Blues boss Mick McCarthy is backing Jonathan Douglas to add goals to his midfield. Town are without a goal in their last three games and have netted only eight times in their first 10 league matches, four of them in their opening day win against Barnsley.

Douglas, who joined the Blues from Brentford for a free transfer in the summer of 2015, scored three times last season but McCarthy says the eight-times-capped Republic of Ireland international is capable of grabbing more and has been unlucky not to open his account already this season.

“Yes, he’s had that happy knack of doing it, if you look throughout his career. He contributed last year and he got eight for Brentford the season before.

“He’s been unlucky as well. The goal against Norwich, he was onside and it should have counted. He gets in the box, he’s playing very well, Dougie.”

He added: “He got one that was disallowed again [against Brighton] and he was in challenging for a couple of headers. Dougie’s been great. If he keeps getting in there he’ll get his goals.”

With Douglas approaching 35, his birthday is in November, does McCarthy believe players can stay fitter later into their careers these days? “He’s remarkable, I’ve been amazed. I thought he was excellent the other night all around the pitch, he just puts himself in positions defensively, he gets in the box consistently.

“I think a lot of that goes unnoticed and he’s an example to any young player watching, the levels of fitness and endurance that he has and just that durability, he’s great.”

McCarthy continued: “He does everything that the other lads do in training. He’ll get some time off during the international break, unless he’s called up for Ireland for a cameo appearance, of course! I don’t know, maybe they will.

“He is one of the most uncomplicated, low maintenance, does-what-it-says-on-the-jar players that you’re ever likely to come across.

“He comes in, you don’t hear him around the place, you don’t see him around, he just plays and trains, he’s an absolute pleasure to have working for you.

“You ask him to do something he just goes ahead and does it. If you had lots of them like him [it would be great]. Actually we have, we’ve got lots of players like him.

"He’s coming up to 35, I don’t know what he’s taking I’ll have to go and check his bag.”

Joking, McCarthy added: “Actually, we had the drugs testers here on Monday, so I shouldn’t say that, should I!”

Photo: TWTD

carsey added 06:36 - Sep 30 Absolute garbage. How's he going to score when he never shoots. McCarthy just talking nonsense again as usual.
16

Suffolk_n_Good added 06:39 - Sep 30 Should read: Dougie can add forward passing from midfield
7

iaintaylorx added 06:45 - Sep 30 So looks like he'll be starting alongside Skuse tomorrow then. Beyond fee up with Mick''s arrogance and stubbornness now!!
8

superblue70 added 07:13 - Sep 30 Boring...... Brentford knew he was past it 15 months ago, he ain't getting any quicker that's for sure, oh and look at where they are in comparison, and scoring plenty of goals, well they probably have a mobile,forward thinking midfield now, hands up who fancies one of them.
10

GiveusaWave added 07:18 - Sep 30 Needs to be in a position to shoot to score goals. I don't think he's a bad player but he's not one for going forwards.
2

carlo88 added 07:23 - Sep 30 They don't seem to have missed him much judging from their recent performances. I was getting quite envious hearing the reports of their match against Reading in the week, high tempo, loads of shots on target, goals.
6

backwiththeboysagain added 07:27 - Sep 30 Oh well, looks like it'll be MM's favourites again tomorrow. Expecting a 0-0 at best but fear another defeat. If it would spell the end of the dinosaur I'd take it
9

Surco72 added 07:42 - Sep 30 I don't want Dougie to try and add goals I want one of our young players Bishop / Dozzell to start and let them try and create something going forward rather than sideways or backwards and shoot at goal . MM gave the pre season rubbish he was going to play a different style , it was because of injuries to our creative players last year then works the same two back into the centre of midfield that that I feel cost us points last season

8

Paulc added 07:42 - Sep 30 I've always been a MM supporter, but comments like this wear my patience. How about we need strikers to score goals from striking positions (not out wide) and have chances created by midfielders like Dougie. Not rocket science. Heaping pressure on weak midfield will not help.
8

brittaniaman added 07:52 - Sep 30 Well I am afraid that you are the only one who thinks that he deserves his place in the team Favourites comes to mind again, especially at 35yrs.old Come upstairs and watch the next game MM.
10

