It's not over....yet

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

JPBrods

JPBrods

Active Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
1,408
Reaction score
4,851
Location
London
You're probably going to groan at this, but in light of how depressing this place has been the last 24 hours or so, I thought I'd be the one to stick my head above the parapet and at least try to make some folks feel better. And we just can't go on like this come Weds night.
Yesterday was as bad as it gets - as simple as that. We played dreadfully, lost in a predictable manner, the fans voted with their feet at the end and of course, Boro came from behind to win convincingly, away from home. The worst possible points swing played out against us in a manner as equally excruciating and frustrating as it was predictable.
So now that we've seen the worst (because if Boro overtake us, it won't be a surprise anymore. Yesterday was the rude awakening that stung. And I can't fathom how we could possibly play worse than yesterday as a group) the fact remains that this is still in our hands. Not comfortably anymore, but it's still with us. And provided the players and Hecky stop twatting around and WAKE UP, we can get to the finish line.
I am anticipating the scenario of Boro getting ahead of us one way or another at some point in the coming weeks, but that could well be part of another 'game in hand' scenario given our cup run. Our remaining home games are absolutely nothing to fear. Away, is a different matter - yesterday's fuck up means that we're almost certainly going to need to pull out a big result away from the Lane at some point. Weds night could well be that result if we get three points, similarly if we go to Norwich and get a result there as we have done in the past.
Had my tantrum last night, today I'm trying to move on. That's my piece.
 



JPBrodie said:
You're probably going to groan at this, but in light of how depressing this place has been the last 24 hours or so, I thought I'd be the one to stick my head above the parapet and at least try to make some folks feel better. And we just can't go on like this come Weds night.
Yesterday was as bad as it gets - as simple as that. We played dreadfully, lost in a predictable manner, the fans voted with their feet at the end and of course, Boro came from behind to win convincingly, away from home. The worst possible points swing played out against us in a manner as equally excruciating and frustrating as it was predictable.
So now that we've seen the worst (because if Boro overtake us, it won't be a surprise anymore. Yesterday was the rude awakening that stung. And I can't fathom how we could possibly play worse than yesterday as a group) the fact remains that this is still in our hands. Not comfortably anymore, but it's still with us. And provided the players and Hecky stop twatting around and WAKE UP, we can get to the finish line.
I am anticipating the scenario of Boro getting ahead of us one way or another at some point in the coming weeks, but that could well be part of another 'game in hand' scenario given our cup run. Our remaining home games are absolutely nothing to fear. Away, is a different matter - yesterday's fuck up means that we're almost certainly going to need to pull out a big result away from the Lane at some point. Weds night could well be that result if we get three points, similarly if we go to Norwich and get a result there as we have done in the past.
Had my tantrum last night, today I'm trying to move on. That's my piece.
Click to expand...

I can't see us changing.

I want to be proved wrong though.
 
I'll add a little.

One crumb of comfort is the remaining fixtures.

Yesterday, though we lost, means we have one fewer top 8 team to play.

Whilst Boro won, they removed only a bottom 8 team from their remaining fixtures.

As at today, I saw that for the remaining 10 games, the split was like this:

Boro
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 4)
Mid 8 - 5 (avg pos - 12.6)
Bottom 8 - 2 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 11.8

United
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 5.33)
Mid 8 - 3 (avg pos - 11.66)
Bottom 8 - 4 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 13.7

So on average we are playing teams lower down by two places. We are also playing twice as many of the worst 8 teams as they are. They are also playing more teams who, given the tightness of the league are still pushing for play offs at this point. Crucially when it comes to fellow top 8 teams they are playing considerably more difficult teams; they have two top 6 teams and we have one for instance.

We can get into the discussion about threatened teams fighting as their position gets more precarious but by this stage, they are down there for a reason.

