Preston v Boro 2-1 (Azaz)

[bmt 267 225]

Since the Rotherham away game we have been shocking  in the final third. Greenwood must have played 10 matches as a striker now and he is clearly not good enough up front. Surely Hoppe is worth a punt rather than persisting with Greenwood. Forss routinely being played out of position on the wing. It was understandable when we had the likes of Archer up front as he was ahead of Forss in quality. But now we have limited options surely Forss is better suited up front. 
 

For Leicester and going forward I’d like to see this starting 11.

             Dieng 

Djiksteel VdB Clarke Thomas

     Hackney Howson

 Greenwood Azaz McGree

            Forss 

 

[Dan1234 1,226 3.2k]

I really hope that Carrick clicks onto the fact our weak as *** midfield is never going to get us promotion. We need someone who can cover the ground well, see danger and play it simple. He doesn't need to be Iniesta on the ball. The most frustrating thing is he wouldn't even lose much if anything in a attacking sense as you currently have Howson doing zip at either end. 

[osvaldo 180 294]

Van Den Berg is our only consistent 8 or 9 out of 10 performer every week this season. Especially since he moved into cb. The rest haven’t been near good enough. You can blame injuries to some degree but the league table is a fair reflection of our performances. Big summer is needed from the recruitment team!

[TeaCider24 17,814 22.9k]

1 minute ago, osvaldo said:

Van Den Berg is our only consistent 8 or 9 out of 10 performer every week this season. Especially since he moved into cb. The rest haven’t been near good enough. You can blame injuries to some degree but the league table is a fair reflection of our performances. Big summer is needed from the recruitment team!

He wasn't anywhere near an 8 or a 9 tonight.

He shares the blame with Howson and Poppadom for the opening goal.

[thomas 612 2.7k]

I Think Gibson needs to let go if we are going to progress as a club, we had 15 years of continuing decline aside from 2 season of brief revival under karanka. We can't keep that back 4, keep Carrick playing style and get promotion unless you have unbelievable for the championship striking line like last season. So either you get that forward line or get rid of Carrick or accept championship football is as high as we can get or get defence that's capable of doing it. 2 of them options need proper investment or to strike lucky with loans.

Edited February 14, 2024 by thomas

[TheJew 3,651 6.1k]

Just now, osvaldo said:

Van Den Berg is our only consistent 8 or 9 out of 10 performer every week this season. Especially since he moved into cb. The rest haven’t been near good enough. You can blame injuries to some degree but the league table is a fair reflection of our performances. Big summer is needed from the recruitment team!

Not likely though, is it?

[Riverside94 1,359 1.9k]

2 minutes ago, osvaldo said:

Van Den Berg is our only consistent 8 or 9 out of 10 performer every week this season. Especially since he moved into cb. The rest haven’t been near good enough. You can blame injuries to some degree but the league table is a fair reflection of our performances. Big summer is needed from the recruitment team!

I’d play him RB vs our other options there. He was doing well there too and looks composed on the ball

[TeaCider24 17,814 22.9k]

He's getting snappier and snappier with interviews lately, not that it's particularly surprising as we've been absolutely dogshit for over a month and he'll be starting to feel a bit of pressure.

[Blanco 5,581 7.2k]

5 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

He's getting snappier and snappier with interviews lately, not that it's particularly surprising as we've been absolutely dogshit for over a month and he'll be starting to feel a bit of pressure.

Didn’t sound that snappy to me.  Just a bit disappointed with how the result went

[Changing Times 15,603 22.7k]

2 minutes ago, Blanco said:

Didn’t sound that snappy to me.  Just a bit disappointed with how the result went

He sounded like a daft Geordie bugger who doesn't know what his best team is to me.

[Blanco 5,581 7.2k]

1 minute ago, Changing Times said:

He sounded like a daft Geordie bugger who doesn't know what his best team is to me.

I’m glad that you can see that we need Pulis back CT. Thanks for the support. I’m fairly sure that @Neverbeforewill be on board shortly 👌

[Redcar Rioja 8,855 8.7k]

I think we played with a little more intent and tempo early on tonight but we just recycled possession and never troubled their Keeper. It was certainly an improvement from some recent poor showings but it counted for nothing and even when they scored we still didn't look like threatening them despite all our our dominant possession. Running into blind alleys, crowded out, shots blocked on the edge of their box.

In fairness to Carrick his half time team talk seemed to spark something and we looked re-energised, up for it again and deservedly got the goal but once again our defence crumbled as they got their second using a bit of quick movement and pace getting up the pitch. Pace and movement are just a few of the things that we are missing. We are playing the same play it out from the back and build it up as last season but compared to last season it's like watching it in slow motion. We don't have any intuitive understanding or speed of thought, instinctively knowing where our players will be because their roles were drilled in and out of possession.

There is no Giles with energy and threat down the left, Thomas tonight was OK but zero difference for me compared with Engel, just more of the same. No Chuba to hold the ball up and thread killer passes to an Archer, Ramsey or Forss, not to mention arriving into the box to get on the end of things that just don't happen now because there is no Giles and besides we will have passed it back to Glover in any case. No bloody Striker, even if it's not Archer, therefore all the things that made us tick before the end of last seasons capitulation is missing. Added to that the ponderous movement and decision making is fricking annoying, one, two, three and even four touches and then a swivel, likely passing it sideways or back because the opponents have closed us down and then repeat. It doesn't even give the feeling that there is hope of it working and despite wishing it wasn't so it is head shaking seeing repetition after repetition.

I enjoyed watching us last season but this season it's painful and ineffective. It just isn't working and despite PNE looking poor tonight we still couldn't raise our game enough because we had already raised it from recent poor showings, despite the willingness there was no Viagra left in the  Boro cupboard.

We need to make the most out of these last few months to figure out what our plan is actually going to be. It should be seen as an opportunity but I fear it will end in more of the same then that turning to animosity, arguing and ultimately tears without some tough and hard decisions being made and soon.

[Boro 86 800 2.7k]

Surely that’s the last time we see Djiksteel - That was as bad a cameo as you could wish to see.

we are a “nearly” team at the moment but the lack of a fit forward has again killed us. I also think Jones has been a big miss. He is inconsistent as hell but his pace at least gives us an option. 

You would think that is the playoffs done now but we keep the faith and pray for a miracle.

Azaz looks a good buy though. We just need a lot more. Big big summer ahead.

[TheJew 3,651 6.1k]

Surely the ST sales will be good though?

Especially at the new bargain prices.

[LinoJo3 5,505 13.2k]

2 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

I think we played with a little more intent and tempo early on tonight but we just recycled possession and never troubled their Keeper. It was certainly an improvement from some recent poor showings but it counted for nothing and even when they scored we still didn't look like threatening them despite all our our dominant possession. Running into blind alleys, crowded out, shots blocked on the edge of their box.

In fairness to Carrick his half time team talk seemed to spark something and we looked re-energised, up for it again and deservedly got the goal but once again our defence crumbled as they got their second using a bit of quick movement and pace getting up the pitch. Pace and movement are just a few of the things that we are missing. We are playing the same play it out from the back and build it up as last season but compared to last season it's like watching it in slow motion. We don't have any intuitive understanding or speed of thought, instinctively knowing where our players will be because their roles were drilled in and out of possession.

There is no Giles with energy and threat down the left, Thomas tonight was OK but zero difference for me compared with Engel, just more of the same. No Chuba to hold the ball up and thread killer passes to an Archer, Ramsey or Forss, not to mention arriving into the box to get on the end of things that just don't happen now because there is no Giles and besides we will have passed it back to Glover in any case. No bloody Striker, even if it's not Archer, therefore all the things that made us tick before the end of last seasons capitulation is missing. Added to that the ponderous movement and decision making is fricking annoying, one, two, three and even four touches and then a swivel, likely passing it sideways or back because the opponents have closed us down and then repeat. It doesn't even give the feeling that there is hope of it working and despite wishing it wasn't so it is head shaking seeing repetition after repetition.

I enjoyed watching us last season but this season it's painful and ineffective. It just isn't working and despite PNE looking poor tonight we still couldn't raise our game enough because we had already raised it from recent poor showings, despite the willingness there was no Viagra left in the  Boro cupboard.

We need to make the most out of these last few months to figure out what our plan is actually going to be. It should be seen as an opportunity but I fear it will end in more of the same then that turning to animosity, arguing and ultimately tears without some tough and hard decisions being made and soon.

If you look at our forwards tonight we had McGree, Azaz, Greenwood and Forrs. 3 of those 4 are all the type who like to come deeper for the ball, it’s no surprise we recycled the ball a lot as only Forrs would have the first thought to try and make runs in behind.