McCarthy drops hint on strikers
Friday 29th January 2010, 2:00PM GMT.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy believes resting Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was for the good of the club – and hinted at handing someone else a chance at Hull.
McCarthy reluctantly axed last season’s 25-goal top scorer for Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool with him having scored once in 16 games.
“If I keep doing the same things and it’s not working, then they can lock me up,” said the boss.
“Scoring is his strength, it’s what got him the kudos in the game.
“There’s been a fair bit of loyalty, support, encouragement and arms around the shoulder to try to get the best out of him.
“Well there comes a point – sometimes for the player’s own good – when it’s not getting any easier, when that goal isn’t coming, and they have to come out.
“I’ve got Sam Vokes chomping at the bit, Chris Iwelumo and Stefan Maierhofer, who’s fit.
“Something has to give. You can’t have them all on the bench.
“Sylvan’s disappointed. I said to him I don’t make the decisions on team selection for my benefit but for the club and everyone.
“It might be time for someone else to play up front.
“We’re still looking around but it’s trying to get someone to complement us or be better.
“We get loads offered but we’ve got good strikers here – Sam, Stefan, Chris as well as Doyle.
“How do they feel if they see someone playing who it’s not happening for? People have to be managed.
“You never know, if we get one of them scoring, that might just be the turning point.”
McCarthy said there was a need for caution tomorrow however after Tuesday’s successful experiment playing 4-5-1 in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool.
“We want to stay in games,” he said. “We won’t be going to Hull and being gung-ho.
“Hull have been playing 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 with an extra man in midfield.
“We don’t want to be chasing the game and get done.
“It’s alright saying we want to win – we don’t want to lose.
“We played 4-4-2 in 19 games and we scored 17 goals.”
UK Sport
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