What is Mick's preferred pattern of play?

[Bahama Wolf]

I had an idea of the two Graham's (Turner and Taylor), Mcghee's, DJ's and Hoddle's and could sort of imagine how their teams would play before a game(apart from Hoddle's maybe:D !)..must admit not quite sure what MM's is. If i'm honest, i can't remember even as far back as when he managed Barnsley and Millwall, ROI, or even as recently as Sunderland. The hallmarks of his teams is his ability to generate a togetherness, honesty and hardworking attitude in his teams which is seemingly how he has achieved relative success in the past. However, as good as those attributes are, as seen with Sunderland last season, this may not be enough and needs a good system and pattern of play. This was probably the reason i was not too enamoured with his appointment, but must stress that now he is appointed, i am fully behind him and wish him every success. Can anyone enlighten me?

[BrummieDave]

He never managed bansley

[Welsh Y'am Y'am]

I had a horrible feeling that he played the same sort of kick-and-rush that Jones played... but on reflection, I think it's obviously far more direct than Hoddle's style (thank god), but - in contrast to Jones - MM has a plan B and C when it comes to tactics. I guess only time will tell but, after some of last season's spineless performances, just having someone who can instil a hard-working ethic will be a start!

[Winelord]

Played for Barnsley, first managed at Millwall.

[Bahama Wolf]

Played for Barnsley, first managed at Millwall.

I stand corrected!

[Stuart Smith]

i thinkn a trademark of MM's teams is their ability to have the whole being greater than the sum of the parts

[Flitwick Wolf]

I can only remember the long midweek trip to Sunderland when they won the league and they shat on us that night. I think it was Lawrence(?? the blonde young lad they bought from the lower leagues) who we just could not handle.

[QB Wolf]

I had a horrible feeling that he played the same sort of kick-and-rush that Jones played!

You mean the best football I've ever seen a Wolves team play?

[Nashie]

I had a horrible feeling that he played the same sort of kick-and-rush that Jones played... but on reflection, I think it's obviously far more direct than Hoddle's style (thank god), but - in contrast to Jones - MM has a plan B and C when it comes to tactics. I guess only time will tell but, after some of last season's spineless performances, just having someone who can instil a hard-working ethic will be a start!

Jones didn't play kick and rush. When the side was playing well under Jones they played very very well.

[scottishwolf II]

i thinkn a trademark of MM's teams is their ability to have the whole being greater than the sum of the parts

Thank god for that, or we would be totally shafted this season..

[Brizzlewolf]

"What is Mick's preferred pattern of play?"

Hoof it up t'big fella to knock it down t'little fella. I think.

Personally I don't give a monkey's as long as its effective.

[Stuart Smith]

If there is one thing Magical Mick has proved to be in this league, it's effective

[Bend It Like Dennison]

I had a horrible feeling that he played the same sort of kick-and-rush that Jones played

Oh good lord no, not the awful, awful Dave Jones era!! The kind of football that saw us win games 3 or 4-0, destroy teams in 15 minute periods & ultimately gave us our first and probably only taste of Premiership football ever. Pleeeeeeeeease dont be anything like that!!

More $$$$$$$*n crab football please.

[Nashie]

Oh good lord no, not the awful, awful Dave Jones era!! The kind of football that saw us win games 3 or 4-0, destroy teams in 15 minute periods & ultimately gave us our first and probably only taste of Premiership football ever. Pleeeeeeeeease dont be anything like that!!

More $$$$$$$*n crab football please.


It was awful to watch wasn't it. Particularly the legendary kick and rush game against Champions League opposition - Newcastle in the FA Cup.

[Bend It Like Dennison]

It was awful to watch wasn't it. Particularly the legendary kick and rush game against Champions League opposition - Newcastle in the FA Cup.

Dreadful memories Nashie, dreadful memories... ;)

[wolf of sedgley]

Dave Jones had plan A which either worked very well or very bad. We could win 3-0 one game then draw 0-0 or loose 1-0 the next. He had no plan B and didn't have a clue how to break down teams who came to the mol and played 10 man defence. He relied too much on one player to make it happen, and when he got injured in the bottled it season we were $$$$ed.

[goldeneyed]

Oh good lord no, not the awful, awful Dave Jones era!! The kind of football that saw us win games 3 or 4-0, destroy teams in 15 minute periods & ultimately gave us our first and probably only taste of Premiership football ever. Pleeeeeeeeease dont be anything like that!!

More $$$$$$$*n crab football please.

Yes the awful, absolutely awful DJ era. Yes some good attacking football for a while (having spent a fortune) and then absolute rubbish, some of the worst, disorganised, imbecilic football and team choices I have ever seen.

Unforgiveable having spent something like £22m. And still people mumble about us creeping to promotion through our fifth placed finish as if it was such a great victory forgetting to mention that we tumbled straight back down again in last position (admittedly DJ not supported financially and general boardroom chaos did not help in that period.) Finally, looking totally at a loss and out of his depth left us looking like relegation candidates before the axe came down at last. Thanks DJ. Thanks a million. Thanks £20 million. Now at last your dead wood has gone we can start again, albeit with not a penny in the bank thanks mainly to you and the traitorous Hoddle.

Otherwise it was fine....

[Nashie]

Dave Jones had plan A which either worked very well or very bad. We could win 3-0 one game then draw 0-0 or loose 1-0 the next. He had no plan B and didn't have a clue how to break down teams who came to the mol and played 10 man defence. He relied too much on one player to make it happen, and when he got injured in the bottled it season we were $$$$ed.

which 1 player would that be? I don't recall us having a player who was significantly better than anyone else in the side.

Take another look at that midfield four in his first season at wolves:

Newton Rae Cameron Kennedy

Balance of attack and defence and two wide players.

I would hope that McCarthy fashions a side closer to the direct attacking way Dave Jones wanted the game played to the way Hoddle ruined things by passing the ball sideways and being afraid of having shots. Jones wasn't without fault, but after the years of McGhee and Lee where we never dominated any game at all it was such a wonderful change to see us playing great attacking football.

[Bend It Like Dennison]

Dont want to be a doom monger but Im expecting McCarthys style to be predominantly a la Megson, with a small dash of attacking flare.

On the other hand I think it'll work well & we'll finish alot higher than some of the wet lettuces on here are predicting.

[wolf of sedgley]

which 1 player would that be? I don't recall us having a player who was significantly better than anyone else in the side.

Take another look at that midfield four in his first season at wolves:

Newton Rae Cameron Kennedy

Balance of attack and defence and two wide players.

I would hope that McCarthy fashions a side closer to the direct attacking way Dave Jones wanted the game played to the way Hoddle ruined things by passing the ball sideways and being afraid of having shots. Jones wasn't without fault, but after the years of McGhee and Lee where we never dominated any game at all it was such a wonderful change to see us playing great attacking football.

Kennedy got something like 25 assists before he got injured that season. He was our main creative influence and when he was gone we were $$$$.

[Nashie]

Yes the awful, absolutely awful DJ era. Yes some good attacking football for a while (having spent a fortune) and then absolute rubbish, some of the worst, disorganised, imbecilic football and team choices I have ever seen.

Unforgiveable having spent something like £22m. And still people mumble about us creeping to promotion through our fifth placed finish as if it was such a great victory forgetting to mention that we tumbled straight back down again in last position (admittedly DJ not supported financially and general boardroom chaos did not help in that period.) Finally, looking totally at a loss and out of his depth left us looking like relegation candidates before the axe came down at last. Thanks DJ. Thanks a million. Thanks £20 million. Now at last your dead wood has gone we can start again, albeit with not a penny in the bank thanks mainly to you and the traitorous Hoddle.

Otherwise it was fine....

They gave him the money, he spent it and got us promoted. Thats what he said he'd do. He always said: "these may not be the players to keep us there."

Some good attacking football for 'a while'? Well - for the majority of his reign really. We weren't that many points adrift of safety despite finishing bottom. It was the start to the next season which was unacceptable and its clear he had lost the players.

If they hadn't given him as much money and just allowed him to wheel and deal he would have gotten us promoted. Look at what he is doing at Cardiff. He isn't spending lots of cash there but he is building an attacking side who can compete for a playoff spot. If he stays at Cardiff they will be in the premiership within 3 years.

[Toon Wolf]

I think the way Sunderland played when in this division was quite direct, but not typically long ball. They played fast attacking football using the wings, in particular Julio Arca and Liam Lawrence. They were tough to break down, generally, and battlers in the middle of the field. They were not a boring team, but they were by no means total football either. On the whole, a considerable improvement on what has been served up at Molineux in the past 18 months. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. We have to learn some patience.

[PREM.L.L]

The first half of the bottle season we played some blistering stuff. very boring indeed.

If MM can get the spirit up and get the players playing with freedom (but disciplined!) i think the DJ type football is the way he wants it played.

Top six here we come!

[Nashie]

Kennedy got something like 25 assists before he got injured that season. He was our main creative influence and when he was gone we were $$$$.

We did miss him - granted, but I think it was more to do with all the other players being burnt out more than anything else. Cooper was signed as cover for Kennedy but we didn't see the best of him at that time despite a screamer of a goal against Norwich in the play off second-leg.

The following season we could rest either Rae or Cameron and put Ince in there.

[Nashie]

I think the way Sunderland played when in this division was quite direct, but not typically long ball. They played fast attacking football using the wings, in particular Julio Arca and Liam Lawrence. They were tough to break down, generally, and battlers in the middle of the field. They were not a boring team, but they were by no means total football either. On the whole, a considerable improvement on what has been served up at Molineux in the past 18 months. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. We have to learn some patience.


Yes I remember Arca being a key player for Sunderland when he got them promoted. I'd love to see Wolves play with wingers again.

[Welsh Y'am Y'am]

Dave Jones had plan A which either worked very well or very bad. We could win 3-0 one game then draw 0-0 or loose 1-0 the next. He had no plan B and didn't have a clue how to break down teams who came to the mol and played 10 man defence. He relied too much on one player to make it happen, and when he got injured in the bottled it season we were $$$$ed.

Exactly my point mate, people really look back on the DJ era through rose-tinted glasses. People seem to forget that other than his first season in charge and part of the second half of his second season in charge, we played some really awful football.

If people were to read the whole of my post they would see that my point WAS that Jones had a plan A which either worked or it didn't... but he had no alternatives.

[Cosmo Kramer]

You mean the best football I've ever seen a Wolves team play?


agreeeeeee

[Cosmo Kramer]

Exactly my point mate, people really look back on the DJ era through rose-tinted glasses. People seem to forget that other than his first season in charge and part of the second half of his second season in charge, we played some really awful football.

If people were to read the whole of my post they would see that my point WAS that Jones had a plan A which either worked or it didn't... but he had no alternatives.


Dis agreeeeeeeee

[Metro Wolf]

Ingimarsson a centre back played at centre midfield
Joey Gudjonnsen a defensive midfielder played at right back and centre midfield
Mark Kennedy a left winger played at left back
Mark Clyde a centre back played at right back
Keith Lowe a centre back played at right back
Kenny Miller a centre striker played at right winger
Seol best at striker played on both wings
Olifinjana a defensive midfielder who cannot tackle

Yes, how we miss Jones "clever" choices ...

[goldeneyed]

Exactly my point mate, people really look back on the DJ era through rose-tinted glasses. People seem to forget that other than his first season in charge and part of the second half of his second season in charge, we played some really awful football.

If people were to read the whole of my post they would see that my point WAS that Jones had a plan A which either worked or it didn't... but he had no alternatives.


Agreed. The rose tinted mob were so swept away by us actually winning that game in Cardiff they completely ignored the fact that the seeds of failure were being planted at the same time by a manager with no vision and no tactical acumen whatsoever.

Here we are as a club without a penny to spend this season, miles behind many of our closest rivals, having got virtually nothing back on the mass of mediocre and over-aged or useless signings which Jones was responsible for (barring Camara) and people still go on about him being a good manager because he successfully played a couple of wingers for a while who cost us a mere £3m!

Everyone is on a temporary high because MM is supposedly going to revive us with frees and Bosmans but the poor guy would have been handed a far better hand if the club, DJ and GH had been half awake and not left us in a mess that still badly needs sorting out.