Wolves’ FA Cup tie did not fail to disappoint
Friday 20th January 2012, 10:22AM GMT.
The second that Mick McCarthy predicted it would be a “barnstorming, rip-roaring game” you knew that exactly the opposite would transpire, writes Wolves blogger Tim Spiers.
Hopefully our manager had his tongue lodged so far into his cheek it looked like he was smuggling George Elokobi’s left bicep, because one thing it was never going to be was barnstorming.
A lively first 15 minutes aside it was predictably, as Shakespeare would have put it, a proper bag of tripe.
If being lazy and over-confident was a commodity, ITV could still sell it by the shipload to Australia such is its penchant for overhyping anything it screens, but this match was a step too far even for them.
“Wolves v Birmingham – it’s the tie everyone in the Midlands is talking about,” a commentator unconvincingly remarked during QPR v MK Dons the night before, failing to add the word “avoiding”.
With a likely absence of anything remotely resembling a football match, they resorted to setting up a live ruckus before kick off when Adrian Chiles, who presumably was smuggled into Molineux by armed guards, was handed the task of trying to get a rise out of Steve Bull.
It didn’t take much.
After having the temerity to reveal to the nation that Molineux used to be a dump, Chiles set up Bully beautifully by revealing his Wolves goalscoring record, to which Bully replied he’d bagged 300 against the Albion.
When he then whipped out a Tesco carrier bag (bottle of purchased fake tan already taken out) Bully had achieved the impossible and somehow managed to endear himself to Wolves fans even further.
What a guy.
In the famous Wolves supporter popularity stakes (and in the absence of A-listers Beverley Knight, Edward Elgar and that chap from Reef) Robert Plant went for the sympathy vote, sulking like he’d just been told Rolf Harris’ version of Stairway to Heaven was miles better than his.
After it was revealed that Plant had travelled all the way from Texas to be at the game I briefly felt guilty for not bothering to make the 15-minute journey to Molineux, but then the game began and any pangs of remorse quickly eroded.
And my word what a miserable night it was.
The swathes of empty seats at Molineux told a story, as did McCarthy’s team selection and the resulting woeful performance from the players.
This was a game that no one associated with the club seemed particularly bothered about winning and was certainly no hard luck story from a Wolves point of view.
On the contrary, it was merely an unacceptable performance from 10 fringe players who should have been busting a gut to show what they could do.
Instead they were pathetically outthought by a Birmingham side which executed its game plan perfectly and managed to subdue Wolves with breathtaking ease.
A horrifying dearth of creativity in midfield was the most worrying aspect, with Nenad Milijas and Adam Hammill unable to provide the spark that was so badly lacking.
McCarthy’s pre-match assertion that Kevin Doyle was ready to return to form sounded very hollow and very silly indeed, with the dreadfully out-of-touch Irishman again flattering to deceive.
Alongside him Sylvan Ebanks-Blake looked the most likely to break the deadlock, but like so many of his team mates he floundered miserably in the second half.
It was left to the impressive Eggert Jonsson and Matt Doherty – two players who probably won’t see 90 minutes of first-team action between them for the rest of the season – to show their team mates how they should have played.
How utterly depressing.
A failure to score against a Championship defence in 180 minutes was damning to the strength of the squad McCarthy has assembled and, although the FA Cup was low on the priority list, the result was a concern.
The notable 1-1 draw at Tottenham reminded us that there is still quality and fight in what is currently McCarthy’s first team, but it’s becoming patently clear that too many players are simply not up to the task of Premier League football.
Last summer McCarthy elected for evolution rather than revolution, bringing in just a couple of signings and placing faith in the players who had brought us up from the Championship.
Well, if we stay up it may have to be the opposite this summer.
Elokobi, Richard Stearman, Sam Vokes, Andy Keogh, Jody Craddock, David Edwards and, as much as it pains me to say it, Stephen Hunt, Nenad Milijas and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, haven’t done enough to prove they’re worthy of a place in the squad.
The form of Hunt in particular has alarmingly dipped from the tenacious, fiery midfielder who did so much at the end of last season and the start of this.
The dissenting voices are spreading with our desperate Premier League record reading one win in just 10 games, or two from the past 19.
McCarthy must either make some very astute signings in the next couple of weeks, or pray that what looks like a Championship-standard squad will get us over the line in the Premier League.
What with the Steve Bull Stand redevelopment being postponed, progress on and off the field looks very much to have halted.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Same again for West Brom
What a strange two weeks it has been since our last game. I haven’t looked over my neighbour’s fence with as much interest since Pamela Anderson moved in next door and regularly used her trampoline, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Albion 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
Couldn’t agree more mate! Hopefully things may happen!!!!! We’ll see.
If we lose to the vile then surely he must go!
Utw
Report abuse
Time to move on folks. Nothing more to see here.
We know that our squad strength is pretty rotten.
Bring on the Vile.
Report abuse
Tim, It is the Villa game that counts .People should be pleased that they have stopped the ground redevelopment.At least now if we are relegated we won’t be saddled with a lot of debt . It would be nice to think that they may now bring in some more quality players,but I doubt it will happen.
Report abuse
Only thing i’d disagree with is the “impressive Jonsson” bit. He was awful, did what Karl Henry does but 10 times worse. Otherwise a pretty honest article. We’re not good enough and the squad does look championship standard. A shame as Mick’s had so much money to spend. Say what you want about Doyle’s form but Mick’s persistance with hoofball tactics to him and Ebanks is mindless. Huge game on Saturday no less than three points should result in the end for Mick but we all know it won’t. Let’s get behind the team and hope for the best.
