| Bournemouth | Middlesbrough | ||
| Simpson Wilson Afobe |
49′ 75′ (pen) 83′ |
Tavernier | 56′ |
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
55% 14 4 4 11 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
67% 12 6 3 15 |
Cherry pickers plunder plucky Boro
A pressured Garry Monk headed south with his options shorn of three players for various reasons. Both Ryan Shotton and Marvin Johnson had previously played in the Carabou Cup for Birmingham and Oxford before signing for Boro thereby rendering them ineligible. A shame for the pair of them and Boro as they could have seriously benefitted from some much needed game time. The third absentee Rudy Gestede remained side-lined courtesy of his bizarre dead leg although edging his way back to fitness and full training within the next couple of weeks. None of the three would likely feature in a best 11 although what that best 11 would look like in any given week is now open to much Teesside debate and banter. As it happened we were no nearer identifying what that best 11 would look like with ten changes being made to tonight’s line up from Saturday with Ayala the only remainer. Eddie Howe made eight changes to his Bournemouth side that beat Stoke on Saturday.
The Cherries started the livelier and an offside flag on five minutes spared Boro blushes as a floated in free kick saw Mousset’s header chalked off by the Lino. A corner a few minutes later saw the ball go wide of Dimi’s goal. The opening ten minutes saw all of the action in the Boro half as Bournemouth probed and Boro absorbed heavy pressure in the drizzling south coast rain. The next ten minutes didn’t change much as another glanced header went past Dimi’s post and a shot on the turn from Wilson also went wide much to the relief of the travelling 1,000 or so hardy Boro souls. Boro’s first real foray came on twenty minutes but fizzled out quickly as Clayts exercised an “accidental” clumsy challenge to prevent a breakaway counter attack.
A Boruc kick out was then charged down by Traore and as a consequence of the rushed clearance the ball broke for Boro and Bamford I think put it out wide for Traore to cross but Boruc redeemed himself and caught the cross mid-flight. This sparked Boro into a bit of a fightback for all of 30 seconds and almost immediately as the game tilted the other way a parried Dimi save fell to Fraser who should have scored but was way off target. Boro’s formation looked like a 4132 or a 4213 in attack, Roberts, Ayala, Fry and Friend at the back with Clayts, Baker and Forshaw in the middle and Traore, Bamford and Tavernier up front. A Baker free kick on the half hour saw the ball cleared out from the Bournemouth box to Clayts who hit a daisy cutter from 25 yards out but as his typical of his prowess it went wide. Boro were however coming into this game just as Tavernier went down after taking Mousset’s studs on the top of his ankle allowing the sides a breather. Watching on was Martin O’Neil obviously in attendance to watch Harry Arter! Just after the restart a Robert’s pile driver seen Boruc spill with Bamford closing in but the keeper managed to clear the danger.
As the rain eased off so did the Bournemouth pressure as Boro were not exactly dominating but defending from the halfway line instead of their 18 yard box. On 38 minutes Fry mistimed a challenge and left a trailing foot to concede a free kick and a yellow card for his troubles. Fortunately Fraser’s free kick heard the whistle go immediately for a shove on Ayala who went sprawling in the Boro six yard box. Five minutes before half time saw Boro’s best spell with a penalty claim on Tavernier after Clayts had played a 35 yard cross field ball to Roberts who strained to reach it to get a cross in. Seconds later Clayts and Traore combined to rob the ball off a sleepy Bournemouth midfield and Traore raced through on goal but his shot from the egde of the box closely attended by three defenders started to spin and skew away mid-flight to go wide. A scrappy end to the half saw Bournemouth almost sneak a goal as Friend failed to shield the ball out of play and Fraser managed to get the ball back into the Boro box with three Cherries wanting a bite but Dimi got down to smother the danger. That was the end of the first half action.
After the restart a sloppily conceded corner by Forshaw led to Bournemouth taking the lead as Jack Simpson opened his Cherry account with a left footed volley unmarked in the middle of the six yard box as the ball just dropped to him. Boro tried to clear their heads quickly and regroup but Ayala conceded a free kick for a waist high leg challenge 30 yards out on our right. Dimi collected the ball and set Friend on the attack as Boro poured shirts forward but after a few mishit crosses Bournemouth cleared their lines with Baker forced into giving away a free kick in order to prevent a Bournemouth charge. A Bournemouth player then went down as they attacked but Bournemouth played on as they looked for a second but as the clock ticked onto 56 minutes Traore picked up the ball in his own half, broke centrally leaving three defenders for dead and played a telling ball through to Tavernier who looked as though he had taken it too wide but fired it hard and low past Boruc to make it 1-1.
Four minutes later Wilson chased an Arter ball played over the top to go down in a heap after a coming together with Fry but the Ref wasn’t having any of it. Tavernier then closed down and ran with the ball on the left feeding Traore on the right who crossed it back into the box but this time Tavernier’s shot was tame. Bournemouth then regained a foothold, applied most of the pressure but without really troubling Dimi. Mousset went off replaced by Jordan Ibe in the 69th minute as Eddie Howe was first to blink in an attempt to add more energy.
As Stewy was warming up Traore was double tackled earning a free kick on the half way line from which Boro eventually earned their first corner which was woefully and predictably over hit setting Bournemouth up to go down the other end winning a corner of their own which then saw Fry pull back Simpson for a Penalty which Wilson sent Dimi the wrong way. Boro clearly still haven’t learnt how wasteful and how dangerous their habits of over hit corners are. 2-1 down and Downing now came on for Tavernier with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Boro started to wilt quickly after the penalty and with Bournemouth camped on the edge of the Boro box a series of slick passes saw Wilson get behind Fry and cross to Afobe who couldn’t miss from 6 yards out to make it 3-1. Monk then threw on Fletcher for Baker presumably in an attempt to hoof balls up the pitch for him to knock down but it never happened as Fletcher went wide right for some bizarre reason. The result just saw the lad struggle to control balls and run into tackles that were cleaned up with relative ease.
Howe responded by putting Ake on as he saw his chance to finish this game within the 90. A Downing corner a minute later found Fry but his header sailed well over the bar as Boro visibly waned. Downing forced a save from Boruc late on and then raced to take the resultant corner which after a bit of head tennis saw a Clayton half volley easily saved by Boruc. A brief unplanned interlude courtesy of a solitary pitch invasion was the prelude to Bamford having a speculative shot from outside of the box which went wide.
The result wasn’t meaningful in the scheme of things but the disappointment continues and the nature of the goals were frustratingly typical of the season to date in that they were of a very soft nature. A positive is that the likes of Friend and Roberts got some much needed minutes under their belt and Tavernier looked a better option than some others but apart from Adama’s bursts there was nobody who stood out to stake a serious claim come Saturday. Bamford didn’t do enough to stand out and when he came on Fletcher hadn’t improved from Saturday’s performance with an inability to control the ball so on that basis neither nailed a start. MOM has to be the Travelling army who turned out in numbers on a wet Tuesday night at the opposite end of the Country. This result wasn’t one to either praise or hang the Manager by but that’s now six games without a win and the longer that stat goes on it will be included by those with knives to sharpen in the coming weeks.
Boro look to fizz as season heads south
It’s time once more for the next stimulating round of the caffeine-based fermented juice sponsored trophy that Mr Caraboa has kindly paid the Football League to adorn with green ribbons so that we don’t need to call it the EFL Cup. As we wait for our intended promotion season to spring to life with all the verve of a dead water buffalo’s skull, Boro instead set off on the road to Wembley before making a sharp right towards the Dorset coast and heading to the UK’s favoured destination for people of a certain age looking to enjoy their days between hanging up their boots and popping their clogs.
The actual first known historic recorded mention of Bournemouth was in 1406 by a Christchurch monk in a medieval manuscript, who referred to the location as ‘La Bournemowthe’ (which may possibly have been mistakenly just down to the predictive calligraphy of the day). This uninhabited geographical area was where the mouth of a small river that drained the heathland between the towns of Poole and Christchurch was situated. Old English etymologists among you will know that the word ‘bourne’ essentially means small stream and Bournemouth got its place in history thanks to a large mysterious 18-foot fish being washed up on the beach, which was then drawn to the attention of the Canon of Christchurch, who duly took a sample and recorded the event.
Anyway, enough of this irrelevant tale of how an isolated monk struggled to identify hapless washed-up creatures suddenly appearing out of their depth – the Boro manager and his team head to the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening hoping to negotiate their safe passage through to the next round against top-flight opposition. Given that Boro’s Monk may feel he has bigger fish to fry will perhaps determine which particular players from the best squad in the Championship are taken out of the misfiring line and thrown into the frying pan. Though if Boro can’t get the message that they need to perk up their season at the Vitality Stadium in a competition sponsored by an energy drink then one wonders what other subliminal cues are needed.
For the long autumn trip to Bournemouth, it’s possible Steve Gibson may be tempted to lay on the rather draughty open-top bus he’d been keeping safely stored away for the anticipated May promotion parade – just so the players and staff can ‘enjoy’ the same same shiver down their spines as the chairman currently does when he glances at the league table to see how his summer investment is maturing.
Despite Bournemouth being the first town to introduce CCTV, this game is an untelevised midweek away fixture with a prohibitive 12-hour round-trip for die-hard supporters. It will mean there will be few witnesses from Teesside to adjudicate on whether Monk’s team is once more guilty of another criminal slow start. However, I would suggest the players preload before the match with as much complimentary fizzy energy drink as is made available to avoid another flat lethargic opening – naturally this advice obviously excludes Adama, who in such circumstances would presumably metamorphosize into an overgrown hyperactive child pumped full of sugar and artificial additives on a mission to emulate an oversized bowling ball as he attempted to skittle over every opposition player on the pitch.
Though, to be fair, the Caraboa Cup has seen some of Boro’s better performances this season, which ironically has been down to selecting players not deemed by Monk to be main contenders for a start in his Championship First XI. In previous rounds, both Downing and Leadbitter were given chances to impress and then subsequently did, which earned them a place in Monk’s plans that had so far eluded them – though Bamford’s brace and overall performance in the last round failed to persuade the Boro manager that he deserved his chance to start in the league. Also despite youngsters Lewis Wing and Marcus Tavernier impressing, they didn’t encourage their manager to think that they were ready for the next step – cynics may suggest that all they probably need is an over-inflated price-tag thrown at them to prove they are valuable members of the squad.
As Eddie Howe’s team languish in second bottom ahead of goal-shy Palace, he will presumably have his eyes focused more on Premier League survival. The Cherries managed a rare win at Stoke on Saturday and this EFL Cup game is sandwiched between that and Chelsea’s visit next weekend. I’m sure he will utilise his squad but it’s not one with great depth packed full of household names – in fact quite a few are barely household names in their own houses. It may well mean that Boro have got a reasonable chance of progressing if they can get their act together.
It’s widely expected that Garry Monk will use the EFL Cup to give his fringe squad members a game, but I’m not sure that is what is needed as we reach the end of October with only a string of disjointed performances since the last round to show for that approach. Firstly, there seems little point in playing the youngsters against Premier League opposition if they can’t even get a game in the Championship. Secondly, giving squad members a run out to avoid them becoming rusty doesn’t seem a priority if some of those currently being given a start also look in need of games to sharpen them up. Thirdly, perhaps this is the kind of game where the manager can rest his ‘undroppable’ players without making the obvious statement that they have failed – isn’t it time to discover how something like a front three of Bamford, Downing and Braithwaite fare – or what about that widely used 3-4-3 formation that has become the trend among thinking coaches, which I suspect may be a better fit for the type of players Boro have.
Incidentally, I think 3-4-3 would solve a number of issues that Monk has so far not found solutions to. It would allow Christie to concentrate more on what he does best and find his attacking flow again. It also avoids this splitting of the central defenders to cover the full-backs and stops the need for a central midfielder to act as a pseudo centre-back to cover the missing one – it may all sound clever tactically but it hasn’t proven effective so far and unless you have the right players who are drilled accordingly it seems to be a recipe for misunderstandings and defensive holes. It would also allow for better progressive ball-playing central midfielders – perhaps someone like Baker is going to be a better playmaker than a ponderous Clayton or an indecisive Howson once the defensive cover behind them removes some of the jobs occupying a large portion of their brain. Playing with wing-backs would offer the chance of Johnson being a pacey left-footed option too – basically it creates positions for some of the players who are not quite suited to some of the roles they have been tried at.
Monk needs to decide which players are mainly impact players and who have the football brains and ball skills to be comfortable interchanging along the front line. My view is Assombalonga is primarily an instinctive box player, if you give him a role beyond that he’s struggling both with movement, first touch and passing. Boro have not built their team around servicing him and have instead tried to convert him into a player he is not and won’t be anytime soon. Fletcher looks increasingly out of his depth and has lost confidence with each game – I can only see a front three of Braithwaite, Downing and Bamford that can play the way Monk appears to want to, with perhaps Baker being the attacking midfielder.
Maybe even having a settled back three would allow our central defenders to get their composure back – as who among them has looked comfortable with the current defensive tactical arrangement? Ben Gibson’s value must be losing a million quid a game with each unconvincing defensive display and at this rate he could end up being talked about in the same breath as David Wheater rather than someone like Jonathan Woodgate or a future England regular.
So will Boro finally find their identity at Bournemouth and show the supremacy of their squad or will Monk and his players be heading back to Teesside to receive an ultimatum from the chairman. As usual your predictions on score, scorers and team selection – plus who deserves their seat on the top deck of the promotion bus?
Cherries 0 Cocktail Sticks 1
Werder,
A smart analysis, thank you. I don’t hold out any great hopes for tonight and certainly not hopes that the gradual backwards slide will be halted or even slowed. I think tonight will allow Boro to concentrate on the league and if they are able to concentrate on the Championship I will be well pleased. The trouble is they belief and concentration to start to give their best and they are two commodities that are in short supply.
Reading some of the bloggers reports about the Cardiff game those same assets seem to be in short supply in the spectators too.
The only fact we do know is that Boro don’t have a ‘best team’ so, tonight I’m going for Cherries 3 – 1 Boro.
Then we can all concentrate on the league.
UTB,
John
spot on Jarsue
Tonight is important, we all think concentrate on the league but do footballers think like that? We are told they want to play and want to win. A dismal defeat will not help the squad one jot.
My personal view is that it is a chance to create some cohesion in midfield and defence. The idea of 343 sounds sensible, my views on a centre half disappearing out to the wing and Clayton/other vacating midfield have been aired before.
The problem is that is another formation with its bedding in requirements.
Stick or twist? I think the cherries will give us the pip as Eddie Howe tries to get a performance out of his squad to boost their season.
Good take there Weder, I think half half. A couple of changes – give Paddy Bam Bam a start with Downing and Flash and see where it leads.
Who knows – my feeling is Bournemouth will rise to the occaision so we will be tanked in the first half an hour them 3 us nil.
Who knows what side Bournemouth will field, Premiership survival is more important to them than a Cup run.
Who knows what side GM will field as Managership survival is probably his priority rightly or wrongly.
GM tried three at the back for twenty minutes against Preston at home (although apparently he thinks we have only played two systems) and it was a disaster which he changed promptly in game. George was playing to the left of the three and kept going on bombing runs forward totally forgetting the game plan and abandoning his role at the back. Personally I think it is probably the best system for a side that wants to impose and play with pace and power but as with any system it will take time to bed in and clearly the training ground time afforded it prior to Preston wasn’t anywhere near enough. As a trial it has been abandoned ever since. I’m happy for a Manager to try any system he feels is best fit and will yield the best results, the problem at the moment is that the Players seem very uncomfortable and confused with what is expected of them and the fans struggle to see a system or Plan A.
Tonight is an ideal opportunity for Monk to bed in whatever Plan he is working on and to try and get the Players to buy into it and with that greater understanding (or even some understanding would do). I have no idea what the score will be due to not knowing what the sides will be plus not being able to predict GM’s tactics. I wouldn’t be surprised at a Boro win as it would be “Typical” especially if he goes with those on the fringes. Hunger and desire driving them forward rather than the confused, disheartened starting elevens we have seen of late. Just get it over with and focus on the desperately needed three points on Saturday.
I would go with what I think is the easiest and quickest way to salvation for GM and use the game to set up his best eleven and simplest formation without overcomplicating things. Despite encouraging experimenting with three at the back I doubt he has the luxury of time now to see it come to any fruition.
Randolph
Christie Ayala Gibson Friend
Clayton Leadbitter
Downing
Bamford Assombalonga Braithwaite
Ayala we know will come good with a few squirts of that magical oil in a spray can after his absence for the best part of 18 months, likewise Friend so they both need game time. Fry and Fabio I’d also be happy with. I think GM needs to go back to basics, that of course means many pricey signings benched or left in the stands but so be it. Right now the needs of the Club and the Manager have to be paramount to any fees or loan contracts.
RR,
Apply for the job now!
UTB,
John
Redcar Red
I would settle for that line up with Paddy just behind Britt flanked by Downing and Braithwaite.
Ian
My reasoning for Downing playing there and not Bamford is that as we attack down the left Grant and Downing can also add cover for the LB more naturally than Grant and Bamford. Centrally Downing can collect the ball from the two DM’s and launch attacks by pinging balls through for the Wing Backs or link up with Braithwaite and Bamford in more shall we say “articulate” interplay. We have struggled for creativity from the middle and tend to pass side to side or backwards as DM’s tend to do. This way, let the two DM’s break up play, feed Stewy and let him play the clever defence penetrating, perfectly weighted pass.
When dropping deeper a defending Downing can also spray balls out of defence setting away the front three and the wing backs like he did on Saturday. Switching it with perfectly weighted balls to Fabio on the opposite less densely marked flank (just noticing that in the heat of battle is an art in itself) and also the manner in which he slid Britt through at Barnsley. I think Downing has more defensive nous than Paddy therefore better suited with Clayts and Grant and I would imagine Paddy is a tad quicker and faster than Stewy’s advancing years permits. Downing also played some of his best football at West Ham with two strikers in front of him, just think what he could do with three strikers in front, especially those three!
Bamford is quick, pacy and skilful especially in tight situations, ideal for coming in from the right. Britt has the drive and energy to power into the box and finish especially with the two “B’s” either side and Downing just behind feeding him. Braithwaite is fleet of foot, has great control like Bamford and can link up well with other intelligent players (Bamford and Downing) on the same wavelength and can finish as well. Imagine that mix going forward and then Britt starving in the box just waiting to be fed.
That set up also takes out the big agricultural CB’s who can head balls clear all day as its played around their feet with speed and accuracy, twisting and turning them by having players intelligent enough to anticipate and read the second and third phase of play. Its light years from where we are presently yet so bleedin obvious I could scream.
Just goes to show how opinions can differ watching the same game. I saw one cross field ball from SD, the rest of the game he spent most of his time looking up to the sky. I would be interested to see his stats for ground covered (less the distance he travelled to take corner kicks)
At least Shotton and Johnson cannot be tried tonight as both are cup-tied.
RR’s team sound OK by me but I am afraid Monk will make more changes as per previous rounds. But RR is correct – let’s steady the ship now and try to find a rhythm.
My prediction is a 1-2 win with Ayala and Bamford scoring. In the next round Bristol City at home.
Up the Boro!
Just as a side note, Monk record was quite similar at Leeds last season as now.
At twitter @BoroForm has combined following.
So here is a look at Garry Monk’s record during his first 13 league matches in charge of both Leeds and Boro.
At Boro, he’s P13, W4, D5, L4 and accumulated 17 points.
At Leeds, he was P13, W5, D2, L6 and accumulated 17 points.
So there is still hope. If Leeds made it to the play-offs by March/April, Boro can do it, too. We must set the bar at that as a minimum.
Up the Boro!
Had a think about it
1 1 AET
PENNAS
BORO WIN 5 4
A question – what sort of mushrooms did you have with your dinner? I hope you’re right, though. A win, ANY win, would be good.
There is an article and interview with Monk in the Telegraph Digital edition today.
Here’s a couple of extracts:-
Things have not gone so well, so far, for Garry Monk at Middlesbrough. The promotion favourites are stuttering, the excitement that greeted his appointment has been replaced by rumblings of disenchantment and the promise from chairman Steve Gibson that they would “smash” the Championship this season hangs in the air like an axe.
This is what Monk wanted. Not the axe, but he wanted the challenge and the pressure. He needed to be at a club who wanted to get back to the Premier League as much as he did. That is why he left Leeds.
The article then goes on to cover a bit of his background and management record, ending with the following paragraph:-
Boro have spent more than anyone in the Championship and, for Monk, having left Leeds after just one year in acrimonious circumstances, what happens at Boro could define the next 10 years of his career.
“There has been a lot of negativity [toward me] and I was disappointed to leave Leeds,” Monk explained. “I felt we had a fantastic season when you consider what it was when I took over. My intention was to stay, but I had a one-year contract, there were new owners. After the job I’d done and after discussions, there was never a real desire to keep me and I didn’t want to put myself or my staff in that position. That’s why I took the Middlesbrough job. I’ve loved every minute and we are improving, you have to rebuild the confidence of a club after relegation, the players, the staff and the fans, and we’re getting there.”
It is interesting that he says Leeds there never had a real desire to keep him and even more interesting that he thinks that Boro are “improving” when there is little evidence of that on the field. Moreover, he seems to imply that he is building the confidence of the club when all the evidence points to the opposite. I wonder whether he believes what he says because if he does things are really desperate.
As for the game tonight, I am with RR in not caring much about it at all and I agree with his team selection except I would have Fabio in place of Christie and Fry in place of Ayala. I agree with RR’s view that he should pick the team he wants as his first choice eleven in the league (if he knows it) to give them more experience of playing together.
If he does that we might have enough depending on how we play to bother Bournemouth but I still don’t think we will have enough to win or draw. So my score prediction is a 2-0 defeat.
Allegedly……..
English League Cup – Round of 16
ST: 19:45
| ESPN 3 Player (usa)
| ViaPlay (denmark) / HD
| ViaPlay (finland)
| ViaPlay (norway) / HD
| ViaPlay (sweden) / HD
Thanks, gHW.
I have only ViaSat which shows EPL live. I need to pay more (again) for the net service of ViaPlay. And just for one match! But if we go through …
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
There are internet sites which you may be able to get a stream from but of course they are not accessible from the UK due to local ISP’s blocking them but there are “goals” to be had in the USA and even perhaps Iraq and if you don’t get a Cric in your neck whilst searching it may even be Free!
All this talk of possible live streams sounds interesting – I hope one materialises and it’s not the usually click-bait – apparently Bet365 claimed the game would 100% be available in Germany, though it’s a tiny screen and you have to open a betting account with them.
2-1 Boro
Replay on Bein sports in Oz Wed night 11pm.
Great read Werder…….I know I have said this before, but I think you should give up your day job. A wonderful storyteller.
Who can guess what Mr Monk or the chosen players will do. I expect Fry to start along with Bamford. Although possibly Garry may do an AK if he thinks that is the fans choice, and leave Paddy on the bench.
Hoping for an improved performance to take onto Saturday. A win would be nice. Go for it there is nothing to lose, well only the match.
Thanks Pedro, though I think Mrs Werder already believes I have given up my day job since I started Diasboro – especially with two games a week!
Tonight’s match is the ideal opportunity to employ what we think is our strongest team, not necessarily what Monk might think is our strongest team. I’m fairly sure that Eddie Howe, despite his saying that he will play a strong team, actually won’t in the belief that Monk will also play a weakened team.
A reserve team fixture if you like.
I agree with Werdermouth and Redcar Red, that this is match to play 3-4-3 which is the best attacking formation and not far removed from the old 2-3-5 formation where the full backs and the centre half was the defence, the wing halves and wingers would be the midfield, and the centre and inside forwards would be strikers. Yes, there are slight variances to the 2-3-5 in as much as the old wing halves were perhaps not as creative as one would expect nowadays, but wingers then were attack minded and not expected to do much defending.
So in 3-4-3 formation my team would be Randolph; Ayala, Gibson, Fry; Christie (or Fabio), Leadbitter, Clayton, Downing; Bamford, Assombalonga, Braithwaite. Stick with the formation, tell Assombalonga to stay central, and bring on substitutes if necessary, even Traore if one must! I can’t believe I’ve just said that! But persist with the formation for the whole game even if things aren’t going well. No problem if we lose this match, but at least the players will know what their functions are. I actually think we’ll win.
Of course Monk won’t take any notice of me (some might say I hope he doesn’t), but I think what we need is a stabilised formation for at least the next half dozen matches. I also believe that Steve Gibson has put too much pressure on the manager and players with stating he wanted us to “smash” the league. In a way they might feel being on a hiding to nothing – quite unnecessary comments from the Chairman in my opinion.
I have suspicions that Traore’s mind may not be in the right place, the ridiculous Villa lunge, then missing the bus then another ridiculous challenge in the box on Saturday. Once is an accident, twice is unfortunate, but three times etc….
Only those closest to him knows whats really going on inside his head but right here and now Traore is a luxury that GM cannot afford at any cost until there is a massive upswing in results. There is a time and a place for players like Traore (and Fletcher come to that) but at this point in his management tenure it certainly isn’t now.
Maybe RR but in tonight’s game where it doesn’t really matter if we lose it occurred to me that it might put the cat among the Bournemouth pigeons if Traore was on at the start. At least it would give him a chance to redeem himself!
I’d really like to see 3-4-3 but I suspect with only one training day since Cardiff it’s very unlikely to happen tonight unless there have been secret sessions in the last break. Though the EFL Cup would have been an ideal time to give it a dry run ahead of a league game. Defensively, it must be an easier concept to grasp rather than this rotation of positions that currently happens – plus central defenders have the game in front of them and can read the plays better and get into position rather than a central midfielder who covers all areas of the pitch being in the right place when needed.
Nice read, Werder 🙂
Interesting ‘dead water buffalo’s head’. Added to Ian’s ‘Splitting cheese sauce’ and even I am lost for words ;
I was at the top of the table clash when Boro played the Cherries when we were last in the old Div 3. In fact, the ground was chock o block and many of us were locked outside. With much noise and todo they opened the gates 15mins after kickoff. The squeeze was achieved but I remember the Hillsborough diaster (watched it live on the box) and I couldn’t help thinking back. As I recall, at the time, Bournemouth was one of the few grounds not to have erected pitchside fences.
Anyhows, win, lose or draw tonight means nowt for our league form, which I look upon with trepidation and sober gloom. Hopefully a brief flash of joy will come along to brighten the Boro sky.
All together “You are my Boro, my only Boro. You make me happy when skies are grey….”
You make it sound like an Heston Blumental dish – Dead water buffalo in split cheese sauce – though I’m definitely in Ian’s not for splitting camp when it comes to central defenders – it just doesn’t sound like the way to create a reliable harmonious partnership if one of the midfielders has to play gooseberry.
Perhaps we could add a crisp red horse wine from the snowy mountainous slopes shadowing Bishkek.
Your starter for 10 (no sneaky Google searches).
Name that mountain range!
A Bishkek horse wine sounds like it could be Mongolian or something, though I couldn’t name the mountain range off the top of my head.
Do we still have a chap called Adam Forshaw at Boro? Could he play at Bournemouth tonight? Just saying, like.
Up the Boro!
I agree that 3 at the back suits our squad but would be more inclined to go with a 3412 than a 343:
Randolph
Fry. Ayala. Gibson
Christie. Leadbitter Clayton Friend/Fábio
Braithwaite/Downing
Bamford/Assombalonga/Braithwaite
Sorry Werdermouth, I forgot to commend you on your preview, humour and especially the history of the naming of the town of Boro’s opponents, something I used to look forward to on the Boro website last season sadly abandoned now.
I always remembered the club as Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic which then changed its name in 1972 to AFC Bournemouth, so alphabetically it would appear first on a list of English clubs, a ploy that Woolwich Arsenal also did in 1913 to become alphabetically first in the list of Football League clubs. However, Arsenal probably had more justification in doing so seeing that it had just moved from Woolwich.
Trying to guess what is going on in Traore’s head. About as much as a goldfish?
Great article Wedermouth – plenty of puns in there as well!
Here’s another one, let’s hope that Monk doesn’t become a fish out of water!
And RR should manage the team, he knows more than Mr Monk appears to at present.
In some ways a close defeat in normal time would be ok, so we can concentrate on survival and improvements.
I agree that it needs to be used as a warm up for Saturday to get the team gelling together and knowing who to pass to etc.
I will go for a 2 1 defeat with Bamford scoring at both ends!
I think a goldfish might know what it is doing for 10 seconds……..
And I will join in with Spartan in the rousing rendition!
I posted just towards the end of the last thread that I expect not confident going into tonight and predicted a 2-0 defeat.
I’m not sure about this 3 at the back that quite a few of you are espousing. I would prefer 4, Christie or Fabio, Fry, Gibson and Friend. Agree with two holding the middle, Grants and Clayts. I like RR’s suggestion of Downing in the middle, behind Braithwaite, Assombalonga and Bamford. Lots of potential for switching any of Downing, Braithwaite and Bamford to keep the opposition on their toes.
But “What do I know?” he reflects as he takes another spin around the gold fish bowl…
PS. Thanks for the great read again Werder, and the illuminating history on Bournemouth..
Like many, I’m not overly interested in the Reindeer cup or whatever its called, but a win tonight would bring a much needed confidence boost for the squad no matter who plays. It would give us fans a lift too.
So I’m going for a 1-0 Boro win, more in hope than expectation.
There is always the possibility that things might ‘click’ for Gary Monk’s Boro, I hope to night is the night.
My view is that the main problem at the moment is that the players lack belief, only wins will bring that back.
As for the Gazette’s thoughts on the impact the club ban is having on Monk’s relationship with the fans , I see it means we cant yet identify with him, but I cant see it as being the cause of Boro’s poor form.
Its tough being a Boro supporter at the moment, nothing new there then.
Well for all the talk of using the EFL Cup game as an opportunity to get his First XI more pitch time together, Monk has picked only Ayala of those who started against Cardiff and that was forced due to Shotton being cup-tied.
Yes, typical Monk. A big opportunity to get the league side more time together missed by a mile!!
Before we get too involved in the game, many thanks to those who gave their generous comments on the article – appreciated as ever!
Yes Werder , brilliant article.
I’ll second that
In terms of finding links to the match, I often keep an eye on the live-feed thread on Fly Me to the Moon as there are usually a few on there trawling the web…
https://fansonline.net/middlesbrough/mb/view.php?id=5444863
Bet365 gas a live stream in oz.
Meanwhile, the company that owns the rights to Monty Python programmes have made a formal complaint about copyright infringements relating to Gazette journalists and their Whicker Island sketch
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=whicker+island&src=IE11TR&pc=EUPP_LCTE&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dwhicker%2bisland%26form%3dPRLNC1%26src%3dIE11TR%26pc%3dEUPP_LCTE&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=2D1A52BC2AA3E26CFA0C2D1A52BC2AA3E26CFA0C&FORM=WRVORC
So far so good, credit to the players.
Interesting scores in the EFL trophy, Man City, Everton and Boro U21’s all losing 2-0 away at half time. Is the competition worth entering? On the other side of the argument is that it is better than some antiseptic academy tournament.
A backs to the wall start for the Boro reserves tonight at the Vitality Stadium but they have grown into the game and started to ask questions of Boruc in the last ten minutes of the first 45. Not a classic by any means but there is little to separate the two sides. Maybe the lack of game time has absolved them of the confidence and belief issues. Traore so far along with Clayts look to be doing the best business for those in White shirts.
The second half beckons!
3-1 to the Cherries, Played our part according to Radio Tees but showing signs of tiredness.
Well, shiver my timbers, slap my thigh, isn’t that why we are resting players? So the those that need a run out cant last 90 minutes? Not encouraging.
There again the score is no great surprise.
Free kick with minutes to go and play it square. Oh dear!
Dissapointed with the result, I hope the performance was better. Streaming was not working at our National betting company’s site and I felt too tried to find another one. So missed the game.
Perhaps I am lucky to live this far from Boro. Not so many people reminding me about the slump in form.
Still, we could win on Saturday. That’s how I think, we have a lot of good players and we must pick up some day.
Up the Boro!
I’ve just posted up Redcar Red’s match report from last night’s game – I’ll add the stats a little later when I’m back home…
https://diasboro.club/2017/10/24/efl-cup-bournemouth-v-boro/#MatchReport
What an opportunity missed by Monk not only to progress in this competition, but mainly to practice with a preferred formation and instil some confidence in the team. I’m beginning to despair with this manager and like many supporters have given up any hope of even finishing this season in the top half of the league.A battle against relegation cannot now be discounted in my opinion.
The only thing that has been instilled into this team is a losing habit and it is growing, how can they do their job when they don’t seem to know what their job is.
Now it’s the full-on Championship grind well it is before the next international break and the FA Cup. Are Boro holding a course on pruning during the break?
UTB,
John
Thanks RR, excellent, but sadly depressing reading.
I agree with Ken and others, s chance was missed to give the bulk of Monks first choice an opportunity to play in a fixture they might have done well in. A loss, regardless that it was the 11 bench warmers (except Ayala), is a loss and impacts the atmosphere around the whole squad. Where oh where is the self belief going to come from?
It’s all quite depressing at the moment and I am lacking any confidence in the existing management. The longer it goes that GM is not handed an assistant, the less I think that will be the answer and I met begun to think it is GM himself that should stand up and take responsibility for the state of affairs.
Many thanks to RR for so eloquently capturing the game last night in his match report – I also managed to catch an online stream, which was a bonus as normally the EFL Cup appears to be well under the radar for those who can’t make it to the game.
I was also a little surprised to see that Garry Monk had decided to play his second string team and it left me wondering what would have happened if Boro had actually won the game? Presumably, the confidence gained would have only applied to the ‘reserves’ and would that have then had the effect of undermining the First XI?
Anyway, not an issue that has arisen given the result and perhaps the main beneficiaries were Ayala for getting another game, Adama for showing he offers a threat and Tavernier, who again looked comfortable, clever and composed and must be regarded as a serious option for his manager. It’s probably better for Adama when he starts as then he’s not in a hurry to make an impact by making over-zealous challenges once the adrenaline of the first few minutes subsides.
The losers were probably Bamford, who in playing as the lead striker running the line couldn’t get into the game at all – I suspect he’s a bit like Rhodes in that he doesn’t have the physicality against good defenders to impose himself and perhaps needs someone to play off so he can run onto the ball. Also not putting his case for a start was Fry, who probably had his worst game in a Boro shirt and was caught out a few times and perhaps was guilty in all three goals of not making the right decisions – which probably shows his lack of experience, especially against top-flight players.
So Boro have been left to concentrate on the league until January – and concentration is something they must do more often if they are to avoid conceding soft goals and missing chances.
RR, thanks for an excellent report as always.
It seems that Monk’s view of the game is different from yours judging by his comment after the match that it was “hard to fault that performance”. Well, Gary, shall we start with the result?
I am starting to wonder whether his comments are an attempt at spin or whether he is becoming divorced from reality.
While it probably doesn’t matter that we are out of the Cardboard Cup or whatever it’s called, another defeat does nothing for club morale especiallg as the Under 21 side was thumped 4-1 at Wigan in the EFL Trophy. Moreover, it seems that some of the second string in “the best squad in the league” didn’t exactly do themselves any favours.
Very, very worrying times.
Thanks for the report, RR. More valuable especially so if one misses a live stream.
Sounded a bit better performance than Saturday but of course our team was different. At least we have depth in the squad. But perhaps that makes it harder to choose a team, too!
You never change a winning team but Monk has not had that luxury for a while.
To Ken, I don’t think we need to get that worried yet. Leeds started the season as slowly last year and they made to the play-offs early spring. Still plenty of time to get there.
But if we want an automatic promotion spot, we need to start winning soon. So play-off still the minimum target, but we must target higher, of course.
Never lose faith in Boro. Up the Boro!
A defeat for the second string is not good for the squad. For a start it shows the second string are not great, secondly, I am sure it affects the whole squad.
A chance wasted to get some cohesion in to our teamwork.
The big losers appeared to be Fry, Werder was right, he did seem to play some part in all three of their goals, and of course Bamford.
I could have told Monk that Bamford is best playing behind a striker, a sort of number 10 role, Teddy Sheringham lite. Whilst he may have beefed up and put on a bit of pace he is not a Drogba type.
Having only listened and seen brief Sky highlights not a lot more I can say.
I suppose if we had played a full strength side and won in extra time or suffered an injury to a key player then we might be lamenting Monk for that too, so I have some sympathy for his decision to play with a second string last night.
Ultimately, it co es back to the league form. If we were performing at the level we think the squad is capable of and picking up the results, we wouldn’t need to worry about giving the first team playing team to gel. SO a missed opportunity – yes – but also an opportunity that shouldn’t have been required in the first place.
We were penned back in our own half for a lot of the game so Tavernier and Traore’s pace were our only real outlet. Bamford is a Striker rather than a sprinter so it wasn’t a game that he was likely to impress in so not a lot can be read into last night for me. Put him in alongside Braithwaite and Downing and push further up the pitch and we will see a different Player.
There were some decent performances, Roberts looked OK and of course Adama done the business but the question is will we have to wait another 6 or 7 games before his next cameo? If he can maintain that level of performance then he gives a really good outlet especially when defending corners if we left him up the pitch but then Monk just packs the box at Corners causing congestion so that is probably a non starter. Speaking of corners we appear to be all over the place defending them, I honestly don’t know if we are supposed to be picking up allocated opponents or marking zonally or as I suspect just fill the box with bodies and hoof it out for a throw in if it comes near you sort of tactic.
Fletcher looks like he needs a break and out of the spotlight, Forshaw didn’t do enough to stake a claim and the corner he gave away was disappointing to say the least. Ayala looked a little less nervy so thats a plus and Friend was just OK but needed the match for fitness. Baker to me was fairly anonymous and popped up occasionally whilst Clayton was the liveliest of our midfielders. Downing made an impression when he came on but the reality was that the majority of the side at that point was cream crackered struggling to get some air in their lungs.
Getting knocked out of the Cup is irrelevant to me but the fact we shipped three soft goals is the only disappointing aspect. After AK’s strict defensive discipline we now look all at sea, totally disorganised and lost. Last night didn’t give any more clues to shape and formation but its gone now so GM’s focus has to be on getting a result at Reading. How he organises and lifts belief and confidence between now and then is his primary focus or at least should be. When this Cup fixture came out it looked like a demanding few days travelling with three away games in succession. Being away from the Riverside now may actually be a benefit to GM in his attempts to turn the season around.
I think Traore needs space in front of him. He is a dribbler, not a short-pass specialist. So if there is no room for him to run to, he is in trouble. Best for a counter attack, me thinks. Up the Boro!
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RR
3 soft goals which all involved Dael Fry in a negative way. It’s a learning curve he’s on so hopefully he will learn, move on and progress.
A good, or exciting, cup run invariably only helps any club and our better history is defined by such runs, the FA Cup last eights of Jack and John Neal’s teams, and better still the Robbo and Steve Mac years. It lifts everyone and and not attacking it full on is an opportunity missed.
I would argue too that we had the stronger team, on paper, last night and the result is a great loss.
Astonishingly, I think Garry Monk’s time is done. He has bought spasmodically – anyone who genuinely felt Marvin or Shotton for example will propel us to the PL is a fool – but hone matters down to 15/16 players and on paper we are way and above anyone else in this league still.
Logically of course we should stick, but suggesting we wait until Reading or the next match or match after is delusional and self defeating. Monk way well turn things around, but this is through hope and not conviction from the fans.
When we turn to who the managerial alternatives might be, the goose is cooked sadly. More still, re-examine Monk’s managerial record pre Boro and it is bog standard at best.
We owe him nothing, and vice versa, so cut loose now and wish him well. This is not going to work.
Welcome back Richard.
I’ve missed your knack of writing off managers so soon and so bluntly. It’s unique.
The thing is I understand your point of view – it’s not that it isn’t going to work out for MonksBoro, because there’s no explicit evidence that it won’t ultimately pay off, but that there’s currently no reason why anyone ought to think it would work. So I get that.
In my view, though, it’s not a Monk thing, it’s a Boro thing, and when I get my next piece submitted to Werder I’ll be happy to illustrate why.
Simon
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
If it is a Boro thing, we ended it with the employment of AK(organisation)
We gratefully settled back into chaotic pandemonium by firing AK(and leaving the decisions to a.n. other.)
On the inevitable, we fired a.n.other.
Only to hire another a.n. other.
Anyone spot a trend?
We all talk about the speed with which things go awry, but we really do not have a clue.
We not only got rid of the man who organised us (and hired someone who was not on the same planet) but any talk of the danger of wasting our hundred million from the Prem. Was way wide of the mark.
He has already wasted it, we are watching that golden feather bed run around on the pitch each week(headless chickens)
Resale value not much. Our good and valuable players are losing value by the day.
Anyone wonder why the big clubs fire in haste and repent never.
Still, this whole situation has echoes. Of the time Villa hired a “dream team” of Di Matteo and Clarke to guide them immediately back to the PL.
A multitude of draws later and they were out the door.
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t !
I do follow the argument that playing the full first team and getting a victory would be a moral booster but pre match that would be a big IF. Also if we did win we could look forward to another mid week match against one of the following:
Arsenal
Bristol City
Leicester
Man Utd
Man City
Chelsea / Everton
Spurs/West Ham
That is without any yellow/red cards/injuries picked up against Bournemouth which I am positive that many on here would have lambasted Monk for playing the individual in the first place when we have a much more important game on Saturday. Speaking of which let’s compare who Reading are playing mid week, oops they don’t have a match in which they could have picked up yellow/red cards/injuries, played 90/120 minutes let alone a long journey from one end of the country to the other and back again then travel back down again, probably on the Friday.
So I am Gary Monk on Sunday/Monday having to decide which team to put out on Tuesday night, in what many on here think is a Mickey Mouse competition, let’s consider the positive and negative options:
Positive
Played 90/120 minutes but won the match (even on penalties).
A moral boost to the team/club and supporters
Drawn at home v Bristol City in next round
Negative
Played my full team for 90/120 minutes but lost the match (even on penalties).
Travelled to Bournemouth and back
Picked up yellow/red cards/injuries to key players
Travel south again on Friday
Another blow to moral for team/club and supporters
Play against a fresh Reading side on Saturday in a much more important match.
Now what should I do mmmmmm
Come on BORO.
I’m not so sure Reading will be fresh this weekend. Apparently they have a horrendous injury situation with quite a small squad.
I’m getting tired of the Gazette starting an article with the headline “what we have learned”. If we have learned anything it is that the same mistakes continue to be made, and if anything positive is learned we then seem to forget it before we play the next match. Both the manager and the Gazette reporters seem to think that there were some positives to be gained from last night’s match; well if there were any, they have been overridden by Boro’s ability to not only give one or two goals away in a match, but now three against an almost second string Bournemouth team.
Ken,
There’s also ‘the five things we know about’ approach too. Trouble is they don’t seem to be learning about repetitious mistakes either. Or player’s strongpoints. What they are best at.
It’s all a bit of a mess really but we are looking at it from the wrong angle it would seem. If we get one point from the next three games I’ll be delighted. Should we get more than that I’ll be amazed the way that Boro are playing, they seem brittle, ambition free and without any steel. Opposition managers must look forward to playing us home or away.
I don’t buy into ‘typical Boro’ thing, most of these players were recruited this season and others were part of what was a good side in the Championship.
Management, coaching, tactics etc., etc.
UTB,
John
Ken I agree 100%. There is no point in quoting positives, positives and positives after defeat, defeat and defeat.
Thanks to RR for his match report and Werders follow up from watching a stream.
Unfortunately the evening held little interest, especially after seeing the team, however I do accept the view put forward from Exmil.
Not seeing the match it is difficult to comment, but Bamford was on a hiding to nothing with that set up. May be Gary will use his display as a “I told you so”. That is why he is not in my first team squad. Infact when Gestede is back he probably won’t even make the bench.
RR thinks his physicallity is against him? May be so. However he played upfront in this league two years ago, scored goals for fun, but did have Tomlin or Vossen behind him. Would one of those improve the team at this moment?
Belated thanks to RR for his match report with an honourable mention for Werders post stream input. It was Maddo and Mark on Tees for me but I did have SSN on mute so got to see the goals. Pleased for Tavernier and it looked like the lad enjoyed his first senior goal.
I’m with Ex Mil on his pros and cons of last nights game and as much as I want Boro to win every game, if we’d gone out at Villa in the last round I would’ve been quite pragmatic about not having anymore mid week games than we already have in a season that is a bit of a slog.
Ken and Boroexile
I’m afraid spin is just a part of the game nowadays and as much as I would like to hear a bit of honesty in pre and post match interviews I’m afraid it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. Like the idea of Reading having a bit of an injury crisis (nothing serious injury wise) as we need all the help we can get!
Finally a big chuck up to the away following last night. Only one set of fans could be heard on the radio and it was the Parmo Army even at 3-1 down. I know we have a fair few Teesside exiles darn sarf but it’s a fair distance to go on a Tuesday night. The numbers that travelled ranged from 600 – 1000 that I’ve heard of on Tees last night and a Northern Echo journo on Tees tonight. Whatever the number it’s more than most teams in the championship, and a lot of premiership team have brought to the Riverside over the years.
Well done girls and boys👏👏👏
I think it was perhaps Ian who said about his physicality counting against him?
Bamford’s physicality that is in response to Pedro 🙂
Me thinks it is Garry Monk of Middlesbrough (and not Gary Monk from Middlesborough). Just saying, like. UTB!
Pedro
Bamford tended to do his best with Vossen or Kike doing the donkey work, Tomlin provided the bullets.
As I posted, I would play him behind Assombalonga flanked by a couple out of Downing, Braithwaite, Johnson,Tavernier and Adama..
I just don’t think up front is his best position, Derby fans would tell you the same. Ask the managers at Burnley, Palace and Norwich what they think.
I think in reply to Exmil’s post I would just add the point that by resting your First XI for the EFL Cup is that they will be missing out several days of meaningful training anyway as with both an EFL Trophy game yesterday then there won’t have been enough bodies left at Rockcliffe to work on anything significant. I presume Monday was focused on Bournemouth, Tuesday was traveling plus game and today will be light training if any. I think Boro will only have a proper training session on Thursday as I seem to recall the day before a game is usually light training and tactical discussions.
You could have quite easily used your subs wisely to ensure most of the main contenders for Reading didn’t over exert themselves and play more than an hour and still given an opportunity to make the Cup game a good exercise to try out some meaningful likely partnerships on the pitch. Gibson, Fabio, Howson and Downing all had to travel to Bournemouth anyway because they were on the bench – I presume those not in the squad didn’t travel unless there were a few extra bodies just in case someone tweaked something getting off the bus – but only Randolph, Christie, Leadbitter, Braithwaite and Assombalonga were excused squad duty.
So I believe there were more positives to made from using Bournemouth as a training game for Reading and keeping some first-teamer sharp – plus some of the negatives only really apply to less than half-a-dozen players.
Though I think there were some positives from yesterday as Boro played with more intensity than I’d seen of late and had some good spells in the game, particularly after half-time until the penalty – in fact the commentator remarked that you wouldn’t think Boro were a division below Bournemouth based on that passage of play – but again it was just errors that separated the teams and quality in certain areas.
Only saw the highlights, but even so I am enough to show me a lack of discipline , and worse a lack of strength ,we looked soft again.
This starts with the manager?
At least AK ,could set up a team to win ,and we had some big ones with him.
GT
Name those wins?
Would one be the same where AK said the team played poorly?
How’s about the time Boro supporters encouraged their heroes to ‘Attack!’ and AK said they were very naughty and wouldn’t get their Horlicks before bedtime?
Massive faux pas on AK’s part. But it was only one game. So surely that’s forgiveable. Isn’t it.
I think AK is available as a manager. And also Aggers as an assistant. But hdn’t we used that cobo before. Just saying, like.
Up the Boro!
Things we learned
Fry needs a break
Clayts can do the work of two men.
Bamford needs a partner in front or behind.
Travernier can play a bit.
Baker can look invisable.
Roberts can defend.
Ayala has gone soft.
Friend needs another two games.
Forshaw does have good ball retention.
Traora is as confusing as me wife.
I just don’t know where I stand with him.
Old Billy
Wives- their primary purpose is to a) keep their husbands on their toes b) bemuse and befuddle same said husbands so as to continue to have the upper hand.
They’re experts and men have little chance.
🙂
Who deserves to keep a shirt on last night performance.
Roberts, clayton, tavernier friend and Adoma.
Monk can pick the other six.
Ian….just shows how your memory fades with age. I thought he played quite a number up of games upfront on his own after coming in from the right-hand side??
Name that ex-Boro manager!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aObZJN9zDtA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
In our current state of affairs GM needs to sort his defence out and quickly. He can try to “manage” it himself or do the sensible thing and ask Ben, Ayala, Friend, Dimi, Grant and Co. how AK done it. I’m pretty sure they remember and could resurrect it if required.
Once we become hard to beat (euphemism for stop conceding soft goals) he can then work on the sharp end. If it means an AK style nine men behind the ball away from home then so be it. Right now he needs to stop drawing or losing and start winning but keeping clean sheets is a very good structural base. I would think that it doesn’t need to be quite as intensive as it was under AK with perhaps just a little more freedom for expression and the side I posted up yesterday is still the side I would pick for a tight back line but also with attacking prowess.
We now seem totally incapable of defending set pieces, that is rank poor organisation and tactics. Our CB’s seem to have developed a blatant habit of pulling and tugging shirts in the hope the officials don’t notice. Worse still we seem bereft of ideas to use set pieces to our own advantage. When defending corners stick one or two players on the half way line, it will take out at least four players in our congested box and relieve the pressure when we do clear it and stop it coming straight back at us, its Schoolboy/Sunday league stuff and we have suffered as a consequence yet Beattie and Monk can’t see it.
When we are taking corners try a few different approaches including a short one to alter the angle and trajectory of the delivery whilst drawing out defenders. Also for heavens sake stick someone on the far edge of the opposition box for our over hit corners to stick the ball back in or heavens forbid run into the box towards the byline to cut back a cross from a tight angle and who knows we may even create something or even a clumsy challenge in our favour. Last night Baker’s overhit corner done for us and finished the game as the Cherries went straight up the other end and won a penalty. Doing the simple things are a darn site easier than filling players heads with methodology and complex instructions, especially when they don’t work.
I noticed MON at the game last night, presumably to check on Harry Arter and hoping that Randolph and Christie might be playing. Spartak couldn’t possibly know something we don’t could he?
RR,
I’m sure Traore on the halfway line, centre circle area when we have a corner against us would terrify a lot of managers and defences. The very least it would do is is gain us free kicks, Then we have to learn how to take free kicks without passing square or back to our keeper. Boro should be able to manage that shouldn’t they?
That was also a very good summary RR, apologies for not saying so earlier. It’s the depression you know.
UTB,
John
RR
Totally agree. I have my junior school coaches instructions still ringing in my ears. You post is a carbon copy.
If I can remember the do’s and don’ts from 40 years ago, why can’t the professionals.
As I stated last week , they are not even doing the basics.
Is it the players or the coaches.
Like Cloughie said, it’s a simple game.
GM needs to settle his side and stop rotating players to try and establish some understanding. In order to do that he needs to decide who is in contention and who isn’t, build stability and in time introduce one if he feels it is warranted for whatever reason but he needs to stop wholesale disruption to is defence, his midfield and even his strikers
First team squad:
Randolph, Dimi
Christie, Friend, Fabio, Roberts
Ayala, Gibson, Fry
Grant, Clayts, Howson, Downing, Forshaw
Traore, Bamford, Britt, Braithwaite
That’s a first team squad of eighteen players including a starting eleven plus the bench. Stick to those players and stop tinkering around.
Reserve squad to cover for loss of form, injuries and suspensions:
Mejias
Shotton
Johnson, Tavernier, Baker, Guedioura, Wing
Fletcher, Gestede
I seem to recall that AK only ever wanted 21 or 22 Players to work with, stating that any more was too many in the modern game to get his ideas and principles across. I didn’t always agree with him but we can now clearly see the effects of having too much choice so a cull of sorts is required.
It doesn’t mean that those in the “reserve squad” are finished here, far from it. GM may decide that Baker fits his system (when he finds one) better than Forshaw for example. Grant and Stewy were on the outside looking in only a few weeks back so he can use those two examples as players who have pushed themselves back into reckoning and contention. Its hard and tough but thats football, just ask Craig Johnson if any of them are in any doubt.
While I have an opinion of who I think has shown the required ability to be in the 18 I can accept that the Manager may see it differently (he would be wrong of course) but for pity’s sake stick to something and get yourself organised Mr Monk, the clock is ticking.
Pick your 18 heroes, work with them, instil some sort of system, discipline and organisation. Belief and understanding will then develop positively and so will the results.
I very much doubt that Monk is aware of this forum, but is there anyway that your sensible suggestions can be relayed to him? Or am I being naive?
As ever, I agree with RR, not doing the simple things he suggests is something we fans get frustrated about. Why can’t the manager/coaches see it or are the fans just clueless numpties?
Congratulations to England U17 team who beat Brazil 3 – 1 in the World Cup semi final, now face Spain in the Final.
Come on BORO.
I see Ben Gibson has signed a new 5 year contract with BORO.
Come on BORO.
The January window beckons…..
Hmmmmm those were my exact thoughts as well GHW!
Just as a slight distraction from the current travails by someone who was born in the North Yorkshire outpost of Middlesbrough, I’ve just been reading an article in the Independent claiming that Yorkshire are planning an international football team and are applying for membership of Conifa, an organisation for states and regions not acknowledged by the international footballing body Fifa.
Apparently in the shadow of the Catalonian self rule protests, Yorkshire independence is gathering pace in some quarters and as crazy as it sounds it is claimed with population greater than that of Scotland it would be the 10th largest region in the EU by GDP measurement.
Who knows, maybe Boro will at some point in the future be playing in the Yorkshire Premier League!
Anyway, if anyone fancies a looking into the matter further here’s the link to the article…
Yorkshire Independence
Yorkshire is in England? Who knew? (yours, a Mackem-leaning Stocktonian)
Well done RR, the 100 hundred couldn’t go to a better candidate apart from Werder. That is typical presser tosh as clearly there is only one poster who deserves the ton award. Cough!!!
I like the idea of a Yorkshire Premier League. We could ban imports of cheese other than those made in the glorious county. We got EU labour to build a wall to keep the Picts out, what about encircling the county of Yorkshire.
I have spotted a problem, what about foreign places such as Billingham, Stockton etc. It will be like the border between Ulster and the Riverdancers.
We need some sound diplomatic approaches, maybe Vic’s subtle approaches are needed.
Yorkshire diplomacy? Now there’s a contradiction in terms.
DOnt be suprised at some key departures in Jan
OFB key departures in January ! We are still in October, next you will be saying Ancelotti is coming.
Coe on BORO.
GHW and RR are you insinuating that Ben has only signed so MFC will get a better price in January.
Come on BORO.
He will have stayed out of loyalty but with a “hand shake caveat” that if it looks like another 6 or 7 years in the Championship then he can move on as his peak career will be effectively just about over by then.
I don’t begrudge him at all its a very short career and unfortunately barring an incredible turnaround in performances it doesn’t look likely to happen anytime soon for Boro plus the Club will realise that in another six months time he will be a forgotten commodity in the Premiership and his value will be down 60%. January is panic buying time so we can get top dollar plus there is also a World Cup coming up which he probably still has personal ambitions for.
Bob’s point about not being surprised about key departures in January is bang on the money. Our squad is top heavy with overheads to match and if it doesn’t look likely that we will be retuning any time soon to the promised land then some weight will need to be jettisoned soon rather than wait until the cash all all runs out.
To try to lighten up the mood I’ve just composed a verse recollecting some of my favourite Boro players, and at the same time try to rally supporters for the remainder of the season, so here goes :-
I’ve been a Boro fan now
For seventy plus seasons
And in that time I’ve seen some greats
And for some I’ll give my reasons.
We’ve had great strikers in the past
And I’ll start with Mickey Fenton.
He scored goals with his head and feet
Whenever he was sent on.
But next I’ll mention Brian Clough,
Old Big Head was his name,
But goals galore he did produce
When he was on his game.
Then later in mid ’66
When England won World Cup
Our own John Hickton made his bow
And from Third League we went up.
Then following liquidation
Bernie Slaven made his mark;
He scored more than a hundred goals
At dear old Ayresome Park.
But then we moved to Riverside
With Ravanelli; but come Yakubu
We had three scoring strikers,
Jimmy Floyd, Viduku too.
So now let’s look at number 10s
And dear old Wilfie Mannion,
Though inside forwards they were called;
And Paul Merson was a canny ‘un.
But most of us, I think you’ll agree,
Who monopolised the game
Was the little fella from Brazil,
Juninho was his name.
So now we lack midfielders
Like Graeme Souness and Craig Hignett.
If only we could go back in time
I think we’d be so well set.
Defence would seem a problem now,
No Hardwick, Mogga, Pally;
With Boam and Maddren at the back
I’m sure THEY’D make us rally.
The best goalkeepers I have seen –
Ugolini, Schwartzer, Platt,
Or even Dimi at his best
I would be pleased with that.
But now is not the time to raise
A terrible commotion.
Let’s cheer whosever on the pitch
And hope they gain promotion.
Quote time.
For some time I believed tiki-takanaccio was THE way to go for upwardly-mobile teams.
Solid defence. Perfect passes. No egos on the pitch. Members of a team working for each other. Beautifully crafted goals when they came.
Statistically, near faultless.
So why, as Barney Ronay spotted as far back as seven years ago, all the unease?
Spain’s national team were, as Ronay put it, the most obvious headline product of the clamping down on overly-physical play. What would have been a foul in Maradona’s days is now a yellow, even red, card.
Spain were protected by “rules” in which a foul extended to anything that prevented expression on the ball, rather than anything dangerous. Tactically and technically, they exploited these rules.
Ronay, in 2010: “The upside of this is we get to admire their ability to manoeuvre the ball. The downside is a sense of a diminishing of the game’s more gut-wrenching highs and lows, a loss of wild, 360-degree extremity. Plus, rules that were designed to promote the influence of individual skill by star players have had the opposite effect: expert group defence has replaced the old-style notion of ‘man-marking’ (a classic man-marker would be sent off within three or four minutes). So teams will neutralise Lionel Messi by a kind of revolving collective hustle…
“The main problem, though, is that Spain’s displays of extreme technical ability are cheapened. It is hard to trust entirely their moments of excellence. The Dutch team of the 1970s was challenged by, and forced to navigate, the overriding physicality of the times…
“The challenge for Spain is more straightforward; it involves simply imposing superior technique and movement, cradled within the righteous embrace of the referee. This is hardly their fault; but it is no surprise some might find it less than compelling.”
Perhaps it’s now no wonder that they and AKBoro fell so suddenly from their lofty perches.
The only thing Boro and the Spanish national team had in common was AK’s passport.
Each to their own, GHW. He tried to play like them but hadn’t the players. Tesco tiki-taka, as a friend told me.
The styles had similarities though. By 2014 another friend told me that Spain used to attack, but their style had retreated into “we can’t lose if we keep the ball”.
As Werder rightly put it, it was a big club methodology for a small town in Europe.
An ultimately ill-fitting match.
Even the top teams don’t know the rules……..
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/4760794/arsenal-man-city-disqualified-carabao-cup-replay-probe-substitutions/
Good job it wasn’t Boro doing those substitutions, we’d have got a four point penalty or demoted a division.
UTB,
John
In a time like this when Boro is not flying we need people like Exmil, Simon, Nigel and Borophil. Have anyone seen the latter latey? UBT!
Pedro
Without going through match reports, Bamford played 39 games, Vossen played 33 games. Kike played 52 in a season and a half.
That info came from Wikipedia and probably includes sub appearances. Despite that I suppose you could infer that Bamford played most of the time with someone alongside him.
Now it should be Assomb alonga side him 😃
And Down In from the start
Redcar Red logged his report
Boro beaten at Dean Court
Well done to all the Boro fans
Who traveled there in cars and vans
You really do the Boro proud
With all the songs you sing out loud
A win was never going to be
It’s too hard at Vitality
To lift the gloom it’s great to see
Ken Smiths amazing poetry
Excellent, Jim!
🙂
It’s life Jim, and right as we know it.
When times are hard and comments terse
It’s nice to read your pleasant verse
Well done
OFB
Simon
AK could be forgiven for one lapse of interpersoanal communication with the masses if you were blessed with a kindness of heart. However, what was and is the moot point is the ‘dominating mindset’. There’s the rub.
I refer you to the recent words of SD when he asked AK why he was left out of the squad received the reply ‘I don’t have to tell you anything’.
This manager was intransigent. He had one method that players had to fit into. He demanded complete conformity. For creative style players this is anathema and the reason many left and we scored so few goals.
Redcar Red, the point I am raising with regards to OFB’s post is “key” departures. Would you consider Forshaw, Guedioura etc as key departures.
If you and OFB are talking about Gibson, Assombalonga, Braithwaite etc I would ask you both to substantiate these comments before spreading alarm and despondency.
Rumours start from claims like these and I would only expect to read them on the comments section of the Gazette.
I firmly do not believe Steve Gibson will have given up on promotion after 4 months whereas, as I have stated before, I believe they may have agreed it could take two seasons to achieve it.
This is my honest opinion.
Come on BORO.
Exmil
I wouldn’t consider Guedioura a “Key” departure by virtue of the fact he already has both feet and an arm and leg out of the exit door. Forshaw is one who I think should be retained as we know what he can do at this level but it is very likely he will attract suitors and he seems to be well down GM’s pecking order.
On real “Key” departures I wouldn’t be surprised if Downing left as I suspect he may still be regarded as an extra by GM and a big chunk of unplanned wages by SG. Ben Gibson I also suspect is very likely for the reason outlined above at 9.40 by myself. Its commercial common sense rather than inside knowledge and if it was sensitive inside knowledge I wouldn’t publish it on a blog.
Bob has his thought as do yourself, GHW and others. They are all just varied discussion points and opinions of things as we see them.
Poetry abounds, we may not have much good news to blog about at the moment but we sure got style!!
Our promotion party may take a while
But on Diasboro we sure got style
No acrid comments or hate and bile
Just objective posts we write and file
Well crafted comments that shows our guile
Here on Diasboro we sure show our style
OFB
Well, since everyone else is doing it, I thought I’d have a go in the Diasboro Poetry Corner:
Optimitist, pessimist – realist?
Who’s right and who is wrong?
If we debate it long and hard enough will we know before too long?
Will our views become entrenched?
Will we agree to disagree?
Will we squabble, ‘bout how awful, the football is we see?
“Out! Out! Out!” The pessimistic shout
“We can’t can wait any longer – HOW much for Assombaloinga?”
“Structure? Tactics? Subs? This bloke hasn’t got a clue!”
“And I should know – I’ve been around the block a time or two”
“Patience – where’s your loyalty?”, the optimists reply
“He’s only had five minutes – are you a Mackem in disguise?”
“He can’t score goals himself you know, nor make defenders block ‘em”
”Let’s show a bit of Teesside steel – or do you come from Stockton?”
Optimitist, pessimist – realist?
Who’s right and who is wrong?
Let’s hope that patience pays us back,
Or hope that Monk has gone
To be or not to be ?
That is the question isn’t it Andy?
Well Done
OFBP
ORIGINAL FAT BOB POET
OFBP
love Stockton me like
I prefer the Haiku
Summer dreams give way
To autumnal chuntering
Monk out by Christmas.
