[Archived] Brill Middlesbrough Preview by m1st :)

[Ossydave]

Boro are a dreadful team and one of the dirtiest I've seen in recent years! Ref bottled numerous decisions (again), getting used to that though now, standard of refereeing in the championship really is terrible.

[JAL]

So he scores a goal and everything's rosy now with you and Jason Lowe? What about the other 90 minutes he played? Irrelevant?

One of our better players yet again. Pleased for the lad and the moaners better get used to him being one of the first names down on the team sheet. They won't understand why, but now he has scored may think they do.

If hes one of the better player then the standard of the team as a whole is way too low. Interesting reading Whyoy's post.

Just hope it isnt another eighty game before he makes his next forward progressive movement on the field of play

Fantastic strike though definitely one to savour not only for Jason but the fans, and the team, absolutely brilliant.

[92er]

Everyone in the ground except for the 3 officials it would appear. Clearest sending off offence I've seen in a while to go unpunished.

I was about to ask the same question as Paul.

I, like Paul, thought it was number 26. I also thought he was the player who was aggressive to Rhodes whilst he was on the ground.

A lot of others thought it was number 39.

[Stuart]

Let's not forget that we've won every game that Lowe's scored in!

[the original david brent]

Just to comment on the referee, I think he missed the penalty because he was so far away. He must have been at least 30 yards away from the incident. He could not be sure from so far away, hence he immediately looked to the linesman.

The Championship is a fast and frenetic league; half of the referees just aren't fit enough to keep up with play. The best refs like Howard Webb and Clattenburg in the Premier League are athletes and always within 10 yards of play. However they are also full time professionals. I assume championship refs are part time?

Btw I don't like criticising refs; I play sunday league footy and appreciate the job they do. Unfortunately today the pleasington pitches have succumbed to the weather!

[onlyonejackwalker]

The other 90 minutes eh!

Alot of running besides opposition players. Good at pointing. Not one tackle in the whole match. A total of two forward passes and a suicide square ball to Morris who was a lucky man not to be injured from the resultant Middlesbrough tackle.

Sums up the man of the match performance

Brilliant. Cheered me up reading this in depth analysis. Sums the haters up nicely.

[Gav]

So he scores a goal and everything's rosy now with you and Jason Lowe? What about the other 90 minutes he played? Irrelevant?

One of our better players yet again. Pleased for the lad and the moaners better get used to him being one of the first names down on the team sheet. They won't understand why, but now he has scored may think they do.

JAL's just giving credit where credits due surely, a few more should adopt such an approach, around here would be a much better place.

[chaddyrovers]

I haven't read back through the whole thread but did anyone else notice the Boro centre back fell Rhodes with an elbow about 10 metres in to their half towards the end of the game? I thought it was the number 26 but someone else thought it was Woodgate (he knows every trick in the book).

I think it was Daniel Ayala that did the foul. it was clear elbow on Rhodes. Rovers should had a penalty within the first 5 mins of the game with a clear push on Rhodes at the far post. plus the clear foul on Kilgallon in the penalty area which the ref didn't give. The ref was awful and didn't seen able to make a big decision when need

If we can get Robbo fit then he must come in as number one. It would give the whole team a lift. I've never been Robbo's biggest fan, but young Jake just isn't ready for the first team.

This is big if Robbo can ever get back to his best

Tom is correct, Kean is looking very poor and if you was at the game, you would have no confidence in him at the moment.

I felt Williamson and Lowe were very good, I had forgot how good Williamson was, King was much better centrally, and I thought Taylor was bright and sharp when he came on and put in 1 good balls.

Cairney needs moving centrally but who do you drop?

Kean is a good shot stopper but he need to be more confidence to come for Crosses and command of his area. that's his biggest problem.

Lowe and Williamson did very well in centre midfield.

Thought he showed some really good forward play to flick it on and draw woodgate into a foul today. King playing off him could work really well as defenders have to double up on king often which would leave Rhodes with less men watching his every move

I thought Rhodes worked hard up front and pleased to see Bowyer change tactics in the first half with moving King to just off Rhodes and that allow King to get more of the ball. this is what I mention earlier in the thread about Bowyer doing this.

Out of interest why did the manager decide to sign Songo'o after a 7 year trial if we refuse to use him when we are out of centre backs?

Hope killgallon isn't too badly hurt as he played well, ironically it seemed he got hurt and had to go off after being kicked by woodgate who should himself have been walking off after that

I think Bowyer didn't want to risk Songo'o who is inexperience at Championship and Bowyer went for experience in Lowe at centre back and put Marshall on the wing.

it was great strike by Lowe to scored his first goal for Rovers and Rovers just about deserve the win.

The game wasn't great and Rovers weren't at their best but these are the type of games that you need to win when you not at our best.

very happy with the win and the three points. only 4 points of the top 6 now.

COYB!!!

[EgyptianPete]

I think it was Daniel Ayala that did the foul. it was clear elbow on Rhodes. Rovers should had a penalty within the first 5 mins of the game with a clear push on Rhodes at the far post. plus the clear foul on Kilgallon in the penalty area which the ref didn't give. The ref was awful and didn't seen able to make a big decision when need

This is big if Robbo can ever get back to his best

Kean is a good shot stopper but he need to be more confidence to come for Crosses and command of his area. that's his biggest problem.

Lowe and Williamson did very well in centre midfield.

I thought Rhodes worked hard up front and pleased to see Bowyer change tactics in the first half with moving King to just off Rhodes and that allow King to get more of the ball. this is what I mention earlier in the thread about Bowyer doing this.

I think Bowyer didn't want to risk Songo'o who is inexperience at Championship and Bowyer went for experience in Lowe at centre back and put Marshall on the wing.

it was great strike by Lowe to scored his first goal for Rovers and Rovers just about deserve the win.

The game wasn't great and Rovers weren't at their best but these are the type of games that you need to win when you not at our best.

very happy with the win and the three points. only 4 points of the top 6 now.

COYB!!!

A 60 or 70% fit Robinson is better than Kean at the moment, every time the ball comes into the box you close your eyes and hope, and i am sure the defence is getting pretty @#/? off now with his many mistakes.

[thenodrog]

So he scores a goal and everything's rosy now with you and Jason Lowe? What about the other 90 minutes he played? Irrelevant?

One of our better players yet again. Pleased for the lad and the moaners better get used to him being one of the first names down on the team sheet. They won't understand why, but now he has scored may think they do.

It's quite simple, many people cannot see the bigger picture.

Tugay was the most skillful midfielder that I have ever seen in the blue and white halves without any shadow of a doubt. His control, first touch and passing was unbelievable, his vision was beyond comparison to most other Prem midfielders and he weighed in with some super strikes on goal too. The truth is that 11 Tugays would have won nothing.

[jonv]

Highlights are now on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H38_8bI0Y0

[Majiball]

sorry jonv I blinked, could you post them again.

[Neal]

Funny how some see the game totally different to you. My dad and I sat at the back row of the Darwen end upper tier, with a perfect view of the game.

Judge was arguably the best player on the pitch... Busy, pressed players high up the field, was vocal, great set pieces, unlucky with a shot from range and always wanted the ball. I was VERY disappointed that Bowyer subbed him as most of our joy was coming down the left. I felt that Boro would have grown in confidence for it and perhaps may of snatched a winner but moments later we scored... So it didn't matter too much.

Scott Dann is still not a captain, I don't understand how you can have a captain who's job is to command the rest of the team who cant do the basic things well himself. I feel that If he hadn't cost us a eye watering amount of money, he wouldn't be playing. Kilgallon is a better player from what I've seen.

Lowe (wonder goal aside) was the old Jason Lowe today for most of the game. Didn't commit himself into challenges and stood and watched. Their midfielders were allowed to turn and run at us far to many times when he should have been touch tight forcing the pass backwards like Williiamson. Whats more worrying is that their CM is the worst I've seen down here and he still didn't look anywhere near like dominating. Still got LOTS to learn. Great goal though.

Josh Morris in three words... NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Having spent the amounts of money we have on this squad the idea should be to go for a promotion push, you need to be building a squad of players that can compete at this level and the Premier League, should you reach it. This chap isn't good enough. Don't get me wrong, the lad didn't play awful but he's a league 1/2 player and it's plain to see.

Jake Kean needs to shape up, spilled the tamest of shots in the first half. Another that needs to start doing the basics better.

King is useful player and, granted, a little frustrating. Against some teams, such as Boro, he was far more useful up front being able to force him on to the last man and use his physicality and pace... He was wasted out wide today. That being said, against other teams he'll be a good outlet on the wing.

7/10 performance today.

[FGS5635]

It's quite simple, many people cannot see the bigger picture.

Tugay was the most skillful midfielder that I have ever seen in the blue and white halves without any shadow of a doubt. His control, first touch and passing was unbelievable, his vision was beyond comparison to most other Prem midfielders and he weighed in with some super strikes on goal too. The truth is that 11 Tugays would have won nothing.

Would have been dam cool to watch tho. Not sure about the goal keeping tugay tho

[thenodrog]

Seems somewhat surreal that we are all discussing the match on here when the club might not see the end of the season.

[pick32]

Why not because of the debt? Its not like its a new thing to football. Take our £54million and double it then you have Boltons debt, Then double that and you have Fulhams debt.

[Mike E]

I've seen a few posts talking about Morris not being good enough. In general I'd agree, as Spurr is THE 1st choice LB. But given Morris was a 4th choice LM playing atLB, he actually had a fair game imo. I certainly felt we had more joy down the left than we have in recent games and Morris was very keen to get the ball in to King, Cairney or Judge at every opportunity. He did well to keep it ticking over from LB.

However, that Boro didn't see fit to bomb past him on their right was fortunate for us. He was an able stand-in imo, and definitely preferred to Marcus Olsson. Would like to see Henley there when fully fit, mind, as I'd prefer Henley to replace Morris on the left than Kane on the right (at least Kane can attack).

[only2garners]

I was about to ask the same question as Paul.

I, like Paul, thought it was number 26. I also thought he was the player who was aggressive to Rhodes whilst he was on the ground.

A lot of others thought it was number 39.

It was definitely Ayala, 26. It wouldn't have mattered much from the ref's point of view as both he and Woodgate had already been booked, although it was arguably to me a straight red anyway.

I was surprised that Boro did not target our left back as Adomah has pace to spare but he had a desperately poor game. I've seen him play excellently for Bristol City but he showed nothing yesterday.

[tomphil]

Why not because of the debt? Its not like its a new thing to football. Take our £54million and double it then you have Boltons debt, Then double that and you have Fulhams debt.

Those clubs have been run on large debt to their owners for a decade or so though. It's the spectacular short amount of time that ours has been run up and the way it's been run up that makes it so alarming. Coupled with the fact that in a another short space of time it will maybe increase another 50%. Plus those clubs owners could/will probably write it off sooner or later. I doubt Venkys can.

[thenodrog]

Why not because of the debt? Its not like its a new thing to football. Take our £54million and double it then you have Boltons debt, Then double that and you have Fulhams debt.

Because at a rough guess to annually service that debt it will take our entire income from ticket sales.... and we haven't paid a player or any member of staff or any other bill yet!

[Fife Rover]

Because at a rough guess to annually service that debt it will take our entire income from ticket sales.... and we haven't paid a player or any member of staff or any other bill yet!

What....not even the milkman? I seem to remember we have been there once or twice before, and we were still able to carry on.

[92er]

It was definitely Ayala, 26. It wouldn't have mattered much from the ref's point of view as both he and Woodgate had already been booked, although it was arguably to me a straight red anyway.

Cheers!

In live action, I was convinced it was 26-Ayala.

However, someone 2 or 3 seats away from me was equally convinced it was Woodgate, so I was interested in others' points of view.

[FGS5635]

I've seen a few posts talking about Morris not being good enough. In general I'd agree, as Spurr is THE 1st choice LB. But given Morris was a 4th choice LM playing atLB, he actually had a fair game imo. I certainly felt we had more joy down the left than we have in recent games and Morris was very keen to get the ball in to King, Cairney or Judge at every opportunity. He did well to keep it ticking over from LB.

However, that Boro didn't see fit to bomb past him on their right was fortunate for us. He was an able stand-in imo, and definitely preferred to Marcus Olsson. Would like to see Henley there when fully fit, mind, as I'd prefer Henley to replace Morris on the left than Kane on the right (at least Kane can attack).

Agreed and his crossing is way better than spurs. He put in a couple of great crosses that really someone should have been on the end of. Not a bad cover at home, but he could get exposed away.

[broadsword]

It's very sad but I don't get any pleasure from winning any more

[jim mk2]

I do. Coupled with England's rugby victory it made for a very pleasant Saturday evening.