Post by Jay on Apr 21, 2006 18:23:56 GMT -1
By Ian Smith
Glenn Hoddle was 13 years of age when I saw Wolves at Molineux for the first time. 36 years later I'm still here, Early Bird Season Ticket purchased and looking forward to the new season.
One that I hope will not start with Glenn Hoddle at the helm.
The fans are very divided on the matter.
It appears to be sorted into three groups, firstly the vociferous "anti Hoddle" brigade, secondly the fans that are disgruntled but are suffering in silence and finally the fans that feel criticising anything Wolves is sacrilege.
I heard myself chanted for the manager's head on Friday. I wouldn't describe myself as a "hire and fire" merchant, as the last manager whose head I chanted for was Graham Hawkins back in 1983.
My reason for joining the chanting was to protest against the direction Hoddle is taking my club.
For many Wolves fans he has knocked their hearts and souls out of watching the team, with boring, depressing football with no change in sight.
Only the spirit of supporting one club for a lifetime remains.
"Keeping The Faith" is one thing - but how much of it is Blind Faith?
Wolves have underachieved in the past, but never as badly as to the current levels, given the resources available.
Can anyone honestly say they have enjoyed the vast majority of performances they have seen this season?
Under the reign of Glenn Hoddle, the "highs" haven't been very high, you struggle to remember an emphatic victory, while the "lows" have been largely self inflicted and so obviously rectifiable by utilising the playing staff in their correct positions.
The style of play remains a mystery to fans and players alike. The players are beyond criticism as many of them have been square pegs in round holes for much of the season.
He has rightly pointed out that drawn games have been killing Wolves in their ambitions, but they in turn have saved him from receiving greater terrace abuse, as while the team hasn't won, it hasn't lost.
If the club is to go forward, Wolves can no longer tolerate the same mistakes being made week after week, listening to the same excuses with no sign of any remedial action being taken.
The buck has to stop with the manager, and Hoddle has to take on this responsibility and accept that whatever he is trying to do, it simply isn't working.
All of this makes Jez Moxey's "total disaster" outburst unsurprising, but as Chief Executive and the man in charge of operations at Molineux, questions should have been asked earlier.
The Moxey/Hoddle argument will sort itself out, both men believe they are right in their opinions and I feel it will inevitably come down to "back me or sack me".
It is common knowledge that no money is available for transfers, so it can only come from the potential sales of Lescott and Cort - but will this be spent wisely?
Tough decisions have to be made this summer. The Early Bird take up represents the 12,000 hard-core fans that the club has; and speaking as one of them we would all be there next season regardless.
However, if the current manager and his style of play are around in August, it remains to be seen how many other fans will be tempted to boost the Molineux coffers.
Glenn Hoddle was 13 years of age when I saw Wolves at Molineux for the first time. 36 years later I'm still here, Early Bird Season Ticket purchased and looking forward to the new season.
One that I hope will not start with Glenn Hoddle at the helm.
The fans are very divided on the matter.
It appears to be sorted into three groups, firstly the vociferous "anti Hoddle" brigade, secondly the fans that are disgruntled but are suffering in silence and finally the fans that feel criticising anything Wolves is sacrilege.
I heard myself chanted for the manager's head on Friday. I wouldn't describe myself as a "hire and fire" merchant, as the last manager whose head I chanted for was Graham Hawkins back in 1983.
My reason for joining the chanting was to protest against the direction Hoddle is taking my club.
For many Wolves fans he has knocked their hearts and souls out of watching the team, with boring, depressing football with no change in sight.
Only the spirit of supporting one club for a lifetime remains.
"Keeping The Faith" is one thing - but how much of it is Blind Faith?
Wolves have underachieved in the past, but never as badly as to the current levels, given the resources available.
Can anyone honestly say they have enjoyed the vast majority of performances they have seen this season?
Under the reign of Glenn Hoddle, the "highs" haven't been very high, you struggle to remember an emphatic victory, while the "lows" have been largely self inflicted and so obviously rectifiable by utilising the playing staff in their correct positions.
The style of play remains a mystery to fans and players alike. The players are beyond criticism as many of them have been square pegs in round holes for much of the season.
He has rightly pointed out that drawn games have been killing Wolves in their ambitions, but they in turn have saved him from receiving greater terrace abuse, as while the team hasn't won, it hasn't lost.
If the club is to go forward, Wolves can no longer tolerate the same mistakes being made week after week, listening to the same excuses with no sign of any remedial action being taken.
The buck has to stop with the manager, and Hoddle has to take on this responsibility and accept that whatever he is trying to do, it simply isn't working.
All of this makes Jez Moxey's "total disaster" outburst unsurprising, but as Chief Executive and the man in charge of operations at Molineux, questions should have been asked earlier.
The Moxey/Hoddle argument will sort itself out, both men believe they are right in their opinions and I feel it will inevitably come down to "back me or sack me".
It is common knowledge that no money is available for transfers, so it can only come from the potential sales of Lescott and Cort - but will this be spent wisely?
Tough decisions have to be made this summer. The Early Bird take up represents the 12,000 hard-core fans that the club has; and speaking as one of them we would all be there next season regardless.
However, if the current manager and his style of play are around in August, it remains to be seen how many other fans will be tempted to boost the Molineux coffers.
And it's Wolverhampton! Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C 