@presidentjump I agree all Championship games can generally go either way, especially at the start of the season. On paper some should be easier than others. Yesterday against Portsmouth, should have been a minimum draw.
QPR actually, are top of the, last six games table. Boro seventh.
Well my bet would be that most of us are thinking the same thoughts after the last two poor performances. Was the excellent form over the first six games a sign of things to come over the rest of the season or was it just a blip fuelled by early season enthusiasm with the last couple of games more of a predictor of what we should expect. If the former we can all hope for a really exciting season. If the latter we would be back to same old inconsistent Boro. The Ipswich game will be an important indicator. Of course we all hope it’s the former but as we all know it’s the hope that kills you……….
@werdermouth - Not wishing to join in the bandwagon but, although the result and the performance against Portsmouth were a disappointment, there is no reason to panic just yet. The team remains second in the league table and everybody would have been delighted with that 2 months ago.
Yet on the other hand yesterday's game wasn't an isolated blip. The team now has two draws and a defeat in the last three games. Since the victory at home to WBA on 19th September, Boro has been not been ahead in any of the three games that followed. This is in a league where most people seem to believe that scoring the first goal is vital if a team is to do well as "goals change games" etc.
Supporters were pleased to see that Boro proved able to come back into games by scoring equalisers after falling behind against PNE on 13th September (equalising TWICE in that game) and against Southampton. It has been often repeated that Boro would have been unlikely to do that a year ago. In the last two games Boro proved unable to score against Stoke (who, luckily, also proved unable to put the ball in the net) and yesterday against Portsmouth (who suffered no such inability). So a couple of games without a Boro goal scored.
People have suggested in the past, and I have joined in the argument, that most "issues" with football teams have their roots in the midfield. Too many goals conceded? That will be the midfield losing possession and the opponents therefore gaining the ball in Boro territory and crafting chances to score, then! Not scoring enough goals? That will be the midfield not securing possession in dangerous territory and being able to put the ball through to attacking team mates in scoring positions, then!
I wasn't present at the Portsmouth game. It sounded on the BBC Tees commentary, and from comments made after the game, that neither Hackney nor Morris played to the usual high standards which have made many suggest that they are the best midfield duo in the Championship. I don't think they have been up to that high standard for at least the last two games. For Boro to win games, a dominant midfield is essential unless someone scores a "worldie" from deep or unless someone else in the team takes the game by the scruff of the neck and has the game of their life.
Twelve days to put things right before the next game at home against Ipswich Town on Friday 17th October. Not helped by the fact that the International Break will mean several of the players the coaching staff would like to work with will be out of reach, playing elswhere for different coaching teams who may have very different ideas and tactics. But hopefully the "time off" will allow Fry and Brittain in particular more time to recover FULL fitness and will allow the coaching staff to evaluate the recent games and identify the steps required to get Boro back to winning ways.
Not time to panic. But even very successful teams never stand still, rather they look to continue to improve. I suspect RE and his coaching team will have their ideas and we should give them time to put them into effect before getting worried. I mean - SECOND in the table. I am almost suffering from lack of oxygen from being at such an altitude!
Those last 6 QPR games came immediately after their 7-1 thrashing by Coventry so some comfort for Boro in that you're not always as good as your last game...
I agree the midfield is integral to both defence and attack - plus I guess we should technically include wing-backs in that part of the team too as they are generally important in the transition between each end of the pitch.
I wondered why neither Silvera or indeed Bangura - who has now been on the bench for the last 3 games - weren't brought on to add some pace down the flanks - plus I'd have liked to see Kante come on to add some drive from midfield too.
I suspect there will be some midfield changes for the Ipswich game on Friday as Morris is part of the USA squad that plays against Australia on the Wednesday (2:00am UK time) before that. It will be asking a lot for him to be able to fly back and then play 24 hours later!
@werdermouth - To be honest I'd struggle to recognise Bangura let alone have any recollection as to how he plays. It's been so long! And as for Riley McGree... I am assuming he is NOT picked to play any games Australia might have scheduled. He'd probably pick up a knock or a twinge if he did. Nothing serious, you realise, but enough to keep him out a few weeks. But then a "few weeks" tends to be flexible at Middlesbrough!
I see that Ipswich beat Norwich 3-1 in their derby match today. Always good to know they might be coming into form before they play Boro.
@werdermouth As I posted yesterday, HH and AM where missing for both the goal and for the earlier Chaplin “on a plate” miss. As also posted neither have been at their best for arguably the last three games.
