There is little doubt that as Town look to hire a new head coach they will be looking for a steady pair of hands at the helm and ideally, someone who can manage those financial constraints.
In this regard, there is no doubting the magnificent the job soon to be departing Mick McCarthy did. With an exceedingly small budget, he got the very best out of his players but I guess any carpenter will tell you that you are only as good as the tools you have been given.
But Mick is as stubborn as a mule and a proud Yorkshire man at that. There is nothing wrong with personal pride but stubbornness can be both a strength and a weakness. He certainly had his favourite players and would sometimes go to ridiculous lengths to defend them and then say ‘I told you so’ when they got it right.
Take for example keeper Bart Bialkowski. A couple of seasons ago our manager would say that there was absolutely nothing to choose between his two keepers and that they were both his number one!
Then Bart went back to Poland after his father passed away and Dean Gerken returned to the side. Fair enough, but months later, when Bart was back at the club, McCarthy ignored the wishes of most supporters and persisted with a ‘good keeper’, when most of us had already realized that there was a much better one sitting on the bench.
This is a quite typical character trait of the man. He shows scant regard for what fans think and instead refers to them as ‘numskulls’ if they overstep the mark. McCarthy is respected in the game by coaches and players alike but his attitude to supporters certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
The Greek philosopher Epictetus hit the nail on the head when he said,’ It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.’ And there I think is where the problem lies. He is obstinate at best and delusional at worst but one thing he focuses on more than anything else is his little old self.
How often do we hear McCarthy even mention Ipswich Town football club and our proud history? He is more concerned with himself and this club appears to be nothing more than a vehicle for his own convenience.
And finally, I will leave it to Napoleon Bonaparte to sum things up.
‘I can no longer obey; I have tasted command, and I cannot give it up.’
That is perhaps why this driver-less car is steering him in the wrong direction.
Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich
