Mick McCarthy?
Posted by:
ted_wwfc, Sat 10th May 2008
Throughout the past two years i have been very much a supporter of "super Mick," and until three days ago when McCarthy announced he would sell Freddy Eastwood. I was perhaps going to let this go as Eastwood hasn't really done it this season. I'd like to think that it was that he hasn't performed this season rather than his war of egos with Freddy that caused him to be transfer listed but McCarthy does have a history of dropping or selling playing players because they speak out or don't act as though they are workers of Mick's. This could be a link to his squad of young or unproven players, despite the money that he now has access to.
I did at least assume that Mick might bring in some experience this summer, but to my horror, when i turned on sky sports news and it was announced that wolves would be releasing Gary Breen, and selling Bothroyd, Elliott, Ward, Edwards, and Darren Potter. Our old squad consisted of Ince, Kennedy, Cameron, Rae, anderton and Newton in midfield alone. With the sale of Breen and Ward, Wolves would be left with Gray and Craddock who've been there and done it; this also leaves just Craddock and NIEL COLLINS! if Neil Collins had not played for the A**ion this season and not us, and had the same figures, then Wolves would finished fifth and albion would be second. This is due to ten points caused from penalties and mistakes, and six points caused by goals. If Hennessy had not bailed him out on occasions, Wolves would be playing a local derby, but not against albion, against Walsall.
McCarthy has made a lot of gambles in his two seasons in charge, in his first they all payed off. Some of these being, Kightly, Ward, Keogh, Henry, Bree and young players like Little, Jones, Gobern, Hennessy and Davies. Some didn't, Bothroyd and Rosa being examples. BUt his season however, it wasn't quite as good. Eastwood - FAIL, Elokobi - PASS, Collins - FAIL, Elliott, FAIL and Ebanks-Blake - Pass. He contradicted himself in the loan signing of Kevin Kyle by saying he was to be used as an impact player, then starting him. Selling Eastwood was a gamble also, as he is a fan favourate. he has certainly wasted Morgan's money in Eastwood by not using him; It is unlikely that anyone will pay 1.5 million for a player with more international goals as a third choice striker, than at his club. He did well with Ebanks-Blake, I'll give him that. Foley has been good, Gray has been good and so too has Jarvis. His final and possibly most crucial gamble was stating that he is aiming to "achive automatic promotion" which is far too ambitious with the quality of A*bion, Watford, Sheffield United and Charlton's squad. This increased the pressure on Mick's shoulders and could prove to be his demise
It will be a crucial summer for Mick, as it will be his first summer with access to money and along with many fellow wolves fans, I will be expecting rather than hoping for a successful season and lots of improvements to the squad of professionals and Niell Collins.