Jody Craddock keen to face Stoke
Thursday 27th January 2011, 11:30AM GMT.
Evergreen Wolves defender Jody Craddock today declared he is ready to take on Stoke – but is ready to play a waiting game to win his place back long-term.
The 35-year-old had his third game since recovering from his thigh injury in Tuesday’s 2-0 reserve defeat against Albion.
Craddock knows if he excels in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against the Potters then he could put himself in line to face Bolton and Manchester United the following week.
But he feels current central defensive pairing Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra have done enough to stay in the team.
“I think Christophe and Stearman have been doing very well,” he said.
“So even if I did well on Sunday, I’d be surprised if I carried on in the team because I think they’ve been doing well enough to hold their positions down.
“I’m happy to hold on and wait for every time I get an opportunity to do the best I can.”
Craddock could be part of a completely changed back four at the weekend if boss Mick McCarthy chooses to go with the same players who played in the second string in midweek, with
Steven Mouyokolo and George Elokobi needing games, while Matt Doherty could play again at right-back.
And although Craddock is still being troubled by the problem for which he was treated, he is fine to play through the discomfort.
“It’s still a bit sore but it’s OK and I can play with it — I’m ready to do the job,” he said.
“Hopefully this will be a good opportunity for the gaffer to rest Stearman or Berra and give me a go in the FA Cup.
“If I’m selected I’ll go out and give everything I’ve got, which is all I can do.
“I felt good at the start in the reserves on Tuesday and that’s how I need to play for the whole game.
“We’ve got a lot of games coming up with Bolton and Man United next week so the gaffer’s going to want as many players fresh as possible for those.”
Craddock is hoping he is almost back to 100 per cent.
“It’s difficult to assess it because the pitch at Telford the other night was like a bog and so it was really hard to be sharp on it,” he admitted.
“But I felt OK in the Doncaster game which was over a week ago and the Albion reserve match was a good test.
“If I’m playing on Sunday, that will be another good test.”
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Welcome back jody,
If i was mick< you would be straight back in the team.
Stears and berra are useless, i disagree with you there jody. Just look at the goals we have conceded.sters makes to many individual mistakes and berra is just awkward to watch, looks so uncomfortable with the ball.
Good premier league? defenders should all be comfortable and look to pass short instead of hoofing it long all the time.
Well at 35, you are head and shoulders above the rest, glad to see you back.
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Jody plz just come bk into the team now, we need your experience!! I cant decide who is worse at times berra or stearman, both likely to make mistakes at crucial times!!
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Agree with the first 2 comments although Stearman and Bera can be good on there day they are far too inconsistant. Jody’s consistency will help either one of them with there game, he might even pop up with a goal.
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Just heard a rumour that tom huddlestone has been seen leaving the wolves ground today??
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Craddock’s goals have been missed.
As a defender he is not much better than Berra or Stearman.
Age is against him and it will take a few games before he is match fit. If he plays against Stoke I hope the Wolves fans allow for his lack of match practice and Stoke do us a favour and play Carew!
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Dont realy care to much about this game- survival is surely our ONLY target now.
Lets face it our cb’s are all poor but the management team recon there good enough to give us a good cup run and finish 17th or better this season.
Something tells me il be able to watch barnsley, doncaster sheff u and burnley next season :(
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Luckily Craddock never makes mistakes at crucial times eh?
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Jody,dont try and second guess super mick,he could play you in goals.I only hope we give it our best shot on Sunday,our premiership is gone,lets at least have a go at the cup.I was green with envy watching the Bluenoses last night (good luck to them) It must be great to be able to cheer and brag about your team,,it seems forever since we had anything to cheer about,,,,,early bird championship tickets,bring em on.
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hopefully stubborn mick will play players in thier positions against the clayheads.
hanneman
zubar rb
hunt lb
craddock
stearman
hammill rm
jarvis lm
milijas am
henry dm
doyle
fletcher
utw. 2-0
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Good Rumour number 4. Type Tom Huddlestone injury lastest into google and you get this headline “Tom Huddlestone, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, has targeted the Champions League tie against AC Milan for his return from an ankle injury.”
hmmmm Relegation fight or a trip to san siro in the champions league.
What I wanna know is Blues, who have strong defence are getting Davies to replace injured Dann. Our defence is shocking at nothing! 2.5m, look at other rubbish we bought in this price range!
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How many wolves numpties does it take to change a light bulb?
None; they prefer to live in the darkness.
No likey no lighty
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Mark this space: team for sunday
Hahneman
doherty rb
craddock
mouyokolo
elokobi lb
hammill rw
mujanji lw
edwards
henry
vokes
doyle
I honestly think he will rest main team for bolton, if thats the case we will get pummeled
We need to beat bolton to keep our pl campaign alive
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How can anyone say Stearman / Berra have been playing well, apart from missing balls down the centre of the box, fouling players, not playing the offside trap, McCarthy saying that the players all think the tactics are right, now there’s a surprise.
As good as Craddock has been, that’s what he is, we are pinning our defensive and scoring goals hopes on him , and Henry in midfieled to break attacks down, sorry not going to happen.
More drivel, as the Ward & Stearman article however it is good to know that Stearman is concentrating on his football, now he has signed a new contract, says it all really.
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Team V Bolton:
Hahnemann
Zubar
Craddock
Stearman
Hunt
Hammill
Foley (if fit)
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis
SEB (IF FIT)
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Berra-Stearmen playing well ?
You see this is were you require brutal HONESTY.Stearmen is certainly improving,Berra as the same issues when it comes to letting the ball bounce and his clearances remain very unpredictable,both players seem to play well,when we seem to be playing a controlled game,so as we show a little bit of franticness in our play both become very in-secure in there play.
I am aware that the players and manager portray this calmness as if they in control of our and there destinys,Yet it is very obvious when it comes to playing they look very uncalm and frantic.
Since the season began MICK and co showed a front,that represents “We are fine and will stay in league” This sadly is coming back to haunt us,as the results are not reflecting the beleif,and MAJORITY of the time the performances are not reflecting a team who truly beleives survival is assured.
It is true that in some games we have shown intent and produced decent play,my concern is that this as only been the case when we have gone behind in games,or have played teams we have expected to get ZERO out of.
Everytime we have played a game we are expected to get something out of,we have just not turned up.
This is a real indication of lack of beleif within the hireachy of our great club.This is transmitting to players.
So it is very difficult to say who should be in the team or not,as the circumstances they are playing under are acting as a nucleus and a burden that is leading to SELF-DESTRUCTION.
This is why the MANAGER had to be changed around 8 weeks ago.In my humble opinion the players need and it is imperative that they get this,is freshness and a guide who is going to instill a fearless frame of mind and a true beleif of that we are GOOD enough to stay up.This time of season we need someone to stand up and spread CONFIDENCE to the players and I just dont see anyone with the required pedegree to instill this.
MICK is aware that the players are under performing and are starting to question the team and playing methods.This was very apparent in MICKS recent interview WHEN HE STATED “THE PLAYERS ARE BEHIND ME AND THE METHODS”.This is a clear indication that they are not,otherwise why put the question to them?Most players at clubs like ours dont have players who will say “NO” as MICK would not take the constructive input well.The players would find themselves out in the cold.
Everyone as a view,but what counts is were we are in our league positions and what as caused us to be were we are in the league?
The answer once all angles are looked at in great depth,hits you right in the MUSH,MICK!
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7 – How many games have you seen in recent years???????
There is not a player in the world that is mistake free, but there are those that have that regular mistake habit that costs you everytime, Stearman is one of them!!
All WWFC fans reading this watch out for -
Stearman – ALWAYS running backwards to head the ball as his positional sense tells him to play too high up the pitch.
The whole WWFC back four – like rabbits in the headlights when they get the ball – lack of control and panic sets in – this is made even worse by Wolves players in front of them making no runs or movement so that they can be in a position to receive a pass – hence we have the worst record in the Prem for the number of passes that go backwards -
check the Opta stats versus Doncaster at home Wolves made 127 passess BACKWARDS against a team that is poor championship quality and we won 5-0 !! I rest my case.
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Everyone concerned with the club,are aware that we cant say anymore it will be ok,as we have easier games that we will get points and sit comforably outside the relegation places.
It is the so called easier games that have put us were we are!This season we have been involved in FOUR games were teams have played us and stopped a ROT,lIVERPOOL had lost there previous 6 away yet we all now what happened.
Same with wigan had been concedeing and losing gamesleft right and centre and along come the WOLVES to give them 6POINTS.!
Then we get happy clappers on this forum trying to call the truth “WHINGEING”"MOANING”etc.We now who they are related to as they dont just pick it up from the GROUND!(micks children).
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Hammill is cup tied for sunday, he played for barnsley in the cup against west ham, its a shame would have been nice for him to get a start and show us what he can do, 4, your ‘tom huddlestone story’ makes me laugh, he is 4 weeks away from fitness and he plays in the top 4, would never happen
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15 – So you’d have sacked McCarhy 8 weeks ago……. and put who in charge ? O’Neil will not join a relegation fight. “Big Sam” i’m pretty sure would have still been employed at Blackburn at that time (could be wrong, can’t be bothered to check, would you want him anyway ?), so which other manager would you have got in that has so clearly deomostrated at this level of football they are a better manager than Mick McCarthy ?
Also, you’re not writing for one of the red tops, you don’t need to put what you consider to be key words in block capitas !
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We will probably go out and beat Stoke this weekend, but who cares? We need to concentrate on the leauge, but is it to late. Let face it Bolton who we are playing next have not won in ages so we shall see.
If we loose this one I can see no way out. Doomed and relegated. No ambition, no positive play – lets not lie down and go out fighting. look at Newcastle & Blackpool this season it makes me sick.
How much money has been wasted on failed signings, on players that do not even play. Loosing vital games to the teams in and around us. It is not good enough so come on happy clappers continue to make me laugh.
Loose to Bolton and we can play in a league again where most of the so called first team are suited.
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19 Kentish,,are you saying we have the best manager available at this level???and what can you say Mick has done at this level,I was going to say what has Mick achieved at this level,but I wasnt sure of spelling achieved,and I thought you might pick me up on it. I wouldnt say no to Sam,hes a Wolves man.
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We probably shouldn’t be too quick to write off players as “failed signings” when they’ve only been with the club 6 months….. especially when the likes of Hunt & Fletcher have played regularly almost as soon as they’ve had any sustained period of fitness.
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Pedro – I’m saying I can’t think of too many others, that would be available to us proven at this level to be better than McCarthy……. that’s not to say McCarthy is without fault, just, who else is there for us to take on? Big Sam will always be one that divides opinion with fans, personally I wouldn’t be that pleased with his appointment but I’d give him support.
Mick kept us up last year, that’s what he has done, that’s what he has experience of, it should count for something. We as fans expect loyalty from players, managers & coaches…. but loyalty is a 2 way street & i think it’s right we show a certain degree of loyalty to Mick now. When it’s time for Mick to be replaced, hopefully good managers will see us as a good club to be involved with because of the support they know they will get from the board.
I’ve said this before, but in my opinion, whatever happens this season, if Mick is to be replaced, it should be done early in the summer when the new manager has time to get his feet under the table. I suspect when Mick goes we would go for a younger manager. To introduce a young manager to a relegation fight could destroy the guy before he’s had a chance.
Oh, & I wouldn’t be that pedantic over spelling !!
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I agree Mick should be out but it wont happen now. A good friend of mine works in the game and Wolves have been offered,Gary Oneil,Keane,Davies and ohara but the reply back was Mick is not interested. Mick wont have any so called big time charlies at Wolves as he likes things done his way or no way. I think Mick has done a fantastic job getting us where we are but the facts dont lie,hes not up to premier league standard. I think we all know deep down we wont survive as we are not good enough,the fact we have been in the bottom 3 nearly all season says it all. However i will be there on sunday cheering the boys on..up the Wolves.
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I see no point in changing our manager at this stage. I still believe his hands are tied with regard to the transfer market but that he is too loyal to the current club ethos, dictated by financial prudence, to whinge about it. I believe “togetherness” is vital to Mick’s survival hopes and that he will do everything to maintain it and that’s behind some of the statements he makes- which annoy some on here. His is not a “we’re all doomed” mentality, more of a “Rourkes Drift” – and they survived, just.
So might we, although Martin Swain’s extreme doubts did little for my morale I must admit. Seriously, Sam and Martin would never come to us – not with our budget – they are waiting for something else altogether. Give them and us another ten years and they might consider us. I will not call for Mick to go, not yet.
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South Bank – what I heard suggested that neither Keane nor O’Hara wished to leave London. West Ham have always been in the frame for both – and it would suit their living arrangements. Which Davies would that be?
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i read these comments all the time, all the neg lords, but i have to say that we are all missing 1 important point. . . .
WE ARE 1 POINT FROM SAFTY!
we have a good run in at the end of the season. i think we can stay up. we just need to get behind the team and hope for the best. teams around us are only 1 or 2 points away.
are we saying that we are that much worse from them? or they are that much better than us?
lts stay positive, get behinfd the team instead of on top of it! WE CAN DO IT, LIKE WE DID LAST SEASON!
I think thast its a shame we have not been able to bring players in that we would have liked to have played right now for an impact, but that hamill kid was bloody good vs liverpool. awesome crosses from the wing! nobody at wolves at the moment seems to have passes with such precision and consistency.
forget the neg lords! i am behind wolves and the 3m’s in growing a strong, stable team for the future. both in terms of players (realistic long term tallent – all our star players have been from the samne place – lescott, miller, keane etc) and financially.
even if we have to go back to the championship, i will do it with pride and with wolves. i remember where MM got us from when all our best playrs left and we were getting slammed in the championship!
WE ARE WOLVES, WE CAN DO IT!
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Martin Jol with Chris Hughton as number two
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I wonder if anyone else has noticed that all the teams that people think we should play nobody has mentioned ward i wonder why
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1 had a phone call today from the mollyneux to ask me if i wanted any tickets for the stoke game being a season ticket holder, i said that i dont, and that i will not be renewing my season ticket either oh im sorry to hear that why she said can i ask why and i said there is no ambition there anymore and we have an idiot ignorent inept manager who called us numpties and i and my son and family will not be buying anything untill the manager moxey and staff are still in controll, has anyone else been contacted.
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No 4
”Just heard a rumour that tom huddlestone has been seen leaving the wolves ground today??”
As long as he don’t come back we will be fine.
Useless when he was here on loan ……….. hold on can he play centre half in place of BERRA???????
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South Bank – Sorry, I’m losing it again. Curtis Davies, of course. It’s the strain!!
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Griffiths on Dorrans…“He then got his move to West Brom and has been absolutely magnificent, so if I can emulate anything like that I’ll be delighted.”
Don’t know if anyone’s towld you Griffo, but we don’t take kindly to carments bout them up da rowd rouwnd dese parts…’ave you seen the scene in the American werewolf in London when the two friends go into the friendly “Slaughtered lamb…” thats wot ‘appens if you mention ..them…’round ere…ok?
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I personally know Brendan Rodgers from Swansea City and i asked him in our local last week what he thinks of Berra and Stearman and he stated to me that they are both at best Championship defenders and stated Ashley Williams is technically much better,enough said pal.
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First things first Mick is here to stay! lets face fact. I personaly would have taken Paul Ince, why? I always felt he was very comfortable at wolves, great football pedigree, good with fans and will give a team balance between youth & experience.
I think its a massive ask that we remain in this divison, however we belong here! lets not forget the tesco brigade pulled off the great escape we can too!
Lets back what we have now, make MOLINEUX more of a fortress than it usually is and give the old gold a fighting chance!
Afterall out of darkness cometh LIGHT!!!
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29 – I assume it’s because everybody want’s him fresh for the Bolton game ?!
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No30 above..THATS IT THEN you can always support Derby (the Rams)and if you dont like them you can do another ewe turn.
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