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Boro v Cardiff
 

Boro v Cardiff

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Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

Whilst I am one of the Boro supporters who doesn’t like Connolly I think the fact that he was boood by some morons when he came in to the field was pathetic.

The lad couldn’t wait to get off the field at the final whilst ripping his shirt off and throwing it down on the ground.

Very disappointing and not very sportsmanlike from a partisan Boro crowd.

OFB

And the same morons would have cheered themselves hoarse had he scored...


   
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Ken Smith
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A very hesitant start by Boro with far too many passes back to the goalkeeper, but should have gone for the jugular in the second half as there is every possibility of goal difference deciding the outcome if Boro were to win their last two matches. However Stoke City especially will prove to be a tougher proposition than Cardiff. This was the second lowest home league attendance of the season, the lowest being surprisingly against Sheffield United.

Regarding the situation about goal difference Boro really need to win the two remaining matches by a 3 goal aggregate margin. One scenario though would be if Boro recorded a 1-0 and a 2-0 win and the Blades recorded a 2-1 win and a 0-0 draw then both teams would have the same number of goals scored and goals conceded 58-45. However Boro would have 21 wins against the Blades 20, so I’m fairly certain that Boro would finish in 6th place. It’s therefore imperative that Boro win their two matches by an aggregate of at least 3 goals. Of course the ideal situation would be for the Blades to lose one of their remaining fixtures. 

I can’t envisage a 6th position playoff, as that would take too many permutations, but let’s take one game at a time.

This post was modified 2 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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Selwynoz
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Posted by: @k-p-in-spain
Posted by: @selwynoz

Well that wasn’t very pretty but they did what they had to do and got a win, scored a couple of goals and kept the pressure on Sheffield United. I thought that Howson stepped up a gear in the second half and made the difference. I do like what I’ve seen of McGree. He looks like a proper player and hats off to the recruitment team. The defence was solid as ever and Daniels makes me feel more secure than Lumley did.

Watmore was the pick of the forwards and the other three struggled to get into the game. It’s no surprise that the two goals came from midfield and the way that we play means that the midfield players need to get into the box - particularly on the back post to give us more options.

For those who like to believe in the symmetry of life, if Sheffield draw 1-1 on Friday and we again win 2-0, we will have identical goal difference and for and against. I’m not sure what happens if it stays like that. Anybody know?

UTB

 

As per EFL regulations as opposed to the PL, the team with the most goals scored is then the deciding criteria.

If that is the same then it is decided by the respective league record against each other, taking in order of precedence, points gained, goal difference and goals scored. 😎

Thanks @k-p-in-spain

That's what @werdermouth guessed. Let's hope that it doesn't come down to that


   
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

Whilst I am one of the Boro supporters who doesn’t like Connolly I think the fact that he was boood by some morons when he came in to the field was pathetic.

The lad couldn’t wait to get off the field at the final whilst ripping his shirt off and throwing it down on the ground.

Very disappointing and not very sportsmanlike from a partisan Boro crowd.

OFB

I am not a fan either but I find that sort of re-action shameful and disrespectful to all.  I trust it was just a few moronic individuals? 😎


   
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Didn't get to see or follow the game live so nothing much to add. The consensus was that the performance was flat but Cardiff were poor. 

Looking back, that has largely been what has happened since our win against Man Utd in the cup. We've had two high scoring wins in the league (Derby and Peterborough) and a lot of indifferent performances with the Spurs cup game in the middle of it. Since the Man Utd game we have had the following quote over and over

@foreverDormo The Boro v Luton Town game was not a great spectacle but it yielded THREE POINTS.  

We've had bad losses against lower clubs and Sheffield Utd. Some ok performances against top clubs where we have still got poor results.

This is 3 months and 15 league matches so it isn't really any surprise that the atmosphere has gone flat. In that time we have won 6, drawn 4, lost 5: 22 points at 1.47 points per game

By contrast, in Warnock's 17 games of the season we won 6, drew 4, lost 7.

Since the January transfer window and Wilder's attempt to incorporate Connolly and Balogun, the improvement over Warnock Boro has been vanishingly small and the performances have felt similar. Scanning over Wilder's managerial career on Transfermarkt, this looks like the worst period of his managerial career (other than the relegation season from the Premier). We've now had longer under him with the team feeling like it is going backwards rather than improving than the other way around. 

It's not even close to time to bring out the pitchforks but it does imply either that Wilder needs to improve or, given the consistent pattern of failure of managers since relegation, that there is a structural issue of the club leading to it under-performing. May be a mix of both.


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I know we won and that’s a good thing, but can anybody really see us getting into the playoffs let alone winning them?. To be successful you need to have a consistent scorer ( the only team who can play without a striker are Man City and let’s not kid ourselves ) and looking at the strikers who played last night and I say played with tongue in cheek the only one who deserves mention is watmore and that’s because he try’s. The rest very poor, don’t get me wrong people shouldn’t have booed Connolly when he came on but oh my he was rank.  Let’s not forget that Cardiff we’re very poor as well.

in my opinion the worst thing that happened was us beating Spurs did some of the players start to think they were better than they are, has CW speculation upset everything something we will never know.

fingers crossed we get into the playoffs, but I think we would be outsiders to win them.


Pedro de Espana
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A lot of what one can say about last nights performance has been said. Other than that, in my opinion we were lucky to go in at half time one up. Apart from Tav’s wonder strike, Cardiff had the best chances from Colwill and Hugill. 

Deleriad’s interesting post says a lot and may be says something about Mr Wilder that may come to pass. He and the recruitment team have one heck of a job to do if we have serious aspirations of been in the top six all next season.

Besides some of the team thinking they are better than we are and many on here also thinking some players are good enough, well I have serious doubts it will be completed in the summer turnover.

I am still not convinced that adding new first choice players such as a GK, CB and two forwards will be enough. Are the nucleus of Dijksteel, McNair, Fry, McGree, Crooks, Jones and Tav going plus the in comers going to be good enough to achieve that? 

About Connolly, he was rubbish. However to single out one young player like that was disgusting. It was certainly audible on the west side.

 


Ken Smith
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I thought I’d report on Redcar Bears speedway team on here because the Bears have already won silverware at the start of the season by winning the Tyne-Tees Trophy with an emphatic 60-29 home win over Newcastle Diamonds and followed that with a 45-45 draw at Brough Park to win 105-74 on aggregate. It’s always nice to beat the Geordies at any sport and Redcar appear to have the best 3 heat leaders in the league. 

Since then the Bears have recorded home wins over Plymouth, Birmingham and the mighty Leicester, and last night only lost 43-47 in the first leg of the knockout cup with the second leg due to be played tomorrow night. Of course it’s always easier to win home matches than away matches, but nevertheless the Bears should be able to overcome a 4 point deficit to progress to the next round.

Up to now our 3 heat leaders have been outstanding with Lewis Kerr and Erik Riss both scoring 53 points, and Charles Wright 48 points from the first 4 meetings. I haven’t got the individual scores for last nights encounter with Oxford, but Bears boss Jade Mudgway must be delighted with the form of all 7 riders, and if the Bears keep up this form very few if any teams will win at the South Bank venue this season, but they need to notch a few away wins if further silverware is to be won this year.

This post was modified 2 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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What was, in a way, quite shocking about last night's game was the disjunction between our expectation, as fans , that this was the most important game of the season so far, and the lack of positivity from the players, particularly in the first half.

This looked and felt like a tired game at the end of a long hard season rather than a final push towards the play-offs. It looked and felt like the players were looking forward to the season ending rather than it being extended further. It felt like a kind of betrayal.

Let's hope that the Stoke game explodes rather than confirms this theory.

 


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League goals scored by Boro strikers in 2022 (19 games) is 11...

Watmore - 3 (last goal 2 Apr)

Balogun - 3 (last goal 2 Apr)

Sporar - 2 (1 pen, last goal 26 Feb)

Connolly - 2 (last goal 15 Mar)

Coburn - 1 (last goal 2 Apr)

You may note that three strikers all scored their last goal on 2 April, which was against then bottom club Peterborough. Sporar's was against Barnsley and Connolly's against Birmingham.

