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McCarthy Keeping Feet on the Ground - Ipswich Town News

Manager Mick McCarthy says his thoughts are still on making sure the Blues climb away from the relegation zone rather than looking any further up the table at this point in time. Town have taken 16 points from 24 since the former Republic of Ireland boss took charge on November 1st.

McCarthy said: "Everybody wants to start talking differently rather than staying up. Keep picking up the points, I’m not interested in anything else.

"We’ve got Leeds away, then a really tough Christmas period coming up with Charlton away and Wolves away. I’m happy with the points [from the Millwall game].”

He has no problem with supporters’ enthusiasm but is keeping his own feet firmly on the ground: "I like the fact that [the fans] get excited but I’m not going to start getting carried away, that’s for sure. I’ve lost my voice, but I wasn’t shouting ‘Well done’ that’s for sure.

"When you’re winning everything’s fantastic, everything’s going well,” he added. "If we go to Leeds and get slapped everything will be different. But it’s correct and proper to enjoy it when it’s going well.”

The 53-year-old had praise for keeper Stephen Henderson, who had been the subject of a few boos in earlier games. McCarthy says he ignores that sort of fan comment and is very much his own man when it comes to picking his teams and their tactics.

"I’m not bothered!” he said. "Let me tell you, we were 3-0 up today and our fans were wanting us to cross the ball when we should have just kept the ball worked it. We put the ball in and it ends up in our box and they’re shooting.

"I’m being paid to be the manager and make those decisions. I want them to come and watch and enjoy it but enjoy us doing it the way I want it to be done.

"Everybody’s got an opinion on it. When you’re struggling, all the best players are generally sitting behind me because the bench is better and all those sitting in the stand is better.

"That ain’t the case. Opinions are like backsides, we’ve all got them but it’s not always wise to air them in public.”

Regarding Henderson and the 5-0 and 6-0 defeats at Crystal Palace and Leicester, he says the team should take collective responsibility: "We all conceded the goals, that’s the issue.

"Hendo got all upset about conceding the five or six, but you still get the same points for it — nothing. When you get nil, whether someone gets one or six it matters not.

"I think he’s a good keeper and he needed [to be kept in the side]. If I’d just changed him then, what happens if Loachy had come in and we’d got beaten by four?

"Let’s try and recognise the good stuff he does. He’s been great and he made some great saves [against Millwall].”

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