The hope before kick off for the 23,500 or so Boro fans was that this was the game that would kick off our 2017 and provide a springboard to a Season bereft of goalmouth action and indeed goals. Well for those that missed the game (presumably the 6,000 or so plastic newcomers that don’t respect the Players) the temperature dropped quite dramatically after KO as the Sun set behind the West Stand. I started to lose the sensation in my fingertips after around 30 minutes. I was sat thinking I wished I’d put another layer of clothing on as my ears began to join my fingertips in losing all signs of life then I remembered there was a game on and not for the first time during the afternoon I had drifted off with my thoughts elsewhere.
Aitor had named a very strong line up with Dimi returned between the sticks to a rapturous welcome befitting of our Championship hero. A strong and our fittest back line at the minute with Fabio, Espinosa, Gibson and Friend all lining up. Many of us yesterday were predicting a weakened back line but this was our strongest available defence. After only a few minutes we were left rueing that we hadn’t indeed started with a weakened back line as George went down inexplicably off the ball with what looked like a tight calf. Dael Fry came on and performed admirably slotting into the middle alongside Espinosa with Ben filling in on the left. After that there was a lot of possession and probing play but little serious threat on the Accrington goal.
Bamford looked lively buzzing around and seemed to be back at home taking players on and linking up well but in fairness he had the two players who for me were the joint MOM in Fabio and Downing to link up with which helped immensely but the signs for the lad definitely looked good. Gestede seemed far more mobile than Negredo in movement and dragging defenders around but had about as much potency unfortunately and after the half time break his lack of game time showed as he looked as though he had stiffened up a bit and struggled thereafter to get through the full 90.
Stanley were putting up some stern resistance and as the game wore on they started to gain in confidence. Not only were they gaining in confidence but they also started to cause a few problems with Dimi having to smother one down near the post having to concede a corner from the lively Clare. We had hoped that the second half would gain in momentum much like the 12th man in the North Stand who forlornly tried unsuccessfully several times to get an Aitor chant going. The 30 or so of them were determined so fair play but the mood amongst the “faithful” was clearly slightly more subdued not helped by the ineffective football before them.
On the opposite side to Paddy we had Fischer who would receive the ball but then drop down from 5th to 3rd gear and anything quick or slick ground down with it. I’m not sure if he was playing to instruction but there were several opportunities where our momentum seemed to dim and flicker as he took too many touches too many times. In a very un Aitor like tactic he made a change on 60 minutes bringing Traore on for Fischer. Ten minutes later he brought Bamford off who was showing signs of fatigue bringing on Stuani. Personally I would have subbed Gestede but I guess as our subs were reduced with Friends injury it was a 50/50 call as to who was the most cream crackered.
Stuani done what Stunai usually does, gets the ball wide, dribbles a bit, lose possession or gets dispossessed and then tracks back without great belief. Fortunately Fabio was supercharged literally winning everything that came in close proximity to him, the lad looked like he had a jet pack strapped to his back at times as he regularly outjumped opponents with a good foot advantage. Stewy was creating and passing putting through balls for Gestede and Bamford and Fischer, taking free kicks although with mixed results but at least there was the possibility of something rather than the poor set pieces we have suffered of late. Stuani had a few chances to put the game beyond Stanley but along with Adama in quick succession missed one opportunity that seemed easier to score from.
There was a clear gulf in class between the sides yet the men from the NW created as many chances as Boro getting in behind our defence on a few occasions and coming close one which nearly resulted in a goal near the end if it wasn’t for Dimi’s huge shovels for hands plucking it out of the air cleanly.
As the cold was seriously taking its toll on those assembled the queues and constant flow of fans getting up and down for hot coffees and chocolate was growing as was the resultant queues for emptying said beverages. I probably shouldn’t complain as that constantly getting up and down movement to let those inclined to miss the “action” get past probably prevented hypothermia setting in.
On 69 minutes Stewy suddenly picked the ball up on the right and drifted across the pitch with the Stanley backline assembled before him and just as it looked like he had overrun he pulled the trigger from the edge of the box and the ball sailed into the net past the despairing Rodak who up until then hadn’t been seriously bothered. 1-0 and our tails were up along with hope that had been slowly dropping like the temperature.
Stanley threw on a few subs and had a real go but we stood firm albeit with a few nervy moments to see the game out. The North Stand tried once again to start an Aitor chant in the 92nd minute and this time managed to get a few more joining in, the wonderful difference a goal can make even if it was scored by one of our own and who up until now been “overlooked” by the very same Aitor. I smiled at the irony of it but somehow resisted the temptation to join in the 200 or so that were now clearly delighted and impressioned by scraping a victory against the mighty Accrington Stanley.
Through to the Monday night draw so job done as Aitor likes to remind us. Maybe, but play like that on Tuesday night against West Brom and those at the back of the North Stand could be singing to a different tune. To end on a positive however Grant and Clayton cleaned up most things with aplomb and Downing in front of them looked creative and as a side we looked far more likely to create something centrally without having three DM’s.
Great Post RR couldn’t go today as stuck indoors with bad chest again.
Hope to be there on Tuesday !
I listened to it on the Radio and coupled with your report has given me a good idea of what the game was like
Hope AK and Downing can work together and pull Boro up the table. It sounded as if Bamford was good even after never having played much for past 18 months
RR
I certainly do not share your opinion of the mood of the crowd. They were in a pretty good mood, it was a cup tie, the other side were pretty well out of it for most of the game(long balls over the top)
Some dazzling performances, stewey, Fabio, Traore(brilliant, he must not go) he is a pleasure to watch. If you cannot enjoy him then you are not football person.
Plus our young centre half, AK was right to bring him back, he is ready, right now to take his place in the team.
As for Traore, what a player, three goals on a plate against West Ham, two laid on today, and he is still a work in progress, wait until he decides that he may as well score a few goals himself.
A final point, the entire match was a four nil gone wrong.
Oh, and by the way, had we played Fabio last time we would have won.
Plato
I’m not sure what you mean by the mood of the crowd the only “negative” was then mixed Aitor chants. The oppositon was
apologies knocked the reply button in error before I finished!
The opposition was several leagues below us, all the Boro performances should have been exceptional but apart from two or three we underwhelmed. This was a side that we should have comprehensively dismantled had we been true to AK’s mantra of substance over style instead we were fortunate not to be facing a replay.
Fabio and Downing were the standouts today and Bamford seemed to revel in being in their company despite being rusty. Had we paid £10m for Fabio we would all be drooling over what a find for that price which makes a change compared to some of the other fees we have paid.
RR
No praise is too high for both Fabio and downing and, more importantly, they were a pleasure to watch, in addition it was a pleasure to watch Fry in action, a sure and certain star to be. But the most telling performance of all was Traore, the player who was supposedly, ‘ a dribbler’, is a leading player in the making, and should not be left on the bench in future. To lay on five goals in two matches is remarkable and the fact that they were not taken is not his fault. His progress in passing and general awareness of those around him, plus running off the ball, getting into the box, and shooting is great(lets not forget his dribbling).
Just a point on the match, Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, I hope they all had great games, because they sure won’t be having one in the fifth round
Fry was very tidy, organised, effective, efficient and didn’t ruffle any feathers apart from one nervy back pass to Dimi which spun up and caused momentary panic but Dimi got his boot to it and hit it 30 yards clear and alls well that ends well.
He certainly looked calmer than Espinosa who whilst strong in the air and very slick in the tackle his distribution is sometimes wayward. When it comes to his quickly taken free kicks they are a liability to the extent that I would ban him from any free kick taking full stop.
Considering his lack of action for a long time, Bamford looks pretty sharp. Hopefully, he’ll start finding the net soon and disprove the old adage “never go back”.
Fabio was brilliant and has to be the bargain of the season.
Pleased also for Fry as he slipped seamlessly into the back four.
UTB
Also pleased that Dimi received a fully deserved ovation. Not sure whether AK shares our pleasure.
Thought the crowd were very kind to AK as things could have started to turn sour following this weeks events.
Hope we’re all still happy with him at full time on Tuesday.
RR, excellent report as ever.
We were poor again today and until Traore came on and Downing showed a moment of class we looked as though we could play all day and not score. Gestede was very disappointing and looked worth about £60 and certainly nowhere near the ludicrous £6 million reportedly paid for him. Downing was Boro’s best player with Traore a close second but what are the odds of them both being picked to start the game on Tuesday based on their excellent contributions today.
