When Wolves fans turn on their own
Tuesday 25th October 2011, 9:30AM BST.
Wolves columnist John Lalley is miffed at how respect goes out of the window in the face of adversity after more abuse hurled at manager Mick McCarthy on Saturday.
It would outstrip credibility to suggest that the unlikely point we picked from Swansea’s pocket precipitates any serious notion of rehabilitation for Wolves right now.
If anything, events at Molineux took a turn for the worse on Saturday as our startling limitations were brutally exposed to an alarming degree.
The blatant susceptibility to defensive self-destruction with our resolve seemingly disappearing like a snowflake in a furnace was chillingly exposed yet again, as a bad afternoon hinted at being a rehearsal for another one.
This serial duplication of inadequacy inevitably fuels hesitancy and confusion amongst the players, along alarm and mutinous despondency from the fans.
Everyone is on edge because nobody can identify the solution, so what inevitably follows is unpleasant yet starkly predictable.
Sitting exasperated inside your home ground, in the very place where you want to glow with pride, with a significant proportion of fans turning viciously on the manager, is an utterly depressing experience.
It is buttock clenching embarrassment at its worst, emotional tumult ensures that any reasonable logic is summarily jettisoned as sneering denigration and ridicule takes hold.
It’s vile and it’s demeaning but we don’t exist in an era of Downton Abbey deference these days, restraint is a defunct word gathering dust in the dictionary.
For the steamed-up football fan, screaming blue murder in the direction of your own team is the final sanction apart from not turning up at all.
Consumer groups have long insisted that the British public does not know how to complain effectively, angry football supporters are a notable if not always commendable exception.
I remember Graham Turner at the fag-end of his term as Wolves manager, walking the gauntlet towards the temporary cabins acting as dressing rooms whilst the Billy Wright Stand was under construction.
As Turner travelled the perimeter at half-time during an unproductive game, the tirade of abuse, much of it obscene and personal, reached a crescendo as the North Bank exploded into vitriolic and spiteful hatred.
Turner hesitated before disappearing from view, clearly shaken, his face a mixture of anger, hurt and bewilderment.
It was sickening, an exceptionally decent man who had navigated an amazing turn around in the club’s fortunes during its darkest hour was now surplus to requirements, totally expendable regardless of what was so largely written in his Molineux credit ledger.
The crowd wanted done with him and soon enough, blood had the last word again. Like members of parliament, most football managers see their careers end in failure.
Turner had clocked up seven-and-a-half years at Molineux which, in itself ,was a fine achievement, but his critics were not interested in acknowledging his previous hard work and any thanks for it waited until he was history.
No doubt, after his five abundantly successful years here, Mick McCarthy will appreciate a friendly omen after the malevolence heaped in his direction last Saturday.
Much dirty linen was washed in public, the television cameras honed in on close ups of frenzied hysteria, the eyes of livid supporters bulging like bull frogs and pointing fingers accusingly at the dug-out as all appeared lost.
Our two late goals dampened the rage and left the most vociferous of the protesters in a quandary unsure of how to react at the final whistle.
A number would have been miffed that Wolves levelled the game, preferring another defeat to add to what they perceive as overwhelming evidence for the prosecution.
Instead, an uneasy truce was called with a measure of composure restored. How long this fragile peace lasts is anyone’s guess but not for long, I reckon, probably until the next bad pass from a Wolves player.
For the neutrals and all those who wish a plague on the house of all things Wolves, much amusement at witnessing Molineux divided and in disarray.
All the attention generated from the Swansea match has concerned itself with bitterness and rancour, but what about events on the pitch?
Leaving aside the crowd reaction, what about the performance of the team? What evidence was there to suggest that Wolves can stabilise their season on the back of Saturday’s effort?
Who were the players standing out as genuine leaders? Was there any hint of progress or improvement? Was there anything offered on the field to give cause for optimism when Wigan visit Molineux next month?
These are the important questions and the sideshow of the fan’s reaction should be secondary to some effective answers.
Our sole priority is getting the team back into a competitive mode, nothing else matters, least of all some puerile chants about managers being sacked in the morning. Hell, we certainly have got better things to worry about.
One glimmer of hope for me was the attitude of Jamie O’Hara, who has increasingly struggled for form in this barren run.
But, on Saturday, O’Hara ran incessantly trying to find a spark, he never stopped demanding the ball, never shirked responsibility and refused to hide, despite his indifferent display.
At the end, he reaped the dividend and his persistence and hard work deserved its reward.
Ultimately, our fate will be decided by the application of our players and their bond with McCarthy.
Surely, now is the time for all of us to concentrate our minds on what really matters.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Why turn on the fans?
It is for the players and the manager to at least perform.
In the last six matches we have played bizarrely, no direction, no passion, no leadership, on or off the field and yet all the talk by E&S columnists is of the fans and their reaction.
Actually the facts are there to see.
We need a new manager fast and stop being apologists for McCarthy his players and the board.
Report abuse
WE DONT NEED A NEW MANAGER!
what we need is for all this bad publicity being spewed out by the E&S writers having a go at fans and stiring the pot! Just stop talking about it and adding feul to the fire. The fans reactions will calm down when wolves start performing better on the pitch. I think once we get Man C out the way we will start being more of a team again and getting better results.
Report abuse
Anyone who has played any sport should know that confidence plays a large part. It is immaterial whether you’re amateur or professional. Just think if you’re having a bad day at work does your boss screaming abuse at you make your job any easier?
Report abuse
its only my opinion, but here it is.
the modern day supporters have two problems.
1. the younger ones want success today regardless of how the team will achieve it.
the problem with this peception is that morgan will not splash out the cash to buy good enough players to achieve the said success as that may bankrupt the club if things go wrong.(bhattis)
2. the older supporters who say are above 35, keep comparing the modern day players to the ones from the 40s/50s/60s/70s….
the problem with this perception is that you cannot expect modern players to play for the shirt with pride or be loyal to a club for more than a couple of seasons, because when the big clubs come calling with thier millions, the players jump ship.
there are the odd exceptions…andy thompson,steve bull,john richards,alan shearer,steve gerrard….but on the whole only players with limited ability tend to stay with average clubs as they know they wont get into other clubs teams.
the only solution i can see is that to take wwfc back to winning league titles year after year. we need a manager and players and investor who are from wolverhampton, not from any where else with a hidden agenda.
a wage cap….reduced ticket prices to £20.00 per game…. monthly meetings with supporters to listen to any concerns and address them.
clubs are opening academies in different countries, why? are not the british players good enough to win the english premier league?
apparently the answer is no…. as the man city line up showed… silva,aguero,dzeko,ya ya toure, but they did have, milner,lescott,richards,hart,….
that does’nt mean they will be champions but they will be closer than say norwich who’s team mainly consist of british lads.
utw.
Report abuse
Forget the string of poor signings. Forget the bizarre team selections.
What i will never forget or forgive is being abused as a numpty, nugget and on saturday the four letter abuse.
What manager in any company could get away with that? Hang your head in shame Mr Morgan for allowing this. Even worse agreeing with and condoning this behaviour, as silence is assent.
Report abuse
Number 1 has it spot on.
The fans are just reacting to a manager whose stubborness has kept this club stuck in the mud. Refusing to play newcomers to the club, and picking his favourites which is downright unprofessional.
Dont blame the fans! We all know this is a problem, and we gave the powers that be a chance to SEE IT and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Moxey and Morgan, has not addressed these failings.
Mick ignores the fans and calls us numpties.
So the last and final option is that the fans get angry, sorry but the club and Mick brought this onto themselves.
Report abuse
JOHN LALLEY
Excellent blog mate , wasted on the vast majority of your audience i’m afraid.
Report abuse
Whilst the treatment seems harsh. The fans have been left feeling that the only place they can voice there dissatisfaction at the decisions being made before and during the game is from the stands.
Mick publicly said that he takes no notice of message boards and other people opinions and adds fuel to the fire by purposely picking players who the fans see as out of form.
Mick and his players have been performing badly yet there is nothing mentioned from the board room that suggests they are at least putting pressure on changing that. All we hear constantly is that the board is fully behind Mick despite the poor performances.
At least this way Mick and the board are now aware that the fans are unhappy and they will need to do something fast to change that.
Report abuse
I have to agree John it was not a nice day to be a Wolves fan. Unfortunately it is also not an entirely novel experience either.
Whilst it has been quite some years since such an atmosphere has been present in Molineux it is not the first time.
For the second time this season I have found myself questioning what the hell Mick is thinking with his substitutions, which seemingly make no real sense.
The other time? Against Villa. Just as with that it has been shown to cause a profound change in the way the game progressed and to prove why Mick is the manager and not me!
I have read a few times that ‘Mick has clearly lost the players’ he may be close to losing a portion of the fans, but it is absolutely clear, to me, that he still has the support of his team. There is no way a fightback would have come if the players didn’t believe in him and part of me feels that the turn around was actually in part caused by the crowd’s reaction towards Mick and the desire of the players to find that extra 10 % to help support their boss.
Report abuse
Also you forgot to mention Roger does the splits when the the ball comes near him, whats all that about.
Report abuse
playing badly but still picked – stearman, berra, johnson, o’hara, jarvis, doyle
not given a chance when fit – zubar, foley, craddock, doherty, guediora, milijas (even unfit kightly and edwards were played in front of them)
then theres hunt and hammill who are in and out regardless of what they or anyone else does
so the situation is, the manager continues to pick underperforming players while we have some pretty decent players on the bench (if they r lucky!) so the fans r goin to get angry and frustrated, why would they not!?!?
the current run is terrible so how can some of those players not be replaced!?!? if changes r made and theres no improvement then theres not alot else that can be done, so its a case of makin do with what we got until january
not sure y mick would risk the sack and losin the fans when just droppin a few underperforming playrs might be all thats needed – is he that stubborn?!
Report abuse
Please get behind the lads, we all want the same thing (including Mick). Lets not give Mick the disgraceful treatment that Graham Turner had after he had done so much for the club like Mick, they both deserve much, much better
Report abuse
robin marchesi – We havent played poor for the last 6 matches.
We played excellent against Tottenham, but Spurs ultimately have a better team and punnished us.
We were poor against QPR.
We were excellent against Liverpool after a slow start, and deserved a point from that match, but the result was out of our hands.
We outplayed Newcastle from start to finnish, playing the better football, they punnished some lackluster defending, but we continued to play excellent football, and scored the goals to draw the game, and created the chances to win the game, only for the ref to rob us of 3 points.
We easilly matched WBA in footballing terms (Probably outplayed them), but they punnished us where it matterd, in front of goal. For me, this was the game you could clearly see the confidence had fully drained from the entire team. Our star players were lacking ideas, and thus, we didnt punnish them at the other end.
We started the first 10 minutes against Swansea well, then heads dropped and we started to get punnished. We were outplayed from 10 mins to 80 mins, and then we finnished the last 10 minutes playing the football we know we can play. Theres 1 clear explanation for our revival in the last 10 minutes, and that is the 1st goal. After that goal, everyone could clearly see players playing with confidence again, passing the ball well and making good runs.
When our run of form is all about confidence and bad refs, it doesnt help when the fans are turning on the team, just because we havent scored within 10 minutes. Personally I think many fans need a reality check. I dont think its OK that fans can spout abuse at the players and management, and yet they cant accept some comments aimed back at them. Especially when the abuse is aimed at some of the most honest hard working individuals we have had at this club in a very long time.
Us fans know we can dictate some games in terms of tempo, on saturday, we urged our players to close down the opposition, because we were getting impatient, the players responded, and were punnished for doing just that, Yet Mick and the players have to take all the stick. We have a responcibility as well, Its a shame we couldnt replicate the kind of atmosphere from a few years back, where we could go behind, but the fans would be fully behind the team, helping them get back into the game.
Report abuse
Some of our so called fans are so precious! Happy to shout dogs abuse at players and staff, and then to be deeply offended at being called a numpty! especially when this wasn’t even targeted at all fans just a select few. Protest too much me thinks!
and to the fans who pay their money so can’t see a problem with airing their distain for everything during a game do one, if you can’t get behind the lads for 90 minutes then what are you doing? feel free to boo once the final whistle has blown but before hand does no good, just shatters the confidence of what is still a young and improving team. GET BEHIND THE LADS!!!
Report abuse
It is a bit rich for John Lalley to produce this tripe. Who started all the venomous criticism – the press, long ago. Remember Graham Taylor’s treatment by the press as England manager. The fans have jumped on the bandwagon, and not just Wolves fans.
The press have made it seem alright to lambast, with no restraint, anyone that displeases them. Long gone has measured criticism been the norm. Who is dragging up all of this yet again – the press, the E & S especially.
I haven’t bought any newspaper for 14 years because of the shoddy journalism that is deemed acceptable by the editors. British newspapers are not fit for anything now, not even toilet paper.
The british press love to build someone up and then take pleasure in destroying them. John Lalley and his colleagues are no different. A few hundred make obnoxious chants and the E & S make out it’s the masses and continually drag the story out.
Report abuse
Blimey Mr Lalley. I’d be extremely careful with some of what you say here.
There’s no room for common sense and logical argument. Can’t you be a little more sensationalist like other bloggers!!??
In all seriousness, I think your performance assessment is extremely accurate. I stated on another thread that we are an extremely easy team to play against given MM’s stubbornness with tactics when they clearly aren’t working. As a result, whether the formation fails because of the form of the players (Jarvis and Kightly for example) or because of the form/tactics of the opposition, a manager should have a plan B, C and even D up his sleeve. We never seem to.
For me, I would look at shoring up the centre of midfield and only have the one wide man. The full-backs are so intent on trying to support the underperforming wingers that it is so simple for the opposition to attack in the space they leave and drag Berra/Johnson so far out of position.
So, tell the full-backs to be full-backs. Tell Doyle to stop playing in midfield. Play O’Hara, Henry and Adlene in the centre of midfield. Play Hunt and Doyle up front – give Hammill the freedom to roam a little.
In my humble opinion at least!
Report abuse
We dont need a new manager wolves fans.
All we needed to do was spend money on decent players then we woudnt be in this mess.
If anything, Morgan & Moxey should have spent abit more money on improving the squad, not Molineux.
Wolves Ay We
Report abuse
@manchesterwolf I agree, how would paying consumers of say sony, coca cola or Asda products act if their manager called its paying customers numpties.. If the product had got worse over time, surely the paying customer has a right to complain.. I can see asda palming off faulty goods daily, and telling all their customers that they are fools, and know nothing about these products, yes I could in a sereal world where lunacy takes precedent.. Such a manager would be sacked from Asda for destroying the public image of the company, if they had any hope of turning things around.. I watched watch dog last week and the new manager of Pontin’s had a right g at the paying customers for noticing the poor condition of it chalets. She would of been better keeping her mouth shut.. I would be very surprised if anyone ever went there again after that.. So why do we have to put up with this at our beloved Wolves.. I am sick of hearing Mick even the blogger on here Tim call people names for having an opinion, and they have a right to have one, after all Wolves are pathetic at the moment, and we will soon become the next Woolworth, the next Birmingham or West Ham unless we have massive changes.. I for one are not putting up with Mick’s abuse any more or from anyone at the club.. Show me respect and I will show it back..
Report abuse
We need to move on.
If you want Mick out then the best way will be to put pressure on Moxey by staying at home tomorrow and next week.
That way either we will be able to support the team to success, or we will still lose and you can have your way. Sven is free now, sure he could take us to the next level!
Report abuse
Still think we should stick with mick for now,i think he as still got some credit in the bank to be given longer but I understand everyones frustation.Clearly mick as made some baffling decisions of late but i wonder if he as stumbled upon a system,is the way forward wingless wanderers!If we get rid of mccarthy who are we going to get in because oneill or hughes wont come not with the money that we have to spend.I keep hearing on here that we are a team of championship players but arent swansea,norwich,qpr and albion the same and look how they are playing maybe the players need to hear a new voice with new ideas but i think we should still support mick and give him to after wigan game and then lets see.
Report abuse
I was disappointed at our performance on saturday, in particular with our inability to defend as as a team. I was also particularly disappointed with the negative taunts to one of our own by the so called ‘supporters’.
If you are not happy with what the club is providing on the pitch then the best way to show this is to stay away because your non attendance will send a message to the club.
I was mystified by the substitutions of wide players for central midfielders but this did one thing and brought us point to add to the league tally which was not there before the substitutions.
I ate humble pie after the match for not believing in the manager and i hope those who taunted MM did also and i hope they will think again before such sad outcrys.
MM deserves more respect than that because i remember well where we were when he came to the club and where we are now!
Report abuse
i,m very pleased that mick is up for a scrap,but would be more pleased if that scrap was on the training ground with his coaches,our methods are there for every opposing team to see and work out so early in every game, and once they have sussed us out we don,t have an alternative way of play,our methods need to change we are so predictable, tough times ahead are fast looming on us,the RIFT that is there at the moment is not going to go away,unless the coaches coach. the players play,and that can only happen if mick changes his methods.the current style of football is not easy on the eye.it seems other teams are in stereo while we are still in MONO.
Report abuse
8. There are as many different views as supporters. How can a manager sensibly look at a message board and make decisions on what to do based upon the opinions expressd. Ridiculous.
5. But its ok to hurl disgusting abuse and bile at the manager within the hear shot of young children is it?
1. Your appraisal of the last 6 games is complete tripe. To say, for example, there has been no passion in any of the last 6 games is palpable rubbish.
7. Sadly you are so so right.
Report abuse
No 7 WHB. Obviously a big big fan of the erudite
Jack along with your mate Boing Boing.
Report abuse
Noisy -Please tell me your joking, Sven couldnt even take Leicester to the next level with a premiership budget in the championship.
Report abuse
You put it in a nutshell in one sentence
‘It would outstrip credibility to suggest that the unlikely point we picked from Swansea’s pocket precipitates any serious notion of rehabilitation for Wolves’
If we can’t put out a team at home to beat the likes of Swansea and QPR then we are in it up to our necks.
He’s no premiership manager, the only way he’s going to manage in this league is to get a side promoted to it from the championship. Name me one team in this division who would appoint him as manager if they parted company with there’s.
Get a backbone Morgan and get rid before it’s to late
Report abuse
@4 I agree with the bit about the tickets n have the odd meeting with fans I no wolves speedway have a meeting at the start of the season to see who the fans want in the team ect so would be good to have it in football n yes wage cap is needed
Report abuse
Another know it all E&S pundit/Writer! How abbout when you have to pay to go to the games and fork out £40 a ticket you can have an opinion! Until then why dont you write a nice report about how awful the team has been playing and how newly promoted Swansea played us off the park rather than slaggin us fans off! You tar all wolves supporters with the same brush which is outrageous! Its not the fans fault we didnt strenghten enough in the summer, its not the fans fault players are underperforming and its not the fans fault Mick makes some mad decisions!!
Report abuse
I cannot understand why everyone is out for the kill with Super Mick. Yes he can be stuborn yes he has his favourites but I cannot get past 19 years in the championship. Who is in the bottom three in the championship, who is in top 6? You don’t know as nobody cares, I heard a radio phone in recently taking about Glenda Hoddle back as England Manager ask 25000 Wolves fans what they think.
Be really carefull what you wish for there is only 1 place to be the Premier league I want to stay there not be in Championship, going to Burnley, Watford, Bristol City and Peterbourgh. Who are the managers availble Benitez – Not on your Nelly would he come he would look as step down, O’neil and Moxey together? – Hughes owns half of the property in Manchester does not need it.
Mick Mcarthy will turn this around get behind him and the team. Like the recent flat screen TV riots everybody wants everything now and unfortunatly you can’t have everything you have to work hard that is what 99.9% of the time Mcarthy teams have done. He is a Wolves manager
Report abuse
I watched the game live and was baffled why we stood off the ball and let them play. We did and I can only assume that was the plan, once we changed that we looked ok. Learn MM, your players are not good enough to let any team play the ball around, close them down.
All this BS about the fans getting angry makes me laugh, my boss has is like McEnroe on steroids when things go wrong and my customers want to hang me, that’s how the modern world is so why do we have to write about it? Ironic coming from a reporter.
Report abuse
18. Respect is a two way street. Maybe if teh fans showed mick some of the respect he deserves then he would show it back.
I saw 10 year old kids calling mick every swear word going on saturday yet some people dont like being called a numpty. if you cant take it dont give it.
Report abuse
McCarthy has no respect for the fans. He does not care what they think and he does not care about their opinions. You can tell he thinks we are all from wolverhampton so basically we are dumb.
Turner was the opposite. He treated the fans as part of the human race. Mccarthy does not.
Report abuse
‘He’s gotta go’ as copyrighted by Wolves fans.
Report abuse
Yet another attack on the fans from our local rag, if they are not giving a voice to morons like Roger Johnson to slate the people who pay ridiculous amounts of money to watch this inept excuse for football,they are wading in with third rate journalists spewling their meaningless drivel. Simple solution lads, do not buy the Express & Star and leave that dubious honour to the Wolves players and management.
Report abuse
Some good debate here at last – especially 13 think you have it spot on. OK, so we are all frustrated we are not doing better but let’s get behind the team from the off and intimidate the opposition not our own lads.
Moan in the pub after the game if it goes wrong, but for 90 minutes stick together and roar them on. For those of us who remember the good old days of packed terraces it can sound really quiet now with all seats sometimes, but when we go for it we can really make the place rock still. We have to lift ourselves up and try to believe and pass our believe onto the team.
