Barlaser, Engel, VDB

'Hackney was shocking today and it follows up his abysmal performance against Rotherham.'

Shocking might be a bit harsh, but he wasn't great tonight. In a difficult game
He WAS woeful against Rotherham, which is worrying

He's young, just back from injury, so probably just a blip and he'll get better again. He was good first leg against Chelsea tbf
 
Gudintheair said:
Absolute lack of any pace really stood out tonight. Not quick enough to play Championship football.
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Absolutely, total Chicken Licken response. Mate they were playing a top Premier League team that cost about one billion quid. All three are young players who have looked good at times in the Championship. With more experience, including playing against teams a level above, will be great for their development too.
I'm really shocked at the lack of knowledge of some of our 'fans' and quickness to declare that the sky is falling in (or certain players are not good enough), despite those in charge, who actually know a few things about football, believing they could be good players.
Yes, I get you are upset at not winning, and that some of the players did not mange to look as good as player that cost 50 times more than they did, I'm pretty sad about it to, but please stop showing your complete idiocy and get behind the boys rather than slagging them off.
You never know it may even help them get better knowing they have the full support of the fans.
Anybody who honestly believed that we were going to go there and not get a footballing lesson really needs to give their head a shake. They were never gong to be as profligate twice.
Grow up, get over it and get behind the lads.
UTFB
 
We needed pace yes, but pace isn't everything.
Carrick could have had a look at the U18 and U21 and just picked a handful of the fastest players and if they had started we'd have heard people booting off still.
 
I agree.

Barlasar, who cost us £1 million from Rotherham - should be able to deal with Palmer - probably one of the best young prospects in England who cost £42 million.

Engel, a £1.5 million full back who's played less than 30 games of English football should easily be able to sort Sterling out - He's only the 21st top goalscorer since the PL began.

Don't even get me started on RVDB vs. Mudryk - Being up against one of the most expensive players of all time should give that 19 year old the pure adrenaline to get him through.
 
I don't think enough credit has been given to Pochettino he sussed us out and set Chelski up to expose us. The ball that cut through us for the first goal was brilliant and Sterlings backflick for the second goal was exceptional. The worry is we seem to concede goals in twos and threes,fortunately we don't face half a billion pound teams every week.
 
the_dormouse said:
I don't think enough credit has been given to Pochettino he sussed us out and set Chelski up to expose us. The ball that cut through us for the first goal was brilliant and Sterlings backflick for the second goal was exceptional. The worry is we seem to concede goals in twos and threes,fortunately we don't face half a billion pound teams every week.
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Agree with this. It was a chalk and cheese from the home leg. If they come together as a squad (they are improving) they will be a terrifying prospect for most sides, let alone one midtable in the Championship.

Admittedly some of our mistakes (or their very good pressing) counted towards the result but there will be plenty of EPL sides they do the same to if they continue their ascent.
 
the_dormouse said:
I don't think enough credit has been given to Pochettino he sussed us out and set Chelski up to expose us. The ball that cut through us for the first goal was brilliant and Sterlings backflick for the second goal was exceptional. The worry is we seem to concede goals in twos and threes,fortunately we don't face half a billion pound teams every week.
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They overloadedd us down the left, they had worked out Engels lack of pace....ideally we would have had Bangura down that side, able to cope with Sterling

They worked out that with Jones and Lath injured we had no pace at the top end. So their slow defenders could push up to the half way line, without fear. The Chelsea midfield could then get forward and pressure Barlaser and Hackney, and their forwards could high press us.

The lack of a pace outlet for us, really did for us and meant we were on a hiding to nothing. I truly think the boro of this time 12 months ago, could have beaten this chelsea, and a fully fit current boro could have taken it to pens at least. But this threadbare, patched up, scratch side was always gonna struggle. If a billkion pound squad, with an elite manager, at home, with the carrot of wembley against a mid table, scratch championship team, had failed to comfortably win, then heads would need to roll.
 
Rav will prove to be a fine acquisition imo.

HH is still regaining fitness and will get back to where he was. His current form might enable us to hang on to him to the end of the season.

Engel - they did their homework and watching them double up on him and send him to the shops was excruciating painful, especially when he had little support from our MF. I do think he is left with a lot to prove between now and the end of the season.

Barlaser - i had high hopes when we signed him but he has turned out bang average in my book.
 
the_dormouse said:
I don't think enough credit has been given to Pochettino he sussed us out and set Chelski up to expose us. The ball that cut through us for the first goal was brilliant and Sterlings backflick for the second goal was exceptional. The worry is we seem to concede goals in twos and threes,fortunately we don't face half a billion pound teams every week.
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I thought we set ourselves up by playing to their strengths.

Dcking about with the ball in our own final 3rd and no outlet up top.
 
Rav , As previously mentioned is a CB playing out of position at RB, head and shoulders above Fry and Clark in his proper position, and will only get better

Engel, Jekkel and Hyde type of player, great one day and poor the next hopefully grows into the championship and becomes consistent.

Barlaser, I was really hoping for big things from him but from seeing him in the flesh he has no pace can't tackle, constantly loses his man or is out of position. His passing stats seem to be based on the countless two-yard passes he makes game in game out
 
In Barlaser’s defence I think more recently he had managed to put together a consistent bit of decent form. Feels like it used to be that he’d have a great game then follow it up with two absolute horror show games, but he’s done well for a while.

That said IMG_1455.jpeg
This feels emblematic of a glaring issue we have in that there’s just no protection in front of the defence. Hackney and him together is really just playing with two deep lying playmakers, and Howson in for either isn’t really a proper break up the play type either.

Feel like I’ve seen so little of O’Brien for us cause of his injury to really know much either way but hopefully he can bring a bit more defensively in midfield.
 
BoroMart said:
They overloadedd us down the left, they had worked out Engels lack of pace....ideally we would have had Bangura down that side, able to cope with Sterling

They worked out that with Jones and Lath injured we had no pace at the top end. So their slow defenders could push up to the half way line, without fear. The Chelsea midfield could then get forward and pressure Barlaser and Hackney, and their forwards could high press us.

The lack of a pace outlet for us, really did for us and meant we were on a hiding to nothing. I truly think the boro of this time 12 months ago, could have beaten this chelsea, and a fully fit current boro could have taken it to pens at least. But this threadbare, patched up, scratch side was always gonna struggle. If a billkion pound squad, with an elite manager, at home, with the carrot of wembley against a mid table, scratch championship team, had failed to comfortably win, then heads would need to roll.
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Goes back to the point ive made weeks ago about engel and clarke playing on the same side in a back 4 as a combination its bad in the championship they are way too slow and immobile against Premier opposition its disasterous
 
bungydinsdale said:
Absolutely, total Chicken Licken response. Mate they were playing a top Premier League team that cost about one billion quid. All three are young players who have looked good at times in the Championship. With more experience, including playing against teams a level above, will be great for their development too.
I'm really shocked at the lack of knowledge of some of our 'fans' and quickness to declare that the sky is falling in (or certain players are not good enough), despite those in charge, who actually know a few things about football, believing they could be good players.
Yes, I get you are upset at not winning, and that some of the players did not mange to look as good as player that cost 50 times more than they did, I'm pretty sad about it to, but please stop showing your complete idiocy and get behind the boys rather than slagging them off.
You never know it may even help them get better knowing they have the full support of the fans.
Anybody who honestly believed that we were going to go there and not get a footballing lesson really needs to give their head a shake. They were never gong to be as profligate twice.
Grow up, get over it and get behind the lads.
UTFB
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Bloody hell do you have a job in PR at the club. Just accept its a message board people will have their own opinions on players. Also nobody expected us to give Chelsea a football lesson, so stop with the ridiculous statements and childish insults.
 
Gudintheair said:
Absolute lack of any pace really stood out tonight. Not quick enough to play Championship football.
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Mate, I’ve looked elsewhere and somehow I can’t find it ……but where’s the thread you started praising these 3 players when they were all superb when we beat half a billion pound spending Chelsea at home?
 
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VDB - Top quality who will go on to have a fantastic career either with Boro or elsewhere. Strength and pace in abundance. Reads the game well. Has played right across the back line for Boro this season showing his versatility and quality. With another season under his belt, I fully believe he will be ready for Premier League football. Not quite there yet but he's not even 20 yet and doesn't even have 40 senior appearances.

Engel - I think there's too many mistakes in his game. Sloppy in possession and a poor defender. Positionally all over the shop. Tries hard and good work ethic but I just don't think he has enough quality. Personally I would be happy to let him go if we could get what we paid for him.

Barlaser - That graphic that @Jonathan has posted above displays his strengths and weaknesses perfectly. Good passer of the ball but defensively ineffective. In the formation Boro play, we need someone who is going to give us more defensively. We push full backs forward and rely on our 2 x CMs getting back and being effective without the ball. He had a really good few weeks after Xmas where he strung together 3 or 4 good performances in a row. Probably his best for Boro, but the last couple of performances have been back to the old Barlaser where he has been a bit sloppier and struggled. It will be interesting to see wat Carrick does in CM for the remainder of the season.
 
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