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TYPICAL BORO 4-10-06
Karl Watson and Tom Warnock
Warnock says...
I think it would be safe to say that I wasn't the only Boro fan expecting a typical defeat at Sheffield last Saturday. We typically fail to impress when screened on Sky, we typically fall to teams we should be beating and we typically hand teams their 'duck breaking win'. So it would be very apt to describe Saturday's match as, well, typical.
The performance was not particularly bad, nor was it amazing, but there were signs that we could be starting to improve. We played the 4-4-2 and went with two strikers, which against a team bottom of the league is pretty much a must.
We managed to keep the ball well in the first half and even restricted Sheffield to pot shots and although we fell behind we still looked pretty sound at the back, with Woodgate and Pogatetz putting in assertive performances. We slept in at a corner and were punished on the break and the second goal was preventable but still difficult to stop. These two things cost us the game but they didn't have to.
First Yakubu and then Woodgate should have had the game sewn up, but it's a trend we have seen since the Chelsea game. Where have the goals gone?
Not wanting to overanalyse the defeat, we must look at the bigger picture. It was hard to swallow but I don't think this is an indication of where our season is going. Sheffield didn't look to play flowing football, they wanted to stop us playing and it seemed to work. With games versus the lower clubs we must be more patient and creative. Too many times we passed the ball along the back four and when nothing emerged we would hoof it forward.
For me, Rochemback can and must have more of an influence in the midfield. He must become our playmaker and remove the need for Yakubu to come so deep. We tend to see glimpses of what he can do, but not enough. Against Sheffield he was relatively ineffective going forward, with a well-hit free kick being his only memorable contribution.
Rocky will have a free role when Boateng returns to the side but he must also remember his defensive responsibilities. We were the victim of a counter attack from a corner where we failed to win the second ball and the absence of Boateng left a void at the back which we were punished for.
It shows we do rely on Boateng in this respect. Again looking at the bigger picture, Downing's influence was successfully nullified by the doubling up on him, Taylor must get forward to give defenders more to worry about, because at the minute its too easy to force Stewy inside and thus stop him sending in crosses.
Add this to the fact that Yakubu tends to drift left and take up Downing's channel for crosses. The formation was right, it had the right balance, but each player must stay disciplined. After our period of pressure didn't pay dividends the players became impatient and the team lost its shape.
Gareth said we deserved a point, which was a fair assessment, but our hearts and pints sank with Jagielka's goal, because to see a hard fought performance come to nothing again, was far from a sobering prospect.
It's not merely the fact we lost, but it should be us scoring last minute winners, and not the team bottom of the league, which no one needs reminding that disregarding the Chelsea win, would be us.
Full time emotion led to calls for the managers head, however further contemplation says we shouldn't be panicking this early. While it's looking increasingly likely that this will be our umpteenth 'transitional season', it's hard to see us being relegated. But we need points on the board sooner rather than later.
We can look at the next two games in two lights. Beating Everton would be a major morale boost with the way they've shot out of the blocks, and follow this up with an oh-so-satisfying win over the Jardies and our season is up and running. Or we could have a repeat of the Blackburn game versus Everton and traditional roll over for the Toon and we'll be frantically looking at the run-ins of the other bottom six clubs and comparing them to ours.
The players and manager have two weeks and much training and thinking to make sure the latter doesn't become reality and we can finally begin to look forward to match days again.
Watson Says...
When the final whistle blew at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Saturday it was once again a time where we all shook our heads and had an uncomfortable night's sleep. The performance was much greater than that we had witnessed a week before at the Riverside, but it was the manner in which we lost that made this defeat hard to bear.
A thirty yard wonder goal by Phil Jagielka in the dying embers was the only thing which split the two sides and it was harsh on a Boro side that had fought so well for so long. If truth be told it was typical Middlesbrough to lose in such a fashion. During the second half we enjoyed a twenty minute spell where we began to dominate and it was here where the match should have been won. Chances could have so easily been created but the final ball and the lack of vision evidently let us down on the day.
The same could have been said for the first thirty minutes of the match, held in front of a crowd who boast a hostile atmosphere. Sheffield United were very sloppy with possession and it took Neil Warnock's side well over half an hour to settle and find their feet. Middlesbrough created, but yet again spurned fantastic chances in front of goal and one could strongly argue that if only Yakubu or Woodgate had managed to find the net then Middlesbrough would have went on to dominate.
The goal was very much against the run of the play and it shook us up as for the next fifteen or so minutes as it looked like the Blades would strike again. Jonathan Woodgate was in superb form yet again and just so long as he can stay fit and gain regular first team action for the Teessiders, it won't be long before Steve McClaren hands him another chance in the white of England.
What was particularly worrying was yet another defeat to a relegation threatened team. This was Sheffield United's first win of the season and it appeared all too typical that it was against Gareth Southgate's men. Middlesbrough have now played two of the three sides that were promoted from the Coca Cola championship and we have left both of their respective grounds with nothing to show for our endeavour.
I'm sure many Boro fans were thankful that Chris Coleman's Fulham managed to pick up a point at Vicarage Road on Monday night, as a win for Watford would have resulted in Middlesbrough taking a trip into the relegation zone. As much as I dislike saying this, I feel it is only a matter of time before we are in the bottom three. The next three fixtures sees two home games against Everton and Newcastle, then a Monday night trip to the City of Manchester stadium to play the blue half of Manchester.
These are three tough fixtures and I just don't see where our goals will come from but more importantly, where the points will come from. The defence was very strong on Saturday; the goals Sheffield United scored was one on the counter attack and the other a thirty yard unstoppable thunder bolt. Last year we had little problems in breaking teams down and scoring goals, whereas this season creating chances appears to be our downfall.
The midfield seem content with sending aimless and needless balls up to the lone figure of Mark Viduka. Viduka looks alone when paired with Yakubu as the big Nigerian spends most his time glued to the touchline on the left. I feel we miss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as he brought the best from the 'Big Aussie'.
There appears to be a distinct lack of width and when the ball does go wide our players look to deliver the ball quick, rather than attempt to beat their man and cause defences greater problems. The ball up to the strikers is very poor also and it is no surprise we are struggling for goals at the present.
Currently, I just can't see where our next three points will come from if the team continues to play in this manner. Although we had the majority of possession versus Sheffield United we didn't seem to do much with it and this is a trend which began with the opening day defeat to Reading.
Although I believe our defence will prevent goal scoring opportunities we need to start taking the lead in games. Yes, we were renowned as the comeback kings in last seasons UEFA cup but in the Premiership we rarely come back from a goal down to win games.
My initial reaction after the game on Saturday was to blame Gareth Southgate and his managerial abilities but on second thoughts, perhaps I was jumping to conclusions. Yes managers are judged on results but the manager or the players can't really account for when a defender who hadn't scored in months pops us and bangs in a half volley from well over thirty yards.
I felt the first eleven was the strongest eleven that could have taken to the field that day and the tactics adopted were the correct ones. Unfortunately, you can't blame the manager when Yakubu hits the post when it seemed easier to score and Woodgate blazes wide when unmarked from ten yards.
After the Blackburn game I spoke of my frustration with Gareth and the lack of results and although we have been unlucky at times during the 2006/07 season I can't help but feel we would have more than five points right now if Steve McClaren were in charge. I felt that Gareth needed someone to come in and help him out during this rough period. I do have a lot of faith in Gareth Southgate as manager I just feel it could take three or four years before we begin to climb up the ladder and regularly finish in the top half of the table. Right now though we need results quick and maybe Gareth will begin to hand out a few rollickings after the poor results.
As we all know, all mediocre teams go through a period where results are hard to come by and right now I am just praying that we are going through this period now and soon we will all begin to see light at the end of the Riversides tunnel. I do believe that we won't get relegated this season as I feel we have a lot of quality in the side that will come good very soon, however if we are to continue in this fashion then relegation will beckon.
So next week there is no Premiership action as we all have to turn our attention to those pathetic international breaks. To be totally honest I completely hate international games and I'd much prefer to see Boro win a throw in against Everton than England to win the game against who ever it is we play on Saturday.
But maybe this break is just what we need as it gives Gareth more time to see where things are going wrong and it gives him more time to work with the players so we can rectify mistakes. Hopefully we will all see Robert Huth in action for the first team soon; he has played a few games for the reserves recently so it won't be long before he reaches full match fitness.
Although it will be great to see Huth play I can't help but feel our problems are no longer defensive. Currently they stem from midfield and attack. Last year during our terrific UEFA cup run many teams struggled to cope with us when we attacked at pace and maybe we should begin to adopt these tactics at home in the Premiership. I do not mind playing like we did on Saturday away from home, it just disappoints me when we do not attack in the manner we all know we can in front of our fans at the Riverside.
So right now it's probably not the best time to be a Middlesbrough fan, but that does not mean we're not proud to support the club, and it doesn't mean we're not extremely proud to wear the shirt. Every team goes through a rough time but it is up to everybody within and around the club to stick together and get through it.
There is no point in ridiculing the players when they are down and not praising them when we do well. Right now everyone needs to begin to back the players and believe that we will win soon. Surely it is just a matter of time before we turn the corner, isn't it?
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
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