Unhappy Blues boss Paul Hurst said he expected a lot better from his Town team following their 2-0 pre-season friendly loss to Braintree at Cressing Road.

“We got through it I think without any injuries. That’s near enough one of the few positives,” Hurst said ruefully.

“After that, it wasn’t what I was looking for, admittedly on a very warm day on a difficult surface.

“But Braintree coped with those two things a lot better than what we did. It took probably half-time to come to get into the players a little bit.

“I think at the start of the second half, I’m not saying it was fantastic, but we were certainly better until we made the substitutions.

“Naturally then the game changes with a lot of the younger players out there. But, in the first half, we’re looking for a lot, lot more than what we saw.”

Hurst fielded last season’s 16-goal leading scorer Martyn Waghorn off lone striker Jordan Roberts and feels it’s a role the former Rangers man is capable of playing.

“That’s something we spoke to Martyn about and I think he can do,” he said. “Some of it he did well, he’s a clever footballer.

“Often, anyone who plays that position, I would suggest is often described as being quite bright, even if it’s just in football terms.

“He showed that. But at other times he was in positions that I wouldn’t want him to be, but on that side, we haven’t done too much shape work in truth.

“But at the same time there are principles and basics that the players know we’re after that weren’t delivered today, and certainly going forward we won’t accept.”

Striker Joe Garner was missing with a minor knock, while Emyr Huws, Tom Adeyemi, Teddy Bishop and Danny Rowe are still working their way back from last season’s injuries.

“We are lacking some bodies and some players that I think we all would agree could contribute, whether that’s start or at worst coming off the bench,” Hurst continued.

“But that’s not any excuse for today. We should be able to come here and put on a better performance and win the game realistically. Credit to Braintree, I thought they did very well and certainly deserved the win.

“But I’m the Ipswich Town manager and I’m looking at my team and expecting a lot, lot better.”

Also absent were loanee Trevoh Chalobah and striker Ben Morris, who are both with the England U19s at the Euros in Finland.

Hurst says Chalobah’s absence is something he was aware of when the signing was made: “It’s not ideal but I did know that when we signed him, we had that conversation, so that one in a lot of ways is self-inflicted and I do want him to be our player.

“I can take the hit, it’s not ideal, but I think he’ll prove a very good player for us over the course of the season and therefore I felt it was worth doing.”

He added: “We learnt some things and obviously we got some really good work in which hopefully in time will show.

“They’ve had a tough week this week. And again, I’m not trying to make any excuses, that’s not the way I am, because certainly today they’ve only played 60 minutes.

“Will they go into games sharper when we play Blackburn? Of course they will. But at the same time the work on the coaching ground continues.

“But there’s no better thing than games realistically because that’s what it comes down to, maybe highlighting some weaknesses, some things that certainly need to be worked upon and see who maybe taken on board some of the things we’re trying to get across, albeit it’s still early days, most of the work has been fitness-based rather than tactically.

“But the bit that we’ve done, some have taken it on board. I have to mention Tristan Nydam. He went on and I think he was one of the few to come out with some credit. He listens, he wants to learn and that’s the type of players we want.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday's game against League Two Crawley at East Grinstead, he said: “I’ll be looking for more and the players will know that.

“It’s not easy coming to places like this. Naturally the opposition are going to raise their game and it’s not the perfect surroundings, but that’s a great recipe from my point of view to learn about the players.

“We can all play when it’s a beautiful pitch and things are going really well. What about when things aren’t going quite the way we want to? Because I can guarantee there will be times like that in the season. We hope there won’t be very many times like that, but it will happen.

“You can always take something out of it, but overall I am not going to hide the fact that I am disappointed in what I saw today.”

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 18:13 - Jul 14 Quite right Paul. It may only be a friendly, but you and the fans deserve much better. Interesting to see whether PH feels that some of these first team players aren't good enough. Poor result. Poor performance. But PHwill have learnt a lot.
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boroughblue added 18:15 - Jul 14 Love how Hurst comes across. I urge that Town fans are patient, and give him time. He's definitely trying to put his spin on the club, and it could take a couple of years to work. But I do genuinely believe he is the man to get us promoted. In Hurst we trust 👊
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Swn98 added 18:25 - Jul 14 so do i Paul so do i.
3

floridaboy added 18:25 - Jul 14 Its going to take a while to get the MM habit out of the players system Hopefully the manager will be running up the phone bill trying to get his targets in. Fingers crossed!!
7

Mullet added 18:26 - Jul 14 Forthright, demanding, "I'm the Ipswich Town manager".
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BlueToad added 18:37 - Jul 14 Welcome to Ipswich Town - where, let's face it, the vast majority of the incumbent players are fecking sh1t3.
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juniorblue added 18:45 - Jul 14 Impressed by PH's comments and attitude. It is going to take a while, but in Hurst I do believe that we have a Manager who will turn the club around.
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Dog added 18:48 - Jul 14 So he is after an intelligent, bright footballer. Good luck with that. They are all as thick as poo. Has he not heard their interviews on tv. Has he not seen their pointless tattoo sleeves etc etc. It looks like he has to persuade all the players into his style. I am going to predict bart, knudsen, waghorn, ward and garner all leave. Keep the chequebook out ME (although dont think we would buy a player with a cheque these days).

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algarvefan added 18:59 - Jul 14 The more I hear of Paul Hurst the more I like him, so different to McCarthy, bright intelligent footballing man. He obviously is not going to suffer fools gladly and I foresee players going out the door early if they don't fit the bill. Please guys hang in there with him and give him time...............I think he might need it.
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rgp1 added 19:28 - Jul 14 I was at the game and yes the performance was poor. As for people who say 'it's only a friendly' I would say don't bother turning up if you don't want to play. For me it's refreshing to see a manager who won't tolerate poor performance unlike his predecessor who was watching different games from the rest of us.
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toxtethblue added 20:08 - Jul 14 I've all the time in the world for Hurst, he is great for the club. If only ME would stop trying to win Scrooge of the year and back him even modestly he/we could do very well...
8

Kesblue66 added 21:29 - Jul 14 The more of Paul,the more i like it.No more pussy/footing about,saying he was great,terrific,or different class,supporters know they just average players.No more automatic team places.After not renewing for three seasons,i will be there this season.
8

Trac70 added 21:29 - Jul 14 #Dog. Ridiculous comment. Maybe you're as "Thick as poo" Give PH a chance and Waggy for that matter. Love your positivity. Are you really a Town fan???
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Taricco_Fan added 22:51 - Jul 14 Hurst will be good for this club but he needs backing. Evans must reinvest some of the fees received this summer (plus McGoldrick off the wage bill). Hurst will surely have targets but even lower league prospects command good fees these days. Let him build something (I suggest starting with the defence). Regarding today's game; not good but don't forget the couple of aberrations last pre-season under McCarthy (losing at home to the second division Belgian side and getting thumped at Charlton). A fantastic start to the season followed so I don't put too much stock in these friendlies. It's a time to learn about the squad and Hurst will have a better picture of who's up for it and who isn't. Wouldn't surprise me if a couple of McCarthy regulars are shown the door.

7

Radlett_blue added 23:05 - Jul 14 Huws, Adeyemi & Bishop nowhere near match fitness. While it would be silly to rush them into action, I wonder how much any of them will feature this season. Hard to plan your team & midfield if you don't know if they will be available regularly.
5

RobITFC added 23:06 - Jul 14 Modern day "pampered" professionals are not used to hard bumpy pitches and Braintree were probably more hyped up playing Ipswich , bit like when you get a FA cup round 3 shock result. Nothing to worry about and has probably given Paul Hurst more idea about his players than if they had gone there and won 6.0.
4

RobITFC added 23:12 - Jul 14 I have total faith in PH to have a good squad by the start of the season
3

BrettenhamBlue added 01:45 - Jul 15 I don't think Braintree were more hyped up by playing Ipswich. I watched both games (Braintree vs Ipswich and Braintree vs Colchester Utd) and thought Braintree played in the same way in both games. Very direct style of play, either one touch or two touch football at all times and they tended to hoof it from the back. Main difference was our response to it. Colchester Utd cut out all their direct football easily and once they got back the ball they had it for a long time. Mandron and Nouble caused chaos in the Braintree defence, Though Colchester won 5-0, it should have been 7 or 8. Colchester Utd players looked fitter, were much better technically and knew how to pick out a pass. Nouble was also much stronger than anyone in the Braintree team. Against Ipswich they played exactly the same way. We failed to cut out their direct approaches and should have been 3-0 down after 30 minutes. We allowed them far too much time on the ball and allowed them to pick out passes at will. Tactically, we were (frankly) awful in attack, and the game should have been over at half time. After half time we picked up the pace a bit (Waghorn and Dozzell stood out) but the second Braintree goal killed off the game. In the last 20 minutes it should have been 3-0 as we were really hanging on. Braintree looked fitter, technically superior and made the bad pitch conditions count by using their physicality to continuously win back the ball. All in all, just a friendly. However, I do get to watch most pre-season friendlies every season and this was the worst I have ever seen us play. On the practical front, we need two new CB's, a real winger and a proper target man as soon as we are able. Colchester really used Nouble effectively and that physical presence made a huge difference. Our physical presence was non-existent. I firmly believe in the manager but there is no doubt that the players let him down. I've seen some poor pre-season performances before, but none as bad as this. Maybe it was worse for me as a viewer as I saw how easily Colchester Utd beat Braintree (so had the comparison in mind). Only positives were Dozzell and Waghorn. Spence best defender but as a defensive unit we were awful.Gerken pulled off some good saves at critical times and kept it competitive.

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shakytown added 02:01 - Jul 15 A lot of deadwood to clear out Paul.
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RobITFC added 02:22 - Jul 15 Pjewelliwsgod .... well said, your knowledge of watching the team is far greater than mine, I was just trying to be positive in what does seem a poor game/result! Let's hope it has woken the players up, and I am sure PH is aware of the weakness's we have, but doubt he will be backed by ME in the transfer market! PH seems fully aware of his squad and I do think there will be a few ins/outs in the next week or so

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Oldozblue added 03:39 - Jul 15 OK - Smart, young, intelligent manager who has done it at Vanarama, League 2 and 1 levels. Now asked to perform in Championship. Interesting EADT journalist when talking about transfers said 700,000 is a lot for Ipswich. We again will be relying on frees, loans and cheapies from mostly lower Division Clubs. So we are in the same category as Rotherham, Bolton, Wigan and Millwall - not Middlesborough, Forest or Derby. If we finish out of the relegation places it will be good, top 10 will be great. The only way to the Prem is brilliant home grown talent. Hurst needs time, patience from everyone. I doubt if success will be instant,

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SpiritOfJohn added 10:10 - Jul 15 It's a pity we haven't got Chalobah available for these friendlies. Gary Neville mentioned him in the same breath as Loftus-Cheek when discussing Chelsea youngsters during yesterday's England match. Seems like PH has brought him in to go straight into the starting line up.
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Gcon added 10:27 - Jul 15 Pay peanuts you get monkeys. Evans - Put you hand in those deep pockets of yours.
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GiveusaWave added 11:22 - Jul 15 @SpiritofJohn Neville was talking about Nathaniel Chalobah.
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SpiritOfJohn added 11:36 - Jul 15 @guentchev, good point, I didn't know he had an older brother who was also out on loan from Chelski.
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