The solution would be to sell Britt and keep Watmore which might mean waiting until the summer. Let’s be honest, whilst this season has been a big improvement on last season the prospect of Boro in the Premier League next season terrifies me. Also the prospect of seeing crowds back at the Riverside before Easter is now so remote after the increase in the number of coronavirus cases, that there may well be a large number of postponements. Already Boro have the home game with Rotherham to fit in and the likelihood of finding a new date for the Blackburn match even if we lose to Brentford in the FA Cup as Blackburn will surely beat Chorley to progress.
I’m equally concerned that the Northern League and below will also be voided for the second successive season, if indeed I’m lucky enough to survive for another year to worry about either situations.
@plato. "We cannot and will not shoot at goal" is not borne out by the stats which shows 21 shots but only three on target.
It is not a case of numbers but of composure and execution in front of goal i.e. most of our players are not good enough, often enough when presented with scoring opportunities.
I also don't understand your comments about our goal keeper wandering outside his goal when he was still in/around the six yard box when he was beaten. 😎
@redcarred. I agree with much of what you say but can't accept that the other night was a "disinterested, heartless and spineless performance" by the team.
Agreed. We're an inconsistent, top-half team that works really hard but lacks creativity and composure while attacking. We had an off day against Weds but Warnock has got us having more on days than off days. I don't think it's fair (or accurate) to label the players heartless or spineless. Performances are variable - that's why none of them are playing in the Premier league - but I've rarely seen any of our players look disinterested this season.
Sorry but I found the display against Wednesday totally inept and lacking belief from the off. The first half was a shambles against a side who hadn't scored more than a single goal at home and languishing near the bottom of the Championship (even allowing for the points deduction).
To come out and perform the way we did in the first forty five minutes was unacceptable in professional sport. To then go two down to a Club in disarray from top to bottom was down to a lot of things, collectively they flattered to deceive. I put it down to misplaced arrogance coupled with being allowed time off over Christmas. Even the opening spell of the second half didn't make up for what had gone before. That purple patch infuriated me even more considering the lack of application and intensity in the first half.
It was an opportunity for three points if Warnock is genuinely serious about Promotion, one point would have been disappointing but that first half showing was unacceptable. Simply not good enough unless mid table mediocrity is the target this season. We started indifferently against Birmingham then came good, why we can't start a game with the mindset of winning from the off is beyond me. If it continues then tenth place is where we will finish, winners don't accept mediocrity and certainly don't deliver it. Tuesday night to me was weak against a side that was there for the taking.
You are quite right about the shots, but, and it is a big but, a notably incompetent player finding himself momentarily in a shooting position and carelessly swinging a boot and missing the entire goal by many a mile does not get my vote as a shot. We can all see great attempts at goal every Saturday night on the box, a real team who are competent will try shots which we think are impossible, but in fact cause a lot of trouble to the opponents. now to the Keeper! He constantly leaves his goal line, which is bad, but he gets completely outside the frame of his goal at the First sign of trouble from the wing and that is fatal. Not the incident, at, was it Brighton?, when the keeper was between the corner flag and his goalpost, a simple backpass went into the goal. I can see the look of absolute disgust on the teammates face as it happened, and he was right. We have conceded several goals already this season because if his bad habit
Agree holeheartedly. Particularly infuriating was our attitude when they had possession (largely because we had given them the ball) in midfield, we stood still and watched as they got it under control, then had a battle to snuff it out. Our idea of booting it in the air then wrestling with their taller players endlessly was not attractive. We were specialists at crossing the ball at speed, trouble was, the crosser was stood at the side of the box, with a likely scorer running in to the box, the crosses all screamed out of play, (puzzling, that?) and, I am truly sorry to say this, but, really, we are playing Wing hopelessly far back, he belongs on the edge of the box, at this level of football he will get many chances of a shot, or put someone else in on goal. Wasting his energy in wrestling matches with the water carriers of the game.
Crikey, it’s suddenly gone very negative on here. We lost a game that we probably should have won. We’ll almost certainly win games we should have lost.
Given where we were 12 months ago, I’m prepared to give NW the benefit of the doubt about his ability to pick the team from what he has at his disposal. I can’t believe that his intention isn’t to try and win every game nor that he’s deliberately winding us up by not playing Roberts, etc.
I’m no fan of BA and would much rather see Whatmore in the team but I’m struggling to see Akpom as a better player than our captain. We are where we are, with the squad we’ve got at the moment, and I can’t for a minute see us being able to compete in the PL if we managed to sneak promotion.
@martin-bellamy. "and I can’t for a minute see us being able to compete in the PL if we managed to sneak promotion".
Totally agree with that and one reason why I do not like the play off's as very rarely does a team finishing 4th to 6th manage more than one season in the PL.
You need to build a team which is capable of dominating the Championship and holding its own, with a few additions, in the PL. We have already proved that winning promotion and then undertaking wholesale changes does not work.
Unfortunately we do not have at present a team which is capable of dominating this league and it becomes harder to create one on SG's diminishing budget. NW is currently achieving good results overall on limited resources.
I fear that we could be in this league for many more years to come as even with money we have seen how difficult it is to attract players, some of whom appear to show little in the way of loyalty despite being given the opportunity to resurrect their career. 😎
Financially one year in the Premiership is better than a decade in the Championship (probably even longer). Far better to go up and come straight back down with £100M easing the Accountants fears.
The problem is what the Club does when it comes back down. Norwich stuck together and held their nerve and its paying off so far. Then again you could always try and emulate Leeds by giving it a real good go rather than last time when we f*rted and departed. I wonder if the Blades will accept their fate and regroup rather than sack Wilder. West Brom have already gambled and it will remain to be seen what happens.
One thing is certain is that the way we handled promotion and the spending spree under Monk is definitely not the way to run the club. Much better to get up and come straight back down than to languish where we are. To do that requires a ruthless, focussed mindset in the changing rooms, it wasn't evident on Tuesday night and arguably despite the result wasn't evident at the start at Birmingham. Maybe making Morsy Captain might alter the mindset.
@redcarred. I certainly admire the way Norwich have gone about it and particularly when you remember that until they beat us in the Championship at Carrow Road when TP was in charge and Ayala got sent off unfairly they were going no where.
I am not sure it is about captaincy but perhaps more about mindset and players thinking they are better than they really are which is compounded by a manager who places too much trust in them by giving them days off. It sounds good management practice but has so far not paid off.
Anyway enough of that, just wanted to send best wishes to all my Diasboro mates across the world and to wish them a safe, healthy and happy 2021. Take care and thanks for all your friendship. UTB 😎
Happy New Year to all at Diasboro.
Its been a very strange and bizarre year and one that not many of us would want a repeat of. I am personally glad to see the back of 2020 and hope for all of us that better times lie ahead in 2021.
Can I suggest that everyone takes a deep breath and remembers that this Boro team is doing better than we all expected but maybe not as well as we might hope.
We were not particularly good against Birmingham but scored two goals and were then gifted two more to make it a very easy win. it was one of those rare games when everything went our way. That’s rare and nice when it happens but doesn’t make us world-beaters.
Against Sheffield Wed we should have been ahead when Johnson missed a pass to Watmore which would have given him a tap in. We then conceded two bad goals through sloppy pressure and poor positioning. The second half wasn’t at all bad but we missed lots of opportunities with Tav’s miss being the most obvious. We should have got a draw out of the game but it didn’t work out. That doesn’t make us disasters.
Our main problem seems to be getting enough shots on target. I’m not sure as to the solution to that one.
I’m prepared to wait and see how we go through the post-FA Cup run of games against some of the better teams. We will also know by then what players we have for the rest of the season and will have a fair idea of what we can hope for.
happy new year. Let’s enjoy the season however it turns out.
utb
A happy and healthy New Year to everyone on the blog and as I and a few others have said we're doing better than we ever expected. I'm sure Mr Warnock doesn't expect to win every match but it's the manner of losing that grates on us. Anyway we are all season ticket holders in the 'Cynicism Stand' at the virtual Riverside.
Stay safe and fit everyone, all the best,
UTB,
John
Thank God that’s the end of 2020. As far as Boro are concerned we’re in a better position than most of us expected, but will the future be any better this year? The season could yet fall into a shambles especially for EFL clubs with many of them unable to fulfil their fixtures as this second coronavirus wave gets deeper.
On a personal level I’ve always been positive about my own circumstances, but although I’ve survived catching coronavirus so far the continued lockdown has caused mental problems which I fear I’ll never recover from. I feel so lethargic and on the verge of depression now as my doctors’ surgery have no idea when the coronavirus vaccine will be available. It’s not particularly the worry of catching coronavirus that worries me as I’m fairly isolated on my own at home, but with the lack of exercise and fresh air I’m frightened of falling again because of lack of balance. I had another fall recently trying to dry my legs after a shower, didn’t hurt myself, but it took 45 minutes to get on my feet before I could crawl into the bedroom to finish drying myself, change my catheter bag and dress myself before calling ‘home call’ as my walking stick was downstairs and I didn’t feel confident in descending the stairs without it.
I know it was an accident waiting to happen and stupid. I’ve sorted out that problem by moving a stool into the bathroom so I can sit down whilst I dry myself, and made sure my walking stick and ‘home call’ button are available in the bathroom, but I’ve no strength in my arms now and the self-isolation has made me more forgetful. Yes I can remember Boro matches from 70 years ago, but sometimes can’t remember whether I’ve had my dinner or taken my medication - it’s so frustrating, and the mental effects of living alone and not being able to converse with the outside world except by phone. I spend most of the day asleep if I try to watch television, but reading and particularly researching and writing about football and music are two ways of staying awake.
I try to remain positive and acknowledge there are many people in a much worse position than myself, and after all I’ll be 83 this month but this pandemic has affected my mental state and 2021 looks unlikely to improve that. I’m not suicidal but life has become a bore with only sport (hopefully) and music to relieve that. I accept that it’s no good feeling sorry for myself, but if only I could get out a bit more for drives in our wonderful countryside and enjoy the occasional meal outside and visit people I’d be reasonably content. Anyway I wish a happy new year to all members of Diasboro club and stay safe, as surely 2021 will be much more enjoyable for most of you if sadly perhaps not for myself.
That is a perfect summing up of the reason why it is better to go up, grab the 120 million and use it to strengthen your team and your club. When one considers our position approaching Xmas, with 20 matches still to play, and our complete explosion, with Manager sacked, a succession of buffoons, who, frankly, lay back and thought of the Championship, and were complimented/ commiserated with, as the whole edifice collapsed around them, one understands just how bad our command and control system was and is. So thanks again for your post.
@ken Sorry to hear of your issues. I’m not sure where you live, but I’m hoping someone on this Forum could spare a few hours to take you out into the countryside, when the Tiers are relaxed. It would give you something to look forward to and maybe you could occupy yourself by planning where you’d like to go. I’m over the Pennines in the Wetlands of Lancashire so maybe I can’t help but I’m sure one of the Diasboro’s members could offer some assistance.
Happy New Year to all. Really sorry to hear about your situation,Ken. Surely 2021 can only get better for us all.
Belated good wishes for New Year to everyone. More 5han happy to see 2020 consigned to history and hoping we all have a better 2021.
Well, this Watmore situation is getting boring, if the player wants to stay then tell his agent, he doesn't have to listen to him if he doesn't want to. If he is looking for another deal elsewhere, well goodbye!
Sorry to hear of your struggles Ken, you are not alone in regards to the frustration and mental effects of the last nine months. It is taking its toll on a lot of people right now and I for one can certainly relate to how you are feeling but am fortunate in that I have my Family around me (albeit it driving me up the wall at times).
I just read this morning that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is being produced at the rate of 2 million doses a week or will be from the middle of this month. That is reason for some positive hope that at 8 million doses a month things will slowly start returning to normal and very likely by the Spring. I know it requires two doses per person but its the 20% that are the 80% of patients who will be targeted first so it is very likely you will be getting a letter or call from your GP soon.
In the meantime if I can do anything let me know, always happy to help a fellow Boro sufferer!
@malcolm I suspect it’s a bit more complicated than that. It’s his career after all and has a finite life, so he’s needs to maximise his opportunities and income I guess. Yes, we gave him a lifeline by giving him games, but surely he’s more than repaid us with his goals.
@martin-bellamy. Very fair points. It's easy to say he should show loyalty but loyalty doesn't pay the bills and I dare say if we were in a similar position we too would be looking for the best deal on offer both football and financial wise.
I just hope that MFC have recognised his true value to the squad and team and can come up with an offer which will be acceptable to both parties.
NW frequently says that the players he has been after this season who have gone elsewhere have not been a loss; not quite true, Keiffer Moore has scored 8 goals in 18 appearances this season!
Moore and Watmore might have been a potent combination for us.😎
ken read your post and know that you are a proud man but think you need some help. Have you talked to social services to see if they can send careers in to help with your washing and dressing.
Although this may seem abhorrent to you the time has probably come to accept the situation.
Dont give up stay strong and above all shout loudly for help because Pandemic or not just shout !