Back to square one. Poor performance and manager should have had subs on earlier. Need a new free kick player as PM guaranteed to shoot way over the bar. Tavernier was he playing?
Time for a massive fresh up and change some of the old guard.
Boro bossed the second half but conceded a sloppy goal and couldn’t find the target from eight of our nine second half shots. Crooks was unlucky to find Travis on the line with his bullet header but had another big chance very late on that should have found the target. Otherwise it was wayward shooting under pressure with Kaminsky forced into no saves at all really.
Much improved in the second half but not ruthless or composed enough when the chances came.
Poor defending for Gallagher's goal. No real threat on Blackburn goal till late on. Can't really argue Blackburn wanted it more than us in the first half. Although we still could have nicked a point near the end. Had we played with the same intensity over all of the game and not just the second half, it would have been a different result. Although we still could have nicked a point near the end.
Perhaps Blackburn were fortunate that the long break while someone in the crowd had medical attention came while Boro were well in the ascendancy and it did take a while to build that momentum back up afterwards. But, all the same, well done Mogga. For us, Saturday will come around very quickly and I suspect Coventry will be in for a hiding.
It was a frustrating game to watch and Boro just didn't do enough to warrant any points from the game - OK we should have had a penalty and Gallagher came from an offside position before scoring - though Boro had more than enough opportunities to clear their lines rather than making air shots.
I'm struggling to see what Connolly adds to the team and was lucky not to see red after that elbow - he wouldn't be ahead of either Watmore or Balogun for me on his last two performances. It seems we rely too much on Jones and also look to Crooks for his power in the box. But it's the midfield that lacks creative passing and with Taylor now filling in as a less than dangerous wing-back, then must be time for Payero and Riley McGree to add something extra.
Let's hope for something better against Coventry!
Disappointing but it was always going to happen at some point. Second half was pretty finely balanced and really any result could have happened. It took a mistake followed by the one piece of decent finishing in the whole game to settle it.
We are struggling to create an attacking threat down the left and Blackburn did a good job of trying to force us down that way. Sporar and Connolly seem to have no understanding or link up play and I thought we missed Watmore's pressing again. Buckley, Khadra and Gallagher tore us apart multiple times, especially in the first half. We lacked a player who can do that and are over-reliant on Jones. Crooks is getting pelters for not scoring at least one of his headers but he is having to play three roles at once at the moment because there's no physical threat from our forwards.
Lumley potentially has a case for being our man of the match; he cut off a lot of dangerous through balls by starting high plus played a neat 1-2 off a Blackburn player late on.
At the moment it feels like we have half of a team. Hopefully McGree will make a difference and maybe Tav will switch to left wing back. I don't think Payero is the answer.
Maybe, being optimistic, you learn more from a defeat than a victory. We have had 4 games in a row now where we have struggled to play consistent, aggressive football the Wilder way. This time we finally ran out of road so maybe that will sharpen up some minds.
Back to square one. Poor performance and manager should have had subs on earlier. Need a new free kick player as PM guaranteed to shoot way over the bar. Tavernier was he playing?
Time for a massive fresh up and change some of the old guard.
Seventh with a game in hand isn’t square one, Malcolm.
Lets not get all doom and gloom over one defeat that could very easily have been a draw in the end.
Very disappointing performance. Best team won- their whole team showed more desire and commitment especially their striker Gallagher.
First half , we played too slow, passing the ball between centre backs and when challenged hoofed the ball in the air - little forwards can’t be expected to win the headers and didn’t . Poor passing and giving the ball away too much. No link between midfield and forwards - very disjointed. Connelly very lightweight and Sporar given no service. McNair gets plenty of accolades but clearly at fault for their goal.
Second half was an improvement and at last young Jones showed , yet again, his undoubted talent but he can’t do it all on his own. Thought Balogen would have been introduced much sooner to replace Connelly who looks as though he’s not good enough at this level.
Boro can’t get away from the long term problem of missing chances and not scoring enough goals even with four strikers on the pitch towards the end.
Philip of Huddersfield
As Ken sad previously, goals win matches. We have to accept that as much as CW has improved the overall results, at times we still look very laboured.
If I have one gripe against CW tonight, it was starting with Connolly and keeping on until the end. He will have to up his game dramatically to convince me. Oh and please, no……he has only just joined us etc.
I still maintain that the standard of this year’s Championship is the lowest for some seasons. Can you imagine either Blackburn or Boro surviving one season in the Premier League on tonight’s performance? The goal attempts by both teams was appalling.
Agree with everything everyone has said except didn't think it was a penalty the replay showed he tripped himself up. Not a surprise to see the number of yellow cards as Rovers and ourselves are the most booked teams in the league, although this was only the referee's 2nd game outside the Premier League this season. On viewing I thought that our passing was abysmal but the stats show a 77% pass success rate against Blackburn's 56% and it didn't look like we had 68% possession either. I see Coventry have a match tonight so we have an extra days rest.
It had to happen at some point. We were rumbled.
Playoffs still possible if we can find that spark.
On the whole an expected poor performance which brought the inevitable result.
@werdermouth A good summary there. As was the one from deleriad, too.
We haven't played well for a while now. But we have somehow survived the previous three matches but the attitude was not there yesterday.
I had thought the previous three matches were affected by COVID - either players were not up to speed or the preparations were not normal. So after a week in normal training and preparations, I hoped we would click again.
But nothing is lost yet. One defeat does not make Boro a bad team. Now is the time to show that the the previous run was not a fluke. We need to see a reaction - and a positive one - on Saturday. Luckily the match will be at the Riverside.
The better manager won yesterday. I hope it was because Mogga has been at his club longer than Wilder has been at Boro. Not because Wilder or our club are worse than the Rovers. I still think Wilder will improve. Roma was not built overnight.
I hope Mogga while will get his team promoted now.
Anyway, I am looking forward to enjoying the Coventry match next. But expecting a better performance. Up the Boro!
Got to agree with everybody's comments
No midfield creativity
No consistent striker
Maybe the last few matches have been papering over some cracks
Sorry @Jarkko the coolaid may be going back under the cupboard
Typical Boro you start climbing ladder to sun lit uplands and then some miserable so and so starts shaking it........
Disappointing but not surprising as the last few games we have been fortunate to get results without showing the skill and determination we did against Bournemouth and Forest.
As others have said, CW has not yet solved the longstanding problem of scoring goals. Connolly for me has added little to the team, in fact he detracts from it as he has not scored and lacks the energy, skill and pressing of Watmore.
We struggled and lost to Coventry last time out so Saturday is another big challenge and less than three points could see our top six aspirations faltering.
Let’s hope that Deleriad is correct and CW has learnt a lot from this defeat. 😎
Is it a coincidence that performances have dipped during the January transfer window? I think we've lost one or two synergies within the team as players have come and gone. Sure, many of the outgoings (gone yet or not) are not necessarily players that have played a big part but I suspect the turnover in the squad also affects training and carries into matches.
Connolly looks off the pace at the moment and you can see that he hasn't clicked into the patterns of play - not quite sure when to move and laying off the ball to players who haven't moved into the space he was expecting them to. Early days for him but we've lost the partnership that was brewing nicely between Sporar and Watmore.
I thought we desperately lacked movement in the first half yesterday. Midfielders and forwards not showing for the ball and creating those little triangles we've become accustomed to seeing. The result was that the back three had to play sideways and backwards and ultimately send it long to no-one in particular. We've got to work harder for each other to keep the ball and progress up the field. We would also benefit from a better passer in that midfield three in my view to make the most of the runs that come up front, though those were lacking in that first half.
With all that said, a 1-0 defeat away to the the team now in second is not a disaster. We should not have conceded the goal we did and we should have scored in the second half. It could very easily have been 1-1, 0-0 or 0-1 but the fine margins were against us yesterday. No complaints because as I say, I don't think we worked hard enough in possession overall.
I don't think the team needs an overhaul but if I were Chris Wilder I would strongly consider moving Tavernier to left-wing back to give us more energy and balance down that flank, whilst restoring Watmore up front from the off to link up with Sporar and tire the opposition with his pressing and movement. Balogun looks lively but raw and remains a sub for me at this point. Connolly needs more time on the training field and possibly better fitness too.
Payero or McGree could come into midfield. I don't know enough about McGree to comment but I'd seen enough of Payero to think he's got that extra range of passing. Wilder has so far stuck to his word as much as he can about left-footers on the left/right-footers on the right but I think that's a nice-to-have rather than a must. I don't see many of the top teams worrying about such things.
We were never going to win every game, it's about being consistent for the remainder of the season and trying to average enough points to be in the mix. Bring on the backlash against Coventry (I hope).
Let’s hope that Deleriad is correct and CW has learnt a lot from this defeat. 😎
There's a time to paper over the cracks and time to fix them. Blackburn's season was made by their 7-0 loss to Fulham. Let's hope this loss leads to a similar response.
That said, I think Wilder's options are limited until McGree returns unless he can ship out at least 2 of Uche, Hall and JLS before the window closes.
There was a good video about Wilder's Boro and showing how Jones and Crooks combined to get the ball to the byeline by the six-yard box and then pull back. It was noteworthy that we fail to do that on the left side.
Thing is, unless Wilder completely reshapes the formation and style, there's not a lot he can do to change things up. I think Balogun showed that he can be a threat and maybe Tav could offer more as a left wing-back.
It'll be interesting to see the team against Coventry. I had got the impression that Wilder won't play a player who isn't performing but he can't really drop half the team so I suspect that the verbal rocket was to enable him to pick largely the same 11 next game. Personally I think Balogun has earned a start and I don't think Connolly has justified his two starts so maybe it's a good time to start with Balogun and Watmore. That said, I think the problem is more to do with the service to the strikers than anything else.
Connolly not good enough at present prefer Watmore but don’t know if he’s carrying an injury. Tavernier not good enough and his misplaced pass cost us the goal. Sporar ineffective. Need a rethink about tactics for forwards. Very disappointing.
OFB
@werdermouth A good summary there. As was the one from deleriad, too.
We haven't played well for a while now. But we have somehow survived the previous three matches but the attitude was not there yesterday.
I had thought the previous three matches were affected by COVID - either players were not up to speed or the preparations were not normal. So after a week in normal training and preparations, I hoped we would click again.
But nothing is lost yet. One defeat does not make Boro a bad team. Now is the time to show that the the previous run was not a fluke. We need to see a reaction - and a positive one - on Saturday. Luckily the match will be at the Riverside.
The better manager won yesterday. I hope it was because Mogga has been at his club longer than Wilder has been at Boro. Not because Wilder or our club are worse than the Rovers. I still think Wilder will improve. Roma was not built overnight.
I hope Mogga while will get his team promoted now.
Anyway, I am looking forward to enjoying the Coventry match next. But expecting a better performance. Up the Boro!
It certainly will need to be a better performance on Saturday.
We lost a game. It was away against Blackburn who are on a magnificently successful run - the sort of run which, at the end of a season, we usually see a team make as it storms into an automatic promotion place or climbs out of mid-table obscurity to earn a play-off position. And such a team, in the play-offs, is a team no-one else wants to meet. WE have been on such a run and, after this set-back, are capable of starting another successul run of league results from here.
I agree our team has scraped through with last-minute winners, of late, to win games in a way that MIGHT have appeared lost (or drawn) to us. Those last-gasp winners MIGHT be used to paper over the cracks. But they have also shown a spirit, a determination not to be beaten, which successful teams need. It can't happen in EVERY game but how many times did the Manchester United of old score winning goals in "Fergie Time", when they hadn't played too well in the 90 minutes before?
It was always unlikely Boro would storm through the rest of the season winning the vast majority of games and losing none, even when deserving to lose. But performances now are much better than earlier in the season and the results reflect that. It's just that we are not the all-conquering heroes we'd like to dream. There is a lot of difference between (1) a decent team which ususally plays OK and gets OK results, but occasionally plays really well and (2) a team which consistently plays at the top of its abilities, somehow manages to find wins when it didn't really deserve to (on the few uncommon occasions when the team doesn't play well) but which often takes other good teams apart. In Premier League terms it is the difference between, say (1) an Arsenal or a Spurs and (2) a Manchester City or a Liverpool.
At present Manchester City are top of the Premier League by a margin of 9 points whilst Liverpool are second with a game in hand (and two games in hand over 3rd placed Chelsea below them). Arsenal are 6th in the PL and Spurs are 7th, both 21 points behind the leaders. In the Championship Fulham are top, 5 points ahead of the team which beat Boro yesterday, Blackburn Rovers. Boro lie 7th in the table, admittedly having played a game less than Hudersfield who occupy the last play-off position, but 15 points behind Fulham.
So, in Premier League terms, Boro lie in the same position as compared to the top teams as Arsenal and Spurs lie as compared to Man City and Liverpool.
This is not a time to despair. We lost a game, 1-0 away to the Liverpool of our league. And we know we didn't really do ourselves justice, particularly in the first half. But we can improve on that display and I suspect that, right now, the manager and his staff will be looking at ways of doing that. I suspect Connolly will not start the next game. In the middle it may be that Payero or McGree will get a chance. But whatever else happens, I am sure this manager will sort it out. One defeat, away at Blackburn does not mean the end of the season but it is a wake-up call that can have a beneficial effect because there is time to do something about it. It has been obvious our main failing is a lack of firepower up front and now the manager has players who MIGHT fill that gap. I'd like to see Balogun given a start.
We were, if I remember correctly, in 17th position when Chris Wilder joined the club (though I haven't checked, so might look a chump if someone else does so - my chump-like tendencies are often not-very-well hidden). We are currently 7th. My guess is that if we'd had CW at the helm from the start of the season Boro would have been one of the short-priced favourites to go up. But it is STILL possible, even at this late stage and from this position, to go up automatically and it is VERY POSSIBLE to be in the play-off shake-up at the end of the season. And if we are in the play-offs, playing well with our new additions to the squad, none of the teams competing against us will be rubbing their hands with glee saying: "Great! We've got Boro, home and away!".
It really is still all to play for. And that is after the very indifferent start we had to this season. We can improve from here and yet we are still not far from our target despite the setbacks we have had. It won't be easy and we may need some luck (all successful teams need SOME luck) but promotion is still possible. It isn't a remote possibility but a realistic target. And it is within our own hands with so many games to go. Let's put away the despair and look forward to the improved performances and results which this squad, under this leadership, is capable of achieving. CONFIDENCE is needed on the pitch and off it, not anguish after this one result.
Connolly not good enough at present prefer Watmore but don’t know if he’s carrying an injury. Tavernier not good enough and his misplaced pass cost us the goal. Sporar ineffective. Need a rethink about tactics for forwards. Very disappointing.
OFB
Spot on Bob, especially Tavernier, who hasn't had a good game in months. Before people start having a go at me about Tav, all I can say is that on Socila Media Boro pages, he is getting pelters and fans can't understand why he is still being picked.
So, in Premier League terms, Boro lie in the same position as compared to the top teams as Arsenal and Spurs lie as compared to Man City and Liverpool.
I think the comparison with Spurs or Arsenal is a good one. In some matches we click and look awesome, in others we can grind out wins and in some we don't get started. There's really only one Man City in the championship and then a series of Spurs/Arsenal like teams.
If Wilder had started at the beginning of the season I think we would be nailed on for the play-offs and in with a shout for automatic promotion. As it is, we are a good shout for the play-offs.
I don't think that Wilder has us over-performing, rather we have a team which is currently performing about as well as you could expect and trying to make up for lost time. We're also now in a position where other teams have had a chance to watch how we play and come up with counters so it is going to get harder for us.
There are obvious weak spots in the team and limited ways to fix them so it will be a measure of Wilder and the coaching team to see how we do against Coventry. The thing about a bad result and a bad performance (first half really poor, second half so-so) is that it gives you a chance to make changes and push players in ways they might otherwise think are unfair.
Hopefully we'll see a good reaction and a good result against Coventry.
Good post Andy.
CW has brought in players who he believes can obviously improve the existing squad, but it has to be said that at this moment in time that is not the case.
Taylor apart, who is a good squad player to have on the left, does not give us any attacking threat down that side.
Connoly has not given me any indication of being an upgrade and to start him before Watmore, who offers more in my opinion, is a poor choice from the Manager.
Balogun looks to have something but has not had many minutes yet, but for me at this moment looks no better than Hernandez, who now appears to be the new fans favourite at Birmingham.
Boyd-Munce, well not in the squad even, so I guess one for the future.
McGree, well who knows. We won’t see him available until the QPR game and with little time in training I guess a place on the bench at best.
So early business done in the window, but no early results as yet. We cannot score goals for love nor money and has Andy and others have said the midfield is not doing it’s job. The movement and passing is woeful and has been for sometime, so not something new.
What we don’t see is what goes on behind the scenes on the training ground. Andy mentioned Payero being able to possibly make a difference and I would agree he deserves a chance or why have him on the bench it he is not fit for purpose. Deleriad certainly is not hopeful of success from him?
Yes we are still in touch with the two or three teams above us, however have two tough games coming up and we really do need to show whether we really are contenders for the play offs.
Coventry will not be an easy game, not that any are in this league. We will need to show a better attitude and commitment to the task if we are to take all three points.
Whilst it was good to hear CW’s honest assessment after the game it is also concerning that he was critical of the players attitude and failure to follow the game plan coupled with the required quality level; let’s hope that this is not the end of the new manager bounce and players are reverting to norm!
Midfield creativity was lacking and we need someone who can unlock the opposition as they appear now to have worked us out and we need to find other ways to break well organised teams down.
Tav needs a rest and reset, he provides plenty of endeavour and energy but is not producing any end product via goals or assists. Time for Payero for me. 😎
I thought we desperately lacked movement in the first half yesterday. Midfielders and forwards not showing for the ball and creating those little triangles we've become accustomed to seeing. The result was that the back three had to play sideways and backwards and ultimately send it long to no-one in particular. We've got to work harder for each other to keep the ball and progress up the field. We would also benefit from a better passer in that midfield three in my view to make the most of the runs that come up front, though those were lacking in that first half.
I think our own Mogga and his team canceled our play out well. There was no room for us to play in the first half at least.
And when they got the goal, Mogga changed his team again. He played the whole game like an away team would at Ewood.
As we all know, Mogga likes to change his game plan according to the opposition. He respected us and was better in the way how his team followed their game plan.
When we had not the time or capability to pass-on the ball, we hoofed the ball (again, old habbits). Especially in the first half. And they got the goal at a bad time and the accident in the stands came at the wrong time for us.
Mogga and his team deserved to win. Up the Boro!
An observation on a couple of comments above, Payero not being the answer, in my opinion admittedly he looked lost on his first couple of appearances but then he started to come to terms with everything and just before he got injured he had his best couple of games and most people commented on this at the time. Concerns about CW criticism of players last night’s post match interview, I distinctly remember criticism of many previous managers who always made excuses for poor performances rather than say it as it is, I agree we don’t want the manager blaming the players after every match but to state what we all witnessed (through TV) was a case of “not trying to pull the wool”, also CW also blamed himself for not realising that the players were not mentally right, so he still shouldered some of the blame himself publicly. In my opinion, criticising players publicly (on the odd occasion) does not do them any harm, rather players thinking if we play badly, the boss will cover for us.
As I have said it is my own opinion.
Come on BORO.
The problem with Payero is that he plays the same position as Crooks, who has been our best player with Jones. Like yesterday Crooks had two good chances to score. More than the two strikers together.
I like Payero and wouldn't mind seeing him play. But where?
Up the Boro!
The problem with Payero is that he plays the same position as Crooks, who has been our best player with Jones. Like yesterday Crooks had two good chances to score. More than the two strikers together.
I like Payero and wouldn't mind seeing him play. But where?
Up the Boro!
Payero appears to have made his mark as a right-sided number 8; i.e. the same position as Crooks. He had a couple of ok games under Warnock, particularly with Crooks backing him up. I would say that Boyd-Munce's debut was on about the same standard as Payero's best game for us.
In theory you could drop Crooks into Howson's role and break up his partnership with Jones so that Payero can play on the right of midfield but why would you do that? Payero gives no indication that he could play Howson's #6 role. So that leaves playing on the left in Tav's position. This means you would have two right-footers on that side (McNair and Payero) plus Taylor. Seems like a recipe for disaster.
As far as I can see, Payero is just going to have to wait for Crooks to get dropped, injured or suspended, take his place then perform better than Crooks. However, I notice when that option came up, Wilder put Howson in the #8 role and McNair as the #6 so I can only assume that Payero has shown nothing in training to encourage Wilder.
Wilder does seem to be sort of old-school and does not rotate players for fitness reasons. To get into the team you have to take your chance when it happens.
Payero has time to come good but at the time I thought he was a vanity signing. If we were in the Premier league you could take a £6m a punt on an untested young Argentinian; goes in the U23s and maybe gets loaned out. Given our financial constraints, blowing the majority of your transfer budget on someone who might take 12 months to get good enough was very odd. I really hope last summer was the last window where we seem to buy random players where different parts of the club seem to be arguing with each other.
Hear hear
Exmil. Just to clarify my comments re CW.
I was not criticising his openness but that he had to criticise the players for the reasons he did which were disappointing in that they lacked the right mental attitude and lacked ice and fire in the first half in particular.
I have always been a great believer of “praise in public and bo****k in private” but also agree with you that criticism in public every now and then does no harm.
I found it refreshing that he did not make the usual excuses of fine margins, and if only Crooks’ header had not been cleared off the line but actually said what he felt knowing full well that many supporters would see through any of the usual bluster.
Well done to CW, I like his style of man management and communication. 😎