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McCarthy Set to Be Named New Town Boss
Tuesday, 30th Oct 2012 19:30

TWTD understands that Mick McCarthy will be confirmed as Town’s new manager in the next couple of days with his Wolves assistant Terry Connor and with former Blues skipper Matt Holland as part of his staff. McCarthy has been favourite to succeed Paul Jewell since he was reported to be in talks with Town at the end of last week.

The 53-year-old was sacked by Wolves after six years in charge in February. His assistant, one-time England U21 international Connor, took over for the remainder of the season but couldn’t prevent the Black Country club from dropping into the Championship.

Born in Barnsley, centre-half McCarthy played for his hometown club, Manchester City, Celtic, Lyon and Millwall as well as winning 57 caps and scoring two goals for the Republic of Ireland, the country of his father’s birth.

He began his management career with the Lions in 1992 before moving on to manage his former national side in 1996, a spell which saw his famous clash with ex-Blues boss Roy Keane at the 2002 World Cup.

A few months after that tournament — in which Holland was a regular in the Ireland midfield — McCarthy resigned, joining Sunderland as their boss in March 2003, taking the Black Cats into the Premier League in 2004/05. Having failed to keep them in the top flight the following season he was fired.

In July 2006 he took over at Wolves and led them into the Premier League as Championship winners in 2008/09 and kept them there until his exit in February.

Connor, 49, was a striker with Leeds, Brighton, Portsmouth, Swindon, Bristol City and Yeovil during his playing days.

After hanging up his boots, he coached at Swindon, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City before being taken to Wolves by John Ward in 1999.

In February he took over after McCarthy’s sacking, rejoining the backroom team under new boss StÃ¥le Solbakken. But four games into this season he left the club.

Holland, 38, needs no introduction to Town supporters having played at Portman Road between 1997 and 2003 during which time he skippered the side in the 2000 play-off final victory over Barnsley at Wembley.

Previously with West Ham and Bournemouth, Holland moved on to Charlton before retiring in 2009. More recently the Bury-born midfielder, who won 49 Ireland caps, scoring five times, has been working in the media and is the patron of the ITFC Charitable Trust.

Blues skipper Carlos Edwards previously played for McCarthy during a two-month spell on loan at Wolves in 2008, making five starts and one sub appearance.

Loanee Daryl Murphy was signed from his hometown club Waterford United during McCarthy's time as Sunderland boss, after he had had trials at Portman Road.

Coach Mark Kennedy previously worked with the new boss as a youngster at Millwall and for the Republic of Ireland.


Photo: Action Images



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BrettenhamBlue added 21:37 - Oct 30
It's time for every true fan to get behind our new manager and to get behind this club. It really is backs to the walls time and our team is going to have to dig deep to avoid the drop.
I hope he starts by looking carefully at every player in our entire squad and assessing their attitude. It's all well and good to have the technical skill but if their attitude sucks then they need to leave this club. He seriously needs to have words with Chopra and JET; both of which are seriously underperforming. They don't seem to care about our club and the situation we are in. If their attitude doesn't improve they should both be put on the transfer list in January. We cannot afford to carry players anymore. Edwards should stick to the position he knows best (right wing) and another right back needs to be recruited to compete for a place with Hewitt in the RB position. Another CD needed asap. Someone who has height and pace and isn't prone to cracking under pressure.
Our young players are good enough, but they need a leader. Shame we couldn't bring in Wellens- he really does have heart and soul and in the position we are in that attitude would spread quickly throughout the squad. We need to add height, pace and strength in every position in the team. Do we really need Nathan Ellington anymore? Think we need to say goodbye to him and a few others. Right now I would rate him above Chopra though…at least he tries.
Chopra is such a gifted player but what a waste of time and space….he seriously needs a rocket from the Management team. His antics and his twitter comments are inappropriate and he is a bad influence on the rest of the squad. Fault lies in PJ for this one- he knew about his issues before he signed him.
I would pick Scotland and Taylor (when fit) before Chopra every time. Scotland tries and before his injury Taylor looked as if he has real potential. Let's start playing with 2 strikers again. When did we become a club that regularly only uses 1?
Could see Murphy being utilised effectively by McCarthy- the 2 of them have a history going way back. Maybe we will see the best of Murphy now….
Hope he gives Loach some games too- his confidence must be shot to pieces….
Time for us all to get behind the new manager and the team. League 1 would be a disaster next season….
Boring football? Yes...but as long as we are safe at the end of the season I for one do not care.
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Shotleytractor added 21:43 - Oct 30
Even if MM stands for Midtable Mediocrity it will be better than relegation at this moment in time. Regardless who is in charge I will support them & the team. I kept faith with PJ until the last 2 games but I will still support our team.


