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McCarthy: Not Much Between Us and Burnley
Monday, 21st Oct 2013 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy feels there is little between the Blues and Championship leaders Burnley, who left Suffolk having won a tight game 1-0 on Saturday. Scott Arfield’s 80th minute goal gave the Clarets their first win at Portman Road since January 1970 and only the second in their history.

“There’s not a great deal between us and Burnley at all,” said the Blues boss. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t get anything from the game. I think Burnley defended well. I should give them a bit of credit.”

Clarets’ keeper Tom Heaton was hardly overworked by McCarthy’s frontmen, but he points out that his own keepers — Dean Gerken was replaced by Scott Loach in the first half due to a dead leg — had similarly quiet afternoons.

“I can’t remember Gerks or Loachy making too many saves either,” he said. “It was a tight game and it wasn’t a striker it was a wide player that’s come and scored with a header.

“We’re playing against the two most prolific strikers in the league and our two centre-backs have been different class and haven’t given them too many sniffs.

“So, the performance has been good, but I’m always going to be disappointed when we’ve lost.”

The victory increased Burnley's lead over QPR at the top of the table to two points, while their start to the season is now their best since 1897. Leeds beating Birmingham at Elland Road on Sunday pushed Town down to 12th.

Several of Sunday’s papers continued to claim that McCarthy is the man the FAI want to take over as manager of Ireland with the Blues boss having added little to his earlier comments after Saturday's game: “There’s nothing I can do about it.

“I’ve been the favourite for jobs before and never been near them when they've come up. I’m genuinely not interested in all the speculation.”

Defender Tommy Smith said the Town squad would be disappointed if McCarthy were to move on: “We don’t want him to go. He’s been really good for us and if he stays then that would be magnificent.

“He’s now had the time to build his own squad. Performances have been good and we’ve got something to build on. If a change of manager happens then you’ve got to start all over again.

“We want to see him stay, definitely. He gets the best out of his players. He’s not shy to have a laugh and joke with us at the right times but when he needs to be serious, he’s that man as well. He’s got good man-management skills.”

Meanwhile, Town's U21s are in action against Bristol City at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).

Elsewhere, former Blue Hermann Hreidarsson has left his job as manager of ÍBV back in his native Iceland for personal reasons. Hreidarsson, 39, took over as boss in September 2012.


Photo: Action Images



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Hoppersblue10 added 07:01 - Oct 21
This ROI issue needs sorting, reading comments by Tommy it clearly is on the players minds & possibly affecting performance.!
One thing is for certain it is the main talking point from most Town fans at the moment, I get the feeling many think it's not a case of "if" but more like "when".
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bluefeast added 07:42 - Oct 21
MM has made a complete hash regarding speculation as he has in fact poured petrol on that fire. Clearly if he did not want it he would say i have unfinished business here ,i enjoy my job and am determined to see it through. That nips it in the bud. The players then don't have to worry about their careers and can concentrate on what matters. Saturdays match in point. We played within ourselves and were cautious , BURNLEY DIDNT , they got their fullbacks forward and their wingers forward ,right back crossed , and a midfield player scored his 4th of the season. We we good on effort but little else . If MM goes i would be ok with that ,however would prefer him to stay.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 07:52 - Oct 21
Apart from we have only one good striker in our entire squad...
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itfcserbia added 07:55 - Oct 21
Not much between us and Burnley, just 14 points...
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Mark added 08:00 - Oct 21
Burnley didn't look like league leaders on Saturday, although they were solid and we couldn't really trouble their keeper so it was a disappointing afternoon.

It is a worry that this RoI speculation is going to drag on for months and affect ITFC in a way that the Redknapp England speculation affected Tottenham. If current players and potential future signings feel that McCarthy won't be around much longer, that cannot be helpful.
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bluefeast added 08:37 - Oct 21
Our front two needs to be Mcgoldrick and someone with pace and movement to feed off him. We had one on our bench. Our central mid needs to be skuse and the Man U lad , ie forward thinking. Our left wing needs to be cresswell and our left back mings . Our right back needs to be a new player and our right mid needs to be taylor when he comes back. We are square pegs ,our right back didn't cross the half way line on saturday. Ive spent a fortune home and away and now feel like ive had enough.
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Bergholtblue added 08:54 - Oct 21
The reason our right back hardly crossed the half way line, his name is Chambers by the way, was because he had to keep Kightley in check. A job he did very well for most of the afternoon.
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JimmyJazz added 08:57 - Oct 21
not much between us and Burnley? True, because they haven't spent much money either, yet it's not holding them back. we've improved definitely but does our manager really need to use underhand tactics to gain some financial backing?
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kalypso added 09:07 - Oct 21
you have got to judge MM at the end of the season.

but he is stubborn as a mule
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TR11BLU added 09:15 - Oct 21
“I've been the favourite for jobs before and never been near them when they've come up. I'm genuinely not interested in all the speculation.”

