Wolves manager Gary O’Neil felt his side looked like a team which hadn’t played together very often following their 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to the Blues at Portman Road.

Town came from 2-0 down to beat the Premier League team and reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time in 13 years.

“I thought we looked like a team that hadn’t played together much,” O’Neil said. “I thought the boys gave everything and there were some good bits and then there were some bad bits that looked like a team that had been put together, versus a team which has been together a long time, and we came out on the wrong side of it.

“I don’t think there was much in it, especially second half, I don’t think they had much at all. Bents [keeper Dan Bentley] didn’t have much to do. Obviously, the boy scores a worldie from a long way out and we huffed and puffed with a few chances. There wasn’t much in the game.”

He added: “We came up against a side in a good vein of form. Disappointed to go from 2-0, where we were in control.

“A sloppy first goal changed the momentum a bit. Second half they didn’t cause us many problems at all and we missed a couple of decent chances around their goal.

“There’s no magic wand, it’s hard work, and there’s stuff which needs to be fixed and we’re working hard on fixing them. We’re disappointed with the result, but we have to pick ourselves up and be ready to go again. Tough game coming at the weekend.”

Asked for a message to frustrated fans, who have seen their side lose five of eight matches since O’Neil took charge in the summer, the former Bournemouth boss and one-time Norwich City midfielder said: “To stick with the group.

“We are six weeks into a process and there is no magic wand. I can guarantee you when I arrived the place was not running perfectly and ready to go into a Premier League season.

“There are a lot of things that need fixing and of course I am willing to take responsibility, but the facts are you need some time to put things in place. That does not look like a team that I have worked with for very long at this moment, which it isn’t.

“Do I accept that we need to get results? Of course. Do I want the fans to enjoy every game we play and come away and support the players? Of course and we will work tirelessly to make sure we get it there and we will get it there.

“But there is no transfer window. The transfer window is closed and we are together as we are and need to get the maximum out of the group.

“We’ve named a strong team with 11 players that should be capable of winning here and we don’t, so it is my responsibility to make sure we get some more out of them.”

Photo: TWTD

arc added 01:49 - Sep 27 Hmmm... "versus a team which has been together a long time"—that Ipswich XI had literally never ever played together before.
26

JimInGreensboro added 02:26 - Sep 27 Been together a long time? Does since breakfast constitute a long time? Ask any Wolves fan right about now who’d they rather have as boss, this bloke or the guy who out-classed him today and I think we know the answer.
12

WhoisJimmyJuan added 02:42 - Sep 27 Says the one-time Norwich midfielder.......soon to be one time Wolves manager by the sound of it. Once a budgie, always a budgie. You were beaten by the better side with the better manager my friend. Learn your place: the job centre would be a start. ..
2

BurleysGloryDays added 05:33 - Sep 27 Norwich moron. Just look at the gulf in quality in how McKenna communicates, compared to that incoherent excuse-laden mess of an interview. Something still not quite talked about enough is just how incredibly good a communicator McKenna really is. He makes it look effortless but it’s not. In fact, as O’Neil shows there, it’s very easy to be awful! McKenna’s communication skill sets him apart from most. And it has a dramatic impact on a club. Even look at the difference Ange has made a Spurs through the ability to communicate well.

15

barrystedmunds added 07:24 - Sep 27 One bitter and twisted cookie! Like them, we made 10 changes, so his analysis seems a little warped!!! Carrot cruncher!!!
5

Europablue added 07:53 - Sep 27 O'Neil doesn't deserve all the abuse he's getting. He's a decent manager and is good for a team like Wolves who are struggling and thinking short-term. O'Neil isn't even wrong, his side in the match did look unfamiliar with each other. As many pointed out, our team have not really played together, but KM has had time to create a culture. Just look at the results that KM got when he took over mid-season, they just don't compare to last season and the start of this season.

6

terryf added 08:20 - Sep 27 Against a Team that's played a lot together....he's having a laugh! We didn't start with our first Team Mate! The difference is that we have a good squad that know their roles and play to a system where everyone feels comfortable coming into the Team. Two nil down after 15 minutes and winning 3 -2 shows great character. Lets just enjoy the ride and savour these moments!!

3

algarvefan added 08:55 - Sep 27 Our 'style' of play is drilled into ALL the players at the club, so the side becomes interchangeable and 10 changes don't matter. Each player knows their role and that's the difference between the two squads.
5

BobbyBell added 09:03 - Sep 27 The detail that KM comes up with on opponents is awesome and he prepares his players brilliantly. The fact that O'Neil says our team had played together a lot suggests that he actually hadn't got a clue who his team were up against. If he felt his team were disjointed then he's just not doing his job is he. The way KM and his staff have coached our squad means that we click whoever is in the team. Ten changes and we still play the same way.

4

Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:21 - Sep 27 He hasn’t really said much wrong there, that is the way the two teams looked at times. They have sold a shed load of talent and changed manager whereas our starting line up had 8 players who’ve played for over a year Under KMac. On the flip side, I’m not sure the second half was as close as he’s suggesting, I think we had control by then and played some great stuff.

5

Bert added 09:36 - Sep 27 He obviously did not check out our team sheet against the one on Saturday. For 15 minutes Wolves looked a PL team but after that our second string looked pretty comfortable.
3

idmcd added 10:54 - Sep 27 Guys, if you CAREFULLY read what O'Neill actually said, it "LOOKED LIKE" a side that had been put together versus a team which has been together a long time. And I think that was spot on, after the first 20 minutes; we did look like a team which has been together a long time! The fact it only took us 20 minutes to gel together, even with 10 changes to the side (the same as them), is a testament to how well we are now coached as a single squad. I was so pumped after watching the game that I spent an hour watching Wolves supporters on youtube bemoaning the difference between us!

4

Jugsy added 11:35 - Sep 27 He's being really careful here, his team of internationals and expensive transfers have just been beaten by a team in the division below them after being 0-2 up, they're on an awful run of form in the league, he's certainly not going to overtly congratulate us and compound their predicament further. There's a bit of self provision here whilst also acknowledging we're a very handy team.

1

bobble added 12:26 - Sep 27 our 2nd team is better than theirs...
2

MaySixth added 12:39 - Sep 27 Thick as mince.
1

Cervantes added 15:17 - Sep 27 In essence, O'Neill has sort of got it right. Although we made 9 changes from Saturday, the entire squad has KM imprinted on it. Also McKenna can coach on the fly, after around 15 minutes he tweaked the system and we became more solid, with an attacking threat. Wolves did look disjointed and we're full of confidence. Great to see Jack Taylor on the score sheet and Hutchinson has the potential to be a fantastic player, I just hope Chelsea don't cut his loan short. COYB

0

Help added 16:43 - Sep 27 Quote I don’t think they had much at all. Just a bit more than you.
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls