| Birmingham City | Middlesbrough | ||
| Bamford | 39′ | ||
| Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
55% 9 2 5 7 |
Possession Shots On target Corners Fouls |
45% 8 3 5 12 |
Bamford banishes
Monk’s birthday Blues
Tonight’s game went from a run of the mill Championship Tuesday night away fixture in winter to one with added spice and significance with the appointment of GM. Boro have a dismal record at St. Andrews at the best of times and Tony Pulis himself didn’t have a good record there either (three draws and one defeat) so historically the stats didn’t make good reading for Boro but the Blues are dire this Season and looked very poor earlier in the season up at the Riverside. They are down in the mire for a reason and I couldn’t see anything other than one of the easiest away fixtures for Boro since Bolton. A professional demolition job was surely in the making to spoil Garry Monk’s birthday and his Brummie baptism.
TP had the usual suspects crocked in Gestede and Fabio along with Leadbitter who was suspended for tonight’s game and Saturday’s at home to Barnsley in any case. Garry Monk had serial card collector Maikel Kieftenbeld available in midfield but Davis, Vassell and Grounds would all be sitting this one out. It remained to be seen if ex Boro Striker Juke would start or be on the bench but whichever way I looked at the squads and permutations I still just couldn’t see anything but a convincing Boro win despite only winning once in our last 19 visits there (the last win coming in August 2005).
Birmingham sat bottom of the form table having lost six consecutive games in a row and seven of their last ten home games having only won six at home all season. Apparently the last time they lost seven consecutive games was in 1986 which is a year we are all too familiar with. Boro’s side was pretty much as predicted with apart from Clayts in for Grant TP deciding to carry on with where you left off lads. Birmingham’s eleven was pretty much best described as best of a bad lot with Jota recalled from the cold and the Juke in the line-up.
Birmingham had a lively start with Jota earning a free kick from which Randolph punched clear simultaneously complaining that Ben should be carded for his attention in the build-up to it. Seconds later Downing was taking a free kick at the opposite end then with Birmingham breaking away and Friend needing to clear things as Jutkiewicz was making his presence felt. Not by any means classy but typical Championship fayre. The best Boro action of the opening moments came when Besic set up an attack with Howson linking up with Bamford whose effort went out for a corner.
With fifteen minutes ticked over the only thing of real note was Dani Ayala having to change his tattered shirt. Bamford picked out Besic on a break but unfortunately Stockdale was alert to the danger from which Birmingham broke down the other end with a Gardner attempt on the Boro goal as the game seemed to go in fits and starts and waves. Jota was next to test Randolph but hit the side netting instead as the Blues had started a little head of steam. You had the feeling that despite their endeavours like Leeds on Friday if they went a goal behind they would sink without trace or perhaps that was more my hope.
The game overall had become very scrappy which probably suited the Blues more than Boro with twenty minutes lapsed. Maghoma, Jota and Juke were creating all the problems for Boro especially Maghoma up against former Blue Shotton. A corner led to claims for a hand ball in the Boro box which were ignored by the Ref awarding another quickly taken Birmingham corner instead.
The period of Birmingham pressure was building almost as quickly as the corner count for the home side, Shotton was still struggling to deal with Maghoma and Juke was keeping Ben and Dani very busy. Boro balls out from defence were coming straight back at us as Traore was being starved of possession and with it little outlet. As the Birmingham possession and pressure started to subside more down to energy levels than anything Boro construed we came back into things and started to finally string some passes together showing intent as the game neared the final ten minutes of the first half.
TP had swapped Adama and Stewy over to try and get a better grip of the game and offer some threat by freeing up the shackled Adama. Bamford put an enticing cross into the box fizzing along the ground reaching Stewy but like he did on Friday he misjudged the ball and sliced it well over. News meanwhile was filtering in that Derby, Cardiff, Villa, Fulham and Preston were all winning, upping the stakes as Bristol and Sheffield United were also trailing.
A George Friend headed attempt went out for a corner then from that poorly taken corner by Traore in which the ball was headed straight back at him it provided an immediate opportunity to make amends. Juke glanced a defensive header backwards from Traore’s arcing cross and found Hatrick instinctively at the far post to hook the ball down and slot it home from two yards out. Despairing off side claims from those in blue shirts were ignored as Paddy once again tested the off side laws. One nil it remained until half time and whilst it wasn’t anywhere near as fluid as Friday night the scoreline was favouring Boro who had started to impose themselves a little more.
The second half would mean Birmingham had to have go at Boro to try and get something from the game which we hoped should suit Traore, Downing, Howson, Besic and Bamford all perfectly. The game recommenced after the break with a sloppy Shotton tackle on Maghoma handing Birmingham the initiative and a much needed early opportunity. In the opening stages Boro looked as though they had dropped down a gear with Shotton looking nervy on his return to St. Andrews. Birmingham were applying pressure with Boro now desperately focussed on clearing their lines as the Blues had clearly had a flea in their ears from either Monk or Clotet during the interval.
A long range opportunistic effort from Bamford was as much as Boro could muster in a hugely disappointing second half. Downing then tried another similar effort from outside the box but Stewy hasn’t had his shooting boots on for most of this season and the effort like most of the rest of them was woeful.
An off side Juke effort ramped up the pressure on Boro just before he was hooked for Sam Gallagher with GM now going for it. Boro were back to looking scrappy, Traore now back on the right seeking a half chance to run at the Birmingham defence rather than the virtual spectator he had become. With 20 minutes left Adama was switched over again to the left presumably within ear shot of TP as Cranie was readied to enter the fray to tighten things up in place of the struggling Shotton. As is his want an errant back flick from Traore put us back under pressure unable to wrestle a grasp on the game. We were sitting deeper and deeper, looking susceptible and really needed an outlet somehow to try and break the by now Birmingham onslaught only momentarily relieved by a Gardner free kick sailing wastefully over Randolph’s bar to give us some respite.
As the ex-Birmingham Keeper readied his goal kick the Boro bench decided to bring Paddy off and throw Britt into the fray to create a fresh outlet and try and sneak a second goal to break the Birmingham defiance. Adama was then clattered and hobbling badly as Ayala was required to slide in to rescue Boro blushes once more meanwhile Baker was being readied to replace Adama. Stewy then went back over to the left and Baker wide right. Cranie got down the flank and crossing into Britt with the ball eventually ending up with Downing who passed to Besic who frustratingly lost possession and put us on the back foot again.
Nerves were jangling as the game entered the last five minutes with George now guilty of poor decision making resulting in a free kick and then a corner to the home side. Boro once again were sitting too deep and “inviting” (if that’s the right word) far too much pressure onto themselves as they had in many previous games losing out to a late sucker punch which at this stage was just going to be inevitable especially with results going our way at that point.
Digging deep and holding on best described a very poor and underwhelming second half Boro performance with Britt left lonely and isolated as so often has been the case for Boro Strikers of late. Another silly free kick this time given away by Cranie thankfully went out for a goal kick yet again as the board went up displaying four long angst ridden minutes. In fairness to Birmingham they put up a spirited performance which belied their lowly position but Boro were far too deep giving away stupid free kicks and with them set piece opportunities. As the last one went out for yet another goal kick Randolph’s final action of the night heralded the end. Boro had survived by digging deep and winning ugly, really ugly!
Phew was the only way of describing the moment when the Ref blew the final whistle. My MOM was Ayala for his heroics and never say die spirit alongside Gibson. Results elsewhere on the night in the end went pretty well for us. Bristol lost, Derby dropping two points as they look to be possibly replicating another end of season implosion, the Blades had lost to Fulham stuffing their game in hand advantage in the process with Boro now firmly in the Play-off positions in sixth place albeit by a solitary point. Strangely it was an awful experience to witness but joyous at the same time. I just wish we didn’t sit so deep desperately defending slender leads; it does nothing for thousands of collective Teesside blood pressures and mine in particular.
Boro plan to give the birthday boy
an unhappy return to management
Boro head to St Andrews on Tuesday after the Chinese stage whispers that started to emerge last week from Birmingham were eventually proved to be unmistakably loud as Garry Monk was unsurprisingly unveiled as the new king of the Blues by owner Paul Suen Cho Hung. Whether he can strike a chord with his new group of players and quickly get them back in the rhythm will depend on whether he’s still in tune with his former assistant at Leeds and Swansea, Pep Clotet, who he is now reunited with after his sacking as manager of Oxford in January. However, the Teessider’s trip to Small Heath will be lead by a man in a baseball cap with a red right hand as Boro are also under new management by order of the Peaky Blinder Tony Pulis!
After easily seeing off Leeds on Friday night with the best performance of the campaign, the renewed optimism that just maybe Boro were back in the promotion game sent a shiver down the spine of Riverside faithful – though many were perhaps too numb from the biting cold to distinguish it from the shivers that they had been experiencing since arriving at the ground in the -10 degree wind chill conditions. Though the warm glow that came from the knowledge that some winnable games were to follow, starting with a trip to struggling Birmingham, which offered Boro another chance to turn up the heat on the play-off pack.
This previously unremarkable fixture appeared just a good opportunity to bank three points against a struggling club – however, it has been elevated after Birmingham played their typical Boro joker by dismissing Steve Cotterill following defeat to Aitor Karanka’s Forest on Saturday and replacing him with Garry Monk. The risk of invoking the wrath of the footballing gods with this ex-Boro manager tag team has got quite a few of the faithful fearing the worst from such coincidences – especially after discovering it’s also Monk’s birthday on Tuesday. Many don’t believe in happy returns from ex-managers, surely Monk won’t be left with just a few crumbs of comfort and no icing on his birthday cake after Steve Gibson previously knocked the stuffing out of his turkey by sacking him two days before Christmas. While others feel there’s no room for sentiment in football, many of his former players who were frequently left out of the party will probably be all too keen to give him the bumpiest of birthday bumps as he begins with a Brummie baptism of fire.
It’s hard to imagine now, but Adama Traore wasn’t even in the squad for Monk’s last game in charge and was perhaps beginning to be peripheral to the ex-managers plans after only appearing for ten minutes of his last three games in charge – though Bamford was actually back in favour and had started all three of those games instead. While Tony Pulis has been instrumental in creating Adama as Boro’s most influential player, the emergence of Patrick ‘Hattrick’ Bamford was an accident that few believed was waiting to happen – sometimes a manager just gets lucky and things fall into place in spite of his plans and not because of them. Though Pulis appears to have adapted his tactics and formation to allow for a different type of centre-forward in Bamford and there was more urgency from the midfield with Besic and Howson looking to find the forwards rather than improve their Opta stats by completing endless sideways and backwards passing.
| Birmingham City | Middlesbrough | ||
| Garry Monk | Tony Pulis | ||
| P35 – W8 – D6 – L21 – F23 – A53 | P35 – W16 – D7 – L12 – F49 – A34 | ||
| Position Points Points per game Projected points |
22nd 30 0.9 39 |
Position Points Points per game Projected points |
7th 55 1.6 72 |
| Last 6 Games Nottm Forest (A) Barnsley (H) Brentford (A) Millwall (H) Aston Villa (A) Sheff Wed (A) |
F-T (H-T) 1:2 (0:1) L 0:2 (0:2) L 0:5 (0:2) L 0:1 (0:0) L 0:2 (0:0) L 3:1 (3:0) W |
Last 6 Games Leeds (H) Sunderland (A) Hull (H) Cardiff (A) Reading (H) Norwich (A) |
F-T (H-T) 3:0 (2:0) W 3:3 (0:1) D 3:1 (2:1) W 0:1 (0:1) L 2:1 (1:0) W 0:1 (0:1) L |
Paul Suen Cho Hung is just one of a growing trend of overseas club owners who have dominion over an English club from afar and are expecting quick results from their investments both on and off the pitch. Monk is Birmingham’s fourth permanent manager since he appointed Gianfranco Zola 15 months ago as the club try to avoid the real prospect of relegation into League One. For a man who in his business life specialises in buying distressed stocks or failing companies and restructuring them in order to turn them around, it appears Mr Suen has so far seemingly only caused more distress to the Blues. Owning a football club has almost becoming something of PR exercise to raise the profile of the rich and powerful, or even states in the case of Qatar, to help add legitimacy to their business portfolios.
Autocratic owners are nothing new in football, particularly in England, where it is perhaps one of the last bastions where ruling as a dictator is still regarded as the acceptable modus operandi. Normally, the best supporters can hope for is that they have a benign dictator running their club and that they find themselves on the same blank page. However, it’s not unusual in the modern high financial stakes environment that fans suddenly find themselves as more like supporting serfs subject to the whims of those lording it over their local club. Rich men who are used to getting what they want often don’t take kindly to supporters questioning their diktats, with for example Hull owner Assem Allam once telling the fans that sung “City till we die” in protest against his proposal to change the club’s name that they can “die as soon as they want”.
Investment hungry fans who eye the billionaire owners of Chelsea and Manchester City with envy often forget that they are handing over their clubs to let them do whatever they wish in a pact that is born out of the sentiment that anything must be better than what we have now. Call it desperation but it is what every charlatan, demagogue or dictator has fed off since time immemorial and when things go wrong it’s usually too late to have second thoughts. We now live in a world where events are more likely to be shaped by such people as being held to account becomes increasingly less fashionable as just simply saying what people want to hear has replaced having a plan. Football fans are in some ways just following the trend of allowing powerful people to increase their power over us in return for an irrational hope it will bring a better future.
Of course there has been a long tradition in football of absolute power, whether it be the club owner who seeks to be the benign dictator that wants to be loved and respected by his adoring public or indeed the football manager who demands his authority is unquestioned and dissent is rarely tolerated from within their court of staff or players. There is little room for democracy and the only vote allowed is the vote of confidence that the chairman alone casts, often before casting out the beleaguered manager shortly afterwards who carries the can of failure out of the door. Though the increasing desire for instant results has meant leadership has instead become about finding quick fixes, taking gambles and purging the old ideas of the previous regime rather than planning for a future that rarely exists beyond immediate success.
Though even a modern dictator must first dress up as a democrat to gain the pretence of legitimacy before redefining the inconvenient elective process to fit into the wider aims of not being accountable to anyone. Often a dictator will rise on the promise that only they and them alone have the answers to improve the lot of the people. President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012 promising to make China great again (I’m sure I’ve heard that before somewhere) and vowed to restore the Middle Kingdom to its rightful place at the centre of world affairs. China was traditionally referred to as the ‘Middle Kingdom’ or Zhongguo, who believed that they were the centre of all civilization. Perhaps this is similar to how the ‘Middle Borough’ came to get its name too, with this cradle of civilisation on the mighty River Tees lying between the marauding Geordies to the north ruled by the Whey Ay dynasty and the stubborn hoarding Tykes to the south under the ruling Wazzocks – though it’s possible other more etymological accurate scholarly interpretations may also be available.
News that China’s strongman President Xi (pronounced She) has recently chosen to bring forward plans to abolish the Communist Party rule that no leader can serve more than two terms in order to help secure his lifetime grip on power has come as no surprise – some are already calling him the Chinese Arsene Wenger with this blatant attempt to cling on in the belief that nobody else can do the job as well as him. Whilst Xi’s argument is that it may risk China’s reforms if he were no longer president, Wenger just shrugs his shoulders in typically Gallic manner and bemoans the lack of patience from the supporters. Whilst the notorious Qincheng prison is reportedly ‘packed to the rafters’ with Xi’s political opponents who are waiting to settle scores once he loses power – Wenger seemingly only has the ramblings of Paul Merson to worry about and the ‘Wenger Out’ sign holders randomly scattered at the Emirates. Though President Xi did gain support from one of Twitters most prolific tweeters who lives in a large white house in Washington who declared “He’s now president for life. President for life. And he’s great, really great” before adding “Maybe we’ll give that a shot some day”.
Following the announcement by Xi who must be obeyed, China last week took the bizarre step of banning the use of the letter ‘N’ in its own version of Twitter (called Weibo incidentally) – although nobody has quite worked out why that particular letter was deemed subversive, its use was quickly restored after it was probably pointed out to the paranoid genius who came up with the idea that nobody could now type the word China. Though imagine if football club owners or indeed managers could start banning letters then I’m sure expunging ‘L’ would make the recent form appear far healthier reading for many – though other than the benefit of not seeing the overuse of LOL in social media, no doubt we’d still hear from one local newspaper “These are the questions we would have asked if the letter ‘L’ hadn’t have been banned”
Also blocked on Chinese Twitter last week were a whole series of words too, including Lifelong, Shameless and Disagree – which may have proved problematic for any lifelong Birmingham City fans who wanted to Tweet that they disagree with the shameless decision of their Chinese owner to sack Steve Cotterill just a few days after making a rare visit to show him support. Cotterill himself seemed quite lifted by the owner’s visit to the club and said “Being the distance he is away from the football club, and the time zones, he now has more of an idea of what’s gone on. He’s incredibly supportive and also came in the following day and spoke to the players collectively and a few individually. As a manager, you’re not sure if you’d want that but I was quite happy as I had a pretty good idea what would come out of the players’ mouths.” Well it seems whatever did come out of their mouths the owner promptly lined up Garry Monk and sacked his manager a few days later. All of which has added spice to the otherwise expected mundane task of Boro picking up their usual three points from a team struggling at the bottom of the table.
So will Tony Pulis’s side be at their peak and play a blinder as they turn into party poopers on Garry Monk’s birthday and blow out his candles? Or will the Boro players come on to the pitch bearing gifts to give their old manager a reminder of why he lost his job? As usual your predictions on score, scorers and team selection – plus will Boro supporters by asking Garry Monk to give them a wave once the team are 3-0 up!
Really clever piece Werdermouth. Topical in so many ways. Of course, we have our very own president for life in the shape of our very own benign dictator, Sir Steve Gibson.
Love the Whey Ay and Wazzock dynasty references, you failed to fit in the once powerful ShihTzu, famed millionaires of English footballing lore, reduced now to being hobbits from some where in the shires of middle earth.
I expect the blues to get the new manager bounce and pen us in our own half for 20 minutes. Then we break swiftly through Adama whi finds Paddy Bam Bam Bam coming in from deep and Boro take a lead they will never surrender.
2-0 to Boro by the end of play.
Thanks Powmill, I think Bilbao Baggins has now moved to the less than enchanted Forest in the East Midlands…
Surely not first?
Ah! That’s a “no” then!
Sorry FD, but it did take a while for me to type that on my phone on a packed and moving bus..
Will it be onwards and upwards or sideways and backwards.
To make a push for the play offs we need to stitch a run together. That will give the impetus and hopefully get a position in the top six we can use to our advantage, being in pole position is key at this time of the season. We are not there yet and games are running out.
Same team, a closely fought win and hopefully make some headway.
Powmill
I would prefer a dead cat bounce.
By the way, I am impressed by the piece by Werder, how on earth do you find time to research these articles?
Great piece Werder, made me laugh out loud about Monk getting his players back in the rhythm, did they have a rhythm before his arrival.
OK Grasshopper, Blues 1 – 3 Boro. Yes that’s me saying a convincing away win.
May the law of inevitability allow Traore and Bamford to torment Mr Monk like the worst kind of haunting.
UTB,
John
Thanks John and I suspect the rhythm of the Blues is more on the downbeat than the up…
Cap off again Werder for a great intro but, weren’t we known as the ‘Middle Burgh’ and not the ‘Middle Borough?’ I was always lead to believe that, that was the reason we don’t have a letter ‘O’ between the ‘B’ and the ‘R’. No doubt I’ll be corrected, or should I say informed?
Tonight? No prediction, just do one down there, we have to have a run in to frighten the living daylights out of our play off rivals. Saying that, it will frighten the living daylights out of me if it happens!
I was led to believe (although perhaps this is folkloric) that Middlesbrough is the result of a spelling error when the town was officially registered under that name.
That sounds like absolute codswallop though as presumably you would be able to correct your error…
I’ve had a look at this before and was allegedly an error by the town clerk when registering
Thanks PPP and I think both you and Smoggyinexile (and OFB) are probably all right in the origins of the name Middlesbrough. Apparently the name of the town derives from an early Anglo Saxon settlement called ‘Mydilsburgh’ – but the ‘incorrect’ spelling of Middlesbrough was most likely down to a clerical error when it received its charter in 1853 and once the it had been given the Royal seal of approval it couldn’t be changed so it stuck.
So it was not the same chap who mis-spelt Egglescliffe to Eaglescliffe?
Again, I predict a 0-3 win for Boro. UTB!
⚽️⚽️
Oh the eyeballs in the sky !
Another great piece Werder do you think Wenger would ban the letter N from
ARSE AL?
just thinking like!
OFB
Thanks OFB but don’t the French usually drop the use of the letter ‘H’…
Harsenal?
A mini-masterpiece, Werder, less dependent upon time- consuming research than the wisdom, intelligence and flair, which you bring to the important and topical issue of populism and dictatorship. There are insights here into Trumpism, Brexit, and the recent Italian and French elections, as well as the history and current condition of football management. Using the Chinese connection to make the link between sport and politics is the kind of imaginative leap that typifies the most original work in any subject. And you implicitly summarise in a few words what is ,for me, the essential question swirling around TP’s appointment: What kind of future are we planning for that exists beyond immediate success?
Many thanks.
It may not be a walkover tonight. I thought Blues were unlucky not to get something from the Forest game, and were the better team in the second half. Boro should win,because we should take a lot of confidence from the Leeds display. And in being forced to play the Besic-Howson- Clayton combo in midfield, Pulis may just have (once again) inadvertently stumbled upon Boro’s best midfield combination, and one which could well carry us through for the rest of the season.
1-3 to us. Howson, Bamford (2).
Many thanks Len – I’m often unsure if it all makes sense but you always seem to get it all and make such generous comments too!
Great piece Werder which had me chuckling at your northern dynasty references – thanks as always.
Just signed up to Bluestv at a cost of £15.99 for a month’s membership to enable me to watch tonight’s match so hope our lads do the business! Need to remember to cancel the subscription after the match to avoid being charged next month.
I suspect TP will play the same team with the exception of AC replacing the injured and suspended GL.
The appointment of GM as you point out has added a new dimension to the game and despite our convincing win last Friday, I fear that this may be a tougher test to bring home three points which really is a must if we are to send out a strong message to the chasing pack and the teams occupying fifth and sixth spots.
A draw would not be a disaster and would keep the unbeaten run going but we should be good enough to win if we really are determined to make the play offs.
The downsides are the new manager bounce, old boy effect (Jutkiewicz) albeit hopefully this can be offset by our own Shotton. We also have a poor win ratio at St Andrews but fortunately our lucky talisman Jarkko will be in attendance to offset that factor.
On the basis that my last three predictions have been wrong and the team have got seven points, I shall stick with 0-0.
CoB prove me wrong again and give us a win! 😎😀
Thanks KP and I’d forgotten that Birmingham was the club where we had to pay a month’s subscription to watch one game – I guess I’ll be coughing up too as they probably need the money to pay off all those managers!
A truly memorable piece, again, werder! I admire your style and whit.
Let’s hope our newly United team can get it together again, and give the blues, and Monk, a right good tonking!
UTB,
Tractorman.
I wondered why TP stood up at his press conferences, now I understand why.
He probably isn’t too confident in sitting down, he is prone to inadvertent stumbling.
I suppose it can happen with older managers.
Top piece again Werder, wonder where you find the time between real work and all the DIY Mrs Werder has listed.
I can’t see past a resounding Boro win tonight. This Birmingham side are in deep trouble and I don’t see the quality in depth to enable Garry Monk to pull a Traore or a Bamford out of his Birthday hat. They are in free fall having lost six consecutive games.
If we carry on where we left off against Leeds then I think we will ease past them with three clear goals as a minimum. Of course there is always the “Typical Boro” caveat but despite that and the inevitability of a new Manager bounce even Dunlop don’t have enough rubber to effect that one. I’m going for Birmingham 0-4 Boro with Adama Traore bagging one, Hatrick Bamford two and finally Stewy getting amongst the goals!
Thanks RR, I kept going until 1am then finished off this morning but I’ll also be playing catch-up tomorrow as I’ve got a deadline on the bathroom as I was reminded I promised to finish it before Mrs Werder’s birthday next week!
I Fancy a night on the tiles as well!
What’s that Werder. You need to get the bathroom ready in time for Frau Werder’s annual birthday bath 🙄
I’d only presumed she was going to invite the usual shower to her party…
Nah
None of us shower are invited !
OFB
Redcar Red,
He struggled to pull aTraore and a Bamford suit of the hat when he had them!
UTB,
John
Why did the spellcheck change ‘out’ to ‘suit’, As baffling as some manager’s selections.
UTB,
John
Another good ‘un Werder.
I have just seen a tweet by BoroStats (@boroform) which shows the attempted and successful dribbles of players all over Europe, on a graph. Not to let any cats out of the bag so early in this message, I will mention that a certain Boro player shows very prominently on that graph. Players like Messi, Hazard and Neymar are left in his dust-cloud.
I teeeted a reply to indicate that it reminded me very much of a Hertzsprung/Russell diagram, which the astronomers and physicists amongst us will know so well. They plot on a graph the various types of stars in the universe, of all sizes and colours – from red giants, orange stars, mid-to-small yellow stars like our Sun, to blue and white stars.
And then, all on its own, almost off the graph, is the brilliantly shining Supernova which is – Traore.
No Birmingham Match prediction from me. Don’t want to hex it. Clayton in for the injured Leadbitter will do me fine but, otherwise, surely we don’t change a winning team, do we?
Is it a plot to stop our inevitable rise to the top of football?
The number of times that clubs in freefall make the decision that a long losing run, public humiliation, being a laughing stock, racking up stats that a team playing on a public common would be ashamed of, are just fine.
But they are not going to endure being beaten by the Boro, that is too much, and if that means the manager, the coach, the ball boys et al. must make the walk of shame, then so be it. Anything is better than that.
Or is it just me?
Brum 0-1 Boro (Howson, 39).
I’m sure the Birmingham players will be up for showing their new manager that he’s got something to work with but I feel we can frustrate them, nick a goal and see the game our.
BTW Andy happy birthday – though hopefully you are the good twin and Garry Monk is the evil one 🙂
Yes. Many happy returns Andy, let’s hope the boys deliver a late evening gift wrapped three points
So, Traore is not part of the Main Sequence, but a beacon of brilliance to lighten up even the darkest of skies. (Or something like that…….).
Good opener again Werder. Particularly liked the political references. Genius.
Having to pull a late one tonight due to the 3 hour time difference but I’m pretty confident it’ll be worth missing out on some much needed beauty sleep. If we’re anywhere near the standards of Friday night then a repeat score line is definitely a possibility. Same team as against Leeds, except for Clayton in for Leadbitter, get on the front foot from the off and play with pace and a high tempo. What can go wrong?
Apart from our appalling record at St Andrews where we have won once in all competitions in 19 attempts. That was back at the start of the 05/06 season. No more Typical Boro please.
Many thanks FAA and those stats are not a good omen!
btw thanks to Ian, Tractorman and Dormo for their earlier comments too and anyone else I may have missed – much appreciated.
Couple of interesting fixtures this evening to be aware of elsewhere in the Championship namely Preston v Bristol and Fulham v Sheffield United.
There are of course other games involving, Villa, Cardiff, Derby etc. but upsets aside those two caught my eye in terms of probable dropped points from competitors. Only relevant of course if we win!
Brum 0 – 2 Boro, Adama and Becsic.
I was a little surprised that Birmingham have lost their last 5 league matches because, after a poor first half of the season, they started the New Year with 3 wins and a draw in the next 5 league matches the only defeat being to Derby County who were rampant at the time. It did seem that Brum would finish the season mid table under Steve Cotterill.
I had Boro down as a win in the Exmlll Challenge, but I don’t think it will be easy. Brum don’t score many goals, so I am reckoning on a 1-0 win but a goalless draw wouldn’t surprise me either. Fingers crossed for the former though.
Redcar Red
Yes we have to look after business ourselves first then worry about elsewhere but it is difficult not to look at what is happening.
Another “Fan-tastic” piece Werder. Politics, history, global and local, all rolled up in one. You must spend what little spare time you have researching these continuing excellent Headliners. Do you have a researcher in Mrs Werder that you are not letting on?
Hope there is no new Manager bounce tonight, no Typical Boro and no, well if we had had Colet under Garry we would have been smashing the league.
Not a top team so in reality NO EXCUSES.
Thanks Pedro, although Mrs Werder has been searching and re-searching she thankfully still hasn’t discovered how much time I’m spending on the blog…
Do you mean the blog in the bathroom you’re working on?
I’m happy Bamford just scored !
Werder: The usual.
As Pedro says, there can be no excuses. We have to kick on from Friday.
Thanks Steely and the team selection is as expected with the only change being Clayton replacing Leadbitter – I initially had us down for a draw in the Exmil challenge but that was before the Leeds performance and I’m happy to go with the expert witness Jarkko on this one with 3-0 to Boro with hopefully goals for Bamford, Adama and one for Friend just to rub it in for Monk.
Peaky Blinders 0 Canon St Irregulars 3
Although Peaky Blinders is about the Birmingham ‘mafia’, surprisingly it is filmed in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Adama to Bamford 1-0 … Are you learning something birthday boy ?
Powmill
Lets be quiet for the moment.
Is Adama playing on the left and SD on the right? Also is Shotton having the nightmare that it sounds he is having?
Pedro
I don’t know but it is getting a bit squeaky bum. According to Radio Tees, poor passing, dropping back.
Oh dear, my nerves are struggling with the this.
Oops. Posted this earlier on the wrong page. Hope that all banana skins have been cleared away with the opening goal.
