Time for Gareth to find a plan B?
By Shaun • Sep 21st, 2008 • Category: Boro NewsOne thing that is becoming apparant from Middlesbrough’s opening to the 08/09 Premier League season is that when we play well we look like a very exciting side but when things start to turn against us or when we need to defend a lead we simply do not have a “plan B”.
At times this season the team Gareth has put together has looked very good, an exciting, quick and attacking group of players. At other times we have looked weak, incapable of keeping the ball and constantly cracking under pressure.
Gareth has made a few substitutions already this season that I have to admit I didn’t agree with and couldn’t really understand. Bringing on Andrew Taylor in the centre of midfield against Portsmouth was a poor decision in my book, we were being over run by Portsmouth and the outstanding Lassana Diarra and with Digard going off injured I felt Josh Walker should’ve been given the nod. Yesterday at the Stadium of Light he brought on Justin Hoyte to play right side of midfield in a 4-4-2, again I thought it was a mistake and caused Boro problems.
For me, this season Boro’s main problems have come from the fact that our midfield has just not been strong enough, shown up in worrying fashion at Fratton Park. Gary O’Neil was given a horrid time by Diarra (who could probably be at a top four club), I also thought O’Neil was poor against Sunderland and his use of the ball is not good enough. We are screaming out for a player like George Boateng (George from a few years back), someone who can win the ball in the middle of the park, someone who can inject some urgency and aggression into the team. It’s no surprise that we cannot seem to ride out a rough spell when we lack any kind of leadership in the middle of the pitch. Didier Digard may well end up being this player but right now our midfield is not up to scratch.
That is why when our fluid attacking game isn’t working and we need a plan B we don’t have one, simply because we can’t win or keep the ball in midfield. With Julio Arca coming back it’s one more option for us, but we need Julio to regain the form he had at the start of last season.
Plan A looks great when it’s working but when it’s not we are too easy to break down and too easy to beat. It’s an important few games coming up for Middlesbrough, it would be great to get a result against Man Utd in the cup but the big one is the home game with WBA. A little early maybe to pronouncing games as MUST WIN but WBA at home is a game we should really be winning.
What are your thoughts?
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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 think it’s way to early to be hitting the panic button but i have to agree that O’Neil is not the answer at centre mid. Lets be honest though, we created enough chances to put the Mackems away and didn’t take them, we’ll be ok. Think Arca might have a big part to play when fit.
I thought the change to 4-4-2 was the right decision, the turning point was the Downing penalty miss, awful technique! They took a massive lift from that (team and fans) and went on to win
Danny i agree that switching to 4-4-2 was a positive move. My point of contention was the decision to bring in Justin Hoyte at right midfield. I thought he could have used Adam Johnson/Stewy Downing on the wings or if he had to replace Johnson bring on Shawky and move O’Neil to the wing. I’m not sure Digard needed to come off, i understand he picked up a knock against Pompey but he didn’t look to be struggling.
For me Hoyte on the right of midfield significantly weakened an already weak midfield. Square pegs in round holes as Bernie Slaven would say.
The Downing penalty was the catalyst for Sunderland’s push and I think we would’ve gone on to win if he’d scored.
That Downing penalty was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. If he even looks like stepping up to take another penalty, i hope someone with some balls in the team tells him where to go and stick his head. The moment i saw stewy stand up to take it i knew it wasn’t going in.. i went to the toilet in full knowledge while he took it. His technique lacks and he always goes for the same right hand corner, if he doesnt fluff it and sky it like we’ve already seen.
Alves should have taken that penalty, no question.