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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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johnwarksshorts added 08:39 - Dec 13
Makes a change from Really really really good.
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Saxonblue74 added 09:01 - Dec 13
Now, before you all jump on my back this is NOT me showing support for PL! In my opinion the only positive to come out of yesterday's debacle is Lamberts post match interview. For the first time he has admitted to a very poor performance and there has clearly been a bit of "afters"in the dressing room. I agree with him, we need more fight, we need to show a bit more passion, we need to show the fans that we actually care about winning football matches! We have 2 of the most experienced players in the league in Chambers and Ward, they should be the driving force. Nolan gave the ball away at every opportunity, and Alan Judge? They are not young, inexperienced players and should not be making such basic and costly errors. Yes, Lamberts tactics are very frustrating but when our starting 11 cross that white line it's over to them.If Lambert has given them the hairdryer treatment then we'll see on Tuesday how much our players care. We all wanted opportunity for our youth, well they're getting it and most of them are blowing it! We lost nobody in the last transfer window, I think that's more down to the fact that nobody wanted any of our squad than ambition to hang on to them! The more I think about it (and I'm trying not to!) the more I come to the conclusion that our problems are not entirely down to our doubtless poor management, it could be that were simply not as good as we think we are!
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 09:16 - Dec 13
All of the playing and coaching staff are just too comfortable working under Evans. Evans should be far far far more ambitious and demanding. I mean is he not embarrassed at all? Has he no pride??
3

MonkeyAlan added 09:22 - Dec 13
Just go Lambert. Your ramblings are clueless, like you. I can't even be bothered to read his waffle anymore. Oh and Evans, you are a Muppet.
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Dissboyitfc added 09:23 - Dec 13
Good post saxonblue74... whilst i agree with most of what you write here, i dont agree that our squad is not good enough, i think it is! A little while ago( it was this season ) Mick Mills said on the radio thaat Lambert had a good squad to work with and could play 11 against 11 from his first team squad and it would be an even contest! And yes we have a horrendous injury list( this is not just down to the covid lockdown or bad luck, Pompey are doing ok on the injury front) but the more telling point is his results in his 100 odd games! And it continues in the third tier of english football.

LAMBERT OUT!!!
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bernie added 09:30 - Dec 13
Come on Lambert admit it , they are not playing for you that is a sure thing !! You have made a lot of fans think that the team are not good enough and even though I do think some players are getting found out this season , we are not that poor , we are not playing as a team we are slow and predictable which must come down to the manager surly ?? You can't keep coming out with poor excuses !! Ie injuries , virus , long journeys, expectancy, pressure , young lads , playing at home playing away , negativity, come on its enough . When you first came in you done a good job getting the fans back but have got to say you haven't done anything else that's for sure other than go backwards . Now we all know you're out of your depth and your and waiting for a pay off from Marcus and move on to some other poor club who are struggling, you're tried but just not good enough . Now I move on to Marcus, now I for one have never be one of these people who thinks it's all been Marcus's fault, but must admit the last three decisions he has made as cost us dearly , appointing Hurst but must say I even think he would of done a better job then Lambert , appointing Lambert and than why on earth give him a five year deal . Now the fans can't be blame for the Mick McCarthy thing because he also made very clear what is thoughts were on the fans . What a bloody mess
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Saxonblue74 added 09:41 - Dec 13
Dissboy, I think my point regarding our squad is not so much that they are not good enough for this league, it most certainly is as it's really not a strong league! Barring a few talented individuals our squad is littered with average lge1 standard players, hence our average mid table performances.
1

EssexTractor added 09:41 - Dec 13
It is very simple...my last post referred to Lambert saying "no one more important than the fan(s)"...
Over several days and underlined by the comments over last 24 hours the important faction THE FANS...have said no more Mr Lambert ...enough is enough..so if he does think the Fans come first and not his bank account he should go.
As one of the 2,000 in attendance the discontent at PR was not at Dobra or McGiven or Mc Guinness etc it was at the policy, the inspiration , the style governed by the manager and his cohorts.

3

Len_Brennan added 09:50 - Dec 13
To those who were critical of the Lambert skeptics prior to the Hull, Charlton & Portsmouth games, can you now accept that exactly what we said would happen, did happen, when Lambert sent out his team to play against these 'better' quality sides, AT HOME, in League 1. We didn't just lose, we were comprehensively beaten & outclassed. Contrast that with our lifesaving wins against Shrewsbury & Plymouth, when we stole one & needed a sending off to turn a game we never looked like winning.
Ok, a win is a win & even good sides need some luck, or to grind out results occasionally, but we are not a good side & we're not even grinding out results. Had we not been lucky, undeservedly so, in those 2 games, we would be on an horrendous run of results & in relegation form.
2

chepstowblue added 09:58 - Dec 13
Our possession is in meaningless areas, and without the ball we dont press or get near the opposition. Teams waltz through our midfield and defence without a challenge being made. Its pitiful to watch.
3

Bert added 10:04 - Dec 13
Out of interest, when people on here say Lambert has lost the dressing room, what do they base it on ? I have no idea whether he has or not but I don't see any evidence of player misgivings. What I do see is a set of players who have lost their way, a midfield that is physically weak but talented, strikers who are either not fit or need a partner up front and a defence that doesn't defend. So, what is the evidence that Lambert has lost the dressing room ? I simply ask out of interest.
1

Linkboy13 added 10:36 - Dec 13
Have you only just spotted this Mr Lambert ive been saying this for weeks. Dozzell, Judge, Sears, Bishop,Nolan do absolutely nothing when we are not in possession. We need to sign players who are prepared to do the dirty work especially in midfield.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 10:41 - Dec 13
if we dont get a good result and performance against Burton THAT should be the straw that breaks the camels back, But as we all know the likely hood is it will be a get out of jail one off and then back to the usual crap. As a Town supporter living near near Lqwestoft i used to be surprised to see so many Canary suppoters in the area , not anymore there numbers are growing and who can blame them given choice of watching Lge 1 45 miles away or Championship / Prem 25 miles away .Its made even more embarrassing by the fact Nodgers can and do laugh about us in this state and Lambert being a major factor.EVANS YOU NEED TO STOP THE ROT OR GET OUT.
2

Dolphinblue added 11:00 - Dec 13
Same old rubbish from u lot......'Lamberts ideas are old hat' ....eer Paul Hurst anyone. U lot were baying for the youngsters to play and Hounded out MM bevause of it...err hows that working out. Change manager changes nothing, this clubs decline is the fault of #thenegcrew......GET OUT OF MY CLUB #KEEPLAMBERTINFOREVER
-3

Billericay12 added 11:04 - Dec 13
Unfortunately it is boys against men at the moment. We are too lightweight and are struggling to compete physically. You cannot blood 4 or 5 youngsters into a team all at the same time which is what we are being forced to do due to injuries. Dozzell is now starting to establish himself but he is still lightweight and needs to play a more advanced role. All successful teams have a couple of strikers that are capable of at least 10-15 goals each in a season but we don't apart from maybe Norwood if fully fit. I am disappointed and sceptical of PL's credentials like most of you on here but I will resist full blooded criticism until we are able to field a near full strength side. We do need to try something different though as the current system is not working.
0

dirtydingusmagee added 12:10 - Dec 13
Flipper stop for a moment, think about it , the Ncrew hounded MM out and now trying same with Lambert , mmmmm how do you come to that conclusion you reckon the Ncrew are the minority , help me out with that .Only 2000 at game yet many were p#ssed off, think that must show its not quite the way you think it is .
1

Gforce added 12:11 - Dec 13
Last three home games, Ipswich Town 0 away teams 7 says it all really
2

norfolkbluey added 12:51 - Dec 13
If we lose against Burton on Tuesday evening Lambert should leave the ground without packing his bag. We have a horrible list of injured players but that should not be the reason for so many lost games. History repeats itself over and over. PL's history is systematic of what's going wrong at the club. Clueless when things need changing. Rabbit in the headlights. Nothing will change whilst he's in charge. Many other clubs are doing well despite injuries. Does no one know how to change tactics at the training ground. Most managers now know how to stop PL's teams. History still repeats itself!
4

inghamspur added 13:29 - Dec 13
The Burton game has become very important now. Anything less than a convincing win, then I fear for where this season is heading, regardless of the number of injuries at the moment. We should have a squad capable of beating a side who currently sit bottom of League One.
1

warktheline added 13:33 - Dec 13
@arniem, your fickleness aids our owner! ‘Give Evans/Lambert a break' stated you, accompanied by the ‘thumbs up, nothing to see, or worry about here' brigade ! Blaming , like Lambert, the injury list! And now it's ‘Lambert out!'....what a joke, and a bad one at that!!!!
0

Drifter3012 added 14:01 - Dec 13
I take the positive that Lambert admitted we were poor, but I agree with you Saxonblue. We are good enough for mid table, but beyond that with the current squad is a big ask. Our main problem, as it has been for years now, is not having an effective goal scorer. Evans & Lambert have to address that in January surely.
We missed out on Clarke Harris (hat trick yesterday) during the summer. If Lambert stays he has to play a more attacking line up and bring in someone who isn't afraid to have a go.
As a note to all have a listen to Lee Johnson's post match interview after Sunderland stuffed Lincoln yesterday.
How I would love to hear words like this from an Ipswich manager.
1

BettyBlue added 14:01 - Dec 13
taking off jackson? putting on the human lampost hawkins..........
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:10 - Dec 13
no reply from Flipper ,must be stranded in Levington Marina.
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Gforce added 14:24 - Dec 13
I think we will struggle to get anything out of the Burton game, we are so poor at the moment and have been for several weeks. They recently drew 1-1 away at Sunderland and were unlucky not to win there.
In fact we are so bad at present we would probably struggle to beat the team at the bottom of league 2 good old Southend
1

ChrisFelix added 14:56 - Dec 13
I have realised that with 5 of our best players out we simply wont beat the top sides. I include Bishop as well as Edwards, Downs, Norwood Vincent Young. Although i doubt whether the former will ever play more than 4 games in a row
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