Blues boss Mick McCarthy has praised owner Marcus Evans for the support he has given him during his time at Portman Road

While the job he’s doing might not be appreciated by all Town fans at present, the Blues manager says it is by the man who employs him: “Absolutely, he’s great. I’ve always said to you, his support is fantastic.

“People might say ‘He isn’t spending money!’, but it’s not all about that because he spent a load of money with other people and it didn’t work.

“But I get that emotional and moral support and when it has gone wrong or we have had a bad performance, he doesn’t mention it. And I don’t need that rubbing it in from the top.”

McCarthy says it’s often been the case in his career that he’s been appreciated by fans of clubs after he’s gone, not least by supporters of Saturday's opponents Wolves, who were relegated to League One in the seasons following his February 2012 sacking.

“It’s funny, generally as I’ve gone back as a player or a manager I’ve sometimes been more appreciated than when I was there!” he added. “I think where I’m stood might appreciate that more than a lot.”

Just as Town fans booed the Blues off after the 1-0 home defeat to Rotherham a fortnight ago, Wolves fans chanted ‘boring, boring’ during the second half of the weekend 0-0 draw with Town, their fifth at Molineux this season and their second in a row at home.

“We should also give the away team some credit,” reflected McCarthy. “We’ll take a bit of credit from Saturday and Rotherham should take some credit because they performed well on the day. Happens, doesn’t it?”

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s are in action away against Barnsley at their training ground this afternoon (KO 1pm).

With the first-team in action against Charlton at Portman Road on Tuesday evening, it’s unlikely that any senior players will be involved.

Photo: Action Images

PortmanTerrorist added 11:44 - Apr 4 itfcbam I can agree re honesty and integrity HOWEVER where is the transparency ? - Is there money to spend or not ? - What position are we targeting ? - What is our loan strategy ? .....which leads to..... - What are our (revised) goals regarding academy player numbers in 1st team squad ? If we knew the foregoing we might (necessarily) accept some of the decision making. BUT, even allowing for the above, what is absolutely unacceptable is the brand of football we are playing.

2

PortmanTerrorist added 11:47 - Apr 4 PS: Not sure how many on here play FIFA16 on any console, but you get to choose formations at various points in the game, but with all the variables they give you, at no point is there an option to play 3 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS (CDMs) ! That system is simply not deployed by any team I have ever seen in any league in any country....not even Italy! You see, we are a special Club !

2

blueherts added 12:00 - Apr 4 PortmanTerrorist - transparency spot on But I think we will have problem getting straight answers from an 'owner who nobody knows or sees ' ? As he is 'invisible' maybe he doesnt see the 'style of play' as an issue 5 wins in 16 since January 1st - not good enough for a team pushing to get into the £100m promised land - if that is what ME wants ?
3

itsonlyme added 12:05 - Apr 4 Until Marcus Evans comes out and explains what he wants from the club, we will all be at loggerheads with each other over MM. I wrote Marcus a letter a few weeks ago asking him exactly that - am still awaiting a reply!
1

cantona11 added 12:24 - Apr 4 Well I think we have strong enough players in the squad MM has to start playing Bru or Foley in the middle Or Even Both together As They Can Both Get About The field and both can tackle and also see a pass. I like Skuse but why not it's worth a try in my eyes and as a defender I would much rather past it out to a player that can gain us yards weather it be a pass or to run up the pitch further away from our goal than it go up the pitch and come straight back at us from our players or get caught out with the ball

1

prebsa added 12:38 - Apr 4 blueherts, Really good comments agree with everything you say! It really does say alot that Mick is a set up not to lose person, something we are seeing more and more of now, always making sure he has got 2 of the 3 CDM's in the team. Only ever got one of them when the others are injured or suspended! Also it says alot about our goals against column, we play the same back 4 every week with normally 2 CDM's yet our goals against column is far worse than all of those above us, that has to say something! An obvious area for change or improvement but suborn Mick will not budge!

2

itfcbam added 12:47 - Apr 4 PortmanTerriorist. I honestly believe there isn't money available. MM (similar to what Wenger did when Arsenal were balancing their books) will of course say money is available. Thus making it publicly his decision not to spend (even if that's not true). MM is smart he isn't going to say there is none and effectively deflect blame to his boss in public is he (and thus potentially put himself out of a job sooner)? I would imagine funds are limited and he has to free up money by selling or reducing the wage bill, also if you declare there is X amount of money available then clubs will up the asking price and we pay over the odds (like Jewell's and in particular Keane did). What we do know is MM is canny in the market and has picked up some very good (admittedly also some not so good) players for very little money. Yes the style of play hasn't been great but we started the season well playing good football and also think we have underestimated the impact on the creativity of not having Fraser, Mcgoldrick, Bru and Bishop available for large chunks (in some cases all) of the season, not including Hyam being out for so long also. Thus the team has lacked flair. Imagine the impact that would have on any other side having 4 of your most creative players missing? With limited funds we have found it hard to replace

4

blueherts added 12:54 - Apr 4 'Marcus has been great ' , No money ? rubbish me and TC just got ourselves a nice little 2 year deal - happy days' said Mick . Bonkers
1

ivegottheblues added 13:13 - Apr 4 I don't like saying I told you so but some of us have been complaining about the standard of football & lack of entertainment for a long time. Nothing has changed however except that MM has been awarded a nice new deal, which makes me think that ME is quite happy with the status quo. As a supporter of 40 years I initially decided not to renew my season ticket. I now feel that continued moaning is pointless & now agree with Tallguy that the only effective action is not to attend matches at all. If everyone took the same action things would have to change.

1

essexboy added 13:28 - Apr 4 Reading all the posts on here and other pages it appears almost everybody is totally fed up with the way the club is run from top to bottom.1. Investment.2.quality of players at the club.3.Boring tactics. 4.Team selection.5.Do we need a change of owner.6.management change.This is a great deal to ask,and I think Frustration has a lot to do with it.In the past we have been used to a good quality of football,then over the last ten years it has slowly become boring,then dire.Lets be honest,the buck stops at the Owner,his lack of willing to invest,even a small amount to enable the club to challenge for promotion has been invisible.The boring football we have had to endure,and the intent of not loosing and not even winning.We HAVE had descent players available over the last weeks,but again MM refuses to play them insisting on playing certain players who have no idea how to make a forward pass.He is stubborn to the core and has no connection whatsoever with the supporters,and I believe he doesn't care either.Something has to give,sooner rather than later,and I'm sorry to say it but it has to be MM.

2

Kikapu added 13:44 - Apr 4 Gilesy - at last, a sensible comment. Good effort from 'onthehoof' too, but you need to add another point. That is, 'sound financial structure'. We do have that now. I don't have to remind you what a parlous state the club was in before Evan's era - however attractive the football was then. Someone said that most of us are only two pay cheques away from financial disaster, and that happens to be the case with most football teams too.

2

Kikapu added 13:56 - Apr 4 itfcbam Someone else with a brain. Useful comment.
-1

essexboy added 14:34 - Apr 4 kIkapu,Just what do you want at this club then,balanced books and dull boring football and a club stagnating.Please explain.Thank you.
2

Gilesy added 15:13 - Apr 4 I suspect he/she wants a club first and foremost and then to develop a sustainable, attractive, successful team from there. If we don't have a club, we'll not win many matches. Is anyone knocking on Marcus Evans' door begging him to sell them the club? Doesn't look like it. I find it a bit odd that some people are making a principled stance on not watching the team until the entertainment/investment improves, yet expect Evans to plough more of his money in to achieve it. I just think it's not a sensible view.

1

Gilesy added 15:13 - Apr 4 I suspect he/she wants a club first and foremost and then to develop a sustainable, attractive, successful team from there. If we don't have a club, we'll not win many matches. Is anyone knocking on Marcus Evans' door begging him to sell them the club? Doesn't look like it. I find it a bit odd that some people are making a principled stance on not watching the team until the entertainment/investment improves, yet expect Evans to plough more of his money in to achieve it. I just think it's not a sensible view.

1

aidanj added 15:58 - Apr 4 Giving thanks ahead of departure
0

TimmyH added 16:40 - Apr 4 The only support Marcus has given Mick is to his wallet - what other support has he been given?
1

TimmyH added 16:46 - Apr 4 My God if I here one more person say 'be careful what we wish for'!!- If the supposed Championship is so tight as to a degree we know then surely McCarthy's tenure so far hasn't taken us that far because there seems to be few on here think 'll slip back to where we were... and yeah we might get a footballing manager giving us an entertaining afternoon's football worthy of £30.

2

battyblue added 16:57 - Apr 4 Right Guys, Marcus Evans/consortium is/are con artists supporters are being conned of their money Evans took over this club and dept for around six to eight million the dept has and is steadily increasing now approx 80 million owed to Marcus Evans why would he want to get in the premiership to clear the dept to himself, as long as the club gets deeper and deeper in dept he is getting richer and richer a nice little nest egg,,their could come a time when he decides he has had enough and calls in his dept who would want to take over and pay Mr Evans the millions he has earned by being in the championship with a manager content with mid-table mediocre,if there are no takers to buy the club we would be wound up.If the owner wanted to clear the dept with investment in January would have given us an excellent chance to go up but no he is happy where we are until he is ready to cash in .......The players why would the majority of the players want to get promotion they would be out of a job (with town anyway)well maybe not if McCarthy was still manager, then the worst and most likely case we get thumped most weeks and get relegated but we get parachute payments to rebuild and have another go just like them down the road....so consider this and this is why we want Evans and McCarthy out and someone in who will really try their utmost for promotion and entertainment for the supporters who certainly pay top wack for it,let them know how we feel we want our club back this is not the Ipswich town style of play .

2

Seasider added 17:34 - Apr 4 If club is so hard up and Marcus Evans is not prepared to supply sufficient finance to make a tilt at promotion,then why doesn't he sell some of his 87 1/2 % share to raise some more money. At the same time it would be nice to have a board again that is not filled by his placemen/employees as it was before he took over.
2

Cheshire_Blue added 17:55 - Apr 4 Spot on Legal Blue.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls