Mick McCarthy expects there to be changes of personnel at Portman Road during the summer and believes he has the nucleus of a good team in place.

The Blues boss says a few ins and outs are inevitable and beneficial to a squad: “There’ll be some changes, definitely, because there’ll be players who haven’t been playing who think they might have a better chance elsewhere and I’ll try and freshen it up anyway.

“Whatever happens, we’ve got the nucleus of a good side and if we’re still in this league, it’ll need freshening up and if we manage to get in the play-offs, which is getting tougher with the games dripping away, then we’d have to change it anyway.

“There’ll be changes, there always are every summer, and you need to do it to freshen it up.”

He says he’d be delighted to make Bosman free signings of the calibre of David McGoldrick, Christophe Berra and Cole Skuse again during the close season ahead: “If I can equal that this summer that would be wonderful. Let’s hope we can.”

McCarthy says there have been no developments regarding the futures of out of contract players such as skipper Carlos Edwards, Stephen Hunt and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake: “No, there’ll be no decisions, so I wouldn’t ask me next week because I’ll say the same. [That will be sorted] when the season’s finished.”

Similarly, there is no news on whether Crystal Palace will allow loanee Jonny Williams to stay beyond the end of the month: “Nothing’s changed, still the same.

“He’s a good player, I’m delighted to have him here. And I think providing they don’t need him or want him back, we’ll be able to keep him.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 06:20 - Mar 21 Good by Paul Taylor. We appreciate the effort shown in your limited chance to impress.
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Rentaghost added 07:08 - Mar 21 I would say it needs more than one or two. Whole midfield needs reshaping and goalkeeper. Its an average side at the moment.
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stevelincsexile added 07:25 - Mar 21 I agree Rentaghost, the back four is sound with Hewitt in at RB and there are goals up front with a fit SEB and Marriott. Some craft,culture and width in midfield job done.
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big_gaz67 added 08:13 - Mar 21 "If we're still in this league" - I think we're safe from relegation - aren't we folks?
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Luggworm added 08:25 - Mar 21 The biggest signing of the summer will be a No1. keeper. I expect Loach will leave and Gerken stay on as back up. With a keeper like Henderson in goal this season we would have easily made the play offs, missing out on Kuszczak was a big blow last year.
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Len_Brennan added 08:25 - Mar 21 To be fair to Mick, the the free signings of McGoldrick, Berra & Skuse have proven to be a sensational bit of business. The 3 of them are guaranteed starters in the opening game of next season for us, unless very sizeable offers come in for them. Arguably our 3 best & most consistent players this season.
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tractorboyz82 added 08:47 - Mar 21 Would agree with mcgoldrick and Berra but skuse is mr average.Think we need 5 maybe six new players for me. Anderson tabb nouble hyam need replacing just not good enough if you want out of this league,plus new keeper and a rb
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StuartBrett8 added 09:28 - Mar 21 Skuse is a defensive midfielder..... if you want him to score 15 goals a season he is not your man. A creative midfielder playing in front of him would be great :)
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:01 - Mar 21 We all know that MM is 'defensively minded', trying to make us difficult to beat. So he must be alarmed that we have leaked 42 goals already this season (and I must say, viewing from the stands, our defence gives me the jitters!). Neither Gerken nor Roach are good enough goalkeepers. And the RB problem needs solving. It would be great if Hewitt could step up. One of the current 'back four, could end up on the bench. Our midfield neither protects the defence nor provides sufficient opportunities for our forwards. A playmaker is desperately needed. Someone to give the ball to. (Hyam never seems to know what to do with it!) Skuse is OK and would look a lot better playing beside a quality midfielder.. Up front McGoldrick has been a star (let's hope we keep him!) and Murphy has been ok, but 'the jury's out' on Taylor and SEB. I cannot see a realistic future here for any of the rest so it will be interesting to see who MM can get rid of and if he can sign a Goalkeeper and a Playmaker.

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Garv added 10:01 - Mar 21 McGoldrick and Berra yes, Skuse needs to do more.
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dirtyboy added 11:20 - Mar 21 Still thought we looked more solid with Chambers and Smith as that central partnership, not to say Berra hasn't played well because he has. I feel sorry for Chambers, but he's improved in that RB position as the season has progressed. Convinced we only need that one 'creative' midfielder for everything to click into place....some one like Scholes lol!
2

BillBlue added 11:44 - Mar 21 Aren't these the same words Mick used last year? Must be Season Ticket time again!
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:14 - Mar 21 Agree with most of these posts. Particularly stuartbretts re. Skuse. He is not the problem it's the type of player around him. He is a very tidy player who can make the midfield tick with the right players around him. My gut feeling is that hunt, seb, Wordsworth, Taylor, loach will go. Mings might also ask to leave to get more opportunities. I reckon mm will want green for next season. This is not necessarily what I want btw, just a hunch.

1

Tractamatt added 12:37 - Mar 21 When you read lines like "if we are in this league" doesn't it just fill you with confidence. MM knows we are not mathematically safe and judging by that comment knows 1or 2 more bad results and we're looking over our shoulder and could end up in a relegation scrap.
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TimmyH added 12:56 - Mar 21 My big hope is that McGoldrick stays, personally can see Taylor and maybe Cresswell going, and for gods sake MM get somebody in midfield who can put in some decent passes and has the willing to try some trickery or take players on, something different. Wide area's also need to be looked at.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 12:58 - Mar 21 Unfortunately I fear that any incoming transfers can only be financed by the sales of players like McGoldrick and Cresswell. I can even see Smith going if the right offer is made. We have very liitle value in the rest of our squad.
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Bluetone added 15:02 - Mar 21 In more big lump grafters out with the quick and creative will be McCarthy's freshen things up recipe.
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Surco72 added 17:29 - Mar 21 Taylor and Cresswell gone then and more workers on the way . Berra has played well but was not needed to strengthen team as Chambers and Smith were great last season , would rather we had signed a right back or played one . What about your other signings and loans MM , Nouble, Tabb ,Green , Richardson, Tunnicliffe , Vesali, Villa lad ? average at best
1

Steelmonkey added 21:15 - Mar 21 Bluetone - "out with the quick and creative" where have they been hiding all season.
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WickedBlue added 21:46 - Mar 21 I didn't know so many people played FM or CM!
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theobald1985 added 22:32 - Mar 21 biggest change needed is mcarthy to go so we can actually get back to playing some decent attacking football on the deck rather than hit and hope football. hes been allowed to bring in plenty of players but we will never go up and stay up under boring mick-he is far too old school and plays a style of football that should not be accepted at portman road. new younger manager to come in and freshen things up and play proper football and start building something for the future would be nice

1

Lord_Mac added 22:49 - Mar 21 Obviously some people really enjoyed the "decent attacking football" we played under Jewell and Keane. Miracle 1 (2012-13) - keeping up a team full of loanees assembled by PJ Miracle 2 (2013-14) - converting that into any sort of squad in one single summer, and with no money. Miracle 3 (2014-15) - TB A Some people have really unrealistic expectations!
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Bluetone added 22:55 - Mar 21 Steelmonkey that's a damn good question - should have said not interested in getting anyone quick and creative. Sorry.
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Sugito added 07:25 - Mar 22 Agree with Lord_Mac, if somebody had offered a top-10 finish this season to our fans in the middle of last season, I bet everyone would have taken it.
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