Shame we didn't hang on to Patrick Roberts. Playing terrific for Sunderland under Tony Mowbray.
Thanks for the opener Andy. Watford certainly look more of a problem to our attempt to recover from a defeat than Wigan did after the Burnley defeat. I won't be at the match but will be following it while drinking Malbec. (Hopefully not a whole bottle.) As others have said a draw looks like it would be good result for us though it would be great if we could restart a winning run. It is so tight in the fight for a playoff place that another defeat would open up chances for several teams to pass us and I want MC's successful start to continue (till the end of the season).
Even though we didn't play well against Sunderland I expect MC will stick with his usual policy of only making unavoidable changes to the starting line up. Archer has been praised so much but I still can't see how he would fit in unless he replaced Forss.
I decided that waiting from the Millwall match until 18 Feb (QPR) is too long a gap so I will be at the Riverside on 4 Feb (Blackpool), assuming I can get trains over in time the day after the rail strike. I may however be too optimistic about getting to Carlisle early morning on either an Avanti or a Transpennine train as they are pretty useless even on a normal day but I will only find out on that morning.
I’ve always made a study of final league tables of all 4 divisions of the English Football League and although this season in the Championship has been the tightest ever especially where the playoff positions are concerned, the 1927/28 First Division went down as the strongest ever with the final 17 places being decided by a mere 7 points. Interest on Teesside was centred on the Boro as a tilt at the title might have been on the cards following promotion from the Second Division in the previous season which resulted in George Camsell scoring 59 goals as Boro accrued a total of 122 goals from 42 matches.
Boro started the season fairly well and with only 10 matches remaining were in 11th position, too far behind the leaders to make any significant impact on the title race. Nevertheless Boro finished bottom after having never been in the bottom two relegation spots all season, yet won only one more match after the 6-1 trouncing of Bury in early March and Camsell completely lost form scoring only one more goal to register 38 for the season from his 40 appearances. What’s more George lost his England place to Dixie Dean who scored a hat trick in the last match of the season as Everton became Champions and Dixie scored 60 goals of the toffee’s 102 goals in the season. This is how that 1927/28 League Table finished :-
——————————P.—W.—D—L—F—-A—-Pts.
1. EVERTON———- 42-20-13- 9-102—66–53
2. HUDDSFIELD——42-22—7-13—91–68- 51
3. LEICESTER———42-18-12-12 - 96-72—48
4. DERBY—————42- 17-12 13- 96-83 -44
5. BURY——————42-20- 4—18—80- 80–44
6.CARDIFF————-42 17 10– 15—70—80-44.
7.BOLTON ——— —42 16–11-15- -81–66- 43.
8.ASTON VILLA. —-42-17—9–16. 78—73 43
9.NEWCASTLE ——-42-15 13–14—79—81-43
10 ARSENAL————42-13-15–14–81–86_41
11BIRMINGHAM ——42-13 15-14- 70-75–41
12BLACKBURN———-42-16–9–17–66-78–41
13SHEFFIELD UTD—42 15–10–17 -79-86-40
14 THE WEDNESDAY 42 13-13-16–81 78- 39
15 SUNDERLAND——42-13–13-16- 74-76-39
16 LIVERPOOL———-42-13-13 16—84–87-39
17 WEST HAM 42-14–11-17–81–88-39
18 MAN UNITED——-42-16—7–19–72- 80-39
19 BURNLEY————-42–16–7—19–82- 98-39
20 PORTSMOUTH——42 16 -7—19-66—90 39
21 TOTTENHAM———42 15 8—19-74- 86-38
22 MIDDLESBROUGH 42 11-15 16-81–88 -37
Maybe expectations were too high, as once one possesses a 30 goal a season striker, one might expect to have a good season, but it didn’t transpire when Brian Clough played some 40 plus years later. 0ne must have a good defence as well, and despite Dixie Dean scoring 60 goals in the 1927/28 season Everton were the only club to concede on average less than a goal a match over the season. Without Dean’s contribution Everton would have been one of the lowest scoring teams of the season, but Dean was a colossus of a man standing at about 6 feet four and most of his goals were headers, which proved invaluable for his team in both defence and attack. There were certainly plenty of goals in the 1927/28 season (over 3,500 in the First Division alone at an average of 7.6 each match). Boro and Camsell soon hit back to win the Second Division title a year later as they and Grimsby were duly promoted. Boro then stayed in the First Division for their longest spell ever, some quarter of a century.
What pleased me about that period was that the North and the Midlands once again took control of the English League once more. Apart from Cardiff and Portsmouth, and a couple of insequential London clubs from Woolwich and West Ham England seemed well served, however Herr Hitler had something to say about that.
Today's starting XI - including both Archer AND Forss, Crooks making way:
MC defends Steffen.
Don't agree at all. Our goalkeeper is a liability and surely the players in front of him must be nervy every time he has the ball.
Must be something in the contract that he has to play every game. I would tear it up.
We haven't had a decent goalkeeper for a long time now.
So, Archer in from the start. Let's hope the team perform better than last week and give him the support he needs to perform well.
Just seen the team news. I may be in a minority but I would have liked to see Crooks start the game for one main reason- he’s likely to get you a goal.
I think he’s scored more goals than half the team put together ( obviously excluding Akpom)
No doubt he’ll be brought on later in the game.
Got a feeling it will be a scoring draw as Boro usually concede a goal
Philip of Huddersfield
Archer playing upfront centre. Will Carrick's change of role work?
Boro 1 - 0. Akpom - about time he scored!
Boro 1 - 0. Akpom - about time he scored!
36th minute, assisted by Archer. 🙂
Tweeted by Vic:
Akpom forces home a header but that all stemmed from the explosive pace and determination of impressive Archer.
Sounds as though young Mr Archer could be a useful addition to the squad. Boro up to third as things stand...
Boro 2 - 0 Forss
In the third minute of injury time, assisted by Howson.
We have been superb. And deserve to be up by 2 goals to nil.
The Finnish Flash with the second. We could even be three nil up with Archer, Chuba and Forss with chances.
I disagree with Malcolm, though. Stefen plays like we want. Not hitting long, useless balls up the field. And he is a good keeper, too.
Wonderful to watch Carrick ball on TV. Up the Boro!
@stircrazy suberb pass from Johnny. And excellent finnish by Forss. His best game so far. Up the Boro!
I thought Wilder said Forss was a development player ????
OFB
Isaiah who? Can’t see him getting back into this side. Time to cash in me thinks. 😎
Vic's assessment of the first half:
HT: 2-0. Boro excellent. Lovely crisp passing, incisive forward movement, lots of bodies into the box plunging Watford into chaos. Well worked & deserved goals. One little wobble. Archer, Forss, Akpom all superb up top,
Forgive the gushing but that was as good a first 45 as I can remember for years. The calm & confident passing, inventive movement & instinctive interplay going forward has been an absolute delight. All front 3 ace but support from McGree, Hackney & Howson great too.
Sounds as though they've put the Sunderland match behind them! 🙂 👍
I’m sorry but I don’t really like Crooks as a player he’s big and clumsy and yes scores goals but he’s not made a role his own.
I think the team looks better without him!
Lights fuse stands back and waits for the explosion !
OFB
Watmore on for Forss in the 72nd minute owing to injury. Bilic hasmade FIVE substitutions for The Hornets! Desperate or what?
25,469 in attendance, according to the Beeb.
Matt Crooks on for Archer in the 84th minute because of an injury. 🙁
Matt Crooks on for Archer in the 84th minute because of an injury. 🙁
From Vic:
Generous applause from all sides of the ground as Archer goes off after a very lively and effective first start. Inventive, quick, physical when needed. Very encouraging.
Sounded like a very good performance from Boro. Perhaps I should have been there rather than next Saturday. Archer playing centre upfront seemed to have added a dangerous mobility to our attack. Good to see Forss scoring again in his new position also.
A comfortable win if there ever was one. Sometimes 2-0 lead can be tricky but not today. We were superb.
A clean sheet and a win over the team third best in the league before the match. And a team with parachute payments and all.
We are now up in third. Well done by all. A dominant team performance. Up the Boro!
Vic's verdict:
FT: 2-0 - but far more convincing than score suggests. A superb first 45 full of slick assertive passing, inventive movement & lots of chances. Second 45 dominant, efficient & professional (although may still have had a few more). More than bounced back. Raised the bar.
BTW, two goals for Aaron Connolly, plus an own goal, give Hull a comfortable win over QPR. Perhaps the penny has dropped for the Irish guy. Up the Boro!
Great Game and performance from all the players.
Even Steffen had only one wobble! Think he has had a pep talk from MC.
Dan Barlaser in the West Stand today. As we know a fee was agreed with Rotherham. Up the Boro!
Gazette Ratings
Zack Steffen - 6
A performance of good and bad from Steffen. He did well to close down Martins who missed Watford's best chance of the first half, and also made too important blocks early in the second half in an example of a keeper getting angles right and making themselves big. But in both halves there were more nervy and unconvincing moments with the ball at his feet.
Tommy Smith - 8
Typically solid defensive performance from the veteran. He's adding more attacking into his game in recent weeks too, getting up and supporting Forss on the right. There was a couple of excellent crosses.
Paddy McNair - 7
Generally a solid performance but there were a couple of moments where he made rash decisions or struggled to contend with the pace when Watford forwards ran at him. Comfortable playing it out of defence and part of a clean sheet against a good side though.
Darragh Lenihan - 8
A solid performance at the back from the Irish international. He read the game well and made some important blocks, interceptions and headers.
Ryan Giles - 7
Worked hard for his side defensively and got forward well too, with some good crosses leading to nearly moments.
Jonny Howson - 7
Set up the second goal with a wonderful pass slipped through for Forss. Up for the battle and positive in possession. Helped Boro win the key midfield battle.
Hayden Hackney - 8
Having been the one who sparked into life after the red card last weekend, Hackney was back to his best from the off here and in way deterred or put off by the physical midfield of the visitors. Always wanting the ball and always driving into positive areas.
Marcus Forss - 8
Another brilliant outing for the Finn. He was a bag of energy and got into dangerous positions throughout and showed such great composure with his goal.
Riley McGree - 8
Fluid and bright throughout. He took up some excellent positions in the hole between midfield and attack and linked things so well. Particularly first-half, Boro's attacking four dominated the game.
Chuba Akpom - 8
Back on the scoresheet with one his more scruffier goals this season! Once again though, his overall use of the ball in the build-up to Boro attacks made him so important again beyond just his goals.
Cameron Archer - 8
A superb first start from the Aston Villa loanee. His effort and positivity deserved a goal really, but his overall contribution helped shape a much better attacking performance from Boro. He terrified the Watford defence with his pace and persistence throughout. Man of the match.