I have to say well done to NW for tonight, as ofb says the players he picked certainly played out of their skin for him. Obviously words have beeen said behind the scenes and I guess and not in front of the media, he stuck two fingers up to the hierarchy.
That was more like it. For all the talk of not "playing the foreign lads" he simply picked McNair in midfield instead of Lea Siliki or Payero and you can't argue that either of them had earned a place. Hernandez was injured and Sporar got picked. There was a real sense of going back to the basics. Jones was unlucky but Watmore repaid the faith.
In the first half, Bola was my man of the match. We played high quality, high pressing, attacking football, mixing up short and long passes to great effect.
In the second half some bad habits crept back in with too many long diagonals. They may look spectacular but they really are a hospital pass because by the time the ball gets there and they get it under control the defence is on them. Man of the match in the second half was Bamba. Bola and Watmore looked shattered after 60 minutes.
Lumley is starting to win me over. He is quite an aggressive keeper who tries to dominate. I think perhaps people forget that he had hardly played in 12 months and it does take time to get up to speed.
Sporar reminds me of Stuani; he does a job and works hard right across the front line.
So where now? Win against Hull and suddenly things look very different. Lose or draw against Hull and you realise that Warnock can't get the team to play consistently. For now though it's good just to be able to enjoy a decent performance from a hard working group of players.
It was actually a little dislocating watching the match because it reminded me of a lot of Boro match’s when we played quite well but lost to a team also playing well but with the advantage of being able to score. We could have been the team in black but for once we weren’t and it was a nice surprise. I haven’t bothered reading the Sheffield fans but I’m sure that they feel unlucky to have been hit by two great goals.
I supposed the word that I would use to describe that performance is competent. Everybody did their job really well and produced a touch of quality when needed. Bamba was very impressive and Bola again showed the difference that a good full back can make. Watmore scored a cracker and McNair looked very comfortable paired with Howson. Sporar is a quality player and will do even better as he learns more about the players round him. Lumley made one excellent save and, as someone said, reminds me of Schwarzer.
Now we have to produce a repeat against Hull and then get into the season proper.
I feel much better after seeing that we are capable of a performance like that. I just hope that we see enough of them
utb
I think Howson was great. But there were many others who performed well, too. That was a team effort and I was lucky to see it on TV live with good quality.
There was no panic in the end even United did have more of the possesion. But only half chances.
BTW, where can I see the attendances at the Riverside? I haven't been able to find the numbers at the BBC or MFC web page during this season.
How many were there yesterday?
Happy days. A well needed and deserved points. Up the Boro!
Here's my thoughts on the match
Pro.
We won
A clean sheet
Samba - saved us a couple of times and lost of talking and encouragement
Con.
Midfield
Defending on right hand side
I thought Tav for long periods was off the pace or looked uninterested
In conclusion am I confident that we can go to Hull and get a result, no but I suppose that is the championship, do i still want NW replacing yes
Jarkko, if you go into the BBC match page and scroll to the bottom of the article, but you have to click on line ups first. 19390
As I watched this morning I was just waiting for the inevitable that united would eventually score as they always seemed to have the ball and were always able to find a man on the move whilst we were often static and waiting for the ball to come to them. Looking at the stats they made over 500 passes ( 80% success) against our 278 with 63% accuracy. Paulin Boro agree about Tav, not sure if he is 100% fit as near the end of first have he was blowing really hard. I am still undecided about Crooks he often looks a bit like a central defender trying to be a midfield player.
If there was 19k there tonight I'm a monkies uncle, now where did I put my bananas
You beat me to it, every word about Bamba, my opinion exactly. I watched him bossing the defence, telling players when to stay back, when to clear the ball, and above all, not moving himself, just acting as the chairman of the board. Superb, and when action was needed (urgently) he provided it. He was the reason we won, and they will be there at the end of the season. If he can do this, then I think players like Fry will show their true worth in a settled formation. We now have a serious chance against Hull.
Just thinking about the team NW picked and his comments about team spirit. The players certainly all played for each other and the manager all of them showing determination to close down quickly and track back none more so than Watmore. He of course owes his career to Warnock and the same can be said of Bamba who have both been given a second chance.
Managers always have their favourites and perhaps in the overall strategy of fostering team spirit some players may have to go to prevent disharmony. Could that be the reason Morsy and Spence moved on?
The new players signed for the club including loanees have not had the chance to build any relationship with the manager or to form any allegiance to the club and can simply be classed as mercenaries getting paid to do a job.
I’m pleased we won last night, very pleased in the manner we went about it and perhaps, just perhaps it was the kick up the pants that everyone (including Warnock) needed to get back on track.
I like all Diasborians await the next chapter of our season on Saturday.
OFB
Brilliant win, much deserved and much needed. I must say I was one of the growing band of fans thinking Warnock’s time was up. Credit to him for last night. He’s earned the right to stay on a while longer. The acid test now, of course, is how we build on that, produce some long-lost consistency and move decisively up the table.
Jarkko
Boro’s home attendances this season (from last night’s programme):-
Bristol City 22004 (450 away fans)
QPR 22436 (420)
Blackburn 20542 (818)
Bkackpool 21022 (1131)
Sheffield United (BBC) 19390
Or Blackpool, even!! Why doesn’t predictive text correct my obvious mistakes? Booo!
Well eventually I managed to watch ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, got the shopping done before it started to rain, and then did the ironing although I had to have a rest before, during and after as everything seems so heavy for me including erecting the ironing board as I’ve become so weak and fragile now. Anyway after having my evening meal I had a long siesta before watching the match at 9.30pm. I didn’t know the score as in real time it would probably be nearing the finish, but I rarely watch anything live and having recorded it, was able to finish watching it before going to bed just after midnight.
I was pleasantly surprised at Boro’s performance even though the Blades had much more of the play. They only scored 20 goals last season as opposed to 39 in the previous season, and didn’t start this season well either being an attractive side to watch with plenty of pace but no punch. Billy Sharp is now 35 years old, a little younger than Micky Fenton was when he was still knocking them in for Boro in the First Division in the 50s after the War and still full of tricks, but if United are going to be reliant on him for goals I can’t see them being anywhere near playoff contenders this season.
So what about Boro? Well they were certainly worthy of their win last night in what was their best performance of the season. I had Sol Bamba my man of the match but doubt he’ll be able to play the full 90 minutes on Saturday. Nevertheless on last night’s performance I’d put him ahead of Grant Hall, and though disappointed with Dael Fry’s performances this season he certainly benefited from Bamba’s presence last night. Two excellent goals from Watmore and McNair certainly showed a shot-shy United how to find the net.
And so to the Yorkshire Coast derby, although at 87 miles apart it can hardly be called a ‘local derby’, though probably as near to one for Boro this season. Boro have only won 5 times on Humberside in 27 encounters, the last one being 4 years ago. The first time I saw Boro play against Hull was in February 1955 when over 32,000 spectators were present at Ayresome Park to see the return of Wilf Mannion wearing the yellow shirt of Hull, and against the odds the Humbersiders won 2-1. One would normally expect Boro to win their next two matches against Hull and at home to Peterborough but these two promoted clubs were the top scorers in Division One last season with 80 and 83 goals respectively, and Hull only conceded 38. A different story this season of course, but is it too early yet to see Boro’s resurgence up the league? I’m still a little bit doubtful about that.
@Jarkko & Clive
Yes Clive is correct about Boro’s attendances this season, an average of 21,079. However Boro’s average attendances as a Second tier club have never been high. When Boro recorded their biggest win 10-3 against last night’s opponents in 1933 only 6,461 attended the match. The highest average attendance at Ayresome Park whilst Boro were a Second Division club was 25,550 for the 1959/60 season and that was boosted by 47,297 for the match against Sunderland. Even in Jack Charlton’s promotion season the average attendance only reached 22,498 and that was also boosted by a gate of 37,030 for the visit of Sunderland. The promotion season under Aitor Karanka only a averaged 24,627 although a crowd of 33,806 attended the famous final match of the season against Brighton.
Nevertheless only 5 clubs outside the Premier League have surpassed Boro’s average attendance so far this season, and two of those are in Division One:-
Sunderland 28,313, Sheffield United 28,086, surprisingly Nottingham Forest 24,685, West Brom 22,693 and Sheffield Wednesday 22,615. In the old days before digital television the BBC Ceefax pages used to summarise the football scores with the attendance of each match against each result on nine separate pages for the 4 English Leagues, the Conference League and the 4 Scottish Leagues making it far easier to compare attendances. Nowadays sometimes attendances are not even available on the BBC or Sky websites, or even on Match of the Day.
Nowadays sometimes attendances are not even available on the BBC or Sky websites, or even on Match of the Day.
Yes, Ken. My Sunday paper always used to give details of attendances at all Prem and EFL attendances. Now, this is increasingly random. At the weekend, it gave some attendances from leagues 1 and 2, and a few from the Championship. This is not only annoying, it’s also very puzzling. Does anyone know why this is? Are clubs simply not making their figures public any more?
I didn't see that performance and result coming. The whole team fought hard throughout the match and made sure that Sheffield United's domination of possession didn't lead to the goals we would previously have conceded. Our goals were well made and scored especially Watmore's terrific control and strike. The next 3 games are against Hull, Peterborough and Barnsley, 23rd, 22nd and 21st. Can we avoid typical Boro and take the chance to move up the table?
A good win makes my travelling feel worthwhile and the long journey home doesn't drag.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/highlights-u17s-rout-leeds-united-in-pl-cup-win
Only one small indication I know but it's good to see the youngsters thrashing a team from a PL academy.
They made the final of this competition last year and that kind of success says a lot about the foundations that the club is building.
UTB
Nowadays sometimes attendances are not even available on the BBC or Sky websites, or even on Match of the Day.
Yes, Ken. My Sunday paper always used to give details of attendances at all Prem and EFL attendances. Now, this is increasingly random. At the weekend, it gave some attendances from leagues 1 and 2, and a few from the Championship. This is not only annoying, it’s also very puzzling. Does anyone know why this is? Are clubs simply not making their figures public any more?
Exactly the reason for my original question. Even the BBC website does not give the numbers for every match. I checked three matches yesterday, only once the attendance was given there. And Boro give results but not attendances on their web site.
As you said, it was the norm in the good old days. Up the Boro!
Off piste, but I found a story about the up-coming Rally Finland on a website: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-news-wrc/finnish-rally-legends-why-wrc-finland-always-excites
I remember the time when the RAC Rally was driven around Boro in the 1980's. At least some stages were run locally there. I think my pen pal showed me a stage place while visiting somewhre near Great Ayton and Ingleby Greenhow.
Can anyone remember the names of the stages down there? I have forgotten the names but I knew them at the time before the rally woved more towards Wales, I think. Ken?
Up the Boro!
@jarkko: Approx 19,300.
@forever-dormoforever-dormo
Yes, Clive gave the info, too.
Generally, why are these not published so commonly as 10 or 20 years ago? Less info in internet compared to printing material back then ...
I hope you enjoyed the United match. I did. UTB!
Well ... hello again!
I enjoyed the Boro v Sheffield United match and this evening I have enjoyed reading the posts sent in after the game. I seem to agree with most of the things said so far.
I had gone to the game with a mate (who picked me up, drove me there and back, and went into the Ploated Pheasant with me for the usual post-match de-brief). The weather had taken a nasty wetter turn, and I feared a soaking on the long walk to the stadium and another soaking on the way back (as well as a stuffing during the game itself). How pleasantly surprised we were that there was no rain on the walk in, or the walk back, and the display itself was unexpectedly good.
I think most of the team played well. The two goals were well made and well taken. There seemed to be enthusiasm for the cause (I know that should be a "given", but often it seems not to be). Bamba was very solid and there were blocks coming in from all angles. Whatmore seemed a real footballer, Bola showed good control of the ball (his bringing long passes under control looked good), the keeper played very well and made some good (one VERY good) saves. Really, the only stat which counts is 2-0. Possession is all well and good but doesn't win points if you don't take advantage of the opportunities you make during the game. On this occasion Boro DID take those chances. One thing I would say is that Sheffield United seemed a decent team and they were passing the ball well. So, all in all, a good win.
One swallow does not a summer make etc... and much will now depend on whether the team can build on those 3 points which were desperately needed. It would be "typical" for Boro to lose against Hull but if the team plays as it did against the Blades, that should be enough. And then the doom and gloom will seem just a little lifted. We will see ...
(When I mention the long walk to and from the stadium, I park in the Snowdon Road/Forty Foot Road direction from the ground - hopefully not QUITE that far away, but recent roadworks and diversions make for a longer walk that previously. The ground has been there 26+ years now. It still seems like walking though how I imagine Homs or Damascus now to look. I wonder if we'll ever see that part of old Middlesbrough regenerated in my lifetime. Empires have risen and fallen throughout history in a shorter time-frame).
It's good to be back. Even better to have witnessed a good performance. Mrs Dormo was able to rescue the sharp knives and other implements which, of late, she has become accustomed to hiding before I get back home after a Boro game.
Nice to hear from you again Dormo and glad you're enjoying your long-awaited return to the Riverside. As for regenerating Middlesbrough - hopefully we won't need an archaeologist to unearth our lost path to the Premier League...
Jarkko, Clive & Ken re match day attendances, if you go to the club website and click on Menu, followed by Matches, followed by Fixtures and Results you will see under each month the matches played/to be played.
If you go for example to September, you will see the result against Coventry and a tab to call up the match report which includes at the bottom of the report the crowd figure.
A quick look seems to indicate that the Boro are reporting their home figures but figures are not always reported when we play away eg Reading albeit Coventry have reported theirs including the Boro away support.😎
Just another quick point on attendance figures for Jarkko or others interested - worldfootball.net publishes a page with all the attendances at the Riverside for each calendar year. Here's the link for this year...
https://www.worldfootball.net/venues/riverside-middlesbrough/2021/2/
You can also see attendances each year going back to 1995
Here's 2019 for example...
https://www.worldfootball.net/venues/riverside-middlesbrough/2019/2/
And 1999...
https://www.worldfootball.net/venues/riverside-middlesbrough/1999/2/