Blues boss Paul Jewell wasn’t ruling out adding to his squad before Thursday’s 5pm loan deadline after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest. The Town manager was left frustrated by his side’s inability to hold on to their 2-1 lead after what he felt was an improved performance.

Jewell, who has watched a number of young players in the lower leagues in recent months, says he’s always looking to add to his squad, regardless of any impending deadlines: “I think we’re always looking to improve whether the deadline day is Thursday or January or yesterday or the day before.

“We’re always making enquiries to try and see if we can get people that might be available to try and improve the squad.”

Despite the loss, he says Saturday’s display was an improvement on those against Millwall and Doncaster: “I thought we did quite well. We had our system, they had their system. We were missing Keith Andrews, which was a blow for us, and Sonko.

“But I thought for long periods we did OK against Forest, however, at vital times in games we haven’t got that belief in ourselves that we can see out matches, like we did against Portsmouth.”

The Town manager feels his side put themselves in trouble too often: “When we come away from home, where the crowd are baying for blood, there’s nothing better than going in the dressing room knowing you’ve quietened them down.

“But we encourage them by playing little balls in the middle of the park that will put us on the back foot.

“Two or three times we played square balls in the middle of the park when we were in complete control of possession and all of a sudden we’ve turned the ball over to the opposition, and that’s what’s costing us.”

Jewell felt that David Stockdale’s error for the first Forest goal was a key moment: “If you go in 1-0 up at half-time it’s a different feel. You give a different team-talk, there’s a different atmosphere in the dressing room, but we gave a goal away right on half-time, which was disappointing.

“But having said that, we got ourselves back in the lead at 2-1 and although Forest were putting the pressure on, I don’t think Stocky’s had that many saves to make.”

On the upside, the Blues boss was pleased to see Danny Collins score two goals from corners, having previously said he is looking for more goals from his centre-halves: “It’s an important part of the game.

“The central defenders go up for every set play and Danny’s got two today, but unfortunately we’ve conceded two from set plays as well.”

Photo: Action Images

ChurchmanBlue added 13:59 - Nov 21 We, the fans, are our own worst enemies. At the start of every season we give ourselves the same unachievable expectations of promotion or play-offs. All of this is based on signing the latest group of messiahs who are going to take us to the promised land. But we should be honest with ourselves, and realise that effectively changing the entire team every 2 seasons is not getting us anywhere. I would be happy to lower my expectations if the club were honest about this, but they keep us deluded in the hope that we will continue to go to matches. I would also be happy to acknowledge a period of rebuilding if this resulted in some of the talent we have in the academy making its way through to the first team. Unfortunately it looks like we will persist with this mery-go-round of new manager, new players, false expectation, fan disillusionment, new manager etc. etc. Currently we have some players who, whilst being talented, do not appear to either know how, or want to do their job on a weekly basis. No one appears to be able to tackle in midfield, which is putting undue pressure on our creaking defence. We are crying out for another (!) midielder, but this one needs some legs and an ability to tackle. We do not need another striker, we do not need another centre half. What we need is those players there currently to do what they are paid to do.

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Ipswich24 added 14:07 - Nov 21 Jon 456 You say give manager time which i agree with in principle, but we keep being told this is a long term thing not short term. So why the hell do we sign so many has beens who have no motivation to play at championship level? Answer this please! Yes we needed a few experienced players but not a whole team. We need to target these players Scott Loach in Goal, Ferdinand and Hall from Southend and Jordan Rhodes young hungry players FFS