Just not megson...please
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RetroBlue added 21:45 - Oct 30
ITFC on and off the pitch has been divided for far to long now.

ITS TIME TO STAND UNITED, AND PULL TOGETHER.

Mick McCarthy's Blue N White Army !!
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WIGGSTER1978 added 21:46 - Oct 30
Please lets all get behind this new Manager and Backroom staff and give them the support they need to get us out of the mess we are in!!
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blueherts added 21:46 - Oct 30
Like with the Holland connection
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BotesdaleBlue added 21:47 - Oct 30
Let's hope this is confirmed in the morning. He is a brave man taking us on in our current state and he deserves all the support we can give him.
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Kuqicoo added 21:48 - Oct 30
I'll say again...give the guy a chance! Seriously some people on here make me laugh. Always quick to judge players/managers before they have even stepped foot through the door. How do you know how his teams play? Have you watched every game he has managed in?

I can understand moaning when there is something to moan about. But we are in a fight. And its all very well wanting us to play pretty football but quite honestly our first priority is getting out of the hole we are in surely?

Please just try and look on the bright side for once eh? I'm happy and looking forward to the new man kicking some butt and sorting us out.

Let some light in your life!
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WarkyWonderLand added 21:51 - Oct 30
We need a manager to keep us in this league.

We need a manager to create a team who can compete in this league. 110% confidence that Mick McCarthy will do this.

You can't please everyone but we all need to get behind the team and management 100%.

Season starts again.

Coyb
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BlueVelvet added 22:08 - Oct 30
lets hope DVD Hutchings is returned to Blockbuster
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:12 - Oct 30
Agree with many others, now is the time for us to unite behind MM & his staff, we have a serious task on our hands, with someone like MM in charge I do firmly believe he will sort out our "so called stars" & kick some up the backside, I guess at the moment any true fan would be happy for us to survive this season & not worry to much about the "style" of football being played.

Welcome Mick,Terry & Matt, I look forward to a new start at our club with you all at the helm.
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Tractamatt added 22:13 - Oct 30
On radio 5 they have just said Mick Mcarthy will be announced as our new manager with Matt Holland as his assistant.No mention of Terry Connor but welcome to Our club and I know all true ipswich fans will be behind you and your staff and the players 110%. The good times are coming. COYB
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jimmyvet added 22:14 - Oct 30
Agree lets get behind MM & the Team, Saturday was such a low point the whole atmosphere felt so awful. Surely & hopefully the only way is now up. Spoke with Wolves ST holder at lunchtime who would take MM back tomorrow spoke very very highly and fondly of Mick and that has certainly given me some hope we can get out of the complete mess we are currently in thanks in the main to PJ's terrible reign.
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Edmunds5 added 22:22 - Oct 30
christ 7-5
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ITFC_Essex added 22:27 - Oct 30
Another easy appointment for Clegg - but a rubbish one. Jewell left but the legacy will remain in tact with this man at the helm.
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BlueVelvet added 22:30 - Oct 30
jimmyvet

PJ was not to blame, he was just a skapegoat for Oly Cleggs failings. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT THIS TIME THEN oLY IS HISTORY
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BlueVelvet added 22:30 - Oct 30
jimmyvet

PJ was not to blame, he was just a skapegoat for Oly Cleggs failings. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT THIS TIME THEN oLY IS HISTORY
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bluefeast added 22:31 - Oct 30
I would like to thank the previous manager and the current coaches for there hard work. Its a total failure , but not deliberate. Paul Jewel forgot the golden rule. Do your research on a player before signing them. One signing from 20 odd has a chance of working well and thats cresswell. The rest ,clearly decent players ,but many with bad attitudes. Lack of desire or hunger and motivation is simply a recipe for failure. Mick is an up to speed manager with a great network of scouts . Look at his signings over the last 10 years. All would get into our side tomorrow. I have everything crossed for a titanic turnaround. For thats whats needed. 50 points , then stability and a working plan. Lets get behind the team COYB
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Hatman added 22:37 - Oct 30
Stunnicliffe, Keanish..., you know Curbs is the best man for the job, best record. Curbs and Holland dream team. This is my last plea to not give up on that option...