“Once again Boro have a ‘good opportunity’ to stake a claim to a place in the top 6. Four of our closest challengers play each other and edgy Derby could stumble – at least partially – away at QPR. However, as we all know it is exactly at moments like these that the Typical Boro Inevitability Drive is at its strongest and so, like others already, I see this game as another in the never-ending sequence of banana skins that Boro supporters find scattered in our way.
Having said that, the display against Leeds was positive and full of confidence and, more than anything else, revealed a shape that made sense with a defensive structure that worked and a positive attackinmg mindset with the ball. If we come out with the same mental approach we should be OK but, whilst another 3-0 would indeed be wonderful and could happen if we score early, I think that I’d be reasonably happy with us coming away with at least a point.
2-1 to Boro with Bamford getting one of them. “
Fingers crossed
utb
Really find this hard to listen to. Sounds like we are hanging on a bit dropping too deep. Don’t think I’ve heard Traore’s name this half.
Shotton and Assombalonga on. Still sounds if we are letting them back in.
Sorry Crainie on for Shotton
The commentary is a real pain, not the commentators fault. That is the nature of the Championship. 4 minutes of extra time.
Do I still have to be quiet Ian, or can I let it all out now?
Yessssssssss!
I’ll take that as a positive affirmation then 😄😄😄😄🤩🤩🤩
Poetic.. it really did have to be Traore and Bamford that delivered the only goal. GM must be gutted.
Yeeeees,..and thank you QPR for a late equaliser to take two more points off Derby.
Sounded like chalk and cheese after Friday. At least we won, I felt that the Blues might get an equaliser, and Jarkko sees another win, the first at Birmingham since 2005.
Well I would only say job done after that performance, Boro never really got their game together and gave the ball away all too often. Boro were happy to sit deep and defend the one goal lead in the second half – then with 15 minutes to go started winding down the clock. Shotton had a bad game and also Downing probably had his worst game for quite some time with his passing and particularly his shooting well below par. Though today was about getting that first back-to-back victory and at least Bamford kept his scoring run going by being in the right place at the right time. Sixth spot with a home game against Barnsley up next gives a chance to consolidate further and maybe draw level with Derby who are away to Forest.
A poor game apparently but who cares? A rare win at Birmingham, a clean sheet, three points and Paddy’s scoring run roles on.
What more could we have asked for tonight, ah yes. Bristol City trip up and we’re in the top six.
Rock n’ roll.
Get in. Don’t worry too much about the performance, 1-0 away wins are what make promotion campaigns in any league….
Pleased to say I got the score wright and even the minute of the winning goal. Got a bit too clever going for Howson over Bamford though.
Let’s cement our top six position a little against Barnsley now. However much of a let down the season has been, it’s still there for us.
Hopefully all pull up OK for the weekend, TP said that Paddy hadn’t trained as he had a hamstring problem and Adama took a wack on the ankle.
Boring Boro. Winning all the time. I cannot rcall when they lost last rime around.
I cannot wait for Saturday next.
PS. Anyone planning to go and see U23 Boro team on Friday? I might go and see Mikael Soisalo play….
Up the Boro!
Then we should get Paddy’s hamstring and Adama’s ankle safely wrapped up and kept warm for the weekend……. THREE points ! Phew !!
The Championship is really starting to heat up. There were a lot of ‘top against bottom’ games and almost all the top teams won. The only top teams who didn’t win were Derby – who seem to singing that same old song – Sheffield Utd – who were well turned over by Fulham – and Bristol City, who lost to another contender in Preston. The bottom teams all lost with the exception of Bolton and Reading who drew against each other.
The net effect of the last two games is that we have picked up 5 points more than Derby who are now very much back in the battle at the bottom end of the playoffs. Having two places to battle for makes it that bit more open. We also have played both games against three of the tip four. Personally, except when they play us, I would like to see Wolves win every game from here on in and the same for Aston Villa, Cardiff and Fulham. We will probably have to beat the teams round us but with room for a draw here or there and, for the first time in a while, we can say that it’s back in our own hands.
On a different tack, can anybody advise when a Boro player last scored in four games in a row.
Also, who will be responsible for kidnapping out Finnish talismans and preventing them from leaving the country.
UTB
Apparently Bamford did in 2014!!
Can we ask the football league to play all our games on midweek evenings. Record this season P 9 W 6 D2 L1 F14 A3. The only defeat Norwich at home.
I’ve just posted up Redcar Red’s match report that arrived after I was already safely tucked up in bed dreaming of the Play-offs…
https://diasboro.club/2018/03/06/championship-birmingham-vs-boro/#MatchReport
Great report RR – didnt watch the game -I need my sleep as my currnet project is too demanding for a man of my age.
It seems like an ugly win which is nice considerung that historically we dont hang on and usually thow it away. Though saying that again this season we seem to be the hanging on experts if we score first.
So as I am sure everyone else can see from the table now, my own spread sheet is showing that propomtion is entirely in our hands and the play off finals look tantilising close even though it is 3 months away.
Regarding testing the offside law – I think that is what a good striker is meant to do and it is refreshing that he has the skill to judge it just right.
Hopefully more hat-tricks to come.from Patrick!!
UTB
If you don’t play well then don’t lose, a win is even better.
Lets take advantage of our game against Barnsley to strengthen our position.
Wonder if Bamford and Traore will be struggling for the game?
Ian
I notice that there’s an interesting little fixture in your neck of the woods this coming Sunday with the Tricky Trees at home against the Rams.
Currently a 5 goal difference between us and Derby, a convincing home win on Saturday and then Forest battling for local bragging rights especially with Derby having their annual wobble could makes things very interesting.
I love AK me like!
The Barnsley game this Saturday marks the 5th time we’ve played a lower table side in the last 7 games, with only 1 game against a top side (Cardiff). The fixtures have been kind and we’ve managed to stay in touch, just.
After Saturday our upcoming fixtures are the other way round and considerably tougher. In the next 7 games we go on to play 4 top sides and only 1 from the bottom. However, if we win on Saturday we go into that tough period as a side with a winning habit holding a play-off place and a striker in top form. I think we’d have all took that when Monk left.
Reading and Huddersfield got to play the promotion winning game last season, where they the best two teams from the division going in , history says yes, but sometimes teams go on a run,they get the run of decisions, flukey goals, other opposition going through the motions,at the end of the season,
There are no really talented teams in this division,good teams yes, mostly same as.
If we keep winning, and I’m mad at the Sunderland equalizer, we just might do it, not that we are anything special right now,but I don’t care.
UTB
Boro win ugly, that’s fine by me and Bamford scores again, excellent. We won Traore had a quiet game so here’s hoping he powers up on Saturday. I did hear he was limping but hopefully only a knock that can be shaken off.
I couldn’t quite tell on the highlights on Sky but did Bamford change direction when scored to celebrate with the Boro fans?
Well done and the travelling fans too.
UTB,
John
PS Who is going to kidnap Jarkko and his good lady? There appears to be a talismanic effect there.
Great result last night and the most typical of typical Boro banana skins avoided. Monk did everything in his power (restoring a former Boro target who has been a bit of a thorn in our side in the past, and a former Boro striker to the starting 11) to make things difficult for us, but we held firm.
That had all the feel of an AK-Boro vintage binary away win. Promising signs at both ends of the pitch; a striker coming into form and a defence who are getting used to seeing the ball stay out of the net, both of which should stand us in good stead for the coming fixtures.
As for the play offs and what they might bring, I suspect there will be some twists and turns before seasons end. Fulham are absolutely flying and may even threaten Wolves or Cardiff if they wobble, whilst Villa are building up a head of steam that has an air of relentlessness about it. Aside from Villa, Fulham and Cardiff (who also roll on convincingly for the moment) there are signs that the rest of the pack are not invincible. Derby stumbling a little and nerves about their typical March/April collapses are bound to come into play now, and Bristol City are creaking, and have now lost Flint to a 3 game suspension for a straight red.
The other ones to watch are definitely Preston, although we saw earlier this season that they were on a fantastic run and suddenly drifted off a little. Perhaps their current run will peter out in similar fashion, time will tell.
So, promising signs and better balance from the starting 11 could lead to good tidings. I’m also pleased that Monk stole the headlines yesterday, most columns barely acknowledge that we’ve squeezed into the play off places and instead focus on how Birmingham, and birthday boy Monk, have problems to deal with. Under the radar and out of the focus – just how I like it for Boro.
Redcar Red
I have a meeting tomorrow morning with a couple of colleagues, one supports the Rams the other a red dog – a local name for tricky tree fans.
It will be interesting to say the least with Derby imploding – only Brum and the Mackems have fewer points from the last five games and Forest nine points from 5 games.
Could AK do us a Favour? I hope so.
It might have been Gary Munk’s 39th birthday yesterday but it didn’t take Boro 39 steps to score the winner, only 39 minutes.
It’s often said the sign of a good team is to win when playing badly, but I think Boro will have to play better on Saturday or it might result in a banana skin. Barnsley, like Birmingham, desperately need points to avoid relegation, and they recently won 2-0 at Birmingham so Boro must put in a better performance against them than last night’s show.
Are we convinced that the performance against Leeds will become the norm, or was that a flash in the pan? Most of us have been following Boro for decades so maybe should be more circumspect concerning our prospects.
Good point, Ken.
Promotion, or a playoff spot at least, is there for us if we are good enough.
The question remains as to whether we can consistently find the level of performance and results required to take that opportunity.
Recent evidence is encouraging. The season as a whole has been less convincing.
KEN
I was circumspect a few years ago and it made my eyes water 👀
OFB
Thanks RR for yet another first-class report. I don’t feel the need to look elsewhere once I have read your detailed and perceptive observations. Conventional journalistic reports now seem bland in comparison.
I had the feeling that Blues might be a bit tougher than they appeared to be on paper. They outplayed Forest in the second half last Saturday, and gave their all to try and save their manager’s job, so it wasn’t really surprising that they put up a spirited performance last night.
The same was true of Barnsley last night at Cardiff. They were no pushover, so I agree with Ken that we will need to play well. We need both Paddy and Adama to be fully fit or it could be more of a struggle than it appeared to be when viewed from a distance.
Still, it would be more reassuring if we could play away from home rather more on the front foot and with a bit more flair than we appeared to show last night.
First a couple of points about last nights game and although it was an “ugly” win, it’s another 3 points in the bag. Everything was set up for it to be a “banana skin” match for Boro, previous managers first match in charge, also his birthday (celebrated in the appropriate minute by Bamford), large home crowd up for the match, all Birmingham players wanting to impress new boss (bounce), Boro very rarely winning at St Andrews, not a good ground for new Boro boss TP (never won there), no back to back league victories in 2018. Taking everything into consideration, winning ugly was more than acceptable.
Looking forward to Saturday against Barnsley which on paper people will be predicting a comfortable win by 3 or more goals at home versus a team 4th from bottom. If we take a closer look at the recent form of Barnsley, we see the their last 3 league games have all been away from home, 2 – 0 win at Birmingham, 1 – 1 draw at Hull and a 2 – 1 defeat last night at Cardiff, 4 points from 3 difficult away fixtures which according to match reports were all hard fought games that could have resulted in 9 points. They will go into their 4th consecutive away fixture at the Riverside with no fears and will give their all, they have even got an inform striker McBurnie (4 goals in last 5 games) on loan from Swansea. Although I, myself, will expect a home win it may be a lot tighter than most people will expect.
Come on BORO.
Len
Even the highlights were a bit boring, I think we have to give a bit of credit to Brum for not allowing us to play.
Listening to Pulis he was a bit disappointed in the second half display, he wanted them to kick on and not drop so deep.
Elsewhere a story made me chuckle. The ref was booking a Hemel player and asked his name to put in the boo, when the player replied what, the ref asked again only to get the same answer – what. The ref asked a third time and got the same reply – what.
At this point the ref gave the player a second yellow and a red for dissent. Luckily the captain came up and spoke to the ref who realised the player was called Watt and the player stayed on the pitch.
Ian
Sounds like the Two Ronnies sketch depicting the two country yokels Wright and Watt.
Thanks to RR for another quality match report. I listened to the Tees commentary and it sounded a bit of a dogs breakfast of a match. But it’s a win and 3 points towards post season football.
One thing that struck me during last nights commentary was how Maddo sounded very nervous particularly throughout the second half, something you don’t usually hear from an ex pro. He kept saying how deep we were sitting and that there was no outlet. This is a sure fire way of heaping pressure on yourselves and as a rule ends up with conceding a late goal. Especially as it’s the Boro. We’ve seen this dozens of times over the years and I for one can’t fathom out why we end up defending on our 18 yard line.
I suspect we’ll have to play a lot better on Saturday if we want to consolidate our position in the play off places.
Thanks to Redcar Red for another great match report. Listening on Radio Tees and not watching is not for the faint hearted.
It’s looking as though we are a bit light within the squad now, so that players are getting a game who probably thought that they would best be on the bench. Not sure what the position is with Harrison, talk of lack of match fitness cannot go on forever. When did Baker last play or Carnie before joining Boro. There is little room for injuries and suspensions now, especially with our luck in having Adama’s card overturned.
As Billog72 pointed out, the “easy on paper” matches finish on Saturday, then we will really have to step up to the mark and show we have improved overall to keep ourselves in the top six. There are two or three teams below nipping at our ankles to swop places.
TP will have to tweak things to get us playing further up the pitch on the front foot as Ian says. If we do not pressure the better teams we will come away with nothing and be back where we where, outside the top six.
So a good result needed Saturday and then to pick up from the Leeds game with that type of performence.
Pedro
A great Post and I agree entirely
Another excellent match report by RR (thank you it much appreciated)
A nail biting time sitting around the radio on a day I decided to go on a diet hence no glasses of the good stuff to steady my nerves !
A good assessment of where we are but we all live in hope don’t we ?
For after all we follow and support the Boro!
OFB
OFB,
A diet? No wine? No whisky? No beer? I know Boro have grabbed a few points but OFB if you need to talk to someone, you know, there’s plenty of us on here as a support group.
Hells bells I need drink now. The cask strength Aberlour I think.
UTB,
John
John
I know it’s pretty drastic but the weight I put on over Xmas has been added to in January!
It was hard going last night and even worse I shall be at the Riverside surrounded by friends all gleefully imbibing copious draughty of wine and beer!
No I’m being resolute on this no more alcohol until the Boro lose a game!
Now which way will I be voting on this mmmm?
Thanks for the stress counselling I’ve been told to Ruminate! I decided to take in some lodgers for the spare rooms which has helped as now I’m rooming eight!
Boom Boom
OFB
OFB
OFB,
I bet you have an ‘in the event of an emergency break glass’ store in the house. Not the bottle obviously. By the way and not to wind you up the Aberlour was delicious.
Enjoy the celery but no salt!
UTB,
John
Ah but 2kilos off already and it gives determination
Problem will be on Saturday at the game lunch drinks etc with friends !
I have been reading this blog for years now, back to when Vic used to do it, but can I just say what a fantastic platform it is for Boro fans and it just keeps getting better and better… thought I would just post to explain just how much I appreciate it working away from home..! You should all be very proud of yourselves for your input and insightful views on all things Boro and Teesside’s history
Very good to have you onboard. Welcome to the Blog!
I second what Dormo has said. Welcome Inspector!
Nice Post
We have all said that this blog feels like a nice warm discussion with differing views say around whilst in the pub .
The only problem is that they all say I don’t get a round in but I keep telling them I got the last one in!
OFB
I see no one has done the so ‘An Inspector Calls’ line yet! …
Ditto re the others, great to have a new voice to read
Welcome to blog, now you know where the enter buttion is hope to see more form you over the coming months.
boroinspector,
Welcome to the Diasboro dugout. You can never now!
UTB,
John
That should say ‘never leave’ and never type on your phone too.
UTB,
John
One thing I would say is that a good result against Barnsley puts the pressure on the teams below us.
They will have to come at us and thus give space to attack them.
But who actually knows how it will pan out?
Maybe we will continue the good run, if we win against Barnsley that is 13 points out of 15 and real momentum.
Will teams fighting for a play off spot be more desperate than Brum away fighting for survival?
Ten games to go.
Still trying to catch up on everything , so once again many thanks to Werder and RR and every one on this great site with great comments about last night and future games.
Absolutely delighted for Patrick. We all knew what he was capable off. Pity previous clubs and managers didn’t.
I love your Bamford sentiment, but it’s not entirely true. Barring his two successful Boro spells, for AKBoro 2014-15 and Pu Boro (alright, TPBoro), he has a good spell at MK Dons and a reasonable spell at Derby to look back on.
It’s Pardew, Alex Neil and Sean Dyche who ought to be really disappointed. And Monk. Strange that I’m saying that about Neil and Dyche as the former beat us to promotion and the latter beat us to the Championship.
More than that, considering how well placed Burnley are, Dyche will hardly lose sleep over Paddy’s failure there. Or will he?
Jonathon Taylor writes in the Gazette that there is every possibility that come 5pm on Saturday Boro will have overtaken Derby into 5th place. Very doubtful in my opinion as even a 5-0 win against Barnsley would only put us on a par with them on points with an identical goal difference, though a 6-1 win would suffice on goals scored.
Derby play Forest on Sunday and should they lose by a single goal, it would still take a big win for Boro to occupy 5th place. Overall a 6 goal swing in the two matches would be required.
Simon
Bamford needs the structure for him to perform, If the set up requires a Drogba lite then it doesn’t suit him. He wont bully players but he will harass, he wont be winning loads of balls in the air but he will find space.
In AK’s team you had Vossen/Kike doing the donkey work, Adomah the width and pace, Tomlin the subtlety. That gave him the platform to score.
In the current set up we are in essence playing 4141, the four of Adama, Howson, Besic and Downing providing the ammunition.
I think TP said that four were not getting around Paddy in the second half and we were dropping too deep.
If we play Gestede or Britt, I would play Paddy centrally in the so called no 10 role. or part of a front three with Adama right.
But I am not the manager
An interesting read on TP
http://www.football365.com/news/tony-pulis-middlesbroughs-leopard-changing-his-spots
Redcar Red
An interesting read, I personally wasn’t certain how we would play under TP but gave him a chance. I am pleasantly surprised but like us ti do more going forward.
I was talking to a Leeds fan today about how our seasons have turned around, he said something to me which I thought was interesting.. he said “ I tell you what the last team I’d want in the playoffs is Pulis managed team over 2 legs or at Wembley”
And if we continue this form I think he’s made a very good point
Thanks to RR for another accomplished report on what was another nail biting and blood pressure raising performance from the Boro.
I watched the match via the costly (£15.99) Bluestv and was pleased with the quality of the stream which included both commentary and action replays. A little less chat at times would have been welcomed and whilst the commentators’ views were understandably skewed toward BFC they did acknowledge the quality in our side and the way we played in patches.
They were critical of our time wasting/game management from the off but did acknowledge that BFC would have done exactly the same in our position. They even went as far as to say that one of the BFC players deserved a booking for the way in which he had man handled AT but because AT had the strength/willingness to stay on his feet instead of going down then the referee let it go!
It was hardly a classic game to watch and as RR has pointed out we gave the ball away far too much and in the second half defended far too deeply against a poor Birmingham side.
Having scored a scrappy goal we really should have looked to be more offensive but it was one of those nights where a number of players were either out of sorts or had little impact, RS, GF and SD to name a few. AT to a large part was a peripheral figure albeit did provide the cross which resulted in the goal. We gave away a series of free kicks in a similar area to the one at Cardiff from which we conceded and I was just waiting for another typical Boro moment which gladly did not materialise but it was painful to watch especially the second half. That said, overall to grind out a result was both pleasing and a relief.
Against a better team, Barnsley on Saturday, I doubt our second half performance would secure the points and we really need to be on the front foot and everyone playing their part at the weekend if we are to consolidate our position in sixth spot.
Given our performances under GM with the resources available to him, I cannot see how he is going to turn around BFC fortunes in the last ten games and they are surely doomed.
So we are clear in sixth spot and play off destiny is in our own hands. We just need to do the following to secure a play-off spot; have a whip round and keep Mr & Mrs Jarkko in the UK until the end of the season and attending every game. Equal or better the results of the teams below us …….simples!
KP, Saturday will be a more difficult match than Brum and the weather according to the forecast will not probably help. Need to be up for it from the off, offensive not defensive.
Friend… Tomlin, Adomah, Tomlin, Kike dummy, Bamford… 1-0.
AKBoro at their most exquisite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yTj2QgRIvk&feature=share
Simon
yet again Simon does the research. As I posted
‘In AK’s team you had Vossen/Kike doing the donkey work, Adomah the width and pace, Tomlin the subtlety. That gave him the platform to score.’
That was exactly what I thought about when I thought of that goal!
Great minds.
Simon
There is another part to that saying…..
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough/
Tragic event for two 17 yr old Boro supporters taken far too early. I am sure all attending on Saturday will join in the applause in the 17th minute.
Come on BORO.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/16073118.two-teenage-boys-killed-in-crash-at-busby-stoop-near-thirsk/?ref=mr&lp=1
Sorry wrong link, this is correct.
Come on BORO.
Very sad and tragic loss of two young lives and those who were injured in the incident. Once again puts football importance into perspective, lives can be irreparably changed in a split second.
Redcar Red,
Thanks for the Pulis article link.
To my mind the most interesting leopard/spots evidence is not the swap from survival specialist to promotion hunter but the way he has adapted his style of play away from pre-conceptions.
It’s not the first time. At Crystal Palace he played a front three of Zaha, Bolasie and Dwight Gayle up front – hardly the sort of up-and-at-’em, rough and tumble front line that many would tell you Pulis is all about.
That spell was the main reason I was (and am) enthused about his appointment. His Palace side were great to watch, stormed up the league and they showed he wasn’t a one trick pony – he could adapt to make the most of whatever he’s got.
Now, it may be that he stills prefers a target man approach and over a transfer window or two we might see him bring in those sort of players and revert to stereotype. But don’t count on it.
I’m sure that Pulis, like all managers who’ve been around the block a few times, is most concerned with results and I believe he’ll do whatever he thinks best to get them – not be wedded to a particular style of play. Just as he did at Palace.
well said,his palace team were really exciting
Well said Richard
Just for a bit of fun I thought our friends on this forum might like to read the following (un)interesting projections I’ve formulated on Boro’s remaining fixtures assuming the results would be identical to the last meetings against these clubs.
Home matches:-
Barnsley 3-1
Wolves 2-1
Nottm Forest 0-1
Bristol City 0-1
Millwall 3-0
Away matches:-
Brentford 1-0
Sheff Utd 2-1
Derby 1-1
Ipswich 2-0
Burton Albion 1-2 (FA Cup, never having met in the league)
That would result in 6 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats, another 19 points giving us 77 for the season. As the normal projections for total points accrued to date for Boro would be (46/36×58=74), the 77 points does sound to be enough for a playoff place, the only drawback being a home defeat to Bristol City.
Of course it is unlikely that the results of our remaining matches will mirror the past results, but I’d take another 19 points from our remaining fixtures right now.
I think the difference might be in the assistant that GM has… There were sort of suggestions in here that Monk and Clotet make a far better management team than either one of them without the other.
I suspect they may be successful in avoiding the drop.
That was meant to be a reply to KP:s post at 11:26,…. Fat fingers and bouncy bus strike again !
There is also the Clough and Taylor partnership which worked well together but apart didn’t seem to fair so well.
Pulis’ Palace also eradicated Rodgerspool’s title hopes. Lest we forget.
The lesson to be learned from that is sometimes it doesn’t matter who the manager is – when the chips are down and the pressure really is on, sometimes teams just choke.
It’s not necessarily Rodgers, Aitor or Robbo alone. Nor the players.
It’s football.
Continuing on the topic of pressure…
Last July, Billog told me:
“The 2014/15 team played some fantastic stuff at times.
“The slick interplay between Tomlin, Vossen, Adomah and Bamford was often sublime. There’s some great one-touch counter-attack goals in the highlights package of that season, and those particular players cost us peanuts in today’s terms.
“They played with a smile, a swagger and a dollop of arrogance until the pressure of possible promotion started to choke the creativity.”
I still wonder if it’s a Boro thing. And if it’s an obstacle that Pulis will be able to overcome. Will we always be comfortable as underdogs and uncomfortable as favourites?
Yes Simon, play safe starts to creep into the thoughts of the Manager and then the team.
The pundits in the national media, are a bunch of copycat trolls,one of them usually a London scribe,starts to bang on about a certain team ,player, manager ,ownership in a negative manner, it could be personal , he may have a beef about something,or is trying to stir up readership or fans.and before you know it , that team or manager are pigeon holed as something they are not.by all of the other pen pushers.look at what they are saying now about Wenger.
Big Jack was called a negative coach,his team boring ,but we were playing teams off the park,every week.
I remember West Ham coming down ,top of the league, with Moore,Hurst ,Peters, the lot, we beat them 3-0, and the last five or ten minutes they couldn’t touch the ball,
I don’t believe TP is all they say or expect, he is pragmatic and depending on his depth of squad ,he organises them accordingly.
I’m not a fan of these transfer windows,it’s a con to safeguard the Premiership teams, the smaller clubs don’t have the finances to compete and end up panic buying or taking a chance on potential, if you make a mistake,and it happens,you are stuck, the old way up to March was better, you could barter your clubs future , is it fair Sunderland or whoever have to just carry on as is,
These windows are also putting managers on the Dole, clubs now look for a new coach to lift the players,when in trouble,were as before you could move players in and out to change things.
Football is Football, for who though?
UTB
Good Post GT it certainly made me think.
I’d actually forgotten that Big Jack had such negative press and my favourite 73/74 team. In my eyes we were exciting and scored goals and had exciting players. That’s why Mills went for a record fee and Souness to Liverpool as their European Cup final winning captain.
I loved them all and I’ve enjoyed meeting them these past few months for a chat and to share their comments on the blog.
OFB
Yes the promotion team did well in the first season in Division 1 but ran out of steam/goal scorers and then began to become negative and earned the tag of boring boring Boro. We defended on Tuesday very similar to how Jack’s team did toward the end of his tenure. The promotion year was still magical and will always be remembered by me as our best ever.
The other side of Tony Pulis. Respect!!
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/16074244.MIDDLESBROUGH__Pulis_facing_another_big_challenge_after_Boro_s_season_is_over/
GT
Wholeheartedly agree with your post on the national media and the January transfer window.
I’m sure certain hacks do have agendas of a personal nature which they can peruse in the knowledge that they feel protected by their status as a media person. Especially by using the old “sources” term as a screen with which to hide behind.
I for one only had these hacks to to by when it came to TP and the “style” of football he gets his teams to play as I don’t take that much notice of teams where the Boro aren’t involved. Andy R was spot on as his Palace team were as attack minded, non long ball to a big man as you could get.
We have played or tried to play what I would call good football for most of the games TP has been in charge, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. What it shows to me is that he is far from a long ball one trick pony.
As for the January transfer window it’s one of the main reasons, imo, for the vastly over inflated transfer fees that are now creating such a schism between the haves and the have nots. Desperate teams usually trying to avoid relegation throwing money around like a drunken sailor on shore leave (been there!), pushes up transfer fees to totally unrealistic levels.
On a lighter note I’ve been looking at the championship fixtures for the weekend to see if Leeds can be humiliated on national and international tv for the third game on the bounce. Disappointingly they kick off at 3pm away to Reading.
Having looked at Philip Tallentire’s forecast on the Promotion Predictor I thought I’d have a go and was surprised to find that my final points totals for most of the teams were 3 or 4 less than his. I think it most unlikely that all the current top four will continue their current form. Newcastle and Brighton did more or less last season, and Burnley did the season before, but they were exceptional teams. One unexpected defeat for them might well see them fall back slightly; it has happened to Derby and Bristol City. I reckon any team that accumulates 77 points or more will reach the playoffs so am surprised that PT has both Derby and Sheffield United exceeding that figure yet missing out on the playoffs.
I reckon the matches against Brentford and Wolves will have a big bearing on Boro’s chances. I have Boro losing at Brentford and drawing with Wolves thus finishing probably a couple of points shy of 6th place, so winning either of those matches would turn the scales. However, apart from the Wolves match, I have Boro winning their other 4 home matches and that concerns me. It rarely happens like that, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
The more I read and hear about Tony Pulis the more I respect the man, if you have a good look around the leagues and the standard of British managers I think we are very lucky as a Championship club to have him on board. I watch his interviews and the respect he has for the chairman and the local people is a breath of fresh air. Every game I have been to this season he has kicked every ball and been brutally honest in his interviews afterwards. This is what I’ve wanted from a manager of my club for years.!! When we sat deep last game second half he called it, he knows a lot of players have had it instilled in them and the fact he wants to remove it speaks volumes of his tactical ability. To many times we have been dealt a sucker punch by inviting the opposition on and it needs to stop. So for me I am very happy to have a hard working manager and an honest team with a few local lads to boot.
Ken
Plenty of games to go and points to play for.
Big Jack, boring? Hmmm…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvuBnETgBSE
Off topic, a little.
Rudy’s rehab, documented on his YouTube channel. Here’s the third video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki5xuesxbzY
Thanks for that (Simon AND Rudy). Very interesting and clearly not just a case of “it has been 8 weeks, it feels fine, let’s get out there again….”.
Well it’s been another busy week on and off the pitch and Boro are about to enter the business end of the season with just ten games left to hopefully seal their place in the Play-offs. Barnsley provides a good opportunity for Tony Pulis’s team to reinforce their position in the top six – Anyway, here is my match preview…
https://diasboro.club/2018/03/09/championship-boro-vs-barnsley/