Two Clean Sheets

[Oooo]

At some point we’ll get caught out playing out from the back. Liverpool & Brighton both showed that it doesn’t matter how confident you are, it’s only a matter of time before you drop a clanger or two.

We will but we take it, the gains from playing that way outweigh the odd slip up

 

[TeaCider]

Both without Howson as well.

Credit to Barlaser and Hackney.

Might not be coincidental.

Howson failing to close down shots has been a big factor in some of the goals we've conceded this season.

 

[Andybarca]

Not many people would have voted for smith, fry, McNair and Engel for the starting back 4, when that poll was ran the other week. Impressive performances, long may it continue

 

[MichaelDebeve]

Not many people would have voted for smith, fry, McNair and Engel for the starting back 4, when that poll was ran the other week. Impressive performances, long may it continue

Me being one of them!



Hence the reason I'm sat on this board haha

 

[The Card Cheat]

At some point we’ll get caught out playing out from the back. Liverpool & Brighton both showed that it doesn’t matter how confident you are, it’s only a matter of time before you drop a clanger or two.

You'll concede far more by needlessly giving away possession to the opposition by punting it forward blindly over the course of the season. You'll also score less.

 

[Glover_elbow]

Theres definitely been a defensive improvement but i think it comes from midfield we have suddenly become far more compact maybe playing Barlaser instead of howson has helped. We are pressing as a unit with experienced wide players and even coburn instead of latte who presses well from the front all makes a difference.

 

[MichaelDebeve]

Theres definitely been a defensive improvement but i think it comes from midfield we have suddenly become far more compact maybe playing Barlaser instead of howson has helped. We are pressing as a unit with experienced wide players and even coburn instead of latte who presses well from the front all makes a difference.

Agree with this, the defence has took a lot of criticism, some justified, but also some due to inadequacies in front of them which have now improved.

 

[Jonny_Rondos_Disco_pants]

Might not be coincidental.

Howson failing to close down shots has been a big factor in some of the goals we've conceded this season.

Agree, he’s not a defensive shield

 

[Marvanelli]

It does seem like this season is the transitional season for Howson in which he'll probably end up being the reserve CM, behind Barlaser & Hackney at times.

It's not a dig, it's the fact he's 35 now and this will very likely be his last season here as a player.

I do think Barlaser is getting better too, the more he plays.

The partnership of Hackney/Barlaser could blossom to become a great CM pairing. They compliment each other very well.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

Clubs rotten to the core, Gibson needs to sell up, Scott hasn't found one single decent player, Carrick and Woodgate are tactically naive and we'll be lucky to avoid relegation.

Edit:- ah sorry, I was posting from my time machine with the clock set 3 weeks back.

 

[festa5]

At some point we’ll get caught out playing out from the back. Liverpool & Brighton both showed that it doesn’t matter how confident you are, it’s only a matter of time before you drop a clanger or two.

While that's true, it doesn't really tell the full story.

You can keep going long playing it safe and gifting the opposition possession but it's only a matter of time that additional possession you concede results in them scoring a goal or two.

The "errors" that lead to goals playing out from the back are more obvious and so it feels like a more risky strategy. But if you invite pressure because you keep hoofing the ball away that can lead to just as many goals conceded (whilst also making it harder to score at the other end).

Our poor defensive record has very little to do with playing out from the back. It's more down to a combination of individual errors and because of how many players we commit forward.

 

[chickenrunner]

Theres definitely been a defensive improvement but i think it comes from midfield we have suddenly become far more compact maybe playing Barlaser instead of howson has helped. We are pressing as a unit with experienced wide players and even coburn instead of latte who presses well from the front all makes a difference.

Totally agree we've been better as a team. Prior to the Southampton game we just lacked any intensity without the ball. People weren't tracking back or if they were they didn't put the player under any physical pressure or try to get a foot in. Some of the new lads were particularly poor in this regard.

FOULS IN EACH GAME

Boro 3 - Millwall 8
Coventry 5 - Boro 8
Boro 10 - Huddersfield 10
West Brom 10 - Boro 10
Boro 9 - QPR 11
Blackburn 11 - Boro 10
Sheff Wed 13 - Boro 8
Boro 16 - Southampton 7
Watford 10 - Boro 15
Boro 10 - Cardiff 10
Sunderland 14 - Boro 13

So in the first 7 games we averaged 8.28 fouls per game and in the subsequent 4 we've averaged 13.5. Coincidence?? I don't think it is I think it's an indicator of a huge increase in intensity, we're far more combative without the ball now. Long may it continue.

 

[Humpty]

Any coincidence we've had three out of four clean sheets since Lenihan dropped out the team?

 

[xxlshirts_fit_all]

There were plenty of soiled sheets after the first 6 games on here..

 

[Billy69_uk]

I would say the clean sheets have been despite McNair not because of him

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I would say the clean sheets have been despite McNair not because of him

Our fans really are unbelievable - toxic, absolutely toxic, some of them.

 

[Billy69_uk]

Our fans really are unbelievable - toxic, absolutely toxic, some of them.

oh come off it. McNair is nothing more than a temporary stand in at centre half.

yes he has done a decent job, but he is in no way the answer to our defensive frailties.

grow up.

 

[B_G]

It does seem like this season is the transitional season for Howson in which he'll probably end up being the reserve CM, behind Barlaser & Hackney at times.

It's not a dig, it's the fact he's 35 now and this will very likely be his last season here as a player.

I do think Barlaser is getting better too, the more he plays.

The partnership of Hackney/Barlaser could blossom to become a great CM pairing. They compliment each other very well.

I think Barlaser has had a couple of good games but I don't think he'll become first choice in the midfield. He's not good enough. I'm not sure Carrick rates him highly either. He's still preferred Howson to him when fit the season and I'm sure if O'Brien was fit he'd also be in front of him. I wouldn't be surprised if we sign another CM in January if O'Brien is still injured.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

oh come off it. McNair is nothing more than a temporary stand in at centre half.

yes he has done a decent job, but he is in no way the answer to our defensive frailties.

grow up.

As I say completely toxic, not to mention very very touchy when their toxicity is pointed out to them.

If he's done a "decent job" then how are the two clean sheets in spite of him? If he's done a "decent job" then he must have contributed to them in some way.

You can argue all you want about whether he's a permanent on temporary solution, but to not given him credit for the two clean sheets is absolutely churlish.

 

[Billy69_uk]

As I say completely toxic, not to mention very very touchy when their toxicity is pointed out to them.

If he's done a "decent job" then how are the two clean sheets in spite of him? If he's done a "decent job" then he must have contributed to them in some way.

You can argue all you want about whether he's a permanent on temporary solution, but to not given him credit for the two clean sheets is absolutely churlish.

my bad, didn't realise disagreeing with your all encompassing view was toxic behaviour.

and there is no argument about him being permanent or temporary , as soon as Lenahan is match fit, Paddy is on the bench. Carrick will no doubt be toxic as well.