Boss Mick McCarthy conceded that Leeds United had deserved their 1-0 victory over Town and admitted his team put in a “poor performance” at Elland Road.

“Leeds deserved to win,” the Blues manager said. He felt there was little in the game until Chris Wood scored in the 35th minute with the Whites then dominating the final minutes up to the break and then most of the second half in which they might have added to their lead.

“I don’t think the second half started that way, to be honest with you, in fact I know it didn’t.

“But they’re a good side, they’ve got good players. I thought Chris Wood was outstanding today, he was probably the focal point and the big difference in the team because when they hit it up to him it stuck up there and he ran in the channels. He showed why he’s had good moves and is a good player. They deserved it.”

He added: “You have to give the opposition some credit sometimes, don’t you? We were poor with the ball today, really poor.

“Even the freekick at the end, I know Freddie had hit the target twice last week, but it was probably too close and we let them off the hook there.

“You get the one chance and we could have nicked a goal out of it. Whether it would have been deserved or not I wouldn’t have cared, but you’ve got to hit the target and we didn’t. That summed us up today.”

McCarthy was frustrated by his team’s display but says he’s not felt that way too often in the opening couple of months of the campaign.

“I’ve not had that many frustrations this season so far in terms of performances,” he reflected. “Brentford away in the second half. We were poor today, it was a poor performance. I am frustrated, I always am when we don’t play well.”

The Blues lost Adam Webster - “hamstring” - Grant Ward - “his knee” - and Brett Pitman - “ankle and knee” - to injury and McCarthy doesn’t expect the trio to be involved in the home game against Brighton on Tuesday.

“Probably impossible for any of them, I think,” he added. “Roll on the international break, I would say, so we can get some back.

“You’ve seen today what we’ve got on the bench in terms of back-up, we’ve got Josh [Emmanuel] and Myles [Kenlock], the two defenders. Josh has had to go on and he did all right actually, put one great cross in.

“And we’ve got Dozzer, Bish will be all right for Tuesday, Conor Grant. We came here with 19 players, we’ll be tipping up with 16 on Tuesday.”

Webster’s absence, with Tommy Smith already out having undergone back surgery, means skipper Luke Chambers is set to move back to his favoured central defensive role.

Having played at right-back so often in the last three seasons, does McCarthy believe it will take his skipper time to adjust? “I don’t think so, he’ll be fine.”

Town have scored only four goals in their eight Championship games since netting four against Barnsley on the opening day. Does McCarthy believe his team presents enough of an attacking threat?

“I thought there was at Brentford for a while, there was in that game,” the Town boss added. “Certainly against Barnsley we did.

“Aston Villa there was nothing until the last 10 minutes for either side. Norwich we had chances, Wolves we’ve played well and had chances. But it is a concern if we’re not scoring goals, of course.”

McCarthy was pleased with sub Leon Best’s performance, despite the 30-year-old having player more of the game - 65 minutes - than his manager would have wanted.

“I would have liked Brett to have stayed on for longer, but I thought he did well, Besty. I was pleased with him,” he said.

“He was a threat but he was a threat in a very difficult game. We didn’t get the ball up to him really or keep it up there. But he’s worked hard. I was pleased with him, pleased with what he’s done.”

Regarding 24-year-old Wood, who failed to score in his three starts and five sub appearances during his loan at Portman Road in 2014/15 but has netted seven times already this season, he added: “I don’t think he’s ripped it up here until now, until this season. You’re moving around all the time, having loan spells, maybe a move doesn’t work.

“I think you get deconditioned because you travel the team, you don’t play, you go back, you do bits of training. You’re treated a like a first-team player.

“I think that’s what happened to Woody when we got him. I was pleased with him just at the end when he was starting to get there and, of course, Leicester took him back.

“Leeds have got a very good player, he’s in great shape, he played really well today and his performance today has shown why people were coveting his signature a few years ago.

"And if he continues doing that then Leeds have got a really exceptional Championship striker.”

Whites boss Garry Monk, whose team has now won four in a row in all competitions, was pleased with the win but believed his side ought to have won by a greater margin.

“It’s very pleasing. I thought we did very well today," he said. "I think we understood the game very well, our planning in the game went very well.

“We understood that playing against Ipswich they were going to make us defend certain situations a lot and we planned for that very well and I thought we were excellent in that phase of the game defensively.

“And then offensively we created some very good chances today and my disappointment from the game is that we weren’t clinical enough, we didn’t make it comfortable for ourselves in terms of getting those extra goals that we needed to make it a little bit better for ourselves and give ourselves a little bit of breathing space.

“There’s always the danger towards the end of the game that one lapse or one moment could cost you and that’s always the fear, whereas really we should have been much more comfortable.”

Photo: TWTD

BlueMachines added 20:12 - Sep 24 Garry Monk basically said I knew exactly how they would play and they did. Of course we did. When do we ever do anything different? Fed up. Get out Mick.
20

goat_man added 20:19 - Sep 24 It's not so much the fact that we are playing long ball football, it's the fact that we are not setting ourselves up correctly to play it effectively. The only time in the last 16 years I've been truely entertained was under Royle, when we were playing long balls up to Bent and Kuqi who were both excellent in the air. At the end of last season, the majority of us did want MM to remain in, but accepted that he had to be very careful with the style of play and the people in his starting elevens that he employed this season. Thus far, its 100% identical to what didnt work last season. With all these injuries, he either now changes it drastically or Tuesday night will be the start of a very difficult period for him.

13

Lightningboy added 20:22 - Sep 24 We are going absolutely nowhere under McCarthy. He's taken us as far as his limited "tactical" skills can. 4 years of this "style" of football is more than enough.
20

Lightningboy added 20:38 - Sep 24 The annoying thing is that there's not much wrong with our squad that a decent manager couldn't put right. 1 - We've got one of the best keepers outside the prem in Bart. 2 - Chambers is a decent central defender constantly played out of position - even Stevie Wonder could see that so I don't get why our experienced manager cannot?..seriously Mick,we all know you're just too stubborn to change it - Grow up man. 3 - Skuse,Douglas & Bru are the most lethargic,untalented midfield trio I can ever remember at this club - Mick's been here 4 years now and this is what he's come up with as our midfield?!..we've been crying out for a goalscoring midfield general since Magilton retired but we still ain't got one. 4 - Sears has been destroyed by being asked to defend out wide - he is (was) a cracking little player 2 years ago,now Mick has drained him of all his confidence - put him back upfront alongside Best or Pitman. I honestly can't see things getting any better - results may pick up here and there but the style of football has gone out of the window - we used to be a pleasure to watch win,lose or draw - now even winning is becoming painful. Get Burley back here,either as manager or director of football...please!

31

BanksterDebtSlave added 20:47 - Sep 24 Oh well at least Chambers won't be playing right back on Tuesday....unless he puts Digby in the middle....he wouldn't would he ?
17

Bobby_Petta added 21:11 - Sep 24 Lightning boy agree totally. 4 years no progression, hasn't addressed the problems of last season, we need a playmaker skuse and Douglas are terrible, no creativity, unfortunately mick doesn't want play attractive football, he likes grafters. We have some good youngsters, Dozzell bish the 2 young fall backs, I play them both. Get Burley in till end of the season, he would get us playing football again and would get best of these young players, I fear under mick they won't get much game time. I think if we played players in the right positions and played more atacking passing football, we would be ok, the squad isnt that bad, get another striker in January. Sorry Mick thanks for what you have done, your a likeable guy, time for a change.

16

DurhamTownFan added 21:38 - Sep 24 I think if we could see some progress then people would get off his back a bit, but you could argue that we've been going backwards since May 2015, certainly a huge backwards step since we sold Murphy. The way we play is great if you need to battle to stay up, but were going for top 6, so need to try and control games more. Since Reading last year, MM has simply been terrified of trying to attack, and I don't think he knows how to evolve this team. For me, it's MM out unless he tries something new very soon!

