Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
McCarthy: It's Great to Have Options
Monday, 28th Jul 2014 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy has decisions to make at both ends of the field ahead of Town’s opening Championship game at home to Fulham a week on Saturday. Strikers Paul Taylor and Jack Marriott will be amongst those to come into the reckoning to partner Daryl Murphy up front, with David McGoldrick unlikely to start, while McCarthy is delighted to have plenty of options at the back.

McGoldrick is back in training following his knee injuries and could feature in one or both of Town’s final friendlies at Southend on Tuesday and Leyton Orient on Saturday, but the 26-year-old almost certainly won't be considered fit enough to make the XI when the Blues take on the Cottagers in August 9th’s live Sky game (KO 5.15pm).

McCarthy says Taylor will be in his thoughts, while 19-year-old Marriott has made an impression during pre-season, having scored twice, as has another alternative Frank Nouble.

“Tayls has done OK, but I didn’t think it was working for us [at Gillingham] with him, although that wasn’t so much [why he came off at half-time, more that] I wanted to look at Jack Marriott," he said.

“Jack deserved a start. The reason I didn’t start him was because I wanted to play [trialist] Balint Bajner and have a look at him. I changed it around and I thought Jack did well. Tayls continues to work hard and we’ll see.”

Taylor was given few opportunities during 2013/14 following his return from a long-term foot injury and McCarthy made him available for transfer at the end of the campaign. Would he still be willing to accept an offer if one was forthcoming?

“That was the end of last season,” McCarthy said. “Until the season starts I’m just keeping my options open and my powder dry in terms of what I would do and what I wouldn’t do.

“We’ve got two weeks to go and who knows what I might get in terms of injuries. I’ll make sure I’ve got the best group of players that I can have when we start and then, if somebody comes in for somebody that I don’t think is for me and the squad, I’ll let him go.”

At the back, Town have kept clean sheets in all four of their pre-season games up to now and having ruled out playing three central defenders and two wing-backs — “Not a chance” — the Blues boss has to decide who to leave out.

Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith were last season’s regular central pairing with skipper Luke Chambers — who has played at centre-half throughout pre-season so far — at right-back, while Tyrone Mings and Jonny Parr have both impressed at full-back since Aaron Cresswell's departure for West Ham.

“And don’t forget Elliott Hewitt!” McCarthy pointed out. “Wow, there’s loads of them! It’s great, isn’t it? It’s lovely having options.

“When you’ve only got four of them, you’re scared of injuries. I think I’ve got good players for each position and good cover, depending on who doesn’t play. There’s only one thing worse than having options and that’s not having any.”


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



karls_dad added 06:15 - Jul 28
And not a mention of a Nouble! at last maybe MM has seen the light, please out him to pastures new!
2

Jimmy86 added 06:18 - Jul 28
Dont forgot veseli either mick, he is a versatile player, who looked comfortable in the middle against west ham. Looking forward to the start of the season
9

werderbremenblue added 07:14 - Jul 28
deluded fans, average squad with an average manager calls for an average mid table season.
-49

Rentaghost added 07:56 - Jul 28
I love options. Belgian choc best flavour.
2

PhilTWTD added 08:03 - Jul 28
Re Nouble, I asked about Taylor specifically, he said he had been keen to start Marriott. We didn't talk about Nouble, but he's obviously another option.
10

SouperJim added 08:07 - Jul 28
Interesting comments on Taylor. My interpretation of that lot is Mick still doesn't think Tayls is right for us, but he'll use him if needed, particularly while Dids isn't 100%.

It's quite telling that nobody has come in with a suitable offer for Taylor while he has been transfer listed. I'm sure if another club would just settle his wages, he'd be gone. Reading between the lines, seems Mick doesn't think he's a team player, both on and off the pitch.
7

rhybeaniho added 08:10 - Jul 28
Nouble should start against Fulham, he's been the best striker so far this pre-season
-3

MarkFish added 08:17 - Jul 28
He's gone , that was as much a " he will be here till someone wants him" as you can get.
1

bluesman added 08:40 - Jul 28
If somebody comes in for somebody. If only that somebody was Nouble. Pigs might fly
0

brittaniaman added 08:53 - Jul 28
who would your call be for manager then !! werderbremenblue
Keane, Jewell ????
0

Flewitt85 added 09:19 - Jul 28
werderbremenblue: REALLY! Do 1!!
4

werderbremenblue added 09:29 - Jul 28
haha if youre all willing to pay ££££ to watch that kind of football be my guest, just think the club need a reality check. Football is all about opinions and im entitled to mine
-15

TractorBoy666 added 09:42 - Jul 28
McGoldrick could get 3 pre season games under his belt if he plays against Sudbury in our reserve team? As for Taylor it looks as though he will be off, quite a shame really I was impressed with him against Colchester but I definitely think Marriott should be given a good crack this season, loads better than Nouble.
5

Steve70 added 10:03 - Jul 28
Heard it all before from MM , we all know he will stick to his tried and tested players! Hope I'm wrong.
6

Bergholtblue added 10:10 - Jul 28
See also the article entitled 'McCarthy almost opening day team' where he quoted. "I kind of know, almost anyway, it's not going to be any great shock to me, they've only been away for 12 weeks. Nothing great changes over the summer, they don't go and have football lessons and come back loads better or loads worse."

Taylor wasn't wanted 12 weeks ago and was offered a free. Nothings changed from that. If he wants to stay with the club he has an awful lot to do to win over MM and TC. I'm convinced he'll be gone as soon ans anyone makes an offer, either permanently or on loan.
3

TheSelkirk added 10:10 - Jul 28
Fart's chance in a hurricane of Taylor being given an opportunity, McCarthy just doesn't like the guy. Until such time as Taylor makes the effort to build that particular bridge he's not going to get a look in.

As far as Nouble is concerned, I can only hope that there has been some kind of magical transition over the summer and we all end up being pleasantly surprised (though I'm not holding my breath)





5

Ipswich_Crazy added 10:21 - Jul 28
werderbremenblue: yes you are entitled to your opinions but your being deluded yourself! cant you see what mick is doing? The rest of us can, pity you can't! If you dont like the way mick arranges the team ether go and support man u or chelsea or give up supporting football teams!
3

Jaffe added 10:21 - Jul 28
taylor 1 nouble 3 murphy 13 Marriott 0 McGoldrick injured

we have no chance of top six, we have no goal threat !!

how can a club go into a season when the lack of a decent striker is so obvious? how can you trust MM, when we needed goals last season he didn't even put marriot on the bench?

how can he string the supporters along that McGoldrick is going to be our main striker? is his knee OK? perhaps we should find out before the season starts and avoid scraping around for a loan in September when we are bottom 4.

-5

Ipswich_Crazy added 10:27 - Jul 28
Jaffe: Really? McGoldrick is close to be back in the team! you havent been reading the stories have you! Epic fail!
1

Jaffe added 10:31 - Jul 28
hasn't played since February no preseason possible career ending injury and all he has to do is polish his boots and turn up for Fulham?
0

LiamCP123 added 10:44 - Jul 28
So theres a big chance McGoldrick isn't playing against Fulham..?
0

Jaffe added 10:47 - Jul 28
and if it was a minor medial ligament and standard cartilage surgery and it's not a big problem why hasn't he kicked a ball yet?
1

Michael11 added 10:52 - Jul 28
@werderbremen

I suggest you stick to your top flight, fancy German football. The Championship's a very tough league to do well in and with no funds whatsoever, McCarthy has taken us from bottom to a solid top half. Not too much reason not to feel optimistic really.
7

bluemikey100 added 10:57 - Jul 28
big frank is a handful upfront now hes even scoring goals
0

werderbremenblue added 11:04 - Jul 28
Michael11 i accept mick has done a good job with the resources available, but everyone seems to think town are in the play offs before they've even kicked a ball thats all.
6


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024