McCarthy Hails Excellent Performance and Dozzell Masterclass
Friday, 30th Dec 2016 23:02 Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed an excellent team performance as well as sub Andre Dozzell’s excellent display as a sub following the Blues’ 2-1 home victory over Bristol City. Brett Pitman’s brilliant 86th minute overhead kick beat the Jersey-born frontman’s former side.
“I thought it was an excellent team performance, the only mark on it was the goal we gave away,” McCarthy said.
“We seem to get punished for every mistake we make at the moment, but I thought it was a terrific performance.”
He added: “I said on Thursday that we had to get back to our identity which is being hard to play against and certainly being more forceful, and that was definitely the case.
“And it was a gutsy performance bearing in mind we conceded the goal and the way we conceded it and to continue and get the win, I think it shows the team spirit amongst them.”
McCarthy was delighted with both the goals: “Kevin Bru, he should score more goals, he’s a quality player.
“And the winner is terrific. Brett is a finisher, a goalscorer. It’s sod’s law, isn’t it, scoring against your old team, it happens to me, it’s usually the opposite way around.”
But the Blues manager saved most of his praise for 17-year-old Dozzell, who put in his most impressive performance for the first team so far having come off the bench in the 72nd minute.
“Andre Dozzell came on and gave a masterclass, he had his laser working tonight, didn’t he?,” McCarthy enthused.
“The first question I’ll get asked is ‘Why don’t you play him from the start?’. Because it’s all turgid and horrible and he gets smashed around and he has to chase back, but when it opens up [as it did in tonight’s game] you can see his wonderful passing range.
“Some of his passes were just sublime. We know we’ve got a player, it’s just the games he can play in. And he’s playing in a three, not in a two, he was good.”
Reflecting further on the game, he continued: “I thought they’d play 4-4-2 and we were back at what we’re good at, stopping the opposition playing and then playing when we’ve got it, unashamedly.
“We haven’t been doing it. I think teams have enjoyed playing against us recently. In the past we were always the hardest team to play against.
“Pits would tell us that when we played Bournemouth they hated playing against us. We’ve got to get back to that and I think we did this evening.”
With the last few games having ended with boos from the home support, McCarthy was pleased that cheers greeted tonight’s final whistle.
“Only we can turn that around,” he added. “I walked out and I got some lovely support walking up the track. I also got some boos as well and some jeers, but I understand that, they want to see the team win.
“I talked about the reasons why that is the other day. And only we can turn it around and get it to cheers and support.
“And we did this evening, I thought it was a good performance. I think the fans appreciated it. And thank goodness they’ve seen a win from the last game of 2016.”
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson admitted that the Blues deserved the three points: “It was a fair result. The Championship is a tough league and the finish deserved the three points.
“We changed it at half-time to try and get a foothold in the game as I didn’t think it looked like we were going to score in the first half.
“We now have to dust ourselves down and go again. We are not a bad side, we are just lacking a little bit of confidence.
“Every defeat, except Brighton, has been by just one goal, but we now need to tip that into our favour. I think we now need to tweak our personnel a little in January.”
Regarding his former team-mate Pitman’s goal, he added: “He’s a good guy, a good lad, but obviously I’m not his friend when we’re playing football.
“It was a great finish, but Brett Pitman’s been doing that in the Championship for a long time now.”
Photo: TWTD
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therein61 added 07:11 - Dec 31
A very welcome 3 points now for heavens sake build on it instead of the usual inconsistent form. |  | |
rendoblue added 07:14 - Dec 31
For a change this makes some sense mick. A better performance all round. Bru should score more he's a quality player though?? Any reason then he's been on the bench the last month behind the wonderful Douglas?
Kenlock ahead of Knudsen, 4-4-2 at home, Douglas left out, 2 strikers from the start, 2 good out and out wingers, dozzel to impact from the bench...... If only you'd listened to us in October. |  | |
warkthelint added 07:54 - Dec 31
Emmanuel in at right back - Kenlock in place of Knudsen - thrusting attacking midfiield with no deadwood - Sears played in his natural attacking role - emphasis placed on attacking, going for a win mentality - out of from players...out - Allowing players to express themselves - Humility from the manager - Change of manager NOW | | |
howdonblue added 08:27 - Dec 31
Agree totally whoisjimmyjuan |  | |
grubbyoik added 08:28 - Dec 31
I want Ipswich to win.. I also want us to play progressive football which can only happen under different management..
Mcarthy teams are usually hard to beat but aren't very creative or clever when trying to win.. | | |
muccletonjoe added 08:45 - Dec 31
Must be a bit of a pain when you cant even bring yourself to celebrate a victory without having to moan. Never mind i am sure there will be something else for you to moan about very soon. Chins up. |  | |
DurhamTownFan added 08:52 - Dec 31
So Dozzell can never play from the start?
Let's ask why the ugly scrappy nature of games doesn't suit him from the off... does it have something to do with your instructions to 'toughen up and battle it out' more..?
FFS-nothing changes for me. MM oooooout please! He'll stay and he might nick us into the top six one year in four, but is it worth it to have to watch his football which frankly disgusts me? It's everything I tell me Sunday league side not to be! |  | |
jas0999 added 08:53 - Dec 31
Of course any win is good, but Bristol are not a good side, neither are outer next two league opponents. The question is whether we can press on and whether MM has learnt that the likes of Douglas/Varney - although great guys who have had good careers - are now very much past it and not the future of ITFC. | | |
warkthelint added 08:55 - Dec 31
Come on guys...we can look forward to a long cup run now.... hold on, a sec....mccarthy is our manager and cup wins or decent cup formations are not part of his makeup...oh dear..even this small pleasure will be denied or will he surprise us.Don't hold your breath as I'm sure he will revert to type | | |
marco007 added 08:58 - Dec 31
A better performance but we need plenty more like that to counter balance the rubbish we have watched for most of the season.
My only negative is how poor Chambers is. Did you see how easily their winger skipped past him to set up the goal?? Unless we double up defensively a one on one with Luke scares the life out of me !! | | |
lightingblue added 09:01 - Dec 31
Good result, and only a couple of points away from Norwich. I agree dozzell should be more involved, but only with restricted minutes at present for the time being due to his young age. In regards to a forward is Conner wickham injured. A bit hopeful I guess to try and re-sign and get him scoring more super pals I.e against Sheffield Utd. May I wish everybody here and whoever is reading this at he club a good new year | | |
Bubsy added 09:12 - Dec 31
Well done Mick and the boys, full credit to you for a hard fought scrap and victory. Im sticking with you Mick. |  | |
prebbs007 added 09:17 - Dec 31
As said above it's not weather you are Dinosaur in or out !! It was NOT an "excellent performance" Muck. We played Bristol City. One win in ten. That was against "the worst team to visit Ashton Gate this season " . Us !
Vital 3 points yes !! All rosy in the garden definitely not !!!
We still need a younger more modern manager with gusto and insight to drive our talented youngsters forward. We still need to improve the squad and discard the dross "good blokes"
Glad we won but be realistic please.
Happy and healthy 2017 to you all, even those who are happy to accept mediocrity from a past it manager and league 1 quality players. Have a great night all. | | |
RegencyBlue added 09:24 - Dec 31
A much needed win and an improved performance but I wouldn't describe it as excellent.
We were the best of two very ordinary sides. Pitmans finish was class but once again we let the opposition set the tempo for long periods. When we did put Bristol under pressure it paid off for us. There is a lesson there MM! |  | |
raycrawfordswig added 09:39 - Dec 31
Sorry walk the wark meant to mark you up. |  | |
ChrisFelix added 09:41 - Dec 31
What a difference leaving out different class makes. More mobility & pace in the midfield. Not play off contenders but a team containing Douglas is a relegation threatened one. Look after young Andre as his skill & talent is so obvious to the older town fans | | |
cornishblu added 10:08 - Dec 31
Dozzel improving after he actually gets minutes on the pitch....a no brainier really but for this moment just pleased that one of our most talented youngsters is getting a run out....will he be brilliant every week aged 17 ...no....but every game he gets a run out he will get more experience and improve overall.....he should now play a minimum 20 minutes a game from here on in and develop into the talent we know he is
COYB ....and happy new year to all town fans | | |
blueboy1981 added 11:01 - Dec 31
New Year Resolution for you MM - as follows:-
Start having some respect for Supporters, get rid of the arrogance and contentiousness, play some decent attacking Football, and bring more of the youngsters thro' - instead of:- playing ultra defensive from the off, playing players out of position, preferring to play good blokes over good promising players - and last but not least - let's get our brand of Football back that our great Club was once renown for throughout the entire game.
Do the above - and you will have ALL of us behind you - even now.
Not asking too much - is it ??? | | |
dukey44 added 11:22 - Dec 31
Ok yes we won again. Before I start calling for him to be replaced as I've done since begin of last season, let's see how he changes the team for Monday? Douglas isn't wanted or needed so hopefully he's out now and Knudsen has been dissapointing big time too. So what will he change for next game? Keep the same team? I rate Tabb bettter than Douglas and he always played yet was tosh too!! | | |
TimmyH added 11:31 - Dec 31
I'll give Mick some breathing space when we get a run of results together and he starts giving certain players a run of games they deserve...good to hear we played better tonight allbeit against a poor Bristol team but 1 game changes nothing! |  | |
bobble added 12:06 - Dec 31
Lovely... |  | |
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