After the lacklustre performance against the Budgies there seems to be an increase in dissenting voices complaining about the style of football being produced by Town under Mick McCarthy.

With some of those previously touting the blind faith chant of "In Mick we trust" now not so sure if they still trust the timing seems right to spark the debate about how much longer we should be made to endure the negative style of football increasing numbers of Town fans are getting bored of.

The arguments in favour of Mick seem to centre around, "He is a nice bloke", "He saved us from relegation" and "Poor bloke has had no money to spend".

He does seem like a really nice bloke and I'm yet to read anything on this site that suggests otherwise. I remember lots of the same comments about Paul Jewell and plenty on here desperate that we keep him while on the pitch fortunes were awful.

Having a straight talker like Mick in charge of first team affairs is great but I'm more interested in how he manages my team than I am in how he manages the media. He did save us from relegation, I'm not sure how but he did and again I've not read anything other than respectful praise from all on here about how he turned our fortunes around.

He does have bugger all budget but that is no different to most of the Championship sides. The FFP stuff gets discussed by some on here like we are the only team in the Championship adhering to it, which is complete and utter nonsense.

Educate yourselves on FFP and our rivals' finances, this article makes a good starting point and by doing so you'll realise that the majority of our rivals are facing the same issues as we are. So in summary he is a nice bloke who did save us from relegation despite a lack of budget. So what ?

Looking at the arguments against him I'd say they mostly centre around his negative style of football. I would also ask why does he only ever play 4-4-2. With our best three defenders all being centre-backs why hasn't he tried 3-5-2 and not even in a pre-season friendly?

An increasing number of fans are starting to question Dean Gerken and perhaps we shouldn't be shocked that a guy of his age playing for relegated Bristol City was never going to prove an amazing find or surely some other manager from the Championship would have seen it before now.

A similar point could be made about Anthony Wordsworth. Before Gerken's arrival the number of goals conceded was so much lower. Why didn't Mick pursue Stephen Henderson or any other more credible target than Gerken?

Let's consider the Paul Taylor debacle. I've no idea why Mick didn't like him and possibly I wouldn't like him either if I had to manage him but Mick is portrayed as a pragmatist and Taylor's MOM awards to games played ratio on this site was HUGE. This means that those attending the games regularly rated his performances above all other players, above our skipper, above Cressy, above Didz and certainly above the teacher's pets, Hunt and Tabb.

To think that Taylor was shipped out because he was a bit of a nuisance is disappointing considering the lack of options left behind. For many I think the Taylor saga has shown Mick to be lacking in the man management skills that are going to be needed to get us out of this division.

Taylor goes and Conor Sammon arrives and a few of us are bemused. If Didz gets injured we have nobody similar (Taylor was closest in our squad) but in the big lump department we have an embarrassment of riches. Mick's priorities are there for everyone to see. There is no argument for being patient as there is no sign of any change in direction.

Our lack of goals from midfield has been another source of increasing frustration and actually for some of us the less publicised lack of assists from the same department makes you wonder what on earth they are doing. The fact is we can all see that as a unit we play too deep, we lack the passing and dribbling skills to open up other sides defences and overall there is very little to get excited about.

Some favour Luke Hyam and some favour Cole Skuse but only Mick seems to think they compliment each other. Giving Hyam a goal scoring target of six is a joke. Why not just sign someone capable of giving that return (or greater) and let Hyam and Skuse fight it out for the other spot.

Mick not the man for Town? Absolutely. Let him go save some other team facing the trapdoor and perform more miracles in either the Premier League or more realistically in the Championship. Will he come back to bite us? Maybe? Who cares? I'm fed up with sitting inside Portman Road with no atmosphere and watching Mick bore the pants off the paying punters with the whole park the bus thing.

I'd like to see a younger manager with a more attacking outlook be given the chance to get us out of the division. Several clubs with smaller budgets than us have managed it but I reckon Evans will sit tight with his own teacher's pet and a long season of dire football awaits.

Yeah, we will win some games and the "in Mick we trust" brigade will be dancing in the streets. Yep, we may even go on a run that puts us on the edge of the play-offs again. So what? How many 1-0s and 0-0s against mediocre teams and mediocre displays will it take before someone reminds Evans that on the basis we haven't served port at the right temperature since the Cobbolds left then the only crisis these days that matters is what is happening on the pitch? (I suggest 14-year-old keyboard warriors ask their dads to explain reference to a time when ITFC were in a much stronger position on and off the pitch).

GerkensBeard added 21:35 - Aug 25 Good blog but I feel there are many more arguments on both sides. When Mick first arrived I said to a mate that he would be the man to be stabilise us but is not the man to take us where we want to be. Not be being big headed but that's exactly how it looks, I think he has done his best with a bad bunch but doesn't have it in him to take us to the next level, I know he has the track record and 6 or 7 years ago it may of worked but not in today's. let's be honest we have a bunch of players who have little quality on the ball, most of them having the quality of league one players hence we are unable to keep possession unless its being passed around the back 4. Mick did keep us up, he has made us solid, that's what you do you start at the back, you sure the defence up and then you move onto your attacking side. Something which has not been addressed in his time as Ipswich manager. Lets be honest Jay Tabb is not good enough for this level, maybe a decent squad player but he his technical ability, physical attributes and even his defensive abilities are not good enough. He works hard but so should every player in the world, it's there job. And he is certainly not a left midfielder!! Going through the team I believe we are only really 4 type of players short of top 6 but its all about the style of play. A good reliable goal keeper. Right midfielder. Pacey nippy striker. And that all elusive creative midfielder. With the creative midfielder situation it has been constantly highlighted but is it the be all and end all? Never in my life have I seen an Ipswich side or any team where the centre mids don't come and get the ball off the centre halfs. That should be the first thing in your mind whether you are holding or creative to either turn with it or distribute out to the wings. THE THING IS OUR HOLDING MIDFIELDERS AREN'T EVEN HOLDING!! how many times do you see teams get in the space between the centre halfs and the midfield?? Hoolahan had so much time it was ridiculous. I don't actually know what job they think they are doing? Also our signings. Positives we have signed Parr and Stewart. Parr has to come in, people saying Mings was MOTM Saturday is beyond me. Yes he done some good things but they aren't in the ratio of bad things he does, and is constantly out of position!! Stewart is going to be good for us and fans are going to think he's the best thing since sliced bread because he's what we are lacking, a pacey winger who takes defenders on. So my team would be (4-2-3-1) (New keeper) simply. Chambers, Berra, Smith, Parr Collison (if he signs) Hyam Anderson, McGoldrick, Stewart, Murphy. We lack majorly in strength in depth but its all about our style of play. We move the ball so slow, miss the midfield out and it is so easy to defend. We literally have to rely on teams making mistakes to score goals. It's got to change simply but I see no evidence of it happening.

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Garv added 21:38 - Aug 25 I became fed up with Mick a long time before losing to Norwich. Saturday was embarrassing however.
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madmouse1959 added 22:33 - Aug 25 What can you say that has already been said ....countless times over many seasons . We just do not have the quality to make any impressions in this division. The struggle continues from one season to another...
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KBsSocks added 23:31 - Aug 25 I disagree with this blog. I think Mick IS the man for ITFC, and I think he knows the team's shortcomings. We're three points off target after four games - but take any random four games, and you could say the same. Or not. It helps to get a flying start in any sport ... MM / TC have built pretty good foundations - we've an excellent (mostly) defence, and Ty Mings is a revelation. Out of position ? Look how he got back ! Good distribution, and ... if that header hadn't hit the bar ... Okay, GerKs is competent, but prone to mistakes. Midfield is solid, competent - and does Mick now we need a playmaker (other than McG) ? You bet, I bet ! Attack - Murph is flying (shame about the miss); McGoldenboots is a star. "We'd love to love Jack Marriott" as a backup - shame Frank ex-love-child Nouble is on the way out. His percentages (and Tayls') didn't quite impress. Will Mick's percentages impress ? Yes. Well, I hope so - and we, the fans, are an extra few percent, and need to bear that in mind. COYB, IMWT !

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jeera added 01:53 - Aug 26 MVBlue; You do realise Mullet was taking the pee, right? " football that was clearly moving us out of this division. "
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therein61 added 06:41 - Aug 26 Whatever 11 are selected we are not going to win many games if we do not pass the bloody ball to a man in a blue shirt!!!! I have never in 46 years watching the town seen the ball given away so often, Skuse(he's too lightweight for me) treated the ball like a hand grenade couldn't wait to unload it then hide up, MM has got to sort something out soon as 42 to go will soon be 32 to go and we will be struggling in the bottom half we badly need that quality midfielder who will take the game by the scruff of it's neck and dictate play and give the ball to a man in a blue shirt!! come on Town lets get the season back on track.

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Cambonbleu added 09:24 - Aug 26 A well written blog, the content of which I fully agree with. We lack any spark or creativity, and it's becoming completely obvious that we lack the quality and invention required to succeed in this division. We can stay in this division yes, but this is our 13th year at this level and just staying in the Championship just isn't good enough, the fans of this club deserve more. I agree with the sentiments on Gerken, he's not good enough in my opinion and looks shaky. Week on week he's dropping and spilling simple balls before making the saves to atone for his error - he won't save them every week. Any keeper worth his salt wouldn't have stood on his line on Saturday, he'd have punched that ball as far as he could and taken out anyone in his way in the process. Chambers is not a right back, take sentiment out of it we need someone better and more suited in that position. I'd sooner keep Hyam in CM (he battles, so for me he has the edge) and replce Skuse with someone more creative. Surely Wordy deserved a run?! And what actually IS wrong with Paul Taylor? Everyone in a blue shirt seems to like him except MM. He's probably too exciting. Maybe i'm being uber pessimistic but a season of mid table mediocrity becons and as I said above, I think us fans deserve more than that

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rugbytomc added 09:28 - Aug 26 I wasn't screaming mick out after we beat Fulham or before and one result a season does not make but that was a truly dreadful game of football from both sides and it especially showed up our limitations. We need a midfielder who can put his foot on the ball and keep it-hence mick got Williams in last year and has looked at gar an, collision and ambrose. I like that mick doesn't undermine the confidence of the existing players but I'd prefer he was a little more open about what he's trying to do and be more positive as I think that would put more bums on seats. Please can people stop going on about Paul Taylor though-got arrested for a dispicable crime not to mention scored very few goals so was essentially a more expensive version of Nouble. He took a punt on Nouble, Wordsworth and Gerken for low financial risk and they didn't pay off. Hendo would have been great but we can't afford his wages. I'm just hoping he can get the necessary loans and frees in to improve us so we never play that dross of Saturday again! And hopefully Marriott will score loads on loan and come back and take his chances

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theobald1985 added 10:49 - Aug 26 good blog I hate this long ball nonsense and have wanted a new manager, style and football philosophy through all ages at the club for a long time. Micks fans come up with the same nonsense-the old would you prefer keane or jewell line-I dont want any of those 3 managers thanks and its not people overreacting to losing to norwich Its what we have become we get rid of footballers to bring in big lumps we play for a draw pump the ball long all the time and hope to nick a goal and defend the game out....some of you may be satisfied with that but its hardly the beautiful game is it-have some ambition and footballing standards

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pooman1489 added 12:33 - Aug 26 great blog! I personally think MM is the right man to take us forward. Yes, we may be mid table this season and if we want to be in he playoffs we should have at least 7 points from the past few games as they are top teams. BUT, think back a few years, we where a mess. I would much rather be a solid mid-table championship team with financial stability than do what other teams have done previously and spend millions, only to be relegated and go into administration. I don't want to be watching league one

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DurhamTownFan added 13:09 - Aug 26 How many in their heart of hearts genuinely believe that MM will get us promoted whether it be this year, next year, or even in two years? This is the ultimate question we all have to ask, whether we like him and his style of play or not. I feel it's comparable to big Sam at West Ham, although with far greater resources. Will either really win over everyone? I don't think so

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Superblue95 added 13:50 - Aug 26 We've already been in this league 13 years, 5 more than the next longest serving team which I believe is Watford, so I don't see the panic about trying to get promoted. I say we should keep MM and try and beat the record Rochdale set in league 2
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phantom added 15:02 - Aug 26 ive said it since last year mick is not the manager we need at ipswich, his hoof ball approach is out dated and should be left back in the 70's. weve needed a decent RB for over 7 years a dcent play maker, and a decent goalie none of which has been addressed. we will be no where near the playoffs yet again hovering around the usual mid table finish. the best thing that could happen to ipswich is for marcus evan to sell the club to someone who knows what they are doing

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cats_whiskers added 15:12 - Aug 26 If a club like Peterborough Utd can keep unearthing recent gems or improving a players ability. e.g. Mackail-Smith, George Boyd, Dwight Gayle, Britt Assombalonga, to just name a few. Even Grant McCann is better than what we have in midfield and can also score goals from free-kicks. Just to have a personality of Barry Fry would improve the gloom around Portman Road to what we have to suffer at this current regime. Furthermore: Why the hell do Ipswich always persist to kick off a match attacking the Sir Alf Ramsey stand, it beggars belief to me. I would have thought having the old North stand roar would unsettle opposing defenders and spur Town on…

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bongoblue91 added 15:21 - Aug 26 This whole blog is a joke, mick saved us from relegation and are rise up the league in the short time he has been with us is proof he is the right man for the job! Success in football takes time and anyone who follows ipswich should understand that! Be realistic!
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bongoblue91 added 15:29 - Aug 26 And why dose everyone use Peterborough as an example we should follow, fair enough they produce a good player every now and then but there a league one team who can never stay when there in the championship and it probably has something to do with the outspoken interfering chairman!
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cats_whiskers added 15:37 - Aug 26 I used Peterborough Utd because they can seem to see a future prospect, whereas we seem to be blind to it. Having McCall as our chief scout for a number of years has done virtually nothing to bring those type of players in.
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TomJamesLW added 16:15 - Aug 26 With Parr playing, we have a defence that should be capable of surviving the premier league, let alone provide a top six championship finish. Yes Gerken does seem to be making mistakes, but last season he saved us around 10 points with his saves. Our strikers are good enough for this league, they proved it last season and against Fulham. The midfield does seem weak but I believe Hyam, Anderson and Stewart could all play in a promotion fighting team. Give him time, he'll have to get them playing football eventually.

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Blue041273 added 19:19 - Aug 26 Cats whiskers The selection of ends is not always our choice. Away teams generally seem to prefer to attack the South Stand in the area where their fans are situated in the second half for the psychological reasons outlined below. Traditionally Ipswich seem to prefer attacking the SBR (North Stand) in the second half when the tempo of the game increases. As the bulk of the noise generated in the ground emanates from this area it is logical to use this 12th man productively when the game needs to be won or even saved rather than waste this psychological advantage in the first 45 mins during which period games are rarely won or lost.

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Hegansheroes added 17:09 - Aug 28 From the day MM was appointed I knew what was going to happen, tedious negative long ball football. There seem to be a few good British coaches but generally the English game at grass roots level is pretty banal. I have never liked MM either as a player or coach, I think is arrogant, pig headed and pretty dim & find his interviews embarrassingly ridiculous. How ever we are stuck with him it seems as long as ME is the owner so I now go to watch Leiston as it is far more entertaining not to mention the cost. The only way forward that I can see is if ME decides to cut his losses & sell but who the hell would want ITFC.

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