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Lambert: You Can't Just Play Football With the Ball, You Have to Do the Other Side First
Saturday, 12th Dec 2020 18:44

Town boss Paul Lambert admitted his side never played well during their 2-0 home defeat to Portsmouth, Ryan Williams having netted both the visitors’ goals in the first half.

“We never deserved it, we never played well,“ Lambert said. “Maybe after 15 minutes or so when Dobs, who I thought had a good game, does well and made the goalkeeper make a save but other than that we never did the other side [of the game].

“You can’t play a game of football without doing the other side first. Once you do the other side first, everything else follows suit and if you don’t do that, ultimately you lose.”

How do the players change that, is it a case of improving aspects of the game like competing and winning more 50/50s?

“The guys know that, we spoke about it,” he said. “That was a good thing, you can’t just play football with the ball, you have to do the other side first.

“And if you do the other side first you tend to find things will fall into place. Today we never did the other side.”

Lambert didn’t emerge for his post-match press conference until 5.30pm, much later than usual. Asked if there had been harsh words in the dressing room, he said: “To an extent, to an extent. Listen, we need players back as well, that’s important. Yes, there were harsh words and also some common sense words but we never deserved to win.”

Given the quality of the opposition, Town couldn’t afford to put in a display as lacklustre as today’s.

“Any game, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against,” Lambert said when that was put to him. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against, you have to earn the right to win any game of football.

“If you think you can just turn up and things are going to happen, without doing the other side of the game, and I mean being aggressive, intense, so hyped up in your own self, taking responsibility in your own self, you ain’t going to win many games.”

Town once again fell well short against a side towards the top of the table and are still to defeat anyone in the top nine in the division.


“We have to beat the top teams,” the Blues boss admitted. “We have to get our big players back. We’re going to need a magic wand to get those guys back because it’s important.

“We need them back, Teddy Bishop, Flynn Downes, Cole Skuse, you need that engine room back. And at the minute it’s not coming back any time soon.”

Town’s record when playing against sides in the top 10 in the last two seasons - in last year's final table and as the division stands at present - makes chastening reading, with only three wins from 25 fixtures.

“We need to be better but we need the guys back, without a doubt,” Lambert continued. “You’ve seen Portsmouth, they’re a team of men. We’ve got young lads in there as well. They’re doing everything [they can] and that will do them good for the future but at the moment it’s hard for them, they need a bit of help from the guys coming back. If Bishop and Downes come back, it’s a different animal.”

Is he worried the season might trail off with the Blues down to sixth but with three of the four teams directly below them having played fewer games?

“Well, we can’t [let it],” he said. “As I said, there have been harsh words in the dressing room on that side of it. You cannot let it trail [off], without a doubt.

“We’re still in the mix, there are so many games left to play. If we get the bigger ones back to crack on but you cannot turn up thinking you’re going to win a game of football playing like that.”

Quizzed on whether the players had their say in the dressing room afterwards, he added: “Yes, they know. Everybody knows, everybody says things, everybody hears it, everybody knows what’s going on and sometimes you need that.

“You definitely need that. Before you wake up and the horse has bolted, you need to realise what you’re involved in.”

There were boos at the end of both halves from the 2,000 fans returning to Portman Road after nine months away.

“Everybody pays a lot of money and during what’s happened, the pandemic, you can’t grumble because we lost, we didn’t play well, you can’t grumble, you just have to get on with it and move on to the next game,” Lambert said when asked about the booing.

“It’s not nice for anybody but that’s football. Can you imagine if it was a full house. It’s a little bit different, or you’re playing in front of 60 or 70,000 people then it’s who’s got the biggest cajones, as I call it.”

Town have a chance to get back to winning ways very quickly with Burton Albion at Portman Road on Tuesday.

“That’s it but if we play like that, we’ll lose again, that’s the reality of it,” Lambert admitted. “Hopefully Tuesday everybody regroups, maybe we will get one or two back, I don’t know if they’re ready.”

Jon Nolan rejoined the injured list having picked up a knock in the first half but Lambert isn’t sure how serious the problem is.

