Super Mick?
All Apologies
Super Mick?
By Tom Bason
December 3 2008
Last week I received a text from a friend I haven’t seen for a few years, but who is my main contact on the trials and tribulations of being a Brentford fan (they lost to Barrow last week. BARROW!). Anyway, I assumed the text would be something about Brentford, or the England Cricket Team. What I read made me smile- ‘Do u stil think mccarthy should go?!’
Super Mick?
December 3 2008
Last week I received a text from a friend I haven’t seen for a few years, but who is my main contact on the trials and tribulations of being a Brentford fan (they lost to Barrow last week. BARROW!). Anyway, I assumed the text would be something about Brentford, or the England Cricket Team. What I read made me smile- ‘Do u stil think mccarthy should go?!’
Obviously my male pride did not allow me to admit completely that I had been wrong, so I sent a reply with something along the lines of ‘this is his make or break season’. Basically, this article is my admission that I was wrong. When, towards the end of last season and during pre-season, I professed my view that McCarthy had reached the end of his time at Molineux, I was wrong. I still believe that my preferred successor (Paul Sturrock) is an excellent manager, but even Sir Alex Ferguson could not have engineered a better start than Mick McCarthy has this season.
A few weeks ago, I went into work and a colleague pointed out a mistake that I had made. When I instantly apologised, they said they were surprised as I had never apologised before. I replied that in the three years I’ve worked with them, I’ve never needed to, and that they should make a note of this conversation, as I was not planning on making a mistake in the near future. I’m writing this, confessing to a mistake. In the last 22 games, Mick McCarthy has completely proved me wrong.
I suppose I should tell you why I wanted him gone. I first had doubts in November 2006, when I had traipsed from Liverpool to Hull, spending money that as a student I could ill afford, and saw us go down 2-0 without so much as a whimper. Then, after Christmas, I was swept along with the euphoria that saw us storm up the League, playing vibrant attacking football. Looking back, maybe the warning signs were there. We were a team playing far above ourselves- without the heroics of Matt Murray, we wouldn’t have been close to the playoffs, and we were still struggling for a regular goalscorer. Despite this, McCarthy finished the season with the full backing of every Wolves fan, hoping that a few tweaks to the squad would see a real promotion challenge.
That challenge never materialised. His summer signings were pretty disastrous. Stephen Elliot came and went with barely a ripple, Darren Ward has now been sent on loan and the less said about Freddy Eastwood the better. Matt Jarvis shone at times, but spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. Kevin Foley has been an inspired signing, as were his three January signings. But the performances were still poor- not scoring many goals, but conceding too many at the other end and slowly through the season, chants of ‘Super Mick’ got fewer and fewer until they fizzled out completely.
This season however, has been a revelation. We are scoring goals for fun, and after twenty games we are sitting pretty on top of the Championship. So I, Tom Bason (aka Wolf Like Me aka toomb) am here, admitting that I was wrong. Does that make me fickle? I don’t think so- circumstances change, I’m admitting that I was wrong. I am now firmly sat in the McCarthy camp, he is the man to take us to the Premiership, and hopefully is the man to keep us there.
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Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 03/12/2008 22:29
All Apologies
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: jamwolf (IP Logged)
Date: 03/12/2008 23:00
I don't think you were wrong at the time at all. Based on the dull footbll we were playing compared to the year before, the lack of goals, average results, MM's fall outs with players and sticking with favourites, I'd say you were right.
All we can say is, f...king great, MM has been a revelation this year in every way as judged by team's performance, style of play, signings, results, handling of players, fans, press etc etc.
A wise man once said " when the facts change, I change ". So no apologies needed in my view, Tom. It doesn't make you a " fickle" fan either.
All we can say is, f...king great, MM has been a revelation this year in every way as judged by team's performance, style of play, signings, results, handling of players, fans, press etc etc.
A wise man once said " when the facts change, I change ". So no apologies needed in my view, Tom. It doesn't make you a " fickle" fan either.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Stourport Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 01:30
I wanted McCarthy out when we failed to make the play offs and I'm still not totally convinced about McCarthy..... however I have to admit he has done superbly well results wise this season.
We definitely look like top 3 material, but we dont really stand out as head and shoulders above Blues and Reading - even if the table says otherwise at the moment - so lets not get too carried away just yet.
I was critical of McCarthy about Eastwood and fully expected Eastwood to get a hatful for Covo. This has not materialised so again maybe McCarthy did get it right about Freddie.
I was also critical of McCarthy when Hennessey was dropped in favour of Ikeme who seemed a bit shaky to start with but who improved in confidence. Hennessey has come back and looks less assured so I will admit that maybe McCarthys judgement was not so bad.
I am now hopeful that McCarthy will get us up this season afte our fantastic start but still have a few doubts that he will be the man to keep us there as I cant remember seeing him change things around in the middle of a match tactically for the better. I'm hoping that Mick will prove me wrong though.
Well done Mick McCarthy ..... if he gets us promoted I will join in the super mick chants again.
We definitely look like top 3 material, but we dont really stand out as head and shoulders above Blues and Reading - even if the table says otherwise at the moment - so lets not get too carried away just yet.
I was critical of McCarthy about Eastwood and fully expected Eastwood to get a hatful for Covo. This has not materialised so again maybe McCarthy did get it right about Freddie.
I was also critical of McCarthy when Hennessey was dropped in favour of Ikeme who seemed a bit shaky to start with but who improved in confidence. Hennessey has come back and looks less assured so I will admit that maybe McCarthys judgement was not so bad.
I am now hopeful that McCarthy will get us up this season afte our fantastic start but still have a few doubts that he will be the man to keep us there as I cant remember seeing him change things around in the middle of a match tactically for the better. I'm hoping that Mick will prove me wrong though.
Well done Mick McCarthy ..... if he gets us promoted I will join in the super mick chants again.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Old Wulf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 06:41
Well you're no longer a Doubting Thomas then 
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
Fair play Tom - I will remain optimistically cautious though.
Stourport - do you not think that Micks tactics second half against Brum completely changed the game for us? I would say that his tactics this season have hardly been in question on this and other message boards.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:04:06:46:48 by Old Wulf.
Fair play Tom - I will remain optimistically cautious though.
Stourport - do you not think that Micks tactics second half against Brum completely changed the game for us? I would say that his tactics this season have hardly been in question on this and other message boards.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:04:06:46:48 by Old Wulf.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 08:25
As I said at the time, you were right to critisise McCarthy but all the people that demanded he be sacked. They were the ones that were so wrong.
OSB to name but a few.
OSB to name but a few.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: saltydog (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 12:08
i still think about the chances that were missed last season.as we all know,goals change games and when you miss the amount of chances we did last season,i believe that is what cost us the play off's.
the difference this season is goals and loads of them.had we had SEB last season we would have at least made the play off's.thats obvious.
FE was brought in to score goals,it didn't happen.the one glaring difference this season is the goals for collumn.as goals change games,well,the rest of it speaks for itself.
i do believe that because of the lack of goals that mick went defensive last season.again,this season speaks for itself.
it was dire last season no doubt,but this season has been great.winning performances and shed loads of goals.who could ask for more.
totaly agree old wulf.mick has changed things around a few times when required including saturday.he has the personel to do it with now'where as last seaso he didn't.
the difference this season is goals and loads of them.had we had SEB last season we would have at least made the play off's.thats obvious.
FE was brought in to score goals,it didn't happen.the one glaring difference this season is the goals for collumn.as goals change games,well,the rest of it speaks for itself.
i do believe that because of the lack of goals that mick went defensive last season.again,this season speaks for itself.
it was dire last season no doubt,but this season has been great.winning performances and shed loads of goals.who could ask for more.
totaly agree old wulf.mick has changed things around a few times when required including saturday.he has the personel to do it with now'where as last seaso he didn't.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Arthur Tannen (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 12:49
The McCarthy bashers should be thanked, applauding the dross served up last season would have got us nowhere. McCarthy needed a kick up the ar$e and he got it, without it we'd still have the McCarthy of last season this season. The McCarthy of last season wouldn't have been brave enough to put Ward at left-back, he'd have gone with Neill Collins. He wouldn't have dropped Keogh for Iwelumo after just one game either, or brought Jarvis in for Ward, he'd have waited at least 6 or 7 games before changing it.
Credit must also go to WBA, McCarthy admired the way they went about getting promotion - attacking teams, scoring goals and not taking too much attention to the goals conceeded, and has tried to do something similar. I think he admits that setting his side out not lose ( as he did most of last season ) was the wrong way to go.
It was all turned into a drama anyway, it never got as bad as people would like you to believe, as there wasn't one 'McCarthy out' chant all season. If he had have been sacked it would have been completely a board decision rather than fan pressure.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Credit must also go to WBA, McCarthy admired the way they went about getting promotion - attacking teams, scoring goals and not taking too much attention to the goals conceeded, and has tried to do something similar. I think he admits that setting his side out not lose ( as he did most of last season ) was the wrong way to go.
It was all turned into a drama anyway, it never got as bad as people would like you to believe, as there wasn't one 'McCarthy out' chant all season. If he had have been sacked it would have been completely a board decision rather than fan pressure.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Steway (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 13:06
I agree AT. I backed McCarthy through all of last season, and ripped the heads off of people who were slating the team and Mick, but I think without some of the boos last season for some pretty horrible football at times, Mick wouldn't have changed things around and we probably wouldn't be where we are now.
However, although I don't agree with the term "Happy Clappers", having been labelled this on many occasions last season, I think without the likes of myself and others backing McCarthy last season, some of you would have driven Mick out of the club with your Freddy chants and other@#$%&on this board and at matches, which, judging by his "nuggets on message boards" comments, he quite clearly read. This board was covered in Mick Out threads, so the one thing I don't agree with is that anyone on this board should get "credit" for his success this season!
It's all down to three men. Mick, Jez and Steve. For having faith in Mick's ability as a manager and giving him the three years that he asked for in the first place. For not going down problem roads of the past and sacking a manager too hastily. And most of all, for backing a manager against the wishes of a lot of fans and proving them wrong. Congratulations the 3 M's. Long shall you reign.
However, although I don't agree with the term "Happy Clappers", having been labelled this on many occasions last season, I think without the likes of myself and others backing McCarthy last season, some of you would have driven Mick out of the club with your Freddy chants and other@#$%&on this board and at matches, which, judging by his "nuggets on message boards" comments, he quite clearly read. This board was covered in Mick Out threads, so the one thing I don't agree with is that anyone on this board should get "credit" for his success this season!
It's all down to three men. Mick, Jez and Steve. For having faith in Mick's ability as a manager and giving him the three years that he asked for in the first place. For not going down problem roads of the past and sacking a manager too hastily. And most of all, for backing a manager against the wishes of a lot of fans and proving them wrong. Congratulations the 3 M's. Long shall you reign.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Arthur Tannen (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 14:36
The 'happy clappers' were just all talk anyway, people would say get behind the team and Mick's the man for the job. But at the match last season it was either dead or a small section of groaning. McCarthy got next to no support last season, the moans and groans could have been drowned out by the rest of the fans. I mean for the amount of people saying get behind the team, the place should have been rocking. But obviously too many people are happy to talk the talk rather than walk the walk.
So I don't think the support he got stopped him getting the sack ( not that the criticism ever got so bad to get him sacked ), as he hardly got any, other than the odd Super Mick chant towards the end of the season. Lots of people are now claiming they backed him, I didn't hear much backing though.
The thing is, the section moaning and groaning are the section most likely to get behind the team when things start going well. The rest of the fans sit in silence on the fence or telling the vocal section how to support while doing nothing themselves.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:04:14:38:25 by Arthur Tannen.
So I don't think the support he got stopped him getting the sack ( not that the criticism ever got so bad to get him sacked ), as he hardly got any, other than the odd Super Mick chant towards the end of the season. Lots of people are now claiming they backed him, I didn't hear much backing though.
The thing is, the section moaning and groaning are the section most likely to get behind the team when things start going well. The rest of the fans sit in silence on the fence or telling the vocal section how to support while doing nothing themselves.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:04:14:38:25 by Arthur Tannen.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: DPE (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 15:43
The fans that were moaning and groaning about MM have not stopped, their attentions have just moved onto to one or two of the players instead. I don’t know if it is were I sit but there is a bunch of them around me who do nothing but jeer, even now and that’s ok they have the right to I guess.
I do not however believe this was influential at all, was it not the case last season that one of the criticisms of the manager was his stubbornness, do any of you really believe for one second that any decision Mick has made this year is because of moaning fans?
I believe the reason why Mick was not sacked last season is because common sense prevailed and the board backed him, if this was left to the fans we would have Paul Ince in the dressing room, god forbid.
I do not however believe this was influential at all, was it not the case last season that one of the criticisms of the manager was his stubbornness, do any of you really believe for one second that any decision Mick has made this year is because of moaning fans?
I believe the reason why Mick was not sacked last season is because common sense prevailed and the board backed him, if this was left to the fans we would have Paul Ince in the dressing room, god forbid.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Risca TM (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 16:05
If I recall right I had 3-4 criticisms with MM's management last season - I perceived favouritism, stubborness, and to a lesser extent an allergic reaction to foreign players. His press comments could be banal and grating too.
I wasn't at all optimistic about this season but I have to congratulate MM for giving us a great run for our money so far, and even humble pie can taste good when things change so much for the better.
I'm sure MM would admit to learning a lot from last season, and thank gawd he has been able to put it into practice this season. The 'glass half full' part of me still expects some torrid times ahead, but I really think we will cope with it this season. It's quite amazing how things turn around - MM on the up and Keane on his way out. Who would have bet on that at the beginning of the season.
I wasn't at all optimistic about this season but I have to congratulate MM for giving us a great run for our money so far, and even humble pie can taste good when things change so much for the better.
I'm sure MM would admit to learning a lot from last season, and thank gawd he has been able to put it into practice this season. The 'glass half full' part of me still expects some torrid times ahead, but I really think we will cope with it this season. It's quite amazing how things turn around - MM on the up and Keane on his way out. Who would have bet on that at the beginning of the season.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Stourport Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 16:40
Quote:Old Wulf
Stourport - do you not think that Micks tactics second half against Brum completely changed the game for us? I would say that his tactics this season have hardly been in question on this and other message boards.
Old Wulf ... no. We just failed to turn up against Birmingham until 60 minutes when we were forced to start chasing the game and Birmingham tried to hold what they had got. Mick's subs improved on a very lacklustre performance by some players but I would not call them a tactical change as in there was no change of shape - all just direct swaps for players who were struggling.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 17:47
AT. I totally agree. McCarthy deserved critisism. My point is that he did not deserve the sack. And those calling for him to be sacked should either appologise as above or bow there head in shame.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Old Wulf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 18:03
Understand what you're saying Stourport but changing players which also affected our style of play are tactictal changes in my book. I think Kites swapping wings was also tactical.
Agree that some players didn't perform on the day though and we passed the ball a lot better, pushed forward and changed from hoofing it up to the big man.
Interesting point though Stourport - do substitutions constitute a tactical change? I think that against Brum it was.
Agree that some players didn't perform on the day though and we passed the ball a lot better, pushed forward and changed from hoofing it up to the big man.
Interesting point though Stourport - do substitutions constitute a tactical change? I think that against Brum it was.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Arthur Tannen (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 19:16
dunstable, I think you should go next with the apologies, or are you going to bow your head in shame instead?
Re: Opprtunity is still there
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 10 March, 2008 12:13
If McCarhty does not get us in the play offs then he deserves to go. At the moment he is doing an average job not a bad job. But he is certainly not doing a good job.
Read it and weep.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Re: Opprtunity is still there
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 10 March, 2008 12:13
If McCarhty does not get us in the play offs then he deserves to go. At the moment he is doing an average job not a bad job. But he is certainly not doing a good job.
Read it and weep.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Halesowen Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2008 21:57
Tom i will eat humble pie with you.
I also thought We should of got rid of Mick after last seasons dismal football.
But like i have said in other posts he has transformed this team & only tweaked it a little, the confusing thing is some of the players from last season are still here but playing better
Keep Saint George in my heart
Keep me English
Keep Saint George in my heart i pray
Keep Saint George in my heart keep me
English
Keep me English till the end of day
I also thought We should of got rid of Mick after last seasons dismal football.
But like i have said in other posts he has transformed this team & only tweaked it a little, the confusing thing is some of the players from last season are still here but playing better
Keep Saint George in my heart
Keep me English
Keep Saint George in my heart i pray
Keep Saint George in my heart keep me
English
Keep me English till the end of day
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: jamwolf (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 10:56
In fairness to Dunstable, AT, these threads are a constant stream of random thoughts, not evidence in a court case !
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 13:46
Bang to rights. Darn it.
I think you will find I am Micks biggest fan.
I think you will find I am Micks biggest fan.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Arthur Tannen (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 14:36
See even his biggest fan thought he deserved the sack, so I don't think anyone who said he should have been sacked needs to apologise for anything.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: dunstablewolf (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 16:16
AT, I was not talking about you in particular. You were witty and constructive in your critisism. My swipe was more at the likes of OSB who began a crusade to remove McCarthy.
Do you not remember?
Do you not remember?
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Old Wulf (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 18:09
Are there some guilty consciences?
I had quite a large humble pie in the oven, but, rather than dish it out, I threw it away. We all make mistakes.
I had quite a large humble pie in the oven, but, rather than dish it out, I threw it away. We all make mistakes.
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Arthur Tannen (IP Logged)
Date: 05/12/2008 19:03
But dunstable, you said he deserved the sack last season, now you're saying he didn't deserve to go and asking people to apologise or hang their heads in shame for saying he should have been sacked.
You said he deserved the sack too, so I think you should be next to apologise. Not that I think you need to, but if you're asking people to apologise for something you did, then it's only right you should go first.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
You said he deserved the sack too, so I think you should be next to apologise. Not that I think you need to, but if you're asking people to apologise for something you did, then it's only right you should go first.
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i'd wanna go to heaven for the weather
Re: All Apologies
Posted by: Stourport Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 06/12/2008 14:10
Quote:Old Wulf
Interesting point though Stourport - do substitutions constitute a tactical change? I think that against Brum it was.
My idea of a tactical change is when the manager sees something is not working or going wrong big time - maybe an opposition player is causing a lot of problems - so the manager changes the shape of the team mid-game to counter it.
Mick doesnt do this very often and maybe at this level we can get away with it. If we make the premiership we are going to have to react a lot quicker to counter problems caused by top quality teams and players or we might be 3 or 4 goals down by half time. This is one of the reasons why I think Mick will struggle at a higher level.
The flow of the game changed against Birmingham, partly down to the subs but mainly down to the psycology of Wolves needing to up the pressure and Birmingham trying to hold what they had got rather than any major tactical genius from McCarthy in my opinion.
This is all just my opinion. I was wrong about thinking he should have been sacked in the summer so if McCarthy gets us up he would deserve the chance to try to keep us up.
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