Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Do Wolves fans need scapegoats?
Tuesday 4th October 2011, 9:30AM BST.
Wolves columnist John Lalley believes the barracking that met Karl Henry’s substitution on Saturday continued a trend that started with abusing Andy Keogh from the terraces.
Post-match radio phone-ins in the wake of a damaging home defeat for Wolves make for predictable listening.
Diatribes of angry prescient warnings from supporters demanding radical or revolutionary changes at their club, with the remedial measures preferably beginning immediately or even sooner dominate the agenda.
Win or lose, Mick McCarthy usually attracts the same familiar comments.
He’s taken us as far as he can, he is just a Championship manager, he is too stubborn, he is tactically naive – and it always astonishes me that the callers themselves believe that they are tactically more astute than experienced professionals – or try the he only picks his favourites barb.
It’s consistently repeated and every single complaining fan seems totally certain that their diagnosis and overall perception is absolutely spot- on in contrast to Mick, who they believe is hopelessly misguided.
After the Newcastle defeat, the airwaves raked over some well worn arguments.
Then, by way of contrast to the flood of self-affirming conversations, a Wolves fan dialled in singing hosannas regarding Mick, backing him unconditionally and expressing unstinting confidence in his ability.
Common sense, rationality and a sense of proportion was gradually being restored until the caller undid all the good work by suggesting that a recall for the loaned out Andy Keogh could help to end our current woes.
Mercifully, being domiciled for the time being in Leeds and out of radio reception area, Andy was spared the trauma of hearing such a harrowing notion.
Had he been listening, no doubt he would have broken out in a cold sweat paralysed with fear at such a prospect. Just imagine it, Keogh returning to Molineux with a gold shirt on his back and the crowd quickly on it too.
The first hint of a mistake, the initial error, miniscule or monumental it wouldn’t matter and the entire impatient wrath of the stadium would descend upon him like a tidal wave.
An angry, raging torrent of contemptuous abuse directed personally and intimately designed to cast a slur on his commitment and his professionalism.
No, thank you very much, Elland Road is hardly an oasis of fair-minded tolerance itself but is an infinitely kinder type of environment for the Andy Keoghs of this world.
I recalled a night game at Molineux when Keogh was increasingly being baited and belittled by an increasing number of frustrated fans.
The fact that the player was performing no better or worse than the rest of his colleagues was of course immaterial to the barrackers.
Our manager isn’t the best at bottling up any pent up anger and he was smouldering at Keogh’s ordeal.
Almost out of embarrassment and with a spark of compassion, a section of the South Bank loudly began to chant Keogh’s name, clearly wanting to disassociate themselves from the critics.
Mick turned in their direction and applauded their response and, in doing so, simultaneously expressed his contempt for Keogh’s detractors.
I sat squirming, thoroughly uncomfortable that we could be so divided and yet all seeking the same positive outcome for the team.
It was baffling to imagine anything remotely good emerging from such an episode. I don’t suppose that Keogh found it too crash hot either.
Spool forward to Saturday and it has to be conceded that the reaction to the substitution of Karl Henry had been brewing beneath the surface for some time.
Another of the phone-in customers tried to suggest that that the sarcastic response was simply an expression of impatience that the introduction of Adlene Guedioura had been delayed too long and that no disrespect was being directed at Henry.
This is completely disingenuous, totally bogus and akin to the cynicism of the disgraced former United States President Richard Nixon, who succinctly put it ‘ if two wrongs don’t make a right, try three..
No, both barrels were pointing squarely in Henry’s direction, it was a ring-tone for his mobile, nobody else’s.
Now far worse things happen at sea than getting on the back of a fabulously rewarded Premier League footballer, it’s hardly comparable to Third World debt or an epidemic of malaria.
What’s more, Karl Henry is big enough and ugly enough to shrug it all aside and carry on regardless. He appears to be the type of player whose long standing contribution to his club is destined to be underestimated but no doubt, he can live with that.
I watched the Bolton versus Chelsea game the following day and shuddered at the nightmare errors spilled out by the Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.
His performance was dire, irredeemably dreadful but the frustration expressed by the Bolton fans appeared from a television perspective at least, to confine itself to the team and its management as a whole.
If I am wrong, I apologise now, but Bogdan did not appear to be singled out for abuse, shocking as his performance had been.
It did cross my mind as to how Molineux would react to a similar effort from a Wolves goalkeeper. No doubt the likes of Alan Boswell and Phil Parkes from the distant past could could offer possible enlightenment!
For the time being at least, Wolves have hit the buffers, it’s a pain and it’s frustrating. I wish all of our failings could be whisked away by replacing Karl Henry, but they can’t and I suspect that we will have to make do without Andy Keogh as well.
Henry can do something to get us out of this rut though and I believe that he will.
Apart from which, I’d hate to think that Joey Barton’s disparaging assessment of one of our players contained even a grain of truth, coming as it does from such a disreputable source.
Next time you boo Henry, remember who you are supping your bile with.
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Stop going on about it.
It’s not against the player its against Mick taking too long to make a substitution when your 2-0 down. When you have a player having a bad game on the pitch and an in form attacking midfielder sitting on the bench.
Keogh was all about Mick picking him over Iwelumo when Iwelumo and SEB were knocking in goals left right and centre as a partnership and Keogh was hitting row Z.
Ward was about Micks denial that a left back is our weakest position and also playing him upfront when we had more experienced strikers on our books that he sent out on loan.
Micks tactics get so frustrating when your sitting in the stands and that frustration spills over as sarcasm and boos sometimes.
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While agreeing with most of what John Lalley says (as usual), it should also be said that a lot of fans are deeply frustrated by the lack of strengthening of what are fairly obvious weaknesses in the team (new left back, another new central defender and a new midfielder in Henry’s position), and by the manager giving the impression that some players are undroppable, re the quote in the Express&Star that there are no contenders for Henry’s shirt. It is pretty obvious that we shall once again be fighting relegation, while pushing the boat a bit further out in the transfer market would have given cause for optimism that a mid-table finish was likely.
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Wow you make wolves fans sounds like they are any different to any other football club. He is not a scape goat – he is just not good enough and why can’t you people realise people were jeering McCarthy for taking him off for once. Did you not see the impact of the substitutions???!! The fans are right and you lap dogs to McCarthy and co do not help a club make progress with your constant pandering.
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Hi John. I usually agree 100 per cent with every one of your blogs, but you’ve manipulated one or two examples to make your point there.
Ask Neill Collins what he thinks of Leeds fans.
Ask Keogh after 4 years at Elland Road, not four weeks.
Ask Ronnie Wallwork, Darren Carter, Luke Moore and Scott Carson what they think of WBA fans.
We adored Dean Richards like a son didn’t we (god bless you Dean)
Spurs fans didn’t. They hated him. So are they worse fans?
I even heard Man Utd fans BOOING Michael Carrick for passing the ball sideways this season v Chelsea (think it was Chelsea)This season!
Those poor hard suffering United fans!
The unpalatable fact is that all fans have a percentage. I was disgusted by the Hnery cheers.And one day I will kill the old bloke in front of me who NEVER gives him credit and even barracks a 90 yard run to track back and cover an AWOL defender.
As for Keogh, I defy any set of fans at any club not to criticise. Heck, the Villa fans want McCleish out and he’s not lost a game yet!
Please John, for the sake of fairness and the reputation of us Wulfs – who are better than many contemporaries not worse – think before you lay the boot in.
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Well written and straight to the point!!
Some of the home crowd at Molineux always look for one single ‘scapegoat’ and unfortunately it is now Karl Henry; it used to be Steven Ward but he has turned things around – I was not a fan but I never booed him!
The main problem at Wolves is that the vast majority cannot remember the dark old days of Division 4 when we did not have a penny and they jumped on the bandwagon when we started the climb through the divisions.
We have come a very long way, however whilst we were climbing the well established teams in the Premier League were acquiring wealth and players beyond our dreams; we are now competing with those same teams but with a slight disadvantage!
We are going to experience downturns in form, however at these times we all need to pull together and not boo our own!
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How can you compare this situation to a man who has played only 1 game in goal for his club……..?
This article loses all credibility after that statement.
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John I have to disagree regarding to the cheers being directed at Karl. Week in week out for 3 seasons in the premiership Karl will start and finish games, games in which we are chasing. I’m sure I read its only the second time he has been substituted for tactical reasons in the premiership (other time was against Blackburn and received same cheer – no one remembers that!!!!)
When you are losing a game and want to try and achieve a result, why would you keep a player who’s job is to break things up and not create anything. You need to take a risk to get back into a game and provide an attacking solution (Henry is off and we create more chances – Blackburn and Newcastle). As I have stated two substitutions of Henry in 3 years shows Mick doesn’t take risk to achieve results. Some members of the crowd would have been cheering the fact we made an attacking substitution for a change, whilst some idiots would just have done it because it was Henry.
Mick has stated in the last few weeks that there isn’t competition for Karl’s place, why not?? Comments like this do not help Henry and provide further fuel to the argument people have regarding Micks favourites. People expect Karl to stay on because he is one of Micks “favourites” so the substitution of an untouchable is refreshing in some peoples eyes, this would have led to cheers from them.
Personally I think, someone at our club is deluded. Thinking one new signing (a Centre back) would turn us from a team surviving by the skin of our teeth to a mid table side. We didn’t strengthen enough in the summer and the first two games papered over these cracks. Now the cracks are appearing.
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Why do you and other bloggers blindly and blatantly refuse to acknowledge and address the source of the current unrest among many of us fans.
There has been a feeling of dissatisfaction bubbling away for a long time now and some of us are reaching the end of our tether.
Showing dissent at matches is the only way to be heard, this hap happens at EVERY football club bar none when the native grow restless.
And quite frankly, I am amazed that the clubs management have had such an easy ride, this is actually testament to the loyalty and patience of the fans.
Many of us cannot see the club progressing and consolidating with this manager and the class of player that he prefers.
Take a VERY close look at what has caused the fans unrest/drop in attendances before berating your own….All of us cannot be wrong !!
ps. Bogdan,the second choice Bolton ‘keeper you are on about was indeed cut some slack by the fans, (as surely De Vries or Ikeme would be).
But, lets see how Bolton fans react if he continues throwing balls in the back of the net over a sustained period with no threat of being dropped by the manager !!!
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This article is spot on!
What a surprise for the E&S to turn on the Numpties over the last two days.
Maybe they understand the importance of a Premiership club to a town like Wolverhampton and the circulatiuon figures it brings?
Karl Henry has been, and continues to be, a key player in the Wolves squad those that abuse him (or any other Wolves player) are not misguided.
Most of them live in the X Factor/Big Brother instant fame/rejection culture and have no concept of how good and how hard you have to work to be a professional footballer playing in the Premiership.
Numpty is too soft a term to call some of these followers, they are hate mongers that need to be challenged by those of us that love this club.
UTW
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Spot the error – they are of course MISGUIDED
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The big problem for the last few games is that the midfield players have looked nervous, hesitant and afraid to make a mistake. Any sportsman will tell you that confidence plays a huge part in performance, and any footballer will tell you that a supportive crowd is a massive boost to their confidence. The opposite is, of course also true. I understand the argument that goes ‘ I’ve paid my money, I’ll shout whatever I want’ but regardless of what they get paid, footballers are still human and the reaction from the crowd DOES affect them. The treatment dished out to Keough was appalling and you could see the reaction on his face when it was going on. I’m guessing Karl is made of slightly sterner stuff but that reaction on Saturday will have hurt, and will not have helped matters one little bit.
What makes it worse is that Henry never hides on the pitch, and playing in central midfield exposes him to pretty much everything – nervous defending, forwards losing possession, and most tellingly, trying to do the work of his partner O’Hara, who was anonymous on Saturday, but of course is the current golden boy and is seemingly immune from critism. If we as fans want to support the team, then encouragement is needed, not abuse. I walked to the ground with two away fans on Saturday and they asked me why we get on our players backs so much. I couldnt answer.
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From what I have read Henry was the unfortunate focus and conduit for the frustration, anger and disappointment that fans seem to be feeling right now. It is not Henry’s fault that the side is weak and that the squad has not been strengthened. But how else do the fans express their feelings? Does anybody at the Molineux listen? Or do they only listen to the happy-clappy brigade who worship regardless?
Yesterday there was reference to several other players being out of sorts. But are they underperforming or simply not good enough for the tough league in which Wolves now find themselves?
I’m sorry- this type of blog may make the MMM’s feel good about their wondrous works and all the happys will be loving it but I guess a lot of disenchanted fans will strongly disagree with it. Wolves have a problem and the fans want to be convinced that someone at Molineux can fix it. If they cannot then there need to be changes on and off the pitch.
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The cheers were aimed at McCarthy, for making a good substitution that had been needed for a while. Hammill and Ade have done more then enough to deserve atleast a chance all in the same midfield as O’hara. Hopefully now Mick has tried it he will again and we will reap the benefits. Karl is a good guy, a good player but im afraid he doesnt help us in a 442, save him to hold games out or for a 451 against the top 4 etc.
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I was frustrated Saturday but booing your own will have no positive affects – it’s time to get behind our manager and our team. Unity is strength.
Just one thing Wolves…please stop that ridiculous goal music.
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Excellent John. Your last line may be too subtle for some but absolutely spot on. Our own fans (some of our own fans) giving ammunition to someone like Barton is unthinkable. I was delighted QPR lost and the arrogance taken down a peg or too.
I’ve been at the Mol when the ref having only booked David Kelly for a bad tackle instead of sending him off was roundly booed by these sp called fans.
Honestly guys, what is the point in booing your own player when he is leaving the field. How is that support?
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It began way before Andy Keogh. I remember being stood on The South Bank back in around 1985 and witnessing a whole torrent of abuse aimed the ex-Walsall midfielder Paul (i think it was) Jones. He joined Wolves some month before and was VERY poor but He received the sort of abuse that is generally reserved for the Joey Bartons and Danny Mills’ of this world.
Come on guys – even if you think Henry is the worst player in the world – the reaction at his subbing on Saturday will do nothing but put the fear of god into ALL of the Wolves squad because they will be petrified of making a mistake.
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could not agree more.There is a mindless element amoungst Wolves fans, who have a totally delusional view on the club.One minute they demand massive spending on wages and transfers and the next reductions in ticket prices.I assume that many amoungst them also demand the manager and chief exec be saked and then abuse their own players on match day.
The club is well run from the owner to the manager, the players give their all every week.there is a strategy in place to build slowly, this applies to infrastucture as well as the playing staff.Others have tried to take short cuts….Portsmouth, Leeds and others and look what happened there!!
We will stay up again mainly because there are other teams who are not as strong and we will keep building.
My view is that these so called supporters are a destructive elemment an should probably go and support that lot down the road, Wolves are better off without them.
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SORRY YOUR WRONG THE BOOS/JEERS WERE IRONIC BOOS/JEERS AT THE FACT MICK MADE A CHANGE FOR A POSTIVE FORWARD ATTACKING PLAYER.KARL WAS NOT THE ONLY PLAYER ON SATURDAY WHO PLAYDE BAD JAMIE WAS FAR WORSE AND IF MICK HAD BROUGHT HIM OF INSTEAD I THINK YOU WOULD HAVBE HAD THE SAME BOOS/JEERS AS KARL HEARD
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Total poppycock of the highest “order”…if anything, it is the other way around.It’s us fans ( not customers) that are being made the scapegoats!!For poor team selection ( Henry shouldn’t have been playing in the first place), bad purchases. ( Johnson and O’Hara have improved us by zero), shocking tactics ( hoof and hope down the “channels”), and basic lack of fitnes…is it me or does every single player look a yard slower this year? We give a player who scores once in a blue moon a new 4 year contract and a pedestrian midfielder enough money to buy his missus a Ferrari…what a joke!! It wasn’t even Henry that was booed etc on Saturday, it was McCarthy for taking so long to see how ineffective we were…it’s frustration, and I know I am fed up of hollow promises and increasing admission fees. I think it’s hight time we heard from Morgan, or is he too busy buying more car parks? Lose at West Brom, and I tell you something…..you ain’t heard nothing yet…. let’s hope teh next blog contains some ideals, comments and vision from Moxey and Morgan….or will it be more claptrap about getting us to used to lower grade football for when we are relegated? Oh well….I’m off to buy my decoder to get Greeksat or whatever…..
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Based on the posts engendered by Tim Spiers’ blog, a lot of folk aren’t going to agree with you, John. For my part, I do.
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So in conclusion fans should not air their opinions in public because they know nothing about football but should leave it up to the professionals!
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Spot on!
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Oh, for Pete’s sake.
In this life, you get exactly what you deserve, and when you have a team manager who heaps vast globules of verbal scorn on anyone who has the temerity to question his decisions – yes, I’m talking about the ‘N’ word here, I’m not going to lower myself to saying it – then you simply cannot complain if that scorn gets heaped back on you or your players.
Frankly, I think we’d all have been remiss in our duties if we HADN’T heaped the aforementioned scorn on Keogh, the man was all different kinds of useless. That Barton crack at the end is pretty meaningless too – he may be disreputable, but he made the man you’re eager to defend look like an idiot on the pitch and off it.
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A journalist that has not checked his sources…. Lots of us who were there and cheering were doing so because the substitution was slow. We love Karl… You are bonkers mate.
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Couldn’t agree more! The boo boys complain about the lack of quality signings but who wants to sign for a club whose fans have a reputation for abusing their own players?
I thought Molineux was supposed to be intimidating for the visiting fans and players, not our own!
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While I would never, ever, boo the team or the current crop of players(they are all doing their best IMO),surely every fan has the right to show the management what they think of their decisions. How else can they do it? The Fan’s Parliament? Do me a favour! As for Karl Henry,he is a great bloke, a trier but unfortunately he is not a premiership quality midfielder.Due to our squad not being strong enough Mick has to pick him.
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Championship winning season: Neil Collins & Keogh.
1st Year Prem: Ward.
2nd Year Prem: Henry / Ward.
3rd Year Prem: Henry.
Ward = Northern Ireland International.
Henry = Named in provisional England squad.
Time and time again the club as a whole has proved the naysayers wrong and Im sure it will do so again.
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The cheers when Karl Henry was substituted on saturday was a result of growing frustration from wolves fans who turn up week in week out only to find Karl Henry’s name constantly on the team sheet.
People can say ‘dont forget who battled to get us promoted etc’ but battling is simply not effective in the premier league and this as shown during the last two years with Karl Henry as he has constantly been shown up as a championship player.
The frustration however was vented towards our so called ‘not so magic mick’
1) what manager after three defeats and may i add awful performances would continue to keep with the same starting eleven?
2) What manager would bring a young kid on at liverpool (who didnt look out of place in the slightest when he came on) then go and drop him the following week to bring Richard Stearman back in the team)?
3) What manager would openly come out in the press and say that there is no condender for a certain players shirt?
4) What manager would think after last season narrow survival that we only needed 1 more signing?
Im have to say that the above shows that Mr McCarthy is simply not good enough and is tactically inept. In order for the old gold and black to progress as a club we need a change in management.
UTW
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Your off you head lalley the crowd was applauding the introduction of Guediora,you and Spiers are too quick to rubbish the Wolves fans shame on you both.
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In all of this criticism being heaped on Karl Henry I find it unbelievable that our ‘New Improved’ Captain Roger Johnson has escaped any flak. We all understood him to be a Leader who didn’t like losing etc etc. Where has he been the last two home games ? Certainly not leading the team. He has certainly gone missing, which as a leader he is not meant to do. A fine example was after we pulled the goal back on Saturday. He spent a few seconds wafting his arms around as if he was waving away a fly, but not a word of encouragement or demanding of extra effort. Not exactly blood and thunder leadership ! He scored an own goal against Liverpool that was nothing to do with the Carrol challenge and where he was running to on Newcastles second goal is anyones guess.
Karl Henry has led us through some successful seasons which have brought back pride to the Molineux and yet he is barracked whilst Johnson gets away scot free.
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erm
sit anywhere in any ground and its the same.
I was in the Old Trafford end when we were 1-0 down last year, they were going on about all their players, even some of the Royalty.
Same at Elland road as a matter of fact, after JFH missed that penalty, they wanted change – were furious.
So dont talk rubbish. Football is a passionate game, cheers or boos arent always rational and thought out – they are impulsive.
So stop over-analysing it.
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It’s not just the booing or ironic applause, it’s the constant moaning at everything the club do.
Day after day individuals post negative stuff about anything that gets published in the E&S. If the manager or players are interviewed it generates another stream of abuse.
Sitting at the ground on match day you can guarantee that the same old moaners will be offering criticism as soon as the game kicks off.
Sat around me in the Billy Wright are blokes that have moaned for the last 30 years! they seem to think that because no one challenges the constant stream of useless uninformed comments they are in the majority.
Negativity is a state of mind and way of life for the moaners and not even Premiership football after 20 years in the wilderness is good enough for them.
They would rip the club to bits because that serves their negative outlook.
If McCarthy, Henry, Moxey, Ward and Morgan packed their bags and left they would call them all traitors!!
Yes we all have a view and that’s great but if your view is constantly anti Wolves expect to be told to go away.
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Marmite springs to mind on this topic…..
Personally would like to see Hammill have a few games & Guedioura too (it can’t hurt to see whether they can change our fortunes) but i’ll back the team either way and if results do not improve well then i’ll look to the board room to sort it out! (P45 or cheque book as they see fit!)
End of story…
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I am usually in full agreement with the excellent views of Johm Lalley, but as a Wolves fan for over 60 years i must point out that this isn’t an unusual occurance at the Molineux. You mentioned Phil Parkes being singled out for stick, yes he was, unmercifully at times, but so was before him ,poor old Malcolm Finlayson who was part of Wolves greatest ever era. I’m afraid its part of us Wolves fans make up and you will never change it. By the way, i think booing a player is absolutely pointless but have to agree with those that think that Karl Henry will never be Premiership quality unfortunately.
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Nice comments John. Barracking our own is NOT on. Lets us all agree , None of us, do anything other than postively support the team during a game. They are our representatives on the pitch. No citicism during the game. If anyone around you starts that stuff, tell them to shut it until half time, post game. Those jeerers now have created a climate, a negative one, that will make some players fearful of making a mistake, for fear of that Big Moan that goes up. The jeerers have now made it difficult for us to play freely and creatively. What did they think they were achieving. To disrespect Henry, one of our own, was cruel. All who jeered should aplogise directly to Carl over the next few days. SHAME ON YOU. You are not Wolves fans. In 50 years of following Wolves we have never had such an aweful element amongst our fans. I have always been massively proud to be a Wolves fan and have my Black Country. These last few days have filled me with disillusion. Wolves will come back from this, because THEY are team. How much part of the team are we, the fans?
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19 Jiwal represents everything that is wromg with a section of Wolves fans.
Jiwal just hasn’t got the brains to go and support another club – it’s easy mate if you hate this one pick another one to follow.
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5, 9, 11, 14, 17 I totally agree and support your responses, so enough said there. Would I rather follow a team that pays players more in a month than I will earn in my lifetime? I don’t think so. I love the club and honestly can’t remember us having such a high profile for many a year. We are the club that instigated European football, the home of the first footballer in the world to earn 100 caps for his country. I for one am proud to be a Wolves Fan and understand that realistically we will never be in a position to compete with the megabucks clubs, and quite frankly wouldn’t want to. I want players to pull on the gold jersey and feel proud to do so, and so what if we don’t win the champions league. Its just a mercenary competition now anyway. Lets have a few beers on a Saturday, meet our friends and support the boys, whom have all been employed to represent my club, and whilst they show they are committed to the cause and want to play for Wolves will get my full support week in and week out. Thank our lucky stars we haven’t got 11 Henri Camara’s out there…..
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To those trying to excuse the sarcastic cheering of Henry by trying to say it was directed at McCarthy, it’s pathetic. Even if that were the case, it was still directed at McCarthy because it was Henry. Was there a 2nd cheer aimed at McCarthy when Hunt came off ? No, why ? because Hunt isn’t Henry.
Just because people have the right to boo/jeer or whatever, it doesn’t mean you have to. No good could come from those actions on Saturday. By doing that, you may be a fan of the club but you are no supporter.
It’s not just Henry either, hearing that kind of reaction, how do you think the other players feel knowing that a few bad games it could be their turn ? How is a young Doherty supposed to feel knowing that, if he has a few poor games he could be the next in line ? How is that supposed to create the kind of atmosphere to help our players thrive ? How is it supposed to encourage potential future players to choose Wolves over another club ? The last thing we need at this club is to create a fear amongst the players of making a mistake, it won’t help them express themselves.
I fully expect Henry will start against the Albion & i realise he wouldn’t be everybody’s first choice, but i do hope that those Wolves fans at the Hawthorns give him a huge genuine cheer….. it’s amazing how much better people react to a bit of support.
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Here we go again -it’s blame the fans time.
We had Moxey whingeing about the missing fans last week (bloody cheek)…then we had a O’Hara chipping in with his tuppence worth following the Newcastle game (which is pretty rich considering he’s done bugger-all so far this season)…then Mick had to make his usual, cocky point to the supporters by insisting he’s “not bothered what anyone thinks”, etc….
…now Lalley jumps on the bandwagon by putting the boot in, too.
Has it ever occured to WWFC that maybe (just maybe) our fans might have genuine grievances. Looking at the list of complaints appearing on this site recently (not to mention radio phone-ins) surely not everyone can be wrong all of the time? Panning the fans for expressing their views at every opportunity is becoming very much a popular pastime it seems. However, far from creating a bond, it will only create an even bigger division. I’m not advocating harsh treatment of individual players but the people must be heard, whether you like their views on McCarthy or anyone else, Mr. Lalley. You get YOUR chance on this site, both in the written form and in recorded videos.
As a whole, Wolves fans are among the best, most passionate and most loyal in the country. When our mob are being portrayed in a bad light as compared to Leeds…well, God help us.
