Boro show some fight against classless Mourinho

by Redcar Red, posted in Uncategorized

This was one of the games instantly underlined in Boro fans diaries when the fixture lists first came out, the sorcerer versus his apprentice. The TV Company would have had the same intrigue although I’m sure that was well before Boro’s usual defensive paralysis had been fully considered as verging on anything remotely suitable for entertainment before the watershed. With AK now departed the game had taken on a new perspective and one that I would suspect was much to the relief of BT Sport. Man United will always get the punters in but a bus parking Boro bore draw isn’t a great advert for plugging a box/package/bundle/landline/broadband services.

The pre KO talk in the concourses was of some optimism given the purported injury list and suspensions for Mourinho’s men. Boro of course were not without their own injuries and crucially key ones in Friend and Chambers (still can’t believe he was ridiculously risked in that Oxford FA Cup game) along with Ayala and Espinosa leaving Steve Agnew with sparse defensive resources.

United had a gruelling fixture schedule this week with this their 3rd game in 7 days and early kick offs don’t particularly agree with them. This season they only picked up all 3 points from 2 out of 7 televised lunchtime matches. Straws and statistics were being grasped from wherever we could find them as the line ups were announced providing the earliest indications of Steve Agnew’s intentions. The team when announced indicated that a clean slate was the order of the day from Steve Agnew as the starting line-up included Downing, Negredo and Ramirez all in the side.

The Kick off saw Boro push further up field and with far greater attacking intent than I have seen all this season. Instead of the monotonous side to side defensive passing than has been the hallmark for the last few years we had Fabio and Downing providing width pushing wide with Ramirez in front of Fabio just inside working one twos and Grant buzzing around centrally looking to play forward passes. I think I witnessed better football in the first 6 minutes from Boro than I have since Swansea. OK this was Manchester United and they had something to play for and so we didn’t have it all our own way by any means and were it not for Valdes pulling off two great first half saves the game could have turned very sour very quickly.

As it was we were entertained by Stewy pinging balls across the pitch setting up Fabio and Ramirez, putting crosses into the box albeit many overhit but at long last we had entertainment something that the Riverside faithful had been starved off for what seemed like an eternity. After a quarter of an hour United seemed to have regrouped and started to offer more threat going forwards and inevitably Fellaini met a cross from Young at the far post not surprisingly outjumping Fabio to put United 1-0 up. We all know what happens this season when Boro go behind yet we didn’t see the usual signs. The Red sashed shirts rolled their sleeves up supported by the fans and got stuck in again and once more took the game to United. It was clear that word had reached Mourinho to target Espinosa as the weak link at the back and yes he did have some torrid times but he also got his head to a few balls and intercepted a few whilst staying upright as Young tore through the Boro defence to time a tackle to perfection.

As the first half whistle was blown the home fans stood and applauded Boro off the pitch as their endeavours were well received and acknowledged. The “bad boys” looked a totally different proposition as both Stewy and Ramirez looked up for it with Ramirez storming back at one point to nick the ball off I think Rashford’s toes just as he was about to pull the trigger on the edge of the Boro box. Young and Lingard were tormenting the Boro right side and Valencia was getting forward picking up a lot of balls played in behind Fabio and their wide men were the main source of build up and trouble for Boro all afternoon. I would say that even if we had played with a flat back 9 as has been levelled at AK in the past their pace and trickery still would have caused problems.

The second half started pretty much the same with Boro showing the same positive intent but left the back door open for Lingard to run onto a clearance and charge down the middle of the pitch blasting a beauty into the top corner clipping the inside of the upright as it went in giving Valdes no chance. 2-0 and it seemed very cruel but in fairness to United they had created the more clear cut chances despite Boro having the lion’s share of the ball. It would have been easy for Boro heads to have dropped sensing another defeat and never coming from behind but again they pushed forward and incredibly we seen a double substitution that actual had an effect, changed our style and positions forcing Mourinho to switch to playing six (or even seven) at the back.

Traore and Gestede came on for the tired limbs of Ramirez and Leadbitter and as Boro upped the ante we looked like we could get something out of it. Traore’s pace clearly worried United as he ran past them for fun teasing and putting crosses in to service Negredo and his partner (yes two up top!) Gestede and suddenly Smalling and Co. weren’t having it all their own way. With Downing now having switched sides for Traore and Adama being trusted to do his thing without needing micro coaching the Boro pressure paid off as Gestede poked home through De Gea’s legs at close range to make it 2-1 and game on.

The equaliser didn’t come in the end but had it ended 2-2 it would arguably have been a fair result for the effort that the Boro players put in as cramp started to set in with many but it wasn’t to be. A slip at the death from MOM Valdes gave the score line an unfair reflection but as we have been saying for a while I’d rather lose 3-1, seeing us giving it a go then meekly surrendering 1-0 with no effort or passion. There was plenty of passion as United started their time wasting techniques and the Ref seemed overly cautious not to incur the wrath of the media by upsetting the Chosen One with any contentious decisions so the game was held up for Lingard to tie his laces and when Young kicked the ball away blatantly for a Boro throw in he just ignored it rather give out a straight yellow.

OK, we lost again and conceded 3 goals but what I saw today was so refreshing that I along with around 15,000 other Boro fans hung around after the final whistle to applaud the Boro Players off the pitch. Play like this every week and who knows I’d probably buy a Season Ticket!

Driving home I listened to some abject phone ins from individuals who were either not at the game or had consumed so much booze that it addled what few brain cells they did have but anyone who was actually at the game experienced a different atmosphere and with it optimism that despite there only being ten games left with 30 points to play for this new vibrant attacking football means the previous form book has been thrown out of the window.

Shame that Mourinho was ungracious in victory and chose instead to give Stewy verbals from the touchline before disappearing down the tunnel to avoid shaking Agnew’s hand, unfortunately there were no chairs around this time.

127 thoughts on “Boro show some fight against classless Mourinho”

  3. Great report RR, are these the first shoots of a late Boro spring? Mr Agnew please keep two up front and go at the opposition from the off, you may surprise yourself, and lift a very drab season even if Boro do go down.
    Mourinho, what a graceless and charm free plonker he is. As my mother would have said ‘he’s showing his broughtings up’. I still think that to see how good he really is as a manager he should go to Grimsby or Hartlepool or anywhere in the old fourth division.
    UTB,
    John

    3. Mourinho is a Karanka. For Manure to employ him as an ambassador for the club is an insult to all the greats who have graced Old Trafford.
      He’s the kind of guy I’d like to meet in the Fox & Hounds, to wind him up until he bit like a shark, then re-arranged his looks big time.
      Only woofing like.

      1. Referee stopped the game to go to security on the half way line to hand over plastic bottles thrown at players from South Stand so expect to see that in his report don’t know what that means for Boro

  4. A while ago I decided to look into what people thought of Mourinho’s character in the Guardian’s comments section. Here’s some of the gems I uncovered.
    “Mourinho’s a narcissist with a *expletive* big ego who always think he is bigger than the club (me, me, me…) and ignores players’ contribution when the chips are down.”
    “While he has been the most successful manager in Chelsea’s history, Mourinho is also a colossal tw~t. I genuinely believe the man has no class or integrity – this is the man who poked Tito Vilanova in the eye, remember? – and, as he demonstrated with his treatment of Eva Carneiro, he’ll hang you out to dry if it fits his agenda to do so. This makes him untrustworthy, and is more than likely the reason the Chelsea players stopped playing for him.”
    But this one was the best.
    “Mourinho needs a true challenge to thrive, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Chelsea? 50 years without winning the league. Inter? 50 years without winning the European Cup. Real Madrid? An inability to beat a dominating Barcelona and pass the last sixteen of the Champions League. Man Utd? An inability to find themselves post-Ferguson.
    “Mourinho is like Michael Schumacher, leaving a winning Benetton for the challenge of bringing Ferrari back to glory after they have struggled for years.”
    I think of the last one, and I think of AK. No doubt he thought it was a true challenge to get Boro back to the top tier. And note also that his best runs came after poor runs, media maulings, tantrums or hissy fits. Makes him look better, I suppose, if he bounces back from seemingly insurmountable odds to win the day. Not that I’m being cynical or anything.

  5. Personally I thought we played better against Everton (a similar quality side to United) and looked more likely to win that game. We could have been five nil down at half time and only Valdes kept us in it. I enjoyed the last 15 minutes though, it was good to see us make a real attempt to get back in the game when behind.
    Was it a step forward though? I’m not so sure.
    Swansea is obviously a huge game now, I’m sure there will be a clamour for us to play with 2 up top and Traore, but just because that ‘worked’ (although it didn’t actually get us any points) doesn’t mean it would from kick-off. I think the two strikers and Traore is a good option as a plan B at the moment.
    If we can get Friend and Chambers fit, and add them to the team that started today we could be in business.

    1. I wonder if Gestede will get a ban?
      He had the Man U player around the throat and then appeared to try and do a Dracula kiss!!
      Has the referee included this in his report ?
      We’ll just have to wait and see!!
      Also apparently Mourinho had a fight in the tunnel with some Boro players (were these the ones that he knew got Karanka the sack?)
      Hignett definitely was asked to go back confirmed to me at the game today but don’t know in what capacity

  6. Great match report Redcar Red. Left the Riverside on a high, really entertaining game (seems a while since I’ve been able to say that) combined with giving it a good go. I’ve never seen so many crosses put in and we just did not have the rub of the green. Even at 2-0 down I felt that we could get back into it which is progress in itself. Clayton was fantastic and Leads snapped into tackles. SA has a couple of weeks to work with the squad but the initial signs based on todays performance are promising.

  7. interesting comments on social media about SA…….most seem to think we would be better off with an experienced manager….at the moment I’m not sure , how about the Dias Boro team…what do you think ?

    2. SG has a reputation of giving managers first time appointments and even though I think we need experience he seems to be making a strong statement for SA to have the job
      As I posted previously he has been talking to Hignett recently as well to come back – fact

  8. Despite the defeat there were more positives than negatives.
    We had a go
    The players played with more freedom
    The subs had an impact on the game
    The subs wernt like for like and we changed formation fir the better
    Negatives for me were Barragan and Espinosa the sooner Friend Chambers and even Ayala are fit again the better.
    With a more reliable and trusted defence I’m sure we will attack more
    It looks like it’s Agnes job for at least the remainder of the season,should we stay up he’ll have good a good claim for the job permanently and we would be in a better position than we are now to attract a better manager. No one wants a relegation on their CV do they?
    Interestingly Leo who hasn’t been seen for months since his Achilles injury was back out warming up the keepers. Coincidence or had he fell out with Karanka too? He never got his P45 like three of Karankas backroom staff did
    Feeling more optimistic after today,let’s see what two weeks on the training ground does before our annual week of destiny against Swansea Hull and Burnley

  9. I must say that if I was Downing and he’d given me a mouthful and run away down the tunnel I would have found him and asked him what was wrong with his face and attitude. Just sayin’ like.
    Braveheart I think it is a bit early to judge SA but would another senior advisor destabilise everything again?
    UTB,
    John

  10. Agree with your report entirely Redcar, if nothing more there’s a bit of optimism buzzing around Teesside.
    I thoroughly enjoyed the last 15 minutes in particular, two up front is the way forward.
    I’m not always a big fan of inexperienced managers, but Steve Agnew has my full support.

  11. Perhaps those watching on BT would have a more negative view, Steve McManaman and co were not complementary about us. Nor were those in the South London pub where I watched the game. Up to 70 minutes was the same old sterile domination story, lots of sideways and backwards passing, against a team who had not got out of 2nd gear. Beyond the Ramirez run and shot, cannot really remember a decent Boro chance in the first 70 minutes.
    The substitutions and the goal allow a slightly more positive perspective. Has to be questioned why SA did not make changes at half time as was hard to see us getting back in the game at that point. We were also aided by a a strange timidness from Man Utd at the end, why they sat back against a team as clueless as us is baffling.
    Have to question whether anyone could save us now, though will be interesting to see the mindset v Swansea; we have to win really and I would rather we went down fighting rather have a repeat of the game v Palace or even a fairly useless 0-0,

        1. I’m getting windy as the matches run out and we are still in the bottom two.
          I wonder why Leo suddenly appeared to do the goalkeeper training yesterday?
          He also sat on the bench so why was he not there before. He didn’t kick the ball but seemed to be walking ok.
          Wonder if he amd AK fell out?
          No fist pumping and beating of AK logo on the tracksuit at the end either.
          Someone must have had a word……..

  13. I missed the first half and caught the second. A welcome forward looking approach to the game.
    We weren’t great but showed the spirit I was hoping for.
    Dear Lord, please, never ever Giggs. Also, Mourinho is a wonderful fit for a club as arrogant, bullying and self serving as Man U.

  14. I’m not sure it was sensible for Steve Gibson to confirm that Agnew has got the manager’s job and that he is not looking for anyone else.
    Yes, it may we’ll be true as Gibson says that Agnew has the respect and trust of everyone at the club and that he is well liked. However, the real test is whether he can deliver results and Gibson might have been wiser to wait and see rather than seemingly make a firm decision now.
    We are now well adrift in the relegation zone and it will take a miracle for us to stay up. What happens if (when) we go down and Agnew has failed to win enough points to avoid the drop? Does he stay on as manager in the Championship with a team that is sure to be decimated as key players leave or should someone else with more managerial experience be brought in to ensure we don’t sink further?
    Personally, I am with OFB in wanting someone with bags of experience please.

