Boss Paul Cook listed the aspects of Town’s play that he and assistant Gary Roberts have found frustrating in their first six weeks at Portman Road, and it was a pretty damning assessment.

Cook has made no secret that he has been less than impressed with what the squad he inherited from Paul Lambert have shown since he took charge with the Blues’ play-off push faltering having won just two of his 10 games in charge, while losing four and drawing four.

Asked how Roberts, who is in his first coaching position having still been a player at Accrington when Cook brought him to Portman Road, is settling into his new role, the Blues manager said: “He’s not very happy. He’s not very pleased. He’s very disappointed with the quality of player we have in the building.

“What we’re saying to our lads now is ‘someone please step up to the plate, anyone, whoever wants to step up to the plate to be here and stay with us in the future, for years or months or days that we’re here’.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be Ipswich manager. I don’t know how long the new owners will trust me for.

“For me to renew players’ contracts and keep people at the club, I’ve got to trust them. At all my teams historically I have had 10, 12, 15 players at every club that I trust. I don’t have that at Ipswich Town and I think Gary’s found that really frustrating.

“That we don’t put crosses in the box, we don’t create chances, we don’t defend well, we don’t defend set pieces well, we don’t retain possession of the ball, we’re not very fit, we’re not very athletic. You can write a list of what we’re not really good at.

“So to say Gary’s not really happy, you can imagine it’s quite similar to the mood I’m in today. It’s a lovely day in Suffolk and by the time I’ve finished with you [the media] I will smile, I will be a happy manager and I will travel to Charlton with all the enthusiasm in the world.

“But we’re not going to start putting on faces now for people and say everything’s rosy in our camp. Everything is not rosy in this camp.”

Photos: Matchday Images

Cheshire_Blue added 12:05 - Apr 16 Mr Cook is probably right in what he says, but shouldn't this have been left until the season had finished ? What chance is there of getting a performance from this squad between now and the end of the season ?
1

Suffolkboy added 12:05 - Apr 16 Eliminate the negative ,accentuate the positive and don't mess with Mr In between ! Good start , PC ! COYB
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Unhinged_dynamo added 12:10 - Apr 16 These players let down Mccarthy Hurst lambert and now cook, Mccarthy put an arm round them and managed to get more out of them than most would, Hurst never had a chance I dont think as alot of the players were upset at losing mick. Lambert tried to Mccarthy approach but tinkered too much Here's hoping some home truths might instil some desire to get some pride outv these muppets till they leave in the summer Keep being ruthless cook!

2

IPSWICHMOUSE added 12:47 - Apr 16 So NOW tell me Lambert & Co were doing a great job....Blindsided Evans & the fans , took the easy money until they got found out.....Cook is as honest & upfront as they come...I have a good feeling about ITFC in the future....COYB..ITID
3

RegencyBlue added 13:38 - Apr 16 It's what you get when you shop in Poundland! Now that Evans is gone things can only get better.
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multiplescoregasms added 14:08 - Apr 16 Stop bea5ing round the bush Paul and tell us what you really think of the squad ha ha. Can't argue with a single thing he says can we. What a terrible state the playing staff have ended up in. To be honest, if he wants to get rid of a huge chunk of the squad I think we as a whole will back him. It's a tough league, especially if you don't fancy getting stuck in, so if that's your view then go find another club to play at.

6

therein61 added 16:20 - Apr 16 What a wonderful damning assessment of the player power that has wrecked our club 4&8 being the biggest problem they think they are a class above(as creeps that's all) and make life awkward for any emerging talent that could threaten their cosy over paid existance.
2

istanblue added 16:29 - Apr 16 Based.
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Billericay12 added 16:58 - Apr 16 Makes you wonder how he will get any sort of performance from the current squad in the remaining games when most will know their time is up. Nearly at the point of writing this season off and playing a few of the youths.
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billys_boots added 18:05 - Apr 16 Out with the hair, skin and social media routines and in with training? Actual running around instead of bicep curls? But what happens if they get dirty or sweaty? This will never do. Cook out.
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RobsonWark added 18:17 - Apr 16 Cook “That we don't put crosses in the box, we don't create chances, we don't defend well, we don't defend set pieces well, we don't retain possession of the ball, we're not very fit, we're not very athletic. You can write a list of what we're not really good at. Yep but no one could name one thing we are good at. Oh wait...injuries!
3

BuckieBlue added 19:28 - Apr 16 Ok we now know PC's assessment but what does that do for team morale? Sounds like he's given up them, especially those out of contract. Exit door at Portman Road will be busy come end of contract time.
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ArnieM added 21:45 - Apr 16 Hardly surprising this squad is not very fit, not very athletic, when you consider Lambert got them playing “ walking football “, playing out from the back at pedestrian pace ( at its quickest ). It was painful to watch , frustrating, embarrassing, and so totally NOT what anyone connected with this Football Club should expect to see in a Blue shirt . Thank God we finally have a manager who actually sees the situation at this Club for what it has been for well over a decade , and is now going to rip it all up . I honestly think in hindsight, Paul Hurst could see it too, and tried (in his own way) to change things . But he had neither the personal experience of football at Championship level, nor the owners backing to challenge the player power culture that has existed at this club for a fair few years IMO. FINALLY the boot is literally on the other foot - Paul Cook's, and he's going stick that boot in . Hallelujah!!!

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pegasus added 09:10 - Apr 17 A sad state of affairs. When a manager criticises his players as a group like this, it's unlikely to improve anything before the end of the season. Terry Butcher said a similar thing at Hibernian, and look what happened to them...and him. Mind you, I don't see Cook getting sacked...yet, anyway...
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Essexipswichboy added 09:29 - Apr 17 Please bear in mind This team beat Hull at Hull And quite comfortably as well
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