Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Mick's Contempt for the FA Cup is an Insult to Fans
Written by JollyJourno on Wednesday, 20th Jan 2016 11:12

I feel angry now. Not disappointed or upset, but angry. It's not just that Town lost, and lost to lower league opposition, AGAIN. It's that we didn't want to win. Or, to be more specific, our manager didn't want us to win: he rested his entire first XI.

If last night's FA Cup third round defeat to a team two divisions below was a one-off, I might not feel this way. But the loss was part of a pattern that, for me, shows not just contempt for the greatest club football competition in the world, but contempt for Ipswich Town's fans.

It's now been six years since Town won an FA Cup tie. Six years. Not just Mick, but seemingly every Town manager since Jim Magilton, has not given two turds about this competition. In my 20 years supporting this club, I've not seen Town go beyond the fifth round. I was born seven years after Town's FA Cup triumph in 1978. I watched that Wembley win on VHS when I was kid, encouraged by my dad who would often regale me of the story.

Those sorts of memories are what makes the perpetual suffering that football fans go through all worth it. Think of Bradford City, a club that's been in decline for 15 years, winning at Stamford Bridge. Their fans will remember that the rest of their lives. Think of Wigan Athletic, winning the cup just three years ago. They may now be languishing in League One, but I bet those fans wouldn't swap their FA Cup triumph for the world. The same can also be said of Town's conquerors, Portsmouth, another unfashionable club that has won the tournament in recent years.

It can happen. Upsets, shocks, glory, is what makes the FA Cup special. But it only happens when you want it to. Mick McCarthy doesn't. Neither did Jewell or Keane.

In 2007, when Town reached the heady heights of the fifth round for the first time in my life as a Tractor Boy, I excitedly went along to Vicarage Road to see Town take on Premier League Watford. It was the most fun I've ever had watching a 1-0 defeat. There was a disallowed goal that I celebrated like a lunatic, before spotting the linesman's flag. We should have won. But it was a great occasion, despite the defeat. It felt like Town really wanted it, and I went home proud of my team.

Now, I just feel angry. Sure, I know what the counter argument is. Our chances of promotion will be improved by Town's early exit from the FA Cup. But really, how much difference does it make? We're talking about two or three extra games. So what? Town had already avoided a tiresome run in the League Cup, a competition that requires frequent midweek fixtures. But by ballsing up the first FA Cup game against Portsmouth, McCarthy had handed Town an extra unneeded fixture anyway. This Saturday Ipswich have a crucial game against Birmingham, a team that haven't had to bother themselves with an agonising FA Cup replay on a freezing Tuesday night. They will be better prepared as a result.

If Town go on to win promotion, most likely via the play-offs, the anger I feel right now will all wash away. Maybe I'll even look back on this week with hindsight and say McCarthy did the right thing. But if we don't win promotion - still the most likely scenario - I'm going to call for McCarthy's head. Why? Because the sort of contempt Mick has shown for the FA Cup can and will only be justified by promotion. Any other outcome, for me, is now unacceptable.




Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

TR11BLU added 11:20 - Jan 20
Well done @JollyJourno for an excellent blog. I wholeheartedly agree with every single point you make, with nobs on, there is nothing further I can add to that.


7

Luk38644 added 11:26 - Jan 20
What a load of b*llocks.
-3

MaySixth added 11:26 - Jan 20
Carry on blubbing
-9

MaySixth added 11:28 - Jan 20
MM was the same at Wolves.

He hates cups.

Is up front about it.

What is the problem?
-8

bluelou added 11:35 - Jan 20
Do you and all the other blubbers honestly not see the difference between this season and 1978, Wigan and Portsmouth? You're either naive or thick.

IF we were established in the Premier League Mick would attack the FA Cup with gusto. But we are not, we are languishing in the championship 15 years on. Any Town fan with an ounce of smarts would realise promotion is priority and unfortunately cups secondary. I'm pretty sure Mick and the players contracts have bonuses for promotion and nothing else. That needs to be reflected in our expectations also.

To come on here and blub after the event is ridiculous, what else did you expect?
-8

JollyJourno added 11:39 - Jan 20
Bluelou - would he? Presumably, if Town were fighting relegation from Premier League, Mick would approach the FA Cup with same attitude. My argument is - does it even help? Does an FA Cup run really harm league form? I doubt it. Regardless, there's a difference between resting a few players, and changing your entire first XI.
18

ihatenorwich added 11:41 - Jan 20
Good blog, agree with most things apart from if we don't get promotion you want MM out because of loosing a FA Cup game. Even if we had beat Pompey we would more than likely get turned over against Eddie Howes side so we would be no better off in reality. So to call for his head unless we have a sucessful Fa Cup run or win promotion is stupid, you sound like the Leeds United owner. What happens if we loose on pens in the play off final?
4

BergholtBru added 11:44 - Jan 20
It is hardly an insult to fans that he`s doing his best to get us promoted is it. Everyone knew he`d do it. Stop blubbing.
-7

JollyJourno added 11:48 - Jan 20
ihatenorwich - If we don't get promoted there will be plenty on here calling for Mick to be sacked. I'm just saying it now because I feel betrayed as a fan about last night. Football should be about playing to win, not throwing matches. Don't get me wrong, I think Mick's done wonders here, but there comes a time when you need something more than play-off defeats and FA Cup embarrassments.
11

ElvisMariner added 12:15 - Jan 20
Going out of the Cup is no guarantee of promotion - to not have won an FA Cup tie in 6 years is embarrassing... we have the privilege to participate in one of the great cup competitions in world football and then decide to show it no respect whatsoever... Ipswich Town is a club with a proud FA Cup history and with managers in the past that would give everything to win and go through to the next round... Its a good job Sir Bobby didnt have this attitude in 1978 or when he got us to the Semi Finals of 1975 and 1981.
12

Tractor_Thief added 12:16 - Jan 20
Although I get your points and understand your position and arguments I don't agree.

MM is interested in the league, has stated as much and his actions reflect that statement. Will us being knocked out of the cups early aid? A good question and a fair point, but in my mind the fact is, it won't hurt our chances whereas injuries and extra match time in cups MAY.

Would Mick's attitude change regarding the cups if we were a premier league established side? No idea, only Mick can tell you that.

Additionally how do we know that this directive has not come from ME? He may have told Mick not to worry about the cups and to focus on the league, pure speculation granted but none the less a possibility.

Finally am I upset we are out of the cup and so losing a tie against Bournemouth that I think we would have likely lost, no.

Again I can see the argument you are making and understand why others would agree, me personally im happy for us to give the league as much focus as we can, we were never going to win the cup anyway.
7

ihatenorwich added 12:18 - Jan 20
What other manager could get us promoted on our budget though? He is our best hope, he knows how important promotion is and he is trying his very best to do all that he can to acheive this. I think people have got to stop living in the past, we are a mid table club that is over acheiving thanks to a great manager. If you want something more than play off defeats and FA Cup embaressments then a miracle needs to happen with our budget. Be greatful that we have Mick!
4

bluelou added 12:24 - Jan 20
Mick is wasted on you idiots. You seem to have long memories when it comes to the cup but very short ones when it comes to our league position when Mick took over.
Would you honestly prefer to have won the cup and be in league 1 or 2? I think you're wrong when you suggest Wigan and Portsmouth would
-2

LeighOnSeaBlue added 12:25 - Jan 20
I don't get it either, I know a lot of fans here think it was the right thing to do as the League is more important but I think having a Cup run can build momentum and galvanise the fans. What's the point of us even entering the FA & League Cup if we aren't even going to give it a go
10

JollyJourno added 12:33 - Jan 20
bluelou - You ask if I'd rather Town were in League 1/2 having won the FA Cup. The answer is yes. League position is temporary. A trophy is another star on the badge, a place in the history books, and memories that last forever. It's the difference between being an Ipswich Town fan and being an Ipswich Town bookkeeper. Which one are you?
3

algarvefan added 12:37 - Jan 20
Lets get one thing clear, as a guy who was around at the time, we are nowhere near the side oft the late 70's and early 80's pushing to win the old Division One. That will never happen again, times have changed and so has football.

I hate losing to anyone, even pre-season friendlies, but what Mick did last night was the right thing to do for where we are now, struggling for a play off place! The play offs with our current squad is probably an over achievement, it was last year. Don't get me wrong I would love to see players creating lovely fast flowing football of bygone days, but bygone, means bygone.

Mick has done OK spending bugger all and offering poor wages, this is not his fault, he inherited an almost impossible situation. Yes at times he is an obstinate old bugger, but he saved us from certain relegation (which I think in the long run might have been good for us) and has built a good first team out of freebies and journeymen. So stop crying in your beer and wishing for yesteryear, we are where we are, get over yourselves!!!
2

SuperTommySmith added 12:44 - Jan 20
Only read the title. No it's not. Shut the hell up.
-1

SuperTommySmith added 12:47 - Jan 20
"I excitedly went along to Vicarage Road to see Town take on Premier League Watford. It was the most fun I've ever had watching a 1-0 defeat. There was a disallowed goal that I celebrated like a lunatic, before spotting the linesman's flag. We should have won. But it was a great occasion, despite the defeat."

oh my god, my sides. Are you taking the mick? I went to that game, the only good thing about it was that hilarious goal celebration by Peters and Haynes for the disallowed goal. Otherwise nope.
0

Jonnosdreadlocks added 12:52 - Jan 20
Excellent piece. MM throwing all his eggs into the quest for top six guarantees nothing more than two more extra games at the end of the season. His admission Top two is out of sights is testament to that. Seem to remember we were 5 points clear at Feb under Royle with a weaker squad and still flunked promotion so things can change quickly, look at Derby last season. His contempt towards the fa cup and the league cup is embarrassing.
4

SuperTommySmith added 12:55 - Jan 20
"bluelou - You ask if I'd rather Town were in League 1/2 having won the FA Cup. The answer is yes. League position is temporary. A trophy is another star on the badge, a place in the history books, and memories that last forever. It's the difference between being an Ipswich Town fan and being an Ipswich Town bookkeeper. Which one are you? "

Yes how wonderful. We'd be in league one/two, Marcus Evans would lose interest and stop bankrollign us which is keeping us afloat since we would have no chance at the premiership. We would go into oblivion as there would be a chance we could end up like Chester or Portsmouth except we wouldn't have the fan power like portsmouth to bring it back. So we could lose the club completely, but at least we have that memory of one day. Jesus Christ go cry more.
0

JollyJourno added 12:56 - Jan 20
Did any of the people who say it wasn't an "insult to fans" go to the game last night? Just wondering.
1

GeoffSentence added 13:01 - Jan 20
The FA Cup is cursed anyway.

Since 2002, FA Cup finalists have suffered 9 relegations between them and Villa look a good bet to make it 10.

Stay away from the cup, stay well away from the cup.
0

Yallop added 13:08 - Jan 20
Whilst in an ideal world and not being 80 million in debt we'd all love a squad big enough to give us a cup run.

We've had so many games of late you can't keep flogging the same players, MM needed to leave out Freddie, Murph, Chambers and a few others. Last season Hyam and McGoldrick picked up injuries in the FA Cup.

We didn't need hamstring injuries on a drenched Fratton Park.

Lets focus on Saturday.
2

Superfrans added 13:12 - Jan 20
I said to my mate earlier, football has genuinely gone to sh!t when the FA Cup 3rd round is seen as an inconvenience. But...

We all know Mick's approach to the cups. And anyone who went last night expecting us to field a strong side hasn't been paying attention. He's made it as clear as day that he would be fielding reserves, both in recent days and over the past 3 years from his consistent approach to these games.

For those who question whether playing games in the cup will affect our form - our match vs Southampton last year clearly did.
4

BlueStreak added 13:12 - Jan 20
JollyJourno - If any fans attending last night expecting to see any other team than the one we put out then bigger fool them. MM was never going to do anything different. Question for you - if we had played our strongest team last night, still got knocked out and then still didn't get promotion, would you still be calling for his head?
4
You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024