r00fie1
Well-known member
Its that time again>>>
Boro v Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
KO 15:00 hrs Saturday 25th November 2023
Michael Carrick made no bones about the Leicester victory a fortnight ago. In his Media Conference on Thursday, he described the game against Bristol City is even more important than that against the Foxes. Momentum is important and most of the players have had time to relax and recuperate, but now its time to get back into gear and push on:
For me, this game`s bigger than the Leicester game: there`s a natural buzz and a natural feeling around the Leicester game – top of the league and coming down from the Premier League. I think there was a good feeling in the stadium that it was a big game. For us, this is an even bigger game going down to Bristol: new Manager, first game at home. With total respect for Bristol its one that you can take your eye off the back of Leicester, because everyone is still enjoying Leicester. But that`s done and this challenge is even bigger for us, so we`re looking forward to it and we`re ready for that. We [will] certainly use the energy and the confidence that we`ve gained over recent weeks.
One concern is that Boro have key injuries to McGree, Forss and Lenihan, with the latter likely to be out for the season. Carrick is assured that Forss and McGree are possibly "weeks" away from recovery, but he has faith in the squad and wont push either of them until they are ready. He stressed that their presence around the place is still important: not just on the training ground. Its vital for Carrick to maintain that team spirit and focus on the next challenge.
Christmas and New Year are frequently mentioned as "busy" periods, with a relentless schedule jig-sawed into cup games - particularly as we have to place Port Vale in the League Cup and the FA Cup games are just around the corner. Carrick isnt unduly phased by the commitments over the coming months as much as the reporters in the room. In response to a question about whether he had a message for the players he answered in his usual fashion, with a smile:
Just keep going. Keep improving. Lets not get too carried away with whats coming up. I think [one] game at a time...like we`ve done ever since I got here. What`s next? What can we control? Game-by-game you know. There`s a balance now for us [to] obviously manage the squad. Its busy, but [managing the squad] is possible, its no big deal really. The boys are strong, they`re looking forward to playing games, so the more games the better for me.
His faith in our ability to face up to the rest of the season and the challenges it will bring hasnt wavered. He commented that the players, even during our poor start to the season, kept belief and faith in their ability to overcome the issues and improve results and their performances - individually and collectively. Carrick is more impressed with the boys ability to stay on track, never waver and keep believing. A point Carrick made, which they ultimately share with the approach of him and his staff. He was pressed on Engel`s improvement, and again repeated much of what he`s said before:
I`ve been hugely impressed. I wouldnt say I`m surprised because knowing him as a player, of his drive and determination, you could say that from the start as well. Sometimes that little set-back, that little challenge kind of makes you in the end. Delighted for the way he`s playing….its great to see. Its what we expected, what we knew he was capable of and there`s still loads more to come.
Carrick was also pressed on the recent success of Hayden Hackney with the England U21`s. There was no doubt that Hayden`s level-headedness and character was a credit to both him and his family. The way he summed him up was "no fuss". He gets on with the job and is "a dream to work with".
In the New Year, with the National Team commitments, Boro are likely to face a drought of available keepers, but he`s not going to pull back any of our keepers to cover, who are out on loan. There was no doubt in his mind of the potential situation and made it quite clear the Coaches and the club are well aware of the situation. Its all about forward planning for Carrick and his staff. A loan keeper is one of the options but nothing more than that:
Of course, its what`s best for us and for the team and what we need, but there`s a big element of each situation and its not pulling everyone back, just cuz we need them back here. They`ve got their own kind of development as well to think about, so its not just a straight-forward `lets get every goalkeeper back that we`ve got`. There`s an awful lot goes into that and we`ll try and make the best for everyone anyway.
We shouldnt forget either that Paddy McNair wore the Captain`s Armband for Northern Irelands match against Denmark and Rav van den Berg made an appearance for the Netherlands U21 team.
So what of Bristol City and new Manager Liam Manning? Carrick and he did their pro-licences together and it`ll be time to catch up, but not much more. Carrick is aware that with Manning only recently taking charge [7th November] we dont really know much about his style and how much he wil have effected players approach during the International break. There is no doubt that our players can cope with whatever Bristol throw at us. He acknowledged that Manning is a good Manager and said he deserves the Job at Ashton Gate.
Its nearly Christmas time [a month away?] and the same questions crop up every year: does our position around Christmas and New Year have any significance for where we are going to end up on the last day of the season? Predictably, its about taking every game at a time and keeping our ears and eyes on the next challenge, whilst noise from Media, pundits, commentators and reporters continues outside. Did the league position at Christmas have any significance:
Maybe. Even then, there`s a fair stretch between then and the end of the season. I would`nt necessarily say there`s a certain point in the season where you kind of look at the table and think `alright that`s where we are`. Its just keep winning games as much as you can, picking up points if you cant win games and then it will work itself out. I`m not one for kind of setting a target, I`m not one for looking at the [league] table at a certain time. It is what it is. You got to get through the season, so just appreciate it and enjoy the challenge week be week really.
He`s certainly playing his cards close to his chest when asked about what may or may not happen during the January Transfer Window: "There`s always a surprise and always a little change along the line" he commented, with a wry smile.
Today its a Bristol City team which drew against QPR last time out and have some key players out injured. That shouldnt make us complacent and it will be interesting to see who is on the starting block on Saturday.
Carrick concluded:
I`m not exactly sure where we are in the league, but got a rough idea, because I don’t pay much attention at this point. Its about winning games you know and seeing where that takes us. There`s some good teams in the league. I think we know we`ve came up against some and we`ll come up against some in the next few weeks, so there`s always new challenges ahead.
Another win and we can easily start moving up that greasy pole, which is the Championship Table.
Come On Boro!
r00fie1 24/11/23
Boro v Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
KO 15:00 hrs Saturday 25th November 2023
Michael Carrick made no bones about the Leicester victory a fortnight ago. In his Media Conference on Thursday, he described the game against Bristol City is even more important than that against the Foxes. Momentum is important and most of the players have had time to relax and recuperate, but now its time to get back into gear and push on:
For me, this game`s bigger than the Leicester game: there`s a natural buzz and a natural feeling around the Leicester game – top of the league and coming down from the Premier League. I think there was a good feeling in the stadium that it was a big game. For us, this is an even bigger game going down to Bristol: new Manager, first game at home. With total respect for Bristol its one that you can take your eye off the back of Leicester, because everyone is still enjoying Leicester. But that`s done and this challenge is even bigger for us, so we`re looking forward to it and we`re ready for that. We [will] certainly use the energy and the confidence that we`ve gained over recent weeks.
One concern is that Boro have key injuries to McGree, Forss and Lenihan, with the latter likely to be out for the season. Carrick is assured that Forss and McGree are possibly "weeks" away from recovery, but he has faith in the squad and wont push either of them until they are ready. He stressed that their presence around the place is still important: not just on the training ground. Its vital for Carrick to maintain that team spirit and focus on the next challenge.
Christmas and New Year are frequently mentioned as "busy" periods, with a relentless schedule jig-sawed into cup games - particularly as we have to place Port Vale in the League Cup and the FA Cup games are just around the corner. Carrick isnt unduly phased by the commitments over the coming months as much as the reporters in the room. In response to a question about whether he had a message for the players he answered in his usual fashion, with a smile:
Just keep going. Keep improving. Lets not get too carried away with whats coming up. I think [one] game at a time...like we`ve done ever since I got here. What`s next? What can we control? Game-by-game you know. There`s a balance now for us [to] obviously manage the squad. Its busy, but [managing the squad] is possible, its no big deal really. The boys are strong, they`re looking forward to playing games, so the more games the better for me.
His faith in our ability to face up to the rest of the season and the challenges it will bring hasnt wavered. He commented that the players, even during our poor start to the season, kept belief and faith in their ability to overcome the issues and improve results and their performances - individually and collectively. Carrick is more impressed with the boys ability to stay on track, never waver and keep believing. A point Carrick made, which they ultimately share with the approach of him and his staff. He was pressed on Engel`s improvement, and again repeated much of what he`s said before:
I`ve been hugely impressed. I wouldnt say I`m surprised because knowing him as a player, of his drive and determination, you could say that from the start as well. Sometimes that little set-back, that little challenge kind of makes you in the end. Delighted for the way he`s playing….its great to see. Its what we expected, what we knew he was capable of and there`s still loads more to come.
Carrick was also pressed on the recent success of Hayden Hackney with the England U21`s. There was no doubt that Hayden`s level-headedness and character was a credit to both him and his family. The way he summed him up was "no fuss". He gets on with the job and is "a dream to work with".
In the New Year, with the National Team commitments, Boro are likely to face a drought of available keepers, but he`s not going to pull back any of our keepers to cover, who are out on loan. There was no doubt in his mind of the potential situation and made it quite clear the Coaches and the club are well aware of the situation. Its all about forward planning for Carrick and his staff. A loan keeper is one of the options but nothing more than that:
Of course, its what`s best for us and for the team and what we need, but there`s a big element of each situation and its not pulling everyone back, just cuz we need them back here. They`ve got their own kind of development as well to think about, so its not just a straight-forward `lets get every goalkeeper back that we`ve got`. There`s an awful lot goes into that and we`ll try and make the best for everyone anyway.
We shouldnt forget either that Paddy McNair wore the Captain`s Armband for Northern Irelands match against Denmark and Rav van den Berg made an appearance for the Netherlands U21 team.
So what of Bristol City and new Manager Liam Manning? Carrick and he did their pro-licences together and it`ll be time to catch up, but not much more. Carrick is aware that with Manning only recently taking charge [7th November] we dont really know much about his style and how much he wil have effected players approach during the International break. There is no doubt that our players can cope with whatever Bristol throw at us. He acknowledged that Manning is a good Manager and said he deserves the Job at Ashton Gate.
Its nearly Christmas time [a month away?] and the same questions crop up every year: does our position around Christmas and New Year have any significance for where we are going to end up on the last day of the season? Predictably, its about taking every game at a time and keeping our ears and eyes on the next challenge, whilst noise from Media, pundits, commentators and reporters continues outside. Did the league position at Christmas have any significance:
Maybe. Even then, there`s a fair stretch between then and the end of the season. I would`nt necessarily say there`s a certain point in the season where you kind of look at the table and think `alright that`s where we are`. Its just keep winning games as much as you can, picking up points if you cant win games and then it will work itself out. I`m not one for kind of setting a target, I`m not one for looking at the [league] table at a certain time. It is what it is. You got to get through the season, so just appreciate it and enjoy the challenge week be week really.
He`s certainly playing his cards close to his chest when asked about what may or may not happen during the January Transfer Window: "There`s always a surprise and always a little change along the line" he commented, with a wry smile.
Today its a Bristol City team which drew against QPR last time out and have some key players out injured. That shouldnt make us complacent and it will be interesting to see who is on the starting block on Saturday.
Carrick concluded:
I`m not exactly sure where we are in the league, but got a rough idea, because I don’t pay much attention at this point. Its about winning games you know and seeing where that takes us. There`s some good teams in the league. I think we know we`ve came up against some and we`ll come up against some in the next few weeks, so there`s always new challenges ahead.
Another win and we can easily start moving up that greasy pole, which is the Championship Table.
Come On Boro!
r00fie1 24/11/23
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