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Scott Wilson is the North East Sports Writer not to be ignored:
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
ANALYSIS
FIVE games into Middlesbrough’s managerial hiatus, and the end is finally near. Michael Carrick is waiting in the wings, and while the former England international will have understandably lofty long-term ambitions as he takes on his first job as a head coach, his short-term goals are rather more mundane. Avoiding relegation remains the imperative for the rest of the season.
Saturday’s failure to beat a Huddersfield Town side that remain rooted to the foot of the table provided another reminder of the scale of the job Carrick will be taking on if, as still looks likely, his appointment is confirmed in the next couple of days. Last week’s 4-1 thumping of Wigan highlighted the potential that exists within the current Boro squad, but the weekend’s laborious draw against limited opposition probably provided a more realistic assessment of where things currently stand. Three weeks after Chris Wilder’s departure, this is a squad of players badly in need of some leadership and direction.
Leo Percovich deserves considerable credit for the way in which he has steadied the ship in the wake of Wilder’s exit, with his spell in temporary charge resulting in two wins, two defeats and a draw. He has guided Boro out of the relegation zone, albeit only just, and ensured a far-from-ideal situation did not evolve into a full-blown crisis. A loyal servant, with an unbreakable bond with Boro’s hardcore support, Percovich can be proud of his efforts.
He is not a long-term solution to the problem though, hence why confirmation of Carrick’s appointment cannot come soon enough. Saturday’s game, on the back of Wednesday’s morale-boosting win at the DW Stadium, felt like an opportunity missed. Had a new man been in the dugout, perhaps the momentum that was generated at Wigan would have carried over, fuelled by a renewed sense of energy from within the stands. Instead, it felt as though Boro were continuing to tread water, marking off time until their new chapter begins.
The players have been caught in the middle of it all, and while as highly-paid professionals, they should be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at them, the last three weeks cannot have been easy. Footballers tend to crave certainty and stability. Since Wilder was dismissed without a ready-made replacement in place, they have had anything but.
“It’s been nice the way that our team has come together even more,” said goalkeeper Zack Steffen, attempting to accentuate the positives rather than dwell on the difficulties that have been apparent. “We’ve really needed to come together and be there for one another because we don’t really know what’s going on.
“A lot of stuff is out of our control, but I think we’ve done a really good job to focus on what we can control, which is our attitude coming into training every day and in the games. We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, trying to get better and trying to create a good vibe amongst the group. We’ve been trying to push each other and get some wins.
“Everything else is out of our control as players. Whatever the club wants to do, we’re going to follow suit with that. All we can control is our attitude every day, and try to do our best for the fans, the town, the club and for ourselves and our team-mates.”
Percovich feels there are positives to be drawn from his reign, and while they might have been difficult to discern during Saturday’s bore draw, the Uruguayan’s decision to abandon the defensive shape installed by Wilder in order to switch to a flat back four has been a wise move.
Boro were unable to break down a resolute Huddersfield defence at the weekend, with Isaiah Jones’ delivery from the right-hand side letting him down and the hosts’ best chance coming to nothing in the first half when Paddy McNair’s header was saved by Lee Nicholls, but there have been signs of an increased attacking intent in the last couple of games.
Percovich felt his side should have had a penalty when Dael Fry’s second-half effort struck Tom Lees on the arm, and has been pleased with the stylistic shift he has gradually introduced.
“When you analyse the five games, you can see that the team is solid defensively,” he said. “I think the team has been very balanced defensively, although we still need to be a bit more positive in the final third, with more quality for our finishing.
“The ball is moving in a different way now though to how it was before. We are trying to play quicker, and with more intensity. I think from two-and-a-half weeks ago to now, the team has improved a lot. There is more stability, and that gives more confidence to the players.”
Percovich feels he has had a strong sense of buy-in from his players, and if he is to be asked to hand over the reins in the next few days, he remains adamant he will be passing on a team and squad with considerable potential.
“It’s a big challenge because you have the responsibility for the team’s performance,” he said. “It’s been enjoyable because it demands the very best from you, and the people who have been working with you from the academy.
“It makes you improve together with your team. What I have liked is the enthusiasm and dedication that the players have been giving. They have applied themselves, and tried so hard to do everything we have asked. They feel more confident now in the system we are playing, and the style we are trying to play, and that has brought stability to keep moving forward in the table.”
