Match Threads Middlesbrough vs Spurs - FA Cup Match Thread

[Rout-Ledge]

In 2019, we are one of the worst teams in the league.

I don’t disagree

 

[spursfan1976]

Tuesday 14th I Believe, as Boro have a league game on Friday 17th.

When’s the replay likely to be?

 

[ostrov]

The only positive Lo Celso and Lamela injected some life in the lethargic procedure. First half was atrocious.

 

[mil1lion]

The one positive from Kane being injured is we are forced to play it on the ground. Long ball is no longer an option. This to me exposes the underlying issues we have and also benefits the players who are actually clever in possession. Lamela, Celso, Eriksen, ND will all benefit. I think long ball football is a good option sometimes but only when you have a clever ground game. Having no Kane will force Jose to play players that can move the ball well and in my opinion we are better as a team playing the aforementioned.

I thought Winks was a big reason we played through midfield.

 

[stevenurse]

A decent right back would have had 5 assists and a goal today. Aurier got an assist with the least likely occasion.

Christ we need to spend some money.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Because there is always that little blip when a new manager comes in but that was just papering over the cracks. People are far too impatient these days. Good things take time but the trouble is that modern fans expect everything to happen yesterday.

The trouble is we brought in an instant fix manager to wring the last drops out of a largely ageing first team.

If we are going for the long term patience approach then that’s fine, but you can’t do that with Mourinho. He’s not a long term planner. That’s an unfortunate truth.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Christ we need to spend some money.

Don't hold your breath. We can say it until we're blue in the face, but all the time we're hamstrung by a guy who exercises his little man syndrome via 'winning' at negotiating a price, not much will change.

This is going to take several transfer windows to fix if we continue at our usual pace and even then it'll be shopping at Lidl. So unless he has a visit from the ghost of Christmas present and future and wakes up transformed, we are up a certain creek without a certain implement.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

One team played well over the Xmas period and got a few good wins, the other team

A decent right back would have had 5 assists and a goal today.

FB delusion taken to a whole new level on SC.

 

[DiamondLites]

Eriksen played much better once Lamela and Lo Celso came on and were buzzing around him and actually offering some options and movement

 

[mil1lion]

I didn't think we were too bad today. We looked better than the last 2 games and played through midfield more. We just lacked urgency in the final third. Alli and Son were poor and that was a big reason we failed to score more than 1 goal. When Kane is out injured we need those players to step up and they didn't today.

I would have played Sanchez for Vertonghen as he's really struggled with the schedule lately. I would have liked to see Sess be more positive and run with the ball too. He had one nice turn and run just before he was subbed so it was too little too late. Aurier did well on the other side but his final ball let him down at times (good assist for Moura but poor finish soon after sums him up).

I hope Winks is ok as we need him to return to his best. We also need to play Lo Celso from the start next week. Some positives to take at a time when morale is low. I'm not expecting anything from the Liverpool game but as the schedule loosens up before the February break I hope Jose can start to put his stamp on the team.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

It's down to the manager to sort that out.

To be fair to Mourinho he has inherited a side alarmingly short in confidence and so fragile - I thought Clive Allen had it exactly right when he said when we don't have the ball we are pre-occupied with getting into some sort of defensive shape which means we drop deeper and don't pressurise the ball and it all ends up a bit of half arsed and disjointed.

Both the last two goals given away have been a single ball through the heart of the defence which is so poor on both fronts that there is little pressure on the ball once we lose it and if your playing with a 3 why are they so square

 

[stevenurse]

One team played well over the Xmas period and got a few good wins, the other team

FB delusion taken to a whole new level on SC.

It may be facetious hyperbole but it's not delusion. Aurier is utter shit.

Forgetting the countless times he fucked up a cross, any player worth his salt (let alone a right back) would have scored that chance at the end (or at least had the ability to square it for a tap in).

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Does anyone here actually think that Mourinho was brought in to preside over a comprehensive squad rebuild? And if they agree that he wasn’t, is he the right man to do that?

 

[Metalhead]

The trouble is we brought in an instant fix manager to wring the last drops out of a largely ageing first team.

If we are going for the long term patience approach then that’s fine, but you can’t do that with Mourinho. He’s not a long term planner. That’s an unfortunate truth.

That's the situation that we're in and tbf Levy is not going to change the manager again. He needs time to build a team and have a pre-season. Trouble is that fans find it hard to accept that we are in transition.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

That's the situation that we're in and tbf Levy is not going to change the manager again. He needs time to build a team and have a pre-season. Trouble is that fans find it hard to accept that we are in transition.

He’s not going to change it again unless things get really bad. But the point is that if Mourinho was brought in for a purpose which is at odds with the one he is now faced with it leads you to the conclusion that the biggest decision Levy has made since he became chairman has been in error. That’s a big deal for the best paid chairman in the league.

 

[spursbhoy67]

Getting caught out time and time again with the long quick ball over the top.

Three of our last 4 conceded have been from this due to playing a high line and trying to play off side or just being caught unawares.

Now, I think it's important to note that these players have been playing a high line under Poch for such a long time now, plus most of them have been more suited to it. But what we relied on was two rapid full backs who would often sweep up. Aurier is certainly not that type and Toby/Jan are getting slower.

Jose said he wasn't going to change too much, therefore I think he's decided to not drop the high line just yet, least until he has had serious time to work on it. It's not something that can be coached quickly as you need your defenders to approach a game differently plus you also need a DM who is really good at screening since you will be playing deeper and more likely to face shots.

When playing a high line you need your misfieksrs to be aggressive when losing the ball and shutting down passes quickly, unfortunately we are not. Which means we've got long passes coming over, no fbs sweeping up and cbs who can't get back quick enough.

One thing some fans are missing is the fact that Lloris plays so high and aggressive off his line that he was a sweeper behind the back four/five. Gazza is not that keeper and his reluctance to come for balls has cost us in most of these games. Coaching won't change that in his game. We need Lloris back soon and a reserve keeper who can play outside the penalty area.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

That's the situation that we're in and tbf Levy is not going to change the manager again. He needs time to build a team and have a pre-season. Trouble is that fans find it hard to accept that we are in transition.

What people can't understand is that a side the just a few short months ago took us to the European Cup final now look bereft of confidence and belief. I think most of us believed that we would move forward

 

[Gassin's finest]

We need God

Not sure Hoddle is up to it anymore.

 

[rossdapep]

What people can't understand is that a side the just a few short months ago took us to the European Cup final now look bereft of confidence and belief. I think most of us believed that we would move forward

Yep. Most people felt that we'd kick on. Use our moment in the sun as an opportunity to significantly strengthen and have a little change around. Similar to when Liverpool won the CL under Benitez, he knew some of those players had reached the end and cleared them out despite what they'd achieved.

We, however, continued to trust too many of them and they're starting to stink the place out

 

[Metalhead]

He’s not going to change it again unless things get really bad. But the point is that if Mourinho was brought in for a purpose which is at odds with the one he is now faced with it leads you to the conclusion that the biggest decision Levy has made since he became chairman has been in error. That’s a big deal for the best paid chairman in the league.

I never thought that he brought Mourinho in for an instant fix. He needs at least three or four new players. Trying to get much out of this team, especially without a pre-season is a tall order.