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McCarthy Targeting Top Six
Tuesday, 1st Jul 2014 06:00

Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Championship play-offs have to be the target for the campaign ahead but doesn’t expect the division to be any easier than it was last season. The Blues ended 2013/14 in ninth, having faded away from the play-off battle in the final few weeks.

McCarthy, who yesterday put pen to paper on a new three-year deal along with assistant Terry Connor, admits that there is pressure to reach the top six during 2014/15, but feels the same was the case last year anyway.

“It was there last season, nobody’s putting pressure on me any more than myself, doing it to be successful,” he said.

“We’ve kept the nucleus of the squad, the team that started the season last season could actually start this season.

“We’ve got that and we’ll be trying to look to get some other players in, somebody to come and help us and just make the squad stronger and better.

“The play-offs have got to be the target. We were so close last year, we ran out of steam in the end and we perhaps finished where we deserved.”

He added: “The play-offs were the ambition last year, we didn’t make a song and dance about it. We probably ended up where we deserved to be in the league.

“We had a bit of a spell just near the end where I think we ran out of gas, we had a small squad. But it was a good season overall and an improvement on the one before.”

McCarthy expects teams coming into the Championship from both the Premier League and League One to be amongst the contenders: “It won’t be any easier, that’s for sure.

“I see Wolves as a threat having come up with more than 100 points and Kenny Jackett’s put a good young team together there.

“He’s re-signed Richard Stearman as a bit of experience in the team. It’s a big club, it’s got a good support. They’ll be a threat, I’ve no doubt about that.

“And I thought Rotherham were a good side last year, and Steve Evans has gone and spent a few quid. He’s signed Frazer Richardson, I think they’re interested in Paul Green [that deal was confirmed last night], so he’s trying to get a bit of experience in, some Yorkshire lads, so that’ll be all right for Rotherham.

“As for the teams coming down, Norwich, Fulham, Cardiff, I think they’ve got good squads, depending on who they lose, of course. They’re all in a position to buy, so it’s going to be hard.”


Photo: Action Images



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Sindre94 added 06:57 - Jul 1
Dont say the n-word Micky ;-)
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thechangingman added 13:05 - Jul 1
Please DON'T read this as an attack on MM - he's the best we've had in a LONG time...

I was just thinking that maybe he'd consider putting his money where his mouth is in this regard?

In other words, he got himself a cool £1 million for keeping us up - so how about offering the same amount to the supporters trust if he DOESN'T put us in the play-offs this year?

Wouldn't that add a little bit of spice to proceedings?

Go on Mick, I dare you... ;0)
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WeWereZombies added 13:25 - Jul 1
The Championship might not just be as strong as last year, it could be stronger - the teams that have come up look much better than Barnsley, Doncaster or Yeovil. Fulham and Cardiff may recover form and grab top six places. Norwich, of course, are heading for financially troubled waters with too many big signings at the start of last season - one or two other Championship sides (Leeds, Forest?) may be strapped too, but managerial continuity should help us. And we also have the added bonus that now Roy Keane is tied up we might have a weak Premiership team to grab six points off if we do get promoted and Villa manage to stay up next season.
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bohslegend added 13:41 - Jul 1
@thechangingman - sorry but I don't see that as being a good or realistic suggestion at all.
Why doesn't he just do it for free? That would be REAL commitment now wouldn't it?
He took a big gamble coming to us when we were rock bottom of the league. The carrot to put in the work to change it around was that bonus - just like lots of jobs. I'm a salesman (of sorts) and my salary is topped up with incentives if I hit my targets (okay I don't get a million quid for it, but my job isn't as difficult as keeping us up was when MM came in).
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thechangingman added 14:41 - Jul 1
bohslegend: I was just having a whimsical moment - forgive me if this was lost in translation... ;0)
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