Maybe thats where we differ...i don't want a team thats patched together year in year out. I want to look to the future and think that we have a good strong foundation to start playing with the big boys again, on a regular basis. This isn;t just a criticism at Mick, but the club as a whole - we've been whinging and moaning for a good few years now, but there has to come a time and say stop, we need to plan for the future, and if that means going back to the basics, and having a few more bad years, but start growing players (not literally), and building a team around a core set of individuals, then so be it. We are not progressing as a club, and thats what is hurting. If you look at the premier, do you honestly think clubs like Southampton, Swansea, Stoke, WBA are any bigger or better than us? No, they're not, but what they have done, is build a team from the bottom and progressed slowly, which is what we are not doing. Mick, unfortunately is taking the brunt of all of our anger and frustrations at the moment, but my gripe is more about the lack of progression in the club as a whole.
Where we differ is how realistic and effectively we can implement that philosophy, according to the current squad and the money need to a) sack the manager b) bring a new, younger one in and c) overhaul the squad and ensure it's more comfortable using a completely different style of play. Can it be done? Of course. But it would require time, patience, and a board that's willing to keep hold of our young players when, and if, they perform consistently in the side. I think it's unfair to indirectly suggest Mick does not use our youth players, cases in point are the likes of Tyrone Mings and Teddy Bishop. I would prefer a younger, more progressive manager, with a more attractive footballing philosophy. Who wouldn't? But under our financial restraints, I don't think we can achieve that while remaining competitive. As I mentioned, it would be challenging to retain our younger players, we'd still be relying on loanees and freebies. We will inevitably have a transitional process, which could take a while, and we'd likely have seasons where we wouldn't be challenging for the play offs. I don't think our fanbase, starved of Premier League football as it is, will be patient for too long. I think McCarthy is doing a fantastic job, and some of us are taking his successes for granted. If we get promoted, we shouldn't dismiss that as a negative at all. In fact, its financial benefits mean we could enact that ideal ideology.
" Blown it? We've got 11 games left of the season to go and we're only one point off the play offs and five points off second! This season is far from over, whether we'd like to think so or not. Yes, today's result was disappointing and, yes, our form of late has been very inconsistent. But thankfully none of our play off rivals can get a decent run of form going. " THIS. We've far from blown it. We're in better form than Bournemouth ( 3 wins in 6 compared with their 1 ) and Derby are having a right old wobble. Norwich lost at home to Wigan, no one wants it !!!! How in gods name are we 1 point off the play offs and FIVE off auto? HOW? This league is mad this season. Saturday REALLY is must win. I actually am not too worried McCarthy swapped Murphy for Wood. However, VARNEY in a 4-4-2 from the start? Really? Saturday is a must win, let me kick matters off as usual!
Stretchy I agree that we should be looking toward the future and I honestly think that MM and Evans have been...but you can't stand around waiting for the young players to all be ready at once so you need to bring n a few experienced players to make it possible to ease the youngsters in and even give you time to discover the talent... I think we have a very good base to build upon even if this season is over now....I agree that Tabb,Murphy and the Hunt brothers may not be the answer next season( some will argue that they haven't been this season Tabb mainly)... But look at the young players we do have.....Mings, Hyam, Bishop, Sears, Clarke, Connelly, Benyu, Donnelly.....all of which will be in or around the first team for years to come imo.
Look apart from Weighty I would suggest that both Warky and myself have been MMs biggest supporters (even if Warky had a wobble a few month back)...the reason both Warky & myself think we may well have blown it is down to MMs inability to change things tactically and play players in their strongest position, he is the manager, as a manager you sometimes have to upset 1 or 2 individuals to get the best out of your team overall, this is why I think we have blown it because on Saturday at 2pm when the squad is revealed we will all still be feeling the same frustrations about Smith still in as the right sided CB, Chambers still at RB, Tabb still getting picked to play out wide, Parr still on the bench, Bishop probably on the bench, not a single winger in our match day squad, even though we have 3 on our payroll.......That is why I feel we have blown it. MM has done tremendous job but for me he is showing an inability to take us up to the next level to secure a top 6 berth come the end of the season.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion......my thoughts are still the same on MM I don't always agree with everything he does but I'm confident he knows more than me.....and I also think that In what he has achieved here over the last two or so years he has earned the right to get to the end of the season before judgement is passed..........I honestly believe he is more than capable of getting the points to see us at least make the play offs..........Mick has always had my full backing not because I agree with everything he does but because he is Ipswich Town Manager and providing we improve season on season I see no reason why I'll change my support........we are 8 points of our last season total.....if we don't improve on that this season I might feel a change is in order but as most of this season has been discussing promotion and not relegation I already think it's an improvement really........Burley was given time to build season after season so why not Mick.......COYB
To be fair Weighty this is not what we are saying! Mick is a great manager and has done a fantastic job thus far BUT he surely has to recognise that the team needs changing! Drop Bart, Smith & Tabb Bring in Parr, Bru and Bishop Change Chambers to Right Side sided Centre Back Parr to play as the Full Back Bring in Paddy Kenny Go Back to 4-3-3 With Wood, Murphs and Sears up top Just my opinion but we are crying out for a more attacking line up! My Team for Saturday Kenny Parr Chambers Berra Mings Skuse Bru Bishop Sears Wood Murphs
I did mention that Bart should be dropped before the Norwich game..........Smith was dropped earlier in the season then when he got back in he was on fire but I agree think he could do with a sit down.....I'm still not that impressed with Bru if I'm honest.....has Bishop not been ill??.....Paddy Kenny no thanks...Gerks yup..........wood Murph and Sears I'm ok with although I think Murph could do with a sit down too really..............I think some of the players have been nervy since the new year which is why imo Tabb has been playing a lot but I don't go along with the Micks favorite stuff....he is the same player that Mick said could leave as he wouldn't get that many starts........
Out of the 3 Keepers we have I would chose Kenny all day long over the other two! He has the experience we need and he might just settle down our nervy defence!
I'd choose Crowe over Paddy....but that's the thing with football it's all about opinions .....we said we need some changes and we got some last night but not really what we expected....but it does show that Mick isn't afraid to change things.......I agree With 4-3-3 as the way forward but a lot of people are calling for more width .....thats why I try to just have faith in a manager until it's clearly not working anymore I'll admit that I backed both Keane and Jewel way past their sack by date but I would rather give a manager time than keep rebuilding every two months
A couple of bad results & suddenly "Mick's taken us as far he can" - absolute twaddle. Yes, he has made mistakes (can anyone here say they've never made a mistake at work?) & he does have a tendancy - to put it mildly, to stick with his favourites (Tabb & Smith being the obvious 2) However, when MM was appointed, the only other manager seriously in the frame for the job was Ian Holloway & hasn't be done well at Millwall? - looking very likely to take them out of the division. Everyone is entitled to their views but imagine the comments on this board if we were 2nd bottom, we're not & we are only 1 point outside the playoff places. I think we will fall short (hope I'm wrong) but that doesn't mean its been a failure as a season
