Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s talked to Blues owner Marcus Evans and they know the areas of the squad they will be looking to strengthen and have identified targets they want to recruit during the summer.

McCarthy has previously stated that wide players will again be high on his list, while Evans has said he will be willing to pay fees if required.

“I have spoken to Marcus. We have sat down and had a conversation,” McCarthy told the club site.

“We know the areas that we need to strengthen. It just depends on whether we can get the players we want into the club.”

The Town boss says he'd like his team to play more attractive football but says results are more important than style: “We’d all like to play better, free-flowing football.

“We did try and be more considered with the ball but there were times last season when we made 400 passes and lost and times when we made 180 and won.

“Leicester had fewer passes, less possession, made more tackles and had the best defenders and they are champions of England. No one is moaning there.

“It’s about what you do with the ball that counts. What we did with it last year was stick it in the net with a 27-goal striker [Daryl Murphy]. This year we didn’t do that.

“There was a lot of talk about style of football and changing it but no one said that last year when he reached the play-offs and were successful.

“Yes, we could have done better this season and there is no doubt that we missed our more creative players.

“That definitely had an impact but Marcus said to me the other day, don’t change what you are doing because it’s got us competing at the right end of the table for the last two or three years.”

Photo: Action Images

NSL added 23:12 - May 18 I've just watched Leicesters season highlights on YouTube and there were so many class goals after brilliantly worked moves. A joy to watch. So yes if we model ourselves on Leicester I'll be happy. I look forward to welcoming the next Mahrez to Portman Road in August! Cheers Mick!!
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Vizslaraner added 23:37 - May 18 Thought you didn't do stats MM!! When it's suits u do. How the hell he can compare us to Leicester is laughable! They play direct when they need to but play some lovely stuff. If that were true, can't understand why drink water is in the England side as he would have spent most of the season watching the ball fly over his head rather than dictating how they played. Just get some players in who can play football so we dnt have to watch the dross of the last quarter of the season. It takes time to get a team up to scratch playing attractive football. We started the season trying but after the reading game we reverted to type! Try coaching players, burley did and we had a lovely side which didn't cost a fortune and was built even though we sold a star player each year. COUB

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Vizslaraner added 23:44 - May 18 His arrogance is beginning to grate now along with his mr know it all attitude. I just hope his methods don't ruin our youngsters who Brian klug has spent hours trying to improve. As much as I hate the dark lord, even he could see his draconian ways were 30 years out of date
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BrettenhamBlue added 00:38 - May 19 I see Morecambe have released 5 players. If we go by our normal strategy we will be looking to pick up players like that. Unlikely we will be picking up the likes of Anthony Limbombe as he will cost money!
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footyblue added 01:56 - May 19 @arniem you first point is incorrect as you now need to play good football yo get out of the championship but have to have the ability to win ugly on occasion but we can't do either at Home so until that ethos changes we will stay in the Championship
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BrettenhamBlue added 03:54 - May 19 @arnieM I don't think we are a tough unit. Bart kept saving us on countless occasions as we were really cut to pieces by opposition play. Some players look the total package (i.e. Coke) but get bypassed like snails at an insect rally. The way we play is embarrassing.
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Warkys_Tash added 03:57 - May 19 Some super comments on here, really made me chuckle (sadly in many ways too as I have to agree!) Don't change what you are doing. Mick? Well we all know that Evans knows F'all about football, so let's hope you change at least one thing & don't give Douglas another start!
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Penguinblue added 06:14 - May 19 Very disappointing that we have to suffer another year of entertainment free hoofball with his yes boys. I agree with all the contributors who find McCarthy arrogant and deluded. Comparing us to Leicester is not even funny. McCarthy cannot get his story straight one week to the next. Wish we had a decent local reporter to take him to task rather than that insipid BBC man. who hangs on his every word. Guess its a sign of how far we have fallen that no one is interested. Most other managers have his measure. McCarthy OUT

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markytitfc66 added 06:45 - May 19 "Last year when we were successful " To me, success would have been beating Norwich in the play off semi and then winning the final itself. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FFS! If MM thinks that is success then we have no chance. Please go to Blackburn,Villa, Forest,Charlton,Northampton ANYWHERE BUT HERE PLEASE I AM BEGGING!
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markytitfc66 added 06:49 - May 19 "Last year when we were successful " To me, success would have been beating Norwich in the play off semi and then winning the final itself. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FFS! If MM thinks that is success then we have no chance. Please go to Blackburn,Villa, Forest,Charlton,Northampton ANYWHERE BUT HERE PLEASE I AM BEGGING!
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:05 - May 19 @markyitfc66 We did get a draw against Norwich. Beaten 3 other times but maybe he regards that as a success. Ambitions seem to be a little limited at the club and I think he will be happy with a mediocre 10th next year. Kids crying at PR during games because they are so bored or people sleeping on mass is not my idea of success. Don't forget we won the award for most boring team in UK. Massive achievement after only getting 2nd the previous year (York beat us then or we could have won the double!)

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runaround added 07:26 - May 19 As always a cleverly worded statement from the club which hints at things but in reality covers all bases & says nothing in reality. Only time will tell if we really can strengthen the squad & whether we do try to play more attacking football at home next season. To be honest I have my doubts & the starting XI for the first home match of the season in the league will be telling

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footyblue added 08:07 - May 19 if Marcus Evans does trult sit amongst the fans he will know how disgruntled the majority of us are by the poor football and the lack of entertainment dished up this season at home lets play football and take the game to the opposition for once
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BlueMachines added 08:19 - May 19 So wrong MM. As per usual. When I arrived at Carrow Road last season for the play off game I knew he wouldn't' win the tie. We never set out to win games. We never looked likely to beat Norwich and the whole Berra sending off just gave the apologisers an excuse for the defeat. Many many of us are fed up of boring boring football, even when we made it to the play offs.

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Keaneish added 08:23 - May 19 This guy has lost the plot. The is zero here i agree with. A - Leicester recruited players who could turn defence into attack very quickly and counter attack so this is a non-point if its anywhere near being justification for a long ball football. B - No Mick, results aren;t more important than playing the game in the right way and never will be. C - Yes we did bemoan the style of football we played when we came 6th. If it wasn't for Teddy Bishop or Murphy, our football would have been bang ordinary that season so their were failings relying on two or three players to cary that team. If Evans says, "don;t change what you're doing", then next season will be more of the same dross no matter who you bring in. Someone come and buy this club FFS!

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Cakeman added 08:42 - May 19 This summer really will make or break us. With the likes of Newcastle, Norwich, Derby, Brighton, Cardiff etc to compete with we really do need to heavily invest both quantity and quality. Will this happen? I hope so but really have my doubts. The financial fair play farce should not be used as a mask because the punishment for breaking the rules adds up to no more than standing in the naughty corner for 10 minutes.

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Bleu added 09:02 - May 19 I'm so glad I'm not re-newing my season ticket this just backs up the reason why I will be picking games next season...this is just SPIN from the club to try and put some more bums on seats...we'll see the same dire,boring style next year...nothing will change until the club is bought by someone with some ambition.MCCarthy OUT
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runningout added 09:24 - May 19 Signings should all be here by pre season.. those that dilly dally are worth ignoring, so should always have plan b, c and d in my book..
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TR11BLU added 09:58 - May 19 The conversation should have been 'When should I leave Marcus?' Do one....Please
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Geoff added 10:04 - May 19 Bleu my sentiments entirely lets see how Aston Villa now they have a new owner try to get back to the premier league. We need a new owner who wants success not the same old we have sussed you out Evans and hit you where it hurts your pocket.
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DebenBlue added 10:15 - May 19 Time will tell, if ME will provide MM with the necessary funds to strengthen with 3 or 4 quality additions over the summer. I believe the Early Bird deadline is extended until July so I am guessing any new additions will need to be in the squad by then IF ME wants to see an increase in season tickets. Ultimately IMO I think it is the style of football and the negative tactics of MM which is the reason for the decline in ST's and as such this decline will continue unless MM totally changes his thought process. What does give me some concern is the comment from ME to MM about not changing what he is doing !!!

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ozzieblue65 added 10:56 - May 19 I am more worried that the club will not be able to attract the quality players we need, the regulated clubs plus derby, Cardiff,Brighton,the play off loser will spend big again, paying big to get the best players, the player and his agent will look at the offers available, the wages being paid, first team guarantee's, chances of promotion, style of football. We don't offer anything to a ambitious player, first team football you have got to get pass the favourites, chances of promotion not been near it in more than a decade, style of play enough said. The club needs to have a long look at itself.

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rinkydinkpanther added 11:31 - May 19 “There was a lot of talk about style of football and changing it but no one said that last year when he reached the play-offs and were successful." God, we were bloody atrocious on so many occasions during 2014/15 and thousands upon thousands knew it and said it, particularly after December. Murphy's goals made up for a multitude of sins. Plus some of us spotted how we were 2nd at the end of December, seriously eyeing automatic promotion, but were clinging onto 6th place by the skin of our teeth at the end of the season. 17 months of awful. Please make it stop.

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Bleu added 12:16 - May 19 I have a very reliable source that told me the gentleman that used to own Peterborough Utd worth an estimated 350 mil who left the club after a dispute with the chairman was offered Ipswich Town by Evans for 60mil last year.The reason he turned it down Ipswich Town do not own the ground.The sale would not have included the Playford Road training facility as Marcus Evans Ltd has bought it outright.. so a purchase would be the playing staff only which do not amount to 60mil...15mil at a push..

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docsavage52 added 12:33 - May 19 will be interesting to see what the comments are like at the end of next season, if people still stick to there comments as written above.
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