Indeed, only three of those 11 goals by strikers have come against sides that weren't towards the bottom of the table - a consolation goal for Balogun in that 4-1 defeat at Sheff Utd, a goal for Sporar against Coventry and one for Watmore against Luton.

This is quite a lightweight strike-force by any standards and we will need at leas three new ones whatever happens this season.

One other point to note that may help explain Boro's dip in form is that Wilder hasn't really had any midfield options this year as most of the time Payero has been injured and McGree has only returned from injury as Crooks was banned. So he hasn't been able to rest any of the engine room and in truth they look jaded in most games.

In addition, Bola is still getting up to speed after a long lay-off and Jones is still not back to his best since his illness. It's basically a small squad in need of fresh legs in order to play high energy games twice week - plus a bit more quality is needed.

 


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What are the odds we could win our last two matches and Luton lose their last two, away to Fulham and home to Reading so we overtake them into the top six?

Yes I know I don’t often get foam handed but in the absence of any golf today what else is there to do!

Just waiting for the 90 mins video of last nights match to be added to the Boro website so I can catch up! 😎


   
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I agree with Ken too many back passes to the goalkeeper. It infuriates me and honestly P Mcnair is one of the culprits. In tense games like this you must get the ball forward as quick as possible and forget the bloody pass backs.


Ken Smith
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KP in Spain 

Anything’s possible, but on last night’s performance I can’t see Boro beating Stoke City on Saturday. Truly amazed at the high marks given by Craig Johns and I’m now in Cricket mode in between several visits to James Cook Hospital after a bone scan yesterday and a CT scan coming up on Sunday not to mention a visit from the bowel incontinence unit. 


   
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Site Creator
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Hopefully if Boro end up winning their last three games it will be enough to finish in the top six - which the six-game form table may demonstrate would likely be enough as you may be surprised to know that only four teams have won more than 2 of their last 6 games. Forest and Huddersfield are the best two, Hull have surprising won 3 (beating both Boro and Cardiff) and unfortunately the other is Boro's next opponents Stoke, who have won 4 against other play-off hopefully Sheff Utd, West Brom, Blackburn and QPR.


Powmill-Naemore
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What are the thoughts here about Isiah Jones.

I think there is definitely a consensus that he has not looked anywhere nearly as effective since coming back from illness. I am not sure if that is all down to him, or down to the way the team are failing to play him in behind the defence or otherwise into space.

However, I didn't want to write so much about that but to confess that I am losing patience with him choosing to go to ground so easily. On two occasions last night he was clearly looking for a penalty. I do believe that referees are onto this aspect of his game and as a consequence I think that whenever there will be a genuine case for a penalty (or free kick), any referee is going to give the benefit of the doubt to the would be offender rather than to him as the victim.

 

I would hope that the manager is working on eradicating that from his game.

This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by Powmill-Naemore

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Posted by: @ken

KP in Spain 

Anything’s possible, but on last night’s performance I can’t see Boro beating Stoke City on Saturday. Truly amazed at the high marks given by Craig Johns and I’m now in Cricket mode in between several visits to James Cook Hospital after a bone scan yesterday and a CT scan coming up on Sunday not to mention a visit from the bowel incontinence unit. 

Ken

Hope all goes well with your scans.  Mrs P had her 6 monthly scans and blood tests last week and got another all clear, which needs to be confirmed by consultant in June. 

I agree that Stoke will not be easy but any one can beat any one and occasionally the better the opposition the better sometimes our performance.

I am not sure how much tension there was at the Riverside last night and how it impacted the team; CW seemed to allude to it and hopefully the players will feel less under pressure on Saturday now that they have at least won the game in hand.😎


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Posted by: @powmillnaemore

What are the thoughts here about Isiah Jones.

I think there is definitely a consensus that he has not looked anywhere nearly as effective since coming back from illness. I am not sure if that is all down to him, or down to the way the team are failing to play him in behind the defence or otherwise into space.

However, I didn't want to write so much about that but to confess that I am losing patience with him choosing to go to ground so easily. On two occasions last night he was clearly looking for a penalty. I do believe that referees are onto this aspect of his game and as a consequence I think that whenever there will be a genuine case for a penalty (or free kick), any referee is going to give the benefit of the doubt to the would be offender rather than to him as the victim.

 

I would hope that the manager is working on eradicating that from his game.

I would hope this is on the checklist he has talked about to improve performances, including the need to improve our returns from dead ball situations which are currently non existent. 😎


   
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Selwynoz
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Posted by: @k-p-in-spain
Posted by: @powmillnaemore

What are the thoughts here about Isiah Jones.

I think there is definitely a consensus that he has not looked anywhere nearly as effective since coming back from illness. I am not sure if that is all down to him, or down to the way the team are failing to play him in behind the defence or otherwise into space.

However, I didn't want to write so much about that but to confess that I am losing patience with him choosing to go to ground so easily. On two occasions last night he was clearly looking for a penalty. I do believe that referees are onto this aspect of his game and as a consequence I think that whenever there will be a genuine case for a penalty (or free kick), any referee is going to give the benefit of the doubt to the would be offender rather than to him as the victim.

 

I would hope that the manager is working on eradicating that from his game.

I would hope this is on the checklist he has talked about to improve performances, including the need to improve our returns from dead ball situations which are currently non existent. 😎

I’ve been thinking the same thing. He just doesn’t look to have the confidence that he had earlier in the season. 

Noticing this did make me think of another question that I have been pondering. What are the rules for loan players that have been loaned out by MFC. Who do they belong to when the other club’s season is finished. I was first thinking about this because of Zack Hemming now that Kilmarnock have won automatic promotion. His season will finish this weekend. Is he then a Boro player again?

More interesting is the case of Spence. It now seems quite possible that Forest will grab the second automatic spot. That means that their season would finish before the playoffs. 

Does that free up Spence to come back to Boro?

Its a nice idea but I’m sure that there’s a rule against it.

UTB


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @selwynoz
Posted by: @k-p-in-spain
Posted by: @powmillnaemore

What are the thoughts here about Isiah Jones.

I think there is definitely a consensus that he has not looked anywhere nearly as effective since coming back from illness. I am not sure if that is all down to him, or down to the way the team are failing to play him in behind the defence or otherwise into space.

However, I didn't want to write so much about that but to confess that I am losing patience with him choosing to go to ground so easily. On two occasions last night he was clearly looking for a penalty. I do believe that referees are onto this aspect of his game and as a consequence I think that whenever there will be a genuine case for a penalty (or free kick), any referee is going to give the benefit of the doubt to the would be offender rather than to him as the victim.

 

I would hope that the manager is working on eradicating that from his game.

I would hope this is on the checklist he has talked about to improve performances, including the need to improve our returns from dead ball situations which are currently non existent. 😎

I’ve been thinking the same thing. He just doesn’t look to have the confidence that he had earlier in the season. 

Noticing this did make me think of another question that I have been pondering. What are the rules for loan players that have been loaned out by MFC. Who do they belong to when the other club’s season is finished. I was first thinking about this because of Zack Hemming now that Kilmarnock have won automatic promotion. His season will finish this weekend. Is he then a Boro player again?

More interesting is the case of Spence. It now seems quite possible that Forest will grab the second automatic spot. That means that their season would finish before the playoffs. 

Does that free up Spence to come back to Boro?

Its a nice idea but I’m sure that there’s a rule against it.

UTB

You know Selwyn,  I had wondered about the same thing re Spence, if not with Hemming.

I seem to recall that the loan is for the season, but not the play offs, so it would not be automatic that Spence could play for Forest in the playoffs. Someone might correct me on that in here.

In the event that Forest will, as I expect, finish 2nd, then I suspect he would be ours again, but not in the registered squad. There could also be an issue of his unfamiliarity with the rest of the team and how we play. 

I have also wondered about next season (but it would apply in the playoffs as well) whether we could play both Spence and Jones in the same team. Spence more as the right side of midfield, with Jones as the wingback. Perhaps they would complement each other on the right.


   
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jarkko
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I think other clubs have found out what a treat Jones is. So they put one player marking him all the time and seconly have a another one nearby immediately if Jones gets the ball. So he has less pace to run past the first player. I think Cardiff's Ng had a good game against us and marking Jones yesterday.

The second thing missing is that Jones needs a fully funtioning Crooks and Dijksteel around him. The two played very well while Jones was shining. When we saw a dip in Crooks' form, Jones was not affecrive, too. And now when the team is not performing as well as earlier, Dijksteel's overlapping runs are missing more often than before.

So Jones is not a one man show at Boro. He does not even get the ball as often as before.

The good thing is that we are now more balanced. In yesterday's match we were more dangerous from the left. But of course Jones could be lacking a bit of composure and self belief. But this is a team sport. Look how well Luton are doing with the squad they are having.

So Wilder and Boro are work in progress. The form is not yet constant and varies from game to game too much. Individually and as a team. Up the Boro!


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@Selwynoz

Unfortunately the rule for returning loan players changed a few years ago meaning players can only change the club they are registered to once the transfer window opens again. So neither Spence or Hemmings can play for Boro this season - I think the talk of Spence returning was during the January window.


jarkko
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PS. @OFB, please give us a full day after a match to mull over the previous result, performances and what Jones or Tav did or didn’t do. I think it is better to get the previous match off our hearts before we concentrate on the following match with a new post. At least that's what me thinks, like.

And a big thank you for the forthcoming lead to the next match 😇. Up the Boro!

This post was modified 2 years ago by jarkko

   
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Jarkko 

Don’t worry I’m leaving you plenty of time to mull over the game before posting a new preview.

OFB


   
Liked by 4 people: jarkko, Malcolm, Powmill-Naemore and werdermouth
 
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Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

Jarkko 

Don’t worry I’m leaving you plenty of time to mull over the game before posting a new preview.

OFB

Plenty of time to Stoke things up 🙄 

 


   
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Site Creator
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Another problem I've noticed for Jones is that he's often receiving the ball whilst stationary and also hugging the touchline, which has not left him with much space to get past the defender. The exception has been when Sporar has played in the last two games as he's made a couple of good reverse passes that Jones can run onto - the other was when Jones was played through yesterday but didn't get his shot away when through on goal. Boro basically need to move the ball faster so when Jones does get the ball the opposition are not waiting for him.


Pedro de Espana
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Absolutely Werder. As much as I have criticised Crooks, he the one player who gives him the best options. Too often Jones has to come deep to collect a ball and I blame the midfield for that, although McGree tried.

Also like Tav he has to do far too much defending, how the pair of them keep going amazes me.

Again as much as many have championed Howson, I do not believe that generally he picks up the runners, neither does Bola, hence more tracking for Tav.


Powmill-Naemore
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I think that is right Werder. Earlier in the season there was often good interplay between Crooks, Djiksteel and Jones along the right. Rapid movement and each player anticipating where the ball would be played. I agree that too often the ball is being played to Jones feet and (as you point out) with little space outside of himself to be able to make anything happen.

Lets hope Crooks will come back a little refreshed. I think he was going off the boil even before he got his self suspended again. Who suggested (I think it was you Werder) bringing Crooks back in and moving Tav to Left Wing back with McGree taking over from Tav in midfield. That might give us better balance left to right and give Stoke too much to have to contend with to be able to have two players assigned to Jones.


   
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I think that 'between the sticks' is the operative word. Against the dead average sides most keepers will get something on all that comes their way by simply being on their line and dead centre of the goal.


   
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Clive Hurren
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Posted by: @ken

KP in Spain 

Anything’s possible, but on last night’s performance I can’t see Boro beating Stoke City on Saturday. Truly amazed at the high marks given by Craig Johns and I’m now in Cricket mode in between several visits to James Cook Hospital after a bone scan yesterday and a CT scan coming up on Sunday not to mention a visit from the bowel incontinence unit. 

Good luck with all the medical issues, Ken. Your cheeriness in the face of such overwhelming odds never ceases to amaze me. Chat soon. 


   
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Mark Warburton has announced that he has not been offered a new contract at QPR and will therefore be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Not sure what impact this news might have just before tomorrow’s QPR match against Sheffield? Is it good or bad for us? 😎

This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by K P in Spain

   
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