Having set a tone of despair and despondency with my opener, I’d like to try to bring a touch of positivity. Many of us have talked of Boro’s brittleness, a theme which is repeated by all 4 of the contributors on the EG’s panel today, who obviously share our concerns. But I want to say that we have seen Boro get stuck in and fight like demons on occasion this season.
Firstly, we gave Sheffield United a good beating at home. Then we went to Burnley and were one of the first sides to score there and one of the only ones to come away with a point. At home in the reverse fixture we held them to a creditable and hard-fought draw. Most recently we went to Blackburn, scored two very good early goals then soaked up loads of pressure to hold on to the points. All four games were challenging, but Boro stood up to them and did well each time. So we know it can be done. I’d like to think that’s the real Boro. I hope MC reminds his team of these significant positive games before the Norwich game. I have no doubt that if this Boro turns up on Saturday then we’ll stand a really good chance of winning. Let’s pray that they do.
I expected some backlash on my Craig Bellamy thing ,I too would have thought the same, but if you go on UTube and listen to some of his interviews, it's surprising how he comes across, one thing he said was if you don't run and compete, I'm not the coach for you
He's certainly done well with Wales - currently unbeaten under him - and he was Vincent Kompany’s right-hand man at Burnley, but whether he’d be right for Boro is difficult to say. In any case, until Steve Gibson decides otherwise we already have a manager, and my guess is he will stick with Carrick a while longer.
I've not really heard him speak so he's a bit of an unknown for me but if Vincent Kompany made him his assistant then he must be knowledgeable as a coach. Though not really experienced as a head coach with just his 8 games in charge of Wales but then again Carrick was also an unkown quantity too.
Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!
What an absolutely brilliant thread for which you, Clive, have set the perfect tone. I have been desperate to be able to throw in my two pennies' worth and at last I've got a bit of time free to write. The trouble is, what new is there to add after so many eloquent, intelligent and heartfelt posts that have just about covered it all.
The thing is, we all know that this Boro is absolutely capable of mixing it with the best this division has to offer. So why not? We take out Norwich and leave ourselves with a dream fixture to take revenge on Coventry.
Unfortunately, the other thing we all know is that this Boro is equally as capable of abject capitulation to the worst this division has to offer. So why not we fail to register a point against Norwich and leave ourselves with a nightmare fixture where the winner will take all at the Coventry Building Society Arena?
I really don't know what to think.
The thing is, as a Boro fan I long for them to win every game and would be cock-a-hoop should we make the playoffs and more so that we win promotion. I'll be disappointed if we then get shown up next season. But all the same I will keep willing them on.
Even if we fail to make it into the playoffs, I will be there next season, willing them on to hopefully some success. Its what we do as supporters. So, really I have to take the line that we are really in a win win situation. We have enjoyed/endured a season that has kept us interested until possibly the very last kick. Next season will then be there for us to look forward to, regardless how this one eventually pans out.
So. Come on Boro. Take to the field with the attitude that there is nothing to lose, but there is a game of football to be enjoyed. Then, whatever is ordained will be.
Re the to keep or not to keep question. We would be foolish to let MC go now. We will be equally foolish if we do not enable/provide the kind of mentoring and support he needs to develop.
I know there will be a few, or more, ins and outs to happen over the close season, but like I mentioned previously, we are really only a Doak and Illing-Junior (or equivalents) short of having a persistent threat offensively and perhaps a good defensive coach short at the other end. Definitely stick for me and if it doesn't come good this next few weeks, it surely will in the longer run.
Does Carrick really believe this
@powmillnaemore. “Definitely stick for me and if it doesn't come good this next few weeks, it surely will in the longer run.” But will it come good in the longer run. On what basis are you predicting this?
I was all for the appointment of MC and also in favour of the new operating model but so far neither have been a complete success. We have seen some scintillating football at times and players have been moved on for significant profit but I think overall you cannot at this stage rate MFC as a successful business based on the last three seasons.
With regard to your mentoring point, I am not convinced that MC sees the need or would accept someone being impose on him; when challenged on his backroom team previously he has always stated that he is entirely happy.
Perhaps this is part of the problem, has it become a bit of an old boys club with the likes of JW and GL as part of the team. There has been speculation that when he retires JH should be recruited when instead, we probably need fresh blood, people with new ideas and prepared to challenge the status quo.
MC may turn out to be a manager at the top of his profession in the years to come but there are no guarantees and despite his playing pedigree, others of a similar status have failed to make the grade; Gerrard and Rooney come to mind as does the late great Sir Bobby Charlton.
I think SG has some difficult decisions to ponder on come the end of the season. He will no doubt reflect on what his expectations were at the outset and what factors he needs to consider in mitigation if the outcome has been less than expected.
Others have mentioned how the team has shown the ability to fight and get results against teams such as Burnley and Sheffield which is correct but those games were not at the crucial part of the season where the pressure is all on us. If we lose tomorrow and BC and CC both win then our season is over and that sort of pressure regrettably may take its toll.
I hope I am wrong and for a change we rise to the occasion.😎
@k-p-in-spain. As I said previously, I am not advocating the sack of Carrick.
However, I do NOT want to go through another season like the present one.
And as to Carrick's play offs quote, I am sure Mr Gibson expected a top six place. Nothing less is a failure for me.
@k-p-in-spain “With regard to your mentoring point, I am not convinced that MC sees the need or would accept someone being impose on him; when challenged on his backroom team previously he has always stated that he is entirely happy.”
I thinks it’s unlikely that any manager or team leader would say any different in a public forum. Undermining your backroom team openly is rarely the right thing to do in my experience.
@pedro “However, I do NOT want to go through another season like the present one.”
For me, I’d be happy with any season where we were still playing meaningful games, where the result mattered, in the last two games. I suspect that if we get promoted this year, our last two games in the EPL next year would count for nothing.
We should probably take most of what is spoken to the media with a pinch of salt - especially loaded questions like that. Nobody with any awareness of the media would allow themselves to be labelled as a failure by their own words.
Of course anyone connected to Boro will see not making the play-offs as a failure given it's in their hands with 2 games to go - and in truth should've been sealed long ago given all the missed opportunities.
It's quite remarkable that Boro are even still in with a shout of the play-offs given they've lost 10 of their last 21 games.
Boro were 7th at the halfway point of the season on 36 points having won 10 and lost 7 games with +10 goal difference - they've done much worse in the second half but are still 7th on 63 points with a +10 GD after winning 8 further games.
It's more down to teams like Blackburn, Watford, West Brom and Sheff Wed all having much worse second halves of the season - plus Coventry were after 23 games 9 points behind us and Bristol 6 behind.
Somehow this season has gone Boro's way without them needing to be that impressive - hopefully they'll finally take advantage and get over the line!
@pedro. I am also not advocating for him to be removed as I can’t think of anyone better to replace him. That said, something needs to change if the true ambition is to at least make the play offs else we end up having similar conversations every season or so. 😎
@powmillnaemore. “Definitely stick for me and if it doesn't come good this next few weeks, it surely will in the longer run.” But will it come good in the longer run. On what basis are you predicting this?
...
That's a fair question to ask. To be honest, my basis is "hope". That said, hope that is tinged with circumstantial evidence as suggested above by someone, (sorry I can't recall who without trawling back - I'll do that after I've posted this and update accordingly *) that in the longer term there is no real advantage to be gained from swapping managers to retaining the one you have.
One really good reason to stick with what you have is that there should be an entire back-end system in place supporting the agreed strategic direction for the team and how the club (SG ?) and especially the manager/head coach/director of football wants to see it play. Sometimes it pays to be patient.
It appears to me that MC has been dealt some very difficult hands to play with transfers in and out over the last few years. To say he has kept us within touching distance of the playoffs at the back end of each season is commendable. I don't think any of us was convinced (at the end of January) that we would be there tomorrow, still having a good chance to qualify, yet here we are.
Agreed. It has not all been sweetness and light and some of his (MC's) decision making certainly has left all of us scratching our heads in exasperation at times. But, while we all often throw out the line about it being the hope that kills you, at the same time that hope does still spring eternal 🤔
* It was Len Masterman talking about Gareth Southgate that was one of the posts I was recalling , but more particularly it was Peter Surtees who was looking at the stats about how much long term success is ever achieved by switching managers: "...but it does seem that, beyond any short term bounce, sacking managers and long term success don't often go together."
Given how narky he was with the Tees question after match on good friday, he should just not say it to the media, I'm surprised given all the training they get for handling the media.
If they get beat tomorrow his " take it with a pinch of salt comments" may come and bite him and the team on the rear because I suspect the reaction of the fans will not be good.
Don't want the team to fail but they don't help themselves
I’m very late to the party via a combination of being snowed under at work and really not wanting to think about Boro after that Sheffield Wednesday performance.
What I’ve now caught up on is one of the finest, most informed, intelligent, articulate and passionate threads on a given football club you’ll find anywhere on the internet.
A fantastic starter, Clive, opening the floor to a string of truly outstanding responses.
What a blog!
I’ve no need to actually post my thoughts on the current state of the Boro because Len has articulated them perfectly in his first reply.
@andy-r I reckon if Carlsberg did posts, then this thread would be one of theirs. 🍻
probably…
I don’t think whatever he said would’ve helped change the mood if Boro lose tomorrow!
Fingers crossed we negotiate that hurdle as no amount of media training will help with the post-match press conference in that scenario…
I will go to the Riverside expecting to see a win tomorrow. But I went to Hillsborough with the same attitude.
How about a 4-2 win tomorrow? A brace for Marcus Forss and one by Hackney, too.
I passed Marton twice today - on the train to Whitby and back. I think I heard a Boro3 while passing so I will be happy with that, too.
Take care, OFB. Up the Boro!
Is anybody else slightly perturbed by the guff Michael Carrick is quoted as spouting in today’s Gazette, particularly the bit about playing to our strengths versus over-predictability? I’m afraid it reminded me of the ramblings of one Gary Monk, late of this parish, who used to say a great deal without saying anything at all.
I must say, in Carrick’s defence that the EG very often churns out pointless articles that say very little or add very little to our overall understanding of all things Boro, and Carrick no doubt has to respond most days to inane questions. On this occasion, however, I thought the theme of the interview was entirely justified: is it a concern that other teams have found us predictable and amended their tactics to counteract our style? My response would be it needn’t be a concern if we ourselves adapt to the opposition’s changes and countermine them with different tactics of our own. Reading this interview, I wasn’t sure that MC sees it this way. And too often this season we have seen Boro fail to adapt and meekly give the points away.
On to tomorrow. I confess I’m nervous. I hope the players aren’t after last week.
Come on Boro. Let’s do this! For yourselves, for Steve Gibson, for the fans and especially for OFB!
Left BBC4 on after the snooker finished this evening. An edition of Top of the Pops from 1982 came on, opening with Pig Bag. Surely a good omen.
CoB
Clive, the way I read that was as a spontaneous response to a question at a presser. It's the kind of statement (" The predictability element...is making sure that you are unpredictable') that you would want to amend and clarify if it were written or more considered.
What I took from Carrick's words were that, as in the tradition of Shankley's Liverpool and Fergie's United, you do not change your game because of the opposition. You let them do the worrying, adapting, changing and amending. You concentrate on what you are good at and one of those qualities is having players who are adaptable and a system that encourages them to change their roles within games. You are predictably unpredictable.
It's a philosophy that leaves itself wide open to the point made by Dormo and others that we are not Liverpool or United at their best, but it is the tradition within which Carrick was nurtured and it does make some kind of sense given that within the Championship our players are, man for man, better than most of the other teams.
The opposite philosophy of giving your players dossiers on the opposition every week, and sometimes twice a week lay behind the success of Revie's Leeds and even Boro's Karanka, but for many teams it is a survival strategy, a way for poorer teams to cope by stopping the other team from playing. And ultimately it can undermine confidence, frustrate players with information overload and lead to the kind of ultra-defensive philosophy that led to a Boro manager turning on a rebellious Riverside crowd who were chanting "Attack, attack, attack" just weeks before he was dismissed
I think it’s not too productive to try and analyse press conferences, particularly the comments made post or pre match by managers. Given a choice, I’m sure few would attend them if they had the choice but it goes with the territory I guess.
The likes of Warnock and Holloway seem to relish them, but most thoughtful managers give out platitudes to fulfill their obligations, then go back to doing their jobs behind the scenes.
I’ve got enough WiFi up here in Ardnamurchan to check out the scores during the day, but I’ll be trying not to check too frequently - a win is a must so my fingers are crossed.
@lenmasterman A fair written post Len.
In defence of the journalists, who have to churn out an article every day, it must become rather difficult at times to actually deliver something worth reading, especially for those on this blog.
However: but it is the tradition within which Carrick was nurtured and it does make some kind of sense given that within the Championship our players are, man for man, better than most of the other teams.
I would have to question that a little Len. I would agree that technically our forward players are possibly as good as most, bar some of the top three teams. But, as you have written, they can be “lightweight” against certain teams and become anonymous, as lots of us on here have said.
Defensively, I do not think that stands up. Travers (we hope Brynn also) is top class and probably above what we could afford to pay. Fry, given his injury record, VDB, given his form this season, although in his defence he is young, Dijksteel or Ayling or Edmundson or even Iling.
I think that there are probably a fair number of better players in the Championship in those positions above. Certainly from what I have seen this season.
Lets see how the back four and midfield get on against Sargent and Sainz this afternoon.
Well, here it goes for the last home match in the regular league season. I might go a little earlier than usual. How will Boro fare? I predict a 3-1 win. I'd be satisfied with any win, however it might be achieved. That, at least, allows the team to go into its last fixture knowing its fate is in its hands.
Back to something mentioned earlier. I'd say that automatic promotion, had it been acheived, would have been very welcome but an over-performance. Top-six would have been par: making the season acceptable. Finishing out of the top-sx would be an underperformance. You've just got to hope that "one of these years" it will be Boro's year. Of course you'd be aware that the following year would be VERY different.
