I can't agree with that, the amount of times we just gave the ball to them was horrendous - I think Green did it 3 times in the first 10 minutes! There was no out ball but a lump it forward, it was cringe worthy at times. Ok I agree I shouldn't be too critical, 1 utterly bad performance in 3 years of away games isn't that bad (and against a team we had no hope of doing over anyway). Maybe I'm suffering from seeing the lads win only twice this season from nigh on 20 matches!

Hi Exeter. Nice site. I was Hull_Miller on MM but for some reason my account has been banned and I was fed up of the ads and political point-scoring by the end anyway.

I can see what you're getting at with regards your assessment of the game  but to me we've been a lot, lot worse than that in between Port Vale and now.

The problem today was that we couldn't keep hold of the ball against a very good team. You rightly point out the two weak links in our team today; Green was atrocious and some of his passing was way beyond sloppy to simply diabolical. Bowery just looks like he can't be bothered most of the time. In a game like today, you can ill afford a luxury like that, particularly one that is 100% not good enough technically to justify his laziness.

I don't know if we're mucking about with the team because of Wednesday's crunch game, but to me it's very simple. If everyone is fully fit, Derbyshire and Ward is comfortably our best partnership, and those two are comfortably our best forwards individually. You can toss a coin for next in line between Sammon/Bowery for me. But neither warrant getting anywhere near the starting lineup if the aforementioned two are fully fit.

We have no pace in midfield and away from home, sadly it shows greatly. There's no need to put in Arnason + Smallwood + Green. That's too slow and defensive and simply invites pressure. If Green is supposed to be the driving force out of them three than God help us on that showing. If we're operating that formation, Frecklington needs to be accommodated.

Thought Wood and Broady did well, despite being a ainfully slow pairing. Again a simple ball around the back and we were easily undone.

All in all it felt like Middlesbrough very much held us at arm's length and we didn't have enough guile for them to have to even get into second gear.

That's a little bit expected, but disappointing we couldn't make them work harder for their 3 points.

Is there any chance we can get Hunt permanently? If so, he'd be a fantastic acquisition for us.

 

Welcome, and definitely in agreement with a lot of that. In the 1st half we had one attack that pushed them back and made them panic, and guess who that involved? Jack Hunt bombing down the right. Why oh why oh why is this lad not playing right wing, a position that has plagued us all season. I don't even care if Sammon goes right back just to accommodate Hunt there. Not only is he frightening going forward with pace and trickery, but he's also got defensive qualities and sense! - as for being able to keep hold of em, I would eat my shirt with gravy if we pulled that one off!

I can't believe that any answer to our woes is Arni, Smallwood and Green in the same midfield especially with Green out on the right. Boro spotted that one and exploited it time & time again, it was no coincidence - just good scouting!

I can and do accept defeat, its the manner I don't accept & what on earth Evans is going on about yet again just borders on propaganda to those that didn't attend. We only looked half decent once Ward & Frecks got involved.

I hope its a one off, cos its the ideal to timing if so

-- Edited by Exetermiller on Saturday 11th of April 2015 10:50:46 PM

Boro cruised to a win and it highlighted the difference between top and bottom in this league. I don't think there is any shame in this. Our players are light years behind players that of the top 8 clubs in the Champs. I agree, Green made good interceptions but then handed the ball straight back to their players, more than once and those mistakes nearly cost us. Hamill was ineffective but I will say this about him, he displayed heart, courage and a strong will to win. Compare this to Bowery who was gutless, inept, disinterested and in my opinion, if he doesn't buck up immediately, shouldn't be given the shirt again, until he displays a maturity that simply isn't here at the mo. He behaves like a spoilt kid.

I do think we rested certain players for the bigger game at Fulham and it was important we took Arnie off as he had been booked.

I'm probably wrong but I felt too that they had decided to play out this game without a will to win it, accepting that the bigger cause comes this week. We were never going to get a point against Boro unless by some weird mistake, penalty, once in a lifetime shot etc etc came about.

I wasn't as disappointed as you were Ex but I think maybe my expectations were a lot lower than yours for this game. I am hoping to see a different team and attitude, desire and result come Wednesday.

This is how it is gonna be in the Champs. We basically have a mini League within this division and it only consists of about 6 teams. Everything is stacked against us staying in this league for long until we get the coffers being filled through good cup runs ( I know, that's a joke) Guest and Chrimes site and the big one for me, another benefactor/Investor. TS has done an absolutely fantastic job and who would have believed we would ever have a stadium like NY but his money alone is not going to scratch the surface in terms of progressing in this League. Only my opinion of course.

We all want the best for our club but the reality is that we are still, just, little Rov'rum and in a perverse sort of way, I love my club for being just that

UTM

Such as Agard