13

itfc94 added 23:33 - Sep 24 Can't see anything getting better any time soon and can't see us getting rid of McCarthy. Couldn't agree more with everyone's comments on here tonight. I've defended Mick for a long time, but now I am sick to the bone like most. Boring, dross football. I'd rather watch us play an entertaining style and shift the ball rather than pump it forward and pray we pinch a scrappy win. Thing is, we look very ugly in victory and even uglier in defeat. Sad times at the moment.

18

oldegold added 23:59 - Sep 24 That's it for me..I have had enough under this manager who should have walked after the Portsmouth FA Cup fiasco. Too stubborn to change and admit he has bungled it, awful awful football, out of the cups cos he bottles it, young players not given a remote chance, players intentionally played out of position and ruined by his tactical acumen i.e Sears and Chambers and still persisting on playing them in the wrong positions...there is a terrible stench about the club. My 14 year son stopped last season for the turgid and dull "football" played, if you can call it football that is. No,I'm off and I'll come back when this one trick pony has gone...we are awful, simply awful..this style of football went out with the penny farthing..

22

brittaniaman added 00:02 - Sep 25 Hard game Tues. of coarse Brighton won today !!!! then another hard game Sat.??? We just cannot afford to lose those two please How is it these teams change there managers and after a few games they set the league alight ???? where as we seem get the Dross (Kean, jewell, and now McCarthy) been in this division 15yrs and it looks as though we will never get out ??? Notice up the road are top now

6

marshallmania added 00:31 - Sep 25 Yes Leeds deserved the win! Now where do you go about making the squad you have assembled winning a game? Firstly have a shot on target! Don't say you're playing 4-3-3 when its clearly 4-5-1. Be honest and let the fans know your objectives? Aiming for 7th is not good enough. We have a squad well capable of top 6! Play that team and stop trying to be a tactical genius cos you're not. 2 or 3 wins on the bounce and we're in the mix. pull your finger out. It's boring watching and following at the moment, you must know that. In MM I trust but how frustrating

-15

sidtheswan added 07:07 - Sep 25 4 goals in last eight games Brighton & Huddersfield next worrying times . Glad we didn't waste the Murphy money on a replacement ! MM foxtrot Oscar .
5

Spanishblueblood added 07:40 - Sep 25 The only way we are going to get rid of this stubborn, arrogant, tactically inept dinosaur, is to protest at the matches. Protest outside the ground but don't go in, that way you are letting ME know you are demanding a change and you are also hitting him where it hurts by not going in! Only problem is, there are too many clueless idiots that still back MM or that are too afraid to make a noise. It's a sad state of affairs and a disgrace to see our once great club in such disarray!

17

Spanishblueblood added 07:40 - Sep 25 The only way we are going to get rid of this stubborn, arrogant, tactically inept dinosaur, is to protest at the matches. Protest outside the ground but don't go in, that way you are letting ME know you are demanding a change and you are also hitting him where it hurts by not going in! Only problem is, there are too many clueless idiots that still back MM or that are too afraid to make a noise. It's a sad state of affairs and a disgrace to see our once great club in such disarray!

3

DurhamTownFan added 07:57 - Sep 25 Good idea Spanish, but I just didn't think Ipswich fans are animated enough for that so I can't see it happening.
4

Jimmy86 added 08:08 - Sep 25 Mick's comments about Wood after the game are an absolute carbon copy of how he would describe Murphy. I looked at it and all he did was change Murphy's name to Woods. He seriously believed that was how the game was won, was by having a big target man, who makes the ball stick and runs the channels. Hopefully Best can play that role, coz pitman sure as hell cant
3

Keaneish added 08:22 - Sep 25 Completely agree Jimmy86, I thought the same thing when reading that. Spanish blue blood - I'm up for positive action to make a change starting with a large banner from the top of the BR Upper. It's going to take time to weed MM out given how arrogant and belligerent he's become and ME won't make a call given how much transfer cash MM has made for him. You're right that we should stop attending games and hit the club in the pocket, but DurhamTownFan is right, many Ipswich fans are far too apathetic to revolt. In the name of football I'm more than up for action to promote positive change. I'd like to ask MM to leave with a simple giant banner asking him as much as a first step. Like others have said, Jewell was honourable. I'm hoping MM will be too before we have to take more severe actions.

10

Spanishblueblood added 08:35 - Sep 25 Keanish The banner would be the obvious move to make but sadly I don't think the 'arrogant prick' that is Mick McCarthy would give a toss. He has already said he doesn't care what fans want and think, he knows best and the more the fans call for something, the less chance there is of it happening! Also, I guarantee that the banner wouldn't last ten minutes, the stewards would be told to remove it!

7

Brownie added 08:53 - Sep 25 I love the idea that if you don't want to protest or stick a banner up that makes you a 'clueless idiot' who still backs MM. I agree with Durham Town that the demographic of our support(particularly at home) will mean that protests will not work.I have made my protest - season ticket not renewed - but having supported the club for 45 years I am not about to start parading up & down Portman Road with a placard. Mind you have the missus reckons I am clueless as I ditched the season ticket and have been to 5 games home & away this year! Addiction to ITFC yes but not clueless..

1

Spanishblueblood added 09:08 - Sep 25 Problem is, while you continue to watch and don't voice your discontent, nothing will change and the club, you are allegedly addicted to, will continue to spiral. This is the problem, you think by continuing to watch itfc you are supporting them but you are actually doing more harm than good. Clueless idiot may be a tad strong but people need to realise that under the current regime we are only headed in one direction and it ain't up!

6

Keaneish added 09:10 - Sep 25 Another option is an open letter to Mick drafted by a consortium of us on here venting our frustrations. I'm sure it won't be too hard to find a journalist in the Star, EADT etc to get this in front of the editor and printed. This will at least spur the club into some kind of action if its made public. Whatever action is taken there needs to be a clear strategy to it with some follow-up action already in place so there's momentum. If anyone has any ideas or is serious about doing this, send me a private message and we can discuss options. I've had enough. It would be good to get the boys on BlueMonday input on this too given they've got good reach. For all those who don't support a move for change, in whatever form that comes in, this will need to be referenced/addressed too.

1

martin587 added 09:21 - Sep 25 MM is a stubborn clueless tactician who has now totally lost the plot.He sets out his teams not to loose and not to win.Never has a plan B and when he makes substitutions they are either late or wrong.The club is heading in the wrong direction and things need to change sooner rather than later.Having supported this club for over 30 years it's a terrible shame to see it deteriorating in this fashion.The owner seems to be little interested.We should have invested,and yes don't go on about FFP rules etc,etc.Time for a change NOW. Nice chap but now has run his course.COYB.

2

surgery added 10:08 - Sep 25 martin587......don't know how you decided upon "nice chap" . Arrogant, stubborn, abhorrent maybe, but nice?
4

Brownie added 10:13 - Sep 25 Spanishblue - good point I can't argue with. I didn't renew because I was bored & not looking forward to going to games and then I still go anyway. Mad really! The only way we will change is finance( crowd levels & merchandise sale) down & poor results. I don't think the mysterious ME will be bothered by anything else.
2

DurhamTownFan added 10:53 - Sep 25 Banner isn't a bad idea. Even if removed immediately by stewards (which I'm sure it would be) it would get coverage from the media and show the visibility of discontent. As it stands, those who complain can be quite invisible and like I said in an earlier post the discontent seems to vanish a bit of we win a game or two. For me this is a much more long-term problem, which cannot be erased with a good run of results unless we've got them by playing in a manner which befits the great traditions of our club

1

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls