I can’t help thinking Carrick might be burying his head in the sand, if his latest press conference (as reported in the EG) is anything to go by.
Firstly, he says there’s nothing wrong with his coaching team. I accept that he’s not going to throw any of them under the bus, but there isn’t any recognition that we might benefit from other experience or ideas.
And in the interview where he is described as ‘bullish’, he uses a lot of words to say not very much, which is something he does a lot. But he believes in the squad and knows we are a good team. I can’t say this fills me with confidence. Disturbingly, he says we have to build on our strengths, but there seems no acknowledgement that we might first need to rectify our (glaringly obvious) faults. The article’s apt conclusion is that these are fine words, but results are what matter now, and if the performance at Bristol and the result are poor, then those words will mean nothing.
So come on, Michael. Prove to us that we are a good team with more strengths than weaknesses by putting on a good show tomorrow and coming home with 3 points.
Not if I have done this correctly. Below hopefully is Dominic Shaws take on the presser.
Quite straight to the point.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24950732.inside-michael-carricks-middlesbrough-bristol-city-press-conference/?ref=suit
If you press and hold tge link, then press open when the box comes up. It works then.
Apologies
If you press and hold tge link, then press open when the box comes up. It works then.
Apologies
I think the time for talking has probably passed - or at least many supporters are not too interested in hearing what they are going to do next time. Only results will be heard now and at the very least signs that the players have learned from recent performances and can avoid self-inflicted errors and play with the required intensity.
It's now basically a confidence issue that will only be resolved by winning games but coaches have to these days waffle on at pre-match press conferences and try to explain that everything is under control and give the impression they're on top of the problem.
What can any manager really say when results and performances have been below expectations? They have to show belief in what they are doing without actually saying anything that would undermine belief within the squad. So "my team is full of good players who can play well" is perhaps the summary of the various sentences uttered.
The Witching Hour approaches. Let's hope somebody casts a spell on Bristol City. Or maybe a "good spell" on Boro....
I am back from a business trip abroad.
I was thinking that a team must go back to the basics after a bad run of results. So I was delighted to hear the same from Carrick now. He said in the Echo:
"It can be one moment, it can be one moment in the game, it can be one game...it can flip so quickly and you’ve just got to keep giving yourself the best chance really and doing the things that are classed as simple things.
"It’s not easy to keep doing, but you've got to do the simple things as well as you possibly can, definitely work as hard as you possibly can and things fall into place, and before you know it, you're off and running again and you’ve forgotten about them feelings that maybe you had at certain points in the season."
I have highlighted it: simle things as well as you can. All the great coaches do it. Do not over complicate the things for the players. More than ever, one goes back to the basics in situationsl ike where Boro are. And Carrick has seen that done by great coaches during his playing career, too.
We will be OK one day. Don't worry too much. Up the Boro!
Carrick’s comments at the press conferences seem to be the same every time although it doesn’t help to get something different from him as he gets much the same questions every week.
However, I’d like him to say what he and the players have done to arrest the poor results to demonstrate they are doing something new. No point doing the same every week as performances and results aren’t improving.
So tonight’s result? Like most , I’ve no idea except to say that recent results and Bristol’s home form ( from memory only lost 3 games) points to a home win.
Big decision - do I open the wine before kick off , or , when the game is over ? !!
Philip of Huddersfield
You'll probably need a drink before the final whistle - though unlike the wine, I hope the game is a corker tonight!
Team News...
Carrick going with both Iheanacho and Conway up top with Borges retaining left-back slot and Dijksteel starting as right-back - Fry in for Edmundson too.
@philip-of-huddersfield - Maybe a glass or three before kick-off might dull the pain.
Looks like Giles not in the squad - has he been at the club long enough to get injured? Plus someone called Greenup on the bench - possibly to cut down all the hot air being released recently...
Apparently Giles is ill.
Best of luck to the team tonight. I will follow via BBC Tees commentary. I have NO idea how this is going to turn out so I will fear for the worst whilst hoping for the best.
Fry in the team will please many (and I hope that doesn't put the equivalent of the "commentators' curse" on him). It will be interesting to see how the selected team performs. It would be good if several of the players could have really good games tonight as I feel that few have played well in recent weeks.
Isaac Greenup u-18 midfielder apparently. The under 21's are playing tonight so there would be a shortage of subs.
Not a particularly healthy bunch, at present, the Boro players...!
The young lad is 16 and let's hope he'll turn into an excellent footballer. But if Boro isn't picking any older player for the Bench tonight because the u21's have a game, wouldn't it be more sensible to ask an u21 player to "step up" into the First Team and then replace him with Isaac Greenup getting a run out with the u21s?
CJ on Iheanacho:
Into the 30th minute and Iheanacho is flattering to deceive again in a Boro short [sic]. Concerning. He looks out of shape and lacking sharpness. Worse still, he doesn't look like he's got the fight to put in the effort so far. If the ball is right at his feet, he can produce a nice flick or touch, otherwise if it requires a duel or a bit of movement, he doesn't look interested.
Footnote: I forgot the match was being played this evening until two minutes after kick-off...
Blimey! Tommy Conway gives Boro the lead in the 37th minute! He was assisted by Whittaker - CJ:
Whittaker does really well to set Iheanacho away down the right after falling under pressure while trying to turn away. Iheanacho comes in and has a decent effort curling far post saved but Conway on the follow up to head home. It has to be him. Straight to the rowdy home corner with fingers to the ears.
H/T: 0-1. Can they hold out for 45+ minutes more without conceding or, better still, add to the Conway goal?
Whittaker getting some stick from Maddo on BBC Tees for not marking/defending against his opponent. And that comes a few minutes after my mate messaged that it might be a good idea to sub Whittaker at HT.
Don’t want to put a curse on it, but so far my wild dream from the starter is coming true…..
Mind, Bristol really should be level. We’re under a lot of pressure. Could be a long second half……..
It's been quite an end to end game and Boro on the whole keeping their shape and engaging defensively - though Dijksteel has been working hard to stop them down their left without much help. though after the first 15 minutes Bristol started to take more control of the game and Boro were finding it hard to get out - until we scored on a break!
It's a game that could go either way but fingers crossed Boro get a second and see it out - please!
Well we go in leading but we have been second best all over the park. Iheanacho may as well not have been on the pitch, he then produces a decent shot parried by the keeper with Conway on hand to pick up the pices with a simple header.
Bristol could easily have scored three or four, yet a gilt edged chance fell to Burgzorg, who fluffed his lines kicking the ball on to his standing foot from five yards out.
Bristol look dangerous down both wings every time they attack. Our defence is leaky, but both centre backs are capable. I think the odds of us hanging on are against us, and if Bristol get an equaliser at any stage they will probably go on and win it.
Iheanacho should be relieved of his duties, and we need much more defensive cohesion.
I live in hope
Agree, Dijksteel is next to no help from Whittaker. Also Travers is not giving much confidence.
Overall, Boro in front, but I think Bristol must score with all the chances the are creating.
CJ's half-time verdict:
Boro lead at the break. Far from their best. Looked like a struggling side for much of it. They defended largely well though, restricting the home side until that late chance (*), to long-range efforts. Having wasted one good attack moments before, one incisive moment and they have the lead. Given recent form, it doesn't really matter how it comes.
(*) Huge Boro let-off [Clive Hurren refers]
Huge save from Travers as Bird has a close-range effort from a cutback. Comes out to Mehmeti, but it's at an awkward height, under pressure and he puts it wide. Great save from Travers initially.
Anyone prepared to make a guess at Iheanacho's weekly wage packet?