Paul Jewell

SEASON REVIEW: Frustrated Paul Jewell reflects on player positives

By Dave Gooderham Thursday, May 3, 2012
5:08 PM

The 2011/12 campaign will be remembered with frustration by most fans.

Off-pitch problems

- Carlos Edwards: Given a 12-week suspended prison term in October after he admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance. Also fined £2,500 and 200 hours community work

– Michael Chopra: Admitted he was battling a gambling problem which saw him spend time at the Sporting Chance clinic. Also had cases in front of magistrates on three separate occasions for a string of driving offences. Finally, fined two weeks by Jewell after turning up late for training following two nights-out in Newcastle

– Jimmy Bullard: Reprimanded by the club after the same incident in Newcastle as Chopra. Rather than a fine, was suspended by the club for two weeks

– Paul Jewell: Embroiled in a sexism row after remarks he made about female assistant referee, Amy Fearn, following January’s 2-1 defeat at Birmingham. The manager refuted all claims

– Ipswich Town: Came under fire from fans following the abandonment against Middlesbrough after just 39 minutes. The club’s decision not to offer supporters their money back or free entry at the subsequent rematch was criticised in some quarters

And it is an emotion that will be shared by manager Paul Jewell in his first full season at Portman Road.

Reflecting on a campaign full of contrasting memories, the Town boss said: “There have been a lot of disappointments, a lot of good performances – frustrating is the word I would use.

“In the last 19 or 20 games, I think we have lost four matches so we have shown in the second half of the season that we can be decent. But in a lot of the first half, we showed we have been a soft touch.”

Jewell reiterated that he had got things wrong over the last nine months, but that supporters should not forget the positives from a topsy-turvy campaign.

He explained: “The balance between experience and youth has not been quite right at times. We have been searching for formulas. We thought we had hit one with the diamond, which we did, but when we had to have a Plan B it took us a while to get over that.

“It has been disappointing in a lot of aspects but look at the pluses – no one had heard of Aaron Cresswell this time last year, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has come on, Andy Drury has come to the fore, Tommy Smith has played a lot of games, Lee Martin has been a plus for us.

“There have been a lot of pluses but over the course of the season, a lot of negatives as well.”

While defensive deficiencies and indeed goals galore at both ends will be themes of the last nine months, the 2011/12 campaign will also be remembered for off-the-pitch problems.

Jewell said: “One or two players have had one or two difficulties off-the-pitch, and they have been our key players.

“It has been tough. We have had issues on and off-the-pitch, but nothing is easy in life. I have had great support from the owner and the supporters in general and I really appreciate both of them. In the long-term, I hope to be part of a team that takes us where we want to be.”

18 comments

Chris, as we have said previously, whilst we agree on much, and disagree on some things, the relative perspectives are exchanged with courtesy and humour, and long may it continue. I would like to clarify one point, which is that I am not in the depths of despair, I simply feel we are going nowhere, and it could be worse, as we could have got relegated. The success of Southampton and the demise of Portsmouth are both polarising scenarios in Hampshire, and it must make for interesting exchanges!

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Kevin Bailey

Sunday, May 6, 2012
Thing is Chris, you are one of the few to actually articulate your reasoning. Most others just use the word 'moaner' and drift off- inverted Sterooism. The difficult thing for me is that many of us have been signposting the running out of contracts for over 18 months, the club are now (apparently) agreeing. Many of us we dismayed at the level of loanees beign brought in, Jewell has now highlighted them as a mistake. Many of us were concerned with the high wages paid to the older signings (like a last harraahh payday), Jewell agreed with this around a month ago. Pretty much all of us on here wanted to see more of our younger players getting more opportunities, Jewell says he will finaly do so (but then didn't, as it happens). Jewell could make me like him by the end of August if he learns from what have often have been basic mistakes, which is why I think we will all know the future of Jewell by the beginning of September (if we are not playing Hyam, Carson, Smith etc, and scratching around for more loanees at that point, then I'm pretty sure his time will be numbered). We all want the best for ITFC, I just hope more positive hope come sooner rather than later...

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I am Spartacus

Saturday, May 5, 2012
Thing is Chris, you are one of the few to actually articulate your reasoning. Most others just use the word 'moaner' and drift off- inverted Sterooism. The difficult thing for me is that many of us have been signposting the running out of contracts for over 18 months, the club are now (apparently) agreeing. Many of us we dismayed at the level of loanees beign brought in, Jewell has now highlighted them as a mistake. Many of us were concerned with the high wages paid to the older signings (like a last harraahh payday), Jewell agreed with this around a month ago. Pretty much all of us on here wanted to see more of our younger players getting more opportunities, Jewell says he will finaly do so (but then didn't, as it happens). Jewell could make me like him by the end of August if he learns from what have often have been basic mistakes, which is why I think we will all know the future of Jewell by the beginning of September (if we are not playing Hyam, Carson, Smith etc, and scratching around for more loanees at that point, then I'm pretty sure his time will be numbered). We all want the best for ITFC, I just hope more positive hope come sooner rather than later...

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I am Spartacus

Saturday, May 5, 2012
Chris Hampshire. It is indeed every persons right to have an opinion and I readily agree that you have stated and explained your views clearly. I apologise for not having excepted you from my comments.We will clearly continue to differ on our views of Jewell however I respect your opinion. You are however in a minority as I cannot honestly say that I have heard any other reasoned argument as to what positives there are to be drawn from the months of Jewells management and as yet I have heard no one (not even yourself) give any indication as to what benchmark should be set for measuring his "success" in the coming months.

