So we’re at the end of September, a pretty average start in terms of points, but on the back of a relatively promising transfer window.

Let me just wind back a decade or two. I started my love affair with Ipswich Town in the mid 90s. I'm from a family where my father and grandfather were both Ipswich Town season ticket holders.

My real memories begin with George Burley as manager, taking over a team and getting in and around the play-offs.

From there we spent a number of seasons being 'the bridesmaid’ whether that be in the play offs or just outside.

For those of you that can recall, Burley actually ‘started again’ in the middle of his reign, changing the style a little bit and getting in different players.

Eventually one season it paid off. In 1999/00 Ipswich started the season relatively well, but with the Marcus Stewart January signing we really pushed on and got promoted.

Back to the present day. The reason I reflect back to that period, is I see a lot of similarities between those two teams and the two managers, Burley and Mick McCarthy.

Both took over teams that were struggling to get back to the big time and on relatively small budgets managed to be there or thereabouts every year.

Eventually it worked for Burley and who is to say it won’t for Mick?
Granted, the past three seasons worth of football have not been the most entertaining, nor have they been easy to get on board with. The Burley era (especially the latter years) we would just outscore teams to win games.

But you have to give Mick some credit this season… and here’s why:

- We have brought in a lot of ‘footballers’
- Sold our target man
- Are trying to play the ball on the deck more often
- Trying to lump it long less
- Are even making substitutions at half-time
- And making attacking substitutions at the end of games

I know everyone is frustrated by the Villa game and Mick should have made the subs 10 minutes earlier. However, rewind six months and he’d have put Kevin Bru and another defender on.
This to me, shows improvement, steps forward and a change in the ‘dinosaur’ mantra much repeated on here.

So my question to you, Ipswich fans, faithful, trustees, lifelong fans, new fans and anyone else associated with the club, are you willing to start again this season? Maybe make the play-offs or narrowly miss out, if it means we play a better brand of attractive football and are better placed to get promoted next year? Or is it this season or bust for Mick?

Those of an older generation (my aforementioned father and grandfather) that I have asked have already stated they are willing to start again, on the proviso that Mick plays youngsters, good attractive football and shows signs of being able to do it the following year.

But football is a results business and I worry people may not see an evolution happening.

Illinoisblue added 12:40 - Sep 23 Similarities between Mick's and Burley's teams??????
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Daleyitfc added 13:16 - Sep 23 Only the number of players on the pitch is the same.
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BackTheBlues added 13:58 - Sep 23 Read it carefully guys - I never said the football was the same... But the way it is going! The steady steady building, small budgets, being in and around the play offs every year! You can't argue those similarities... And neither answered the question :) haha!
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Kitman added 14:17 - Sep 23 Perhaps I should read it again but I don't quite get the "start again" bit? Dies this mean put up with the same old, same old...this season? I guess I've already made the sub concious decision to do just that. The season is still developing and some of the new signings are yet to play on a regular basis. Of course the style of play will change with Murph going so on balance its best if we all wait and see...

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Illinoisblue added 14:23 - Sep 23 "in and around the play-offs every year"? That's a stretch tbh. 14/15 definitely. Last season I'm not sure we were ever truly close to breaking the top six.
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Currie10 added 14:26 - Sep 23 " Are even making substitutions at half-time " His use of substitutions is very poor. He SHOULD have done what you suggested and hooked Bru at Brentford, yet he let Bru carry on ruining the game for us. He also only used 2/3 and Dozzell COULD have had a go final 15 at 2-0 down. Why not? It does keep fans on side. He also decided to shove Bishop wide right. Aston Villa, again waayyyy too late in making subs and giving Best/ Varney a go. I like Mick, but his use of substitutions I'm never sure of.

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Currie10 added 14:27 - Sep 23 Last season we were top 6 going into January and finished 7th. Of course we were in with a good chance of breaking the top 6 had we not had ridiculous luck with injuries/ gone on a shocking run.
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BackTheBlues added 15:49 - Sep 23 @Kitman - No not the same old this season - that wouldn't be starting again. It means starting again now. I've been encouraged by what I've seen - a change in old dogged ways 'to an extent' with the potential for more to change. But this may not get results! The problem we have if those that moan we aren't playing well are also those that don't win! @Illinoisblue - We were in the Top 6 for nearly half a season last year. and finished 7th a couple of points. I would say that's in and around. @Currie10 - This was my point, his substitutions are a massive flaw in his game - but this season we are moving in the right direction, with the right subs and at earlier times. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that... Just hope it continues tomorrow with Best coming on at 60 minutes!

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tractorboybig added 16:22 - Sep 23 Confused by this one, No comparison between managers, Burley picked teams to play football and win, this manager picks teams not to lose and hopes for the best. Interesting signings? Best and Varny are panic fillers past there best. Williams is a sick note and was going nowhere. Grant, started well but has slipped into medioricty, and Webster well we will wait. Backtheblues,,,we fluked a playoff place a couple of seasons ago and have been totally outclassed by all the other play off teams in every other year this man has been manager. We all need to get real, this outfit is going to be in a relegation battle and nothing else. Where the blame lays, well that's another argument.

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blues1 added 17:26 - Sep 23 Tractorboybig. I'm guessing u weren't at the Villa game then. If u were ud have seen that Best is far from past his best. In fact looked like he could be the biggest threat we've had up front for some time. Of course we can't judge for sure on a 10 minute can do but certainly looked promising
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Pip50 added 18:13 - Sep 23 Yeah start again without McCarthy in charge !
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SpiritOfJohn added 06:39 - Sep 24 Mick has always picked who he thinks are consistent team players over talented individuals. See recent news story http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30319/mccarthy-backs-inspiration-chamber for confirmation of his philosophy. Can't see any sign of that changing. GB always tried to play football but he didn't have the players at the beginning of his reign. It took him time to build his team but when he found local gems like Dyer and Bramble he nurtured them and gave them a run of games. Would like to see Dozzell and Kenlock get the same opportunities.

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Surco72 added 07:58 - Sep 24 MM s comments about Chambo really shoot your blog down in flames . He will not change his selections , style or tactics ever and those that think Bishop , Dozzell , Emmanuel ,Kenlock will be given a chance are deluded . The only new start I want is with a footballing manager
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cromwellblue added 13:35 - Sep 24 So, it would appear the answer is No
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blue75 added 20:22 - Sep 24 There's no comparison between Burley and Mcarthy apart from they managed the same club. I too got my 1st season ticket in the mid 90's. I never walked out of a burley game early, now I sometimes have to drag myself out for the 2nd half I can't remember the last time I stayed till the final whistle. I renew my season ticket because I support the club and live in hope we change managers soon.

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Penguinblue added 22:44 - Sep 24 Yes - OUT
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Keaneish added 15:51 - Sep 25 100% - i don't see those 6 bullets you've mentioned as positives anything above and beyond what any manager should/would do. MM is in his 5th season. That's time enough for me especially when the football is getting worse (unbelievable but true) and we have even less of an attacking threat now than we did last season. Again, unbelievable but true despite the signings... How anyone can still back MM is beyond me. Currie10 mentioned we could have broken into the top 6 last season. Did anyone actually think we would playing the way we were? Even if we did, did anyone seriously believe we'd win the play-offs? There's no point being in contention for the top 6 if you have zero chance of winning in the play-offs. Its absurd. Lets not start using injuries or selling our key striker as a mirage either. Its a fallacy. We lost McGoldrick and Fraser for spells last season, that was it. Bishop was a non-runner from the start. We had money for Murphy and didn't succeed in bringing anyone in as we so often fail to do. Any points to this are papering over the cracks in my opinion. We're so apathetic as a group of fans at times its bewildering. Its 100% time for change.

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BackTheBlues added 11:55 - Sep 26 Well this blog has served its purpose then... I asked if you were willing to start again under Mick or For him to go With a resounding Mick to go Reply!
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BillBlue added 17:40 - Sep 26 "is I see a lot of similarities between those two teams and the two managers, Burley and Mick McCarthy." In the nearly twenty years you have been following football you have obviously not understood what you are watching or, there are two other alternatives, the first is that you are m*d or the second, your real name is Mick McCarthy.
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OnlyOneJimmyJuan added 22:36 - Sep 27 Tyrannosaurus Mick Out
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sixtyblue added 22:54 - Sep 29 Mick said jog on and already two and a half thousand supporters have taken him to his word.Sadly mock doesn't think before he opens his mouth with a lot insulting remarks at supporters.Having watched the town for over sixty five years this man I'd belittling this club.
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rugbytomc added 23:30 - Oct 2 It's about evolution not revolution under Mick and at the same time he does t want us getting smashed. So when creative attacking players have been available at the right price or loan, he's brought them in. Does he always make the tactical decisions 100% of fans agreee with? No but who does plus none of us have been in those pressure situations or had the experiences he has. I feel we're one top striker away from a top team and by that I mean the team needs the focal point of a top striker and the confidence it brings in having a finisher. On paper, what is so different to the Burnley and Bournemouth promotion teams to our squad other than gray and Wilson respectively

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BackTheBlues added 11:05 - Oct 3 I wrote this article in good spirits at the time of a couple of good performances, harshly done by disallowed goals... I have now entirely changed my mind and do not believe anything I wrote above anymore haha! I am willing... however... to give McCarthy until November - when all of our so called creative players are fit - if there is no change then he must go! Because, why, in any team, would you play Skuse Douglas and Bru - and leave Ted, Fred and Doz on the bench???

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Burnzee1991 added 16:26 - Oct 4 I totally agree with everything in this post and I'm not a die hard McCarthy fan but I don't think he's doing a terrible job look at the money in the championship, look how much more competitive it is, we should be scraping the bottom of the table instead we're giving as good as we get with most teams fighting in and around the playoffs with some exciting young players moving through the ranks. We've been in the championship for a very long time and this season hasn't brought the results we want so understandably fans are getting frustrated but sacking the manager this early on would be catastrophic I am behind the team always and I'm behind McCarthy until at least January

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littlestoneblue added 17:33 - Mar 24 Finally BTB you have seen sense, there is absolutely no comparison to George and Mick, George as stated played quality football, as did Joe, all with little funds, nope I'm sorry but I'm like 95% of the Fans, Mick can foxtrot Oscar ASAP, and the Invisible owner can sell us to someone who will invest in the team, and bring in a quality manger.
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