TCisdynamite added 08:04 - Sep 30 Can he? why hasn't he? give it a break mick you jacked up northern toad
6

Mick_Mills_Tache added 08:12 - Sep 30 He's never going to do it playing as a 4th centre back.
8

smithy0981 added 08:21 - Sep 30 Brings absolutely nothing to the team and if anything holds the team back. MM come on stop playing your favourites and put bish back in the middle with skuse!
8

beornioblue added 08:24 - Sep 30 He is one of the least effective players to ever put on the proud blue shirt in my opinion, no forward thinking, no pace, less effective in the air than a gutted fish, yes the goal against the scum should have counted but because of his painfully slow turning ability and style it made it look offside for the linesman. Im sorry but this man should be nowhere near the ITFC first team, and if you think he is good enough Mick then go as far away from portman road as you can...and take "Dougie" and "Chambo" with you !!!!!!! Ridiculous thing to say!!!

9

prebsa added 08:40 - Sep 30 What a great joke to start the day! Shouldn't be anywhere near the squad! Brings nothing to the team at all!
8

Cakeman added 08:40 - Sep 30 I just had to check to make sure I wasn't in a time warp as after reading McCarthy's comments I was convinced it must be the 1st of April!
8

jonbull88 added 09:12 - Sep 30 Obviously none of the people making the previous comment have watch town at all this season, Douglas has played ok and has had 2 goals ruled out, Norwich one was especially poorly ruled out.
-5

beornioblue added 09:16 - Sep 30 Jonbull have been to every home game this season and Douglas hasnt been ok at all, useless as any kind of an attacking threat, which according to Dick Macarthy's interview is where he sees him!! and the two goals ruled out against scum and brighton if he had of been a quicker player and not a lumbering bearded carthorse he may have been able to stay on side or have the nouse to poach the goal. I wish more than anything that he could improve and be a potent midfield partner for Skuse but the simple fact is he just isnt good enough. It like the dark days of Steve Palmer and Steve Whitton!!

4

beornioblue added 09:21 - Sep 30 The most frustrating thing of all is, in that squad there is a team that could actually play some attractive football and could push for playoffs but they will not be played the right way. Douglas or Skuse not Douglas and skuse so basically mcarthy Skuse and Williams or bishop !!!!! FFs the players are in there and when all fit if the team doesnt from the current untouchables , we really are in trouble this season. Only positive from Tuesday was Emmanuel and Chambers actually looking good defensively in the middle at the back...no passing but maybe he can just focus on the defending from the centre!!

4

muccletonjoe added 09:57 - Sep 30 That he can add some goals might be up for debate. But what he actually does contribute is not.
2

vanmunt added 10:09 - Sep 30 Might as well leave the mushroom joke here...... 'Myopic Mick must think we are all mushrooms as he keeps us in the dark and feeds us Bull Sh*t'...
1

neilvanlimbeek added 10:11 - Sep 30 It's only 6 months and 1 day until April Fools Day
2

Ipswich58 added 10:26 - Sep 30 Confirmation if it were needed that the idiot manager has totally lost the plot. You can only laugh at the rubbish he spouts. You certainly can't take him seriously. Please Evans put us out of our collective misery.
6

terryf added 10:36 - Sep 30 McCarthy clearly sees a different game to the rest of us. I watched Douglas closely against Brighton and sure he does a lot of running around, but for me and others he was the nearly man for most of the game. Not quite winning the challenges, creating very little and to say he's got a goal in him with our style of play is a joke. We had no pattern to our play and if McCarthy had shown a little more bravery, Brighton were there for the taking. But then how many times have we said that. I'm not saying we have to be gungho but the Manager continually harps on about winning the battle. Well Mick to win matches we also have to be creative, have more tempo to our game and more than one person loitering in the box. Sadly I think that even when all our players are fit he'll still resist the temptation to add creativity to our midfield. He just can't help himself.

3

sirmichealmills added 10:39 - Sep 30 This is a wind up?! No please.... He is just having a wind up? please.....
3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls