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McCarthy sacked after a “lack of fight at Wolves this season”
The Wolves owner Steve Morgan has decided enough is enough, giving manager Mick McCarthy the boot after a run of 22 league games that yielded just 14 points, and culminated in an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat to local rivals West Brom on Sunday. It’s a decision that comes as little surprise to the Life’s A Pitch team. It discusses the reasons behind McCarthy’s sacking and speculates over who will step into a relegation battle in his place.
The Daily Telegraph’s Jason Burt is unsurprised McCarthy has been given his marching orders after Wolves’ loss against West Brom, given the plight they’re in. He cites “the lack of progression, really, and the lack of fight at Wolverhampton this season. I think he’s been on thin ice for some time. They wouldn’t be in the Premier League without him, but that only lasts for so long. Obviously the owner is worried about their survival and he’s acted now and I’m not surprised he’s gone.”
The lack of fight shown by the Wolves players in recent weeks was key to McCarthy’s dismissal, agrees the Daily Express’ Ian Ridley. “What did for Mick on [Sunday] was not only did they defend badly – some appalling schoolboy goals conceded – but also the lack of heart for the last 30 minutes or so,” he says. “He’s been let down very badly by one or two signings. Roger Johnson has not done him any favours there.”
In terms of replacements, Steve Bruce is the bookies’ early favourite to take over at Molineux and Jason can see why. “I think there’s one outstanding candidate in terms of availability and that would be Steve Bruce,” he says. “He’s a proven Premier League manager. Obviously, it didn’t work out at Sunderland in the end, but he’s got a good track record at other clubs. He would seem to me to be quite a safe bet in terms of fighting a relegation battle. He did it before at Wigan.”
Ian believes Chris Hughton would do well at Wolves, but suspects that Morgan will consider Bruce the man to steer the club away from relegation. “Chris Hughton at Birmingham City has done a marvellous job there, as he did at Newcastle. Depends what he [Morgan] is looking for. Is he looking for a proven experienced manager just to take the reigns and try to get them out of relegation? In which case, Bruce might fit the bill.”
Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the image play button above
Related articles:
Video: Frimpong, Macheda and Sigurdsson: Hit or miss?
Adam Bate: Is McCarthy still capable of delivering progress at Wolves?
Mike Calvin: Why football needs managers like Mick McCarthy
Video: “What does this minority of Wolves fans want?“
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