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MIDDLESBROUGH v PORTSMOUTH - BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS 29-8-06
The two faces of Boro
The ugly side of 'typical Boro' resurfaced last night. After a morale
boosting win against the champions how could we go and lose 4-0 at home to
Portsmouth only a few days later? You just couldn't make this stuff up.
Thats not taking anything away from Pompey. They worked very hard and fully
deserved their 4-0 win.
Gareth Southgate opted for a 4-4-2 formation, but when the team was announced
I can't say I was filled with excitement. We had Mendi on the right, who had
a stinker against Chelsea. We had two combative midfielders in the centre
and the influential Downing wide left. The game had much anticipation about
it. Could we kick on from the Chelsea win or were we about to see a return
to the inconsistencies of previous seasons? Sadly the latter was true.
It took just seven minutes for Pompey to get on the score sheet. A
Stefanovic free kick was superbly saved and pushed behind for a corner. The
resulting corner was taken by Thompson, there was a mix up in the Boro box
and the ball was finally put into the back of the net by Kanu. From here on
in Pompey made it very difficult for us. Apart from us having more
possession it was Pompey who were winning the battle all over the pitch. The
first half was brought to an end with us not even testing David James
With Mendi constantly pulling inside we had no balance. We had two combative
midfielders in the centre and Pompey doubled up on Downing so we looked very
flat. We were constantly left playing the ball sideays. We then got
frustarted and tried to go through the middle, but where was the spark coming
from? Just as against Chelsea we had no right hand side at all which wasn't
highlighted as much due to the win.
The teams came out for second half unchanged. Surely it couldn't get any
worse, I was left saying to myself. How very wrong I was. It took just five
minutes into the half for Pompey to double their lead. A Thompson cross
found Benjani at the back stick, who rose and made no mistake in heading
the ball home.
A second Pompey goal sprung us into action, but only for a moment. A Downing
cross was met by the head of Chris Riggott, though it was cleared off the line
by Sean Davis. The game was put beyond doubt minutes later. Slick play by
Kanu caught the Boro back line flatted footed and left Kanu with a clean run at goal.
The Nigerian forward sped towards the Boro box before
slotting over the helpless Schwarzer.
This brought about three changes from Southgate, but for me it was too
little too late. In hindsight maybe the changes should have been made at
half time, as the system we were playing clearly wasn't working, but that's
the beauty of hindsight. But at 3-0 for me Gareth Southgate should have left
the same eleven out there. They were the players who got us in this mess and
should have been the ones to get us out of it.
Although the changes give us a little more exuberance, Pompey stood
resilient and continued to make it very difficult for us. We were having no
joy down the flanks so we were forced through the centre, but up until the
changes we had no creativity in the centre. Why was Rochemback dropped?
Pompey had clearly done their homework and I was well impressed at how they
approached the game.
It was a very frustrating evening and bad went to worse in the final
moments. Sean Davis played in substitute Todorov and he made no mistake from
close range. This was a disgraceful display and surely the last thing
expected from the supporter's minds after the heroic result against Chelsea
just a few days earlier.
Action needs to be taken to ensure such an embarrassing result never happens
again. It's clear where our problems lie and its up to the club to put it right
and its glad to see they are making attempts to address the problems we
have. Southgate is encountering teething problems. I'm almost certain he'll
be a very good manager for us but its going to take time. He has the nucleus
of a very good team but it needs a few modifications and a few
adjustments. Full credit to Southgate for telling it straight in his post
match interview. He took defeat on the chin and that's a sign of true
character.
We need to see a couple of additions between now and Thursday. I'm boosted
by the news that we've almost certainly completed the deal for local lad
Jonny Woodgate and Robert Huth. We could still do with right winger. But all
shall be revealed within the next few hours.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
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