2 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Woops, I thought you said McGree 😂

😂 fair 

I did check McNairs stats after u said that though and he does get a good amount of starts, so maybe it applies to him aswell anyway.

1 minute ago, OldManGravz said:

Thank you mate

Thanks bud.

I think Engel works better as a LB in a 4 than a LCB in a 3, I think Clarke is better suited in that spot.

As McNair is leaving, Clarke Fry VdB and Lenihan leaves us with 4 defenders, so I wouldnt be letting any of them go to be honest especially after seeing how injuries have affected this season, 2 for every spot is necessary. Even without injuries, playing twice a week to a top level is damaging over a sustained period, look at how knackered some of our players this season when they had to play as the alternatives were injured. 

If we switch to a back 3 permanently I'd say theres an argument for getting another CB in too as we would need at least 5 in the squad (unfortunately for McNair unless he takes a massive payout I don't see him staying as he is meant to be on a bomb).

I agree that Clarke is suited better to the LCB than Engel but would like to think we could improve on that position if we are to compete for a promotion spot next season .  I don't feel that Carrick likes the back three, it took him long enough to change our playing style to end our losing streak.

 

 

10 minutes ago, Norman_Conquest said:

Have I done something to upset you?

I'm not sure that's even possible. 

Just now, Norman_Conquest said:

I agree that Clarke is suited better to the LCB than Engel but would like to think we could improve on that position if we are to compete for a promotion spot next season .  I don't feel that Carrick likes the back three, it took him long enough to change our playing style to end our losing streak.

 

 

Sooner we improve with forward positions and try and replace the likes of Ramsey, Akpom and Archer. Albeit with poundshop versions, granted.

2 hours ago, LBP said:

Need another

Without a doubt

17 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

I’d probably choose VDB and Lenihan if all are fit. Be interested what other posters think our first choice pairing will be next year (presuming they all are still here).

Probably the same too, though absence often makes the mind grow fonder of players.

Fry hasn't been outright bad by any means but I don't think there's much between him, Lenihan or Clarke as defenders and I prefer Lenihan on the ball over the other 2.

Just now, TheJew said:

Sooner we improve with forward positions and try and replace the likes of Ramsey, Akpom and Archer. Albeit with poundshop versions, granted.

To do what you suggest we need to move bodies out.  I can't see Greenwood being here next season and I also fear there might be some truth in the McGree rumours.  Paddy will go and there is also talk of Hackney being off (I hope that is wrong), I'm not sure of Djksteel's contract or if he figures in Carrick's plans and we also need to sort Howson's contract out.  I would like to think we could offer O'Brien a contract but I'm still out on Ayling being offered a permanent contract.  

It sounds like its going to be a busy summer.  

2 minutes ago, Norman_Conquest said:

To do what you suggest we need to move bodies out.  I can't see Greenwood being here next season and I also fear there might be some truth in the McGree rumours.  Paddy will go and there is also talk of Hackney being off (I hope that is wrong), I'm not sure of Djksteel's contract or if he figures in Carrick's plans and we also need to sort Howson's contract out.  I would like to think we could offer O'Brien a contract but I'm still out on Ayling being offered a permanent contract.  

It sounds like its going to be a busy summer.  

Agree. Although I actually don't think we have actually replaced any of them yet.

I can't see us keeping Ayling and Smith.

Greenwood surely won't stay.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with VDB and Hackney. They could raise 30m+?

21 minutes ago, TheJew said:

Agree. Although I actually don't think we have actually replaced any of them yet.

I can't see us keeping Ayling and Smith.

Greenwood surely won't stay.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with VDB and Hackney. They could raise 30m+?

I think Hackney is more likely to go than VDB purely because he’s more developed, but I’ve changed my opinion on it about 5 times this season lol. I can’t see them both leaving tho.

8 minutes ago, LinoJo3 said:

I think Hackney is more likely to go than VDB purely because he’s more developed, but I’ve changed my opinion on it about 5 times this season lol. I can’t see them both leaving tho.

I think VDB will be here next season, he'll still look at it as his own development, but then he'll be too good to remain with us, be sad to see him leave but compensated withe the fee we'll receive 

7 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

I think VDB will be here next season, he'll still look at it as his own development, but then he'll be too good to remain with us, be sad to see him leave but compensated withe the fee we'll receive 

There is one other possibility that if we could get promoted next season we might get a bit more time out of him.  If the club is making progress then he may feel he can continue here for a little while at least.  All of that supposes that he continues his own development of course.

12 minutes ago, Changing Times said:

There is one other possibility that if we could get promoted next season we might get a bit more time out of him.  If the club is making progress then he may feel he can continue here for a little while at least.  All of that supposes that he continues his own development of course.

A season with him in the prem and his price tag will pretty much double if he performs.

18 minutes ago, Changing Times said:

There is one other possibility that if we could get promoted next season we might get a bit more time out of him.  If the club is making progress then he may feel he can continue here for a little while at least.  All of that supposes that he continues his own development of course.

Hope so, he was that impressed when first meeting the clubs representatives, who laid out plans of how they see him featuring for us, that he decided there & then the Boro were the club for him, that this season has gone above his expectations & aslong as we are showing ambition & progression he'll be happy & content, hes got time on his side

11 minutes ago, LinoJo3 said:

A season with him in the prem and his price tag will pretty much double if he performs.

 

2 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Hope so, he was that impressed when first meeting the clubs representatives, who laid out plans of how they see him featuring for us, that he decided there & then the Boro were the club for him, that this season has gone above his expectations & aslong as we are showing ambition & progression he'll be happy & content, hes got time on his side

I don't know if we'd get more than a year out of him even at that level though if he continues to improve.  I suppose it all depends on what level he reaches though.

What a massive win that thankfully keeps our season alive. Our formation worked well yet again as we controlled the central areas incredibly well and looked comfortable sat into our incredibly effective low block. The current tactics and defensive mentality takes me back to the days of Karanka as we look a nightmare to break down. The quality of the game was obviously poor but we held our shape and had the moment of high quality in attack from McGree. It was clear that a few players standards had dropped after the tight turnaround of Wednesday, Saturday & Tuesday, with the latter two being long away days, so some of the less impressive performances like O'Brien need to be viewed in that context. The current style of play isn't attractive but it sure brings the best out of our team, especially from the likes of Ayling, Berg, McNair & Clarke. Considering our defensive performances under Carrick I can't believe that we've managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets. Hopefully we can now make the most of the break to recharge the batteries for Saturday as the starting 11 have played a lot of minutes in a short space of time.

While the current style of play and tactics isn't Carrick's first choice, I'd like to think that he's learnt a lot about the effectiveness of holding more of a solid structure behind the ball - certainly when injuries bite and the team isn't able to dominate possession as preferred. Hopefully it helps takes the edge off the bipolar nature of our form under him. At the moment we're akin to a team like Coventry City with the way we have a solid structure behind the ball but can counter-attack and grind out scrappy wins - seemingly in a consistent manner. If we can somehow scrape into the play-offs and get promoted then we'll look back at Howson's experienced reaction to Norwich's Sainz stray boot and view it as a massive sliding doors moment.