“I don’t know if it’s his calf or hip or anything like that, I don’t know how bad it is,” he said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Lambert had praise for Armando Dobra’s performance, the Albanian U21 international how having started the last three league games.

“He did well, I thought he did really well, energy, tenacity, all those sort of things. I thought he was one of the bright sparks,” he said.

Lambert’s double second-half substitution also drew boos with Kayden Jackson swapped for Aaron Drinan.

“Kayden, as I said to you before, we’ve got to really watch him, he’s missed a helluva lot of games and we can’t afford another injury,” he said. “We have to watch and protect him because we’re playing three games a week.

“Aaron hurt himself the other week so we’ve got to watch him. Oli Hawkins has not played many games and James Norwood is obviously out. There are that many games and nobody coming in to help at this moment.

“Young Tyreece Simpson is out injured at the moment, so out Aaron on. Dobs I thought was playing well anyway. I thought Aaron needed a bit of game time, Oli came on. It’s just what we think is the right thing to do.”

The booing fans wanted to see the Blues move to two up front, as they did during last week’s 2-1 win at Plymouth, but that isn’t the way Lambert wants his side to play.

“I don’t want to go to route one because you’ve got Oli up there and just launch it from back to front,” he said. “That was one of the arguments when I first came in - we play 4-4-2, we bang it up front, it’s boring, it’s not good football.

“We try to play a different way and that’s the philosophy we try and play. When you change your shape to 4-4-2 it can become really, really ragged. That’s why Aaron came on and as I say, Kayden I’ve got to watch.”


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Skip73 added 19:59 - Dec 12
I have 3 words to say. TWO UP FRONT.
5

62WasBest added 20:14 - Dec 12
I think the player we are missing most is Edwards. Not afraid, to have a go and energetic with it.
2

heathen66 added 20:14 - Dec 12
Yes, but Paul...we are hoofing it to one up front !!!
That is now 340mins if playing against 11 men without scoring !!!
Something has to change.
If you are not going to change your ways then we will have to change you as your ways are not working.
Something needs to be done before it is too late !!!
5

Karlosfandangal added 20:17 - Dec 12
Have been a regular at Ipswich home games for 25 years.....up till 3 years ago because of the cost of games and the poor quality of football.

I thought I will give the games ago on iplayer......see if things have changed.

Today Ipswich v Portsmouth or Arthur Christmas..........just saved my self £10.

Mr Evans you need to do something soon as you have not only lost someone who spent around £100 watching home game but now lost £10 as on TUesday I will not be watching Ipswich v Burton
4

jonju11 added 20:20 - Dec 12
As Maggie would have said, "This man is not for turning!!" No point in arguing. The Premier boys play out of the back...but they have talent. Not one of our back 4 has the ability or confidence to play this game.
Positives: Dobra has a bright future & so does Dozzell but the rest seem so lethargic. Never seen Chambers look so deflated/frustrated in the 7 years I've seen him play. What's happened to Captain Fantastic. Please come back soon!!
5

inghamspur added 20:27 - Dec 12
Awful, just awful all round.
2

Dolphinblue added 21:09 - Dec 12
Not Your fault Lambert.....#keeplambertinforever
-3

algarvefan added 21:18 - Dec 12
If we are being really honest Paul, you have had what 2 years during which time we have NEVER looked a threat up front. The players yu mention have been in and out of the side but we still don't carry a goal threat. Our players on the whole give their best but some are just not good enough. We won't get promoted this year because we don't deserve to, although I appreciate there is a long way to go. We could change the manager or the owner but do people really think that will make a difference? We have many young players still learning the game, this will take time sadly.

Whilst I'm at it, booing your own team at half time or full time is never a good idea. I don't like it, it achieves nothing. How do you think Dobra will feel being booed off after he ran his guts out for his team today. Please if you get tickets, don't do it. I understand how you feel, but please don't.
1

Suffolkboy added 21:21 - Dec 12
PL was certainly just a little more forthcoming ,and he definitely could not divulge exactly what went on, what was said , or even , though we might have liked it, revealed his possible anger and frustrations .It is clear however that he is personally hurt by the lack of fight ; BUT that really is his problem to resolve .
The previous comment about LC may well say it all ; we do know just how dedicated and genuinely committed he is to ITFC and his role as Captain .
I guess we simply cannot expect anything but loyalty and discretion from him : but silence may speak volumes !!
It WILL now be interesting and even critical in plotting the way forward , to see and hear what ME and L O'N feel it right to comment upon – guess the blackout curtains will be down for a few days !
WHAT are we to hope for ? What will break this mould ( y) old dough and raise the spirits ?
ME and L O'N it really is , sadly , down to you both to get a solution sorted out .
Find a way !
COYB
1

shakytown added 21:31 - Dec 12
Our players are just to small and weak for this type of football. Add to that poor management and a complete lack of a game plan and we we always struggle against the stronger teams.
5

Dear_oh_Dear added 21:50 - Dec 12
Lost the ball in key areas in our half today, and didn't bust a gut to get it back...
0

Portman_Pie added 21:56 - Dec 12
Don't want to play 4-4-2 ‘it's boring'.

As opposed to the silky, sleek, total football we're playing at present...?

GET OUT OF THE CLUB - YOU MORON. YOU ARE DELUDED.
3

herfie added 22:02 - Dec 12
Everyone can see the problem;, but those who have the ability to provide solutions, are themselves at the heart of the problems. It's a self licking lollipop, and it's very depressing.


1

airliner added 22:03 - Dec 12
God even Kenny useless Jackett can win, lambert it's not working , you are not inspiring them. Your tactics are useless. It just does not work, we are not Barcelona or Liverpool. Get back to playing normal football. You don't have the coaching skills to play the football you are playing. Only Ian Culverhouse can do that !!!!
4

dirtydingusmagee added 22:34 - Dec 12
''you cant just turn up '' why ? thats all you do Paul . '' you cant just play football with the ball '' ffs i was hoping we would begin to .
2

SingBlue added 23:03 - Dec 12
It's depressing isn't it and what I find incredible is he's surprised we lost! Seriously the stat in the report about only winning a few games against the ‘big' boys (Christ it's division 3!) says much more about our current future than the regular drivel this guy speaks. There are no green shoots at this club, just a slow painful death. Seriously who cares if Evans stays or leaves? The result is going to be the same and he does not give a flying fish. Can you imagine any meeting he's been in and he's said (with a straight face) “but what about the fans...”
3

runaround added 23:58 - Dec 12
Our club is in a mess & it's sad to see. The manager needs to be changed as he is unable to turn it around but the owner will not do this in my opinion until promotion is mathematically impossible & possibly not even then. Even if Lambert goes soon I don't necessarily think it will make much difference 😞
2

airliner added 00:30 - Dec 13
It would make a lot of difference. He just wants to be paid up.
2

runningout added 01:44 - Dec 13
Since Paul Lamberts Norwich job his record is very poor. There doesn't seem a light at the end of our tunnel. We have been a graveyard for most of our recent managers
2

Esseeja added 04:15 - Dec 13
We are too uninspired as fans if we don't protest properly, how did we force McCarthy's hand so bad?
0

therein61 added 07:06 - Dec 13
The body language of the players says it all, they are fed up with a lack of leadership and motivation from off the field you are lucky there wasn't a full house today as the outpour would have been awful, get it sorted P.L or walk because your talk ain't working.
2

BettyBlue added 07:18 - Dec 13
this nonsense wouldn't be allowed at any other football club in the land.

sidegate lane u5's wouldn't put up with it, why do we?????
1

ArnieM added 07:42 - Dec 13
Since when does playing 442 mean you play route one ? Just wtf is Lambert going on about ??
4

Jonaldo added 08:16 - Dec 13
We are all clutching at straws if we think 442 will magically change our fortunes!

We did not defend well, did not win the 50/50 balls, did not pass quickly enough or accurately. And the strikers that we do have aren't aggressive enough and carry little goal threat.

Can probably blame Lambo for the strikers that he bought, but not for the lack of effort and application this Saturday. I would be seething if i were him.

A really big reaction is needed against Burton!

On the positive side Cornell made some great saves.
1

Help added 08:34 - Dec 13
Ringwood blue - so funny comment, made my day after that poor performance
0


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