Paul Jewell and Chris Hughton on the sidelines at Portman Road
MANAGER’S REACTION: Our best overall performance this season, says Paul Jewell
By Stuart Watson
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
11:17 PM
IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell says his side produced their best performance of the season in tonight’s 1-1 home draw with Birmingham City.
The Suffolk side dominated for large spells against the fourth-placed visitors.
And despite being dealt a sucker punch in first half injury-time when Chris Burke converted the Midlands side’s first shot on goal, the hosts deservedly levelled through substitute Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in an entertaining second period played under a torrential downpour.
“I thought we played really, really well,” said Jewell. “Over the whole game I think that’s as well as we’ve played all season.
“The only thing missing was the end product and goals, but we put on a really good spectacle and passed the ball really well.
“I thought the whole team was excellent from start to finish. You could see they were enjoying themselves out there and we showed a bit of character to come back from a goal down as well.”
Ipswich have now lost only three times in the last 17 games, taking points off six of the Championship’s top eight teams in 2012.
“I think we have made progress,” said Jewell. “You can make stats look how you want, but over the last 17 games we’ve been competitive in pretty much all of them.
“We lost to Brighton, Leicester and Watford, but overall we’ve toughened up. Earlier on we were a bit of a soft touch, but we’re mentally stronger now and you can see the confidence flowing through the team.”
He added: “I think their fans were singing ‘one shot and we’ve scored a goal’, but I said to my players at half-time ‘just keep playing the way you are’.
“We started the first five minutes of the second half a little bit slowly, but after that I think we dominated. Although they were dangerous on the break, I thought we deserved a little bit of luck for the goal.
“Jay (Emmanuel-Thomas) had an impact when he came on. When he’s like that he’s a really difficult opponent. He gets you off your feet and has unbelievable natural talent – we just need to make sure we nurture that.”
And speaking of Aaron Cresswell’s late goalline clearance, Jewell said: “He must have done that three or four times for us this season. I think he’s been terrific for us – he never gives up.”
– See tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star for full match reports.
More Ipswich Town news
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- Alan Judge set to sign for Blackburn
- Ipswich Town chief scout Dave Bowman talks budgets and blueprints ahead of what could be a busy transfer window
- Marcus Evans’ salary cap plans scuppered as the Premier League once again flexes its muscles
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15 comments
Cyril, if I don't, it could also be because it has all been said, and frankly, I am too bored. On another thread, you suggested that Spartacus should use his real name, and insulted him, although Spartacus IS his real name..... So, it might be a good idea to stop falsely accusing people
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Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Kevin, since you think I am running to the hills, I am sure you will be prepared to repeat the question that I owe Dave Gooderham an apology for. If you dont its because you cant. Most readers will not be interested in our petty argument so do it and lets get it over.
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Cyril Baker
Friday, April 20, 2012
Cyril, you were told, but were too busy insulting people to realise....
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Kevin Bailey
Friday, April 20, 2012
Spartacus, its in your hands prove me wrong and use your real name. I wont hold my breath. What point do you consider I am unable to respond to, I will be happy to respond.
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Cyril Baker
Friday, April 20, 2012
@Cyril. Please don't start getting all self righteous all because you have your (possibly) 2 names as your name on here (I'd love to see all your stats on using a nickname equals a cover for what people write. I suspect you just make that us because that information doesn't exist, suits your stance and is just a cheap did because you are unable to approach any of the points I make). I have tried to be constructive and explained (like many on here) why I don't rate Jewell as a manager. The fact we get a few good results is obviously pleasing to me, but I don't think finishing mid-table is something to celebrate under the circumstances. As I said before, Jewell is going to really be judged between the end of the season and the end of August. If he continues in the same vein as before he will be gone by Xmas though, whatever your beliefs, Tom.
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I am Spartacus
Friday, April 20, 2012
Kevin, I have not run for any hills, in fact I am still waiting for you to tell me what I need to apologise for. By the way if you wish to know what PJ actually says to the press, you can hear recordings of his press releases on matchday, try is and you might lean the truth, although I accept you will not like it. As for Spartacus, you usually find that people who are not prepared to put their names to their comments are embarrased by the rubbish they write.
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Cyril Baker
Friday, April 20, 2012
Of course this season has been disappointing, taken as a whole, but recent results have been signficantly improved and there is reasonable hope for a good season next time. My problem with the whingers is that they do just that - whinge. Very rarely do they have anything constructive to say. Many don't post at all when we win. They have got a personal vendetta or obsession with PJ, and are desperate to be proven right. Criticising the manager will get us nowhere - he won't be sacked, results have improved, so please stop moaning and either get behind the whole club or make positive, constructive comments about what you would do differently - because it's all so easy, of course, to bring success to a football club.
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Tom
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wasting your time Spartacus, people like Cyril just make false accusations, and then run for the hills
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Kevin Bailey
Thursday, April 19, 2012
@ Cyril Baker: Where are people being proved wrong? We are 15th in the table. We are not securing our younger players for the long term. Jewell still contradicts pretty much anything he spouts to journalists. We still have several players with contracts running out and a former 'captain' following in the line of Norris & McCauley of leaving for nothing (when we could have made a couple of £mil from them at least. We aren't going for the major Youth Acad to secure our future (that couple of £mil would have been handy). We have wasted approaching £3mil this season on wages for experienced players that either haven't played (Ingmarsson, Ellington, Bullard, Healy) or haven't performed anywhere near expectations (Bowyer, Sonko). We still badly need a RB, DC x 2, MC x 2, wide player and a prolific striker- and then Jewell says we won't be going for wholesale changed. We have 11 players out of contract NEXT season already- does anyone have faith this will be resolved by the New Year? We have players being (apparently) judged mainly on the training pitch (Ian Rush was a terrible trainer. Good job he was never managed by Jewell). Cyril, you are confusing decent form (although don't go OTT about beating a reserve Birmingham side) for all the problems being solved. All Ipswich fans want us to win, and I suspect we are all happy we aren't getting relegated, but I feel Jewell will properly be judged on the period from now to the end of August. Who he brings in, who he signs on longer deals and howif more Wickham transfer money is wasted on past-their-best wages. We have never been a buying side, never can be a buying side and, unfortunately, it seems whilst Jewell is manager we will never get back to cultivating the youth players that we would rely on to improve our position.
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I am Spartacus
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Cyril, talking of being proved wrong, have you apologised to Dave Gooderham yet?
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Kevin Bailey
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Its great to see that the majority of PJ critics on this site are missing because they are being proved wrong.
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Cyril Baker
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hark Now Hear - the 'fans' you are so disparaging about are entitled to their view - & however often we mention our dissatisfaction relates to the treatment of young players this is interpreted as critisism of performance or results I must however be fair & acknowledge that Jewell seems to have got it right with Cresswell & JET - & latterly Drury - though he was at one point badly treated & farmed out to Crawley - so there may still be hope for Hyam & Carson ? As one of Jewells loyal supporters you will have no doubt adopted the line that we should not include youngsters & that this fantastic run was going to lead to us sneaking into 6th place !! Indeed we are told that our form over this 18 match period you mention is 'playoff place form' All somebody needs to do know is explain to me how following this fantastic run we are still in 15th place ????? in fact exactly the same place we were before our season 'took off' !!!
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Old Timer
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
As one of the so called 'perpetual moaners' I can positively say that last nights match was one of the most entertaining at PR this season. All the team showed what they can do albeit against an average Birmingham side but on chances created the Town should have been out of sight by half time. Jewell's substitution of JET who appeared to be in aggressive mood livened up a tiring team in atrocious conditions and well deserved his goal but emphasized the need for another 20 goal a season striker if we can afford one. The absence of a substitute GK on the bench was somewhat puzzling but Pompey did the same thing, there is obviously a good reason and as we all know PJ knows what he is doing. We should all hope that this knowledge was or is absorbed by ME in their promised budet meeting. Roll on next season !!!!!
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Brian Betts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Well done Town great performance last night on par with the West Ham game, we just lacked in the end product....an old fashioned centre forward, a Dean Ashton or Steve Bull(hard as nails) type of player and we would be killing these games off. They had one attack 1st half and scored that's the difference but I wouldn't change our style of play. We really looked up for it last night Marcus must have been at the game, we played with a lot of pace which suits us best. I agree with what Paul said pre-game about putting out strongest team as not fair on other play-off teams. Feeling confident about next season. Shop wisely in the summer Paul, either lower leagues or dutchgerman leagues. Find us 2 r 3 littlegems.
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Deg
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Another good performance, just shows the progress we've made the last 18 games or so, what is it now 3 defeats in those 18? But c'mon PJ you obviously don't know what your doing! I mean Lee Martin in the middle? JET getting game time? We really are a mess... Or so the 'fans' who comment on this site seem to think we are!
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Hark Now Hear
Wednesday, April 18, 2012