  15. I was trying to work out what tweaks SA had made that would turn the same 4-3-2-1 formation into a more attacking style. It seemed that there were a few basic changes.
    Firstly, the midfield were getting further forward, particularly DeRoon. That was positive but there wasn’t that much creativity.
    Secondly, the ball was being played forward much earlier. This is fine in principle but too often the player receiving was isolated. This also applied to crosses being put into the box but it was crying out for a second target man who could create second balls.
    Thirdly, the wide players, Downing and Ramirez did not seem to always be getting back as far as usual. This did give more attacking potential but left us horribly exposed against the speed of the Man U counter attack, particularly down the right were Barragan and Espinosa had a nightmare first half. Without Valdes in top form it could easily have been 0-3 at half time.
    The changes afte 65 minutes were predictable and seemed to create a more natural structure, at least when Traore stayed wide right. One of he main points of playing with two big men is to create opportunities for them to attack balls played in and have a second or it doesn’t player available. Thus it seemed odd to finally have the Negredo-Gestede combination and see Traore trying to play up the middle. I do wonder about his natural football intelligence. He just seems incapable of understanding that when the attack is up the left, he needs to be in the penalty area on the right side to create a third attacker. I also saw Barragan desperately pointing to him to go wide right as he kept on drifting inside. Its Ok to come inside now Andrew then for a run when we’re breaking out of defence but there’s no point doing that when the whole defence is set and he has the ability to get round the outside.
    We looked much more aggressive in the final twenty minutes and I wonder if SA would have preferred to start like that but was a) nervous about going to two defensive midfielders and b) worried about Gestede’s ability to see out a whole game.
    Overall, it was a shame that we were up against a quality attacking side who were so deadly on counter attack. Against a lesser side we could maybe have turned he pressure into a positive result.
    Anyway, that was always a free game with the real deal being the next three. We really need seven points and ideally nine.
    I’m not sure whether a mentor will make that much difference now. The mood seemed quite good and I sense that the club is geared to give it their best shot with what they have and regroup in the summer. Having said that, if Hiddinck or the equivalent turns up, I won’t be upset.
    More important,y, we desperately need the break and the chance to get Chambers, Friend and Ayala fit.
    I’m still feeling a bit optimistic.
    UTB

  18. The less said about the game the better, lots of huff and puff,someone on tees the call in said Downing was motm ,every cross was over hit,and the back pass was on the wrong side of Valdes kicking leg..
    Having said that I will say if it wasn’t for bad luck, we wouldn’t have any at all,watched other games with deflections going in, misplaced passes turning out perfect,I don’t know?
    I hope the club allow the players, a week off,they need it,work out a plan then a week from now two a days coaching .
    On Agnew I think he was given assurances when he left Hull, if Karanka didnt work out, him in .

  19. About that slip…..
    Sod’s law I suppose – as I had remarked that unlike the City game Man U had the right studs for the slippery Riverside.
    I dont know if anyone noticed the cup tie against city. Their players were slipping over all the time. In the end I counted at least a couple of dozen instances. Usually talented fast plast players [ not the Boro variety] were the ones who fell over.
    So, maybe Vlades has upped his game and is now in the City multi million pound category, only to fall foul of our groundsmans wicked plans and be hoist by hi own whatsit.
    Just musing like….
    On another note, the match was OK – entertaining but still predictable.
    Going to miss the next three games so when I get back it may all be over!!

  20. Personally I don’t think Steve Gibson is taking any risk saying Agnew is the man, he hasn’t actually specified for how long anyway. That said I would imagine the job is his until the end of the season, that would be sensible.
    After that, I cant imagine Gibbo will make a decision based on whether or not Agnew kept us up or not, that would seem somewhat unreasonable, given that we’re currently behind the black ball where relegation is concerned.
    My guess is if we see an improvement in team spirit, more attacking play, players playing with freedom, a few more goals and an improvement in form then Agnew will be manager next year. That would be okay with me.
    As for who not to bring in as manager, no Giggs, Redknapp, Pullis or McClaren for starters.
    Swansea is going to be a huge, huge game, personally I think Swansea would be happy for a draw, we need a win, no messing.

  21. Now Gaston seems to be trying I would like to see us play 4231 again with Gaston in the no 10 role flanked by Traore and Downing. I would be happy if Gaston was close to Negredo or Gestede rather than deep because hopefully playing in the hole he would pull a midfielder back to help mark him.
    Downing looked much better when he switched to left but the crossing was a bit iffy. Traore still looks lost at times, you wish he would show better movement off the ball, he stands still an awful lot of the time making it easier to mark him.
    I would hold back on some of the criticism of Bernardo and look back at some of the havoc Rashford caused against Chelsea when playing for ten men in the cup. Look at the impact he has breaking from the left for ManU and England.
    No defender can live with that pace, any players with that searing pace become attackers not defenders.
    In a cricket analogy Geoff Boycott was asked how to face West Indian pace bowlers, from the non strikers end was the gist of his answer. Ben Gibson will have been delighted to be the left sided centre back!

  22. My Boro XI ’til the end, if fully fit, available, and on song? (Big ifs, I know.)
    Valdes – Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend – De Roon – Leadbitter, Downing – Ramirez – Negredo, Stuani. Subs? Dimi, Ayala, Clayton, Adama*, Fischer, Gestede**, Bamford***.
    Stars indicate my priority of subs, one star for 1st sub, etc.
    You may find it controversial, but it might just work.
    Alternatively, considering a half-fit Gestede put himself about up front far more than Negredo appeared to…

  23. Ian
    I accept that facing Rashford made it even harder for Espinosa but his game has been going backover for a while. He seems to be lacking the composure he had when he first came into the team. Having him and Barragan on the right together is a weakness at present.
    I think Simon’s back four, if fit, are our strongest option.

  24. Steely
    My preferred back four is the same as Simon’s and have posted that a few times.
    Saying hold back on SOME of the criticism is not a wholehearted endorsement of Bernardo’s play at the moment, it is merely a recognition of the circumstances yesterday that compounded his current iffy form.

  25. A very fair match report from RR, and I think there were certainly promising signs of improvement with some more ideas in attack in the first half, and in the second a spirited fightback and a decision to go with both Negredo and Gestede up top which could have grabbed a point. Ramirez showed in flashes the sort of contribution he is capable of making, and Stewy was fully involved, so overall signs that we go to Swansea with some firepower up front.
    Agnew was a positive on the sidelines. He was involved, gave encouragement even when there were setbacks, and could be seen putting tactical points across at times. The better atmosphere he is creating within the club will be necessary if we are to get out of the hole we are in.
    I think Antonio Barragan and Bernardo Espinosa are very good footballers, but clearly the pace and movement of the Prem leave them stranded at times, although to be fair they are both coming back from injuries. I think the return of Callum Chambers is essential to our chances. I am tempted to mention George as well, but his injury seems to keep recurring and we have to face the fact that he may not be a factor for us again this season.

