Boss Mick McCarthy says there’s no point in him moaning about the loss of top scorer David McGoldrick, despite admitting that it was a significant blow to the Blues’ play-off ambitions. Instead he says he views his 16-goal top scorer’s absence as a chance for his other strikers.

McGoldrick's season was almost certainly ended by a partial tear to a medial knee ligament sustained in the closing stages of the goalless draw with Blackpool last month and so far no one has staked their claim for regular inclusion up front with Daryl Murphy during the former Nottingham Forest man's absence.

Frank Nouble was used in a three-man attack until he suffered a hamstring injury, while Paul Taylor came into the team for the 1-0 victory over Birmingham and then the 2-0 loss at Middlesbrough and then Sylvan Ebanks-Blake started the 1-0 win at Yeovil on Tuesday.

On-loan Welsh international Jonny Williams impressed from the bench at Huish Park and could get the nod to play in a role just behind Murphy when Wigan visit Portman Road on Saturday.

“I think anybody who loses a player who has been in such form as David McGoldrick would miss him,” McCarthy said

“But I try not to put too much store in that and bemoan that because I always find that a bit of a slur on the players who come in, a bit of an insult to them.

“You know when you’ve got a good player and you don’t want to lose your better players who have been playing well, but I try and open the door for somebody else and see how they’re going to do.

“If you keep bemoaning the lack of one of your players, it doesn’t do the confidence of the other players any good. Let’s hope somebody else steps up.”

However, he says having someone in a team who can score a goal out of nothing as McGoldrick can gives the other members of the side an unconscious boost: “In a game, if you’ve conceded one, you settle back down and you see your star striker and he has an effort.

“Then in yourself you’re just confident that you’re going to get back into it. It’s not an instant thought, ‘We’ve got so and so playing, it might happen…’ but if you’ve got him and he is playing at the top of his game, and he was excellent up until he got injured, it does help.”

He added: “It’s a blow but moaning about it won’t make him fit and I can alienate other people, so I prefer to go the other way and try and be positive.

“There’ll be about two or three others who are thrilled that he’ll not be there as they’ll have a better chance of playing.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says 17-year-old midfielder Teddy Bishop, who has travelled to the last two first-team games, could make his senior debut before the end of the campaign.

The Cambridge-based second-year scholar has impressed the Blues boss with his performances in the U18s, U21s and in training.

McCarthy outlined what he likes about him: “His ability. He’s comfortable with the ball, he’s doing very well.

“He’s trained with the first team. He’d be one that, if we’re not in the play-off shout towards the end of the season, I think I’d look to give some part of a game of some sort. We’ll see. He’s been training well with us.”

Elsewhere, there were mixed results for Town's play-off rivals last night. Saturday's opponents Wigan beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 to move up to seventh behind sixth-placed Reading on goal difference having played two games fewer than the Royals and the Blues.

Blackburn lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth and remain 10th, five points behind Town in ninth with a game in hand.

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 06:51 - Mar 13 mmm Doesnt want to moan about it, sounded like he was moaning to me? He says it would be an insult to other players, remember the Loach incident, he comes in plays well and gets droped as soon as Gerks is available, and then goes public by saying it was a "no brainer". If this is an opportunity for other players and i noticed Teddy Bishop being linked with a debut B4 end of season,Its fantastic and what we want to hear, but i want to see Marriot back and given a go, wonder how Marriot feels? COYB

3

peterleeblue added 06:55 - Mar 13 Clearly the hope has to be that Williams fulfills the palace fans hype and supplies the ammunition for SEB to start scoring again. Problem is then that Willimams goes back...........
0

DanLyles added 08:05 - Mar 13 Make my day on Saturday Mick by playing Williams, Hunt and Taylor in the same team behind Murphy. 3 livewires who run at people and put us on the front foot. Ask any defender what they hate the most and they would undoubtedly say being taken on by a dribbler with pace. As everybody knows, once you beat a player you draw the covering defender out of position and create space for team mates. Wigan have alot of momentum but I hope having an extra days rest will work in our favour.

12

bluemikey100 added 08:24 - Mar 13 yes no striker in squad gonna be prolific apart from SYLVAN with few games under belt so no good MOANIN wot bout LOANIN then mite fire us into playoffs as worried bout lack of goals
1

Nazemariner added 09:29 - Mar 13 I foresee a 4-2-3-1 formation on Saturday!
0

Bluetone added 10:48 - Mar 13 Taylor and Marriott need to seriously consider finding clubs that play proper football and not hoof and chaseball. No future for them here with the dour Yorkshire-man in charge.
-13

yorksblue added 10:50 - Mar 13 I mistakenly thought strikers scored goals. How naive of me. Surely, without McGoldrick, we don't have any strikers.
2

