Boro v stoke tonight

[ekke287]

We’ve now got some optimism back thanks to Stoke, it’s back on us now to show we’re still up for it.

1) A chance to go 6pts clear
2) A chance to go into the break still in 2nd
3) A chance to make up for Saturdays display
4) A chance to give us fans renewed hope

Come on now Blades, wake up and keep going, we’re so close to the finish line now.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Play cautiously in both we'll probably end up with 1 point, 2 if we're lucky

The issue I've noticed though is that we have been successful at playing like what Luton did against us, keep things tight all match and try to snatch a 1-0 win.

Earlier in the season we showed attacking intent and pushed defenders forward.
Our big weakness is our defence lack pace, so when we're having good attacking spells, we're so vulnerable to the counter-attack.
It's been mentioned before that when we have a corner, we are vulnerable to conceding.

So when Hecky uses the negative/ pragmatic tactics of playing for the result.
We go 1-0 up, then kind of park the bus, it's not pretty but proven to be very effective.

So it's a dilemma for Hecky.
Does he revert back to the free flowing more open style of early season, where performances will be better but results might go against us
or does he do a Jose Mourinho and stink the place out by focusing solely on getting the 3 points at any cost.

I'm expecting a similar game to the Luton match, but this time the roles are reverse, we play like Luton, we keep it tight, very few chances from either team.
Then we go 1-0 up and sit back parking the bus, Sunderland do all the attacking but hardly create a single chance. We end up winning 1-0.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

The issue I've noticed though is that we have been successful at playing like what Luton did against us, keep things tight all match and try to snatch a 1-0 win.

Earlier in the season we showed attacking intent and pushed defenders forward.
Our big weakness is our defence lack pace, so when we're having good attacking spells, we're so vulnerable to the counter-attack.
It's been mentioned before that when we have a corner, we are vulnerable to conceding.

So when Hecky uses the negative/ pragmatic tactics of playing for the result.
We go 1-0 up, then kind of park the bus, it's not pretty but proven to be very effective.

So it's a dilemma for Hecky.
Does he revert back to the free flowing more open style of early season, where performances will be better but results might go against us
or does he do a Jose Mourinho and stink the place out by focusing solely on getting the 3 points at any cost.

Wouldn't say we've ever been particularly free flowing but, whatever approach he takes, pace and aggression will help a lot, and the player with most of that is Baldock

He must start every game. RWB, LWB, RCB, wherever. Him on the pitch simply improves our chances significantly

 

[Snowflake]

Right, stop fuckin abhart nar

That’s the team talk done, Stoke done us a solid

Go out to batter Sunderland tomorrow, 6 point lead and we’re back on track

Performance will tell us everything we need to know whether we’re up for the fight, or bottling it

If Hecky can’t get them up for a night under the floodlights in front of 40 odd thousand we know he ain’t got it

0-4 must be the aim and give boro a kick in the bollox

Hecky may have”got it”but the players may not. Tonight would give us an insight.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Sanatogen and werthers don’t mix. How many more times……

Dr Quack info

 

[blade too long]

got to keep an eye on luton who can move to within a point of boro

 

[Alan Birchenall's hair]

'Shite performance against an ordinary team. Uninspiring support. Goalie saved us a point. Can't see us winning again this season. Can't get promoted now. Manager dunt know what he's doing. Why weren't subs brought on earlier? '
Yes life at The Riverside is not that different to The Lane......

 

[JPBrods]

got to keep an eye on luton who can move to within a point of boro

Honestly think this rotating cast of adversaries for automatics does us a favour. Boro feeling pressure from both sides.

 

[Selly]

Honestly think this rotating cast of adversaries for automatics does us a favour. Boro feeling pressure from both sides.

Agree with that - we want the playoff race to go very deep. If Norwich win tonight Boro are only 6 points clear of 6th. The more they look down (and perhaps take a point rather than going for the win) the better for us.

With Luton and Norwich and Coventry to play Boro we want them still challenging for the PO as long as possible.

 

[ATL Recs]

The issue I've noticed though is that we have been successful at playing like what Luton did against us, keep things tight all match and try to snatch a 1-0 win.

Earlier in the season we showed attacking intent and pushed defenders forward.
Our big weakness is our defence lack pace, so when we're having good attacking spells, we're so vulnerable to the counter-attack.
It's been mentioned before that when we have a corner, we are vulnerable to conceding.

So when Hecky uses the negative/ pragmatic tactics of playing for the result.
We go 1-0 up, then kind of park the bus, it's not pretty but proven to be very effective.

So it's a dilemma for Hecky.
Does he revert back to the free flowing more open style of early season, where performances will be better but results might go against us
or does he do a Jose Mourinho and stink the place out by focusing solely on getting the 3 points at any cost.

I'm expecting a similar game to the Luton match, but this time the roles are reverse, we play like Luton, we keep it tight, very few chances from either team.
Then we go 1-0 up and sit back parking the bus, Sunderland do all the attacking but hardly create a single chance. We end up winning 1-0.

When did we play free flowing stuff away from home this season? - we've stuttered with at the most 20 mins of quality or short sparks of quality enough for us to win a game. Even Wigan and Blackpool away ( our last away wins before Reading ) we were hanging on and looked ordinary at best

 

[Balham]

Whats their second top scorer after Chuba? (24 goals he had scored)

11 players have scored for Boro in the league. Akpom has 23 at a rate of 0.86 goals/90 mins then it's Forss (8 at 0.46), Crooks (6 at 0.35), McGree (6 at 0.20) and Watmore (5 at 0.53). Two of their January loanees are scoring at an impressive rate: Archer has 4 at 0.47 and Ramsey 3 at 0.74 (which extrapolates to a 34 goal season!). Paddy McNair's goal against Blackpool is the only one registered by a Boro defender this season.

We've spread the goals around the squad but obviously don't have anyone nearly as prolific as Akpom. 18 players have scored a league goal for us; McBurnie leading the way with 12 at 0.61 per 90 mins; Ndiaye also has 12 but at 0.35; Berge has 6 at 0.22 (in line with McGree for Boro), Ahmedhodzic has 5 (at 0.18), McAtee 4 (at 0.22) and then it's loads on 3 or fewer.

 

[blade too long]

When did we play free flowing stuff away from home this season? - we've stuttered with at the most 20 mins of quality or short sparks of quality enough for us to win a game. Even Wigan and Blackpool away ( our last away wins before Reading ) we were hanging on and looked ordinary at best

amazing weve only lost 5 away . blackburn 10 boro 9 . we must be doing something right

 

[Jake Richard Cuthbert]

We’ve now got some optimism back thanks to Stoke, it’s back on us now to show we’re still up for it.

1) A chance to go 6pts clear
2) A chance to go into the break still in 2nd
3) A chance to make up for Saturdays display
4) A chance to give us fans renewed hope

Come on now Blades, wake up and keep going, we’re so close to the finish line now.

Just gotta take it by scruff of neck…Can’t let all hard that’s gone before come undone.

 

[Sheffsteel]

When did we play free flowing stuff away from home this season? - we've stuttered with at the most 20 mins of quality or short sparks of quality enough for us to win a game. Even Wigan and Blackpool away ( our last away wins before Reading ) we were hanging on and looked ordinary at best

I was referring to the home matches, where we've generally looked good, we totally dominated Reading, Blackburn and Burnley (2nd half). Away from home we've tended to play more like Luton did against us on Saturday, altho we have had little 5 or 10 minute spells of good flowing football away from home too.

What I find frustrating is how.....when we're behind... we suddenly take off the shackles....go for it and look good, like Millwall away 2nd half.
Wigan and Blackpool away we were in full control 1st half and looked a really good team, then once we concede we sit back and park the bus.
However a positive is when we sit back defending with numbers, we've been really good defensively and don't look like conceding.

Think Hecky and the players realise this, hence we were're comfortable being defensively solid and relying on N'Diaye to do some magic.
The irony is that when we're on full throttle attacking with the overlapping centre backs, we're also vulnerable to the counter attack because our defenders are slow.

Think conceding counter attack goals like against Boro, Millwall. Blackburn means our defence don't push forward as often.Due to this lack of confidence this means our attacks aren't as strong, it's been happening for a while, but because results have still been decent Hecky hasn't addressed our negative performances.