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MIDDLESBROUGH v BLACKBURN - BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS 24-9-06
After the poor showing against Notts County, we were all looking for a
morale boosting win against Blackburn but sadly that never looked like
materialising at all.
Southgate adopted a 4-5-1 formation to take on Rovers. The formation for
me
was spot on, but the team selection raised more than a few question
marks. A
right winger on the left wing a right back on the right wing and the
main
worry for me we had no combative midfielder in the centre. But the
benefit
of the doubt must be given.
After the early exchanges it was Blackburn who settled the better. They
knocked the ball about well and on the half hour mark they clinched the
killer goal. Bentley crossed for Nonda, who managed to evade both
Davies and
Woodgate before rising to head the ball home from close range. It was a
very
sloppy goal to concede.
Within a couple of minutes we could and should have been back on level
terms. A delicate chip from Mendy found Euell who couldn't get enough
on the
ball to trouble Friedel. Then Rochemback played a beautiful defence
splitting pass which again found Euell, one on one with Friedel, but by
the
time you had got out of your seat he remarkably shot wide!
Despite having five men in midfield it was Blackburn who were dictating
the
game from centre of the park. Their swift interchanging football wasn't
met
with any determination to win the ball from our midfield and we were
left
chasing shadows on numerous occasions.
Before the half finished it was Blackburn who looked more of a threat
going
close not once but twice. The first came from former Boro target Benni
McCarthy. The rover forward curled his shot agonisingly wide from the
edge
of the box. Then soon after a Lucas Neill power drive was saved by
Schwarzer.
The half-time was greeted with a chorus of Boos which indicated just how
lacklustre we looked. Some of the players seemed to be breezing through
the
game like they didn't seem to have a care in the world.
On Wednesday we had no link between the midfield and the attack but
today it
was the opposite, we had no link between the midfield and defence. The
amount of times Blackburn got in and behind our midfield was
unbelievable.
Despite having five men in midfield, one more than them they still managed
to
dictate the game from the midfield. We were simply too lightweight in
the
centre of the park, we had not bite, gladly Southgate realised this and
brought on Lee Cattermole along with Mark Viduka.
The tempo of the game was raised in the second half but Friedel still
had
little to do. A drive from Rochemback was deflected wide, from the
resultant
corner Yakubu headed down and wide from close range.
We played too many casual sideward balls and not many balls forward.
And
when we began to get frustrated we started to launch the ball long to
the
strikers who were helpless. We were second to every second ball. For
long
periods of the game some players didn't seem to know their role and
we've
yet to get that right hand side sorted. Before the game ended Yakubu
and
Euell both had chances but failed to hit the target.
It was a very frustrating game. The team looks in disarray. It's heart
breaking to see some of the players strolling around like they haven't
got a
care in the world.
The management have some big changes to make over the coming weeks. The
ultimate question is can Southgate make that transition from 'one of
the
lads' to actually being the boss, the person the players look to for
leadership. It's not an easy switch. Despite that Southgate must be
given
ample time to prove himself. I'm sure the boo boys will be out in
force and everyone is entitled to their opinion but we could do without those
views at
the current time.
Southgate has to drop players that are simply not performing or good
enough
and start playing players who deserve to be in there for showing the
right
attitude. Let's see more of the younger players - we've heard a lot
about
them. And finally for God's sake lets stop putting square pegs in round
holes.
For me Southgate kicked himself in the foot by distancing himself from
McClaren's style of play by saying he wants to play attacking football.
It's
all good and dandy saying it, it's a totally different story producing
it.
OK it's only very early in his reign and he should be given at least a
couple of season until he is ultimately judged. But I think he'll wish
he
never said it now.
There are already shouts for the manager to be sacked. These people are
fickleness personified. Those people wanting Southgate out will no
doubt be
the same people who wanted McClaren out after four games and in hindsight
if
they had got their wish we could well have missed out of the best
period in
the club's history.
Southgate will not be sacked so get behind the man. Its time to show
your
support for Southgate.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO BRIGGSY INDEX
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