|
|
CHARLTON v BORO: WHO WANTS IT MORE? 11-1-07
Karl Watson and Tom Warnock
Watson says:
So January started in typical Middlesbrough F.C fashion with another disappointing third round performance in the F.A Cup.
Hull City have not been setting the Championship on fire and the introduction of a new manager seemed to have the traditional affect on the players and the team's performance, let alone the magic of the FA Cup. However it was the chances Middlesbrough wasted which enraged the travelling support, and scuppering created opportunities in the Premiership will result in a lack of points both home and away.
The result against Hull was not only disappointing because we failed to win the game, but because the away voodoo remains. Hull was the perfect opportunity to finally win away from home and boost the players' confidence for the forthcoming away games in the Premiership. Not defeating lower league opposition away from home will not do anyone any favours, especially when our next away trip is to The Valley.
What becomes noticeable is the players' confidence at home. The players roam around the pitch with a particular swagger that we all are accustomed to. However as soon as the players enter the fray away from home the only thing we have become familiar with is the negative body language and players following their own dark, lonely shadow.
Surely this comes down to an issue of management and coaching? We faced a similar dilemma under McClaren in previous seasons and the only thing that spared the player's embarrassment was a victory at 'the worst ever Premiership side' in Sunderland. Many questions were asked of McClaren and his back room staff as to why we could not win away. It is the same eleven players taking to the field, the pitch and goal size remain the same, and there are still Middlesbrough fans cheering their name.
Although Southgate remains popular with the fans and I find it hard to criticise him, I have to look at his handling of the players when it comes to games away from home. Yes, Gareth did not ask the players to miss a hat-full of chances against Hull but this issue stems back from the end of last season.
What is being said to the players before they step onto the playing field? Are these players too 'pampered' when it comes to travelling? Should they really be travelling in luxury when they perhaps don't deserve to? Do these players really deserve for their bags to be carried for them or should they not earn that right?
The draw sprung up no heartbreaking tie away at a top four club and a trip to Bristol Rovers or Coventry shouldn't prove too difficult over two legs. I say two legs because it would be no surprise for our players to under perform and need a second attempt at the Riverside to defeat whoever we find ourselves up against in the fourth round.
Hull will be very satisfied with a money spinning replay but I fully expect Middlesbrough to progress. However this does not mean I am satisfied with this replay. It is a game we can do without and there is always the possibility that key players may get injured.
So the transfer deadline is looming and there is still no activity involving Middlesbrough. Have we not seen this before under McClaren? McClaren was always very late with his transfers and it resulted in panic buys which were a waste of Steve Gibson's money and a waste of time on the park. I hope we do not see this again with Southgate. According to reports Gareth is interested in a few players so why has nothing been done about this?
Surely the team would benefit greater if the names we wish to sign are signed at the beginning of the deadline so they have longer to get used to their new surroundings and what will be expected of them in the forthcoming games. What we are used to is panic buys being introduced hours after their transfer and it results in very poor performances. I would have preferred to have seen players bought early on however not being played until after Christmas. However that is why Gareth is not the manager and not I.
Perhaps it is down to the lack of offers for our failing stars? Football is now a business and clubs do not have money to throw down the drain. They have obviously seen the players we have are not good enough. I do not blame them for not signing them. Middlesbrough were stupid enough to give these mediocre players with big reputations great wages. As a result these players are reluctant to take pay cuts and they will not end up in lower divisions. If we do not get rid of these players, we will not be able to sign others.
So everyone's attention returns to the Premiership after last week's lucrative sporting event and our next game does not come much bigger. It disappoints me to say that, but let's face it - away to the Premiership's second bottom team will be one of our biggest games of this year's campaign.
The significance of the Charlton game becomes greater when we read our forthcoming fixtures. Games against Portsmouth (away), Arsenal (home), and Chelsea (away) are games which will be extremely difficult and the chance of picking up points will be slim. After Charlton is a game at the Riverside against a Bolton side which is slowly beginning to find life at the top six difficult, so let's add to their woes.
As we all saw at the Riverside not so long ago, the Addicks are quite clearly the league's worst team and deserve to be rooted at the foot on the Premiership. Their performances in recent weeks have been nothing but cringe worthy, losing to teams such as Wycombe and Nottingham Forest. Their defending in these games was no better than what fathers witness when they watch their five year olds play in the back garden. Charlton continue to struggle with 'half decent' strikers and Middlesbrough's forwards are far more superior than 'half decent'.
The aim must be to involve Yakubu and Viduka from the start. If the two play to their potential then the away voodoo will be in the past. Won't it?
Warnock says:
Last weekend gave us a break from the Premiership but sadly it was perhaps one of the dullest FA Cup 3rd round days in many years. I'm not only referring to the Boro, but the whole fixture schedule was rather dour, no big upsets and no real excitement. Top it off with Boro's failure to progress at the first time of asking, for the second year running. If you went down the pub as opposed to watching Match of the Day, you really didn't miss much.
Perhaps the Hull game was a typical cup tie, back and forth, last ditch tackles and by all accounts there was a real cup atmosphere. But I won't be alone in saying that we didn't want a real cup tie, we just wanted a straightforward win, an away win. Is it too much to ask to win away from home. We only had to hold on for less than fifteen minutes, but even against Hull this was too much to ask.
What disappointed me perhaps more than the result is the fact that we still haven't learned how to defend set plays. The players seem to find it impossible to deal with corners or free kicks being delivered into the box. It doesn't even look organised; it's more like a hoard of women all scrambling for the Binns' front door on the first day of the sales, except the women look better doing it.
At the other end it was the same old story, failing to take enough chances to win the game. Dukes and the Yak were a constant threat, but we just lacked that ruthless last touch to help pull us away at 1-0.
It's the transfer window, yet all is quiet on Teesside. Even the rumour mill is chugging to a halt when anyone asks who the Boro are signing. The best it can come up with is who's slated for a sharp exit. It looks ever more likely that Rochemback will bode a not-so fond farewell.
I just read Fabio's supposed interview with a Portuguese publication, and among other things he claimed he was told that he would be an important player this season. It is his belief that he's doing 'all the right things' yet finds himself on the bench. I suggest Fabio takes a look at his stats and then takes a look in his rose tinted mirror, because seven starts, two assists and no goals does not warrant a place in a Premiership team.
A lot has been made over the fact that we dominated proceedings at Hull and should have won the game comfortably. I have two issues with these beliefs. Firstly; it was Hull, who currently sit fourth bottom of the Championship. And secondly; we didn't score more than them, meaning we didn't deserve to win the game. Missing chances doesn't win you games, that's why Manchester United are top, and we're not.
What the team must do now is ensure we have some more points on the board before the replay, so we can breathe a little easier and perhaps give the kids the chance to shine, although the team who failed to overcome them at the first attempt should be made to undertake the task again, and this time put the ball in the net.
Since the last time we played Charlton, they went through a (short-lived) revival, before crashing to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest respectively, conceding six goals in the process. We visit the Valley with a winless away record, something even Charlton themselves don't have to be embarrassed about.
Whilst Charlton were woeful at the Riverside, the game will still be tough. Their top scorer has more than ours and with our backline suspect, and nerves sure to be jangling, I would expect a cautious game, which we could very possibly lose. It may all come down to one thing above all; who wants it more.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO WATSON AND WARNOCK INDEX
|
|
|
|
