Murray ‘could have made World Cup’
Friday 23rd April 2010, 4:21PM BST.
Bobby Mimms insists Wolves man Matt Murray would be going to the World Cup as England’s No.1 keeper if he was fit.
Mimms returns to Molineux tomorrow almost two years into a stint as Blackburn goalkeeping coach after building a superb reputation in a similar role at Molineux between 2001 and 2008.
The former Rovers and Tottenham shotstopper watched Murray develop into one of the finest talents in the game before a succession of injuries curtailed his progress.
Murray is on his way back from a patella tendon reconstruction but Mimms says his former protégé would be wearing the England jersey in South Africa if he was fully fit.
“In my opinion, if Matt Murray had kept fit and continued to progress as he was doing, there would be no debate about who would be England’s goalkeeper at the World Cup,” said Mimms.
“I do think he was that good. I worked with Matt a lot when I was at Wolves and unfortunately he has had a lot of injuries over the last few years. He’s just coming back to fitness now.
“He’s had a battle to get back to the levels he once was at but I really hope he does because he was a goalkeeper with so much potential.”
Wolves still need three points to guarantee safety but Mimms believes they are already safe.
“I’m sure Wolves will be fine – I don’t think the teams down there are good enough to start getting results,” he said.
“It was great being part of the club when they were promoted to the Premier League. It’s a top flight club if you look at their fan base and their history.”
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Just what the lad needs to hear ay?
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This is a sad story of a player who could have been one of Wolves and possibly England’s most successful players of recent times.
I wish him luck on his recovery.
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dont they ever think before they print put yourself in his place reading this, well i hope Matt dosnt read it
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And I could be a porn star..
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he wudent have bin infront of englands no1 super Scott carson aye boing boing
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Well said Bobby i and ‘MANY’ wolves fans would echo those thoughts,Matt was without doubt the ‘BEST’GK ive ever seen in a Wolves shirt in MY era,Malcom Finlyson’s career was just finishing when i started going,but it was Phil Parkes who i remember mostly he was a decent gk,as too was Gary Pierce, who was very undrated, then Mike Stowell / Paul Jones who were both excellent gk’s. But in Matt Murray we’ve had the best ‘uncapped’ gk ive ever seen. Had he remained fit and progressed he would have been playing for Man Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea etc, he was that Good. It must be soul destroying for him to have had so many ‘Serious Injuries’ career threating ones at that, yet he always keeps a ‘Sense of Humour’ always got a smile on his face, and time for supporters he’s always loved the Wolves, and we’ve always loved him too. Id love to see him back in the Wolves first team, but alas i dont think i/we will ever see it. I do belive given time and better coaching than we’ve got now that Wayne Hennessey could be another ‘Excellent’ gk, he’s still very young in terms of experience and as got lots to learn yet, but he’s got time on his side being only 22/23yrs old. I would think he’s learn’t more off MH than he’s ever learn’t of our current coach Pat Mountain, when BM was coaching WH, he looked very good and thats why he got into the first team at such a young age, but yes in the PL he’s looked suspect/nervous. But lets not talk of selling him yet, lets remember is only a young lad, get behind him encourage him, i still believe his day/time will come again. And he will be an even better gk for it. GOOD LUCK TOMORROW LADS. UTW
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I think a lot of Wolves fans who’ve had the pleasure of seeing Matt Murray play would echo Bobby Mimms’ sentiments here, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has said the same thing almost word for word to anybody who’ll listen.
The man’s a goalkeeping beast and it’s been so hard watching jokes like Carson, Foster & Green jump ahead of him in the England pecking order.
I cannot wait for the day when I get to give the biggest cheer I can muster when his name is read out at Molineux in our starting XI again.
Until then, though, Hahnemann’ll do me just fine (and I’d take Liverpool’s £7m and run if they want to fork that out for Hennessey – Ikeme’s a perfectly able deputy for big Marcus while Matt Murray continues his recovery).
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I think Bobby is right.
Matt is probably the best goalkeeper to play for Wolves in all the many years I have been supporting the club. Get fit again Matt and lets see you back challenging Marcus !!
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I think Bobby is right.
Matt is the best goalkeeper to play for Wolves in all the many years I have been supporting them. Get fit soon Matt and challenge Marcus for his place !!
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I agree with Bob. Get fit soon Matt !
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Out;
Hennessey for 2-3 mill.
Dan Jones
Little
Ward.S
Surman
Halford
Bia
Castillo
Iwelumo
Hoff
Buy experienced Left Back
Centre Back
Winger/Wing back x2
Striker
Keep Mancienne and Guedioura
Any thoughts??
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great encouragement for Matt. I remember mimms warming up matt murray at half time when he was on the subs bench and just on the edge of a first team place.I remember then sayin this boy is going to be a great keeper. Anyone whose actually seen him play like in the 2003 promotion season will know that he was one of the main reasons we got promotion and relegated the following year when he played only 1 game.
If and thats a big if he could get fit for a year without a major injury, he could certainly play in the prem, he is better at comin for crosses than hennessey,and a better shot stopper than USA.
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There is no doubt, anyone with an ounce of football knowledge would agree with Mimms. This statement should be seen by Matt as an encouraging word from his former mentor to keep battling, keep striving towards his dream of playing Premiership football for the club that has supported him over the difficult years – at 29 he still has several years of football to play at a very competitive level.
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Funny how Sandwell are suddenly all full of themselves, weren’t so vociferous at the end of last season, SIR Terry you are a waster.
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Miss crappy baggie- your having a larf if you think carson is England class, if Matty had been fit carson would not have even been seen – now go away there’s a good girl.
Melb Wolf agree with some of your selections –
Hennessey is valued at £ 6-7 million.
Bia is 20 yrs old and one for the future so I would buy him (he is on loan) and I would keep Iwelumo for his experience and has back up.
The rest I agree with you.
We are Wolves………..Onwards and upwards…
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4 & 5 Not even midly amusing. Go away and practice.
Here is a YoYo health warning. You finished far,far behind a Newcastle outfit that were weaker than the side that became humiliated in the Premiership. Just remember what Golden Boot Ebanks-Blake has found out moving up from the Championship.
Back to the story. Undoubtedly Matt Murray was/is a superb talent. You only have to look at keeprs loke Green, Carson and Kirkland to realise that.
IMO Capello should take Robinson and Hart as understudies to James. Calamity James can be a match winner and has the experience at the highest level. We just have to hope he doesn’t take any of his awful clangers with him to SA
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if he wasn’t made of biscuits.
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