McCarthy: Mutual Respect Between Players and Fans - Ipswich Town News
Town boss Mick McCarthy believes there’s now a mutual respect between the Blues support and the club’s players, something which wasn’t the case when he took over as manager in November 2012.
Following Saturday’s 1-1 play-off semi-final first leg draw with arch rivals Norwich City, McCarthy gathered his squad together on the pitch to acknowledge their fans.
"I think there is [a mutual respect],” he said. "I had to throw a bottle at Tommy Smith to alert him that the rest of us were stood in the middle waiting for him, he was busy clapping the fans.
"There is a mutual respect, it’s got to be a two-way thing. It can’t be that we just expect to turn up and fans come and applaud us and cheer us.
"I think over the last two and half years when we had players living out of the town, loan players, I think I had seven or eight loan players when I came here.
"I just think there’s a bigger feel for it. People have moved here, they live here in the town and are bringing families up here. They have got a feel for it and I think it’s reciprocated.”
A crowd of 29,166 watched Saturday’s game and McCarthy was impressed by the noise and spectacle created by the home contingent.
"It was brilliant, the atmosphere going out had the hair on the back of the neck standing up on end,” he said.
"It was lovely to see it, it was great to experience it. I know what this club can be and we’ve got it rocking at the minute. Let’s hope we’ve got another two games to play.”
Reflecting on this Saturday’s visit to Norfolk, he added: "It’s even, it’s got to be won. That away goal doesn’t count for anything. They could have made it a one-off game at Carrow Road and just go and play there. That’s the way it is.
"For us to progress to the play-off final we’ve got to beat them. Whether that’s in normal time or whether that’s with a penalty at the end of it, I don’t know. And they’re in the same position. It’s honours even at the minute.”
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