2011–12 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

Season review

In preparation for the season, the club made three signings during the summer transfer window. Jamie O'Hara, who had spent part of the previous season on loan at Wolves, was tied to a permanent deal, while defender Roger Johnson who had suffered relegation with Birmingham City was also bought. Goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was signed on a free transfer, having rejected a new deal at newly promoted Swansea, to provide competition to Wayne Hennessey. Having recruited extensively in the previous two summers since promotion, the addition of only three new players was a change in tack by the club, with chairman Steve Morgan stating "We don't need to do what we did the last two summers because the nucleus is there - the nucleus is 24-26 years-old. That's the heart of the team and they'll get better together."

The players began pre-season training on 5 July with six-day stay at a training camp in County Kildare, Ireland. After returning to England the team undertook six pre-season matches, concluding with the only friendly at their Molineux home, a game against La Liga side Real Zaragoza.

Competitive action began with a 2–1 victory at Blackburn, the same opponent that they had faced on the final day of the previous season when they narrowly avoided relegation. A second win arrived in their next fixture, a home game against Fulham which was played with the North Bank stand closed to spectators due to its on-going reconstruction. Owing to the different kick-off times of matches, for a few hours after this victory Wolves briefly sat top of the Premier League.

An away point at Aston Villa continued their best opening to a top flight campaign in decades, but defeat at home to Tottenham halted this run. The team then began to drop down the table after suffering a run of six defeats in their next seven matches. Three points were finally gained after defeating Wigan in early November, and after two away defeats, a second successive home win was gained by beating Sunderland.

The Christmas/New Year period added more points, including from two trips to face Arsenal and Tottenham, but no further victories. The two North London clubs also provided Wolves with their two loan signings of the January window with defender Sébastien Bassong (from Tottenham) and midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong (from Arsenal) joining for the remainder of the campaign. Frimpong's service would be however be limited to five appearances as he soon ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee and returned to his parent club.

Former Wolves starlet Robbie Keane returned to Molineux in mid-January with his loan club Aston Villa and scored twice to turn a 2–1 Wolves lead into a 2–3 defeat that dropped the club into the relegation zone for the first time. Another home loss three days later to Liverpool prompted chairman Steve Morgan to enter the dressing room after the game. Manager Mick McCarthy conceded that he was not pleased by this event but that he didn't feel his authority had been eroded.

Their following fixture brought their first win in twelve attempts – including two matches against Championship side Birmingham City in the FA Cup before their elimination. The 2–1 win at fellow strugglers, newly promoted QPR was to be both their final victory of the season and, ultimately, the final one of McCarthy's reign.

A 1–5 home thrashing at the hands of local rivals West Brom in their next game proved to be McCarthy's final in charge of Wolves. The morning after the match he was sacked after five-and-a-half years at the helm, the longest reign of any Wolves manager since Graham Turner in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Despite this dismissal both the club and McCarthy maintained an amicable stance, with many players also expressing regret at the turn of events.

The search for McCarthy's successor began immediately, with CEO Jez Moxey setting a provisional timetable for an appointment before their next fixture in twelve days time. Their pursuit of a new manager turned into a much-maligned event in the media, with a large number of candidates being linked with the position, and seemingly turning it down. The two most strongly linked candidates were the former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley and Steve Bruce, recently fired by Sunderland. Both were widely reported as having been interviewed by the Wolves hierarchy.

Ultimately, neither were appointed and instead the task of managing the team was given to assistant manager Terry Connor for the remaining thirteen games of the season. This decision was derided for being in contrast to Moxey's early-stated belief that the job was "not for a novice"; with Connor having no previous management roles. Over the following weeks it emerged that Alan Curbishley was the only candidate who had also been offered the post but, after initially accepting it, had later had second thoughts and declined it.

Connor's first game at the helm brought a point as the team battled back from two goals down to draw 2–2 at Champions League hopefuls Newcastle. However things soon fell apart under Connor's control with the team losing their next seven consecutive matches, including a pair of 0–5 defeats, that left them mired at the foot of the table. Key home defeats to relegation rivals Blackburn and Bolton only worsened their prospects of avoiding the drop. During this period captain Roger Johnson was fined by the club for arriving at training under the influence of alcohol.

Although a goalless draw at Sunderland in mid-April eventually halted their losing streak, as well as a club record run of 30 league games without a clean sheet, only a finish of four consecutive wins could by this point prevent relegation. As it was, they lost their very next game, a 0–2 loss to eventual champions Manchester City and so confirmed their relegation with three games remaining. This brought to an end their Premier League status after three years, their longest consecutive stay in the top flight since the period 1977–82.

Two further points were gained to bring their final points tally to 25, one of the lowest recorded in any league campaign during the club's existence as well as the lowest in the Premier League for four seasons. On the eve of their final fixture the club announced that Connor, who had hoped to become a permanent appointment, would not be retained as manager and Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken would instead take charge from July onward. Connor had failed to win any of his thirteen games in charge and gained just four points from a potential 39.

Results

Pre season

Wolves' six pre season games saw them face opposition from three different leagues, including a match in front of a 33,681 crowd at Celtic, the largest attendance at one of Wolves' pre season matches for some years. As had become common in recent years, only their final game was held at their Molineux home. A second "Wolves Development XI" team largely comprising academy prospects also played a series of matches during this period. Sarcevic Grigg Griffiths Berra Twardzik Ebanks-Blake Fletcher "Wolves Development XI" pre season results (all away): 3–2 vs Monaghan United (12 July), 3–0 vs Lisburn Distillery (15 July), 0–2 vs Shrewsbury Town (22 July), 1–1 vs Wrexham (26 July), 2–4 vs Kidderminster Harriers (29 July), 3–0 vs Airbus (1 August), 1–3 vs Telford United (8 August)

Premier League

A total of 20 teams competed in the Premier League in the 2011–12 season. Each team played every other team twice: once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

The provisional fixture list was released on 17 June 2011, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns. Ward Jarvis Defoe Faurlín Campbell Suárez Gutiérrez Odemwingie O'Hara Allen Kolarov A. Johnson Edwards Ward Baines Sturridge Mata Larsson 73' Rooney Crouch Zubar Jackson Lampard Edwards Keane Bellamy Kuyt Doyle Olsson Andrews Gutiérrez Doyle Dempsey Valencia Welbeck Hernández Jarvis Alonso Davies Crouch Walcott Benayoun Nasri Allen Dyer Graham Jarvis Edwards Boyce Fletcher

;Final table

;Results Summary

;Results by round |color_18-=red1

FA Cup

League Cup

Milijaš Vokes Hammill Elokobi Vokes Guedioura O'Hara Nasri Džeko de Vries

Players

Squad rules operated in the Premier League for the season. Squads were capped at 25 senior players (those aged 21 and above at the beginning of 2011), and all squads had to include a minimum of 8 "homegrown" players. Wolves squads included 16, then 15, such players.

Statistics

|- |34||0||0||0||0||0||34||0||1||0|| |- |||0||1||0||3||1||||1||0||0|| |- |||3||0||0||2||1||||4||2||0|| |- |||0||2||0||1||0||||0||6||0|| |- |||0||0||0||2||0||||0||1||0|| |- |||3||1||0||||0||||3||2||0|| |- |||0||1||0||||0||||0||7||1|| |- |||1||2||0||1||2||||3||1||0|| |- |||12||||0||0||0||||12||2||0|| |- |38||3||||0||1||0||****||3||2||0|| |- |||3||2||0||2||0||||3||6||0|| |- |||0||0||0||0||0||||0||0||0|| |- |||0||1||0||0||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||6||0|| |- |||0||0||0||0||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||1||0||Frimpong's loan spell was cut short after he ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee. |- |||0||2||0||1||0||||0||5||0|| |- |||8||||0||||0||||8||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||3||2||||2||1||0|| |- |||0||1||0||||1||||1||2||0|| |- |||0||1||0||3||2||||2||2||1|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||0||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||1||1|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |||0||2||0||0||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||1||0|| |- |||1||0||0||0||0||||1||4||1|| |- |19||2||0||0||||1||||3||6||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |||4||2||0||1||0||||4||4||0|| |- |||0||1||0||3||0||||0||0||0|| |- |||0||2||0||3||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |||0||||0||1||0||||0||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||0||0||||0||0||0|| |- |||0||||0||2||1||||1||2||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||1||0||||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||1||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |||0||0||0||0||0||style="background:#98FB98"|||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |- |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0|| |}

Awards

Transfers

In

Out

Loans in

Loans out

Management and coaching staff

Kit

The season brought a new home kit, manufactured by supplier BURRDA. The new home kit featured the club's traditional gold and black colours, with the shirt removing the black collar design for a rounded gold neck. The away kit, retained from the previous season, was all black with gold piping. Both shirts featured the internet gambling company Sportingbet.com as sponsor.

References

References

1. (22 April 2012). "Wolves 0–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport.
2. (14 April 2012). "Sunderland 0 Wolves 0". Express & Star.
3. (13 February 2012). "Wolves sack manager Mick McCarthy". BBC Sport.
4. (24 February 2012). "Terry Connor named Wolves manager until end of season". BBC Sport.
5. (10 February 2011). "Stadium: Transitional arrangements". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
6. (5 August 2011 }}{{dead link). "Handbook 2011–12". Premier League.
7. (18 May 2011). "Steve Morgan plans rousing speech". Express & Star.
8. (13 July 2011). "Roger and in!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
9. (22 June 2011). "Wolves go Dutch!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
10. (23 June 2011). "Building on the nucleus". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
11. (5 July 2011). "The only yo-yo for Wolves!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
12. (8 August 2011). "George and Fletch prove a 'Real' threat". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
13. (13 August 2011). "Blackburn 1-2 Wolves". BBC Sport.
14. (24 August 2011). "Date set for new stand". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
15. (21 August 2011). "Wolves 2-0 Fulham". BBC Sport.
16. (31 January 2012). "Wolves sign Sebastien Bassong on loan from Tottenham". BBC Sport.
17. (31 December 2011). "Wolves confirm Frimpong arrival". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
18. (6 February 2012). "Frimpong's injury confirmed". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
19. (2 February 2012). "Steve Morgan blows top at Wolves players". Express & Star.
20. (3 February 2012). "Wolves boss Mick McCarthy denies Molineux rift". BBC Sport.
21. (4 February 2012). "QPR 1-2 Wolves". BBC Sport.
22. (12 February 2012). "Wolves 1-5 West Brom". BBC Sport.
23. (17 February 2012). "O'Hara - Players to blame". Sky Sports.
24. (17 February 2012). "Head held high". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
25. (17 February 2012). "Johnson: It's the players' responsibility". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
26. (18 February 2012). "Plant's Mick tribute". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
27. (15 February 2012). "Wolves to start interviewing for managerial replacement". BBC Sport.
28. (22 February 2012). "McDermott denies Wolves talks". Sky Sports.
29. (23 February 2012). "Poyet reveals Wolves approach". Sky Sports.
30. (23 February 2012). "Walter Smith turns down approach over Wolves job". BBC Sport.
31. (17 February 2012). "Steve Bruce and Alan Curbishley interviewed for Wolves job". BBC Sport.
32. (8 March 2012). "Steve Bruce 'disappointed' by job saga at Wolves". BBC Sport.
33. (13 February 2012). "Wolves need experienced new boss says chief Jez Moxey". BBC Sport.
34. (25 February 2012). "Wolves say one manager was offered job before Terry Connor". BBC Sport.
35. (20 February 2012). "Alan Curbishley pulls out of running for Wolves job". BBC Sport.
36. (11 May 2012). "Wolves: Jez Moxey defends Terry Connor decision". Birmingham Mail.
37. (25 February 2012). "Newcastle 2-2 Wolves". BBC Sport.
38. (8 March 2012). "Wolves star Roger Johnson in booze shame". Express & Star.
39. "Wolverhampton Wanderers: History 1975 to date". Statto.
40. (9 May 2012). "Terry Connor staying tight-lipped after interview". Express & Star.
41. (11 May 2012). "Wolves appoint Norwegian Stale Solbakken as new manager". [[BBC Sport]].
42. (17 June 2011). "Premier League fixtures: West Brom first up for Man Utd". BBC Sport.
43. (27 July 2010). "New Premier League squad rules explained". BBC Sport.
