HolgateCorner
Well-known member
This match against Brighton was one of the strangest performances I’ve seen in over 50 years watching the Boro.
Today wasn’t our fight
- Thread starter Jedi boro
- Start date
Did Boro sign him because he was scouted in Argentina, or because he was in the Olympic team?
If a player is in an Olympic squad he must be pretty good already. If the model is finding young players with potential and sign them cheaply, then signing someone in an Olympic team is not really following the model.
Ex Footy Legs
Well-known member
Not just that, they’ve got their recruitment and scouting system right or they have a good idea what they are doing manage picking and player choice
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
We beat Sours too last season who were 4th at the time. I guess the difference was that we didn't let Spurs settle and Spurs were strangely negative. I was surprised how much they dominated us yesterday I have to say. Yes they were very very good and we needed to disrupt their flow. That said. Brighton are targeting the FA Cup. Spurs last season and Newcastle yesterday probably had bigger fish to fry.
Craggsy2
Well-known member
Newcastle have bigger fish to fry? They have won nowt since 1969!
Brighton really, really wanted it yesterday, they came out with every intention of avoiding an upset. Their squad is far superior. The difference between them and Spurs/United last season is they wanted it, the others truly weren't bothered at all.
Chelsea were bothered and did exactly the same to us.
I was no longer bothered as soon as they got their third, my attention switched to Milwall next week and a play off charge. Brighton are a very good side and have caused better sides than us problems all season. Everton conceded 4 literally a few days ago. I know they're shocking to but at least they're In same division.
Buzzing for Chuba grabbing himself a goal
Chelsea were bothered and did exactly the same to us.
I was no longer bothered as soon as they got their third, my attention switched to Milwall next week and a play off charge. Brighton are a very good side and have caused better sides than us problems all season. Everton conceded 4 literally a few days ago. I know they're shocking to but at least they're In same division.
Buzzing for Chuba grabbing himself a goal
Yesterday's performance was quite strange. From the first seconds when Chuba stood off there centre back, it was obvious that we had been coached not to press.
We let their defenders have the ball and build attacks. That, in tself, is not necessarily a problem but from minute 1 they constantly created link passes between there midfield and wide players. It was evident that we were tactically out maneuvered. Our shape made it very easy for some very good players to play through and around us. I appreciate it is very difficult to just change and start to press aggressively (we tried to do it and we're picked off for the third goal) but we didn't attempt to change shape when it was evident that it wasn't working.
I admit that in the first half, although 2-1 down, it could be argued that the tactical plan was working. Although they dominated the ball we created a number of opportunities on the counter attack. However, in the second half we didn't lay a glove on them.
We didn't attempt to upset their rhythm or alter the flow of the game. I believe that our commitment to trying to play through their press (commendable long term) needed to be adjusted. We could have tried to by pass the press and turning their defence. I think a change to 3-5-2 would have allowed us to prevent their centre half's and Jason Steele from easily playing into their midfielders.
They are a good team and should beat us 9 times out of 10, but I thought we made it easier for them. If we played them again next week (with lessons learnt), we would give them a much better game - I'm just disappointed we didn't make changes during the game.
We let their defenders have the ball and build attacks. That, in tself, is not necessarily a problem but from minute 1 they constantly created link passes between there midfield and wide players. It was evident that we were tactically out maneuvered. Our shape made it very easy for some very good players to play through and around us. I appreciate it is very difficult to just change and start to press aggressively (we tried to do it and we're picked off for the third goal) but we didn't attempt to change shape when it was evident that it wasn't working.
I admit that in the first half, although 2-1 down, it could be argued that the tactical plan was working. Although they dominated the ball we created a number of opportunities on the counter attack. However, in the second half we didn't lay a glove on them.
We didn't attempt to upset their rhythm or alter the flow of the game. I believe that our commitment to trying to play through their press (commendable long term) needed to be adjusted. We could have tried to by pass the press and turning their defence. I think a change to 3-5-2 would have allowed us to prevent their centre half's and Jason Steele from easily playing into their midfielders.
They are a good team and should beat us 9 times out of 10, but I thought we made it easier for them. If we played them again next week (with lessons learnt), we would give them a much better game - I'm just disappointed we didn't make changes during the game.
R
rbmfc1985
Guest
Spurs and Newcastle are targeting the Champions League. If they had a choice between winning the FA Cup and being in the Champions League next season, they wouldn't even think twice. It's be Champions League football every single time.
Brighton weren't picking up players with potential from South America when they were in the Championship. They rarely sign players from South America in the Premier League either. It's very hard to attract those players outside of the top flight and it costs a lot of money when it is going to fail far more than it's going to work when you're signing young players from abroad. Look at the amount of players Brighton have signed every season in the Premier League and look at how many are a success. £7 million isn't a lot when you have Premier League money, it's a hell of a lot when you're playing in the Championship.
It's not as though Mac Allister wasn't already on the international radar either, he was a first team player in the Argentinian League and was in and around the Argentinian Under 20s side. Brighton did well to get him, but it isn't as though they were scouting Argentinian youth leagues to unearth a diamond.
The model Brighton had outside the Premier League, was looking at players who'd dropped out of Premier League academies, were in the lower levels of the English game or players who'd not quite made it at European clubs. Something we've also been doing. Because they don't cost as much so you can afford to have the odd one not work out, and you're not competing with top European clubs. We're clearly following the same model.
h_m_boro
Well-known member
It takes time to build up a cohesive scouting / recruitment department, we are in year one. It's going to take a few years to see the results. Unfortunately we have had a bit of a changing half ars*d strategy for a number of years, hopefully now stopped.
Brighton also have two major advantages over Boro - the continuing Premiership riches, and their location in the country is closer to London.
But fair play to them, however they are set up is clearly working. Very impressive yesterday.
Brighton also have two major advantages over Boro - the continuing Premiership riches, and their location in the country is closer to London.
But fair play to them, however they are set up is clearly working. Very impressive yesterday.
HolgateCorner
Well-known member
There is no way we went out to seriously try to win the game, it looked more like avoiding injury.
Probably the right approach, we have a very important match v Millwall next Saturday.