We could do with getting that Derby game out of our systems so hope it's ok to start a new thread.
In terms of form over the last six games, its 21st (Boro) versus 24th (Huddersfield) with both sides impacted by injuries and low on confidence. Not an ideal prelude for Sky Sports who choose to broadcast this game perhaps when both sides were looking up the table!
Boro have a number of serious concerns at the moment: the goalkeeper doesn't look up to it, our best centre-half has been injured, our two best creators this season in Tavernier and Johnson have been missing of late and we still have a clutch of strikers who need the ball to feet but only find it at head or chest height.
Warnock may be looking to next season already and deciding to continue with his 4-3-3 and long-ball game with a view to recruiting the appropriate players to fit in to it in the summer. If so, any hopes of overachievement this season have gone the same way as recent results. That said, anything in the top half is an overachievement in my book, as Phillip Tallentire hinted at earlier on.
As mentioned, the good news is that Huddersfield's woes are even greater than ours and - whisper it quietly - they have lost four and drawn two of their last six away games with a goal difference of -9. If ever there was a fixture to get you back on track, it's this one.
Huddersfield, however, will feel exactly the same.
Thanks Andy for starting a new thread and previewing our team's next outing at a less than fortress Riverside. As you say, if you factor in that we have been chosen for broadcast on Sky and Huddersfield's poor recent away record then if we don't lose a ⚽️ - ⚽️ is guaranteed.
You mention that NW may be looking to next season but I am far from convinced that he will still be here. I think that if we do not make the play offs/get promoted this season then he will call it a day.
Even were we to be promoted this season (very unlikely now) I am not sure he would stay on as I believe he would think it job done and has already stated that he has not always enjoyed managing in the PL.
I see yet another summer of major change of players and management in the offing. 😎
Andy beat me to it which is great by the way! Boro could learn a lot from having collective responsibility.
Here is my musing over this one, on the crest of a slump or in the midst of one, you decide!
Its now five games since Boro last won, coming away with three precious points while the Terriers haven’t won since December last year. Carlos Coberan is now seven games since they last tasted victory. They were two nil up against Wycombe last time out, the Championship’s whipping boys yet incredibly still managed to lose 3-2. That result has left Town just five points from the dreaded drop zone.
Neil Warnock’s charges recent form isn’t any better, having gone from genuine play off contenders to keeping a watchful eye themselves on how many points they are from the drop zone. Forty points are unlikely to guarantee our status for definite but wins with our current tactics and team selections seemingly hold little reason for optimism. Saturday saw the ghost of Pulis past with balls being hoofed at every opportunity and no coherent pattern of play evident.
Injuries of course are to blame with Fry and Tav being out, or maybe not. Despite only having two recognised CB’s in the squad NW allowed the third youthful one to go out on loan and didn’t bring another one in. With being down to Paddy, a midfielder come CB, a returning and rather stiff looking RB was deployed in the role alongside him to little success. Maybe it’s just me but if Hall can’t be rushed back because of being out for a while why then was Bolasie being played against Brentford who had been out for even longer and of course has predictably managed to do a “Hammy” in training.
OK the brown stuff happens but with Bolasie out against Derby why was the previous incumbent (who also is the squad’s biggest provider and among the top scorers) dropped? He scrapped and stayed loyal during the end of season fight and so far has been a surprising success this season. It was interesting that our first corner (in the 87th minute) came from a Marvin cross after just coming on. So many questions yet so many excuses wrapped in straight faced verbal rants.
Regarding the virgin striker conundrum Britt failed to have a single shot on Saturday but incredibly he contacted the ball just 15 times. Now Britt’s inconsistencies are the subject of much debate on local social media along with his abject inability to suit hoof ball. Indeed, his rather limited skill set and propensity to miss targets without ten minutes thinking time has become almost legendary (his pass rate against Derby was under 60%). With all that in mind why select him and then play the tactics which have failed him so badly and so repeatedly?
Continuing the non-scoring striker theme why sign Akpom who is very similar to Britt in style if the way we play and set up is a complete dichotomy to the striker we already had? Maybe it is all these Ref’s or the pitch or the changing rooms or having a “Y” in the day. Whatever it is, it is fortunate that the gates are locked and there is no dissent from the fans to be heard as by now our hitherto saviour would be the subject of some well-deserved vocal concern of which he jokingly craved earlier on.
With recent additions that should have bolstered our creativity the word “crocks” comes to mind. Watmore we know must be nursed but that was a gamble worth taking, Bolasie we also knew had a penchant for the treatment table. NML hasn’t played all season and by NW’s own admission will take some time to get up to speed. Kebano seems to add something but he alone cannot do everything. So, despite the additions in the short term, we seem as stretched as Bolasie’s hamstring. This season is in its Autumnal phase and long term they will not be around so forgive my head scratching if the Play Off’s were a genuine target with the walking wounded recruitment strategy.
The only thing which is consistent with Boro at the minute is our inconsistency and that I am afraid stems from the bench even before a ball is kicked. It is perhaps somewhat ironic that the club NW left, Cardiff were seemingly floundering without him yet overtook us at the weekend to push us down to 8th after clinging so desperately to 7th on the strength of other clubs being equally poor.
Tuesday evening sees us face the side with the worst form record in the Championship over the last six games. The importance of a victory, even a scrappy one cannot be underestimated. Lose this one and I doubt there will be much appetite from the fans to leave everything “as is” for next season. We need to see a tactic or preferably a few different ones which means we actually attack and in doing so actually score goals. Passing back to Bettinelli to produce a lottery hoof up the pitch is not going to cut the mustard.
Apart from Kebano’s goal on Saturday it is now seven hours since a Boro player found the back of the net (assuming that Kebano’s previous Brentford effort was an own goal). To be that impotent and dire isn’t down to injuries, bad luck or refereeing, it’s down to poor management and tactics. Sorry Mr. Warnock but this one is very much down to you.
Like Boro in recent history, Huddersfield have chopped and changed after losing patience with David Wagner all to no avail. Carlos Coberan will be very much aware of that and I expect to see a wounded animal response from them. A feisty Terrier could prove too much for a toothless Warnock Walrus. Both managers need a win from this one. It’s bizarre to think that Warnock had wizard like status only a few months back, he needs to sharpen his wand and quickly!
Sounds as if Fry, Tav and Bolasie will not be available again tomorrow (NW suggesting Fry and Bolasie would play if it was their last game of the season and Tav should be ready for BC or Reading) so it will be interesting to see how we line up tomorrow after Saturday's debacle. 😎
Thanks RR. Between us we've creatively reversed the standard writing format: opening with a footnote and following with a comprehensive appendix!
I have to agree with your post. Yes, we have had some key injuries in a small squad, and yes, the officials have been unkind at times (Blackburn for sure) but in the main, our form is our own doing. The fixtures on paper haven't been too bad - Norwich and Brentford were always a huge ask and oddly one point wasn't a bad return from those games but the points were there for us in the other fixtures.
What to do about it? I would argue that Boro have looked most comfortable with the wingbacks this season, though how that fits into the man-marking defensive system I'm unsure. Certainly though, the strikers we have shown time and again that they can't play the lone role effectively and are not competitive in the air. I think Warnock has to go to two up front to give us a chance of moving defenders around, creating spaces and linking up. If he really wants to go for it, why not put Kebano behind them as a no. 10 as well?
Despite the injuries and despite the size of the squad, there are options - we have enough fit personnel for a 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, 3-5-2 and others. I don't think we have the central midfielders or strikers for a 4-3-3 but that's the way we're set up.
However, the formation won't matter at all if we're as timid and weary-looking as we were at the weekend. Attitude alone will get us a 0-0 in this one.
I think NW has to throw the shackles off. We need an injection of confidence and I think putting an attacking side out with a clear message of "tonight's about scoring more than them" could be the tonic. In terms of the table, losing the game barely matters at this stage and a draw does nothing - it's all about having the confidence and ambition to try and win.
Were it down to me then, and assuming Fry and Tav etc are all still out, I'd go back to wingbacks:
Bettinelli (in lieu of no other viable options)
Djiksteel Hall McNair (Or Bola in there - not fussed)
Fisher Howson Morsy Johnson
Kebano
Watmore Fletcher
Sadly, I think it will be a 4-3-3 with the usual suspects (ok, maybe Akpom for Britt) and another turgid display.
I daren't predict a scoreline.
I don't think Warnock likes three at the back or wing backs in much the same way as he seems blindly wedded to the turgid trio in midfield getting the best out of none of them. I would keep it to a back four by bringing Hall in and then either Fisher or if fully fit Dijksteel at RB.
Johnson despite his low profile (and disregarded by many) has been one of our stand outs this season and while he may not be great he is far better than many give him credit for. His stats on goals, assists and shots stand head and shoulders above the rest. Importantly he has developed an intuitive understanding with Bola down the left. The importance of that synergy has been lost on Warnock, seemingly desperate to get his pets shoehorned in at any cost. His best eleven players may not necessarily be his best team.
