That was a strange game by Millar, a proper curate's egg. Every time he got the ball he was either very good or very very bad. Didn't seem to be anything in between.
MOTM Middlesbrough (Wembley)
- Thread starter Ernie Shackleton
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
Tbh, I'd have to watch the game again to give a considered vote!!
Harsh to pick 3 out.
The back 3 were immense. I'd have said back 5 but the FB's didn't really get forward enough for me, although I guess that was part of the plan soaking up all the pressure for 60+ minutes.
McBurnie was also immense. Unbelievable signing he's been and up there now with our other legends for what he's done and been this season.
Although a hard watch, Sergej's plan was once again a master-stroke.
Harsh to pick 3 out.
The back 3 were immense. I'd have said back 5 but the FB's didn't really get forward enough for me, although I guess that was part of the plan soaking up all the pressure for 60+ minutes.
McBurnie was also immense. Unbelievable signing he's been and up there now with our other legends for what he's done and been this season.
Although a hard watch, Sergej's plan was once again a master-stroke.
I keep harping on about Egan but for most matches I had him in the top three.
Massive bargain. Many of the Irish lads over the years go that extra mile and don't mind putting their bodies on the line.
Massive bargain. Many of the Irish lads over the years go that extra mile and don't mind putting their bodies on the line.
Hughes
Egan
Mcburnie
Its a shame to leave Ajayi out but I had to stick McBurnie in somewhere, but all of the back three were immense, rock solid and impassable. And as I said in another post as well as scoring the golden goal McBurnie "worked harder than an Irish Navy on 10 quid (maybe I said a fiver) a shovelful". Fabulous display by all the team and Sergei and his support staff.
Egan
Mcburnie
Its a shame to leave Ajayi out but I had to stick McBurnie in somewhere, but all of the back three were immense, rock solid and impassable. And as I said in another post as well as scoring the golden goal McBurnie "worked harder than an Irish Navy on 10 quid (maybe I said a fiver) a shovelful". Fabulous display by all the team and Sergei and his support staff.
tigermaul
Well-Known Member
It was astonishing that he gave no yellows for fouls - just McB’s deshirting. He was very good.
I was surprised he didn't give McB a yellow 2 seconds into the game.
don't think he's been mentioned in here but Gelhardt deserves a hat tip for Saturday after a multiple repeat watching of the highlights, received the ball twice in the move that led to the goal and both times a weaker less capable player would have lost it, first time he received it I'd say defender was favourite to win it. He also created a half chance out of nothing with the one he flashed across the goal.Top lad and needs signing up
He made an immediate and huge difference the minute he came on
Thought he handled it well BT, approached him at the following throw in and signalled to calm down. No marching over or histrionics
Ajayi
Yu
McBurnie
Honourable mention to the ref, who went unnoticed for most of the game
Yu
McBurnie
Honourable mention to the ref, who went unnoticed for most of the game
Five points for first choice, three for second, one for third.
Ajayi 108
Egan 80
Hughes 77
McBurnie 63
Coyle 6
Hirakawa 5
Slater 2
Belloumi 1
Giles 1
Top three? Back three. Doesn't get more solid that that.
Now the dust has started to settle, time to reflect on what an outstanding achievement this promotion has been. The final seconds of the final game of last season were just as tense as the final seconds of the final game of this season, but for completely opposite reasons. At the final whistle the relief at Portsmouth was palpable; the elation at Wembley likewise.
To achieve promotion when faced by a transfer embargo, a manager new to the league, very low expectations from bookies and pundits, and with the injury record we've had for two seasons, is remarkable. To do so having conceded more goals than over 90% of teams in the league is astonishing.
So much credit has to go to the owner - I like a man who learns from his mistakes; the management, recruitment and coaching teams - all the cogs meshed together perfectly; and the players -the policy of signing a bunch of 'been there, done that' experienced professionals worked a treat.
I don't know what next season will bring, but I guess we'll either stay up or be relegated. Either way, consider the alternative. Without Matt Crooks' goal at Fratton Park a year ago (and possibly a bit of Portsmouth 'on the beachism' once they'd equalised), where would this club be now? We'd have been in a financial mess, that's for sure. We'd have lost probably all our salable playing assets. Acun would have probably lost interest (his potential Turkish backers certainly would have). Crowds, Income, expectations would have fallen. Recruitment would have suffered. Quality would have dwindled. It probably would have been the start of a downward spiral which would have taken years to reverse.
But instead we're going to play in the globally accepted highest quality league on the planet.
It's a funny old game football, innit?
Ajayi 108
Egan 80
Hughes 77
McBurnie 63
Coyle 6
Hirakawa 5
Slater 2
Belloumi 1
Giles 1
Top three? Back three. Doesn't get more solid that that.
Now the dust has started to settle, time to reflect on what an outstanding achievement this promotion has been. The final seconds of the final game of last season were just as tense as the final seconds of the final game of this season, but for completely opposite reasons. At the final whistle the relief at Portsmouth was palpable; the elation at Wembley likewise.
To achieve promotion when faced by a transfer embargo, a manager new to the league, very low expectations from bookies and pundits, and with the injury record we've had for two seasons, is remarkable. To do so having conceded more goals than over 90% of teams in the league is astonishing.
So much credit has to go to the owner - I like a man who learns from his mistakes; the management, recruitment and coaching teams - all the cogs meshed together perfectly; and the players -the policy of signing a bunch of 'been there, done that' experienced professionals worked a treat.
I don't know what next season will bring, but I guess we'll either stay up or be relegated. Either way, consider the alternative. Without Matt Crooks' goal at Fratton Park a year ago (and possibly a bit of Portsmouth 'on the beachism' once they'd equalised), where would this club be now? We'd have been in a financial mess, that's for sure. We'd have lost probably all our salable playing assets. Acun would have probably lost interest (his potential Turkish backers certainly would have). Crowds, Income, expectations would have fallen. Recruitment would have suffered. Quality would have dwindled. It probably would have been the start of a downward spiral which would have taken years to reverse.
But instead we're going to play in the globally accepted highest quality league on the planet.
It's a funny old game football, innit?
Thanks for doing this all season Ernie, much appreciated.
tigermaul
Well-Known Member
Seconded -- I always feel the MotM thread brings out the best in people on here, and above all is fun -- so many thanks for administering it, Ernie!Thanks for doing this all season Ernie, much appreciated.
Don't ever use it myself but nice that you take the time to tot it all up,not that I've ever checked over your arithmetic,it's taken on trust 
Their guy moved over to block him so got what he deserved.