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

KernewekBlue added 01:48 - Apr 14 There are only so many times you can blame whatever manager we have in place at the time... The squad we have, these players who have to be sent out week after week, game after game, are a shambles, a mediocre bunch with no head and no heart, no drive or ambition, not a clue between them. They are a disgrace and should be told so. This is the legacy left behind by Evans and his inability to keep his fingers out of the transfer pie, his reluctance to let his managers manage and get the right people in. Though his daily dealings with the team have ended, Evans' ghost remains at Portman Road and still haunts us in every game. Until Paul Cook has the opportunity to clear out the bilges and is given the funds to build his own, new team, we are left with this mob who, let alone not having a shot in anger for hours, couldn't hit a cow's *ss with a banjo! Sick, tired and fed up... can't wait for this, yet another wasted season and opportunity, to end!

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Tufty added 06:12 - Apr 14 Thats our season defined then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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blues1 added 06:33 - Apr 14 Whakytown. That wasn't a poor team selection at all. Everyone been calling for dozzell to be dropped for weeks now. Hes done so, so who else do we have to be brought in, in his place but harrop? Norwood had to come back in, but with no service what can he do. The only question mark for me would be Ward playing in a 352. But overall, prob nigh on the best team available. If we have a best team that is. Which is doubtful. Roll on the summer when cook can get rid of the dross from the squad. Which let's face it, is the majority of them. Ive defended the players in the past, but if, having been given the challenge by cook, to "perform or you'll go", they cant rise to that, then they can all just sod off. I dont expect our players to all be brilliant, but I do expect some pride and passion in their performance. This lot have neither.

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Dissboyitfc added 06:58 - Apr 14 At least he gets it not like the last Paul, always telling us how well we played! I guess the facts are this, you cant teach old dogs new tricks! the tricks being how to defend how to create and convert. This current team as has been said by many needs to be replaced! Roll on next season!
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ChrisFelix added 07:01 - Apr 14 Same old story for our team but move Chambers back into central defence & guess what we start conceding goals. I assume unmarked players. In most sports the captain of the team has to pay for poor results !!!!!
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therein61 added 07:17 - Apr 14 Got in one Mr Cook, now get you damn great broom out and sweep this lot out of the door.
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Marinersnose added 07:39 - Apr 14 Brilliant. I applaud Cook for his open honest assessment. This is an area where PL let himself down as he was always speaking positively even though the fans saw a different game. A massive job for Cook but he has now seen how poor this group of players are and they haven't got any fighting spirit
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hossblue added 07:45 - Apr 14 Paul Cook has one heck of a job on his hands.Got to get in players who have not got the losing mentality that our team are now playing with.I think it will another disappointing season on the whole next season.
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Europablue added 07:53 - Apr 14 It was a huge failure of Lambert's to not call out the bad performances. It's a fine balance to maintain confidence, but the players need to be depressed after a game like that. If they have any character at all they will make up for that in future matches. It's normal to have awful results from time to time, it's the reaction that defines the team and the individuals. Cook has had a terrible set of results, but it's just a case of not altering the trajectory of the team rather than making them worse. The conditions have been terrible with so many of the players being out of contract and the change of ownership creating instability. The change of ownership isn't really a good thing until the transfer window opens up. It might have given us a boost to have a new manager and a new owner had we had the fans in the ground, but unfortunately we have been robbed of that opportunity.

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RegencyBlue added 08:19 - Apr 14 Subtext of the interview is that not many, if any, of our squad will still be here next season! Evans has allowed what must be the worst group of players ever to be assembled by his penny pinching, short sightedness and incompetence. It's often an insult thrown at players that they are not fit to wear the shirt but in this case it's 100% true, not one of them is. Supporters should boycott the Player of the Season poll this year, unless there is a non of the above option!

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Michael101 added 08:28 - Apr 14 The players(if you cou!d call them that?)Should think themselves lucky fans are not allowed in to games .soon get told just how norfolk and good they are.roll on june. Love cookies after match interviews says it as it is and don't mention all the top teams replayed for.
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Northstandveteran added 08:29 - Apr 14 The U.S investors will want instant results. I should imagine Cook will be given until around October and if there isn't a huge improvement a new manager will be brought in. Let's hope that there will be a completely different 1st eleven kick off in the new season.
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Michael101 added 08:37 - Apr 14 Can't believe how we have gone downhill so fast, many of them where just as talent less then put at least made effort.now it looks like they can't be arsed,something just not right at itfc.
2

Cheshire_Blue added 08:44 - Apr 14 Bringing on Freddy Sears is like waving a white flag. A clear indication we have given up hope.
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cat added 08:50 - Apr 14 A brutal but honest assessment from P.C. The players are way to cosy and player power appears to have dominated our club for far to long now. It needs ripping apart and a major rebuild is required to bring in a winning mentality. Luckily we are now in a position to do so, but if P.C chooses to stay with the the likes of Chambo and co then he'll only have himself to blame.
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cat added 08:53 - Apr 14 Think the Captain should come out today and address the fans, tell us from his point of view where it's going wrong.
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KiwiBlue2 added 09:20 - Apr 14 A new captain along with at least half a new squad are needed for next season. Cook and the owners have every right to conduct a root and branch exercise over the summer to try and install some skill, commitment, motivation and a winning mentality in a largely new squad for the new season. The amazing thing in all this is that we are still in a position where it is mathmatically possible for us to make the play-offs, however it is beyond my wildest dreams to imagine us winning 4 of the last six matches starting with Charlton on Saturday........

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 09:33 - Apr 14 That Tractor Boy thing first appeared in a bookies window, I couldn't believe my eyes: WE ARE TOWN!
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:41 - Apr 14 Paul Cook needs to concentrate on keeping HIS job now, and a good start would be by dropping all these players, they are not bothered about Cooks future,they dont even seem to give a toss about their own. Come on PC , SHOW THE SUPPORTERS you wont tollerate these wasters , KICK THEM OUT NOW. Its all about next season now , if we play the kids and do no better , i wouldnt be bothered, i'd be pleased the wasters have been shown up for what they are,and treated accordingly. As an end of season gesture ,put them all in the stocks, and make it a charity event ,

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trncbluearmy added 09:53 - Apr 14 If there was anything to come out of that debacle last night it's this interview, honest, calculated and brutal. He just binned most of that squad without having an individual go at any player, which he has refused to do time and time again and that's right. I suspect our new owners will not fart around like Evans on calling time but he deserves a chance to get it right,think he will.

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HOG500 added 09:58 - Apr 14 Well said 62OldBoy. WE ARE TOWN.
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Edmundo added 10:05 - Apr 14 Would love to hear that there's now a squad training for the future (mostly kids, U-23s) and then the rest are told to stay home. They don't deserve to even show their faces at the training ground: all bar Holy, Downes and possibly Norwood (who still isn't fit imo) were absolute tosh. Let's have a taste of the future in these last few games: play the kids.
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ImAbeliever added 10:14 - Apr 14 I seem to recall a back page headline of The wheels came off the Tractor, after playing against Chelsea. Made me cringe then and still does.
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wayway added 10:16 - Apr 14 I know the lad from Barnsley has had to take time out with personal problems, but can anyone tell me what has happened to Emyr Huws. It seems weeks since i heard his name mentioned or since he last played a game
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shakytown added 10:18 - Apr 14 Lues1 my comment was aimed at the constant changes made by cook and that he seems no different than lambert to me. Personally i hope Ashton is going to bring Pearson with him to sort this mess out. I've lost faith in cook already as we have gotten worse since his arrival.
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