Former Premier League and EFL striker Noel Whelan admits he ‘fears’ for Ipswich Town this season, telling Sporting Life the Sky Bet Championship club are the ‘worst team I have seen for a long time’.
The Tractor Boys appointed former Norwich, Stoke and Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert as their new manager on a deal until 2021 last week, replacing Paul Hurst.
Lambert, 49, takes over a Town side bottom of the league and lacking in confidence, with only one win in 15 games.
Whelan saw them in action against Leeds recently, where a 2-0 defeat confirmed Hurst’s fate before they lost 3-0 at Millwall under caretaker Bryan Klug, and he feels Lambert will have his work cut out.
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“I just fear for Ipswich now,” Whelan said in Sporting Life’s Sky Bet Championship podcast.
“I saw them against Leeds and v Millwall - they don’t seem to have a backbone.
“There’s no characters, fight, no person within that camp who is going to grab hold of that team and drag that little bit more out of them during games.
“They’ve got nice players, don’t get me wrong, but they are not the quality you are seeing further up the Championship. Even with £10 million [Lambert’s rumoured transfer kitty in January], it is going to be a tall ask for Lambert to save them this season.
“I think they are doomed, to be honest, the worst team I have seen for a long, long time.”
Ipswich odds (via Sky Bet)
Hurst (below) was given the boot just months after quitting his job at Shrewsbury to replace Mick McCarthy at Portman Road.
The 44-year-old barely got his feet under the table and, while their summer additions from the lower leagues have failed to have the desired impact, Whelan feels they acted prematurely.
“I think it was wrong,” the former Leeds, Coventry and Middlesbrough player added.
“If the board and chairman are willing to sacrifice Mick McCarthy for a new, up-and-coming, fresh manager with a different approach, different style of football and philosophy, then you put your cards on the table and have got to give him that chance.
“I think 14 games is not enough, they have also not given him any money to use, so it is disappointing because I would like people to start sticking with managers if you are going to change the style of play.
“With Mick McCarthy, Ipswich fans obviously weren’t enjoying that style so have gone a different route – you’ve got to give him time. Not only have they wasted money because they have got to pay him up now, they have not given him a fair crack of the whip.
"I do understand [why they acted after a poor start], but then why get rid of McCarthy? I guarantee you now, if he was still Ipswich manager they would not be sitting bottom of the league. That is an absolute fact."
Hear more from Noel Whelan, Gareth Jones and Tom Carnduff on the latest Sky Bet Championship Podcast - click the image below to find out how to listen...
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Odds correct as of 1135 GMT on 31/10/18
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