r00fie1
Well-known member
It's a very, very, special time tonight>>>>.
There are a generation of Boro fans who, for the first time, will be experiencing what it feels like, to be within touching distance of a major National Football Competition Final. It may be a little pre-emptive, because tonight we have to come through the first half of the two-legged semi, against Premier League Chelsea. We have to then go to their place to ensure we come away with the right result. Then, we will be taking our place in the Final at Wembley. To quote our Head Coach, there's a lot of work to do!
Carrick and the boys are in no doubt about what tonight's game means for the club, the fans, and the players:
It is the tie that doesn’t come round very often. The FA Cup on Saturday was a big occasion, it was a big test, it was a really good game to be involved with, but it was the first round of the competition. This one's slightly different. So much work's gone into it….how many times will the boys find themselves in a semi-final of a major cup competition through-out their careers? Some will. Some won't. It's [an] unbelievable opportunity and one that we're really relishing.
Perhaps the experience against Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday has already given the players the taste of what it is going to be like, coming up against Premier League players. Carrick explained the Cup Competition brings relief from the week-in week-out Championship League games [No other Championship Manager can say that tonight!] But, he is well aware that Chelsea Manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has a long history of success at the top of the game and is already stamping his mark on the Chelsea team:
There are a generation of Boro fans who, for the first time, will be experiencing what it feels like, to be within touching distance of a major National Football Competition Final. It may be a little pre-emptive, because tonight we have to come through the first half of the two-legged semi, against Premier League Chelsea. We have to then go to their place to ensure we come away with the right result. Then, we will be taking our place in the Final at Wembley. To quote our Head Coach, there's a lot of work to do!
Carrick and the boys are in no doubt about what tonight's game means for the club, the fans, and the players:
It is the tie that doesn’t come round very often. The FA Cup on Saturday was a big occasion, it was a big test, it was a really good game to be involved with, but it was the first round of the competition. This one's slightly different. So much work's gone into it….how many times will the boys find themselves in a semi-final of a major cup competition through-out their careers? Some will. Some won't. It's [an] unbelievable opportunity and one that we're really relishing.
Perhaps the experience against Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday has already given the players the taste of what it is going to be like, coming up against Premier League players. Carrick explained the Cup Competition brings relief from the week-in week-out Championship League games [No other Championship Manager can say that tonight!] But, he is well aware that Chelsea Manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has a long history of success at the top of the game and is already stamping his mark on the Chelsea team:
From watching them closely recently.......they are very dangerous. You can see his ideas coming across more and more and results have shown that, performances have shown that and, individuals are starting to blossom in certain ways. He's a top, top, coach, and he's proved that over a long, long, time now. His teams are very hard to play against. That's the challenge we face.
We are well aware of the options they have and the quality they have. Certainly, how they've come. results-wise over recent times, and are on a good run. We are fully aware of that! Trust me!
Carrick is realistic and acknowledges that we are the “underdog”. But that means nothing! In recent memory, we've taken Manchester United, twice, to penalties in cup competitions, including one where Carrick missed a penalty, helping us to go through to the next round. We played Tottenham off the park in that game, where Josh Coburn scored the goal of his young football career. We won't let the occasion get us carried away.
Carrick approaches the game in the same way he approaches all others: he always respects the opposition, no matter who they are. He believes the boys can take strength from Saturday's game against the Villa, but has emphasized tonight's game is not simply a case of “cut-and-paste”. Chelsea are a hard team to beat and have different strengths, qualities, and players to Villa. We can't approach this game in the same way. It's going to be a tough test to play our own way and not let Chelsea dictate the game.
But we have a Head Coach of International Pedigree, who as a player, has won more medals than many clubs have won trophies put together. He's experienced the “ups and downs” of the game and knows how to manage the mentality and tactics in the big games. He has always expressed belief in the players and, there is no doubt, his experiences, and principles have produced a style of play, we haven't seen in many years. We've seen our players grow in confidence. We haven't always achieved the results we deserved or desired, but the boys thrive on the challenge. Even during the wretched period of injuries we've had, where, effectively, half the squad have been in the treatment room, we have persevered. Some players have had to play more minutes than Carrick may have liked and "carried the load", but still come through.
Carrick defends what he's achieved so far as a coach, how much he cares for and understands the aspirations of the fans and our love for the Boro. He wants to win every game and play as many games as possible! As a Head Coach, he's facing different responsibilities to those he ever had as a player. Things are different:
This is a whole new challenge for us. Still, we've had enough [experience] over a period of time to go into the game and look forward to being positive.
For us, it's not just another game. It's up there with the excitement of the play-offs, up there with that dramatic Premiership Promotion match v Brighton, the Spurs Cup victory and many other games we've played against the top sides, including the European [“Smoggies on Tour! "Small Town In Europe”] nights.
It's also up there with all those games which lead us to previous Wembley Final's and that huge game at Cardiff, twenty years ago, where we lifted the Carling Cup.
So let's get on with it and do the Club, the fans, and the players proud.
Carrick has the last word for the fans:
Come and enjoy. Come and be loud. Support the boys and give that real energy in the stadium. Hopefully, it'll be a special night, whatever happens. For us, its `minds on the game`. We wanna try and win. We wanna try and go through….certainly the supporters have a massive, massive, contribution towards that. Get behind the lads and keep going.
COME ON BORO!
We are well aware of the options they have and the quality they have. Certainly, how they've come. results-wise over recent times, and are on a good run. We are fully aware of that! Trust me!
Carrick is realistic and acknowledges that we are the “underdog”. But that means nothing! In recent memory, we've taken Manchester United, twice, to penalties in cup competitions, including one where Carrick missed a penalty, helping us to go through to the next round. We played Tottenham off the park in that game, where Josh Coburn scored the goal of his young football career. We won't let the occasion get us carried away.
Carrick approaches the game in the same way he approaches all others: he always respects the opposition, no matter who they are. He believes the boys can take strength from Saturday's game against the Villa, but has emphasized tonight's game is not simply a case of “cut-and-paste”. Chelsea are a hard team to beat and have different strengths, qualities, and players to Villa. We can't approach this game in the same way. It's going to be a tough test to play our own way and not let Chelsea dictate the game.
But we have a Head Coach of International Pedigree, who as a player, has won more medals than many clubs have won trophies put together. He's experienced the “ups and downs” of the game and knows how to manage the mentality and tactics in the big games. He has always expressed belief in the players and, there is no doubt, his experiences, and principles have produced a style of play, we haven't seen in many years. We've seen our players grow in confidence. We haven't always achieved the results we deserved or desired, but the boys thrive on the challenge. Even during the wretched period of injuries we've had, where, effectively, half the squad have been in the treatment room, we have persevered. Some players have had to play more minutes than Carrick may have liked and "carried the load", but still come through.
Carrick defends what he's achieved so far as a coach, how much he cares for and understands the aspirations of the fans and our love for the Boro. He wants to win every game and play as many games as possible! As a Head Coach, he's facing different responsibilities to those he ever had as a player. Things are different:
This is a whole new challenge for us. Still, we've had enough [experience] over a period of time to go into the game and look forward to being positive.
For us, it's not just another game. It's up there with the excitement of the play-offs, up there with that dramatic Premiership Promotion match v Brighton, the Spurs Cup victory and many other games we've played against the top sides, including the European [“Smoggies on Tour! "Small Town In Europe”] nights.
It's also up there with all those games which lead us to previous Wembley Final's and that huge game at Cardiff, twenty years ago, where we lifted the Carling Cup.
So let's get on with it and do the Club, the fans, and the players proud.
Carrick has the last word for the fans:
Come and enjoy. Come and be loud. Support the boys and give that real energy in the stadium. Hopefully, it'll be a special night, whatever happens. For us, its `minds on the game`. We wanna try and win. We wanna try and go through….certainly the supporters have a massive, massive, contribution towards that. Get behind the lads and keep going.
COME ON BORO!
a lead is one, a good lead is two, so a decent lead must be at least 3 
