Dreadful performance against Man United leaves us on the brink
By Shaun • May 3rd, 2009 • Category: Featured Articles, First TeamIt wasn't the fact that we lost to Arsenal and Manchester United it was the fact that we lost without showing any sort of fight or passion for the game. I can fully understand and even expect to be completely outclassed against two sides competing for the ultimate glory of the Champions League, what I cannot accept is that not one player seemed to care that we are going down without a fight, not one player showed any sort of urgency to try to rescue something.
Gareth Southgate got the team wrong from the start yesterday, you may say it's ok to say that with the benefit of hindsight but who really, genuinely agreed with the side Southgate put out against United? King and Aliadiere up front whilst Alves sat on the bench? I know Alves has flattered to deceive since arriving here but he would have provided much more of a threat than the frankly useless Marlon King and Jeremie Aliadiere, a player who makes the act of shooting look much more difficult than it is.
For the second game running Aliadiere had a terrific opportunity to give Boro a goal, played through though his shot could only find the legs of Ben Foster, it was a chance a decent finisher would have tucked away and it was a chance we were made to pay for wasting. Ryan Giggs rolling back the years and firing a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The teams went in for the half time break with Boro trailing and every Boro fan hoping, maybe even expecting that changes would be made, a rocket would have been fired into the team and they would come out all guns blazing in an attempt to at least put a bit of pressure on the Champions. Instead the team came out as if they had been slipped a few sleeping tablets at half time, no sense of urgency whatsoever and United strolled away with the 3 points.
A second goal came courtesy of poor defending, Wheater getting all mixed up and playing Park onside, the Korean converting well after a lovely through ball from Rooney. After that it was game over and United strolled to the easiest three points they'll pick up all season.
We can continue to cling onto the faint glimmer of hope that is still at the end of the tunnel, Newcastle destroyed by Liverpool today keeping us alive, Hull with a tough game tomorrow. A win at St James' Park and we have a very real chance of survival, but if we do go down, can anybody really say we didn't deserve to? If we had lost 2-0 yesterday but shown some effort and passion for the fight i'd be able to accept it, as it is I cannot wait for some of these players to get out of Middlesbrough Football Club as they are not fit to wear the shirt!
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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I agree Shaun. I hoped we might have taken something - ANYTHING - out of the Arsenal and United games, even if it was only a couple of spirited performances. Two lethargic, routine defeats were not the order of the day and now, more so than ever before, I have started to have grave doubts about Southgate as a manager.
Alves was an unused sub at the Emirates and I thought that might have been a means of goading him in to turning in a performance against United, as he famously showed he is capable of last year. I was surprised and disappointed that he didn’t start the game. I was equally surprised and disappointed to see that when he did come on, it was for King. King may have been anonymous up until that point, but one thing we now know about Alves is that he can’t lead the line. He has shown time and again that he needs a partner to do his donkey work, and King, if nothing else, could have been that donkey. Whether it be Mido or King, Southgate has always seemed reluctant to play Alves alongside a physical striker, and I think this is a major factor in Alves’ under-achievement.
That change left us the following ramshackle bunch of strikers: Aliadiere, who for me just can’t cut it as a centre-forward; Alves who seemed scared to even get in the box; and Tuncay wading around in the depths of midfield.
Emnes came on and contributed nothing, but it’s far too late in the day to expect him to start making an impression now, surely. Maybe next season we will see something from the young Dutchman, probably in the Championship.
Our only saving grace, of course, is that Newcastle, Sunderland and Hull have all failed to take advantage of our two defeats. Hull of course, play tomorrow, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them lose again.
In many ways, nothing has changed. A win at St James’ could still be our get out of jail free card. If Boro’s performances against Arsenal and United didn’t inspire much confidence in our survival hopes, Newcastle’s against Liverpool most certainly did.
“King may have been anonymous up until that point, but one thing we now know about Alves is that he can’t lead the line. He has shown time and again that he needs a partner to do his donkey work”
Couldn’t agree more, I think it’s been painfully apparent since he arrived here that he cannot lead the line and needs someone physical alongside him. Sadly I think he may have turned out to be a good signing had he been used properly in the first place, his confidence is so low now that he can’t contribute to the cause
Alreeet Smoggies,
Im a Newcatsle fan, and must say the “derby” pending is bigger than any cup final for both teams. I’d like to believe we will beat you on Monday but i cannot see where goals are going to come from, but thankfully i see the same at boro. My prediction is that the game will end 0-0, then only the Scum will represent the north east next season. Or i could fancy (dream of) us sneaking a goal and getting the three points.
Good new for both teams: I cannot see Hull picking up another point, not even against stoke after the apparent dressing room problems!! Again, i can see Sunderland getting anything in their last three games, so if either us or boro can come away with three points come monday night then there is a great shout for that team to stay up!
Ideally, i’d like to see all North east sides stay up, but thats not going to happen!
Come on the Toon!!!! 1-0 Bassong for a headed goal and MOTM performance!!
PS Shaun, you more than welcome to come through the Toon to watch the game
Thanks Jaymes, think I might watch it at home though, don’t think I could face it if we got beat!