Town boss Paul Lambert says the players have to “realise what happened last year wasn’t good enough” and that the Blues have to improve in 2020/21.

The squad returned to Playford Road for pre-season training a fortnight ago having been away from the club since March. Earlier today, news broke that everyone had tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday and could progress to from stage one to stage two of the EFL’s Return to Training Protocols.

Lambert says being back in training is a positive move for everyone even if it’s not quite as pre-season would normally be.

“Coming into training’s good, just for the mental side of the game, it’s good, albeit in small groups and things like that,” he told the iFollow Ipswich.

“That’s been strange because that’s the first time I’ve encountered training in those small groups and staggered starts and people coming into the place and then are away again.

“But it’s the same for everybody, so that’s life as it is at the minute. But it’s good to be back.

“And anybody will tell you, team sport and a contact sport, if you don’t have contact then you don’t really have a game.

“But we’ve tried to give the guys things that they’ve needed, what we thought they needed and slowly but surely if things do get back to normal then that will pick up,”

He says the players have done well in training but insists they have to improve on last season’s disappointing 11th-place finish on unweighted points per game after the season was cut short.

“The guys have been really good in training, there’s not a problem there. We know we have to improve from last year, it wasn’t good enough,” he admitted.

“[It’s been] the best part of four and a half, five months and footballers lose fitness really, really quickly and once these guys stop their playing careers then they’ll know what it’s like to be normal that way.

“You have to enjoy this moment that you’re in as a footballer and they have to realise what happened last year wasn’t good enough, by everybody it wasn’t good enough, and we have to improve.”

Looking ahead to the prospect of matches being played behind closed doors, which will be the case in pre-season and at the start of the campaign proper, he added: “Nobody coming into the stadiums is going to be strange for everybody. I think you’re in the unknown.

“We don’t know what it’s going to be like, we don’t the measurements that are going to get taken and the protocols of coming to a game or the testing, all those sort of things that everybody’s probably asking the questions about.

“At this moment, we’ve done the very best we can to keep the lads psychologically in good shape and mentally in good shape, physically in good shape, we’ve hopefully tried the right steps.”

So far this summer Town’s only addition has been young winger Ross Crane, who was signed on a free transfer from Bury Town, but Lambert is definitely eyeing further signings, sooner rather than later if possible.

“I don’t think we’ll be different from anybody else, “ he reflected. “I think what the pandemic’s done, it’s really derailed the transfer window with a lot of teams and you can’t get anybody in.

“But we certainly need people to improve us, we have to try and get somebody in to improve us because last year simply wasn’t good enough.

“Ideally you’d love to get them in now, ideally. But it’s not an ideal world we’re in at the minute, we’re in strange times.”

Lambert, who met with owner Marcus Evans at the club last week, says he doesn’t know what his budget is given the financial issues facing both Town and Evans’s other businesses due to the coronavirus crisis.

“Whether money will be there, we’ll have to wait and see,” he added. “It’s a really difficult time for everybody.”

Having released Will Keane at the end of last season, a big striker appears to be top of Lambert’s wish-list, along with another goalkeeper, Will Norris having returned to Wolves following his loan spell.

The Blues are also short of a centre-half, with Toto Nsiala expected to move on with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United keen, as reported earlier in the week, a left-back - with former loanee Luke Garbutt a target - and a winger.

