As Boro approach the twilight of their Premier League year – and head off to a less depressing footballing climate on the south coast for a sunset stroll along Bournemouth pier – they are no doubt starting to contemplate an early retirement in sheltered accommodation from the top flight.
As our creaking group of seasoned campaigners take up residence at the Premiership retirement home to rest their weary limbs and exchange fading memories of past glories, perhaps they’ll have their spirits raised by an occasional little sing-song as they reminisce… “we’ll win again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll win again some sunny day”.
OK, it’s never easy to make that decision about whether or not a loved one can continue to take care of themselves and despite trying to ignore the signs – such as that rather nasty fall down the table – action is now required. It seems obvious now, but we’ve long started to notice that when our ‘last-of-the-summer-wine’ midfield of Compo Clayton, Foggy de Roon and Cleggy Leadbitter cross the half-way line they appear to have seemingly forgot why they left their own half – then look rather quizzically at each other before giving the ball back to Victor ‘Meldrew’ Valdes – who simply can’t believe it has returned once more to him.
Then there’s that rather embarrassing problem about waking up the next morning to discover we can no longer rely on having a clean sheet – fingers have also been pointed at the cover but perhaps the problem at the back hasn’t been helped by all those bumps and strains constantly being picked up – plus it’s also been widely observed that old Barragan has had continued problems with his hand-eye co-ordination.
Deciding to move forward is never straight-forward and that is true of Boro as they are prone to amble rather indecisively towards their opponents goal. Whilst feeding a rather grumpy Negredo has never been an easy task, the problem of uncle Adama uncontrollably dribbling when he’s being spoon fed can’t be ignored for much longer.
So before we get caught napping it’s time to look at the possibility of rejuvenating our campaign this week as we head rather appropriately to the Vitality Stadium to play Bournemouth – before entertaining in midweek an even more doomed-looking Sunderland. Psychologically, Boro can take heart from the prospect of coming up against two teams that they have already beaten this season in Bournemouth and Sunderland – both of whom are still under the same management – unlike our recent encounters with the other teams we have beaten in Swansea and Hull who were under new improved regimes.
So first up is the trip to the south coast and in some ways the Cherries are a kind of Arsenal-lite opponents – they are the antithesis of Boro and are better going forward than defending. It’s possible the kind of team that just lost out to Arsenal could indeed claim a rare victory this weekend and set us up nicely to let our hair down for the brush with the Wearsiders – otherwise that local encounter will be more reminiscent of two bald men half-heartedly fighting over a comb.
Putting the comb to one side, Steve Agnew is still waiting to experience that expected new-boss bounce and has started to come under fire in some quarters as people cast doubt on whether he is best suited to the role. Though to be fair, his introduction and plans to make Boro a more potent force have been blighted by a defensive injury crisis that has forced him into making experimental formations to fit the available personnel.
In truth, I struggle to see how deploying a three-man defensive shield of essentially one-dimensional stoppers in conjunction with second and third choice full-backs, who are not predominantly gifted with attacking ability will lead to any substantial improvement. The only glimmer of hope is that Gaston is looking interested again and Downing is playing better than at any time in his second spell at Boro – plus Negredo does seem to know where the net is.
What Boro would also give now for the return of the early-season Adam Forshaw, who was at one point was being touted for an England call-up such was his all-round game. With a fading Leadbitter ruled out perhaps he’ll get a chance to impress once more. Though come this season’s post-mortem, questions will need to be asked about the overall quality of the squad, which appears to have been superficially bolstered with far too many projects and punts.
Defensively, it seems Fabio may actually be available again as his initial injury has now been deemed less severe – the question is whether he’ll get the nod and if so will he go to right-back and will Friend retain his left-back slot? Many would place them as our first-choice full-backs but a rather interesting observation by Dominic Shaw in the Gazette showed that they’ve only once started in a back four for Boro. I’d expect Gibson and Ayala to continue in the centre and they will be in front of Guzan again as Valdes still has sore ribs.
So I think we’ll see a similar shape to the Arsenal game with Forshaw replacing Leadbitter – though at least one of the three midfielders really needs to play more progressively. My main criticism with Agnew is that he lost his nerve after the Hull game and instead of tweaking his new two-man defensive midfield, he abandoned it altogether. OK, Boro made defensive errors in that match and Ben Gibson had a rare off-day – but Hull actually scored with four of their five shots on target so one game shouldn’t be the judge of a system. Though I think Agnew has now decided to only switch to a two-man midfield when chasing the game and prefers instead to start more cautiously – how quickly the first law of self-preservation takes hold when in the hot seat.
I suspect the no-longer guided missile of Adama will be launched at some point from the bench but he’s increasingly looking more like a NFL running-back making yardage with his head down until he’s brought down to give Boro a ‘first-down’ in a dangerous area. Whilst exciting as he is, I think if we get any kind of decent offer for him in the summer it would probably be wise to accept it as his awareness of his surroundings means he could be a very long-term project indeed.
Well it’s prediction time, though with 15 games without a win opting for a Boro/Corbyn victory at the bookies may earn you enough to actually buy your own personal retirement home. Anyway, as usual give your view on the score and scorers – plus how many yards will running-back Adama make?
So come the final whistle will the residents of the Premiership retirement home be having a long-awaited Mother Brown style ‘Knees-up’ round the bridge table or will they be tearfully singing ‘Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye’ to Boro’s lingering top-flight hopes?
As I post this match preview the very sad news has just been announced that Ugo Ehiogu has died following his collapse at Tottenham’s training ground yesterday. His untimely death at only 44 has left those who knew him extremely shocked and all Boro fans who remembered him, not only as a great player but as great guy too, will I’m sure want to send their condolences to his family and friends.
Sad news about UGO
Leadbitter unfit Valdez out
I wish I could get excited about it but I can’t really
It seems such a shame the season has come to this bit the result has been overshadowed by whats happened to poor UGO which transcends anything on the pitch tomorrow
Well it’s most definitely last last chance saloon tomorrow.
Need to win tomorrow and Wednesday against Sunderland to have the tiniest but unlikely hope.
Still think Bournemouth could get dragged into it. Time to go with two up top and go for it from the start. I’ve enjoyed the football since Karanka left and Agnew has got them enjoying playing again.
But it’s a results game and unfortunately they haven’t gone for us
I’m not against Agnew being manager,if he had been brought in earlier who knows what results would have been. It took big Sam a good while at Palace at least 6/7 games.
I have a feeling this game will bring three points.
Saddened to hear of Ugos passing. Great player and lovely man only 44,taken far too young.
He was fit and looked after himself which makes it harder to believe especially when you look at the way some footballers abuse their bodies notably Gazza!!
Sad news indeed about Ugo, losing a football match is not a disaster, Ugo’s family losing their husband and dad is heart breaking for them.
The results tomorrow could leave us needing several snookers. Hull v Watford could leave us nine points from safety, Swansea v Stoke may do us no favours. We just have to go out and win.
We could go out and win and still find ourselves 6 points adrift so nothing but the win will do. That to me means going 442 with the most dependable and reliable.
For a front two I’d go with Bamford (to be switched at some point with Ramirez as neither appear 100% match fit) and Negredo, they are the most likely to score and have the most skill sets which will actually be of use. Gestede can win headers but that’s it, no accuracy or placement on them and on the ground he is like Bambi on ice. Traore? Well enough has been discussed about him on the previous thread, beep beep the road runner is great to watch with the ball but a clueless car crash off it.
Midfield with Grant crocking himself leaves Clayts as an absolute nailed on starter and I’d go with Forshaw for bite and solidity rather than de Roon who runs and chases, even nicks a goal but too often seems to be an awkward, accommodated fit. Out wide I’d have Fabio and Downing then at the back Chambers if fit, Ayala, Gibson and Friend. Barragan in if Chambers isn’t ready yet and then that leaves Guzan in goal.
The bench would then consist of Dimi, Barragan/Espinosa, de Roon, Traore, Gestede, Fischer and Ramirez.