Wolves !!!!!
Report abuse
Well, it didn’t disappoint me in terms of result, but I certainly picked the wrong week to give up drinking in front of the telly. The question has to be asked, though: when the match is of no interest to the few who could be bothered to leave the warming embrace of the Newhampton to watch, and is of no consequence to our season beyond endowing it with unnecessary games – something which is plain to see to all of us – then how can we cry foul if our players don’t get fully motivated? I can understand Birmingham being up for it, we sent them down, they hate us, but really, we’ve got plenty bigger fish to fry than them.
Report abuse
Tim, I couldn’t agree with more with your squad assessment. The only one I’d save from that list would be David Edwards who, when fit (and that in itself is my biggest concern with him), brings a tireless run-all-day energy to our side and pops up with the odd important goal. That said, he’d never be in my first choice XI with everybody fit.
Big changes are needed. There’s nobody in our squad I’ve got a distinct dislike for, but in management there comes a time where ruthless decisions must be made and loyalties to Championship-winning players can only stretch so far before McCarthy surely has to concede that the quality must be improved.
I remain convinced that McCarthy is the right man to do it, however. Ray Stubbs summed it up on TalkSPORT beautiful yesterday morning: “You know with Mick in charge, you’ve got a manager who cares”. How many fans of different clubs around the country would envy Wolves for that?
Report abuse
Can we please replace McCarthy before its too late! Why should we the fans have to be content with seeing Wolves battle relegation year after year in the PL?!
I applaud McCarthy for bringing Wolves as far as he can, but now we need to look further ahead with a manager that has more experience in the PL!
Report abuse
Eleven days to buy a midfield that get hold of the ball, hang on to it then create chances for the front two. At the moment, without O’Hara all they seem to be doing is lobbing hopeful long balls forward or passing back to Henessey. I like Mick, but things have to change quick if we are to stay in this division. We have a team of good ball chasers but not much else. Look what Swansea are doing on a much lower financial outlay than our own. Unfortunately next season I fear we’ll be playing Championship football in front of a very nice if half empty North bank.
Report abuse
i was hoping after last weeks blog the replay would be a great game, i have to agree with most of what tim says, poor poor game with nobody apart from Doherty coming away with credit, hopefully to morrow we get it right and beat the Villa for Micks sake i hope we do because i really want him and the WOLVES to suceed.
Report abuse
Well thats 2 blogs from you now that are very depressing to read and show that your support for wolves is taking a nose dive! Do you like MM? why don’t you just get off the fence and say yes or no? when the going is good you seem to be supportive and when the going is bad you are negative…. I can’t blame you really this week as the Brum game was very soul destroying! I actually made the effort to go and the only positive was that me and the misses got our faces on ITV for a full 5 seconds! yes we looked misserable but at least I was there supporting the team. Could you not pull yourself away from DIY SOS like you said last week?
In your list of players you want removed from the wolves squad I can’t argue with most of them I would however add Doyle to the list and remove Jody Craddock because when he stood in for Johnson he was very good! and he doesn’t deserve to be released after what he has done for our club.
It is worrying that we will only have a quater of a stadium for a couple of years more, the excuse given was weak as we have been told many times that the funds are ring fenced and safe. But now it appears spending £6m on facilities has halted it? pathetic… I just hope that the money they would have spent could go on some decent players sooner rather than later. Doesn’t seem to be much activity latley and QPR are after everyone (poor mans Man City)….
I think you could have added a positive spin to your blog by talking about the Villa game sand how the Premiership players will be playing and hopefully get 3 points. I do hope your next blog is a happier one!
Report abuse
Talk about clutching at straws, putting a brave face on, burying one’s head in the sand; That’s what it seemed to be the way the article was heading, but the last paragraph redeemed the piece; Phew1
Report abuse
Had a phone call from Wolves the other day, asking if i was interested in any tickets for villa and liverpool! Surley this must be telling the board something if they need to canvas for sales. Went to the game on Wednesday, what on earth does Mick see in Elokobi, he is not even a championship player! People were laughing and had their heads in their hands at his performance. I would rather play with 10 men.
Report abuse
Too many of the Wolves back four aren’t comfortable on the ball and lack the confidence to make a pass directly to a midfielder.
The Wolves midfield lacks creativity and skill, apart form OHara, Jarvis and Hamill. If mm decides to play Henry he needs 3 very attacking players to counter balance his defensive traits.
Based on current form I’d be very tempted to start Fletcher and Vokes with Doyle grabbing 30 minutes at the ened of the game in an attempt to gain some vital confidence. If we are to stay up its essential that the old Doyle returns to form and the club must do everything in their power to ensure it happens.
UP THE WOLVES
Report abuse
When MM made his now hysterically funny statement to Sky Sports about the FA Cup replay being a “barnstorming” match I thought he was thinking about the El Classico and was going to stay home and watch it on the Telly instead of showing up for his own game!!!
He should have stayed home and maybe, just maybe, he would have learned something about how to play football from two sides that would crush our sorry team.
Report abuse
I would think that the penny must surely drop with mr morgan soon, I have been a Wolves fan for 50 years and I think wednesday night totally summed up what Wolves have descended too. Totally outplayed by a championship side that showed some skill and more over that they wanted to play the game of football, the team sent out by Mr McCarthy did neither. I know they say the Cup means nothing but the revenue loss to the club must be enormous, if the Wolves were playing anything like half decent footbal the ground would have been full on wednesday.If we don’t invest in some players quickly or even better get the ones we have to play footbal i.e pass the ball to one another occasionally we are destined for the drop and then it will be more than ground extensions that will come to a grinding halt. Funny though that the training ground redevelopment goes forward must be the new houses that are going to build
Report abuse
Much of what is in this article probably reflects a lot of the sentiments expressed on this website over the last couple of days.
Although he’s a multimillionaire, I actually felt rather sorry for Robert Plant having travelled all the way from America to witness such a poor display. At one point, with his head in his hands he certainly did look “Dazed and Confused”.
Of the names you have listed who should not be in the squad, I would only disagree with Stearman. His future, whether it be at Wolves or elsewhere, should be as a centre back not fullback.
For tomorrows game, I doubt whether there will be many names that started against B’Ham chosen to start the match against Villa. Young Doherty deserves a place on the bench if he’s fit.
Report abuse
With you Andyc on Elokobi. He should not be allowed to wear a first team shirt again. Better send him down to Bantock Park for a Sunday kickaround…
As TS points out, the only highlight on TV was Bully whipping out the Carrier Bag to Chiles, quality Bully!
God only knows what the rest of the season has in store for us, cos I don’t and nor does MM!!! Time to stock up on more Ramipril, methinks!
Report abuse
Worrying times at Wolves. We spent nowhere enough money in the Summer and after Wednesday’s debacle we need new recruits in the January window. After yesterday’s announcement, there can be no excuses from Moxey and Morgan, decent money must be made available – the downside being, as shown with Onouha, we won’t pay the wages! Doyle and Hunt’s form is dire and only Doherty and Hammill – in patches – shone against Blues. The only positives are that other teams are in the mix – Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn and Albion – and they have not played the big six away, unlike us.
We must put on a show against the Villa. The same team as last week, except someone in for Edwards. I am not sure of Milijas, after the Blues performance, so maybe Guedioura?
Report abuse
The form of Hunt in particular has alarmingly dipped from the tenacious, fiery midfielder who did so much at the end of last season and the start of this.what do folks expect when mm uses crap tactics and puts them on for 5-10 minutes once in a blue moon.there are players there getting very good money,they are not earning it.players brought here by mm.is radar must be way off beam.doyle hamill,and a fair few others have had any skills/form they had coached out of them.hoof football will not save this club.or the predictable sideways and backwards,get at them run at them once in a while,so what if we loose the ball some thing surely has to come out of it if we manage to reach there goal area.better in theirs than ours.do not play big george again this season pure bile.poor huntys dip in form is probably not being used.yes hes had some stinkers but you don’t become bad at your game overnight.something is wrong in the coaching staff.MM is so far deluded and is vision is non exhistant.but hey don’t just blame it all on MM.the owner has to take the can as well.
hope we can do it on sat utw
Report abuse
Numpties Anonymous.
Hello, I’m Geoff and I’m a numpty.
I know I must be a numpty because
1. I think our results and performances are getting worse.
2. I think our ‘style’ of football is pug ugly.
3. I think our players are shackled by fear because it’s all about ‘putting a shift in’ and ‘keeping things tight’ rather than being comfortable on the ball and creative.
4. I can’t understand why players at Norwich and Swansea can pass the ball to each other and then move but ours can’t.
5. I think we’re in a worse position than this time last year even though we were told that wouldn’t happen again.
6. I think continually passing the ball back to a goalkeeper for him to hoof it up the field was a tactic last used in the top flight in the eighties.
7. I don’t think playing 4-4-2 works for us and that we should stop switching back to it at every opportunity whenever other more progressive formations start to give us a glimpse of some sort improvement.
I know I’m a numpty because Mick McCarthy will tell you that I am, and that none of these things are true.
I’m Geoff, and I’m a Numpty
Report abuse
Have to agree with everything you say Tim except your comment on Hammill who was with Docherty the two best Wolves players on the pitch.Chris Hughton completely out thought McCarthy and if you were to award points out of ten for Managers it would be Hughton 9 McCarthy 3 I have no doubt McCarthy will take us down this season based on our home performances.
Report abuse
Excellent blog. Couldn’t agree more. What’s more this sums it all up for me:
“It was left to the impressive Eggert Jonsson and Matt Doherty – two players who probably won’t see 90 minutes of first-team action between them for the rest of the season”
same old, same old…
Report abuse
Tim, I’m afraid not even Australia were interested in this one! Setanta screened it live over here on pay per view and I was tempted to take the morning off work to watch it – glad I did’nt
I moved over here in June after the last 16 years as a season ticket holder and the decline this season has been alarming. The lack of quality and investment in the squad may prove our undoing this season along with the arrogance and blinkered view of the management.
The fans deserve better and should we manage to stay up the prospect of a fourth season of relegation toil is totally unacceptable.
Anyway, I will be up at 1am tomorrow morning cheering the lads on – blind faith as a supporter is a wonderful thing!
