r00fie1
Well-known member
It's that time of the year again>>>>>>>
A very Merry Christmas to everyone, including friends and family 
If anyone was to Ask Michael Carrick what he wants for Christmas, it would probably be a fully fit squad!
It seems as if the number of options diminishes with every game! As soon as the whistle blows for Kick - Off, we are all hoping and praying that no-one else succumbs to injury. Considering we have 14 players out in total, at the moment, we've done very well. As Carrick said before the Hull game, it's not always easy to keep consistency when the team is constantly chopping-and-changing.
But his options have been limited by sheer numbers. He's never keen to rush players back or promise when they will be available, but has stuck by those he has available and supported the lads all the way. Santa would need a big sleigh to bring in the amount of players required to cover for the missing, but Carrick believes it's all about the squad, about being capable and ready to take up the challenge and get the job done. He made it clear during his recent media conferences that he doesn't believe he has a "weakened" team.
He believes all the lads are capable of winning as a team. It's obvious how much we've missed key players, but we haven't fallen apart, we are still within sight of the chasing pack and in the Semi-Finals of the League Cup. How the other 88 league clubs would love to be in our position. We've earned the right to be where we are and like the boss said, "we're looking forward" to playing the West End boys. We've met them many times over the years; some have been not so happy, but some have, particularly in those far off days when we got them relegated! But we're not afraid of them. Carrick admitted we were probably the team the other three wanted to meet, because they think we are the easier to beat. If Scott Wilson's assessment [U R My Boro Podcast 22/12/23] is anything to go by, he reported on the Newcastle - Chelsea game and said Chelsea looked like just a collection of "individuals" who were cagey at the back and not particularly effective for long periods of the game. So we look forward to a packed house to send them lot back home - when the time comes.
[The lads Celebrating promotion at Chelsea in 1988]
It's one huge period in every club's season - Christmas and New Year. We look forward to it, because the atmosphere is always great. We have hope and anticipation that will see us start the big push towards those play-off places. "Bah Humbug" is probably something we hear most of at the Boro, because we're like that! Expect nowt and anything else is a bonus. In the past, we've had a habit of doing well up until Christmas and then gradually fallen apart as we trundle towards the end of the season in May. Maybe this year Carrick sees it differently? He's certainly had a job on his hands: rebuilding the squad, bedding in for his first full season, bringing in players who have never played in this country, let alone the Championship. Managing men is no easy task, but, even when results haven't always gone our way, we seem to have hit back and improved game upon game. There are still key areas which require reinforcement, and Carrick says he has !plans in place" for the January window. But it's great to see our young lads chomping at the bit to get on the pitch and at least make their debuts`, even if it's only a cameo appearance.
When the Port Vale "Young Content Vlogger Award - Winner" AB7, collard Michael Carrick outside Vale Park, he asked him if it was his "tactics" which won the game. Carrick responded in Carrickteristic style and pointed over to the team bus saying "it's not about tactics, it's not about Managers, it's about the players mate. It's all about the players". "Young un" cheekily asked who Carrick wanted in the next round, (?) "We'll take anyone". Carrick was never going to say anything else, was he?
[An impromptu interview for Michael Carrick outside Vale Park]
So it's back to the first of 10 [TEN!] games between now and the 27th of January! Seems astonishing! But that's what we've got to come. Let's not forget, there may be some of our experienced players coming back as well as new players possibly be incoming in January.
Carrick knows how West Brom play, as their Manager has stamped a style and approach on his team. Physical and in-your-face, but "well coached". That has helped them get into the top six, but it doesn't give Carrick any head aches [Certainly not after we beat league-leaders Leicester and spanked Preston!]:
They're a very good team. we've played a couple of games against them since I've been here and been tough games: very well-organized, very compact, good defensively…..with generally…...very good players at this level, actually. They are dangerous, [so] I'm not surprised they're up there. [Their] team and the squad shows that they will be up and around it, most of the season, if not towards the end. It's a good challenge. We've had good games against them [and] they've come out on top, so we need to learn from that for sure.
At this moment [Friday 22nd December] The Baggies are 5th in the Championship. Just 6 points above Boro. In this league, we know that a mini-run can take us from mid-table up towards the top of the Christmas Tree, in a matter of weeks. So let's hope for a good match, get behind the lads as we always do and hope we can get at least a point, although it wouldn't be a surprise for Boro to steal all three!
One Big Push.
Come On Boro
r00fie1 22/12/2023
If anyone was to Ask Michael Carrick what he wants for Christmas, it would probably be a fully fit squad!
It seems as if the number of options diminishes with every game! As soon as the whistle blows for Kick - Off, we are all hoping and praying that no-one else succumbs to injury. Considering we have 14 players out in total, at the moment, we've done very well. As Carrick said before the Hull game, it's not always easy to keep consistency when the team is constantly chopping-and-changing.
But his options have been limited by sheer numbers. He's never keen to rush players back or promise when they will be available, but has stuck by those he has available and supported the lads all the way. Santa would need a big sleigh to bring in the amount of players required to cover for the missing, but Carrick believes it's all about the squad, about being capable and ready to take up the challenge and get the job done. He made it clear during his recent media conferences that he doesn't believe he has a "weakened" team.
He believes all the lads are capable of winning as a team. It's obvious how much we've missed key players, but we haven't fallen apart, we are still within sight of the chasing pack and in the Semi-Finals of the League Cup. How the other 88 league clubs would love to be in our position. We've earned the right to be where we are and like the boss said, "we're looking forward" to playing the West End boys. We've met them many times over the years; some have been not so happy, but some have, particularly in those far off days when we got them relegated! But we're not afraid of them. Carrick admitted we were probably the team the other three wanted to meet, because they think we are the easier to beat. If Scott Wilson's assessment [U R My Boro Podcast 22/12/23] is anything to go by, he reported on the Newcastle - Chelsea game and said Chelsea looked like just a collection of "individuals" who were cagey at the back and not particularly effective for long periods of the game. So we look forward to a packed house to send them lot back home - when the time comes.
[The lads Celebrating promotion at Chelsea in 1988]
It's one huge period in every club's season - Christmas and New Year. We look forward to it, because the atmosphere is always great. We have hope and anticipation that will see us start the big push towards those play-off places. "Bah Humbug" is probably something we hear most of at the Boro, because we're like that! Expect nowt and anything else is a bonus. In the past, we've had a habit of doing well up until Christmas and then gradually fallen apart as we trundle towards the end of the season in May. Maybe this year Carrick sees it differently? He's certainly had a job on his hands: rebuilding the squad, bedding in for his first full season, bringing in players who have never played in this country, let alone the Championship. Managing men is no easy task, but, even when results haven't always gone our way, we seem to have hit back and improved game upon game. There are still key areas which require reinforcement, and Carrick says he has !plans in place" for the January window. But it's great to see our young lads chomping at the bit to get on the pitch and at least make their debuts`, even if it's only a cameo appearance.
When the Port Vale "Young Content Vlogger Award - Winner" AB7, collard Michael Carrick outside Vale Park, he asked him if it was his "tactics" which won the game. Carrick responded in Carrickteristic style and pointed over to the team bus saying "it's not about tactics, it's not about Managers, it's about the players mate. It's all about the players". "Young un" cheekily asked who Carrick wanted in the next round, (?) "We'll take anyone". Carrick was never going to say anything else, was he?
[An impromptu interview for Michael Carrick outside Vale Park]
So it's back to the first of 10 [TEN!] games between now and the 27th of January! Seems astonishing! But that's what we've got to come. Let's not forget, there may be some of our experienced players coming back as well as new players possibly be incoming in January.
Carrick knows how West Brom play, as their Manager has stamped a style and approach on his team. Physical and in-your-face, but "well coached". That has helped them get into the top six, but it doesn't give Carrick any head aches [Certainly not after we beat league-leaders Leicester and spanked Preston!]:
They're a very good team. we've played a couple of games against them since I've been here and been tough games: very well-organized, very compact, good defensively…..with generally…...very good players at this level, actually. They are dangerous, [so] I'm not surprised they're up there. [Their] team and the squad shows that they will be up and around it, most of the season, if not towards the end. It's a good challenge. We've had good games against them [and] they've come out on top, so we need to learn from that for sure.
At this moment [Friday 22nd December] The Baggies are 5th in the Championship. Just 6 points above Boro. In this league, we know that a mini-run can take us from mid-table up towards the top of the Christmas Tree, in a matter of weeks. So let's hope for a good match, get behind the lads as we always do and hope we can get at least a point, although it wouldn't be a surprise for Boro to steal all three!
One Big Push.
Come On Boro
r00fie1 22/12/2023
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