What a sh*t that we score 4 goals and win a good match yet don't go up the table

Hey, I'd be happy with that every week

Bit of a mixed bag today. We started slowly but looked a lot better after the goal and created enough chances to have finished the game. Then we let them back into it and it looked a bit dodgy, even at 2-1.

The third goal looked to be a mixture of luck and crap defending, although Megson reckons that Matt Taylor works in training to put the ball into that area. It was virtually identical to the one we conceded against Newcastle last season, so maybe there's something in that.

No doubts about the fourth. A cute pass from Basham for Taylor and then a great crossfield pass. The take and finish by Ricci G was first rate. We had other chances too, but were let down with a poor final pass.

All in all, a good day at the office and one which sees us nearly safe.

Have a look at this report. It barely mentions the side who won 4-1

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/04/bolton-middlesbrough-premier-league

Quote:

Only once could Bolton claim they scored a well-worked goal

Is the Guardian correct by insinuating, through this, that we should be embarrassed for the victory?

Many fans from many clubs claim the media have a vendetta against their club. Not many actually have a case. We have more than anyone. We even had Alan Green insinuating today that he had a problem with Big Sam when he was at Bolton, but not nowadays.

Overall a very satisfying result.

A strange game in a way as Boro despite not playing well can think themselves unlucky to be on the end of a 4-1. They could claim to have deserved a draw based on possession and even to an extent chances.

We lack a decent midfield player. If we could replace McCann with a genuine holding player or a quality up and downer we'd look a much better side, we're really not far off.

Have to mention Shittu, who for me had a superb game. Won a LOT in the air as you'd expect, was solid and never out of position. Glad he took his chance.

Cahill as ever excellent. Matt Taylor apparently has flu and played through it. Fooking hell. Superb effort, never would have known.

Davies did really well to cover Downing and he scored.

Elmander was ok without really threatening and I've said enough about him elsewhere, though he did really well to set up Cahill for the second goal.

Gardner MOTM!

I know there was a reason I needed to come home!

Brough were seriously bad! Taking nothing away from our boys. Clinical finishing at Bolton Wanderers! Who would ever have thought?!?!?

Steinsson had the mega star Downing in his pocket the whole match, nicely backed up by SKD.

Two things that stood out for me, apart from the obvious. both involving Downing.

Downing running to catch onto an over hit cross, then looking over his shoulder as he reached it, only to see Davies thundering in as only Davies does. Downing's legs completely went out of fright when he saw him, causing the super winger to bumble the ball out of play for a Bolton throw in. Quality.

The second being about 7 mins in, when Downing went and run into a brick Shittu! I actually went for a pie, got back to my seat and ate it before Downing had landed!

Shittu got booked, but I'd say it was the most worth while booking of his career!

Very impressed, we played football, Gardner hada very good game. Middlesbrough still had chances and maybe could of scored more than 1, i think Steinsson had a poor game as Downing was very good. I even go as far as Shittu has a good game but then again Alvas is s***

And another one.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article6036175.ece

Quote:

Gardner added to Boro’s ignominy with a clean but straightforward finish.

Quote:

Southgate is certainly a better boss than the past eight months suggest.

Where the feck do they get these people from?

Then how about this from http://sportal.co.nz/default.aspx/football-news-display/bolton-4--middlesbrough-1-68017

Bolton has scored most of its goals this season in the first half of matches and it took eight minutes for it to open its account.
now we are not human!

PeterfromRedcar wrote:

As a Boro fan its strange to see how many of you think we will win this game. The only problem is, to win a game you have to score a goal - and we haven't scored a league goal away from the Riverside in 5 months! we are playing decent football without putting the ball in the back of the net - we have scored less goals than any other team in Britain! So for those people worrying about getting beat 2-1, - don't, it ain't gonna happen. Seeing how you haven't beat us at the Reebok since that glorious day at the Millenium (no wonder Prufrock hates us) and We haven't won there since our dark days in the Third division, it is looking pretty much like a goal-less draw. However i have put a fiver on Kevin, the Arse, Davies scoring the only goal at 28/1. Shows how much confidence we have in our team. It's strange to think of a team like Bolton, hating us. I always thought we were very similar. An unfashionable northern town that has defied the odds and pissed off the big boys for years now. But still, i'm sure if you had beat us in Cardiff, we may not like you so much. UP THE BORO!

Have to say, I don't hate Boro. I did for a while after the Carling Cup final, but i've gotten over it.

Your boys look fecked by the looks of it though, I have to say. Can't defend and aside from one great move, didn't look great going forward either.

One team who looks doomed does usually make an improbable escape though. This time last year we'd been dicked 4-0 at Villa and were effectively 5 points from safety with only 5 to play, and we were safe before the final game, so it obviously can be done. I hope you do it, just because i'd much rather Sunderland, Newcastle and West Brom go down (incidentally, I reckon Newcastle will get out of it and someone like Hull will go down too).

Very happy to have won. Thought we did a lot well, defended ok, closed them ok, kept the ball and scored 4 goals. Boro were awful, and if we hadn't won it would've been an utter tragedy. Though there were times we made Alves look like a footballer, only Bolton can do that to shit players it seems.

It'd be nice to get past the Chelsea game and give the likes of Basham, Shittu, Hunt and Ebi some time on the pitch and say "off you go lads, show us you're good enough for the Prem". There's still some tough games left, but I think there's enough left in the tank. Today shows where the priorities still lie - decent centre mid who can move with the ball, pacy striker to work with Elmo and threaten Sir Kev's place and a full back.

Couldn't understand why, when they equalised the atmosphere around turned into a toxic "Megson Out" one. It's like our team have the right to not concede each game. Jesus wept, teams concede goals - it happens. Man Utd do it, Real Madrid do it, it's just part of the game. But every goal conceded now is just a spark for the bedsheet brigade to start spouting bile. Yesterday it spilled over with one bedsheet guy threatening to spit on the young fan who turned asking him to button it. Classy cowardly bastard. Though they did shake hands after the 4th goal, very touching. It is making the matchday experience truly horrid, and will be another factor to consider when ST's go onsale.

really loved our 4th. so rare to see us score a breakaway goal. usually we're deeply entrenched in our own box. great ball from taylor and, unlike the article that warthog posted seemed to believe, wasn't a straightforward finish by bibi

A bit tighter than the score line suggests but we took our chances, they didn't. We still lack a bit of quality holding the ball and the defense. still looks dodgy at times. Surprised that Smolark didn't get on for a run but hey we got the points and improved our goal diff,

warthog wrote:

The third goal looked to be a mixture of luck and crap defending, although Megson reckons that Matt Taylor works in training to put the ball into that area. It was virtually identical to the one we conceded against Newcastle last season, so maybe there's something in that. No doubts about the fourth. A cute pass from Basham for Taylor and then a great crossfield pass. The take and finish by Ricci G was first rate. We had other chances too, but were let down with a poor final pass. All in all, a good day at the office and one which sees us nearly safe.

I was sat right behind that one (Nzogbia or Geremi, can't be sure now) and it was totally identical. Couldn't believe the Toon one had happened; much the same feeling with Taylor's. Superb balls both to the back post and I guess the degree of bend had both keepers believing it was going behind. Lose some, win some. We'll take it thanks.

warthog wrote:

Have a look at this report. It barely mentions the side who won 4-1 http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/04/bolton-middlesbrough-premier-league

Just had a glance at the Sundy Mirror. There is no bias in football reporting, it's all in the mind. The football pull-out is full of one and two pages full-colour reports of the mighty Liverpool, Chelsea etc, even Blackburn. Our report is on the last page sandwiched between those of Southampton-Charlton, Doncaster-Watford. No bias whatsoever.

hisroyalgingerness wrote:

Today shows where the priorities still lie - decent centre mid who can move with the ball, pacy striker to work with Elmo and threaten Sir Kev's place and a full back.

Centre mid...isn't that Mark Davies? Pacy striker to threaten Davies? More like one to threaten Elmander? Agree with the full back though, Steinsson looked dodgy yesterday and he has done for quite a while.

I think Shittu deserves a run of games now, he's done enough every time he's appeared for us to show he's worth a place.

James B wrote:

really loved our 4th. so rare to see us score a breakaway goal. usually we're deeply entrenched in our own box. great ball from taylor and, unlike the article that warthog posted seemed to believe, wasn't a straightforward finish by bibi

Kamara on goals on Sunday gave it his moment of the weekend, pointing out what great ball from Taylor it was and how Gardner "who was basically a full back!!" had class control ("Brilliant first touch") and a great finish.

As for Taylor's goal, it wasn't a shot. What it was is the ball that left footers spend forever trying to master. It's floated it, but with some power right between the keeper and the defenders/wall. It causes confusion because the keeper doesn't know if he can come for it and the wall is frightened of attackers getting in behind them. It was perfect and Taylor showed yet again why he's in the run in for player of the season.

My only question is why McCann is taking corners, I know its the opposite side but surely Taylor would be better taking ALL set pieces?

The goal was made possible by Basham making Taylor run. Taylor likes it to feet so he doesn't have to move much. Then he likes other people to move into space so he doesn't have to move much. If that fails, he'll spin it towards Elmo or Davo and then it goes out of play. In those cases he doesn't have to move much either.

Imagine how pissed off he must have been to receive a ball 5 meters in front of him. Heaven forbid. Before we knew it we were almost behind their defence. Imagine if we did that more often

FD wrote:

My only question is why McCann is taking corners, I know its the opposite side but surely Taylor would be better taking ALL set pieces?

Manager likes inswinging corners, no other right footer who was obvious to take them I suppose.

warthog wrote:

And another one. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article6036175.ece Quote: Gardner added to Boro’s ignominy with a clean but straightforward finish. Quote: Southgate is certainly a better boss than the past eight months suggest. Where the feck do they get these people from?

See, that's a myth isn't it?

He took over a decent side and has made them gradually worse over the last 3 years. Nothing too radical, just gradually enough on the quiet so he stayed in a job and no one noticed. This is the culmination of it all.

hisroyalgingerness wrote:

The goal was made possible by Basham making Taylor run. Taylor likes it to feet so he doesn't have to move much. Then he likes other people to move into space so he doesn't have to move much. If that fails, he'll spin it towards Elmo or Davo and then it goes out of play. In those cases he doesn't have to move much either. Imagine how pissed off he must have been to receive a ball 5 meters in front of him. Heaven forbid. Before we knew it we were almost behind their defence. Imagine if we did that more often

This would be the Taylor that officially covers more ground than any of our players?

The lad who played yesterday through the flu and you wouldn't have known as he was the hardest working player on the pitch?

FFS.