McCarthy: Ollie Will Make Most of Atmosphere
Saturday, 18th Jan 2014 06:00

Mick McCarthy says he expects new Millwall boss Ian Holloway to try to make the most of the Den's hostile atmosphere as the Blues take on the Lions in their new manager’s first home game in charge.

McCarthy, who knows all about life at Millwall having been both a Lions player and a manager, said: “I would imagine Ollie will be trying to get them racked up, as they should be every week.

“He’ll buy into that, he’ll try and generate all the atmosphere that the Den can create. We all try and make it intimidating [for the opposition], it is what it is. But it’s not a half or a quarter or a 16th as intimidating as the old Den, let me tell you!

“The new Den can still have a great atmosphere if they get a good crowd in there and it can be intimidating but the old Den was just something else. That was fantastic if you wanted to scare the opposition.”

He believes Holloway and Millwall should suit one another: “I know what it’s like, it’s a really passionate club, he’ll generate that, he’ll tap into that and he’ll try and make even more of the atmosphere that can be created at the new Den.

“He’ll buy into all that and if he gets some results I think they’ll buy into him and they’ll be a good match.”

Just as McCarthy predicted, Holloway wants the Den crowd to intimidate the Blues and future opposition.

"I want the players to give it their best, and then a bit more," the new Lions boss told News at Den. "I want our fans to make Ipswich feel nervous with their energy and passion.

"I've felt that many a time before at the Den and it's not a place for the fainthearted. We're all in it together - and I can't wait to show that to our fans.

"The Ipswich game is the first of three home games in a row, so who's to say we can't get nine points? That's the target and I've challenged the lads to give it a real go."

He says he has a lot of time for Mick McCarthy and sees him as something of a role model given Millwall’s current position fourth from bottom of the Championship: “Mick's a bit of an inspiration and I've always really liked him.

"To go into Ipswich last year and do the job that he did, and now get them up at the top end of the league this season, is a great achievement.

"They were excellent in the first half against QPR last weekend my report tells me, they were the better side but didn't take their chances and were punished by a very good team.

"Ipswich only had [seven] points when Mick took over last year and look where they are now. That's something I need to reproduce here.”

Photo: Action Images

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