Ipswich V Boro 1-1 (Latte Lath)

[Hammy legend 1,266 1.4k]

I wouldn't sell Lenihan,  unless he is determined to leave. I would say VDB,  Clarke,  Fry and Lenihan would be as good a group of 4 centre backs as anyone has in the Championship.  Plus, we need cover for injuries and suspension. 

[Neverbefore 15,135 29.4k]

1 minute ago, Hammy legend said:

I wouldn't sell Lenihan,  unless he is determined to leave. I would say VDB,  Clarke,  Fry and Lenihan would be as good a group of 4 centre backs as anyone has in the Championship.  Plus, we need cover for injuries and suspension. 

Plus out of those 4, only lenihan displays any real leadership qualities on the pitch. Even if he doesn't start as first choice he'll still get a tonne of game time. Mcnair was 5th choice and still played a lot

[Erimus74 5,353 5.5k]

14 minutes ago, edinboro said:

My main take away at the moment is, all things being equal we have Fry and Lenihan sitting on the bench next season. As Fry won't go anywhere, wonder whether we are open to offers for Lenihan. I don't see Clarke or Rav not being the first choice next season - they are both outstanding.

Great game yesterday. We really should have won. It does bode well for next season. As long we don't sell too many key players.

Fry is an odd one, agree as good as he is he wouldnt leave tge club due to his awful injury, we just cant rely on him, every season he misses a large chunk of games 

VDB & Clarke/Lenihan going forward

[edinboro 1,462 2.3k]

35 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

Plus out of those 4, only lenihan displays any real leadership qualities on the pitch. Even if he doesn't start as first choice he'll still get a tonne of game time. Mcnair was 5th choice and still played a lot

Have you never seen Rav shouting at everyone and pushing them up, generally organising? I wouldn't be surprised if he is Captain next season.

[Erimus74 5,353 5.5k]

2 hours ago, Downsouth said:

Give this a bump in case folks like @BoroAbroad missed the highlights.

Got to say Jones should have done better there but I guess this is the way things go lol

Jones should have scored, good save all the same but he should have put it away, Clarkes save was a fantastic reaction save 

[Redcar Rioja 9,086 8.8k]

3 minutes ago, edinboro said:

Have you never seen Rav shouting at everyone and pushing them up, generally organising? I wouldn't be surprised if he is Captain next season.

Was about to say the same about Rav. I remember when Ben Gibson broke into the side and immediately started barking and yelling at his team mates, clearly carrying on from where he left off with the reserves and taking responsibility. Rav is displaying similar trats, albeit at a far higher standard of footballing ability than Ben.

[Erimus74 5,353 5.5k]

Just rewatching ELL goals v Saints, Hull & Ipswich, 2 great exected headers, different in their own way & his calm finish v Hull from a tight angle 

Another good signing from our ever improving summer player recruitment team 

[Downsouth 8,161 39.1k]

41 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Just rewatching ELL goals v Saints, Hull & Ipswich, 2 great exected headers, different in their own way & his calm finish v Hull from a tight angle 

Another good signing from our ever improving summer player recruitment team 

Got to agree in that he can score with both head and feet and taking more chances than previous, I wish the opportunity Jones had yesterday had fallen to ELL

[Humpty 5,183 10.6k]

With regards to the centre halves I thought both Clarke and VDB were poor yesterday. Still yet to see VDB really excel in a back two. He’s done all his really good work in a back three to date. As someone above said Fry, RVDB, Clarke and Lenihan are as good a pool of defenders as you’ll see at this level.
 

Our problems in the number of goals we concede is due to the way we play. The system we play needs better balance. I feel like the closest we’ve come to having that balance is when Howson and Hackney have played together in the centre. That’s not backed by numbers by any means, it’s just how I see it when I see them play together.

[Bosco's Tuft 1,283 1.3k]

13 hours ago, Tractors Stopping By said:

 

I suppose it's still feasible Boro could finish in top six, it remains a mathematical possibility but how much do the players there really want it.    

.......

If you play like today and believe in yourselves (and that nearest challengers can fall away) there's still time to make it, I'd suggest not to give up on the season just yet.  

Unfortunately it doesn't matter how much the players want it or believe in themselves.

We are 8 points behind Norwich with 3 games left. 

[BoroSmoggie 4,153 4.4k]

This might be really harsh but I think people may slightly overrate Clarke because of the way he defends. Everything is always very last ditch, stretching, sliding. I do like how strong he is in the air though, same for Rav. But imo he was poor yesterday, got bullied a few times and was at fault for there goal. So I find it a bit odd how people have him as their MOTM.
I’m quite confident Lenihan and Rav will be first choice next year. Both are our best communicators in the back line and both are also the best ball players we have in that position. I reckon they’d make a great partnership.

[BoroDave4 1,655 3.5k]

I still think Lenihan is the best centre back at the club honestly. Clarke has done really well recently, but he turns slowed than a tanker with a sloth as Captain. And he's been caught out with poor positioning a few times. I think Lenihan and Rav is probably our best pairing

[LinoJo3 5,820 13.6k]

3 hours ago, Humpty said:

With regards to the centre halves I thought both Clarke and VDB were poor yesterday. Still yet to see VDB really excel in a back two. He’s done all his really good work in a back three to date. As someone above said Fry, RVDB, Clarke and Lenihan are as good a pool of defenders as you’ll see at this level.
 

Our problems in the number of goals we concede is due to the way we play. The system we play needs better balance. I feel like the closest we’ve come to having that balance is when Howson and Hackney have played together in the centre. That’s not backed by numbers by any means, it’s just how I see it when I see them play together.

I noticed against Hull there never seems to be enough of our players around, like we set up already ‘stretched’ as a team and that’s our default. It’s hard to describe like no matter where the ball is there never seems to be enough of our players compared to attacking players.

[Durhamsmoggy 32 38]

55 minutes ago, BoroDave4 said:

I still think Lenihan is the best centre back at the club honestly. Clarke has done really well recently, but he turns slowed than a tanker with a sloth as Captain. And he's been caught out with poor positioning a few times. I think Lenihan and Rav is probably our best pairing

Correct.

[Humpty 5,183 10.6k]

Incorrect... especially in a back two.