Boss Paul Cook pulled no punches in his post-match press conference following Town’s humiliating 3-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon admitting the Blues are “a million miles from a good team” and added that fans must be “tired and bored of it now”.

Asked how much the defeat, Town’s first ever loss to the Dons under the AFC name, hurt him, Cook said: “I can’t. I just can’t. I’ve watched football for years and years, I’ve been around football. I’ve always put myself in the supporters’ position. Our supporters are tired now, bored of us. Let’s have it right, that’s what they are.

“I lucky enough and privileged enough to probably have a chance hopefully to try and change a lot of what’s gone on. And that’s what’s going to have to happen now.

“There’s no throwing players under the bus, no excuses offered. We’re a million miles from a good team, and that includes myself and the staff tonight.

“You win together, you lose together, we travel away together, we have each other. But, like I say, I have been managing for a long time now.

“The best feeling when you’re a manager when you put a team on the pitch that you trust. I don’t trust our team, I’ve got to be open and say that. That doesn’t mean everyone’s a bad player, it doesn’t mean everyone’s doing something wrong but we’re miles off it. We’re just miles off it for the club.

“And again, I keep going back to our supporters. They’re tired and bored of it now. We have to be better because if we’re not, the changes will keep being repetitive. I’m not so sure that keeping changing gets you to where you want to be because somewhere along the line, the anchor has to go in and the badness has to stop and we have to start taking steps forward.

“We’ve taken a massive step back tonight as a club, and that’s so disappointing for me, for you guys that travel and everybody else.”:

The Blues have won only two of Cook’s first 10 games and he knows that’s far from what was hoped for when he came in just over a month ago.

“Oh come on, as a football manager coming in, two wins out of 10, it is what it is,” he reflected. “I’m big enough and I’ve been around the game well long enough to be able to shoulder criticism. Like I say, when you’re a manager and you stand on the touchline, you are as good as your team.

“So tonight if you’re suggesting that [having won] two out of 10, I’m not a very good manager and I haven’t got a very good team.”

The game hinged on a 10-minute spell in which Wimbledon scored twice and Josh Harrop was sent off. Asked about that period of the match, Cook added: “You’re now going to go into more negative questions about more negativity. I’ve told you, we weren’t very good, it’s not good enough and it has to change. I don’t think I need to add much more.”

What does he say to fans losing heart? “I’ve said enough. I’m surprised we’ve still got any. We are what we are, we flatter to deceive, so the questions you can ask me will continue to be negative, I can’t change my answers. I can’t.

“We’re not good enough, we know that. On a pitch you’re supposed to do the right things, score goals, defend well. We don’t do any of it.”

After the break the Blues briefly showed some threat, however, Cook appeared not overly impressed by that spell: “Well done us. Well done us.”

Asked whether he’s now got a job to lift the players ahead of Saturday, the Blues manager said: “They have to lift themselves now, don’t they? In sport, in general, if you don’t feel pain, you will never do anything about it. We need to feel pain, we to travel home tonight and if it’s doesn’t affect you tomorrow and the next day, there’s something wrong.

“I’m not so sure it affects our players a great deal. The reality for us going forward is things must change.”

Cook has given plenty of different players a chance since coming to the club and has used several different systems.

“You’ve asked me enough,” he added. “Two up front tonight. We tried our best. I’m not going to be drawn into giving players criticism.

“Like I said to them after the game, they’ve been kicked from pillar to post at times and they’re probably now tired of being kicked from pillar to post.

“The reality for us is we had a big week last week, there’s a lot of change going on at the football club and the supporters are the ones that I only feel for. They’re the ones who have supported us for a period of time where they’re not happy and the eventually the sun’s got to start shining on the club. It’s not shining on the club in any shape or form.”

Cook spoke to new chairman Mike O’Leary, who was with Bryan Klug, Lee O’Neill and club secretary Stuart Hayton, after the game. Quizzed on how O’Leary felt, Cook said: “I think Michael’s a very experienced gentleman, isn’t he? I’m sure Michael and the people who are coming in see, I’m sure they’ve been watching lots of Ipswich games and I’m sure they’re well-versed for what’s coming.

“As experienced people, what can we do about it tonight? What can I say to make it better? Absolutely nothing. So let’s take the pain.”

Does he feel under pressure? “I’m a football manager, we feel pressure every single day of our lives, every day. If you’re not winning football matches you’re under pressure, aren’t you. So I feel it, of course I do.”

Can Town still keep talking about the play-offs? “You can always keep talking about them because while there’s life there’s hope. But unfortunately it’s a very tough night for us.

“Let’s lick our wounds, let’s get on the bus back to Ipswich, let’s keep our heads down and let the pain settle in because as a club you’re hurting tonight. I think, as I said answering some of the questions, the questions just continually get more negative. You can’t change that [tonight].”

Photo: TWTD

buzbyblue added 22:22 - Apr 13 As per others if Cook doesn't make major changes for Saturday then it's all just talk, quite frankly I would change all bar Downes Also send the loanees apart from parrott back
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surgery added 22:28 - Apr 13 All the usual suspects will be back on Saturday
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coolhand added 22:30 - Apr 13 Honest assessment by PC. I think there is more to it than that, I honestly think the team was selected to lose. Bringing on subs and changing formations was a total sham and not what a good manager would do. There is a plan which I believe is not to get in the play offs and I think for ipswich town is the correct approach
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ted1e added 22:34 - Apr 13 For the last couple of years everyone has agreed that (on paper) we have had one of the strongest squads in this league, yet 2 very experienced managers have not been able to gel a team capable of averaging 1 and half points per game. The senior players are not as good as they think “to good for this league “ and therefore have not supported and given leadership to the inexperienced which in turn as resulted in woeful performances and results and its these players who must accept responsibility for where we are today. The younger less experienced players might well flourish in another team, some of the more experienced ones I can't see getting a opportunity. Roll on August.

4

raycrawfordswig added 22:37 - Apr 13 This is 13 years of Evans 8ollocks.
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trncbluearmy added 22:42 - Apr 13 Like PC but not totally convinced new owners will give him the opportunity to sort it out
1

Gforce added 22:44 - Apr 13 Carlo88...... I agree, I've always hated that nickname. Because of it, half of the idiotic supporters of certain other clubs seems to think the population of Ipswich are all farmers!! We should start a petition for a NEW nickname!
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RobsonWark added 22:45 - Apr 13 Cook: "We're a Million Miles From a Good Team, Supporters Must Be Tired and Bored By Now" Yep! TOTALLY!!
11

Phil1969 added 22:45 - Apr 13 Nice honestly but left the bit out I'm not the man to take the club forward as we know. This is the problem all our mangers are from the same pod!
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Jammy added 22:54 - Apr 13 Absolutely awful...put me on the pitch I'd play better and with more heart than these muppets 💙
2

Lathers added 22:54 - Apr 13 Just as clueless as Lambert in terms of how to get a tune out of these wasters, but you can only blame the players for another 6 games Paul and then it's on you me old Scouser pal.
-1

PSGBlue added 22:58 - Apr 13 As my user name suggests, I also have an interest in PSG. Ipswich will always come first but tonight they didn't. I as have so many Town fans have given up on this season. A total shambles with players who aren't even good enough to get into a Colchester Utd starting 11. PSG by contrast, despite the millions pumped in, played they hearts out to overcome Bayern over two legs. The team was disciplined with each player sticking to their task and giving 100% They had bodies hurling themselves to block shots etc. Up front is the creative and often clinical finishing of Neymar and Embappe. All what Ipswich isn't. What an enjoyable experience those two legs were. It's what we use to see at Portman Rd in the 70/80's. At least I have got two Champions league semi finals to look forward to. The sad thing is that I now have to find my football enjoyment elsewhere. How much lower can ITFC get?

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ImAbeliever added 22:59 - Apr 13 Carlo, Timmy, Gforce I'm with you. Bin the Tractor Boys.
5

Lathers added 22:59 - Apr 13 I guarantee Berk Bacarat and the Gamechangers are already lining up Paul's replacement. No chance he'll still be here in the summer to spend the Arizona pensioners hard earned cash.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 23:17 - Apr 13 Manager after manager has failed with most of these players. Some of whom we know are better than that, they either don't care or have lost all sense of football skill in some sort of mass psychosis. I genuinely think a collective mentality as descended upon them and they no longer belive in themselves or their ability so they are just going through the motions. Some may find themselves shorter of offers than they anticipate giving the number of players that will become available

4

MickMillsTash added 23:26 - Apr 13 Results are worse now than under Lambert We ran more tonight and played at a higher tempo but created nothing - this with the clubs 'best' players turning out - missing KVY. I see no progress- what a mess We need a whole new spine of the team and more Is Cook up to it - God knows- He's got a lot of work to do I hope he can keep a clear mind. Ashton will manage Cook - that relationship will be key.

4

Gforce added 23:33 - Apr 13 PSGblue..... Sorry to say but your lot will lose to Chelsea I the final ! In COOK WE TRUST
5

KernewekBlue added 23:35 - Apr 13 Taking the pain is all we've had to look forward to for far too long now. While that lot up the road are priming themselves for promotion and another season in the Premiership, we have to make do with the sort of performances that a Sunday League side would put on after a heavy night in the pub. I'm fed up of all the BS of saying what a strong squad we have for this level and that investment in fresh talent is not needed because the players we have are capable of walking this division... when have/do the stats ever back that up? Flatter to deceive? I should think they do! I said in previous comment on this forum how, if we failed to beat Wimbledon, it would be a new low... well, I am now feeling about as low as I ever want to feel supporting this team. It is difficult not to be negative when we've suffered years of the same old dross on any given day. The only positive is that, come the summer, the underperforming misfits should be drummed out of Portman Road and team full of fresh faces installed in their stead. The staleness needs to be eradicated, the rotten atmosphere surrounding the place must be blown away and replaced with a new hope, new team, new ethos, new ambition and any post-match comments or analysis posted here from anyone connected with the club ought to tell it as it is, be completely honest and transparent and pull no punches. I think we would all appreciate sincerity and honesty when it comes to assessing our chances and performances. But for now, another season of abject mediocrity is coming to a close with a black cloud hanging over our woeful team. Roll on the summer!

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Gforce added 23:35 - Apr 13 In
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Bert added 23:50 - Apr 13 That's it then, season over. A brutal assessment from Cook. I never thought I would ever say this but the collection of players we have with some exceptions, are a diisgrace. In our relegation season, even when we were already down, the players did their best and the supporters cheered them on. I fear no points from our remaining games with confidence shot to pieces, no quality, no desire and a feeling that many now realise that they are not part of the future. A new owner gives us hope and Cook may yet be the right person but the last 6 months has hardly been an advert to entice people back. Leeds and Sunderland had bigger hills to climb so it can be done.

5

TractorRoyNo1 added 23:53 - Apr 13 Jewell, McCarthy, Hurst, Lambert all failed, common denominator Chambers, if he is given a contract by Cook then he will be sacked like the rest of them
7

Lightningboy added 00:02 - Apr 14 This squad of players are an absolute embarrassment to our club. The mother of all clear-outs cannot come quick enough.
3

BangaloreBlues added 00:23 - Apr 14 @ Gforce Does that mean everyone believes the entire population of Bournemouth own cherry trees? Or that half the population of Bristol are actually birds?
4

JimInGreensboro added 00:36 - Apr 14 Tired and bored? How about: Saddened Mystified Pissed Frustrated Outraged Incensed? Those are better.
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KiwiBlue2 added 00:43 - Apr 14 PSGBlue - I agree entirely with your post. The end of this season for Ipswich sadly cannot come fast enough.
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