Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Chaplin: I Wouldn't Have Dropped a Level For Anyone But Cook
Monday, 9th Aug 2021 11:14

Town new boy Conor Chaplin admits manager Paul Cook was a huge factor in his decision to leave a second tier club in Barnsley and head for Portman Road.

But the diminutive attacker, who worked with Cook at first club Portsmouth, was also drawn by the club’s ambition to win promotion at the earliest opportunity, something that aligns with his own personal target.

Chaplin, 24, said: “I’ll be completely honest — I don’t think I would have dropped down a level from the Championship for anyone else, definitely not. He was definitely a big factor but also the club was a massive factor with the ambition they have.

“They want to go up and I don’t want to be playing football in this division next season. I want to give everything and get out of it this season. That’s something I’ll be working on every day to achieve.

“My relationship with the gaffer goes back a few years and it’s brilliant. We know each other really well and we know how each other work. He’s also someone, when we worked together previously, who always got the best out of me and that’s something I’m looking to build on again.

“I think it’s brilliant, the way that he works, the way that he trains. I really enjoy working under him.”

Asked what he thinks has made Cook a successful football manager, Chaplin added: “I just think, for one, he knows what he wants. He knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it done, which he portrays to the lads.

“Secondly, he absolutely loves it. He loves being on the grass every day, coaching, and he talks about football 24/7, which is something that we’ve got in common, so it’s quite easy to have a conversation. What makes him good is the players that he brings into the football club, his ambition and what he does on the grass, definitely.

“He was great for me at Fratton Park. He was the manager when I was breaking through and trying to make it as a footballer with quite a big expectation from my early days.


“He managed that really well for me and I probably didn’t realise just how well he had managed it until he left for Wigan. He was brilliant for me and probably the perfect manager at the right time in my career.”

It was from Pompey that Chaplin left to join Coventry, later making the move permanent, before he joined Barnsley two years ago.

Last season he helped the Tykes to qualify for the play-offs, where they lost to Swansea at the semi-final stage with the Town new recruit an unused substitute in both legs.

Did it come as a surprise to learn his time in Yorkshire could be coming to an end? He said: “It was all a bit up in the air to be honest but it was an opportunity I felt was a really exciting one.

“A club full of ambition, like I say, and a club that just wants to improve and make standards better, day to say in training and on the pitch on a Saturday.

“That’s something I want to be a part of. I want to be part of a winning team, a good team and I feel I have joined one.”

Chaplin’s debut on Saturday against Morecambe took his career tally of appearances in all competitions to 241, 109 of which have come from the bench, while he has scored 50 goals.

While it may have been a disappointing result, drawing 2-2 with a side playing their first-ever League One fixture, he made a key contribution with his clever return pass to Scott Fraser for Town’s first equaliser just after the hour mark.

He went on: “It was a nice little move actually, a good team goal. Scotty’s a great player as well and I’ve enjoyed the short time I’ve been with him on the pitch.

“He seems to be a player that I’ll be able to combine well with. It was good to get up and running numbers-wise and a good start.

“I think we have to be happy with a point, the way the game panned out. Obviously, we would have preferred all three points to start the season, but we have to be realistic.

“We’re a brand new team with a lot of the lads playing together for the first time in the season opener.

“There’s a lot of expectation, obviously, but in terms of being realistic we need to understand that it is going to take a few games for the players to understand each other and to gel.

“It was good, especially in the second half when we looked dangerous and were in complete control of the game.

“That’s the most frustrating thing in not coming out with the three points. When we scored the equaliser, which was a great goal, there was only one team that was going to win that game. It’s a bit frustrating but, like I said, we’ve got to give it time and be a little bit patient.”

Town are likely to add further players this week and Chaplin is convinced they are heading in the right direction. “I think it’s brilliant,” he said. “I think the ambition and the goal is clear from the club, in the signings and in terms of the strength in numbers in the squad.

“That’s what you want if you want to get promoted. You’re going to need that throughout the season because it’s a long old season.

“You’re going to need people ready to come in when others are maybe not playing so well, form isn’t too great and injuries happen. Obviously, with Covid still about, it’s important to have a really good squad and that is something we are building.”

Chaplin was delighted to be in Cook’s starting line-up and added: “I expected to come here and play. I wouldn’t have dropped down a level if I wasn’t going to be a main part of the team and it’s up to me to put in the performances that warrant that and to stay in the team. That’s something I’m really looking forward to as well.”


