Just twelve short but very eventful months ago Boro were about to start their Premiership return against a team in red and white stripes albeit they played in a less familiar sky blue number to avoid a clash. This evening at the Riverside would see Boro host another red and white striped team but who those same twelve months ago were plying their trade in League one.
Last night Baker arrived on a loan deal from Chelsea to answer the need for a midfielder that can not only create but crucially can take set pieces. The like of his ilk was a glaring gap in the Boro set up against Wolves; hopefully he can settle in quickly but was unlikely to start today. Speaking of starting today only three players who had started against Stoke would be starting against the Blades, Gibson, Clayton and Friend. That is testimony to the massive overhaul that has gone on with the Boro squad and realistically that level of change will take time to settle and bed in let alone the backroom and management changes and it was proved to be.
Sheffield United on the other hand were settled and had largely kept intact their management team and squad. As others had done before them from League One they were hoping to emulate that feel good factor to drive them up the League let alone the A19. They dismissed Brentford 1-0 last week and sat joint top with 3 points. Today was never going to be easy and as the Championship team everyone wants to beat the perceived Middlesbrough Millionaires would be a very desirable scalp from a South Yorkshire perspective.
The Boro line-up was pretty much as expected based upon this week’s departures and the injury to Braithwaite. There was also a big question mark against Ayala regarding fitness (as oppose to any punishment for his aberration at Molineux) after he also hobbled off in training and was subsequently was deemed by Monk to be carrying a niggle. The one surprise perhaps was Gestede starting up front with Assombalonga and Bamford just behind them at the head of the Midfield diamond with Downing nowhere to be seen.
An early afternoon downpour ensured that the pristine Riverside pitch would be slick and quick, hopefully this would suit Boro who had upped their pace and skillsets over the summer more than the Blades who had a more functional aspect to their game plan. As predicted by Forever Dormo the Groundstaff however were indeed copiously watering the pitch presumably because of the sand based substrate was draining too quickly.
The game itself started with the Blades getting at Boro from the off and in no mood to play the underdogs or parking their team coach in front of Jamal Blackman’s goal. Boro looked a little hesitant and unsure of who was supposed to be picking up who and as a result everything seemed a bit chaotic between the half way line and Boro’s 18 yard box. The weak link you would have thought would have been Dael Fry but truth be told he was assured and confident throughout and a sliding interruption from the youngster (rather than a tackle) in the box saved our blushes from an early deficit as the Blades cut through with ease.
After around ten minutes we started to clear our heads as United settled down and the pressure eased a little. The turning point came when Dael headed a half way line clearance up field to Bamford who controlled it bringing it down and played a left footed lob over the top of the Sheffield defence where Basham headed it straight upwards instead of clear as he struggled to get behind the ball. The resultant straight up and down trajectory was the perfect gift for Gestede who outjumped said defender and looped his header over Blackman and into the gaping net from 12 yards out. The pressure hanging over the Riverside up until that point exploded sending barometers spinning off collective Teesside walls.
Boro now had belief and the “Perple” shirted lot from S. Yorks looked despondent and dejected as Boro started to strut their stuff with a series of attempts and clever build up play. Gestede nearly doubled his tally when another header hit the upright past a despairing Blackman. Elsewhere Clayts was having personal duels with Carruthers, the two of them continually clattering into one another with Clayts having the upper hand.
Up until the goal I have to say Monk’s diamond formation did not look as though it was working. Apart from Bamford having a good game up top Forshaw and Howson looked too far apart and isolated from their team mates allowing the midfield five from Sheffield to dominate causing Clayton to clear up and challenge or everything on his own. Maybe in time it may improve along with understanding but based on today’s showing Redcar Red’s jury is well and truly out and unimpressed with diamonds.
The second half saw a resurgent Blades come out fighting again with their wounds obviously well licked by a Wilder half time team talk. Boro however would assuredly wrestle control with their millions of talent on display; surely it was a foregone conclusion? As the half wore on it was looking increasingly desperate for Boro as a series of ridiculous and careless passes gave up what little possession we did have again and again. Baker came on and looked good in parts but equally looked a liability as his footballing brain in terms of keeping it tight, frustrating and recycling the ball when under pressure was seemingly compromised by a few flash harry showboats that nearly cost us on two occasions.
In the end Grant was thrown on to anchor things and cut out the nonsense passing and get back to basics. Grant snapped into tackles and didn’t let the Blades compose themselves but despite Fletcher being brought on a few minutes previously to provide an outlet we just couldn’t get the balls played through to make the difference despite his running. The error for me was in bringing Baker on first instead of Grant; Bamford was cream crackered and was stiffening up so anything that went up to Fletcher meant he was in isolation as Bamfords tireless selfless running had emptied his tank with 15 to go.
All in all the second half was a lesson that despite the quantity on display the quality was in short supply as formation and team mates looked alien to many in red shirts. The pressure was building and Boro looked more desperate by the minute as the clock ticked down and in the dying seconds the inevitable happened and United equalised. A strange flag for a presumed offside or infringement from the Lino meant the deserved equaliser was ruled out much to Boro’s relief. Minutes later the whistle went and 3 points belong to the Boro. Last week an aberration cost us at least a well-earned point, this week we were fortunate and got away with it. Things even themselves out as they say but if I were a Sheffield fan I would be feeling very aggrieved and bitter this evening.
