Match Day Thread Middlesbrough v Sunderland AFC – Monday 5th September 2022 - KO 20:00

Mowbray managed the game quite well under the circumstances, he is an honest and decent man and should be given time , the criticism is inappropriate and out of order. imo OaU with AMM

 

Very poor in the first half, though still not exactly battered, and should have went ahead, might even had a pen, which would have made a ridiculous half time score
But they finished seventh last year so are one of the better teams in it. They also threw a massive effort in during the first half, which they could not maintain later. I dont think we were too bad in the second half and with a bit more of our normal quality could have got a point.

I'm more worried about Stewart being injured than losing a game . That is going to happen in this league, especially there, where they seldom lose to anyone.

 

What makes you say that? We were ****.

 

Spot on Clocky, we were very poor first half and Mowbray made a change to the formation at half time, then changed it again with his subs, both made a difference to the game and with a bit of composure we could have got something out of the game second half

 

I can understand Mowbray not really tinkering with the team with the way we were playing but with Stewart and Cirkin looking likely to be out, it's now time for him to put his mark on the team. He's going to have to change at least 2 personnel and whether that means changing the formation, we'll find out in due time but he and Venus need to mix things up slightly I think to show people that it's no longer Neil's team

 

finding it hard to take to simms right now...either his 'style' makes it look as if he is not running or he is really slow, first touch of a dumper truck is not helping...at one point i think clarke got a tackle in and the ball headed for the boro goal line, clarke raced past a boro defender, then past simms who had a few yards on him and it ended with him just being beaten to the ball by the keeper...had simms chased the ball straight away he could have beaten the keeper there.

again though i am not laying blame at the lads feet, he did what he could and we know he has some learning to do but he really should be showing more effort at times.

 

He had his worst game so far last night for me.

 

Some of the players were way off their usual standards. It was like collective madness in the first half. Mowbray didnt instruct them to be so poor. He made proactive changes and got some level of improvement. But when so many of your players lose the plot you have to point the finger there.

 

Me too, Grandad

 

Agree , he needs to do what a good manager does now. But boro aren’t the only nothing team we’ve had bad days against , some. nothing teams we’ve made look like City, and my mortgage says we’ll see it happen again sometime

 

Wasn't one player on the pitch who played well. Patterson was solid, but the rest were garbage

 

Bit harsh there, think the injury threw us and we missed LND closing down and hold up play, something Simms needs to work on. I've calmed down now and have listened to TM post match interview which has helped cheer me up, cannot wait for Saturday now....hhhaaawwwwaaaaayyyyyyy the lads

 

A bit harsh marra. If Pritch had tucked that chance away in the first half...which a player of his quality should have done.....it may have been a different match.
I thought Roberts was lively aswell, but we just seemed to lose our way a bit after. Their goal was started by a poor pass from Evans....we'll take a number of this type of game through the season....it's the nature of this division,which,I think,is more exciting than the PL...anyone can beat anyone. I'm looking forward to the season.

 

All about opinions but I thought Danny Batth had a decent game and Embleton did ok when he came on

 

I get the feeling some expect us to be pushing for the playoffs this season.

 

I thought Simms did ok too. Not suited to being on his own. Probably not been trained for that role so needs to learn. But he is a very young raw player and has time. Not like he’s a seasoned pro who should be able to do the role naturally

 

You must be easily pleased if listening to Mowbray cheers you up. Fair play.

 

I thought Batth did well, it was mainly thanks to him that we kept it down to the one goal. Don't think O'Nien did much wrong but Batth was the standout. Tough game for the defence lots of dangerous play from the wings.

 

I agree Marcus, I thought he had the beating of Matt Clarke and with a bit of support could have notched one.

 

We conceded possession too many times in our own half in the first half Nacho, we seemed to freeze with Boro's pace and high press.
Mowbray managed to get another body in the midfield after half time and that seemed to sort that out for a while.
We looked handy after he made the substitutions but in my opinion Boro are a decent well established Championship team and no pushover.