With my usual surfeit of Boro optimism I can see Boro losing 3-1 but Warnock is a wily old fox so we'll just have to see what happens. Home win for me.
UTB,
John
Boro a goal down after 28 minutes (Harry Wilson). 😪
Bola at fault for the goal he didn’t track Wilson and let him get a shot off.
i think Bola will be subbed as he doesn’t look fit at all.
Big Icky is getting stuck in and is a real handful. He did more in 48 minutes than Assambalonga did all last season!
Need some subs on toncjamge it up
OFB
Well I really enjoyed that although the BP is sky high !! ❤️❤️❤️
Pacemaker working overtime !!
Isaiah Jones and Tav made a difference and good job NW doesn’t make decisions like me and take Bola off !
A great point and we’re off the mark for the season !!!!
OFB
So as expected, a 1-1 draw (@Ken - at least I expected this 😁).
Not a bad start in London today. A typical performance by A Warnock team. Not very good performance for the eye, but an excellent result.
Pity we did not see Payero yet but he was on the bench. But Bola fit - a bit rusty, naturally - but what an important goal. Also Jones was good when coming on.
We need another centre forward and a left-sided defender, though.
Good to start the season like this. Up the Boro!
@original-fat-bob. Me too regarding the blood pressure and pleased in the end that we got a well earned point which could have been more.
Tav did make a difference and if wants to play at the highest level then this is a big season for him; we need more from him in terms of composure in the box together with more goals and assists.
Defensively, one lapse apart, we were solid but creativity and goals appear still to be an issue but it's early days and work in progress with Payero still to be introduced and hopefully another striker. CoB 😎
When I saw the team I thought NW was taking a chance playing Bola as he hadn't had any preseason play but with the lack of left sided recruitment I just assumed he had no alternative. Bola now our leading goalscorer!
Tav is the spark the team needs as he was last season. We need him to stay fit. Jones seems to be a good prospect as he is a young skillful player who heads for the opposition goal. No idea how Payero will play but we need another attacking midfielder who can hold the ball.
Just 2 small glasses of Rioja needed but that may have been because I was expecting us to lose.
I felt very pessimistic about today's game but you have to be very, very pleased with that, when we conceded in the first half I could see Fulham scoring again. Probably far too many years of 'Typical Boro' under my belt! Off the mark and under way now so on to the next game and after four or five matches we'll have a better idea. Keep it up Boro.
UTB,
JOHN
Well I really enjoyed that although the BP is sky high !! ❤️❤️❤️
Pacemaker working overtime !!
Isaiah Jones and Tav made a difference and good job NW doesn’t make decisions like me and take Bola off !
A great point and we’re off the mark for the season !!!!
OFB
OFB, that’s the difference between a professional manager and us armchair managers 😂😂😂
Come on BORO.
A couple of comments from Vic during the match which pick up on earlier comments:
Easy to blame Bola [for the Whites' goal], but there are three defenders there who never reacted to close Wilson down.
Good work by Bola. Tav made that happen. The zest of that run unsettled Fulham defence. He has changed the dynamics.
Mercurial masked man Jones giving it some proper vroooom. With him and Tav buzzing about Boro looked dangerous in the closing spell. Spirited fight-back. Chances to win it. Plenty of positives. 1-1. Good point
And the closing remarks in the Beeb's match commentary:
Warnock all smiles
FT: Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough
The hosts were on top for most of the game and Whites boss Marco Silva has a face like thunder after being denied a win in his first competitive game in charge.
Boro counterpart Neil Warnock is loving it - having a word with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and a cuddle with Whites forward Neeskens Kebano.
Warnock and his players go over to applaud the travelling fans, who finished in fine voice as the Teessiders finished the game strongly.
I have to confess to going out to Sainsbury's at half-time because I didn't expect a comeback. Glad I was proved wrong. 😀
Well, we certainly didn’t expect a win and probably most were not expecting a draw.
Three quarters through the game there was only one team to win.
