It’s October 2012. We knew it would happen the second Stephen Henderson's error saw Derby go in level at the break.

Somehow, too, we knew that it would come late, but that still doesn’t stop the sickening feeling. Neither Tommy Smith nor Luke Hyam have played a minute’s football that month. Daryl Murphy is not even in the squad.

Fast forward to November 2014 and Smith’s 83rd minute goal is enough to beat a strong Watford and catapult Ipswich into fourth place, two points off top. Hyam misses out through suspension but could have reasonably otherwise expected to start. Murphy’s simply surprised it isn’t him who’s scored.

In the battle between those who want results and those who want Hollywood-style football I definitely fall in with the former. Aside from the fact that Paul Jewell produced neither, there was a real feeling that the same Ipswich who had beaten Arsenal and thumped West Ham just weren’t trying hard enough.

If I tried to pay a therapist to cure the frustration JET used to cause me then I’d be throwing money into the most bottomless of holes.

Cue Mick. Sure, it helps that last season was the first time in almost a decade that we were actually in the running for something beyond November, that we had the second coming of Marcus Stewart in the shape of David McGoldrick and that when we lost I felt a lot better knowing that I wasn’t the least happy man in blue, given the rollocking the team would be getting off Mick for the chuffing, effing, bonkers display they’d just given. But even better is how Mick maximises potential.

Since last season, Murphy and McGoldrick have bagged close to 40 Championship goals between them. To put that into perspective, that’s 10 more than they managed collectively in the four years prior to signing permanently.

I’ve always rated Murph, but he’s like a new signing. Like McGoldrick last year, he’s been a revelation. Alternatively, I’ve had my doubts about Hyam but against Wigan he worked harder than anyone else on the pitch.

Solid defences are classic McCarthy, but it’s worth remembering that Smith and, especially, Chambers are the bedrock of this. All of these players were available to Jewell.

Considering all the hype Brendan Rodgers got for his man-management last season for resurrecting the ‘stalled’ careers of Suarez and Sturridge, surely this is far better. Some of it’s tactical – Murphy spends a lot less time out on the wing these days – but a lot of it is to do with confidence.

Murph had no right to even attempt some of the outrageous goals he’s scored and by last season Didz was attributing his form to the work of Mick and TC. Similarly, when Tyrone Mings came through he looked like Bambi against Norwich, wide-eyed and all over the shop. That can grind a young player down – but he subsequently won the September Player of the Month.

A lot of attention is (rightly) given to the fact that both our team and bench cost only £10,000, but for the wrong reasons. It’s not actually a surprise we’re doing well – Mick’s got Ipswich playing professional football, and with confidence, which Burnley showed is more than enough.

Sure, we still concede late goals (and they still always feel like a knife to the heart) but they’re less common and instead of turning draws into losses, they’re turning wins into draws.

It’s early days, and who knows where it will end, but it’s heartening to see Ipswich play confident, exciting football and perform to the extent of our ability – and it’s Mick’s man-management we have to thank.

Walk_the_Wark added 11:58 - Nov 19 Not sure quite what you mean by 'Hollywood Style' football? Mick is indeed a good man-manager and an improvement on Jewell. I do believe he will do the best he can and get us promoted. What concerns me is that he has proved he can get teams out of the championship, but also that he is too old fashioned and limited in his tactical approach to succeed in the Prem. I fear we will be back down again fairly quickly when McCarthy finds himself out of his depth. At least then we will have parachute payments to build again with a more modern approach

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WindsorBlue added 21:20 - Nov 22 I said to my dad "Murphy is an Ipswich version of Suarez". It was a little tongue in cheek, but he is all over the place. Tracks back, defends, scores goals from nothing. A real revelation. I cannot think of another Manager that would have resurrected a side as Mick has done. For anyone to think we could get out of where we were by playing pretty football is ludicrous...especially given the players and their attitudes. Things take time, and in a little more that 2 years, we have risen from the depths, to actually witnessing solid progress. The football has become prettier and more exciting. If our academy can produce a string of players like "The Bish" we can look to please the people that seemingly can't be pleased with a different style. I cannot think of a manager I'd rather have at the helm, and if anyone calls for a change should we be promoted and subsequently relegated are BONKERS! As for a modern approach, Allardyce has proven this takes time, and sustaining consistent performance is more paramount. Should we get promoted, if we can stay there by parking the bus and nicking a goal, so be it. The financial gain will allow us to buy a better quality player year in year out, and better football will be a natural progression. He kept Wolves up for two seasons, and didn't actually get them relegated. Good Blog. Mick is Magic!

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