Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United

vs.

Championship Week 3 - Sunday 13th August 2022 - 14:00 - Riverside Stadium
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.


Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/middlesbrough-vs-sheffield-united.606/

Officials:

Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant Referee: Scott Ledger
Assistant Referee: Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson

Coverage:

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Live TV Coverage:

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[VwBlade]

Does Hecky know he's allowed 5 subs? Fair result at the end of the day and we looked on top for most of the game. Honourable mention for Brewster who I thought looked really sharp and showed good movement and instinct. John Fleck and our inability to defend crosses into the box I feel are our 2 biggest weaknesses and need addressing by the management team ASAP

 

[1973Blade]

A decent point but frustrating. Twice we took the lead and both times then back off too much.

 

[LSF]

Just don’t know why we signed these new lads and then don’t give them any game time but instead same old same old

3 games in to a 40odd game season, and you don't know why we signed them?
Deary me...

 

[1973Blade]

Point on the road, lowe seemed to get better in second half, Brewster looked lively, conditions were draining, hecky needs to play the 2 city boys next game, all in all a good point IMO

I agree about Lowe, second half he showed glimpses that there may be something there.

 

[jt64]

The meltdown on here...

a) most would have been happy with a point at 2pm
b) people thinking "why isn't hecky playing x, y and z instead of captain scapegoat they'll never get minutes" yet at the same time failing to notice that we have another game Wednesday
c) people bemoaning hecky for being defensive, then throwing their toys out of the pram when he brings on the most attacking player we have, who is generally quite useful at doing stuff which helps to hold a lead, at 2-1 with 10-15 to go

Now re: b), if hecky names an unchanged XI against Sunderland then I'll stand corrected, but this is primarily more just inane McBurnie bashing for the sake of bashing McBurnie

 

[drblade]

3 games in to a 40odd game season, and you don't know why we signed them?
Deary me...

I was making the point that why not give at least one of them 10 mins instead of or in addition to, McB.

 

[LSF]

I was making the point that why not give at least one of them 10 mins instead of or in addition to, McB.

Didn't read that way.

 

[Constantly Optimistic...]

Totally free 5 yards out.

McB was marking him and drifted off to middle of box when the cross came in

 

[Houston_Blade]

3 top young talent from the premiership, tons of clubs after them on loan, somehow we managed to beat them all off to get their signatures and once we get them it’s fuck you your on the bench!!! Hecky is a brainless twat at times who has just cost us 2 points.

The reason he gave last week was that they’d not trained enough in the system. They’ve had another week Sam don’t some game time midweek. The fact that McBurnie came on ahead of them was baffling.

 

[Athens Blade]

M

McB was marking him and drifted off to middle of box when the cross came in

McB jumped at nothing

 

[petcharlie]

I agree why ? I don't know why we are always better on the front foot .

As I said at 1355 why pick this negative looking team? For Gods sake show some bottle because we always give way when we are back tracking . Also why have we brought in three prem players to sit on the bench? AND JUST TO RUB SALT IN WE THEN BRING ON McBURNIE for the life of me can not understand these tactics . The loss of two points is down to the manager this squad is more than capable of coming away with three points from todays game . Total mis management . God knows what the two City guys were thinking watching that . Did Fleck play in the second half? I forgot he did he got booked .

 

[blades14]

How is someone like Khadra, McAtee and doyle expected to do well when they come on for about 10 mins here and there and never start

How demoralising must it be. I’d ask to go back. You’d be so unmotivated to play if someone who isn’t fully fit is getting on before you

 

[bartman]

McB was marking him and drifted off to middle of box when the cross came in

Anel drifted away from him.

 

[Dnblade]

Happy with the point in the end,although no where near our best yet..disappointing not to hold on for the win, but could have even lost it with that chance that hit the post, so I'll take the point...Early days, well get better.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Khadra will be gone in January

 

[ghandi]

Maybe Hecky has one eye on Sunderland mid week, thats the only thing I can think of because his substitution (and lack of) were baffling!

I thought it was Reading midweek?

 

[BladesNo9]

Cudda been better, cudda been worse!!!. Frustratedly happy with a point!. Could spend days analysing that performance/game, but I won't.

Sunderland up next.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Yes, yes, I think when we're trying to see a game out we should bring on 5ft 6 attacking players who aren't know for their ability to hold onto the ball or tackle, or mark or defend and who have hardly played any football and are not very strong. Sounds like a plan.

2-1 is when u make the subs, they've got to come at us so we open them up with the quality we had on the bench.

 

[Kryten]

I thought it was Reading midweek?

No mate, Reading have Blackburn.

 

[blades14]

Away from home we’re dreadful because his tactics is to cling onto what we have. A blind man could have seen we needed more energy in mid. When the big decisions are needed to be made hecky is a coward

 

[jt64]

I thought it was Reading midweek?

Reading is midweek, but later in the month

 

[Aston max]

The frustrating thing for me is we need a CDM
We can then look at letting loose the set of good ballers at the opposition
We are so unlucky at the moment with injuries Clark injured and the cover in JLT as well
Lopata needs sitting down and given a damn good talking to about fucking up his career
Midfield for me should be
CDM could Doyle do the job?
Khadra berge mcatee
Ndiaye

I do hope hecky is on this forum, I know I will get pelters for this
Hecky stop the negative football and realise its over for fleck, Stevens, McBurnie and up to a point Norwood

 

[Shakespeare blade]

The meltdown on here...

a) most would have been happy with a point at 2pm
b) people thinking "why isn't hecky playing x, y and z instead of captain scapegoat they'll never get minutes" yet at the same time failing to notice that we have another game Wednesday
c) people bemoaning hecky for being defensive, then throwing their toys out of the pram when he brings on the most attacking player we have, who is generally quite useful at doing stuff which helps to hold a lead, at 2-1 with 10-15 to go

Now re: b), if hecky names an unchanged XI against Sunderland then I'll stand corrected, but this is primarily more just inane McBurnie bashing for the sake of bashing McBurnie

No chance did I expect/want a draw, I bet us to win 3-0.
Stupidly I thought our staff would start to bed in the players we have brought in to give us the pace & creativity we desperately miss.
I also have never thought our management are good enough, please check my past posts to confirm this.
We have now recruited enough players to ensure with the current squad we finish high up the table, but we will never achieve this with the poor tactics and using the old guard continuously, fleck could have easily been removed today but again he plays the entire match.
I absolutely hope you come back to me next may and throw this post back in my face, but been here to many times

 

[St Albans Blade]

More humble pie for me to take on board.

Expected a horror show defeat at worst and a narrow defeat at best today.

To take the lead twice and come away with a point from a decent club whose manager knows our players inside out is no bad result.

UTB

 

[HeySethUTB]

I Understand it’s a marathon not a sprint, but the division looks poor this year. Potentially the hangover effect of covid on budgets. Wilder as already said truthfully or not that he can’t see his Middlesbrough in the top six at this moment in time. The three relegated premier league sides, have frailty that you don’t normally see, got to take our opportunitie, be brave and if we draw because we’ve had a go so be it.

Everyone knows wilder goes for it, Hecky should have stuck Khadra on and given then something to think about going the other way. That substitution allowed another player to stand further up the pitch making easier for them to recover and recycle the ball. He probably thought McBurnie would hold the ball up and win some scrappy free kicks neutralising the game.

 

[William Large]

I think most would have take a point before the game (myself included) however Boro were really not very good and with a bit more quality we would have won that comfortably.

It’s hard to be positive about Fleck and has been the same for a while now. I’m not sure what he offers, he’s not a defensive midfielder and doesn’t do a great deal in the final third.

As much as I like Berge, this is one of those games that he should have dominated. Maybe he needs some more quality alongside him.

Thought Lowe played well after a shaky start and Brewster was a big positive.

At the risk of sounding like I know what I’m on about with the players from MC / Arlblaster or even Khadra, (I really don’t btw) we were crying out for some more creativity in the middle. A point is a point but Khadra for Ndiaye and Fleck for one of the other three would surely have given that bit of quality.

I suppose we have to trust Hecky where the young players are concerned but McB needs to fuck off sharpish as he literally offers nothing.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

The meltdown on here...

a) most would have been happy with a point at 2pm
b) people thinking "why isn't hecky playing x, y and z instead of captain scapegoat they'll never get minutes" yet at the same time failing to notice that we have another game Wednesday
c) people bemoaning hecky for being defensive, then throwing their toys out of the pram when he brings on the most attacking player we have, who is generally quite useful at doing stuff which helps to hold a lead, at 2-1 with 10-15 to go

Now re: b), if hecky names an unchanged XI against Sunderland then I'll stand corrected, but this is primarily more just inane McBurnie bashing for the sake of bashing McBurnie

b) is nailed on, as far as Norwood & Fleck are concerned.

Agreed it was a decent point but to accept a point at kick off is not the way to get top 2 in the Championship.

 

[FriethBlade]

Does Hecky know he's allowed 5 subs? Fair result at the end of the day and we looked on top for most of the game. Honourable mention for Brewster who I thought looked really sharp and showed good movement and instinct. John Fleck and our inability to defend crosses into the box I feel are our 2 biggest weaknesses and need addressing by the management team ASAP

Anyone would think we dont have 2 of the premiership's highest rated youngsters sat on the bench !
Hes just too cautious, his.mentality will always be try not to lose, not lets try to win

 

[robbiez666]

Terrible conditions. It was never going to be a pretty game and considering we like to press, favour us.

First half was pretty poor. Sloppy. Good turn and goal from Berge, terrible tracking from Lowe. Lazy from RND and sloppy from a number of players. Very little upfront or in midfield from us.

Second half was a bit better. I though RND improved a lot and so did Lowe. Midfield got more involved and stuck in. Much better from Fleck and Norwood. I thought bringing Brewster on made a big difference a lot of energy. In the end, a draw was probably a fair result. Not a lot in it but they could easily have nicked it.

Foderingham - 6 - Not that much to do. Almost had a howler first half but commanded his box well in the second. A bit slow to come at times and needed 'encouragement' from Egan.
Lowe - 4 - Terrible first half. too lazy to stay with his man and was generally flat footed first half. Kept coming inside all the time and RND was playing as a LWB at times. Not sure what that was about. Better second half and made some decent interceptions as the game went on. Needs to be sharper and do better with the ball though.
RND - 6 - Poor first half. All the danger down his side and whilst not helped by Lowe he needs to position himself better and read situations. Terrible booking for laziness. Much better second half and showed a real determination to get stuck in. Grew into the game as it went on.
Egan - 6.5 - Needed to do a lot of organisation and once again a new 3 and 5 at the back. OK first half and much better during the second. Loses .5 for allowing Lenihan a header near the end.
Anel - 7 - Best player by a large country mile first half but showed in the second that he's still getting used to the pace of this division. Sometime a bit slow on the ball and almost got caught and seemed to consider taking the red. Still, MoM for me.
Baldock 5.5 - He is really poor at cutting out crosses. Once again it was far too easy and instead of facing them up he turns his back and wafts out a leg. Not much going forward but stuck with it.
Fleck - 5.5 - Jimmy first half. Looked off the pace and lazy. Not on his toes and slow to react to danger. Better second half and got much more stuck in and tried to get on the front foot.
Norwood - 6 - Sloppy and poor like Fleck first half. Far too casual with his distribution or trying the wrong ball. Tried a Hollywood at the end when no one wanted that. His set pieces were poor all game but it was his quick thinking which put Ndiaye through for the second.
Berge - 6.5 - Great turn and shot for the first and made some good runs throughout the game. Defensive side not great at times and he's a player who almost always looks like he's putting in 85% all game. Lack determination. Sure, he's clearly a quality footballer but he could be so much better.
Ndiaye - 5.5 - Didn't offer much first half, apart from getting through once, and didn't hold up the ball well enough. Put himself about but not really effectively. Better first half and it was his cross which got the goal but looked to be struggling with the conditions.
Sharp - 5 - Like Ndiaye, had little to feed on but did bits well. I thought he wasn't working hard enough but seemed he picked up an injury first half.

Subs

Brewster - 7 - I thought bringing him on changed the game. Offered much more energy and pace upfront and pulled their defenders about and pressured them. Great first touch pass to Lowe and looked a threat. Seemed to pick up a knock from a clash off the ball.
McBurnie - 5 - Came on to help try and move the ball upfield but largely not great.

Hecky - 6 - Difficult game after the game on Thursday and losing Clark is another blow. Had to move players around which was far from ideal. People will criticise the starting XI but he'd already said Doyle, McAtee and Khadra weren't going to start after playing 4 days ago. Difficult position at the moment with injuries and players not quite ready. I'm surprised we only used 2 subs but then again looking at the option every other one was a gamble.

Boro - I thought they were well organised and played ok as a unit. They lack players with a bit of class but will grind out results. I thought Steffan had a good game. Very good hand to the Brewster chance when he was running through and looked solid.

 

[Mendi]

Tough game