BFTG - Boro Home

[bcubed]

I did feel Puscas should’ve played though, and think he would’ve had plenty of joy in behind the Boro defence. He didn’t look impressed being shoved on with 2 min to play.

At the final whistle was first down the tunnel. A relationship beyond repair?

While waiting to come on he looked absolutely fed up. Understandable really.

It’s understandable why we’re nothing playing him but also understandable why he’d be completely fed up.

He seemed deeply unimpressed by Fortune continually trying to gee him up by slapping his back!

[Snowflake Royal]

Really enjoyed the game. Though we were excellent for 70 mins, sat back a bit too much at the end. Lack of use of Puscas is a bit baffling, assume there must be some injury issue,

Generally lots of positives. Defence all excellent, DD could be an superb addition. The attacking midfielders have great quality and a joy to watch at times. Lovely move for the goal, and for TDB's missed chance.

Boro were weird, I'm guessing the reason we sat so deep at times was to stop them getting it out wide and getting crosses in, but they really didnt do it at all. And their set pieces were terrible. Really helped us out. A poor side tbf

Southwood looks a massive upgrade on Rafael. Great with the ball at his feet, but needs to not get complacent. I enjoyed the passing out, but draw the line at playing Rondo's in our own 6 yard box.

Huge question mark hanging over those missing centre backs. How can we look so massively improved by playing Laurent/Yiadom there over experienced specialists? Thought they were both top class, along with Baba and Tetek, but why has it taken MM/Moore and Holmes all being out to make it look like we know what we are doing?

Do wonder if maybe Dann's had some input off the field whilst getting fit. Struggling to find why else we seem to have turned it around other than just blaming the previous players.

Keeper taking control.
Midfielder actually screening the defence. Drinkwater barely leaves our half. Laurent and Rinomhota had been spending far too much of their time bursting forward. If you check out the heat maps for the Stoke and Bristol games for either defensive midfielder as examples, and then the heat maps for Fulham and Boro for Drinkwater there is a small but IMO significant difference.
Finally, those at the back are having to put all their focus into defending at the back, because they aren't natural defenders, and so they're doing it fair well. Whilst Moore in particular is just really sloppy. That's why he makes so many last ditch blocks, because he's out of position. And that leads to panic. He just doesn't organise things back there.

It also helped having players who were really comfortable on the ball back there. They over did it a few times, but with midfielders and full backs there, you really can play out fairly comfortably at times. Not with Morrison and Moore.

I think Pauno really could have done more at the time. But Moore's injury and Cabral punching that white board has saved his job. And hopefully he can build from that good fortune.

[mikey_1871]

At the final whistle was first down the tunnel. A relationship beyond repair?

While waiting to come on he looked absolutely fed up. Understandable really.

It’s understandable why we’re nothing playing him but also understandable why he’d be completely fed up.

It’s insane playing a nonstriker up front when we’ve got the only fit striker on the bench fcuking ridiculous

My take was that Pauno just didn't want to change a winning team (aside from the defence, obvs).
Hoilett put a shift in at Fulham, would have been harsh to drop him.

[Zip]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

[JR]

Enjoyed Ian Holloway calling us a wonderful club twice on EFL on Quest

[Millsy]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

I think we're all baffled.

Has Dellor asked Pauno?

I'm sure the boss knows what he's doing and as far as results go our way it's fine, but the minute we lose questions are going to be asked.

[Jackson Corner]

What was the attendance today? Another low turnout it would seem.

12469

[Jackson Corner]

TBF considering the kick off time and it was live on TV that was more than I expected great effort by the boro fans. They left at 3.30 in the morning to watch that dross.

[ayjaydee]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

I’m not so sure. Whilst Puscas had definitely upped his game a) there must have been a reason for his original omission, b) Hoillett has also upped his performances and has contributed in no small part to the fast flowing, quick passing and highly enjoyable football that we are playing in the final third and, c) if it ain’t broke ..

Other general BFTG observations:-

Southwood must stay in until he costs us points in consecutive games, he seems to have added to the confidence levels of whatever back 4 is in front of him, although I do think we overplayed the passing around at the back at times.

Drinkwater was class and a calming influence on those behind and in front of him.

I thought we were in serious trouble when I saw the starting line up, not helped when Tetek got rinsed in the first couple of minutes. Fair play to the lad though he came through it and was close to MoM in the end.

Swift is just pure class and obviously enjoying his football and we should enjoy him him while we have him.

All things considered an excellent performance in front of the Sky cameras and that doesn’t get said too often.

[Franchise FC]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

I think we're all baffled.

Has Dellor asked Pauno?

I'm sure the boss knows what he's doing and as far as results go our way it's fine, but the minute we lose questions are going to be asked.

So the fact that we’ve won both games with this forward formation means nothing to you guys and you’d have Puscas back in whatever the impact. If he puts Puscas back then we lose, I’m sure more questions would be asked.

Ok, that’s your opinion.
I'll go with Pauno has got the selections right

[NewCorkSeth]

I know its probably been said but I thought Tetek was excellent. He has always been a bit of a terrier for us, brought on to make tackles high up the pitch and throw himself around but to start at RB against a good winger and perform as he did was very impressive.

He actually looked like a RB.

[Royal Rother]

I don’t understand why Puscas isn’t playing, in his last start he played really well and got an excellent assist.

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

The games against Fulham and Middlesborough have possibly been the best we’ve ever looked under Paunovic.

[Royalwaster]

He has to be carrying an injury, because otherwise it's absolutely crazy. But if he's carrying an injury it's crazy to have him on the bench and use him in both games.

It's just crazy.

I think we're all baffled.

Has Dellor asked Pauno?

I'm sure the boss knows what he's doing and as far as results go our way it's fine, but the minute we lose questions are going to be asked.

So the fact that we’ve won both games with this forward formation means nothing to you guys and you’d have Puscas back in whatever the impact. If he puts Puscas back then we lose, I’m sure more questions would be asked.

Ok, that’s your opinion.
I'll go with Pauno has got the selections right

Totally agree - think Hoilett played really well and deserved to keep his place. Puscas lack of mobility and poor first touch would have been a much worse option ...

[NewCorkSeth]

I think we're all baffled.

Has Dellor asked Pauno?

I'm sure the boss knows what he's doing and as far as results go our way it's fine, but the minute we lose questions are going to be asked.

So the fact that we’ve won both games with this forward formation means nothing to you guys and you’d have Puscas back in whatever the impact. If he puts Puscas back then we lose, I’m sure more questions would be asked.

Ok, that’s your opinion.
I'll go with Pauno has got the selections right

Totally agree - think Hoilett played really well and deserved to keep his place. Puscas lack of mobility and poor first touch would have been a much worse option ...

Haven't they had roughly equal stats apart from Puscas actually wins his fair share of aerials and is, you know, an actual striker?

[Zip]

Hmmm. We won when Puscas last started. So not sure the last two results are reflective of who should play upfront. Hoilett was fine but so was Puscas v QPR and Posh. The QPR fans were troubled by how many problems he caused their centre backs,
It also looked like it was Clarke coming on for Hoilett at the end yesterday but that was changed and Puscas came on instead. If Pauno was seriously considering bringing on a rookie instead of a senior striker who has been playing well something isn’t right.

In the last twenty minutes we looked very tired. Hoilett was fine but bringing Puscas on at that stage would have seemed sensible to me.

[Zip]

I know its probably been said but I thought Tetek was excellent. He has always been a bit of a terrier for us, brought on to make tackles high up the pitch and throw himself around but to start at RB against a good winger and perform as he did was very impressive.

He actually looked like a RB.

He was terrific. Tenacious defensively and looked good with the ball going forward. One of the positives of the injury crisis is that it has forced Pauno to play Southwood and Tetek. Both have excelled.

[NewCorkSeth]

Hmmm. We won when Puscas last started. So not sure the last two results are reflective of who should play upfront. Hoilett was fine but so was Puscas v QPR and Posh. The QPR fans were troubled by how many problems he caused their centre backs,
It also looked like it was Clarke coming on for Hoilett at the end yesterday but that was changed and Puscas came on instead. If Pauno was seriously considering bringing on a rookie instead of a senior striker who has been playing well something isn’t right.

In the last twenty minutes we looked very tired. Hoilett was fine but bringing Puscas on at that stage would have seemed sensible to me.

Did you see how much Fortune was geeing him up? Puscas looked furious.

[NewCorkSeth]

I know its probably been said but I thought Tetek was excellent. He has always been a bit of a terrier for us, brought on to make tackles high up the pitch and throw himself around but to start at RB against a good winger and perform as he did was very impressive.

He actually looked like a RB.

He was terrific. Tenacious defensively and looked good with the ball going forward. One of the positives of the injury crisis is that it has forced Pauno to play Southwood and Tetek. Both have excelled.

Southwood is great at coming out for the crosses. Never noticed how infrequently Rafael does that. Has made a difference I reckon.

[CountryRoyal]

Really enjoyed the game. Though we were excellent for 70 mins, sat back a bit too much at the end. Lack of use of Puscas is a bit baffling, assume there must be some injury issue,

Generally lots of positives. Defence all excellent, DD could be an superb addition. The attacking midfielders have great quality and a joy to watch at times. Lovely move for the goal, and for TDB's missed chance.

Boro were weird, I'm guessing the reason we sat so deep at times was to stop them getting it out wide and getting crosses in, but they really didnt do it at all. And their set pieces were terrible. Really helped us out. A poor side tbf

Southwood looks a massive upgrade on Rafael. Great with the ball at his feet, but needs to not get complacent. I enjoyed the passing out, but draw the line at playing Rondo's in our own 6 yard box.

Huge question mark hanging over those missing centre backs. How can we look so massively improved by playing Laurent/Yiadom there over experienced specialists? Thought they were both top class, along with Baba and Tetek, but why has it taken MM/Moore and Holmes all being out to make it look like we know what we are doing?

Do wonder if maybe Dann's had some input off the field whilst getting fit. Struggling to find why else we seem to have turned it around other than just blaming the previous players.

It also helped having players who were really comfortable on the ball back there. They over did it a few times, but with midfielders and full backs there, you really can play out fairly comfortably at times. Not with Morrison and Moore.

This was so noticeable for me. Obviously at times we took it a bit too far but generally we were much more comfortable, if not only enables us to retain possession but then if we beat the press we are on the counter and have numbers getting in behind. Compare with Moro and Moore who far too often just hoof it to clear when they have time to control and pass. It just invites pressure straight back onto us.