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McCarthy Not Sure What to Expect from Blackpool
Friday, 31st Oct 2014 06:00

Mick McCarthy admits that he doesn’t know quite what to expect from Blackpool under new manager Lee Clark at Bloomfield Road on Saturday. Clark was appointed the Seasiders’ new boss yesterday following Jose Riga’s departure earlier in the week.

“All I can do now is prepare my team to play against whoever turns up,” McCarthy said. “They’ve been playing 4-3-3 predominantly, 4-5-1 when they’ve been away.

“Lee Clark tends to play 4-4-2 and I think if you go in you’ve got to change something. Whether he changes the system or the players, all I know is that on your first day, the first team you pick, that gives those players a boost.

“They’ll run around and give that little bit extra. It’s maybe made it a little bit tougher for us.”

He says he wasn’t expecting an easy game in any case, despite the Tangerines being bottom of the table on six points from 14 games, seven points from safety.

“I remember going to Yeovil last year and how hard it was,” he recalled. “We beat them down there 1-0 and it was a tough game.

“I’ve been watching the Blackpool games and they’re no mugs by any stretch of the imagination so somebody could come in and spark them off, but you’ll get a tough game anyway.”

McCarthy believes Clark has another tough job on his hands, having had a similarly difficult role with Birmingham, who sacked him only last week.

“It strikes me that he’s got tough circumstances at Blackpool as well, but for him to get straight back in I think he’s done really well,” the Town boss added.

“I think they can see that he did well at Huddersfield. He was on the back of a 50-odd game unbeaten run at Huddersfield and lost his job.

“He had difficult circumstances at Birmingham but I thought they were excellent when we played them [in August and drew 2-2].

“I didn’t think they’d be struggling. I thought he’d got his own players in, he’d got shot of the remnants from the Premier League that were earning vast sums of money and probably causing unrest in the team.

“When you’re working with the budget that he had one thing you need is team spirit and a togetherness.

“And it looked like he’d got that and I thought they were excellent against us, and but for Christophe Berra getting a 94th-minute equaliser they’d have got the points.”

He believes the Blackpool squad is good enough to get out of trouble: “The individuals are not mugs by any stretch of the imagination. We’ve been watching them.

“As I said, Yeovil went down and they’re struggling now in League One but we had two tough games against them last season.

“Down there was really hard and I judge the league on some of the lower teams and how they eke out results. You’ve got to match them physically and then you’ve got to have that bit more quality.”

McCarthy doesn’t need to be reminded that it was Clark who was in charge of Birmingham during his first game as Town manager two years ago tomorrow when the Blues ran out 1-0 victors.


“He was. I hope there’s no irony going on there,” he said. “You’d have seen the response that I got from the team at Birmingham two years ago on Saturday.

“I guess Lee will be looking for the same response that I got. Let’s hope he doesn’t get it.”

McCarthy also recalls last season’s game at Millwall, which was Ian Holloway’s first home match in charge of the Lions.

“We had the Churchillian speech on the chair in the fans’ room and he went round and got everybody up for it,” he recollected.

“They were so wound up for that. Plus we’d travelled to Preston in the week and lost after extra-time and got back at 4am, so there were mitigating circumstances.

“But it was the first game and Ollie had them wound up to fever pitch and we never scratched the surface that day.”

He says last season’s game at Bloomfield Road, which the Blues won 3-2 in the final moments, also sticks in the mind: “We were 1-0 down, they were good value for it and Gerks made a fantastic save to stop it going to 2-0.

“It was an eventful game that, it ended up with a last-ditch winner, which happens, doesn’t it? Both for and against.”

He says both he and his players were bitterly disappointed to allow a two-goal lead to slip against Huddersfield last Saturday: “They were and I was as well, but it does happen.

“Players don’t do it on purpose, I don’t come in spitting fire and brimstone because of it.

“I seem to remember us equalising at Birmingham in the 94th minute. Chelsea conceded in the last minute against Man United and Germany against Ireland recently.

“This league is so tough and it just shows you how people keep going. And actually, Huddersfield deserved it, they played really well. We were in front 2-0 undeservedly but that doesn’t bother me.

“If we get there by hook or by crook we don’t want to then lose it but Huddersfield were good value for it.

“Sometimes you have to be magnanimous in defeat or when you draw as well, not just tell everybody how good they are when you’ve won.”

Despite having gone five games without a win and having conceded late equalisers against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn, McCarthy isn’t too despondent.

“We don’t want to keep doing that, but the performances have been good,” he added. “That’s what keeps me going. We’ve played well in the games.

“I don’t think Saturday’s game was a particularly good game and we didn’t play particularly well but that was the first time.”

He says he’s taking the traditional each game as it comes approach as the Blues go into a tough week with third-placed Wolves and Watford, who are second, at Portman Road after the Blackpool game.

“Two teams above us in the league at the moment and one that’s rock bottom,” he reflected.

“But don’t think for any minute it’s going to be anything other than a tough game at Blackpool. We’ll deal with that first and then we’ll look at Wolves and then we’ll look at Watford.”

McCarthy says he’s weighing-up whether to make changes to his side, as he does ahead of every match.

“I always think about my team,” he added. “If I can improve it, does it need tinkering with. I’m always considering that for every game.”

The Town boss is likely to stick with Dean Gerken in goal, while Tyrone Mings will return at left-back following his one-match suspension.

Jonny Parr is a doubt with a groin problem but will start at right-back if fit. Otherwise, skipper Luke Chambers will again move out to the right from his regular central defensive role with Tommy Smith continuing alongside Christophe Berra at the heart of the defence.

McCarthy could be considering switching to 4-4-2 to counteract Clark’s preferred system but will probably stick with the 4-3-3 formation he has utilised for the last couple of months.

Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam will take the deeper midfield roles with Jonny Williams - if fit - ahead of them but behind strike trio David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy and Conor Sammon.

Teddy Bishop would be Williams’s replacement if the Wales international fails to make it having missed last week’s game having picked up a knock in the defeat at Cardiff.

Mauritian international Kevin Bru is out with a groin problem and Jack Collison could come into consideration for a place in the matchday 18 for the first time since joining the club on a short-term deal.

Following his appointment as Blackpool boss yesterday, Clark said: "I am absolutely delighted. The main objective is to try and keep the club in the Championship and build from there.

“It is a big challenge because of our position in the league but it's a challenge that can be overcome.”

Seasiders skipper Tony McMahon is back after a one-match ban but defenders Joan Oriol (ankle) and Gary MacKenzie (knee), midfielder Jose Miguel Cubero (ankle) and striker Steven Davies (groin) are all unavailable.

Historically, Town have won 10 games between the sides (nine in the league), nine have been drawn (nine) and Blackpool have won five (four).

The teams last met at Portman Road in February when the game ended 0-0. David McGoldrick - who suffered his season-ending knee injury late in the game - headed disappointing Town's best opportunity wide in the ninth minute while keeper Scott Loach thwarted Faris Haroun twice in the first half and once late on in the second.

In the previous November at Bloomfield Road, Daryl Murphy headed home an injury time goal as Town came from behind to win 3-2 and pick up their first away victory of the 2013/14 season at Blackpool, who at that stage were fourth.

The home side were very much on top before the break and were ahead via Stephen Dobbie. But in the second half, a much-changed Town got on terms and went ahead through subs Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor before late drama when the Seasiders equalised through one-time Blues target Steve Davies prior to Murphy’s winner.

Winger Stephen Hunt was close to signing for Blackpool prior to joining Town last season before the deal broke down, while Darren Ambrose spent time with the Tangerines during pre-season.

Saturday’s referee is Andy Haines from Tyne and Wear, who has shown 29 yellow cards and two red in eight games so far this season. Haines’s last Town game was the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in October last year when he booked Tommy Smith and one home player.

Squad from: Gerken, Bialkowski, Parr, Mings, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Clarke, Skuse, Hyam, Williams, Bishop, Hunt, Anderson, Stewart, Henshall, Collison, Ambrose, McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon, Bajner.


Photo: Action Images



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TR11BLU added 06:31 - Oct 31
We should not be worrying about how they will line up, rather how to impose ourselves on them.
Let them worry, afterall they are bottom and deservedly so.
8

rambohambo added 06:31 - Oct 31
If we play anything like we did last season against them god help us , they are at rock bottom at the moment who cares what formation there playing , Clarke wouldn't have had the right time to put his own tactics down. So we need to go out there with an attacking team and hope for no less than 3 points
4

stevelincsexile added 07:00 - Oct 31
Lets be honest if we cannot win this we do not deserve a top 6 spot.
6

ChrisL_ITFC added 07:36 - Oct 31
My selection would be team534
0

ChrisL_ITFC added 07:38 - Oct 31
My selection would be
GerkenParrChambersBerraMingsStewartHyamSkuseWilliamsMcGoldrickMurphy
Substitutes: Bialkowski   Smith   Anderson   Bishop   Tabb   Hunt   Salmon   
2

rfretwell added 07:49 - Oct 31
Collison cant be nearly fit enough for more than a few minutes near the end. 433 for me all day long for this one
0

