Football Orphan: Wolves still fighting for survival despite conquering top dogs.
Oh to be a fly on the wall for that post match drink.
Spare a thought for poor old Mick McCarthy. Despite taking full points from games with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and both Manchester clubs in the Premier League, Wolves still find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle. Wolves face a tough away day midlands Derby at Birmingham at noon tomorrow.
McCarthy revealed that the prospect of relegation has haunted him in every aspect of his waking moments. The Wolves manager admitted that “I have sat on the toilet and dwelt on it”.”I have stood at the toilet and dwelt on it”. As incredibly humorous as this sounds, I’m totally convinced that most people who read this article will have endured something that has consumed them so much so, that the bathroom is no more out-of-bounds for them than it is for Mick.
Not many managers if any, could boast beating four out of the top five teams in the Premier League and still have to fight for survival at the end of the season. There are no prizes for moral victories though, and should the Black country team see their season end in relegation it will all count for nothing.
In my opinion the Premier League would miss a character like Mick McCarthy. He has never been one to avoid awkward questions posed to him post match. He’s witty, blunt and sometimes his honesty cuts quite close to the bone. It’s always worth a listen when Mick lets his thoughts be known. He’s no Ian Holloway, in fact he’s the polar opposite.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that having beaten some of the top sides in the Premier League Wolves deserve to stay up, but if they do, I for one will be pleased. It may also result in fewer painful excursions to the bathroom for the Wolves boss.
Football Orphan: I hope Trapattoni has a DVD collection the size of Blockbuster video.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has openly declared that he will not attend any games involving Irish players in the future. He instead would rather stay at home and watch DVD’s of the players to assemble his squad.
As the highest paid manager our national team has ever known, I can’t help feeling that we’re being cheated. There are talented Irish players nestled in the four corners of not only our country but all over the UK. Two examples that come to mind are Keith Fahey and Conor Sammon. Fahey was a class act playing in Inchicore with St Pats before moving on to Birmingham City. Sammon came to prominence with Kilmarnock before earning a move to Wigan Athletic. Does this mean the criteria for playing for Ireland is to be at a big club?
Well, with that in mind, how often do either St Pats or Killie get live coverage in Italy? Conversely, I’m sure that Manchester United get lots of attention but how often does Ireland squad regular Darron Gibson even appear for the Red Devils? There are a list of players playing first team football that I could mention that should be ahead of Keith Treacy of Preston or Paul Green of Derby County. Wes Hoolahan is having a superb season with Norwich, Steven Reid is also performing well at West Brom but retired from international football due to being continuously frozen out of the squad previously.
The Stephen Ireland situation has never been handled well, granted Trapattoni inherited that predicament but the Andy Reid blow out could, and should have been put to bed long ago. The truth is that it is Giovanni Trapattoni’s responsibility to assemble the best squad, select the best team and choose the tactics for qualifiers. This is something that is impossible to do without watching games involving Irish players in person.
Results have up to now been middle of the road. The tactics are negative with the emphasis on achieving an acceptable and safe result. Given the method of squad selection, I think it’s arrogant, lazy, clumsy and downright disrespectful to players and fans. The first eleven is likely to include Robbie Keane who has hardly kicked a ball all season instead of Shane Long who is on top form at club level with Reading. Darron Gibson instead of Keith Fahey who is fresh from a trophy win with Birmingham City. There is no doubt that Trapattoni has been a fine manager over the years, but I hope managing Ireland hasn’t put him out of his way too much.
Football Orphan: Sign of the times.
Arsenal face Barcelona tonight having supplied the shovel to heap more pressure on what is an already delicately balanced season. Losing the Carling Cup in devastating fashion to Birmingham and dropping two points at home to a stuttering Sunderland is almost forgivable, but anything less than progress in the Champions League will crush Arsenal’s never ending revolution for another season.
Despite having opportunity gift wrapped and handed to them with league leaders Manchester United losing two on the bounce, predictably Arsenal stubbornly refused to close the gap. Many have suggested where the Gunners’ shortcomings may lay, but it’s blatantly obvious that the spark that started this bush fire of six trophyless years is the large sign which announces the club’s silverware success. Much of the large sign remains blank and fuels frustration with the home fans.
Other clubs have temporary banners unfurled by fans at games which tips it’s hat to past glories. The roll of honour display at The Emirates is permanent and puffs its chest out as a statement of intent. Winning their first trophy since moving from Highbury will stand as Arsene Wengers greatest achievement, given the circumstances and self administered hype that the Arsenal manager insists upon year after year. If that trophy turns out to be the Champions League, knocking out current favourites Barcelona will only add credence to that sentiment.
Football Orphan 