Photo: TWTD

BettyBlue added 10:43 - Aug 6 Boycott the Town until he's gone.
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Skip73 added 11:31 - Aug 6 More hollow, empty words coming out of the club.
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Skip73 added 11:31 - Aug 6 We all know the transfer budget, it'll be £0 as always.
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runningout added 12:03 - Aug 6 We lost our mojo 10 years ago. We'll get it back
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 12:41 - Aug 6 The big problem from last season is YOU Lambert and until you're gone I for one am not coming back. Worst long-term manager in history by country-mile yet Evans gives him a five-year extension. Than tells you all you need to know about our utterly useless owner as well, he's another one who can fake-off!
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Pencilpete added 13:36 - Aug 6 Lambert: Last year wasn't good enough. Yes we know ..... we had to sit and watch it !!
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FenboyBlue added 13:57 - Aug 6 Who knew ?!
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Karlosfandangal added 14:18 - Aug 6 Martin587 I agree with you. My point is that the club can't afford to sack him, we are stuck with him for at least next season. So it would be nice to see the fans get behind the club instead of slagging them off before the season has started. Fans on here are very fickle they all wanted Hurst and Lambert at the start. At the beginning of the season with Town top of the table very little was said about Lambert and if Town do go up this season Lambert will be a god again. I can see where the club is coming from with the long contract it's to get stability and time for Lambert to build a side. However that will mean Evans keeping Downes Woofdensdens etc. This is a massive season for Town, all these “good Younsters” need to step up now and if these players are going to succeed in the Championship they have to do it season in League 1 Lambert will need to get a settled side and stick with it Bishop and Dozzell Kenlock need to prove they have got Massive season for Judge Norwood and Sears these players should be too good for this league. Time will tell

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StavangerBlue added 14:51 - Aug 6 Only three League One clubs are yet to make a signing during this extended off-season so far — Ipswich Town, Wigan (in administration) and Charlton (at a takeover impasse). So to sum up what's been said. Use the youth players, there is no money and get on with it. Again, I have no idea what the strategy Ipswich have in regards to developing the squad or getting in tho the Champ. Last year, other teams had less ability but more passion, more heart, more fight and more desire. We just rolled over after Christmas. My opinion is we will be midtable again.

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martin587 added 15:22 - Aug 6 Karlosfandangal- Thanks for that and I agree 100%.I just hope like us all everything goes to plan.🤞
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Bluearmy_81 added 15:42 - Aug 6 Stavanger, yes mid table most likely without investment. Remember Evans has the money, he just chooses not to honour his duty of care to the club he took on when he bought by spending the very least he can. Most on here will be fine with that though, whatever you do don't criticise the landowner. Div 4 within 3 years without change at the top. Town fans will quietly accept that too, most likely.

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robmonkey007 added 16:49 - Aug 6 Change the record.
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Bluearmy_81 added 17:10 - Aug 6 Accept the truth, stop burying your head in the sand
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stiffy501 added 17:56 - Aug 6 Not expecting any signings unless someone is sold, Evans business's doing nothing with covid about so his worth has taken a big hit, who would want to buy us ? Play the youngsters, can't do any worse than the seniors did last year, who knows might even do well.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:07 - Aug 6 Don't agree Jas, this squad is more than good enough to compete at this level, I do agree we have a poor manager, who must hit the ground running , no excuses!
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therein61 added 18:14 - Aug 6 Neither were you good enough last season you silver tongued little devil you i think you will be on your bike before Christmas as it's all turning sour and you appear to not have a clue how to change things for the better, you could improve things by getting rid of 4&8(but you haven't got the balls) so please when you go take those underperforming overpaid so called pros in the taxi with you

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Les57 added 18:52 - Aug 6 Not all bad news. Take a look at our squad, KVY back after only playing a handful of games last year, Jack Lancaster back after a whole year out, Norwood 100% fit again (hopefully) in my opinion that is like signing new players. Take also the fact that Teddy Bishop, Freddie Sears, Emyr Hews, are fit. Downes, Woolfy, Dozzell will all improve. Surely we are going to be better than last year. Even with no signings I expect us to be up there. Well I can dream

