Wolves boss Mick McCarthy vows to attack Liverpool

Friday 23rd September 2011, 11:05AM BST.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy vows to attack Liverpool

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy today insisted his side are over their Queens Park Rangers debacle and has vowed to attack Liverpool.

McCarthy’s men go to Anfield tomorrow having lost back-to-back Premier League games, while they haven’t scored in over five hours’ football.

But the Wolves boss is confident his players will regain their form and banish last week’s performance.

He said: “People must know by now that my life doesn’t go up and down like a fiddler’s elbow.

“I’m not up and down – it’s not a case of ‘Mick McCarthy’s going to top himself’ if we’ve lost, or ‘Mick McCarthy’s going to get smashed off his head and party if we win.’ It just doesn’t happen.

“We get back to it by doing what we were doing two weeks ago in terms of the shape of the team and passing the ball and working hard.

“We’ve had all the Prozone stats and we worked a damn sight harder against QPR than at Blackburn, but that was because we were chasing the ball.

“In the other games we’ve played well – we’ve kept the ball, we’ve passed it well, collectively won it back in the right areas, and teams didn’t play around us.

“Against QPR we didn’t do any of those things – but that was the only poor performance we’ve had in a while.”

To read our stories in full, log in to the premium 24 website.


  1. 1
    Yungy

    Lets Stop the rot first and grab a clean sheet!! 5 goals in 2 games is last years form. I say play Guedioura in a 5 man midfield and pick them off on the break and close down all over the pitch. Just like last years performance at Anfield

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    wolfshead

    Just steady the ship, Mick, remember we’re at Liverpool.

    Good luck to all on Saturday, coyw.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    linconwolf

    Am I missing something ? Where does McCarthy say he ‘Vow’s to attack’ ???

    Unlikely I would have thought

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Mr. Perspective

    “Against QPR we didn’t do any of those things – but that was the only poor performance we’ve had in a while.”

    Not ture; the Villa performance was poor but luckily they were poor as well. In the second half they managed to get into 2nd / 3rd gear and it looked like there would be only one winner, but luckily we managed to hang on.

    It’s these oversights that prove to be the seed of doubt in the fans minds.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    wolfhedd

    Mr. Perspective – Why is having to defend against a team of better players away from home a poor performance? Villa didnt exactly play poor, they dominated large parts of the match which you would expect a home team to do, but we were solid at the back and had a few chances to knick a win. It wasnt our best performance attacking wise, but it also wasnt a bad one either, and defensively, we were as good as we have ever been in the premier league, so taking all this into consideration, I would say our waya draw at villa was a decent performance, not brilliant, but definately not poor.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Marston Green Wolves

    I have to laugh at the headline, after last week’s debacle. By having more than one shot at goal will improve on our attacking threat.
    We have to be careful at Anfield. They will be smarting at the Spurs thrashing and also our 1 nil victory last season. We must go 4-5-1 and Kites and Elokobi must be dropped. Henry and O’Hara will be lucky to play also!

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Kenny Hibbitts Left Foot

    I think Liverpool will be looking to make amends after that thrashing last week and at home too. Definatly should play 4.5.1 with Fletcher to start up front, if it is’nt goin well pur Doyle on instead. Would’nt hurt to drop Henry to see if it refocus’s him, but could foley play defensive mid ? he is a right back after all. would like to see Milijas given a go with Adlene and hammill in for Kites.

    Come on me Babbies

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Vonovitch

    I think I must be the only Wolves fan who thinks Doyle is a waste of space, as a striker he make a good corner flag!

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Kentish Wolf

    Mr. Perspective – I’m loving the irony of your name there !

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Bedfordshire Wolves

    If McCarthy does do has the headline states and attacks Liverpool I fear we will probably get another 3-0 defeat.

    Common sense says play 4-5-1, close Liverpool down very quickly and look for a breakaway goal when the opportunity arises.

    I keep my fingers crossed that MM opts for the sensible approach and is satisfied with a hard fought 0-0, rather than a brave attacking 3-0 defeat.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    Albrightondek

    #3 Liconwolf

    Yes, I too was puzzled by the headline and the quotes attributed to McCarthy.

    However, if you look at an article on the Wolves website, he is quoted as saying “We will try and be fairly attack-minded”, which is a little bit more sensibly.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    jason

    so iff were going to attack liverpool it will be 7 0 to liverpool then i hope wolves sack mick drop doyle drop henry drop steerman in comes fletcher hammil and foley iff fit iff not zubar fed up with mick now hes had his time back to beer me thinks lol wolvesfan till i die

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    tipton wolf

    no8 totally agree with doyle comments

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Midlothian Cossack

    We need to shut up shop at Anfield and come back down the M6 unscathed as we dont have any attacking players, if we can fluke a win or a draw that will be a nice little bonus.
    The chance of we winning two on the trot is most unlikely.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    StevieRich

    4-5-1 with guediora & hammil for kightly.. at least THEY will be up and down the pitch like a fiddlers elbow!

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    kenny hibbitt scorcher 79

    agree with some of the above, go ultra defensive and when the chance of a beakaway arises take it with both hands.

    watched liverpools performance against brighton looked good going forward but dodgy at the back.

    witness jay spearing dithering with a penalty area clearance ,losing possesion and then forcing carragher to committ the foul for brightons penalty.

    if guadiera and hammill play they could get into their penalty area and cause havoc.

    hopefully wwfc can come back down the m6 with 3 vital points. utw

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Solentwolves

    Let’s give a really good account of ourselves, whatever the result. Let’s leave Anfield with our heads held high. UTW.

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    Staffs Wolf

    ATTACK Liverpool with what resources Mick? With SEB and Fletcher out how? Got to be 4-5-1. Don’t forget they will want to give us another good slapping as they lost their last game 4-0.

    Team for Anfield:

    Hennessey
    Doherty (Yes Doherty!)
    Ward
    Berra
    Johnson
    Jarvis
    Hunt
    O’Hara
    Guediora
    Hammill
    Doyle

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Wolfhound

    I read in the papers that McFadden is wanted by Steve Bruce,seems to me that he would definatly improve our squad especially in the striker department where we are forced to use Vokes who is not Prem standard,but Moxey is more intent on making a big profit than improving the team so I dont hold out too much hope.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    AngryWolf

    I’ve kept quiet over the last few weeks and bitten my tongue but frankly enough is enough! I thank MM for all the work he has done over the past 5 years but this is where we(Wolves FC)and he should part. Put simply – he is not good enough. I know that he kept us up last season(far,far more by luck than judgement!)but he lacks tactical ‘knowhow’ and the ability NOT to be blinded by ‘favourite players’ who he plays regardless of their talent at this level. His Yorkshire stubbornness has been admired, but I believe it’s his Achilles heel and will see us struggle again this season. I hope I’m proved wrong, but on Saturday’s performance(where all the above were on display) I saddly doubt it!

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    Silver Wolf

    It’s Saturday I’m looking for inspiration iro a bet on Wolves today. I won’t back against them so it’s got to be on the draw or a win. I might have to wait for inspiration to come when I’ve had a pint or two …. or three ….. ;)
    C’mon the old gold and black!

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Solentwolves

    @ 19 – Will it be another case of who offers the highest wages, I wonder? If so, I guess we will lose out. Still, there’s so many factors we don’t know. Sunderland being nearer to McFadden’s Scotland, etc. etc. But, there again, can’t always believe the papers. Wasn’t it the “Mirror” that had him training with the Blues this week when all the time he was at Compton?

    Report abuse



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.
Saddlers Blog

A week is a long time in football

Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.