Dozens of pundits, ex-players and opposition fans warned Ipswich Town fans to ‘be careful what you wish for’ following Mick McCarthy’s departure this week. For a nuanced guide on what’s led us to this point here are STUART WATSON’s verdict pieces from 2017/18.
END OF 2016/17
‘Fans silently turning their back on Town after boring home campaign’
‘Thank goodness that’s over - little light at end of tunnel after worst season in 58 years’
SUMMER
‘Golden chance for a fresh start at Ipswich Town’
‘Fast start is crucial if Town are to change the negative narrative’
START OF 2017/18
AUGUST
BIRMINGHAM CITY – W 1-0 (h)
‘Blues look a team we can be proud of again’
LUTON - W 2-0 (a) & BARNSLEY – W 2-1 (a)
‘Fans reconnecting with club after summer of reconciliation’
MILLWALL - W 4-3 (a) & BRENTFORD – W 2-0 (h)
‘Stop picking at the scab Mick and let old wounds heal’
PALACE - L 2-1 (a) FULHAM – L 2-0 (h)
‘Reality check, but still plenty of reasons to be cheerful’
SEPTEMBER
QPR L 2-1 (a)
‘Perspective required, but Ipswich Town must not fall back into bad old habits’
BOLTON – W 2-0 (h)
‘It’s unfair to label Ipswich Town fans implacable’
LEEDS – L 3-2 (a)
‘That’s how Ipswich Town will truly win back hearts and minds’
OCTOBER
SUNDERLAND - W 5-2 (h) & BRISTOL CITY – L 3-1 (h)
‘Progress for Ipswich Town, but hard to know just how much’
SHEFFIELD UNITED – L 1-0 (a)
‘Forget about form – Ipswich Town can beat Norwich City’
NORWICH CITY – L 1-0 (h)
‘Town fans bored of hard luck tales and false dawns’
BURTON - W 2-1 (a)
‘Is it really necessary to swear Mick? Fans have a right to an opinion’
NOVEMBER
CARDIFF – L 3-1 (a) & PRESTON - W 3-0 (h)
‘The best thing about Ipswich Town’s start? A sense the best is yet to come’
HULL – D 2-2 (a)
‘Town in tune with their belligerent boss again’
SHEFF WEDS – D 2-2 (h) & VILLA - L 2-0 (a)
‘A week which suggests Town are heading for mid-table mediocrity’
DECEMBER
DERBY - W 1-0 (a) & FOREST - W 4-2 (h)
‘Stayaway fans can fall back in love with this Ipswich Town team’
MIDDLESBROUGH - L 2-0 (a)
‘Counter kings to counter chumps – Town must refocus on maintaining fun factor at Portman Road’
READING – W 2-0 (h)
‘Why Ipswich Town are just like Indiana Jones’
WOLVES – L 1-0 (a)
‘Ipswich Town’s half-term report should be stamped with a B+’
JANUARY
QPR – D 0-0 (h) & DERBY – L 2-1 (h) by Andy Warren
‘Big decisions could shape Ipswich Town’s 2018’
FULHAM - L 4-1 (a) & SHEFF UTD – L 1-0 (h)
‘Just how to do Ipswich Town break this Groundhog Day cycle?’
LEEDS – W 1-0 (h)
‘Town always find a way to prevent pot boiling over’
BOLTON – D 1-1 (a) by Andy Warren
‘Ipswich fans know the Sir Bobby era is long gone... but that feeling of togetherness must return’
WOLVES – L 1-0 (h)
‘Come on Ipswich Town, make us truly buy into the plan’
FEBRUARY
SUNDERLAND – W 1-0 (a)
‘Clear that cynicism is deep-rooted when not everyone can enjoy wins’
BURTON – D 0-0 (h)
‘Increasing lack of ambition filters down from the very top’
NORWICH CITY – D 1-1 (a)
‘Mexit’ looks inevitable now – and no-one knows quite how that’s going to pan out
CARDIFF L 1-0 (h) & PRESTON – W 1-0 (a)
‘Marcus Evans needs to speak up and fast’
MARCH
SHEFF WEDS W 2-1 (a) & SHEFF UTD – D 0-0 (h)
‘McCarthy badly misjudges the mood as judgement day looms’
HULL CITY L 3-0 (h) & BRISTOL CITY – L 1-0 (a)
MCCARTHY EXIT ANNOUNCEMENT
‘Love him or loathe him – McCarthy certainly did it his way’
BIRMINGHAM CITY – L 1-0 (a)
‘With potential for a messy break-up, why delay operation win back hearts and minds?’
APRIL
MILLWALL D 2-2 (h) & BRENTFORD – L 1-0 (a)
‘Take a calculated risk Marcus – it’s in Ipswich Town’s DNA’
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