Excuses, excuses.

Last updated : 03 October 2002 By Dave Burgess

The post match press conference and statements from Jones are beginning to wind me up now. All we seem to hear is ‘the team didn’t do this, they didn’t do that’.

Well after another defeat perhaps it is time that Jones pulled his finger out and stop whining to the press and actually get the message through to his team.


You don’t need to be a football manager to work out that the team was unprofessional in firstly, conceding a goal after just five minutes and then not being able to shut out the opposition with twelve minutes remaining to protect a two-goal lead.


I can only conclude that the players don’t listen to the manager.

Here are some alarming stats:


Sheffield Wednesday Home - conceded first goal - Kuqi 9 minutes

Wimbledon Away - conceded first goal - Shipperley 4 minutes

Swansea Away - conceded first goal - Thomas 7 minutes

Palace Away - conceded first goal - Routledge 1 minute

Leicester Away - conceded first goal - Dickov 6 minutes

Rotherham Away - conceded first goal - Monkhouse 5 minutes


Even Arsenal or Man United would struggle to constantly come from behind so early on in a game.


Perhaps the defence doesn’t
realise the match has started and are still warming up.


Even playing at the lowly level I do, there is nothing worse than conceding an early goal for shattering morale after the hype beforehand in the dressing room.


If you are a forward, by the time you’ve played yourself into the game and the team is already 1-0 down the pressure is already increased ten-fold.


However, Jones still refuses to blame the defence!


In January Jones will have been with us for 2 years. The way things are going at the moment he might not make it as his quiet mannerisms are starting to unnerve fans that want passion and full-blooded cries of commitment.


Excuses, excuses Jones – look at the facts and then work on the basics – even if it means defending with 10 players for the opening 10 minutes of the game.

E-mail me with any comments/feedback to: dave@wolves-mad.co.uk