Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d love the Blues to play “play nicer, more attractive football”, however, not at the expense of another season spent towards the wrong end of the table. He admits that the second half of the last campaign became about avoiding relegation.

McCarthy, whose side finished 16th in 2016/17, has said the Blues are “trying to play more and certainly on the floor”, something which has been evident in pre-season matches.

Does he believe fans need to be patient as this new style is bedded in during the early stages of 2017/18?

“It became a means to an end last year, it was about staying up from Christmas onwards,” McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“I was never going to say it then, although I did say it privately, I wouldn’t have said it publicly because that’s not going to impress anybody.

“But that’s what it was about and it was about being hard to beat, pretty much most of the time. That didn’t always happen. We had a lot of draws, of course.

“I'd love to play nicer, more attractive football, but I’d always say not at the cost of being at the bottom of the league, of course.

“But I’m not asking anybody to be patient, I think they’ve run out of patience, we’ll have to get them back on my side.”

Reflecting further on the second half of last season, he added: “We were always going to be in the bottom half of the league from Christmas and beyond there, I thought.

“Being in the bottom half of the league, it was that close that you’re always going to be threatened with relegation, which was the case.

“We were never in the bottom three or anywhere near that for a while, but I knew from Christmas it was just going to be a scrap to be in the top half of the table and anybody from halfway down to the bottom at one stage could have gone, there weren’t that many points between us.”

Photo: TWTD

blue75 added 17:21 - Jul 25 For those that believe the leopard has changed his spots, McCarthy has already admitted he'll revert to type as soon as it goes wrong!! He knows there's no patience for his outdated style!! This season could be even more toxic than last as soon as he reverts to type the fans are likely to turn on him.
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Bluetone added 17:44 - Jul 25 McCarthy: I'd Love Us to Play Nicer, More Attractive Football. Trouble is he hasn't a clue how to coach that style.
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KernewekBlue added 18:07 - Jul 25 If things start to go awry early doors, McCarthy will be out on his ear quick smart and it will leave the door open for a more forward-thinking man who can get the team playing attractive football again. A new broom might also attract a few better players through the door!
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stiffy501 added 18:26 - Jul 25 Ah i remember that sweet free flowing football that got us into a relegation scrap last year !!!!!
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blueboy1981 added 18:46 - Jul 25 ........ Gcon ... ??? -need I say more .. ? Non so strange as folk - well some anyway .. !!
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shakytown added 19:50 - Jul 25 Is this bloke for real???? We played the most boring negative football in the history of the game last season and spent it battling relegation and he still thinks it's appropriate. Muck out ASAP.
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corkblue added 20:32 - Jul 25 New faces have arrived and been allocated their No's. Now let's hope that they are allowed to play football from the outset instead of dropping in to the now famous ITFC mode of HOOFBALL!
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Swn98 added 08:06 - Jul 26 Londonblue a very good post that sums up succinctly the problems of last season if I hadn't posted the same I would of got numerous down arrows. I also note the usual suspects Lining Up Talking The Team Down waiting/Hoping We Fail. If people want to turn Portman rd toxic don't bother coming. Went to last night's game and although the starting or finishing line up bore no resemblance to the team that will start on Aug the 5th there was lots to like especially the build up to the goal. Looking forward to the valley sat where I hope to see a team more like the one that will start against Birmingham.

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Garv added 15:54 - Jul 26 Heard it before. Nothing changes.
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