When Mick McCarthy opted to end his spell as Ipswich manager following a 1-0 victory over Barnsley, it amazed me that he has been getting criticism from fans. Ipswich are a Championship club with a limited budget and the fact that he has been able to keep them clear of relegation and in a safe midtable position should not mean he has waves of animosity towards him. Ipswich fans have stated they find the way they play very dour and uninspiring.
Charlton Chaos
There are three examples of why football fans should be careful what they wish for. The first example is of Charlton and Alan Curbishley. Charlton were a Premier League club who were finishing in mid-table year in year out and were improving themselves on and off the pitch. Charlton fans became bored and felt Curbishley could not take them onto the next level. He, therefore, left by mutual consent and his spell ended sourly. Following his departure, they were relegated straight away and now find themselves in League One with questionable ownership. If they had perhaps stayed with Curbishley and accepted their position they may still find themselves in the Premier League.
Southampton Dicing With Relegation
The next example is that of Southampton who, last season, finished in the eighth position and reached the League Cup final. Southampton sell their best players every year cannot have high expectations when they do that. Claude Puel came in and did a decent job but again Saints fans felt the style of play was not to their liking. The board, under much pressure from the fans, let him go and replaced him. His replacement, Mauricio Pellegrino, played even duller football than Puel and left them in a relegation fight which they look unlikely to get out of.
Hawthorn Havoc
The last example is that of West Bromwich Albion, whose fans demanded Tony Pulis to leave, stating that their style of football was pre-historic. Pulis has never been relegated and the decision surprised many in the football world. West Brom were in bad form but were still fighting. They then decided to bring in Alan Pardew to play a more attacking brand of football. Pardew’s 5.6% win rate lead to West Brom being cut adrift and doomed for Championship football next year.
Ipswich fans will be hoping that they do not follow these high profile disasters. The key for the new manager will be to engage the fans and also maintain a good league position.
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