McCarthy Hints at Early Town Exit
Monday, 2nd Apr 2018 18:27

Town boss Mick McCarthy hinted that his time in charge of the Blues might come to an end in the next few days following the 2-2 home draw with Millwall.

After Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Birmingham McCarthy seemed frustrated with the current situation where he is still in charge of the Blues for the season’s remaining fixtures despite having announced his summer departure when his contract comes to an end.

Quizzed on those comments, he responded: “I’ve just given the analogy to the club website, I’ve never been in a driverless car and I never intend in getting in one.

“But it must be what it feels like, the car’s yours and the responsibility still lies with you but you haven’t really got the control over it. And I’m not enjoying it, no.

“I’m just being honest, how I feel. So I’ll leave it at that, whatever happens. I’m not enjoying it because… but if there’s anything that would be my lasting memory would be the reaction of the players and how they’ve been with me all the time.

“And again, I’ve never left a job where the players have gone, ‘I’m glad to see the back of him’. And that’s the same again, they were brilliant. The second half response was terrific.”

McCarthy said he was glad fans, who warmly applauded his team off at the end, had enjoyed what was an entertaining game.

“I’m pleased the fans have enjoyed it today,” he added. “I think over my five and a half, nearly six years I think they’ve enjoyed more games than they haven’t.

“From selling Murph last year and not replacing him it’s just deteriorated but that was great the second half.”

As his press conference ended, a reporter said ‘See you on Thursday' (when the pre-Brentford media briefing would take place) to which McCarthy responded: “Good luck with that.”

Earlier, reflecting on the game, the Blues boss was asked who scored Town’s first goal with the identity of the scorer unclear at the time and on video.

“Waggy, apparently,” he said. ”Sky have given it to him and we know they’re all-powerful and everything they say is right, so I go with them. Waggy’s delighted, he’s thrilled with it.

“I thought the first half, or our first 20 minutes, we started really well and should have scored, but didn’t. Maybe it was their good defending or good goalkeeping.

“But I thought we had chances to score and then when they do score it kills it and the atmosphere went dead except for their fans, who I thought were brilliant and kept it going.

“In the second half, what a great response from the lads and from our fans as well. It was like days of yore, I enjoyed that second half.”

Told Millwall boss Neil Harris said his team should have scored seven in last 10 minutes, McCarthy snapped back: “He should be pissed off with his strikers then, shouldn’t he!”

Told Harris also had praise for Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, he added: “I have to say arguably because everyone else has got an opinion but he's the best keeper in the league, I’ll promote him.

“He’s got his year left and he’s getting into the international team, which is brilliant for him because he’s been brilliant for me.

“Yes, they had the chances. I’ll go down and see Neil, there’s no point in whinging about it, they should have put them in the net, shouldn’t they? But they didn’t. And by the way, when we had our chances to win the game and all, so hey ho.”

McCarthy said he was delighted to see 18-year-old Australian Ben Folami make his Championship debut.

“Of course I am,” he said. “We all see at times what he doesn’t do when he’s languid and doesn’t work hard enough, doesn’t react, doesn’t respond.

“I spoke to him earlier in the week or last week and said to him, ‘You should be in the team with you ability and don’t let it pass you by’.

“I asked him why he doesn’t think he’s not and he gave me all the reasons. I said, ‘Don’t let it pass you by because of all of that because you’ve got too much ability’.

“And I just had an inkling for him, he’s been training really well with the first team. Yes, I’m pleased. I keep an eye on all of them, they’re all in my charge.”

Has he been thinking that the Sydney-born frontman was on verge of breakthrough? “Not really, no. I always thought he had the ability, so he’s got to grab it himself. The responsibility is his.

“I thought he grasped it over the last couple of weeks. I think he’s seen Ben Morris get on the bench, Aaron Drinan as well, and I think his motivation in the U23s is not [the same].

“I’m not saying that’s right, you should be busting a gut but he has got really good ability and I think he showed that in the second half. I just had an inkling for him, so I put him on the bench on Saturday and he’s got his game today. I’m really pleased for him.”

Lions boss Harris admitted he was frustrated not to pick up all three points.

“I’m quite frustrated, I have to be honest," he said. "I think Ipswich made the game what it was, a counter-attacking game, very open, by playing the formation they did and leaving the players up the pitch at every opportunity.

“I have to be honest, it’s not a favourite game of mine playing like that but it was what it was.

“Sometimes the game is going to be like that and it’s going to be who scores the most then you’ve got to make sure you score more than the opposition.

“It’s hard to criticise my players because of the run we’re on and the form we’re in, but if I want to set standards as the manager of the football club, I told them after the game that that wasn’t good enough, we should have won that game.

“If it’s going to be who scored the most, we’ve got to score the most and today we’ve missed countless opportunities, I thought their goalkeeper was excellent, that’s why he’s one of the best in the division.

“We gave two poor goals away but we as an attacking team needed to get the defence out of a hole with that one.

“We should have scored seven in the last 20 minutes of the game and not to get one was criminal.”

Photo: TWTD

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londontractor85 added 12:00 - Apr 3 If MM is off to West Brom, I seriously hope that Pardew isn't coming our way!! Still has to be the Cowley Bros for me, I think they've got what it takes to breathe a much needed new air of life into the club, and the sooner they arrive, the better.
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therein61 added 16:26 - Apr 3 Typical reaction from a arrogant control freak, you see Mick you are not bigger than our club.
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therein61 added 16:33 - Apr 3 The managers at clubs where Mick has offloaded young ignored or dangerous players(to his favourites places) are worth a look as they seem to like the guys and play them.
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massivemole added 18:25 - Apr 3 "Not enjoying it" the Dino says. I haven't enjoyed the season, but go every week. You man up you Pusseyyyyy and stick it out, and take the abuse.
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