Karl Henry fears for Wolves place

Wednesday 27th July 2011, 11:43AM BST.

Karl Henry fears for Wolves place

Wolves captain Karl Henry has admitted he now fears for his place.

Henry has been manager Mick McCarthy’s most used player in his five years in charge, but the 28-year-oldexpects to have to fight to get in the side this season.

McCarthy is keen to increase competition in the middle of the park and has been offered Manchester City’s Michael Johnson and Liverpool’s Jay Spearing on season-long loans.

The Wolves boss has also held talks with free agent and former Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.

McCarthy is even more likely to bolster his squad if doubts over Adlene Guedioura continues to struggle with an ankle injury, especially with Dave Edwards still striving for full fitness, while David Jones has left.

Henry, who is just two short of 200 appearances for Wolves, has been watching developments with interest and admits he has to regain his consistency.

He said: “My real concern is just getting back to the way I play in a good, consistent season because I felt I had a patchy campaign last year and I wasn’t really happy with my form.

“I’ve got to concentrate on my performances and see where that takes me.

“Consistency has been a strong point of mine over the years and I need to make sure I get back to that this coming season.”

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  1. 1
    BOC

    That is really good news, hopefully he will ask for a transfer……….. to Barnet.

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  2. 2
    EdinburghWolf

    A nothing piece of journalism! so what if he’s got to fight for his right to be a first team regular? He should be challenging himself every game to ensure he is always on the team sheet,and that means NOT doing the stupid challenges such as the one at Wigan last season.I hope we get another two midfielder’s and another center back and left back. I must say also that we will need a better keeper than Hennasey,as i’ve got doubts about his consistancy.
    UTW

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  3. 3
    codsall wolf

    I prefered watching wolves without henry in the team, games were much smoother without him taking 4 touches and slowing the team down .

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  4. 4
    Andy

    according to Spearing himself he has not been asked about going out on loan. Would seem odd to be offered a player without him knowing wouldn’t it E&S?

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  5. 5
    crowfish

    Another e&s headline that does not refer to players comments.

    Where does he say he fears for his place?

    He should though! and captaincy!

    After comments the other day about being able to up his game if a new midfielder came in then his place should be under a BIG threat, throw in he was shocking at times last year and is struggling in friendlies also when i have seen him!

    He is just so negative & either lacks quality or confidence to try any sort of forward telling pass!

    Hopefully we have someone up our sleeves!

    Big Roger for captain!

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    John De Wolf

    Henry isn’t good enough to be first choice this season if we want to progress and he’s a weak link in a 4-4-2.

    He needs at least another two players next to him otherwise we don’t function in midfield and teams play through us.

    He’s been a great signing considering how much he cost but it’s time to bring in better players. Midfield is a key area that we need to dominate. Guedioura or Milijas alongside O’Hara would be a better combination but ideally I’d like to see a new signing.

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  7. 7
    sizzler wolves

    if i was the wolves manager id have sold him at the end of the season.. yes he’s a good championship player but not premership quality by a long chalk…….let the blues have him …..

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  8. 8
    wolveswolveswolves

    Like Mick will actually drop him

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  9. 9
    Leon

    And so he should worry, even though he does need some competition for his place… New signings please!

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  10. 10
    bilbrookwolves

    What a stupid story, if I had a player that was not worried for his place I would not want him at the club anyway. they should all be worried

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  11. 11
    Bob Wolf

    Shouldn’t be anywhere near the team in my opinion.

    No further transfer activity and the opening game isn’t that far away – surely Jez should be monitoring the news at Blues and getting a cheeky bid for Scott Dann over, perhaps Cameron Jerome as well to provide the headless-chicken running that Mick seems to value so highly.

    Stop messing around with rubbish loan signings and get the quality centre and left backs that we need Mick!!

    And has Clipboard been sent on a coaching course over the summer to develop his inability to put on a sub without 10 minutes of instructions?

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    me

    make johnson captain and sell henry and keogh and berra and buy dann and bridge

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  13. 13
    ghost

    get rid, id rather try out david davis, hes looked far better than karl henry during preseason by all accounts

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  14. 14
    Albrightondek

    There are not too many good combative midfield players around or available. If McCarthy is really thinking of replacing Henry (which I have my doubts) then the only one that comes to my mind is Joey Barton.

    Not everbody’s cup of tea I grant you, but on his day a match winner.

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  15. 15
    Lustdog

    A perfect article for all the Henry bashers to get their knives out once again. This is a guy who has taken up and will see us through at least 3 years in the premier league. Apart from being our captain & leader, he has been one of our most consistent performers in modern times and I guarantee is regarded as incredibly valuable to the team by his manager and fellow team mates. Ok, so technically he is lacking at times but he completes most of his passes and wins most of his tackles. I don’t understand what more you can ask for at the lower end of the premier league. He is also is 100% committed and a extremely proud WWFC skipper. Lay off him!

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  16. 16
    PeteNuts

    I also fear for your place, Karl. Specifically, I fear that you will keep it next season! Ha ha! Another zinger from the pen of PeteNuts!

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Happy Wolf

    Anyone else wondering why we are moving the TV gantry? It was good where it already was IMO !

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  18. 18
    getsomein

    And so he should worry he should of gone 2 years ago along with berra elokobi ward keogh stearman and also thick mick to name just a few.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Bilston Wolves

    scott dann for wolves, if we can. i dont see anything happening with him. . . .

    lets look to improve midfield next season, lets get our defence sorted first. if we do both then great, but we need to sort the defence.

    pls pls pls MM – i hope ur working on this in the background. SD would be awesome and a signing like that would shoot us up to a mid table team this season and scilence the critics once and for all.

    I am shocked that we are 5th team for relegation. surely we are not that bad!

    on this note – i hope that Henry can deal with his stuff and stay in the team, until we get someone better top take over that is. if he plays well, he should be in, that simple. in our game we do need an element of holding the ball, otherwies we will be cannon fodder for the top teams;

    WE ARE WOLVES!!!!

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  20. 20
    I Rate Henry

    I actually rate Karl.

    By his own admission he had a “patchy” season last year but do think he is a good holding midfielder (as does Mr Capello who put him in a provisional England squad).

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  21. 21
    Yowm avin a loff!!!

    A good manager would’ve realised this, as we all did, when Henry’s form dipped and he should’ve replaced him with someone who was ready to fill the void, as he did with the likes of Hahnemann, Milijas, Fletcher last season, he was quick to put them on the bench. Strikes me as another “favourite” of Micks that can do no wrong like Ward and Elokobi. And he thinks this sort of attitude won’t affect the dressing room. Don’t worry Karl your place in the team is safe whilst Mick is manager. We’ll base the team around you, Ward and Elokobi.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Well Stacked

    Well said Bob.

    We have made virtually no improvement on last year yet. We have added Johnson, which is great, but he only needs a knock and we’re playing last years team.

    Where’s the rest Moxey.

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  23. 23
    Jeevan JarvisGill

    Get Henry out.

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  24. 24
    minesapint!

    I know it’s very sad but one game last season, a mate of mine, , counted 144 passes that were sideways or back and Karl made 79 of those – his place is rightly under threat!!!

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  25. 25
    wulfman

    You have to laugh with people still calling for Bridge.
    He is so good he is going off to U.S.A. to grab some cash now.
    Dann not fit yet.
    Everyone in the squad starts at zero pre -season and everyone, even Keogh, Vokes, Baath, Hamill etc all will get a chance. Karl has been a strong servant and people on here are quick to forget. He was not the only one with patchy form last season. It would be easier to name even one that did not.

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  26. 26
    Silver Wolf

    I saw somewhere today where the Stoke manager Pulis suggested Scott Dann et al needed to get realistic about their wage demands if they wanted to get back into Prem football for this season.
    Again, could be all hot air on a slow news day, but with little else until the ball starts flying about for real it’s understandable.
    I’m a bit prone to any old gossip at the moment – my pc seems to be heading for meltdown and stuck between it and the BT Tech Dep’t anything seems readable!!

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  27. 27
    Jack Harris Wolf

    Henry is at best Championship, and should never be a regular in the first 11. Ward is the same, although as he is apparently Micks son-in-law to be (has a child with Micks daughter I hear ?!) so hardly likely to be sold. Elokobi who should take up rugby and Berra who is snail paced – offer all these plus Stefan Maierhofer & Andy Keogh to Blues for Scott Dann and Ridgewell and top 10 finish here we come. UTW.

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  28. 28
    teeswolf

    Signing O Hara who was only on loan, and Johnson & De Vries looks some of the best business done ANYWHERE this summer.

    With Fletcher & Hunt raring to go from the start this season, Kightly finding his fitness slowly but surely, and what is still a young squad now with 2 years premiership experience behind it, there is plenty for Wolves fans to feel Happy about!!

    UTW

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  29. 29
    Leon

    Well said 22, last years team was not good enough, a few injuries and we are back in the same boat, yes the players have a bit more experience, but we need something more.. If one striker is out, what have we got on the bench to liven things up.. You can’t just rely on lots of wingers. If 2 strikers get injured we are back to having Ward up forward, this is no way to run a football team. We have more Goalkeepers than strikers, that says it all…

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  30. 30
    carl wolves

    12 & 27, like many on here-go back to championship manager!

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  31. 31
    CheshWolf86

    A nothing article designed purely to bring out the ‘anti-Henry’ and ‘anti-Mick’ brigade.

    Henry didn’t have a great season last year compared to our first year in the PL, where he was outstanding, but is still a crucial cog in our team. For all those suggesting Milijas and O’Hara should play together, just have a think about how that would actually work. Who would break the play up? Who would protect the back 4? Neither have got any great pace about them. The only player in our current squad that could challenge Henry’s position is Kevin Foley, who I thought did well there last season (Chelsea at home stands out). Guedioura doesn’t have the discipline for the role.

    And I very much doubt Moxey is ‘doing nothing’ as some of you suggest above – not many teams in and around us have done any better business from what I have seen, so I don’t understand the negativity. He’s pulled off a couple of fantastic deals in Johnson and O’Hara to go with De Vries. The likes of Wayne Bridge will not come to Molineux as he is on £90k a week at City, we will not and should not be paying such wages.

    We are currently one of the best run and most progressive teams in the country, both off and on the pitch. Enjoy it.

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  32. 32
    Andy

    Jack Harris Wolf – get back to your own site to discuss your big goalkeeping signing

    I agree with Lustdog (15) and the first snippet from 21.

    Holding midfielders rarely get the praise they deserve and Karl falls into this category. However, like all players, he has his bad days – unfortunately, some of these bad days are very bad days. McCarthy’s loyalty to him extends too far when he refuses to drop him when his form dips.

    McCarthy also did him no favours over the last couple of years when he played Mancienne alongside him. With the lack of an attacking midfielder, the wingers and the forward(s) were getting starved of service, the opposition could push on and we got overrun – with a lot of people blaming Henry

    With no Mancienne now and with a good quality attacking midfielder in Jamie O’Hara, I’m hoping we’ll see something a little bit different this season.

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  33. 33
    Wolves@i.ua

    According to todays press Brum are in financial plight. Get a bid in for Dann at least and possibly one or two others that have been mentioned in the past. We should get them at knock down prices particularly if we pay cash up-front. Moxley, just watch your hand as they may snap it off you if you show them a couple of quid.

    Report abuse

  34. 34
    Definitely Not PeteNuts

    @16 PeteNuts

    Ha ha! That really was a zinger, mate! You should have your own humour-based column.

    And just to reiterate, I am definitely not you posting under a name that claims I am not you when I am.

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    Lord Claredon of Chapel Ash

    Who writes this drivel, with a squad of 25 as far as i,m concerned every player should be scared of being dropped if they are not up to scratch at this level. E&S can we have something decent and interesting to read about Wolves please.

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  36. 36
    sb

    31 CheshWolf86 the best post I’ve seen for ages! as soon as I saw this article I thought they’ll all be out the Henry haters and they have ,why don’t people just support our players or just shut up!!!!Lustdog(funny name) agree with you too, glad some people have the same views as I do was beginning to think I was on my own….

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  37. 37
    london wolf

    Good fuel for all the idiots who hate Karl Henry.

    A local lad, wolves fan, 100% committed, strong in the tackle, captain of our team over 3 successful seasons and playing well enough to make it into the provisional England squad.

    I can completely understand why so many of you want him sold……

    Am all up for adding to our midfield options but i just wish we could find some more fans who actually understand the game. Karl Henry is never going to make 40 yard passes or score incredible goals but he does a job for the team and never gives anything less than 110%.

    I too have my concerns over whether he can play in a 4 man midfield but i am more than happy for him to be given the chance.

    Even if we sign another midfielder who replaces him in the team, we will still need to play 4-5-1 at times next season. When we have tough away games or need to hold on for the last 15 mins of a game, there is no one better at our club to play that holding role protecting the back 4.

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  38. 38
    The Flying Winger

    I don’t understand these comments about hating Henry, hating is not a word that should be used about any Wolves player.

    Sue made a similar comment in another article, I like many think he is not good enough and hasn’t been for a long time. As I have said before much of the blame is McCarthy’s for keep selecting him and not finding a repalcement.

    The team would perform much better without him, and I do think a new Captain will be named for the new season which we really need.

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  39. 39
    TelfordWolves

    great news not sure that even Barnet would have him!!

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  40. 40
    MACTHEWOLF

    Exchange him along with WARD ELOKOBI BERRA and KEOGH for DANN what a great deal that would be, who knows we might even get in the top half of the table.

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  41. 41
    Kenny Hibbitts Left Foot

    Well of course he should be fighting for his place as should everyone !!15, lustdog are you on Angel dust lust ???, 16 Petenuts sounds like you are !17, Happy apparently they are moving the gantry for the camera’s to get a better view now we are attracting more media coverage !!!!!!!! 27, if only we could that would be the best bit of business eva !!!

    Come on me Babbies

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  42. 42
    sue

    38-you like some think he isn’t good enough but there is lot who think he does a good job, he’s got a thankless job doing all the dirty work but that just my opinion..I’m saying no more on the subject fed up of all the negativity..

    Report abuse

  43. 43
    Wolves@i.ua

    Have a look at the real world. Millions of people are starving in Somalia and I wonder if the writers on this site earn more than 2, 3 or 4 thousand pounds per month and then still pour loads of money to buy season tickets and have sleepless nights whether Wolves have won, lost or drew the last match. I’m sure that your wives and kids could find a better use for it. Supporting Wolves is the same as smoking fags, once you get into it you can’t give it up. Keep on smoking the fags and support the Wolves till the day we all die but don’t forget that the Henry’s etc. who are mediocre by all standards earn 20 to 30 thousand each and every week whether they play, lose or are injured. They are no better than a good coalminer, engineer or nurse the difference is that at 35 they retire with mega bucks in their pockets while the rest of us mortals have to slog till we are 65, 67 or soon to be 70. Get real, we want Wolves to be the best team in the world but don’t worship middle of the road money grabbers who will take the p**s once they’ve loaded their piggy banks with your hard earned cash.

    Report abuse

  44. 44
    SEATTLE WOLF

    If ward is reputed as Super Mick’s so called “love child,” then Back Pass is more likely Mick’s mistress! Seriously, as if this headline strikes a chord of concern in any well-worn Wolves supporter! We all know every player is expected to compete day in and day out for their place, and suggesting Henry has finally figured this out, as if he never had to worry about form before, is a bunch of hog-hooey! More dog days of summer, hum-drum drivel to keep the idle interested beyond the banal activities of pre-season ramp-ups to the new season, still more than half a month away. Roll on… UTMW

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  45. 45
    magic

    us wolves fans are a touchy bunch, obviously the artical was put out for a reaction. n wow didnt it work, i dont see the big problem with karl, his game is to break up opposition play n get us started again, yes some of his tackles are a bit ropey but you know he`s not malicious. ide love him to go barnstorming runs through the heart of other back lines like lampard or gerrard but the guy has limits. and wots the big panic over transfers can anyone name me another rival team (excluding top six) who are strengthening there squad right now? the last week will be the big move so dont panic.

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  46. 46
    Adios Fabio, Hello Reality

    It’s a sad testament to the English national team that Fabio Capello could even consider having Karl Henry in a squad, provisional or otherwise, that might at some point in time, have to represent England.

    Yes, yes, Yes. Wor Karl is a local lad, 100% a Wolves fan ’till he dies but then so are many of the peeps commenting on this site. I don’t see any of them wearing the captains armband, even though they might be better at passing a ball forwards than he is at passing sideways.

    Sure, this article is a “Stitch Up Karl” jibe, why wouldn’t it be, after his less than sensible comments at the week end about “maybe” having to up his game if there was a chance his position in the team came under threat?

    I’ve been a Wolves fan since 1960 and I can say with total conviction that we haven’t had a less effective Captain (both in driving on beleaguered players, nor in leading by example) than this player.

    Nice guy he may be and puts a shiftin I don’t doubt but in my view this is not good enough to be skipper, nor wear the old gold and black.

    Sorry Karl, I don’t blame you for a minute.

    If a Wolves manager offered me the contract he offered you, I’D HAVE TAKEN IT.

    If a Wolves manager offered me the Captaincy of my beloved club,

    I’D HAVE TAKEN IT,
    and a Wolves manager was prepared to over look all my short comings as a quality player and poor Captain I’D KEEP MY HEAD DOWN ‘TILL I WAS FOUND OUT TOO.

    3 M’s. NEW CAPTAIN PLEASE

    and if the current manager can’t see that for starters, HE SHOULDN’T BE MANAGER FOR MUCH LONGER EITHER.

    NOW BE FAIR FOLKS. Jody Craddock earned his spurs to become Club Captain. In my view it was nothing less than disrespectful to ditch him for Karl Henry. Tony Pulis didn’t rate him, nor do I. That’s why we’re stuck with him now

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  47. 47
    Colin Peppiatt

    If we’d signed Gardner as well as O’Hara we could now sell Henry, who is hopeless. A defensive midfielder who cannot tackle, cannot pass forward, cannot read play, cannot track his man. We ought to go back to Birmingham and sign Dann and then the defence will be sorted.

    Report abuse

  48. 48
    Solentwolves

    With Panu saying that he may have to make decisions that will be unpopular with Blues’ fans, it makes one wonder how low Dann’s price may eventually fall in the “fire sale”. Probably quite a game of hard ball going on between various clubs – wonder if we are still in it?

    Report abuse

  49. 49
    Grace

    46,47

    What planet are you on???

    You’ve already reffered to 2 people who have forgot more about football than anyone on here will ever know, who really rate the lad.

    And as for the comment about him being the most inaffective captain ever??? Have a word with your self, he is leading the most succesful side we have had in the last 30-35 yrs so he must be doing something right.

    What the majority of people on here can’t seem to grasp is what his role is within the team which is to sit in front of the back 4 & break up opposition play & on the whole he does it well, he aint going to go storming forward setting up & scoring goals its just not his role in the team.

    Having said that I agree he had an inconsistent season last year & if the same happens this year his position rightly should be reviewed, but why not just get behind the lad, as you quite correctly point out he is one of our own & if anything should receive more support & not be slagged off because of it.

    Stop following the herd & support the lads.

    KTF

    Wolvesforever

    Report abuse

  50. 50
    Adios Fabio, Hello Reality

    GRACE,
    I come from planet Mirth and am a true fan. My comments stand, especially the opening one.

    Also, on planet Mirth, there is no word known as: inaffective, though you came close. Karl, I said was an “ineffective captain” What my problem is with Cappun Karl is that he’s a joker in the hole in the heart of the Wolves defence and you Grace, who take these posts soooooooo seriously, fell right in to it.

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