Boss Paul Hurst remains confident he can crack management at Championship level, however, is realistic that a long-term future with Town will be dictated by results with the Blues still to claim their first victory of his tenure.

Hurst admits he hadn’t anticipated being under pressure so soon after taking over at Town with negativity having started to creep in following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Hull City.

“I wouldn’t have expected it, I would hope that it wasn’t the case, but I’ve said many times that I’m a realist,” he said.

“I’m not going to bury my head in the sand, at the same time I’m not trolling social media to see all those negatives that I'm sure might be out there.

“But you get on with the job. I understand what the job is. There was a big call for change, a change occurred, now some people will be questioning whether that was the right choice or whether simply it was a right way forward but I’m the wrong person to carry out those changes.

“Again, that’s life and it comes down to results. We were sat here not long ago and I think the general consensus was that we were playing some decent football but just hadn’t quite had the rub of the green.

“And the longer it goes those feelings and opinions will sway and turn to more the type you were just mentioned.”

Hurst remains confident that he has what it takes to manage in the Championship: “I said that right from the start. It makes no difference that it’s at Championship level and I appreciate some people will be out there thinking that that’s ridiculous. Managing’s managing.

“The quality of the opposition you’re up against, yes [that’s tougher], but in terms of that I’ve got every confidence in myself.

“But sometimes you go through difficult periods. I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point and to get this opportunity and while ever it’s still in front of me then I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to turn things around.

“Not just for myself but for the players and the fans and everyone connected to Ipswich.”

Is he finding it tough? Was it a miserable weekend in the wake of the Hull result? “We won a game of football with my son’s team, that’s three out of three. At the minute that’s the CV that I’ll be handing in if anything does change in my personal circumstances.

“It’s not easy because I’ve been used to being at the right end of tables and winning games of football more often than not.

“No one likes losing, it hurts your pride. I think when fans get upset, no one will have more of a bad feeling than myself and [assistant] Chris [Doig], and the players to a degree. We’re the ones that can change that and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Does he think it’s possible that if results don’t improve owner Marcus Evans could opt to make another change of manager at such an early stage?

“It’s not my decision and like I say I’m a realist,” he added. “I don’t know at the minute what Marcus might be thinking, that’s simply his decision.

“And some people might say I shouldn’t sit here and say that, but why not? If he gives me a call or comes in and sees me and that’s that, then that’s that.

“But I’m not thinking that that is going to happen, but at the same time I’m not thinking that that’s out of the realms of possibility because you’ve got to win games of football.

“It’s whether or not things are deemed to be changing for the positive, apart from results and where we currently sit in the table.

“But I’m confident to say there have been some big improvements along with big changes at the football club that will benefit it long after I’m here, but I’m hoping to be here for a long time.”

Will this week’s two home games play a significant part in his future? “I don’t know, genuinely that’s not for me to say. I can tell you that I’m definitely going to be here in 50 games’ time and Marcus might decide I’m not after one game.

“That’s simply and purely his decision. We’ve had no conversation about my future, I’m just concentrating on trying to win a game of football.

“As I said when I came here, my plan is to be here for some time. That hasn’t changed, but I’m not hiding away from the situation, we all know how football works.

“Admittedly, we’ve got an owner that doesn’t want to chop and change and freely and happily as perhaps a lot do, so hopefully that will work out well.”

Hurst says he’s not spoken to Evans since the weekend but is talking to him this afternoon: “I’ll be speaking to him later.”

The Town manager says bringing in a sports psychologist has been considered as the Blues look to get results on the right track.

“I think it’s not for everyone but I think it can certainly influence some people and then it’s how much those small margins and percentages that you can get out of individuals come into a team,” he said.

“So, no it’s not something that I would rule out, it’s something we haven’t currently got. It has been spoken about.

“I think it would be very naive to put the block up on that and think that that’s not going to work and that makes you soft in the first place.

“I’m not someone personally that felt the need for that in my career and probably it wasn’t around as much as it is now but at the same time I understand that everyone’s different and if we get to that point where we feel that it’s something we could utilise, I’ll have a look at that.”

In terms of coping with the current situation, he says he just concentrates on the day to day.

“You just get on with the job and go about your business as you do,” he continued. “You probably end up working even harder, that’s a natural instinct, certainly within myself and in a lot of people, you want to work harder.

“But I think you’ve got to try and keep a clear mind, keep a focus and not go away really from what’s brought you success in the first place.

“It’s not like it was for five games, 10 games that you feel like you’ve done pretty well, it’s been over a lengthy period, so I would suggest in general it’s not a bad approach to have and to continue with.

“And just hope that we can get those performances that we need, a little bit of luck wouldn’t go amiss at times, but mainly focusing on ourselves and a performance to turn things around.”

Hurst clarified comments he made after the Hull match about a lack of desire, which he said applied to certain scenarios in games.

“I think that can be taken out of context to a degree because it was the desire to get on the end of things,” he said.

“When someone’s confident, they do that naturally, they maybe just get held back, they might take an extra second to do something rather than it happen naturally. I used the word desire, but in that context.

“Maybe at corners, things like that I think we can have a little bit more desire, definitely, to really want to make that run and if it’s a clash of heads, it’s a clash of heads. We saw that desire with Cole Skuse to keep it out against Norwich and he suffered badly for that.

“But it’s that sort of commitment that’s required, the basics of football. I’ve said a lot of what goes on between both boxes at the minute has been relatively good but we haven’t been good enough, there’s no doubt about that in terms of scoring goals, which seems to be getting most of the focus, but certainly we’ve got to try and keep the goals out as well.”

Is the role proving harder than he believed it would be before taking charge? “I knew it was going to be a tough job, there are enough experienced people in the game that I have spoken about it and have given the heads-up.

“I certainly would have hoped to have got a victory by now, so from that point of view, yes it is.

“But overall, I wouldn’t say it’s particularly tougher but, like I said, I wouldn’t have envisaged being seven games into the league season and still awaiting that victory.”

Hurst says finally getting that win would come as a relief as much as anything else: “I think that’s a natural feeling that you would go through and a process, but at the same time it would hopefully give the players that bit of confidence that’s required.

“I’m not a doctor and to my knowledge there’s not a drug or anything out there that you can just inject and suddenly people feel better about themselves.

“That comes though an experience, and an experience of winning a game of football often gives you that.

“And at the minute as a group we haven’t had that so it’s hard to really call on it but what they can do is keep working extremely hard, do the right things, making sure we do the basics well and hopefully through that we get little building blocks.

“We’ve got to stay in the game first and foremost. On Saturday we spoke about making it difficult, but within four minutes we were 1-0 down.

“Hull City, you can see those players grow in stature and ours struggled, and maybe that was part of the reason that we didn’t start performing until deep into that first half because we were knocked and rocked by that goal.”

Up front, the Blues have scored only five league goals with Kayden Jackson’s Carabao Cup strike at Exeter the only goal netted by one of the frontmen so far. Does Hurst believe he has the fire power to take Town up the table?

“I think we have but I think what they need is a bit of confidence, not through me telling them that they’re good players but through actions and seeing things come right for them on the pitch as we've said about the team in general,” he added.

“We all to a degree could sit here and say what you need to do as a team or as an individual but actually going out and performing is much more difficult.

“I could probably tell you how to write a good story, it doesn’t mean I can do one. That’s the way I see it and ultimately we’ve just got to keep a good feeling around because there is, in general, and there needs to be.

“As I’ve said before, us moping around isn’t going to change what’s been and gone and certainly what happens in the future.

“So we’ve got to remain positive and understand every time we step out on to that pitch it’s an opportunity to get people talking about us in a different way.”

Does he want his players to be braver on the ball with there being a tendency for players not to take too many risks during poor runs of form?

“A little bit," he considered. "But at the same time I would also suggest that you can play certain ways and ask players to play certain ways that require more courage than others.

“The first goal on Saturday, Jonas played the ball in to Flynn and if you look at it if Flynn takes a touch and passes it on to Jordan Graham, we’re out of the situation we’re in and it’s good play.

“It didn’t quite work out that way and obviously not long afterwards the ball ended up in the net.

“But I could quite easily ask Jonas to just to lump it up the pitch, it takes any tension away.

“And that’s how it can be, you can play football where you’re not taking as many chances, but being brave is wanting the ball, so in that situation Flynn was right, he was brave, but he just doesn’t make the right decision unfortunately.

“And he won’t be the first or last player to do that and we perhaps still could have got out of it after that as well.

“It’s wanting players not to go hiding and the easiest thing in the world is to do that when things aren’t going the way you want and you pretend, you’re in a position where you could get the ball but maybe a little bit more movement or a bigger shout you actually get the ball rather than maybe.

“‘I’m over here’ [whispered]. I’ve seen it many times, not with our players, but when you’re watching games on TV, some players kid people along and other people that are your best players I think want the ball a lot.

“An example at a top, top level is someone like a John Stones that’s got a helluva lot of criticism at times in his career but more often than not I see him wanting the ball and being willing to take risks and you’ve got to be mentally strong to want to do that and I guess that’s what we’re calling on our players to be.”

He says it’s not only players a manager learns about in these circumstances: “And myself, and the staff. It’s easy when things are going well, so easy. The team picks itself near enough.

“You can go to sleep and not wake up in the night thinking, ‘Shall we do this in training? Shall I pick that team?’, whatever it is.

“So, it’s a learning process for us all but as the manager and the leader of the group, so to speak, rightly so a lot of that comes on my shoulders.

"But I’m also in that position where I have to make judgement calls on who I believe can handle that and who perhaps are the ones at this moment in time can’t. And that comes into some of your thinking when it comes to picking the team.”

He says he’s not having sleepless nights but the job does become each day’s first thought.

“I wouldn’t say I’m not sleeping, I’m sleeping but it’s often the first thing that’s in your head.

“But in fairness I’ve had that when things have been going well as well, that’s just a passion for the job and I guess it takes over your life and sometimes families suffer from that. My wife would probably be the first to say that.”

Hurst says he’s not known a similar winless run previously in his management career and wants to put it behind him as soon as possible.

“No, it’s a new experience and a bad experience, but one that I hope we can put an end to soon and one that I hope not to have to endure again in the future.”

Photo: TWTD

whiskey added 16:05 - Sep 17 Lots of words
4

blueboy1981 added 16:17 - Sep 17 ........ worst case scenario for Hurst is if he fails with us, get's a good pay off - and drops back to his previous level. What he shouldn't be to sure of is getting back into the game at his previous level - many have struggled to get back in after failure - our Jim for example, who on the face of it did an extremely good job for us. Don't be so stubborn Hurst - you need experienced help - unfortunately some of the MM traits are surfacing with you already.

-6

mathiemagic added 16:28 - Sep 17 I am positive it will come good. Hull game aside I don't think we have played that badly so onwards and upwards. I think we may well get that win tomorrow night although no one will fancy us to do it.
10

itfc58 added 16:48 - Sep 17 your a realist and a clown, but i'm not blaming Hurst. Its Evans fault for giving him the job! Inexperienced at this level and miles out of his depth, but probably the cheapest option by far that's why he was prepared to wait all summer for him!
-2

Suffolkboy added 17:02 - Sep 17 He makes some telling comments about ' wanting the ball ' & ' getting in the right position ' ; it was blindingly obvious at the very start of the season v Blackburn that we almost totally lacked cohesion and conviction in both penalty areas .Players shouldn't be robotic in ' making runs ' etc but be intelligent enough and skilled enough by now to have a sense of timing and position . So it's not just training ,or sports psychology , but very very simple nouse , energy, enthusiasm and the willingness to take calculated risks so that situations turn from 50/50 into just 60/40 in your favour , and then given proper thinking from colleagues things will start to happen . Regrettably so far we don't appear to have instilled the right instincts into the group , though some try harder than others ; blood and thunder ,and fitness alone is not going to get us there ! Please all show some real appetite and maturity .look as if scoring a goal is a real hunger ,be aware of & for each other , get as many angles as possible actually covered AND never stop moving into the next good position to HELP colleagues ! PH & CD convince us you can produce a squad we can cheer on ; ITFC needs you to achieve !!

5

ihatecanaries added 17:04 - Sep 17 I'm realistic as well, when a team gets rid of their four highest goal scorers from last season and replaces them with lower league rubbish it means we are going down. So far most of Hurst's signings don't even look good enough to play for the local pub team
-1

blue75 added 17:05 - Sep 17 Oh sack him he's had 8 games can't win & if the next doesn't win sack as well maybe we can have 5/6 managers in a season!! What is wrong with people if we're going to look at tables in September (jeez) we're only 11 points off top!! To quote McCarthy this league is bonkers bottom can beat top!! We get a win and we'll fly, I really don't get all this negativity so early on. Many asked for a change myself included now we have to live with the decision onwards and upwards nowa the time to keep the faith!COYB

15

Cakeman added 17:07 - Sep 17 Time to get behind Paul Hurst and everyone associated with our club. There is absolutely no point in changing manager in the coming weeks. What would a new one do? Yes he could play two up front and bring in one or two fringe players but realistically we cannot change much until the transfer window opens again and even then I cannot see Marcus Evans opening his wallet further than he already has. We have to trust Paul Hurst in the hope that it will eventually turn for the good. Another great atmosphere tomorrow like our last home game would serve well too!

16

tractorboybig added 17:10 - Sep 17 only 9 comments so far suggest we all wish you well at present
1

TimmyH added 17:15 - Sep 17 I'll give him time but the omens aren't good, not many manager particularly at Championship level start off poorly with their new club and then succeed and turn results around, I'll be enlightened if someone on here can name any over the last few seasons...
2

Craig1878 added 17:17 - Sep 17 I'm certainly not one wanting the manager changed at such eatly point in the seasonn. Hurst deserves time to get it right, baring mind that it pretty much is an entirely new team. Although one change is a must and that is to bring back Bart. However, I've had info from a good source that all is not well behind the scenes at the moment. Maybe a change is on the horizon. I was in Southwold yesterday and saw Simon Grayson there. Coincidence?

0

iaintaylorx added 17:18 - Sep 17 I really don't understand our fans! Fans are calling Evans out and saying it is his fault for hiring Hurst... I remember when we appointee Hurst, everyone was saying how it was the right decision? Very odd! I still believe Hurst is the man, just needs a good chunk of time. Things are not rosey right now, but lets believe and be confident it will turn around!
9

blockb_steward added 17:30 - Sep 17 Everyone on here wants Hurst to be an amazing success I'm sure. I think the football and atmosphere have been much better, I just hope he gets a rub of the green and things start gelling. The next two games will be telling and he knows it.
11

cat added 17:32 - Sep 17 Hang in there PH, I'm still very much on side. Enjoyed the last two home matches and looking forward to tomorrow nights game. Can't ask for much more than that, other than lets get the monkey off our backs and bag a win and all will be good-good-good! KEEP THE FAITH 👌
11

jas0999 added 17:32 - Sep 17 Is it me or does the early stages of this interview sound as though he's almost expecting the sack?! Not massively positive in his comments. Already talking the ‘decision sits with the owner' ... odd. In my mind the removal of MM was absolutely the right decision. However as PH honestly points out, many will be questioning whether he was the right appointment. I thought he was at the time, but now I'm not so sure.

6

TimmyH added 18:03 - Sep 17 Not 'everyone' - iaintaylorx but yes the majority, I wasn't one of those but still believe he needs more time.
1

truckerblue added 18:19 - Sep 17 I'm thinking he needs some help from a director of football maybe burley or someone of that ilk. Not gonna say get shot after 8 games just give the man a helping hand.
3

ipswichdave added 18:22 - Sep 17 If only the team was playing as well as he talks, maybe he should spend an extra 5 minutes on the training field instead of over talking in interviews.
2

warktheline added 18:58 - Sep 17 If Hurst goes 3 more games without a win then things are gonna look 'ugly'! There's no doubting he's feeling the pressure, has to get that monkey off his back very soon!
2

brian_a_mul added 19:16 - Sep 17 Can we get TC back, looks like we are missing a forwards coach
0

brian_a_mul added 19:16 - Sep 17 Can we get TC back, looks like we are missing a forwards coach
0

Dog added 19:33 - Sep 17 How i miss Keane and McCarthy - at least their interviews were concise and to the point. This is just piffle and waffle.
-2

WaltonBlueNaze added 19:41 - Sep 17 Jesus, this guy likes to talk but at the moment he can't walk the walk. It's great that he's still got confidence in himself, however the fans are starting to lose patience. I wonder how long it will be before ME loses his ? As I said on Sat these 2 games are crucial otherwise I can see PH moving on. He has made too many changes too soon and we are now paying the price. Poor judgement in the transfer window will prove Town's downfall!

0

carsey added 21:48 - Sep 17 Too many League 1 and loans and inexperienced players brought in. Should have modelled himself on Sir Bobby Robson. Kept the good moved out the bad and bring in the odd one or two new faces. I still say it's a pity Evans didn't step in over Waghorn and refused to sell but that's history now.
2

cfmoses added 21:50 - Sep 17 I've listened to all of PHs press conferences. There is a common theme. They are long wordy and monotone. A lot of his comments are either / or statements. This displays indecision. Whilst searching for his best team and formation he has I think used more players than any other manager in the opening 7 games. His striker purchases - Jackson and Harrison - don't start against clueless Hull - and he continues with 1 striker - a 35 year old not wholly fit on loan - who I guess is his secret injury for tomorrow night. I don't find PH inspirational and given his decisions at the club so far I think he is now in a tight corner that he will not get out of. Nice fellar but not a leader.

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls