Boro were extremely clinical, I thought first half we were right in it. We fell apart when pritch went to right mid, don't see why he didn't put green there and leave pritch to do what he does best, break up play. But oh well, I expected to concede at least three so I can't say I'm too disappointed. Get Cardiff out the way, keep Powell as manager and then we have a few 'easier' so to say games that could be the turning point in our season!
Well Prague let's hope we all stay calm, and that includes Chris Powell because he didn't today at 2-1 down after 52 minutes he made a rash decision that changed the game in Boro's favour.One point though peeps we have just lost to a top of the table team, who depsite many peoples opinions I felt controlled the game apart from the first 15mins.
Rumours abound about SCP’s tenure and the knives are out from some on here as to be expected and don’t get me wrong he rolled the dice against Barnsley at half time and it never paid off and was forced to make a change at half time today which didn’t have a chance to work due to an uncharacteristic error by Morrison gifting the momentum to the opposition. Thereafter the move to 3 centre backs so as to push Kerkar and Solly on was a disaster when Cort again uncharacteristically failed to deal with a route one ball to add to his failure to get close to Woodgate for his equalising goal. SCP cannot legislate for individual errors and today they seemed to come all at once from the bedrock of the side. Whether we like it or not he can only work with the players he has available but after 2 precious away points it is back to the drawing board I’m afraid if we are to get anything against Cardiff on Tuesday. There is no point dwelling on that second half today where we committed suicide however we are still 2 points above the drop zone and need to stay right behind the team whoever pulls the shirt on until some of the walking wounded get fit. Turning on the Manager / Players isn’t going to help one iota! Keep the faith COYR
We did ok in the first half, the extra energy and pace in midfield with Wilson and Pritchard probably made the difference. Not often we've played 4-4-2 and competed. Hulse took his goal well, nice to see him score after a few of our fans had written him off.
Wilson's injury was a big problem. With Stephens coming on we had no one in midfield that could or would carry the ball. As for Pritchard he does have a bit of pace, but like most of our midfielders he's not comfortable running with the ball.
It's been clear to me for about a year now that the midfield is the weakest area of our team. Shame that Powell never got the enough money in the summer to improve the squad as much as he needed to. I hope the board don't think it'll just take a new manager to turn things around.
Not sure what our best team is at the moment. When it comes to the formation it's got to be a form of 4-5-1, whether we are home or away. Win the battle in the midfield, or at the very least make sure we compete.
BWP tried and had some good touches, but doesn't cause defenders enough problems at this level, unfortunately he's just not quick, strong or skilful enough. Barely noticed Jackson at all. Kerkar not really a problem for me, poor crosses but it's not often both your left backs are unavailable. Rare mistake from Morrison. Stephens - can sometimes see why Villa were looking at him, other times slows things down too much leading to us lobbing balls into a crowded box. As said Dervite looked like a CB in midfield, might do a job in a 4-5-1, not the answer in a 4-4-2.
As I probably say after every home game, we need more quality and pace in midfield. As we can't afford to bring anyone in we've got to find the best combination of the players we have. As much as people say he's only ever praised for his energy and running, that midfield probably does include Pritchard and definitely doesn't include too many of Jackson, Stephens, Hollands and Green.
Made a difference today from the sounds of it Wilson going off really didn't help
So that's 4 key players out with a squad that the starting 11 at the start of the season was just about good enough to stay up losing 3 of that first 11 and add in fuller we seem to be remarkably weak
Pritchard looked good first half in cm and was then moved to rm. We Made a poor team look good as they had the worst back4 I have seen this season. We look quite bright for a while , then, guess what, our bloody centre halves decide to make errors. Manager found wanting again and waits too long to make changes. All looks a real mess, but you have to wonder what would happen if we were to take some chances.
made a poor team look good masicat ?, they are joint top for christ sake, whatever failings out there today, make no mistake boro are a good team
On that Performance and with the same eleven, Boro will be lucky to make the play offs. Any nippy forward around Woodengate and Bidet will have a field day.
Against a centre half and a light weight League One standard player i make you spot on.
But Boro didn't run the show in the 1st half when Dervite and Pritchard were together, it only went wrong when Dervite and Pritchard were moved OUT of central midfield.
At half time I would have had Haynes on under strict instruction to target woodgate, would've absolutely terrorised him with the long ball football we were playing
Up to half time each side had periods of dominance and I thought we were their match. In fact if Cort had scored from a corner when almost on the goal line we could well have gone in ahead. The decision to replace an attacking right side midfielder (Wilson) with a deep-lying negative playing midfielder (Stephens) left us unbalanced. BWP and Hulse had no midfield support. Quite what Cort and Morro had at half-time is a matter of concern - Prozac?
