Journalists have all sorts of different ways to get the reaction they want.
The ‘war of words’ is a classic where you basically just read out quotes from another manager to the manager before you and, even if they’re vague or indirect, you immediately stir the pot and force a comeback.
You can agree with them before they even start talking. ‘That penalty decision looked like a bit of a shambles… didn’t it?’
Or you can go to the ol’ rumour mill. The one you don’t necessarily approve of but we all have to talk about it anyway.
Some people are saying…
Mick McCarthy was the best possible person they could’ve hit with because his bullshit tolerance is minimal. So, when he was told that some people think Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski wasn’t injured despite being absent, he decided to recall a story.
And, in true Mick fashion, it was as frank and as effective as always.
“We were at Leeds and we drew one all and I think it might’ve been when they gave a penalty or something and we had murdered them. Somebody said, ‘some people might think that’s two points dropped’.
“I said, ‘some people can f**k off’.
“Those those ‘some people’ who think Bart was out of the team and he wasn’t injured, similarly…”
To lighten the mood a bit – McCarthy reprises the “some people can fuck off” quote over conspiracy theories about Bialkowski’s absence today pic.twitter.com/nPvdGB8GzW
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 13, 2018