    1. James Husband has pace. Unfortunately the only time I’ve seen it is against lower league teams. Still, if we are out of options it is worth a try…

  26. With Bernardo, I really do think that it was as simple as Old Trafford.
    I remember when we were 1-0 up, I was smiling, and ready to file his first appearance for Boro in the “fine debuts” category.
    Then came the horrid one-two punch of the climax.
    I don’t think his confidence has fully recovered since.
    He and Barragan, I think, are confidence players, best in a team on the up. Which is what we are not right now.

    1. I think he and Barragan are mid table Championship level at best. I’m not sure I would want either next season regardless of the League we are competing in.

  27. We all know that it is more likely than not we will be relegated from this position. I think we would need everyone available, fully fit and in form to be equipped to mount the great escape from where we are now, and even then we would need some luck.
    Agnew’s job is to make sure the squad is united and we put in some fighting, never-say-die performances and give ourselves a chance. We will need to win some games and show real improvement in our scoring record.
    If he does that he will most likely be manager next season, and he will deserve his chance to show what he can do starting on a level playing field.
    If we go down tamely, then clearly names of young, up-and-coming managers like Stam and Wagner will come into the frame if they are still at Championship clubs.

  29. In my view Steve Agnew missed a huge chance to live up to his press conference billing as an inventive coach who was ready to show that he knew exactly where we’d been struggling and was ready to grasp his long awaited opportunity to do so. A “free-hit” home game against a potentially weary and understrength opponent backed by a sell-out crowd ready to roar on a new leaf of optimism was deflated before it started with the team selection. One up front, three defensive midfielders and creativity on the wrong wings – deja-vu . . . AK was hammered for such negativity and the flat atmosphere around me at kick-off reflected that even with AK gone nothing had changed, the handbrake was still on. United created the two best chances of the first half before they scored and could have been 3 up at the break.
    We only really threatened after we went 2 behind and made much needed overdue changes to personnel and system. Suddenly two upfront, an extra attacking threat and wingers on their natural sides was causing United problems. The players and crowd pushed for the goal and so it came, with more accurate crossing and composure it felt like we could have even equalised. Our endeavour didn’t deserve their third, their incisiveness probably did.
    That SA didn’t have the nerve to start with the line-up and system he finished with was an opportunity missed, we can’t afford to miss it again.

    1. I suspect the starting game plan was what was worked on most of the week up until Karanka departed. Agnew was put in charge Thursday lunchtime and probably would have only had Friday’s training to do anything different – which he maybe used to try the two up top idea as a second half Plan B.
      Also I don’t think the day before a game (in this case Saturday) is a heavy training day so he probably just worked out the team line-up and didn’t hit the players with a brand new game plan. We saw what happened at Palace when the game plan was changed at the last minute – the players just looked confused.

  30. Simon, I’d go for a different style, 442:
    Valdes, Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend, De Roon, Clayton, Traore, Downing, Gestede, Negredo.
    I wouldn’t have Stuani anywhere near the starting XI, I’ve got nothing against the bloke, I just don’t think he brings anything different to the party.
    I’d also have Ramirez as a sub and use him as plan B rather than using Gestede as plan B.
    When Gestede turned up in January I knew nothing about him, but the vibe on here was under whelming to say the least.
    Now I’ve seen him play I like what I see. He’s strong, powerful, gets stuck in, brilliant in the air. As my son said he’s a monster.
    I think Negredo is a great footballer and with Gestede winning crosses from Downing and Traore for Negredo to pick up and de Roon running into the box plus the other winger we could pose a real attacking threat.
    We need to be bold to have a chance of staying up, we’ve got to go for it and not die wondering.

  31. Nigel
    I am happy with four attackers on the pitch be it
    Traore, Gaston, Downing
    Negredo/Gestede
    or
    Traore, Downing wide plus two out of Negredo/Gestede/Bamford
    (I would also get the groundsman to mow the pitch end to end to encourage forward passing!)
    Both will work as long as played with intent.
    The other thing we have to remember is that the back four has been musical chairs and Gaston disappeared for 2017. That makes it hard to work out what effects what, just like in scientific experiments you change one variable at a time so can measure the changes.
    I often use the example of Matt Bates and Mick McManus. People used to say how the defence played better when Matt Bates dropped in to centre back but forgot that at times Bates was left back or midfield with McManus centre back. Because he had a left back alongside him or a recognised midfielder in front of him masked the relative performances.

    1. Must admit I missed out Stuani in my post, not deliberate, he or Bamford could operate alongside Negredo/Gestede if we go for two up top.
      I would still prefer Gaston pushed right up in the role off the striker.

  32. The same Stuani that, despite being repeatedly forced into an unfancied position, has outscored every other forward on the club’s books since 2015.
    He’s clearly a fine poacher… with a worldie or two in him.

  33. I think if Gestede is going to be the target man then Stuani would be a better support act than Negredo. Stuani is decent in the air but he reads the game well and gets himself into positions for the second phase of play, all the instincts of a poacher as Simon said. Judging Stuani solely on his wide play I think is unfair.
    On the subject of unfair I think anyone expecting Aggers to completely overhaul and revolutionise tactics in under 48 hours beggars belief. This is the Premier League not Sunday League against one of the most experienced Managers in Europe and an expensively assembled squad where they have individuals valued more than our entire squad. That said Agnew did change things, we played far higher up the pitch and we moved the ball around far quicker and indeed had overhit crosses going in as oppose to no crosses and no intent.
    When we went behind we didn’t shrivel up and die, we came back out and got at them. When we went two down we still came out and had a go instead of worrying about GD. Those who were at the game know there was excitement and tension in the last 15 to 20 minutes. It was either going to end 2-2 or 3-1, as it happens an unfortunate slip by Valdes after Downing got back, defended and won possession sealed the scoreline.
    I don’t know if Agnew or a Hiddink type is the answer but I saw far more positivity and quick interplay on Sunday than for a very long time including against Everton. We even scored a goal for heavens sake, just how much any new Manager or Coach was expected to achieve in 48 hours is way beyond me. SA now has two weeks to work with his squad on tweaking things as well as for the walking wounded to repair their bruised limbs.
    I suspect he would rather have his nephew to select to play alongside Gestede but it isn’t his squad. Just like when AK first arrived, its what he has inherited and its what he has to work with.

  34. The next two weeks in terms of injuries clearing up, or not, may dictate how we do.
    Also I think that that was Gastons ninth booking. Not sure what the ban would be, but was he banned at the five figure. If so could it be three games after the next booking? Is there anybody else close to a ban?
    Simon, I do not see how you could pick Leadbitter before Clayton. Adam was way ahead on Sunday of both MFers yesterday.

    1. Leadbitter chasing shadows obviously he is starting to get slower as he gets older
      It has to be Clayton and DeRoon in midfield with Gaston only 2 DM

      1. Clayton had possibly his best ever game for us on Sunday, strong, confident, composed and with energy and gave Mata the run around on a few occasions. If he steps up to the standard he has now set himself he could be a major influence in how our season ends.

        1. RR
          Clayton was up for it and looked at home on the company of so many players
          He even did a cruyfe turn in the first half near me in the west stand to beat a man very impressive
          Most definitely his best game

  35. RR
    Totally agree couldn’t believe how much Agnew got slated over his starting team and starting tactics.
    I said earlier two weeks on the training ground will see us shape up totally different in future.
    A lot of these players have spent two or three seasons playing negative safety first tippy tippy football. Rome wasn’t built in a day they wernt all going to change into a ninety minute attacking force overnight.
    Judge Agnew and the players after the next three games and that will give an indication whether we have any chance of surviving

  36. I have been away for the week, missed the change of manager(too late) missed the match, just found out the result today.
    Liked the comments about a new attitude to the game, had an instant opinion on the game shape(without seeing a ball kicked, nice one or what)
    I think that poor old mourino’s side was a bit tattered and torn, was praying that we had played our speedball front and centre, played through balls for him to run after, think it might have been more than their defence could handle(some veterans with a touch of the slows amongst them) it sounds as if things changed when he came on, were they defending, and wasting time? Never.

    1. Oh yes they were playing for time
      Goalkeeper taking ages to take kicks
      Players dropping like flies injured then getting up before trainer got on
      Stopping play so they could tie up their shoelaces!!!
      Referee showing his watch showing he was adding time on a whole 4 minutes
      Players to be substituted ambling as slow as anything off the pitch
      Yes they were certainly an example of the modern game

      1. I thought the Ref was somewhat underwhelming and seemed in awe almost of Man United. The shoelace tying incident just beggared belief as did the 4 minutes of added time, the United players took longer than that just walking off the pitch.

  37. I saw a small clip of an interview with Marinho on NBC, talking about how he basically wins,and what he said was that he does it differently, in the sense ,he waits for the opposition to run out of ideas then in his words” like a dog he bites ”
    Who does that remind you of?

  39. After the international break I fear we have to face up to the fact that Boro’s Premiership status has been lost in the last ten matches and it will not be won in the next ten matches. ‘Easy’ games gone hard games to come.
    So the Sunderland game has been moved, it has no real bearing on the final outcome. Even if Boro do win that game nothing will change. Well, not unless there is change in form that mirrors Premiership and Champions league winning form.
    We are down, start planning now for next season and I hope that some of the Academy youngsters get a chance to prove their worth.
    On the former I hope I am wrong.
    UTB,
    John

  40. It seems pretty clear to me. If we are going to have any chance of survival we must beat Swansea and Hull. It diesnt work any other way.
    I hope that we now move to 2 up front as the basic position. The question then becomes “who partners” Gestede? Well, at his best, a fully functioning Bamford would be ideal but maybe that’s pie in the sky.
    Anyway, I’d love to see 90 minutes played with the intensity and setup of the last 20 against ManU. That would shake teams up.
    UTB

  41. Why did I choose Leadbitter over Clayton?
    Well… I think I let sentiment get the better of me.
    My head says Clayton, without doubt. My heart, which now says “goals are football’s oxygen and the more we can get, the better”, goes for the higher scoring midfielder of the two.
    But there’s more to it than that. Having the club captain – Leadbitter – on the pitch can give everyone that extra lift. Festa and Vickers, and later Ehiogu and Riggott, were serviceable partnerships, but throw in Pearson and Southgate alongside them respectably and you saw one heck of a difference.
    When I decided on that team, I felt that character, commitment and leadership had to be prioritised to have any hope of beating the drop – as did goal sources. Valdes aside, the XI I picked has goals in them, even from the penalty spot. As for Fabio, my mind keeps going back to that worldy for Cardiff…
    Also, Nigel makes many great points about Gestede. It was a tough call between him and Negredo.

  42. I know we are sometimes are fond of quoting killer stats – like Boro have only scored three league goals this year – but it seems Gareth Southgate has delivered a pretty good one to his squad yesterday: England have only won three tournament games in the last 27 years.

  43. Also just to demonstrate how the media have short memories or even selective memories when it comes to printing articles.
    Headline in Guardian, 20 March:
    The peaceful one: José Mourinho says
    he is more mature at Manchester United
    José Mourinho has said he is a more mature manager than he was at the start of his career and believes he is able to transmit that serenity to his Manchester United players…
    Headline in Guardian, 19 March:
    Manchester United’s José Mourinho
    refuses to discuss Middlesbrough spat
    José Mourinho refused to answer questions about an unseemly altercation in the tunnel at the Riverside following a bad-tempered end to Manchester United’s 3-1 win at Middlesbrough…

    1. Could be wrong GT but I think Grant Leadbitter’s does, I seem to recall a link to Forest again a while back because of it. Possibly Dimi as well and as we know Guzan is back Stateside in the Summer.

  46. Hello all – first comment since the weekend.
    Caught some of the 5 Live updates, which is never easy from Switzerland, but I remember them making a point of confirming that Boro have the 4th best defensive record in the top flight, the point being that you wouldn’t believe we could be 19th with that being the case.
    As to the game itself, the team sheet didn’t fill me with new found optimism, as SA’s major contribution seemed to be to recall some of the exiled but shovel them into the same limited formation. However, the logic was clear, there simply hadn’t been long enough on the training ground to change tactics and presumably his emphasis up until that point was more subtle; focussing on passages of play and passing strategies, which is no bad thing.
    In the event, I hope the second half “two up top” was one of those moments of clarity from which great things are born. Gestede, despite my reservations, is clearly a handful if you play to his strengths, which is having someone alongside him to feed off the knock downs. Whether that is Negredo, Stuani or even Ramirez (with a direction to keep close to him) remains to be seen, but it should be our default tactic. I wouldn’t begrudge SA a leaf out of BFS’s (Big Fat Sams) playbook, smash it up early to the big man and win the knockdowns. There won’t be many defenders who can live with Gestede, so let’s use that attribute. Personally, I would partner him with Negredo, as his hold-up play is better than Stuani’s and would allow us to get more people forward, although I will concede that Stuani is a good finisher.
    I’d also go Stuey wide left, Gaston wide right (or reversed) in my 44-2 and Clayton and De Roon pick themselves. Defence is a best of pick from those outside the treatment room.
    Hopefully SA and JJ are spending plenty of time this week working on set pieces in training, because this is definitely an area where we could improve and (hopefully) have a far greater goal-threat.
    The future may not definitely be bright under SA, but it’s definitely looking less dark and gloomy as the latter death throes of AK’s run.

