Town boss Mick McCarthy says taking criticism during difficult spells comes with the territory when you’re a manager and believes that fans of some of his other clubs would have given him a tougher time on Saturday with the Blues having gone four home games without a win.

There were a few boos at the end of the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield and McCarthy was on the end of one or two comments as he made his way to the tunnel, but the Blues boss says that’s to be expected.

“That doesn’t bother me,” he said. “It’s been Super Mick but I’m sure it’s an anagram of something else which sounds similar now.

“That’s what happens. We can’t have it all our own way all the time. From November 1st 2012 it’s sort of been an upward surge and we’ve just having it tough. And it’s not easy when it’s like that.

“But if we let it bother us that much we might as well just pack it in and go home. I understand their frustration, if anybody thinks that I’m enjoying it then they’re much mistaken.

“But the definition of supporters is supporting a team when they’re not doing well, I believe - if you’re giving somebody support.

“I saw Steve McClaren today saying he’s had unbelievable support, Sunday’s was his first win in nine.

“It’s lovely when it’s going well and we’re top of the league and it’s ‘One Mick McCarthy…’, ‘Terry, Terry Connor..’ and the lads are all great, we’re working our socks off to get back to that. So, let’s all stick together. Because we’re definitely better together.”

Saturday saw fans chanting for the introductions of first David McGoldrick and then Kevin Bru. With the Championship fixture programme as busy as ever, a trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday follows tonight’s match, the Town boss says everyone in his squad will get their chance.

“I’ve spoken to the players today, in times gone by I would have pulled them all in [individually] and would have said ‘Listen, it’s not happening today, you’re not playing, but I will change the team’ and I think they might just have to get used to that.

“Because, if they’re all fit, it’s not the case that I’ve just got 12, 13, 14 that I heavily rely on I’ve got better than that this year. I’d like them all fit though, that would be a lot easier.

“I don’t mind them calling for their favourite players but the problem more is that it’s derogatory to the ones who are on the pitch who are breaking their arse to try and play well for the club. And we all know which ones they’re getting at as well.

“I’ve had it throughout my career as a player and as a manager, and certain people get targeted.

“Our fans are great. Let me tell you, being up at Sunderland and Wolves I think I might have been getting a bit more than that on Saturday.

“It’s about being positive towards the players that are on the pitch, that’s what support is because none of them play badly intentionally, and none of them go out and don’t try.

“I think you’ve got to give the support to them and hope that [they play well]. It’s not the X-Factor this, by the way, where we’re all saying we’re going to take number four off or number two off, number one off and me sat there thinking ‘Oh dear, I wonder what I should do!’”

McCarthy has praise for one of the players fans' chants implied should be withdrawn on Saturday, midfielder Jonathan Douglas: “They were all shouting for Kevin Bru at one stage but Dougie had a header over the bar, it would have been a penalty if the ball hadn’t have gone out. I know it’s all ifs, buts and maybes, but he was in the box.

“I think Dougie’s been great, I think he’s had a really good season with us so far, really solid. He’s one that’s come in, we’ve had Bish missing, we’ve had Tabby injured, we’ve had Bru injured for nine or 10 weeks or whatever it is and he’s come in and he’s been great, he’s been really solid.”

The Town boss says he’s not affected by fans calling for him to pick particular players: “Not really. I’ve said before that the temptation is to throw it all up in the air and see what comes down.

“But if you start doing that you’re not really being focused on what you should be doing and being professional and actually understanding what you’re doing.

“They formed a committee to design a horse and that’s where the camel came from, so I’m not interested in what everybody else says. What I would be interested in is TC’s opinion, my own opinion and, of course, [goalkeeper coach] Malcolm Webster and [fitness coach] Andy Liddell’s opinions, my coaching staff. But it’s my decision.

“It’s always the same if you’re getting beat, the best players are on the bench or in the stand, that’s just the way it is.”

Is the current situation the toughest since he’s been at Town? “Yes, because we’ve all talked about having the best squad. I’ve said it myself, better players, more players, so by definition we should be doing better.

“And unfortunately we’re not, but we’re still 10th and we’re five points off second place and we’ve had a really tough time.”

And expectations have inevitably grown since last season’s sixth place and the Blues hitting the top of the table in August.

“Of course they do, but it was us that set that up,” he added. “I said on Saturday, everybody kept asking me if we were going to have a hangover from the summer, well we didn’t.

“Maybe one or two have looked at us and thought that they better pull their fingers out against Ipswich because there’s no hangover there, we’ve got to play well.

“And I think teams have played well against us. I don’t think Huddersfield are any mugs, see where Birmingham are in the league. And I saw Bristol City slap Nottingham Forest on Friday night.

