| Preston North End | Middlesbrough | ||
| Robinson Hugill |
14′ 40′ |
Ayala Howson Shotton |
13′ 65′ 73′ |
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
63% 20 7 7 12 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
37% 7 4 4 9 |
Dani double in a game of two halves
It’s been almost like a quick-fire round in a quiz this last week or so with comings and goings along with games arriving think and fast. After the disappointment of Saturdays barren spell in front of goal hopes were slightly raised as opposed to being high that the Preston ground staff might at least have to give their posts a fresh lick of paint come 5.00pm. Unbeaten in their last nine matches and sitting 5th in the form table for the last ten games to Boro’s 9th and with home advantage it was understandable to the uninitiated at least that this game had low scoring home win written all over it.
The hope for Boro was that Tony Pulis would provide something entirely different to our previous ten games (indeed previous twelve months) whereas Alex Neil will have been hoping for more of the same please. Despite the difference in recent form the sides actually started the game in 8th and 9th places with only two points separating them. A win for Preston would see that gap stretch to five points and Boro slipping further away from any Play Off hopes. A win for Boro however would see them leap frog the “Invincible” Lilywhites and keep those dreams alive. Boro’s problem has been keeping clean sheets away from home but with Pulis now sorting things out that hopefully will become a diminishing statistic. Preston on the other hand are hardly prolific in front of goal and had conceded one goal or less in 75% of their last twenty home games so the likelihood of a high scoring game was extremely low.
The team news revealed a few changes for Boro after their second half malaise against Villa with Braithwaite totally omitted from the match day squad and Christie coming back in at RB for Shotton (maybe fatigue or possibly punishment for allowing Albert’s cross on Saturday). Guedioura made his first start this season (possibly his first start for Boro ever?) which seemed a bold move as his match fitness and sharpness at this level had to be questionable. With Clayts and Forshaw nowhere near the team Adlene’s inclusion was a very brave shout (or very stupid one depending on viewpoint). The most exciting change however was Traore starting instead of Gestede which would necessitate a slight change in style from hoofing high balls to playing quick balls out of defence for Adama to chase.
The conditions were going to be a test for both sides with the rain persistently pouring down on a dark miserable New Year’s day in Preston. Boro were quick off the mark earning a corner which came to nothing but at least showed intent. Middlesbrough born Hugill then had an opportunity for the “Invincibles” early on but played it straight into Randolph’s arms. Shortly after Adama broke away after being fed in by Friend as Pulis was screaming to George to just “feed him”.
The match generally descended into a scrappy affair with neither side really getting a grip of the game and Maxwell in the Preston goal generally untroubled. Once again Traore broke away but was brought down for a free kick. Stewy launched the ball by lofting it over the Preston defence for Ayala to power home an unstoppable header in the 13th minute. Within seconds Barkuizen ran up the same flank and launched an almost identical ball to unmarked Callum Robinson to make it 1-1 with a question mark at the returning Cyrus Christie’s marking plus the closing down on the left flank of Barkhuizen and failing to cut out the cross in what has now become almost a trademark “back post” conceded goal for Boro.
The game then resorted to how it was before the goal flurry as Preston probed and tested the Boro backline with the best opportunity falling to Hugill after Christie was skinned, the cross fired in saw Hugill test Randolph to tip it around for a corner. Boro were sat back defending but Preston were now growing in confidence and Boro needed to get a grip both of themselves and the game. Robinson came close again from the corner of the 18 yard box with the ball headed for the top corner of our goal but once again Randolph came to the rescue. Up until this point Guedioura had been largely anonymous until Hugill clattered into him on 35 minutes to let him know he was in a game. Boro were now struggling to keep possession and were constantly being pushed back by Preston with nothing coming out of the Boro defence or midfield to feed a very lonely Britt.
Guediora let Harrop know he was still around by clattering into him in a desperate effort to break up Preston’s dominance that at this stage had the lion’s share of possession and indeed far too much for it to be comfortable for Boro’s travelling Army. Nothing was sticking up field for Boro as Preston after their sudden equaliser had the wind behind their sails and knocking at the Boro door. Then the inevitable happened when the pressure finally proved too much and five minutes before half time another ball into the Boro box found the waiting Hugill who simply nodded into Randolph’s goal from 6 yards out, so much for having big lads at the back! Just before the half time whistle Barkhuisen this time had an opportunity to almost make it 3-1 and deservedly so as yet another cross came in undefended to Christie’s side which was then headed back to Barkhuizen central in the 6 yard box whose header fortunately hit the crossbar this time.
TP had his work cut out at half time to sort out his back four who were looking edgy and a midfield who were outfought. His changes and tactics were failing miserably and apart from Stewy’s free kick and a couple of Adama runs Boro were as bad as they were in the second half against Villa. The selection of Guedioura looked an eccentric one that had back fired badly but at least he had the opportunity to take a look at him. Christie’s positional defending was once again very poor and overall the side looked disjointed. The Travelling army booed them off at the half time whistle and based on only 135 minutes of football under TP it wasn’t looking good in fact it was looking appalling. Too much tinkering perhaps, confusion in the back line and midfield with consequently once again Britt finding himself treading a very lonely path.
It takes time for a new Manager to get his message across but what was clear in that first half was that too much had been changed too quickly with Boro looking at sixes and sevens without any idea of how to get themselves back in the game. I’m not sure what the record is but for a Boro Manager to hear boos after less than two games takes some doing. TP had to radically alter something during his half time team talk as it was heartless to watch and there was nobody out on that pitch who was prepared to drive the side on. Christie was poor, Howson and Grant were a shadow of themselves, Friend was struggling, Ben and Ayala looked like strangers and Britt was cut adrift. If it wasn’t for Randolph we could have been three or more goals behind.
Incredibly TP made no changes at half time as the same Red Shirted “disconsolates” came out again to face the “invincibles” who were being handed the opportunity to live up to their preferred nickname. It has to be said that if GM was still in charge of this performance the backlash from the travelling army would have been heard back on Teesside. Despite TP’s half time team talk apart from the midfield pushing further up nothing changed in the opening exchanges as Preston flew into challenges. I’m guessing that warnings were given and ignored as TP made a double sub after only five minutes into the half and brought on Bamford and Gestede for lonely Britt and anonymous Guedioura.
My take on that was that TP realised what Boro fans realised a year ago about Guedioura and has also concluded that Britt simply doesn’t work hard enough in his system despite scoring goals, a luxury that he isn’t enamoured with. An early chance came for Bamford who threw himself at the ball but unfortunately no real power behind his header. Traore ran past Harrop who took him out again and after a quickly taken free kick the ball was passed around the Red shirts and passed around some more and then it all fizzled out as it has so many times this season. Preston regained possession and attacked Christie who succumbed to a free kick that looked like it could have been a penalty but Ref David Coote reckoned that contact was initially outside the box so a yellow card sufficed and Harrop’s resultant free kick flew over the wall calling on Randolph to be alert.
Preston were lively and active, pressing Boro reminding them that they were looking for a third. TP responded once again by removing the yellow carded and susceptible looking Cyrus and putting on Shotton. Moments later Johnson cleaned out Traore but the Ref deemed it just a yellow despite Johnson ignoring the Officials request to come to him for the booking. Traore again started a move that involved Bamford and Downing break down but an ensuing Ayala long ball up field saw a downward Gestede header poorly cleared, falling to Howson who outside the 18 yard box beat two defenders and precision chipped the ball in an arc into the far corner of Maxwell’s net to make it 2-2 and Boro were back.
As bad as Boro were in the first half TP’s changes had a positive effect and Boro’s tails were up once again. Boro’s front and midfield seemed more joined up but now with some pace and energy to the fore with Paddy in contrast to Britt’s seemingly lackadaisical style. As Boro sensed another opportunity Bamford crossed to Gestede whose shot went wide. Preston were now rocking as Boro then won a corner courtesy of Howson which Downing sailed in to the big lads in the box but Preston cleared for a throw in. Shotton launched the throw in towards Gestede but Preston cleared and as Pearson breaking chased the ball into the Boro half George took one for the team and earned a yellow for his troubles.
The game had opened up but Boro now looked much more of a threat with Preston chasing to get back into it and after a short corner Traore crossed towards Gibson who flicked the ball off the top of his head for Ayala arriving at the far post to pile in again with yet another header to make it 3-2. The transformation since the substitutions was unrecognisable from the absolute dross that was served up in the first half. In fairness to TP he gave the chance to redeem but was quick to address those shortcomings when it was clear that they didn’t respond to his talk at half time. The mood in the away end had changed and when Adama launched a “shot” (being kind) that ended up amongst the travelling army the ball was tossed around in an effort to wind down the clock and of course wind up Preston.
Horgan and Gallagher came on for Preston in a double Substitution from Alex Neil to rescue something and tipped the balance back in Preston’s favour as they pushed forward in a frantic last few minutes. With two minutes left Bamford took the ball into the corner flag and held it up in contrast to those who say he hasn’t physical strength or the desire to scrap. Gestede then “inadvertently” kicked the ball away for a yellow after it was adjudged an infringement had taken place. Boro then had to defend but as the end to end tide turned again they broke away with Gestede getting his heels clipped for his troubles. Traore then saved a ball from going out of play but unfortunately it favoured Preston who collected it, broke to attack but fortunately it petered out as the seconds of the four added minutes ticked down slowly. Randolph was next to pick up a yellow for Boro as he was adjudged to be taking too much time as he took an eternity to take a goal kick.
A last minute onslaught from Preston had nerves jangling once again but still David Coote let the game go on to almost five minutes of added time before finally putting the whistle to his lips ending the torment and TP getting his first victory.
MOM was probably more “Man of the second half” because the first 50 minutes were frankly atrocious. So should it be Howson perhaps for his goal and second half endeavour, Traore for constantly causing mayhem, Downing for safe and solid again or Ayala for his two goals, even Randolph for keeping us in it in the first half? I’m not sure but the one from the above that maybe just edged it was Howson who played a major part in driving the second half resurrection and his drag back to beat two defenders to score was a treat to watch.
Well that was a real seesaw of emotions and a real test of the Manager’s credentials who got things disastrously wrong in the first half but corrected the deficit and pulled a win out of the ashes which is a very rare feat in recent Boro management history. Considering Preston had been unbeaten in their last nine games and notorious for tight low scoring games that turnaround was all the more remarkable. Boro are now just a point behind the Blades in 6th spot with the same GD of +9 goals and two points off Leeds in 5th. Villa of course are playing Bristol this evening and so things will likely change but a victory was so important for TP’s credibility and for Boro to keep alive any hopes of a Premiership return.
Pulis looking to de-clutter his squad
ahead of January sales
Boro head to Preston looking to begin 2018 in a manner that will hopefully indicate it’s going to be a year of resolution for Tony Pulis and his team. He’ll no doubt be looking at his midfield to get their first foot in to bring good luck for the remainder of the season and those who don’t shape up may also be getting a rocket or two from the manager in the half-time interval pyrotechnics – particularly after the damp squib of a performance against Villa. Steve Gibson may indulge in the old tradition of throwing coins to celebrate the arrival of January and the transfer window but on reflection he may have decided throwing money, particularly after bad, has not brought him much luck at all recently. However, Pulis may also be reminding his squad that there is also a new year tradition of getting rid of old possessions to symbolise a fresh start.
While many may be nursing a hangover on New Year’s Day, few will have as big a headache as Tony Pulis apparently has after he woke up to the realisation of the mind-throbbing task of making a team in his image from a set of players seemingly no longer fit for purpose. It may be January and the start of the sales but those impulsive purchases from the summer spending spree are still cluttering up the club’s wardrobe and blocking their entrance to the magical kingdom that is ruled by the Premier League Lion, from which they have been frozen out of.
Monday’s opponents are in good solid form at the moment and Alex Neil’s team last tasted defeat ten games ago after a wobble that saw one of the early season pace-setters lose four on the spin. In an uncharacteristic winless run, Preston conceded 15 goals in just six games – they’ve since only conceded four goals in their subsequent unbeaten run of nine games. From what we saw at Villa, Boro may have their work cut out at Deepdale to make a mark on the Lilywhites clean sheets – just one shot on target doesn’t bode well against a defence seldom troubled. Many will be suspecting this game has 0-0 written all over it, then underlined three times, before getting out the yellow highlighter pen. Boro appeared quite pedestrian against Villa and a repeat of that won’t be rousing those still sleeping off the New Year celebrations in the back rows of the stands – though Tony Pulis was critical of the slow play that he saw from his players and is demanding they move the ball quicker. Hopefully, quicker doesn’t mean higher and longer – otherwise I suspect the Preston centre-backs will be looking forward to an easy afternoon’s work.
| Preston North End | Middlesbrough | ||
| Alex Neil | Tony Pulis | ||
| P25 – W10 – D10 – L5 – F28 – A23 | P25 – W11 – D5 – L9 – F32 – A24 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
8th 40 1.6 74 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
9th 38 1.5 70 |
| Last 6 Games Cardiff (A) Barnsley (A) Nottm Forest (H) Sheff Utd (H) Burton (A) QPR (H) |
F-T (H-T) 1:0 (0:0) W 0:0 (0:0) D 1:1 (0:0) D 1:0 (0:0) W 2:1 (0:0) W 1:0 (0:0) W |
Last 6 Games Aston Villa (H) Bolton (H) Sheff Wed (A) Millwalll (A) Ipswich (H) Bristol City (A) |
F-T (H-T) 0:1 (0:0) L 2:0 (0:0) W 2:1 (0:1) W 1:2 (0:2) L 2:0 (1:0) W 1:2 (0:0) L |
Having started the season with a plan to recruit an array of attacking riches for the purposes of blowing away the opposition, the chairman sadly discovered the Championship was going to be anything but a breeze for his expensively assembled squad paid for by the parachute windfall. The team created by Monk only managed to huff and puff before eventually hyperventilating, which left the young manager being asked to take a deep breath as he was told to sit down and prepare for some bad news.
As early as August, many Boro observers were wondering where Garry Monk was planning to fit in all these newly arrived forwards and the former manager struggled to accommodate them without resorting to mind-distorting foam-fumed formations. Now that we’ve reached January with the less expansive inclined Tony Pulis in charge it’s become even more of a stretch of the imagination to picture where they will fit in. It was noted against Villa that Boro had a very attacking looking bench, which is hardly surprising given just how many forwards there are in the squad – I suspect Pulis will not be expecting to retain all their services.
The size of the Boro squad was a concern for Boro’s new manager in the post-match press conference on Saturday – Pulis proclaimed “The squad is definitely too big. I don’t like big squads.” Though he wants to find out about all the players before deciding who will move on as he added “Steve [Gibson] spent an absolute fortune in the summer and out of respect to him I really have to be prudent with what I do and don’t. Not make rash decisions.”
I suspect the problem the club will face when trying to move on the unwanted players in the transfer window is that Boro probably paid over the odds in the market and quite a few of the players reportedly said they were made offers that were too good to turn down. It will be hard for many potential buyers to match the contracts these players currently enjoy, something we discovered when an unwanted Downing decided not to take a pay cut to join Harry Redknapp at Birmingham, which in the end has fortuitously turned out to be probably Boro’s best piece of business in the summer.
It’s been often argued by managers that they want two players for each position so that they are adequately covered. However, this is perhaps problematic when you have players who arrived or were currently in place that were used to being considered in the starting XI. It is especially difficult to keep a contented squad if the manager has settled on his core group of players and there are few opportunities for those left out in the cold Teesside air. This may be fine for big clubs who are involved in European competitions to keep their squads relatively happy and motivated – but surely a squad at Championship level should make use of versatile players who play different positions and instead offer their promising academy players a place in the matchday squad when senior players are unavailable.
It’s looking increasingly that if Boro are to entertain (and I use that word loosely) the prospect of a promotion bid under Pulis then we may be looking at more than a few tweaks in terms of the squad make up. We saw in the new manager’s first starting XI that he likes defenders who defend and players who have a physical presence – this appears to have cast doubt on the futures of quite a few who became regulars under Garry Monk. Gone were Christie and Fabio as their defending was not up to the standards expected by a Pulis team, whilst that may have created a more solid back line it suddenly removed much of the wide service to our front men too – albeit erratic. The question for many is whether George Friend can regain his form, otherwise Pulis could be looking at quite a few full-backs this January – Connor Roberts is surely going to be heading back to Swansea in search of other avenues to develop and Christie and Fabio must be already doubting their futures under the new boss.
Other players though will be anticipating becoming centre-stage under Pulis – Rudy Gestede didn’t need to stand on tip-toes when they lined up for inspection and was soon having a target stapled to his shirt in training – though the key will be if his team-mates are good at guessing in what direction the ball will bounce off his head. Assombalonga is not the type of player who looks to play off a target man and run the channels and link up with the players around him – we have seen he is a player who needs feeding in the box and he probably wouldn’t also be ideally suited to being a Pulis style target man either. In theory, Bamford would be a better player to play off a target man as he reads the game well and tries to anticipate what will happen and is much more mobile for that role. Whether Paddy will be deemed physical enough for his manager may depend on him showing the right attitude and returning to the gym to bulk up even more.
While some players will be wondering how to impress the manager, perhaps Adama pulled off a master-stroke late in the Villa game by sprinting back to his own half at a blurring speed past his manager in the dugout to put in a last ditch tackle as Villa broke away. Whether Pulis will succeed where all those before him have failed in trying to integrate that breathtaking ability to cover the blades of grass is something few will be tempted to place a wager on – there was a moment in the Villa game when one of his team-mates was about to release a ball down the line for him to run on to, but pulled out of the pass as he discovered Traore was standing motionless in the centre of the pitch waiting to be given the ball. It’s been said before but if Adama had a footballing brain he’d be playing in the Champions League and not on the bench in the Championship.
Well the good news for Boro followers is that 2017 has ended, we started last year in 16th spot in the Premier League as we travelled to Leicester to face the title-holders just one place below them. Just a few weeks earlier in mid-December, Aitor Karaka’s team were feeling confident as they despatched Swansea 3-0 to climb within just three points of Southampton in 9th. Supporters were anticipating the squad being strengthened in the January window and comfortably retaining our top-tier status. Sadly the wheels came off, key player Gaston sulked in trying to force a move to the Foxes and none of Karanka’s targets were interested in joining him as the club ended up with a limited out of favour Championship front man in Gestede, a struggling Bamford who hadn’t hardly played for a year and the underwhelming euphemistic ‘Lad from Watford’ Guedioura.
It was not the end of our Premiership dream but the beginning of the end as Boro had to wait 17 games before their next victory at home to fellow strugglers Sunderland – it was all too late and by then the manager had imploded and left along with many of the players in their heads as a divided camp seemingly kept their fighting spirit for the dressing room and not the pitch. Boro limped out of the Premier League with out so much as a whimper as temporary head coach Agnew proved to be just that.
The summer saw Steve Gibson attempt to lift the spirits of supporters with claims of wanting to build a team capable of smashing the league. He appointed Garry Monk with the mission of producing an expansive team that would fire its way back to the Premier League and gave him his blank chequebook to finance the project. Sadly his new young manager never really convinced that he knew how to keep that promise on behalf of the chairman and after a half a season of ‘false dawns’ and ‘shooting ourselves in the foot’, Boro were left limping in the dark and Garry Monk became Gibson’s third managerial casualty of 2017. He was replaced on Boxing Day by an older wiser more pragmatic man in the form of Tony Pulis – whether he will be able to galvanise the club to put in a promotion challenge is too early to say but it appears the chairman has nailed his colours back to the mast of pragmatism and a more steady sturdy vessel to realise his dreams.
It certainly gave everyone at Diasboro plenty to write and comment about after coming into existence on 3 January 2017 and we have bore witness to the whole difficult year unfold – it’s seldom been pretty and for many it has been a year of frustration and lost opportunity. We hope 2018 will prove to be a different ball game – but as long as it’s football (of whatever description) we’ll be here to keep an eye on proceedings. So here’s to wishing everyone in the Diasboro community all the best for 2018 or Guten Rutsch as we say over here (it means have a smooth start to the year and not have a ‘good slide’ as it is sometimes literally translated) – Anyway, let’s see what it brings for Boro – hopefully not a slide!
So will Boro start the year as they mean to go on and get back to winning ways as they turn over a new leaf? Or will Boro still be suffering a headache from the previous 12 months with the self-inflicted pain of repeatedly running into a brick wall? As ususal you predictions on score, scorers and team selection – plus what are your predictions for Boro in 2018?
Lily Whites 2 Lily Livered 0
Excellent piece as usual Werder.
“A set of players seemingly no longer fit for purpose”. I wonder now whether they were ever fit for purpose but what an inditement of the quality of the players brought in during the summer spending spree and the effectiveness of the club’s scouting and recruitment systems.
As for tomorrow, I am with GHW in forecasting a 2-0 defeat but as my predictions have been consistently wrong over most of the season so far there is hope for something better!
Thanks Boroexile, it was never quite clear where some of those brought in were going to play – even less so now.
Copied from previous thread.
I may be back later but I will take this occasion to thank Werder for providing my virtual Navi that looked doomed last January, for all his hard work that Mrs Werder must be baffled, she must think he has bats in his belfry. The amusing and researched articles are a pleasure.
Many thanks to Redcar Red for his great reports – many a professional journalist would be pleased to pen them. I take that back because they don’t start with ‘under the grey clouds looking across industrial Teeside’ and they actually describe the football rather than cut and paste cliches. Something for RR to work on, not!
To Simon for his talking points and ability to remind us of what we said in the past – gulp.
To OFB for his insights and the new addition of interviews. His nuggets are better than any the Gazette gave us.
And in the words of Leonard Sachs to the audience ‘mostly for yourselves’. The list is too long to mention but many have been around the blog for many years who I knew in my past such as Len and Clive, others such as GHW and Forever have been here, well, forever. Ken with his poetry, Jarkko and BoroPhil for endless positivity.
There are too many more to mention but that doesn’t mean you are not appreciated.
And exmill for his challenges but I cant keep going.
Happy New Year
Thanks Ian and Happy New Year to you – I think Mrs Werder was in danger of turning into that woman Brenda over Christmas, who was filmed on the news being told there was going to be another election, as every time I said I had to write an article over the last ten days she said: “You’re joking, not another one”…
Thanks, Ian, and a Happy New Year to you (and to Diasboro).
Thank you kindly Ian.
And a very happy new year to you. And everyone else here.
#UTB
As ever, brilliantly detailed analysis. Well done.
Fair point about the consequences of an illogical summer transfer market and the difficulty Boro may have in shifting these players who were paid above the odds. Out of curiosity, are any in contention for World Cup squad places? The desperation for playing time in order to make the plane to Russia may help ease them off your wage bill…. 😉
Many thanks – I don’t think we have any players unwanted or otherwise planning the summer in Russia unless Fabio gets a miraculous call-up to the Brazil squad and Ayala or Traore suddenly find themselves on the plane to Spain during international breaks.
Ano felicidade e saudavel e prospero a todos apoiadores de clube futebol do Middlesbrough de Algarve.
It is cold in Derby!
Thank you Werder. Excellent !
Looking forward to 2018 as we bid goodbye to a very miserable 2017 for Boro.
Wishing all on here a happy, prosperous but above all healthy New Year and with a bit of luck and some clever management an upturn in Boro’s fortunes preferably starting at Preston tomorrow!
Thanks Werder for another excellent pre-match piece. The greatest compliment you, RR, Simon, OFB and the many excellent contributors can take is how the blog has flourished over the year, especially given the constant turn-off the actual football has been. A proper triumph.
Happy New Year to all. It’s a pleasure to be part of your community. All the very best for 2018 and for goodness sake let’s hope the Boro give us something to shout about.
Thanks Andy, though I sometimes wonder if everything had gone swimmingly last year whether we would have found enough things to write about – but since typical Boro is normally just around the corner I suspect they will always provide us with something.
Feliz Ano Nuevo
I hope you remembered to have your 12 grapes Pedro!
Schöni Fäschttäg und e guets neus Jahr as the locals say round my way.
Indeed, the blog is going from strength to strength and is a community i am proud to be part of.
Let’s hope that 2018 gives us the team the blog deserves!
00
All the best to everybody on this the best blog out there by a country mile, just love reading all the comments and lead articles well done to all at Diasboro. 0-1 to the lads. UTB.
Thanks Werder for you excellent review of the year.
Haven’t got a clue who will play today, sounds like TP may be using January as his preseason and to decide who to cull in which case I fear the play offs will be well and truly out of reach.
Preston 2-0 Boro.
And finally, to echo Pedro de Espana’s words, Feliz Ano Nuevo to all Diasboro across the globe.
Thanks KP – I hope Tony Pulis doesn’t experiment too much trying to discover who to move on but that is the problem when a new manager arrives who is of a different mindset to the previous guy. He may need a real pre-season to get Boro firing on all cylinders but given this season the Championship looks nothing special a top six finish is not beyond us hopefully.
BTW Thanks to Braveheart and others for their comments on the blog and let’s see if we can have a better 2018!
Cheers for that Werder another quality read.
A positive reaction today is a must after Saturday’s debacle. What match day squad and the starting 11 that kicks off will, I think, be an indicator in what direction players wise TP is going to take us. Obviously depends on formations but personally I’d go with the following:
Randolph
Christie Shotton Gibson Friend
Howson Clayton
Braithwaite Downing Bamford
Assombalonga
Bench: Dimi Fabio Ayala Leadbitter Traore Gestede Fletcher
However I think it will be more likely something like this:
Randolph
Shotton Ayala Gibson Friend
Traore Howson Leadbitter Downing
Gestede Assombalonga
Bench: Dimi Fabio Christie Traore Bamford Braithwaite Fletcher
As Ian has pointed out previously 4231 can easily become 442 or 433 and I think the team I’d go for has the personnel to do that. Piece of cake this football management malarkey!
Thanks as ever Werder for another great piece and also for providing this forum for us Boro nuts. I’ve said it before, I believe that this is a better site than its predecessor.
Happy New Year all and keep posting.
Happy New Year to everyone from down under. Steaming hot New Years Day here in Sydney but I do miss the football frenzy that is Christmas and New Year back in England. The most interesting question for me is whether Pulis can actually get this mess sorted out in time to make the playoffs. The good news is that there is nobody out there who I would worry about playing home and away as long as Boro were properly functioning. Has anyone ever been promoted after coming sixth?
This game looks like a 0-0 to me but maybe we can just squeak it 1-0.
UTB
Thanks for another great article Werder. After been told about the site by a colleague at work about 10 months ago I do look forward to the pre and post match articles that you all produce. It is refreshing to see that they always seem to agree with what I see on the pitch as well!! For today I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen. My heart says the forward line might click but my head says it won’t so I’m going for a 0-0, which wouldn’t be a bad score given what Preston were like when we played them earlier in the season.
Happy 2018 everyone!!
00
The eyes have it !
I’d still like to see Boro go to a back three with wing-backs, allowing Downing to play more centrally. There are plenty of options but, for today, I’d go with:
Randolph
Shotton Ayala Gibson
Christie Howson Leadbitter Friend
Downing
Bamford Assombalonga
Bench: Dimi, Fry, Clayton, Johnson, Braithwaite, Fletcher
PS Preston 0-1 Boro (Bamford, 73)
Thanks, Werder, for another excellent starter piece.
I notice OFB has lobbed in his frequently predicted “0-0…the eyes have it”. 20:20 vision? I think a visit to Specsavers might be advised.
Having said which, I have no idea at all what the result will be. I know I hope for a win but hopes are regularly dashed. And, on reflection, we should all have expected Boro to lose against Villa, with a new manager having just taken up the reins. I can’t find the tweet (I thought it had come from @boroform) but I saw yesterday that every single manager from (and including) McLaren onwards, had lost their first game at Boro.
Who knows what will happen at Preston?
Actually today is the day that I think will be a 00
It’ll be interesting to see if he plays the likes of Baker and God (ex Watford) as they are the most creative central midfielders we have
1-2 UTB
Downing comments from the Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough/15800419.MIDDLESBROUGH__Stewart_Downing_warns_it_s_Tony_Pulis__way_or_the_highway/
HNY
Lads and Lasses
I have a feeling we will turn them over today,
Auld Lang Syne as they say
My head tells me today will be 0-0, my heart also says 0-0 and my liver is hoping for 0-0 so that there will be neither celebratory drinks or drowning of sorrows.
Just booked a match pass on the Preston site and I seem to remember that they also offer local commentary with the feed, which I found quite balanced with some good observations last time. The match should appear at the following link…
https://www.pnefc.net/matches/fixtures/first-team/201718/january/preston-north-end-vs-middlesbrough-on-01-jan-18/
Plus thanks to FAA, Steely, Murphy (and his work colleague) and Dormo for their comments – much appreciated as ever.
THanks for the link – Just signed up – great if we get commentary as well.
Optimistic 0-0
Pessimistic 1-0 to them.
Well, hands up who picked that team. I now have no idea what’s going to happen.
Fingers crossed.
UTB
“Gosh! Festive frivolities, Batman – it’s a Christmas tree of a team setup!”
4-3-2-1
Looks like TP wants more from his festive ‘break’.
Looks like 4-5-1 to me, and avoid defeat at all costs.
Never saw Guedioura getting a start. Must’ve been trying hard to impress after his holiday in the Emirates. Looks as if Clayton and Foreshaw are on the way to the exit door.
Looks like 433 with plenty of attacking options good, bad or indifferent depending on your point of view, off the bench. Surprised Shotton isn’t starting but it’s good to have a right back playing right back. COB surprise us!!
Pulis knows Guediora from his time at Crystal Palace. He’s seen him a lot more than we have!
I think the Cameo from Traore especially his tracking back to save a certain goal has earned him a start today
Fabio saying thank you to the fans on Twitter looks like he’s saying farewell
I think it’s going to be a 4 2 3 1
A Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s hope it is!
That was a surprise, there will be more changes for the cup game.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Forshaw and Clayton back for that game, I wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t.
Just got back in after a walk to blow away the cobwebs – interesting line-up and it looks like 4-3-3 but i guess Guedioura is the stand out selection and good to see Adama getting a start too – plus a surprise to see Christie back.
Shocking first half
1-1
Isn’t it strange, once a group of players get the bit between their teeth, whether it’s winning or losing, nothing will change them.
It makes no difference how much you shout at them, or threaten them, or even laugh at them. They are like mules in their stubbornness.
They concede the first goal and lose.
You are convinced that if only they could take the lead they (might) win.
But no, they have the pleasure of going ahead early in the game, and therefore controlling the game. Yea, right, that would make sense.
Tony Pulis has a bigger job on his hands than he thinks with this lot.
On at least three occasions this season they have had the bit between their teeth with games at home (more than one) it ended in tears both times.
They are incorrigible.
One hopes for the best, but please prepare for the worst.
Well not the drab game I was expected, Preston look a danger every time they move forward – Boro just can’t handle crosses and could easily be four down but for the woodwork and a good Randolph save. Also Boro keep losing possession when playing the ball out of defence and Assombalonga looks isolated and unable to do anything when the ball comes his way. Other than the goal, which was a great ball in by Downing for Ayala to head home, Boro haven’t really done much else. We may see changes at half-time I suspect.
He has to make changes
To be fair, he has. And not just for the last 15 minutes.
This squad is starting to smell like Southgate’s weak willed motley crew.
Losing to a hard working top half team. Tick.
Dreadful, it is getting worse not better!
This looks more like a GM team early season. Players played out of position (Adama on the left has not worked previously) and as the half progressed we began to lose our shape.
Players chasing the ball around like headless chickens and more than one going for the same ball.
Preston in total control and could have had three/four.
So far 2018 is going to be as grim as 2017!
Not surprised.
The quality in a side is in direct proportion to the fight.
These players have no fight, I believe that they are as curious as we the fans as to what will happen when the whistle blows.
To take the lead against a not very good side should have meant a very difficult afternoon for Preston. Er, not quite, they took seconds to equalise, and then dominate this bunch of no goods.
They must have hated AK. Going away to great teams and providing a great game for the public to enjoy.
They soon put a stop to that, how the so called rulers of the club could tolerate them even being at the club, never mind getting rid of AK, and keeping them, beats me.
The real sufferers are of course the fans.
must presume that they are not going to tolerate a long and difficult battle to make sixth place, better to nip that idea in the bud early.
HOWSON equalises 2-2. Couldn’t see it but on BBCTees it SOUNDED a beauty. All to play for.
Back in the land of internet connection … Happy New Year to everyone.
As I write we have just equalised… Hoping for a happy ending….
For those with Sky, the Gillette soccer special are showing the championship goals as they go in, cracking goal from Howson and Ayala on a hatrick.
Come on BORO.
The changes seem to have worked giving some go forward.
Lets see if we can make it to 90 minutes.
Happy with that win!
Howson played well and we seem to have a manager who can change teams to win
Just a thought perhaps Traore was on the left first half then right the second half to
Be near to Pulis who seemed to be coaching him during the game
That sounds familiar.
Traore had a good game looks like our manager knows how to play him
Doesn’t look like Assambalonga can play on a Pulis formation
Great comeback, the changes made the difference and 3 beautiful points, the start we wanted for 2018. So much for 0-0 lol.
Come on BORO.
I think I’ll forecast 0 0 every game to bring us luck!
Well well well! That surprised us all i suspect. 3 points and 2018 off to a winner.
Maybe the players have some grit.
Second half tactical masterclass from Tony Pulis – three early subs and three formation changes. First moving to two up top with Gestede and Bamford, then three at the back with Shotton’s arrival, then once Boro went 3-2 up reverted back to a back four. Great goal from Howson and Gestede proved to be the target man that Assombalonga wasn’t or even could be. Great comeback and well deserved – who (apart from me) said it wouldn’t be entertaining under Pulis? Good game of football today and lot’s of interesting decisions and selections – 0-0 it wasn’t so could be a bad resut for my liver…
I like this manager
Three holding midfield players gives no out ball, Guedioura would be fith choice out a four man list.
Full praise to Pulis for his changes balanced by the selection for the first half.
Christie may well be joining Fabio.
Well that was a turnaround after a poor first half. It should not, however, paper over the cracks as there is clearly still a lot of work to do to turn this squad into a solid and fully performing outfit.
Good to see a lot more fight and urgency in the second half albeit it was backs to the wall for much of the half once we took the lead.
Good substitutions by TP and as OFB has said you do wonder if Assombalonga has a future under TP.
I also noticed that Adama had been switched to the right to be near TP, so it could well be that TP is taking a leaf out of AK’s book.
Work in progress but still in touch of the play off spots.
Cup game next Saturday will be good to bed in more of TP’s way of playing.
I think it will be a changed team again on Saturday in the cup so TP can quickly assess the squad
No one at Boro expects us to win the cup and it could prove a costly distraction
So we’ll see new/old players on the park showing him what they can do
I’d expect the likes of Tav and Fletcher getting a game and even perhaps Dael and maybe even Johnson at LB.
Spot on!
Great Minds think alike or Whatever!
I must confess that the. Thought of playing Johnson as a full back has also crossed my mind on quite a few occasions. He is tall athletic and could be a back up for George now Fabio has decided to leave.
I don’t really know what to make of Fletcher. He is a raw talent and for us to pay over 6mill for him someone must have seen something That I haven’t seen so far.
OFB
KP
I did not mind the backs to the wall, once we had the lead.
This is a tough and mean league, with 46 matches to play it is a sound policy to close out the match take your three points and move on to the next one.
Very annoying for the opposition, but it’s done to us on a regular basis.
Aston Villa anyone?
Highlights available now on the internet at
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11192188/preston-2-3-middlesbrough
Come on BORO.
Any away win is a great result. Results are not necessarily a reflection of quality.
Barring incoming players or injuries, II expect the next league game line up to be the 11 who finished the game at Preston.
Can’t argue with this start to 2018.
Looking forward to the match report and and good to see that Jonny Howson is beginning to show some form. The Norwich fans in the village actually asked me what Boro were doing to him, tonight one said that you haven’t seen the best of him yet.
Perhaps Mr Pulis does know what he’s doing. Interesting times ahead if he can instil some self-belief and make teams frightened of Boro.
UTB,
John
John
Would I be wrong in suggesting that the confidence and self belief of a manager/coach can be infectious? If you don’t have the confidence in what you’re doing or you relie on sychophants people soon suss you out. However, if you’ve got a clear plan and communicate that effectively then the sky’s the limit.
Early TP days yet but we have a win & Traore played the full 94 mins. He also put in a cross that led to a goal – hurrah.
Now, this week could be interesting in terms of player incomings/outgoings. Look out for a shock or three me thinks.
UTB
There is more than a smidgen of truth in that. I suspect that the players could tell that GM didn’t have a plan which in turn reflected on their confidence.
TP is not backward in coming forward and will hopefully instil the confidence required.
IT was interesting to Hear Howson afternthe match saying that the players listened to the manager at half time and he is very experienced
I think he’s got the respect of the dressing room straight away
Players know if a manager is out of his depth and I’m afraid Monk apppeared to Not know how to fix things
GM was caught between a hard place and a stone. He got the players in during the summer but couldn’t transition to success on a consistent basis. He spent months trying. Each player in their own right could probabky do a good job when placed in the right one in a team that would suit eg. Christie, Fabio. But, GM couldn’t achieve the blend.
TP doesn’t have to justify the buys. He gets to play who he wants, when he wants, how he wants – total managerial freedom with clarity of vision, experience and confidence to carry it through. Today’s second half is just the beginning.
Happy days
UTB
Spartak,
Watch this space I think.
The ability to instil confidence and belief is a large part of making the sum of the parts greater than the whole. I think the team will begin to motor and they, the team, won’t give up as easily as they were doing. Previous to his arrival Boro would have lost this game, just having understandable substitutions that have a purpose, not hope, is a breakthrough never mind altering team tactics during the game.
Bring it on I say. Me being optimistic? Give me another Leffe please.
UTB,
John
A very good start to the year. Let’s hope for more of the same to come
3 positives from today.
1. Came from behind to win.
2. Scored 3 goals away from home.
3. Beat a team above us.
Come on BORO.
Boro have won their first away game on New Year’s Day since 1959, which was the only time they’d previously managed to do so in 118 years. So here’s Redcar Red’s report on that historic victory as Tony Pulis maintains his 100% record for 2018…
https://diasboro.club/2017/12/31/champpionship-preston-vs-boro/#MatchReport
Great report RR as usual many thanks
It looks like Cardiff are imploding, Sheffield United not far behind them and Bristol City are going to need to therapy after their tanking at Villa tonight. Whats interesting is that the Blades, Bluebirds and the Robins have all started to hiccup in the last few weeks whilst the Rams have gone from strength to strength since their victory over us.
Based on this afternoons second half and the proof of a Boro Manager finally capable of sorting out a mess this could be an interesting second half to the Season!
What a difference having a manager making those substitutions early enough for them to make a difference to the outcome of the game, instead of standing on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets waiting for the last knocking so of a game before making a change. As I’ve stated previously I’m not a Pulis fan but it’s obvious that he is a proper manager who has the nouse to make the right decisions, today certainly, at the right time. As for his style of football I’ll take wins like that any day. But it’s early days so I’ll leave my judgement until the 10 games in charge mark.
Listened to Tees and watched the goals on SSN which was a pleasant surprise. It really did sound like the proverbial game of 2 halves.
Both of Prestons goals were down to poor defending as I saw it. Firstly Christie left his man unmarked going towards the ball, couldn’t get to it and gave their lad a free header at the back post. So far so normal then. For their second Gibson didn’t get off the ground and gave Hugill basically a free header. Gibsons season in a microcosm as I see it.
Good to see Traore and Downing get an assist each, and Howsons goal was a beauty. When he cut back onto his right, put one defender on his backside and a second taken totally out of the equation was a sublime movement.
Look forward to the full highlights on the MFC website but think I’ll fast forward from the 13th minute to half time.
Thanks to Weder for the article and to Redcar Red for the report. Having seen the brief SSN bits, I thought that Randolph could have done better for the second goal although it should not have got to that juncture with poor defending.
I am sure TP will address this aspect pronto!
looks like 2018 could be interesting and whilst we all have our differing views on the style of football, if we get wins and compete, then to a degree happy days. The issue with AK Boro was we were not competing in the premiership and the football was dour as well. Recipe for disaster.
What SG has done is appoint an experienced manager rather than a newbie who can exert and communicate his views to the players.
Interesting times ahead – isn’t it always!
Boro’s second away win on New Years Day in the clubs history has to be worth celebrating.
I see Fabio is off, as i’m sure others will be. It’ll be fascinating to see who.
We definitely need a leftback and goalie ,
A win is a win COB
A classic, almost unbelievable game of two halves! We were shambolic in the first half, defensively all over the place. It seemed the players had no idea of their respective roles. If they had been ill-disciplined and uncoordinated under Monk, this was infinitely worse! Could we once again have appointed the wrong manager? One thing was certain:- I wouldn’t have wanted to be in our dressing room at half-time!
The second half transformation was nothing short of miraculous in the circumstances. This was a terrific turnaround by Boro, no doubt inspired by Pulis’s gentle words of erm….. ‘encouragement’….. and his bold substitutions.
The result papered over a few cracks – or rather, gaping chasms. TP will have no doubt as to the extent of the surgery he will need to carry out to keep this unbalanced and flawed squad competitive for the rest of the season.
Thank god someone has decided to play Traore, throughout football speed is the one great asset, to have the fastest player in the league and not play him in the slowest team is fantasy island stuff.
I hope that for his next trick he plays him in the middle up front, now that would be something to see. He must get his backs sorted out, too many cheap goals from crosses.
Great report RR, although I thought the sentiment was a little harsh on the lads. I enjoyed the match although in fact the result may have tinted my galsses, or maybe the Tuscan red wine did that, but although we may have been dire but my frustration never set in and it seemed a promising performance with a delightful outcome
The match on iFollow with commentary was a steady stream and I even found the replay button at the end so thats something I will do for the next game.
Bowing of course to the overall sentinment of our experts that had a different view and of course the boo boys at half time, I think the double sub juszt after half time was a decisive factor as it stopped the rot setting in to the spectators. TP actually did something meaningful which of course bought him more time before we all would have become well and truly peed off. In that time we scored so we were happy and full of expecations.
Next up is the Cup which will give TP the chance of reflection and experimentation, but I wouldnt bank on a break-through and smashing performace just yet, nor would a strong and stable display be on the cards especially with our improving but still wobbly defence in repair mode, but I hope we have a optimistic but cautious match to look forward to on Saturday.
Anyhow back to work and 2018 looks like another year of expecation and dashed hopes and of course the spread sheet, which now shows 10th as the likely end of season result.
UTB
Allan
I expect a few changes on Saturday and TP confirmed he will be looking at his squad as he doesn’t know them yet.
He said it would take a few games to see what they were made of and as RR has posted we will see another 3 new faces in the team on Saturday.
I think he will already have identified who goes and who stays. I thought Bamford made a difference when he came on and was prepared to close people down and put in a shift
Don’t know if Clayton will back? The club refuse to answer questions on him which would suggest he has fallen out with the club rather than the previous manager. Sometimes a new manager can give an amnesty to players to start again we shall see.
One thing we don’t want is a replay after Saturday !
I think 5th position !
Finishing the old and starting the new year with two more nice articles from Werder and RR. Also top up comments from OFB.
Well what does one say about that match?
Positives,…… early substitutions that made a difference, 3 goals, when was the last time, ableit unfortunately in someways, from a defender and mid-fielder. At the moment the forwards look a million miles away from doing what they are being paid to do. It will be interesting to see in ratio where the goals come from!!
Also saw more determination in the second half than in the first. However the Negatives,………the win as with the recent previous ones, as said by Clive and KP, only continued papering over the gaps, or chasms as Clive actually said.
Remember, despite the successful comeback, aided by the “astute” substitutions from TP, he picked the team that started that first half and we were abysmal and could have been 4-1 down at half time. We were rubbish at both ends of the pitch and in the middle where he went with three. Fair dooos all round but TP has many problems to solve to get this lot anything like a team that can get on an upward curve.
Without doubt it was TP’s selections and set up that got us into that mess in the first half and as he gets to understand the squad I think we will see it a few more times but he recognised what the fans saw and addressed it. Previous Managers would have either waited until the 86th minute in the case of AK or stood looking emotively lost in the case of GM.
The Guedioura one is very strange but clearly must go back to his time at Palace. His “Rocket Factory” tag now seems to be from something he last done 4 or 5 years ago whilst at Forest and Wolves. Personally I think he has a cracking shot on him but with poor accuracy and very little that amounts to a footballing brain. Why Boro would even want to sign him is beyond me but clearly was a knee jerk to the Ramirez problem at the time.
Since the International break and the abuse that Christie received he seems to be a shadow of his former self. He wasn’t great defensively but he now seems to have lost what little belief he had. That said Ben is just as culpable so there is plenty to work on. Only Ayala came out with any credit from the back line (admittedly two goals does help in terms of blame apportionment). Friend is still rusty but I think will get there once we start to defend as a Unit or Group as TP is prone to say. Marvin Johnson could be the surprise Joker in the pack here, he can get forward and put crosses in but isn’t the greatest wide player we have witnessed for Boro but could end up as a decent LB. The only drawback being he isn’t 6ft as Pulis seems to like at the back.
Interesting times with I suspect a lot of former “favourites” possibly departing in January and maybe even one or two “big names”.
MArvin is 1.78m or 5’10” I’m old money so he’s not exactly small
Bob, everything below 190 cm is small. I don’t know (I tried to google) how much that is in old British money. I think nearly 6 feet 3 inch.
Real men are about 6 ft 4 in, me think, though. Up the Boro!
Jarkko
All I know is that every inch counts!
1.90 m is 6 feet 2.803 inches according to the net
I trained as a Quantity Surveyor when we used feet and inches then when metrication was introduced it made things a lot easier.
Prior to that we had to calculate measurements using duo decimals! I used to laugh whilst working the figures out thinking “of only my old maths teacher could see me ! She used to give up on me as hopeless!
Sorry, 190 cm is exactly 1.90 m
UTB!
The problem TP has isnhe has only a short time before the transfer window closes to ship out players he doesn’t want and to get fresh players who can play in his style to join the club.
At least TP knows what he wants not like Monk and he is using players in matches rather like a pre season to see what he has available
I don’t know how he’s going to fit in Assambalonga to suit his style. Crackers isn’t it ?
Our leading goal scorer who scores goals but looks isolated and uncomfortable in the role he is being asked to play. Glad I’m not the manager !
OFB
RR thanks for another top notch match report. Pretty much mirrors what a mate of mine who went said, and Clives first hand account. Hopefully the full 90 should be available to watch on the MFC website soon.
Another poor performance from Brit apparently, which saw him hooked. Is it playing in a “new” system that doesn’t suit his style of play or something else? Hopefully the former as that can be worked on in training and he starts to hit the goal trail on a regular basis. If it’s the something else bit then that’s down to him to sort out.
In his post match interview Pulis said the squad ” is far, far too big” which points to a fair few heading through the exit door. He also stated Fabio had asked to move on, for personal reasons I think. Good luck to the lad wherever he goes.
After watching the way we conceded yesterday I thought there couldn’t be anyone as bad as us at defending balls into the box. How wrong was I? Very as it turned, out as our friends up the A19 proved against Barnsley. If you haven’t seen it check it out.
Spoke to my Rams colleague about Christie and he is not surprised about his defensive lapses. Great attacking but a rick in him defensively.
Clearly at fault for the first goal. Had another couple of looks at the second where Ben was rooted to the spot. Christie jumped across him and missed the ball. I wonder if Ben just couldn’t see the flight.
Can Britt play up front for Pulis? Saturdays performance was poor but it sounded like anyone could be hooked.
The danger is you look at a players performance in isolation, when Britt was hooked they brought on Gestede but also Bamford to play just behind him, upped the tempo and got players going forward.
How well would Gestede or Bamford have played on their own supported by Guedioura and no midfield runners?
In science you only change one parameter at a time so you can measure any changes in outcome. We ended up changing three in quick succession.
The mistake was the original line up and that was chosen by Pulis, I don’t think it will happen again.
I am as close to 1.9m lying down as standing up. Shapely as in round.
Going back in time, I had some carpenters working for me who went off to buy some timber at the time measurements were going metric. They asked for a dozen six foot lengths of 2×2 (for Jarkko that is 2 inch by 2 inch)
Sorry was the reply, measurements are now metric.
A quick check of the tapes, OK we will take a dozen 2m lengths of 50mmx50mm.
Sorry, we only sell it in 1.83m lengths.
Hey ho!
Ian, we did say 2×2 or 2×4 when I built my house 25 years ago. Even we have had metric system for over 50 years or longer.
But as Bob said the calculations are easy. Like no borders in Europe (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that).
I take my coat and brexit from here for a while. Up the Boro!
It really was a game of two halves, the first half was embarrassing at times. Preston pressed us so much more and perhaps as a result they ran out of steam second half. Our passing and marking was poor and what was clear again was how little tactical awareness Traore has – Friend and Gibson were beside themselves at times screaming at him to pick up the right man – and he was basically going to whoever was nearest. He contributed to their equaliser by diving in and creating space behind him. But going forward he was excellent at times and of course created the winner. So there is the dilemma.
Someone above said they thought Randolph could have done better for the 2nd goal – it’s not obvious on the TV but it took a big deflection.
I thought the booing at half time was more for the players than anything – it expressed how fed up everyone was, rather than aimed at Pulis himself.
Guedioura was clearly some way off match fitness, and he really struggled with the pace. Odd selection to say the least, but maybe Pulis sees him as part of his long-term plans. Pulis’s subs were excellent, Gestede made a huge difference and held the ball up much better than Britt. Britt was clearly unhappy when subbed and threw his gloves on the floor. If we persist with this formation rather than 2 up front you wonder where he will fit in.
What is noticeable about Pulis’s tactics is the directness and speed of delivery – we seem to be making a concerted effort to take free kicks and corners quicker and be a bit more direct. Ayala scored twice and made a big contribution to the equaliser by driving forward from the back. It couldn’t be more different from AK’s (and Monk’s to a lesser extent) slow, patient style of football so it will be interesting to see who buys into it and who doesn’t.
Overall, 9/12 points over xmas which you can’t argue with. We are right in the mix and surely despite Pulis going out of his way not to talk about promotion, top 6 must be the minimum target.
So, who’s on the “get shot” list?
Remember that waffle maker you thought was handy at the time? Well that’s Bamford.
K-Tel LP cleaner. Adam Forshaw.
Juice-Matic. Ashley Fletcher.
Clock Radio Teasmade. Fabio.
Table Top Vacuum. Lewis Wing.
Bread Maker. Connor Roberts.
Home Hair Cutter Set. George Friend.
VHS Video. Thomas Meijas.
GHW, and the magic bullet no one ever really bought was Lewis Baker.
Have anyone seen him since August? UTB.
Apologies to Master Wing, I meant Baker.
I have denied myself the pleasure of reading any reports of the Preston match until after I have posted this, so apologies in advance for any unnecessary repetitions.
A real curate’s egg of a performance this from the Boro. We could easily have been down 4-1 or 5-1 at half-time, and only the woodwork and two excellent saves (one a worldy) from Randolph prevented us from almost totally caving in against a team which cost less than half of the fee which we paid for our keeper.
Yet there were some positives to take, even out of that first- half, whilst in the second we ultimately ran out worthy winners, some achievement given that this was the second game in three days for most of our players.
For me the whole experience was an object lesson in not taking one’s own prejudices, preferences and predilections too seriously, but to be open to the experiences of the game itself which, as ever, proved to be full of the kind of contradictions, surprises, and complexities that defy glib explanations, and which are beyond the reach of even the most detailed of written or verbal match reports.
I have rarely set out for a Boro game in a grimmer mood. I attended only because I had bought my ticket some weeks ago and well before the latest managerial change, a change to which I was strongly opposed. Our new manager has always seemed to me to be a particularly charmless character, whose approach to the game is essentially to negate everything that is most interesting, skilful, creative, and worthwhile about it. To destroy, in short, those very qualities that make football a game worth playing, and a spectacle worth watching right across the world.
Let me call to my aid two British managerial giants of the past, both of whom vigorously opposed the kind of ‘pragmatism’ exemplified by Mr Pulis’s methods. First up, Bobby Robson, whose dictum, “If the result is more important than the game, then the game isn’t worth a candle” should be emblazoned, as football’s Hippocratic oath, on the gates of every football club in the world as a reminder to its staff and supporters of the games essential values.
Next I give you the wonderfully spontaneous words of our own beloved Cloughie in that famous confrontation in the Yorkshire TV studios with Don Revie on the very night of Brian’s sacking as Leeds manager. ” I believe in a different concept of football to Don. I believe it can be played slightly different to the way that Don plays it and get the same results. Now that might be aiming for Utopia and be a little bit stupid, but that is the way I am. I am a little bit stupid regarding this type of thing. I am a little bit of an idealist. I do believe in fairies, and that is my outlook.”
What Clough had in his sights were what he considered to be the ‘cheating’ and the dirty physical aspects of the way in which Revie’s Leeds achieved their successes. It is a reputation that continues to dog “Dirty Leeds” and the town it represents to the present day. Clough’s reputation for achieving success with unfashionable and failing second- tier clubs by playing the game in the right way, with creativity fluent on-the-ground passing and movement, no cheating, little fouling, and no dissent is rightly venerated to this day. Universally respected throughout the game he is still regarded as a demi-god in both Derby and Nottingham. To say nothing of his statue in Albert Park, at which many on this blog will, like myself, have paid their respects.
What Brian would have made of our latest appointment and its probable effect upon the long-term future and reputation of the club, I leave to your imagination.
So I trudged along to Deepdale,and took my seat in the Sir Tom Finney stand, both names historically redolent of all that is best in the game. In my mind the game had 0-0 written all over it, and the impression that there would be little on offer to gladden the heart or quicken the pulse was confirmed when in the opening minutes a Boro defender, instead playing a simple pass to out to his unmarked winger, opted to boot it as far and as high as he could for Britt to chase.
However we did start with much more energy and a greater sense of purpose than usual, Downing certainly seemed up for it, and a superb free-kick whipped in with pace was met by Ayala with an unstoppable header. What a start! And what a let-down when within a minute Preston cut through us on the right , finding, what else!, but a poorly marked man, who headed in at the far post.
For the rest of the half we chased shadows, as Preston, passing crisply, finding the angles, and running intelligently off the ball gave a demonstration of how a side with limited financial resources can still play the game in the right way, and delight their supporters. One additional goal was a poor reward for their efforts.
The second half began with two much-needed substitutions, followed quickly by a third. Britt had achieved nothing in the first half. Yet he had my sympathy. He’d scarcely had a decent ball played up to him. Nothing to his feet, everything booted aimlessly in his general direction all half. Braithwaite showed a few nice touches, but made little impression on the game as a whole. Christie had one promising run, ending in the anti-climax of a fall, but defended poorly. He looked vulnerable throughout.
Rudy, Bamford and Shotton came on in their places. The correct three changes had been made, and just as importantly Traore was moved over to the right, with Downing taking over Braithwaite’s midfield role. The changes had an immediate effect. We stopped inviting Preston on to us, and took the game by the scuff of the neck.
I’m with Spartak on Traore. I had shared the general opinion of him as a speed phenomenon without an end product until the game at Bolton, where he was not simply the difference between the two teams, but head and shoulders above everyone else, a player from a different league to the rest. Even seemingly from a different planet at times. What amazed me was his courage, as well as his ability to keep going at speed, in spite of being hacked at, knocked to the ground, bouncing back up, beating umpteen men before laying on two superlative crosses for Britt to win us the game. I travelled down to Villa just to see him hopefully do it all again. He lasted for one minute. Since then he has blotted his copybook couple of times and been denied a chance to repeat his Bolton heroics, though he has done well in brief cameos. Back on the right, in the second half he tore Preston to shreds.
Rudy too had a very good half and looked much better equipped than Britt if our game is to be playing long balls in the air to a striker. Bamford was always looking for the ball and improved our links between defence and attack. Playing wide left he gave invaluable support to a shaky George and played some telling balls forward as we quickly turned defence into attack.
Ayala was my Man of the Match for his stout defending and two superb headers which won us the game, followed closely by Traore and Downing, whose recent form, energy and commitment has me wondering where he has been for the past 18 months.
Howson was scarcely less impressive than these, contributing tireless running, a stunning goal and an even more stunning near miss, after a brilliantly constructed high-speed break from a Preston corner.
Randolph didn’t put a foot wrong, and without his outstanding keeping we would have lost the game. Leadbitter, played well as the midfield shield. Given that this was his second game in three days, the suggestion that he may not be up to future challenges looked decidedly premature.
Mr Pulis will be making some career- defining decisions on his personnel over the next few weeks, and on the basis of quite slender current evidence. Every game is now of crucial importance to every player. Every mistake, and every good performance takes on a magnified significance. No wonder the team all played their hearts out, though with varying degrees of success. Apart from its other qualities this game was fascinating in the indications it gave on who might or might not still be with us come February.
So not 0-0, but as breathless and exciting a Boro game as I have seen for a couple of years. Very enjoyable, with total commitment from both teams, few suggestions of anti- football, and one supporter, divested of many of his pre-match prejudices.
I travelled home a much happier man. And perhaps a fond hope that Mr Pulis, with his current resources, might even begin to believe, as I do, in Cloughie’s fairies.
Len,
Great stuff, a great read, considered and thoughtful. Thank you.
Having been an anti- I think Mr Pulis will prune this squad of random purchases, add a couple and get them all working as a team. That will be a break-through.
UTB,
John
Len
We’ve missed your posts,pleased you could get to the game.
This provides a nice insight and reinforces Redcar Reds excellent match reports .
I for one am pleased that Monk has gone,! If rumours are to be believed then he had lost the dressing room then the fans and then Gibson
If you look around at who was available to take over I would unhesitatingly have taken Pulis
Yes he made a poor team choice for the first half but he changed it quickly and had the tactical nous to change the formation twice in the second half. This was for us to fire on the front foot and then regroup when we were in the lead.
He has said himself he has to get to know all his squad and there will be more changes on Saturday
I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Football and supporting your team is what it’s all about really, no matter who the players or manager is we are the club!
OFB
Well put, my glasses were not tinted after all.
Beautiful, and, may I say, completely at variance with my (preconceived) ideas of the playing out of the drama on the field.
I believe yours to be the correct assessment of proceedings, and a jolly good read to boot. Thank you.
I obviously should have looked at RR’s report before submitting my own. I took my seat at KO and assumed that the lad with a few nice touches but making little impact was Braithwaite rather than the “Watford Lad” whom I don’t really know and cannot really spell.
Apologies. A sacking offence were I a pro.
Len
I saw him trotting up and down the touchline in front of me warming up on Saturday.
I shouted out to him
“Who are yer?”
He turned round and said
“It’s not Whoareyer it’s Guidiora!”
So you won’t forget now will you Len ?
OFB
I have two knick names Just Dead as that’s how he looks to me a bit of a Zombie and Giddy dora as hes always running around in circles……..just sayin like…
Brilliant read, Len.
And you got me thinking. Big time.
The win at Preston felt good. Really, really good.
But it also felt like a complete shock to the system. How often do we, Boro, do that kind of thing? Come back from 2-1 down to win a game that we should have been well out of sight in? It’s like the drama of the AK promotion season – back and forth, back and forth – stretched out over ninety minutes, with the outcome ultimately the right one.
The difference is, under AK – and I’ll speak for myself here – I felt conditioned, trained even, to wait.
The modus operandi from the manager seemed to be, “So long as the result at the end of the game, or, if not that, at the end of the season, is explicitly, concretely what I have been instructed to achieve, then how can you complain?”
In other words, forget the hows and whys and whos-that-didn’t-fit. Just embrace the whats and wheres and whens during the big celebrations. And remember Who-Is-Most-Important.
It’s not just Boro who might be guilty of this. Despite the Dirty Leeds tag, and despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s negative influence on the game, Revie and the Red Nosed One are still hugely popular figures at Leeds and Man. United, with statues and stands named after them.
Are we likely to see a Pulis stand or statue at Boro? I doubt it. He’s not the kind to win any personality contests. He doesn’t carry any pretence of loyalty.
But, even if only for now, that may suit us just fine. A manager who doesn’t need to “feel the chemistry” between himself and Boro, to be reminded of how important he is. Someone, instead, who recognises that he’s here to do a job, and will do it the way we want and it needs to be done.
Imagine if Robbo, Mogga and AK had gone on to be truly successful at Boro. A statue and a stand would surely have been a certainty for Mogga, and a possibility for the other two.
Robbo and AK had that “look” about them. They could celebrate like fans (in AK’s case, see the last minute against Hull), and when things were going wrong, or the occasion got to them, they genuinely looked devastated or overwhelmed. The Special One’s apprentice even wept when we won promotion.
So when extreme criticisms were directed at them for not being able to adapt under pressure, it was very easy to dislike the naysayers, because in each case it was as if they were kicking a helpless novice when he needed applause or was down. Which they may well have been, but the cynics among us might argue that if said novice has been spoiled rotten with resources – as Robbo was, and many argued AK was too – they deserve the occasional kicking.
Pulis hasn’t got that “looking helpless” expression attached to him. He’s not the kind to worry about, as Werner Heisenberg once put it, wrapping himself up in the fairytale phrases fans want to hear, or being idolised.
I think he has it in him to recognise that the true hero isn’t in the dugout, but on the pitch. That Sunderland v Boro won’t be Chris Coleman v Tony Pulis, but Sunderland v Boro. As it should be.
It may only be short-term, but if this is our first step in moving beyond the cult of the manager and back towards the importance of the football and football alone, this may well be the first step towards a long-term greater good.
Good post Si (and Len previously)
I liked GM and thought he would be a good appointment at the time and a step up for him on his career ladder in terms of the potential opportunity that was available to him at Boro versus the “situation” at Leeds which has/had been ongoing for years.
His first few games I was willing to let go, for things to settle and witness a new Boro emerge from the Premiership ashes. His Press Conferences seemed laid back and not very informative but thought perhaps no bad thing keeping your cards close to your chest. As weeks grew into months it was clear that it wasn’t a case of cards close to his chest but simply having lost his cards and no idea of where they were or what to do with them and I’m pretty sure, in fact almost certain that had transmitted itself to the Players as well. Stupid things like Ayala predictably being sent off I suspect was borne out of frustration and highlighted just how detached the young Manager was from the reality of what was unfolding out on the pitch.
Fast forward to TP and he has calmly come in and warned us that he can’t change water into wine when at times I felt that AK wanted us to believe he actually could and with SMc he would tell us it was wine when in fact is was just expensive fizzy pop. GM’s lack of a plan was simply alluded to by TP as the squad is far too big and in doing so indicated that SG has spent an awful lot of money (thinly veiled as too much). His ability to relate to Steelworkers genuinely and that SG wants him to look at the club not just the management on a Saturday afternoon puts him on a stronger footing than others who had to prove themselves and the doubts which that inevitably brings upon arrival. His been there, done that CV put him straight in as a Manager who calls the shots and without needing to debate or deal with dissenters.
Strachan and Mowbray both had experience but both arrived at a difficult time especially in Mogga’s case and personally I have never rated Strachan as a Manager and haven’t changed that stance. Strachan never seemed to be on either the same wavelength or even Planet. Mogga done and went as far as he could with what little he had and as I have said before laid foundations (much as he did at WBA ironically).
Pulis love him or loathe him has a strategy, a system and a plan as to how he will achieve. We pretty much all know and accepted that even before he arrived and I would think the same goes for the Playing Staff. Its the reason why there were conflicting views on here and elsewhere on his appointment because of the prior knowledge of knowing exactly what we were going to get. With GM we were bringing in fresh hope which is an entirely different scenario especially as it became more untenable over months.
I do think that in the Championship with TP we will see a little more positivity than perhaps feared because the initial objective for TP is different to that with which we associate him with. In other words he is challenged to win something rather than hang onto to something which in essence means that we may see a few more games like Preston.
Once the initial objective of promotion is achieved the next challenge I think will be when the reality sets in of survival football in the big pool with the sharks encircling us. That’s something to worry about if and when but for the moment I’m relieved to have a Manager with a plan and one that I think will be for the longer term good of the club and in the meantime hopefully some enjoyment in winning games (and promotion) even when we go behind away from home and have to score three goals. The Baggies now have Pardew in charge to take them forward, just stop and ask ourselves who would we prefer?
Wow
Diasboro starting off the new year with a bang!
Three great posts from Len, Si and yourself RR
All thought provoking and constructive comments not haranguing or sniping but accepting that change was necessary and showing patience in what has to happen over the coming months.
I think we all feel let down by GM who was clearly not the manager we hoped he would be. So if we felt like that then so did the players. The likes of Ben Bamford Clayton and Forshaw have suffered because of the turmoil and could still get back to their best.
I have said before and I’ll say it again, TP reminds me of Big Jack how he has come in, told it how it is and made no wild promises but intends to get the job done.
If success is promotion. And finishing 12th every year then I’ll settle for that. I don’t subscribe to the rationale it’s better to be in the championship fighting for promotion. I want to see my team competing against the top teams and going toe to toe with them and matching them. That will give me more pleasure than playing against some lesser teams who are actually beating us these days.
I remember an old boss said to me. Always try to get to the top of the tree, but if you get to a branch and you get comfortable on it then don’t be afraid to settle for it.
Everyone realises that with the money involved that the top 5 clubs have it is very rare to do a Leicester and win the league but we all live in hope!
OFB
Rumors that Adam Clayton and Stewart Downing had a altercation which resulted in Clayton being frozen out. #Boro #Middlesbrough #UTB #Borolive #MFC
Pulis may well pull the masterstroke of how to use Traore.
It is encouraging hearing some positive comments about Adama, Pulis may have sussed it out.
A problem has been getting him to operate within the tactical framework which certainly doesn’t suit his lack of tactical awareness. As I posted the other day Pulis teams have tended to have a flyer in them and the one thing about Adama is that he is strong and fast.
The Pulis adage of defenders defend and attackers attack gives a bit for freedom to Adama, Pulis constantly urging players to give the ball to him utilises his strengths. He is still better on the right hand side of the pitch because that is what he knows and he can play naturally there.
Adama has less to think about with a more defensive full back behind him though he still has to work on his team contribution.
May well work out.
Adama won plenty of free kicks from which Ayala’s first goal came from one. He put the cross into the box from a short corner with Stewy for Ayala’s second (courtesy of Ben’s flick on).
Pulis will be aware of his limitations and has pointed them out by referencing that he has to learn not to come towards the ball all the time. Something that I would have hoped other Managers and Coaches would have pointed out but perhaps not because the message has clearly never got through.
TP will also have seen how he almost changed the game against Villa (he mentioned how he lifted the crowd) and sprinted back Usain Bolt style to save us from going two down. Who knows that prevented goal may play a huge part in GD come the end of the Season (AK won promotion on the strength of a similar margin).
Its clear that Pulis throughout his management can be accepting of a big aerially combative lad up front who may not be the most graceful on the ball but can batter CB’s and get his head on the ball. In that case then why not a fast tricky wide player who torments defences, wins set pieces continually, enforcing bookings on the opponents in the process presenting him with the opportunity to bring up his big lads for the set piece. It ticks a lot of TP boxes especially with a defending defender behind Adama and a midfield on alert. Whilst TP’s dark arts are well known he does usually have two or three players that can do some damage at the other end.
OFB
Interesting, not quite certain but did Stewie came in to the team as Clayton went out of it?
I think you’re right ……
Talk about a turnaround. TP has gone from the Dark Satan of football tactics to the Saviour of MFC, in the space of two games.
People thought Monk was the Messiah but he turned wine in to water.
Pulis may turn it back again but it is early days. If he can get us defending properly again and playing with tempo and attitude, we should have enough attacking skills to gradually move up the table.
But it is only a couple of matches.
Has anyone checked where Burnley were in the championship in relation to the Boro at the same time two years ago?
Have a look and be surprised and pleased !
Do you have a link OFB?
It’s on Twitter
Some great posts on here, particularly liked lens contribution. Personally I think the blog becomes a fascinating and enthralling place when the posts are of opinions much wider than why we won or lost.
Briefly, I like Pulis simply because he is an experienced manager with considerable success over a sustained period at the highest level, a manager with such characteristics is an unusual appointment for Steve Gibson.
le plans are usually the best ones and it seems to me that TP likes to keep it simple.
If TP can turn Traore into a consistent performer then he will be a genius in my book.
ofb makes a good point about where Burnley were two years ago, there is hope……
Interesting Predictor here of which I have had zero input or distortion of any kind I might add:
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/middlesbrough/league-table/predicted
My thoughts are that I would expect a slight to medium upturn in our fortunes at least under TP so the Play Offs should be back on and if Derby get a spate of injuries or do a Cardiff or Blades then who knows?
RR
If TP has the same effect as Big Jack did on and off the pitch I’d be more than happy.
IMG_1088.JPG.jpeg
Connor Ripley has returned to Boro after his loan spell with Burton Albion was terminated by mutual consent.
The goalkeeper joined Burton shortly after signing a new Boro contract in August, having enjoyed previous loan spells with Motherwell and Oldham Athletic.
But Ripley has seen limited game time at the Pirelli Stadium, most often acting as deputy to Brewers stopper Stephen Bywater.
The 24-year-old made five appearances during his time with Albion, three in the Carabao Cup and two in the Championship.
Regarding Traore.
I believe that we heard so much about him being a wild dribbler that we all consigned him to the roll of clown.
I do not agree with that assessment, we, as a very slow team (yea, really) should have so organised ourselves that his speed created a few chances in every game that we played.
Against Aston Villa he created what would have been the winner, before they scored, ball bouncing free in their six yard box, (no takers of course) and strangely no mention of it in reports(see what i mean about fixed opinions)
He has created three or four great goals (taken) from the centre of the pitch.
To play him on the wing is to restrict his talents, he should be front and centre, and given balls to run onto.
The first thing the opposition would do, is play nearer their own goal, this destroying their own game plan, which would be one up to us.
One comment on the blog,” someone wanted to feed him down the wing, and there he was in the middle, waiting for the ball”.
In my opinion he was right, in the middle you have the whole field of play at your disposal, all directions, high ball or low, pass or dribble, and no defender can simply shove you out of play over the touchline,(no punishment, it’s just a shove).
If we can use him, in every match, i think that he would be grabbed by a rich club.
Plato
I am afraid that I have to disagree with your view and that of others that he should be played in the centre.
This is often the most conjested part of the field and makes it much easier for teams to close him down. Whilst I was pleased to see that he did make a positive impact on Monday’s game he needs to be more involved and to deliver more on a regular basis before I can be convinced that he can do a job for us.
Team’s are aware of his pace and since his exploits in the Bolton game they are now quick to try and get two/three men around him when he receives the ball. This restricts the space he has to run into and he either ends up being fouled or losing the ball.
If he is played on the right wing, his natural side, then I believe that he can use the space that can be created to greater effect. He needs to be supplied with balls fed either inside or outside the full back that he can run onto or to play one/twos with other players.
His positional sense and understanding of what is unfolding around him is still very much missing from his game. He was, in part, a contributory factor in the Preston equaliser as both he and GF went to close down the same player leaving a Preston player unmarked and with whom a one/two was played, leaving GF trailing in his wake and time for the Preston player to measure a cross to the back stick which our defence failed to deal with.
It will be interesting to see over the coming weeks and months what improvements in his play we will see as a result of TP’s guidance.
KP
On the wing Traore loses two of his strengths.
His ability to go in any direction.
Against Liverpool last season, he tortured them for twenty minutes, on the right, the old stager marking him simply pushed him over the touchline, every time, the first two, the ref blew a foul, then he let it go.
After that they took control and won the match.
He should not be dribbling four men, because the rest if the team just stand and watch.
He should be given the ball to run onto in open space, he would get us up field every time.
We have had several goals from him in this situation, centre field.
In any case we should not be laughing at him, we should be finding out the best way to utilise his talent.
Speed such as his is god given, and should be used.
All we need is for a win against Sunlun and the transformation of TP from Sinner to Saint will be complete.
A place in the playoffs wil result in Hero status.
Promotion to the Premiership should ensure his beatification.
Connor Roberts returns to Swansea as Middlesbrough loan is endeD
Plato
Whilst Traore is clearly more comfortable on the right, I agree that he would be a bigger threat to our opponents playing through the middle. A number of us made this suggestion last season when AK was struggling to get the best out of him. Maybe TP will give it a go. It would imo provide more set piece opportunities when he is hauled down by desperate defenders.
Another corner has been turned. Could we yet embark on a winning streak that gets us to the promised land?
If we play Traore down the middle to win set pieces we would need specialist free Kick experts of which we have none. Grant can blast them and Stewy can bend them but neither are exactly prolific in the art. Should Traore win a free kick on one of the flanks then TP can put Ben, Ayala, Gestede, George etc.in the box to challenge for the cross with the Bamford’s, Britt’s or Braithwaite’s loitering with intent.
If we had a Beckham, Del Piero, Platinini or Roberto Carlos available then I would agree about winning set pieces centrally but I don’t think it would give us an advantage as the trajectory and pace of the ball lofted into the box would suit defenders as oppose to be it being sent in from the flanks with pace.
One thing if Traore stays in the middle he won’t have to keep swapping wings at half time for TP to coach him from the touchline he can hear him for all the game!
Grateful thanks to jarsue, Bob, Allan, plato, Simon, RR and Nigel for all of your kind and thought provoking comments. Greatly appreciated.
Ive just popped on here to express my delight at the standard of posts in 2018.
We’re staying in a cottage in Staithes with intermittent WiFi (because the chap in the neighbouring cottage switches his router off when he goes out) but it’s good enough to keep myself up to date on the Blog.
Lots more of the same throughout the year, please.
Love Staithes, me. Been there a few times, unfortutely just day trips from Boro. A lot of seasguls, though.
Been only there in summer, must be windy and could now? Up the Boro!
It’s like stepping back in time and the seafood and beer in the Cod and Lobster pub are great
I thought the cottage roof was going to blow off last night.
We’ve been to the Lion at Blakey for lunch, then a potter around Rosedale. I’m feeling very nostalgic for my childhood.
A lot of talk at the moment about interest in Clayton and Foreshaw from many of our promotion rivals. Sunderland as well.
The Clayton-Downing rumours make sense of Clayton’s otherwise inexplicable long-term omission. If true, the two should settle their differences for the good of the club.
Clayton is definitely one that we need to keep hold of as the best player in his position in the Championship. Foreshaw was being tipped as a possible international only a year ago, and was one of our best players on his last appearance.
They could both turn out to be key players for their new teams if they leave. Given the money at stake with promotion, it would be folly to sell either of them for the few millions involved.
Yet we know that a few will have to be sold. But who?
Johnson, Christie, Fletcher, the Swansea Lad, and even Braithwaite would be relatively uncontroversial choices, given recent events. So would the Watford Lad for every Boro fan. But not for the Manager.
Again, in the light of the most recent events, and Pulis’s preference in strikers, Britt could be a possible leaver. That would be a shock, but his goals would guarantee a high fee, and possibly even a bid from a Premier League club. But, again, not one to sell to any of our rivals.
Off-loading most of the above would slim down the squad and bring in at least £25 million,which, though only a fraction of what we paid for them, would leave us enough money to buy a decent No10, a full back and a winger.
I’d be interested to see the choices of the Diasboro Brains Trust.
I’d go along with most of that Len but I would let Clayton go as I think he has burned his bridges
I certainly wouldn’t let him go on loan it’s a fee or nothing
Forshaw has turned from a midfielder who used to play forward passes into a player who plays windscreen wiper football or back passes
I think he’s probably too small and not combative enough for Pulis who likes his players to be tough
I think he’ll sign a left back and a midfielder and as you say will look to ship out Braithwaite and Assambalonga who don’t seem to fit in the pattern he is known to play.
I expect more to leave than sign and he’ll probably look and see who we have in the u21 squad including Tavernier and Fry
OFB
Any of the big money buys Len would incur a large loss I believe given their wages. Not many teams could or even would match them.
Forshaw imo is still a good player. May be not TP’s flavour, butvery useful to have.
As we are now into 2018 I thought perhaps it is time to reflect on the monthly sporting highlights of 2017, and for what it’s worth I give my personal standout performances as follows:-
January – Not really a spectacular month for sporting occasions, but I always enjoy the New Year’s Day Concert from Vienna broadcast by the BBC and it would have taken a superb sporting event to have outshone that.
February – Warrington Wolves 22, Castleford Tigers 30 (Cas showed their intent by beating the reigning Super League Leaders and beaten Grand Finalists on their own patch).
March – Castleford Tigers 66, Leeds Rhinos 10 (a 12 try thrashing and Cas’s biggest ever win over their neighbours).
April – Sergio Garcia’s wonderful US Masters win (his first Major win, but it took a playoff over Justin Rose to do it). However, it would remiss of me not to mention Middlesbrough 2, Manchester City 2 on the 30th, Boro’s best performance all year and a match they were unlucky not to have won (if only it had been played one day later, it would have been my favourite moment in May).
May – The whole Rugby Super League Weekend at Newcastle’s St. James Park, but Castleford 29, Leeds Rhinos 18 was the outstanding match.
June – Yorkshire 273 and 61 for 0, Lancashire 123 and 209 at Headingley with Ben Coad taking 6 wickets for 25 runs in the first innings (an outstanding performance from Yorkshire in this County Championship match, but it was a false dawn in what became a poor season).
July – York City Knights 26, Toronto Wolfpack 16 (arguably the most surprising Rugby League result of the season as Toronto had won their first 15 matches scoring 916 points and remained unbeaten for the rest of the year).
August – Castleford 45, Wakefield Trinity 20 (this was the match in front of a full house where Cas secured their first League Leaders Trophy in their 91 year history and were presented with the Shield at the end of the match).
September – Castleford Tigers 23, St. Helens 22 (having won the League by a massive 10 points, Cas found themselves 2 points behind with only seconds remaining, but were awarded a difficult touchline penalty which Luke Gale converted to send the match into extra time, and then Gale scored a drop goal to take Cas into their first Grand Final – remarkable as Gale had only had his appendix removed less than two weeks before). To be honest Cas were lucky to win the match as they were outscored 5 tries to 3, but Mark Percival converted only one of their tries.
October – Tyrrell Hatton won two successive golf tournaments, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from St. Andrews, and then the Italian Open Golf Championship at Olgiata near Rome a week later.
November – Tonga 18, England 20 in the Semifinal of the Rugby League World Cup in Auckland (England were coasting to victory 20-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining, but Tonga scored 3 converted tries and almost a 4th in the last minute). But what really stood out was the spectacle of the Tongans colourful support and their continual hymn singing especially in the second half which made it the most remarkable sporting occasion that I and many others have ever witnessed, certainly in this century.
December – Redcar Athletic 1, Whitby Town 0 in the North Riding Senior Cup Quarterfinal. Could Redcar meet Boro Reserves in the Final at the Riverside.
As there was no major sporting event that took my eye, I struggled with this one. I was almost tempted to give my vote to BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Final, the most athletic and skilful Strictly Final I can recall, but because I’ve been following Redcar’s progress for the last two seasons I chose that.
The two worst moments of 2017 for me were:-
1. Boro’s expected relegation confirmed by a 0-3 defeat to Chelsea on 9th May.
2. Cas losing 6-24 to Leeds at Old Trafford in the Super League Grand Final on 7th October, especially as Cas had beaten Leeds four times previously that year.
What will 2018 bring, or indeed this month? Have Boro turned the corner? January is not a month generally noted for outstanding sporting performances, and so far the New Year’s Day Concert has again been the most spectacular event for me so far this year, but I doubt anyone on this forum will agree with me!
David Joyes is stepping down from his role as Charlton Athletic chief financial officer to join Middlesbrough.
The Addicks have already seen chief executive Katrien Meire leave at the end of last month, taking up the same role at Sheffield Wednesday.
But Meire is not the only high-ranking member of staff to make a switch to the Championship. Joyes will also be on his way soon as he takes on a role with Boro.
Joyes has been with Charlton since September 2011.
Staithes used to go there in the 60’s, holidaying in a caravan on a farm owned by a Harry Metcalfe if my memory is correct.
“Don’t forget to shut gate lad or the coos will get out.”
He was a real Yorkshireman and his brother used to make wooden model ships always remember the model he made of Captain Cooks ship H.M.S. Endeavour it was a beauty.
I talked my cousin into riding our bikes there,(didn’t tell our parents obviously) we didn’t get back to Middlesbrough till about 11 at night the neighbours and the Police were searching for us ! Didn’t I get a belting off me Dad.
Remember belting down the big hill Ormsby bank ?
Great days.
Can’t believe that we could contemplate Adam Clayton being farmed out. He’s the only decent midfielder we have.
Martin,
In the late 60s I used to drive all the way out to Blakey every Tuesday night to see the Ronnie Aspery-Colin Hodgkinson jazz group, Back Door. They had previously had residencies at the Kirk and The Starlight Club in Redcar.and had quite a following not only locally, but eventually nationally and internationally. The Guardian described it as “one of the most original groups ever to have formed in Britain…Ornette Coleman playing Robert Johnson”.
Ronnie grew up in Beauville Road, Grove Hill,and was a musical prodigy playing sax in the local Jimmy Carr band from the age of 13, and joining the Eric Delaney big band at 16. But the Blakey Ridge experience was quite extraordinary.
You would drive out on to the N Yorks Moors, invariably in either snow, rain or fog and not see a soul for miles. Yet when you got to the Lion, the sole human habitation on Blakey Ridge, the car park would be overflowing and the pub packed out.
The group itself made it all the way up to residencies at Ronnie Scotts’,played many international stadia and got a record contract with Warner Brothers. Their first home produced vinyl LP, Back Door, is now a collector’s piece fetching astronomical prices, and features on its cover the back door of the Lion Inn itself.
Ronnie went on to compose, arrange or play on a multitude of scores for the biggest American TV shows. If you ever heard some swinging or wailing jazz sax on The Simpsons, Friends, Sesame Street, Baywatch or the like it was either being played or scored by Ronnie.
Ronnie died of a stroke, aged 57 in 2003. The Guardian paid him the tribute of a major obituary, but he was a modest genius, who may not necessarily be widely remembered now on Teesside, but who is absolutely unforgettable to those who had the privilege of seeing him jamming late at night at some small, but jam packed Teesside club.
I once camped in the field outside the Lion Inn one wet summer but Back Door didn’t play that week. I was very disappointed not to see them.
I too used to go fairly frequently. I was aware of Back Door but never actually got to see them. Maybe now is the time to download done if their music.
I remember driving up from Guisborough and it was so foggy that we drove right past the pub and had to turn round in Hutton Le Hole and go back.
Many a hiker has taken shelter at the Lion when blizzards and snow drifts occurred, some for several nights.
I can see the argument of playing Traore down the middle.
Most teams play a pair of centre backs and two holding midfield players so you are going in to a more congested area. He would be effective there. We haven’t seen any great finishing skills as yet.
My preference is still on the right because he draws players to him and will pull defenders/midfielders to him. That will create space for others in the middle.
He is still a work in progress but may be we are seeing some of the progress.
Memories Ken.
My first meeting with Ronnie was when he joined Rivers Invitation, formed after the break up of the Crawdaddies or The Real McCoy as the became know as when the signed to a record deal.
Ronnie also had a sax playing partner in that band called Ray Dales, who is still playing at 80 years plus.
Lots of people that played in local groups like those have a get together twice a year at the Crathorne Arms…next one later this month.
TP
Has probably been watching tapes of the team twenty four seven for the last two weeks, so I’m sure he has developed a informed opinion on the players.
Also new financial guy coming in.
Intereresting times.
Now time for the recruitment model to be blown up,and replaced.
Len
Wholeheartedly agree about the Clayton situation. We must all have had issues with co workers over the years. If the rumours are true then he and Downing need to put whatever, within reason, issue they have and get on with the job they are employed to do. I’ve worked with people I absolutely had no time or respect for, and I’m sure others thought that of me. You get on with the job, you don’t have to like them and have them round for a cuppa and a few hob nobs.
GHW
We certainly shouldn’t be contemplating letting him leave. Be that on loan or for a fee. Especially to anyone in the top half of the league. I’d have him starting alongside Howson and Grant in a central 3 when we have to be a bit tighter across the central midfield. Imo he is the only experienced player we have who could be classed as a near like for like replacement for Grant or Howson when they’re injured, suspended or lose form.
Why are some fans and reporters talking about a number 10? What on Earth does one call a number 10? Wilf Mannion alternated between wearing number 8 and number 10 for England depending which wing position Tom Finney played who he usually partnered. If Stan Matthews was on the right wing Tom Finney would be on the left. It may have happened, but I can’t ever remember Wilf partnering Matthews. For Boro Wilf usually played at number 8 in his later years with Alec McCrae at number 10, but earlier he played number 10 with Cecil McCormack at number 8. Obviously playing formations are different today, but players years ago all had positional names.
Fans today say we need a number 10, but when we need a new right back, they don’t say we need a number 2. That would have a completely different requirement, but I won’t go into that. So what then should we call a number 10, and why use that number and not number 8?
Whilst I’m in a facetious mood, I noticed that Steve McLaren has left his Israeli managerial post because he doesn’t wish to be “out of sight, out of mind”.
Now I expect Jarkko has probably heard that expression, but it reminds me of the Russian who wondered what “out of sight, out of mind” meant so he looked the two words up in the Oxford Dictionary and concluded that it meant “blind and insane”.
Also my late wife used to say that I would argue that black is white. So I consulted the afore mentioned Dictionary and one of the meanings for ‘black’ was ‘dim’. So I looked up ‘dim’ and one of the meanings given was ‘pale’. So undeterred, I looked up ‘pale’ and one of its meanings was given as ‘white’.
Quid errat demonstrandum (QED), black equals white.
Ken
That falls in to place alongside McClaren saying Magnificient when it was actually dross.
Perhaps the quickest way to exploit Traore’s pace is tell him to run away from the ball.
When our midfield has possession in a central position, he must head for the corner flag in anticipation of the ball appearing in front of him from out of the sky.
Hopefully our leaden footed centre midfields can fire the ball with sufficient ferocity to exploit his pace.
This base tactic would be best used with Traore on the right wing, as having two forwards – hopefully arriving in the penalty area – would give him twice as many targets to aim for.
This would exploit his pace to the maximum while not cluttering his head with too many instructions.
If nothing else it will drag the opposition towards their own goal.
Whether deployed on the wing or in the middle, we need him in the opposition’s half to make sure their defenders have something to worry about.
Lot of talk here about Adama Traore. Time to be realistic, what has he actually done? Not just at the Boro, but in his career so far?
If he was that good he’d be the first name on the team sheet every week. A lot of very experienced football managers have been unable to get much in the way of goals and assists from him.
If he possessed football skills and speed in that order, then he’d be a very effective footballer indeed. Unfortunately he has speed followed by questionable football skills. I imagine he is tried in all kinds of permutations in training against different defensive formations, the fact that it seems all of his managers seem unable to determine his best position speaks volumes.
It’s a place for him on the “ get shot” list from me I’m afraid. Just a pity we didn’t take the big fee that was mooted some time ago.
I see the TP has brought in his WBA Goalkeeping Coach Jonathan Gould and Dave Kemp as his No.2. The Kemp one is interesting as he had retired at the end of last season so clearly something has tempted him back, lets hope it was potential glory or perhaps getting too many jobs to do around the house!
Noticed that Woody stays on with first team duties on the Coaching side rather than returning to the under 18’s. Woody turns 38 at the end of this month so I’m wondering if he is seen as a progression plan after TP either leaves or retires in a few years time?
Not as First Coach or Manager I hope RR??
RR…..Plus Mr Pulis has only agreed a18 month contract. If we are not promoted either this or next season he will be off.
Pedro
I suspect he thinks if it isn’t done in 18 months then he ought to move on in any case.
Or……. negotiate a new one in the PL.
I think the 18 month is to allow a reassessment for both parties and indicates that SG and TP are both realistically aiming for promotion by the end of next season but would of course happily take it this season. If we go up I suspect that the contract will be extended.
If we figure that TP stays for say 4 years Woody is 38 in a few weeks time so that would make him 42. AK is 44 right now so its not beyond the realms of possibility plus as a player Woody has worked for some top Managers. I’m not so sure personally about his suitability but if TP rates him and he serves his apprenticeship well then who knows? I think I’d rather he went to the lower leagues and proved himself and whatever methodology he would employ first before being given the Riverside reigns.
I always remember Bob Paisley taking over from Shankley at Liverpool.
Oh doom and gloom and woe is me…..
He went on to be Liverpool’s most successful manager
And when he was ready, up from the playing field stepped Kenny Dalgleish!
So it can happen….
Let’s hope we can have some of the same success
OFB
The only way TP will stay 4 years is if we are in the Premiership. Would we really want another rookie manager there?
Timing, manner and circumstance can lead all of us – me included – into believing that a player is better or more important than he actually is.
As it probably was, and maybe still is, with Adama. Even *I* can’t make up my mind whether he should stay or go.
Inconsistency and unreliability or not, he was the one player bar pre-wobbly-throwing Gaston that could actually get fans off their seats in 2016-17. That kind of pace? In an AK side? Who’d have thought it? Hence you totally understood their frustration and anger when he didn’t play.
But, all too often, the counter-argument to all that excitement is… to what end?
I wouldn’t play Traore anywhere, other than on a different pitch to the one Boro are playing on.
He’s a liability, plenty of managers have tried and failed to make something of him.
He doesn’t score, he doesn’t create assists he’s a liability when we’re out of possession, get shot sharpish.
Clayton on the other hand is a different issue, he cant have been marginalised simply because of a falling out with Downing, that doesn’t compute with me, there must be more to it. If he was marginalised by Monk and that continues under Pulis, then it would appear to be a serious issue. He’s a good championship player so there’s a serious issue there for him to be out of the squad.
As for Forshaw, he’s a bit lightweight I think, wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave.
Nigel
I think both of our midfielders will go.
I could be wrong but I think Clayton and Forshaw if they don’t play Saturday are away !
OFB
If they haven’t played or at least made the bench under TP I think anyone left who doesn’t play on Saturday are toast.
Nigel
Agree about Foreshaw who’s gone from a forward thinking centre midfielder to one whose first thought when he gets the ball appears to be who can I pass back to. Someone, has for me, made that a deliberate and conscious decision and all to the detriment of his career.
As for Traore I’m in the keep him camp. I totally agree at times he’s a defensive liability but a new manager will hopefully play to his strengths. This for me would be to say to him whether he’s on the right, left or central, don’t come more than a yard in our half as we’ve got the midfield and defence to cope without you so stay up front and occupy 2 or 3 of the opposition. I’m not saying build the team round him, far from it, but he is imo a good option to have at our disposal.
I posted earlier that you don’t have to get on with everyone you work with, so if it is an issue between Clayton and another player then they or the manager should sort it out. If that means not talking to each other but being totally professional on the pitch like Sherringham and Cole at manure, then so be it. A strong man manager like TP will hopefully resolve whatever the issue is. If not don’t let him go to anyone in the top half of the championship.
Forshaw is a continuity player who oils the wheels, he was never playing incisive and devastating passes or thunderous shots. If he goes it would be a shame but where is he in the pecking order? Got to be fair to the player.
Looking ahead, I wrongly assumed that our match was selected for TV because of the 1.00pm kick off time but I cant find it in the listings.
Never mind.
Ian, I agree re Forshaw, he’s good enough to get a regular game with a decent championship team. If he goes i’ll remember him for his commitment and effort in the first half of last season.
I would certainly keep Traore. He is still very young . So plenty of time for TP to work with him. He is a player that with his speed and trickery excites the crowd but proves to be a nuisance for the opposition.I believe he can be a success for the team .Why should we sell him ?
Well I’ve had a few days enforced break away from the blog as I had two pressing deadlines on a couple of design projects to clear. Four games in ten days over the festive period certainly was a challenge but thankfully we’re back to one game a week again. I’ve been trying to catch up on the comments and noted there have been some excellent contributions over the last few days – I particularly enjoyed Len’s, who treated us to a feature post on his perceptions of Tony Pulis and the display at Preston.
Well after signing off my design projects, it was back to thinking about Saturdays game and what is becoming the last chance for players to impress Tony Pulis before he sits down with Steve Gibson to discuss their futures. Anyway, here’s my preview ahead of the game on Saturday…
https://diasboro.club/2018/01/04/fa-cup-boro-vs-sunderland/
Won’t be here next season
Dimi
Majiers
Fabio
Leadbitter
Forshaw
Fletcher
Christie
Johnson
Clayton
Guidiora
Friend
Some this month, and maybe a surprise sale?
All change , at Butlins