Post-match thread: Boro (h)

[kop-al-74]

I must disagree. kop-al-74 is perfectly within his rights to be wrong if he wants to be.

Exactly.Thanks Neil.

[bigfooty]

Love these threads. Loads of you come on here and just list all the negatives you can find. Why? Why cant you just be happy with 3 points and quite an entertianing game (ie lots going on)? Not vintage by any means, but does it matter right now? Not many have mentioned the many (yes many) great flowing attacks we launched. At times (as is often the case) we played some sublime stuff. You lot should try being a bit less critical ALL the time.

We're not happy because it's just another in a series of baffling team selections and subsequently below-par performances.

The team against Inter worked well, but Boro are no Inter. Today encapsulated what is wrong with Rafa in the Premiership, namely he frequently trys to apply what works so well in Europe when faced with domestic champions, teams that are unbeaten for months with world-class players in every position, against yer Birminghams, Wigans, Boros et al.

That's not to say he has to rotate like a mad man. Carra out, Arbeloa in. Forced by injury. Kuyt out, Crouch in, Babel on the left, Gerrard on the right. Two changes and you go from the cluster**** that was our formation today to a fairly solid and simple 4-4-2 where people know their roles.

Our third goal was just frankly bizarre. Kuyt was defending on the edge of the 18 yard box and boomed it forward, Torres ran onto it and in the confusion got the ball and slipped it home. Great finish by Nando. Awful defending from Boro. But the fact our leading scorer from last season in the league, playing out of position as a right-midfielder, was defending on the edge of our box as Boro attacked say it all about how utterly incompatable Rafa's tactics have become with the Premiership.

At 2-1 Boro put on Mido I think it was, giving them Tuncay, Mido and Aliadiere on the pitch at the same time. That's how confident they were of being able to get something from the game and how little threat we really posed. Were it not for that calamity goal who knows how the game would have turned out.

I'm fed up of people accepting every minor victory as evidence that Rafa is the new messiah. The inter result was fantastic but I was looking for us to build on that today. Instead we got more ****ehouse football with a continental formation that shoehorns players into positions they don't really seem comfortable with. We need to make Gerrard work, not let him amble around the pitch like he did today with two people covering him and Kuyt doing the donkey work on the wings.

Boro had a Rookie left-back today and instead of matching up the powerhouse that is Steven Gerrard against him, or the tricky Jermaine Pennant, he was faced with the one-paced Dirk Kuyt.

[Mattshark]

We're not happy because it's just another in a series of baffling team selections and subsequently below-par performances.

The team against Inter worked well, but Boro are no Inter. Today encapsulated what is wrong with Rafa in the Premiership, namely he frequently trys to apply what works so well in Europe when faced with domestic champions, teams that are unbeaten for months with world-class players in every position, against yer Birminghams, Wigans, Boros et al.

That's not to say he has to rotate like a mad man. Carra out, Arbeloa in. Forced by injury. Kuyt out, Crouch in, Babel on the left, Gerrard on the right. Two changes and you go from the cluster**** that was our formation today to a fairly solid and simple 4-4-2 where people know their roles.

Our third goal was just frankly bizarre. Kuyt was defending on the edge of the 18 yard box and boomed it forward, Torres ran onto it and in the confusion got the ball and slipped it home. Great finish by Nando. Awful defending from Boro. But the fact our leading scorer from last season in the league, playing out of position as a right-midfielder, was defending on the edge of our box as Boro attacked say it all about how utterly incompatable Rafa's tactics have become with the Premiership.

At 2-1 Boro put on Mido I think it was, giving them Tuncay, Mido and Aliadiere on the pitch at the same time. That's how confident they were of being able to get something from the game and how little threat we really posed. Were it not for that calamity goal who knows how the game would have turned out.

I'm fed up of people accepting every minor victory as evidence that Rafa is the new messiah. The inter result was fantastic but I was looking for us to build on that today. Instead we got more ****ehouse football with a continental formation that shoehorns players into positions they don't really seem comfortable with. We need to make Gerrard work, not let him amble around the pitch like he did today with two people covering him and Kuyt doing the donkey work on the wings.

Boro had a Rookie left-back today and instead of matching up the powerhouse that is Steven Gerrard against him, or the tricky Jermaine Pennant, he was faced with the one-paced Dirk Kuyt.

Why the **** is it a baffling selection? People wanted less rotation then complain when the team doesn't get rotated? You clearly have an agenda with us, just like that Owen - Torres ****e during the game. You just want the worst so you can moan like a whiney bitch.

