The most woeful, inept, “performance” since Michael Carrick took charge.

The stupidity of letting Crooks go really rankles. It's not as if we're in the position of having a fully fit squad and a grooved team. Jones is out, Rodgers is gone, Coburn and Lath are both crocked, Azaz is still bedding in. You sell a player out of the window who at least makes things happen, will get you a goal. Wtf?!

Playing O'Brien and Barlaser in the middle was a mistake. It smacks of over-confidence to me. The one thing you can say this season is that we've generally controlled the middle of the park, and one of the 'boss' players - Hackney or Howson - has usually been in there. Howson and Barlaser were decent after Hackney got injured once they realised that one of them had to remember to try and go forward. But without that control, all the other faults in the team were even more exposed: the lack of a striker; two agricultural fullbacks with kamikaze instincts; Jones' danger missing; an iffy goalie.

It wasn't as if we were high on confidence. We've had two homes draws and were hammered 6-1 against Chelsea. Don't be cute. Put your best players on the pitch - which includes Howson and McGree - and get the win we need.
 
mercury_redstone7 said:
Some will have gained experience others exposed. The manager his staff will learn too. I wish I knew the future for next season.
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Heres my prediction we will sign a few good signings early on lifting the mood amongst fans but struggle and miss out on that elusive top striker then just before deadline we will lose Hackney or vdb to unexpected bid and wont have a plan for a replacement because its such an unexpected event other clubs want your top players. Season starts 3 or 4 player short and we finish outside the play offs again. Carrick leaves
 
It's a funny old game football, Crooks leaving is now an issue yet half the fan base has been divided on him for sometime saying he offers very little yet when we are beaten both him and Dijksteel are now the answer, however I do like both players for clarity.

Crooks leaving is probably for family reasons and what I seeing offer in America, granted the timing isn't great but if we make a profit on a player who in the summer has a year left on his extended contract and most not to long ago where happy to move on would be good Financial business for the club.

Its as if we are gearing up for a big summer again but I am more bother about the here and now.

Yesterday was very poor and players had an off day to which the heckles from the crowd didn't help as we are not as a group leaders and I struggle to see of the 11 on the pitch yesterday who would grab the game by the throat and that attitude is definitely need in sport if you want to be successful.

As for Carrick and his team selection there where question marks over playing Hackney out of position but he's done it previously and am sure Hackney has 4 goals to his name and should of put us 1 nil up early in the game yesterday bit he was and has been off his game for a few weeks although looked a little better second half.

Mcgree - maybe he just wasn't quite ready he has only been a sub at the Asian Cup.

Azaz - granted things haven't started great and fans around me are already slagging him but I see different things a player who can recieve the ball on the half turn like to go forward with it and but for bad finishing would of had a goal and a couple of assists since he's been here but another who needs to work on his defensive duties.

Barlaser had a mare in the main but also still played some excellent balls forward but I agree if you want to be top six he just isn't good enough but can be a good back up player.

Obrien well of the pace and to be expected for start in six months I think.

Glover some good saves but looked very shakey.

Ayling some have said he was poor I thought his interchange and delivery was one of the positives from yesterday although I do wish dijksteel could apply himself and cement the rb spot as he has all the attributes to be a good championship player.

Defensively as a team we are so poor the first goal a centre half just runs through the centre of the pitch rav gets pulled over for some reason engel plays his man on side but then his defensive positional sense is very poor and they score he almost gets in glovers way, whole hearted player but another in engel who lacks confidence and am still not convinced he is the answer for a team challenging although he has showed glimpses when he gets forward that he can deliver and play but Defensively I think very poor.

Second goal Hackney bad pass behind obrien but then the midfielder is allowed to run and shout someone has to come out make a foul anything to stop the shot, the goals we concede are so poor from an overall team defensive structure which is a major issue.

Positives are we still made a lot of half chance, Hackney, obrien x2 which he should of done better, Greenwood x2 was he offside and should of went round the keeper and slotted plus a few saves from there keeper but our finishing aswell as defending isn't good enough which will leave us hanging on to the tails of the top 6 and then fall away at a canter, yesterday felt like an end of season atmosphere yet there is still so much to play for.

Another big re build in the summer!

Loans
Obrien
Ayling
Greenwood
Thomas

Out of contract
Smith
Howson
Mcnair
Ayling

Potential sales
Hackney
Rav if the money is right
Mcgree only a year left and something just doesn't seem right.

I hope recruitment are working in the free agent market and lining things up now similar to a leadbitter free transfer or Lenihan
 
We had a great season last year. We had good players in their natural positions and less some injuries costing us at the end we should have been up.

Fast forward 12 months and the guts have been ripped out of the team, the best players sold/lost and the dross that has been left are clueless, crap and played out of position… mainly because they are all central midfielders!

If you look at the last 12 months we have been *****… we have gradually got worse since last March

Carrick has to take some blame for this. He must be playing some part in recruitment and he is failing to either identify what he needs or failing to shout loud enough to get what he wants.

Listening to his interview last night he sounded despondent, dismissive and disinterested and that worries me

I can see him going in the summer if this doesn’t improve
 
The players seem to start with an absolute 'fear' of playing at home . Why is that ? Why can't that be addressed ? Either that or they have this attitude of getting into the game at their own comfortable rate and thinking ..OhI will let my team mates try something I just want to do easy passes until I feel up to speed in about 35mins ?
Of the teams going for play-offs we have by far and away the lowest stats on scoring in first half. Its like 31% where all the others are high 40's and into the 50's ( this is on 15 games ) we have only scored in 5 home games first half. But even if we don't score we look a shambles anyway. It's like the players are continually gripped in fear of effing up,, and obviously do so. We don't get our football brains until 10m into the 2nd half. Need a collective psychology session. This has been going on all season

Scoring & Conceding rates​

​
Home​
Away​
All​
Scoring Rate
75%​
86%​
80%​
Scoring Rate 1st-Half
31%​
43%​
37%​
Scoring Rate 2nd-Half
56%​
79%​
67%​
 
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equaliser said:
The stupidity of letting Crooks go really rankles. It's not as if we're in the position of having a fully fit squad and a grooved team. Jones is out, Rodgers is gone, Coburn and Lath are both crocked, Azaz is still bedding in. You sell a player out of the window who at least makes things happen, will get you a goal. Wtf?!

Playing O'Brien and Barlaser in the middle was a mistake. It smacks of over-confidence to me. The one thing you can say this season is that we've generally controlled the middle of the park, and one of the 'boss' players - Hackney or Howson - has usually been in there. Howson and Barlaser were decent after Hackney got injured once they realised that one of them had to remember to try and go forward. But without that control, all the other faults in the team were even more exposed: the lack of a striker; two agricultural fullbacks with kamikaze instincts; Jones' danger missing; an iffy goalie.

It wasn't as if we were high on confidence. We've had two homes draws and were hammered 6-1 against Chelsea. Don't be cute. Put your best players on the pitch - which includes Howson and McGree - and get the win we need.
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What about what Crooks wants? This is a football club not a dictatorship. It’s a great move for him and his family. Simple as that.
 
Nero said:
What about what Crooks wants? This is a football club not a dictatorship. It’s a great move for him and his family. Simple as that.
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So sell him in the window and replace him to let him go now is poor planning.
 
Reminds me of the performances last season when we knew we had qualified for the playoffs. Levels have dropped
 
Nero said:
What about what Crooks wants? This is a football club not a dictatorship. It’s a great move for him and his family. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

He's under contract, the club had absolutely no obligation to let him go and it's weakened us by doing so.

I don't blame Crooks whatsoever for fancying the move, and I wish him well over there, but it was a daft decision by the club to sell him if they were wanting to make anything of this season.
He was a valuable player for us and was involved in more goals than any other player after we sold Rogers.

I think the club will privately be writing off this season and trying to focus on the next, which will rankle with fans when there was still a decent chance of the play-offs.

Feels like the summer business will be a huge moment for the club and "the model".
 
TeaCider said:
He's under contract, the club had absolutely no obligation to let him go and it's weakened us by doing so.

I don't blame Crooks whatsoever for fancying the move, and I wish him well over there, but it was a daft decision by the club to sell him if they were wanting to make anything of this season.
He was a valuable player for us and was involved in more goals than any other player after we sold Rogers.

I think the club will privately be writing off this season and trying to focus on the next, which will rankle with fans when there was still a decent chance of the play-offs.

Feels like the summer business will be a huge moment for the club and "the model".
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It’s no different to you, me or anyone else moving jobs. If Crooks wants to take up the opportunity, then the club cannot refuse. It’s about treating people the correct way.
 
Nero said:
It’s no different to you, me or anyone else moving jobs. If Crooks wants to take up the opportunity, then the club cannot refuse. It’s about treating people the correct way.
Click to expand...

They clearly can refuse, so that's nonsense.

Every club in the world refuses players moves, we've done so on multiple occasions in recent years.
 
Nero said:
It’s no different to you, me or anyone else moving jobs. If Crooks wants to take up the opportunity, then the club cannot refuse. It’s about treating people the correct way.
Click to expand...
Yes it is though football is nothing at all like you or I ( yet people still compare it) football is completely different.
 
Beverleyred said:
Christ, they should rename this message board Fly me to the Doom, it’s so bloody depressing reading some of the vitriol written on here. Lighten up for Ffs.
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Yesterday was total dumpage.. it was there from the line up.. then we watched it play out ss expected.
 
Jedi boro said:
Yes it is though football is nothing at all like you or I ( yet people still compare it) football is completely different.
Click to expand...
Not for Crooks it isn’t. He is doing a job. He is an employee effectively, and has been offered a fantastic opportunity. Carrick clearly understands that and so does the club.
 
Jedi boro said:
Look at mo salah yes an extreme example but did he go. NO
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Salah is playing for Liverpool FFS. A huge club with genuine title ambitions, who play in Europe.

Crooks is leaving Boro for a chance to live in another English speaking country, which offers a totally different lifestyle to little old England.
 
Nero said:
It’s not nonsense.
Click to expand...

It is nonsense.

Clubs can and do refuse moves all the time.

To claim they can't is nonsense.

Crooks wanting a move is no issue whatsoever, but the club didn't need to sanction it.
They've just decided that they'd sooner make a profit on a 30 year old player who wanted the move whilst the offer is there.
It's weakened us, but that's on the club.
 
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