Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says Sir Bobby Robson would have had no problems cutting it as a manager in the modern era.

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy believes the late Sir Bobby Robson would have no problems cutting it as a manager in the modern era.

The legendary Ipswich and Newcastle manager will be celebrated at Portman Road, as part of ‘Sir Bobby Robson Day’, the main event being the Championship clash between the Blues and the Magpies at Portman Road this afternoon.

Robson won four domestic league titles, two in Holland and two in Portugal, during his time as a manager, but more significantly he led Town to FA Cup and UEFA Cup glory and guided England to last-eight and last-four finishes in two World Cups.

His last managerial role came at St James’ Park, before being controversially sacked in August 2004 and he passed away just under five years later, after a long battle with cancer.

“Managers adapt over a period of time because they have to, we all have to adapt to different things and he did,” said McCarthy,.

“He evolved; he innovated with how his teams played, so he would be more than bright enough to pick up anything, and it (football) has not changed that much.”

A raft of foreign coaches, appointed by Premier League clubs in recent history, have been largely credited for transforming the way in which football is now played and prepared for in England.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has become known for “Gegenpressing”, Pep Guardiola, at Barcelona, built a reputation for “Tiki-Taka” possession-based football, while Arsene Wenger was widely credited for transforming Arsenal by bringing in a strict nutrition and health regime.

“There’s all this about Gegenpressing? It’s about getting the ball back which has always been done,” said McCarthy.

“Passing has always been done. I remember speaking to Kenny Dalglish and he was saying ‘What is all this about possession football? We used to pass it to each other 30 years ago.

“Some of the terminology has changed and probably the fitness has changed and the routines and the health and strength and conditioning, and maybe the way the game is played here because it’s not 4-4-2 all the time, there are different shapes and systems, I get that.

“But the principle is still the same and Bobby Robson was a hell of a bright man and would be more than able to hold his own in terms of managing teams now.

He was a great coach, which is what he was known for, but also a great man-manager and got the best out of people, that’s the other skill.

“Coaching is one thing, managing is another.”