Port Indicates Boro Are All At Sea
ERRATIC BORO showed against Portsmouth that no matter how many times they beat Chelsea to spark momentary delusions of grandeur, some glaring problems remain.
There is no getting away from it; the defence are ropey at set pieces, there is an abject lack of creativity and there is a major problem on the right. Unless these debilitating issues are addressed before the transfer deadline we can expect to spend the season in the bottom half.
The backline has reached crisis point. The club clearly are not happy with the current personnel or they would not have spent so much time and energy in pursuit of Distin and Huth or switched targets to Xavier or the more ambitious - and medically risky - Woodgate.
Against Portsmouth they leaked twice to set pieces, arguably the most predictable scenarios in the game and so theoretically the easiest to prepare for. They also leaked a goal after an aimless long ball forward when a Boro attack broke down and Pogatetz stepped in front of beanpole striker Kanu to tackle an aerial ball and missed it leaving the high-rise hitman a free run at goal. These are elemental mistakes.
Chris Riggott and Pogatetz does not work as a central pairing. No-one is taking a lead and commanding the defence leaving chaotic scenes when they are under pressure. A leader is needed and neither appears to have the appititude to garb the game by the scruff of the the neck, seize control and start dishing out orders. Mooted target Jonathon Woodgate may have - but what would he have made of his prospective team-mates' display?
There is an embarrasing lack of creativity in midfield and despite the talk of a new era of attacking football there was little in the team to trouble Pompey when it mattered. It is all very well hitting on the break when the big boy visitors come looking for a win but Boro must have the capacity to engineer openings when teams come looking for a draw too.
With Boateng and Cattermole as a central midfield pairing there was plenty of bite but little imagination and virtually no threat through the middle. Rochemback tried but in truth the game was lost long before he came on.
One reason there is so little variety and creativity going forward is that problematic void on the right and the reticence to deliver a cross from that flank. Repeatedly Boro got down that side but Parnaby, or Cattermole, or Boateng would fail to make the final delivery then play the ball back - and then usually it would then go all the way across to the over stretched main outlet Downing on the left giving Pompey time to either get back and defend or swamp the flanker and block the cross. If you can't dominate 50% of the pitch you half your chances of winning.
The thumping by Portsmouth was a disaster - but a timely one. It has thrown the defensive frailties into sharp focus and should dissuade Gareth from any notion that what he has is good enough, because they aren't. There are two days left of the transfer window. Boro must use that time wisely or they may be in trouble.
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Anthony Vickers
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possesion 67 %......goals 0.....work it out but we let in 4
Vic
Dead right on all points - and we could add more.
But none of this is in any way a surprise - it was eveident all last season and Gate has been around to see it all the way through.
So why are we struggling to sort it with 2 days left in this transfer window? Why aren't the coaching errors addressed? Why aren't we fit - or at least as fit as sides like Pompey? Why are the silly selection errors continuing e.g. Mendi wide right.
The refusal to learn means you're doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past and that's just what we're doing - only worse.
So how many more than 7 will the Gunners get this time? And how do we fancy Bolton after that with Anelka running at Pogo?.
Ok I admit that I was wrong!
After the Reading game it was my belief that one bad game does not mean your defenders aren't up to it. Clearly after yesterdays performance we need a top quality centre back in the team asap.
Woodgate on loan would be excellent, he's as good as any English centre back around. We need Huth as well so I hope Newcastle are not succesful in their approach. That would be frustrating given that Huth has already agreed to join Boro.
As for the right wing , I don't know who the answer is there but he isn't currently at the club.
Losing to Portsmouth 4-0 is embarassing, frustrating, predictable, but as AV rightly says a timely reality check.
As ever, Anthony, your comments are spot on.
For me this awful defeat was summed up in Pompey's second goal. Two of our "defenders" - I think it was Taylor and Riggott - argued about who should cover the loose man from the corner. Neither went to do so.
I do think it was unfair of Pompey to take advantage of breathtaking indecision & incompetence in our defence, but when they did the result was inevitable - an easy cross to the far post and a ridiculously easy goal to give away. Boro saw it coming. I saw it coming. Why didn't we stop it?? Who is in charge in the defence??
My heart goes in my mouth these days whenever we give away a corner. Our defending of set pieces is just lamentable. I hate to whinge - there are far too many whingers on the site as it is - but unless we mend the gaping holes in the defence very quickly, we will certainly be relegated.
Riggott is not the commanding centre-half we hoped he would be and Pogo's positional sense is non-existent. Can we please try Andrew Davies there in his true position? He's probably the best we've got just now.
There is obviously a huge amount of work to be done before the next match; not to set us up for Arsenal but to prepare for the rest of the season. This is when we need all the backroom staff working in support of GS. It seems lunacy to allow Steve Round to join up with England. If (I say if) he's any good then he's needed at Boro.
I just despair. How can the club say it is ambitious and yet the board appoint GS. A great player but just not the right person to take the club further.
I agree with your views Vic. I'd also love to see a central pairing of Huth and Woodgate. However, I can't belive people are calling for Davies. The kid is a walking disaster and he's proved this on the park time and time again. I'll be glad to see Tony Mac back like. Not sure what Euell's going to add up front but one problem at a time eh...
The trick will be persuading Woodgate to stay in a years time, he's a class act. I've never seen Huth play but he's obviously a man with a good reputation and lets not forget Riggot; he's good but clearly needs a good experienced centre back next to him. When all that is sorted we desperatley need someone on the right wing...any ideas?
Nigel
Right sided midfielder - Stephen Appiah - it seems Fenerbahce are listening to an offer from Pompey. We failed to get him on a loan before he went to Istanbul on a proper transfer and he had a fabulous World Cup.
Just what we want and would put Pompey's nose out of joint too. Double bubble!
Clive Hurren - are you, like Ian Gill and I, an ex-Acky Hall-ite?
I read on the BBC web site that we are in talks
with Jason Euell...why??
Stephen Appiah, sounds good to me.
Nigel
On Jason Euell - I think he would be a good signing for us too.
I've always rated him - not a great player, it seemed to me, but always a useful one. As a second striker and with bags of central midfield experience he can operate equally effectively in a 4-4-2 (as one of the 2) or a 4-5-1 (as one of the 5) and means that we could transition between the 2 formations without having to make a substitution.
Better for us than Mass - who seems to be on his way to Fulham.
The Your Team Your Views message board seems to be in agreement (for once) that we should play Downing AND Johnson on the two wings with them changing sides to make it difficult for the opposition to defend. We must be the only club with too many left wingers!
On JE although not popular at Charlton he has a one in four goalscoring record. Not bad for someone who's not a regular out and out striker.
John Powls
Yes mate. You were in my form! Thought it might be you! Didn't realise Gilly was Gilly if you take my meaning!
Nicky H - I would say that I've seen Davies have loads of good games - Reading and Chelsea to name but two. However, hopefully the problem is now solved with Woody and Huth on board. Two potential crocks or two great signings? Let's live in hope. C'mon Boro!!
mendi wide right? didnt mac try that last season and it didnt work? he aint got the pace. mondays fiasco was as we say true to form beat the best and get beaten off run of the mill teams.
tuesday a breath of fresh air the reserves hammer wigan 5-0. wide men staying wide and pulling there defence everywhich way, davies was a rock in defence, graham and christie ran the defence ragged.
people going on about a wide player what would be wrong with the lad up the road milner young and fast?
Clive
Good to hear from you! The Blog that's like Friends Reunited!
Is this the Acky Hall mesage board?