44. Homegrown players were defined as those who "irrespective of nationality or age, have been affiliated to the FA or Welsh FA for a period of three seasons or 36 months prior to 21st birthday"
45. (2 September 2011). "Wolves submit senior squad". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
46. (2 February 2012). "Wolves submit senior squad". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
47. (9 May 2012). "End Of Season Awards: Live Blog". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
48. (21 December 2011). "Hearts midfielder Eggert Jonsson to join Wolves in January". BBC Sport.
49. (8 June 2011). "Keeper leaves Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
50. (24 March 2011). "Contracts finalised for young quintet". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
51. (2 June 2011). "Wolverhampton Wanderers release keeper Marcus Hahnemann". BBC Sport.
52. (27 May 2011). "Boss's praise for departing Jones". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
53. (11 July 2011). "Pompey bells chime for Halford". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
54. (23 August 2011). "Leaving Wolves for the Red Bulls". FC Red Bull Salzburg.
55. (23 December 2011). "Cherries agree Malone deal". Sky Sports News.
56. (31 August 2012). "Millwall sign Wolves striker Andy Keogh for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport.
57. (13 February 2012). "Derry sign Wolves winger McGroary". Derry City F.C.
58. (29 June 2011). "Defender returns to France". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
59. (18 July 2011). "Bournemouth sign Scott Malone from Wolves". BBC Sport.
60. (26 July 2011). "Sheffield Wednesday re-sign Danny Batth on loan". BBC Sport.
61. (27 September 2011). "Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme extends Middlesbrough loan move". BBC Sport.
62. (5 August 2011). "Sheffield United sign Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on loan". BBC Sport.
63. (15 August 2011). "Leeds United sign Wolves forward Andy Keogh on loan". BBC Sport.
64. (27 September 2011). "Winnall extends Bulls loan deal". Sky Sports.
65. (27 August 2011). "Hibs complete Leigh Griffiths loan capture from Wolves". BBC Sport.
66. (31 August 2011). "Wolves' David Davis joins Inverness on loan". BBC Sport.
67. (4 October 2011). "Accrington take Wolves striker James Spray on loan". BBC Sport.
68. (11 October 2011). "Watford sign Wolves winger Michael Kightly on loan". BBC Sport.
69. (10 November 2011). "Doncaster Rovers sign Carl Ikeme on loan from Wolves". BBC Sport.
70. (18 November 2011). "Burnley sign Wolves striker Sam Vokes". BBC Sport.
71. (24 November 2011). "Plymouth Argyle sign Nick Chadwick and Ashley Hemmings". BBC Sport.
72. (13 January 2012). "Chesterfield sign Wolves midfielder David Davis on loan". BBC Sport.
73. (26 January 2012). "Inverness land Wolves striker Sam Winnall on loan". BBC Sport.
74. (30 January 2012). "Scunthorpe United have completed the signing of Wolves left-back Jamie Reckord on loan for a month". BBC Sport.
75. (30 January 2012). "Brighton & Hove Albion sign Wolves striker Sam Vokes". BBC Sport.
76. (30 January 2012). "Forest sign midfielder Guedioura". BBC Sport.
77. (31 January 2012). "Coventry's O'Donovan and Wolves' Doherty loaned to Hibs". BBC Sport.
78. (9 February 2012). "George Elokobi joins Nottingham Forest from Wolves". BBC Sport.
79. (1 March 2012). "Middlesbrough sign Adam Hammill on loan from Wolves". BBC Sport.
80. (1 March 2012). "Doncaster Rovers re-sign Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme". BBC Sport.
81. (16 March 2012). "Tranmere Rovers sign Wolves striker Jake Cassidy on loan". BBC Sport.
82. (22 March 2012). "Notts County sign Daniel Bogdanovic & Louis Harris". BBC Sport.
83. (18 May 2011). "New home kit - Revealed!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..
84. (5 May 2010). "Wolves back in black". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..
85. (4 May 2010). "Sportingbet.com extends Wolves sponsorship deal". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.