Points! Plural and everything!
Boro are finally on the board following a relieving 2-1 win over blunt ball-hoggers Swansea. This was a much needed three points with well taken first half strikes from Riley McGree and Matt Crooks doing the damage against a side that pass the ball for fun but have a mistake in them and lack penetration up top. If Boro fans were upset after the recent Reading performance, imagine being a Swansea fan – they play like that every week!
Chris Wilder got his selection and tactics spot on. Acknowledging that the Swans would dominate possession, he went with a deeper defensive line of McNair, Lenihan and impressive debutant Matt Clarke whilst the irrepressible Duncan Watmore spanielled about up front to hurry the opposition into mistakes. It worked. For long spells Boro were untroubled whilst the opposition errors came early. Boro, at last, were ruthless, putting away both of their first half goal attempts that ultimately were enough, even if there were some nerves towards the end after Joel Piroe’s what’s-that-for (?) penalty.
MOTM Clarke looks to be another acquisition that makes so much sense. Relatively inexpensive, at a good age with plenty of Championship experience, a left footed centre back who looks to come out from the back and specialises in playing in a back three – what’s not to like?
Alongside Lenihan and McNair, has Wilder now found the formula for this season’s backline? Maybe, but maybe not. The missing ingredient with that trio looks to be pace and Boro, you’d think, would have to play that deeper defensive line to compensate. That’s fine when we’re happy to concede possession but those games are rare under Chris Wilder. McNair may be taller and better on the ball than Anfernee Djiksteel but the Dutchman is a better one-on-one defender and adds vital recovery pace when the team pushes up. Can Boro afford to be a little sluggish at the back against more pacey attacks?
We’re likely to find out straight away as Boro head down to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Tuesday evening, kick-off 8pm.
Rob Edwards’ Hornets have made a competent start to life back in the Championship following last season’s relegation, with two wins and three draws from their opening six, especially when considering that their opponents to date have included Sheffield United, West Brom and Burnley.
Prior to Saturday’s surprise 2-3 reverse at home to QPR, Watford had conceded just two goals but Rangers’ victory has sucked the Hornets back to the pack, just three points ahead of Boro.
Edwards was somewhat of a left-field choice at Watford’s revolving managerial door. The 39-year-old former centre-half retired from playing aged just 30 and took a position as Wolves U18s coach a year later. After short stints with Telford and England U20s, he was appointed manager of Forest Green Rovers last year and guided them to promotion, winning the EFL League Two Manager of the Season in the process, before immediately replacing Roy Hodgson at Watford.
Despite the quality of forwards at Edwards disposal, most notably Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr both of whom have been in discussions with Premier League clubs over the summer, Watford have surprisingly struggled to score goals so far this term with just six.
Edwards hasn’t completely settled on a formation as yet, largely playing a 4-2-3-1 but mixing things up with a back three at times and it’s fair to suggest that he hasn’t found the right balance with his team now heading into Tuesday’s clash without a win in three. With the Pozzo family in charge and their record for impatience with managers, Edwards can genuinely be worried about his position if Boro take the points!
After the QPR defeat, Edwards said: “I don’t think you will see the best of us for a few more weeks, because we haven’t been able to get some of the new players on the pitch yet and people need to settle in. We will get better in the coming weeks.” Will you get the chance for a few more weeks though, Rob?
Boro’s victory at the weekend was surely as much about Swansea’s frailty than our own quality but Wilder’s men will take some confidence from it and a fast start at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night might just unnerve the home crowd.
Fitness permitting, Wilder may choose to go with the same XI especially as that deeper defensive line makes sense in reducing the space that Sarr, in particular, can operate in. The most likely change is up front with Watmore a perennial fitness concern and Muniz seemingly ready to play. The Brazilian loanee came off the bench for his debut at the weekend and nearly scored with first touch, smashing a volley against the post. Wilder has talked up Muniz’s physical presence, which seems a good fit for this encounter whilst Akpom has been ruled out for several weeks and Hoppe and Forss don’t appear to have their manager’s full confidence.
Perhaps the biggest take away from Saturday was in reinforcing the importance of the first goal. Boro had fallen behind in four straight games before Saturday and, with Watford’s defensive record, doing so again could prove a mountain to climb. On the other hand, scoring early could cement Boro’s shiny new feelgood factor whilst putting some pressure on the hosts. We shall see.
Come on Boro.
An excellent review of Saturday’s match from Andy and also a preview of tomorrow’s clash with Watford. A lot of content too. Not a lot can be taken from Watford’s Carabao Cup exit against MK Dons or Saturday’s defeat at home to QPR either as any team can win against any other in this league. Nevertheless there might be added pressure on the Hornets as they celebrate 100 years tomorrow at Vicarage Road in what might be a carnival atmosphere. This can work two ways as the Hornets might well be in a celebratory mood and take their eyes of the main purpose which is taking three points off Boro. Apparently Watford were the first club to introduce a family zone which of course Boro followed suit at the Riverside Stadium. Their most famous player might well have been Luther Blissett, but it was Cliff Holton whom I remember seeing from his Arsenal days who holds the scoring record for the Hornets with 48 league goals in the 1958/59 season albeit in the 4th Division.
As an aside full marks to the supporters of Crystal Palace for bonding a friendship with our neighbours Hartlepool since the FA Cup meeting between the two clubs last January. You might remember that they paid for transport for Pools supporters attending that match and also a handsome donation to Gemma Lee the wife of former manager Graeme who previously had held the post of head coach to Boro’s Academy team. Gemma has a rare cancerous disease and a team of Palace supporters provided a team to play Pool’s supporters yesterday at FC Grayfields ground, a round trip of some 500 miles to add finance towards the Gemma Lee fund for her treatment in the USA. It was also in recognition of the best set of fans that Palace had encountered last season.
I know that in the past I have maintained that there are too many London clubs in the Premier League, but Crystal Palace are one club I have time for and wish them well this season.
Thanks for another great preview Andy with some very good analysis but I particularly enjoyed your superb use of 'spanielled' to describe Duncan Watmore's contribution.
Yes this game will be a tough test as Boro go in search of their first victory on the road since that 4-0 thumping of soon to be relegated Peterborough back in the beginning of April.
I suspect Chris Wilder may try to keep the same team but it may depend on whether Watmore will be able to wag his tail again - though he did come off after an hour so he could be fit. Starting with Muniz could be a gamble as he may still lack the experience of leading the line and knowing when to press.
Personally, I think Dijksteel should start as he was probably one of Boro's top three performers last season and as you say has much-needed recovery pace. In fact I noticed at the weekend that it was often Jones making those defensive recovery runs on the right rather than McNair. While Paddy has his strengths and experience, he hasn't really got that involved so far this season.
My other concern is with Fry's continued relegation to the bench - I can't see the ultimate logic of bringing in Lenihan on a free to push Fry out of the frame, who was a player being valued at around £15m - especially as he will enter the last 12 months of his contract at the end of the season. OK, Lenihan has been solid but his distribution was woeful at the weekend - Fry was faultless against Man Utd and Spurs last season and either a long-term benching or playing him out of position doesn't appear the best way forward for either him or the club.
Anyway, Boro have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded 10 goals so some stability at the back is required - who the best three are is open to debate but Clarke certainly looks to be a shoe-in at left centre-back after his impressive debut.
If Boro can get a win tomorrow night then they're back on track with managerless Sunderland up next at the Riverside before that late summer trip to Blackpool and a home game against Cardiff before the international break. I'd be looking for nine points from those four games if I was Chris Wilder.
A lovely opener, Andy. Informative and very stylish. Loved your perfect and vivid image of Watmore spanielling about.
There does seem to be some concern on this blog about Dijksteel's omission. I only saw the highlights of the Stoke game, but my reaction to Stoke's opening goal was "Where is our right back?", as Stoke broke away and scored a tap-in goal from a two-against- one situation. And on Stoke's last ditch equaliser, Dijksteel was on the shoulder of the lad who scored throughout the build up only to be caught ball watching and a yard off his man when the final cross came in. His lack of basic defensive nous cost us the game. Wilder will have been fuming at that kind of naivety, and I suspect it may be some time before the player regains his manager's confidence.
I see that Werder beat me to the spanielling compliment as I was posting. Great minds... and all that...though not, I see, on Dijksteel.
At least our linguistic analysis is in agreement 😀
Though regarding the Stoke goals I haven't watched the replay but only saw it live - the first was down to Jones being fouled when the Boro defence was pushing up and they got caught 2-on-1, which the referee later apologised to Wilder for missing.
For their second goal, I noted that Chris Wilder actually blamed McNair for his poor touch on the edge of the box that gifted possession to Stoke and also Jones for not covering...
“We ultimately make the mistake,” he said. “Paddy should clear the lines or have a better touch when it comes it him on the edge. You give credit that the boy finds a great pass and it’s a good header. From our point of view we can maybe pick the bones out of the defending. Maybe Izzy [Isaiah Jones] has to come round a little bit more on it.
Either way, it appears Wilder sees McNair as first choice and Dijksteel as cover (though he opted for Fry at Reading) but overall the defending has been sloppy at times this season and has probably cost Boro a fair few points.
A great preview Andy coiled with excellent analysis of the game on Saturday.
Thanks to Werder for his wizardry of the software manipulation too.
Great contributions from our regular members and this blog goes from strength to strength
OFB
I’d better give P.G. Wodehouse the credit for the verb “to spaniel”, though just as much goes to an incredibly knowledgeable friend of mine who mentioned it over the weekend for no particular reason - a very timely and random bit of trivia that seemed to fit perfectly!
Apparently Wodehouse described one his more excitable characters as spanielling into the room, which I thought was great.
Watmore is a spaniel-terrier cross breed, I think, but that is a term of endearment after the lame ducks and show ponies we’ve had in the past.
Len, Werder,
I think the other factor in the McNair/Djiksteel debate is consistency. I’m on the Djiksteel side of the fence but will concede that he does chuck in an absolute shocker every now and then, QPR probably being his standout aberration this season.
I think his average level is above McNair’s but those occasional dreadful performances come out of nowhere and we know that managers generally prefer reliable 7/10 players over those that oscillate.
It’s not a terrible problem to have in the end and shows that the squad is improved.
I'd agree that Dijksteel is prone to the odd bad game but I thought overall he was one of the most consistent performers last season including several MoM displays. Though, I didn't see the QPR game as Stoke was my first game after getting back from holiday.
Incidentally, I just watched the Stoke highlights to see the defending on their goals. The first one saw McNair receive the ball halfway inside Stoke's half following the breakdown of a Boro attack and then he passed the ball out wide where Jones came back to receive it - it was then that Dijksteel tried to make the overlapping run (as the Wilder tactic goes) to receive it from Jones but he was instead tackled (fouled) and that left Dijksteel out of the defensive picture as Stoke broke forward.
The second goal saw Boro defending deep with McNair marking Brown and Dijksteel covering Wright-Philips in the centre with Jones tucked inside just below him. McNair then pushed out to intercept a cross but only fumbled it a few yards and fell to his knees - Stoke then fed the ball out wide and delivered a cross where Dijksteel then left Wright-Philips to cover the now unmarked Brown but Jones didn't get across to cover Wright-Philips in time as the cross was inch-perfect. Dijksteel was basically left with two forwards to cover after McNair pushed out to intercept the first cross. I think Howson maybe should have dropped deeper to cover McNair but I guess when a team is hanging on for the whistle they get edgy. Maybe Dijksteel made the wrong decision to go with Brown but I'm not sure he had much choice and if the cross hadn't been so perfect Boro would have probably escaped with three points.
Both McNair and Dijksteel (at Charlton) are midfielders who Boro made defenders. So they are both good at going forward and their passing is often excellent. Somethimes I think McNair is better of the two in long passes, but as said Dijksteel is quicker in covering. And hence more reliable as a defender.
McNair sometimes makes a big, big error but Dijksteel occationally (quite seldom) have a bad or very quiet game. So choose one over another!
So they are very close to each other in all. Both fitting well to the WilderBall system. Paddy can play also in midfield which is handy is system needs to changed during a match. But as a defender, I would choose Dijksteel.
Up the Boro!
Thanks Andy for the quality split Headliner, well delivered.
The enigma that is Paddy McNair. Not quite good enough to be a stand out defender, not quite good enough to be an influential midfielder.
Personally, I think a “Jack of all Trades” but Master of None and I do not mean that in a disparaging way.
I can only assume that the Fry issue is his past injury and fitness problems. I do nor think Lenahin
As Weder stated, Dijksteel was arguably the standout defender last season and is the one we have with most pace. Something we still lack. With McNair at RCB we have his better ball distribution, but a classic defender he is not. This tends to restrict Jones and again as Werder pointed out and I have said in the past, he has to do too much work in covering down that side. However, irrespective of what we may think, it is Wilders call.
Watmore’s new nickname is very apt, and fitness issues apart, he is arguably still our best forward despite all the new (and old) incoming players.
Tomorrow night and which Boro will turn up playing to which CW system?
We need to be on the front foot from the start with high concentration levels or we will end up with no points. A draw would be a good one.
My other concern is with Fry's continued relegation to the bench - I can't see the ultimate logic of bringing in Lenihan on a free to push Fry out of the frame, who was a player being valued at around £15m - especially as he will enter the last 12 months of his contract at the end of the season. OK, Lenihan has been solid but his distribution was woeful at the weekend - Fry was faultless against Man Utd and Spurs last season and either a long-term benching or playing him out of position doesn't appear the best way forward for either him or the club.
I am also worried for Fry. I know he had some minor injuries last season already and was again injured when the season started.
We all would like to see another academy graduate in the team now that Tavanier has left. Jones is not really an academy player as he came from a London club and was mainly loaned out before his break trough. Coburn is, but he due to go on loan when back from his injury.
Let's hope we see more Fry in the near future. He must play well when his chance comes to keep Lenihan on the bench. It is good to have competition and it will only improve Fry in the long run.
Up
Thanks Andy for another excellent pre/post match piece and for producing a non de plum for Watmore which is entirely appropriate.
We made progress on Saturday and need to build on that performance against a difficult team who will be smarting after their defeat on Saturday, so we need to be at it from the off.
I would take a point now and ideally ⚽️-⚽️ as that would be the first clean sheet of the season.
Not sure who will start as we now have options but could well be same again injuries permitting and hopefully Steffen returning. CoB 😎
The Echo is writing that Tony Mowbray will become the new head coach of Sunderland replacing Alex Neil in the dugout after successful talks over the weekend.
His first game in charge will be at the Riverside next Monday. Up the Boro!
I tend to instinctively adopt Tony Mowbray's side as my (distant) second team. That's going to be tough this time around.
@andy-r I have met Mogga once when he was our manager. A top guy. And of course he was our captain on the way to Moon. So I feel the same way as you do and have followed his teams.
We will see a lot of ex-Boro players in there, too.
I hope he keeps the Mackems in the division, though. Up the Boro!
Tavanier has a new manager after Bournemouth sacked head coach Scott Parker three days after Saturday's 9-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool.
Gary O'Neil will take interim charge of the team now. So a familiar name in there. Up the Boro!
I must say that I was disappointed that Middlesbrough FC decided to adopt the trend of a minute’s applause for David Armstrong when a minute’s silence would have been more appropriate and surreal. Why not give a minute’s applause for former Boro players whilst they are still living, maybe on their 50th birthday for example?
Andy,
A fine opener as always, thank you.
With my new resolve on result predictions proving right as in not doing them, I'm building on that success by not offering a Watford prediction, well what can go wrong with my new system? Hopefully Boro will do the same.
If Mogga has got the Sunderland job all good luck to him but I may have to start predicting their results as some kind of perverse support. Seriously though I hope he does well, obviously not as well as Boro but two places behind us is acceptable.
I have a sneaking feeling that Fry could leave, somebody must recognise his potential, but what his value would be now I hate to think in fact in in club terms a good reason not to sell him. Does Mr Wilder not approve of Academy youngsters coming through the ranks, it may be I feel like that because of the lack of news and comments about him?
As always UTB,
John
I tend to instinctively adopt Tony Mowbray's side as my (distant) second team. That's going to be tough this time around.
Why this trend to hate our neighbouring football clubs? Is this a form of jealousy or schadenfreude? The sooner that Boro and Sunderland join Newcastle in the Premier League, the higher the profile for the North East region in my book.
Hate's a strong word, Ken. I don't hate anybody that I can think of, let alone another football club.
Like you, I've never really understood those uber intense local rivalries and would gladly see Boro and Sunderland join Newcastle in the top half of the top flight.
I won't be adopting them as a second team though. It's not hate but it's not fondness either!
Thanks to Andy for another excellent opener. It will be interesting to see how we set up for this. Against Swansea we set up more defensively and played more on the counter. Given the strength of Watford's forward line, it seems likely we may do something similar so we may see the same starting 11 depending on whether Steffen has recovered. Also likely that Muniz or Forss may start so that Watmore can recharge his working leg.
I am starting to think that McGree is more like Hignett than Tav. Seems like he will bag a lot of goals and assists from playing well advanced but defensively the other team can run straight through him. A sort of budget Paul Scholes. Excellent player to have but he actually doesn't fit into Wilder's preferred formation. On the plus side, it does look like Wilder and Knill may be working towards a repertoire of formations.
We have used 3-5-2, 3-5-1-1, and 3-4-3 so far this season. Although it would be wrong against Watford, I would also like to see us use 3-4-1-2 from time to time as that looks like it puts quite a lot of our best pegs in their best holes.
I think we have a reasonable shout at a draw tonight. Watford are still getting to grips with the division and there's a certain belief that their new manager doesn't know his best team yet.
@jarkko. What odds that Sean Dyche is the next Bournemouth manager? 😎
Nil. It will be Jonathan Woodgate ... 😆 UTB!
Hate's a strong word, Ken. I don't hate anybody that I can think of, let alone another football club.
Like you, I've never really understood those uber intense local rivalries and would gladly see Boro and Sunderland join Newcastle in the top half of the top flight.
I won't be adopting them as a second team though. It's not hate but it's not fondness either!
Sorry Andy. I agree with you, hate is too strong a word and I apologise for using it, but I have a loving respect for all the clubs that all my ex National Service colleagues used to support especially when in Singapore for 18 months when we all missed supporting our local clubs. I still have the News Chronicle pocket football annual of 1957 where I listed the names of my colleagues against the clubs they supported from Aston Villa to York City and including Glentoran. It was the camaraderie amongst us that recognised that we all decided to show an interest in each other’s clubs, and apart from the occasional banter and mickey taking we all had the utmost respect for the clubs we all supported. It taught me not to be so biased when judging the Boro despite not understanding how Brian Clough didn’t receive more than his two England caps.
,
Thanks for the starter Andy. I found it hard to fit in reading the comments after the Swansea match but with so many mid-week games you and OFB have to almost immediately get us ready for the next match.
Watching us against Swansea I started to wonder if the more defensive tactics would become the normal way of playing as the end of last season and the first few games this season hadn't resulted in the wins like earlier in Wilder's management. The Watford and Sunderland matches should let us know if the tactics have changed. There has certainly been a lot of changes to the squad and it asks for a lot from Watmore having McGree in a freer role rather playing with 2 strikers. It was my first view of Muniz and he looked like a stronger build than Forss and Hoppe so he will be choice as lone striker when Watmore cannot play every game and it seems unlikely that we will start games with 2 actual strikers. Good for McGree to get his first goal and unfortunate Muniz hit the post. Not having seen much of Matt Clarke before he definitely did a good job as the left sided centre back and I agreed with him as MOTM. I wasn't surprised that Swansea got a goal and put us under pressure again.
Hopefully we will take advantage of Watford's manager's view that it will be a few more weeks before we see the best of his team as we have some early dropped points to make up for.
(Incidentally I see that Muniz is another "Carvalho". That was my originally my family surname (Portuguese ancestors amongst other nationalities) before my dad and his brother Anglicised it for easier pronunciation before we came to England. Unfortunately, in my case, the name did not come with any natural footballing ability!)
Celta Vigo are close to reaching an agreement with FC Groningen for Jørgen Strand Larsen.
The deal will exceed €10m.
What a joke Bournemouth are - they sack Scott Parker after only four games into the season with the last three being defeats away to Liverpool, home to leaders Arsenal and away to Man City - plus he actually won the first game.
OK, apparently he complained about not being able to strengthening the team after promotion and you can see his point - just 5 signings - three on frees and only Tav and an Argentinian defender from Feyenoord cost money. Sounds like he has been the fall guy to take the team to the close of the Transfer Window without spending. Absolute shoddy treatment.
I'm not sure Sean Dyche will fancy returning again to Bournemouth but he's probably your man if the chairman doesn't want to spend money - Though not sure Tav will relish Dyche as his manager as he won't be playing in the style he thought he was when he joined Scott Parker's team - still at least he got a five-year contract.
btw Also noticed Dundee sacked Jack Ross for also losing 9-0 against Celtic!