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Lambert: Plenty of Clubs Have Experienced League One Bounce
Monday, 11th Mar 2019 16:21

Boss Paul Lambert has pointed out that plenty of clubs have used relegation to League One as a springboard in the past with Town appearing all but certain to find themselves in the third tier for the first time in 62 years in 2019/20.

The Blues go into Tuesday's live Sky game at Bristol City 12 points plus goal difference from safety.

Lambert, who insists Town will fight for their Championship status until it is mathematically impossible to stay up, has talked about the club rebuilding going forward with the Blues' youngsters at the heart of his strategy and, if the worst does happen and Town are in League One next season, says the way other clubs have returned rejuvenated following relegation illustrates what is possible.

The Blues boss secured promotion back to the Championship in his first season at Norwich and subsequently took the Canaries into the Premier League, while Sheffield United are in their second campaign back in the second tier following a six-year spell in League One.

“Manchester City were in it, weren’t they, so there you go!” he laughed. “They’ve had a bit of help, but it can happen.

“Sheffield United have done great, they’ve done really, really good, so it can happen. You get in League One and just bounce straight through.

“As I said before, I can see the vision of what I want to do or what I think the club should do, we’ll hopefully get everybody onside, everybody will know shortly what’s going to happen and hopefully everything goes right.

“But the support is behind us and you need the support, you need the fans behind you. First and foremost you need the fans and if you have the fans behind you then you’ve got a chance.

“And I think they can see that we’re doing everything we can to connect with everything, not just the team but the whole town, which I thought needed to be connected with the club because it’s a big part of the community, the club.

“It’s the only team in the town and it certainly needs it, that’s for sure. They both need each other.”

As has regularly been the case, the Town support were singing their manager’s name at West Brom on Saturday, something unusual when a team is bottom of the table and something Lambert hasn’t experienced before.

“I’ve only ever really been at the bottom at Aston Villa and then I had the other chant, you know!” he joked.

“It’s not a normal situation because I think we’re playing really well, it’s not a normal feeling. You would never think we were at the bottom of the table.

“And the support, I want them to enjoy their football, I want them to come and be excited.

“They pay a lot of money, the Ipswich fans, it’s a helluva travel they’ve got to go and watch us play, it’s a long, long way, a long way back and you want them to enjoy it, you don’t want them to come and not enjoy their football and we’ll try everything we can to make it exciting.”

The likes of Flynn Downes, Teddy Bishop and Myles Kenlock have become regulars under Lambert, while Andre Dozzell and Jack Lankester have also had some involvement. On Saturday Tristan Nydam and Corrie Ndaba both made the trip to West Brom with the former on the bench for the first time under Lambert.

“We drafted in Tristan and Corrie Ndaba on Friday night, they had a game on Friday in the U23s and we pulled in the two young lads,” he said. “They’re another two and there are another couple underneath that.

“If you keep all the young lads together and you coach them and you develop them, they’ll be one helluva side that’s for sure.”


Photo: TWTD



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Cakeman added 17:26 - Mar 11
The duvision we find ourselves in next season is largely irrelevant but the togetherness of the club that we now have is massive.
12

raycrawfordswig added 18:05 - Mar 11
All depends on Mr Evans.
4

Saxonblue74 added 18:10 - Mar 11
Agree cakeman, as long as we hang onto the squad we have we'll be fine next year, whichever league we're in. Maybe add a goalscorer?
4

herfie added 18:31 - Mar 11
With PL on board, i'm more optimistic that the significant amount of deep diving work needed to get us back on track - as a fully functional, professional, football club - will be successful. Key to this is ME listening and acting upon the advice PL gives him. No doubt involving some Pain for Gain. Long overdue, though.
7

ITFCsince73 added 19:28 - Mar 11
Get rid of the dead wood. And we'll be a match for anyone.
Theve held the club back for to long, and should have gone 2 years back.
No takers. Not surprised.
2

TimmyH added 19:31 - Mar 11
and just as many haven't - particularly one's in financial troubles i.e. Coventry, Blackpool, Portsmouth (though slowly making their way back) Charlton etc.
4

ITFCsince73 added 19:53 - Mar 11
I think Sunderland is a good example of how hard it can be.
Massive support, parachute payments, bigger playing budget by a mile than anyone else.
And looks like there best hopes might be the play off lottery.
0

ArnieM added 06:49 - Mar 12
Thing is ITFC Clubs like Sunderland have a lot of PL players who get a culture shock when they're relegated . With Town I think this will be slightly different. We have the Hurst legacy - mainly League One players . They know what expect . We will have youngsters , for whom this will either be their chance to play regularly for the first team , or a massive step up from the U23 levels. Kids tend to take things in their stride more , are more adaptable as still learning. We have a manager that has experience of League One too.

League One is not going to come as s massive “ how did that happen” shock to the Club ... we have ALL become “ accepting” of this final event , which will mean we are already mentally preparing ourselves for next season. I think this is why the “ phenomenon “ that we are now seeing regarding the fans is happening. The weight has been lifted and we are embracing our fate in many ways .

Town WILL come back stronger next season. The shadow that is McCarthy will be exorcised and we will move on. Playing s League One won't be a walk in the park , but neither will it be the death one'll that dome doom n gloom merchants would try to have us believe. Town will compete.

I think we will be in for a great season. It's been s long time coming .
10

1RWR added 09:31 - Mar 12
ArnieM: Very nicely put!
2

SouperJim added 10:22 - Mar 12
Great post ArnieM, summed up my thoughts exactly. I'm looking forward to next season more than I have any other in recent memory. McCarthy restored my sense of pride in my football club after we had been a bit of a basket case on the pitch under the previous two managers, but his safety first approach was utterly contrary to what most fans consider to be our identity as a club. The leadership vacuum at the club following his departure is ultimately Evans' failing and why we find ourselves at the foot of the table (we're not the first club to experience this), but Lambert appears to be teaching Marcus how to turn it around and give us our soul back. This is the most "Ipswich" the club has felt since Burley went.
2

ArnieM added 11:10 - Mar 12
Thank you guys!

SouperJim this is so true about Town finally feeling like “ Ipswich” again. I think whatever happens next year, Lambert has already given us back our Club again. It feels like we have our identity back. Bring it on for 2019/20!
2

OwainG1992 added 12:02 - Mar 12
ArnieM, I'm already feeling positive for next season but your post has got me even more so!
With Flynn, Bish, Nolan, Hopefully Judge and Keane? Kenlock, A on form Bart plus Wolfie etc...we have the nucleas of a good side. I'm excited.
0

ITFCsince73 added 12:55 - Mar 12
Totally agree Arnie. And hope your right.
Some massive changes ahead.
Because every time we face teams lower than the Championship, they have a knack of showing us up.
Current squad would struggle in L2.
Can we become a better team than Lincoln? At the moment, and going by Evan's in previous seasons then no.
0

Carberry added 14:06 - Mar 12
So what is this masterplan he's going to announce? Selling Portman Road and ground sharing with Colchester? Going part-time? Or entering the Netball Super league.
1

chorltonskylineblue added 14:35 - Mar 12
Here's the record for the last 11 seasons for teams that finished bottom of the Championship and what they did the following year in League One (in brackets):

2018 - Sunderland (currently 3rd.....)
2017 - Rotherham (Play-offs - Promoted)
2016 - Bolton (2nd - Promoted)
2015 - Blackpool (Relegated)
2014 - Yeovil (Relegated)
2013 - Bristol City (12th)
2012 - Doncaster Rovers (Champions - Promoted)
2011 - Scunthorpe (18th)
2010 - Peterborough (Play-offs - Promoted)
2009 - Charlton Athletic (Play-offs - Lost in semis)
2008 - Colchester Utd (12th)

It looks like if your financial health is ok and you can keep the squad together then you have a decent chance of bouncing back . 4 promotions from 11, which may become 5 if Sunderland go up. Blackpool and Yeovil had massive financial and other problems off field. Better fill PR to the rafters next season. A sensible ticketing policy will help the feelgood factor.
2

ITFCsince73 added 16:39 - Mar 12
If you believe Evan's puts £6m per year into the club.
Then relegation to L1 makes us in serious financial trouble, when we go down.
0

ITFCsince73 added 16:44 - Mar 12
We are it appears a break even club.
As long as the club doesn't have to pay a wage.
If the 6m is true, Evan's fronts the wage of the club each year.
0

MichaelRockyLavelle added 21:36 - Mar 20
GET IN TOM EAVES !!! What do our scouts do?!
He's 6ft5, great in the air, 27yo and has an eye for goal
having scored 17 last season, and 14 so far this season (for the Gills)
and seems fairly agile for his size
Why we didn't get him in January is beyond me, he's said he wants to leave Gillingham for the Championship & hence didn't re-sign for them

0


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