Ipswich Town column: ‘Fans should be asking if Marcus, not Mick, has taken us as far as he can’

If we play like that we’ve no chance of getting into the play-offs.

Mick McCarthy’s words could have come from any fan who endured a lifeless display as we succumbed to a bottom three – but certainly not on form – outfit in Rotherham (1-0) on Saturday.

Fortunately, I was an hour up the road covering a county cup semi-final.

But whether you were there or not, it was clear the tolerance of recent displays quickly turned, with boos and choruses of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ at Mick.

My defence of our boss was criticised in an email I received, urging me and other journos to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’.

I agreed about Saturday’s selection of a midfield with the only spark or width on the bench being indefensible.

I had already aired my disdain at setting up to nullify bottom third side Blackburn.

A penalty was the catalyst to make that selection into a winning one and the gaffer made the wrong call in sticking, not twisting.

But ‘Mick has taken us as far as he can’.

What?! From a relegation outfit without a heart to a top six challenging side who would run through brick walls for our club? All while selling prize assets and not spending in line with our rivals?

It’s aimed at the wrong person and is something I’ve pedalled in this column for years.

It should be: ‘has Marcus Evans taken us as far as he can?’

This is where the correspondent and myself harmoniously agreed.

Our owner needs to make his spending intentions clear before fans end up ‘smelling the coffee’ and deciding he’s the one to blame.

n Ipswich will need to get back to winning ways when they visit Wolves tomorrow (3pm) and then host Charlton on Tuesday (7.45pm).