Credit to ‘Boro

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

I thought they were great tonight bar the last 20 when they started to tire. If we had 11 v 11 I think we could’ve drawn level but their first half performance was fantastic, let’s give em credit.

Their big lad at the back, composed.

Their triangles in MF, casual.

Their ability to play effective, positive possession based football under pressure, superb.

Their shape and knowing where they need to be and when, polygonic.

Their manager, full marks.

Not saying we were bad, we just couldn’t cope first half and they did the business.

Full credit.

 

[john Mathison]

CW spot on, best side we have played this season. Shame Rothwell screwed it up, we were gaining momentum, and looked more likely to score.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Yep, sometimes you just have to say “fair play, beaten by a better team”. Upside for me is that with better finishing from Bamford and Gus, we could still have stolen it

 

[Northernsoulblade]

Yeah they were good but at times we were our own worst enemy last 15 minutes 11v11 think we would av got a result but agree lovely to see midfielders doing what they should and some great play in tight situations

 

[Bladesman]

Maybe so but I expect they will come straight back down. Despite being two up and us starting the second half really poorly they allowed us back into the game. Factor in the first half where it was open and both teams could have been 2-2 in the first 15 mins. It's hard to gauge being very good in the Championship (especially this season) as it doesn't usually translate into decent enough to stay up in the PL even with new players.

That all said it's good to see Frank looking like he is struggling to get another team promoted.

 

[Camden Blade]

They were on the back foot and I was confident of an equalisers until Rothwell intervened. But, yes they were very good, exploited the space, played as a unit. Will be promoted and get mullered in the Premier.

 

[LondonBlade89]

Someone on X stuck up a video showing how Boro always had a player in the space between the two centre mids and centre backs. Their manager has been brilliant for them. Fair play to him. I thought we weren’t far off them and on another day if we take our chances, a few calls go our way, and some don’t go theirs, we maybe get something out of it. But no disgrace to lose. Just a shame our margin for error to get anything out of this season is so small after that shocker of a start under Selles.

 

[TJB.]

Can't argue. Think it's fair to say the ref had some dodgy moments and that they were a bit jammy at times (second goal being a prime example), but overall they had that extra bit of quality over us. Their passing and movement in the first half particularly was great. Spun us in circles at times.

On to the next one.

 

[Chimpan-A]

They were good, after they saw out the first 10-15 mins when we were really good, and the last 20, aided and abetted either by bad reffing or rash decision making by Rothwell (I’ve not seen it back).
However, I found them extremely arrogant, full of gamesmanship, and I hope they miss out on promotion!

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

3 cheers for Boro

Hip hip.....

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

I liked their fitness levels as well as their play. Love watching quick passing, movement and pace. We’re too one dimensional at times. I just find our fitness levels so frustrating. It’s needed addressing for 3 to 4 years now.

 

[AWetFlannel]

I thought they were great tonight bar the last 20 when they started to tire. If we had 11 v 11 I think we could’ve drawn level but their first half performance was fantastic, let’s give em credit.

Their big lad at the back, composed.

Their triangles in MF, casual.

Their ability to play effective, positive possession based football under pressure, superb.

Their shape and knowing where they need to be and when, polygonic.

Their manager, full marks.

Not saying we were bad, we just couldn’t cope first half and they did the business.

Full credit.

Spot on, that big lad at CB was incredible in and out of possession. Many teams have crumbled to our press at BL, they rode it out and took control with supreme confidence.

That Morris wants a smack though, got a reyt bitch face.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Maybe so but I expect they will come straight back down. Despite being two up and us starting the second half really poorly they allowed us back into the game. Factor in the first half where it was open and both teams could have been 2-2 in the first 15 mins. It's hard to gauge being very good in the Championship (especially this season) as it doesn't usually translate into decent enough to stay up in the PL even with new players.

That all said it's good to see Frank looking like he is struggling to get another team promoted.

Agreed, its a sad fact that, good as they look at this level, without a major upgrade they’ll another Burnley - whipping boys for the elite - it’s shite really

 

[AWetFlannel]

Agreed, its a sad fact that, good as they look at this level, without a major upgrade they’ll another Burnley - whipping boys for the elite - it’s shite really

Just think "they'll go straight back down" is a bitter, nothing statement. It's a fair shout regarding literally everyone that goes up and isn't relevant to their team which has been built for this season, not next.

Sunderland weren't a great Championship team, but their promotion team isn't what we're seeing this season.

 

[bakeblade]

I thought they were great tonight bar the last 20 when they started to tire. If we had 11 v 11 I think we could’ve drawn level but their first half performance was fantastic, let’s give em credit.

Their big lad at the back, composed.

Their triangles in MF, casual.

Their ability to play effective, positive possession based football under pressure, superb.

Their shape and knowing where they need to be and when, polygonic.

Their manager, full marks.

Not saying we were bad, we just couldn’t cope first half and they did the business.

Full credit.

They were good, but I thought they handed the initiative to us on 78 by putting the extra defender on and trying to see out the game.
If not for the red card I reckon we get at least a point tonight.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Best side to come to the Lane since we came down. I don’t think they tired either - they conceded and their mentality changed - as it always does in football - to “let’s see this out” when, ironically, if they’d kept playing they’d have probably got another.

 

[bakeblade]

Just think "they'll go straight back down" is a bitter, nothing statement. It's a fair shout regarding literally everyone that goes up and isn't relevant to their team which has been built for this season, not next.

Sunderland weren't a great Championship team, but their promotion team isn't what we're seeing this season.

No way will Boro will throw the amount of cash at it that Sunderland did.

 

[Bladesman]

Agreed, its a sad fact that, good as they look at this level, without a major upgrade they’ll another Burnley - whipping boys for the elite - it’s shite really

Sunderland have made a go of it but at what cost? Will it roll into next season? Forest are already back looking over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table. It's only a poor West Ham and a mismanaged Wolves (who should have already been relegated long before now) that are keeping Forest and Leeds up.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Just think "they'll go straight back down" is a bitter, nothing statement. It's a fair shout regarding literally everyone that goes up and isn't relevant to their team which has been built for this season, not next.

Sunderland weren't a great Championship team, but their promotion team isn't what we're seeing this season.

All depends on the coach really and both Sunderland and Boro have clearly got good ones. If only we had the ability as a club to appoint someone like that.

 

[AWetFlannel]

No way will Boro will throw the amount of cash at it that Sunderland did.

I doubt they will, it wasn't my point.

 

[AWetFlannel]

All depends on the coach really and both Sunderland and Boro have clearly got good ones. If only we had the ability as a club to appoint someone like that.

We did. Appointed Chris Wilder and he took us up without a promotion budget and kept us up against all the odds.

It's difficult and requires incredible luck, we've had it recently.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I thought they were great tonight bar the last 20 when they started to tire. If we had 11 v 11 I think we could’ve drawn level but their first half performance was fantastic, let’s give em credit.

Their big lad at the back, composed.

Their triangles in MF, casual.

Their ability to play effective, positive possession based football under pressure, superb.

Their shape and knowing where they need to be and when, polygonic.

Their manager, full marks.

Not saying we were bad, we just couldn’t cope first half and they did the business.

Full credit.

Can't disagree with that,frustrating thing was we needed to get to half time at 1-0 Coopers kick put us in trouble and they punished us.
All this talk of Cooper for England!
Not a chance ! he has some big weaknesses and kicking is one of them! There keeper in comparison got the distance with his clearances and his reading of the game far better.No one seems to talk about the goalie reading the game! It was apparentl tonight Cooper put us in trouble numerous times with short balls
The modern keeper is good on the ball with accurate distribution ! It's a given with keepers in the prem.

 

[YES Blade]

They were good, but I thought they handed the initiative to us on 78 by putting the extra defender on and trying to see out the game.
If not for the red card I reckon we get at least a point tonight.

Agreed, plus if we’d started with Phillips I don’t think we’d have gone 2-0 down in the first place.

No doubt they looked good, but I can’t help thinking we didn’t do ourselves any favours tonight. It seems to be a running theme that when we seem to be on the verge of getting into real playoff contention we shoot ourselves in the foot.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Just think "they'll go straight back down" is a bitter, nothing statement. It's a fair shout regarding literally everyone that goes up and isn't relevant to their team which has been built for this season, not next.

Sunderland weren't a great Championship team, but their promotion team isn't what we're seeing this season.

Wow! Steady mate. It wasn’t a “bitter nothing statement”, simply a commentary on the relative gulf between the leagues, nothing salty in it. I thought they were a great side but, without massive investment, they still won’t be competitive in the PL. Personally, I think that is a sad reflection of how badly wrong things have gone.

 

[dc_blade]

Only watched the first half but have to say Boro are the best team we’ve played this season by a distance. Move the ball so quickly, not afraid to take risks. We rattled them a few times but very strong opponents.

 

[bakeblade]

I doubt they will, it wasn't my point.

You were implying that promoted teams can look totally different in the Prem, as per Sunderland.
That doesn't happen without throwing loads of money at it.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Sunderland have made a go of it but at what cost? Will it roll into next season? Forest are already back looking over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table. It's only a poor West Ham and a mismanaged Wolves (who should have already been relegated long before now) that are keeping Forest and Leeds up.

Bang on, its hard to see beyond the perilous lottery of massive risk taken by the likes of Forest. In all honesty, Burnley have been sensible but we know only too well what it feels like to be like them in the PL…..

 

[Bladesman]

Wow! Steady mate. It wasn’t a “bitter nothing statement”, simply a commentary on the relative gulf between the leagues, nothing salty in it. I thought they were a great side but, without massive investment, they still won’t be competitive in the PL. Personally, I think that is a sad reflection of how badly wrong things have gone.

It's like people don't watch enough Premier League football. The Premier League is full of top end athletes playing the game at much quicker tempo than our match tonight.

Most Championship clubs even promoted clubs can rarely sustain that intensity over 90 minutes (look back at us with Hecky trying to hang on in the 1000 minutes of injury time at away at Spurs). Boro had that in parts tonight and so did we in that opening 10 mins or so. Playing that way over a full 90 minutes is really hard to do without a squad full of athletes and not just athletes but ones with quality.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Wow! Steady mate. It wasn’t a “bitter nothing statement”, simply a commentary on the relative gulf between the leagues, nothing salty in it. I thought they were a great side but, without massive investment, they still won’t be competitive in the PL. Personally, I think that is a sad reflection of how badly wrong things have gone.

Wasn't targeting you with that, apologies.

Another poster said it, and I wasn't intending to have a go at them either really, I just find that comment to be both common and vapid, particularly when it's fired at a team who just beat you.
(Completely agree about the state of the game and gulf between the leagues)

 

[CornwallBlade]

Wasn't targeting you with that, apologies.

Another poster said it, and I wasn't intending to have a go at them either really, I just find that comment to be both common and vapid, particularly when it's fired at a team who just beat you.
(Completely agree about the state of the game and gulf between the leagues)

No worries - I think every football loving fan has the same view about this. PL is now a playground for the few who do whatever they want to protect their privileged position. Not holding my breath for the FFP verdict on Citeh etc whereas others will be boxed and battered for less.