There is a lot of work to be done with this Boro side and the formation is one of them. The diamond shape worked for Bamford but that aside it looked a car crash in slow motion, a more straightforward 4312 to me would look more comfortable with what was on show today.
Of course it wasn’t all bad and there were some positives, Bamford as mentioned looked class, Gestede had his best game, Christie was a serious threat down the right side and my MOM, Clayts had a never say die attitude and Randolph in goal looked composed and confident apart from one very early sheepish clearance but pulled off a brilliant save in the second half to keep Boro in it against the run of play. I think we will get better, indeed we must do, there were some sublime bits in the first half but there were far too many poor features to rest on a 3 pointed laurel.
The real negatives came after the game. The ruled out goal was the catalyst for the Stella (other tins are available) fuelled morons from both sides to kick off with abuse and threats as Stewards had a struggle to keep the odd lunatic from clambering over the netting. The atmosphere turned ugly very quickly and come the end more fans were watching the “entertainment” in the SE corner than the game itself.
Worse followed outside, for some bizarre reason the United fans instead of being kept back for 10 minutes were released and there were scenes in the Car Park that were more reminiscent from the 70’s as enraged Sheffield fans decided to rain plastic bottles and coins down on those leaving the game from the East Stand family section. There were undoubtedly a few Boro morons engaging in taunts with the snarling Sheffield masses spitting and throwing gravel at departing families with Stewards totally out of their depth and half a dozen coppers trying to bravely keep order aided by a chicken wire fence. Those Officers who bravely faced up to the Sheffield contingent intent on violence have my utmost respect as their intervention prevented what would have been a scene making the McGregor vs Mayweather fight a Sunday school picnic.
I started this piece comparing it with this time last year and will finish on the same note. Last year the Police behaviour at the Stoke game was an embarrassing, ridiculous, costly overkill complete with their helicopter flying overhead all afternoon. This year despite there being only a few thousand difference in the crowd (27K in attendance today) there was zero Police presence to speak of (OK a handful). Why the massive difference? Are those in authority and making decisions on safety and crowd control really that incredibly stupid? It appears they are and based upon what I witnessed after the game those who made those decisions should be in possession of their P45’s come Monday morning for gross incompetence and negligence.
No doubt we will have full heavy handed Policing for the 400 Burton fans on Tuesday evening.
RR,
The expected great report, always a pleasure to read. It seems that Boro, quite typically, did it their way, the hard way as always. But a win is a win so keep it up Boro and build on it.
I’m going to celebrate with a late glass of wine.
UTB,
John
Jarsue
It was quite funny listening to the Sheffield manager stating that their equaliser was not offside(and anyway Fry put the ball in the net, so there)
where to start?
First the linno put up his flag long before the ball hit the net, that made the following actions of no importance.
They showed the off side, and yes, be was off side, by half his body.
Fry did put the ball in the net(but he was being assaulted by the off side player)
Finally, when the telly shows some player flagged off side because his hand is showing clear of the defender, we all nod and say too true, good reffing.
but when it’s us we say,” we got away with one there”
Poor game great report pity about the violence at the end
Well done Red!
It was the same as I saw it a lot to look forward to but a rub of the green today for a change. Love all the blogs posted on this site wish I could emulate the
Same standard you all provide for us readers. UTB
They also serve that only sit and wait
Enjoy the blog for what it is a homage to Boro fans worldwide
Tweeted
Great to be able to watch it here on the east coast. Good point re the order of the subs. A draw would have been fair & it did seem like we needed a little more in the middle.
Great report on both the game and the atmospherics, RR.
Only saw the game on TV but for me the signs were encouraging.
Having criticised Randolph for his Augsburg performance, it’s only fair to begin by saying that today he gave a very good display. I feared the worst after two poor early kicks, but thereafter he caught the ball cleanly under pressure, made one particularly dramatic second-half save low to his left, distributed the ball well, and generally looked an authoritative and commanding figure. He made my earlier reservations look distinctly premature today. All credit to him.
What was most encouraging were the first signs that at least some of the team looked as though they were beginning to enjoy playing the game again. George played with a lot of his old dash and enthusiasm, and seemed to have re-discovered his mojo. The front three played together well, and there was a nice moment in the first half when, after some neat inter-passing between Britt and Patrick, the two exchanged smiles. They looked as though they enjoyed playing together. A small but telling gesture of the kind that we saw too little of under Aitor.
There has been a good understanding on this blog of the task facing Monk, and, in spite of the eye-watering fees splashed out, of the need for patience. This has frequently been expressed as the need for time for so many new signings to bed in and gel. But most people on this blog understand that what Monk is trying to achieve is not only that, but also something far more difficult and complicated. His Herculean task is to attempt to turn a rigidly hierarchical institution that had become dysfunctional, with poor communication networks, and in which individuals were encouraged to think of themselves as cogs in a machine, and in which mistakes were not tolerated, and risks not taken, – to turn all of this into a much more creative enterprise, in which players are being asked to think for themselves and experience some of the pleasures and rewards of creativity and problem solving. It is, in short, to turn an essentially negative mind-set, based on defence, on not conceding, and on stopping the other team from playing, into a more positive and pro-active one.
For twenty minutes or so after we scored there were signs of a new emergent Boro, a team playing with a flair and swagger that we have too rarely seen over the past three years. It did not last into the second half, but it was something to build on, as were any number of promising individual performances, and the confident way we played ourselves out of defence,
Monk said as much himself after the game in a relaxed interview in which a wry smile played upon his lips throughout. It made for a refreshing change after the dour, humourless inarticulacy of the recent past. A welcome return of positivity, and the pleasure principle. I am daring to believe that the signs of good things to come were definitely there.
