Part 4 - English Premier League: Losers of the 7th weekend
Another team which has been on a destructive streak of form has been Wolverhampton Wanderers. After spreading hue and cry and blaming the media for his side’s terribly painted picture, Mick McCarthy was at it again after his captain,
Karl Henry was sent off at the weekend for his vicious tackle on Gomez as the Wolves took on Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Wolverhampton qualified for the English Premier League in the 2009-2010 season. Despite being touted as one of the relegation contenders, Wolves did very well last season and finished the season safely above the relegation zone.
In doing so, they earned over many of the neutrals as their striker Kevin Doyle was their standout player in the 2009-2010 season. Not only that, they took a right approach to the game as they played offensive football which allowed them to score more goals
than their opponents and thus collect more points.
In the close season, Wolves have undergone some sort of a psychological revolution. They are now acting literally like rabid dogs. Since the start of the season, Wolverhampton have been blamed by the media and other English Premier
League clubs as well for having an overtly aggressive approach to the game. Wolves have been out in packs to get blood it seems and they are not even ready to admit to that.
On the weekend, Wolves lost their match to Wigan by two straight goals. This loss has pushed them into the relegation zone but the match was again characterized by rash challenges. One such tackle was committed by Karl Henry; it
was a lucky one for Gomez, who escaped any serious injury but quite sensibly, the referee for the match Lee Mason acted rationally as he showed Karl Henry a straight red card.
It is time that the Wolves admit to the fact that they are a dirty team, perhaps the dirtiest team in the English Premier League, if dirty is to be thought of as a team that indulges in foul play. Ever since the season has kicked
off, Wolverhampton have committed 114 fouls. They have also gathered 20 bookings in their first seven games of the English Premier League season.
After the Wigan’s victory, Wolverhampton’s manager Mick McCarthy was out in full force as he tried to defend his captain who almost ended Gomez’s career with his two footed-studs up tackle. The former Irish national team manager
said that, with Karl Henry being mentioned in the press with regard to his mistimed tackles, the referee was in a frame of mind which had a bearing on his decision itself.
Mick tried to imply with these remarks that another player might have gotten away with the challenge and because Henry has been tainted as a villainous figure in the media, his sending off was inevitable.
There is no doubt that Henry has already put Bobby Zamora out of action already, as earlier on in the season, Henry broke Zamora’s leg as Fulham took on Wolves at the Craven Cottage. If such a person does not deserve an iniquitous
reputation than who does?
There is only one fix for this situation, that if such tackles continue, Wolves should be docked points for their violent behaviour. Denial has been Wolverhampton’s best friend so far as they have already said through their chief
executive Jez Moxey that they are afraid of the media picture that is being painted about his team will influence the referee’s that officiate Wolverhampton’s games.
A more appropriate remark would’ve been aimed at his own employees, telling them to practice severe caution before one of their escapes out on the green results in an injury or something far worse.
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