Hopefully the Manager can sort out the issues with Ramsey (tries to do too much which means he loses the ball far too often). Howson was guilty of that yesterday as well. Fry is clearly injured otherwise he would be playing and that would ease the jitters that playing Paddy with Smith, who are both targeted, brings. I think we are a shoe in for the play offs and with a bit of luck and calmness we will win them.
Properly ran out of steam
- Thread starter Kevo4
- Start date
Anton_Berg
Well-known member
I wouldn't say “don’t want promotion" but now is the time when players look at what future they have. Do they expect to be retained after promotion on big money contracts, or offloaded? And then there's the on-loan players. No matter how 'honest' they are, they cease to be stakeholders in Boro when the season ends and may know already what the parent club has to offer (although tbf, rival clubs have the same problems).
Laughing
Well-known member
Cardiff if we aspire to continuous improvement names have to be named, fingers have to be pointed and blame has to be apportioned. Don't you know its how all great managers build a team spirit.
More seriously it surprises me that grown men have to have someone to spill their bile at when we don't just walk over teams.
Wiseman_Vaughn
Well-known member
It's obvious that we don't look the same team when Fry is out - No disrespect to Paddy McNair.
I hope he's fit and raring to go soon. His partnership with Lenehan vcannot be underestimated and in my opinion, they are the best defensive partnership in the Champs.
I hope he's fit and raring to go soon. His partnership with Lenehan vcannot be underestimated and in my opinion, they are the best defensive partnership in the Champs.
Ipad1977
Well-known member
I wouldn't have them down as the best defensive partnership in the championship, but they are good. Certainly good enough when you factor in what we can do up the other end of the pitch.
Fry needs to be living in an oxygen tent right now, IMHO.
Marvanelli
Well-known member
Bed wetter springs to mind
changingman
Well-known member
I'm far from panicking but it does seem like teams may have found a way of getting success against us.
Essentially if they press "the magic square" - 2 x CB and 2 x CM - they can push our MF back which has often led to errors/turnovers (and recently, goals). We're not great at counter pressing in those spaces, as evidenced by Huddersfield's first and the first Bristol goal last night. We get drawn into the ball which effectively makes it 50/50 as to whether we win it back or not, rather than pressing intelligently to force a sideways/backwards pass.
One fairly simple solution would be to keep the ball out of that space - lateral passes into wide positions or diagonals to the IFs. Last night's solution was to push the 2 CMs right up the pitch (effectively creating an overload when attacking). Scored two in quick succession and should have gone on to win imo but again, it's not without significant risk.
Essentially if they press "the magic square" - 2 x CB and 2 x CM - they can push our MF back which has often led to errors/turnovers (and recently, goals). We're not great at counter pressing in those spaces, as evidenced by Huddersfield's first and the first Bristol goal last night. We get drawn into the ball which effectively makes it 50/50 as to whether we win it back or not, rather than pressing intelligently to force a sideways/backwards pass.
One fairly simple solution would be to keep the ball out of that space - lateral passes into wide positions or diagonals to the IFs. Last night's solution was to push the 2 CMs right up the pitch (effectively creating an overload when attacking). Scored two in quick succession and should have gone on to win imo but again, it's not without significant risk.
Fattyfoggon
Well-known member
sure we have had a mini blip but better to get it over now now rather than in the middle of the play offs, reckon we will be back on it again on friday and be bang on form for the play offs
Wiseman_Vaughn
Well-known member
yep - my thinking too! Get the P/O secured then it's man management of the players - making sure that they are rested and mentally ready for the games ahead. Nothing to fear if we bring our A game
Kevo4
Well-known member
Weirdo springs to mind
Redwurzel
Well-known member
There is a bit of a spring missing from how we played before the International break - 8 goals conceeded in the last 3 games is obviously an issue. 4 challenges lost/missed for Bristol's first goal is an area that must be improved.
I am used to us winning more than 50% of challenges in games even away from home. but I would say it was close to 60/40 for Bristol, particularly in the first half.
Its almost as though we have said we need to take a bit breather, before the next stage. Or we think we are bit better than we are at times. Burnley will win the League because they work hard, don't conceed soft goals.
Bristol looked a bit better than average side on that performance. Their left winger though was getting too much space, he always seem to be in 1 on 1s, and Bristol got the ball to him very quickly. I wish we could do that with a player like Jones.
I am used to us winning more than 50% of challenges in games even away from home. but I would say it was close to 60/40 for Bristol, particularly in the first half.
Its almost as though we have said we need to take a bit breather, before the next stage. Or we think we are bit better than we are at times. Burnley will win the League because they work hard, don't conceed soft goals.
Bristol looked a bit better than average side on that performance. Their left winger though was getting too much space, he always seem to be in 1 on 1s, and Bristol got the ball to him very quickly. I wish we could do that with a player like Jones.
Redwurzel
Well-known member
The Boro team want promotion and have bottle, but its that extra edge, that little bit more of concentration and extra hard work. The Championship is very unforgiving and B***** tough, when a team drifts a little, they quickly get punished.
Some managers and football analysts might say pace yourself, that a Championship football season is a marathon not a sprint. Say to avoid burn out, injuries, suspensions etc, but you have to be so careful.
Some managers and football analysts might say pace yourself, that a Championship football season is a marathon not a sprint. Say to avoid burn out, injuries, suspensions etc, but you have to be so careful.
Noroomforpudding
Member
Injuries plus fatigue Is my view
Many key players were away, working hard, trying to impress during the international break.
Archer ankle still not right.
Fry. Facial injury setback?
Forss was not his usual dynamic self.
Crooks seemed very short of pace so is the groin dodgy again.
Hackney is playing every game in his breakthrough season and seems a little jaded.
Akpom is playing every game. Asking for trouble
I hope they all come good for the playoffs
I recall that our last play off final was blighted by Bamford struggling with an ankle injury
Many key players were away, working hard, trying to impress during the international break.
Archer ankle still not right.
Fry. Facial injury setback?
Forss was not his usual dynamic self.
Crooks seemed very short of pace so is the groin dodgy again.
Hackney is playing every game in his breakthrough season and seems a little jaded.
Akpom is playing every game. Asking for trouble
I hope they all come good for the playoffs
I recall that our last play off final was blighted by Bamford struggling with an ankle injury