McCarthy: That's What We Do
Monday, 22nd Apr 2013 06:00

Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s not sure precisely what's changed at Portman Road since he and assistant Terry Connor took over on November 1st, they’ve just gone about the job as they always do. Saturday’s point at Sheffield Wednesday took the Blues to within a whisker of confirming their Championship status for 2013/14.

McCarthy said: “I’ve gone and been myself, I’ve been me. Me and TC are a good partnership and we work well and we work well with the players.

“What I’ve changed, I don’t know because I don’t know what went on before and it always seems critical of the person who before. Paul Jewell’s my pal and sometimes it just doesn’t work at a club and you just have to leave.

“Sometimes it’s working and you still have to leave. I thought that happened to me [at Wolves] and looking at them now, I think I was right! Struggling at the bottom of the Premier League’s one thing.

“I’ve been me. I’ve done what I do, I have a way of doing it and Terry’s my great lieutenant. It’s not only me, it’s me and Terry.

“I think we get results, that’s what we do. It might not always be pretty, but we couldn’t be pretty, we had only seven points.”

Saturday’s game saw loan defender Richard Stearman pick up a grade one hamstring strain which could see him miss the Blues’ final two games.

McCarthy says the Wolves man’s spell has been hugely impressive and has cited him as an example to the 18-year-old youngster who is set to come into the side in his probable absence: “I asked Elliott Hewitt before the game, I said ‘Have you been taking a good look at Stears and how he plays?’ and he said he had. Everybody’s accepted what a good player he is. He’s been really good for us.”

The Blues boss also had praise for Patrick Kisnorbo, who came on for Stearman rather than Hewitt at Hillsborough in order to counteract the aerial threat of Steve Howard in the closing stages: “He’s a big handful and they play that way so you’ve got to deal with it, it’s part of the game.

“Pat’s been great, by the way. He’s a wonderful example of a professional footballer that’s gone about his job.

“He came and played against Villa and he thought he’d get more time, but we’ve had nine clean sheets out of 14 games, so I’m not going to change my centre-halves, and he knows that.

“He’s not happy about it, but he’s accepted it and he has been top, top drawer, he really has been fantastic.”

In terms of looking to secure loanees such as Kisnorbo who are out of contract at the end of the season or any of the Blues’ existing squad members whose terms are also up this summer, McCarthy says that will wait until the statistics show that Town are mathematically absolutely safe.

“If someone comes up with that equation and it’s in the paper, then I’ll start talking to them,” he said. “If not, we’ll be bang at it against Birmingham.”

Meanwhile, Town owner Marcus Evans's wealth has been estimated at £625 million in this year's Sunday Times Rich List, in which he is placed 143rd in the UK. Some other previous estimates have claimed Evans to be a billionaire.

Photo: Action Images

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BlueVelvet added 17:34 - Apr 22 It wouldn't surprise me if we didn't see Paul Taylor again, apart from at the club (not football, but night)
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BuckieBlue added 17:46 - Apr 22

Respect MM for the way he never gets near saying anything critical of PJ.
Looking ahead to next season, one big advantage we have is that MM knows how to get teams out of Championship- vital experience.
Just a stat, if we win on Saturday and Bolton lose at Cardiff, we go top of form table for last 11 games, which shows what a great attitude/ effort all have put in over the run in.

Notts_tractor added 21:00 - Apr 22 For me, Stearman is the no 1 priority to sign. He is like a rock and has given Chambers and Smith massive confidence as they're not always having to deal with crosses from the right after Edwards has been shredded. Tommy Smith is our player of the season by a mile.
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hossblue added 21:08 - Apr 22 Agree with everything you say Notts tractor. I would also like Murphy to be given a contract, when played up front not out wide he is as good as any target man in this division.
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budgieplucker added 23:46 - Apr 22

Fabulous job by Mick & Terry - the statistics speak for themselves.

I am sure Mick is not complacent and we still need one more very valuable point to secure our status.

I do think some fans are getting slightly complacent over our 57 points and banking on results going in our favour.

Just consider that a bit of bad luck and a couple of poor refereeing decision could see us pointless in our last two matches.

Now consider the key candidates for relegation.

Barnsley - good run of recent form but a hiding at home to Charlton. Nevertheless their grit and determination could still see them scrape a couple of wins. 6 points an improved goal difference by two and with our goal difference loosing at least 2 with 2 possible defeats would see them above us.

Huddersfield - given we have considered Barnsley getting two wins, one of them would be against Huddersfield - if Huddersfield won their other game against an already relegated Bristol City that would give them 58 points one more than Town.

OK lets look at Wolves - I can see Wolves scraping a win against Burnley at home but not getting a second win against Brighton away, which makes them my favourite candidates for the second relegation berth. But who knows its not implausible for them to get a result at the Amex.

Peterborough - at home to Wednesday and away to Palace. The way Peterborough have been playing recently and certainly the slippage in results from the Palace camp must give Posh a good prospect of beating the drop - six points (and a better goal difference) would see them just above Town with and even 57 points but better GD.

Wednesday - ok lets assume they loose to Peterborough, and their final match is at home to Middlesborough. I would fancy any team for a home win against Mogga's poor performers at the moment.

Burnley - based on the above scenario they have a win (against us) and a loss (against Wolves) that gives them 58 points and one above us.

Blackpool - the first of their final two fixtures is at home to an already safe Derby County. A win is not inconceivable for a fired up Paul Ince's side. That gives them 58 points one more than us before the head for their local derby against Bolton who need the points for play-offs.

Millwall - have four to play and only need 3 points to almost guarantee survival (well they have a 5 goal better GD than Town). I would suggest to get less than 3 points from 12 is form that will be suicidal and I wouldn't bet against Millwall getting the 3 points they need.

Finally Blackburn - have 3 to play and need 4 points to equal towns 57 and have a 5 goal better GD). Again 4 points out of 9 is very conceivable against oppositon such as Palace, Millwall and Birmingham. But with two away games this is probably my second favourite for the drop after Wolves.

Some fans have suggested it would need a freak or bizarre set of results to dislodge Town from the Championship - "really"? With the way the results have been going in recent weeks I would suggest none of the above is NOT plausible.

IN MY VIEW IT IS THEREFORE CRITICAL WE SECURE A POINT ON SATURDAY OUR FATE IS NOT SAFE IN THE HANDS OF OTHERS- COYB

blue_jim added 09:54 - Apr 23 Budgie plucker, just what are the chances of all your results happening? Not likely, in the least. Town are staying up and will lead championship from start to finish. COYB.
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