Boro v Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 (Ihiekwe (og), Jones)

[Neverbefore 15,136 29.4k]

Only realised that ayling got another assist for Jones's goal. 4 in this run of 6 games unbeaten. He's been solid at the back too. Really important and I really think we should be considering signing him. 

[Bruce 3,157 2.5k]

3 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

Yeah I just don't understand when people's first reaction is to be negative and down on what we've done when we're in such a good run of form. We're not getting promoted, everyone has come to terms with that so just enjoy the fact that we're doing well consistently right now.

I have issues with Carrick's refusal to use the academy in any meaningful way but you can't argue with 17 points from the last 21. Since we got a massive stroke of luck against Norwich we have conceded just 1 goal in 600+ minutes of football and not lost. We might never look convincing but football is a results business(tm) and it's hard to do much better than that. 

In theory, if Leeds beat Hull by 2 goals, we'll overtake them and we still have to play them which means we could end the season ahead of them. Do that and there's the faintest chance of sneaking into 6th place up for grabs. Given everything that has happened this season, that would be a creditable end to the season. It won't happen but at least we're still keeping up the pace and hoping that enough teams slip up.

[TeaCider24 18,385 23.4k]

2 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

Only realised that ayling got another assist for Jones's goal. 4 in this run of 6 games unbeaten. He's been solid at the back too. Really important and I really think we should be considering signing him. 

I've been impressed by him recently, but I'd still prefer a long term option.

[Neverbefore 15,136 29.4k]

2 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

It's because I think tolerating that is dangerous to the long term future of the Club. We won but let's be honest Wednesday were by far the worst team we have played this season. Pointing to the official stats isn't being critical it's putting things in perspective. 

But everyone knows those issues. Everyone knows the limitations of the squad. So why dwell on it when we can't do anything about it until summer?why not just enjoy what we are getting out of this group of players instead of putting the boot in at every opportunity? Given our squad and the injury problems we've had, we're about where you'd expect us to be at the start of the season. The plan has always been a long term one and we're on track imo. 

[Redcar Rioja 9,086 8.8k]

1 minute ago, Neverbefore said:

Only realised that ayling got another assist for Jones's goal. 4 in this run of 6 games unbeaten. He's been solid at the back too. Really important and I really think we should be considering signing him. 

He's looked a bit rusty in a few games but he's been solid and creative far more times than he looked like his legs had gone. I'd be happy with ether him or Smith next season or if funds were tight and we could improve dramatically elsewhere (i.e. if it meant getting Archer) I'd be happy with both.

[AnglianRed 7,883 18.1k]

4 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

I don't disagree with that but we shouldn't have been as poor against Rotherham either.

Watching Sky Sports and their observations about Wednesday are even more damning than mine. The three points are great and it was a far more comfortable watch than many (in fact most) home performances this season especially the second half, but let's not get too carried away and delusional. As DZ said at half time we should have been three up but the fact we weren't is because too many players in the squad are nowhere near good enough including the loanees that I hope to heck we don't sign if all they can do is outperform todays opposition.

I still can't understand how we battered Rotherham 0-1 myself! 😆

As you pointed out before, the effectiveness of our attacking play (or lack of it) does urgently need to be addressed over the Summer.

I was just saying that (hopefully) Carrick, Scott and Gibson have plans to improve the squad for next season. In the meantime, all we can do is watch the season wind down and hope we do better in the next transfer window. I don't think anyone is getting carried away or delusional...

 

 

6 points off the play-offs...we can do it! 😆

[Boro 86 849 2.7k]

24 minutes ago, Fab4TT said:

Dieng 7 (for the save), Ayling 6, Clarke 7, Howson 8, Thomas 3 (Worst display from a left back I've seen since Phil Whelan), Barlaser 7, Obrien 8 (My MOTM), Jones 6 (Would've been 5 if not for the goal), Greenwood 7, Azaz 6, Latte Lath 7.

Possibly a point too high for O’Brien imo but otherwise spot on. 
 

Agree Thomas was very poor. Had high hopes for him but he has done nothing for me in his time here.

Thought we were ok against an abysmal SW side. Thought we should have had 2 other penalties as well but will take that.

Decent from Greenwood also. Missed the penalty but hardly a disaster and a constant menace. Said it before but there is a player in there and next season , wherever he plays, is likely to be big for him.

 

[Neverbefore 15,136 29.4k]

1 minute ago, TeaCider24 said:

I've been impressed by him recently, but I'd still prefer a long term option.

Me too, but in a summer where were trying to make fewer signings with greater quality, it pushes rb down the priority list. If we can spend 10mil on a striker and get ayling for free, then I'd prefer that than spending 5 mil on a rb and 5 mil on a striker. 

All depends on other targets really but I wouldn't be upset with him as a starting rb next season. 

[Bruce 3,157 2.5k]

3 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

Only realised that ayling got another assist for Jones's goal. 4 in this run of 6 games unbeaten. He's been solid at the back too. Really important and I really think we should be considering signing him. 

I think it depends on what happens with Smith. Not sure we want both but It is clear that Ayling is a big presence in the team. His celebration with Latte Lath for the own goal was bonkers. Credit to Ayling, he could have phoned in his performances after joining us but he hasn't. You also want that kind of over the top character on the pitch to drive the others on. 

[Adam P 535 1.9k]

7 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

For all the criticism of Greenwood for taking the penalty, we've not had a consistent taker in ages.

Howson took our last one, even with Coburn on the pitch.

We've had 6 penalties and 5 takers.

I think Forss is probably first choice taker if he was on the pitch, for me you just go with people who have taken and scored them previously. Lath has taken 1 this season and scored so he should have probably taken it. 

For what its worth I thought Greenwood would score because his dead ball stuff is pretty good. 

I think Lath will take the next if the scenarios and personnel were the same. 

[Neverbefore 15,136 29.4k]

1 minute ago, Adam P said:

I think Forss is probably first choice taker if he was on the pitch, for me you just go with people who have taken and scored them previously. Lath has taken 1 this season and scored so he should have probably taken it. 

For what its worth I thought Greenwood would score because his dead ball stuff is pretty good. 

I think Lath will take the next if the scenarios and personnel were the same. 

It wasn't a bad penalty so I Don't think it's an awful decision. With ELL we've seen what his finishing tends to be like when he has time to think about what he's doing. In that situation I feel he is far more likely to sky a pen than Greenwood is. Would probably have howson ahead of ELL too tbh

[Redcar Rioja 9,086 8.8k]

1 minute ago, Neverbefore said:

But everyone knows those issues. Everyone knows the limitations of the squad. So why dwell on it when we can't do anything about it until summer?why not just enjoy what we are getting out of this group of players instead of putting the boot in at every opportunity? Given our squad and the injury problems we've had, we're about where you'd expect us to be at the start of the season. The plan has always been a long term one and we're on track imo. 

Where has that come from?

When I was pointing out Carrick's frailties earlier I was in the minority, when he continued to struggle even you and few others on here turned against him. I have been consistent even to the point of pushing for the tactical changes that he did eventually make and probably saved his job the way things had been going with the crowd starting to boo. Those change coincided with this recent upturn. 

I don't do euphoria, supporting Boro for 50 plus years tempers that and whilst I love us to win I don't get carried away from game to game especially when I see really poor opposition. 

[Adam P 535 1.9k]

1 minute ago, Neverbefore said:

It wasn't a bad penalty so I Don't think it's an awful decision. With ELL we've seen what his finishing tends to be like when he has time to think about what he's doing. In that situation I feel he is far more likely to sky a pen than Greenwood is. Would probably have howson ahead of ELL too tbh

Lath has only missed 1 pen in his career to date to be fair, and has 100% record for us. Albeit a tiny sample size. Howson missed his last one and I prefer the forwards to take responsibility. 

I agree no real issue with Greenwood taking it because his dead ball is excellent, but I don't think he'll take the next. 

[BoroDave4 1,655 3.5k]

54 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

Only realised that ayling got another assist for Jones's goal. 4 in this run of 6 games unbeaten. He's been solid at the back too. Really important and I really think we should be considering signing him. 

He's looked better in a back 5 than he did in a four. I think he's a good squad player but I worry about him being exposed against some of the better sides personally. I think we would like a first choice RB that's a bit more athletic, but Ayling and Smith are both excellent backup options. That's working on the basis that we are aiming to get into the top 6 next year

[TeaCider24 18,385 23.4k]

It's actually stonewall, how did the ref miss that with such a great view?