In some quarters has almost escaped scot-free for his role in the Wolves crisis. He is the one most responsible.
Wolves supporters are understandably upset, angry, and in some cases torn over who to blame for their current mess.
A look at one Wolves supporters’ forum over the week has offered some surprising views.
“Bring back mick campaign must start now! Best man for the job no matter what division were in. At least the players seemed to play with a bit of belief and bite when he was in charge! Come on you clowns M and M, he is one phone call away…
“Mick could only do so much at end of the day he didnt have the money to spend he cant buy decent players. id have him bk like a rocket tbh i thought he was gr8 get rid of moxey n morgan and give him a open purse and i think we would do amazing.”
Now Wolves are in a mess- that much is a fact, but bringing back Mick McCarthy is not the answer.
It may give the squad a slight lift, as is often seen with ‘new managers’ but it is not the long-term answer for the club, and already six points adrift of 19th place, avoiding relegation looks insurmountable, even if Jose Mourinho came in for the last seven games.
This is because the problem does not lie with Terry Connor, it does not entirely lie with Jez Moxey and Steve Morgan, it lies with Wolves squad of players.
Who bought and created that squad? Mick McCarthy.
Moxey and Morgan cocked up by sacking him too late. There was a reason why their manager search was so bungled and fruitless.
Prospective bosses took a look at the Wolves squad, considered they were in February- outside the transfer window- and said ‘thanks but no thanks.’
It was clear to potential managers that the squad were not good enough to stay up, and joining would only leave a stain on their reputations.
Mick McCarthy would likely only have taken Wolves down anyway. Their 5-1 defeat to West Brom was shambolic and had the look of a team who had little to offer.
Wolves narrow survival last season was only possible via wins against Manchester United and Chelsea; great performances- but little use if you still find yourself losing to your nearest rivals at the bottom of the table.
It was not formula for success. These ‘magic’ results dried up for Wolves this year, and have left them rooted at the foot of the table, stuck only with their wretched form.
The squad arguing with each other and stripped of confidence is not an awful one, but it is one which is not good enough to retain their Premier League status, that much is apparent.
For any fan to want McCarthy back, is missing the bigger picture.
Perhaps it could be argued his record at Championship level could help bring them back next season, but after having years at Molineux and failing to take Wolves beyond being perennial relegation candidates, he does not deserve the opportunity.
The progress of Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers and Swansea and Norwich only shine a light on the club’s lack of progress under Big Mick, and he should not be viewed as some sort of martyr by fans, however strong their hatred of Jez Moxey and Steve Morgan.
image: © dannymol
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