  47. Just done the Gazette predictor for the first time and with a bit of an optimistic fair wind, pick up 4 points in the Swansea and Hull away games, beat Sunderland, Southampton and Burnley at home, draw at home to Arsenal and away to Bournemouth, lose to Man City and Chelsea and Liverpool would see us on 37 points and I’d reckon 1 or two points safe. Huge ask but if the mentality in the club and of the players changes as I think we saw a slight glimpse of on Sunday then its just ever so slightly maybe achievable.
    Not like me to me a “foamee” or a “rose tinted ra ra” as no doubt will be thrown at me (and probably quite fairly) but if the mentality is strong along with the determination and belief then there is no difference to this end of season run in than the last two seasons.
    There are 10 games and 30 points to play for. United is out of the way now, I can’t see anything from Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City but Arsenal at home depends on which Arsenal turns up and if we rattle them early then they have a soft centre this season so a point isn’t unrealistic. Surely we are due to do something to Burnley and if AK had released the Handbrake I think we could have got something down at the Saints earlier. Drawing at Bournemouth will be tough but I hope we will have more fight and fire in our bellies than them. Four wins, three draws huge upswing required but regardless we must hit Hull and Swansea hard to dent their survival hopes.
    Our competitors hopefully may have peaked in their revivals (except Leicester I suspect) so if we enter our decent run now (lets face it we have to) it may all be about timing and mentality. The reshuffling of the Sunderland game could also be very timely psychologically assuming we collect all three points.

  48. Redcar – I think your predictions aren’t outrageous, although we’re going to have to hit our form of the season to achieve it, but surely we’re due another away win or two and I’d like to think three of Ian’s points from unexpected places will come our way once this season?
    The season is on a knife edge for certain, but at least we haven’t gone over the cliff just yet.
    Steve Gibson has got his timing spot on I think, making the change at just the right time, its given everyone a boost and the last twenty minutes against Utd have given us a glimmer of hope.

  50. Nigel –
    I think you’re right about Gibson making the correct decision in opting for a change and I also think he’s made the right call in putting Agnew in charge given that any new manager wouldn’t have realistically been able to get up to speed in time for the week of destiny.
    At this point the only meaningful thing any manger/coach could do is lift the players, remove the tensions, inject some positivity and get everyone interested again. The reality is that Boro will play three key fixtures in the space of six days, which probably won’t decide if we stay up but could decide if we’re going down.
    If Gibson had have gone for an outside manager they will have tried to impose their own ideas on perhaps a set of players who are mentally worn down and perhaps had become over-coached to the point they weren’t able to absorb any more instructions and game plans.
    In addition, there is no time between these fixtures to do anymore than recover and prepare mentally for the next game – any new coach may have just ended up missing what is needed by trying too hard – Agnew I believe will just keep it simple and perhaps settle on giving the players a framework to play and enjoy their football before taking stock after the Burnley game.
    I had contemplated writing a more in-depth article on the Gibson decisions but at the moment I’ve got very little free time – just having a break too!

  54. Just watched the highlights on the box, in my opinion a chance thrown away. We should have selected Traore front and centre from the off, he is more than a little dribbler, when he came on they visibly wilted, Felaine got the classic runaround, they fell back to their last ditch defensive lines, and that could have happened in the first half, because they were a scrap side. Now I keep reading that we must play him on the wing, are these people real?

    1. Plato
      I think that’s the danger and the difference between seeing the whole game and just seeing highlights. Fabio and Ramirez kept them busy in the first half, our midfield were pushed well up the pitch and held their own. Downing was well advanced and pinging crosses into their box but they were to the far side of the box. Now whether that was crap crossing from Downing or the game plan to prevent De Gea from collecting easily and by passing their CB’s but nobody told Negredo I don’t know but there was far more going on in the opposition half than for a very long time, like 10 games or so.
      Traore done well when he came on and tore them to shreds down the flank, inviting them on then jinking past and putting on the afterburners and getting crosses in. What the highlights probably didn’t show was Traore standing with his hands on his hips at times instead of chasing down back passes and overhit balls that could (especially with his pace) have created a fumble, miss kick or induced a bit of panic (as in Valdes at the end).
      Whilst talented, to date the lad hasn’t a single goal or assist to his name. When he has started games he has tended to fade and become almost anonymous or gets bogged down in the wrong areas of the pitch dribbling past six players in the middle of the park then losing possession instead of playing an initial simple pass. You will probably have read on here on more than a few occasions if he had a football brain he would be lethal, comments like that are not made without good reason.
      AK had the lad changing flanks in games so he could keep whispering in his ear as he felt he couldn’t trust him and needed continual coaching and mentoring. During warm ups on Sunday Traore was hitting balls back and forth to Gestede who at one point got fed up and had a bit of a go at him because the balls were being hit and ending up literally anywhere when the objective was for him to pick out Gestede. If he can’t concentrate and focus enough to perform a simple warm up routine with precision just think about what happens during games. He amazes, excites, tantalises, has us all in awe then leaves us cursing at the end of it more often than not.
      Highlights don’t show those foibles and can create an illusion that is not exactly the entire picture. SA put him on with Gestede and then changed shape to a 442 as part of a Plan B and it worked well, I doubt it would have worked all game though as Gestede clearly wasn’t fit (he had to get his thigh strapped up after only 5 minutes or so from coming on) and as I say Traore cannot be relied upon to dig in for 30 minutes let alone 90. Against a very disciplined organised side with a manager who is obnoxious but not stupid in the art of Football Management that would have been a huge gamble especially as the Boro players have had between 8 months and 3 years of attritional tactics instilled upon them.
      Highlights are exactly that, the very best bits with a lot of editing out of the bad bits with nothing at all showing off the ball runs and movements.

      1. RR
        My take on Traore is that he is our main hope of playing in a fashion that might win us some matches, that means his speed must be applied in the middle, up front, in a free role. Not on the wings, only half his power to unsettle the other side is harnessed (too easy to shove him out of play) .
        We must also attack from the off, spending the first half standing about is not the answer, the match is decided by then.
        As for united, a scratch side turned up and played like a scratch side. Not very good and a chance was missed.
        The long range shot that scored was once again avoidable(one of ours got out of the way) and so it goes.
        I’m afraid that our new manager did not cover himself with glory, timing of subs was abysmal, Fry should have been centre back, with the centre moved to full back, traore starting, and staying on full match.
        Fry must get all the games left for obvious reasons, never mind his age, time’s a wasting, now is the time for him to come to the fore and stay there(height again)

      2. Plato
        But we did get at United from the off and despite their side missing some of their regular celebrities, replacements like Rashford, Carrick and Fellaini would walk into our side and just about every other Premiership side outside of the top 5 or 6.
        For the first ten to fifteen minutes we were camped in their half. Look at the possession stats of the game (AV tweeted) and then look at where the possession was and unlike AK it wasn’t predominantly in our half. We were missing two out of four of our preferred back 4 so if United were a scratch side we had a scratch defence so that pretty much balanced things.
        As regards Fry the lad has talent and a future hopefully but he went on loan to Rotherham now rooted at the base of the Championship. In case you haven’t noticed they have had a disastrous car crash of a season and poor Fry was a part of it. Based on that do you really think that qualifies him as capable of playing against decent Premiership players? He was only on the bench because of injuries.

  55. RR
    Agree with your observations on Traore. The problem is that, until he arrived and injected a bit of pace, the United defence was not really troubled.
    I’m not sure what the answer is but, somehow, we have to find a way to move the ball forward quickly and get bodies in the box before the opposition have regrouped but that’s been our problem all season.
    Let’s see what SA and JJ can come up with.
    UTB

    1. What was interesting after the game the coaches set up two additional goals as a five a side pitch and JJ had Traore working with a coupe of Boro players showing him where to make runs and working on his finishing
      Never seen that after a match before usually just a warm down
      So the differences in training regimes may freshen up the Boro

    2. Steely
      Traore?
      We are in the position of questioning the talent of a player who made a complete fool of Felainie, and he was still in complete control of the ball(he advanced and calmly chipped a ball in to the box) and we still do not use his speed(the dreadful Maurino knew all about his speed, when he came on the fun stopped for them, it was back to their own goal line, and stay there)
      Someone actually said that he has never provided a pass for a goal. I seem to remember one from earlier in the season(ak promptly removed him from the firing line) by the way it came from the middle of the pitch.
      Now to the quality of the United team, I believe they play West Brom away, if so I believe they will be well beaten, they were not good.

      1. I think the Traore “assist” was when he cut across the middle of the pitch and hit a pass where it deflected of a defender out wide into the path of Friend who put a cross in for de Roon to equalise away at Man City. Anybody else think of any?

  56. I suppose if we really want to go for goals, we could try an Alex Ferguson-style 442 with either Stewy or preferably Gaston in the Scholes role, with Clayton as Keane.
    Gung-ho stuff that I don’t think any of us would really recommend but if we need wins, we need goals and that midfield supplying two strikers should have what it takes.
    Maybe you get the fullbacks to stay at home to compensate as Leicester did last year or we did in the early AK days.

  57. Andy R
    We do need goals and maybe we should go for 442 from the off to get at the opposition and a goal.
    We know we can be defensively sound and hang on for the rest of the game. Can’t be any worse and will fool them!
    Trouble is, can the players handle it……..

  58. Fascinating to hear about the post match training for Traore. Let’s hope it gets through to him.
    THeres an interesting article in the EG on DeRoon. As readers here may have spotted, I’m a big fan of his work rate and see him and Clayton as potentially the Kante and Matic of our team. They also seem to be two of the most decent guys you could ever meet and that has to count for something as well. If we’re going to fight our way out of this it will be through a team effort.
    Like RR I see us as still having a shot and I also agree with Beckys Dad, we must go into the next two games looking for a win from the start.
    UTB

  59. RR….the problem with the majority of Downings “crosses” to the box was that they did not land in the said rectangle, but where in the main too long. On more than a couple of occasions he was pointing at Barragan saying he should of been up there to pick up the misshit pass??

    1. No it’s just Diasboro’s first encounter of the phenomena known as the ‘International Break’ – all interest in Boro related football matters drops off a cliff as everyone attends to those non urgent projects that they have been putting off.
      I’m in full plastering mode myself as I’ve got seven window frames to finish before Easter, otherwise Mrs Werder will no doubt crucify me if I fail to deliver as promised (of course my work on the blog won’t interfere I exclaimed) and it’s unlikely I’ll be left in any kind of shape for resurrection either!

      1. So would you get the glassy stare?
        Or is it an open and shut casement?
        A very paneful experience!
        I’ll close now
        I think I’m a pair of curtains so I’ll pull myself together

  61. Thanks for the explanation Werder. I thought I’d been sent to Coventry!
    Considering all the work you’ve put into this blog, it’s not unreasonable for you to attend to more important matters.
    We all need to keep our beloved spouses onside.

  64. You sometimes have to wonder , and question what is going on within your club,who decides what?
    We know in recent seasons we could or should have had,and it’s fact they were in the building,
    The likes of Matic, Lalana, Dawson ( W.Brom),Giroud, Smalling, others we can speculate ( rumours).
    You wonder because Steve Gibson has been the one common denominator.
    Just asking?

  66. Boro Beckys Dad
    It does indeed put things in perspective. It is, however, unusual to have no comments on here for such a long period. We usually post about such events to underline where football ranks in importance. Perhaps this was too close to home and we’re all shocked into silence. Thoughts go out to the bereaved relatives.

    1. I think we’re all quiet as a mark of respect as it puts things into perspective
      Anyone going to work today should expect to return home safely to their loved ones
      A family that is now broken is like all of us shocked and angry that this can happen in a civilised country and at the heart of our capital city
      No further words are necessary

  67. Very sad and very shocking.
    It puts thing into perspective when you see how shocked the whole nation is over 5 needless deaths and scores of injuries due to a single lunatic.
    Without courting controversy, it shows how special and peaceful normal life is in the UK when the rest of the world is viloent and crazy and such thing s happen on a daily basis without comment – civilians bombed, police shot at where I live and not a murmer . . . . gang murders and violence accross America and it is treated as normal.
    You guys back home mustn’t let it change your way of life.

  69. At the risk of sounding a bit controversial, I think the reaction by the media and others in the public eye, to what was essentially was one mentally disturbed individual seeking to gain public attention has been precisely what they set out to achieve.
    The media should report it but not dwell on every single detail and play on the fears of people. What is terrorism but an attempt to gain publicity and create a sense of fear and panic beyond the actual risk to any individual. Naturally, for the families involved this is the worst news imaginable but I get the sense that making it a national event is not something that will discourage other individuals from doing something similar.
    Even Gareth Southgate was asked what his view was on the incident – of course every normal person is going to regard what happened as an outrage so do we need to keep asking everyone to give their view – it’s a fine line between coverage and exploitation and I think many have crossed it.
    I think Editors should restrain themselves and think what the best measured response should be and not try to despatch as many reporters as they can find to cover every angle.
    It’s a tragedy for those involved but the media coverage also risks stirring up the potential for hate crimes by other mindless individuals – they seemed to have ironically forgotten the murder of Jo Cox was probably triggered by such sensationalist reporting of similar events.

  71. However it is spun out or reported it appears to me very unlikely that it was some sort of orchestrated planned attack and looks more like an individual with personal issues or difficulties of some sort. No doubt however that there will be retrospective online propaganda claim that it was part of some organisations planned activity as part of their ongoing campaign against whatever it is they have a grievance against and that said person belonged to them via the internet. In simple terms it was just plain galling and reprehensible.
    To me the TV reporting of the incident seemed hyped up and sensationalised which made it unpalatable to watch. I got the impression there was almost a race between the channels to report on the next death of one of the victims, It wasn’t one of media’s finer moments.
    Regardless of who or what or why it doesn’t remove the pointlessness of it all and that for absolutely no reason families have been torn apart and innocent people have paid the ultimate sacrifice and that as a consequence absolutely nothing will have or will be changed or is likely to be influenced even by a miniscule amount.
    Heartbreaking pain and suffering with a total waste of life with absolutely no gain for anyone apart from ironically those with far extreme views who no doubt will use it as a rallying call. Probably the exact polar opposite of whatever it was the twisted individual intended, assuming that it was thought through which judging by the methodology I doubt very much.
    What did strike me though was that someone or some organisation must have performed a risk assessment to conclude that armed Police officers were required. How on earth having reached that conclusion could they then have decided that only some would be armed and some wouldn’t? Staggering bureaucratic incompetence that resulted in an innocent officer needlessly losing his life in dealing with an event that was clearly considered and therefore predictable beforehand.
    In time we will likely see “no challenge zones” being marked around sensitive locations in this country and abroad where armed Police will be instructed to shoot before challenging any suspicious activity. Sad times we live in but I don’t think the world has changed that much, its just that with the advent of technology we are more aware of what is happening and as a consequence it can impact in peoples lives scattered much further afield.
    Thoughts and prayers with all those affected by yesterday’s event.

  72. Lifting the mood somewhat, I came across this website which is full of interesting bits and pieces about Football in general including one about Ironopolis. A very interesting read I’m sure to many of us with lots of short and very interesting stories about the game we love.
    https://footballpink.net/

  73. Fry? Now there’s a thing. Last week he played against a Manchester City side that was up for the game, full of stars, and had no trouble whatsoever, he was fine. As we are presumably going down, then we must play him in every match. This time warp we are locked in is foolish. In the game as it is constituted at present, brilliant young players must be brought on quickly, we, of all clubs, cannot afford to wait four seasons for good young players to mature, those days are gone.(and the player might just decide that he has had enough, there are ways round contracts)
    As for the fact that he was loaned to a bottom fisher club, how was that going to help his career? He is needed here right now, and should be in the team.

    1. I absolutely agree with you Plato. The Mourinho tactic of buying proven players doesn’t work with a club like us a Premiership level. If they are good enough they should play and not be sidelined, heaven knows we’ve had a few good ones through the club in recent years.
      For me he should be playing now, for Boro.
      UTB,
      John

  74. On a completely different topic, I was pleasantly surprised with the England performance last night and if they had taken their chances they might well have won.
    I was also impressed with the way Gareth Southgate set up the team and conducted himself in the post-match interviews. He has clearly learned a lot since his time managing at Boro and, who knows, he might get England on the right track at last.

    1. I too was impressed by the way England set up and played and thoroughly enjoyed the game. However it did have that inevitable “Typical Boro” result but under the circumstances it was a fitting tribute to Podolski with a fairytale strike to sign off with. Shame the Engerlund morons disgraced themselves again, sadly it attracts a majority of individuals of a certain mentality.
      Since Harold Shepherdson’s incredible assistant role to Alf Ramsey there have been quite a few individuals from the Boro Managerial hot seat with International Management careers.
      El Tel is the obvious one but his “apprentice” at the time Robbo eventually managed the national side of Thailand. Jack Charlton of course is well remembered for his ROI exploits and just lately we have had McClaren, Southgate and even Strachan somehow getting a gig at Hampden Park. With the exception of Shepherdson and Charlton all the others fell under the Steve Gibson regime much to his credit.

  76. EXMIL CHALLENGE Part 1 – league table
    At last the table is published for Part 1, interestingly 19 of the 39 entries got the Sunderland total correct, that’s nearly 50% but none of the top 6 did. No matter where you are in the table do not give up, as we have seen in the real table things can change dramatically, in Part 1 most people lost points with Leicester and Palace. I have passed the details for Part 2 to Werdermouth to work his magic and hopefully it will not be long before you can start predicting again and as of previous years points will be carried forward to Parts 2 and 3. If you think there has been a mistake on your score please let me know but I have checked it twice before posting it.
    1. Paulista Park 7,9,10,5,10,7,8, = 56
    2. Paul 7,9,10,4,10,7,8, = 55
    3. KP in Spain 7,9,9,5,10,6,8, = 54
    4. Pedro de Espana 7,6,10,6,10,7,7, = 53
    5. TheYouthfulUpstart 7,8,9,4,10,5,8, = 51
    6. BoroPhil 7,9,7,4,10,6,8, = 51
    7. Boroexile 7,9,8,5,8,3,10, = 50
    8. Redcar Red 7,9,6,4,10,4,10, = 50
    9. Ladyboro 6,8,8,4,8,6,10 = 50
    10. Powmill-naemore 7,9,9,4,8,5,8, = 50
    11. Rich 7,9,7,2,9,5,10 = 49
    12. Jarsue 8,9,5,4,10,2,10 = 48
    13. Borobrie 8,10,5,3,9,3,10, = 48
    14. Suffolk’n’Boro 7,9,6,5,9,2,10, = 48
    15. Martin Bellamy 8,9,6,3,10,4,8, = 48
    16. Steve Terry (Nikeboro) 5,8,9,5,10,3,8, = 48
    17. original fat bob 7,6,7,4,9,5,10, = 48
    18. lenmasterman 7,10,7,2,6,5,10, = 47
    19. Allen in Bahrain 5,10,8,2,8,3,10 = 46
    20. Dalla 7,8,8,2,8,3,10, = 46
    21. Boro Beckys Dad 8,9,7,5,9,3,9, = 46
    22= exmil2017 7,9,8,2,9,3,8, = 46
    22= Tees Transporter 7,9,8,2,9,3,8, = 46
    24. Ian Gill 5,8,8,4,8,5,8, = 46
    25. Jarkko 7,9,5,5,9,2,8, = 45
    26= Peasepuddinginperth 5,8,7,2,9,3,10, = 44
    26= Werdermouth 5,8,7,3,9,2,10, = 44
    28. Smoggyinexile 7,7,8,2,10,3,7, = 44
    29. Never Give Up On Boro 5,8,6,4,9,1,10, = 43
    30. borosupporter82 5,10,3,4,8,2,10, = 42
    31. BrisbanePhil 7,8,6,2,9,2,8, = 42
    32. Simon Fallaha 7,8,3,3,9,5,7, = 42
    33. Forever Dormo 5,8,6,1,9,2,10, = 41
    34. SteveH 5,6,8,4,7,3,8, = 41
    35. Andy R 3,6,7,2,9,2,10, = 39
    36. Selwynoz 5,6,5,2,9,2,10, = 39
    37. Spartakboro 5,8,3,3,8,2,10, = 39
    38. Vanteis 5,6,6,2,10,3,7, = 39
    39. Chris Hunneysett 6,6,8,1,7,2,9, = 39
    Come on BORO.

    1. Exmil
      Many thanks again for your annual effort, much appreciated!
      What are the fourth set of numbers as I notice almost universally we all scored low?

  78. Next 2 games will make or break our season and we let Ramirez fly back to South America and he isn’t in the Uruguay squad. Takes aim at foot and shoots!

  79. Listened to Theresa May’s speech last night regarding events in London, she described London as the greatest city in the world, and she’s so right, but that’s only because Middlebrough’s still a town.

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