Why not start with Ramirez? Well for me Bamford deserves a chance based on his few Burnley cameo minutes and with Fabio and Downing offering width and the ability to get balls into the box he and Negredo are capable of nicking goals. Paddy is unlikely to last 90 minutes and bringing on Gaston gives a chance for him to get at tired legs which could give us an edge plus a psychological impact when the Cherries see the player that ran through them last time coming on.
If Aggers wants to change it during the game he could switch to three at the back, Chambers, Ayala and Gibson, pushing Friend up and then putting Stewy into the No.10 role and still keep two up top. But heh what do we mere unprofessional’s know?
3-1 Boro, we’ve got to score a few in at least one game this season surely!
I wouldn’t have Traore on the bench let alone the first XI, 442 please with Bamford and Negredo , sounds like its worth a punt.
Werdermouth,
Your piece made me smile, particularly about clean sheets, and lifted the gloom of the day after the news about Ugo.
My son couldn’t get his tongue around his name and always called him ‘Eggnog’, never to be forgotten.
Tomorrow, it’s a bit so what who cares for me I’m afraid but I’ll go Cherries 2 – 1 Boro. I just think we’ve forgotten how to win and what it feels like.
Either way,
UTB,
John
Shock and sadness at the passing of Ugo.
As for tomorrow, I have almost given up. As has been said a win tomorrow may be all but too late.
I would also like to see us with two upfront, Bamford for me along with Negrado. Don´t think that we happen, more likely the wooden Gestede.
The defence will pick itself from those fit enough. George, Ben, Ayala and then a RB?? Guzan in goal. Midfield, i would give Forshaw the chance again alongside Clayton. De Roon just does not do sufficient either with the ball or without it. Energy-yes, but not much else.
So the other two a gamble with Downing and Ramirez going for broke.
However I expect SA to be AK cautious with three in MF and Negrado isolated.
A great read Werdermouth as always which brought many a chuckle and smile to my face until I came to your footnote.
The loss of such a good professional and young husband and father is a tragedy and my condolences to his family and friends.
The news of ugo’s passing puts tomorrow’s events into the shade.
Cherries to win and us to be goalless again with SA adopting a cautious approach from the outset.
The sooner our fate is confirmed and the plans/changes for next season can be unveiled the better.
Just hope we have dodged the “arry boy” bullet and the blues hang onto him.
CoB prove me wrong!
Still amazed at the kindness being shown to our wannabe manager, who is proving on a daily basis that he is and was a tried and trusted part of the collective that took us down(yes, I know, the undertaker is still awaiting his call, but he has told his assistant that he will be working the weekend)
notice that once real disorganisation sets in, the number and reason for non availability grow like weeds, if its not the knee its the thigh, and if that’s no good its a sprained wrist, I’m still feeling testy over Ayala being placed in purdah for virtually the whole season, a man who knows the real job of centre back, which is to dominate and bully the opposition.
The stand in has already cost us dearly by the absence of the traditional new manager bounce, does gibbo really want us to survive?
I ask because he has made an awful lot of mistakes in the time since AK left, I don’t think he has missed a trick, what must not be done, has unerringly been attempted, successfully, I might say in that we are a classic case for the lecture room on how not to stabilise your club when confronted by relegation.
After a poor week when I watched a Boro side poorly display why they are in the position. They are in on Monday
To being a participant ( unwilling ) at James Cook hospital for a minor operation on the Tuesday and subsequent antibiotics and other medicines during the week and a feeling of dread over our season it was brought to a head today by the dreadful news about UGO a man still in his prime the same age as my eldest son
It brings it home what life’s priorities are
Now I love the Boro but I love my family more and this blog site feels like part of my family
So tonight I’ve had a few glasses of red ( no more medicine !)
And finished with a few glases of 12 yr malt d pulteney!
So I’ve had a toast to UGO
I’ve had a toast to my family
And a toast to the Boro and you all that we will be here next season raring to go
UTB
Awful news about Ugo. Such a shock. I’ll fondly remember him as one half of the best centre-half pairing of the Riverside era, at least.
Tomorrow, 3-5-2 for me:
Guzan
Chambers/Espinosa/Fry
Ayala
Gibson
Fabio
Clayton
Forshaw/de Roon
Downing/Ramirez
Bamford
Negredo
We can win. But I’m not convinced that we will and less sure still that it will matter in the end. Certainly not in the context of Ugo’s passing. RIP.
Just a thought to send you to sleep tonight with a smile on your face.
Our stand in manager has said, and I quote “I think that Gested will break his duck with a first win in forty? games. Nice to know that we are still helping lame ducks over stiles, its just that I thought that we were trying to stay in the a prem. Like.
A game of football pails into insignificance compared to the death of Ugo at 44. It’s no age and for some one who was still fit.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. A great servant to football in general and with Gareth one of the best pairings of centre backs for Boro and probably Villa too.
As for Weders piece, it did brighten the gloom although I am also feeling a bit “whatever will be, will be” . Typical Boro will no doubt play Bournemouth off the park, win 3 0 but still be 6 points adrift leaving us with a very small sliver of hope.
Nothing apart from 3 points will do and a win dedicated to Ugo would be the a fitting result.
Team selection will be the 11 fittest players, hopefully a sort of 3 5 2 formation with plenty of support for the 2 up front With a rock in defence and no donkeys to be seen.
Much respect to those who are making the long a journey south, enjoy the warmer climate and come back basking in the glow of Win, otherwise we are waving goodbye to the EPL and sinking down into the troubled waters of the championship .
So RIP Ugo and UTB
OFB
Many on here will be thinking that is it their turn next. I know boro fans who are in extremis.
My dad was on his last legs when we got promoted under Rioch and Sunderland went down. It brought a brief smile but my lad appeared aged 14 months and hit him with a fish slice, he couldn’t resist a sitting duck. My dad chuckled away.
Football is great but it is only a game.
OFB – I will join you in that toast! Having my own glass of red.
Ian, you are spot on, it is only a game and at the end of the day, some things are more important regardless of what the great Bill Shankley said.
My Dad wasn’t around to see our cup win and foray into Europe having died too early at 68 a few months before – and having seen Cloughie in his heyday would never have believed it possible! But the Boro gene is passed down the line and my daughter and son are committed (not even born near Middlesbrough!)
I always remember him saying at every hurdle, “well, next season we will do it!” For both Boro and Yorkshire Ccc.
More wine matron before I get too maudlin!
Been a frustrating few weeks. I’ve been working overseas (Kuwait and S. Africa) for the best part of two months with unreliable internet connections (good connection in the office but, perversely, I seemed to be expected to work there). Lots to comment about on the blog but no access. A very eventful period with AK sacked, SA taking over and, all the while, I was watching Boro live on TV but couldn’t post any comments. Infuriating.
By the way, having spent time in Turkey, Spain, Kuwait and S. Africa this year, you find followers of the PL everywhere. When Boro’s name is mentioned, people flinch – we are infamous across the world as a boring team.
So this is by way of a catch-up and so, forgive me, is likely to be verbose.
I cannot generate any interest in recent games, let alone today’s. The 3 games against Swansea, Hull and Burnley were our last chance saloon. Two of them were 6-pointers and we needed to amass at least 5 points from those 3 games. With those opportunities having blandly slipped by, the season was as good as over – everything else is just a death rattle. We might just beat Bournemouth and Sunderland – but so what? We would still be in the bottom three. So forgive me if I cannot excited at watching out team’s slow, miserable demise (I’m scarred by too many of them since ’66), especially as we are going out with a whimper, regretted by nobody.
How did it come to this? IMO, Boro had two bad transfer windows that have proven fatal. Furthermore it seems to me that AK led on the summer changes but the club were in charge in January, probably with AK not getting who he wanted.
There were too many changes in August. Going back a couple of years, the most noticeable thing about AK’s earlier Boro was how together everybody was. There were frequent comments about how tight the squad was, with everybody believing in the manager and committed to his tactics and a strong bond between the players and between the team and management. Having lost in the play-offs, a little of that togetherness was lost the next season but the fatal blow was all the changes last summer.
