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Swansea v Boro
 

Swansea v Boro

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Pedro de Espana
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I think you are being a little hard on Watmore Andy. Watching it in replay three times, very wide and a tight angle. Should have hit the target, but that would of been the goalie. Coburn, no chance.

Swansea dominating possession as Werder said, however Boro players and midfield need to get closer to their man. Howson just standing in no man’s land too often and not picking up his man. A couple of occasions Tav has done his job.

All to play for though, but need to get Jones into the game.

 


   
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@K-P-in-Spain

More time-dragging Tiki-Toki than Tiki-Taki...


   
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McGree as Boro win the ball high up just as we thought was the way we might score!

Great start to the half!


   
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Oh should be 2-0!

And now it’s 1-1.

Where has all this goalmouth action come from???

This post was modified 2 years ago by Andy R

   
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Site Creator
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Before I cn finishing typing 'did I mention it would be decided by a defensive mistake' it's 1-1 🙄 

another 4-4?


   
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Posted by: @pedro

I think you are being a little hard on Watmore Andy. Watching it in replay three times, very wide and a tight angle. Should have hit the target, but that would of been the goalie. Coburn, no chance.

Swansea dominating possession as Werder said, however Boro players and midfield need to get closer to their man. Howson just standing in no man’s land too often and not picking up his man. A couple of occasions Tav has done his job.

All to play for though, but need to get Jones into the game.

 

You might be right Pedro.

Tav’s chance for 2-0 looked better. Bugger.


   
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Andy

I take it you still don’t want to sell Tav! 😉😎


   
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Definitely sell him after that free kick! 😎


   
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Posted by: @k-p-in-spain

Andy

I take it you still don’t want to sell Tav! 😉😎

The free-kick he’s just taken certainly hasn’t helped my argument!

No doubt that composure is the weakest part of his game. Not sure if that comes with experience or is a more natural talent.


   
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Well Boro had multiple excellent chances to win that game in the second half but yet again our ability to finish let us down.

Swansea had a couple of big chances themselves but overall that should have been 3pts for Boro in my book.

It’s still not over, but it’s getting more difficult by the week.


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Well the second half was the antithesis of the first with a breathless end-to-end game that Boro could have easily won but alas didn't. When MOM McGree played a through ball at the death, you couldn't think of any player you'd rather have going one-on-one with the keeper than Connolly - other than ten other players in a red shirt of course. It was the story of Boro's season in the blink of an eye and while a point at Swansea was decent one, it has put the play-offs out of our control after the Blades picked up three points. Boro must now win their last three to have any chance of a top six place but a win against Cardiff will cut the gap to two points with two to play.


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Sadly we saw again what CW talked about in his pre match press conference, the need for players to take their opportunities but failing to do so.

I suspect that in “typical Boro” fashion they will keep us believing until the final kick of the game at Preston, only to fall short.

MoTM for me was Riley McGree closely followed by Dijksteel and Luke Daniels.  😎


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Can I take it that we still believe in Connelly, how can we hope to land the big prize when we ignore the talent displayed by a player on a weekly, or should that be a match by match basis. He has displayed a total lack of interest, in anything going on around him, he looks fed up and far from home, and he is a loanee, so tell me, why is he playing in our team. Are we going to write off next season by signing him, because we need to know    


   
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Philip of Huddersfield
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A disappointing result as the commentators suggested it was a game Boro could have won based on chances.

So once again, the so-called forwards failed to do their job.

That’s 5 games without a win and the season looks as though it’s going to disappointingly fizzle out. Let’s hope the team are capable of winning one or two games, if nothing else, to give the supporters a bit of joy for their fantastic support.

Looking to next season,  around a dozen players are likely to leave and so presumably a not dissimilar number will be recruited . I note the wishes of some supporters are suggesting that Ben Gibson should be pursued. Clearly he is a local lad and has leadership qualities but they aren’t matched by his performances - he hasn’t been a standout defender in the Premiership, albeit in a poor team. I’d be very surprised if any Premiership team tried to buy him.  In my opinion, when he was here,  the central defender playing alongside him (forget his name but was on loan from Arsenal) helped him enormously.

And why pay a fee for a defender?  - there’s enough out there for free. Eg, Huddersfield got two on free transfers plus an 18 year old on loan from Chelsea who have been the backbone of their defence plus a goalkeeper (second choice at MK DONS) who many rate as the best goalkeeper this season in the Championship.

So, the challenge is to recruit a significant number of players on free transfers , as the Club can’t afford to buy many even for moderate fees, who can improve the team and make them into serious promotion challengers. 

Over to you Chris Wilder and your staff.

Philip of Huddersfield 


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In fairness to the forwards, Tav’s chance was probably the best of the game.

Watmore should have hit the target in the first half in my view. Doesn’t mean it would have gone in but it was poor to get one on one albeit on an angle and blaze high and wide. These are the big moments that CW was talking about, and the even bigger one was Tav’s when 2-0 would likely have sealed the points.

Bola’s chance wasn’t really a chance and he can count himself unlucky. Connolly controlled a difficult ball very well and should have scored but was a little unfortunate - a matter of inches though those margins do count.

Sporar and Coburn didn’t really have a chance to spurn.

Ultimately composure has cost us again but it’s not all the forwards.


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@Andy-R

That's the infuriating thing about Connolly, he's usually got a very good first touch but everything seems to unravel the more touches he has. I must admit the closer he got to the goal the less I believed he would score - so probably did he. Tav's chance before their goal was a good one but the keeper made a decent save but it lacked power.

Sporar had some good touches, especially that reverse pass to Jones, but overall none of our forwards look and behave like a goal scorer - maybe Coburn will be - but none of our forwards seem to make runs into the box like a natural goal-scorer would. In hindsight, Boro should have maybe signed a wily old striker, like we had in David Nugent, in January to come off the bench - or even kept Ikpeazu.

Right now none of our strikers are guaranteed to take their chances, which with Crooks no longer delivering, Jones still a bit off it and McNair looking a bit jaded too, is perhaps where Boro will fall short. At least McGree looked the part today but Tav may well be out now for the rest of the season as Payero returns. Still hope but zero room for error now!


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It's not quite over but the fat lady is definitely clearing her throat. 

In the abstract, a point away at Swansea who are on their best run of the season is a pretty decent result but we really needed a win to keep our future (mostly) in our own hands. As it is, we might still sneak into the playoffs but that will take a handbrake turn from 2 points in the last 5 games to 3 wins in a row. Not impossible but definitely infeasible.

That said, it's only 3 weeks since we beat Peterborough 4-0 and it looked like the good times were back so things do change fast.

The game was probably our season in a nutshell. Since Crooks burnt out and lost form followed by Jones getting ill and struggling to get back, we have had about 2 months where our most dynamic attacking impetus has drained away. Although Bola has come back in, he's struggling to get back to his best.

The less said about our forward line, the better. Balogun's sudden disappearance is a mystery; it almost feels like something has happened behind the scenes. 

On the plus side, Daniels has done well since coming into the team and McGree is looking like a real find. 


Selwynoz
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Posted by: @deleriad

It's not quite over but the fat lady is definitely clearing her throat. 

 

This was always down as a draw for me. We now have to make up the points on Sheffield United for sixth place and their two games left are QPR and Fulham. If they win both, good luck to them. Let's start planning for a striker who can score. If they get four points, a bit less good luck to them. We would then have to win all three.

Millwall have two games left. They should beat Peterborough but their last game is away at Bournemouth who could be desperate. If they win both, we have to win all three! 

We might sneak in with two solid wins and a draw but it's looking as if .... we have to win all three.

At least it keeps things interesting.

UTB

This post was modified 2 years ago by Selwynoz

Pedro de Espana
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I think Tav’s chance came too quick and all he could do was react and hit it.

Connolly’s was the best chance and if he was really a half decent striker would have put the ball to the keepers right and would have scored.

It is really hard to believe that we have only taken 2 points out of the last 15.

However there is a lot more wrong with the squad than just the forwards. When you see some of other the other teams midfield players passing the ball, they put ours to shame. At least McGree is an improvement.

Tav still does not achieve enough in the final third and Howson is no Leadbitter, even when comparing ages.

I thought Bamba was a stand out today.

This post was modified 2 years ago by Pedro de Espana

   
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Ken Smith
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It wouldn’t surprise me now if Boro didn’t win another game this season. Even if they win all three it’s too late unless Sheffield United completely impode. As for the close season there will probably be bids for Spence and Fry, not sure about Jones, but certainly not Tavernier. He may be a live wire but a little thick between the ears in my opinion. 

By the way when was the last time Boro scored a goal from a set piece, was it during Warnock’s reign? Genuine question because I can’t remember!

This post was modified 2 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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Just Radio Tees and a couple of minutes of Sky/Quest highlight for me this time. The 1st half must have been so bad from both teams that Sky ignored it while Quest only showed Watmore's miss. Tav should have scored our 2nd which would probably have given us the win but this season he has joined the "strikers" in hitting the goalkeeper/defenders or high and wide. I don't think either Tav or McNair should try to score direct from freekicks anymore. Perhaps McGree or just try putting the ball into a dangerous place and hope a striker will finally take advantage. (That may mean we will score direct from a freekick on Wednesday!)

