Best laid schemes of mice and men hopefully won’t go awry

by Diasboro, posted in Uncategorized

Championship 2018-19: Week 29

Wed 13 Feb – 19:45: Sheff Utd v Boro
Sun 17 Feb – 13:00: Blackburn v Boro

Werdermouth looks ahead to an important week on the road…

In the world of football, Robert Burns was perhaps only ever quoted in the time when supporters sung the celebratory “Alde Lang Syne” at cup finals – though there is still no definitive evidence on social media that he was the unintended originator of the much loved phrases “sick as a parrot” or “over the moon“. Nevertheless, many in the game would do well to heed the sentiments of his famous words: “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. And leave us nought but grief and pain, for promised joy“. Not that I recall Tony Pulis promising a lot of joy lately but the unintended consequences of ill-thought-out plans can perhaps act a warning to both supporters, managers and those in charge of running the club itself.

So as Boro begin to re-adjust to a more modest financial future, there was no doubt some sympathy on Teesside when they heard about the suffering of fellow austerity-hit Spurs supporters this week. The shock news following continued delays to their billion pound (and rising) stadium has led to the board having to pull plans for a ‘Cheese Room’ in order to prevent costs further escalating. It was enthusiastically reported in a January 2017 presentation for executive supporters that clients would be able “to select their own specially sourced half-time cheeses”. Indeed, it was set to solve one of the long-standing problems of going to watch football as not knowing whether they’d be decent selection of cheese in the interval had often proved to be a massive distraction for genuine fans.

While we don’t know if cheeses such as Wensleydale had already being sourced, it’s thought one irate Spurs supporter based in Wigan (known locally as Wallace) is now said to be consulting with his dog and considering his options. Although, for those in charge of financing the imaginatively named ‘Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’ they’d probably now regard the wrong trousers as anything that wasn’t coloured brown. Still, despite the loss of the Cheese Room, I’d expect there is still no desire to cancel the construction of the Baby Bell bunker, with it’s plush furnishings and array of emergency glass cases that hold a range of the finest single malts and loaded revolvers – just in case somebody foolishly brings a calculator into the next board meeting to try and ascertain whether humanity will still be in existence by the time the vanity project reaches break-even.

As to which half-time cheese is highly sought after at the Riverside is not clear but the industrial processed orange glowing plastic square that is carefully microwaved onto burgers comes highly recommended by the burger stand maître d‘. Though for any cheese connoisseurs on Teesside worthy of the title, they are no doubt still awaiting news on whether the Parmo Lounge will get the go ahead at the Riverside. However, other cheeses are available and it is thought Boro’s cautious Welsh manager is believed to favour anything that involves Caerphilly – either thought out or planned. Nevertheless, unlike Spurs supporters, at least the Boro faithful don’t have to worry that Steve Gibson has secretly blown all the club’s budget on some ridiculously over-priced vanity construction project instead of using the cash to buy decent players.

There was further good news this week for desperate Boro supporters who may have received Dignitas vouchers in their Christmas stocking from an understanding relative – the UK government has just announced a ‘Trade Continuity Agreement’ with Switzerland that will ensure that the reticent remainers will have at least one place to escape from a post-Brexit apocalypse. Whilst the prospects of fresh fruit and vegetable shortages may not deter many hardliners from pushing for a healthy break from the EU, it does at least mean that there will be no need for diabetics to stock-pile Toblerone as they look for one last hurrah before their supplies of insulin dry up. It will also come as a relief to branches of WH Smiths who will now still have their triangular confection of choice to entice the travelling public to purchase a Sunday Newspaper and keep them sustained through all its 28 sections as they embark on a long train journey back to the 1950s.

Whether Boro’s strikers will be inspired by the latest Government message issued by defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, that Brexit can enhance our “lethality” will remain to be seen. Troop-rallying rhetoric perhaps but news they are to be replaced by unmanned drones may not be mentioned in the latest recruitment campaign that instead appear to be aimed at “selfie-addicts” and “phone-zombies”. Although before Teesside is encouraged to go over the top for the final push it may be worth noting that the Scarborough-born MP has been referred to as “Private Pike” by even the most circumspect in MoD circles, while others have simply declared “The man is out of his mind” after he proposed converting old ferries into landing craft and mounting guns on the back of tractors to save money. It may also explain why the government are considering installing a Don’t Panic room as the 29th March approaches.

As to what our own minister of defence, Tony Pulis, will contemplate converting to increase the threat of his team is uncertain. Boro’s unconventional weapons of mass disruption appear to have largely remained hidden for much of the season and despite the presence of UN inspectors there has been no evidence that the club are stockpiling anything remotely lethal. The tradition among Boro strikers is that they will first bomb before being dropped and despite Pulis favouring a move towards stealth with an unseen attack a 20-goal a season forward is still not on the club’s radar.

At least Boro’s much improved performance at the Riverside against Leeds has managed to keep the peace as tensions between the supporters and team had threaten to reach flash point after the players went AWOL at Newport. The failure to stand to attention and pass inspection at Rodney Parade by Tony Pulis’s troops had prevented Boro from marching on in the FA Cup. Several players were caught in no-man’s land between the lines of what is an acceptable performance and unsurprisingly came under fire from the drenched supporters after their unconditional surrender.

Despite Adam ‘Neville’ Clayton declaring to the massed ranks of the Boro faithful that he had in his sock a piece of paper, many were in no mood to be appeased. It was clear that the players would get no peace with honour from the travelling army and Clayton’s speech ended before he could add “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Though he wisely decided against finishing with “Go home and get a nice quiet sleep” as few would make it back to Teesside before dawn – including the players themselves after their planned flight home didn’t even get off the ground.

Instead, the Boro hypnotist was busy on the long coach journey home erasing the game from the memories of the manager and players. At his pre-match press conference before Leeds, Tony Pulis simply stared blankly when the subject was raised and kept repeating “What happened on Tuesday” – whether he’ll be having flashbacks in the future is too early to say but he remains under observation in case his selective amnesia condition deteriorates. The players on the other hand were busy appealing if anyone had any recollection of Tuesday evening they should kindly post it on social media – which as it turned out was not as helpful as they had hoped.

Coming on the back of that less than super Tuesday, expectations for the visit of Leeds to the Riverside were understandably subdued. The good work from the West Brom come-back victory had seemingly been undone and Tony Pulis needed a performance from his players. Thankfully, his team were unrecognisable from the sticks in the mud seen at Newport and played with the intensity and energy seldom seen at home this season. Although, just when it was safe to come out from behind  the proverbial sofa, typical Boro struck at the eleventh hour to crush hopes of a much-needed victory – or the eleventh minute of injury time to be precise.

On reflection it may have been a tactical mistake for Tony Pulis, to not only bring on Mo Besic, but to hand him a bugle as he kept sounding the retreat as Boro sat deeper and deeper in the hope of hanging on. I’m also not sure why the Boro manager didn’t send on another piece of paper for Adam Clayton – though what should he have written this time: “Dear Adam, I’ve been meaning to mention this for some time but I suspect this relationship isn’t really work and…” sadly before he could finish reading the note Clayton had lost his marker and Leeds had equalised. Perhaps Pulis needs to introduce a more efficient emoji system instead that he can hold up from the touchline, with perhaps a sad face, thumbs down or maybe he could even create his own given that this week a new empowering emoji for menstruation has now been released – though it’s probably only a matter of time before some men give it an alternative meaning. Still, I’m not sure what a squeaky bum emoji would look like.

So with Boro’s automatic promotion hopes hanging from a thread, Tony Pulis takes his team to Bramall Lane on Wednesday to take on Chris Wilder’s third place Blades, who are cutting a dash for the top two. It would have been hard to imagination after the 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the Riverside that Boro would find themselves trailing their opponents in a bid for a Premier League return. Sheffield United have built on last season’s tenth place finish following promotion from League One and have recovered well from losing their first two games of the current campaign. The Blades have won their last four at Bramall Lane but lost the previous two at home to West Brom and Leeds. Whether they will still be smarting from conceding three goals in the last ten minutes at Villa last Friday to snatch just a draw from a nailed-on victory is a possibility – although it’s unlikely if they find themselves 3-0 up in the 82nd minutes many would risk placing a daft quid on Boro repeating the feat.

As we know, Boro have proved to be an effective proposition on the road and that seems to have coincided with the good form shown by midfielders Lewis Wing and George Saville with John Obi Mikel now adding a bit of poise and experience. Whether Wing will be fit for Wednesday after his withdrawal on Saturday is perhaps a concern and a tiring Saville was also removed from the fray. Interestingly, after all the talk of needing pacey wide players, Pulis seems to have now settled on a back five with a midfield four and just the lone holding striker. After six weeks van La Parra is seemingly still not deemed match fit and just how he gets to that stage without playing remains a mystery. Also after being almost an ever-present starter it looks like Downing is not going to get much pitch time while his “situation” remains unresolved – plus Tavernier has not even made it into the matchday squad after looking like he’d broken through with three important goals.

It appears that to impress Tony Pulis, a player must show they’ve got the defensive aspects of their game well honed before their attacking worth is further examined. Hugill gets the nod for his general physical hold-up play and chasing, even though his shooting boots still required further polish. Although, Clayton and Besic have perhaps found themselves benched due to their below average distribution skills and both have recently shown that they are prone to losing possession in dangerous areas. The worry for Boro supporters is without Wing, the current formation may become a lot less effective and the question is whether Pulis will need to compensate with a shift in tactics or will he prefer to persevere in the hope of something happening.

With both Bristol and Derby just a point behind, there is a real danger of dropping out of the play-offs for the first time this season if 5th place Boro fail to win at Bramall Lane. While that is nothing more than a psychological setback with a third of the season left to play, it’s probably not something Tony Pulis would want to be forced into forgetting about at his next press conference. However, with both Derby and Bristol both involved in the FA Cup this weekend, Boro will have an opportunity to consolidate their position when they head to Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn on Sunday. Teesside will instead be able to put their feet up on Saturday and see if Pep Guardiola’s team will be able to cope any better on Newport’s tricky pitch – so let’s see if City find a way to score!

Blackburn under the other Tony have proved to be a model of inconsistency this season and no doubt “it is what it is” will have been suitably deployed across the airwaves of Lancashire by the former Boro legend. Following the 1-1 draw at the Riverside in early December, they drew at home to Garry Monk’s Birmingham before losing three on the spin – albeit against Norwich, Leeds and Sheff Utd. However, they then beat West Brom to start a run of four consecutive victories to take them within three points of the play-offs before getting thumped 5-2 at Brentford, which was then followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to in-form Bristol City that left them squarely in mid table in 13th place. They’ve tended to struggle against the better teams and have lost as many as they’ve won, which is maybe to be expected of a newly promoted side. Rovers weakness seems to be their defence and they’ve conceded more than double the goals Boro have with only three teams having let in more goals (Ipswich, Bolton and surprisingly Villa).

I suspect the big cheese at the Riverside will be hoping that his manager can show his maturity and his team will display the kind of away form that indicates they have promotion running through their veins. However, a couple of bad results would certainly grate on the supporters nerves and as they start to see any lingering hopes of an automatic spot melt away. So will Boro end the week looking ripe for promotion or will it be a case of hard cheese Tony as our chances of staying with the pack begin to look a little awry? Time for the team to show that they are indeed men and not the mice we saw exit meekly from the Cup.

508 thoughts on “Best laid schemes of mice and men hopefully won’t go awry”

  1. Werder

    Eeeedam fine report are we Gouda win tomorrow ?

    And on Sunday we can say Halloui mate to Mogga and hopefully another win To cheddar the fat on our blog

    We can then feta our players Leicester we forget the cup.

    OFB

  4. Anyhow…

    Re-posting my tribute, of sorts, to Gordon Banks. With TSF’s help I’ve come to understand why being a goalkeeper, a great goalkeeper, deserves so much more than mere respect.

    Three words – Goalkeepers are nuts.

    Unless you’re Kasper Schmeichel, and the madness is in your blood, would you want to be a ‘keeper? There is a theory that a ‘keeper is a wannabe outfield player thrown between the sticks against his own free will.

    So their option basically is: quit the game, or be a goalkeeper.

    They’re taken away from every other player very early on. They do their own training. They’re taught not to flinch even if a bullet is headed in their direction. Flexibility, resilience and even insanity (look at the barking mad Thomas Ravelli, let alone Peter Schmeichel – Si) are their watchwords.

    Coaches? They tell them they’re great at goalkeeping, just to keep them happy. (A Greek coach once told his ‘keeper, you’re allowed to let in five goals and no more. – Si)

    Goalkeepers learn to stand in front of hostile crowds, often their own. They may end up listening to abuse for ninety minutes. If the crowd aren’t being hostile, their teammates are, and their only relief is the odd save.

    Then, the crowd applauds. Routine saves, grabbing the ball, commanding the area, even Hollywood saves (dislike them though some of the DiasBoro understandably do – Si)… if ‘keepers do them enough times, both the crowd and the team will trust them. Or even like them.

    Goalkeepers aren’t ordinary footballers. They get into the team later, but they last longer. If you’re an outfield player, being 29 is when the end looks in sight. If you’re a ‘keeper, it can be only the beginning.

    Perhaps they’re driven to madness? They are, after all, the only players whose mistakes get punished nearly all the time. The pressure on them, at least psychologically, is different from the rest. The penalty for their failure is higher. Maybe they channel all this craziness into success – and those who do it best are the most fondly remembered, and respected.

    Like Gordon Banks RIP.

  5. Getting back to not having players for specialist positions and trying to shoehorn someone into an unfamiliar role got me to thinking about how to perhaps solve the Wing Back conundrum.

    Playing three at the back is an option TP likes to use, but trying to utilise full backs in this position hasn’t quite worked out for the manager. Friend and Shotton, with the best will in the world aren’t attacking wing players, and are often found missing when attack turns to defence. This results in the opposition being allowed to put in crosses with ease.

    It seems Tavernier is a young talent that TP finds difficult to place in the team. With his pace and natural left footed talent I feel he could do a job there. It has been done with good effect by Ashley Young and Victor Moses at their respective clubs. He would be very effective when the team is in possession of the ball and attacking, and his natural speed would enable him to get back quickly to defend.

    In Curtis Fleming we have a coach that in his playing days was very adept at stopping crosses coming into the box. Perhaps some one on one coaching could teach him this art. Basically it’s just standing in front of the ball from my point of view, but I would imagine it’s not quite as simple as that.

    The team have shown that their style of play can enable George Friend to advance into some excellent positions, but his final delivery is often less than desired. With Tavernier in the same situation the quality of crosses should improve considerably.

    Just a thought, but a possible option.

    2. Another plus would be that if he was given a specific task ( taking up a defensive position when the other team has possession) it could improve his discipline on the field. Something the manger requires from his players.

  6. I’ve always quite liked Spurs since they were the first club to do the double of League and FA Cup winners. I also like Jews and that has nothing to do with my being circumcised when first having problems with my waterworks almost 30 years ago. But I also like satire, and your cheesy remarks had me in stitches, a bit of John Cheese, I mean Cleese, in there.

    I also noted the Neville Chamberlain, I mean Clayton, reference and the Besic bugling the retreat, as good as ‘Sam, pick up tha’ musket’. Funniest article you’ve ever written in my opinion, but then I’m known as an eccentric. Well done, Werder, I really enjoyed the article.

    1. Didn’t read that way to me, more a dig at Spurs vanity project that our chairman didn’t / hasn’t emulated with the club’s cash…no allusion at all to his own personal wealth and how he spends that.

    2. I read it a couple of times to savour all the wit. Glad I did as I didn’t fully appreciate all of the jokes the first time around. Didn’t read it Caerphilly enough.

      Taking offence at something which wasn’t said seems like an over-reaction to me but I respect any individual’s choice.

      However, as with a comment on the last thread about the things RR did not mention in his report, the impression it leaves is unfortunate.

      My starting point for all contributions on here is gratitude for the time and trouble they have generally taken to express themselves so carefully. This applies especially to Werder, RR, Bob and Simon who give unstintingly of their time and huge talents for everyone else’s benefit. And all, of course, unpaid.

      I may sometimes disagree with this or that point, but this is invariably dwarfed by the awe and respect I have for these individuals in terms of the work that they do to make the blog such a success. And, of course, we are all free to do our own match reports, comments, and analyses to our hearts’ content. Anyone who thinks they can do better that Werder and RR on detailed intros and match reports on a regular basis are welcome to give it a try, but I’m not sensing that there are too many takers.

      FAA, whose contributions I enjoy, might like to reflect on what his own reaction might be to the following situation. He is an expert in a particular field, and he gives 5 or 6 hours of his labour out of a busy schedule, free of charge, to help a friend. The friend makes a couple of nit-picking comments on the work, and walks off.

      How would FAA react? As a Boro lad it’s not too difficult to imagine. The above analogy may not be exact, but i hope it makes the point.

      Can we all look forward to FAA’s opener for next week? I’m sure Werder would appreciate the break, and whatever the quality, everyone will appreciate the effort.

      2. After the match report is posted there are many times when I think “oh beggar I forgot this or that” and wish I had included an observation or two but sometimes there are that many things to squeeze in that the more obvious ones escape. I genuinely haven’t a problem with someone adding something or referencing something that I may have missed because it all adds to the debate on here.

        The last one about Flint’s miss was important because whilst everyone condemned the big Lummox for the miss I was convinced that he was punched full in the face. That explains why he missed his header and was running around with a bloodied tissue for the rest of the half (or ten minutes anyway as he dropped it on Casilla’s 6 yard line). I forgot about the incident entirely when I was writing it up because I was more worked up about the subs and that late goal.

  8. Well I suppose after Ken’s praise it’s only fair to have the balance of an indignant response. Although, I fear my satire on the comparison that the Spurs board spent a ludicrous £1bn on a stadium and the complaints from some Boro supporters that Steve Gibson has spent £40m on a big house has perhaps gone somewhat over your head in the rush to be offended. Still, at least you kindly spent a little of your OWN time reading four paragraphs before being too offended to continue.

    1. That was rather cheesy Werder but the best laugh out loud I have read in a long time, I will have a smile as big as the Cheshire Cat on my face all day. Hope it will be still there on Sunday night.
      Bri
      UTB

  9. Another good read Werder and, despite all the cheese gags, nothing blue. Actually, I had to take a second glance at the title cos I thought it read, “Best laid schemes of mice and men, hopelessly won’t go away”.

    So, here’s hoping for a fondu (or is that a fun do) tomorrow as our well seasoned sharp shooter(s?) slices through the Blades like a cheese cutter through the finest Stilton.

  10. lenmasterman wrote at 20.52:

    I read it a couple of times to savour all the wit. Glad I did as I didn’t fully appreciate all of the jokes the first time around. Didn’t read it Caerphilly enough.

    So you (double) Gloucestered it over then, Len? 😉

  12. I understand perfectly how Werder would react. I’ve put a lot of effort into Talking Points or comments only to sometimes get an abrupt reply, which comes across as somewhat dismissive in tone, whatever the intent.

    I’ve apologised for getting carried away and giving the wrong impression. Or both. And I think a reflection and rationalisation period, and the right context, ought to be taken into account when contrasting someone’s views now with his or her views, say, eighteen months ago.

    Case in point – I’ve since read at least five football books since our ill-fated Premier League sojourn. So the opinion of anyone who has done so is likely to mature, if not change, so to speak.

  13. Whats the matter Len can’t I have an opinion?

    Is everything that Werder writes in his excellent leaders not open for debate or discussion or do we all have doff our caps and only offer congratulaterly comments? How very one party of you.

    I never said I didn’t appreciate all the hard work and effort Werder, along with many others, has put in to make this blog the must read it is. This time I just didn’t agree with his sentiments so please dispense with the sarcastic undertones.

    And really Werder, offended? Not in the slightest. There’s a lot more going on in the world to be offended at than a comment on a football blog. And as for going over my head could you be a little bit more patronising. Loved the use of capitol letters for my OWN time as well. Obviously my OWN time isn’t as precious as YOURS. UTB!

    1. Sorry that you feel patronised and I can see why but I meant that my intended satire had went over your head. It was the phrase “sly dig” that had probably annoyed me most as the word sly is not exactly complimentary. I apologise if I’ve misunderstood the tone of your post as I had assumed from you saying that you stopped reading the article after the fourth paragraph that this was down to being offended by a sentence I had wrote – which you seemed keen to let me know. As for my use of ‘OWN’ in the reply – again apologies as I couldn’t resist that one after you used it in you comment about Steve Gibson’s OWN money – it’s sometimes hard for me not to write something when it enters my head.

      Anyway, the articles are meant to be a bit of fun and it’s more of a sketch than a serious attempt to express my views on all aspects of Boro and they do indeed take up a lot more time than I should really spend on them but that’s purely down to me. Everyone should of course spend their precious time (and money) on whatever they want to. I’ve got a very busy day ahead and in fact the next three weeks are a bit mental as I’ve got to fit in some serious studying before my German citizenship test – which I can’t afford to fail if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

      btw I’m sure Len as always was simply being protective of the blog as he’s very a generous fellow when it comes to praise and support of contributors.

      1. I have to add my tuppence worth of comment in support. Almost to a man (generic sense not gender sense) on here we subscribe to the maxim of ‘play the ball, not the man’ when it comes to individual posts. Whenever something appears to get a little unnecessarily personal, it is common for many to jump in and reaffirm the importance of holding to that unwritten rule.
        We should treat our response to anything written in here with the same degree of respect, and that includes all the leading articles, reports and interviews, not just the individual posts.
        Careless talk might not cost lives in here, but it can cause offence. Criticism, disagreement and objection yes, pejorative comment no: always accepting that sometimes something not meant to offend gets through and does offend, so bags of humility is essential cos we all get it wrong sometimes.

        1. Powmill

          Good post

          It’s very easy when writing a post that the use of language can sometimes give a misinterpretation or a bluntness which is not meant

          I know when I’ve dashed something off and posted I’ve thought ooer o didn’t mean to make it sound like that

          The best thing about the blog is that we’re all grown ups and yes we Don’t all have the same opinion otherwise it would be bland and boring and believe me this blog is not bland or Boro ing!

          So let’s move on and look forward to tonight and I think I’ll go for ………………

          ⚽️⚽️

          OFB

  14. Werder in my opinion, you have no reason to apologise for what was an excellent Headliner and the subsequent replies to FAA’s (in my opinion) jump the gun responses.

    I would also endorse Len’s eloquent post.

    That is the big problem with blogs, emails etc, write what you feel at that instant and hit the send button.

  15. Just a quick post before I get onto the more logical task of programming and updating 5 databases today.

    Thanks to Pedro and Powmill for their comments, although it’s probably better if we could draw a line under the matter as FAA has said his piece and I’ve made my position clear on the matter.

    I suspect the blog is going to become quite boring if everyone starts discussing what is essentially a sideshow – there is an important game this evening and it’s probably mainly the football why everyone comes on here, or possibly to discuss other matters of interest or amusement.

    So let’s not dwell too long on what was in the end just a rather mundane difference of opinion.

  16. Gentlemen, how-about the Boro?

    Sheffield United have to make some chages for the visit of Boro today. They are without versatile defender Chris Basham for the visit of Middlesbrough because of suspension.

    And on-loan Marvin Johnson is unable to face his parent club (yes, that’s us)!

    I will go for a 1-2 win tonight. Up the Boro!

  17. Werder,

    One of your best in my opinion, well done. I’ve been away for a day and missed the cheese bun fight. Never mind it was quite lively for a while there. The trouble with the flying finger on the keyboard is the loss of context, the missing smile or raised eyebrow.

    I’m going for an OFB, as long as what’s his name is well marked.

    UTB,

    John

    1. Thanks John, I actually lived in Sheffield when I was 18-24 and Bramall Lane was my local ground so have visited there quite a few times – though it’s probably a bit less grim than I recall how it was back in the 1980s when it was similar to Ayresome Park with cold windy terraces and rather basic facilities. Though can’t remember if there was a smell of Bovril and a whiff of a cheese burger in the air.

  19. A Ritz cracker of an opener, Werder.

    With the sale of Paddy Bomb-Bomb and the missile that was Adama Traore you’d be forgiven for thinking our minister of defence (nice one Werder) TP has undergone some voluntary disarmament.

    Still Britt has a goal in him in the right set up and Wing increasingly looks to be that creative, goal scoring midfielder we all hoped he might be.

    Difficult to say how tonight will go. It’s the sort of game that TP, in fact Boro, tend to enjoy but if they score first I expect it will be a very difficult night. We need to make a strong start.

    1. Who is in the team is all important, no Wing, big problem. Sitting back will be as destructive as it was against Leeds. The problem of Besic’s hesitation in the pass will cost us, and the lack of speed and thought in attack must be addressed (Tav.)
      So with that in mind, best of luck tonight.

  20. I see that the fears of some of us regarding Traore are proving to be true ie he was badly advised to leave Boro as he was still learning the game and only had half a season of consistently being picked every week. Stay at Boro for another season and playing every week was essential. He is now just a bit part player and when he comes on seems to lack confidence.
    So to tonight, like most supporters I’d take the draw. Hope Wing is fit and doesn’t end up playing only to come off injured and perhaps miss Sunday’s game.
    Strange how things can change – Wing is essential to the team whereas Clayton has fallen from grace. I have to say some of the booing against him is unwarranted – others have been as bad
    Philip

    1. Philip
      Your worries about Traore are unnecessary, he came on and made the last gasp equaliser on Monday night, his team are openly saying that they will be challenging for honours next season. All a far cry from his future here.
      As a matter of fact Wolves thought of loaning him out, they changed their minds when the que firmed on the right and was full of big names.
      If you are unable to use blinding speed as a manager, you should be taking a look in the mirror and asking yourself, am I in the right job?

      1. No matter how you spin it Traore has been a flop at Wolves and I would imagine will be shipped out as soon as they can recoup some of the money they shelled out.

    2. Phillip

      Good post but the booing of Clayton whilst I agree is unwarranted is down to some mindless idiots who were against him having the temerity to raise the point of a lack of home support during some home games

      Whilst fans pay their money and are entitled to their say it really is ridiculous to boo your own players during a game when points are still up for grabs

      Was it ever so thus with Boro supporters !

      Remember remember the chicken 🐓 run !

      OFB

  21. The big cheese strikes again with another mouth watering leader. Thanks for another rib tickling read Werder.

    Crunch time coming up over the next few days and we really need at least 4 points from the Blades/Blackburn games. Any less could see our play off hopes beginning to fade.

    0-0 tonight at best and 2-0 at worst with our nemesis Billy Sharpe striking again. If we lose tonight then I fear for Sunday.

    At least I will have a good feed from Sky to watch what unfolds.

    CoB prove me wrong! 😎🤞

    2. Thanks KP and I should add that I’m a big fan of your KP Cheese Footballs 😉

      btw Do you know if the Sky feed has commentary as the MFC one will just be a single camera with just the crowd supplying the backing track.

  22. Speaking as a resident of Switzerland, I can, temporarily at least, tuck myself up a little more comfortably in bed at night. Although, to be clear to my Boro brethren, I am not one of the chosen 1% who call Switzerland home and sleep on mattresses of 10CHF notes. Still, the trade deal (and recent movement and residency deal) mean that in my case at least Brexit can be a painful side show.

    Onto tonight. Some interesting results yesterday, particularly with Brom salvaging a draw (which could be good for their momentum) and Bristol City coming from behind to continue a fine run of form. It would therefore seem “must win” for Boro, although we obviously have to consider that Sheff Utd are at this end of the table for a reason.

    My heart is hoping for another systematic dismantling effort like the one we performed on the Baggies, my head is telling me that a draw of any type would be a point gained rather than lost. Unfortunately, “a point gained” in the singular would almost certainly reset our ambitions to Play Off level, unless we go on a hitherto unimaginable 8+ game winning streak to rocket up the table.

    If the players can’t get themselves up for this one, well they don’t deserve to wear the shirt.

    1. I get the feeling that whilst the Players may be up for it the Manager is more concerned at keeping it tight at the back. Too many draws are costing us this season despite the fact that we have the equal lowest number of defeats along with Norwich.

      Put simply we need to win tonight because we need to start putting points on the board. Derby face the mighty Ipswich this evening and a negative result for Boro could see us out of the Play Off positions and that four days after we had the chance to close the gap on Leeds to just four points with a game in hand. Time to get off the pot Mr. Pulis.

    2. So I gather no Gnomes of Zurich in your garden then Smoggy? Like Tony Pulis, I’m a big fan of mountains and have enjoyed a few trips walking in Switzerland during the summer – though I’m not physically insulated enough for the cold of winter.

  24. Who will de disappointed tomorrow morning.

    Rams fans will think they are in with a chance of leap frogging ourselves. The Blades will look to put us to the sword. What about us.

    The daft thing is, even if we draw we would have taken 5 points from three games against those in the top four and could still drop out of the play off positions

  25. Redcar Red your post at 11:18 seems to indicate that you have drawn your battle line for anything other than a win. Have you taken into account any respect for the opposition, Sheffield Utd, who are the leagues 4th highest scorers, they are the home team and are 3rd in the table 4 points ahead of us.

    To me a point tonight would not be a bad result, making it 5 points from 3 games against teams above us in the championship, 2 of those matches away and the home game against the leaders (at the time). Yes we would expect Derby to beat Ipswich but then again who would have backed Bolton to win at Birmingham last night.

    I, too, would like Boro to win every game but I am realistic to know it is not going to happen and even a defeat tonight doesn’t mean our season is over, it’s more about the performance in tough matches like this.

    Come on BORO.

    2. Point taken, ExMill (no pun intended). After Sunday Boro have a run of 4 matches that ought to yield maximum points, and after that the final 6 games don’t look too demanding either. If only Boro can improve their home form, especially against those mid-table and below teams, Boro could conceivably even finish in the top two.

    3. Interestingly, after 31 games last season Boro were down in 9th spot on 48 points and 23 points behind Wolves – Villa were actually second on 59 points with Derby and Cardiff on 58 – then came Fulham and Bristol City on 52 points. So still plenty of football yet to play as the season enters it’s final third. If Boro win tonight then it puts them back in the mix for an outside chance of an automatic spot – though defeat or a draw and wins for Leeds and Norwich will start to make the gap become uncomfortable large.

    4. We are now running out of games to keep drawing. TP had a full season to garner enough points but sitting back defending clinched too many draws and if it continues at the very best we might just scrape the Play Offs and we know only too well what he will do then.

      The opposition tonight is tough just as it was on Saturday when he bottled it after Wings injury. Our game in hand is against Bristol City who are on a winning streak, them’s the breaks in this league. He hasn’t got enough points on the board to date so he needs to up the ante regardless of who the opposition is. He had his chances against the likes of Rotherham and Millwall and failed to deliver, its a rod he has made for his own back so tonight he needs three points.

      2. He’s done it several times this season firstly by not sticking with the young lads after August and then in too many dull, boring, uninspiring games since then.

  26. It appears that since the arrival of JOM, and the improved form of Saville & Wing, that TP may be settling on two variations of his preferred formation for the run-in. Both formations have a midfield diamond with JOM at the base, Wing at the point and Saville alongside Howson. The variations are either a five or four in defence, but both have their drawbacks. A back four allows two upfront but has no width, whereas a back five offers width in wingbacks but only one upfront. We don’t have an effective formation with our current personnel that is tried, tested and ticks all boxes. This may be why despite our top six position we still don’t feel confident that we’re going to push on and go up automatically, and some feel we may even fall back. We don’t feel like a Wolves or Newcastle from recent years, or even Norwich from this year, which is why the confidence of the crowd and players appears to be so fragile. I suppose all those from 2nd to 9th currently feel the same way, which is why this league is both exciting and frustrating in equal measure . . . it would be boring any other way.

  27. Where are you in Switzerland Smoggie. I used to go and shout on Servette at Stade Des Charmilles in the day and even followed them on the road for a couple of seasons. We will be reminiscing about our time there by holding a February Fondu for a gaggle of good friends here in Scotland on Saturday.

    As for tonight. Well, it’s a shame that Fulham aren’t involved cos we are missing out on cottage cheese connections.
    No expectations, just hoping we don’t get beaten. 1-1 is my prediction.
    COB

      1. Aren’t midweek games supposed to be on the SKY red button and I also think the MFC live video stream is probably also available for midweek games in the UK – availability of unofficial ones may be possible but won’t know until just before kick-off.

        1. Thanks ?

          I watched it on the sky action channel as I can’t get red button.

          My sky is streamed as we can’t use a satellite dish where we live

          Thanks for the tip but it was pretty dire to watch

          OFB

      3. The Boro’s Riverside Live stream in with one camera only according to their web site. And usually with no commentary at away matches.

        Interesting to see if there are more cameras or commentary elsewhere.

        Up the Boro!

  29. Enjoyed the Boro quiz on Twitter about Sheffield United and Boro. Reminded me of the Welcome To The Second Tier 0-0 that set the crowd a booing around poor Gareth. Kris Boyd (!!) and his winning goal the following season. Marvellous Marvin Emnes – Adama’s more prolific, less pacy predecessor – scoring a last minute winner at Bramall Lane.

    This season’s home encounter. Not pretty at all but our biggest win of the season, still.

  31. So no injury problems and an unchanged team – bench looks the same too with Tavernier still out of the frame:

    Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Flint, Fry, Friend, Mikel, Saville, Wing, Howson, Hugill

    Subs: Dimi, Clayton, Besic, Downing, VLP, Fletcher, Assombalonga

    Sheff Utd have Martin Cranie making a start if anyone is worried about former players – though surely not…

    2. The inclusion of Wing is a worry, I’m struggling to see how a player that has been carrying an injury for a few games and went off the way he did on Saturday can be match fit for tonight.

      I hope we are not seeing a repeat of what Karanka did to Bamford at Norwich.

      1. Agreed. Always the possibility that there could be some mis-direction in the comments coming out and he is not as badly injured as being lead to believe.

      2. It did appear as he was sat on the pitch on Saturday that he was going to be out of action for a few weeks but I’m not sure what the nature of his problem is and whether it’s one that can be aggravated and made worse. Hopefully not!

    3. Yes, I don’t know what Tavernier has done to be cold-shouldered but presumably there is a reason. It’s a pity because the team is crying out for his youthful enthusiasm, pace and rapport with Wing.

  33. A decent first half. We quite controlled the tempo and game. A typical Pulis away performance. Could end 0–0 if neither team improves. Very even.

    Wing not to normal, still carrying a niggle? Not bad but not excellent either. Up the Boro!

    2. I’d agree that Boro looked the better side with the passing in the middle of the park quite good and the midfield looking energetic – but not really much in the way of a cutting edge and have been prone to passing backwards after crossing the halfway line. Hugill doesn’t look like he feels confident enough to take a shot when he’s had the ball. Flint’s injury has seen Downing come on as left wing-back, which is an interesting choice. Maybe at some point VLP could come on but hard to think who he’d replace – perhaps Mikel needs a rest.

      btw Opted for the unofficial stream as at least has replays and commentary even though the picture quality is average.

      1. VLP very poor and Hugill not worth signing permanently

        I would prefer to play Fletcher rather than Hugill and I don’t expect to see Gestede anywhere near the first team again this season

        OFB

  36. Really solid performance. Good shape, good composure. Sheffield ar no mugs but, so far, they haven’t found a way forward. Mikel could be the acquisition of the year. He ses everything so quickly, uses his body really well and just keeps everything tidy.

    UTB

  38. Strange that Flash Scores had the goal before the free kick was taken, also Ayala’s sending off. Transmission must be a few seconds behind actual playing time.

  42. That was disappointing because they played so well in the first half and Sheffield then outdid us with a sustained burst of pressure. Was that their plan?

    Any bets on centre halves for Saturday?

    UTB

    1. I thought the same Selwynoz. Ayala’s lack of discipline cost us dearly. But, when you set stall not to be beaten, as opposed to setting stall to win, what can you expect.

  43. Hardly a classic game. Best team won. They played more to win the game. Hugill did his usual fouling and appeared to miss the best chance when the goalie fluffed a shot. Ayala stupidly got himself sent off.
    Too many long punts up the pitch which didn’t find a target. Best player Randolph with JOM having a tidy game.
    Interesting defensive format for Sunday minus 2 central defenders .
    Philip
    Ps I don’t think Van la Para made a single pass, in fact I think he had 2 touches , one with his head and a foul !!

  44. Still in the top six, as Ipswich held Derby 1 – 1 and Norwich lost to Preston but defence is going to be a problem on Sunday at Blackburn, never mind we fight on.

    Come on BORO.

  46. Well Boro probably paid the price for not posing enough of a threat in the first half when they looked in control of midfield. It’s perhaps the problem of playing 5-4-1 when your lone striker is rarely looking to shoot and your wing-backs are not really wing-backs but full-backs.

    I thought Boro looked neat and tidy passing the ball among the midfielders but there wasn’t really a forward pass option and without a goal threat it relies on the opposition not scoring and perhaps a decent set piece. Wing looked not fully fit and played within himself and hard to see where the goals will come from to mount a promotion challenge. VLP is little more than last ditch option and he’s not done enough to suggest he offers any answers.

    After losing two centre-backs it’s unlikely Pulis will play with a back three on Sunday and he is also unlikely to be able to give a start to Downing as makeshift left wing-back either – maybe GHW’s suggestion of Tavernier will come true and he may bring in Woods too.

    Still in the top six on goal difference but ten points behind Leeds and still nine behind Norwich. We could do with a win on Sunday but events have exposed the lack of defensive cover and another injury would be a worry. Looks like more of a fight for the play-offs than a bid for a top two slot after tonight.

  47. That was a hugely disappointing performance, even though we did enough in the first half to contain and frustrate The Blades. Overall, though, it was typical of the turgid fare we have seen too often from Pulis. Too many aimless long balls, not enough pace, no width. Not once all game did Boro get behind United’s defence. And if Hugill is a striker, I’m the man in the moon. He frustrates me immensely – he’s either on the floor or he’s committing niggly fouls, and he has the touch of a rhinoceros.

    Can we scrape a play-off place? Touch and go, in my opinion.

    And so to Blackburn, minus our two main defenders. Do you think we could ask the FA to postpone the game, as we are clearly short of personnel? Oh hang on, we tried that once before ………..

    2. Or promote young wood to centre back they’ve got all week to train together but obviously they’ve got today off or I wouldn’t have seen Downing this morning

      OFB

  49. So we loose our two central defenders for Sunday at least, pretty ironic really. Is this the world telling TP what we have been saying all season. You cannot win games by being defensive and playing for a draw.
    Maybe a lack of defenders could mean changing to a more positive shape but I wont hold my breath.
    TP to JW – Woody, get yer boots on son.

  50. It would have been interesting to see the result and the reaction of people, had United NOT scored with that header.

    A defeat is not the end of the day and the first half performance was there. Just bad defending – perhaps concentration – and Ayala’s second yellow was the difference in the end. United were not that much better.

    With ten men, we were as good as them. But they deserved their win yesterday.

    Up the Boro!

    PS. We needed a defender when the window opened (the Soton chap was injured). And needed two before it closed after Batth went to Stoke. Interestingly we did not sign anyone on loan, for example.

  51. Now read that Pulis thinks Fry was fouled when they scored. Has anyone seen a replay of the goal yet? I was watching the Riverside Live stream without any replays.

    It was “too easy” looking goal for them. So interesting to see the highlights on mfc.co.uk later today.

    Just saying like. And as I said, I did not see any fault there but then again it was just one camera filming all night.

    Well, we need a run of four or five successive wins now. Like Leeds, Norwich, Aston Villa, Hull, Bristol City etc have done at one point earlier this season. If that is not coming, I am afraid it will be play-offs for us.

    Difficult league. Up the Boro,

    1. Stearman looked like he may have been climbing a bit on Fry but the commentator said that the Boro defender needed to be stronger and Stearman just wanted it more. Didn’t look a lot in it and no worse than when Ayala pulled one of their players in the box and got away with it.

      2. Jarkko, anyone who can score goals would probably be a starman on Teesside but I’m not sure if the brains of Boro supporters could handle the concept of a striker that can score – I think it was Bowie who summed it up…

        There’s a starman waiting next to Fry
        He’d like to come and meet us
        But he thinks he’d blow our minds

  54. Thanks RR. As accurate an account of proceedings as ever.
    Let’s hope that the enforced changes at the back will lead to a more positive approach on Sunday.

    Maybe TP will come around to realise that the best form of defence is to attack…

  55. What has Tony Pulis done to my Boro? As pitiful away display, Newport excepted, as I’ve seen all season. At least Boro tried in this match but apart from Mikel they looked like a relegation side to me. The misplaced passes were pitiful by both teams except that United’s were at a quicker pace. When we played Sheffield United earlier in the season I thought they were a mid-table team at best, and I don’t think they’ve improved one iota which doesn’t say much for Boro. I expected Boro to swamp this league, how wrong was I. We keep on hearing how exciting this League is from the Sky commentators. Maybe, but the standard of football on the whole has generally fallen down a Division in my opinion and my Boro are part of that. I can’t imagine any team in this League facing other than a relegation battle in the Premier League, the gulf has become a chasm. Thanks to Redcar Red for his accurate report, but sad to say most Boro sides in the 1990s had far better skills than this current lot. Pulis has stifled the life out of this squad so much that now I really fear for the future.

  56. Once Wilder went with the three Strikers and upped the ante we couldn’t cope and not for the first time this season we had no outlet. Its becoming clearer that last season the threat of Traore kept some pressure off the defence. With Hugill isolated up there it just doesn’t carry the same threat so opposition Managers have now sussed that they can push men forward as we have no threat or any outlet if we do clear it.

    If we did happen to make the Play Offs I would have to question the point of it with these tactics. Nothing has changed or improved since the Villa games, its like Groundhog day.

  57. Thanks RR

    I think you have the hardest task of us all reporting on a disappointing defeat

    I’m sat reading this whilst waiting to pick up my car after a service and sat next to Stuart Downing and his wife and baby. Stuart is waiting to collect his new car and whilst I talked to him about the baby 👶 I couldn’t bring myself to talk about the football.

    Perhaps in ten years time when he’s retired and he can give us an In2View!

    OFB

      1. I don’t and neither does Stewy he was picking his wife up as she dropped her car in for service !

        Flinty was also due on to drop his car off as well apparently

        Didn’t know the Boro players had such old bangers like my 🚘 car

        OFB

  58. A tale of 2 managers. At half time Wilder introduced another attacker, went for it and was rewarded for his initiative. A move we rarely see Pulis make unless we are chasing a game.

    Fortune often favours the brave and I suspect that will be reflected in the league positions come the end of the season. That is a real pity as there is no outstanding team in this division and a squad like ours should really be challenging for the top 2.

    The lack of rotation given the schedule of games over the last couple of weeks is questionable. Even against Newport it was a large portion of the starting XI from the league games. This has likely contributed to the injuries & suspensions we have now picked up. Pulis has options to freshen up midfield and swap Hughill for Assombolonga, who is better suited to playing on the break away from home (IF he is given the service), yet opted not to despite the effort expended against Leeds on Saturday & knowing that Sheff Utd had an extra recovery day. One of the biggest fustrations for me this season is that we can say that Pulis hasn’t utilised his squad anywhere near as well as he should have done.

    1. If we compare squads with those above us, i.e. Norwich, Leeds, Sheffield United, West Brom and Bristol then with the exception of West Brom I would say our squad is as good and probably better than them. Yes we have some areas that could be improved upon but fans of those clubs say the same thing. I don’t think Leeds is an exceptional squad and lets face it there are supposed Boro “rejects” in there with Forshaw, Bamford and Harrison. The Blades have assembled a squad of veritable Championship Chelsea Pensioners and also include Cranie and Marvin Johnson (I even had to include Johnson’s first name in case some reading this couldn’t remember him) in their ranks.

      Bristol sold all their star Players and yet Lee Johnson has them back up their challenging and on a great run defying all the odds. So why is it that there appears to be a synergy and team spirit and belief in these clubs who are no better resourced than ours? At 37 years old Johnson is hardly anywhere near as experienced as Pulis, Farke, Wilder and Co. Granted Darren Moore inherited a Premiership squad but even so despite some set backs they score goals and have amassed more points than us despite falling to us twice.

      Looking below us Frank Lampard’s Derby County are neck and neck with us which is probably a fair reflection on the size of each club but again its Frank’s first season as a Manager. dare I go one lower and look at Birmingham and their resources? Best not. We are under performing and under achieving for what we have available. As a Club there does seem to be a certain malaise in accepting mediocrity be it from ticketing or even selecting the shirts. Near enough now seems to be the mantra, if it’s close enough that will do.

      To be successful needs demanding targets and ongoing improvements that are never ending, its like swimming towards an ever receding shoreline as somebody more qualified than I once put it. It sometimes seems to much of a struggle to keep going but if you stop you drown. I’m not getting the feeling that as a club we are swimming and paddling like crazy, in fact I get the impression that there are quite a few just along for the ride, quite happy to let others paddle while they just float. This isn’t aimed at just the playing side of things but MFC as a whole. As Mogga would often say “it is what it is”.

      If nothing changes or improves then hoping or expecting for something better is ludicrous. TP hasn’t made the most of the hand he was dealt primarily because it isn’t in the image of what he wants or more likely needs. Other “lesser” managers haven’t that luxury and have to make the most of what they have and necessity as they say is the mother of invention. Indeed we saw what happened here under GM when he was able to operate under a wealth of options and failed yet while at Leeds and now Birmingham (albeit reunited with Clotet) he done a good job.

      If there is no inspiration at the top of an organisation, no drive, excitement or ambition that filters all the way through to the bottom. What we are seeing out on the pitch tactically is down to Tony Pulis choices but the accountability goes much further up the chain of command and has for some time now.

      2. Agree RR something is wrong, looking at the players, some have been at Boro for too long and have their comfy slippers on.
        I think its time to dispense with Ayala Friend Clayton and Downing, they all need a fresh challenge.

  59. Many thanks RR,

    I’m afraid that for, despite hoping for an OFB, the result was an inevitability. I reckon that Boro will be lucky to make the play-offs and if they do the result will be as before. As you say in the post your post above the Pulis doctrine, dogma and style of play has been sussed out by opposition managers and they know how to combat it. Imagine what the premier league teams would do to Boro with this style of play, but then we’d only be in it for the money.

    Boro are in the land of if only, If only we hadn’t drawn so many games. If only we’d made the Riverside a fortress. As mum used to say, ‘if ifs were pound notes we’d all be millionaires’.

    The choice of the next manager will be critical, someone who can make players better and sees the talent that we have and isn’t afraid to play them. A manager who can attract players because they know that they will get a chance to shine and move on to better things even if Boro don’t.

    A complete change of philosophy is needed but it won’t happen any time soon. I hoped Boro would start to put a run together, some would say they still can, but as Simon I think it was said, ‘it’s the hope that kills you’. Never mind, hope is better than predictability.

    UTB,

    John

  60. Thanks RR for your report and spot on analysis of another poor Boro display.

    Unfortunately I have not seen anything in the team or management this season, the Elland Rd game apart, that convinces me that we are capable of attaining an automatic promotion spot.

    On the majority of occasions this season, whenever we have had the opportunity to grab a top spot or to make inroads on the teams above us we have failed to do so. All this in a league where the standard has deteriorated and I find it so depressing.

    The chances of a play off spot are now diminishing as each game passes and I fully expect us to be out of the top six following the weekend’s games. In the unlikely event we were to make a play off place, as you say, it will just be another Groundhog Day.

    Next season does not bear thinking about as we will be bereft of a squad as those on loan are returned to their clubs and the likes of JOM is unlikely to want to stay given his experience todate. All we have done is to provide a shop window for him and he will surely end up back in the PL. No doubt others will want away and if this season was difficult on the recruitment front then I suggest we ain’t seen anything yet. Patrick Bamford obviously saw the writing on the wall early on!

    My brother and his mates have already decided not to renew their season ticket and I am not sure if I will renew my Riverside Live subscription. I will definitely not do so in the unlikely event that TP is still in charge or if we see any of the current management team being promoted.

    I appreciate that others will say there are points still to play for but does anyone really believe on what they have seen so far that we have the skills or tactical game to win enough games …….

    Depressed in Spain ☹️😎

    1. I think the summer will see a “heartfelt” thanks to TP when his contract ends for all the sterling work he has done and professionalism he has brought into the club from top to bottom in his rank and file assessment and invaluable experience. MFC will benefit from this for many years to come and we wish TP well in his future endeavours.

      In the Summer we will no doubt see an early appointment of a successor who I’m guessing will start to dismantle both the personnel and playing style and so it all begins again. Many of us wouldn’t be at all surprised if its a young Management team that sees Woody as Manager and his Brother-in-law as his assistant. Thinking totally out of the box maybe JOM as Player/Manager is a consideration?

      1. If we’re looking for a young manager then I’d like to see Stewart Downing’s baby given a chance first – at least his half-time team talks might make more sense and could encourage more dribbling from Boro players.

      3. RR

        You may wish to send your post to MFC so that they can cut and paste into their farewell tribute to TP and save them the work of trying to find some positives!

    2. Has the length of JOM’s deal ever been specified? Reading between the lines I thought it was play for us until the end of the season to build up some fitness for the Cup of Nations, be in the shop window for that tournament, then thank you & good bye unless we somehow end up being promoted.

      1. I think that pretty much sums it up. There is the hope that he likes it so much he will want to hang around (assuming SG can afford him) for a while longer but at the minute my take is that he gets some game time and match fitness and puts himself back in the shop window whilst we hopefully have a short term gain.

  61. Thanks to RR for the match report and I agree with the overall thrust that there seemed limited options for Boro’s midfield when moving forward. I also agreed with the point of how it’s hard now to see VLP making much impact and it indeed does raise the question of why Tavernier has been essentially erased from the matchday squad – despite him showing he had the abilty to score vital goals and offer Boro an outlet. It seems he must have failed to convince Pulis of his defensive qualities.

    OK, the play-offs are still well within the capability of the team but the manager will have to solve the problem of posing a threat to the opposition otherwise, as RR also said in his subsequent post, they are then free to pose more of a threat to Boro’s defence safe in the knowledge that they won’t risk conceding.

    Although, as it stands the team looks short of ideas on both flanks and indeed up front if Boro play predominantly with Hugill as a non-shooting lone striker looking to win free kicks. The midfield looks better with the class of JOM, the guile of Wing and energy of Saville and Howson – but then what? We can’t always just rely on Wing for a bit of magic. Also with Flint now out for 4 weeks and the risk of further suspensions as the season’s card totals come into play, it’s not that Boro can put all their eggs in the basket of shutting out the opposition.

    1. Its always darkest before the dawn and this may just be the making of Paddy McNair as a ball playing CB. I’d go for Shotton, McNair and Fry as the three CB’s on Sunday with Howson as right wing back and keep Friend in his usual role. That way we don’t disrupt the left side of defence at all and by moving Shotton across one minimises the disruption on the right.

      Howson has already played one game as a right wing back and I have to say that I was quite satisfied with his performance, perhaps even offering more offensively than Shotton. It does mean that we lose Shotton’s throw in ability but lets face it who remembers the last time a long throw landed in the opposition box and done some damage, August? September?

      If Howson is utilised as the RWB then that leaves an opening for midfield, Id’ love to see Tavernier to add some zest but TP will go for Clayts or Besic to frustrate the heck out of us. As a wild card TP may even put 6ft 2″ JOM between Fry and Shotton with Clayts in front of them. Any of those above solutions to me look more fluid than with Ayala and Flint so it may pay dividends by default.

      As I said before the Blades game last night, draws are no good for us any more, we need to win games, much better to win two and lose one than draw three in this league. Having the lowest goals conceded but having only eight teams scoring less than us in the Championship is not a recipe for success.

  62. I re-watched the highlights of MonksBoro’s final game, when we came from behind to win against the other Sheffield at their place, even with Leadbitter missing a penalty.

    We weren’t all bad back then, were we?

    1. In truth and with hindsight I think its been two steps forward and three steps back. For all TP’s experience there is the width of a Rizla paper separating the two of them. I expected a pragmatic functional approach but I expected an ability to grind out wins not grind down fans.

  63. Well, things didn’t turn out as we hoped.

    It looks like we’re turning into late-Pulis West Brom, boring everyone to tears and becoming steadily less effective. I’m wondering if Rockcliffe is being kept in petri-dish style conditions, as the normal lifecycle of managers and teams seem to occur at a significantly increased rate to normal non-laboratory conditions. Over 18 months Pulis has run the full gammut from, fans not sure about appointment, fans getting used to functional, somewhat successful football, fans disappointed that functional football falls flat when the big moment comes, fans deliriously excited as injury-hit squad go on crazy winning spree peppered with style and panache, fans wondering why we reverted back to functional stuff when we had some nice interesting football that was successful and ending with the current day – fans so devoid of entertainment that they are just going through the motions and out of obligation.

    Credit where credit is due – it took Pulis a lot longer to go through that cycle with West Brom, he’s managing to cram it all into an 18 month contract at Boro!

    Cynical sniping aside, we seem to have run out of steam and motivation right at the time you need to put a run together. I wonder if the squad can motivate themselves to push for the PL when ultimately half of them will be out on their ear and some of them will be thinking that promotion means Pulis might stick around!

    Or, maybe they are all young, hungry, motivated and ready to give their all in every game regardless?

    1. Smoggy
      I cannot see where we have run out of steam, when we are just repeating a cycle which began five matches in.
      Have the fans salivating because you have just cruised to the top of the league after five matches, no, seriously, winning easily, check, coming from behind, check, seeing matches out without having to repair the goal posts, check, talking madly about our young attacking team, how good where they? and most important, what on earth were they going to do to the two hapless victims who were coming to our place in the next ten days, and by how many points would we be in front?
      Then Pulis had an attack of manageritous, which was rated as severe in medical circles, and as suicidal in fans circles.
      A lot of old timers came in, all the young exciting, players, out. I should say at this point that these young exciting players were out of the ground, not the team. No, there is no answer to this act of lunacy, there never has been and there never will be.
      In big teams he would had been called in by the chairman, patted on the head and told to behave himself, oh! And consider himself on a final warning. Because in big clubs they never hire a manager to tell themselves what to do. It is the other way about.

  65. JOM comes off a slow boat from China and walks into the first team and becomes the first name on the team sheet. RVP comes from just down the road and still is looking for match fitness..

    Get rid of the training cones and get them in Sampams!

    2. And by JOM’s own admission he is only 70/80 % match fit.
      However he has been allowed to play from the off and gain match fitness whilst VLP has not. May be on the training ground TP sees something that stops him giving VLP more game time.

      Logical it is not.

  66. Simon
    I made that observation in a post several months ago.
    Had Clotet arrived at Boro with Monk, it could have been a totally different story.
    Regardless of that, I agree with RR’s assessment that we would have expected TP to do much better with the squad he has compared (West Brom apart) to the other top six contenders.
    Must be the curse of the Ayresome Park Gates that’s scuppering us.

    1. When one considers the Wing story, no one would believe it, that a so called manager could receive such a gift for nothing, and proceed to spout gibberish about “having a lot of work to do teaching him about the professional game” then not playing him, while slipping down the league. Then playing him but in front of the back four. Still slipping, then playing him in cup ties we do not want to win.
      Then deciding that he is a striker. Could we be clear on one point, Wing is a playmaker, he will create goals for other forwards, and score himself, often!
      And could we have Tavernier in the team and playing, you know it makes sense.
      This man is the architect of his own downfall, showing very little grasp of winning football, but plenty of knowledge of survival soccer, kick the ball hard, and long, and carry on doing it, it will keep you in a job. And there’s the rub. What do we get out of it?

  68. I am already finding it hard to justify renewing my ST next season with the added costs of subscribing to watch the away matches and paid for home matches.

  69. Been rather busy this last few days, so just to say many thanks to Werder for his excellent Headliner and also to RR for his usual informative and personal take on a very disappointing performance overall for me.

    Our continued absence of any real forward threat, with virtually nil support to the isolated single forward is an indictment to Mr Pulis’s failed system that has ultimately made any thoughts of the top two vanish, despite what he has said.

    As RR quoted, necessity is the mother of invention, and forever true. TP unfortuanately has, or certainly not shown to have , any alternative ideas for getting the best out a decent squad of players at his disposal.

    His admission that Wing is like a breath of fresh air, but refusing to consider playing him for a large number of games highlighted his dogged demeanour for change. And because of it we have suffered and failed compared to a good number of clubs around us with less available resources.

    He is not the only person to blame however for the poor football played this season. It starts at the top with Mr Gibson and the complete silence from the club as to where MFC sees itself going.

    1. Just watched the replay of the goal several times to judge the incident – firstly the referee wasn’t looking in the direction of Stearman and Fry and actually appeared to be watching the ball so he can’t have seen it. Stearman had his arm briefly over Fry’s shoulder and it appeared Fry had tried to stand his ground to stop Stearman getting to the ball but Stearman’s momentum simply took him over Fry.

      Also during the corner both Ayala and Friend had also put their arms around their respective opponents that they were marking. Fry could have made sure by getting to the ball first and heading it over the bar but could have risked an o.g. in doing so. So possibly a foul on Fry could have been given but there was absolutely no appeal by any of the Boro players, which probably influenced the ref not to give a foul that he didn’t see. I guess just to how much physical contact players can get away with in general may depend on the ref.

      Although, the free kick itself against JOM that lead to the goal seemed a bit soft and there wasn’t that much in it as Mikel won the ball.

      1. I think Michael meant Wing and Tav. The two do seem to have some intuitive almost telekinetic understanding which is more than can be said for the majority of the team at the minute.

      2. I thought perhaps he did and wanted to check so I could edit it – Not to worry, I quite often type the wrong word when rattling off a comment but I have advantage of being able to quickly re-edit mine 😉

  72. The situation with Tav is interesting, his last few appearances if I remember were not the best and may be that is TP’s reasoning.
    But as they say, the longer a player is left out, the better he becomes.
    What is wrong in my opinion is that the lad has never had a run of games to establish himself. I am sure he could have been brought up to speed and learnt while playing.
    Why do other teams have good young players that pop up from nowhere, probably because they have managers that show trust in them and are prepared to accept short term risk for long term gain.

    1. Exactly Billy. Just look through both the EPL and EFL teams and see the number of younger players in the first team. Norwich are an example in our League.

      All this complimentary talk about our esteemed Acadamy means nothing if we do not give them the chance to progress and shine.

      1. Teams like Norwich will produce a young player, put him in the team, getting him some experience, kid plays really well, some big club pays 20m for him and the process starts again.
        Boro sent their talent to league 2 so they can man up.

