MIDDLESBROUGH vs NORWICH CITY match day thread

Errrrrr not me and I'm not panicking. I'm just stating the fact that if we end the evening in 9th then Neil will be under pressure with the squad he has got.

Don't think it's Neil's fault but you know what it's like these days Rick.

Fair enough Kemp. Sorry I over-reacted, but I don't want to go back to the Hughton sort of rants.
 
Positive change, when 2 down there isn't much point having Tettey.

Although this could go horribly wrong.

It's already gone horribly wrong. With all due respect to Middlesbrough, we shouldn't be losing to them.

I'd rather we tried to chase down a two goal deficit and risked losing heavily tbh
 
So we start the second half 8th (but only 4 points off the top) and could be second in 45 minutes. OTBC!
 
It's already gone horribly wrong. With all due respect to Middlesbrough, we shouldn't be losing to them.

I'd rather we tried to chase down a two goal deficit and risked losing heavily tbh

If you are risking putting numbers forward, why take off your most mobile midfielder to handle any counter attacks.
 
Half time stats:
6 shots each, they've hit the target twice and scored both times. We've troubled the 'keeper once.
2-2 on corners
We've had 56% possession.

This worries me.

It's what happened last season. We concede with seemingly every other shot on target. I don't like pointing at Ruddy, but you have to ask the question. Rudd's a brilliant shot stopper - is it time to give him a go?


For me it's bloody obvious. MARTIN IS NOT A CENTRE BACK!

Whittaker worries me at RB. Move Martin to RB and play one of our recognised CB's.

I have to disagree slightly - lately I feel Whittaker's been getting a lot of stick. He is a decent attacking fullback, very experienced, though admittedly shaky defensively. In and of itself, I have no problem with him being at right back. Similarly with Martin - he does some things well at CB, he obviously isn't rubbish there and I'm comfortable him playing there.

However, I do agree that having both of them in those positions means we look very dodgy - I don't know whether it's because neither has enough confidence in the other, or they're trying to cover each other, or they simply need to communicate better. Either way, it's not working.
 
I'm worried that we will lose midfield. I would of been more inclined to go three at the back or take Howson off.

Whittaker has to go.

He is starting to be consistently poor. No matter how much they try, Scottish players just do not have a good enough footballing education to be any good.
 
On a side note, I think a defensively-competent attacking right back should be our priority signing in January. We could possibly do with another winger as well.
 
If you are risking putting numbers forward, why take off your most mobile midfielder to handle any counter attacks.

That's a slightly different point. I just meant I have no problem us stepping up the risk.

But anyway, I disagree. Howson is very mobile and better going forward, O'Neill isn't too slow and is better at passing than Tettey. So as a remaining combo, I'd say taking off Tettey gives the best balance. Plus Tettey doesn't seem to be having too great a game.

Why not? They were 3rd going in to the game and unbeaten in 11. Must be doing something right.

A bit strong perhaps, and I don't mean we are automatically entitled to beat them, but our squad is substantially stronger than theirs and being 2 down in this manner is, IMO, an embarrassing situation. It's pitiful. You can make all the excuses in the world about their form, luck, etc, but our team is more than capable of getting a point here.
 
This worries me.

It's what happened last season. We concede with seemingly every other shot on target. I don't like pointing at Ruddy, but you have to ask the question. Rudd's a brilliant shot stopper - is it time to give him a go?




I have to disagree slightly - lately I feel Whittaker's been getting a lot of stick. He is a decent attacking fullback, very experienced, though admittedly shaky defensively. In and of itself, I have no problem with him being at right back. Similarly with Martin - he does some things well at CB, he obviously isn't rubbish there and I'm comfortable him playing there.

However, I do agree that having both of them in those positions means we look very dodgy - I don't know whether it's because neither has enough confidence in the other, or they're trying to cover each other, or they simply need to communicate better. Either way, it's not working.
we won last Friday but that fact still was a big problem imho