As Rhodes didn’t even make the bench today it seems certain that he will be leaving the club. Why he hasn’t had any chance to show what he can do when his scoring record in recent seasons is better than Negredo or Gestede or Bamford is completely beyond me. I can only think that he has done something that AK considers to be a serious misdemeanour – maybe nicking his tapas at lunchtime or, heaven forbid, questioning his team selections and tactics – to be banished to the naughty step for so long without any remission. I think he has been handled extremely shabbily and I wish him well wherever he goes.
I suppose the only positive is that we are in the last sixteen but I doubt that Pulis and West Brom are quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing the mighty Aitor’s goal scoring machine.
Great report once again RR
As usual we made hard work of beating lowly league two opposition but we are in round five now thankfully.
First half was one to forget,second half picked up and one moment of brilliance from the Stewie of old won the game for us. Could have added a couple more late on if Stuani and Traore had worn their shooting boots but in the end relieved to get through.
Nice to see Dimi get a start and a great reception,was that a gift from AK to make some peace with the fans after last weeks harsh comments? 😉
Fabio was my man of the match,he was constantly up and down the line involved in everything,how he manages to jump so high for a little fella and win almost every header is beyond me. He looked like he was on a mission to prove to AK he was wrong to drop him last week against West Ham just as it would be so wrong to drop him when Barragan is fit again.
On to Tuesday now and let’s hope Friend and Gibson who looked like he was struggling abit at the end are fit otherwise Ayala back from suspension will have to step in!
Im seriously doubting AK’s ability to get us scoring more goals.
This is his third attempt to make us into a more potent attacking force after failing miserably twice before.
To try and rectify his mistakes he has signed two six million pound strikers, one of which looks like a cart horse and more annoyingly every fan on here thought was a cart horse before we signed him. The second striker may be ok but may cost ten million and hasn’t had his game for the last two poor premiership squads he has been involved in. So hardly likely to hit the ground running let’s say.
In the meantime we have a prolific striker who doesn’t even make the squad for some strange unknown reason who is probably a far better player than the two we’ve actually signed.
Let’s move onto the creative players. These are the players we really need. We haven’t signed any of them. Let’s thicken the plot… the two most consistent creative players downing, Karanka wants to sell and Ramirez, the other, has been placed on the naughty step. We don’t know why but our manager has form and history in this department. So we’re left relying on traore, who I like I might add but has been very much a bit part player since we signed him due to the boss wanting him to work on the defensive aspects of his game.
I have a strange feeling and I might be wrong that this tweaking of the front end (again!) mightn’t be successful.
I actually think the players we had in September if picked to play in their rightful positions would have scored more than enough goals. We had the option of playing stewie, gaston and traore behind negredo all season. We’ve had the option of playing Rhodes and negredo with two wingers…. but ak has never fancied it.
However he does fancy the cart horse and a.n. Other.
Thanks Redcar
Listening to the commentary it reminded me of several games in the Championship. Patient display against a team with limited ambition.
To be fair to Accrington they would have loved to get a draw and have a big night at home.
I didn’t stay up for MOTD, guess the highlights were 11.59, may as well watch at 8.59.
PS
My morning paper called the 24,000 who turned up a sparse crowd, probably prepopulated in his match report template.
I read the same report Ian, like you say probably prepopulated. I like to play guess the crowd whilst sat looking around the stadium before it is officially announced and my thought was around 25,500 so it certainly didn’t look sparse. 24,000 for a game against Accrington and given the recent backdrop about fans appreciation or otherwise was a good turnout. There were a lot of “new” fans and parents with kids who took advantage of the ticket offer which was great to see so undoubtedly some regulars had decided against going, I presume down to the opposition rather than ill judged comments.
Ian
Since we arrived in the prem. Our home matches have not been covered in any way different to when we were in the champ. The money spent on the media requirements for the prem. Have never been used, the matches are filmed using a single camera. True, it is from the opposite side of the pitch but infinitely worse. A few examples, the winning goal was just a thrash past a defender, next seen in the nets, from the other side of the pitch it was an artistic beauty followed into the net by us fans. We see no close ups showing what really happened at key moments in the box, the commentary is by some oik hired for the occasion, decided by who is there on the spot, in fact I think it is bought in footage.
I noticed that the final comment was ‘somehow Boro found themselves in the fifth round’
I hope it was enjoyed by the long list of those who found it impossible to get past ‘inferior’ opponents.
Sorry, 8.51.
I enjoyed that to be honest, especially the 2nd half. The tempo was much better after we scored, which I know is to be expected but if only we could play like that from the off. Accrington had a good go and had some decent chances – but we were very wasteful, particularly towards the end. Fischer had a nightmare really, made the wrong decisions, took two touches when only one was needed etc. Talent in there, but looks low on confidence. I can’t see how AK can trust him in big games at the moment.
On the other hand, Downing showed how to grasp your chance when you get one. He had an excellent game – could he take one of the advanced CMs role in our 4-1-4-1? With Clayton behind I don’t see any reason why not. It seems a shame to have his experience, quality and will-to-win for his home club sat on the bench.
It will be interesting to see what AK does with him now though. He surely knows Downing’s qualities, and you could argue a performance against Accrington Stanley, however good, shouldn’t really make much difference to your original thinking.
Fabio was superb – he always looks likely to win 40-60 balls, let alone 50-50s. He could seemingly get up and down that wing all day. Has to be a regular on the right now, surely.
As for the new signings, Gestede grew into the game and made some very nice lay offs towards the end, a couple with his head and one for one of the Stuani chances. He can obviously be a threat if utilised well. Getting the ball into his feet in and around the box, in a Viduka-esque fashion could also be effective.
Bamford looked rusty but did have some nice touches in and around the box. He could certainly play the Stuani role on the right when he is up to speed.
Great to see Dimi back and the reception he got.
Finally, good to hear the chants for AK at the end and the wave to the North stand – the wave did look a little bit sheepish to me though.
On to the next round. Lincoln at home please.
On the subject of formations, what did we play yesterday? I thought it was the now usual 4-1-4-1 with Downing having one of the CM roles and Clayton anchoring. Talk before the game was that it would be the 4-2-3-1 with Downing (or Bamford before we saw them line up) in the no.10 and it could have been that – but Clayton seemed deeper than Leadbitter to me.
I thought it was 4231 or even 4213 at times when attacking.
Redcar Red
Couldn’t find any reference to Burnley who got fewer than 15000 against Bristol or Palace with under 14000 against Man City – no figures for away numbers but you would expect a few thousand.
Redcar Red
Watching Sunday Supplement and crowds were mentioned. Man City took 4,000 to Palace.
As a follow on from people attending the FA Cup matches, if we get to the semi’s and a trip to Wembley how many season ticket holders will say the FA Cup doesn’t matter, I haven’t been to the matches so I will let the club sell my tickets to the kids and parents who went to the games?
It wont be a long list.
I’d rather 3 points on Tuesday and losing to Accrington but perhaps we can have both. Survival in the Premiership should be the primary, secondary and tertiary aim with the Cup trailing along in 4th place.
Survival and winning the Cup would be tremendous but a Cup run at the expense of the Premiership (Friend and Gibson injured?) is a no brainer for me. Hard commercial need over the glamour of the Cup every time.
Quite the opposite opinion, RR!
I’d put the glory before the money trough any day. Give me the Championship or lower leagues with a promise a Boro captain raises the FA tin pot high above his head. The image would live forever – promotions & relegations are secondary.
Consider it, a place in European competition & starting the next season in the Charity Shield against EPL champions.
What’s not to love?
Absolutely, I remember all too well the “3 Finals and a funeral” season
Thats is I agree with RR – sorry Spartak you pipped me mid comment.
Ian
I hope you are not equating low support for other clubs with low support for us. We are very well supported, and you have no need to feel guilty for missing a match, and you should certainly use your ticket for any cup final yourself, you have earned it.
Redcar Red
I agree with that, it was a tongue in cheek comment about those who have season tickets but don’t go to cup games suddenly becoming FA Cup advocates if Wembley looms.
Elsewhere Bojan off to Mainz and Jese to Las Palma.