If it's MicMac I'll back him all the way, decent fella, tells it like it is, bringing Holland in is a good move too. Just don't think he's the man to realise our long term hopes and dreams.
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foot_kick_ball_goal added 22:42 - Oct 30
So, had a few questions of any potential manager. Tried to work out what the answers were for Mick as well, but i'm not saying the following is gospel truth, so if I'm wrong, someone please correct me...
How many up front?
...From what I gather 4-4-2 was his most recent prefered formation. So bonus points for moving away from that lone striker nonesense. Although he had games where he played 4-5-1, so can only hope he's done with that one.
syle of midfield play?
...wide apparently, which I like, but could be tricky as we seem to have pretty much all central midfielders
Handle on the dressing room?
...He has been described as having inspired loyalty from the dressing room and players want to deliver for him. Well, thats positive considering some of the recent news from Wellens.
Long ball or play it on the ground?
...often long ball but also alot of passing play, especially moving towards that towards th end of his tenure at wolves.
Bringing in players?
...rebuilt wolves using their youth team players and wise use of the loan system and free signings, so that could be good. Kept on a bit of a tight leash financially by wolves after getting promoted to the premiership, but still kept them up for two seasons. There's something positive.

soooo... I think we could do much much worse than Mick McCarthy, his strengths also seem to go against the weakneses for which many criticised Paul Jewel for. Unable to get players to deliver, one up front, playing pointless hoof ball and not enough width in midfield. I still think that we have a good team, in need of a couple more wide players, but a good team nonetheless. All we need is for someone to get them to perform to what they are capable of...oh yeah; and play more than one striker.
If McCarthy does get the job, and it looks like he will, there are certainly enough positives to hope for the best and get behind the new manager. Playoffs anyone?Afterall, there is alot of football still left to play.
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Tractorog added 22:44 - Oct 30
Let's hope he can turn this club around.
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JWM added 22:52 - Oct 30
Mick McCarthy will be a fantastic appointment given the dire situation we find ourselves in. I just can't believe the negative comments by some on this board even before the guy has set foot through the door! ITFC Essex - it is easy to make cheap and easy comments without basing them on any real evidence of fact. We have all had enough of lazy footballers who do not play for the shirt and McCarthy will instill some desperately needed pride and passion back into Town. This surely is what we are looking for and I wholeheartedly will back the new manager and its about time some of you losers did the same!
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bugledog123 added 23:00 - Oct 30
His record is not great - look at the stats . I'm worried....
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Taricco_Fan added 23:07 - Oct 30
Really pleased with this. Just the man we need. Let's get behind him, he needs us.
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La_Paz added 23:09 - Oct 30
If this is true it will be interesting to see how he plays with the available players. Our only target man is Murphy, so one would presume he'd be back in his natural position up front, alongside either Campbell (in the short-term) or Chopra (if he can still fit into his shorts), or maybe this is the chance that Ellington has been waiting for? MM also seems to like his wingers, but we only have one really, Carson, who has hardly been on fire this year. With Murphy potentially up front does this also mean that Carlos may be back on the wing with Martin on the left? Very interested also to see what he thinks of JET and where (and if?) he can get the best out of him. As for full-back, the poor bloke is going to have a coronary given his previous preference for 'defenders' over wing-back types as we haven't got any, besides possibly Ainsley.

A big welcome if it happens to MM and I for one will put aside my preconceptions and give him my full support. I have no doubt that the majority will also do the same as always when a new man comes in. Many of us may not see him as a typical 'Ipswich" manager but the guy has undoubted quality and most would agree that he is exactly the type of guy who can hopefully give our lot a much-needed kick up the backside. Mick McCarthy's Blue and White Army ??!!!
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skankerman added 23:10 - Oct 30
We all have our own beliefs on who should be the next manager mine was Curbs but I am happy with this if it happens , so now is the time to get behind the new manager and support him good luck Mick hope you sort the overpaid twitters out
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