Boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues’ pre-season programme will follow the now familiar format with the squad spending time at a training camp in Ireland, although this year they will play their first friendly against Drogheda United rather than Shelbourne, their Irish opponents for the previous four summers, as well as having games at Southend, Colchester and other more local sides.

Quizzed on his pre-season plans McCarthy said that after the first couple of weeks training back at Playford Road the squad will be making their now-annual trip to the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare.

“Yes, same-same, friendlies,” he said. “We’re not at Shelbourne though, we’re at Drogheda, north of Dublin. Then the usual, Southend, Colchester and other games around here.”

The dates for the matches are still to be confirmed. Drogheda are currently seventh in the Airtricity League Premier Division (top tier in Ireland).

Photo: TWTD

Radlett_blue added 08:32 - May 6 No friendly with Lazio?
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blueblood66 added 09:36 - May 6 Doing the same thing and expecting different results, this man will never change.
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big_gaz67 added 10:23 - May 6 Gemini Mustage - Joe Royle got us to the play offs two years in a row, playing entertaining football, with absolutely zero budget.
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thebeat added 11:55 - May 6 geminimustang he did not play expansive football at the start of the season and get beat. He only tried to play a bit of football at home against Rotherham after the fans had had enough of it and turned. Due to his inability to coach a team how to play football we struggled to a 2-2 draw in a toxic atmosphere. He then returned to his one dimensional 2 defensive midfielders in a team, Skuglas are different class, lump it up and hope for the best, bludgeon the opposition into a 0-0 draw tactics right up until the Newcastle game. He doesn't let them play football cus he doesn't have the ability to coach them at it, its as simple as that, if you are a poor footballer or a dogged type player it doesn't matter how crap you are, if you put a shift in and are a " proper bloke" he will pick you.

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yorksblue added 13:47 - May 6 Get the cloggie in. We may have time to change the friendlies to include some cloggie teams.
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Seasider added 16:14 - May 6 I bet he has the same cereal every day for breakfast. What a boring man,and so predictable;thats why other team Managers find it easy to play against his teams.
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blueboy1981 added 16:28 - May 6 ........ nothing, but nothing, is for changing with this man. Boring Billy just hasn't got it in him to change - full stop - 'great news for those of you who will have more of the same next season' - money out of your pocket, and bored to tears with yet another episode of McCarthy Football. You're welcome to it.
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blueboy1981 added 16:34 - May 6 ........... as boring as a large boil on the ASK....... How long can this debacle continue ?
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Battyboy added 16:58 - May 6 The 23s play the IPSWICH footballing way. Give the job to Gerald Nash and bring the youngsters through.
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blueboy1981 added 11:11 - May 7 ........ when will the penny eventually drop in Suffolk ? - that this man will NEVER change in any way, shape, or form - BECAUSE HE CAN'T, AND WON'T. More of the same to come - is nailed on.
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