Interim manager John McGreal admitted the Blues were “nowhere near good enough” as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Charlton at the Valley.

McGreal, in charge for the first time following Paul Cook’s sacking on Saturday, agreed it was a hard night for Town having spent a lengthy period talking to the players in the dressing room before appearing in front of the media.

“It was. I thought we were in the game for 20 minutes and then there just seemed to be a bit of a period where you could sense it going after 20 minutes and obviously they scored the goal,” he reflected. “For me it looked onside, but someone’s saying it was a little bit tight.

“But for 10 or 15 minutes after that, we just lost our way a little bit. Couldn’t get the first pass away, couldn’t really control the ball as we’d like, there was a little bit of a fear factor.

“But then I thought we just got it back a little just before half-time and I thought ‘OK, at least we’re still in the game’.

“But in the second half we were literally our own worst enemy. I think we were in possession, there was a turnover and just a simple ball puts them clean through. That’s been our achilles’ heel at times, especially tonight anyway.”

Confidence an issue? A hangover from the weekend’s events? “Obviously confidence is a bit of an issue at the moment. You don’t need for me to tell you that. But again it’s our job to pick it up.

“Training was bubbly. Again, today the warm-up was very good, they’re saying the right things, the energy levels seemed to be there, the performance was there but it’s nowhere near long enough, nowhere near good enough to carry us through to get something out of the game. Charlton were well worthy winners.”

George Edmundson spoke to the media after the game and said the players were honest during the lengthy dressing room chat after the match. Is that something McGreal welcomes?

“I do, but the proof’s in the pudding,” he continued. “I’ve been there before. Defeats, I’ve said to the guys, some of them have played at different levels, higher levels and I’m sure in their career to date they’ve had a massive dip in their form.

“But now to be playing for Ipswich, they’ve obviously had a massive high to come and play for Ipswich, so now we’ve got to get those boys back to that high again because there are some good players in there.

“It’s now just getting that confidence, trying to instil a bit of belief and just energise them. That’s what we’ve got to try and do, energise the team.”

How much can he do? “I’ll try my best at doing anything. I’m in for a couple of games, see where that goes and then obviously we’ll see when the new manager’s going to happen.

“My remit is literally to come in, try and energise the lads, try and get a couple of good results. It hasn’t worked tonight but we’ve got to go again. Simple as at football, you win some, you lose some.

“They’re on a bit of a low at the moment but we’ve got to go again, there’s nothing else to do. That’s what football’s about, especially in our league leading up into the Christmas period, they’re coming thick and fast.”

At the whistle Toto Nsiala was involved in a confrontation with angry supporters at the front of the stand with Christian Walton, who was acting as peace-maker, then shoved by a supporter, who as a result was led away by the police.

"Asked about the incident, McGreal said: “The fans have come in their thousands and we’ve got to put performances on the pitch. It’s two weeks before Christmas, they’re putting their hands in the pocket, they’re coming in their thousands. I know as a player, especially the away fans, they come every single away game.

“Come Saturday at Wigan, there will be thousands there again. We, as a team, we’ve got to be performing better, a lot better because emotions are high at the moment with the manager going and a couple of results haven’t gone the right way. So we’ll try and rectify that for the fans.”

Asked to clarify his view of the incident, he added: “I don’t know. I sent the lads over, I always do with the fans. They pay their money to come. I sent the lads to clap the fans and that’s all I know to date.”

Town can’t spend too long licking their wounds with a visit to Wigan on Saturday, then an FA Cup trip to Barrow, before Sunderland are at Portman Road.

“You’ve just got to go again, you’ve got to go again,” he said. “You’ve got to stand up tall, get your shoulders back, get your chest out and go again because the games are not going to wait for anyone. The games are there, the fixtures are there, so you’ve just got to take it on the chin and move on.”

Is it about personality? “Absolutely. Character, a lot of character. But, as I say, if you go through individuals in there and one of the main attributes you pick would be character. Now the character’s getting tested. Let’s see what they’ve got come Saturday.”

The frustrations shown at the end weren’t just relating to today’s result or recent events at the club but two decades of underachievement at Portman Road.

“I’ve been in the door for a couple of days,” McGreall continued. “My remit was literally to put a team on the pitch. Try and get a couple of results as the interim manager. What’s gone on in the past, I haven’t been privy to that at all.

“I live in the area but I haven’t been privy to that, but with the fans, whatever type of fan, the Charlton fans get this place rocking at the minute because they’re in a good bit of form. We’ve got to try and get to that stage ourselves.”

Is he going to have the players in for work on the training field tomorrow with little time between now and the Wigan match.

“We’ve got to look at ourselves,” he added. “There’s a little bit of a chat going on in there. Obviously, the travelling that we’ve got at the moment is quite a lot. What we’ll do, we’ll assess with the staff we’ve got and we’ll come to a decision on that.”

McGreal has so far had little time to work with the squad: “Monday, an hour or two and then we travelled. We got a lot into them, a lot of prep into them, how we want to try and do things.

“And, as I say, for 20-odd minutes I thought we were OK. I thought we were well in the game, but just that confidence when the first goal goes in. You see it up and down the country, teams that are a little bit low on confidence have got to drag themselves up and we’ll be there to try and help them. That’s our remit to try and lift the lads.”

Charlton caretaker-boss Johnnie Jackson has shown what can be done from a tough position. Something McGreal would hope to emulate? “He’s doing a brilliant job. I think he’s still only interim, isn’t he? He’s got them playing a certain way, a high energy team and some quality players throughout.

“And players that are in form. That’s how he’s done it. We’re trying to do that ourselves because we’ve got another tough fixture come Saturday.”

Jackson was delighted with his side's display, which he says is as good as any they have put in since he was put in temporary charge in October.

“That’s probably the best performance yet — obviously I’ll have to watch it back to make that assessment properly,” he told South London Press.

“It’s hard, just after the game when the emotions are still pumping and the adrenaline is high, but we were completely dominant in the game. I was wondering how we aren’t further ahead before we get the second.

“At 1-0 you’re only a lucky deflection, a ricochet or them creating something — because they’ve got good players — away from perhaps it going 1-1.

“I’d have been really, really disappointed with that for my players because they wouldn’t have deserved it for the shift and performance they put in. I’d have been devastated for them.”

He added: “We’re improving all the time. We play to Conor [Washington]’s strengths, we know what his movement is like. Jayden’s physicality and Conor’s ability to run on the top line is something we could utilise even more.

“It was a great finish from Gilbs [Alex Gilbey]. I’m delighted for him because he has been outstanding for me.”

Regarding whether he will be offered the job on a permanent basis, he said: “It’s a question for Mr Sandgaard, isn’t it? You probably don’t believe me when I keep saying it, but we are in positive discussions.

“I’m hopeful we can get it sorted soon. Performances like that are only going to help.”

Photo: TWTD

budgieplucker added 08:06 - Dec 8 It's easy to point the finger at Sam Morsey. I don't think any player went out there last night with the intention of sulking and not giving a performance. The game was up last week and it was telling, Cook was having real trouble getting his 4-2-3-1 system working despite having brought in players who know it. Evans and Morsy exposed by the gaps in front of them. The 3 has been a merry go round. We have signed too many who want the number ten position and flair players who on their day might rustle up a bit of magic but find it difficult to compete against the cruder style and backdrop of the third tier. Again I don't think this is wilful or conscious but the reality of where we find ourselves. I think probably every player is wondering what on earth is happening, Cooks insistence on a rigid format and pattern of play which constantly takes us from one side of the pitch to the other like a pendulum has almost had a hypnotic effect. If you had been asleep for 9 months you could be excused for thinking that Paul Lambert had never left us. Bonne has become a very frustrated figure and understandably so. Having no tactical acumen is now our biggest threat, the let the opposition worry about us philosophy rather than us worry them now serves our opponents better than us because they just don't need to be worried, sit on Morsy pack the midfield, have a physical presence up front and our back six has been isolated from the front 4, again the 3 becoming ineffective and the rhythm of our team completely destroyed. Rotherham played with two brutes in Smith and Ladapo up front and both are having very good seasons. Charlton had Stockley and Washington up front both running the channels very well and stretching the game, this division requires a more economical approach. Having said that is Tom Carroll injured again? He is the best player at the club and in the matches I have seen he has hardly put a foot wrong. KVY clearly has defensive frailties, Edwards whilst very skilful is more frustrating than Keenan Bennetts. I could go through the whole team but won't these two just highlight the weaknesses and show the lightweight element of our team. My fear now is that we spiral into free fall rather than move up the table. Cooks comments about the pitch on Saturday were mystifying - Portman Road may be a patch of its former self but this league typifies venues and playing surfaces that are going to be far from ideal especially in the dark months. 4-2-3-1 has to be resigned to the dustbin fast. We don't have time to gradually craft another identity this season, we have to be more compact keep it simple and quite frankly get some more height in the opposition half and box to support McCauley Bonne and run the channels. Mr Ashton, I think a call to Mr Warnock is needed however unpalatable this may seem to many Ipswich fans. Most people think of the promotions he has achieved, I say put that to one side. I think one of his most impressive pieces of work was being parachuted into Rotherham during the second half of a season when they looked dead and buried for the drop from the Championship and turned a team with the confidence completely gone into a team with top two form. Simplify and motivate. Brave, aggressive and strong.

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USA added 08:09 - Dec 8 How embarrassing watching those ‘fans' in that clip. Absolute imbeciles! It was a poor performance but only matched by the level of intelligence shown in the clip.
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timleatham added 08:26 - Dec 8 I had no issue with trying JD at left back and KVY at right back. Filling the left back position has been a problem for a while and I totally get trying to accommodate both in the team. Toto is a solid defender but is not able to play it out from the back. The problem was last night that there was little movement from those in front of him and Morsey and Evans were rarely there demanding the ball off him. Edwards looked lightweight and often had no end product and I think needs a break from first team to regain his confidence. Bonne needs another striker up front with him.

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JewellintheTown added 08:27 - Dec 8 All hurting, players, fans, club, I know, but considering the players came here for Cook, have let him down, got him sacked, it seems that hangover will take time. They must feel mugged. As fans, if we get on their backs instead of lifting them, it's only going to add to it. None of us would like to switch jobs to a new company for an old boss we really want to work with again, uproot, maybe less pay, but into the blurb, then a few months later that person gets the elbow. Must feel rubbish. But if the fans & club give them a reason to still feel they'll be OK, then we won't get this mass exodus, in spirit, body or both, which starts the downward spiral of new players not wanting to come to the club & stuck with who's left. None of us feel like it, but lifting our players, no matter their performance, is the only way they'll play for us & the club & not the manager. Players have been impressed & playing for fans before, so give them a reason, even if you feel opposite, instead of booing dshouting, as if that's going to make them play better. Psychology is what will turn this season around, not a new manager.

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KiwiTractor added 08:30 - Dec 8 Sheeesh, where to from here? Hire me on a short term contract, just the next game - I'll play a 3-4-1-2 formation, with the following team (let's just imagine all are fit): Walton Woofly - Edmondson - Burgess Burns - Morsy - Carroll - Coulson Chaplin Bonne - Pigott
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ThaiBlue added 08:36 - Dec 8 Neil lennon is in the mix ive heard,a lot needs to be done in january,lots of ins lots of outs if possible,we are a bloody shambles.
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Barty added 08:42 - Dec 8 Morsey is a disgrace. Only a few days ago he spouted how he and the players had let Cook and what happened last night - exactly the same. His words mean nothing. He is no captain - get rid of him.
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Barty added 08:44 - Dec 8 had let Cook down [ missed a word - sorry ]
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Chris_Knights added 08:45 - Dec 8 Read a lot about systems and who should and shouldn't play…..: all utter garbage …. None of them are prepared to wear the shirt with any pride …. No effort = no reward.
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cat added 08:59 - Dec 8 USA - If you were there then you'd probably understand the situation better. The players got what they deserved, but Toto fronting up to the crowd pushed them over the edge. I don't want to see him in a shirt again after that. That was the worst performance I've witnessed this season against a bang average side. Difficult to know where to go from here, mid table is now looking realistic.

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Drifter3012 added 09:14 - Dec 8 Needed a night to calm down. At the moment I feel sorry for John. He loves the club, came in late last week and has been dumped in it. I understand why he played Cook's formation and Cook's favourites last night given the time he has had to access the team. It didn't work and I can't see Bonne and Piggot working at present. Hopefully he will change it for Saturday. I think he has got to go with 3 at the back with 2 wing backs, possibly El Miz and Carrol or even Harper in midfield, Chaplin in the hole and Bonne and Norwood up front. I can't see Morsy, Evans & Fraser having a future at the club. All 3 have been particularly unimpressive all season and I can't see that changing even under Warnock or whoever comes in. Personally I would rather see a manager who knows the club than an import but whoever it is he needs to stamp some authority on this team and play to the strengths we have rather than shoehorn players where they simply have no idea what they are supposed to be doing.

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ShropshireBluenago09 added 09:14 - Dec 8 Totally agree Bazza midfield is too deep, Bonne always looks stranded. Would go with 3-5-2 or 5-3-2
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:22 - Dec 8 considering what a liability Toto has been at times [too many] he is bloody lucky to have even been with the club after the big clear out, for him to act as he did is a disgrace, he should not be here after January.
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martin587 added 09:23 - Dec 8 Players should never front there supporters however bad it is.Yes Toto was totally wrong and should be spoken to about his behavior but having said that apart from our keeper who was outstanding the rest of the team were a total disgrace and showed little disrespect to us traveling supporters and the shirt on there back.I feel bad times ahead until we have a new first team coaching in place and the players realize they are privaliged playing for a big club.

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tallguy6767 added 09:30 - Dec 8 Another massive clear out is required ! Almost all are not good enough to get out of this league.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:39 - Dec 8 budgieplucker: I agree with almost everything you write, except for Warnock. I don't think he's the answer to our problems, or that he would even want to be. Maybe ten years ago, but not now. But the other points you make are spot on.
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Linkboy13 added 09:46 - Dec 8 The players did Cook proud last night. Whoever comes in will need his own players. You can play whatever system you want but it won't work without the players giving one hundred percent this team are not capable of that im afraid.
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abandon_hope1978 added 09:55 - Dec 8 Can't blame JM too much for this, but he must know that our formation does not work. Stating the obvious, but the players are the issue here. These days players can't think for themselves and if a game plan isn't working, they can't take responsibility and make changes themselves. Sir Bobby never had to babysit teams though 90 minutes. Would he tell the likes of Mariner, Talbot, Mills who to mark, when to drop back, when to push on etc etc etc. These players lack any form of leadership, passion or desire which sadly has been tolerated for far too long.

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norfolkbluey added 10:11 - Dec 8 Such a disgraceful display by supporters and players playing badly during and after this game. Passions are running extremely high at present but it is no excuse for these scenes which bring our club in disrepute. Wigan must be looking forward to Saturday seeing the discord amongst fans and the way the players lacked passion. Budgieplucker your comments were bang on and we do need a really solid stabilising influence. Warnock is not every fans favourite but he does galvanise players and that is exactly what is needed here. He is forthright and passionate something that is desperately missing at this club of ours. I have jeered him from the terraces on many occasion when he has bought clubs to play us but you cannot deny he can be a force to reckon with. A short term contract may be what is needed because as much as I like JM I don't think he is a what we need. I am still of the opinion that with the right manager we could still make the playoffs but top two no chance. Ashton has a huge responsibility and task in front of him now. Our club is I am sorry to say in a terrible state after such a positive start to the season. I think we are still suffering the effects of his tenure at the club which we all love and his legacy lingers on. We all have a responsibility now to be looking to a new horizon a be positive that we get the right man for this job. Finding him is the biggest task ahead. We all need to stand together in a positive approach and not let factions destroy what is left to build on. The rot stops here and now. COYB

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rugbytomc added 10:19 - Dec 8 Regardless of what people think about players and tactics, what this team needs now and right now is some sports psychology! The new manager needs to be someone to instil confidence in this team that he knows what he's doing and knows what they can do. They did it from 1-1 against Wycombe so need them to find that level every game from the start
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Razor added 10:25 - Dec 8 Cook only played 2 up front once-=--in his last 45 mts and we hit the post and bar.
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USA added 10:32 - Dec 8 Cheers Cat. I was there as it goes. All I heard on the train back was how Toto just stood about time wasting when we were 1-0 down. The guy needed options to play it out to. No one wanted it. At least he didn't just hoof it like so many before him would have. As for that behaviour by the fans. Where else in life is it acceptable to act like that? Totally pathetic behaviour.

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abandon_hope1978 added 11:14 - Dec 8 I agree with Martin587 ........ I also feel bad times are ahead, but bad times have been with us for a long time now. Don't know why, but we've appointed managers who had a reasonable amount of success with other clubs but drastically fail here and we are constantly moving in the wrong direction. Why can't our managers achieve any success with teams that they not only inherit, but with players that they have chosen to sign ? Look at how many players have been signed at the request of incoming managers, only to make no difference whatsoever. Sadly, whilst we still have great support, look at where we are. Can we really still call ourselves a big club. We are now playing Fleetwood, Morecambe, Shrewsbury and the likes (no disrespect to these teams) and show no evidence of returning to higher divisions.

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KernewekBlue added 12:50 - Dec 8 More pain for us, as supporters, to have to swallow as we watch the club start to take a familiar nosedive yet again... it's like groundhog day supporting ITFC. The sacking of Paul Cook, and the timing of it, although he was clearly showing signs of struggling to address the problems and deficiencies on the pitch, may not have done us any real favours in the short term. John McGreal has been thrown in to the melee to oversee the team during the search for a new figurehead to guide us, going forwards. The poor guy, a great servant to the club in years gone by, has had the reigns thrust upon him at one of the most chaotic times in the club's history, in order to try and stabilise the downturn in current fortunes. It's a tough ask and those dreadful scenes from last night doesn't make it any easier. I'm a proud Blues fan and having to watch that video made me very sad. Whilst I understand the frustrations and disappointment the fans suffer when having to witness yet more poor performances week after week, there can be absolutely NO circumstance whatever where it's appropriate for a fan to transgress onto the field and physically confront any player... that is simply appalling and can never be tolerated. The "You weren't there" crowd can say what they like, nothing should provoke the kind of hatred and bile being spouted by so-called supporters, which lead to the confrontation shown on that footage. Mindless thuggery has no place in this game, no place at OUR club, no matter what provocation may be cited in mitigation. I'm sure the EFL will be looking at the scenes from the aftermath of last night's game with interest and our club will be lucky to escape unscathed from that. Dress it up whichever way you want, violence in football, especially at our proud and friendly club, is unacceptable. The damage incidents like this could do to our reputation and our already fragile on-pitch confidence only serves to bolster every other side we will come up against... this is surely a time to pull together, not fall apart at the seams! Whoever now comes in as manager/head coach has one hell of a job to do. Warnock, Lennon, Terry et al... whichever of the myriad names being bandied about finally takes the hot seat, they will have a mammoth task in front of them so before the keyboard warriors start to pre-sharpen their knives, just take a moment to contemplate the situation we're ALL in, yet again... A club in visible turmoil (constantly, it seems), adrift once again, rudderless after the manager has been sacked, right off the back of rebuilding virtually the entire squad at the start of this season, lacking ideas and consistency, low on confidence, with under-par results and growing disquiet in the fanbase (now with added ugly, pitch-side violence). An attractive opening for any decent, prospective head coach? Although it pains me greatly to do so (and I'm crossing myself as I type this), I have to admit we need a Neil Warnock type character (not Fat Sam, please, please not Allardyce) to steady the ship and get a tune out of our team. Whoever the board appoint for the role, they'll need all the help and support we, as fans, can give them and more besides. Don't succumb to the temptation of immediately getting on the back of the new manager if results don't improve exponentially within the first couple of weeks... patience and support are what's now required to give us the best chance of turning this season around. To finish, let me ask you this... Who would you appoint from the current list of available candidates to take over at Portman Road and why?

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cat added 13:39 - Dec 8 Apologies USA, thought you might have been elsewhere, like another country lol
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