Manchester United 3 - 0 Wolves Reserves

A football manager’s job is never an easy one. Each week without fail, a manager will be quoted as telling the media that ‘a week is a long time in football’. The ecstasy of a win on a Saturday can be countered by the dismay at the subsequent below-par performance in midweek. Emotional turmoil is combined with the pressure that accompanies the role a manager plays within a club. He is the figurehead. One man charged with fulfilling the expectations of thousands of loyal supporters, each with an opinion on how successfully he is doing his job. Managers will either sink or swim on the successful justification of big decisions. Unfortunately, the justification of a football manager’s decision is seen by the millions of people watching events unfold on a football pitch. There are few other professions where a mistake can be scrutinized by so many, so quickly.

Following the match at Old Trafford this evening, Mick McCarthy finds himself at the mercy of all Wolves fans, not to mention the media. Despite a shock 1-0 win at White Hart Lane on Saturday, McCarthy chose to change all 10 outfield players for the trip to Old Trafford. Regular first team players such as Jody Craddock, Richard Stearman and Nenad Milijas found themselves left out of the squad altogether whilst ex-Manchester United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was left to mull over his manager’s decision on the bench. A glance at the fixture list quickly explains the thinking behind McCarthy’s decision. The early afternoon kick-off against Burnley at Molyneux on Sunday is clearly a more presentable opportunity of gaining three points than a visit to the home of the title-holders. Whatever McCarthy says in the aftermath of this match, to all Wolves supporters the announcement of the teams over the Old Trafford PA system read more like a letter of resignation than a statement of intent. Whilst McCarthy will undoubtedly be criticised heavily in the morning newspapers, the main victims of his decision are the fans. The Burnley match was always going to be vital in Wolves quest for Premier League survival. It is now essential for McCarthy’s credibility amongst his own support.




Before a match against Arsenal in November, McCarthy was asked his opinion on Bryan Robson’s decision to field an understrength side against ‘Big-Four’ opposition whilst manager of West Brom. The Irishman’s response was commendable. “They got relegated didn’t they, so ultimately it didn’t work. Who am I to suggest to thousands of fans that I’ll be playing five or six players who aren’t my strongest?” Little over a month later McCarthy’s change of heart is staggering. Rather than playing those “five or six players”, he fielded what was essentially a reserve side with the exception of goalkeeper Hahnemann. What will rile the Molyneux faithful most is not the 3-0 defeat to the title chasers, it is the manner in which McCarthy chose not to give Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club the greatest possible opportunity to shock the champions in their own back yard. If McCarthy was in any doubt as to the opinion of the travelling fans in regard to his team selection, the chants of “we want our money back” from the away area of Old Trafford made the point brutally clear. You will be hard pushed to find a football fan who doesn’t agree with the discontent shown by the Wolves fans. It is easy to overlook the financial outlay that accompanies following a football team. An adult ticket for Old Trafford this evening would have cost the adult Wolves supporter £42, a fee all the more difficult to afford with Christmas fast approaching. In addition to this, a seat on the Official Wolves Supporter Coach would have cost £15. Without even considering the cost of refreshments, the very least a supporter would have expected as they arrived at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ was to see a competitive side walk out of the tunnel before kick off. Without being critical of the ‘reserves’ appetite for victory, every minute of the 3-0 United victory must have been a painful one for each away supporter. Every football fan expects those representing their club to give everything they have in order to send the fans away happy. Mick McCarthy didn’t even give them his first eleven. Incidentally, Burnley host Arsenal tomorrow night. Owen Coyle has instilled a mentality at Turf Moor that doesn’t accept surrender and makes it a very difficult place to visit. If Coyle’s full-strength side get a result tomorrow, it will feel like a game sacrificed by Wolves.




Football managers are paid to make big decisions. They are also paid to get these decisions correct. Mick McCarthy will face criticism from all angles in the days before the Burnley match, much of it from within. However, a victory on Sunday would go some way to healing the wounds of the Old Trafford no show. Football fans are a fickle bunch and three points at Molyneux would take Wolves above their opponents in the Premier League table. Although I don’t agree with McCarthy’s surrender before battle or lack of consideration for the fans, three points would go a long way to justifying his decision, in his own mind at least.

Confidence is Everything

As the final whistle blows at any football match, those who have watched it will draw several conclusions. Arsenal's 2-1 victory at Anfield on Sunday was no different. As the fans of the two teams broke out onto the Walton Breck Road, the contrast in emotions was vast. Arsenal fans marvelled at the shock of a weekend that had seen their team re-emerge as potential title winners whilst those in a different shade of red were bemoaning another defeat and the continued unpredictability of Rafael Benitez's reign. For those who were not influenced by club emotions, Sunday's match may have provided an insight into the complex, yet vital world of sports psychology.

Simply put, this was the classic game of two halves. Liverpool's dominance in the opening 45 minutes saw them go in with a fully deserved half time lead. Little over an hour later, it would not have been incorrect to comment that Arsenal were comfortable winners. Despite the fragile nature of a one goal advantage, the inevitability of the three points heading to London was clear to all those watching. What was staggering was the manner in which this game was won and lost in the mind. For all of his faults (mainly eyesight and temper tantrums), Arsene Wenger is frequently praised for his attitude towards player psychology. Wenger would be the first to acknowledge the vital role of confidence in football. Rarely has the importance of a team's mental state been exposed as vividly as it was at Anfield.




Despite their woes in recent weeks, Liverpool's first half performance was superb. A team famous for their free-flowing football were barely being given space to breath in the midfield by Javier Mascherano and the much-maligned Lucas Leiva. Cesc Fabregas, one of the world's most natural ball playing midfielders, looked like a lost child in a man's world. Despite Howard Webb's decision to turn down Steven Gerrard's penalty appeals, Liverpool maintained an intensity for 45 minutes that makes them a very difficult side to live with. As the players left the pitch for the warmth of the Anfield changing rooms with Dirk Kuyt's scrambled goal separating the sides, it is hard to believe that Benitez could have been happier with his players. His delight at Webb's performance may have lacked such affection but nevertheless, all seemed rosy at Liverpool once again.

Across the Anfield corridor, Wenger was making his point clear. Despite seeing his team lose frustratingly before, the Frenchman chose now to discard his usual calm for a ruthless 15 minutes with his team. He had not seen the real Arsenal, his Arsenal. It has been revealed in the aftermath that Wenger claimed his men were 'not fit to wear the shirt', the ultimate insult to any professional. Although this is the only quote to escape the walls of the away changing room, you can only assume that the rest of the half time speech was similarly blunt. Whilst telling his wingers to get higher up the pitch to open out the midfield for Fabregas, the overwhelming message for the Arsenal players was that such a performance would not be tolerated again. The only option? Improve. And do it quickly. Wenger left his players with no doubt in their minds as to what would be expected of them after the break. Back in the Liverpool changing room, the enthusiasm of Benitez and his staff would have certainly been supported by a warning. Arsenal would not be that poor again and they would come flying at Liverpool from the first whistle in the second half.

For reasons that Benitez must uncover quickly, Liverpool failed to deal with the improved Arsenal. An early raid down the right and Glen Johnson's failure to organise his feet in time provided Arsenal with a soft leveller. Although clearly shaken, Liverpool continued to pass the ball and a Torres raid down the Arsenal right caused the travelling fans at the Anfield Road end to hold their breath. Then it happened. Anonymous so far, a Fabregas cross fell to the feet of Andrei Arshavin and the Russian provided a moment of world-class quality to send the ball hurtling into the Liverpool goal. As soon as the ball hit Pepe Reina's net, the entire complexion of the game changed. From this moment, it was clear that Liverpool would lose. The sharp passing game that had served them so well in the first half had gone, to be replaced by hopeful punts forward by the back four in the vague direction of the increasingly despondent looking Fernando Torres. The Kop was willing resurgence. After all, this is what Liverpool do. Nothing is easy. Every victory relies on spirit and courageous determination. What will hurt the Anfield faithful the most about this match is the fact that it never came. There wasn't even a real moment of promise near the Arsenal penalty area. The final third of the match was not the resurgence that was required. It was a somber understanding that this match had slipped away.




This match was lost in the mind. As soon as Arshavin struck, the whole world was suddenly against Liverpool. The refused penalty appeal in the first half was important again. It was evidence that this wasn't Liverpool's day. Arsenal had managed to enter the Liverpool penalty area twice and had only converted one chance themselves. However, when you are down, such thinking does not enter the mind. In the heads of the Liverpool players, they had thrown it away and were the poor team that the media had built them up to be. No sooner had this thought entered the minds of the players, they were a poor team again. Aimless long balls and a lack of movement were features of the second half performance. The contrast between the terrier like midfield of the opening 45 minutes and the forlorn figures chasing shadows in the second provides a graphic illustration of the importance of a strong mentality in a footballer's weaponry. A set-back should provide no reason for work rate to dip but when you are struggling, the expectation of defeat can be difficult to shake off. On the other hand, Arsenal were basking in their own glory. Two goals had changed the way that the away team was performing. Every pass had become easy. The flicks and tricks that had been so predictable in the first half were now moments of inspiration for the fans to cheer. Despite never looking like extending their lead, Wenger wouldn't have been worried by the narrow advantage. Furthermore, he would have been delighted that his harsh words at the interval could be replaced by words of praise at the final whistle.

This match has the potential to have a lasting effect on both of these clubs. Whilst Wenger will do everything in his power to ensure that the confidence exuding from his players in the final third of the match remains for the considerable future, Benitez will continue in his battle to restore confidence to his stuttering Liverpool team. As their first half performance demonstrated, whilst not being the best, this is not a terrible Liverpool side. When the mentality is right these players can compete with any side in the Premier League. Frustratingly for Benitez and the Kopites, every time it seems that Liverpool have turned a corner, the players' confidence is shattered the moment something goes against them. Learning to trust in ability when a match is going against you is something that Benitez needs to implant into the Liverpool mindset. If he is struggling to do this then he need look no further than 'Le Professeur', the master of player psychology.

Beware of the Cup - A short article published in the Oxford Mail (8/12/2009) for a debate on whether a cup run would be a distraction for OUFC.

Ask anybody connected with Oxford United what the ultimate aim of this season is and they will tell you that we must win promotion to the Football League. Whilst prolonged runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy are nice for everybody involved with the club, we must not let success in these competitions distract us from what matters most, the continuation of our outstanding league form. Understandably, Kelvin and Chris will be delighted with the financial rewards provided by the FA Cup run. However, a return to the League would also boost the club’s income substantially and must be the priority. Rather than being the face of doom and gloom, I prefer to issue a word of warning about the consequences of letting our guard down. The potential trip to Sunderland is a great reward for fans, players and staff but a loss of focus on the league over the Christmas period would far outweigh the benefits of a nice day out in the North East. We must also manage our FA Trophy campaign in a manner that utilises the depth of our squad and prevents fatigue and injuries to key players. A cup campaign should not be frowned upon but must be managed in the correct manner. I have full faith that Chris Wilder is the man to manage the situation correctly.