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Fans have limited ways of expressing how they feel, they can either cheer if things are okay or boo and shout if things are not going well and obviously things are not going well. An ongoing Public Relations campaign by the club using players tells anyone who will listen that things are great and everything is improving which presumably means the team and the Stadium. Most Season Ticket holders also get bombarded with adverts for all sorts of stuff including holidays and credit cards and this efficient marketing strategy helps the club financially and should be applauded.However,a significant amount of fans believe that the club has not strengthened the squad sufficiently enough to survive in the Premiership and its this issue above all that is frustrating people ultimately leading to verbal abuse of the players and management who represent the club.
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18 – You’re quite wrong – the ‘ironic’ cheering started as soon as Karl’s name was mentioned, and before Adlene’s name was announced. There is no doubt that it was Henry they were getting at, he is the new scapegoat and he doesn’t deserve it. It was embarrassing and uncalled for and a good number of people sitting by me were quite disgusted by it. You are right about O’hara though, his performances this season have been dire, but I’d guess that he wouldn’t have got the same reaction.
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Number 1 has summed it up perfectly..
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The cheers when Karl Henry was substituted on saturday was a result of growing frustration from wolves fans who turn up week in week out only to find Karl Henry’s name constantly on the team sheet.
People can say ‘dont forget who battled to get us promoted etc’ but battling is simply not effective in the premier league and this as shown during the last two years with Karl Henry as he has constantly been shown up as a championship player.
The frustration however was vented towards our so called ‘not so magic mick’
1) what manager after three defeats and may i add awful performances would continue to keep with the same starting eleven?
2) What manager would bring a young kid on at liverpool (who didnt look out of place in the slightest when he came on) then go and drop him the following week to bring Richard Stearman back in the team)?
3) What manager would openly come out in the press and say that there is no condender for a certain players shirt?
4) What manager would think after last season narrow survival that we only needed 1 more signing?
I have to say that the above shows that Mr McCarthy is simply not good enough and is tactically inept. In order for the old gold and black to progress as a club we need a change in management.
UTW
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MM’s win percentage is useless,his team selections are useless, and some of his favorite players are useless, and his tactics are usless, I’ve lost it with him now.
And you wonder why the natives are getting restless, the next two games are going to be interesting, the jeers I personally thought were aimed at MM,he brings a lot on himself with his arrogant attitude towards the fans which he calls Numpties, we all know he will keep the same starting 11 against WBA just to prove a point to the Numpties, he is useless.
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Surely professional footballers, who are paid probably in the region of 10′s of thousands per week, are able to understand that, if they are being barracked for playing badly,the answer is to up their game to shut the barrackers up! Not to reproduce the poor play week in & week out. Do you really think that they are bothered what the fans think of them as long as the money is in the bank at the end of the month? Let’s face it, there are thousands of people in the UK that can play football, it just depends on whether you’re better (more skillfull), quicker & have one or two tricks, than most others. Some are considerably better than others, I might add. If our club’s ambition is merely to stay in the Premier League, then we will end up with ordinary players who are happy to be paid less & eventually the support will dwindle as it has already started to. WWFC is going nowhere at the moment & even the “merely stay in the Premier League” gamble looks as though it will fail as well.
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18 Lee
Were you there because I did not hear any boos/jeers when karl came off just applause and I was there.
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38 Kentish Wolf
Another stupid comment from one who wasnt there I am getting fed up of all these armchair so called fans that never attend a game and are too quick too rubbish paying Wolves Fans.
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JOHN LALLEY I am afraid you have not been reading the blogs on this site over the last two days. READ 12 London Bloke who understands how most of us feel, as long suffering Wolves fans.
We expect more from our team and having started the season so well, losing 4 games on the trott is only going to increase our frustration. Personally the problem is not Henry it is with the management who have taken us as far as they can.
ITS TIME FOR CHANGE !
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41 Bewdly Wolf
It was quite obvious to every Wolves Fan that Guedioura was coming on befor his name was mentioned after warming up taking his top off and then standing by McCarthy on the line.
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The Cheer wasn’t against Carl it was for the Manager who finally saw sense..
O’Hara would have got the same cheer, how can he not play Milijas and others while the midfield is so bad.
3 games now he’s made the wrong starting line up.
Sack him while there is plenty of time for a new manager to take hold.
Morgan it’s time to stand-up and be counted, just look at Newcastle now after they done the something last year…
Mick has gone as far as he can with the team now and time for fresh ideas!!
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They say that Britannia Stadium is a fortress…I very much doubt they would boo their own regardless of how poor they are playing. At 2-0 down on Saturday the crowd seemed to have given up, majority of the stadium was silent, the support for the team felt weak. It seems to me some Wolves fans have high expectations and are beginning to blame whoever they can for bad performances. I remember the first season in PL two years ago, we would rock the stadium when we were 2-0 down, get behind the team and manager, it’s what makes you proud to be a fan for your time
Now, what has happened to the Molineux crowd?? Had we got behind our team from the first whistle to the last on Saturday, I’m confident the outcome would be different!!
So don’t blame Henry, or the Manager, or the Chairman, or anyone else at the club, I feel it is us, the fans who should be blamed!!
Let’s turn Molineux back into what it once was, a feared location for the opposition…
WWFC
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Quite right John, after all everything down the mol is absolutely wonderful isn’t it. Lost four games on the trot, can’t score or defend to save our lives,tactically inept manager and a very weak squad. That is what the fans are moaning about. Three seasons in the prem and still no further forward except for half a new stand, all we need now are some white elephants to fill it with.
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8. 100% Wolf – couldn’t agree more.
The Bogdan comparison is just ridiculous and makes your article lack any credibility.
Maybe we’ll see another article on this subject from a ‘reporter’ with a different spin stating the dissatisfaction shown is the only way of the fans communicating to the manager and the board that the current starting 11 is not good enough.
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Lets be honest it’s all too comfortable down at the Wolves. Morgan needs someone like Ian Rush next to him to tell him what’s going on. Moxey and MM will defend eachother it’s in thier best interest. If a player is rubbish boo him, that’d the only way he will know.Johnson and O’hara have been our worst two players all season, but MM not big enough to drop them, if we loose our next two games he needs to go, it’s no use having a squad of 25, but you are only willing to play 15 of those, get Milijas in for O’hara. If Mick goes get Mark Hughes down there1
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No 18 Leo – you’r wasting your time mate. It’s a better story for ‘journalists’ if they spin it. You are dead right though, and the sub was indeed a good one and worth cheering.
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What a load of tripe. If Mick had made the substitutions at half time, there wouldn’t have been a negative reaction. Did fans boo or sarcastically cheer ever poor pass from Henry or O’Hara during the game or the last few games? The balance of central midfield has been poor and the distribution even worse, most fans can see it but Mick fails to react to it. How much better were we when Geud and Hammill came on? How much better would we be with Milijas pulling th strings?
The fact remains that Mick says he drops people if they don’t perform, but it’s a total lie because certain players(favourites, call it what you want) perform badly and they still play the next game; whereas other players perform brilliantly in cup and reserve games and also as substitutes and still don’t get the opportunities.
Kightly was shoe-ind to the starting line up when clearly not ready, Edwards who has hardly played any football was shoe-ind to the starting line up, when other players with talent but don’t always run around like headless chickens are left on the sidelines wondering what they have to do.
Your right Mick your not merlin the magician, your just a good manager with a fatal floor, downright stubbornness.
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Wolfhound – You think those “applauding” Henry off were doing it through their appreciation of his efforts ? It was clear to all there was more than a hint of sarcasm in the air……. if you were there and didn’t pick up on that…….. good grief.
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51 – hilarious, i love Ironic posts! :-)
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John, I usually love your blogs, but this one is not worthy of you. Of course some fans make a scapegoat of a player, and it has been going on since a small number of boo boys helped drive out Alan Hinton to win championships and England caps with Nottingham Forest and Derby––while Wolves went into long-term decline. It happens at every club and in every era––not to mention in almost every company, school, etc.
That is a small minority. Last Saturday the widespread ironic applauding of Mick McCarthy for belatedly making a necessary substitution has nothing to do with scapegoating Karl Henry. It arose from frustration at the perceived limitations of McCarthy’s approach and at Jez Moxey’s attitude towards the fans.
Remember, Steve Morgan set a target of 43 points for last season, so only getting 40 should not be considered a success. This, “he’s kept us up for two seasons,” is bullshit. Mick’s only marking time. Even this season we have only got 7 points from 7 games––exactly the same point a game we got two seasons ago. No progress!
Mick badly divides the Wolves fans, and half of them have serious reservations about his ability to take us forward. Also, Jez Moxey’s tunnel-visioned comments on pub TV football showed a lack of understanding of the economic concerns of most fans that angered many.
It was sensational and misleading journalism of the worst kind to ride with papers who have no love of Wolves on the bogus issue of scapegoating Henry. John, please stop scapegoating the fans!
You are in denial. Lots of fans are disgruntled with the club rather than having it in for Henry. High prices, boring football and little progress in garnering points is getting to many fans. You need to listen to them because many of them are just ceasing to attend. Those complaining are the ones who have remained loyal so far. If you, your newspaper and the Wolves hierarchy continue with this high-handed attitude that McCarthy and Moxey are as infallible as the Pope and beyond criticism, it won’t be long before the stadium is half empty.
There was no widespread booing of Henry––it is a total red herring, diverting attention from the truth and a real and serious issue.
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I have no interest in booing players and jeering the Manager. MM is paid to put a team on the pitch that will compete in the toughest League in football. The facts are that we have ( barely) survived two seasons with a regime in place that imposes severe limitations on how much it will spend to bring in players and limits it’s pay structure. MM obviously supports that regime and, in return, management supports him to the point where he is confident of retaining his position even if we get relegated.
The quality of our play has been extremely variable since we have been in the Premiership and that is a consequence of the policies in place. There is no question that we have more than our fair share of players who are fortunate to be playing at this exalted level. Booing and jeering them does not help our cause. I respect Henry’s loyalty to the Club and his effort but, as a fan, I simply do not think he is the answer to our problem in midfield.
We got a good start to the season but it has been downhill ever since and I think MM knew this would happen. His own statements suggest it and he is on the record as merely aspiring to survive yet again in the division.
I see nothing but another frustrating season ahead but management needs to be careful pursuing this policy. We may not so lucky this time around and our expanded stadium could be hosting Championship football next season.
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OK,yes we are fickle and we do moan a lot,but lets face it there,s always gonna be one scapegoat,its part of our nature.
I personally like Karl Henry,but lets face it ,hes not the first and he certainly wont be the last.
I remember the hate that drove Alan Hinton to Forest,not because he was a bad player,but because he had to follow in the footsteps of Jimmy Mullen.
Think youve gone a bit overboard on this topic,Karl would have been none to pleased,but in football it just happens to be part of the territory.
Get over it,we have more pressing problems to worry about,than some more mindless booing.
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51 – With respect, Arun, I find it hard to believe that you’re surprised that, 2 years ago, the fans were fully behind the boys when 2-0 down -yet they weren’t on Saturday. You yourself gave the answer to that conundrum because, as you said, that was TWO YEARS ago. Back then, our promotion was still being celebrated and we knew we were up against it, so expectations were limited. Today, in our third year, fans rightly expect consolidation.
The current squad has improved by a paltry ONE player only since last season’s wafer-thin near miss on relegation. Is it really surprising, therefore, that fans are cheesed off, depressed and feel cheated after all that pie-in-the-sky, big talk of “doing whatever it takes to keep us in the Premier League”?
Fans feel frustrated, conned and taken for granted -and that’s ringing out loud and clear. So, who’s going to get pumped-up at 2-0 down when they’ve seen it all before during the previous 3 games?
Sorry, but the big shots running the club are all collectively responsible for supporter disillusionment. Deflecting criticism towards loyal fans -whilst accepting no responsibility for the poor fare on offer- is becoming a burgeoning trade at Wolves these days.
Molineux will only become the fortress it used to be when the club finally honours its pledges to the fans. It could be a bloody long wait, then…
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46 WOLFHOUND
YES I WAS IN THE SOUTH BANK.MAY BE YOU AND THE HAPPY CLAPPERS SHOULD ASK THE LANDLORD OF THE PUB YOU WAS AT TO TURN THE SOUND UP ON THE TV
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He is not a scapegoat, it was a complete and utter sense of relief. He just isn’t good enough in a 4 man midfield. I will admit I think that we would probably be back in the Championship if it wasn’t for him over the past two years playing 4-5-1, but in the third year up and with McCarthy going 4-4-2 he just doesn’t have the quality. I for one support “Super” Mick completly and would never usually question his descions but his loyalty to Henry really annoys me. No matter how bad he is playing he will always play 90 minutes.
Talking of Andy Keogh, I would love to see him given another chance in Old Gold. Probably never going to happen!
Keep the Faith
UTW
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There’s been much worse last weekend, Arsenal’s chanting at Emmanuel Adebayor which involved the attack on the coach with him and his team mates at the african cup of nations during the North London derby, Evertonians throwing bottles at Liverpool players while they tried to take corner kicks and as for our fans it was at McCarthy but there were fans who I think booed the cheers but E&S like two-face friend. The newspaper is always crictising fans its never McCarthy’s fault with tatics or poor team selection or as it looks he can’t teach players how to defend.
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I think it is ridiculous to single out Wolves fans compared to other fans up and down the Country.It happens everywhere,even at Old Trafford if a player fails to make the perceived standard.
This is just deflecting from the root of the problem:the failure of the club to invest in sufficient quality footballers.Four defeats in a row and frustration boils over. Like a lot of people on principle I would never boo one of our players,but I understand why it happened and so should you,John.
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If anybody reads my post, they will tell you i have been pro-McCarthy, pro-Keogh, pro-Henry, Moxey etc. I am very happy with my club, its Premiership status and its current stability.
However…I am not as convinced with Mick as time has gone. I will tell you for why.
Karl Henry did not deserved to be booed, but Mick is making him suseptible to critics because he is struggling yet still playing. Henry is not a threat to an opposing team, opposing team talks would go like ‘Don’t worry too much about Henry, he won’t hurt us’
And its true, I understand his ball retention instructions, but it is not enough at this level. He has not scored a goal for four seasons. For any midfielder, this is a bad stat.
Henry, is not comfortable under pressure and is prone to losing possesion when chased down.
Elokobi, Stearman, Ward do have their good days, but when they are bad, they are awful. They crack under pressure and get sucked in far to often.
Berra, clumbsy and slow.
This is why we were 2-0 down at half time to Liverpool and Newcastle, 3-0 down at halftime to QPR and Blackburn at the end of last season. We are always chasing a game, and if you think we looked good in the second half thats only because the opponents are shutting shop and allowing us to open up.
Thats not good enough, and Mick knows it. Either Mick is not getting them ready enough, organised enough or he has not signed good enough players over the last 3 years. After signing an established player like Johnson, I fear it is because of the first two reasons.
Sadly it looks like another dogfight, the same old mistakes by the same old players. How long are we going to keep being told we should be grateful for our Premier League status. The last time I looked, Wolves are and always have been bigger than this humble, unambitious attitude you reporters seem so comfortable with.
For me, too many errors, commited by the same players. Mick is accountable for not getting it right and i’m afraid, us fans may have to pull the plug on him unless there is some rapid improvement from now until Christmas.
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It’s clear that there is no clear reason why the Molinuex made the noise it did when Karl came off. People are saying different things so how any of the so called reporters can tell us off is a joke! I cheered because Gaudi was coming on! As you would know if you read the forums on E&S you would know the peoples opinions are split. so I don’t think we all cheered or booed for the same reasons so you can’t single out a reason or person in your article.
If you are finding it hard to think of things to report on I have an idea! How about the fact that Wolves are now giving special offers on tickets 5 for £99 good deal and I hope it continues! I will be taking it up. Or maybe you could investingate why!!!! the club thinks it’s ok to charge customers a booking fee of £1.50 PER TICKET!!! and not transaction. So get your pencil and notepad and go and find those answers for me and maybe I will be intersted in what you write from now on! =)
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Agree 100% with the article.
However those that are anti McCarthy, Henry, the re-developement of the stadium, etc are not going to change their minds.
This issue needs be put to bed as soon as possible for everyones sake. Fortunately the next two games are away from Molineux, where the vast majority of away supporters do not in my experience jeer or abuse the players.
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McCarthy got too cocky too soon this season. We get 2 wins and a draw and for some reason he see’s our squad as being strong enough for a top half finish?
The January window can’t come soon enough, maybe stubborn Mick and slick haired Jez will dip into the coffers and buy some quality this time around.
Roger ‘the snail’ Johnson is lost without his better half Scot Dann and O’Hara has dipped now he’s got a long term contract.
More quality please Mick…and pref not Irish…
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48 Balham- thanks, at least you read it carefully!
What all of the above posts demonstrate, even the usual illiterates, happy or unhappy,is that Wolves fans care passionately about the club and that feelings are running high. In response to 51 above- the first way to make the Molineux a fortress is get a team that actually performs. O’Hara & Johnson have not lived up to the billings and we have no depth to the squad if Milijas and Guedioura are ingnored by a manager who also seems unable to acknowledge fan’s concerns. In fact he now apparently believes only prayer will save us. And that with 30 odd games to go!
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49. That’s my point – they were jeering Henry, not cheering Adlene. Had the cheering happened when Adlene’s name was read out, it would be cheering FOR HIM, and that’s not what happened. Hunt had a stinker as well and it didn’t happen when he was subbed off. You might slag off Kentish Wolf but he is absolutely right in his post. That kind of atmosphere creates fear amongst the players – I don’t suppose any of us would perform well at work if we had a few thousand people hurling abuse at us. By all means vent your spleen at the end of a match – players know when they haven’t played well – just don’t do it in the middle of a game, it doesn’t help anyone.
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this is our 3rd season and we are no better than the 1st muppet had long enough to get it
right but he not up to it. square pegs round hole and all his favorites which have to at least 6 game before dropped and other
get 1/2 games and are gone. i have been come for 57 years and have seen it all. we have a squad of average players with at most4/5 who
are premanship quality. just look at stoke
build every year and bring in player who 6/7
years in prem, muppet must go before it to late no more get out of jail card which keep
him in the job,and all his after match quotes
which all the pundets like does not make him a
good manager.
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Henry is not my favourite player – not by a long chalk. He is not an attacking, forward thinking, flair player that scores goals, so he’ll never be a favourite of mine. I also cringe at some of the challenges he makes – a booking waiting to happen, just like Berra is a penalty waiting to happen.
But we need his type of player in our team. It’s not his fault he is the only holding midfield player we have – and in this blame culture we live in go on and blame McCarthy if you must. Foley is the closest we’ve tried in that position and done ok whereas Guedioura, for all his energy and strong tackling, in my mind can’t yet be trusted with the defensive responsibility of his game to play in front of the back four.
It makes me laugh that the same fans who boo and criticise our players week in and week out then wonder why x, y or z player won’t join us.
I wonder whether Mcfadden was at the game on Saturday. I see he is looking at other options.
Can you blame him?
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Personally I feel henry generally does ok, not the best player but not the worst either, certainly puts in the effort.
As for the 2nd goal against Newcastle, all started with O’Hara giving the ball away on the edge of our box, Henry actually chased after the ball where as O’Hara did bugger all deffensivly. Obviously it snow balled with several poor attempts at winning the ball including : Fletcher, Henry, Stearman and Johnson but at least they all tried unlike O’Hara !!
Give Henry a break, not all his fault.
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If anybody reads my post, they will tell you i have been pro-McCarthy, pro-Ward, pro-Henry, Moxey etc as I am very happy with my club, its Premiership status and its current stability.
However…I am not as convinced with Mick as time has gone on in the Prem. I will tell you for why.
Karl Henry did not deserved to be booed, but Mick is making him suseptible to critics because he is struggling yet still playing. Henry is not a threat to an opposing team, opposing team talks would go like ‘Don’t worry too much about Henry, he won’t hurt us’
And its true, I understand his ball retention instructions, but it is not enough at this level. He has not scored a goal for four seasons. For any midfielder, this is a bad stat.
Henry, is not comfortable under pressure and is prone to losing possesion when chased down.
Elokobi, Stearman, Ward do have their good days, but when they are bad, they are awful. They crack under pressure and get sucked in far to often.
Berra, clumbsy and slow.
This is why we were 2-0 down at half time to Liverpool and Newcastle, 3-0 down at halftime to QPR and Blackburn likewise at the end of last season. We are always chasing a game, and if you think we have looked good in the second half thats only because the opponents are shutting shop and allowing us to open up.
Thats not good enough, and Mick knows it. Either Mick is not getting them ready enough, organised enough, clever enough, or he has not signed good enough players over the last 3 years. After signing an established player like Johnson, I fear it is because of the first few reasons.
Sadly it looks like another dogfight this season, the same old mistakes by the same old players The same old critisisms.
So, in retort to these obvious footballing errors and its critisisms, how long are we going to keep being told we should be grateful for our Premier League status. The last time I looked, Wolves are and always have been bigger than this humble, unambitious attitude you reporters seem so comfortable with.
For me, too many errors, commited by the same players. Mick is accountable for not getting it right and i’m afraid, us fans may have to pull the plug on him unless there is some rapid improvement from now until Christmas.
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Lalley see the first post, and the majority of posts on here, the sarcastic cheers and applause were directed at mick, not for being a bad manager but for finally understanding what i and many other wolves fans have been saying for weeks, Henry is not the player he was. he has been out of sorts since his stupid challenge against wigan and the first barton encounter last season. he is not, I repeat not a holding midfielder, milijas is, ( plays there in the cup games and for his country ) henry was and can be again, a ball winning all action midfielder. O’hara and henry dont work either, on saturday i lost count of the number of times o’hara tried to break but time after had no one in the middle to pass to, and the second goal, need i say more, how many times has henry done that this season. i’m not a henry basher in fact the opposite but he isnt the player he was, fact. but on the bright side were still higher than last season. the midfield really needs to be sorted, personally i think the best midfield we have is this, Millijas in front of defence, adlene in the middle and o’hara behind the striker/ strikers. with edwards on the subs as a swop for ohara and henry as a swop for adlene, Hammil is a def start for me, and his second half underlines that, i see Spray has gone on loan, sorry vokes fans but i think he should have gone loan instead, spray did more in 15 mins against millwall than vokes did all game, the hoff is better but we sold him, never understood that decision. any way up the wolves
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I agree we don’t have magic mick’s years of experience – unless of course you learn nothing from watching years and years of football – most of it dire – and so cannot form any valid points or argue against the great man.
However when half the stadium is cheering ironically at the manager or a player maybe its just pure arrogance to ignore it or pass it off as “numpties” – and thats whether you are va manager and a journalist.
Boooooooo you lalley !!!!
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It could have been O’Hara, Stearman, Johnson or Hunt who came off. They were all very poor after the first goal went it. As for O’Hara how can he appear to have a go at the fans when he is playing so poor. He needs to be more part of the team and not looking for the dream free kick or pass to make himself look better. As to why people want Mick out its because there appears to be no plan! Aimless free kicks and corners lobbed over [normally too long by Jarvis!] in the hope that somebody gets on the end of one. Why not a short corner or perhaps a quick one two or perhaps a through ball????
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59 & 62
Spot on !
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What a lovely time to be a wolves fan, well it should be.
Stable solvent club
Developing team slowly improving year on year
Good youth prospects developing nicely. with the chance of one or to getting some pl game time this season
Unifed fan base that support their club through thick and thin
Spot my mistake
Everyone has there own views and rightly so but there are right ways to go about airing them
Reading many of the blogs been posted over the past few days leaves me with many emotions good and bad but mainly sad hence name
For all you who blogged the booing was not aimed at Henry but MM and comically but i wasnt one of them, i have 2 simple points to make
1 If you were not one of the ones booing how do you know why they were booing, did you go and ask the few or 10 thousand or so fans that question?
2 For all those who did, the point you missed was booing as one of your team players is removed from the pitch.
Is still veiwed as booing one of our own team players and to all but those booing while thinking this is aimed at MM, poor carl henry
If you have a problem with what MM is doing then fine vent your feelings but make it clear who its aimed at and why
Dont hide your real feelings behind cryptic booing then moan and blog about it and others who dont share the same view as you
But the really sad thing is out of all the thousands of articles that have been written by E&S this booing topic has caused hundreds or people to blog over 200 to my count, when others on average get 30 plus blogs
This has given me much to think about on the mentality of my fellow fans good and bad
We are Wolves refs and lines people can do what they want we will still survive
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SIR SILLY BILLY, I for one would be happy indeed those five people named in your post No 32 all shipped out. I would also have huge admiration for them, if on the way they admitted they out of their depth at this club. Which in fact looks certainly to be the case. The exception of course would be Moxey & Morgan who are not out of their depths in constructing a stand but they’ve lost the plot when they think this kind of crap football and team management will put bums on those new seats. Call me negative, I expect you will but you can bog off with it too. I read all your posts, mostly so I can remind my self there are more Tonto’s in the world, than me! Nobody who posts here who YOU deride, is asking for the world, just an improvement on the tosh we were served up from day one in this division by this manager. Your assertions over this Ward character make you the last person in the world I would consider taking seriously. Clap on, and let others do likewise.
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Number 4 Hindmarsh; so one day you will kill the old bloke in front of you, blah blah blah. Wow, you must be incredibly tough or are you just the resident Nazi? What gives you the right to threaten anyone else because you disagree with their views or comments? We are all entitled to our point of view and as much as I may disagree with what someone else thinks, I will always uphold and respect their right to have their own opinion. Stop being such a juvenile idiot and grow up. By all means support the Wolves but please learn to respect other people.
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57 Kentish Wolf
Why be negative towards Wolves Fans most of them applauding were probaly for the effort Henry put in and the introduction of Guedioura I think at this stage of the match Mick wanted a more attacking midfield not because Henry had played badly its easy to make judgements based on negative reports like Lally who I doubt wasnt even there.
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1 JJ “Micks tactics get so frustrating when your sitting in the stands and that frustration spills over as sarcasm and boos sometimes.”
