I agree with all you say, but the word 'inconsistency' is not the one I would choose. I think that it is 'stupidity'. We showed not the slightest idea that they were done and dusted after the sending off, playing without a plan, in fact just dashing around the pitch, in any direction, towards their goal, towards our goal, without regard to their very real problems with ten men and tiredness setting in, no sign that we would adopt their tactics of fouling anyone who got the better of them, no sign that we wanted those points very badly, in fact no idea! I do believe that we have a manager who really hasn't got a lot of idea about the game as far as tactics are concerned, very Good at chatting up the press, yes, very Good at being the plain speaking chap in the pub, yes, but he is supposed to be the controlling mind as the match sways this way and that. I saw no sign of that as we watched a beaten side rush a scramble and battle any way they could in a desperate attempt to escape defeat.
AUG 21, 2021
Here's Your Boro Starting XI
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Peltier a surprise but good to see Morsy back and great to have Tavernier ready and playing.
Peltier only surprise really the other changes we all forecast would happen.
Presimably PM will drop back into defence and Peltier will move into midfield to stiffen the centre and stop teams driving through the open gap
I feel sorry for Howson but I’ve thought for a while his legs have gone certainly for more than one game a week.
OFB
Let’s hope that having the captain’s armband brings an improvement from PM.
Finding it very difficult to pick out any positives of that display other than we haven't conceded! 😎
Disappointing first half but thankfully no damage done.
Ipkeazu working hard and doing what he does but no-one else showing from an attacking point of view.
Lack of tempo and passing - feels like Wednesday took it out of us.
I hope Payero turns out to be a proper ball player because that’s a piece of the jigsaw that’s sorely lacking at the moment.
Fingers crossed we can step it up significantly in the second half. I don’t think it would take too much to win this.
Much better so far…
👀
Who would have believed that ?
The eyeballs in the sky ?
A very turgid and poor display by both teams
OFB
And we all reckoned no eyeballs in the sky...
At least Lumley had a good game.
UTB,
John
That was an affront to the game of Football. If that is what Warnock wants to serve up then go now please.
Normally I would rant on and write several paragraphs dissecting the highs and lows of a game but that performance has left me flatter than a snakes belly. No desire, belief or fight crowned by a totally confused tactical set up.
@redcarred Totally agree RR. It was awful. There seems to be in my opinion an underlying current of dissatisfaction amongst some of the players. I may be wrong but it just feels like it.
Well, it wouldn’t have taken too much to win as I said at half-time but we didn’t manage it.
I didn’t think it was anywhere near as bad as RR or Malcolm with us much improved throughout most of the second half after Warnock untangled a strange setup in the first - he had all the right players but not quite in the right order - but disappointment overall.
We've missed out on five points that were there for the taking this week and it’s habits like that that will no doubt see us floundering in mid-table rather than challenging at the top when the music stops.
We can only hope that the imminent signings will make a big enough difference.
@andy-r. The second half couldn't have been anything other than better based on the first half.
You mention that NW untangled a strange set up in the first - but why get us in that position in the first place. It's back to square pegs in round holes when it is unnecessary. I appreciate that Dijksteel has played as a midfielder before but for the majority of his time with us he has been a centre back/full back or wing back.
NW has been saying throughout the transfer window we need cover at left back for Bola. Now he is saying that Jones or his recently signed mate can provide cover for that position - unbelievable or is that the price of signing a Dutch winger!
We are presently mid table and I don't see that changing based on these players/management team.
There are few, if any signs, that as a collective we are improving; the players may be changing but the outcomes are the same and it is not good. 😎
Strange comment from Warnock
Boro are also said to be closing in on Mitchell van Bergen after agreeing a fee with Heerenveen, but Warnock said: "If we are, it's nowt to do with me."
Well, it wouldn’t have taken too much to win as I said at half-time but we didn’t manage it.
I didn’t think it was anywhere near as bad as RR or Malcolm with us much improved throughout most of the second half after Warnock untangled a strange setup in the first - he had all the right players but not quite in the right order - but disappointment overall.
We've missed out on five points that were there for the taking this week and it’s habits like that that will no doubt see us floundering in mid-table rather than challenging at the top when the music stops.
We can only hope that the imminent signings will make a big enough difference.
I disagree Andy, as KP said above the second half couldn't have possibly been any worse. I do agree that it was better but the reflex saves from the Derby keeper pulling off Worldies as is Typical Boro would have been testimony to the second half resurgence except that he had little or nothing to do.
I suspect that we are witnessing a spent force which isn't getting any better and hasn't since January.
Must admit i didnt see the match just some low lights, it does appear that the rumblings of discontent have started, this has lead me to wonder under which manager did the fans last really enjoy the football that boro were playing?
Yeah, I wouldn’t go as far to as say the second half was great but I thought we were the better team for the second 45, with Howson and McNair nearly scoring (at least one should have gone in) and Crooks unlucky to hit the bar. Uche had a decent chance at a back-post header too.
It was noticeable how we got Jones into the game much more and went at them with some good spells camped around their area. Unfortunately when Uche was replaced we went down a gear but I can understand why he was taken off having put so much physical work in.
The disappointment is really with the first half for me. I’m not sure what NW was thinking with his setup when it was such a straightforward option to simply replace Spence with Tav. The starting XI looked like the right call but then Warnock arranged them in odd positions and just confused the issue. An own goal because that game was there to be won and had we taken the lead I fancy we would have.
I still see positives despite twice shooting ourselves in the foot this past week. We lost that fixture last season and I think last years team might have lost it again. Uche and Jones are big pluses and Crooks isn’t far behind them.
From what I’ve seen so far, looking beyond results to what we see on the pitch, I honestly believe this group will improve on last year assuming we don’t lose one or two in the next week. Odd to say it after a 0-0 but we do have more goals in the team I think. Gut feeling is it won’t be enough for the top six but I think there will be progress which isn’t bad considering the club’s finances will also be in much better shape.
Yes, food for thought, wrong team at the start, followed by poor finishing, a sure recipe for 0-0 and that's what we got, we are a team of bad habits (undercoached?) noticeable that when heading the ball in the opponents box it's always a weak affair, easily saved by the keeper. I worry when Jones is discussed as though he were one of many players who may or may not be selected. Can we be clear. Jones is the most important player on our books, followed by Tav. They were the reason we could and should have won at Derby, they kept us parked round the Derby box, and even reasonable finishing would have taken three points. It is strange to see the points drifting away by incompetence, five in three days, totally thrown away.
Watched the 10 minutes highlights. Derby we’re the better team in the first half with Boro a bit better in the second half. The only plus I could see were the young winger has pace and goes forward at every opportunity, Lumley - on this showing - may not be as bad as painted and Uche puts a shift in - I wonder can he keep this up for 46 matches.
Apart from that there was an absence of skill and passing movements compared to eg Fulham and one or two other teams I’ve seen this season.
I am starting to think that NW’s tactics are from yesteryear and opposing managers know what to expect.
Just hope the Club can get the 2 new players ‘ over the line’ although I have to say that the NW comment about the young winger of “it’s now’t to do with me “ is baffling for a seasoned talker to the press. Just hope it was a badly chosen comment.
Has anyone heard how the “ crock “we bought ( Ameobi) is doing? There’s never an update on his injury which he appeared to have on arrival.
Philip of Huddersfield
@paulinboro. The season's under Karanka when we were in the Championship. We were organised, worked hard and had some good players, Bamford, Kike, Gibson, Leadbitter, Adomah and Tomlin to name a few. They produced some good football at times with a great 3-0 win a Brighton who were top of the table.
Since then it has been a down hill slide in terms of quality both in respect of players and results. 😎
Couldn’t agree more.
Have we any players who would get in the team ahead of the half dozen you’ve quoted?
We knew what to expect with Karanka- every thing seemed meticulously planned.
I remember many home games and leading by one goal and Karanka would ‘shut up shop’ and the team had to defend the last 15- 20 minutes which made home supporters nervous.
But they usually survived and I remember many times,thinking on the way home, that the opposition in those last 15 or so minutes never really looked like scoring and therefore Karanka knew exactly what he was doing.
Philip of Huddersfield
Here we go lads a job for all our experts who often comment “we have been telling them for ages” or “they must read diasboro because they have played who we have been saying to play for ages”, so time to pick up the gauntlet.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/regional-talent-id-spotters-required
Let’s see how many “gems” our galant crew can unearth 😉
Come on BORO.
@philip-of-huddersfield I think that season was the best of both worlds. We had the legacy of Mowbray's footballing approach allied to Karanka's defensive organisation. Add to that Bamford forcing his way into the team. Sadly, after the debacle against Norwich, AK learned all the wrong lessons and started off down the Poundland Mourinho path of picking fights with everyone.
@exmil. I nominate OFB, he has the experience of watching his sons & grandsons playing local football in addition to his referee's experience; allied to that he has many years experience of watching the best and worst of Boro, so knows exactly what MFC want! 😎😂
Thanks for that !
I was watching an u16 tournament today at Redcar with teams from Manchester and Newcastle.
My grandsons team beat Newcastle in the final 5 1 so I did see some good players.
I don’t have to really recommend any of the u16 players in the league as usually I stand next to Gary Gill and he has a few contacts at Boro I believe! Their first team coach is an ex professional footballer former Centre Half for Huddersfield. Many of the teams today had ex professionals coaching the youngsters.
My son and I just said today that over the next few years there will be a big upsurge in the talent England has available on the world stage. Like Iceland did a few years ago by spending time at grass roots football wr are starting to see the growth of class players.
My Eldest Grandson who is 20 has now been promoted from the U23 team to the reserves for Billingham Town who play in the Wearside League and they are currently top.
Most of the players are like him ex academy players who for one reason or another are now playing non league football.
My grandson declined an apprenticeship at Sunderland as he decided to become an Electrical Engineer and has just finished his HNC and starts his Degree September for next four years. He is now a junior engineer earning more £ than the other footballers who were at the Academy with him for his year group.
Not all footballers earn top money !
As Ken Smith will confirm there are lots of good footballers in Non League Football and as Isiah Jones proves and Boro are starting to find out you don’t have to pay £15 million to get a top striker!
Thanks for the nomination I feel very humbled !
OFB
No time for Scouting I'm afraid (unless I'm getting paid for it).
I will give a tip and it's a young lad already in our Youth set up Euan McBride from Marske who is one with a bright future!