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McCarthy: Subs Have Given Me Selection Headache
Friday, 5th Feb 2016 06:00

Town boss Mick McCarthy admits he’s been given a selection headache up front ahead of Saturday’s visit to QPR after subs Luke Varney and Brett Pitman conjured up the Blues’ last-gasp winner during Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Reading.

Pitman netted his ninth goal of the season, making him the club’s top scorer, from Varney’s superbly weighed low cross and is gaining what McCarthy says is a less than welcome reputation as a super sub.

“That will piss him off no end, I can assure you!” the Town manager laughed. “That’s what he doesn’t want to get.

“He’s given me a selection headache and so has Reg Varney, I thought he was great when he went on, he was the one that set it up. I thought he was terrific.

“Isn’t it lovely that I’ve got two lads like that? I know they don’t want to be known as super subs and they don’t just want to be coming on and contributing like that, they want to start. But that’s a nice problem for me.”

The sides met at Portman Road on Boxing Day when the Blues again left it late before claiming all three points.

“Another late winner,” McCarthy recalled. “They’re another team with good players. I think Reading have punched beneath their weight and I think QPR have as well, although I know what it’s like when a team comes down and you have to shed players and have players who are on a lot of money and you’re having to get them out of the door and can’t play them for different reasons.

“It’s really, really difficult that. And I don’t envy any of them doing it. But I think with Jimmy Floyd in now it seems to have settled down and I’ve no doubt he’ll get them going and they’ll be a success.”

McCarthy was pleased that Tuesday’s win took his side back into the top six, despite the game having been a less than enthralling spectacle.

“It’s a continual scrap to be there but we are still in it,” he said. “There are a few below us who have spent a shedload of money, who will be looking enviously at us and thinking that it’s going to be difficult to catch us.

“If we show the qualities that we did the other night [we’ve always got a chance], and it wasn’t quality football, from either team. They’ve got some good players, Reading, that’s a good side. We ground out a win.

“It’s funny, if you were watching a Premier League team, if it’s Manchester City at Sunderland the other night, who scored and then got battered, everybody would be saying, ‘Well, if you can win when you play like that, if you can eke out a win’. That’s just what it’s about, it’s about winning games’.

“We’ve got 17 left, they’re ticking away and I’m not bothered how we play really. Win. We want to play well, we want to entertain people, it would be lovely if we did, but the more the games go, the less likely that’s going to be from all of us.

“I would imagine Derby, who are one of the best football teams I’ve seen down here, and Middlesbrough would settle for a scrappy 1-0 win somewhere along the line.”

The Town boss says he remains level-headed whatever the result or situation: “I would hope that I’m consistent. I come in here if we’ve won, lost or drawn, even after the games I try to be at a consistent level.

“And I think that’s the only way you can survive in this game [rather than being] up here when you’ve won and down here when anybody says anything about you.

“I can’t say it doesn’t irk me or hurt me but it’s how you deal with it afterwards. I might think ‘I didn’t like that’ but then I think ‘F*** it, it’s been said, so what?’.


“Just get on in spite of what everybody else says about me and the team, that is just what it’s about.

“I was told once by a great man, ‘Do it in spite of everybody’, which was a little bit strong, I suppose, but I did. And I still am.”

QPR have won just once in the league since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took over on December 4th, seven of their Championship games having ended in draws, with the Portman Road loss one of only two league defeats. Their last home win was against Leeds on November 28th.

Relegated from the Premier League last season, Rangers are 13th, 12 points behind the Blues in the final play-off place.

McCarthy says Saturday’s match is the sort of fixture the West Londoners will need to win if they are to drag themselves into contention.

“It’s their home game and it’s one of those stadiums,” he added. “It’s tight, the pitch always seems smaller than it probably is.

“But they’re right on top of you and it’s a tough place to play. But, if you’re playing well as the away side it can be tough for the home team as well.""“I liked to play there, I liked to play at them all, everywhere. I didn’t mind. I’ve played, good, bad and indifferent on most of them. But it didn’t bother me where we played.”

Town have sold out their allocation of tickets and McCarthy had praise for the travelling Blue Army.

“Our support in and around our local derbies between 80 and 100 miles away at Fulham, Watford last year, Charlton, MK Dons seems to be brilliant,” he said. “Our away support has been fantastic. Birmingham was brilliant as well.”

Bartosz Bialkowski will again be in goal with Dean Gerken out with his shoulder injury until the Hull City game towards the end of the month.

Skipper Luke Chambers will be at right-back, Jonas Knudsen left-back and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra at the centre of the defence.

Town - who will be wearing their Barcelona-esque second strip for only the second time - will probably start in the 4-3-3 formation they reverted to against the Royals with Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam in the deeper midfield roles and Kevin Bru ahead of them.

Up front, despite Pitman and Varney pushing for starts, the system is more suited to Daryl Murphy playing in the centre with Ryan Fraser on the left and Freddie Sears on the right, and the duo are again likely to come off the bench in the second half.

For QPR, Dutch striker Abdenasser El Khayati, signed from Hasselbaink’s old club Burton Albion on deadline day, could come into the squad, while midfielder Leroy Fer departed for Swansea.

Young defender Cole Kpekawa has returned from a loan spell with Leyton Orient, while left-back Jack Robinson is available after almost a year out with a knee injury.

Hasselbaink will be looking for his side to extend their recent run of going four games without defeat, one win and three draws.

“We are confident, we are always confident," he told the QPR official site. "You have to be. We have had four good games where in a couple we have done really, really well, especially in the first halves. We have to build on that.

“We have to take the right things from those games, and do it for longer periods. I want us to put our opposition under pressure more. That is what I want to see.”

The Dutchman says he knows what to expect from Town: “They put people under pressure, they are right in your face and they ask you questions. They go for it, and you have to prepare yourself for that, and compete.

“Ipswich play how they play, the don’t change that much. And that is one of their strengths because they all know what they are doing.

"We know how they are going to approach the game, but it is about us and how we approach the game. We have to work on what makes us strong, try to take the game to them and put them under pressure with good, attractive football.”

Town have won 29 of the previous encounters between the sides (27 in the league), Rangers 25 (23) and 18 (17) have ended in draws.

On Boxing Day at Portman Road, skipper Luke Chambers headed home an injury time winner as Town came from behind to win 2-1.

Junior Hoilett put the visitors in front in first-half injury time but Jonathan Douglas levelled on 77 before Chambers’s dramatic last-gasp winner.

Last time the teams met at Loftus Road, in August 2013 at the start of the West Londoners’ promotion season, debutant sub Tom Hitchcock scored in the final minute to consign the Blues to a 1-0 defeat.

Town had gone close to going in front before the break when Green saved from Daryl Murphy, but it was all Rangers in the second half with Clint Hill and Charlie Austin both hitting the bar prior to Hitchcock’s last-gasp goal.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas joined Rangers after being released by Bristol City in the summer, but having been out of favour since Hasselbaink took over as boss moved to the MK Dons on loan on Monday.

The former Arsenal youngster made 43 starts and 32 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring nine goals, between July 2011 and July 2013.

Australian international midfielder Massimo Luongo joined Town on loan from Spurs in the summer of 2012 and made eight starts and three sub appearances, scoring once, before McCarthy curtailed his spell at Portman Road shortly after taking over.

Town midfielder Giles Coke was with QPR as a youth player, while Blues U21 coach Mark Kennedy was on loan with the Rs for just over a month in 1998, scoring twice in eight games.

Fans planning to travel by train should note that there is engineering work between Ipswich and London over the weekend, but the 48-hour Tube strike due to start on Saturday evening has been called off.

Saturday’s referee is Charles Breakspear from Surrey, who has shown 107 yellow cards and two red in 25 games so far this season.

Breakspear’s last Town match was the 0-0 home draw with Wigan in January last year in which he booked Tommy Smith and three Latics.

Prior to that he was in charge of the 1-0 home victory over Bolton in February 2014, the winning goal a 55th minute David McGoldrick penalty awarded after the striker had been hauled back by Trotters’ keeper Andy Lonergan, who had dropped a high ball.

Aside from those two Championship games, Breakspear, who will be refereeing QPR for the first time, also took control of Town’s 3-0 pre-season friendly victory at Colchester in July 2013 in which he also awarded a penalty, which Daryl Murphy scored after he was fouled by U’s keeper Sam Walker.

Squad from: Bialkowski, Henly, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Foley, Berra, Smith, Malarczyk, Skuse, Hyam, Coke, Tabb, Bru, Maitland-Niles, Fraser, Touré, Sears, Pitman, Murphy, Varney.


Photo: Action Images



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Sir_Bob added 06:25 - Feb 5
“I was told once by a great man, ‘Do it in spite of everybody', which was a little bit strong, I suppose, but I did. And I still am.”

You're not kidding
8

planetblue_2011 added 07:50 - Feb 5
I would personally stick Pitman & Varney in for sat game.
Wouldn't mind Sears playing down the middle with Pitman & maybe Varney on the right wing with Fraser on the left. Quite attacking but why not go for it, think we might have a chance of winning with them both playing from the start.
I am a fan of Murphy but think it's time to try someone else, Pitman has 9 goals which is a great record as he has been our super sub.
Get the 3 points sat as I'm going to the game 👍👍 COYB
3

rinkydinkpanther added 08:07 - Feb 5
My advice: drop the sh1t ones, play the good ones.
2

prebsa added 08:38 - Feb 5
I would put pitman in for Murphy, the time has come to stop picking people based on last years form and pick them on how they are doing now!
13

vanmunt added 08:55 - Feb 5
Surely Pitman deserves a start, every time I have seen him this year he has been 'Different Class'.. Murphy this season is under par and should be the one coming on as sub to change a game, with Pitman we might not be so direct from the off.
6

Keaneish added 09:11 - Feb 5
I'm glad you picked up on that too Sir_bob.
‘Do it in spite of everybody', which was a little bit strong, I suppose, but I did. And I still am.”

I'd argue that's its exactly this mentality which is the problem with the state of humanity! Arrogance. I've sat on the fence for a long time about Mick and was prepared to wait until the end of the season to give him a full appraisal but in recent months, with statements like this i've come to learn that he has zero regard for anything other than his own personal glorification and satisfaction. His brand of football is dire and he appears to hold football supporters opinions in contempt. Not interested in this man managing this club any more. I'll support the club but not him.

Putting this clown aside. Should Pitman start? Most definitely. Think he deserves a run instead of Murphy to shake up our style of play a bit. He won't get about the pitch as much as Murph but maybe that's not such a bad thing if we can get Sears being as busy as he normally is around him. Loftus Road tomorrow. Worst ground in the Championship?
-36

essexboy added 09:23 - Feb 5
There are not many to pick from now Mick,so ther should'nt be a problem. 😆😆
3

Kikapu added 10:52 - Feb 5
Keaneish it's a good job that MM doesn't have control over who the supporters are as you'd be out of the door for a start. The last think we want is waverers now. Nor do we need supporters who boo 18 year olds trying to play but who might be showing a loss of form for the moment.
6

Capelallstars added 11:35 - Feb 5
Pitman should start tomorrow instead of murphy in my eyes pitman is the best finisher at the club but cant get in the team when u see murphy waste a lot of chances do the right thing mccarthy drop murphy
3

hogster1970 added 11:47 - Feb 5
Well I would start pitman ahead of murphy but if we do that then there is no point playing hoofball. But if we also start bru ahead of amn then that will work. As there is no point starting 442 with fraser Scuse hyam and bru as bru ain't a right winger . He like the 433 so that would work. I hope so as I'm going
2

The_Romford_Blue added 11:47 - Feb 5
News commenters and forum peeps is like a different world.
4

Bluebell added 11:50 - Feb 5
Keaneish.... We are 6th in the league and won on Tuesday.

