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CHRISTMAS ALREADY? 8-11-06
Karl Watson and Tom Warnock
Warnock says...
After two back to back wins at the end of October, everything was beginning to look just a bit better wasn't it? And then it happened.
The morning of the Manchester City game, just as we were all gearing up for what we thought would be a third consecutive win from a team filled with renewed confidence and optimism, the gaffer and co. had just switched on the telly in the club canteen.
Not unusual you might think, and then came the ad break in Jeremy Kyle and with it; the cascade of (premature) pre-Christmas adverts reminded the players that perhaps it would be a novel idea to start our Christmas slump just as prematurely.
The team duly obliged at Eastlands and even managed to continue the trend at Watford, with an even more lacklustre, insipid and tame excuse for a performance. In fact, had a scribe been present from the Oxford English dictionary, he may have been tempted to insert beneath those adjectives; 'See Middlesbrough's performance away at Watford, 4/11/2006'
After the Newcastle game, to quote myself; 'It's never easy in football but if we can perform to the best of our abilities, have belief in ourselves and keep working hard, we will be the top dogs for a long time to come.' The fact that we remain top-dogs is scant consolation, because Newcastle don't take much beating at the present moment. Just ask the black and white protest parade.
Looking at the two previous matches; we haven't believed in ourselves nor have we performed to the best of our abilities. The fact that after we roared to a win over Newcastle, and then simply rolled over like the lottery at City is a disgrace in itself.
What more inspiration does a team need than beating its local rivals?
Being an optimist and a Boro fan simply have to come hand in hand. But it takes some amount of laughing gas and happy pills to see anything remotely funny about the Watford game.
Collectively we were poor. Individually we were poorer. Julio Arca carried on where he left off against Reading and was subbed for his 'part' in the game. Where's the player who was once one of the Premiership's most productive wingers?
Huth was mislacing passes, Woodgate was helpless to influence the debacle around him. Pogatetz didn't do his growing reputation any harm, but not much good either. Boateng continued to be out of sorts, and we all saw that header. Downing must assert his game more against lowly teams. Maccarone was isolated, as was Yakubu, although in truth neither looked more than slightly interested. I could go on, but I've only just managed to calm down.
The manager is blameless on this occasion. We all have our preferred team selection and views on tactics, but if the players won't make it work then the manager can't do anything. At one point I would have said our team, player for player, is capable of better and isn't reaching its potential. However without desire, potential is unreachable and perhaps some of the squad are settling for being average. It's a shame they won't settle for average wages.
If we're not careful we may see these two defeats blend seamlessly into our Christmas slump and it may be a slump from which we just can't escape. Southgate has to be careful as our team isn't one which is capable of picking itself up and fighting its way back. This is where Gareth has to use his authority.
The fans want to see passion, animation, the fist pumping, and the rallying cries. So what if he's manager, who cares if he's in a shirt and tie now: he's still our leader and we need him to lead again.
Watson says...
Hands up if you weren't expecting that result on Saturday. I am assuming no one's hand has been raised. The performance against Watford mirrored that of the horror show at Eastland's five days earlier, so many fans are now asking, 'just where is our season heading?'
Of course we all have to remember that Middlesbrough have faced tough winter periods in the past few seasons and if the performances continue in this pathetic manner then it will be another winter to forget on Teesside.
The teams below us are slowly starting to put together a few wins on the bounce and are looking to capitalise on what is some woeful football being played by the team in red and in some occasions white.
Gareth was again very honest in his post match interview however I wish it was praise he was handing out rather than excuses. These excuses must be dealt with, and dealt with quickly. Gareth has came out expressing his dismay at the recent performances, slamming them as unacceptable, so why was the unacceptable display against Manchester City followed up with an unacceptable display against Watford?
Questions need to be answered behind the scenes at the club and extra hours need to be put in on the training ground. The one way we can overcome this chaos is by working harder and implementing correct tactics that brings out the best in our players.
Despite the worrying form of late, I can see Middlesbrough defeating a West Ham team on Saturday that have picked up six points from their previous two games. West Ham will be full of confidence and it is very important that we start well and restrict them from creating chances as an early goal will make it very hard for Middlesbrough to take anything away from the game.
It would be typical Boro to bounce back from two straight away defeats and play well and take home the three points. The team proved they could do it against Everton after poor results, so why not against West Ham.
I was not too pleased to read George Boateng discuss the area of motivation and work ethic. He argued that all of the players, including himself, need to take a long hard look into the mirror.
Personally these players should have taken a long hard look at themselves at the beginning of the season and vowed to give their all in every game. I am not too sure whether every player that pulled on the White jersey on Saturday was willing to fight for every 50/50, battle for every header and put their heads and other body parts in places where it may hurt? It's a question the manager should be asking his players.
The one thing I cannot stand is players who are not willing to give their all to play for the Boro. When all the fans hand over their hard earned cash all we ask of the players is that they give 100% week in week out, and I'm afraid this has not been the case for a while now and it is little wonder that many fans are turning their back on Premiership football at the Riverside.
Stewart Downing was also quoted as saying the performance was unacceptable. However the players are beginning to dig a grave for themselves now. They know these recent performances have been unacceptable so the players have no excuses when it comes to the next post match interview after a loss. If these players know these performances are unacceptable, then attempt to fix it by giving 100%, not 50%. Why not start at home to West Ham United?
George Boateng, the club's captain has even started to doubt himself and his work ethic. Boateng is probably the first name on the team sheet and it is up to him to set an example to his fellow colleagues. George needs to organise that midfield like Woodgate organises the defence.
I have not been impressed with George one little bit this season and he should not be a guaranteed pick at all. In all honesty I don't think George should play against West Ham as I don't think he merits a starting role. Last season it was evident that we could not do without the Dutchman as our good results were when he was in the team and our slumps came when he was out injured.
If George does not play against West Ham (however we all know he will) we will all be able to see just how much we do need him, or how much we do not need him. Lee Cattermole is a central midfielder and many have compared him to Roy Keane. However I never saw Roy Keane playing on the right side of midfield.
I am a big fan of Gareth Southgate and I will be pleased when on Saturday it is announced he can continue managing the Teessiders. However I feel a small part of McClaren's weaknesses are beginning to creep into Gareth's management, for example playing players out of position. If we are to collect vital points surely it must be done with an orthodox 4-4-2 formation with Pogatetz and Davies the two full backs supporting Downing and Morrison down the wings.
On Sunday I was reading through a Sunday supplement of football when my attention was directed to the foul play list. Middlesbrough currently head this list meaning we have committed the most fouls and accumulated the most points for fouls, and yellow and red cards. Surely this must mean that playing two central midfielders that clash will result in many conceded free kicks which in turn will result in many opposing set pieces which we have always struggled to defend.
The most annoying area has got to be the opening forty five minutes. Why is our first half display absolutely gutless and an embarrassment to Middlesbrough Football Club. Many people's eyes are upon Sir Alex Ferguson who has now completed twenty years in charge of Manchester United; however this is our twenty year anniversary and is this the way we really want to be celebrating it?
As I said earlier I do believe we will defeat West Ham at The Riverside on Saturday. It would be 'typical Boro' to do so. Unfortunately it looks like our main aim this season will be survival and there is one cliché which springs to mind. 'When the going gets the tough, the tough get going'.
The answer I now would like to know is who in our squad is tough enough to lead our troops and take us away from the dreaded bottom three, because this season is now a battle and those who are not willing to give their all should declare themselves unfit to wear the shirt.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
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