Report abuse
for gods sake sack this useless idiot now
Report abuse
@14
Blimey, Mike, I hardly think we need to be too ashamed about the probability of our being soundly beaten by Real Madrid and Barcelona! Perspective, sir, perspective. Still, it reminds us all that the only Real we are at the moment is Real Mediocre, and the closest we’ll get to Barcelona is the popular tapas bar chain.
Report abuse
Is it the manager or is it the players? Basically what MM needs to do is get rid of those players who are not up to the standard required of a Premiership team. Sadly this would mean whole sale changes.No easy task as a lot of the players would not command a fee they are that bad.
There is no doubt that Wednesday’s performance was totally unacceptable and those who played need to hold there hands up and say so. Why play the experienced players when it was obvious some of them did not really put in a performance; Doyle, Hunt, Milijas, Hamill to name just a few !?
Why did we not play some of our younger talent surley this would have been better for all concerned.
We can only hope that our first string pull their socks up and show us that we are not as bad as we think.
Report abuse
Why is Jody Craddock’s name on your list, he is the best we have at centre back (not a great thing to say, as we should have better younger blood) but we have not at the moment.
Jamie from sunny Lanyon holiday park Cornwall, on the way up hill soon to hopefully see us taking 3 points off Villa, ever the optimist.
Report abuse
Let’s get behind the lads tomorrow as we always do and beat the Villa.
Report abuse
tim you really are a piece of crap, the blues match was two days ago! why rake it up now, oh I forgot you are probably getting paid to write this garbage.
You think you are a Wolves fan! cobblers, are you hell the way you insult the players branding them championship, ok they played in the championship end off, I suppose in that tiny brain of yours all the players that have or are playing in the premiership have always been premiership players.
Doyler @1 what a prat you are change the sodding record and try putting your energy into supporting the team, if we lose to the vile Mick will still be here were as with a bit of luck fans like you will be gone.
shane are you joined at the hip with doyler or are you just one of the sheep that follows when someone say’s what you may think.
Edwine – stick to knitting theres a good dear because you know SFA about football.
Andyc (whats the c stand for -nothing to do with the song at the baggies is it?)phoning around for sales is nothing new – watch TV and you will see it all the time – it’s called advertising/merchandising.
one final thought tim, couldn’t be bothered to go on wednesday – well what gives you the right to criticize? I take it you are not part of the ticket scheme, I am and travelled up from the land of the unmentionables, crap match, but I half expected it because blues are hardly Man U, not that bothered to be out of the cup, but to lose to a very,very poor blues team I am bothered, but- any fan who blames Mick, well words fail me, when I saw the team in the pub before going up to the match I thought we are going to hammer these, because the team that Mick put out should have done but on the night they didn’t turn up.
Two worst players for me were Milijas and Elokobi, I love big george but he aint premier class, but to stain the team has championship is an out and out insult, mind you thats the problem with cowards it’s easy to run managers and players down in writen words but another thing to say it to their faces, plus it just shows the level of your support when you are prepared to redicule your team in public – say’s it all really how low can you get.
I don’t pay to go to the cinima because I don’t like the films they put on – but you lot of anti Mick/players idiots still pay (or so you say?)to watch that according to you is rubbish entertainment – now that is stupid!lol,lol,lol,lol,lol,
Question – I wonder how many of you faithful lol,lol,Wolves followers will be there next season “IF” we go down just like you were when we were in the 2nd,3rd and 4th divisions or will you wait until we are back in the premiership to go again and tell the World what “big” Wolves fans you all are.
And oh by the way am I happy were we are – of course not, but chopping and changing the Manager is not the answer- one day when you all get half a brain you might just see it.
We are Wolves……………In Mick I trust.
Report abuse
having being told how wonderful the business acumen of our chairman is, maybe he’s woken up, seen £48m get us nowhere and he didn’t pay that to stay still or even go backwards. Me thinks the stadium redevelopment is to place on hold the funds for a new manager. If we go down, there’s no reason to develop , but if we stay up, new manager, new funds. O’Neil asked about it , Mark”meet my ambition” Hughes has money to spend, and lets face it, MM has brought well, but few and far and what has been good looks forlorn and lost, aka, millijas etc etc. The players look lost now and Doyle cuts the loneliest of characters out there. Ebanks just looks ot the heavens , Hammil runs well, but too far, frustrated with the team? Vokes, where’s his chance to prove his worth? and quite frankly , Blackpool last year showed tactical awareness which Norwich and SWANSEA have gone on to show. There is no logic in keeping Mick. It’s change for the good, not change for change sacks, so next season, wherever we are, I hope the money is in the hands of someone who beleifs in huff and puff but also has a vision of what they can do. MM you’re a top bloke, but doesn’t it look like after three years your record is proof enough.
Report abuse
From what I saw Jonsson is no better than what we already have,so it begs the question “why bother ?” .Was it done because Morgan wanted to be able to say to the fans he had got a couple of players in during the transfer window? I get the feeling,right or wrong ,the people running our club are not particularly bothered if we do get relegated.
Report abuse
This team is a Championship side that has managed to survive for two seasons somehow. It’s looking like a third year is one too many.
The defense is awful, Stearman is no Premiership Centre Half or Right back for that matter. He’s too slow in decision making and too clumsy with the ball at his feet. Berra pretty much fits that description as well. We’ve got a forward/winger in Ward playing at Left Back, who in all fairness is doing ok, but come on, is that the best MM can do. Craddock is probably our best defender but he’s just too old and too injured. As for Johnson i think he’d do ok in a good side but his heads gone down and he’s playing just as bad as all the rest.
Add to that the fact that we’ve got one Striker who can actually find the net/or even look like scoring (Fletcher) and he’s the only one of our strikers who seems able to actually head a ball from a cross then i can’t see any way that Wolves will stay up unless there is actually 3 worse teams in this league.
If this is the best Wolves can do with the finances they have then ok, i’d rather have a club than no club at all but all this BS about making Wolves a big club with a big stadium winning trophies etc etc etc ain’t gonna happen with a team like this and crowds that it will attract.
Seriously thinking about knocking my season ticket on the head next season, feel like i’m am just wasting my time and money.
Report abuse
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I think after the disappointment that took place at St. Andrews, Mick will be, more or less, “a dead man walking” up and until the last match of the season. Hope not, though, and that he finds himself – and the team – on top of a huge learning curve, survival safely in the bag with a few games to spare…
Wake up, it’s just a dream!
Reality, for me a bonafied “the glass is half filled” type of supporter, as it took a long time to metabolize in my mind during the five plus years that Mick has been at the helm…He can’t really take us further along towards our hoped for trajectory.
Even if we do survive “well,” with a game or two to spare, I think Morgan will instruct Moxey to start searching, so says my intuition.
However, if anybody could prove me wrong, it would be this manager and these left for dead, nobody thinks we can do it type players, sans your Fletcher, Hennessey, Jarvis and the likes.
Fairly large miracle needed for us to stay up, a super nova type one for Mick to be here at the end of it! I will keep praying for both!
UTMW!
Report abuse
Quality,Quality,Quality!!!
The squad is devoid of it,Mick’s park the bus tactics and hope for a point will not keep us up.
Too many average players that lack quality now joined by another typical Mick signing(Jonsson)
expect Flecther,Jarvis and Hennessey to go in summer.
We must recognise Mick’s achievements over the last 5 years, however it is now time for change but who?
lets be honest messers Hughes & Oneil were never going to come and manage a team with our transfer budget.
Any Ideas?
Report abuse
If it’s so obvious to us and was in the closed season, hence the desperate plea’s from most to buy a decent left back and an attcking forward then why O why are we back here in Jan all agreeing again while McStubborn carries on regardless.
Mostly agree with the Championship team comments but I wouldn’t put Edwards in that group as I think he has been good and is getting better as his fitness has come back. The real worry is Doyle it clearly isn’t working for him at Wolves and although he is clearly a talented palyer it would be best if he moved on and we got a more agressive forward. That he has to cover for the weaknesses elsewhere is unforgivable and means we never score (enough).
What looked like the makings of a good squad has been undermined by not playing to each players strengths. I count Hammill, Doyle, Guedi, Ward and OHara as players who can do better and have real quality but are hampered by our team and formation selection. I am also not sure that our training is up to much as fitness levels seem to have dropped.
All in all very worrying and wholly unavoidable :-(
Report abuse
I read this morning that Albion are making around 9million availiable on new players to avoid getting into a relegation battle and that Wigan are to put a bid in for Hammill surely Wolves wont let him go ,Moxey did say we wouldnt be selling our best players he should have qualified that further by saying providing they get on with Mick and dont disagree with anything he says because he’s always right isnt he ,seems like shades of Mark Davies one of the best midfielders that ever came out the acadamy.
Report abuse
I see the attacking poster has returned with the same old nonsense about anyone who has the cheek to point out our amazing record this season is not a fan!
I respect your opinions but please let us have ours without attacking everyone. BTW You are in a minority but we won’t attck you for that!
Report abuse
“McCarthy’s pre-match assertion that Kevin Doyle was ready to return to form sounded very hollow and very silly indeed” – Tim Spiers.
“But what we know about Doyle is he was our star man for a while, he’s a talented guy and he’ll come back” – Mick McCarthy.
Erm, spot the difference, anyone?
Tim, I’m no McCarthy lover, but the guy deserves to be treated respectfully by bloggers -and that means employing accurate reporting methods rather than twisting the manager’s words in a vain attempt to belittle Mick. As the above quote shows, at no time did our boss say that Doyle was “READY to return to form” because Mick was quite obviously referring to a point in the future, NOT the present, as you stated.
So, having failed to digest what the manager was actually saying, it’s not McCarthy who’s now looking “very silly indeed” -it’s you, Tim.
There again, many of us have noted that you’ve done a complete u-turn from ‘Happy Clapper’ to ‘Assassin’ -and all in the space of a few short weeks. That could be interpreted by many as being quite “silly”, too, Timothy.
Report abuse
One of the worst things to see was the ineptitude of most of the players. I particularly watched the headers from both sides & it was obvious that Wolves players just head it anywhere whilst other teams seem to be able to direct their headers to their own players. Another problem, which others have mentioned, is the mentality of players. Why can’t they hoof the ball upfield themselves instead of having to pass it back to the goalkeeper. If that’s the sort of football we’re going to be playing at least get the ball forward instead of passing it back to allow the opposition to re-group! Finally, no amount of coaching & training is going to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, at least 10 of the 25 man squad are nowhere near Premiership quality, end of!!
Report abuse
32 Alan Thompson
Spot on in everything you say.. but I would also add that we’ve also got a pretty dreadfull midfield with the exception of the wingers . O’Hara has done nothing since signing permanately and both Karl Henry and dave Edwards are so second rate it’s shocking we’ve done nothing about it.
I’m definately knocking my season ticket on the head. I can’t take any more of it.
Report abuse
20 – Geoff
LOL – Genius!!!
But the sentiment behind the humour is spot on!!!
Report abuse
DEAR JOHNWOLF,
Keep takingthe medication pal, hopefully one day you’ll feel better and your venom will be gone.
Perhaps too, after we have struggled in our first season back in the Championship and Henners and Fletcher are enjoying life in the Prem, and McCarthy is still serving up dross football at the Mol, you will realise it would have been better to offload him at Christmas 2011.
Crowds down to 15000, rubbish football etc etc, what you don’t seem to realise Johnwolf is that as long asw Mick McCarthy is Wolves manager, NO DECENT QUALITY FOOTBALLER WILL EVER SIGN FOR US.
1. NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS WOULD WANT TO PLAY HIS STYLE OF FOOTBALL.
2.NOBODY WANTS TO PLAY FOR HIM.
3. HE RUINS EVERY BODY WHO SIGNS FOR THIS CLUB.
TIME YOU GOT REAL BUDDY O!
Report abuse
Eight months ago we already knew most of what you point out in your article.
We knew in May that most of our squad were not Premiership quality. We also knew that our players were not being coached to pass (and move!) in a forward direction.
Without quality and creativity, enjoyable performances and points will be scarce (who will want to play here, who will want to watch?).
The very least we need is a creative coach, please Steve Morgan!
Eight months ago we all agreed, WE CANNOT LET OURSELVES GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN!
Report abuse
25 Pete Nuts
You are right but I was trying to make a point. Instead, how about MM gets a copy of the Swansea- Arsenal game instead and studies it? Here is a team that has come up from the Championship and has the balls to take on the mighty Gunners at their own game and comes out on top.
In that game the home fans got real value for money instead of the low level, poor quality football served up to the fans in Wolverhampton game after game.
Compare that to our draw at the Emirates where we had maybe one shot on target and camped out in our third of the field for most of the game and relied on Hennessey to do most of the work!!!
Report abuse
29 John
Your rant proves one thing, you are a clueless happy clapping moron.
Nothing more to be said on the matter.
Report abuse
Well written article. Clearly 29 – John was reading a different article and watching a different match.
Even Mad Mick was fuming with the way the team played so perhaps John you should include him in your rant.
Hopless Manager, Hopeless Team, Hopeless Management.
As much as I like Mr Morgan I doubt very much if this club of ours has cost him a penny. Yes, he’s had to put money in the club but it’s not going on the field, it’s gone on infrastructure which virtually guarantees when we sells this club, he’ll get all his money back.
Not only that the housing development at Compton where he’s building 55 homes comes with a healthy profit margin attached to it.
I really think Steve, it’s time to put some money in the team and show all us Wolves fans you do really have the interests of the team at heart.
Report abuse
Mick and Connor have no clue at selections, training or tactics but they are very good at turning good players bad!! They aren’t good enough for this job BUT Morgan & Mox have stuck by them, now we will all pay the cost!! Cheers!
Report abuse
29 johnwolf
As the worlds only surviving brain donor I suppose we should feel sympathy for you.
The fact that you have eyes and have no ability to organise what they see into a coherent set of facts makes me think that you were not there at all.
Wolves forever, McCarthy NEVER!!
Report abuse
2 wins in 29 games.
The statistic above says it all! Morgan has failed the Wolves supporters badly by retaining for so long a manager who has achieved the worst statistics of any manager, ever, in the Premiership. Those are facts, not just opinions.
Out of darkness cometh Steve Warnock!
Report abuse
#34 – RichWolf64
O’Hara is what is missing from our team! He is creative and forward thinking, something we are seriously lacking! Him and frimpong together will change the team dramaticaly.
Anyone know the progress of O’Hara?
Report abuse
#46 I meant not #34… you know who you am =)
Report abuse
29 Johnwolf…
Do you have the remotest intellect when it comes to football? The match on Wednesday says it all..Wolves had no flair, no creativity and no drive…which is a direct result of MMs hoof ball tactics!
Look at teams like Swansea, QPR and Norwich who came from the Championship. They have adopted well into the PL but it seems Wolves are still struggling even in the 3rd year of being in the PL! And why…well we all know that…MM thats why!
Report abuse
46 RichWolf,I hope Morgan does put some money in to buy players because it is sorely needed,but ,based on the evidence of the last couple of seasons I very much doubt it.But should we be surprised? He has made his fortune out of property and might not like the idea of spending large sums of money on risky/depreciating assets such as players. I agree with you in that I doubt very much if buying Wolves has actually cost him anything. Okay he put £30,000,000 in but what is stopping him taking it back out again over a period of time.?We never seem to get any information from the club telling us if this is the case and also how much he pays himself each year.It would be very interesting to know.For what it is worth it wouldnt surprise me in the slightest if ,once the training ground/stadium is finished,he sells out for a nice profit.
Report abuse
(29) Johnwolf
Another lobotomized fan vomiting up a nonsensical diatribe full of monosyllabic garbage. Phew, got all the long words out in the first paragragh and I doubt John will understand a word of that.
We are #stuckwithmick until the bitter end unfortunately. And If we do miraculously stay up, Mick won’t have taken enough on board from the 3 seasons of top flight football to instigate and changes.
