Blog written by DanLyles
Published: 18th February 2013 11:47
Had the Championship season commenced on 1st November 2012 when Mick McCarthy was appointed as Ipswich Town manager, then at the time of writing the Blues would be placed an incredible fourth rather than 18th in the league.
Unfortunately, while the 'Mick McCarthy League' is a great gauge of the Yorkshire man’s achievements and the club’s recent progress, as we all know the Championship season started on 18th August and we are still looking over our shoulders at relegation. Still, many Ipswich fans I’m sure will want to reflect on the plethora of positives that have so far arisen during his brief tenure.
One of Ipswich’s biggest weaknesses under Paul Jewell was our porous backline. Two attack-minded full backs, centre-backs short of confidence and in countless fixtures no natural holding midfielder to screen the defence.
One of the most positive aspects of McCarthy’s regime thus far has been the Tommy Smith-Luke Chambers partnership which appears to go from strength to strength every game.
Since December Smith has looked like a colossus, while Chambers is starting to show the form that led to him being awarded Nottingham Forest player of the year two seasons ago.
Richard Stearman’s introduction at right-back has also made us look more solid: a natural defender at this level whose physical presence makes the centre backs jobs a lot easier.
Nonetheless, how much of our new found resistance at the back can be attributed to McCarthy’s deployment of both Luke Hyam and Guirane N’Daw in the engine room? Playing two hardworking defensively minded midfielders in front of the back four has made us extremely hard to break down.
Yet for me this is a point of contention. We do not create nearly enough chances and quite often appear deprived of invention in the middle of the park.
Much has been made of our midfielders mustering only four goals between them all season. McCarthy has tried to address this by bringing in Anthony Wordsworth, who in previous seasons has notched double figures in League One.
I have previously advocated Paul Taylor’s deployment on the right wing, where he was being played before his injury. His pace and dribbling ability would give us an extra dimension in attack upon his return from injury next season. His time as a striker should also ensure that he scores far more goals than the likes of Martin or Edwards.
In order to create more in the middle of the park McCarthy will need to bring in somebody like Jacob Mellis, who currently plays for his former club Barnsley. If Mellis’s off-field behaviour does not suit our manager (or fans) then his ability to regularly produce defence splitting balls should be found in another player. Alan Judge at Notts County perhaps? His energy and 13 assists last season (seven so far this season despite injury) would ensure our strikers are provided the ammunition they crave.
But will McCarthy be prepared to sacrifice either N’Daw or Hyam, and their combined force in front of our defence to make us more creative?
We could obviously switch formation and play 4-2-3-1, which would allow the duo to maintain their defensive axis and screen for our defence, and allow a 'number 10' or 'schemer' to be deployed at the expense of a striker.
David McGoldrick looks to have the ability to lead the line on his own but I’m sure many of us would like to see him partnered by somebody like Michael Chopra. If the latter can put his off-field troubles aside then he and McGoldrick could forge a prolific partnership.
I would argue that the Ipswich of 2013/14 should be comfortable playing either 4-4-2 (with the new schemer instead of either N’Daw or Hyam) or 4-2-3-1 (possibly against stronger opposition). I shall watch with great anticipation as McCarthy builds on his promising defensive foundations and enhances the creative cogs in his machine.