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Wolves need to blow away ghosts of 2002

Championship Wolverhampton Wanderers

by John Bray - BBC (U7722196) 18 February 2009

The irony will not be lost on 20,000 Wolves fans who will file into Molineux on Sunday with hope in our hearts, but fear and trepidation in our heads.

In the one dugout will be the manager who presided over a Wolves promotion capitulation in 2002.

And in the other will be the boss surely increasingly anxious not to follow his example.

It's official - Wolves have reached "rock bottom".

So says Mick McCarthy in an interview on the official club website which is headlined: "The Only Way Is Up."

All this from a club who still sit on top of the Championship in the race for Premier League football. Don't they say the league table never lies?

Well this one does.

Wolves have won once in nine games, and there is a rational argument for saying we haven't played well since thumping Sheffield United at the end of November.

And next up is ex-Wolves boss Dave Jones' Cardiff side who are unbeaten in 11, and presumably determined to ratchet up the apprehension currently hanging like a dark cloud over Molineux.

Apprehension breeds frustration, and that leads to anger - and that's a familiar scenario for those of us who've followed Wolves for the last 30 years.

The nationwide view of Wolves fans is probably a fickle band of moaners. But I don't buy that. We are passionate - but have become accustomed to despair.

Betrayal is a strong word, maybe too strong. But even when we ended 19 years of hurt to reach the Premier League in 2003, we were let down by a club not brave enough to spend the money that would have kept us up.

Our dream withered and died. We needed some Premier League class - we got Silas, Isaac Okoronkwo and Oleg Luzhny.

There's probably something in the psychological make-up of a Wolves fan that anticipates pain and heartbreak - but in our defence it's happened so often in the past.

However, McCarthy's Wolves, up until Christmas at any rate, had been different. Once the club hierarchy cottoned on to what the fans had known for years - that Molineux was absolutely crying out for young, hungry footballers - we came to embrace a new generation that we backed to the absolute hilt.

Not even a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Southampton would stop us giving our new Wolves a standing ovation.
We believed in them, and they delivered - and McCarthy was "Super Mick".

But after a series of poor results since November, and increasingly desperate performances, the pressure is massively on.

These young starlets have been rewarded for their efforts over the last two and a half seasons, and Premier League managers have cast envious glances at Michael Kightly, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Wayne Hennessey.

Now our big players have absolutely got to stand up and be counted on Sunday.

But the man who holds the key to Wolves' ambitions over the next three months has to be the manager.

For the last three away games, he's combined Karl Henry and on-loan Nigel Quashie in the heart of midfield - and we've lost all three.

And I was left bemused after the "rock bottom" performance at Burnley last Saturday, listening to McCarthy pondering whether he was setting up his team with too much emphasis on attack.

Well a midfield without David Jones and/or David Edwards does not suggest huge attacking intent to me or, I venture to suggest, thousands of other Wolves fans.

We should be celebrating Wolves being top of the league, and embracing the excitement. Wolves fans shouldn't be turning on honest players like Neill Collins and Andy Keogh.

But that's where Wolves are at. It's a real shame - and it requires a massive performance on the field, and in the stands, on Sunday.

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comment by 1.wolves.champions (U13840981)

posted Feb 21, 2009

yes i admit wolves have let the fans down in the past but cant see it happening this season.With the players we have weve done brilliantly full credit to super mick hes got us some good signings for bargain prices we have a good young squad weve got the stadium with the new plans well sell out 40,000 every home game so its all there ready for the big time.So come on wolves fans get behind the lads and well see whos laughin at the end of the season watching sandwell town go the oppasite way and leaving blues in the championship ha ha.

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comment by GozoGeorge (U9368585)

posted Feb 21, 2009

Reading and Birmingham are feeling the pressure as well, judging from today's results! Tomorrow's a good opportunity for Wolves to pick up momentum again; let's not give Cardiff too much respect and be intimidated by their good streak - Wolves have more guns than they and with tighter marking at the back than we've employed in recent games Cardiff will have a lot to worry about. Onward Wolves!

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comment by SteWolves (U13769180)

posted Feb 21, 2009

This negativity has to stop. Ok, we are not playing well at present. Yet, we are top of the league - a place where every other team wants to be. 13 games to go we need one last push.

I'm sick and tired of hearing '2002 is happening again' and 'we're lacking belief and quality'. We are a very young side full of talent that needs full and positive support from us - the supporters!

I know we pay our money to watch the games, but we need to get out of our seats and sing our hearts out for those lads on that pitch! Even if we aren't playing well - we need to cheer them on and give them a that lift, that spark, that can turn games. If you come out of the game knowing that you contributed towards a cracking atmosphere and stuck by the boys you'll feel a lot better about yourselves and the money you have spent, in turn this will bring rewards on the pitch.

So, Sunday. If like me you are going to the match, get ready to make some noise! If we aren't playing well or go a goal down, be upstanding and sing and cheer for the lads. Have the bravery to put down the boo-boys and the moaners and get everyone up shouting and singing.

That's what Molineux is missing - positivity and optimism. As expectation is higher this year we seem to have lost this. We expect great performances week in week out -which is fair enough- but the atmosphere and will to get behind the team has wavered.

Fortress Molineux tomorrow please lads and lasses. And remember....BE POSITIVE!!!!!!!!!!

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comment by WhiskeyWolf (U13810189)

posted Feb 22, 2009

even mentioning the word "betrayal" in regards to sir jack not spending money is tantamount to heresy. as disappointed as we all were that he didn't open his wallet when we finally did get into the premier league, have you forgotten everything else he did for the club? choose your words more wisely next time

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comment by Tom2Hot (U13780635)

posted Feb 22, 2009

i still cant understand the point of quashie, we get rid of davies who now is playing in the prem, and hire sum journeyman reject. MM is too stubborn, he always does the opposite to what everyone else wants! Saying that im your typical fickle wolves fan, trying to keep the faith! Lets hope he proves me wrong

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comment by jukewolves (U13910773)

posted Apr 10, 2009

Will be up till midnight to watch live text on Wolves game today against Southampton. Who is the likely first goal scorer?

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comment by harrythedip (U2793622)

posted Apr 19, 2009

watching m o t d with baggies fan.where are our famous fans...............dont think we need em now want to see a childs face when they get there weekly whopping

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comment by harrythedip (U2793622)

posted Apr 19, 2009

not sure if norbert holder is

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comment by wolvesturn3r (U14040237)

posted Jun 18, 2009

im gettin a bit worried about weather were gonna get the right players in as so far things aint lookin good 4 us i look everyday 2 c if there is any news on transfers an each day nothing not even speculation so wats happened 2 all the the money i know its early days but morgan had the club on the conditions he pumped 30 mill in ???? thats yet 2 b seen an wat bout the 60 4 goin up i really wat 2 c wolves a bit busier in the transfer market

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comment by stevebullstand4ever (U13356496)

posted Jun 23, 2009

visit
www.piczo.com/we-are-premier-league-2009

its my new wolves fc website
let me know what you think
thankyou

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