We know it must be quite difficult to maintain 100%, the closing down and pressing required from Edwards for 95 minutes, especially when there are three games in 7/8 days. Possibly this has affected the recent performances?
I think Alan Browne will be a shoe in for Morris against Ipswich.
I was also surprised that Silvera was not considered as an option late in the game, when all else was failing. Although his crosses against Stoke were quite poor, he does have the ability to make them against a defender. Hopefully it something the Coaches are working on with him.
Bangura. Mmm. I would not have a clue as to what he could do. The coaching staff will have some idea from the training sessions and he is getting picked over McCormick.
@pedro yes it would seem the hammering that Coventry gave QPR certainly has stood them in good stead.
@pedro I think Bangura were our best option at left back. But that was long time ago. An ideal wing back, me thinks.
But he must be nearly OK now as he has played for the U21 recently and been on the bench, too. But he is long way behind Targett now. He has missed nearly two years of playing, though.
Up the Boro!
@jarkko i wonder how versatile Bangura can be, any idea if he has played other positions before ?
He was certainly very pacy and I liked the look of him in the few minutes we have seen him, I actually think, if fully fit and strengthened, he could be tapping on Targetts shoulder at some point.
Not to criticize Edwards and his team but I think they made a mistake starting with Sene and Hansen, I think they are brilliant to bring on against tiring defences but as proved on Saturday, not so effective when starting. The match stats say it all, both teams had one shot on target, I was at the game and Fratton Park is not a great ground, but at least I got to see my son and most of his family.
To be honest I have felt that a defeat had been coming as I don’t think we have been playing well for the last few games but I would rather it came against a lower half team than a team in the top 6, let’s hope it has a wake up call for the first team squad, I wonder if we will see Riley after the international break 🤔.
Now we have nearly two weeks to get over the shock of the defeat and regroup, I hope from earlier reports that there hasn’t been a falling out between the training staff.
Come on BORO.
@presidentjump At least TransferMarkt lists Bangura's positions as:
- Main position:
- Left-Back
- Other position:
- Left Winger
- Right Winger
So he really should be OK as a left-back or wing back there. And he has pace (or had before his injur at least). I really liked him as a person, too. A team player.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/alex-bangura/profil/spieler/435821
Up the Boro
Not to criticize Edwards and his team but I think they made a mistake starting with Sene and Hansen, I think they are brilliant to bring on against tiring defences but as proved on Saturday, not so effective when starting. The match stats say it all, both teams had one shot on target, I was at the game and Fratton Park is not a great ground, but at least I got to see my son and most of his family.
To be honest I have felt that a defeat had been coming as I don’t think we have been playing well for the last few games but I would rather it came against a lower half team than a team in the top 6, let’s hope it has a wake up call for the first team squad, I wonder if we will see Riley after the international break 🤔.
Now we have nearly two weeks to get over the shock of the defeat and regroup, I hope from earlier reports that there hasn’t been a falling out between the training staff.
Come on BORO.
Is that to do with the departure of the goal keeping coach or have I missed something else? 😎
Where to find the latest listing of the blog writers? I think there should a separate Forum page for the list and possible corrections to the list - and nothing else discussed that the turns and swapping them.
I thought I had the Wednesday (=club) opener after the Ipswich match. Need a confirmation.
Up the Boro!
Come on exmil. Don't tease us. What have you heard, seen or read?
On the coaching staff my first impression, based only on my ignorance, was that they seemed a curious choice. Usually a new boss will bring with him a tried and trusted team. But Edwards seems to have had no previous experience of working closely before with either Viveash or Watling. Further Viveash's experience at Coventry was in working closely with Robbins to implement his philosophy of playing progressive passing football. There did not seem to be an obvious fit with Edwards' philosophy of high tempo football and a strong defensive base.
Of Watling I knew nothing, but his previous role as manager of non-league Ebbsfleet United had not been a success. He had lasted less than 3 months in the role.
Yet Watling's first interview revealed him to be anything but a third- tier cones and bibs man. He came across as charismatic, intelligent, energetic and full of enthusiasm and ideas. I have to say I was bowled over by him.
What has really surprised me over our first tranche of games is the extent to which Watling has been front and centre of the action during the matches themselves. He has been the one on the touchline shouting instructions and making tactical adjustments. Edwards has a presence too, but I have been astonished at the sight of Watling, during breaks in the play, giving it large with both Edwards and Viveash standing behind him.
I have been surprised by Viveash's apparent passivity. He spends most of the matches sitting on the bench and seems to be conspicuously less engaged with the action than his No. 2. Perhaps that is his style. Or I am missing something, given that Edwards has described his team as geniuses.
Perhaps I am only getting the kind of partial view that comes from having seen all of the Boro games, including pre-season, live, but only on TV. Have those who have been to the games noticed a different pattern?
The Fettes departure is a mystery to me
Coventry certainly punching above their weight based on that listing!
Perhaps the missing ingredient to Boro winning games is staring us in the face - Silvera played right wing-back in the first 4 games that Boro won but then was dropped for Matt Targett in the next game, which Boro drew - he then came on to replace Edmundson in the 42nd minute to play right wing-back as Targett moved into the back three against West Brom who Boro beat.
So the only games Boro have won is when Silvera plays right wing-back - coincidence? Or has his pace down the right offered Boro an outlet that creates space and options for others?
I think that's right, though Silvera played left wing back in those early games,
We have lacked a wide outlet without him. At Millwall when we were under the cosh he was our only outlet in the first half hour. The drawbacks have been his defensive work and the fact that he doesn't pose any great threat in going forward, but he does offer width, pace and support to our strikers of a kind conspicuously lacking at Portsmouth. His role pinpoints our problem, but in spite of the success of our first four games he is probably not the answer over an entire season. Hence the need for a signing to fill that role as a No 1 priority come January.
Incidentally Hansen came to us primarily as a winger, but we have used him as an auxiliary striker. He seems an obvious fit for the wide right role to me.
Thanks for that. Yes, it is Sheffield Wednesday for me next as I remembered. I just couldn't find the note on my diary.@jarkko Have a look here: https://diasboro.club/forum/2025-26/match-preview-writers-roster-2025-26/#post-37149
I need to learn how to find the list next time I need it. Thank you again, Martin. Up the Boro!
@lenmasterman. I am in full agreement with your analysis of Silvera and what he offers/lacks. He is not the answer and as you say, we need a signing in January to fill the role.
Supporters have made much of his pre season form but that was against lower league opposition; unfortunately over the last two seasons, at Boro and elsewhere, he has failed to deliver at the required level other than in very short spells. 😎
Yes, sorry of course I meant left wing-back - not sure how I mixed that up but his pace down the left has been missing or even his desire to get in behind the defence has. Indeed, Targett prefers to play an early cross rather than run the line but that's easier to defend against.
Though not sure if we need to sign someone unless Bangura is deemed unable to play as he's supposed to be that type of player or indeed Hansen could give it a try but it seems the defensive side comes first for Edwards.
Despite Targett's late arrival the plan all summer was in fact Columbus Crew left-back Max Arfsten - who would've been that type of player we seem to lack.
@k-p-in-spain Thanks KP, interesting, but I think there could be a flaw with the Targett suggestion of £3m per year, I dont doubt he may be on £60k per week but for the article to suggest we are paying all of that does seem a little extreme.
@martin-bellamy. Don’t know but I hope not! 🤔😎
Just as an aside - just read an article in the independent about James Cleverly being confronted on TV over the misspelling of ‘Britain’ on chocolate bars they were handing out at their conference - though the unintentional joke is on the Independent with a missed typo at the end...
Tory party officials handed out chocolate bars with the quote, “When Labour negotiates, Britian loses”, emblazoned across it – a quote attributed to Kemi Badenoch, at the party’s annual conference on Monday (6 October).
The former foreign and home secretary was quizzed about the mistake by an LBC journalist, who asked him: “Why can’t you spell Britain?” Sir James said the mistake was purely down to a typo, but added: “Never skint on sub editors.”
It appears the Independent 'skimped' on sub editors as he actual said 'skimp' not 'skint'...
I was referring to Lens quote in the last sentence.Very poor and disjointed display from the Boro. Main problem- no width and no pace to get us behind the opposition And because of this very little idea of how to break down a defence. Wing backs feeding in balls from deep resulted in their keeper not having to make a single save.Hackney not getting forward enough and Morris completely out of sorts. We never really looked like we were going to get anything out of a game against mediocre opposition. It was the lack of method, simply the hope that something might turn up that was most worrying, with RE's head coach sitting impassively on his bench for the entire match as far as I could see
Come on BORO.