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Bluearmy_81 added 19:04 - Aug 6 Les, you're not accounting for the fact we will surely have several, fresh, significant injuries to contend with. Sure as eggs are eggs...
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Les57 added 19:57 - Aug 6 Blue army 81. Bu££er I forgot we lose half the squad through injuries.
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RobsonWark added 23:47 - Aug 6 Les57 added 18:52 - Aug 6 "Not all bad news. Take a look at our squad, KVY back after only playing a handful of games last year, Jack Lancaster back after a whole year out, Norwood 100% fit again (hopefully) in my opinion that is like signing new players. Take also the fact that Teddy Bishop, Freddie Sears, Emyr Hews, are fit. Downes, Woolfy, Dozzell will all improve. Surely we are going to be better than last year. Even with no signings I expect us to be up there." You seem to have forgotten we'll still have #4 and #8 in the team week in week out. Our illustrious skipper with the fist pumps making mistakes every game and giving away goals and of course The INTERCEPTOR in midfield strong in the tackle and full of creative ideas. Division 2 here we come!!

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RobsonWark added 23:52 - Aug 6 #4 and #8 the UNDROPPABLES Google says "Undroppable is a term used in fantasy sports to describe a player who cannot be dropped from a team. The player is deemed too good to be dropped from a team unless he is injured and lost for the season" 2019/20 Season Total League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Goalkeepers 1 GK Czech Republic TomáÅ¡ Holý 25 0 21 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 12 GK England Will Norris 20 0 15 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 31 GK Wales Adam Przybek 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Defenders 2 DF Saint Lucia Janoi Donacien 19 0 12+1 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 3 DF England Josh Earl 7 0 5+2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 DF England Luke Chambers 32 1 31 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 DF Wales James Wilson 31 0 21+2 0 3 0 1 0 4 0 24 DF England Kane Vincent-Young 9 2 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 DF England Luke Woolfenden 36 1 31 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 29 DF England Luke Garbutt 30 6 28 5 1+1 1 0 0 0 0 30 DF England Myles Kenlock 17 0 8+1 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 37 DF Republic of Ireland Barry Cotter 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 46 DF England Bailey Clements 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 52 DF England Alex Henderson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 53 DF England Tommy Smith 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 Midfielders 7 MF Wales Gwion Edwards 35 2 22+5 2 1+2 0 1 0 3+1 0 8 MF England Cole Skuse 32 0 25+4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 11 MF England Jon Nolan 25 2 17+5 2 1+1 0 0 0 1 0 14 MF England Jack Lankester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 MF England Teddy Bishop 10 0 2+7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 MF England Tristan Nydam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 MF England Danny Rowe 18 1 9+5 1 1+1 0 0+1 0 1 0 18 MF Republic of Ireland Alan Judge 34 4 21+9 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 21 MF England Flynn Downes 32 2 29 2 2 0 0+1 0 0 0 23 MF England Andre Dozzell 15 1 8+2 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 36 MF Albania Armando Dobra 8 1 0+3 0 1 0 1 1 2+1 0 40 MF England Tommy Hughes 3 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0+2 0 42 MF England Brett McGavin 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 44 MF Wales Emyr Huws 25 1 11+6 0 3 0 1 0 4 1 50 MF England Liam Gibbs 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 51 MF Zimbabwe Tawanda Chirewa 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 Forwards 9 FW England Kayden Jackson 36 11 28+4 11 1+1 0 0+1 0 0+1 0 10 FW England James Norwood 32 11 22+6 11 1+1 0 0 0 1+1 0 20 FW England Freddie Sears 12 1 2+9 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 47 FW England Tyreece Simpson 4 0 0+3 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 48 FW England Will Keane 29 6 14+9 3 3+1 1 0 0 2 2 Players transferred out during the season 19 MF England Jordan Roberts 5 3 0+1 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 22 DF Democratic Republic of the Congo Aristote Nsiala 9 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 26 MF Tunisia Idris El Mizouni 9 1 1+2 0 0+1 0 0 0 4+1 1 27 DF England Josh Emmanuel 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 34 FW Australia Ben Folami 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 MF Cyprus Anthony Georgiou 13 0 0+10 0 2 0 0 0 1 0

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