looks as if I got my wish for Iheanacho to be sent off on a nice day trip to Whitby (other fine tourist destinations ate available around Yorkshire). 🙂Courtesy of CJ:
One change with Whittaker in for IheanachoStarting XI: Travers, Dijksteel, Howson, Van den Berg, Iling-Junior, Morris, Hackney, Whittaker, Azaz, Burgzorg, ConwaySubs: Glover, Fry, Giles, Barlaser, McCabe, Woolston, Burgzorg, McGree, Forss
.... or maybe not as he is on the bench afteralllooks as if I got my wish for Iheanacho to be sent off on a nice day trip to Whitby (other fine tourist destinations ate available around Yorkshire). 🙂Courtesy of CJ:
One change with Whittaker in for IheanachoStarting XI: Travers, Dijksteel, Howson, Van den Berg, Iling-Junior, Morris, Hackney, Whittaker, Azaz, Burgzorg, ConwaySubs: Glover, Fry, Giles, Barlaser, McCabe, Woolston, Burgzorg, McGree, Forss
We have dominated the play against a very average Millwall side but again have been poor in the final third; failing to shoot when they should do or failing to make the required pass.
Looks to be a one goal game and just hope that Millwall, the one goal a game specialists, don’t get it.
We real should be able to beat a team which lacks quality and only offers endeavour. 😎
Agree with KP, we should be able to win over endeavour.
However, too many poor passes once again, and although Iling has tried to get a few crosses in, there has been too little from the right side. And still we are trying to pass the ball into the net.
We really do need to step up.
I was going to say Boro looked comfortable in the first half without really threatening the Millwall goal - but they started the 2nd half looking anything but comfortable!
1-0 to Millwall after Alex Neil made three substitutions. MC only reacting as the goal went in.
Game and season over I suspect. 😎
Well that goal looked like it was coming but can Boro score twice? Not sure about the subs as I would've taken Azaz off for McGree and left Whittaker on.
Once more, all too late from Carrick.
We have far too many luxury, lightweight players for the Championship. We already had Azaz and Burgzorg and we the pay big-ish money for another lightweight in Whittaker.
A team like Boro with Carrick in charge just cannot afford to have lots of players like this in the first team squad. You can add McGree and Forss into this.
Boro never looked like scoring except that late chance from Forss but the team lacked the physicality in the final third to trouble the Millwall defence. Boro will now need a snooker if Coventry win on Monday - though as mentioned Bristol City have to play Leeds and Sunderland and of course Boro travel to Coventry but that won't matter if they're not within 3 points. Problem is Boro don't seem to play with a striker since Latte Lath left and also Doak has been a massive miss too - which may well be why Boro fall short again this season.
Well that should stop all talk of playoffs, simply poor too many passengers wouldn't follow any of these prima donors over the top, thecworst thing is I had become resigned to doing nothing, we put on a little spurt and raise people's hopes only to dash them with a pi££ poor performance like that.
Hopes kills you in the end ARGH!!!!!!!!!!
Boro never looked like scoring except that late chance from Forss but the team lacked the physicality in the final third to trouble the Millwall defence. Boro will now need a snooker if Coventry win on Monday - though as mentioned Bristol City have to play Leeds and Sunderland and of course Boro travel to Coventry but that won't matter if they're not within 3 points. Problem is Boro don't seem to play with a striker since Latte Lath left and also Doak has been a massive miss too - which may well be why Boro fall short again this season.
Doak is not the reason we will miss the playoffs, it's down to the fact we are simply not good enough, too many luxury players who hide when there is a battle
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2025
I will publish Part 3 after the Coventry game on Monday night, when I suspect Boro will be 4 points behind 6th place going into the last 4 games.
Come on BORO.
“Doak is not the reason we will miss the playoffs, it's down to the fact we are simply not good enough, too many luxury players who hide when there is a battle.”
I agree but Doak when on song did make a difference. A traditional right winger who could get to the line and cross a ball/bring others into play and create chances.
Given his attributes and the impact he had on the team/games can anyone explain the rationale for purchasing Morgan Whittaker as a replacement? A left footed player played, so far, predominantly on the right and without a lot of pace. 😎
@paulinboro. Yes far too many unacceptable excuses. Doak a miss, but after that, who are the game changers.
All teams suffer injuries. May be MFC have an issue, that will not be revealed?
Nothing is going to change in the short to medium term.
Everything will continue as before. Is Carrick good enough. What has he exactly delivered this season.
How many matches in reality have we played exciting football and WON. The reason for keeping him by his supporters.
Of course, we could sack him, pay up his remaining two years contract. Then employ who???? That is the BIG question, with no answers at this time.
Another season of promise and ultimately, failure.
So I made my way to deepest darkest Bermondsey to witness yet another toothless performance on what was Dockers Day at Millwall. Contrary to their reputation the natives were friendly and all of the stewards and bar staff wished that I enjoyed the game. As others have said the performance was poor with very few threatening moments. The travelling army were in good voice throughout although there were a few dissenting voices from a number of young lads particularly directed towards Michael Carrick. This was my first visit to the New Den, having been to the old ground in Jack Charlton's promotion station. It is very interestingly located with a lot of car repair shops just outside the ground. The only plus was that it was a very sunny day.
Also forgot to mention how poor the referee was. Millwall committed 21 fouls and yet he only gave 1 yellow card, and that wasn't for a foul, but for delaying a restart and most of the fouls were of a very agricultural kind. The home fans were also unhappy with him as he was booed off at half time, probably for having the temerity to penalise their players.
Actually I get bored with what is I suppose, the blame game. Boro, the team, just aren't good enough when it comes down to it. We are short in all the areas mentioned and psychological,,ky too. No meat, no steel no real will to get at them. Then there's the coaching staff and I don't want to go there apart from how we handle the use of substitutes, they are always a response to the opposing manager, we never seem to set them a problem to solve.
Anyway Boro lost and now we can relax and enjoy the remaining games. Possibly.
OFB I hope you continue to improve. Do not get depressed.
Mind you I'm sure The Gazette will have some complex formula to show how Boro can still get into the play-offs.
Mother Shipton anyone?
ATB, UTB,
John
The current squad is definitely a case of total not equal to sum of parts probably, too many injuries, too many passengers and too many who hide when the going gets tough.
On the manager we haven't improved over the last couple of seasons, stood still or gone backwards, what do we do about the manager? no idea must admit I wanted him replaced but who with, who knows. It's easy when we are sat on the sidelines passing comment.
Will we get any better next season, doubt it, Hackney, RVB will in all probability be sold, I also think someone will sign Azaz.
We all dream of the team going up but how miserable would we all be given in all likelihood we would be in the bottom 3 getting battered every week. The only happy ones would be the accountants.
Supporting the boro is a cross I bear, we all moan and complain but at the end of the day we just want to see the team play entertaining football and show spirit and fight, three things that have been in short supply for most of the season.
It is what it is
There’s no getting away from it that over a season the team just hasn’t been good enough in terms of consistency and winning games.
Not only that but in games where things were not going well they weren’t able to “turn things around “ and grind out a result.
Not enough steel in the team.
Lots of injuries are a poor excuse - all teams get injuries. Some worse than others. That’s football.
Boro are probably no different to most teams who consistently frustrate their supporters.
I suppose at the start of the next season some enthusiasm and optimism may return but, right now, the season, for me is over.
Philip of Huddersfield 👎☹️👎
I agree. I think we now need to win all 4 of our remaining games. And to be frank, we’d need to build up that kind of momentum to have any chance at all in the playoffs. Funny, I could swear I’ve just seen a pig fly past………
A number of you have mentioned our lack of steel (how ironic in a Middlesbrough side!) when the going gets tough. At times, we’ve also all bemoaned the lack of leadership on the pitch, which is probably also a contributory factor. Howson has been and continues to be great and leads by example in the way he plays, but we definitely miss somebody like Nigel Pearson or Grant Leadbitter to bang heads together. It begs the question: if Howson stays, should he be captain next season? If not, who from the present squad can take over? Not Hackney for me, if we still have him: the role doesn’t suit him. So can we buy in a good player with captaincy credentials and experience or potential? Whom do you fancy who might be within our price bracket?
I want to hear from, readio tees, because they never ask, Maddo post game analysis, the local press at pregame interviews,
Dinasor Gibson obsessed with passed Man Utd heroes, , invisible Scott, catatonic Carrick,
Explain 17 league game losses , 2 In cups, 19 games, usually in leagues that's relegation form,
Anyone happy, with this pathetic, goings on, the team is soft, no fight no direction, it's happy camp,
@clive-hurren It just highlights for me the sad state of affairs at MFC when arguably, one can say Howson is our best overall player. Especially when you start with professionalism, leadership, commitment, consistency and versatility.
All this at 37 next month. No disrepect, but at 37, compared to the other squad players, that just shows how poor a team we are. I doubt if he had the right assistant alongside him, he could do worse than Carrick.
Despite the loss at Millwall, I'm still not convinced a top six place is now out of reach and think it's still possible Boro will be in the top six before the final fixture.
Bristol City play Sunderland, Leeds and Luton away and could find it hard work getting a point from those games.
Boro are at home to Plymouth and Norwich with a trip to Sheff Wed in between, who haven't won at home since New Year's day and have lost their last 5 at home.
Coventry play at Hull tomorrow and then face West Brom and then a trip to Plymouth who have won their last 2 at home against Sheff Utd and Norwich - it's not nailed on that Frank Lampard's men will be more than 3 points ahead of Boro after that.
So it may all rest on that final game at Coventry and I suspect there'll be a few twists yet to come - OK Boro will need to score to win games but surely they will get chances in the next few games and the defence has improved at least.
@werdermouth Thanks for that positive post - anything is still possible, however unlikely.
@werdermouth. I posted a few weeks ago prior to the Blackburn game that I envisaged a “typical Boro” situation developing, in that we would lose the next three games, Blackburn, Leeds and Millwall. Then we would win the last four but still finish outside the top six.
Sounds like the Sheffield Wednesday game is tailor made for a “typical Boro” result.
Given what we have seen over the season so far and assuming we make the sixth spot does anyone really expect that we would perform as needed in the pressure situations of a semifinal or final?
Whilst I accept it is not yet done and dusted I suspect that it will be come five pm on Easter Monday. 😎
Of course anything is possible but everything isn’t possible.
Boro really need everything to happen in their favour.
Philip of Huddersfield 🤔🤔
I found these comments from Alex Neil in the EG which are very interesting and perhaps reflects something missing from our team:
What I will say, though, is that tactics and strategy is only part of it. Players win you games. If I’ve got players that don’t have any heart, don’t have any bottle and don’t have any grit, then tactics don’t matter.”
Touching on that side of Millwall’s performance and victory, Neil continued: “We’ve got grit. We’ll fight, we’ll bite and we’ll do whatever it takes to give ourselves an opportunity to try to win a game of football. As a coach, it’s unbelievably refreshing to have a group where you know they’re going to give you everything they’ve got.
Despite the loss at Millwall, I'm still not convinced a top six place is now out of reach and think it's still possible Boro will be in the top six before the final fixture.
Bristol City play Sunderland, Leeds and Luton away and could find it hard work getting a point from those games.
Boro are at home to Plymouth and Norwich with a trip to Sheff Wed in between, who haven't won at home since New Year's day and have lost their last 5 at home.
Coventry play at Hull tomorrow and then face West Brom and then a trip to Plymouth who have won their last 2 at home against Sheff Utd and Norwich - it's not nailed on that Frank Lampard's men will be more than 3 points ahead of Boro after that.
So it may all rest on that final game at Coventry and I suspect there'll be a few twists yet to come - OK Boro will need to score to win games but surely they will get chances in the next few games and the defence has improved at least.
I really hope you are right, but after yesterday's display I fear a lot of the team can't be arsed or will try and hide if the going gets hard, not sure a team that has lost 16 league games deserves to go up.