Or, alternately
Strongest squad in league
Will find form before winter
Sunlun will pay price.
One of them must be right, but I still can’t decide which.
Yep.
Andy R
How about a book title that describes the ubiqutuous Boro supporter ‘Metamorphosis Continuum’.
Eh, not bad like, that one!
Nah – doesn’t rhyme.
Ok, give me 3 well known book titles that rhyme and I shall pay you a small but shiny dime.
For reward if you give me zilch then Werder will supply you with a bucket of sour milch.
If you fail to agree, we promises to tie you to a tree.
Perhaps you’ll shout a lot and scream.
But sorry Andy you’ll still not get the creme.
Having a daughter of five years old,
There are plenty of books in our house that rhyme so,
There’s The Foxes Socks,
And the Cat In The Hat
Room on the Broom,
How many is that?
The Cat in the Hat
Fox in Socks
Yertle the Turtle
(All penned by Dr Seuss)
Sorry Andy, you beat me to it !!!
I agree with your three as all well known titles too 😉
Seems we’re all poetical again as we try to raise our spirits….
Expecting the Boro to win
Could hardly be known as a sin
“So why”, Gary Monk
“Has our Boro so sunk,
And not smashed since this league did begin?”
I see we would have had midweek visit to Chelsea between our Saturday visits to Millwall and Shef We’d had we won on Tuesday.
Come on BORO.
Yeah, but if we had won Exmil, we may have got drawn at home.
No, Bournemouth took our place and they were drawn away to Chelsea, your number in the draw is determined by the previous round fixture, not by who won the fixture.
Come on BORO.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Everyone’s saying
Monk hasn’t a clue
We’re not sure as yet which way we are heading
It might become clearer once we’ve played Reading
But, management of Boro, do not despair
Because whatever happens, I’ll always be there.
(I’ve got to go now. The men in White coats are waiting).
And AV is missing all this. He should be producing the Big Boro Poet Book. Up the Boro!
Oh Captain! My Captain!
Looking back at Boro’s managers who was the best? Well, recapping here might give one room for thought :-
Jack Charlton came as the real deal,
But when he left in came John Neal.
His teams had style, but when players left
As a selling club we became bereft.
Liquidation came, but to our relief
Bruce Rioch stayed and gave us belief.
Promoted twice, but then down again
So all of us, we felt the pain.
When Rioch left who got the nod?
T’was his assistant Colin Todd.
Later Lawrence took us up once more
As we wondered what might be in store.
Well Bryan Robson had a notion
That he’d be the man to gain promotion.
He scoured the World and really meant
To buy success was his intent.
Then McLaren came and we won the Cup,
And as Europe beckoned we were on the up.
But with Gareth Southgate something was lacking,
So Steve Gibson sent for Gordon Strachan.
He was disastrous, so he resigned
And hope was restored when Mowbray signed.
But things weren’t right, so Karanka came
And got us up to top league again.
But down again we fell once more,
And we’re finding wins so hard to score.
We’ve since appointed Garry Monk;
Let’s hope with him we won’t be sunk.
Ken Smith, DiasBoro’s own Poet Laureate. 🙂
Or he’s gone away and done a. Bunk
Or went to ‘Pool to hang the monkey
Leaving our team decidedly clunky
And everything’s not quite so hunky !
There’s laughter in our eyes and dreams in our hearts
Before life waded in and tore it all apart…
When there’s no more lies to hide behind
And no more tears to cry
I know we’ll be alright
‘Cos even though the skies above are cold and grey
I’m sure tomorrow we will see the light of day…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTpNTnd2k_Q
One time patience paid.
Now we’re trapped in apathy.
Numb. Messy. Confused.
Numb, Messy & Confused : Sign them up now !
Whereabouts is Apathy ?
Is that in Ireland Si?
There are too many scholar’s on this page ,
Time for one from the Holgate book of poetry
There was an old woman from Seaton Carew
Who let off a fart.
And away it blew.
Up the lane.
And down the lane.
Back in the woman’s arse again.
Hoping not to offend?
GT
well it blew me away !
Wasn’t the Lone Ranger’s side-kick Tonto an apathy ?
Better than Infamy Infamy
They’ve all got it Infamy !
it always was windy at Seaton
It’s a gas.
Clouds cover the sky
Faraway we see the light
over distant hillsides
There’s been quite a lot of commentary online as to the best defensive structure for Boro. Given the amount of goals that we are leaking, I’m happy to put my hand up again for a back three comprised of Gibson, Ayala/Fry and Shotton with two wing backs from Fabio, Friend, Roberts and Christie to also provide forward support. Clayton sitting in the middle of the midfield will give cover allowing the right or left of the back three to cover sideways against a counter attack when the wingbacks are further upfield.
That then leaves four advanced midfield/attacking positions- supported by the wingbacks – and I would see Assombalonga and Braithwaite as two of them with a choice between Johnson, Traore, Downing, Bamford, Leadbitter, Baker, Howson and even Tavernier.
I also wonder what will happen when Gestede is fit. I can see him playing up front as an outlet ball leaving Assombalonga free to run off him or into the channels.
Finally, does anyone know if Harry Chapman is free to come back in January or is he gone for the whole year. He seems to be having a great time at Blackburn. I for one am looking forward to quality players like Chapman, Wing, Tavernier etc earning regular places in the side. Maybe next year or the year after.
UTB
Gestede… You know perhaps he is glue that is missing. Early on, with him, Assombalonga and Bamford playing we looked and were dangerous. I recall the smiling faces of the three of them playing together and for each other and full of self-belief.
Unfortunately Fry seems to be suffering from a confidence crisis and was involved for all three goals conceded at Bournemouth
I think Monk will persevere with Ayala to get his match fitness up and he does pose a threat at our corners and free kicks into the opposing penalty area
Mogga says he is playing Chapman into his game amd I wouldn’t throw him into the first team at Boro until he is making regular starts for his loan club and not acting as an impact sub
Out of the others we may see Tavernier play or he included in the squad this season as he does provide something a bit different
OFB
You would have a confidence crisis too if you had just broken into the first team on a regular basis, made one mistake and were summarily dropped. How to wreck a young player’s confidence by GM.
Confidence crisis of Monk’s making by dropping him for one error that was actually really not his fault.
There were others who were far more at fault than just Fry’s dithering that night. Where was the awol RB and whereabouts were the Midfielders tracking back to pick up the Norwich runners. Fry has to shoulder some blame undoubtedly but a simple “next time lad aim for the padded seats” would have been suffice. Our form since than has crashed and dived, I wonder if there is perhaps a greater connection in terms of belief, morale, trust and confidence?
Another game on Saturday
Begs the question who will play
Randolf seems to have safe hands
Dimi’s benched, he understands
Full backs any two from four
As long as they can shut the door
At centre back a change is needed
Too many goals we have conceded
Fry was guilty for all three
Could Shotton be the remedy?
We need a midfield dynamo
Some say our captain is too slow
With Clayton’s tippy tappy pass
And Howson always on his ass
Out wide Monk’s sure to get some stick
I really dont know who he’ll pick
Traora does have pace to burn
But he’s still got a lot to learn
It’s Stewy and Braithwaite for me
But maybe Monk will play all three
Will he persist with Britt up front
Will Paddy resume his goal hunt
Whatever team I’m sure are able
To get us climbing up the table.
All I want, I must confess
A win, a weekend free from stress
All I want, I must confess
A win, a weekend free from stress
And someone to clear up this awful mess
Plus a midfielder player like Graham Souness
And some decent stout (that’s not Guinness)
Just my humble opinion. Other alcoholic beverages are available but may not rhyme.
Great verse, great thoughts,
Hope you’re right that we’ll be on the up
But first let’s support our England boys
And beat those Aussies in Rugby League World Cup.
My aussie mates might not be best pleased with that Ken!
Looks like we have gone from pithy on here to poetic apathy, just hope it is not an omen for tomorrow.
I intend to get pithy on Saturday night at a haloween party no matter what the Boro result
In case you’re wondering where Boro are heading
They’re off down south and on to Reading
The hope is now we’ll start winning a few
So here’s the link to my latest preview…
https://diasboro.club/2017/10/27/championship-reading-vs-boro/
Last non-football poetic verse, sexy? Wait and see :-
He GRABBED me round my slender neck;
I could not call or scream.
He DRAGGED me to his dingy room
Where he could not be seen.
He STRIPPED away my flimsy wrap
And looked upon my form.
I was so COLD and DAMP and SCARED,
Whilst he was HOT and WARM.
He pressed his FEVERISH lips to mine;
I could not make him stop.
He DRAINED me of my very self;
I GAVE him EVERY DROP.
HE made me what I am today,
That’s why you see me here —-
An empty bottle thrown away
That once was full of beer!
Always a sure fire recipe for curing a known problem.
Cannot score goals, because your defence is too good.
Who provided the good defence, the manager.
Solution, fire the manager
Hire new manager
Wreck good defence.
Start behaving like a proper team, letting goals in for fun.
Say the goals will flow now we are conceding plenty.
Find that theory does not hold water.
Start behaving like local parks team.
Plenty of changes, every match.
Team disintegrates before your eyes
Fans decide that manager is not likely to win anything soon, best to get rid.
Fans are told that we cannot change managers too frequently, something about it not being fair.
You could not invent it.