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Robin Johnson

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Posts posted by Robin Johnson

    The Transfer Window

    in Boro Forum

    Posted

    Problem with far too many posters on FMTTM is they have a thought/ opinion that becomes a fact with them. Based on……. Not much. Very little credibility in my opinion.

    • Like 3

    Do we need a new manager?

    in Boro Forum

    Posted

    25 minutes ago, SouthernSmoggie said:

    Movement, speed of thought, and positional awareness are the key to a possession-based team being able to break sides down.

    I was watching Arsenal the other night and the speed and accuracy of their passing was unreal. The ball was constantly moving, nobody ever stood still and looked around for a team mate. It's all just effortless and instinctive, you never see a hopeless knock into the channel or a player stood on the ball thinking "what now?" Sheff Utd were in a deep 11-man block but they weren't given a second to breathe or set themselves. The Arsenal centre halves were almost at the eighteen yard box, playing one touch wall passes and whipping it wide to full backs and wingers. Odegaard was everywhere - if any player, anywhere, needed to relieve some pressure on themselves he's there, waiting to receive the ball. In theory if they'd lost the ball they'd be vulnerable to a counter. But they rarely do because the passing is so accurate - and if they did, the counter press was immediate and aggressive, with tactical fouls made whenever necessary. It was suffocating and must be horrible to play against.

    Contrast to Boro, who (I think) want to emulate that style of dominating, possession-based play. The ball is with our centre halves on the halfway line and they take three touches before making the obvious, slow pass out wide to a full back. The centre halves hang back. Full back stands, looks up, passes to a midfielder who eventually shows for the ball. It's slow, spread out, and incredibly easy to defend against. Everyone needs a few seconds to think and figure out where their teammates are. Opposition simply shuffles their compact shape along, watching the ball and marking their men. And when they do win it back, we're so spread out and easy to run at. No nasty player to wipe someone out. Must be lovely to play against.

    It might seem harsh, but I'll pick on Barlaser as an example. He wants too much time on the ball, always needing a second or two to look up and see where his teammates are. I'm sure he'd be decent as the 'quarter-back' at the base of a midfield three in a counter-attacking side like Rotherham where has time to spray long balls. But we don't play that way - we're asking too much of him. Pair him with a player who likes to go on marauding runs and leave him exposed in O'Brien, and it's a recipe for disaster. 

    Other players are guilty of putting their heads down, running into blind alleys, losing the ball and giving up counters. I think with the likes of Azaz, Greenwood, Forss, Engel, Ayling, and O'Brien it's less about being bad players and more about simply not knowing where their teammates are and what to expect. And who can really blame them? The team is different every week. For all Wilder's faults, that's one area where we were good under him. The passing triangles and overloads were great because everyone knew what to expect from their teammates. 

    Last season's team had several advantages over this one. A big one was consistency. Apart from maybe Forss v Jones or Ramsey v McGree, we could all predict the team. Players knew the plan. We also had more talented players with quicker speed of thought and natural, intelligent movement. But even so, we still struggled against deep blocks or good pressing sides last season, like Coventry. When I think back to that side, we were at our best on the counter anyway. Akpom taking the ball on a half turn and spreading it to Giles, who was already on his bike. One touch, cross, Archer in the right place to finish. 

    I'd bin off this attempt to be the Championship City/Arsenal - we simply have to stop conceding soft goals or we'll continue losing games and Carrick will be gone. Tighten up and play on the counter. Take fewer risks in possession, give it up at times if need be. Work on positioning in training and prioritize consistency in team selection so players can build connections.

    So to sum up - we simply aren’t good enough! Plenty are culpable however Carrick doesn’t help his cause by offering more of a failing system and tactic.

    This alone will continue to help the opposition - whoever they may be.

    • Like 1

    Early Bird Season Ticket renewals

    in Boro Forum

    Posted

    I hear all the time by certain sages we are a well run club. Seriously? In a mediocre league we are at best a mid table side. Devoid of real ambition, having an increase in crowds yet the “ reward” is bumping up season ticket prices. Clueless truly clueless.

    Chelsea vs Middlesbrough (League Cup Semi Final - 2nd Leg) 6-1 (Rogers)

    in Match Day Threads 2023/24 Season

    Posted · Edited by Robin Johnson

    2 hours ago, Pork Slops said:

    @RichAcklam2404I hope you are proud of yourself, almost guaranteed we would have progressed tonight if Poch didn't know our starting line up.

    What utter rubbish. As if Chelsea would have relied on leaked info on a message board. The score was 6-1. We gifted goals and demonstrated we are a million miles away from having a competitive team/ squad to be able to compete in the Prem

    Thats where concerns should lay

    • Haha 3

    The Transfer Window

    in Boro Forum

    Posted

    A couple of observations from last night, you will more often than not be punished from defensive howlers against Prem teams.

    And secondly we have very few players- if any- who could hack it in the Premier league.

    Sobering and realistic assessment unfortunately 

    • Like 1
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