United 1 Boro 3 - report/ratings

[CoatesyBlade]

Come on DB you’ve got to have a bit more faith in the team. We’ve got a good one!
Hasn’t Hecky got the best points to game ratio? I’m sure he has.
I know last night was frustrating, but that’s all it was!
Have a bit more faith. You predicted we’d finish 10th at the start of the season. So we’re well exceeding your expectations.
Glass half full all the way in from here

 

[highgreeninjapan]

Great report DB, great additions from Bergen, too.

It’s only one game, but I think it was the fact that many of the alarming things we saw are things that we’ve seen before, especially in the 2nd Prem season. Hurt by pace, constantly being exposed on the break, Norwood being taken out of the game, Berge jogging around watching the game like he’s a referee, slow management reactions (other than the kick), ill-discipline and a lack of leadership, and no game-changing options on the bench.

Really hoping for a reaction and a performance on Saturday.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Not a bad report, Deadbat .
But if you want to see how a professional does it...

 

[Luke1993]

I personally think it was poor game management from hecky but also the senior players on the pitch. It was clear the man for man press wasn't working and we were losing individual 1v1 battles. We needed a foothold in the game, if the instructions from the manager is to press but senior pros like Egan and Norwood etc can see it's not working, they need to have a word with the gaffer or take it upon themselves to just say to the team. Let's not go pressing for 10 minutes, let's get in shape, 532 narrow, behind the ball and frustrate them, deny the space that archer was killing us. Do that and I don't think they would have had the quality to break down a 532 rest defence. Remember, they HAD to win, so would have got frustrated and counter attack opportunities would have presented themselves. I blame hecky and co for not recognising this and instructing the team to do so, but experienced players could have also taken some responsibility and effected the change. Having said all that, as people have said, score the excellent chances we had and it's a different game. I think we will be fine tomorrow, tough game but I think this team will be hurting, big game on sky and most of them didn't do themselves justice. I think they will tomorrow at a very difficult place to go but I have faith that this team and squad will produce a solid performance.

 

[bakeblade]

I personally think it was poor game management from hecky but also the senior players on the pitch. It was clear the man for man press wasn't working and we were losing individual 1v1 battles. We needed a foothold in the game, if the instructions from the manager is to press but senior pros like Egan and Norwood etc can see it's not working, they need to have a word with the gaffer or take it upon themselves to just say to the team. Let's not go pressing for 10 minutes, let's get in shape, 532 narrow, behind the ball and frustrate them, deny the space that archer was killing us. Do that and I don't think they would have had the quality to break down a 532 rest defence. Remember, they HAD to win, so would have got frustrated and counter attack opportunities would have presented themselves. I blame hecky and co for not recognising this and instructing the team to do so, but experienced players could have also taken some responsibility and effected the change. Having said all that, as people have said, score the excellent chances we had and it's a different game. I think we will be fine tomorrow, tough game but I think this team will be hurting, big game on sky and most of them didn't do themselves justice. I think they will tomorrow at a very difficult place to go but I have faith that this team and squad will produce a solid performance.

For some reason we allowed ourselves to become involved in a basketball game with them. After getting the all important first goal, maybe we should have been much more conservative and just asked them to try and break us down and hit them on the break. Don't forget it was a game a draw would have been fine.
Our tactics, with Bogle and Lowe still bombing forward, played into their hands. Fleck with his experience should have come on at half time for McAtee