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McCarthy: Year Has Seen Big Turnaround
Monday, 28th Apr 2014 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues have come a long way in the year since their last visit to Turf Moor, despite Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley ending Town’s hopes of making the play-offs. Michael Kightly netted the game’s only goal nine minutes after the break.

Town lost 2-0 away against the Clarets on the last day of 2012/13 having confirmed their Championship status for another season the previous week.

“We played Birmingham last year with two games to play and we weren’t safe. As it turned out we were mathematically, but we didn’t know that at the time,” McCarthy recalled.

“We came here on the final day chilled because we’d survived. This year we came looking for three points to get in the play-offs.

“We all know it’s a big turnaround but I’m still disappointed because I think we were capable of getting in the top six.”

McCarthy says there wasn’t a lot between Town and Burnley, who were handed the Championship runners-up trophy and medals on the pitch after Saturday’s match, in either of their two games this season. The Clarets recorded their first ever double over the Blues by winning both 1-0.

“There wasn’t at home,” he remembered. “I guess the difference was that they managed to keep a clean sheet there and they’ve managed to do it here, and they’ve managed to get a goal. It was Scott Arfield at our place and it was Michael Kightly here. It’s fine, fine margins.”

He says that on one front Clarets boss Sean Dyche had an option which wasn't open to him: “I’ve not complained bitterly about it but I think what was nice for them was that in the January window when they lost Sam Vokes they could take Ashley Barnes [from Brighton] and he’s been a really good foil for Danny Ings.

“I know Danny Ings got injured as well but they replaced [Vokes]. We lost a really good player, David McGoldrick, that we’ve not been able to replace, and that does make a difference.”

He says his team had opportunities to go in front in the first half on Saturday with Tommy Smith having a header cleared off the line: “And Frazer Richardson had a chance at the far post.

“I thought we played well,” he added, before outlining his approach to what was a must-win game for the Blues after Brighton’s victory over now-relegated Yeovil on Friday.

“We had our chances and it’s not about coming here and having to win, you win it doing it the way you’ve won all the games all season long. I thought we did all right, we’ve just conceded a goal which has cost us.

“You could see why they got promoted. We were having the best of it when they scored, we made one mistake, just a missed tackle and it ended up in the back of our net.”

Having ended 2012/13 on 60 points and in 14th place, Town currently have 65 points and are 10th with Sheffield Wednesday's visit next Saturday the campaign's only remaining fixture.

The Blues have averaged 1.44 points a match this season, slightly below the 1.61 picked up per game from November 1st - when McCarthy took over as boss - last term.

Meanwhile, midfielder Stephen Hunt says he wants to stay with Town next season with his contract up this summer.

“Hard to take today, am sure players will come back stronger next season. Big chance missed but players are pleasure to play with. Thanks to all,” the 32-year-old Irish international tweeted after Saturday’s game.“By the way, I hope I'm here next season 100 per cent.”


Photo: Action Images



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Len_Brennan added 06:35 - Apr 28
New goalkeeper needed (Gerken as cover), new right back for whom it is his natural position also needed. Cresswell will probably go, so further cover at left back will be required for Mings. Big pre-season for Hewitt & Veseli required to see if they have developed into first team/match day squad options for next season. We have 3 good centre backs at least.
Cole Skuse had a pretty good first half of the season & looked a decent player - we may forget that after his more recent performances, as he was disappointing to downright poor, especially since his injury. In any event the central midfield spots will be a crucial area for Mick to tackle over the summer. Adding creativity while balancing with the holding/defensive presence will probably be his trickiest task. What will become of Woody? A player who showed that he has something to offer & can word hard in recent weeks. Hunt & Anderson also had their moments ovrr recent weeks, but we still lack a real cutting edge winger who can do damage with pace, power & a finish.
Up front we may be ok. A summer for McGoldrick & Ebanks-Blake to recover from injury could leave them ready to roar out of the blocks come August. They are a good age & I think they would be an excellent partnership, if fully match fit. Murphy, though limited, has had an excellent season & will be a useful option again, while Jack Marriott will surely get gametime in 2014/15.
Paul Taylor will no doubt be moving on; a player with undoubted talent, but with baggage & an ethic which does not appear compatible with the hard working, close-knit team game favoured by MM.
40

essexboy added 06:46 - Apr 28
Len,a very good post and I agree 100%.McGoldrick could play in midfield if need be as he has great vision and holds the ball well,only a thought.
0

bring_back_Wickham added 07:18 - Apr 28
Essexboy - Mcgoldrick would surely be best playing off the striker rather than in midfield
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pennblue added 07:40 - Apr 28
Assuming mick is talking about purse strings here. I think he has earnt the right to a bigger kitty this close season, hopefully Evans will take note else ultimately we may lose the manager
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essexboy added 07:50 - Apr 28
Bring back-yes I agree,but I was only talking with tongue in cheek.But he surely must be better then some at the moment.It was only a thought though.
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Jimmy86 added 08:10 - Apr 28
Without doubt a massive turn around compared to last season, at the expense of free flowing, entertaining, attack minded football. Mick has done well with the absoloute pittance he was given by evans in the summer. He has earnt the right to recieve better financial backing from the owner in the summer, but money aside it's a case of mentality. We have set up far too negatively this season, far too defensive minded, despite mick saying otherwise. To drop 30 points from winning positions is totally unacceptable and would have seen us where burnley are, we could def have finished in the top 6, but weren't quite good enough
6

