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McCarthy Set to Stick With Back Four Tuesday, 17th Mar 2015 06:00
Town boss Mick McCarthy looks set to stick with his regular back four when Bolton Wanderers visit Portman Road this evening, despite the Blues having kept only one clean sheet since the turn of the year.
McCarthy defended his increasingly under-fire backline and pointed out that he has few alternative defensive options at his disposal at present, aside from 18-year-old centre-half Matt Clarke, who has made one Capital One Cup start - at left-back - and two brief Championship sub appearances in midfield, and Jonny Parr, who has impressed at wide midfield in recent games.
“Am I tempted to change it at the back? I’ll put Matt Clarke in and Jonny Parr, [they’re our other] defenders,” he said.
“Our back four has been almost ever-present and have been brilliant. I don’t think they deserve too much derision from anybody because they’ve been outstanding.
“The two corner kicks [from which Middlesbrough scored] were not down to our back four and that’s what ultimately cost us on Saturday, how we conceded from the two corners.
“It makes us look like chumps, as if we don’t prepare. And of course we do, we’re very thorough in how we deal with corner kicks and it’s not like us.
“We ended up two down and chasing it and then we got caught at the back and suddenly it’s down to the back four. Well, that’s not the case because they’re a big part of the reason we’ve done so well this season.”
McCarthy, who also dismissed the suggestion that he might consider moving to three at the back, says he’s not one to make changes unless he believes they’re really necessary.
“I do [stick by players and give them a run in the team],” he said. “I think when we play as well as we have done that’s important.
“I don’t believe in chopping and changing. I don’t think they know where they stand then.
“I think there’s got to be a good reason in my mind why they don’t play - there might be somebody who’s tired, there might be someone who is carrying an injury.
“There’s all of that. But when they’re fit and firing and they play well, then they deserve to be in my team.”
Those out of the team have to show the right attitude in training: “I insist that they do things in training to impress me, whether they get in the team or not is another matter.
“At a time like this, every other player is better than the ones I’m picking. That’s what people like to tell me.
“When we’re struggling on the pitch, no matter who I’ve picked there are always seven behind me that are better and about three in the stand as well.
“But generally that’s not the case because I’ve a fair insight as to who are the best players and which is the best team and what I need to do.”
Winger Cameron Stewart, who signed a three-year deal when he signed on a free Bosman transfer in the summer, is still to make his league debut for the Blues - although he did make two sub appearances in the FA Cup ties against Southampton - while Alex Henshall, another summer recruit, made the most recent of his four sub appearances back in September.
“You’ve got to earn a place," McCarthy continued. "I signed Alex Henshall and Cameron Stewart to compete with the Tabby and Hunty and Paul Anderson and, you know me by now, if they’d done enough to compete and be better than them, do you think they would have played? So quite clearly they haven’t. And that’s the way it is.”
Bartosz Bialkowski will start in goal with Dean Gerken not being risked having been knocked unconscious at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Gerken was back at Playford Road yesterday and is OK but won’t be involved so soon after suffering a concussion. Paddy Kenny will be on the bench.
Skipper Luke Chambers is again set to be at right-back with Tyrone Mings on the left and Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith at the heart of the defence.
In midfield, Cole Skuse will probably keep his regular holding role, but McCarthy may look to freshen things up elsewhere with the Blues quickly in action again at Watford on Saturday.
Youngster Teddy Bishop may drop out in favour of Kevin Bru, while Stephen Hunt could be a candidate to come into the side for Jay Tabb on the left if McCarthy opts to rest him. Paul Anderson and Richard Chaplow are alternatives to Parr on the right.
Up front, 23-goal Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy will again start alongside Freddie Sears with David McGoldrick not yet ready to return from his thigh problem. The Ireland international could be involved at Vicarage Road, however.
Bolton have endured a tough season but have climbed to 16th and are now 10 points off the relegation zone and McCarthy isn’t expecting an easy evening: “Not at all, or against Watford or Bournemouth or Huddersfield or Wolverhampton or anybody else that we’ve got to play.
“We’ve just got to knuckle down and make sure we do our best and try and win a game on Tuesday. It has a different outlook if we win on Tuesday.”
The Blues manager has been impressed with the job Neil Lennon has done since taking over at the Macron Stadium in October: “I think he’s had a great impact from going in. I think you generally change manager at a club because it’s not going right for whatever reason.
“You need an instant impact, especially where they were and that’s what they got. Since then they’ve had a bit of an up and down time.
“He’s had to take a lot of players in on loan because of injuries and what have you. He’s had a really good impact.
"They had a good result on Saturday [a 1-0 home win] against Millwall, so they’re coming here on the back of a victory.”
McCarthy says the Blues will have to be wary of striker Adam Le Fondre, who has already netted five goals in nine starts and one sub appearance since joining on loan at the end of January.
“He’s a good player, isn’t he?” the Town boss continued. “When he signed for Reading he was a good player. He signed for Cardiff for a chunk of money, so I’m told, and now Bolton have taken him on loan.
“I thought that was an amazing loan signing. I thought that was a great loan signing for them and he’s a player that I’ve always admired and respected. He’s a proper goalscorer. And he’s one who is a real threat and we’ll have to watch.”
Bolton are likely to be without on-loan Manchester United midfielder Saidy Janko, who has a glute problem, while former Colchester man Neil Danns is suspended having amassed 10 bookings this season.
Defender Dorian Dervite is back from a knee injury, but midfielder Mark Davies is not yet ready to return from his knee problem.
Definitely ruled out are full-backs Kevin McNaughton and Marc Tierney (both leg), midfielder Darren Pratley, central defender David Wheater (both hamstring), frontman Max Clayton (knee) and highly-rated young striker Zach Clough (shoulder).
Historically, the Blues just have the edge, having won 16 times (14 in the league), Bolton 13 (nine) and with nine (eight) games between the teams ending in draws. Town are unbeaten in their last five games against the Trotters.
Bolton have won only two of their last seven matches and have lost 13 - a total equalled only by bottom-of-the-table Blackpool - of their 18 away games this season, winning only two, most recently at Sheffield Wednesday on January 17th.
In December, Town dropped to fourth as the teams drew 0-0 at the Macron Stadium. After an evenly balanced first half in which the home side had the better opportunities, the Blues were on top for much of the second period with Jay Tabb twice going close to breaking the deadlock.
The teams last met at Portman Road in February last year when David McGoldrick’s 55th minute penalty saw Town to a 1-0 victory.
The striker had been hauled back by Trotters’ keeper Andy Lonergan after he had dropped a high ball.
Former Blue Liam Trotter joined Bolton from Millwall in January 2014, initially on loan before the switch was made permanent the following summer, while ex-Town loanee Keith Andrews, 34, is still a Bolton employee but is on loan with the MK Dons.
Blues keeper Paddy Kenny was on a short-term contract with the Lancastrians between September and January but failed to make a senior appearance.
Following the game there will be roadworks on the A14, while Grafton Way will be closed from 11pm for resurfacing work, which will also affect the Novotel and the Punch and Judy roundabout.
Tonight’s referee is Fred Graham from Stanford-le-Hope in Essex, who has shown 36 yellow cards and no red in 13 games so far this season.
Graham’s most recent Town match was the 4-2 win at Brentford on Boxing Day when he booked two home players and Noel Hunt.
as above ...plus . Mings lost his man for first and didnt react quick enough for second rebound - so not sure on that front Maybe a question along the lines of - Do you think teams target our right hand side knowing we have a CB at RB and a LCB at RCB - discuss MUST WIN TONIGHT and then on to our , errrr 'Happy hunting ground - Not ' Would love to beat those Hornets - Every game a Cup final now boys !
Really Mick..... How STUBBORN do you want to be..... back four have played well ??? are you watching different games to the rest of us ? Our defence has been shocking since turn of year yet you stick with them, yes you may have few options, but the clear one is to get rid of the unbalanced set up, play our best right sided centre half in his position, play our best full back in his position, play our best central midfielder in his position, play to our strenghts.... oh no lets play chambers out of position lets play smith out of position lets play Bish out of position lets play Parr out of positio position (he has done great but is still our best full back) lets play Tabb out of position...... Mick you are either crazy or stupid to think what you keep doing every game is right, our results are worse than Wigan in last 12 games, if you stick with this we have no chance of top six !!!!
