McCarthy: A Huge Win
Saturday, 26th Nov 2016 18:33

Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed what he felt was a huge win after the Blues defeated QPR 3-0 at Portman Road.

“It was a huge win!” the Town boss responded when it was suggested that it could have been a huge win in terms of the number of goals.

“The irony is that poor old Alex Smithies cost them the second, which probably enabled us to win the game as comprehensively as we did, but then he’s kept it from being what could have been an embarrassing scoreline.

“It would have been nice revenge that on Ollie because he slapped me by 5-0 at Crystal Palace in my second game. I’ll take three though, not that I hold a grudge at all, or remember! He’s a really good pal of mine, Ollie.”

McCarthy had praise for second goalscorer Luke Varney, making the first start of his current spell with the Blues, for a display which he believed typified the performance, even if he guessed supporters might not all have been happy to see the 34-year-old in his starting line-up.

“He was fab today,” he said. “I bet people weren’t thinking that when they saw the teamsheet.

“I don’t think there was anything wrong with the performance [last week against Forest], we just gave two goals away. There’s a difference.

“Were we abject? Did we run hard against Forest? Yes. Did we have loads of crosses? Yes. Nothing dropped for us in that game, it was one of those games where we gave two poor, poor goals away and it cost us.

“I didn’t think the performance was that bad, but when you lose at home, that’s what everybody thinks.

“We’ve not been bristling with confidence here and I know exactly what I’m going to get out of Reg Varney, I know exactly what I’m going to get out of Chambo, I know exactly what I’m going to get out of Dougie.

“I thought if they played 3-5-2 I’d need a more substantial, tougher midfield with Dougie and I knew that’s just what I’d get and they’d handle the three in there. Bish wouldn’t with them, none of the others would, Kevin Bru, it just doesn’t happen.

“Dougie and Skusey are a real good force playing at that. Yes, we might lose a bit of that sexiness but who gives a f–, I want to win and I get sick of that.

“We played well today, we’ve had to play well and we’ve had to defend. I thought Reg epitomised everything I would want about a team of mine.”

McCarthy bristled when it was suggested there might have been an element of fortune about the Blues’ goals.

“It’s funny when we’ve scored three goals you say there’s an element of fortune,” he said. “You never mentioned it last week to me about their element of good fortune. It’s bullshit really, it’s complete double standards that.

“It’s a bit like when all of my players are injured and nobody mentions it, but if I’m going up to play Blackburn and they’ve got five strikers missing, you’d be saying, ‘They’ve got strikers missing, they’re not doing very well’.

“But, hey ho. If they were three lucky goals, I’m delighted. It’s about time we had a bit of luck because if we hadn’t have had bad luck this year we’d have had none so far - disallowed goal at Wolves, disallowed goal against Norwich, penalties at Reading, injuries to David McGoldrick, blahdy, blahdy, blah. I can mention them now we’ve won. It doesn’t seem like a moan, does it?”

McCarthy admitted the Blues needed a performance for fans, who had shown their frustrations after the previous two games.

“Of course we did,” he added. “The fans don’t come to see us play badly and lose. And I felt sorry for them. I hardly felt great myself going home after Rotherham and Nottingham Forest.

“If anybody thinks I enjoy that they’re much mistaken, I go home and have a rotten weekend.

“Well, I’m going home for a good weekend and I hope everybody who has seen us play thinks, ‘Fair dos’. Ipswich can be a happier place this week than it has been.”

McCarthy was pleased with Tom Lawrence, who scored his second goal for the Blues and whose set pieces were a threat.

“They are. He’s good, I’m delighted with him,” McCarthy continued. “He’s a good player. Tom.

“I remember him playing against us for Yeovil when we beat them 1-0 down there. I think we’d been to Middlesbrough on the Saturday or one of those bonkers trips that we had.

“I’d seen him before but he was outstanding that night against us, really played well. And I’ve tried to sign him on a number of occasions since and it’s not happened. I’m really pleased that he’s here because he’s a really good player.

The Blues boss was also happy with Cole Skuse's display with the midfielder's shot leading to Lawrence’s goal and who had what would have been a rare goal of his own ruled out.

“We got the second because he took his shot on,” McCarthy added. “He didn’t play it wide or chip it in the box, he took a shot and it’s hit somebody and it bounced in the box and Tom scored.

“Skusey’s been different class, I thought it was a really good performance by him today, at both ends of the pitch.”

QPR boss Ian Holloway defended his keeper Smithies, despite his error on the game's decisive goal.

“It was bizarre. It should have been a lot closer than that," he said.

“The second goal was an absolute calamity. The ball spins off the goalie’s head and there’s no one there to help him.

“After that, wow, awful. People who are uneducated are going to blame my goalie — but I don’t.

“I’ll blame everyone else bar him because by the end it could have been 5-0 but for him.”

Photo: TWTD

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Daz added 20:48 - Nov 26 Bobwya. 4 years ago he wasn't so arrogant towards fans
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Norwichbeater added 20:52 - Nov 26

Bobwya, over the top with what. My comments are always balanced, win or lose. The same today. I travel to each game with my 10 year old and six year old son. Are you Elto and Cromwellblue attending regularly? We have been told that premier status is ME and MM target. We are not anywhere near that objective. Please enlighten me and tell me how this will happen under the current regime? Constructive comments please, I deal with fact not snide comments.

