Gunners Blast Shows Gulf In Class
MIND the gap. The tube's incessant urging of caution proved prescient. Boro were taken apart by a team from another footballing planet. Talk earlier in the week about some of Boro's players thinking they were in the playground was apt too - at the Emirates Arsenal's big boys pushed them around like show off six former humiliating the fuggies.
Here's my match report.
MIND the gap. The tube's hypnotic message warning getting off at Arsenal underground station proved prescient.
The gulf in class between Boro and Arsenal - the gulf that any hopes Boro had of a shock result at the Emirates plunged down - was frightening.
Not just because bamboozled Boro worked their socks off but still failed completely to get to grips with the sublime skills and mercurial movement of on-song Arsenal's awesome display, a fact that gaffer Gareth Southgate has admitted..
More so because the gap has become a yawning chasm that now looks unbridgeable.
In recent seasons Boro's hopes and ambitions have been measured against Arsenal and to be fair Gareth Southgate had a brilliant record against them: unbeaten in five games as a boss and while only one of those was a victory, they had the edge in several others.
Back in December when Boro held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside, the buzz on Planet Football was Boro were edging towards "Arsenal-lite."
Aspirational Boro had rejected the usual cagey provincial make-weight route to success of long balls, midfield grind and physicality. We weren't going to be a Bolton or a Stoke. We were to be standard bearers for cut-price cavalier football that pleased the purists.
Arsenal's institutional silky style of fluid movement, close control and attacking with pace and panache was to be the template for a new look eye-pleasing Boro that would play their way to success.
In the Riverside fixture this term Boro had got at Arsenal from the off, imposed the shape and tempo of the game, played with spirit and steel and for long spells dominated the game with a swagger. It was just part of a run of excellent displays against the Champions League side that had fooled even the usually more cynical Boro fans into travelling to Arsenal on Sunday with an unaccustomed optimism.
In the previous season Boro had turned over unbeaten table-toppers Arsenal 2-1 at the Riverside and deservedly so with a sizzling show. Even Arsene Wenger opted not to blame the pitch, the officials or unusual weather patterns caused by Boro's unique microclimate and begrudgedly gave credit where it was due.
The away game that term had seen battling Boro boss the midfield with George Boateng outstanding and they were only denied victory when Arsenal converted from a last minute corner that wasn't to claim a 1-1 draw.
So when Boro again matched Arsenal this term at the Riverside it wasn't seen as a freak result but as another positive step in Boro's progressive path to a brighter future.
Boro were lauded by press and pundits, Alan McInally praised them as the best side outside the top four, and word leaked out that wily Wenger was a big fan of student Southgate. Things were looking good.
Fast forward four months and measured against the touchstone of Arsenal Boro now look terrifyingly short.
Boro beavered away but were dismantled by a terrific team who always gave the impression that they were ambling along in second gear and could step up at any time. Had they needed to score five or six there is no doubt they could.
One of the local radio lads was sat just behind me which is a mixed blessing. One the one hand there is the constant high-pitched shreik of coronary cockney triumphalism, on the other there is an insight into the unfolding game from the opposition perspective and on occasions of confusion, clarification of exactly which supreme example of athleticism had taken part in the build-up of the wave after wave of high-speed attacking.
"This is like a training ground exercise," he barked during the first half purple patch in which Arsenal were tearing battered Boro apart with a clinical polished precision that was almost a delight to witness. And it was hard to argue with him.
Brad Jones may be pilloried for his howler when he dashed out for the Gunners second goal but he also made a string of good saves in those spells when shell-shocked Boro were being tortured.
The defence will still be dizzy after being blasted by Arsenal's whirlwind movement yet Robert Huth made a string of excellent blocking tackles and the industrious backline did their level best to hold back the red tide.
Boro tried to pass the ball and sporadically looked good going forward. The delightful crossfield chip from Stewart Downing for Jeremie Aliadiere's golden chance early in the second half was as good a defence-splitting ball as you will see all season.
Yet still, even working flat out and with the motivation of survival behind them, Boro were light-years behind Arsenal. And that was supposedly a 'weakened' side.
In a blistering first half Arsenal played some sublime football that ripped through Boro to carve out a flurry of chances almost at will. At times their technical, tactical and physical superiority was almost embarrassing.
Southgate had pointed out in the build-up that some Boro players thought they were still in the playground. That was apt because awesome Arsenal played like smug six-formers taking apart the fuggies without breaking sweat.
Their attitude was summed up when, within a minute of the killer second goal flying in, they took off chief tormentors Fabregas and Theo Walcott to rest them for Wednesday's Champions League clash at Manchester United. That they brought on Adebayor and Daiby only served to emphasise the gap.
The match showed how far short Boro are of playing the kind of expansive passing game they aspire to. The worry is that they also fall short when it comes to playing a more robust and direct style too and so are muscled out against the mass of their pragmatic provincial peers.
That more direct blood and thunder approach - tackles flying in, ruffling the Gunners feathers and a tetchy, niggling approach to every decision may have brought more reward at the Emirates. Boro had no bookings in a game they need to win. At this stage that is a massive indictment of Boro's bottle for the battle.
Boro's problems is that they can't out-football Arsenal not do they have the tools or mentality to out-muscle them.
Boro are now in danger of falling through the gap and through the trapdoor.
***MEANWHILE... do Boro's survival hopes rest on the outcome of Newcastle's game with Portsmouth tonight? Win and the Geordies will get a boost going into their last three games and go ahead of us in the crucial battle to overhaul Hull. Lose and they may be down and out, be demoralised for the trip to Anfield next week and hand Boro the initiative going into the winner takes all nine pointer derby decider.
***AND don't forget, those who are so inclined can 'follow' me on twitter. It is a new toy and I haven't figured it out yet but if you have any ideas about how we can best use it, don't hesitate to tell me. In 140 characters or less naturally.
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Anthony Vickers
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Just back from The Emirates. I'd agree with Gate about the 'kids in the playground' approach of some of the team - that's what it was like today; except that would be an unfair comparison to real kids in a playground who might actually show some enthusiasm for their game.
If Boro were playing like boys they were up against men - and men who never needed to get out of second gear to cruise to victory.
And just in case anyone feels like letting Gate off the hook in favour of the players, the selection and set out was naive and then further wrecked in the second half when he contrived to have both our wide left players on the park at the same time but neither of them wide left - that was where Gary O'Neil was.
No belief, no fight, no quality and no hope. The Gooners' chant of 'You'll never play here again' had the ring of truth.
What the hell was that? Where the hell was the fight? Was that the best performance Southgate could muster against an Arsenal team that did not even break sweat?
Lets be honest now. The players have lost the faith. They are all queuing up to leave. The staff have lost the faith you can see it wrote all over their faces and the fans have lost the faith in Southgate
The media are just taking the Micky out of us now. For instance Ray Parlor outrageously said on live TV in his summing up of the game on Show Sports that Big Nose - apparently that's what Gareth was known as when he was playing - could not command respect from his players, could not handle players with strength or character and that is why he got rid of his experienced players and his leaders. The sad fact is he's right regarding the players.
Yet there is believe it or not still a chance we could stay up,because the other teams around us are playing so badly. But not with Southgate in charge. He has turned this once proud club of ours into a joke. Why the hell doesn't Steve Gibson see this, step in and give Steve Agnew or Mark Proctor the job for last few games. They may be able to instill some fight. At least we could go down with some pride.
Dodgy decision put us up against it but nice Gareth doesn't get sent to the stands and didn't see the penalty claim. Oh well whats the betting that if we have Manure pushed all the way next week Ronnie will do a trademark trip and dive and the Ref knows its easier to give it as nice Gareth won't say anything unlike nasty Fergie.
You would have thought that after Hull away some indignation and feistiness would have filtered into his veins but I guess not!
That said I think Arsenal didn't get out of 1st gear let alone second and lets be honest they didn't need to. What worries me is the need to take five touches and only pass to a stationery team mate whilst Arsenal were playing one-two's for fun and knocking it into space past our predictable pedestrian defence.
For a team thats fighting for its life God help those employees at the Riverside whose income depends on this lot. Stewy didn't turn up for the first half hour, King and Ali needn't have bothered. We were desperately in need of someone to take Arsenal on and get past the last man but when Jinky came on it was too little, too late. And what Emnes was supposed to do in 5 mins was farcical.
Tactically we were shambolic, Ali was moved to accomodate G'ON (who has been G'one for some time in more ways than one) and King was playing with yet another strike mate. From the off because of the changes the basic bit of understanding built up with the previous two performances was lost.
On the positive (if there was one) 2-0 was not as bad as it could have been but the fact that there was no yellow cards from a team supposedly scrapping for its survival is worrying. Then again it been made abundantly clear that some of those players have no intentions of sticking with us so their survival is not in question.
I can't add anything to what has already been said. Your blog title says it all AV.
For the sixty odd minutes I suffered watching the game we never got close to matching them in any department.
You can argue all day about the first goal being offside, there is no doubt Bentner was interfering. But the whole team selection, tactics, sub usage was abysmal and played right into their hands.
But as Boro in Spain says we actually still have chance because we are not the only team who are unable to muster points ... however I have a feeling that when Newcastle beat Pompey tomorrow night the Fat Lady will be on her final practice session.
Yes we were outpaced,outpassed,outclassed but were fortunate that, Fabregas excepted, the Arsenal attack had an day off and Huth in particular kept them at bay before Fab took control. Bendtner is our Alves.
And they did allow us some reasonable chances but in the story of the season we did not have a lethal striker capable of inflicting damage from limited opportunities. King is out of his depth and O'Neil was the worst I have seen him. Downing must be praying for his release from a barren front three. Tuncay evaporated mid first half and the subs were invisible. Jones kept the misery to respectable proportions. Emmnes must be earning a good quid to put up with three minute cameos. What use was that, was he supposed to orchestrate a last ditch turnaround.
There needs to be a summer clear out in preparation for what may be several seasons in the Championship if were lucky to try and develop a basic belief and style which might help us be a better Premiership outfit if we ever get back there.
John, Aus
When is it kitchen sink time AV?
It must be time with four games to go to throw caution to the wind and just go for it like Fulham did last season. At no stage during the game today did we actually look like we 'thought' we were gonna get a result.
Its like 'magic' Merson said last week on Sky...time has now run out so throw caution to the wind!! We could draw every game 0-0 from now on and we will still go down.
The fact is the only 'threat' is tell the current players that they will not be able to jump ship if we drop and they will play in the Champo next season with a 33% pay cut... ala 'Mogga' Mowbrays rant this week when he stated WBA players are going no where.... now that would make them play out of there skin me thinks??
Fact is Downing,Tuncay,GON,Huth etc all know that no matter what they will be playing in the prem next season....and for me it shows!!...so 'motivation' is stay up and move on or play infront of 8000 at Peterbrough!!!
Just a thought.
Imagine that you are a Premiership or Championship player......would you agree to come to the Riverside next season to play for Gareth? Thought not!!
Boro to beat Newcastle and stay up on goal difference with a win at WHU last game.
Come on BORO
Was sad to watch our labours yesterday. I just cannot believe we have become so bad. On that display there is no chance on Earth that we will stay up.
But hey, this is the Boro! 1-0 against Man U, a draw at the Skunks, a win against Villa and a draw with West Ham. I can dream can't I? Oh dear Rovers won... well its all on the North East and Hull now.
When is Gareth going to realise that four draws wont help.
Sky Sports online page headline: "SOUTHGATE - WE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH"
Well Mr Southgate if the truth be known, "WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING"!!!
I was at the Peterborough/Stockport game last week. As the chants of 'Come on Boro' rang around the ground my mind (and heart) was drifting back to the Riverside, hoping we had scored and won against Fulham.
The POSH game was rubbish. The players gererally were good professionals but average - apart from a couple of exceptions. I couldn't help thinking forward to next season and the likelihood that Peterborough would be playing Boro. Since then, Peterborough have gained promotion to the Championship and Boro will almost certainly be relegated.
The difference between the two clubs and the two teams is massive at the moment. But Peterborough will strengthen and Middlesbrough will weaken during the next few months.
I agree with the previous poster that every player, except Downing, should have been told that relegation will keep them at the club and they will be expected to play next season in the Championship. The majority of players are playing as if they couldn't give a damn. Maybe they would 'up their game' if they didn't have an easy option to leave the club?
Our squad is not good enough - or too young? The away performance of Boro tells it all. But the season is lost over the whole of eight or so months. Not just the last games of season!
We still have a slight chance though and I hope the miracle will happen. As GS says: “We are going to have to win at least two, and maybe two draws, that might be enough." Tough!
(Just keep) Up the Boro!
From today's report in The Guardian: "All we have to do is beat the world champions to try and stay in the division," said Southgate.
How is that going to inspire confidence in the players? What about: "Man Utd might have one eye one Champion's League games that weekend and its a home sell-out so we could get something?"
That quote, if genuine, suggests we can't beat Utd and therefore won't stay up.
Sounds like the manager and players have already accepted it or are pinning all hopes on beating the Mags and hoping other results work out for us in the next few weeks.
If Newcastle win tonight, they'll be full of belief, while Southgate will have demotivated our bunch of wantaways beyond all recovery? I like Southgate, but he just isn't going to cut it as a manager at this level.
Southgate has always gone 4-5-1 at The Emirates with some success to try and cut down the midfield space so I was surprised when he went 4-4-2 with the inevitable consequence that we were outpassed and left chasing shadows.
His tactical change when he made his substitution as John Powls has stated above was little short of pathetic and defied all logic.
With regard to the players there are too many just not up to the job.It really is time for those running the club to take off their rose tinted glasses regarding the quality of some of our Academy players.
McMahon has a fantastic attitude but lacks pace and quality on the ball. How Andrew Taylor is playing in the Premier League is beyond me.Totally lacking in pace he takes no responsibility defensively and offers nothing going forward.
I'm not a particular fan of Arca but his recent omission from even the bench is presumably an indication of the latest in a long line of players Southgate has fallen out with.
Against Arsenal at home we had Digard and Arca in midfield with Tuncay playing behind a lone striker and looked a hell of a lot more competitive than we did yesterday.
The most telling stat yesterday was 'bookings = nil'. Three days before a Champs League semi, the last thing Arsenal needed was a fired up side flying into tackles and getting in their faces. Sadly, that was the last thing they got.
To have any chance against Arsenal you've got to upset them and yesterday was a real chance to see exactly how much they fancied a battle. 2-0 doesn't sound too bad away to the best footballing team in the country. In truth we gave them a pleasant training exercise to hone their skills for Wednesday night. We are going down with a whimper and that is something that as fans, we cannot forgive.
We need wins therefore we must be set up to play at a high tempo to score goals. Also, is it my eyes or is Matty Bates piling on the beef? Seeing Fabregas run effortlessly past him for the second was embarrassing; made him look like he was towing a caravan.
As for Ali; oh my word, what does Gareth see there? Finally, in these times of austerity how gauling is it when you consider the £27 m wasted on Mido, Ali, Alves, Emnes and Hoyte. I'll include Hoyte as he cant seem to get into a poor team.
I have always supported Gareth but 10 straight away defeats and this latest powder puff performance are deeply, deeply depressing.
After years of complaining about media bias and the 'top pundits' not being fair to the Boro I've just realised that it could have been worse.
The pity that commentators and presenters like Alan Smith, Andy Gray an Jamie Redknapp are showing towards the Boro is much worse than the indifference shown for the previous 10 years.
It is truly painful to hear and sense the pity in their voices when they are defending the Boro, their plight and lack of luck. They mean well and I think they would sooner see us stay up than any other relegation candidate but their 'supportive' comments and pity just rub salt in the wounds.
And then Gareth comes on ....... waterboarding for Boro supporters.
Apparently that was a hostile performance !! And as for Tuncay stopping a breakaway by kicking the ball out to allow Fabregas to get treated (he lost the ball consequently we had to stop the game) only for the same Fabregas to score 90 seconds later? All I can say is he's lucky firearms aren't freely available in East Teesside (come to think of it, they are).
Back in November I predicted that Boro would end up in 19th position with 35 points. It seems that even that was rather optimistic!
My prediction was based on hard facts: we were playing with no consistency, none of the players were performing up to their full potential, team selection was unusual, we were playing too deep, we were relying on quick breakaways as our main form of attack, when in possession we were one-dimensional with only two or three players looking to become involved in the play...the rest of them just switching off.
Our only plan was to soak up pressure and hope for a goal and then retreat and frustrate the opposition for the rest of the game. I could go on and on.
Sadly this "game plan" did not work very often. Even more sadly not one person at Middlesbrough FC has had the gumption to try to change anything. We have played the same way all season with the inevitable result.
We have now come away from the Emirates without competing. We have played without passion, without self-belief, without pride, without steel or any sign of a backbone. Where does this leave us? We are a pathetic laughing stock which is only going one way and that is DOWN. Yet still the spin goes on.
Are we seriously expected to believe that Gareth Southgate is going to stay on as manager next season? He has had three seasons at the helm and proven time and again he has no idea how to build a team. The planning for next season should be at an advanced stage now and the first decision must be a new manager. Over to you Mr Gibson.
Congratulations 10 out of 10. I never thought in my lifetime a boro team could be so bad on the road. But we play the Mags in the next away match ,no better time to break the bad run.
Four games left, I think 6 points is the minimum requirement. You can put money on Hull beating Stoke so we must get to 37 points at least. Who am i kidding?
We will be OK as long as we learn our lessons.
Interesting photo of GS to accompany his latest predictable offering in the Gazette. I'd like to think he's counting the minutes to his inevitable dismissal but somehow I don't think he'll be sent packing.
AV, enlighten us all please. With all your in-depth knowledge of our BORO and the media, why is it that this weekend alone 12 of Middlesbough FCs first team squad are apparently leaving for pastures new yet there has not been a response from Southgate or the club?
The 12 players are:
(1) Tuncay our talisman Turk. Several clubs around europe apparently want him and they say because he will be in his last year of contract the BORO will have to cash in. Heartbreaking to see him go.
(2) Mido. No surprise there then but a straight swap for King that must be a joke, right.
(3) Arca. Off to Spain apparently with a few takers. Sad.
(4) Alves off to Portugal apparently. The Boro need to claw back some money. I Hope they get a better deal than they did with Rochenback.
(5) Downing. Well we all expect that one. Shame. Hope BORO get a good price and add a buy back clause.
(6) O,Neil. Again no surprise there. Fine by me.
(7) Turnbull. Out of contract. Our best goalkeeper by a mile and a sad loss.
(8) Shawky. Thinks he's to good to sit on the BORO bench. Which fool signed him anyway?
(9) McMahon. Out of contract. Sad the kid has real heart. Sad loss.
(10) Huth. Off back to Germany. Lots of takers apparently. Another in the last year of his contract. Sad hope BORO get a good price.
(11) Wheater. The big North London clubs are apparently after him. I hope this is just paper talk and it does not turn his head like it did Stewey.
(12) Bates. Again out off contract. Now how could that mistake happen again I wonder. It really would be so hard to take if he ends up teaming up with his mate Cattlemore. If only half of this comes true. The BORO will be in deep crap.
Well AV. how much of this weekends Media talk is based on truth?
**AV writes: You should know that St George's Day is the official start of the speculation season and agents are busy making their first round of mischevious phone calls. At this stage I would take everything with a large pinch of salt.
Southgate put out a team of nice, pleasant, presumably polite young men to play Arsenal. Can anyone think of a player in the team who would remotely resemble a Souness or a Murdoch or even Dean Glover?
Consequently we allowed Arsenal to play as they wanted in their own time and in their own way. It was all very civilised and cordial, never mind the fact that we are supposed to be fighting for our lives.
Where was the aggression to knock the Gunners out of their stride? Where was the assertiveness in atttack to create and finish chances?If we persist with players like Aliadere, who will never score regularly or at all, who can play football untill he is in his forties, such is his lack of contact with the ball and other players. We were too timid and negative.
I am not one for blood and thunder and charging around without some tactical understanding but dear me,to be as passive as we were was unforgiveable.
Time does not permit me to go through all the weaknesses apparent in the team but Taylor stands out for one, poor positional play all afternoon and of course Jones, who not for the first time, saw the red mist; unnecessarily charging out to make it easier for Fabregas.Heads went down after that crass mistake.
Despite the serious failings and the welcome news that six players at least, might be leaving the club if we are relegated I am going to renew my season ticket.Why? Mainly to retain the friendship made with people around me over the last fifteen years- most like me, live some distance away from the Boro.
As in life you have to take the good with the bad and whilst my loyalty is not an endorsement of Gibson's complacency or Southgate's feeble approach to management, the club is more important and shouldn't be punished because
of the errors made on and off the field this year. Mind you I hoping for fundamental changes next year whichever league we are in
Stoke must have taken 10 long throws before eventually scoring against us. We have the worst scoring record in all 4 divisions. How many long throws did we take yesterday against Arsenal? Do we have a long throw specialist?
Why did we not start with King and Alves up front? Why take off our only recognised (sort of) centre forward and replace him with a winger when we are 1-0 down? Why is GS still our manager?
Whoever made the comment above about the players wanting out, so there's no motivation to play, may be correct.
The notion that the players aren't bigger than the club is untrue. With Boro, the players are bigger than the club. This is a club that pays mediocre wages, isn't in an affluent area, nor an area of excellent weather and, of course, in Europe.
The majority of our 'key' players know they can play for the likes of Benfica, with relative ease, and it's always going to be a step-up from Boro.
In a bizarre paradox, it's almost within their interests to play poorly as it will encourage Boro to sell these players at the end of the season - which is what they want. They don't want a contract with Boro, so the best way to end their contract, is get us relegated. Which may be the primary reason you don't see the players giving everything to make sure they save the club and our Premiership status.
AV - this is an extract from elsewhere, is it ok to post here? This is from something I posted in another place before the match on Sunday.
''One of the worst tactical disasters (look away John Powls) was the 7-0 drubbing at Arsenal when MacMoses turned up with a wide open midfield. Rocky was on the left side of midfield in front of a debutant Taylor at left back, those tireless work horses Viduka and Yak played up front. We were ripped to shreds because we played a far too open game.
Our successes against Arsenal have been based on work rate and controlled aggression. That is no different to the game plans employed by ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bolton etc.
They have to be pressed and bullied in midfield, harried mercilessly. In essence play 4-5-1 without the ball, springing forward when the chance arises. Downing, Tuncay and Aliadiere have all caused them problems in the past.''
Sadly (or not) I only saw the first half hour before taking my daughter back to Brum. For the rest I relied on Text messages from John and Radio 5 commentary when the Grand Prix finished.
It was likely we would lose at the Emirates but of all the lessons we have 'learnt' in the past the only one that seemed to have stuck was how to play Arsenal.
Wenger wants you to play 442 and attack so that the sublime passing and movement his teams possess is given the opportunity to exploit the space in midfield and in front of the back four.
Naive in the extreme and dont get me going about the O'Neill left and Jonno right debate.
Boy this team is so badly coached its unbelievable. They are so obvious I'm surprised they've won any games at all. It showed for everyone to see on sunday - any pass out of defence is long to anyone, orout to a wide player. They never attempt balls to feet through the middle or movement to at times double up inside to make defenders occupy them creating openings for others.
The set pieces are amaturish. Guess what , Arsenal play the best counter attack game, so we play high square when taking corners or freekicks ,looking at the staff on the bench. The body language tells it all. I'm sorry Gareth, you gave it your best shot but im afraid its over.
I didn't expect Boro to get anything from Arsenal, and after beating Hull it was unlikely we'd beat Fulham so I hoped for a point which we got.
We are still very much in touch and both Hull and Sunderland are doing their level best to help us out.Sunderland might not pick up another point, leaving them on 35. Hull could pick up 3 at home to Stoke giving them 37
I think Newcastle will draw their game with Portsmouth bringing them level on points with us, and they may get another at home to Fulham but thats it. The killer game is between us and Newcastle - if we win that I think we'll stay up; whoever loses is almost certainly down
Win or draw against the Geordies I think we can pick up at least 2 more points, maybe four, from our last two games. We can still avoid the drop by achieving what should be reasonable - not exceptional - results
Winning away at Arsenal was never going to be the 'killer' game except and in so far as it might have crucified the goal difference
OK I have had time to digest yesterday and just realised it is part of Gareth's masterplan. Let's face it we were never going to win these two games and two draws would only be two points so lets play dead and roll over and then catch Fergie unawares. Watching that lot yesterday he will be lulled into a false set of security and play the tea ladies and under 12's at the Riverside!
Gareth you are a genius! 4-0 v. Manure at home, 3 points in the bag. Now wheres those pretty pink and blue ones?
Firstly can I just say I thought the Boro fans were brilliant at the game. We gave the players full vocal support and didn’t stop believing...what a shame the players threw the towel in. The visible slump in the players was obvious when the second goal went in, Southgate looked lost on the touchline and the work rate and commitment of the players was pathetic.
I was expecting to see a team fighting for their lives on the pitch, players going the extra mile in the name of the badge but there was none of it. The now acceptable commitment level by Southgate is an absolute disgrace.
The formation was an absolute shambles we played most of the game with Tuncay as a holding midfielder, Downing on the right (who then moved to centre midfield when Johnson came on as a right winger...) and Gary O'Neil on the left. Appalling and inexcusable.
When we were chasing the game he took off King who had actually caused a few problems with his battling and put the light weight and out of his depth Aliadere upfront. I know Alves has not played well and im not saying he would of come on and scored but at least the guy has a shot when he gets in the final third.
The team is absolutely spineless and has no stomach for the fight we are in. I believed we could stay up before this game but having seen the total lack of any determination I think we will struggle to win a game for the rest of the campaign.
Good post, our season will be definately decided by the Newcastle Away game. Hope the Man Utd game will be a sell-out.
Welcome to Twitter, let me know if you have any questions setting up.
**AV writes: Cheers, I'm not sure exactly where I am going with Twitter just yet or what it does that I can't already do here. I have decided to suck it and see.
Top use of the Teessidism "fuggies." To be fair I thought the team played like a bunch of doyles.
**AV writes: Yes. I was proper radged at that me like!
Game over - That was it for me !
I think that it was clear by the way the lads performed, they already think they are down. For a team that apparently is full of home grown talent, nobody (apart from the fans) showed one ounce of bottle, determination or pride.
Maybe going down is better than experiencing another season like this one?
Can you imagine if we did stay up - as if it wasn’t hard enough getting players to come to the Boro. No half decent premiership player will give us a second look. We even make proven internationals look like two bob jokers.
steady on A.V, you'll end up like Mark Page!
140 chars? No use to me then! I need more than that just for the title!
What a misnomer! "Twitter" - nobody can twitter properly in fewer than 140 chars for heaven's sake!!
The last post was 140 characters, not counting the spaces. This post is 140 characters with spaces. Not a lot of room to make a point is it?
Richard
You've made your point!
John, well spotted!
Dont worry, the Boro can handle the pressure, we are still in their fighting.
For me the worst thing about yesterday was that it was so utterly, utterly predictable. I called it in a pre-game post, probably others did too.
A surrender of supine senility.
And equally sad is that the rest of the games are equally as predictable. We will produce one gutsy, blazing performance that yields a win, we will suffer one battling loss, one dismal loss, and one draw. Against which teams is anyone's guess, but just watch and see this unfold. It's how we'll end up with 35 points as I have been saying for ages now.
This team deserves to be relegated and this manager deserves to be sacked, quite frankly. That is the sad but inescapable truth.
The Geordies were rubbish tonight. So much for the boost of getting a new manager in(and a Messiah at that!) What's that? Four games - two points. And Liverpool next. Haha.
We were battered at Arsenal but we can go there and win. If that puts them down and keeps us up... how funny would that be?
It is great to see that AV's blog has adopted the 'captcha'.
This system is designed so that if one or more of the digits is dubious than the system rejects your posting and you have to retype it again. OK we should save it before we best but isnt the idea to make things easier to interact.
Maybe it is a device to reduce the number of articles AV has to moderate, a Trinity Mirror tactic to spread him further. Added to the other problems which will no doubt resurface it will be renamed Typical Boro because it will only work when it can be bothered.
It also confirms I am a human because I aint going to continue posting until I see evidence of it working. I await Trinity speak with baited breath.
**AV writes: I know nothing about the system aprt from that it is a 'spam filter'. Although yes, it is nice to have your 'human' status validated.
What's all the fuss about - this could be our greatest year ever..... Forget about ManUre and Arsenal they are not Champions League Semi finalists for nothing... The season starts on May 11th. It finishes 2 weeks later. Is that too much to ask for, 14 days of outstanding play?
Beat the Toon, one point from the last 2 games against the claret and blues(s) and we'll be above Hull (who will only get one more poin v Stoke)..... and by finishing above Hull - we'll be above the Geordies (who will get 1 or two draws in their last 4) and that means staying up.
The greatest year ever, staying up AND relegating the Messiah led barcodes.. ahhhhhhhhhh... asylum catchers arrive and admit Phil back from day-release.
I seem to spend most of my time watching other teams around us as we cant seem to hold it together. I feel sick, but the great escape is still on. Typical-
AV
At least that got through.
The captcha is like letters traced onto a piece of paper with lines squiggles and shading, thow in some of the letters being a funny font and it is easy to get it wrong.
If the Nerds were so damn sure why dont they use plain fonts?
To multiple cheers across the virtual Boro World exit stage right to self imposed exile, for now, until some one winds me up, so there!
This captcha thing like Southgate's team formation is pants!