Milijas assured he still has role
Friday 23rd April 2010, 10:34AM BST.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today reassured Nenad Milijas he has a future at Molineux.
The £2.6m summer signing from Red Star has started just one of the last 13 League games and recently revealed McCarthy would decide his future after the World Cup.
But the Molineux chief insisted the playmaker, who is 27 next week, has a part to play next season, providing Wolves retain their Premier League status.
“Can he be part of the future here? Yes,” said McCarthy. “He has had some good performances, but I think he found the Premier League a bit of a surprise.
“It was a bit of a shock to him and it was harder than he thought. He had some good games and some not so good games.
“But we all know his ability, and I think he’s adapted to that, in his training and everything. He has a better understanding of what’s required, there’s no doubt about that.
“I think you’ll find he played just as many games as he wanted to when he came. I left him out at Chelsea because I just wanted to try something else and he’d came back from international duty.”
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I would certainly keep him. I think he just needs to adapt to the pace of Prem footy. He is skillfull and can thread a pass creating opportunities for the strikers. Lets hope we can find a slot for him to show us what he is truley capable of!
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We have to keep this type of player and build the team around him(he’s quality),next season I would play 5-4-1 away and against the top sides at home,then 4-4-2 at home against the smaller clubs,eg,bolton,wigan,albion,fulham.
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Look at Petrov at villa, ok when he came but disapeared in games and now look at him captain, and holte end hero. Nenad will be the same, different player but quality. More than just a bit player, def put a shift in for the cause earlier this season. wish we could come up with a better song though !!
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He’s our only creative player. Don’t forget the vital goals he scored in the wins against Bolton and Burnley, plus the assists in other ganes(Stoke, Villa). Once we are able to play a more fluid system in some games next season he will be an important player. Remember Cantona’s quote about “water carriers”!
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I woul without doubt keep him, he’s a very skillful player, who’s got great vision and an excellent shot on him, scores great goals from anywhere over the halfway line. But like some players from abroad he’s found it a bit tough lasting the 90mins in the PL, but i think next season after another pre-season under his belt we will see a much fitter player, not all players settle into English football in their first season. So yes keep him and hopefully we will see the really Nenad Milijas. GOOD LUCK FOR TOMORROW LADS. UTW
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How this guy cannot get in the team is beyond belief.
What does Foley offer in midfield? Nothing.
Milijas is the most creative player we have. And can striker a ball like no other player.
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I’ve heard some Wolves fans moan about Milijas BUT look at Drogba’s first season in the Premiership, it was pretty poor BUT now he’s adapted, he’s a quality player.
Defo need some fire power in the summer though, I would personally raid the teams that have gone down, should have done that last season to be honest.
A win tomorrow & its another season of Premiership football.
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keep him…..and play him
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5.Wolvesmod
So tell me you would play an unbalanced midfield by playing Nenad on the rightwing?! get real, although Foley is not a rightwinger he is solid and dependable and has contributed to the solid team displays in the last couple of months which had nearly secured safety.
I’m guessing you only listen to the games weekly, Milijas granted is a very talented footballer but has drifted in and out of every game he has played in, the lad hasn’t adapted to the premierleague as of yet.
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wolvesmod, you can’t complain about him not being in the team when results are going our way.
Mick changed the team and bought Jones in who has been much more effective than what Milijas was.
I think we will see much more than Milijas next year when he’s more adapted.
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towerwolf,jones more effective? yes at being defensive. milijas has contributed to a lot of our goals earlier this season with his extra quality. im not slating jones but he is nowhere near as creative as milijas, hence out lack of goals. i would play him the rest of the season, keep hold of him in the summer and then next season we will see how much quality he can give the team consistently
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I like him, give him the chance he needs for he is the player that will give you what you want but it is the opertunity he needs, without that nobody will know? I would play him, for he is a very good holding and distribution player remember Peter Broadbent!!but it all systems now isn’t.
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Well said stuwolf – at last, someone who understands tactics and balance…
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Himley Wolf, thanks it’s good know another fan supports that the idea of playing someone out of position is not beneficial to the team. Alot of Wolves fans on here are supporting the idea of playing Milijas but its no secret that since Jones has come into the side we have looked a stronger outfit which ultimately see us survive. Maybe next season when Nenad has settled a bit more and had a good world cup under his belt we may see a better player who can make our better impact for the whole team.
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Milijas is quality and despite playing only a handful of games, he’s still got the most assists this season, without those goals we’d be down.
If Jarvis is out tomorrow, I’d go with this team.
4-1-3-2
Hahnemann
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokoobi
Mancienne
Edwards
Jones
Milijas
Doyle
Iwelumo
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I mean more effective in terms of our results changing on the pitch. Yes Milijas has chipped in with important goals, but so has Jones, Tottenham game? as well as Villa? he ran the show in the 3 games that have basically saved our season, burnely, villa and west ham. Theres no doubting Milijas’ ability, but he wasnt cut out for the PL at start of season, who knows maby next season he will be.
spot on stu wolf also, although foley isnt an attacking winger, i bet we would have conceededmany more goals if he was. he does giv us balance, with Jarvis being so attacking, we cant go all guns blazing all the time, its been spot on tactics from mccarthy
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Milijas has the best left foot we’ve had at Molineux since Paul Cook.
Discuss.
Although his ball retention can involve some lovely skill, players like Jones, Foley, Henry also keep the ball well. The reason Mick
plays these is they not only retain, but also regain the ball.
Expansive football in the premiership is s luxury teams at our level can ill afford, look at the demise of Burnley, or A****n whenever they sour the top flight with their presence (although I can’t wait for the 1st top flight derby if my life next year!). Defensive strength is paramount in the prem, which is the reason Arsenal can’t win the
league, and Mick has kept us up by recognising this. As we don’t posses top class defenders, we make up for this with a formation and
style that counters the ruthless attacks of our more established peers. Hopefully next season this disparity in player quality will be redressed and we can find a place for Milijas in our team, who in a midfield with Kites and Jarvo would be a joy to behold.
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