I am surprised that no one is mentioning the poor positioning of our keeper. When the header went in from the ex Newcastle striker in our last match, he had wandered four yards from his line and towards his left hand post, on his line and central, it was an easy catch. Last night, same as, on his line and central it was an easy save from a half speed shot, he failed to turn it round the post by a foot, these are expensive mistakes.
MW
Sorry In my view it was a clear cut penalty and would have been given on VAR.
OFB
Plato
I agree about the poor positioning of our keeper which is why we need a new one and quickly !
OFB
Delerid, I have mentioned a couple of times about the signing of Payero, his supposed fee ( if 6mil, expensive for us or most Championship Clubs).
Certainly Warnock was not interested in him or Siliki for that matter. He possibly had issues over the signing of Sporar?
So who did actually source and sign him and the others. Was it the incumbent Recruitment Team, did Scott have any influence. Given that we have not had the greatest success in the recent past with similar players, why make such a high risk signing.
For that money you could have bought an established Championship player. Wages would probably be more?
However saying all of the above, the deals are done. What we still do need though is a forward passing midfielder that makes the team tick.
It’s not the result that was disappointing, it was the COMPLACENT ATTITUDE of the players. I think a lot of the Boro players have too high opinion of themselves, possibly believing the hype portrayed in the press by journalists and fans alike. That was the worst 45 minutes I’ve seen this season from Boro and overall reminded me of the FA Cup Quarterfinal defeat at home to Cardiff City in 2008. Different players then of course but some of the same fans who get too carried away with their comments which I’m sure most footballers read. It’s one thing to have confidence but quite a different matter to have ARROGANT confidence which almost nearly cost Boro appearances in both Cup Semifinals in 1997. I blame the Gazette reporters at the time, surely we haven’t become like Newcastle reporters and fans! I hate writing this, but I think a bit of realism is called for. There are several teams who quite logically consider themselves for a playoff place. As I’ve written before let’s see where Boro are in the League table at Easter. They could conceivably be as low as 12th if they lose the next two matches. It’s still a marathon, not a sprint.
One other concern is the number of yellow cards Boro have collected this season, 64 and counting meaning possibly more suspensions pending in the future which Boro can’t afford.
Hartlepool United 90 minutes away from Wembley after drawing 2-2 at home to Charlton Athletic tonight but winning the penalty shootout 5-4 after Charlton had the advantage of taking the first penalty but Pools’ keeper Ben Killip saved the 4th penalty from Elliot Lee whilst Luke Molyneux and Jamie Sterry converted Pools’ 4th and 5th penalties. Amazing that Pools are struggling to win League matches but remain undefeated in the EFL Trophy and the FA Cup after beating the likes of Blackpool, Bolton,
Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and now Charlton in both competitions.
Many good posts, accurately expressing our disappointment (and Wilder’s) at last night’s result and performance. From my own perspective, it was very disheartening to see us go full-on Warnock (or even Pulis, it was that bad) in the first half. It clearly improved after CW had laid into them at the break, but we were still nowhere near good enough. The boss has a few things to think about before Saturday, especially up front and down the left side.
What matters now is how we bounce back. Can we start off on another unbeaten run and consolidate our position in the play-offs, or will we go back to our old inconsistency and flatter to deceive? If we do the latter, the chasing pack - and those already above us - will probably soon put an end to our play-off hopes if they find the required consistency. Already tonight Forest have gone above us, Coventry have narrowed the gap, and QPR have stretched their advantage. However, I think we’re good enough to get into the top 6, and I think Wilder is the man to take us there. Here’s hoping he gets the reaction he expects on Saturday and that we power to the 3 points.
We picked up a lot of yellow cards last night. I think Crooksy is nearing 10, which presumably means a suspension. Does anyone know? And have we any others who might be treading the disciplinary tightrope?
It is a two game ban if you get 10 yellow before the 32nd game. So 5 games to go and Crooks has 8 bookings so far. The most in the Championship. His suspension may be how Payero gets a game. He might be left out at Old Trafford to prevent a suspension.
Just to keep up my seemingly traditional defence of Marcus Tavernier, Boro’s two biggest chances on Monday night (Crooks header cleared off the line, Crooks free header over the bar right at the end) were both from Tav’s crosses.
An assist is only an assist if the ball goes in the net.
MW, i do not think cards given in the FA Cup count in the totting up towards a suspension.
If you watch the extended highlights on mfc.co.uk, the goal-scoring chances we had were actually quite good and many. So it looked like we could easily have had chances to level and get a point.
But watching the whole game on TV it felt differend. And Wilder agreed after the match.
Interestingly some Boro fans who were at the match thought we should have earned a point. They think it was fine margins and if Crooks or Connolly had scored from the chances they had ...
Anyway, a poor performance. Perhaps we have had a blip in form for the past four games (since Forest and Bournemouth). If so, not bad to win three and loosing just one.
Of course we need start playing better against Coventry on Saturday. Up the Boro!
I’m not disheartened by Monday’s game, but then I’ve not got carried away by the hype either. There’s a long way to go and I’m certainly happier with the team under CW than I was under NW - but can we finish in the top 6? I think it’s definitely possible, but equally we could end up mid table in this year’s crazy Championship.
I understand your concerns Ken, but personally I didn’t see a complacency from our players, rather an opposition who did a great job of neutralising our threat in the first half - something we’d be delighted to see if we could do it against Fulham, for example.
Blackburn did just enough to win but, on another day, Crooks would have equalised with his header near the end and we all be celebrating a hard won point. It’s a game of fine margins at this level.
A nice interview with Lee Cattermole at mfc.co.uk as he is the new U18 head coach.
He is so much older and matured now compared when he left at the ago of 20 in 2008. Nice to see him back.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/watch-lee-cattermole-on-returning-to-boro-as-u18s-coach
Up the Boro!
While I'm defending the the latest Boro boo-boys, I'll stick up for Joe Lumley too.
I don't think he was culpable for the Blackburn goal or the Reading goal. I think the idea that he should have been on his line on both occasions goes against everything goalkeepers are asked to do. The number one reason for taking up certain positions is to make the goal as small as possible. Standing on your line does the exact opposite. Certainly Carroll could easily have headed the ball into the opposite corner had Lumley been back and central and it would been a shorter path to goal/harder to save. Lumley's position forced to go the more difficult way.
Breaking down the Reading goal, Carroll was clever to peel away from Dael Fry who had monstered him all evening to that point, and play on the weaker Paddy McNair. He then outjumped McNair and expertly looped a header back across goal to take the keeper out of the equation. Credit where it's due, it was good from Carroll. The questions I would ask are:
1. How did Reading gain possession?
A: Can't see from the highlights unfortunately.
2. Could we have done more to stop the cross?
A: Yes. Crosser was left too much time/space as Jones failed to close him down quickly enough.
3. Could we have done more to defend the cross?
A: Possibly. McNair outjumped.
For the Blackburn goal, there were a series of errors. The corner was headed away tamely and downwardly by Crooks and only as far as Jones on the edge of the box, who then half-heartedly cleared by only another 10yrds or so to the Blackburn player. As the ball came back towards our area McNair had a complete fresh-air attempt at a clearance which wrongfooted every Boro player in close attention and allowed the ball to run through to the goalscorer, Gallagher. Three attempts to clear, all failed miserably and we paid the price. Very harsh to blame Joe Lumley in my view.
If we HAVE to point fingers at individuals, then I'm afraid it's Jones and McNair who played a part in both goals conceded. Crooks was also involved and with him also blowing two fantastic chances, he is probably due some stick too. But these are popular players.
I do think that Tav has been below our high standards of him despite his age/experience, and that Joe Lumley is a player that needs upgrading sooner or later but I can't find them at fault for recent issues.
I’d agree with those comments about Lumley. His positioning throughout the Blackburn game looked ok to me and he flew out of the box on a couple of occasions to clear the danger. Is he the best? No, but I don’t think he’s as bad as some people are suggesting.
Great Post Andy
Possession was gained by a poor wayward pass from Tavernier. How often have we seen that this season which has led to the opposition scoring goals.
OFB
Don’t forget the penalty which we should have had as well !
OFB
Cards given in the FA CUP can prevent player selection in any subsequent rounds amd are not part of the totting up procedure for league games.
OFB
Great Post Andy
Possession was gained by a poor wayward pass from Tavernier. How often have we seen that this season which has led to the opposition scoring goals.
OFB
I think that might have been what led to the Blackburn corner? Still three chances to avoid the goal.
And we can bllame the linesman as Gallanger was in an offside position when the ball was last touched by his collegue. Offside as can be seen from the replays. VAR needed in the Championship, too.
A lot of ifs ... let's move to the next match. Up the Boro!
Good points, Deleriad. It's just that, if a player is good enough to get games for Argentina U23, you'd think he would shine in an English Championship squad. As I might have said before, we are talking Argentina here, one of the giants of international football, not a minnow in football terms like Belize,Turkmenistan or Andorra. You'd also think Payero would be sweating blood in every training session, warming up with enthusiasm at the side of the pitch whenever he is on the bench, and making it obvious (1) he is good enough and (2) he is desperate to play for Boro, given the chance to do so. Obviously I cannot say what is happening in training. One suspects that he cannot be pulling up trees there, or he WOULD be in the team and get some game time. In which case, the ball is in Payero's hands. Let's see if he runs with it (to use an oval ball analogy in a round ball game).