Reversal of fortunes in goals conceded is a great achievement but I am concerned, along with others, that we are not scoring many either. If we can continue to win 1 - 0 in most matches then we will all be encouraged, but this score line leaves a draw a possibility. Would feel more easy if score was, say,
2 - 0 or better. The role of CJ seems to be join the defensive mid-field if we don't have the ball. When Basil is striker then we seem to play a conventional 4-2-3-1.
Away to Reading on Saturday will be a good guide as to whether the win 1 - 0 strategy is still in place. Interesting times ahead
With both him and Pritchard tied down, hopefully worst case scenario is we have to sell one in order to balance the books. But that would still leave us with an excellent player in that position.
Some worthwhile reading from the Archant sportswriters this morning, with JM extolling the workrate of CJ and Michael Bailey's article re 'adapting to survive'.
Sorry, but I can't post links!¡


Exactly Cromer and Martin isn't really tall enough to head some of the balls that our current CB pairing have been dealing with over the last month!!!iAnd the early season 'gap' has been well and truly eroded![]()
edit: I wonder how much of this recent success is attributable to Messrs Martin and Naismith not being involved at all?![]()
But he's a long-time club servant, a good ambassador, a role model for the nippers to look up to.Exactly Cromer and Martin isn't really tall enough to head some of the balls that our current CB pairing have been dreaming with over the last month!!!

I was only referring to the fact that he's too 'vertically challenged' to make an effective CB!!!!But he's a long-time club servant, a good ambassador, a role model for the nippers to look up to.
He deals well with the media, conducts himself in an exemplary way.....lay off him you scallywag![]()
For me the reassuring thing is the consistency of the organisation and commitment throughout September. It was the whole team performance which stood out and that is less subject to fluctuations in the 'form' of individual players. Boro did have a lot of shots, but most of them were half chances at best. Reading were just outplayed on their own pitch. There is good reason to feel that these team strengths can provide the consistency necessary to mount a promotion challenge.
Where's our Jonny Howson when you need him?especially the movement up front to produce more goals without any weakening of the defensive solidity.
Where's our Jonny Howson when you need him?![]()
But he'd give you a bit of Tettey sprinkled with a touch of Vrancic - all backed up with a terrific engineHowson hasn't made much of an impact at Boro so far, with a Whoscored rating down around 6.6 in spite of playing 10 matches. Not the force he once was it seems and I was a great admirer!
