Ipswich Town sit fifth in the Championship table, with five wins from their first seven games – so why are some fans still so negative?

Going into this season, following last year’s debacle and subsequent season ticket price rise, there was a fair bit of concern and ill feeling among fans, despite some welcome new signings.

But the Blues raced out of the gate, winning their first four league games and making rare progress in the Carabao Cup.

New strikers Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn thrived in an unusually attacking line-up, while youngsters like Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam have really shone in their chances with the first team.

- Stuart Watson verdict: Painful reminders that much remains the same

Indeed, if Town win their game in hand, they’ll sit top of the table – who could have predicted that?

Yet the old grumbles are starting to creep in from some quarters, even after a 2-0 win over Bolton on Saturday.

The style of play is too negative, Mick’s playing his usual favourites, there’s no entertainment value in watching Town in action.

- Like our Facebook page for more Blues news

Stats show that Town face among the highest amounts of shots per game in the division, while attempting among the fewest – which some have pointed at as a sign of impending disaster.

- Fuller Flavour: Win was welcome, performance was not

But one could argue that the efficiency with which Town are scoring is admirable, while injuries in the defence could account for those shots on goal from the opposition.

Surely once the likes of Luke Chambers, Adam Webster and Tommy Smith return, Town’s defence will improve? And hasn’t McCarthy worked wonders to manufacture a start like this with so many injuries?

Then there’s the Bersant Celina debate – the Manchester City loanee has looked both exciting and threatening in his games so far, but Mick seems reluctant to play him from the start.

- Northstander: Celina won’t start 12 games for Blues

Is that because he’s not a ‘Mick player’ – the old accusation that McCarthy favours hard workers over talent and attacking threat – or because, as he suggested last week, that it’s hard to fit him into the system?

We’ll learn a lot from the clash with table-toppers Leeds on Saturday, of course. But how are you feeling after seven games? Is your Town glass half full or half empty? Let us know!