Boss Mick McCarthy has outlined the clubs who he believes the Blues will have to compete with if they're to make the top six this season.

Before the campaign began McCarthy targeted a play-off place and that remains the aim despite the slow start.

The Town manager believes there will be tough competition at the top of the division: “I think that all of us who are competing to get that play-off spot, we’ve got to finish above [the likes of] Bolton, Forest, Leicester, Blackburn, Wigan, Reading, QPR, Leeds, having seen them, they’ve spent a few quid.

“There are eight teams there that I would expect to be up and around the top six. All of us beneath or around there at the moment are going to finish above those.”

In addition to those eight, Blackpool are the surprise current leaders of the division, while Watford, who finished third last season, and Brighton, who were fourth, will be looking for a repeat performance.

Photo: Action Images

Steve_D added 10:27 - Sep 3 When m e took over. 5 years ago. Our debt was around 30 million. Now it's 75 so in 5 yrs he has doubled our debt through bad management decisions now we pay for those with no investment no ambition , lower league positions. Leading to lower gates , it's a spiral effect unfortunately the only way out is to spend a bit of money fire some interest back into the club .
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Legend added 10:36 - Sep 3 Anyone get the impression that ME is losing interest? You need to spend big to get out of this league. Dress it up as much as you like, We have no chance against this so called 'Eight' I honestly thought we would spend a bit before the deadline to bring in a couple. Mid table yet again im afraid!
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yorksblue added 10:39 - Sep 3 Battering Leeds for 20 mins - Whoopy F'Kin do. Game lasts for 90 mins, boys.
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battyblue added 11:08 - Sep 3 To run a successful business you have to give it your full support not keep dipping your toe in and hoping its a success there are teams in this division with much lower attendances than we have but seems to be able to spend freely on the transfer market on current form we defiantly will not be anywhere near play off positions i like Mick as a manager but sometimes i wish he would just say it as it is in the real world.. on present form bottom six

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LankHenners added 11:41 - Sep 3 CharlieITFC - I would very much like to see that played but I agree that the chances of it happening are very slim.
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howdonblue added 13:06 - Sep 3 I agree we need a poacher !! I trust in mm and tc and am sure they know this already.. IN MICK WE TRUST
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Steve_D added 13:09 - Sep 3 Also batty blue. You can't run a football club as a business , it has to come from the heart M E. saw us as a business deal and has acted accordingly. , its not has he lost interest. It's did he really care about itfc as a club at all .
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Bown added 15:29 - Sep 3 we need to loan in billy sharp from Southampton or buy free agent Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
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big_gaz67 added 15:38 - Sep 3 Isn't it ironic that when we didn't have FFP Evans seemed to be happy to throw money away - now we are in a situation where Portman Road could become the Marcus Evans Stadium for a year - Evans could throw a few more quid in and we would get a advantage over our competitors we are choosing not too. The sooner Evans sells this club, we re enter administration, take the punishment, perhaps have to accept relegation and the rebuild this club form the inside (where the core has become rotten - almost rancid) out the better.

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lukey130490 added 16:18 - Sep 3 @big_gaz you want our club to have to re-enter administration, drop down 1 (maybe 2) divisions, potentially do a Portsmouth/Coventry/Plymouth, and rule ourselves out of playing top division football and all the benefits that come with it for a very long time (maybe forever). All because we have an owner who is trying to act within the rules of league football and trying not to jeopardise our club? That is some sound logic right there...

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ChrisMakin2012 added 17:45 - Sep 3 Love people who say we played well or dominated the game etc. sorry didn't realise the points table went by how well you play.
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JustSpivvyChops added 18:48 - Sep 3 Our manager reckons there'll be 8 teams in the top 6 at the end of the season, nuff said.......perhaps someone needs to explain to him that the teams that have the most points at the end of the season stand a chance of going up, cos it seems for all the world like he's got that mixed up too!!!
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Keaneish added 19:06 - Sep 3 Biggaz - how about we all pull together and aim for promotion where the premier league money will pay off our debt? That sounds a better option to me....
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JWM added 20:10 - Sep 3 Yes Keanish but without spending some cash on a couple of decent players now we will still be light years away from reaching the premiership!
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itfcbam added 21:20 - Sep 3 Far too much negativity, pains to say it, maybe we swallow pride and learn from up the road. For the past 5 years they have been together both on and off the pitch. We have a section intent on slagging at least 1player off consistently if not more. This season it seems to be Loach. Whether he is good enough or not is a debate, I think with support he could be, however regardless he is 1of us and wants the team to win as much as any of us. Does that deserve the abuse he gets?

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IronBlue29 added 17:39 - Sep 4 Okay, so what I'm about to say isn't strictly related, however, is that adidas benches with an itfc logo on it that I can see? :o where can I buy one? ;)
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