baldman added 08:36 - Apr 28
Although a bit disappointed to miss out only because we have been in and around all season I would just like to say a massive thanks to mick and terry and players for taking it all the way to the end well done look on the bright side we have a 6 point start 2 easy wins against the filth
1

awayfan added 08:39 - Apr 28
Len B, I agree with essexboy, that's a really good summary.
1

Cloddyseedbed added 08:42 - Apr 28
Without doubt a tidier season than the last. Next season is a big season for Evans and McCarthy. We've consolidated this season, next season we need to push on. This season playoffs were a dream, next season they must be a reality. We have seen clubs just as small or smaller, in terms of crowd pull, managing to access quality players in positions that count. Ipswich for reasons unbeknown have been shown lacking. The club say it is due to fair play rules, I am not entirely sure this is true. Evans the club needs a bit of investment to get the right player who will make a difference between success and failure. If your heart is not now in the club maybe it's a time to come out and make a statement to that effect.

Hopefully a bit of money spent in the right way will tip the scales in our favour next season. Personally I don't think that's too much to ask as you've put the season tickets up. Your not going to fill the ground selling expensive tickets to watch negative football, but you will get more through the turnstiles if the quality and entertainment levels go up.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:41 - Apr 28
Money is still going to be limited due to servicing of debts etc and if Marcus Evans was Bill Gates he still couldn't invest more and stay within FFP rules. There will be some money to spend and if I were MM I'd use it looking at free transfers again. There are a lot of players out there who are coming to the end of their contracts and I'm sure MM has made inquiries about a few of them. Right back would be my big focus, an overlapping right back would change the balance of the side massively, I think Anderson would look far more impressive if he had an attacking full back helping out. Our left wing has looked far more effective than our right thanks mainly to Cressy. I wouldn't spend anything on a goalkeeper, I think Gerken has done a great job for us and money is too tight to waste there.
Goalkeeper - Leave as is / replace Loach as back up if he leaves (But maybe Crowe is ready).
Central defense - Leave alone, maybe play Vesseli a few times if he's ready.
Left Back - Leave alone, replace Cressy if he goes.
Right Back - Spend Here, decent wages to a good free agent, Hewitt as back up.
Holding Midfield - Skuse, Hyam, Tabb enough!
Attacking Midfield - Wordy plus spend a bit here too, at least 1 forward looking midfield man.
Right wing - Ando and another, could be that Nouble has a good season here, he's definitely looking better in a wing role recently.
Left Wing - I suspect MM will give Hunt another chance but I'd rather see Henshall as a back up to someone with a bit more cutting edge.
Strikers - I think we've got enough here.
-9

SouperJim added 10:14 - Apr 28
We desperately need better WIDE MEN. And I don't mean Jason Scotland.
8

Jon_456 added 10:23 - Apr 28
Could do with couple of direct wingers with pace and power who will run in behind. Other than nouble (who can't dribble) we have absolutely no pace in our team. Need a new jon Walters!
3

Surco72 added 10:28 - Apr 28
You could have Ribery and Robben in the squad but if they are told by their manager to tuck in tight and defend as their first option that is what they will do .
Less points per game this season as MM took over DJ Campbell last season when he first joined before Christmas and that was where we gained a number of points . I would bet if we looked at the points ratio from last January with this season they would almost be identical ?
Picking the same team regardless of opposition and only changing because of injury which I feel MM has done most of the season will level itself out leading to average mid table
6

essextractorboy93 added 10:47 - Apr 28
I don't think anyone would have predicted we would be so close to the playoffs at this stage of the season so Mick has done a great job!

I agree next season we need to kick on. Mick is a builder, he did it at Wolves over time and we need to be patient especially as he has very limited resources. I'm just glad we have undoubtedly one of the best managers in this league.

Can't wait for next season! COYB!
2

WhoisJimmyJuan added 10:54 - Apr 28
Agree with almost all the comments here. But I would say perhaps the one difference between us and the more successful similar-sized Championship teams could be the lack of talent coming through our ranks. Marriot looks the most likely of the current crop, but his season slipped away a little. We have to do better than a Rhodes/Wickham once every five years-ish. This was how we have done well in the past - not when we spend money. Yet the youth and reserve team results looked pretty poor this season. We do have some young-ish players with potential on the fringe of the first team (Mings, Veseli, Hewitt, Doherty, Henshall). We need some of these to really push on as well.
3

Blue041273 added 11:00 - Apr 28
The true test of a manager is if can make individuals better players and mould them into a cohesive team unit. Irrespective of any tactics employed, I don't see how anyone can argue about MM's ability on this front in comparison with his immediate predecessors. I guess that the summer will throw up its usual set of challenges with regards to improving the overall quality of the squad. I trust MM will do his best to make us a competitive proposition as IMO the Championship could well be the weakest for years next season.
1

blueherts added 11:11 - Apr 28
Great post Len
This is the key season coming up
ME probably had a 3-5 year vision
Nov 12-May 13 - Keep us up !
13/14 - Consolidate top half/Top 10 - maybe play offs ?
14/15 - Play offs or maybe automatic
MM has shown over the 18 months with NO investment what a solid team he can put out
The biggest kicker for us this season has been the loss of Didsy
I have no doubt that if he was still about we would have made the Play offs
He was such a talisman
Williams added to the midfield and I hope ME sees the value in getting in a attack minded midfielder - or two
I would like to look at Dale Jennings from Barnsley , young and gifted player
Like to see Marriott , Henshall in squad for Saturday
5

Lightningboy added 11:15 - Apr 28
Still think we need a more commanding GK..Kelvin Davis for me.

As much as Chambers is out of position at RB I still couldn't drop any of our back 4,though personally I wouldn't mind seeing Mings at left back with Cresswell on the left of midfield (if we can keep him) & Hewitt given a shot on the right wing.

We do need to make a goalscoring/goal creating midfield maestro a major priority.. Not at all impressed with Skuse - below average tbh..do we still have a european scout?..can't we get a dutch genius in now that we've got a nice new orange kit?!!

If we can keep McGoldrick,get SEB fit,give Marriott his chance + Murphy then we may be ok up top.
2

Special_A added 11:25 - Apr 28
Creativity is needed-expensive and hard to come by, unless a young lad comes through.

Williams on loan proved how little creativity we have. I would love to see him back for a season on loan by think it's unlikely.

This has been a really good season for town, good foundations. The time has come to now buy that bit of extra quality that will get us into the playoffs.

COYB
1

Guru_of_Ipswich added 11:53 - Apr 28
Mick really needs to work on the creative side of the squad during the summer, we are now hard to beat and have a good spirit within the squad.

I reckon we need, a replacement for cressy, somebody more consistent in CM on the creative side of things, a couple of young pacey wingers and perhaps a more mobile striker than Murph, but then that probably is a bit harsh on Murph as he has had a season which most of us didn't think he had in him.

I would like to see Hewitt given a good run at RB, and Veseli is good enough as back-up for CB.

This season we have been solid if unspectacular, next season we need to use the ball better and use attack as the best form of defence.
1

Karlosfandangal added 11:59 - Apr 28
Well if someone had said we would be still in with a shout with 2 games to go at the beginning of the season I would have took it.

The club has come a long way since Mick took over, we have a good squard really as we got 10 players for less than a family car.

If we can keep the squard together and lose some of the hangers on (Taylor) and hopefully have a few quid to spend on some players, play off look a very real hope next season.

Wonder if we had McGoldrick fit if that was the differance to a play off place or not.
McGoldrick just behind the front 2 of Murphy and Ebanks black very exciting
3

Elizabeth added 12:12 - Apr 28
Open the cheque book and sign Joniesta Mr Evans , that would be a good start!!
0

Langdon_Blue added 12:14 - Apr 28
Lot's of measured and constructive posts. No comparisons of the glory days or bizarre suggestions about sacking McCarthy or who should be his replacement...although the mention of Darren Ferguson did make me chuckle...I assume that was a joke? It's good to see sensible posts on TWTD.
6

unknown100 added 12:29 - Apr 28
I think the summer has to be a time to get a few more midfielders in, with more quality and to get a playing style, that is most important, I have seen ipswich quite a lot this season and feel we need our own identity where we go every game to take it to the opposition and look to win the game, a great example of this were Swansea before they got promoted and Bournemouth this year, we have established ourselves from relegation and even came close to the play offs, personally think the top 6 has been the strongest it's been for a number of years and maybe another year we may have jumped in but next year is a real opportunity for us to strengthen and go for the play offs
4

Pilgrimblue added 12:32 - Apr 28
Exactly Lightning my thoughts entirely. If we want williams i feel he'll be available because after CP's escape they'll have their sights much higher in order to stay in Prem.
So hopefully MM will get after him and then we need some more pace in the side as its very lacking. Scuse for me isn't good enough and despite some good games neither Hunt nor Babb are cutting it for me.
I wonder what Hewitt/Vassel/Marriot have learnt and guess they'll be given a chance in the pre-season. If we keep Cressy then I too would give him chance in midfield as he's attack minded and could develop into top player. that would open door for Mings and youth back-up.
Still not convinced about Frank but given time he may continue to improve if he gets better ball control and maybe gets on scoresheet!
Finally I'd get better keeper than gerken. There's lots around sitting on benches!!
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