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Three into two certainly doesn’t go. And as Beesotted gear up for their first live Youtube FanStand broadcast from the pub on the morning of the Wolves match, BillytheBee catches up with Gareth (@HackneyWolves) to discuss all sorts of malarkey including Kenny’s jacket, Sako sh:t and Orient.

What was your first game ?

It was quite eventful.1967. Was either 8 or 9 and it was in the old 2nd Division vs Hull. Happened to be Derek Dougan’s debut and the bugger went and scored a hat-trick! Being that age i had some idea what was going on but can only recall being in a big mental crowd and knowing i wanted more…

Having been in this division for pretty much 35 years (we’ve had the odd year up and down a division but this is our home), Brentford fans are fascinated how teams like yourselves, Leeds & Sheffield Utd find this division in their first season down. Is it a shock?

Not to me! I’m old enough to remember the mid 80’s when we went from the top division to bottom division in successive seasons—the last two years have been a mere bagatelle by comparison—and we were 3 minutes from being wound up and shut down. There’s a story that we couldn’t even pay the bloody milkman and he stopped delivering! So for fans my age it’s nothing new.

I can sort of understand how some of the younger fans have had a culture shock but I hope a dose of reality has made them eat some humble pie.

Many ‘bigger clubs’ who get relegated to Division 1 believe that it is their divine right to be automatically re-promoted displaying a less than humble “were too big for this league” attitude. A couple of seasons in the division certainly softens them up. Sheffield Utd fans are almost bearable now. Even Leeds were much more humble by the time they went back up to the Championship. Charlton were always fairly humble it has to be said. We’ve chatted to a load of lovely level-headed Wolves fans, yourself included. We even have a link up arranged with London Wolves pre-match. Bur I have to say, there have been a fair few Wolves fans who have been carrying that ‘bigger than thou’ attitude which has got a few fans’ backs up up-and-down the country

I can see your point. Only have to look at Twitter to see some Wolves fans coming out with the hoary old “We should be beating this lot. They’re only (Gillingham/Walsall/Carlisle/AN other Division 1 team – delete as appropriate)” You can probably gather I think that attitude is not only a load of old pony but also show’s scant knowledge of our contemporaries in this league and also a lack of respect too.

I have also heard some complain that Bournemouth & Yeovil shouldn’t be in a higher division! Well they are because they deserve to be.Get over it…By the same token we are the big name in this division this term primarily because we were a Premiership team two years ago so we are there to be shot at by all and sundry.

It’s quite an eye opener to be the club everyone hates. Never happened before!
However, many fans may hate us but one thing’s for sure, every chairman in this league loves us as we travel in big numbers and bring in lots of lovely money for their clubs so it’s not all bad news having us down here…

So what will happen if you don’t go up? Will Kenny get his jacket?

No. We will stick with him. Kenny Jackett is clearly the right man for the job. Many fans at the start of the season were saying a top ten finish would do us then kick on next year (yeah coz football works like that!) so there will be no changes if we stay down—famous last words—The fans can see the progress both the team and the club has made under KJ and it would be supreme stupidity on the club’s part to get rid.

Still, since when have club chairmen not acted shamefully when faced with what they perceive as failure? Short term thinking usually ends in disaster as all Wolves fans should know too well.

Of course if we stay in this league it will have a detrimental affect on our finances and more importantly on the quality of player we can attract. However I’m no financial expert—just ask my bank manager!—but we run a tight ship with no unmanageable debts and have done for many years.So we’re not in any danger of going the way of Pompey. Unless we employ Terry Venables or Harry Redknapp of course.

Three into two certainly doesn’t go. Who do you think is gonna lose out between Brentford, Orient and Wolves?

Think it will be Brentford & Wolves who go up in the top two with the O’s having to fight it out in the play offs. Possible final between them and Kevin Davies’ extra sharp elbows (from Preston). I have many O’s mates and even they don’t really believe they’ll go up automatically. Mind you they’re still up there so who knows?

You haven’t been outside the top 3 since the 2nd game of the season. Do you think you may have peaked too early?

Far from it. We’re just coming into form. For the first four months we lucked out on many of our games with tight wins despite not playing too well but since Xmas somethings clicked into gear and we’re showing some top qualities.

You’re a worldly traveller who seems to be able to appreciate the positive aspects of places like Crewe and Carlisle. What have been your favourite places visited so far?

It’s funny but i have not been to many away games this season. Only two, both 1-0 defeats and two games called off. Luckily the home form’s been fine so I’m not a complete Jonah!

Was really looking forward to Crawley as I’ve never been there and Punjabi Wolves were coming down with their drums and exuberance. Unfortunately Crawley seem to be playing in Waterworld.

And where has been a right khazi?

Well Gillingham! But then it always was…Exactly the same as last time I was there about ten years ago (lost 1-0 then too. Naturally)

Kenny Jackett got the Wolves job – the one that Uwe Rosler went for at the beginning of the season and didn’t get. I have to admit, I was a bit worried when he got the job as, unlike your previous few managers, we all knew that he actually knows what he’s doing in this division.

Where to start? After two years of abject failure on the pitch, fan revolts and an owner who didn’t seem to know his arse from his elbow we really were a laughing stock. For god sake even Baggies fans were starting to feel sorry for us. That’s how low we’d sunk!

Luckily Steve Morgan made a right choice for once—don’t get me started on Dean Saunders—KJ was given carte blanche to clear the decks of the deadwood holding the club back and the high earners.

First thing he did was tell all the academy players they had a chance. It was up to them to prove themselves. Bang! they were his players straight away. Brilliant man management.

He got Sam Ricketts on a free as captain to hold it all together and we’ve gone from strength to strength since.

Apparently any new player gets a tour of the WWFC museum before they sign. KJ’s way of saying “THIS is who you’re playing for…” Not one of his signings has flopped. All have improved the squad and, in a revolutionary tactic, all the players in the team play in their position. Trust me that was never the case before!

Some people feel that it’s unfair that Wolves are able to operate in a Division 1 with these huge parachute payments. Our annual playing budget is up to just over ÂŁ5mill apparently up from ÂŁ3mill. That pales into insignificance with what you guys have to play with …. You have received ÂŁ32m so far and are still due another ÂŁ8m a year over the next couple of years just in windfall money. I know you didn’t create the rules but it’s not exactly cricket is it?

I get this a lot. No it’s not fair. But would it be any fairer had we still been in the Championship getting the parachute payments? It’s not as if we deliberately got demoted to Division 1 to lord it over all the other clubs…Oddly we’re constantly being accused of buying the league but all our players who’ve signed for us have done so via players being sold.

The sale of Karl Henry to QPR payed for four players alone (cheers Harry). Plus close to half of our squad are home grown from either the academy or bought for next to nothing from non league as talented youngsters with potential. Our academy is one of the best in the land and that’s where the future lies. I’m proud and excited that the average of the squad is about 22/23.

So no it’s not fair but what are we supposed to do? Give the money back? There’s not a club in the world who would that.

But surely with budgets like that on top of your gate receipts, sponsors income and owners’ investment, you should be blowing everyone else away in this league?

Well as you well know football doesn’t work that way. We have lost a few thousand fans (esp season ticket holders) but it’s holding firm at about 18k. As everyone’s aware, or should be, the whole squad apart from one or two players has changed and these things take time to gel. Maybe we will blow the league apart in the last few months of the season!

You do have about 45 strikers now on your books though now. Will Jackett be able to keep everyone happy do you think?

Ha! We got rid of our top scorer to Celtic for a tidy profit and our most expensive ever player ever is currently giving Harry racing tips at QPR. In fact we’re now short of strikers so expect a loan to come in soon (sorry)

Joking aside, you actually have some decent players. McDonald who you got from Sheffield Utd is a great player and I really rate Dicko. We were looking at him but we were pretty sorted up front at the time so we concentrated on getting Judge in.

I saw those two crackers Judge scored at Crewe. Very tasty. Kevin McDonald joined us for ÂŁ250,000 as he had a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to other clubs if they were to meet it. Seems very low. But Wolves obviously knew about this and waded in.

He’s been on fire lately. We had Dicko on loan last season but naturally played him on the wing when we needed goals. Well done Saunders…Watch out for Danny Batth (pronounced Bart) at centre half too. A cracking player and future captain.

Also Jack Price in midfield next to McDonald. Our Iniesta. Both from Youth academy too…

Sako-sh:t. Discuss

Lol! There are a few Wolves fans who’d agree with you! Not many but some.Can be frustrating but also brilliant. KJ is getting more out of him team wise. Personally I’d park him up front and not let him anywhere near our own box where he can be a liability

What teams have looked decent that you have played so far?

The consensus among our little group is that your mob have been the best team at Molineux this season so it’s fitting you are up at the top.To be honest the standard of football has been an eye opener. It’s a lot better than many of us expected.

I have a theory (I often bore my mates with it). The trickle down effect of English football is improving the lower leagues. Many British youth players at Premiership clubs just aren’t getting a chance and have to go lower to get their career on track and Division1/2 is reaping the rewards. Though conversely British football is not.

And who has surprised you with how rubbish they have been?

Wouldn’t say surprised so much but Stevenage really were a throwback. Eleven hairy arsed skinheads lumping it long…

Ok …. So ‘Hi Ho Wolverhampton’? Explain

Oh good lord! I hate it…We used to play The Liquidator which, unlike Chelsea, had the joint rocking but we used to sing some naughty things about West Brom and the police stopped it. Personally I’d want some Led Zeppelin (Robert Plant being a fan) or Slade

And the toasters on the advertising hoardings behind the goal? … Again what’s going on?

They’re a group of Wolves fans who make excellent banners and the club allowed them to put the “This is our love…It knows no Division” on the North Bank. No idea about the Toasters though. Probably an in joke. Apparently they tag worldwide.

Head to head, its even stevens between us both with 8 games won and lost at 2 games draw. Will someone pull ahead this time?

Every Wolves prediction I make is a 2-0 win. Whether we’re playing Scunthorpe or Barca so I see no reason to change (less a prediction more a force of habit)

Fancy giving us a 1,2 playoff winner prediction?

Wolves and Brentford automatic. Playoffs Preston.Though I’d love the O’s to do it–I know you’re not best of mates as clubs—I have many O’s mates and it’s probably my local club living in Hackney

And relegation

Stevenage of course, Crawley (who aint bad but those games will catch up with them), Shrewsbury and Crewe (unfortunately)

When we came to Wolves we found a cracking little boozer. The Combermere Arms. With a tree in the toilet. We can’t compete with that in Brentford but there are loads of decent pubs and, unlike in Wolves, we don’t restrict the away fans to just one official pub. Colours are welcome anywhere too if that’s your thing. The Guardian did an interactive guide to ‘pub on each corner’ last year

The Griffin is closest to the away turnstile. It’s a decent boozer but will be mobbed. The New Inn is also usually frequented by away fans. Slightly further afield, the Royal Horseguardsman you can barely swing a cat in but is decent. The Watermans arms and Brewery tap are slightly off the beaten track and close to the river. Lots of away fans seem to go to the Kings Arms beside Brentford station.

After the game, the four corner pubs will most likely be home fans only

Got any plans before and after the match?

Not really. I tend to go where the others go. I’ve heard there are a couple of pubs a little bit further afield from the four corners pubs and we may pop in there.

We would like to thank Gareth (HackneyWolves) for taking time out to give us a vibe on what’s going down at Molineux. You can follow him on twitter at @hackneywolves …

Check out the Beesotted YouTube channel at midday on Saturday 22nd February for our first ever broadcast of FanStand “In the Pub” live and direct from a pub in Brentford – featuring fans from Brentford and Wolves. Follow @beesotted for live updates

BillytheBee
@billythebee99