Horrific performance

[hewielewie]

Hewie my opinions are formed beingbased on fact. You want to challenge them or disagree?Your problem, not mine. And, of course, it is your prerogative

What are the facts over the season? Not over the last six games, over the season.

 

[Soutra]

The keeper has been average to really poor all season long

If Bettinelli has been average to really poor, what does that make Assombalonga, Akpom and Watmore? Own goals must be right up there contending for top scorer.

I just don't understand why people criticise the goalie or the defence when the strikers just don't score, game after game, week after week, month after month.

And I certainly don't understand what Warnock thinks is going to happen when they run out. Why didn't he do anything about it in the transfer window? Why sign a load of players that aren't needed?

Like tuning the engine when the tyres are flat, as someone memorably once said. I think I've had enough of Warnock now. Time to find a young manager who can identify what needs to change and find the players to change it.

 

[McBrid]

If Bettinelli has been average to really poor, what does that make Assombalonga, Akpom and Watmore? Own goals must be right up there contending for top scorer.

I just don't understand why people criticise the goalie or the defence when the strikers just don't score, game after game, week after week, month after month.

And I certainly don't understand what Warnock thinks is going to happen when they run out. Why didn't he do anything about it in the transfer window? Why sign a load of players that aren't needed?

Like tuning the engine when the tyres are flat, as someone memorably once said. I think I've had enough of Warnock now. Time to find a young manager who can identify what needs to change and find the players to change it.

If I don’t rate the goalkeeper does that mean I rate Assombalonga?

 

[Cuthbert]

We were a shambles last season under Woody, a bit of organisation got us going and moving away from a position we shouldn’t of been in.

This line of we’re still 7th is getting tiresome. We are 22nd- yes 22nd - in the form table for the last 6 games. That is more akin to relegation form than play offs!

I honestly wonder if people really believe what they post - or do it more out of hope and not reality?

A Huddersfield mate texted today saying that Boro seem to lose all the time, but every time he looks we're still in 7th! LOL.
(I think he probably notices our defeats more, but I kind of know what he means). We've done well to hold the position.

 

[Soutra]

If I don’t rate the goalkeeper does that mean I rate Assombalonga?

I don't know, but the defence including the goalie is better than average in the division, but the strikers are worse than average. So don't dicker about with the defence and goalie until there are some players in the team capable of scoring 70+ goals.

 

[JM14]

If Bettinelli has been average to really poor, what does that make Assombalonga, Akpom and Watmore? Own goals must be right up there contending for top scorer.

I just don't understand why people criticise the goalie or the defence when the strikers just don't score, game after game, week after week, month after month.

And I certainly don't understand what Warnock thinks is going to happen when they run out. Why didn't he do anything about it in the transfer window? Why sign a load of players that aren't needed?

Like tuning the engine when the tyres are flat, as someone memorably once said. I think I've had enough of Warnock now. Time to find a young manager who can identify what needs to change and find the players to change it.

Keeper has been our worst performer by far this season, the amount that we have conceded due to him is absolutely shocking for a keeper this level, he is by far the worst I have seen at this club in a very long time. Honestly would rather start Archer next week. Pears wasnt great but at least he was getting better game on game and was our player. Needs to be the number one priority for the summer.

 

[McBrid]

I don't know, but the defence including the goalie is better than average in the division, but the strikers are worse than average. So don't dicker about with the defence and goalie until there are some players in the team capable of scoring 70+ goals.

The goalie is poor. Assombalonga and Akpom are terrible. I rate Watmore and hope Fletcher can get fit and find form. Still prefer Watmore either wide of a front 3 or in a 2 up front. I have seen people saying we should try him in the centre of a 3 but I doubt that will work as we rarely get the ball in behind

 

[S7DiscoDown]

Team who are unbeaten on 20 and have the best Forward and keeper in the league.

I think 'horrific' is laughable. They are 2nd and not lost since October. You can see why.

That said we had 3-4 clear cut chances at 1-1 and 1-2. You cannot blame anyone other than awful finishing. We had a great chance at 1-1 and Britt smashes it straight at the keeper from 6 yards. Sav should have scored right in HT to send us in 2-1.

I thought we did OK. One things for sure it shows what having a decent CF does. Two goals and an assist.

Yes he cost a fortune at 10mil. Yet its still 5 Mil less than Britt.... We could probably have signed Toney for 1mil when we signed Britt and Fletcher.

They are far and away the best side I've seen this season. Twice Norwich or Bournemouth.

 

[Colin Warnek]

Well I’ve just watched the short highlights and not sure why anyone is blaming Betsy this week. Shocking miss from Savile, britt unlucky you’d say.

 

[Soutra]

Keeper has been our worst performer by far this season, the amount that we have conceded due to him is absolutely shocking for a keeper this level, he is by far the worst I have seen at this club in a very long time. Honestly would rather start Archer next week. Pears wasnt great but at least he was getting better game on game and was our player. Needs to be the number one priority for the summer.

This must be a wind up. I just watched the highlights. Bettinelli isn't to blame for what happened. Assombalonga managed to put himself in the net, but not the ball, when it was easier to score than miss.

When was the last time a Boro player scored at the Riverside?

 

[S7DiscoDown]

Ah, my mistake. Not sure where I got £5m from!

£10m for somebody who is going to score 30+ easy is an absolute bargain.

To be fair I think it was 5-6 Mil up front. The 10mil is with add ons.

It's still a fair wedge for a league 1 forward. They also payed 3mil for Watkins at Exeter when most thought 'no thanks'. They can definitely find a forward (1.6mil for Maupay)

 

[JM14]

This must be a wind up. I just watched the highlights. Bettinelli isn't to blame for what happened. Assombalonga managed to put himself in the net, but not the ball, when it was easier to score than miss.

When was the last time a Boro player scored at the Riverside?

Look at the goals we have conceded this season, so many times he has cost us.

He has to do better for that second goal today, his positioning is shocking. If he was stood where he should be its a simple save. From that distance when the ball isnt right in the corner you expect the keeper to save it

 

[indeedido]

If Bettinelli has been average to really poor, what does that make Assombalonga, Akpom and Watmore?

I can't believe you have linked Watmore with Assombolonga or Akpom.

Watmore has 5 goals in 10 appearances, with a number of those from the bench.
He always looks lively and gets in position for chances. He also creates more and links better.

Watmore should play in this side. He has more energy, quicker brain and better technique than Akpom, Fletcher or the awful Assombolonga.
I think he would combine much more with the impressive Bolasie - they're both players with significant talent ( I certainly appear to have been absolutely wrong in not wanting Bolasie to come in - I hold my hands up)

 

[changingman]

Was anyone suggesting we would finish top 2 before today's game?

Whilst I think it will be a competitive end to the season we're not in the same class as Norwich, Brentford or Swansea. Streets ahead of us going forward and their % possession mean they don't concede too many either.

 

[bear66]

Strangely we have done OK against Swansea and Brentford and Norwich away.

 

[Cosmonaut]

Wasn't the result we all wanted. But I think it was the actual reality check needed for this season .. a top six-finish for me is out of our grasp despite where we sit. A home form like ours currently, and new players added to the squad gelling in, getting back up to proper match fitness, etc and becoming familiar as a unit ... I think we're going to have to be a little more patient ... to those expecting or believing we can finish top six that is.

I don't think that is something that is going to be achievable until next season, as long as Warnock stays on, we keep hold of the squad Warnock is building (bar Britt and I hope Bettenelli is replaced) and NW is backed with a couple more additions. To come to where we are (albeit fortunately to still sit 7th!) after nearly being taken down last season, so close to in fact .. it is an achievement I would have taken before the season started, more than I expected for sure.

I just think realistically a finish around 10th-14th position is going to be the more likely outcome this time around. Hate to be negative, I am just trying to look at it realistically.

It's progress, not perfection from where we were at the end of last season. In the Summer we will see the back of Britt, won't be missed by the majority but it's crucial we find our own 'Toney' on the market on his departure. I believe we need to replace Bettenelli with a more able keeper too. Akpom for me can go also, bringing on Warnock or Blackwell instead of Akpom in the last ten minutes of a game, I'm convinced there'd not be much difference! The guy is woeful, to be honest. And the fee paid for him, I am hoping that is one of the last huge mistakes we make as a club as there have been far too many over the decade gone by. I can't imagine who would want him, perhaps he can get a move back to the league he came from. I just do not believe he is of any use to us here, it would have shown by now.

There's still plenty to sort out, it is clear. For me, it's about making a serious challenge next season. I expected before this season began to be an improvement but nothing like a top-six finish. So I can't say it bothers me too much that I think we will likely finish bang mid-table, perhaps a hair higher/lower but clearly safe from any kind of dreaded relegation battle! I'd already prepared for that expectation but must admit flirting with the top six and even being not so far from auto places at times has been a terrible tease this season .. but I did expect it to come to an end around this time of the season.

I noticed Woodgate got his first win with Bournemouth today, the first game in charge. I felt all the Woodgate bashing and jokes on social media would turn out to look foolish today and he would win them the game. Indeed he did. I have no idea why but I seriously think Bournemouth will finish top six.

I'm no Woodgate fan in particular, or would have him back here any time soon ...that's for sure! I just get the feeling he will get a reaction out of a good bunch of players he's got to look after until the season ends and it is going to give him a little boost in his managerial CV. Some will start saying we were wrong to get rid of him etc. It's absolutely typical.

I still hope I'm way off and we finish top six, of course, I do. But with this kind of home form .. come on?? I think by the time we can put a run together again we're going to be too little too late. Hope for a brilliant end to the season that will convince auld Colin to stay and achieve his final promotion, he will feel there's unfinished businesss here come season end, I'm confindent of that.

Going from today though, mind .. I just can't see a top-six play-off challenge. Perhaps a couple of weeks ago I could have been persuaded we could manage it .. but with the woeful form we're in currently and being fortunate enough to still sit where we are just because of other teams around us faltering too .. it's no way to put up the kind of challenge we were hoping for a month or two back.

This is still a work in progress. Hate to say it but just not play-off material, yet. Hope I can have this message dragged up at the end of the season making me look like a right doyle, but I'm more than confident it won't be.

 

[Ebor]

Who thought we'd be top two?? The odd idiot. 6th will do, that's certainly possible.

Brentford will go up and good luck to them, I'd enjoy watching them week in and week out

 

[asredastheycome]

We're absolutely miles away from being as good as Brentford. I think they'll go on to win the league comfortably.

The signing of Toney is looking a ridiculous bargain - £5m wasn't it? To think Akpom cost close to £3m Him and Britt are two of the absolute worst players I've ever seen, they both offer absolutely nothing.

They were just ruthless. We had some unbelievable chances, but just don't have the players to bury them. Thankfully, we don't have to play somebody like Brentford every week who will stick anything in the net that comes their way.

There was those on here who said Toney was overpriced, would not do the business at this level etc etc etc. Looked class to me at Charlton and looks class to me now. You would have been better gambling on him with his record the last few years than Akpom with his.

 

[tripleheader]

Team who are unbeaten on 20 and have the best Forward and keeper in the league.

I think 'horrific' is laughable. They are 2nd and not lost since October. You can see why.

That said we had 3-4 clear cut chances at 1-1 and 1-2. You cannot blame anyone other than awful finishing. We had a great chance at 1-1 and Britt smashes it straight at the keeper from 6 yards. Sav should have scored right in HT to send us in 2-1.

I thought we did OK. One things for sure it shows what having a decent CF does. Two goals and an assist.

Yes he cost a fortune at 10mil. Yet its still 5 Mil less than Britt.... We could probably have signed Toney for 1mil when we signed Britt and Fletcher.

They are far and away the best side I've seen this season. Twice Norwich or Bournemouth.

Spot on with those comments. I prayed that Brit might find some form with his finishing this season, but it just isn't happening. Akpom doesn't look like getting into those scoring positions and offers no threat. So this coupled with mistakes at the other end we are going to continue to struggle. A fit Fletcher with Watmore offers more potential imho.

 

[Laughing]

I actually think Britt will be given a few games with the new look forward line.

I thought he looked lively and only missed 1 easy chance, the shot that was pushed onto the post was a good effort and it was a very good save. His twist inthe box lead to the corner, which led to the goal. He was left up top on his own and was batling against 2, sometimes 3 defenders,

He is not a clinical finisher, but we will create enough chances for him to grab some goals. Stop playing long balls from the back, this will only work if you win the second ball, which we don't have the numbers up front to do.

You use what you have, and Britt is the best center forward we have. We missed tav and fry, arguably our 2 best players and were playing, probably the best team in the league and matched them for large parts of the game, creating as many chances as they created.