Post by PureOldGold on Dec 2, 2008 20:20:43 GMT -1
Wolves’ history is liberally laced with glorious deeds – three times League champions, four-times FA Cup winners and pioneers of European football in this country.
So it just goes to show what Mick McCarthy’s side have achieved this season that they are now among the best performing Wolves – or any – side in history at the same stage of the season.
Wolves went into the Birmingham game having amassed more points (46) than any other team who have gone on to win the second tier of English football since Fulham in 2000-01.
A look at the respective league tables from when the club went on to win titles suggests McCarthy’s side compare favourably with the heroes from yesteryear – albeit at different levels!
With a record of 15 wins and two draws from their first 20 games, the class of 2008 has performed better at the same stage than the champions of 1957-58, who had won 13 and drew five.
Goals from Jimmy Murray and Peter Broadbent – with a lob over the keeper – before Jimmy McIlroy replied gave Stan Cullis’ side a 2-1 win over Burnley on 30 November 1957, which extended their lead to three points at the top of the old First Division over second-placed Albion.
Broadbent’s goal was introduced to Sporting Star readers with the wonderfully quaint sentence: “The lights were switched on for the start of the second half and within three minutes Wolves increased their lead.”
Cullis’ all-conquering side’s prominence in the game was reflected by an advert in the Sporting Star at the time.
For just £30, Don Everall Travel Agents were offering a “three day inclusive tour by air, stand tickets and two nights in a three star hotel – with special reduction for ladies (!)” to watch the forthcoming game - away to Real Madrid.
McCarthy’s squad also compares well with the last Wolves team to win the title at their current level in 1976-77.
When Wolves thrashed Bristol Rovers 5-1 on 27 December 1976, Sammy Chung’s eventual champions remained in second, four points behind leaders Chelsea.
Victory meant Wolves had won 10 and drew six of their first 20 games of the season.
John Dee reported on the back page of the Express & Star that Wolves were being sponsored £10 a goal by Wolverhampton industrialist John Andrews and business colleague Eric Johnson.
The players were taking the bait in a big way, as Alan Sunderland started the five-goal romp with one of two strikes in between efforts from Steve Daley, Kenny Hibbitt and Steve Kindon.
Future Wolves striker and Sky TV pundit Andy Gray was the country’s top goalscorer with 21 and you could buy a second hand green Volkswagen Beetle for £899 from Charterhouse in Wolverhampton.
Television highlights included Tommy Cooper’s Guest Night and the James Bond film ‘From Russia with Love’ on ITV, back when there were only three TV channels!
When Wolves went to freezing, foggy Twerton Park on Boxing Day in 1988, Bristol Rovers were one of a rare breed as they put the shackles on Steve Bull and Andy Mutch.
Geoff Twentyman and Co actually denied Bully his 100th goal, a feat that was to come five days later in a 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Elsewhere, the back page of the Express & Star was dominated by news of Tommy Coakley’s sacking and his assistant Gerry Sweeney from Walsall when they were rock bottom of what’s now the Championship.
Who were top? Chelsea.
A glance at the other League tables shows Norwich were second in the top flight, a point behind eventual champions Arsenal.
In other news, four men were due to appear in court the next day in connection with looting from the wreckage of the Lockerbie disaster.
Boon and Bergerac were some of the top-rated TV shows of the time and you could buy two pairs of Farah trousers for £28.90 in the same. An MoT cost £8.99.
Back to the class of 2008, and Wolves’ record confirms them as one of the top performing gold and black sides of all time.
Current midfielder Dave Jones believes their secret is a not too dissimilar one from their ancestors – hard work.
He said: “The training is such high tempo. You can’t train at a slow tempo from Monday to Friday and expect to turn it on on a Saturday. The gaffer is like Sir Alex Ferguson – he demands it of us.
“The strikers also do extra finishing with TC (assistant manager Terry Connor) but quite a few of us do extra stuff, because he makes it so enjoyable.
“The sessions he puts on are great and it encourages you to work harder.”
So it just goes to show what Mick McCarthy’s side have achieved this season that they are now among the best performing Wolves – or any – side in history at the same stage of the season.
Wolves went into the Birmingham game having amassed more points (46) than any other team who have gone on to win the second tier of English football since Fulham in 2000-01.
A look at the respective league tables from when the club went on to win titles suggests McCarthy’s side compare favourably with the heroes from yesteryear – albeit at different levels!
With a record of 15 wins and two draws from their first 20 games, the class of 2008 has performed better at the same stage than the champions of 1957-58, who had won 13 and drew five.
Goals from Jimmy Murray and Peter Broadbent – with a lob over the keeper – before Jimmy McIlroy replied gave Stan Cullis’ side a 2-1 win over Burnley on 30 November 1957, which extended their lead to three points at the top of the old First Division over second-placed Albion.
Broadbent’s goal was introduced to Sporting Star readers with the wonderfully quaint sentence: “The lights were switched on for the start of the second half and within three minutes Wolves increased their lead.”
Cullis’ all-conquering side’s prominence in the game was reflected by an advert in the Sporting Star at the time.
For just £30, Don Everall Travel Agents were offering a “three day inclusive tour by air, stand tickets and two nights in a three star hotel – with special reduction for ladies (!)” to watch the forthcoming game - away to Real Madrid.
McCarthy’s squad also compares well with the last Wolves team to win the title at their current level in 1976-77.
When Wolves thrashed Bristol Rovers 5-1 on 27 December 1976, Sammy Chung’s eventual champions remained in second, four points behind leaders Chelsea.
Victory meant Wolves had won 10 and drew six of their first 20 games of the season.
John Dee reported on the back page of the Express & Star that Wolves were being sponsored £10 a goal by Wolverhampton industrialist John Andrews and business colleague Eric Johnson.
The players were taking the bait in a big way, as Alan Sunderland started the five-goal romp with one of two strikes in between efforts from Steve Daley, Kenny Hibbitt and Steve Kindon.
Future Wolves striker and Sky TV pundit Andy Gray was the country’s top goalscorer with 21 and you could buy a second hand green Volkswagen Beetle for £899 from Charterhouse in Wolverhampton.
Television highlights included Tommy Cooper’s Guest Night and the James Bond film ‘From Russia with Love’ on ITV, back when there were only three TV channels!
When Wolves went to freezing, foggy Twerton Park on Boxing Day in 1988, Bristol Rovers were one of a rare breed as they put the shackles on Steve Bull and Andy Mutch.
Geoff Twentyman and Co actually denied Bully his 100th goal, a feat that was to come five days later in a 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Elsewhere, the back page of the Express & Star was dominated by news of Tommy Coakley’s sacking and his assistant Gerry Sweeney from Walsall when they were rock bottom of what’s now the Championship.
Who were top? Chelsea.
A glance at the other League tables shows Norwich were second in the top flight, a point behind eventual champions Arsenal.
In other news, four men were due to appear in court the next day in connection with looting from the wreckage of the Lockerbie disaster.
Boon and Bergerac were some of the top-rated TV shows of the time and you could buy two pairs of Farah trousers for £28.90 in the same. An MoT cost £8.99.
Back to the class of 2008, and Wolves’ record confirms them as one of the top performing gold and black sides of all time.
Current midfielder Dave Jones believes their secret is a not too dissimilar one from their ancestors – hard work.
He said: “The training is such high tempo. You can’t train at a slow tempo from Monday to Friday and expect to turn it on on a Saturday. The gaffer is like Sir Alex Ferguson – he demands it of us.
“The strikers also do extra finishing with TC (assistant manager Terry Connor) but quite a few of us do extra stuff, because he makes it so enjoyable.
“The sessions he puts on are great and it encourages you to work harder.”
