Middlesbrough BFTG

[Snowball]

Watching the highlights (don't blink or you'll miss them) on C5 and I see Sa did well heading on out on the wing
for HRK to make space and cross. Blackman was at the near post, not Sa. Nice team goal nevertheless.

[strap]

May I just thank you all for proving a pretty balanced view of today's game. SC is proving that he does actually appear to know what he's doing - and I have been VERY sceptical of him to date. Clearly there is a long way to go, but the WAY we are playing now does auger well for the near future.

After I witnessed the Colchester struggle, I thought we were in for a long hard season. 10 games later, SC seems to have found a system the entire squad is comfortable with, which plays to their strengths, and more importantly, he seems to have instilled a huge dollop of confidence in the "old" players, and his "new" signings do seem to have added a lot to the squad.

Long may it continue.

[From Despair To Where?]

Watching the highlights (don't blink or you'll miss them) on C5 and I see Sa did well heading on out on the wing
for HRK to make space and cross. Blackman was at the near post, not Sa. Nice team goal nevertheless.

You'd think that with the goal being scored after 15 seconds, they could have shown it from kick off, but no.

[leon]

We were playing one of the best teams in the league and completely controlled them. They had possession but did fcuk all with it because we didn't give them an inch. Second half we should have finished them off earlier - we had the better chances.

[bcubed]

Great performance, great result. McShane my MOTM, just doesnt put a foot wrong.

only negative was Piazon. Bottled every 50-50 and didnt even attempt to win headers, just let the opposition win them then scampered around after trying to get it back, usually failing.

But the good thing is options. Piazon has quality but if he's not firing then we can just sub him for someone of equal quality. We've not had that for a long time. G-Mac didn't even get off the bench today and we didn't even have Vydra at all. Or Ferdinand. Or Quinn...

Agree about Piazon but he was much happier in second half
Clarke moved him forward and more central and was far more comfortable and productive.

[SCIAG]

I wasn't at all confident about this match, but we did it.

If we blow promotion now then the chances are that something will have gone badly wrong.

Piazon looks talented, but he's not a midfielder in a 4-3-3. He could be a forward, but he'd be my eighth choice at best.

Williams put in his best performance of the season by a distance. Justified his starting place. I'd get Tish in for Piazon and Alex (or Quinn) on the bench.

[Davezk]

How can we 'blow promotion' given we are third with barely a quarter of the season gone?

You talk like we are first with 6 games to go...

[SCIAG]

How can we 'blow promotion' given we are third with barely a quarter of the season gone?

By failing to get promoted

[Davezk]

It's too early to say such things. Few losses and we are midtable again.

[RustyRoyal]

I want to spend my 100th post pointing out how shit the ref and PA were. Don't announce the name of the manager and don't play "Magic" whenever Blackman scores. Completely wrecks the atmosphere.

[RustyRoyal]

I want to spend my 101st post congratulating Clarke and the players. Tactically we approached the game the right way and although the early goal was a little fluky we let them waste possession and counter attacked, the perfect away performance.

Al-Habsi 7 - Not much to do apart from a fantastic reflex save. His handling was much better today and seemed to communicate well. Nice to see the defence congratulating him after every save/catch, hopefully it'll do wonders for his confidence.

Gunter 7 - Solid if unspectacular.

McShane 8 - Once again a rock, showing just why in my opinion he was the best signing this summer.

Hector 9 - Fantastic on and off the ball. On a side note he made the other Chelsea defender on loan, Kalas, look a mug.

Obita 7 - See Gunter but sprinkle in a few more unnecessary fouls.

Norwood 7 - Decent performance we've come to expect from him this year.

Williams 8 - Drove the team forward well and showed brilliant positioning to be in the box for his goal.

Piazon 6 - Weak link in a very good side, couldn't get into the very physical game like it sounded he could up at Burnley.

HRK 7 - One of his biggest critics I am delighted at his new found form. Looks like he cares again now he plays alongside a decent squad. Never stopped running.

Blackman 7/8 - Although I've always been a bit of a Blackman fanboy, I thought he was excellent in a more defensive role and fully deserved his penalty.

Sa 7 - Lead the line well with a few sharp passes but maybe misplaced a few. As much as I liked Pog, Sa is a massive improvement in every regard.

Subs -
John 7 - Relieved pressure and beat/turned his man a couple times to deliver dangerous crosses.

Tshibola N/A - Didn't really see enough of him to give a rating but looked decent yet again.


P.S Kike just loves missing good chances against us doesn't he?

TL:DR - We were quite good.

[CountryRoyal]

Due to the most ridiculous journey ever I got there just in time for the second half, so can't comment on the first. Solid team performance and we defended resolutely. No complaints about Piazon's lack of physicality, it just isn't his game. Seems unfair to pick out any player though as everyone played their part and there were lots of individually brilliant performances as well. Hector was immense. Tish was very, very good when he came on. John impressed, Sa was awesome... All over the park we are performing and there is so much quality in this team. Shout out to HRK who worked very hard and Al-Habsi who looked assured and commanding

What a result. Dicking Ipswich was a sign of intent, beating Burnley at their place was even more so, keeping a clean sheet and beating one of the best teams in the league (with a fair chunk of our team out) whilst ending their 7 match winning run? Now that's intent.

Somewhat surprised at the sub 20k attendance, considering the away support and how well we are doing.

Onwards and upwards, 3 wins on the bounce, like Clarke said though these wins will count for nothing if we don't beat Charlton, Rotherham.

Exciting times.

[janesdaddy]

With all the great new talent at our disposal, no-one seems to be talking about needing Glenn Murray anymore. I see that he once again failed to score from a penalty in his first game for Bournemouth (although he did score earlier in the same match), costing them two points .

[Royality creeps In]

With all the great new talent at our disposal, no-one seems to be talking about needing Glenn Murray anymore. I see that he once again failed to score from a penalty in his first game for Bournemouth (although he did score earlier in the same match), costing them two points .

Or Pog

Just shows how much better we are without him around

[Nameless]

Have to agree with the attendance point, although 2000 of the empty seats were in the Boro end and it was only slightly below 20k.
What is it that is deterring the extra couple of thousand fans from turning up ? We're winning, we're scoring, we're playing well, prices are what they've been for a few seasons (more or less). Should be higher for Charlton as they'll bring more than Boro but even so I would hope to see the 'Ground Full' signs going up if we keep going the way we are.

[paultheroyal]

The crowd are coming and the attendance today only confirmed that. I would say an extra 3000 Reading fans showed up today from previous. The town is responding.

Special mention to Gunter. Rate him highly. Does not get fan recognition he deserves.

How on earth Clarke will keep this squad happy is anyone's guess!

Great to be a Reading fan right now!

[Royal Ginger]

Derby 29,467
Brighton 26,399
Leeds 24,601
Forest 20,985
Wednesday 20,383
Reading 19,516
Wolves 18,166
QPR 16,026
Bristol City 14,535
Blackburn 12,672

Middle of the pack, but with a pinch of salt, because most of those teams have vastly bigger fan-bases and much more successful histories than we do.

Our 19,515 is up on the season average of 17,659 and if that was our average would put us 8th in the league. Last season's average was 17,059, so it's fair to say that some of the plastics are rolling back in.

[Wycombe Royal]

On Chris Gunter, he was up against Stewart Downing yesterday and marshalled him superbly throughout the first half. In fact he did such a good job, Downing moved to the right wing in the second half. He didn't get much change out of Obita either.

[bobby1413]

Derby 29,467
Brighton 26,399
Leeds 24,601
Forest 20,985
Wednesday 20,383
Reading 19,516
Wolves 18,166
QPR 16,026
Bristol City 14,535
Blackburn 12,672

Middle of the pack, but with a pinch of salt, because most of those teams have vastly bigger fan-bases and much more successful histories than we do.

Our 19,515 is up on the season average of 17,659 and if that was our average would put us 8th in the league. Last season's average was 17,059, so it's fair to say that some of the plastics are rolling back in.

Derby do get really big attendances don't they, decent support there.

I would expect the 22000 or around that figure for the charlton game.

[Sutekh]

Derby 29,467
Brighton 26,399
Leeds 24,601
Forest 20,985
Wednesday 20,383
Reading 19,516
Wolves 18,166
QPR 16,026
Bristol City 14,535
Blackburn 12,672

Middle of the pack, but with a pinch of salt, because most of those teams have vastly bigger fan-bases and much more successful histories than we do.

Our 19,515 is up on the season average of 17,659 and if that was our average would put us 8th in the league. Last season's average was 17,059, so it's fair to say that some of the plastics are rolling back in.

Derby do get really big attendances don't they, decent support there.

I would expect the 22000 or around that figure for the charlton game.

This table is erroneous, Brighton quite obviously should be top....