Two years have flown by, and it is easy to forget what a mess we were in when Mick McCarthy joined. I can no longer make it to home games, but occasionally make it to away fixtures. So whilst my experience of how we play is not extensive, I do see the merits and criticisms that polarised opinions expressed on the forums.

My last two blogs coincide with Paul Jewell’s dismissal and the arrival of Mick. At the time, I like many others, was fed up with the state of our club. We had become an embarrassment, and had numerous players that did not care for the club.

Personally I called for players to be sacked. Instead, Mick gradually showed them the door, and built a team around players that play with pride, even if, at times, creativity and excitement has seemed somewhat antithetical to our progress.

When Mick joined, according to Richie Wellens, he inherited a squad of players that care less about the fortunes of the club, than the players on loan. Specifically he said, “It is the loan players who are showing they care and that is a sad indication of what is wrong”.

In addition to this, prior to Mick’s employment, Chris Hutchings, our caretaker manager, said he was “pleased for Luke Hyam and Josh Carson, they were the only bright sparks, showing a little bit of effort and commitment”.

Looking back at this comment, I’m still a slightly dejected that only two players could be singled out for a little bit of effort and commitment.

The embodiment of our dreadful state of affairs was Michael Chopra, whose atrocious behaviour towards our fans was only mirrored by his inflated ego and lack of intelligence. But Chopra was only the tip of the iceberg, albeit one that came with a lighthouse and sirens.

In addition to the woeful squad Mick inherited, Ipswich were bottom of the table, having lost 3 – 0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

With all this in mind, I’d like to put an open thank you out to Mick.

The first season he took over he rescued us from relegation. Over the last couple of seasons he has worked hard to ship out all those players that didn't have the correct work ethic, and those that were bad for the environment of the club.

He has brought in players that are passionate about the club, and are better professionals. Just look at Tyrone Mings, and the positive stories he has generated in the press for both his Player of the Month achievements and generosity towards our fans

In his second season he made us hard to beat, instilling a self-belief that propelled us to a position just shy of the play-offs. Simply a remarkable achievement, due to the lack of money spent and the squad he inherited. He also worked hard to secure players that were our own, reducing our dependence on loan players.

This season he has added more flair to the squad, and brought on younger players, such as Mings and Teddy Bishop.

Whilst we are by no means the finished article, and Mick himself needs to evolve his tactics, at times, to suit his more capable side, as this past month should have demonstrated, we have come on hugely in his time at our club.

I really hope we continue to do well under Mick, as I am proud to support Ipswich, which I couldn't have said when he took over.

paulthebluealien added 01:06 - Nov 2 I think, despite the bizarre negativity that is occasionally spouted on here, we owe Mick McCarthy and TC greatly. As far as I'm concerned, they have saved us. I do, and have from the first game, maintained that Town will finish in the top 6 this year and thus far, I have not seen anything to disprove this. If anything, we should be even higher in the division. So, let's put this right and beat two tough, but by no means unbeatable sides, Wolves and Watford this week at Portman Road. COYB.

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WindsorBlue added 23:55 - Nov 2 Good sensible blog. It's hard to think that people need to have perspective like this...but they still do!! All moan, with little thought, intelligence or solutions! Well done pal! I can't wait for tues night! COYB
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JWM added 13:10 - Nov 3 I'm loving the way we are progressing especially this season and all credit to Mick and Terry for turning this club around. My only worry at this stage is that we lack the killer ruthless instinct that you need to achieve success in this league, We have thrown away too many points and this just has to stop BUT this team is still evolving and learning. Top 6 finish is a real possibility but we need to be more ruthless!

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StowTractorBoy added 17:02 - Nov 3 Only Mick McCarthy could have got us out of that terrible mess two years ago and our improvement has been steady since then. MM has put down the foundations of the whole Club from bottom to top and the Academy is alive and kicking since those horrible days of Roy Keane. It will be very tough for us to get promoted but with MM at the helm at least there is hope.
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