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Lambert: A Win's a Win But it Won't Change the Negativity
Saturday, 5th Dec 2020 18:19

A win’s a win was manager Paul Lambert’s assessment after Town came from behind to beat 10-man Plymouth 2-1 at Home Park but believes the victory won’t “change the negativity” he said was attached to the club earlier in the week.

Jon Nolan and Kayden Jackson netted two goals in two minutes to see the Blues to the win after the Pilgrims had been reduced to 10 men after Danny Mayor’s red card.

Having seen the draw at Oxford as a step in the right direction, Lambert was asked whether he viewed today’s win as another.

“Yes, it’s a win, it’s a win,” he said. We move on to the next game.”

Was he happy with the performance? “Yes, we’re sitting third, I think, joint-third. That’s not bad. We move on.”

Was he not taken with the display? “No, there’s just things going through my head, it’s fine, it’s OK.”

Quizzed on whether he was pleased with the resilience his team showed to turn the game around, he responded: “As I said before, I’m proud of the guys, the way we play good football when we’ve so many problems back home.

“We had a good game, we didn’t deserve to be down 1-0. We should have had a penalty, that was incredible. The guys deserve so much credit.”

Asked how much character it took to stage the comeback, he said: “[From] the team, yes, but we’ll not change the negativity, not change it. But for those guys, brilliant.

“We lost two games and I think everybody thought we were going to sink to the bottom of the table and we’re sitting third.


“We don’t have the guys in the treatment room, they’re still to come back. We’ve so many guys injured, big guys. It’s not as if it’s the young guys you don’t rely on, it’s big guys that make a massive contribution. Will it change the negativity? No it won’t.”

Lambert had asked for his side to be more ruthless in both boxes and Nolan and Jackson both took their opportunities clinically.

“Great. I thought we started the game really well, we dominated the ball and they sat off us and they got a goal with their first real attack,” he said.

“We should have had a penalty [when Jack Lankester was fouled], how it wasn't a penalty I don’t know.

“And then it was just a matter of keeping doing what they were doing and try to force the game and then getting the goals, we were getting in some great areas. The contribution from the sub guys was big, we made the right calls and we got the win.”

Regarding the finishes, he added: “Nolo was really good, Nolan’s busy, he’s really good. Kayden, I thought maybe should have pulled the trigger in the first half when he was played right through. But the kid’s not played much football, so he’s still trying to find his feet. I thought his goal was excellent. Very good.”

Did he feel his side was getting on top even before Mayor, who Lambert tried to bring to Portman Road after he left Bury in the summer of 2019, was dismissed? “Yes, in the first half they were dropping off and we were getting in some good areas.

“I thought Kayden maybe should have pulled the trigger earlier than he should. Dobs should have done better when he went through [just before half-time], so there were good moments there, good possibilities. But it was just a matter of keeping going and keeping going.”

Lambert was pleased with Armando Dobra’s lively display, the Albanian U21 international having drawn the foul which led to Mayor’s red card.

“Yes, I think that’s what you get with him,” he said. “I think Dobs at the minute still plays street football, that’s probably a compliment to him. He plays street football.

Lambert says Aaron Drinan missed out having joined the already lengthy injury list: “That was bizarre because it was a recovery day so he never trained with us. He just felt a little twinge in his hamstring. As I’ve said to you, you can have all the best medical team in the world and things like that happen.”

Asked whether there is any chance of anyone being back for next week’s home game against Portsmouth, he said: “I don’t think so, no. I don’t know if any will come back. I don’t see it.”

One piece of good news yesterday was Andre Dozzell signing a new contract which runs to the summer of 2024.

“Yes, I never knew until yesterday morning,” Lambert said. “Great for the club because we don’t have the money to go and buy guys and Andre at 20 years old is getting better and better and better. He’s still developing.

“The club can’t go out and buy somebody in this environment. He’s a really good footballer.”

Lambert agreed that the 21-year-old has come on since becoming a regular in the side this season.

