13 hours ago, macapes said:

They also have the worst defensive record in the league. They've shipped more goals than us. Far harder tests to come in terms of actually scoring goals.

Yes this is my worry. Haven’t watched them this season but from a few podcasts I listen to they have been very bad at the back. So I’m hoping it’s not just that and more about our performance. Saying that, we were a lot better defending as a unit so if we keep that up that will go a long way to getting more wins

18 hours ago, Brunners said:

I would really like to see Coburn cement that striker spot, but for Carrick to give ELL a spot behind the striker. I know he's struggled with his finishing but he's done so much good for us IMO that he could really thrive behind Josh.

Agreed. A front 4 of Coburn with ELL, jones and McGree behind could be a bit like last season with pace and a player to hold the ball up (Coburn like Chuba did). It's obviously not the same quality but at least it's pacey. McGree on the left should also help Engel or Bangura so they can go further like Giles was allowed last season. Both have their forces in the attack but need a bit of help and McGree has the lungs for that like he showed last season.

3 hours ago, Donnyboro said:

Did we get anymore on the Thursday meeting ? 

Howson said this on northern echo.. 

“It’s been a tough time recently,” he said. “But the things that the fans won’t see day in, day out, is everyone sticking together and working hard.

“We got together this week, and everyone said a few words about keeping going and hopefully it will turn. We’ve got a young side this season, and for some of these lads, results-wise, it might be the first time they’ve gone through a spell like this where you don’t make a good start and there’s a bit of pressure on."

 

 

 

Absolutely buzzing with that win, think I’ve watched it back about 10 times. I also enjoyed reading through this thread  and to see the negativity we were all feeling change to ecstasy come the final whistle. 

I’ve nothing bad to say about that game, I’m just going to enjoy the fact we finally won. Hopefully this is the start of our season and we can put this bad run behind us. Pick up a decent result in the cup and build some more confidence for the weekend! 

https://theathletic.com/4893823/2023/09/25/carrick-martin-middlesbrough-southampton?source=user-shared-article

Article about Carrick and Martin and the impact of Saturday.

The key bit:

7 hours ago, Donnyboro said:

Did we get anymore on the Thursday meeting ? 

I did wonder if the players went to him and said they just can’t play this new system. There was probably anger involved and a few words said, after all it’s made the players look terrible this season for whatever reason. 
 

Idk that turn around just seemed more than a motivational ‘we’re all in this together’ speech. It was a literal switch flip, the players suddenly seemed on it again, the press was back, the quick passing was back, the movement was back. I don’t think that turn around, rumours of a meeting plus us suddenly lining up more like last season is any coincidence.

Whatever happened I’m glad it did, hopefully we hit rock bottom and it’s up only from now.

3 hours ago, TeaCider24 said:

https://theathletic.com/4893823/2023/09/25/carrick-martin-middlesbrough-southampton?source=user-shared-article

Article about Carrick and Martin and the impact of Saturday.

The key bit:

I wonder if the story would be quite the same had we lost on Saturday.  Change that top paragraph to something like 'With the club rooted to the bottom of the league after yet another defeat, their 6th of the season, its difficult to see where Middlesbrough's first win since April will come from.  The crowd's boos at full time told their own story, and there is a distinct lack of belief that things will turn around any time soon.'  Now try and follow that with the second paragraph.

On 9/24/2023 at 8:44 AM, JMC91 said:

I often peruse the opposition forums to engage in a bit of schadenfreude ( I have to double down on enjoyment when we win these days because of how rare it is), and also to see what non-Boro fans actually think of how we played in the game. Usually you’ll get the odd few fans saying ‘fair play Boro deserved that today’ but it seems that Soton fans unanimously think we were ***. There was also a link to a BBC radio Solent interview with Russell Martin in which he said that they were the better side in the first half and that quote ‘Boro had nothing in the second half until that point’ until Southampton gifted us a goal with the penalty. He goes on to say ‘the last bit of the game they had a few big chances because they’re on the counter and we’re committing so many men forward, so it’s a bit skewed because before that they had very little’.
 

I’m going to put it down to fan frustration and the fact that Martin is probably fighting to save his job now. They’ve got a top 3 squad in this league and we were the better side yesterday. Granted we were winless and rock bottom prior to the game but still the stats and anyone watching the game could see that we were the better side and I felt bar a couple of spells around when they scored and at the start of the second half, we were a constant threat. 

Saints fan here with Boro family connections.I agree its Saints fans frustration after the crap we have had the last few years, 2 home wins in 12 months, losing at home to Grimsby, 9-0 defeats x 2, etc . etc. We all had a glimmer of hope for this season, that bubble has quickly burst.

Boro certainly wanted it more in the 2nd half and deserved the win. Good luck for the rest of the season.

ps - best part of my day was at the Pig Iron, great pub.

 

12 hours ago, Riverside94 said:

Yes this is my worry. Haven’t watched them this season but from a few podcasts I listen to they have been very bad at the back. So I’m hoping it’s not just that and more about our performance. Saying that, we were a lot better defending as a unit so if we keep that up that will go a long way to getting more wins

saints fans all seemed to agree they played better against us than they have for a while.