Derby Dazed By Boro Smash and Grab

John Powls wrote...

AV - like you, I won't comment on the game.

7 points from 9 is a good return, so things ARE looking up - but then things pretty well had to look up, not to say get a crick in their thingy necks, because until those results everything was above us and moving away.

The results for others meant that we didn't drop too far off the group above us but the same phenomenon now means that we haven't pulled away either.

So, we have to keep on keeping on - and the fixtures don't get any easier.

4 points out of 6 in the next 2 would get us to 21 at the halfway mark of the Prem season. That would be a good-ish place to be given our abysmal start and that 40 points may be a good deal more than is needed for survival this year.

But 4 out of 6 won't be easy against a Hammers side who are better away than at home at the moment and Brum who are tough on their patch. It could just as easily be 0 and we're back in the do-do.

We follow that with a trip to Pompey and I don't see their poor home run continuing, though we might use the trip to talk to 'Arry about Matt Taylor's availability in the window.

And survival is all we're aimimg for lest any bright soul in the PR department starts putting 'top 10' into the mouths of Gate and players.

I think that even talking about pulling away from the other (we are still amongst their number) strugglers is premature just yet. And I'd want us to be in much better shape than we are now to face the January fixtures.

My problem in being too optimistic is that, just as I didn't think that anyone on the management and coaching staff had any idea about how to get us out of the mess we were in, I am pretty sure they can't account for why we've improved a bit either or how to sustain it.

As Ian often says - it all depends on which Boro gets off the team bus on match day. That's a recipe for more squeaky bum time for the rest of the season.

I'm glad to see Tuncay come good. It was always clear from the start that he had good movement, runs and skills about him despite several 'mares in front of goal in previous games. Those of us who went to Upton Park will know he owes the Hammers - let's hope he makes them pay on Saturday!

Saturday's goal ought to be our second MOTD Goal Of The Month in a row.

Wheats has been a revelation this season and deserves to keep his place. With Huth and Pogo snapping at his heels and Woody's we have just the pressure on places we need in that position. We could also spare Riggs in the window but I wouldn't like to see Woody go.

O'Neil has been the signing of the Summer overall, though.

What we do in the window will be important and our performance there over years, including in the recent past doesn't fill you with optimism.

For every Tuncay, O'Neil or Young there's a Simba or a Shawky.

The jury is stil out on Mido because we haven't seen enough yet and I'm still to be convinced that Aliadiere will be anything more than an impact player from the subs bench if we buy a proper goalscorer.

The rumour mill has already started and we're being linked with some of the poorer offerings like Cousin from 'Gers or Dica from Steuia and the bouncing Czech.

They must think we never learn - and they are probably right!

We need a goalie too. Schwarz's time is over, Brad Jones isn't the real deal and won't be and whilst Ross Turnbull had a couple of steady games he needs more time yet.

Still a bit worried is on the mark, AV.

Posted by: John Powls  | December 17, 2007 12:20 PM

'Ignorant' of boroland wrote...

AV

I dont know about Tevez. I think Tuncay is the Boro Berbatov, I even think he will easily surpass the spurs man this season with his energy movement and goals.

They are equal on goals [3each] but Tunny's last one will be goal of the month or I am a Dutchman!

Everything I was upset about earlier in the season - No Tuncay upfront [dong gook or downing instead] Downing , Swartz and Boateng's performances, back 4 changing too much has all been remedied by Southgate and inexperienced or not I owe him a big pat on the back.

I would change the team as little as possible as continuity is paying dividends. Hope there are no injuries to follow { Tuncay especially]as I still think the squad is a little light.

Up the BORO!

Posted by: 'Ignorant' of boroland  | December 17, 2007 12:53 PM

John Powls wrote...

AV

When speaking to my Dad on the phone yesterday he was telling me that there were stories going around that Catts had been misbehaving himself off the field.

What he'd heard was along the lines of the 'too much, too young, can't handle it'. These must be pretty public stories as he's getting on a bit so relies on the local press, radio and TV rather than 'mates down the pub' or at work.

I hadn't picked anything up down here. What do you know and what are the club doing about it? We need him fit and firing not hungover and fired!

**AV writes: Catt and some friends were asked to leave a few pubs in Yarm after getting a bit loud and lairy - young man drinks lager shock! He was later reported to the Stockton 'Pub Watch' committee (a voluntary police/ landlords body) who have powers to ban persistent rowdies but no action was taken. Storm in a pint glass.

Posted by: John Powls  | December 17, 2007 1:21 PM

score Draw wrote...

Anthony:

The more Southgate says to the press the more I worry.
He says Tuncay "would not have attempted the volley a few weeks ago" .... if he'd been playing he would have !!!

It's hard to smack in volleys when you are on the bench or playing out wide. He's only played him because of the injury crisis. He tried Craddock and Hutchinson before him.

According to the press this morning if you can believe it, Southgate's rationale for bringing Tuncay to the Boro was based on him being a free transfer. How uplifting and inspirational for the Turkish lad.

I am very suspicious of the way he slipped Schwarzer back into the team against the feeblest attack in the premiership. He'll regret it and there will be even more pressure on 'Goldengloves' when he plays in front of a Boro crowd.

To be fair to Gareth - Arca and ONeil are a joy to watch. I find Southgate the most confusing manager I have ever seen. I love the fact that he is calm and doesn't panic but cannot understand how he tolerates 'cry babies' like Schwarzer, Rochemback.

It's clear that Gareth understands that for an English footballer he is an intellectual giant. He obviously likes and values the cerebral image and I wouldn't knock him for that. But he needs to be a bit more steely. He should have raised hell about the goal we had disallowed.

I'm worried about the absence of Arca. My irrational fear is that we will swap him for the Sunderland goalie who is being 'rested'. I'd love to see Craig Gordon at the Boro but his arrival would be spoiled if we lost Arca.

Bit of a ramble I know -apologies.

Posted by: score Draw  | December 17, 2007 2:19 PM

tonyblack wrote...

Great win, great 3 points. Ugly or not that's all that really matters at the moment.

Hopefully we can keep this going and start to really develop the winning mentality and the mentality that we can win any game.

There's no reason why we can't.

We can't win every game for sure. But all that matters is that in the games we do lose that people keep fighting and battling until the very bitter end and keep on pressing and giving the opposition as little time on the ball as possible.

Anyone we play must knows that we are a team that refuses to lay down even when all is lost, and so if they want to beat us they're gonna have to be at their best

It simply isn't acceptable to play this way against Arsenal, or to have this " game plan " against them just because they're Arsenal and then to give or do any less against the so called " lesser " teams.

More please.

More changes to the backroom personnel.

More fresh PR ideas from the powers that be.

More of a positive attitude where everyone looks to up and to the future.

It isn't just a question of having players back to fitness, as there are always going to be times when injuries become inevitable. We must maintain the self belief, the discipline and we must keep the fighting spirit and passion going no matter what.

It's easy to be positive when things are going well. The test of any team is to see if they can do the very same when things are going badly. So far we haven't been able to do this on a regular basis. But let's see if we can.

My main complaint with people at the club has always been that there is a perennial air of doom, gloom and defeatism, with an all too eager appetite to play the " small town in Europe " card when things aren't going well, instead of rolling sleeves up and looking to find improvements and solutions no matter how small they are as they all ad up.

We must NEVER accept this mentality and we must ALWAYS strive to be better within the financial constraints of what we can afford.

No one is saying that we must be unrealistic, but that we must just stirve to find ever better levels of performance in every single area of the club.

Can we make the players fitter and stronger ? Maybe here or in Europe there are new things that might work for us that we haven't tried. Can we improve the way we train them and how we feed them ?

Is there more we can do to motivate them and to make them more united ? We send managers to learn how to manage and motivate staff in the business world, why don't we send our coaching staff and captain to do the same ? Passion and desire a good captain does not make.

Are there any other ways to put bums on seats ? Did the fans like the recent email we sent them ? Did they think that what we had to offer them could be improved on ? Maybe if we actually ask them they might gives us some new ideas as well.

You can ask many questions and there are many ways to improve, all that you need is the desire to do them.

It isn't all just about how much money you have to spend.

Three more points on the board - WELL DONE.

TB

Posted by: tonyblack  | December 17, 2007 2:21 PM

Si wrote...

Vic

Two wins, a more solid and spirited unit, a new hero. Alas, there are downsides to all of this:

(a) If Tuncay keeps going on like this the bigger clubs will start sniffing. With both players and managers, we're in a no-win situation - if a player/manager achieves the slightest bit of success here, they move on (see: McClaren), if they're not good enough, we suffer. And they do too.

(b) Spurs are after Johnson, allegedly. Is there any truth in this rumour or is it just his agent? He might not be playing too much, but our squad's quite thin as it is...

(c) We don't even know if Arca really will be fit for the weekend game. Every report on NewsNow can't guarantee it.

So I'm still cautious.

**AV writes: There is a grain of truth in the Johnson story in that Spurs have watched him and are interested, (and so too no doubt will be a lot of other teams) - however senior figures in teh club have stressed quite emphatically to us that there is no way he will be leaving.

Posted by: Si  | December 17, 2007 2:29 PM

dave wrote...

Going into the bottom 3 recently seems to have given the players a reality check. Maybe it had to happen to wake them up.

Good to see Tuncay get another goal. Makes a mockery of Southgates recent decisions to put Tuncay behind Lee and Hutchinson in the pecking order.

Had Tuncay been in the team after Mido was injured then I doubt we would have been in the bottom 3.

Just shows how much Southgate still has to learn when he brought on DGL and Hutchinson ahead of him. After that game i wouldn't be surprised if Tuncay had considered quiting. It was like an insult and showed the manager wasn't too keen on him.

Posted by: dave  | December 17, 2007 3:03 PM

alf wrote...

Heard a rumour that when we signed Tuncay on a free there is a buy out clause which is trigger should a club make a high enough offer. No idea what this is set at.

**AV writes: These days almost every big player's contract contains more clauses than a Santa convention. So long as none of them are a gift to the big boys we are alright.

Posted by: alf  | December 17, 2007 3:19 PM

Ian Gill wrote...

My banana fingers have either just sent a post that ends in gibberish or it has disappeared into hyperspace.

The essence of it was that my Derby friends thought the Rams were truly appalling and thought we deserved to win.

Before the match we were worried that we would resort to type and follow a great result and performance with something fairly dire.

The sad truth is that at times we were little better, resorting to hoofs down the pitch. We have got away with a performance that would not have been good enough at many grounds.

So now we need to ride our luck and do to West Ham what we did to Arsenal.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 17, 2007 3:49 PM

robin mitton wrote...

"NEW SPECIES OF GIANT RAT ROUND"

Dear AV and Tony Black,

Are these the ones that wear executive suits and can be seen furtively scurrying around the Riverside sniffing out freshly created intellectual and commercial morsels?

Rob Mitton
THIEVES FOR NATIONS

Posted by: robin mitton  | December 18, 2007 5:45 AM

tonyblack wrote...

" robin mitton wrote...

"NEW SPECIES OF GIANT RAT ROUND"

Dear AV and Tony Black,

Are these the ones that wear executive suits and can be seen furtively scurrying around the Riverside sniffing out freshly created intellectual and commercial morsels?

Rob Mitton
THIEVES FOR NATIONS "

I really don't know !

But I'm always of the opinion that it's better late than never.

At least these may be the first signs that the powers that be have taken on board that things need a shake up at the club. Long may it continue....

AV, why don't YOU take the lead here along with the Gazette? Why don't you invite us all to comment on things we would like to see change to and any ideas that we have? You did it for the striker problem not so long ago.

Just a thought.

TB

**AV write: Get thinking. I'll ask for your Christmas wish list later in the week.

Posted by: tonyblack  | December 18, 2007 9:52 AM

rob mitton wrote...

Well gentlemen,

I've asked Daddy Crimbo for a privatised train set...and if I get it I'll (we'll) have the club by Easter!

Rob Mitton

WEALTH OF NATIONS

Posted by: rob mitton  | December 18, 2007 10:30 AM

Nigel wrote...

Two wins in a row has to be good for confidence.

Winning at Derby after the 'big performance' against Arsenal was vital, the style or quality is irrelevant.

What we need to do now is turn in another good performance against West Ham. So what if they are 'good on the road'? They have one or two injuries and there is no need to fear, they are beatable. I want at least six points from the four Christmas games, but eight is achievable.

We now have a striker full of confidence and scoring goals the impact that has on team and crowd should not be under estimated and the defence is playing well at last.

I would keep Wheater in the side despite Huth's return to fitness, having a pool of good defenders to pick from is a great position to be in. I'm sure Riggot will move on, there is no chance of Woodie leaving.

I think we may have reached a moment where we have a settled side, new players now feeling comfortable and few injuries to worry about.

How we fair for the rest of the season will depend on keeping everyone fit and the strikers scoring regularly. I can't see us buying a decent striker in january, which team worth its salt is going to sell a good centre forward half way through the season? We may pick up an average player who is an improvement on DGL but that is all.

If we finish tenth we will have had a blinding second half of the season, 11th/12th is a realistic target, just surviving as JP suggests would be a disapointment to me.

We are still threatened by relegation but we have an opportunity in the next four games to maintain momentum, collect some points and banish relegation fears, if we achieve that then we can start looking up the table.

We have played consistently and with solidity in the last 4/5 games (Villa apart), we have nothing to fear from the next few games, its an opportunity to seize the moment.

Posted by: Nigel  | December 18, 2007 11:46 AM

John Powls wrote...

AV

Well done to The Count for stamping down so firmly, decisively and quickly on the speculation about Stewie and Johnno.

Let's hope he displays the same attributes in closing in on the striker and goalkeeper (at least) that we need in January.

Let's also hope that Gate's targetting the right strikers - e.g. not Dica, Cousin or Baros for starters.

Posted by: John Powls  | December 18, 2007 12:08 PM

Ian Gill wrote...

The following are the words of Dave Allan following votes on the question of celebration music after goals at the Riverside.

'However, we are looking to carry out a more far-reaching survey among our supporters in the New Year on a wide range of issues when the question of goal celebration music will be included.'

Like many I hope this will be a really genuine attempt to engage fans and I am going to take it at face value. Lets hope I am not disappointed.

**AV writes: There are definite signs of a thawing and moves towards re-engagement coming right from the top. Watch this space.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 18, 2007 12:15 PM