31st could become Tumbleweedday at Rockcliffe.
It looks like all of AK’s targets have had better offers.
For me that means get Stewie rehabilitated, AK needs to sit down with him, explain his concerns and tell him he’s the man to fire Boro’s survival drive between now and May.
Downing on form is a better player than any of the players AK hoped to sign.
He can play on either wing and is probably well worth another punt at no. 10.
That just leaves the issue of Ramirez to deal with, a commitment that he can leave in May and a hope he shows commitment in his play in order to make him an attractive proposition to other teams a la Viduka, may be the best we can hope for now.
Not a good place to be.
The FA cup is a conundrum, but I agree with Spartak on this one, i’d go for an FA cup win and relegation.
Those moments of glory are rare and another promotion would come soon enough.
Although I’m pretty sure neither relegation or an FA cup win will come to pass.
I see that Wigan have turned down offers of £4million for Yanic.
Add a couple of million to that if he gives the Man U defence the runaround today.
If he is sold, cue a Boro press release, dutifully reproduced by the Gazette, telling us what a good bit of business we have done in getting an extra couple of hundred thousand by way of a sell-on clause.
It will be hailed as yet another triumph for our scientific approach to buying and selling.
For the many Boro fans outside Teesside the FA Cup game yesterday will have passed them by – it was all but ignored by the media, no live TV coverage by any niche channel or even a single pixelated internet feed. MOTD gave it the kind of minimal coverage we normally got in the Championship round-up slot – despite there only being eleven games it was deemed not worthy of even sending somebody to cover it – luckily it wasn’t a shock away win or even a thriller that meant it needed hastily over-dubbing.
Thankfully we’ve got Redcar Red’s match report on here to give us a flavour of the game otherwise I might have actually forgotten it took place. I suppose we didn’t learn too much from yesterday but what we could say is that maybe playing without three defensive midfielders is possibly the way to go.
Also Fabio at right-back is the best option for the team – though if Friend is out then who do we play at right-back on Tuesday if Fabio takes his place on the left?
Anyway, I’m now wondering where our January transfer policy currently stands – Bojan, Jese, Snodgrass and Deulofeu all decided on other options – though perhaps their clubs may have been instrumental in where they ended up in many of those.
Which leaves us with Gaston – can’t see how selling him to a relegation rival one point ahead of us will help our cause – especially as it is unlikely we’ll bring in an equitable replacement with the money gained before the deadline. Banking the cash for the summer will be of little consolation if we’re shopping for the Championship again.
OK, there may well be some surprise loan deals being negotiated in the background that are off the radar – I was wondering on the availability of Chelsea’s Loftus-Cheek after watching him yesterday as it doesn’t appear he’ll get much game time under Conte just yet but he still looked pretty sharp and dangerous.
Wildschutt. Another player with bags of potential who for some unknown reason was frozen out despite every fan seeing his ability. Didn’t stick to his defensive responsibilities mind!!
Seems like we are really struggling to attract any quality players maybe the peurile football we play has turned any targets away. Not looking like we are going to have a stronger squad at the end of the transfer window like promised.
Get Downing Fabio and Traore into the side because we need some x factor and I hope Rhodes stays .
I agree, Downing, Traore and Fabio could be key. Fast, skilful, exciting. Opposing teams will have something to worry about.
Michael, I hope Rhodes stays too but why would he want to stay when he can’t get a game. I wonder whether he was watching the so-called strikers yesterday miss gilt-edged chances knowing that they are the kind on which he has built his reputation by putting them away.
The Sunday Times reports that AK said “we were good” after the game when my opinion is that we were barely adequate. I sometimes think that AK would be more suited to a part in Men in Black as I’m not sure he is from this planet.
Totally agree. The ability to win games in this league is there. It’s about getting the right players out on the pitch and giving the opposition something to think about.
What is missing in AK’s education is the reaistion that once you have built the foundation of a strong and reliable defence, you have to build on it. He got the first parts of the job right, organisation off and on the field and one of the best overall defences in the country. How and why he is not prepared to trust that defense now, a defence that has created the space for some creativity eludes me. It really isn’t at all surprising that any of the targets that might have natural creative flair have sidestepped us. Why come somewhere where your talents so not look like they will be utilised?
Jack’s team was built on an imperious defence but we still went out and frightened a lot of teams with our ability to attack effectively
AK has three months to have learned that lesson and put it into practice, otherwise I fear we will all be remembering where we were a season or two ago, cos we just might be back there.
Tuesday nights line up will be very informative of what we might expect for the rest of the season.
I wished Rhodes got a chance, he hasn’t left yet but memories can play tricks. He missed a sack full of chances for us last season, his one on one conversion was poor.
I saw him miss three or four gilt edged chances against Cardiff even before Fabio gave them the lead and that was after 20 minutes. Posters were complaining that he was a waste of money.
Suddenly he has morphed in to Harry Kane or Sanchez.
He scored 6 goals in 24 games in the Championship for us, we were in the top places and as a team wasted a host of chances. Gestede scored 4 goals in 18 games in the Championship for a struggling Villa.
You can do like I have done and paint a picture to suit your own ends, in my case Iwould have loved him to get a chance but I will remind you again, many on here criticised him last season.
In the cup, Leeds go out at Sutton, Watford at Millwall and Hull at Fulham.
Anyone at home next round.
Ian, I don’t recall comparing him with Kane or Sanchez but rather with the other strikers in the Boro squad who are always selected in preference to Rhodes.
You can argue any case by choosing a range of statistics but Rhodes’ record over the last three seasons bears comparison with all the other strikers on the books. You can also always argue that he could have scored more last season (as with all strikers) but he was never AK’s automatic choice for the first team.
I believe he should have been given a run in the side, I don’t understand why he has been completely marginalised and I fail to see how Gestede and Bamford are any improvement for the £10 million reportedly spent.
The very point I have been trying to make Ian! I even made it in my last piece.
“Jordan Rhodes was actually being compared to Afonso Alves while he was getting regular starts in February and March, if you can believe it. But now…”
This is not to say I don’t wish he would get a chance. It would be nice to see. But to use him, and Yanic, as sticks to beat AK with…
Yanic had pace and desire to take on his man – two of the things romantics most want from wingers. That’s why, I think, we remember him so fondly. Never mind his erring – he erred in trying to play the beautiful game rather than the pragmatic one.
How can Steve Gibson sleep at night with Karanka’s stubborn philosophy ? Boro IMHO have become ‘Bore O’. Karanka is wrong in almost everything he does. He seems to be assembling a team capable of winning the Championship in the event his unexplainable logic ends with relegation. Reason being, if we buy Premiership proven players they’d be ofski if we are relegated.
Please please get Karanka out now. Get someone who will give our long suffering fans hope & excitement on every match day. Someone who will give our long suffering fans value for their undivided loyalty & hard earned cash.
Why can’t this team be motivated in every single game ? Why can’t they be up for it from minute one to minute 95 ? Not just in this season but in previous seasons, big games like the play-off finals etc.
I’ve followed Boro for over 50 years (yes I’m a very old dog) & this is the worst period of dross I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve even come out in spots… Note OFB that I like your SOH !
IMHO it’s time for supporters to stop being diplomatic, trying to guess or second guess Karankas mindset, to stop giving him the benefit of the doubt & vote with their feet.
The comparison made by someone earlier on this blog between Boro & AFC Wimbledon supporters was ‘spot’ on. I never thought it possible that I’d reach a point where I’d enjoy watching Scottish Premier & English Championship games more than ones involving ‘Bore O’. That’s how far their appeal has diminished for me, IMHO.
Just saying like…
And while I’m on my rant, woof woof, whoever sanctioned the Boro home strip should be paraded through Middlesbrough wearing the said dreadful kit + an under inflated lifebelt, being pelted with unspeakable things, then dropped unceremoniously into the river Tees.
Just woofing like…
Well, you certainly got that load of your chest IOMP.
Just one small point to remember – Boro supporters buy in to the culture & match day experiences either by purchasing a match day walk up ticket or a season ticket. This buy in gives zero influence on who is appointed from the Chairman down the ladder to the jolly someone who makes the tea. In effect we can bleat, we can moan, we can scream in frustration, but ultimately the only person who will shift AK out is SG (& he appointed him).
