AnglianRed 7,249 17.1k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 (edited) Can't believe I actually correctly predicted a scoreline for once! Not that I'm happy about it. Missed the game but just read the match report. Seems like it was another "Rotherham" where we battered Preston 1-2. Match stats certainly seem to back it up. We bossed possession and had way more efforts on goal...telling though that only 4 out of 20 were on target. 😭 Although Azaz took his chance well and sounds as though Howson, Forss & Silvera were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Also incredibly annoying to read Preston essentially won because of a flukey deflection that fell perfectly for their guy and left Glover stranded. When things aren't going for you... Another game of ifs and buts and should-haves, by the sound of it. 😡 Do we feel Carrick should have done anything different? Did any of the lads really let the side down...or was it just a case of bad luck? Edited February 15, 2024 by AnglianRed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denzel Zanzibar 7,667 14.8k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 (edited) He should play Forss in his natural position, along with Azaz and Greenwood. Questions need to be asked as to why he won't do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJew 3,396 5.7k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 4 minutes ago, Denzel Zanzibar said: He should play Forss in his natural position, along with Azaz and Greenwood. Questions need to be asked as to why he won't do so. Shouldn't play Greenwood at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martonboro 498 505 Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 24 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said: Have you got your £510+ ready? They've reduced the deadline to one week. I'll still pay for my season card like the mug I am haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseAgainst 4,553 3.8k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 If we sold last night's entire starting XI, how many of them would actually be missed? Clarke and vdB in defence, Hackney and McGree, probably Forss despite his Stuani-like misfortune to endlessly be played out of position. On the bench, only Dieng would be a miss for me. That's six valuable players out of 18, rising to seven if you give Azaz the benefit of some fairly sizeable doubt. That's why we're bottom half. We have too many not-good-enoughs in the squad. I don't expect a Championship side adhering to FFP to have a squad like Man City's, bursting with talent in every area. But honestly, how many of you would be sad if we never saw Barlaser, Dijksteel, Silvera, Hoppe, McNair or Glover in a Boro shirt again? I think we all know the likes of Greenwood will be papped back to their parent clubs at the next opportunity, and won't be missed either. He's the new Aaron Connolly. All this talk of building for the future and strengthening year-on-year is just hot air and hyperbole if (a) the players we're signing aren't up to high-end Championship standards, (b) the coaching team can't demonstrably improve them, (c) we sell players within five months of supposedly recruiting them for the long-term and (d) we don't have a f***ing striker playing up front. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leesider 1,275 1.4k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 4 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said: If we sold last night's entire starting XI, how many of them would actually be missed? Clarke and vdB in defence, Hackney and McGree, probably Forss despite his Stuani-like misfortune to endlessly be played out of position. On the bench, only Dieng would be a miss for me. That's six valuable players out of 18, rising to seven if you give Azaz the benefit of some fairly sizeable doubt. That's why we're bottom half. We have too many not-good-enoughs in the squad. I don't expect a Championship side adhering to FFP to have a squad like Man City's, bursting with talent in every area. But honestly, how many of you would be sad if we never saw Barlaser, Dijksteel, Silvera, Hoppe, McNair or Glover in a Boro shirt again? I think we all know the likes of Greenwood will be papped back to their parent clubs at the next opportunity, and won't be missed either. He's the new Aaron Connolly. All this talk of building for the future and strengthening year-on-year is just hot air and hyperbole if (a) the players we're signing aren't up to high-end Championship standards, (b) the coaching team can't demonstrably improve them, (c) we sell players within five months of supposedly recruiting them for the long-term and (d) we don't have a f***ing striker playing up front. Agree with a lot of that, I was shocked at how bad Dijksteel was after his introduction last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLF10 5,307 7k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 @RiseAgainst. Think its harsh to say Azaz needs a “fairly sizeable benefit of doubt”. Lads been here a month and has shown some good positive signs. I would not get on his back too soon as a “sizeable” section of our forum members had complete disregard for Morgan Rogers for first few months. Some going as far as to say “you cant win promotion with likes of Morgan Rogers”. He now competing for a champions league spot. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLF10 5,307 7k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 @RiseAgainst. Just from the squad, i think your list is right but that does not paint the full picture as I think there are several injured players who are all valuable players in this team - Lenihan, Fry, Jones and LL. I know LL has his doubters but I think he a good player who has growth potential. Despite the pi$$ poor form we are in, I am of the opinion that we have some good players that need adding too a little. Both to initial 11 and then further competition. Dieng NEW RB, VDB, Lenihan, Bangura NEW DM, Hackney Jones, Azaz, McGree NEW CF Competition/Back Up: Glover. Smith, Fry, Clarke, Engel, Barlaser, Forss, Silveria, LL plus maybe 1 or 2 more including a playmaker. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 7,249 17.1k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 16 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said: If we sold last night's entire starting XI, how many of them would actually be missed? Clarke and vdB in defence, Hackney and McGree, probably Forss despite his Stuani-like misfortune to endlessly be played out of position. On the bench, only Dieng would be a miss for me. That's six valuable players out of 18, rising to seven if you give Azaz the benefit of some fairly sizeable doubt. That's why we're bottom half. We have too many not-good-enoughs in the squad. I don't expect a Championship side adhering to FFP to have a squad like Man City's, bursting with talent in every area. But honestly, how many of you would be sad if we never saw Barlaser, Dijksteel, Silvera, Hoppe, McNair or Glover in a Boro shirt again? I think we all know the likes of Greenwood will be papped back to their parent clubs at the next opportunity, and won't be missed either. He's the new Aaron Connolly. All this talk of building for the future and strengthening year-on-year is just hot air and hyperbole if (a) the players we're signing aren't up to high-end Championship standards, (b) the coaching team can't demonstrably improve them, (c) we sell players within five months of supposedly recruiting them for the long-term and (d) we don't have a f***ing striker playing up front. Agree with a lot of that. I think the idea was we buy bright young prospects relatively cheaply and develop them...but in order to do that you've got to have good coaches. Goes back to what I've said a few times before, that most of the players we bring in rarely seem to develop into top-end talent. Until we either start buying better players or get more capable coaches, we're going to be stuck in limbo as a mid-table team at best. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnmfc81 924 2k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 Really should of had Mcgree on the left of the three behind forss, Azaz I'm the middle with Silvera on the right. The three behind the striker to be given some freedom to roam across those three positions. I really don't see Greenwood as being that good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whoppy 797 1.4k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 1 hour ago, BoroWales said: If Coburn needs an Operation to sort his groin/hernia then get it done now. Theres no point having a bit part player who can’t contribute properly - mainly because it’s not fair on him. Get him fit for next season. I know it leaves us even worse off up front but who cares. I really don't think Coburn is a playoff chasing level of striker. Surely a loan would do him good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverbefore 13,623 28.1k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 When we get them fit, mcgree, azaz and Jones are as good a 3 behind the striker as you'll get for a team that doesn't have parachute payments. Hackney on form is as good as you get too. Fry, lenihan, vdb and Clarke are all more than good enough centre halves for a promotion challenge. I think bangura is too, and engel has top tier qualities but also has aspects that really let him down. Nothing that can't be worked on ELL, similar to Engel but I think will be a real asset when he's fit again having had time to bed in. Silvera, forss, Smith, barlaser all decent enough options at this level. Like I said last night, a right back and defensive midfielder away from being a top 6 side imo, with a bit of luck on the injury front. A striker a must too but I still have faith in ELL to nail down that starting spot between now and summer. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,963 12.8k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 38 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said: If we sold last night's entire starting XI, how many of them would actually be missed? Clarke and vdB in defence, Hackney and McGree, probably Forss despite his Stuani-like misfortune to endlessly be played out of position. On the bench, only Dieng would be a miss for me. That's six valuable players out of 18, rising to seven if you give Azaz the benefit of some fairly sizeable doubt. That's why we're bottom half. We have too many not-good-enoughs in the squad. I don't expect a Championship side adhering to FFP to have a squad like Man City's, bursting with talent in every area. But honestly, how many of you would be sad if we never saw Barlaser, Dijksteel, Silvera, Hoppe, McNair or Glover in a Boro shirt again? I think we all know the likes of Greenwood will be papped back to their parent clubs at the next opportunity, and won't be missed either. He's the new Aaron Connolly. All this talk of building for the future and strengthening year-on-year is just hot air and hyperbole if (a) the players we're signing aren't up to high-end Championship standards, (b) the coaching team can't demonstrably improve them, (c) we sell players within five months of supposedly recruiting them for the long-term and (d) we don't have a f***ing striker playing up front. (b) and (c) seem quite contradictory to me. We've just bought a player in the summer who only Championship clubs were interested in for £1m and within 6 months turned him into a player that a top 6 Premier League team decided was worth up to £16m. Did the coaching team not improve him? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 7,249 17.1k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 13 hours ago, Boro 86 said: Sums up the season so far. Played all the football. Had all the shots . Lost We can play nice possession football but are terrible in front of goal. Also can't defend. Not that surprising really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 7,249 17.1k Posted February 15, 2024 Share Posted February 15, 2024 1 minute ago, Will said: (b) and (c) seem quite contradictory to me. We've just bought a player in the summer who only Championship clubs were interested in for £1m and within 6 months turned him into a player that a top 6 Premier League team decided was worth up to £16m. Did the coaching team not improve him? Not really contradictory at all. Like Hicktonpen (I think) you're picking out 1 player who ended up leaving on a high after a mixed start. You could also pick out guys like McGree and Hackney, but even they've had their ups and downs. They haven't been brilliant all the time. The problem is the first team squad as a whole. Our starting lineup has weak links to begin with and those weaknesses only seem to increase when we make subs. Our players keep making the same basic mistakes again and again. Why are the coaching team not addressing this (or if they are they're doing a ***-poor job)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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