Boss Mick McCarthy is weighing up whether to change his system ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cardiff City but with the Blues having been unbeaten in eight - although drawing seven, including the last six - is keen not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”.

Town have used a 3-5-2 system for the most part since the beginning of the year rather than the 4-4-2 formation McCarthy has tended to prefer throughout his 25 years in management.

Having found goals and wins hard to come by, if not draws, has he considered a switch? “We’re unbeaten playing that way and we’ve had a lot of chances playing that way, just not so many on Saturday. Although, to be fair, we did in the first half, we did have two or three chances.

“And yet we remain still unbeaten. There’s the dilemma. Let’s change it all and throw the baby out with the bathwater.

“We’ve played OK. In fact we’ve played well up until I would say certainly Saturday when we weren’t particularly good. But other than that, in most games we’ve played far better playing that way.

“We’ll see. I’ve had a look at Cardiff, I know Neil and how he plays, he’s not going to throw any surprises up.”

When McCarthy initially played the system, at QPR in the first match of 2017, he started with three strikers with Tom Lawrence utilised in a deeper role behind David McGoldrick and Brett Pitman.

“I did and it was OK, and if you remember I changed to 4-4-2 and we played very well, so we’ll see,” the Town manager recalled.

Pitman came off the bench to created Lawrence’s last-gasp equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Oakwell on Saturday and McCarthy says the 29-year-old is in his thoughts for the trip to Cardiff.

“Yes, of course,” he added. “I said on Saturday, the ones who were left out, you always want them to have a positive response, a good response, and he did. He came on and put in a bit of quality and we managed to score off it.”

Grant Ward and Freddie Sears also impressed from the bench at Barnsley, not the first time players have made an impression having been left out of the starting XI, which pleases the Blues boss.

“We’ve got good lads, we don’t have sulkers,” he continued. “That annoys me as much as anything in the game that, if when they’re in the team we’re all friends and everything’s good, if they’re out of the team they’re sulking. They’ve got to be ready to play and Brett was, so that’s great.”

Regarding Lawrence, whose goal at the weekend was his 11th of his loan spell from Leicester, he added: “He’s shown great desire since he’s been here. Saturday was a really important goal and a great point for us, but he’s just been terrific, his all-round performances since he came through the door have been great, he’s just got better and better.

“He’s been a good signing, I’ve had some good ‘uns, I’ve had some bad ‘uns but he’s been a good one, certainly.”

Photo: TWTD

itfchorry added 15:38 - Mar 15 McCarthy OUT
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christiand added 15:45 - Mar 15 We haven't made that many chances since the Norwich match MM!! I really think you are playing the current system so you don't have to drop some of your 'proper' blokes. 3 -5 -2 can work really well and be really effective, look at Chelsea. We generally play it, so we can play more defensively, instead of trying to push our fullbacks on to play in more attacking roles. We need to get the other side worrying about us more, we're far too negative in our approach. I really believed MM had realised this at the beginning of our current run, but he has gone back to type once he's got all his favourites back - dour, slow and lacking creativity.

11

Bluebell added 15:48 - Mar 15 It's not the 3-5-2 that is the problem. That works for a lot of teams. It's having 7 defensive players and no-one to get the ball to the strikers. At Barnsley McGoldrick was playing so far up the pitch in the second half trying to get the ball to feet. The answer is stopping the hoofing and play on the ground. That way the midfield get a chance to pass the ball to the strikers. We played much better football in February but the last 3 games have been awful.

11

Radlett_blue added 15:50 - Mar 15 No Huws so I predict 5-3-2. Skuse & Diagouraga to start. Add McGoldrick, Lawrence & AN Other. Draw is most likely - Cardiff haven't won in 4 & also seem hard to beat.
1

TR11BLU added 16:34 - Mar 15 Just go
5

poldark added 16:40 - Mar 15 Good ol Mick stick with 11 behind the the ball hit long balls so our 6ft 3 strikers can win everything in the air IDIOT
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Freddies_Ears added 17:57 - Mar 15 It isn't 3-5-2. It is more 5-2-0-3.
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jas0999 added 18:39 - Mar 15 Deluded. Rubbish against Norwich, Brentford, Wolves and Barnsley. Terrible stuff.
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Pilgrimblue added 18:47 - Mar 15 Should chuck MM out with the bath water! MM is to blame for all the current position. He's got the players but won't pick a side that can actually work the ball up the pitch and deliver to an attacking player. He picks two defensive midfielders with no chance of finding the forwards. McGoldrick and Tom must play as attacking midfield and drop Skuse or Dave or both. Then have Pitman up front to receive crosses from our wing-backs. MM seems to have forgotten that you need to score goals to win games so lets get the players that can deliver.

4

cat added 19:08 - Mar 15 Mick talking tactics, now there's a fought!! YA DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING!!!
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