I thought there were 2 very poor decisions by SCP today. Should never have started Dervite in a midfield 4. Stephens is our best footballer and should have started. Then faced with Wilson injury the decision not to bring Green on was very strange. Not sure what the idea was behind the Cook substitution. We are not getting any luck at the moment and created plenty of chances but the defence which has been pretty solid for over a season now looked very accident prone. We need Wiggins back soon and Kermy and Fuller too. Need a big response on Tuesday Totally agree green should be playing , Wilson is a right back , he has great work rate etc but not enough quality for a right winger , not enough quality balls into the box from right or left midfield today . Best crosser of the ball left on the bench , complete bollocks but at least the boo boys can't blame green today . Pick on Jackson instead .
If Pritchard and Cort had buried those simple headers in the first half we would have gone into the half-time break 3-1 to the good and well worth it. Although Boro had the better quality, our formation was strong and the energy carried us forward.
The less said about the 2nd half the better. Let's just hope that such an abysmal performance and shocking result makes the lads step up a gear against Cardiff - we'll need it.
Can't wait for Ric, Yann and Rhoys to come back. Hope the Board finds some money from somewhere to reinforce our lightweight midfield in January - maybe we can get someone in to take Dale Stephens for £2m+ but I fear we missed our chance.
Who hamer going to blame and shout at today . Noticed he didn't give Morrison a tounge lashing when he ballsed up today. Big time. Would have got it back at him .
Comments
For once, i make him spot on. If we are in the bottom 3 by xmas that is 23 games gone. That is not acceptable, and the board may act.
We fell apart when pritch went to right mid, don't see why he didn't put green there and leave pritch to do what he does best, break up play. But oh well, I expected to concede at least three so I can't say I'm too disappointed.
Get Cardiff out the way, keep Powell as manager and then we have a few 'easier' so to say games that could be the turning point in our season!
Keep the faith, believe.
Come on you reds
Wilson's injury was a big problem. With Stephens coming on we had no one in midfield that could or would carry the ball. As for Pritchard he does have a bit of pace, but like most of our midfielders he's not comfortable running with the ball.
It's been clear to me for about a year now that the midfield is the weakest area of our team. Shame that Powell never got the enough money in the summer to improve the squad as much as he needed to. I hope the board don't think it'll just take a new manager to turn things around.
Not sure what our best team is at the moment. When it comes to the formation it's got to be a form of 4-5-1, whether we are home or away. Win the battle in the midfield, or at the very least make sure we compete.
BWP tried and had some good touches, but doesn't cause defenders enough problems at this level, unfortunately he's just not quick, strong or skilful enough. Barely noticed Jackson at all. Kerkar not really a problem for me, poor crosses but it's not often both your left backs are unavailable. Rare mistake from Morrison. Stephens - can sometimes see why Villa were looking at him, other times slows things down too much leading to us lobbing balls into a crowded box. As said Dervite looked like a CB in midfield, might do a job in a 4-5-1, not the answer in a 4-4-2.
As I probably say after every home game, we need more quality and pace in midfield. As we can't afford to bring anyone in we've got to find the best combination of the players we have. As much as people say he's only ever praised for his energy and running, that midfield probably does include Pritchard and definitely doesn't include too many of Jackson, Stephens, Hollands and Green.
Yann
Fuller
Wiggins
Made a difference today from the sounds of it Wilson going off really didn't help
So that's 4 key players out with a squad that the starting 11 at the start of the season was just about good enough to stay up losing 3 of that first 11 and add in fuller we seem to be remarkably weak
Pritchard never good enough. Looks quite energetic when coming on a substitute but nothing worthy in attack. Gave the ball away more than anything.
BWP not performing at this level.
Should have bitten Villa's hand off for the ineffective Stephens.
Good shot by Hulse the only positive today,
Will get smashed by Cardiff.
Stephen's on for an injured right winger when green and Hayes on bench is poor decision.
changing formation confused things.
jj too slow for this division.
worried.
We are not getting any luck at the moment and created plenty of chances but the defence which has been pretty solid for over a season now looked very accident prone. We need Wiggins back soon and Kermy and Fuller too. Need a big response on Tuesday
Totally agree green should be playing , Wilson is a right back , he has great work rate etc but not enough quality for a right winger , not enough quality balls into the box from right or left midfield today . Best crosser of the ball left on the bench , complete bollocks but at least the boo boys can't blame green today . Pick on Jackson instead .
The less said about the 2nd half the better. Let's just hope that such an abysmal performance and shocking result makes the lads step up a gear against Cardiff - we'll need it.
Can't wait for Ric, Yann and Rhoys to come back. Hope the Board finds some money from somewhere to reinforce our lightweight midfield in January - maybe we can get someone in to take Dale Stephens for £2m+ but I fear we missed our chance.