Mick must be doing something right!
10

cornishblu added 12:07 - Feb 5
It's a return to the Murphy or Middlesboroughs £4.5 million debate ...I know where I still stand...Pitman on Saturday please COYB
0

Jonnosdreadlocks added 12:09 - Feb 5
Play Pitman and Sears up top. Pitman is technically better than Murphy who looks tired and could use a rest. Sears is wasted on the wing.
0

jas0999 added 12:35 - Feb 5
I don't rate Varney, good ball on Tuesday, but overall not prolific enough. Past his best. Central midfield needs to be addressed. Skuse/Hyam in a 4-4-2 not good.
0

RRanger added 12:55 - Feb 5
I was unable to make the Reading match after it was switched to Tuesday but haven't been particularly impressed previously with the Pitman/Varney partnership when they have started together. Pitman may not like it (who would) but he got most of his goals last season at Bournemouth coming on as a substitute and appears to be most effective for us doing the same thing. I think MM will start with Murphy (and Sears) and I think that is the right decision. Pitman does have the knack of being in the right position during the latter stages when he is fresh and the defenders are knackered. Varney in my opinion is only really useful as a substitute.
5

Stato added 13:44 - Feb 5
Maybe playing away a more direct style with Murphy as the target man is the way to go and has given us a decent return so far this season. At Portman Road however and expecially against sides in the bottom half Pitman and Sears should play through the middle together as 9 and 10 with Murph coming on when that approach isn't working.
1

Chicago_Blue added 13:59 - Feb 5
Yes but they did nothing in two matches v Portsmouth.
1

gippeswyk added 14:28 - Feb 5
We need Murphy's height and strength up front. The Varney/Pitman combo didnt work against Portsmouth in either leg, although they are decent and great to have on the bench. Murphy always looks like he has a goal or three in him but is often marked more closely after his prolific season last year.
2

masetheace added 14:43 - Feb 5
Digby on the bench mid week , but not in the squad for this one ?
0

mutters added 16:23 - Feb 5
No it doesn't , don't you try and pull the wool over our eyes Mick....

I do not think many of us expect our core team to change, which is both our strength and our weakness at times. Please don't get us excited that we might be changing out style of play.

Next you'll be telling us that you're playing out and out wingers ;-)
1

rickw added 16:29 - Feb 5
I think Pitman deserves a chance to start - and Murphy deserves the chance to be a "super-sub"!!

I think we need to take advantage of Fraser and Sears's pace and concentrate on that, it seemed our main ploy against Leeds last month and I'm sure those two will have too much for Konchesky and Perch
0

dirtydingusmagee added 16:37 - Feb 5
Keaneish like him or not Mc Carthy isnt paid to listen to supporters or be advised by their ''vastly superior wisdom'' he is paid to manage the team.He will live or die by the sword, thus far we are still in contention for playoffs, whilst admittedly we dont appear strong enough to gain promotion,and at times results havnt been good , you have to give him credit for our present standing,we could be looking at relegation battle.
3

Seasider added 17:14 - Feb 5
"More as games go on less likely to entertain.Hmm.
"Good to show the qualities we did the other night but wasn't quality football".Hmm.
"I'm not bothered how we play really".Hmm
"Do it in spite of everybody,and I still am.Certainly are Mick!

Whereas Jimmy Floyd said
"We know how they play and don't change much"Right there Jimmy!
"We know how they are going to approach the game"So do I JImmy!
"We will try and put them under pressure WITH GOOD ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL.Cant recall our esteemed Manager ever saying that though Jimmy

Suggestion(if I dare)Start Pitts before he gets fed up like Parr and Oar,and possible Reg.
Try to approach the game with different formation and philosophy to confuse Hasselbank.

But agree Mick that the most important thing is to WIN

COYB
0

prebbs007 added 17:33 - Feb 5
Pitman has to play. Top scorer and yet has less than half the playing time of Murphy who is totally out of form, looks sluggish and needs a rest.
1


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