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Seasider added 14:56 - Nov 21 I calculate that just over 20 players have left the club since Paul Jewell took over plus all but one of the coaching staff.He has brought 15 players in plus all new coaches. This time last year we were in 12th spot and falling,and at present we are in 16th spot and falling Statistics dont lie or embellish the facts as humans do.
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irishtim added 15:37 - Nov 21 jon456 look at southampton! we have the same problems week in week out & no progress
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safeashouses added 15:54 - Nov 21 Best additon we could have is a new manager .JOG
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alfromcol added 16:26 - Nov 21 What a load of moaners. We were leading Forest (AWAY) with a few minutes to go, concentration lapsed for a few minutes and we let in 2 goals and lost. That doesn't warrant a new team, new manager, new Clegg etc etc. We are missing Sonco desperately, get another quality central defender. There is not too much wrong with this team.
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safeashouses added 16:30 - Nov 21 16th in the table alfromcol not good enough .Or are you happy with that ? Perhaps you will still be making excuses when we are playing Colchester next year .
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LFCITFC added 16:34 - Nov 21 keep the faith in PJ, i think he's the right man, there has been a few comments on here that we play too many sideways passes. While I agree we need make more forward passes there are too many fans around me (south lower) that moan that we pass the ball backwards and would rather hoof the ball farward rather than keep it. IDIOTS PJ has mentioned that we give the ball away in the middle of the park too often, the answer is easy, LB & JB are not on form and that THE DIAMOND IS NOT WORKING. A wise man once said "football is an easy game complicated by idiots" Pass, Control, Find Space, shoot. without these your in trouble

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alfromcol added 16:45 - Nov 21 safeashouses No I am not happy with 16th place, but there are fine margins in sport, not least football. But for the lack of a few minutes concentration on Saturday and we would be 4 pts off the play-offs with a game in hand. Not too bad with the poor side and manager we have!!!
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planetblue_2011 added 17:26 - Nov 21 It's the players they are useless. It's been like this since magilton was in charge. Too many high earners & not enough effort on the pitch. The manager picks the team so it's up to the players to perform. With the players we have we should be up. We look good on paper but that isn't everything. If anyone can turn us around it's jewell. Fingers crossed we will crush reading & go on an unbeaten run again. Come on u blue boys u can do it

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HARRY10 added 17:34 - Nov 21 "You cant walk your way out of this league anymore like you could 5 to 10 years ago. Theres about 15 to 20 teams who are aiming for promotion. Success takes time and patience, and sadly there's too many fans that expect to get promoted straight away. No matter what manager you have, they'll need at least 3 years to produce a good team" ABSOLUTE RUBBISH ! The budgies and looks like S'oton have done - even the teams they came up with loook better than we do. There is NO building, merely patching up with temporary players, most of whom will be gone come next June. The rot starts from the top. Simon Clegg has not a clue about football. Bad decisions are being made about appointments and running the club. Ticket pricing is a joke. There is not a buzz about the place and we are drifting, with no sense of urgency or purpose. Nobody is expecting to get promoted straight away. What they are expecting and have been led top expect by the club is that we are moving in the direction of promotion. We are not. We have a situation where a couple of the better players could be going back to there clubs and a couple of the aged retainners could spend the winter on the treatment table. A keeper who could be recalled at any moment and virtually no new youngsters knocking on the door of the first team. There is no strength in depth, rather we have a few who are here for no other reason than to pick up their pay cheque - Priskin, Martin, Healey, O' Connor, Smith. I expect their contracts with us will preclude anyone taking them on until their contract ends. Does anyone seriously think that Scotland, Ellington and Kennedy would get into any team in the top six ? Yet we expect them to get us there. It is not the losing run or our position in the league that is the real concern for many fans. It is the obvious lack of both quality and players who appear motivated. Town fans have patience. Lord alone knows we have had to have patience over the past decade or so. We will sit and watch a snail, if it is moving forward. But there is NO movement forward - and only a deluded fool would try and convince themselves there was. Sacking Jewell might help but I doubt we would appoint anyone better. That we were turned down by Megson of all people should tell you all you need to know about the current state of affairs at the club.

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itfc1981 added 18:08 - Nov 21 Every time I see Rhodes has scored I feel sick, Cheers Clegg, get out of ITFC.
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marcus139 added 18:28 - Nov 21 I want to see Leadbitter gone. How he is captain is a complete and utter mystery to me. He is a negative influence not a positive one.
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fourth added 18:28 - Nov 21 We have a team made up of high quality players who are rather prone to injury. As results do not match up to hopes, and players with prospects, come to January without having a shop window for their talents in the Premiership, will leave. We need to think about Plan B. Which of course is bringing on talented youngsters rather than a quick fix. Signing on fees have not been huge to date. Fitness at Olympic level is essential. We can't afford people lounging around up front waiting for the perfectly placed ball.We need more Edinburghs. I think also, to be specific, that it is time to recognise the Captain's inability to perform or to captain. Time to bite the bullet. Put some youth and fire in the team, risk, make mistakes but be confident about moving forward!

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itfcjc added 18:54 - Nov 21 BIlly Sharp we need you
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alfromcol added 19:18 - Nov 21 We don't need Billy Sharp, we need Sonko back and another good centre half. I still don't understand why people still have a pop at Clegg he doesn't play a part on what goes on on the field during the game. Sharp on his own won't win games. It is a team game. We already have one of the best goal scorers in the Championship, Chopra, and he can't win games on his own. I have to agree with all those posters questioning why Leadbitter continues to hold his place. Even Keane saw something in him that the rest of us didn't. He was never dropped or subbed under Keane. The Same is happening under PJ, I wish someone could explain why.

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h32 added 20:50 - Nov 21 alfromcol - you're certainly one of a breed - a breed that would be perfectly happy to see Mr Clegg increase your season ticket / match day ticket price tenfold - and be 'entertained' with Blue Square League Football. How's that for contentment and ambition from a 'supporter' ? - or whatever the terminology is.
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TractorJed added 20:53 - Nov 21 Football is all about success yesterday these days, no manager gets the luxury of being able to build over a 2 -3 season basis. Those clubs who have fallen from grace and then turned to youth and players from lower divisions is normally through necessity rather than choice and on occasions it pays off - Norwich, but they havnt stuck by those players this season. I would love to see Town turn there back on a squad of ageing over paid players who are on the slide but who can blame Jewell for going for the safe bet, for every player from lower leagues who make it 4 dont. It would be nice to see us take a chance on younger players hitting the high lights at a lower level but you can never be sure that they will step up. Football outside the premier these days is average at best and the players and managers that float from one club to another earning a decent living are just plain over rated. How can anyone seriously get excited about watching town these days. Most of the first team would have struggled to get in the reserves in previous seasons. We are a team lacking in pace, power, ideas, organisation and spirit. Its time to wake up and realise that we have no more right or hope than the vast majority of clubs in this division of success. At best most clubs that reach the Premier are now yo yo clubs.

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tomisamos added 20:58 - Nov 21 h32 could just ignore all the constructive criticism and blast the bit about Clegg... How much of this "Blue Square Football" do you actually watch?
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alfromcol added 21:04 - Nov 21 H32 How do you know what makes me happy? As I said in an earlier post I am not happy with 16th in the league. I am as p*ssed off as the next person, but success doesn't come from wishing for it nor changing the team or manager after a few games. If Clegg (or the Club) put prices of tickets up it is for individuals to decide if they will continue to attend matches. The price of tickets won't change results on the field. I think that even Clegg would have to reduce prices if ITFC were in the Blue Square league. Keep moaning if it make YOU happy.

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h32 added 21:18 - Nov 21 alfromcol !!!!! ........ 'success doesn't come from wishing for it, nor changing the team or manager' - I can't think of too many others ways of achieving success - but no doubt you can. For your information - SUCCESS is what makes me happy - but you wouldn't understand that. Your levels of satisfaction, along with some others, are much lower - but that's your choice. Winners and Losers in Life - I've always been a WINNER - and proud of it.

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tomisamos added 21:33 - Nov 21 What an arrogant and sad little man you are... For the record, no one wishes for the club to be unsuccessful here. It's just not everyone agrees that your method (sacking Jewell) is going to work. I'm sure we'll see by the end of the season.
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Garv added 22:12 - Nov 21 Saying other fans' levels of satisfaction and aspiration are too low is one of the most irritating things you could write in the comment box.
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h32 added 22:23 - Nov 21 Garv - how many more times have I got to tell you to GET YOURS FACTS RIGHT - and understand what's written. What's the old saying ? - 'if the cap fits - wear it' - if not discard it.
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alfromcol added 22:40 - Nov 21 H32 Care to give us some examples of anything you have WON.
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