Keeping the ball near the corner flag

Love it, brilliant gamesmanship and professionalism for me. Results business and all that, need to do absolutely everything you can get to a result (including winding them up for the majority of the match leading to the sending off).
 
I remember we did it in a 0-0 on the opening day of the 05/06 season, at home to Liverpool. We'd only finished two places below them in the league the season before (ok, they were Champions of Europe) and McClaren was slaughtered by local and national press for the negativity of it in a game we *could* have hoped to win (even though Ugo was sent off late on!).

It probably set the tone for our approach to the league that season, which was very much to concentrate on Europe ourselves!

I don't have any issue whatsoever doing it when we're winning though. You've just got to bag the points at this stage of the season and last night was a great win.
 
changingman said:
Love it, brilliant gamesmanship and professionalism for me. Results business and all that, need to do absolutely everything you can get to a result (including winding them up for the majority of the match leading to the sending off).
Click to expand...
I can't understand anyone thinking gamesmanship is a good thing. It might be a result driven business but you can win, and win well without resorting to gamesmanship. Ditto "winding up the opposition". People on here slate other teams' players for winding up the Boro players, so I can't see how you can condone it.

Jack Charlton's Boro were pretty dour and negative for half of that promotion season. Then it dawned on someone that Boro could win, and win well, without being negative and dour. The second half of the season was totally different, good football and plenty of goals. I don't know why Charlton felt the need to be so dour earlier on - he had at least 6 of the best players in the league in his team. Maddren, Craggs, Murdoch, Souness, Hickton and Armstrong would have been in any team in that league and almost any team in the top league.

The dour, negative trait came out from time to time afterwards - the League Cup game at Man City in early 1976 was a case. Under 2021's interpretations of the rules, Boro would have been playing with 7 players by half time. It was embarrassing.
 
We've become a right bunch of time wasters under Warnock. Can't say I like it much but I guess needs must. Several ice ages seem to pass with Bettinelli holding the ball at times. The "hand off and then drop the ball at a throw in" is a classic as well.
 
Soutra said:
I don't know why Charlton felt the need to be so dour earlier on - he had at least 6 of the best players in the league in his team. Maddren, Craggs, Murdoch, Souness, Hickton and Armstrong would have been in any team in that league and almost any team in the top league.
Click to expand...

He came from Leeds United. Don Revie had been his manager for 15 years. I suspect he learnt it there.
 
atomicloonybin aka ALB said:
We've become a right bunch of time wasters under Warnock. Can't say I like it much but I guess needs must. Several ice ages seem to pass with Bettinelli holding the ball at times. The "hand off and then drop the ball at a throw in" is a classic as well.
Click to expand...
Its one of those things that if you're on the wrong end of it its annoying, but if you're doing it and you're doing it well it creates 'unity' amongst the side and team spirit, and of course increases your points total too and your potential for success. There are reasons why people like Warnock get 'more' out of their teams and this is one of them.

I can't see the point in being a professional footballer or manager if your primary driver isn't to win. If you just want a friendly, gentlemanly kick about you can play five-a-side after work (although I realise that some people take that far too seriously).
 
Last edited:
Houghton commenting on BBC Notts - doesnt want "that type of behaviour" in his team.
Stories already ...the bloke is heading out the door......
S1.jpgS2.jpgS3.jpgS4.jpg
 
when a defender "shepherds" the ball out for a goal kick its OK, but its really obstruction, no attempt to play the ball and blocking a opposing player from getting to it? if it happened further up the field it wouldn't be allowed
 
buffaloboro said:
What type of behaviour? How the Boro played or the chap who got the red card?
Click to expand...
Robiero - the silly man that got himself sent off.

Hence: Houghton commenting him he doesnt want that type of behaviour in his team and the rumours already suggest he is heading out the door......
 
Soutra said:
I can't understand anyone thinking gamesmanship is a good thing. It might be a result driven business but you can win, and win well without resorting to gamesmanship. Ditto "winding up the opposition". People on here slate other teams' players for winding up the Boro players, so I can't see how you can condone it.

Jack Charlton's Boro were pretty dour and negative for half of that promotion season. Then it dawned on someone that Boro could win, and win well, without being negative and dour. The second half of the season was totally different, good football and plenty of goals. I don't know why Charlton felt the need to be so dour earlier on - he had at least 6 of the best players in the league in his team. Maddren, Craggs, Murdoch, Souness, Hickton and Armstrong would have been in any team in that league and almost any team in the top league.

The dour, negative trait came out from time to time afterwards - the League Cup game at Man City in early 1976 was a case. Under 2021's interpretations of the rules, Boro would have been playing with 7 players by half time. It was embarrassing.
Click to expand...
Firstly, everyone does it these days, to not do it is to put yourself at a disadvantage (for very little gain?)

Secondly, whilst I'm sure we'd love to play like Brazil and win 4-0 every week we need to be aware of our limitations. As a team who score few goals generally, it's understandable that we'd look to kill the game where possible. We probably look at the game through different "glasses" so to speak, but I love to see a team work smartly within the rules to gain every advantage possible (and yes, I'm a huge fan of Jose) :D

I'm incredibly happy for other teams to wind up our players - it then becomes a psychological battle and one that, with our collective team spirit, I think we would against most teams. I actually think this is a big part of Warnock's strategy - see how we started on the front foot last night, psychologically some of their players may have been thinking "I don't fancy this tonight". See also Morsy's tackle on Clucas (arguably Stoke's most effective player) in the opening minutes at the Brit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top