McCarthy Linked With Wolves Trio
Friday, 21st Dec 2012 11:00

Town boss Mick McCarthy has been linked with a January move for three of his old Wolves squad, Ronald Zubar, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Richard Stearman.

Earlier this week, defender Zubar was made available by StÃ¥le Solbakken. The right-back or central defender is claimed to be “nailed on” to join the Blues, according to sources quoted in the Wolverhampton Express and Star with McCarthy appearing certain to want to sign right-back on a permanent basis in January.

However, on-loan Blackburn man Bradley Orr has impressed during his spell and would appear to be his main target. Youngster Elliott Hewitt has also impressed McCarthy and is seen as someone who can fulfil that role in the future.

Guadeloupe-born Zubar, whose contract is up at the end of the season, was with Caen and Marseille in France before McCarthy took him to Molineux for £2.5 million in the summer of 2009.

While with Wolves the 27-year-old 6ft 1in tall defender, who played in central midfield earlier in his career, has made 63 starts and three sub appearances, scoring four times. But this season he has appeared only seven times.

Central defender or right-back Stearman was linked with the Blues back in the summer of 2011, although then-manager Paul Jewell dismissed the reports. The 25-year-old former Leicester man, who has 18 months left on his contract, has played only 13 times this season and may be keen to move on to play more football.

Yesterday, Wolves boss Solbakken said 26-year-old frontman Ebanks-Blake, who is also claimed to be the subject of Town interest, would not be available in the transfer window despite his contract being up at the end of the campaign.

In addition to those three, and winger Stephen Hunt, who we understand is on his wish-list, McCarthy is also said to be interested in midfielder Karl Henry and left-back George Elokobi, however, both are said to be unlikely to move on, the former having signed a new deal at Molineux and the latter suffering with an ankle injury.

Photo: Action Images

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alexsmith111 added 11:17 - Dec 21 Would be happy to see all 3, younger than most of our targets over the last few years which is crucial, permanent deals also a big plus, I hope there is some substance to this and not just hearsay
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Edmunds5 added 11:19 - Dec 21

I know it is easy to say this but I think all three (Stearman, Zubar, Ebanks-Blake) would do a good job, all very powerful players with some strength and pace about them. A couple of them have helped McCarthy gain promotion before so they know what the Championship is about. Not sure why they haven't played this season but I would look at what they done under Mick and not what there lack of football this season, certain players work better under certain managers and maybe thats the case with these boys. Whoever Mick is looking at I have confidence in him to get it right I just don't want it to harm the chances of Hewitt and the younger players at the club. It would be a good time to come in as we have a bit of momentum as a club, Zubar wouldn't cost a fee neither and as for the others January is soon upon us so I'm eager to see what happens.

Edmunds5 added 11:21 - Dec 21 unless we get Zubar in Jan of course for a small fee
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Ipswich24 added 11:22 - Dec 21 Dont want players who have hardly played this season, we will spend rest of season just getting them fit lets target players like Matt Ritchie from Swindon and Harry Macquire from SheffUtd these are hungry young players who would love chance of playing at a higher level.
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Marcus added 11:30 - Dec 21 Before all the unrealistic suggestions start flooding in I suggest we sign Lionel Messi. He's a proven goal scorer and his wages aren't that much higher than Jommy Bullard.
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Tractorog added 11:33 - Dec 21

Journalist n search of a story links new manager with players at his former club, shock horror!!
Of course MM is likely to pick players he knows well. I seem to remember Roy doing a lot of that.... but I get the feeling that MM is respected enough in the game to attract most players that he wants, whether they have played for him before or not.
If that impression is true, then that's a big difference between Mick and the previous 3 incumbents.

With these particular players, though; just because it might happen, does not mean it will.

Michael11 added 11:36 - Dec 21 Basically you've just named 6 of Wolves' fringe players who might be available because it's McCarthy's old team and it's near January. Personally, don't see why we'd want them anyway when they're as low as us in the league!
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BillBlue added 11:41 - Dec 21

I have just been reading the original article on which this story is based and the comments by Wolves fans makes for very interesting reading! Among all the derogatory comments one even lists Mick as the best Manager Wolves have ever had and this comment has been quite widely stated of late! Worth reading: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2012/12/21/mick-m COYB

Edmunds5 added 11:53 - Dec 21

Just had a read Billblue but I think it is natural the Wolves fans are going to say that since they got relegated last season and haven't done great this. I will get thumbs down but for me its where the player is happiest not always how good they seem on the face of it. Solbakken doesn't seem to have appreciated some of the players Mick left hence why the likes of Zubar have been out of favour. Just look at Torres under Benitez compared to other Chelsea managers. Some of it is man management, tactics. For sure look for younger players but who's to say they will relate to Mick's methods,Daryl Murphy was poor under Jewell because he was stuck out on the wing, but has looked a force under McCarthy probably because he understands Mick and has since been paired with DJ, theres more to the criteria than just age and where they are now.

DanLyles added 12:18 - Dec 21

Having perused the wolves forums, this seems to be the general consensus about the three being linked:

On Stearman: "I think he has all the attributes to be a really good centre-half. Pace, height, decent distribution. Still prone to the occasional lapse in judgment or concentration but hopefully that will improve in time." Maybe his lapses in concentration would be punished less in the Championship???

Zubar: quick, strong and committed but has poor positional sense and a woeful first touch, which leads to him giving away possession. Again this may not be such an issue if he was to step down a divsion. Still unsure about his best position, but probably RB were rash decisions/tackles are punished less than at CB

Ebanks Blake: Great in 08/09 but became a bit part player for 3 seasons under MM in the prem. Time to move on. Was last prolific in the Championship, similar style to Jason Scotland

ITFCFan added 12:21 - Dec 21

What is it with our managers we get in. Roy Keane linked with reject Sunderland players PJ with have been Wigan & Derby players and MM after his old Wolves team, I know Mick has done a good job so far and I guess the players from wolves are a bit younger but there all fringe players, We need more young Hungary players like Cresswell, Hewitt and Hyam!! But I guess in Mick we trust!!

AbujaBlue added 12:22 - Dec 21 It's true that some of the comments (or rather all) are exactly glowing, but then again look at what Blackburn supporters said about Bradley Orr. Football supporters are fickle bunch once they have an opinion fixated in their heads. But as others have pointed out it seems like a bit of lazy journalism to me, and there is probably nothing to it.
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AbujaBlue added 12:22 - Dec 21 *aren't exactly
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cromwellblue added 12:25 - Dec 21 Only 10 days to the window opening and the "linked" with stories are off and running. Remember we have been here before and 99% of links are lazy tabloid journalists who get there silly specualtion reported here. Let's wait and trust our manager. I am sure when there is something to know we will get told
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DanLyles added 12:27 - Dec 21 ps. alot of the comments I found above were from the end of last season, so based on their performances in the Premiership.
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BillBlue added 12:28 - Dec 21 Edmunds5 I agree, 100%. COYB
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Tractorog added 12:30 - Dec 21 The headline reads in the side menu as "McCarthy Linked with Wolves" and then on the next line "trio" ... are you trying to give us a heart attack Phil?
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WarkOn added 12:44 - Dec 21 Please God- not Stearman! Most calamity prone defender I have ever seen - we can manage that on our own!! Other two are worth a shout though...
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WarkOn added 12:53 - Dec 21 Oh dear - read the forums and weep - wolves fans regard all 3 as deadwood and would love to get shot of 'em - hope this is just paper talk. Wolves squad as a whole is poorer than ours right now - hope we look elsewhere.
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Bergholtblue added 13:05 - Dec 21 It's like London buses. We go without a right back for years, then bang, we're linked with three of them.
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karls_dad added 13:18 - Dec 21 On that news i would assume that our Mr Ellington, Scotland, and possibly Chops are on there way out, Sadly Moshni, always thought he had something about him too, Can,t for the life of me seeing us keep hold of PJ Campbell, which will be a real shame, January will be an interesting month!
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Lombokblue added 13:38 - Dec 21 We need a replacement for Campbell but this is like Keane and Jewell all over again. Start off OK then bring in a shed load of average players from their old clubs. Carson, Hyam and Murray need an opportunity.
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brian_a_mul added 15:22 - Dec 21

Three very good players that would definitely improve our squad and are all coming to their primes!

Whoever Mick goes for I hope we can get the deals done early and get them playing as soon as we can.
Diddnt realise ebanks Blake was only 26, he has been around for a good few years! Personally I would like Stearman, he played well in Premier for a few seasons and gives good competition at CB and RB.

Not sure Stephen Hunt would be a good signing for us. I love the guy, a dynamic player, terrific energy and gives 100% but terrible first touch and cant really pass. Runs around alot banging into opponents, cool hair!