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Luton v Boro
 

Luton v Boro

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JLS on for Crooks in the 77th minute.


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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Self inflicted and very disappointing...


   
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Talk about a game of two halves, comfortable  to calamitous, anybody willing to bet against 3 wins and then three losses. Sky said we have given away two goals in first half and sixteen in the second. 


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Vic's full-time verdict:

FT: 1-3. Very disappointing. Good first half followed by standard sorry second half implosion. All three goals were self-inflicted, stemming from poor decision-making and sloppy defending. Fair play to Luton who stepped a gear after the break. Boro didn't.


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Well spent nearly all the first half trying to get a watchable stream that didn't keep freezing so can't really comment on the first half. Finally, got a stream that worked well and settled down for an enjoyable second half - didn't last long as Boro rediscovered their Birmingham defending and three goals in 5 minutes made me wish the stream would freeze for good. Looks like the cat is playing dead again!


   
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Pedro de Espana
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Reality check once more. We all get carried away somewhat by a couple of wins, but when push comes to shove and the players are played in not their best recent positions, we get beat.

Howson and Crooks in the middle were awful, very little from Hernandez and the defence looked as though it had just been thrown together.

Interesting stat from SKY......Boro had conceded 18 goals and 16 were in the second half. 

Surely Mr Gibson cannot let this abject failing to continue??


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We played some pretty stuff in the first half and had Luton on the rack but we were all fur coat and no lingerie and failed to capitalise. I struggle to understand how a team can be so black and white, skilful and dominant then disintegrate at will and so repeatedly predictably.

The second half was a side whose Manager reorganised and reshaped his charges against a side whose Manager just haplessly concedes goals repetitively after his "inspirational" half time team talks. Once again our defending was abysmal. McNair going down feebly trying to earn a Free Kick ended in the Corner which started the rot. Leaving a CB unmarked is bad enough but for nobody to be tracking and attacking the ball is unforgiveable. The other two goals left me speechless but unsurprised with the nature of them.

It's not even December and already the season under Warnock just feels totally pointless and futile. I get the impression that nobody on the Coaching or Playing side are really taking it seriously and it's all just freewheeling downhill until the summer. One thing I will say is that this squad of players are not as bad as they look or are being made to look.

 


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@pedro

The first goal was a free header from a corner and for some reason Josh Coburn was playing centre-back for the second and for the third Tav finally played a decent through-ball but unfortunately it was in the wrong direction. All goals were avoidable just like at the weekend. Five poor goals conceded in two games, which I don't think you can't really blame Neil Warnock for.


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Maybe least said will be soonest mended.  But a very disappointing outcome after leading at HT.

So far as concerns PaulInBoro's tweet (info from Sky that in the first half Boro have conceded 2 goals but in the 2nd half of games they have conceded 16), that could suggest a few things:

1. Lack of fitness - if so, why? - or

2. Lack of quality from the bench when players from the starting XI are replaced by inferior players) - which might be the case in some games but not all season so far when we have had players available - or

3. Lack of mental strength - in whcih case, again, why? - or

4. Other teams size us up in the 1st half and do what is necessary in the 2nd half to turn things around - whether by changing formation or tactics or whatever - in which case, why can't WE do that to them?

There may be other reasons beyond me to identify but it is unlikely to be mere chance, or a one-off, in light of the vast difference in the performances in the different halves of games in, what, almost a third of the season?


Philip of Huddersfield
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Who’d want to be manager of this team? - played well in the first half and deservedly ahead at half time.

Second half gave away 1st and 3rd goals and failed to clear the ball for the second goal. 
After that never created anything. The word which comes to mind for the last 30 minutes is “ ragged”

The main bright spark was young Jones and Coburn for his goal.

 Other than that, a really disappointing second half which leads me to say  , yet again, that mid table is probably the outcome for this season.

Philip of Huddersfield 


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Agreed that you can't blame Warnock for players' mistakes. Tav's backpass was as calamitous as Lumley's mistake in the last game. (yes he got a nudge in the back just as he went to pass it but he shouldn't have been doing it anyway.) First goal was bad defending then bad luck when a deflection took it away from Daniels. Second two goals were bad from us but excellent finishing from Luton. On another day, the first goal is saved by Daniels and Luton run out of steam.

Crooks and Tav look like they're running on empty. 

What you can say is that Jones has made a lot more out of a lot less with Luton than Warnock has managed with us. There also seems to be a systemic weakness in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Even as far back as Bristol City. When a team keeps failing the same way then that's something to do with the manager.

If we keep making individual mistakes and losing games on the back of it then the conclusion has to be that we are set up in such way that makes it easy to make mistakes. Bit like accidents, you can reduce the amount and severity of accidents by changing the environment. Something about how we are set up is means that we make too many mistakes in dangerous places. If that's not the case then most of our players are simply not Championship standard and can't cope with this level. 

So although you can't blame Warnock for individual mistakes you have to wonder if he is capable of managing a team that can play at the right level for 90 minutes. 


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Not the result NW wanted on his record breaking managerial game. We are still 12 points from the relegation places so he probably won't retire with a relegation!

I expect we will lose at West Bromwich on Saturday to make it 3 consecutive defeats which is more like our normal form than 3 wins. I've managed to keep 1/2 bottle of Malbec for Saturday. I always find it harder to just listen to matches on Radio Tees than watch.

Once the match ended I was straight on to the Premier Inn site to book a Friday night stay ahead of the Bournemouth game on 18 December - sad. At least I will be able to travel home on the Saturday evening to recover. 


   
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@redcarred

I agree with RR that the season under NW feels pointless and futile. It seems very unlikely that we will either be anywhere near the playoffs or in danger of relegation so unless something changes dramatically the club will be treading water for the next six months.  

So rather than just let things drift, it seems to me that now is the perfect time for the Chairman to begin putting in place the changes he wants for next season (assuming he knows what they are).  Bringing in new management on the playing side over the next couple of months to work alongside NW would give them time to get up to speed and assess what changes they want to make before next season. As their knowledge of the club and players grows they could maybe gradually take on a bigger role on the playing side while NW winds down towards the end of the season.  

Waiting to make all the changes right at the end or after the end of the season is madness. Doing it that way the time available to the new management team to get up to speed and stamp their mark on the team and playing style is very short and would mean they start next season still on the learning curve and at a disadvantage.  

Will the Chairman see it the same way?  Unfortunately I doubt it.


Selwynoz
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I was fortunate (?) to have the film on BeIn sports so could watch a perfect image which showed really clearly how our defence is suffering. Bamba really needs a dominant player in the air to help him out. He can't be everywhere although he does a good job of trying to do just that.

The first goal was unfortunate or smart depending how you view it. Crooks was marking the goalscorer and got neatly blocked off and pulled back by the collar leaving the guy a free header that went in after a deflection off Dijksteel's shoulder. The second goal should have been cleared twice before Adebayo scored a neat goal and the third goal was a mess. Fry or even Hall alongside Bamba would make a huge difference but I fear that neither will be back for Saturday and it could turn ugly under the pressure that West Brom will impose.

Coburn did well to score his goal after a really beautiful fast break and stunning cross from Sporar. However, he is still a bit too lightweight to take on the big bullies at the heart of most Championship defences. 

We were lucky to be ahead at half time as Luton missed two open goals just before the break. The second half was really disappointing and we never really looked like pulling anything back.

Regarding Daniels, is it just me or does he look small. I don't know why but he didn't inspire me with confidence whereas, even with his mistakes, Lumley makes me feel better. 

I'm not sure what NW will do for Saturday. Maybe play a defensive set up and try to nick a draw. Crooks will be suspended after his fifth booking which was really unnecessary which, assuming Payero is still unfit, suggests to me that he'll play Howson and Lea-Siliki as holding midfielders. I don't have a lot of confidence and, given the clocks have changed to put the kickoff to 2.00am here in Sydney, I might give this one a miss.

UTB

 


Clive Hurren
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I was expecting just 1 point from Luton and WBA, so at half-time I was thinking that 3 points at Luton, if achieved, would be a real bonus. It looked very much on the cards at that stage. I really should have known better than to raise my expectations so irresponsibly. I should know by now that this kind of ra-ra, foam-fingered optimism all too often leads to bitter disillusionment with Boro. 

Schoolboy defending yet again. Goals conceded - again - from two set-pieces (aren’t NW’s teams supposed to be set-piece masters?) and from a dreadful back pass from Tav. I know the defence has been makeshift of late, but tonight we had 3 proper defenders playing (if you count McNair). And that’s 16 of our 18 goals conceded in second halves of matches. People have said you can’t blame NW for stupid defensive lapses, which I agree with to an extent, but it really does beg the question: - what on earth is his coaching team doing? I do agree with Dormo about our team’s lack of mental strength, graphically illustrated tonight. 

Almost as disappointing as the abject capitulation was NW’s predictable criticism of the linesman. I didn’t think either incident with Jones was a penalty, and I do think Crooks was very lucky late second half not to concede one and earn a second yellow. NW is clearly trying to deflect attention away from a very poor second half performance and to take the pressure off his players, but this constant whining about the officials is now grating on me irritably. 


Selwynoz
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@clive-hurren

I agree about the Jones penalty. He left a leg trailing behind him and then deliberately fell over the player's foot. I thought that the push on Tavernier was maybe a better bet. 

What did annoy me was two offside calls in the first half against Sporar and Coburn that were simply wrong. The replay showed clearly that neither was offside. I've always been ambivalent about VAR but errors like that can really turn a game. We all accept goal line technology because it makes the game better. Maybe it's time for VAR in the Championship. Any thoughts from the Brains Trust?

UTB


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@selwynoz

I totally agree with your comments. I saw Jones trail his leg and become entwined in the defender and it wasn’t a penalty.

The two “offside” calls were poor decisions by the assistant referee.

McNair went down too easily and gave away a poor corner resulting with their equalising goal as he expected a free kick.

With regard to use of technology, Keith Hackett the former FIFA Referee has recently posted that he thinks VAR should be mandatory in the EFL championship. His reasoning is that a lot of clubs who are in the league are big clubs who have either been in the Premiership or are clubs vying to be promoted into the most lucrative league in the world. There are a lot of first class referees who have retired from the game due to age and fitness issues but are still capable of making VAR decisions.

I’m pretty sure VAR will come eventually but until then we have to rely on the expertise of assistant referees to make split second decisions regarding the application of the offside laws.

OFB


Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @werdermouth

@pedro

 

...and for the third Tav finally played a decent through-ball but unfortunately it was in the wrong direction..

I agree generally that all three goals should have been avoided  but will defend Tav. He was pulled back a little just as he was about to hit the ball and that is why the "pass" was so poor. 


   
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jarkko
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@selwynoz I cannot add anything what you said above in your two posts. Very good good summaries of the game.

Their second was a good shot but also a lucky one. The ball went between the legs of both Coburn and the keeper. I am not blaming either as it was from close range and the Hatters striker kept it low.

Also the first goal was a bit lucky as the header hit Dijksteel on the way to the goal. Daniels might have saved it just. But Crooks lost his man completely as he went following a wrong guy in the corner. 

But all goals comes with a bit of luck, don't they? And after two mistakes usually. That is football.

I think we played better yesterday than at Riverside versus Birmingham.  

We haven't lost anything yet. The play-offs are still a possibility if we improve a bit and keep more clean sheets. Up the Boro! 

 


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @deleriad

.... Tav's backpass was as calamitous as p0game. (yes he got a nudge in the back just as he went to pass it but he shouldn't have been doing it anyway.)

  I just posted a similar observation before having read your post.


   
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I have said it for weeks now, that Tavernier is a liability and nowhere near his previous form. If an offer came in for him let him go.

 


   
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These last two games just highlighted that we had played three of the worst Championship teams at the best possible time and won. These last couple of matches just showed that playing against sides on our own level or above we are extremely poor, just like we were before that mini three game winning streak.

There is clearly a mental frailty within the squad but more obvious is the lack of in game management from the Coaches and Manager. Warnock selects a side and then seems utterly incapable of changing anything during a match which is concerning considering how much he likes to tinker with his defence from game to game. If only he had more experience, I'm sure then he would be able to effect positive tweaks. 


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After sleeping on I'm still as upset by it all as I was last night, we controlled the first half apart from last 5 -10 mins yet we only created one good chance the one we scored, Luton played well for 15 minutes and scored 3 goals, also what does NW give them  at halftime sleeping tablets? His halftime team talks must absolutely suck. I'm also sick of him blaming refs, linesman infact anybody but himself. I get it that we made mistakes for their goals but how come they were all fired up yet we sleepwalk through 2nd halves, same happened against Birmingham and it could have happened against cardiff.


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The coaches as a collective managed to make the same mistakes again and Boro as a team made the same mistakes on the pitch too so some instructions must be getting through at half-time or are they adding something to the tea? The team seem impotent in the second half so maybe it's Bromide!

Frankly I despair. On paper the team is reasonable but rather whole better Boro seem to make it worse. West Brom? That could be a battering but we are talking about typical Boro and I can barely bring myself to think about it.

One thought that does occur to me is that Mr Warnock loves the fans being there home and away. I think he review that opinion shortly...

UTB,

John


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Just watched the highlights - though Boro's only highlight shown was the goal by Coburn with Luton's several missed chances and their three goals being the other highlights. 

On the first goal it appears both Crooks and McNair went with the same man and left Bradley on his own to score the header. The second goal was a couple of failed clearances that left Coburn as the last man, Dijksteel tried to get across closely followed by Bamba but none of the three managed to get a tackle or block in. The third goal was down to Tav thinking he had more time on the ball than he had - I don't think the opposition player barely touched him but I think Tav slipped in the rush to make the back-pass.

Incidentally, the other two near misses were also down to bad defending with first another poor clearance being heading back into the box that saw Hernandez on the wrong side of his man and similarly the second saw Howson caught on his blind side.

OK, it was more or less another different defensive line-up with Dijksteel in a back three with Bamba and McNair with Jones and Hernandez as wing-backs and Daniels in goal. I suspect we'll see a different line-up at the back for West Brom, followed by another different setup after the international break once Fry and others are fit. That would probably make five different defensive set-ups for five consecutive games with the players needing to adjust their roles. So doesn't sound like Boro will get much consistency in the near future.

Warnock's view was that his players don't have the nastiness that Luton have and are just a nice team - maybe he should confiscate their breakfast!

 


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Just a an aside, I saw this great line by Jonathan Liew in the Guardian this morning as he reported on another Ronaldo rescue act for Man Utd - but argues their short-comings that require late rescues are basically down to accommodating Ronaldo, who doesn't really do the defensive stuff forwards are expected to do these days and just wants to score goals...

Ronaldo presses with all the enthusiasm of the guy who fumbles for his wallet when the bill arrives, but has no intention of actually getting it out.


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@david-in-cumbria: If you think a mere half bottle of Malbec will do the trick, then I'm surprised.


   
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@werdermouth

He also says this about Man Utd

His teamsheet offered us a handy window into the confusion. Four of the back five that had served United so well against Tottenham on Saturday were in operation again. So was Paul Pogba, but in a porous midfield three alongside the wandering Bruno Fernandes and the overloaded Scott McTominay. Up front Marcus Rashford played off Cristiano Ronaldo, an appropriate role for someone so used to feeding children. And so it was a system set up for defensive cover. But also dominating possession. But also playing the ball through midfield. But also the counterattack.

We are like a car boot sale version of this. Under Warnock this season I don't know if we're playing on the counter, pressing, long ball, man-marking or what. For a manager who has been manging since the dawn of time you would think the one thing he would be able to do is figure out a plan and stick with it. 

Seems to me there have been 3 phases of Warnock here.

  1. Rescue. Mission accomplished
  2. Stabilise. Up to the end of 2020 he successfully coaxed a malfunctioning group of misfits into play-off contenders and seemed to massively improve some players (Bola and Dijksteel).
  3. Advance. Complete failure. Since 2021 he has had two transfer windows to assemble a team that could get us into the playoffs but we have instead gone backwards at a rate of knots.

I don't see any sign that we will improve in any significant way under Warnock.


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@original-fat-bob: I am confident that, for every mistake made by a referee or a lino, a neutral fan could identify 25 mistakes by players on the field.  We've all heard it before - "I was amazed the ref missed that foul on our centre forward in the 1st half, and their goal was definitely offside. I'll probably be fined for saying it, but the Chapionship deserves a higher standard of refereeing".  But then a manager will ignore major mistakes like the fact his striker missed an open goal, or mispassed the ball when a colleague was free in the box and facing an empty goal or strayed offside when he should be able to see across the line before the ball is put through for him.  Or another player being sent off after yellow cards for kicking the ball away and then a few minutes later for disputing the ref's decision. Or another player going AWOL, allowing the other team's striker to stand lonely as a cloud on the penalty spot.  That's quite apart from players passing to team mates who are surrounded by opposition players or simply failing to spot an opening etc.  In other words, criticising the referee is a diversion tactic to avoid people looking more closely at the failures of one's own team performance.  When did you ever hear a manager say he'd wished his players had had as good a game as the referee?

I'm not asking for a manager to hang his players out to dry.  But unless a player did something so bad that even a madman couldn't condone it - let's say he took out a kukri from his football sock and chased an opponent around the field with it - is a manager likely to be critical? I doubt it. 


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@deleriad and werdermouth

Jonathan Liew for my money has been our  finest sportswriter for a number of years now.  Thanks for the great quotes.


   
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