Tom Carroll, the most recent of Town’s 16 summer signings, has admitted the pressure of playing for a club desperate to win promotion from League One was what attracted him to join.

Carroll agrees that the way the Blues deal with the pressure of being one of the third tier’s boys will go a long way towards determining where they will finish in what is their third season at this level following relegation from the Championship under Paul Lambert in 2019.

He said: “I think pressure is good, it’s a good thing to have. I don’t believe this is a League One club and if the boys are not feeling a bit of pressure to get up they’ve got the wrong feeling a little bit.

“I think it will be good to play with a bit of pressure because teams are going to want to beat us and I’m looking forward to that.”

The 29-year-old midfielder had only a brief taste of playing for the Blues in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham, coming off the bench in the 89th minute to replace Rekeem Harper, and will be hoping to be more involved on Saturday when MK Dons are the visitors to Portman Road.

Watford-born Carroll, who launched his career with Tottenham, was available after rejecting the offer of a new deal to remain with Championship club Queens Park Rangers, for whom he made 24 first-team appearances without scoring last term.

He said: “You want to get under way as soon as you can. Obviously, the circumstances weren’t great and it was only a few minutes, while it would have been nice to get a win, but there are no easy games in this league and we just have to crack on and go again in the next game.”

Town’s start, taking just one win from a possible nine in their first three league games and being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by an understrength Newport side, has caused some unrest among supporters who feel they have underperformed. Carroll added: “Fans want to see their side win and we fully understand that. We have a great squad here with good management who know the league inside out and the boys have got to stay positive.

“There’s a quick turnaround in games and we are going into the weekend with another one. We’re going to need the fans with us this year and hopefully we can give them something to cheer about soon.”

Asked how the move came about, Carroll went on: “It was probably about a week ago or so when I was up at Derby training with them. I think the manager had come to one of the games [a friendly against Real Betis] and what not.

“He gave me a call and told me of his plans for the season. He’s a really positive guy and having seen his Wigan team, and how he wants to do things, it was nice to get the call.

“I think every player wants to play at the highest level they can but it’s a bit of a strange window at the minute. I had a contract offer from QPR but one thing or another didn’t fit into place and I wasn’t as happy as I feel I should have been treated there. You’ve got to make decisions in life, it’s a short career and I didn’t want to keep missing out on football.

“The season had started and I know how big a football club Ipswich is. I’ve spent most of my time in either the Premier League or the Championship but it shows the stature of the club and where they’re trying to get back to.”

Carroll was asked if he was happy with the one-year deal he has agreed with at Town and continued: “Yes, let’s see what happens. It’s League One but I feel I was one of our better players last season in the Championship before I got injured.

“It’s going to be tough because there are some massive clubs in this league as well — it’s almost like a second Championship to be honest with some of the sides in it.

“But this club doesn’t want to be hanging around in League One either. I think it will be a good season for us and I think once everything gets clicking we’ll be on the up.”

Photo: PagePix

itfcserbia added 19:43 - Aug 19 "If the boys are not feeling a bit of pressure to get up they've got the wrong feeling a little bit." I like this guy already.
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cornishnick added 19:46 - Aug 19 “One win from a possible nine”? Is that a typo or a prediction?!
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 19:51 - Aug 19 I like his mentality and hope he helps us achieve our goal but I always worry about comments like not a league 1 club. That has been a failure of the last 2 years, players thinking we should be a league up just because of our size. The size of your club, support, history and talent in the squad is nothing without hard work
7

Bluearmy_81 added 20:47 - Aug 19 It's not a league 1 club. There are smaller clubs that Ipswich in the prem. We never would have ended up in league 1 if Town fans had stood up for their club and stood up to Evans when they should have done about 7 years ago but hey... As long as we live and learn and such resigned apathy to decimation never happens again...
9

BurleysGloryDays added 21:15 - Aug 19 Everyone behind the team come what may, however hurt you are by a loss or a drawer. All as one and we'll be ok.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 21:46 - Aug 19 well it is, and will remain so unless people get their a#se in gear. We really need to get the show on the road .COYB
4

OliveR16 added 21:47 - Aug 19 'I don't believe this is a League One club'. Neither did we, Tom. Neither did we, once upon a time.
4

WonTheCupin78 added 22:08 - Aug 19 Unbelievable when we look at some of the "bigger" clubs than us now. Clubs like Luton, Coventry, Barnsley, Peterborough Utd and Blackpool. A few years back that would have been inconceivable to us hence I think so much frustration from our fans. We need out of this league desperately.
2

rfretwell added 22:25 - Aug 19 Trouble is it's a league 1 team. Currently 19th!!! Roll your sleeves up sharpish or PC will be picking up his P45.
6

Bluearmy_81 added 22:29 - Aug 19 Wonthecup, where was the frustration and rage when Evans was killing the club and stripping promise and talent out of the team?! 14 years of failure? No problem, endless patience. 3 games into the season with a completely new team? Chase that Charlatan out of the town!!! 🙄🙄
0

istanblue added 22:50 - Aug 19 Well we are Tom, and the 19th best (worst?) League One team atm to boot!
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algarvefan added 23:28 - Aug 19 We will be OK, just give the lads a chance, it will come good soon, there are signs already. Can't believe some of you are panicking after only 3 games, long way to go, calm down dears!!!
3

AYACCA added 07:16 - Aug 20 We'll be a league 2 club if we don't start winning
2

BangaloreBlues added 07:49 - Aug 20 He's right - we're not a League One club, we are League Two! :-) So, it's over to you lot to sort that out, and very quickly please!
0

bobble added 08:05 - Aug 20 well Tom, i never believed we would be a 3rd division club either,,,but anything is possible if you put the correct idiot in charge
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drewcudders1963 added 10:00 - Aug 20 Keep the faith.... it's very early on in the season... disappointing to have started like this, but not totally unexpected.... especially when some of the team are expected to play without even training with each other ! Once we have our back four of KVY, Burgess, Edmundson, Coulson playing regularly we will be on a roll ! With the fire power we have we will always score..... keep goals conceded to a minimum and we progress up the League !

1

Marinersnose added 10:37 - Aug 20 It shouldn't be a league one club but the football the team have been producing over the last few seasons has definitely been league one football with a real lack of quality and pace, A massive step down from when we were a Championship side. Teams that drop down just appear to become the same as the rest if the can't get straight back up. This season we will get promoted and rebuild again.

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JewellintheTown added 10:39 - Aug 20 I think some of you forget the calibre of manager, players, support staff that would usually be attracted to league one isn't the same as Premier league. We've rebuilt all of that & punching above our weight (on paper, not results yet) and have the best chance we've had for many years to get back to where we all want us to be with an excellent set up & players on paper & just need time & patience to settle that in. Bleating on about the bleedin' obvious isn't helpful. Pretty much every one of the staff & players will be well well experienced in knowing what they need to do & how to achieve it. Armchair "know-it-all's" dragging them all down because of some perverse "to-you-so" insecurities need to shut up for a little longer & leave the experts to get on with a plan those moaning "fans" have no clue about & will never have to put their own "expert" opinions into the spotlight. You're entitled to your opinions but what you think & how you show support are allowed to be different. Back the boys for a little bit longer, even if you don't feel like it at the moment.

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jabberjackson added 14:34 - Aug 20 Ipswich IS a League 1 Club: FACT However, next season it will be a Championship Club: PROBABLY
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