MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

[Ascotexgunner]

The injuries are playing a key part as are the recruitment choices and failures - which weren't all necessarily Stam's.

The entire team is off balance because we don't have a viable and fit front man, not enough fullbacks and too many midfielders to choose from. Blackett's form falling apart combined with the injuries to Watson and Obita have been disastrous. As have the injuries to Mendes and Bodvarsson. Stam has had no solution to them, but then I don't think there are really many solutions to them available.

Clearly he should have played Bod more when he was fit. And he really needs to settle on a midfield combination. Again, issues outside of Stam are contributing there. Injury to Swift. Berg having a good game followed by two shit ones followed by a good one, followed by a shit one. The defence is constantly in flux too.

He's got to settle on a midfield and defence combination and stick with it, using the best players in the best combination of their best positions. Then he has to fill in the gaps with who ever is left. He can't keep shifting the likes of Gunter, Berg, Bacuna and Aluko across the pitch as needed.

I'm sorry that's utter nonsence. I'm sitting here watching this garbage. Its awful.....injuries are no excuse.....Boro are not that good yet are making us look non league.....in fact we've played like this when we have had a fit team.

[Snowflake Royal]

When have we had a fit team?

[Ascotexgunner]

Just go Stam.... .don't bother coming back......let the players sort the second half out themselves. They'll do a much better job.......Just go!!!!!

[RichTea94]

Watching on iFollow, we looked half decent for the first 10 mins or so, really pegging Boro back and they didn't really get a sniff.

Then with really their first attack a cross skited its way to Assombalonga who tried to control it and Joey shoved him. Looked a bit soft but no replays so I don't know.

Since then it's been a very tepid affair marred by long stoppages.

[genome]

Good first ten minutes, other than that it’s been poor. Penalty looked nailed on from where I am, not sure who made the challenge.

The shape (or lack of) is just all wrong. Players popping up in different positions all over the place and it just doesn’t work. McShane wingback? Aluko CM?

Beerens, JVDB, Kelly have been awful. Smith has looked okay though, as has Gunter.

[Berry]

What I'm struggling to understand is that the U23s played with passion and forward passing, created lots of chances and won, the first team are on a completely different planet in comparison.... Its plain to see that Stams way isn't working.....2 shots on goal in 45 mins at home is shameful

[bobby1413]

Don't get the negativity.

I thought it's been alright. We are really fighting and going forward. It's an even scrap ATM and we have had numerous chances.

This is 10x better than against Hull and some other games

[Ascotexgunner]

When have we had a fit team?

Well, its the same bulls+it we churned out at Wembley when we kicked off and showed utterly no ambition.
Its the same bulls+it we churned out at a lot of games and got a dodgy third with a pathetic goal difference. At the start of the season I said if our luck runs out at home we are in trouble.......and here we are.

[Ascotexgunner]

Good first ten minutes, other than that it’s been poor. Penalty looked nailed on from where I am, not sure who made the challenge.

The shape (or lack of) is just all wrong. Players popping up in different positions all over the place and it just doesn’t work. McShane wingback? Aluko CM?

Beerens, JVDB, Kelly have been awful. Smith has looked okay though, as has Gunter.

Thought they had a good shout for a second penalty as well.

[strap]

What I'm struggling to understand is that the U23s played with passion and forward passing, created lots of chances and won, the first team are on a completely different planet in comparison.... Its plain to see that Stams way isn't working.....2 shots on goal in 45 mins at home is shameful

U23's play 4-4-2. HTH.

[RichTea94]

Don't get the negativity.

I thought it's been alright. We are really fighting and going forward. It's an even scrap ATM and we have had numerous chances.

This is 10x better than against Hull and some other games

Agreed. Sam Smith is doing no worse than Bod, having a striker is making a difference.

[Royal_jimmy]

Unlucky Sam!

I think no win Tuesday and there will be chants for Stam to go

[Snowflake Royal]

When have we had a fit team?

Well, its the same bulls+it we churned out at Wembley when we kicked off and showed utterly no ambition.
Its the same bulls+it we churned out at a lot of games and got a dodgy third with a pathetic goal difference. At the start of the season I said if our luck runs out at home we are in trouble.......and here we are.

Right, so that's a 'we haven't' then.

You can't use last season as an example of us being bad, when we finished third and were two kicks from the top flight. It's clear this season is a different performance entirely.

[strap]

When have we had a fit team?

This is irrelevant. Most of our injuries, (often unreported), occur on the training ground. With the size of squad Stam has, and the amount of money he has spent, it is his responsibility to get a BALANCED squad that is capable of dealing with injuries. It is also his responisibility to have take advice from the Sports Science/Medical staff regarding length and intensity of training regimes.

The squad is totally unbalanced, and moreover he is playing players in unfamiliar positions with a system that is alien to them. Of the much vaunted Academy, just how many players has he actually used in the League this season? Kelly last year, Tennai Watson this until his injury. Omar Richards was just getting a sniff before HIS injury. Aside from that, he has practically ignored them.

He has spent more, net, on his squad than all the other RFC managers in history added together - let me repeat that - all the other managers in RFC history put together - and he delivers this shambles.

Just a few inconvenient FACTS for all the Stam apologists to absorb.

[Snowflake Royal]

When have we had a fit team?

This is irrelevant. Most of our injuries, (often unreported), occur on the training ground. With the size of squad Stam has, and the amount of money he has spent, it is his responsibility to get a BALANCED squad that is capable of dealing with injuries. It is also his responisibility to have take advice from the Sports Science/Medical staff regarding length and intensity of training regimes.

The squad is totally unbalanced, and moreover he is playing players in unfamiliar positions with a system that is alien to them. Of the much vaunted Academy, just how many players has he actually used in the League this season? Kelly last year, Tennai Watson this until his injury. Omar Richards was just getting a sniff before HIS injury. Aside from that, he has practically ignored them.

He has spent more, net, on his squad than all the other RFC managers in history added together - let me repeat that - all the other managers in RFC history put together - and he delivers this shambles.

Just a few inconvenient FACTS for all the Stam apologists to absorb.

Get a grip Strap. I've basically said the squad is unbalanced and Stam hasn't done well. But you can't write off that injuries have had a significant affect, and you can't say that Stam is wholly responsible for our transfer dealings when we have a DoF for whom Ins and Outs are their main responsibility.

[alfie9]

The performance is not nearly as bad as many on this forum would have you believe. If we still fail to pick up points when Kermorgant is fully fit, then we can start thinking about sacking.

[Snowflake Royal]

Barrow on for Berg. 20 minutes to have an impact. Still time for Popa or Kermie too.

[RoyalBlue]

When have we had a fit team?

This is irrelevant. Most of our injuries, (often unreported), occur on the training ground. With the size of squad Stam has, and the amount of money he has spent, it is his responsibility to get a BALANCED squad that is capable of dealing with injuries. It is also his responisibility to have take advice from the Sports Science/Medical staff regarding length and intensity of training regimes.

The squad is totally unbalanced, and moreover he is playing players in unfamiliar positions with a system that is alien to them. Of the much vaunted Academy, just how many players has he actually used in the League this season? Kelly last year, Tennai Watson this until his injury. Omar Richards was just getting a sniff before HIS injury. Aside from that, he has practically ignored them.

He has spent more, net, on his squad than all the other RFC managers in history added together - let me repeat that - all the other managers in RFC history put together - and he delivers this shambles.

Just a few inconvenient FACTS for all the Stam apologists to absorb.

Sorry Strap but this is becoming as boring as some of our play.

You can't turn your opinions and claims into facts purely by shouting FACTS!

How do you know Stam isn't taking advice from the physics/sports scientists? This is not the first time that we have suffered badly, under different Managers, from numerous training and match injuries. Maybe it is the medical/sports scientists that are getting it wrong. Remember how we used to refer to Crippen a while back.

As for the spending - you've already been justifiably picked up on your questionable interpretation (e.g. no allowance for ludicrous fee inflation in recent years) of transfer fees, which are in most cases are pure guesses/fan/media speculation.

[Snowflake Royal]

2-0 Assombalonga

We'd been piling on the pressure camped around their half, couldn't find a way through. M'bro kill it off.

[strap]

Goodbye Stam, and good riddance.