McCarthy: 0-0 Was About Right
Tuesday, 26th Dec 2017 18:18

Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted 0-0 was a fair result after the Blues’ Boxing Day game at home to QPR ended goalless and was disappointed with his side’s performance.

“I think 0-0 was about right,” he said. “I said coming towards the end I’d take it now even when he [Josh Scowen] had been sent off, I could just see us trying to force it and getting done on the break. And that nearly did happen, he [Matt Smith] got a shot on target.

“I’ve no complaints about the scoreline. I’ve got complaints about how we played. I’m not really happy with that but happy with the result in the end, I’ll take it, I don’t think we deserved any more.”

Town looked to have had a clear penalty turned down in the final minute when Jack Robinson handled Joe Garner’s header, although McCarthy felt the visitors might also have been awarded a spot-kick when Dominic Iorfa appeared to handle at the other end a minute or so later.

“Ours was a penalty but so was theirs as well, I think,” he said. “The difference is that if we get ours and we score it it changes the complexion of the game completely.

“But Dominic’s, I’ve looked at that as well, and he could have given one for that as well. There’s no point in complaining, is there?”

McCarthy made five changes from the team which lost 1-0 at Wolves on Saturday and says he had no other options aside from the 18 players in the matchday squad.

“Bearing in mind that was everybody fit today, 18 fit players,” he said. “Michael Crowe’s one of them, Adam McDonnell’s one of them and Teddy Bishop, who hasn’t played for however long starting the game.

“I just couldn’t go with the same XI. The worry is that if you start with the same XI and we don’t play particularly well and we get beaten then I’d have to make changes on Saturday. Well, I’ve got choices I can make.

“And, moving forward, looking at the Fulham game, Didzy’s had a game, Freddie’s had a game.

“Unfortunately Bish was getting his game but had to come off. So, there are all those things to consider and five games in 15 days with 16 fit outfield players will be tough.”

Bishop was replaced in the 42nd minute with a hamstring problem and McCarthy says the 21-year-old, who was making his first start of the season and only his second during 2017, the other having been at Rotherham in April, was unsurprisingly downcast having been forced off.

Worked so hard to get to where I was today. Absolutely gutted to say the least but I’ll be back– Ted bishop (@ted10bishop) December 26, 2017

“He’s very down at the moment,” the Blues boss said. “I don’t know in terms of how long his injury is going to be.

“It’s a bitter blow for him and you could see on a couple of occasions when he opens his legs he can make things happen. It’s such a shame.

“I didn’t think we’d get a whole game out of him but I certainly didn’t think I’d be having to take him off in the first half.”

Bersant Celina made an impact when he came on in the 84th minute but McCarthy didn’t feel he should have put the Kosovan international, who is on loan for the season from Manchester City, for longer.

“He had the one little bit,” he reflected. “I was prepared to take a draw [at that stage], to be honest. They changed it and put all the big fellas on.

“The only way anyone was going to score in that game was going to be a scrappy break away.

“He created the one chance, which was good. But, I didn’t [think I should have put him on earlier], like the rest of them I’ve got another three games for him to play coming up and he can’t play in all the games either. He’s a good player but he’s not Superman.”

Regarding his injured midfielders, McCarthy says Cole Skuse is doubtful and expects no one to be back from injury for Saturday’s home game against Derby, although Kevin Bru missed today's game as he was at a funeral.

Asked whether the lack of players means he’s keen for the January transfer window to open so he can add to his squad, he responded: “I need to get players back from injury, that’s more important [than bringing players in].

“I don’t know what we’ll be able to do in the transfer window, we’ll be looking at loans, I guess.

“On a plus side, the lads have been brilliant, they’ve done great and it was a tough old gig today, but they keep going, it’s a point in our pocket, can’t take it off us.”

Photo: TWTD

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12th_Man added 18:23 - Dec 26 Hate this "point in our pocket" philosophy, MM stated a long time ago that a point away from home is a good point, I get that, but at home, that's two points dropped, admit it you bloody dinosaur!!
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ArnieM added 18:36 - Dec 26 ..... Yes McCarthy, you got exactly what you played for. Your tactics are garbage!
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jas0999 added 18:44 - Dec 26 Agreed. Didn't deserved any more than that bore draw. Very poor. Yet, what hope when the manager is content with taking a point in the latter stages against a poor QPR? The worry again, is the manager talking of loans in the window. We need more than that.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 18:55 - Dec 26

There's no point in knocking McCarthy. He has an extremely limited budget, has made some great additions to the squad but the squad is decimated by injuries to midfielders at present. Who else could we bring in that could keep us in contention for a playoff spot under those circumstances?

I know it is not very exciting to watch and I lament the glory days under Sir Bobby as well as the lovely passing game under Burley, but unlesss we get a billionaire owner, whihc doesnt look very likely, we have to accept that MM is doing a decent job with the cards he has been dealt. Let's hope for some luck with injuries/ return of players and maybe a loan midfielder with some flair, then we might see more passing and entertainment.

blue75 added 18:58 - Dec 26

Can anyone of McCarthy's supporters defend this negative comment “I was prepared to take a draw [at that stage]”? 7 minutes of the game left its 0-0 and the manager gives up and settles for a draw even against 10 men!!! Maybe McCarthy should be shown the film of when we were 3 down at Barnsley and drew 3-3 I'm sure some of his mates back home will tell him about it as well. It only takes a second to scored and we 420 of them. Any manager with that attitude shouldn't be the manager of any club let alone our!! We were at home for God's sake we should be putting teams like QPR to bed or at least trying.

StringerBell added 19:01 - Dec 26 ‘.....take a point' at home against a p1ss poor team says all you need to know about McCarthy and his tactical genius. What an imbecile.
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ArnieM added 19:02 - Dec 26 But why does McCarthy persist in playing players out of position? Sears is NOT a winger Didzy is NOT a winger Why make so many changes? Why drop Spence? Why wait until 8 mins before end of game to bring in a certain game changer - Celina?
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1RWR added 19:11 - Dec 26 How to f**k up a game! Sears as much as I like him shouldn't have started. Bishop should not have started. The jury is out on IorfaCelina should not be on the bench Sorry to moan about MM but that was not the right decision old pal! QPR were ther for the taking! Really pi$$ poor game, ref had a mare as well!
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Vanisleblue2 added 19:13 - Dec 26 U haven't got 16 fit first team outfield players. You also sent some out on loan! Why? Are Bishop and Hyam, Adyemi ever going to be fully fit?
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baxter7 added 19:19 - Dec 26 McCarthy you talk a load of rubbish 2 points gone because of you tactics do we still have to wait until may before you have gone give us a present and go now
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Penguinblue added 19:26 - Dec 26 McCarthy OUT "Mick McCarthy your football is sh*t"
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cat added 19:28 - Dec 26

On a day when two of footballs unmistakable masters of distruction of the beautiful game locked their Dino tails and tactically inept pea sized proper footballing brains to share the spoils from which a bore draw with no goals brings. Today's big fat losers were the paying supporter and the beautiful game itself. McCarthy won't give a flying one as he got the point (shame he could not nick a win YAWN) and kept a clean sheet, not to mention getting one over the fans, so he can go home with the knowledge that he ain't lost, whilst picking up a hefty wage in the process. The supporter on the other hand who's out of pocket and given up precious time for watching a master class in throw back football goes home scratching their nut asking WHY do we fecking bother!

geminimustang added 19:30 - Dec 26

God help MM if we get beat!Let's see if i can defend him a little. ITFC have a good squad but the injuries have cost us points.Celina can't play every game?He's an impact player but has often started a game and not contributed throughout.He performs much better as a substitute imho.I accept he should've come on earlier today but MM is saving him for the games to come.Players go out on loan to gain experience and get some match fitness and no doubt some will be recalled shortly.Bish shouldn't be offered a new contract,too injury prone and i accept he's got quality.It's my view,MM is doing an amazing job with little budget.The clue is,"Loans in January".

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itfchorry added 19:32 - Dec 26 Gary Monk is available - Great fit for us
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geminimustang added 19:36 - Dec 26 itfchorry added 19:32 - Dec 26 Gary Monk is available - Great fit for us LOL!
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Bluetone added 19:54 - Dec 26 I hope your mate Holloay was pleased with you Christmas pressie McCarthy
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bressinghamblue added 20:05 - Dec 26

The tactics, game, and MM's post-match comments sum up why 5000+ fans have stopped paying their hard-earned money to go to PR regularly.

Stubborn, stupid manager, playing square legs in round holes again. MM's 'poor me, I've only a paper thin squad's is disingenuous. He chooses to play Sears and McGoldrick out of position. He chose Sears over Celina. He chose Iorfa over Spence. He chose to send Rowe out on loan. Idiot.

Get rid of McCarthy, and you instantly gain £100k per game as the bored fans like myself and my son come back to support a new, young, progressive manager that plays the Ipswich way.

Shame I've been naughty this year. Was obviously not on Santa's nice list - I asked for MM to resign for Christmas, but sadly not delivered.

Oh well ..... There's always next year!

KiwiTractor added 20:32 - Dec 26 You are a disgrace McCarthy.
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Swn98 added 20:36 - Dec 26 Geminimustang I should give up old son trying to say anything constructive to the Myopic delusional users of the news site I have and life is much happier. Happy new year to you all.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 20:47 - Dec 26

“I was prepared to take a draw [at that stage]”? with 7 minutes left and against 10 men at home is shocking for fans to hear. I can only believe that in McCarthy's head he was thinking that QPR had big danger men up front and he was worried we might lose 1-0 if we pushed forward. We all know he sometimes settles for a point, and it would be great if we could win all our home games, but no one does. He was also thinking about saving legs for Saturday. Pragmatic, dull, safety first and that's why the attendences have dropped. It is a big ask for fans to shell out to watch that, but this will surely be his last season at ITFC, I dont think he is enjoying it and will want to move on.

itfchorry added 20:54 - Dec 26 geminimustang added at 19:36 -Dec 26 LOL
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baxter7 added 21:10 - Dec 26 I got my son and grandsons tickets for the Derby game has a Xmas present if McCarthy's tactics are the same sat like today it will be the worse present I have ever got for them McCarthy please don't wait until may go now and give us fans the best present ever
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blueboy1981 added 21:10 - Dec 26

........ McCarthy just couldn't care less. Keeping Celina warming up for so long was antagonising him, and the fans.

The only thing important to him is keeping mid table Championship which will ensure he keeps his job for as long as he wants it - he will continue to treat fans with contempt in doing so.

Many of whom are now returning the favour by staying away - the only way of making a point to whoever may eventually (and hopefully) be concerned.