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Norris: We Had a Good, Honest Chat as a Group
Sunday, 22nd Dec 2019 15:10

Keeper Will Norris has revealed that the Town squad had a "good, honest chat” in the dressing room following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

The loss was the Blues’ second in two League One games - and third in a row in all competitions - with Town now without a win in five league games since they beat Rochdale 1-0 at Spotland on November 5th.

Saturday's reverse at Fratton Park saw the Blues drop to third behind leaders Wycombe by seven points and Peterborough on goal difference.

“It was one of them that could have gone either way, and it hasn’t gone our way unfortunately,” Norris said after Saturday's game.

“We didn’t quite have the rub of the green in certain situations, they’ve taken their chance and it’s one of them.

“We had a good, honest chat in there as a group and we’ll put it right [on Sunday] on the training pitch.

“It was a good discussion, a very honest discussion. I’m not going to say what was said but the manager and the boys have all had a good reflection on that already and we will again tomorrow, and we’re going to put it right.”

What was the mood like in the Fratton Park dressing room? “It was a very disappointed atmosphere. We have had an honest conversation, it’s something that stays in the changing room.”

The 26-year-old says that in those circumstances everyone has their say, not just the senior players.

“Of course, we’ve got an experienced group,” he added. “It comes from the leaders on the pitch, like the Skuses and Chambos, but everybody does get their say.

“We’re all pointing in the same direction and I think this is a tough place to come at any time but if we want to achieve what we want to achieve this season, we can’t be losing games like we did today.”


Norris says it’s not unusual for a squad to have a chat along those lines: “Not at all, we all get our say whether we win, lose or draw. But today it’s not gone our way and it’s important how we bounce back.”

He says manager Paul Lambert instigated the conversation to get the squad’s views: “He always wants to hear our thoughts as players, it’s not just a one-off thing because we’ve lost today and we’ve lost two on the spin now.

“It’s not something that he’s just instigated because he always wants our feedback, he wants to know what it was like out there for us and wants our opinions and that’s a good environment to achieve what we want to achieve.”

Norris believes it’s better that a manager takes that approach rather than being more dictatorial: “Yes, he can shout at us until he’s blue in the face but that’s not going to change anything that’s happened today, I think you have to have a conversation like adults sometimes.”

Did the discussion cover the situation more widely rather than just the Portsmouth game? “Yes, he wants to pick our brains, he wants to know our thoughts and we told him as a group and he’s told us what he thinks as well.

“I’m not going to get into what was said in the changing room, it will have happened in the Portsmouth changing room too, [their manager Kenny Jackett will] probably ask what they thought today. It’s something that happens in football.”

Norris says the squad feel they can be honest in those circumstances: “Yes, definitely. You can’t hide behind excuses or lies or untruths, it is what it is. You call a spade a spade sometimes.”

Reflecting further on recent downturn, Norris said: “No one likes to lose games. And if we want to achieve what we want to achieve this year then this run of form isn’t good enough and it needs to stop.”

After the impressive start to the season, Norris was asked if he was surprised that the Blues now find themselves in their current circumstances.

“Every team is going to have their purple patch in the season, every team,” the on-loan Wolves man continued. “At the moment it’s about limiting how many points we’re dropping and getting back to winning ways.”

His message to fans given the recent run? “Stick with the boys, it’s the same squad that was winning every game at the start of the season. All you can do is stick with the boys, it was a fantastic support down here today and keep backing the boys.”

Norris made a number of important saves against Pompey, was he pleased with his display? “There’s always room for improvement, I’m my own biggest critic. No one has to tell me about my performance today. Like I say, I’m not here for a pat on the back, as a team we lost today and that’s what hurts me the most.”

Regarding Ronan Curtis’s winning goal, Norris says he’ll look at whether he might have kept it out back at Playford Road.

“I thought I got a good hand on it, it’s had a wobble, but it’s one of them,” he reflected. “ I’ll review it tomorrow with Wacker [keeper-coach Jimmy Walker] and the goalkeeping department and speak to the manager about it. It is what it is, we haven’t taken our chances today and they’ve taken theirs.”

Norris says the rest of the squad felt sorry for Toto Nsiala, who was subbed seven minutes before half-time due to concerns that the centre-half might pick up a second booking.

“That was nothing to do with his performance, he got a very unjust yellow card, I thought,” he said. “It was player protection from the manager. It was purely tactical and not a reflection on Toto or his performance at all.

“It was a tactical switch, there was no sour grapes from anyone in the team because it was a tactical decision and I thought Toto was playing really well.

"His confidence on the training pitch is high at the moment, and he can go in and do a good job. It’s not a reflection on him at all.”

Norris has played five games since keeping his last clean sheet at Rochdale with Town having gone six games since last not conceding. The one-time Cambridge United man knows that the Blues need to return to their early season tightness at the back.

“Yes, definitely, I feel like the goals are coming and the clean sheets are coming,” he insisted. “We’ve just been on the wrong side of a few results lately, it’s no time to hit the panic problem, definitely not.”

Norris says the squad are still confident that they can achieve their aim of winning promotion this season.

“This time last year, you had Portsmouth and Sunderland top, and they’re still in this league, he added.

“No medals are handed out in this month, but this is where they’re earnt.

“I think today we need to have a look at the performance and we need to be winning these games, but no medals are handed out this month.”


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Reuserscurtains added 15:13 - Dec 22
RIP Ipswich Town Fc. League 1 strugglers
-13

ArnieM added 15:56 - Dec 22
C'mon lads we can do this . Lambert , just keep a settled side please !
16

algarvefan added 16:11 - Dec 22
Week after week the players are rolled out and tell lies, we were well beaten and if it wasn;t for Norris could have been 3 down at half time. I'm no football coach but Nsiala has been a nightmare in a Town shirt this season, but what worries me more than anything is our basic footballing skills, our passing, crossing and finishing is abysmal.

Keep it simple and play your best team surely has to be the way forward, but let's at least get the basics right.
12

hammo56 added 16:11 - Dec 22
Heard it all before from various players.
Time to do our talking on the pitch not just off it.
16

TimmyH added 16:20 - Dec 22
Norris: 'yeah your turn on Boxing Day Thomas', Holy: 'Agree Will, even if I have a barn stormer I think you'll be back in after that', Toto: 'I'm trying to put some form together but can't help making fouls and being off the pace, I need more matches' Chambo: You've got another opportunity as there's a space for you against Gillingham (whispers yikes!)', Skusey: I know I'm a certain starter but promise to pass the ball forwards more often and will do my upmost to score again', Norwood: If only we can get some more crosses into a crowded box that's where I feel I can score but please Flynn no through balls which gives me a one on one with their keeper', Dozzer: I should be starting more matches I have that killer ball instinct but just don't ask me to get the ball back if we lose it', Edwards: 'I'm like the invisible man but not today where I created foul after foul', Judge: 'I'm still playing sh1t!'

Something like that I should imagine...
18

herfie added 16:29 - Dec 22
Sounds as if this frank and honest exchange of views has been brewing for a while. Whilst it's concerning that, at the half way mark of the season, players, manager, training staff etc appeared to be debating a wide spectrum of opinions and ideas for getting us back on track, we have to hope that what follows reflects some ‘basics' that have been obvious to us supporters for a long time.

- Decide what sort of team we are - nail our identity and stick to it.
- Adopt a set-up best suited to the pool of talent available. What's worked best, what are the players most comfortable with? Don't get too obsessed with the opposition; let them worry about us.
- Decide our best core starting line up. Stick to it as far as possible.
- PL - don't be too nice, and try to please all the people - players and supporters - all of the time. Make every player sweat blood to wear the shirt.

