While Michael Carrick may now be officially the longest suffering (sorry serving) manager in the Championship, it seems the marathon game of musical chairs played in the January window has left him no closer in solving the problem of creating a solid winning team than when he first arrived.
Having seen his side convincingly beaten by the man he replaced at Boro in Chris Wilder on Wednesday, it looks like he has more questions about his team than answers at the moment. Although, unfortunately some suspect Giles only appears to be the answer if the question was: "Can we have another left-back who can't defend?"
There's certainly a lot to ponder for the Boro coaching team as they stand in the technical area watching them find even more creative and slapstick ways to concede goals. You could be forgiven in imagining that Woodgate is not actually whispering tactical observations into Carrick's ear but instead humming that Benny Hill theme tune until he cracks and makes a substitution.
With the current bad run now being downgraded from 'concerning' to 'extremely worrying', Boro really need a win this weekend and a game against a team who are at 'we-could-try-turning-it-off-and-on-again' levels offers a chance of redemption. Thankfully, our opponents on Saturday appear to have jumped out of the play-off race without a parachute and are in free fall and unlikely to hit the ground running.
So, Boro gratefully welcome Watford to the Riverside on Saturday as they currently sit bottom of the ten-game form table with 7 defeats, 2 draws and just the one win against a Derby side - who themselves sit 23rd in the ten-game form table courtesy of just a fraction better goal difference and have in the last week sacked their manager Paul Warne.
Now this sounds all too good to be true and what could possibly go wrong a distant mildly-optimistic voice cries? Unexpectedly, in last weekend's trip to the North East, Watford managed a rare point at Sunderland after a 2-2 draw, where the Hornets failed to contrive a late spectacular own goal to lose the match in the style we're accustomed to witnessing.
Still, Boro's ten-game form (18th overall) is only marginally better than Watford's with just 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats - 10 points from 10 games and 17 goals conceded is actually relegation form. In contrast, Coventry (now level with Boro on 44 points) are 3rd in the ten-game form table with 20 points and Bristol City (one point ahead of Boro) are 6th on 18 points. So if this trend continues the game could well be up before any of the new arrivals have been given a reasonable time to settle in and find some confidence.
Michael Carrick must know he has to find a way to stop leaking goals if there is any chance of maintaining any top six hopes - I should note that Burnley have not conceded a single goal in their last ten Championship games! This is not necessarily down to formations but is more about having an understanding of how to defend, engage with the opposition and cover your team-mates in case they're beaten or make an error (it could happen). Boro are all too often being left exposed by misplaced passes or mistakes high up the pitch and then have no pace to recover in time.
I'd wager Watford supporters are thinking they have a good chance against a team that give away goals for fun and who would argue the contrary. Before their honorary chairman gets too flattered, any notion that the Boro defence are paying homage to Pinball Wizard is purely coincidental! Besides, despite some evidence to the contrary, I believe deaf dumb and blind are not in the top three attributes currently sought after in a Championship defender - even at Boro!
Perhaps the biggest shock of Watford's form is that they have not yet sacked their manager (I've been checking regularly as I write this so apologies if I've missed the announcement). In case you need reminding, Watford have had 19 managers in the last ten years - with the average life expectancy in the role being 188 days, which is near enough damn it (and they were damned) six months.
Few have had a prayer being the high priest at Vicarage Road and being dismissed by Watford on your CV is nothing more than a knowing roll of the eyes at the next interview. However, the current incumbent appears to be bucking the trend as he's unbelievably less than 4 weeks away (I kid you not) from celebrating a whole year as Watford manager! Yes, step forward football genius, Tom Cleverley, currently the 10th longest serving (least shortest?) in the Championship.
A list of recent previous Watford managers is something of a who's who of the modern game - here's a selection with their tenure in days: Brendan Rogers (201), Sean Dyche (365), Gianfranco Zola (533), Billy McKinlay (7), Quique Sánchez Flores (365), Javi Gracia (593), Marco Silva (204), Quique Sánchez Flores (84), Nigel Pearson (223), Claudio Ranieri (112), Roy Hodgson (155), Rob Edwards (86), Slaven Bilić (161), Chris Wilder (63).
Having lasted a whole year, Flores opted to try and disprove the old adage of 'never go back' and it was obviously lost in translation as he was out again in less than 3 months. So Javi Gracia's 18 months in charge looks to be unassailable under owner Gino Pozzo - still, Tom Cleverley is now just a few weeks away from becoming Watford's second-longest serving manager out of 19 since the Italian businessman took sole control of the club in 2014.
Somewhat peculiarly, Pozzo is reported to be keen on personally monitoring all players through GPS devices that track the players' performance during training - though, while he knows their data he apparently very rarely speaks to the team. As to how friendly conversations with his managers go is another matter but perhaps given Glaswegian Billy McKinlay (current assistant manager at Everton) lasted only 7 days I suspect he doesn't like being call "pal"...
So Tom's one-year anniversary party is looking quite precarious - perhaps the youthful-looking 35-year old has secretly being on the treadmill after donning a GPS tracker and has been mistook by Pozzo as one of the players? Yet, despite their rock-bottom form, the Hornets sit only a couple of points below Boro! Make of that what you want but I'm still working out how Carrick's team are barely above one in free fall (I believe there's an emoji character for that feeling but won't indulge in case it turns out to be completely inappropriate).
One suspects three points is a must for both sides if they wish to entertain any serious play-off ambitions and get their season back on track. If Boro can't beat the worst team currently in the Championship then Steve Gibson will do well to hide the club karaoke machine in case the fat lady fronts up for an impromptu post-match sing-along. As to what song our own chairman would opt for is open to conjecture - while 'sing when you're winning' is often a crowd pleaser, it's not been heard much lately. You wouldn't be surprised if he went for "Get into them and f..." (you know the rest) but it's not really as catchy as some of Elton's.
Incidentally, "Sing when you winning" is sung to the tune of 'Guantanamera' - which was originally a Cuban patriotic song made popular by American folk-rock band the Sandpipers in 1966. Indeed, the same tune is used for several football chants, including "There's only one [e.g.] Michael Carrick" and "You're getting sacked in the morning" - the Boro head coach will no doubt be hoping to hear the former being sung by his chairman!
So will the Boro faithful be in good voice come the final whistle after respite from enduring just one win from the last 5 at the Riverside? Or will it be another off-key stuttering performance with several flat notes...
Boro play Watford at the Riverside on Saturday 15 February at 3pm
@werdermouth Brilliant - just what we needed after last night’s debacle. Well done on another superb example of wordsmithery. Crikey, the standard remains astronomically high on the Forum.
Terrific, thank you. You put a smile on my face, which has not been easy when contemplating the Boro recently.
Watford may be in poor form, but it is difficult to feel confident given our own recent performances. We are certainly missing Doak.
Absolutely brilliant opener thank you Werder. We have to hope that Saturday doesn’t turn out to be another Sacrifice and that Boro are still standing otherwise it could turn into Saturday Night’s alright for fighting.
Little to be optimistic about after last night and I fear another rinse and repeat job, with them defending deeply and us failing to break them down. Draw at best but always with the potential for another sucker punch. 🙁😎
Super Headliner werder, many thanks for the background to all the leaving parties that go on at Watford Football Club.
I wonder if the players come and go as often as the Coaches (not buses). It must be costing a small fortune in presents for those that have been there sometime.
I did not expect us to beat SU, but did hope for a small miracle, only for it to be snatched away as undeserving.
But I just have no idea as to how Carrick and his comedy sidekick are thinking as to “how do we stop this self destruct” I truly believe that in reality they do not have a clue as what to do next, only in the context of, let’s try again, it worked once, it may work again, there are still 15 games to go.
Our next game against Watford and the wonderful pre build up from Werder worries me. I think he said recently that he has never had a winner when writing the Headliner? Surely that cannot be correct. If there is a modicum of truth, then I and may be others, need not watch the game.
So another “must win game” which must be a banana skin given the stats. If we lose this one at home, then I think that the fans will react and any remaining good will, gone.
Looking to the near future and the season end. Are there any on here that believe we can make the play offs, never mind the near impossibility of promotion. Whilst there won’t be many ST holders on here. Myself, OFB, exmil and a couple more.
Will we be renewing our ST’s? How many more won’t renew, even if there is a minimal increase.
Will Mr Gibson really entrust Carrick and Co, along with Scott and his team, to realistically provide a top six place next season.
Good post I must admit we turned the game off when the third goal went in and went to bed as I had an early appointment the next morning.
We received the early bird email from MFC for renewal of our season tickets but TBH we are not keen on renewing ATM.
The only thing going for the renewal is the meet-up before the game with our grandsons and other family members which makes it worthwhile.
Looking forward to Saturday ! No not the footie we’re going to see a live Motown show at Yarm theatre after the game so we will at least have something to sing about !
Still not sure about renewal…………..
I think the current management team has run its course !
OFB
Thanks for your terrific opener, Werder. Your sense of humour and proportion is the best antidote in a world whose general grimness has now even extended to our beloved Boro.
In spite of the criticisms you have to feel some sympathy for Carrick, who, at a crucial point in the season, is having to start yet again from Stage One, with five newbies to integrate into the team and a sixth, Conway, who barely has his feet under the table. Summer offers little possibility of future stability with Hackney, Van den Berg, Dijksteel, Howson, Doak and the other loanees all probably leaving.
You could say that Carrick has been a victim of his own success in polishing projects into widely desirable acquisitions. At the moment it's the turnover that's killing us, but even last night, in our poorest performance of the season, there was a point in the second half when we started to pass the ball so progressively that we looked favourites to win the game. I thought it was Giles' failure to track his man at the precise point when we were beginning to take control that ultimately cost us the game.
I think most of us are at the point of confusion regarding this club, Gibson made a decision based on the obvious , a ship with no rudder, brings in Scott to reset and oversee obvious mistakes that were being made too many times.
I think the remit was a more progressive attacking team ,in order to excite the fans, hence gone Warnock, Wild . In comes Carrick, the change was remarkable , Boro fans hadn't seen the kind of football for seasons, problem though the players were too good for the championship but weren't ours..
Since we've become somewhat inconsistent, players in players out, and I think although the vision was commendable, there must come a realization that a utopian idea of playing might just need some pragmatic ideas.
The Championship is a league were if your not willing to work harder than the opposition, all the ability and talent, will get you midtable at best.
I think that as been our downfall, we've brought in players, on paper should dance this league, but that's not enough, they have to realize there' in a fight of atrician, ,and whoever signed off on these incomings have to answer .when it fails , last night nothing , diabolical
In spite of all of our signings, some good, some bad, some indifferent, it's worth making the simple point that a significant factor in our last three defeats has been that each of our opponents possessed a player whose quality we could not match.
We had no one last night of Gus Hamer's stature in terms of his ability to influence and win a game. And the same can be said of the role played by Le Fee in Sunderland's win and Matt Ritchie in Portsmouth's.
Carrick said at the beginning of last Summer that we should be concentrating on quality and not quantity in our recruitment. He achieved that with the Ban Doak loan, but Whittaker has been the first permanent signing of Carrick's reign that has involved a significant multi-million pound fee for a player who has already proven his worth at Championship level.
I have to admit that Whittaker did not look like much of a transformational signing to me on what was an inauspicious debut, but my point is that he is unique in Carrick's time in our spending significant money on someone who has credible claims to being something like a finished article.
I think this stat probably sums up our season and also to some degree, Carrick’s inability to improve the inability to defend.
In November we scored 15 goals in three wins, albeit against struggling teams at the time. Our false dawn
In the 13 games before that false dawn we had conceded more than we had scored. 14-15. In the 15 games after that we have conceded more than we have scored. 19-23.
Yes there are reasons and being unlucky with some injuries. However one cannot keep making excuses for the continual, same again stance by Carrick.
Werder
Many thanks for the great opener it puts things into perspective and somewhat clears the air of doom and gloom.
We have all seen poor Boro performances over the years but I must admit the clouds of despair have returned and I’m thinking that perhaps our coaching team have lost their way.
OFB
@lenmasterman One could argue that Sunderland, with it appears, a very good coach, have achieved far more than Boro on equal terms.
The signing of Le Fen, may turn out to be a master stroke. However given their position in the league easier to achieve, and we ended up with Whittaker
@werder An excellent starter. You really can write and it was funny, too. Thank you.
What I do not like in your starters, is that Boro are yet to win a match if you do the writing. For you, I hope the team finally deliveries. So all fingers crossed for a win against Watford.
I think we should get some luck, too. Well, we did get the first goal against Sunderland and the penalty at Sheffield United, but still we lost both matches.
I hope we will start with Fry and van den Berg in defence, Morris and Hackney in midfield, and then Burgzorg, Whittaker and Forss in attack behind Iheanacho or Conway. I think the latter is not fully fit yet to start, though.
Let's hope we get the three points - no matter how luckily as long as we get a win. We are due to a result with the team we have. We just need to start.
Up the Boro!
Many thanks for all the comments on the preview, as ever much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it!
And yes Jarkko I'm hoping to get my first preview win too 🤞
Although, it looks like I'll only catch the first 30 minutes of the game as my son has now got a rearranged away handball game at 6:30pm (5:30 UK time) on Saturday that is an hour drive away.
I actually missed the reverse fixture in October as was away in Berlin and if I recall Exmil was unconscious for the whole game and will no doubt enjoy the home encounter far more regardless of the outcome!
I was told Whittaker can play at nr. 10 position, too. So above I meant Burgzorg on the left, Whittaker in the middle and Forss on the right. The Finn (not Azaz) can score a goal or two. We need firepower, Whittaker scored 20 times during last season, mind.
Then it is Iheanacho or Conway at centre forward. 45 min for each, if Conway is not fit enough t8 start.
Up the Boro!
I was surprised Iling-Junior started ahead of Whittaker on Wednesday as the former looked off the pace against Sunderland and likewise against the Blades. I don't know if there is any agreement with the loan deals that those players should start a certain number of games as I imagine their parent clubs are probably paying a chunk of their wages - I would hope not.
Perhaps we should try Whittaker in the Number ten role as Azaz's form has certainly dropped off since he returned from illness - Whittaker is also left-footed I believe.
Iheanacho probably needs pitch time but he's not the energetic presence Latte Lath was but looks powerful if he was to actually receive the ball! I don't know about Conway, he was supposed to be a ready-made replacement for LL but seems prone to injury in what has been a stop-start season at Boro.
Fry hasn't done anything to deserve being dropped and Edmundson hasn't done anything to show he's a better defender so would be happy to see that change.
Obviously no time since Wednesday to make any significant tactical changes with Giles 'competing' with Borges for left-back it's a close call...
Brilliant starter, Werder - you really are top drawer at preview writing, always such a pleasure to read.
The discontent is setting in now, isn't it? We need a win, increasingly desperately.
I really don't understand the logic of ripping the team up in January and almost starting again, especially in light of the slow starts to seasons we've had under Carrick when doing the same in the summer windows, and I do feel sympathy for him in all this.
That being said, I don't think we've much choice than to start the new keeper and the old/new left back, whilst Azaz has been so ineffective of late that Whittaker should start ahead of him. Forss has done well on the right for us in the past and surely has to replace Iling Jr.
Iheanacho will be decent in my opinion but needs time (that we don't have)
Yes, an excellent opener, werder, and as usual you made me laugh, which is a considerable achievement when we’re on the crest of a slump. I’m writing the previews for Bristol City (god help us!) and Derby; right now I can’t envisage either of those pieces being remotely light-hearted!
As you say, there couldn’t be a better time to face Watford. Given how low both sides must be on confidence, though, I don’t think we’ll be in for a classic. I do think there is the likelihood of the odd mistake in the two defences, and therefore goals. I reckon 6-6 should cover it.
@clive-hurren. Clive more likely 6-7 the way we have been this season. 🤣😎
"Fry hasn't done anything to deserve being dropped and Edmundson hasn't done anything to show he's a better defender so would be happy to see that change"
Unfortunately Fry, as good as he has been since coming back, apart from the aberration that resulted in a goal, he is so right footed as to be unbelievable for a professional footballer at Championship level, so can really only play the RCB position. VDB has played at LCB twice now recently and was uncomfortable and it showed in his performances.
Edmondson can use his left foot reasonably OK, but is not comfortable playing Carrick ball and makes too many mistakes. Not his fault in truth.
So, we have to assume Carrick was desperate for Giles to come back, as we already had two LB's brought in by Scott and young McCormack. (leaving out Bangura)
Now we know Giles cannot defend, Edmondson is suspect, so could someone explain please, why (Carrick must of been in agreement) we released our only left footed CB and signed Edmondson for a fee, who is not better than Clarke at all and one could argue, neither are Fry or VDB at LCB.
I my opinion, from the little I have seen of him to be fair, Whittaker, like Azaz looks too lightweight to be an effective number 10. The player needs a decent amount of skill, but more so needs to be able to receive the ball, hold it and lay it off, all whilst being marked.
Akpom could do it, Azaz cannot and I very much doubt Whittaker will be able to.
We are so short of the right calibre of top six players in certain positions, it is not surprising at our performances at times this season,
I guess we have no perfect options in defence and even RvdB hasn't looked as good as last season since coming back from injury - I think Fry has passed the ball better and overall better at defending with his right foot. Full-backs are a problem with Ayling-Senior showing his age and looks to be now more of a right-sided central defender in a back three. Although, Ayling does have a decent delivery when he gets forward, as does Giles but both are struggling to get back and defend once they get up the pitch.
I'm still puzzled by the Giles loan as any cursory glance at any Hull supporter views would have shown that Giles was poor defensively and had even lost his place on that basis. It also seemed odd to ditch Clarke to save his wages but then bring in too many attacking players instead of fit for purpose full-backs - indeed the club were also keen to move on Dijksteel too and then what?
I'm with Andy on the nature of the January window in that it has almost been designed to ensure Boro would lose out on the play-offs - almost an acceptance that a summer rebuild is coming in the way the Latte Lath exit was handled to be a 11th hour move when the expected PL interest didn't happen.
Carrick has been forced into building a new team in mid season and everyone knows it won't gel together in a couple of weeks so what was the pressing need other than banking cash for a summer reshuffle.
Boro have only won 2 games in 2025 and one was on New Year's Day against Hull - incidentally only 3 players from that (RvdB, Hackney and Azaz) started the game against Sheff Utd and the 93rd minute winning goal was scored by late sub Gilbert who has now been sent out on loan - even Doak was a sub that day as Jones got a rare start. Basically, Carrick has a new team to work with 5 weeks later and he's still working out which players can perform in many key positions.
It's going to need a lot of luck to rescue the season and as to when Doak returns is anyone's guess.
Thanks and good luck with those previews - I dread to think just how serious the Derby one is if things don't pick up in the next 2 weeks 😱
A really excellent Opener, @werdermouth. I can't believe you have yet to record a win. Then again, it's difficult to imagine Boro recording a win against any team at the present.
You would have thought it would be difficult to feel so disappointed after tomorrow's game as I felt after the surrender at Sheffield United on Wednesday. But if Boro loses a home game against a team in such execrable form as Watford on Saturday, I think the atmosphere will become toxic and the crowd's displeasure might be made clear to ears as far away as Wartford. They won't need a radio commentary to know how the home crowd feels about the current state of affairs on Teesside.
Yes, I'm afraid it's not a great record when I write a preview in the new rotation scheme.
Wrote 7 - Lost 7 - Scored 2 - Conceded 20!
Surely it can't continue against Watford...
Since the Sheffield game I’ve somewhat retreated into a cone of silence, no searching the news articles, not listening to the Carrick pre match presser and not viewing the TV Sports review.
Phew ! So whilst this may seem somewhat insular, I’ve only kept in touch with updates by reading our favourite blog. No nastiness here, just reasoned arguments by people who have a genuine love for the club and no knee jerk reaction of “sack the board” or “sack the manager!”
I must admit I like Carrick and he’s well respected in the game but ….. does he have the killer instinct? I’ve never seen him shake his fist at the team to raise the stakes in a game. He doesn’t make substitutions until the 7Oth minute (or later!). His muttered discussions on the touchline with his cohort Woodgate takes on the comedic roles of a Morecambe and Wise, “what do we do ? What can we do ? Should we make a substitution?” Its pretty obvious that at times they are out of their depth and the game just passes them by.
Of course we can point to unenforced errors by the defence resulting in own goals and laying on goal scoring chances for the opposition but…..Carrick picks the team and it’s not been good enough.
Ayling - his legs have gone and whilst Carrick has tried to have younger fitter players to do the running on the right hand side Ayling is a liability.The players Carrick has introduced into the team on the right hand side haven’t at present been good enough. Losing Dijksteel and Doak to injury is unfortunate but not unsurmountable if he moved Fry to right back rather than leave him on the bench it would be an improvement on Ayling.
Azaz is inconsistent and the whole midfield requires a midfield general in the mould of Leadbitter. Is it possible to sign a player who is a free agent or a young player who can step up to the mark and provide some drive to the team?
Barlaser i do not rate this player at all !
Actually the more that I go through the team the more that I think we won’t qualify for the playoffs. If by some miracle we do then we certainly won’t qualify for the final and definitely will not be promoted.
Is that defeatist?
Not really it’s probably realism creeping in.
I think if Carrick doesn’t get an older hand to help him in the dugout then he will not be here next season.
So I’ve removed the pin and thrown the grenade into the ether, am I the only one to think like this …???
OFB
I didn't expect Boro to win at Sheff Utd but what was obvious was that they played with much more intensity and looked to know how to play their game-plan. Boro on the other hand looked like a makeshift team with several players low on confidence and a few not fully match fit.
We've lost our right sided outlet in Dijksteel and Doak and the left side looks weak defensively - plus losing Latte Lath has lost the focal point and energetic defending from the front and Azaz has dropped his level considerably from the player who we thought made the team tick.
There is no easy answers to these problems for Carrick and his options are basically 3 loans who are out of form and probably low on confidence, 2 forwards returning from injuries in Forss and Conway - plus a new signing who has just moved from the South West to Teesside and will need to settle into the club.
Basically, Boro need a win tomorrow no matter how it's engineered - something to build on and add a bit of confidence that removes doubt within the team.
I'd be tempted to partner Morris with McCabe to have a busy midfield that shields the defence and move Hackney up the pitch instead of Azaz (who needs resting) to link up play - then start a front three of Burgzorg, Iheanacho and Whittaker (who has been a regular starter) with a couple of subs around the hour mark to give Conway, Forss or Iling-Junior some much-needed pitch time and keep players fresh.
Losing is not an option tomorrow - nor is drawing in all reality - we'll know by 5pm if there's still life in team and nerve!
Results change the dynamic and without them it just gets harder.
QPR 4-0 against Derby after 70 mins and level on points with Boro in eleventh position. 😎
your post
Thank you Selwynoz for an exceptional piece predominantly focusing on the way forward.
As much as I would like to see us shedding our bad habits I just don’t see it happening and fear that we will continue in the same vein.
We have only won 4 out of the last 15 games and assuming that that trend continues we will be well short of your magic 76 points and won’t have to worry about the playoffs.
As for next Wednesday, I can’t see anything other than a home win but hope my pessimism proves unfounded. 😎
unquote
I think you’re right so I’m not alone !
OFB