| Middlesbrough | Sheffield Wednesday | ||
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
49% 21 9 9 8 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
51% 12 1 3 6 |
Wednesday woe for weary Boro
The South Yorkshire club last battled with Garry Monk’s Boro in December in what was to be a fateful day for both Club’s Managers. It’s not often after a game of football where both Managers get the sack. Boro’s fortunes haven’t improved much in terms of placings since then but performances have, albeit somewhat subjective without the points return to prove it. Wednesday on the other hand have been on something of a run (or so I had read in a few places) but I have yet to understand how exactly as since the defeat against GM’s Boro they have played five, won one, lost two and drawn two in the Championship. Hardly breath-taking and nothing I would suggest for Boro to get worked up about. I guess it all depends on when or where you start measuring and since Jos Luhukay took over they had in fairness been unbeaten in his four games in charge prior to tonight albeit that includes the FA Cup, stats eh!
No doubt they will have missed Tom Lees their influential CB who was reportedly back in training but felt (hoped in my case) unlikely to be risked at the Riverside or so was the general consensus amongst Owls fans in the build-up. Jos Luhukay will have been pleased to get some good news about Lees in terms of fitness with his squad because Barry Bannan, Kieran Lee, Gary Hooper, Kieran Westwood, Fernando Forestieri and Sam Hutchinson were all ruled out with injuries. Surely with that list of predominantly their best players (bar Rhodes, Butterfield and Reach of course) they were there for the taking if Boro got their act together?
For Boro Dani Ayala was our only selection poser regarding fitness with the big question for Boro fans being would Fry or Christie start at the back. Up front was more of a lottery as TP seemed no nearer to settling his offensive unit although the Cup game against Brighton may have whittled his thought processes down a bit. Prior to the team announcements Gestede was considered the likely target man especially in case Nuhiu was playing to counter him at set pieces more so given Ayala’s likely absence. As it transpired neither Nuhiu nor Gestede started the game and Dani Ayala’s ice packs must have worked miracles as he once again lined up alongside Ben Gibson taking his rightful place surprising most in attendance.
TP largely went same again as QPR and why not, we scored three goals away from home and that had to be the objective tonight as the three home games so far under his reign have all fired uninspiring blanks. Traore started on the right in front of Shotton, Stewy in the middle with Bamford left and Britt up front. We started the game with some intent and chased, harried and closed down to good effect and looked by far the better side. That lasted for the first quarter hour and then the game dipped along with our intensity and like as not energy levels. It all got a bit messy after that for both sides.
Wednesday had won the toss and switched ends so that Boro started the game playing towards the North Stand in the first half. If it was a deliberate Traore trap then perhaps it was a masterstroke as without Pulis barking orders Adama looked lost again. Granted he did have some spectacular runs and indeed managed a free kick early on in a dangerous position just outside the Owls 18 yard box for which the Wednesday culprit Thorniley collected a yellow card but the ball (like most all evening) floated in was too predictable aiming at Dani Ayala which with the benefit of a few videos had clearly been researched by Jos Luhukay.
Adama was infuriating and breath taking in equal measure, dancing past two or three defenders regularly but with crosses that the last KLM flight arriving into Teesside Airport during this evening’s game would have had a better chance of reaching. For some reason in between his flashes of brilliance he reverted back to that lost little boy gazing at all the bright lights in the fairground, his focus seemingly distracted from what was going on around him. On a few occasions Shotton (who was excellent by the way) was anticipating him to start a run into open space behind the defence ready to play the ball through but Adama stood motionless or worse still ran towards Shotton to collect the ball.
Traore preferred the ball in a static stance and then started on a burst instead of seeing gaps, anticipating and running into them. TP must have seen the same thing as he done what most of us on here implored him not to do and switch him to the left wing part way through the first half. It went against everything in my book but it was the right thing to do as Adama appeared disengaged and very sedate during passages of play unless he had the ball literally placed at his feet from close range. It didn’t really improve things as he was very sloppy in possession, more so than ever perhaps yet still pulled a dazzling run out now and then but the crosses when they did come down had snow on them.
Britt was up there all alone but looked a forlorn figure. Chasing lost cause high balls into the box or dropping deep to try and get involved meant he was ineffective all evening. Bamford was lively but seemed to have applied too much dubbin (or the modern silicone equivalent) on his boots as the ball seemed to skid off him as he tried to control and twist and turn his way into setting up or creating opportunities. Stewy was running and chasing everything and anything, his heat map must look impressive for those tactical bods in the stand with their analytical laptops. He ran every lost cause and chased every opportunity and for me was head and shoulders MOM for his endeavour, spirit and effort alone.
Friend was equally as energetic but some of his balls were woeful and put us on the back foot but overall he got more right than wrong and at least offered some threat down his flank especially in the second half when Adama was switched back again to be alongside the dug outs. Grant was snapping and snarling in his usual manner into tackles breaking up play and Howson for me was a close second to Stewy for MOM which meant I was surprised when he was taken off into the second half for Clayton to go alongside Grant. Fatigue perhaps or struggling with a knock but if it was tactical it was a headscratcher as he was one of the few making positive runs at the Wednesday defence.
I’m struggling to recall any serious threats on Randolph’s goal all game. There were a few efforts but most were half the height of Boro’s overhit crosses all evening which meant they ended up well into the top tiers of the respective North and South stands. The biggest applause of the evening was when Adam Reach’s name was read out on the team sheet announcements and when Jordan Rhodes warmed up on the touchline. There were undoubtedly efforts and thankfully shots from Boro. Britt even managed to block a goal bound Ayala effort but most were long range daisy cutters which didn’t trouble Wildsmith in the Wednesday goal.
Paddy had an effort that was scooped over, Britt must have had his mums slippers on as he fluffed a few half chances and Stewy was limited to a few long range efforts that in truth although spectacular were not going to worry the Wednesday defence anytime soon and that includes right now, meaning that whatever time it is you are reading this at if we played until Easter this Boro side still wouldn’t have scored.
As mentioned Clayts came on for Howson in a triple Pulis swap with Assombalonga going off for Gestede and Braithwaite replacing Bamford. Nothing changed however just more over hit high balls lumped into the far side of the box where Gestede had half a chance of getting his head to them but they had no chance of being directed and besides Braithwaite was invariably busy scrapping out on the left linking up with George.
All in all a clinical and impressive Boro defence once again for the most part apart from a few second half panics. Dawdling nearly cost us a few times usually as a consequence of the ball being given away cheaply and thoughtlessly in the first instance which the North Stand expressed their views on by offering some constructive criticism none of which can be put into print on here but suffice to say it was an invitation to try the alleged Pulis style of Hoof Ball elaborated on with a few adjectives.
Wednesday were not a good side. Undeniably depleted but they were organised and effective mainly because we allowed them to be by having little serious threat up front. Adama was below his recent par tonight but still the only exciting or creative force. Stewy ran a Marathon and was in top form but there still doesn’t seem to be any organisation or planning with our attacks or the individuals charged with that responsibility. Now whilst I’m hanging these non-striking Strikers out to dry for their sterile efforts it has to be said that not all the blame can be laid entirely at their door. Tactically our offensive plays really are offensive but in the sense that they are in fact an affront to the senses of the watching masses.
Our corners seem to be to the near post for a flick on to the back post or one simple over hit ball straight to the back post where Ayala is supposed to win everything. In fairness to our tall Spaniard he does a damn good job and was unlucky not to find himself on the score sheet tonight so zero criticism from me towards Dani. It does get a bit predictable however and therefore easy to counter for the opposition defence. Adama’s runs seem to be outside the box mainly as he is fed (or more routinely collects) the ball on the flank, dances past four or five defenders but most of it outside the box. The speed he runs at and the tricks he pulls off would be far more dynamic inside the 18 yard box some of the time as the fear of a challenge leading to a penalty or the likelihood that Adama would keep on going and instead of running to the by-line he may well run the ball over the goal line!
Paddy tried but nothing was working for him and alarmingly he looked lost at times and frustrated that balls were either being played to him in tight spaces (for most of the night) or in areas that were not dangerous. He too did himself no favours as there appears to be little movement off the ball in and around the opponent’s goal mouth and far too many passes which quite frankly are just that, passes but none into space, anticipating runs or dragging defenders out of position. The result of this is defenders and midfielders easily getting back to cover, packing out the final 20 yards of the pitch and us trying to pick our way through treacle. Little wonder then that we are making zero impression at home on the goals front.
Wednesday never really tried to win this game and whilst perhaps parking the bus would be unkind to them there is a reason why they have a growing tally of 0-0 draws under Jos Luhukay. As great as our defensive organisation is a credit to the new management team our attack now stinks out the Riverside. Having £30 odd million pounds worth of supposed Striking talent at our disposal doesn’t ring true, as bad as they all are at the minute they surely cannot all be as bad as that collectively?
Something isn’t working and I accept that they may not be to the Manager’s taste and preference but as Mogga used to say it is what it is. There needs to be a little more imagination and creativity going on at Rockliffe very soon as the boos which serenaded the side at the end of tonight along with the sarcastic “Ole’s” when we managed to actually find a Red shirt and string a few sideways passes together will grow in parallel to the frustration levels.
Tonight was the game were the tangible improvements under TP spluttered and the new Manager’s grace period severely tested. Sometimes in life we have to be accepting of what we have versus what we would want or even like and make the best out of it. I don’t think that right now we are making the best out of our Strikers, as good or as bad as they may all be. The fact that Dani Ayala is TP’s top scorer tells a very monochrome story.
Pulis hoping for no last-minute
surprises on or off the pitch
Boro play host to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday evening with Tony Pulis hoping to avoid any more last-minute surprises both on and off the pitch as the club look to close the gap on the play-off pack while holding on to their key players before the January window closes. The previous two home games for the Boro manager has seen his team pay a heavy price for not taking their chances in front of goal as first a 95th minute dubious penalty and then a 90th minute richocheted clearance gifted undeserved victory to the opposition. You could call it bad luck or simply failure to avoid luck being a decisive factor – Boro must make their ascendency in games count to avoid future disappointments.
Nevertheless, if the game remains goalless as the clock ticks down then Boro supporters may be forgiven for wanting to make their excuses and leave early from the Riverside – though perhaps not as early as many Presidents Club attendees may have claimed to have left when quizzed by the media. However, should Boro unwisely gift the Owls a late winner then it will no doubt be received by the Riverside faithful with as much jaw-dropping incredulity as an ‘unspiced-up’ wife of a City banker who was romantically presented with the plastic surgery auction prize on her husband’s return from the Dorchester ‘charity’ event.
The return fixture against Sheffield Wednesday comes barely a month after both teams met in what became the gold-standard of post-match managerial carnage that would rival anything a Nordic BBC Four subtitled thriller could offer. Two hitmen, two bullets and not so much as a ‘God rest you merry gentleman’ as the ruthless chairmen showed that they had what it takes to despatch their respective puppies, that in the end were not even for Christmas. However, in the ensuing confusion as the bag-men of Swansea rushed to clear up the crime scene they appeared to take the wrong body back to South Wales. In a rather unexpected plot twist, where Monk was being quoted as favourite to return to his old club, the managerial casualty of the night that ended up at the Liberty Stadium was instead former Owl’s boss Carlos Carvalhal. The Portuguese manager still hasn’t been able to remove the smile of disbelief from his face every time a camera is pointed in his direction – what’s more he’s actually only lost one of his seven games since taking charge. It just goes to show that landing on your feet is far easier if you haven’t spent most of the season shooting yourself in the foot.
| Middlesbrough | Sheffield Wednesday | ||
| Tony Pulis | Jos Luhukay | ||
| P28 – W13 – D5 – L10 – F38 – A27 | P28 – W7 – D11 – L10 – F30 – A34 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
8th 44 1.6 72 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
17th 32 1.1 52 |
| Last 6 Games QPR (A) Fulham (H) Preston (A) Aston Villa (H) Bolton (H) Sheff Wed (A) |
F-T (H-T) 3:0 (2:0) W 0:1 (0:0) L 3:2 (1:2) W 0:1 (0:0) L 2:0 (0:0) W 2:1 (0:1) W |
Last 6 Games Cardiff (H) Sheff Utd (A) Burton (H) Brentford (A) Nottm Forest (A) Middlesbrough (H) |
F-T (H-T) 0:0 (0:0) D 0:0 (0:0) D 0:3 (0:1) L 0:2 (0:1) L 3:0 (2:0) W 1:2 (1:0) L |
The Owls new boss is Dutchman Jos Luhukay, who has seemingly been plucked out of obscurity and has spent most of his managerial career in Germany. He bears the resemblance of a sad-eyed daydreaming character from a Coen brothers’ black comedy who has spent his life in Minnesota hoping his life will become a little more exciting, then instantly regrets it when it does. Whether the two goalless draws in his last two Championship games have quickened his pulse sufficiently to qualify as excitement is uncertain, but hopefully he’ll find his first trip to the Riverside particularly suited to those less than happy-looking eyes.
Luhukay got his first big break in management at Borussia Mönchengladbach when he was promoted shortly after becoming assistant following the resignation of current Bayern Munich manager, Jupp Heynckes. A team name which spawned one of the more famous cult German football references in indie pop with ‘Supercalifragilistic-borussia-mönchengladbach’ by Half Man Half Biscuit – though not to be confused with their other footballing-themed musical classic: ‘All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit’, which in case you were wondering was like an Arsenal shirt but bright yellow with maroon sleeves that was guaranteed to make you stand out in the crowd. Indeed, some may even recall the band’s other 80s singles ‘The Trumpton Riots’ and ‘Dickie Davies Eyes’, which of course was named in homage to the Kim Carnes hit about Bette Davis’ peepers.
Sadly, just two months into the next season there were few crumbs of comfort as Borussia sacked Luhukay for bad results, which is often the way the cookie crumbles in football. Perhaps pushing the metaphor a little further, he then like a well known four-fingered chocolate biscuit, gave himself a break before snapping back into action as the manager of German second division Augsburg – who you may remember were Boro’s final pre-season opponents in the summer. Incidentally, this was the friendly that also heralded the beginning and the end of MFC’s attempt to stream matches online as the project crashed and froze after just a few minutes – more iFolorn than iFollow. Anyway, in the Dutchman’s first full season, Augsburg narrowly missed out on promotion when they finished third but went one place better the following year and gained entry to the Bundesliga.
Luhukay resigned at the end of his first season in the German top-flight with Augsburg and joined second-tier Hertha Berlin in 2012, winning promotion as champions at the first attempt with only two defeats. He remained at the Berlin club for a further 18 months until being sacked in early 2015, before being offered a place in the hottest of hot seats at Stuttgart for the 2016-17 season. However, he resigned after only 5 games due to ‘conflicts’ with the chairman, leaving the less than stable club looking to appoint their eighth manager in just three years. So after 15 months out of the game, Sheffield Wednesday have decided perhaps this 54-year old second-tier German league promotion specialist was the man to get them back into the Premier League – maybe a bit of a random choice but it seems most managers are these days.
The difference for Tony Pulis as Garry Monk’s replacement is that he is still under pressure and expectation to achieve the original goal of promotion. The job of Luhukay is to halt the slide and stabilise Wednesday’s Championship status, as all but the pathologically optimistic Owls supporters would entertain an outside shot at the play-offs. I’m sure many will gladly swap positions with the Boro manager, although there is still a difficult job ahead to unpick the imbalanced squad, whilst simultaneously banking the points required to fulfil the aspiration of a top-six finish. It’s been clear that in the few weeks since he arrived, Pulis has already restored a sense of purpose to the team on the pitch – the problem he can’t easily address is how to reconstruct a creative forward line from the seemingly disparate collection of expensive attacking players.
Most Boro observers have pretty much agreed that Downing and Traore have nailed a starting berth under the new manager, plus it’s become increasingly apparent that the prerequisite big-man Gestede is the gaffer’s preferred option up top. This essentially leaves the £40m combined hidden talents of Britt, Bamford, Braithwaite and Fletcher are most likely competing for just one place. As each week passes it appears that none of these players have put in performances that have whispered let alone shouted ‘pick me’. One of these four one-trick ponies of the apocalyptic level of spending need to be a revelation pretty soon if they are to convince Tony Pulis that they should satisfy his requirements come judgement day.
A player who seems to go from strength to strength under Tony Pulis is Adama Traore – he’s quickly becoming (and I mean quickly) the heir to ‘The Little Fella’ in the eyes of many supporters and this is demonstrated when he receives the ball by the rise of excited decibel levels from 0-60, which is almost as fast as the finely tuned motor of the player himself. It’s a timely reminder that in spite of all the talk of football methodologies, tactical formations and understanding, there is nothing better than seeing a player in full flow with a seemingly magically control of the ball playing with the joy and belief that the game is there to express yourself. The talk of possible offers being made by the usual lower to mid-table Premier League clubs is only a symptom of how far he’s come but as Ben Gibson so succinctly put it “Let’s not get carried away. Adama has scored one goal for us. When he has 30 people can talk about him moving.” – wise words indeed from an old head on young shoulders – or should that be the other way around after carrying the burden of our failed Premier League season?
In terms of team selection, the Boro manager will have to decide on who will try to replace Daniel Ayala after he limped off against Brighton – in theory Dael Fry is more than capable of stepping in if Pulis doesn’t want to disrupt his back-line too much. It will depend on whether Christie has convinced his manager that he can defend or if Fry is rated as highly as he was earlier in the season. Most will expect Leadbitter to return in the middle and I’m sure someone in Nottingham will be viewing who gets the nod with interest too. In terms of other departures, I don’t think Boro will budge much on their asking prices for those players that are being coveted – the reality is that financially Boro don’t need to sell, it’s just a preference to trim the squad that will leave them open to the right offer.
So will Boro put the game to bed nice and early to leave their supporters dreaming of a trip to the Play-off final in May? Or will the Owls put a screeching halt to the plans of Tony Pulis as they apply the brakes on his promotion progress? As usual your predictions on score, scorers and team selection – plus will Tony Pulis be sporting his new lucky Dukla Prague away cap?
Hoping that tomorrow night brings echoes of ’74 against SheffWed and not echoes of a few seasons ago when somehow or other we contrived to lose 2-3.
I’m off to Norwich on Saturday with the hope of seeing an on fire Traore. Words I never thought I’d write.
Its going to be a busy week, two wins would bring hope…..
Tomorrow will be a busy day for me with an early client meetings to facilitate a drive up to The Riverside, so an early post.
The usual high standard from Weder, thank you again.
I am hoping to see Traore on fire and taking pot shots at the Owls to clip their wings good and proper.
I don’t expect to see 8 0 as I did back in 74 or indeed the awful performance of AK Boro at Hillsborough in 2014 or 15.
I will go for 2 0 with the changes being Fry for Ayala, Leadbitter for Clayton, Downing for Fletcher and Gestede for Bamford.
UTB
Many thanks BBD and I would certainly settle for 8-0 – possibly even 6 or 7 nil…
How do you do it Werder , another amazing read. Love it.
As for the game , well I am hopeless at predicting but obviously hoping for a win. Strongest team must be put out , TP will know now what that is surely. I am desperate for Bamford to do well and I hope he is given another chance but would not be surprised if he was dropped.
Thanks Braveheart, glad you enjoyed the article and it will be interesting to see who gets the nod up front – Bamford seems to have lost his focus a little as the season has progressed.
Did I post I think we will win 2-0 ?
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
Win 2-0
That is unless it’s ⚽️⚽️
Do you think Boro will win 2-0 by any chance?
Grant back
Fry in for Ayala
Downing playing no 10 role
Gestede up front feeding
Off Traore
Another strong rumour
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-jack-harrison-set-for-boro-as-city-move-to-beat-stoke
Middlesbrough are hoping Manchester City will send them England Under-21 international winger Jack Harrison for the rest of the season, TEAMtalk has been told.
Boro boss Tony Pulis is looking for a couple of a loan additions to his squad, and Harrison is one of those he is targeting.
Boro have now opened talks with Man City with the hope of landing highly-rayed Harrison, for at least the rest of the season.
Despite being based in America, Harrison has been capped by England at Under-21 level and is rated highly.
Don’t know how you do it, Werder. Must be something to do with not having a minute to yourself, what with family, work, shopping, this Blog……
Well done, anyway. Loved the idea of the Dukla Prague cap!
Cheers Dormo, plus it’s half-term tomorrow so the minutes will be in short supply this week!
T’wits 2 T’woos 1
Never mind the players. We should be more worried that a big publication makes a late swoop for Werder.
That’s the best yet, and I can see he’s really growing into this role. A tour de force.
Sublime gags, topical references and regular dips in to pop culture.
Bravo!
Many thanks GHW – There’s no truth in the rumour that I’ve been illegally approached for a loan deal from Wonga Weekly…
Tuesday 2 Wednesday 0. They must be gutted that the match is played today.
Traore and Howson scoring. I hope I got the latter’ name spelled correctly.
Up the Boro!
Another good preview of all things Boro and many things German. Just a tad disappointed that you didn’t manage a reference to the club of my forefathers, Eintracht Frankfurt, or should that be Frankfurt United now up to 3rd in Die Bundesliga.
With Boro though, will they be able to break a sequence of 0-1 home defeats? They are due a draw of course, they might even break the sequence with a 0-2 defeat. Surely not! They have become more unpredictable than normal. No, I think it will a home win but not surprised by any result excepting a 3 goal win or a 3 goal defeat. They’ve been teasing us now for several weeks by almost getting into the top six but never quite achieving it. Whatever the result of course, they can’t reach that position tonight.
I’ve previously mentioned that it may well be Easter before they reach a playoff position, and I think that would show a fair improvement under TP. So no predictions of the score from me, but am expecting a narrow win.
Thanks Ken, though sorry I couldn’t find an Eintracht Frankfurt for you, but you’re right that ‘Eintracht’ does mean ‘unity’ and probably does therefore translate as Frankfurt United – though are you saying that you are descended from Frankfurters?
Werdermouth
Certainly am, a member of the Kraus family.
Brilliant once again, Werder. We are spoiled.
I don’t have a major preference if it’s Fry or Christie who come in for Ayala. I feel the loss of the big Spaniard will be felt either way to be honest. I do expect Grant and of course Downing to start (otherwise why not play them at the weekend), whilst Gestede seems likely to come back in.
The important thing is not to lose 0-1. You get the feeling we’re on the cusp of a complex and should it happen again, that could be that for any play-off hopes.
We seem to have reverted to Karanka-esque in a way – score first and chances are we’ll win. Don’t score first….
Thanks Andy, though you shouldn’t forget Boro have twice come from behind to win recently in the visits to Preston and Sheff Wed – though the home form is yet to take off in the same way as perhaps our counter-attacking game doesn’t have the same effectiveness.
I’m breaking a rule against the Owls – I don’t normally do the prediction thing because I don’t give a Hoot about the score as long as we win, but I’m going for a very optimistic Two to us, Wit’ none for them.
We’ll need our strikers to show that they can hit a Barn door and I expect to hear the Screech of brakes as their defenders try to stop Traore. As long as he doesn’t go off with a Torn Knee (sorry!), I’ll be happy.
Owls of derision !
Gerrim off!
Boom Boom
Very good Martin, you really pushed the pea green boat out with those Owl puns…
Thanks for another cracking piece Werder.
As I see it the 3 games we have lost 0-1, one to an outrageously bad penalty decision and another to a freakily spawny goal, the problem seems to be in our inability to create and convert chances at the other end. Our away form under TP is excellent and if our home form were half as good we would certainly be in a good position for a play off spot.
Are our front line strikers all suffering from a crisis of confidence at the same time, or more worrying, are they just not up to it? Bamford has done at championship level and Braithwaite has shown flashes of having the ability. Brit “just scores goals”, although not for a while and Rudy has the physical presence needed for this league. Only Fletcher, in my opinion, hasn’t got what it takes at this level. He may come good as he matures and fills out a bit, but at the minute not for me.
When and hopefully not if TP can sort our misfiring frontline out then a play off place is a credible target. Tonight would be a good time to start.
Middlesbrough are talking to Everton over a loan deal for Mo Besic and Leicester for Andy King.
The above reported in the Mail, what are the thoughts on Andy King.
Come on BORO.
Andy King
A welsh international who has won the championship and premier titles.
He’s also a welsh international and Pulis will know him well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_King_(footballer,_born_1988)
OFB
Experienced, solid, goal every six games and does what it says on the tin. Very good at Championship level and would I think be a decent signing for us. I would have thought however that clubs nearer to Leicester would be interested in him, like Forest to name one which would make a move easier for him and any family.
If Besic comes in does that signal the exit door for Clayts I wonder? The press are awash (well the obsessed Nottingham Press anyway) with stories linking both Clayts and Guedioura to AK. I don’t think any of us will miss Guedioura but Clayts is number three in the pecking order after Howson and Grant. Injuries or suspensions could leave us very light assuming that Baker returns to Chelsea. If Besic becomes the replacement for Clayts that could be a worry given his injury record but I guess TP sees it as an affordable upgrade with a “try before you buy” plus moving out one of the old brigade with an aversion to passing forwards.
Mentioning Baker above, its strange that TP hasn’t tried him in games considering that Guedioura got his 50 minutes of fame at Preston. Either he doesn’t rate the lad and I have to admit that the times I’ve watched him I struggle to see what he is. He isn’t fast and pacy and doesn’t seem to have the physical aggression to be a snarling midfielder. There again when he did get a start he was invariably out of position and a lot of players were not functioning anywhere near their potential so difficult to assess objectively. He was apparently labelled as a goal scoring midfielder something we could do with in theory. I would guess his best slot might be alongside Leadbitter and Howson in a 433 set up?
The Jack Harrison link doesn’t fill me with any confidence at all as the lad hasn’t played since November in the MLS which is more of a Circus rather than a gritty Championship style League. The lad may come good but I have this Jeffers/Wilshire feeling towards the lad, unfair I know but I just “feel it in me waters”. We need tried and tested and proven players right now, not someone else’s project.
The whole thing about New York and Man City having the same Arab owners and farming the Harrison lad out for experience is exactly what is wrong with Football today and how the authorities, FIFA, UEFA and the various FA’s have destroyed the game purely for greed. I read yesterday about another lad Chelsea were interested in and the report stated that it is very unlikely he will ever feature with Chelsea but will be loaned out, developed, his value increased and sold on for a profit. I can almost hear Alexi Sayle singing “Hello Roman got a new midfielder” with background vocals from Del Boy.
Heard a whisper that Ayala may be fit for tonight but I also know that TP likes a guessing game and keeps his cards close to his chest. Who knows but with Dani’s injury preponderance especially around this time of year, I remain sceptical but hope I’m wrong. It looked more than just a tweak or slight pull to me but perhaps he has been told by the Physios that the first sign of anything no matter how slight to come off to prevent longer term damage.
🔴 Congratulations RR that was the 20,000 comment since we started – Werder
Poetic justice that RR should be credited with comment number 20,000. Amazing!
Jack Harrison is very much left footed but can play on either wing. He’s slight in stature with quick feet and great close control, although as he’s only just turned 21 (so nearly a year younger than Adama) whether he’s immediately ready for the physicality of the EPL would be a concern. Lewis Baker, another technically gifted and clever player, is older, bigger and ahead of Harrison in his development but can’t get a look-in for us lately so I’m not sure how Harrison’s profile fits our squad right now.
This is probably a bit ridiculous (so everyone feel free to laugh) but Viktor Fischer has managed just three games this season for Mainz. Assuming that the lad isn’t injured would a loan back to the Riverside to give him game time benefit all parties (especially for the lad as there is the small matter of a World Cup looming)? I always felt that there was more to him but he looked (to me anyway) restrained under the regime at the time.
RR I think it is unlikely we will see Fischer again but I agree with the point you make.
He, like a number of players in recent years, was not given sufficient game time or an extended run in the side.
You sometimes have to play a player continually, even when they appear to be struggling, to eventually get the best out of them and to enable them to form an understanding with team mates. Instead they have been chopped and changed far too often by previous managers.
Onto tonight, another excellent read from Werder thank you.
If Dani is not fit then I would hope to see the return of Fry + Leadbitter & Downing. Up front I would pair Bamford and Assombalonga but may need to include Gestede instead to combat the height and threat of Nuhiu.
Still not confident that we can create and take our chances so am going for an OFB historic choice of 00.
It was interesting to note during TP’s latest post match interviews that he commented upon what many of us have been saying has been our main problem for a few seasons. Namely, that we do not create/take enough chances and do not take enough opportunities to get crosses into the box.
There is still a mindset amongst some players of square and backward passing. I have said before that we could make Messi and Ronaldo look pretty average players with the support/creativity of our midfield.
It will be interesting to see if in time he can address this but good to note that he has quickly identified it as a major issue. Something his predecessors appear not to identified as a problem, or if they did, then did nothing about it.
Paid my iFOLLOW subscription a few weeks ago so will be watching, hopefully, via a good quality stream.
Crowd 22,222.
CoB 😎
Back in España KP, was the signing in link easy, as I often struggle and have to rely on Weder or others like yourself.
Pedro
Here is the link to SW FC –
https://www.swfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/201718/january/middlesbrough-vs-sheffield-wednesday-on-27-jan-18/
If you go onto the SWFC website and sign in to ifollow and then go to live match centre then into match centre and buy a match pass is on the left hand side of the screen. Hope this all helps.
Been busy so back to have a read. Any rumours it was because there was no hundreds pending on the blog are a fake news.
I must admit I cant get overly excited about the transfer window. A lot of the players mentioned don’t seem to provide any answers.
There are not many who prove successful in the January window. A good part is down to the fact they haven’t had a pre season to integrate. You can add they will have little game time, may not be up to speed, may be unloved.
They certainly wont be over night successes.
Our arch enemy Gasgone was one of our best January sales items, whilst it lasted.
On to tonight, 12/1 for the Owls to win 1-0 is an attractive bet but I am going for 2-1 to use. No great faith but we need to win.
Another top article from Werder.
Predicting a Boro outcome, favourable or unfavourable, is getting more and more difficult and it was never easy to begin with, so the big prediction for tonight is,
Boro 2 – 1 Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday to score in the 80th minute after Boro look comfortable for the rest of the game. Mr Pulis is apparently giving the Boro squad a tour of the seating at the riverside and showing them where Row Z is to improve their aim in the Row Z challenge.
Come on Boro just win at home, please.
UTB,
John
PS As always Werder an excellent headline article.
UTB,
John
Werder that’s the best yet just love your leaders as I have posted before, but the rest of the posters are top class. UTB
Brian
Thank you Werder The excellent Headliners continue to run and run, with always something different in the content. There is not a lot more to be said, except ration yourself to the cause and do not over do it!!!!
Probably a few changes tonight, Fry for Ayala and Gestede back leading the line with his knock-downs.
Where will the goals come from this evening now that Ayala is out? That is the problem that stops me predicting a win which we defiantly require. I think a draw is on the cards after 18/19 without one, but hope for the best and a little luck.
ian you were spot on, what would we achieve if we loaned a Ramirez tomorrow?
Guediora to Forest Johnson to Oxford both loan deals
Many thanks once again to everyone for all the comments on the article – it’s very much appreciated as usual – so to avoid hogging the recent comment list a quick thanks to FAA, KP, Ian, John, Brian and Pedro – plus congratulations to Redcar Red for bagging the secret 20,000th comment!
Do I get presented with a platinum Trabant at half time on the centre circle 🙂
Not if Ian Gill can help it !
He’s after you !
RR it should be free Press Pass for all the dedicated attendance you do. And a free Pork Pie and Bovril to boot.
It will probably be more platinum/rust coloured and Ian may need to give you give you push start…
I have a suitable place for the starting handle!
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20,000 to Redcar Red. Just because he is your main correspondent and writes great match reports that is a disgrace.
Infamy, infamy etc. It is like one of those clubs where the committee always win the raffle prizes.
OFB
Guedioura to Forest on loan. If they cant afford the fee can I suggest a collection?
Well I’m sure one of us would drive him there
Just brilliant, Werder, and written with a degree of intelligence and literacy that is beyond the competence of most football hacks. You even sent me back to look again at some of the lyrics of Birkenhead’s Half Man Half Biscuit. I’ve had a wonderfully poetic afternoon. Many thanks.
Boro 3 Sheff Wed 0
Game over by half time.
Thanks Len, glad to hear I’ve helped to give you a nostalgic 80s afternoon!
That would,be wonderful, Len, if only it came true! Wouldn’t it be good to be 2 or 3 goals up early in the game, in the knowledge we could then enjoy some stress-free football for the rest of the match?
Mo Besic looked like some player to me before his injury. If he’s anything like fit and close to his best form, he will be some acquisition. A midfield battler with a good engine and pretty good distribution. I wouldn’t call him the kind of creative type that we’re desperate for, but a definite upgrade on what we have at the moment.
I think that in the three late defeats, all the opposition teams played to a plan.
Leave out three important players, do as little as possible until the last quarter, then bring on your three subs, heave the ball upfield and keep it there, play hard, I.e. Dish it out, plenty of diving, try for corners, or free kicks, fouls do not matter, the free kick is in the opposition’s defensive area, how difficult can it be?
It was noticeable that Brighton, during the first half and beyond, passed the ball very slowly to each other with no intention of moving into our half, thus giving themselves a rest. They did this repeatedly, we, of course made no attempt to spoil the dream by robbing them and creating a breakaway, even though we had just the man to do it.
Non of this dismisses the thought that Boro maybe ran out of steam?
Talking to Gordon Jones tonight. He’s looking well after his brush with serious illness.
I’ve told him all about the blog and all is bloggers worldwide
OFB
there is a touch of irony in the Guedioura story. AK had a meltdown last January because of the transfers, now he is buying one of the same people.
To be faIr, he wanted a different style of player bringing in,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNTM9iM1eVw?rel=0
They don’t make them like that any more!
Jarkko, give us a Finnish perspective. Obviously, apart from the facial expressions (Ronnie Barker quizzical and not really of this world, and Ronnie Corbett increasingly annoyed and about to explode), how does the word-play come across to an excellent, but admittedly non-native speaker of English? Does it make sense to you? Or do you wonder what all the laughter is for?
Fork in hell
Not sure about the two loan signing coming our way. Little game time, so probably not match fit, then they have to learn a new(TP) system of play.
Still I guess that is what you get in January with loanees. we are getting them because they have not been playing.
Sat next to him tonight he looks keen and interested. Don’t forget this is a big chance for him to play in the Premiership
He was a Man U Academy player for many years till he left at 14 to go to USA when his parents emigrated
He seemed to link up with Ashley Fletcher tonight who was also an academy player at Man U
Talking to Fletcher he towered over me. I said
“You’re a big lad close up how tall are you 6’3”?”
He grinned then laughed
“Naw I’m 6’4””!”
Now he could fit the Pulis profile if we can get him to score goals
OFB
And so he went to Sunderland
First visit today, so a belated thanks Werder for another masterpiece.
Off to get my six layers on now as I fear that it will be a chilly old night in the West Stand. Hope there is something for us to cheer about.
My 7-year old has got a sleep-over with his class tonight so I’m looking forward to dimming the lights, opening a nice bottle of red and spending some rare quality time this evening with my iFollow friends – not sure what Mrs Werder’s plans are…
Harrison has signed on loan to Boro after earlier signing for Man City for £5m.
Come on BORO.
Younousse Sankharé is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 side Bordeaux. He plays as a left-sided midfielder, but also operates as a left back. Wikipedia
Height: 1.84 m
Boro In talks with him
Two one to us.
Well Ayala starts after all. Downing central with Traore and Bamford on the flanks or will Stewy and Paddy switch around?
Goodness knows how Bamford gets another start.
Well I would say the same for Downing after the first half
2-1 to Boro tonight but Bamford has to be better than he was on Saturday.
I suspect the starting 18 will be staying, if so, Fletcher, Braithwaite and Clayton going nowhere
0-0 at halftime, away team game plan working,
Whoop, whoop! Mugging warning.
After that non-descript first half maybe I got confused and it’s actually me having the sleep-over in front of the laptop – I think I’ll dim the screen as well if the game doesn’t perk up. Total lack of a decent delivery from out wide nicely matching up with the lack of conviction in the box. Assombalonga may as well have brought a book to read while he’s waiting for his introduction into the game. It’s got that 0-0 until someone panics look about it – fancy a 91st minute o.g. anyone?
Yes Ian. SW playing really tight and blocking up.
However the passing once more and the support to the front pair is absolutely garbage. At times the ball is like a hot potato, just hoof it, get rid of it. The 15 minutes or so SW had mosyt of the ball and controlled the middle of the park and the Boro let them come onto them.
At the moment it looks all the eyes as OFB would say. We certainly do not look like scoring….we just look like getting mugged.
Pedro
You do fear that something will happen in font of goal, a mistake or poor decision. At least it will be in front of the New Holgate or North Stand in old money
Of dear! We are attacking the South Stand end in the second half in this match.
🙁
0-0
An improvement, what an indictment of our attacking resources.
We have 25 hours to get dead wood off the wage bill, sadly that doesn’t leave many in the squad but we don’t need many more points to be safe. May as well clear out what we can and save the money and rebuild for the summer.
And I posted these are the 18 we will be keeping, Where are Gong Gook and Caleb Folan when you need them?
Well that game certainly had me on the edge of my seat as I contemplated sneaking off to bed – poor quality all over the pitch from both teams and it demonstrated a total lack of understanding of the rules by the players that passing to your team-mate was not a bookable offence – though some attempted passes this evening did clearly deserve a straight red. At one point I thought both midfields were contriving to re-invent the game of rugby by only allowing passing to a player behind them – plus I lost count of the number of conversion the Owls goal kickers made over the bar. So in the end no last-minute surprises – not even any surprises at all in a game that will have perhaps got Tony Pulis wondering if it was wise to claim he didn’t want to spend any money in January. Some players were clearly in the shop window tonight – albeit as mannequins. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzero – Zzzzzzzzzzzzzero it was!
Did Mr Gibson really still have aspirations to try and break into the top six after the sacking of GM?
Well on the performances since then we have not improved one little bit from the middle to the the front as testified once more tonight.
I could not believe the absolute poor level of distribution by both teams from supposed professionals. On the Boro side I wish I had a Euro for every ball George gave away or just hoofed it up-field.
It is alright TP saying he is not going to spend any more of Mr Gibsons money, but apart from improving the back four, nothing else has improved at all. In fact one could argue that under GM, the front end were more prolific.
i am not sure at all now why TP was brought in? I think most of us thought it was to try and still achieve promotion through the plays offs. Not with these players. No chance.
Clean sheet but little else to shout about. Need to issue a banjo to our strikers and let them practice on a herd of fresians.
Sorry practise.
Why? Are they vets?
Apart from that, and in comment on the match, OH DEAR ! Not good. But I don’t agree Stewart Downing had a bad first half. He was putting in the effort and hard yards and played a number of good passes and, later had a couple of shots. I would say that, with George and with Traore (MoM?) he was one of our star performers. But very little chance we’d have scored even if we played until midnight.
I hesitate to say it, but I will – my touch is better than Assombalonga’s.
Traore MOTM, sorry but I thought he was not on the pitch mentally, a little boy who wandered around the pitch saying look at the pretty green colour, in the last 10/20 he did come alive but too late. Downing/Friend couldn’t give the ball away fast enough, Leadbitter was not far behind them. We could have played until Sunday against cardboard cutouts and still not scored. It may sound harsh but I cannot see where the next home goal is coming from !
I believe we have the right manager but totally the wrong players after spending Gibson’s millions, I still have dwindling hopes of the playoffs but I believe we could get there next year, once Pulis gets rid of the dross we have now raking in big wages for doing very little.
Come on BORO.
Just shows that people can see the same game differently.
If Assombalonga is so poor up front alone, I’m wondering why TP hasn’t tried Bamford as a pure 9 yet. Will he realise too late, as AK did before him, that Bamford in the middle is far more effective than Bamford out wide? Perhaps Paddy isn’t the player he was then, but I’d back him to convert as least half of the chances Britt squanders.
Given it seems unlikely that we dip our toe into the waters marked “January Strikers, Warning: beware what lies beneath” then it would seem the only permutation we haven’t tried, especially now he has nailed down 9 or so or the team and started getting them playing coherently (where Bamford thrives under AK).
I can see Paddy supported by hard running of Braithwaite or even Harrison behind him being like a new and improved version of the Paddy & Jelle show.
didnt see the game but it would appear to some that the players are not up to it as two managers have failed to get them on the front foot.
I agree with TP that the squad is too big and trying to give everyone game time is killing consistency and moral.
Lesser teams may have a similar size squad but some of their players are young or inexperienced and would not expect as much time on the pitch or the bench.
If teams like Barnsley, Burton or Bolton had in their ranks one of Britt, Bamford or Braithwaite, I would be surprised if they did not hit 15-20 goals per season as they would be playing every minute of every game with a settled team, knowing each others game.
Interesting that the recent improvements, Adoma and the back 4, have played almost every minute. The inconsistent midfield and forward line have been chopped, changed and confused with different formations and positions.
Because we are top heavy with forwards it has taken time to figure out the best options. I am sure TP will get this right.
I hope that after the window shuts, TP picks his best 11 and sticks with them until the end of the season.
Morning everyone, night owl Redcar Red’s sterling post-match work arrived long after I’d gone to bed in an attempt to dream of the play-offs – but here it is with all the thrills and spills of last-night’s goalless draw at the Riverside. Incidentally, when producing the match stats it showed Boro had 21 attempts on goal with 9 on target, which probably includes a few that bounced more than three times before reaching the keeper…
https://diasboro.club/2018/01/29/championship-boro-vs-sheff-wed/#MatchReport
More like a nightmare I suspect!! We were debating whether we are safe from relegation yet on the walk back from the ground! Consensus was probably…………. just!
Thanks Redcar Red for the report which having had a long day and several hundred miles in the car, if I had your ability with prose, I would have written. Some of your comments were spot on, even down to the Mogga it is what it is! I actually uttered those words as I walked back to the car with my season ticket holding cousin and family.
I had hoped to see some improvement but despite having a better defence(Shotton is preferable to Christie) it doesn’t look that way.
Wednesday were poor and if they had the ability to shoot on target, we would have been in trouble.
Traore has moments of genius, followed by moments of lunancy and if he is our most creative player, then the playoffs will not happen this season as we are not playing well enough.
Agree that Downing was my MOTM, he certainly put a shift in with some great balls and runs, shame nobody else was moving into the box. There were several times when Britt was looking to try and close them down but nobody else seemed that bothered. Likewise, we stood off too much for my liking.
Whilst 20 shots is an improvement most were ineffective although how Ayala contrived to head the ball which such power downwards so that it bounced over the bar, I don’t know. Likewise we should have scored in the first half when during a goalmouth scramble all it needed was (Bamford I think but will stand corrected) to welly the ball rather than what looked like a little tap.
TP has his work cut out to see improvements and whilst he said on Tees that he won’t be asking for any money from SG now, the squad and especially the strikers are not performing what what we paid for them.
I go back to what i thought about in August, GM was a kid in a sweet shop with too much money and bought wrongly.
just a thought on team selection, I am not sure that Bamford and Downing can play together, too similar unless you play Paddy up front in a 442.
Final comment made by Mrs BBD along the lines of “why do you do keep going, you must be mad” my response was something like, because Boro is my team thick and thin and I will never give up on them although inwardly thinking that after last night, I probably should be certified!!
Another fine (and humoure
BBD
I ask myself the same question but we all know that the habit cannot be broken, no matter how poor the performances are.
RR
Spot on, as usual, with your take on proceedings. Traore is a true enigma. As you say, he had the little boy lost look about him again.