“Yes, without a doubt,” he said. “I think people forget when they look at him. He’s every bit as young as Luke Woolfenden, he’s a young guy who is learning and developing and he’s got to get physically stronger, which he will as he gets older. And he’ll get better. But regarding being a footballer, he’s got all the attributes.”

How good can the former England U20 international be? “Only he’ll decide how his future’s going to go but he’s a really good kid, a good footballer and hopefully his career goes the right way.”

Asked what the win means to him, he said: “I know what it means to me and to the guys and the staff. I know what it means to them.

“We came here, we had the team that we have and the guys that we have at the minute, it’s incredible how they’re doing. We just keep trying.”

Having said the win won’t change the negativity, Lambert was asked what would. A run of wins? “No, I know what needs to be changed but I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.”


Photo: TWTD



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CornishMariner added 20:44 - Dec 5
I thought the Kayden Jackson interview was a great listen. An articulate and reflective player. Happy that the other interview was much shorter. In any business/organization, good results always head off trouble and get people back on board. It really is as simple as that.
6

Dissboyitfc added 20:48 - Dec 5
countryboyblue...if you dont appreciate all the hard work Phil and GAv put into this site i suggest you stay off of it!

A sending off doesnt always help but today it did!

Lambert needs to start producing this edge of the seats football that he says its all about! Yes you have to win ugly at times and today we did just that, great! But can anyone Lambert fan or not remember any games in the last one hundred games when we have played superbly well for 90 minutes and took any team apart? Surely in his 100 games in change we should seen some! In the last 10 years we are probably one of the most success starved teams in all 4 divisions not even an exciting cup( excluding the semi finals and one play off) we have had very little to cheer!

People say get behind the team, we have been doing that for many years now with zero return!
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herfie added 20:54 - Dec 5
Firstly, great win - big shout out to all those involved in achieving it. Makes a 600+ miles round trip much more bearable. By no means the perfect performances; but taking all recent off-field events and crippling injury list into account, it's the more worthy our genuine praise.

However, the hard-fought win was perhaps overshadowed by PL's post match demeanour and cryptic comments, that hinted that all is far from well within the club. We can only speculate as to what he was alluding to; but the fact that he chose to mention his obvious disquiet, confirms what many supporters have believed for some time. And the fact that there clearly are issues must impact upon the players - and probably supporting/admin staffs. Simmering internal unrest, or a persecution complex against perceived media negativity, is pernicious and gnaws away at the club's stability and ultimately team performances. It's squarely down to ME to grip and act
4

Countryboyblue added 21:03 - Dec 5
Dissboyitfc.. I didn't say I don't appreciate what the guys do, but since the banning their reporting has a venom, a twist on the negativity, the same as the local media. It's so easy to criticise PL, as it was Mick, PJ, Keano and Jim but the reality is they're all decent managers and fellas who have tried their best. PL has done everything to reunite the fans, but people are just throwing it in his face. It terrible and quite frankly it embarrassing. These guys are professional people, who know so much more than dare I say the average fan who of course knows everything. The only way this club will move forward is to be ‘as one' together. A good manager need at least 3 seasons, with 100% full support. As for people thinking PL took us down, we'll that's just ridiculous as the damage was already done.
-5

Carberry added 21:10 - Dec 5
Why does he feign ignorance when asked about injuries? Is this part of his 'look at me, I'm so laid back, I just don't care' attitude? And Dozzell's contract, he would have been informed what progress was being made, he speaks to O'Neill daily doesn't he? It's a very strange position to take - I just wish someone would put him on the spot when he comes out with this garbage. He got round the fact that he came with baggage by bigging up the club and the fans but now it's just his abilities or lack of them and weaknesses that are in the spotlight - and there's no disguising those.
5

BrandestonBlue added 21:29 - Dec 5
North Stand veteran - your comment that no other fans back their club like Ipswich fans is either ironic or misguided

We hounded McCarthy out of the club - would have done the same to Hurst if Evans hadn't taken prompt action and now we are hounding Lambert
No manager of any quality will come here - why would they ?
2

ringwoodblue added 21:59 - Dec 5
I think there is more chance of understanding Marcelo Bielsa's post-match interviews without his interpreter than Lambert's.

Bizarre.
3

Carberry added 22:34 - Dec 5
Northstandveteran is spot on BrandestonBlue. This club offers managers and players the easiest ride. Why do so many love working and living here. It's only because the McCarthy situation went on for so long, with so many negatives that the protests became so loud but 'hounded out' is nowhere near the reality. Look around the country and compare us with the likes of Sunderland, Newcastle, Everton, Leeds, West Ham, Birmingham and Portsmouth where they don't hold back. Please get real on that score because the reason managers won't come here is because there's no money and the club is totally dysfunctional.
6

Michael101 added 23:05 - Dec 5
Bradenton blue,no manager of any quality would come here, how would anybody know?? All the managers Evans has employed have been useless idiots .maybe if we got the groundwater to do the interviews we might have a chance of getting somebody who has a slight idea about football.
2

Michael101 added 23:06 - Dec 5
Groundsman doh.
0

BartonBluee added 23:23 - Dec 5
Countryboyblue - I have to agree with you. Whether we win, draw or lose you always get negative comments on this website. It isn't good for morale. Luckily, I would almost guarantee no players, the manager or club officials look at the comments! Which always cracks me up when people address PL or ME direct!

TWTD do a great job of reporting all things Ipswich and I love the site. But the negative comments kill any ounce of positivity that comes out the club!
-1

RobITFC added 01:07 - Dec 6
He is only pee'd off because we scored twice when we went to a formation we are hopeless at !!
0

BettyBlue added 03:31 - Dec 6
Not a single great performance in 100 games.

Not even an exciting game dependent on our footballing wherewithal.

Not even a really exciting loss when we had another team rocking.

Paul try and find one.. even a fairly juicy half of a game ....

Nothing.
1

rollercoastertown added 06:48 - Dec 6
A win is a win....but. Why do we continue to take all the pace out of the game? We upped the tempo and played positively for a total of 4 minutes in that game, we scored twice in those 4 minutes! And it had very little to do with their 10 men, it was down to us pushing them back, going forward before they had time to get behind the ball and organise.
I've watched this club for 45 years, seen some great teams, some good teams, some not so good teams and some pretty awful teams, but none of them were as characterless as this one. The players look scared to take a risk, afraid to make a mistake , even when we cross a ball it is so deliberate instead of just putting it into an area where defenders have a problem, excepted fir when ward did twice yesterday...and look what happened then. We have the players, just let them play .
3

Help added 07:47 - Dec 6
PL, one swallow does not a summer make. One win against ten men when 1 down from the 14th minute to the 73rd nearly 60 minutes, and to be honest we did not look like scoring until the formation was changed, and even then the opposition had chances to equalise. The players just do not seem confident, are they scared? Yes we move up the league, yes we got a win and 3 points all welcome, but there is still a lot missing from this team. I still use the word capable, we just do not seem capable. Goodness knows what these players would be like if there had been fans at these games.
0

Cakeman added 08:27 - Dec 6
Paul Lambert is quite correct that the negativity won't stop. The negativity from the terraces and local press has been growing stronger as each year of poorer football passes by. Sadly Mr Lambert is on the receiving end of the negativity at arguably the most difficult time in the clubs history.
Opinions aside we are not a great team as we sit in the third tier of England and on football ability and form that is where we deserve to be.
It is difficult to gauge exactly how all the fans feel (not just those using TWTD) as up until Saturday there has been no fans in the grounds to be able to show their feelings or mood.

I will say Paul Lambert and Mick McCarthy before him both had their hands tied with regards to lack of funding. Both managers although they would not publicly say so were and are fielding players they probably would not like to if they had more money available.
Unfortunately I think a change of manager is inevitable in the not too distant future because Paul Lambert's frustrations are being aired quite frequently. He is also contradicting himself with a couple of examples being his odd comment about not playing 4-4-2 because we are not good at it and then yesterday doing just that. Also at the beginning of the season saying the shirt is for the players in possession of them to keep unless they are playing badly. That no longer happens either as there have been players dropped when not doing a lot wrong ie Tomas Holy.

I will always back the team but it is very difficult not to feel negative about watching the poorest squad of players I've ever seen at Portman Road in the fifty plus years that I have seen them.
4

budgieplucker added 08:51 - Dec 6
@airliner, please accept my apologies I down arrowed you by accident
0

MonkeyAlan added 09:14 - Dec 6
He obviously means our illustrious leader when knowing what needs changing. If that is indeed his thoughts, then for once he has got it right.
0

Northstandveteran added 09:19 - Dec 6
Thank you for your response Brandestonblue.

I'm not going to go over the McCarthy situation again, that's been talked about over and over again to the point of exhaustion.

But let's look at the support Lambert has received.

Yes, he took over a club at rock bottom but had plenty of games to ensure that we weren't in the three poorest teams in the division.

Despite not ensuring we weren't the worst team in the division, the fans applauded him and his team at the end of the season. Where else would that happen?

The Lambo ( Rambo ) banner despite having taken us to the lowest point in 60 years.

Fans not being able to get tickets for away games because of demand in the third division!

Selling 9000 season tickets in the middle of a pandemic whilst at our lowest point in living memory.

I personally think that Ipswich fans are the most forgiving in the land.

5

bernie added 09:25 - Dec 6
Grow up man !! You're hardly been awesome since your been at the club , you get paid well and I hear top earner in the league so deal with the criticism or do the right thing , leave !! Personally I feel it time as you have had longer enough !! The fans are not silly so stop treating us if we are, we know we have a lot of injuries at the moment and that's another story . But what we are on about is not only this season but last season and the one before that !! Don't expect us fans to put up with you getting your nickers in twist when it all seems to be going tits up !! We know we have injuries but still we must be better than we have been .
0

Northstandveteran added 09:26 - Dec 6
I use the word 'forgiving' as I wouldn't want to offend those that participated in the aforementioned actions.

I shook my head in disbelief to be honest.
0

cat added 09:26 - Dec 6
Lambert don't want to start playing mind games with us fan. Bigger, tougher and more successful managers have recently found to their cost that your better off keeping us on side. The situations clearly getting to him and his inability to take criticism will be his undoing, along with them fine set of managerial stats of course.
4

WhoisJimmyJuan added 09:34 - Dec 6
Bartonbluee. This is a website, with an open forum. That means people can post positive comments if they feel happy..or post negative comments if they feel unhappy. I admit I despise any resorting to personal insults and thinly veiled swearwords aimed at PL or any of the staff. But I equally dislike comments suggesting anyone who vents their frustration on here as somehow bringing about the demise of our club through lowering morale. Worse, suggesting anyone who so does is not a true fan. TWTD forums are and should always be about informed debate. Look no further than Budgeplucker for a fine example.
3

Cloddyseedbed added 10:02 - Dec 6
A wins a win and after the long journey to return with 3 points is a good achievement. Lambert despite saying nothing gets to him is obviously feeling the strain and lashing out at supporters and media. He is the manager and when things aren't going well he takes the wrap, it's how it works. I've watched all the games this season and yesterday was another poor game and performance until the sending off and substitutions and we went 2 up top. You could immediately sense the players were lifted and more comfortable going forwards. Hawkins strength is making a nuisance of himself and bring others into the game, use him to his strength. Jackson is not a lone striker and when the Hawkins/Jackson combination is used we are a real threat. Everybody can see that. So stop poking the bear lambert by saying we are useless with 2 up front and feeling hard done by with comments from the press and fans. We have seen and witnessed ITFC far longer than you and we sometimes quote the bleedin obvious! Onto the next game, 2 up front please. :)
1

heathen66 added 10:30 - Dec 6
Spot on #Carberry !!!
1


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