You are obviously too young to remember the past. Some sections of Wolves supporters always boo players whose performance is less than what the fans expects.
Showing my age, I well remember P. Parkes getting it in the neck from the old North Bank when the opposition scored (He was the goalkeeper).Mick was not there then!
Wolves used to play better away than at home. I wonder why?
Encouragement is more positive than abuse. As all good parents know
Cheer not jeer!!
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Some VERY short memories here. We’re in our third season in the top league with a solvent club and a squad of players who play their hearts out every week for the manager. Have we all forgotten the last TWENTY + years. Count ‘em. In a half shut ground, plenty of players have been the boo-boys’ scapegoat in that time.
I was glad to see Henry replaced with Guedioura because I think he’s a better attacking midfielder, but Henry is a top dedicated professional and does not deserve abuse.
If we stay up again this season, We should celebrate being in the top league, solvent and stable, frustrating as it is to loose more than we win – let’s be patient and back the management’s long term plan …. Unless of course we prefer the path of the 80′s….
Long live the Wolves. Robbie Dennison we love you.
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27.Alex Rae’s Butler
October 4, 2011 at 1:11 pm
WHAT A CLOWN YOU REALLY ARE
Championship winning season: Neil Collins & Keogh.OK
1st Year Prem: Ward. 19 defeats 5 clean sheets conceded 2 or more 21 times
2nd Year Prem: Henry / Ward. 20 defeats conceded 2 or more 15 times 8 clean sheets
3rd Year Prem: Henry. 4 defeats out of 7 conceded 2 or more 4 times already .
Totals played 85 lost 43 goal difference -48 yep proved me wrong every time.
Ward = Northern Ireland International.HO BLOODY HO
Henry = Named in provisional England squad.Your having a laugh
Time and time again the club as a whole has proved the naysayers wrong and Im sure it will do so again.Luck lasts only so long.
Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2011/10/04/why-do-wolves-fans-need-a-scapegoat/#ixzz1Zpt5aQyo
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62 has it spot on. There are two aspects to this situation.
1 What type of supporter are you?
Do you expect value for money when you see the match? If you are paying £30 -£40 do you expect to see a £40 standard of football or are you content to pay £40 to watch performances like the Villa and QPR match?
Are you the unconditional supporter who will turn up, pay £40 and always be content even if the team plays like a Sunday League 6 side?
2 The attitude of management
As 62 has pointed out, the management are content to give the impression that the club is going places as exemplified in the new stadium and suggestions of training ground improvements. Supporters then suppose that the same commitment will be shown to strenghening the squad. When the latter does not occur and they see more or less the same team which struggled last year, it is hardly surprising when results are adverse, that the crowd becomes restless.
The new training ground was improved on the basis that top flight players would not come here with such poor facilities. What is the point of improving the facilities to attract them but then not purchase any?
We then have a manager who is at best adequate. Many fans sing hs praises but the team is only still in the Premiership due to other teams’ performances. he has not been a good manager but he is a lucky manager so far. sooner or later his luck will run out.
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Some ridiculous statements in this story!
None more shocking than the comparision of KH to the boltons keeper last week! Your making out us fans boo our own players if they have a one off bad game! this is far from the truth! KH has been consistantly below average since the middle of last season and the fans identify him as the weak link.
I believe the cheers/boos were a mix aimed towards MM for finally making a change and the fact it was actually KH for once coming off, but it just goes to show how you prawn sandwich scoffers in your press box how out of touch you are with the majority of us, slating us in your newspaper and condeming us for voicing our opinions! tell me, how else do we get through to the pig headed mind of MM?
I believe KH has got a place in our team, but it isnt a starting place every week against everyone! away from home and against top 5 opposition he is great! we just wish MM sould pick the correct team and tactics based on players in form and players to beat the given team on that given day!
not same old same old!
If we are as bad as you are making out then OHARA and JOHNSON would have already been subject to abuse as both have been shocking for 4 games on the bounce!!
nuff sed
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Karl Henry has not been playing well but neither has any of our preferred midfield and wingers. Irrespective to have a go at any of our players will not do their confidence any good. Personally I would like Milijas, Guedioura and Hammill to play in the centre but I am not so sure the first two can definitely do the defensive midfield role – week in, week out!
Some people that are mentioning Ward and left back problems, have obviously not been to the games this season. Easily one of our better players this season and both goals from Saturday were from the right and Hennessey has to be questioned on the first?
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As usual, comments on here ranging from the moronic to the well-thought out. Fact – who knows why the fans(?) were cheering when Henry went off, was it because he went off, or because Guediora came on? Too many people on here are far too negative (number 19, hope you get Greeksat and can then watch any game you want, preferably not Wolves.)Do we have a god given right to have the best players, be top of the league, not concede any goals, etc, etc… Can anyone believe that everyone at this club is not doing their best to achieve success? It doesn’t happen overnight.Look at some of the clubs who have dropped off their perch – Leeds, Middlesbrough, Charlton et al,even Man Utd at one time. Time some of you got a reality check and realised that this Club was once on the verge of extinction and it was always going to be a long way back. If you don’t like what you see go and watch the ducks in West Park on Saturday afternoons.
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Too many short memories and fans that have only been around in recent times!
I wish more of the fans were there to witness what the club was like back in the 80′s, or the 90′s, or even as recent as the Hoddle era!
The management and board have done a damn fine job, steady club progress and an improving playing squad.
Where are we in the league?
Answer…..the highest position our club has been in for a very long time!!
Think on!
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Why don’t we address the real problem Wolves fans?
We are unhappy with McCarthy – so lets let HIM know it.
In addition, lets sing Guedioura,Milijas and Hammill’s names loud and long. Now the stubborn Yorkshire idiot will no doubt continue with his underperforming favourites with predictable results. Even the happy clappers will begin see the truth with their own eyes.
Mick will eventually have to change as he has in the past. Or, he will be sacked ;)
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A very poor one sided blog.
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Wolfhound – I think it’s fairly clear they weren’t cheering his efforts. Henry didn’t have a great game, i doubt anybody would say he didn’t deserve to come off, what he didn’t deserve was the reaction he got from the fans. I think you’re doing yourself an injustice by insisting there weren’t more cynical motives behind the cheering of Henry leaving the pitch……. the reason why i’d be negative towards those fans, is because that kind of support will benefit nobody, and seeing as we ultimatley all want the same thing, it seems a bit daft.
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I did not like hearing the boos, but at the same time, I was relieved to see a positive change. My frustrations aren’t just with the form of Henry, but even O’Hara has been falling short recently, and when we witness players like Hammill (two assists, one allowed, one outrageously disallowed after arriving from the bench) and Guediuora both performing so admirably against Milwall doing no more than they could possibly do to merit a place in the team, regardless of opposition, it tweeks a nerve with the fans. I am 100% behind McCarthy and I don’t believe for one second he has taken us as far as he can, but I want to see the in form players playing. If you don’t cut the mustard, you don’t play. Hammill and Guedioura have to play! Guedioura gets stuck in as much as Henry, and is as prone to error as Henry, but he offers a dynamic presence going forward that Henry doesn’t. Hammill is simply our best crosser of the ball, and though he may not terrorise defenders like Jarvis, he puts the ball on a Wolves head almost everytime.
Up the Wolves!!!
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Nuneaton Wolf (91) suggests, “go and watch the ducks in West Park on Saturday afternoons.”
Hey, great idea! Costs nothing, the ducks aren’t rigidly regimented but play with freedom, and they’re good at what they do (swimming and diving).
See you at the West Gate at 12:45 on the 22nd, Nunny!
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Malta – such a shame old boy that your continued pedalling of stats does nothing to disprove the fact the McCarthy and his playing staff have given Wolves fans their best sustained period of success for decades.
You just cant see it. keep adding up the the wins and losses all you like, its proves nothing. you’ve been wrong time and time and time again, and your continued presence on here, along with your same old same old arguments does nothing but amuse me.
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When a player scores, the crowd cheers and claps in ecstacy. If Karl Henry were to score (OK perhaps a little too far fetched a scenario) he would be treated to the same – cheers of adulation. So if he plays a stinker, and in my opinion he regularly does, how could anyone object to the crowd giving him the bird? I don’t get jeered for a bad day in the office, but neither do I get a standing ovation from the boss at the end of a good day. Football is drama played out in front of thousands of fans looking for heroes and villans. What on earth does anyone expect? Karl Henry is obviously a likeable character, you just have to see the smile on his face to appreciate that. But his chosen profession also makes him something of a character in Punch and Judy – only he can determine the part he plays each week.
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91,
Superb post, say’s everything, though I don’t agree with forcing some of our fans on those little ducks!!
A sense of perspective is needed here & also a realisation of where we are in the PL pecking order by a where we are in the building process of the team.
There are a low number of our ‘fans’ that continue to act like spoiled brats, coz the club, team, manager doesn’t do everything that they think they should do, a little more patience is required.
89, Crowfish
You used to talk alot of sense on these pages & were very balanced in your views, what’s happened???
One point, you mention that the team should be picked on form & using players in form, Erm, didn’t Henry get MOTM the week before at Anfield???
And for the record, I’m in full agreement with you on OHara & especially Johnson, who for me hasn’t had a decent game yet & has been at fault for at least 4 goals conceeded this season, for whatever reason both of them seem to struggling to find their feet in the team this season.
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This is probably one of the longest running streams I’ve seen. Interesting to see the huge mix of views, most worthy of at least a careful read. However:
@86 Kram- any idea what the long term plan is? No, nor me.
@92 Yes Hoddle was a bloody awful manager and is an even worse pundit. Yes, look at the position now but what will it be by Xmas if the present decline continues? What will the new stand and training facilities be worth ( in football terms, not financial ones ) if the decline heads us back to the fizzy league?
@96 Antony- Generally a good post but which defenders does Jarvis terrorise? He seems to have been pretty ineffective for weeks now.
So, in summary it seems that the happys will keep clapping regardless as the ship Molineux heads gently towards the rocks, while Captain Moxey and cabin boy McCarthy stand by and compliment each other on the great job they have done. Off to the park for duck watching anyone..?
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henry berra and srearman are not prem players ! henry brings nothing to the team only passing the ball back ! berra is so slow and can only kick and hope the ball up the field ! stearman the same !! until mm can see this ! we will remain in the bottom of this division and struggle to stay up season after season
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95 Kentish Wolf
Unless you were there how can you possibly know.
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Fans pay the money and have the right to cheer or boo – fact
Booing will not help and I do not boo but aI understand why fans do. They do it because they believe that an obvious weak are of the team has not been strengthened.
Karl has been a very good servant of this club for over four years, but fans believe that with Kerl in the team we cannot progress into a mid table side. For thag to happen Karl has to play at hishighest level every week. That is not going to happen and it is not fair to ask that of him.
Mick is occasionaly over loyal and the fans are rightly frustrated that Mick has not recognised this issue and dealt with it.
Finally John Lalley is correct that booing is not going to help But he is totally wrong to say that “it astonishes me that the callers themselves believe that they are tactically more astute than experienced professionals”
That is tripe. fans who have watched football for many years or fans who have played football or a similar sport like hockey at a high level cannot have a valid opinion. What arrogance
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You people (notice i did’nt use the word “FANS”) who boo your teams players, obviously watch too much footy on TV. You all think you’re experts, but you’re just a bunch of Alan Hansen wannabes, who are out to impress your mates or just the person sat next to you.
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@ Bangkok – I know you are trying to make sense of it and I don’t have a problem with you and, yes, it is a drama – but a drama in which we the Wolves’ fans would do better to vent our angst against whoever we are playing, plus the referee, rather than our own. United we stand :divided we fall. I don’t go in for booing, but for those who do, to give the whole team stick when they come off is one thing, they can take it on the chin collectively, but to single out individuals is counter-productive.
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Wolfhound – I don’t need to justify my viewing habits to you, I get to molineux as much as my finances and family/work commitments allow. If I can’t get there, I find other ways of watching the game like many others. I saw the Newcastle game live, with sound and everything. I’m clearly not imagining it either as, of all the views posted on one side or another of this particular argument, you seem to be the only one deluded/stubborn/argumentative enough to be going down the “they were genuine cheers for Henry’s effort” route !
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Solentwolves- well said, I don’t get what booing and jeering achieves, just leave to the away supporters to jeer our players,why jeer your own! the mind boggles….
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98.Alex
If losing every other game over a 3 year period is your idea of success then what may i ask constitues failure.
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what i think we need to see is a change , not in terms of management ,that may come in time but in players on the pitch ie. jarvis who has done diddly squat all season , stearman at right back …really ,berra ( will we have to wait till end of season to see craddock ? )and of course henry who i think is a good squad member.. on the bench ,mm said recently in paper that adlene had not took his chance ..what chance 3 seasons worth, no one or two games the bloke is an absolute muppet ,milijas is an absolute must when he does play we score simple, him and hammill equals scoring chances not like the squirrel with his over negative play ,also foley at right back is a no brainer ,its not rocket science mick so sort it out at the end of the day you are the one who keeps playing players here there and everywhere like keogh who was not even worthy of a start let alone right wing or was it defence ,henry is useful just dont ruin him completely by continually picking him…
UTW
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I haven’t known such negativity for a long time. We are not going to go down with the squad we have, we are economically sound and we are venturing into a redevelopment of a brilliant training ground, with a chairman who clearly thinks a lot of the club. We need to get behind our beloved club – we have seen some dark clouds over the club and frustrating could’ve been seasons getting into the best …league in the world. I trust emphatically the leadership; the flaw at the moment is our ‘fan’ base. We have lost our stoicism, our sense of humor and our passion for our beloved club. The Southbank is like a library, not the vibrant and euphoric place of ironically darker days. Our expectations may be too high, putting too much pressure on all the players and ourselves. C’mon let’s start to sing our hearts out for the lads. I went to Anfield a couple of weeks ago and the euphoria was amazing – we were like that years ago, let’s start believing again and get the faith back, we are wolves ..
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Anyone heard about the NHS managers who bought iPads because they thought it would help patients sleep with the lights on?
Naah, of course not.
No wonder the NHS is in a mess!
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1Malta/Alex, ‘There’s on success like failure and failure is no success at all’.Bobby Dylan
2 Andy Kane, We have lost four games on the trot ,mate, and last season survived by the skin of our teeth.We do need to stay positive,but please don’t swallow all this corporate bilge we are given.It was only 2004 when we last built a new training ground,and we were told it was the bees knees then.The redevelopment at Compton is all about Redrow houses.
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all you so called wolves fans on here that are saying the sarcastic cheers were aimed at henry do not follow wolves very closely or you are deluded even more than macarthy the sarcastic cheers were aimed at macarthy for playing a player that got stick when in the championship if we did not have anything no better on the bench to bring on you would not get the cheers but when the majority of wolves fans can see we have quality midfielders on the bench streets ahead of carl henry and muppet mick keeps on playing him week in week out and if this continues which i think it will then macarthy will take us down its alright moaning on here but my advice to all wolves fans that think macarthy has taken us a far as he can including my self its time to vote with your feet because it is no good 25.000 wolves fans crying for mick to be sacked week in week out because that does not affect the club but say if there is only 15.000 wolves fans week in week out then you would see macarthy sacked
and replaced with a manager that would use is squad to full effect
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Malta,Alex Sorry I kinda spoilt that smart a*se quote by Dylan,should be ‘no success like failure and failure is no success at all’.He probably knicked the line off someone else,like it appears he did with his paintings and many other songs.
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What do we expect whan we have high quality players like Ward Stearman Bera Edwards Henry,
and of course the Worlds highest standard Manager Mad MM, never mind we will soon be in Mad MM favorite position, at the bottom 3 position. To much Money been spent with no inprovement.
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Chris – Morgan is building Redrow homes all over the country without the need for building a massive sports complex with every development. It’s a bit far fetched to suggest he is doing all this purely so he can build a few homes !
The development at compton is about improving the facilities for the senior players, but also, and more importantly, to integrate the youth players more into the senior squad. At the moment they train on a separate site and visit Compton every so often. New standards of excellence have been set by the FA/Premier League for club youth academies. At present, our set up doesn’t reach these standards, the new set up will.
The Redrow homes are helping to fund it all.
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111…can you please explain what the hell was euphoric about being 2-0 down to a very poor Liverpool side? Bad choice of words, are you Lalley or Spiers?
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Message to Jez/Steve re the stadium development. Its not the footy bein on telly on a Sat thats keeping the fans away from Molineux. Its the high prices of tickets and catering and the low standard of football!!!
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Kentish,How do you know Redrow homes are helping to fund it.No one has said as far as I am aware how much Wolves will pay and how much Redrow will directly fund Wolves football club.It is about priorities,are you saying all that money spent on the training ground in 2004 was a waste ? Some guy left his entire estate to the Wolves which helped pay for it.Priorities should be current first team playing staff to keep us in the Prem.It appears you have swallowed this corporate PR stuff,hook,line and sinker.
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Chris – Redrow homes as a company aren’t funding Wolves directly. But those Redrow homes are being built on land owned by Wolves….. hence at least some of the money will be coming our way.
The money spent in 2004 wasn’t a waste, because we’re improving what we’ve got. Incorporating the youth team is important. You can’t be against improving the founations on which this club will continue to grow ?
I happen to think that we will retain our Premier League status whilst spending on compton, so if that means in your eyes i’ve “swallowed this corportate PR stuff” then yes, i believe in what this club is doing.
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