Just had a quick look at the match stats and the one that stands out is that we had a total of 18 touches in the Luton box, yet scored five goals. Think that four of the assists were inside the box, so is this evidence of a more direct approach. Similarly a decent return from six shots on target from a total of eleven. As TJ said, maybe speeding game up is paying dividends 

So satisfying, another brilliant performance and we get the rewards we deserve this time. 

Been playing really well most of the season, so happy mc and the lads stay calm, stick to their guns and believe in what they are doing, despite the angst and despair some people who watch Boro try and spread. 

The truth is if you can't get behind this Boro then you are very very special. 

Loving the Boro through the ups and downs is a beautiful thing, makes you enjoy the ups so much more and better able to cope when there are downs. 

Pretty big up the last two games, enjoy it Boro supporters, there will be more to come. And we won't hear "wHeN wIlL wE SaCk ThE MaNaGeR" for a couple of weeks at least... Oh, and it turns out Azaz is quite good in fact. The joy.

UTB

8 minutes ago, wilsoncgp said:

The flares thing was one of their red lines whilst they were in MSF. They wouldn't support anti-flare messages.

I will say with the greatest of respect for them that at least they knew that they disagreed with everyone else in the room on matters like this and respectfully left knowing full well that they would rather not pursue challenges on things like this and bring MSF into disrepute at the same time.

But at the same time, it was made pretty clear to them at all points that it is illegal. You're free to hold the opinion that the law is wrong and that you should be allowed to use flares in a football ground in this country. But the law is fact until it isn't. If indeed it is a protest, protesting against the club because of this is childish and pointless. The club works with the police on all kinds of matters, as they should, they are a vital security presence trying to keep people safe. What were they expecting the club to do on this occasion, sweep it under the rug?

They have worked relentlessly to improve the matchday atmosphere when the team and the Stadium was flat for many years but of late it appears they've started to believe their own hype sadly.

Flares burn at temperatures which if in contact with human flesh will burn to the bone in a second, causing life changing injuries and possible death. Had their banner burst into flames when they were hiding the culprit then heaven knows what carnage could have ensued with injuries to who knows how many fans and then the likely crowd surge in response and the consequences of that. I'd like to think that they are just thick as pig muck rather than knowingly went ahead with such thoughtless, self centred, entitled dangerous actions.

Bringing flares into a packed Stadium is not only illegal but selfish and irresponsible especially when you consider fellow supporters that will have asthma or lung problems, common on Teesside because of our Industrial "Heritage". Then again who knows why they are absent because they haven't said anything which in itself probably indicates an admission of guilt by association rather than having a genuine grievance against the Club who don't control the courts.

It's a shame, hopefully they will start to come back in bits and pieces over time, wiser and better informed.

yes we were more direct today, didnt fanny about in the corners passing side to side for 5 minutes everytime we got into the final third. burgzorg and doak are not the sort to fanny about really. morris seems to be everywhere hes class. 

 

my only complaint ism when we went 4-0 up we started to play around at the back and stopped passing forwards. we could of had a load more goals there. we let them off the hook. 

6 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

Just had a quick look at the match stats and the one that stands out is that we had a total of 18 touches in the Luton box, yet scored five goals. Think that four of the assists were inside the box, so is this evidence of a more direct approach. Similarly a decent return from six shots on target from a total of eleven. As TJ said, maybe speeding game up is paying dividends 

I think Doak makes us so much more direct. It’s everything that Jones is fully capable of but I just want to see it more consistently. When Jones is well up for it he’s a nightmare for the opposition, but then there are games where for whatever reason he’s reluctant to get at his full back and happy to just tap it around with edge of the 18 yard box.

Doak seems to just consistently take the game to the opposition. Maybe it’s the fearlessness of youth but even in games like Watford where his opposite number is getting the better of him, he doesn’t let it deter him in the same way that I feel Jones sometimes does.

35 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

At least we got the type of scorelines this week we should be getting against bottom feeders. Just need to make sure we don't relapse now to old habits. I was a bit concerned when we took our foot of the gas this afternoon and they scored, hopefully another lesson learned and at least it didn't cost us as it has in previous games.

Luton was not the normal bottom feederw though

Its suicide to play that high def line when you face Latte and Doak....

Just now, ladyspite said:

Luton was not the normal bottom feederw though

Its suicide to play that high def line when you face Latte and Doak....

Yeah, they totally ***Ed up their tactics here. Know a lot of people wanted him as manager instead of Carrick so it's nice to see our man so decisively destroy him tactically. 

I thought you were sh1te for 34 minutes after your 4th. 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously lads, brilliant display. 👍

Edited November 9, 20241 yr by Georgewhitt

Did Carrick really change to a more direct approach or is that just how he actually wants to play and it worked this time? Everytime we’ve played well we play like that.

3 minutes ago, Georgewhitt said:

I rhought you were *** for 34 minutes after your 4th. 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously lads, brilliant display. 👍

Have to say I was delighted when Coventry equalised, then felt a bit sorry for you and a mild tinge of guilt crept in (only for a second though). 😁

What a result that was today to go with the performance. These last 2 games are encouraging in the fact things are clicking up front. All forwards in the last 2 games have either scored or have an assist or both. If only we were putting away these chances in the first few months of the season.

It's a shame the IB is here as it fab be a momentum killer. That said I feel we have 3 very winnable games and I'd say 6 points minimum from them. They could be vital as the 1st 2 games in December are Burnley and Leeds away. These next 5 games could define our season with us getting back into the automatic race or whether we will just be battling for the playoffs.

1 minute ago, LinoJo3 said:

Did Carrick really change to a more direct approach or is that just how he actually wants to play and it worked this time? Everytime we’ve played well we play like that.

I'd say the way we played was almost a throwback to when we had Archer, Giles and Akpom. Much slicker and quicker (at times). There was definitely more urgency and directness at times albeit interspersed with fannying around a little too much at the back. All in all a huge positive step forward in fairness.

8 minutes ago, LinoJo3 said:

Did Carrick really change to a more direct approach or is that just how he actually wants to play and it worked this time? Everytime we’ve played well we play like that.

It helps when teams give us space to run in behind

Not many teams to do that and then its harder to play like this.

 

10 minutes ago, LinoJo3 said:

Did Carrick really change to a more direct approach or is that just how he actually wants to play and it worked this time? Everytime we’ve played well we play like that.

I honestly don’t think we changed how we played. And the performance itself wasn’t all that different than what weve given in other games this season.

The main difference in my eyes is we simply took our chances. Same was the case at QPR.

Up until the first goal I actually thought if anything they edged it (albeit not creating that much). Our 3rd and 4th goals were both from hitting them on the break. Something which probably doesn’t happen if we aren’t in the lead. This has been the case in many games this season.

I think the only noticeable change was Dieng going long a few times. It looked like it was a ploy to try and get joy with quick balls up to Burgzorg and Latte Lath.

We've been saying all season that eventually someone’s going to get a thumping from us. The sheer amount of good chances we were missing on a regular basis was silly.

Edited November 9, 20241 yr by BoroSmoggie

1 hour ago, Redcar Rioja said:

Have to say I was delighted when Coventry equalised, then felt a bit sorry for you and a mild tinge of guilt crept in (only for a second though). 😁

A second of empathy from a smoggy is a step in the right direction marra.😁