Controversial opinion

[Bruciebonus]

Good passing through the pitch from back to front, retained possession well at times but far too pedestrian around the opponent's penalty area. Preston defended in depth and we moved the ball too slowly and were too predictable.

We need other options, like a striker with a physical presence to attack balls in the box. This would allow us so to mix our game up a bit and be less predictable.

 

[Glover_elbow]

Good passing through the pitch from back to front, retained possession well at times but far too pedestrian around the opponent's penalty area. Preston defended in depth and we moved the ball too slowly and were too predictable.

We need other options, like a striker with a physical presence to attack balls in the box. This would allow us so to mix our game up a bit and be less predictable.

Lack of pace is killing us. I am loathed to criticise azaz because he was excellent but hes doesnt have pace same as mcgree coming back in. Maybe we have no option but to start silvera on one flank and we can put forss up front as well

 

[TeessideCleveland]

I'm the SCOUT FFS

Can you scout us a keeper who can save shots at the near post then
Thanks

 

[KDG]

I thought last night summed up our season to be honest.

At times we played some lovely stuff, quick passing and split them open a few times, started at the back with patience and it was good to watch

We were wasteful in front of goal

Some of the passing around the back is horrific and predictable and catches us out

It was the good, the bad and the ugly of Boro the season and is exactly why we are where we are in the league. Inconsistency not just week to week but at various times in the same game.

 

[Ian Bairds Ears]

I'm satisfied we played well statistically but results are the holy grail of football

We are going backwards results wise at a rapid rate of knots

I'll accept mid table because I know we are a championship club now...

Carrick however I'm not so sure he will want his first project to be akin to the crewe Alexandra model of cultivate rotivate ad infinitum

Crewe achieved financial stability and brought some great players through under dario gradi but nothing else

Are we the new crewe ?

I wonder if we should ask Michael outright before the next prezzer are we now a club whose model is based on development and cashing in

I'd be surprised but if gibbo is actually looking at handing the reigns to someone ( family or not) wouldn't he want it to just be a financially attractive package ?

I'm a bit confused right now it feels like we've waved the white flag on aspiration and settling for consolidation

 

[mercury_redstone7]

Not much in the way of forwards have we, its like the left footed centre back, we needed one for seasons, we got one, and then shortly after he was then injured for almost 2 season.
Right backs are past it wise, and in the case of Djiiksteel either injured or banned and so the replacements aren't up to much.
The forwards are inexperienced or injured.

I just feel atm the club sit on their hands to much, are very slow to react to putting a team together and have to many players whose hearts aren't big enough.
I'm not sure if the manager and staff have chucked it, and feel its pointless so just are going through the motions.
Getting players like Leadbitter is a always be a tough ask, but we need a few strong willed players in the side. Please please don't sign Howson and Ayling and I could add a few others to them tbh, I know its has been stop gap but they aren't good enough.

I`ll renew for certain, but I'm beginning to have my doubts on the belief I had in "we are constructing a challenging side". Will pre-season bring in a different group of players and a tough mental attitude from both players and staff?

 

[Marvanelli]

I think if that game was replayed 100 times - and we had Dieng in goal, we would win that game 90 times out of 100. Maybe even more.

We shot ourselves in the foot with some horrific decisions, mainly due to Glover in goal.

We dominated the game and should've won, never mind drew.

 

[Frozen Horse]

I saw a lack of natural width in the team last night, as well as the lack of a striker of course.

Preston blocked numerous shots (by all accounts this is a trademark of theirs, so I'll give them some credit). However, we always seemed to be trying to play through the middle. Jones is a miss; Ayling hasn't added anything going forward. Thomas was ok, but I'd still start Engle.

One more thought; when we've played grim football in the past and won, there have been plenty of "I didn't mind losing if we play well" threads. Can we put that old myth to bed? No one accepts that for more than one game.

 

[mercury_redstone7]

I saw a lack of natural width in the team last night, as well as the lack of a striker of course.

Preston blocked numerous shots (by all accounts this is a trademark of theirs, so I'll give them some credit). However, we always seemed to be trying to play through the middle. Jones is a miss; Ayling hasn't added anything going forward. Thomas was ok, but I'd still start Engle.

One more thought; when we've played grim football in the past and won, there have been plenty of "I didn't mind losing if we play well" threads. Can we put that old myth to bed? No one accepts that for more than one game.

I like the football we try to play at times , but if you have an inconsistent line ups on a regular basis, you end up with inconsistent displays.

I rather watch Carrick football than Warnock Pulis Monk garbage etc, its can we sign players who have a bit of grit and determination as well as technique.

 

[Alzi]

I like the football we try to play at times , but if you have an inconsistent line ups on a regular basis, you end up with inconsistent displays.

I rather watch Carrick football than Warnock Pulis Monk garbage etc, its can we sign players who have a bit of grit and determination as well as technique.

I hope Gibson agrees with this and doesn't bin off Carrick to bring in some long ball dinosaur if we do continue to struggle as his been his previous MO.

 

[AytonMews]

Was Carrick asked after the match about why Dieng was on the bench?

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

“Are we the new crewe ?“



Jesus wept.

 

[atomicloonybin aka ALB]

I've just checked the xG. Preston 1.17, Boro 0.92. We had 20 shots so an xG of less than 1 is impressively bad.

People are being foolish if they think having a lot of the ball is the same as playing well. We created no chances and we defended badly.

I don't understand how XG is calculated, but the guy on Sky said at half time that Preston's was 0.03 for the first half - they'd scored from the only chance they'd had.

 

[h_m_boro]

Positives -

Knocked the ball about really well. Some great football at times
Azaz and McGree will make a big difference

Negatives -

Defending, especially playing out from the back
Lack of CF is really showing
CM too slow tracking back...... getting proper narked at the number of 20 yarders we concede
No Jones and Lath we are painfully slow.

A frustrating night. We played well, but as has been the theme for most of the season players switching off and individual errors cost us dearly.

Not bringing in a CF in January, especially when your two CFs are injured, next two in line sold is utter stupidity. Still can't really get my head around this - trying to be too clever thinking we don't need a "proper" CF

Ah well, playoffs a distant dream, club can look forward to mid table obscurity and the end of March stampede for ST EB renewals........

 

[Nano]

I don't understand how XG is calculated, but the guy on Sky said at half time that Preston's was 0.03 for the first half - they'd scored from the only chance they'd had.

Basically, where the shot was taken was taken from, how the ball was received and positioning of defenders is used to calculate a score based on 1,000s of previous shots which represents a likelihood of that going in. Penalty is the easiest example to understand. There is a 0.76 xG for a penalty because 76% of penalties are scored. The xG of 0.03 means that shot only goes in 3 times out of 100. It's unlikely a player scores from where he shot. Coincidentally Azaz's goal also had an xG of 0.03 so they were two very unlikely goals to score. If you have 5 shots at 0.2 xG each you would expect to score one of them.

Preston's 2nd goal had an xG of 0.8 so it was unlikely to not score but that chance wasn't created, it fell fortunately from a blocked shot which only had an xG of 0.05.

We had 20 shots last night for a total xG of 0.92. That's an average xG of less than 0.05 which means we had lot of shots but not many of them were good chances.