It is going to be a long 2nd half of the season.
Report abuse
Geoff, I’m Rich and I’m a numpty! :)
Report abuse
29-Johnwolf
You are very defensive and abusive. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion without suffering your diatribe.
Most of our squad aren’t good enough -fact. Our manager did a great job getiing us promoted and keeping us up, but he has reached his limit. His track record and stats back this up. Yes he does get the players to put in a “good shift” most times but that is not enough. He should go.
The board are pathetic, they give us all the big talk about the future, new ground and guess what -it’s on hold. Maybe if we had of spent half of the £18m on two or three decent players we wouldn’t be in this position.
I will be supporting the players (never booing) but that doesn’t mean I have to believe and agree with all the nonsense the 3M’s subject us to. I’ll be around following WWFC long after the 3M’s have departed, and that support is not dependent on what league we’re in.
I’ve been a fan for over 30 years and continue to be, even with a 400 mile round trip to home matches. I am not a fan of the 3M’s.
Report abuse
40.richwolf64. you’ve had enough and your not gonna renew your season ticket next season.
and will you also promise not to post idiotic, comments on here?
please god, make this happen, that would be one less fool to deal with. utw
wwfc 2 villa 1, kightly, frimpong.
wwfc to finish 15th comfortably.
utw.
Report abuse
If it carries on like this following Wolves is a habit I will have to break.
Each game should come with a health warning.
Report abuse
40 Richwolf64 One of the best bits of news this year…no, this century…. you’re throwing in your season ticket. Does that mean your ridiculous E&S posts too, or is that just too much to hope for.
I know when you’re part of the top 5% brains in the country…or was it your road ?…it’s hard to rub shoulders with us numpties and happy clappers, but,I’d like your opinion on these points…yes, we’re all waiting with bated breath…do you think Milijas has had enough chances ? why did Adam Hammill keep running down blind alleys? would Karl Henry have stopped a Championship midfield overrunning us ?
MMmmm !
PS Somebody up there said Hammill was one of the best two players on the pitch….is he part of your Mensa gang ?
Report abuse
Isn’t it funny that the great point we got at Spurs with exactly the right team and formation playing superbly to a plan seems to have been totally forgotten by the following weekend.
As I have said in the Cup we were awful and I was very disappointed with the club’s whole approach to the Cup. Mick’s protestations of eagerness to go through when he clearly decided to write the game off just made it worse.
However we are suddenly back to slagging off everything about the club from top to bottom. Chairman won’t invest, manager wasted a fortune on poor players, players are good but tactics are wrong etc etc – make your minds up!
Increasingly people who claim we have made no progress under Mick also claim they deserve (?) better than a relegation struggle every year. Well after the last 30 years let me remind you a relegation struggle in the Prem is as good as it gets.
Yes I wish we had signed another top striker in the summer. Yes I wish RJ hadn’t taken half a season to find some form (he has played well recently). Yes I wish we had more flair in midfield. However we need to back the team tomorrow, because whatever you read on here let me tell you I know a lot of Villa fans who are a much less happy than us.
Also once again we have the ‘why can’t we be more like Swansea and Norwich’ line. They have done very well and all credit to them, but I have read all this about Blues, West Ham, Blackpool and Burnley in the previous two seasons. I don’t think either of them will go down, but it will get harder for them. Why not day thank God we are not like Forest, Leicester, Sheff Utd – these are all similar clubs to ours.
Finally has anyone noticed we are 16th? I swear if you just read this board you would think we were 10 points adrift at the bottom.
Report abuse
A depressingly negative blog.
With two important Premiership games coming hot on the heels over the next 7 days it was important key players were rested. On paper I had no problem with the team MM picked, but, how can the manager be blamed for the inept performances from Milijas (again) and, surprisingly, Hammill? Hunt tried hard, but, he, like Doyle is out of form. This handed the midfield to an inexperienced Blues side and they took it.
I hate losing to Birmingham, but, only time will tell us whether it was better to risk sacrificing an away trip to Sheffield United for vital points against Villa and Liverpool.
Hopefully the returning Karl Henry, an improved Roger Johnson, Matt Jarvis and 90 minutes of Wardy and Fletch (plus Kiteley !) will be the difference.
Read a brilliant book ‘Among the Fans’ by sportswriter Patrick Collins (recommended).
Quote: “Supporting (your team) is like having a three legged dog. You wish it had all four, but, you still love it”
Let the likes of Richwolf64 (40) throw in their season tickets and move on to Old Trafford or The Etihad. We’ll still be here.
We’ve had it a lot worse than this.
Report abuse
A depressingly negative blog.
With two important Premiership games coming hot on the heels over the next 7 days it was important key players were rested. On paper I had no problem with the team MM picked, but, how can the manager be blamed for the inept performances from Milijas (again) and, surprisingly, Hammill? Hunt tried hard, but, he, like Doyle is out of form. This handed the midfield to an inexperienced Blues side and they took it.
I hate losing to Birmingham, but, only time will tell us whether it was better to risk sacrificing an away trip to Sheffield United for vital points against Villa and Liverpool.
Hopefully the returning Karl Henry, an improved Roger Johnson, Matt Jarvis, Manny Frimpong and 90 minutes of Wardy and Fletch (plus Kiteley !) will be the difference.
Read a brilliant book ‘Among the Fans’ by sportswriter Patrick Collins (recommended).