Photo: Matchday Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



MaySixth added 11:28 - Aug 9
Love this.
3

tractorboybig added 11:31 - Aug 9
well he was unlikely to make any negative comments
-17

Marinersnose added 11:35 - Aug 9
He was a bit part player at Barnsley last season and was only likely to be warming the bench this season. Other than the wall pass for the opening goal he didn't really show. The hype around him being a Championship player means nothing. You have to perform. Time will tell.
-17

Edmundo added 11:39 - Aug 9
TBH I was totally lost in the occasion of being back at PR, and initially thought Chaplin had been quite invisible; didn't realise he played that awesome return pass for the first equaliser. That was a top move. We have the begninnings of something special here, and it's showing, in patches, on the pitch. We need that first win now...
2

Oldboy added 11:40 - Aug 9
Nice to hear, but guess only time will tell. Looked pretty good on Saturday.
4

OwainG1992 added 11:41 - Aug 9
Sense a bit of negativity towards Chaplin?
He's a terrific signing for league one level.
Played a lot of matches at championship level.
At a very good age.
He's going to be some signing.
12

mrshallisfit added 11:43 - Aug 9
He certainly dropped a few levels in his performance on Saturday.
-15

KernewekBlue added 11:47 - Aug 9
It's great when decent players want to come and play for you and can see the potential benefits in doing so.

There will no doubt be a bedding in period, where things may not appear to be quite right in some areas, but fostering the team spirit, having time to settle and learning how to operate with their new team mates will pay dividends in the longer term.

There is an impetus building around our club, the players can see it, the fans can see it, the owners and management are serious about their aspirations to move up the leagues and that will attract better players to our club.

Everyone loves success and God knows, we've been starved of it for far too long.

This feeling, this tangible upshift in momentum is a joy to witness... long may it continue.

A decent cup win against Newport and three points against Burton at the weekend will work wonders for morale in the dressing room and the stands.

COYB.
6

Linkboy13 added 11:49 - Aug 9
Had a mainly quiet debut but his touch for the goal in a very tight area was excellent. It was pretty obvious we still need another central defender brought in. Matt Penney needs to improve his first touch and final ball into the box but it's early days. Also i think we played far too many hopeful high balls into the box and rarely looked like winning one. The players we have at league one level are technically good enough to create openings by being patient and playing the ball on the ground as proved in the first goal.
-4

50yearsablue added 11:58 - Aug 9
Like a few others he looked a bit lost at times but showed more quality second half. Unfair to judge anyone on one game or while the team is gelling but for certain we will score a lot more goals this season
5

BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 12:21 - Aug 9
Strange that some have judged a player based on one game. He played ok anyway.
5

Nobbysnuts added 12:28 - Aug 9
He seems to love himself but can he deliver.....only a bench warmer at Barnsley...
-14

AlanG296 added 12:33 - Aug 9
It's a team game, real football not fantasy football, and in real football, players take time to get to learn how to function effectively as a team and as a team they will be greater than the sum of it's parts. Saturday looked like a lot of individuals, including Chaplin, only to be expected at this stage.
6

TractorCam added 12:40 - Aug 9
Owain, the negative posters are probably still missing Judge and Sears. They'll catch on with time. Chaplin is a ridiculous signing for this level, Barnsley fans were perplexed they let him go, let alone to a League One team.

But booooo he wasn't overly impressive Saturday so he must be pants.
9

BlueRuin69 added 12:53 - Aug 9
Why so many negative comments? So weird, he had a quiet game but his assist was top draw, no way we score that goal last year. Everything about the club at the moment is so exciting! COYB. Chaplin will be a top player for us this year im sure.
6

uefa1981 added 13:02 - Aug 9
Yep that pass was worth the admission money alone. If all players are patience and show just one or two touches of class a game then we will do well. So good to be back with a season ticket that hopefully will be used, and back among the SBR lower faithful
4

BeattiesBackPocket added 13:37 - Aug 9
Marinersnose you really are clueless about football and here's why:
2020-21 - 34 league games last season 4 goals and 3 assists
2019-20 - 44 league games, 11 goals and 4 assists
Explain how that's a ‘bit part' player??
Anyone with half a brain or who goes to watch the team could see technically the players are loads better than what we had but they definitely need longer to gell it's quite simple. Despite the fact Woolfenden got dispossessed in the box we would have won. Get down and watch and more importantly support the team yeah and less b@legit on here that are factually wrong
5

BeattiesBackPocket added 13:39 - Aug 9
Nobbysnuts yet again read the above 78 league games in two seasons is not a bit part player. Christ you know absolutely nothing about football maybe take up tiddlywinks
3

blues1 added 13:43 - Aug 9
Mariners nose. Need to get ur facts right before posting rubbish.
2


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024