Last August I wrote a blog suggesting that Mick was the wrong man for the job, despite the fact that he had just signed a new three-year deal.

I criticised his negative style of play but recognised that he may get us to the edge of the play-offs (which wasn't too far out at the end of the season).

I singled out Dean Gerken for criticism from the playing staff (and Anthony Wordsworth) and highlighted the general lack of both creativity and goals from midfield.

I felt that Luke Hyam and Cole Skuse didn't complement each other and felt their regular pairing by Mick was adding to our overall lack of creativity. I also questioned why we constantly played 4-4-2 and why we never tried different formations as I was keen to see us try 4-2-3-1.

By the time the season was over I felt vindicated. Despite finishing in the play-offs the style of football had been very direct and entertainment had been on short supply. The squad looked thin (not necessarily Mick's fault) and few of us believed we would progress against the much stronger-looking Budgies. Most fans were more than happy and I was certainly in a minority in wanting to see Mick replaced.

During the summer our squad was improved but a number of us felt that neither of our goalkeeping options were the answer. Only Mick came be blamed for this. It was his decision not to improve this area of the squad and I was one of those saying regularly that I thought this was a mistake. Despite this potential shortfall the rest of the squad looked ready to progress beyond what had been achieved the season before.

As the season kicked off with Bart as our number one, our new wingers bringing a more attacking style we reached an elevated position despite a number of injuries to key players. Brighton turned up at Portman Road and most of us expected to see us collect three points and sit top of the table. It didn't go that way and we seem to have been on a downward spiral ever since.

So where do I think Mick is getting all wrong? In goal I think he couldn't have got it more wrong. The ongoing selection of Gerken above Bart is a joke but neither are good enough to get us promoted and hopefully our next manager will make this an early priority.

In defence there are very few who believe that Luke Chambers at right-back is the answer. Its been done to death. I try to understand why Mick picks three centre-halves every match (with one playing at full-back) and the only answer I can see is that the three big lads did all scored a few goals for us last year.

This year that hasn't happened so much and while it will undoubtedly improve I'm just not sure it's enough to compensate for the defensive frailties it brings. Blame Gerks, blame Chambers being selected at right-back or Parr not being selected at left-back but at least recognise that we concede too many goals and that ultimately team selection comes down to Mick.

In midfield so far this season the biggest criticism remains of the middle two (until yesterday Skuse and Jonathan Douglas). When Douglas was signed I said I was underwhelmed and in return the negative arrows went off the scale. Right now I think my assessment was fair.

Admittedly Mick has been unlucky with injuries with Hyam, Teddy Bishop, Kevin Bru and Tommy Oar all yet to make an impact this season but it was Mick who decided to sign Douglas, Giles Coke and Larsen Touré so only him to blame for the fact that the midfield just hasn't been able to compete in recent weeks.

Up front I am more than happy with the options we have but do question why Murph is getting the nod over Sears as Murph is yet to find form and his inclusion does encourage that direct style of play which so far this season hasn't seen him recapture last year's form.

I like Mick as a bloke but as I said in my previous blog Paul Jewell was a nice fella too. Mick did really well to keep us away from relegation but we don't owe him the freedom of the city as a result.

Many on here having him at almost legendary status for that feat and talk about his amazing man management skills but I'm not buying it. Many want to talk about us no longer being a big club but it's that sort of self-limiting belief that will keep us below much smaller clubs like Bournemouth the whole time that view dominates the support.

Some want to criticise ME and say Mick is a genius to do what he has done with no budget but this is all smoke and mirrors. Mick has a budget. He has a mid-table budget and he has produced mid-table results playing a style of football that keeps gates at Portman Road at a disappointingly low level and therefore provides no boost to the budget.

The next two games are home fixtures and undoubtedly we'll go on a run and very possibly even get back into a play off spot so the 'In Mick we trust' brigade will have plenty to cheer about but I suspect a growing number of us will remain unconvinced and calls for change will grow.