A change is finally coming at Middlesbrough - and it can't happen quickly enough
FIVE games into Middlesbrough’s managerial hiatus, and the end is finally near. Michael Carrick is waiting in the wings, and while the former…
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
ANALYSIS
Middlesbrough finally set for a managerial change
FIVE games into Middlesbrough’s managerial hiatus, and the end is finally near. Michael Carrick is waiting in the wings, and while the former England international will have understandably lofty long-term ambitions as he takes on his first job as a head coach, his short-term goals are rather more mundane. Avoiding relegation remains the imperative for the rest of the season.
Saturday’s failure to beat a Huddersfield Town side that remain rooted to the foot of the table provided another reminder of the scale of the job Carrick will be taking on if, as still looks likely, his appointment is confirmed in the next couple of days. Last week’s 4-1 thumping of Wigan highlighted the potential that exists within the current Boro squad, but the weekend’s laborious draw against limited opposition probably provided a more realistic assessment of where things currently stand. Three weeks after Chris Wilder’s departure, this is a squad of players badly in need of some leadership and direction.
Leo Percovich deserves considerable credit for the way in which he has steadied the ship in the wake of Wilder’s exit, with his spell in temporary charge resulting in two wins, two defeats and a draw. He has guided Boro out of the relegation zone, albeit only just, and ensured a far-from-ideal situation did not evolve into a full-blown crisis. A loyal servant, with an unbreakable bond with Boro’s hardcore support, Percovich can be proud of his efforts.
He is not a long-term solution to the problem though, hence why confirmation of Carrick’s appointment cannot come soon enough. Saturday’s game, on the back of Wednesday’s morale-boosting win at the DW Stadium, felt like an opportunity missed. Had a new man been in the dugout, perhaps the momentum that was generated at Wigan would have carried over, fuelled by a renewed sense of energy from within the stands. Instead, it felt as though Boro were continuing to tread water, marking off time until their new chapter begins.
The players have been caught in the middle of it all, and while as highly-paid professionals, they should be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at them, the last three weeks cannot have been easy. Footballers tend to crave certainty and stability. Since Wilder was dismissed without a ready-made replacement in place, they have had anything but.
“It’s been nice the way that our team has come together even more,” said goalkeeper Zack Steffen, attempting to accentuate the positives rather than dwell on the difficulties that have been apparent. “We’ve really needed to come together and be there for one another because we don’t really know what’s going on.
“A lot of stuff is out of our control, but I think we’ve done a really good job to focus on what we can control, which is our attitude coming into training every day and in the games. We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, trying to get better and trying to create a good vibe amongst the group. We’ve been trying to push each other and get some wins.
“Everything else is out of our control as players. Whatever the club wants to do, we’re going to follow suit with that. All we can control is our attitude every day, and try to do our best for the fans, the town, the club and for ourselves and our team-mates.”
Percovich feels there are positives to be drawn from his reign, and while they might have been difficult to discern during Saturday’s bore draw, the Uruguayan’s decision to abandon the defensive shape installed by Wilder in order to switch to a flat back four has been a wise move.
Boro were unable to break down a resolute Huddersfield defence at the weekend, with Isaiah Jones’ delivery from the right-hand side letting him down and the hosts’ best chance coming to nothing in the first half when Paddy McNair’s header was saved by Lee Nicholls, but there have been signs of an increased attacking intent in the last couple of games.
Percovich felt his side should have had a penalty when Dael Fry’s second-half effort struck Tom Lees on the arm, and has been pleased with the stylistic shift he has gradually introduced.
“When you analyse the five games, you can see that the team is solid defensively,” he said. “I think the team has been very balanced defensively, although we still need to be a bit more positive in the final third, with more quality for our finishing.
“The ball is moving in a different way now though to how it was before. We are trying to play quicker, and with more intensity. I think from two-and-a-half weeks ago to now, the team has improved a lot. There is more stability, and that gives more confidence to the players.”
Percovich feels he has had a strong sense of buy-in from his players, and if he is to be asked to hand over the reins in the next few days, he remains adamant he will be passing on a team and squad with considerable potential.
“It’s a big challenge because you have the responsibility for the team’s performance,” he said. “It’s been enjoyable because it demands the very best from you, and the people who have been working with you from the academy.
“It makes you improve together with your team. What I have liked is the enthusiasm and dedication that the players have been giving. They have applied themselves, and tried so hard to do everything we have asked. They feel more confident now in the system we are playing, and the style we are trying to play, and that has brought stability to keep moving forward in the table.”
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