Town manager Paul Jewell says the squad he has inherited from Roy Keane is strong enough to secure their position in the Championship, but feels new additions would give everyone at Portman Road a lift.

Jewell said: “I think if you said to me that I couldn’t sign anybody between now and the end of the season, there’s enough here. But I think, like everyone, sometimes you need the impetus provided by new players.

“I have to say though, I’ve been really impressed with the players already here, even though we lost last week. I’m impressed with their effort, we just need to get them to settle down a little bit on the ball. But when you’ve lost nine of the last 11, that happens.

“If we managed to win two or three on the spin, you’d see a different team, and that’s the same anywhere you go.

“At the start of the season, when we were winning matches, the game probably looked easy, now all of a sudden, you lose a few games, lose a bit of confidence and everything looks hard. We just need a few results, but I’ve got faith in the players we’ve got here.”

With loanee Rory Fallon returning to Plymouth last week, a frontman looks to be on the new manager’s wish-list, although he’s not 100% certain that he will be adding to his attacking options: “I’m not saying we’re definitely going to sign a striker, I’m thinking that the more good quality players you have trying to get in your team - without being ridiculous like Manchester City - helps everybody.

“We’ll try and improve the squad obviously, but if players walk through the door, we want the players already here to rise to the challenge, not think ‘That’s me out the door’, because that isn’t the case.

“There might well be players leaving, I don’t know, but from what I’ve seen so far, I’m not in a rush to move anybody on.”

The Town boss says his first full week at Playford Road has gone well: “The effort of the players has been terrific, it’s been a good week’s training.

“Hopefully, the result on Saturday will reflect that, that’s the main thing. The players’ effort has been unstinting and we’ve been working extremely hard on lots of things.

“Let’s hope we’ll see the benefits over the rest of the season. It’s going to take time, things do take time, but hopefully we’ll given them some more ideas and hopefully we can put them into practice.

“It’s definitely a long-term project we’ve got here. That was one of the draws for me; it was a project not just about winning on Saturday.

“I’m not daft, I know we’re in a bit of a dog fight, but I’m more than confident that we can get out of it and we’re looking forward to happier times and looking up rather than down. But at the moment we are in the mire and we’ve got to fight to get out of it.”

Photo: Action Images

lunatic38 added 09:05 - Jan 21 Well it wont be strong enough if You start selling every one!!!
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blue added 09:19 - Jan 21 Maybe good in training like they were for rk, but there has to be changes a long losing streek needs a shake-up in the team. I feel pauls got something up his sleeve striker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cheltenham_Blue added 09:28 - Jan 21 @lunatic38 Where does Jewell say he's selling? Looking for trouble that isn't there? “We'll try and improve the squad obviously, but if players walk through the door, we want the players already here to rise to the challenge, not think ‘That's me out the door', because that isn't the case. “There might well be players leaving, I don't know, but from what I've seen so far, I'm not in a rush to move anybody on.” Read it properly

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bedsitfc added 09:29 - Jan 21 I think he means what he has said we dont need desperate signings but if someone becomes available who would make a difference at the right price then he would be interested. We already have a good squad they just need to play without fear and they can only happen when they are confident.
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pitseablue added 09:35 - Jan 21 Yet more plain talking from Mr Jewel. If he can get us to start winning a few games, and I think he will,better times are not far away! He is saying all the right thinks and it sounds like making all the right moves. Good on yer Paul!
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bigfish added 09:38 - Jan 21 Play for safety and build next year. Let PJ look at the squad sort the contracts and buy what he needs in the summer to challenge in the championship 2011 / 12 season . Thats how i read in to this.
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whippet added 09:52 - Jan 21 we have lost townsend, colback, fallon and that dutch rb from wba without any players coming in (except return of the 'prodigal son' lee martin). with this squad we are facing relegation. it hasn't changed. change something!
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jas0999 added 10:07 - Jan 21 Sensible stuff from Jewell. I think he knows we need to strengthen in key positions - probably two or three players - but it would be daft to state 'we are not good enough' because what message would it send to the current players?! Also, he will no doubt want to make it Paul Jewell's Ipswich - rather than Roy Keane's.
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StowTractorBoy added 10:13 - Jan 21 I suspect that PJ is finding the same problems as RK encountered in that we cannot meet players demands when trying to attract them to Portman Road. Jewell is not stupid and knows what he wants but getting them here is a different matter. I still say we should go for young up and coming players from the lower divisions. Look at the budgies and what they have achieved. Chimbonda is a RK type signing which in the long term will cost us a lot of money. Not sure that I agree that we have enough with what we have got but then he knows better than me. We need a right back and a craftsman in midfield and until we get the latter we will not score many goals.

