| Middlesbrough | Cardiff City | ||
| Ralls | 84′ (pen) | ||
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
59% 11 2 8 19 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
41% 8 3 2 12 |
Traore gives Monk the Blues
This is the time of year when previous Boro Managers have had their employment status terminated albeit they had all enjoyed much longer tenures than the present incumbent. Sitting in the opposite dug out was one Manager who many had touted to be tempted away from South Wales prior to the arrival of Monk to add some spice to the day’s proceedings. A slow starting Boro falling prey to the wily ways of Warnock was a scenario many had feared before KO with doubters growing by the week that Garry Monk still doesn’t know his best eleven or what formation in fact best suited them. A resounding result this afternoon would provide some much needed kudos; a dispiriting performance however would see amateur Joiners across Teesside scrambling for the final nail in their hastily assembled wooden crates.
Early Season false hope of five clean sheets in six league games gave cause to think with our newly signed pace and power we could become a real powerhouse in this league. Those dreams had dimmed of late with Boro without a clean sheet in their previous five games and alarmingly conceding eight goals in the process. Cardiff had experienced a recent mini wobble themselves after drawing and losing their last two league games but overall had impressively won four of their last seven away games. Today was going to be a real test but one that Garry Monk’s Boro now had to perform and deliver in.
Brilliant sunshine during the warm ups soon descended into a dark gloomy and cloudy overcast day just five minutes before the Kick off as the rain started to come down changing the atmosphere inside the blustery Riverside. A very average Cardiff side looked anything but the second placed promotion favourites as the game overall was a fairly non-descript affair. Nerves were on display as Christie, Ayala and Randolph managed to make an innocuous series of backwards and sideways passing into a gift wrapped opportunity for the Bluebirds to take the lead as once again Boro started edgy and half asleep. Their performance didn’t get any better than that. First half chances were almost zero as Fletcher struggled to make any impact and his first touch seemed to be an art form that has hopefully temporarily deserted the lad. Under the circumstances and the pressure on the Manager it was a surprise to see him starting especially with a few sterile performances of late yet GM stuck by him. I’m not sure what the reasoning is when other poor or average performances have quickly resulted in the chop for others. At this rate the poor lad is a whipping boo boy in the making and its will be very unfair on the lad if it continues.
There was nothing in evidence to see what or if any improvement or progress was being made anywhere on the pitch. Downing was my Man of the Match and believe me that was an award that was very difficult to make yet was subbed for the second game running when he was the only creative force in Red. He made way for Traore who looked worryingly disinterested during the touchline warm up. That to me was a huge alarm bell seemingly unnoticed by the Manager and his Assistants, maybe not so surprising perhaps as the Manager and his assistants don’t appear to have noticed much during their three month stay on Teesside. As it happened Traore was later guilty for a
ridiculous challenge which ranked right up there with his Villa sending off handing Cardiff all three points courtesy of a penalty. Now I accept you can’t blame the Manager for a rash challenge or an individual’s poor decision making but this was a cumulative effect of things over the entire afternoon.
There were free kicks that were passed sideways and backwards, inviting pressure and putting us under pressure when we should have been launching an attack. There was so much uncertainty at the back that somehow Garry Monk has made Ben Gibson looked like a shadow of his former commanding self. Ayala just looks terrified although he did compose himself a little bit as the game wore on. Randolph has gone from a commanding assured presence to someone who is as anxious and uncertain as the rest of his back line. Shambolic best describes what was once a fine Championship defensive unit undone only by the Premiership’s finest. Midfield was once again tinkered with today and Howson now found himself recalled this time alongside that great understanding he has with Grant Leadbitter. Howson was later on the object of boos and derision as when trying to launch an attack he was limited with options and dithered until he surrendered possession and put us back under pressure.
Cardiff were poor on the day but we were so disconnected and “clunky” to borrow a phrase form our former blogmeister they were never under any real threat. Pace and Power? Yer jokin aren’t yer! We pass slowly, we roll the ball out slowly and put ourselves under pressure and defend desperately without any structure. We had one moment of class in the first half when we passed the ball slickly out of defence from the left and passed it slickly and quickly up the pitch. That is the only time this season I recall this side doing anything with pace and power. At corners we launched to the far side of the box but had nobody placed to collect the regularly over hit ones. When defending corners we still had nobody up field and struggled repeatedly to clear our lines yet again.
As predicted when I saw the line-up Bamford came on in the second half for the lacklustre Fletcher although it could have been Assombalonga just as easily as like Gibson. GM has managed to make a prolific goal scorer look decidedly poor. Braithwaite looked to find clever balls and played with confidence alongside Downing, Fabio also had a decent game but other than that there was little to inspire or give the dwindling home fans any optimism. The claimed 24,000 in attendance had little reason to think that this team is going to gel or click any time soon or indeed ever.
This season is now becoming a wasted opportunity and a very expensive one at that. The Chairman got the Manager he waited for, wanted and backed to the hilt but what has since materialised is something now rapidly gaining Strachan like momentum. Dire, dismal and disconnected, it can’t go on any longer. Pass the Diasapan please Bob!
Fear and loathing in lost Teesside
The football journey of Boro followers is rarely a smooth one and there’s a growing fear on Teesside that the planned promotion party may have to be rescheduled for a later date, though many are still loathed to give up on a quick return and are beginning to advocate that a change in management is required. On the background of this, Cardiff arrive at the Riverside this weekend, where there’s been a marked rise in Savvatophobia, or fear of Saturdays, in what has now become the latest in a series of crucial games. For many supporters, Garry Monk’s very future itself is resting on these three pivotal points, which at the moment is not as stable as that metaphor actually sounds.
The superstitious Triskaidekaphobic among you may not be expecting game thirteen to be the start of a revival in Garry Monk’s fortunes – perhaps some are already anticipating the pre-match meal could be something of a last tripe supper for Boro’s latest messiah and from that viewpoint the picture beginning to be painted of the season has perhaps similarities with Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic biblical depiction of the famous event, which is widely regarded for it’s technical use of a vanishing point to give it perspective – though from the perspective of Boro supporters many are not impressed by the vanishing points at all!
| Middlesbrough | Cardiff City | ||
| Gary Monk | Neil Warnock | ||
| P12 – W4 – D5 – L3 – F15 – A11 | P12 – W7 – D3 – L2 – F17 – A10 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
11th 17 1.4 65 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
2nd 24 2 92 |
| Last 6 Games Barnsley (A) Brentford (H) Norwich (H) Fulham (A) QPR (H) Aston Villa (A) |
(H-T) 2:2 (1:2) D 2:2 (0:1) D 0:1 (0:1) L 1:1 (0-0) D 3:2 (1:1) W 0:0 (0:0) D |
Last 6 Games Birmingham (A) Derby (H) Leeds (H) Sunderland (A) Sheff Wed (H) Preston (A ) |
F-T (H-T) 0:1 (0:1) L 0:0 (0:0) D 3:1 (2:0) W 2:1 (1:0) W 1:1 (0:1) D 0:3 (0:1) L |
It’s been refreshing to have a media-friendly manager who can talk the talk but for some it’s now time he started walking the walk too. Though in the verbal dexterity department he’s got a long way to go before he reaches the heights of the Cardiff manager – who’s a man that never looks uncomfortable in front of a microphone and can easily filibuster the gathered hacks into believing either a win was down to his tactical genius or a defeat was simply beyond his control. In fact, there’s a touch of the Harry Redknapps with Neil Warnock and you suspect if the pair ever decided to undertake a day trip to Blackpool to draw in the odd breath of sea air, then it’s likely all the donkeys on the beach would just be left with their front legs come the end of the day.
Nevertheless, if Neil Warnock knows how to do one thing then motivating players is perhaps his biggest asset and he’s got Cardiff quickly out of the blocks this season as they won their opening five fixtures. The Bluebirds progress has flapped a bit since then with just two wins from their last six and two defeats on the road – the heaviest being at Preston when they lost by three. For many Boro fans, a visit by Cardiff brings back memories of our disappointing home defeat in the FA Cup quarter-finals back in 2008, but our recent league record against them is quite good with seven wins from the last ten meetings
Monk will be hoping to continue that run against our South Wales opponents but has so far not convinced many in terms of performances that the Riverside has become the fortress he desires. In fact the Boro manager has started to look a little embattled lately and there are early signs of a siege mentality developing – so he could probably do with that fortress to retreat into. The general view is that his team should shaping up by now but we shouldn’t forget that it took time even for Karanka to establish his method of playing.
Karanka joined Boro in mid-November in the 2013-14 season and his record in his first 20 games was W7 D7 L6 F19 A14 – including a run of 7 games without scoring. That works out at around 1.4 points per game, which is pretty much comparable with where Monk is currently at. Aitor’s next three games were also winless and it wasn’t until his 24th game that he started to manage anything like the consistency needed and won four on the spin before losing the next two and ended the season with two more victories.
Of course it may be argued that Monk has had far greater resources made available to him so he should be doing better. However, that is subjective to whether the quality of the signings is accurately reflected by the fees paid. In terms of attacking resources, Braithwaite has only just returned from injury and looks as if he will be an important player, but Assombalonga has looked more limited given his league-smashing top-dollar price-tag and former Barnsley loanee Fletcher has also so far looked somewhat overvalued as a pricey £7m young prospect with potential still waiting to be unlocked.
Big Rudy Gestede has been a long-term absentee since his deadest of dead legs and is due to return shortly, whilst Bamford has also failed to find a place for himself in the team for reasons as yet not clear to outside observers. Then there’s Marvin Johnson, who has magically stepped up a league from Oxford and again has potential but his displays have been erratic – talking of which – let’s not forget Adama, who personifies the word erratic and still appears more of a wildcard than someone who will be an integral part of the team. The fact that the free-to-leave Downing has found himself back in favour perhaps underlines the failure of those around him to convince.
Some of the main signings in other areas have been midfield ‘playmaker’ Howson, who again hasn’t been especially convincing so far – then there’s Christie at right back, who seems to plays more like a wing-back in terms of defensive performances – also arriving was Lewis Baker, who has good feet but he’s not necessarily always good at deciding how best to use them – plus Ryan Shotton, who on his last and only outing has appeared to have cemented his place as a concrete fourth choice centre-back. At least Darren Randolph has proved to be a success between the sticks, so some money well spent there.
Still surely a better team than Karanka had to start with? Well he had Shay Given in goal and a defence that included Woodgate, Gibson, Ayala, Rhys Williams, Seb Hines and a reliable George Friend, who were joined by Kenneth Omerou on loan from Chelsea with Jozsef Varga as a decent solid right-back. Then there was the combative midfield trio of Leadbitter, Butterfield and Dean Whitehead, who were supplemented by another promising Chelsea youngster in Nathan Chalobah. His creative midfielders comprised of Adomah, Ledesma and Carayol with a revolving door of attacking options that started off with Emnes, Jutkiewicz, Kei Kamara and Curtis Main before being shuffled with Danny Graham and Lee Tomlin arriving in January. Whilst it’s still early days for Monk’s squad, it’s arguable that there doesn’t appear to be a massive difference in the overall quality Karanka had at his disposal based on what we’ve seen so far. What Monk has is a squad with a greater depth of quality but as yet the pieces have not fitted together adequately.
So has the Macrophobia, or the fear of long waits, when it comes to promotion made many impatient with Monk’s failure to hit the ground running. He’s been adversely compared to Karanka as taking too long to get the players organised but maybe many have forgotten that the former Boro manager essentially had twice as long as the present incumbent has currently had before his methods started to pay dividends. Perhaps even those who were never fans of Karanka’s style of football are preparing to put their Thaasophobia (fear of boredom) to one side as they yearn for the steady proven stable methods of past promotion campaigns. For many it is time to reach over and press the ejector-seat button as Monk has clearly failed to prove he can take Boro up this season – but could Karanka have passed a similar test after just 12 games? Despite the high stakes, I doubt Steve Gibson will want to reinvent himself as a chairman that is known for being impatient and press the secret red panic button under his desk. I suspect things would need to get a lot worse before he even considers his manager’s position.
Garry Monk seems to have had a rethink in terms of team selection for last week’s game at Barnsley – Ayala has become Gibson’s third partner in as many games, plus the selection of Leadbitter and Downing appear to show a return to experience. Whether the unexpected slow-coach Adama’s previously undiagnosed Bustrophobian condition (fear of buses) forced his hand is not known, but what is clear is that club discipline is non-negotiable if you want to avoid anarchy. Though in my experience, you should normally add an hour to any pre-arranged meeting time with Spanish friends as the actual time agreed is usually the point at which they head to the bathroom to prepare to get ready. However, having said that Daniel Ayala managed to take his seat on the coach, even if he had secretly planned a bit of a siesta around 3pm.
Perhaps the Boro manager is busy rooting out squad members who play with fear, it’s possible Bamford may be showing early signs of Athazagoraphobia, though that may be insensitive towards more serious sufferers like the lad from Watford, whose name escapes me at present – it means the fear of being forgotten in case you were wondering, which I suspect is a footballer’s worst fear.
So will the players overcome their Kakorrhaphiophobia (fear of defeat) and play with confidence to get Garry Monk’s promotion aspirations back on track? Or will Cardiff give Boro another early scare as the defence once again becomes paralysed by the fear of that bouncing round object hitting the net. As usual, your predictions for score, scorers and team selection – plus feel free to confess to any other phobias that you may be suffering this season.
SuperWerderwrotethewordsimprovingallourdiction
Hope we’ll see the team selected play with some conviction
We don’t want to see promotion disappear in fiction
Beating Cardiff 7-0 must be my bold prediction
PS. Great preview Werder
Funny you should say that, Powmill, because if Boro do in fact score 7 in all seriousness by my records that will be exactly 6,500 league goals.
Exactly
Thanks Powmill – though I nearly edited the first line before realising it was a play on supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, very good – though Boroexile may find it scary
Another good read. The older amongst us, including me, will remember the days Toshack played for the Bluebirds. Around that time we always seemed to lose, even if we scored three they would score more.
The run seemed to go on for ever.
Thanks Ian and sadly a teenage John Toshack is before my time…
Very funny, Werder. Just brilliant. As were your vital contributions to the last thread, for which many thanks.
Thanks too to Dormo, RR and countless others for a quite exceptional, thoughtful and detailed discussion of the issues.
I regard this blog as a Brains Trust, a critical mass of people with hinterland and mature experience which is capable of illuminating most topics. That is why I agree with Dormo that there shouldn’t really be topics that are out of bounds as long as debates are carried out with mutual respect, and are evidence- based rather than being the iteration of immoveable personal convictions. The Brexit debate on here, for example, was the best that I saw anywhere, and went well beyond the patronising and corrupt platitudes (Project Fear v Fear of Immigrants) of the mainstream media.
Boro 3 Cardiff 0
Cheers Len and just noticed you missed a chance to include a phobia in your post – Xenophobia!
Terrific article Werder. I was worried that on reading it I might suffer from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia but I avoided it by concentrating on a dose of phobophobia.
As for Cardiff, the team I would like to see is the same as I wished for against Barnsley:-
Randolph
Fabio Ayala Gibson Friend
Leadbitter Clayton
Bamford Braithwaite Downing
Assomablonga
However, I fear that Monk will tinker with the team again and make changes from the side last put out. Hopefully he will have recognised that the more experienced players have a lot to offer and stick with them for what is a crucial game.
My score forecast is 2-1 to Boro with an early goal for Cardiff overcome with goals from Braithwaite and Ayala.
Thanks Boroexile, and that is a frighteningly long word you used!
Another good preview, Werdermouth.Boro’s playing statistics before the start of this season:-
............... ..... . ..... . ..... . ..... . Goals
Prem/1st Div... P2438 - W0818 - D0614 - L1006 - F3426 - A3766
Champ/2nd Div.. P1878 - W0787 - D0460 - L0631 - F2898 - A2451
3rd Div........ P0092 - W0051 - D0019 - L0022 - F0154 - A0094
Total.......... P4408 - W1656 - D1093 - L1659 - F6478 - A6311
15 goals scored so far this season, so 6,493 in total, but maybe Powmill being a little optimistic in expecting Boro to score 7 in one match as the last time Boro scored 7 or more in a league match was on 11th May 2008, the last game of the season 8-1 against Manchester City.
Sorry the synchronisation didn’t come out as I had intended.
🔴 There is a trick to help which involves putting the table inside ‘code’ tags, which makes the font monospaced – though only a single actual space character works as extra ones are ignored so I used some fullstops and then used leading zeros for the numbers – hey presto your columns lines up – werdermouth
Thanks for the advice, Werdermouth.
Ken
Great advice but I haven’t a clue what he was talking about.
Nest Busters 2 Bluebirds 0
Great piece Werder.
When Ian began with ‘the older among us’, I thought he was going to reference the painting of the ‘Last Supper’, by de Vinci……
I agree whole heartedly that Monk deserves more time, no matter how frustrating I’ve found our start to the season. There has been a lot of change since Karanka left. New manager, new backroom staff, new players, that always brings with it a risk that things take time to settle down.
I’m not convinced that the present Boro team is on a par with the team Karanka inherited though. My view is that our attacking players are far superior now. Assombalonga v Main, Bamford v Emnes? I think Assombalonga is getting a bit of unfair criticism, he’s currently averaging a goal every two games isn’t he? For me that ratio makes him a top striker irrespective of his overall contribution during a game.
Gary Monk’s team selection brings a raised eye brow from me, time to time, but of course we sit well outside the inner sanctum and don’t really know what goes on during training. Team selection usually only becomes an issue along with tactics when a team is perceived to be under performing like Boro are currently.
I’m looking forward to a Boro win on Saturday being the start of a string of wins which propels us into the top two and we can get on with ‘smashing the league’……….
By the way, I’m writing this instead of listening to Graeme Souness on Radio 5, which is pretty much heresy in my world.
Thanks, you never know, but Ian may have a picture of his last supper if you’re looking to expand your investment portfolio….
Agreed.
Skybet have us as favourites to win at 23/20 and Cardiff 13/5. The draw is 11/5.
The bookies must get it right at some point but the worry is they have us as 16/1, 6th favourites, to win the league.
I want us to beat Cardiff and go up as league winners, I fear that 11/5 for the draw looks value for money.
That is my bookies knowledge exhausted.
Ian,
Toshack was like the gypsy’s curse to Boro. How many times did he score the winning(s) against us.
Boro have goals in them but the defence seems to match the scoring ability of the forwards, you know, we score two so we’ll give them two.
I’m going for a 2 – 2 draw with Cardiff to score in the first ten minutes. For the golden goals Cardiff’s first in seven minutes and their second four minutes after half time to put them back in front.
Werder,
An excellent headline article, the best yet, and that takes some doing. Very soon you will be a polymath.
UTB,
John
Much appreciated John, hopefully it won’t bring on my polyphobia – which is not the fear of not getting accepted to a proper university but the abnormal fear of many things…
Werder,
I know what you mean.
UTB,
John
Not just a polymath but no doubt a polyglot! I studied PPE at (what some would consider a ‘proper’ university) but now get repeated calls about PPI! Can’t make the connection.
When one compares Monk’s start with Karanka’s it doesn’t look too shabby. I might be wrong but I don’t recall fans calling for Karanka’s head during his first season. Maybe the fact that hope exceeded expectation when Karanka was appointed has clouded our expectations for this season.
I still expect Boro to reach the playoffs, and if we do but still fail to get promoted, I think that Monk will be given another season to accomplish it. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it, even though it’s unlikely that I’ll be still around to celebrate it.
I’m coming to a similar conclusion and think having the best team in the league is not the same as having the best squad – a team is about how a group of players performs together, whereas a squad is a collection of individuals to select from. Building a team is about finding out over time which players fit best together and not necessarily picking your best XI. Though hopefully you’ll be around for some time to come yet Ken!
First player has been charged with simulation, Shaun Miller from Carlisle becomes a pub quiz answer.
I hadn’t realised it would only be for where simulation results in a penalty or a player being dismissed for either a second yellow or straight red (or being a Boro player)
For those who are unaware of the workings this is copied from the BBC
The charge from the FA reads: “Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.
“Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of ‘successful deception of a match official’.
“Only in circumstances where the panel are unanimous would the FA issue a charge.”
I think it is a good thing with one major caveat, the club sinned against will not get any benefit. The law of sod means the banned player misses games against opponents around them in the league.
It reminds me of a test match against Pakistan, they took several wickets with no balls against England. The no balls were highlighted on TV after play. The next day they got all the no balls right, the problem was England were now bowling having been the victims the day before.
The one benefit of the law is that it may discourage the divers. Wonder when one of the stars will be brought to book?
I agree Ian. it is one of my pet hates, that in a team game that sanctions are applied against the individual team member and not the team.
Something like an immediate 1 point deduction for cheating, for that is what the euphemistic ‘simulation’ is, would soon focus minds. Much more so than a ban or a fine on the individual. After all it is the team that benefits from the cheating, not the individual player.
Ken I certainly hope you will be around to celebrate our next promotion whether it be this season or next but preferably the former.
Another excellent article from Werder which has provided me with some excellent words for scrabble!
My preferred team:
Randolph
Christie, Ayala, Gibson Friend
Leadbitter & Clayton
Bamford, Braithwaite, Downing
Assombalonga
Subs: Dimi, Fabio, Fry, Howson, Adama, Fletcher, Forshaw
Crowd 26,108
Boro 0 – 0 Cardiff
This assumes we don’t let in an early goal, which if we do I think Cardiff/Warnock will have enough experience and grit to get the win.
As far as Monk’s future is concerned, I don’t believe he is in danger of losing his job as SG will wait on any decision until our fate is sealed, which could be March/April next year.
As some have said, he may even be given a second season but if so I am not sure why as has has been one of the best resourced managers in recent years. To date he has so far failed to elicit the required/desired performances from an expensive and talented squad. Let us hope tomorrow produces a seismic change which is badly needed.
CoB 😎
Tweeted and retweeted
Looking at the stats from Barnsley – 67% possession, 21 shots, 6 on target, 2 goals – they look like the sort of figures we should be producing if we hope to be promoted. The return of Stewy and Grant Leadbitter and the increasing fitness of Martin Braithwaite do seem to have given us more control of the flow of the game and the ability to create some pressure. Obviously Grant creates a major driving force, which seems to be badly needed.
However, the final result leaves us looking even more like this season will be a fight for a play-off spot. The muted celebrations after Britt’s goal showed me that our players know they are a long way off where they need to be, and are not bursting with belief.
GM had two weeks to drill the team front to back, and we conceded two goals in the first nine minutes. Something isn’t yet working somewhere in the club.
My only ideas are to stick predominantly with the current team and at least let them bed in together and see if that gives us some consistency of teamwork and better understanding between the players. I would still like to see PB in the side, probably at the expense of Ashley Fletcher, and see whether a combination of the players with the most quality in terms of touch and guile can maybe make us more coherent.
I like Adama and Marvin Johnson, but we simply have to do the basics of retaining possession better than we saw against Brentford or we are stuffed before we start.
At least Cardiff are opponents no-one thinks we should be beating at this stage. Hopefully our players rise to the challenge and show their ability. Cardiff’s recent record of D-W-W-D-L suggests they are not in great form. I hope we don’t find that they are simply too well organised and effective for us.
I’m finding Werder’s analysis very helpful as the games progress, and RR’s very realistic, brutally honest match reports show us the challenge we face in turning things round.
Excellent post Mark. Mirrors what many of us think especially about the input from Werder and RR who really make this blog a read not to be missed.
Your support of the blog has been very much appreciated KP – plus thanks to Mark too for his kind words as well as his interesting post.
I just saw the highlights and stats from the Barnsley match after a holiday near Naples. We should have won the match and the second goal conceded was awfull team defending. Really shooting in the leg stuff.
But stats were impressive and we should have scored a goal more to win. We really attacked them.
Let’s hope we can still improve and we should be able to beat Cardiff tomorrow. We are due some luck. We just need to perform as we did at Barnsley. And a have an error less!
Still optimistia, me. Up the Boro!
Great article again Werder. Many thanks. Dias Boro is brilliant. Wonderful contributors and Redcar Reds match reports are always a must read .I visit two or three times a day for the updates.
On another quirky note..Marvin Johnson. There was a singer called Marv Johnson who had a massive hit ‘ you got what it takes’ so lets hope our MJ lives up to the song title !
Got my ticket for the West Stand Upper, do I need a tartan blanket, a thermos and a bag of glacier fruits to get in?
Looking forward to seeing them play live, it’s much better when you can see the whole pitch.
GHW,
Tartan flask too, don’t forget.
UTB,
John
Don’t forget the cucumber sandwiches GHW.
Come on BORO.
I am sorry but the quality from Werder and RR is a given, same goes for Simon and
sundry posters. The same goes for my compliments.
When they slump to the level of professional journalists then I will comment. Otherwise I expect the quality to be maintained.
That is a true complement, they produce exactly what I have become used to, no higher praise than that is available.
Don’t know about phobias ,but I once went to the doctors, and after telling him my symptoms .
He explained.
” You’ve got alcoholic constipation”
“How did I get that” I asked.
” You can’t pass a pub ” he said.
Ba Bum!
the team every one wants to see:
Randolph
Christie, Ayala, Gibson Friend
Leadbitter & Clayton
Bamford, Braithwaite, Downing
Assombalonga
This team has been suggested by myself and others at least four times in the last few days, I do hope that GM reads the blog as we cannot all be wrong.
Interestingly all have chosen Ayala over Fry which suggests we all want a solid team with experience of getting the job done.
I think Cardiff are beatable and this is the team to do it.
The above team may give Adoma autophobia – fear of abandonment
or Howson atychiphobia – fear of failure.
If we lose I will have cronophobia – fear of the future
GM will have gibbophobia – fear of the chairman
Old Billy
That is the team I would like to see start tomorrow. Will it be? I would be surprised if it was. Off down the A19 will pop back later.
For Yorkshire CCC lovers, or indeed Leeds Rhinos RLFC or Leeds Carnegie RUFC lovers, there are some great pictures of the demolition of the North/South stand at Headingley on the Yorkshire CCC website as well as a report from the Project Manager of Caddick Construction, Steve Pitts.
I was quite amused at one particular tongue-in-cheek quote in his October report viz :- “Being a Castleford fan, I’ve not had a great few weeks but there are some small pleasures in life and ripping this place is one of them”.
Nice to see the ironic sense of humour of Yorkshire folk, and Castleford folk in particular in adversity.
That’s quite a sight to see Ken. I have noticed watching sport from both sides of that stand. I had a friend who was s great Leeds RFC fan and I would go with him to see Leeds play Northern often enough.
Mind you as a stand at s major sporting venue it is long overdue being replaced.
The recent form of Boro looks a bit like when Aitor started. I don’t think the results differ a lot:
BARNSLEY 2 – 2 BORO
BORO 2 – 2 BRENTFORD
BORO 0 – 1 NORWICH
FULHAM 1 – 1 BORO
EFL CUP: VILLA 0 – 2 BORO
BORO 3 – 2 QPR
Of course one should read 0-0 instead of the score draws in the above list. So the biggest critics of AK should be happy with the start we have had (!).
I know the expectations were greater in August after we smashed the league financially during the transfer window. But we must remember that the team morale and self-belief was as low as – or even lower – than when Aitor took over.
So I am still optimistic for the season. We could end up having a run like AKBoro had later in his first season. And now we have a much better squad so the run could be even better. Anyway that is what I expect from GM’s team now. We should and could start to smash the league now on.
As RR reported: “There appears to be a lack of belief or understanding amongst the players. At this stage of the season a draw simply wasn’t good enough and certainly not acceptable for a squad of this calibre so the big question after twelve games is what is going wrong and why?”
We saw positives after the second Boro goal. Let’s hope we finally hit a game running from the off, get the lead and get a few wins on the board.
So I will go a scramble 2-1 win with Assombalonga and Ayala scoring on Saturday. I hope that is a start for a run of wins that will lead us promoted by May.
Up the Boro!
Good read Werder.
My next Talking Point’s still on hold as I catch up with all outstanding arts reviews – I’ve three to finish atm – but I have made many notes and will put it together the moment I can. It will still be relevant whatever happens v Cardiff.
I think, given the way things have gone of late, a narrow win will be acceptable to Monk though I hope for a heartwarming 2-0.
Great lead-in piece as usual Werder, excellent stuff. I fully endorse your previous sentiments towards keeping a civil tone to this blog, your efforts are hugely appreciated. After enjoying the “Untypical” blog for many many years I was becoming increasingly disillusioned with it due to the increasingly prevalent sarcastic and barbed “debates” between AV and a small group of others. When AV quit “Untypical” I wasn’t surprised and genuinely thought at the time it was because of how bad the bickering had become, we now know other factors were involved but I wouldn’t have blamed him for walking away when he did. Diasboro is a brilliant replacement and maybe even an upgrade on “Untypical”, long may it continue, we’d miss it hugely if it went the same way.
billog
I don’t think Vic was averse to a bit of bickering, he certainly kept his cards in his pocket.
I prefer the tone on here, it is largely self policing with only the odd intervention from Werder. What we have to be careful about is keeping the tone positive, that is not foam handed but constructive.
Werder does a lot of work, I just don’t know where he gets the time from never mind the quality but we don’t want to overload him with bickering so he decides enough is enough.
Other major contributors such as RR with reports and Simon with his Talking Points deserve reasoned debate, the odd chunter is fine, that is compulsory supporting any football club.
I agree with what you’re saying, Ian. I’ve been retired now for 27 years, am now down to 5/6 hours sleep a night, and still have trouble keeping up to date with all the Boro, Cas and other sports news. Mind, slowing down due to my age might have something to do with it.
At the risk of sounding sycophantic, I endorse Ian’s comments. I just don’t know how Werder finds the time to put together these great leaders. I find this blog even better than its predecessor. Long may it reign.
Hear, hear.
Just seen this on MFC website
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/live-audio-commentary-important-information
Is that the end of commentaries on BBC Radio Tees in the U.K.?
I would doubt it. Up until this season you had to pay to listen to the commentaries when using the club website.
MW
Thanks for the update. I obviously opened my mouth too soon as I made the following comments on the previous thread:
“Unless another stream can be found (not sure what Bet365 are showing that night) then it will be back to the club website and radio commentary from BBC Tees. At least that is still free as opposed to the Hull site where an annual pass is £35 or £4.49 per month.”
I knew it would be coming as Bob Tait at MFC said they wanted to provide it free but were constricted by EFL regulations and they would continue to provide free until the pay wall was in place, which it now clearly is, This is in effect the successor to Boro+.
I am back in UK next month and hope to meet up with Bob Tait and will try and ascertain if MFC are any neared to providing a streaming facility for supporters overseas.
For me it will be a pay on a match by match basis as i switch between iFOLLOW, Sky, Bet365 and radio commentary from MFC when a match is not available for viewing from the other providers. Need to get my Boro fix one way or another!
Shouldn’t really say this but If you buy a Kodi Box you can get Radio Tees. I am able to listen to it in Australia. Recommend the use of a VPN.
Ken
MFC will be using the BBC Radio Tees feed, that is not available online so no match commentary if you lived outside North Yorkshire and South Durham during games.
Boro+ and it’s incarnations all had to be paid for if you lived elsewhere, what is more it was about £50 per season.
Before those flavoured with AV’s rabid Teesside obsession start foaming at the mouth, the use of the traditional names of Durham and Yorkshire was deliberate. There is not a force field surrounding Teesside that prevents the radio signal leaking out nor a ban on supporting Boro in the wider world!
A friend of mine living in Huddersfield, an avid Boro fan who until a few years ago had a season ticket, can get good reception of BBC Radio Tees and listens to the Boro commentaries, but I guess your area is too far away.
Whenever abroad I used to listen to BBC World Service football commentaries on my short wave radio hoping Boro would be the chosen match, or sometimes sit in a bar watching up to 4 matches simultaneously on Sky,etc the trouble being that only one of the matches had sound.
I often listen to West Yorkshire Sport on Radio Leeds via the internet at home and abroad, but of course it isn’t allowed to broadcast football commentaries, but does broadcast live Rugby League which is useful when the Cas match isn’t on Sky Sports.
I’m really okay with phobias, or was that four beers ? 😃
PS
When I was a student in Leeds it was sometimes possible to pickup match commentary from Boro, generally it was when I lived in flats on top of hills. I remember listening to us beating Liverpool away in the league cup in company with my old mate Howard ‘Clagger’ Clayton. I think Willie Maddren scored the winner in injury time.
Was able to listen to Tees when visiting parents in East Yorks and a decent car radio would get coverage on the M62 and way back to Manchester Airport well past Huddersfield.
I’ve just got round to watching a recording of “Sir Bobby Charlton at 80” on BBC TV, and I could see he is still visibly emotional about surviving the Munich Air Disaster – who wouldn’t be?
I’m of the same generation as Sir Bobby, and whilst doing my National Service stationed at RAF Padgate near Warrington doing six weeks square bashing I saw Manchester United play three times and the first one was Bobby’s debut against Charlton Athletic where he scored twice in a 4-2 win. The reason why Bobby played was because Tommy Taylor (centre forward) along with Roger Byrne and Duncan Edwards were playing at Windsor Park for England in a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland whose goalkeeper that day was Harry Gregg (then Doncaster Rovers) who later as a United player was a survivor in the Munich Disaster.
I had seen all three England men playing for United three weeks before in a 4-1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday, and was so enthralled at the performance of Duncan Edwards I was a wee bit disappointed that he was playing for England instead of United on Bobby’s debut.
I remember between those two United matches one of the lads in our billet sneaking past the guards and waking most of us up after midnight having been to Old Trafford to watch United in a European Cup match against the Belgian champions Anderlecht. When he told us that United had won 10-0 of course we didn’t believe him, but it was true 12-0 on aggregate.I just wished I’d have been brave enough to risk the chance of jankers by joining him. Whether it was because we were stationed within a train ride of Old Trafford, I don’t know, but we all supported United and as Duncan Edwards was our generation, he was also our hero.
I have to confess even as far back as 1948 Manchester United were my second favourite team, and in the local Subbuteo Soccer league they were my team because someone else beat me to it in selecting Boro as his team. In fact I can still remember to this day the 1948 United Cup Final team against Blackpool having been glued to the radio commentary. So I guess missing seeing Boro during my National Service, it was inevitable that I should follow United.
At the time of the Munich Air Disaster I was stationed at RAF Changi in Singapore, and as there was no television on the island in those days, we got most of our information from the local radio and the two Singapore national newspapers. All of my mates in the MT Section were devastated, me especially over the death of Duncan Edwards. To be honest I hadn’t heard much about Bobby Charlton before his debut, but most folk raved about Duncan Edwards; in the popularity stakes he was on a par with the American film star James Dean who also died so tragically young in a car crash.
Of course, we shall never know, but had he lived he might have become England’s World Cup captain ahead of Bobby Moore. I know I only saw him play twice, the second time at Villa Park, but he was in the Bryan Robson mould and in my opinion would have developed into at least as good a player as him. At the time of his death his best friend was Sir Bobby; I think his assessment of Duncan would coincide with mine.
Ken
My brother said he cried when the Munich crash happened, he had the same view of Duncan Edwards as you and reckoned he could play anywhere.
Ian, I must admit my eyes were swelling up with tears watching and listening to Sir Bobby talking about Munich, and his pal Duncan. I’m fairly emotional nowadays, putting it down to my hormone injections.
With my touch of Agateophobia (fear of insanity) I Post this to you all with a hint of Acerophoboa (fear of sourness) regarding the possible result tomorrow.
I don’t want Cardiff. To win as it will increase my Algophobia (fear of pain) and I want everyone to like this post as I also suffer from Allodoxaphobia (fear of opinions!)
The problem with this Boro team is basically my infliction of Atelophoboa (fear of imperfections) which I believe could subsequently lead to Atychiphobia (fear of failure)
This Boro team is not like the previous team as they had s manager who caused them to have Bogyphobia (fear of the bogeyman) and perhaps Mr Monk should start getting a bit nasty with them to perform.
I hope a few of them can improve of their Decidophobia (fear of making decisions) coupled with their Eicophobia (fear of home surroundings) and produce a positive result.
I shall be watching tomorrow and to those unable to attend I hope you don’t suffer from Euphobia (fear of hearing good news!)
In conclusion another excellent piece by Werder
Untypical who ?????
OFB
I don’t know which phobias I have, but I’ve probably had most of them in my lifetime. I don’t think Garry Monk has any phobias though, as he doesn’t appear to be under any pressure in his press conferences, whereas Karanka used to fidget about with his hair and to me always seemed to be under pressure. Mind, sometimes Karanka seemed inaudible to me as well.
Graeme Souness was on breakfast tv this morning and he made a very interesting comment about successful teams that seemed to me pertinent to today’s Boro.
He said that for any team to be successful they must have at least three or four “senior professionals” in the team that plays every week. Apart from the experienced footballing contribution they make on the field, Souness argues that they can also take a load off the manager’s shoulders by handling any issues that might arise with younger players both on and off the field. As an example, he said that if a younger player was frequently late for training one of the seasoned professionals would take the player aside and explain that lateness was not acceptable before the situation got out of hand.
It strikes me that with the number of younger players now in the Boro squad the argument put forward by Souness would suggest that the regular selection of more experienced players such as Gibson, Ayala, Leadbitter and Downing is critical to success. I hope that Monk was watching!!
Ken
To be fair to AK his English press conferences are possibly a tad better than any I could do in Spanish.
That reminds me of a story I heard about Emerson, amongst the first English he was taught was industrial shall we say and he got a booking early on for swearing at the ref.
I have a phobia, Ornithophobia, a fear of birds, especially of the genus sialia (Swainson 1827) commonly known as bluebirds.
‘Fear of sourness’… only in my choice of beer, i’m not so keen on the Lambics 🍺 What you say OFB ?
Everyone is into their phobias in a big, big way but as a Boro supporter I don’t care. Well I don’t think I do. Not until the game starts when a new set of phobias kick. Ranging from Iknewitophobia right through a gamut of emotions to typicalborophobia to Ineedabeerophobia. Other alcoholic beverages can be used depending on personal preference.
GHW, make sure you have an appropriate medicinal liquid in your tartan vacuum flask, cunningly concealed beneath the blanket obviously. Tomorrow I think it will mostly be Abbot Ale but how early do you start. That depends on when the spirit of John Toshack begins to influence the game.
I’m still on 2 – 2 earned the very, very hard way.
UTB,
John
I see that Jonny Bairstow’s book “A clear blue sky” is now on sale. Obviously he writes about the alleged suicide of his father David when he was only 8 years old and his sister Becky even younger. Also it was his father’s second suicide attempt, although the coroner gave an open verdict saying that he wasn’t satisfied that David had intended to take his own life, merely a cry for help following depression.
After such a tragedy for one so young, it does Jonny so much credit to follow the same sporting career as his father. “The Mail on Sunday” has reviewed the book as the sporting book of the year, so should be a good read.
I have got it, Counterphobia- The preference by a phobic for fearful situations. Why support ManU when you can support the Boro.
We are all phobics.
At last a rationale for our permanent state of fear..
West Ham 0 Brighton 3. Sack for Slaven Bilic? Nothing against him, but it would be poetic justice if West Ham get relegated this season. Lucky not to be relegated over the Tevez signing, and then to get a lease for the Olympic Stadium!!!!. Don’t like their Chairman, don’t like Karen Brady, and don’t like their supporters. That’s about it really.
Ken
My sentiments exactly.
My brother was working in Dagenham for a while, his second wife came down with his son. She is from Scotland and all her family are Rangers fans, my brother supports Boro. She bought the little lad a replica shirt, West Ham!!
Incidentally wasn’t it Neil Warnock who was managing Sheffield United, the team relegated when West Ham should have been over the Tevez affair?
Ken
That is correct. What was shameful about the affair was that it wasn’t an administrative oversight, the club had known what they were doing and hidden it.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/15611001.MIDDLESBROUGH___If_I_knew_what_it_was_going_to_be_like_I_would_never_have_come_back____Downing_lifts_lid_on_nightmare_under_Karanka/
Brilliant Werder
I will be at the Riverside today….hoping to get some value from my season ticket.
Interesting read in Star http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/653841/Stewart-Downing-Middlesbrough-Aitor-Karanka-sacking-Garry-Monk-Championship
I wonder if he will be playing today??
Read it and weep, Sportsfans! From the horses mouth BUT we’ll never really know what goes on in the dressing room, will we? How on earth can you put on an elite performance when the boss doesn’t even want you at the club nevermind in the first team.
No doubt apologists will be lining up with excuses for their hero.
Just sayin like
🙂
Sparta
Are you referring to monks dismissal of downing at the start of the season
Plato
I am referring to the general relationship between a person in any walk of life and their ‘supervisor’. And of course the particular relationship between Downing and both AK and GM.
Ultimately, this relationship can be supportive or toxic & all grades inbetween. However, if you want the best from people in any walk of life is it not better to promote their performance from a position of support and encouragement rather than be immediately dismissive?
Juzt generalisin like- zzz zzz!
🙂
Welcome home!
The longer Bamford is left on the bench, the less I believe in Monk’s ability to see the obvious* and to turn things round. Someone please send him a reel of his goals from the 14/15 season.
*How many one on ones has Assombalonga missed that PB would have scored. Assombalonga might be fine when he doesn’t have to think with the ball at his feet, but other than that, in every other respect, PB is better.
Teapot
Totally agree that PB should be in any starting 11 Monk puts out
If he starts with the team Old Billy and me are championing, that front 4 would/should give any champo defence plenty to be worried about. With Grant and Clayts breaking up the oppositions play and helping screen the back 4, Christie and George bombing on when appropriate what’s not to like. Too attack minded for some maybe but we need to put down a marker for the rest of the league to take notice of, especially at home.
However unless we continue to start games slowly, on the back foot and defend poorly as a team then what I’ve written above is null and void imo.
Difficult game today, no prediction just hoping the rain holds off until we get back to Hit The Bar ( The Bridge as was by Albert Bridge) for a couple of, hopefully, celebratory pints.
If not unless😮
Interesting reading from Brave heart and Pedro. Curiously both newspapers claim it to be an exclusive !
More insights of the goings on at MFC under Brian Robson.
Merson revealing he and Gazza getting plastered every night.
What does this say about the club and it’s culture, What was Steve Gibson doing,he must have know , these things were going on, what must the sponsor been thinking?
I’m sure the other players ,weren’t very pleased,unless they too weren’t bothered and we’re just here for an easy ride , and big money.
This was a time under Robson when we could have really kicked on as a club. But another relegation came and went.
And yes I know we got promoted ,when Merson was here, but we should not have been in that division anyway ,with all the money that was flying around at the time.
I’m more concerned about the fact ,a that time we could have really established ourselves, and you wonder , is i the lax attitude still around ,
After all he Watford guy is making big money ,on leave of absence.
Time for Steve Gibson ,if he means it, to start putting people on notice .
Greetings everyone. I’m back on the blog after a few busy weeks actually doing some work which is a strange feeling after quite a while in semi-retirement.
Reading through the last two weeks it seems as if quite a few toys have been thrown out of prams by various parties.
From the comfortable distance of 12,000 miles, I’m not sure that I’m too qualified to comment on the mood around the town and the club. However, I would add one comment about the blog in support of our blogmeister.
When it comes to football arguments, we all come from a pretty similar place and are arguing with each other from a common position. Thus, the comments seem to be less acrimonious if no less passionate. However, when we stray onto other topics, the Venn diagrams of our political and social opinions get much more varied and it is inevitable that we will see much more heated arguments. Thus, given that this is primarily a blog for people from all over the world linked by an overwhelming interest in MFC, it might be best for all of us to keep outside discussions for other forums. Being thought of as an idiot for liking Gestede is bad enough for me.
With the time difference moving up to ten hours, kick off was at 1.00 am (and shortly to go to eleven which will make 3.00pm the equivalent of 2.00am) and so I missed seeing the Barnsley game live but watched the highlights and it looks as if Braithwaite is a good acquisition. It does seem as if we are now able to score goals even if we are still conceding too many.and, personally, I’d take that as a base from which to improve. It does also occur to me that our goals seem to be coming from having more players forward and, by an inescapable logic, that does mean that we have less players in defence. My guess is that Monk will take that trade-off but is trying to fine tune the players to make us less vulnerable. Maybe we should just attack like crazy from the start.
The last game that I watched was the Brentford game and the first half wasn’t pretty. I did also realise something about Traore. It seems to me that he has almost no idea where to go when he hasn’t got the ball. The result of this is that he almost always receives the ball when he is standing still and he then has to beat someone to start a movement. The prime example of this came when Christie received the ball just inside their half with Traore outside him. Christie ran towards the penalty area attracting defenders and then played a near reverse pas into space on the wing, expecting Traore to have tracked alongside him. He was a bit surprised to see Traore still stood back where he was when it all started, just watching what was happening. He just doesn’t think.
Anyway, it will b winter setting to se show we play gains to Cardiff. I think that it’s time for a win.
UTB
I’m going for your last paragraph meaning to be:
“It will be interesting to see how we play against Cardiff”
!
Quite right
Just got back home very late last night after spending the week in North Rhine-Westphalia to be precise and catching up on all the posts this morning and Werder’s predictably brilliant pre game review.
I agree with the Team that seems to be the preference for most which is Randolph in goal, Christie, Ayala, Gibson and Friend. Grant and Clayts in the middle with Downing, Braithwaite, Bamford and Assombalonga taking up the advanced positions. That side contains six of the previous promotion team plus Bamford who set a goal scoring record the season previous with us in this very self same league.
Some have said that GM deserves more time but this is a results industry not a 5 year Business plan, its all instant gratification based. 5 games can do for a Manager never mind 5 years. An under resourced Manager cobbling bits together with sticking plasters and string can be forgiven and afforded the luxury of time because nobody could do any better under the circumstances but that is most definitely not the case with GM.
Garry Monk appears to be a very likable honest down to earth bloke and I would love him to succeed and restore Boro to the Premiership and with it spring-boarding his career. Harsh truth is that he is struggling and I’m not seeing evidence that he is addressing things in order to turn this season around. Sat in the Airport last night waiting for the Leeds/Bradford flight to be called I was chatting to a Leeds fan sat next to me who noticed I was reading about Boro on my phone and took the opportunity to strike up a football conversation including his reservations about Orta despite some early season success etc. The conversation inevitably moved onto GM and his view was that he took them as close as they could have hoped to have been after their recent history but it fell apart because GM didn’t have a Plan B. He opined that they just suffered knowing that it wasn’t working but GM just stuck to has Plan A.
Not watching Leeds I don’t know if there is any substance in that but perhaps GM has over reacted to previous criticism and now has so many “Plans” that he has no idea which one to use. I certainly couldn’t relate to what he was saying to the GM now at Boro but what is abundantly clear to me is that GM needs a Plan A and needs to stick with it for a few games at least. That above team is the Plan A most of us wish to see adopted regardless of it perhaps questioning a lot of rash summer spending and “talent” acquisition. The Baker’s and the Fletcher’s and even the Howson’s haven’t shown they are good enough to warrant a starting spot (there are others, those three are just random innocent examples). As the Season progresses they may prove their worth and an opportunity given coming into a settled, organised, disciplined side storming the league is far easier than a mixed, confused bag of randoms trying to figure out who is supposed to be doing what and where.
For me, my buy in to the Monk affair is coming to an end. I hope it saves itself before my flame finally flickers blowing itself out but I can’t sit and watch tactical errors strewn with selection by financial numbers destroy what diminishing hopes Boro have for this season. Souness’s point about senior pro’s as previously mentioned above is absolutely spot on. The annoying things is that GM has those pro’s by the bucketful and more importantly not Senior nut jobs but seasoned respected Pros’s that are level headed and role models as well as being the very best this league has to offer.
Today is a do or die day for me, a pivotal one in the Manager’s future. I genuinely, heartwarmingly and sincerely hope that today is the day GM comes of age but I fear that when we see his team selection we may be shaking our heads, lets hope not.
I don’t usually read the Gazette daily recap because usually I’ve already read the main articles it refers to, and I can’t be bothered to scroll down to the bottom and then read upwards. Anyway I thought I’d give it a try again this morning only to read drivel like “only one more day to Saturday”. Are we to be treated like children on Christmas Eve now? Or has part of the Gazette now become a comic? I was half expecting it to follow with “night, night, mind the piggies don’t bite”.
Actually it was “one more SLEEP before Saturday”
Heart says 3-0 and lift off. Head says 1-2 and slipped off.
I ‘feel’ a 3-1 win. Braithwaite and Britt to score.
I do enjoy reading this forum, and occasionally reply to some of the contributions. I notice that at the end of each blog there is a small blue star followed by “Like”. Now, I have never used this facility because, being an iPad virgin, I have never found out how to tick it. I’d be obliged if someone can explain how to use it. Thanks.
I don;t have an iPad but on my phone and my laptop, I just click on the star….
For some reason it’s not working on my iPad.
I feel that today’s game is by far the biggest test of Garry Monk to date, not just because of our patchy form and position in the table but more so a huge test of his tactical acumen as a manager, the reason being that he’s up against one of the canniest operators in the business. Neil Warnock will be licking his lips in anticipation for today, the situation couldn’t be better for him. He knows his opposite number is under immense pressure, he knows there are dissenting voices in the air, he knows Boro have been a fragile soft touch lately, he knows we start slowly and he’ll pray on every one of our insecurities perfectly, he’s a master at it. Warnock’s sides almost always play the same way. They don’t mess around and overplay in their own half, they get the ball forward, quickly, often in the air, to a big physical front man and play off the second ball and scraps. They harass and harry the opposition and force errors, something we’ve been generous of as late. They’re the away team, the onus is on us and that suits them fine. If they come away with a draw they’ll be happy but they know we’re under pressure for a win so will be waiting for our patience to snap, then pounce. The best way for us to counter that is to tear into them, rattle them, get an early goal and put them, and their game plan, on the back foot. Monk knows this, Warnock knows this, the winner will be the manager with the best ability to exert his tactics, his plan and his personality through his team onto the pitch and achieve the result he wants. If Monk passes this test I’ll be mightily impressed and so should our squad, it might just be the turning point of our season that injects some confidence and self-belief. If we lose it will make a massive dent and could make recovery nigh on impossible.
Nervous. No idea what to make of this match. I will have to set off now, but at least I have teed up 100 for someone……
Well, almost teed it up, with only two to go…….
Knocks it down for a tap in.
After over 24 hours without internet, phone or mobile connections I’d just about given up on seeing the game online until I just had a brainwave on how to trick these damn computer systems – and it worked!!! 🙂 Phew…
If you want to read the story of my last 24 hours and how I’m now also a semi-professional telecoms engineer then read on – I won’t blame you if you don’t 🙁 …
Basically, our phone connection stopped working yesterday morning but we had internet – After calling the telecom support, I was persuaded against my better judgement that the problem would be solved by resetting our wireless router to its factory settings. I wasn’t convinced but he assured us that it would automatically set everything correctly and solve the problem – bad move – we lost all connection to the outside world and I then embarked on the laborious process of reading the German manual to try and setup everything manually (Hmm that’s why it’s called a manual) – still no luck and many hours wasted – plus I even opened up all the cable boxes to investigate if the wiring was ok.
We have no mobile signal where we live for some unknown reason so communication involves getting in the car and driving round the corner as it was pouring with rain. The latest technician ran a few tests and then decided it was our wireless router box that was defective and we would need a new one. Since it was already 7pm that had to wait until this morning – we drove to one of the few telecom shops open on Saturday morning and they gave us an identical box that is pre-setup to automatically configure – you just need to plug it in and it will work, was the message we left the shop with. Mrs Werder was convinced that was problem solved – me less so!
So got home at 1pm with the clock ticking and plugged in the new box and booted it up… Exactly the same problem as before but with stronger language being used to make it work. I thought OK, I’ll maybe tweak some settings now that I know so much about these damn boxes – however, I was met by the screen ‘please enter your password’ – they didn’t give us a password for this box and the shop was now closed.
The only option was ‘password forgotten?’ – OK we’ll give that a try… ‘if you click on this all settings will be deleted and reset from your internet provider’ – that was not going to help.
That’s when I had my brainwave… What if I gave my old box a password, which it previously didn’t have and then pretended I’d forgotten it so it would be reset by our telecom company – unbelievably it worked!
So here I am and have just signed up for the Cardiff game – let’s hope it’s a good sign.
One final amusing thing (not) is that I just received an email from out telecom company telling us that ‘your connection problem has been solved by one of our engineers at 9.15 this morning, thanks for your patience’.
Which problem was that? Not the one they told us about and as for patience…
Don’t know if there is a moral to that story but I think something about if you want a job done properly then I guess you have to do it yourself!
Hoping it won’t be a boring 0-0 after all that effort!
Congrats Herr Werner!
Sometimes, in some circumstances, some patience helps.
My concern for this afternoon at the Riverside (there’s only one stadium that counts) is the weather. Will Stùrm Brian make an entrance? The weather hampered Napoleon & Hitler, whilst it scuttled the Spanish Aramada. Will it effect Generalisimo Monk and his Boro troopers? Time will tell!
Meanwhile, Downing and Leadbiter start with Ayala. But shock horror Claytons on the bench.
Thanks, but I’m still not Werner 🙂 I was actually advocating perhaps Clayton is not the best fit for the team in terms of getting the ball forward although he is good defensively – am I getting inside the mind of Monk or vice-versa…
My experience with German technology is that its not all we Brits are led to believe it is. They screw things up with gross incompetence or backward technology on a fairly regular basis in their homeland.
There’s a lot that is brilliantly efficient about Germany but theres also a lot of smoke and mirrors speaking as one who deals with them on a regular basis. Glad you are back connected to the super highway just in time Werder!
If only it had been 0-0, it would not have been so awfully bad…….
Could easily have been 03
Don’t know how we kept it out near the end
Well as I sit in the chilly Teesside sunlight watching the warm up Clayts has been dropped in favour of the presumably more positive thinking Howson, limpalong Fabio has retained his starting place and the mercurially talented Fletcher apparently done enough to retain a start. My gut feeling when seeing that line up is hmmmmm.
Hope we start on fire and Monk’s confidence is justified over my discomfort. At least we have Bamford and Traore on the bench to rescue a draw in the last 20 minutes!
Billog 72
Your right about Warnock.
The number of times we could have employed him……
He would have crawled to the riverside but for some reason experienced managers do not fit our requirements.
Today I will settle for keeping it tight. If we haven’t conceded by 20 minutes I will be happy, we can build from there.
Small incremental improvements will do for me.
Just seen the team
WOW
I will take a draw now
just got in from a vicious attack on ivy, I just cant understand when I am in the garden centre and see small pots of the harmless looking stuff in peoples baskets and trolleys.
Once established it is evil stuff, I have used so much weed killer I wondered if I was to blame for shortages of cod and haddock in the North Sea. Of course, we can always blame EU over fishing for that one.
The upshot is I missed a ton, oh well, I will settle for a win though expect a draw. Lowest crowd of the season?
Commentary from MFC.
Your gonna need an ocean.
Of calamine lotion
Just noticed I got the ton! That was some long run-up in the dark to tap that one in!
BTW Thanks for those who made their generous comments about the pre-match while I was off the grid – Also just to let Simon know he can concentrate on his reviews safe in the knowledge that Boro are now into two games a week until the next break at the beginning of November – where his Talking Point slot will be waiting for him!
So Howson replaces Clayton and Fletcher is selected in preference to Bamford.
Why?
We do our best to give them a goal then MFC give us a trailer followed by commentary of Pools v Barrow.
Good to know my subscription is going to a good cause.
Technical problems at the Riverside we are told, come on Werder, work your magic
Ok back on the Boro match. 16 minutes gone.
Sorry, it was Pools v Sutton and Pools have taken the lead.
And a report of Kidderminster v Spennymoor as a bonus.
Well, Randolph did his best to gift the opposition their usual early goal but we escaped – Fletcher has looked well off the pace and needs to be subbed, Ayala also still looking very rusty. On the plus side, Fabio has looked sharp, along with Braithwaite and Leadbitter. Though Boro still look disjointed and lack a spark – wouldn’t be surprised to see Adama on for Fletcher at HT.
The Cardiff and defence tried the same trick several times. So BOTH teams were crap, me thinks. UTB,
Keystone cops defending in the first 15 minutes.
I am sick of the half way line free kicks that we pass back or sideways. Cardiff use theirs to punt it forwards. Britt and Braithwaite must be wondering were the service will come from.
Is it a hangover from AK?
Fletcher, mister Teflon, well he needs to go to pools on loan and learn his trade. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team.
I have little sympathy for GM now as they are not even getting the basics right.
They look like a pup team on a Sunday morning after a big night out.
At least the are not getting beat – yet
Yes, get Fletcher OFF!!
A pup team eh ? Hope they aren’t going to the dogs 🐕😃
Going to the dogs… oops too late.
Headline : Boro’s Stuttering Juggernaut De-Ralled As They Pay The Penalty
Your dog’s would show more aggression. Lick lick
Old Billy
A bit of a pup team, Monk is making a dogs dinner out of it.
Over here in Oz I will accept a dogs breakfast due to time difference
Sounds like Fletcher is having a mare, Downing seems to be involved in some decent moves.
Must be due a substitution, it will be Downing off!
Bamford on for Fletcher, surely someone pressed the wrong number on the board.
Sound to be have been under the cosh.
Oh dear, sounds brainless by Traore.
Sorry- but- monk out!!
We are a joke at the moment, we have a good squad, but for some reason can’t get going!!
Out, out , out
Traore should play the tin man in “The Wizard of Oz” then he could sing “If I only had a brain”. Why on earth do we persist with him? If Barcelona’s coaching staff couldn’t make a footballer out of him, how could Boro’s coaching staff expect to? Downing star man and Monk brings him off.
Or was it the scarecrow?
I fear that smashing the league may have just become a pipe dream this season – i hope not although not looking too good from where i am sitting.
Glad I am sitting in Australia
No way will we smash the league at the top end but on current form we might smash through the bottom.
We’ll be smashing the league as we drop through the relegation trap door
Cardiff loss is but one game.
However, we’re now looking at last 5 games 3 points.
Hmmmm!
Spartak,
3 out of 15 now that looks like relegation form to me. I didn’t see the game but it does not look good at all.
I would think that GM is dreading the ‘can I have a word’ phrase. A bit like the fans are beginning to dread watching Boro perhaps?
UTB,
John
There was a time when there was nothing at all,
Nothing at all,
Just a distant hmmmm.
Hide & Seek by Howard Jones.
Saw him perform at the Arc Stockton 3 months ago he was reallly great
So there we are, a mid table team ( if lucky), no spark or enthusiasm, just gonna turn up each week and put in a drab performance, take the money and look forward to their next contract.
Surely Monk cannot survive this .
A squad worth 70m plus ( including gibbos pre season valuation) cannot even put in a performance after more than quarter of the season.
There is no drive.
I am dumbfounded
I may have to reconsider watching as it us too depressing
Cardiff had nothing and we blue it.
I await Redcar Reds report with trepidation, never mind being better than the sum of the parts, we dont even seam to be the sum of them, nowhere near a team as yet.
Bottom half.
A month in the life of Aroma:
Got sent off
Band for three
Missed the bus
Gave away a penalty
How much could we have got for him????
Should be good for a Halloween horror peformance at Hull then!
How much could we get for a brainless clot ?
A nine bob watch or a chocolate teapot.
And 17 points from 13 played which is a bit adrift from 2 points per game that is the perceived wisdom for promotion.
The top 3 are maintaining that level
That game pretty much summed up our season – our shooting was so bad we couldn’t even shoot ourselves in the foot properly until Adama came on and was later for the tackle in the box than he was for the coach last week.
How Fletcher lasted as long as he did is beyond me and why he gets a game before Bamford also a mystery. Then as Howson is in possession as we chase a late equaliser, couldn’t decide who to pass to so turned around and promptly tripped himself over and gave the ball away – I laughed out loud at that particular homage to a Cruyff turn (of the spinning in his grave variety that is).
Also Ayala is just too far away from being match fit to let him continue – Fry is a far better option despite is ONE error.
This will have only made Monk less secure as it’s looking like a long season now for Boro and not likely a promotion one either. Too many players on the pitch just weren’t good enough, only Fabio, Braithwaite, Leadbitter and Downing made the grade today, the rest were below average and some were just not worthy of their shirt.
Glad all the effort getting my internet connection working was rewarded….
I guess the saving grace is that you didnt travel to Middlesbrough for the game……..
Don’t remind me of Brentford as whoever was selling tickets for that game under the pretence that their would be a game of football in the first half was obviously wearing nylons over their head to obscure their identity as they carried out the robbery!
Fowl play from feather-brained road runner Traore enth-Ralls Bluebirds in a tough talon Teesside for off-beak Boro. Hoot be Monk?
Though the stream was average Werder I must agree with your summary on the players that deserved the shirt.
Christie was poor, never seemed to get beyond his marker.
Both centre backs looked shaky.
Just so frustrated as Cardiff looked average and we manage to turn a draw into a defeat.
At no point in the game did I feel that we could win, my patience has gone, GM should go.
SAM ALLADYCE
Please Steve pick a proven one for all our sakes.
Chasing the game we spent most of the 4 minutes added time trying to get the ball back from our right back defensive flank.
Who else does that!! Most teams would be bombing on forcing the opposition back, not us, let them play with it in the corner
I am angry, we as supporters deserve a lot more.
Effort would be a good start.
Yes, spot on. Drop Christie, switch Fabio to right back and have Friend at left back.
RR don’t envy your task
Looking forward to your views.
Surely we cannot be far from SG wanting a word.
Warnock laughing all the way back to Wales on the bus.
Ha Ha that Boro lot, they no nothing, like taking candy off a baby Ha Ha, easiest three points of the season, Ha Ha, did you boys break sweat, no need for a shower, Ha Ha, can’t wait to get them back at our place. Ha Ha, wish we could play them every week
Embarresed.
Just got back from the match and I haven’t read any of the posts above so apologies if I’m covering old ground.
Well what an absolute load of garbage that was. No coherent plan is what is killing us and for me that boils down to rank bad management.
Yes several players weren’t at the races today, I’m looking at Fletcher and Assombalonga in particular, but all over the pitch it was a chaotic shambles. I want Monk to succeed as our manager as that means Boro are being successful, but, and it’s a big one imo, if he thinks Fletcher is a better option, footballer, forward, striker or whatever than Bamford then I think he should pack his bags and do one. As for amoebae brain Traore, exciting as he can be his negatives are far outweighing his positives.
Talking of positives Fabio was motm for me, even though I wanted George in ahead of him, shows what I know, and I thought Downing had a decent game. Other than that I’m struggling to find anything else positive.
A fizzy drink cup game,2 tough away fixtures and the Mackems at home before the next international break and unless there’s a turn around in the results and the way we play I’d be surprised if Monk is still here before we play the Dirties in Nov 19th
And if watching that dross wasn’t enough, Mrs FAA is over in Benidorm on a jolly up with her mates so no Sunday dinner for me tomorrow. It goes from bad to worse!
Boro do not deserve Sunday dinner.
The potatoes need to be mashed not smashed.
The players are on the gravy train and today looked like they had vegged out.
Cardiff give us a roasting and made us look like yorkshire puddings.
Please may I leave the table!
No saving grace
That was a miserable afternoon, we were totally clueless, did their goalkeeper make a real save, they should have beaten us comftably, one cleared off line and a missed header when it looked easier to score. We may have some good players at this level but we are not a team. Defensively we also look a mess, misplaced passes, passes almost intercepted and on it goes. He team is definitely not a sum of its parts. Did we have a proper shot on goal if we did I must have dosed of at that point. It also feels like the crowd is on the turn. Can we wait for the team to click because at this point in time it is a million miles away.
Warnock laughing, not the only one.
Nottingham forest accountant
Laughing while counting the notes
West ham manager
Splitting his side’s, how did we off load him for that price. This could save my job.
Harry , we’ve been offered how much for Shotton?
Norwich, Delia Smith, pizzing herself, how much? Get him in a taxi.
It beggars belief
Just when you think it can’t get any worse!
How GM could put a positive spin on that is beyond me. Grant even said we played well. Was I dreaming?
I do have to agree with Maddo’s statement that the players need to take some responsibility for the way things are going.
I feel sorry for SG.
Monk was my choice in the summer. I made a mistake, he really needs to go, not because of the results, but because he doesn’t seem to know who is best players are, what the best formation is, what kind of football he wants to play.
If there was a cohesive thread through it all I would say give him a chance, but there isn’t and I honestly believe that another manager could have these same players in the top six.
And for heaven’s sake, Bamford is easily our best player, and would be my first name on the team sheet.
Boro leek a daff goal which Plaid into Cardiff’s hands. Gibbo needs to think Caerphilly as Monk Offa’s little and it’s time he Gwent.
— Anthony McCarthy
I’ve just posted up RR’s match report and will add the stats later…
https://diasboro.club/2017/10/19/championship-boro-vs-cardiff/#matchreport
RR, great report as ever.
As you say another very poor performance with no signs of improvement on recent dross that reinforces the question whether Monk should stay. I will post some more considered views once I have calmed down – probably by Tuesday!!
In the interim, while I agree that you can’t blame the manager for a rash tackle or a player’s poor decision, surely you can blame the manager for not telling a player to avoid at all costs making a challenge in the box. Everyone knows that Traore is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but he can win games for you. Monk should be telling him to stay up the pitch and under no circumstances try to win the ball in a tackle in his own penalty area. Even Traore should be capable of understanding that simple instruction.
Boroexile,
I think Traore’s IQ matches the number on his shirt.
UTB,
John
Well done RR a brilliant sum up of an afternoon to forget
Now, after a nice bottle of white the match is slowly receding in memory and has been replaced by a nice warm glow
Tony McCandrew talking after the game felt that the Boro were playing without confidence or belief and that was the difference between both teams
Fabio played well Braithwaite played himself into the game after a slow start and Fletcher as RR detailed in the match report was poor.
Downing was at the heart of all the positive amd creative moves and when Bamford came on the mindset of the team changed and he had three good shots on goal. A few step overs and generally looked lively
If he’s not in the team to play next week I don’t know what he has to do to get a game
Never mind asking him what he thought about the game, you should have asked him if he still has his boots.
The thought of going into the dressing room after today to face a simmering Trappa circa 1980 would raise Adama’s concentration levels if nothing else would.
Opportunity missed there Bob and there’s enough of that going on already.
Ah but he’s like a lot of us old bald and retired
Just moved back into the area and still got fire in his belly
Redcar Red
Get off the fence and say what you really think! Only joking, no not joking, sitting here feeling a bit glum.
It sound Hans Christian Andersen, ‘The Emperor’s Clothes’, or the brothers Grimm!
I await the highlights, not.
They say seeing is believing, well I saw it but can’t quite believe it.
They lined up as 4-4-2 when the ref blew his whistle for Cardiff to get the game underway, and that’s the only time all afternoon they ever had any shape. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a disorganised performance in all my days watching them.
RR has summed the game up, but I think I would have been a lot more scathing.
I don’t like to dig out individuals as it’s a team game, so there should be a collective acceptance from the players for an abysmal performance.
I recently speculated that there could be something wrong at the club behind the scenes, after watching today I’m convinced of it. There was a lot of differing emotions from the players today, from total disinterest to simple lack of ability, and it can’t be allowed to continue. Some players didn’t even bother going through the motions.
First thing Monday morning the chairman needs to get the manager, coaching staff, senior pros, and lock everyone in a room and have a complete clear the air meeting. If necessary there needs to be a parting of the ways because the club cannot continue like this.
GHW,
I’ve said before that there is another malaise somewhere behind the scenes in the club, a malaise that is eating away at the spirit and ethos that are Boro. Frankly it is all very depressing, we do not expect to win and we are becoming relegation fodder, and we are adopting the attitude and persona very quickly. That is regardless of the talent we have in the playing staff.
For me the problem lies some where off the field and the chairman needs to get to grips with it sooner rather than later.
frankly a thoroughly depressing afternoon. Although Boro tried they didn’t give away an early goal, maybe that is becoming a sign of incompetence too.
The penalty, well what can you say on a family blog. —-. Fill it in yourself.
UTB,
John
Something’s dawned upon me: does it frankly matter who the manager is anymore?
I honestly don’t think we’ve chosen to create anything sustainable from Southgate to Monk. Or perhaps even Robson to Monk. Every regime that replaced the previous one has felt, to varying degrees, that the previous managerial tenure was a source of ugliness that needed to be eradicated before the club could start moving again.
But even when the problems are “repaired”, the underlying issues, whatever they are, remain the same.
In 2008, in the UntypicalBoro comments section, Nigel (was it Reeve?) summed up Boro as a club lacking in self-belief. Comfortable as underdogs. Uncomfortable as favourites. Nearly a decade later I wonder, exactly, what has changed.
“The club – that is, players, management, and most importantly fans – have the ghost of one hundred years of failure behind them. We are geared up for failure, mentally. Therefore when success appears on the horizon, such as the Cardiff match with the prospect of winning the FA Cup, we freeze. There was a lack of belief among the crowd that day as well as the players… (But when) Manchester United turn up, there’s no expectation to win. Therefore no pressure.”
Result? Afonso Alves finally gets off the mark in an excellent performance. But when Reading, who had lost eight in a row, showed up, what did Boro go and do? Lose.
There’s tons of other examples where there is a tendency to write Boro off and think “doom, doom, doom” before the club magically restores hope. Aitor’s reign was full of these. So was McClaren’s. So was Mogga’s.
As Nigel continued to say, the infrastructure of a successful top flight club was, and once again is, there: academy, training facilities, cash (once again), stadium, you name is. McClaren even won a trophy. But the hardest nut to crack when changing mentality, as he said, is culture.
We’ve often come a long way to find out how far we are from taking the next step we so desperately want the club to take. What we need – and Nigel said this – is something sustainable which transcends any chairman or manager.
I remember the days when it was easy to envy Bolton’s four straight top eight finishes and Pompey’s FA Cup victory – once Big Sam and Harry left we all know what happened.
Maybe it is a cultural problem but lots of businesses have had such problems and overcome them by management recognising the problem and taking action to fix it. If there is a long -standing cultural malaise in the club then the management of the club is responsible for creating it and maintaining it.
Perhaps what the club needs is a total change of management from the Chairman down. I can already hear the cries that Steve Gibson is “one of us”, has been a terrific Chairman, rescued the club from oblivion and how great It is to have a local as an owner who puts lots of money into the club. All true but what has been achieved? Where is the club today and where is it going? What hope is there for the supporters that we can ever be a major force in the game? We are nowhere, going nowhere and hope is a commodity in very short supply.
Off the field a complete change of management in the club might be what it takes to engender cultural change. On the field what is needed is a strong manager who will give the players a kick up the proverbial, take no prisoners, demand total effort and knows how to pick a team with the best players available. Having seen the shambles today I would seriously consider getting Nigel Pearson into the manager’s seat.
Havnt we come to know it as ” typical Boro”
Yes, but does it have to be like that? Is that what we fans want in perpetuity? Wouldn’t we prefer our team to be competing in the top half of the Premier League?
The Gazette reporters were saying during the week that Boro have no problem scoring goals. Why they’ve ever thought that I can’t imagine. With 15 goals from 13 matches only five teams in this division have scored fewer than Boro. Let’s be realistic, with 2 or 3 shots on target we aren’t even going to finish in the top half of this league unless Monk sorts out the problem. I would suggest it’s time to replace Assombalonga with Bamford immediately.
Smash the league-Gibson’s ill-judged emotional outburst following one of the worst relegations in recent PL history. Improvement..£multi-millions of intelligent players knowing what they need to do.. Monk’s soundbites of a desperate Boro era. What is there to say? Boro sink towards the wrong end of the table, so will Gibson preside over another disaster? That’s the way it’s heading..,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwGbMWqIK6o
January 2, 2016.
A top of the table clash, confidence flowing through the ranks, no goals conceded since November 7, and a combative, commanding collective persist, seize the bull by the horns and score two late goals to send Paul Clement nearer to the Derby exit door and Boro five points clear at the summit.
What could possibly go wrong?
#TypicalBoro
Ten points off an automatic promotion spot and just seven points off relegation. Middlesbrough’s points haul is diminishing rapidly game by game and those wins against Sheffield United and Burton Albion now seem a very long time ago. Over the last ten games we are 18th in the form table and are headed in one direction. There are no signs of anything falling into place and alarmingly the opposite is now true and there are more things falling apart.
I struggled to write any sort of report because there was little to nothing worth talking about. It was almost surreal at times, it was so draining and uninspiring that on 68 minutes the Stadium fell eerily silent for almost two whole minutes and you could hear a pin drop. There were no boos or jeers just abject silence and indifference to what was being witnessed. Despite Grant’s politically correct interview (we have heard him toe the corporate line before and so he should as Club Captain) there are very clearly serious problems going on behind the scenes.
As in times past we have seen some faces fitting better than others regardless of ability. If the supporters are vexed by it then what are the players themselves thinking because what ever it is it doesn’t appear to be very constructive. There is a danger normally associated with sacking a Manager but I struggle to think what could possibly be worse should Monk depart immediately along with his entourage.
AV’s piece about the disconnect between Monk and the fan base is spot on, but it wasn’t something I’d considered before today. I do agree, now, that GM has not really put himself across well to supporters. Today, for instance, someone on Radio Tees commented that he just stands on the touchline with his arms folded and doesn’t seem to drive the players on or ever get animated. I think he did himself no favours with his post-match comments: for whilst I wouldn’t expect him to criticise the players publicly, a bit of honest realism wouldn’t go amiss. He saw lots of positives in the game and thought we were unlucky to lose. That’s just tripe. Was he watching the same game as me?
But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I think he needs a good number two, a good assistant. I’m less and less convinced that he is a good manager just on his own.
Even Brian Clough had problems without Peter Taylor.
I payed previously this man needs a Steve Agnew
Rank bad management!! Nothing else!! No shape!! Nobody knowing their job!! No clear formation!!
I have seen disorganised teams but this one takes the biscuit. With the money spent this is an absolute disgrace. Where do we go from here? With monk? Nowhere. Can we honestly see anything changing?
Can you imagine a decent manager with this group of players it would be a completely different story. So much potential, so little of it utilised.
Any manager who pays 7 million for Ashley fletcher wants to take a long hard look at themselves and that’s before you consider him to be a preferred choice in your first eleven. If he’s a success in football then I’ll my hat, replica shirt and shorts and what the hell im that confident he won’t be I’ll throw in a pair of football boots as well. What game and what footballers are you watching mr monk?
The front of fmttm has never been so accurate. “We’ve got four strikers on the pitch but no one to create any chances for them”
Downright pitiful. No system no structure and so little organisation. Awful, awful, awful!!!!
Well I dreaded reading the blog today – expected you all to be happy – only a 1 nil defeat, afterall we are 13th and they are 2nd.
Thats how it is and that sadly is how it has been all season – anyway we are all on the same hymn sheet. Things cannot get any worse.
My spread sheet for those who are interested has us at a correct position of 15th which is where we will be in three matches time, mark my words.
On a positive note the stream was excellent – full HD and no glitches this is definitelty the future for TV football – at least until table top 3D comes in.
I hope Boro subscribe or get their own act together for next season, or maybe not as they dont want to be broadcasting their abject pathetic failures in glorious Hd techincolour to a world wide audience – [well 6 of us in Bahrain at least anyhow.]
Elsewhere in the world it seems that Boro are mirroring the Tory party in their Brexit Championship fiasco – the only difference being their plan is keep their jobs and to hell with the results….mmmm. No news form the other team on that pitch who equally seem to be playing a high defensive line…. fun, games and of course all ending in tears as my Grandma used to say.
How many posters think that no manager would be better than GM at the moment?
Never mind. According to Monk we did a lot of good things and were unluckiy, and of course the MFC website reminded us that it was only out second defeat in eleven matches, so everything is fine!
I put a like against Ken’s comment about Bamford but then I started thinking.
If the rest of the team are laboured and struggling to pass, control, mark, tackle and move then it doesn’t matter who is up front.
The difficulty is that as the confidence drains away so will the chance to kick start the season. Think back to the alarming collapse under Mogga.
In theory, this squad is far better than that one but when belief goes you are left with uncertainty in every action.
As fans we can but hope for a light bulb moment, who will throw the switch?