“So there are no mugs in the league and there’s no God-given that we should just win, but what we did on Saturday was that we competed far better than we had.

“And if there were any mixed messages about trying to play a bit more football, a bit more expansively, what we should be doing first is stopping the opposition playing. And after 15 minutes I thought we did that on Saturday.”

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 06:20 - Oct 20 We know none of them play bad intentionally they all give 100% the problem is they are not the best we have in the squad for that particular position and you keep plugging away week after week without rectifying the problems.
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battyblue added 06:26 - Oct 20 Do you mean to tell us Terry Conner doesn't have a say in anything or doesn't offer opinions same goes for goalkeeping coach or have i misread it.
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Penguinblue added 07:04 - Oct 20 It was never super mick from me, I knew your brand of football before you arrived. A lot of IT fans are blindly loyal to you because they think you saved us from relegation. My view is similar to yous mick, when you talk about every other team. We were in a false position (because of the inadequacies of the two previous managers - and those who appointed them). Any half decent manager could have turned it round. A decent manager would build on it.

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Umros added 07:10 - Oct 20 "Everyone in the squad will get a chance"..........in the meantime the points continue to ebb away. Sounds like a Sunday league boys team quote to make sure everyone gets a game!
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commuterblue added 07:12 - Oct 20 i read it as all of them have a say, but of course the final call is the manager'ss. Which is the way it should be.
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WeWereZombies added 07:38 - Oct 20 Having trouble with this anagram MM mentions - U Sick Rump is the best I can work out? I think camels evolved rather than were designed by a committee, and in deserts they have a bit more staying power than a horse. Apart from that, good points, well made
3

dude added 07:41 - Oct 20 Ricky McMatch. I actually know someone called that.
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Len_Brennan added 07:50 - Oct 20 I think bringing in an actual full back to play at right back, bringing Kevin Bru back into midfield where he has been excellent for us & bringing David McGoldrick, our most creative player, into a side that is struggling at 0-0 is a bit more nuanced than to just "throw it all up in the air and see what comes down".
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Cloddyseedbed added 08:11 - Oct 20 The brand of football that had many supporters despairing last season has returned and attendances are starting to decline again and make no mistake they will. Season ticket sales were up this year as many supporters felt better players had been signed and McCarthy had seen the light by hopefully playing more entertaining football to entertain the fans and push us on from last season. The season started brightly and supporters were hopeful. Then a heavy defeat, cracks started to appear and McCarthy returns to his safety zone. One he has shown all his career, a game of negative football and hoping to snatch a result. I for one detest this approach to the game of football and always will, it is dire to watch and will never attract large numbers of fans back. Supporters have the right of an opinion and in the case of the team at present it is a shambles, players out of position, out of form and players wondering how or if they are going to get into the team. The manager says he knows the best team. I question whether he does and I question his selection, tactics and brand of football to forward our club now after his recent comments. We've been stuck in this league for the longest time of any club now and our hope to get out of it needs something special. That ingredient seems a long way off as it's being stifled by by negativity on the pitch, not in the stands!

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essex57 added 08:41 - Oct 20 Batty blue you have Def misread it I suppose in your haste to be critical! !
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NeverTellMeTheOdds added 08:46 - Oct 20 Very patronising from Mick again towards the fans. I will continue to support but patience is being tested at the minute with these sorts of comments!
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Dissboyitfc added 08:47 - Oct 20 everyone thinks DOuglas has been great.... NOT!
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prebbs007 added 08:52 - Oct 20 It's not lack of effort Mick it's lack of quality and playing people out of position and not changing it when it doesn't work. Our back 7 has clearly not worked in last month and a bit but you still pick the same players in the same wrong positions. Chambers tries so hard but is worst full back in league. Smith tries hard but has no right foot and gets mugged down the channel on his right side every game. Gerken tries to save everything but the glue that holds him to his line creates space for forwards behind our slow laborious back 4.... Wake up and see what we all see Mick. Yes they are trying but are they good enough??? Especially when they're in wrong position. I'm sure you will be stubborn and stick to your guns as you will see it as a massive climb down if you listened to the fans and did the right thing. Problem is you will lose the fans support if it doesn't turn round soon. I hope you prove us all wrong and we start winning games but it's not looking likely at the moment. COYB

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TR11BLU added 09:48 - Oct 20 McCarthy Understands Fans' Frustrations So do something about it Make the changes we can all see are needed - like playing people in position. Round pegs in round holes....more likely to work, every time, in every walk of life
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BlueKush added 09:52 - Oct 20 Mick after Blackburn “I keep saying I've got the best squad of players I've had since I've been here, so maybe it's time to look at a few others.” Then we play virtually the same team against Huddersfield! If he's not going to give the other players a chance during this dreadful run, then when are they going to get a chance? Bru and Bialkowski lost their place through no fault of their own - it seems their replacements are undroppable after 1 win in 8 or whatever it is. Conceding almost 2 a game with Gerken in there as well. Tonight Mick's team will be: Gerken Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen Toure, Douglas, Skuse, Niles Never McGoldrick and Sears together, Pitman or Murphy needed as essential targetmen (even though Pitman isn't a targetman) With Fraser out it's time to use the 433 which started our unbeaten run last season (Ipswich's most exciting phase under Mick - with Connor Sammon playing). Bialkowski Parr, Chambers, Berra, Knudsen Bru, Skuse, Douglas Sears, McGoldrick, Murphy

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Razor added 10:07 - Oct 20 Didds and Smurf should start, with Didds just behind Sears and Smurf as he is the only one who can pass a ball over 10 yards. Balls ON THE FLOOR to Freddie so he can use his pace and run on to them (like Muhren to Brazil)---it is not rocket science----oh and Bru to start or would that be just too much!!!
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Carberry added 10:16 - Oct 20 So, the PR man goes to MM and says, ''Mick, these rumblings of discontent are getting pretty loud now, would be helpful if you came out with something about frustration, understanding, we all need to get behind the boys, etc, etc. We 've got to keep selling tickets and Saturday's gate wasn't too clever, would you mind?'' So, instead of these clichés why don't we have some explanation, some honesty, some 'this is what I'm doing and why.' All we're getting is 'he's great, he's done brilliant' and it is wearing thin with a squad that's better and performances that are not. Come on Mick, let's hear what the plan is and then we might have some understanding.

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Carberry added 10:19 - Oct 20 Oh and please don't use that 'I would have got more stick elsewhere' line, which you have done before. It is patronising.
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dugoutdave added 10:25 - Oct 20 Gents: maybe time for a different tactic. If MM hear crowd clamoring to Bru and McGoldrick and "the more they shout probably the less chance they're going to come on,” perhaps p before the games we should be shouting for Gerkin and Douglas. Reverse physiology ..well, you never know
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Lightningboy added 11:25 - Oct 20 I'll never moan or question any player or team that gives 100%,no matter win,lose or draw but sometimes effort will only get you so far,that's when a manager has to change things tactically..it's why the likes of McCarthy,Bruce,Pulis,Allardyce etc only get their teams so far in this game. Ultimately Mick will only be able to take us so far and let's face it,we're no further forward than we were when Magilton was here - and playing far less attractive football.

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Currie10 added 11:59 - Oct 20 " Come on Mick, let's hear what the plan is and then we might have some understanding " You really think that's going to happen? Whether you/ I/ anyone else likes it, Mick rightly leaves all issues internal. Said once before, we wanted wingers, we've got them. What Mick whether we like this or not is unlikely to do, is have a Bru in the middle with two wide men. Maybe with a Tabb/ Ando from last season out wide, not with what we have. Not saying I agree with any of this, but that's plainly Mick's thinking.

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TimmyH added 12:04 - Oct 20 “That's what happens. We can't have it all our own way all the time. From November 1st 2012 it's sort of been an upward surge and we've just having it tough. And it's not easy when it's like that. - No Mick your right there we certainly haven't had it 'our own way all the time' - we've lost as many games as we have won the whole of this year!!! certainly not an upward surge either this year so basically your wrong on both points there. Upward surge from 3 years ago yes but certainly not over the last 10 months!

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cats_whiskers added 12:08 - Oct 20 The midfield needs someone of Jim Magilton's calibre He was the last decent one, and there hasn't been anyone of his quality here since We haven't got anyone who can orchestrate an attack and until we have we'll continually struggle. You only have to see how few goals come from the likes of Bru, Skuse, Douglas, Hyam & Maitland-Niles or even Bishop to see that... A totally abysmal record. 6 players and the total goals don't even reach double figures between the lot of them

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TimmyH added 12:13 - Oct 20 ...and to add “I think Dougie's been great, I think he's had a really good season with us so far, really solid. - Hearing Mick say that is really worrying! - so then Mick where is it going wrong? if McG doesn't start regularly from now on now that Fraser is out I just can't see where the creativity will come from as Douglas seems to be the new Tabby and stuck beside Skuse.

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Chicago_Blue added 12:22 - Oct 20 Twice he mentioned "solid". Typifies the man. "Solid" doesn't win you a game out of nowhere. "Solid" doesn't make that killer pass to unlock a defence. Sometime we need craft and guile.
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