Mick reminds me of Sam Allardyce and many West Ham supporters were pulling their hair out over his hoofball style of football. Many pundits scoffed at those supporters and said there is no 'West Ham way' and that it's only match day results that count.

The board at West Ham though were more swayed by the supporters than the mates of Allardyce in the media and they made a change which at this stage at least looks like a roaring success.

So let's not get bogged down with who should replace Mick because the point is that nobody comes with any guarantees but a good few at least come with a track record of playing football on the green stuff.

And for those that say that anyone who criticises Mick isn't a true supporter and that we are ignorant and uneducated in football matters just because our view is different to yours I invite you to conduct a more adult debate about why you feel Mick is the man for Town.

From my point of view you support your club on match day but away from that you debate the issues and on some points we agree to disagree without the need for the keyboard warriors to start hurling insults just because someone dare say the emperor has no clothes.

BeattiesBeerGut added 16:58 - Oct 25 Great blog - couldn't have put current feelings over our current plight any better myself.
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Granthamblue62 added 17:10 - Oct 25 A good blog with some very astute observations. It really does feel like MM has lost the plot. With all of his experience you would think he would know what adjustments to make. As we lurch from one poor result to another he is showing himself to be one dimensional. I wonder who is available that could take this great club of ours forward?
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htb added 17:12 - Oct 25 Great blog agree with everything you have written.
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Bloots added 17:13 - Oct 25 There's so much wrong with this that it's difficult to find the time to comment on them all. So a few highlights: 1. The myth about MM only playing 442 is exactly that. We usually see AMN playing behind the front 2, or a 433 with Sears or Murphy playing wide. 2. The back 4 this year is essentially the same as last year. It was pretty solid this year, there was no indication anything would change this year. 3. You admit that we have had bad injuries issues in midfield this year, but blame the manager. 4. How often has Murph "got the nod over" Sears? 5. We did indeed have a mid table budget last year, but we didn't finish mid table. I could go on for longer, but I doubt you'll accept anything, you've obviously made your mind up and have waited for our keeper to flap at a cross to post this tosh.

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stevieiriswattii added 17:16 - Oct 25 A very interesting read & i would have to broadly agree with most of the points. Particularly regarding the keeping situation, I am amazed that Gerks keeps playing as he is too prone to a regular ricket & that must unsettle the defence. Bart is better, but not by much. If you look at the three promoted teams last year, they all had PL experience keepers, enough to make a positive difference in games. For me that is the major obstacle for us to gain promotion.

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htb added 17:17 - Oct 25 I would take a chance on Gus Poyet and Tarrico. They had Brighton playing the passing style of football that I believe most Ipswich fans crave. It would also be nice to welcome Mauriccio back.
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Mullet added 17:23 - Oct 25 Genuinely a terrible blog. Not least for the reasons Bloots highlights. How on earth do you square " a mid-table budget and he has produced mid-table results" with his last finish being 6th? Light on facts, full of hindsight, hypothetical, and ready to sneer and denounce an imaginary "brigade" because you yourself recognise there is a likelihood of this form you foresaw (singling out players like Woody who were incredibly periphery months before) being temporary. The comparison with Fat Sam/Mick, us and the West Ham mob is ludicrous and frankly bizarre. It doesn't make any sense at all. The last line about insults is deliciously ironic too, oddly enough.

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essextractorboy93 added 17:23 - Oct 25 Great blog but I have to disagree with a lot. Everyone is entitled to an opinion though! Getting rid of Mick would be a huge mistake and don't think the owner is even close to considering that. Mick steadied the club after Keane and Jewell destroyed the team. He then slowly built bit by bit and has improved every season since, slowly building a team to challenge for the playoffs by spending very little money on transfer fees. Last season was our best finish for 10 years! If we decided to change the manager it would almost certainly disrupt things in the club and there would be huge upheaval. MM is one of the best managers at this level most clubs in this league would want him. Completely agree we haven't done well for the last couple of months but all managers go through bad spells. Full confidence in Mick, TC and the players to turn this around! COYB!

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menacinho added 17:35 - Oct 25 "Mick did really well to keep us away from relegation but we don't owe him the freedom of the city as a result." I very much agree with this comment, that is the past and I would rather judge MM by what is currently happening, which concerns me. For instance, we have been leaking goals since January but it seems the same defenders will get picked week in week out regardless. I don't want MM out, I want him to sort it out, but I'm not going to pretend I would be devastated if he did go. Last season we were doing well whilst playing mostly unattractive football, which fans will naturally be ok with, but this season we are failing whilst playing the same style, which people will get fed up with pretty quickly.

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Surco72 added 18:38 - Oct 25 Bloots the defence has looked poor since January which is why we went from top of league to scraping into the playoffs . We have made it weaker by losing Mings so surely we should have strengthened it would appear MM has signed 4 defenders but none good enough to replace players playing out of position
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bluefeast added 18:52 - Oct 25 So much is wrong with our 1st eleven every week ,but my own frustration is i am not entertained. Now we don't even make chances for our strikers ,no wonder their body language sucks. I just want to be entertained , i have a season ticket but have been to 3 home games , i did not enjoy it and won't go again until something gives. Ps a right back needs the ability to pass ,move ,overlap , get to the back stick when his opposite number is putting crosses in ,chambers crosses the half way line twice per game ,and one of those is to take a throw, Its nuts.

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DurhamTownFan added 21:39 - Oct 25 I agree with almost all of the points raised here, regardless of whether people see it as opinion rather than fact. Fact is we're rubbish right now! Deep down, I would like MM to leave by next summer because I don't think his playing style and selection are good enough to get us promoted. However, I'm nervous about the idea of him leaving. Whoever you bring in would be a huge risk.i want a reform of our playing style, but that would involve a lot of upheaval, players changing positions and patterns of play = period of adjustment and even more turnover of players. I like the romantic idea of Poyet and Taricco, but they bombed pretty badly at Subderland. I just can't see an obvious alternative to McCarthy right now.

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TR11BLU added 22:08 - Oct 25 Great blog Mick out
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prebsa added 07:46 - Oct 26 Such a great blog yet people come along and criticise what you have to say. Comments about our defence being solid and as good as last year is just wrong! Our defence started well last year but ever since January it has been woeful, we went from top of the table to 6th and becoming derby's biggest supporters. Chambers has always been an awful RB, he got rings run round him last year and it was only for CB's that it didn't look to bad. He also cant pass a ball! He just hoofs it down the line in the hope that sears makes some amazing run to actually turn it into anything of a decent pass. Mings has been replaced by Knudsen, at first i though this wasent too bad and we would be okay but after recent weeks i now know i was wrong. His throws are a novelty and not a benefit, we have never scored from a long through as it rarely ever beets the first man and when we get a short throw from him, well half the time we may just give it straight to the other team saving him the embarrassment of another foul throw. What Parr (our best fullback) has to do to get into our team is beyond me, it must be a very hard thing to get into Micks undropables club and it looks like Parr just hasent managed that yet. Gerken/Bart well its so obvious how much better Bart is, i don't think he is a promotion keeper but he miles ahead of Gerken, and the longer we leave Gerken in goal the longer we keep dropping points. We must sort out the defence if we are to go anywhere this year! However i don't believe Mick thinks this is a concern to our team. Is it right for him to go? Maybe, i hate watching the way we play but it dosent look like it will change soon, i would be worried about who we would replace him with but i would also be worried about what would happen if we didn't replace him. I'm still on the fence but the longer the starting 11 dosent change and the longer Micks stubbornness persists the more i feel maybe it is his time.

