Ipswich Town: Don Goodman responds to Luke Woolfenden’s comments

Speaking on the bus, the defender was asked whether anything could be better than securing back-to-back promotions, to which he replied: “It’ll get better when we have a moment’s silence for Don Goodman - I think he’s going to be absolutely gutted that we got promoted. He’s been calling us crap all season, so put that in your pipe, Don.”

In another interview, he said: “Listen, I'll have to sit for six weeks now and listen to Don Goodman tell us we're not good enough you know, to do anything in the Prem, like he did in the Champ. Don Goodman... apparently we're still going to finish mid-table but Don, don't worry about it."

The remarks didn’t sit well with Goodman, who hit back at Woolfenden via OLBG.

“Paul Gilmore, the Sky reporter, called me to warn that it (player jibes) happened and had gone out unedited on Sky News (YouTube channel) when it wasn't supposed to,” he explained. “It was really kind of Paul but I was very surprised, to be honest.

“I've been nothing but complimentary about Ipswich Town from the moment they beat Sunderland on the opening day up until their promotion was confirmed.  I was surprised after shaking hands with Kieran McKenna, Sam Morsy, Wes Burns and Leif Davis prior to kick-off on Saturday. 

Luke Woolfenden's comments were made during Ipswich Town's open top bus parade. (Image: PA)

“It just seems like Luke Woolfenden has a problem with me rather than anyone else at the club. I'm going to be a grown-up about it, but unfortunately Luke has been a little immature. 

“Let's go through it chronologically. Starting with Sunderland away on the opening day, I claimed both sides could push for the play-offs which, at that time, most Ipswich fans would have settled for. I spoke with Kieran (McKenna) after that game and he said how hard they found it.

“They had a great start and I kept praising them but they then had a nine-game wobble when they won one, drew six and lost two. With Leeds on their tails, everyone began to write them off. But I didn't and pointed out how difficult that run of games had been, which included fixtures against Leicester (twice), Leeds, West Brom and Norwich, who all finished in the top six. I also backed them to recover in their next run of games, which were against bottom-half sides, who they hadn’t lost to and had mostly beaten, so again that's complimentary. I had to scratch my head and think 'What has upset him?'

Goodman claimed it was ‘sad’ that Woolfenden was talking about him after the Blues had secured promotion (Image: PA)

“Perhaps it was me saying before the derby game that Norwich could beat Ipswich at Carrow Road if they 'brought their A-game', I then got dog’s abuse while walking through Ipswich fans at Carrow Road and that wasn't pleasant! And all for saying what to most football fans, with Norwich being at home, something that probably made sense. To have hundreds of people booing you, calling your names, a few getting in your face, being very personable and making horrible comments, was not pleasant. The headline of the offending article read 'Goodman predicts Norwich to beat Ipswich' which I categorically did not! Maybe some Ipswich supporters saw that without reading the whole piece and what I actually said, which was nothing outrageous, as Norwich did bring their ‘A game’ and won the game! 

“The only other thing I can think of that Luke may have taken personally was my observation reference what it usually takes from a defensive perspective to get into the top two of the Championship. They had conceded a lot of goals compared to the likes of Leicester City and Leeds United and it’s a fact that across the last ten years and 20 automatically-promoted teams, there has not been a side which has conceded more than Ipswich's 57 goals. That is a fact. I can only imagine being a defender, that's where Luke has taken it personally. I genuinely can’t think of anything else!

“I'm not digging him out, though and it’s important to point out that defending is not all about the goalkeeper and defenders, it's also about the midfielders and how the forwards press. No way is it a dig at Woolfenden or the defenders. 

“So, those are the only two things that could be construed as negative that I've said about Ipswich across the entire season.”

Goodman continued, highlighting the fact that Woolfenden ended up making comments about his views after winning promotion to the Premier League, which he labelled as ‘sad’.

“If Luke can find any footage where, quoting him, I've called them 'crap all season' he needs to dig it out and show me,” he added. “In fact, I don't think I would have kept my job with Sky Sports if I was calling Ipswich 'crap' all season. 

“I said that Kieran McKenna deserves to win the Manager of the Year award, including the likes of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery because what they've done is nothing short of remarkable. Southampton last did it in 2012 and I think, with respect, it's a lot harder to do it now with the calibre of the three relegated clubs and the financial resources. There is more praise. 
 

The Sky Sports pundit believes that Town will need to tighten up defensively in the Premier League (Image: PA)

“I don't know what Luke has heard or seen but I feel really sad that on the biggest and best day of his footballing life, he's thinking about me. Go and celebrate with your friends and family, you have just achieved the most incredible thing. Unfortunately, I feel sad that Luke has got me on his brain even though I've praised them all season long.

“Good luck to Luke and good luck to Ipswich in the Premier League next season. I hope, as I do with every team from the Championship, they fly the flag and do really well because everyone is saying promoted teams cannot compete. Of course they can. 

“It was a little bit baffling and I hope me coming out and talking about it clears everything up. I don't need Ipswich Town fans to think I've got something against them and, hopefully, the supporters who have common sense will look back at my comments and only see positive ones. 

“If someone wants to call me out in such a public way in front of thousands of fans, I need to address it. There's no bitterness in the slightest from me and I genuinely wish them all the best next season. I have nothing but admiration for everyone at the football club.“

Looking ahead to next season, Goodman believes that Ipswich need to learn from the mistakes that other promoted sides have made in the Premier League.

Goodman points out that he backed Kieran McKenna to win Championship Manager of the Year. (Image: Shutterstock)

A key part of that, he believes, will be improving their defence, particularly given that they’ll be coming up against some of the best players in the world.

“It surprises me that, and I'm not talking about Ipswich Town, but promoted teams in general tend to spend large amounts of their money on strikers, number 10s and wide players,” he said. “The first area promoted teams should look to solidify is the defence. It's important that nobody takes this as a dig at Ipswich.

“Sheffield United have conceded 100 goals! Luton have conceded 78 and Burnley 74. There is no team anywhere close to those numbers and there are several players in those teams who were defending successfully last season. 

“Even Leicester need to strengthen their defence despite having the best defensive record this season. It's the area a promoted team suffers most in, whether that's going from League Two to League One, or Championship to Premier League.  

“Ipswich, Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday all conceded a lot more goals after being promoted. If I were in charge of recruitment at any club, the first place I would look to strengthen is the defence when moving up a division.

“Anyone with half a brain can understand why that is the case. The teams promoted to the Premier League will be up against most of the best attackers in the world.”