no way, shape or form have I gone out to upset or offend anybody or pay disrespect to the fans, the club or the premier league” he made the decision – 9 points out of 12 proves him right, if he had said before those games that we would get those then you would have had another go at him and called him mad etc,etc, anything from the next two games will also be a bonus, I think we can get 6 but then again I always do?
We are Wolves………
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Mick should write a letter to all the fans who may be going to an away match and tell them who he is thinking of playing, then to the opposite manager and finally the premier league asking if it’s ok- stupid I hear you calling me-yes you are right-but that is exactly what you lot are saying, Mick should give us an idea of the team so we can make up our minds if we want to go or not! ha,ha,ha,ha, wake up! tell me any other manager anywere in football that does it, as for Mick saying sorry-read the press other than the E&S, Norway wolf you obviously don’t have papers! I would change that to Norway baggie-has 22 said he has said sorry so to all the MM haters get over it or go and support someone else.
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22 TheWulfrunian, well said – you should get a job writing for the E&S,to all the MM haters, pick your team for Liverpool and let’s see how many agree with it? my betting is you will all pick a different team-Mick only has one shot at it.
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i have in the past defended wwfc from wolvesmod/sbba/bobwolf/jiwal/wolveswolves/ and now a new foe appears norway wolf if your aim is to disrupt the current regime at molinuex you’ve got no chance, so back off to te hawthorns with you and your negative mates. utw
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