Ipswich Away Can’t Be as Bad as Last Year - Notes for Middlesbrough Friday, 4th Dec 2015 05:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Friday evening’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “Six points from the last two games is excellent. I am still concerned about performances but it is nice to see us in the top two”, “We are not crushing teams, our performances are usually adequate”, “We have won five out of six and are second in the league. That’s hardly a thing to moan at.” Boro were comfortably beaten 2-0 on Tuesday by Everton in the Capital One Cup quarter-final, but five wins in their last six league games - including four clean sheets - give a more accurate picture of their recent form. Saturday’s 2-0 triumph at the Terriers pushed them into second place in the table. The manner of these victories has left supporters underwhelmed. “This team is so frustrating. There is so much talent and potential but we keep churning out bog-standard performances every week”, “I just wish our players could express themselves rather than just grind out results.” “We are doing a little bit better than OK, certainly not pulling up any trees but certainly not bad. We have found a way of being boring but effective. Yes, it’s not the thrill-seeking football which Bournemouth romped the league with but no one will care less if we are in the top two come May.” Aitor Karanka“Aitor Karanka and Steve Gibson [Middlesbrough’s owner] will get it right. We will go up”, “He is the best manager we have had in years. Every Championship and a lot of Premier League clubs would be delighted to have him”, “I don’t have a problem with his tactics but feel we are not playing well.”  “Karanka is a cautious man and our approach reflects that.” Fans have faith in their manager but many would welcome a little less caution in the side’s play. “We have the players and strength in depth but his negative tactics are preventing our team from reaching its potential.” “Eddie Howe in charge of this team would walk the league but on the flip side Karanka would have the better chance of keeping us in the Premier League”, “Aitor has turned us into a good organised side, but I wish he would instruct players to throw caution to the wind and go for it now and then.” “He won’t change his ways”, “I don’t think Karanka is bothered about pace. We haven’t made a habit of signing quick players, have we? I think he’s more about getting a team together to grind our way through the season than anything else. He’s the Spanish Gordon Strachan.” Formation“I wouldn’t call 4-2-3-1 negative, but I wouldn’t call it adventurous either”, “Our system is based around being solid defensively. We have played this way the whole time Karanka has been in charge and players have been brought in to play this system. Why would we suddenly want to change it?” KonstantopoulosNsueAyalaGibsonFriendClaytonZuculiniFabbriniAdomahDowningNugent
Boro’s starting XI at Huddersfield last Saturday (above) was set out in the 4-2-3-1 system which the manager has steadfastly used. Fans are happy with solid platform given by the back four and two holding midfielders, all bar one of whom have been with the club at least since the summer of 2014. “I just wish we had a bit more inventiveness about our play”, “My biggest criticism is that we make no second movements. The front four run into positions and then stop so that we turn attack into mere possession again and again”, “There is no understanding between the front four and midfield.” Things have been more problematic up front. The three creative midfielders have struggled to blend effectively while strikers David Nugent and Christian Stuani (now coming back from injury) have not matched the scoring prowess last season of Chelsea loan signing Patrick Bamford, who is now on loan at Crystal Palace. Fans have criticised “predictable” attacking play and the absence of pace. “We look a little lacking in ideas”, “We seem to lack urgency breaking from the back. We’re happy to let the opposition regroup and then build up our predictable attacks”, “Some real pace up front would be a nice option.” Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Everton“Everton have been 10 per cent better in every respect, with sharper passing, movement off the ball and decision-making. We haven’t been embarrassed but it is not a close match”, “The one silver lining is that both goals have been absolute quality - if it takes goals like that to beat us, fair play.”
“We have nothing to be ashamed of.” Boro were put to the sword by Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup game. The Spaniard scored after a clever run on 20 minutes and set up Romelu Lukaku’s header for the Toffees’ second with a cross eight minutes later. MejiasNsueAyalaGibsonAmorebietaClaytonLeadbitter (c)De PenaStuaniDowningKike
“We were beaten by two goals from a much more mobile side.” There were few complaints when left-back George Friend was rested for Tuesday evening’s starting XI (above), but fans agreed that Everton targeted Fernando Amorebieta and Carlos De Pena on the hosts’ left flank. “We weren’t embarrassed but Everton’s class shone through”, “We have done okay but it’s pretty clear Everton have let us have the ball a lot since scoring their second”, “On to Ipswich”, “All attention now turns to Ipswich which is far more important than tonight ever was.” Huddersfield 0 - 2 Middlesbrough“Saturday nights are great when we win”, “Very happy with that, going second and we aren’t playing anywhere near our best”, “Horrible weather and energetic opposition up for it, a 2-0 away win is a good result”, “The gusty wind and slippery surface made it hard to play our touch and pass game.” Adam Clayton opened the scoring against his former club after a driving run after nine minutes and the visitors doubled their lead with Emilio Nsue finishing clinically six minutes from time. It was however a game in which the hosts mostly controlled possession and took the initiative. “This is a bit nervy, isn’t it?”, “We should be better than 25 per cent possession against a team like this”, “Today we sat back and let Huddersfield play possession but not penetrating football. There was only one clear cut chance and we were devastating, scoring when we were given the chance.” Middlesbrough 1 - 0 QPR“Seems to be a night for the long ball game”, “That is four I have already counted”, “It’s the same turgid stuff, isn’t it? Long ball after long ball”, “What a dreadful attacking display this is”, “This is diabolical”, “We look a little lacking in ideas”, “A difficult watch but thankfully we pulled off a win.” “Phew!” Boro won a poor game last Friday week courtesy of a Grant Leadbitter penalty on 93 minutes after Leroy Fer handled Daniel Ayala’s shot and was dismissed. “Our first shot on target came after 90 minutes. With our squad it is embarrassing”, “We don’t show ambition in our play.” “That was not a performance worthy of an automatic place”, “We don’t force play forwards often enough”, “Too often players are scared to take a chance and play a risky pass or run at someone. Instead they are more content to slowly recycle possession around midfield and defence.” Hull 3 - 0 Middlesbrough“We have been battered, plain and simple”, “We were toothless up front and lacked movement in the second half. No one seemed to want the ball and it was a worrying display regardless of the opposition”, “We miss players with drive and determination to take chances when they come.” It is worth additionally looking at Boro’s last league defeat which came just before the international break as it highlighted the team’s habit of occasionally failing to turn up for games. Fans talked of similar performances last season at Watford, Bournemouth and in the play-off final at Wembley. “Weekend ruined.” Goals for Mohamed Diame just before the break and for Sam Clucas and Tom Huddlestone secured a comfortable home win. “Another game in which we simply didn’t turn up and it happens too often”, “Performing badly and still winning is not a wake-up call. This is.” “We need to improve and fast. Hull are dominating and a goal for them is inevitable.” Warning signs were there before City opened the scoring. “The lack of fight when conceding is awful to watch”, “No one seemed to want the ball and it was a worrying display regardless of the opposition.” Goalkeeper and Defenders“Dimi, you are a God, my friend.” Fans were singing the praises of 36-year-old keeper Dimitros Konstantopoulos for his series of saves at Huddersfield. “He did well to come out quickly and make the saves needed”, “Tomas Mejias is a better shot stopper while Dimi is better from crosses.”  “Dimi doesn’t deserve to be dropped.” The former Coventry and AEK Athens man “is a decent keeper but last season and once or twice this, his relatively limited quality has been exposed. He’s not comfortable with the ball at his feet which hinders the team’s ability to play out from the back”, “I really like Emilio Nsue this season. He has been a revelation.” The 26-year-old ex-Majorca player has “been blossoming in recent weeks” with his pace and attacking play at right-back. Many would like to see him pushed forward. “Maybe the time is right for him to have a go at right wing.” “Nsue adds some more threat down the wing”, “He has the pace, is not afraid to take players on, is not a bad crosser and would be able to support the defence if needed”, “His finish at Huddersfield was tidy. You can see why he has played in attack, it was nice and calm on his unflavoured foot.” Chelsea loan signing Tomas Kalas has not played since the Hull defeat. The 22-year-old right-back “is better than Nsue defensively, but needs to work on his delivery”, “He is a good player but is a centre-half playing at right back. He is prone to being skinned.” “George Friend did some decent things against QPR but there is something not right.” The 28-year-old ex-Doncaster left-back “is making poor decisions and at times it is like he is trying too hard. I wonder if pretty much having to play all the time and with an injury is taking its toll a bit”.  “Friend’s physical presence is great when defending long balls and goalkicks. He misplaces and fails to control passes at time and gets caught up field, but would get slated if he wasn’t adventurous.” He was rested against Everton and was missed. “Clearly we needed George to have started.” “This Everton game probably summed up why Fernando Amorebieta failed at Fulham when they were out of their depth in the Premier League.” The 30-year-old loan signing from the Cottagers “was our weak link in the game. We were getting done down the left and he didn’t cope well”. “Amorebieta is a better passer of the ball than Ben Gibson and his decision-making is generally better. Defensively he is not as good and is more prone to individual mistakes.” The Venezuelan centre-back “looked like an accident waiting to happen” and was dropped after the Hull defeat. “Ben Gibson has looked much stronger since he came back into the team in the [Capital One Cup] win at Old Trafford. We will see last season’s centre-back pairing for the foreseeable future.” The 22-year-old youth product “brings greater solidity to the team when playing alongside Daniel Ayala”. “I would definitely have Gibson as first choice although I wish he would refrain from using the long ball. At its best, I think he once got it within 40 yards of our nearest player”, “He played one great ball to Nsue against QPR but he his passes go astray too often.” Daniel Ayala“Ayala is a rock. I was shocked at how fast he was driving forward against Everton, something Clayton and Leadbitter lacked”, “He had his hands full but did a good job against a top class brute of a striker in Romelu Lukaku.” The Spaniard “is a class apart and the best centre-back in this league”.  The 25-year-old former Canary “is a Premier League player in waiting and it’s great to see for him. If we don’t go up this season it will be difficult to keep him”, “His perseverance and a cracking effort led to the handball against QPR. I would like to see him bring the ball forward into midfield more.” Central Midfielders“Bruno Zuculini looked like a rabbit in the headlights against Hull.” The 22-year-old loan signing from Manchester City “went into hiding for long periods of the game”, “He was anonymous, and he and Clayton looked like complete strangers together”, “I’m not wholly convinced by him.” “I liked the look of Adam Forshaw and really hope he starts at Ipswich. Fans have been impressed with former Wigan man. The 24-year-old “has great feet and moves the ball quickly and accurately”, “He gets forward, gets involved in build-up play well, has a lovely pass and isn’t afraid to track back.” “Where, oh where can we fit this guy in? In a team with a different system Forshaw would be a shoo-in for central midfield”, “Keen as mustard”, “He must be closing in on a start in the number 10 role”, “It’s not the role that suits him best but he has good energy and movement and covers the ground.” Diego Fabbrini“I’m not sure about Fabbrini in tough away games. For what he offers he is too lightweight”, “He would get bullied at Ipswich. He will go missing when we are under assault.” The 25-year-old Watford loanee “isn’t a team player. He runs into trouble too often and gets easily dispossessed”.  “Fabbrini is a wizard on the ball but hasn’t settled in yet”, “He doesn’t look like a player that can physically perform for an entire Championship season”, “He is skilful but he has the footballing brain of a toddler”, “An even more inconsistent version of Lee Tomlin if that were ever possible.” “It is getting to the point where you wonder if his few moments of magic are worth the 85 per cent of the game where he just frustrates”, “He will turn and move the ball forward and is the only player who is willing to attack with the ball. He needs to learn when to be fancy and when to release it.” Adam Clayton“Well, well Clayton, did anyone bet on this?” “He ran through a wall for that first goal, didn’t he?” Fans were lining up to praise the 26-year-old former Huddersfield midfielder after his goal broke the deadlock at his old club. “He was one of the few players that get us forward at times”, “He rarely has a bad game.”  “Can we have a game where Clayton isn’t man-of-the-match?” This must be some kind of record. He seems to be winning them every game”, “I love to see him making those driving runs because I am fairly certain only a Sherman tank could have stopped him in his tracks. He was that determined.” “Clayton ran like a mad man at Huddersfield, covering every blade of grass. He’s the one player I want to be really fit for Ipswich”, “He looked off the pace against Everton and exhausted”, “He looked sloppy and tired and heading for a yellow card”, “I hope he isn’t that tired on Friday.” Grant Leadbitter“All credit to Grant for slotting the penalty away like that at the death against QPR but it was the only worthwhile thing he did all game. Clayton is actually covering for him defensively and this is not acceptable for a player that isn’t exactly charging forward all the time. He needs to improve.”  “Leadbitter is often isolated in a deep role but he keeps play ticking over well”, “He was an attacking midfielder when he arrived but now he is a sweeper.” The 29-year-old former Blue did not feature at Huddersfield as he was suspended and did not start at Hull. “I was very surprised Grant didn’t start such a big game.” Wide Midfielders“I would pay Albert Adomah in old washers at the moment”, “I hope we get a good offer for him in January”, “We don’t need a good offer. I hope we get any offer.” Fans have been heavily critical of the 27-year-old ex-Bristol City right winger. “He has been very average for a couple of games now.” “Hull started concentrating their attacks down Adomah’s side. We took more control of midfield when he went off”, “He was a passenger against QPR”, “I have never seen a Boro player look like they cared less than him tonight”, “He isn’t the instinctive dancing Adomah we want.” “What has happened to Carlos De Pena? He was brought in to give us pace and width and be able to go past people in massed defensive positions.” The 23-year-old left winger, a summer signing from Nacional, “is as effective as Adam Reach going forward but he is nowhere near as solid going back”. “To throw Carlos De Pena into the mix against Everton was harsh. His positioning and crossing were poor.” The Uruguayan “managed to do nothing in attack or defence. He is miles away from adding anything to the team. I sincerely hope we haven’t flushed another couple of million down the drain”. Stuart Downing“While showing little glimpses of brilliance here and there, Downing isn’t really performing to the level expected of him and he has even said so himself”, “Many of his touches are safe touches that don’t accomplish anything. For a player of his ability it disappoints and frustrates.”  “Downing is left playing little safe passes.” Many fans feel that they are not getting the best out of the 31-year-old ex-Liverpool and West Ham man, now returned to his home club. “He isn’t hurting defenders and with Leadbitter and Clayton in midfield he needs to engage higher up the field.” “Stuart is a step up in class compared to Tomlin but I wonder about his end product”, “He looked dangerous against QPR even if he was dropping deep”, “They looked scared when he ran at them, twisting and turning them but he never seized upon it. He drifted in and out too much in the game.” Strikers“Kike can do a job if we play to his feet.” The 26-year-old ex-Murcia frontman “isn’t worth his pay packet at the moment. Although his work-rate is good, he is not much of a finisher”, “I never feel confident when he is trying to take a man on”, “He really cares and it’s a pity others don’t follow his example.” “Kike held the ball up well against Everton but lacked support in the box”, “He worked the channels well but whenever he was in a decent position he had no support. It is a problem we constantly have whoever is up front”, “There was nobody in the box to receive his crosses of for him to play off.” Christian Stuani“When Stuani gets the ball, he makes things happen”, “He is our best goal scorer at the moment”, “He is clinical, too good for this league and our fortunes this season will be linked to how many he can score for us”, “Get him playing up front alongside David Nugent or with one just off the other.”  The Uruguay international came back from the October international break with a hamstring or groin injury much to Karanka’s frustration. The 29-year-old summer signing from Espanyol started against Everton having made appearances off the bench against QPR and at Huddersfield. “Christian has good movement, a physical presence and finishing ability”, “I still think he is wasted playing on the right”, “He is largely ineffective out there but he gives Nsue space to go forward”, “I would like him playing as a number 10 and arriving late for crosses as he is dangerous in the air.” David Nugent“I like Nugent but the difference is that Patrick Bamford last season would have easily scored the two chances that Nugent missed against QPR. He only needed one chance, Nugent seems to need four or five. In games like QPR, you don’t get many chances”, “His work-rate is unbelievable.”  Fans have been impressed by the 30-year-old ex-Leicester man’s industry but have concerns about his finishing. “We struggle without his energy”, “I would like to see him playing off Stuani as he gets his goals running from deep”, “His beefy approach worries defences but he is wasted on his own.” “We are desperately missing a goalscorer and I am not convinced Nugent will be that player”, “I am frustrated a bit by his positioning ad he is constantly offside”, “Nugent is a better all-round footballer than Bamford but he won’t score the same number of goals. We also don’t play to his strengths.” Boro Fans’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Game“The most important match this week is on Friday at Ipswich”, “Ipswich will be at full throttle so we need to be too”, “Ipswich will pose different problems to us than Huddersfield. We barely landed a punch on them last season at their place so we do need to improve on that.” “I tend to write off games at Portman Road. One of life’s certainties”, “I expect nothing from the game, players rested or not.” Boro’s forums don’t run prediction threads, but most fans would gladly settle for a draw given their recent track record in this fixture - they haven’t won here since 1993. “Hand on heart and with the full backing of historical results, I would be delighted if we took a point at Ipswich next Friday”, “I would take a point from the Ipswich game now. We play Tuesday and then Friday and have two days off. Ipswich have the full week to rest and prepare for the game.” Their optimists are hoping that the team will be motivated to keep their top two place. “With us playing Ipswich on a Friday night and at a place where we usually struggle, everything says we will struggle to get a point. I just have a feeling we will go there and get a win but I’m not sure why.” They had some interesting thoughts about Daryl Murphy during their Hull game when we were playing at Rotherham on the same weekend. “Elsewhere Daryl Murphy, who apparently isn’t a one season wonder has scored his first this season after 17 games.” “To think we offered £4 million for Murphy shocking”, “I am glad we didn’t get him this summer. Imagine on this forum if he hadn’t scored to far this season. It would be in meltdown”, “Daryl Murphy seems to have found some form again. If we stop him, we stop Ipswich.” One Boro fan has done some homework. “This could be a banana skin for Middlesbrough. I watched Ipswich tear apart Charlton last weekend and I can see them troubling Boro. They could just have the edge here. Ipswich are unbeaten in six games and are as good as the teams at the top anyway. “Statistics show that Ipswich have had more shots on goal than any other team in the Championship and they have gone through a period where everything the opposition has hit has gone in. Ipswich are coming back strong. It's typical Mick McCarthy, who is doing a magnificent job with no money.” They have picked up on one other factor which might affect the game: “Nugent has a great record at Ipswich [nine goals in seven games on Suffolk soil, while overall he has netted 14 in 13 matches against the Blues], I think they just said on the radio he has scored every time he has played at Portman Road.” WebsitesThe busiest Middlesbrough forum is at One Boro. Additional comment can be found at the lively FMTTM .
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