Boss Paul Jewell slammed his big name players for talking the talk but not walking the walk after their disastrous 4-0 hammering at Burnley, but conceded that ultimately he carries the can for the Blues' run of six successive defeats which has seen them drop to 21st in the Championship.

Jewell says his players simply aren’t performing to the required standard: “I feel physically sick. For 35 minutes there was nothing in the game but then there’s the old Achilles’ heel — we concede from a set play.

“There are a lot of people with big reputations in that team and people keep on talking about what an experienced team we have and what good players we have, but they’re not putting out, that’s for sure.

“I don’t see anyone making a tackle, they can all talk the talk but at the minute they’re not doing it and it’s unbelievable from a team which not so long ago was looking like a decent side. Now we look like we can’t win a 50/50 tackle or even 60/40 in our favour.

“Their third goal the kid runs from midfield right through the heart of our defence. The first goal was a set play.”

The Blues manager says his team capitulated after the first goal went in: “I think in the Forest and Reading games, we were in those matches without playing well, but tonight the white flag came out.

“I think Mark Kennedy and Lee Bowyer were unlucky to come off because it could have been anybody.

“I understand that confidence at a low ebb but there’s no excuse for not making it difficult for the opponents and we aren’t making it difficult.

“We just want to play on the ball and look pretty, but we don’t want to do the ugly things in football that make teams winning teams.

“I know what it’s like to have a good team. At 2-0 down I’ve had teams where I’m thinking that we can still get something out of games.

“I’m looking round the dressing room tonight and thinking it’s a case of damage limitation, I can see it in their eyes. We’ve got to change that very, very quickly.”

Jewell felt for the 319 Town supporters who made the trip to Turf Moor, accepting that the buck ultimately stops with him whether the players do what they're told to or otherwise: “At the end of the day I’m the manager, I carry the can, but some of the stuff that I’m seeing going on on the pitch, I don’t know where it’s coming from. I expect tons better, it’s just not good enough.

“We use all these words - unacceptable, not good enough, this, that and the other, but I’m embarrassed coming to see you guys [in the media]. I’m embarrassed walking past those supporters of ours who have travelled all that way to watch absolute garbage.

“Ultimately, it’s my responsibility, but some of the stuff that’s going on out there is not what we’re preaching, in fact none of it is.”

He feels some of his players are taking matches too lightly: “It isn’t just another game, it’s people’s livelihoods. People have been on a 500-mile round trip tonight, probably have had a day off work, and then have to put up with something like that.

“Supporters will put up with anything, so will managers by the way, but they can’t put up with gutless, spineless efforts like that.”

Jewell knows that as the defeats mount up the pressure on him grows: “I’m not stupid. I know that if you lose six games on the bounce you’re not going to be flavour of the month, I understand that.

“I want what’s best for Ipswich. As I said when I first came, it’s a long-term job. It’s a massive job, a huge job and we’re nowhere near moving forward at this moment in time.

“But I’ll keep going, I’ll keep fighting and I think that’s all you can you can do. You can only ever do your best but ultimately I want what’s best for Ipswich.”

He believes that club owner Marcus Evans is still backing him: “I think so, but if he thinks it’s best to make a change, that’s entirely up to him. I want what’s best for Ipswich and that isn’t good enough for Ipswich Town. That ain’t good enough for anybody, never mind a team of this great tradition.

“Ultimately I have to lead the team out on to the pitch and it reflects on me and that doesn’t reflect me.”

Jewell now has to lift his players for Saturday’s visit by Watford, the Blues’ bogey side: “That’s the difficult thing. There’s always another game of football and the longer you go without winning, the harder it becomes.

“I said before the game that we need men at this moment in time and there are a lot of people with big careers, international players out there and they’re not doing enough.”

Conversely Burnley boss Eddie Howe had an excellent 34th birthday: “It was a good night, a really good night. The second half was enjoyable, I don’t think I’ve had many second halves in my short reign at Turf Moor which have been as enjoyable as that. I thought we were excellent.

“I think it was a strange game in that we created so many chances that we could have scored double the four that we did.

“Jay Rodriguez had chance after chance and to be fair to him kept going and got his reward in the end for an excellent individual performance. But what pleases me more was the team effort, I thought we were very good in the second half.”

Howe was also delighted that his side didn’t concede against a Blues team he feels is better than their current performances: “It wasn’t just the clean sheet for me, it was the manner of it.

“Although they’re on a disappointing run, they are a good side, they’ve got a lot of quality in their team. We kept them very quiet and I don’t think Lee Grant had a save to make.”

Photo: Action Images

tomisamos added 11:37 - Nov 30 jas, you're replying to people! I can see your frustrations but I think Roy's problem was that he said from the off 'I will be getting this team promoted in a year' and he was not even close. The next season, when he was sacked, he was even further from it. Paul Jewell didn't come to get us up in a year, he came to try and fix something which has been long broken. I know it's now his players but he's hit the nail on the head. Even since the start of Jim's final season we have seen far too much spinelessness from the players. I can only think of two players who have ever looked like they wanted to play for the club since the days of Bent, Kuqi, Miller, De Vos and the rest who nearly got us up with Royle: that's Walters and Bruce, both mismanaged. Otherwise I don't think it's whether Jewell has lost the dressing room, did he ever have it? After Jim's mates all retired did HE have the dressing room? Roy Keane certainly didn't. This club is full to the core of players and staff who don't care at all. They barely ever apologise to the fans, they never look ready to get stuck in and for five or six years they never have. I know it annoys a lot of you, but the only person who looks like he is hurting from this at the moment is Jewell himself. He's devastated. Some of you will say he's just worried for his job, but I don't think that's fair, I think he's completely sickened by the fact he's not made any progress. Last year if I'd been told I could see Bowyer, Bullard,, Andrews, Sonko, Stockdale, Chopra and JET all in the side I'd have been delighted. On paper we ought to have an incredible side. They just don't look like they care. Finally, to jas again. I agree with you, this is Jewell's side, so he has to take responsibility. But BECAUSE it's his side and the players signed for HIM, he needs to be given at least another month to turn this around. I don't think another manager who is available could turn this around. I'd put good money tht even Jose Mourinho would have his work cut out trying to motivate these players right now! Now is that Jewell's fault? I'm not saying it isn't, but this has gone on for so long and for so many seasons now, gradually getting worse, that I wouldn't be surprised if there's more to this than meets the eye.

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Flightmech added 11:45 - Nov 30 I honestly believe it's our turn to visit League One. We have scraped it a few times before. Jewell has obviously been given money to spend by Evans and has blown it. Although the players are responsible Jewell was the one who put the shirt on their back in the first place. Doesn't make Keane look so bad does it? Jewell out, and take some of your s88t purchases with you.

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Flightmech added 11:47 - Nov 30 One more thing, six straight defeats and shipping goals for fun. We can't afford to give Jewell another month. By that time we run the risk of being well into the bottom 3 with a collossal pi88-poor goal difference.
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tomisamos added 11:54 - Nov 30 Flightmech, if Jewell has money to spend he hasn't spent it. Bullard, Bowyer, Sonko, Ingy, Cresswell, Andrews, Collins, Wabara and Murphy were all free (except for cresswell's couple of thousand grand compensation). Chopra and JET were about £3 million between the two. I reckon with the Wickham sell as well he actually still has quite a bit more in the bank...
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Flightmech added 11:57 - Nov 30 I'm talking about the transfer fees, I'm talking about their wages. Getting them for free means they can negotiate higher wages in their contracts. How much do you thibk Bullard, Bowyer, Chopra, Andrews are on a week? 66.7m in debt? Doesn't really matter how much is left from the Wickham sale does it?
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Blueulster added 12:40 - Nov 30 Please buy a defensive midfielder. Most important player on the pitch. Leadbitter couldn't play it last season and unbelievably Jewell thinks Bullard can play it this season. I can't remember what it was like to enjoy a beer at 5 pm on a saturday night.
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llewej_tuo added 13:04 - Nov 30 Now im convinced theres a lot of people here that have a thing for jewell ... for the record .... Keane --- 81 games, lost 28 Jewell --- 43 games, lost 20 NOW all you keyboard managers, isnt jewell doing well !!!!
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MattinLondon added 14:27 - Nov 30 jas0999 he will leave a squad of players who are has been and injury prone on massive contracts. Think you find that Bower, Bullard, Sonko and Iggy are all only on one year contracts and so won't be at the club for long term. I do agree with Jas099 that PJ needs to do a lot lot better and am disappointed with the performances of the team. As the manager the buck does stop with him. PJ has tried to bring in younger players such as Charlie Austin as well as the young Burnley winger (whose name escapes me) but the club wanted too much or the player didn't want to come. Ipswich, just aren't an atractive option at the moment. But if this is the case then we must cast the net further afield to Europe. I don't understand why a proper scouting network was not put into place by ME when he took charge. As both Clegg and him are not proper football men surly it would of made sense to appoint a Director of Football with a long term view to establish a proper infrastructure. PJ should be doing a lot better but he did inherit an awful team and i think he does deserve the benifit of the doubt to christmas. In an earlier post I did call jas0999 an idiot and I wish to apologise for that now. sORRY

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rugbytomc added 14:29 - Nov 30 i'd feel better if Jewell came out and said something along the lines of "I'm confident that with the group of players we have I can motivate them and inspire them to turn this run of bad form around" instead of saying the players aren't up for it or aren't good enough, when as has quite rightly been pointed out - he brought these players in! Who's to say if we throw more money at him in Jan to bring in more players that he will be able to motivate them or will they all underperform as well?

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petermorris added 14:35 - Nov 30 Where is The Owner? Where is his statement? Where is his interview? Where is his personal angle on the situation, his manager, his vision, and us long suffering fans? Why is he annon? Why is he not talking, in person, to the players every day? Communicating via email/mobile to The Clueless Colonel or some PA isn't good enough. Man-up mystery Evans & lets SEE you run your club the proper way. I watched Bullard warming up on Saturday and he looked like he didn't give a toss. Seems like you're on your own PJ.

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Reuser31 added 15:57 - Nov 30 True that under Jewell we have a worse record than under Keane, but remember the circumstances: Keane spent an absolute fortune. He also inherited a half-decent squad (Remember Stead, Walters and Rhodes) whereas Jewell had bugger all to work with. That said, my patience is running out.
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bobble added 06:00 - Dec 1 blueulster if you move to Queensland you can enjoy a beer at 5 o clock on a saturday night......... its 8 o clock saturday morning that will really hurt
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