Fulham had most possession , most shots including on target ( Boro nil on target) , passing the ball much better and played like a team.
Boro , by comparison were only in the game through their defending.
Then a goal out of the blue and Tavernier ought to have won the game with two good chances.
So overall pleased with a point.
Two very relevant comments by the commentators that Boro only had one shot on target and the three front men played like three individuals .
A real plus was the support for the team - they never stopped from the first minute to the last and made far more noise than the Fulham supporters.
Philip of Huddersfield
Thoughts after that. We weren't at the races for 70 minutes then we scored and all of Fulham's ghosts turned up to haunt them. We could easily have nicked a win but they could also have scored.
Bola may have been lacking in match sharpness and given a nightmare but he had zero protection down the left; often facing 2 vs 1. Although I've never thought of him as a wing back, he is turning into a full back who chips in with a surprising number of goals. His footwork to get the ball into a shooting position was as good as anything I saw all day.
I don't think Morsy and Howson can play together. Although I thought Howson had a weak game, once Morsy went off, Howson improved massively. Apart from one misplaced pass, there's an argument that he was one of our best players for the last 1/4 of the game.
Watmore and Crooks aren't wingers. The front three might as well have been on different pitches. I was surprised when Ikpeazu went off; he had done nothing wrong but like the last 4 years there was zero useful service to him. Crooks was anonymous as a striker.
I hope Payero works out because we are over-reliant on Tav. If we had bought him from Liverpool for £12m he wouldn't have looked out of place. All he has left to do is to improve his composure in front of goal.
Isiah, "phantom of the opera" Jones has a turbo setting. He really unsettled Fulham and gave Bola some respite simply by creating a threat. His game intelligence is really good as well; he reminds me of Tav in the way he seems to be able to read what his team mates want to do. It was a very exciting debut.
Spence is an odd one. His football brain and confidence seems to have grown massively over the summer but he still doesn't seem good enough going forwards to play up front and maybe not defensively strong enough to play at right back. He is possibly a better wing-back than Dijksteel.
It was a good point. Certainly there was an element of more luck than judgement but you can't fault the effort even if the quality was lacking.
Fundamentally, this was a highlight reel of all our weaknesses and strengths from last year. Warnock still hasn't solved our issue going forwards and there's still no sign of a best formation and best 11 but it feels like more of a team than last year. The players who were marking time have gone and the new signings feel like players who want to play for us.
I thought the match was there to be won at the end. After failing to track and challenge, making them look good, Tav. Looked so good and with the other changes threw them into a panic, we could and should have won it. Awful referee, gave a booking for a full on sending off, then gave us a booking for a most magnificent header, clearly seen by all and should be appealed with special note of referee's competence.
Hello again one and all. Have you missed me? No? Thought not…………
Because our season rather fizzled out and left us with nothing to play for, and because I was fed up of watching soulless, goalless football and poor Boro defeats, I decided at the end of last season to have the summer away from football generally ( the Euros apart, obviously), avoiding Covid (successfully so far), concentrating on cricket, walking in the Welsh hills and sorting out our new house in Conwy. I’ve followed Boro via the EG, but have missed all your debates on the Euros, the friendlies, the transfers, etc. No doubt I’ve missed much good stuff.
Anyway, now the season proper has begun, I felt it was time to re-acquaint myself with this brilliant blog, and even to contribute occasionally. It is really essential reading for the true Boro fan.
I've enjoyed all your predictions for the Fulham game, many of which came true(!) And I’ve enjoyed your accurate commentaries on the game. I particularly agree with Deleriad’s post above. For much of the game, I felt little had changed from last season. Boro created very little until we produced the equaliser, but we were dogged and combative, as you all expected. Some of the personalities have changed, and there seems an obvious desire from all players to give 100% for the team and the manager - which NW always expects at the very least - but the pessimist in me did wonder for 73 minutes where the goals will come from this season. Boro will clearly be hard to beat, but we don’t want yet another repeat of the last 3-4 seasons of misery, toil and drudgery. In the end, though, it all came good and we might even have nicked the win. Credit to Bola, Tav and Isaiah Jones in particular. Let’s hope Payero makes a real difference and that NW gets in the players we need, especially on the wing and up front.
I’m really looking forward to going back to The Riverside next week. I have my own logistical issues to contend with, as I now live 190 miles away, as opposed to the previous 130! But I’ve kept my season card and will get to as many games as I can. Here’s hoping Boro turn on the style, score lots of goals and mount a concerted promotion push!
Meanwhile, I hope you are all safe and well.
I did wonder where you have been. So missed you 😇.
As I have seen you in home and away matches, I must take my hat off for you still to keep a season card even after moving to Wales.
I know you must love driving as both of your hobbies involves driving a vehicle! But I hope you enjoy your retirement in Wales. I think I have driven through Conwy on the way from Manchester to Ireland in 1989. Unfortunaly we did not stop.
Impressed someone is so committed to see Boro home and away. Pity that Swansea and Cardiff are still quite far for a Boro match away. Who are the closest team near you now after you moved away from Preston?
I hope it is not so rainy in Northern Wales. Up the Boro!
Can we see the debut of Martin Payero at Blckpool in the Cup via Riverside Live on Wednesday ?
I think last season these Cup matches were not included, I think.
Pity if so as Neil Warnock promised to play Martin at Blckpool. Up the Boro!
Aargh, I just wrote a whole lot about the game and it vanished. I always forget to do it in Word or something similar and copy across. Here's version two.....................
Well, the Championship is back with its usual bang. The three clubs relegated from the premiership – and everyone’s favourites for promotion - managed two points from two home games and an away game and the three teams who came up from Division 1 managed four points from three away games. Does it mean anything? Not really but it’s an indicator of how unpredictable things can be and it’s also relevant to Boro because we were responsible for one of those favourites dropping two points in their first home game.
The teams as announced had Boro playing a back four with Bola part of the team despite having had no pre-season. Morsy, Howson and McNair were in midfield in what looked like a pretty defensive setup which is how it turned out. Up front were Ikpeazu, Watmore and crooks. Tavernier only made the bench which was a disappointment but understandable if he wasn’t 100% and he was joined there by Payero which was exciting in anticipation of a first game although it never happened. Maybe Blackpool.
I thought that we were pretty disappointing for a lot of the match. If it had been a boxing match of four rounds, we would have been close in the first quarter beaten by a street in quarters two and three and probably ahead in the last quarter.
The main problem was the huge gap that seemed to exist between the back seven and the front three. Derby filled that space and were able to bring the ball forward with ease with Wilson orchestrating a lot of the play. Given his strong left foot and liking for coming in off the right, a fair portion of the attacks came down Boro’s left where Bola had a tough time made tougher by the lack of cover that he seemed to be getting from midfield and the forwards in front of him.
In the middle, the defence coped very well with Mitrovic and the rest but we were constantly under pressure and our forwards, despite trying hard, scarcely put two passes together. Ikpeazu fought the whole time and must be exactly the kind of player that central defenders don’t want to have to play against. He will just get better and better once we find a way of giving him close support to take the ball off his knockdowns and turns. Crooks never stopped running but seemed to be uncertain quite where he should be. I sense that he is better coming through in support rather than as a wide-man or number 9.
Given this pattern of play, the goal wasn’t really a surprise. Bola stood too far off Wilson who was able to run along the edge of the penalty area. No-one else came out to block him and he was able to get his left foot shot in. Having said that, he was lucky that it went through a defender’s legs and unsighted Lumley.
From then on, it was Fulham in control but, thankfully, they didn’t create too many clear chances. Kebano had a header and Mitrovic missed his shot on a couple of occasions but the defence held up and Lumley didn’t have too much to do although he did miss one cross and had a few speculative rushes to the edge of his area that could have gone wrong.
Nothing much changed until NW turned to his subs. At 1-0 down, I certainly didn’t expect that it would be Ikpeazu and Watmore who would go off for Tav and Spence. However, NW knew better and packed the midfield leaving Crooks to run everywhere alone up front. He can really run. This stopped Fulham from dominating and made the game much more even. I’m not sure exactly what the formation was but it was better. However, the big change came when he took off Morsy and sent on Isaiah Jones, complete with face mask. He was really lively down the left hand side and having the extra attacking player changed the pattern of the whole game. Jones tormented the Fulham right with his speed and tricky feet. I sense that this is the system that NW might move to when we’re at home or playing weaker sides. With the game much more even and Boro with more possession, Tavernier now started to play the role that Wilson had performed for Fulham.That was how the goal came although it was a little unexpected. Tav cut in from the right, running along the penalty line but couldn’t get his shot away. He kept control and the ball found it’s way to Jones on the left who instantly slipped a neat pass to the Boro player in the box who turned out to be Bola. His control was instantaneous and he got his shot away into the far corner before anyone could move leaving the Fulham defence with that wtf look on their faces that comes when something surprising happens.
From that moment, I was waiting for the end but to be fair it was Boro who had the chances to win it. Howson picked somebody’s pocket in midfield and drove forward before setting up Tav in the inside left channel for a shot that should have been the winning goal if he hadn’t pushed it wide. The five minutes of added time were mainly Boro attacking and not scoring from a sequence of free kicks.
A final word about the ref who was pretty poor in the first half and a bit better after half time (maybe NW had a word!!). Some soft bookings and only a yellow card for a big elbow from Mitrovic.
After the game the Boro team and staff were ecstatic in definite contrast to the Fulham management who looked as if someone had just eaten their lunch. The Boro supporters were fantastic and out-sang the locals for the whole game.
I’m not sure what happens on Wednesday – is it all change or a chance for the first team to get to know each other. Either way, Payero will probably get 60 minutes and I’ll be interested to read reports from those who either go or are able to see it on TV.
For the moment, it’s all good. We’re a point ahead of last season after one game.
UTB
Sorry, Clive. I think I mixed up some truths in my post above. I do not think you lived in Preston before, did you.
Anyway, all the best in Wales. Up the Boro!
Due to a rare family get together I was only able to catch glimpses and bits and pieces of the game plus highlights this morning. In truth however I probably seen far more than I was supposed to or at least admitted to the Mrs.
Fulham as expected were by far the more dominant team but in fairness our game plan was always to absorb pressure and catch them on the break or at set pieces. The gulf in quality and money spent between the two squads was very apparent at times. Having said that we put in a battling and spirited performance and even had we lost 1-0 it would still have been a decent result considering we are at least four or five players short.
As it was, Jones and Tav turned the game and if Tav can learn some composure he could be lethal at this level. His wonderful dribble across the edge of the box and shot that was blocked came out to Bola who saw Jones and then the LB ran for the return and executed his goal superbly. At the time I thought had that been Britt the ball would likely have ended up anywhere but in the back of the net. Rewinding back a bit though to Tav's dribble, when Tav shot Jones was screaming for it to be poked through to him. As it was it eventually found him and it led to the goal so all's well that end's well but Tav has to make that step up in awareness and decision making. Typical Boro fan moaning even when good comes of it 🙂
Jones was a revelation and considering that Fulham are as good a side as we are likely to come across the youngster in the mask was not remotely fazed and indeed revelled in his cameo role. He appears to be a defender's worst nightmare and a free kick magnet. I particularly loved it when he was fouled and brought down but bounced back up again and went again. If he continues like that Refs will automatically have a bias in his favour, I just hope we see more of him and he doesn't get relegated back to the bench or the U23's.
Ikpeazu was a thorn in the side for the Fulham CB's and I think his sheer brute strength went against him in some decisions from Keith Stroud figuring that he couldn't possibly have been hauled down or impeded. I think he is going to be a big asset going forwards. Crooks I feel was messed about playing in positions that we wouldn't normally expect him to play so I think we will see better days from him ahead but he stuck to his tasks as asked.
Staying in the midfield area for me it's Howson or Morsy but not both. I'm not too bothered which but one of them has to be the shield for the defence and allow the likes of Tav, Payero and Crooks etc. the opportunity to be creative. A mention for Spence who didn't open the game up when he came on but he provided width and pace on the right and in doing so gave the Fulham defence an entirely different proposition making them a little less prone to get too far upfield. Sitting deeper it allowed us to push on and keep them pegged back in the last ten or fifteen minutes. He also tracked back and put in one very important defensive challenge so fair play to him for keeping the shape and not going awol as he was prone to last season.
I'm not overly convinced by Lumley in goal and have more confidence in Stoj but the same was true with Bettinelli last season and it's clear that Stoj doesn't have a long term future here. It's a shame as I think there is a good strong solid Dimi type presence there but it does mean however that Daniels could end up as No.1 when/if he comes.
Grant Hall is looking more impressive to me and far better than I had envisaged when he first arrived. Being injury free and fit no doubts helps but he and Fry kept Mitrovic fairly quiet and again they are unlikely to face any better Strikers than him all season.
There were some worrying aspects hanging over from last season but the pleasing thing was the way that Warnock changed the game and his set up not once but twice with his subs and it worked a treat. So much so that we could have won that game.
Finally it would be shameful if I didn't give a special mention to the travelling army who could be heard all through the game (despite me being told to keep the volume down). Even the TV commentary went silent to give them centre stage for 30 seconds paying homage to the fact that fans were back in the Stadiums. If I was Muniz and watching that I think I know who I would rather be playing in front of each week. Great to see the players and NW celebrate with the fans after the whistle, in the end the draw felt like a victory which was very unborolike.
Just a thought, I was puzzled (and alarmed) by our habit of letting the opposition advance upfield for 20-30 yards unchallenged for most of the game. Even a moderate player can damage you if allowed such liberty, quite apart from the energy he is saving.
@plato that was Warnock's intended tactic, sitting deep, keeping it tight and not get dragged into open play where they would tear us apart, passing around, through us and cutting us open. There is over a £100m in the valuations between the two squads. Morsy would have been sent off for having to resort to dragging and pulling back his opposite numbers and these days Howson's agility is somewhat questionable. The alternative would have been throwing Malley and Hackney into the fray against seasoned and top championship Pro's away from home at the Promotion favourites.
Indeed. Warnock seems to like his teams to keep a fairly low defensive line. It's probably why we need pace more so than most because if we get possession we need to get upfield in a hurry. Noteworthy as well that when we have the ball he likes us to keep it deep inside the opponent's half.
I see Warnock described as a dinosaur from time to time. I think that's unfair. He has a preferred strategy and a set of tactics around it. He's also inclined to change things on the pitch quite quickly. If anything, I think he occasionally trips his teams up by trying to be a bit too clever. Although Warnock is no tactical wizard, having seen him in action now I think he's the most tactically flexible and astute reader of a game we've had since Terry Venables.
welcome back Clive and yes we did miss you!
As you say we have some posts on this blog and some accurate predictions as well!
Hopefully we will see promotion this season (we can dream can’t we?)
OFB
Great Post and good points regarding the referee and the first challenge for the forearm smash on Howson I immediately thought it was going to be a red card. Very disappointing!
OFB
It was such a bore watching this same old rubbish season after season that I actually fell asleep for 20 minutes or so and waking up sometime during the second half wondering where I was and what was going on. I usually record programmes including sport and flick over the most boring parts, but forgot to do so this time so probably didn’t miss much during my siesta. However grateful for Dereiad and Redcar Red’s infomative contributions. Sooo tired at the moment, but I’d rather listen to music! However on checking through my records later I did notice that Bola’s goal was the 100th that Boro had scored against Fulham in 65 league matches and that Boro hold the upper hand with 28 wins against 25 defeats. I know, that seems even more boring than actually watching the darned football.