Note he said 'Speculation' why not come out and say the 'position'
Also if you were staying put would you not tell the players??? Its one thing keeping quiet to the press but it WILL get to the players. I think, if offered it he will be gone.
If he does, then so be it . Cheers Mick, lets move on. Saturday proved his teams are solid but can he move us on? I dont think so. He has stated many times this season how there is nothing between us and the opposition....who have just taken 3 points from us!
No coincidence we always come off 2nd best in the tight ones and level when we shouldve won. He lacks the adventure and ambition to push on.
I would love to see Robinson here if MM goes or warnock or Butcher...
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Michael11 added 09:26 - Oct 21
Sorry, but there's a big difference between us and Burnley. More than one player capable of scoring, 14 points and don't play for 0-0's every week.

I still think Mick's the best man we can have as manager though. REALLY don't understand everyone saying Karl Robinson from MK Dons, it's basically because he's young because he's never actually done anything! If push came to shove i'd like to see Terry Butcher. Knows the club and brings on the young players.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 09:43 - Oct 21
Get Smith and Chambers back in the centre and give Hewitt another run for his money. Get Nouble off the bench and try Alan Lee, and sign a half decent goalkeeper!
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naa added 09:59 - Oct 21
Rather tired of the moaning at our manager here and on other pages. It's tiresome in the extreme and I suspect, is mostly from people who aren't going to the games.

We are not playing for 0-0 in every game, we're actually playing some decent football (at home at least, I haven't been away this season) we're comfortably in mid-table - when was the last time that was the case?

Our manager hasn't been able to spend much money.

Those saying that there is a big difference between us and Burnley - 14 points - are just being childish. That isn't what Mick meant and you know it. I was there on Saturday and he's right, there really wasn't much between us and Burnley at all.

If Mick does have a problem it's that he doesn't seem to have a plan B and relies a little to much on people who can run around a lot but aren't necessarily very good at football (Nouble), but so far this season the signs are encouraging. Our home form is pretty good - both defeats have been quite tight - and whilst our away form is poor we've been close to wins on more than one occasion. If we'd got the wins at Derby and Sheffield we'd be talking about the play-offs and everyone would be happy so stop moaning for God's sake.
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:08 - Oct 21
I suspect that if MM feels he has the full support of the fans he might just say he's not currently interested in the Ireland job. He has only got to read the criticism of him in these columns to realise what a fickle lot we are.

If the results don't go our way I feel that I could offer him loads of advice on how we could win all our matches, but recognise that is exactly what he is trying to do. Building a good team took Ramsey time it took Robson time. MM hasn't had a year yet, but look how far we have come!
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Pilgrimblue added 10:42 - Oct 21
If if if that's all I hear from MM. The reality is that we have no goal scorers, no one is prepared to attack the spaces and force their way into the penalty area (hence no penalties to date). He plays the same team and gets the same results. Two points from nine is very poor so he needs to get more from the players he has e.g. Move Chambers inside or drop him, drop Hyam for Wordsworth, get Marriott off the bench, get Taylor back sooner for Anderson.
Nouble was a bad signing so send him out on loan and see whatbhe can do elsewhere. If Town carry on like this it'll be another relegatn scrap
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Garv added 11:35 - Oct 21
Mick conveniently ignores the fact that Burnley actually moved the ball quickly and smoothly in midfield and actually got a good number of crosses in.

They were better than us and scored a goal.
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bluefeast added 15:39 - Oct 21
Garv , very true , i dont remember any crosses from open play from us. We need more from people on the pitch. We need people to drive forward with aggression at home ,Anderson did it once on Saturday. We are robotic and easy to play against at home. We were lucky vs Millwall Yeovil etc .We need more in the attacking third in order to win games. COYB
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bluesman added 17:01 - Oct 21
Turning around a football team is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. MM deserves less whinging and more credit, and then maybe he'll feel that his outstanding managerial skills are appreciated and will want to stay with us
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Dissboyitfc added 18:44 - Oct 21
M'carthy say's, " i am genuinely not interested in all the speculation" , really Mick? then end it by saying , you are genuinely happy here and want to finish what you have started, Simples .....COYB
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