Steffen was MoM for the Gazette. I think he was good with some excellent saves. But not perhaps MoM.

Marcus Forss knocked down for McGree to score but was alone in the first have. But an excellent team performance as MoM.

I think we should have scored a couple more in the second half. But happy with two goals scored to the right hand top corner of the Norwich goal. Up the Boro!

Forgot to mention Matt Crooks, who we have all criticised a little of late.

He had only been on three minutes and I am not if that was his first touch, however it was not that easy a goal to score, so well done Mr Crooks.

As an aside once more, Hoppe on and not Muniz. Does anybody think (assuming there is a get out clause) that MC could consider letting the latter go back to Fulham and then recall Coburn. Especially if we can get Watmore fit-ish again.

@jarkko   Definitely not MOtM, not for me. He made one big mistake when trying to be too clever controlling it and lost to a Norwich forward who should possibly of scored. also his kicking out was a tad erratic at times. 

No, it has to be HH followed by Forss, possibly Howson's second half display  although there were other equally as good second half performances.

@pedro Not for me, either. But he had one of his best games, though.

Also the Echo thought Zack Steffen was MoM: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23120820.steffens-response-midfield-brilliance-norwich-vs-boro-ratings/

I prefer the Echo for player ratings more than the Gazette. But this time the ratings were quite similar. 

A great team performance.  Up the Boro!

Posted by: @pedro

[...]

As an aside once more, Hoppe on and not Muniz. Does anybody think (assuming there is a get out clause) that MC could consider letting the latter go back to Fulham and then recall Coburn. Especially if we can get Watmore fit-ish again.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/middlesbrough-conversations-leave-joey-barton-25489811

Who knows what is paper talk & what isn't!

Posted by: @jarkko

By the way we are just four (4) points from the play-offs. And plenty of games to come. 

Happy days. Up the Boro!

That’s absolutely mad after the start we’ve had isn’t it? Best league in the world?

And does anyone know where Marc Bola is? He wasn’t on the bench again today. Is he injured? Does MC have a problem with him? He’s far too good a defender to leave him out in the cold like this. It seems to go against much that MC has said regarding giving everyone a chance. 

I was so nervous about this match that I had opened a £15 bottle of Malbec before kick off. (1/2 left!)

Really good win and came back from a goal down after Carrick's half time talk. I was only able to follow on Radio Tees but although Steffen had to make some important saves the most mentioned player seemed to be Hackney. (Hopefully his sending off when at Swindon was a one off as when I had seen him in action in friendlies he stood out from the academy players given a run out.) Howson also had a good game but really all the players did their jobs.

McGree seems to be the hard working midfielder who additionally get goals and I am looking forward to seeing him playing in the World Cup. Crooks, in spite of the obvious need to get his hernia sorted, has again shown that he instinctively gets into position to score vital goals from close in as he did last season. 

Let's get the World Cup out of the way so I can get to the next match that matters (rail strikers permitting).

Strong Rumours that Steffen is going to

be made a permanent transfer by Boro 

OFB

Norwich Strengths
Created a high number of chances relative to their possession
Stole the ball often from the opposition
Norwich Weaknesses
Were poor at finishing
Norwich Styles
Attacked down the left side
Had a high shot frequency when in possession
Favoured short passing

Middlesbrough Strengths
Were effective at creating goalscoring opportunities from
long shot situations
Were strong at finishing
Stole the ball often from the opposition
Middlesbrough Weaknesses
No significant weaknesses
Middlesbrough Styles
Attacked down the right side
Favoured short passing

@original-fat-bob    That surprises me in only that he is on EPL wages, even if they are at the low end. He has a contract until 2025 and cost Man City a reputed 7 million dollars.

Could we really afford his wages and fee?

@pedro - If he's on loan until the end of the season, surely it's sensible to see where we are as the season nears its end...?  If we are looking upwards, his pay becomes more manageable.  Remember that only a matter of weeks ago he was dropped and replaced by his No 2 who, for a few weeks at least, seemed to be an improvement (no doubt that is why Steffen is not going to the World Cup).

Still on Cloud 9 after that win though....

A Norwich match report perspective 

@original-fat-bob 

When you are not bothered when going away to very Good teams, and feel that any result is possible, then it is reasonable to think that you are at least well organized. I think that we have got a coach who has taken root on the training field, and found a decent group of young players who will come good if and when they are given their chance. I also believe that he is not happy with this habit of loaning out your best young prospects, and this situation will be nipped in the bud a.s.a.p..

@original-fat-bob.  Thanks for that.  A very fair summary in my view and especially this comment “From that moment on, there was only ever going to be one winner.” Which referred to the moment when we equalised. 

Scrap the World Cup I say, keep the league program going, it’s so good to watch at the moment. 😎

@original-fat-bob    The commentary on the stream I watched the match on was from Norwich people. They were a little critical of their own team as the first half progressed, losing the initiative and not making the most the chances.

Second half very complementary of Boro and our play down the wings. Then a wonder goal from McGree, and high pressing eventually resulting in the Crooks goal. They finally said Boro deserved to win. Not at all biased, it was evenly fair.

Posted by: @k-p-in-spain

@original-fat-bob.  Thanks for that.  A very fair summary in my view and especially this comment “From that moment on, there was only ever going to be one winner.” Which referred to the moment when we equalised. 

I was amused by this assertion:

Jordan Hugill charged around a lot but little else.  😉

I was interested by some of the comments made by Riley McGee in his  post match interview on the MFC website yesterday.  

He was asked about the atmosphere in the camp following Carrick’s involvement and he basically said that it had changed completely compared with what had gone before. The word he used that particularly struck me was when he said that atmosphere was now “calm” which would seem to indicate that it had been anything but under Wilder. He also said that everyone was together, feeling very positive and happy.

So it would appear that Carrick has worked wonders since he arrived and we are starting to see the results on the pitch.  Long may it continue! 

Posted by: @boroexile

I was interested by some of the comments made by Riley McGee in his  post match interview on the MFC website yesterday.  

He was asked about the atmosphere in the camp following Carrick’s involvement and he basically said that it had changed completely compared with what had gone before. The word he used that particularly struck me was when he said that atmosphere was now “calm” which would seem to indicate that it had been anything but under Wilder. He also said that everyone was together, feeling very positive and happy.

So it would appear that Carrick has worked wonders since he arrived and we are starting to see the results on the pitch.  Long may it continue! 

While I was at Middlesbrough I was told a player said he has not played under a more "angry" manager before. He had never seen the manager smile since his move in the summer.

Sounded strange at the time but we have seen the players smile on the pitch again  since Carrick came.

Nice to see happy and smiling players performing confidently now. Up the Boro! 

Obviously I didn’t see the match, but I did forecast that Boro would win 2-0 so not quite accurate. The only setback of the weekend was the poor performance of the England World Cup Rugby League team. However after watching the previous day’s match we were probably saved a cricket score beating by Australia in the Final.  

Mentioning cricket though congratulations to our T20 team  who now hold both ‘white ball’ trophies at the same time, the only country to have done that. Beautiful bowling by Sam Curran and Adil Rashid on a really difficult Melbourne pitch for batters, it was no surprise that Ben Stokes should once more become the only batsman that looked comfortable and his undefeated 52 was way above any other score by either side as England won a low scoring match with 6 balls remaining. 

As for Boro a most satisfying win from what I’ve seen from the highlights, just a shame that the World Cup has occurred just when Boro have gained momentum? As for Clive’s question Boro have only ever won 5 consecutive away matches twice, not even in the season that George Camsell scored his 59 goals. The last time was in the famous Jack Charlton promotion season of 1973/74 when they beat Hull City 3-1, Sunderland 2-0, West Brom 4-0, Fulham 4-0 and Luton 1-0. The only other time was in the Third Division promotion season of 1986/87 when they won their last 5 away matches at Blackpool 1-0, Bolton 1-0, Carlisle 1-0, Chester 2-1 and Doncaster 2-0.

Posted by: @ken

... As for Clive’s question Boro have only ever won 5 consecutive away matches twice...

Our next two away fixtures are at Burnley first and then at Blackburn, so let's not hold our breaths for that feat to be achieved this time around. Remaining unbeaten in both will be an achievement enough for me.

Whilst I can understand the euphoria of Boro fans, all wins are of equal importance and carry a maximum of 3 points. Just because it was Norwich who lest we forget have been the worst team regularly in the Premier League on their last two appearances,  to my mind doesn’t make the result any more surprising than against the wins at Hull and Blackpool. There is no outstanding team this season in the Championship, perhaps Boro will become the exception. It would be no surprise to me if Boro won their next two away matches at Burnley and Blackburn. If Boro continue to improve as they have so far under Michael Carrick, then the impossible dream might still occur.

One beef I have about the Gazette and the Boro website is that there has been no mention of Boro’s Ladies team beating Bradford in the first round of the Ladies FA Cup. One would have thought that with the resurgence of ladies football in England at the present time that at least some acknowledgement might have been given to Middlesbrough Ladies FC. I’ve no idea whether beating Bradford was a surprise result or not, but with no Championship Football for the next 4 weeks, why not give our ladies some recognition?

Once again the Yorkshire Post sports editors have come up trumps with their reports on England’s T20 Cricket triumph and Boro’s resurgence under Michael Carrick, also the reasons why our World Cup Rugby League team have come unstuck, possibly because Shaun Wane has relied too much on his former Wigan players. How is it possible that a team that England beat 60-6 a mere 4 weeks ago at St James’s Park can possibly outplay England when it really matters? Complacency? I’ve seen enough of that from Boro in my lifetime without it manifesting itself into Rugby League as well.

@ken Which of the Ex Wigan players would you have left out? Tomkins? Williams? Personally, I’d not have had Bateman in, but I’d trust SW’s judgment over mine every day of the week. I think they just bottled it on the day. Samoa, in their first game against England, were under prepared, had only just flown in from Oz, where quite a few of their team had been celebrating a Grand Final win. They were always going to be a different proposition in the semi-final. 
I do agree that we could have been trounced in the Final against Australia but we’ll never know. Such a shame that England didn’t make it through.

Bob 

Thanks for posting that excellent Norwich match report which was so good that it reminded me of one of Redcar Red's regular reports which added so much to the quality of this blog.  It motivated me to respond positively from a Boro perspective. I agree with Pedro that the Norwich commentary team were also first class and deserved some acknowledgement. So, very grateful for the typically thoughtful posting, Bob.

Can I please say that will we leave young Josh Coburn exactly where he is, and for him to enjoy his time in the sun (or any choice of inclement weather back over there) to improve at his own pace whilst banging in the goals.  Bringing a 19 year old back in to the fold at the Boro with a reputation, albeit a local Bristolian one, of being a proven goal scorer is pressure he doesn't need if he fails to reproduce the same level of goals upon his return.  He's having a ball, he's young and banging in goals for fun, why put the poor lad under the microscope and under the threat of reproducing the same at a higher level if he fails at first.

I mean, c'mon, we're not exactly short of forwards at the moment that he'd be fighting for a place against, that's if he gets to fight for one.  Leave the lad alone, admire his progress and welcome him back next season with open arms and an extended contract, we're not doing too bad at the moment after all.

@peasepudinperth Exactly. 

Only if Muniz would go back to Fulham  or Hoppe would be loaned out insted in January, I would recall Josh.

But otherwise, I would let him play games in Bristol and would welcome him back for the preseason with super Michael Carrick. 

Up the Boro! 

lenmasterman 

Thanks for the post Len it’s appreciated.

I’ve taken the liberty of forwarding a copy to Redcar Red to let him Know he’s missed by us all

OFB

@ken 

Boro Ladies is managed by former Boro player Andy Campbell who is a friend of my family and whom I have known since a small boy.

I’ve sent him a copy of your post to let him know we are thinking about him.

The chairman of Boro ladies is also a family friend perhaps I should do an IN2View during my World Cup break with them.

OFB

Please don’t think I’m being churlish or too woke, but I think Middlesbrough Women FC would prefer the word “women” to “ladies”. We rarely refer to “men” as “gentlemen” and the “ladies” epithet seems a little anachronistic.