[Archived] Brill Middlesbrough Preview by m1st :)

[Gav]

Kean is not ready to be in the position he is in, however in fairness to him it is not his fault. The blame lies at the feet of either the owners or the manager for failing to pick up any competition for Jake in the number 1 spot. Kean isn't good enough but sadly he's all we've got. He will be one of the main reasons we hang around mid-table as opposed to any kind of playoff position, though.

He was good enough today, clean sheet and all that.

[DE.]

He was barely tested today. Eastwood would probably have been good enough as well. When put under pressure he struggles - could have done with a little more time out on loan in lower divisions to build his confidence and style, he's been pushed into our first team far too early and we'll have to deal with the consequences of that. If he manages to go a game without a mistake it'll hopefully build his confidence, which is crucial for a keeper regardless of their age or skill.

[Gav]

He was barely tested today. Eastwood would probably have been good enough as well. When put under pressure he struggles - could have done with a little more time out on loan in lower divisions to build his confidence and style, he's been pushed into our first team far too early and we'll have to deal with the consequences of that. If he manages to go a game without a mistake it'll hopefully build his confidence, which is crucial for a keeper regardless of their age or skill.

I wasn't at the game today so can't comment on his performance but no goals conceded is a major plus for any keeper under any circumstances so let's hope he builds on that.

[Tom]

He's one of those keepers that needs to take a tough catch early in the game to get his confidence up but even then looks a second away from a mistake, however the polish keeper was much the same especially with the ball at his feet. I just hope recurring errors don't stick with him like they did with James (not saying he will ever be his level overall) as the chances are for better or worse we will be stuck with him in goal for a good while because we'll no doubt be courting a suitor for Robbo

[DE.]

I wasn't at the game today so can't comment on his performance but no goals conceded is a major plus for any keeper under any circumstances so let's hope he builds on that.

Problem is, as Tom mentioned he dropped a very easy cross early in the game and I guarantee you this will be playing on his mind despite the clean sheet. Confidence comes from a combination of clean sheets and solid performances - Jake always seems to make some sort of mistake that could lead to a goal. His confidence will only grow when he goes a few games without serious clangers. It won't necessarily matter if he's conceded as long as they were out of his control.

[Mike Graham]

Just got into NYC from Boston after watching the Red Socks victory parade (World Series my ar$e) to hear the Rovers score.

A good result and a welcome 3 points at last. Keep it up chaps before the Venky loons take us into oblivion.

[Gav]

Just got into NYC from Boston after watching the Red Socks victory parade (World Series my ar$e) to hear the Rovers score.

A good result and a welcome 3 points at last. Keep it up chaps before the Venky loons take us into oblivion.

Running the marathon tomorrow I hope!

[G Somerset Rover]

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.

[Mike Graham]

Running the marathon tomorrow I hope!

No Gav. A nice potato kugel at Katz's, followed by Chagall at the Jewish Museum and a few bottles of Brooklyn lager. Do you want a fridge magnet bud ? ;-)

[JAL]

Well done to Jason Lowe!

A forward strike who'd have believed it more of the same please Jason.

[Gav]

No Gav. A nice potato kugel at Katz's, followed by Chagall at the Jewish Museum and a few bottles of Brooklyn lager. Do you want a fridge magnet bud ? ;-)

Our mate the landlord would love a fridge magnet I'm sure.

[ABBEY]

Just got into NYC from Boston after watching the Red Socks victory parade (World Series my ar$e) to hear the Rovers score.

A good result and a welcome 3 points at last. Keep it up chaps before the Venky loons take us into oblivion.

One last post .. Er no such team it's SOX and it was a good season of MLB.

[Mike Graham]

Our mate the landlord would love a fridge magnet I'm sure.

I got him one.

Sorry Abbs it is Sox. Too much Sam Adams Boston larger methinks. COYB

[Mike E]

Well done to Jason Lowe!

A forward strike who'd have believed it more of the same please Jason.

Post of the year, given the poster, content and context

[Bucksrover]

Lowe had had a poor effort from a similar distance earlier in the game so as he shaped to shoot for his goal i was shouting for him not to waste another opportunity by taking the shot. Glad to be proved wrong.

As others have said bowyer did well. Moving king central with rhodes was a great decision.

Taylor was unlucky not to set up rhodes towards the end. We have some creative players in the squad now which is nice. But we need some consistency because these same players flopped against charlton.

I know what people are saying about kean - he doesn't inspire confidence. If you went to shake his hand he would probably palm it away. Maybe we could get joe hart on loan?! Joking aside kean's faults are down to confidence and judgement - which will reduce in time. Robinson's faults are physical which will only have got worse. I really liked sandomierski, but we are where we are.

[m1st]

If you went to shake his hand he would probably palm it away.

Cruel, but funny!

When Kean lost that one early-ish in the first half under no real pressure, I worried about the effect it'd have on him and the back 4.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Nice to see our importance has increased now we've moved down a programme. About 40 seconds on the football league show, and they've got the dingles twice in the opening montage!

[roverstdt]

Good good result today and plenty of positives.

I understand the criticism around Jake Kean performances as of late. All keepers go through ups and downs, even the very best as Joe Hart is proving. Most important thing is that he is in his early 20's a young player who will be prone to making some mistakes here and there. His performances last season showed us what he was capable of, and I am confident he can get back to that again, he just needs game time, and experience which will slowly come in.

Good to see a clean sheet, I would say I would like to see score more regularly, and delighted that it came from someone other than Jordan Rhodes. We have players capable of scoring and we need to make sure that we are on target when Rhodes isn't.

Finally I would say it is great to see young players such as Kean, Kane, Lowe, Cairney, Rhodes, King all playing. There development continues which is vastly important at this time.

[Ricky]

One last post .. Er no such team it's SOX and it was a good season of MLB.

You must have the record for 'last posts' now abs

[GanG2245]

[Paul]

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).

[onlyonejackwalker]

Well done to Jason Lowe!

A forward strike who'd have believed it more of the same please Jason.

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.

[Whyoy]

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.

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

[m1st]

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

[gumboots]

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).

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.