| Middlesbrough | Hull City | ||
| Gestede Bamford |
15′, 68′ 45′ |
Evandro | 41′ |
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
33% 11 4 4 8 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
67% 9 5 4 10 |
Boro take “The Deep” to a new level
The Tigers had won just one of their last 18 visits to Boro arriving at the Riverside desperately engaged in yet another relegation dogfight after their demotion with Boro last season. After the mutually consenting departure of Leonid Slutsky, Nigel Adkins now has the dubious task of trying to save the Tigers, something that even the WWF would have enough sense to walk away from. They are of course beset with injury problems as is often the case for struggling sides as luck deserts them and obligatory fate deals cruel blow after cruel blow. Pre match news from Humberside was that Harry Wilson and Jarrod Bowen were out along with Moses Odubajo and James Weir. Hernandez was optimistically tipped to get a place on the bench rather than a start after coming back from injury but he didn’t materialise. Kingsley was still out and Seb Larsson would be sitting out the second of his two game ban.
The positive news for Adkins was that Boro nemesis Grosicki should be near fit after a few weeks out and that Dawson would have Hector back alongside him at CB. Hope sprung eternal that tonight maybe TP might abandon the wasteful and quite frankly pointless exercise of Rudy alone and abandoned. An hour before kick-off we saw that TP had gone with the same again with the exception of Paddy back in for Howson. I have to say that there were more than a few raised eyebrows and shakes of the head in the North Stand concourse around me at the team news.
The Boro line up however was to take another twist before KO as Ben Gibson had to pull out after complaining of being unwell during the warm up meaning that Dael Fry was hurriedly and unexpectedly partnering Ayala at the back for Boro. The shuffle also meant that the spare seat on the bench was filled at the last minute by forgotten man Lewis Baker. The game commenced with Boro looking lively and in the opening quarter of an hour or so Besic caught the eye with his reading of the game and energy, chasing things like a demented Jack Russell on Saltburn Beach. Tellingly he was playing forward balls for the wide men and Gestede to chase. It made a refreshing change from the metronomic midfield norm for Boro. Bamford was again on the left, Adama right and with what looked like Besic and Downing slightly forward of Grant who was protecting the back line.
Paddy nearly opened the scoring when he almost latched onto to a ball played over the top of Dawson and Hector but his touch was a bit heavy. Traore had really looked up for this one and was tormenting the Hull defence twisting and turning them inside out. A cross from Adama found Gestede at the far post but his header glanced off the upright sparing McGregors blushes in the Hull goal resplendent in an unmissable Hi-Vis Pinky/Orangey ensemble. On the quarter hour another cross in this time from Shotton found Bamford or more honestly arrived slightly behind him but Paddy flicked up a boot and managed to add another lobbed trajectory utilising his heel for Gestede to this time head home to open the scoring. Hmmm I know I had joked pre match about a hat trick from him but one off the woodwork and now a goal after just 16 minutes had me thinking!
At this stage Boro looked comfortable, relaxed and by far the better side but they also took their foot of the gas and Hull gratefully welcomed the encouragement to push Boro as they sought an equaliser. The thought of Hull getting back into the game seemed remote but still Boro sat tight, kept their shape and didn’t seem perturbed that they were inviting pressure. Adama had a few trademark bursts so that was enough to keep them occupied as we looked completely comfortable. A bizarre Refereeing decision however resulted in a corner after Stewy had challenged and won a ball that to me at least looked like it had deflected off a Hull Player and Randolph simply ushered it out for a goal kick. Much to everyone’s astonishment including the Hull players a corner was given to the visiting Tigers in their dark blue kit (presumably due to the blatant colour clash of Amber and Black with Boro’s Red and White).
Hull now had a few Corners during the game that were taken short and had all fooled Boro several times and yet we never learnt or responded to the lesson. This one was another well worked routine and the ball came in low to the edge of the box rather than lofted into the big lads and unmarked Evandro despatched the ball to make it 1-1 four minutes before half time. Prior to the goal there had been a few moans and groans from the home support disappointed and frustrated in equal measure at the tactics Boro were employing to stifle the game and unnecessarily living on the edge at times.
Throats were being cleared for a few choice words at what was unfolding in preparation for the half time whistle along with some prescription recommendations for the Ref and his Official running the East Stand touchline. As the half closed a sloppy sideways pass in the Hull defence was latched onto and intercepted by Paddy, he sprinted into the Hull box avoiding a sliding challenge that would have had Leroy Sane or Dele Alli in wondrous freefall complete with arched back, slow motion mid-cycle turn and mid-air twist. Paddy though kept his composure, stayed on his feet and dinked the onrushing McGregor to make it 2-1 and so the anticipated cacophony of boos and jeers at half time were replaced by the joy of another of our Strikers actually scoring. His celebratory routine was somewhat bizarre as it looked to me similar to “that” Robbie Fowler one but listening to his interview in the Car on the way home it was apparently something that over 14 year olds would be lost with.
Boro were first out of the Tunnel for the second half with no changes. Randolph’s distribution had been a bit wayward, Ayala had a dodgy moment or two and Friend was running and overlapping but not really penetrating. Shotton was solid and well supported by Adama who got back and put a few telling challenges in but also caused a few nervy defensive moments but in all this Dael Fry looked the most settled and composed. Elsewhere on the pitch Besic had quietened a little but Gestede was having his best game, running and chasing and was unlucky to be booked for what was adjudged to have been a high boot in the first half.
From the second half KO Adama immediately made one of his dribbling runs that should have put the game to bed but it fizzled out along with a Besic dead end later on. Despite our superiority it had the makings of a very strange game, Boro were in control yet looked as though they were almost inviting Hull to get back into the match. Hull were clearly sensing that they could get something plus had nothing to lose and were now taking the game to Boro.
Adama broke free again down the right and skinned the Hull defence as he had been doing with ease all evening and cut the ball back across the 6 yard box for Gestede who was closing in to deflect the ball into the net to make it 3-1 and with that Rudy had doubled his tally for the Season. As I was seriously beginning to wonder if the hat trick was on he had another brilliant opportunity as the ball came to him with the goal at his mercy on the edge of the box but he somehow managed a swivelling air kick with the ball stuck between his legs and normal Rudy service was resumed.
Up until this point the game was no classic but felt we should have had a couple more goals. Instead of pushing on we sat further back than I have ever witnessed a Boro side sit back in a very long time. Defensively our defenders were in their own 18 yard box hacking and nervously swinging and slashing at the ball when it came anywhere near them not helped by our midfield that was treading on their toes. Pressure was mounting and we seemed to want to sit so far back the Red Faction had to clear a few seats to accommodate their heroes. This was defending and sitting deep that even Karanka would have found negatively dispiriting. I haven’t got any stats but I would wager that the last thirty minutes of the second half was the most time the ball had stayed in one half of the Riverside pitch. The North Stand felt totally isolated as Boro commenced desperate keystone cops, last minute defending against a very poor side robbed of key players and bereft of confidence.
It’s strange, winning 3-1 but witnessing that was an affront to the senses made worse by some tactical subbing and tinkering. Yep Adama was put out wide left again and to make matters even more perplexing Howson was brought on for Paddy to seemingly play wide left behind Adama although I suspect that it was more where he ended up than planned (maybe not). Cranie was introduced for Stewy to go and play wide right and previously Besic had been retired presumably due to fatigue for Clayts which made some sense. We had throw ins that we somehow managed to get the ball back into our own danger area whilst recycling the ball and put ourselves in trouble. Set pieces from Grant were poor and offered little including a free kick with an Assombalonga angle on it although not quite as high and no nesting birds were injured. This was painful to witness.
Winning was great, winning ugly is supposed to be satisfying but the last half of the second half was the most puerile and soul destroying performance that I have witnessed at the Riverside. It was chaotic and a marginally better side than Hull’s second finest would have ripped us wide open. Three points are three points but that was a very unpleasant experience to endure. We ended the game with Adama now playing centre forward with Rudy dropping deeper to help the onslaught and hoofing balls out of defence which came straight back at us.
In the dying embers Adama took the ball up the pitch to remind the North Stand what it looked like and brought out a full stretching save from McGregor. The resultant Boro corner ended up with a short, tight, mix up between Adama and Grant, ultimately losing possession and putting us back in danger. How on earth that constituted football on any level is beyond me, it was simply an awful second half spectacle, akin to gouging your own eyes out only less pleasurable. Ticket renewals? Good luck to the Marketing team with that one despite the win.
MOM was probably Adama again but I’m going to give it to goal machine Gestede for the massive upturn in his personal performance and of course his two goals.
Boro in last chance to salvage season
as the joy of pessimism darkens mood
If Boro’s faltering promotion campaign is to salvage anything, then they will be looking to overturn a rather rusty Hull who are listing badly as they scrap for survival while anchored just above the Championship Plimsoll line. Few will be anticipating a riveting contest as the Teessiders entertain (in the loose sense of the word) a fellow relegated team at the Riverside on Tuesday evening and many are beginning to wonder if Tony Pulis has the ability to brighten the gloomy forecast that lies ahead for the remaining voyage that once harboured dreams of promotion. The clouded judgement that oversaw the refitting of the team in the summer has increasingly left supporters feeling in a less bouyant mood, as despite a new man at the helm, Boro have failed to turn the tide with the passage of time.
Tony Pulis said this week that he felt at home surrounded by the Teesside Docks but one wonders if his Reading moment (Ottis) came a week too late as he appears to be sittin’ on the dock of the bay wastin’ time as the season drifts away – though perhaps on reflection another verse from the song is probably more appropriate: Looks like nothing’s gonna change, Everything still remains the same, I can’t do what ten people tell me to do, So I guess I’ll remain the same – it certainly sounds more in tune with his stubborn footballing philosophy and the lack of cohesion between the outfield players, which is beginning to prove less than a hit with the lost souls of Teesside with more than a hint of the blues.
The Boro faithful are hoping that someone somewhere at the club may also be able to shed some light on why this team have failed to offer the opposition something resembling a serious goal threat in recent weeks. That lightbulb moment has yet to arrive when somebody flicks the switch in the tactical head of Tony Pulis as he stares at a lone lost striker who thinks he’s on the pitch to flick the ball to an invisible team-mate who never arrives. At some point many suspect the manager may ultimately begin to wonder whether a system that employs three non-scoring forwards may not be the best method of engineering a promotion-winning team.
Whilst many players appear to be left somewhat in the dark as to how they see their futures under Pulis, a few years ago, scientists at National Physical Laboratory developed a black that is so dark that it is now the blackest substance known to man and can absorb 99.96% of all the visible light. This high-tech coating of carbon nanotubes is known as Vanta Black (Vertically Aligned NanoTube Arrays) and is currently being used by installation artist Anish Kapoor who said, “Imagine a space that is so dark that as you walk in you lose all sense of where you are, what you are, and especially all sense of time” – though after recent performances you could be forgiven for thinking it sounds like the kind of place that Tony Pulis has been taking his team to train. However, should Boro lose to Hull on Tuesday to end all but the faintest of lingering hopes for making the play-offs, then scientist will need to develop an even blacker black to describe the mood in the Riverside stadium.
As the Boro supporters still await the new dawn promised by the arrival of Tony Pulis, they at least can console themselves that they don’t exist in the twilight world of the other two teams which fell through the trapdoor of the Premier League’s darkened basement. There is a very real prospect that both the Tigers and the Black Cats will fail to claw their way out of trouble and will drop a further division down through the Championship cat-flap. Hull achieved a rare win last time out against Aitor Karanka’s Forest, which was only their second win in 16 games since we last beat them 3-1. Former Scunthorpe physio and Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has taken over from Leonid Slutsky as manager but the divisions between the supporters and the Allam family still casts a shadow over the club – despite claims that the owners wish to sell there appears little belief that they mean it.
| Middlesbrough | Hull City | ||
| Tony Pulis | Nigel Adkins | ||
| P32 – W14 – D6 – L12 – F40 – A30 | P31 – W6 – D11 – L14 – F42 – A47 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
9th 48 1.5 69 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
21st 29 0.9 43 |
| Last 6 Games Cardiff (A) Reading (H) Norwich (A) Sheff Wed (H) QPR (A) Fulham (H) |
F-T (H-T) o:1 (0:1) L 2:1 (1:0) W 0:1 (0:1) L 0:0 (0:0) D 3:0 (2:0) W 0:1 (0:0) L |
Last 6 Games Nottm Forest (A) Preston (A) Leeds (H) Sunderland (A) Reading (H) Bolton (A) |
F-T (H-T) 2:0 (2:0) W 1:2 (1:2) L 0:0 (0:0) D 0:1 (0:1) L 0:0 (0:0) D 0:1 (0:1) L |
Although optimism may be in short supply among the Boro faithful, it was perhaps the famous French mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, who did most to persuade us of the joys of pessimism. He declared that ‘Misery is the norm’ and stated “If our condition were truly happy we should not need to divert ourselves from thinking about it.” Indeed, he argued that “man’s greatness comes from knowing he is wretched” – though he probably wasn’t advocating self loathing per se but pointing out the incompatibility between the grandness of our aspirations and the reality of life that ultimately leads to disappointment. However, rather than blaming general negativity for our gloom, he thought the source was instead ‘hope’ and it was with regard to our aspirations that this hope was primarily to blame for anger and embitterment.
He believed it was far better to have limited expectations, as the religious context of his time preached that failure and boredom were not a sign of error but instead a signal that life was just proceeding according to plan. Optimism on the other hand was based on the view that things will improve and life can be more perfect, which is a philosophy that is nearly always destined to end in disappointment as he posed that mankind is a flawed species. Pascal’s work on the subject was compiled and published posthumously as the ‘Pensées’ (which translates as ‘Thoughts’) – it was primarily a theological work that used the opposing philosophies of scepticism and stoicism with the aim to “bring the unbeliever to such despair and confusion that he would embrace God”.
While the concept of scepticism probably needs no introduction for the doubt-mongers on Teesside, the move to Stoicism may need some encouragement as the concept is based on the path to happiness being found in accepting the moment as it presents itself and not allowing yourself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, while at the same time treating others in a fair and just manner. Clearly a quantum leap for the hardened football supporter to suddenly bear witness to the unfolding events on the pitch without such emotional opinionated involvement – though perhaps Stoicism is best summed up by one of Teesside’s famous sons as ‘It is what it is’.
Whether the sceptical Boro supporters will remain stoic this season is hard to say but it’s unlikely that the despair and confusion they are currently witnessing in disbelief of what has unfolded on the pitch will lead them to embrace the methods of Tony Pulis. Nevertheless, a pessimistic outlook doesn’t have to entail a life bereft of joy as we are told pessimists can have a far greater capacity for appreciation than their more positive counterparts. The gloomy among us never expect things to turn out well and so may be amazed by the modest successes which occasionally ‘makes me happy when skies are grey’ (as the famous terrace song goes) – even though they also think that their Boro may never notice the ‘love’ they have for them, which all sounds like complex state of delusion and denial.
Those pessimists out there of a sceptical nature, who may be struggling to think that they’re on the right path to happiness, will be glad to know that experts of the none taxi-driving profession have been studying how people process positive and negative information. It turns out that some brains tune in automatically to the negative stuff while others can filter this out and instead focus on the positive – I won’t mention any names but you know who you are! Unsurprisingly, people who are pessimistic remember far more negative than positive things, while optimists tend to recall relatively more of positive rather than negative – for example, some may just focus on the actual penalty blazed over the bar by Britt, while other will have been impressed to actually see him in the box for a change. The key is selectivity, as it’s not that optimists don’t remember bad things it’s just that they pay relatively more attention to positive things and tend to remember the good rather than the bad. Of course in the carefully scientifically controlled environment of the Riverside it may be difficult to get an equal number of positive and negative events – especially in the last 18 months – unless of course my observation is biased towards pessimism but then again if the displays had been balanced Boro probably wouldn’t have gone through four managers in the last 12 months!
In the words of one former leader who was known to have his demons and enjoy a drink, Winston Churchill once famously said “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”. However scientists have studied the brains of pessimists and optimists and have noticed the differences in how they are wired. The research indicates that the biases on how somebody perceives something, no matter how minor, build up over time and have a cumulative effect. Each small tendency to orient towards the negative reinforces the ‘rainy brain’ pathways embedding them even deeper and making them harder and harder to change.
The good news for long-suffering Boro supporters contemplating the likely longevity of their diminishing whisky stocks, is that these biased neural pathways can theoretically be re-trained with a long-term programme that is reverse engineered to obtain a healthier balance between the ‘rainy’ and ‘sunny’ brain – plus it doesn’t necessarily involve switching allegiance to a more successful club. These techniques are aimed at those who are not clinically depressed but would simply like to become a bit more optimistic, as there is also scientific evidence to suggest being optimistic is not only healthier but leads to a longer life – though hopefully it’s not in line with the cynical theory that giving up alcohol doesn’t actually make you live longer, it just seems like it!
The technique is called cognitive bias modification, or CBM, which works by presenting two images side by side very rapidly and asking people to respond to small targets that appear in either location that subtly re-train the brain to shift the attention away from bad images and towards more pleasant ones. For example, maybe a picture of Rudy Gestede falling over the ball on the left and an image of Adama Traore running past three defenders on the right – perhaps even a photo of the Riverside scoreboard indicating 0-0 on the left and something ridiculous like 3-0 on the right – clearly the therapy has to be subtle so we shouldn’t move into any fantasy scorelines in the early stages. However, it’s not at first apparent where you should look if a photo of Garry Monk was on the left and one of Tony Pulis was on the right – as far as I’m aware putting your head in your hands is not one of the allowed options.
Some may argue that they are perfectly happy to wallow in the misery of following the Boro safe in the knowledge that seldom hoping for the best and fearing the worst is part of the Teesside DNA. It is after all their birthright, having descended from several generations of supporters who liked nothing more than a good post-match moan as the team kindly confirmed their expectations that the spell of typical Boro is unbreakable. As Pascal proposed, it’s not the negative disposition and acceptance that your aspirations are unlikely to be fulfilled that does the damage – it’s actually the hope that kills you!
So will Boro keep the optimism of promotion afloat as they lighten the mood at the Riverside? Or will lumbering Hull sink our remaining hopes as they kill the dream dead in the water? As usual your predictions on score, scorers and team selection – plus will Tony Pulis push the boat out and silence the sceptics with attacking football.
Werder
Another belter, glass half full or half empty?
⚽️⚽️
Aargh!
UTB,
John
Werder
That’s just brill I did not realise following the Boro was so medical intense, but glad it is as I now know why I have a headache every weekend.
UTB
Werder that one was absolutely sublime although I have to admit that some of the science got me somewhat dazed and confused!
I have to admire your ability to come up with the goods every week and somehow we need to get you the recognition you deserve. If AV can win awards for the blog, then you surely can.
Loved the nautical references and I hope that by the end of tomorrow’s game we will waving and not drowning. We need to sink the Tigers boat good and proper to keep the wave of optimism and avoid any cries of Mayday Mayday from the bridge.
We need a storming performance from all the crew, with a stern approach so that we don’t bow to any pressure and spring a leak below the waterline.
So it’s full steam ahead towards keeping the good ship Boro afloat on its voyage towards an unlikely 6th place come May.
Onto my forecasts, no changes to the starting 11, 1 0 to Boro with Gestede scoring.
Nice post BBD
Many thanks BBD much appreciated, however it’s probably a bit earlier to start thinking about awards – though I bow to your ship-related puns!
Also thanks to Ian and Borobrie for their earlier comments too – plus thanks to Steely’s ‘the usual’ comment too 🙂
Werder
The usual.
Thanks Pedro
Weder – ignore my awaiting mod post, I can’t type!
Werder I can only just continue to repeat myself……another belter.
However I have to admit some was way above my old head, although the part about the Middlesbrough DNA had me laughing out loud and my better half giving me funny glances.
Optimists and pesimists, delusionists and the rest. Liked the bit about TP on the left and GM on the right and then putting one head in your hands as an unacceptable option. Brilliant.
Glad in a way there is no iFollow to follow tomorrow. Just follow the bbc text and wait for RR’s match report. Thank goodness it is at home for him. I am surprised he does not schedule his Continental business trips to conicide with the Boro matches.
Many thanks Pedro and I wonder whether scientists have sequenced the DNA of a typical Teessider yet!
Forgot to say, rare Hull win @ 1-nil, just to keep things as they were.
Just joking. A win tomorrow in front of a diminishing hostile crowd.
Possibly the best piece to date Werder!
So good in fact that I am now going to take a positive outlook that when we register no shots or headers on target tomorrow night, endure Ruddy Gestede and wait for us to concede in the last ten minutes I can rejoice in that we will have stuffed Sunderland without actually playing them.
See this positivity lark works, I feel better already. I just hope Gestede doesn’t go and get a hat trick tomorrow night and Fletcher the same for the Makems ruining all this new found optimism of mine.
18,937 watching and 0-1 to Hull.
Was that a typo in the second paragraph? You decide.
Thanks RR and don’t forget optimism is apparently contagious so you may need to have your jabs to be on the safe side…
I’m pretty sure MFC would offer me free jabs!
Werder
Another superlative lead for our blog.
They just come rolling along for which we are grateful
OFB
Suberb Werder. Ref the game , if Gestede gets the nod again then TP is as stubborn as AK.
Great piece. I’d love to be a carefree Epicurean but seem doomed to the land of the Stoics. I blame it on the water ……. and the football team! Being born in 1953 when we were relegated into the long dark winter of division 2 can also do this to someone.
I fear this game. It should be a chance to get three points on the board and shuffle a few paces forward in the queue but every ‘untypical Boro’ bone says beware.
Anyway, optimism to the fore, Assombalonga gets two goals and we get the win we need.
UTB
Having read this morning’s article in the Echo, I agree that there appears to be a mental issue about maintaining standards over a lengthy run of games. And we all know it is the same inside a match, too. We are yet to play well for 90 min.
we can bemoan a lack of consistency. It affects everyone from midfield to the striker. The defence is better but the mental issue is concerning all, not just the strikers pr attacking midfielders.
To open the mental lock is what makes football interesting. It is a team effort rather than one player issue. Interesting to see if TP can solve the problem.
I am not going to see the match tonight on iFollow as I have to wake up early. I have to leave home for travelling at 4 AM your time.
So just hoping to read a positive (for Sunlun) report tomorrow evening. Like 2-0 with a Britt brace.
Up the Boro!
PS: Thanks, Werder. Excellent read.
Great intro Werder.
Just so all know what will happen tonight:
Hull have never won a league game at the Riverside
Last win in the league on Teesside in 1986
TP has only ever lost once to Hull.
So looks like a Hull win for me!
MW,
Those stats and facts have darkened the skies…
UTB,
John
Cheers MW and thanks for building up the typical Boro scenario – what could possibly go wrong?
Plus thanks to Braveheart and Epicurean Antipodean SelwynOz for their earlier comments too.
The mood is even affecting me, usually a positive Boro follower, Werder.
The town were I live (and also where the International Airport of Helsinki is situated) is called Vantaa. Does that meant (with the extra ‘a’) that this is even darker place than Teesside and more than 99.96% of light is absorbed?
And our airport’s abbreviation is just HEL – misspelled again like Middlesbrough. Both names have a letter too little.
BTW, why do you say “Mayday” in English? This word has been used before Mrs. May started as a prime minister.
So I understand what the word means, but where it was used the first time? The same applies to SOS, too. I am missing the historical content.
Still, up the Boro!
Jarkko
I have just looked up Mayday on Wikipedia. First used in 1923 when first flights between England & France started. It says it is a version of Yhe French phrase Venez m’ader (come and help me).
Always used 3 times to avoid confusion.
Must admit I didn’t know that either.
SOS – short for save our souls in morse code is three short “dots” on the morse pad, 3 long ones and 3 short again, the easiest and quickest message to send in an emergency I think.
Anyway on football, probably better not to listen or watch, it can be bad for your mental health! Or based on What Weder said, good, – I’m not too sure which now!
Just UTB
Thanks, BBD. The SOS is logical to send quickly. But I always wondered the why SOS. Some things are too familiar to make us stop and make us thinking.
But I guess the modern youths do not even know that Mayday or SOS are emergency calls. It is LOL etc. for them.
Up the Boro!
Thanks Jarkko, it could be a sign that you need to embrace the dark side – Obi 1 Boro 0…
Apparently the Titanic sinking was the first time SOS Was transmitted by wireless
It feels like something has to give soon, we either kick on and threaten the play offs or the season becomes like several in recent history and we just drift down the table wondering what if.
Great headline piece Werder, as always, and as for the the two photographs of GM and TP is running backwards from the room screaming allowed?
OK, on to tonight, please Mr Pulis no lone Gestede lumbering around like a roll of Lino. It isn’t working.
With that part of the line-up changed I’m going for a rampant Boro to win 1 – 0 by an own goal. That’s if they don’t score first in the right end because if they do it’ll be the other way round.
You can’t beat positive thinking.
UTB,
John
Thanks John, I think your therapy is beginning to work as you’ve almost predicted a Boro win – albeit by an own goal before changing your mind 🙂
A brilliant article again Werder. I loved the musical and nautical references. I am not sure however if I am a pessimistic optimist or an optimistic pessimist but I can certainly confirm that I am filled with Teesside DNA.
Jarkko’s reminder that after 32 league games we have still not yet played well for 90 mins is a depressing thought in itself, let alone all the other failures.
At least we can’t suffer tonight’s display on iFollow, as it is not available, so will have to do with commentary via BBC tees. Charging up the headphones as we speak so that Mrs P will be able to watch her recording of prancing on ice!
Same team as Saturday, 0-0 and a diminishing crowd of 19,191 as our hope of the play-offs fade further into the distance.
Thanks KP, Along with Mrs P, I think we’ll all be hoping Boro don’t slip up as our promotion hopes are skating on thin ice…
This proofs that changing a manager is not often the solution. After a 3-2 win over Brentford in Nigel Adkins’ first game in charge, Hull City has tasted victory just once in the 10 games that have followed and have failed to score in seven of their last 10 outings.
And change of players does not look like the solution, either. If Michael Dawson gets the nod at centre-half tonight, he’ll be the only Hull survivor in the XI from the last time they played at the Riverside, in December of 2016.
For us, Ben Gibson is likely to be the only Boro starter tonight who was in the home XI 14 months ago.
Perhaps we should try some continueity next as the revolving-door tactics do not seem to work for us. Not Hull. Nor Sunlun.
Up the Boro!
Another great preamble Werder.
If only we could harness the inate Boronoia and pessimism that is part of our Teesside psyche, mine included, and channel it into a positive force we’d be waltzing this league.
One thing for tonight. If TP does persist with 1 upfront, at least tell the other forward thinking players he picks to get up alongside and support him. Not saying Rudi is the answer, far from it, but if you must play him get some bodies in and around him and who knows we might create a few chances and possibly score a goal or hopefully more.
At work on backs without Internet access so I’ll have to wait for whatever surprises Boro serve up tonight until the early hours when I’m back on compound.
Cheers FAA, if Boro could channel the years of misery endured by the Teesside public we’d probably be qualifying for the Champions League rather than hoping for a play-off spot!
Lovely blog
But, and there is always a but.
It is time to face up to the truth.
We have gone and landed ourselves with a burnt out case as a manager.
Yes, it’s true, any serious thought about what is happening before our very eyes will quickly reveal this to be the truth.
A team that cannot score a goal. Check.
A team that thinks it’s defence is alright. Check
A team that concedes a soft goal in every match home or away. Check
A manager who has one effective player, and switches him from his most effective position, every match, and watches the opposition swamp us. Check.
A manager who has at least one striker who can be depended on to perform to his optimum skill match after match( that would be Gested) and picks him every match. Check.
A team that simply do not try, thinking that going through the motions and looking good will do (Downing anyone?)
A manager who watches players who are, by anyone standards lightweight, and picks them, check.
I’ll end there, with one unpleasant thought, i watched hull in their last drubbing, a very large and tough team who take no prisoners, be afraid, be very afraid.
Thanks Plato but I fear we’re just helpless onlookers as we try to decide if the experienced swimmingly good manager is just waving…
Just dreaming like. But why not attack Hull properly:
Shotton-Ayala-Gibson
Traore-Besic-Howson-Harrison
Bamford-Gestede-Assombalonga
If that is not positive thinking, I don’t know what is. Up the Boro!
Jarkko – I admire your positivity and wouldn’t it be great if TP decided to pick that team! I fear that it is just dreaming but would be delighted to be proved wrong!
Plato, I can see where you are coming from and would add that it is perhaps TP who is the one going through the motions! He may argue that he is doing what he can with the players he inherited but if this is the best, then we should be afraid.
Might have to do a Jarsue tonight and avoid looking or listening. I suspect that my willpower is not strong enough and like a fool I will have to keep looking!
Absolutely brilliant, Werder.
Where else could you find writing on such a predictably mundane and boring fixture as tonight’s – a match that seemingly no one is looking forward to- which is not only so stylish and funny, but which also moves so effortlessly in its insights from science to philosophy, theology, psychology, and neuro-science. All done with a lovely lightness of touch. And still managing to be hilarious.
I should admit to a personal aversion to puns. They are the scourge of far too much journalism, particularly on television ,and they are the last resort of third-rate writers, DJs, and presenters. About 90% of them aren’t funny. Less a manifestation of genuine humour than a kind of neurotic tic. It’s one I suffer from myself. What distinguishes Werder’s extended forays into the technique is the fact that they make complete sense, illuminate rather than detract from his arguments, and are not only clever and funny, but apposite. It’s a rare combination, and certainly award- winning material, if any such accolade exists.
I should add that there is a tradition of excellent punning on here. AV was, and still is, good at it, whilst Bob’s interjections, and the forays of Powmill, GHW, Ian, BBD and many others into the technique are part of the blog’s delight. They are part of the top 10%. As in many other respects this blog remains a centre of excellence.
And in Werder’s piece we have that general excellence exemplified in spades.
Boro 1 Hull 0
Because the players know that the very least that they have to be seen to do is to bust a gut at home.
So it’s nick one and defend. Heaven only knows who might score it, so I’ll opt for a Leads penalty, following a foul on Traore, as being a more plausible option than the far-fetched idea of anyone managing to score from open play.
Len
For that to happen Traore will have to play on the right, is that likely? Not very!.
For at least half the match when he is near to the home bench! 😎
I’ll put a pun down with the bookies tonight that we win!
Who needs awards when I get comments like these! Many thanks Len I’m continually inspired by yours and other comments who enjoy the articles that somehow materialise from a few random ideas. I’m always attempting to weave the puns, outside references and word play into producing primarily Boro-based satirical football argument and then hoping that it makes sense on several levels – so very much appreciate that you’ve taken the time to give your interpretation.
As for making sense of what materialises on the pitch tonight – I’m just glad that’s Redcar Red’s job 😉
Thanks for including me in that list Len, but playing with words at the same time maintaining an intelligent thread that delivers a well thought out narrative is the true skill and for that the accolade is all for Werder. Whether there are awards or no awards is irrelevant because we all know what his quality is and so many reaffirm it time and again in their posts on here.
BTW, delighted I was wrong in my prediction that appears later in this thread!
With Dawson and like as not Hector alongside for Hull tonight would it be too much to ask that we shuffle the tactics and instead of sacrificing Gestede for another fruitless battering from the pair of them TP actually changes tack and springs a surprise?
On Saturday high balls were bread and butter for the Cardiff pairing and tonight will be no different. Keeping it on the ground, running at them twisting and turning is not going to play to Dawson and Hector’s strengths. With Traore, Downing, Bamford, Assombalonga, Howson and Harrison TP has the Players at his disposal to do just that. Unfortunately he doesn’t have a 28 year old Didier Drogba to play it his way and with the best will in the world Rudy isn’t going to morph into Drogba any time soon.
Boro fans need to see the benefit and wisdom of a more mature and experienced Manager and soon. We have seen enough stubborn, single minded mentalities on the Boro bench in the past. The last thing Boro fans want to see right now is more bloody minded blinkered failings.
Hear Hear RR!
Good luck with the report, I am saved a long trip to Boro due to work commitments which probably means we will play Hull off the park and produce the best performance of the season!
I am hoping your report headline will be something along the lines of
Ferocious Boro tame the Tigers and claw their way back into play off contention!
UTB
Werder
There will be some of my junk in your junk folder as usual !
OFB
Thanks OFB found them, I’ve got all the right junk in all the right places 🙂 btw thanks for earlier comments on the article too!
Thanks
I make all the junk but not necessarily in the right order (to paraphrase Eric !
OFB
I have never understood why a manager wouldn’t have an assistant ,sitting up high in the stands observing what he sees from a different position,
Then interacting during the game with the guys below ,
I remember back in the Allison era, I was a guest in the 100 club so watched the game from a decent vantage point above the half way line.
I can’t remember if it was Palace or Fulham we were playing,but their leftback was about thirty six years old,and played like he had rigamortius ,but we kept playing down the opposite wing I was screaming ,to switch it, but no our illustrious coach, couldn’t see it.
And you wonder?
Will wait until tomorrow, it is harder and harder to drum enthusiasm, my youngest asked me on saturday why we support such a rubbish team – my answer was quite philosophical – we support them because they need our help, no point in supporting real madrid as they dont need any help.
I dont think he bought that – hes only 8 – his brothers both in their 30’s just roll their eyes – as they say out of the mouths of babes……
Oh by the way 2-0 to Hull goal in each half and no fight back. crowds leaving with 15 mins to go.
Great work, Werder!
We played Hull at home twice in 2016, of course.
The same outcome in each game, 1-0 to the Boro.
But while the former re-ignited a managerial career that looked dead, the latter was somewhat underwhelming – and leaving both Nugent and Rhodes out of the squad earned the manager few fans, even though both Stuani and Adama, both on the bench, could have come on and played up front.
I do believe good old Aitor never had anything against Aggers’ nephew or the former England international… it’s quite possible, instead, that his selection may have been a sly dig at his chairman – “why don’t you give me a forward that actually fits my system?”
But, of course, we’ll never really know.
To continue, I offer you my Quote Of The Day, from Peter Staunton:
“There is a skill in managing modern players. There are no subordinates willing to be bossed around. There are eager youngsters with agents in their ears and cynical older pros who demand to be convinced by any new manager they meet. They don’t like being told what to do, for the most part, they like to be asked.
“A man like Carlo Ancelotti encapsulates perfectly the spirit needed to adapt to this new, richer breed. He manages the person, not the player. Ancelotti was a Milan team-mate and then manager of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta. At Real Madrid he was in charge of Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. All who work with him regard the Italian as warm and personable but also a devastatingly effective coach. The results prove it.
“(Roy) Keane, on the other hand, won’t adapt. He sees the world in one way only and no other viewpoints will be considered.”
I think Pulis and our old Spanish buddy at Forest could learn more than a thing or two from this…
There does seem to be a trait with a lot of Football managers put in simple terms as “stubborn pig headedness”. It exists of course in other fields of management and industry sectors but it does seem to be particularly prevalent in football not least of all with Boro appointments.
Simon, Well in the case of Mr Pulis, can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
It will be interesting to if AK evolves?
I read Werder’s piece last night and posted straight away.
I continued watching Wigan v Man City and as usual with a match coming up started feeling more optimistic.
Then I watched some of the ten o’clock news, four stories came out one after another
1 The dark web paedophile.
2 The sex for aid scandal in Haiti
3 Barry Bennell
4 Increased deaths of babies in early months throughout the world.
I lost my enthusiasm for football.
Maybe its just me but Tabloids and TV news seem to fixate themselves on a particular topic and do it to death, constantly digging and trawling. Not of course saying that heinous crimes should be ignored but topics be they Trump, North Korea, Putin, Syria, Calais Jungle, Libyan boat refugees, Brexit, Plastic in the Sea etc. seem to be done to death for a few weeks until the next hot topic comes up. This week’s topic……………………………………….
I find myself becoming desensitised to a lot of things as a consequence and then the cynic in me thinks that it conveniently takes the focus off certain Companies and their Directors (and perhaps more importantly their Associates) with collective snouts in troughs.
Not just you RR, I find that the news media doesn’t report the “news” per se anymore but what they decide is worthy of doing to death.
There are times when the lead item is not what I would call a proper news story but more akin to tittle tattle. And when there is something serious, the mobile phone footage comes out.
Don’t get me started on the way it is presented with the need to have a reporter outside Number 10 if it’s politics related (ignoring the fact that the PM is abroad) – dumbed down too much which is why despite wanting to know what’s going on in the world, I feel I haven’t missed much if I don’t see the news!
I think part of the problem is 24h rolling news. The 24×7 news channels have to do something to justify the amount of air time they are filling. We then end up with repeated loops of video and repeated reams of analysis to the level of detail that can be quite nauseating at times.
KP….i have tried to use BBC Radio Tees in the past through a VPN, but it always cuts out when the match starts. Citing contractual problems.
Normally I use Tune in Radio.
Otherwise can use use MFC web site?
Pedro
Sorry for misleading you. I was referring to the commentary provided by BBC Radio Tees from the MFC website which costs £3 and requires you to log in to pay for and then to listen to via the match centre. Hope this clarifies for you.
The link is copied below:
https://www.mfc.co.uk/how-to-purchase-live-matchday-audio
Thank you
Weder – apologies having technology issues – or maybe my fat fingers on a small keyboard – I keep having to type my details in every time and as I am old and incompetent, keeping hitting wrong buttons!
No problem, but for a moment I thought Diasboro had acquired something of a major coup and Beckham had come out as a Boro supporter 🙂
Last night I watched Blackburn versus Bury cos of the connection with Tony Mowbray and was pleasantly surprised at the standard of play by both teams – Bury are very near the bottom of the league and I have to say they played quite well.
The outstanding player was the Blackburn midfielder who consistently got forward and set up the first goal and , without doubt, he will be playing in the Championship next season whether with Blackburn, who went top of the League ( one defeat since October ) , or with another team. Sign him ASAP !
Also the young centre forward , on loan from Boro , was consistently praised for his efforts.
I am not optimistic for Boro tonight as I suspect those players who feel they do not figure in TP plans for next season will not “ bust a gut “ for the manager.
For those players over 30 what is in it for them to stay and get promoted next season as , realistically they will know that they will not be good enough for the Premiership and therefore will be moved on ?
For a change I will listen to the Humberside radio commentary cos I am tired of the same comments from the radio Tees commentators. eg Gestede is too static, midfielders not getting forward enough, play too slow etc. How come they can see these shortcomings week after week but TP either can’t or ignores them ?
Bravo Werder. Philosophically speaking your best yet.
I just wonder if your French mathematician had anything to do with the unfortunate Hull having lost 14 times this season at the very same time they have lost 11 times. Damned unlucky if you ask me.
Can’t see us winning tonight. 0-0 if we are lucky.
Thanks Powmill, plus well spotted that a ‘D’ had become an ‘L’ in the Hull form table – perhaps it is just french for ‘Le Draw’…
Then again. I did wonder if we had Hume advantage then maybe we could Russell up the odd goal or two… But that is probably me putting Descartes before des horses and, afterall, we are a little short of the talents of a Socrates in this line up, so no Marx for us there. Everyone knows we Kant score, no matter what clever Pythagorean triangles we make side to side to back. No. They can’t hit the target, no matter what Engels they shoot from.
Think I’ll stick with my 0-0 prediction after all. Now I’m off to join Aristotle (well known for being a bugger for the bottle) at the bar…
Bamford and Besic start with Howson on bench. 442?
Thanks P-N, I’m also a sucker for a good pun. Also reminds me of that Ponty Python football sketch. Anyway, if my Assombalonga (2) prediction is going to work, it will be a late show. Good luck to those going tonight to watch Boro put us through the Mill again.
UTB
Good work P N – as I was reading it, I was singing (in my head) the Monty Python song so glad you put the Aristotle bit in at then end!
Now, on the philosophical side, does “ I think therefore I am” mean that if we think Boro are …….. dynamite, then they are and will slay the Tigers tonight?
Interestingly selection so Come on Boro!
Having problems logging into MFC for commentary. Anyone else having issues?
You need to re-register with MFC since 6 Feb with what they call a new digital account – anyway I did and the Tees commentary seems to be free to listen to.
I have registered but get a Gateway time out message on both desktop and tablet. All other sites are fine.
A gateway timeout message usually means one of the servers delivering the data is down – probably nothing you can do at your end – unless you are using a proxy server then maybe turn it off if that means anything.
Well, those who remember Just William may recall Violet Elizabeth Bolt, Well both defences will ‘thcream and thcream ’till i’m thick’ if they are asked to defend.
I suppose the Boro defence stood there with fingers in their ears singing la la because it wasn’t a corner but that was matched by chuckle brothers passing by Hull, to me to you to Bamford.
That means we have league goals by different strikers in the same year.
Violet Elizabeth Bott !
Daughter of Bottie ….
Oh what a fount of knowledge this blog is !
Sorry about the typo, Bott not Bolt!
I decided not to even try and not even check on line. Of course I have failed in my intentions although pleasantly surprised to see we are 2 1 up st half time.
No surprise that we conceded but came back.
Let’s see if I can keep my resolve and not look again until full time!
Thanks Werder. It will have to bee the BBC and Gazette then.
Another possibility is to delete MFC cookies then do a Ctrl Refresh of your browser tab as sometimes the browser gets stuck on an error message associated with a site – or try a different browser if you have one installed.
Well I have come out from behind the sofa to see that somehow we have scored 3 goals with 33% of the possession.
And even Rudy scored twice, maybe TP has been reading Weders pieces!
I just hope it isn’t a dream.a
3 points and 3 goals. Why am I not ecstatic?
Took the granddaughter to see “The Greatest Showman” and after reading Werders piece, P.T. Barnum would introduce him as “Werder the Wonder Scribe”
My Rugby league team St. George beat Hull here last Saturday so I took that as an omen the Boro could do the same.
3 goals at The Riverside indeed the “Greatest Show on Earth”
Cheers Michael, I quite like the sound of ‘Werder the Wonder Scribe’ it sounds like the title of story I could read to my 7-year old 🙂
We are now into squeeky bum time , if we win on Saturday, the rest will fold.
Just got in from work and what a pleasant surprise from the Riverside. Well done on the result, and well done to Rudi and Paddy on notching again. I’ll have to wait for RRs match report and the highlights package on the Boro website to see how we played overall.
Only downside on the night is the waters off so it’s a cold bird bath for me before I turn in😬. Should be back on at 6am local.
Another superb opener Werder, probably the best yet in my opinion (although I consider myself a well trained pessimist! I’ll have to give the CBM a try!).
Loved the comment about people being impressed just to see Britt in the box! One of my favourite quotes is “a pessimist is never disappointed”. Whoever wrote that was clearly not a Boro fan, as Boro have a seemingly infinite way to disappoint in the face of possibly joy.
3-1 home win against Hull and yet their 1 and the second half retreat and digging of trenches in some mistaken, Haigian belief that perhaps we needed to wait for one more big push, manages to take the gloss off what should have been a satisfying home win.
It’s the hope that kills you.
Many thanks smoggy and hopefully heading optimistically down the cognitive bias modification (CBM) road won’t render your previous training obsolete.
Well Redcar Red’s report arrived in the early hours so here is his view of Boro’s victory over Hull with an unexpected Gestede brace too…
https://diasboro.club/2018/02/19/championship-boro-vs-hull/#MatchReport
Great report (as expected now ) RR.
The second half reads to have been dire. Is there a confidence thing going on I wonder. Does the team need a few more wins in a row under its belt before it will begin to play an assured game – regardless of that being on the offensive or the defensive.
If we were so bad, I will be anxious about the Sunderland game as they will certainly be up for it against their local rivals and I am sure Chris Coleman will sense an opportunity to begin lifting the gloom up the road.
RR
A 3-1 home win and yet your honest and as usual excellent report paints a fairly bleak picture. Goals aside it really must have been poor fare.
Now I can see the reasoning behind holding onto a lead by being more defensively minded against the better sides in any league, but against one of the poorest who are in a relegation fight and bereft of confidence, that I don’t understand. Especially when it puts us under more or less constant pressure for what RR described as a third of the games playing time. Maybe it’s because I’m a fan and would like to see goals and attacking play and not a footballing professional who takes a more pragmatic position.
But a win is a win and I’d take a lot more of those until the end of the season if it were to mean a top 6 finish, as unlikely as that may seem.
RR,
A splendid review but the second half sounds like torture of a quality similar to the Spanish Inquisition. Just how come does everybody in the ground see what the team are doing but not the management team? Baffling.
It’s good to be wrong with a prediction about the result but even I can work out why we struggle against the top half when Boro defend like that.
Happy but the flame of my optimism remains at a Toc-H Lamp level.
UTB,
John
Sounds like Boro 2nd Half performances could be banned under the Geneva Convention as cruel and unusal….
A swallow and so summers here, we’ve turned the corner, all behind us now, start of an unbeaten run…….we are not a rubbish team after all!!!
This is Boro, Promotion hopefuls beat Relegation Strugglers and all is well.
Cant wait to see the highlights.
Thanks to Redcar Red for another great match report, which is particularly valuable to me when there is no online feed available to judge how the game went. The radio commentary did seem to suggest the game had drifted as it went on and it’s interesting to read RR’s view on how the team dropped further and further back towards their own goal – I particular liked the way RR created that image with “Pressure was mounting and we seemed to want to sit so far back the Red Faction had to clear a few seats to accommodate their heroes” and “In the dying embers Adama took the ball up the pitch to remind the North Stand what it looked like” – good stuff!
Still a 3-1 win exceeded most expectations but when looking at the match stats it showed those three goals came with just three shots on target in the normal 90 minutes, with an Adama effort in injury time. This new clinical Boro is certainly an improvement, though we’ve probably created twice as many chances in other games recently without troubling the keeper. Gestede and Bamford scoring will hopefully improve their confidence and it may leave Britt even further down the pecking order. It would be interesting to hear if overall Gestede was less isolated than he had been of late.
It sounds like Besic could be an important player to drive Boro forward and as he improves his match fitness it may well keep the team moving forward – I thought he looked tidy and comfortable on the ball against Cardiff so he may be a key player in bringing others into play. I thought the subs yesterday may have also contributed to Boro dropping deep with two forwards replaced by a midfielder and defender – perhaps Pulis is a believer of a two-goal lead is there to be protected not built on.
Exactly, Werder. The two sentaces that might become legendary sayings on Teesside for a long time.
Excellent report, RR. Up the Boro!
Under extreme pressure late on, then he posts Traore on the half way line alone, three players position themselves around him. End of pressure. Is he learning?
Top report as usual from RR, it is good to see he heeded my last review of his articles and included goals in his reports. The next thing is to include some flowing football.
If RR can polish up the quality of the football AND the scoring in his reports we stand a chance of making the play offs.
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear but Werder and RR are making a good stab at it.
Tonight really is about tactical supporting
Bristol v Fulham
Rams v Dirties
Ipswich v Cardiff
Wolves v Ipswich
Can all eight teams lose tonight?
Tap.
In.
Boo, a wood-legged defender needing two touches to score. Ian, you old b*****d.
You need practising, mate. See what it did for Gestede. UTB!
Jakko
The tap was to put the ball over the line, the In was when I checked thelinno didn’t have his flag up.
🙂
Great report as usual RR well done and I agree with all of that.
I thought the referee was poor and should have made a few bookings for the persistent fouling on Traore
The Gestede booking was in my opinion flawed as he was making an attempt quite rightly to go for the ball. It was given by the linesman and Pulis was going mad over the decision
Quite how a ref can overrule an assistant and call a corner when clearly it was a goal kick quite confounds belief and the fact it led to their goal was a further blow
On the performance itself Besic shows great promise
Leadbitter was poor and it’s no coincidence when his form drops so does that of the team
George is still not the player he was and a lot of his passes were wayward
Fry had a great game and I’m pleased for him
Bamford might be starting to settle down in his position on the left and getting better
Rudy as you say Mom
OFB
OFB
Agree with your player performance assessment. George was very poor but Fry slotted in well and never put a foot wrong, not bad for a right footed player in a left side position. So pleased for Bamford as he put his goal away perfectly under such pressure.
Ecstatic? Certainly not. Happier? Yes.
Pleased, delighted even for Rudy and Paddy. To my eye, the former’s second was a backheel.
Dismayed at the defensive substitutions. Aitor was previously slaughtered in some quarters for bringing Kalas on for Rhodes in injury time against Leeds (note, though: we were away from home, we were on a bad run and our best defender had been sent off, so you can’t blame his nerves), and for bringing on Clayton for Forshaw with six minutes to go against Everton. Yet his two prior subs in each case had been attacking ones (Nugent and Adomah, and Nugent and Fischer respectively).
There had been no such intent from Pulis (Clayton? Howson? Cranie??). I genuinely felt we could have done our goal difference more good last night. Happy though I was with the win, I still felt it was an opportunity missed.
Looking back to when Boro past and present united to score over forty goals in one season…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE6juvy8MOg
Except it’s only a Gestede video, so we don’t see Rhodes’ goals. Of course.
Excellent video, Simon. Well spotted. Thanks.
Thanks, Simon. The doals looked like the ones we saw yesterday!
Up the Boro!
What is it that makes RR’s reports so outstanding?
First of all, for me, it’s the pre-match preparation. We get a run-down on the Hull team and the club’s recent problems, which is both well-informed and sympathetic. Then a discussion of our own team selection that is analysed within the context of current discussions on the blog, and some crowd reactions.
What raises RR’s accounts above anyone else’s, however is the amount of detail we get on the game. And it’s not just a factual account, but a recording of the emotions at play at every stage of the game. The reporter here is one of the crowd, kicking every ball and responding to the game’s ebb and flow, rather than someone hermetically sealed within a press box.
The language is cliche free, quite an achievement given the repetitive nature of the situations that the game throws up. And there are invariably a number of original and striking images of the kind that Werder has outlined, which bring the game alive for the reader, and make it easy for us to imagine we are there.
Then there are the judgments, invariably sound in my view (and how difficult that is to achieve in a field of widely diverse and often extreme opinions), because they are always honest, experienced and evidence based. There’s also a refreshing willingness to adapt and change previous firmly- held opinions in the light of what is currently unfolding on the pitch, as with the unfolding Gestede narrative The final quality of RR’s judgments lies in their forthrightness. He reaches the parts that elude most reporters, because he does not allow himself to be hampered by the hierarchical, institutional, and professional constraints that act as a barrier between the reporter and the truth. Between what the writer would like to say, and what he is able to report. RR, by contrast, shoots straight from the hip
It’s a great mix, and a unique one. Well prepared, honest, fair, detailed, well written and forthright reporting. Oh, and rendered with great discipline and commitment only hours after the game is ended.
Thanks, as ever, RR. Much appreciated.
I’ll second that Len we have two outstanding talents at our disposal in RR and Weder.
Len, you also have a way with words that I could even attempt to match in such a thoughtful response to RR’s brilliant piece.
Well done on behalf of those on this blog that do not have your depth.
Thanks, Pedro. I’ve greatly appreciated your kind and supportive comments over the years.
Here here
Hear hear
Here hear or
Hear here
Or as my wife often tells me in respect of the Boro, “There there” !!
Thank you very much for those words Len, it makes the effort burning the midnight oil all the more worthwhile. Very humbling and much too kind and generous in your praise!
Chant of the week, borrowed from the Villa fans and tweaked a little…
Let it never be said that goal scoring is dead
Because up front for Boro, we’ve got Rudy Gestede
With his big crazy hair, he is class in the air
He leaps like a salmon, jump with him if you dare….
RUDY RUDY RUDY RUDY!
To the tune of?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qObzgUfCl28
Rudy Tuesday a rolling stone for us. UTB!
Si, you ready for a stat? Bamford has started 13 out of 33 league games this season. We have more points (26) from the games he’s started than the ones he hasn’t (25). We are a better team with him in the side and he should be played in his best position.
Listened to the match and then watched the 90 mins this afternoon.
Another great report from RR on a match where the Boro showed some good points but also made hard work of beating another poor team. There were also some strange substitutions by TP.
AT was again the main threat/provider with the rest of the midfield just about holding their own with Besic looking the best of the bunch. GF had an off night and looked nervy at times resulting in poor clearances and passes.
At least we won and scored three goals but should have pressed for more.
It continues to leaves us with faint hopes!
Perhaps Besic does the simple things well.
Back to Besics.
Liked that one Simon.
Agree with others that Besic was a breath of fresh air as he drove us forward. Hope he continues in that vein.
Have to agree with Pedro that we are blessed with so many talented contributors, you know who you are! It’s greatly appreciated by us who do not possess such attributes.
I’ve said it before, it takes me forever to type just a few lines, so I am in awe of those who can present a lengthy, eloquent, entertaining and educational contribution. Thanks again to all of you.
If you watch the inside Matchday coverage on the MFC website they have a shot from behind the goal as the third goal goes in and Besic is straight over to Adama as he realised that he had done all of the hard work.
Steely
The pieces that Werder, RR, OFB and Simon produce don’t happen by accident.
They are well crafted but don’t just appear as easily as it looks. When asked, Les Dawson said it took him 15 years to become an overnight success.
The amount of work involved and word craft required is testament to the quality we see in our blog.
I do suspect that not even Kryptonite could render Werder powerless. He will be the type of person you pop round to for an evening meal and a five star feast will appear. Whilst he is preparing the food, between courses he will have helped the kids with their homework and knocked up a dining table (plus chairs).
Mind you it must have taken Les Dawson years to practice playing the piano badly so that it looked good! Maybe Boro have been taking lessons from him!
What was the formation we used on Tuesday?
Why am I asking this? The Official Boro application on my mobile phone gave the formation as 4-3-3 with BamBam, Rudy and Traore as the front three. And the onfo was supplied by the club.
Just asking, like. Up the Boro!
A decent set of results tonight. It really is hit and hope for ourselves, you have to be relieved we are not adrift.
That doesn’t mean it has been a great season, just the type of league it is,
A belated thank you to RR for the report and I will second what Len says about the quality and detail. You do feel that you were there. I really don’t know how you do it.
It is typical Boro that even with a win and 3 goals it doesn’t feel convincing and that there is still work for TP to do.
Just back in from a work do and the results have worked almost to our advantage so that somehow we are only 3 points off the play offs. The Championship is an odd league to say the least.
What will Saturday bring against the Black Cats who must be really licking their wounds?
I would hope for another win although typical Boro will see a resurgent Sunderland trying to claw their way out of the mire and Boro being toothless in front of goal.
Jarkko,
The formation (and Pulis’s favoured one now) seems to be 4-1-4-1 with Downing and Besic pushing on in front of Leadbitter.
I suppose you could call it 4-3-3 but it doesn’t really describe it well.
I thought we played well last night. The first half was pretty entertaining and we could have been comfortably in front bar Randolph’s brain freeze.
Started the 2nd half well and then managed the game superbly. Hull didn’t really threaten and we always looked like winning. Great to see Gestede and Bamford back amongst the goals and Adama increasingly makes me wonder how on earth he was ever not a regular starter. Full credit to Pulis for this.
Bristol City drawing with Fulham keeps them both in touching distance and I don’t see any reason why we can’t challenge for a play off spot. Like Ian says, one of the good things about the Championship is you can seemingly be in the middle of an awful season for 33 games and 6 months yet still have the chance of making it a successful one.
Cheers, BoroPhil.
You and AV for example seemed to like the match. I watched it yesterday untul it was 3-1 and enjoyed it, too. But have to admit I skipped the rest of the play as I did not have time and thought nothing was to be expected.
Great to have something to play for and I will be at Riverside for the Leeds match next week.
Up the Boro!
Just my opinion, but after the way the Boro have performed this season, it will be a travesty of justice if they win promotion. I just think the playoff systems are badly flawed, but don’t expect any Boro fan to agree with me if the end justifies the means.
I agree with you Ken but the play offs have always been a mixture of a travesty of justice versus romantic dreams and hopes kept alive. The Team that finishes third have a right to feel aggrieved and hard done to if they don’t make it and its hardly surprising that after a gruelling season some sides that fought their way into the play offs crash and burn the following season. Its flawed from a perspective of justice but it keeps interests and hopes alive as well as punters coming through the gates.
Right now if it wasn’t for the play offs Boro along with many other clubs would be looking at the remainder of the season as just playing a series of fairly meaningless matches. Everyone knows the rules before the start so in that sense its fair and to see the likes of Huddersfield make it to the Premiership is simply brilliant for their fans. Not so good of course for Wednesday and Reading fans who had to endure losing out plus a car crash of this season. Only Fulham seemed to have recovered but only after a fairly ignominious start to their season.
Should Boro go on a run (and lets face it current fixtures are being kind to them to start confidence building successive wins) then depending on nerves and jitters getting to the likes of Preston, the Blades, Bristol, Fulham etc. they could sneak it but performances over the season indicates to the contrary. Once in the remaining four though there is no certainty that the best team goes up or indeed the worst team won’t. It is entirely possible that we could somehow be left scratching our heads come May as to how that happened.
Either way, go up or stay down we will have another rebuilding job. I think the rebuilding worries me even more than if we remain in the Championship or go up. Nsue ditched for Barragan, injured Esposito coming in, Valdes taking four months to get match sharp and Negredo over Stuani along with many other irrational questions and logic scares me. Thats before we get into the fees paid for many last year who still remain contracted to the club today.
Interestingly there have been calls for the Premiership to be decided with play offs now to preserve interest and excitement right up until the end of the season to try and break the oligopoly and give little clubs like Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool a chance! Ridiculous most will probably propose but think of the money spinner with ticket prices and global marketing rights. Its entirely likely that the teams finishing 3rd and 4th could make more money than the current Premiership winners. just imagine what Sky and BT would pay to have the rights of the Premiership play offs which no doubt will be sold as a separate package, my guess is that it would generate far more than the Champions league final.
RR
Good Post
I totally agree if there weren’t the play offs our season would be dead and it gives all fans hope.
I don’t agree that it’s unfair as you point out everyone knows the rules before he start or the season
OFB
It’s flawed for all twenty four teams Ken?
It’s like they say luck evens itself out over a season, or so they say.
Nice to see you posting BoroPhil and giving an alternative view.
Jarkko
You are right, no matter the tint on your glasses or the level of beer in your glass, there is still something to play for.
Our achilles heel has been getting points from top half teams and with 13 games left 7 of those are against top half teams albeit only three occupy top six positions. One of those three is Bristol City who are fading rapidly.
Two points a game until the end of the season should see us scrape in to the play offs but that is 8 wins and two draws.
It is a tough act when we have bobbled about upper mid table most of the season.
One game at a time so off to the Mackems on Saturday, good grief, it is the first must win game since the last one and that was two days ago!
OFB
If not already on your radar, you may wish to consider Neil Maddison for an IN2VIEW.
Thanks
I’ll put him on the list
OFB
Ken
I think the worst playoffs are in rugby. If you finish on top of the pile having played all the other teams home and away then you should win the title.
The situation is what it is, I don’t think we will find many fans given the option of a dozen meaningless games or a shot at the play offs would settle for the beach now.
Well this weekend is shaping up nicely:
The majority of results went in our favour last night.
S’land are bottom of the league and we have won the last five meetings.
We have an impressive record against the lower sides in the league.
We have just won and our strikers have scored three goals.
If we win and results go our way on Saturday then we could be in the top six at the weekend.
So what are the odds of a “typical boro” weekend!!
If you were putting money on us I know where my money would be going unfortunately!
On Friday night Hull entertain Sheffield Utd. Hull were so poor against us unless Adkins has several first choice players back I can’t see anything but an away win meaning that we still wouldn’t be in the top 6 regardless of how we do. A draw may be the best outcome we could realistically hope for.
On Saturday Leeds are at home to Brentford. Brentford! yep just look at the table, they are creeping slowly up the back stairs so much so that I think a home win is the best outcome for us.
Preston are at home to Ipswich so that will be a home win as Ipswich have a reputation of being a very good and capable team when they play Boro but lose to everyone and anyone else. A draw would be a shock achievement for Mick’s boys.
Derby are away to Reading and I can’t see Staam surviving much longer this season let alone Reading actually winning let alone drawing. Wednesday host Villa and I can maybe see Wednesday sneak a draw but like as not Albert will score again.
Fulham host Wolves and that one could go either way but an away win would be best but I can see any permutation with that one. Maybe best to hope that Cyrus is defending in that one.
Oops and the footnote before I pressed “Post” was that Cardiff entertain Bristol at mid day on Sunday and so fingers crossed for a home win. I doubt if we will be in the play off spots after the weekend except through a series of freak results but if we are then our GD is better than the Blades, Preston, Bristol and Brentford but well short of Fulham, Derby and Villa.
Just hope that if we take the lead at Sunderland we go on the rampage and not do what we done against Hull and hide behind barricades. Goal Difference could make a huge difference come May.
We have been bemoaning our strikers goal tallie recently. But spare a thought for Sunderland.
Ashley Fletcher is yet to score for them (well done, lad). He is competing for a place with the current top-scorer. Listen, have your hear his name?
Well, Sunderland are in February and their top scorer in 2018 is own goals.
Well, that must be worse than the final 30 min versus Hull City!
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
Temping fate.
Been travelling back to the UK, so first off many thanks to RR for an excellent match report. You could almost of been there.
It was a win and 3 points but lots of fans who went were not too happy with TP’s substitutions and backs to the wall defending.
Again watching the match later through MFC the last 30 minutes was poor fare, so much so that a decent team would have possbly taken something from the game.
And there lays the problem and getting into the top six. We cannot win against the decent teams, that is those above us. It so galling to see Cardiff second and looking good for the autos.
I am even reticent about Saturday and Typical Boro turning up. Best chance of winning is with Bamford up front even if it includes Gestede.
Good to see BP posting again.
As stated by Pedro, us pessimists need an alternative view to put things in perspective occasionally.
I do, however, hope Typical Boro don’t surface on Saturday!
Good to see Curtis Edwards playing at The Emirates in the Europa League. A real fairy story because Ostersunds FK were not in existence when Arsene joined the Gunners.
Up through the molehill, a pyramid is too big for Swedish football, to play in the top flight, win the cup and play in Europe. I think I read that their home town is only 49,000 people.
Praise to their manager Mr Potter, he has performed some real magic to get the club this far.
What is more they have scored at the Emirates. Now it is 2-0 to the Swedish team!
They have cast a spell over Arsenal.
From 1893 to 1896 the bottom 3 teams in the 1st Division and the top 3 teams in the 2nd Division played a series of Test Matches to determine promotion and relegation.
When playoffs were introduced to determine promotion and relegation between the 1st and 2nd Divisions in 1987 they involved the 3rd, 4th and 5th placed teams in the 2nd Division and the 4th bottom placed team from the 1st Division, a system which lasted for three seasons the second of which saw Middlesbrough promoted and Chelsea relegated.
In my opinion if playoffs are to be preserved, the fairest system would be for the top 3 teams in the Championship to be promoted, the bottom 3 teams in the Premier League to be relegated, and the 4th placed Championship team to play the 4th bottom placed team from the Premier League at Wembley to determine promotion/relegation. At the moment the Premier League and the Championship both relegate their bottom 3 teams, yet the 1st Division relegate the bottom 4 teams and the 2nd Division relegate only the bottom 2 teams, thus 4 teams are promoted including one via the playoffs, whilst only 2 teams are promoted from the National League, one automatically and one via the playoffs – an imbalance between the leagues.
Strangely the Scottish Leagues DO involve playoffs between 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams with the 2nd last placed team from the higher division, except in the 2nd Division where the bottom team plays the winner of the match between the Champions of the Highland and Lowland Leagues.
Playoffs are generally an American idea where teams don’t play each other twice, and adopted initially by the Rugby League when all 30 clubs were in the same division having initially involving the top 4 teams, but in the 1970s involving the top 16 teams. In fact in 1973 Dewsbury won the playoffs after finishing in 8th position. I agree with Ian that when clubs play each other home and away, it is ridiculous that the Championship should be decided by play offs.
I take Redcar Red’s point that play offs give more clubs more meaningful fixtures later in the season, but that doesn’t mean the system is fair, whereas involving the bottom teams from the higher league with the top teams from the lower league as was the original system in 1987 seems more equitable in my opinion.
Ken
The finals (playoffs) are the most important thing here on OZ. All the competitions have them. In Aussie rules there is a trophy for finishing top of the ladder but no prize money and the trophy was only instigated in 1991, but nobody cares about it. The advantage in being in the top 4 is that you play for a double chance i.e. if you lose in round 1 you don’t get knocked out but play again the next week and the winner gets a week off. Same for Rugby league and A League. Ridiculously the A league has 10 teams and 6 teams make the playoffs.
Onto tomorrow’s “non Derby” and out of curiosity I looked up the definition of “a Derby” and found this:
“a race or contest, one open to all entrants”
Based upon that definition Coleman is probably correct in his proclamation that tomorrow’s game then isn’t a Derby due to the fact that his charges are unlikely to compete or certainly contest anything if they do. For those attending from Teesside wrap up warm as it gets very chilly in the SOL after 30 minutes or so when it starts emptying out.
Redcar Red
I always thought that the term ‘derby’ was derived from the Earl of Derby who introduced the classic horse race. I think Chris Coleman meant that a ‘local’ derby can only be contested by teams from the same city or town. Technically that means that Middlesbrough FC has never played in a local derby since its meetings with Middlesbrough Ironopolis when both were members of the Northern League in the 19th century.
Ken
There are several definitions of “derby” on-line but they all originate as you quite rightly say from the Earl and his Horse Race.
Perhaps the term “local rivals” is better terminology and less controversial although no doubt they would argue that we are not “local” unless of course they are confident of victory in which case the boundaries are seemingly more malleable in Leechmere, Ryhope, Hendon, Blackhall and surrounding areas.
In the distant past (when the Makems had a few decent players) their travels south to the Teesside conurbation was a cause for great planning and donning of disposable coveralls and masks. That to me seems to be an awful lot of trouble for a supposedly meaningless fixture as is their unique fixation on the discredited practices of two controversial paediatricians over thirty years ago.
Their stance reminds me of a four year old being told he can’t do something to which the retort to his parent is “I’m not bothered” when of course as every adult knows the exact opposite is true.
Ken
The best use of play offs is in the NFL. the two conferences have a separate play with the winners of each conference play off in the super bowl.
There are a few other good things about the set up. Money is shared, the draft has the team with the worst record in the previous season getting the first choice on new players, the winners get 32nd pick and the cycle repeated.
The drawback is no relegation and no route in to the NFL for aspiring teams.
Rudy Gestede has a fractured ankle and is out for the rest of the season.
Come on BORO.
Boro striker Rudy Gestede is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a fractured ankle in Tuesday night’s win over Hull City.
Gestede, who netted a double against the Tigers in the 3-1 victory, picked the injury up in the final minutes of the victory at the Riverside.
It’s another blow for Gestede, who missed several months earlier in the campaign due to a ‘freak’ training ground injury which subsequently required multiple surgeries.
Boro manager Tony Pulis said: “He won’t play again this season, we don’t think.
“It’s a massive blow for us as a football club. Out of all of the strikers, he’s looked the most likely to score in the games we’ve played.
“We’re really disappointed, but we’ve got options up there, whether it’s Patrick [Bamford] or Britt [Assombalonga], they have to step up to the plate.”
Ironic that he would (I think) have missed the Hull game serving the last of his three game suspension. Plays his best game, looking like just maybe something had finally clicked into place and now this happens to him.
So, another step forward, to balance out the previous step back.
As for Sunderland, will it be a step forward or a step back?
I think we’ll be treading water, I’m going for a draw.
But, of course there is always hope that we’ll get the win……..
Unfortunate injury for Rudy.
Will TP finally look to play a different system and to the strengths of our two remaining forwards?
Or possibly will he stick with a big target man upfront? I just heard this morning that a certain CH was seen standing around the 18 yard box during a training sesion!!!
As Tony Pulis looks to finally build a winning mentality at Boro and go on a much needed run of victories, I’ve just posted up my preview for the north-east derby at Sunderland…
https://diasboro.club/2018/02/23/championship-sunderland-vs-boro/