Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Lambert: Lankester's a Huge Talent
Thursday, 8th Nov 2018 15:05

Blues boss Paul Lambert has hailed 18-year-old striker Jack Lankester as a “huge talent”, the frontman quickly having made an impression on his new manager. Lankester was the standout performer for the U23s as they drew 2-2 with Cardiff City on Monday and Lambert says it’s important to keep an eye on the young players coming through from the academy.

Lankester, an unused sub against Preston last week, became the first player born in the 2000s to appear for the Town senior side when he came on as a sub in the QPR match last month and also came off the bench at Millwall.

“Good player, very good,” Lambert said when asked about the striker, who spent time on loan with his hometown side Bury Town last season."

“Good talent, a huge talent. A terrific left foot. He’s not a baby but you have to give them time as well.

“He might make impacts here and there. He might start the odd game or so or might come off the bench. But it’s a big, big ask to throw somebody in, but a big, big talent Jack is.”

Reflecting on Monday’s U23s match, he added: “I went to the U23 game and you can only see what your eye tells you and they did well in certain aspects of the game, some things were maybe not so good, some things good.

“But the important thing is not the result at that level, it’s seeing who could make an impact in the first team and I can see who’s maybe there and who is maybe not.”

He says a manager ought to find the time to watch academy teams even when the first team is in the position the Blues are at present.

“You can if you want to build something,” he said. “I watched the U15s last night and they were really good, the really young ones.

“You’ve got to see what’s there and what’s happening at the football club. I think that’s important. The kids need a manager where when they do get older they’re going to get a chance, that’s normal.

“I don’t think you can be ignorant to it and turning a blind eye to the U18s and U23s, somebody might just pop out at you where you think, ‘He’s good enough’ and I think, especially the U23s and at U18s level, if you’re good enough and I think you are you’ve got a chance and it doesn’t faze me to throw you in.”

Another of this season’s top performers in the U23s is Danny Rowe, who has rarely featured in the first team at Town since his move from Macclesfield in January 2017.

Lambert included him on the bench on Saturday and brought the 26-year-old on with 13 minutes remaining during which time the Mancunian came closest to scoring a winner for the Blues.

“I think a very good footballer, I really do," Lambert said. “Danny’s problem I think is that he need to be a little bit fitter to play the way I want to play.

“But on the training pitch with the ball there’s no problem. I thought he actually did quite well when he came on last week. He was unlucky not to score so I’m pleased with him.”


Photo: Pagepix



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



BlueBlood90 added 15:23 - Nov 8
I love that he went to watch the U15s play as well as the U23s. That must be some motivation if you're a 14 year old boy to look up and see the first team manager stood there. I'm really starting to think Lambert could bring back the good days if he's given the time and patience. I'd personally try and keep him and give him the chance to re-build us even if we go down this season.
10

flimflam added 15:33 - Nov 8
I understand now why Norwich fans were desperate to get him back before they hired the German porn-star.

Proper manager who has been there as a player and a manager and know what he wants and how he will get it. Hoping he will be here for the long term and we go back to keeping managed on long term contracts because I think eventually he will get us back to playing the way we expect an Ipswich team to play.
5

TheTrueBlue1878 added 15:46 - Nov 8
He's not wrong, most exciting prospect at ITFC i have seen with my own eyes, and have seen a lot more of Lankester than other 'prospects'.
2

TheTrueBlue1878 added 15:47 - Nov 8
He's also right that you can't just throw him in as well, think it would be a different story if we were sitting comfortably 12th but right now keep the appearances to off the bench with the odd start.
1

MattinLondon added 15:55 - Nov 8
I am excited that we have a manager who wants to see the bigger picture - since the ME era there as always been a sense that there hasn't been joined-up thinking. Hopefully we now have a manager who thinks about the entire playing staff rather than the senior players. Maybe I'm doing a disservice to Mick and PH but PL seems to be more open to the clubs progression on both a short term and long term basis.

I agree that you can't simply throw in young players but let's not forget that it's the senior players underperforming which has led to the club being bottom. Ok, a different manager but still they should all have done better.
3

ArnieMsBigToe added 16:01 - Nov 8
Flim Flam. German Porn Star . . . Like it !!
0

leftie1972 added 16:06 - Nov 8
I think we would have been seeing a lot more of Tommy Rowe in the first team last season had there been a different manager in charge.26 is still a good age, but he does have to prove himself.
1

cranky_old_tractor added 16:21 - Nov 8
Really like what PL is doing..........first rate manager and a breath of fresh air vs the cr@p we have recruited since Magilton.

Let the good times roll
2

CalneBlue added 16:33 - Nov 8
Sometimes seems managers can be over-cautious in using young players. Wasn't John Wark thrown in for his debut vs Man Utd at 17? Didn't seem to harm his career or the team.
1

TimmyH added 17:03 - Nov 8
Please don't let Evans know this Paul (probably too late) as he'll be dribbling over this..
0

Hekkers added 18:46 - Nov 8
I think PL is the best appointment Mr Evans has made so far. Hopefully it's in time to beat relegation. But the way the team looked for his 1st game in charge. And the fact he's watching the younger squads. + Hopefully come January we have a bit of cash to spend for a championship striker. Things are looking brighter for the Town. IPSWICH TIL I DIE.
4

KiwiBlue2 added 20:27 - Nov 8
PL's comments and actions just keep getting better and better. His meeting/lunch with Butcher, Burley and Wark was great. What an amazing pool of expertise those three have and hopefully PL will be seeing more of them. We need a few wins on the trot and with PL I am hopeful that we will get a couple before the end of this month...... onwards and upwards lads.....
2

midastouch added 22:42 - Nov 8
If they're good enough they're old enough.
0

Shotleytractor added 22:45 - Nov 8
Agreed CalneBlue. Jason Dozzell was ok as far as I remember aswell
0

bobble added 23:54 - Nov 8
he has to watch the youngsters as the older players he has inherited from hurst are crap and he cannot buy any one new at the moment..
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024