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McCarthy: I Should Have Left Town Earlier
Monday, 20th Apr 2020 09:22

Former Town boss Mick McCarthy has admitted that he should have left Portman Road earlier than his eventual departure in April 2018.

Having made the play-offs in 2014/15, McCarthy, who left his latest job as manager of the Republic of Ireland earlier this month, became deeply unpopular with fans during the final two campaigns of his five-and-a-half-year stint at Portman Road.

“We got to the play-offs at Ipswich – that is a club I should have left earlier,” McCarthy told The Athletic.

“They got bored with me, but me being belligerent I wasn’t going to walk, certainly Marcus Evans, the owner, wasn’t going to sack me because I was keeping them up – we finished 12th the last season that I was there.

“But it did turn sour, which is such a shame because I had a great rapport with the fans when I first went there. We didn’t spend any money and we had really good results.

“And the rapport that I had with them from the start, I wasn’t doing anything different when I left. But I think they got a bit bored with pragmatic me.”

McCarthy, 61, has also been speaking about the impact of social media on the game, revealing that a Town player came to see him after Blues supporters called for his inclusion in the side on Twitter.

“People tell me the game has changed and players have changed but have they? I don't find the job any harder. I treat all the players well and with respect. Me and TC [his assistant Terry Connor] coach and manage them. That's it,” he told the Daily Mail.

“Social media has changed things a little but I have learned something there. I used to think Twitter offered only abuse to players. But it was pointed out to me at Ipswich that all the fans were bigging one of the lads up on Twitter and he was responding by thinking he should be in the team.

“It opened my eyes. Not that it made any odds, because when he came into my office I still wasn't bothered. I said, ‘The fact that you are getting a million tweets saying you should be playing doesn't make a blind bit of difference to me. I watch you train and perform, remember. I know’."


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r2d2 added 09:27 - Apr 20
Not all the fans wanted you out Mick, just the numbskulls and look where that has left us.
1

MattinLondon added 09:29 - Apr 20
Taking away the manner and timing of Micks departure I never understood why people thought he was pragmatic. His preferred style was defensive and direct football regardless of the opposition.

Burley was pragmatic- he liked his teams to play from the back with attacking passing football. But if he felt the opposition was weak in the air he had no qualms about playing long balls into the box.
21

DinnernotTea added 09:42 - Apr 20
And up pops the most overrated manager Planet Football has ever seen. You wouldn't have thought he was after another job again would you?
-11

Tufty added 09:49 - Apr 20
Not to mention hours of boring football followed by the press conferences which praised the inept display and finally the insults towards the fans, lets face it 6000 fans cant all be wrong
5

herfie added 09:55 - Apr 20
Funny that most ex managers develop amazing 20/20 hindsight! Pity that some owners and chairmen can't seem to crack how to acquire 20/20 foresight! 🌈😷❤️
3

oioihardy added 09:56 - Apr 20
Now i know most fans here didnt like him towards the end ....
But for me hes the manager i will remember for getting us so close to the prem ...... the manager who got murphy banging goals on for fun
The one who signed some brilliant players for ipswich in loans who were fun to watch .... ryan frazer for example
Yes the jay tabb type players werent brilliant and set the world on fire but he some how got them playing to a decent standard of football ....
Sometimes i wish town fans would give him a little bit more credit .... he wasnt a bad manager at the club..... hes was just bad in most peoples eyes as he lost the fans which is unfortunate as i think hed done well signing some players with the money from waghorn etc
33

MickMillsTash added 10:06 - Apr 20
With a midfield of Skuse, Tabb, Anderson and Hunt he somehow got us into the play offs.
12

Skip73 added 10:07 - Apr 20
We've been alot worse since he left.
20

Wickets added 10:22 - Apr 20
MM gobbing off again ,more self promotion, wonder if he needs a new job .
-12

Garv added 10:22 - Apr 20
Interested to know how he defines 'earlier'. Does he mean he should have left when it was announced he wouldn't be staying beyond the end of the season, or does he mean a year earlier? The latter for me. 2016/17 was a poor year rescued by Tom Lawrence.
4

ArnieM added 10:50 - Apr 20
McCarthy...” I should have left Town earlier”. That's the first sensible thing he's said, and the first t8me he's been right .
8

Terry_Nutkins added 10:51 - Apr 20
How is this gobbing off again Wickets? He's in an interview asking questions homestly and actually admitting his mistake. Think it's clear on reflection he regrets the fallout with the fans.

Fantastic manager but as he said he became overly belligerent and stayed too long. His style with diminishing resources, whilst keeping us up, was always going to be difficult with fans.

Would have him back but too much bad blood.

Pretty obviously Celina he's talking about.
11

TractorRoyNo1 added 10:52 - Apr 20
Does mention the tipping at Carrot Rowd does he?
0

dirtydingusmagee added 11:02 - Apr 20
wonder if he would keep popping up like this if we had been doing well , i think not. He just enjoys being a s##t.He hasnt changed and never will. Im not happy with our present state at all but i certainly wouldnt want McCarthy back, good riddance .
2

Cheshire_Blue added 11:36 - Apr 20
6000 fans can't all be wrong ? what about the 8/9000?

We are where we are and would not be there if Mick had stayed. Those 6000 fans have a lot to answer for.
6

Swailsey added 11:39 - Apr 20
I love the MM stories. It really shows up the morons who support us.

Thanks for your services Mick. You and TCs were gents when we met to give the hamper that TWTD paid for. People forget about that. Enough people liked you then!

He probably should have gone earlier, but the abuse he was given at the end was shocking. No wonder he bit back.

At least we're in a better pos..
12

Wickets added 11:45 - Apr 20
Nutkins How many times must we hear same old same old from him .
0

Dissboyitfc added 11:48 - Apr 20
Bart kept us up, the good Bart did, we would have gone down if the Bart that was here in our relegation season had been playing for McCarthy!

You turned the fans against you with the F gesture being the final insult!

Good riddance to the dinosaur and the worst football at Portman road ever! In his 5 years here I can remember one truly excellent performance, the game against Newcastle, the rest as at best very negative and very boring!
13

Wickets added 11:49 - Apr 20
Please Please lets hope this is the last time we have to hear this !!
2

oldegold added 12:01 - Apr 20
r2d2..you are the numbskull and you clearly don't understand football and the Ipswich Way
0

jong75 added 12:57 - Apr 20
He even describes himself as beligerent, herein lies the problem. Managers have to be focused and believe in what they are doing but dont come out and say if the fans are screaming for a player to come on it makes it even more unlikely that he would make that change. He was not a great manager, he just had an owner who was more than happy with mid table. You have to make your own mind up why that was?
-2

r2d2 added 13:40 - Apr 20
Oldegold you are obviously one of the numbskulls. Because where are now is great isnt it? Oh and by the way the football isnt that great now is it?
-1

braveblue added 13:40 - Apr 20
Finished 12th in final season. He failed to mention that after 5 years he led us to our worst finish in 50 years. Can't see a queue forming to employ him.
4

ITFCsince73 added 13:43 - Apr 20
9,000 numbskulls fast asleep by halftime. Something had to give.
6

Draws_apoint_ added 13:47 - Apr 20
r2d2 Cheshireblue sensible comments isn't the same thing happening now from the same people, say no more.
1


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