BUBBLING BORO battered rock bottom Watford to ease lingering relegation fears and restore pride after the hurtful capitulation at West Ham. And I mean really battered them. The Gazette stats - which are as official as they come - showed 23 Boro shots in all and 11 on target in a game that but for superb shot-stopper Ben Foster could have been a Riverside record score.
It wasn't all plain sailing. There was a spell after the ludicrously easily crafted opener on five minutes when the sun appeared to have got to Boro prompting an overly relaxed Bank Holiday approach in which they seemed mentally sat outside the Dickens with their shirts unbuttoned and one eye on the student girls. Watford's route one goal slapped them back to harsh reality and as they stuttered back into top gear prompted an exhibition of crisp passing approach play and shots from all angles that was a pleasure to witness.
Even more pleasing was the awesome display of makeshift right-winger Adam Johnson.
Adam Johnson is brilliant. He plays with the breath-taking zest that we last saw with the youthful Stewart Downing, a hunger to show off a joy in exquisite close control, terrifying changes of pace and bamboozling dribbling skills that fans adore but has palpitating coaches muttering about naivity and unpredictablity.
Match of the Day said his nickname is 'Jinky'. I'm not sure that is true but it seems appropriate, has a nice historical echo and it gives a good word count in a headline so it wouldn't surprise me to if the press start to use it if he continues to giv ethem good reason.
The youngster, who made his Boro debut as a late substitute away in the UEFA Cup at Sporting Lisbon - imagine that! - could claim a hand in three of the four goals despite being a left footer playing in that problem position out on the right flank.
He was a revelation there: while he may not be a natural right footer he is certainly a natural flanker and carried those instincts into the game as he ran at people at pace, skipped around them with a deft touch and looked to deliver telling balls into the box.
It was a brilliant showing and one that contributed directly to the goal rush. Many fans were gushing about the deadly display of Mark Viduka - and rightly so, he was class and when he is on fire like that Boro generally win - but the Aussie's full range of abilities were on show because he was getting vastly improved service, especially from the right.
BANG! He created the opener as he put his head down and raced down the right and hypnotised Jordan Stewart with a series of shape shifting stepovers then cut inside and crossed to the far post for Downing to head down and Mark Viduka to stroke home.
CRASH! The second showed that despite his slight frame he has the strength to survive in the big time as he twice turned Tommy Smith inside out then shrugged off an attempted half-nelson before slotting to the edge of the box for George Boateng to cleverly cannon off mid-air Chris Riggott's flicked back heel and send the ball zipping off into the top corner. Some said it was a complete fluke but George has been doing that all week in training.
WALLOP! The third, on 75 minutes, came as Johnson collected in the chaos after a half-cleared Rochemback corner then cut the ball back to imperious Viduka to dummy and check between two defenders, lose the ball then reclaim it and chip neatly into the top corner.
Johnson's dazzling display gave the team balance and much need pace and creativity down the right. That is bad news for James Morrison and Lee Cattermole who both vacated the right wing role they have shared by default through their own indiscipline. Cattermole collects applause for thudding tackles but also collects cards with the enthusiam of Ian Baird and ten yellows earned him a two match that opened the door to Johnson. Morrison lost ground in his battle for a regular slot when he lost his rag and pole-axed Ronaldo. He may have been only doing what Boro fans wanted him too but it was stupid and he left the team without cover in a key position.
Both have looked awkward on the right. Morrison is a converted central-midfielder who has shown flashes of promise (the goal in Ostrava made him a legend) but he has never really pushed on and demanded the shirt. His appearances on the right have been by default with the alternatives being Parlour, Mendieta or Maccarone. That he is now behind the pecking order to a defensive midfielder should worry him and prompt him to up his game quickly.
Cattermole has bags of potential. The man many have pencilled in as the natural successor to Boateng is fast, strong, athletic, determined and tough in the tackle and his sizzling strike against Manchester United suggests he has an eye for goal too. But whatever he is, he is not a natural right winger. He has offered solidity down the flank and in more robust games is a better option than Morrison but he is not comfortable going forward in a role that demands an ability to beat a man and deliver a dangerous cross.
So Johnson's display will have caused a selection headache for Gareth Southgate. Neither of his previous preferences on the right are naturals. Both have limitations. But while Johnson may not be right-footed he IS a winger and his natural instincts to get forward, skin a sluggish defender and put the ball in the danger zone quickly are just what the doctor ordered.
There is an argument that playing wingers on their 'wrong' side is more effective because it gives them an added edge and shooting power when they cut inside onto their natural foot. It is a normal tactical element in Holland's total football for instance. It is a notion that has some pedigree and some logic.
The Boro boss has said he wants to attack teams and use pace and creativity to bring the best out of the much trumpeted front pairing. Johnson offers that, brings balance to the team and with the extra offensive outlet will take the pressure off double marked Stewart Downing.
Boro are safe now. If we are looking forward to next season why not give Johnson a run on the right. Let's give him his head and see if he can do it again. If Boro can rip apart Villa, Wigan and Fulham with the same ease the season can still finish on a high.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »