Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
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Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admires Stoke’s ability to land big names
Friday 16th December 2011, 3:00PM GMT.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today revealed he admires rather than envies Stoke’s ability to attract the big names.
Having been in the Premier League for just a year longer than Wolves, Stoke made the football world sit up and take notice in the summer when they splashed out on established stars Peter Crouch, Wilson Palacios and Jonathan Woodgate.
Performances on the pitch have been moved onto another level too after their FA Cup final appearance in May granted them the chance to grace the European stage, where Tony Pulis’s side have progressed through the group stages of the Europa League.
McCarthy has happily settled for much more modest investment as the pioneer of the club’s tried-and-trusted ‘young and hungry’ policy established on his watch five-and-half years ago.
He said: “Stoke are to be admired because they have done really well. Jonathan Woodgate couldn’t get games but he is now. Fair play to them – they found the money for Crouch and Wilson Palacios so good luck to them.
“They’ve been in the league a year longer than we have but we’ve spent our own money and we’ve invested in the team. They do it differently, I suppose.”
Despite the investment on players very much for now – £10million Crouch is 30, Palacios, who cost £8million, is 27, and free transfer signing Woodgate is 31 – McCarthy believes Pulis has still looked to build long-term.
The Wolves boss said: “Tony’s players haven’t just been there for one year, when you think of players such as Ryan Shawcross, Rory Delap and Dean Whitehead.
“But I wouldn’t know what they’ve spent – you’re giving me all the sums and I can’t even compare. I don’t take any notice of it.
“There’s no chance of me criticising what they’ve done because I’m full of admiration for it. Tony is a mate of mine too and I have a lot of time for him. I’d just like to beat them tomorrow.
“We did it at home last season against them and I’d like to do it again – that’s my concern.”
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