Boss Mick McCarthy has refused to get drawn into “pub discussions” regarding the balance of his midfield, fans having been debating the Blues’ results with and without Cole Skuse in recent days, the Bristolian, a fixture in the side throughout the Town manager's time at Portman Road, having missed the 3-0 home victory over Wigan on Tuesday and also games during the improved run in February.

McCarthy, not overly enamoured at having Internet discussions brought up at his press conference, said: “It’s always the same, when you win everything looks a lot better. The players who are not in and are sat in the stand behind me are never as good as the ones on the pitch when we win.

“And when we’re not winning all the ones on the pitch are shite and everybody behind me is better, all the kids and all the academy should be playing. That’s why I don’t read it.”

Pressed further on the balance of the midfield, which fans have discussed throughout the season, he added: “I’ll pop into the pub and discuss plastering and electronics and roadworks because I tell you, there are a lot of potholes around. If I find some of them chaps around I’ll ask them how they’re fixing them!

“I know nobody discusses that but I’m not having pub discussions in here. That’s why I don’t go to the pub either, and listen to all that nonsense.”

He added: “And by the way, Cole Skuse has been brilliant since he walked through the door four years ago. He’s just been outstanding.

“I remember him getting a bit of booing as well, he got a bit of a digging out. Maybe they are getting bored of him and maybe they’re getting bored of [Christophe] Berra, maybe they’re getting bored of the ones who are around.

“I’m sure it does [happen], but they’ve all been very, very reliable and good servants to the club.”

Skuse, 31, will again be absent when the Blues travel to Fulham on Saturday, due to the concussion he suffered during Saturday's draw with Birmingham.

Photo: TWTD

Surco72 added 19:00 - Apr 6 Perhaps you should get down the pub MM you may learn something you overpaid arrogant failure
11

howdonblue added 19:02 - Apr 6 if you don't read it how do you know what people are saying ! When skuse and Douglas don't play our side plays better that's fact man Very arrogant man
8

TractorBeezer added 19:05 - Apr 6 Two fingers raised at the supporters once again....perhaps grounds for dismissal without compo?
11

runaround added 19:13 - Apr 6 Mick really is getting silly with comments that henews will further alienate & annoy fans. However right he might feel he is, this is not the right thing to do & is only damaging the club. I really think he needs to go now
11

braveblue added 19:14 - Apr 6 Please just get out of our club. The amount of drivel is amazing and constant pops at the fans. The thing he hates is that he knows he is wrong re Chambers at right back, Bart, Skuse, Sears on the wing and two holding midfielders. He is just a really bad football manager now whose time has long gone.
10

midastouch added 19:36 - Apr 6 I'm sick of all of McCarthy's poor ExSkuses!
5

brittaniaman added 19:54 - Apr 6 As soon as the opportunity arises, his great Mate Skuse will be in the team ?? So if Dino goes he can take his Mate with him. Then there will be a rise in ST. Sales, because if Dino is still here, it is unbelievable the amount of fans who are not renewing !!! 4yrs. ago we had a group of ten, all ST Holders, now I am the only one left of that group, so that works out around £5400 LOST plus food and drinks !!! Hey Marcus sort that out..

10

TimmyH added 20:09 - Apr 6 More jibberish from McCarthy...he thinks Skuse has been outstanding since he's been here, I should think there are quite a few supporters who beg to differ - and by the way good servants to the club re: Berra/Skuse etc. doesn't mean they go on and on and on, the day will come when they have reached their peak and to me that came a few seasons ago but unfortunately for you Mick that seems a reason for you to keep playing them.

11

Keaneish added 22:02 - Apr 6 Everyone in our squad is brilliant!! Brilliant.
5

heathen66 added 22:03 - Apr 6 No Mick, you do not want a pub discussion because you will hear too many home truths which you will not like. The harsh facts are We do play better with only one defensive midfielder. We do play better without Skuse (too negative) We do play better with Sears up top. We are more balanced when Chambers is not at RB, Kenlock is a better LB then Knudsen You are happy just to keep doing what you always do, and surround yourself with your 'top bloke' mates. I bet Skuse Douglas, Gerken, Chambers Berra Knudsen all agree with you and what a top bloke you are too. Woe be tide anyone who says any different (Jonny Parr, Leon Best)

10

Bert added 23:19 - Apr 6 Perhaps it's some supporters who have lost their sense of humour in pursuit of simply slagging off MM. True he should zip it but he is a Yorkie and says it as it is. Unfortunately he says what all other Managers think about the supporters opinions. We all know that Scuse and Douglas together is negative but Scuse in an attacking midfield trio is fine by me. Scuse does not deserve the criticism he gets.

-7

Bert added 23:19 - Apr 6 Perhaps it's some supporters who have lost their sense of humour in pursuit of simply slagging off MM. True he should zip it but he is a Yorkie and says it as it is. Unfortunately he says what all other Managers think about the supporters opinions. We all know that Scuse and Douglas together is negative but Scuse in an attacking midfield trio is fine by me. Scuse does not deserve the criticism he gets.

-6

Keaneish added 07:27 - Apr 7 Sadly you're wrong Bert. Skies has been holding that midfield back for years.
3

Surco72 added 09:47 - Apr 7 Spot on Keanish ... Skuse is one of the most ineffective players to ever play for us , doesn't break up enough play ,doesn't go with runners or mark so is always cheating which may look to others that he is doing well by picking up the occasional loose ball but leaves the opposition in space , doesn't protect the back four enough hence we need too defensive players in there , adds nothing going forward , no goal threat and slows the whole game down . How many games in 4 years has Skuse ever stood out and all the "you don't notice what he does until he is not playing " , check the records when he is not playing we score and win a lot more than when he is

6

kozmik added 11:31 - Apr 7 Easy answer, if he doesn't read stuff on here, let's all send him a personal letter. I think we all know the address!
1

happybeingblue added 17:47 - Apr 7 back in my day a proper midfielder could attack and defend and part of that role was to score goals, hence the type of football we play is rather woeful tbh, if you keep picking defenders to play c midfield , non creators like skuse dougie bru hyam etc then you wont go far, if teams like Brentford can do it ie play football then THIS IS WHY MYSELF and most itfc fans are thoroughly fed up of dross games, can we not find 1 midfielder who can run forward with the ball and pick a pass for our front 2. and maybe have the quality to get on the end of a return... JOHNNY WARK dust your boots down its getting desperate for mick or more to the point the IPSWICH FAITHFUL

2

Tractorboy1985 added 20:24 - Apr 7 Bert you had an early finish on a Friday right and decided to hit the boozer? See cole in there did you? Because that's what the man is.. A PUB PLAYER!! He's utter garbage and when the man isn't in our side we are a better team for it! He's had half a dozen 7-8/10 games in 4 years! Like others have stated.. holland superb YES magilton great YES.. skuse?? Can't even talk about the 3 in the same breath!

1

harlingblue added 01:51 - Apr 8 Mick's simple answer to this question could have been, Cole Skuse is a good defensive midfielder, honest guy on and off the pitch, but I have made the mistake of not using creative midfield players beside him, as you must have discussed in the pubs, I hold my hand up to this.
2

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls