Mick's 1st Substitution

[peckinpah wolf]

It seems to me that at every match, Mick's 1st substitution - unless a defender is injured - is Ward on for Bothroyd.

But we began to tire yesterday in the last 20 minutes and lost the midfield even though George had an excellent game. Why didn't he bring Davies on or for that matter Gleeson?

Albion's subs especially Gera changed the 2nd half and I think Davies could have done that for us.

Everytime Ward comes on for Bothroyd we lose something in attack and never seem to be the same threat going forward.

I just think Mick is blinkered when it comes to trying to change the game.

[Gratters]

But not half as blinkered as Dave Jones - remember him ? totally unable to change tactics midgame.

I wish we had a Gera to bring on - quality player

[Jamboon]

+ Carter, Ellington and Albrectson = not a bad bench

[PREM.L.L]

Thought the same. We needed someone to carry the ball through the middle. Big George ran himself into the ground and well, sorry Potter just doesn't do anything for me.

Davies would have been good. Proper threat rather than the tired attempts late on.

well proud though..

[Hatch End Wolf]

As I said on another thread, Mick should try putting Ward on first to do the chasing and Bothroyd could come on later to score the winning goal!

Unfortunately the Boggies do have the advantage of experienced players on the bench like Gera and we don't. Bringing Davies and / or Gleeson on for Potter or Olo is tempting but I don't think that Mick wants to take the risk.

[molineux man]

Yep very good point peckinpah. We definitely ran out of steam in the last twenty minutes, Keogh and Kightly especially had nothing left in the tank. Davies and Gleeson on for those two might have made things interesting.

[Exile Wolf]

Would we be so bold on Wednesday to go with 3 at back, 4 in midfield and 3 up top?

[Emperor Wolf]

IF Mick really wants to change the way a game is going..he does have Mark Davies available.
I am all for playing Olofinjana as a regular..he is smokin at the moment,but last 20 minutes of a game should be better played with a rested force like Davies.
Mick just doesn´t play him anymore,not at all other than perhaps last 30 seconds of a game.
It is a mistake IMO!

[Bevan]

Everytime Ward comes on for Bothroyd we lose something in attack and never seem to be the same threat going forward.

Completely agree. Ward is not an impact player. When Bothroyd is on his movement and link up play is 1st class.

If I was Mick, my first sub would be Davies on for McIndoe or Kightly, the latter of which tired badly on Sunday.

[Nashie]

Bothroyd was poor yesterday. The movement of every other player was fantastic and I think Bothroyd should have been swapped earlier on.

Personally I'd drop Breen, put Collins and Craddock at centre back and start with Mark Little purely because we need some pace and threat going forward and Little would provide that (yes I am aware that Little has had 2 bad games against the Albion).

Ward in for Bothroyd and Davies to come on as sub.

[Reach For The Sky]

Bothroyd was poor yesterday. The movement of every other player was fantastic and I think Bothroyd should have been swapped earlier on...........Ward in for Bothroyd and Davies to come on as sub.

Did we score during the chaos after a Bothroyd free kick? I've watched a recording of yesterday's game and another Bothroyd free kick curled just outside the post. Our top scoring striker, our best free kick taker and remarkably good at holding up the ball. It's amazing to think that Bothroyd hasn't actually played a full game for Wolves.

On the other hand, if you add up all of the minutes that Davies has been on the pitch, it comes to almost the amount of time that a normal substitute would get in one game. Davies can come on for any of Kightly, McIndoe or Olofinjana when they tire in the last quarter of a game.

[EasternWolf]

This is a good game ..I would start with Little Collins Craddock McNamara across the back .. Breen available

Two wingers is a luxury, at least to start with so Davies, Potter Olofinjana and Kightly to be the free man primariliy to swop across left to right ... Mcindoe and Gleeson available

Bothroyd and Keogh instructed to chase everything ... Ward available

It would give us a stronger defensive midfield but with real potential for going forward to support the front two

[wanderer24]

This will be the 'Mark Davies is god' thread then.

[Reach For The Sky]

Eastern,

that's not a bad shout, apart from Little. He has been cruelly exposed for his lack of positional sense, notably against West Brom previously. If Kightly were to be given a free role, he wouldn't be back to help the defence as much as he was yesterday and Little would be exposed again.

[ice cream head]

This is a good game ..I would start with Little Collins Craddock McNamara across the back .. Breen available

Two wingers is a luxury, at least to start with so Davies, Potter Olofinjana and Kightly to be the free man primariliy to swop across left to right ... Mcindoe and Gleeson available

Bothroyd and Keogh instructed to chase everything ... Ward available

It would give us a stronger defensive midfield but with real potential for going forward to support the front two

No left footed player on the left would badly effect the whole balance of the team. Added to the fact we would badly miss Mcindoe's excellent delivery from wide, free-kicks and corners and it doesn't look such a great tactical move. As for the defence, if Breen is to be dropped ( not that I think he will be ) then i'd rather see a back four of Mcnamara Collins Craddock Clapham.

[ooh la la]

This is a good game ..I would start with Little Collins Craddock McNamara across the back .. Breen available

Two wingers is a luxury, at least to start with so Davies, Potter Olofinjana and Kightly to be the free man primariliy to swop across left to right ... Mcindoe and Gleeson available

Bothroyd and Keogh instructed to chase everything ... Ward available

It would give us a stronger defensive midfield but with real potential for going forward to support the front two

That would be a good line up with plenty of pace all round but there is no way in a million years that McCarthy is going to drop Breen and play Little from the start. McCarthy has done wonders but his stubbornness has cost us in my opinion and someone like Roy Keene would have dropped Breen eons ago.

[Reach For The Sky]

This will be the 'Mark Davies is god' thread then.

No, you are mistaken. This is the McCarthy hasn't got a clue about substitutions and Mark Davies is worth more then a 2 minute run out thread. I thought you'd see the difference.

[MobNet Wolf]

That would be a good line up with plenty of pace all round but there is no way in a million years that McCarthy is going to drop Breen and play Little from the start. McCarthy has done wonders but his stubbornness has cost us in my opinion and someone like Roy Keene would have dropped Breen eons ago.

Are you off your ed? How can you say its a good line up? The guy says 2 wingers is a luxury! WTF is he on about? Especially in a game we need to win - how can 2 wingers be a luxury.

What next? Strikers are a luxury? Goalkeepers are a luxury?

[ooh la la]

I think the point Eastern Wolf was making was that if we were to drop Breen and move Little to right back then playing a slightly more defensive midfield with pace to support the attack might be a way to go.

[Stewarton Wolf]

There seems to be a number of comments regarding MM tactical awareness, is there a problem?

[wolfman27]

This will be the 'Mark Davies is god' thread then.

Oh, I thought it was the "Olofajitas is god" thread...
or is it the "Breen is crap and slow" thread....


I do like the "McCarthy can't do subsitutions" comment... So he's a genius, he's Merlin the Magician, he's SUPER MICK. But we don't trust his judgement on subs. Make your mind up.. He must be doing something right, we are in the playoffs. REMEMBER?

[ice cream head]

I think the point Eastern Wolf was making was that if we were to drop Breen and move Little to right back then playing a slightly more defensive midfield with pace to support the attack might be a way to go.

Personally, I don't believe Davies is a more defensively minded player than Mcindoe... We wouldn't have a left foot on the pitch either which doesn't bode well for me. You have to have somebody with a left foot, otherwise you reduce your attacking options, particularly when your team relies so much on crosses.

[Prague Wolf]

Did we score during the chaos after a Bothroyd free kick? I've watched a recording of yesterday's game and another Bothroyd free kick curled just outside the post. Our top scoring striker, our best free kick taker and remarkably good at holding up the ball. It's amazing to think that Bothroyd hasn't actually played a full game for Wolves.

On the other hand, if you add up all of the minutes that Davies has been on the pitch, it comes to almost the amount of time that a normal substitute would get in one game. Davies can come on for any of Kightly, McIndoe or Olofinjana when they tire in the last quarter of a game.

I have to agree, Bothroyd has a dynamite in his foot and was very unlucky not to score from the free kick on Sunday. But I think if there will be any other chance at the s*i*hole on Wednesday he can score another spectacular goal from a long range like he already did during the season. And to be honest I´m glad we have somebody with that skill because last "distance-shooter" in old-gold was....ehmmm...maybe...Ketsbaia ;)

[old wittonian]

It seems to me that at every match, Mick's 1st substitution - unless a defender is injured - is Ward on for Bothroyd.

But we began to tire yesterday in the last 20 minutes and lost the midfield even though George had an excellent game. Why didn't he bring Davies on or for that matter Gleeson?

Albion's subs especially Gera changed the 2nd half and I think Davies could have done that for us.

Everytime Ward comes on for Bothroyd we lose something in attack and never seem to be the same threat going forward.

I just think Mick is blinkered when it comes to trying to change the game.


I think we should consider replacing Gleeson on the bench with Jemal Johnson.

[peckinpah wolf]

If Mick doesn't think Davies or Gleeson have the experience to turn a game then why doesn't he replace Gleeson on the bench with Rosa?

And if anyone suggests Ricketts then they need their head examined!

[Oxford_Wolf]

On Sunday our lads were knackered by the end of the second half, we really needed to draw upon strength in peth which wasn't there, could we bring on Jemal Johnson?

this in not to say that it was the wrong way to go about the game though, I think that the first 30 minutes we broke down their midfiled nearly at will, it was only the resilliance of their defence and Kieghley's luck/skill that kept them in it.

More of the same please lad's lord help us if it goes to extra time though.

[Taffywolf]

I was critical of Mick on Beacon radio after Sunday's match, As previous posts have said we were getting over run in midfield so he should of made a change in the middle of the park and get control of the game again.
I would of liked to see Mark Davies come on for Bothroyd and play in the middle of midfield getting forward at every occasion and running at players like Koumas was. With Potter and Olofinjana holding the middle we would till of had options going forward with Mcindoe, Kightly and Davies..

[Jamboon]

Johnson hasn't been around the squad for ages it would send out the wrong message to Davies, Gleeson, Ward etc if he made the squad at their expense.

[Premier Quality]

that and johnsons not actually very good.

I think Mick left it as it was because we were playing pretty well and he didnt want to upset the balance.

Personally I wanted Davies on for potter or olo as i thought they had run out of steam to an extent, but I can understand his reasoning.

[goldeneyed]

Tonight is a special night and MM needs imv to change his current pattern of thinking a bit. A lot will depend on how the game goes and the first goal will be crucial. But we need to score goals and I think Mark Davies (at some point) could add a spark as an attacking midfielder which might make a difference.

The Ward on for Bothroyd and Little on for McNamara scenario is a bit jaded and I look forward to seeing whether MM can be a bit more creative on substitutions than before. Bothroyd should be fit enough by now to complete 90 minutes and we need him on because he always carries a goal threat even when he might seem to be coasting a bit. Ward seems to have lost his shine unfortunately but can hopefully put in a good shift if needed tonight.

The difference between the two club's squads is of course obvious when you compare the subs benches but tonight is a night when every Wolves player is going to have to find a fifth gear if we are going to Wembley (in Breen's case third gear would do).

The Johnson suggestion is interesting although it won't happen of course. He does have pace, however, and in theory could be a real threat in the last twenty minutes when defenders are tiring, so not as fanciful as it might seem in that sense. But MM will stick to what he has done mainly based on the fact that he doesn't have much faith in his second XI at the moment.

[fullmoon]

If Mick doesn't think Davies or Gleeson have the experience to turn a game then why doesn't he replace Gleeson on the bench with Rosa?

And if anyone suggests Ricketts then they need their head examined!

Ricketts is a playmaker.That's what he says:D:D

[fullmoon]

Maybe MM is keeping Davies underwrap and gonna unleash him as a sub for todays match.You can never tell.I hope it's purely master tacticians plan ;)
The boy might burn the park for all i know.