It wasn’t just the number of players who came and went – loyal servants and people who had sweated blood to gain promotion were coldly cast aside. To say ‘that’s football’ is just not good enough. We knew that AK was ruthless, and that was generally seen as a good thing, but his ruthlessness in August was disruptive and ultimately destructive. What’s more, it might have been understandable if the new players were proven PL level and clearly improved on the previous incumbents – but that was not the case mostly.
A few of them, like Nugent, were understandable. He no longer had the legs for the top level and probably joined in the knowledge he wouldn’t be retained for the PL. The departure of Kike was no shock, as he’s been found short of Championship standard. It was more of a surprise to see Leadbitter sidelined but, in hindsight, it eventually became clear that his speed and stamina were fading just as more were needed for the top flight. However is De Roon any better? He is more mobile and certainly has more stamina than Grant – but does he contribute any more?
Others were less justified and more cold-hearted. Adomah had been a key player for several years. Once he’d taken on board AK’s insistence for some defensive duties, he became a pivotal part of Aitor’s setup: he made goals, he scored them and helped to keep them out. Albert was fast but never blessed with blistering pace but, nevertheless, it was a shock when he was jettisoned without playing a game. He played a major part in our promotion campaigns – what a way to treat a key player. Furthermore is his replacement any better or even as good as Adomah? Traore is certainly faster – he’s faster than almost everybody – but offers little else. He falls well short of the all-round mature play that Albert gave us.
Nsue came to Boro as a wide midfielder but worked wonders to transform himself into an attacking RB. Credit must go to AK and the coaches for spotting that potential and facilitating his development. He wasn’t the best RB but probably desrved the chance to show what he could do. Cast aside without a backward glance – and is Baragan an improvement? He might be better defensively but gives us little going forward. The later addition of Fabio has been the reverse: a breath of fresh air going forward but a liability in defence and regularly caught out of position.
Dimi joined the cause as a veteran ex-Pools GK but quickly proved himself and won over the fans. As the Shay Given debacle embarrassingly came & went, Dimi quietly got on with it and was a stalwart of AK’s promotion campaigns. Dropped like a pair of holey socks. While Valdes is clearly a better shot stopper, he had no idea how to command his area and deal with crosses. Valdes cost us points in the first quarter of the season and still feels suspect in the air. Guzan is no better than Dimi.
Ayala had grown into the CB role since joining as a raw youngster who had yet to establish himself. He was one who most of us saw as potential PL material and were looking forward to seeing him make the grade. Naughty step for most of the season. When fit, Chambers might be a better defender (I’m not convinced) but he took a couple of months to find his feet, during which time valuable points and momentum were lost. The later addition of Espinosa intially looked good but he was soon exposed as slow and erratic and short of Ayala’s standard.
More importantly, what was the impact on morale and togetherness to see Ayala sidelined so callously for a temporary import? You cannot buy the kind of cohesion and commitment that we enjoyed a couple of years ago – in my 50+ years following the Boro, I’ve seen it perhaps twice, in ’74 and ’86. Having amassed that treasure, AK then frittered it away.
Having had a solid, settled back 5, we saw 3 of them changed for the new season. Albert had had his stand-off with AK and so may well have been a dead man walking but, to the best of my knowledge, Nsue, Dimi and Ayala had quietly done what they were told and did a good job without ever arguing with Aitor. So why disrupt a good, settled defence and undermine morale and togetherness, only to replace these stalwarts with players who were little or no better? Even though the statistics suggest the new defence has worked, at what cost has that defensive record been achieved? It has only been done by systematically defending in numbers thus sacrificing most of our creative and attacking potency.
Rhodes – no escaping the conclusion that SG bought him when AK didn’t want him. As a result, Aitor didn’t play him much. More significantly, he never adapted our tactics to play to his strengths and Jordan looked lost in our defensive, safety-first approach.. With Rhodes’ record and in-born ability, he deserved the chance to step up to the PL and show whether he could bridge the gap. If only Agnew had him at his disposal for his attempt to make the team more attacking. Rhodes was on his way out almost from the time he joined and was cast aside like an embarrassing rash.
Negredo is a very different player but probably was a better fit for AK’s system. Even then, Boro have never got the best out of him by leaving him so isolated. What was the point in signing Bamford and not playing him? We had a desperate need for goals and attacking potency and bought yet another ‘project’. Gestede? No comment, although he will hopefully be valuable in the Championship.
What could have been accomplished if we had had pushed more players forward and, at least at home, played Rhodes alongside Negredo and provided them with something resembling service? That’s what pains me most: the missed opportunities and the thought we could & should have done better. We find ourselves heading for the second tier with an imbalanced squad now lacking the magic ingredient of togertheness.
Nike
Amid the disorganisation and devastation, one thing seems to be ignored, our managerial situation.
Having not only dispatched our manager, and piled all the errors and blunders on his back, our owner has quietly allowed a person who was complicit in everything that happened, everything, including the monumental Wembly blunder last year, and the signing of strikers (and not playing them) plus the infamous Charlton defeat.
The rest is there for all to see, nothing has changed under this person, we are still disorganised, still heartless, still keeping strikers on the bench when we can’t score to save our live.
The strange team selections are still coming, we are still being very careful to give the top teams a good game, and getting turned over by the rubbish,(i’m getting tired of seeing bottom feeders holding prayer meeting on our pitch in thanksgiving)
Still making sure that traore gets the chance to beat four men(easy) whilst making sure that he never gets put through on goal with an open field in front of him.
We must employ a good young manager who should have no trouble improving this team.
If you want an open goal try Wagner(huddersfield) he should make some sweet music.
Them 1 Us 0
Nikeboro
Pretty much spot on although Albert did get a couple of games at the start of the Season (from memory, certainly Stoke) before being “swapped”.
The most agonising part is that all of the above was highlighted on here when there was plenty of time left to action and remedy. There is a lot to be said for the value of old sages as Carl Jung may have described us, or Statler and Waldorf as others have commented.
I’m going for them 1 and us 2. We have to win and I think our Psyche is gaining in terms of attacking ability and last chance saloon mindset whilst the Cherries are showing jitters.
Lose today and Wednesday night’s game becomes a requiem for Ugo, Sunderland and us, perhaps fittingly.
Just doing my pre-match preparations and loaded the live table. It still says Premier League at the top. We’re not down yet. There’s still a few games to play and if we win our game in hand it’s only 3 points to safety and we have a far superior goal difference. So that’s one win.
Don’t worry about the rest programme. Ever done one of those predIction tables? It never turns out like that, does it? We’re due a change of luck. We’re due an away win. We’re due a schock result.
Keep the faith.
So it looks like three at the back with Ayala, Chambers and Gibbo playing.
With Downing, Ramirez and Negredo in the line up maybe we are going 343 with Barraga, de Roon, Clayton and Friend as the four.
Maybe Ramirez or Downing will drop back centrally to make it a 352.
maybe I am confusing myself.
Ian
I’m confused. MFC site says 5-4-1 but your 3-4-3 seems more likely.
Would have preferred Fabio to Barragan maybe but hey ho we just have to let SA get on with team selection and see what happens.
Like most on here, I wrote our chances off completely after the last chance week of destiny.
I think once again Steve, we will be looking for Hull and Swansea to lose even if we do win. Remember the Hull Manager has not lost at home in something like, well lots of games. So a home win for Hull and we will be too far adrift whatever we do.
If we can match Hull’s results and beat Sunderland it will go to the last match of the season.
Just seen the team……not happy
Werder, another great piece to bring a smile during a sad week.
With the team selection it looks as though Friend will be in midfied today which might give us a few more attacking options. But I can’t see us scoring more than one and I think Bournemouth will score more so a 2-1 defeat.
Wow
Great start, 1-0 down on 2 minutes. Need to dig in or could be a drubbing.
Game over, 1-0 down already.
2 down and Ramirez Red get rid of him
Bugger
I’m distraught!
No more red wine left!
Il have to send mrs fat bob to get some I’ve still got stitches !
I nearly burst a few after watching that and I’ve just paid over a lot of money for next season !!
Having been castigated by the Sky sports pundits last week for his poor defending and getting back into defence slowly Barragan does it again and after a full one minute and thirty seconds we are behind!
Unbelievable unless you are a hardened Boro supporter when this is often the norm!
LMAO
😂
Embarrassing!
More than that – 2-0 down now and it’s a complete shambles.
Doesn,t say much for Agnew’s management capability.
Now just made worse by a completely ridiculous Ramirez sending off. Why is he selected to play in the first place? He has let the team down yet again and deserves to be sacked.
Jesus! Boro in complete meltdown after 20 minutes – the fat lady can’t even sing for laughing!
2 – 0 down Rameriz sent off only 20 minutes played, a game we needed to win can anyone explain the team selection and now bringing on Forshaw instead of a forward, if this clown is still the manager next season we are heading for Div 1.
Come on BORO.
My confusion was nothing compared to the teams.
Missed the start after grass cutting, powered Internet Explorer. BBC is my home page and my heart dropped when it showed a picture of red and black striped shirts.
One down, grabbed a tea as Boro+ fired up, sat down at 2-0. By the time I shook my head Ramirez sent off.
Oh dear! Sigh.
Cue the Rolling Stones:
It’s all over now!
We’re obviously going try and hold it to 2 – 0 so it doesn’t do too much damage to our goal difference.
You couldn’t make it up. Yes you could it’s Boro. What a shambles in a ‘must win’ game. The fat lady must be falling out of her dress.
UTB?
John
And some of us thought it couldn’t get any worse, how wrong we were, complete and utter shambles
Ramirez:
January worth £12m.
Now worth £12
That much?
UTB,
John
I’d give you 12 quid to take him away.
PS, Think he should get a warning letter about attitude and conduct. Can we cancel a contract?
UTB,
John
OFB
Was Ramirez Red a New World wine? If it was it must have been corked.
And I know just where to put the corkscrew
I watched the game and Ramirez looked as if he was deliberately trying to get sent of !
Needless to say I’m not watching it now ….
It’s our travelling support I feel sorry for.
I think the team should do the right thing and re-imburse the supporters with their travelling costs given the team has failed to turn up.
Barely a League 1 standard performance so far which is where we could well be in a year or so……
Ramirez is a disgrace, Barragan should be dropped for the rest of the season for abysmal defending for the second time in a week and the rest of the team have been really poor.
It needs a massive clear out in the summer starting with the current manager who has delivered nothing since he was given the job.
Boroexile
Not just the manager but his support team of Jordan/Woodgate et al!
Ramirez made a stupid challenge given his yellow but the replay suggested he didn’t get anywhere near Pugh and the Bournemouth player dived afterwards – hoisted by your own petard springs to mind – funnily enough I was just thinking Gaston should probably be subbed as he’ll never last the game without a stupid challenge. I guess his season is over.
Just what can you about that lot. Players, Head Coach, Hangers On Coaches, Recruitment Boys. Sack the lot and start again.
Did I say disorganisation? It does not begin to cover it. Surely the ugliest collapse in the history of the club, their record of not trying, then hiring a group of local oiks to run the team is getting the results it deserves.
At least we can now look forward to a decent manager, however, there is one snag, it must be next week(i would suggest Monday morning)
Hands up those who though anyone could field a defensive team and get a clean sheet?
These people are out of control, all of them, root and branch, and I include players, training ground staff, higher management.
I do not think that they are capable of choosing a manager, such a task is beyond them. The first chancer who got to them would be installed in a flash(five year contract nach.)
if anyone else made a sixteen million blunder (yes, of course I mean him, who did you think I meant?) they would be on their way. But we have to stand and listen to the most ridiculous flannel as they go from one disaster to another.
Another day another appearance by Barragan.
Not starting both our wing backs.
Start the match by idling around our six yard box.
Leave on the pitch a man who has long stopped playing, has collected a booking for diving, and is an unexploded bomb.
As I write it is two nil, but there is no chance of that score. If only.
I’m stopping now, enough is enough.
Rather ironically Boro are now playing with only one defensive midfielder – I’ve no idea what system we are now playing but it could be 3-3-3 – which would be six different systems in 5 games!