    2. Absolutely right about Tav not having a major impact in the last few games but why one rule for him and a different one for say Downing, Howson, Gestede, Hugill, Clatys, Besic etc.?

  73. The football world seems to have caught up with Pulis and we have got him at the wrong time.
    Rather like an aging midfield dynamo thats lost a yard of pace but wants one last big contract.
    His “best” years were at Stoke with a reputation for saving them from relegation year after year. At Palace he got lucky with the squad he mostly inherited. The wheels started to fall off at West Brom and I am not convinced he could have saved them from relegation if he hadn’t been sacked.
    I thought stepping down a division he may have been able to get us to the promised land but had reservations about him changing his mindset from avoiding losing, to playing attacking football, and the expectation of winning the majority of matches. The game is moving on with foreign coaches and vibrant young managers who can read Pulis like a book.
    After our slow slide into mid table he will be off and we will be left with a squad in his image.

  76. To show how delusional TP is lets take a projection of final points based on results so far. Leeds and Norwich, however inconsistent, have a projection of 87 and 86 points respectively. So Boro would need a tally of at least 87 to gate crash the party, and that is dependent on non of the other teams between them and us putting a run together.
    So 36 points required from 15 games, or 2.4 points per game. over a full season thats the equivalent of 110 points.
    With little or no width in the team, one man up front, and a goals record to be ashamed of.
    Now that really is delusional.
    The last 15 games of the Karanka promotion season including 10 undefeated after Charltongate was worth 28 points or 1.87 per game.
    He may be able to kid himself and the Gazette, but not the Boro faithful.
    Maybe Ken can recall the last time Boro went on a 15 game run that yielded 36 points.

    1. Old Billy, you do come up with some real posers. Going back to when only 2 points were awarded for a win Boro have never actually taken 36 points from 15 matches in either the First or Second tiers of the English Divisions. However, in Jack Charlton’s promotion season of 1973/74 Boro went on a sequence of winning 12 matches, drawing 2 and losing one from Boxing Day to the 6th April which today would have yielded 38 points beating the record of season 1926/27 (the season George Camsell scored 59 goals) by one point if you updated wins to 3 points. That sequence started on the 18th September to the 18th December with 12 wins, one draw and 2 defeats yielding 37 points today. In fact I it was part of a sequence of 18 matches to New Years Day which included 3 more wins and 68 goals in total.

      The best sequence of points return for 15 matches in the Championship was under Aitor Karanka in 2015 when Boro acquired 34 points from the 29th August to the 4th December from 11 wins, one draw and 3 defeats. But in the Third Division under Bruce Rioch, Boro ended the season with 11 wins, 3 draws and only one defeat yielding 36 points. In fact the last 13 matches yielded 33 points. So technically that was the last time which answers your question.

      As that was also the best points return for the last 15 matches in any season. A similar return points return for the final run-in this season would give Boro a total of 89 points and in all probability automatic promotion. But since the 4 winning sequence in August last year, Boro have only once won two consecutive league matches, so it will take an almighty upturn in results to gain automatic promotion this season unless the current top 2 both fall away.

      1. Good stats Ken and while we can’t say for sure what the automatic target will be this season, winning 3 or 4 more games than a promotion rival in the remaining 15 games is going to be a tall order – especially for a low-scoring team down to the bare bones of their defence.

        We’re probably looking at Boro needing to win a minimum of 10-11 games and maybe drawing 3-4. Leeds have only won 2 of their last 7 games so could falter but others are closer to them. I therefore think it just the play-offs left to aim for and Boro must look to gather momentum.

  77. Only lost once in the league this year. And we lost to Sheff United by a controversal goal. And are in the top six.

    I know we have not always (I know 😇) played as well as we should or being good to watch at the Riverside.

    All the other teams in the top six have had a winning run except us. And Hull and Villa outside of it. So we have been the most constant team with Leeds in the top six this season.

    I for one wouldn’t rule out automatic promotion yet. But we need to improve a bit. A 5% more and we could be there. And I guess that means mainly starting to win at Riverside a bit more often.

    I know hope kills, but for me that makes following Boro interesting. After Blackburn, we will have a few easier matches, but we are Boro. Who knows?

    Up the Boro!

    1. Not sure exactly what you mean in your third paragraph.
      You are correct in that we have not had a winning run since August and yes we have been constant, especially at home. Politely, very poor.

      What is going to change tell me to gain those 2+ points that Old Billy projected?

    2. Jarkko,
      I love your optimism and it is a refreshing change reading your posts among the doom and gloom, but surely even you must agree that 2.4 points per game is akin to fantasy football. especially with this team and managers track record.
      With home games against Norwich, Bristol and Stoke.
      Away at Blackburn, Villa, Swansea and Forest, I cannot see us getting near that target.
      Hypothetically unbeaten with 10 wins and 5 draws will not be enough.
      11 wins and 3 draws we would be in with a chance.

      2. I’m sure they would have said the same about Bristol City. In their first 14 games of the season were won 6, draw 4, lost 4. They then lost 4 in a row. The fans were calling for the manager’s head. The manager was blaming the referees after one of his players was sent off after two yellows. “There were decisions that we didn’t get but I don’t care about the refs because they do it to us every week. We have had some poor refs the last few weeks.”

        Since then, having changed nothing, they’ve gone 13 games unbeaten and won their last 7 games in a row. This must mean that the manager was ok, then crap then brilliant.

        Or maybe there is far more luck to this game than we think. City’s first game of their unbeaten run was away at Ipswich – the worst team in the league. City were losing 1-0 at half-time. 10 minutes after half-time they got an equaliser from an own-goal. 1 minute later Ipswich scored again. 1 minute later City scored again to equalise then 4 minutes later took the lead. In 6 minutes their season turned around and it was started with an own-goal. At the time, City were 14th in the table and we were second. Now they’re ahead of us.

        Someone will inevitably say “but Pulis’s football is shirt. I would rather watch us play attacking football with youngsters and lose than this carp.” They will of course have forgotten about demanding Mowbray or Monk get sacked. Bottom line is, a few games of losing with the youngsters and the fans will be “the youngsters aren’t good enough, they’re all pampered and more interested in selfies, the academy is crepe, why don’t we ever recruit free bargains from the lower leagues who turn out to be international stars” and so it will go.

        There is precisely one thing that stops fans from complaining and that’s winning. You watch other teams play to enjoy entertainment. You don’t mind your team losing 4-3 once in a while if the rest of the time they mostly win. Watching your team losing 4-3 three times in a row is just as bad as watching them lose 1-0 three times in a row.

        1. Interesting take and don’t know if manager Lee Johnson changed much, but the Robins were also vying for the play-offs last season too. I suspect confidence plays a big part and nothing like winning to make your own luck – btw Bristol City’s last seven consecutive victories have been against no team in the top 8 (18th, 14th, 12th, 9th, 23rd, 17th, 22nd) – So in that sense luck has played a part in their current position. I think they’ve got Norwich up next so it will be interesting to see how they fare.

          Unfortunately for Monk he had to contend with expectations of smashing the league – though some Leeds fans I know didn’t rate too highly and blamed him for a bad run that saw their team crash out of the promotion picture. Monk probably also wasn’t particularly the attack-minded manager he was billed as.

          btw I think you may have a problem with your auto-correct when typing shirt 😉

      3. Bristol sold their Crown Jewels in the Summer. Bobby Reid, Aden Flint, Joe Bryan and Hordur Magnusson which was over a third of their Team but in reality their Pareto 20% of their 80%.

        Its difficult enough selling Players and having to bed in new recruits with new methodologies, team mates and understanding without it being your best Players sold from under your feet. No wonder Lee Johnson had an indifferent start to the season. The Robins banked the money, spent less and the Manager had to start all over again yet has now once again got them to gel and compete at the top end of the table.

        Add in that the same Club had also previously sold the likes of Kodja, Ayling and “Boro target” Luke Freeman. Managing a selling Club is a difficult challenge at the best of times but to be able to mould them and come back fighting Season after season is a very credible feat and unlikely to be down to pure luck. Compare and contrast with both the squad and resources TP has had to work with and the difference is embarrassing. Phil Tallentire in the Gazette remarked yesterday how Sheffield United’s starting eleven cost £500K more than one George Saville.

        All the blame cannot be laid at TP’s door, the uninspiring dross on the pitch is 100% his fault but the recruitment side of the business have been getting away with an awful lot for a very long time and for a succession of Managers whom they have all failed. As the saying goes “Once (AK) is an accident, twice (GM) is unfortunate but three times (TP) is deliberate”.

    3. We’ll probably need to improve in specific areas but don’t have an actual percentage to offer – I’m not sure what a 5% increase in no goals is but it’s probably not many. Indeed a 5% increase in shots on goal wouldn’t even amount to a whole extra shot (1 in 20) in a game. I think in general most of the players have been giving 100% but can they give 105% or even a million percent?

      Boro’s problems are from my view are more to do with a combination of whether the overall tactics are getting the best out of the players and are we playing to the strengths of individual players. The comparison of what Chris Wilder is getting out of his Sheffield Utd team is a good one and if Tony Pulis can only claim the players need to be better or more clinical is only valid for so long.

      At some point a manager has to question how effective his system is and it’s no use complaining that you didn’t get the pacey wide players you wanted after two transfer windows or didn’t replace a defender or get wing-back cover if this wasn’t adequately addressed by the club. Boro decided to put their diminished resources into far more central midfielders than they know what to do with and failed to create a balanced squad.

      They also seemed to leave the Downing contract situation until Pulis could no longer pick him in his starting XI – if this was known why did Pulis start him in nearly every game instead of spreading his 23 starts over the whole season? I suspect it was only noticed at the last minute when possibly Downing walked into accounts to ask about his impending pay rise otherwise it wouldn’t have made sense to make him start every game.

      Basically, the squad has under achieved and Tony Pulis is the only person who can change that – unless of course the chairman decides to make a change, which is highly unlikely. The manager seems happy to continue with the same approach and hope at some point his team take their limited chances. It doesn’t seem like he has a model for going on a sustained winning spell – it is more a model for not losing many games, which is what he’s built his career on. That’s the difference between actively winning promotion and just keeping yourself in contention.

        1. That is a possibility since it coincided with the January window and the club have more leverage if the player can’t start – though not signing an alternative has perhaps favoured Downing. I’ve got some sympathy for Downing on this issue as his overall package that he signed up to included the extension and a pay rise if he kept his side of the deal.

          It would make it harder for the club to offer similar deals to persuade new signings if they give the impression they won’t honour added incentives. They should have at least made it dependent on either being in the PL or being in receipt of parachute payments – although it seems the club have been trying to offload Downing since Monk arrived but strangely nobody can afford to match his deal. Though the message is clear to Downing – he won’t be starting until he agrees to cancel the deal.

    4. There are controversial decisions by referees in most matches Jarkko. Sheffield United might have had two penalties on another night. You only hear of managers moaning about bad decisions when losing a match, rarely when they’ve won a match, but Tony Pulis seems to be very adept at finding faults with referees almost every match.

  78. Just received an email in my personal mailbox that came with the subject heading “We need to talk about cheese” – Thankfully it wasn’t from MFC but from the New Scientist. Perhaps a marketing algorithm somewhere has identified me – all rather spooky, though a bit worrying that the email it was sent to has no link to Diasboro.

    New Scientist

  79. If the article “Bees do Maths” explains how Brentford’s scouting system has consistently unearthed good players before selling on at a profit perhaps we should send a copy to Gary Gill?

  80. #1
    Hands up all those who thought back in August, that Boro were strong candidates for automatic promotion.

    #2
    Those who thought a play off spot could be achieved.

    #3
    Those who thought mid table mediocrity.

    #4

    A relegation struggle.

    4. As I said:

      “#1 for me until we sold Bamford”

      which was

      “Strong candidates for Automatic Promotion”

      Before we sold Bamford I wrote in the Summer:

      “This season could be a very interesting Championship with Swansea having to move on a fair few of their squad, West Brom’s finances not the best, Villa having to sell off their assets and Bristol doing likewise and now Leeds and Forest rattling their sabres. The fact that Mel Morris wants to lower the wage bill and generate some cash to rejuvenate an ageing squad indicates that Derby may not be what they once were of late. An intriguing season awaits!”

      Admittedly it doesn’t say “smash the league” but it was a quietly confident frame of mind especially when you consider the no shots on target over two legs against Villa weeks previously. Then the Bamford sale came along and all the Waghorn links started and my mood changed somewhat. Have to say that nothing that has happened since has changed my mind.

  81. Some good news!

    The Cup games this weekend means that Derby are away to Brighton and haven’t got a Championship game until Wednesday meaning that so long as we don’t lose by more than four goals against Blackburn we will remain sixth.

  83. GHW,

    I thought we’d be second and had £20.00 on it. A daft £20.00 as it turned out.

    And if we missed that we’d do it via the play-offs.

    never mind I started the season optimistic, confident even, but all that has been eroded to reveal the normal Teesside pessimism.

    UTB,

    John

  84. Before the season started, I regarded the play-offs were the target but thought we’d struggle in the beginning of the season as we still hadn’t signed any decent replacements for the likes of Adama and Bamford or had a recognise right-back or any left-back cover. As it turned out we had a great August and I may have re-adjusted to an automatic spot.

    So I probably got it the wrong way round in the beginning – though for the last three months or so have thought we’d only make the play-offs as we don’t score enough and our home form is dreadful.

  85. Among the many heartfelt tributes to Ali Brownlee, one rightly being “a gentleman”, one dissenting voice piped up in response to a video of his classic commentaries.

    “A gentleman wouldn’t have blocked me on BBC Tees for expressing my opinion.”

    Lauri Cox, rightly, spoke up for the Voice Of The Boro. She enquired, as I would, about the manner in which the dissenter expressed his opinion – because she grew up with Ali and knows that he wouldn’t block somebody just for the sake of it.

    She did add, as I also would, that Ali could never have been everybody’s cup of tea. But from what I’ve heard, he genuinely had time for all. Even those who hammered him on the phone ins.

    He did tell me years ago that he always enjoyed reading my views – one of my deepest regrets is that I didn’t even say hello when I saw him on the Boro Brick Road.

    Timing, manner and circumstance – they all matter. More than we think.

    1. Si

      Yes I saw that tweet and Lauri’s response to it she was quite upset about it

      I met Ali a few times and he always had a friendly word and behaved as if everyone was his friend

      I still miss his voice and enthusiasm on the radio

      OFB

  86. #2 for me. I hadn’t seen any improvement to the squad, in fact we had less spark in there.

    Still the same view really though there is the distinct possibility we will slip back and end up top ten.

  87. A quick delve into the Jul/Aug archive on here reveals mostly negative thoughts on the teams chances prior to the season start.

    All this weeping and gnashing of teeth about not cementing a place in the top two is quite frankly ridiculous. To maintain a play off position is exceeding most predictions. The only table that really matters will be the one published on Sunday May 5th.

    1. I don’t think weeping and gnashing over our season is ridiculous at all. Home performances against the likes of Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing day and Millwall and Rotherham were poor in the extreme.

      Then there is being played off the park by Forest, Villa and Derby at Home, throw in Newport and Burton and its no wonder questions are being asked and doubts being raised. On form are 16th in the Home table for the season and 4th from bottom over our last ten Home games with only Ipswich and Bolton having a worse record (we are actually separated from third bottom Rotherham only on GD).

      The majority of fans see far more Home games than Away and as a consequence will base their feelings, emotions and opinions on what they see rather than the whole picture and that’s before we factor in the enjoyment factor.

      1. To some extent ( particularly on the home form), you are correct. But I’m basing my argument on expectations back in August. To most these performances were to be expected. Based on the thoughts regarding the transfer window dealings they were merely compounded. This leads me to believe that the current league position is a surprise.

      2. I was very “Pro Pulis” well before SG brought him to the Club and genuinely expected him to instil some organisation and tactics that would see us comfortably back in the Premiership and survive. Having watched what has unfolded this season I no longer have that confidence or belief and think that he has massively underachieved with the squad he has despite its limitations in certain areas.

      3. RR

        “Enjoyment Factor?” Harrumph!

        I’ve only enjoyed the Leeds and possibly a couple of cup games including Peterborough all season.

        RR you and I know what we have had to sit through and it ain’t been enjoyable as you pointed out ….

        OFB

    2. GHW

      #3 from me with the fear of worse.

      I thought the bookies had got it wrong in making us second favs to Stoke for automatic promotion. We looked much weaker than last season to me. And we were no great shakes then.

      I backed us on the spreads to get fewer than 78 points. I’m not at all a gambling man and don’t even bet on the Grand National, let alone the lottery. But I made a small fortune in selling Strachan’s Boro when they were strong pre- season favourites, and felt a similar result was probably on the cards. I just felt that the bookies had got it wrong in a big way, and that I’d, you know, take the suckers. As it were.

      I also thought I had a failsafe position in that I calculated that our first 7 fixtures would represent our toughest run of games of the entire season, and that even if we played above last season’s level then we would do well to garner more than 7 or 8 points from those games. So I envisaged being well in front prior to an easier run of games, and able to cash in if our results improved.

      As it turned out after only 6 of those tough games we had14 points, and were well on track for automatic promotion. With an away game to come against an out of form Norwich, I cut my losses, took a hit of a couple of grand, and didn’t really mind. Deserved it really. Backing against my own team, and all.

      Of course we lost the Norwich game and have never really got back to the form of that early season flourish.

      So I began the season being massively wrong, and am currently still wrong, but somewhat less so.

      But irrespective of our league position I am bored stiff by the quality of the football on offer, and it appears from the sentiments that have appeared on here and elsewhere that I am far from alone.

      Even if we make the play-offs, if there are mass supporter defections for next season will it have been worth it?

  88. I think that the problem is when you look at the other teams around us GHW.

    When you look at what we have spent, irrespective of losing Traore and Paddy, and not spending it wisely, ending up with a quite unbalanced and overloaded squad in some areas, that is the biggest gripe and complaint believe.

    As many have all commented on from time to time and this week especially, it is what Norwich, Sheff U., Bristol and Birmingham have achieved on a shoestring.

    One may be lucky, two a little more so, but four teams. Therefore is their Manager better than Mr Pulis, is their Recruitment set up better than ours, is their Chairman/CEO and Management structure better than ours.

    Something is very different that is for sure.

    1. All valid points, but that doesn’t change most people’s expectations back in August. It’s easy to pick out things in hindsight.

      As has been pointed out above regarding Bristol City, if you’re selective on league position at various stages of the season you can get a completely different perspective. Let’s see what May the 5th brings us.

      1. Fully agree with that GHW but if we (TP in particular) don’t see a change in something now then things are probably going to look even worse on May 5th. Better to raise objections and concerns now than to wait until we have sunk. I’m more than happy for TP to send Boro on a ten game winning streak to shut the doubters up. In fact I’d settle for five or six games but unless he does then he is going to draw us (pun intended) into mediocrity.

    2. Totally agree pedro. Boros spending over the last two years has been outrageous compared with others.
      And why, after all that money spent, we have an unbalanced squad incapable of competing with Leeds Norwich and Sheff Utd. And a manager not prepared to attack the opposition for fear of conceding a goal.

  89. #1 for me, but still think a realistic chance of #2. But the fact is that even if Boro were to win their remaining 8 home matches, they would still fall 2 points short of Aitor Karanka’s first full season in charge and 5 points short of his second. With all AK’s faults to win 31 home matches and lose only 5 in 46 home matches was outstanding. In fact in his first full season Boro lost 2 of their first 3 home matches, so that’s a century of points gained in his last 43 matches in the Championship, a win ratio of 69.77% and points ratio of 2.326 per home match.