Considering how much we hear about TP’s ability to organise and how he does a lot of repetitive drills in training, the only conclusion you can draw from our non scoring striker problem is that we have the wrong personnel for his style.
I’ve already written this season off (although I’d love to be proved wrong) and just hope that the necessary action is taken to ensure the right personnel are in place next season. Unfortunately, that does mean that our infamous recruitment team may also require scrutiny.
Thanks for an informative post match report RR. Almost like being there.
Got in from work at 3am feeling confident I’d be logging on to find a first league home win under TP. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. First headline I saw on the MFC website was “Pulis Rues Missed Chances”. No sign of the result and was fully expecting another home loss.
As I posted pre match its not the keeper and back 6 that are the problem. Creating good chances and scoring goals at home is. With the alleged riches at his disposal, I’m more than surprised that TP still doesn’t know his best starting forward line, or so it seems to me as someone on the outside looking in.
Smoggyinexile
I agree Bamford wouldn’t miss as many chances as Brit does if he was given a run as the center forward. Unfortunately they have turned into the type of strikers we seem to produce at the Boro. Ones that don’t score goals!
One of the main reasons this blog is a must read for me is that different people can watch the same game and have totally opposite views on how the game panned out or how the players performed. It’s like being in the pub talking football with your mates with the differing opinions that we all have, and no one opinion is more valid than anyone else’s.
Except for Geoff that is who doesn’t know what he’s on about😉.
Tough game at the Canaries next but the saving grace is its away, and with our away record under TP so far I’m hoping for at least a point. But it’s the hope that kills you.
Having trouble on the internet here in the Algarve, getting cut off repeatedly with too much traffic on the website. Surely they can’t all be disgusted Boro supporters! So I’ll try again.
What I was trying to write, before being rudely interrupted, was that it was another fine (and at times humorous) report by RR. I’m only going by RRs reports not having seen the match nor highlights, but the general consensus of opinion on this site seems to be that, if both teams were still playing, it would likely be still goalless at this hour unless of course tiredness becomes a factor. At the moment I’m going through a period of insomnia which only watching television seems to cure, so I’m hoping that now that connection to the internet seems to have been restored, that the MFC website quickly shows a recording of yesterday’s match so that I can start watching it and hopefully fall asleep before halftime.
Of course I must be fully awake for tonight for the start of Super League on Sky’s Main Event Channel. Then tomorrow of course it’s Cas away to St Helens, a club we have never beaten away from home since 1991 (one draw, 27 defeats) – as Kammy would say ‘unbelievable’. I’m now beginning to think that Boro’s season is about to peter out with still 17 matches remaining, so forgive me if I switch my attention to Super League, a sport (and I’m not just writing about Cas here) I now find much more appealing than Football.
Is this what the Boro have come to? In my opinion SG has sold the club down the river in appointing Pulis as ‘interim?’ manager. As you know my experiences go back a long way, and what I will say is that in the past the Boro (note the definite article) were always a team who tried to play football from the Mannion/Fenton era, even the Charlton era once solidarity in defence had been established, then the Juninho/Emerson/Ravanelli era, even the McLaren era, and dare I say it, the Monk era. It seems to me that we altered that style under Karanka just to hopefully sit at the same table as the Manchelarseliverpool clubs. Forget that, we can’t compete.
What we’re now seeing is some of the worst football in my lifetime considering the amount of money squandered. I know the Allison era was dire, but we were skint then. I mentioned previously that I wouldn’t go to watch this dross if I was given a free season ticket, especially under the current manager. Do you really want to watch a defensive orientated performance game after game just because the Boro might in the future be a Premier League club? Well, it’s your choice. But for me the whole concept of Premier League football is now so pecuniarous, it’s a sham.
I don’t have the answers, and I’m too tired to try to find them, but for the club to appoint a non-football manager is anethama to my ideals. I’d rather have a club playing good football even in the Championship, than what might be in prospect if by some miracle the Boro were promoted under Pulis. I doubt if many of you will agree with my views, but I leave you with one thought. If the Boro do eventually suceed in what some may perceive as the promised land – think AFC Bournemouth as an example to follow.
RR,
A report from the heart and sounds as if the ‘attack’ or the ‘strikers’ ably not supported by ‘attacking midfielders’ are at sixes and sevens with themselves. A game to suit the grey January weather, post Christmas slump indeed.
How Mr Pulis sorts them out I do not know, perhaps it is time to give dani Ayala a John Hickton role in attack. What a mis-matched and plan-free set of forwards Boro have bought, they must be considerably devalued now although I’m sure the salaries are not.
On to Saturday…
UTB,
John
Love the way Traore is trashed, and I thought that he three times had the ball on the opposition goal line, what followed was down to our non strikers, a wild melee of lashing feet and pulling and pushing, but the ball stayed out.
Why do we persist in giving him the ball with his back to the touch line and four players around him, in addition to being in his own half. We then follow up by staying well away from him and watching. The fact that he beats the four men and drags us upfield to the opposition box is immaterial, we are incompetent, simple as that.
Why don’t we try playing him in the middle, further up field, encourage him to go into the box, he would be difficult to tackle without fouling him. We could, of course, try getting close to him, you know, a bit of interplay, like passing.
Agree with your comment about support and passing. Too often Traore and others were isolated with nobody giving him any options. TP should work on getting players into the box and supporting.
There was a move in the second half when it may have been Britt got into the box and then the ball ended up coming backwards!
Another excellent match report, RR. I appreciated all the detail, and the care with which it was compiled. Pity the performance of the team didn’t match your report in terms of quality.
Plato
Listening to Radio Tees, the pitch side commentator regularly reports Pulis telling Adama to get forward and players to pass to him. I don’t think it is the team as much as the player himself, RR’s excellent report talks about the same topic.
Despite it being a belting report, Redcar Red still refuses to report Boro goals at home. This needs to be rectified. Maybe if RR does like the nationals do and pre writes his reports and describes some goals that may work.
Ian
The nationals and TV get it wrong !
My buddy who sits next to me got a phone call at half time from his son asking why had Ayala taken a penalty and missed as Leadbitter was on the field.
My friend said we hadn’t had a penalty.
His son said sky have posted Middlesbrough and Ayala missed a penalty on the 45th minute !
So who got it wrong Big style !
RR looks like there’s an opening at Sky as a match reporter !
Looks like we’ll have to start calculating exorbitant transfer fees to keep the likes of RR Si and Werder within our team!
Excellent Report RR another silk purse
OFB
OFB,
I saw that too. Perhaps they were trying to make the game more exciting?
Back to sleep.
UTB,
John
It was also on the Gazette Live report for a while as well. It was supposedly in 48th minute. It then disappeared.
Ian,
Grasping at straws but another desperate tactic to try. Will we ever score at home?
Perhaps we shouldn’t attack at all when the opposition pack their area we just pass it around in the centre circle then our keeper draws a name and that player does a crossbar challenge, that way we are bound to score. We wouldn’t hit the crossbar. Or would we?
UTB,
John
Ian
The question is, what do we want from Traore?
When it comes to assists, we are told that he has very few, but he has assisted many goals, three last night, the trouble is our strikers fail to put them into the net. They get off scot free, he is told that he is not good enough.
From what i see( certainly for the last four matches) he is being used to hide the deficiencies of our strikers.
If we have a player who lays on one sitter every match, then he would be an ever present and a top man.
His record is better than that.
No one need worry about him, because he will be moving to better things at the end of this season.
It would be wise of us to use his all round talents, to get promoted this season, rather than ignoring the shortcomings of other people in the team.
We still have him in our box when defending, much to the delight of the opposition, and no one up field, hhm.
We still give him the ball surrounded by four players, miles from the box he should be attacking, and with the side line at his back.
This is not clever.
I can only go from what I can hear and from what the pitch side commentator was saying TP was urging him upfield and Adama kept pointing and asking about the unmarked players.
That speaks volumes about where we have come from. TP is urging him to use his assets and Adama is showing team awareness.
Still early days but good signs.
Oddly the radio gives some background detail you don’t get by watching because the pitch side commentator is telling us what is being said in the coaching area.
Well, Boro brethren.
I’m currently sat in the office with the window open and my arm hanging out in deference to Transfer Deadline Day’s Harry Redknapp, whilst simulataneously keeping both mobile phones in my hand and alternating between them for calls and texts. I searched for a yellow tie in the shops last week, but it appears that in Zurich you get various shades of blue or grey and not much in between.
Now that I’m fully in the mood for Transfer Deadline Day, I’m wondering whether I can convince Messrs Gibson, Bausor and Pulis to join me. One Jack the Lad does not a Transfer Deadline Day maketh. I’m still hoping to see movement, perhaps from our old mentor down Nottingham way, we all know he loves a last minute deadline day buy, and the little lost boy from Watford would be a lovely example. Plus, if Karanka moves to another club and moves for him again I think he gets a free baseball cap for the 3rd purchase (may or may not say TP on it).
Now, the question is, will we see a big mean goalscoring machine arrive today, despite Big Tony’s forthright messages about being tighter than the average Swiss before pay day. Indeed, I’m hoping that TP channels Swiss Tony today, as there must be some players out there who are comparable to making l…, well, let’s just leave that metaphor unfinished.
So, Boro, what do you have for us. Another Ramirez bolt from the blue? A lightweight South Korean with goals pouring out of him? A Dutch League goal machine? Or a rangy brusier from the lower leagues? How’s Dean Windass’s mobility nowadays?
Boro are at least consistent in their ability to underuse, misuse, waste or displease natural goalscorers.
Give Karanka credit for at least *trying* to build a team with the role of the modern Premier League forward – linking up play, working, running and defending from the front.
But he wasn’t the only Boro manager who did it. For example, Southgate played Tuncay and Aliadiere up front against then unbeaten Arsenal in December 2007.
It worked to perfection as both hassled and harried a team too used to having things their own way. (And yes, we won.)
The answer when a team needs goals is never the goalscorer per se, it’s the supply line. I should have caught on to this twenty something years ago when Emerson threw a wobbly and Juninho’s passes were cut off in the horrible winter of 1996, cup run aside. Even Alves, I felt, was forming some kind of understanding with fellow countryman Rochemback that couldn’t be replicated after the latter left. Trust Rocky to save his one great game for the meaningless end of season battering of City. Grrrrrr.
As an aside, note how many minutes Jordan Rhodes got on the pitch last night. Did I feel sorry for him? Yes. Am I surprised? No. The specialist goalscorer is an unfortunate anachronism in too many sides aspiring to play like a top team.
It appears our window activity will be Johnson leaving and being replaced by Harrison on loan. Jack the lad is in the MLS off season so not only is he ‘not getting a game’ for someone he isn’t match fit.
Another will be a midfielder who couldn’t get a place on a top flight teams bench before getting a seat in the stand at the Riverside leaving to be replaced by a midfielder from Everton who cant get on their bench.
Baker may well return to Chelsea and Fletcher go out on loan.
In essence it is up to what we have to kick start the season.
Unless of course someone appears out of nowhere
That seems to be a summary of what is likely to happen.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iIIuR-HjFho/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEXCPYBEIoBSFryq4qpAwkIARUAAIhCGAE=&rs=AOn4CLCa3E36bNY0u4rdsajunzxgnbWAJg
The main problem as I see it is that Traore aside, we are a very slow team.
Our slow methodical approach gives teams like Wednesday ample time to get organised and set up defensively.
We need to get these attacking players we have shelled out millions for on the ball, in and around the box, not in front of the defence around the half way line.
Gaston had some kind of pace, but we know exactly what happened to our team when he went off the boil.
Downing and Rhodes were (are?) never a solution in that regard as they’re more about placement than pace. Ditto Stuani. Bamford has a nice change of pace but he’s not pacy per se.
Agreed, but the trouble being that five of our “attacking” players all see themselves as a “striker”, but we only play with one striker, so they are square pegged elsewhere not playing to their strengths. Our midfielders are mostly all around the 30 yr old mark and not pacey, one who is younger and thinks quicker (Baker) has gone a.w.a.l. and the other (Johnson) deemed no good. Our early season outlet of flying pacey fullbacks has been culled by TP, so as you say our pace is zilch.
GHW
Totally agree.
Pu must be joking.
The art of Kung Pu’s not working right now at Boro, as our Pu Fighters can’t score at home. I’m *not* in love with The Shape Of Pu.
To think it looked like a Happy Pu Year at one point.
What to do, Pu?
Pu ok just lis (en)
It’s a load of Pu Bob.
If the Ayala penalty was on the Gazette Live Report it must have happened.
Why Ayala took a penalty when Leadbitter was on the pitch is a question the Gazette could have asked.
A question the Gazette could have asked the Gazette is why it posted up the Ayala penalty when it didn’t happen. Presumably they are not speaking to each other but wont tell each other why.
This was a question they could have asked the Boro manager if they had attended the press conference
They could also have asked their reporters why are we using information from news sites instead of hearing directly from them ?
OFB
Ref Transfer Window;
TP has rightly identified left back cover as a priority (if Fabio goes as expected) hence the link to the Senegal chap. He also sees that with SD central and the full backs now staying at home that he needs Harrison as a natural left footed outlet rather than the current square pegged incumbants. We’ve already got combative midfielders but they’re all a bit long in the tooth so Besic is his younger quicker variation. As he mentioned last night we’ve got 5 “strikers” so they need to up their game rather than recruit further. I think he’s happy to settle with that for now, drill home his structure and style for the rest of this season and go for a big push next season.
Thanks for the excellent match report RR…..as you said sometimes you see things ln the flesh that you do not see on the box or small screen.
However what I did see last night was a unbalanced dysfunctional mid and front end team of players. TP has not improved this lots of footballers at all, not by their performances anyway. So does the fault lay with TP? Has he like AK made scoring more difficult at the expense of the defence.
Plato is correct in that Traore does not get into the final third and 18 yard box enough. The BBC showed that against Brighton when he played on the different wings. His forward touchpad was non existent on the left side against his right side runs. But they still did show him not getting his touches high up the pitch. It was probably similar last night.
it appears now that TP has probably given up on the play offs this season and will probably have a large clear out (fire sale) in the summer and start from there.
Pedro
Re Traore. The point which gets overlooked is that , wherever he is given the ball he still gets away from his three markers, still gets us upfield, still puts the ball into the six yard box. Three times on Saturday.
So let us settle for the fact that his team mates are simply not converting the chances. Any unbiased observer would admit the his efforts alone should have collected nine points and an appearance in the next round of the cup in the last four games.
When watching the game and seeing a great open space in front and centre of the box, one cannot help imagining him there, on the ball, five metres from the box, free to go any way he wishes, left, right, or centre. We must benefit from a situation like that
Thanks for another excellent report RR. I missed the first 30 mins of the match due to a computer glitch which I only managed to resolve by re-setting my browser settings.
When I eventually got the iFOLLOW service to work I thought I was watching a GM team rather than a TP team.
Passes going astray, 2/3 players going for the same ball, it looked shambolic at times for the last 15mins of the first half and the second half was only marginally better.
Our problems are as much about creativity as about miss firing forwards and until we resolve that conundrum then promotion is highly unlikely.
Despite the improvement seen under TP Adama is still not and will not be the answer as he is too inconsistent and even with coaching from the sidelines still makes too many wrong decisions, fails to read the game adequately and fails to deliver an end product in the majority of situations.
The fact the Ayala has scored more goals than SD and Adama is a clear indication that they are not doing what you would expect from your offensive players.
I am not sure the problems TP has inherited will be resolved this window and it may require a more fundamental overhaul in the summer.
Last night left me feeling that there was little evidence of progression since GM’s days other than a more robust defence.
KP
All I can say is watching live as opposed to watching on TV you can see all the picture which is sometimes restorictes to what the camera sees.
Last night the Boro played well and over the past few games might have not converted chances but the shots at goal and on target have improved dramatically
There is a general feeling in the club and the fans that we are moving in the right direction and that there is now more direction and organisation
Hope this on site post gives you an idea how it feels on the ground
OFB
KP
If you expected Stewart Downing to score goals, I’m afraid you are in the minority on this blog, Traore has made more goals than most during his pitch time, unfortunately we have no one to put them in the net.
I see that AV has picked up my comment last night about banjos and bovines and used it in an early morning article or maybe it’s just great minds thinking alike. Or he’s a great mind and I’m a mind reader.
I think AV posts on here under an alias as STEELY ?
Just sayin like!
OFB
I have to agree with KP, I don’t think Downing delivers nearly enough.
The fact that we are praising him for running a lot is a damning inditement of the rest of our attacking players. The bottom line is Downing is supposed to be number 10. He has scored less than Braithwaite and barely looks like troubling the keeper. If we want to compare him to another forward that ran about a lot I present to you Jelle Vossen. Not only did Jelle run about a lot, he also chipped in with some good goals and often took tackles and chased lost causes that gave space to Bamford.
The future is not Downing for me, unless it’s wide left. We need a new number 10, one who will at least threaten to score. Could it be Bamford playing off Gestede? Perhaps. But I don’t think Downing is the answer, and I think his inclusion is down to lack of alternatives.
I don’t think that TP has had any positive impact on the performance of this group of players. Whisperings of “improvement” or “progress” from certain press quarters are simply not true as evidenced last night.
It’s points that win prizes.
Disappointing result, clearly a below par performance. We seem to be back where we were when Karanka first rocked up. Tight defence but incapable of scoring. Although the strikers we have now cost considerably more than Curtis Main did.
Been tied up most of the day (a rather oddly timed half-year half-term started at 10.30am after the school sleep-over) so just catching up on Boro events. A belated thanks to Redcar Red for another excellent well-balanced report – in contrast to my post-match post-red whine after the frustration of yet another home game missed opportunity. Boro could have been just seven points off 2nd spot if they’d have taken their chances yesterday and if the Fulham injustice had been reversed then we could have been looking at a realistic shot at automatic promotion.
Anyway, we move on (I think is what grown-ups say) but I’d just add a small observation about Adama’s lack of involvement in the Boro high press yesterday – it was notable that a few times when Britt and Bamford closed down the left and central players, the Owls escaped down the right where Traore was just stood over the halfway line waiting and watching – the same happened on the left in the second half too. It must be have surely been the plan to all press together, so not sure if that means more work on the training pitch is needed.
As for deadline day transfer activity, it looks like Braithwaite is off on loan to Bordeaux with a view to a permanent move in the summer – I’ve heard figures of only €6m being quoted in some quarters so that could be quite loss on the £9m we reportedly paid in the summer. Also as predicted in my pre-match last week Fletcher looks like heading to Sunderland on loan – I just hope there’s no last-minute hitch with his rendition of ‘Going down with the Brummies’ for his unveiling song!
Let’s see if any further Boro players get shuffled along after yesterday’s meek attacking display…
I read that Braithwaite would leave as we sign a replacement. Somehow I donbt believe it
Watching ManU struggle at Wembley I just feel we missed out on Sanchez. I know there were stumbling blocks such as fee, wages, champions league football, premiership football etc but I feel our recruitments were a tad slack!
Elsewhere, what goes round, comes round. Mahrez made his second transfer request to leave Leicester following interest from Man City. The foxes turned a fourth bid.
It would be evil of me to wish the same result as the bid for Gaston that affected us.
OK, I am evil but eminently fair. I wish them all the good luck they wished us last January.
🙂
Motherwell have signed Stephen Hendrie from Southend which must be a disappointment to Sunlun who really needed the snookers.
Well it is nice to see that I am not the only one who thinks we will not progress whilst SD is strutting his stuff. He looks good but delivers very little actually in terms of creativity leading to real chances of scoring. As SmoggyInExile said his goal tally is well less than Braithwaite’s and few assists to boot.
It is all too-late now, but in the longer term we also need to replace Grant. Traore I would sell if we got an offer of our money back.
TP has a lot to do and will have to have a large clear out in the summer.
Why all the sniping at Downing ?
I’m sure RR will agree with me that last night (and many other games) he has been one of our best players and has tried to drive the team forward at all times.
He played some exquisite balls to George over on the left and let’s be homes the only reason we didn’t win was because our strikers didn’t put the ball away
Anybody else who was at the game last night agree with me ?
Ok I’ll finish my pint off and get my coat!
See you in the bar later
Downing’ crossfield balls are in the air so long, it just gives the opposition time to regroup. It’s threaded through balls we need.
And that it my main gripe with him. He does not have the skills of Ramirez say. I am not talking about work rate, passion for the Boro etc, but about creativity that leads to real opportunities in the box area.
Personally, I don’t think he delivers nearly enough. As I said above, if he is head and shoulders our best attacking player then that is an indictment of the rest of the players we recruited.
His Gerrardesque Hollywood balls are not exactly leading to chances and goals, are they? If he has the skills to whip balls in, stick him out on the left wing and have him do it from there. Meanwhile, put someone who can stick the ball in the net and is mobile behind the striker.
For me it’s either Gestede + Bamford as 9/10 or (given our now reduced attacking options) I’d try Harrison behind Bamford. Bamford has a good header on him, so having Downing put balls in from the flank seems like a good solution.
We seem short of a proper number 10 (again), which makes you wonder why TP, as AK did before him, seems determined to play that formation if the personnel don’t fit.
Spot on smoggy
Werder and RR I have been posting the Pre and Post Match Reports on LinkedIn which has been read by past and current MFC players and staff. Gazette and Journal Editorial and Managerial staff also.
So your reports are getting in the right places…
I guess views on what Diasboro is here for maybe differ depending on your perspective – but personally speaking, I’m only aiming my pre-match pieces at Boro supporters as a light-hearted prelude to the up-coming game. I can’t imagine that they would be particularly well received by current players or staff if I’d made a satirical remark at their expense – though they are generally said in jest. I’m also not of the view that I’m looking to influence the movers and the shakers in the publishing world either – as I’m sure they have their own journalistic angle and requirements on such matters. The only ‘right places’ are where those who enjoy reading an independent alternative take on all things Boro sit.
Well done OFB…..thank you for spreading the word!!!!!
Cyrus Christie has signed for Fulham for £3.5m and BORO have signed Martin Crainie from Huddersfield.