Guthrum added 10:55 - Mar 13 @yorksblue - Murphy's 9 goals not count, then?
7

StowTractorBoy added 11:04 - Mar 13 Can't see Hunt and Williams both playing on Saturday. Hunt tries hard but was ineffective on Tuesday at Yeovil. My hunch is that it will be the same team except Williams for Hunt.
1

TimmyH added 11:57 - Mar 13 'Let's hope somebody else steps up' - I think Berra is our 3rd highest scorer this season so maybe we should put him up there, let's face it we've been waiting the whole season for a midfielder to find his scoring boots...and the wait continues.
4

yorksblue added 12:08 - Mar 13 Guthrum A goal every 4 games. That's prolific then!
1

hogster1970 added 12:09 - Mar 13 Well like what was said above. I think Hewitt and Marriott should be recalled for April and have a run of games to see how they have progressed. I still feel jack will score us goals there is no question in that. And Hewitt will provide good rb service also.
4

essexboy added 13:06 - Mar 13 Play cresswell in midfield with Mings at full back.I've been saying this all season.Williams on the right and Skuse and Hyam in the middle with SEB and Murphy up front.Richardson at right full back and rest Chambers.Loach in goal,( but that will never happen). COYB. 10 points from the next 4 games.
3

LordMamu added 13:33 - Mar 13 I now find pretty much everything this man says either boring or irritating.
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 13:37 - Mar 13 I have been asked to ghist write an autobiograpghy for a Norwich fan, one R Steroo, anone know him? Opnions on the 1st chapter? Chapter 1, I came into this world with 12 fingers and 12 toes I will leave with only 11 of the latter (at 19 it became apparent that I needed to go on the sick so I could claim me giro, I figured since I had more than normal losing 1 would not be problematic), I was raised by my sistermother, the result of an unfortunate and convoluted family history and probably the only reasonable explanation for my lazy eye and of course my (grand) farther who doted on me about 3 times a night unless he had been on the beer in which case managing more than once was a challenge. My early years are not very striking suffice to say I had a normal Norfolkian upbringing, family orgies, cow tipping and teaching my siblings to count to 12 are some of the fonder memories I retain. My interest in football started aged 9 or 10, having already developed a substantial inferiority complex it seemed only logical that I hitch my supporter's waggon to my local team, Norwich. The irony of growing up without a pot to pi55 in was not lost on me, luckily not long after I nailed my green and yellow colours to the mast (an extremely painful experience btw which resulted in many hours of skin grafts and plastic surgery, to this day everything comes out sideways) Norwich won the Milk cup so at least I now had a pot to relieve myself in during the home games, alas its filled up rather quickly. Thankfully some seasons later I discovered the glory that is pot noodle, aside from providing sustenance and all my nutritional intake it also meant that I would never be potless again, things were looking up. By now I was a teenager and whilst my family situation allowed for the sewing of many wild oats I knew there was more out there. I had left school with an impressive 5 Us and (to this day I can still barely believe I achieved it) an E+ GCSE's (Get in P.E) making me the smartest person in my family by some way, I had to prove myself in the real world though. No use having a fancy qualification if I don't make something of myself I thought, thus I had a dream. To one day spend every waking hour posting ill though out and repetitive comments on a football forum. I figured since that lot from Suffolk were constantly hitting on non-relatives they must be the most suitable targets (abnormal lot down there, I still can't fathom why they marry outside the family circle to this day, yes my child has webbed feet and one leg shorter than the other but he's happy and amazing at swimming in circles which is good enough for me), hence I hatched a plan. I was clearly cut out for more than just working for a living (I say again E+ in P.E people) so I needed to be on the sick to dedicate the real amount time needed to my new career. The solution was obvious, hack off an extra toe and get claiming. Genius. I was the envy of the entire family, at 19 I had achieved all I could want and more, 12 fingers, 11 toes long term sick benefit and a council studio flat complete with microwave for pot noodles. My head was swimming I couldn't believe it and yet that was only the start. Next week in the green un, Rob Discovers he can use different names on an anonymous forum, his meeting with cousin Ged, a kindred spirit with a shared ideology and tragedy, the death of his sistermother, where would he finish from now on?.....don't miss next weeks serialisation, only on TWTD

2

hotdog added 14:26 - Mar 13 Thats the right way to go Mick. I was disappointed when I found out that Didsy was injured and I still think this seriously dents our chances of the last play-off spot, but we need to see the positive side in the opportunity this gives to the other players. Unfortunately Mick doesn't seem willing to give Taylor a proper run in the team but I'm confident that when SEB gets fully fit he could do the same job as Mcgoldrick, hopefully sooner rather than later...!

2

essexboy added 14:29 - Mar 13 Blue and true, try ray Bidwolf,one of the same person.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:58 - Mar 13 Indeed essex biy, this i know. But Ray Bidwolff is just aother personality invented by said joker
0

algarvefan added 15:22 - Mar 13 There seems a real weariness in the Town camp at the moment, a lack of investment by the owner, the football for me is quite boring and I haven't felt so underwhelmed since the Duncan years!! I love my club and have followed them with pride and passion for nearly 50 years, but just lately it all seems doom and gloom. I honestly believe that MM has taken us as far as he can and at the end of the season I wouldn't be unhappy to see him go. I don't really care where we are in the league but ITFC have almost always been associated with good attractive football. Lets hope for a return to those days soon with someone who understands the club and it's ethos at the helm !!!

-1

BlueandTruesince82 added 15:39 - Mar 13 The owners hands are tied. He invested heavily in Magiltion, Keane and Jewell unfortunately Mick took over at a time when we were already restructuring the finnances to comply wit FFP. Now I know many will claim tht FFP rules are myth and other clubs arnt being punished etc, but 67 clubs across europe are currently being audited due to suspicion of having broken those rules. Punishments have not been dished out yet. Bottom line is had ME splahed the cash this season we coul (unlikely I admit) bed in a position where we make the play offs only to miss out due to a points deduction. People said ckubs entring administration would never be punished, well look at Portsmouth and Plymouth both have sufferd deductions. FFP will result in the same at some stage. I really belive lack of investment is a red herring. I hope Mick stays myself, let him build on what he has started. We really need soe consistancy in the managerial hotseat. Besides the onlyway I see him going is if a bigger jobs comes along. ME isnt about to sack him, I dont see him walking without somewhere to walk to. I say whislt we are competing accept it and give Mick time to finish the job of rebuilding. So much impatientce in football these days with fans and owners a like

5

Fat_Boy_Tim added 16:26 - Mar 13 We have scored 45 goals in 35 games, there are 3 teams above us with fewer goals than that. QPR have only 40 in 34 games and they are sitting in 4th place. Look at the different budgets (nod to Blueandtrue, above, for a well made point on that front) available to each club and that is quite a posotive stat. Our main problem is not in scoring goals or who scores them, it's in keeping leads and clean sheets. Our goal scoring stacks up pretty well in the division as a whole. MM is asked a question about DM and he answers it, sounds like his philosophy of trying to keep the morale, of the next man in, up rather than telling everyone what a miss DM will be is quite a well thought out one. Had he moaned about it there would be comments about getting excuses ready etc..

2

TheSelkirk added 16:40 - Mar 13 I don't want to cover old ground on our position in the league or McCarthy's capability or ME's investment. I have my views of course but now is not the time. My point is this. As things stand, and have for a few years with the Town now, I find myself missing some pretty simple things but things that would make following Town that much more enjoyable. (Before it's mentioned, obviously being in the play offs, winning the league, being in the premiership, winning the cup, playing like Barcelona, sleeping with Megan Fox would all be up their but none of the above is likely to occur in the foreseeable future). Being able to watch a Town player run a defence ragged. A bit of genius or showboating (that actually comes off). Seeing a product of Town's Academy come into the side and make the sort of impression that gets the media talking. Watching the odd wonder goal or two. Being able to have a real 'favourite' player/s again - blue and white in the blood, never gives in, cherishes the shirt he wears. Attacking at pace. One touch passing (in the opponents half). A defence splitting through ball. A full blooded tackle or several. Surely not too much to ask and relatively realistic aspirations. I seem to be getting into a mind set where expectation levels are set quite low. On occasion I have to admit that I seem to be merely going through the motions turning up to watch, what can be, pretty dull and predictable stuff. Those little things that I miss would give me hope and encouragement. At the moment we seem bereft of inspiration and someone, somewhere, somehow, could do with injecting the club with gallons of it. It would help us all.

8

TimmyH added 16:46 - Mar 13 I think sometimes too much money in a club (maybe from the parachute payments and largely talking about QPR here) can be a headache, Redknapp has bought so many players this season or on loan he really doesn't know what his best starting line-up is, since Austin got injured there's been so many permutations in the starting line up (maybe other than the centre backs) the team has become 'un-gelled' and that I've found surprising considering the start they had. Mick as we know hasn't had this problem and has tried by and large to keep the starting line up consistent and this is true of the defense and the attack, the problem has been the midfield throughout the season and continues to be and trying to get the balance right between defensively and attack minded which I feel Mick has been too dogged in playing workman like players. Overall though a team doesn't have to have a big budget to suceedjust look at Burnley, what a job Dyche has done there!

3

oldelsworthyfan added 17:06 - Mar 13 Look at out 'Goals for' and look at our 'Goals against' then compare them with all the other clubs in the Championship and it would suggest our bigger problem is our defence (rather than our attack). It is simply not as 'rock solid' as it should be! Our defenders (right back apart) have the ability. Is the problem in their heads or is it 'organisation'?
0

essexboy added 17:28 - Mar 13 Organisation I feel.!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls