* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v West Brom Match-Day Thread *

[r00fie1]

Because of the style of play and the general trajectory of last season since the end of October. It counts for a lot in my book. If Carrick could spend £10-12m on the finished article, then he no doubt would, but we clearly can't. So he's trying to get the best out of the talent we can afford. Out of all the managers since McClaren (with the likes of Viduka, Hasselbaink and Southgate at his disposal) we have been playing attractive football. Carrick hasn't even been with us a full calendar year yet but the average level of performance has been much better than the Wilder and Warnock days. Not his fault we couldn't keep Giles, Archer, Ramsey and Akpom and it's not Gibson or Scott's either. We don't have parachute payments now and we are competing with some cash-rich teams in this division and above.

Spot on

 

[BoroMart]

Gibson takes us all for fools

Here we go again

As a press you are trying to force the opposition into lower risk areas (wider areas) and keep it out central areas as they can turn and advance towards goal.

As a press you push them wide so that you limit the passing options, you cut the pitch in half with your press. E . G. Your forward offers the space for the RCB to go to the RB spot, then you initiate the press to keep on on the line. If you get it right he can’t go across the pitch to the other CB or back to GK. He can’t pass right either because he’s on the right touch line. His only option is to play the ball down the line or to a marked CM. But, you have to recognise the press as a team and get ready to steal the ball

 

[sweet_left_foot]

"21,000 season ticket holders mugged off once again"

Don't get me wrong, but if you are in a position to buy a season ticket, choose to do so and have followed the club for more than a few seasons, I don't think you would or should be basing that purchasing decision on potential performance.

Maybe you just choose to go when we are doing well.

 

[rbmfc1985]

Its really interesting but basically we are in a mid block. Its visible here

View attachment 62679

From Fifa - "The focus of a mid-block is to be compact and narrow collectively, denying the opposition space to play through the central channels of the pitch. The intention is often to force the opposition wide or backwards and to use their attempts to play centrally as opportunities to win the ball back"

Latte Lath presses on his own, which breaks the mid block and allows the team through the middle of the pitch.

Lath didn't press on his own. The front three pressed as a unit which is how the ball ended up back in the position where Lath pressed. Silvera pressed the wide player, Rogers pressed the first defender and Lath pressed the second defender. He should really have pressed as the ball was played and he should have bent his run, but the decision wasn't wrong.

The problem is that Silvera didn't get back into position when the pass was made into the midfielder. If he had then Smith could have closed down Swift, Silvera would have been able to cover Smith's position and the goal likely isn't scored.

It was poor communication. But it doesn't start when Lath presses. If Silvera and Rogers both press, he has to do his job and press too. He has to trust that the rest of the team do their job if the other team beat the press.