r00fie1
Well-known member
Its that time again>>>>>>
In a week where the boys in red n white achieved three wins back-to-back, its also been a time where the shoots of hard-work are coming through. Rogers showed "there is a player in there somewhere" in a solid display against Bradford. OK, it was a lower tier side - but the team put together a dominant convincing performance. Against Southampton, we showed what we can do - with neat one-touch passing. We looked confident and showed belief in what we were doing. OK, none of this weeks outings have been perfect, but they`ve been more perfect than not. Watford was a particularly pleasing game - at least because we won away from home, despite being drawn level by our hosts before Josh slid in the winner.
Michael Carrick had this to say at his most recent Media Conference:
Obviously it was a great win for us. It was a little bit of an up and down game. Played good at times. Not so good at other parts of the game, but thought we showed some really good qualities with the goals we scored and the character: we had to dig deep and at 2-2 we found a way to win. [I`m] delighted with the outcome. We….made hard work of it, more than we should of.
Carrick is under no illusions that the "corner has been turned". Hes not letting anyone get carried away - and that included the reporters present. For him, what we`ve seen in the last week has been the product of hard - work, with much more to do:
Doesn’t mean we`ve cracked it [smile], its what`s next really is the important thing. Its two really tough games ahead of us this week, so ….we`re not getting carried away by any stretch. We can definitely take the positives and we can take the performance….and the character the boys have shown and definitely try and build on them.
One of the down-sides of the last week has been the injury to Lewis O`Brien, about which Carrick said "its not looking too promising. He was certainly getting up a head of steam and looked really sharp at Bradford. But Carrick took the positives from O`Briens injury, saying it gives other players in the squad the opportunity to stake a claim for a place. As Carrick explained:
Of course its a blow for us, but….as tough as it is on Lewis...the nature of the beast [is] we`ve got a squad for that reason. People do have setbacks,…...unfortunately we don’t like to lose anybody, but it gives other boys the opportunity and that`s why we have the squad we have. We know that this season`s gonna throw things up with us. We got to deal with it as best as we can. Gutted for Lewis. we`ll have to get him back as quick as we can.
Its not fair to pick out individual players, but some have really stood out: Jonny Howson for that rolling pass. Dieng for keeping us in the game at Watford with some big saves. Riley McGree for being in cracking form and making it look easy at Vicarage Road. Latte Lath for that goal at Bradford - made it look too easy. Hackney has been like a wasp in a space suit: not letting go and challenging for every ball. Rav VDB has fitted into right back and left-back roles and was described in glowing terms by Michael Carrick:
I think hes done great. Its a whole new experience for him in type of football. Its different challenges to what he`s maybe been used to. Credit to him, he`s really embraced that and that`s why he`s here. He wanted to go through that experience and test himself in that way. He`l definitely be better for it as his career goes through. He`s played right back for us, left back for us and he`l play as centre back at some point, as that`s his natural position. He`s just humble, down to earth, steady, solid, stable character with obviously fantastic potential in terms of football ability. So credit for him taking on the challenge and the way he`s developed so far. Playing in different positions will help him moving forward as well.
Josh Coburn is coming on in leaps and bounds, but Carrick is cautious about pressuring the young forward. He`s still only young, but Carrick acknowledged he is growing physically and technically:
He`s still growing physically and still developing as a man. So there`s still more to come from him from that side of things. Technically, he plays well and as he improves and trains all the time with the boys, gets to know that side of the game.
Carrick says he wont put pressure on Josh`s shoulders and refused to make any comparisons with the forwards we had last season. He talked of "doubling up" up front and emphasised the different strengths and skills of each individual player. He noted Crooks efforts and contribution on and off the ball. For Carrick, they want to set the team up to exploit the opposition, to attack those spaces and create chances. He wouldnt accept that players are "in" or "out" of "favour". Its a squad and a team game. He commented with a wry smile to one particular reporter:
Everyone cant play at the same time [Wry smile]. Its why we`ve got the squad you know. I`ve said it all along – just because someone`s not in the team for this game or the next game doesn’t mean, they`re discarded or anything like that. You know, we`ve got to obviously pick teams for certain games, or certain times of the season. At certain points everyone will have a big part to play.
So what about tonight`s opponents, Cardiff?
They`re on a good run….even the games they`ve lost have been really tight. They`re up towards the top of the table with a lot of points at this stage. [They are]...well organised. Dangerous on the break...got good threats throughout the team. Its a really tough game. They`l be confident. they`ve had some good results in the last few weeks, so it`l be a good test for us.
Looking at Cardiff as a team...they like to play through the pitch. Obviously [Aaron] Ramsey has been a big player for them [although] he`s not available at the moment, but, in between the lines [and] they`ve got good threats up the top, so it`ll be a good challenge for us. We`re looking forward to it.
If we look at the League Table, we are up for a fight, but that`s been the story every game so far. Cardiff are on song this season - so far, but its early days and with winter coming, it`l be a big test for all of us. Aaron Ramsey has been a big player for them, but is out tonight. That doesnt, however, mean its going to be any easier for us. Darragh is still out, along with Clarke [who`s recovery continues]. What about the rest of the squad:
A few knocks, niggles, bumps and bruises. The boys have played a fair bit of football over the last couple of weeks, so we`l have to take a look at that with a balanced view and see who`s fresh and ready to go.
So lets take Carrick`s advice and not get ahead of ourselves. Most Boro fans either go over the top or become cynical when we start a winning run. Against Southampton Carrick commented that all in the garden "appears rosey" when things are going well, but the world crashes in when we lose.
Tonight is our first game under the floodlights this season. Asked if that atmosphere was special and made a difference to the boys......
Looking forward to it. It does have a tinge of different feeling about it. This is the support we`ve had all season and going from last season. [Support]...has been fantastic and hopefully we can put on a good performance and get the right result for the fans.
We can do this.
Come on Boro.
Michael Carrick had this to say at his most recent Media Conference:
Obviously it was a great win for us. It was a little bit of an up and down game. Played good at times. Not so good at other parts of the game, but thought we showed some really good qualities with the goals we scored and the character: we had to dig deep and at 2-2 we found a way to win. [I`m] delighted with the outcome. We….made hard work of it, more than we should of.
Carrick is under no illusions that the "corner has been turned". Hes not letting anyone get carried away - and that included the reporters present. For him, what we`ve seen in the last week has been the product of hard - work, with much more to do:
Doesn’t mean we`ve cracked it [smile], its what`s next really is the important thing. Its two really tough games ahead of us this week, so ….we`re not getting carried away by any stretch. We can definitely take the positives and we can take the performance….and the character the boys have shown and definitely try and build on them.
One of the down-sides of the last week has been the injury to Lewis O`Brien, about which Carrick said "its not looking too promising. He was certainly getting up a head of steam and looked really sharp at Bradford. But Carrick took the positives from O`Briens injury, saying it gives other players in the squad the opportunity to stake a claim for a place. As Carrick explained:
Of course its a blow for us, but….as tough as it is on Lewis...the nature of the beast [is] we`ve got a squad for that reason. People do have setbacks,…...unfortunately we don’t like to lose anybody, but it gives other boys the opportunity and that`s why we have the squad we have. We know that this season`s gonna throw things up with us. We got to deal with it as best as we can. Gutted for Lewis. we`ll have to get him back as quick as we can.
Its not fair to pick out individual players, but some have really stood out: Jonny Howson for that rolling pass. Dieng for keeping us in the game at Watford with some big saves. Riley McGree for being in cracking form and making it look easy at Vicarage Road. Latte Lath for that goal at Bradford - made it look too easy. Hackney has been like a wasp in a space suit: not letting go and challenging for every ball. Rav VDB has fitted into right back and left-back roles and was described in glowing terms by Michael Carrick:
I think hes done great. Its a whole new experience for him in type of football. Its different challenges to what he`s maybe been used to. Credit to him, he`s really embraced that and that`s why he`s here. He wanted to go through that experience and test himself in that way. He`l definitely be better for it as his career goes through. He`s played right back for us, left back for us and he`l play as centre back at some point, as that`s his natural position. He`s just humble, down to earth, steady, solid, stable character with obviously fantastic potential in terms of football ability. So credit for him taking on the challenge and the way he`s developed so far. Playing in different positions will help him moving forward as well.
Josh Coburn is coming on in leaps and bounds, but Carrick is cautious about pressuring the young forward. He`s still only young, but Carrick acknowledged he is growing physically and technically:
He`s still growing physically and still developing as a man. So there`s still more to come from him from that side of things. Technically, he plays well and as he improves and trains all the time with the boys, gets to know that side of the game.
Carrick says he wont put pressure on Josh`s shoulders and refused to make any comparisons with the forwards we had last season. He talked of "doubling up" up front and emphasised the different strengths and skills of each individual player. He noted Crooks efforts and contribution on and off the ball. For Carrick, they want to set the team up to exploit the opposition, to attack those spaces and create chances. He wouldnt accept that players are "in" or "out" of "favour". Its a squad and a team game. He commented with a wry smile to one particular reporter:
Everyone cant play at the same time [Wry smile]. Its why we`ve got the squad you know. I`ve said it all along – just because someone`s not in the team for this game or the next game doesn’t mean, they`re discarded or anything like that. You know, we`ve got to obviously pick teams for certain games, or certain times of the season. At certain points everyone will have a big part to play.
So what about tonight`s opponents, Cardiff?
They`re on a good run….even the games they`ve lost have been really tight. They`re up towards the top of the table with a lot of points at this stage. [They are]...well organised. Dangerous on the break...got good threats throughout the team. Its a really tough game. They`l be confident. they`ve had some good results in the last few weeks, so it`l be a good test for us.
Looking at Cardiff as a team...they like to play through the pitch. Obviously [Aaron] Ramsey has been a big player for them [although] he`s not available at the moment, but, in between the lines [and] they`ve got good threats up the top, so it`ll be a good challenge for us. We`re looking forward to it.
If we look at the League Table, we are up for a fight, but that`s been the story every game so far. Cardiff are on song this season - so far, but its early days and with winter coming, it`l be a big test for all of us. Aaron Ramsey has been a big player for them, but is out tonight. That doesnt, however, mean its going to be any easier for us. Darragh is still out, along with Clarke [who`s recovery continues]. What about the rest of the squad:
A few knocks, niggles, bumps and bruises. The boys have played a fair bit of football over the last couple of weeks, so we`l have to take a look at that with a balanced view and see who`s fresh and ready to go.
So lets take Carrick`s advice and not get ahead of ourselves. Most Boro fans either go over the top or become cynical when we start a winning run. Against Southampton Carrick commented that all in the garden "appears rosey" when things are going well, but the world crashes in when we lose.
Tonight is our first game under the floodlights this season. Asked if that atmosphere was special and made a difference to the boys......
Looking forward to it. It does have a tinge of different feeling about it. This is the support we`ve had all season and going from last season. [Support]...has been fantastic and hopefully we can put on a good performance and get the right result for the fans.
We can do this.
Come on Boro.
