BORO v Norwich 3-1 (Forss, Latte Lath, Engel)

[boro-unger 5,044 18.2k]

32 minutes ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Been on a three day training course in order to renew my SIA licence so football hasn't been a priority, completely ignored the match and didn't even check the score until well after full time.

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

[edinboro 1,832 2.6k]

The main hope from last night is as the game went on the connection between the players improved. Some of Clarke's defending anc passing was sublime. Things started to come off because the players believed.

Football is strange. Howson doing a captain's job and getting their players sent off changed the game. His interview on Tees was brilliant - basically saying the lad was stupid and the ref had no choice.

We should gain confidence from tonight. The next 2 away should be exciting. Like Norwich games, QPR matches tend to be exciting. Loads of goals etc. 

 

[Erimus74 6,069 6k]

7 hours ago, p_mards said:

I'm glad that Carrick switched to the 5-2-1-2. Though, we were still opened up with some good play by Norwich at times before their sending off. For the first 30 minutes it was clear that Norwich we're in a very good vein with the way the dominated possession and looked incredible comfortable. Step forward Sainz to ruin their night by getting sent off incredibly cheaply; if it wasn't for that there was no chance of us coming back. We got lucky but still handled it well - especially considering our terrible form and lack of confidence. It's obviously a lot easier to play against 10 men but I was really impressed with our wing play as we got outside them very well to stretch play and create some good quality chances. To turn it around so quickly with a lead going into half-time deserves praise, and also with our game management in the second-half as we recycled the ball really effectively to control the game and demoralise Norwich. Often teams on poor form need one game like this to act as a kick-start so hopefully the win can get some confidence going in the team to kick-start a good run of form. We created a lot of clear-cut chances and took them well. There was some rustiness and a bit of indecision between the spaces but that's to be expected with the switch of system and poor form. I really hope Carrick sticks with the system for the rest of the season as it suits our players best and we should only get better as the players adapt further to it.

In terms of individual performances everyone did pretty well. Ayling got humiliated for the first 30 minutes - which is becoming customary whenever we're playing 11 v 11 - but thankfully improved afterwards. Engel struggled early on but really grew into the game and put some fantastic balls into the box. This system should bring the best out of him. It would also really suit Jones who was incredible within Wilder's 3-5-2 system. I consider Jones to be a decent Championship standard winger but a very good standard Championship RWB. Jones and Engel as wingbacks would give us a huge attacking threat from out wide so I'd like to see that when Jones is back up to full fitness. Howson knitted everything together really well to help to ball flow through the team. 

I really didn't like the audible boos that Barlaser received when he came on. Anyone who boos their own players, especially when they're coming on while we're winning 3-1, is an idiot. The last thing a player low on confidence needs is to be booed.

Excellent post

Credit to Dieng who made two early saves, not to sure if they were both at 0-0 or the 2nd save with us losing

Thought Ayling was very lucky to get away with a tackle with his studs high when his poor control lost the ball at 0-0 

Engel was off it too at the start, Howson was consistent throughout with O'Brien my MOTM

I like Barlasar glad he came on & agree the little boos I heard, we sit in the east stand, were totally wrong

A team down to 10 men doesnt guarentee a win, think we deserve credit for hitting Norwich so early after their dismissal & again to lead, I used the word demoralised to my son in law at the game, thats how I seen it after ther player was sent off, they just caved in 

[Erimus74 6,069 6k]

8 hours ago, Changing Times said:

Nobody is to say it except that there's no actual reason to think that we will.  We won a game a couple of weeks ago, and then turned in two of the worst performances of the season afterwards.  We were terrible tonight before Sainz was sent off.  While it was still a proper game we had nothing at all to offer.  I think there's a difference between ending a bad run of form with a good performance, and the hope that might bring future good performances, and what we saw tonight.  We need to play better to get results, it's as simple as that.  But it's been as simple as that for months to be fair.

My point wasn't a dig at fellow postets CF & agree, we've had a couple of games we've won well & then reverted back to type the following game, no, given the way we controlled the game after the sending off & the manner of the win, that looked unlikely with 11v11 then we have to take confidence from last nights performance in to the QPR game & who is to say we wont

[Downsouth 9,015 40.4k]

1 hour ago, Neverbefore said:

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/championship-wage-bills-2023-24-leeds-leicester-southampton

We're 10th and that's before we shed crooks and Rogers wages. If we win our game in hand we're sitting in 10th. So we're about where we should be.

You and your games in hand! We don't do it buddy we just don't do it!😉

[Erimus74 6,069 6k]

14 minutes ago, edinboro said:

The main hope from last night is as the game went on the connection between the players improved. Some of Clarke's defending anc passing was sublime. Things started to come off because the players believed.

Football is strange. Howson doing a captain's job and getting their players sent off changed the game. His interview on Tees was brilliant - basically saying the lad was stupid and the ref had no choice.

We should gain confidence from tonight. The next 2 away should be exciting. Like Norwich games, QPR matches tend to be exciting. Loads of goals etc. 

 

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

[Barnaby 1,286 2.4k]

8 minutes ago, edinboro said:

The main hope from last night is as the game went on the connection between the players improved. Some of Clarke's defending anc passing was sublime. Things started to come off because the players believed.

Football is strange. Howson doing a captain's job and getting their players sent off changed the game. His interview on Tees was brilliant - basically saying the lad was stupid and the ref had no choice.

We should gain confidence from tonight. The next 2 away should be exciting. Like Norwich games, QPR matches tend to be exciting. Loads of goals etc. 

 

Don't want to wee on everyones happiness...but until the sending off we were getting battered...You could see confidence returning...Having said that I think Norwich would have run out of steam...You can see It's a confidence thing

[Barnaby 1,286 2.4k]

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 

[Downsouth 9,015 40.4k]

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

[Barnaby 1,286 2.4k]

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

[AnglianRed 8,257 18.8k]

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.

[SouthernSmoggie 5,804 7.4k]

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. 

[Foogle 2,318 3.7k]

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.

[Denzel Zanzibar 9,074 16.8k]

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

[Redcar Rioja 10,174 9.8k]

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.