On the way to the ground I have to pass the Prince of Wales. That’s no big deal, I’m sure loads of us do likewise.
However, I literally bumped into a couple of Boro fans and one of their sons who were bemoaning the demise of the Compleat Angler as a haven for away supporters and asked me the background to the change of tack by the management thereof.
That sorted, they proceeded to regale me with tales of why they weren’t happy with the inconsistency of their side. I couldn’t get the proverbial word in edgeways, which is most unusual for me. It proved a very interesting and indeed pleasant journey for the 15 minutes or so it lasted.
They (Boro) seem to be exactly where we were 12 months ago, and my impression is their supporters don’t like it. Especially spending big money on players, changing manager and promptly getting rid of nearly £20m of talent on the arrival of the master tactician that is Tony Pulis.
Anyway, enough of the problems at Boro.
Punctuated by the red mist that descended upon Rudy Gestede and that firecracker from Tom Trybull, it was otherwise an afternoon of serenity, including that spine-tingling appreciation of Michelle Dack on the 52nd minute and the inspiring site of young Ethan Thomas on the pitch. So much respect to Madders for his involvement and contribution.
The Gestede incident was frankly ridiculous. Was it a straight red or a second yellow? Studs up, straight red. He would have marched anyway for a second yellow, so any argument is basically redundant in this case.
As for TT’s masterblaster, I think his own words are more appropriate than mine:
“I just tried to shoot and because I was a little bit annoyed that we were always playing around the defence of Boro, that’s why I decided to shoot.”
A fine speech as I hope you will agree!
From that moment on we knocked it around with confidence – I don’t buy this “it’s only ten men” thing, there were still two banks of four to break down and we were fizzing the ball around with purpose and intent.
Infringing our Gary’s trademark, Tetbull absolutely ran the show. Alex Tettey was my personal Man of the Match – he really bossed any limited threat Boro could muster. Interestingly he became slightly less effectively after Trybull’s unfortunate departure on the hour, but what a bonus we got when Moritz Leitner came on. He looks like one to hang on to if at all possible. Yes, the gaps opened up, but mainly as a result of his incisive passing in the first place.
Honourable mention to Angus Gunn for his superb handling when traditional Pulisball was occasionally employed by a rapidly tiring Boro. That lad is very, very good and will become even better. We have been lucky to have him, even if only for a single season.
Of course, a killer second would have been very welcome but we truly never looked in any real danger and I enjoyed the second half display immensely.
It only remained for a warm round of applause to be given to Yorkshire’s favourite pigeon fancier, one Jonathan Howson, ex of this parish, and the walk home.
This time I spoke to a couple of Lemontop boys from Redcar and they seemed to think we have had the best of Jonny and he’s on the point of descending that hill.
Things aren’t looking too bad just now and next season could yet prove to be something we will all savour.
You couldn’t get a word in edge ways? Yeah, right.
I only saw Channel 5’s morsel of the match but am encouraged by the reports of cohesion and the ability of the 2 new guys who came on. I am left wondering if Alex Pritchard thinks he may have been a bit hasty in trying to get away; it looks as though he could be bench warming his way to relegation-ho hum.
I would have liked to have experienced the emotion reported for Saturday. I hope it helped those it was intended for. I firmly believe that NCFC is, should be and always will be, about more than just the football.
Yes it was quite a day.
Pritchard’s decision looks a little hasty just now – why Huddersfield for heaven’s sake?
Cohesion there most certainly was and Leitner looks the proverbial real deal.
Maybe my lack of verbal interjection was due to the language barrier. I worked there for years but still struggle with a little bit of the dialect!
Good people, are the Boro lot.
Hi Martin
A very good read..
City supporters most always give a good reception to ex players even those that want to leave.
They also appreciate those others that have had hard times or worked for city it shows a real community with in the club and supporters groups.
Leitner has said he does know what his parents clubs plans are for next season so hopefully this might be a trial for him to see how he adapts to the club and championship football.
Strange one Middleton leaving to Rangers then even strangers comments from Farke he said he didn’t want him to leave and they would monitor his progress for a possibility to buy him back at some stage, he also said there was no buy back clause sure if you thought you might want him back that should be the first thing to be stipulated, now did city put in a sell on clause just in case we don’t buy him back?????.
Now we are away to Derby on Saturday and possibly come up against CJ would city have put into the sale that he would not be available to play against them so soon ????
The blue noses down the rd seem to be matching city point for point just to stay in front on goal difference, with our away form being reasonable this season can we get at least a point at Derby.
Yes Alex, there was a very visible (and indeed audible) sense of community on Saturday.
We continue to be close-knit, despite the divisions!
The Glenn Middleton thing was indeed surprising, certainly to me at least. I guess it boiled down to the lad craving a chance of first team football at a club he loves and I have no problem with that. I only saw him play once so cannot really offer a constructive opinion on his ability.
Maybe the arrival of Onel Hernandez made his mind up?
Of course there was the Murty connection as well. Which probably sealed the deal.
@Alex B Re Middleton – I have seen him in several Under 23 games at CR since Jan 17 and he has nearly always impressed with his pace and his crossing ability – when we played Saints Under 23s earlier this season, he twice whipped in crosses for Abrahams, which resulted in 2 different conceding OGs. Nearly all the comments I’ve seen on Social Media are saying that it is a great shame that he’s left and he has real talent. I love the fact that he’s very hard t oknock off the ball and he scored a superb solo goal for Scotland’s Under 17s against Montenegro I think it was. Unfortunately for NCFC, Middleton was a Gers fan from a young age and after a chat with DF, was told that his opportunity for 1st team football at CR were limited, due to other players ahead of him. Gers manager Murty was responsible for coaching Middleton in his early years at NCFC and I guess Martin also suggested trying to sign him.
I thought it strange that we didn’t insist on a ‘buy-back clause’, but we have insisted on quite a hefty sell-on fee.
Ed: I hope the sell-on clause was hefty indeed.
I suspect you are correct when you suggest “our Russ” had some influence.
Martin
On Sunday I read a very interesting article from the Burnley second biggest share holder.
He said he was always a Burnley supporter and when asked a few years ago to invest in the the sum was £500k to get on the board.
When he went to the first board meeting he was astounded that the full agenda was how to save money in selling players, backroom staff and no how to progress the club.
He said that he offered to put more money into the club to stop the decent to a lower league, and then started to become more involved in running the club as a business and making it a success he help fund new player recruitment and changed the outlook of the club he also funded the UCFB for anyone to get a degree in all sides of football management, accounting recruitment and so on this was aimed at players to get qualifications when their careers was over but now it is open to any one.
Breadon Flood is what city needs
Always enjoy your observations Martin, thank you.
I like Middlesborough F C genuine, community club with a good owner but can’t help thinking they’ve got it all a little wrong as you eluded to.
I was reminded last week of those seasons of mediocrity between, I think, 1996 – 2002ish and how awful at times it was. 15,000 – 17,000 crowd the old South stand, Kids for a quid on league cup games, etc. However, I still loved coming at the time with my young daughters. We are a Family Club with a special place in the community. My daughters are all grown up now and work and live in London but their mood on a Saturday is still lifted by a win or good performance or positive news re all things yellow and green. Saturday had everything, footballing skill, emotion, desire and 3 points delivered by players and fans alike,
Everything is new and miraculously there is a sense of togetherness again which is as strong as I can remember, we are in a good place and I like it, and it could take us a long way. Up next, Derby, Ipswich and then the Wolves, hang on, could be quite a ride!
Thanks Colin – nice post.
Believe it or not I’ve still got a “Football in the Community” mug from the era to which you refer. Mid 90s in the days of Ros Watson and Mendy I would imagine. Mrs P hasn’t managed to break it, although other objects have disintegrated over the same period – including a misironed Aviva shirt, although as she said if it were that precious I should have done it myself. Fair comment really:-)
It’s fantastic to see us pulling together again as you say. I don’t personally expect anything this season, but next time around we could be some proposition. It’s taking shape and that’s for sure.
I really empathise with this. I’m a big fan of Steve Gibson at Boro, who was pitched in at a young age, always done his best for them and has never used that Club to show off on his own account.
There are a few others out there from that mould: the guys in charge of Wycombe and Lincoln appeal to me also although I am too lazy to research their names.
There are some despots out there as well (no I don’t mean Delia) and at least we’re free of them.
How proud must Gibson feel when his nephew is playing the Gary Pallister role at Boro? Very, I would think and he deserves that feeling. Unlike Delia he is a born and bred, proper Boro boy.
Credibility goes a long way in football.
Enjoyable read and summed up my thoughts on Saturday’s game.
Notwithstanding the fact that ‘boro’ were reduced to 10 men Gunny Jnr. did’t have much to do and I felt we were very comfortable in the 2nd half just a shame we couldn’t find the net for a second time which would have made it even more comfortable!
It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks who Herr Farke decides to play as our central midfielders AT+TT or AT+ML or TT+ML and lets not forget Vrancic seems Farke now has difficult some decisions to make. Pity the same can’t be said of the right back berth!
As for Pritchard leaving, what’s curious to me is that Huddersfield appeared to be the only club who showed any interested in him, is that correct? I felt he was going to be pivotal to the 2nd half of the season and was a real asset, however, it seems premier league sides think differently.
Need to see a bit more of our new recruits but that said I’m beginning to feel rather optimistic!
Finally, I don’t think I can adequately put into words my thoughts & feelings as I stood with 25,000 others on the 52nd minute on Saturday, sometimes, ‘football’ is so much more than the game.
Yes it’s slightly strange how solidarity can emerge from sadness – there’s nothing we as supporters could have done to make bad good beyond what we did but the togetherness was really, really special.
Re Alex Pritchard I simply don’t know. Nobody I’ve spoken to has said he was desperate to join Huddersfield – maybe he thought they’d pick up and remain PL. There’s still a chance they might of course. I don’t even think his wages would have sky rocketed as a result of the move. On the back of recent team performances I think I’d rather have the money.
A great comment and thanks.
Good precis Martin; what a coup it would be (if Saturday was anything to go by) if we could get a permanent deal for Leitner. I don’t think he wasted a single ball. OK, I agree it was against “only” 10 men, but as we old ‘uns know, Tony Pulis is no mug and expert at frustrating the opposition. Gunn’s early and long distribution to Murphy in the second half reminded me of how we used a certain Mr Huckerby in days gone by.
Given how many were moaning earlier in the season about our keep-ball tactics, I was very impressed by our game management on Saturday. One thing I cannot understand though – given Murphy’s undoubted pace, (and lack of defensive prowess), why oh why do we not put him on the half-way line when we are defending a corner??. This would keep a couple of opposing defenders busy rather than allowing them unfettered access to any clearance. ‘Boro used Traore in this way and kept a couple of our men away from the penalty area…..
O T B C
Good observations there John.
The Hucks point is spot on – Greeno had him on speed dial most of the time.
To me, Josh doesn’t quite have the swagger and confidence in himself that DH6 possessed in abundance but I too see no point in him adding to the congestion in the box at corners. Leave one up and the opposition have to cover him with two.
A knock-back to an onrushing midfield and we’re in business.
If Boro had kept eleven on the field, you get the feeling Traore could have hurt us. However they pushed him into the middle and our holy trinity of Klose-Zimmermann-Hanley forced him to play with his back to goal and thereby totally negated any threat.
Daniel Farke’s game management was superb.
I was out and only got back to see the second half on iFollow so missed the exciting bits. I agree with a lot of what has been written in the articles since Saturday but the fatal flaw remains- lack of goals!! When Leitner appeared on the scene we looked so much more threatening. His ability to find a pass was a revelation and may just bring the best out of Murphy. The rest for me was sideways and slow and so easy to defend. Poor old Harrison Reed made no end of overlapping runs only for the midfielders to decide on a square pass instead. There is a welcome security in defending and good possession in midfield but goals win games and more than one at a time! A good result no doubt but I will celebrate when we thrash someone.
3 or 4 nil.
Ha! I doubt we’ll dish out a thrashing this season.
Seriously it was the best example of game management I’ve seen in ages.
I do miss the cavalier aspect of (some points) of the Neil era but when I look at the league table I’m quite a happy bunny rabbit all things considered.
Saturday might not have been that exciting but it was certainly ultimately satisfying.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5345185/Brendan-Flood-love-UCFB-Harvard-sport.html&ved=2ahUKEwi78-uZ4I_ZAhVkBsAKHQn5DpAQFjAFegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw37foGPLJrMVbrjOdRZKoze
Martin
Read the article hope you enjoy it
Alex