Daniels performances have been better than Lumley's but we have lost too many points now. The late save when he was able to put the low shot around the post was the sort of shot that has been just out of Lumley's reach too often.

I wonder if Balogun not coming on was because he will definitely not be back next season whereas Connolly will be our star striker signing for next season as Connolly's form has been put down to his lack recent of playtime at Brighton.

I will be at the Riverside for the final 2 home games. Perhaps in true "Typical Boro" style we have left the end of our playoff hopes to torture the home crowd or will we confound all the cynics and win all 3 games?    


   
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Posted by: @david-in-cumbria

Just Radio Tees and a couple of minutes of Sky/Quest highlight for me this time. The 1st half must have been so bad from both teams that Sky ignored it while Quest only showed Watmore's miss. Tav should have scored our 2nd which would probably have given us the win but this season he has joined the "strikers" in hitting the goalkeeper/defenders or high and wide. I don't think either Tav or McNair should try to score direct from freekicks anymore. Perhaps McGree or just try putting the ball into a dangerous place and hope a striker will finally take advantage. (That may mean we will score direct from a freekick on Wednesday!)

Daniels performances have been better than Lumley's but we have lost too many points now. The late save when he was able to put the low shot around the post was the sort of shot that has been just out of Lumley's reach too often.

I wonder if Balogun not coming on was because he will definitely not be back next season whereas Connolly will be our star striker signing for next season as Connolly's form has been put down to his lack recent of playtime at Brighton.

I will be at the Riverside for the final 2 home games. Perhaps in true "Typical Boro" style we have left the end of our playoff hopes to torture the home crowd or will we confound all the cynics and win all 3 games?    

No chance of Connolly being at the club next season David. He couldn't hit a barn door. He has had plenty of game time and has not impressed at all.


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@Ken-Smith

Boro basically have to win their next two home games so they go into the last game with a chance of making the play-offs with 73 points. I think a win on Wednesday could resurrect our top-six hopes with only Sheff Utd from the clubs aiming for sixth able to make more points than us.

While at the moment that sixth spot is now in the Blades hands, their last two games are away to QPR and then home to Fulham - their last six games don't appear to indicate they will win both as they've only won 2, drawn two and lost two of those - scoring just 4 goals in the process

Then there's Luton currently on 72 points, who play Fulham on Monday after Boro have played those two home games. They may also go into their final game under pressure to win to make the play-offs - albeit at home to Reading but the Championship is a strange league.

Though if Boro just fall short then that no-show against Hull will have probably done the damage.

This post was modified 2 years ago by werdermouth

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I think that the team/club have taken a huge downer these last group of matches. Yesterday in the opening minutes they strolled about, not challenging for the ball when two yards away, repeatedly, no idea in the box, never shooting with intent when nothing on. All on display in the prem every week. We had a tall striker on the field, no High balls into the box. Connelly. Forget him, he had that chance, and muffed it big time. He will not be here for our entertainment next season.    


   
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Ken Smith
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Sorry to see that former Premier League club Oldham Athletic have been relegated to the National League, though they aren’t the first top tier club to suffer that indignity, that being Notts County in 2019.  However at first it was announced that Oldham’s match against Salford yesterday had been abandoned with 14 minutes remaining due to a mass demonstration by Oldham supporters invading the pitch against the Latic’s board. But once the crowd had been dispersed, the remaining 14 minutes were played behind closed doors.

Sadly this isn’t the first time that Oldham have been in controversy. I’m now taking you back to Easter Saturday 1915 when Oldham were challenging for the First Division title and were playing at Ayresome Park against Boro who were in mid-table. However a series of questionable decisions in favour of Boro riled the Latics, especially a penalty conceded by        fullback Billy Cook which Walter Tinsley converted for his hat trick and giving Boro a 4-1 lead. Soon after Cook in a moment of pique committed a foul and was booked, and after arguing with the referee was sent off, but refused to leave the field of play so the referee abandoned the match. 

The sequel to this event was that the result was allowed to stand despite 34 minutes of play remaining. Billy Cook was suspended for 12 months but resumed his career after the First World War, and Oldham finished the season only one point behind Champions Everton but were relegated in the season after the war after 16 consecutive seasons in the First Division. 

Thereafter they spent 5 seasons in the Premier League and now will be known as the first Premier League club to be relegated to the National League.


   
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