r00fie1
Well-known member
Saturday 29th October 2022.
Preston 2 Boro 1
It seems a long, long, time ago - when Michael Carrick finally arrived at the Riverside and within days was on the touchline as Boro Head Coach. On a cool afternoon at Preston, Carrick watched a dream start with a Goal from Chuba on 7 minutes. Emil Riis equalised with ten to go before the end of the first half. It was all undone in the 91st minute when Storey headed the winner and Boro were on the way back pointless.
We wont go over the match reports, but its interesting looking at the starting line- up and asking ourselves how had our squad come to perform so inconsistently since the start of the 22/23 campaign? Wilder had the sack after Coventry and Leo had temporarily taken hold of the reigns, whilst Steve Gibson got his man. We were sandwiched between Wigan and Coventry, in 21st place - with just 17 points from 17 games. Having scored 20 goals and conceding 23 - we had only won four games by that point. In wretched form, we looked like we were only headed one way.
The result at Preston epitomised our season that far. We showed signs of class, with flashes of brilliance, but with a complete lack of confidence we cracked at the most crucial moments. The new gaffa was facing a big, big, job. We knew that.....
The table didnt lie. In fact, it was shocking. After the highs of the previous season, we knew something was wrong when we had a dreadful end of season - ending with a solid stuffing by.....Preston. The season started with promise, but it was back to a complete lack of confidence, both on the terraces and on the pitch. A team of promise and talent needed a new Gaffa - sooner, rather than later.
It wasnt working for Boro. Leo had stemmed the flow - particularly with the 4-1 win away to Wigan. It saw Hackney score his first professional goal for Boro. All the ingredients were there - it was just waiting for the right man to mix them together and turn them into a force to be reckoned with.
After the game, in his first interview as Head Coach, Michael Carrick was pragmatic and circumspect in his assessment:
"To lose the game like that stings a bit. But it is one game and I said it would never be a fairy tale from the start, I understand that. It was never going to be perfect, we are trying little things, it is small steps and we will keep trying to improve. There are big moments in games and we have to flip them our way. It is the mentality, just believing, and we will get there."
"I fancied us to go on and win, or at least score again, the way we were building (after half-time). The way we play football is not going to change overnight, that is impossible but we need to keep getting better. It is alright having positives in performances but results matter and we want to create more chances and have more attempts on goal. But we can't have the complete performance from back to front after a few days. As disappointed as I am, and it hurts to lose the game, we have to be balanced and go into Tuesday with a new attitude and new mentality and attack the game like we were hoping to today."
Our next game was away at Hull and no one was banking on a win: many thought a point would be a good result. Hull were three points and three places above us. It was a relegation fight. No one was prepared for what was about to happen to Boro next.
We trounced Hull 3-1 - a pattern to be repeated many times as a wind of positive change swept through the club. It was early days and "typical Boro" fans were still doubtful the season could be saved. But we had a taste of the new Management at Hull and as time progressed we would see a style of play with flare, committment and quality which we hadnt witnessed in many years. We didnt know it back then, but it was the beginning of a new era for Boro. A new chapter and a break from the past. We had a new Head Coach - a man with honours amongst the best players in the world. He had won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, etc, etc, etc....... He was young and inexperienced. But he had a calmness and pragmatic approach, without any swank or swagger. He had Woody on board - a brave move and was soon to be joined by Danksy, Grant and a few others. He was on board with the clubs aspirations and wanted to take the whole club forward. From the academy to the first team. From the office staff and the many behind the scenes. No one was to be left behind.
We didnt realise it back then, but the Carrick Revolution had already begun....
www.theguardian.com
www.skysports.com
Preston 2 Boro 1
It seems a long, long, time ago - when Michael Carrick finally arrived at the Riverside and within days was on the touchline as Boro Head Coach. On a cool afternoon at Preston, Carrick watched a dream start with a Goal from Chuba on 7 minutes. Emil Riis equalised with ten to go before the end of the first half. It was all undone in the 91st minute when Storey headed the winner and Boro were on the way back pointless.
We wont go over the match reports, but its interesting looking at the starting line- up and asking ourselves how had our squad come to perform so inconsistently since the start of the 22/23 campaign? Wilder had the sack after Coventry and Leo had temporarily taken hold of the reigns, whilst Steve Gibson got his man. We were sandwiched between Wigan and Coventry, in 21st place - with just 17 points from 17 games. Having scored 20 goals and conceding 23 - we had only won four games by that point. In wretched form, we looked like we were only headed one way.
The result at Preston epitomised our season that far. We showed signs of class, with flashes of brilliance, but with a complete lack of confidence we cracked at the most crucial moments. The new gaffa was facing a big, big, job. We knew that.....
The table didnt lie. In fact, it was shocking. After the highs of the previous season, we knew something was wrong when we had a dreadful end of season - ending with a solid stuffing by.....Preston. The season started with promise, but it was back to a complete lack of confidence, both on the terraces and on the pitch. A team of promise and talent needed a new Gaffa - sooner, rather than later.
It wasnt working for Boro. Leo had stemmed the flow - particularly with the 4-1 win away to Wigan. It saw Hackney score his first professional goal for Boro. All the ingredients were there - it was just waiting for the right man to mix them together and turn them into a force to be reckoned with.
After the game, in his first interview as Head Coach, Michael Carrick was pragmatic and circumspect in his assessment:
"To lose the game like that stings a bit. But it is one game and I said it would never be a fairy tale from the start, I understand that. It was never going to be perfect, we are trying little things, it is small steps and we will keep trying to improve. There are big moments in games and we have to flip them our way. It is the mentality, just believing, and we will get there."
"I fancied us to go on and win, or at least score again, the way we were building (after half-time). The way we play football is not going to change overnight, that is impossible but we need to keep getting better. It is alright having positives in performances but results matter and we want to create more chances and have more attempts on goal. But we can't have the complete performance from back to front after a few days. As disappointed as I am, and it hurts to lose the game, we have to be balanced and go into Tuesday with a new attitude and new mentality and attack the game like we were hoping to today."
We trounced Hull 3-1 - a pattern to be repeated many times as a wind of positive change swept through the club. It was early days and "typical Boro" fans were still doubtful the season could be saved. But we had a taste of the new Management at Hull and as time progressed we would see a style of play with flare, committment and quality which we hadnt witnessed in many years. We didnt know it back then, but it was the beginning of a new era for Boro. A new chapter and a break from the past. We had a new Head Coach - a man with honours amongst the best players in the world. He had won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, etc, etc, etc....... He was young and inexperienced. But he had a calmness and pragmatic approach, without any swank or swagger. He had Woody on board - a brave move and was soon to be joined by Danksy, Grant and a few others. He was on board with the clubs aspirations and wanted to take the whole club forward. From the academy to the first team. From the office staff and the many behind the scenes. No one was to be left behind.
We didnt realise it back then, but the Carrick Revolution had already begun....
Preston North End 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | Football | The Guardian
www.theguardian.com
Preston 2-1 Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick beaten in first game in charge of Boro
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Preston and Middlesbrough at Deepdale as Michael Carricks side lost a lead as they were beaten in his first game in charge.
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