r00fie1
Well-known member
It's that time again>>>>
Michael Carrick was circumspect in his summary of our defeat to Hull on Wednesday. Playing games close together means players have little time to dwell on the last game and little time to focus other than on the next match. There were positives - we had a lot of possession and put in some hard work, but perhaps our main issue was finishing off those chances? It was one of those games which was end-to-end, but it was also one of those, scratch-our-heads `how did we not win that` ?!
As Carrick does – he defended the squad and refuses to accept that the team he choses is “weakened” by absentees. Carrick has no problem trying to manage the best he can with the squad he's got. He really has no choice, but he didn’t appear apprehensive about the injury situation in the pre-Swansea Media conference:
Of course, we`de prefer to have a full squad to chose from in terms of mixing it around and adapting and being flexible from game to game. But, really, it comes down to the lads. The lads are fine playing every two or three days, that's no problem at all.
Without dwelling on our injured players...........it's safe to say that they will return when they are ready and Carrick won't push players too soon, otherwise we could easily be back to square one. All the speculation about individual players doesn’t aid recovery, so we will have to be patient.
It certainly gives our U21 and U18 players the opportunity to shine: that doesn’t mean they have to have been on the pitch – that too involves inducting the lads into the “man's game” of the First Team environment, in terms of training and learning new skills. It doesn’t have to be a long process, but it's neither fair on the player to throw him straight in at the deep end, nor the team – if he doesn’t perform. We've all seen the difference between an U21 game at Bishop Auckland and then the First Team Facing Championship clubs at The Riverside. They will get their break, and Carrick is convinced we have some close to making the big break:
…..for every kind of little set-back or a bit of negativity in terms of missing players through injury. Or suspension or whatever…..there's always the positive side and every cloud [has a silver lining]….of a young player getting the opportunity: whether that training, whether it's being on the bench, whether it's just travelling with a group and getting the experience. It's that next step for those boys and…..as part of it that I really enjoy seeing them go through that. Of course, we want to try and get them on the pitch over a period of time. But, the experience some of the boys are getting now that they might not have got, will certainly help them and benefit them….whether It's soon, because it soon escalates [smiles at reporter] and they get another chance, or whether it's maybe a little bit further down the line…. Again, that's exactly why they're here and that's exactly what the club's built for, to give the younger players the chance.
A number of younger players have been training with the First Team squad this week and might get their chance sooner than later. We only have to look back at the impact Hayden Hackney has had since he broke into the First Team – but I wonder how many of us even knew his name just a month or two before? We notice more now when he's not playing because he is undoubtably a key player in the team.
Swansea are in flux in terms of their Managerial situation and that won't affect our preparation for the game. Swansea are a team who present a different type of challenge. Previously, they played the “possession” game, so we will have to be ready for any tactical tweaks or changes from what we already know. Alan Sheehan is currently "Caretaker" Head Coach.
Apparently the League table doesn’t always lie, but that's not always a comfort to us fans, who want to see us in that top six, feeling confident taking opponents apart. It's been as frustrating for Michael Carrick. Let's not forget, our Head Coach comes from a stable of Pedigree players whom most others can only dream of. He has played in high intensity games for his club and country. He's lost games in the Champions League, but he also knows the feeling of winning it and many other cups besides. The issue being, he is no fool. He understands pressure and its effects. He knows what standards he expects. Furthermore, he knows the limitations of the squad he has. He knows Steve Gibson backs him all the way, and he understands football is about winning games. But let's give him some credit. He may be a relatively young Manager, but he doesn’t need to scream or tell us all how we're getting “the best” of him. He goes about his business, and we have to trust him.
Christmas is coming and our Gaffa knows how it can be a useful measure of success, so far…...this season:
Of course. I'm realistic. I understand where we are, and I don’t particularly look at the League Table every day or every other day particularly [looks at reporter and smiles] But I think we know where we are…..the biggest thing for me is what we expect of ourselves and the standards we've set, so if we don’t quite hit them for whatever reason…...then we get a little bit frustrated, we get disappointed, but then actually we get five of us in to then think `come on lets do something about it`. I'm realistic, I understand that. There's plenty of work to do [of course there is], but it's all to play for, you know. However, many points at this stage we have, history proves that It's what happens next and over Christmas and after Christmas. That shapes your season, really. That's what's in front of us. Our period of time now over the next few games [is] to push for that, to get more points …..and then after Christmas...push on again and see where that takes us.
It's a long journey to Swansea.
Three points will make it a journey worthwhile.
Come On Boro!
r00fie1 16/12/2023
Michael Carrick was circumspect in his summary of our defeat to Hull on Wednesday. Playing games close together means players have little time to dwell on the last game and little time to focus other than on the next match. There were positives - we had a lot of possession and put in some hard work, but perhaps our main issue was finishing off those chances? It was one of those games which was end-to-end, but it was also one of those, scratch-our-heads `how did we not win that` ?!
As Carrick does – he defended the squad and refuses to accept that the team he choses is “weakened” by absentees. Carrick has no problem trying to manage the best he can with the squad he's got. He really has no choice, but he didn’t appear apprehensive about the injury situation in the pre-Swansea Media conference:
Of course, we`de prefer to have a full squad to chose from in terms of mixing it around and adapting and being flexible from game to game. But, really, it comes down to the lads. The lads are fine playing every two or three days, that's no problem at all.
Without dwelling on our injured players...........it's safe to say that they will return when they are ready and Carrick won't push players too soon, otherwise we could easily be back to square one. All the speculation about individual players doesn’t aid recovery, so we will have to be patient.
It certainly gives our U21 and U18 players the opportunity to shine: that doesn’t mean they have to have been on the pitch – that too involves inducting the lads into the “man's game” of the First Team environment, in terms of training and learning new skills. It doesn’t have to be a long process, but it's neither fair on the player to throw him straight in at the deep end, nor the team – if he doesn’t perform. We've all seen the difference between an U21 game at Bishop Auckland and then the First Team Facing Championship clubs at The Riverside. They will get their break, and Carrick is convinced we have some close to making the big break:
…..for every kind of little set-back or a bit of negativity in terms of missing players through injury. Or suspension or whatever…..there's always the positive side and every cloud [has a silver lining]….of a young player getting the opportunity: whether that training, whether it's being on the bench, whether it's just travelling with a group and getting the experience. It's that next step for those boys and…..as part of it that I really enjoy seeing them go through that. Of course, we want to try and get them on the pitch over a period of time. But, the experience some of the boys are getting now that they might not have got, will certainly help them and benefit them….whether It's soon, because it soon escalates [smiles at reporter] and they get another chance, or whether it's maybe a little bit further down the line…. Again, that's exactly why they're here and that's exactly what the club's built for, to give the younger players the chance.
A number of younger players have been training with the First Team squad this week and might get their chance sooner than later. We only have to look back at the impact Hayden Hackney has had since he broke into the First Team – but I wonder how many of us even knew his name just a month or two before? We notice more now when he's not playing because he is undoubtably a key player in the team.
Swansea are in flux in terms of their Managerial situation and that won't affect our preparation for the game. Swansea are a team who present a different type of challenge. Previously, they played the “possession” game, so we will have to be ready for any tactical tweaks or changes from what we already know. Alan Sheehan is currently "Caretaker" Head Coach.
Apparently the League table doesn’t always lie, but that's not always a comfort to us fans, who want to see us in that top six, feeling confident taking opponents apart. It's been as frustrating for Michael Carrick. Let's not forget, our Head Coach comes from a stable of Pedigree players whom most others can only dream of. He has played in high intensity games for his club and country. He's lost games in the Champions League, but he also knows the feeling of winning it and many other cups besides. The issue being, he is no fool. He understands pressure and its effects. He knows what standards he expects. Furthermore, he knows the limitations of the squad he has. He knows Steve Gibson backs him all the way, and he understands football is about winning games. But let's give him some credit. He may be a relatively young Manager, but he doesn’t need to scream or tell us all how we're getting “the best” of him. He goes about his business, and we have to trust him.
Christmas is coming and our Gaffa knows how it can be a useful measure of success, so far…...this season:
Of course. I'm realistic. I understand where we are, and I don’t particularly look at the League Table every day or every other day particularly [looks at reporter and smiles] But I think we know where we are…..the biggest thing for me is what we expect of ourselves and the standards we've set, so if we don’t quite hit them for whatever reason…...then we get a little bit frustrated, we get disappointed, but then actually we get five of us in to then think `come on lets do something about it`. I'm realistic, I understand that. There's plenty of work to do [of course there is], but it's all to play for, you know. However, many points at this stage we have, history proves that It's what happens next and over Christmas and after Christmas. That shapes your season, really. That's what's in front of us. Our period of time now over the next few games [is] to push for that, to get more points …..and then after Christmas...push on again and see where that takes us.
It's a long journey to Swansea.
Three points will make it a journey worthwhile.
Come On Boro!
r00fie1 16/12/2023
Last edited:
