The Difference?

[CornwallBlade]

Watching the Boro vs Stoke game tonight. A few thoughts.

1. Boro are no great shakes
2. Stoke looked very good
3. Stoke held a high line to compress midfield. Yes, I know it leaves you open to a ball over the top but it stopped them playing.
4. Both sides had pace and energy all over the park but especially up front
5. Smallbone for Stoke is a brilliant version of what Berge should be. Plays in the hole and absolutely ran things.
6. It’s all getting tense now and everyone at the top will be feeling it
7. We have to put in a performance tomorrow

Summary? We have no reason to feel inadequate. Get some intensity, play forward rather than slow and sideways. Drop the donkeys and get to some pace and aggression back in the side.
Win tomorrow and the pressure is all on Boro. I’d rather be where we are than them.
UTB

 

[ChemEngBlade]

I thought the same. Both teams are way more mobile in midfield than we are, they run with pace and Smallbone was excellent, would happily see him in a United shirt

 

[Rufus Smalls]

It will all depend on Hecky’s team selection tomorrow. If we have both Fleck and Norwood in the starting 11 then don’t expect the energy that Stoke showed tonight. I’m no tactical expert but those two together have shown not to work on many occasions. Lining up for a draw will be disastrous.

 

[Brian Deane]

Flick nids drippong

 

[ChemEngBlade]

It will all depend on Hecky’s team selection tomorrow. If we have both Fleck and Norwood in the starting 11 then don’t expect the energy that Stoke showed tonight. I’m no tactical expert but those two together have shown not to work on many occasions. Lining up for a draw will be disastrous.

Really we need McAtee to start, he's the only one who will actually run from midfield with anything like a hint of pace.

 

[jono_t2000]

Flick nids drippong

Flick needs flicking

 

[Brian Deane]

Flick needs flicking

Scud bin soild 2yes igu

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Really we need McAtee to start, he's the only one who will actually run from midfield with anything like a hint of pace.

Agreed. But it’s up to those around him to move off the ball and offer themselves as an option. We don’t always do that and that leads to the ponderous looking sideways then backwards because the player on the ball has no options in front of him. We can do it in small doses but not for a prolonged period of play.

 

[jono_t2000]

Scud bin soild 2yes igu

I don't speak Welsh sorry mate

 

[Old Programme seller]

I thought the same. Both teams are way more mobile in midfield than we are, they run with pace and Smallbone was excellent, would happily see him in a United shirt

May be one of the reasons we did well against Spurs is that we had a harder working midfield

 

[ancientblade]

It will all depend on Hecky’s team selection tomorrow. If we have both Fleck and Norwood in the starting 11 then don’t expect the energy that Stoke showed tonight. I’m no tactical expert but those two together have shown not to work on many occasions. Lining up for a draw will be disastrous.

norwood and fleck should never be played together in midfield ever again that boro result tonight might just gee our lads up tomorrow its practically a free hit now have to say dont fancy us but what a boost it would be to the players and fans if we could sneak a win and go 6 points clear of boro it might just deflate them at the same time

 

[ChemEngBlade]

Agreed. But it’s up to those around him to move off the ball and offer themselves as an option. We don’t always do that and that leads to the ponderous looking sideways then backwards because the player on the ball has no options in front of him. We can do it in small doses but not for a prolonged period of play.

Yeah agreed, I'm not really sure we have the personnel for the role, we MUST recruit in the summer no matter what

 

[Blade.com]

Agreed. But it’s up to those around him to move off the ball and offer themselves as an option. We don’t always do that and that leads to the ponderous looking sideways then backwards because the player on the ball has no options in front of him. We can do it in small doses but not for a prolonged period of play.

Spot on, it’s all ball to feet and all the players are static. Leaves them no option but to lay it back or out wide to yet more stationery players who then get pressurised and lose the ball.

 

[Bell4]

Tomorrow is absolutely massive

Win and we will seem almost beyond Boro as tonight they fk up

 

[Dnblade]

Wouldn't mind seeing Jebbo get a game if he's fit,to give us a threat in behind and stretch their defence.

 

[CornwallBlade]

May be one of the reasons we did well against Spurs is that we had a harder working midfield

Absolutely right. Get that midfield back again- points to prove etc. if we go Fleck Norwood Berge it will be ponderous and easy to get on top of. Norwood I’ve time for but Gleck and Berge are the new Lundstrams

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Sorry had to stop after something about a Smallbone playing in the hole

 

[bladesince64]

Flick nids drippong

Cirroct

 

[e17blade]

norwood and fleck should never be played together in midfield ever again that boro result tonight might just gee our lads up tomorrow its practically a free hit now have to say dont fancy us but what a boost it would be to the players and fans if we could sneak a win and go 6 points clear of boro it might just deflate them at the same time

Agreed. I have been saying this for two years now.

I love them both and always will - and in the past together they were amazing - but…

For ages now when played together they have just lacked the sheer energy required by the way football is played these days.

Also - even though I am a fan of Berge (although this is somewhat fading of late) - to add him into a three with Norwood and Fleck is a disaster.

I would 100% play Norwood and Doyle… +1

… but I don’t know who I would pick as the +1 at the moment. Probably Berge against Sunderland tonight with McAtee coming off the bench if required.

To me the mistake was not getting another midfielder in - which I think we would have done but for the embargo.