McCarthy: We've Got to Play Better Than That
Tuesday, 7th Mar 2017 23:00 “We’ve got 10 games to play, we’ve got to play better than that,” was manager Mick McCarthy’s assessment after the Blues dismal 0-0 home draw with his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“In the second half they were the better team but they haven’t won, have they?” McCarthy responded when told that Wolves boss Paul Lambert had said he thought his side did enough to win.
“[As was the case with Brentford on Saturday], they’ve had the better of the second half again, why that is I don’t know.
“Well, actually it might be that we’ve got some good players and they’re actually quite a good team, despite their position.
“I’ve no idea why they’re there, look at the players they’ve got with Marshall and Bodvarsson, they’ve got a £13 million striker on the bench [Helder Costa].
“They’ve got good players, Weimann cost a chunk of money, he was a Premier League player. That’s their front three. Dave Edwards up behind, I think they’ve got good players.
“I watched them against Reading on Saturday and actually they should have got something out of it, they could have won that as well. But they’re not doing and the only positives I’ve got is that we didn’t get beat and we got a clean sheet.”
Asked to assess the seven-game unbeaten run, which only includes one win, he said: “Thank goodness.”
He added: “If I look back everybody was looking upon [the February games] with increased trepidation and fear and I said at the time we’d probably go and play well in those games, we went to Villa and won and picked up some good points.
“And it’s just as well we have and that’s another point from what’s been a bloody tough season.”
McCarthy was pleased with his side’s defensive performance: “All the talk about changing the shape and changing the tactics but we weren’t playing that well that we could have [switched it around], it was a case of sticking with it and making sure we got something out of it, which we did.”
In the second half Luke Chambers was audibly geeing his side up, which McCarthy said he’d expect from his skipper.
“I would hope so and of course he was and he would, he’s a good captain, Chambo,” he continued.
“I asked them after the game, it was a rhetorical question, ‘Did anybody not try as hard as they should tonight?’.
“And I know full well they do every week but we played against a good side and we have to give them a bit of credit and I’m not going to be giving my lads stick, other people do it better than I do.”
Does he believe the February run took a lot of his players, including some who haven’t played a lot of football this season? “I’m not looking for excuses. We’ve got 10 games to play, we’ve got to play better than that.”
Did he feel Emyr Huws was missed? “It would appear so but I thought Toums played very well, he gets on the ball and passes it forward. But Emyr’s been excellent.”
McCarthy says the Wales international is confident he’ll be over his hamstring injury in time for Saturday’s trip to Barnsley: “I think so, he’s quite positive about it.”
Reflecting on the table, the Town boss says the Blues, who are 16th, nine points off the relegation zone, aren’t yet safe: “I think we’ve got a bit to do, I still think we’ve got to scrap it out.”
He admitted he was frustrated not able to take three points from one of these two games - “Of course” - with the final whistle signalling the first boos for several home matches.
Reflecting on that, he added: “We’ve got to play as we have in all the games and the expectancy is that we get the three points.
“But even if we’d have played better and there had been more chances, I just think that’s going to be the case for me now, if we don’t play well here and we get beat I’m going to get it in my earhole. Well, so be it.”
The Blues boss, who is still undefeated against Wolves since taking over at Town, two wins followed by five draws, was pleased to have Tommy Smith back in his starting line-up after nearly six months out following back surgery but says the New Zealand international began to feel the pace before he was replaced.
“He was finding it tough after half-time, a couple of things went against him and it was the right thing to do to take him off,” he said.
“It’s a long time to be out and it’s a pretty physical league, a very physical league and it was a high intense game. But it was nice to have him back, though.”
Wolves boss Paul Lambert, whose side ended a run of six successive defeats in all competitions, said: “I thought in the second half we were really good, I thought we deserved to win the game in the second half.
“I thought in the first half we were pretty comfortable, I didn’t think there were too many chances.
“In the second half I thought we were well on top, hit the bar and hit the post and had lots of the ball coming to a really hard place.It’s a big point and it stops the slide that we were on.”
Photo: TWTD
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surgery added 23:04 - Mar 7
No flies on you Dino. You're a genius |  | |
Mark added 23:06 - Mar 7
Mick talking up our opponents again...they had lost their last five! At home to a team like that we decide to start with five defenders and two defensive midfielders, leaving just three attack-minded players. It was very unlikely to work, and it felt like we could have played any side for any amount of time tonight and still not scored. Despite being so poor, McCarthy still did not make any attacking substitutions until the final few minutes when Moore came on. Pitman and Sears must be feeling pretty frustrated right now.
Home to Brentford and Wolves was the chance to win some fans back and to persuade people to renew season tickets. We have failed to do that. Where we go from here I do not know. Limp on to the summer I suppose and find out how many people have chosen not to renew. |  | |
prebsa added 23:07 - Mar 7
We will when you leave! Another rubbish interview. Awful questions, awful answers. Get the stubborn dinosaur out!
Mick Out | | |
pointofblue added 23:08 - Mar 7
"We've got to play better than that" and he's happy with a dour 0-0 against a side in freefall.
That's why we pay him ££££ in wages, folks. | | |
hogster1970 added 23:12 - Mar 7
Well don't know what game you was watching MM as we was peee poor and they wasn't much better. If we played like we did against leeds then that could have been a bayern Munich result tonight but alas no. Your Dino tactics esp as our midfield was crying out for some spark from a sub when you Brough kenlock on. Having said that . It was the right sub at the right time but we need some vvvvvrrooom in the middle and we didn't get it. So that lies with you MM I'm afraid and yet another proberly 3 season tickets lost now |  | |
BluedanW added 23:13 - Mar 7
"I'm not going to give the lad stick" doesn't sound like he gave them any stick after the two lincoln games either???? How bad have that shower have to play before he gives them stick? But then again he can't give them stick really when it's clear to see his defensive tactics and poor team selection/ substitutions are the main issue. Time to mccarty | | |
TheSelkirk added 23:13 - Mar 7
Must have been watching a different match to me. Wolves were bloody awful and no, I don't think everyone gave 100% by any means. |  | |
BluedanW added 23:15 - Mar 7
**time to go Mccarthy | | |
itfchorry added 23:15 - Mar 7
McCarthy Out
You are killing our Club | | |
Bert added 23:17 - Mar 7
"I thought Toums played well" ?! He was no better than Douglas. | | |
BlueArrow added 23:18 - Mar 7
Said before the Derby game I wouldn't be back under MM. Justified by saving my money again. New players need to be bought. Over to you AGAIN Mr Evans. |  | |
Bluesquid added 23:18 - Mar 7
“In the second half they were the better team but they haven't won, have they?”
OMFG
Mick didn't know on Saturday and he doesn't know today, just what do you know Mick?
That your getting paid and we're getting played. | | |
Swn98 added 23:56 - Mar 7
Surgery? | | |
TimmyH added 00:03 - Mar 8
So much for the so called 'good' performances of February...really shows that everybody (supporters/media/management) were just clutching at straws.
To coin a phrase McCarthy will hope 'this result will go someway to keep the supporters away' (from Portman Road). |  | |
12th_Man added 00:10 - Mar 8
Season ticket details go out next week should be interesting to see how that goes |  | |
BrettenhamBlue added 00:12 - Mar 8
"We've got to play better than that"
Just about sums up our season MM. Personally, still worried about relegation with two difficult away games on the horizon and teams below us slowly but surely catching us up.
|  | |
fents71 added 01:00 - Mar 8
Did MM actually say Wolves are a good team. They were bloody abysmal! As usual, we made a poor team look better. The second half against Brentford was awful but tonight the entire 90 minutes was fecking dire. I'm not sure what MM is trying achieve by basically playing a 7-1-2 formation at home against a team who've lost their last 6 matches and sit 21st in the league. Is this really going to encourage supporters to renew their season ticket or others supporters to come back and watch. There was a number of supporters just having random conversations with each other in the stand tonight because the game was so bloody boring! I'll only be attending two more games this season, one because its free and the other to watch Newcastle. I refuse to keep paying. I can sit at home a be bored for free! | | |
blue75 added 03:14 - Mar 8
McCarthy you are useless, you had your 3 strikers warming up from around the 60th minute, Moore was kitted up to come on from the 72nd minute, and he came on in the 84th minute that's where you lost the game, regardless of how we played you could've changed things earlier!!!! | | |
walberblue added 04:22 - Mar 8
Won't win another game this season with this clown.
But it will still be his decision to leave or not. Insanity.
BTW playing teams at home against a side that have lost 6 on the hop, they're the really difficult games for super managers? Mick you can keep saying white is black but even you must soon realize you;re no good. Will he have the brass neck to turn up next season to collect he's no questions asked £1m? |  | |
john151 added 05:50 - Mar 8
So if we're playing badly his best plan is to stick with it???? Ok!!!
McCarthy was pleased with his side's defensive performance: “All the talk about changing the shape and changing the tactics but we weren't playing that well that we could have [switched it around], it was a case of sticking with it and making sure we got something out of it, which we did.” |  | |
KiwiTractor added 05:51 - Mar 8
Please Mick, just go.... |  | |
JimmyP45 added 06:05 - Mar 8
Two teams that wouldn't score if the match was 6 hours long. If Wolves WERE a good team then they would have thrashed us for being so poor like Derby did but they didn't so Mick please saying every team we're a good side!
We played with a back 7 at home. Concretes the fact that Mick simply does not want to win football matches so why is he still here? | | |
jas0999 added 06:28 - Mar 8
Wolves lost their last six in all competitions. Mick thinks a point is good and seems content with one win in eleven games. Good for him. Recently he said he will assess his position based on what the fans think of him in the summer. Well, mick, i want you to go. | | |
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