x

Dropped Duo Disappointed But Took It Well - Ipswich Town News

Boss Mick McCarthy says Luke Hyam and Tommy Smith handled being dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game against Millwall “remarkably well”. The duo have been regular starters throughout McCarthy’s time as Blues manager.

"They’ve been great, bitterly disappointed, both hurt, both want to play,” he said. "They’ve not come and said that to me, I just know how they feel because that’s how they are.

"I said on Saturday that they were two of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make, certainly since I’ve been here, because neither of them have done anything wrong, neither of them have played badly, but sometimes I want to change it, and that’s what I did.

"And they handled it remarkably well and they both came on and contributed to what was a fantastic win on Saturday.”

He says his changes worked out: "It’s been very hard to disrupt a back four which has been as solid and as capable and as consistent as ours has been.

"But I wanted a right-footed centre-back and a left-footed centre-back to play with our two attacking full-backs and then give them more of the ball.

"And it worked. It’s great when it works, you look a chump if it doesn’t and you make decisions like leaving Tommy and Luke out and then we get overrun and get beaten.

"But that’s what I’m paid to do, to make those decisions and as it turned out it gave us a good balance in the team and certainly the two full-backs gave us something that we haven’t had in terms of an attacking force.”

Does he believe the role of a full-back has changed in recent years? "Not really, my team [growing up] was Leeds and Terry Cooper and Paul Reaney used to rampage forward from what I remember. Then there were people like Roberto Carlos and plenty of others.

"I think either you are an attacking full-back or you’re not, except I think there’s a slight difference in that some of the attacking full-backs can’t defend now, which is a bit of a problem.

"They’ve got them in the team and they rampage forward, they’re great going forward, they put good balls in, but sometimes when they get one-v-ones I think that’s the difference.

"They’re almost like wingers who have been converted in some places. I don’t think ours are, I think they’re genuine full-backs, who have got the legs and the energy to get forward.”

He was impressed with Millwall’s two full-backs with former Blues skipper Carlos Edwards having been at right-back: "I think Millwall’s were particularly good because Carlos Edwards, probably as he’s getting older, although he’s still as fit as a flea, has dropped back. But he’s a better forward-thinking player than he is a defender.

"Scott Malone is fantastic going forward, I had him at Wolves. I thought they were as good exponents of playing as attacking full-backs as I’ve seen in the games that we’ve been watching.

"I don’t think it’s changed, I think there has always been one sitter or people have two sitters now and wingers come and play on the inside. Teams don’t have wingers so they have wide midfield players that tuck in and play inside.

"It hasn’t really changed, they are just variations and we’ll probably go back to something else at some other stage when it becomes in vogue.”

What to read next:

Cajuste Among Nominees for Goal of the Season Award
Town loanee Jens Cajuste may have only scored one goal for the club during his season-long loan from Serie A champions Napoli – but it could yet be the best of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign just ended.
U21s at Leiston in Pre-Season
Town’s U21s will play a pre-season friendly away against Leiston at the Watson & Hillhouse Stadium on Saturday 12th July.
Grant Talks With Huddersfield Ongoing
Talks between Blues first-team coach Lee Grant and Huddersfield Town regarding their management vacancy are ongoing, TWTD understands.
Norwich Target Long-Serving Town Academy Coach Klug
Long-serving Blues academy coach, former assistant boss and three-time caretaker-manager Bryan Klug is being targeted by Norwich City, TWTD understands.
Town XI to Face Lowestoft in Pre-Season
A Town XI will play a pre-season friendly against Lowestoft Town at Crown Meadow on Saturday 5th July (KO 3pm).
Chelsea Strong Favourites to Sign Delap
Chelsea are now the strong favourites to sign Blues striker Liam Delap, TWTD understands.
Chaplin: The Club is in a Much Better Place Than it Was a Year Ago
Town will return to the Championship in a much better place than they left it a year ago, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Phillips: McKenna Made Me Believe in Myself Again
On-loan Blues midfielder Kalvin Phillips, whose spell at Portman Road is up now the season is at an end, has said his goodbyes and says Town manager Kieran McKenna made him believe in himself again.
Luongo: Together We Have Created Incredible Memories
Exiting Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has thanked everyone at Portman Road having created “incredible” memories together during his time at the club.
Town Bookies' Early Favourites For Championship Title
Town are the bookies’ early favourites to win the 2025/26 Championship title.