So, instead of developing an ulcer or giving yourself a hernia, step back, grab the popcorn & go with the flow. We’ve been relegated before- I remember us playin Bournemouth for top spot in the old Division 3 (I was there! The first wife shouted out ‘Come on Boro!’ Made me chuckle as we was surrounded by the Chumpin Cherries supporters in their home end-lol). We of course went onto gain promo. So, don’t forget AK maybe a couple of biscuits short of a packet but hey we’ve seen worse. And of course he will move on at some point (he will won’t he? Tell me he will!)
Therefore, remember popcorn and calm. There’s always the hope we might even attract a really good manager in the future who calls the right shots at the right time & inspires his players simultaneously (I spelt that without referrin to a dictionery- lol).
UTB
Really appreciate all the contributions on this blog, those who additionally give great match reports & structured well balanced comments.
Sorry to disagree this time but IMHO it’s long overdue / high time to bring exciting football to the Boro faithful. It pains me to say but my patience ran out years ago. Maybe we should put it to a vote, that’s the democratic way. But until there is change to give excitement & belief for the fans I have voted with my feet (paws) / remote control.
It pains me to see teams in the Premier League, Championship or wherever, playing football as it was meant to be, TO WIN.
Can’t take much more so I’m retreating ito my kennel.
Oh, &my owner can hang onto a lead. ☺
IOMP
Hope your barks worse than your bite !
It certainly made me paws for thought.
Who nose what will happen at the end of this season but it’s no good losing your distemper.
Yes our manager has made a few ricketts but then every club has a shaggy dog story and ours at the moment wants a transfer.
Boro are certainly not a basket case and I agree that you have a bone to pick with them.
The think about me is that they only have to whistle and I’ll be there
PS
You must have forgotten what it was like under Stricken a real dog’s breakfast !!!
If we fail to win on Tuesday night that’s something like 6 games without a win – wonder if AK will be allowed to go for GS1’s record?
Who’ll be in the doghouse then?
Well if there is an attack attack attack on the fans by a manager at least we won’t have someone saying they have to resort to drugs and drink!!!
OFB ~ you must be telepathic, as your reply showed up as posted earlier than my post.
Yes thank you, I’m fully aware of Strachan’s disasterous time at Boro + his managing of the Scottish National team.
I take onboard all constructive comments on this blog otherwise I’ll be consigned to the doghouse / bloghouse. However, I think it’s time to make a leap into not necessarily the unknown, but somewhere which might be the making of Middlesbrough FC. Now we’ve a proven defence, get those strikers out to terrier Ise the opposition.
I suppose we are all Barking mad to follow the Boro!!
Now how did I know that was what you were going to say ?
First thanks RR for your time and effort producing the match report. If we continue playing like yesterday and have been, I think we on this blog will have to subsidise your ST. Who would pay good money to watch the dross of late. In saying that, I do have a ST and will probably only have seen 5/6 at the Riverside by the seson end.
What happened yesterday then, plenty of possesion, 20+ shots, but not enough on target. Maybe if Jordan had been playing on the right he may have tucked away some of those chances.
AK has bought Bamford to play, not up top where he scored most of his goals, but on the right where he did not do so well. There has to be more than meets the eye between Manager and JR. I also do not accept Ian’s line of him missing lots of chances. He cetainly did more than Stuani did, and certainly Negrado apart from scoring a couple has generally not even been nuisance value. Even AV who is always generous only gave Gestede 5.
So now we have two days to go to get some creativity in, which is a near impossibilty, and retain Gaston, cos one in and one out is no good. Two 6mil forwards with no service won’t save us.
Pedro
Go back and watch the highlights if you have time, he was getting pilloried on here or rather the club were for buying him.
Personally I would like to have seen him given a chance, he is the sort of player who finds himself in space.
As the kinks sang (no not Tarmo!)
So tired, tired of waiting!!!!!
I must admit I was quite calm about the transfer window but got caught up in all the hype and started to get excited!
Never mind I hope to be there on Tuesday after spending a week in bed and whilst I won’t be able to shout them on I hope to croak the Boro on to victory!
‘Bloghouse’, I like that, good one.
Sutton or Lincoln at home next please.
I think the transfer window is proving really frustrating for both the club and fans alike. Our dealings and links have hardly set the heather alight. Gestede I have never rated and that’s apart from his previous history with our club and £6M was just ridiculous.
Bamford at £5M again seemed steep considering there wasn’t exactly a list of Premiership clubs queueing up to sign him. That said I think he will prove himself and become a hit but the word “become” is key in this as right now the intention was to finish the window stronger and not with more “potential”.
Bamford could come good and very quickly which is positive but we needed definite upgrades on what we have. Paddy is probably a welcome addition to the squad rather than an upgrade whilst Gestede I just don’t get, more so after AK kicked off about alleged long ball tactics which flies in the face of what was said when he signed.
I had reservations over Bojan based on him not consistently delivering at Stoke and overall being a disappointment down there. Jese clearly hasn’t adapted to life well in France and his wanting to go home and extreme reluctance to test himself in the Premiership when the opportunity presented itself speaks volumes about his professional ambitions especially with the comfort of a strong Spanish contingent at Middlesbrough. Should we question the scouting of such a player, not for his footballing ability but for his aptitude?
The poor results in January hasn’t exactly helped our recruitment campaign either and the fall out last week between manager and fans hasn’t exactly improved the situation. The Grealish thing seemed to have a smattering of desperation and straw clutching rather than a structured target. Overall my feelings are that we have been better to simply shut up shop (including Nsue), something which AK is normally very good at.
Gaston is the proverbial conundrum wrapped up in an enigma, his history however does have previous so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. With no likely suitable replacement a “deal” where he will be allowed to leave for “£X” in the Summer seems the best bet. Selling him to Leicester right now would be madness personified.
As it stands it looks like we will exit January weaker or level at best, certainly not what we had anticipated only a few short weeks back. January thus far has been one to forget with the only chink of light being the hope that Stewy may be given the chance to play in front of two DM’s and give our front end some support and supply. Sometimes its difficult to see the wood for the trees even for Football Managers, lets hope AK can see the value of experience and the opportunity it gives him to strike a balance between defending and the “A” word.
As has been mentioned on here previously AK has done wonders organisationally behind the scenes and defensively he is meticulous and superb. Unfortunately that’s only half the job. The second half of the Season needs to see him improve on his weaknesses and quickly.
Of course to improve you need to be in a place where you accept that you perhaps have weaknesses. I’m not sure that AK is prepared or willing to be in that place or even remotely close to it. It appears to be an Achilles heel that could all end badly for all concerned and yesterdays press conference didn’t provide any evidence to the contrary.
If our transfer window is over now, then I think it’s been ok – we haven’t lost any key players (this obviously changes if Ramirez leaves) and we’ve strengthened up front.
I don’t think Gestede is here to play long balls up to, he’s here to play as a strong no.9 who can play with his back to goal and bring other players into play. We saw some signs yesterday that he is capable of that (the ball to Stuani as an example) and that someone like Jordan Rhodes simply wouldn’t be able to do. We can argue forever whether it is the correct system, but it’s the one AK has chosen and (for me, anyway) the players he has brought in has strengthened our ability to play that system.
The bottom three have either been weakened or haven’t really added much – so I’d say we come out of it in a stronger position even if we don’t get that attacking midfielder we’d all like. Two days left however, and I’m sure the club are working their way down their list of targets. I don’t think there was ever any official link to Grealish was there?
I thought Gestede was good in the air admittedly but we had nobody around him to pick up those balls that he won in the air in the way that Rhodes used to do at Blackburn therefore I struggled to see the point of him. Other than that his first touch was poor and he looked like he couldn’t trap a bag of cement let alone a football. I’m not sure about his footwear but he spent more time on his backside than on his feet due to slipping which was bad enough but to not have changed studs at half time was unbelievable.
Even the Gazette lads who I suspect are under severe pressure to toe the party line were less than euphoric in their reporting of him. Throw in the fact that his opponents on Saturday were several leagues and supposedly levels below him and it doesn’t bode well.
Its interesting that a lot of us have concerns about Grealish (both his Father and Tony Xia have tweeted about the supposed Boro interest so no smoke without fire) yet Villa fans are fairly adamant they want to keep hold of him yet they were willing to taxi Gestede to the Riverside.
Rhodes at least missed chances by doing what he do’s best intuitively being in the right spot.Negredo is like a statue at times. If Rhodes had been given a run like Negredo then I am sure we would have a better goal return, even last season he was in and out of the team. Buying Gestede who had a good partnership with him at Blackburn then you would think our Manager would have tried them together, but no he is too pigheaded, after all we are playing well ..in his eyes.
If Rhodes do’s leave then he only has to score a goal for his new team and the Karanka “fans” will have a field day.
Tuesday he needs to pick a team that will get us moving forward before its too late, before those dreaded words “but we weren’t in the relegation zone most of the season are spoken”
Downing,Fabio and Traore get them in and keep them in, also Ayala at least he gives us some threat at corners providing we use someone who can actually take a corner kick properly !
Some interesting Opta stats from Sporting life on tomorrow night’s game which will undoubtedly polarise opinions:
“Middlesbrough are the only Premier League side yet to see a substitute involved in a goal this season, this despite 53 subs being used.”
“Just 23.9% of Middlesbrough’s passes this season have been in the final third of the pitch; a league-low proportion.”
In balance and just to give reason for optimism:
“The Baggies have conceded a higher proportion of their goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than any other side (36%).”
Considering all the above would it be unreasonable for Boro fans to hope that we show some “endeavour” in the last ten minutes or so of the game if the result is not going our way?
It would appear that as a lot of us have long felt AK’s subs are ineffective at changing games and come far too late to have any influence on games and that the slow monotone passing which so frustrates many is largely possession “to me, to you” in safe areas of the pitch.
Meanwhile Swansea (at home to Southampton tomorrow night) look to be showing signs of life again under their new Manager and we are now pinning hopes on that Fat Sam (Palace away to the Cherries) can’t repeat his Houdini act and that last Season’s Champions (away to Burnley) crash and burn.
AK is setting some impressive records this season for “lows”. Some of them good like goals against but the others are slowly dripping us into a relegation spot. Fortunately it looks like Hull are having a fire sale to regroup in the Championship presumably under new owners next season whilst Sunderland seem cash strapped and going nowhere soon. Should we really be looking for our opponents to damage themselves rather than have belief in us staying up under our own steam?
Three points tomorrow would put a horrible January to rest, a draw would frustrate but if others fail to record a win then it maybe stretches to a five point gap hopefully. Lose or draw tomorrow and some others win or draw and it all gets much more uncomfortable. My hope is that tomorrow night doesn’t become another one of “those” games of which we have seen too many of this season.
Well as I am making the trip tomorrow, (late night home but it fits in with everything else) I too hope that it doesn’t turn into “one if those games” as well RR.
Having kept an eye on the Grealish story it all seems to have come from the Birmingham end, the chat seemed to be how to get Rhodes to Villa not how Boro were trying to secure his services.
It looks like it may be a very quiet close to the window but you don’t know what is going on.
The match may mirror the transfer window, I cant see tomorrow night being an attack fest, I think only Burnley have lower possession stats than the Baggies, they are not like Stoke were and launch it all the time but they wont be hell bent on attack along the ground.
They will be looking for dopes to rope.
Well, we got the result, even if the scoreline was not as emphatic as we would have hoped. The optimists will point to the number of chances created (ignoring that this was against very limited opponents), the pessimists will point to the conversion ratio (and emphasise the limited opponents).
Onto transfer news. A curious window. Let’s recap:
Snodgrass – missed out, signed for West Ham (doubts whether Hull would have let him join us anyway)
Bojan – early interest, which we didn’t follow up, now on loan at Mainz
Jese – AK acknowledged a strong interest, seems he never had any intention of joining, now holding out for Las Palmas.
Grealish – even if paper talk, pretty emphatically denied by the lad’s father
AK said we will finish the window stronger, and judging by how prickly he was about transfer news over the weekend, he is now regretting that statement. It’s hard to know where, if anywhere, we have targets remaining. All of the ones with any substance have fizzled out, which could leave us with a very dull finish to the window. Perhaps AK unfreezing Downing will be seen as strengthening the squad, although tomorrow’s starting line up will be food for thought there.
I hope we can get someone with some creativity in, but it looks like we’ll be needing to use the loan market to do so. It’s also hard to see how we can contemplate letting Ramirez leave now, surely it would be mad to do so given our paucity of other options. There could still be time for SG to spring a samba-style star on us, but unless he can track back it would seem to be a waste of effort.
In some ways I agree with Borophil that if we see no more transfer activity then it could be deemed just about OK – but a lot will depend on what happens next with the players that have come in and those staying put.
If Gaston stays will he still be the improved player that makes things happen for Boro or will he lose interest and revert to the player that didn’t get much game time and southampton and Hull – we won’t know until after the window closes which player we still have.
Then there’s Downing, told he could go out on loan a few weeks ago, then he decided to stay and plays a key part in a reshaped midfield in the cup, with Karanka declaring he’s an important player for Boro . So is he now an important player for the boss or was he being showcased for the window? Hopefully this is the rebooting of Stewy and perhaps a chance for him to shine like he did when he was at West Ham – he still has it in him.
With the incoming pair or Bamford and Gestede it looks like the former may be more integral to the First XI, if Paddy gets up to speed quickly and chips in with a couple of important goals then he will be a success – he knows Karanka and knows what is expected, so hopefully it will be a positive return.
Gestede looks like being a bench option as I’m sure Negredo will always start ahead of him – he will do well to make a significant impact at Boro but you never know, it just takes him to have a key moment and suddenly he’s a hero.
What has been apparent to everyone who has seen Boro this month is that Fabio has to be the first choice right-back, which leaves the problem of who is cover for left-back? James Husband didn’t even make the bench against League Two opposition – so unless he was injured then I assume he doesn’t have a future at Boro. Which means unless we intend to not play Fabio at right-back on a regular basis then an additional left-back option is required.
Also surely Rhodes has to leave in this window, his value will only decrease if he’s not playing and potential buyers in the summer will only conclude that we want rid – besides I’m sure Jordan wants to play so at the minimum a loan deal this window.
I still expect one surprise deal to happen before the deadline – maybe a loan from Chelsea or Man Utd of an attacking midfielder – I’m hoping for Loftus Cheek as the noises Conte was making seemed to indicate he won’t get much first team action this season.
Smoggy
As we are in the premiership I don’t think we can take in loan players after the window closes. If the deal sheet isn’t in at 11pm on 31st January that is it until the summer.
If anyone knows better let us know but based on what I believe the system to be come 1st Feb that is it.
Stewie will be just like a new signing, keeping Gaston may be key unless some one has a hat with a rabbit in it.
Wednesday are still interested in Rhodes. They are desperate for a goalscorer but can’t make our asking price.
They could off- load one of their other forward assets.
How about a bit of imagination on our part.
Rhodes to Wednesday with us taking Forestieri in part-exchange?
Could work.
We get rid of a benchwarmer, and acquire a creative attacker.
The Forestieri idea would be interesting but again there isn’t a queue of Premiership teams chasing his Services plus I would think that the Owls see him as a key player in their attempts to get out of the Championship along with Rhodes if they can get him.
I’m not sure that swapping one player who the Manager doesn’t want and taking in another player whom like as not he doesn’t want either will yield successful results. Then again there is always the question of some of the players who the Manager did want not exactly bowling us over.
There are various stats which show Boro in a poor light, all related to attacking play, there are also other stats which the media and a section of fans choose to ignore which revolve around how strong our defensive play is.
Another stat is the Baggies have lost four of their last eight, they’re beatable, nothing to be frightened of.
I think we are all unanimous that AK’s defensive capabilities are exceptional and are the bedrock for us progressing thus far. The question now is can AK develop his side any further. If he cannot compete in the opposition half then he is only doing half a job and has a huge flaw in his system which because of being in the Premiership is being perpetually highlighted by the media.
Highlighting defensive stats confirms that we are doing very well defensively just as the offensive stats are the worst in the league for most criteria, shots, attempts, possession etc. If we improve our defence further I can’t see it improving our league position nor can I see it progressing the Football Club. Conversely if AK improves our attacking (I will now wash my mouth out with carbolic soap for being disrespectful) potency we can progress and improve. I don’t think standing still is an option nor harking back to where we once were because there is a very real chance AK is now performing a Grand old Duke of York impersonation.
On to West Brom, they were very beatable last time, in fact probably more beatable then to now as they were in a bit of a state. Pulis struggled to put out a side and fill the bench that day protesting with his board that he didn’t have enough players yet we sat back and rarely threatened them (as has been the case in numerous games). Since then Pulis has done exactly what we are asking AK to do and that is to improve his side.
As much as I will be saddened to see JR leave I have to agree with Werder and think it would be for the best, especially for the player. As for JR I would have thought that Villa would be his preferred choice. Bigger club than Boro, and a good chance to eventually get promotion under Bruce.
Problem is they probably do not have the money and it is too late possibly to off load McCormack or Ayew who is still in Africa for a little longer. Is there nobody else at Villa we could do an exchange with!!!
As Ian keeps saying getting players in who will make a difference, nigh on impossible.
If the root cause of both Downing and Ramirez’s unhappiness is playing out wide instead of centrally (or not playing at all in Downing’s case), then perhaps now is the time to cement 3-5-2 as our default formation with one of them playing in the central midfield three. This also gives us the opportunity to play two strikers bringing Bamford into play and possibly even Rhodes, though more likely Stuani. I’m sure both Downing and Gaston, not to mention Negredo, would be delighted to play regularly with two up top.
I’m not sure where that would leave Traore (or Fischer) but perhaps he could be converted to an impact striker or central attacking midfielder, or be someone on the bench who allows us to change the shape if we want to. As much as I like De Roon’s energy, I’m also unsure if he has the positional discipline to play in a two-man defensive midfield and I would favour Clayton alongside either Forshaw or Leadbitter for those roles.
Of course, as we so often say, formations are not the most important aspect. The balance of the side is one of them though.
Andy
The interesting thing about this blog is that all the posts are so varied and different I think you have come up with an interesting concept and one that should really be considered of course we are only the armchair analysts and what we think does not affect the views of our manager but I really enjoyed reading it
Well unless things change rapidly it looks like we will not be making any huge amount of expenditure and signing a new player. Never mind tomorrow night I am back at the Riverside hopefully the team will be back on form and force a win. Hope the crowd cheer all the guys on
up the Boro
Interesting that one of the rumours is Gaston isn’t happy playing out wide, clearly happier not playing at all at Southampton or Hull.
The problem at Leicester is that he would be trying to get in to one of the central positions, the way Leicester play they like to defend so the central positions are defensive or he could replace Mahrez but he hasn’t got the same pace. He could play out wide, oops, or end up on the bench as an impact sub.
The likelihood is he would be bought as a squad player but they all think once there they would break in to the team.
It does look like a sideways move, possibly even a backward step because he would probably lose his starter status. You could argue it has potential to be a good move because few think Leicester will go down.
Interesting (and honest) comment from AK at this afternoons press conference!
Q) Are you frustrated with the window so far?
A) “I said I wanted to improve the squad and at the minute we didn’t.”
Very interesting press conference from AK, he does not sound happy at all! I imagine if the list of targets had Deulofeu, Jese, Bojan and Snodgrass on it, and they’ve all signed elsewhere, then you would be unhappy!
Interesting bit about Gaston too. Gaston has pulled himself out and will probably be hanging around a motorway services somewhere near Grantham in the hope of Leicester coming back with an improved bid, but Karanka says “100%” he will be still at Boro!
That probably rounded up the fee for Gaston to the £20m mark. Also, his line about keeping us up “I will try” is eyebrow raising stuff. By the looks of things someone in the negotiating/scouting team is not in AK’s good books. And we all know what happens next! Expect Victor Orta to be signing on for Hartlepool by July.
Redcar
Listened to Phil’s summary of the presser, AK clearly wanted an attacking midfielder and one hasn’t arrived, of course he is frustrated.
That is the problem with the January window, you cant force players to come or clubs to do business with you.
Let’s see if Gaston is available against Spurs Saturday night on TV.
Smoggy
Posted at the same, Orta might be signing on in Middlesbrough, does he know where Corporation Road is?.
Wonder if Gaston’s mum will be sending a note in with de Pena? If he is still, the thought of playing at White Hart Lane might be even better than Night Nurse (other post window medications available).
Ian
Good points on Gaston and they enforce my view that him wanting to leave is more about the leaving than signing for Leicester.
Whatever we think, unless we sign someone at least as good who can settle in immediately, then we’re going to need him.
I would like to see him and Downing fighting it out for the attacking midfield role in that 3-5-2.
My concern expressed in a previous thread has come to fruition in that we have failed to secure our three main targets.
Do we now hope for the best but prepare for the worst?
Do we sell Gaston now whilst his price is relatively high or hang onto him and hope that he will give 100% to the cause which seems unlikely given he has requested a transfer?
Do we hope that SD, who was surplus to requirements only two weeks ago, can now produce the creativity which the team has been lacking – I am not convinced?
Do we let JR go out on loan to get some game time and then if the worst does happen he can be part of a promotion push next season?
I believe that AK will not stick around/be allowed to remain in charge if we do not secure 17th spot or better.
This transfer window and the team’s form is leaving me very concerned as to our chances of survival.
Please feel free to agree/disagree or comment as you see fit.
OK, there are several ways of interpreting the statement ‘…the physio came to my office and told me couldn’t play tomorrow’ – it may also be a convenient way of Gaston being available for a last minute deal if (and it’s a big if) Boro are waiting on a deal for possible replacement that would mean they would be prepared to accept a good offer for Gaston – which would need him not being in the WBA squad so he could have a medical.
Saying that the Urugayan will definitely 100% be a Boro player come February might just be an attempt to increase the offer for him.
It’s a bit rich for Aitor to be frustrated with the club for its inability to secure an attacking midfielder.
We have all been saying that we need attacking cover for Gaston for months. Indeed the lack of cover for this position goes back years.
We are now facing a problem that was forecast a very long time ago.
Frustration with the club for failing to clinch one of its targets over the past week shouldn’t be allowed to mask the fact that this has been a significant weakness in our recruitment strategy for as long as AK has been manager. And it has been a weakness that Aitor has shown little urgency in remedying.
I’ve been harping on like a bad smell about our recruitment for ages and it appears now that our Manager isn’t too far behind me in wondering what they actually do apart from being obsessed with Villa and play FIFA 16 or whatever the latest variant is.
Their shopping seems very blinkered and extremely limited. If as it appears AK gives them a wish list of preferred attributes and then lets them go do their thing expecting them to come back with something substantial then its clearly not working.
All of the obvious “identified” players had massive question marks over them very early on. Bojan hasn’t delivered at Premiership level, Deulofeu was unlikely to consider Boro once AC Milan started sniffing, Jese appears to be just that and a big one too, Snodgrass was never likely to be sold to us because of our league position in much the same way we don’t want to strengthen Leicester with Gaston.
Having said all of that, perhaps it is now just the recruitment teams turn to be blamed as a forerunner to why my job became impossible and I quit? What has caused Gaston to want to quit, has he too suffered the Video inquisition? Why has Stewy decided that he’s now going nowhere?
The Fans “disrespect”, the sulky press conferences? There is clearly a lot more to things that will come out in the wash. Have the club tried to support and underpin AK but he doesn’t want interference and has bit the hand that feeds him? Something clearly doesn’t feel right and all of this cannot be landed at the feet of fans regardless of their foam inhalation tendencies or right wing realist extremism.
I hope the players tomorrow night can close their minds to whatever it is and go out and do a professional job because right now the club needs turmoil like President Trump needs another good idea.
Now I don’t want to put anything libellous so I’ll have to think about how I phrase this. Gaston has apparently been a very naughty boy and is being literally dragged out of boro by his other half. Or something to that affect. Read into that what you will!!
Len
Weakness in our recruiting strategy, nice one that.
Before he came we could not spell strategy, the only question we asked of any recruit was, ‘ when is your sentence due’ and if it was due in six months he was in.
As a special add on, most of these waifs and strays did not want to be here and made it plain by wandering around the field in a daze. Incidentally, we did have a preference for assault and battery cases, but hey, we all make choices in life.
Just a thought, nothing could be done until the window opened, then we were in the thick of things until now, so quite what else we could do is a mystery to me.
“I will try ”
Awe inspiring stuff, what a sad indictment of a season unravelling… Tomorrows game is a must win…mmm heard that before. Pull your finger out and get some enthusiasm and positivety into your management. Looking at Karanka his body language on the sidelines and in his pressers, he reminds me of Blaikie from “On the Buses” I’ll have you Butler !(Rhodes,Downing, Ramirez, Adomah add your favourite here )
I think for tomorrow night we are restricted to 352 unless Husband is considered which would be a huge surprise given that the lad has never even made the bench. Then again it could be his big chance similar to the way Forshaw grabbed his opportunity earlier in the season when injuries left AK with no other options.
My guess would be Husband on the bench and Gibson, Ayala and Espinosa at the back with Fabio, Clayton, de Roon, Forshaw and Downing in the middle. That leaves Negredo presumably and one other up front.
Stuani perhaps or my pick would be Traore with a “free” role to roam and exploit keeping at least two Baggie defenders occupied and dragging them all over the place leaving them not sure who is out of position and who should be picking him up. I doubt AK would give anyone such a “free” role so probably Stuani.
There again he may keep it with 4 at the back and ask one of the Midfielders to play RB or LB, Clayts at RB with Fabio switching over to LB or Stewy at LB, which to me would be a waste as I’d prefer Stewy retained in the middle after Saturday playing through balls and taking pot shots.
There again maybe Barragan is fit again?
Len
I disagree, the focus has been on bringing in the likes of Downing, Fischer, Gaston, Traore to name but a few in the last year or so. De Roon aside, the big investment has been in the attacking areas of the pitch.
Back in September the Gazette were talking about the club would have liked another attacking player, the focus all through the autumn was about increasing the attacking threat in January.
You can argue he hasn’t got the best out of what we have had. You can argue the recruitment hasn’t always succeeded – de Pena for example.
To argue we haven’t tried is just beating him with a made up stick.
I reckon Gaston’s agent was always looking for a move that will give him a pay-rise rather than Leicester being able to offer a better fit playing position, maybe Gaston also knows Ranieri from his time playing in Italy. It’s a money decision for him but probably doesn’t give us time to get a suitable replacement for our main playmaker in a position that was already lacking a back-up to start with, so selling him now would be a huge mistake. Not securing another wide attacking option, which was also identified pre-season, is another issue which we may now have to try and paper-over with futher formation shuffles. Will we try Traore through the middle, push Bamford up with Negrado, go three at the back, move Fabio futher forward out wide ?? don’t know, but AK acknowledged that the front end needed tweaking, he thought he’d do it with Snodgrass / Jese etc, but now he’s gonna need to do something else.
“The focus has been on bringing in the likes of Downing, Fischer, Gaston, Traore to name but a few in the last year or so. De Roon aside, the big investment has been in the attacking areas of the pitch.”
This. And Fabio is an attack minded full back. And De Roon has outscored our other midfielders.
Second… sorry, Len, but I do have some sympathy here for Aitor. To have Plan A and Plan B in the transfer market in tatters is bad enough, but C and D too? Boro sought out their targets – Deulofeu, Bojan, Jese and Snodgrass – relatively early and none paid off. It happens.
Simon – I sort of agree, and the noises coming out today suggest that Stoke told us it was £12m or nothing for Bojan, which does give the club some room for manoeuvre, as they could argue that not many fans would have thought that £12m was VFM, but… if you don’t act you risk losing out. We played a game of cat and mouse, and player and club alike sorted themselves another option out.
That is the only possible leveller at AK, that he ranked Bojan as Option B or C and didn’t act fast enough to tell the club otherwise when Option A became unavailable. I still think if we’d offered the price Stoke wanted Bojan would far rather have signed for us than Mainz.
Point taken, Smoggy In Exile. And a good one too.
I am, alas, reminded of the near-end of Roy Keane’s reign at Ipswich. Shaun Derry’s contract was up at Palace and he told Keane that he’d love to play for him – even though Keane told him he’d only get a year and the money wouldn’t be great. It would have been a free transfer too.
Ipswich didn’t offer the player a deal. Keane was embarrassed.
Derry went to QPR in the end – who went up the following year as champions.
AK appears to be cheesed off, unsurprisingly given we haven’t bought the player(s) he wanted.
To conclude anything else from that is stretching it a bit in my opinion.
What we need now is a win tomorrow and an (unlikely) result on Saturday and we’ll all be smiling again.
I was miffed when we spent £6M on Gestede let alone the ones who we didn’t sign. The whole transfer window smacks of an absolute shambolic car crash.
Ian,
None of the players you mention are genuine No 10s. (though some might make a claim for Downing ). We are panicking now precisely because we have no obvious stand- in for Gaston. Panicking to such a degree that we are desperately hanging on to a player who does not want to be here. The position been a recurrent weakness under AK, in stark comparison to the excellent cover we have in central defenders and defensive midfielders. It’s a reflection of AK’s defensive mindset, but an observable imbalance nevertheless. Isn’t that stating the obvious rather than being contentious?
Len
There is nothing unexpected about what happened in the transfer market, disappointing, but not unexpected. The fashion now is to play the buying club like a fish, and then stick the knife in. We are not alone, fortunately we have more than enough to see us safe, unlike some.
The last ten years have been a disaster for the most part,when it comes to more than enough of our signings,and who was behind them? I don’t think it was Karanka,
I’m not surprised he’s a little miffed, he knows we a re going down with this lot.
Tomorrow night is huge now. It has the feel of the Hull game last year and we know what a lift that gave us. Defeat is unimaginable, a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but a win would be massively massive.
BP
I think the comparison with last season’s Hull game is a good one. I hope Aitor’s anger galvanises the players to go out and deliver. A defeat just doesn’t bear thinking about.
BP
We agree again, defeat tomorrow is unthinkable.
Had to go out at 3.00pm just as I was about to post similar views to Len. Along with RR as well, we have banged on about the success or not of the Gill/Orta team and here we are again with AK seemingly in our corner. He seems like a man under extreme pressure who has got a ready made scapegoat should the worst happen.
I sincerely hope his best is good enough or there will be a Spanish Inquisition come May.
In AK we have to trust.
Ashley Young is apparently available from Man Utd. Left sided attacker used to playing winger, wing back and on the left of a front 3? Check. Used to tracking back after a season or so of Gaalball? Check.
I don’t like him personally, but would he offer us some much needed creativity? Absolutely. Will it happen? Probably not.
Smoggy
Tend to agree that Young wouldn’t be my preferred choice but considering the state of our Transfer window its a good last minute rescue of what has now become a desperate situation.
On the Gaston scenario the cynic in me thinks that if you were Leicester who would you regard as your biggest and nearest threat in the table? Hull, Sunderland, Swansea?
Is Premiership survival worth £12M/£15M?
Oxford at Home in the Cup!
Great draw. Shame some of the big boys didn’t draw each other however as it would be a tough R6 game if we get through.
The home game v Sunderland will be moved to a midweek later in the season if we get through as well, as it is on R6 day.
The home game against Sunderland could be a good game in hand to have up our sleeve for later in the season. Then again it could be desperate by that time unless someone gets a grip of the club before then.
I’m enough of a sentimentalist to want to see the ‘magic of the cup’ retained and so I really like the way the draw delivered so many cracking ties between small and big clubs.
Question for the Brains Trust – if you were Sutton would you shift the game to Arsenal? How much extra money would that be worth?
Anyway, great draw for us and a real shot at R6. Now we need to beat West Brom tomorrow and hold onto our players. That would be a good result.
UTB
Excellent draw. I would have taken any team at home.
Not easy but we all know AK will field a strong team on the day.
up the Boro!
Len
It depends what you think Gaston’s position is. I tend to think he is an attacker, your view appears to be what can I beat Aitor with then that is his position, that isn’t helpful in the debate.
Stewie and Fischer are potential candidates for the that role. Long term we have tried to add in that position. When AK came he had Tomlin, he moved on.
The club have tried to bring in more attacking players over several windows, you cannot criticise them for trying. Unless of course it is AK focussed.
Steely
As I was out I missed your post.
As I posted many times there are two views about recruitment, if the players do well then it is well done to Orta/Gill. If it goes belly up it is AK’s fault.
We were told the whole idea of the model was for the experts to research the players to fit the requirements and bring them in.
Last September I was underwhelmed by the recruitment, many on the old blog were lauding the process. My view was we had built a squad to battle in the bottom third of the table. Oddly that is where we are and in some peoples view it is AK’s fault.
Criticise AK for replacing defenders with defenders, the club wanted attacking players but it didn’t happen so blame AK.
AK is just one part of the process that includes analysts, the recruitment beam and the people who sign the cheques.
But AK isn’t cuddly, doesn’t come from Teesside so is an easy target.
Blame him for the formation, selections and subs. Blame him for the way we play. That is fair game, may not be entirely right.
We’ve bought too many projects,players fit only for the championship and players with no premier league experience.
We bought early last summer and Karanka was well satisfied with his squad. By November it was a different story which was going to be addressed in the January window.
Now at the end of January no targets were brought in,the problem areas wernt addressed and Karanka at his press conference today looked as though he was going down faster than the titanic.
I hope he cheers up overnight and can motivate the players to go and get a result because he looked as though he’s given up now
If the Gazette’s article today is to be believed (a bit of a stretch maybe) there were some answers by AK to the questions put to him that seem very odd to me.
Question – has there been another bid for Ramirez?
Answer – I don’t know.
Question – has it been a difficult weekend missing out on transfer targets?
Answer – no, I don’t know about new players.
Question – why has it been difficult to get new players?
Answer – I don’t know.
Question – will Jordan Rhodes leave before the deadline?
Answer – I don’t know.
Now, for a man who said not long ago that he is the one who “takes all the decisions here” it is puzzling to hear that there are some seemingly important items he doesn’t know anything about. Surely he must know something about them or could it be that he is pleading ignorance and trying to pass the buck so it won’t be his fault if it all goes wrong?
I share Len’s frustration and, just to make him feel even worse, I hear Wigan have now turned down £6M for Wildschutt who we sold on a couple of seasons ago for a couple of Karankachiefs and a Boro lotto ticket. That was around the same time we plucked De Pena, De Sart and Meijas from relative obscurity only for them to scuttle back, tail twixt legs, from whence they came. An early indication of the lack of judgement in the transfer market that has dogged the Karanka era.
We spent windows, if not seasons, chasing Rhodes and then, having finally secured his signature, find any excuse not to play him. We cast aside the first commanding, solid goalkeeper we’ve had since Schwartzer for a tiny, over the hill, panic inducer. We look lightweight and slow in the attacking third so we bring in Bamford(lightweight) and Gestede(slow). It really beggars belief.
What happened to Peter Kenyon’s input and our links with that super-agent who used to be a DJ or the scouting genius of Victor Orta ? We were meant to be getting the next young things from Spain weren’t we – the young stars before they’ve made it who can be sold onto the big boys for profit, our new sustainable Iberian model. Well, there ain’t much sell on value in Valdes or Negredo or the slow full back with a silent “g” and anyway are they actually any better than Dimi, Kike and Nsue? Even our failed targets (Bojan, Rodrigues) are hardly unexposed. They’ve already made their name elsewhere, already been at the biggest club they’ll ever play for.
For all Gibson’s promises of “giving it a go” in the Premier League isn’t there a sound argument that our negligence in the transfer market has left us with a team no better than the one that got us promoted. In fact, if Ramirez spits the dummy, is it actually worse?
Whoa, Anthony. Using powerful evidence and coherent,well expressed arguments as a stick to beat Karanka with?
Shame on you.
As an aside, here is an observation from RR on Victor Valdes, written months ago.
“He looks very short in stature in the goal and I get the feeling that our defenders are being distracted by having to overly protect him. He pulled off a brilliant Jason Steele type full length save in the first half in fairness to him and neither goal was remotely his fault but I’m still not getting that comfortable confident feeling, especially at crosses and corners.”
That was after the Palace match. Many of the observations, though he has undeniably improved, still hold true today.
My point? A goalkeeper does not escape criticism just because there is no explicit, concrete evidence that he was at fault for the goals conceded.
And a manager definitely does not escape criticism just because there is no explicit, concrete evidence that he won’t put things right.
I’m concluding that perhaps it’s time to retract my “wait and see” approach to games a little bit. Because I’ve been known to be heavily critical of people who have written off AK, Stuani, Valdes etc before they go on to perform well and/or deliver the right results… the trouble is, my “see? what was your problem?” or “told you he’d be good” argument is hampered by the benefit of hindsight.
Having said all that…
A lot of Anthony, and Len’s own arguments are hugely enhanced by the benefit of hindsight.
AKBoro are not the first club to let a young-talent-who-goes-on-to-prove-himself-elsewhere go on the cheap, and they definitely won’t be the last. Yes, he came very good at Wigan, but we weren’t to know that at the time.
AKBoro are not the first club to cast aside a popular goalkeeper for a higher profile sweeper-keeper – Manchester City, anyone? – and they certainly won’t be the last.
Do I need to repeat that Rhodes got chances last season? Plenty of them?
Do I need to repeat that Bamford is the only poacher to triumph at AKBoro? And that bringing him back contains valuable sentimental appeal as well as team appeal?
Of course I share your regret, but it is the manner of the arguments that bother me.
“But we weren’t to know that at the time…”. Some of us were though. And as Len goes on to outline below, it was foresight rather than hindsight. Still, at least console yourself that you are in good company. In response to my argument that we should at least explore the obvious potential offered by Wildschut, Nigel put me firmly in my place with the succinct analysis that he was in fact “rubbish”. A place on AK’s scouting team awaits.
I understand your frustration, but one can only predict, theorise even. One can’t explicitly know per se how a player will perform at a club.
Well Boro face a pivotal 24 hours – Not only is the clock ticking on the transfer window amid the uncertainty of who stays and whether that attacking midfielder will be eventually found under the final stone unturned? But we’ve also got a crucial game against West Brom to occupy our minds!
Speculation is ready to go into overdrive – so have your say on the new deadline day pre-match blog.
https://diasboro.club/2017/01/30/the-clock-is-ticking/
Simon,
I’d be interested to know which views put forward by either Anthony or myself you think have been made with the benefit of hindsight.
As I understood it the main criticisms you have made in the past have concerned your belief that I tended to rush to judgment, rather than playing your preferred, ‘Have patience…wait and see ” line.
In fact I explicitly try to avoid the charge of being wise after the event by taking the risk of putting my views on the line before events take place.
For example, in relation to the current debates I have drawn attention to the importance of attending to our No 10 problem for more than two seasons.
I also questioned the wisdom of both our treatment of Yanic and the knockdown price at which he was sold at the time of his transfer. I made the same point about Butterfield the season before. We got £1.5 million for the pair. Their value a year later? £11 million by the look of it. Not a scintilla of hindsight, but I’d like to think a bit of foresight from a poorly- sighted old codger.
On the historical example you cite, I was critical of the ruthless treatment of Jason in favour of a dodgy Spanish keeper at the time. No hindsight there.
And to bring us right up to date I was prepared to offer the view that de Pena wasn’t up to it and a grotesque waste of money at a time when you said that you”liked” him and that we should be patient.
So I’m genuinely interested to discover the evidence you have to support your belief that my views have been ‘hugely enhanced by the benefit of hindsight”, since it’s a criticism I have taken some trouble to avoid.
Okay Len. I was wrong. And I do apologise.
I didn’t think you had made such judgements on Yanic and Butterfield at the time of their sale or loaning out. So my bad there.
In a way, though, your views have gained weight with both time and their performances at their current clubs.
I think that’s what I meant to imply. Sorry it came out wrong.
Frustration got the better of me as I felt AK was being singled out for letting this talent go as (a) it can also be a club decision and (b) he’s not alone. It’s happened with many a club and many a Boro manager.
Often I feel the criticisms of AK have been sharp and pointed even when his teams are winning and scoring. And that gets to me. And it can sometimes colour my views.
That is all it is.
Then, Simon, as I’ve suggested previously, maybe it’s best that you take a day or two to seriously consider your thoughts before posting so as to allow the emotional tone to settle.
There are those that could also consider this to be pertinent advice, otherwise we end up calling people ‘cowards’ & threatenin to put out contracts on them (obviously in jest) or accusin them of shoutin because we’ve had a glass or more of the amber nectar.
Just sayin like!
Thank you Spartak. I’ll take that on board.