Sad thing is that a home win against an ordinary side like Bolton will bring the happy clappy brigade out in droves giving it all the in mick we trust rubbish but it will be just papering over the cracks. Most importantly will we see decent football or more dour rubbish that relies too much on hoofing the ball direct to Murphy.
People keep banging on about Stewart. Have you seen him play? Did you not read what McCarthy said? He ain't been good enough to get into the team!
And it was this same back-line which kept six clean sheets out of ten in November and December. Are you suggesting that they have suddenly become rubbish? Or might it be a problem, instead, with our injury-hit midfield (Hyam, S Hunt, Ambrose, McGoldrick all out, Bishop and Skuse also have been) unable to keep hold of the ball and get it forward?
Funny aint it come out the other day and said they were knackered but 3 days later same back four and my guess is an even mire tired back four come Watford, well done mick
St Ledger has made an excellent start in the States. Forced himself into the starting 11 at Orlando and in the last 2 games the opposition have only had 1 shot on goal. As solid defending as you are likely to see. He's also forced his way back into the Rep of Ireland side. MM has made some excellent decisions but letting St Ledger go so easily was a bad mistake.
Our back 4 is a big weakness at the moment and Le Fondre et al will exploit that. Berra is doing well, but the others (particularly Mings and Smith) are low in confidence and really shaky. This game gives us a route back into the top 6. It's a big risk playing players so exhausted and so low in confidence. Smith and Mings clearly need a rest.
Guthrum - I do agree we have missed some key midfielders at times this season and having such an average bunch in that key part of the team has resulted in the back 4 being tested and stretched - It has def caught up with us and I whilst we did well first part of season , second time around teams are working us out - Stretch the right hand side - Tonight I am sure Feeney or whoever will have a dart at it If we see it , I am sure oppo managers see it .Mick knows it - but he aint gonna recognise it in public I am still in the camp - we are still in this hunt so lets keep willing us on and if we get in Play offs great !!! From a league position point of view we have progressed Footballing persepective ? that was probably not his remit from ME - just get us up - is his goal - In Bishop , Mings , Parr , Sears , Mcg , Bru - we have some good footballers who can use the ball - I would like to see Connolly get a run out . 3 points tonight and then THE BIG ONE
Ok...not expecting that. A big risk by MM. He's shown real faith in under performing players and whilst most managers would make changes Mick has decided to stick to his guns. Maybe that's what makes him so different.
Assume that Tabb, Skuse, Anderson etc will play too.
Huge risk. Don't know of any other team in the championship whose back 4 has clocked up as many minutes as ours has. Lets hope ; ipswich 5-0 Bolton (hatrick from Tabb and brace from Smith).
Just for interest's sake, been reading a poll about whether Mick should have been sacked as Wolves boss, with some interesting comments underneath. Samples - "Absolutely yes. A good League One or Championship manager but too 'old age' for the Premiership", "I like his style and his bluntness but I do have my doubts though about his ability to instill solid commitment in the players. Wolves have been so up and down, sometimes inspired and sometimes crap," "He seemed to have exhausted his repetoire of tactics and strategy", "consistently produced teams whose most significant quality is the ability to run around lots. Aside from that, could anyone really say what characterises a 'Mick McCarthy' team? Defensively Wolves are a shambles, yet it's not like they try to attack like Blackpool, Swansea, Norwich or even Wigan. What are they? What is McCarthy's footballing manifesto?".
In short, it seems like some things don't change.
Just for balance, I don't think there was really anyone who thought someone else could do a better job, or who wasn't grateful for what Mick had achieved at Wolves. Plus, we all know what happened when he went. Be careful what you wish for.
As for us, I think Mick is being boneheaded and I don't think we'll progress further than where we are except by luck. If he doesn't think his team and formation need to change then he'd have to be stupid, which he isn't, so there must be something more too it than that. Doesn't mean I want him gone, or that I'm not grateful to him, but he deserves some criticism.
