Jewell: Learning About Players More Important Than Results - Ipswich Town News
Blues boss Paul Jewell believes finding out about players is more important than results during pre-season. Town face West Ham at Portman Road in their only home friendly this afternoon (KO 3pm).
Jewell, whose team has lost 2-0 to Luton and 2-1 to Southend in their last two matches, said: "Pre-season games you can get carried away.
"I spoke to one manager [the other day] and he said we need to get beaten in pre-season because they’d scored something like 17 goals and haven’t conceded one yet. Nobody likes losing but it’s more important to find out about players.
"We’ve got a few young players in the squad. At Southend we had Cressy, Josh, Emmanuel-Thomas, Massimo, Luke Hyam, there are a lot of young players in there.”
He concedes his side need to improve and that the squad needs further additions: "We need to get better, we need to get more quality players, stronger and have a nasty streak.
"At Southend we had 21 crosses go in, but have we got enough people in the team who really want to score a goal? And have we got enough people in the team who when it comes into our box are prepared to stick their head in?
"We are a small team and it’s something we need to address. I know Barcelona are small, but we’re no Barcelona.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Marian Kello, who was recently on trial with the Blues, is now spending a similar spell with Wolves. The ex-Hearts man has also had offers of contracts from clubs in Turkey.
What to read next:
No Dividends For PLC ShareholdersThe board of the Ipswich Town PLC has written to its shareholders confirming that its stake in the club has now reduced to less than one per cent and outlining that any dividends taken out of Town in future will go solely to majority owners Gamechanger 20 Ltd.
Rosenior: I Couldn't Be Prouder of My PlayersHull City manager Liam Rosenior said he couldn’t have been prouder of his players following last night’s 3-3 draw with Town which keeps the Tigers hopes of making the play-offs alive going into their final match and wished the Blues well for the remainder of the campaign.
Luongo: We're Enjoying the RideTown midfielder Massimo Luongo says the squad are enjoying the ride of playing in high pressure games as the Blues moved a point closer to the Premier League following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Match ReportTown moved level on points with second-placed Leeds United following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium having been in front three times. Returning striker George Hirst put the Blues in front in the 19th minute but the Tigers levelled on 40 through Ozan Tufan before Omari Hutchinson put Town back ahead with the first of two brilliant goals. However, Hull equalised again through Liam Delap in the 56th minute, then Hutchinson’s second put the Blues ahead again, however, Tigers sub Noah Ohio grabbed a point for the East Yorkshire side with three minutes remaining and the Blues were unable to take late chances to win it.