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McCarthy: Hard Work the Key
Monday, 14th Jan 2013 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy says hard work has been the key to the Town revival since he took over at Portman Road. The Blues’ 0-0 draw at Cardiff on Saturday saw them to move to six points from the relegation places in 19th, having been bottom of the table when McCarthy took over at the beginning of November.

Since then, they have picked up 24 points in 14 league games, having lost just twice in their last 10 Championship matches.

McCarthy outlined what he has sought to instil in his players: “It’s easy to sit here and talk about it, but first and foremost to try and be organised and hard to beat.

“I think that fundamentally if you work as hard, if not harder, than everybody else you’re going to have half a chance if you’re organised.

“It might sound simplistic and it is, but you don’t ever want to get beaten by teams working harder than you.”

He’s pleased with the way the squad have taken his ideas on board: “They’ve never done anything other than that, they’ve always worked hard. Every week we get our stats and we work as hard, if not harder, than everyone else.

“They really have bought into that team shape and if we can add a bit of quality to it with our final pass, final cross and finishing, then we’ll be a better team. So you’re happy in some respects and not so in others.”

He added: “We’ve had some good results and I think the players deserve the credit for that, without a doubt. They’ve bought into everything I’ve tried to do.

“I think the new guys will help, certainly. Revival’s one thing, but you don’t want to let the patient die. I want it to survive.”

On that note, despite the progress that has been made, McCarthy still insists that there is still much to do to secure Town’s Championship place for next season: “I’m still looking behind me because whatever we’ve done so far it can change so quickly.

“What was nice was that we’d lost two games on the bounce, one a league game and one in the cup, and I didn’t want to lose two league games on the bounce.

“So, it was nice to come to the leaders, who were 26 points in front of us before today [and draw]. I know they’re still the same amount, but I don’t think that was reflected in the performance, I think we were better than that.”


Photo: Action Images



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cooper4england added 06:21 - Jan 14
Incredible that after this great run we still remain only 6 points clear of the relegation zone. Thank goodness for the change around or we would be in the doo-doo with no bog brush.
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BrettenhamBlue added 06:43 - Jan 14
A lot of relegation placed teams have performed well.A couple of months back Barnsley were nowhere near the relegation places.
Avoiding the drop still needs to be our number 1 priority.
Excellent point at Cardiff. Very pleased.
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bluesman added 07:46 - Jan 14
All this stuff about us being top od the form table is bo@@ocks. We are well down. And guess what Sheffield Weds are top and Peterborough are third.
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sereneblue added 08:03 - Jan 14
Watched the game on Saturday and thought town looked the better side. As Mick said, our work rated was outstanding and for much of the game we looked comfortable.
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Stato added 08:26 - Jan 14
If I was Marcus Evans I'd already be thinking about offering Mick an extension to his contract.
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sirbenofmorlingshire added 08:47 - Jan 14
Just did the maths... correct me if I'm wrong. MM has averaged 1.71 points a game so far: (24 / 14 = 1.71), if he'd been here from game 1 this season, by those calculations we'd have 46 points or there abouts (1.71 x 27 = 46.17). So, if we'd maintained that form from the beginning of the season, that would amount to last place in the play-offs (Watford currently sit in the last play-off spot with 43 points). Quite a sobering thought really, let the run continue I say. (please note I would like extra marks for showing my workings out) :-)
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sirbenofmorlingshire added 09:26 - Jan 14
… And if you're interested, lets make it a fair study (again extra points for workings out please). By my calculations, PJ had 13 games and managed 7 points before MM took the helm. This would be an average points per game of 0.53 (7 / 13 = 0.53), times that by our 27 games played so far, would have given us 14.31 points AKA ‘Rock Bottom' as Bristol currently hold that acclaim with 22 points. Based on average points haul (yes, it's not an exact science, but those is the stats) these guys were/are worlds apart and again, bit of a sobering thought to think where we might be now if PJ was still running the show…
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Wickets added 09:33 - Jan 14
Whatever ben i just know that it would be just about impossible to trust Mick, he seems so sure about what he does, just brings in the players he wants and has that positivity about the way he go's about things. Long may it continue. Tough couple of games now clubs with new managers.
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old_and_blue added 09:34 - Jan 14
Great bloke and great manager and has saved our bacon and I want him to stay around but, his vocabulary will have to improve. He meant to say simple not simplistic. The latter implies that a view is taken that is more simple than the situation really is while simple means.. simple.
Children read his comments and we want them to grow up talking proper!

BTW, given his impressive pionts tallly and the fact that we are still in danger of relegation, shows what a parlous state we were in before he came. If ME/SC had kept PJ on for just a little longer rescue would have been impossible and we would have definitely been relegated.
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blueherts added 09:35 - Jan 14
To me it is not just about what MM is doing now - he is the first manager in years to have a 'Plan' - A great Number two , good scouting system , talk sense and be honest
He has already identified players and can see where we need additions .
He will also get rid of those not up to scratch
He wont be offering stupid contracts - I am sure he will tell ME/SC and players worth and it will be represented in what we offer
Yes we have a long way to go but Satuday and other recent performances show he is added much needed steel - look at our last two away outings at top clubs - Palace and Leicester - ( NRC was a factor admittedly !!!)
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Wickets added 09:35 - Jan 14
OPPS I ment impossible NOT to trust Mick!!
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Ipswichbusiness added 13:01 - Jan 14
We have seen an improvement in the results that is noticeable both on the pitch and in the statistics. Vast credit should go to the new management for that. Unfortunately, "just" avoiding relegation is not enough. If we are to attract quality players to the club over the summer we need to be in the top half of the table, ideally knocking on the promotion door.
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PinstripeBlue added 13:26 - Jan 14
As we appear to be playing with facts and figures today, does anyone remember PJ collecting 21pts in his first 14 games? with a +5gd to boot.
I am definitely not saying bring back PJ or that MM is not doing a great job, however, PJ did inherit the same sort of team he handed over to MM. Lacking desire, will, hunger etc etc.
I am still looking over my shoulder at moment and will be for a fewq more weeks.
COYB
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