McCarthy: Play-Offs Would Be a Bigger Achievement This Year
Tuesday, 8th Mar 2016 06:00 Town boss Mick McCarthy believes the Blues making the play-offs this season would be a greater achievement than reaching them last year given the way that 2015/16 has progressed.
“Where we’ve been and how we’ve fluctuated in terms of results and performances at times, it will be now because we’re out of them [in ninth] and there are some good teams who have spent a few quid around us as well,” he said.
“There are also a few teams who have spent a few quid a lot lower than us.
“If you consider some of the deals that Sheffield Wednesday have done, Middlesbrough have done, Derby have done, Burnley have done, Hull have done, Cardiff still with their Premier League money, I think we’ve really scrapped it out and given a good account of ourselves. But I still want to get in the top six, that’s our aim, of course.”
The Blues are perhaps viewed as underdogs in the promotion race, but that doesn’t concern their manager.
“Do I like the underdog tag? It’s been nailed on my forehead all throughout my career!” he said. “I’m not trying to shed it, I’m not trying to promote it, it doesn’t worry me at all.
“Whatever tag somebody wants to label me with, so be it. I don’t change from week to week because we’ve won one and lost one and suddenly become something different. I am consistent in how I approach it and we’re still being competitive.”
Does he feel he receives the credit he deserves for his achievements in the game? “It doesn’t worry me whether people give me credit or not. They’ll say to me about my playing career. I had a great playing career in my head.
“We’ve been talking about Andre Dozzell. I was 16 and I was thinking, I’ll get in the Barnsley team and hopefully I’ll do well and I’ll go somewhere else.
“I got in the Barnsley team and I had 272 league games, ended up playing 500 league games, won promotion a number of times, the cup and the league in Scotland with Celtic, I played in the European Championship and a World Cup finals for Ireland. I captained them in the quarter-final of the World Cup.
“That was my career. I remember two kids who were at Arsenal, they were just young boys, and they said ‘Did you play football? What did you do?’. So I told them and they were like that with their gobs open.
“It’s what I think about what I’ve done, not what anybody else thinks. I’ve been sat here and been asked ‘Do you worry about being labelled a good Championship manager?’. Do I hell! Ten months is the average tenure. I’ve been here nearly four years. My shortest job has been three years anywhere.
“If I’ve been one of the top 20 or 30 managers for the last 20 years, why should I worry? I don’t worry what anybody thinks. I get on, I look after my family and, do you know what else, I don’t half enjoy it, it’s great.”
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hoppy added 06:23 - Mar 8
Is it just me, or does Mick mention other teams 'spending quite a few quid' quite a bit for someone that says he's happy with his squad during a transfer window, without spending much himself, almost like an excuse... Or is he backing up his comments that he didn't need to spend to compete with those others? |  | |
essex57 added 08:06 - Mar 8
Pragmatic Mick as ever great. |  | |
commuterblue added 08:36 - Mar 8
Does anyone know when was the last time we ended a season with more points away than at home? We are currently dead even after 17 games each |  | |
theipswichman added 09:07 - Mar 8
With our home vs away games left I can't see us picking up more on the road. |  | |
Kesgraveblue57 added 09:29 - Mar 8
It just isn't going to happen play-offs |  | |
MedwayTractor added 09:35 - Mar 8
commuterblue: We've never finished a season with a higher away points total. We would have done in 1962/63, but for a win being 2 points then - 5 home wins, 8 home draws = 18 points, 7 away wins, 3 away draws = 17 points, total 35 points. Three points for a win would make this 23 points at home, 24 points away. |  | |
Dalty added 10:15 - Mar 8
Great stat, MedwayTractor. |  | |
Tractorboy1985 added 10:25 - Mar 8
@penguinblue at least spell the managers name right if you want him out! Tool! When will people realise that mick has had his hands tied from day 1! Of course he would love to go out and spend 3-4-5 million I on a player but the truth is he has not got it! The 2 previous managers blew all that! In my opinion mick is the success of his downfall.. He's come in.. Saved us from certain relegation.. Taken us to the playoffs with let's be honest such an average squad and now fans think we have the right just to achieve top 6! In my opinion we are doing as well as we possibly can.. Yes the football is dire but currently we are just about holding our own against clubs who have spent millions! What would we rather.. A Steve McClaren who tries to play the perfect game?? Look where that gets you! | | |
jert16 added 11:23 - Mar 8
Suuuuper Mick Mcarthey!! |  | |
positivity added 11:43 - Mar 8
commuterblue, we won more games away than at home in 08/09 (magilton & keane), but had equal points. similarly to this time, that followed a very strong year at home (2007/08 52 points home, 17 points away) | | |
bobble added 12:14 - Mar 8
I also had a successfull career and retired at 40, but I didnt get to sack the dark lord..... What a shame... |  | |
Surco72 added 12:21 - Mar 8
Tractorboy 85... you cannot keep blaming the previous managers for lack of spending due to what they spent 4-6 years ago ! , the club have openly said on many occasions that money is available for transfer fees but MM has decided not to spend money for whatever reason but that is his choice , maybe he has not got the 10s of millions like other clubs have spent but he has money but has repeatedly said that he cannot better his squad ?
As for saved us from definite relegation when we were only 13 games into a season is a broad claim , seeing as one of the major reasons we had a turn around in fortune was Campbell coming in and his goals which was a Jewell signing ? And that squad is still MMs best points per game period as Ipswich manager .
Leicester haven't spent anywhere near their rivals but play a fast wide positive attacking game style due to the thinking of their manager |  | |
howdonblue added 12:54 - Mar 8
What a great job you have done mick.
Keep up superb work
In mick I trust
Just wish the board would get their heads out of their backsides
With the ffp and back the man ! |  | |
muccletonjoe added 13:06 - Mar 8
Yes it would be a better achievement this year in view of the injuries we have had and the lack of finance given to the team |  | |
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