@jarkko - Thanks, Jarkko. I have seen both you and our departed Scots friend a few times over the years in the Battered Badger. I turned this on now, well after midnight in the UK, as I am starting to come down after the massive high of that win at Oxford. I haven't read all the posts since I was last here but: (1) What a cracking win. (2) I thought 4-1 was the traditional score against Oxford United but might have to review that opinion after Saturday's match. (3) Sorry about the spelling. My brain knows it is GENITIVE but my fingers sometimes don't receive the correct signals.
I will return after breakfast, or maybe after visiting the Spar shop for the Sunday papers, to read what I guess must be a torrent of increasingly pleasantly surprised posts left by fellow Diasborians as the goals went in.
Nice interview with Carrick in The Sunday Times:
You can see the Sky games in Oz on demand on BeInSport but you need to pay for it.
It made for a great morning when I got up and watched it. Quite hard to believe, especially after Latte Lath missed two early on.
What strikes me is the amount of improvement we're seeing all over the pitch.
UTB
@jarkko I was only one and a bit years old myself when we beat Luton Town 6-1 at Kenilworth Road on 19th November 1960, so I don't remember that either !!
It was less than a month earlier we also scored 6 goals away from home, at The Valley in the infamous 6-6 draw with Charlton Athletic.
I was seven but I too don't remember that one. I do remember the 6-6 - maybe I became aware of it later - but wasn't aware of all the shenanigans going on at the time.
UTB
@jarkko I was only one and a bit years old myself when we beat Luton Town 6-1 at Kenilworth Road on 19th November 1960, so I don't remember that either !!
It was less than a month earlier we also scored 6 goals away from home, at The Valley in the infamous 6-6 draw with Charlton Athletic.
I was seven but I too don't remember that one. I do remember the 6-6 - maybe I became aware of it later - but wasn't aware of all the shenanigans going on at the time.
UTB
Ah, I've now read the later posts and realise why I didn't remember us scoring 6 at Luton.
UTB
@lenmasterman I love stories like this, Really, it's what it's all about.
Championship Top Scorers
Three Boro players are in top nine along side ex-player Watmore. Up the Boro!
Finn Azaz most important player at the moment? Discuss
Such was Boro's display yesterday that people will soon be saying that Argentina play in a Boro away kit...
@exmil. I think it will work in our favour as they have not had a match for 2.5 weeks where as we are back in the groove and winning well.
Hopefully on Wednesday we can overcome a team which has been a bit of a nuisance for us in recent seasons. 😎
Another deserved win and some cracking goals to boot.
The last three games has shown that when we play against teams at the lower end of the league (or likely to be be come season end) we have now found a way to win and win well, which has previously been our Achilles heel.
We now need to perform well and consistently against team in and around us; I am not expecting us to score 3+ goals every week but to at least battle to a win or a draw at worst against the better sides; I hope this starts against Blackburn on Wednesday and that our unbeaten run can go on for another 10/15+ games. 😎
love that thinking WerderSuch was Boro's display yesterday that people will soon be saying that Argentina play in a Boro away kit...
Plaudits for Boro from the Us' manager, Des Buckingham:
Don't like the sound of this:
confession!
I was Finn Azaz biggest critic . I didn’t see his contribution to the team!
I WAS WRONG 😑!
He is pulling the strings and making and scoring goals like a modern day Graeme Souness !
He’s Fiinntastico !
OFB
CARRICK WILL STAY !
Before the Oxford game I wrote, ‘I’ll go with the draw, and breathe a huge sigh of relief if we don’t lose.’
You can see why I’m not a betting man, playmates, can’t you?!
CARRICK WILL STAY !
Thanks, Bob. 👍 I thought the tone of his interview with Jonathan Northcroft in the ST made it sound as though he was in it for the duration with Boro, but articles like that one do tend to sow a few seeds of doubt.
Good article by Dom Shaw in the Echo on yesterday's heroes:
I totally agree, I think Carrick is a loyal and committed person, he has never made waves in his career and the only way I see him leaving is if he is in his last 6 months and he says to Gibson that he intends to leave at the end of the season, do you want to get some compensation now. In that article in the Times, it was interesting that his wife, Lisa, said straight away when Boro contacted him, I think you will take that, shows how astute she is.CARRICK WILL STAY !
In my opinion, I think Carrick wants to take this team into the Premiership and see how he can manage there with his own team (maybe with a couple of amendments) and survive beyond one season, which would probably be Gibson’s target.
Come on BORO.
I bet the odds against Boro scoring 7 (SEVEN) in the game against Blackburn have reduced dramatically in recent days. Now THAT would be a successful sequence.
Remember that the game is listed at the Riverside with a kick-off at 7.45pm on Wednesday 27th November. Not long to wait to see the team. And the game after that is also at home, against Hull City on Saturday 30th November. When you score 4, then 5 then 6 goals in a game, I guess that the players can't wait for the next game, so three days' gap is fine. If they'd been conceding 4, 5 or 6 they might feel that a longer break would be helpful.
I wonder if more games will be shown on TV now that Boro's attacking players have bared their teeth?
high praise indeed. Souness, of course, delivered that standard even after we were promoted into the first division. Let's hope Azaz will be delivering similarly for us next season in the Premiership.confession!
I was Finn Azaz biggest critic . I didn’t see his contribution to the team!
I WAS WRONG 😑!
He is pulling the strings and making and scoring goals like a modern day Graeme Souness !
He’s Fiinntastico !
OFB
Great win yesterday with Azaz and LL as the outstanding players. Azaz makes the team tick and has a terrific eye for goal and LL on back on top form. The way he took his third goal was sensational.
I’m not wanting to be churlish but it’s good news that the attack is now firing on all cylinders because the defence is still suspect. Both the goals conceded yesterday were poor. For the first Barlaser lost his man on the six yard line leaving him with a simple tap in. For the second, while Bryn had a very good debut I thought he could have done a bit better with the second goal although he may have been a little unsighted. I would hope the coaches are still working on improving the defence because the attack can’t be expected to score freely every game and a few clean sheets would be welcome to keep the pressure off and to improve the goal difference.
@boroexile I couldn’t agree more. Improving defensively will compensate for those games where our strikers don’t do so well.
I don’t know about you, mates, but I can't wait for Wednesday’s game!
The Dirties have gone top of the league with a late 3-4 win at Swansea. B*gg*r.
Bob,confession!
I was Finn Azaz biggest critic . I didn’t see his contribution to the team!
I WAS WRONG 😑!
He is pulling the strings and making and scoring goals like a modern day Graeme Souness !
He’s Fiinntastico !
OFB
You weren't wrong but absolutely right
Your post saying that you didn't like Azaz was obviously precisely the kick in the backside that Finn needed.
As you say he has scarcely put a foot wrong since your post. It really kick-started his season.
So well done Mr Motivator
love that thinking WerderSuch was Boro's display yesterday that people will soon be saying that Argentina play in a Boro away kit...
Good question. I keep seeing people wearing Boro shirts with Messi on the back. Why is that, I wonder. It should be Azaz but he's 20, not 10. Does that make him twice as good.
It really does say something for our recruitment drive. With the possible exception of Hoppe, it's hard to find any negatives.
UTB