[Marky]

Very lucky today.
Two gifts from Boro, the Tungay (?) disallowed goal, Mascher could have been sent off with Aliadiere
Nice to win on a off day, Torres was the difference

About time we got lucky in a match.

3 points is...3 points.

[bigfooty]

Why the **** is it a baffling selection? People wanted less rotation then complain when the team doesn't get rotated? You clearly have an agenda with us, just like that Owen - Torres ****e during the game. You just want the worst so you can moan like a whiney bitch.

It's baffling because we take the same approach to playing Inter Milan, setting up all cautious with one striker and three central midfielders, as we do to playing Middlesbrough. I just don't get that. We all saw the difference Crouch (and Pennant) coming on late made on Tuesday. Tipping the game in our favour. But we go with the exact same formation to play the mighty smoggies because apparently they're the next Inter Milan.

[Red_hot]

We made it harder for ourselves than we should but we still won and I bloody love Masher!!

[Red_hot]

Crowd sounded poor on TV. All i heard most match was USA USA from the Boro fans.

I was in The Paddock and it sounded good from where I was.

[Mattshark]

It's baffling because we take the same approach to playing Inter Milan, setting up all cautious with one striker and three central midfielders, as we do to playing Middlesbrough. I just don't get that. We all saw the difference Crouch (and Pennant) coming on late made on Tuesday. Tipping the game in our favour. But we go with the exact same formation to play the mighty smoggies because apparently they're the next Inter Milan.

I never found it baffling, you just and agenda against Rafa. It is just your bias and the fact the you seeing everything in a negative light.

[DannyMan2006]

Am i allowed an opinion?:bird:

You are, as am I.

You put some points forward and I debated them on this site, which I thought was a forum, where the whole point is to argue and debate.

[bigfooty]

I never found it baffling, you just and agenda against Rafa. It is just your bias and the fact the you seeing everything in a negative light.

My opinion on Rafa is well known. I think he's a fantastic continental coach. I think he's a pretty average one when it comes to English football.

[DannyMan2006]

Carra suspended, Skertel not fully fit and Agger not fully fit. So who would you suggest?

I'm not suggesting anything in that post, just that Arbeloa and Hyypia should never again play together at centre back.

If I was to suggest anything it would be to stick San Jose in. Maybe even recall Hobbs over playing those two together.

Really it's down to Arbeloa who has poor positional sense and is not built to play centre back in the prem. Class full back, poor centre back. It was tried in another match, I forget which and he was just as poor in that one.

[redlancer]

I was in The Paddock and it sounded good from where I was.

sure they put the mic's near away fans.

would say crowd better than norm.

OK we were not perfect but an enjoyable game off football to watch.

Can;t believe why is he playing the same team/formation that beat Inter after all the stop rotating.

If that team can beat Inter it can beat Boro.

Torres and Masher are class.

Stevie seems off the pace though

kuyt had some great touched today and some excellent link up play.

A good 7 day break ahead.

[Red_hot]

sure they put the mic's near away fans.

would say crowd better than norm.

OK we were not perfect but an enjoyable game off football to watch.
Can;t believe why is he playing the same team/formation that beat Inter after all the stop rotating.

If that team can beat Inter it can beat Boro.

Torres and Masher are class.

Stevie seems off the pace though

kuyt had some great touched today and some excellent link up play.
A good 7 day break ahead.

[DannyMan2006]

It's baffling because we take the same approach to playing Inter Milan, setting up all cautious with one striker and three central midfielders, as we do to playing Middlesbrough. I just don't get that. We all saw the difference Crouch (and Pennant) coming on late made on Tuesday. Tipping the game in our favour. But we go with the exact same formation to play the mighty smoggies because apparently they're the next Inter Milan.

To be fair a large majority of people on here are always suggesting we play 4-5-1, with a central player "in the whole". That's what we played today. I don't agree with it as IMO we lack a RW to play that system, but it goes to show that not everyone can be pleased.

Mind it worked as we won.

[Vermilion]

Did anyone notice, i've not read back in the thread, little Masher eh, i think some have suggested he raised his hands 1st to Adieire when he was sent off.

Now then, i've just been watching some of the games highlight's, the moment when Pepe is tripped up after taking a difficult catch under pressure, in the ensuing handbags at four paces, ole sneaky, little Masch, walks up close & personal to the offending Boro Tripper Upper, Then gives him a nice little Dig in the stomach, just below the ribs.

The Boro player felt it because he looked at Masch & said something, not something nice, but then events take over & the Ref calls the Boro player over for his booking.

So Masch is becoming quite the terrier on the side, off the ball as well as during play.