We also don’t have a single fit striker. They have clinical players like Akpom and Archer. We don’t have a single physical defensive midfielder capable of breaking up play and winning the ball in the middle of the pitch. They have Howson.
The lack of a defensive midfielder has plagued us all season. If it isn’t properly addressed in the summer, expect another season like this, not pushing for promotion. You need physicality in this league. Our midfield is way too soft and nice.
From outside the area, not like it matters now after the floodgates openedHit the post with Darlow beaten.
I get you JEX but maybe a bit unfair, he's lightening Archer and if they go up thats £15 million gone on him... in fact, what you can say about Boro is, that alongside Akpom their loan signings have catapulted them forward. We got Pelkas for likely the same or more wages than Archer...Blown away in 6 minutes, Jones coming on tore us apart. McLoughlin showed his main weakness lack of pace, outdone by Archer.
That game sums us up perfectly. Some nice interplay at times. Missed opportunities around their box/in front of goal. Not enough incisive forward passes or runs. Soft underbelly. Lack of pace at the back which really needs sorting.
Other than that we are ok
First half was excellent but second half was absolutely awful.
Jones changed the game ripped Elder and Greaves a new one. New left back please. When the pressure is on passing it out to Seri with his back to goal is an absolute disaster we need a DMC next to him so he can recieve the ball further up the pitch. Vaughan looks excellent, remind me how much we pay Pelkas?
Overall encouraging signs really, summer is huge, as per usual.
Blown away in 6 minutes, Jones coming on tore us apart. McLoughlin showed his main weakness lack of pace, outdone by Archer.
I don't think it was a case of City 'not being arsed for the last half an hour' I think we were knackered and Boro's extra days rest was a telling factor by then.The way Boro played in the first half is how Rosie wants us to play. It would help if we had more than one of our first choice attacking players available, but that, ladies and gentlemen, is the difference between where we are now and where people earlier in the season thought we might be come May.
Boro haven't spent much to get up there, but what they do buy they do in quality and Carrick has them playing some very good pressing football. We didn't help by not being arsed for the last half an hour, but some credit has to go to the opposition.
I don't think it was a case of City 'not being arsed for the last half an hour' I think we were knackered and Boro's extra days rest was a telling factor by then.
Our game management is poor. We don’t have a midfielder who will commit a tactical foul. It’s easier to defend a free kick taken from the middle of the pitch than against a pacy winger or wing-back tearing us a new arsehole and cutting it back like Jones did. Even when I watch Man City play, if they get caught on the counter Rodri’s there 9 times out of 10 to either win the ball back or just bundle over whoever’s running with the ball. Seri and Slater literally don’t have the physicality to do that. Even when I’ve seen the both of them try to tackle a player who’s surging forward they usually bounce off them.
Akpom could’ve scored the same goal 3-4 times second half. Isiah Jones gets it on the right, cuts it back to Akpom, clear shot on goal. 3-1 is flattering us.