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rickw added 08:57 - Oct 26 A lot of people feel very strongly either way on here. I agree with prebsa's points above. I feel Mick is a good manager he just needs to understand 3 points: Bart is better than Gerken Chambers is not a full back Skuse and Douglas are not an effective midfield pairing I don't mind our defence hitting it long whilst under pressure - we scored a lot of goals last season by forcing the opposition into mistakes, I just get annoyed when our defenders (Chambers and Knudsen are the main culprits) boot the ball aimlessly long when under no pressure

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Stato added 12:37 - Oct 26 Of course we're all going to have different opinions but a bit of intelligent debate is a big part of been a fan/supporter. It always makes me laugh when I'm listening to the phone in shows on the way back from a game and you get Arsenal fans coming on calling for Wenger to go (and they've been doing it for years!!) but if Arsenal fans can demand more than has been delivered by Wenger then I don't think I'm being too controversial by calling for a bit more than Mick has delivered. I actually think picking the manager of a club is about a difficult a task as I can think of in football and I'm glad I don't have the responsibility for it. Mick has undoubtedly improved our fortunes from where we were before but I think many exaggerate by how much. We were a mid-table side in the immediate seasons before he arrived (neither in the play offs or serious danger of relegation until that final season before he was appointed) and although we made the play offs last year we didn't look like we ready for promotion. My issue is even if the current slump is addressed (and I think it will) I still fear that there will be a lack of goals, a lack of flair/creativity and a lack of entertainment. There is no hindsight here as I didn't want Mick in the first place for these very reasons. Most of us agree on the goalkeeper issues, the RB issue and the central midfield issues and that doesn't leave too much we think Mick is currently getting right (and recent results reflect this). I don't seriously think Mick will go this season but I suspect that a finish outside the play off spots will see increasing numbers of fans agreeing that he has been given a good go but it's time to try someone else. Hopefully the next manager will stop talking about how everyone else has "spent a few quid" and how tough just about every opposition is and how a point away to teams in the bottom half should be celebrated. More and more of us are bored and frustrated by Mick's approach.

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Mullet added 13:12 - Oct 26 Using Arsenal fans as any kind of template for moral or logical fortitude is always dodgy ground. Frankly, you might as well use Geordies or Leeds fans. Mick hasn't even had half a season since he finished 6th. What results exactly can he deliver now? You're not asking for more you're asking for him to go. Unless of course you don't actually know what you want other than to win, which is well, obvious and universal. At best you're pretending that the season is over and extrapolating anything that vindicates your views. If people are going to use the drop in form at the tail end of last season, then likewise they must acknowledge the even briefer period it took for us to rise from nowhere to second. By all means be bored and frustrated, there's no one isn't the latter least of all Mick. There's little exaggerate, a salvation from certain ruin and league 1, our own players which we own, development and sales of players such as Mings and Bishop et al. where necessary, a top six finish, all whilst massively in debt and keeping the club away from admin. But don't pretend you have some sort of moral high ground or right in demanding more and dismissing what that your fantastical "more" has been founded upon, especially if you plan on celebrating the results you demand, should Mick deliver them. It'd be dishonest to sit on either side of the fence as suits.

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MVBlue added 15:00 - Oct 26 Mick will always get beaten with the 'hoofball' stick. But Wolves and Rep of Ireland were decent sides to watch. I do fear for the guy and have some sympathy for true fans with season tickets watching it week in week out. As much as it may be exciting to get Gus Poyet in, I think we're just going to have to be patient.
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commuterblue added 22:13 - Oct 26 One set of reasons why I still think MM is the right man. 2012-13 Bottom - 14th 2013-14 9th 2014-15 6th He has shown consistent progress since he has been here. Yes we have been on a terrible run of late, but a decent run can take us back into the playoffs before we get to the halfway point.
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commuterblue added 22:24 - Oct 26 "Hopefully the next manager will stop talking about how everyone else has "spent a few quid" and how tough just about every opposition is and how a point away to teams in the bottom half should be celebrated. More and more of us are bored and frustrated by Mick's approach." Yes, because when he is asked what he thinks of the opposition it would be much better if he said that they're playing like a pub team. That wouldn't be at all unprofessional or even counter-productive. And he shouldn't have any opinion on Middlesborough having a net spend of 16m euros and Derby 28 million euros.

