26 minutes ago, Johnmfc81 said:

I'd try something a bit different and go with a 433, possibly this line up. 

                   Dieng

VDB   Fry     Lenihan   Bangura

                 Barlaser

         O'brian     Hackney

Jones       Forss      Latte Lath

I agree as I have been arguing for 4-3-3 for some time. Realistically, I don't see how we could change shape at a moment's notice and we also do lack an overlapping right back. I would be tempted to go with

Dieng

Jones - Fry - Lenihan - Bangura

Hackney - O'Brien - McGree

Forss - Lath - Greenwood/Rogers

It's a bit of a pedal to the metal approach but maybe that's what we need right now. Desperately need to change the tempo we play at. We have been trying and failing miserably to copy deZerbi-ball which plays with quite a low, gentle press in order to spring high-speed counter-attacks. I think our players are mostly front-foot players. 

Hi all, I haven't posted on here since the play-offs, which put me off football completely for a few months. I've been trying to rekindle my love for the Boro this season, but I feel curiously detached from it all, after investing so much hope and energy into last season, only to watch us s*** the bed like Spud in Trainspotting.

I can't help wondering if elements of the club and squad could be similarly burnt out, after failing to capitalise on a unique opportunity for promotion. Yes, the transfer window was poor and pre-season didn't help, but we had 11 of last season's players in the squad on Saturday - not that you'd have known it from the performance.

Tomorrow's the first time I'll actually be following a game live this season, and I really hope we get a result to save Carrick's job. Since beating Hull back in April, everything he's done has seemed off - Saturday's lineup had defeat practically written in the margins - but I'm hoping there's been a moment of clarity over the last couple of days. All he has to do to effect improvement (however incremental) is start putting round pegs into round holes. It doesn't seem too much for a supposedly intelligent young manager to do.

Edited September 18, 20232 yr by RiseAgainst

We'll have to wait and see what sort of team Carrick picks. Another unusual line up and he's he playing it's my way or the highway.

25 minutes ago, Bruce said:

I agree as I have been arguing for 4-3-3 for some time. Realistically, I don't see how we could change shape at a moment's notice and we also do lack an overlapping right back. I would be tempted to go with

Dieng

Jones - Fry - Lenihan - Bangura

Hackney - O'Brien - McGree

Forss - Lath - Greenwood/Rogers

It's a bit of a pedal to the metal approach but maybe that's what we need right now. Desperately need to change the tempo we play at. We have been trying and failing miserably to copy deZerbi-ball which plays with quite a low, gentle press in order to spring high-speed counter-attacks. I think our players are mostly front-foot players. 

I get that, but I think I would stick with forss down the middle just because I feel he's the best natural finisher we have in the squad just now, and I thing LL would do better coming in from wide positions, possibly from the left, onto his right foot. 

15 minutes ago, Johnmfc81 said:

I get that, but I think I would stick with forss down the middle just because I feel he's the best natural finisher we have in the squad just now, and I thing LL would do better coming in from wide positions, possibly from the left, onto his right foot. 

TBH you are probably right. I'm not sure LL is a "natural finisher" though it might just be Ricard syndrome.* I think the pressure of playing #9 may be getting to him so putting him out wide in a three. Forss did struggle a bit as #9 when Carrick started but it was masked by Akpom's goals and he eventually seemed to get the measure of it before being moved out wide to replace Jones. 

There's a very good argument for a front 3 of 

Forss - Coburn - Latte Lath

The #9 in a front three needs to do a lot of donkey work and make the ball stick. Coburn is possibly the best at that of the three of them and he will be desperate to show what he can do. The width in a 4-3-3 comes from the full-backs so having Forss and LL running the channels would give defences a lot to cope with.

*I wonder if ELL is more of a Joelinton type who will do better if not expected to be the main goal scorer for a team.

My 2nd ever away game, 18th November 1972

Boro winning 1-0, Platty saving 2 penalties, final result, losing 2-1 

Big win for us here. I can feel it in my bones.

23 minutes ago, Bruce said:

TBH you are probably right. I'm not sure LL is a "natural finisher" though it might just be Ricard syndrome.* I think the pressure of playing #9 may be getting to him so putting him out wide in a three. Forss did struggle a bit as #9 when Carrick started but it was masked by Akpom's goals and he eventually seemed to get the measure of it before being moved out wide to replace Jones. 

There's a very good argument for a front 3 of 

Forss - Coburn - Latte Lath

The #9 in a front three needs to do a lot of donkey work and make the ball stick. Coburn is possibly the best at that of the three of them and he will be desperate to show what he can do. The width in a 4-3-3 comes from the full-backs so having Forss and LL running the channels would give defences a lot to cope with.

*I wonder if ELL is more of a Joelinton type who will do better if not expected to be the main goal scorer for a team.

I'm beginning to wonder if he is more of an Akpom type, lousy when he has the main responsibility to score but let him drop deeper into the 10 and use his skill to win the ball and spring attacks, arriving late in the box himself to finish off the stray opportunities.

Carrick's formation needs a number 10 to link it all up and make it work, without Chuba it just isn't functioning at all. Where do you fine one of those Players for peanuts i the Championship and as we have found out you can't!

Having said that I'd much prefer a 442 or a 532 but it seems like Carrick is prepared to fall on his 4231 sword.

Sheff Wed 6-0 Middlesbrough

On-the-spot sacking if O'Brien doesn't start in centre midfield.

We can talk number tens and moving forwards around all day... But it's irrelevant if we keep giving up huge chances and getting skewered through the centre every game. 

Saturday was bad but it could have been so much worse. They missed an open goal after what, two minutes? Several huge saves by Dieng. On another day we get pasted by five or six. Our goal was offside too, very fortunate. 

Need to tighten up tomorrow. 4-3-3 with pace up top - Lath will be better as an inside forward imo. Forss is a better finisher. I'd bin the no 10 position - we've tried several there and nobody can do it. Would benefit more from an extra body in midfield.

        

 

Edited September 18, 20232 yr by SouthernSmoggie

                        Dieng

 Smith       Fry   Lenihan  Bangura

 Jones  Hackney  O’Brien  McGree

                     Rogers

                 Latte-Lath 

Take Lath out of the firing line and play Forss up top. If Bangura is injured (Haven't listened to any post match from the Blackburn game) then reluctantly play Engel or Coulson *shudders* 

Where is Coulson now, with Engel having a sore foot surely Coulson should have been on the bench or is he injured again and out for another few months?

Has to be 4-3-3. Mcgree left wing. Howson sitting, o’brien and hackney just ahead. Forss or jones right wing. We need to be on the front foot against these and press. Blackburn got too much respect and time on the ball. Hopefully our season starts tomorrow, but bit of me think it’s going to be “typical boro”

Talking Points

-        Talking of points, will we ever get any ever again?

-        Why do so many teams have animals in their badges? Animals can’t even play football.

Its a historical thing (I think) that goes as far back as the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Certain animals have always been associated with various qualities, such as speed, strength, cunning, wisdom etc. Hence animals initially featured prominently on military insignia. When we eventually started proving our superiority over others by playing competitive sports, instead of bloody battles, it was a natural step to associate the same kind of animals with sports teams.

I propose a new animal for Boro's crest until such time as we start playing decently again:

-        Will McGree start?

If he doesn't, I propose a pitch invasion...

-        Do you agree with Michael Carrick that our performances haven’t been that bad?

Sounds like Woody's been helping MC with his press conferences as well. Flashbacks to "the table is lying...". I mean they haven't been unremittingly bad, but they are a long way from being good.

-        At least Leeds aren’t doing very well eh?!

I dunno. I'd give...quite a lot...for Boro to be in Leeds' position.