The Mick- take it or leave it
By John Georgiou
March 9 2010
We can either take the Mick and continue in current fashion or sack him and return to beating the Uniteds and Arsenals like we used to. Hang on a minute. Ok, we can keep Mick and continue playing good football, giving teams a tough game and....coming out of it with sod all....I sometimes think only the most resilient people were destined to support this club. But we have too many whingers. Onwards
March 9 2010
We can either take the Mick and continue in current fashion or sack him and return to beating the Uniteds and Arsenals like we used to. Hang on a minute. Ok, we can keep Mick and continue playing good football, giving teams a tough game and....coming out of it with sod all....I sometimes think only the most resilient people were destined to support this club. But we have too many whingers. Onwards
People talk as if they know the root cause as to why this club is at the bottom of the table and struggling to score. Well it could be our inexperience, our defense is crap (actually my esteemed colleague has debunked this well in the last article), our strikers are crap...and you're struck with a thought- formation. There may be a case indeed for blaming Mick.
To be perfectly honest, I don't rate Mick McCarthy as a manager in general. He can motivate and that's what's kept him in the game past his playing career, and if you're on his good side you have no greater incentive to play (Gary Breen McAteer through to "Wardy" and Keogh are players who never dreamed of getting the opportunities they have/had. He's also resourceful and is up there with Moyes in terms of managers who can make effective signings within a tight budget. But Moyes knows the Premiership alot better, and he knows it's a different kettle of fish to the championship, thus the comparison ends flatteringly but impractically, as we're a Premiership team. He's generally frank about team matters, and something to admire is that he can get a team playing well as a unit.
These aside, it's fair to say the following. Firstly, he has no concept of evolution, only foundation. At the start of the season such as this you have the luxury of being unfamiliar to your opponents, but that lasts about 6-7 games for me. After that. any manager worth his salt (and being in the Premiership it's safe to assume all 19 of them) is going to have to spot weaknesses in his own and scout in others, be able to adapt a system both as cracks appear and as new ideas are needed. To make the odd radical change. Mick seems to change system irregularly, drastically in transition and hammer square pegs into uncompromising round holes. Then when it doesn't work, get a mallet. By the time a change is made we feel almost priveliged that he's accepted a mistake. Conviction in your own decisions is important, the ability to evolve your ideas and use criticism to your advantage is just as crucial however. I would also say (only my opinion) that his tactical knowledge and methods are surprisingly basic. He seems unable to see an evident issue (Doyle for me needs a partner, it's nice to see him running rings around the united back four but he's creating space that could so easily be exploited by another striker, and he's going to be outmanned eventually against 3-4 defender). Not that that's the only issue but I think I've made my point.
All that considered, however, and having put my cards on the table, I wouldn't sack him right now, and I certainly don't put the majority of the blame on him. I also find the notion of sacking a manager who got you promoted insane, and somewhat paranoid, seeing as the last two times he managed in the Premiership he was funded...well worse than we were this season. Which leads me to my next point- where was the finance? I don't care how you interpreted pre-season interviews with the club's heavy (three M's...), but I think we were in some way promised premier league talent. Did we get it? Did we fuck. Sunderland spent over 30 million in their first season and are still in a relegation battle 3 years on. Halford, Surman, Milijas etc., all good PROSPECTS but unknown quanities, and I guess that's what you'd want in signings to hold the fans off 'til January where we spent...sod all on two loan signings from the Belgian second division. I think if this is what we were promised in December we'd have gone apeshit to put it politely. This team, I believe, has coped admirably well with premiership football, if you consider even just a few factors- transitions in fitness demands, skill, maturity and intelligence etc. The performances at Wigan/Spurs/Everton were immense, that's the only word for them. However, quality shows over the duration not in 10 minute bursts, and if we are still in this division next year it will be a triumph, but certainly not one we can dwell on, investment will definitely be needed. I suppose my argument is that we should have been strengthened alot better going into the season and going into Febuary onwards, and we weren't. I personally can't imagine any manager who would refuse a sizeable transfer budget, nor any businessman who would think it a better strategy to give a manager he didn't rate nothing and hope for survival than to fund him and give a better chance to the club. So something's not right. Speculation can be interesting but it's hardly dead-on.
I don't think it's a question of Mick messing everything up the longer we keep him, I think it's more about whether he can read the crossroad signs and make the changes he needs to, it'll take something bold to get us 5 points out of the next three, which is unfortunately the minimum. Sacking him after Burnley irrespective of result is most likely a little premature, but I think something has to be shown to us so we can be confident we'll pick up points. It's a tough task and I don't envy him having to motivate the team through the next 3, but I've seen enough this season to have faith. But I fluctuate between despondant and optimistic rather frequently so don't take too much heart from that!
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponThe Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Wolves (IP Logged)
Date: 09/03/2010 21:58
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Risca TM (IP Logged)
Date: 10/03/2010 14:20
Great read, thanks. Really captures the status quo and how I see Mick's limitations.
It's too late to change the manager now so let's hope the team spirit, decent performances and a battling against-the-odds mentality (which plays to one of Mick's stronger points) will see us through.
Btw I'm also not happy with the timing of his comments about having to sell Doyle etc. Might be reality if we do go down, but he shouldn't be commenting publicly on it at this crucial time - he's got better things to focus on.
It's too late to change the manager now so let's hope the team spirit, decent performances and a battling against-the-odds mentality (which plays to one of Mick's stronger points) will see us through.
Btw I'm also not happy with the timing of his comments about having to sell Doyle etc. Might be reality if we do go down, but he shouldn't be commenting publicly on it at this crucial time - he's got better things to focus on.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: livestar (IP Logged)
Date: 10/03/2010 15:47
well
might be best to get it out of the way now
we go down
then lose our best player out of the blue
he defo wont have a job
his fault or not
might be best to get it out of the way now
we go down
then lose our best player out of the blue
he defo wont have a job
his fault or not
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Ivybridge Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 10/03/2010 22:19
Good read.
Sums up my fluctuating feelings about Mick. He needs to spot what is not working and try something new much more quickly .... whether thats a change in formation, a realisation that a few of his loved ones aren't up to it (he has shown he can do this in the past), getting subs on sooner rather than wait 10-20 minutes or simply realising that 21 goals is in credit crunch speak 'sub-prime' and 'toxic'!
There's something about the bloke I really like but 24 points from 28 games ay cutting the mustard. It's something of a minor miracle that we still have a good fighting chance. More luck than judgement I feel.
If we do survive .... what wholesale (and required) changes will we see from the 3Ms - answers on a postcard. Will one of the changes including a rationalisation to the 2Ms? Is Morgan really holding out on his finances because of Mick? Who knows.
Sums up my fluctuating feelings about Mick. He needs to spot what is not working and try something new much more quickly .... whether thats a change in formation, a realisation that a few of his loved ones aren't up to it (he has shown he can do this in the past), getting subs on sooner rather than wait 10-20 minutes or simply realising that 21 goals is in credit crunch speak 'sub-prime' and 'toxic'!
There's something about the bloke I really like but 24 points from 28 games ay cutting the mustard. It's something of a minor miracle that we still have a good fighting chance. More luck than judgement I feel.
If we do survive .... what wholesale (and required) changes will we see from the 3Ms - answers on a postcard. Will one of the changes including a rationalisation to the 2Ms? Is Morgan really holding out on his finances because of Mick? Who knows.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: ernesto hunt (IP Logged)
Date: 16/03/2010 06:55
There's nothing like getting carried away with yourself when you have a pen in your hand! Get real! This is now a smallish club with a big history, perhaps the biggest history. But that don't buy any respect - it certainly don't buy respect from current players who you might want to take on board. Only money and the potential for pots do that. Well pots is out the question so it's just the money. You have the two extremes of good examples already in front of you . . . Portsmouth and Wolves. Take your pick. It's a gamble. We all know why Portsmouth are down and out - big players on big wages - but not playing. We know why Wolves are not in the top four, or even in the top twelve - honest players, not brilliant players but honest and definitely not on big wages - but playing as best they can! As far as Morgan and his money is concerned - slowly, slowly, catch a monkey. Some of the posts on this site seem to want him to put all his chips on one spin of the wheel. I don't want that cus the risks of not having Wolves here next season are just to much to contemplate. The risk is too great. As regards the manager - if I thought Cloughie could be bought back I'd have him in an instant over MM . . . in all honesty MM would as well. He's the only one I've seen who could get a quart out of a pint pot. We ain't going to attract another manager much better than MM so drop that chant. As I've said before - we are still in the best league in the world, we are still in with a chance, we are solvent - not £700 million in debt. For realistic thinking Wolves supporters, at this stage of our game, it don't get better than that! Oh, and there ain't goining to be wholesale changes next year - we build on the success of this year, and we do the same next year, and the year after. This is a marathon and sprinting at the start gets the camera's clicking but its the ones that pace themselves that get the results.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Stourport Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 16/03/2010 08:41
Quote:ernesto hunt
Get real! This is now a smallish club with a big history, perhaps the biggest history. But that don't buy any respect
Wolves are not as big as they used to be but this season has shown that we are still a lot bigger than many of the top flight regulars. Out of the current premiership I would say that Wolves probably rank between 10th to 12th in terms of fan base. Thats pretty amazing considering we are only in our 2nd season in the top flight during the last quarter century. If we can establish in the top flight for a decade I can see us becoming a top 8 club.
We are certainly bigger than Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Fulham, Birmingham and Stoke all of whom are above us in the table so we should be able to at least compete financially with these clubs and survive. It will stick in the throat if we miss a gilt edged opportunity to stay in the premirship for a 2nd successive season in what has been a very weak season. Next season will be a lot tougher I'm sure and Morgan/Moxey will need to step up to the line on matching the finances of other clubs if we stay up and we are to survive in the premiership longer term.
As a manager McCarthy has bought the club a long way forward from what had pretty much became a shambles when Hoddle walked out and I'm thankful for that. But that doesnt mean McCarthy has the ability to take us further forward at the end of this season.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Guns4 (IP Logged)
Date: 16/03/2010 18:39
Is it me or is this a little negative all considered. I cannot believe there are many fans out there that thought this season would not be a relegation battle.
Although I agree with alot of points, I do not rate Mick also but he as done a much better job than I thought he would at the start of the season (although not totally satisfactory).
I really did think our defence would get turned inside out every week. But what I have been proved right about is that our midfield are creative enough and we would be one of the lowest scoring teams in the division.
Quit yo jibba jabba.
Love Life Love Keogh!
Although I agree with alot of points, I do not rate Mick also but he as done a much better job than I thought he would at the start of the season (although not totally satisfactory).
I really did think our defence would get turned inside out every week. But what I have been proved right about is that our midfield are creative enough and we would be one of the lowest scoring teams in the division.
Quit yo jibba jabba.
Love Life Love Keogh!
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: Wolf (IP Logged)
Date: 17/03/2010 00:32
All things considered, face value at least, things are going pretty well. We have a good core here, but imagine if we'd invested, gone 4-4-2 where we went defensive (in fairness you could say imagine if refs hadn't conned us out of blatent infringements, which is not anyone's fault other than the FA for sh*t refs), we could be sitting a little close to Birmingham, though admittedly they came up boasting a squad with premiership experience.
Ernesto, I try not to get carried away, but I am a writer and I am trying to get clicks, so it helps to be controversial to a point. You're right, we're not one of the big boys, and we should enjoy being in the Premiership and especially being above the drop zone, but staying in the Premiership for a few years is the real achievement, and that's dependant on the direction we're going in...and certain people have doubts we're going the right way about it. Hence why we have these debates.
Ernesto, I try not to get carried away, but I am a writer and I am trying to get clicks, so it helps to be controversial to a point. You're right, we're not one of the big boys, and we should enjoy being in the Premiership and especially being above the drop zone, but staying in the Premiership for a few years is the real achievement, and that's dependant on the direction we're going in...and certain people have doubts we're going the right way about it. Hence why we have these debates.
Re: The Mick- take it or leave it
Posted by: ernesto hunt (IP Logged)
Date: 19/03/2010 08:56
Hendrix - (by the way All along the Watch Tower best ever copy ever!) The problem with being a 'writer' is you dream about another world and try to sell it to one and all. Hence your passage 'imagne if . . . '. Unfortunately for MM no such oportunity exists, in fact for all of us, apart from dreamers, no such oportunity exists. Our future lives are, for the most part, dictated by the actions we have just completed. Not very often have we the chance to 'step outside of our daily grind and 'imagine if'! This is where Wolves come in - the one place we can get to where that might be a possibility is Molineux. Many years ago, on the off chance we couldn't raise a team I took my boots to a couple of home matches - just on the off chance a call came over the tannoy - "Is there anybody in the crowd with their . . . " The call never came, but I still remember the dream. I'll bet I wasn't the only fool in the ground that day either.
Back to reality - I think the biggest influence on this season is our failure to attract top quality players without jeopardising the financial health of the club. I have no ideas on how to get better players to come down here for less money than they would get elsewhere other than to build slowly year after year. I don't mind that - I've been in love for nigh on 50 years - so a few more won't hurt. It's the club I love not the daily positon in this division or that which we happen to be in. OK, it's nice to be on top - but not at a risk to the future.
Back to reality - I think the biggest influence on this season is our failure to attract top quality players without jeopardising the financial health of the club. I have no ideas on how to get better players to come down here for less money than they would get elsewhere other than to build slowly year after year. I don't mind that - I've been in love for nigh on 50 years - so a few more won't hurt. It's the club I love not the daily positon in this division or that which we happen to be in. OK, it's nice to be on top - but not at a risk to the future.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
More Wolves headlines
Wolves latest threads
- this time last year
- Roy Hodgeson To Be Sacked If.......
- West Brom On Sunday - Your Predictions
- How Will Bassong Change The Style Of Play?
- Frimpong out and back at Arsenal
- I feel sorry for our strikers......
- Ping Pong
- Cisse frightened he was going to get his leg broken...
- IMO Yesterday showed
- Back From The Brink - QPR 1-2 Wolves