Come on BORO.
Mo Besic has joined Boro on loan from Everton.
Come on BORO.
https://www.facebook.com/MFCofficial/photos/a.397002826987656.90475.386636354690970/1734634063224519/?type=3
Guedioura’s contract has been terminated by mutual consent.
Come on BORO.
https://www.facebook.com/MFCofficial/photos/a.397002826987656.90475.386636354690970/1734615189893073/?type=3
Boro’s Deadline Day Deals
In
Muhamed Besic from Everton loan
Martin Crainie from Huddersfield
Out
Cyrus Christie to Fulham
Martin Braithwaite to Bordeaux loan
Adeline Guedioura released then joined Forest
Joel Morelli to Fleetwood
Come on BORO.
And Fletcher too.
I’m slightly surprised that Braithwaite wasn’t given more time to adapt. Having never played football in this country, never mind the Championship, it was always likely that his transition would take time. I would not have bought him in the first place for that very reason but since he was here, I would have stuck with him as, although he has only shown anything in glimpses, there appears to be some talent there of the sort we are largely missing.
The January changes look to me like not so much improving the squad but tailoring it to Pulis’ style – Cranie for Christie being an obvious example.
Pulis himself is going to take time to get the team paying how he likes. I firmly believe he’s a man worth giving time to but others will of course see it differently.
The main aim has to be to stay in touch with the playoff positions for another month then really kick on and go into them with momentum. It could happen. It may not.
It wasn’t that long ago that Braithwaite was being hailed by Downing as ‘too good for the Championship’ – whether he’d decided that the Championship bench was not good enough for his Danish World Cup ambitions is another matter.
Werder
I agree with your stance, the way the format has developed suits the contributors to the blog. I think we are all happy for people to come and have a look as long as they behave themselves.
On to the window and to some extent underwhelming but understandable.
Guedioura leaving was no surprise, we still know little about him, his few appearances were unremarkable. No fifteen minutes of fame there.
Christie and Braithwaite have shown some good moments but will their moving on leave us worse off? Fletcher needs to go out and play, hopefully he can develop further and may play a part in the future.
I don’t know a huge amount about the new players.
I do think TP is looking to next season but hoping for success the remainder of this term.
Andy R; I agree on Braithwaite, and 5 goals + 2 assists in 17 starts isn’t too shabby in a side that’s struggling for attacking prowess. He can cover upfront and just behind so it’s concerning that we’ve allowed him to go without a replacement. TP has over-delivered on his promise not to spend money in that the fees just brought in have actually balanced the books and broke even. Fag-packet maths say Gibbo now has all his money back since relegation. Big spending Boro ?? Cardiff & Villa have now strengthened with proven EPL strikers, we look weaker to me.
Billog
I would’ve liked to keep Braithwaite as I think there’s a decent player in there. He’s shown flashes of skill and ability and with a longer run in the side who knows. Plus he will have his eyes on a place at the World Cup and warming the bench at an English championship club probably wouldn’t have him on the Danish managers radar.
This has been a pretty damning indictment of our recruitment dept.
Players sourced and then discarded after such a short period. At least we’ve managed to move them on without too much of a financial hit.
I wonder if the newcomers were sourced by TP or the recruitment dept?
I think that TP has given himself an easier job to do. We now have a first team squad of 22 and that includes Tomas Meijas and Lewis Baker, so he has a team that seems to automatically picks itself each week. His major choice is who to play up front and score the goals. Not sure about Besic, seems to be in the mould of Clayton, one goal in 87 first team games.
Re my earlier comments relating to SD and AT, these were not intended as a snipe at either player but were my observations based upon their performances and more importantly, their positive contribution/successes over a few seasons now.
I do not have an axe to grind with either individual and as a life-long Boro supporter I want anyone in a red shirt, who is dedicated to our cause, to do well for themselves and the team; more so if they are one of our own.
My comments were based on the fact that we are suffering and have done so for a number of seasons from an inability to put the ball in the net. In part this has been down to the failings, at times, of individual strikers but more as a consequence of the failings of our supposed creative players of delivering quality opportunities for others or themselves.
I have, I suspect alongside many on this forum, experienced and used performance management as a tool to both improve and enhance both an individual’s and a team’s performance. As part of this methodology, individuals and teams are set objectives/targets and their performance/contribution measured against the desired outcomes.
In the case of SD and AT, MFC have recruited two individuals who as well as having general footballing skills, able to chase and harry and drive the team forward (which should be a given for anyone in a red shirt) also have what I would call specialist skills, crossing ability, dead-ball delivery and pace/dribbling ability.
If one considers the amount of assists and goals scored by SD and AT then you would I believe have to conclude that they would be failing to meet the required performance levels. Since his return SD has scored 5 times in 93+ appearances, and AT 1 goal in over 50+. I would also venture that the number of assists provided by each player are modest.
I agree that over the last few of months SD has had more involvement in games through either playing in the no 10 role or by being allowed to wander across the front line. He has therefore spent more time on the ball but to my mind has still not delivered in so far as creating goals/opportunities for colleagues or himself and the shots he had on Tuesday were all from distance with little power/direction.
His corner/free kicks have more often than not failed to produce a positive outcome and I agree entirely with GHW’s view that whilst his 40 yard floated cross field balls may look spectacular from the stands they often do not come to anything as the defence have had time to re position themselves.
I do not believe that SD having had the chance under a number of our managers to play in No 10 position is the answer to our creativity problems and nor do I believe that he is able to meaningfully have an influence on games from the left wing. It is all too easy for opposition teams to marginalise him by close marking and by not giving him the time to get his head up and pick a pass. He was never in his best days the quickest and cannot, unlike AT, go past players from a standing start. In such situations when receiving the ball and being unable to advance he has a tendency to play the ball backwards/sideways to little effect.
AT is without doubt one of the quickest footballers I have seen as well as one of the most frustrating. He has clearly had a new lease of life under TP and has benefitted from the praise and guidance showered on him. He has great foot work and the ability to carve teams apart and whilst this is good to watch and gets supporters off their seats it’s not much use if there is no end product and he is not assisting or contributing in producing the required number of points which is the object of the exercise. The fact that he still needs to be coached from the side lines and told where to move to having played professional football for a number of years is a concern to me and not someone who I would be building my hopes on of producing the number of consistent performances to deliver the goods. If the team was firing on all cylinders elsewhere then AT is probably a luxury you could afford but not at present.
I am not sure what to make of yesterday’s comings and goings other than TP is beginning to shape his squad in his image but remain sceptical that the additions will provide the ammunition required to get us in the play offs. The recruitment/purchasing department still have a lot of questions to answer to my mind when players are purchased and then dispensed with having only been with us for a matter of months.
KP
good Post and a well reasoned argument for your view
OFB
An excellent post KP…..well thought out and written. I do not believe many could put an alternative view to your reasoning’s
Unless jack Harrison is some player and hit the ground running, then I also see very little in any improvement in the squad. The best you can say is we have reduced it somewhat and not taken to much of a hit, apart from The lad from Watford..
sorry about the typos
Great post.
Who is to blame if an absolute sitter is missed, the missed or the poor fool who beat three men and ran fifty metres to lay it on?
Just asking?
The referees fault ! We should have had three penalties to make up for not getting one !
Good post, KP.
“Players sourced and then discarded after such a short period. At least we’ve managed to move them on without too much of a financial hit.”
This.
Guediora £3.5 million ? Then contract cancelled that’s some hit Si !
There will always be exceptions.
Generally I was happy that we broke even and/or made a profit on AK “buys” we didn’t think we’d get our money back on.
Pleased we managed to hang onto Bamford and Clayton I’m sure there are players there who can be developed by Pulis
Let’s be homest Pulis has been here only a few weeks and on twitter people are moaning and expecting promotion
TP never promised that and as I’ve said before he thinks this season was already lost.
But, we are only three points off a playoff place ……
Come on Boro
OFB
Si,wasn’t it Orta? UTB!
Braithwaite – £9m and we don’t know what we will get yet. Are we still picking up a large part of his wages? Bordeaux attendances are similar to ours but I don’t know if they have the financial clout we have.
As GHW said, the Recruitment Department have to answer for with regards to our purchases these last couple of years and have been saved further ridicule by some astute and possibly fortunate sales from Bauser??. Ramirez and Bernardo come to mind.
I also assume that GM will have had a large say in who came or not, hopefully not Mr Gibson. What influence TP has had in this window, well I am sure he will have had quite a lot as he knows what type of players suit him best.
So have made these changes with the ins and outs to improved our outside chance of making the playoffs. At first look I would not of thought so.
OFB, apologies if you think I was sniping at SD, but KP has put forward an opinion as to his failings as seen by me, far better than I could have put.
I also accept that my opinions differ from others and that I do not always get them correct.
Everyone has their views which is what makes this such a great blog.
If we all thought the same it would make this boring which it’s not.
In this virtual pub we’ll have a laugh and share another pint!
OFB
Cheers to all that!
All of a sudden, following the Braithwaite and Fletcher departures, Patrick Bamfords’ importance to the squad has risen several levels. He was vying for game-time with those two, but could now find himself first choice in the forward left spot whilst Harrison gets up to speed and as our only experienced cover for Stewey at 10, Britt & Rudy upfront and Adama right. Has TP seen something in him, is this by design? Or is it an accident, a fluke of circumstances? I’d love to know.
Bamford is a Pulis type of player he’s tall and can look after himself
He is quite skilful and apparently trains well so Pulis will have tried him on the training ground in a number of positions
The one that worries me is Assambalonga who doesn’t seem to get the passes to get shots off and is otherwise a spectator
OFB
Can’t get excited about the incomings but I agree with TP on the outgoings. Johnson would have been another one that I would have moved on. Is there a clause in the loan contract that says Fletcher can’t play for Sunderland against Middlesbrough ?
I do not think there needs to be a clause in the contract as FA rules do not permit it.
There is a standard FA clause that prevents a player playing against the parent club whilst on loan
Pedro, KP
My opinion differs from both of yours but unfortunately I’m not able to come up with such an eloquent and well written post as KPs.
Downing has been consistently motm or in the top 3 for the past 4 months in most of the media when we get reported on,and Traore is the only player we have who opposition teams are absolutely clueless as how to handle.
As Plato frequently posts, and I agree with him, it’s the lack of ability of our other forwards and midfielders to get into the scoring positions that are being set up for them. Particularly by Traore.
As I posted yesterday it’s the differing opinions that make this blog a must read.
I’ll second that
I’m not sure the recruitment department has done too much wrong.
Braithwaite was bought because he was a Monk type of player, Braithwaite has now left because he isn’t a Pullis type of player.
Moving from a Monk style of play to a Pullis type of style is a big, big shift.
I think we’ll see carnage in the squad this summer, irrespective of which league we are in.
Nigel
I hope that if we are still in the Championship next season that TP will have established the core of his team and not need to make too many changes so that they can hit the ground running.
Too many changes could see the whole cycle starting again and chances of smashing the league diminished albeit I accept that that was this year’s aim!
I agree with this. I think the only accusation you could level at the recruitment department was that under Mr Orta they recruited completely the wrong type of players for our PL season. We have heard rumours and half-stories of significant behind-the-scenes animosity and power struggles which could go a long way to explaining that carnage.
I think this season the strangest buy was Fletcher. It seemed a lot to spend, but I guess you pay that even for raw potential nowadays. I personally would have tried to prise players away from Huddersfield, Newcastle etc, Championship performers who succeeded at that level. Fletcher was odd to say the least, although if he now scores 10 goals at Sunderland and sinks a couple of our playoff rivals in the process then the money is well spent, even if we aren’t getting the benefit directly.
The rest seemed designed to fit Monk’s philosophy. If you throw that out and go for arch-pragmatist TP then expect to see him throw away anyone without the mental and physical strength for the trench warfare ahead.
If we don’t manage it this season then I expect Boro to return next year with a 6ft plus team of granite destroyers who bulldoze their way to 1-0 wins week on week, strangling the Championship and smashing flair players and fancy dan wannabees in their wake. I always loved a typical-AK 1-0 win secured in the first 10mins – those times may be coming back.
I don’t see many live matches and don’t have the benefit of overseas coverage so can only use commentary and highlights.
As we know the club are given the highlights package so have no control over what we see.
What I saw was that most of the good stuff came from Adama and Downing. Most of the disappointing stuff came from our players in shooting and heading positions.
I know it isn’t that accurate a judgement and I will bow to those who see the 90 minutes.
So both Adama and Stewie are rubbish and leading lights and all points in between.
Mine is a pint.
I’m going to have to go to the bank to get all these beers in !
And mine too, OFB.
I know I started a sentence with an and. Now I’ve ended one with one.
Make that two pints please OFB.
UTB,
John
And another for me while you’re there Bob 🍻
This is getting to be an expensive round!
Err hang on I’ve just seen a mate of mine in the next bar I’ll just go and see him………
Totally agree with all the departures. We had to move players and we can’t always pick and choose who leaves.
With a smaller squad comes continuity and hopefully consistency.
Bamford must have grown 2 inches knowing he has less to compete with.
Bakers name has not been mentioned so we must have him for the year. I hope that was a TP decision and not a clause in the loan deal as I think he has something to offer.
He can’t have become a bad player overnight.
On second thoughts, Boro can turn silk purses into ………
I expect a more balanced team now and wouldn’t be surprised if Paddy gets a run up front.
It seems that the young mr. Harrison is something special, we were picked to provide him with game time, we had nothing to do with it, it was just luck.
He will be in the team and play, otherwise there was no point in the whole exercise.
I look forward to seeing him, some very special players have been impressed by him, and who am i to disagree with them.
Manchester city did not pay five million for him to sit on our bench.
Did my usual utube look at the new lads , I know they are highlights but it’s a look.
Besic looks impressive in the sense he is a little terrier in midfield and looks to pass the ball quicker than what we have,
Harrison reminds me of Charlie Adams but can run faster with the ball, and does drive to the penalty box.
We will see, I think TP as recognised we are slow and telegraph our play to much,
Strange what Karanka as done, last January didn’t strengthen at all, Forrest signing everyone, was that him or an internal decision?
Wonder if he’ll play Guediora ?
Plato
Rich people buy things because they can, there is every chance Citeh are buying him as an investment and hope his value will increase during his time here.
If he was to be groomed to play for Citeh I would have thought TP is hardly a Pep style role model and there may have been a better fit elsewhere. Baker’s time at the Riverside is hardly a reomendtaion.
Ian
The transfer was strictly a book deal.
City own the other club, and every player,
He got an under twenty one cap playing in America, city need him to play at a higher level otherwise he stagnates.
We had nothing to do with it, we are the lucky recipients.
An entire roll call of greats(think Lampard etc.) have extolled his talent.
He will play in our team, depend on it.
TP has already stated that it is the closed season in the states so he is only at pre-season level as far as fitness is concerned at will take a few weeks to get up to speed.
He has also been recruited with a view to next season as well. Time will tell!
PHILIP FROM HUDDERSFIELD
The movement of half a dozen out and 3 in, will hopefully give the manager more of a balanced squad he wants.
However we can’t expect the young winger to be an instant hit – whilst he will probably get game time this season he seems to be more of a player for the future
The Everton player will need time to get match fit and learn the managers way of playing
But the surprising addition is CRANIE from Huddersfield. Living here, I can tell you that he is not rated by the fans as he is injury prone and lacks pace and has hardly played this season. Even WHITEHEAD
has been chosen ahead of him this season and he is regarded as semi retired !! However hope if he is needed he performs ok
Unfortunate that CHRISTIE has gone to FULHAM where he will probably fit into their attacking style
Having seen BAKER play a few times I believe he is not physically strong enough for the CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
I agree with other contributors that this all points to next season being the realist push for promotion.
Apparently he is also good In the dressing room and is looking to coach
I think that’s where he will be used by TP
Just catching up. Some good posts today, especially KP.
As I said yesterday, I’ve already written off this season, so it would be a bonus if our new arrivals actually inspired us go on a barnstorming run but I’ll settle for seeing an upturn in performances at home and something to build on for next season.
Still plenty to play for. I am definitely hoping to be promoted in top two.
At worst I think we might be in top six. But not really lower than that. We have a good squad still. All the changes we made for the playing staff were logical as we have Pulis in there now.
So more optimistic than on Wednesday. Just saying, like.
Up the Boro! The mighty reds are going up again.
I have, of late, sat at The Riverside getting nostalgic about that period under AK that Smoggy alluded to, when an opposition goal was as rare as Rocking Horse ….. and we were in shock if it happened.
I’m not saying I want to watch binary football (as AV described it) week in week out but it did give us that invincible feeling, which was a great comfort as you arrived on match day. Is it possible to have a vibrant strike force and rock,solid defence? Over to you TP.
Listened to Talksport as I picked up Mrs G.
Mahrez didn’t turn up for training today, Leicester were within their rights not to accept the offer, it was up tp Mahrez to buckle down and do what he gets paid for.
Oh, the delicious irony. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
A little smile played out on my face.
Karma, you have to believe.
UTB,
John
A delicious irony indeed Ian.
Yes i liked that as well it killed our season when they tapped Ramirez up
Jarsue
Is that Kei karma?
🙂
Nah !
Chicken Karma !
Or maybe it’s a karma karma karma karma karma kameleon
Karma along please gentlemen, move along now.
UTB,
John
Karma into the garden Maude ?
Karma again?
UTB,
John
This must be a first…..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kBuegsikVbE
Not sure whether farcical or unbelievable fits best with that Ref!
Bernie has given his verdict on the transfer window, hardly a glowing endorsement.
Stating the bleeding obvious, to coin a phrase.
Bernie for the “naughty step” then.
Ian Gill, have you tried watching the full 90 minutes on the MFC website to get a balanced view.
Just saying like.
Come on BORO.
exmil2007
No, don’t do balanced views, they get in the way of prejudice.
🙂
I try not to take a stance, so much is subjective that two people can watch the same match and have different views. You can see it on TV where two pundits watch the same incident several times and still differ.
Exmil
Even on the telly you don’t get the full picture (no pun intended!). As it’s usually a narrow view you don’t get to see the off the ball running, covering back, moving into space etc unless it’s within the confines of the cameras view. Players dropping in to cover a full back bombing on, or a midfielder staying back as a center half steams past on an upfield charge is very rarely seen on tv but is an important part of the teams defensive plan.
Certainly not knocking those who can’t watch live, of whom I am now one, but being there gives you a full overview of the whole game which you just don’t get on the tv.
Typically excellent spot by GHW.
Love the outraged innocence from players and management, serial offenders both, when a ref reacts instinctively.
TV doesn’t give us reality, but representations of reality. Football through blinkers. An inevitably selective view. That’s why we should give most credence to the reports of those who have been to a game, less to those who have seen it on TV, and probably none at all to those who have seen neither. If you go to a game you see its nuances, If you haven’t been, you’re more likely simply to reinforce your own prejudices.
Excellent points Len and FAA.
As an American sports journalist once said “if you don’t go, you don’t know”. There is so much more happening on the pitch than what is happening immediately around the ball. And yet there are commentators here and elsewhere who form a firm opinion from teletext.
Welcome back, W’s M.
Been away travelling again the last few days having delayed everything until Wednesday to take in Tuesday nights game against Wednesday. The window is a bit of a dogs dinner but I always think that the January window is usually a mixture of despondent wantaways, permacrocks and optimistic punts with only a very rare decent player (Mahrez as an example) breaking the mould.
For me Cyrus was great and very enjoyable to watch but defensively his head was all over the place and he and equally guilty Fabio were positionally challenged and so it led to GM’s demise in part at least. I’m guessing watching videos etc confirmed in TP’s mind that he wasn’t the type of defender that he requires. Cranie is just a an experienced sticking plaster in case of injuries and a player who TP apparently has known for a while and as we have seen with Shotton that can count for a lot. The fact that Cyrus didn’t get a look in after TP’s arrival will have left the lad disillusioned to say the least and remember the dissappointment of the Qualifier against Denmark. A fresh start probably benefits all.
Braithwaite was a £2.5M player from League One with ngreat potential wrapped up in a £9M price tag. I believe he is better than what we have witnessed but was either square pegged or simply doesn’t fit TP’s needs either as a N.10, Main Striker or Wide player so we move on. Arguably I would guess that if a decent offer had come in forn Gestede or Bamford we would have done deals but Fletcher went on loan which is good for the lad and us and we now have three remaining strikers instead of five vying for one or two positions.
Guedioura is not worth talking about so will pass on that but suffice to say that if Braithwaite at times looked more like a £2.5M player from the lower leagues Adlene looked like 52 year old from a Sunday Pub League. Besic replaces both Guedioura and Forshaw, don’t know much about the lad other than he is unlike to be out battled or bullied judging from his past outtakes or should that be take outs? Harrison is one of those players who seems to be recruited on the basis of the recruitment team being told we need to bring in a versatile LW player and a target list gets whittled down to what is either affordable or available in the window. That Man City rate him and apparently Stoke who allegedly offered more money than City much to their chagrin probably indicates the lad has something. Right here and now we needed absolutes rather than longer term projects especially someone else’s but its January and you can only wheel and deal with what is available.
Over all with the squad a bit less heavy in some areas it gives more optimism for those remaining at the chance of some game time and probably greater understanding being built up in training and actual games. Come the Summer whatever League we are in will see a big turnover I suspect. Those that want to be here now have a few months to prove their worth to the Manager.
It was within a few days of his arrival that TP put the “Players For Sale” sign up.
Hardly used, no reasonable offer refused. Aside from Ayala and Gibson I suspect that applied to all of the squad. I’m just gutted a few more weren’t palmed off.
Looking at the squad including the new arrivals its likely that only half of them will stay the distance under Pulis come August.
Well just managed to squeeze in a match preview during half-term thanks to the distraction of bumping up the screen time allowance a little. Anyway, Boro head to Norfolk looking to continue their goal-spree away from the Riverside…
https://diasboro.club/2018/02/02/championship-norwich-vs-boro/