| Fulham | Middlesbrough | ||
| Kamara | 86′ | Christie | 88′ |
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
62% 11 4 6 16 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
38% 13 3 3 8 |
Reds roar back in late Cottage comeback
On Thursday our Manager described the trip to Craven Cottage as a tough test and that he believed Fulham were the best side he faced last season with Leeds, even better than eventual Champions Newcastle. On paper and with the Bookies Fulham were favourites for a Play Off spot as a minimum this season if not in fact an automatic promotion spot. Consider that Slavisa Jokanovic was coveted by many on Teesside prior to Monk’s arrival which in itself is testimony to how tough a game this was going to be.
Sat just 4 points behind Boro prior to Kick Off but in fourteenth place they like Boro had only lost two games but had become prone to drawing too many so whilst their present position was mid table their ability in not getting beat was still strong. That said they lost 2-1 to struggling Burton in their last outing so thus far their season hasn’t quite hit the anticipated heights of last season. Contrast that to a Boro side that had been unbeaten in six games with the last defeat coming away to Forest when Britt should have had a hat trick, a Boro side on a roll and looking like they were starting to click. Arguments on Teesside had been about who should be starting rather than who should be dropped. The problem GM had was that he only had eleven shirts to hand out and that was without considering Braithwaite, Gestede and Traore.
The line-up announced at 2.00pm saw Bamford installed and Johnson preferred ahead of Downing on the left flank. Baker was presumably in the No.10 role and Howson had started in place of Grant who presumably was kept on the bench to tighten things up if needed. Clayts returned in the middle of the park, restored after his suspension and hopefully refreshed.
As it was we went with a 442. Britt and Bamford were up front with Baker right and Johnson left. It was Baker to first show intent with a shot in the opening seconds, then Bamford with an early header straight at Button shortly followed by another Baker effort fired in from just outside the box forcing Button to get a hand to it putting it over the bar for the first Boro corner. Christie was then yellow carded early on for a foul on the seventeen year old Sessegnon. The resulting free kick saw Randolph just getting his gloves to a near post ball to prevent Norwood opening the scoring. A few minutes later and Randolph again had to be quick to get down, this time keeping Ayite’s low effort out.
The game was getting feisty with a few firm challenges going in and Boro were looking a bit sloppy or was it perhaps “clunky”? Fulham were now looking lively with none livelier than the young lad Sessegnon. Johnson for Boro went close against the run of play with an effort just past the post as he rounded former Boro loanee Fredericks. Norwood then had an attempt that fortunately went wide of the Boro goal as Randolph looked well beaten. Ten minutes remaining of the first half and Boro needed an answer to Fulham’s pace and movement to build some pressure of their own and give themselves relief. Fulham had a weak penalty appeal for a challenge by Clayton and as the pressure continued the ball flashed across the Boro goal seconds later by that lad Sessegnon again. A few minutes before the half time whistle Ayite went off presumably injured for Fulham with Kebano taking his place. Boro had a couple of forays at the other end as the half ran down but with nothing much to get excited about. Norwood then again came close with only seconds remaining to remind us that we hadn’t reached half time with a clean sheet just yet. Boro ended the half with a wasted free kick which Gibson hoofed up field but Bamford was on another wavelength as the ball sailed out of play.
My take on that first half was that Garry Monk’s praise about Fulham being the best side last Season had more than just a ring of believability. Fulham had a grip on the game, they were playing good football and Boro just couldn’t impose their game on the Cottagers as their pace and movement were causing us issues. Bamford hadn’t really got into the game as much as he would have wished but on a positive Howson seemed sharp and read the game well, looking far more confident than his early August appearances. Our left flank was looking a bit suspect as Johnson sometimes left Fabio exposed and he didn’t exert the same offensive pressure on the Fulham defence as his opponents.
No changes at half time and both sides had a couple of early opportunities after the restart but not enough to cause either Keeper major concerns. Christie was tackled in the box but it wasn’t close enough to launch a serious penalty appeal. Randolph then spared Ben Gibson’s blushes as he played a weak ball back to his keeper who fortunately was alert and cleared the self-inflicted danger. As the game approached the 60thminute the White shirts were still in the ascendency and Boro were becoming more frustrated as McDonald escaped a second yellow for the second time after being booked in the first half. The ensuing free kick ultimately ended with a scramble in the Fulham box and a Howson shot which sailed well over from the player who was definitely one of the best in a Red shirt so far.
There was a period of more fight and graft from Boro as Fulham kept on pushing but the Boro were showing intent of their own. The youngster Sessegnon and his colleagues were certainly not giving up and kept causing consternation amongst the 3,000 or so visitors occupying half a stand behind Button’s goal. Some eccentric Refereeing throughout the afternoon was proving irksome to Boro as nothing seemed to be going the Teesside’s way and none worse than when a White shirt threw himself to the grass in front of Dael Fry winning a ridiculous free kick from which Norwood again blasted the ball towards Randolph’s goal which fizzed past.
Norwood into the action again clattered into Baker leaving him floored but the Ref saw nothing and gave nothing. Boro then broke with Britt charging up field and laid it on to Bamford who smashed it into the side netting with the consequential net ripples causing a millisecond of false excitement. Johnson then came close just after as Boro had now started to get some momentum going. Whether it was as a consequence of Boro getting a foot in the game or a tactical ploy Jokanovic then made a substitution.
Boro were then forced to attend to Fabio as he pulled up, looked in pain and to be going off but seemingly just needed a bit of physio and a swig of a sports drink much to everyone’s surprise. The Travelling army’s hopes were that our current favourite Brazilian wasn’t going to become a liability if soldiering on, a cross he put in soon after the treatment seemed to indicate that he was OK. As was the nature of the game then Fulham should have opened the scoring as they broke and Kamara missed a sitter from 6 yards out when scoring was easier with only Randolph to beat. That breakout seemed to be the cue for Fabio to give up his task as George came on in a double substitution with Fletcher who came on for Bamford who hadn’t really lived up to his billing on the day.
With ten to go Fulham applied more pressure as they went for all three points but Boro stood firm, sitting deep, defending for their lives. Kebana kicked Clayton which bought some much needed relief for Boro as we launched an attack via George on the left which asked a few questions of the Fulham defence but Assombalonga wandered off side and in doing so handed the initiative back to Fulham. The next break saw Oji leave a despairing Howson, play in Sessegnon who drove the ball to the byline, past Christie, put a cross in to Kamara who beat static and stationary Gibson and Friend to nod home.
GM was preparing a late substitution and with seconds of the 90 minutes now remaining Boro immediately went up the other end and won a corner. After a scramble in the Fulham box via a sliced clearance Howson lumped it back in with Friend challenging for a header the ball broke to Fletcher whose scuffed shot was deflected into the path of Cyrus Christie who scored to make it 1-1 in front of the delirious Boro army. GM then made his change with Britt coming off for Stuart Downing leaving the pace of Fletcher up front on his own and putting the wisdom of Downing into the fray, all this on 88 minutes! The 4th Official then declared that there would be five more minutes. Both sides clearly felt this game was winnable and that more opportunities would present themselves but Boro had their tails up. Downing started pinging the ball about and Fulham started to look very suspect at the back as Baker tried an effort and then Downing following up.
As Fulham cleared their area Downing then won the ball from Sessegnon, sent Baker free who was cut down and a free kick awarded to Boro with Baker himself taking it. Red shirts piled into the box, Fletcher missed it and then George desperately flung himself at it and that was the last chance for either side to take all three points. 1-1 it ended honours even. Fulham played some good football but Boro fought and could have nicked it at the death but psychologically importantly our unbeaten run deservedly continues
As the fixture list was published this game was one we would have gladly taken a point from, we didn’t see a flowing Boro by any means but once again we seen a fighting Boro and a Boro that once again came from behind to draw level and very nearly nick it. Our football was intelligent despite the hectic nature of the game and while it was frustrating to see Cardiff, Leeds and Wolves win it has to be considered that this was a good result on the day.
A worry for me is Ben who seems to have very uncharacteristically lost his mojo with a few ricks appearing in his game of late. MOM was Howson, Christie ran him a very close second and his goal would have normally seen him nick the award but taking his booking into consideration and allowing Sessegnon to get his cross in for their goal for me Howson just shaded it. Talking of plaudits, Fry again shaded it for me at the back while a special mention goes to Downing who definitely made an impact when he came on, picking out passes and asking questions of Fulham in those closing moments.
Norwich at home on Tuesday night followed by Brentford next Saturday with the mental toughness still intact is massive and this time next week the table could look a lot different.
Boro planning to get away with
win at weekend trip to cottage
After the refreshing midweek reserve game victory in the Thai energy drink cup, Boro get back to the potential Champagne cork-popping business of trying to secure their promotion back among the football pyramid’s elite clubs. Boro head down to London (or even ‘up’ in some eyes given the convention for travelling to the capital city) looking to continue their recent progress up the league (definitely not down). Fulham should prove a good test tomorrow as to whether Boro have started to get the measure of the Championship as our trendy hosts were the runners-up in last season’s play-off final. Incidentally, Garry Monk said in yesterday’s press conference that he thought Fulham were the best team in league last season – though I suspect Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield could put another case forward on that particular argument.
Despite Garry Monk’s praise of Fulham they haven’t started the season where they left off last term and have won just two games so far, with only one home victory in the their last game at the Cottage. Though perhaps their form has been masked by playing some of the early season pace-setters and they will be keen to start picking up points. Nevertheless, Fulham under Jokovic are known for playing a tight game so we may not get that many opportunities, so avoiding losing an early goal should be the game plan and Boro need to avoid being too lethargic in their early approach after hearing the referee’s whistle.
| Fulham | Middlesbrough | ||
| Slavisa Jokovic | Gary Monk | ||
| P8 – W2 – D4 – L2 – F8 – A7 | P8 – W4 – D2 – L2 – F10 – A5 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
14th 10 1.25 58 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
7th 14 1.75 80 |
| Last 6 Games Burton (A) Hull (H) Cardiff (H) Ipswich (A) Sheff Wed (H) Leeds (A) |
F-T (H-T) 1:2 (1:1) L 2:1 (1:0) W 1:1 (0:0) D 2:0 (1:0) W 0:1 (0:0) L 0:0 (0:0) D |
Last 6 Games QPR (H) Aston Villa (A) Bolton (A) Preston (H) Forest (A) Burton (H) |
F-T (H-T) 3:2 (1:1) W 0:0 (0:0) D 3:0 (1:0) W 0:0 (0:0) D 1:2 (0:1) L 2:0 (1:0) W |
Viewing tomorrow’s venue from the Thames, it seems somewhat of a misnomer to call this sleek modern metal-clad stadium a cottage – I suspect even Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs fame would struggle with the concept if one of the architectural subjects in his iconic house-porn series claimed something vaguely resembling the Riverside stand was indeed a cottage. Though the origins of Craven Cottage go back several hundred years to the time when it was a royal hunting lodge located in part of the hunting grounds of Anne Boleyn – so let’s hope nobody from Boro gets too nostalgic and loses their head on the pitch this Saturday.
Though the actual cottage from where the stadium derives its name was built in 1780 by Baron Craven, which stood for just over a hundred years before being burnt to the ground. The derelict plot was then discovered by Fulham football club in 1894, who chose it as the place to locate their new ground with the footprint of the former cottage now occupied by the pitch’s centre-circle. After several years of using temporary wooden stands, renowned Scottish football achitect Archibald Leitch (who had previously designed Ibrox) was commissioned to build the two main stands of the stadium at record cost at the time of £15,000. The Stevenage Road Stand (later renamed to the Johnny Haynes Stand after the death of the former Fulham legend) was built with a rather meticulously redbrick facade. With such an eye for detail, it’s quite amusing that Leitch only ended up constructing the Cottage Pavilion Stand because he’d forgotten to include the changing rooms in his plans for the Stevenage Road Stand.
So thankfully the Boro matchday squad have somewhere to change into their kit but Monk faces some tricky decisions on who to include in his eleven. Not an easy task as the Boro boss has declared yesterday that he doesn’t have a ‘Best XI’. In fact, he said there is no such thing, which happily solves another argument on who supporters believe should be starting or not. He’s more of the view that it’s a squad game and it’s only the competition for places that helps to enable the players who are selected to raise their game. I suspect the player on everyone’s lips in terms of starting is Patrick Bamford – who demonstrated once again against Villa that he’s got many of the attributes that Boro will need this season.
However, one currently unbanned journalist in yesterday’s press conference went fishing by quoting Bamford as saying he’d like to play more centrally – he then posed the question of whether the Boro boss would see him playing the rest of the season in the centre rather than out wide. Monk responded curtly to that bait by exclaiming “They’ll play where they’re asked to play” and stared at the questioner for several seconds before bursting out laughing and saying he was only joking. Maybe he was just joking? or perhaps it may have been an insight in to why Bamford hasn’t been picked lately and the Boro manager just jokingly brushed over his irritation with the comfortable media skills he possesses. Truer words spoken in jest and a possible sign of tension between player and manager? Maybe, maybe not as Monk didn’t appear agitated or anything other than relaxed – but perhaps Bamford has knocked on his manager’s door to plead his case, we know he did with Karanka and that didn’t go down well with the Spaniard.
Though Monk went on to explain that there are certain players who have key positions and other players who can play in various positions and wherever they play on the pitch it was important there was a clarity in the way they performed that role. In short it appears Bamford is a flexible option and at the moment his manager believes he has better specialist options in the forward positions – though with Adama, Braithwaite and Gestede to return soon, you wonder if pliable Paddy needs a start tomorrow and has to produce an undroppable performance.
In central defence, it should be Gibson and Fry to play together instead of a half each and you would also expect the ever-present Christie to return to right-back. In theory, Fabio should get the nod at left-back but he didn’t look comfortable defending against QPR and was at fault for the first goal. Whether Friend showed enough in midweek is debatable but I feel he’s more aware in his own box than Fabio.
Clayton should get his central midfield berth back after timing his one-game ban to coincide with his rest day in midweek but who plays alongside him may depend on whether Baker remains in his advanced midfield role or not – for instance with Bamford eyeing the number ten role and Braithwaite due to be back in contention next week, it may be time for the Chelsea loanee to be playing a little deeper. It’s quite possible that Leadbitter will be preferred as added security for a tough away game but he may still be feeling the knock against QPR.
With Adama still missing then Johnston is the man to provide the pace on the left with his penchant for cutting inside – plus he was probably MOTM against The Hoops and looks to be quite a bargain on his current showings. Assombalonga will also surely start as the striker of choice and that leaves the question of who plays on the right. Downing has normally been favoured to start games but is still yet to show that he can make a significant impact – though Bamford may end up on the right if Monk chooses other options in the more central striking roles and Fletcher is also an option too. Something a little more left-field on the right could be Christie in a more advanced role with the impressive Connor Roberts playing at right-back – the Republic of Ireland international has shown some good pace and trickery going forward and wouldn’t look too out of place in a more attacking role.
So will Boro lay the foundations at the Cottage for a continued promotion challenge and build on their recent good results? Or will Jokanovic’s men demolish our hopes with some promotion-wrecking balls knocking over our recent progress. As usual your predictions for score, scorers and team selection – plus should Randolph opt to go up into Fulham’s box for a Boro corner if the score is 3-3 in injury time?
OK, when the whistle goes as long as the newspapers and magazines are folded and in the rack. The headphones are off, computer games turned off and contact with respective bookies is broken we may start on the front foot. Although I’m sure Fulham will think that they can get a goal in the first five minutes because Boro are notorious slow starters.
The score? Fulham 2 – 2 Boro, but as I always say it would be lovely to win. Just don’t lose Boro.
UTB,
John
PS. Werder forgive my manners, thank you for a great post, yet again. Now for a beer.
UTB,
John
Another great piece Werder with some Fulham history thrown in.
Randolph
Christie, Fry, Gibson & Friend
Leadbiter & Clayton
Bamford, Baker & Johnson
Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Ayala, Fabio, Downing, Fletcher, Forshaw & Roberts
19,675
Fulham 0 – Boro 0
I think a point at the cottage is always a good point and if we can keep another clean sheet then all the better.
A defeat would not be the end of the world but would put a dent in our progress.
If we can get off to a fast start and impose ourselves then who knows and a win would be a real bonus with two home games to come.
Give me a point now and I would take it.
Just paid my £10 to Fulham TV to watch the match tomorrow!
CoB 😎
KP
Yes, to the team you’ve selected except Baker on the bench, Bamford in at no.10 (no not Downin st.) and Travy to start. Then, I reckon we got a powerful team.
UTB
That Archibald Leitch got around, he did Ayresome Park too.
https://footballpink.net/2017/09/01/a-design-for-life-the-loss-of-archibald-leitchs-grand-football-structures/
Cottages 0 Sheds 3
GHW,
Freshly creosoted of course. Ah, that lovely smell.
UTB,
John
Interesting to hear AV and Phil in today’s podcast debating who might be the attacking players chosen tomorrow, with special reference to PB – a question that I suspect is running through the minds of most of us, with Werder introducing it well in his preview.
It seems to me very significant that last year we were wondering about our players with attacking qualities in the context of who on earth could make any useful difference. Now we are scratching our heads over a surplus of potent attacking players who can all make a significant contribution in their different ways, at a time when we also have a further two injured and one suspended who will return at some point!
Personally I like KP’s team* in attack, most likely with PB starting on the wide right position tomorrow with licence to drift inside and make a second striker when we are attacking, allowing Cyrus to raid down the wing which he can do very effectively. I say this in the belief that Jokanovic will be worried about planning for Britt, Marvin Johnson, Lewis Baker and PB, but probably not for Stewy these days.
I think GM will want to bring Adama back into the team for the Norwich game. I just have a feeling that he sees Marvin and Adama driving at defences from the two wings, and Britt getting free as usual to convert their crosses/passes in the defensive mayhem which arises from these runs.
* I think Fabio will stay in after being given a rocket by GM, and will be intensively rubber-necking whoever he’s marking.
Exactly Mark, Jokanovic will be the worried manager.
May (no pun intended) I suggest we leave the Championship at the end of this season, but continue to play all required games for a further two seasons, whilst paying extra for the privledge while having no say on any new rules or changes while we do.
😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW1jSWjjBN8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Thanks Spartak. Love Robb Wilton.
Cottagers 1. Cruisers 2
Forgot that Howson is available and would put him on bench in place of Roberts. Would like to include Adama as some have suggested but he is still banned until next week.
CoB
🔴 I’ve copied it into this post for you – werdermouth
Thanks Werder. Sorry to increase your workload when you have your hands full child minding!
No problem KP he’s usually less trouble when he’s sleeping 🙂
It looks like Fulham will be missing Cairney again tomorrow with a knacked knee although their fans seem delirious that Rui Fonte could play a part after his recent injury.
My selection:
Randolph
Christie, Fry, Gibson, Friend
Leadbitter, Clayton
Bamford, Baker, Johnson
Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Ayala, Fabio, Downing, Fletcher, Forshaw, Howson
Now I think that with GM’s mindset Shotton will make the bench, Downing will start in lieu of Bamford and I am curious as to whether Grant will be fit after his injury. Come 2.00pm tomorrow we will find out and come 5.00pm we will know if it was effective whoever plays.
1-3 to the Boro!
RR
Re team selection me thinks you have been copying my home work!
I agree with your comment that GM will start with SD instead of PB and if GL is not fit then he will play Howson.
Prefer your result to mine!
CoB 😎
Great piece Werdermouth. It is really interesting to read all those little gems of our opponents’ history. My take on a connection with their architect was famous BBC journalist and producer of MOTD, Sam Leitch who famously responded to Cliff Mitchell’s question about what Boro hadn’t featured on MOTD yet during Jack Charlton’s promotion season ….”Well, it’s complicated you know, we have to plan matches quite in advance and predicting who will be amongst the leaders in Division 2 in advance is tricky.” (I kind of paraphrase). “I understand,” responded our Cliff, “but Boro has been top since October.” (If I recall correctly it was January by now.) “Oh”, replied our Sam!!
No history of media bias or blindness where Boro us concerned then is there😉!
Anyway, I too hope to see PB starting on the right, otherwise I would agree with Werder’s selection.
Headline, THATCH’LL DO NICELY AT THE COTTAGE as Boro record a 4-1 victory in memory of that season. A brace for Britt and one source for Bamford and Johnston.
I find it difficult to make judgements about how well we are doing or what our prospects are – we are a team of paradoxes.
In defence, it’s bewildering to look at our goals conceded:
• Wolves – unforced blunder – opponent has only to slot ball past keeper
• Forest – 2/3 defenders lose concentration, blown coverage, opponent slots ball almost unopposed into net
• Forest – soft penalty decision
• QPR – defender loses concentration, blown coverage, opponent has only to slot the ball into the net
• QPR – unforced blunder – opponent has only to roll the ball into the net
Our defensive play has been so strong that no-one has been able to really cut us open with outstanding attacking play and score – the first Forest goal is the nearest thing – but we have somehow managed to ship at least four goals which could have been avoided by simply doing the basics. We seem to be fantastically good at defending, except when we are fantastically awful. More points could so easily have been on the board.
In attack, we have opened teams up but then missed some very good chances, and could easily have put four more points on the board in the Forest and Wolves games, and been top of the league now. Does that make us very likely to win games, or very likely to blow the chance of winning games?
If things really came together at both ends of the pitch, we would take some stopping.
Mark, re our defence I had a similar conversation with a mate of mine. We both agreed that no team so far has scored against us without a big input from a Boro player/players.
All teams make mistakes or have defensive lapses, but no team has carved us open to score or smashed in a worldy from 30 yards, so if we can cut out these mistakes we could have the defensive bedrock to build on allowing the attacking players to score the goals to fire us to promotion.
Am very excited about the game tomorrow, it’s my first attendance at a match this season.
I imagine Fulham will score early and we’ll reply with at least one in the second half.
As for their head coach, yer Jokanovich aren’t yer?
Due to unfortunate circumstances I have a spare ticket for the game, if anyone knows of anyone who needs one please DM me on twitter @chrishunneysett
(Face value £35 and no booking fee.)
I deeply resent Spartak’s implication that our Brexit negotiations are being pursued by a pack of vicious buffoons who are more interested in fighting each other for the post of Prime Minister than in serving their country, while the European grown-ups look on not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
So let’s hear no more of this nonsense, Spartak.
99 blue buffoons
Floating in the murky grime
Panic bells it’s red alert
With Corbinisters biding time
If anyone just might convince
Perhaps it will be Cable Vince
Instead now Europe waves goodbye
As 99 blue buffoons decide
My greatest apologies, Mark.
I’ve just completed watching the movie ‘Churchill’ & I know I shouldn’t but making comparisons with the current ‘leaders’ is difficult not to make.
It would appear that we have but suits at the FA & politicians not fit to lead in London. You could put it down to something like hubris but I think it’s simply incompetence, being unsuited to the job in hand.
I believe it, more so, that it is reminiscent of Matthew 12:22 ‘A kingdom that is divided cannot stand.’
The Tories in an attempt to maintain their power and influence have sacrifced their country’s wealth and prosperity to do so. They by their own stupidity have diminished the nation they themselves were supposed to serve and by doing so have betrayed all the efforts of previous generations to build and maintain a great nation.
The country has a collective of liars and thieves in charge serving primarily themselves.
No change there then…
A bit like the USA, North Korea, Russia, China, The EU and the rest?
UTB,
John
I’m hoping for win tomorrow and getting my money’s worth for the ten quid Fulham are charging for their live feed! I’m hoping they send over a free beer at half-time for that price.
Having just read the stat that Fulham haven’t kept a clean sheet in their previous 17 home games I’m feeling a bit more confident – though they concede less than a goal a game so it may be a sneaky 1-0 win for Boro, anything more would send expectations into promotion overdrive.
BTW thanks for the comments on the pre-match piece, it was done under real deadline pressure from the real boss (as my son calls her) 😉
Werder
Can I have a pork pie as well please. Specifically a Newboulds midget pork pie!
Werder, pardon my English but I did not understand the sentance: “Fulham haven’t kept a clean sheet in their previous 17 home games I’m feeling a bit more confident – though they concede less than a goal a game .” Or is it my mathematics?
UTB!
What I mean to be precise is that this season in the league they have conceded 7 goals in 8 games (just less than one a game) – so there have been some away games where they didn’t concede a goal. Though in their last 17 home games played they have failed to keep a clean sheet.
Werder, iI was just teasing you. Guessed what you meant but couldn’t resist a pun. I grow up with three brothers (and was lucky to have two sisters, too). So I kind of grew to be teasing somebody in the family.
Werder, Thanks for the the post. I love this blog, me. It’s in the blood, like. Up the Boro!
Sorry to be the harbinger of doom but the portents for tomorrow’s game are not good…..
My son lives and works in London and he is a Fulham season ticket holder. He is taking me to the match tomorrow and every time he takes me to see Boro play in London we lose. Last season he took me to Fulham for the League Cup game that we lost 2-1 and to the Premier League game at Crystal Palace that we lost 1-0 and were awful. His track record in previous seasons is similar and I have concluded that he is a jinx.
However, this dismal record cannot continue for ever and so I have decided that it is time that the portents are defied and the jinx overcome and I therefore predict that Boro will win the game tomorrow. I think we have the attacking power to trouble the Fulham defence and the defensive nous to stifle their attack provided we cut out the gift goals.
I like RR’s team selection and my score forecast is 2-1 to Boro with Assombalonga and Johnson the scorers.
The Boro victory will be enhanced by the enjoyment of spending an afternoon at one of my favourite grounds. It has a lovely “family” feel about it, away fans are welcomed, there is little foul mouthed aggression or hostility from the crowd and its location on the banks of the Thames is perfect. Standing on the concourse behind the stand by the bank of the river with a pint before the game watching the rowers and sailors going past is a real pleasure.
UTB
Let’s hope it’s a good one fellow bloggers
COB
Same team as last week ?
Probably but subject to GL’s fitness 😎
Am I the only one who feels that a twin pronged attack of Bamford and Assombalonga would induce brown-trouser syndrome in a lot of opposing defences. This is probably better suited to home games as a 4-1-3-2 with Traore and Johnson as wide players.
Playing away at Fulham, I can see a 4-2-3-1 with Bamford starting on the right but playing fairly close to the centre I attack giving Christie a chance to get forward. Clayton and either Leadbitter (if fit) or Howson will lock down the middle and Baker is most likely to stay at number 10 as he seems to be improving steadily.
The subs would be Dimi plus two from Ayala/Shotton/Friend/Roberts plus Forshaw, Fletcher, Leadbitter/Howson and Downing. If Grant is not fit then a third defender makes sense.
I hope everyone travelling has a good trip. I remember going to Fulham years ago to see Souness rip them apart.
UTB
Yes, a repeat of the score when Souness delivered his masterclass would be just the ticket.
Yes I was there as well and I believe Alan Mullery still has nightmares about the game!
Was that the game when Booby Moore played for Fulham? Maybe Rod Marsh and George Best too.
Over to you Ken
Wasn’t it Bobby Moore’s debut in a Fulham shirt and an evening match? I was there and it was embarrassing Boro were so good. Here’s hoping.
UTB,
John
Also hats off to the U-23s who recorded their sixth straight win last night, coming from behind to beat Stoke. Report on MFC website.
Top work, Werder, as ever.
I think Fulham will have been stung by their defeat at Burton last week and we should expect a reaction.
Luckily for us, they look to have several key players injured and lack the squad depth we enjoy.
Still, I have slightly bad feeling about this one.
I would go with RR’s team.
Well it’s back to the business of climbing the championship table.
If Boro can start with a high tempo I can’t see anything but a comfortable away win, but if it’s a (so far) slow start then I think it will be anything but. As stated above Fulham don’t concede many, so getting at them from the off could be the way to go. If not a hard fought draw could be the outcome.
Mostly agree with RR team selection but would put Bamford in for Baker and Downing on the right. If Traore was available he’d be in the wide right berth. I think Baker would be suited to one of the 2 alongside Clayton but that may be a bit too adventurous away from home. Whoever starts and whatever system GM employs if we get off to that elusive quick start we should have more than enough on the day.
Been to Craven Cottage numerous times and have yet to see us win. Not many draws to be honest. The walk from Putney Bridge station to the ground is very pleasant, with the novelty of passing the historical remains at Fulham Palace, as opposed to the remains of the once great heavy industry around the Riverside.
Last but by no means least a big thumbs up to Werder for another great pre match piece. Particularly liked the historical references as that’s what floats my boat.👍🏻
I hope we are not craven at the cottage.
I see no reason why we cant play Bamford behind Assombalonga. When we were playing 433 it appeared to be more 4312 with Bamford dropping in behind Gestede and Britt.
Giving the choice I would player Baker as one of the midfield two because he is more progressive with Clayton minding the shop.
I would play Johnson, Paddy and Downing behind Britt. Stewie will provide some defensive stability to balance Baker’s progressive play.
In reality Monk will probably pair Clayton with Grant or Howson. Baker will start in the No 10 role, Britt up top, Magic and Stewie on the flanks.
Good work again by Werder, goes without saying really.
Prediction? I think we will start clunky as AV puts it just as we have in most matches. Fulham are not Bolton away. Fulham to score first, then it will be a matter of whether they score before we get to grips, 2-1 to Fulham or 1-1.
Tough one to call. If Fulham hit form I fear a 2-1 defeat, but a draw would be a good result. A close defeat wouldn’t be a disaster against one of the promotion favourites, so although my heart says a 2-2 draw, my head says a 2-1 defeat, though I haven’t forecast one correct score yet this season, so there’s still hope.
May’s speech last night was a bit odd.
I’m pretty sure I heard her say previously that she was going into the negotiations with Europe to be “a bloody difficult woman”.
Didn’t Boris say, “We can have our cake and eat it”?
Didn’t Davis say that by now “We’ll be negotiating highly beneficial trade deals all round the world”?
Didn’t they all say, “No deal is better than a bad deal”?
And yet we now find them on their knees to Europe saying, “Please let us stay in for an extra two years, we are desperate to keep paying you £350m per week for absolutely nothing in return, and without having any say on how things are run”.
Could it be they need more time to sort out the appalling mess they have made and that the things said before were “economical with the truth”?
Looking forward to this afternoon likely my only game this season. Have been to Fulham twice the time Jack’s team ripped them apart and an abysmal 3-0 when we were relegated under GS 1. Hoping to see a repeat of the former but this is the Boro we are talking about.
We need to get three points from the next two games to get to the target of two points per a game. Now, as Werder said it is 1,75 per game (I will always trust him, me).
So I must predict a tricky 1-2 victory with Downing and Britt scoring. Kalas for them – a must.
So we are still work in progress. So I wouldn’t mind a draw, either. Let’s hope we don’t get beaten there.
Up the Boro!
For those who have raided the piggy bank and coughed-up their ten quid to Fulham TV for a live stream here’s the page where the stream should appear before kick-off…
https://www.fulhamfc.com/fulhamfctv/live
Incidentally, I was able to sign-up as Mr Werder Mouth (just for the small pleasure of receiving official emails that begin ‘Hi Werder’ you understand) and you need to give a non-UK billing address but I was able to pay with my English debit card without it matching the card address.
I will be at Derby this afternoon courtesy of a complementary ticket for their match against Birmingham City – the club that sacked Gary Rowatt after he had them placed seventh in the table.
He was replaced by Zola who nearly got them relegated before ‘Arry rescued them only to be sacked himself.
The sub plot is a rumour that if Derby lose today a rogue Nurse will pull the plug on his sojourn.
Anyway, you lot had better make me look foolish, more foolish, after my earlier predictions.
Paid the tenner and now just waiting to get started.
I think the roll is starting and we are on it so 2 nil to us and a lively game,
Paid my tenner.
My son is going but he has just sent a photo of himself outside Stamford bridge!!
Just goes to show who are number 1 in west London.
Predict 0-2, don’t care who scores.
OG and penalty will done fine
C’Mon Boro
Team:
Randolph
Christie Fry Gibson Fabio
Howson Clayton
Bamford Baker Johnson
Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Fletcher, Friend, Shotton, Leadbitter, Tavernier, Downing
Prefer Leadbiter to Howson and Travy wudve got a start if I ruled the Boro, which of course I don’t.
🙂
Score? Dont know as I dont know the weather but I’d say a win if my powerBoro team were playin.
UTB
All together now ‘If I ruled the world…’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSiednkXCzM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Apart from Grant, presumably still not 100%, I think that would be most people’s preferred line up.
Ah ah, no!
🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baPFFAXOjuU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
That team selection chosen looks pretty much what many were expecting with Bamford edging himself in front of Downing by his midweek performance and Howson taking over from a perhaps less than 100% Leadbitter. Looks decent on paper so let’s hope it’s just as good on grass!
Pleased with that team selection. Feing positive about this afternoon. COB
Just a quick one…..many thanks to Werder and the other posters.
No prediction from me, hoping for a win, may be expect a draw, OR if “Faulty Towers Defence” turn up, possibly a defeat.
Paid my money, hope I get my moneys worth-
Predicted score 1-2 with the
headline :
‘Boro Burglars Steal Valuable Three Points At The Cottage’
I sincereley hope PB gets coached out of dinking penalties. I’m for hit it as hard & true as you can as per a certain John Hickton.
Is there any mileage using Gestede in central defence ? Not an unusual switch & it would give us more options for that tactic we’ve re-discovered ~ attack.
is anyone else having big problems with the stream. It’s absolutely terrible down here. I must have seen about fifteen minutes worth of the first half.
Great Stream here Sel. Have you tried coming out and logging back on. Sometimes works.
yes. might be local telco problems.
Well “Typical Boro” seem to have turned today. Full backs getting the run-around, Fabio having a bit of a mare at both ends. Midfield not picking their counterparts and allowing their wide players to put in some teasing crosses. Fortunately Fulham have had nobody in the box, as yet, to take advantage.
So Fulham the better team in the first half, with only two real efforts from Boro.
Needs Mr Monk, to shake things up a bit?????
Oh lucky lucky, lucky lucky M’boro!
That was hard work and not particularly enjoyable watching as i felt that for most of the second half that Fulham looked more likely to score and so they did.
Awful corner which resulted in our equaliser thank goodness and a point which I said I would be happy with at the outset.
Still another very disjointed display and as Pedro mentioned the full backs had a mare. Howson for me had his best display in a Boro shirt. Fry/Ben had another solid game but midfield and forwards did not produce a lot.
Take the point and move onto Tuesday. Norwich seem to be getting their act together so another tough game in store!
CoB up into play off spot.
From what i could see, Howson and Fry were very good. Christie was good going forward and had a lot to cope with in defence as Fulham threw everything at him. I think that we have to recognise that Fulham were a good side – as Monk said before the game – and to come away with just a point is certainly not the end of the world.
What was it that Napoleon said – “give me generals who are lucky”. To an extent, you make your own luck and Boro put in a good shift against a side playing well.
UTB
Based on the Tees commentary it was the usual slow start with a hard fought draw the result. Good to see the lads keep going to the end and bounce back so quickly to equalise. It even sounded like we could have snatched it at the death. Back into the top 6 and barring Forest winning by a clear 7 goals well still be in the play off slots by the time we kick off on Tuesday night. 2 home games to come and a 6 point return is very achievable imo.
KP
My tips for auto before the season started were Wolves and Fulham so I am not surprised we had a hard time.
Howson done well and also Randolf , the rest struggled but we were up against a team that will be up there with us so I would take the point all day long
Just need six from the home games.
Interesting that Christie received an early yellow and could have been withdrawn as sessingion was making him look pedestrian, I would have considered replacing him at half time and would not have considered him as our saviour. That’s why I am not a manager.
Excellent point
UTB
Cyrus The Great is calmness Persian-ified as #Boro Greek out a point in a hit and myth encounter.
Just watching the Villa v Forest game and noticed Steve Agnew sat next to the Villa bench!
Any info OFB?
He’s good mates with Steve Bruce and as far as aware it was just a social event
As at last week he wasn’t going to take up any football appointment as his contract is still being
Paid by Boro and few. Clubs can match it
We weren’t at our best today and perhaps still haven’t quite clicked but I think we have to recognise that is very difficult indeed to play well every Saturday and Tuesday/Wednesday in this extremely competitive division.
Fulham have not started particularly well but most would fancy them to finish in the top six. To give only a so-so performance away to a good side and still get a point is decent.
Frustration comes when the manager picks a strange line-up or seems to hamper the performance in some way. Not so today.
Happy enough. Onto Norwich and hopefully a better performance facilitating maximum points.
Dear ladies and gentlemen of the DiasBoro.
The allocation of the responsibilities adhering to the conversion of chances throughout the tenure of the present managerial incumbent of Middlesbrough Football Club have been determined to the point where our hard-working inhabitants at the back of the flanks tend to be liberated from their more instinctive sharp-shooting qualities by devolving same said functions to those whose experience and training have better prepared them for the conversion of what may appear to be the humblest of tasks on the most regular basis, yet there remain exceptions where those most commonly positioned at the side of the pitch find their way into the penalty area and see fit to release the most offensively-positioned individuals at the club from their usual duties and most prominent statistical gains, contributing in turn the priceless expansion and well-being of the positive results and qualities inherent throughout the team, the club and the individual himself.
In short – our right-back scored a goal. And earned us a point.
Gratuitous use of totally redundant commas there Simon. Disgraceful 😉
Relieved that randolf didn’t go up for that last minute free kick.
Loving the point. Let’s move on.
UTB
The one time Aitor genuinely threw the word “caution” out the window? No, but the most notable.
Simon
In a few words ” our right back scored”
Being overly cautious, I would have thought about subbing him as their boy was taking the Pizz out if him first half.
What do I know
The fact that we didn’t have a right back on the bench may have allowed Christie to stay on and become the hero
Well done Christie for scoring and not getting a second yellow
Whilst multitasking with cooking dinner I’ve just posted up Redcar Red’s match report plus the match stats of today’s tasty encounter…
https://diasboro.club/2017/09/22/championship-fulham-vs-boro/#MatchReport
A good point but we could do with those 6 points from the next two games as a cushion, as there seems to be no let up at the top.
Leeds, Wolves and Cardiff have not read the script. Didn’t anybody tell them that we are going to smash the league?
Onwards and upwards.
Good point, I thought we were dead and buried on 86 minutes.
Regardless of the result, away to Fulham is always one of the more pleasurable games. Charlton is more friendly, Millwall a battle, and Palace is a favourite, but no other ground can match Craven Cottage for its air of faded glamour.
We started well with a looping snap shot from the edge of the area and the game settled into a progressive rhythm. They were happy to allow us the ball in our half. As we struggled to feed our well marshalled forward line, they tore down our right flank with ominous intent.
Fulham are a disciplined side with a big number six happy to use his muscle and a lightning fast number 3 who gave Christie a torrid afternoon. They play a fluent fast to feet game not normally associated with the Championship.
Britt was more busy in our box defending than he was threatening in theirs. Poor Paddy was living on scraps. Our 433 meant our full backs were exposed all game, often pegged back and we never doubled up on Fulham’s attackers.
As the second half wore on I was increasingly convinced a point taken from this game would be a very good point indeed. We had a brief spell of pressure on the hour mark but it came to nought.
GM had made changes dictated by Fabio’s inability to continue. Paddy also had the hook and though he had been full of running I was surprised he hadn’t been taken off earlier.
We rode our luck once too often and a home goal duly arrived from their right. There was little our keeper could do about the goal, and he’ll be rightly miffed after a solid afternoon’s performance. We rallied immediately and spent the remainder of the game pummelling the Fulham. For the first time in the match our gander was up and had the game continued for another 2 or 3 minutes I’m sure we would had won.
It is a good point and hard earned. Fulham will feel hard done by and I felt they more than shaded the game. GM could have made a tactical change earlier when it was clear our on field combination wasn’t clicking up front.
There was much fun mocking the the incompetent linesman and the Boro faithful are to be celebrated for their impressive commitment.
We’re well placed in the league and play with a sense of purpose and camaraderie. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.
Brilliant work by RR, and Werder, with other contributors filling out the picture with their own reports.
Just over three hours since the end of the game and we have the best and fullest picture currently available anywhere, with more to come over the next 24 hours.
I didn’t get to see any of the game, so I’m grateful for the time and trouble everyone is taking to give us their impressions. It helps that reporters on here are so knowledgable and articulate.
Thanks to all. What a Blog! Indispensable.
Thanks RR and Chris.
I watched the Derby v Brum game. Post match, in the pub there were 2 Derby, 2 Brum fans and me.
The general view was a draw was a fair result. Talk turned to the match and my view was that it was poor fare, all agreed but it was a typical championship match.
The general view was that Wolves and Boro would go up in the automatic promotion places.
We discussed the Boro result and the consensus was a point was fine especially having gone behind.
Thoroughly enjoyed my day out by the river. I thought the best team were the 3000? dressed in red and white in the Putney End, it was a pleasure to be amongst them, their humour and support were immense. Agree with RR the officiating was inconsistent, I don’t usually chritise officials having been one for many years. Thought the defence looked clunky, not sure who needs a rest. So it’s back to the radio and Diasboro until back in the UK next season- hopefully in a new league
Fabio has looked a little suspect at LB when defending of late, conceding free kicks in dangerous areas in an effort to thwart his opponents. Ben has lately been guilty of a few “whoopsie” (being kind) moments of the sort we attribute more to Ayala than himself meanwhile Dael alongside continues to grow in stature alongside. Is Ben perhaps subconsciously trying to look out for Dael at the expense of his own game?
At RB Christie I feel is average at best defending but his attacking prowess more than compensates for that. Throw in his enthusiasm and hes rapidly growing into a fans favourite. Speaking of a Fan’s favourite, George will now have two home games whilst Fabio recuperates to get back to his best after a forgettable 16 months or so. The Fulham goal was not only avoidable but for two of our more experienced defenders to ball watch was frankly unforgivable let alone not even aware of Kamara coming in behind them was very poor. Maybe Ben needs a rest after the mental turmoil dragged out all Summer long. Maybe Johnstone should be tried at LB with Tavernier or Downing in front?
My opinion is that we have to accept and acknowledge that we will be more exposed through more adventurous attacking play but we must cut out the sloppy lapses in concentration at the back for that is all they are. Ayala’s pass at Wolves was poor, Gibson’s penalty at Forest was soft as was his mix up with Randolph last week and again today with George.
On a positive note I should have mentioned Randolph as a contender for MOM but have to confess that I due to becoming complacent, almost expecting an 8 or 9/10 every week from him. Maybe that complacency is spreading across the four in front of him?
Long time reader, infrequent poster, just wanted to thank everyone for bringing the matches alive and the football commentary both civilized and broad for those of us in foreign lands. I’m enjoying the positive grit I’ve seen from this team and think it will go a long way in this grind of a league.
Nice to hear from the lurkers keep posting !
Well worth the ten quid.
The stream was without glitch and HD. We watched the match on the big screen at Bahrain’s Boro club house and it was every bit as good as Bein/Sky coverage. This is definetly the way to go for footy coverage – pay as you go and no ads. Even got to see the dancing girls at half time – as well as having a few of our own in the pool. So well done Fulham.
The match was a nail biter. I had the typical Boro gut ache from the start even though we looked very dangerous. The highlight for us was the break out from the corner, if we can repeat that with or without Superflash then we certainly will smash the league – might have to convert though but it was a pleasure to watch and Bamabi’s shot was well taken even just a smudgin off target. certaily gave their mid field and defence a wake up call.
I am glad in a way they scored first as it was not as sickeneing as you would imagine. We hadn’t really got the measure of Kamara and he always looked as if he had a goal in him yesterday. Better for us to equalise than them, made the draw seem all the more desrved.
Also fantastic throw ins – we need that guy to stay in the team – taken like corners/free kicks. Feeling rather rosy now!!
We will have to stop giving daft goals away but as others have said on the blog, its more difficault to keep clean sheets when you play with 4 defenders instead of 9. !!!
So the Canaries are next – revenge time I would think – hope its on a good stream and definietly worth staying up for.
Come on Boro we’ll soon catch Leeds.
Great reports all-round today. Last season Boro would have lost that 1 – 0, what a difference a positive attitude makes. Thank you to everyone and on to the next one.
UTB,
John
Thanks for another great report RR.
A good point from another, as Allan put it, typical gut ache Boro performance. I knew what I was feeling like for most of the match but just couldn’t find the words – thanks Allan you summed it up perfectly.
OFB
Thanks for your response and update on Steve Agnew.
We need to continue the run and take maximum points from the next two home games as the top three are not letting up.
A contented Sunday.
CoB 😎
According to Neil Maddison Fulham were the better team in the first half, but Boro shaded the second half and deserved the draw.
For me the surprising thing was how Fulham are missing so many chances after having been top scorers with 85 goals last season. They seemed to easily beat our full backs with their pace but wasted many chances. Our defence this season is a bit of a concern, but I guess that is what happens with a more attacking system, so I can live with that as I can’t see many teams posing such an attacking threat as Fulham.
All in all then a good point gained, but where to play Bamford is still a poser. However I’m quite pleased how things are progressing and not at all concerned that three teams have five more points than Boro at the moment. Personally I would rather come with a late surge in April than reach the top too early unless of course we have such an overwhelming points lead, and I can’t see that happening in such a competitive division.
Watching MOTD and Watford’s away kit is red with a black gastric band trimmed with white.
I don’t know if it looks better than the white version we wore.
I like the way this team celebrates its goals. It would appear this is a very together squad and last seasons divisions have been consigned to history.
I had a chat to Monk at one of our home games and mentioned the unity of the squad
He said it had been a conscious decision to recruit seasoned U.K. Based players to promote a rapport and bonding of the squad
Seeing the video clips recently of the pranks and laughter the players are enjoying it looks to have worked
I too have noticed the way the whole team celebrated the goals amd also the way they lauded Adama for his performances
Team togetherness counts for a lot and the lack of it last season was part of our downfall
OFB
Adama has a Catalan background does he not? Or did I just make that up?
Yes but he was integrated into the English leagues premoer and championship
In other words he wasn’t new to them like signing an overseas player
OFB
He was sat on his arse on the bench I believe at Villa & for us in Prem he missed more than he played.
Seems to me Boro management wouldn’t know a Cross cultural training prgramme if it came upto them slapped them round the mush with a wet Ukipper and shouted ‘I’m a cross cultural training programme!’
Amateur night decade after decade.
Oh and I forgot about Braithwaite !
Don’t shoot the messenger I didn’t say it!
GM said it !
What a Ukipper?
Is it one that’s
Part of the EU fishing quota ?
Thanks to Redcar Red for the prompt posting of his match report. Also so good following up replies after the match.
As a number have said the defence and I think the midfield has not been a “tight” as we have been in the past, certainly as this level. However you really cannot have your cake and eat it with regards to attacking intent and water-tight defence.
This season has seen more of the intent with the players brought in and although the defence/midfield is IMO better overall than when we got promoted the tasks that they have to carry out leave gaps at the sides for the opposition to exploit, especially teams with some pace (Fulham).
Christie´s pace going forward more than compensates his defensive weaknesses as RR pointed out. On the left, Fabio always seems able to lose his man and gives away too many little niggly fee kicks. What we need is the George of two seasons ago, defensively anyway.
Yesterday the two up top got little service at all, did Britt have a shot??? Johnstone was very quiet creating little and not giving Fabio much in the way of support. On the other side, Baker was the same, worked hard but delivered again very little. Not his best position, with 442…. was it??, not really working at all. Not many balls in from behind their defenders, so real chances were at a premium. Not sure about Baker, his best position and he is knocked off the ball too easily for a midfielder. Then Paddy getting a start and the team mis-fires from the off. Probably benched on Tuesday.
Nice to see Howson have the best match I have seen him in, generally a solid display from Fry, and again as RR said another normal display from Randolf. At the moment our best buy??
In the end is was a point won against a very good team. I did not know they had been top scorers last season and still do not know how they only scored one.
Will miss the Norwich game, so hope to have some positive reports when I get in.
Happily it was a very good quality live feed from Fulham TV with match commentary too and was able to view it through my plasma TV screen. Though an outage after two minutes nearly had me demanding my tenner back but the feed was restored quite quickly and nothing major was missed.
It was a good end-to-end contest with both teams looking to play football – their commentary team thought it was the best quality game they’d seen at the Cottage this season and were generally quite complimentary about Boro. They were particularly impressed by Dael Fry and thought he looked a very good prospect – better than Gibson even – though Ben had a bit of an off day and nearly repeated his error from last week with a misunderstanding with Randolph. Their biggest gripe was with Bamford who tried to con the referee a few times – including one where he threw himself to the floor a bit theatrically.
I was particularly impressed with Howson, who easily had his best game in a Boro shirt and it looks like he’s now settled in – which given Leadbitter’s aging body is a real bonus. So I’d agree with RR in giving him the MOTM for that performance – I’d also agree that Fabio is looking a bit suspect and perhaps his lack of positional play contributed to his over exertions and what looked like calf problems.
Whilst Bamford did a lot of running and chasing he didn’t really get himself into the game that often and although Johnson made a few good runs and looked sharp he just lacked the final ball yesterday.
Boro struggled with the pace of their wide men and we can be thankful that their crossing was a bit erratic but you can see why they were top scorers last season. Perhaps with Adama due back on the right and Johnson on the left we will have something similar. One wonders if Fulham would have been so keen to advance down our right if the threat of Adama’s pace had been on their mind.
It was good to see Boro respond to the late setback almost immediately – even if it was a bit of a scrambled effort. I’m still expecting Fletcher to head in the winner when I watch the replay of Baker’s excellent last gasp curling delivery – he was just a couple of centimeters from giving Boro a famous victory but in the end a decent point given the circumstances.
Boro actually moved up to 5th with that point – though any result from the Sheffield derby today will drop us to 6th. Two winnable home games to come and a chance to establish ourselves in the playoff zone.
Having watched the highlights earlier it appeared both Ben and George were guilty of ball watching for their goal. Ben seems to be having a few off days by his high standard of the previous couple of seasons and George is nowhere near the player he was in the promotion campaign. Maybe that long layoff last season has had more of an effect on him than we thought. Hope they will get back to their best sooner rather than later.
I also agree with Ken about Fulham not having their shooting boots on which was a bonus for us. How ever we had more attempts at goal but 1 fewer on target, so maybe both teams could do with extra shooting practice.
Werder when you get a moment, could you look in the spam box for my latest post. Sorry and thank you.
🔴 I’ve released it from it’s capture – not sure why it ended up there but maybe double and triple use of question marks put its punctuation nose out of joint??? – Werdermouth
Love RR’s write up! A man made for the job without doubt.
I’m a bit concerned with the deployment of 4-4-2. What was achieved by that? A soup monster of an error there. AK’s defensive legacy slippin somewhat Surely our lads could adapt back to older habits where necessary?
Better vet it up for Norwich, as mid-table is just a sniff n a cough away.
Or the top two a sniff and a cough away…….
Positive waves man
I prefer the strong smell of reality, OFB.
Did I not like the Boro performance first half yesterday.
Arsen around with team formation is not smart.
KISS
KISS is fine but if we win on Tuesday I’ve told Mrs OFB it’s
NORWICH !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GB1KTIACtk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“Do I not like that!”
I hope you confirmed that in Writing OFB!
UTB,
John
SWALK
Ahem
🔴 Unfortunately, a returning ton foiled by the randomness of the Spam Filter, which was secretly holding an earlier post of Pedro’s – Werdermouth
Adjudication alert!!!!!
Who got the Trabbi, Werder????
Just askin like.
🙂
After releasing a post from Pedro from the Spam Filter it means your post before GHW’s was indeed the 100th – though my earlier theory of excessive punctuation upsetting it seems to have been disproved by your query – congratulations!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv4KQbDaCfM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhFGUK80nk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
🙂
…. and Werdermouth gets the binary no7?
Now onto a delicate subject.
I believe we play Norwich City next and at the risk of upsetting the football inevitability gods and after Assambalonga and Traore having a mare or an even worse than that kind of game against their old teams what does GM do about our purchase from Norwich City?
No names, we must not ‘mention the war’ because maybe we’ll be tempting fate even further?
I’m worrying already.
UTB,
John
Great report as ever from RR who describes the ebb and flow of the game perfectly.
As I said in my post on Friday, I was hoping to break the jinx on the Boro that results in defeats whenever my son takes me to matches in London. Well, we didn’t win but I suppose the jinx has been partially lifted at least.
However, we were very lucky to get a point yesterday. It was a disappointing performance with little attacking threat until the last five minutes and a lot of backs-to-the-wall defending. Fulham played much better than we did, moved the ball at pace and caused our defence plenty of problems form both sides of the pitch, particularly our right side.
Young Sessegnon was terrific, gave Christie the runaround all afternoon and delivered a series of dangerous crosses into the Boro box. If Fulham had given him more of the ball they would have won the game. As it was, they fluffed a number of the good opportunities they created (apparently the story of their season so far), Boro dug in as best they could to frustrate them and Randolph made some good saves although I think he might have done better with their goal. As some have already said, it was in the end a good point against a good side and a game that we would have lost not long ago.
I’m not sure that I agree with RR’s choices for men of the match. Howson was industrious and delivered a couple of very good crosses into the box from free kicks but not man of the match for me. As for Christie, I agree that he poses a threat when attacking but he is weak defensively and I don’t subscribe to the view that this weakness is acceptable because his attacking skills more than compensate. His defensive weaknesses will cost us more goals than he will create at the other end. He was given a torrid time by Sessegnon, the Fulham goal came from his side of the pitch and there could easily have been more from the same route.
My man of the match was Fry who barely put a foot wrong and made some crucial tackles and blocks when the pressure was on. He really is a terrific prospect.
As for the rest of the players, none stood out for me. Assombalonga was quiet, Bamford had a poor game for him, Baker was unimpressive and kept running into blind alleys and Johnson had his least effective game so far. Clayton worked hard as usual and Fabio did OK until he was injured. As for Gibson, I agree with RR that he seems to have lost a bit of spark and he almost gave a goal away again with an awful back pass.
So the result was everything yesterday. There are few sides in the league as good as Fulham and it does Boro credit to come away with a point despite not playing well. In a way the game was maybe a bit of a reality check reminding everyone that there is still a lot of work to be done if the team is gong to finish in the top six this season.
“Team togetherness counts for a lot and the lack of it last season was part of our downfall.”
This.
Although.
There may have been signs, during the height of the collective’s power – 2014 to January 2, 2016 – that the players were indeed unified, celebrating as one in the pursuit of a goal. But as far back as April 2015 an astute Boro fan pointed out something I addressed in a recent Talking Point.
“If you watch the players on Twitter, sometimes it looks like they’ve joined a cult with a particularly charismatic leader… It’s all fine while it’s going well, but I bet it could unravel particularly quickly when it’s not.”
How prophetic.
You see now why, despite being pleased, at times delighted, with how MonksBoro are finding their way, I’m not doing cartwheels. Not yet. I’ve been burned before.
Stay tuned for my next Talking Point… the focus will be, again, on learning from the past and what MonksBoro ought to do to keep their momentum going.
I disagree with the ruling regarding goal line technology that a goal should only be awarded when the whole of the ball is over the line. I think that this should be altered to “more than half the DIAMETER of the ball is over the line”.
My reason for this is purely the mathematical fact that a football is a spherical object meaning only about 25 percent of the diameter is touching the ground at any time, the remaining 75 per cent is not.
A good example is that in Rugby only part of the ball need to TOUCH the try line with downward pressure for a try to be awarded. Obviously a rugby ball is a different shape to a football, but the rules of contact with the ground seem to be different. Just a thought!
Ken
The laws of the game have never changed it’s always been the whole of the ball amd as an ex referee I’m pleased to say o was often grateful for that fact when making an instant decision
OFB
I know Bob, but I think it should be changed. The offside law has been changed twice in 1926 and again a few years ago, the recent change adding more confusion regarding “actively affecting play”. There also have been other law changes in football and many other sports. My reasoning is that if the base of the ball is over the line it is reasonable to say that a goal should be awarded because that is the contact part of the ball, the rest is air or space beneath the ball. At the moment goal line technology is only available in the Premier League and the Championship, and hawkeye is not available anywhere else on the sidelines.Therefore it surely would be easier for an assistant referee to give a decision on just over 50 per cent of a ball than say 10 per cent or less. Just my thoughts from a scientific point, as I realise it will never change.
This would have cost two points against QPR, as ALL of the lines would have to obey this law, and Johnson would have been deemed to have carried the ball out of play.
There are many issues in the game that are more broken than this one – especially the interfering with play when offside question.
Some interesting midweek fixtures coming up. On Tuesday night as we play Norwich, Cardiff host Leeds, Hull host Preston and Ipswich host Sunderland (no I’m not holding out much hope there either). Then on Wednesday night Sheffield Utd host Wolves.
So two of Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield Utd and Wolves will definitely drop points as a minimum or perhaps all four will drop two points each!
OFB
I agree unless it is at Leicester where the rule seemed to be the whole of the ball had to be in row 3 of the lower tier for a goal kick to be awarded or Sheffield Wednesday where the same applied to goal scoring. Bitter! I don’t know what you mean.
Moving on, I have seen cricket’s equivalent to Booby Murdoch, Chris Gayle, running optional.
Bamford’s inability to get a foothold in the game seemed to come from his starting position wide of Britt.
More than once balls were played into a channel for him but being expected to make up 20 or so yards was frequently too big an ask.
This didn’t stop him from trying tho, and credit to him for that.
I was whelmed by Howson and thought Clayts had a better game, especially as he was doing the grittier stuff, and lots of it.
My MOM was Britt, not only was he tireless in ploughing an often lonely furrow, he made several important clearances in our own box from set pieces. At one point he cleared the ball and then chased his own lost cause up front. Again, all credit to him.
If we play him and Bamford up front, to get the best of them we need them playing much closer together.
I made a flippant remark to my companion we thought Gibson was the new Palister, but playing alongside Fry, Gibson is really the new Mogga.
As that 80s partnership was in the classic mold of a player and a knacker, could it be Gibson and Fry are too similar to be a great partnership? Is having teo ball playing CB’s too much of a good thing?
I suspect not and of course only bad players are a luxury. I’m speculating in the hope of landing on some insight as to Ben’s current form.
Chris
I agree with you. It would be interesting to see Bamford and Assombalonga playing close to each other but does that also permit both Traore and Johnson to play to create crosses. Assuming a back four, that squeezes out three from Clayton, Howson, Leadbitter, Baker and Downing. Not an easy call for a home game where we should have a lot of possession. Playing a pseudo back three with Clayton sitting just in front of and between the two centre backs frees up the full backs but that
overloads us with wide players and still leaves us light in midfield.
I’m thinking a version of 4-4-2 but with more of a midfield diamond and at most only one of Traore and Johnson in the starting eleven. Perhaps Johnson’s more muted game against Fulham will see him missing out. Baker could play up field and Clayton at the base leaving two places for Traore/Leadbitter/ Howson/Downing.
Makes for a strong bench who can really change things. It could be Dimi, Shotton, Ayala, Johnson, Fletcher, Braithwaite/Downing, Howson/Leadbitter.
UTB
Probably the best way to use Bamford is in the position behind Britt linking him to midfield, Our Sheringham to Britt’s Shearer. The No 10 in 4231 or the man in the hole in 4411.
But will Garry Monk think that way. Caught the end of a discussion on the radio about Rhodes at Wednesday and not being given a chance. The problem was managers haven’t got the time to give players a long run just to play as a striker if they don’t offer a lot of other plus points.
Bamford came in pre pre-season to work on his strength and speed so he recognised the need to do more after two years in the wilderness.
Bamford spent two years in the wilderness because he wasn’t good enough to get in to the team where he was playing.
I think that still applies.
GHW
I think that was what I was saying, he had to improve what he could offer.
You’re saying he should play Bamford behind Assombalonga. I’m saying I don’t think he’s even good enough to get in the team.
He didnt look that good on Saturday – hope he improves
GHW
No I didn’t say he should play Bamford, I was saying the best way to play Bamford is in that role. The best way to play Ayala is centre half, does that mean I am saying drop Gibson or Fry?
That is different to saying he is good enough, playing him wide right is not his best position and is the perfect way to create a self fulfilling prophecy.
Putting Clayton or Assombalonga or Ben Gibson right of the three attackers wouldn’t work out either.
Ooooh, your making it up as you go along!
lol
You’re not sitting on the fence,Ian, you’re pirouetting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRzHCSuM8To&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The incredible dancing Gilly.
🙂
Spartak
No fence sitting,
re read the post
and please
tell me where
I said Bamford
SHOULD play.
I have even left spaces so that you can fill in whatever you want to think I said.
🙂
Gilly
‘Re-read the post!’
Ooooh, couldn’t do that. Once is enough for any man- me head will be spinning next.
Boro 3 v 0 Norwich
Bamford sits on the bench 🙁
2-1
I agree Bamford will be on the bench alongside Fletcher, may even see Braithwaite but I guess it will be too early
Johnson and Traore either side of Baker with Assombalonga up front.
Howson and Clayton in midfield.
May see George back at left back, the rest as expected.
As Bamford is a striker I don’t see how both he and Assombalonga can play in the same team in any formation than 4-4-2. The trouble is we’re not adept at playing that system, so Bamford can only be an alternative to Assombalonga as and when required. QED.
I’ve watched Norwich for many years going back through the sixtees and on, and they always play quality football,technically well coached,and on the front foot,
So we had better be up for it, defensively, it won’t be a cake walk.and they will do us .
Not if Leadbelter is playing they won’t.
Plus, if Traore is playin front, right ot centre, then they are goin to have their attention mostly on him. If they don’t more fools them.
Happy days
I hope MonksBoro keep their momentum going. I’ve been rather ill since Sunday morning and I have a ton of photos, a review and a Talking Point in my “To Do” list.
A narrow win will do nicely.
Si
Don’t work too hard we need you to get fit soon for another of your discussion pieces !
A bit selfish of us really but it also promulgates lively discussion with your fellow bloggers !
Keep taking a drop of the Irish and it’ll make you better
OFB
Spartak
Didn’t Grant get a knock on his knee before Saturdays game? If so may be rested.
Well the games are coming thick and fast and there’s barely time to take breath and worry about how you’re going to follow the next match- though I’m sorted for Brentford as I’m making my way over to the Riverside for that one as part of the half-term visiting schedule. Anyway, just found a bit of time to write a Norwich preview as we reach the ten-game milestone and the point at which we can start assessing our promotion credentials…
https://diasboro.club/2017/09/25/championship-boro-v-norwich/