Boss Mick McCarthy says both he and owner Marcus Evans have realistic expectations for the season ahead. The Town manager has said he’s aiming for a play-off place having achieved that level of form last season having taken over in November.

McCarthy said: “Marcus is the same as me, he wants to aim for as high as we possibly can but I think, like me, he’s realistic about it as well.

“It’s easy me coming in and saying ‘We’re aiming for the top six’. Of course we’re aiming for the top six, but there’s a bit of graft to do that though.

“We played at our absolute maximum from November and we know that the points would have got us in the top six. But we’ve got to do it again.”

The Town boss says he and Evans are similarly in agreement regarding their work in the transfer market: “I’m happy with the squad that we’ve got. I know Marcus is delighted with the business that we did in the summer.

“To be fair, we’ve maintained the team [from last year], bar two players. I would love to have to have signed Richard Stearman but we couldn’t do it and we lost Guirane N’Daw.

“And after seeing Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam, that’s been a real plus that midfield pairing. They’ve been terrific.

“Richard’s got a year’s contract left. All the others that we took were all Bosmans. It was just a deal we couldn’t do between us and Wolves, simple as that.”

Overall, McCarthy says neither he nor Evans will be putting undue pressure on anyone: “We should be up there competing and that’s Marcus’s ambition as well.

"But neither of us are that stupid that we’re going to put demands on everybody that we have to be there, right at the very start. It’s a slow burn and we just want to make sure we have a good season.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed that Josh Carson is still on trial with Bristol City: “As far as I’m aware. They’re obviously taking a good look at him.”

Photo: Action Images

bluefeast added 08:07 - Aug 10 im gutted we didn't have mm some time ago ,he would not of wasted the money the previous two did. Now he has to shop with no money
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Karlosfandangal added 08:15 - Aug 10 Only spent £20k in the transfer market but I wonder how much we are now spending on wages, With Martin,Chopra and Jet going we must have saved about 40k a week, however got a feeling the one we brought in will cost the club more than that. Can see a few clubs struggling with the new financial restraints,but feel in the long term Ipswich will be ok
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Radlett_blue added 09:01 - Aug 10 Oh, dear - MM likes Hyam & Skuse as a midfield pairing.
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clintviola added 09:04 - Aug 10 Really hope we can kick on today, thought we was unlucky against Reading their class was evident in the second half, Stevenage result was just poor when will the back up players realise this is their chance to shine and give MM the good sort of headache! Push on today hopefully 3-1 town with Lee getting two yellow cards both for dissent.
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Blue_Heath added 09:37 - Aug 10 Really pleased the finances are now being looked at given the large debt and is the way forward via the youth and Klug. However, this financial fair play is a nonsense, I can't help feeling that we'll be one of the few that follow it and no sanctions will be imposed on the clubs that don't abide by it or that dodgy chairman/board members will donate money/sponsor their teams etc. Looking forward to today, no dead wood anymore just mainly young hungry players, let's enjoy the likes of Hyam and Hewitt before they are snapped up by so called bigger clubs! Top six would be nice, top 10 realistic.

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jas0999 added 10:07 - Aug 10 Today is already a big game IMO. We can't afford to get into a rut and after two disappointing results, a win is required. Won't be easy though, because bar three or four teams, we are all much of a muchness in the Championship. Realistically, I can't see us finishing anywhere other than bottom part of the top half of the table - possibly as high as 8th. Would think MM and ME would accept that, with a view to improving again next year.

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Seasider added 11:12 - Aug 10 I find it very surprising that Mr Evans has not allowed his manager to spend some money as overspends are allowed reducing during next three years.
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TimmyH added 12:17 - Aug 10 Yeah I can see us finishing around 8th-10th position, any lower than that and you have to ask have we progressed? Personally I would have like to have seen ME splash some dosh on a decent wide man and Stearman coming in at right back, I have a nasty feeling Veseli and Anderson will not meet expectations.
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