Werdermouth
I think it’s 4-4-1 and the objective is to not concede anymore so we can say no one battered us and it was a season of small margins which did not go our way!
I didn’t expect such a capitulation, I fancied we could win, maybe that was the foam fumes.
Next game Bamford to start, get him as much first team exposure as possible in readiness for the start of next season.
Friend should have easily had three yellow cards already but it seems the ref his taken pity on Boro.
Where’s BP when we need him?
There are no positives for me but maybe he can find some.
BP – gone to the shed with a bucket on his head!
Someone (no names mentioned) talked about a shambles & the fact, sometime ago, that Gaston should never play for the Boro again.
Well it don’t rain but it pours. The nearest R rivals are winning by a 2 goal deficit each & Boro are 4 down with 10 men.
The YCC aren’t doin much better either.
Bugger!
Yes Spartak.
I usually turn to YCC for solace but, as you say, it’s not going well for them either.
Think I might go to the shed with a bucket on me head.
Did someone say a bucket of red?
No wonder SG is grateful to us early birds. They’ve got our money but what have we got to look forward to?
Just ranting like.
Cherries 4 – Lemons 0
5-4 5-4 we are going to win 5-4!
🙂
Werder
Maybe we should get Maximo Park and Alistair Griffin to do a charity gig for Boro,
We could call it Lemonaid
It’s more like a Clockwork Lemon at the moment with the fat lady giving Boro a good kicking whilst giving her rendition of Singing in the Rain.
Do you I can get a refund on my two early bird season tickets.
That’ll be Gaston with a three game ban then, isn’t it? Bless the lad – he can go and put his feet up now and get ready for his summer hols.
Adios amigo! There were some good times, shame the story had a bitter ending.
Billy, bally, Boro heading back to where we belong, but my goodness we gave it a go didn’t we?
Wonder if there’ll be Chinese on the menu soon. More sweet n sour to come.
🙂
Spartakboro
I thought it was only a three game ban if it was a straight red and one for two yellows but could be wrong.
You’re right two yellows equals one red one match
I don’t want to see him again
Should it matter, Spartak asks in all honesty. Put him on the plane to the pampas tute suite I would suggest.
Still expect to see him in the startin lineup before the season ends.
In the immortal words of the dearly departed Eric Morcambe,
‘What do you think of it so far?’
All together now
‘Rubbish! (Cough, cough!)’
No doubt someone will try to paint the grey sky blue. Come on in Jarkko/BP your moment has arrived.
Someone on the BBC website says we are hurtling towards the drop. It must be some hurtle because it started before Christmas and this is the best/worst, delete as necessary, post-Christmas slump ever.
This club does have a knack of wringing the optimism out of you right down to the very last drop.
Now, what about next season then chaps?
The dark side of the moon anyone?
UTB,
John
Time to look forwards – all that matters now is what needs to be done to prepare for next season.
I’m assuming that SG will see the need for an ambitious manager with a strong track record who knows how he wants to re-shape the squad.
I believe that we need a massive re-build of the squad to have a hope of getting back out of the Championship, not just because of today, but because of pretty much everything from January onwards.
Mark W
Pitiful, and yes Steely SG has grabbed our money and we have given it in blind trust with no idea what will happen to it.
If we do not get a new Manager/Coach and set up I will feel cheated.
I agree, Pedro. Agnew must go. If I had my way, I’d appoint another manager before the end of the season. We have to get some momentum from somewhere, and we might as well give the new bloke, whoever he is, a chance to look at the squad and start the clear-out.
16 games without a win. Just 4 wins all season. Rubbish. Just not good enough.
Bring in Ranieri
Abject! I would never have played Ramirez this year; an accident???? waiting to happen!
‘Shambolic!’ tweets AV.
My god, Mustapha bin Bad gets a starring role.
Nevermind, next game up his brother will appear, Mustapha Go.
🙂
I’ve just posted up Redcar Red’s post-mortem on today’s south-coast debacle…
https://diasboro.club/2017/04/22/bournemouth-v-boro-match-report/