Yes, some players will still make mistakes and we may disagree with some of Mick’s decisions and with what we pay we feel entitled to complain, but what good does it do? NONE Only thing that does do any good is for us to stand up and be counted and cheer them on, not just when we are winnig which is easy, but when we are struggling which is when the team really need our support
Nothing to lose tomorrow, so let’s frighten whichever of the overpaid lot City send out
Come on you Wolves
Report abuse
Noisy – Sven? You are not being serious, are you?
Report abuse
Two words for Mr Morgan. Back Mick. No question, he’s the best manager we’ve had down the Wolves since I’ve been supporting them (started in ’76). I’m fed up with us shooting ourselves in the foot. One bad run doesn’t make a bad manager or bad players. Some Wolves fans need to take a long hard look at themselves and accept that they’re part of the problem we’re currently facing. ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ came the chant – well, personally I’d rather put my faith in Mick to turn things around than in all those would-be experts who’d have kept Jarvis and Hammill on and no doubt lost the game. Ask yourselves if you what you really want at Wolves right now is a scenario similar to the one currently being played out at Blackburn. A dose of realism is surely required. And some unity.
Report abuse
Irrespective of what abuse comes from the terraces at the manager and players, we are highly unlikely to sack the manager? A couple of reasons for this are:-
i) He has to operate with a very limited transfer budget plus one of the lowest wage structures.
ii) If the worst scenario happens and we get relegated, he is probably the best bet to get us back up.
However, Mad Mick has got to change or otherwise this could be just the beginning? We cannot stick with the same back 4 plus Guedioura must start. Although we are playing the might of Man City tomorrow, I expect the team to perform better than on Saturday, as some of these second string players should be the first team? Team for tomorrow:-
De Vries Doherty Craddock Johnson Ward Hammill Guedioura Edwards Milijas Hunt Vokes
What must happen in January is that Moxey allocates a £10m spend. Our squad of 24 includes the likes of Kites plus many injury prone players!
Report abuse
I have already posted that something has to be addressed, whatever is at the root of our problems. But one thing I am never going to do is ally myself with the vitriolic, vein-busting, purple-faced abusers who scream insults during a match and shame our club in front of the rest of the country. If there is a time and a place for dissent, it is after the final whistle. The rest of the time is for what supporters are meant to do – “support”, not “dismantle”.
Report abuse
Sorry for late post but ive just been on the phone begging Vichai Raksriaksorn to offer Mad Mick the managers job now Sven has left. To help the cause ive offered to drive him there myself for an interview !. Of course I didnt mention how he would play his mates rather than “best” player for there chosen position, or his total preference for a square peg in a round hole or how he is likely to turn a striker into a defender or vice versa.Wouldnt want that to put a him off….UTW
Report abuse
How about Steve McClaren now he’s free?
Report abuse
I do feel for Mick – what can you do when so many players are underperforming – if it was just one you could cover but not when there are so many.
When the form comes back I think we will be okay but it might be a while yet…
Report abuse
realist
newcastle looked like they had us in trouble virtually everytime they came forward, just like qpr just like albion…..even straight foward long balls had us turned chasing forawrds/wingers who had got in behind, its far 2 easy for them
the facts are:
qpr, newcastle, swansea at home and albion away – 1 point and we deserved little more
spurs and liverpool r really bonus games so they dont matter so much
Report abuse
It has been a long time since I have witnessed hatred towards a manager from the fans, The Albion fans have had to endure some tough times over the past few years but I can’t remember us turning on Robson or Mowbray when things were rough.
I do remember however remember there being a cardboard coffin in the Brummy Road End with Bobby Goulds name on it.
The Crux of it is, we know the limitations of our club, and are not being constantly told we should be fighting for Europe, therefore we are very happy with our lot… long may it stay that way.
Report abuse
I have followed Wolves since the sixties and Saturday was one of my sadest days. Mick McCarthy is an honest decent man that has acheived so much for our club. He works with limited resources and finance I counted 7 of our championship side on the pitch on Saturday in our third season in the premiership!He deserves respect and support from the fans and I think the boo boys should stay at home or going support another club. We the fans have a part to play in restoring confidence to the team and McCarthy and it starts by getting behind them. Think on Wolves fans if McCarthy goes who will we attract O’Neil,Hughes I dont think so try McClaren or one of the other failures out of work at the moment!
Report abuse
Totally agree with John post #31If you fans want to give all this unwarranted stick and abuse at our players, at least have the guts to be able to take it back. If you can’t take it then you really shouldn’t be giving it out in the first place. It works both ways.
As for fans who use the excuse we pay decent money so we can voice your opinions, yes i do agree to certain extent but there are ways of going about it, and booing and shouting abuse isn’t the way. If i went to a restaurant and i wasn’t happy with the food i wouldn’t get up out of my seat and start booing and shouting abuse at the waiter would i?
Report abuse
Now lets look at the last 10 League games.Surely a fair assessment can be drawn from this.Scoring first in 1 (Fulham),no goals versus Villa and the rest, well need any more be said– going 1 down in 1,2 down in 5 and 3 down in the other 2 and in the last 9 of these was it not the same defensive unit.No doubt I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong.Hardly inspires any confidence in the management teams ability to sort things out does it.
Report abuse
The comparison with Graham Turner is rather significant. The fans I believe had some influence in persuading the management of the day to sack him. Whether he would have got Wolves promoted if he had stayed is a matter of conjecture.
We then had a succession of managers who were brought in to get us promoted. Most failed until Dave Jones achieved the prize that Sir Jack and the fans craved for. Sadly it only lasted a season. The fans predictably blamed the board as usual.
I can easily see the same scenario being played out again.
What a lot of fans can’t understand is that WWFC is a relatively small club playing in a big boys league. Steve Morgan is a multi-millionaire but he is not able to commit endless amounts of money to the club in the same way as Russian billionaires, Oil Sheikhs, or American businessmen.
Wolves are a well managed club that keeps it’s head above water in financial terms. We may never be able to compete with the likes of Man U, Chelsea, etc. The expectation amongst fans (young and old) is far and away above reality.
The article above and the one yesterday by Tim Spiers will only serve to further polarise opinions. Those that dislike Mick McCarthy will continue to do so, irrespective of results, and those that take the contrary view will continue to support him and the rest of the management.
Report abuse
All this talk of confidence…… We won the first 2, got a good draw at villa. No issues here. I’d suggest it’s a change in attitude amongst the players. Remember last year when Ohara said when we thought we were safe after beating villa and now we know we are in a scrap……… They picked up then. Attitude needs to change. We are in a scrap again.
Report abuse
A thoughtful, observational blog by Mr. Lalley. I note, however -just as with Tim Spiers- the absence of condemnation of a manager who has, in his own way, easily usurped Wolves fans’ questionable behaviour on Saturday. Mick not only used profane language in full, public view, but has also challenged dissenting fans to a fight, lest we forget.
So, interesting omissions indeed, John, because I feel they’re just as important in the context of assessing the Swansea game as anything else you had to say today. So, a bit of parity wouldn’t have gone amiss if we’re going to dissect the hostilities. Accordingly, the words ‘careful editing’ or even ‘economical with the truth’ spring immediately to mind.
Finally, I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but there’s a distinct irony in the above piece being entitled: ‘When Wolves Fans Turn On Their Own’. You see, Mick only said last week that Wolves “isn’t my club”. So, though I DO NOT and will NEVER condone fans’ booing or otherwise hounding our manager, Mick can hardly be described as ‘one of us’ when he clearly doesn’t feel any attachment to us or this club.
That was a truly telling comment, Mick.
Report abuse
Some of you lot that come on here are an embarassment to yourselves and the team that you claim to support. It’s apparant that you’ve taken the club as far as you can and its time for you to clear off and take your moaning mates with you. It was embarrassing for the proper fans on saturday, and as for ManchesterWolf, what a sensitive little soul you must be, Mick was being subjected to the most disgusting vile abuse from young kids copying their neanderthal parents and you have the herve to be offended? Here’s an idea for all of you idiots. STAY AWAY. The club doesnt need you.
Report abuse
how lucky we are
its so easy to forget all those years stuck in the second level of the football league
at last a prem team for the 3′d year running
i love what the 3 m’s are doin at my club
they are making a solid base at the club for years to come CAN YOU MOANIN LOT not see this
the team will click they are too good not to but they need everybody to stick together
IT IS OUT OF ORDER TO BOO THE MANAGER, THE TEAM OR ANY PLAYER JOURING A MATCH!!!!!!!!!!
(boo at the end if you must)
booing helps the other team you cheer your team to the end
lets make teams hate comin to us (re stoke)
stick together and enjoy the ride we are in good hands give 3′ms lots of love the glory days will return
staffarnold
Report abuse
Do we have the worst fans in the country?
I say fans because they are definitely not SUPPORTers.
Report abuse
Realist, Solent. Sorry the exclamation mark didn’t do the trick. Clearly only an idiot would think that was a good idea … watch this space!
Report abuse
John, first of all that was a very enjoyable read. I may not agree with everything said, but excellent read never the less.
What i dont understand is for all the Wolves fans demanding Mick McArthys head for being incompetent i dont hear any fans questioning Steve Morgan. Surely he was the one who didnt give MM the funds to improve on a squad that barely scraped staying up?
But i dont hear anyone questionning the chairman, is it because he is building a nice new shiny stadium?
The relationship between players, managers and fans is always a two way street. The players play well and the fans get behind them, they play poorly and its very hard to sing your heart out.
You find yourselves in a similar situation to ourselves last season with RDM. We will never know what would have happened if he hadnt have been sacked, RDM still had the support of the Albion fans but results didnt improve. I agree that booing doesnt help players perform, but are the right people being vilified here?
Personally i would be asking questions of the chairman and the lack of transfer activity in the summer.
Report abuse
Jon I agree with you.
OK so honest down to earth Mick McCarthy does have a strange opinion as to what constitues a good defender but in truth if Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge at Molinuex I doubt very much he would be able to do any more than Mick McCarthy with the bunch of Championship standard players he has at his disposal
Report abuse
@ 50 – YE Olde …… Don’t be so literal. People keep coming on here touting Sean O’ Driscoll saying he has black and gold blood running through his veins. Doesn’t mean he didn’t do a good job at Bournemouth or achieve a lot at Doncaster – yet presumably whilst doing his best, they weren’t his clubs in the sense of being a life long supporter. No, I don’t agree with you.
Report abuse
What to do…
The team that gave me most satisfaction last weekend was Man City. It was marvelous to see Wayne Rooney eat dust.
Also Joleon Lescott playing in a team that wins…
Maybe it’s time for me to update and change. After all I was 10 yo when I choose the Wolves, I have changed other things in my life, so to let this idiotic stubborn man and team of losers go will be a relief…
Yes, let me thnk about it…
Report abuse
@ 52 – wbabomber. I have to say that I agree with you. Those are the questions I would ask. Only Steve can answer them – Mick is too loyal to him to reveal his thoughts on such matters. He will try to make do with what he’s given and put on a brave front for the sake of the players we have.
Report abuse
Firstly, I have maximum respect for thr 3 M’s for what they have achieved whilst keeping us on a good financial footing. We are one of the best run clubs in the prem, however, the way in which Mick has conducted himself the last few days smacks of a man who is fighting for his life with no idea how to save himself.
I was at the game on Saturday and lets all take off the rose tinted glassed….it was appalling. The 2 goals only served to paper over some very serious cracks.
I have never seen us back off quite so much since the Hoddle era. We looked so scared to lose the game that we had almost conceded that we weren’t going to win before we kicked off. A draw might seem like a good result and may prove to be in the long but the manner of the draw for the first 80 minutes was bemusing. SEB clearly wasn’t anywhere near match fit yet gets the call over Vokes and Ward. The wingers and forwards looked redundant due to the tactics we played and the Back line is quite frankly….a nightmare. RJ seems shot of any confidence, Berra is like a boy playing a man’s game and would be better trying Rugby for a sport. Stearman lacks skill. Strange that our only half decent defender is a striker in disguise. Wardy is our player of the season so far. Yes…he hasn’t got much competition but at least he puts his last breath into everything he does.
I don’t think changing the manager will help us out of this rutt but I do think that we need to hear fromn the Owner. It would be nice to hear his views on the issues. I would also like to see him get a grip of Mick and tell him to shut his mouth. We all have an opinion and no one likes to be abused like he was on Saturday, however, He gets paid a lot of money to do this job and should be experienced and professional enough to let it all wash over him. By rising to the abuse by dishing out his own abuse is not only unprofessional but is blatantly adding fuel to the fire. A fire that will ultimately burn him. the fact is this……Owners, Chairman, Directors, Managers and Players come and go…………The FANS will always be there. Without US the Club doesn’t exist and the second the Manager losses control the way he has…..then IMHO it’s time for the Owner to start to have a word. I like Mick but he is quickly losing my respect. As for the Fans that shout from the stands……..they have no voice at the club so as unsightly as it may be I do support their right to voice an opinion (regardless whether I agree or not). It may be unproductive and embarrassing but these people work hard to save the money to support THEIR club…..surely that gives them the right to be heard.
A word for Mick: Calm down dear !!!
Report abuse
@ 54 – Noisy. No, I didn’t really – but thanks for the vote of confidence anyway. I’ll head for the naughty step right now.
Report abuse
If Mick had ever respected the supporters, he may have had a lttle more leeway from them when times were bad.
Report abuse
John,
this is nothing to do with your current article, but you said in a video interview a couple of weeks ago that you felt that the owner was the best thing that had happened to Wolves in a long time. I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing but would be interested to know why you feel this.
Also, what is Steve Morgan’s strategy for the club. As far as I know he has never set it out properly to the fans. We know he is increasing the capacity of the ground and is not going over board with signing players. I understand he believes that it would not be a disaster if we were relegated as long as we came straight back up. Does he realise how hard it can be to get out of that division?
Sport is the one business where success is not judged on the amount of profit made. Well, we made a profit of £9 million last year and added only one player to an almost relegated team. He was apparently looking for us to not have a last minute escape this year. What will he think about his £9 milliom profit if we go down?
Does he realise that, if we are to become an established mid-table club, more money will have to be spent at some time?
Also, how do the staements “we are not in the Premiership to just make up the numbers” (Morgan) and “we realise that the amount spent on wages correlates with the league position” (Moxey) relate to the club’s strategy?
Come on, John, let’s have an in-depth article about Steve Morgan, his plans for Wolves and your thoughts on him and them.
Report abuse
There are a number of things that need sorting at Wolves, to give us more confidence in our team and make a Molineux matchday less of a white knuckle ride, BUT…this is not an excuse for the disgraceful behaviour by some ‘supporters’.
There is no reason for it, so, to those posters trying to justify it, stop insulting everyones’ intelligence.
Let’s all act more respopnsibly to turn things around.
Report abuse
WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER NOW, MICK HAS BEEN GREAT FOR THIS CLUB, I AM SICK OF THE NEGATIVE STUFF, IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY GO AND SUPPORT SOMEONE ELSE. COME ON WOLVES.
Report abuse
wolves 6 mancity 1? – spot on mate on your first point you made and also your reaction to ‘realist’
realist 13 – have you been to a game this year? we have played awful this year….again!
villa away was the start it was embarrasing that it was showcased on sky.
Scott sinclair and dyer the weekend are both ten times better than jarvis and both came up from championship. joe allen ten times better than anything weve got – came up from championship. how many other players are in the championship that are much better than we have got yet mick mccarthy doesnt know about instead bases his knowledge on so called experts opinions….roger johnson….ohara….PAP!
Report abuse
Mick and players need to understand we pay their wages. Without the fans you are nothing. If we pay, we can say and do what we like. May be Mick might wake-up and smell the coffee.
Mick you need to go NOW! Get out of my beloved club NOW!
Report abuse
50- Agree with you emphatically. Why hasn’t this man been arrested by the police? Why hasn’t he been charged with bringing the game into disrepute?
Why the silence of Morgan?
It is our club. The three M’s are just here for what they get out if it. Please get rid MM now.
Why do we not have some insightful journalism in this matter from Tim Nash and Martin Swain? Fed up if sycophantic plaudits of Mm’s achievements now. He is (allegedly) the worst premiership manager ever.
For my part, will be boycotting Molineux tomorrow. I suggest those who feel likewise do the same. The only way they will get this clown out is due to falling gates,not results, so let’s give them what they want to make the changes.
Report abuse
Fans over the decades have showed their disapproval and ‘voted with their feet’.Fans are paying good money and have every right to expect something in return.Moxey has a nerve complaining about the use of decoders by pubs and clubs.On a recent visit i watched the first two Wolves games this way.He goes on about the club being a business and the importance of fiscal responsibility and then cries foul when fans find a viable financial alternative to watching the team.
For decades Wolves fans have been taken for granted and expected to show up despite some of stuff that has been dished up.We are expected to accept the Market and the principles of Market Forces.With the price of tickets and alternatives,those days of simply expecting fans to show up are gone.
While i feel that we have reached as far as we can go with MM,i also feel that the higher management is not up to the job.I reserve judgement on Steve Morgan for the moment.Poor higher management has been a problem with Wolves going back to the 1950s.
Report abuse
To Mick and the team, support is out there.
Go out and show them!
Report abuse
seems to me mr lalley is only interested in writing an intelligent blog these days instead of writing how it really is.. e&s must be paying him a fortune!! i can remember his views were from a fans point of view not the boardrooms !!
besides this i feel its time for mick to resign
utw
Report abuse
I really find it disgusting to hear fans say that if they pay they can say what they like. Frankly, the club doesnt need your money. Hear this. The club doesn’t need you either as you only destroy the players and you destroy the club. Stop Playing your broken record. Get real.
Report abuse
Hi John, good article, measured and well balanced. I don’t condone appalling behaviour be it from fans or managers so for my part, being sufficiently unhappy about the general strategies (or lack of them) at the club, I’ll be making few contributions to these interesting columns in future and making even fewer trips to watch the old gold and black. I first saw them live in 1953/4 and don’t recognise what I see today – even the famous colours have become PR tools, with the old gold getting ever nearer to orange. Symbolically sad.
Fans may be out of order with some of their comments, but they don’t buy players, pick them, train them, or give then playing instructions. Nor do they receive the rich rewards that those who have the privilege of doing, receive. The current problems stem from not reading the signs from last year’s narrow escape, consequent negligible investment in players, poor selections and even poorer playing tactics. Yet, even worse than all of those are the appalling communication gaffes from the management; arrogant, foul mouthed mud slinging and threatening behaviour from the manager, useless occasional utterings from the chief executive and deafening silence from the owner.
Best of luck to the fans who over generations will always be the club, and I hope a miracle delivers this poor, poorly motivated team from the jaws of the Championship. Also, best of luck to you, John and the E&S who provide the means to keep contact with current happenings and the facilities to express opinions. Long may you all flourish.
Report abuse
I worry about this season for two reasons
1. In the last 2 we were just happy to be there in the top league and we all realised it was going to be a tough slog.
2. 3rd year in we all hoped by then we would be settled, have some of these promised “stars” in once they saw we were there for the long haul but what do we have…..
1 transfer really in the close season
A manager who keeps saying the same thing each year about this magical shift the players keep putting in each game but its just bad luck we keep losing
No progress at all team wise
Another season of biting ya nails and wondering maybe its time for a chang at the top!
Not too much to ask is it after 3 yrs of promises…..
Report abuse
Come On John !! “Nobody can identify the solution” ?? Those of us who understand the game know well the solution and so do You. What a silly statement, please tell it like it is. The manager is long past his sell by date, cannot cope and should be replaced.
Report abuse
Sadly, John Lalley and Tim Spiers write logical, articulate and correct views that are wasted on the type of fan they are aimed at. Intellectual and rational they are not. Impatiently aggressive and accusative they are. The endless talking and bitching needs to end, fans, journalists, manager, players. We all need to focus solely on WE CAN ALL DO to help with what matters-improvement in performances and results!
Report abuse
This is the same Mr Lalley who told us that Doyle was good for -quote “a bagful of goals” Remember that Mr Lalley? So far we have had 2 out of him. I don’t think incisive analysis is your strong point.
Report abuse
I dont see what all the fuss is about. You lose five games on the bounce including a local derby then go two down to a newly promoted team at home? What did MM expect,a round of applause? Its a non-story. Bad patches end,this one will end,whether Wolves can stay up or not is another matter but if Wolves are to toy with relegation again you can’t expect their fans to be happy about it. MM isn’t daft,he’s been in the game all his life,he knows he will get stick if things don’t improve. Im sure he is busting a gut to get it right but the question will arise as to whether someone else,with different ideas,could give the club a better chance. Thats nothing new and not peculiar to Wolves. I dont think Wolves fans can be accused of unfairness,they stayed with it last season by and large despite the disappointments and have turned up this time hoping for better things. They are not happy with what they are seeing and who would be? Show me a set of fans who would not get miffed after a run like this one? A good blog in many ways but you can dig too deep,the facts are simple,Wolves are not playing well enough to win football matches,their fans are not best pleased about it.The debate is (whether MM,Moxey,Morgan or anybody else likes it or not) about the managers ability to turn it around. Some fans think he can,others are not convinced.
Report abuse