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geminimustang added 22:57 - Oct 26 Absolute drivel."Mick has a mid-table budget and has produced a mid-table team" so let's sack him.Beggers belief.He ain't Merlin the Magician.Let's get a new Manager,give him a shed load of money to buy players and that'll prove MM was a rubbish Manager! Where is the logic? MM makes poor choices? I agree.MM has mid-table players? I agree.MM has had injuries to his first choice team? I agree.MM can improve the squad in January if given a budget that reflects ambition from the owner.Without MM,ITFC would've been relegated and don't you ever forget it.

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brittaniaman added 09:58 - Oct 27 Just a thought MM.went to Sunderland and did well at first, then things went downhill and he got the Sack !! He went to Wolves did well at first ((a bit longer than Sunderland)) then things went downhill again and he got the Sack. I think probably choosing his Favourites again ?? Does history repeats itself ????? I Do not know !! these were his previous two jobs !!!

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WindsorBlue added 12:34 - Oct 27 Opinions are fine, but agendas are questionable. To have an opinion is one thing, but to post a blog that will clearly divide support has an underlying agenda to which I object. An intelligent debate includes objectivity and perspective, which this fails to do. This blog also taunts people who do like Mick as the manager "In Mick we trust brigade". Goading is not part of an intelligent debate. To compare us with West Ham and Allardyce has no logic. He played direct football, with a good squad from the premier league and the finances to match. He was also promoted, and secured their PL status before the club looked to "progress further". Lets not forget Billic is still in Honeymoon period. You did not refer to Wolves (kindly Brittaniaman has). I am good friends with a Wolves season ticket holder, who thought it was a huge mistake getting rid of Mick (with 6 games to go). The beauty of this comparison, is that Wolves have never been as good since Mick McCarthy, in fact it is clear that they are (and have been) much worse. What us as fans need to do is look at a more recent history for comparison. My opinion is that some fans use the late 70's and early 80's as their football benchmark. Us 80's kids use Lyall and Burley. Don't you think Royles head was called for a bit prematurely? He was the last manager to give us a shot at promotion before Mick. This is where intelligent perspectives and sensible comparisons should be drawn. Magiliton was too firey and lost the dressing room, as was Keane, as well as being inept. Jewell was too nice, and signed journeymen who didn't care, and just wanted a paycheck from the club. displaying zero loyalty i.e. Chopra. As a ST holder through all of these era's (since 1990), my favorite were "the Burley days", where we had a 5 year expectation to return to the Prem (from being relegated). Since then we have (with exception of Royle), had poor managers, who have taken us to the depths of almost certain relegation...and had been given money to spend!! Now we want Mick to take us from relegation candidates to promotion contenders with no transfer budget...as highlighted in this blog. Now lets compare Mick over the last decade, not on his last 8 games. For those of us unfortunate enough to witness the latter part of the Magic era followed by the Dark Lord and Porno Paul, will know it was terrible. It was the lack of commitment that was heartbreaking. I was putting 100% effort into travelling around the country, spending money I couldn't afford, to watch a team that did not want to play for my beloved football club. This is my current benchmark! As a ST holder living 220miles from FPR, On a personal level it's too much of a gamble to even contemplate getting rid of Mick. It has more chance of disaster than success. Take Leeds as an example of a trigger happy club. We really need to be careful about what we wish for before stepping into the unknown! As for the attendance piece. We have a decent gate, which was no different under Burley, However now we have more entertainment options. The prevalence of Sky is ruining our game, and people would now rather spent £80/month watching the Prem (indirectly financing Norwich) than buying a £35/month season ticket. Football is no longer a community sport. How often were kids knocking about in Man City shirts around Ipswich 15 years ago. To say you were not entertained last season I find questionable. Attendance is geared directly towards results, not playing style. We have introduced two footballing wingers this season, which is what Town fans have been crying out for for years (remember the abuse Tabb got), this has exposed our defense moreso. Now people want to see defensive solidarity. Multiple opinions, and multiple contradictions. As for team selection. I consider this small picture stuff. We will all look at players for 90 minutes every week and have our own opinions. I would consider somebody who has seen every game this season to have a solid opinion based on watching every performance, rather than a home supporter or worse still a radio listener who regurgitates the opinions of Mick Mills (that reminds me, I must call my Granddad). Mick however spends his working week watching the players, knowing their personalities, and who is going to give him 100%. Barts had a horrific year, and he might not be up for first team football yet, who knows? It's all about league position, and fans expectation of where that should be, which in the modern game should be positioned on a financial basis. An intelligent opinion should not only discover the problem, but devise a solution. Well Fergie could come out of retirement, but I don't think the Town fans would give him enough time. Mourinho is on dodgy ground, but his Chelsea team look poor this year, and he likes to spend a few quid, so probably not him. Whilst I would never compare Mick to Sir Bob, We could draw comparisons on Newcastle United if the Board decided to replace Mick. I think this will only happen if the fans turn. He took NUFC from relegation to being a good solid team. Sacked after just 4 games at the start of a PL campaign. It demonstrates perfectly how fickle football can be. Whilst dividing opinions are fine over a pint. To purposely try to divide fans, or indeed to unite them on one side of the fence has to be questioned. This is one club and we all need to pull in one direction. That is true support!

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rugbytomc added 12:36 - Oct 27 Whilst his style of play might not be to everyone's liking (mine included) I am very happy Mick is out Manager. He has improved season by season on league position and squad strength. This season is a long way from over yet so he shouldn't be judged so early on. He's brought in the players he wants or hopes will improve the teams fortunes when they have been available on the budget he has been given and he's also given the existing players all the confidence in the world. Have the likes of Murphy, Chambers, Berra, McGoldrick, Sears or even Tabb, Gerken, Bialkowski (i could go on) ever played better at any of the other clubs they have been at? I would argue no. Are they all good enough to get Ipswich promoted - maybe not but bringing in new players takes time - you have to find the right ones at the right price with the right attitude and then they have to fit in once they arrive. He tried to bring in wingers before - Anderson and Wordsworth - on a shoestring budget and he gave them a good go and it didn't happen. They were the best he could bring in at the time. Now we have Maitland Niles and Fraser for one season - an improvement. Progression. I know there are other positions people would like to see strengthened and improved but again he needs to wait for the right deals and i'm sure when they are available he will get them in. We aren't a derby or Middlesborough who are just going to go for broke and ignore Financial Fair play and good sense. I'm sure there's a few chelsea fans calling for Jose to get the sack - he may or may not be the right man for the job but you don't make judgements this early after all his previous good work and same with Mick. Someone pointed to him getting the sack at Sunderland and Wolves. Didn't they both then go on to get relegated? are they in vastly better positions because they brought in better managers? No. I'm not some massive Mick fan and there are plenty of his selections that baffle me, but I wouldn't want him gone. He's brought about the best stability we've had in a long time and with that progression. If we don't make the top 6 it would be a disappointment but why not wait and see what he can do with the team by the end of the season?

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WindsorBlue added 13:03 - Oct 27 PS This quote from "Part 1" solidifies my point: "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." To which the reply probably came, "But the players didn't earn as much then Dad. Sky wasn't involved enabling clubs to spend up to £300,000 a week on wages. Dont you think Sky has had a detrimental effect on all the clubs outside of the Prem and to an extent the Top 4? It's a different era in which we live, and we must move with the times. Why are all my ,mates parents buying them ManU and Arsenal shirts, and not contributing to Ipswich Town to make us better. Why don't people support their local clubs anymore, and rather watch the top flight than invest their time and money in a once community sport. It was all so much easier to compete back then...Dad I think football has lost its soul, but there is nothing we can do about it except keep our ST at FPR, and support our local team in unity through thick and thin. It might have moved on since Cobbold, but I think our support should stay the same, as its the only thing we can control to make our beloved club better"

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