Tough Night For McCarthy At A.G.M.?

After the success of last years event, it was only natural that the management team would be happy to face more questioning from supporters this season too but when they plan these things, it is many months in advance and what might have been a comfortable ride in August, will be anything but tomorrow night one feels.

Under the microscope or microphone perhaps, will be Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor; along with managing director Ian Milne, club secretary Sally Webb and academy sponsorship manager Simon Milton.

Now these things are often quite a tame affair, as the club goes through the formal business of the Supporters` Club A.G.M. and so anybody wishing to attend with have to show their membership cards at the door, which I guess is to be expected.

This will not deter some season ticket holders from speaking their minds though and I suspect that the management team may find that they have bitten off more than they can chew tomorrow night at the Legends bar!

It would be churlish to try to suggest that all hell will break out because that is not the way these things work. But someone might politely ask our manager why he thinks that Gerks should be his chosen number one – or indeed, why he persists in playing Luke Chambers out of position?

I am sort of hopeful that he gets a bit of a rough ride because in every post match press conference I have heard, few journalists seem to have the nerve to get him to explain himself on issues that so many fans think are worthy of detailed replies.

Sadly, because of the nature of the event there is every possibility too that it might turn out to be nothing more than a damp squib because civility and generosity our often the nature of the game and the order of the day.

Given our current plight however, I am expecting some fireworks from time to time and it might be good if he explains too why he has resorted to playing Freddie Sears on the wings and not as a central attacker, where he usually gets us some goals!

It promises to be an interesting evening and I get the feeling that Mick and Terry would have been much happier about facing the blues supporters, if only we had won at Forest instead of dropping yet more late points.

Lying as we do in 13th place in the table is hardly going to make life any easier for the gaffer and his assistant and I feel sure someone will ask them where do they realistically think Town will finish this season?


Personally I think the play-off’s is probably our best hope again but we have a lot of catching up to do, as we are already seven points off the pace and struggling for goals.

A win at Portman Road on Saturday could get us back on track though and we should only seriously look at the Sky Bet Championship table after Christmas period I believe so much can still happen in between time.

For good and for bad.


Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich