italian dave

In the Championship??

I was fascinated by Bazunu last night: surprised it’s not been mentioned more. Much of the time he seemed to be playing what I knew in my younger days as a sweeper! And some sweepers played even deeper than he did! The Middlesbrough keeper on Saturday was similar, if a bit less extreme. It felt like we’d talked about that because we tried to lob him from distance a couple of times, but didn’t seem to try that last night I can see the benefits - but there are obvious risks too…..has he been caught out this season?

I was about to highlight those same two incidents! One minute chanting his name, the next a collective groan! Down the middle, I guess, equals two or three giant central defenders heading it straight back! Full backs tend to be smaller - and to be fair, when the ball doesn’t sail over his head Bell in particular wins a fair few of them. But I’m no coach!

Well, we’ve got one fresh player if nothing else!

Absolutely. And to compound it, when he played an advantage to Soton some time later, and they lost it, he pulled it back and gave them the free kick. Twice he pointed one way for a throw in and then gave it the other way. I actually thought he had a decent first half. And then went completely to pieces second. The classic ‘game of two halfs’

With so many players getting their own thread I felt Zak deserved a mention. It’s almost like we take him for granted now, but I thought he was superb last night. Massively helps him having a settled partnership and a player like Dickie alongside him. For me, getting Zak’s signature on that new contract has proved one of our best ‘signings’ of last summer. Edit - sorry @Port Said Red - just seen your thread and don’t know how I missed it! Mods please merge!

I’m not sure it’s clear yet. But given that the end of season is only about 10 weeks away……..

I’m not even sure Pring gets straight back in after Roberts’ performance last night. I don’t think we’ll see Atkinson this season? But more to the point, it’s no longer about who starts being our 11 best players: it’s about how we best manage game time, fitness etc of our 17 best players, and about how we best use those 17 players to manage the game.

Was it TGH fed the ball to McCrorie? Because that was a great pass too. All in all, a classic counter attack goal.

You’d have a problem if Knight got injured…..

I think what the past few weeks have demonstrated is that it’s no longer about our best 11, it’s about our best 17.

He can spell his name how he likes if he puts in performances like that. I got just about everything wrong before the game, and nothing more so than feeling concerned when I saw Pring out and H in. Couldn't have been more wrong. That was a great performance.

I think their rotatee (or whatever the word is!) did his hamstring again earlier!

It doesn’t mean he’s bring “overlooked”. I would guess he’ll feature at some stage and play his part. And I’d be surprised if Mehmeti played 90 mins

Always believe

Is that last bit predictive text. Or did you just remember what you were supposed to be doing today?

Not even that, I think! He was quite injury prone. He played only 90 odd games in 6 years at Burnley. And as far as I can find out, he picked up an injury that forced his retirement before he’d played a game for us. Seems like our injury curse was ever thus!

Oooohhhs and aaaahhhhs, but also just the general noise level. The increased level, the roar that says we feel there’s a goal coming. That only happened a couple of times on Saturday - and it didn’t really last very long.

It was one throw in. We were practising time wasting game management.

Thanks Dave. And I’m certainly not dissing it. I don’t understand it, so I wouldn’t do that. I really ought to learn about it…..still reckon the feeling you get from a crowd is a decent guide too though! Interesting (if I’ve understood it right) that Boro’s biggest climb was in that 45-60 minute slot that’s been such a problem for us. At the time, I was worried, but I thought that was more about our history of conceding then. A plus that we actually didn’t concede this time?

Hey Joe……Jimi Hendrix

I’ve just said (above) that I’ve no idea what xg is. Have to say that this doesn’t do much to convince me it’s an objective way of measuring anything that I should take the time to learn

And I was simply pointing out that, even if there was a “meltdown” after the Coventry game, you weren’t part of it. Your post match reaction was a focus on the positives. None of which I’d argue with. But your post match reaction on Saturday was the polar opposite and a focus on negatives. Which I do argue with. I’m afraid I don’t judge games on the match stats, and I’ve no idea what xg is. Call me a dinosaur, but I go by what I see at the game, what I feel, sense, hear, smell. That’s what football is about to me. And, for example, what was significant for me on Saturday was how rarely the Boro fans really made much noise. That said far more to me about how comfortable we were than any shots on target stat. Maybe that’s a difference between us and why we’ll never have a meeting of minds. Talking of stats more generally though, I notice you’ve still not replied - for a second time - to mine about our punishing schedule at the moment. Interesting that when those stats don’t suit you can ignore or ‘not read’ them! I mention that because managing our small squad through that schedule is one of the things I think LM deserves some credit for. We’ll all have views about whether and when he starts, subs, replaces players, but he knows the players situation at any time far better than we do and I think he’s managed it well. I hesitate to say that today because I’ve a feeling tonight might be a step too far, but let’s see!

Man City’s schedule is of little relevance to us. It’s Southampton’s and QPR’s that’s significant to us. And who’s “moaning”? I didn’t feel Boro were unlucky, no. The fact that you use words like “spin” suggests you’re putting your own particular take on it. And I’ve certainly never criticised - never mind “castrated - another emotive term that doesn’t make for reasoned argument - anyone for our formation against Coventry. But don’t keep playing the martyr?! No-one is suggesting that critiquing any manager isn’t allowed. In my mind all that’s being suggested the past 48 hours is that we show a little joy and spend a little time celebrating three points from a tricky away game! As @Davefevs said (eventually!!), just chill

Yes, remember that, it was so funny. If I remember right he got booked for kicking the ball away. But it wasn’t just a tap into the advertising boards - he actually got it out of the ground