Boro v Coventry 2-0 (Assombalonga, Spence)

[pikerman 94]

I know one thing after watching last nights game, if I was one of the other Championship teams I would not want to play us !

[Skinemrippers 280]

There’s something about this team that I really like. I don’t know if it’s Warnock’s straight talking enthusiasm, the fact we have a coaching set up that clearly know what they’re doing and are improving players, the team spirit or the individual improvement from certain members of the team - but whatever it is I feel more positive about the team than I have since the Karanka days. 

I love that we’re so hard to beat. I think the back 3 are fantastic, exciting to watch at times when Paddy and Dijksteel push forward. Paddy in particular has been a revelation, he oozes class in that role. Morsy has been brilliant - finally someone who can win the 50/50 balls and push us forward, I don’t see many sideways or backwards passes from him. Howson looks like a different player in his correct position and Saville is finally getting forward and making chances. 

There’s still areas for improvement and some players that drive me mad. We slow things down too much, not creating enough and clearly not settled on our best wing backs or forward combination. But signs are good, we’re winning, looking up the table and I think we will only get better. Browne, Tav and Roberts will have a massive part to play I think.

I look forward to the matches now,  just wish we could be there in person to cheer the lads on. 

[Dan1234 191]

Nice to get some points on the board, nothing really to add that hasn't already been said. We are so poor on the ball but defensively we are very very good. I suppose that should be expected with 3 Cb and 3 dmf in the starting 11 though. 

Very nicely taken goals by 2 players lacking form and confidence. Hopefully this spurs them on because our squad isn't big enough to not have them playing really.

The team selection and way we play isn't what I want to see from my team but we are winning so its hard to complain. What I will say though is playing this way only works when getting results just like Poolis. Fans will have no patience whatsoever playing this way and losing. 

[CrazyL 126]

It’s a good job fans are banned. I can imagine the atmosphere last night would have been pretty toxic after an hour. A job well done by Coventry who set out to make the game scrappy and disjointed from minute one. No doubt they would have been further emboldened with every Boro misplaced pass resulting in anger and frustration rolling down from the stands. Maybe we still would have won? Maybe not? 

[Skinemrippers 280]

I don’t see it like that at all. It feels like there’s a buzz back around the team that we’ve not had for a long time. I think people can see Warnock is working with a small, restricted squad and has them playing for each other. I think the fans would be (and are) behind this team 

[nunthorpered 389]

We can always go back to Woodgates "attacking" style if we want?....😂

[nunthorpered 389]

5 hours ago, sackrobson2 said:

Are you really criticising him after what ten minutes? In any case, bang average is an upgrade on Johnson. 

No. Its been a longer saga than 10mins playing time

[RiseAgainst 866]

It feels like we're two players away from having a real go at the top two. There's no quality in the league this season - Watford drew with Wycombe last night (and well done to Wycombe for getting off the mark at last). But playing Spence at LWB demonstrates how poor we are on the left flank, and Britt clearly doesn't suit a lone striker role - which is a shame since our other strikers are both injured.

We're close to something here, but we're not quite there yet. January might be pivotal.

[Brunners 2,159]

1 hour ago, diggerlad07 said:

Surely you enjoy the feeling of picking up points again after what we had to endure last season?

For me, it's all about the points rather than entertainment, yes it's frustrating on the eye especially watching on TV but I'd take that if it means a play off push and something to get excited about. (Maybe that's my competitive footballing side)

I must be mad cause I actually enjoyed watching us last night. I agree some of our recent performances have been a bit difficult to watch but I didn't feel yesterday was like that.

[AnglianRed 1,292]

17 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said:

It feels like we're two players away from having a real go at the top two. There's no quality in the league this season - Watford drew with Wycombe last night (and well done to Wycombe for getting off the mark at last). But playing Spence at LWB demonstrates how poor we are on the left flank, and Britt clearly doesn't suit a lone striker role - which is a shame since our other strikers are both injured.

We're close to something here, but we're not quite there yet. January might be pivotal.

I don't know about a lack of quality. There are a few teams who, on paper, should be absolutely dominating.

But I think its the same across the leagues, with the lack of crowds to provide an atmosphere and gee up the players. Just look at some of the weird results the PL has thrown up so far. I think Covid is having some effect on that score.

But I agree we do look like a fairly decent side...defensively at least.

We just really struggle to break teams down. To do that you either need to be fast or clever...and we're neither. I mean, we do have a couple of players with pace, but too often they are working on their own and have to hold the ball up (when they don't punt it into empty space, or back to the opposition) - by which time the other side have got their defence organised. 

So we then end up passing it back, sideways and back to the keeper... 🥱😴

So we either need to get better quality wide players and learn to attack at pace as a unit (forwards & midfield), or else acquire some Championship versions of Eden Hazard, or Kevin de Bruyne who can magically find time and space anywhere and pick a perfect pass.

 

[AnglianRed 1,292]

21 minutes ago, nunthorpered said:

We can always go back to Woodgates "attacking" style if we want?....😂

 

[DevKWat 311]

Out of pure hypothesis, say Neil pulls off the impossible and takes us up. Do we think he gives it a go or walks off into the sunset cementing himself as a Football League Legend and Boro hero?

I ask purely because of age etc and I’ve seen him say he doesn’t like the Premier League

[diggerlad07 755]

36 minutes ago, Brunners said:

I must be mad cause I actually enjoyed watching us last night. I agree some of our recent performances have been a bit difficult to watch but I didn't feel yesterday was like that.

Tbh that 1st half was really poor showing I thought, but agree the 2nd half we stepped up the tempo and played some nice football and had more clear cut chances.

Tavernier's challenge was crucial in getting the result yesterday. Had we gone 1-0 down, Coventry would of further parked the bus making it hard for us to break them down.

[Borodane 1,465]

21 minutes ago, DevKWat said:

Out of pure hypothesis, say Neil pulls off the impossible and takes us up. Do we think he gives it a go or walks off into the sunset cementing himself as a Football League Legend and Boro hero?

I ask purely because of age etc and I’ve seen him say he doesn’t like the Premier League

I would be forever grateful of Warnock but I'd hope the club would try something fresh. The season in the prem with a boring, slow and predictable mindset was numbing experience. I'd like the club to do what Southampton did when they said goodbye to Adkins and gambled on Pochettino.

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 955]

1 minute ago, Borodane said:

I would be forever grateful of Warnock but I'd hope the club would try something fresh. The season in the prem with a boring, slow and predictable mindset was numbing experience. I'd like the club to do what Southampton did when they said goodbye to Adkins and gambled on Pochettino.

If by some miracle we go up and Warnock doesn’t fancy the premier League, we’ll need someone who specialises in keeping teams up.
We should have enough money in the bank to reappoint that man, He’d do a good job with the players we have and get them working aard!