Villa Displays Bodes Well For The Future
I'VE JUST got back from Villa Park and unusally for this season it is with a light heart and positive outlook. The deserved point came from a battling performance by a team was had a better balance than of late, combined solidity at the back, zest and spirit in the middle and, with two up front, looked to have some punch.
The game offered several reasons for optimism and pointed to possible solutions for some of Gareth Southgate's long-standing problems. Here's a few observations:
**George Boateng is back - and what a difference it makes. General George admitted after the game that he had been disappointed with his recent displays, that he had been playing with an injury and that he could maybe have done with a rest. That much we all knew. But we also all know that when he is on song that his gives Boro bite in the middle, breaks up opposition moves to relieve the pressure on defence and, although he is not creative himself, if he wins the ball and releases it quickly he can be pivotal to the team breaking forward at pace.
He was back to his best in a sizzling second half. Admittedly he started slowly and several times in the the first half he miscontrolled, was slow to close down or scooped attempted clearances to Villa players. Possibly he was phased by the loud and incessent booing every time he touched the ball, who knows? But as the game wore on he started to exhude authority, his positioning meant he was first to the ball, he was quick to tackled, he was finding team mates with a neat range of passing and as his confidence grew he started to dribble and get forward into dangerous positions. That bodes well for Boro.
**Jonathan Woodgate put in a second successive defensive masterclass that screams out his case to be considered the best centre-back in the league. His hair may be unkempt but he has an assured poise and almost artistic grace about him that makes him a delight to watch. His positional sense and pace means he rarely has to make a rash tackle, instead he reads a run or the angle of the ball and deals with it in an unflustered way. Twice Agbonlahor burst free into the box to open a yard or two gap but Woody almost nonchalently followed and as the Villa man adjusted his stride, turned and shaped to shoot the Boro man simply stretched out his leg and stole the ball off the strikers's toes. Awesom ein its simplicity.
Woodgate playing in this form must rattle even the best strikers. As the game wore on Agbonlahor and Angel both gave up trying to beat him and even in good positions to push it past and try to beat him they checked and played the ball back, surrendering the initiative and giveing Boro time to regroup. He is a major asset but almost certainly a short-term one. If he continues like this it is inconceivable that Real Madrid won't want him back.
** Three at the back worked. Boro have three decent central defenders so it makes sense to play them and it solves the political problem of getting £6m man Robert Huth some pitch time without displacing Manu Pogatetz, arguably Boro's most consistent player this term. Those three combine pace, power and height and give Boro a rock solid look about them.
**The wing-backs worked too, although there was a shaky start. Abel Xavier (who at the end went to the Boro fans and whipped off his top to reveal a t-shirt saying "Thankyou Middlesbrough" in return for the club's support over his drugs ban) offers a physical presence going forward that Andrew Davies and Stuart Parnaby don't and is a strong defender too. Andrew Taylor is a real offensive threat on the left and has fantastic control but at times in the first half drifted out of position, that was why Villa right-back Olaf Melberg got the space to wander forward at will. He was tighter and more disciplined in the second half and that helped cut out that route and eased the pressure on Boro.
**Malcolm Christie's goal was offside. So what? They all count. And it was against the run of play in a first half that Villa had dominated. But, it came because for the first time in week's Boro were getting bodies forward and into dangerous positions. And although Boro rode their luck - Schwarzer made two good saves and Villa missed a few glorious chances - they have now not conceded from open play in three games and picked up five points from them to start heading in the right direction. If that is the kind of attacking mentality based on a solid platform Southgate has in mind then, while far from a complete product, it bodes well for the future.
Older/Newer
« Small Screen Mauling Was Retro Delight | Gaffer Gareth Earns Political Point At Villa »
26 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Anthony Vickers
Keep up to date
Follow Untypical Boro on
I agree almost entirely (apart from the Southgate save!) Our 'off-side' goal was cancelled by their 'penalty.'
I too struggle to spell Shwortser's name!
**AV writes: D'oh!
Yep enjoyed that. We looked like a team at last, there is some room for optimism for the first time since we beat Chelsea.
Gate is listening and getting his house in order. Sensible tactics, no round pegs in square holes, a settled side playing a way that they all seemed to understand. We just need consistency now and keep this going.
Xavier was revelation on the right, no disrespect to Andrew Davies but this guy still has so much to offer. Pity we still dont have Frank on the left, Taylor looked a bit lost at times which put Pogo under pressure.
George is almost back, probably because he's not having to worry about what Rocky is or isn't doing and I thought Arca played really well, my personal man of the match.
And it was great to see Christie back, he plays well of Yak.
All in all quite satisfying.
As you guys will know, I've long been an advocate for us going 3-5-2 given the balanced back 3 that we now have with Riggs available soon to slot in when the inevitable injuries/suspensions happen.
So, glad to see it yesterday and semi-pleased with the return, but with the personnel available it may have been the only way.
Gate has long been a fan of the El Tel type 3-5-2 and that's what we should go to as soon as Stewie is fit. If you play 2 full backs wide in the 5 you risk it mostly being 5-3-2. Our 5 (until the window) should be, from the left, Tayls, Stewie, The Boat, Catts and Mozza.
The praise for The Boat is well made. He is at his best when he does 'his' job - the Makelele type holding role - break up the opposition and pass it simple. Not too many forages forward.
I believe that it was The Boat that Gate was talking about recently when he made the otherwise daft remark about us 'trying too hard'. I think The Boat has been doing that and this has been made worse by being Captain. He's been trying to do everyone's job when they haven't instead of doing his own very well and leading by that example. This is what's made his own form suffer.
We need The Yak and Veruka, when he's fit, up front. I know Veruka can be lazy but he's way the best we've got for that role until the window. Christie or Danny Graham - our most Veruka-like forward - until then.
This also gives you the basis for huge flexiblity in the game if Plan A isn't working. You can go to a standard 4-4-2 with Huth at right back or to a Spanish type 3(4)-2-3-2(1) formation with The Boat and Catts holding and the other 3 pressing on. Even more variations on a theme and cover available with the right subs.
Let's have a go again against ManUre next week. There's everything to gain by doing so. They have a tough fixture today, of course, and another one against The Toffees in midweek.
Due to them slumping to 2 bad 0-1 defeats in the Champs League recently they also follow our game with a Champs League game they have to get at least a point in. So we could do with them drawing against Chelski and getting a bruising, narrow win against Everton. They might then come to us a risk resting a few. Cue for a surging performance from us.
Well, just back from a family break and missing one of the few local matches as I live in Derby. Lo and behold, we got a point without me watching it live.
As John says, 352 got our three defenders into the formation though of course John finds it difficult to pick the PP.
ManU will be difficult to play 3-5-2 against. Last year we were able to outmuscle and outplay them in midfield. They are much stronger now but the workload may wear them down. If they are at full strength I would be bothered about Giggs and Ronaldo getting in behind our wing backs.
I would also be bothered about them only playing Saha up front with Rooney floating. Combine these two factors and it could lead to trouble picking up runners. But formost it is about us coming out and imposing ourselves.
My final thought is delight at the goal for Christie. He looked offside, I just wonder if the officials thought the ball had been played through by the Villa player from the challenge? Never mind, christie must be chuffed.
**AV writes: He was well chuffed. He even used that phrase. I spoke to him afterwards and he admitted he knew it was well offside but couldn't stop laughing.
Vic and chums
Has anyone seen David James latest hair-do as sported against the Barcodes yesterday?
Those of us of a certain vintage will have pegged it immediately as being inspired by that well known Boro style icon Willie Whigham!!
Worth a side by side photo in the Gazette, surely, Vic.
We got lucky again. the dodgy offside goal. our midfield totally dominated again and too slow. Reliant on woodgate again. It was a penalty as schwarzer shouldnt have come flying out. if that had been in at the riverside and a yakubu we would say that was definatly a penalty.
A 6-2-2 formation is only going to work for so long. do we only have ambitions to want to stay up? whats happened to pushing on from a uefa cup final?
our league form has been like this ever since zenden left. I think the solution is have a shake up in the backroom staff.perhaps bring in a attack minded coach.
Do any of our current coaching staff have experience of being an attacking player? I mean can they really pass on an useful tips to yakub and viduka when they werent strikers themselves?
You can see why boro are getting a reputation as a boring team to watch across the nation.
What ever happened to southgate pre season PR about attacking football? didnt last long did it? we seem more negative than last season.
Southgate is showing his inexperience by sorting out the defence but a bit clueless going forward. maybe he should have become a defensive coach first?
Just look where we would be in the league if we got someone like big sam or MON in. Every season bolton have finished above us. Why didnt we look to bring in big sam?
I'd sacrifice cautious defensive football for attacking hardworking fit players if it meant we got in the top 7. this cautious defensive football is doingf us no favours. its been like this in the league for last 3-4 season.
New coaching staff required. they have got us as far as they can with our best ever squad..just look at the players we have..australian international keeper, german, england,portuguese,austrian international defenders,ex dutch and dutch international midfielders,england international winger, nigerian and australian international strikers..and other ex internationals in reserves..and we still cant work out how to attack
Come on gibson change the back room staff. bring in someone like john hendrie for work on the strikers and wingers
John, Willie Whigham? Now you're showing your age, but clearly James' new 'hair do' bears a striking resemblance, although to my knowledge Willie was far too ugly to do any modelling!
On another subject, I have a bone to pick with you , AV, clearly Woodie is the best centre back England have, the trick is not to tell Real. So please stop talking about him and the Gazette must stop giving him man of the match awards!
As for your spelling I can only assume the excitment of a good Boro performance has got to you. The question is, is Maik Shorter going to adopt the James 'hiar do' to?
As for the 3-5-2 formation, there is a strong case for playing a formation which accomodates your best players ie 3 centre backs. I'm certainly in favour of any formation that includes two forwards and off-side or not it was good to see two Boro forwards in the box.
John
You are right about Willie Whigham and his hair style. The similarities dont end there of course.
Willie was the forerunner of the dracula joke, for those of a younger vintage Willie used to be terrified of crosses and was rooted to his line. He was also a superb shot stopper.
A crucial difference is that James is quite vain about his appearance, Willie could not be termed a fashion icon nor a candidate for a role as 007. To be blunt he came second in a beauty contes but the pig won it.
But he was a hero.
The best side by side photo article was in private eye which showed an Orc alongside Lee Bowyer with the caption along the lines of ' One is is a snarling, vicious creature which respects no one and destroys everything in its way. The other is a chracter from Lord of the Rings.'
Mr Vickers
Three at the back will work as long as the wing backs are wing backs and not full backs.
I had my doubts about Woodgate but accept I was wrong and he has been a fantastic signing. However as you say Madrid might want him back and if they do not I am sure his performances have been noted by the PL's so called big 4 teams.
When you spoke with Christie after the game how chuffed was he about Woodgates smacker?
For gods sake is this blog for talking football or about mens haircut? Get yourself to psyche if you want a fancy haircut and lets stick to football please.
Never Happy
The problem with 3-5-2, as you righlty say, is if you play full backs instead of wing backs. With full backs it becomes 5-3-2 and you get overun as surely as playing four in midfield against some clubs.
The fact is you have to use what is suitable for the players available.
a boro fan
Sense of humour bypass? Donor in a wit transplant?
Does anybody agree with me that a fit Christie could just be the answer to our lack of edge up front?
Willie Whigham ? Hero! Talk about a throwback; running out for the second half, stubbing out his fag end on the goal post ( I kid you not ). A brave keeper and a good shot stopper. As for his physique, slimmer than Eddie Connachan shall we say ! Anybody else on here as old as I am ??!!
352, 442, 235 (remember that lads and lasses when teams long long ago pre-Alf Ramsay used to have 3 half -backs, 2 wingers and three inside forwards???
No, of course you don't!) - but whatever, I don't care, so long as we go out on Saturday against the Mancs with an attacking line-up. We showed L'pool far too much respect.
We stuffed Man U last season at our place and took a point from them at the Theatre of Screams. We've got to go into this game with a positive attitude, as we did at Villa.
Get in their faces, get amongst them, put the wind up'em. We've done it already this season against Chelski- now let's give the Mancs a bloody nose, too.
On another tack, it grieves me to say this, but the Barcodes are currently playing exhilarating attacking football. Getting few points and scoring few goals admittedly, but they're very entertaining. Why? Because they have 4 very pacy forwards in Dyer, N'Zogbia, Martins and Milner. Please can we have a couple of similar players for Christmas, Gareth?
Ian
At the moment the back three is an automatic choice, with a solid back up in Riggott.
I am not one for chopping and changing the team and as such my middle five would be Taylor, Downing, (Johnson if Downing unfit) Boteng, Cattermole, Morrison.
Yakubu and Christie as the front two.
At least the team would have a few players with a bit of pace, and we will need that against Man U.
Clive
Willie used to live round the corner from me, I was one of the unlucky people to live in Dinsdale Ave when Monty P were doing their sketch about the Piranha brothers. (That will test Boro Fans sense of humour).
I thought that if I mentioned the further comparison of David James and his work on fitness as against Willie getting into his Ford Zephyr and lighting up whilst driving to put something in his dustbin then AV would be doing his airbrushing of history. So I wont mention it.
Talking of the work ethic (what a seamless link), you are right that we need to get at ManU. Time and again under MacMoses we were given the run round when we tried to out pass the better teams or be 'clever'.
These teams are individually better than us in most positions so we have to dictate the tempo. Give time and space to Carrick and Scholes and they will pass us to death. Defend too deep and allow Rooney time and space to drop back and he will torture us.
To finish, interesting to note MacMoses is yet again distancing himself from Sven, this time over taking Rooney to the world cup whilst unfit. By the end of the season he will be telling us that we deliberately let Basle and Steau got three goals in front to lull them into a false sense of security.
Never Happy, I would be happy with that line up though I think Gate will probably go for Xavier on the right instead of Morrison for his better defensive capabilities.
Apparently David James paid £250 for his haircut and said the lady that did it did a great job. He is still thinking of shaving it off though. I bet Willie did not get paid £250 pound a week.
The last time I saw Willie was at the infamous relegation game at Shrewsbury when Boro fans were throwing him up in the air in the away end. At least everyone thought it was Willie.
John Powls, if you want humour then go and hang out on FMTTM. Its bad enough on there so lets keep this to football.
Ian
If he plays Xavier, he should still play Morrison and only one of Boteng or Cattermole.
Whatever the team of formation it will be a tough game, Boro must not play like there did against Liverpool as United will tear them to shreads. As last season showed the way to beat United is to take the game to them.
A boro fan
It is bad enough supporting the Boro without banning humour as well. You are not a steward or part of the safety committee are you?
You could always get AV to filter out anything light hearted. Maybe we have to type our blogs whilst staring into a web cam, AV can study the pictures and if anyone smiles he can delete the entry.
I am all for a bit of fun, football is meant to be enjoyable even though the Boro do stretch ones patience at times. As long as there is no abuse or spoofs anyone should be free to post Boro related info.
Ian
Hear, hear, we need some humour to survive!!
Dear old Willie Whigham !One of my teenage heroes. It's true about the fags. I once saw him training at Hutton Road (about 3 light years pre- Hurworth) and he chain-smoked his way through the session, muttering to himself in his deepest Scottish accent.
A clear winner in the ugliest Boro player of all time competition, with Stuart Boam and Carlos Marinelli in 2nd and 3rd. Any other offers?
Whigham's legs were so thin he once sparked the Kop at Anfield to burst into an impromptu chorus of "Where did you get those legs....? " He had sticks between the sticks.
Humour, It's one the most necessary things that you can have supporting Boro over the years.
Keep up with the jokes lads. Anyone knowing of a good diving instructor, red-nose is wanting one.