Just some random ramblings - but COYB!
- Determine
7

billlm added 16:52 - Dec 22
All well and good but you don't get 3 points for sorting it out on the training ground
4

dukey44 added 16:56 - Dec 22
Tell your boss his weekly choices are tosh and aren't working.... Simple that was a long chat?
2

Pezzer added 17:03 - Dec 22
Play the best 11 and once results improve keep a settled team as much as possible and formation. It's about winning games in this league so 3 CBs too negative and play t least 2 up. Trust the younger players as they cannot be worse than some of the older pro's who are not up to it. Must have someone who can be creative and take on opposing defenders- Dozzell and Dobra look like they can offer something most of our midfielders can't. Nsiala is a liability and Skuse, Nolan and Judge are one dimensional and together create nothing. I thought Wolfenden and Downes were ok on Sat and proves the younger players can step up.
6

runningout added 17:15 - Dec 22
We may have Good players but right now our decent start to season is looking like a fluke. I'm still feeling sick from relegation. I'm too old to face relegation again next May. It's going to be a wrench to watch my last ever game away soon.
2

ronnyd added 17:18 - Dec 22
I hope that someone introduced them all to each other first, as they all play like strangers.
7

rfretwell added 17:35 - Dec 22
It was clear yesterday, Jackson has to start. We were much more threatening when he came on with his extra pace and crosses from the flanks. Just need Norwood etc to get on the end of them.
6

eddiespearitt03 added 17:46 - Dec 22
If Toto is such a liability then stick him in midfield or down the flank where he can stretch his legs more often and give teams something to worry about.. We miss KVY big time. We certainly need more attacking spark from the midfield and young players like Morris/Dobra could possibly offer more tucked in by the front two. Is it time to concede Skuse, Chambers etc are just not good enough ? Lambert has to recognize his best team and have the right players on the bench for a plan B . That should not mean we stop attacking teams though.
1

dukey44 added 17:57 - Dec 22
Pezzer sorry wrong button.. Meant up
0

jollyroger added 19:28 - Dec 22
I hope the players told PL ffs stick to 4 4 2 and a settled side then we can deliver better football and results
2

oldbri added 19:52 - Dec 22
When I was playing , I was told keep it simple, pass to your own player, try to go forward, get near the goal and if in doubt, stick it in the net.Oh and never argue with the ref because he will never listen .
2

ITFCsince73 added 20:40 - Dec 22
Eddie. Regarding Skuse and Chambo. 2 years to late I'm afraid. And still have 18 months left on lucrative contracts as the clubs highest earners.
There was an opportunity for the club to go down a different leadership route. But not taken.
Both served the club with dignity in there time here, no doubting that.
But both have overseen and currently overseeing the clubs darkest years.
Just in footballing terms alone, the playing side of the club. Is in a dire need of a new approach.
Like many I'm sure, I thought maybe in L1 they would be the difference.
Disappointed.
1

MVBlue added 20:44 - Dec 22
What are we? Whats our best formation? Do we put balls in the box from the wings or try to penetrate them with incisive passing? Do we suck up their pressure for the first 30 minutes then rally and counter attack them? And where is Freddie, is he ready?
0

MVBlue added 20:48 - Dec 22
I remember beating Shrewsbury 3 nil with a Downes wonder goal.....
I also remember a referee dissallowing a valid goal vs Wycombe.
Which game is shaping our season more?
1

ITFCsince73 added 21:01 - Dec 22
I remember the Chambo howler V Sunderland. 2 points dropped.
0

GatesPerm added 21:08 - Dec 22
The phoney war is over.

A solid foundation has been laid and we are in the game. it's the second half of the season which will decide the teams to be promoted.

Hopefully, a more consistent starting eleven to allow partnerships to form.
5

ITFCsince73 added 21:18 - Dec 22
Agreed Gates. I said before yesterday, If we are genuine. 12 points required out the 5 games taking us into January.
Need to win next 4.
1

Suffolkboy added 21:34 - Dec 22
I hope by ‘honest ‘ Norris means frank and totally unfettered ,objective ,critical and pointed ; coupled with demanding ( of each other ) and positive with measurable benchmarks set for future assessments .
A sense of urgency ,cohesion and a personal responsibility from each and every player is the minimum we should ask .
Bring back the joy ITFC :COYB
2

ITFCsince67 added 22:20 - Dec 22
Problem is no fan or manager knows what are best 11 is.
1

Bluearmy_81 added 22:45 - Dec 22
If we don't go up this season I think there is more chance of us being non-league in 5-10 years time than prem. Just an objective, evidence based assertion.
-1


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