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WARNOCK WEEKLY 26-9-07
Tom Warnock
Much has been said these past few days on the matter of the Sunderland game and to prevent going over old ground I'll keep my analysis brief. There's no time to dwell on the past when we continue the task of regaining our old Carling Cup on Wednesday night at Spurs.
It was a typically frantic beginning to the Tees-Wear clash and as with the visit of the Toon we found ourselves going behind. Despite this, I never felt the goal would have a significant impact on the final outcome. Being so early in proceedings we had the quality to come back and it was simply a case of re-grouping and sticking to the game plan.
The Boro fans were stunned but not downhearted and the Mackem's goal only served to rally the crowd and stir up the best atmosphere at the Riverside this season. We began to find our rhythym and ended up scoring thirteen minutes later to go in level at half-time.
From this point on there was only one team who should have won the game. It was devastating to see our players dropping like flies as the game wore on and I'm confident that had we maintained a full team the game would have been beyond doubt in Boro's favour.
In the second half Stewy and O'Neil were ripping into the Sunderland full backs and Gary will feel he could have bagged one either side of Downing's sixty-seventh minute peach. The attacking mentality didn't quite pay off though as we tried and tried again to seal the points. We weren't doing much wrong apart from not putting the ball in the net. Anyone missing Mark Viduka yet?
In all honesty we were hit by a sucker punch at the death and the Mackems should be relieved to have avoided a battering against a makeshift Boro frontline.
So what remains of Gareth's squad make the journey down to Spurs tonight, with the starting line-up being anyone's guess. It's possibly the only time Dong Gook Lee can be assured of a starting role. He must look at this in the right way, he must take it as an opportunity and not as a burden.
He will know his strengths, and his weaknesses, if he can't hold the ball up and bring men into play, he should tell the manager, and the system can be changed. This is better than fighting for balls he will never win in a million years. It was great to see him score his first goal against Northampton, but he's failed to kick on since that strike, which was one that many strikers would be proud of.
The unavailability of Gary O'Neil is a blow as we will miss his pace, crisp passing and movement on the right wing, all things which a misplaced Boateng or Cattermole cannot offer in this area. The lads will have to work that much harder to give support to whoever is selected up front, providing more options and space for the lucky nominees. Dong Gook Lee will need red shirts around him whenever possible, and the ball played at his feet or slotted in ahead of him.
If I was a certain Tom Craddock I'd be banging on the office of Gareth this week, pleading for a starting role. I watched Tom in pre-season against Darlington and it was he who excelled most in a team which included first team players such as Downing and Morrison.
He showed quick reactions, a good burst of pace, a neat touch and potential in the air. He's played every minute of Boro's reserve team campaign and bagged three goals already. The saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining - maybe Tom Craddock could put himself ahead of Lee in the manager's thoughts if he is given the chance.
It's times like these when a manager's mettle is tested, and Gareth won't be enjoying this dilemma, but how he can come through it will show whether he is tactically developed enough to make the best of what we've got.
The Carling cup is a realistic source of glory for us, and it would be a great shame if injuries prevented us from progressing. It's the job of the players on the pitch to show that it's not teams that win cups - it's squads.
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