That's only the second time I've seen us second best in midfield at the CCS this season and we lost both. Brighton was the first when Poyet had an organised midfield that overan ours at the time when Malky was still building it - in other words, a game too soon for us. Today, Mowbray did the same but for a different reason - our midfield now looks decidely tired, in other words, a game too far for us. Both those managers have had time to build their sides and it shows. Malky needs some support from the boardroom. I've said a number of times on here that Conway is way off his early season form and now you can add Cowie to that - they both seem very tired. Kiss is either unfit or not up to speed, and Whitts was exposed. Only Gunnar (thank God for him) has the spark right now - you can't really fault young Mason being played out of position as a makeweight. Some very serious strengthening is required in this department or we'll face a lot more games coming off second best. As much effort as Miller puts in, and he's been brilliant this past dozen games, we do not have the front runners who can hold up the ball from route one play - it's a waste of time lumping it up there. The defence needs protection as well and Gunnar can't be everywhere bless him. They were exposed again today because of a tired and largely ineffective midfield. One final thing on the back four. I know we bemoan the lack of pace generally, but just how slow is Taylor? I never thought he was a speed merchant but he was a couple of yards off it today.
Sadly have to agree, January can't come quick enough, I'm not expecting a mega spend, just a couple of new faces with the gonads this lot have.
Watching on TV I was thinking the same. Tired boys at about the 60 minute mark. We lifted near the end. This group of players will give their all but without some help I think the playoffs will be a step too far.
Yesterday was a very good and enjoyable game that could have gone either way. I dont think they dominated the midfield at all. They may have edged the midfield but they are a very good side. A very even match and individual errors have cost us. We are crying out for players out wide with pace. Taylor is slow. Maybe time for Darcy to come in at full back. Cowie was totally ineffective yesterday. Maybe he is carrying a injury. Seems Whitts is out for Watford - a massive loss. The team never game up though and fought to the end. Play offs may not happen as injuries take effect. But at least this team are fighting for the shirt. If the board back Malky with cash then great it will probably be a play off gamble. If not we build and kick on in the summer. Last seasons defeat to Boro was an embarrassment to Jones and his side. Yesterday they were a credit and we just got edged out against a good side in a very good competitive game.
Guess what, we are still in the mix. Boro are up there and will still be there come April and other than a dodgy ref we still could have won, though a draw would have been a fair result. Yes it will be nice to get 2 or 3 new faces in January but I'm not ready to jump on the doom & gloom wagon.
Didn't say they dominated midfield at all Hilts, just that we were second best overall and we were. Yes, they edged it - they also got 3 points and we got none. Boro are a very good side and I've already tipped them for auto promotion along with us. That was simply because I think they're good enough right now under Mowbray, and we will be come the New Year. There are very few teams that are as good as Boro in this division, and they are a very good side, but we'll struggle to overcome some mediocre sides who just pack their midfield. Also not on the doom and gloom wagon at all Rhondda - the OP was just as I see it. If Malky does not get the support he needs that is so obvious to those who watched that game, we will lose more games like that.
If the worst happens and we slip down the table and miss out on the play offs at least we will have a strong base to build on. The club appears to be getting its finances in order , we will have a playing squad under contract and not a load of expensive loan players and also players for one reason or another about to leave on frees. We will also if reports are right have Dave Jones and his salary off our books freeing up more income. Im uneasy about this talk of strengthening. Over spending has put the clubs existence under risk. Im delighted to have a competitive side and a football club to support after Sam and Ridsdales exploits. On the other side. We are in the top 6 and the semi final of the Carling Cup. Maybe we get lucky with injuries get promoted and win the cup. Its been a exciting season and unlike last year its being done properly and not a very expensive gamble like last seasons failure.
Sparkey I get your point. But id say yesterday was 2 very even sides. For years under Jones we were clearly 2nd best in midfield in game after game (play off final) and he did nothing about it as he stuck by his 442. We got away with it by bypassing the midfield and bringing in Bothroyd. If he was out there was no plan B. This season Brighton apart we have been more than competitive in midfield including yesterday. A bit of luck and yesterday we would have had the 3 points. They took the lead after we should have been given what was a clear penalty. The linesman and ref bottled it. These things even themselves out over the season. We have a tough XMas period and it looks as though a patched up side maybe going to Watford. Do we need more players to mount a promotion challenge. Almost certainly - but they have to be affordable. Last season I feared for us if we failed to go up. If we dont go up this season ill just look forward to another exciting season of Championship football. Fresh legs against Watford. Bring in Mason for Whitts. We can still do a number on them
Hilts: Not sure if Cowie was carrying or received a knock to be subbed but agree he was ineffective yesterday. Given his contribution so far, I'll allow him an off day... just one mind you Bit of confusion surrounding Whitts number of yellows. Some sources say 3, some sources say 4 going into yesterday. He said 3 so if he's right and can get through Watford and Forest without another, he'll avoid a ban.... until he gets 10. Can't rely on luck and no injuries. We definately need additions to the existing squad stay competitive but nobody has mentioned overspending. Malky has a budget to work with and I doubt he'll go outside that. I was a bit pissed off yesterday but today is another day. Like DJ says we're still up there and we go again on Boxing Day
No doubt about the penalty - Kev was taken out pure and simple, and the officials bottled big time. If he HAD given the pen, then Steele would have walked. The fact that it was so early in the game was no excuse for the lack of action. The last thing any of us want is for the club to overspend and underachieve - it's a balance that has to be struck. Hopefully, VT will support what's necessary with personal cash rather than the Sam & Ridsdale loan route that brought us to the brink.
After they scored we had mifield but second half their back four pushed up to constrict the middle of the park and that is where we lost out. They clearly targeted Taylor as they did our left hand side last season and we just seemed unable to cover Hoyte's runs from full back. We were lucky not to concede from some of his first half crosses. Isn't it ironic also that Turner gets his first goal for us but also has his worst game. He looked out of sorts all afternoon from the moment he tried to hit his first big cross field ball and always seemed under prsssure when he had the ball. Their third came as a result of us losing possession with Kev upfield, Hudson went across to cover right back, this dragged Turener into a more central position and Arca hit an inch perfect ball which Turner couldn't touch. If the back four had been in their normal positions there wouldn't have been a problem. At half time I was looking forward to us putting their very dodgy keeper under much pressure but by pushing up their back four we didn't have the space to move in midfield to the extent that Whitts was operating from the centre circle most of the time. Apart from corners their keeper had a relatively easy second half until the last few minutes. However, this is not the end of the world, Boro are a good side and Mowbray knows what to do to get sides promoted from this division. With 8 days to Watford it gives a chance for the players to rest a little more and relieve tired legs. Cowie went straight down the tunnel when he came off which leads me to believe the had taken a knock. Incredibly at this level those are the first minutes he has not been on the pitch in a league game this season. Whitts is now our only player to have played every minute of every league game. Apart from his finishing I thought Conway was doing well yesterday. While not the quickest or trickiest his direct running is always asking questions of defenders and creating space for others. I just wish that when he cuts inside to shoot he would get his head over the ball and stop leaning backwards. He should at least then hit the target as he did regularly in Scotland. However, Malky always seems to sub him at around 65 minutes. Ralls injury looked like a ligament or cartilidge so he could be out for a few weeks and with McPhail also out it is important to clarify the Whitts bookings situation otherwise we will have a very thin midfield at Watford and would need to involve Darcy or Taiwo . This further emphasises the need to strengthen midfield in January. With McPhail's problems I wonder how much longer he can continue playing.
Bluey - Didn't mean to suggest that Conway was the only problem, but his form of late is. Don't want to highlight his as the weak midfield link, but I haven't seen him have a "good" game since he got injured against Leicester. In fact, we went on to beat Southampton without him. He seems to be shuffling rather than stretching out when running. He was never a pacy wide man and prefers to come inside rather than take on his fullback, but he made up for it with some lovely deliveries into the box. Even they seem to have dried up, and without that feature has been distinctly average at best. Malky nearly always subs him which must tell us something. Midfield is the key, and without options exacerbated by the absence of McPhail through illness and Ralls injury, Malky must feel he still has to play Conway. Mason was suggested by someone and I wouldn't have a problem with that, but he's not the medium/long term answer. We need a couple of midfield players with "legs" - and a bit of pace also wouldn't go amiss. As far as Taylor goes, I thought he was exposed time and time again yesterday. One time he was last man when one of their guys (McDonald?) was set free and had a clear run in albeit across the face of the goal. Taylor looked like he'd just finished his first packet of ***s of the day as he tried to run him down. The fact that their guy was running across the goal area rather than straight at it probably saved us a 4th goal against. However, it's on to Watford and all to play for.
Looking at the left back position, when Naylor played v. Birmingham we always got someone alongside him to face Burkie (Conway or Cowie normally) but yesterday the cover wasn't always there for Taylor so he often had Hoyte and another player coming at him and had to chose which one to take, usually the forward. This left Hoyte free to put in his crosses. Agreed Taylor looked slow second half when the game got stretched and we lost our shape, particularly after the 2 subs came on. I recall one attempted tackle where he was so late he didn't get close to player or ball. Looks like we are all together on the need to stregthen midfield - hope Malky is too.
