Ahh the sweet relief of a victory, I just hope we keep improving
Saw the second half of a game, courtesy of Werder.
Unfortunately it wasn't the Boro.
There was a team playing in red, but they were running off the ball, playing in little triangles, finding their men, overlapping, creating spaces, and keeping their shape.
Definitely not the Boro. More like those proper teams that you see on the telly.
There was even a bloke who looked a bit like Jonny Howson who strode through midfield like Stevie Gerard in his pomp.
Don't know who they were, but I wouldn't mind supporting them.
Thanks again. Werder
*And breathe*
Relief at last. As the snow is starting to settle here in North Yorkshire, maybe there are signs the Sun will come back to warm us. I'm already feeling a little warmer inside. The weekend is looking UP....!
What is this strange feeling I'm feeling?
What was that odd thing our players were doing when they kept kicking the football to each other? I thought you were supposed to kick it up the pitch then charge after it.
Enquiring minds want to know.
Well I feel slightly drunk but I haven't had a drink. Yet. Could it be because of a team playing some football?
Must lie down.
Nurse.
UTB,
John
I take it all back. There were clear signs today that Wilder has made some significant changes in tactics and attitude that transformed the way the team played in the first half and how they saw the game out in the second. With better finishing we could have had three or four goals. Very promising signs and long may it continue.
Echo RR’s post, that first half (once we got started) was as good as we have seen for many a year?
I am not a fan of Howson, but today when he moved into the more forward MF role he excelled, helped by joint MotM, Crooks dropping deeper.
If only Sporar could finish like Watmore, we would have been home and dry by half time. Jones as mentioned above excelled from the better delivery of balls from first Howson and Crooks throughout the game.
Nice to see Dijksteel back, let’s hope he And Bola can keep injury free.
For once on a Saturday night, my G&T was savoured much more by the result today.
Wow. because the game was on BeIn sports I could record it overnight and then get up to watch it early this morning. What a pleasure. Put quite simply...We were bloody good!
Easily the best performance that I've seen from a Boro team for quite a while and suggests that CW and his assistant really know what they are doing. The patterns worked and always seemed to create a clear man ahead of the ball whether it was through the triangles down the wing or through forward running into vacant midfield space or even on the edge of the opposition's penalty area.. Crooks looks wonderful and is one of the few players I know who seems able to play a ball forward and then magically be there to press the opposition. He keeps running forever. Watmore has scored three beautiful goals this season and I hope for more. The person who really interests me is Sporar. He has a great touch and great vision and works really hard. Hats off to whoever in the acquisitions department found him.
The only real concern was that we didn't sore three or four given the pressure we had and chances that we created.
The defence was extremely solid and it was a little cruel that they conceded a 'typical Boro' own goal in the last minute. They really deserved a clean sheet. It ricocheted crazily off Jones, the post and the keeper.
Although everyone played well, I'm a bit worried about Tavernier. He played well, covered when necessary and got into good positions but he has totally lost his scoring touch. Is it just 'one of those things'? The penalty shoot was a little hard to judge. At first I thought that it hit the defender in the face. Then, on the replay, I reckon that the guy had his arm up a bit but the ball hit him very close to the junction of arm and chest. Had he had his arm tight by his side it would have hit it full on but still not have been worth a penalty. Probably the right decision.
I'm curious to know what happens when Fry is fully fit. Does he take Bamba's spot? Bamba seems to exude calm - even when he makes an error - and I wonder how important that is to the overall defensive effort.
Anyway, watching the progress across these three games, it was clearly the right decision to go for Wilder. Everybody must agree with that and we can look forward to enjoying out football. That's a good feeling.
UTB
And here is my traditional 'Karanka' test. Now we know the format that Wilder generally wants to play. So do we have enough players if we get an injury or loss of form for one particular position?
So I think we can agree on the default is 3-5-2:
Goal: Daniels, Lumley (Stojanović)
Left Wing Back: Bola, N.Taylor
Right WB: Jones, Spence (after Xmas)
Left CB: McNair, N. Wood (after Xmas)
Main Centre Back: Bamba, Hall
Right CB: Fry, Dijksteel, (Peltier)
Defending MF: Howson, Crooks
Attacking MF, Right: Payero, Tavanier
Attacking MF, Left: Lea-Siliki, Fernandez, (Olysanya),
Forward, Left: Šporar, Ikpeazu, (Ameobi some day)
Forward, Right: Watmore, Browne (December), (Coburn)
We have suprisingly many players there especially when Spence will be back and Browne fit. I am a bit concerned about lef-footed players in all and especilly going forward.
I think McNair and Fry will shine as ball playing centre-back under Wilder.
My starting eleven is in bold. Some surprices in there for me - Tavanier On the banch. I would buy a left-footed player, too. Up the Boro!
Number wise it looks ok.
The main problem at the moment, partly because of injuries of course, is that Wilder doesn’t have anything on the bench that can maintain the level of the starting XI.
We look well stocked in central defence and midfield and if Spence returns we have RWB options too. The front line picks itself though, and one of those - Watmore - has a serious injury record.
I don’t think we need to do anything spectacular in January but recalling Spence makes sense and I think we need another lively centre forward. Possibly a loan from the Premier League?
I’d let Hernandez return to Norwich, whilst I can’t see a future for Ameobi.
Given the outbreak of positivity on Diasboro ( I know it shouldn't be mentioned for fear of jinxing the team) it does make me wonder if we have been imbibing a little too much, if this continues we will begin to sound like geordies, too much?, ok I withdraw the geordie bit.
Just seen the goals and two great goals as everybody has been saying, passes, positive through balls where has thus team been
More relief than anything else, Paul. I’m certainly not planning for anything but midtable this season, though I think we can push into the top ten comfortably by the end of the season now. Next season could be the one, with sound recruitment and some momentum.
It’s just pleasing to see some actual football being played by Boro. I’d forgotten what it looked like to have players moving for each other and creating angles.
It still took two very good goals to get the job done yesterday and we’ll need to be able to play this passing game at a higher tempo if we’re to really trouble teams consistently.
I am interested to see Payero come into the side.
@powmillnaemore: Love your confidence, Powmill. I HOPE for three points but wouldn't say I'm CONFIDENT we'll get them! Good points in your posts, though.
😉
I agree with Andy with regards to Ameobi and can't see him ever becoming a starter at Boro. I'm also not convinced that Hernandez, Olusanya or Siliki will make the cut under Chris Wilder either. Indeed, even Ikpeazu is only getting running-down-clock appearances off the bench, which may indicate his manager doesn't regard him as a serious option. Marcus Brown we don't really know until he's back from injury and Wilder decides if he's going to fit in.
January will probably see Spence return and maybe even Coulson, who showed great potential in his breakthrough season but became a peripheral figure under Warnock - Wilder may play the kind of football that suits his game as a wing-back and has great pace. I'd probabaly only expect to see a striker arrive in the window since with Howson, Crooks, Payero and Tavernier available in midfield there's probably only room for one more even if Siliki didn't stay - with potentially McNair capable if the defence has Fry, Bamba, Dijksteel, Hall, Peltier and Wood.
Of course the unknown factor is if there will be any bids for players like Fry, Tav and McNair in January.
Couldn’t listen to the match as Radio Tees broke down through technical difficulties, so tried ‘flash score’ which was recording it but couldn’t find any suitable head phones, so although ‘flash score’ records every goal scored visually with a red dot before confirming the goal, just watched ‘Final Score’ on BBC via the red button.
As I’m still recovering from last Sunday when a rocket firework shattered my lounge triple glazed window now thankfully taped up awaiting the order for a replacement I’m still recovering from the blast which was horrific. I understand now how people must have felt during the Blitz. If the window had been single glazed I was told that the lounge window would have been penetrated completely and set fired inside, so thankful for small mercies.
I realise that I’m eventually to be cremated but not yet, and in a more conventional way when I’m certified dead.
Good to hear you are OK Ken after your pyrotechnic experience. Hope the tape stayed in place during the storm as well.
Onto the Spence debate, from what I gather he had some "issues" whilst he was here which was one of the main reasons for letting him go out on loan. I also think he prefers things down South and whilst Nottingham isn't in the South it's far nearer than Boro. A change of management at Boro may clean the slate and he may indeed be happy to return to a new look Boro that play attractive attacking front foot football rather than the dirge the fans and players have endured over the last few years bar the Woodgate blip.
Jones looks to me like he is capable of defending and with Dijksteel on the right of the back three he looked more comfortable getting further up the wing and adding a bit of zest. As it stands Spence is increasing his value and I'm not sure that we would benefit greatly by dropping Jones so I wouldn't be surprised if we left Djed where he is and hope he continues the fine form he has been in of late with a view of cashing in next year.
All good points, RR, but I’d rather have the cover in that right wingback position. Not sure who plays there if Jones is injured, probably Tav again.
great post Len
I hope to be watching this new team all the way to the Premiership!
OFB
@original-fat-bob nothing wrong at all as long as you stay away from football, I think they are a bit like gremlins and feeding them after midnight where football is concerned, worked in newcastle for over 20 years and went to Newcatle university:-)
Whilst injuries are part and parcel of football, we seem to have had more than our fair share this last year or two.
Whether it is an issue at Rockcliffe or down to the players themselves, hopefully will be determined by Mr Wilder.
Bola when he played for Blackpool the season before we signed him, hardly missed a game, same as Dijksteel. Hall played 30 league games and scored 5 goals the season before he joined us but has prior injury issues. Fry has been relatively OK, but the end of last season and this? Sol Bamba at 36?
So we appear to have a defensive squad, McNair apart (hope that does not jinx him) now with Peltier, that is a little fragile. We have the numbers, but do we have reliability.
As Werder said a young PFL striker would be nice. Payero to be consistently available would be like signing a new ball playing midfielder.
Unless Fry returns to playing quickly, I cannot see any team splashing the cash for him in January. McNair, would be a decent buy for any Championship team but not an EPL team.
Now Tav, if serious money was offered for him with add ons and sell on clause, then he would be the one I would sacrifice.
Where is the party after the win over Huddersfield now? I cannot see anybody in here on the blog ...
Or are you here only for the bad times and whining after a defeat or a draw after leading at half time?
Let's enjoy the ride. There are too many setbacks with Boro usually, so let's relish the highs, too.
Up the Boro!
@jarkko: Fair comment.
If you ever get to listen to BBCTees (when its tranmissions can be picked up, that is!) you'll know that after the final whistle they have a phone-in. Normally if the result has been bad, the phone calls come in thick and fast: "Manager has lost the plot/dressing room..."; "Manager is tactically naiive": "Player X is rubbish"; "That's the final straw for me, I give up on Boro"; "I blame the supporters..." etc). But when the result is positive, it's often the case that Maddo etc have to make up things to talk about as few people phone in.
We should have a new song: "We only phone in when we're losing. Phone in when we're looooosing......".
McNair picked up his 5th yellow at Huddersfield but fortunately it was the 20th match and the one match automatic ban ended after the 19th match (inclusive).
Come on BORO.
@jarkko if we gush too much we might become optimistic and that usually ends up badly, as I said earlier two very good goals, going back to being a miserable bar steward one swallow does not summer make, ( other cruder versions available). You are the Diasboro dreamer and long may it continue, once we win a few home games then I may become a true believer
I was thinking the same thing Jarkko, it is all of a sudden strangely quiet!
But a nice, pleasing, satisfied kind of quiet when all is said and done.
Many great posts on Saturday and Sunday following the game and all sounding oh so positive.
What a strange sensation after all of these years and how nice to begin to consider we really do have someone at the helm who just might happen to know what he is doing.
The potential, regardless of a January transfer window, is starting to look positively hopeful. All the same, it is not becoming gentlemen and women of a certain age to be over-gushingly optimistic. All of us have seen it all before and most of us more than once !
So, I'm savouring the moment for now and just staying a little hopeful we see more of the same direction against Swansea.... please.
@jarkko. I think we were all delighted by Saturday's performance but I daresay that many, like me, are just a bit nervous that it's another one of those false dawn moments where we think we have got things sorted and are about to go on a winning run, only to come crashing back down to earth the next match.
Over recent seasons there have been many green-shoots of hope only for them to quickly fade away again; if you think back a few months ago, we played very well and won against Sheff Utd and then go and lose to Hull the following match!
So we have seen it all before but are hoping that this time it is the start of better things to come and the only way to prove that is to put in another good and hopefully winning performance against Swansea on Saturday. CoB 😎