OK, Huddersfield appear to have a poorer recent record than Boro do(?). Hands up anybody who can't see just the merest hint of a Boro banana skin.
Please, please don't play Britt, I know he'll get a goal sometime, or maybe not, but we seem as if we are playing with ten men and no skipper when he's on the pitch and maybe tha makes the opposition seem as if they are playing with twelve men with his current 'form'. He's skipper too, amazingly, I can't make it out at all but then perhaps we're not meant to. I'd love to hear the half-time
I'll definitely settle for the proverbial 'eyes in the sky' but even that may be a struggle when you don't start playing until you are losing by a couple of goals and you effectively have ten men on the pitch.
I think that it's fair to say I'm not brimming with confidence.
Stay safe everyone.
UTB,
John
Thanks Andy for an excellent surgical preview with incisive comments followed up by a great appendix operation by Redcar Red.
It is rare for any forum to have so many willing contributors writing for the blog and all pieces are well written and thought provoking.
We all know the disappointment that we are feeling at the moment when we were so nearly there but I’m not making excuses injuries have caught up with a small squad at last.
Bolassie being injured is a blow but hopefully we can earn 3 points tomorrow night.
so it s
⚽️⚽️⚽️ ⚽️
For me...
what a load of balls ⚽️!
OFB
On Bernie Slavens Facebook phone in, he said that if he was in the team now he would would be saying to NW why has Britt got the armband. He's not a captain and never will be. I know we all echo that one.
The truly amazing thing about this team is that they play to form every match, yes yes I know, very bad form but still it shows that their faults are welded into their personas and are not going to change anytime soon. It is important to remember that we all laughed as they beat decent sides away, tick. Then turned in gob smacking downers at home to no hopers. It even got us to seventh place, with several pieces of rubbish to come at home. As they lost the first one, we said 'it matters not, we still have two more open goals to come and then we will be in fifth or fourth. But our heroes knew better, whatever was required to sink the ship was forthcoming every four days. It is just as well that they stopped winning away, at least now we are aware of their true poverty of class. The Britt travesty must now stop, it was noticeable that as he left the field at Derby we suddenly started to get into their box, and they had to shut up shop and see it out. Final point. Someone noted that we are 12 points from going down, and said it was all right? Excuse me, this team can very easily crash and burn in the games we have left, i see no sign that we have what it takes to scrap our way to safety
Someone noted that we are 12 points from going down,
Sobering thought perhaps is that Luton in fifteenth are only three points behind us!
@redcarred. Yes it is never over until the fat lady sings. Lose tomorrow and probably the match after at Reading could see us in real trouble if other results do not favour us. 😎
Thanks Andy for kicking off a new thread.
Boy, it is depressing reading all the posts so far. I wish I could see a small glimmer of light to cling on to, but it really is hard to find anything positive to talk about at the moment.
The Terriers must really fancy their chances coming to us and unless NW makes some convincing changes, then I fancy their chances too.
Assombalonga is not fit to be captain. This collection of players needs someone to lead them, to cajole them to fire them up. He is not and never was the man to do that. Give the armband to Howson.
Time to give Fletcher a start. With Watmore beside him I believe we would have much greater success in the goal scoring department.
We desperately miss Tavernier and Fry but if they are truly not recovered, they should not be risked. We can't afford not to have them both fit for the rest of the season.
Big deep breath and with finger in the air to test the way the wind blows I am going to make myself believe that NW will ring the required changes and that we will kick into gear from the off and that we will turn Huddersfield over.
However, if he leaves things unaltered, then I will not be surprised that let Huddersfield play and a draw is the best I can predict.
Might I respectfully suggest that folk dig in to my history of Boro strikers. I write it mainly for something to keep me awake but nevertheless I’ve researched some other things about Boro strikers that I’ve just come across even well before the Camsell era when Boro were a First Division side. It’s been cathartic so far as it’s relieved me of the current depression of the current non-strikers. Whether it’ll help folk younger than me I don’t know, but nostalgia is the best tonic for me at my age even if all the strikers I’ve written about so far are all well before my time. I know that Boro will never be a Premier League side in my lifetime, but it will happen again in the future. Trust me, and think of the song ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ or at least ‘I believe in miracles’. Take care everyone.
I think that we’re all agreed that it’s a fairly depressing situation and I think that maybe, even if just for our own sanity, it’s worth spending a bit of time trying to be optimistic or at least forward thinking.
We need to set up against Huddersfield to attack and to me that means playing a 4-1-3-2 which actually frees up more players to get forward. With Fry unavailable that probably means Hall and McNair with Howson covering in front of them. We could also try Hall and Dijksteel with McNair playing as the one. This would free up Howson and could be a good option. The full backs Bola and Dijksteel/Fisher should be told to get forward with the opposite side full-back covering back when necessary.
Playing this formation means that we have to choose one other from our regular midfield trio. If McNair plays in front of the back 2 then I’d pick Howson. If Howson plays there, I’d probably stick with Saville just because he seems more likely to score.
That then leaves four attacking slots. In the absence of Bolasie, I’d play Johnson and Kebano wide and Watmore and Fletcher or NML up front. I actually thought that NML was one of the few positive points on Saturday. He looks like the type of player that we always struggle against. I just feel that he can create something for the players around him. He might only last 60 minutes or even just 45 but we can then bring on Fletcher. Britt and Akpom should only be playing as subs to throw in the last fifteen minutes if we want bodies up front.
This side should be able to attack.
utb
I will Ken, thank you.
But first I have a lot of catching up to do to finish reading your composers pieces.
Time has been a premium for me lately and I have struggled to be able to keep up with the main threads in here, let alone the other bits. But, like the Boro, I know that is only a cyclical thing and sooner if not later I will catch up, just as sooner if not later Boro will return to their historical average slot in the lower reaches of the top division, regardless of which of us is left standing to witness it !!
Keep safe, keep writing and above all else, keep optimistic, which in itself can be an immense tonic.
Might I respectfully suggest that folk dig in to my history of Boro strikers. I write it mainly for something to keep me awake but nevertheless I’ve researched some other things about Boro strikers that I’ve just come across even well before the Camsell era when Boro were a First Division side. It’s been cathartic so far as it’s relieved me of the current depression of the current non-strikers. Whether it’ll help folk younger than me I don’t know, but nostalgia is the best tonic for me at my age even if all the strikers I’ve written about so far are all well before my time. I know that Boro will never be a Premier League side in my lifetime, but it will happen again in the future. Trust me, and think of the song ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ or at least ‘I believe in miracles’. Take care everyone.
Ken, Thanks for the gems of Boro history.
I think they might be difficult to find. For Powmillnaemore and other, they can be found under the tread 'Reasons to dislike 2020' or below:
https://diasboro.club/forum/general-discussion/reasons-to-dislike-2020/#post-6061
I hope this helps. Up the Boro!
We all dreaded the Manager of the month award, and we all know February is usually a disastrous month for us - anecdotal history and bitter experience.
A year ago I brought my 10 y o son to the Luton game as a birthday present. Travelled 7,000 miles in all only to be reminded how shitty the weather is and how poor the Boro can be.
It may be worth our statistician Ken, putting some facts on these legendary phenomena as I only feel that tonight the slide will continue.
UTB
A lightweight article in The Gazette about the mood amongst the Boro players in the dressing room and the lack of leaders. So why, oh why, haven't we got a leader as captain? I'm slightly baffled by the choice of Britt, I remember Mr Warnock saying on one occasion Britt sometimes needs an arm around him to help his confidence.
UTB,
John
PS No doubt he'll score a hat-trick tonight.
I think NW mentioned that the following evening after the last match he had the first eleven in his mind. And that Ronnie and Blake agreed him on Sunday.
So that in mind I expect to see three to four changes from the start. I hope Hall (foot - right) and McNair at centre back, Fisher and Bola the other four. I do not know about the keeper but expect Bettinelli to continue 🤐.
For the rest of the team I have no clue. Howson delinately, also Kebano and possibly Johnson on the right. He and Bola have played well on the left.
I can see Saville stll being there and hope Watmore will do the trick along Fletcher up front, perhaps? But I trust there is a surprice or two in tonight's line-up. Folarin, anyone?
Difficult to see where the goals are coming from but I hope we will win. It is long due. I will go for a scrappy 1-0 win (Watmore). And a big virtual relief from the fans. As RR pointed, about six teams can get past us on the league table next. And Luton can equall us on points if we are unlucky.
Fight and win. Up the Boro!
The only logic in making Britt the Club Captain was to try and dupe any potential suitors that we really rated and wanted him in order to try an get as much as we could for him in the Summer. It didn't work, clearly everyone else saw what we see and weren't tempted.
A bit like sticking a Merc badge on a Trabbie and hope nobody notices.
Not sure if this the best thread for this, but here it is anyway, in appreciation of the ongoing abundance of contributions from you .....
Thank you Ken
-----------------
I’d like to write something for Ken
Who posts here and not now and then
Of historical fact
There’s no need to redact
We can reference again and again
He used to write often in verse
Imitated, for better or worse
But more recent in prose
About those who compose
Well who did, but in previous years
He shares with us stories of life
Both his own, but sometimes of his wife
Of their travels abroad
All those memories to hoard
That are cherished, recalled in delight
Despite that he struggles with health
Ken refuses to sit on the shelf
He writes things we like
Of when players could strike
Scoring goals despite lacking in wealth
So I’d just like to say thank you Ken
For sharing your best with your pen
You’re a role for us all
Never mind the football
Simply how we can be better men
Difficult to forecast tonight’s result.
Local paper is all doom and gloom with talk of relegation.
Town are without three central defenders and their two best forwards - all injured.
Hope Boro test the goalkeeper who is young and very inexperienced and has made a few mistakes recently.
The player to watch is Bacuna - can play anywhere and has real talent but is one of the most inconsistent players I’ve seen - he can be excellent first half and rubbish the second half.
So, the score ? I think a draw but hope ........ you know what.
Philip of Huddersfield
Perfectly o.k. Post until 'Britt could be brought on late if we needed bodies in the box' if we are desperate at the end of the game Britt is not the obvious answer. Just to repeat my point in an earlier post. We are most definitely not safe from going down with a 12 point gap. With the frantic speed of events unwinding seven days can and will see a devastating change in our proud perch just under the top six, then we will be level with five clubs peering down at the three unfortunates clawing madly at our legs. Just a thought, but should we be playing and using the same tactics at home as we have used all season? It is possible that they are completely wrong, if the evidence of very poor teams coming here and winning easily (largely with giant hoofs upfield, leading to panic in our defence and lots of goals from unlikely players, followed by exhibitions of dribbling by us as we paid the wages of someone else's useless player.
Worried from teeside
For too many years now we have been a non-footballing club.
From Karanka onwards our MO has not so much to develop a team of talented and creative players who can entertain and enthral the crowds, but to do the exact opposite.
I remember the first interview given by Martin de Roon just after we had signed him. He was honest enough to say that he didn't regard himself as being much of a player. His strength, he thought, lay more in his ability to stop good players from playing. I commented here at the time that for £9 million it would have been rather nice to have recruited a player who was capable of playing a bit himself.
I don't need to go into detail on the extent to which defensive, pragmatic football has been hard-wired into the club over the years. We are all familiar with that particular history, and for all of his admirable qualities, Neil Warnock is essentially cut from the same mould.
Like everyone else, I think he has improved the team beyond all reasonable expectations. I like his man management and communication skills, and I appreciate his emphasis upon the players enjoying their games, expressing themselves and maximising whatever abilities they may have. His recent signings have also increased the creativity quotient of the team in general.
Warnock remains an arch-pragmatist, however. His main approach to games this season has been to man-mark the opposition, that is to stop them from playing. As a result we have done rather well against the better teams in the Championship. We have largely, through excellent coaching and team discipline, neutralised the talents of Norwich, Swansea, Watford and (until recently) Brentford. But we have come unstuck against poorer sides when the onus has been on us to take the game to our opponents. Man marking the likes of Rotherham and Derby rather than being pro-active and on the front foot from the start has exposed how threadbare our attacking talents and strategies really are.
Which brings us to Huddersfield. Cam we reverse this season's trend and at least attempt to play attractive, creative football against a team ravaged by injuries and in a lamentable run of form? If we cannot then what really is the point of this team, and frankly this manager?
Warnock is calling for a more positive approach tonight, and he is attempting to inject more creativity, energy and charisma into his attack. We all hope that the team can respond. But it will be difficult, not least because it is an attempt to reverse what has been engrained into the side from the beginning of this campaign, and for many seasons before that.
This is a straightforward accusation of cynycism, even I dared not post that ( although I thought it) I still think of the chapter in his memoirs where he discusses the time he saw off Bamford (who will be a full international by then) it must be to your credit being able to discuss great players who have developed bench fever as you have collected your sseeven? Goals a season (although to be fair, it would have been more, if goalkeepers had not persistently saved his penners, well, those that he did it send down Linny road)
Great post, but my Brownie points go to the Manager for his brutal ridiculing of our business dealings in the transfer market. He is Quite open about players fees and wages that he came into, and he has dived into the bargain basement for a slack handful of handy players. There will be no more Britts in the near future, thank god. I think we must find some other way to tackle our home matches, because they have all panned out in the same sad fashion, with broken teams dancing with joy at the final whistle.