Hopefully its just him getting to know his players
Took both TM n Neil time to implement their styles so lets see if Beale can do the same (no idea what his style of play is tho)
Match Day Thread Middlesbrough FC v Sunderland AFC – Sunday 4th February 2024 - KO 12:00
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Took both TM n Neil time to implement their styles so lets see if Beale can do the same (no idea what his style of play is tho)
This kicked in long before TM left.
Aye the flat second half was bad. It's not like it's a Beale thing specifically it happens under every manager from time to time. Under Mowbray we often started ****e, limped to half time then had a cracking second 45.
Makes you wonder what goes on pre game or half time to start so off the pace. Need to get a hype man in there.
Once Ayling was booked, they were **** scared of Clarke
We're starting to see some tweaks, some of which are improving us. He's not going to come in a change things overnight.
Rather than boring I think I prefer the word passive, we didn't really kick on until we went behind.
It was almost as if we were waiting for something to happen rather than making it happen.
There are signs of improvement but think it will take a few more games for things to click.
just making an observation here, not stating a fact...
like reading the comments as we all tend to see a different game at times or different performance from players but i notice that onien has some good comments today and not all from his regular fans...now, i noticed after stoke that people mentioned ballard and onien were 'tighter' and the defence looked better.
now, is that the start of MB forming the side as he wants?.. i have always been of the opinion that you build a team from the defence forwards, be harder to concede goals and winning is easier, hjelde looks like he could make that left side his own and gave clarke the most help we have seen for a good while (probably since cirkin was regular), i think we might see a little 'tinkering' within the center soon.
like reading the comments as we all tend to see a different game at times or different performance from players but i notice that onien has some good comments today and not all from his regular fans...now, i noticed after stoke that people mentioned ballard and onien were 'tighter' and the defence looked better.
now, is that the start of MB forming the side as he wants?.. i have always been of the opinion that you build a team from the defence forwards, be harder to concede goals and winning is easier, hjelde looks like he could make that left side his own and gave clarke the most help we have seen for a good while (probably since cirkin was regular), i think we might see a little 'tinkering' within the center soon.
Nads
Well-Known Member
There’s nobody who could do what Jacky does.
Poor side was probably wrong wording but we would certainly be a massively struggling side if he wasn’t here.
It’s one thing saying everything g goes through Jacky, it’s another says who would it go through if he wasn’t here?
The thought, I stand by what I said, is terrifying at the moment. He has won us easily double figures in points season to date.
I’ll rephrase to ‘a really average side’ without him, and I’ll stand firm on that.
Plenty with the potential to step up of course so while Clarke is here, no panic.
Frustrates the living hell out of me the amount of balls, particularly Clarke, that we flash across the box, goal gaping and nobody gambles. Sometimes there's hardly anyone in the 18 yard area full stop.
Nads
Well-Known Member
Was some talk he was unwell before game I heard and might miss game.
Maybe a bit of that
'Michael Beale says Dan Ballard is "fine" after an injury scare at the end of Sunderland's draw with Middlesbrough.
The defender looked to have hurt his shoulder in the closing minutes of the Championship clash but the Black Cats' head coach has confirmed there was no injury.
"Nah he's fine. He's fine.
"I think the big lad [Josh Coburn] came on and just started fouling people.'
I thought it was a game where both teams had chances and periods when they dominated.
Boro were the home team with a manager who's built the squad over a long period.
Sadly for them the manager overreacted, with his subs, whereas Sunderland's made a big difference.
We didn't throw on subs, just after half time when Boro changed tack, but I've rarely seen a manager do that.
Boro can't complain just as Stoke couldn't last week.
The defender looked to have hurt his shoulder in the closing minutes of the Championship clash but the Black Cats' head coach has confirmed there was no injury.
"Nah he's fine. He's fine.
"I think the big lad [Josh Coburn] came on and just started fouling people.'
I thought it was a game where both teams had chances and periods when they dominated.
Boro were the home team with a manager who's built the squad over a long period.
Sadly for them the manager overreacted, with his subs, whereas Sunderland's made a big difference.
We didn't throw on subs, just after half time when Boro changed tack, but I've rarely seen a manager do that.
Boro can't complain just as Stoke couldn't last week.
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I suspect that will be less frustrating when Rusyn's playing, he gambles and knows how to peel off from the defender. Not much point setting up to put more crosses in and playing Burstow he doesn't read the game well enough.
A point was probably fair. We were poor for 30 mins after the restart but it can happen when you are an away side. The positive for me was that was we didn't concede a load of chances and Patto barely had a save to make. And we finished the game much stronger than them. Things are far from perfect but it's a work in progress and we are ticking along.
Overall happy with the point. We were dominant in the first half and should have buried at least one of the 2 easy chances we had they should have also scored from the patto save. Second half was a slow start never in a million years is that a foul to boro leading upto there goal insane decision. Changed the game Rusyn when he came on, for me needs a run of games Burstow isn't even ours so why persist with him. Happy with the draw but we should have had the win.
Some good footage of the away support kindly provided by a fat fingered Boro lad with a home haircut.
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Theres not much more we could have done to make our lineup today any better other than dropping Burstow for Rusyn and maybes leaving the undroppable Jobe, (must be in his contract to start every game, surely)?... If i ever see Burstow in a Sunderland shirt again itll be too soon.
Their goal was a farce looking at the freekick that led to it, but on the grand scheme of things they deserved a draw at least although it pains me to admit that.
They were missing Jones whos a big player for them, and who always seems to look like a world beater against us, and their best playey Riley Mcgree, so despite today being a decent result away from home it makes me realise we are nowhere near being in the top 3 best teams in the league come May.
Id have made a point about all our Leftbacks being injured in our defence, but our new lad was faultless so none of them were a miss.
Their goal was a farce looking at the freekick that led to it, but on the grand scheme of things they deserved a draw at least although it pains me to admit that.
They were missing Jones whos a big player for them, and who always seems to look like a world beater against us, and their best playey Riley Mcgree, so despite today being a decent result away from home it makes me realise we are nowhere near being in the top 3 best teams in the league come May.
Id have made a point about all our Leftbacks being injured in our defence, but our new lad was faultless so none of them were a miss.
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P
Prehab26
Guest
That's what happens when you don't play a proper 9....
Rusyn tonight and Preston , perfect examples.
Good point considering the first 30 mins of the second half. I appreciate folk saying we were poor, maybe, but I thought they were excellent in that period. I havent seen a team so aggressive in the press against us as they were. It was unreal tempo from them and I didnt think they could do that for 45 mins. It was inevitable we would have our spell.
I dont normally moan about refs but that lad today was poor. How it is not a free kick to Neil when they score is beyond me. Lad was literally hanging off his his shirt. I thought they were OTT in the persistent fouling as well, should have been stamped out.
That last 20 mins was great. Rusyn was the spark. I am sure that first chase against Ayling boosted our lads. He was class. That finish is something as well mind. That technique is as tough as it gets, a volley on the way down with top spin. Keeper gets pelters but Rusyn has it dipping just in front of him. It is a brilliant goal. And, for the first time, he looked over the moon and led the celebration. Something looks like it is clicking for him to me.
Clarke was immense the last 20. Maybe best yet. Twice he literally put it on a plate across the face of goal. Beale has clearly focussed on this side of our game. Over to strikers and attackers now to thrive on these chances, they are gimmes. It needs a striker that is going to bust a gut to get to that position everytime. Beale said it in his interview. Have we got such a striker? If one of them is it we could be in for a brilliant next few weeks.
Last mention to ONien. Absolutely class today. There was an interception early second half which was immense. Overall he held that whole defence together and was a real leader back there. Simply has to be one of our two centre halves for me.
I dont normally moan about refs but that lad today was poor. How it is not a free kick to Neil when they score is beyond me. Lad was literally hanging off his his shirt. I thought they were OTT in the persistent fouling as well, should have been stamped out.
That last 20 mins was great. Rusyn was the spark. I am sure that first chase against Ayling boosted our lads. He was class. That finish is something as well mind. That technique is as tough as it gets, a volley on the way down with top spin. Keeper gets pelters but Rusyn has it dipping just in front of him. It is a brilliant goal. And, for the first time, he looked over the moon and led the celebration. Something looks like it is clicking for him to me.
Clarke was immense the last 20. Maybe best yet. Twice he literally put it on a plate across the face of goal. Beale has clearly focussed on this side of our game. Over to strikers and attackers now to thrive on these chances, they are gimmes. It needs a striker that is going to bust a gut to get to that position everytime. Beale said it in his interview. Have we got such a striker? If one of them is it we could be in for a brilliant next few weeks.
Last mention to ONien. Absolutely class today. There was an interception early second half which was immense. Overall he held that whole defence together and was a real leader back there. Simply has to be one of our two centre halves for me.