We're not far away from being a good side

18MFC76

18MFC76

Well-known member
Looking at us after these first few games I can't help but feel with a few minor adjustments we wouldn't be too far away from a play off push.

Goalkeeper: Albeit it's early days for Bettinelli but he has made some costly mistakes already. I'm not saying replace him immediately, but surely if these clangers were to continue then we may have to look at bringing Pears back in.

Coulson for Johnson: It concerns me that since Warnock has taken over Coulson has barely had a sniff. For me he is a fantastic prospect and his work rate/pace and energy really help to push us up the pitch and make us more of a threat. Yes, he may not be the finished article defensively but Johnson is poor defensively so i find his selection a bit baffling. Talented lads like Coulson don't come through the academy very often so let's not let him go to waste.

Morsy for Saville: I just struggle to see what Saville offers. He doesn't have an impact on the game and is generally chasing shadows. Morsy had more of an impact in the short time he was on the pitch yesterday than Saville did in the whole game. Also Morsy clearly has leadership qualities (captain at Wigan) so this one is a no brainer for me.

Roberts/Tomlin type required ASAP:

Warnock seems more concerned with getting a 4th striker in but for me I would prioritise getting someone who can unlock a defence. We could have 10 strikers on the books but if you don't have someone who can thread a pass/create a bit of magic then we won't score goals. I've seen enough of Roberts to know he can be a top player, especially at this level. Also I'm sure he would jump at the chance to return as he won't get a sniff at City. This one has to happen ASAP, although again, I'm not sure he's on Warnocks radar.

A few minor changes like this could be the difference, we're not a million miles away from being a good side. Dijksteel has been a revelation so far and long may that continue. McNair has also been excellent. I was very impressed with Akpom yesterday. Quick, good movement. Looks a threat.

A few tweaks and I dont think we would be too far away from the play offs. UTB.
 
Pretty much agree👍

I would say that Coulson is at the very least 'as good' at defending as Johnson. I mean that as in they both ain't great. Then again I just think Coulson offers far more going forward. He's quicker and more direct. Although I would argue Johnson has a better delivery.

I just think Coulson is the future and seems like a bit of a waste not being envolved st all. I can't believe it's his 'ability'. I wonder if its a training or attitude thing? To go from being arguably out best player to not even a regular sub. It's a bit strange (also how quickly Warnock made Johnson 1st choice). I imagine any decent bid and he's off.

Saville is baffling. Yes we know the fee was frankly stunning (I would put him in the Rudy bracket for over paid). I am still waiting for him to do anything 'memorable' or effect a game. He could leave tomorrow (probably for 1.5mil) and you'd forget he even played for us in a couple of years. I am not sure what his traits are? He doesn't tackle hard / score goals / create and not a leader. So what's his 'thing?' 😕. I expect Morsy in very soon.

I'm not concerned about the keeper yet. We have had 3 keepers via for the No1 since Randolph left. I'm not sure there's a lot between them. I think it just shows how important it is to have a top keeper and we had that in Randolph. He was a keeper who actually won you games.

I do think letting Pears go for probably less than 500k is a poor bit of business. He's of an age that you'd want him as No2 on a 3-4 year deal.

Warnock said we want 1 more CF (young prem acadamy) and I'm sure we will need a CB who's maybe versatile and could slot in a FB.

I genuinely don't think NW wants a Tomlin type. We are crying out for creativity and' flare' off the front 2. Just can't see how you get them into that formation if they don't graft. I would love Roberts on another season loan. He's just something different. He has the ability to win penalties and a decent delivery (maybe why Fletcher is struggling).

That said definitely more positives than negatives. We probably need a win just to get us up and running. We definitely look more organised and balanced than we ever did last season.

3 goals conceded and two scored from 3 games suggests we are pretty sold at the back but still have a few issues up top. I genuinely think we have a shot at the playoffs if we can get 1 or 2 more in👍. I'm watching and I don't see any outstanding sides and no crowds has leveled the field a bit.
 
I was in the minority on here in not rating Bettinelli, nothing I saw at Fulham indicated he was a good goalkeeper.

Seen nothing in a Boro shirt so far to change my mind.
 
I and the most of the people I’ve spoken to say exactly the same as above. It just seems so obvious. Surely the management can see this as well??
 
Whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, there is no way Warnock simply hasn’t noticed Coulson, so there must be a reason why Neymarv is getting the nod over him at the moment. Maybe we’re not privy to it but I trust him. Hayden will get his chance, it’s a long season and after the next international break it’s two matches every single week until Christmas.
 
Is it worth giving Saville a go in the Tav role and getting Morsy in that way?

Think Saville would do well up there with more attacking freedom.
 
We have to find a role or position were Saville improves. We have simply 'done' 7mil if we don't.

He will either leave for free at the end of his contract (like Britt and Fletcher) or we will offload him for 1-2mil. Although doubt anyone can match his wages.

I genuinely think he tries👍 Just not good enough. I would be saying 'he's ok' if he had cost 1-2mil. Morsy looks like he may have a bit about him despite being classed as a defensive CM (he looks like Lampard compared to the last one in Clatts😂)

Definitely need someone creative. A bit of South American or European flare👍
 
Firstly.. I don't get all the fuss over Coulson.

Secondly.. I can't understand why Spence isn't getting any flack.

Thirdly.. Id agree that Saville should be given a go in the Tavernier role.

We still need two decent full backs, a centre back and another forward attacking player or two. Most probably going to be loans for the latter.
 
ChrisTheRed said:
Firstly.. I don't get all the fuss over Coulson.

Secondly.. I can't understand why Spence isn't getting any flack.

Thirdly.. Id agree that Saville should be given a go in the Tavernier role.

We still need two decent full backs, a centre back and another forward attacking player or two. Most probably going to be loans for the latter.
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I agree with points 1 &2.

Point 3 - What is the Tavernier role, does anyone know, I don't think he does. Personally I'd never play Saville again unless we had so many players out we couldn't put a team out. Absolute gash, offers nothing.

Point 4 - we need proper wing backs who can defend and attack if we are sticking with the current system. Spence can't defend, Johnson can't do either.

We need proper full backs if Warnock wants to revert to a flat back 4.

And I'll add that McNair has to play in midfield, he's wasted on the left of a back 3. The return of Fry should facilitate that.
 
We have Johnson, Bola, Coulson, Spence, Dijskteel, McNair and even Howson had a decent stint at RB. I can honestly say I don’t lose sleep over the full back positions, bigger fish to fry.
 
We don’t create enough and are not clinical enough with what we create.
We still need creativity.
If this is not addressed in the window we will be mid table not play offs.
 
atypical_boro said:
We have Johnson, Bola, Coulson, Spence, Dijskteel, McNair and even Howson had a decent stint at RB. I can honestly say I don’t lose sleep over the full back positions, bigger fish to fry.
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Yes I agree but they are all just players filling in. Quality players playing in the correct position will improve the team.
 
Definitely need another CB, creative type and another striker and we aren't too far away, not sure about play offs though, might be a step to far?
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
Yes I agree but they are all just players filling in. Quality players playing in the correct position will improve the team.
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I’m not sure they’re all just filling in, some of them are actually full backs by trade. If we switched to 442 I’d be comfortable with Dijksteel at RB for example.
 
Warnock, with the exception of Adel Taarabt, does not do playmakers, he always goes for work rate and functionality over flair his success has been based on creating compact teams that go quickly from front to back and put crosses into the box rather than trying to play through teams, it surprises me that people are expecting him to suddenly ditch his tried at tested methods and start playing a more attractive brand of passing football.
 
Thought Morsy really made a difference when he came on yesterday winning second balls and intercepting the ball. Did more than Saville in the time he was on the pitch. I’d rather see Saville on the left in place of Johnson.
 
Traditionally NW plays 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. He is having to play a wing back system because we do not have any decent left backs at the club and only Djiksteel looks like he could do a traditional RB role. We seemingly do not have the funds to bring in and change the style of play. We can’t offload those contracted so he is stuck really. Wingers are not much use in a wingback system. The squad was made imbalanced under both Monk and Pulis and those in charge of recruitment are as much to blame as the 2 above. Warnock is trying to make do and mend. Our first 11 is not far away. A CB and a ball carrying pacy CM is needed as a bare minimum, but in truth the squad needs major surgery to rebalance it. That costs money in fees and wages and being able to let go of one or two.

Coulson has pace but is not a defender for me, not sure he is a winger either. Spence is looking like he isn’t learning. we are a one paced outfit that needs a player that can spark something for the forwards. Saville is a trier, but that is not what we need In his role.
 
RandySavage said:
Is it worth giving Saville a go in the Tav role and getting Morsy in that way?

Think Saville would do well up there with more attacking freedom.
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Saville is a good player but he seems to be getting slower with every game and you can’t afford that these days.
 
The problem Sav has is his price tag. It’s like he carry’s it around his neck on the pitch. He’s a steady enough player and does what he does well enough. But for £7m, he’s expected to be better to justify that money.
 
atypical_boro said:
I’m not sure they’re all just filling in, some of them are actually full backs by trade. If we switched to 442 I’d be comfortable with Dijksteel at RB for example.
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"Johnson, Bola, Coulson, Spence, Dijskteel, McNair and even Howson"

Bola is a recognised full back and based on the few games for us he has played is clearly out of his depth. Johnson is an attacking wide left player and has no idea how to defend, Howson is a midfielder who can fill in at full back and centre half and does it well but only as a stop gap. McNair again a midfielder who does a job filling in but should be playing in his best position and getting the most out of his skills.

Dijskteel I think is doing well in the back 3 but last season why he played as a full back he was slightly better than Bola, thats about all, this season he looks like there is a player in there but whether thats as a full back Im not sure.

Coulson & Spence - both so young & developing I don't think we know their best positions, both attack well and defend poorly. Neither can be classed as full backs by trade.

I agree full back is not the most pressing need to spend money on but if we ever want to have a quality team we need the right players playing in their right positions, not players filling in or square pegs in round holes.
 
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