    I guess when anyone went to a home match in those 2 seasons they expected Boro to win and were rarely disappointed. I doubt anyone going to a home match today expects Boro to win, just hoping they do. At the moment Aitor Karanka is unemployed, but I would have him back as manager anytime over Tony Pulis. True that he made mistakes, but different time and mostly different players today.

  90. 31 home wins out of 46… the concrete proof of the success is in the print.

    That said… after the toxicity that enveloped the final year? Where one side was behind the manager, the other behind players not involved or deemed to be “out of favour”?

    No, no. No going back. Not even with Mogga… 2013 was painful for similar reasons.

  91. While we’re digging into the archives – btw thanks to GHW for the promoting of them – here’s what I wrote on 16 July as thoughts were turning to the new season…

    It’s pretty amazing to think that football season is almost upon us after being indulged with what I reckon was one of the best World Cup’s in terms of entertainment and excitement that I can remember. Hopefully we haven’t been spoilt into thinking we should expect more of the same from the Championship – with the standard of the players at this level we will probably only see more of the ridiculous than the sublime.

    Though any manager or coach watching should have noted that regardless of individual skill, it’s the best overall balanced team that has prevailed at this World Cup – for all the genius of the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and that amateur dramatic enthusiast Neymar, they were thwarted by better team performances.

    The question for Tony Pulis is whether he can create a better team this term that plays to the strengths of his players in a system that is fit for purpose – or even has the right players that fit the chosen system of play. As we saw last season it was quite hard to make significant changes once it had kicked off, Garry Monk spent too long trying to find his best team and by Game 10 it was obvious Boro were not going to be one of the pace setters.

    Pulis came in and tried to make the players he inherited fit his style of playing but you always felt he was lacking in some departments – the pressure is on to get it right from the beginning and make a few tweaks here and there but not embark on radical change. We will see from the Ins and Outs in the coming weeks whether Pulis will have a stronger team than last season.

    Hopefully he makes the right calls but some decisions may be beyond his control if the right offers come in for the likes of Adama, Gibson, Ayala or Bamford – the question is whether our recruitment department will be able to react accordingly to find quality replacements.

  92. Incidentally, one for Werdermouth. All of a sudden when posting a comment on Diasboro I have to insert my Email address and name on each posting as both columns are blank as is the Website column. There is a message ‘address never made public’ in the Email column and occasionally I get a message presumably from you stating my posts are awaiting verification. As I have an Email address but no printer connection to my iPad I wonder if you are able to solve the problem as it becomes a little tiresome to have to enter these details each time I post. I don’t know what should be entered in the Website column.

    🔴 I just removed your website address as it best not to make it public so it doesn’t get harvested and you end up with lots of spam. Your browser should save your details unless you’ve either opened it as a private browser or may have said no to allowing cookies.

    It’s also possible that it’s because you’ve changed your email address recently from ken.smith rather than k.smith it caused the problem and therefore may need to delete cookies for Diasboro and then login with your new email – although you can still use your old email address to login. If you click on the following link https://wordpress.com/me it should say who you are logged into wordpress as.

    So have a check and if you let me know which browser you are using I can look into it. BTW The website address is there for those who want a link on their username – Werdermouth

    2. Just seem to be going round in circles. Worldpress.com send me a verification number by Email to confirm my Email address but as I’m not connected to a printer I can’t receive it, so guess I’ll just have to enter it each time I post.

      1. Not heard of WordPress.com asking for verification codes just to make a comment – unless you’ve got your own wordpress site. Which browser are you using Ken? If you have a different one installed try that as it maybe a cookie problem or possibly a corrupted cookie – i.e. the system file which stores your details for wordpress got damaged. It’s also possible you inadvertently didn’t accept cookies and it didn’t save your details.

  93. GHW, I just re-visited my post just before the big kck-off to read

    “…Maybe, just maybe mind, I am talking myself out of my mindset of no expectancy, but perhaps to be a little excited at the prospects for the season, well at least a very tiny bit excited.”

    So, I suppose that translates into a #3 turning into maybe a #2.

    However, consider the team has been on a lousy run. Dire performances for weeks, scraping the odd victory but never inspiring. Next match up is the league leaders and you really have no expectation of a result before the match starts. However, in the game the team click, they are superb playing exciting football with great intent and go into the last minute or so deservedly winning 1-0 (but could and should have been 3 or 4 nil up). Anyways, the league leaders equalise with just about the last touch of the game We all leave the game feeling a little deflated that we have lost 2 points, when in fact before the game started we would have bitten your hand off for a draw.

    My point is that there is only limited value in looking at what we expected before proceedings started and implying that we should maybe be happy based on initially low expectations. Since kick off in August we have witnessed the overall quality of the league this season and most of us in here acknowledge it to be poor. Our expectations have come and gone with each week of realising so very few teams in this league this year are consistently great (well maybe none !) and our set up and selections do not appear to maximise our chances of taking advantage of that. In other words I think most in here think we should have done better overall than we have given what has transpired to be a very low quality competition this year and that has not a lot to do with what any of us expected before the big kick off.

    It is only of passing interest and little relevance what any of us thought in August. It is always what we think in the here and now that matters to us most.

    1. What I’m trying to say is that expectations were low, therefore to be super critical of the manager and players for not being in the top two is somewhat unfair.

      I think everyone here were underwhelmed at the transfer window dealings ( or lack of them), and weren’t galvanised into a new mindset of achieving automatic promotion.

      I just think it’s time for a bit of realism. Of course expectations of fans are the bane of managers. It’s not possible to win every game and the rub of the green goes a long way in football. We had some earlier in the season ( Ayala’s winner against WBA) but who’s to say we won’t get our fair share in the last third of the season.

      Good debate here today, well done.

      1. The main problem in our PL season under Karanka was that we didn’t score enough goals – it could be exactly the same under Pulis if we go up as the teams who have fared better after being promoted are those who have been able to score and win games. Huddersfield are bottom and out of touch because they can’t score.

        The worry under Pulis (despite his reputation for keeping teams up) is that we’ll have the same problem again and he left West Brom because they were bottom after failing to score goals. Football may have changed in that it’s the Wolves, Bournemouth’s and Watford’s who play on the front foot that are flourishing. Even at the top of the league it is the positive football of Man City, Liverpool and Spurs that keeps them ahead – Mourinho’s negative tactics saw Man Utd slide into mid-table and under Solskjaer they have shown the tactics were wrong.

        OK Cardiff are almost showing it’s still possible but they won two games in a row for the first time last week so it’s not necessarily a great model with any guarantees of working – it may all depend on a lucky goal or a bad call from a ref. That is the nature of a strategy of trying not to lose and then hoping for a rub of the green.

        1. I agree with werders sentiments.

          GHW – go back to the start of the season & consider the context for some of the pessimism. How much of it was the manager? My pessimism was because we still had Pulis. I remarked last season that Pulis has done what he does – kept a team in the same division that it started the season in. I fully expected the same this season. As someone remarked earlier, he is yesterday’s man.

      2. Werder,

        Good post.

        Attacking football hasn’t quite worked for Fulham but there again I think they – like us – changed the squad far too much in the summer.

        Attacking football certainly helps in keeping your own fans onside which is important. Continuity is also key I think.

        1. Thanks Andy and actually despite Fulham’s attacking intent, In their 26 games, they’ve managed one goal or less in 21 of those games with 11 games where they’ve failed to score. All made worse of course by having by far the worst defence in the PL with almost 60 goals already conceded.

  94. Found some pre-season comments.

    On the plus side, I wrote, “…we have to prepare ourselves for a season of mixed results, hope, but not expect a play-off push…”. Maybe a little too negative but I don’t think it was unfair.

    On the down side, I fully advocated spending £7m on Mo Besic.

    You win some, you lose some!

  95. I disagree with that Powmill. I think expectations go a long way towards the mood of the club and its fans and GHW is right that, back in August, most of expected no more then what we’ve got so far.

    I think a couple of the main problems have been:

    1. After the crazy comeback at The Den, we temporarily “smashed the league”, raising all expectations beyond what was actually likely. TP told anyone who would listen that without the right reinforcements we’d drop off. We didn’t get the reinforcements and we have dropped off.

    2. However, there is a perception that even though expectations were low and the transfer window didn’t deliver, we’ve still missed opportunities by failing to play some talented youngsters and a general tactical strangulation

    Another underlying reason of course is that many didn’t want Pulis in the first place. I think people are big enough to admit that – they did at the time!

    1. I wanted Pulis here as he has the experience to set clubs on an even keel. We have been decidedly wallowing in a sea of mediocrity since, dare I say it we were relegated under Gareth Southgate.

      The brief sojourn back in the Premiership was an embarrassment and did nothing to end the seasonal requirements of weeding out dead wood and endeavouring to bring in exciting replacements.

      If TP should leave at the end of the season ( I can’t see him departing before then) I think whoever takes over the mantle of MFC will have a very solid base on which to start.

      1. That GHW, is definitely something for which we have got to wait and see.
        I hope you right about the future footing, but I’m not convinced that what he appears to be doing playing staff wise and playing style wise might not be counter productive to any good work he is doing at the wider club level.
        Not that many (any) of us really know what is going on generally in the club.

      2. That being one of the big problems. The lack of information coming from the club is indicative of the secrecy most football clubs are shrouded in.

    2. Yes Andy, but to a point. The expectations are relevant at that time and set the tone at that time, but expectations change with each passing game. Ergo the relevance of the expectation really only persists around the time you have that expectation….

      My head hurts.

      1. Yes – I guess it depends on how much you really believe in your own expectations.

        For example, if we were in the Premier League and in the bottom six, pretty much everyone would be ok as we’d all firmly believe that was right.

        Maybe we mostly thought we wouldn’t be good enough this season but weren’t all that sure and open to persuasion otherwise.

  96. A Boro fan who was no fan of our first foreign manager recently told me that he could nonetheless understand why the Basque man was so popular, at least from roughly the middle of 2014 to March 2016.

    “After so many years of mediocrity, fans were willing to cling onto anything.”

    Judge for yourselves how valid his point is. Like Big Jack with Ireland, there wasn’t a great deal of distaste when AKBoro were winning or weren’t that far away from winning – fine margins and all that – but the dissenting voices were loud. Then again, maybe not… once the train gets moving under a cult leader no one wants it derailed, and hence *any* voice of dissent is shouted down.

    You’ll not be surprised to hear I was firmly on the manager’s side during the Charlton years.

    2. Wow!

      For some reason I missed this. I must have been away. But it’s a fantastic piece, and could well have some relevance to our current position. So many thanks for re-posting, Simon. And, of course to Werder for the original inspiration.

    3. Thanks Simon, amazingly that was nearly two years ago now when I occasionally found time for the odd feature article. Where did the time go? Maybe I can look into Tony Pulis’s methodology but I’m not going to have much time before Brexit to think about that 🙂

  98. Not sure about the solid footing, GHW.

    I can see that Pulis has been good for Steve Gibson – and therefore totally agree that he’s not going anywhere before his contract expires – as he’s allowed anyone for whom we’ve received a decent bid to go, even if it’s damaged the squad. I suspect a lot more would have gone if other clubs could match their wages. Despite the fees for some I think he’s also accepted not paying over the odds in wages for players we could really do with.

    That said, I think – I’d he goes in the summer – he will leave an imbalanced squad with a bit of an identity problem and still a good handful of players many would term “deadwood”.

    Truth is, he’s had a massive job on his hands. Bigger than we thought. Probably bigger than he thought.

    He’d have won a lot more hearts and minds by playing the youngsters and I think he’s missed a trick there.

    So I’m still on the fence I’m afraid. I suspect the job he’s done off the field has been better than the one on it but I don’t think the squad has been shaped well enough to say the next man starts on solid ground. Still lots of work to do.

  100. Saw a play last night called Ubu The King.

    Based on Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi, it tells the tale of a gluttonous king who takes control of a patisserie after convincing his workers he’ll make it great again.

    Not subtle, not intended to be.

    We see him gobbling up the wares for himself and getting in a food fight with his workers (and us, the audience, who have to wear hairnets and overalls) before essentially convincing them that his own faeces can be sold to the public if it looks like chocolate (my stomach is turning as I write this).

    I suppose it’s befitting with Jorge Valdano’s philosophy that if a manager can make you believe in his cause every fan will tell you that his s*** on a stick is a work of art. But it also grasps the point that too much freedom equals chaos which ultimately equals rubbish. As always, it’s about balance – and in 2013 and at the end of 2017 we needed order and control to steady the ship.

    But right now this ship doesn’t look too steady.

    Ladies and gents, I present…
    U Pu The King!

    Will he get a turd season with the Boro? Or will that drive us potty? We’re already on season No. 2.

  101. Andy, …….agree with your post, apart from the “not paying over the odds for players he wanted”.

    Remember he wanted Bolasie, thought he was coming until Villa stepped in and agreed to pay his 70K a week wages. Bolasie decided Villa were the better option for whatever reason and so end that TP dream.

    You have to assume that MFC and Mr Pulis were happy to also pay his 70K wages. So much for TP and his affordable wage ethos he has since spouted.

  102. Just had a look at the whoscored.com ratings for Wednesday. I am not sure how they come up with their ratings. For us George Friend was best with a score of 7.4. They gave van la parra the same score as Lewis Wing, 6.1 when he only touched the ball twice. Interestingly had the United keeper as their second best player.

    1. I’m surprised their keeper wasn’t MOM for keeping out the Boro onslaught 😉 I guess whoscored.com need a new dartboard for working out their ratings as VLP would have been lucky to get a point never mind be on a par with Wing.

    2. Just read how the player ratings are calculated and a player starts on a score of 6.0 so VLP has basically not gained or lost any points in the short time he was on the pitch. Also a ‘key pass’ is a pass that leads to a shot on goal and a ‘long pass’ is anything over 25m.

  103. Putting the player ratings calculation to one side on whoscored.com, it’s quite interesting looking at all the match stats.

    https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1288922/LiveStatistics/England-Championship-2018-2019-Sheffield-United-Middlesbrough

    A few things caught my eye, one of which is a particular favourite of Tony Pulis – crosses. Boro made 19 crosses against Sheff Utd but only 3 were deemed accurate.

    Also with shots, Boro had 10 shots but Ayala was the only player to have more than one and that was just 2. Jordan Hugill had 37 touches but only one was a shot – it was a decent effort I remember but from outside the box. Incidentally, Britt was on the pitch for nearly 30 minutes but only had 3 touches and one shot.

    Then there are the long balls (LB) – Boro played 86 long balls of which only 36 found a Boro player. The outfield player with lowest passing accuracy was George Friend with only 50% of his 32 passes finding a team-mate with Dael Fry next on just under 53% of his 36 passes. The midfield trio of JOM, Saville and Howson had a passing accuracy over 80% but it’s likely they were more of the short sideways and backwards type in retaining possession.

  104. I’m no fan of stats in football, if only because many of the things that count in football can’t be counted and many of the things that are counted don’t really count.

    Pulis’s satisfaction with our performances based on how far the players ran or how many crosses we got in are just a couple of examples of these kind of statistical follies, in which the leap is made from quantitative data to qualitative judgements.

    However I was struck by one stat that I saw earlier this season. I happened to catch a few minutes of the game between Cardiff and Burnley, two teams playing in the kind of style that our manager aspires to. It was so awful, so devoid of any kind of quality, that it was literally unwatchable for the casual viewer. So I turned it off. But when I turned the set back on the game had thankfully finished and the stats from the game were on-screen. The stat that amazed me was that Burnley’s ball retention was 56%. And they had won the game.

    56%- and Cardiff’s was not much higher- is pretty close to random. That is, if the players played blindfold they would have produced a stat that would have been pretty close to 50% anyway. So the skill factor in a team playing and winning in what is supposedly one of the world’s top leagues was appallingly low. Let us say that the team was playing at about 12% efficiency. And I am concentrating here on the most basic skill imaginable in the game- the ability to pass the ball to a team-mate.

    In the light of this what are we to make of Friend’s ball retention figure of 50% at Sheffield, with Fry’s and Hugill’s figures being only marginally higher?

    And what are we to make of the team’s overall 66% figure?

    It pinpoints what I think is Pulis’s biggest weakness. We are OK- a well disciplined team- when we don’t have the ball. But with the ball we are truly terrible. Incapable of stringing together, on average, more than two consecutive passes. That this has been true all season, and does not appear to be a matter of any great concern, is the biggest possible indictment of our manager’s “philosophy” and style, and the key reason why the team is largely unwatchable and the fans are deserting in droves.

    1. Loved that opening paragraph Len and lesson to all those partial to a stat – must be the programmer in me that enjoys the odd number 🙂

      Though I was struck by some of the figures – We complain about having a lone striker but what is the point in one who rarely shoots – you may better call him a false number nine. He is essentially a target man for the long balls, which appear to much more likely to give the ball back to the opposition. Indeed to call him a striker is meaningless if a randomly selected team-mate is just as likely to have a shot on goal – his job appears to be to win fouls for set plays. Also bringing on a second striker didn’t alter matters as he only had three touches in nearly 30 minutes.

      It sometimes appears if many of the players would rather not have the ball as they don’t know what to do with it when they receive it – they often are left with two choices: pass it backwards or hit it long in the hope of ‘something’ happening. Granted they seem adept at running and closing down the opposition but I suspect Steve Gibson could have saved himself at least £60m if that was the main attribute for players brought in.

      3. One of my my biggest gripes about Boro and has been with both AK and TP is movement off the ball. Put simply there isn’t any and that which I do witness is at schoolboy level. Players are not moving into positions to receive the ball in anticipating the next phase of play and what his team mate will do with the ball and where he wants his team mates to be and what options to have. Presumably its because of keeping a defensive shape. Wing was doing his nut when he had possession on Wednesday night and those around him were playing statues and all marked. Noticeably on those very rare occasions when played, Wing and Tav however do seem to have this synergy of quickness of mind and movement.

        The ability to pick out an instinctive and intuitive pass without the need to think or look up separates the mediocre sides from the great ones. I remember watching Wenger’s great Arsenal sides and watching how as soon as they had possession a square (or a diamond depending on your view) formed around the player with possession immediately to give him options to release the ball to. It was regimented in that it was so well drilled and precise. Of course having the likes of Henry, Cole, Vieira and Bergkamp etc. helped but again it comes down to the profile of the players you are recruiting. At this level Wing and perhaps Tavernier could be those type of Players in the Championship especially now with the wisdom of JOM behind them.

        Sticking with the Arsenal of old I remember Henry once saying that you win the League by winning games away from home and knowing that you could comfortably dissect teams at home but run the risk of more defeats on home soil. So maybe there is hope for us yet although I don’t think he would have meant with the poor win ratio that we have achieved (or squandered) this season to be taken too literally.

        The Players we have and seemingly consciously recruit do not have this “movement” this “reading” or “off the ball” skill set therefore there is no pace, no dazzling plays and no excitement. Instead we have a very limited range of short passing that is delayed and slowed down before making the next short pass and when opponents start to pressurise the only way is sideways or backwards, plus of course our wing backs putting crosses in to nowhere and no one.

    2. Just as a comparison I looked at the Leeds v Swansea game and interestingly Leeds had 86% successful passes and Swansea had 76%. Also for the Boro v Leeds game, Boro had only 51% successful passes compared to Leeds with 75%.

      Though just to show it’s not a particularly meaningful measure, against Sheff Wed Boro had a 86% successful pass completion but lost the game 1-0. Though in terms of long balls Boro had slightly less than against Sheff Utd with nearly half of those coming from Clayton and Besic – though Besic actually completed 14 of his 15 long passes and had an overall pass accuracy of 92.5%. Although it doesn’t state whether those long passes were forwards or backwards 🙂

    3. Men
      Everything you say is correct, but you missed out the biggest joke in the whole scenario, when he had the incredible good fortune to find that he possessed two very good players who cost nothing, and could pass and score a dream, and at speed, he dismissed them from both team and bench, and left them out until, we had settled back into a more humble position In the league. He has still not forgiven Tavernier for his outrageous exploits, not even on the bench. A sacking offence in any well run club. But what do we know?

  105. JOM has been here a few weeks now and I’m yet to see him riding the Transporter Bridge, having a pint in The Navi, or eating a Parmo. Bone idle journalism from the Gazette. No wonder sales are down.

  106. Enes Mahutomovic is back at the Club from his loan spell I seem to recall and I wonder if he would perhaps be the filling in between the Fry and Shotton sandwich in the middle instead of McNair?

    I suspect he or Wood will more likely to be on the bench.

  107. Some great posts above. Really interesting reading, gentlemen.

    Len says that we are awful in possession and can’t string two passes together. I suspect that we are more than capable of doing so but that the Instruction is to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and we therefore play a high percentage of high risk passes, most often quickly losing possession.

    This is the stark contrast between Pulis’ tactics and Karanka’s. Both favour a safety-first, defensive style with an emphasis on shape but Karanka’s team played low risk, slow and often sideways passes that retained possession even if it didn’t take us anywhere. Pulis is quite the opposite: get it forward straight away and don’t worry if you lose it.

  108. When AK tactics did get us somewhere it was impressive beyond words. Even those who didn’t like him or his tactics admitted, “when we’re good, we’re good. Some of the passing is sublime”.

    I’ve previously used the opener against Brighton to illustrate.

    At home to Brum we had twenty shots on goal and Leads hit the inside of the post. The same happened that horrible night at Rotherham – Gaston’s free kick hit the woodwork, we had 60%, if not more, possession, and we had twice as many shots on goal (14 to 7) as the Millers.

    No, I would argue that a bigger problem than tactics and methodology is mentality. At Brighton and at home to Derby (3-0, 2-0) we were calm and composed. In control. In command.

    By contrast we played what I would call “panic football” at Rotherham, like at Fulham the year before. That high octane all out style simply wasn’t AKBoro at their best – possession, shape and solidity had been the foundation of taking us five points clear in January 2016, and Gaston Ramirez had been the magic catalyst we needed to give us a spark. Three wins in four prior to Rotherham proved that.

    Our objectives at Fulham and at Rotherham were all wrong. We didn’t need to hammer the Millers, but desperately attempted to. We didn’t need to go for the win at Fulham, but desperately attempted to. As the pressure of promotion enhanced neither squad nor manager could keep their heads.

  109. Strange that the biggest complaint previously was that although we could beat the lower placed league teams, we struggled to beat the teams at the top of the league.

    This season seems to be the exact opposite, our record against the top six is very impressive.

  110. Here’s a thought for you.

    Brendan Rodgers, long before he nearly led Liverpool to the title, adopted a primarily defensive approach. He worked under Mourinho, and Swansea were renowned for possession and control above all else. When they stayed up in 2011-12, they had the fifth fewest shots on target in the PL and failed to score in 15 games. But only three teams kept more clean sheets.

    BR’s priority was to have the right organisation – possession for defensive purposes which made the team hard to beat, so they could pass their way into controlling the game again. The trouble is that at the time, the style Rodgers loved was becoming self-aware. Passing had once been used to attack, now it was a case of “We can’t lose if we keep the ball.”

    Yet opposition supporters fell in love with this tiki-takanaccio (heck, I did!) – unsurprisingly this swept up Rodgers himself, who talked about how wonderful Swansea were at Sunderland – after losing 2-0.

    By 2013-14 Rodgers had taught the team to dominate without the ball. Direct, counter-attacking football was the way. Possession didn’t matter as much. Their slip at the end wasn’t solely down to Gerrard – this new Plan A had become so successful and popular that a reversion to Rodgers’ original controlling strategy, circa Swansea, was out of the question for him.

    For once he really should have listened to Jose: (Final matches) are not for playing, they are for winning.

  111. Blackburn Rovers and Ewood Park particularly have bitter sweet memories for me although I’ve only visited the ground on one occasion in 1962 for a 5th Round FA Cup match. In those days FA Cup matches attracted much bigger crowds than the run of the mill League matches. It was the time of wearing rosettes and wooden rattles, and the press always made a big play of being ‘up for the Cup’. Boro had already disposed of First Division Cardiff City at home 1-0 with an Alan Peacock goal in front of their biggest crowd of the season of 29,260. In the next round Boro scrambled a 2-2 draw at Third Division Shrewsbury Town and 34,751 turned up for the replay four days later. What is it about midweek Cup matches, that such a large crowd should turn up for a tie against lower league opposition in the depths of winter? Boro duly won 5-1, and so I was off to Ewood Park for the next match against First Division opposition. Boro hadn’t reached this far in the FA Cup for 14 years and against all reason I thought we might earn a replay. Sad to say on a miserable damp day Boro lost 1-2, but were far from disgraced against their lofty opponents. Boro scored an equaliser just before halftime through Ronnie Burbeck but conceded the winner in the second half.

    As often happens Boro were drawn away to Blackburn in the Third Round the following season, but after several postponements the match wasn’t played until Tuesday the 5th of March. This was the season of so many postponement of matches because of snow, frost and ice but this time Boro earned their replay, just a pity it came a year too late. The following Monday a crowd of 39,595 saw Boro win the replay, but then had to play Leeds United at home five days later in the 4th Round, the day scheduled for the 6th Round. Another large home crowd of 39,672 unfortunately saw Boro lose 0-2.

    Boro’s first ever win in the First Division was at Ewood Park, 1-0, the first match of the 1902/03 season. However the biggest bittersweet moments for Boro were also at Ewood Park, and I remember both of them well. In the space of 14 days in November, Boro scored 16 goals in three successive away matches. These matches in the First Division produced a 5-0 win at Grimsby, a 4-0 win at Blackpool and a 7-1 win at Blackburn. Cecil McCormack scored 7 in those matches and Mickey Fenton 6. The win at Blackburn was Boro’s biggest ever away win at the time, and also Blackburn’s heaviest home defeat.

    Fast forward 7 years with both clubs now in the Second Division. Boro had just recovered from a dreadful start to the season by beating West Ham United 6-0, yet seven days later lost 0-9 at Ewood Park which included 🎩s from Eddie Quigley and Frank Mooney. This remains Boro’s biggest ever defeat and Blackburn’s biggest ever win.

    I don’t expect anywhere near that number of goals tomorrow, in fact it might be goalless which I expect OFB to predict. But to have two contrasting matches at Ewood Park certainly had me reminiscing again.

    1. Ken,

      I too was at that Blackburn game in ’62, and it went down in Boro history as a match that was reputedly “thrown” by one Boro player, so abject was his performance,. His reputation locally never ever recovered.

      I was also at the Shrewsbury away game in the previous round, having travelled up that morning from university in Wales. I waited on Shrewsbury station to meet my mates, and when a train came in a bloke pulled down the carriage window, and yelled in a broad Boro accent, “Ey, is this Shrews-berry kidda”. I yelled back, “Yeah”, and thousands of Boro fans streamed off and made their way to the ground, the curiously named Gay Meadow.

      We didn’t really scramble a draw, Ken, since we were two up at half-time with the scorer Alan Peacock looking every inch the England international he would eventually become. Shrews-berry fought back well to earn a draw.

      After the game I waved my mates off from Shrewsbury station, and as the train pulled away, I had a change of heart, decided to go to the replay, and scrambled onto the last carriage of the moving train. The looks of astonishment on my mates’ faces when I re-appeared, ticket-less and luggage-less, was the highlight of my day.

      The other thing I recall from that trip was the train stopping about a mile outside of Middlesbrough station, and most of the fans getting off and running across the fields towards Stockton and Newport Roads. By the time we got into the station it was almost empty.

      The replay was well worth the effort of taking three days off and the 500 mile round trip. The reason why over 34,000 attended was that floodlit evening games were still comparatively rare in those days, and there was a real sense of theatre about them. Boro generally rose to the occasion and the Ayresome Park pitch always looked an absolute picture under the lights. This replay was no exception and Boro, and Eddie Holliday in particular, played brilliantly in a 5-1 win. It was this performance and result that made the subsequent capitulation at Blackburn such a bitter and unforgivable experience.

    1. Yes Steely, none of the matches went our way this afternoon.
      The gap is increasing between the top four and the rest. I still expect WBA to finish in one of the top two spots and probably Leeds.

      It certainly looks more interesting up there now, and unless things change dramatically, which is always possible of course, ther will be only two more places available for the play offs. At the moment, Bristol, Boro and Derby.

  113. I guess that is the difference between our expectations of Boro and other promotion rivals – we’re not that surprised to see the likes of Norwich or Sheff Utd win 4-0 – but we’d all be in a state of disbelief if Boro win 4-0 tomorrow and wouldn’t expect it to happen again any time soon.

    1. Very disappointing watching Norwich this afternoon. Totally ludicrous, passing the ball around quickly like that instead of sitting deep and inviting the opposition on to them. Very lucky to get away with it. passing those slick balls through to Pukki on the ground for him to run onto. Why on earth Daniel Farke persists with a goal scoring striker like that instead of a big lumbering unit is beyond me. He should be benching him and using him sparingly or better still play another defensive central midfielder in his place.

      Same goes for Chris Wilder’s side going for it from the off today and scoring in the first minute with all that quick passing stuff on the ground to set up the goal. Again like Norwich very fortunate to have got away with it by not sitting deep and sussing Reading out and letting them have the ball for the opening twenty minutes then catch them with the long throw.

      Some Managers will never learn and as for the Baggies, well they clearly haven’t learnt that when you play Aston Villa the first team squad get issued with Tena pants for men instead of football shorts.

    3. Werder
      How about some deja-vu then.
      16th October 2004 – Blackburn Rovers 0 Middlesbrough 4 (Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 3, George Boateng 1). No I don’t believe in it either.

  114. Boro = bench = expensive goalpoachers… seems to go hand in hand.

    McClaren and Maccarone, Southgate and Alves*, Mogga and Scotty**, AK and Rhodes, Pulis and Assombalonga.

    *Neither of Southgate’s big scoring buys seemed to hit it off. The other being Mido of course.
    **If you add wages into the equation you could put Kris Boyd in there. I suppose.

  116. I read Chris Wilder’s starting XI cost half a Britt, or almost as much as a Saville.

    Proof, if proof were needed, that it’s not so much how much you have to spend as the way that you spend it. The other way to look at it is that if the selling clubs see that clubs still benefitting from parachute payments (for example) have money to burn, they will get as much money as they can for even sub par players.

    It’s only a theory. But why do I sense that we would have paid less for Saville if we hadn’t recently been in the Premier League?

  120. Team should be announced shortly – I’d be tempted to go for Woods as he’s capable and it won’t disrupt the back too much. Maybe Howson at right wing-back is the better option if Shotton plays in a back three. Perhaps even a back four is better and an extra forward.

  121. Well, it seems I got my wish with two forwards, a back four and Howson as right-back in an old school 4-4-2 – plus even Tav is on the bench!

    Randolph, Howson, Shotton, Fry, Friend, Mikel, Wing, Saville, Besic, Fletcher, Assombalonga

    Subs: Dimi, McNair, Clayton, Tavernier, Downing, VLP, Hugill

    1. I quite like that selection…might have started Tav and Besic in the bench, but he has the option to switch it around in the match.
      Let’s hope they go for it from the get go.

      1. One thing to mention is that young Dael Fry is getting quite consistent and even playing in different positions without affecting his play.

        Quietly under the radar !

        OFB

  122. With that team selection, plus following Ken’s earlier post reminding us a 4-0 win at Blackburn in 2004 and my thoughts of disbelief if Boro would win 4-0 today – prehaps I should go with the omens and predict a 4-0 victory today 🙂

  123. Strong starting eleven with a good attacking intent with Tavernier to come on when Blackburn tire, surely nobody can complain about today’s selection (through injuries/suspension).

    Come on BORO.

  125. It looks good on paper but will it work on the field. If memory serves me right TP changed the formation against Derby and it backfired. This time we also have the added disadvantage of an unfamiliar back four. Unfortunately his hands are tied and he has to do something and given McNair has failed at full back/Wing back then this is probably his best option.

    Not feeling confident and aware of the curse of the old boy and typical Boro just around the corner!

    Rovers 2-0 Boro (Graham & Dack). 😎☹️

  126. Will be interesting to see which Besic turns up today. Massive opportunity for him to step in and prove himself or prove his doubters. Personally I would rather have seen Tav but its wins that count and how TP gets them is up to him.. Lets hope its 3 points regardless.

  127. Well cannot criticise that line line up given the situation.
    My only doubt is Howson at FB, fine going forward but cannot tackle so may stand off somewhat. Needs help in front of him.

  128. Is it a back four or are Saville and Howson playing as wingbacks? If it’s wingbacks and they can pull it off, I must say I like it. Pace up front!

    Hope it works out but points to Pulis anyway for trying something more attack-minded.

  131. “So has Tony Pulis stumbled upon a winning formula more by good luck than judgment”. (Don Goodman)

    Exactly, Don. Injuries have forced us to abandon TP’s brand of defensive football, and lo and behold, as everyone on here has been saying for months, we look like a really competent passing team, with 70% possession, and have monopolised the ball to such a degree that our defence hasn’t so far been tested.

    The best performance of the season so far after 20 minutes. And by a country mile.

  132. Best opening 20 minutes I’ve seen from Boro since the home match against Sheffield United. Blackburn have been poor, but Boro have made them look poor. Hope we keep it up.

  134. Quoted by Len at 13.38:

    “So has Tony Pulis stumbled upon a winning formula more by good luck than judgment”. (Don Goodman)

    Bit like Alf Ramsey in 1966, then…

  135. Well Boro suddenly look a different team, Fletcher and Britt look like they have the makings of a strike partnership and with Howson and Saville as wing-backs we have suddenly found width, with Mikel and Wing forming a skillful midfield centre pairing. Not so much a stumble but more a massive trip for Boro supporters. Can’t see any reason to change this in the coming weeks.

  136. By abandoning just about every principle that TP has instilled since his arrival, we finally look like a proper team. And how the players look to be enjoying it.

    Surely TP won’t get to them at half-time and impose a have-what-we-hold defensive mind-set.

    Against 10 men we should be able to move Blackburn around and refine our newly-found passing game.

  137. Enjoying the performance as we are, we have to remember one swallow a summer does not make. Hopefully more of the same second half, but importantly what happens in the next game and the game after that. TP’s track record this season has not been to carry on with a successful set up that doesn’t fit his preconceived notion of what is right….

  139. Pleasing first half with players passing the ball much better and passing it forward. Also good movement off the ball. Mikel makes the game look easy. If critical I would like Friend , in particular and also Fry making shorter passes to an unmarked team mate rather than hoofing in the air which becomes a 50- 50 ball at best.
    Blackburn very poor and so I expect them to be better in second half.
    Surely can’t lose against 10 men, but then this is Boro!!
    Philip

  140. The first 20 mins of the second half is not as comfortable as the first half and they are down to 10 men!

    We need a second as we are letting Rovers back into this and could end up conceding. CoB put this match to bed. 😎

  143. He is not the only one, there is a lack of composure and quality in the final third!

    True to form we are not doing this the easy way and .Randolph has just saved our blushes. 😎 🙁

    1. Disappointing second half performance but could still easily have scored another three or four goals.

      Considering we were missing Ayala and Flint, Friend then went off and we played with makeshift wingbacks throughout, I think we can cut them some slack.

  145. My attempt to post a comment just now seems to have disappeared into the ether, o apologies of it appears in duplicate – oh, & I’m having the same problem a Ken in that I’m being asked for my e-mail address & name each I post now!

    1-0 really not good enough against a team down to 10 men for the entire second half! 🙁 Still, I suppose a win’s a win…

  146. Would have been good to see them use the one man advantage and run Rovers ragged, but we got to the end to be able to collect all 3 points. So job done. More of the first 45 minutes though next time out please.

  147. Probably the best team performance of the season for me and Boro looked a threat all game – 26 shots on goal – OK only 7 on target and possibly quite a few more opportunities where they didn’t get a shot away. Mikel was superb today and Wing was also back to his best. Britt looks a different player when facing goal and Fletcher although a little rusty at times proved a decent foil.

    Howson also had a good game and plenty of positives today with players linking up and getting into the box. Shotton in the centre of defence looked OK too – plus it meant he could execute his long throw from both sides of the pitch. Really enjoyed the game today and hope this is something to build on.

  148. I have the same problem asking me to sign in if I try to reply on my email account. But when I go to WordPress site I find I am still signed in as borobrie, so I guess it is something to do with asking to be updated with further post to your email address!

    2. Stircrazy and Borobrie
      When I log on to worldpress.com I get a message from Google that my user name doesn’t exist. Well some days my arthritis gives me hell, but I haven’t expired yet.

  149. Since people are quoting comments by pundits, thought I would even it up by the last comment by Sky

    “A stroll in the sunshine for Boro”

    Come on BORO.

  150. So the first half performance was as good as at Sheffield United, or actually a bit better. I hope that is a trend.

    Normal service returned. Next, l really hope Boro will start to win at Riverside. If only the home form would be near our away form, then …

    A good win today. Fully deserved win and I don’t miss Leads nor Clayts in our midfield now. Let’s hope we start a winning run now. As many teams have had those winning runs in the Championship this season. We are due one now.

    Up the Boro!

  153. I’d like some praise for the win please. Ewood is one of the closest grounds to our house and I’ve been to see Boro lose too many times. In fact, I’ve never seen us win there at all. .

    To give us a chance, I decided to stay away and watch on Sky and et voila: three points.

    1. Thank you Martin. Your sacrifice will be remembered down the coming centuries as a beacon to the nobility if the human state that will always put the benefit of others before the self. I am humbled in your blogly presence…

  154. As some have said earlier, probably the best first half performance we have seen this season. It had positive intent and we passed and moved the ball with skill and assurance. JOM and Wing controlled the midfield and combined well with Assombalonga and Fletcher. Besic, Howson, and Saville all played their part.

    It was disappointing having gone ahead and with Rovers down to 10 that we did not capitalise on it during the second half; a combination of poor decision making and a lack of composure/skill in the final third.

    Three points gained and another dilemma for TP. Like Millwall away, has he stumbled on other options by accident or will he revert to type and will we be back to the usual suspects/formation once Flint and Ayala are available?

    CoB it’s about time you went on a winning run like the teams around you have all managed to do. 😎😊

  155. So what did we learn or to be more precise – relearn?

    1 Blackburn were very poor first half and a little better in the second half
    2The players are capable of playing attacking football
    3 Despite having lots of chances the team isn’t ruthless enough
    4 No matter how much you are in control, 1-0 always gives the opposition a chance as witnessed by their miss and Randolph’ s good save
    5 Despite being in control there is the tendency to play too deep as the game progresses
    6 Assombaloga looks a better player when the ball is played in front of him
    7 Mikel is a class act who looks as though he can play in most midfield and defensive positions
    8 We are some way behind the top 3 and so the top 6 is the best that can be achieved
    9 We can certainly play without Flint and to a lesser extent without Ayala

    Philip

      1. I agree and that has always been the case in respect of Gestede. It is a shame about Clayton who has been a mainstay of the team and often MoTM in the past but his deficiencies have been highlighted more this season and the arrival of JOM has probably put paid to his time in the side.

  156. Been away and looked forward to watching us win. Having got back just watched the first half.it looked very comfortable indeed.

    On that evidence Mikel looks a class act and if he isn’t fully match fit I look forward to seeing what happens when he is.

    One half time wish, I would prefer Besic to be in front of John Obi more often.

  157. Credit where its due, TP was brave/braver today and it paid off and like many have said, it has echoes of the start of the season when there weren’t many options. I know we could have had a tougher opponent but first half when it was 11 v 11 we took the game to them, front foot football and we showed that the best form of defence is attack. I think its time for TP to show trust in keeping possession and allowing Wing, Saville, Howson and JOM to make things happen. As Len mentioned the other day, hoofing the ball to the final third and immediately losing possession only increases the demand on the defence. As we really have aspirations for the PL then we need to think about not losing the ball quite so easily.

    I dont believe that we dont have enough players or the quality to play this way again, especially at home. We dont need a back five against a championship standard 1 or 2 up front away team. But many of us have said this many many times before.

    As it is, well done boro and well done TP.

  159. Very enjoyable and well worth staying up for the midnight kickoff on BeIn.

    The main point for me was to see how much flexiblity the back three set-up offers when the two wingbacks are players who are comfortable in the midfield or further forward. The attacking triangles were excellent on both sides and Wing and JOM looked like a central combination that can only get better. I do echo one comment in wishing that Besic would confine himself to the other teams half. It might be unkind to say this but he often looks like a mistake isn’t far away.

    Fletcher definitely has potential and his size takes attention away from Britt. The only real downside of the game is that we didn’t score the goals that were then to be taken and again, as seems to be the norm, we relied on Randolph for a really smart save.

    There was a freshness about this performance which was good to watch and bodes well for the upcoming games. This weekend is very important. We need to carry on beating former managers and let four of the top six take points off each other in the two big games.

    UTB

  160. Excellent report, RR, and much as I saw it.

    It was also good to be spoiled for choice for M-o-M. I wouldn’t quibble with anybody’s selection since the whole team played well, but I thought that Britt’s selfless running caused defenders problems all afternoon, and of course he took the goal well.

    The worst aspect of the afternoon was TP’s post-match interview, which even my wife, who takes very little interest in these matters, thought “disgusting”

    Interviewer : Did Britt Assombalonga’s goal show a real striker’s instinct to get the goal that won you the game?

    TP: Did he score it, did he? I thought it was either Fletch or an own goal.
    Good. Well I’m pleased for him…

    My wife’s comment: How could he not see who scored? The lad was a yard out when he put it in. It couldn’t have been clearer. And didn’t he score in the first half? He’s had half-time and the rest of the game to find out who won the game for him. That’s disgusting.

    And no,TP, it hasn’t been our inability to take our chances that has been our Achilles’ heel this season. It’s been our inability to create chances. We remedied that this afternoon, because we were forced into playing a more attacking line-up. Britt and Fletcher playing in the forward channels rather than as a main striker and No 10 worked well, but in general the flair we showed looked more to me like good players expressing themselves off the cuff rather than through well-coached moves.

    The post-match pundits had it right. Success for the rest of the season will depend on our ability to play on the front foot and punish teams when we have them pinned back. Dependant, that is, on our manager unlearning many of his most cherished principles.

    1. Pulis’s treatment of Britt continues to astound me. He appears to have taken a dislike to Britt from the off.

      I remember when Pulis first joined that he called out Britt for missing a chance & said words to the effect of ‘we expect better for £15m’. I have several issues with that statement. Britt doesn’t decide what his transfer fee is. As far as missing chances goes, all strikers miss chances. If any striker was converting something like even half of their chances then they wouldn’t be playing at this level.

      Much like Bamford, Pulis seems to ostrasise certain players who actually perform on the pitch for him. It strikes me that at Crystal Palace he had success with a naturally attacking squad that he was forced to work with. At WBA he became less effective as he gradually shaped the squad in his own image.

      I hope that the first half performance on Sunday has given Pulis a light bulb moment. I fear that it hasn’t and he’ll revert back to default now Ayala is available.

  162. I am afraid Mr Pulis cannot see the wood for the trees at times.

    Did we miss Flint, not one jot, Ayal yes a liittle. I thought The back three were good even though it was a poor Blackburn in the first half.
    Saville and Howson full of energy with Wing pulling the strings and JOM possibly MOtM, just ahead of Britt.
    Pleased for Fletcher and as others have remarked and I did weeks ago, Besic only in the opponents half.
    Randolf saving the points and gnashing of teeth.

  163. Stat for you goal lovers.

    Britt’s 10th league goal for the season, and 25th league goal for Boro in total, makes him the first player to hit double figures in successive league campaigns for Boro.

    The others, since 1995-96, are Hamilton Ricard (15 & 12, 1998-2000), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (13 & 10, 2004-06), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (13 & 12, 2005-07), and… that’s it.

    Going a bit further back, and I had to look these up, you have John Hendrie (13 & 15, 1993-95), Paul Wilkinson (15, 15 & 15, 1991-94)* and of course Bernie (17, 21, 15, 21, 16 & 16, 1986-92)**.

    *That one of those seasons was in the inaugural PL campaign makes it all the more impressive.
    **Four of those six seasons for Bernie were in the second tier, one in the third. He broke twenty in the second either side of netting fifteen in the top tier, probably his most impressive achievement. When we reached the PL he sadly only netted 4.

    Come to think of it, “breaking twenty” in a season is impressive full stop… unless Britt goes on a goal rampage now we’ll have to wait at least another year.

    Bamford, for the record, netted 17 & 11 in his two full Boro seasons. Not bad at all.

  164. And yes, I believe with Pulis’s big men absent the passing and movement I enjoyed watching today seemed kind of forced upon him. That said, Saville, Wing and Mikel’s interplay before a chance for Britt near the end of the game was a joy. Two of those players joined the club under him, so credit where it’s due.

  165. Boro moonwalk to victory as Rovers are eclipsed with Obi wan a force in midfield. A small step up the table with a leap over Bristol. A suturnine Pulis still sees a problem with taking chances.

  166. Its a concern that our best performances seem to be when TP’s hands are tied and he is forced into playing players and tactics that he is normally averse to. Having two up top gave them both more freedom to operate and more space for the midfield also as the opposition had to sit a little tighter on two Strikers rather than just the one so they couldn’t pile forward in attacking us as confidently.

    Just as important was that our midfielders had 50% more options to pick out passes to (and indeed they were passes and some very clever ones at that) instead of clearing it up to a solitary isolated and out-marked Striker. We should have had a lot more goals granted but sticking with that set up for the next few games will yield them as understanding grows as well as confidence especially in the case of Fletcher who done more than enough to keep his starting spot.

    Ayala has now served his one game ban but unless Friend is crocked I would stick with the same again at the back and put him on the bench on Saturday against QPR. Saville done very well indeed and I thought Howson was superb and pushed JOM very close for the MOM award. Sticking with them all sends out a positive message but I am genuinely concerned that there may have been too much positivity today for TP to be content and suspect oit will be back to normal at the Riverside.

  167. RR

    An excellent match report and an enjoyable one as well

    If only TP would consider pairing Britt and Fletcher it could be the start of a brilliant strike force

    I thought Shotton played well as cb and the whole team played as a unit in the first half. Some of the inter passing skills were great and Howson raised his game to match his energy levels

    Let’s hope we can see some of this as home !

    OFB

    1. Playing this system at Home but reverting to one up top Away may be the way to go as our Away form is fine and two Strikers seemingly make TP uncomfortable.

      While Pulis may lament that we had 27 shots yielding just the one goal and 26 missed opportunities those 26 shots were 26 times the ball was at the opposite end of the pitch causing problems in the right areas and not down our end having to be cleared.

  168. To be frank, one up front has been the fad since the turn of the millennium. Players becoming more comfortable on the ball and a greater emphasis on collective shape and possession play, later pressing with inverted wingers, ensured that the need for top teams to play two strikers has all but gone.

    What those teams don’t do is leave their main front man isolated. They work out that there are other ways of supplying him in accordance with the talent they have and apply them.

    At Boro I feel it’s repeatedly been a case of trying to copy the best without realising that you can’t just copy and paste successful methods, or successful players, from one team in one league into another team and another team and hope they work. That’s where integration and synergy come in.

  170. Another accurate report RR just as we all saw it.
    I cannot be critical of the opportunities missed, as long as we are creating them.How many other matches this season have we created as many chances.It was great to see Boro on the front foot, I cannot remember the last time.
    Surely TP must learn from this.
    This game was a banana skin with the experimental defence and I am happy with the 1-0 and we move on to the next game.
    I am livid with TP pretending he didn’t know who scored the goal. What does this say to the player, the team and the supporters? Is it some kind of mind games he is playing?
    For the sake of clarity Tony, Britt has a huge white number 9 on the back of his shirt and a smaller version on his shorts.
    He has died the top of his head burnt orange, this allows him to be identified at distance.
    Not sure if TP needs a course in public relations or a trip to specsavers.

    1. I think he has done this (odd comments on Britt) before, hasn’t he? Strange but I think he must be pushing Britt to do a bit more running, what actually he did yesterday.

      Surely there is a plan behind it. TP is an experienced manager and good at man management. I don’t think he let these up by accident.

      Up the Boro!

      PS. Cannot wait for the next match now. But no midweek matches for a while. LOL.

      2. Jarrko
        He is completely fair in his insults, witness Wing, scores a blinder to win the match, ” the lad has a long way to go to get into this team, and I will have to teach him a lot”. He then dropped him for an entire block of games, together with Tav.
        Do not try to fathom out his reasoning, that way lies madness.

  171. Spot on report again thank you RR and whilst there were a lot of good performances throughout the team JOM was a class act and shades it for me.

    I agree that it would be same again for me on Saturday (injuries permitting) but I am concerned that TP is already making noises that this was the right choice for Rovers but it may not be appropriate for QPR!

    A winning/unbeaten run to the end of the season really could set the cat amongst the canaries. If automatic promotion proves to be out of reach, going into the play offs on the front foot could make all the difference but only if TP gets his selections right.

    CoB I need some good news having just learnt that Mrs P has a large tumour on her left kidney, gallstones and an enlarged liver. We are both shell shocked and fearful of what further tests will reveal but trying to remain up beat and determined to meet the challenges head on and in a spirit of togetherness and positivity. 😎

    1. KP, We went through something similar with my wife a few years ago, she has been in remission for two years now and we hope everything will be OK.
      I wish you and your family all the very best and hope everything turns out positive.

    5. I would also like to add my best wishes to you and your wife and thankfully medical progress means treatments and outcomes have vastly improved over the years. I know that an enlarged liver is common effect of gallstones and hopefully the tumour can be treated quickly now that it’s been spotted – being diagnosed is of course the most important part of going on to have a successful treatment.

    7. KP
      So sorry to hear that your wife is facing a serious operation. If there is any good news from such a scenario, it must be that one can survive with one Kidney, and Many do. So please accept my best wishes for success.

  172. KP, all the best wishes to your family. Let’s hope the modern medicine can help. So take care and this shows us again, that a Boro result (even a 0-1 win) is not that important. Take care, mate. UTB!

  173. A big thank you for all the best wishes from my virtual mates, which have provided much comfort to us both.

    It is good to know from others experiences that this is a situation which can be dealt with and overcome. Knowing that friends and family are rooting for us is heartening. 😎

  174. Belated best wishes for a positive outcome KP.
    As for TP’s comments, I’m beginning to think he has a screw loose.
    What is clear is that the squad is capable of attractive football. It’s TP’s stubbornness that’s the problem.

    1. Many thanks Steely, Karon has a CAT scan in a couple of hours so got everything crossed.

      TP does amaze me at times with some of his comments. He should be building on one of the best team performances during his tenure and not thinking he needs to change it! It may well be another of his deflection techniques but Saturday will tell.

      Enough of that, I have more serious matters to get worked up about.

  175. Redcar Red,

    Thank you for the report, that was a game that could have been banana skins everywhere, ex-Boro manager, ex-Boro players and blackburn too. Good to see 26 shots was it? At least that’s defending at right end and not around our own box.

    hopefully Boro can establish some momentum now but I thought that after the West Bromwich result. Here’s hoping, It’s that word again.

    UTB,

    John

  176. Best wishes KP. Hope all goes well with the scan.

    Regards TP’s comments on Assombalonga, I took them as genuine that he didn’t realise Britt had put it in. The angle from the touchline probably didn’t make it as clear a the TV and Fletcher ran off on his own to celebrate – Britt joined him rather than the other way around so I thought it was understandable.

    Besides, TP was probably watching Wing and making sure he had taken up the right position to stop a counter!

  177. Or dear, Schteve McClaren has lost the last five matches at QPR. So they are due to visit us next and they cannot lose all the time. With such a good manager and all. It will a interesting match, for sure. Up the Boro!

  179. Elsewhere, I read a report of seismic proportions for Islington socialists that will also send some shock waves through the Labour heartlands in the north.

    The price of a Porsche will rise if there is a no deal Brexit.

    Whilst it may not be of concern to all of us, goodness knows the implications for conservatory prices.

  180. KP,

    Best wishes to Karon and to you in your support. I hope that the scan goes well this morning.

    It certainly puts our concerns on here into perspective.

  181. KP
    My good lady received a similar diagnosis two years ago and we have fought our way through successfully to the other side.
    My very best wishes to you both.

    Oh…..and UTB as well.

  184. KP and Karon, best wishes for you both, in this day and age medical science is brilliant, as with everyone else my thoughts and prayers are with you both.

    Come on BORO and Karon

  185. Thanks again for all the good wishes which are really appreciated.

    Scan did not proceed as Karon has had a reaction to iodine in the past so has to have allergy test first. Awaiting another appointment!

    All very frustrating when you are anxious and want to get on with things as quickly as possible to get things sorted.

    We will persevere and overcome.

    2. Not been able to tune in until this afternoon with the first of my medical appointments, so belated best wishes to KP and particularly his wife. I’ve been through the devastating news of hearing ones wife has cancer, and it caused us many sleepless night. But l’m hoping in your wife’s case that it has been diagnosed early enough for you both to enjoy many more happy years together. Stay positive. My prayers go with you.

      1. KP

        It looks like an old boys club award, back scratching of the highest order. Either that or its for the incredible recruitment record at MFC. “And the 2019 award for urinating an incredible amount of money up the wall on mediocrity whilst tying them up to long term contracts goes to……………(drum roll of course)…………….anyone who turned up on the night.”

    2. Smile, RR? It’s beyond any kind of joke. Talk about through the looking glass.

      I wonder precisely which parts of Boro’s recruitment policy were considered worthy of an award. Which players, in particular, could be considered scoops? How many other clubs have we managed to outwit with our award-winning strategy? What is it that we are doing that other clubs might wish to learn from? And if it’s so brilliant, why has TP been given carte blanche to carry out a comprehensive review of our recruitment?

      And since Mr Bevington made his reputation in the field of communications, why is that aspect of the club so dreadful.

      There’s endless acres of carefully managed promotional puffery, to be sure, of the kind that is synonymous with the phrase ‘Corporate Communications”. If you don’t understand that this kind of guff is counter-productive, because it is manipulative and a hindrance to genuine two-way communication then you haven’t progressed beyond Communications 101 .

      Where is the strategy whereby the Chairman, senior staff or team manager communicate with the fans about the club’s longer-term aspirations? At the moment the club is operating at such a cynical level that even routine weekly press conferences are heavily staged-managed events, designed to avoid any proper questioning. This is to say nothing of the sad relationship between the club and local reporters, in the light of which the recent award would seem to defy rational explanation.

      What’s next, RR. A Football Shirt Design of the Year Award ?

      This kind of absurdity surely portends the end of satire. You don’t even have to make it up.

      1. Like myself I’m sure you have been to many similar Industry awards nights. There is one ion particular that I routinely attend which has the usual awards then some special ones (the “special bit” just changes every year.

        2015 Long service to the industry award
        2016 Lifetime achievement award
        2017 Industry leader award
        2018 Industry Champion award

        Surprisingly or suspiciously it has went to the same Gentleman who also happens to be one of the main sponsors. Its become a source of mirth and amusement as its usually towards the end of the evening and the tables have gone through a few bottles of Iberia’s finest grape juice when the “announcement” is made.

        Shame really because these awards devalues those who have truly done something of great value and richly deserved their recognition award.

      2. I agree that Boro could do better. But there are some gems we have found: Lewis Wing.

        Also Howson, Saville, Mikel etc. more lately. Just a thought, but we have’ over spent since Pulis took over. UTB!

  187. It seems to me that JOM after his comment re. Wings class, must remain his partner in the engine room, I was delighted to read the reports of brilliant interplay by them both plus many chances created.
    It could be that his experience of top level players will bring out Wings undoubted talents to even greater effect. Long may it continue.

  189. So we have 14 games left to go with 8 at Home and 6 Away. Normally that would be seen as a massive advantage except that our Home form is more like relegation form.

    QPR at Home coming up then Wigan Away and two consecutive Home games against Brentford and Preston could provide us with a run of decent results on paper. Then of course we go to Villa Park where TP bottles it as usual, has us drop our Kecks, bend over on the half way line and take the punishment.

    There again just maybe he might go with two Strikers leaving the Villa technical team completely flummoxed with their game plan in tatters along with their Play Off hopes. Surely even TP realises he owes the Boro fans at least one decent performance against the Villains.

  190. Don Goodman stated that he always found there seemed to be extra bounce at Ewood Park than other football pitches which might be the reason that for some of the wayward shooting by both teams yesterday. He also mentioned in his commentary that maybe Tony Pulis had serendipitously come across a formation and system that works well for Boro. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink also avered that dual attacking forwards or twin strikers needed several matches to gel with each other. Like some others I always thought that Ashley Fletcher would also be a better fit as support for Britt Assombalonga than Jordan Hugill who seems to spend almost as much time falling down than he does on his feet. I have to say he’s one of the worst forwards I’ve ever seen in Boro’s colours.

    My local football team Redcar Athletic have just chalked up their 4th successive league win (3 of them away) and scored 17 goals in the process. Now wouldn’t it be lovely if Boro could emulate that feat in their next 4 matches, but I’m not holding my breath on that one nor on Tony Pulis not reverting to type at home to QPR on Saturday

  191. Ken

    I totally agree with you re Hugill. He is a local lad I would like to see do well but for me he just does not do it.

    I appreciate that playing as a sole striker/hold up man is not easy and even more difficult when you have a lack of support in a TP set up but you need to stay on your feet if you are going to make an attempt at doing what is being asked of you.

    I feel that he brings little to the party and all too often it appears as if we are playing with only 10 men.

  192. Hugill brings commitment, enthusiasm and a never say die quality but as a lone Striker he doesn’t posses the skill sets to be effective and nor do Gestede, Fletcher or Assombalonga come to that. I do think he could form an effective partnership as part of a front two and both get and create goals so long as he stayed on his feet.

    The bigger problem is that WHU will want serious money from which they will never recoup anything close to their original outlay and like as not Hugill is on above Championship norm wages. Not too dissimilar to the problem we have with Gestede, way too expensive and salary expectations are way above his true level. Can’t blame the players but when those contracts end the Clubs have lost out and those wages will never be the same again so sit tight on that contract and enjoy the ride. Fortunately we can send Hugill back in the summer and maybe sign a Billy Sharpe, Leon Clarke or a David McGoldrick type Striker who are actually good enough at this level and cheap enough.

    1. RR…surely we should not be looking for strikers …”who are actually good enough at this level…”, but for ones that will be good at the next level….Oh ye of little faith 😉

    2. RR
      Totally agree with your opening sentence and assessment of what Hugill brings to the party but I take those attributes as a given from anyone in a Boro shirt.

      It’s his skill or lack of skills sets to be effective which you point out is the issue.

      Even if he became a bargain buy and would take an enormous pay cut I still wouldn’t want MFC to buy him.

      Given the right set up/support and encouragement I believe there is a lot more that could be achieved with BA and AF up front as indicated yesterday.

  194. Without wishing to overdo it on Wing, a reasonable medium-term recruitment strategy would be to build the attacking end of the team around Lewis’ qualities and provide him with the type of teammates who can make the most of his passing, vision and ability to shoot from distance: players with pace and movement who will make runs for him to find and pull defenders back towards their own goal to create space for his shooting.

    Hugill, regardless of wages or transfer fee and as much as I like his attitude, isn’t that type. Neither is Gestede.

    Fletcher and Assombalonga are though and I can see Tavernier as an option there as well. I haven’t seen enough of Walker to now what type he is or whether he would be ready to be an option. Braithwaite could be but doesn’t want to be here.

    Overall though, if used in a way the suits us, I think we’ve got just about enough up front. Whichever league we’re in next season, I would be looking at specialist wingbacks on both sides as the priority.

  195. I’m all for footballers playing with a smile on their face, but I think if someone could instill a ruthless streak into Britt Assombalonga he could increase his strike ratio dramatically.

    PS. Best wishes to Mr and Mrs KP.

  197. Just reflecting on KP’s worrying news, where else would you get a football forum so concerned about a fellow blogger? I know from my own health experiences how united people on this forum give their support for each other, people who KP and myself have probably never met only as pen pals with one thing in common, our love for Middlesbrough FC. There used to be a singing group called the Brotherhood of Man, a quite appropriate description of this forum. I realise not everyone on this forum is religious, but as during the Second World War most of us turn to prayer when confronted with worrying times, so well done everyone for showing such compassion to those of us who need it, especially to KP’s wife in her hour of need.

  199. Thank you Ken for a wonderful summary about the caring individuals who contribute to this forum.

    I may criticise MFC and players at times out of frustration but never my fellow Teessiders who are a shining example to others.

    From Karon and I, sincere thanks to you all, we feel your love. 😎

  200. Still thinking of KP and his wife at this difficult time.

    Re: JOM. At the moment, I would *like* him to day, but there is a history of extended loan deals or loan deals turned permanent gone wrong at Boro. Exceptions to the rule include Dani Ayala and Zenden.

  201. Simon I don’t think JOM is on loan, I think he has signed a short term (pay as you play ?) deal and I think a lot will depend on where we are next season.

    Come on BORO.

  203. Just before the final match this evening of the 5th Round of the FA Cup I was reminded how dire a record two of the North East’s big 3 had been up to the mid-1980’s. Boro had carried the flag for the region with Quarter Final appearances against Birmingham City in 1975, Liverpool in 1977, Leyton Orient in 1978 and Wolves in 1981, although dissapointingly should have won 3 of them. But in 1989 all 3 of the North East clubs fell at the first hurdle, Boro at home to Grimsby Town, Sunderland to Oxford United after a replay, and Newcastle to Watford after 3 replays. This was 32 years since all had done so in the 3rd Round.

    But to save the region’s blushes little old Hartlepool United had disposed of Wigan Athletic, Notts County and Bristol City to reach the 4th Round where they took Bournemouth to a replay. A pity they didn’t win the home leg as they would have entertained Manchester United in the next round and revived memories of their famous comeback against the Busby Boys in 1957 when they came back from 0-3 down to 3-3 before losing 3-4.

    Worse was to follow though on the 3rd January 2011 when all 3 of the North East’s top clubs were eliminated on the SAME day to lower division opponents, Sunderland 1-2 at home to Notts County, Newcastle 1-3 at Stevenage, and Boro 1-2 at Burton Albion. Sadly Hartlepool also went out 1-4 away to Watford also on that day.

    Just another bit of history I managed to unearth.

    1. Ken,

      Nice one, the delusions of ‘Big Clubs’ and I don’t include Boro in that. You burst a few egotistical bubbles there. By the way I am married to a Newcastle supporter, I’ll bring your stats up over breakfast in the morning. I’ll read it out loud! Brilliant.

      UTB,

      John

      1. jarsue
        Since Newcastle last won the FA Cup in 1955 they have reached 3 Finals, 2 Semifinals and 6 Quarterfinals accumulating 69 wins and 63 defeats during that time, whereas Boro have reached 1 Final, 2 Semifinals and 9 Quarterfinals accumulating 75 wins and 64 defeats during that time, so not much difference there.

        However the 21st century tells a slightly different story with Boro reaching 2 more Quarter Finals than Newcastle resulting in 32 wins and 20 defeats, whereas Newcastle have 23 wins and 20 defeats.

  205. Ken

    I was at the Burton Albion match. The local paper reckoned it was the most one sided game they had seen at the Pirelli stadium. Burton had not even been in our half until the closing minutes and scored twice,

  206. Exmil
    I guess the amount West Ham would want combined with his wages probably doesn’t make sense. It has been good having a local lad in the team but he has hardly been prolific but as many would say who would be in our attack.

  207. We didn’t get Geremi permanently. That was one I would have liked. Mendieta got injured not long after signing permanently and, one great game against United aside, I don’t believe we saw the best of him. Woodgate? Once the deal turned permanent in 2007 injury got in the way, as Huth/ Pogatetz and Wheater began to click better as a partnership. Half way through the season he was off to Spurs.

  210. I wonder if we can get a no play and pay deal for Gestede. I wonder if anyone has contacted the new owners of Teesside Airport, they could tie a wind sock to him and stand him at the end of the runway.

  211. A thought re the just published Boro accounts and the way we seem to overpay, always, for incoming players.

    Even with the most moderate of guessing, a £34 million excess spend within the current squad is not hard to find.

    In no particular order, and with the true value estimated at the time of signing and not since:
    McNair – paid 5M – worth 2M
    Flint – paid 7M – worth 3M
    Howson – paid 5M – worth 3M
    Saville – paid 8M – worth 4M
    Britt – paid 15M – worth 10M
    Fletcher – paid 6M – worth 2M
    Gestede – paid 6M – worth 1M (max)
    Braithwaite – paid 9M – value 2M

    And thank God Besic was a loan and Bolasie and Adomah were just too darn greedy to come here.

    Downing I think at 5M , at the time, was fair value considering what we hoped to get from him.

    It’s this sort of squandering that has contributed to a financial situation whereby we sell players like Bamford for 10M. Cutting our cloth accordingly now has to be done I know but it in no way excuses the sheer lack of common sense with all the above recent buys that has led us into the current mess. I don’t recall a queue for any of these players, so why did we pay so much? I’m not sure there is one listed here that I felt comfortable with re the fee at the time and imagine almost every other Boro supporter will have felt similar.

    Steve Gibson is a better businessman than any of us patently, but when it comes to football he has been oddly profligate with his cash. I don’t really get that.

      1. I don’t think the value of Flint or Saville has gone down.

        But we have to pay over the odds to get these players to Boro. The area is beautiful as all know here and my favourite destination for holiday :).

        Up the Boro!!

      2. Apols Pedro, I thought (last Sunday in particular) that Shotton has made some contributions but had completely erased Johnson from my mind, never even thought of him. Whatever we paid for him (3M?) was 100 per cent too much. Thanks.

    2. I would argue that Howson’s fee, at the time, wasn’t paying over the odds.

      He’s clearly not had the best time with us but arrived as a consistent Championship performer that the majority of other sides would have taken and I don’t think Norwich wanted to lose.

      I’m sure we could also draw up alist of players that we made a decent proft on as well to balance.

  212. If the figures are to be believed, an average wage of 23K a week in this season…..somebody, and that has to be Mr Gibson, needs to see a head doctor as he really has a problem when it comes to buying in value for money.

    Guesses for those on over 23K as I would had thought the majority would be on far less.

    Start with SD=35K, Britt=30K, Braithwaite=25/30K, Gestede=??K, Randolf=25K,.Then there are the loanees, Besic, Hugill and Mikel all on more than 23K I would assume.

    Mind it does mount up rather quickly and does beggar belief somwhat.

  213. Excellent post, Richard.

    Here’s a selection of profits and break-evens from roughly 2015 onwards. In no particular order.

    Lee Tomlin: bought for £1.7m, sold for £3.87m.
    Yanic Wildschut: bought and sold for 800k.
    Emmanuel Ledesma: bought and sold on a free.
    Grant Leadbitter: bought and sold on a free.
    Gaston Ramirez: bought for free, sold for £8.1m.
    Marten De Roon: bought for £9.45m, sold for £12.15m.
    Adama Traore: bought for £7.43m, sold for £18m.
    Emilio Nsue: bought for free, sold for £1.08m.
    Patrick Bamford: bought for £6.21m, sold for £7.11m.
    Bernardo Espinosa: bought for free, sold for £4.05m.
    Adam Reach: academy, sold for £5.31m.
    Albert Adomah: bought for c. £1.3m, sold for £3.15m.
    Ben Gibson: academy, sold for £15.21m.
    Cyrus Christie: bought for £2.52m, sold for £3.06m.
    Adam Forshaw: bought for £2.4m, sold for £4.59m.
    James Husband: bought for £567k, sold for £990k.

    Rhodes incurred an estimated loss, on fee alone, of £180k, Kike G, £230k, Stuani £450k, Fabio £270k.

    Source: transfermarkt.

    Feel free to tell me if I’ve left any out or have made a mistake.

  215. I doubt any player is bought on a free. It usually entails a sizeable singing on fee, and once you add on wages then a truer picture is seen.

    Plus once you start paying the “ Teesside Tariff” the costs go up exponentially ( is that really a word?) and with all the various contract clause’s it all soon mounts up.

  216. Of course it’s more complex. I was only using the figures available to me. I even highlighted the source.

    The fee for De Pena, for example, was, I think, £2.6m but the actual cost was around £4m, and naturally wages aren’t included. Branco was a free transfer, but we all know he was paid massive wages.

  218. Been pretty snowed under with some programming work the last couple of days so haven’t had much chance to look at football. Just saw that Boro have released their accounts for 2018 so I’ll have a good look at them at some point.

    I’ve just has a quick look and although it states Boro made a loss of £6.5m as of 30 June 2018, it is essentially a snapshot as 30 June is in the football cycle an arbitrary date. It should be noted both the Flint and McNair deals had both gone through before the 30 June but none of the big exits (Gibson, Adama, Bamford) had yet occurred.

    Of course transfer fees are structured and spread over contract length so will perhaps appear as just part of the £12m paid. I also noted from the accounts document that is states the profit for the previous year was £11.5m.

    Therefore, I see no reason to think Boro have overspent and indeed the wage bill had fallen to £43m (before the big three sold players had left, along with others). The current belt-tightening is driven by the prospect of having no parachute payments next season – though I expect the profits from player sales this season should go most of the way to covering that – plus there will be more big earners hopefully leaving in the summer.

    OK that was just a quick comment on the accounts and nothing thorough – I’ll start writing an article tomorrow and hopefully post it up in the evening.

    1. Depending on when exactly losses and profits are realised from transfers it looks reasonably ok up to now. Basically it looks like we’ve been on a huge, and largely successful cost-cutting exercise over the last 15 months.

      If we’re in the Championship and Hugill, Besic and VLP go home while Mikel moves on and Downing is let go then it looks like we’ll have enough in the kitty do some transfer dealing. If we get lucky we might end up following along behind Norwich a year later.

      I suspect that financially, the biggest risk is promotion. Fulham spent around £80 million this year and will probably come straight back down. They may will sink like a Sunderland. I suspect if we go up that we’ll work mostly on loans and TP will stay on with a 4-6-0 formation in the hope of ending the year in 17th.

      1. I think playing the loan market served us well under Karanaka and in the end Boro made a £11.5m profit in their PL season. Fulham basically ditched their promotion team and probably paid over the odds for too many average players, You are far better targeting your spending on 3 or 4 quality signings that will have an impact.

        I’m in the camp where I don’t see Pulis’s cautious approach keeping us up – we may not get hammered but if you don’t score goals in the PL you won’t pick up enough points as Karanka discovered. The gap to bridge gets bigger every year and I now think that you need to go up with a good team to stand a good chance – scraping through via the play-offs will not be a good enough platform as it only highlights your deficiencies.

        Far easier to fix problems and hone your style of play in the Championship as there will be few options to experiment against 75% of the teams in the PL. Even those in the bottom half are light years ahead of Boro at the moment – watch Chelsea v Man Utd yesterday only demonstrated how much higher the speed, control and movement is of PL teams. 17th place looks a tall order with how we currently are and we would need our recruitment team to find us 5 very good players indeed – not something they managed last time or in the recent past.

        btw Not sure if Pulis would play 4-6-0 as I think he’s quite keen on a back five 😉

  220. Werdermouth I think when you read the accounts again you will find the previous year account showed a profit of nearly £7m not £11m, also take into account the previous year to that with a loss of £36m and the year before that a loss of £9m. Therefore over the previous 3 seasons losses of £45m compared to a profit of £7m (which has basically been wiped out with this accounts loss) and it all includes the £122m from the Premiership season as I have highlighted in a previous post.

    Come on BORO.

    1. I haven’t been through the accounts page by page but on page 2, which is a summary of the accounts and is signed by Steve Gibson, written under the sub-heading “Business Review” it states “After taxation the results for the year show a loss of £6,648,000 (2017: profit of £11,486,000)“

  222. As I have not seen the accounts myself I took the reports from two separate media sources as being correct, maybe you should contact at least the Gazette and inform them of their error in the articles (including last years reported article).

    How did you get hold of a copy of the accounts, are they available to members of the public, as I would like to get a copy of the past 4 years.

    Come on BORO.

  224. Just watched the first half of QPR v WBA and although QPR conceded a scrappy poor goal in 4 minutes, they have outplayed WBA for the remaining 41+ minutes and deservedly go in at 1 – 1 at halftime, in fact they look the more likely team to win this match, so anyone thinking it will be an easy home victory on Saturday might like to think again.

    Come on BORO.

  225. Unfortunately WBA won on added on time by 2-3. So the Baggies are just one point short of an automatic promotion place. So we need to win on Saturday.

    Interestingly it was the sixt straight loss for Steve Mac. Their run must end one day but let’s hope it won’t be on Saturday.

    And it won’t be easy. Our Schteve is fighting for his job and QPR are a decent side. Up the Boro!

  226. Reports we are signing a 14 year old wonderkid from Sunderland.
    Hope he realises he may have quite a wait till he plays in the first team !

    1. Couldn’t agree more OFB, but the salient part of that sentence is “…if the right team is picked…”
      n the evidence of the TP era to date, I would not be holding my breath on that

  228. I’ve just had a stab at the Gazette’s predictor, although I think it’s bit too early yet. However I had Boro safely in the playoffs and 8 points ahead of Bristol City who have some very tough fixtures. Norwich appear to have the easiest run-in so should become Champions. Not much change after that with the other positions.

    1. I did it as well Ken and came up with virtually the same results!

      If memory serves me right Bristol were on a good run around this time last year but eventually ran out of steam during the run in and I wonder if a similar situation will occur.

  229. Werder/Exmil

    Re the MFC accounts, I have now had a chance to review in detail and can confirm that a loss of £6.6M was incurred in the year to end of June 2018 as opposed to a profit of £11.4M in the previous year.

    A revaluation of the club’s properties shows a surplus of £6.8M which has offset the loss and made a small reduction to the balance sheet deficit of £57M. So you could say they have balanced the books but cannot continue to rely upon property revaluations to do so.

    T/O has halved from £121M to £62M as a consequence of the reduction in Broadcasting fees (PL parachute payment) down from £100.6M to £46.3M, Sponsorship & Commercial income is down by £2.5M and Gate Receipts down by £1.6M.

    The club remains heavily reliant on the support of its parent, The Gibson ONeill Company Ltd, which is in turn 75% owned by Steve Gibson. Loans from the parent amount to £93.5M which is broadly in line with the previous year. 😎

    1. Last lines from AV:
      “To put it into context, the cost of running the Academy now is greater than the budget for the entire club when Bryan Robson first arrived to kick-start the Riverside Revolution.”

      Huge costs in running the stadium as well as Rockcliffe and Academy.

      Up the Boro!

      2. Jarkko

        After talking at length with Craig Liddle Academy Director and ex chief scout Ron Bone they are both convinced that Boro are on the right track for developing current and future players.

        A lot of the Academy coaches and staticians and tacticians follow our blog and believe me we have a lot of experienced people whose sole role is to evaluate the players we have in the squad. Track players who may be available and also to enhance the skills of the crop of Academy players to break through into the first team.

        Ron Bone was the chief scout who made Lewis Wing his last signing and he forecasts great things for Dael Fry.

        Other youngsters that we have within the Academy are also highly rated and of course some are now gaining league experience to bridge the gap between U18 and U23 and the reality of professional football.

        Where am I going with this ?

        Well if we are to survive in the top leagues and keep within a budget we need to develop players as we can’t go to Harrods and Fortnumand Mason and buy the best.

        After talking to the Academy guys I believe that the Boro like Southampton amd other teams who are doing this are on the right track.

        What do you think ?

        OFB

  233. AV doesn’t mention travel costs, meals and hotel accommodation for away games. That must be a large wedge. Good job we are no longer in Europe (I mean Boro of course).
    And do the players have to buy their own headphones?

  235. OK, a few unexpected things cropped up yesterday and I also had an appointment I’d forgot about. Anyway, I managed to finish writing my article before going to bed but will have another read through after breakfast and prepare it for publishing – so this week’s article should be posted in a couple of hours.

    btw Thanks to KP for his post on the club accounts!

    1. Thanks Werder. Not as detailed as our former blogmeister’s article in the EG but he appears to be privy to more detailed figures than those I have seen published.

      Clearly MFC is an expensive business to run without even taking into account the recruitment and payment to players.

      It would appear the way things are being structured we should be within the constraints of FFP once the parachute payments have run out.

      Competing against the relegated clubs will become more difficult and we will need a manager who is able to get the best out of the resources available to him and able to work within financial constraints.

      We need to find some one in the mould of Chris Wilder/Neil Warnock although not the playing style of NW.

  237. For those of you like me who are interested in the history of football, there is an interesting article on the Hartlepool Mail web-site listing the birth of all the current 92 league clubs and in some cases how they merged with other local clubs and the previous names they adopted.

    It lists Notts County as the oldest league club formed in 1862, followed by Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Macclesfield Town, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough in 11th place formed in 1876 and the oldest club in the North-East. However some clubs were formed as Boro through cricket clubs, some through rugby clubs, and many from religious organisations such as Southampton who were formed by members of the local St. Mary’s Church.

    Many were well known to me, for example Birmingham being formerly known as Small Heath Alliance, Manchester United as Newton Heath, and Manchester City as Ardwick, but I didn’t know that City were originally formed as plain St. Mark‘s then Gorton FC before being known as Ardwick. Nor was I aware that Everton were formed as plain St. Domingo’s. The fact that Bolton had the name Wanderers suffixed to the club was because they had no settled abode, and Sheffield Wednesday from members of the local cricket team wished to keep fit midweek (imagine they might have been formed as The Tuesday instead of The Wednesday, Sheffield being prefixed to their name many years later.

    Incidentally tomorrow’s visitors Queen’s Park Rangers were formed in 1882 by the merger of St, Jude’s Institute and Christ Church Rangers, and had Middlesbrough Cricket Club not decided to keep fit in the winter months by adopting football as their means, Boro might well have become a rugby club instead.

    1. He’s been the best performer in the first half but Boro started quickly, scored the goal from a great Besic ball, then seemed to sit back for the next 20 minutes. Fletcher’s well taken goal has made it comfortable but Britt should have made it three. Can’t complain and looking good for three points.

Leave a Reply