Ipswich Town
MANAGER’S REACTION: Paul Jewell angry at his players following 3-2 win at Doncaster
By Stuart Watson
Saturday, April 28, 2012
3:35 PM
IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell slammed his players for taking their foot off the gas after they finished the season with a 3-2 win at rock-bottom Doncaster.
Tommy Smith’s header and Ryan Stevenson’s fantastic 30-yard strike had the Blues in complete control against a powder puff Doncaster side inside half an hour.
The Blues failed to kill the game off though, conceded a 34th minute goal to Fabien Robert and suddenly looked very vulnerable.
Jason Scotland won and converted a penalty in the 77th minute of a dire second half, though the Blues still found time to concede a sloppy consolation in the dying moments as Habib Beye forced the ball home following a deep free-kick.
With Town finishing 15th in the Championship table, Jewell said: “It’s nice to finish with a victory, but I wouldn’t say it was a high. At 2-0 up we were cruising, but they get back in it at 2-1 and then we have a distinctly average second half.
“With the standards I’ve got we need to improve the squad.”
He continued: “The manner we concede goals, well, we’re just not good enough. We don’t do the simple things well enough. The problem with us is we get 2-0 up and then we don’t carry on doing the simple things that got us to that stage.
“There are too many players who think they can flick it, people give silly fouls away, I even saw a player today (Tommy Smith) give them the ball back for a free-kick. I couldn’t believe it, I’ve never seen that before. We should win the fair play league for that.
“I’m really annoyed and angry today because at 2-0 we were playing well, we should kill them off, we don’t and then we always seem susceptible to goals.”
He added: “We were in control, looked like we were going to score every time we went forward, but we then give teams a foothold in games because we stop doing the simple things, the unglamorous things that have got us into those situations.
“Once we start thinking we’ve cracked it we’re nowhere near a good enough team.”
With 16-year-old Byron Lawrence coming off the bench in the 80th minute to become the club’s second youngest player ever (behind Connor Wickham), Jewell said: “He’s lively. You see the keeper making a save at the end, who was following in? It was Byron. We’ve been trying to get him the team for a while and today I thought I’d give him 10 minutes after the third goal.”
Jimmy Bullard also came off the bench in the second half for a rare appearance. With the midfielder still under contract for another year, and Lee Bowyer and Grant Leadbitter set to leave the club, Jewell said: “Jimmy’s had his difficulties with illnesses and other stuff, but here’s here next year. Every team is picked on its merits, no-one is in the team or out the door.
“I just think today highlighted the fact that we need four or five quality players to come into our squad.”
– For match analysis and more reaction, see Monday’s EADT.
More Ipswich Town news
- Premier start could benefit Ipswich Town - Alex Mathie
- Yeovil in midweek and Doncaster on Boxing Day, Ipswich Town fans are handed a raw deal!
- Ipswich Town closing in on Kirk Broadfoot and Joel Grant
- Ipswich Town 2013/2014 fixtures in full
- Ipswich Town to face Reading and QPR in opening fortnight
- Stevenage tie will be a first for Ipswich Town
- Ipswich Town eye move for ex-Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
- There’s a new Dozzell in Town – and Jason’s determined to make life easier for son Andre
- Capital One Cup draw announced
- Like father, like son – Jason Dozzell using experience to guide son Andre at Ipswich Town
ADVERTISEMENT
33 comments
@Cyril, it doesn't help the club by Clegg charging top prices for mediocre performances but by staying away it does help my blood pressure and bank balance. @Chris, If I don't attend PR I certainly do venture into Norfolk but not to watch the 'enemy' just to fish. I agree with your claim about addiction but with the 'detached' atmosphere now generated at the club, I believe I can 'kick the habit'.
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Chris, of course your Carrow Road point is valid, and you are right, we are not customers in the conventional sense, as the alternative is not to go elsewhere, it is to not go to Portman Road. So the 'penalty' for getting it wrong, is the same, loss of customers. Especially in this era, when there are so many different demands on people's time. When Sir Bobby left Ipswich, there wasn't even breakfast TV on Mainstream TV, and there were only 3 channels! Now people can watch live world class sport on satellite tv, and all clubs need to be inclusive, something I feel we are dreadful at currently
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
@ Brian Betts: I take your point, but you are not suggesting that we should all trundle off to Carrow Road are you? We wouldn’t do that, so we are not customers in a conventional sense. Actually I think we are a group of oft-disappointed, deluded addicts – we know it is not good for us but can’t give it up.
Report this comment
Chris Hampshire
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Yes Brian, but how does that help the club, it simply means by staying away the club gets less revenue, which means no money to make signings.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
@Chris Hampshire, I am sure your sentiments come from your heart but all supporters are ultimately customers paying for a service. If you went to, say, your local butcher and he sold you poor meat you would possibly tell him next visitand trust him to do better in the future. If he continued to provide poor goods, most customers would choose to find a butcher selling better quality meat. At ITFC since the 'takeover' by ME the goods supplied have been mixed and largely uninspiring with little signs of it becoming very much better and with this comes the patronizing attitude of the club's top administrators which has had the effect of alienating many people who then choose to stay away. I have supported the club since 1948 but can barely remember a time even in relegation seasons and administration, when I have felt so pessimistic about the club returning to that which I remember in the past. The invisibility of ME, the autocratic attitude of the CEO Clegg and the repeated verbal contradictions, poor team selections & signings performance of Jewell with the refusal to opt for the top Academy status all points to a rather bleak future for the club which I and many others now feel like the 'dissatisfied' butcher's customers and are looking for better things to do with our cash.
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Late 80's I seem to remember a couple of 'Full Members' cup games where we had way less than 10,000 fans at the ground. Heady days when any old money-man could create their own cap :-) I'm torn with Cyril's comments. Yes, I'd love to just turn up, hand cash over and then watch whatever is offered, but times as such that going to a game costs over £60 all in. The financial hunger of football crossed the line of going to see the games whatever some time ago for me and I expect something back now, even if it is just hope- I guess this is why I'm so annoyed with the ineptitude of Jewell. For me, I'll be picking and choosing games next season- It is tough enough to pay bills at home without also having to help finance the constant mistakes of Jewell. It doesn't make people any less a supporter, just a financial reality.
Report this comment
I am Spartacus
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
John, I can remember being there when the crowds were less than 10,000 once or twice for league games, and agree we haven't bottomed out yet. I look forward to returning in August, post Clegg.....in time for the AGM
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Monday, April 30, 2012
Kevin, I can remember when we had regular crowds of around 12000 so we haven't bottomed out yet.
Report this comment
JOHN BURLS
Monday, April 30, 2012
Kevin, I know you take it badly when people tell you that you are wrong, but you have missed the point that Chris is saying. When things are going wrong the club needs supporting more than ever, you walked away.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Monday, April 30, 2012
Chris, I think myself that the club and the supporters have become alienated from each other, and the ever stranger comments from Jewell have just worsened that situation, as has the turnstile-gate comments, then disappearance from Clegg. The academy situation, the lack of a reserve team, the lack of the young players in the team, despite Hyam being outstanding when recalled after a year of non-selection by Jewell, the over reliance on loan players, the lack of a coherent policy for more than 5 minutes......no wholesale changes,,,followed by...we need 6 new players...no repeat of contract fiasco,,,followed by.... the same...Those that have continued to attend are clearly happy enough to do so, yet I am sure that many share my concerns. However, until the club realises that it is by listening to, and addressing the concerns of the 4178 EACH GAME that used to attend, but no longer do, that the club will begin to repair the damage caused since Evans became majority shareholder. Surely this is imperative considering the financial fair play rules, and it is astonishing, is it not, that our 89% majority owner makes his money from the corporate hospitality industry, yet presides over such a dreadful fall in attendances at Portman road.
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Monday, April 30, 2012
@ Kevin Bailey; I agree with your analysis of the attendance figures and it does seem that Ipswich has faired worse than other comparable clubs. The question is why? In recent weeks some of the commentators on this site have made me stop and think. In particular, there is a theme that supporters are customers and if the product is poor then not so many will come to watch. I must say that I had never regarded myself as a ‘customer’ of ITFC! I think of supporters as part of the club who can have a major impact on the clubs success and this is most important when things are not going so well.
Report this comment
Chris Hampshire
Monday, April 30, 2012
Kevin,Anyone can take these figures from the BBC league attendances figures on their web site, but what is you point. How does printing these figures help the team you claim to support.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Monday, April 30, 2012
Another classic 'Jewellism' "Every team is picked on its merit" Well what about Hyam and Carson then? Why is he so angry at Tommy Smith? for as I understand it, passing the ball back to the opposition for their free kick. If this is the case what has happened to sportsmanship in the game? Don't they do that sort of thing up in the NE ?
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Another classic 'Jewellism' "Every team is picked on its merit" Well what about Hyam and Carson then? Why is he so angry at Tommy Smith? for as I understand it, passing the ball back to the opposition for their free kick. If this is the case what has happened to sportsmanship in the game? Don't they do that sort of thing up in the NE ?
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
To give greater context to the falling attendances at ITFC, our position in the average crowd league table starting with 2006 to 2007 has been, 7th, 7th,7th,9th,10th and this season we have fallen to having the 15th largest average attendance in the Championship. In 2006 to 2007, our average attendance was 22,444, compared to the average Championship attendance of 18,391, some 22.03% ABOVE the average crowd of our competitors, giving us an edge. In the season just finished, we averaged 18,266 compared to the Championship average of 18,237, some 0.16% above the average crowd in the Championship. The average Championship crowd is now lower than in 2006 to 2007, by 154 supporters per game, meaning that the average crowd has fallen by 0.83%, compared to the 18.61% fall in crowds at Ipswich. So, we have fallen significantly more, by any reasonable statistical measure that can be used, than other Championship teams. By any measure, a poor performance.
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Sunday, April 29, 2012
I think readers will feel it is unfair of Kevin to take just the figures of ITFC in order to support his anti Jewell campaign. I believe if you take the figures of the football league average attendance for all clubs you will find that the club not PJ have done quite well. Most people realise football attendances have droped over the past few years due to the economic situation.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Blaming players just shows what this manager is about he is truly the worst manager in our history none of the former mangers would ever talk about his players like he has for the sake of our club get rid of him now before its too late
Report this comment
ian wright
Sunday, April 29, 2012
John, if I don't answer that, would it be a slide rule pass (groan)
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Cyril Baker doesn't think so, perhaps HE would care to present his numerical facts and also where he sees ITFC having made progress since Jewell's appointment or even further, Evans arrival at PR. OK Tom your go now !!!!!!!!
Report this comment
Brian Betts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
KB, you must own a slide rule!
Report this comment
JOHN BURLS
Sunday, April 29, 2012
KEVIN...are you a maths teacher.!!
Report this comment
brisie58
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Kevin, obviously not very good at maths, and knows nothing about football. Other than a blinkered view of the manager.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Under Jewell's first full season of management, the attendance fell by an average of 1,348 per match, which is 6.84%. In fact, last season particularly the second half, the attendances fell by an average of 1,226 per game, or 5.58%. The average attendance at the end of 20067, the last full season prior to the takeover of the majority shareholder, the average attendance was 22,444. Since then, we have lost 4,178 PER GAME, which amounts to a reduction in attendances of 18.61%. To get back to the level of 22,444 we would need to increase the average crowd by 22.87%, and for Paul Jewell to have average crowds of the size of the season before he arrived, he would need to reach 20,840, or add 2,574 per game, an additional 14.09%!!!! The plunging attendances will only plunge further, based on the lack of academy status one, the treatment of the younger players, and the fact that Jewell blames the players, and takes no responsibility, whereas Keane asked the crowd to boo him, and NO the younger players. A devastating contrast for Jewell, I feel, as Jewell is effectively booing the young players himself!
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Well the seasons over, but I guess the anti Jewell brigade continue to amuse us with their expert opinions on who PJ should or should not sighn. I just hope he gets on with sighning someone rather than talking about it, but I guess thats out of his hands. I will judge him on his second year, which is how long evans gave him to attain promotion.
Report this comment
Cyril Baker
Sunday, April 29, 2012
this critisismn from the worst manager in the clubs history go now please. PS.also agree with you old timer.
Report this comment
david peters
Sunday, April 29, 2012
pj to be releived of his duties this week club has gone backwards under him this year and the fact that he has to start from scratch again needing at least 6 new playersmabe up to 10 is not good enough half the players he got in last year are already on their way he does not have a clue evans had enough
Report this comment
gutted
Sunday, April 29, 2012
fans have been angry for most of the season. the worst manager ipswich ever . fire him now. and save the club
Report this comment
mike benham
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Nothing to play for, no desire to be injured in the last game of the season, at 2 up they are bound to take it a bit easy. But don't good managers make sure they don't, by encouragement, not criticism.
Report this comment
JOHN BURLS
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Jewell seems unaware that he is the man responsible for this team.
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Jewell seems unaware that he is the man responsible for this team.
Report this comment
Kevin Bailey
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wonderful man management from PJ!! He openly criticises someone who has not yet signed a new contract, Tommy Smith, for giving a ball back in a match that is insignificant!! How often has he criticised senior players for their failures in matches? He has tended to make excuses for them. If I was Tommy Smith I would look for a manager who would young players a chance. PJ has been talking about giving young players a chance , but in the last 4 meaningless matches he has put on one youngster- Byron Lawrence- for ten minutes!!!!!
Report this comment
Roxi
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Having been in charge for over a year this is your team Mr Jewell - assembled by you & 'picked on merit' as you suggest. You then go on to say that the way we concede goals we're 'just not good enough' - as though these 2 things are mutually exclusive & in no way attributable to you in any way. While it may have been fair enough at the start of the season to bemoan poor defending & giving away silly goals - the fact that this is still happening under your stewardship reflects on you equally & critisising them should not deflect any fan from realising this.
Report this comment
Old Timer
Saturday, April 28, 2012
PJ was angry as we played well then faded,it's a pity he has waited till the last game of the season to get angry , his team has been up and down all season ,
Report this comment
richard procter
Saturday, April 28, 2012