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SussexTractorBoy

Friday, May 4, 2012
@SussexTractorBlue and others: I have over recent months given reasons why I am not as despondent as some of you seem to be about things at ITFC and why I believe the best course is to stick with Paul Jewell (for at least 2 more seasons). I feel little inclination to keep repeating these reasons ad nauseum; I have made my points but they do not convince you – fair enough. On the other hand I read your points and while agreeing with many of them, but they do not convince me that I should be in the depths of despair – my prerogative.

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Chris Hampshire

Friday, May 4, 2012
How nice of Jewell to reflect on the positives then shoot himself in both feet with yet more inane and contradictory ramblings. How sad to see someone having the nerve to label himself 'trueblue' and reveal himself to be anything but. How revealing that after perhaps the most inept and embarrassing season in living memory that the EADT relies on the few uncensored posts from readers for rational comment rather than lead a campaign asking what on earth is going on at Portman Road... and better still revealing some answers with, erm a modicum of journalism.

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Rob Steroo

Friday, May 4, 2012
Trueblue - the fact that you 'can't be bothered' to read a relatively short comment says it all - could it be that you support Jewell simply because you can't be bothered to think of all the things has has got wrong - or indeed what direction you yourself would like to see the club heading in if it wasn't too much effort to engage your brain - then perhaps send your post backed up by constructive comments - a la Mr Bailey

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Old Timer

Friday, May 4, 2012
bristan, your comments are sensible but 'a leopard and its spots' springs to mind so don't hold your breath.

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Brian Betts

Friday, May 4, 2012
The way that Jewell should be measured for the close season and the first 3 months of next season is for him to establish who he wants (within reason) to build a squad which he thinks will challenge near the top of the championship.The way Clegg and Evans will be measured is whether any or some of these targets are signed. If it's collectively agreed that everything has been done to match this then OK. If at the end of this process we are still getting the same results as last season then new leadership is required.

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bristan

Friday, May 4, 2012
Tom - Cyril Baker - Dave21 - Trueblue and all other Jewellites. I have reluctantly accepted the fact that Jewell will be with us at least for the beginning of next season. However please would each of you tell all of us just what you would consider he needs to do achieve next year to earn your continued undying support. As I have heard nothing from any of you to justify your admiration for his "achievements" this year (other than that you are true supporters and therefore loyally accept anything associated with ITFC must be wonderful) it would be good to have a marker on which I can gain his "progress" for next year.

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SussexTractorBoy

Friday, May 4, 2012
In summary, a club in decline due to lack of leadership with any consistent, coherent plan and too many journeymenold players. We have become a mediocre mid-table team with aspirations beyond ability, and until there is a significant turnover of staff at all levels in the club it will not improve. The closest we'll get to the Premier League is 42miles away.

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Gedster

Friday, May 4, 2012
By the way Tom, I think you would fing it to be more accurate to state that Jewell, Clegg and Evans are undermining the club. I am simply noticing, and analysing their ineptness and commenting on it.

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Kevin Bailey

Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tom, you still don't get it, though, do you?

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Kevin Bailey

Thursday, May 3, 2012
I read it, Trueblue, and agree with most of it. If you don't, why not be willing to discuss it, rather than the inane dribble of someone who is unable to gather their thoughts...

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I am Spartacus

Thursday, May 3, 2012
Kevin, the fact is that PJ won't be sacked by ME so there is nothing to be gained by relentlessly underminining the club. I think you are obsessed with PJ. On every single story, you say the same thing, the same point, the same argument at massive length, rambling on.

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Tom

Thursday, May 3, 2012
dear Kevin, no one can be bothered to read your comment

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trueblue

Thursday, May 3, 2012
Sorry Kevin , but Jewell must be doing a grand job according to some of the non moaners on here. So let his contract be honoured to let him see out his time at PR and then we can all enjoy a long period in the 'Promised Land' like Bradfod & Wigan but forgetting Sheffield Wed, & Derby which probably were just hiccups in his experiences.

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Brian Betts

Thursday, May 3, 2012
When Jewell was appointed we were told that he was the finished article, and that we were going for experience, which was inferring that the mistakes that Keane did make (along with the things Keane got right) would be avoided with Jewell, due to this experience. The commentary Jewell himself is providing of his own performance, is akin to that I would expect my wife to provide, if she were to try and master Football Manager. It really is as if Jewell is unaware of just how absurd these things are. We had a system, but we didn't have a back-up if it didn't work.....We just couldn't right....we made panic buys last year.....all of these are dreadful on their own, yet together reveal just why we are going nowhere fast. Most supporters thought signing Ingmarsson, Ellington and Bowyer was not exactly awe inspiring, yet all of us hoped that maybe Jewell knew better than us. He didn't. We all thought it was terrific that we won at Bristol City, and were baffled when the team was altered for the Northampton game. We could all see that the defence needed greater protection from someone playing in the holding role, and wanted Hyam there. We could not understand why Bullard was switched to the base of a diamond, when we signed him because of his form in his preferred position the season before. hindsight not required, and who knows what could have happened had Clegg been able to actually sign someone beneficial, like Sharp and Coppinger. Perhaps Jewell can reflect on the fact that we got 6 points in the last 6 games. Awful.

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Kevin Bailey

Thursday, May 3, 2012