Haven't heard anyone say that we are missing Naby Sarr but he is our our only source of salvation. That and a boot up the backside for the team. The ref gave us nothing except three yellow cards for infringements that he allowed Borough to get away with more than once. Dillon didnt learn that we had to play out from the back and continued to punt long balls at Taylor that their defence won. As for their goal, the least said the better
We were getting nowhere playing out from the back. You just had to watch how their players pressed our defenders whenever they were in possession, forcing errors. Naby and Matthews are comfortable on the ball, the rest of our defenders aren't. More often than not when Phillips did play it short, it ended up back witth him and what did he do? Punt it long. It worked early season but we were found out long ago.
It’s been like it for weeks. Teams have sussed that’s it’s a huge flaw in the team. It’s why I think Aneke should be on the bench, he at least offers some physical bulk we can stick on to try and mix it up if we’ve been forced to go very direct, like today.
Seem to be making a habit of shooting ourselves in the foot in recent weeks, today’s game again decided by a stupid mistake from us as opposed to us being blown out the water by the other team. I still think we’ve got enough to get us out of this mess but bowyer is right in that we can’t keep gifting goals away like we are at the moment otherwise we will be ending up in League one next season.
Can’t say I’m surprised at the few calling for LB’s head as always seems to be a minority of people who want the manager out as soon as results start going against us, but would love to know who those people feel could do better than LB with this group of players. It was apparent to everyone what we needed in January to get us over the line and for whatever reason it wasn’t delivered and we are seeing the consequences now. No disrespect to the players bought in but would any of them get in another championship squad? Two of them couldn’t get in the championship squads they started the season with (QPR and Preston) so didn’t seem like inspired business at the time, and definitely doesn’t now.
Hull are fairly local to me and are in absolute freefall at the moment, so next week is a massive game. Be really concerned if we end up losing that one but let’s just hope dropping into the relegation zone gives us the shot in the arm we need to start putting some proper performances in. Season still not over yet.
Got it all to do to stay up now. Thought Boro played some decent stuff considering where they are. They seem far more assured than us, didn't give the ball away and always seemed to have a man spare. After a poor first half, we huffed and puffed a bit 2nd half and created a chance or two but you can't really say we deserved a draw. At least the other results went our way, but we probably still need 3 more wins to be safe, and it's difficult to see where they are coming from. Let's just hope we can turn it round, but it's not looking good.
On reflection, great shithousery from Boro with the ad hoc ‘drinks break’ to waste time at their FK. Was quite funny watching the ref go bat-shit crazy trying to get them back on the pitch. Really should have got the card out, but nice idea from Boro
Seem to be making a habit of shooting ourselves in the foot in recent weeks, today’s game again decided by a stupid mistake from us as opposed to us being blown out the water by the other team. I still think we’ve got enough to get us out of this mess but bowyer is right in that we can’t keep gifting goals away like we are at the moment otherwise we will be ending up in League one next season.
Can’t say I’m surprised at the few calling for LB’s head as always seems to be a minority of people who want the manager out as soon as results start going against us, but would love to know who those people feel could do better than LB with this group of players. It was apparent to everyone what we needed in January to get us over the line and for whatever reason it wasn’t delivered and we are seeing the consequences now. No disrespect to the players bought in but would any of them get in another championship squad? Two of them couldn’t get in the championship squads they started the season with (QPR and Preston) so didn’t seem like inspired business at the time, and definitely doesn’t now.
Hull are fairly local to me and are in absolute freefall at the moment, so next week is a massive game. Be really concerned if we end up losing that one but let’s just hope dropping into the relegation zone gives us the shot in the arm we need to start putting some proper performances in. Season still not over yet.
Their no5, Shotton I think, was playing very very well in the middle of their 3 and shut down a lot of potential forward action.
Much better when Bonne came on and he had more than just Taylor to think about.
Jonny Williams looked a bit subdued so far out of the left of midfield.
We didn’t exactly boss them all game but had about 10 minutes in the first half and 15 in the second half where we looked properly on top. Otherwise they looked big, fairly organised and quite skilful. We looked small, not very organised and our normal skill on the call deserted us, a bit like that game of pool where you don’t take the confidence shots on and miss the easy ones. Hopefully the next game we come out firing and it slots into place. Needs to really.
If Boro could shoot, it would have been embarassing. We had a bit of a flurry second half when we went long, but it doesn't look good at all. Williams had a bad day, and we desperately miss Gallagher, hence very little creativity on show. No goals in three games against struggling teams tells its own tale really.
If we would shoot ..... we might have given ourselves some chance of a result.
As you say, "No goals in three games against struggling teams tells its own tale really.". It does.