Just to add to the excellent comments From RR and Len, looking from the point-of-view of what needs to change.
Clearly the side is still very much a work in progress, but three precious points were won and that’s the vital bottom line for now. The performance improved over Wolves in the first half but then fell away worryingly in the second, when we made really heavy weather of the game.
It will not have helped the gelling process that there were four changes at the start, partly because of injuries, and then all three substitutes had to be used. I’m not saying those decisions were wrong, just that we have used a lot of players and it partly explains why gelling is proceeding slowly.
So plenty of reasons for the stuttering performance, but a few real areas of concern still arise along with some encouraging positives.
It will take a while for Baker to settle in, but in flashes he showed the right sort of qualities. It is a worry that he was only signed after De Roon had left – did we not realise before then that we needed a different, more creative central player, and needed to bed him in?
Because perhaps we also still don’t realise the crying need for a specialist winger? Christie was prominent and good again, but in the second half he was at the centre of a few promising breaks where his decision making was not great. George was improved on last week but continues to cut inside when attacking rather than trying to go on the outside, and teams seem to show him that way knowing little will result from his right foot. We need at least one highly skilled wide man who is good on the ball and can make very shrewd choices, we can’t just rely on the full backs.
The centre half situation is also worrying. Ben may leave, Dani injured already and only Dael as back up. He played well for the most part, but he struggles to stay with his man from set plays and that needs work on the training ground. Their ‘goal’ came from that problem. In short it has become an absolute and urgent problem to recruit at least one very capable centre back.
Burton is a chance for further progress with the coherence of the team, although preparation time will be short.
Great report as always RR and some good points by Len and Mark.
It was a bit like the curate’s egg – good in parts.
Sorry to hear about the crowd trouble and that people have bee injured. I thought that this was a thing of the past and that you could now take your loved ones to a match without having concerns for their safety. A few mindless idiots always spoil it for the majority!
CoB 😎
Mark
The problem with signing players is when people are willing to release them especially loan players who tend to become available when the host club decides when they can leave.
I suspect the de Roon departure may have depended on getting someone lined up.
Who knows.
I didn’t have time to watch the post match analysis until later. For the life of me I couldn’t see why the goal was disallowed, from the main camera position I couldn’t see offside so I wondered if the linesperson mouthed 5 for pushing or tugging of shirts but his signal was offside.
Later, when I watched the analysis and split screen you could see what the linesman’s view and understood why he flagged. Whether you think that should be offside or not is another matter. The linesman applied the rules as he understands them.
It was offside so we won 1-0, it says so in my paper.
Concerns?
The injuries to Braithwaite and Ayala. The second half was poor. Too much side to side followed by launch it, sorry a ball in to channels.
Bamford was struggling late on, will he be up for it come Tuesday?
Lack of penetration. When will Howson be available?
We have taken out Gaston, Downing and Traore not on the pitch. We still need some creativity, will Baker help provide it?
These are not moans but concerns that may well be answered in the next couple of weeks, it is still early in the season.
Bamford was superb yesterday his best game since he returned
He has tweeted he is looking forward to Tuesday night so does not appear to have any injury concerns
Probably a tight hamstring as he got through so much running as did Britt. Spoke to Britt after the game and was surprised he isn’t as tall as I thought he was but has a real prescence on the pitch. Seems a nice guy and happy to be at Boro with his wife and baby. When we left the stadium he made a point of going. Over to the waiting fans happily signing autographs for them. I think he will be a star player for us . It was interesting to see the front three of Britt Paddy and Rudi interchanging positions and making runs for each other very promising.
Bamford had one shocking free kick at goal which went a mile over the crossbar
Baker is renowned for being a totally two footed player who is a dead ball and penalty specialist so I would expect him to take our free kicks from now on
Thanks for the report RR well done and we hung on !!
Lack of penetration. When will Howson be available? I take it you mean someone else as he has played both matches so far.
Ian
Why do we tie ourselves in knots because we were on the right side of a tight decision in the last minute of a match?
No one else does.
The reaction we get when some dreadful “lump it and thump em” team does us in the last minute(Blackburn? Three men stretched out on the turf with the ball still bouncing around like a mad thing, good goal, “tough luck lads, we should have beaten you” was the Blackburn reaction..
Some perceptive and well-considered views above, and a fine report from RR. I agree with most of what has been said. I was very sceptical when I saw Gestede’s name on the team sheet, but he had a good and influential game, his best in a Boro shirt, I think. It was noticeable how much less effective we were as a unit once he was withdrawn in the second half and the front three’s cohesion was disrupted.
There were a number of other strong individual performances. I thought all the back four plus Randolph had good games and looked a solid unit, especially with the terrier-like Clayton sweeping up in front of them. Bamford was class. But, the defence apart, I stress individual performances:- as yet, we haven’t gelled as a complete team. There were positive signs for the last 25 minutes of the first half, but it was not sustained. Howson and Forshaw were comfortable on the ball, but not particularly penetrative, and we rarely gave Assombalonga anything but scraps to feed on. We clearly still have work to do in the creative department. Both full backs bombed on, but I can recall only one telling cross from out wide, when Christie fed Gestede for the header that hit the post.
