Town boss Paul Lambert says the players have to “realise what happened last year wasn’t good enough” and that the Blues have to improve in 2020/21.

The squad returned to Playford Road for pre-season training a fortnight ago having been away from the club since March. Earlier today, news broke that everyone had tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday and could progress to from stage one to stage two of the EFL’s Return to Training Protocols.

Lambert says being back in training is a positive move for everyone even if it’s not quite as pre-season would normally be.

“Coming into training’s good, just for the mental side of the game, it’s good, albeit in small groups and things like that,” he told the iFollow Ipswich.

“That’s been strange because that’s the first time I’ve encountered training in those small groups and staggered starts and people coming into the place and then are away again.

“But it’s the same for everybody, so that’s life as it is at the minute. But it’s good to be back.

“And anybody will tell you, team sport and a contact sport, if you don’t have contact then you don’t really have a game.

“But we’ve tried to give the guys things that they’ve needed, what we thought they needed and slowly but surely if things do get back to normal then that will pick up,”

He says the players have done well in training but insists they have to improve on last season’s disappointing 11th-place finish on unweighted points per game after the season was cut short.

“The guys have been really good in training, there’s not a problem there. We know we have to improve from last year, it wasn’t good enough,” he admitted.

“[It’s been] the best part of four and a half, five months and footballers lose fitness really, really quickly and once these guys stop their playing careers then they’ll know what it’s like to be normal that way.

“You have to enjoy this moment that you’re in as a footballer and they have to realise what happened last year wasn’t good enough, by everybody it wasn’t good enough, and we have to improve.”

Looking ahead to the prospect of matches being played behind closed doors, which will be the case in pre-season and at the start of the campaign proper, he added: “Nobody coming into the stadiums is going to be strange for everybody. I think you’re in the unknown.

“We don’t know what it’s going to be like, we don’t the measurements that are going to get taken and the protocols of coming to a game or the testing, all those sort of things that everybody’s probably asking the questions about.

“At this moment, we’ve done the very best we can to keep the lads psychologically in good shape and mentally in good shape, physically in good shape, we’ve hopefully tried the right steps.”

So far this summer Town’s only addition has been young winger Ross Crane, who was signed on a free transfer from Bury Town, but Lambert is definitely eyeing further signings, sooner rather than later if possible.

“I don’t think we’ll be different from anybody else, “ he reflected. “I think what the pandemic’s done, it’s really derailed the transfer window with a lot of teams and you can’t get anybody in.

“But we certainly need people to improve us, we have to try and get somebody in to improve us because last year simply wasn’t good enough.

“Ideally you’d love to get them in now, ideally. But it’s not an ideal world we’re in at the minute, we’re in strange times.”

Lambert, who met with owner Marcus Evans at the club last week, says he doesn’t know what his budget is given the financial issues facing both Town and Evans’s other businesses due to the coronavirus crisis.

“Whether money will be there, we’ll have to wait and see,” he added. “It’s a really difficult time for everybody.”

Having released Will Keane at the end of last season, a big striker appears to be top of Lambert’s wish-list, along with another goalkeeper, Will Norris having returned to Wolves following his loan spell.

The Blues are also short of a centre-half, with Toto Nsiala expected to move on with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United keen, as reported earlier in the week, a left-back - with former loanee Luke Garbutt a target - and a winger.

Photo: TWTD

MrJase_79 added 19:35 - Aug 5 "You can't get anybody in" Oh ok then, I assume he's just saying that WE can't get anybody in? because all the other clubs are for damn sure getting players in.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:52 - Aug 5 When he says how good they have been in training, I don't believe him! Our most urgent signing is a new manager. The bloke is all talk, remember when he first came in he said if the players make a mistake it would be his fault as they are carrying out his orders, well 11th spot in the 3rd tier is his fault and he should be shouldering the blame!!!
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Suffolkboy added 19:59 - Aug 5 Cagey, tentative ,cautious ,realistic whilst hopeful & acknowledging the challenges and the gaps to be filled ; BUT obviously uncertain of what the financial future holds – for ITFC and a host of other EFL clubs . Anyone got a crystal ball ? Whatever , support we shall ! COYB
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cat added 20:48 - Aug 5 What about the season before then? Your on borrowed time ‘pal' The squad is capable of top 6 finish but it's the same ole every time. Freshen things up, get your best team sorted and we'll have a chance.
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muhrensleftfoot added 21:04 - Aug 5 Lambert's record at ITFC is so abject, probably unprecedented in the history of the club. I try to be positive, I've invested in another season ticket, but I can't help asking why is he still here? Please prove me wrong Paul, I'll be delighted if you do.
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leftie1972 added 21:41 - Aug 5 Lambert also has to realise he had a very large part to play in that unspectacular last season. His consistent chopping and changing the team was a large part of the problem. Yes, there were many under achievers in the team, but with consistent appearances we would have been contenders.
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Dissboyitfc added 22:22 - Aug 5 It's not a crystal ball that we need, we need a better manager,,end of!!!
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DifferentGravy added 22:40 - Aug 5 Clap trap already. The manager should hold his hands up and say his performance was unacceptable......but he wont. Still baffled how a manager with such a poor win ratio can be given a 5 year deal. Our xmas position really did flatter our performances and were found out in the end. In my opinion the squad was good enough but the tactics and player selection/squad rotation wasnt Im so bored of the same old drivel from Lambert.....its causing apathy for the club to set in . It should be playoffs minimum. Shape up or ship out Lambert.....and enough of taking us down memory lane.....you really werent that good of a player

10

TimmyH added 23:20 - Aug 5 The litmus test was last season and he failed it miserably when it mattered most...another season to waffle, to carry more spin and try and get the supporters on side. When he was first appointed I was on the fence...I've come off it and truly believe he is not the manager to carry us forward.
11

Bluearmy_81 added 23:59 - Aug 5 Well all you Evans lovers who think the sun shines out of his butt despite him turning the club into a complete laughing stock should remember that Lord Evans has given him 5 years to work his 'magic' so suck it up buttercups... 😂
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Bluearmy_81 added 06:09 - Aug 6 So in that case strengthen the squad like everyone else is doing then ITFC!
2

tractorboybig added 06:39 - Aug 6 same boring bull shyte zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
2

robmonkey007 added 07:01 - Aug 6 I see Norwood is in Liverpool.....mid week.....when the squad are in preseason. Only tag was Good to be Home. Assuming he's being sold then. Fleetwood?
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robmonkey007 added 07:02 - Aug 6 Or good to be back. I forget which.
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cat added 07:09 - Aug 6 The problem with Lambert is his so mono-tone and fecking dull. We need someone with a bit of charisma, someone who going to lift the players and get them to buy into his footballing philosophies. McCarthy had shall we say ‘footballing issues' but the one thing he did achieve was get the players on side and go the extra mile. Let's hope Lambert does turn this around but from what we have seen so far he simply ain't been good enough.

2

therein61 added 07:10 - Aug 6 According to you P.L we trained really well last year and looked good Saturdays were the problem!!!! too many players coasting.
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martin587 added 07:41 - Aug 6 I'm absolutely lost for words at the comments from PL.I don't like slating people but boy do you need to pull your socks up.We need a flying start or I'm afraid your days are numbered and the owner needs to keep on top of this.🤞
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jas0999 added 07:49 - Aug 6 Poor manager. Poor squad of players. Doubtful we will sign anyone who is good enough. It's hard to be optimistic, but must try. Still, there are worse things happening in the world right now.
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MickMillsTash added 08:00 - Aug 6 A good woman and fitness Hard to find- harder to keep
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MeltonBlue added 08:35 - Aug 6 What concerns me here is, the language used, "the players have to realise" Do you mean Paul, that they have not realised that yet and they are still thinking that the performances from October onwards were good enough?? Speaks volumes for me.
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brittaniaman added 08:52 - Aug 6 didn't Scott Parker do well with Fulham !!! To think he was down here for an interview, and of course he did not get the job, then the dreaded Hurst got it and the rest is history now
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Karlosfandangal added 09:05 - Aug 6 Season not yet started and Lambert getting slagged off. Lambert has said that the season was not good enough and the players have to realise that too. Get behind the team and try and enjoy football as Lambert is here to stay as the club have lost £10 million because of COVID. The club can't afford to sack him as that is less money for the 1st team. If I remember correctly fans on here were saying we had to get Hurst because of what he did with Shrewsbury, Same with Lambert Ipswich will only even be a Championship side at best as the Prem is out of reach now. £30 million pounds needed to complete Div 1 and 2 and the prem could not help out because the cost to the clubs. Ake just signed for Man City for £40 million That has said it all for

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martin587 added 09:25 - Aug 6 Karlosfandangal,do you think PL deserved a 5 year contract on that performance last season.I rest my case.
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Razor added 10:33 - Aug 6 If we are not in top 2 by Nov 1 he should off and out of here----end of.
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carlo88 added 10:43 - Aug 6 Where's Danny Cowley when you need him.
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