20 minutes ago, boro-unger said:

Which day do you learn how to say "not tonight mate", and "no trainers"?

You say "Not tonight mate" when they forget to pay you...Which happened a lot in my last firm 

Have read and though not fully understood the tit for tat comments between forum members about last nights game.

The way I perceive things is that Boro have had an awful season for many contributing reasons so I will happily take a win wherever they come and under any questionable circumstances as it means we have a higher chance of staying in the Championship next season.

I certainly went to bed in a better mood than I did on Saturday.

It's gone and it's over the 3 points are gained now let's go and get another 3 points as soon as possible

5 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Clarke was actually on the wing at one point last night, he had an excellent game 

I thought he had an excellent game too

10 hours ago, Blanco said:

QPR drew tonight 

Hmph. They were 2-1 down when I posted that. Didn't bank on them getting a late equaliser. I see they missed a pen too...could've won it.

11 hours ago, Changing Times said:

I think if we can not be as passive as we were early on that would be a big help.  It's one thing to sit in there for 10 mins when you're away from home or whatever but for 30 mins we weren't even counter attacking with any determination.  I can't see the benefit of just sitting there and letting a team attack you as we did tonight, you've got to at least give them something to worry about.  QPR aren't as good as Norwich, and to be honest, they aren't as good as us but it's up to us to actually show that.

Wouldn't mind us trying it again on Saturday, as I think it's the kind of game where we'll get turned over in our usual set up. As you say though, there has to be desire to win the ball back and counter or it's pointless. And not saying I want us to play like that every game. Just think there's certain fixtures where it suits us and there's value in having the players comfortable in a couple of different set ups.  

I know it's not as simple as just swapping one player, but honestly think Jones in for Ayling changes the dynamic of the back five in a pretty major way. He was brilliant there under Wilder and was key when we made it work v Chelsea under Carrick. 

17 minutes ago, SouthernSmoggie said:

Wouldn't mind us trying it again on Saturday, as I think it's the kind of game where we'll get turned over in our usual set up. As you say though, there has to be desire to win the ball back and counter or it's pointless. And not saying I want us to play like that every game. Just think there's certain fixtures where it suits us and there's value in having the players comfortable in a couple of different set ups.  

I know it's not as simple as just swapping one player, but honestly think Jones in for Ayling changes the dynamic of the back five in a pretty major way. He was brilliant there under Wilder and was key when we made it work v Chelsea under Carrick. 

If I'm honest I'd prefer to switch back to a 4-2-3-1 if we have Jones back, but you're right he was superb at Wingback, and it could be a good option whilst our right back options are limited (I'm not the biggest Ayling fan). Now is a good time to experiment, the only way of getting to the playoffs is if we really strike gold.

1 hour ago, boro-unger said:

Which day do you learn how to say "not tonight mate", and "no trainers"?

Ha, I wish it were that simple! New counter terrorism awareness and emergency first aid at work legislation made a one day top up course into a three day slog, lol

In the opening 30 minutes we played with a flat back five and looked as dysfunctional as at any time under Carrick regardless of the tactics and set up. Up until the sending off we were clinging on and a second and a third from Norwich was pretty much on the cards. Ayling was targeted and struggled and was indeed fortunate not to be red carded himself for what looked like a two footed challenge near the touch line. Engel's passing was wayward and sloppy and we lost possession on a few occasions because of it. 

Had the game continued in that vein it would have put Carrick's continuation in a difficult place as the crowd would have turned after a third insipid performance in a row. Fate intervened with "the thigh of Howson" and almost as miraculously Norwich imploded when they went down to 10 men. For me it was inexplicable but they lost all composure and understanding when all they had to do was to sit tight, defend their lead, look for set pieces, breaks and sloppy defending from us. It's often the case that it is harder to play against 10 men than 11 but the capitulation from the Canaries was in stark contrast to how they had played up until that point.

Our up until then Full Backs pushed up as Wing Backs and we understandably looked more of a threat and like Norwich their individual performances were in stark contrast to what had gone before. That moment looks like it could be defining for the remainder of our season, if nothing else because it puts us three additional points from the drop zone but more importantly it may have been pivotal in keeping the Carrick/Middlesbrough marriage alive. 

Hopefully when we are cruising next season and the one after we can joke about last night's events and how close Carrick had sailed to the precipice. Alternatively nothing may change, we revert to type and we get that sinking feeling again. I hope this does turn out to be the break that everyone needs and the Club make the most of it now.

17 minutes ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Ha, I wish it were that simple! New counter terrorism awareness and emergency first aid at work legislation made a one day top up course into a three day slog, lol

The thought of you giving first aid is frankly terrifying!

 

"This man needs 100g of Walkers Max Paprika - STAT!"

"Press the empty packet against his stab wound!"

😁

Was a very odd response from Norwich in the second half. Yes, things had gone against them but they seemed to raise the white flag about 50 minutes in. There was a weird moment when Kenny Mclean got subbed off. He walked off at a glacial pace, like he was holding on to a narrow lead.

2 minutes ago, Smogzilla said:

Was a very odd response from Norwich in the second half. Yes, things had gone against them but they seemed to raise the white flag about 50 minutes in. There was a weird moment when Kenny Mclean got subbed off. He walked off at a glacial pace, like he was holding on to a narrow lead.

Made me laugh when it was 3-1 and Norwich players went down injured. Our fans were booing them as though they were time wasting. 

Sometimes you get a stroke of luck when you need it. At that point you thank your lucky stars, take advantage of and move on. 

We got lucky but crucially, we took advantage of it. As the game went on you could see us grow in confidence and start to play the type of football you know that Carrick wants us to. It may not have solved anything. The players who aren't good enough still aren't good enough but with a little confidence they'll see us through to the end of the season.

Something I did go and take a look at is where O'Brien played at Huddersfield under Corberan. The answer was virtually everywhere but fairly rarely as a holding central midfielder. He most commonly played as a #10 or as an attacking left-sided midfielder/forward.  Possibly explains why he has looked lost when playing the holding midfielder role for us but has looked a different player when he has licence to attack. 

My reading of last nights events exactly RR, up until the sending off we were on a battering, the flat back five were penned in and we were overrun in midfield. Norwich just seemed to capitulate after that, our full backs pushed up McNair stepped up into midfield and they were left not knowing what to do. We badly needed those points and hopefully the transfusion of confidence that win will bring but we really need to find a settled way of  for the rest of the season that we can slot players in and out of 

They say playing 10 vs 11 is almost a guaranteed loss ... 

But what if we all ask @Borodane how his team in the Danish league,  AGF with 11 men played vs my team Fc Midtjylland with 9 men .. 😛 

 

 

 

Thought with 11 men we seemed to struggle with whether to press or sit off and we ended up doing neither that well.

Slightly more concerning was despite the numbers in defence we got done a few times by fairly straight passes. The goal is an example but there were others.

There was one situation in the 1st half when our midfield went awol and they were breaking towards our box. Having the extra defender helped snuff out that where with a back 4 it may have ended up with a shot on goal.

Overall, thank goodness for the 3 points which buys a bit of breathing space!

I know Barlaser has been poor but we shouldn't boo a player coming onto the pitch for us surely. Poor lads confidence must he shot and then his home fans boo him. I understand we pay our money so can voice our opinions but not sure how booing him is going to help him or the team.