If we really can't at least match Boro, with a better run in on average, with fewer top 6 teams to play and with twice as many of the poorer teams and with a 4 point cushion, then we shouldn't have much trouble convincing ourselves that we didn't really deserve it.
 
i like the sentiments in the o.p. but its down to one man this situation and thats paul heckingbottom hes completely bottled it in the last few weeks playing defensive boring negative football no the season isnt lost yet but unless hecky takes the brakes off his tactics we aint getting automatic and will have little or no chance in the playoffs if he continues with wilderball 352 were done for im afraid
 
JPBrodie said:
You're probably going to groan at this, but in light of how depressing this place has been the last 24 hours or so, I thought I'd be the one to stick my head above the parapet and at least try to make some folks feel better. And we just can't go on like this come Weds night.
Yesterday was as bad as it gets - as simple as that. We played dreadfully, lost in a predictable manner, the fans voted with their feet at the end and of course, Boro came from behind to win convincingly, away from home. The worst possible points swing played out against us in a manner as equally excruciating and frustrating as it was predictable.
So now that we've seen the worst (because if Boro overtake us, it won't be a surprise anymore. Yesterday was the rude awakening that stung. And I can't fathom how we could possibly play worse than yesterday as a group) the fact remains that this is still in our hands. Not comfortably anymore, but it's still with us. And provided the players and Hecky stop twatting around and WAKE UP, we can get to the finish line.
I am anticipating the scenario of Boro getting ahead of us one way or another at some point in the coming weeks, but that could well be part of another 'game in hand' scenario given our cup run. Our remaining home games are absolutely nothing to fear. Away, is a different matter - yesterday's fuck up means that we're almost certainly going to need to pull out a big result away from the Lane at some point. Weds night could well be that result if we get three points, similarly if we go to Norwich and get a result there as we have done in the past.
Had my tantrum last night, today I'm trying to move on. That's my piece.
Click to expand...
It is over unfortunately. Because Hecky wont drop Fleck of Berge.
Only chane we have is sacking Hecky for this clusterfuck her has created.
 



The big question is how Boro will react when they get an opportunity to go past us. Or how they react when they're the ones being chased in 2nd. Basically, we have to hope that Boro's form falls off a cliff, because I don't see our performances magically getting better.

That is, unless we change formation or see some big changes in personnel. The 3-5-2 isn't working and hasn't been for some time. Does Hecky have the balls to make the changes required though?
 
Proper Blade said:
The big question is how Boro will react when they get an opportunity to go past us. Or how they react when they're the ones being chased in 2nd. Basically, we have to hope that Boro's form falls off a cliff, because I don't see our performances magically getting better.

That is, unless we change formation or see some big changes in personnel. The 3-5-2 isn't working and hasn't been for some time. Does Hecky have the balls to make the changes required though?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately Boro’s form won’t drop off a cliff. These players are not over performing individually that has made the difference, it’s the manager who has got them playing as a unit, playing great football as he is tactically very good, if it’s not working in a game or they fall behind he is that good tactically it seems that he tweaks in game formation and tactics and they get the result. If he got a job elsewhere in the next few weeks would have been our best hope for their decline. Only chance to hold them off is if we up our game and go on a very good run. It’s doable but Hecky has got to stop being frightened of some senior players, drop them and unleash younger lads for a good run of games.
 
Boro under Wilder were crap. Carricks got them firing on all cylinders.

Blades playing Wilders tactics.

Mmm
 
When she picks the mic up.

obesity.jpg
 
JPBrodie said:
You're probably going to groan at this, but in light of how depressing this place has been the last 24 hours or so, I thought I'd be the one to stick my head above the parapet and at least try to make some folks feel better. And we just can't go on like this come Weds night.
Yesterday was as bad as it gets - as simple as that. We played dreadfully, lost in a predictable manner, the fans voted with their feet at the end and of course, Boro came from behind to win convincingly, away from home. The worst possible points swing played out against us in a manner as equally excruciating and frustrating as it was predictable.
So now that we've seen the worst (because if Boro overtake us, it won't be a surprise anymore. Yesterday was the rude awakening that stung. And I can't fathom how we could possibly play worse than yesterday as a group) the fact remains that this is still in our hands. Not comfortably anymore, but it's still with us. And provided the players and Hecky stop twatting around and WAKE UP, we can get to the finish line.
I am anticipating the scenario of Boro getting ahead of us one way or another at some point in the coming weeks, but that could well be part of another 'game in hand' scenario given our cup run. Our remaining home games are absolutely nothing to fear. Away, is a different matter - yesterday's fuck up means that we're almost certainly going to need to pull out a big result away from the Lane at some point. Weds night could well be that result if we get three points, similarly if we go to Norwich and get a result there as we have done in the past.
Had my tantrum last night, today I'm trying to move on. That's my piece.
Click to expand...
I don’t see a huge amount of positivity in there 😉

But the sentiment that it’s not over yet is easy to say.

We’re currently in a very negative mindset, despite what players and management say, the actions on the pitch show a tired, leggy set of players afraid to attack or playing in a cautious way, to protect what we have.

It’s completely wrong to approach it this way. And sadly it will end badly.

I said after Boro that we needed a psychologist and I was deadly serious. We’ve not stopped the rot, mentally.

Wins against Watford, Spurs and Reading were great, but they’ve only patched up some weakness. We’ve not suddenly become technically weaker. That’s not the issue. Our tactics are generally good enough for most sides in this division

But Boro and Blackburn exposed physical weakness in the centre of the park. Stop Norwood, stop our game. But this hasn’t been our entire game through the last few years. Plenty of sides have targeted Norwood and we’ve just moved the ball elsewhere.

Down the flanks has been where we’ve got lots of luck. Down the right: Bash and Baldock with support from Duffy, Lundstram and Berge. Down the Left with JOC, Stevens and Fleck.

The personnel may have changed but the method of overloading the wings with overlapping centre halves has never gone away. We didn’t rely on pace, we relied on numbers and movement.

Up top we’ve had reliability of Leon, then Didsy grafting dropping out, movement again with Billy being that horrible little player that pops up to score or provide the space for others to drop in

Last season we had MGW with his very different movement, he was fluid, a role that Ndiaye has taken on, theyve been the evolution and a hybrid Didsy. With McBurnie or Billy as the hold up man it’s allowed MGW or Ndiaye to work off them

The beauty of what we have is that we have flexibility in the wingbacks, the centre midfield, up top, but it only works if we shift the play away from the centre or protect Norwood.

The positive is that not every game will be as tough as Blackburn or Boro…

But the negative is that we can also easily make hard work of games against Millwall, Luton or QPR (where we got out of jail)

The warnings have been there since QPR away that teams can match or better us if we’re weak through the middle. But that game we shifted Berge out wide to cause problems

We have to adapt and cause sides problems. Yes they will cause us problems, but we have enough players to overcome or set up better.

Starting at Sunderland we need to be aggressive with their midfield, give them the problem. Get Baldock in, get Doyle in. Play Billy and McBurnie up top. Get Jebbo on the bench. Bully Sunderland
 
Proper Blade said:
That is, unless we change formation or see some big changes in personnel. The 3-5-2 isn't working and hasn't been for some time. Does Hecky have the balls to make the changes required though?
Click to expand...
we won't be able to change formation this season. Its too late. It takes weeks of training and then they'd need to play it for months to get could. Look what happened with Slav
 
SwissBlade said:
I don’t see a huge amount of positivity in there 😉

But the sentiment that it’s not over yet is easy to say.

We’re currently in a very negative mindset, despite what players and management say, the actions on the pitch show a tired, leggy set of players afraid to attack or playing in a cautious way, to protect what we have.

It’s completely wrong to approach it this way. And sadly it will end badly.

I said after Boro that we needed a psychologist and I was deadly serious. We’ve not stopped the rot, mentally.

Wins against Watford, Spurs and Reading were great, but they’ve only patched up some weakness. We’ve not suddenly become technically weaker. That’s not the issue. Our tactics are generally good enough for most sides in this division

But Boro and Blackburn exposed physical weakness in the centre of the park. Stop Norwood, stop our game. But this hasn’t been our entire game through the last few years. Plenty of sides have targeted Norwood and we’ve just moved the ball elsewhere.

Down the flanks has been where we’ve got lots of luck. Down the right: Bash and Baldock with support from Duffy, Lundstram and Berge. Down the Left with JOC, Stevens and Fleck.

The personnel may have changed but the method of overloading the wings with overlapping centre halves has never gone away. We didn’t rely on pace, we relied on numbers and movement.

Up top we’ve had reliability of Leon, then Didsy grafting dropping out, movement again with Billy being that horrible little player that pops up to score or provide the space for others to drop in

Last season we had MGW with his very different movement, he was fluid, a role that Ndiaye has taken on, theyve been the evolution and a hybrid Didsy. With McBurnie or Billy as the hold up man it’s allowed MGW or Ndiaye to work off them

The beauty of what we have is that we have flexibility in the wingbacks, the centre midfield, up top, but it only works if we shift the play away from the centre or protect Norwood.

The positive is that not every game will be as tough as Blackburn or Boro…

But the negative is that we can also easily make hard work of games against Millwall, Luton or QPR (where we got out of jail)

The warnings have been there since QPR away that teams can match or better us if we’re weak through the middle. But that game we shifted Berge out wide to cause problems

We have to adapt and cause sides problems. Yes they will cause us problems, but we have enough players to overcome or set up better.

Starting at Sunderland we need to be aggressive with their midfield, give them the problem. Get Baldock in, get Doyle in. Play Billy and McBurnie up top. Get Jebbo on the bench. Bully Sunderland
Click to expand...
I like this post....a lot
 
Carlton Blade said:
They’ve taken 24 points from the last 10. 51 from the last 25. They are on a ridiculous streak of over half the shots they get on target going in. They take 24 points again, we need 21
Click to expand...
Was just checking.
In all fairness if Boro win 8/9 out of their last 10 then you’d have to say they deserve it.
I think it’s gonna be close but still fancy us to do it.
 
robbiez666 said:
we won't be able to change formation this season. Its too late. It takes weeks of training and then they'd need to play it for months to get could. Look what happened with Slav
Click to expand...
We don’t need to change the formation to be fair
 
In have the feeling we can't salvage the form now.

BUT - I admire your outlook and having balls to get it all down in writing. I hope you're more right than me :)
 



SwissBlade said:
I don’t see a huge amount of positivity in there 😉

But the sentiment that it’s not over yet is easy to say.

We’re currently in a very negative mindset, despite what players and management say, the actions on the pitch show a tired, leggy set of players afraid to attack or playing in a cautious way, to protect what we have.

It’s completely wrong to approach it this way. And sadly it will end badly.

I said after Boro that we needed a psychologist and I was deadly serious. We’ve not stopped the rot, mentally.

Wins against Watford, Spurs and Reading were great, but they’ve only patched up some weakness. We’ve not suddenly become technically weaker. That’s not the issue. Our tactics are generally good enough for most sides in this division

But Boro and Blackburn exposed physical weakness in the centre of the park. Stop Norwood, stop our game. But this hasn’t been our entire game through the last few years. Plenty of sides have targeted Norwood and we’ve just moved the ball elsewhere.

Down the flanks has been where we’ve got lots of luck. Down the right: Bash and Baldock with support from Duffy, Lundstram and Berge. Down the Left with JOC, Stevens and Fleck.

The personnel may have changed but the method of overloading the wings with overlapping centre halves has never gone away. We didn’t rely on pace, we relied on numbers and movement.

Up top we’ve had reliability of Leon, then Didsy grafting dropping out, movement again with Billy being that horrible little player that pops up to score or provide the space for others to drop in

Last season we had MGW with his very different movement, he was fluid, a role that Ndiaye has taken on, theyve been the evolution and a hybrid Didsy. With McBurnie or Billy as the hold up man it’s allowed MGW or Ndiaye to work off them

The beauty of what we have is that we have flexibility in the wingbacks, the centre midfield, up top, but it only works if we shift the play away from the centre or protect Norwood.

The positive is that not every game will be as tough as Blackburn or Boro…

But the negative is that we can also easily make hard work of games against Millwall, Luton or QPR (where we got out of jail)

The warnings have been there since QPR away that teams can match or better us if we’re weak through the middle. But that game we shifted Berge out wide to cause problems

We have to adapt and cause sides problems. Yes they will cause us problems, but we have enough players to overcome or set up better.

Starting at Sunderland we need to be aggressive with their midfield, give them the problem. Get Baldock in, get Doyle in. Play Billy and McBurnie up top. Get Jebbo on the bench. Bully Sunderland
Click to expand...
You haven't mentioned a poor Luton who took 25 minutes to actually believe their eyes as to how turgid we were.
The manager seems incapable of picking the right side. He has zero in game management ability. His substitutions are frequently late and ineffectual. He has no personality which prevents him from motivating and geeing players up when things are tough.
Billy and McB are shocking together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Gavlar
Our discipline.
2 3 4
Replies
107
Views
5K
Gavlar
Gavlar
PaulPeschBlade
  • Locked
Strip Tanganga of the captaincy
2
Replies
54
Views
3K
Linz
Linz
Harry's Game
Oxford at Home, absolutely huge game now..
Replies
20
Views
858
Jimmy Fleck
Jimmy Fleck
Deadbat
United 1 Middlesbrough 2 - report/ratings
2
Replies
50
Views
3K
bruce
B
Maurice Maurice
Get organised...
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
Nagima
N

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom