Bounce Magazine November 2015

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2015 | ISS 2015 UE #37 | ISSUE | SPORT #37
SPORT
EVERYONE IS TO BLAME FOR
POOR FORM – DON’T JUST POINT
FINGERS AT THE MANAGER
As sure as night follows day,
football fans will always have a
strong opinion when their club
is going through a rough patch.
One win in 10, no victories in
the last six games – at the
time of writing of course.
Mick McCarthy was right to
admit this is his toughest
time in the Ipswich Town
dugout following the dismal
3-0 defeat at Hull City.
As he approaches his
third birthday in charge at
Portman Road, probably
the most frustrating thing
for fans is trying to work out where it
has gone so wrong.
How Ipswich can go from four straight wins
at the top of the Championship to freefalling
down the second tier in such dramatic fashion.
I have to confess that I am equally mystified.
Let’s start with the obvious. Injuries have
played their part. As the lions of Hull roared,
toothless Town had to make do without a
potential starting midfield of Cole Skuse,
Teddy Bishop, Ryan Fraser and Tommy Oar,
not to mention their most creative player in
David McGoldrick. Any team would struggle
with those in the treatment room rather than
on the pitch.
Owner Marcus Evans must look at his role as well.
Yes, he threw far too many millions at previous
incumbents. But it is hard not to think Mick is being
punished for the mistakes of Keane and Jewell
before him. It is all very well pulling out free transfer
magic rabbits out of the hat, but sometimes you
need a real show-stopper.
I’m not saying break the bank to try and sign an
Andre Gray or, dare I say, Jordan Rhodes. But a
couple of million on the right player/players would
improve the squad. And even when spending sevenfigure
sums, you can still do your due diligence to
make sure the character is right and the team spirit
remains on track.
Money should have been spent in January when
Town were pushing for automatic
promotion. Likewise, more should
have been spent in the summer.
Paying half decent wages doesn’t
seem like it is going to be enough.
Naturally, the players have to
face some hard truths – and I am
sure Mick, for all his public loyalty,
has talked privately with the likes
of Skuse, Luke Chambers and
Christophe Berra about their recent
form.
Then there’s Mick. To come out and
say he would be put off bringing on fans’ favourites,
just because they chanted for them, was needless
at best.
His loyalty is admirable but if his star men have lost
their sparkle, it’s time to take them out of the firing
line. Right now, it is about getting points on the
board. And, as much as it pains me to say, if that
means Jay Tabb rather than Ainsley Maitland-Niles,
maybe Mick needs to resort back to basics.
NOVEMBER FIXTURES
Tuesday 3 November – Bolton (H)
Saturday 7 November – Rotherham (A)
Saturday 21 November – Wolves (H)
Saturday 28 November – Charlton (A)
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