McCarthy taking nothing for granted
Friday 26th March 2010, 12:00PM GMT.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has warned fans not to start popping the champagne corks to celebrate survival.
The manager sends his cock-a-hoop side to face form team Everton tomorrow at an expectant Molineux, after seven points out of nine on the road which has left them seven points clear of the drop with seven games left.
While Wolves host Everton before a first trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal, Burnley have successive home games against Blackburn and Manchester City while Hull entertain Fulham before travelling to Stoke.
But McCarthy insists his players daren’t contemplate the stylish football that swamped the Hammers without winning the battle first.
He said: “I hope the fans were celebrating the result and nothing else, because how quickly could it turn around?
“If Hull and Burnley win two games and we don’t get anything out of tomorrow and then go down to Arsenal, it could be so different. It’s dangerous ground that, because this is another game.
“We’re not getting carried away – do people think we’re quaffing champagne and smoking cigars? Do me a favour. Everyone is blowing smoke up our rears at the moment.
“Once you start feeling like that outwardly, that’s when you get a slap. We could get our backsides kicked against Everton, because the Premier League is like that.
“You can get results through style, but we’ve done it with hard work and if you get ahead that way in a game where the other team is suffering and the fans are giving them stick, you get that bit of confidence to pass it.
“But you have to earn the right to do that. We’ll have to work twice as hard against Everton and then Arsenal.
“If you start off tomorrow like we did for periods against West Ham when we played with a bit of style we’ll get slapped.
“If we start off doing all the negative, horrible jobs properly such as beating them up, winning the fight, being in their half and in their faces, turning them around, putting them under pressure, being solid, not giving anything away, we can get a foothold in the game.
“But don’t start thinking we’re going out to play football otherwise we’ll get turned over.”
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
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Two tough games and then, hopefully a good run in will see us mid table, rest assured!
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Absolutely spot on Mick, lets make Everton feel extremely uncomfortable and bne in their faces, I felt we were the better side at Goodison andI would say 3 points tomorrow and we are safe.
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Although I will always know better than you Mick, I must admit I didn’t think you had the tactical nouse for this league, but you are proving me wroong – I would have swapped you for Coyle or Martinez anyday. So proud of the team over the last few weeks.
Oh! One more thing… JARVIS for ENGLAND … JARVIS for ENGLAND !!!
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A very tough prospect next up.
Mancienne to start, he has to wear Tim cahill like a glove, he’s so dangerous around the box.
Come on boys!!
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We can’ realistically expect anything from the next two games, but please lets give it a go.
Fortune favours the brave.
.
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Good luck tomorrow lads.The same committment and fighting spirit will be necessary as I`m sure you know.Lets send Everton Packing with their tails between their legs.
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Everton have some quality players and it is essential that Henry and Jones are on top form. Everton have Arteta, Pieenaar and Cahill in the midfield. As a result, I believe we will stick with Mancienne in the centre. My preferred choice would normally be Guedioura but after the other night we will have to stick with the same starting XI.
We can turn them over tomorrow. We deserved a draw against Man Utd and had decent opportunities against Chelsea.
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Spot on Mick!
Everyone must treat each game as a battle and then should we get the points to make us safe, we can pop the champers and celebrate.
To do so before that time could see us with egg on our faces and everyone else having a good laugh at our arrogance and let’s face it, other club’s supporters just love doing that!
A point from tomorrows game will do us nicely, should we get all 3 they will go a long way to achieving our objective – PL safety!
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I went to Goodison Park earlier this season and we were unlucky not to get all three points. However, Everton have improved since then and will be no easy touch.
After the last three games we are without doubt in the best position we have been all season to secure Premiership for next season.
But we still need at least 5 more points from the remaining games to be sure.
Lets hope we get three points tomorrow and put all the pressure on the teams below us.
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Mancienne was lost in midfield the other night, the ref saved him from a sending off with his 2nd challenge that was overlooked a yellow, if it had been we might have come unstuck. Thankfully we didnt. I also think that in the past 2 games defensively we have got away with lots of silly mistakes, and Villa and West Ham let us off the hook – Berra miss timing things, shoving over Milner, his spooning miss kicking makes me worried there seems to be a panick. Maybe mancienne in defense instead of Berra, and have Guedioura back in midfield – just a few thoughts. My head says Saturday will be very tough going, i just hope we make it as tough for the toffees
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There’s a job to do tomorrow and as long as are in their faces and scrap for everything, we’ll be fine. As and when we are mathematically certain to stay up, can I be the first to blow smoke up Mick’s rear. With any luck I’ll get Bob Wolf to light the cigar.
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Like i said last week AV players said they were unbeaten in 2010, this week its Everton who are flying high only lost Two in last sixteen. Perhaps they are due their 3rd then?, although id still settle for 1pt. We must take confidence in our own last three matches,as we’ve played played well in all 3. So who knows with a bit of luck and lots of graft first n foremost we might just suprise them ? GOOD LOOK FOR SATURDAY LADS. UTW
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Same formation, same team against the Toffees makes sense. We certainly want to try and avoid defeat. I know they were luckybags scoring in the last minute at their place but they were struggling at the time. They are a different prospect now and a draw would do us no harm.
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We’re already celebrating but not with champagne,with the amber nectar.This is Wolverhampton in the middle of a recession.How about an open top bus round the ‘city’ to commemorate a bigger acheivement than last year?
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Totally agree. I have been thrilled with the performances over the last few weeks and delighted with what we got out of the last three games but like Mick says we cannot take the foot of the gas.
If we play like we have been playing I see no reason why we should not get something out of Everton. We certainly do need to get in their faces and our fans have to give them some stick after all they are coming to the Wolves den lol.
If we can get something out of Everton who knows a trip to the Emirates with confidence high could get us something as well. Football is a funny game, but a brilliant game and anything can happen and as long as we work as hard as we have been doing we can do this. Supprting Wolves certainly gets the adrenaline going and I am sure we will be playing Premiership Football next season but I will leave my celebrating until it is definately in the bag.
Good Luck to MM and the Lads for Saturday.
UP THE WOLVES
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We’re not safe yet.We need to keep going to the end of the season and notg rest on our laurels.
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definately all true.. the 5-man midfield seems to be working for us. imagine that with kightly on the right aswell. Mancienne looked better against west ham. i wouldnt mind seeing Jones, Henry and Milijas in the middle tomorrow with jarvis and foley on the wings. i think milijas has done well for us when he’s played. Maybe we’ll see Edwards tomorrow at some point too.
i do think we have the easiest run-in out of the bottom 6 or 7 but shud def not get ahead of ourselves yet.
KEEP IT GOIN WOLVES!!
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Big Match tomorrow, I see people mentioning the result at Goodison earlier in the season and yes it was a fantastic result and it could of been even better. BUT remember at that time they had a lot of injuries and are now in excellent form and three points aren’t going to be easy. I at this time would settle for a point tomorrow, and I believe we can get something at the Emirates because of the Champions League Factor effecting Arsenal either side of our match, and our no fear approach away from home.
This doesnt mean I dont think we can get three tomorrow, but everyone has got to be on their game.
TEAM – Hahnemann
Zubar Craddock Berra Elokobi
Mancienne
Jones Henry
Foley Jarvis
DOYLE
Come on the Golden Wanderers!!!!
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Since the euphoria of tuesday’s performance two things have given me the hump this week.
One, the section of Wolves fans getting carried away thinking we’re safe and two, the plonkers who cannot seem to understand O’Hara can’t be sold by Portsmouth ‘cos he’s a Spurs player. Aaaaaaaargh !!!!
Everton have improved a lot since their late equaliser against us and have moved up another gear since the return of Arteta. He’s a lovely playmaker and we have got to cut out his supply line (Mancienne ?).
Personally I think two draws from Everton and Arsenal would do us fine.
(Not sure how the Barcelona sandwich will affect the Gooners)
Final thought. Aren’t you all pleased we haven’t got a chairman like Sullivan ? Absolute self appointed interfering big mouthed nightmare
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5-man midfield definately workin and cant wait til kights is back on the right wing. wouldnt mind seeing jones, henry and milijas in the middle 2moro. milijas has done well for us every time he’s played. altho i think he’ll go with mancienne for his defensive qualities. he was better at wet ham but thats only one game. get in their faces tomorow and nick a couple of goals on the break. just keep gettin the ball up to doyle and we’ll frustrate them.
we want more goals at molineux.
up the wolves.. the champagne is on ice lol.
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English Exile – How can you say we dont stand a chance tomorrow?? Did you say that before we played Spurs?? Why do you think we have failed tomorrow before a ball is kicked? Of course we have a chance, and thats being realistic!
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Fully agree with Mick, with the same passion, desire, and skill tomorrow we will get a result. I expect every fan whether home or abroad will be listeng, watching and hoping.
It’s nice to see some of the pictures of the Manager smiling for a change, and long may it continue!
Good luck tomorrow to the team and manager.
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We beat West Ham by keeping the ball and playing it on the floor and not in the air. The players obviously looked more comfortable playing like that – more of the same please!!!
Hoofing it in the air against Everton is asking for trouble-they have a strong side in form and Arteta will kill us if we play Championship style football.
So have the courage to play good football and give our midfield a chance to support Doyle in the penalty box!!!
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!
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From the next two games, I’d be happy with a point.
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SmithyWolf please tell me your joking??!!
Milijas has proven he hasnt got the stomach for a relegation fight, the best he can hope for now is a place on the bench or us securing safety sooner than later and get a run towards the last few matches.
Unfortunately Kightly didnt meet the grade in between injuries, and I dont feel would have any impact on our season now – hopefully he ll get another crack at the PL next season after a injury free pre season, and us avoiding relegation.
Hopefully without the untimely intervention of injuries the team and formation as it is now should not change, utilising Guediora and Mancienne depending on whom we are playing.
IF and only IF we secure safety then give others a run to gather some confidence – SEB, Milijas etc or to see if their ready to be shipped out.
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Good Luck tomorrow lads! Will be cheering you on from afar! Play like we did midweek and the points will be ours!!
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10-Norther Wolf..people like you make my blood boil. You write drivel even after wiping the floor with West Ham ..Then you pick out the Villa game “Berra pushed Milner over” “Silly mistakes from the defence” blah blah.
Where are the positives..what about Kovak pulling Jones down in the box for a blatant pen (not given), Villas offside goals. How many times have we been denied pens this season?? Thinking of it, shouldn’t Tim Howard have been sent off when we went Goodison earlier in the season Wolves fans… Make sure he knows when he walks out in the Cauldron that is Molineux on Saturday. Good luck boys
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Good luck tomorrow lads. I can’t be there due to being made redundant. You and Mick are doing us proud. Keep up the good work. I’m glad that the moaners haven’t ousted Mick as the guy has passion in bucket loads!
Up the Wolves! 2 nil tomorrow please.
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no not joking i think milijas is a good player. he just hasnt been given the chance. i agree with wat u say to stick with the in-form team until we secure our top-flight status though. i just think given the chance milijas could still be a great player for us. And i agree with the previous comment about berra. he doesn’t deserve any criticism. him and craddock are doin a great job.
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“But don’t start thinking we’re going out to play football otherwise we’ll get turned over”
Says it all really
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Agreed, Everton are an improved side since the game at Goodison but then again so are we!
Get out there lads and show ‘em.
We fear no-one, only respect them.
Out of Darkness.
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