When Spartak was calling for AK’s head I mentioned the charge sheet of pros and cons.
This is where Garry Monk is struggling because he has little on the pro side of paper other than not being AK, the con column is filling rapidly.
There is time to turn it round, in the meantime expectations are shrinking.
RR’s report was spot on. I saw the match live via Cardiff’s iFollow. The match was not very entertaining and as RR mentioned, Cardiff were as bad as Boro. Hardly a top of the table clash.
Later in the evening my son was watching the Southampton vs. WBA match on TV. I did not see the whole match but somehow the quality of the game was well above the the Boro vs. Cardiff match. I didn’t see any goals but the passing was decent at Southampton.
Quickly thinking, the performance at Barnsley was much better by Boro with a lot of strikes and possession. Mind, I just saw the stats of the Barnsley match and highlights, but it had some movement and attacking flair.
Of course there were two teams on the field yesterday. Cardiff perhaps wanted to get a draw and came to cancel the efforts Boro made. They must be over the moon to get the three points. But they were not the better team.
Not much positives from the match. Especially so from Traore. But we must move on and hope it cannot get worse than this. Perhaps Clive is correct and we should appoint an experienced assistant to Monk. He is not just a head coach but a manager – so perhaps he needs some help in his workload.
We do not need a new manager. Let’s start with an assistant manager first. I am still optimistic, but the time is running out soon.
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
You are a decent man, but I have never known a manager who cared two hoots what his assistant said or did.
And Monk does not strike me as being anything different.
But the players respond to an assistant t … They did to Agnew as AK’s assistant. And a an assistant his previous clubs did well.
As for a manager not giving two hoots, you might be right. Brian Clough outwardly didn’t give a monkeys that his best mate and assistant left him. However, without Taylor, Clough really didn’t have it. Neither did Taylor as the main man himself. So, the lesson is that the assistant position needs a different something from the mangers position and having the right man in each job can be right way forward.
Agnew has demonstrated over and again he is a great assistant.
I would go for that as first option now.
I agree Jarkko. I think the find us right to bring Steve Agnew back into the fold
I have just returned from walking the two Jack Russell Terriers and I saw nobody, the only real sounds were the wind, the rooks and the chaos in my head thinking about just what is wrong with Boro as a team. Sadly it all comes down to management and coaching.
I didn’t see the game but Boro sound disconnected and disjointed, as people do to know what their role in the team is, they also seem to looking sideways and behind wondering what is going wrong.
At the beginning of the season GM seemed like a good choice, young, ambitious and a reasonable CV. He was given money and assembled the team he wanted, (I presume), the trouble is that this team is real and not a computer game, he seems incapable of motivating and coaching them. In short he appears to be missing that last few percent that make him capable of making a team with a lot of talented players turn from an assembly of talent into a successful team.
For me Boro are showing relegation form so the only bright spot is that if the season pans out the way it is going at least we’ll be playing Sunderland next season.
Have said before that there is another creeping malaise eating away in the club and it is affecting everything. I don’t think appointing an assistant manager will help, it would only increase the confusion. Imagine Traore, no on second thoughts don’t.
Is the chairmen around all the time or in tax exile somewhere? Wherever he is there is a requirement for some drastic action from him.
Time for a coffee, one lump or two Mr Allardyce?
UTB,
John
What now the feeling for the introduction of a senior experienced manager? Wonder how Ireland will get on in their endeavour to achieve World Cup qualification?
The mood is sombre.
Good morning Spartak,
Where’s Terry Venables when you need him? I think the players need somebody that they have to feel respect for, or perhaps fear.
UTB,
John
Spartak
Sombre, a good word, no ranting and raving, just a realisation things are not going well.
We are Boro fans after all.
Many thanks to Redcar Red for another excellent match summary and he’s right about there being not too much to write about – let alone to home. I agree that Cardiff were hardly any better and I never felt Boro would lose to them but we ingeniously found a way with a well-timed late substitution. It’s also clear that Monk appears to fail to see some players are consistently performing very badly but it seems he’s prepared to give players he signed time to come good – I think that time has now passed.
Boro have had so many wake-up calls this season I’m beginning to suspect they are collectively suffering from Expergefaciphobia (fear of waking up). I thought Leadbitter, Downing, Braithwaite and Fabio looked good on the ball and looked sharp with good vision – they were let down by those around them, who often looked like they had an attitude of not wanting to be on the pitch. There body language and demeanor was all wrong and for me that is a sure sign that a player needs to be removed from the front line.
I’m not surprised Randolph has lost confidence as RR mention as what has he got in front of him at the moment to give him it. Ayala is probably quite a way from being match fit and although I thought Monk should persist with him, Fry has looked far more composed of any of our defenders but has been deemed too much of a risk to be picked – doesn’t make sense in the short term, which is where Monk is now only at now.
Again yesterday has demonstrated that Boro are not a team with no signs that it’s coming anytime soon – very worrying!
Werder,
My apologies to Redcar Red too, an excellent if depressing article. Somebody needs to marshall the team and instil some self-belief however, if some under-performers are a cert to be on the team sheet that will spread the malaise to those who know that they should be on the sheet.
The complexities of managing and getting the best out of personnel then there’s substituting those who are performing on the day.
Anyway there has to be change somewhere because if the Mackems beat us. Don’t even go there, I’m going to sit in a dark place.
UTB,
John
I think that the whole team lack confidence. Randolph, for example, taking his time in the opening minutes because he’s looking for someone who wants the ball, Probably the same with Howson in the last few minutes, nobody keen for him to pass to them. The whole slow build up from defence – better pass it sideways until someone gets space. Lack of pace to me suggests lack of confidence – take the safe option.
At the moment I can’t see how that confidence will return without assistance. I’m just speculating here but wonder if when he took the job Monk thought that his assistant at Leeds would follow him, maybe then not appointing an assistant wondering where Agnew would fit in.
I can’t see where the next win is coming from. Don’t think it will be Sunderland; they’re showing signs of improvement and will certainly be up for it when we play them. I’m not one for sacking the manager after so short a time, but unless Monk gets some help like Robson did with Venables, I’m afraid at the next international break he’ll have to go.
Is there an experienced ex-manager who would be willing to help? I don’t know. But there are a few out-of-work managers who could replace Monk if he were dismissed. Would Allerdyce be willing? If so, he would be my choice.Over to you, Mr. Gibson.
Somewhere, Steve Agnew is warming up….
For all our talk of replacing Monk, that is probably the mostly likely outcome should it come to pass, at least in the short term.
Andy R
Please god, no.
The entire Agnew affair was a signal that we were heading back to the Seven years? Of vile brainless management which AK rescued us from.
This man took over a team ready for the Champ. No problems, been there, done that, got the tee shirt.
All he had to do was settle down with a pint and a copy of. ” James used footballers”
How hard could it be? He didn’t need a back four player, he needed a very good attacking midfielder(or even two)
He needed a playmaker.
He needed a striker.
All the above needed to be very large.
And very young.(its known as team building
he bought a job lot, all missing the above qualities.
He observabley, knows and cares nothing about the players on the books
The back four should have been a no brainer, leave them be.
Bamford, automatic, every match.
Use tactics, please, use tactics, for gods sake.
Match management is non existent.
He brings on Bamford when the match has been mangled, and some nondescript team can smell a most unexpected three points
as he comes on Bamford passes the guy having the best game(going off)
At corners(when defending) leave your fastest player on the half way line(in the middle of the pitch) they will have to leave three players with him(honest)
This blunder has cost us many points this year, on Saturday we had Traore in our box.
Result, every one of their players were in our box, we never got the ball away and eventually they got their goal.
After the goal we got the classic breakaway, three racing up field (inc. Traore)
Fortunately our man got the ball, but instead of booting it up field to the three , he thought about it and decided that it was not a good idea, pity, that, it might have led to a goal.
anyone who honestly thinks that Monk is a misunderstood genius is sadly mistaken. His record is one of failure.
Admit our error and bid him farewell, ASAP
I looked at MFC website to see if the lowlights were available and ended up looking at match stats.
Overall we had nearly 59% possession, no surprise but the next bit is intriguing, where the match was played. 46.8% was in the middle of the pitch. 31.1% was in our final third and only 22.1% was in Cardiffs final third. At home!
Is it statistics for the sake of statistics or does it tell us something?
If you believed such things it would hint at sideways passing, not being progressive, little go forward. You could hint at lack of tempo and ambition.
It is only stats so clearly doesn’t mean anything.
Ian
I use the term sombre because it conveys an emotional acknowledgement that that so deeply wished for is now increasingly understood to be beyond the present Boro setup. This is, I would suggest, a mild form of grief.
Ranting is pointless. Sad to say!
Spartak
Totally agree.
And so do I.
The collective mood is like the weather, dark, damp and full of foreboding with more still to come. Maybe Boro need the winds of change or just some sunshine.
I too thought that GM was a good appointment, British, young with championship experience. He was given money to bring in his players without a director of football or whatever Orta was.
To my mind he bought too many players to play up front unlesd you play 2 3 5! But i thought that it would lead to exciting footbsll after the AK way and we would smash the league.
Now i am a bit confused with it all to be honest, GM is struggling somewhere and i am starting to think that maybe he didnt take up the offer of a contract at Leeds because he knew that the game was up.
Someone once said that average managers have a shelf life of 18 months at a club _ GM has a shorter one maybe?
I saw his quote about winning together and we lose together. It is not about pointing fingers. My response to that is that my finger is pointing at him now. In private words should be had in strong terms and Traore should not be risked ever again.
Rant over and lets hope for some better weather!
Yep
Monk was tasked with bringing the entertainment back and restoring some value for money in going to games. My expectation was that we were going to be a bit more open but give it a go and put teams under pressure with quicker passing, better movement and more quality in converting. So far, epic fail. It has all the hallmarks of Strachan when it was so dire bringing Arca on as a sub brought some flair and ability. 15 goals and no real consistency in attacking approach is poor.
So what has Monk delivered thus far? I would be interested to hear what boxes have been ticked from others because i dont see any improvement in any area other than goalkeeping.
I couldnt make the game yesterday but it is just another occasion when the commentators say we look better when Bamford comes on. This is becoming a regular theme but how is it not being noticed by the one man that counts.
I am bewildered by how any right minded manager could not identify that we need a proper number 10. Not a striker who can play that role but a skillful technical player who can also hit a dead ball. We started the season with Clayton taking free kicks for god’s sake. Then moved to Baker now back to Downing. What i would give for even the return of Fabbrini at this point. We got an upgrade on him with Ramirez and have gone backwards since. Ditto Adomah, not improved upon at all and money wasted.
The only success story out of Monks appointment has been at Leeds. And maybe Clotet at Oxford.
First up thanks to RR for the quickly delivered Match Report and the ensuing posts from those there and those watching on a stream.
Well I did not get any value out of my Season Ticket from yesterdays visit. It is now turning out to be a poor and expensive buy, (based on actual visits). Are refunds allowed under “Faulty Goods Act”.
Although Mr Monk was not my choice, it has to be said that of the KNOWN available he was probably there to be interviewed. I think that Mr Gibson had decided that he was not going down the Foreign unknown route.
Friends of Monk can of course point out to individual mistakes by players costing points and again with Traore yesterday. But in reality we never really looked like winning and one goal was likely to decide the outcome. How Mr Monk can say there were positives and we were unlucky and should have probably won, well he certainly sees things with rose tinted glasses. May be he has to, the fans do not.
As many are saying there is something deep lying that is wrong with the whole set up. As Ian has said in the past, players do not become bad players overnight…..Howson as a prime example.
Is it down to the Manger and staff? Is part because we have a large squad and having few injuries there are a number of quite unhappy players? You just do not see anything changing at all. Certainly Mr Gibson will do nothing before the next International break. Then who would you bring in anyway if GM was sacked? (putting to one side the cost and upheaval). Alan Pardew….would he be better, could he be worse.
As for the performances against Cardiff, normally I am alongside RR and his thoughts, however Downing MOTM, not on a month of Sundays. Yes he looked pretty with his cross-field balls, but how many good corners did he deliver. How many passes did he make taking out defenders. He looked OK but delivered not a lot. Fabio was far and away the best player on the pitch, Cardiff included. Braithwaite tidy but no penetration and my oh my Fletcher, what can you say about the lad. He was poor against Barnsley and it continued throughout yesterday. Who scouted him and at & SEVEN MIL??? wants chasing. There are teams above us that have not cost that much to assemble. We just do not have even a pale shadow of Ramirez. Not one ounce of creativity in the team.
We are going nowhere fast at the moment and I cannot see how in all honestly Mr Monk can turn it around, even with all the spin he and MFC put on the stats.
Pedro
Fabio was one of the few who had a decent game but many of his runs had started by Downing digging his defenders out of a mess and then pinging pinpoint cross field balls for Fabio to run onto.
Stewy’s Corners where seemingly aimed at the back of the 6 yard box for Ayala, Fletcher or Ben to head back across the goal. Many of them were indeed hit a little too high and far (to avoid the Keeper’s grasp?) but my beef is where the starting positions of the big lads to our best advantage as they were largely static? I didn’t think so and yet Downing and the big lads repeated the same error. Additionally there was no red shirt stood behind those big lads in anticipation of the ball being over hit or perhaps glanced away to the far edge of the 18 yard box. Game after game balls from corners often end up there regardless of who takes them. Its an ideal position for Fabio to take up but this Manager seems to have no idea on organisation, tactics or the next phase of play.
Fair do’s RR
Pedro
Agree totally with your assessment of SD’s contribution. Yes he was involved in a lot of the play, yes he took the majority of corners and free kicks but what was the end product – nothing.
Not sure if it is down to poor delivery or failure of others to get into the right places to attack the ball. Probably a combination of both.
At the end of the day, SD as a senior pro has failed to deliver as have so many of the team. I had to keep checking to see if Assombalonga was on the field as he made so little of a contribution apart from clearing one off the line which didn’t matter given the result.
I can’t see us doing anything at Bournemouth, Reading or Hull and by the time we face Sunderland we could be in a relegation battle and possibly swapping places with them. If that scenario develops then what does SG do – stick or twist?
Werder, has my last post dropped into the spam box again?
Are my posts really that bad??????
🔴 It’s been de-spammed – don’t get too paranoid, algorithms can’t read, though for some unknown reason it doesn’t like some posters – you, Nigel and Simon are its favourite victims! – werdermouth
It’s karma!
🙂
I would rather NOT hear pointless interviews with Leadbitter and Monk after the game, if they are going to be like the ones I heard yesterday. Like most of the interviews with players and managers after a game, in fact. Obviously I realise you can’t expect Leadbitter to come on and say that too many players are making mistakes, that they are unhappy with the team formation and that there is a lack of cohesion in the dressing room, so that any hope of promotion is self-delusion. Obviously I don’t expect Monk to come on and say that he hadn’t realised there was so much to do, that his tactics have been wrong and that he should have started with X, Y & Z rather than A, B & C, and that he is now having second thoughts about some of his purchases.
But it would be nice to hear some sort of realism. It isn’t the supporters who watch the games who are living in cloud cuckoo land.. Maybe we could get some joy out of the exercise by playing “Football Bingo” or “Spot the cliche”? Repeating words like “harsh” or unlucky”…..actually I don’t want to upset myself by trying to remember the other trite comments made. We might as well save time by BBC Tees announcing that “Boro lost to a late penalty and that standard interview No 3 applies – for full text see our website”.
I am not sure that I am surprised at what happened yesterday, but I had hoped it would be different.
A few observations:
Randolph has played quite well this season but clearly the club’s anxieties must be getting to him as I thought on a couple of occasions he was going to cost us a goal with delayed clearances taking too much time.
Ayala can clearly head the ball well but his passing ability is like my ability as a gymnast. How can a professional footballer pass the ball 15 yards behind its intended target, when under no pressure, and therefore concede possession as the ball goes into touch on the far side of the pitch? And remember that attempted cross from the East Stand touchline which was many yards high and wide when it crossed into touch so far from goal. Someone in row Z in the West corner of the North Stand is probably rubbing a sore head after that one.
Howson will not remember that game fondly, and when he turned a couple of circles, slipped and then began a slow decline into the turf before the ball was taken off him, there was laughter in the West Stand near me. It was so bad it was ALMOST funny. Of course there was also the odd boo.
Yes, pointless interviews aside, there WERE some positives to be taken from the game. We could have lost by more than one. Cardiff were profligate in front of goal; the ball was cleared from our goal line (that was Assombalonga wasn’t it?). Nobody received any injuries. Hopefully the vast majority of spectators will have successfully negotiated the disgraceful routes of access to and from the stadium without mishap.
How can we improve, in the hope of avoiding a repetition of yesterday’s performance and results? Well, there is only so much time. I have no UEFA coaching badges, I am not a VERY highly paid member of a football club management team, so how should I know? On the other hand I have not attended catering college or learned at the hob of a master chef, but if I go to a restaurant and I am given meal that I don’t like, I think I am still allowed my opinion. And it would be right. If I want a steak cooking “medium”, I don’t expect the chef to come out and tell me I don’t know what I am talking about and that the quality, aged, piece of beef should be cooked rare with a sauce I don’t want. I know what I like and if I don’t like it, I don’t have to come back. How many waiters will the restaurant employ, whatever their wages, if there are very few diners prepared to continue repeating the same unsatisfactory experience?
So I will offer some further little titbits concerning one player only. Clearly Traore has raw pace in abundance. He has quick feet. He had recently been showing signs of DOING something with the ball after he has run with it at breakneck speed……well, on those occasions he has been available to us when not sent off early, or serving a ban for said sending off, or not travelling to a game because he was late for the bus…… I can see that all of these things would be exasperating to deal with, as part of the management team, even if he was a player, not only with potential, but who had proved after a few years’ service that, when he DID play, he could score and make goals for others which could turn games for us. The difficulty is in putting up with his deficiencies in the promise, or the mere HOPE, that it will come good in the end.
I hope Traore can get it right and make a really good career at a top club, but I wouldn’t bet my house on it. So – here is my (admittedly unasked for) advice on Traore: Other managers, and opposing defenders must prefer NOT to have him running at their goal, and I guess a sigh of relief will be heard when they see the starting line-up doesn’t include him. So for that reason I would START with him. BUT I would want him as far away as possible form our penalty area. If we face corners or defensive free kicks, then surely the best place for him is near the half way line. Firstly he would be well away from our danger area and secondly the other side would inevitably have to leave a couple of players back to guard against a breakaway – if he was in a race with 2 defenders from near the half way line, to their goal, I know who my money would be on. Just as importantly, a penalty like yesterday would then be impossible for him to give away, and there would be fewer opposition players near or in our penalty area for our defenders to have to mark.
Again, on the basis that “Fry has made a couple of mistakes so he should be dropped/rested”, I guess after the display against Cardiff, a machete will be taken to the team selected in that match, and there will be big changes for the next game. Will there?
Still, let’s end on a positive note. Downing had a decent game, making a number of passes crossing from one side to another, or into a gap for a colleague to run on to, and he showed more vision than we have seen from our players for quite some time.
,
Great post Dormo! Yes and I laughed out loud too at Howson’s dizzy spell. I think in terms of post-match utterances I think we’re into the damage limitation phase – the time for honesty has gone the way of the 5th amendment. I think I also mentioned something recently about players practicing their basic skills after training if they were not up to scratch – isn’t that what highly paid professionals should be aiming to do?
Dormo, I agree completely with your analysis of the dire situation at the club and also with your assessment of how to use Traore. He can be a potent weapon and Monk should give him clear and simple instructions on where to go on the pitch and where not to go.
One further point. Some posters have suggested that Steve Gibson will do nothing about Monk until the next international break and maybe even not then. I think that could be another catastrophic mistake.
It seems clear that the performances on the field are in a downward spiral and the longer the spiral goes on the more ingrained all the problems become and the more difficult it becomes to get out of it. By the end of October we could be very close to the drop zone which would only ramp up the pressure and make escaping the spiral even more difficult. Continuing the current spiral even makes relegation a possibility.
The only way to stand any chance of reversing the decline is to change the manager now and Steve Gibson needs to step up to the plate. Delay and procrastination as we have seen in the past will not do if the club is to stand the best chance of finishing in a reasonable position in the Championship and of escaping (God forbid) the drop into League One.
When we signed Howson most of us were largely enthusiastic, here is a seasoned pro at this level who could add positivity and goals. He has largely looked a shadow of his former self since arriving. Presumably someone seen something in Fletcher to part with the thick end of £7M, likewise Shotton who must have caught the eye of somebody for some reason (he certainly caught mine but not for the right reasons).
Assombalonga started off looking like he was going to hit 25 goals this Season despite some glaring misses he was at least getting into positions. He now looks a ghost of that Player. Randolph looked the best since Schwarzer and is now looking nervy, indecisive and jittery. Christie looked like the Right Wing Back we had desperately needed after the Barragan farce yet is now starting to look awkward and as indecisive as his fellow countryman. Ben Gibson now looks a mediocre journeyman CB instead of the lad touted for England and fees of £30M plus. Clayts playing Centre Back cover, ever present and now dropped!
There are far too many players who are now under performing, looking uncertain and disconnected, Players who actually look worse than they did only a few months back. That takes some doing even for the most incompetent of Managers. This squad had us drooling in early September yet we are now nauseating at the very thought of who is selected and where they are going to be played.
We accepted that August may underwhelm while things settled in, September would show some steady progress and come October we would start to gel and click and start to climb the league with a series of thoroughly professional and pacy performances. We still have the Players to do that yet our trajectory is downwards and I seriously fear that we will be falling through the trapdoor with that previous phrase of “not seeing it coming” being trotted out once again.
Well I can not only “see it coming” but my nostrils are filled with the stench of it. If it means sticking Aggers in temporary charge again so be it. I’m not sure to whom or where we should turn next but its been so bad and rudderless for these last few games that anything, even nothing is better than the present.
RR……..wonder where most fans stand on Mr Monk’s position. The Gazette is being relatively patient. Mr Gibson quiet as usual. Does he not have any words of reassurance?
And fellow bloggers……who IS available out there. Anybody got a list. OFB usually has something to tell and tease with.
But please not Aggers.
I rather have Aggers than Fat Sam, please. And still would stick with Monk, though. Yesterday was bad, but Barnsley was better even we did not get the three points. Up the Boro!
Pedro
Have a look at this lot and see what you think but please not Pardew or Pearson
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trainer/verfuegbaretrainer/statistik
OFB
Three times,now, that Aggers has been in temporary charge, yet not been given the full time job. Does anyone on here think that he would so the job a FOURTH time? Not everyone is a Harold Shepherdson. When you have been in the job as long as him, he will have friends and contacts in other clubs, people he has worked with before and with whom he has got along well. People who may offer him other opportunities.
On the other hand he is still employed by the club and there is only so much golf you can play, when all the garden borders have been neatly tended……
RR
I believe Angers was in charge for the last four (the only) 4-0 defeats of the last three seasons?
Many thanks must go to Ken for putting down in rhyme
The names of many posters to our forum that’s so fine
But some have been omitted, overlooked, oh surely not ?
So here’s a few I ‘spotted’ who just shouldn’t be forgot
Spartakboro, Chris Hunneysett & Mark @Boronurk
Give valued contributions to this Diasboro Kirk
Boroexile, Nigel Reeve & Mr Parker’s Dog
Expressing their opinions on this wide diversive blog
Add both Smoggies, Billog72 and GT to the mix
Hoping Boro smash the league or finish in top six
Wiggy’s mate and Teapot, Cassandra’s in there too
Didn’t think so many folk had nowt better to do !
Finally there’s Exmil, MW in Darwin and FAA
Taking time to contribute online to have their say
So if you think of any more be sure to let us know
That’s all from spotty canine boy for walkies I must go
I was never a big fan, but any mention of Shakespeare does make me hungry. Oh Bonio, Bonio, wherefore art…
I’ll get me coat !
Well done, I’ll have to look to my laurels now.
No way in competition with you Ken, just enjoying (very loosely) the ride.
Woof
Just my luck……the one piece to lift the spirits, in an odd way, and make us laugh out loud was the Howson spin and fall.
Well I missed that would you believe. Left when the penalty went in, could not stand any more.
Your post reminded me that i had not thanked you for the report and Weder for the pre match. Both excellent as usual.
Which is more than can be said regarding our very well paid professionals.
Actually, you deserve a medal for coming up with what you do on such poor performances. The way we are going, doesn’t bode well for cold Mid week games.
As Weder mentioned the fact that the players practise the basics and still cant it right on maych day beggars belief. What is GM saying to them I wonder. In my professional life, if i failed to perform then words would be had and i would be fearful for my position. Only happened on a couple of occasions but it sure as hell made me do better! But we cant dismiss players mores the pity. And if a manager goes for inadequate performance, he gets paid off! If this wasnt tge case maybe there would be more effort and a drive for success rather than rewarded for failure!
Should SG take action now or procrastinate- answers on a postcard please
I posed the question earlier that if we lose the next three or don’t get a win then what does SG do – stick or twist?
I believe that unless there is a significant improvement by the next international break then GM’s position becomes untenable. Well, in any other walk of life where delivery of results is required it would be but this is football and where our Chairman tends to be supportive of his managers and tends to act later rather than sooner. I suspect that until a play off place is beyond us or we are dragged into a relegation battle then he will stay his hand.
Norwich win again and are now in the top six. Aston Villa have got their act together whilst we are going backwards!
Why o why do these scenarios always seem to happen to us – typical Boro.
I don’t want Boro to become another of those clubs with “revolving doors” for Managers but I have to agree with KP, another couple of inept displays will render Monk’s position untenable.
Sad that it has come to this so soon but the slide needs to be halted before it’s too late.
Spot on, Mr Parker’s Dog! Thoroughly enjoyed your lketic verse as I did Ken’s.
Soon this blog will have to blog will have to change it’s name to Diasboro’s Poets Corner.
I know it should oughta.
OK, I’ll get me coat!
🙂
Now, what happened to that word that was meant to mean ‘poetic’. Hmmm!
In fact I may scap this phone any moment soon.
🙁
I suspect the next three league games could be decisive in determining Garry Monk’s future as unless he starts getting points on the board the drift down the table will continue. Boro are now only 2 points ahead of 17th place and after that we’re are down to the teams involved in a relegation battle with Brentford just 4 points behind us now, who are within 3 points of the bottom three.
Since Boro are still only 5 points from a playoff spot then it’s unlikely Steve Gibson will make a decision in the coming days – but lose the next two and drop to 17th? Well I suspect it may well be beat Sunderland to save your job as even the Chairman will not contemplate a relegation battle – though even then what becomes of the season if Boro are indeed involved at the wrong end of the table – isn’t that where Karanka came in last time round? All he could do was stabilise the situation and the season was essentially written off.
Perhaps Steven Gibson may be thinking about making contingency plans – I don’t imagine for a minute Monk will accept an assistant forced upon him by the club – he didn’t even want a director of football and wanted to be manager not coach. Monk’s only choice now is to see what is in front of him and forget about waiting for his signings to come to life – he’s probably in danger of losing even the patient supporters unless either results or at the very least performances improve.
Well nearly 24 hours since I posted after the game and I’ve had time to reflect on what I posted yesterday.
Worryingly that period of reflection hasn’t made me change my mind one bit. We were garbage, there was no discernible game plan, and if there’s no plan A what hope is there of a plan B! And after listening to the managers post match interview on Tees I’m afraid he is still treating the supporters as idiots with his rediculas spin and outright untruths on how the game panned out
Some excellent posts as usual from a Premier League blog and I would suggest a growing majority can’t see GM being here before Remembrance Sunday comes round.
Imo Dormos excellent post pretty much sums up where we are as a club. Where there were little nuggets of improvement, these have well and truly been kicked into touch as instead of progressing we are going backwards and at an alarming rate of knots.
One thing that I personally do disagree with is the mention of Allerdyce as a potential replacement if SG does give Monk his P45. This is my view and mine alone but if that self serving, arrogant gob you know what is ever appointed as Boro manager, I will not pass through the turnstiles for as long as he’s in charge, home or away. Keeps teams up, get you promoted blah blah blah, not for me. Ever!
Not wanting to finish on a rant, a belated but grateful thumbs up to both Werder and RR for the before and after articles. Much appreciated gents keep it up.
I doubt he will manage a club again,and certainly not Boro. There, that;s my head offered up, and if I am wrong no doubt someone will find a noose…….
I listened to the radio 5 phone and a Leicester fan came on suggestion Ancellotti as the next manger. That is the problem, the people you want wouldn’t come.
Anyway, Bilic and Koeman could be available soon.
As for ourselves, I don’t think Monk will be leaving any time soon. Should we continue pottering along the problem will be what do you do in January? Another £20-30m for Garry Monk to spend?
Methinks not.
Plenty to ponder.
Ian, pottering would be a massive improvement on what what we have seen in recent weeks. Tottering would be a better description of the current position. If Monk stays we will be in real trouble and the Chairman will have a lot to answer for – again!
In the past there has often been a split between fans over Mogga and AK for example, two camps with opposing views. With Monk as AV hinted at in his Gazette article there isn’t really a relationship with the fans. At best he’s that likeable cheeky chappy who picks the team and sits on the bench. I remember when AK arrived, I still have my red Karankerchief in my Jacket pocket! GM hasn’t established any ties or bonds with the fans.
I don’t believe that the next three games will yield anything different to what we have seen. Only a major and massive rethink could do that and I haven’t seen much evidence of any thought process. We have no settled pattern of play and no understanding between players, made worse that many of them have actually played together before yet now seem to have forgotten who they are.
If and its a big “IF”, we can get something out of these next three games then we may be able to claw our way into the play offs. The only way to effect that is to have a massive sea change. GM is very good at change, he changes it every week, even during every game but none of it for the better. His pre game changes cause confusion and disorientation and the in game changes are as a consequence of chasing games. Put simply, GM’s changes are not effective and over time are now overwhelmingly counter productive.
I see zero evidence of structure or growing belief, in fact I see the the exact opposite. The only “assistant” that would work is a Terry Venables type, in other words an Overseer. Someone who takes control of the reigns and starts to call the shots making Monk in effect the Sorcerers apprentice. If that is acceptable to GM then its fine by me but its not what he was signed up for so I can’t see that acceptable to either party.
On Aggers and his run of defeats, he was literally on a hiding to nothing. He had to try and go for it as we were effectively running out of games. Sabotaged from the outset by a toxic dressing room with the stroppy medal bedecked Napoleonesque goalkeeper the first to down gloves. Then Leo having to allegedly stick one on the super scout with an ego possibly taller than the only Boro keeper I’ve known to play in bespoke Adidas cuban heels. I have no idea if Agnew is any good and the way last Season ended a clean slate was required in any case but he couldn’t be any worse, and who knows given this squad, at this level he may make a go of it.
Maybe an interim Player/Manager role, I have no idea who but those within the club should have an idea hopefully. I wouldn’t particularly relish Allardyce, Pardew or Pearson but regardless I would put good money on them being capable of getting this squad into the Play offs as a minimum. Whats Thomas Tuchel doing these days?
Were the new signings in the close season Monk’s, or the recruitment departments with the blessing of the chairman?
Clayton must have both legs in plaster if he couldn’t get a start yesterday. I reckon I covered more ground walking from my car to the ground than most players on show.
Just on a lighter note kudos have to go to the referee. There was a young girl who was given the task of carrying the match ball, she seemed to be quite ill. The referee accepted the ball and called her back to feature on the official photo of the officials and team captains.
He asked her to perform the coin toss, and then personally escorted her from the pitch. Top bloke.
GHW
Yes I noticed the referee with the little girl as well seemed a genuine guy and also one of the best referees we have seen for a while at the Riverside.
OFB
Except for giving them a penalty
And missing the Cardiff Keeper picking the ball up outside his box for a stonewall Boro free kick!
And a straight.red for handling outside the box !
I’d had enough then an couldn’t care less whichniw not like me
Rumours that Ronald Koeman has been sacked this afternoon
I don’t know whether this has any bearing on the success or not of clubs, or indeed if it is even interesting, but listed below are the number of managerial changes since the Second World War of some Premier League and Championship clubs up to the start of the current season:-
Clubs with the LEAST managerial changes –
Arsenal 11
Manchester United 11
Ipswich Town 13
Liverpool 14
West Ham United 14
Everton 18
MIDDLESBROUGH 21
Reading 22
Bolton Wanderers 23
Stoke City 23
Tottenham Hotspur 23
AFC Bournemouth 24
Burnley 24
Nottingham Forest 24
(Excluding Burton Albion who didn’t join the Football League till 2009)
Clubs with the MOST managerial changes –
Crystal Palace 42
Sheffield United 38
Swansea City 35
Watford 35
As a matter of interest Newcastle United made 27 & Sunderland made 30 managerial changes.
The rumours have started had two different texts saying Allardyce been seen locally today ……
Personally don’t believe it !
I would be very surprised to see Allardyce appointed. He would need to be favoured by the Chairman AND to be well enough to take the job, AND want to be a club manager again.
Good stuff Ken. Put’s things in perspective a little more.
UTB,
John
Ken
It needs some convoluted thinking to work out what’s at work in the managerial stakes.
Seventy years is a long time.
The big clubs worked it out long ago, when a good manager appears, steal him.
Then keep him as you win your full quota of trophies.
If you’ve stolen a dud, dispatch him quickly.
Low turnover.
If you are unsuccessful, you are permanently looking for Mr right.
What you should not do is give each loser three-four -five years.
That simply means that you are not serious about success.
More and more we obviously made the most titanic blunder in dispatching AK
We confused success with winning trophies and things.
For us it was getting out of the rut we were in.
Such as buying and selling players quickly.
Buying young players, judging them, and moving them on.
Getting to the playoffs.
Getting promoted.
Playing in the Prem.
Going down with the same brain I charge.
Trying to do better next season in the Prem.
Building the crowd, was it up to 28000?
What will it be in a month?
The hundred million, plus selling players has already been blasted to the four winds, but hey, that’s what bad judgements cost you in the football world.
It’s strange that we are still discussing players actively causing trouble in the dressing room.
A real club would have dispatched them like rockets and supported AK.
Before the Barnsley game my thoughts were to give Monk until the end of October to get it together. Having picked up just one point from the two games since I can’t see any way back now. Maybe, MAYBE If we beat both Reading and Hull but who could predict that now? It seems far more likely that we will lose both or perhaps lose one, draw one.
It’s never nice to discuss someone losing their job but I’m sure GM would be well compensated and pick up another job within twelve months. He has been exceptionally well resourced by Steve Gibson. We owe him nothing.
I think it might be a little bit harsh to say some of the players are overpriced. Everyone looks poor at the moment because of a lack of organisation, strategy and identity leading to severe loss of confidence, all of which ultimately leads back to management. I’ve no idea if Fletcher, for instance, is a lost cause because I’ve never seen him play in a functioning team. The fact that players of pedigree such as Howson, Assombalonga and so many of our longer standing group look so average (or worse) speaks volumes about the leadership they are experiencing.
I mentioned Steve Agnew being the most likely replacement. I would take him right now if he’d have us.
I don’t believe that Allardyce (or O’Neill) could be tempted. Pearson, Moyes or Pardew possibly could be. Gibson tends not to take managers who are already in a job. He also tends to wait before sacking until there is absolutely no hope whatsoever so perhaps it is a moot point.
Andy, you are right that SG usually waits until there is absolutely no hope whatsoever and look where that has got us over the last year. There is no value at all in waiting that long because when the inevitable finally happens there is no way back.
I am firmly of the belief that, while Monk is not up to the job and should be sacked now, there are residual effects of the toxic end of AK’s reign still present in the club that will remain a challenge for the next manager. If SG had had the bottle to get rid of AK at the time of Charltongate I think the club would now be in a much better place.
Andy & Boroexile.
You’re right in some ways saying that Steve Gibson usually sacks managers when there is no hope. But I’m probably going to be controversial here in saying why did he sack Karanka with, what was it, 10/12 games remaining last season, because I think we were already doomed then.
If SG had not sacked Karanka at all, does anyone think that he would have got us back again this season? Because with the parachute payments and funding that Monk has had, and with his record as a Championship manager, I believe he would despite the rumoured unrest of some of the players.
Boro’s scoring record was not great in the Championship (neither was Huddersfield’s), but would be adequate enough in what I maintain is a very weak Division this season with no outstanding teams, not even Wolves who most of us thought we should have beaten anyway in our first match. Karanka would certainly have made us hard to beat. Under him our record against the top six sides in our promotion season was outstanding both home and away. The Premier League was a step too far for him, but his Championship record took some beating and it would be the same this season.
However, I suppose hindsight is a wonderful thing. I guess that one crumb of comfort is that, despite our defence looking so shaky this season, there are only three teams that have conceded fewer goals. Clutching at straws?
I’ve followed them since 1948 !!! The only time that they have made maximum effort was under the iron rule of Jack Charlton.I agree entirely that there is something wrong with the culture….???
Sorry Geoffrey, I missed you off my list of posters.
FAA
What is so wrong with Allerdyce, why are we so afraid of experience.
Before GM was appointed I would have had Warnock all day long.
Why do we dislike managers that get results, isn’t that what we all want. Or do you prefer a GM making excuses for another Pizz poor performance.
Still remember our arrogance regarding Pulis before AK was appointed. AV said there will be no baseball caps at the Riverside.
Well I would like to see one planted firmly on the top of Tony Pulis’s head.
Who the he’ll do we think we are.
For once Steve, please give us a manager with a decent CV
Billy
To counter your “experience” I give you Gordon Strachan, although I agree on Neil Warnock. He would probably have us there or there abouts but the style of play would not suit everyone. That said, on Saturday Cardiff were the least Warnock type side I think I’ve ever seen.
Personally for me it’s not results at all costs, and if you have read my posts you will see I’m also fed up of nonsensical post match interviews from Monk. All that’s missing is “magnificent”.
With Allerdyce it’s not the way he gets results or his experience it’s the man. Not giving interviews because his son was caught out on camera trying to set up illegal deals, and after getting his dream job, England manager, he then proceeded to sell himself in an attempt to make himself even more money through, to be generous, dodgy dealings.
Is this really the type of man you would be ok with managing our club? I hold him in the same regard as Harry Redknapp. I’m surprised they can both walk straight.
As for Pulis it’s a big meh from me. And not for his milinary attire as I occasionally wear a baseball cap myself when the weathers a bit iffy.
As for your question of who the he’ll do with think we are, hopefully a club that would never employ a self centered egotistical man like Allerdyce.
I don’t like the man either !
Strachen was experienced at failing as I remember.
So no mercenaries have ever worked at MFC?
We all have referred to Warnock as a Wiley old Fox over the years and he has been a thorn in our side. He know’s the championship like the back of his hand.
Has been promoted and rescued many teams that were in trouble.
Not good enough for Boro though
Hmmm… Who is then?
I wanted AK out as he was inflexible and had created a toxic dressing room.
However.
Please AK, can you consider helping us out, you see we appointed a guy who doesn’t now what he’s doing.
His pressers are better than yours but that’s about it.
His bed must need changing coz we havnt seen a clean sheet in weeks.
We are all longing for the 0-0 draws you helped us achieve.
11 players that know what the are doing will be a good start.
Finally AK – sorry
Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me but, despite his apparent arrogance and allegedly questionable ethics, I rank Allardyce as the best English football manager since Sir Bobby Robson.
Surely I just have forgotten someone??
I would be amazed if GM was fired at this stage, nevermind Allardyce taking over. That would be some coup.
Thanks to RR and Werder once again for great articles.
Trawling through social media etc most are of the opinion that Monk has to go. However there are not many comments regarding a name as a replacement manager.
As for a new manager , well that is the problem , who is out there. In my opinion I would say no to Aggers / Pardew and Sam the Sham.
Oh , to have a young Bruce Rioch back.
Brendan Rodgers would be great but would he leave Celtic. I think he would and some of the papers up there are saying if the board don’t give him more money for players , he might feel as though he has taken Celtic as far as he can.
The next few weeks are going to be interesting to say the least.
Have a look at yourselves, lads and lasses! Agnew? Yer jokin’ arn yer? We all slagged him off on here last season as not being the man for the job. Steve Gibson got it badly wrong last time by appointing him as interim manager. It backfired very badly. Nowt has changed. He still isn’t the man for the job!
And besides, we still have a manager. He has a good CV, by and large, and apparently has a good track record of improving players. I do think the pressure is on him, quite rightly, after recent performances and the failure to make the team gel. But I wouldn’t sack him now. If, in the next few weeks leading up till Christmas, he keeps us in touch with the play-off pack, then perhaps that is all we should expect? If the team shows signs of real improvement over that timescale, and still has a good chance of being promoted, then I would stick with GM. Big ifs, of course. We haven’t yet seen any signs of gelling or of players improving. He still has it all to do. But he needs our support in these difficult times, and he still needs more time.
Sorry Clive but IMHO GM’s time’s up, not just me saying like, but a vast majority on here & suspect eleswhere.
New manager Werder + assistant RR + Personal trainer OFB.
Just woofing like 🐕🐾🐾
I like that idea, definitely barking up the right tree there MPD!
Can I do the spread sheets….
It doesn’t have to be Aggers. The Riverside Tea lady knows how to stack cups, saucers, wheel a trolley and manage to keep the tea bags in the caddy, coffee in the jar, sugar in the bowl and all while keeping the water urn hot and the milk on tap.
That all takes planning and management skills. If she can do Cappuccinos as well that would be an organisational upgrade on what we currently witness especially with the frothy stuff and cocoa sprinkles on top.Just think what she could do with our defence and midfield let alone the strikers!
On a recent MFC official site interview, Gary Gill was bragging about,how well the recruitment went over the summer,
Mmmmm mm.
You tell me?
Yes, and the same last season.
RR…..according to OFB’s web link Thomas Tuchel is still unemployed. Would he come to the Boro?……don’t think so and I do not think we could afford him. No he will wait until Christmas when the sackings start in earnest. He will have his pick of the available jobs if that is what he wants.Mind you he has only managed in the Bundesliga.
Also beggars can’t be choosers….may not like Fat Sam, but he is a far better Manager than we have had for a number of years.
Trashcan is also looking seeking employment, yep that’s right I even threw his name into the hat, desperation or what!
Looking around at tweets and the other forums there doesn’t currently appear to be much confidence or support for GM. In fairness there doesn’t appear to be the bile and spite that previous incumbents suffered, instead there just appears to be a general malaise and nothingness toward him.
SG may hold his nerve and give him a few more games but thats more likely to buy some time for clandestine meetings in Motorway services rather than genuine confidence in him. Should GM give his head a shake in the meantime and sort things he just might cling on but on evidence to date and yesterdays chaotic showing thats very unlikely to happen. Three games from now and we could be just above the trap door.
Ken
Much as I always disliked his overtly defensive play, I thought AK was outstanding for the first two years. The clear identity, structure and accountability that he forced upon the team worked wonders.
However, I think he was a spent force by the time he got us promoted. His personality flaws allied to some of the worst recruitment in recent history made his position untenable.
I don’t believe the Premier League is a step too far for his ability. I think his methods could have worked perfectly well had he been able to maintain his composure. I suspect he will do very well for a period in his next job.
I do not believe, however, that the club would be anything other than a toxic mess today had he been retained.
Toxicity at the end of a Boro manager’s reign is not unique to AK. The end of Robbo’s reign saddened me. And then there was this, from 2013.
https://ayresomegates.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/201213-reviewed-part-three-the-toxic/
RR
Does the tea lady know how fat Sam likes his brew!
We cannot smash it but she can mash it.
SG thought it was in the bag, now every defeat leaf’s a bitter taste.
I think something is stirring behind the scenes. Chocolate fingers are being pointed.
Player power may consume him, just like AK he might get stewed.
Cardiff made mugs of us and Warnock is milking it for all it’s worth.
Monk tried to sugar coat it but the strain was on his face.
The infusion of talent spooned in this summer has not worked, how much does Monk urn?
Boro should be hob nobbing at the top end of the table, not marsh mallowing in mid table.
All we will get this season is crumbs, that would really take the biscuit.
The football has become in-sip-id
Once SG has had his earl grey it may all boil over, will there be a spill?
will we be any better in the cup? not for all the tea in China.
Was it not Mr Allardyce that had Stewy playing arguably the best football of his career?
put the kettle on luv!
Sure, do you want tea?
Hmmmm… better make it a coffee
Andy R
The stats show Allardyce is the most successful England boss 100% record.
Played 1 won 1
Did he last that long? What a long term prospect!
Cannot ever see Sir Gibson go for such a toxic appointment, though. Up the Boro!
Just like colin cooper at the Boro
Checking the interweb yesterday at frequent intervals I found myself somewhat surprised not to have heard that Monk was sacked. Saturday felt like one of those moments. Then again, I felt the same last season with AK and he limped on for 5-6 more games.
As for timing, should the inevitable happen. Well, we all know that before the international break is the best timing. Time to recruit a new manager and give them some training time. However, Boro never do things the easy/right way, and my prediction is that we would fire Monk 2-3 games after the break, right in the thick of a bunch of games and leave Boro’s answer to Monty Don standing on the touchline in an over-sized waterproof training jacket looking pensive as the players run and kick and whatever else they feel like.
It’s worrying and depressing in equal parts. Oh to have 2015’s AK in charge. At least we’d know what we were getting. He would get this lot promoted without breaking sweat. There are no Bournemouth’s or Watfords (with 2 fantastic strikers) this time out. Just a mixed bag of teams.
I’m no fan of Allardyce, not at all, but he would get us out of this division this season. And he would keep us up. I also think the chip on his shoulder is almost directly proportional to the collective Teesside/Boro chip with the FA and it would be a good fit to have him, and us, bloodying the noses of the football glitterati. As I said, not a fan of him personally, and I’d want assurances that the dodgier side of his character is kept in check, but in terms of football management – he would be fantastic.
love the “chip on the shoulder” link.
Also, he would only need to coach 10 of the players as Downing knows exactly what Sam wants him to do.
If the current form continues, my guess as to when Steve pulls the trigger is after the Leeds game. Now wouldn’t that be ironic.
It would be absolutely typical of this club for a much-changed team to go out and beat Bournemouth in the Fizzy Cup.That would then leave us in a real quandary. Would GM suddenly be the Messiah again? Question to the blog at large; do you want to see them beat Bournemouth?
Also, to give a bit of perspective, it looks as if this year the Championship title and promotion could be won with a record low number of points simply because there are no outstanding teams who are going to dominate the division. Three wins in a row are going to turn round the fortunes of any team. I can also remember after the QPR game, a lot of people saying how refreshing it was to see Boro going forward and scoring goals and how much more people were enjoying this year against last. I also remember people saying how good it was to see a manager who can use substitutes to change a game. What exactly has gone wrong?
Personally, I don’t see Gibson doing anything in the short term. He may even be thinking that its a two year job to get the team turned round and playing together.
UTB
Selwyn
Personally I couldn’t give a stuff about the Bournemouth game. Even if we won its no indication of anything as both sides will like as not be unrecognisable from their normal starting 11 although we may struggle to identify that from a Boro perspective. This Season the Carabou cup is a distraction from what should be our main focus,is only benefit is squad playing time for those Players that Monk didn’t bring in. I don’t see the Bournemouth result affecting SG’s decision either way, the objective was to have a good go at the league, that is where the ultimate wealth and sustainability is.
In terms of whats gone wrong, it’s a Manager who has tinkered and tweaked with different formations and players that nobody, fans and players alike have a clue what on earth is going on. He has no plan whatsoever or if he does the Players either haven’t a clue how to execute it or truthfully they look like they don’t believe in it or buy into it. Dominic Shaw summed it up perfectly with his tweet on Saturday:
“Boro drop into the bottom half.
Without a win in five.
One point from last nine at home.
10 points off second.
Inexcusable with that squad”.
Is it possible that we have all become so brainwashed with AK’s rigid formation that we dont recognise a formation when we see one, or are the present formations as poor as they look and I am being too generous to GM? probably the latter.
If I were in Monk’s position, I would send the under 23’s down to get beat at Bournemouth while the first team stayed and focused their minds for the game at the weekend.
Might be a good idea to send Fletcher and Traore down with them.
Afraid he can’t do that, Billy, because they are away to Wigan in the EPL trophy on the same night.
Selwynoz
The Championship will be won by a similar number of points as normal
At the current points levels, Wolves are heading for 100+ and Leeds/Cardiff are heading for 95. Playoffs look to be around 77.
It is dangerous to think the likes of Wolves haven’t invested in players, they have. I think I read the Championship is the sixth richest league in Europe.
It is a long season and teams may implode, Brighton were unstoppable until we ended their unbeaten run just before Christmas.
Yes your correct Ian.
And we had the chance to end Wolves run before it began.
(that “pass” from Ayala was the start of all this).
Old Billy
Hopefully Traore would miss the bus back.
Poor Adama appears to be late for everything buses and tackles alike!
I think we should blame the club as well as Monk.
Simon tweeted yesterday that Boro have bought TOO many players during the past two summers. I agree – this was something I was worried in August already. If a club buys more than 10 players every summer, how can there be any continuity?
It did not work in PL, and looks like the same this season.
The biggest mistake was of course the summer 2016 spending spree. And as that failed, we needed to to sign too many players again this year. Beside we got some changes in January, mind.
Personally I think this revolving door policy is terrible. We are no Leeds nor Watford (who surprisingly have succeeded). I rather buy quality than quantity. Long term progress over quarter season runs.
So let’s NOT become a Sunderland and change the manager again. That would be the fourth manager we have in 2017!
I would wait at least a few weeks still. And I do hope to see a win and good performance at Bournemouth. We need more confidence now – so a good performance would do nicely tomorrow.
Up the Boro!
A quote from the Echo:
“In this very week in October 2010, Gordon Strachan was sacked with his Middlesbrough side having picked up 11 points from their opening 13 games. Three years on, and it was Tony Mowbray getting the bullet in late October. His team claimed 15 points from their first 13 matches and were in 15th position when Steve Gibson decided to act.”
We have now played 13 games and have 17 points.
But of course Strachan as well as Mogga had a longer unsuccessful runs extending to the previous seasons under their belts.
Even the stats are similar short term, I would still take a few matches before panicking, though. Up the Boro!
Out of Strachan’s, Mogga’s and Monk’s squads I know which one I’d rather have!
Mogga had a patched up squad with bargain bucket signings, Carayol, Friend and Leadbitter mixed with the Hammil’s Ameobi’s, Ledesma’s and Nimely’s yet had only two (yes two) points less than Monk’s squad have accumulated at the same point of the season. By whatever benchmark or ruler used to measure that is beyond abysmal, so bad in my opinion its untenable.
As I said above (somewhere) we anticipated August to be a potentially difficult bedding in period due to the influx of new faces, September to be a slight but discernible improvement and October to now see a settled team, bedded in and starting to shine. Reality is that it looks more haphazard and confused than back in August with us sliding down the form table getting worse instead of better. I have seen enough to make my mind up and despite the International break to allow time to Coach and instill his tactics it has incredibly become worse.
I don’t want to become a Sunderland as Jarkko suggests and keep rotating Managers but nor do I want to become a Wigan or a Bolton or even a Portsmouth. If it quacks like a duck, has feathers and walks like a duck then its nailed on to be a duck, I’m sorry to say it but GM isn’t who we hoped he would be and perhaps Oxford got the better of the deal. I see nothing to give me hope or expectation that things will improve despite the early season false promise of more open games, goals and early substitutions.
An experienced number two urgently installed is the absolute minimum response to this mess but I would prefer a clean sweep and start afresh, lessons learnt and all that.
Jarkko
Picking the best team would be a promising start. That has not looked likely at any time during his tenure.
Whatever he does counts as flailing around.
A suggestion, please play our tried ad trusted back four, they have been there and got the tee shirt, that would be Fabio, Gibson, Fry, And Friend, with the new Keeper it would stabilise the team and halt the avalanche of goals. I would further pick Bamford and Downing (in the centre of the park)
A policy of no goals against and actually try to win a match.
Many clubs turned over large numbers of players in the summer
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2/saison_id/2017
We were not the only ones.
No we weren’t the only ones. But still I think the transfew window is given too much attention. Seems that most clubs have too much money to spend.
I don’t think the league become better if all teams change they personnel once a year. In a normal business you say that if you hire somebody, it takes about a year to learn your new work (business model, colleagues etc) snnd really contribute to the business.
Ok, football is a bit different business but still it takes a while to succeed. Even Ferguson or Clough needed time to get their teams operating above the norm. Of course Big Jack was the exception, I know.
I will get my coat. Up the Boro!
Ian
Interesting reading, it got me thinking out of the current sides in the Championship and their squads how many of the players from other Championship clubs would we truly covet?
maybe not the players but the managers
My impression on the GM mindset is that he is stuck between a hard place and a stone.
He’s responsible for a turnaround of players (Downing you’re not in my plans-irony!) & a spend of £40million or thereabouts. Therefore, he is obligated to use his new signings or acknowledge the fact that he has bought in error.
Thus, we have players coming in, not performing and then being dropped fe. Shotton. Gibson makes 1 mistake. GM sees it as an opportunity to slip in one of his signings, who fails and then is subsequently dropped.
The consequence of all the chopping and changing is confusion. I did post previously that when the head has no clear sense of direction the body falls over.
This happened with AK and Aggers. With AK he simply lost his head and the body (team) collapsed. Hardly, surprising when players are used to direction from the boss but don’t have one.
Aggers came in for the Charlton game to zero effect. He also had a similar run in the EPL to no effect. Put him at the helm again? Not clever.
Who or what to blame? SG and his management possé of course because he and they make the appointments.
Solution? Radically clear out the failing executive. SG to become a ‘sleeping owner’ & in a business where failure is the norm bring in a management team who can really do the job.
Redcar Red are you available to take up the challenge?
🙂
Sparta
Loved your post, but, (there’s always a but)
To say that AK collapsed is hardly fair.
The team was not good enough for the Prem. But only in one department, the goal scoring department.
We spent the time when he was calling the shots knowing that the team would not score.
And knowing that nobody would turns us over.
Everybody on this blog is guilty of hastening his departure .
Strangely the fans never wavered, still twenty eight thousand and carrying on into tis season. For how long?
We would certainly have had a chance of scraping an undeserved escape under him.
But the appointment of(hey, you, yes, you over there, come here , I’ve got a job for you. I’m really busy right now and I want you to manage the team until the end of the season) finished us.
The attempt to show a bit of swagger and style bluffed nobody except us, of course.
We showed that we had a contempt for solid defences,(and an equal contempt for scoring goals)
This manager has no track record of success, and never will have.
We all make mistakes and we made a monster, admit it and Move on(minus our mistake)
You know it makes sense.
By the way, the website link originally came from Spartak some weeks ago, it listed our transfer business. When Jarkko mentioned the of players I went to site and had a rummage.
It certainly pouts the spotlight on how the clubs have managed the turnover, some have done better than others.
Plucked up the courage to watch the highlights, not exactly a feast of chances for either side. I know it is only ten minutes but it gives a flavour.
Cardiff would have been happy with a point, delighted with the three they left with safely tucked in Warnock’s pocket.
anyway
is it there?
Oddly I didn’t realise we were that close to 300, went to get the skybet odds for promotion and came back to find the blog stuck at 298, couldn’t resist a poacher special.
Back to the real reason I am posting, our odds are slipping on getting promoted. 8’th favourites to go up at 5/1, tenth favourites at 33/1 to finish top.
As we approach the Carabao Cup match against Bournemouth tomorrow night, and as we all need perhaps a little optimism I thought I might look at how both teams started the 2014/15 season.
If you remember, Boro lost three of their first five matches, two of them at home 2-3 to Sheffield Wednesday and 0-1 to Reading after which we won nine and drew six of the next 16 matches which took us up 2nd by 13th December with 39 points from 21 matches, and in fact lost only once more at home to Leeds United on 21st February.
Meanwhile Bournemouth started its promotion campaign in mid table thus :- P 10, W 3, D3, L 4, Goals 14-13, Points 12, yet they became Champions with 90 points.
Now going back to 2011/12, Reading started its promotion campaign even worse than us this season :- P 16, W 4, D6, L 6, Goals 17-18, Points 18, yet they became Champions with 89 points.
Unlike Boro this season neither Bournemouth nor Reading had high expectations of promotion before those seasons started, and neither club sacked its manager (Eddie Howe and Brian McDermott respectively), but both teams made spectacular recoveries to become Champions.
What do we make of this? It’s not over until the fat lady sings?Or just clutching at straws?
Ken,
Referring to my previous comment that SG only fires his manager when there is no hope whatsoever, I would say your post shows that GM’s job is safe for now.
Unless we see some signs of fresh green shoots very quickly I suspect the fans will do the necessary at home to Sunderland “are you Strachan in disguise”. Take your pick which set of fans start the mischievous wind up, might be even worse if both sets join in!
If GM continues with his same non-tactics tactic of Plan 0 and playing those whom the fans would rather not see starting (unless of course they miraculously redeem themselves) the away support may invite SG to act sooner rather than later. SG may see that a new albeit perhaps temporary Manager bounce at home to the Makems may offer some positivity if we are pointless after our travels with fifteen games played and only seventeen points for his squandered millions.
Sometimes its darkest before the dawn and some people only react when their backs are to the wall, we will shortly find out if GM is one of them!
Andy, I suspect you are probably right that GM’s job is safe for now but it shouldn’t be and I hope that SG doesn’t bottle a key decision again.
Straws.
If we take the Bournemouth analogy past game ten to where we are at now – i.e. Game 13 – they won their next three games to be on 21 points in comparison to Boro’s 17 – in fact they won Game 14 against Birmingham 8-0 and indeed won the two games after that to go top ahead of Boro on goal difference at Game 16.
Reading is perhaps a better comparison, they were also just on 17 points at Game 13 and didn’t really get going until Game 18 – when they went on a run that saw them win 22 from their last 28 games – if that is Monk’s plan then we’re in for a treat if he makes it to the end of November.
In our Promotion season under AK we only lost two home games all season. We have lost two home games already this season to Norwich and Cardiff. We also drew five at home that season and have drawn two already, thats some catching up Mr Monk has to do to get the fans back on board.
I think Monk is safe for the moment but an interesting slant from the Gazette.
Their view is that Monk isn’t helped by the stand off between the club and the Gazette. They would have been able to have interviews with him, get behind his thinking, paint a picture that the fans can understand, put something positive in front of the Teesside public.
As it is, there is a vacuum and the natives are restless.
I can see where they are coming from but I think the main issue that worries the fans is the lack of points on the board, as other squads gel we are splitting like a poorly made cheese sauce.
Unless we pick up a decent number of points it will be a depressing season. I think fans can make their own minds up without relying on the Gazette to inform their views. fans are not dim..
‘Splitting like a poorly made cheese sauce!’
Hmmmm!
🙂
We are starting a new blog called
GASTROBORO
on the menu is
You’ve had your chips
You’re skating on thin ice
Cod almighty
And for dessert
A trifle upset
Phew, we need a couple (or three) wins in a row to get the belief in. In the league. Thank you, Ken.
Up the Boro!
Ian
We don’t really need the Gazette to tell us what all on here have pointed out for some time.
If they were reconciled with MFC, would they then ask the difficult questions and risk being frozen out again.
As it stands, they are in the same position as us, They can offer their views but little else.
And we don’t have to pay to listen to them pontificate with their views
Looks like someone has ‘split the cheese sauce’, Ian & found himself out on his backside due to a massive overspend and failure to pick up the points.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/23/ronald-koeman-sacked-everton-manager
Ha ha – picking up points before the break
Lets have an Exmil type challenge goals , points final position and of course P45 day!!
I’ll open up the bidding
Reading away 1-1 and we drop to 15th
Hull away we lose 2-0 and drop to 16th
Sunderland at home and we lose 2-0 again and drop to 17th
P45 handed out on Monday afternoon 6th November
The Everton sacking is not a surprise, and he had a track record that was pretty good.
It’s down to the manager, and the question is unambiguous, is he any good?
We already know the answer to that, so the rest is wasting time.
Even if he had twenty points we would be worried, because we know this league(or we should do)
The only recognised way to handle this league is to set the pace, and never be of the pace.
He failed and will continue to fail.
Reading 2 – 0 Boro
Hull 3 – 1 Boro
Boro 1 – 2 Sunderland
Boro seem to be totally directionless and without confidence, good players have become worse than they ever were at their previous clubs.
P45, straight after the Sunderland game unless everybody, players and management have a ‘road to Damascus’ moment.
UTB,
John
PS or should the last prediction be 1 – 1, no I’ll leave it because I, like a lot of other fans, have no confidence.
Nonchalonce
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/nonchalance
Is this the core problem? A club culture issue, starting at the very top, which permuates and ushers in a sleepy repose? Is this the reason Boro are slow to awaken at the beginnings of games & managers slow to get the P45?
Where is the sense of urgency? Where the passion to win?
Don’t you mean
No chance ?
The Sunderland match is on the 5th November, if so, there may be a ready made fall guy and he will come with his own Gibbo donated rocket.
Going out with a bang…. !
Well I’m crackers to be going and it could be fireworks if we lose !
Mrs OFB said she’s going to make a bonfire of our season cards if she has to endure much more !
How many times can we count where games have been a roaring success? League cup ties against Man Citeh, Liverpool? Then, compare games against lower teams in terms of skills, money, expectations when Boro simply failed to show up. Is nonchalance the primary factor?
Consider Aggers when given the opportunity to manage at the top, in the EPL- what were his instructions ‘Enjoy yourself!’ Then, how many times did he get a one2one meeting with the Chairman/Owner? How many phone calls of moral boosting support? One! Over how many games?
Nonchalance?
Yes, combined with incompetence.
Allan
It could be a cracker, we should certainly expect some fireworks, more likely to be flood damaged with a damp squib.
A bit of light relief
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41728826
Under the current laws of the game it’s a perfectly legal goal
Or will it be fireworks! Maybe a rocket ………..
I was at the game on Saturday and to be honest in my opinion Boro were the better team, yes lots of mistakes but if any team deserved to win the match, it was us and Cardiff are second in the league.
I would give Gary Monk time, probably two seasons but then again being an ex soldier loyalty is a big thing to me. I even suspect on the interview SG and GM came to the conclusion that it might take two seasons to turn things around.
I do not understand how a fan can post on here inciting others to chant for the manager to be sacked after he has only been in the job for 3 months, after taking over a toxic dressing room full of players who seem to have lost all confidence.
How many matches/points have we lost to individual mistakes this season yet you blame the manager, he brought Traore on for the last 10 minutes when every players legs were tiring, so he could use his pace against Cardiff (which most posters on here had been advocating him to do). Usually Traore never defends so it was probably a surprise to Monk to see him making a daft tackle in our box.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, people wanted rid of AK because of his defensive tactics (even though it got us into the Premiership) and now we have a manager who is more attack minded, sometimes finishing with 5 attackers/strikers on the pitch but now they want rid of him because it has not “gelled” and we are conceding more goals. I think someone posted earlier about after the QPR game ? how people were posting about how refreshing it was to have a manager who tried to change things with substitutes early rather than too late in the game with like for like.
I have enjoyed this season so far, yes I have got angry over mistakes that have caused us to lose points/matches but I have not and will never boo a player wearing a Boro shirt. I agree things are not going well at this moment in time but I will always keep the faith in MFC, SG, the staff and players, especially Gary Monk who I am sure does not want to losing games.
I know this post will not go down well with a few, if not many posters. I also think it is too early for an Exmil Challenge maybe with 18 matches to go and I certainly would never ask for a prediction when a manager will be sacked.
Come on BORO.
I agree with that, Exmil. I think he needs more time. Ok, we’re not exactly smashing the league (yet!) but 17 points at this stage is not the disaster many on here are claiming. There are still 99 points to play for. And though I’ve been disappointed by our displays so far, apart from Bolton, I also haven’t felt totally downhearted by them. Sometimes, we do play good football and sometimes it has been exciting, if a little shapeless and lacking discipline. I still believe it will come good under GM, especially if we get him a talented assistant…….. It just may take a little longer than we were anticipating.
Good for you
That’s what makes this a great blog to have posters putting up reasonable arguments to give a balanced view
I don’t think a lot of us want Monk to go it’s just that we all expected results to have been a bit better at this stage of the season
Well done
OFB
I don’t think the dressing room was toxic when GM arrived, there was a full scale clear out of toxicity prior to that unless we include Downing as being toxic (which I still doubt to this day) and was immediately selected for “special treatment”, isolated by Monk without even giving him a fair crack of the whip. That prior “toxic” sale raised the £50M for Monk to build a side in his own image. Even Robbo, McLaren and AK didn’t have that kind of money to spend and certainly no other Championship Manager was afforded that luxury this summer. Mogga had peanuts to spend and still had a similar record.
If I recall correctly Monk’s arrival was very delayed and therefore totally avoided the toxic shock syndrome, the only thing he had to deal with was assembling a team using the staunch core of a previously experienced and successful Championship side to blend with all his sparkly newbies. If the toxic argument is to be used in defence of anyone then surely it has to be in defence of Agnew as he was the one left with the sulky detritus not GM?
I’m not inciting others to chant for GM’s head he is doing that all by himself. The “chant” originates elsewhere along with derogatory urine taking videos of Fletcher’s supposed “Cardiff highlights” which sadly shows the lad in a very poor light and indicative of very poor management in allowing things to go that far. We are talking about a bloke nearly 40 years old, not a 22 year old fresh out of Uni thrown in at the deep end on a factory floor (as many of us on here were I suspect).
There is now a cartoon out there depicting SG and Bausor removing a Garry Monk Mask with Strachan underneath it. GM created this backdrop not the fans, it is his side and his tactics, his mess. Had we been six points clear at the top I am quite sure he would have been only too happy to accept the plaudits and deservedly so. It goes with the territory of being a Football Manager, win and the fans are happy, lose or draw and they become frustrated.
By my record 9 league managers have been sacked in England so far this season, De Boer only lasted 77 days at Palace! So that means around 10% have gone so far with a lot more to follow. If Garry Monk wants to remain he only has to start looking like he remotely knows what he is doing, something that the fans will buy into. From what I have witnessed I personally don’t think he can. I think he is a busted flush but if he wants to prove me wrong then go ahead but at the moment he is destroying players confidence and when that happens there will only be one result and one which is of his own making.
Just read BBC Sport’s analysis of Everton and it mirrors everything that’s been said about Boro. One big difference, of course, is that we are not in the bottom 3. Did I hear a “yet”?
Yes.
UTB,
John
Exmil
Unless I have missed it I haven’t seen any incitement to boo, please correct me if I am wrong.
In most cases I sense disappointment rather than anger.
As I mentioned in my report on 68 minutes the Riverside stadium fell deathly silent. That was a good an indicator of how dispirited it all looked and felt and the measurement of the fans emotions. In many ways it spoke far louder than simple booing.
All together now
“It’s all gone quiet over there, it’s all gone quiet etc”
Where I sit in the west stand there were a few mutterings and groans which increased in volume as the game progressed.
There were boos in the crowd at half time and full time but all those that surrounded me were just quiet
OFB
Like many a player, a pre season is important and if you miss it you take some time to reach fitness and form. Monk has had the benefit of that pre season and built that squad to work with and get the players who were felt were needed. In short, he has no excuses in not knowing how to set up and deciding on the spine of the team. And not knowing your preferred central defenders and central midfielders at the start let alone after 13 games is worrying.
But even with the benefit of the doubt on that, he has so many opportunities to work hard in the international breaks and to work on shape and system and still nothing to show for it. Yes he can’t account for individual mistakes but they are a hint of how confident and comfortable those players are feeling. Traore should be nowhere near that box, he is not a tackler (or much of a footballer without the ball) and that should be made clear to him. You cant compensate for the tackle but you can make sure that he isnt there to make it. There are too many individual errors for coincidence, it is just a symptom that something else is wrong.
Redcar Red, you say the clear out was done before Monk arrived but he was appointed on 9 June and these are the dates of transfers out:
de Roon Aug 10
Rameriz Aug 4
Espinosa Jul 7
Fischer Jul 1
Husband Jul 11
Baptiste Aug 7
Guzman Jul 10
Stuani Jul 21
de Pena Jul 19
Valdes Aug 17
So who was cleared out before Monk arrived ? You have made it quite clear in many of your posts that you would like to see Monk replaced and you are entitled to your opinion, I would prefer to give longer which I have stated in my post above, so each to their own.
Come on BORO.
Exmil
They had all left the building at the end of the Season and none returned for pre season. Their agents and Bausor would have dealt with the transfers as commercial deals rather than footballing matters. I would doubt if GM met many if any of the protagonists. Valdes for example was rumoured to have left well before the previous Season even ended. Looking at the list however I would have thought there were only two real bad eggs with perhaps another couple influenced by them. The likes of Husband and Baptiste etc. certainly do not fit under the toxic label.
Regarding GM if he turns this around it will be a great effort and like I posted above its always darkest before the dawn and maybe he will. Personally I see nothing at all to give me even a grain of optimism. Maybe he will start tonight at Bournemouth but I won’t hold this result against him as for me the game is of secondary importance. I’d rather get walloped 4-0 tonight and win 1-0 on Saturday. Its better for SG and Boro if Monks turns it around for stability and financials, I hope your faith in him is rewarded for all our sakes.
Exmill,
Its not about the style of the two managers or what the fans expect or want to see.
Yes AK played tedious football at times and yes Monk is more attack minded and does finish games with more in attack, usually as a last throw of the dice.
The reason some have lost confidence/faith in Monk is the same reason they lost it with AK.
Results and points, that is what managers live an die by. We were not getting them in the Prem with AK and we are not getting them now.
I guess it is all about whether Monk can go on to get results and how soon, I hope he does.
I must admit to being slightly concerned at some of the pre-season performances against lesser teams but put that down to pre-season.
I thought we would kick on but we haven’t. Monk may turn this around given time but I think his time may just be running out. There were signs of improvement up until the QPR game but points have been meekly squandered since then and I cant see where the next ones will come from.
I am convinced we have the best players in this league just not sure that we have the right manager and I am sure most supporters feel the same.
There were a few boos at half time and after the match. But most of the fans were just quiet. So I would say we – they – were dissappointed.
But it is far too early to say that most supporters want a change at management. We all want Boro to do well but we also realise there is a lot to play for. Beside statistically saying the change of the manager does not improve the team. Or club.
It is only an exception were the change of manager help. We just remember when the unlikely happens.
I am strongly in the side of Exmil and Clive. We all know SG will give his managers time and that is how is should be. If the other clubs go crazy and sack their manager, it does not mean it is correct.
We say a good player doesn’t become a bad player overnight. The same applies to managers, too. I don’t think Monk has lost the dressing room yet. So there is hope.
Let’s calm down, Ladies and Gentlemen. And please concentrate on the match today. And concentrate on supporting the Boro.
Up the Boro!
A quick straw poll on Saturday of the group I go to the Riverside with on Monks tenure, gave a large majority expecting/hoping he’ll be gone after the Sunderland game unless there’s a big turn around in form and points gained.
Minimum 6 from 9 might save him but I’m not so sure.
FAA,
Your poll doesn’t surprise me, the expectation now is a lot different from AK’s first few months due to money shelled out to smash the league.
The investment is not returning a dividend and the stakeholders (supporters) can see this clearly.
It all depends on Sir Steve’s point of view.
I think that the lack off return on investment will be taken into account and that the grace period may be shorter than for previous managers.
Is GM in the ejector seat with the chairman’s finger hovering over the button?
Or will he be allowed to see out the season, assuming no flirtation with rel… rela….., relag…. you know what I mean, the R word.
Billy
That was from a group of 9
I would imagine, given the investment that SG wants to be back in the premier league soon as possible.
If promotion is not achieved this year or next then it will become more difficult due to parachute payments ending and players on big money still contracted.
I applaud the chairman and his aim to smash the league, so many relegated teams have kept hold of the money through lack of ambition or to repay debt.
SG could have banked the money, repaid some of the debt he owes himself and lived happily in mid-table for a 5-6 years.
He boldly chose to invest and I feel sorry for him that its not happening, but if poor results continue, he is going to have to made another bold decision in the next few weeks.
The only reason I can see for perseverance with GM is the similarity to Villas plight last season and how they have started to climb the league recently.
It will be interesting to see the starting 11 tonight. I hope that Fry is returned to the defence and Bamford given a start. I would also like to see Friend given a chance to prove his form. Apart from that, no Fletcher please and no Howson please. However, I don’t suppose we will see any of that and so I have no expectations for this evening and will not be surprised to go out of the cup by two clear goals.
Well I’ve just posted up a preview for the Caraboa Cup game at Bournemouth – though will we see the flat or fizzy version of Boro tonight and will it be a display full of energy?
https://diasboro.club/2017/10/24/efl-cup-bournemouth-v-boro/
I admit to fence sitting as to GMs job security and i wouldnt be in SG shoes.
Mr Gibson owns the club and has invested substantial funds in over the years and kept us solvent and arguably punching above our weight given current climate.
He acts with integrity and is loyal to managers (too loyal perhaps) and is a fan.
Compared to other clubs we are a good model. I dont always get the constant sacking of managers at the first failure
That said, the money is in the prem and if SG has plans to get there again quickly (maybe for a sale), then something has to change this season and soon. Can GM turn it round, the jury is out. Would a new manager do any better? SG is between a rock and a hard place and having committed funds, then perhaps the businessman in him says leave it a bit longer.
It is a tough call to make, it is his money after all. Us supporters can only watch, get behind the team and pontificate on what we see!!
UTB
🔴 Just noticed that was 🎈 Comment 15,000 🎈 – Congratulations on that milestone! – Werdermouth
A final post on this thread before moving on to the cup.
Will changing manager and coaching team change your fortunes? It depends on the players and the coaching staff.
A coach team can only do so much.
Last season Leicester were in free fall and Ranieri was sacked. The previous years premiership winners woke up and survived comfortably.
Swansea brought in Paul Clement, his time at Derby didn’t offer much encouragement though he was a good technical coach, could he motivate the players? They stayed up but had a premiership squad who had done well before.
Hull brought in a coach with a good reputation in Europe, he did a good job but the squad had been filleted by mismanagement. Valiant effort but the players were just not good enough.
We changed our manager who was imploding. Despite being liberated we went down with a whimper even though good guy Agnew was in charge. Absolutely no surprise, the transfer dealings were poor and this is not hindsight, my views are well known.
The question is whether a change will turn your fortunes around. To a large extent it relies on the players. Are they good enough and their efforts just need redirecting.
In our case time will tell if the manager will make a success of our club. Accepted wisdom is that the squad is good enough, doesn’t mean that is totally correct, the blend may not be right.
Gibson wont be calling him for a ‘chat’ for a ;little while yet but the clock is ticking.
The Gazette reporters are saying that Monk isn’t engaging with the fans, and that is mainly because of the ongoing rift between the Gazette and MFC.
I just wonder what that has to do with Boro’s poor performances, as Karanka certainly didn’t engage with the fans, well not in a positive way, and Boro’s performances were much better in the Championship under him than they have been under Monk.
Surely the Gazette are not saying Boro’s poor performances are a consequence of this rift?
My closing remark on this thread is as follows.
My spread sheet looks ahead for the next three games and anticipates those results depending on positions and our current performance.
If after the next three games we have picked up only one point and have dropped to 17th as currently very likely then I am sure the subsequent 3 games will be even worse.
With that in mind how will you feel – so I dont think I am being hasty in my judgement – its just a reflection of how I know I am going to feel on Nov 5th unless a miracle happens.
Proper planning only brings forward the realisation that you are probably going to fail and weighs heavily on your mind until it happens – so why bother. Save yourself a miserable season and let failure come as a complete surprise with the comfort that by the time we fail – theres nothing you can do about it.
Now on to the fizzy pop cup.
Ken
That is a good part of the latest Tripe Supper, the thing the journos are forgetting was that they were always getting tonked for not asking the tough questions or being in the clubs pocket.
Fans are not dim, they watch or listen to what unfolds on the pitch, it is discussed in pubs, clubs, message boards, phone ins long before we get the Gazette version. The multitudes that take a turn in writing a sentence on the Gazette wont make much difference to me any more than the article I read in my Daily Torygraph about Monk or from NewsNow or the Northern Echo.
That might be different in Teesside postcodes but the website for people like myself is almost unusable with it’s irritating adverts.