Boss Mick McCarthy says he would have been happy with Town's current position if it had been offered to him at the start of the season, but is less pleased now as the Blues were second in the table as recently as mid-January.

Asked whether he would have taken Town’s present situation of seventh, one point from the play-offs and five off the top two back in August, McCarthy chose his words carefully.

“For me to answer that question just straight away suggests I’m looking for a silver lining in the position that we’re in,” he said. “It’s always easier to say ‘We’d have been really happy with that’.

“Yes, we would at the start of the season but bearing in mind we were second however many games ago, I’m not happy with it.

“But, in answer to the question, at the beginning of the season we’d have all taken it, you included and every Ipswich fan would have taken it.

“It frustrates me that we are where we are. But that’s part of the game and it’s up to us to [get back in the top two or top six].

“We had a really good performance against Brentford and if we play like that then we should get enough points to be in the promotion scrap whatever it is, whether that’s the top two or the top six.”

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s are in action against Colchester United at Playford Road this afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 11:37 - Mar 9 I agree MM can't do anything about the missed chances like on Saturday. But if we had played like we did Saturday since the turn of the year I don't think anyone would be complaining. Except we haven't, we've been awful to watch and he has refused to make changes. That's why people have an issue. If we continue performing like we did against Brentford and still miss out on the play offs/promotion, I will be disappointed, but won't moan. I'll be grateful we gave it a fair crack. That's all us 'moaners' want. MM to try and go out and win a few games rather than not lose the point we start with, particularly against inferior opposition.

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ParisBlue added 11:38 - Mar 9 Without doubt MM has been the best thing to happen to ITFC for a long while. He got us into a great position. He's not had the best 6 weeks though - his subs vs Reading we're baffling and his treatment of the forwards (and Sears in particular) over the last week has been strange. We're in a 10 match league. Win 6 or 7 of them and life will be interesting....
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oldelsworthyfan added 12:00 - Mar 9 Well, MM is not short of good advice then! However, the back four are simply not solid enough with left footed Chambers at RB when there are better options. The Championship is hugely competitive and anyone can beat anyone. Recently we just have not had the 'run of the ball' which made all the difference before the New Year and that could be about to change. What WE can do is offer our team and MM 100% full support all of the time. That is what COULD make the difference between now and the end of the season.

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AYACCA added 12:33 - Mar 9 I think Micks great. wouldn't want any other manager. He knows what he's doing. been a great season so far.
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karls_dad added 12:34 - Mar 9 If it is true that MM turned and told the fans in the co-op stand to F-ck off! then i am done with the man, regardless of what he has achieved at this club of our,s, No manager should ever do such a thing, totally appalled that he would have said that with kids in the stand! he needs a firm talking to and possibly fining by the FA, Marcus Evans etc and a formal apology made by him over the ground tannoy system! ggrrrr!

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bluefeast added 13:12 - Mar 9 We will be fine , our form over the last 10 has been worse than the rest of the top 6. I doubt that form will be worse over the last 20 games , so the next 10 shapes our season. I suspect Derby are wondering what is going on with their form. We will finish in the top 6 , a play of place i suspect ,then its down to being hard to beat ,and on our day that is us ,keep the faith.MM has done fantastically well.

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Kesgraveblue57 added 13:32 - Mar 9 If what Punch Bowl says and I have no reason not to believe this, MM has to go this is not the type of person to Manage Ipswich Town a supporter pays to go to the game and has the right to boo etc.
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BackTheBlues added 13:32 - Mar 9 Didn't see the Mick "F*** Off" but look at the flip side - how dare anyone question what he is doing? This is the man that has taken us from bottom to top 6 contenders in less than 2 seasons, the man hailed as our saviour... Don't be so fickle, praise when we win criticise when we lose... Everyone has a right to moan bitch and whine - save it until you're out of Portman road!

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PJH added 14:02 - Mar 9 I think using words supporter and boo in the same sentence is a contradiction kesgraveblue57.
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itfc1981 added 14:21 - Mar 9 BackTheBlues I throw that back at you did you take any notice of the criticism of Chambers over Parr at RB debate when we were winning? It no doubt just offends more now. I can remember the rolling weekly debate about the merits/not of changing a winning team its seems we should have done doesn't it to bring back Parr.
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Hoppersblue10 added 14:22 - Mar 9 If someone was to boo a decision does that mean he is anti this person or that & not a supporter...of course it doesn't, it simply means that like the vast majority of town fans on Saturday they thought that was a poor decision, booing a decision does not mean you are booing an individual....maybe we should have sung " we are not booing you MM just the decision you just made"!

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bohslegend added 15:41 - Mar 9 @punchbowl - are you trying to tell us that MM was the only one swearing?? Let me add one: B0LL0CKS! When the dad's of all the poor little ones are calling him a useless t0sser and facking w@nka, and many other descriptions, who do you point the finger at?? Of course, the best manager we've had in ages.
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thebeat added 15:46 - Mar 9 Cant believe i get minusef for pointing out we have been awful for 2 and a half months cus Mick abandoned the attacking 4-3-3 with a balanced back 4. Whats wrong with you people? Its not rocket science, 4-3-3 with round pegs in round holes we were flying in the top 2. 4-4-2 with sometimes 4 players out of position as there was on Saturday and we have lost 6 in 12 and are sat in 7th. Only one person to blame for that, stop burying your heads.

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TimmyH added 16:39 - Mar 9 I remember remarking last season after Town rather limped towards the finishing line after failing to beat Bournemouth at home, losing to Burnley etc. and wondered how our team would cope with the pressure if we were in or had a genuine chance of getting in the play-offs, Well so far we're finding out and the team hasn't reacted particularly well although we have 10 games to go..we need players to stand tall and give everything for the club and even perhaps an owner who might even shock us by giving Mick the all clear for a quality midfield loan although leave it much longer and it will be pointless. Oh and Mick to get a grip and put a couple players in their rightful position. If we miss out on the play-offs I for one will be utterly dismayed...

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blueboy1981 added 18:11 - Mar 9 Like it, or not - he's not called 'Mid Table Mick' for anything less than good reason. I've been hoping all season that he will prove us wrong - and still I'm still hoping !!!!
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blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Mar 9 thebeat ............ there's an element of support that will never bring the head from the sand - whatever.
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blueboy1981 added 18:32 - Mar 9 punch bowl .......... totally agree with you, if the allegations are correct - he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. Maybe that's the kind of attitude that is afforded having earned a cool £million last season, and possibly likewise this season. If so - DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR by someone who should be setting some kind of example at least. I guess, a fan, using such language towards MM, and heard by relevant people, would have been ejected from the ground. Not saying that such words are not spoken within grounds, because they are, but he should have known better than aiming that language at people who pays his wages (indirectly anyway). I just hope he cares - that he has offended an unknown number of people. If he does he should apologise post haste.

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punch_bowl added 19:19 - Mar 9 @bohslegend , its about respect towards the fans, simple!
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warktheline added 19:53 - Mar 9 @blueboy, abit harsh that, good fellow....'mid table mick' ? His cv States otherwise.
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blueboy1981 added 20:26 - Mar 9 warktheline ............. maybe ? - just quoting terminology used by many. Certainly hoping it doesn't prove to be correct this season - although recent results indicate such may just be the case !! Can't argue with your point made tho' in terms of his past - problem being:- the game has changed and moved moved on - but has he ??????? He (and we) may find soon, that being stubborn with not yield good enough returns.

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svendust added 20:55 - Mar 9 I actually thought Sears deserved to be subbed. He was making runs but not as effective on the ball as he has been. Mick certainly didn't deserve the abuse he got for making the change, especially bringing on another striker of proven quality in Chris Wood. If Mick was being abused and sworn at I don't blame him for telling so called fans to f@ck off. Let's just try being positive and grateful for having a decent manager that has made us tough to beat for the first time in donkeys years. A bit of support could make the difference at this crucial point in the season.

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warktheline added 21:02 - Mar 9 @blueboy, many of us hopefully that his stubbornness subsidies, but 'Parr gate' has now taken another twist, due to how well Parr has played in midfield! Can we split the boy into two.... Now that would solve a major headache!
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thebeat added 21:45 - Mar 9 svendust i totally disagree, Sears was giving Brentford kittens at the back with his pace and we were turning tbe screw on them. As soon as he was subbed the Brentford defence pushed 10 yards up the field and just waited for the hoof. It was easy to deal with and was basically giving them an out.
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WorcesterBlue added 23:48 - Mar 9 Good debate as usual (with the usual exceptions!). Basically Mick has done well with limited resources and has made some good signing bearing that in mind. I'm amazed we are where we are and he deserves credit for that. But he is a limited individual and football Manager (though clearly a great man manager) and he'll destroy good players like Sears and Bish. The football he favours is regressive, and though I accept this is just my view, I'd rather not go up playing proper passing football than do it playing scared to lose hoofball. He is from what I've observed quite an arrogant man who has not developed or adapted (unlike Pulis for example) and this is what we're stuck with. Not likely to change so maybe he'll scrape us into the prem and then ME will get us some young hungry progressive manager to spend the money and take us on.

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WorcesterBlue added 23:52 - Mar 9 And his attitude towards fans or anyone that disagrees with him should surprise no one - just ask a Wolves fan. It's 'my way or the highway' with Mick. Great for the building site, not so good for the classroom, if you know what I mean. But it is what it is so let's back the boys. Still hoping :)
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