Len,
You've inspired me.
I too remember Leads' chance at Preston and it's really interesting how my point-of-view has changed, with the benefit of reflection.
In the moment, when a team is upwardly mobile, the head coach's ways have frequently proven to be successful, the desire to win is paramount and, most importantly, clear cut chances are relatively few and far between, support for the head coach will be generally strong and the chances that are missed will really stick out.
This, of course, tied into the element of the AKBoro narrative which arguably held just enough water until January 2017 - that his teams won games or earned points, and when they didn't win games or earn points, they were a fine margin, one mistake at either end, away from doing so. A narrative that was especially strengthened in the Championship due to a style that depended on control - it was frequently the case that once a lead was in place, control would be entrenched and a victory virtually guaranteed. The famous victory at Brighton was the epitome of this.
Which, of course, contributed to a level of sympathy for the head coach - the "he wins games, and when he doesn't win games he's really not far away, so what's the problem?" argument. And also, if you weren't attending the games and didn't see the relatively few clear cut chances, then seeing Boro around the top and frequently pick up points was the real deal. It was for me. I think I also liked watching a team that looked like they knew what they were doing, that gave the feeling of being under control, with some genuinely classy passing.
Yet a heavy focus on control means that the "mistakes" that are made really do show more. That is, if the "mistakes" are defined to be the cracks in the "perfect" tapestry, be it a misplaced pass, a goalkeeping mistake, a defender being two yards out of position or a chance that looks easier to score on screen. I think it was once said that if you passed the ball to an initiative taker rather than take the initiative yourself, you are guaranteed credit - either as an assister or someone who played a clever pass.
The trouble is, in sport, one is going to lose. There are some things one just can't control. However unfair the consequence is deemed to be.
And so, onto not only Leads, but also Reach and Adomah.
There's an interesting point to be made regarding all three. Even though they were either signed by or broke through under Mogga, they were most prominent under, and played the most Boro games, for AK.
It also appeared that the big clubs were beginning to circle around Adam Reach in late 2014, when he was enjoying his first consistent run in the team - under AK.
Under AK, Adomah eventually formed a strong understanding with Emilio Nsue and also complemented George Friend well.
It sounds like the players improved.
And yet it also seems that the players didn't so much improve individually as improve at performing a defined role that the head coach wanted them to perform.
Which likely meant that when they "broke free" from that defined role, they had to make the chances count - otherwise, unless other chances were taken, the misses would stick out.
What should be remembered, instead, is this. Yes, Leads erred in missing at Preston. Yes, Reach erred in missing chances at home to Bournemouth, away to Blackburn and away to Reading.
But they erred in trying to do the right thing. That can't, or at least shouldn't, be ignored.
Alas, all four of those games finished 0-0 and hence stood out as instances where that one chance taken could have, and probably would have, made the game so much easier.
One learns from reflecting on that period that although the margins may well have been fine, there was also seemingly little margin for error.
Glad to see you back John and on the mend after a difficult month dealing with what sounds like a nasty illness.
Also good to see you back too Si with more of your usual insights and recollections.
It's an interesting point about Latte Lath versus Conway as the number nine - for me Conway isn't a number nine but at the moment Strelec doesn't appear either to enjoy that role as he's not getting the ball - plus we saw Sene often dropping deep in order to collect the ball and use his pace to run at defenders. Edwards is probably still not sure who our number nine should be - plus neither are most of his team able to find whoever is leading the line - though Conway appears to me to be the player who puts in the most work when playing that role - but as Andy mentioned in his opener, he's not the best equipped physically to either retain the ball or beat defenders. On that basis it would seem Strelec is the best option but maybe he has to adjust his game as much as his teammates.
I focussed on Conway and the front three just a debating point in an otherwise highly satisfactory period for Boro. Overall, there is very little wrong with this Boro side as a unit which is a marked difference from any Boro side in quite some time.
There has always been an obviously flaw at one end of the pitch or other in recent years. This side may not be spectacular but it is solid and competitive throughout.
Thinking of the creativity debate and linking it to some earlier comments about width, the last time Boro regularly played wingbacks was of course under Chris Wilder.
That team was much more attacking and open but didn’t lack width due in large part to Isaiah Jones on the right, playing as much as a winger as a wingback.
There’s no place for an orthodox winger in Edwards’ setup but, if Boro want to take their attacking play to the next level, maybe the answer will come as much from the wingback areas as the front three.
@andy-r - I guess whether there is a place for orthodox wingers in a manager's side depends on the quality and type of players he has available to him. If Boro currently had on the books Ben Doak from the first half of last season or a 24 year old Stuart Downing, for example, I am fairly sure we'd see Boro playing with a conventional winger. And whoever the striker(s) would be, he/they would be happy because chances to score would materialise.
I agree that a lot will depend upon the wingbacks. Brittain and Target are not quite the prolific crossers that Giles, Jones and especially Doak were, but they're a very good next best thing, and they are way better defenders than any of the other three.
I’ve enjoyed reading opinions etc on the Boro forwards and thought I’d add a few more as I contemplate the likely line up for todays game.
Conway does an enormous amount of running for the team and is a good finisher when one on one with the goalkeeper. He is not good at holding the ball up, winning balls in the air or setting up chances for others. He is prone to falling over when challenging for the ball - probably because he’s running at “90 miles a hour” . This is starting to cost him by not getting free kicks and penalties. He is not in the same league as Latte Lath.
Strelec is different always looking for the ball played in front of him to create a goal scoring opportunity. He looks a much ‘ cleverer ‘ player and is capable of making forward passes but not good at winning balls in the air. The rest of the team are not yet playing to his strengths resulting in him not seeing much of the ball and, at times, looking a bit frustrated.
I am not convinced that the way the team play can accommodate both these players and it may be that much of the season will see these two players and 3 or 4 of the forward substitutes being used with Edwards changing his tactics to best accommodate them. This has the advantage of most forwards getting a decent amount of time on the pitch and a chance to stake a starting position for future games.
Ideally you like to see a settled side but changes as above are fine as long as it wins games.
And today’s game ? -very much hope for a win, won’t be surprised at another draw but don’t want a defeat as I would perhaps raise questions of the bubble bursting as no win in 3 only 1 win in 4 or whatever.
Philip of Huddersfield 👍🤔🤔
Well we'll certainly need a win to stay (regain) top as Coventry already 2-nil up away at Sheff Wed and now have +17 goal difference having scored twice as many goals as Boro.
@werdermouth Coventry are flying, scoring goals for fun, three now, but they surely can't maintain that, they will eventually go through a barren spell.
"All" Boro has to do is keep winning - today and for the rest of the season.
Well we'll certainly need a win to stay (regain) top as Coventry already 2-nil up away at Sheff Wed and now have +17 goal difference having scored twice as many goals as Boro.
0-3 at half-time. 🙁
Hopefully they will - thankfully Boro don't play them until the end of November!
Starting XI: Brynn, Ayling, Fry, Jones, Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Targett, Hansen, Conway, Sene
Subs: McLaughlin, Bangura, Browne, Kante, Silvera, Burgzorg, Whittaker, Nypan, Strelec
Edwards has opted for the forwards that ended the game against Stoke so I'm expecting Boro to use their pace to get an early goal - also Britain returns at right-back but just Silvera and the yet to play Bangura the only defensive options on the bench.
Here's the official match graphic of the team highlighting Matt Targett but looks like Boro will be playing in their new third kit since the blue/black stripes of the usual away kit clash with Pompey's blue shirts and there's a clash of red socks with the Boro home kit...
btw Coventry now 5-0 up but a bit of good news is Blackburn have equalised against Stoke.
Looks, to me, like Edwards' favoured formation, the 3-4-2-1 with Fry back at the back and Brittain and Targett as WBs. It makes sense for Sène to be up top with Conway and Hansen just behind him, is that how it is?
Here's the official match graphic of the team highlighting Matt Targett but looks like Boro will be playing in their new third kit since the blue/black stripes of the usual away kit clash with Pompey's blue shirts and there's a clash of red socks with the Boro home kit...
CJ:
Boro team news analysis
A return to a back three for Edwards today as he's able to welcome back Brittain and Fry to the starting lineup.
The big talk will be at the other end of the pitch, however, where both Hansen and Sène are in for their second starts for the club.
Both looked bright coming off the bench in midweek against Stoke, and I suspected that they might start today. It felt the right time, particularly for Sène, who'd scored two in two from the bench before Tuesday's draw.
On their last starts for Boro against Sheffield United and Preston respectively, they were both hooked at half time. Hopefully they make more of an impact today, though Boro do have a really strong attack-minded defence, with Strelec, Nypan, Whittaker and Burgzorg as options, alongside Silvera, Browne, Kanté and Bangura.
Couldn't resist editing to add the accents... 
Starting XI: Brynn, Ayling, Fry, Jones, Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Targett, Hansen, Conway, Sene
Subs: McLaughlin, Bangura, Browne, Kante, Silvera, Burgzorg, Whittaker, Nypan, Strelec
Very attacking team and bench but no centre back cover against injury. If we need it, centre back cover comes from the wingbacks. We then have Silvera and Bangura as possible wingback cover and Browne and Kante to provide some cover from midfield if they come on.
UTB
btw Coventry now 5-0 up but a bit of good news is Blackburn have equalised against Stoke.
That was the final score in both matches. Boro temporarily second behind Coventry in the table...
With regards to Coventry - shades of Bournemouth circa 2014-15 in what now amounts to five goal feasts so far this season. Every time they've won, they've netted at least three - 5-3, 7-1, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 - that is an astonishing twenty-four in five games, with three clean sheets.
Which also reminds me that for all their goal power, the Cherries' class of '14-'15 earned much praise for their centre-back duo of Steve Cook and Tommy Elphick. They kept nineteen clean sheets that season.
We've also talked about fine margins and margin for error, or lack of the latter. And today Coventry have mustered twenty-one shots on goal. Which means a conversion rate of less than 25%, but that is to be praised in the context of the opportunities created. Similar to Liverpool's win over Man U in late 2018, where they won 3-1 but had no less than thirty-six shots on goal - a conversion rate of less than 10%, but again, their continuous creation mattered.
We had a 25% conversion rate ourselves at Millwall (three goals from twelve shots) so I guess there are positive signs there. Better, certainly, than games like the 1-0 reverse at home to Burton Albion from late 2018, where we had eight shots on goal. Silver linings, and all that.
Future forum posts planned - one on wide men (different types, how we use them and so on) and "twinned games" (games with similar or identical scorelines that followed similar or identical patterns, with similar or identical significance. I can think of a few).
Pompey a goal up in the 23rd minute - CJ:
Boro behind. Felt like it was coming. Cross goes all the way across to the other flank where Williams keeps it in and crosses again. Min-Hyeok arrives unmarked with a first-time volley. No replays here, but looks like it goes through Brynn too easily.
Well that was a poor first half from us. Pedestrian and lacking any intensity with far too much passing backwards.
We certainly don’ t look a top two side based on that.
Pompey have been well organised and looked to move the ball forward more quickly.
Changes needed if we are to get anything from the game but it is not looking likely at present. 😎
Poor opening 45 minutes, following on quickly from a poor 45 minutes against Stoke.
Changes will be made i am sure, think we will see Burgzorg and Strelec very quickly in the second half.
Far too slow and predictable from Boro in what as been a scrappy game since the first ten minutes - doesn't seem to be any synergy between the midfield and attack with Boro opting for the safe pass - which as predominantly been backwards. A poor goal to concede that appeared to go through Brynn's hands.
Maybe Boro need to bring on Kante at HT and perhaps Brittain is playing within himself too and not offering much going forward. Perhaps time to see how Strelec and Sene link up.
Boro making Portsmouth look like a top half team. This has to be the worst display by us this season. Nothing is sticking, lots of poor passing and Chaplin’s miss and then their goal was totally down to Morris and Hackney not tracking back. in fact Morris looks way off the pace.
The front three are just not working, albiet the service to them has been abysmal. When I saw the team sheet I was concerned if Hansen and Sene would gel, and it hasn’t.
I think Edwards needs to make a change upfront if we are going to get anything out of this. Goals win games, we are not scoring anyway like enough given the money we have splashed out in that area.
Mmm going how I feared it might. Take sene off and strelec on
OFB
perhaps take Morris off and put Brown in
OFB