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George Elokobi signs new contract
Friday 20th August 2010, 11:30AM BST.
Wolves defender George Elokobi today signed a new three-year contract at Molineux then waited to learn whether he will start at Everton.
Elokobi is expected to take on the left-back duties, with Stephen Ward moving forward, if Jelle Van Damme fails to recover from a twisted ankle.
The 24-year-old does so having done enough in the last year to convince manager Mick McCarthy his meteoric rise from Dulwich Hamlet to the Premier League in five years has not yet peaked.
His exciting initial impact had been brought to an abrupt halt by a serious knee injury warly in Wolves’ Championship-winning campaign.
McCarthy said: “I’m absolutely delighted that George has earned himself a new contract, which is a credit to his sheer hard work and determination.
“He’s come back from a career threatening injury and got back on the last day of the season we were promoted.
“He then contributed to our survival in the Barclays Premier League. George is such a great character around the place and is an inspiration to anyone who ever gets injured in terms of how he has come back.
“He is a really valued and respected member of the squad and I’m delighted to have him signed up.
“He’s got better and better and has just got a great desire to improve all the time.”
Wolves have the option of a fourth year in the new deal and chief executive Jez Moxey is pleased to have sealed the deal.
He said: “We’re very pleased to have another of our players signed up for three more years.
“Contract management is a key part of our strategy at Wolves and we always aim to ensure that those players who have performed well have their futures secured.
“It’s fantastic to see how far George has come in his career and, at 24, there is the prospect that he still has more improvement to come.
“Mick has been keen to build up competition for places all over the pitch and George will undoubtedly be battling it out for that left-back spot.”
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The left hand side is looking very ropey at best. Elokobi and ward is a championship duo at best.
Let us hope that Jelle is fit tomorrow, and that Jarvis goes back onto that side too.
Long term we have great options on the left, with Hunt, Jarvis and Jelle, but am a bit worried about the championship level players we are putting out tomorrow.
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Excellent news. Georgie did a grand job in the second half of the season.
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Great news, I fear for the right wingers who have to face Elokobi and Van Damme on the left side of our team!
We need to offload Keogh and Hill and replace them with a speedy striker, then that should complete our squad for a mid-table finish.
Would be happy with another 1-1 at Everton tomorrow.
Up the Wolves!
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Good luck to George. But the club’s praise always sounds faintly patronising. Their enthusiasm is a surprise given that he always looks like a disaster waiting to happen on the pitch, though to be fair to him the slip-ups are getting less common.
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Great news, Lets get super Jones tied down!!!!!
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Sorry im confused here. Where did we sign Van Damme to play? Look at the genral left side of the team at present, Ward, Elikobi,Van Damme,Hill, Bia? Hunt. Not the strongest. Cant comment to much on Van Damme but he doesnt look like a left midfielder all be it from the evidence of 1 match ( a little harsh i know) We could i expect thro the likes of Jarvis on the left, lots of cover buy quality i’m not to sure.
Any way cary on the way were going please dont ay fancy wages to fancy players.
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Sorry Mick, the first decision of yours i have questioned in quite some time!
The big man is not and never will be a Premier league player.
As of yet LB is still up for grabs…
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Last season at everton who gave the goal away……….! He is not good enough for this level ship him and Keogh out.
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Great news, strong,quick, bags of enthusiasm he will become a very good player this season.
Jelle didn’t last long.
looking forward to plenty of attacking play tomorrow.
Keogh should be moved out he will not make it, waste of a place on the bench.
SEB should play.
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NO5
are you on drugs? nice guy george, but not even championship standard.
Jones is an average prem midfield player at best. drop him the greedy little man and let him clear off to Bolton or some other nonentity
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poor old george and ward have there fair share of critics, but you cant dispute the fact that both these players are comitted to the cause, and both have had career threating injuries ( george more so ) but i for one think we would be very hard pressed to find replacements, big george scared the living daylights out of some of the ‘Quality’ players in the prem last season ( walcot away at arsenal springs to mind ) and ward looks much happy in an attack minded role,( the save on saturday by the stoke keeper was outstanding but credit to ward for getting a terrific volley off), either way good move signing these pair up for a few more years.
and i’m not wards biggest fan before you whiners start.
utw
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It’s not that complicated really…
When a player is on your books you support him and tell him and everyone else how good he is. You keep him on a long contract so that he feels secure and you can get a decent fee if you choose to sell him (see Collins for example).
I think the jury is still out on George, although he has improved enormously since he signed, and you can’t knock his enthusiasm. As Jez says this is just good contract management.
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Big George is a lovely bloke but, is no where near a Premiership left back. Would have been better off to sell him and use the money to put towards a decent player. Sorry, but if big mick thinks this lad can improve he’s living in a dream world. Still, I think we can get a draw this weekend!! COME ON THE MIGHTY WOLVES!!!
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Cant knock his attitude or commitment! needs to spend a bit more time with a ball at his feet and passing in training rather than in the gym though… good left backs are hard to come by hopefully he improves throughout this season.
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Great words from Moxey, regarding contract management, I expect to see the same courtesy forwarded to a certain Dave Jones next then, give him another 2 yrs.
10, you must be on drugs mate, our previous season improved as soon as Jones was involved with the team, hence thats why Milijas couldn’t get anywhere near the starting 11, as Jones is way more mobile, puts a tackle in & in my opinion uses the ball far better.
Simple really, get him signed up!!!!
Score draw tomorrow, I fancy Doyle to get one.
KTF
Wolvesforever
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I might just sell my season ticket now after hearing this news, he is such a liability and how he even made it in the football league let alone the premier is beyond me, we should be concentrating on giving jones a contract
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Christ some of our supporters are thick!
Contract management – it means a play, who has a value is about to go out of contract, which means he can walk away from the club.
Whether he is prem class of not, he has a resale value and is therefore an asset/investment to the club. With no contract he’s worthless.
What’s hard to understand? He may have no longer term future, but to let his contract expire and let him walk away is madness. Then you numpties would be moaning about the fact we didn’t sell him for a fee.
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WHO WOULD BUY HIM!!! WE COULD HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY ON WAGES AND GOT RID OF HIM, HE IS NO WHERE NEAR A PREM PLAYER!!
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Excellent news. George is improving, as I witnessed myself at Fulham during the goaless draw in April. I seem to remember George halting an almost certain goal with a storming challenge on Damien Duff in the Wolves penalty area. George played his part in securing another point towards safety. OK, roll on tomorrow morning for the 9.19 train to Liverpool Lime Street at 10.45, a few jars around Liverpool, Everton match, and then a few more jars around Liverpool. Another draw at Goodison would do me! WWFC forever !
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no15 grace.
Jones has nowhere near the ability of milijas.not everyone has to run round like a headless chicken (dont think jones is that mobile anyway).thats what water carriers like henry are for. Iknow which one i would prefer to watch.
Jones is obviously being greedy – he should remember the downward spiral his career was in until we signed him. the only way for him after us is downwards, nenad needs to get to a club where the manager wants to play football!your close says you are just another happy clapper. i want football not toil and graft only.
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19 LOL
Happy clapper I aint mate, but I don’t whinge for the sake of it either.
Without graft, in this league you don’t get the opportunity to play football, its simple.
Last week agaist Stoke we worked our socks off to give us the right to play football & last week we played some great stuff at times.
If you want to watch pretty, powerless, football you’ll find some along the A41 near Handsworth, go & watch them get relagated, you’ll probably fit in well there.
And how do you know Jones is being greedy, are you Moxey’s teaboy or something????
How come, when you disagree with a whinger on here you get called a ‘happy clapper’???
Nonsense
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george may not be the best left back in the premier league but he is the best left back at the wolves, defensivly he is good, not much goes past him , hes good in the air and he dosent let people cross the ball as easy as the others, i thought jelle looked good in midfield and sometimes away from home we wont be able to go with two out and out wingers .
we need to look at who would replace henry if he got injured??
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Big George has all the enthusiasm but lacks the talent. I worry for him, because he looks the part, however his positional sense and general football intelligence lets him down.
It would be great if George proved many fans wrong and went on to have a great season. I still have my doubts though.
Jones will probably sign up soon enough. It seems like he wants to stay and play for us.
Wolves have shown a lot of loyalty to these youngsters who have yet to really justify themselves as Premiership class. Wolves have a lot of under-rated players – they have earned the chance to shine in the big league. It won’t be long until the vulchers start circulating above our developing team. I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs were already looking at Foley, Jarvis, Jones and Henry. They have been excellent in the past 6 months or so.
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sorry to all the experienced managers on here ‘George isn’t if premier league quality’ and how long have you lot managed a club. Let Mick decide and trust him he knows what he’s doing. Manchester wolf you must be blind as well as thick did you not see jones’ free kick and he ran all over the pitch last saturday putting everything in to get back and defend. Its a disgrace to even consider you a wolves fan
Come on you wolves!!!
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12) Very good point mate. Unfortunately we are saddled with many armchair supporters that have never kicked a football and have never been anywhere with Wolves. Personally I trust the judgement of our management team over a bunch of whingers!
Players who regularly get slated on here like Elokobi, Berra and Ward have plenty of time on their hands and have put in decent performances and will get better. If you are not happy you can always go and watch that debacle down the road.
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FIRST POINT,
George is like it states a well respected member of the squad, with a great attidude, trains well and want to get better. He brings only positives to the SQUAD !
For all of you who seem to think every player we have in the SQUAD needs to have the same ability of DOYLE, WAKE UP ! its only our second season.
SECOND POINT,
Shorey is NO better than george in ability yet hes has been in the villa squad for years. I know who id prefer in my SQUAD.
LAST POINT
19. manchester wolf. its not your fault your proberly surrounded by glory hunters but COME ON REALLY MILIJAS ??? He’s been Micks WORST signing so far ! Ability means nothing if you just cant be botherd to work hard for the team aswell.
Jones has less ability than Milijas but is twice the player he is which is why Milijas is one of micks worst signings so far.
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He’s only a young player dont forget, he will improve and will do with his attidude to the game. strong and a team player merits a new contract.
Milijas has the ability YES ! but thats it. LOOK at Man city for example, ROBINHIO has more ability than most players in the prem yet he was shipped out last season cos his attidude and workrate is on par with MILIJAS.
COMMENT 21, GOOD POINT on Henry, i think the two players we would miss most if out injured are Craddock and Henry as there leaders in there area of the field.
ALL in all the future looks good for us, still one of the youngest squads in the prem all learning there trade as a squad and will only keep improving. WELL DONE MICK !!!
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Well for all you moaners, demanding all our players have PELE ability, be happy with what we got !
Simply put, id rather be Wolves fan than an albion fan. haha
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25 are you joking milijas worst signing ,how about eastwood hill surman and halford .
Elokobi must be the worst passer of the ball in the team evenas bad as henry.all last season we needed a left back and for the 1st time ever mick takes notice of the fans and signs 1 …… but no does he play in the left back position ..NO
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17 – Spot on!
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come on get behind all of the wolves squad!!
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great news ,but shouldn’t David Jones be offered one too?
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On the subject of squad players, come on Mick for one last bit of business. If the Bristol Cities want Keogh we should take Maynard in some kind of part exchange. He would be a more than adeqaute squad replacement for the Hoff and Keogh or even Vokes.
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Why??? Not good enough, waste of money and paper for the contract to be written on. :-@
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17 – thanks the lord for someone with a brain writing a post.
Hit the nail on the head. We all know George is a squad player and an improving one at that. I don’t doubt he may well never be good enough for the prem but to your point, that is regardless.
You contract in these players so they don’t walk away from the club for nothing and if you decide they’re surplus to requirements you make money from them a la Collins.
Some of you have no clue. This is astute management of your squad. It’s not about saying he’s the first choice left back for goodness sake.
Jones should be contracted in ASAP but if he left it wouldn’t be a disaster. He’s probably only a £5 million pund player at best and having got ourselves a bit of premiership staying power we can replace players like that. But obviously I want him to stay.
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I think this is excellent news, both my and my fiancee think he is a solid defender who i hope stays forever!
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George Elokobi-pub player at best!!!
FACT.
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Looks like we’ll be seeing Elokobi at left back tomorrow. He has certainly improved over the last 12 months and to give him a long term contract is good business, but, I think most of us hold our breath when he comes on. Prove us all wrong and have a stormer tomorrow George.
Manchester Wolf (remember this was the clown who accused anybody who didn’t agree with him of not knowing anything about the game) Jones was inspirational during the second half of last season and he certainly started this one in fine fettle. As for being greedy. How do you know what is holding up the contract. It isn’t always about money, pal.
Milijas. His game went to pieces during the same period including his passing and shooting. He was given enough chances, but, he was slow and lazy and was quite embarrassing as players surged past him. A Liability who has to improve quite quickly or move on in January. After your comments maybe it’s time for you to do the same. Join the prawn sandwich brigade, mind you there aren’t many of them in Manchester.
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