Town boss Mick McCarthy has reiterated that he believes he has “done a very good job under the terms of conditions of how [he has] been asked to do it” since taking over at Portman Road four years ago and will "continue to do that".
QPR manager Ian Holloway made an impassioned defence of his Portman Road counterpart after the Blues’ 3-0 defeat of his side a fortnight ago, reminding the former Ireland boss’s detractors of where the Blues were when McCarthy took over and pointing out that he has been hampered by the sales of players such as Tyrone Mings and Daryl Murphy.
"He’s a football colleague of mine, but we don’t go out drinking together or anything,” McCarthy said of his relationship with Holloway. "We’re always pretty respectful me and Ollie.”
Told of Holloway’s comments, specifically his suggestion that it should be asked "why [Town] keep having to sell all [their] best players all the time”, McCarthy laughed: "The reason I’m laughing is just because Ollie’s asking it doesn’t mean to say I’m going to answer it to you. I’m not quite as green as I’m cabbage looking!”
However, he added that he believes he has done a good job in the circumstances of having had to make those sales along the way, even if he’s aware not everyone agrees with that view.
"At the Supporters Club AGM there was a little hostile reception for me at one point and I just told them, ‘I’ve done a really good job here and if at any stage they want to get me out, they can always get in the stand and sing’.
"But because I’ve done those things, because I’ve sold Murph, because I’ve sold Tyrone, because I’ve replaced them, because we’ve stayed competitive all the time, I’ve done a bloody good job. I’ve no problems with that at all.”
The Blues have finished sixth and seventh in the Championship in the last two seasons on comparatively tight budgets and McCarthy continues to insist he has no problem working within those restrictions.
"I’ve done a very good job under the terms and conditions of how I’ve been asked to do it and I’ll continue to do that,” he said.
What does he believe is currently holding back the Blues? Additional quality? Resources to fund it? "I guess it’s that or either another magician manager that can turn them all into wonderful players, better than I can, and they’ll go up the league and get promoted. That’s the options.”
Despite recently expressing his frustration that mitigating factors at opposition clubs, such as injuries or player exits, have been highlighted by the media more than similar problems at Town, McCarthy says he’s not one to make a big play of those types of issues.
"You [the media] give me a chance and a position and a profile to stamp my feet and pull my hair out and say, ‘It’s not fair, I wish I was doing something else…’” he added.
"Why? From day one when I’ve come in I’ve never changed what I’ve said which is probably unusual for managers, they change the mantra time and again, ‘Well, it’s this fault, it’s that fault…’.
"I’m holding myself responsible. Those are the players who are my players, the ones I’ve signed that I’ve got to do better with and make sure results are better. I’ve got to hold myself responsible as well as asking each and every individual to be responsible.”
Meanwhile, speaking yesterday ahead of today's game, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock echoed Holloway's thoughts on fans' criticism of McCarthy.
"I always think it’s like when people shout for Wenger’s head - be careful what you wish for," he said.
"If Ipswich were spending millions and millions I could understand the frustrations of their supporters.
"Mick's done a fabulous job working to a tight budget for years and he's kept them respectable.
"But they'll be crying for him until he goes, then someone else will come in and in six months they'll cry for him to go as well."