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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 10:14 - Jan 21 get the contracts sorted out Jewell. mcCauley (worth 3m) and norris (worth 1.5m) might be leaving on frees, not good business by anyones standards. offer a contract extension to leadbitter and if he refuses get rid, it will clearly show he is not blue and white. so many players potentially leaving and 4 already gone (5 if you include livermore). squad isn't strong enough and you know it. understand the motivational talk but we need to live in the real world. find out which players SUPPORT Ipswich Town (Darren Ambose, Titus Bramble etc). Bring them in. Have players at the club who love the club and will beg to have a new contract.

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brian_a_mul added 10:32 - Jan 21 Nice idea! but Bramble would be on seriously big money. Maybe if we get Premier in a few seasons we could get him. Ambrose is a fine player and would improve the team but he has become injury prone. Our first team is good but we doont need back ups. Its great to see Wickham back getting 90 minutes and starting to play well. Lets hope Priskin doesnt pick up an injury! PJ needs to life the players and he seems to be doing it very well. Getting the contracts sorted out and settling the players is important to the confidence of the players. I just want Jan to be over!!!!, at least then we will know what we have to work with for the rest of the season

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itfc1981 added 10:33 - Jan 21 Super Paul Jewell!
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radiohead added 10:35 - Jan 21 Why is Andros Townsend gone on loan to Watford ? He looked a tidy player at Portman Road. Could we not have got him back.
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lunatic38 added 11:07 - Jan 21 @Cheltenham_Blue i did read it and i stand by my comment considering Leadbitter is now in the tabloids(could be BS) Norris is under a bid and McCauley has been tapped up by Rangers let alone the other 18 or so that are out of contract. Maybe my impatience at the lack of signings, but at the moment the impoteus is leaving so again i stand by my comment!
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youidiots added 11:29 - Jan 21 I have to say, I was happy when Keane was appointed but my optimism was turned around with results/aquisitions/the blokes attitude. On the other hand when Jewell was confirmed as manager I was a bit p****d by it but he has been saying all the right things so far. Really impressed with every press conference. Now please deliver!
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alex12345 added 11:44 - Jan 21 Bring in a new right back, a quick striker that can play off one of the bigger men e.g wickham and priskin and even scotland, although he might not be big hes in the same mould of player. Also a quick skillful winger would come in handy, a certain Andros Townsend springs to mind although we have to move on from him. And we don't want to make the mistake of short term loan deals AGAIN. It is proven not to work so there is simply no point. Hopefully Norris, Delaney and big mac can tie up contracts quickly otherwise we could be in a serious relagation battle. At the moment we have enough to get out of it but if them 3 realise that they are on the way out they won't give their all and if the likes of leadbitter are sold, we could be in severe trouble. COYB

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alex12345 added 11:45 - Jan 21 Giovani Dos Santos is seemingly surplus to requirements at the moment?
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bluelady added 12:00 - Jan 21 Jas totally agree how can he say we just aint good enough? He has to boost moral make best of what he has and build on that!
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devontractorboy added 12:14 - Jan 21 Good level headed comments from Jewell, lets all give the guy a chance to turn things around, strengthening the squad can only help the team, I'm resigned to losing one or two but it's not individuals who count it's the team. 3 points tomorrow would be nice for a start, lets get back 'Fortress Portman Road'!!
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Vic added 12:17 - Jan 21 Whippet - what makes you think you know more than PJ? I assume from your comment you've got several years experience in coaching professional football players? I assume you have specifically taken these players for several training sessions, talked to them personally and know their state of mind? Thought not - please keep don't bother in future unless you can be constructive.

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RetroBlue added 12:39 - Jan 21 I like PJ's measured approach - very calm, very informed, very intuitive. Consolidate this season. Next season play offs , for sure !
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denhamblue added 12:48 - Jan 21 um in a nutshell,were not going to buy anyone.
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gibborocks added 12:57 - Jan 21 Well if PJ says he is confident, then I will back him all the way. All he has to do is prove that he can keep us up.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:07 - Jan 21 i tell you at 5 o'clock on saturday if he has made any difference its hard to turn a cows ear into a silk purse
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TimmyH added 13:10 - Jan 21 Hardly shooting for the stars - are we! a squad strong enough to remain in the Championship!!. I can understand the predicament we find ourselves in the moment but I can't believe Keane would have got us relegated, lets face it Preston, Palace and Scunthorpe are all pretty poor this season. Saying that I do think he needs time to 'bed down' and access the players but I do want to see signs of an improvement in the months ahead and that doesn't mean staying in the bottom half of the league, because that would be too easy for a start in his managerial start at Portman Road.

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