|
| Spare a thought for Big Mick |
|
|
|
|
| The coals of Saipan were raked over by Roy Keane last week but Mick McCarthy can look to the future when he thinks about the biggest challenge of his managerial career. |
|
| |
By Shane Breslin
23 November 2009, 6:11:17 PM
|
| |
|
The schism that was the 2002 World Cup was reawakened by one of its chief protagonists (antagonists? – Ed.) last week, as Roy Keane laced a boot into the FAI in their hour of need.
Keane raised some valid criticisms in his diatribe, such as the defensive lapses which preceded Thierry Henry’s Hand of Gaul on Wednesday night. On the whole, though, any salient points were lost in the bilious tones of his outburst.
That was Friday. A day later, while Keane was trying in vain to inspire Ipswich to a rare Coca-Cola Championship win at home to Sheffield Wednesday, old adversary Mick McCarthy was on the receiving end of a pummelling by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
McCarthy’s reputation has been rebuilt at Wolves after some lean years. He suffered greatly from the manner in which the curtain came down on his time in the international job in 2002, with Keane’s spectre looming large. Few remember that he subsequently steered Sunderland to promotion, only that he was sacked the following March with the Black Cats on their way to setting an unenviable record for points in a Premiership season.
For Mick, Wolves is a second chance to make an impression in the Premier League. A second chance – and also, probably, his last.
It is impossible to underestimate, then, the magnitude of the next couple of months, which will go a long way towards defining McCarthy’s career in the dugout.
Wolves lost 4-0 to Chelsea – the second successive game in which they’ve leaked four. It was game over after 22 minutes, with Florent Malouda’s belter and Michael Essien’s brace giving Carlo Ancelotti an afternoon so comfortable that he hardly missed Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho et al.
But it is not games against Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Molineux two weeks ago, and Chelsea which will prove Wolves’ undoing. The next fortnight is much more important, with home games against Birmingham City and Bolton. The vital nature of those games can be gauged from the December fixture list, with Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City all to come before the turn of the year.
Fail to take a good haul against Birmingham and Bolton – and Burnley next month too, also at Molineux – and McCarthy could find himself in a situation that is as familiar as it is unwelcome.
|
| Comments: (Click here to post your comment) |
| |
|
|
|
|