Quote: “Supporting (your team) is like having a three legged dog. You wish it had all four, but, you still love it”
Let the likes of Richwolf64 (40) throw in their season tickets and move on to Old Trafford or The Etihad. We’ll still be here.
We’ve had it a lot worse than this.
Report abuse
Not my fault it’s on twice. The server’s playing up.
Anyone spot the difference.
A 1959/60 balti pie to the winner
Report abuse
60 Noisy
Great point yes, did we ever look like winning it ? No. It’s actually pretty easy to get a point. You just park the bus which is exactly what Wolves did.
Add to that a pretty lethargic and frankly uninterested opposition , in this case, Tottenham and yes we got a point.
Have YOU forgotten we’ve now gone 20 games in which we’ve won a paltry TWO matches?
57. Streako. I’ve never posted one, but cabbages like you will never understand that.
Report abuse
59 Farmer Ted – lol, I see that BSE has spead to you too.
I’m glad you are enjoying the Wolves this year, Two wins in 20 games in a great return, for a happy clapper .
lol, you do amuse me. No sign of your leader Forrest Gump today ( aka Sir Billy), maybe he’s seen the light!!
I doubt it. Keep up the good work, I love your posts :)
Report abuse
Good blog Tim.
Some of these fringe players need shipping out as soon as possible with the exception of Jody Craddock. I don’t know what his plans are when he retires but some sort of coaching role could be offered as he is a intelligent guy and does a lovely painting.
I don’t know what all the fuss about Robbie Keane returning is all about as he’s played against us before. So long as he troops off the pitch with the rest of the Villa players looking miserable then i’ll be happy.
Report abuse
Mick,Play Adlene Guedioura and we will finish mid table without any dought..stick with the same team and I beleive we will get 10 points from the next five games..midfield..kightly.frimpong.GUEDIOURA.jarvis…..come on mick do it for the WOLVES!
Report abuse
Tim, it seems to me that some responses on here are just an excuse to throw totally unacceptable abuse at individuals who dare to disagree with them. Regardles of which side of the fence you sit surely everyone has a right to express an opinion. As for the Wolves, I have been a supporter for many years and will renew my season ticket again this year. However it is not to show my support for Mick. How anyone can defend the dire performances and points return is beyond me. Anyone can see he is clueless and is out of his depth. Yes he got us up but after five years it is hardly chopping and changing if we get rid. In my view it is just an excuse for Mr Morgan to do nothing!!
Report abuse
no.60-finchy and Cuddly Dudley I agree with both of you, the draw against Spurs seemed to have been forgotten, it’s like some can’t wait to get the poison pen out, I went on Wednesday it was dire but let’s look forward to the Villa match and hope for 3 pts surely that’s more important!
Report abuse
richwolf64, you’ve never posted one? one what? idiotic post? well the evidence over the last 3 seasons says otherwise. as for cabbages, thats rich(no pun intended) coming from a prize turnip. or was that graham taylor?.
look, the real club supporters could’nt care less what you and your ilk post on here, but next season cant come soon enough, thats if you can keep your promise from post40. can you?
wwfc4ever.
Report abuse
Geoff 20, more of the same please, though how long it will take us to break through is anybodies guess. You can be Top Numpt from now on in my book. UTW
Report abuse
29. John wolf….
I have just read all your trash of a post.
1. If you believe in MM so much then why even make a post about ‘IF’ Wolves go down! Surely that should not even be in your vocabulary!
2. As regards to saying things in ‘players faces’, I have a better idea, why dont you insult and disrespect the people you have posted about in ‘their faces’…..
Report abuse
Dear Johnwolf,
You may be an avid Wolves fan, but your understanding of football is as limited as your inability to accept the opinion of other.
Let me explain: Football is really a very simple game; you get the ball and pass it FORWARD to a player wearing the same colour shirt as you and then get it in to the oppositions net.
This is a concept beyond the comprehension of most of our players, excluding Steve Fletcher, but including Mick McCarthy, who brought in and coaches, with Terry Conner, nearly all the players in our squad.
Contrary to Mick’s belief that football is about putting a “Shift In”, [which quite frankly is an insult to working people who actually do put a “Shift In”, for a fraction of the money the Managers and Players in the Premier League get]; it actually about skill, ball control, ability and passion, sadly missing at Molineux.
In the words of a proper manager and great player Brian Clough; “If God had wanted us to play football in the sky, He’d have put grass up there.”
We are Wolves……………In Mick I trust…….To get us Relegated this Season.
Ps sacking a manager after nearly six years can hardly be classed as “chopping and changing”
Te Mauris Caput
Report abuse
Cuddly Dudley; Six minutes between posts?
Report abuse
64 – Rich64
You really should get a Premier League management job.
Pretty easy to get a point at Spurs? Yes since they lost to Man City in their first home game 2 teams have managed this – Chelsea and Wolves. I’m sure Arsene Wenger, Kenny Dalglish, Alex McLeish (her never parks the bus) et al would be glad of your tactical advice.
Guess you are right about Spurs though, why should they have been bothered in the week when everyone stated tipping them to make a push for the league?
Report abuse
Can’t believe you are all being so nice to the moron Johnwolf who attacks his fellow fans with bile and aggression – well I reckon I can take him and if he don’t stop with the bad mouthing I’l happily shove his keyboard where the sun don’t shine.
Report abuse