I was never one for the Bible. One of my parents was Church of England and the other Roman Catholic but they never forced anything upon me, although I did endure “Scripture” lessons at school.
In my very late teens I had to do some digging into the great book for a Uni dissertation and the word that resonated with me was Revelation. It’s the final chapter of the New Testament after all.
And Oh Gawd Blimey, what a revelation we experienced on Saturday: we can beat Pulisball after all!
I was so thoroughly impressed with that battling performance. The moths can compete with the mammoths.
Perhaps I’m wearing rose tints after a much needed and very welcome victory, but it was brilliant to see Christoph Zimmermann and Marco Stiepermann slot in so well. I was particularly impressed with the latter who looked really good in that more forward central role.
And plenty of credit to Daniel Farke too. His selection meant we would not try to compete with the giants (Ayala, Flint, etc) but play Teemu Pukki as the nominal striker and it worked a treat. The heat from those who choose to dish it out should be off you for quite a while now Daniel.
Also good to see Mo Leitner playing in a deeper role and I think the match sponsors were right to make Alex Tettey man-of-the-match.
Two key moments in the game verged on the farcical. The ball seemed to be caught under Pukki’s feet, but he dug it out and poked it towards goal. I sit right behind the net in the Upper Barclay and I thought initially it was going wide. Good deflection – the Gods of football smiled on us for once. And what a wonderful bit of interplay building up to it. Fantastic to watch and well played Max Aarons.
Then there was “Klosegate”. From where I am we could clearly see his arm across the Boro player and could not understand why he was not sent off for one of Eddie Waring’s famous “early baths”. Two minutes later one of my more intelligent friends had explained that the Boro player was offside, Timm’s offence was not thought of as dangerous play and so he stayed on the pitch.
My big problem with that issue is that I did not see a raised flag from the assistant referee. Oh well, maybe I missed it.
Who cares though – I wouldn’t have fancied 11 minutes plus six minutes of injury time with ten men against Boro.
Maybe “it’s only because we won” but I can take several positives from that display.
Plus: Louis Thompson, Kenny McLean and obviously Mario Vrancic are on the way back And Farke out-hought Pulis tactically.
I don’t (won’t) do social media but because I have a few mates on Teesside I looked at some of the Middlesbrough fansites and their local newspaper the Gazette on Sunday. Those folks are steaming at Pulis. With that start to a season? But steaming they are.
The consensus is: they don’t want him. Following on from Aitor Karanka as Pulis did I guess the Boro lads and lasses are not too happy with what my favourite chairman in all the world – seriously – Steve Gibson has given them.
At least Uncle Tony admitted with a grudging and almost good grace that Norwich were the better side on the day (after a shedload of slating the officials).
Now we have to face QPR and Reading away, who both appear resurgent after good Saturday results for themselves. The timing of these events could only happen to us – but I’m not particularly fearful.
To end as I began, the finest uses of the word Revelation appear courtesy of The Clash on Police and Thieves, and Wishbone Ash’s The King Will Come .
Interesting that you should deride Delia yet worship Steve Gibson. Reasons?
Just one little point Martin from a good read, When I read the book of him upstairs. Revelation was always at the end of the New Testament . unless earlier editions were different. Or you didn’t read it as well as you thought LOLOL
You were in good company on saturday with the non sending off, Chris Goreham didn’t know what was going on Adrian Coote did suggest it was because of offside.. lucky escape Mr Klose. note to self needed stop the dodgey stuff when you have already got a pretty coloured card.
Did you catch the video of the Boro guy having a right personal go at City.. another who wasn’t so happy because they lost to us again. But after what they have done so far who the heck has any ground to moan. I thought Gary Monk was in between Karanka and Pulis . buy maybe wrong.
Who care it was awesome that everything just fell into place for us, lets keep it all crossed this continues this coming week. A couple of wins on the road and the position may well change a lot. Lose and Saturday won’t mean a great deal, turning it into the day it worked.
Hi Lad
Told you I wasn’t any great Biblicist! You’re absolutely bloody right of course – the fact that it’s full title is the Revelations of St John tends to give it away if you think about it; not many saints in the Old Testament:-)
Garry Monk was indeed between Karanka and Pulis but only for a very short tenure so I omitted him for that reason – no I didn’t, I forgot about him tbh.
Yes I saw the video clip. I didn’t quite get the part about the dog! I think the questions who ate all the pies and who has the brain cell capacity of an amoeba have both been answered in one fell swoop.
Great post and thanks.
I’ll change it 🙂
As a non fan of Farke and Steiperman I have to admit both deserve credit here. Steiperman could simply be unfortunate to have always been played out of position. I didn’t see too much of the game as we had a gas engineer in the house but I saw enough good approach play to be encouraged. To be fair though most of our shots were from outside of the box. Onwards and upwards then – six points from the next three games and my conversion will move forward somewhat.
Hi Cyprus
We dug in but didn’t stay in the trench. When we broke (largely via Hernandez and Buendia) we scared the living $hite out of them.
I’m hardly the most positive of us MFW writers but Saturday was special to me. Hard work, no little skill and NO FEAR of a Pulis side.
And as the saying goes, “that’s what I like”.
Hi Zico
Worship? No it’s more a case of respect, really. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times and the one thing that shines brightly through is that he is a true football man in every sense of the word. He impressed me very much with his in-depth knowledge and as a local lad made good has a bit of extra credibility amongst the Teessiders.
He is also still remarkably popular with the Boro faithful (or at least the guys I know) and don’t forget they’ve had as many ups and downs as us over the years. He has a reputation for being loyal to his managers and certainly puts his money where his mouth is.
Delia derision is off the menu just now as the season is in progress. Being firmly in the “we need outside investment” camp I’m hardly likely to start singing her praises anytime soon either, of course.
Cheers for the post.
I’ve just watched the Boro fan rant, and admit I’m quietly pleased that we’re another sides ‘bogey team’. I wasn’t expecting much on Saturday, but was impressed with how every single City player looked ‘up for it’, battling to regain possession and running for the full 96 minutes. Redemption for Farke – at least until Wednesday! ?
Jill you are completely spot on. I expected very little myself.
This was “along come Norwich” with a remarkably poignant twist.
I bet the ranting guy felt incredibly ashamed when he got home to his partner – if indeed he has one, which I kinda doubt tbh.
Boro fans are good people – trust me, I know. But there’s always one Joker in every pack who isn’t even remotely funny. Although all us NCFC fans laughed like hell at him!
The cries since the end of last season have been to see improvement and greater levels of enjoyment through quicker more attack minded football. Saturday ticked every box for me but more than that as we stood up to arguably the biggest team in the league.Not lightweight in any sense and all without Hanley.
The standard has been set, now can the difficult consistency be found?
Thanks Richard.
Yes indeed we stood up to them – and it was a joy to watch, particularly the second half in which we stood up loud and proud and strong.
As for consistency of purpose we’ll soon find out!
The Genesis of that performance was Farke’s team selection. Plenty of armchair Judges derided it, and forecast an Exodus of fans if our poor form continued. Fortunately, the performance silenced – at least for now – the Lamentations.
Enough of that. I was in line with the Klose/Assombalonga incident, and was incensed when the ref pulled out the card – it was a foul of course, but the striker was clearly two yards offside (an initial offence that should negate anything subsequent). I never saw the assistant raise his flag, was there was clearly communication between the two and the correct decision was reached.
Hi Stew
Strange one that. Andy (not our colleague Mr Head, a different Andy) told me that if Klose’s actions had been seen as dangerous play the second yellow would have stood regardless of Assombalonga’s offside position on the pitch at the time of the “offence”.
He’s a big old lump and I thought we dealt with him rather well. He was rumoured for us at one point but personally I’m glad we didn’t sign him.
The Exodus at the final whistle was quite a joyful one from all of us.
I recall a vaguely similar incident at Carrow Road years ago, soon after they brought in the red card rule for a “professional foul”.
An Arsenal defender (Lauren, I believe) fouled Hucks twice – once as Hucks (successfully) tried to get past him, then again as he bore down on goal. We bayed for a red card, but the ref gave only a yellow one for the first offence. That first offence made everything that followed it irrelevant.
A bit like a dead ball in cricket, I suppose.
A good performance but how average were Boro?Would many want Howson back?Lets see where we are after the next 3 league games before we get carried away
Fair points Tony.
I’m not getting carried away either but we showed guts and determination.
We won’t be going up or down imo but I found Saturday immensely refreshing.
Tim Krul denied Howson at 0-0 and proceeded to have an excellent game. Would I have Yorkshire’s finest back? Yes, I think I probably would. But that might be sentimentality over common sense.
Boro were “average” indeed but our endeavours made them look that way.
Thank you.
Hi Martin
A great read and to me Farke should play Revelation by Man prior to the game against Reading on Wednesday it is a Red Button game on Sky.
Watching the Boro rant would have made a few of my Middlesbrough supporter friends very embarrassed he really lost the plot. With him saying city aren’t a big club is he saying Middlesbrough are, time in the Premiership are about the same but we have won the League cup twice to their once??
I am with you over the years Gibson has put his money into the club, sold his nephew to WHU who he did everything to keep at the club, what could city have achieved if he was the owner.
Football and music always good talking points so after the team effort for a full 96 minutes
CANNED HEAT
Together we stand, divided we fall
Come on now people, let’s get on the ball and work together
Come on, come on let’s work together, now now people
Because together we will stand, every boy every girl and a man.
Ha!
My admiration for Gibson comes purely from working in that neck of the woods on-and-off for nearly 20 years, meeting him and listening to what my friends have always said about him.
Now while he couldn’t boost cranberry sales or bake a soufflé he has something within himself that Delia and Michael are incapable of – a thorough understanding of the game itself. That is intrinsically an almighty bonus to a football club.
Not a big fan of Canned Heat myself and I thought a mention of Man’s Revelation would be a bit much for some of us – Jeez I was only 11 when it was released although I have it on MP3.
Keep on Crinting.
Hi Martin
Canned heat bever high on my list of bands to watch it was just the sentiments of the song
Great stuff Martin. How nice to walk out into the sunshine at 5 on Saturday with that rare feeling one gets after a win, a good one at that.
I’m with you with Gibson, he backs his managers with cash. He walks the walk and doesn’t just talk the talk.
A lot of the plaudits are going to the young fullbacks and to the goal scorer, as well as the old warrior with the armband. I would like to add my appreciation to marco stiepermann, who was outstanding.
While the Preston victory was a relief, it wasn’t as joyful as this completely unexpected win – the trick, as ever will be to follow it up with solid results.
As you point out, our next two opponents appear to have pulled things round, typically as we prepare to visit them. Both games are being televised so offer a chance to witness what will hopefully be a minimum 4 point haul, which might just put a small smile on my old features.
Follow that up with a nice cup win at Wycombe and the season would be truly up and running.
Defeats however and square one is back in vogue.
It is interesting to think that we could conceivably line up at Wycombe with a midfield containing trybull, Vrancic, McLean, Thompson and Marshall with some input from cantwell. At the moment, that would be a second string midfield.
Hi Chris – good to hear from you.
That “second string” midfield sounds good to me also. And thanks for your comment on Steve Gibson too – he’s not made of plastic, believe me.
Stiepermann was excellent and the praise for Max and Jamal is well warranted.
I walked into Carrow Road like that character from the Asterix books who had a permanent cloud around his head but walked out feeling 10 feet tall. No maybe we won’t sustain it but there are some green shoots in there.
It was the kind of game I just LOVE to win.
First time for quite a while we’ve beaten one of the stronger teams at CR so a really important win for us. Now would be a good time for Farke to achieve something else and put together a string of good performances, which to be fair he hasn’t done enough so far.
Reading the various reactions it looks as though the doom-mongers are now in transition between “We’re heading for league one” and “We won’t be able to keep Aarons and Lewis one the transfer window opens…..”
Hi Keith
We are NOT heading for EFL1 – no worries on that score, not from me anyway.
Can Farke build on Saturday? We’re about to find out.
Fullbacks don’t tend to attract a lot of high bids, so maybe Max and Jamal could be here for a while yet. But I totally get the point. Selling is the new buying at NCFC, after all.
Thank you for your comment.
Perhaps fairer to say that SELECTIVE selling has been the new buying at NCFC. We rebuffed bids for the likes of Lewis and Godfrey in the last transfer window and – especially with the adjustment for parachute payments now complete – that strategy will surely continue.
Phew, Stew, I hope you’re right!
I do wonder how long we will be able to hang on to our saleables, however.
I cannot help but wonder that when the value of any given player hits a certain level he will be whisked off to the PL or somewhere else better than the EFL, a la Madders.
Obviously I respect your viewpoint on this issue but for me self-funding cannot work. If Ben Godfrey and/or Jamal Lewis reach a certain bid value they will be sold. And so will any other of our youngsters who come through as successfully as Jamal and Max have done.
That’s how I see it anyway!
“especially with the adjustment for parachute payments now complete”
Stewart, you need to stop saying this. It’s clearly not true. Last year lots of people pointed fingers at the expensive PL players still on the books and said “that’s why we need to sell”.
Many of those players are still here – NO, AT, IP, SN. MJ
Now you say say the adjustment is complete? So by adjustment complete you mean the money is gone, but the wages remain? Strange accounting if you ask me.
Dave this issue confuses me too.
We have done all we can to shift out the higher earners and I understand why it is necessary – Alex Neil wasted too much money on wrong ‘uns and we are quite literally paying that price right now.
For what little it’s worth I rent out a couple of properties on behalf of a family trust and question our accountants (consummate professionals) at every turn. Sometimes my queries are valid and on other occasions not. But that doesn’t, in itself, mean that I know what I’m doing. I’m a writer and a designer, not a maths expert or a man of stats.
I don’t see how self-funding can work either, but our Stewart has a deeper knowledge of this kind of stuff than me so I take him at his word.
There is no way he would deliberately or non-deliberately mislead the MFW world, trust me.
It’s a complex issue, but with one simple point at its heart.
Essentially, the club is trying to live within its means. Given the failure of the season after relegation, when we didn’t cut costs as much as we should’ve done, we’ve had two really tough years: as well as reducing the club’s cost base, we’ve had to sell major assets in order to balance out the drops in parachute payments.
Why there’s still pressure on costs across the board (the ending of PL contracts for Naismith, Jarvis, Klose & Pinto next summer will be helpful), we no longer have to find those large amounts to balance falling parachute payments.
That’s a fact.
So, just to clarify Stew…
The official line is that once the hugely expensive contracts of Naismith, Jarvis & co expire next summer, there will be an approximate equilibrium of costs v income without the reliance of the sale of at least one ‘asset’ each summer? Or does the model necessitate annual sales?
I ask because this is a debate that has raged between the two of you for a while. Apologies if I’ve either over-simplified it or have missed the point.
It’s clear to see that we’ve been doing a lot of work off the ball in the international break. Leeds appears to have been the reality check that was needed. Hopefully, they can continue in the same vein.
Yes Daniel I would thoroughly agree with you.
Perhaps it helped not having so many away on international duty as in previous breaks:-)
I think the reason no-one saw the linesman raise his flag is that they have instructions not to flag until the attacking player makes a move towards the ball, and since Klose was preventing him from chasing after it, he didn’t bother. However, he stood his ground in line with the offence and was clearly communicating with the referee, though the referee was a bit quick to blow for what he thought was the initial offence, and then very quick to pull his cards out. It is interesting that on the Quest TV highlights show they said that the decision had been discussed at a meeting of 50 referees, and that they were unanimous that the decision to give the offside was correct, as with the cancellation of the second yellow, and therefore the red, was also correct.
Nice one for “what happened next” in future Question of Sport shows!
Hi Jim
Yes I saw the Quest show too and obviously you’re quite right.
The most satisfying about-turn from a referee at Carrow Road since John Wark’s “penalty” all those years ago!
Just a post from myself in terms of Kevin Beattie. Total respect from me and best wishes to his family and many friends. What a player you were.
At 5:00pm Saturday I was close to being in heaven. Well, 41k feet up, somewhere over the Atlantic. So I didn’t see the match and of course they went and won. Impressively by all accounts. So Farke has the tools, and the ability, the question remains – are we on the stairway to heaven or are we living on a prayer.
I bet Timm Klose was thinking Should I Stay Or Should I Go? at around the 80 minute mark!
Great precis as always Martin, and excellent comments which we’ve come to expect.
The Klose “redemption” was surely justified given the GBH handed out earlier in the game by various ‘Boro players, and particularly Clayton’s assault on Leitner in front of the South stand which went unpunished.
I missed the game against “Dirty Leeds” where it seems we only competed for 20 minutes or so, but Saturday was I thought pretty much a complete performance. And this against a side who before kick-off I didn’t think we stood a chance against.
Any one of 11 could reasonably have been MoM, and how many times have we been able to say that during Farke’s tenure? Special mention to Max Aarons; first 3 games for NCFC against a Warnock eleven; a local derby, and then Pulis’s giants……to come out of that unbeaten, with a goal and an assist is brilliant.
Long may it continue.
O T B C
John your comments – particularly about Max Aarons – are spot on.
Watch that boy go (if you see what I mean).
The longer the bean counters allow us to retain him the better. Just like his counterweight Jamal he’s a real talent.