In an attempt to wipe away the travesty of Blackburn perhaps its good to focus on the future.
After several embarrassing slip ups of late Boro’s next Banana skin comes along in the shape of Rotherham on Wednesday evening at 7.00 pm. At the time of writing Marcus Tavernier is still struggling to uncross his legs after an excruciating slip of his own on a frosty Riverside pitch and unlikely to play a part, unless its soprano!
Dael Fry is also unlikely to feature after his features were rearranged by a set of Studs raked down his face perhaps bringing true meaning to the brand name Predator. Sometimes adversity is what brings out the best in people and with the squad down to the bare bones there will be opportunities to stake a claim for one or two, or at least an opportunity to gesticulate on the pitch that which they had been cogitating over on the bench all season.
Presently ensconced in the final relegation spot, Paul Warne’s Millers will be desperate to grind out any kind of a result against Warnock’s less than warrior like opposition. At the moment NW reminds me of the bloke in that Double Glazing advertisement, you know the one, “you win one, you lose one too, I say you win one, you lose one too”. Let’s hope that it doesn’t become “you win one, you lose 1-2” on Wednesday.
The Millers have taken four points from their last two games after switching to a back three. As euphoric as Warne has been about their new resolute looking rearguard they did ship three goals in their last outing, a three all draw with Stoke.
The man in black will be Michael Salisbury, just in his third year in the job who as far as I can find does not have any previous form against Boro which after Sunday will be a welcome relief. If anything, his “previous” is quite promising with him being a fourth Official in our 2-0 home win against Coventry in October, he also took the lead in our 4-3 League Cup win against Shrewsbury in September, so far, so good.
His previous Riverside outing was that Crewe game in the League Cup where it is fair to say our performance that evening in 2019 was nothing to do with the standard of Officiating. He was however a fourth Official at that infamous home game against Brentford when one nil to the good Tony Pulis decided to bring Britt off and send Friend on which we went onto lose 1-2. The incompetence that afternoon was, like Crewe, entirely down to the genius in the Cap that saved our club (and who sold Bamford, lest I forget).
The upshot of all that research is that he seems to be a Referee who thus far hasn’t ruffled our feathers particularly and when the results haven’t gone our way it’s been down to internal managerial factors. Hopefully, NW will not be continuing that trend. Referee Graham Salisbury is Michael’s father so hopefully he has a better grasp of the rules of the game than the last gentleman. Of particular notice perhaps to Sam Morsy is that in the fourteen games that Michael has been in charge of this season he has issued thirty seven yellow cards and one red.
This is a game that Boro desperately need to win, a draw would allow open wounds to fester so lets hope we go for all three points and see a few sterling performances especially from our shot shy strikers.
Thanks RR.
I’ve been impressed by Neil Warnock and what he’s managed to achieve with a very limited squad both in terms of numbers and genuine quality. The turnaround in Djiksteel, Bola, McNair and more has been remarkable. He has made the game simple in terms of organisation - mark your man! - and we’ve been a far more difficult side to beat as a consequence.
However, if we’re going to make this season a real success, then much more is needed as an attacking side. Increasingly, Warnock’s main tactic/“philosophy” seems to be “we’ll make fewer mistakes than you” and I’m concerned that we’re becoming too risk-adverse when trying to score goals.
As mentioned on the previous thread, we must start to play quicker, one-touch football when going forward. We haven’t got the quality out wide or up front to beat organised defences or packed penalty areas, so we have to start opening teams up with quick passing and movement. Not an easy task but if we don’t then we risk one mistake - be it our own or the ref’s - costing us points as we find ourselves on the wrong side of those fine margins.
We know what we’re doing defensively now. Time to focus on how to hurt the opposition - and I don’t mean the way Dael Fry or Tav got hurt at the weekend!
As mentioned on the previous thread, we must start to play quicker, one-touch football when going forward.
It's the same old conundrum that a procession of former managers have failed to solve and sadly NW is still grappling with it. I suspect that unless he does and we are promoted this year then he will finally retire and no doubt the merry go round will start again.
As for Wednesday, who knows which and what Boro team will turn up. Anything other than a win will just see our chances of top six slipping away as we are failing to make inroads into what is currently a small points gap; we actually need to be out performing teams above us but are currently failing to do so and consequently does not bode well for our chances.😎
I think back to the tail end of last season when NW came in and restructured the squad well enough to save our skins. He had us scrapping and fighting and we wouldn't have dropped that many points against the likes of Blackburn, Birmingham and Wednesday. He needs to dig deep and find that spirit once again to prevent the season petering out.
@redcarred Thanks for the lead.
Yes, I was thinking the same yesterday that we need to look forward to the next game.
Injuries are starting to become a problem now, but apart from Tavernier and Browne they all look short-term. And we do not know the case for Tavernier yet but I hope Fry is back in a few days - but not on Wednesday yet.
I think a "freezing" moment in defense has been a concern in both Birmingham and Blackburn matches. In both cases there were not a single save that Bettinelli needed to do apart from the goal. At least not before the goal vs. Blackburn.
I don't think there is much wrong with the team. We have been winning games and have scored some goals. For the past two months the goals have not been a problem as such. Of course the above two defeats were disappointments but we did create chances.
I was thinking if we lacked stamina in the Blackburn match. Our squad was still recovering from the COVID outbreak just a week ago. Perhaps the games are coming too quick in now. I just wonder.
If previous form is anything to trust on, it is a win tomorrow. We seem to be winning and losing in turns now. A bit more concentration I hope.
Up the Boro!
Redcar Red, Thank you for the leader and the comforting words about the referee. I'm heartened by the fact that its not Dixon of Dock Green again. It looks like the injuries are beginning to bite so it may be that Opportunity Knocks for some of the U23 players who've been on the bench.
I see Mr Warnock is complaining about a slippery pitch, I'm no groundsman but surely something can be done about that?
For tomorrow I'd be happy with an OFB special the way our luck is going but please no Britt, he has become 'Typical Boro' running hot and cold and trotting about without a care in the world. I think the hunger has gone.
Anyway a draw for me and the Millers will not be an easy team to play against.
Stay safe everyone.
UTB,
John
RR
Appreciate your leader on this game thank you.
Im not going to forecast an eyeballs 👀 this time as it’s a must win game to keep our season on track.
Still seething about the Blackburn game it’s a good job we have tomorrow to get it out of our system.
I see NW has had some flak from Blackburn supporters and the Everton Manager about having a go at the young Everton lad but to be honest the lad needed to be told because I actually thought he was quite arrogant about the incident and showed little remorse and was seen to be at the forefront of all the pushing and shoving at corner kicks.
Moving on I think we’ll win 2 0 tomorrow how about that then?
Tavernier is probably out for a few weeks. No new signings on the horizon as the Premier clubs have decided to hang onto their players. It could mean then that we have to hang on to Roberts who should start the game and hopefully show what he can do.
Lets hope everyone doesn’t go wandering off and losing concentration surprised that it was Howson who was at fault for the goal on Saturday after having such an important MOM performance the game before. I wonder if NW had anything to say to his best ever midfield player???
OFB
I agree and he didn't seem to show that much remorse immediately after the event either. Karma comes around.
UTB,
John
What has happened at the Sports Gazette? We lost the brilliant Anthony Vickers ( anyone know why Vic left) and now it seems Philip Tarrantire has thrown his lot in?
Certainly the reporting from the paper since AV left has gone down hill dramatically.
In fact it is hardly worth reading anymore with the Northern Echo and Hartlepool Mail now taking the lead. Not forgetting of course, News Now, MFC.
@malcolm. Phillip Tallentire left on the same day as AV which was back in August of last year. Not exactly sure why. May have been internal differences or a restructure leading to redundancy.
The journalism since certainly seems to be of the more gentler and don't rock the boat variety. 😎
@original-fat-bob. I don't think Howson was solely responsible but clearly a part of the failure to stop the goal being scored.
It seemed to emanate from Spence tracking across field with the ball, failing to pass it when he had the opportunity and then losing it to the opposition leaving him hopelessly out of position.
Bola tracked back with the Blackburn player who had the ball to the edge of our box but failed to make a tackle or cut out a cross. Howson and Spence had both raced back to the edge of the box but were both ball watching and made no effort to get close to the Blackburn players and put in a tackle or block.
All in all a sorry state of affairs and defensive culpability from a number of players.
I trust that NW has, as part of the "what can we do better" review, shown them the video and made it plain that something similar should never happen again.😎
@k-p-in-spain Thanks KP I didn't know he had left! Ha Ha. I was on holiday then in Turkey, anyway that is my excuse!
Good post, it's strange the thoughts that go through your mind when you witness a piece of brutality such as that we saw on Sunday. As his club fully support him, and the fellow with the whistle (note I do not call him a referee) thought it was a bit of bad luck. We must assume that this player has been getting away with this behaviour for a while, if we report this incident to the league and the referees association we might relieve the game of this behaviour sooner rather than later.
@original-fat-bob. I don't think Howson was solely responsible but clearly a part of the failure to stop the goal being scored.
It seemed to emanate from Spence tracking across field with the ball, failing to pass it when he had the opportunity and then losing it to the opposition leaving him hopelessly out of position.
Bola tracked back with the Blackburn player who had the ball to the edge of our box but failed to make a tackle or cut out a cross. Howson and Spence had both raced back to the edge of the box but were both ball watching and made no effort to get close to the Blackburn players and put in a tackle or block.
All in all a sorry state of affairs and defensive culpability from a number of players.
I trust that NW has, as part of the "what can we do better" review, shown them the video and made it plain that something similar should never happen again.😎
It was Spence who lost the ball recklessly by trying to beat three players with Boro Players on the edge of the Blackburn box waiting for a cross.
A ball out of the Rovers defence as a result of Spence losing it caught us overloaded upfield. Spence then didn't get back into the RB spot. In fact his body language was less than languid on the way back, it reminded me of a ten year old girl who had lost her puppy. If you get the chance to watch it in full from when he lost the ball the ball, in fact go a bit further back because his positioning on receiving the ball (from Saville?) in the first place was all wrong.
After losing it, Tav didn't get back quickly enough and Woods had been dragged over to our left hand side after Britt was trying to wrestle Nyambe (I think) to the ground leaving Howson isolated as the Defensive Midfielder, Right sided CB and RB and consequently caught in several minds and succeeding at none of them.
Howson was poor in switching off but Spence was a liability and Britt, Woods, Paddy and Tav didn't cover themselves in any glory either. It brought into focus the earlier Warnock comment about Spence playing Premiership football or non league in a few years time being up to him. I seem to recall Woodgate also had concerns about him.
The lad needs to liven up his brain and quickly. Doing stepovers and failing to beat players as well as floating balls in too close to the Keeper and abdicating his defensive duties will see him at Boreham Wood if he lucky rather than Barcelona.
cost cutting and redundancy was the reason the EG made the changes
I agree Spence always seems to be on a world of his own and not really bothered hopefully Dijksteel will be fit tomorrow
I agree Spence always seems to be on a world of his own and not really bothered hopefully Dijksteel will be fit tomorrow
I'm hoping that Dijksteel just had a case of the trots rather than anything too serious. The explanation for his absence wasn't specific which gives me hope that it was just a minor ailment rather than a serious muscular tear or a damaged ligament.
He hasn't looked fully fit since his return and I suspect he is bravely carrying a niggle of some sort so it may have just been tactical to rest him against Blackburn and Rotherham to ensure his fitness for Norwich. Either way it went badly wrong for us on Sunday so I'd rather have him back tomorrow night as I think three points are more likely against Rotherham than Norwich, there again there is always "Typical Boro" to factor in!
cost cutting and redundancy was the reason the EG made the changes
I think the Gazette had a "Golden Thread" moment of their own, although I have no idea where they could have possibly got that idea from. Still what could possibly go wrong with it?
@original-fat-bob. Yes, having been a breath of fresh air when he first came into the side under Woodgate when he ran quickly and left defenders standing he has failed to progress in my view.
I have never been convinced of him as a defender, as he often seems to switch off or get caught out of position. Offensively he seems to spend too much time doing step overs but failing to do the basics like beating his man and producing quality crosses.
You just wonder if the application is not there and he has listened too much to the hype about PL club's being interested. Pity because early on he looked as if he was the type of player who could be developed and eventually moved on for big money but I now have my doubts as he currently cannot pin down a first team slot.
I appreciate he is still young but if you are good enough you are old enough.😎
cost cutting and redundancy was the reason the EG made the changes
Cost cutting, sure. But they also hired a new chap on the same day (Craig Johns). So there must be something else, too. I do not know but perhaps someone resigned to support the other?
A loss anyway for The Gazette, me thinks. Up the Boro!
I notice that Chelsea's new manager, arriving at tea time the evening before the match, had the players doing drills and moves till late, moved them all into a hotel overnight, and was reported to have concentrated on speed, both of passing and action. I wonder what the result will be tonight? I believe our problems are caused by failing to do things swiftly. I makes sense to me that a moderate team will more easily handle opposition who do things slowly. In the same way, a shot delivered instantly will have far more chance of beating the keeper than one after running twenty yards.
@plato I watched the highlights of the Southampton v Arsenal game last night. It was just like watching Boro only in fast forward speed.
The difference in slick interpassing, movement off the ball and reading the intentions of colleagues was wasn't on a different planet in was in a completely different universe.
They didn’t hire a new journo Jarkko (that sounds good!) They moved him from a sister paper based in Sunderland which is also part of Mirror Group Newspapers and is paid a lot less than the outgoing journalists Phil and AV.
All down to money and cutting costs
OFB
They didn’t hire a new journo Jarkko (that sounds good!) They moved him from a sister paper based in Sunderland which is also part of Mirror Group Newspapers and is paid a lot less than the outgoing journalists Phil and AV.
All down to money and cutting costs
OFB
Do they still play Football in Sunderland? 😉
@redcarred. Be careful RR we could be playing them sooner rather than later! 😎
@redcarred Just as well you didn’t switch over and watch Man City. Frightening.
Difficult to know who’s available tonight. I was hoping that Fry’s facial laceration could be patched up or a mask worn and he could play but perhaps not.
If we assume the worst that Fry, Djiksteel and Tav are all out and that Fletcher isn’t yet ready to start, I think I would go with the following in a 4-2-3-1:
Bettinelli
Spence Wood McNair Bola
Hoswon Morsy
Watmore Roberts Johnson
Akpom
You could play the same XI in a 3-5-2 with Bola playing left-centre back.
However, we usually match up the opposition, presumably to help with the man marking system and it looks like Rotherham prefer 4-3-3 so I expect it will be straight swaps of Wood for Fry and Johnson for Tav.
@andy-r. I agree Andy. The EG have been speculating on various changes to the backline to accommodate the loss of Fry and Dijksteel but we need to keep changes to a minimum.
Wood is a natural replacement for Fry if somewhat inexperienced but you only gain experience by playing. Spence didn't cover himself in glory on Saturday but too many changes at the back is a recipe for disaster so he reluctantly gets the nod if Dijksteel is not fit; I could be wrong but have a sneaky feeling that both Fry and Dijksteel will play tonight and hope that they do.
I think Wing may replace Tav but would prefer giving Roberts a go, as you suggest, in the No 10 role.
CoB we desperately need a win and a clean sheet. 😎
@redcarred. Be careful RR we could be playing them sooner rather than later! 😎
We are safe soon. Or do you think they will be promoted? Surely not!
I will go for a 3-1 win tonight. An Assombalonga brace and one from McNair. Attendance 1 (Steve Gibson).
Up the Boro!
The amazing thing about all these teams being put forward is the complete absence of Wing. Dead ball expert, good at actually putting the ball in the net, can and does shoot from distance, moves the ball in the air (it is true that it is called an 'own goal' but it wins us the match so perhaps it's not cheating) and of course he passes into space at speed, with the clear intention of attacking the goal. I thought Roberts was returning to his club? Too much dribbling and light weight for me. I hope that they will win tonight.