Caretaker-boss Bryan Klug felt the Blues’ 3-0 defeat at Millwall summed up the team’s current shortcomings. New manager Paul Lambert and his staff watched from the stands and will meet the squad and staff for the first time at Playford Road tomorrow.

“I think the game probably sums up, how can I put this, it would show all our problems or shortcomings probably,” Klug said.

“Summing up the game, I thought we were in the game, I don’t think either team really had total control. But I thought Millwall always carried a much bigger threat than us possibly.

“We knew, everyone knows they score a lot of goals off set plays and we didn’t defend well enough on those occasions really.

“When you’re in a bad run and things go against you and you’re thinking that you don’t score many goals, it becomes difficult and the game became difficult.”

Town were once again made to pay for their inability to defend set pieces with 12 of this season’s 25 opposition goals having come via corners, freekicks or throws.

“They’ve got some big old players, some big old lumps,” Klug added. “It’s very difficult to win the first header.

“We have an organisation that should deal with it but you have to win sometimes the first ball, sometimes the second ball and they took their chances, they’ve got a goalscorer.”

As has been the case in most recent games, heads dropped after the first goal was conceded with Klug admitting that had an impact.

“If you’ve ever played football and you’re not sure you’re going to score many goals, that confidence does tend to drain away and I saw that,” he said.

“But I’ve no complaints with any of the players, I thought we kept going, there was no throwing in the towel and that’s got to be a good sign for the new manager coming in.

“The game’s alright between the boxes but it’s in the boxes that it matters and that’s what we’ve got to get better at and that can be achieved if you work hard at it and you get a bit more confidence and you buy somebody who can score 30 goals a season or something like that.”

Does he feel that a new manager coming in and the fresh start that brings will help boost confidence.

“I think from the players’ point of view that is the role. They’re all there, I’ve only worked with them yesterday and talked to them today and they see that, a clean slate is what they want.

“And they see that and they’ve realised they’ve got a manager who has got an experienced eye so they’ve got to impress him.

“Hopefully, I’m guessing that’s part of the plan, to have a bounce, but there wasn’t too much of a bounce today unfortunately, although if we’d defended set pieces we might be talking about some other things.”

He says Lambert is yet to speak to the squad and confirmed that that will happen tomorrow.

“No, Paul was at the game, I’ve not spoken to him yet,” he added. “He probably won’t want to speak to me now. We’re training tomorrow and the work starts. Everybody’s in.”

Asked what he thinks Lambert will have made of the performance, he responded: “You’ll have to ask him. I don’t know, he’s obviously got a very experienced eye. He’ll see things that he can grow, he’ll see things that he’ll need to eradicate.

“It’ll be interesting to find out. As I say, there are things that he might think are good but he’ll certainly, like all of us, know what’s blatantly obvious.”

Klug admits things have got to be turned around soon with Town bottom and five points from safety.

“Of course it does, it’s urgent,” he reflected. “I think when Mick [McCarthy] joined on November 1st [2012] we had seven points and we’ve only got nine now and we went on a fantastic run. We realise that.

“It’s not all doom and gloom, the players have got to stick together and we’ve got to fight. We know we’re in a fight but I was asking the players today to try and be a little bit brave on the ball and they found that difficult to do.

“I think some players found that more difficult than others, but we’ll get back out on the training field and find a way.”

Klug says the switch to 3-5-2 was specifically for Millwall rather than being what he believes is the system which best suits the squad in all circumstances.

“That was based on the way that Millwall played, we felt that was the best way to [approach the game],” he added.

“To a certain degree I thought the shape of the team was OK because we weren’t getting ripped apart in open play, we conceded at set plays.

“I thought keeping two up top, we hoped we’d get opportunities. We didn’t get too many, I get that.

“But that was not that we think that that’s the best way, we thought today that was the best way to try and get something but it didn’t work out.”

Klug says midfielder Cole Skuse was subbed at half-time as the ankle injury he was carrying from the Leeds game was getting worse.

Millwall boss Neil Harris felt a comfortable victory had been coming given his side's recent displays.

“I think it’s been due hasn’t it? I think with the performances. I’ll be honest, that wasn’t our best performance for a while," he insisted.

“I thought it was extremely possible. We could have played much better at 3-0 up, certainly. But I don’t give a damn about that, I wanted a clean sheet, the team wanted a clean sheet.

“I think it’s not easy for Ipswich with the position they’re in and where they are in that transition with a new manager coming in and being here today.

“It’s not easy for them, but it’s not easy for us either because you can’t prepare because don’t know who you’re going to face, what formation you’re going to face and it’s tough for the players as well.

“I thought, without being at our best, I thought we were clinical at key moments, we created some chances, not as many as we had done, but to get the clean sheet and give up very few opportunities was an excellent performance in the Championship.”

Photo: TWTD

Bert added 21:38 - Oct 27 Having been there today I would agree with Klugg's assessment. First ten minutes ok but after that we made our usual mistakes in front of goal. What has happened to Bart of all people ? However, escape is doable if Lambert can secure some goal scorers and the personal mistakes are remedied. The future is very much in the hands of the players and Evan's input.
3

muhrensleftfoot added 21:42 - Oct 27 I feel sorry for Klug today. He had the players for just one day and we can see what he was trying to do. The side had balance, but lack of confidence after the disaster of Hurst in charge was to blame for our defeat today. I think it is a pity that he won't ever take the job on full time, because clearly he is an intelligent man who given time could sort this mess out. A blend of McCarthy's old boys, talented young academy players and the one or two half decent Hurst signings (Edwards & Jackson) and things would undoubtedly improve. We have accept though that he really doesn't want the job. Let's hope Lambert can save us.

1

GiveusaWave added 22:05 - Oct 27 What a sorry mess we have been left in....good on Lambert for even giving this a try.
3

bugledog123 added 22:59 - Oct 27 god it's going to be a tough winter....
1

TractorBeezer added 23:10 - Oct 27 We can surely only improve. PL will have spotted individual opportunities for improvement e.g. Knudsen attempting cross field passes that you can tell will be intercepted, poor communication between Chambers and Bart, getting first to the ball when it drops in the box, better marking of set plays and as Mick Mills suggests, it's better to defend rather than give away a free kick on the wings. We do need to get in 2-3 experienced players including someone to score goals....can't believe that we let Waghorn, Garner and McGoldrick all go....even if they wanted out. In the past we would get scoring mid fielders on loan e.g. Fraser, Lawrence and Celine. This could be a big opportunity for PL . Is he on a similar bonus as MM to save us? As other have suggested wa must all get behind him.

3

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 01:20 - Oct 28 1 win in 15 (well make that 16 with the cup dropping by mighty mighty Exeter)... and that was an indisputable "GRAND LARCENY" type of win! So my thanks once again goes out to poorly 'shoe-laced' Ollie McBurnie & Co., cause we could easily be an even more troubling 7 or 8 points from safety now , on this Sunday Day 1 under P.L., and not just the 5 that happens to be the slightly worrying case. A "must win" versus Preston next I think... and hopefully with them having conceded an even loftier than us 29 goals already, we must **surely** be able to put an end to this loooong line or evergrowing pile of matches with JUST 1 , 2 and if really pushing it then uhuuu! maybe 3 'Shots on Target', right???!!! But oh wait! Cause you never really know with this current largely uncreative, largely out-of-their-depth looking & last but not least: DESPITE in the eyes of some fans us having a quote "Fabulous & Fantastic captain ...who leads greatly by example, and all" utterly UNACCEPTABLE demoralised bunch ON the field! (Occasionally even appearing as a bunch of so called "headless chickens" ON the field!.) And this blatant lack of moral, overall injected guidance plus simply often falling too easily apart like the most fragile of house of cards when things don't go according to plan, has been very very visible in the Chambo led side for SEVERAL seasons now folks! Anyways enough about dear Chambo for this round, cause on the other hand the visitors do also have a brisk 24 goals to their credit, so ehhh an anything but sleep-inducing contest with plenty of action at both ends is likely the absolute minimum "reward" for turning up at toR next weekend ("Above 2.5 goals" will be my safest bet at the bookies lol ). A contest which of course will also be Paul Lambert's first in charge... and OH DOCTOR! Does a manager ever need his team's fans undivided & fullest support, cause this adventurous Scotsman has a truly **monumental & uphill** salvation task ahead of him. Welcome & best of luck P.L.

0

Wacko added 01:21 - Oct 28 Game summed up the idiocy of putting Klug as caretaker who has no desire nor real experience as a manager. Nash manages the U23s week in week out let him step up next time (hopefully there isn't a next time for a long while)
-2

norfolkbluey added 08:24 - Oct 28 Agree with Skip73. There is little you can say about the man who has left. He should never have applied for the job with his limited experience. The Championship has changed in class over the last five years with loads of money buying in lots of foreign players with class as well as managers. I don't think anyone would envy PL's task ahead and only time will tell. We are now adrift with lets face it a very inexperienced lightweight team. Our best players gone but some very talented youngsters. We need some grisley big blokes to shield them and help them get the experience they need at this level. ME has to shoulder the blame to have let this happen. The next few weeks are going to be critical and ME has to back Lambert with money otherwise we are going down. Nobody, supporters or not want this. Positivity is essential.

2

Swn98 added 08:36 - Oct 28 Norfolkbluey some numbskulls on here stated they would prefer relegation well looks like they have got what they wished for.
-2

naa added 09:11 - Oct 28 I can't see us improving until January and even then only if ME frees up some money and we manage to spend it. Getting 12 players in was crazy. We needed to concentrate on the weak areas. We didn't need a right back. Wolfenden coming through meant we just needed one centre back (Pennington). We have loads of midfielders so maybe even Nolan Nolan could have been left out (though I'll admit all the injuries might have made that a requirement). We needed to replace around 30 goals in strikers so getting in two lower league players who only managed 25 in their divisions was never going to do that. We care should have got one of Jackson or Harrison (probably the former) and spent the rest of the money we saved but not buying players we didn't need on a striker with some experience at this level. Unfortunately that didn't happen and Lambert has a squad with no firepower and a terrified defence. Good luck! He'll certainly need it.

4

Ipswichbusiness added 10:06 - Oct 28 I suspect that the reference to the boxes is code for “we need to replace Murphy and Chambers”.
0

TimmyH added 10:36 - Oct 28 Why bother coming on here swn98 when all you do is to spout the same old guff!!...I'm trying to remember if you've made any posts about Hurst's time here, the players he bought in etc. but no it's all about what happened last season and how poorly treated Mick was and the 'numbskulls'. Let's make this clear (again) what has happened this season and the turmoil we're currently in is all to do with Evans and Hurst and the poor choices they've made, we couldn't keep MM here for ever just for the sake of keeping us in the league and watching humdrum football or what would the point of turning up every Saturday afternoon if you knew roughly what would happen season after season. As another poster mentioned it was a case of 'stick or twist'...up to Evans (and the up against it Lambert) to get us out of it.

7

Swn98 added 12:24 - Oct 28 I think i do offer plenty of opinions on games and players Timmyh the unfortunate fact is that so much is spouted on here by people with rose coloured glasses and harking back to a Club of 40 years ago need to stare reality in the face. Apart from perhaps 3 seasons in the early noughties this club has been in slow terminal decline only levelled of for 5 years by one man. Before you spout off, i was lucky went to Wembley and all the european glory days memories i am so grateful for, now i feel sorry for all the young supporters the bullies of last season took any hope in the immediate future away.

-4

naa added 12:48 - Oct 28 Swn98, MM was doing a great job on the budget he had but all he was doing (all he could do really) is keep us safe in the middle. I would hardly call that having hope for the future. If all we can hope for is mid table then it would be nice if we at least played some football. Which we didn't do under MM. I didn't agree with the abuse he got but I'm glad he's gone (even now when it's obvious we are in a mess). Would I rather we were in mid table but a bit dull then where we are now? Yes,of course but that was just a sticking plaster and not any kind of plan for the future. Sadly our long term plan has been ruined already by Hurst's bizarre stint in charge.

5

Michael101 added 15:50 - Oct 28 Swn98 you make a lot of sense,until your last 3 lines, the bullies as you call them where only giving back what they got.
1

blueboy1981 added 20:44 - Oct 28 ...... someone !! - deluded as ever, with much to say from behind his Keyboard as usual........ !!!!!! Just a reminder that 'self praise is no recommendation' - but then again according to the minus's received from said posts, from said person - the only direction anything other would / will come from.
-1

warktheline added 20:58 - Oct 28 Under McCarthy there wasn't ANY future prospects of development! His time was spent, jeez he was ‘head scratching' midway through season after play off campaign! Journeyman, sicknotes and ‘proper blokes' were the order of the day! Huws and the ‘ex Rotherham lad' are prime examples amongst many! His reluctance to use youth only relented under ‘unforeseen circumstances' such as injury or ‘lean spells', Wigan away one such example ( won 3-2 ! ) but return to type ALWAYS quickly followed! At the beginning of last season McCarthy ‘removed himself from responsibility' when supporters enjoyed an extremely brief period of GOALS ! His style of football saw crowds plummet, and his arrogance was a PR disaster for the club! No need to go on blah blah blah, Swn switched off a long time ago! Change was undoubtedly needed, BUT it was crucial Evans picked the correct man to readdress ‘gradual dilapidation' ! He of course again failed with poor football judgement ! Relegation was always ‘there' even under McCarthy, thus I'am far from surprised as to where we are currently! Nobody wants or invites relegation but some have and can accept such as fate for things to improve long term!

2

blueboy1981 added 20:58 - Oct 28 The person !! - continually serving other posters with verbal insults, and name calling - will at some point have to cease doing so, be removed by Phil, or start doing so to the face of the people constantly verbally insulted, instead of from behind the Keyboard. Verbal insults and insulting name calling is not what this forum is for - and should be respected as such, as indeed every poster should be. Everyone is entitled to their opinion - personal insults, and name calling, should NOT be allowed.

0

RobClark added 21:48 - Oct 28 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/vertragslosespieler Robert Huth - Glen Johnson - Robbie Keane - all on free :)
0

RobClark added 21:49 - Oct 28 Pat Evra - James Collins- Heaps to pick from on free
0

bluesman added 23:46 - Oct 28 With you Swn98. Unbelievable
0

Barty added 10:23 - Oct 29 Not a single shot on target - pathetic
1

Swn98 added 13:34 - Oct 29 Unfortunately bluebore you mention the word FACT in lot of your posts when somebody raises the same facts and throws them at you you dont like it. your in otherwords a bully.
-1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls