Positives and Negatives

Fry was excellent when he came on.

McNair absolutely quality.

Dijksteel solid.

Akpom , great debut for me. Looks a good signing.

Morsy - game changed when he came on, we got a foot hold again. Must start next game.


Spence was particularly bad and he must improve.

Bettinelli disappointing on the goal but apart from the was decent. Still think he’s gonna be decent for us this season
I agree with all that.

I'd be looking to get Morsy into the CDM position, that'll allow Howson a bit more licence to get forward and the choice of Tav or Sav for the 3rd CM spot. We do look lacking in quality in the wingback spots though on both flanks
 
For me there were more bad than good.
Individually there were good performances, McNair & Dijksteel. Good finish by the debutant and we dug in to hold on for a point.

However I think we lacked any cohesive team plan. Defensively I didn't think we were well organised, if the first ball wasn't properly cleared we were a bit shambolic getting ready for the second and that lead to their goal.
Not sure what our plan is from corners, we seem to be happy with a 3 on 2 around the penalty spot, I guess we are zonal rather than man to man.
Assombalonga can not finish to save his life. How many free headers has he had this season?
Our centre mids are a bit samey.

We need to strengthen centre mid & centre forward if we don't want to be lower mid table again.

I've just watched the highlights & our defending was worse than I'd thought.
Their 1 on 1 was incredible both centre backs just leaving someone unmarked in the centre circle. TF for Dj.
For their goal we had 10 people in the box, about 2 were marking people & 1 of those could've given away a penalty.

Our GK & CBs have got to start organising & being vocal
 
I think the wing backs have been playing to orders against 3 good sides.

We will see them attack more against Barnsley I reckon, shackles off...
 
Regarding Spence and Tav - unfortunately i'm not a fan of either.

Spence - I know he's just a young lad and he has a lot of fans on here, but barring a handful of good games when he first came into the side under Woody, pains me to say but he looks like a bit of a donkey. I have no confidence in him at all when he has the ball, doesn't look like a natural footballer to me and had absolutely zero end product. I hope he somehow proves me wrong because he's still only 19, but I just can't see it.

Tav - he's been getting his chance in the team since Monk was in charge and he's done next to nothing apart from 1 good game in about 10.
 
Regarding Spence and Tav - unfortunately i'm not a fan of either.

Spence - I know he's just a young lad and he has a lot of fans on here, but barring a handful of good games when he first came into the side under Woody, pains me to say but he looks like a bit of a donkey. I have no confidence in him at all when he has the ball, doesn't look like a natural footballer to me and had absolutely zero end product. I hope he somehow proves me wrong because he's still only 19, but I just can't see it.

Tav - he's been getting his chance in the team since Monk was in charge and he's done next to nothing apart from 1 good game in about 10.
I agree on Spence, he's the new Wing. Still has lots of potential at 19 but he shouldn't be a regular in a champo side.

Tav, has excellent energy, good pace, creates chances, he's a bit erratic and can often struggle to impose on a game and also is very one footed, but he is good enough. At 21 this is all experience in the bag, but lets' not forget he only has 41 league starts to his name (even taking sub on and off, he has played the equiv of 39 full games), about 1 season. He has 7 league goals and 6 assists out of that. If he gets 7 goals and 6 assists this season we'll be happy with that.
 
Appreciate your points Mart, i'd be fairly pleased with that return too, i'm just not sure he's kicking on.

Which is frustrating, because his attributes you list are true too.

I remember 1 particular game after lockdown (one of our away wins - can't remember which one). I thought he was absolutely brilliant, but at the same time it was annoying because for me he doesn't put in those type of performances anywhere near consistently, or often enough.
 
Appreciate your points Mart, i'd be fairly pleased with that return too, i'm just not sure he's kicking on.

Which is frustrating, because his attributes you list are true too.

I remember 1 particular game after lockdown (one of our away wins - can't remember which one). I thought he was absolutely brilliant, but at the same time it was annoying because for me he doesn't put in those type of performances anywhere near consistently, or often enough.
I agree he needs to believe in his ability, and impose. I think he is a 2-4% improvement away from being a standout player in this league, but he is 2% worse away from being a bench-warmer, fine margins.
 
Dijksteel & McNair have been outstanding
Morsy & Akpom look the part

Spence, Tavernier & Wing look a little bit under par

I'm not sure weather Bola, Liddle & Walker are ready to compete at the top of the championship.

Bola - Ben Davies - Preston
Liddle - Ben Whiteman - Doncaster
Walker - Kion Etete - Loan
 
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Morsy looks better than others we have. If Akpom had had Fletchers name on his back I would have been disappointed.
Akpom is well short of a decent player IMHO
 
Morsy looks better than others we have. If Akpom had had Fletchers name on his back I would have been disappointed.
Akpom is well short of a decent player IMHO

Based on 1 game where he happened to score a good goal? He started off bright as did the rest of the team, then QPR took control.

I'd like to think people were waiting more than 1 game to say somebody is well short of a decent player.
 
So Newy who are we signing this week?
We still need to replace Sam Stubbs in the squad and with Grant Hall injured (and prone to injury by the sounds of it) I would think this would be a priority. 6'5 25yo Charlie Goode from league two was our first port of call apparently but instead went to Brentford for £900k

6'3 23yo Nat Philips from Liverpool is the only player i've heard being mentioned in this area.
Internet rumouroids hailing Preston captain Ben Davies and Max Killen from Wolves (both left footed) as the nailed on ITK driving up for talks spotted in Teesside park buying new boots, having a pint in the black bull with my neighbours physiotherapist.

It's strange Ben Liddle hasn't featured in the cup match on even the bench, we failed to bring in Joe Williams from Wigan who ended up costing Bristol City £1.25m 6'3 22yo Ryan Yates from Forest is an interesting name which seemingly came out of the blue. Forrest bringing in plenty of midfielders.. going into his final year and with seemingly the target of a lot of unfair and unjust criticism from their fans. Watch out for Doncaster's captain Ben Whiteman popping up at the local clip and climb or taking his dog for a walk down the river tees with Kevin Stewart aparantly stranded at the ASDA carwash in south bank.

After trying to tempt lower league journeyman Kieffer Moore to the boro with a pack of stickers and half a bottle of Lucozade he packed his bags and popped off to Cardiff for £1.6m scoring freely as if only to rub salt into the wounds. Not to worry Yaya Sanogo, apparently named prophetically after his transfer recent discussions with Middlesbrough. Fatty McFlab failed his medical after being brainwashed by the hypnotic lyrics of a certain Mr. Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr (Snoop Doggy Dog) Gateau to the Chateau? too much Parmo to the Bungalow.. just chill, garlic sauce of course. We'd struggle to justify Kenneth Zohore on £25k a week. Will Yaya make good use of Mido's left over fitness great and step aerobics DVDs? or could we take a punt of 6'6 18yo Kion Etete from Spurs? (he was one of three players that the staff thought could make the step up to prem football in the documentary 'All or Nothing')

I think out transfer activity will be limited to the last few days of the window (October 16th) we've four places for loan players in the team that could really turn us up a notch. Cool Hand Neil has done well so far.. who knows what will happen?
 
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Based on 1 game where he happened to score a good goal? He started off bright as did the rest of the team, then QPR took control.

I'd like to think people were waiting more than 1 game to say somebody is well short of a decent player.
I agree with the sentiment but I thought the same after watching

Brancos first game
De Penas first gane
Savilles first game
Whelans first game
Brownes first game
Fletchers first game
Bolas first game
DijkSteels first game - I was wrong on that one starting to look decent now


The list is very very long - We've had more flops than d*ck Fosbury

Akpom will be in that long list
De Pena is the outstanding name in that list. People on here saying give him time etc. And yet they were willing to write off Traore as a dud for a very long time.
One of the greatest players to ever wear a Boro shirt
 
I agree with the sentiment but I thought the same after watching

Brancos first game
De Penas first gane
Savilles first game
Whelans first game
Brownes first game
Fletchers first game
Bolas first game
DijkSteels first game - I was wrong on that one starting to look decent now


The list is very very long - We've had more flops than d*ck Fosbury

Akpom will be in that long list
De Pena is the outstanding name in that list. People on here saying give him time etc. And yet they were willing to write off Traore as a dud for a very long time.
One of the greatest players to ever wear a Boro shirt
And George Kinnell
 
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