Tractor-Boys.com

Monday verdict: Respect works both ways – Mick McCarthy is losing the backing of some of his most ardent sympathisers
06:00 03 October 2016
Stuart Watson



There are clubs with a similar glorious history whose supporter base seems to carry delusions of grandeur and a sense of entitlement. That’s not the case at Portman Road. So when the atmosphere turned sour during and after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Huddersfield you know things have got bad.

A late shot on target was greeted by ironic cheers. The full-time whistle sparked boos and chants of “what a load of rubbish”.

Worryingly, as falling attendances show, plenty more have simply quietly turned their backs and walked away in a state of apathy. Fifteen years in the Championship and going nowhere fast. Everything about the club feels soporific and stale.

Just three goals have been scored from open play in more than 1,000 minutes of action, while Town have failed to score a first half goal in 29 of their 35 games this calender year. The latter statistic perfectly sums up Mick McCarthy’s safety-first approach. The shackles are never loosened, let alone removed.

A lack of transfer budget and key injuries at key times means the Yorkshireman has undoubtedly been fighting with one hand behind his back most of the time, but many of his actions and words are beginning to lose the sympathy of his most ardent backers.

Saturday’s post-match comment of “I’m not going to sit here and justify my team selection” was, at best, stubborn, and, at worst, arrogant.

McCarthy bristles at criticism. He feels his past CV and the way he saved Ipswich from relegation before guiding them to their first play-off place in a decade deserves respect. He’s right, but respect works both ways.

Supporters feel they are being treated like idiots when superlatives are attributed to solid but unspectacular performers. They want more of an explanation on undroppable 
players, negative tactics and square pegs in round holes. Instead questions on the above are met with barely concealed disdain.

This is not an over-reaction to a tough patch. Ipswich have been taking more steps backwards than forwards for at least 18 months now. Realists know it’s not a level playing field in this division, but clubs like Bristol City, Huddersfield and Barnsley are showing more signs of progression and they don’t have vast resources.

Is McCarthy really getting the best out of what he’s got? Is it false hope to expect the injury-prone Jonny Williams and David McGoldrick to be the saviours? One thing’s for sure, we now have two weeks to dwell on all the above.



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Like it or not I feel we are now starting to see the begining of the end for MM's reign at PR . Evans cant affortd to sit back and atch the crowd continue to fall at thge rate they are

What I can't be arsed with is quotes like, "He feels his past CV and the way he saved Ipswich from relegation bla bla bla, deserves respect."

Is there proof of him uttering these words? I'm in no way starting a "defend Mick" campaign, but some do get tired of opinions being offered as facts by people like Stuart Watson or Harry from Bath.

Good point about whether MM has actually said this about his CV......he may have implied it perhaps I dont know. I havent bothered to listen to any of the interviews post match . Maybe I should to see if he actually says that .

This is Stuart Watson's own comments I presume?

Usually, the EADT are not quick to criticize openly Mick's management, so there's definitely a bit of a sea-change there on EADT's stance.

To be honest, its a collection of moans you get of TWTD all bundled up into one - but seems like the local newspaper has made its mind now where they stand.

I've heard MM refer to his CV a few times. He may have not said he deserves respect, but any idiot can see that's what MM means. And I've always felt MM's disparaging comments about disgruntled fans disrespectful. He now seems to be reigning those insults in since he's showing his arse with crap football! I can't believe I let people brainwash me into thinking MM was still the one to get us promoted. MM needs to go now...thanks for the memories of sh*t football!!!

I'm just calling the f**king pricks out who said that he actually said it, 9. There is a world of difference of thinking that's what he means, and him actually saying it. That's what's the matter with this f**king planet these days.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of all this and whatever everyone's thoughts are on MM lately I think it needs to be said that the guy deserves a bloody lot more respect for what he has done here than what he is getting now. I saw some bloody idiot on Facebook actually list his worst ITFC managers of all time, Duncan, Keane, Jewell, McCarthy ???? I mean WTF is this person on ? Jesus we must have short memories, OK things appear to be going pear shaped and may even have run their course but you can't just sweep under the carpet 6th & 7th place finishes the last two seasons !!

bluemike wrote:Whatever the rights and wrongs of all this and whatever everyone's thoughts are on MM lately I think it needs to be said that the guy deserves a bloody lot more respect for what he has done here than what he is getting now. I saw some bloody idiot on Facebook actually list his worst ITFC managers of all time, Duncan, Keane, Jewell, McCarthy ???? I mean WTF is this person on ? Jesus we must have short memories, OK things appear to be going pear shaped and may even have run their course but you can't just sweep under the carpet 6th & 7th place finishes the last two seasons !!

Idiots on social media : who would have thought it.

The more relevant issue is, I realize you're one of Mick McCarthy's ardent defenders, and for the last time what he has achieved (here) on occasion has warranted plaudits, but seriously, have taken in other supporters views and like it or not McCarthy has now reached a plateau of distaste the same level of Jewell, Keane and John Duncan. Granted after the Huddersfield score people may have been rightly upset and spoken in haste, but for those with a more questionable view of his 'abilities', the play for some time has been sub-standard and we've looked nowhere near a club side that wants to challenge for anything.

Bottom line McCarthy is responsible for team selection, tactics, how the players go about their business : and there's more fans than ever advocating his departure particularly after the disappointment of this new season, however premature it may appear.

The other deal with McCarthy's resume : fair enough (he) may have achieved some accomplishments of merit with previous employers, but right now, he's largely responsible for the garbage out there. We need to address the issue in present time, not make comparisons with prior statistics.

Yes indeed,who would have thought it.

it is true I have been very supportive of MM and what he has done here, in fact up until 3 matches ago that hasn't waivered, I think my views on the last three games will tell you even I am concerned at the overall level of football being played, that said it still beggars belief that MM would even be mentioned in the same breath as those other bufoons.

Fans will always vent their anger when things get to a level that they feel unacceptable and that is fine, however there are ways to go about it and for me MM does not deserve the obvious abuse he is getting all over the place roght now, none of those managers would have coped with the budget he has had, none of them, even some more succesful ones would have struggled, I accept that does not excuse the poor standard of football we are getting atm but even so for me it is OTT in some quarters.

Mike, I think the general consensus of fans don't liken Mick to PJ or Keane. Keane and PJ left this club in a mess - and Mick sorted that out. I think most applaud the job he did when he arrived and by taking us up the league, but there's been a lack of new ideas and a resistance to change. Mick has earned his credit in the bank, but I think that's used up now.

Interesting that in the EADT today, that Marcus Evans has provided his first interview - I'm half-way through reading it. Its about time and obviously this situation has reached another level.

Well thats shows the Club are at least aware that "all is not right" amongst the fans. Mind you ME would have to be blind , dumb and plain stupid not to oick up on the bad vibes would he !!

tangfastic wrote:Mike, I think the general consensus of fans don't liken Mick to PJ or Keane. Keane and PJ left this club in a mess - and Mick sorted that out. I think most applaud the job he did when he arrived and by taking us up the league, but there's been a lack of new ideas and a resistance to change. Mick has earned his credit in the bank, but I think that's used up now.

Interesting that in the EADT today, that Marcus Evans has provided his first interview - I'm half-way through reading it. Its about time and obviously this situation has reached another level.

Where is this article Tang ? I can't see it anywhere.

bluemike wrote:

tangfastic wrote:Mike, I think the general consensus of fans don't liken Mick to PJ or Keane. Keane and PJ left this club in a mess - and Mick sorted that out. I think most applaud the job he did when he arrived and by taking us up the league, but there's been a lack of new ideas and a resistance to change. Mick has earned his credit in the bank, but I think that's used up now.

Interesting that in the EADT today, that Marcus Evans has provided his first interview - I'm half-way through reading it. Its about time and obviously this situation has reached another level.

Where is this article Tang ? I can't see it anywhere.

I couldn't find it either...

bluemike wrote:

tangfastic wrote:Mike, I think the general consensus of fans don't liken Mick to PJ or Keane. Keane and PJ left this club in a mess - and Mick sorted that out. I think most applaud the job he did when he arrived and by taking us up the league, but there's been a lack of new ideas and a resistance to change. Mick has earned his credit in the bank, but I think that's used up now.

Interesting that in the EADT today, that Marcus Evans has provided his first interview - I'm half-way through reading it. Its about time and obviously this situation has reached another level.

Where is this article Tang ? I can't see it anywhere.

Sorry no link ... but it's a two-part downloaded PDF ... phone conversation between Stuart Watson and ME.

I'm hoping this is not an old interview that Watson has tried to re-surface to muddy the waters. It was on the EADT website this morning .

And I apolgise . It's dated August 2015. It was under Watsons tweets. Assumed it was up to date.

I guess it's trying to gather a bit of historical ME points of view .... just see EADT has made a decision on ITFC.

What was I saying the other day about bloody journalists, parasites the lot of them LOL.

Its also a common thing with the internet. Old stories appearing. My brother in law is an offshore worker, but all over the world. He rarely sees any news. He said last weekend......, "Nightmare about Alan Rickman dying. One of my favourite actors."
I said, "He died in February, mate!"