One real positive to emerge was our approach to corners. We have all bemoaned our lack of goals and chances from corners in recent seasons. Yesterday was different; Clayton – yes, the same Clayton who was slagged off recently as not being an effective dead-ball specialist – pinged in some good ones, and Boro have clearly been working on corner routines. He changed his signal each time and varied his delivery. One of them, a deceptive back-post lob, was delivered precisely for George to run onto and shoot. It very nearly worked. Let’s have more of this, please!
All in all, a relief to get the 3 points. As ever, Boro did it the hard way and left me with bitten finger nails. But a win is a win. And wasn’t it a joy to see such attacking intent again! At times, Boro had 3 or 4 men in the box waiting for the cross or supporting the attack. After so long watching Karanka’s stifling tactics, this was a revelation! And so surprised was the electronic scoreboard that Boro were leading 1-0 that the clock stopped working for the whole of the second half! I had to resort to checking out the seconds ticking by agonisingly slowly on the big screen!
Thanks for the report, RR.
The most important thing is that we gained 3 points. Hopefully the performances will improve. I suspect Christie and Baker will play a major role for us this season and I agree that Bamford played well, though tiring in the second half – apart, that is, from his comical attempt at a free kick in the first half which must win a medal of some sort, or appear on some sort of compilation of “worst eve free kicks”. It was obvious he had a problem in the last 10 minutes or so, stretching his thighs in an attempt to loosen up. I had my heart in my mouth with those two early poor kicks from the keeper but his handling seemed assured.
If Braithwaite is missing for 6 weeks, that will be a blow. If Bamford is missing that will be a pity as he has spent time returning earlier to training, so as to be match fit for the season (there having been a feeling he was not fully fit when he returned to the club in the winter transfer window). But surely we should have enough to cope with Burton Albion at home without them?
The biggest surprise was the crowd trouble which started after the Blades’ “goal” was chalked off. I left the West Stand stadium not long after the final whistle, walking towards the old Town Hall and therefore had been unaware there were confrontations after the game outside the South Stand, and that at least one policeman was injured (which I saw from an online Gazette headline). I hoped we had said goodbye to events like that decades ago. Not good.
But, we come back to the bottom line: 3 points. Good performances without the points are not what we need, if we are to be promoted this season. If the team plays poorly but wins, those 3 points are banked and the team can aspire to play better next time. In defeat those points are lost forever. It is all about the points and, this time, we got them. Thank goodness!
I watched the Gazette video post match chat between Dom and Vic. I know Vic isn’t the tallest, his lad being such a good gymnast points to the fact they not a tall family.
I never realised Dom was so tall (or was stood on a box).
I know Jonno is tall and PT is not, so maybe I have stumbled on the answer to DomJonnoGate.
The Gazette two are too tall. Maybe OFB could sneak in to Rockcliffe with a tape measure for some surreptitious research?
I wouldn’t be able to reach up and unlatch the gate at Rockliffe I’m only a short house !
We shouldn’t forget that Sheff U put 72 more points than us on the board last season, they know each other and what they are doing very well. In the second half they harried relentlessly and gave us no time on the ball, and it turned into a mainly physical battle of teamwork. At this stage in our progress that gave them the edge.
I know I have a bee in my bonnet about our lack of creativity, I’m looking for it and people see what they are looking for, but we will get promotion based on the quality we can deploy which will move us ahead of a lot of teams like this in the Championship who can do the basics well.
It’s encouraging that pretty much every Boro player could take some positives out of their performance in this game, even though as a team GM will know there is still a lot to do.
I notice that Phil says in the EG today that we have agreed a fee for Shotton. If that’s the case, and assuming he is the right man* it makes no sense not to get him in, get him training with the squad and get him match fit.
Don’t get me wrong, I would have absolutely loved seeing a Connor Ripley / Ben / Dael home-grown combination doing well for the Boro this season, but at the moment we are thin at centre half with injury and transfer doubts, and one more injury or a big offer from Man City would be very challenging.
*I know RR has doubts about that!
Thanks to Redcar Red for another high quality report full of description and insights that you just don’t notice when watching though a TV camera lens. I must say I enjoyed the first half as Boro linked up well in attack and got bodies into the box – it certainly made a change from watching Negredo or Nugent act as a kind of first line of defence under Karanka. Though Assombalonga showed that side of his game also yesterday as he chased defenders down but that was just a side dish rather than the main course.
I was impressed with Bamford’s technique and vision – he certainly looks a different player and if we’re lucky he could be our new Gaston to make the team tick. Also Fry didn’t looked at all phased or out of place and could grow into a perfect pairing with Ben. I also suddenly found myself thinking that Randolph looked comfortable and capable – plus he made a smart save when it was needed.
The midfield still looks a bit one-dimensional and a little cautious though – I hope Baker settles in quickly as someone more dynamic in the engine room is needed. Forshaw and Howson haven’t really brought that element to Boro so far but I suspect it will be the former who makes way for the Chelsea loanee.
Fletcher hasn’t really got up to speed either and the loss of Braithwaite has left us a bit short of options in terms of substitutions – Adama again was overlooked, which puts question mark on his future under Monk. At least Gestede showed that he is capable of causing Championship defences problems and he showed a better all-round game than just being the target for desperate long balls under his previous appearances.