TR11BLU added 08:08 - Oct 31
A great lineup @ ChrisL, with width and goals IMO.
Not a MM selection tho I fear.
0

76blue added 08:16 - Oct 31
Why not start the 6ft 5 Hungarian beast bajner instead of useless salmon #nobajnernoparty
6

stevelincsexile added 08:36 - Oct 31
Not to shabby ChrisL but I would move Williams in for Skuse and have Henshall or Ambrose wide left.
2

Turkishblue added 09:48 - Oct 31
Just setting off for Blackpool weekend, let's hope it's more treat than trick and not another Cardiff 2nd half horror show!
1

Steelmonkey added 10:07 - Oct 31
Oh great new manager syndrome here we go.
COYB's
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:23 - Oct 31
I think this will be pretty tough, but am hoping for a win and not a draw. Respect to all those travelling. See y'All vs Wolves & Watford. Now those games WILL be tough!
1

MattinLondon added 11:24 - Oct 31
What exactly does Skuse do?
3

battyblue added 12:39 - Oct 31
Getting ready with the excuses for not winning they are not a good team they are crap that's why they are bottom stop worrying about what formation they will play let them worry about us for a change anything but three points will be totally unacceptable.
3

PJH added 13:41 - Oct 31
For most away games a point is ok but I think we MUST win tomorrow.I think we need Henshall or Stewart on the bench to bring on just in case things not going well as often there are no game changers on the bench.I am hoping that my getting up very early for my trip to the seaside tomorrow is worthwhile.
1

ITFCsince67 added 13:55 - Oct 31
"Town fans not sure what to expect from their team".
We should no be worrying about their feckin formation. Let them worry about us.
4

TimmyH added 14:48 - Oct 31
Mick really shouldn't be worrying about what to expect from a bottom of the table team - after not winning in 5 he should as mentioned in the top post instilling a very positive pre- match attitude in our players, too often with Mick we hear pre and post match interviews bigging up the opposition. Let's be honest there isn't one with Blackpool, they've won once this season !
4

StowTractorBoy added 15:13 - Oct 31
We have absolutely no devine right to win this one and I agree with MM this will be a tough match and do not be surprised if we do lose. Not happy that Chambers may be right back although I do love the bloke but it is not his position as was demonstrated last week. Just hope Williams is fit to play as he and Mings do add quality and pace to the team. Its all on the day as they say so lets hope its our day. Drove up to Blackpool last night and be warned the M6 round Birmingham was a nightmare.
0

battyblue added 17:05 - Oct 31
slowtractorboy i certainly will not be surprised if we lose this match because that's Ipswich Town agree with the rest of your post.
0

battyblue added 17:16 - Oct 31
Re team selection for Blackpool match...come on Mick wise up please how long and how many points lost does it take to sink in that the team need freshening up( RB problem) midfield Skuse/ Hyam dont work,i also think Teddy Bishop does a better job than Williams ,and Salmon is not earning his place in the starting eleven.
1

jas0999 added 18:20 - Oct 31
I'm expecting 3 points. No less. Blackpool are poor, new manager or not. We have failed to win in 5, a disappointing sequence of results and certainly not promotion form. Therefore a win tomorrow is an absolute must.
4

itfccymru added 18:52 - Oct 31
Don't understand some people's logic on here. Obviously MM will be analysing the opposition like he would if it was any other side. We all know how mad this league is and to go there with the attitude of 'just win' is extremely naive. MM will identify any strengths and weaknesses and will use our strengths to capitalise on them.
3

TimmyH added 20:04 - Oct 31
'They're no mugs'! - don't think that's the first time Mick has used that term this season, well they've been 'mugged' enough times this season already with just 6 points - either way we're going to get maybe a Blackpool team with a hint of Birmingham tactics thrown in, hardly makes your knees go wobbly!
2

78ShadesOfBlue added 21:47 - Oct 31
Mick, I'd expect long sticks of pink candy with 'Blackpool' cleverly etched inside it.
1

essextractorboy93 added 07:07 - Nov 1
Mick is right, nobody are mugs in the league but on paper Blackpool do have the weakest squad. Their home results of late included beating Cardiff 1-0 and narrowly losing to Derby. If we play how we have done at times this season I can see us winning, Mick and the players will be aware that they'll want to impress because of Lee Clark becoming the new manager.
1


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