@original-fat-bob Oh no....I hope he stays, still think he can do a job. Not been given a fair chance.
From the Hartlepool Mail.
Boro boss Neil Warnock has taken the stance that Roberts should stay at the Riverside and fight for his place, even if he hasn’t been at the forefront of the manager’s mind.
The Teessiders are still hopeful they can sign another winger before the end of the month, which could make it even harder for Roberts to force his way into Warnock’s plans.
Yet, when he has started a game this season, the Manchester City loanee has been deployed as a No 10 rather than a winger.
Warnock clearly has reservations about playing Roberts on the flank where he has to track an overlapping full-back and provide defensive support. That isn’t his game.
That is a problem for Roberts when Boro don’t always play with a No 10, though, with Sam Morsy, George Saville and Jonny Howson often making up a midfield three.
Yet there have been times when the Teessiders have needed a player who is slightly more offensive, like when Lewis Wing scored twice in an advanced role at Birmingham or when Marcus Browne impressed at Wycombe.
Sometimes Boro need a player who can take the ball in a central position and run at defenders. That is the sort of position Roberts can operate in.
Clearly there is a reason behind the player’s lack of game time, and this season the 23-year-old has been underwhelming when he’s received an opportunity.
Yet we saw last season the playmaker has ability and can provide a creative spark when on song.
With Browne out for the season and Tavernier a doubt for this week’s game against Rotherham, Boro appear short of creative options right now.
@john-richardson The Ref does have another job, I bet you can guess what it is with your first attempt!
Probably not an optician, I guess!
I’m a lot concerned about our injury situation right now. Fry’s probably going to miss a couple of games. Dijksteel may have to miss another. The way Tav limped off suggested he might have done a groin tear, which could mean missing a few games - let’s all hope not, as we’d be lost without him. Marcus Browne is out for the season. No sign of Grant Hall. Ashley Fletcher is back but is likely to need a couple of games to get up to speed. So an already thin squad is stretched to the absolute limit. We have no effective cover at the back if Dael is out, save moving Howson back to centre half, which would seriously weaken the midfield. I really don’t see Coulson and Spence as full-backs.
I know NW is a miracle worker and will usually get the best out of meagre resources, but we obviously can’t afford to lose any more to injury or suspension. Morsy, for instance, appears to be racking up yellow cards with regularity.
@john-richardson The Ref does have another job, I bet you can guess what it is with your first attempt!
Probably not an optician, I guess!
An optician and a bird watcher in his spare time. Up the Boro!
One effect of the injury list is a start for our Young Centre back, which is good, and I would guess that Wing will get on the pitch, which should lead to an own goal for the opposing Keeper. Bad news for him but not for us. Quite how we replace Tav. Is a difficult one, but we will see.