Must agree with most posts on here,our defence is letting us down big time at the moment.There has to be changes,Mick is playing square pegs in round holes and it really show.If we can see it why can't Mick,That's what I don't understand.We have missed Hyam,and it shows as well as McG.Personally I would like to see 4.3.3. Tonight,just go for it.We need to win.COYB. ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
Perhaps MM. is playing mind games with Lennon, letting him think that it will be the same back four,, then change the team at 7pm. to fool him and us ?? (I think not) !! Mr. Stubborn does not play mind games, just remembered. By the way MM. you keep saying forwards should defend Well do you ever see Messi defending, ???? just a thought.
No ambition, no clean sheet, no points, no play offs. Sorry MM I was your biggest fan but your a stubborn old bastard and out of touch now. Say goodbye in the summer
Brittania - Messi and his pals at Barcelona were one of the best teams without the ball - They just pressed from the front and gave teams no time ! Actually we WERE doing that - and that is a hallmark of an MM team , to me that has been missing of late Oh and Messi plays in front of a 'fairly decent' midfield !
Bamford embarrassed Tommy Smith on Saturday, and if that doesn't tell Mick he needs a break then nothing will I rate him and I think if he was given a break in January like a lot of people thought he needed, he'd already be back in the team by now and playing at his best!!!
Please let's go for it! Give Wood a chance to see what he's got before McGoldrick is back, give Smith a break, and give 2 more talented midfielders Bru + Bishop the chance to prove they can work as hard as Tabb.
So 3 Pronged attack tonight against Bolton - all out football and goals goals goals........let's hope so tonight but I doubt it. He has bottled it and knows it. He is responsible for letting the season slip away by bad and outdated tactics. Not a shadow on the great Burley attack-minded squad of 2000 which went on the attack...wonderful soccer and it shows what you can do when you play skilful and enterprising stuff.
It really is getting depressing reading twtd comments. I haven't been totally happy with the results, but I wont be fickle enough to call for mm head, we will finish 8th or higher. I think 5/6th will be where we finish. Forget about what's happened during the season, anything above last seasons 9th place IS improvement, we WILL get more points than last season. Mick wants players to give 110% has everyone screaming for Stewart though maybe he doesn't commit himself well in training. We need a better midfield imo, back four is as good as we've got personnel wise, would parr make a better right back being a left back, I doubt it, I personally hate seeing a player running a wing then have to do a 180 degree turn to play the ball. Imo the back four "hoof" the ball as neither skuse/hyam/bru ask for the ball and play that defence unlocking ball, they 99% play it back to the defence. I think mick would love to go out and spend money on an attacking creative cm player but rightly or wrongly we are sticking to ffp and unless I'm mistaken are the losses allowed reduced again next season? Meaning town need to make more "cuts" having just scrapped in this season.
Can't imagine us scoring many goals. Amos has only let in 3 goals in the last 5 games. Their defence is in pretty good shape and they have a player (who not so long ago) was playing at Man Utd.
If we win, we need a rock solid defence and look to sneak it 1-0.
I for one don't believe a word the guy says. I understand coming out and backing your team and not slating them after a bad performance etc, but for a supposed 'straight talking' man, I don't half hear a lot of BS from MM. I think his reputation is what people see and hear, and ignore what he actually says. So and so had a good game, then gets dropped, so and so isn't a winger, then plays on the wing, the back four weren't to blame, the reality was that the defenders didn't mark the attackers adequately. I'll be amazed if it is a different back four because he will have admitted he needed to change, not because of what he has said.
On another subject entirely, how come we are allowed to play Kenny as a sub? I thought he was on-loan from Bolton? He's still contracted with them...right? (Or have we actually signed him??)
rickw - thats the exact team he should select !!!! i reckon william hill will offer you 50-1 at least on it happening.... Mr stubborn will go 4-4-2 with wrong players in wrong positions and tell us what a good side Bolton are with good players and a good manager and what a good point it was for us !!!!
We signed Kenny until the end of the season with a possibility of further extension.
We deserve everything we get tonight. We simply are not good enough, and we are not going to hoof our way to the Premiership. I want us to do well, yes, but like others have said on here this is a very different team to Burleys heroes.
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