So our work in progress has progressed a little further – I think JFH made the comment after the game that as a manager you look to build on your team playing a good 40 minutes up to a good hour, then gradually try to stretch it to a full game – so let’s hope Monk can do this over the coming weeks.
Improvement on the Wolves game and despite fading in the second half it’s nothing to worry about. The club has had a massive overhaul in every department and everything isnt going to click into place from the off. Judge after 10 games or so.
Nice to see all three attackers getting forward together and although I’m not a fan of the long ball on occasions when it was used and all three bombed forward it was very effective worrying their defence.
Only gripe I had was Forshaws negativity and giving the ball away he still seems to be finding it hard to shake off Karankas negative tactics that were drilled into him,I have a feeling he will be making way for Baker.
Hoping for a good win on Tuesday against Burton,talking to a friend today who has a Hull supporting friend who said they should have had nine against them.
Happier times ahead UTB
I only saw the highlights on TV, and am curious as to why nobody seems to be questioning the award of the free kick that led to the Blades disallowed goal.
Only saw it once, but it looked like the two players involved were barely in the same postcode, with the United player throwing himself to the ground as he lost the ball.
Any thoughts?
Lots of comments on twitter saying it wasn’t a free kick and that the SUFC player had contrived to click his heels together and throw himself to the ground
I watched the replays which of course in hindsight we can see it was a dive
Don’t think he will get suspended or fined though !
Scuba
It was beyond any discussion, a straight forward dive, that’s D-I-V-E.
A well executed beauty with a tariff of 7.5.
Up to Prem level I would think.
They are shameless, these players, he was given no opportunity by the defender, who was many a mile away, yet he pulled it off.
I would think the little Spurs diver(he should be called “submarine”) would be watching that on television and green with envy.
Spartak
Any chance of reposting the link to the transfer again.
Cheers
Eh!
?
Spartak
Just realised I missed a bit off.
Didn’t you post a link to net transer spend?
Not that I’m aware of, but… yes, now I recall I did. Still I’d need to scroll back and find it.
Hmmmm
It could be under transfernews/middlesbrough.
I’m not implying this is happening, but I would feel rather sad if there was something of a celebration going on related to the eradication of the Karankian legacy, making him a scapegoat for elements in football that have been frankly prevalent for a long, long time. It is, after all, traditional for good teams to be built from the back.
The incisive @quizeye, on Twitter – and he was no fan of Karanka – once implied that it was a little unfair to criticise AKBoro’s attacking impetus entirely, saying that when we were good under AK, we were good, and some of the passing was sublime. It was the overall intent that irked him – and no doubt many others.
But, and I’ve implied this myself, the problem wasn’t so much Karanka as the culture that spawned him. I do believe he was only trying to implement principles that years, months even, of statistics and trophies in Spain and for Spain had led him to think would ultimately be the right ones.
And after seeing their success on paper, you’d initially buy into it too. Unfortunately – and I noted this in my last Talking Point – fans who buy their tickets won’t wait for the team to build.
So there were naturally negatives, but we shouldn’t forget the positives. A c. 75% win rate at home in the Championship over two seasons shouldn’t be sniffed at. And the solid foundations? The passing, when it actually was incisive? The strong mentality on the team’s best days? The form of one Patrick Bamford?
All things to build on.
Simon
I read a comment today on a fans appreciation of the ‘Anti- football god’. And how they were sooo lookinf forward to seeing his team play.
The manager they were refering to is JM and his present team Man U. This is the root source of AK’s footballing philosophy NOT Spanish football per se, otherwise could it not be argued that the AK Boro were akin to Barcelona or indeed Athletico Madrid?Or maybe even Girona? Valencia?
AK amongst many, the broad church that is English football, was derided for his BORING playing style. Thus, the main thrust of your article above, which quite rightly IMHO highlights the need to balance results with supporters expectations for excitement, gets contridicted by your good self when stating statistical positives in his defence.
How on earth any manager can be lauded when he criticises his club’s supporters for encouraging his team to attack is beyond me. It maybe he was right in that they should not attack, but he should convey that to his team in confidence, surely.
Then, I suppose this also describes another of AK’s weaknesses in that subtle thinkin was a little beyond him and communication strategies were non existant.
Like.
Criticises the players the medical staff the coaches (sacked one incidentally Higgy was in the Directors Box yesterday!) tje management the board then the fans that’s when he lost me !
I will once again raise the Adair action centred model
Team
Individual
Task
AK was overly focussed on the “Task”, strong with the “Team” aspect but poor on the “Individual” aspect. Not so dissimilar to JM in all that. There is no longevity if you cannot succeed with and mould all three areas together.
Is it Southampton who scored seventeen goals last season? hmm,
Any attempt to denigrate AK is an attempt to rehabilitate all the utterly worthless and clueless string of managers we have endured over at least ten years before his advent.
We appear to have a decent manager in Monk, lets not harp on about a manager who didn’t speak a word of English, so he was running a team with no humour, no jokes, and certainly no outside assistance( witness the shambles of the Wembley trip)
We are getting the benefits of saleable players, which is the greatest single change in my experience, so thank god for that mercy.
Sparta
He did get us into the Prem. Strange that.
After all a long line of illustrious managers spent a lot of time and money trying to get us into div one.
One of them did, in fact get us into the Champ.
Can’t for the life of me think what happened to him.
Probably managing some non league team.
I don’t seem to come across his name on match of the day.
Ian
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-middlesbrough/transfers/verein/641
For your information like!
🙂
Middlesbrough serait entré en négociation avec Ingolstadt pour le transfert de Marcel Tisserand.
Relégué en D2 anglaise, Middlesbrough serait entré en négociation avec Ingolstadt (ALL) pour le transfert du défenseur franco-congolais Marcel Tisserand, 24 ans, formé à Monaco et passé par Lens et Toulouse. Il pourrait s’y engager pour quatre ans. La saison passée, Monaco avait cédé Tisserand à Ingolstadt pour 5,5 M€.
Tres bien, merci!
Le like!
🙂
Twitter now saying he’s signed a 4 year contract
Might I be allowed to supply a translation?
‘Boro are said to be in negotiation with Ingolstadt for the transfer of M Tisserand.
Relegated to the English second division, Boro are said to be in negotiation with Ingolstadt (Germany) for the transfer of the Franco-Congolese defender, MT, aged 24, who was trained first in Monaco, then played for Lens and Toulouse. He could sign a four-year contract. Last season, Monaco sold Tisserand to Ingolstadt for 5.5 million euros.’
Anybody know anything about this guy? And what is your source, OFB?
By the way, Tisserand means ‘weaver’ in French. Let’s hope he weaves some good dreams for us all, of better still, some good moves, if he signs!
Clive
Source is L’equipe
He has just followed Braithwaite and Britt on twitter just now and is a Congo team mate of Britt
Everton are interested as well but he has been withdrawn from training and Boro are favourites for him to sign
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Marcel Tisserand
Marcel Jany Emile Tisserand (born 10 January 1993) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ingolstadt and DR Congo.
Marcel Tisserand
Marcel Tisserand mediadb.kicker.de.jpg
Tisserand playing for Monaco in a friendly match against Napoli.
Personal information
Full name Marcel Jany Emile Tisserand[1]
Date of birth 10 January 1993 (age 24)
Place of birth Meaux, France
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre-back, right–back
Club information
Current team
FC Ingolstadt 04
Number 32
Youth career
2009–2013 Monaco
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Monaco B 45 (4)
2013–2016 Monaco 7 (0)
2014 → Lens (loan) 12 (1)
2014 → Toulouse B (loan) 1 (0)
2014–2016 → Toulouse (loan) 54 (1)
2016– FC Ingolstadt 04 25 (0)
National team‡
2012 DR Congo U19 1 (0)
2013 DR Congo U20 4 (0)
2016– DR Congo 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:22, 25 March 2017 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 May 2016
Sorry I thought I’d posted that to our French fans who follow the blog anyway you get the gist of it !
Danke schon!
Innit!
😉
Spartak
Much appreciated, People are talking about how much we have spent this summer, the truth is net under £7m with no fee down for Stuani.
As with AK most of the money has been spent upfront.
Here is a thought. If Gaston had not shown any sort of commitment, Traore had more of a brain than an amoeba we would probably been safe.
OFB
Interesting reading your French because we went to the theatre yesterday and Kim Hartman was in the cast, she played Helga opposite Herr Flick in Allo, allo. We went to watch Vice Versa at the Swan Theatre (part of Royal Shakespeare Company) at Stratford.
It was a mixture of Panto, Brian Rix and Up Pompei. The script was awful, the puns excruciating, the story line weaker than a Mogga defence, the acting had more ham than Newboulds. Absolutely brilliant entertainment.
Anyway, the show finished at 3.55pm and we got back to the car at 4.10 only to find new ticket machines that no one could use. 4.25pm and 65 minutes to get home. Luckily no hold ups and I was sat down after 15 seconds of the match.
That has used up a few minutes of your time.
Sorry, make that Gaston showing commitment.
No problema senor da nada hasty manana
I loved Kim always wore stocking s and suspenders with a black basque and red swas wotsots on the twirly bits at the end
Must go amd lie down for a bit I feel a bit faint
OFB,
I’ve just got off all the tablets now I think I need to go back on them.
UTB,
John
PS Or maybe not …
Or even hasta manana
Damn this predictive sext
Thanks for the responses, OFB.
So, if Tisserand and Shotton are both being lined up, does this mean Boro are preparing to lose Ben Gibson?
I saw Ben after the game on Saturday and though he was keen to sign autographs for the fans outside as he normally is
I said to Mrs OFB that he seemed very quiet and withdrawn which worried the hell out of me !
She said I was just imagining things and not to worry !?
I did hear at the club on a more positive note he is getting a brand new house built not too far away from me and hopefully that is a sign he intends to stay !!
Clive
Football today is very like the Californian goldfields in ’49
Any young player who progresses and improves as he goes through his teens is a possible candidate for, in order, international honours, tick, a move to a giant club, tick, winning the big prizes, tick,
But the biggest prize of all, is the chance of shed loads of money, tick,
And with that comes freedom from any worries whatsoever, about anything.
So please lets not hope that our golden boy misses out, he deserves it and I will look forward to seeing him often on t.v..
Apologies if I appear to contradict myself.
All I’m saying is that there was a lot of good stuff from AK’s tenure – including solid foundations, a significantly greater pot of cash to rebuild a team with and being the first to bring a certain Patrick Bamford to the club – that is, alas, overshadowed by the bad. It was never as simple as Big Bad Aitor vs Poor Ickle Players. Or vice versa.
The problem was that the failings and misdemeanours stuck out like a sore thumb. As they still do with Mr Mourinho. “(He) expects others to bend to his will. That is why history will record him as being extraordinarily talented, undeniably charismatic, and fatally flawed”, spoke Michael Calvin of the “special one”.
The other problem is that it really was his own bed that Aitor made. As another Boro fan said, you cannot allow the manager to openly criticise the players, board and fans in public, walk out of the club twice within twelve months and expect there not to be consequences. And that’s without even mentioning the “quality” of the football.
“Undoing” the past isn’t solely an Aitor thing though. Much was made of Steve McClaren’s long-term clearout of the Robbo leftovers as he immediately set about building his own side. There was also more good to carry forward from the Southgate regime than Strachan or Boro believed. One of the things the wee Ginger Scot did to build his more “blood, sweat and tears” Boro was axe John Johnson and Josh Walker freely. Years of blooding, nurturing and training up in smoke, as Boro fan Mike Baker once said.
I was able to forgive Strachan to a point as Bailey, McDonald, McManus and Barry Robson drove the Moggalution forward from 2011-12, but their presence on the wage bill had a damaging effect on new recruitment.
Thanks, RR. Excellent report, especilly so if one couldn’t see the match on TV or live. I only saw the highlights at mfc.co.uk
As RR said we should have four points by now. Not a disaster yet but we only have 1.5 points per game. As we all remember the target must be two points per game.
Especially nice to see Clive and NeverGiveUp already excited about the new season. The team is still in progress but we start to see where we are heading to.
Having been a bit off radar, I have a few questions needing answers:
1. What is the injury Braithwaite is suffering from? I heard about six weeks mentioned in here.
2. Ayala – injured?
3. Having seen the highlights from the match, what was the fault in the Sheffield United’s disallowed goal? Bob?
Work in progress. Up the Boro!
:3:
The viewpoint of the assistant referee was shown later on one sky camera shot which showed the SUFC player with shoulder and front of his chest closer to the goal than Fry
As he was attempting to play the Ball he was therefore classed as interfering with play and therefore offside even though Fry headed the ball into his own net.
A very sharp piece of refereeing and very observant and all credit to the referee for disallowing the goal.
I would have been upset however if it had been a Boro goal disallowed in the same circumstances
In my opinion it should not have been a free kick which led to the goal as I believe the SUFC player had lost the ball and contrived to clock jos heels together and fall to the ground spectacularly
If it had been a Premiership game more cameras would have been present and we would have had the incident analyses more closely
UTB
OFB
And damn, Boro are still below Sunderland in the table. Need to start winning, like. Tomorrow. Up the Boro!
Morning Jarkko.
RR reported on Saturday that Braithwaite appeared to pull a hamstring or similar in training and that Ayala was also “hobbling”.
The goal was disallowed for offside. From the camera angle following the play on TV, it looked as if the goal should have stood. However Sky had another camera that was exactly in line with the play and when they showed that you could see the player was offside as the ball was played.
Thanks for the great match report RR. I came away from watching that feeling quite positive. To me, the Boro were looking to get forward when they could. I too thought the play between the front three was great to see and I also caught the exchange of smiles between Bamford and Assombalonga. I think the omen’s are looking good. Pleased to see that Randolph looked secure and a few times claiming the ball high will have given the defence some confidence in him.
Talking of the defence, I thought Fry had an impressive game and I think could be putting himself ahead of Ayala in the pecking order.
Match by match this side is going to get stronger and stronger and I think we are going to enjoy some great performances as the season progresses.
Thats a very positive post and cheered me up no end.
UTB
I suspect with Ben that he will not automatically be allowed to go to a lesser Prem club for say £20-25m, and if such a situation arose Ben would accept it.
But if something nearer a £30m bid came in from a strong Prem club, then he’s been told Boro will agree to the move.
If Ben had agreed to stay whatever happens, he’d be saying so. He needs to be in the Prem challenging for an England spot.
Either way, we clearly need at least one centre half. We’ve pursued centre forwards very effectively, now we need to cover an area where we could get caught out with another injury, and if Birmingham are dithering over Shotton perhaps we move on to a target who is available.
Looking at the teams tipped to do well, Fulham, Sheff Wed, and Reading from the play-off positions last season, and also Villa, Norwich and Derby, are all below us. Happy days!
Cheers, Powmill. Just hope it is not the glass angle with Ayala. Other niggles available for him, too.
A comment form Dom at Gazette: “it’s worth noting that the Boro side that finished the game against Sheffield United had a centre-half pairing aged 24 and 19 and a front three aged 21 (Fletcher), 22 (Baker) and 23 (Bamford).”
The future’s bright. Up the Boro!
I’m pretty sure I read that Alan Ladd had to work with certain actresses while standing on a box because he was short, Ian. (I could never believe in him in quite the same way after that.)
Maybe a career on the silver screen beckons for AV.
I believe the same issue of height differential was present between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
In a documentary interview Lewis was shown to be grossly aggrieved at the fact.
Just sayin like.
🙂
Oh, & Martin was of the lesser height.
Sparta
Deano also scored with more showbiz lovelies.
I would think that was more of a concern.
I’ll try to do the classic Karanka test to see if we have enough quality for every position in our team at the moment.
Strikers: Bamford (Fletcher); Breithwaite (Gestede); Assombalonga (Traore)
Midfield: Howson; Baker (Farsaw)
Second raw: Clayton (Leadbitter)
Defense: Friend (Fabio); Gibson (another); Ayala (Fry); Christie (Roberts)
In goal: Randolf (Dimi)
Bench: Downing, Soisalo, Mejias, Guedioura,
The tricky part was to choose the formation. We can still argue about the Monk’s ideal – but during Karanka’s reign is was always the same formation.
Personally I think we still need an attacking midfielder as Guedioura or Downing don’t look to be in in favor with Monk. And we need a centre back anyway.
Up the Boro!
And I know how to spell Randolph, too. Sorry. UTB!
Thank you RR for the quick match analysis, thought your take summed things up about right with me.
To move the Boro forward though is going to take a more than small tweak with the midfield IMO. In the second half especially it looked like AK’s system all over again. Very liittle creativity and far too much tippy-tappy side to side and back again.
Howson has not impressed at all considering his plaudits at Norwich with Forshaw being sloppy with his passing. In fact the passing overall was not what we will need to progress, again especially to the front three, who had to feed off scraps.
Bamford was head and shoulders above the rest, but I was impressed with Britts strenghth and running, he worked hard, just hope we can keep him fit.
So it’s early days but we must do better, an easier start than Sunderland, so catch up required. Lets hope against Burton we can improve against probably a packed midfield.
I wish we could stop referring everything we don’t like to Karanka.
His biggest problem was he thought his front four were Costa, Hazard, Pedro and Willian. The penny never dropped until too late and we brought in bench warmer Gestede, an unfit Bamford and surplus to requirements Guediora to bolster wont play Gaston and Traore.
The players we had were pedestrian which resulted in us playing that way.
Howson should improve and I hope Baker proves a good addition but we still need some creativity.
Ian, OK, sorry for refering to AK.
However the players Mr Monk had in midfield on Saturday were also pedestrian, being the same players as previously. apart from Howson, who has looked the same in the two matches played.
Lewis Baker may offer something different, I hope so as we need it.
I’m a regular reader, but rarely comment. Hope you don’t mind Werder et al, but I wanted to promote an event to any erudite fans who still live in the area as I’ve seen discussions about chants/songs on here in the past and it would be great to have some of you there to weigh in on the discussion.
It is part of a series of free events at the University (based in the Dicken’s Inn Coffee Shop on Southfield Road) aimed at bringing the public into a casual environment to listen to a talk and then engage in a discussion and bring their own opinions and experiences to the table.
This is the blurb for the next event, and I’m very keen for people to come along and get involved.
Friday night and the gates are low: Sport and popular music
Mike McGuinness, lecturer in sports studies, looks at a
neglected area of sport fandom, the use of popular music by
fans, teams and sports to engender emotion, an identity and
as part of a commodification process. Inevitably the largest
number of examples come from football but other sports have
copied the process to develop their public persona. Examples
of records made by teams, sportsmen and women will form a
strong element in the discussion.
I should have mentioned that you can find out more here: https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/whats_on/event_series.cfm?tag_id=2
And that this event is on Tuesday 29 August from 6.00pm – 8.00pm.
UTB!
It’s nice to know that our thoughts and discussions are being read by others and not just the regular old bloggers on here!!
It would be nice for the local bloggers to go along and meet up
One question is beer being served ????
Who you calling old?
Speak fer yerself – I’m still in the spritely 50’s with a daily intake of coconut oil in me mornin porridge supreme (added fruits and nuts with a tea spoon of honey and a dash of skimmed milk).
Keep dementia at bay with the coconut oil way!!!!
🙂
You can tell I’m not a promoter by trade, I missed the key point – beer is available for purchase! It is in the Southfield and the bar and café will be open as usual.
I often feel I don’t have much to contribute, but like to keep up with the discussions. I’ve been lurking on Untypical Boro/Diasboro for a few years – occasionally popping up to do terribly on the exmil challenge.
It just shows that when you do have something to say it’s important !
OFB
Of even more importance, will beer be consumed?
Boro to host Scunthorpe on Tuesday 22 Aug 19:45 kick off, tickets for season ticket holders go on sale today at 1600 then general sale from Friday , Carabao Cup (league cup).
Come on BORO.
Exmill
Dash it, I thought I had caught the two home matches, shoot off on holiday, come back and catch the cup match, ouch, that hurts.
I’m looking forward to it because it’s a free night on my season card !!??
Vanteis
Don’t worry about the exmil challenge please contribute.
All views are welcome, any contribution is welcome, we can even discuss commodification and whether Germolene will help, other creams and lotions are available.
I was very excited when my company succeeded in winning a large engineering contract with a pharmaceutical manufacturer .
Yes they made a lot of creams and ointments but when I did the press release I omitted the fact that their main product was for genital warts !
Go and prick your boil or the other way round I forget which
OFB
Our Midlands correspondent has submitted his match preview for tomorrow’s game against Burton and is now checking whether his glass his half-full or half-empty as he looks ahead to the encounter…
https://diasboro.club/2017/08/14/boro-v-burton-match-preview/
People think good defending is getting stuck in and winning the tackle.
But really it’s about reading the situation and intercepting in the right way,either knicking the ball or forcing the forward away from the danger area ,allowing team members to cover.
The reason I bring this up is a concern I have for Christie, I’ve noticed at times he allows himself to get exposed,and then he tends to commit himself,although their player embellished the tackle late on ,giving them that late opportunity,Christie’s effort was rash?
I hope Monk has him working on that part of his game.