Wellens: Town Players Don't Care
Monday, 29th Oct 2012 09:08

Loan midfielder Richie Wellens laid into Town’s permanent signings after Saturday’s dismal defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, claiming he and his fellow temporary signings are the only ones who care. Caretaker-manager Chris Hutchings similarly pointed the finger at players in his post-match press conference after the game.

Wellens, who is with the Blues from Leicester until November 10th, said: “A new manager needs to come in and put a rocket under their backsides because there are not enough people who show they care about losing or even their own careers.

“One of the coaches said that the old manager got stick for bringing in loan players, but it is the loan players who are showing they care and that is a sad indication of what is wrong.”

He refused to blame those coaches for Saturday's display: “There is a full week to get someone in but everything Chris [Hutchings] and Sparky [Mark Kennedy] have said and done in the days before the game were spot on.

“If we are allowing balls to drop in the box and not clearing the ball or not stopping shots, or winning a header, you are going to get beat and that is not down to the coaches.”

He added: “We need people to show passion, to show they care. It is difficult when you are getting the ball and no one else wants it. It is human nature when you are under pressure to go and hide but we need a better attitude, and to act like men.

“I have always thought of Ipswich as a nice club and that was confirmed when I got here. It is a little too easy, too cosy.”

The 32-year-old former Manchester United trainee continued: "Defensively we were a bit of a shambles. We did not compete with their physicality and they won every headed ball in both boxes.

“When you go a goal down after 40-odd seconds in the situation we are in. We showed some character and came back for a while after going a goal down and were the better team.

“The second half was terrible. It is difficult to put a finger on why but we need to sort it out."

He says he takes defeats such as Saturday's to heart: “I care — I care about football. The easiest thing for me would be to let the game pass me by but that is not me.

“I have had four games and lost four and that hurts me. I won’t speak to the wife and the kids will be put to bed. It ruins my week.”

Wellens says he wouldn't have been out in the circumstances some of the other players were in midweek: “In training when we are asked to work they do put it in.

“It is not for me to say when people go and have a drink. But if it was me I would have looked at the situation.

“Do I need to go out and be having a drink? If I was a supporter I would not have been happy. It was about six or seven and you can’t judge the whole group by those players."

He also issued a warning for the future: “I can’t see Ipswich ever winning a game unless they are at their best and everything is going for them.

“To be a strong club in the Championship you have to win when things are not going well. I can fully understand why the club have been done by five and six goals this season.”

In terms of the new boss, he wouldn't be drawn: “It is not my place to say about that. They need to get to get the decision right because we had it at Leicester.

"They sacked Nigel Pearson who was doing a good job but then we had to go through two or three managers before we got him back and now he is doing very well. Whoever it is needs to get the players on board as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, interviews for the manager's job continue with this morning's papers again mentioning Blues interest in Blackpool's Ian Holloway. However, as of this weekend, Town had not made contact with the Seasiders regarding their boss.

Mick McCarthy and Alan Curbishley remain the two frontrunners for the job.

Photo: Action Images

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backwiththeboysagain added 09:39 - Oct 29

Well said Richie. You only need to read on here the crap that Chopra is coming out with on Twitter to understand. Hopefully the new manager will get rid of the dead wood, bring in his own permanant signings and get us out of this mess. Personally I's like to see Chopra gone, he's been nothing but trouble since arriving, use his wages on someone who can concentrate on football.

backwiththeboysagain added 09:39 - Oct 29

meekreech added 09:40 - Oct 29 Remember the reasons why Shane Supple retired ? He said that about players then so nothing has changed ! Even Houdini will not be able to get us out of this !!
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DurhamTownFan added 09:41 - Oct 29

Mark me down will you, but I'm sick of fans arguing that we can improve by signing yet MORE players. How many guys have been brought in since Keane and Jewell took over? Ever heard of stability? Yes, ok, some of the guys are really not giving their all, but none of our players will ever learn to care about the club unless they spend more than a season here and learn to love the area. Granted, we may need to get rid of SOME underperformers, but if the new guy some in and signs 5 or 6 in January all over again, where does that leave us? If I were a kid these days I'd really struggle to know who's name to put on the back of my shirt, cos they'd probably be gone in a few weeks!

MickMillsTash added 09:43 - Oct 29

Shane Supple said this when he left- it has been a maliase for too long - there is no leadership at the club and this starts from the top .

JET should be ashamed of himself, he has more ability in his elbow than Carson has in body and yet he is sub and dropped- just about sums up the club.

Regarding a rocket up the players- I think that some players need a wake up call - Edwards Chopra are coastingbut I think many others need some confidence- Cresswell ? a bit of man mangement and organisation is required- starting at the back where we are no-one seems to know what they are doing.

Jewell should have gone during the international break - we all knew it - CLEGG OUT, 'make no mistake' this man is a problem

john_itfc added 09:43 - Oct 29 I think this shows that PJ was a poor motivator
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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:45 - Oct 29 If what Richie Wellens says is true, I for one believe him. This is again part of the Jewells legacy he left us, he had no control and player power just took over, this truly now shows the mess we are in.
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MickMillsTash added 09:47 - Oct 29 DurhamTownFan I bought my lad a shirt on Staurday- he does not know who is playing for Town at the moment so no name on the back- our highest scorer for the club on Saturday- Murphy a loan signing. Says it all
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DurhamTownFan added 09:51 - Oct 29 MMtash-best to get a club legend then, like 'Sir Bob'...but I guess he'd not have so much love for him yet. I actually bought one myself on Saturday for the first time since Evans' name went on the front!No name though. I'd probably choose Cresswell if I were a kid, but I reckon he'll leave us if we finish bottom half.
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algarvefan added 09:57 - Oct 29 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1213474/EXCLUSIVE-I-quit-escap Read Supples comments with new eyes.....shocking!
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leadbitter6 added 09:58 - Oct 29 Brutel honesty from a player, shame he's not 'our' player because he obviously does care.
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bluefeast added 10:03 - Oct 29

Hes said what ant supporter with their eyes open could see from the stands. Effort is obvious. Some managers and coaching staff call it concentration when late goals go in.I say attitude,desire,hunger. Look at the late goals,look at the thrashings weve had. Desire comes from within.Chopra doesnt care, but he is just one. A strong manager is needed in order to create a change of mentality. Its not difficult is it. Prove you want to play for the club.If you dont prove that ,your out of the team.

wiggymcbigalow added 10:05 - Oct 29

Gary Megson's odds have come down a fair bit the the last couple of hours. Surely they can't be even considering him???!!! The fact that the players don't seem to care is disgusting. I love playing football and give it my all when I play at GOALS on the Thursday night. These are people who have actually achieved the dream of most young boys in the country. They are a disgrace. Paul Jewell signed most of them and clearly failed to motivate them. I can't see why anyone would want this job...

Monkey_Blue added 10:06 - Oct 29 Totally backs up what Delaney told me on Saturday night about c#%ts in the dressing room
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Karlosfandangal added 10:08 - Oct 29

Chopra and Jet have proved this

We need a manager who is here long time ie another George Burley as we have had Keane who took no crap and Jewell who was too soft.

With a manager here only for a couple of years they are getting players who can fix it quick and it's not working.
Need players who are on long term contract with a manager who can improve the players ie Hyam train him up so in a couple of years time he is a class player

Stato added 10:10 - Oct 29 jewell should never have let chopra off when he went awol with bullard. loads on here said jewell was right to treat them differently and we paid a big price for jewells weakness. chopra should be sold asap
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CornardBlue added 10:11 - Oct 29 Spot on Ritchie, i don,t like to see us lose but if they put the effort in i have no problem, Saturday was spineless my most of the players.
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matthewharley added 10:17 - Oct 29 after reading ALGARVEFAN'S link i think he has just outlined the whole fiasco at town to easy ,dont care, think they are stars attitude its bang on in fact, i would now like to see the sas run our club
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:19 - Oct 29

Good for you Wellens - coming out and saying what has been too obvious from the stands! The malaise in this club deepened when Chopra arrived (he has been a terrible influence on the team) and I would not be surprised if our new Manager let Chopra wear our shirt ever again.
The first thing a Manager will have to do is appoint a new Captain. A Captain who the players can respect (let alone the supporters!)

Popeye added 10:19 - Oct 29

IMO if this is true then Curbishley isn't the man for the job. It's got to be McCarthy, Davies or dare i mention it, Megson! Need someone with balls who isn't afraid of standing up to the players. If it is one of these those three then i think that some of the players wont know what hit them. They will have to shape up or ship out. Certainly wouldn't be in this situation if Keane was in charge. Makes me think getting rid of him was a mistake, would he have got it right on the pitch if he had still been here and not replaced by Jewell? In hindsight, i would have kept Keane and not hired Jewell at all. I also think Holloway would come in and sort it out but i doubt he'd come, or would he???

matthewharley added 10:22 - Oct 29 mike tyson for chief exec
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 10:23 - Oct 29 Well said Wellens. Shame we can't sign him. It's players with this attitude we need. Nice to see a player who also thought Wednesday night was a bad idea. It wasn't really rocket science though was it. We need rid of these players and even if it means we go down. New boss needs to be very strong character and we need him asap.
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tallguy6767 added 10:25 - Oct 29 Its going to take more than a new manager to save us . Most of the current squad are total *ankers ! they should be ashamed of there under achievements . Get rid a.s.a.p. !!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:27 - Oct 29

What about this for an idea, extend Wellens loan til Jan, sign him permanently in Jan, (with Leicester doing so well, he would prob struggle to break back in there anyway) make him captain, he has the right attitude, he'll have got his fitness back, he's vocal, & build the team around him, let some of our so called stars fall on their swords..... hold on I'm just off to put a late application in!