Same again for McCarthy
Wednesday 24th February 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is set to name unchanged line-up for a third successive game for Saturday’s latest survival collision at Bolton.
The Molineux chief, who has earned a reputation for regularly changing his team this season in a bid to find a winning formula, has Michael Mancienne available again after ineligibility prevented him facing his parent club Chelsea last weekend.
But he was so impressed with the players’ application in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat that he hinted at retaining faith with the same XI at the Reebok that fell harshly to the Premier League leaders 2-0 and beat Tottenham 1-0.
“Nobody will be getting in the team at the minute,” said McCarthy. “The team were very good – excellent.”
McCarthy says the players have gained confidence from playing 4-5-1 over the last five league games and are happy playing that way.
And he revealed his satisfaction at the way Kevin Foley – described by critics as a square peg in a round hole – has adapted to his new role at wide right in the absence of the injured Michael Kightly, Dave Edwards and Andy Keogh.
“They’re all comfortable with the system, it’s suiting us and we’ve had chances,” said the boss.
“People tell me Kevin Foley is a full-back but he’s played really well for us in that position.
“He keeps the ball and but for a world class save he would have scored the equaliser against Chelsea.
“He had a couple of chances at Birmingham as well.
“It’s definitely suiting us to play the way we’re playing.
“Playing one up front hopefully makes us able to stay in games.
“The result on Saturday didn’t come because of the shape of the team, the organisation or tactics, or the way we played.
“The lads would all say they’re more than comfortable playing the way we’re playing.
“We’re creating just as many chances as we’ve done all season, but we’ve looked more solid.”
Sticking with the same side means more frustration for fringe players such as Stefan Maierhofer and McCarthy admits it is difficult to see a way back for the little-used Austrian at the moment.
“I’m sure Stefan will be wondering where his games are going to come from, but we’ll see,” he said.
UK Sport
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Cummon you Wolves! Got my ticket for Bolton, we need to get behind the lads, we’re in a much better position than we were last time around, we really could stay up. Us fans could make a big difference if we just believe and support the team.
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Got my ticket for Bolton also and having watched Bolton, Burnley matches at the weekend I agree with you unless something drastic happens we really could stay up.
I think your right us fans need to get behind the lads and bring roofs down wherever we go.
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Maierhofer is average anyway i cant see him kicking another ball for the wolves he will be gone in the summer
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In fairness – apart from his goal at Blackburn – Hofmeister has hardly kicked a ball for the Wolves since his arrival. From what little I have seen of him though I would classify his football ability as Below Average for the Prem. Not a patch on same height Peter Crouch! I agree with you that Mick will get shut in the summer.
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if the hoffs an average player then god knows what seb is,if only the hoff was given a run of games like seb had i bet he would have got more than the 1 goal seb got but we will never know now,,,WE ARE WOLVES,,,in mad mick we dont trust,,,ilk
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Can not wait for Bolton Game.
Come on you Wolves.
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Forget all the talk, talk is cheap. We need a minimum of 4 points from the next two away games (Bolton & Burnley), if not we have a serious chance of finishing in the bottom three!
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Well said Rudolf, these two games are as important to us as the FA Cup final & Champions league final.
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Is it me or does MM look like he is driving an invisible car one hand on top of the steering wheel and one on the gear stick?….Looks like he is winning the race too. Looking forward to Bolton game its going to be massive hopefully Jody or Berra sort Kev Davies out he is defo the type of forward they would relish playing against. If Bolton go down I’d have Davies in a heartbeat! Coooooooooooooooome ooooooooon Yoooooooooou Woooooooooooooooooooolves!
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Is it me or does MM look like he is driving an invisible car one hand on top of the steering wheel and one on the gear stick
It’s you.
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Maybe but it looks like he has just dropped it into second and is booting it out of a corner!!! Get him on Top Gear see what sort of lap he could do.
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I’d rather see The Hoff on the bench than Ebanks-Blake right now, he really is providing nothing for the team and does not look like changing a game when he comes on. Surely 6ft 8″ may well win the odd header if we’re going to use Halfords long throws when we’re losing??
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Actually, for a huge bloke, and from the little I’ve seen, The Hoff is desperately poor at headers. I’d say ‘in the air’, but I’m not sure he actually jumps.
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Grey Wolf, I agree with you.Maierhofer is a classic example of false economy that has plagued us for years.Spend £5M on a quality striker that other clubs want and you are likely to get someone who will make a difference on the pitch and if push comes to shove you will be able to sell for something like what he cost.Spend £2m on an un proven striker that at the time no one else wants ,you are likely to end up with a flop that you will end up virtually giving away. The only good news from the non activity in Jan is that they have not wasted money on riskier signings such as the Hoff.
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Wolves will crush Bolton if they play in the same way as against Tottenham and Chelsea. Bolton has not scored in five games, going the other way – from five to four in the middle.
Their new manager Coyle is a charismatic leader, but he has not got the players to play 4-4-2. Especially not against 4-5-1.
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Forget the stats, Notlob will be up for this one. It all depends on which Wolves team turn up. Forever the optimist i’m going for wolves 4.5.1 to command midfield, stifle there attack and surge to a 2-0 win.
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Knowing your best team, keeping it unchanged as far as possible must be the way forward.
Earlier in the season, with such a large squad, it was hard for Mick to know the new guys’ real qualities and, by extension, the best system to play. But we’re getting there now and that’s the main thing!
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I only said yesterday that the PL/FL they’ve done us a big favour with the threat of £25k fine in as much that MM ‘wont ever player a weaken team again this season’ as i expect Morgan/Moxey have told him to pick his strongest team for every match for the rest of the season. So now its the same team 3 games on the trot and i like most supporters think the team are playing the best football of the season, and believe if with continue in this form and get our share of ‘LUCK’we will have enough to stay up who cares what formation we play as long as it gets us the right results on the pitch. Anyway our midfielders are at present playing better than our strikers except for Doyle so playing one up front is suiting the team, i just wish more players would chip in and score a few goals without having to rely on KD for them all.Lets just carry on giving the team our full/best support till the end of the season, then have our say come what may.GOOD LUCK FOR SATURDAY LADS UP THE WOLVES
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Good choice MM!
I’ve also got my ticket for Bolton, and have just ordered my ticket for Burnley!
4 points out of these 2 away games would be lovely, 6 would be brilliant!
But we shall see!
Play how we did against Spurs and im confident for Saturday, aslong as we take our chances when we get them!
The big difference for this Sat will be Kevin Davies as he didnt play when they came to Molineux and they looked very poor upfront, if Jody can get the better hand of him then brilliant!
Ill go 2-1 Wolves, with Doyle and the new boy (still cant pronounce his name) to score!
COME ON ME BABBIES!
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Why don’t you send Maierhofer out on loan to a championship club? This guy has hardly played a match in the UK. Let him get a feel for what is required and if he is not good enough so be it. We will never know if he never gets a proper game.
Good luck on Saturday!
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There’s been a lot of critisism of his new system as being too negative, but we created two really good chances against the premiership leaders and altogether 7 shots on target to their 2. We lost because of defensive errors (throughout the team) on two occasions, not because of the system. We also created chances against Tottenham could have won by a greater margin. Credit where credit’s due, Mick’s done it his way, none of us would have picked his system but he’s got it right this time.
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Andy the Wolf mate you are right mick is a great manager it is about people got off his back let the guy get on with his job and at the end of the season have your say. come on you wolvesssssss!
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lmao at that(mick is a great manager) yep mad micks that great a manager it took him 23 games to find his best team and he probably stumbled on that by mistake mad mick is not a prem manager never has been and never will be full stop,,,WE ARE WOLVES,,,in mad mick we dont trust,,,ilk
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Come you wolves 12 more games we can do it, Beat bolton and burnley then i think we are safe. Do you all agree with me?
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No, we will have to get something from the Sunderland game, it is written.
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FOREVERWOLVES
Well if we get a point from them then surely we will be safe, Do you not agree mate?
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I don’t agree Mick is God but yeah, I think if we beat Bolton and Burnley we’d probably be safe!
Sat’s game is massive both in terms of points and also psychologically for the winners/losers.
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14 points should guarantee safety, but 12 will probably keep us up this season. 3 wins and 3 draws.
So I’d be happy with 4 points from Bolton and Burnley. Draws against any two of Stoke, West Ham, Everton, Fulham or Villa plus two wins from the last three games (Blackburn, Portsmouth and Sunderland) would do it.
If we were to get a win home to Stoke or Everton then we’d only need one more win from the final three games to stay up. C’mon Wolves, you can do it!!!
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Like it or loath it the 4-5-1 system is here to stay for the rest of the season. MM has pinned his colors to the mast and will live by it or fall on his sword.
The team played well against Chelsea so things look promising. I would like to see less aerial football and get the ball into Doyle at his feet. That would allow the midfield to get involved in more numbers in support of the attack.
However, lets not forget that Burnley are a different proposition at their place and Bolton are way overdue scoring a goal. My suspicion is that we will likely get two draws away from home. So, “Mick is God” I seriously doubt we are safe. This thing will drag on to the end of the season.
If we do survive, I want to know what the plan is for next season – more of the same or are we going to bring in some Premiership quality to support Doyle?
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The system seems right bearing in mind the players available and those who are playing to their capabilities.
Like many above I think we need 4 points from these two games as a minimum. If you look at the last four matches of the season, it does not look too bad. People keep saying we need 38 points, but I think 36 may just be enough.
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agreed-i think 36pts willprove to be enough – think we may have to beat sunderland at home last game of season to stay up
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Just for reference, 36 points would have been enough in 5 of the last 6 seasons (Wigan needed 38 in ’07). It’s a good bet that’ll be enough this time, too.
I don’t think 4 points is the minimum. That’s what we want to feel good. 2 draws or one win/one loss would be OK – because our run-in is easier than anyone else’s in the bottom 8.
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Just a side issue. Will wolves ever think about stadium redevelopment if we stay up this season? “Just thought I throw that 1 in the mixer!
And the the comment below, Mick doesnt look like he is driving, he looks like he has just let one rip, a proper loud one.
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Mick is not driving a car
Mick did not let one rip.
Mick appears to have been listening to Snoop Doggs first album
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The best thing, watching wolves at the moment, is that they look settled in the new formation. We look like a team who are comfortable as far as positions and the way we are playing. Ironically, we are looking like more of an attacking team with one up front. On one occasion last week Jarvis crossed the ball into the box and there were five wolves players trying to get on the end of it. Has to be the first time I’ve seen that this season. With no more cup games to get in the way. Hopefully no more injuries and a few players coming back to freshen things up. I’m confident we can stay up. UTW.
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System is wrong to me. Only because Foley is a square peg in a round whole. Mick isn’t the worlds brightest individual. It normally takes him about 10 – 15 matches to recognise there’s a problem there.
We would be a MUCH better team with a right midfielder playing there.
I would play Jarvis , our right footed left winger, on the right, and Milijas at Left of midfield.
simples.
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Milijas isn’t a left midfielder as long as he has a hole in his backside, he is a creative midfield playmaker and the best one by a country mile at the club, if it wasn’t for Henry doing such a solid job I would have New bloke, jones and Milijas in the centre plenty of bite and bags of creativity that would give us. I’d like to see Surman tried on left and Jarvo right not right now of course but I think Surman looks like he has plenty in his locker
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Ward not a lb,Foley not a right winger,but MM Likes them so that’s where they will stay.
Milijas captain for his country Heading to the World Cup but not good enough for WWFC.
As MM Says He and he alone picks his team and therefore judgement day will come in May.There are enough points on offer to secure our premiership status and like most people think (stating the obvious)
Bolton and Burnley will go a long way to determining our eventual outcome.
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Not sure what your thinking is regarding your second paragraph Malta.
Milijas has been very disappointing. He’s slow, doesn’t pick up and his left peg has gone downhill, both passing and shooting.
Dave Jones is one of the reasons Wolves have brightened up.
As you say judgement day comes in May.
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If you can’t tell the difference between ‘whole’ and ‘hole’, and you don’t know that a possessive takes an apostrophe, perhaps you should refrain from commenting on Mick’s intelligence ?
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Grey Wolf, Such comments are not really necessary.This is not the 11 plus.I agree Mick cannot respond ,but Rich makes a valid point: we would be better with a recognised right sided midfielder.
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You’re right it’s not the 11 plus. It’s a forum where people casually insult the Manager and get offended when it comes back at them in even the mildest form. (Although to be fair to Rich, it looks like he can take it as well as dish it out)
So, thanks for the demonstration of sanctimony and hypocrisy, but I’ll pass. If I see people who live in glass houses chucking bricks, I’ll continue to point it out to them.
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rich, if mick is’nt the brightest individual around, can you explain who is apart from, mourinho, ferguson, benitez, wenger,??? curbishley won nothing as manager, keegan won nothing at newcastle, mark hughes ? erm no. martin o’niel , david moyes , yeah right.
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Watching from the states, I’ve only seen about 10 matches this season. Obvious improvement all around throughout the year, but is it just me or is Zubar the weak link. He got smoked in the leadup to the first goal against Chelsea, turned the wrong way to defend a phantom, and every time he is around the ball he makes me nervous, and looks so easy to get around. Am I missing something? Wouldn’t Mancienne be a better choice there? If Im wrong Im sure someone will let me know. Yes, I;m an American from the Northwest, just like our keeper, what the hell was he doing on the second goal v. Chelsea?
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He was getting tripped up by Berra, wasn’t he ?
I suspect that Hahnemann doesn’t have the raw talent of Hennessey, but he has the confidence, experience and maturity – and he has improved the team. The fans like his attitude, too.
So – you’re welcome of course – but how come you support Wolves ?
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I’ve always followed the “Hoff” wherever he goes. Ha! Actually it’s kind of long story. Bottom line, I’ve followed Wolves through the internet(Wolves World/Player/You Tube/Sky Sports)and
DVD, for 10 years, and on television when they’ve been Premier League. I agree with you about Hahnemann by the way. And I think most need to cut MM some slack. Where would Wolves be this year if they had just 1/2 the injuries, 1/2 the bad calls, and maybe 6 goals from SEB. Probably not in the relegation discussion at all.
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we will survive comfortably wwfc 4 ever
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Can someone tell me why someone hate mick what as he done a part from taking us all the way to the prem and still people hate him, I say to fans that do not like mick then stay with the team. I am sure some of you will have a got a me but it is because i am making sense and people can not handle that, Up the Wolves
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The main reason is that he doesn’t care what the fans think – majority or vocal minority. So, the Eastwood saga, his persistence with Keogh, Collins and Ward, playing Foley in midfield… the list is a long one.
Worse, he had the nerve to say so, and he called those who couldn’t accept it ‘Muppets’. Now that’s nothing compared to what some of our fans call him, but some of them don’t like getting it back in kind.
Those who hate him call him pig-headed and stubborn, and they say he has favourites. Doubtless, they’re right.
Those who like him point to his record at Wolves, which is demonstrably better than anyone else in more than 25 years. They’re right, too.
Personally, I think he’s neither genius nor idiot. Like the rest of us, he’s a mixture of both – but unlike the rest of us, he’s an experienced Football Manager who has brought us success… for now.
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We have no choice but to stick with the 4-5-1 but for this to be more effective we need Edwards and Keogh available. Yes Foley has got himself into good positions but he is a full back. A player like Edwards or Kites on the right hand side would have put the Blues and Chelsea chances away.
Bolton and Burnley are tough games – Burnley have only lost two at home. Wins would be nice but we must not lose.
If you look at our fixtures, the only two games that we have that are probable defeats are Man Utd and Arsenal. We can get results against the rest!
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good for you,i said the same at work,yes some of us do.make us dream.
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Not wishing to be a damp squib but I say again. Where are the goals coming from?
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