BFTG - Boro Home

[Snowflake Royal]

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

I think Puscas played better than Hoilett has in the last couple of games. He offers more of an out ball and goal threat IMO.

He wasn't getting his selections right a few games ago and its not like he has much choice in them right now to have got them right.

[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.

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.

Or pass it ponderously with no idea how to get out, inviting the pressure,miss the good chance to launch it accurately and instead go for the later poorer chance to go long.

Movement with Halilovic in the side is so much better tho.

[Millsy]

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

We also scored double the number of goals with Puscas starting in the previous two games and he had a hand in them. The reason we didn't win both pretty much even Pauno admits is because we took Puscas off and opted for no striker - what we're doing now.

So it's not like we had a dud up there and all of a sudden we have someone who's not a striker but is fixing the attack. Our point is that it just seems a bizarre time to change and I can't see a definite positive. Ain't broke don't fix it, as people are saying about Hoilett. Yeah ok fine but we're saying the same about Puscas' starts.

Our attacking prowess was never in question and remains as good as it was, albeit scoring half what we were with Puscas. It's our defence that was the issue and there have been huge changes there that are far more likely to have had that positive impact than Puscas being swapped for Hoilett.

I do see your point though and agree. It'd be odd now to not start Hoilett in a way. I think we just want to know why. Remember I started a whole thread against the grain calling for Pauno not to be sacked based purely on the Hoilett selection issue so I definitely see that point of view and WANT to believe it's a tactical genius stroke.

But also remember footy is a funny game with fine margins. In truth we should've beaten QPR that was an unfortunate freak draw. Thanks to 3 great goals with Puscas up front and on fire. We did beat Posh convincingly. Again 3 great goals with Puscas up front and on fire.

Then the weird swap and...
Fulham we admit we were lucky. Played off the park, heroic and lucky defence, 4-2 to Fulham wouldn't have been unfair. Yesterday ok we did play well against a very poor side but we scraped a 1-0 lucky goal and were a bit lucky with a dodgy red. With Hoilett up front and our on form striker on the bench.

Of course it's far too early to tell with just a few games but my question is did we win because of the Puscas Hoilett swap or despite it? I'm not so sure. Trouble is Pauno has a history and reputation after last season's cockup for odd subs so many are thinking it's the latter.

While I agree give him the benefit of the doubt, start threads praising him, ain't broke don't fix it etc etc all I'm saying is that it IS actually still baffling for us and things can turn very quickly. A couple of dodgy results (which both Fulham and Boro could easily have been) with a winger up front and a decent striker on the bench and we will all be re-evaluating matters. In a nutshell: yeh ok nice one Pauno we hope you're right. But you better have a good reason and it better still work out, cos we're watching this space!

[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.

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

I didn’t see that but again that doesn’t seem right to me. I like Puscas and have not had a problem with how he has played. Mitrovic does seem to be a bit of a dick.

[Zip]

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.

Or pass it ponderously with no idea how to get out, inviting the pressure,miss the good chance to launch it accurately and instead go for the later poorer chance to go long.

Movement with Halilovic in the side is so much better tho.

Halilovic put a terrific shift in yesterday. Loads of movement but also did a lot of defensive work. Really impressive.

[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.

I didn’t see that but again that doesn’t seem right to me. I like Puscas and have not had a problem with how he has played. Mitrovic does seem to be a bit of a dick.

He patted him on the back a good 40 times I'd say. Was trying to be encouraging from the looks of it.

[South Coast Royal]

Not much said about Swift in this thread but maybe that is because we now take it as granted that he will be brilliant every game.
Sky commentators were creaming themselves about him, much in the way that they did with Olise.

I dread to think how things might be without him in the side as now appears a real possibility in January but there again players can step up as was the case last season at the back with Holmes and McIntyre so maybe Tetek will turn out to be the player that little Kelly threatened to be .

We may well look back on this recent period some time in the future all dewy-eyed and reflecting on when we had Olise, Swift and Ejaria in our midfield.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Its about small margins and I tend to agree with the comment that the Whiteboard may just have changed everything.

The Keeper situation seems to have stabilised things at the back, along with the other enforced changes.

Some of the overplaying at the back with the keeper did have a touch of the Jaap Stam's about it.

I'd also be tempted to keep Laurent in there, perhaps with a Holmes or Morrison, if not keep the defence as is.

Whilst I thought JH played well, I would have liked to see GP continue on the form he was showing and perhaps push Ovie closer to him so that we get things happening closer to the opposition goal.

[Snowflake Royal]

I do think Pauno was way too late and conservative on his subs again. Its becoming a consistent theme and I know options are limited.

You can see us tiring and momentum shifting as we move past the 65th minute. We're frequently screaming out for fresh legs in the middle or a different presence upfront. Unsurprising the amount of running the front 4/5 get through.

[Silver Fox]

'
Fulham we admit we were lucky. Played off the park, heroic and lucky defence.

Speak for yourself

Quite enjoyed yesterday, we have to beat rubbish like that if we’re going to do anything this season. Quite surprised to find that you have to actually leave stud marks on a keeper to even consider something to be violent conduct. It seemed like a classic Colin move to me, later followed up by whatever the Boro players were up to when Tetek was down and the knocking out of Hoilett. Also, I don’t know if it’s a chicken and egg situation but Puscas looks totally uninterested so I’m not sure what would happen if he started, it will be triffic if we ever get one of our decent strikers on the pitch

[leon]

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

Yeah I just saw that!

[Snowflake Royal]

'
Fulham we admit we were lucky. Played off the park, heroic and lucky defence.

Speak for yourself

Quite enjoyed yesterday, we have to beat rubbish like that if we’re going to do anything this season. Quite surprised to find that you have to actually leave stud marks on a keeper to even consider something to be violent conduct. It seemed like a classic Colin move to me, later followed up by whatever the Boro players were up to when Tetek was down and the knocking out of Hoilett. Also, I don’t know if it’s a chicken and egg situation but Puscas looks totally uninterested so I’m not sure what would happen if he started, it will be triffic if we ever get one of our decent strikers on the pitch

It can't be violent conduct because he was challenging for the ball. It has to be serious foul play, ie

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

Which seems a pretty perfect description of what happened tbh.

[Royal_jimmy]

I must say that was just a terrific performance and loved watching that.

I feel more comfortable with Southwood in goal thay Rafael at the moment

[bcubed]

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

I didn’t see that but again that doesn’t seem right to me. I like Puscas and have not had a problem with how he has played. Mitrovic does seem to be a bit of a dick.

He patted him on the back a good 40 times I'd say. Was trying to be encouraging from the looks of it.

Yeh I said this earlier in the thread
Puscas was singularly unimpressed.

It didn't look right at all.

[Hound]

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.

Or pass it ponderously with no idea how to get out, inviting the pressure,miss the good chance to launch it accurately and instead go for the later poorer chance to go long.

Movement with Halilovic in the side is so much better tho.

thinking about it, I don't remember an occasion where one of the CBs smashed a forward pass/hollywood in the entire game. Massive improvement.

Think it was you CR who said your mate said we had no identity. Really felt that had come back on saturday. Not perfect, but you could see what we were trying to do and the gameplan

[Mr Angry]

The referee's report into the red card incident would make interesting reading!

IMHO the red card wasn't for Crook's initial challenge; it was because once it was clear that Southwood had the ball, Crooks, despite seeing that, continued to try to get to it and ended up sticking his foot into Southwood's chest - endangering the opponent = red card.

This picture shows that:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... h-red-card

Goodman has never liked Reading, so his opinion about any incident is always that our opponents (whoever they are) should have had the decision go their way.

[SCIAG]

Yeah, not nearly enough control there. If you leave your feet and end up kicking someone in the chest then you’re going to be lucky to stay on the pitch. Could have ended badly for Southwood.

[Nameless]

The referee's report into the red card incident would make interesting reading!

IMHO the red card wasn't for Crook's initial challenge; it was because once it was clear that Southwood had the ball, Crooks, despite seeing that, continued to try to get to it and ended up sticking his foot into Southwood's chest - endangering the opponent = red card.

This picture shows that:

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... h-red-card

Goodman has never liked Reading, so his opinion about any incident is always that our opponents (whoever they are) should have had the decision go their way.

Why is this still being debated ?
The decision has been made and that's all there is to it.
Colin has informed the league that they will overturn the card and we just need to accept that.

[andrew1957]

I just wanted to say about Halilovic. I said after the Peterborough game that he had no end product but he has been excellent the last two games.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I just wanted to say about Halilovic. I said after the Peterborough game that he had no end product but he has been excellent the last two games.

He's my favourite player of all time.