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Connor & Henry reflect on relegation

'We've proved we are not good enough to stay in the Premier League.'

Short and to the point, that was Terry Connor's remarks to the BBC after relegation had been confirmed against Manchester City.

'It's raw for the players, supporters, staff and everyone connected to Wolves. It will be a tough few days,' he added.

Personally I'd already accepted that relegation was a formality, around about the same time that the board made the mistake of sacking Mick McCarthy without a plan to replace him.

I didn't agree it was right to sack our Mick, but understood the mounting pressure from the fans and the result against Albion made it a formality, but to do it without a plan, which quickly turned farcical and led to newspaper reports claiming that half a dozen different people turned the job down meant we had a squad of players with no direction and no self belief.

That was the single decision that for me took away any hope of staying up.

It would have been difficult to stay up whether McCarthy had remained at Molineux, or Curbishley had been persuaded to join, but we would have stood a better chance with either in charge, instead of TC who unfortunately was on a hiding to nothing, thrown in the deep end without any arm bands.

'It's been a long season and the table doesn't lie. We've not been good enough this year and we need to bounce back now.' Wolves midfielder Karl Henry also told the BBC.

He continued: 'I don't think the change of manager helped, It's been a tough situation for Terry Connor to come into, and he's done a great job under the circumstances.

'We weren't doing fantastically under the old manager either. Ultimately we've not been good enough as a squad.'

With three games of the Premier League season remaining, Wolves will obviously have one eye on the Championship next year, but we will continue to compete in the final games of the season, as the Premier League's integrity demands it.

TC concluded: 'The last three games will be difficult, It's an honest league and we've signed up for 38 competitive games and the matches might have a bearing on other teams so we'll show honesty, integrity and try to win as many points as we can.'

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Writer: Akela

Date:Monday April 23 2012

Time: 12:00PM

Your Comments

Give Henry the armband back. He may not be every bodies cup of tea but he is a leader and he is Wolves to the core. Ultimately this may be a blessing in disguise. We now have an opportunity to put the things that are wrong, right. The key is to make the right decisions when it comes to a new manager and coach. Give me Graham Taylor, Ray Wilkins and a young manager. Let Moxey do his financial stuff and let Taylor do the Football stuff. I appreciate they wouldn't come cheap but what you spend on them may be saved on the pitch. We have the core of a very good mid-table team. If we can sort out the defence then the rest will follow. Ask Fletcher to give us his loyalty for 1 season and help us get back up. Our neighbours down the road yoyoed for a few seasons but consistently built on what they had. The fact is WBA are the best midlands team and deservedly so. We now need to show the same ambition and same commitment. Clear out the deadwood and lets start over with fresh ideas.

Rustmonkey

Agreed rustmonkey except the Taylor part, there would be no fresh ideas from that direction. Wilkins yes, but with Curbs in charge, i think he has something to prove

gregory house

Rustmonkey i agree get rid of the deadwood because if you looked at the starting eleven yesterday eight of them players who started were in the championship winning team. And there lies the problem we all knew on here the squad was not good enough the only one who thought it was, was MM he had blind faith in these players who every one else knew were not good we enough.

kiawolves

A compelling observation, Kia. My own problem was perhaps that I, in turn, had blind faith in MM, saying to myself: who is in a better position to be the judge of that?

lovesW

I keep reading that TC is in the running for the job, though the board might secretly be putting out feelers to other candidates. I hope so because, if not, we're stuck in the same old rut. It's absolutely vital that we secure the right coaching team and, as Rustmonkey and kiawolves insist (as does lovesW in his own way),we have to clear out the dead wood and start afresh. I also read about the on-loan performances of Guedioura and Griffiths and, while they are playing in inferior leagues, they seem to have progressed. There's Hammill, Vokes and Batth too. Interestingly, Keogh is scoring for fun with Milwall.

Southbank60

SOUTHBANK60 you are right their have been some good reports about our on loan players and keogh, but there in a diferent division. They are not good enough for the PL so do we bring them back hopeing they will help us get promoted then what happens were stuck with them knowing their not good enough for the PL. And that was MM downfall as i said to much faith in players who were just not good enough.

kiawolves

I don't think that keeping Mick to the end of the season would have constituted 'blind faith', lovesW. But sacking him when Morgan did, with or without a replacement tapped-up, was far too late in the day.I don't think SAF could have sorted out that defence in time.

winstonsmith84

WS84, my reference was to MM's appraisal of the players under his charge and to my faith in that appraisal, as SB intuitively makes out. I said elsewhere that, in my opinion, it was the wrong time to sack MM and that we at least would have stood a chance with him drawing on the previous 2 years' experience in the dog-fight to follow. Looking to life in the Championship now, time to be realistic and see the plus side; for one thing, I will be getting better value out of the Wolves Player (hopefully!!)- I only bother to watch the highlights of those matches that end in a win. For another, there will be more midweek results to look forward to during the week. The points gap between second- and third- placed ia another......hm, arrogance again.

lovesW

Lovesw your admiration for MM is great i liked the guy to but his stubborness to admit these players were not good enough was his down fall. What is needed now is for the board to get there heads together and get the right man in and im sorry but that guy is not TC. Ten games to points and he thinks he is the one to get us back which mirror is he looking in to because if it is the same one as me he is deluded and i have never played or managed any team.

kiawolves

i can not think of another club with such foundation and promise that imploded in such a fashion. They got just about every decision wrong, you could not have fluffed it up more if you were trying. He should have gone end of last season. He should have gone at Christmas etc etc. Two mistakes on the bounce. The attempt to 'employ' a new manager made us a laughing stock and we ended up with a clown. Wolves fans apparently have nothing against Connor? I do. He was part of the problem and managed to make us worse. The returns are pathetic- you could have got a Sunday pub league manager to at least rouse one win from somewhere. This talk today from Moxey that clip boy is Wolves through and through and is free to apply for the job sends a chill down my spine. When I am home I pay my shillings and attend games- if he gets the job I am cutting off my cable service and internet links and I am not watching it. I don't give a ***** if someone wants to tell me I am not a real fan but I for one don't think it's funny going to Barnsley next season. Banks and I wrote a article on the stadium development and in short, having spent 18 million or whatever it was it will be empty because you need a team to fill more seats. I've never felt this *****ed off about the Wolves. 16 years or however many it was in the first I still turned up week after week thinking we might make it. I don't anticipate a quick return which is going to just hit the club harder than it expects. This shambles of a season will throw us back a good three years so cheers for the memories Mick but most of his work has been undone by the idiots that did not have the balls to sack him when he should have been sacked and could not have tempted Des O Connor to take things over if they tried. I am done with writing about it. The way they conduct themselves over the summer will dictate my own investment next season. It has got to be Solsjkaer, Poyet or Clarke preferably with Wilkins to hold their hand.

New York City Wolf

I know what you meant,lovesW, I don't think you were displaying 'blind faith', that's all. I didn't think we would finish bottom, or even that it was a formality that we'd be relegated. Like most I assumed (which almost always makes an ass of u and me) that at least two of the newboys (especially Norwich) would be down there struggling;with us, them and Lancashire scrapping for as high a finish in the bottom five/six as possible.I find that your opinion has been as consistent as any i've read, lovesW; MM was the man to keep us up.That theory was never disproven, of course, but all things considered I still can't view it ('scuse the pun) as 'blind'. We all knew, at the start of the season, that Morgan was sticking with Mick. We all knew what squad we were starting with,too, before predictions were made about our likely finishing position.

winstonsmith84

Today, through the post, I received my thank you for renewing my season ticket. However, like NYCW, I am not happy about the gloss that JM is putting on the board's woeful mishandling of the season ... and, even worse, the notion that TC is still in the running for the job as permanent manager. I have embraced relegation and, though not pleased with it, it's probably a necessary evil, given the shambles at Molineux. However, to get us out of this mess and to point us in the right direction, we need a coaching team that is attuned to the modern game and is able to realise the full potential of our players. TC is clearly not up to the job and if obtains it, I will feel that I have paid for my season ticket under false pretences.

Southbank60