In the Molineux Frame

It was an inevitable parting of the ways? Surely a club doesn’t end a dismal run of results by losing at home 5-1 to their biggest rivals, plunging them into the relegation mire of the Premier League and not oust their under pressure manager? 

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Molineux

 And so it was – after a tenure of 5½ years, being the 7^th longest serving manager in English football, Mick McCarthy lost his job at Wolverhampton Wanderers, to be replaced by..... who?

Mick McCarthy

Wolves have already stated that they are looking for an experienced manager to take the helm and try to guide the club away from the lower reaches of the league to stave off relegation and to build for the future, but who are the possible candidates they will be looking at?

Steve Bruce

Initially installed as the favourite for the post, Bruce would bring a wealth of Premier League experience with him after previous spells in charge at Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City. The former Manchester United and England centre-back is currently out of work after being dismissed from Sunderland in November 2011.

Steve Bruce

It would be questionable as to whether the Molineux faithful would warm to the idea of Bruce taking over. Like McCarthy, being a former manager at the Stadium of Light, would Wolves want to gain a reputation for employing Sunderland cast-offs?

Neil Warnock

Former lower league winger Warnock left his post at Queen’s Park Rangers in January, after leading the club to promotion the previous season. He has had a distinguished managerial career at numerous clubs both at league and non-league level and at age 63 would possibly be the steadying influence the club would be looking for.

Neil Warnock

A fully qualified referee, Warnock is renowned for his controversial outbursts, ironically often aimed at the match officials - this may not suit the powers that be at the West Midlands giant. 

He does hold a reputation for leading clubs to promotion however, as opposed to success in the Premier League. Useful maybe if the club were to slip out of the top flight, but surely not for short-term survival hopes.

Alan Curbishley

The former Charlton Athletic and West Ham manager has been away from the game for over 3 years and has been linked with many high-profile managerial positions during that time. 

After leaving West Ham he spent time taking the club to court, winning his claim for constructive dismissal and it is thought that he is now ready to take on another top job. 

Alan Curbishley

A Londoner through and through, Curbishley spent some of his playing career at both Aston Villa and Birmingham City, so moving to the West Midlands would not pose any re-location or geographical problems for him.

He has stated that he would be very interested in the position, whilst Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan is thought to be keen on an imminent move for the 54-year-old. It's no surprise that Curbishley is the bookmakers new favourite to take the position.

Other names in the frame

Other possible candidates for the Molineux hotseat would have to include John Barnes, Paul Ince, Rafa Benitez, Sven Goran Eriksson, Billy Davies, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Ian Holloway.

So who will it be? The club wishes to make a quick appointment before their next Premier League fixture on 25^th February away at Newcastle.

For news updates, please click here to be taken to the official WWFC website

Your shout

Are you a Wolves fan? Do you have a preference for any particular candidate? Were the club right to dispense with McCarthy’s services?

Please leave a comment.

Amir, Benitez and the Wolves

Amir Cricket Story

The interesting cricket story to come out today (apart from England's Matt Prior getting into trouble for breaking a window at Lord's yesterday), is the fact that banned Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, played in a village match in Surrey at the weekend.

See full story at: Banned Pakistani Cricketer Plays for English Village Team

Mohammad Amir (image via Wikipedia)

 He claims that the club he played for, assured him it was a friendly fixture and was not under the umbrella of the ICC (International Cricket Council). But that body is now to investigate the matter with further sanctions possible. 

"Boring" Bob Willis (former England captain), came out on Sky Sports News today saying he was absolutely staggered and the ban should be extended (I'm amazed that he managed to stay awake long enough). 

Maybe so, but was there any real harm caused in him playing? It would have given the other players a thrill to play alongside him and a nice surprise for anyone watching. OK, so he has a worldwide ban, but surely this should be just at International and First Class level?

I'm sure many readers will disagree with me about this. Tell me why I'm wrong (and if you are reading this Bob, we'll help you now to go back to counting your sheep. 1-2-3-4 zzz!).

Soon to be Benitez Villa?

Rafa B (image from Wikipedia)

There are stories emerging today that Aston Villa (or the Vile as I know them), are soon to appoint former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss, Rafa Benitez as their new manager. I'm sure the Spaniard is a very nice man and will do his best for the stumbling, almost giants, but it would be an inspired appointment I would say - a 2nd rate manager for a 2nd rate team (you gotta larf ain't yer?). 

Also I notice Wolves have knocked down one of their stands, in readiness to build a new one. A suggestion, why don't they just flatten the whole damn place and build something useful, like a car park.

Off now for a rubdown with the Sporting Life.

Tatty is now away from the lapdog.

A Little Pre-Occupied Today

Good morning everybody

As the title of this posting suggests, I have other things on my mind today. The Dingles are a-visiting the Hawthorns at lunchtime. There is no love lost between the Albion and the Wolves and today, being Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of the Baggies, gives extra significance. Also with both clubs hovering close to the bottom of the League it could be classed as a 6 if not 12 pointer.

COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!

Aa for horses, we had an 11/8 winner, 2 unplaced and 2 non-runners yesterday so not particularly anything to write home about. Today brings jumping at Sedgefied, Market Rasen and Naas, along with AW flat at Kempton. A couple to watch are listed below:-

LESANDA Sedgefield 3.10 (place or e/w)

SNOWY PEAK Kempton 4.25

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I will be back (all being well) tomorrow.

Tatty

And Here Starteth Another Week

Hello my friends, 

I hope you all had a great weekend and are fit and raring to go for another week.

We had a good day on Sunday with both win choices doing the business at evens and 2/1. The each way punt went somewhat astray, but that one I really only add for a little bit of entertainment. That is very much the case with the each way choice for today. It really should go off at anything up to 33/1 which should give you some idea as to how much chance it has to win, but strange things happen at the racecourse. It is thought that on the whole, one in 33 horses going off at an sp of 33’s will win – I can’t really see that, but never mind. Today’s suggestions are listed in time order below:-

MAVALENTA Plumpton 2.00 (each way)

MAC AEDA Catterick 2.20

EMPEROR’S CHOICE Plumpton 5.00

With the sad story of the deaths of 2 horses at Newbury on Saturday, I never got to comment on the appointment of Roy Hodgson as Albion Head Coach on Friday. I am very pleased with the choice. He feels he can avoid relegation at the end of the season and you do think that if anyone can get us out of the mire, he can.

I have read some interesting supposed info regarding his predecessor over the weekend. Apparently Signor di Matteo was very aloof from certain members of the squad, having his favourites. I’m not saying that this is the gospel truth, but it does explain the selection policy on occasions and, in hindsight, one or two tactical decisions that were made.

Good luck Roy. His first game is home to the Dingles (Wolverhampton Wanderers to the un-initiated). Nothing like a baptism of fire.

I have just one last comment for you. Did you see Wayne Rooney’s goal for United against City on Saturday? Some people are saying it’s the greatest goal ever in the Premier League. I think that is overstating things somewhat, but I have a question for all you United fans. Apart from the goal (which he quite easily could have made a complete hash of), what else did he do in that game? The words b*gg*r  and all come to mind! £250,000 a week for just that can’t be bad can it?

Have a good start to the week.

Tatty