IMO we play our best football when we work hard without the ball pressing the oppo. At the moment we seem to be back-pedalling giving them time to pass and wait for a great opportunity to unlock the defence.
It's up to the players to show they are up for the fight.
I am sure they are all up for the fight and will do their absolute best. The problem is ,other than two or three players, none of them are capable of playing at this level. No amount of coaching will make Jason Pearce and Ben Purrington anything other than League1 average players.
The goal we contrived to put on a plate for them is just too ....... just don't watch it.
that's the second one in consecutive games .. play it out from the back ? .. I'd far sooner the ball was lumped 60 yards upfield when that is what is required, Man Citee or Barcelona we ain't
I'm going to go with positives I genuinely saw, especially after hearing my dad moan non stop and demand Bowyer is sacked...
1. Thought Cullen finally looked fit today and played his best since injury 2. Taylor and Bonne do appear to have an understanding so I think 2 up top with hemed as back up is the way yo go. 3. Best two centre backs return next week for Hull. 4. Still 20% of the season to go, the first 20% was excellent! 5. Spring is coming and we always play better in the sun!
I'm going to go with positives I genuinely saw, especially after hearing my dad moan non stop and demand Bowyer is sacked...
1. Thought Cullen finally looked fit today and played his best since injury 2. Taylor and Bonne do appear to have an understanding so I think 2 up top with hemed as back up is the way yo go. 3. Best two centre backs return next week for Hull. 4. Still 20% of the season to go, the first 20% was excellent! 5. Spring is coming and we always play better in the sun!
Got it all to do to stay up now. Thought Boro played some decent stuff considering where they are. They seem far more assured than us, didn't give the ball away and always seemed to have a man spare. After a poor first half, we huffed and puffed a bit 2nd half and created a chance or two but you can't really say we deserved a draw. At least the other results went our way, but we probably still need 3 more wins to be safe, and it's difficult to see where they are coming from. Let's just hope we can turn it round, but it's not looking good.
I think having Bonne, Talylor and Green all on the pitch at the same time looks good.
Hemed on the bench isn’t an impact sub more a cover for injury
As I’d like to have 2 up front, I’d have to ask Green to play a bit deeper which needs a decent right back behind him, that pushes us to a 4 at the back.
the problem then is any serious width. Green can play ok at right mf, better more centrally. Williams can play ok as left mf but better centrally.
Doughty and Lapslie can play better wider but are a bit young and can’t know enough yet to judge when to push and when to track back.
We don’t have a fully balanced side of proven championship level players and that may be the reason we go down.
aOr we chance it with a high press game with the youngsters from the start and then bring the older kegs on later.
This thread often goes into meltdown after a defeat. Well today that's fully justified. I've been supporting this club since the 60s and I know what a relegation side loos like.
We have absolutely no chance of staying up. Fuckin rubbish.
It's not totally justified. We've played better today than the last two and were undone by a mistake. Again.
The players need to start shouldering the blame, as does Bowyer.
Deserved a draw but got nothing. Still don't believe we're down, but if we don't pick up 4 more wins we will be gone
If you honestly believe we deserved a draw I honestly don't know what to say to you.
Sorry that should have said, could probably have nabbed a draw.
Deserved is wrong, only teams that deserve draws are those that score the same amount as opponents.
What a waste of time it all is. We were done for in the transfer window and thats when it became clear that this bunch are up there with the Spivs, Roland and Sunley as rubbish owners. Was Mouthall there today?
I'm going to go with positives I genuinely saw, especially after hearing my dad moan non stop and demand Bowyer is sacked...
1. Thought Cullen finally looked fit today and played his best since injury 2. Taylor and Bonne do appear to have an understanding so I think 2 up top with hemed as back up is the way yo go. 3. Best two centre backs return next week for Hull. 4. Still 20% of the season to go, the first 20% was excellent! 5. Spring is coming and we always play better in the sun!
That will do, I'm feeling positively chipper now!
That's a great effort. Well done for having a go.
6. Hull are having a nightmare run of form - but it has to end sometime. Who are they playing next week? Oh f**k!
I've gone through the full gamut of negative emotions before, during and after the game and am probably writing this in a 'philosophical' state of mind now.
The reality is that we are weaker now than we were when we played Sunderland at Wembley and added to that for much of the season we have had Conference or Conference South players playing a major role in our team because of kack of investment by Duchatelet and East Street Investments respectively.
I have said from Day 1 that 21st would be a marvellous season and that Lee Bowyer should be awarded Manager of The year if we achieve it. That looks unlikely now after the result today but the point stands all the time we still have a mathematical chance.
I don't doubt the Forum is full of 'Bowyer Out' blah, blah, blah as some cannot or will not see the bigger picture I have described about lack of support from the two ownerships.
Onto the match (if I must). My view is that the pressure proved a bit much in the first half and some of the players froze a bit. Middlesborough had that bit more nous and we gifted them a goal which, despite our second half huffing and puffing and blowing the house down, we never really looked like equalising let alone getting 2 to win it.
That said Lyle would normally have buried, or worked the 'keeper at the very least, the one he skied over the bar in the first half.
The midfield parted like the Red Sea on a number of occasions, partly because Pratley took a little while to get back to his usual standard following his injury lay off, and that relieved any pressure we were able to exert. Pratley, as ever, gave of his best but managed, in his keeness, to get in the way of two or three of our own attacks Green and Bonne come to mind immediately.
I cannot criticise individuals today, maybe Lapslie was responsible for their goal, as our league 1 players, including Lapslie with a number of first half blocks, gave all that they had.
Bowyer went for it we finished the match with 4 strikers (in theory).
The blame lies in Belgium and in the Directors' Box.
Comments
Can’t say I’m surprised at the few calling for LB’s head as always seems to be a minority of people who want the manager out as soon as results start going against us, but would love to know who those people feel could do better than LB with this group of players. It was apparent to everyone what we needed in January to get us over the line and for whatever reason it wasn’t delivered and we are seeing the consequences now. No disrespect to the players bought in but would any of them get in another championship squad? Two of them couldn’t get in the championship squads they started the season with (QPR and Preston) so didn’t seem like inspired business at the time, and definitely doesn’t now.
Hull are fairly local to me and are in absolute freefall at the moment, so next week is a massive game. Be really concerned if we end up losing that one but let’s just hope dropping into the relegation zone gives us the shot in the arm we need to start putting some proper performances in. Season still not over yet.
As you say, "No goals in three games against struggling teams tells its own tale really.".
It does.
#backtoBasics.
Boro's first win in 11 matches. They were there for the taking if we'd gone for the jugular from the start.
The goal we contrived to put on a plate for them is just too ....... just don't watch it.
Made 42 seconds, anyone do any better?
must have a game plan ?
otherwise we are all fucked 😂👎👎
1. Thought Cullen finally looked fit today and played his best since injury
2. Taylor and Bonne do appear to have an understanding so I think 2 up top with hemed as back up is the way yo go.
3. Best two centre backs return next week for Hull.
4. Still 20% of the season to go, the first 20% was excellent!
5. Spring is coming and we always play better in the sun!
That will do, I'm feeling positively chipper now!
Otherwise if we were picking up points, nobody would give a toss about how we were playing or even Bowyer's body language.
the problem then is any serious width. Green can play ok at right mf, better more centrally. Williams can play ok as left mf but better centrally.
We don’t have a fully balanced side of proven championship level players and that may be the reason we go down.
aOr we chance it with a high press game with the youngsters from the start and then bring the older kegs on later.
@Cantersaddick... didnt take his missus to the game and instead took someone who has an awful record of attending games at the Valley this season
Notice too he's kept very quiet tonight!!
Deserved is wrong, only teams that deserve draws are those that score the same amount as opponents.
I've gone through the full gamut of negative emotions before, during and after the game and am probably writing this in a 'philosophical' state of mind now.
The reality is that we are weaker now than we were when we played Sunderland at Wembley and added to that for much of the season we have had Conference or Conference South players playing a major role in our team because of kack of investment by Duchatelet and East Street Investments respectively.
I have said from Day 1 that 21st would be a marvellous season and that Lee Bowyer should be awarded Manager of The year if we achieve it. That looks unlikely now after the result today but the point stands all the time we still have a mathematical chance.
I don't doubt the Forum is full of 'Bowyer Out' blah, blah, blah as some cannot or will not see the bigger picture I have described about lack of support from the two ownerships.
Onto the match (if I must). My view is that the pressure proved a bit much in the first half and some of the players froze a bit. Middlesborough had that bit more nous and we gifted them a goal which, despite our second half huffing and puffing and blowing the house down, we never really looked like equalising let alone getting 2 to win it.
That said Lyle would normally have buried, or worked the 'keeper at the very least, the one he skied over the bar in the first half.
The midfield parted like the Red Sea on a number of occasions, partly because Pratley took a little while to get back to his usual standard following his injury lay off, and that relieved any pressure we were able to exert. Pratley, as ever, gave of his best but managed, in his keeness, to get in the way of two or three of our own attacks Green and Bonne come to mind immediately.
I cannot criticise individuals today, maybe Lapslie was responsible for their goal, as our league 1 players, including Lapslie with a number of first half blocks, gave all that they had.
Bowyer went for it we finished the match with 4 strikers (in theory).
The blame lies in Belgium and in the Directors' Box.
COYR go down swinging.