Daz added 20:52 - Nov 26 Glad to get a win today no matter how we got it. Shame mick will use it to justify
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ArnieM added 21:08 - Nov 26 If we played like that every game. Top 6 no probs! WELL PLAYED LADS- KEEP IT UP PLEASE!
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Norwichbeater added 21:17 - Nov 26 Bobwya. 4 years ago he could be admired for his straight talking. Now he is talking bullsxxt. Where the hell are we going now with him and ME at the helm for goodness sake we must be the most dire club in the championship....... but I still go with my kids.... do you??.........
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Norwichbeater added 21:20 - Nov 26 I am getting pulled into troll land tonight I apologise!! Lol. However as earlier stated good result and perfomance tonight. So well done this evening to MM and the team.
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Swn98 added 21:25 - Nov 26 Norwich beater he says it as he sees it unfortunately because you and others don't agree with what he sees and says you label it arrogant.
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grumpyoldman added 21:34 - Nov 26 Here we go again, name calling because people disagree with others opinions. Norwich supporters at present have enough to worry about without wasting time posting on here. Before posting please engage brain it could help you not to look childish and silly
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kevinocallaghan added 21:38 - Nov 26

Credit to those who show commitment and go to games through good and bad. Unfortunately doesn't make your opinion carry more weight.
We're certainly not the most dire club in the championship, teams like Wolves , cardiff, Brentford, QPR, all below us currently on massively bigger budgets.
We''ve obviously missed having a fit striker of late.
Pitman and Best coming back is encouraging bit I teckon if we can stay within 6 points of playoffs until January, a couple of signings then and we have every chance.
Mick hasn't changed his methods from 4 years ago . Just the players at his disposal haven't always been up to full fitness or form . Didz, williams , Bishop, Best etc.
And no, I'm not a Norwich supporter in disguise , don't reckon Cromwellblue is either !

blueboy1981 added 21:54 - Nov 26 ....... always an element who will attend whatever - and accept whatever. Some of us expect more, have every right to do so - and have some AMBITION still, for our once proud Club
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Carberry added 21:54 - Nov 26

It doesn't change anything does it. We've had some luck and won but he still chose a team that we just can't go forward with. Everyone has had their four penneth about the midfield but will someone explain how we can start up front with a player who we hung on to so he could recover from injury and find another club. I admire Varney for what he has achieved in getting fit again but he is not the future, he's the past. We're going backwards and McCarthy just loves it for all the wrong reasons.

KillarneyBlue added 22:10 - Nov 26 Mick in
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cromwellblue added 22:11 - Nov 26

Norwichbeater, calling people trolls is not exactly balanced. If you'd care to read my comment again my issue is you think you have a right to say what you like then behave like a baby when people respond. MM has every right to respond when asked about the criticism is aimed at him.

I don't see where my comment is pro or against MM, just to those who are keen to give it but can't take it

Blueboy81, you are showing the same arrogance as you allege at MM, we all want it better than it is. If you don't like it then stop attending. It's your free choice. Get some humility an accept not everyone agrees with you.

FYI - My season ticket is 25 years old and keeping it or not is my choice

No doubt you both will head for the down arrow to prove my point

Norwichbeater added 22:12 - Nov 26 spawn98 I am not arrogant your response is. I really get pixxed off with people like you and your silly friends able to have an opinion on here without attending games. I can even picture what you are like. All the MM comments supporters on here tonight be honest. Do you go to games?
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kevinocallaghan added 22:21 - Nov 26 Norwichbeater , You're starting to sound like Donald Trump . We can't all go to games due to where we live , but we Love this club as much as you do . If an opinion differs to yours please try to accept we're all entitled to one. No offence intended.
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Norwichbeater added 22:21 - Nov 26

I support my team, however I have a happy life and will crack on whatever. I will carry on going whatever. You guys whom I will never agree with can keep your opinions and I will keep mine. However we should all be hoping for the same outcome. Ipswich coming out of this mess and being a proper premiership club with solid support and genuine ambitions. Whatever our opinions of how that will be achieved is probably not important. Let's just hope it happens soon. We should all be hoping for the same as Ipswich supporters. Just saying!

Norwichbeater added 22:25 - Nov 26 By the way. Why the name kevinocallaghan? I loved watching him on the wing in the eighties. He never got the recognition he deserved?
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kevinocallaghan added 22:36 - Nov 26 I fully agree . Always thought he had a touch of class about him , He played for Ireland , where I'm from , and he was in escape to victory. I'm probably just being nostalgic. Could've been Mich D'avray just as easily . TWTD !
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Norwichbeater added 22:48 - Nov 26 Nice to agree on something. A good end to a good day ðŸ˜€
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GiveusaWave added 23:00 - Nov 26 Excellent result and like I said on the other post...we are only THREE points behind Norwich.
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kevinocallaghan added 23:06 - Nov 26 Yep , 3 points on the board at least . On to Bristol next week . Would hope we're capable. All the best .
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Carberry added 23:14 - Nov 26 Kevinocallaghan, apologies marked you down earlier by mistake.
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itfchorry added 23:18 - Nov 26 Plaster over a very major wound - Most of us here today no fooled by that performance - Bought the Dino another 3 games - Normal service will soon be restored - McCarthy / Evans OUT
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