Manager Mick McCarthy has outlined why Jonny Williams wasn’t one of the players he introduced as a substitute during the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cardiff City at Portman Road.

The Blues boss was already switching goalscorer Luke Varney and Grant Ward for Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears prior to Sol Bamba’s sending off, a swap which took place as the Bluebirds defender made his way towards the tunnel.

McCarthy then waited to see how the game developed for eight more minutes before replacing Jonathan Douglas with the more attacking Teddy Bishop with Williams one of those left unused.

Having made the earlier two earlier changes, McCarthy felt Bishop was a better fit as a replacement for Douglas than Williams, who he views more as a number 10 than a central midfield player per se.

“We had a physical threat with Brett, Freddie’s gone and played wide and Bish is Bish and we saw what he was capable of [with his run which led to a freekick just outside the box],” he said.

“It was a toss-up between that and then I’m not going to take Dougie off and put Jonny on in the centre of the park because he’s not really a central midfield player. That was just my choice.”

Since returning to fitness having rejoined the Blues for his fourth loan spell from Crystal Palace while he was recovering from an ankle injury suffered with the Eagles in pre-season, the 23-year-old Wales international has made six sub appearances but is yet to start a game.

Photo: TWTD

Penguinblue added 06:14 - Dec 12 Who was asking the question? Who did not have the balls to tell McCarthy how pathetic his tactics are. Sorry, also getting tired of the dross reported by TWTD. There is only one subject in 'Town' at the moment. McCarthy OUT
15

BrettenhamBlue added 06:27 - Dec 12 I suppose he did bring in attacking players. I've been at games when we were 2-0 down and he's brought on defenders for midfielders.
0

Sir_Bob added 06:28 - Dec 12 MM used Williams being injured as an excuse for not winning every week. And now he's making excuses for not playing him. The guy is a joke. How many more people are going to continue falling for his BS. ME continues to believe it, that's the trouble
27

BrettenhamBlue added 06:28 - Dec 12 Williams would have been a better sub. Bishop isn't in-form and isn't strong on the ball. Williams is hard to get off the ball and his runs would have caused damage.
24

blue75 added 06:53 - Dec 12 McCarthy's subs have always been strange! I'm impressed he took Douglas off for a more attack minded player, normally it would have been Lawerence off.
6

Blue_Meanie added 06:56 - Dec 12 Come on Phil, run the poll. Sack or stay. The people need to see what the ground swell really is.
30

Brownie added 07:02 - Dec 12 I agree he shouldn't have brought Williams on.. He should have started the game anyway and not been in the bench in the first place.. As nobody was 'different class' on Saturday or at Bristol City I assume MM will make changes & Williams will start tomorrow night. Then again...
18

yerfdog87 added 07:07 - Dec 12 Sears playing wide, says it all. Moron
21

Dissboyitfc added 07:15 - Dec 12 He says Johnny is not really a central midfielder. but he plays Douglas who is not a footballer, plays sears wide and chambers at right back. He just needs to go, its thats simple!
32

poldark added 07:36 - Dec 12 I listen to radio Suffolk I read the EADT and read this website and they are all scared of reporting the things that really matter . I believe they have been told report our version of things or your access to PR twill be taken away PLEASE tell us this NOT TRUE
11

TractorWood added 07:44 - Dec 12 'McCarthy then waited to see how the game developed for eight more minutes before replacing Jonathan Douglas with the more attacking Teddy Bishop' This is one of the biggest problems, a wait and see attitude at home against a poor 10 man side.
13

d0nk added 07:45 - Dec 12 @ poldark. It must be true or they just dont have the balls to do it. Mick is going, hes days our numbered. Hes lost the fans and when that happens your fooked.
2

Mark added 07:45 - Dec 12 I read this article with interest, but for me McCarthy has not explained it. Williams has looked good to excellent every time I have seen him, very positive with great dribbling ability, and the ideal impact player to bring on (if he is not starting already). To bring on out-of-form Bishop instead of him did not make sense. To bring on Sears, somewhat out of position instead of Williams did not make sense. To start with 34-year-old Douglas, who doesn't add to the attack and is limited defensively due to age, beggars belief. So it brings us onto the question of money. We are told loan players are not cheap, their are often on big wages and loan fees are sometimes charged. Did we pay a loan fee for Williams? How much of his (Premier League) wages are we paying? Is it the case that we have to pay more if he plays, which could neatly explain the real reason for his non-appearances?!

6

tractorboybig added 07:46 - Dec 12 DOES RUNNING ROUND LIKE A HEADLESS CHICKEN IN A SECOND RATE NATIONAL TEAM THAT GOT WHERE IT WAS ON SHEER LUCK MAKE YOU GOOD ENOUGH FOR A MM TEAM?
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martin587 added 07:51 - Dec 12 Ok,MM your the man in charge and should by rights realise your best players and team selection,BUT this season has been a debacle of square pegs in round holes,players not good enough playing when a far better one is sat on the bench. It was only during the summer that YOU were saying how much you would like to bring JW back to the club.Yes,he was injured for a while,but now as you say he is fit and arguably the best player at the club,why do you not play him from the start,it just don't make sense. MM!you cannot say Bishop is a better option as he is not the player he was lacks confidence. I say,start him Tuesday as if we loose this game and next Saturday we will be in serious trouble. Leave your mates out and pick the best eleven.I dare you.!!

8

BlueJohn added 07:58 - Dec 12 Play 4-4-2 with Seears up front in a central position not out wide. Lawrence, Skuse, Williams, Ward in midfield will be better than having Douglas in the side any day of the week despite what MM wants us to believe.
5

SpiritOfJohn added 07:59 - Dec 12 It seems that MM is scared to put McGoldrick and Williams on the pitch at the same time in case they link up and provide some entertaining football, as this would highlight what we have been missing for the last 18 months.
8

Botham1981 added 08:04 - Dec 12 I was at the U23 game the last Monday at PR when we lost 2-0 to Huddesfield Town. Williams played the full 90 minutes and was poor, no zip, poor passing, none of the attacking flair from previous loan spells, he just did not look fit. So based on Monday's performance you would not have played him. Same for Leon Best. Best player on Monday was Myles Kenlock ....
5

Burnzee1991 added 08:49 - Dec 12 I don't understand why he has to justify this, as usual the witch hunt for him continues despite him being a very good manager every other set of fans can see it except the majority of Ipswich fans with the squad and resource he has he's doing a good job. Bishop & Williams IMO are both very capable of changing a game in different ways so either one is a sensible substitution.

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Paulc added 08:55 - Dec 12 Surely the critical point here is, why wait to late in the game to make more attackkng changes? Why not start with Bish/Williams and Sear (THROUGH THE MIDDLE). Cardiff, a team who can't buy a win away from home and we set up not to lose. I've always been a MM supporter, and I still have no clue who a replacement should be considering the lack of budget, but I am fast running out of patience.

3

blueblood66 added 09:31 - Dec 12 I thought that they used to improve players but that appears to have stalled of late and players are going backwards. Time for a change
1

DurhamTownFan added 09:34 - Dec 12 Penguin: twtd can only work with the material it gets from the press. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Phil actually interviews MM after every game..?
0

RoyalAscotBlue added 09:45 - Dec 12 Jonny Williams is a central midfielder. That's where he plays for one of the best teams in European National football and that's where he has played for us in the past. Mick just doesn't have a clue.
5

Bert added 09:49 - Dec 12 An understandable and objective view from MM even if I would have preferred Williams in the starting eleven.
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planetblue_2011 added 09:57 - Dec 12 What planet is MM on when we first loaned Jonny Williams MM said he has everything, he can play anywhere across the midfield & behind the striker as a number 10. On his 4th loan at the club he is a number 10 player not a central midfielder. Just can't understand this bloke he's a joke!!! Williams should be starting every week if he's fit & he knows it. He can play central midfield it's his position along with playing behind the striker.

2

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