Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has insisted that his ‘glass is still half full’ in terms of belief in his players, despite slipping to another defeat at the weekend.
Carrick praised his players’ spirit after going down 4-2 away to West Bromwich Albion, after seeing returning full-back Tommy Smith receive a red card early in the second half. Speaking in a post-match interview on the club website, he offered his take on proceedings.
“I’m proud of the players and the way they finished the game,” Carrick said.
“The character, the attitude and some of the quality towards the end, I thought we deserved something out of the game. They have had four shots and scored four goals.”
Carrick, still searching for his first league win this campaign, cut a frustrated figure after watching his side make defensive errors, one of which was a misplaced back-pass from new boy Lukas Engel, which led directly to a goal.
Carrick refused to single out any individuals though and instead tried to steer any criticism away from the effort and application of his players.
He added, “The first goal was a foul, a push in the back, the third goal we have obviously given them a chance, but again, listen I’m not hiding from the fact we haven’t won and we have lost again, we are bitterly disappointed with that but I feel for the boys for the effort and some of the quality of football, it’s not getting rewarded at the moment.”
Boro need results
No matter how upbeat the Boro boss is, he will be well aware that they have to find a way to amass points in what is an extremely competitive league. “We need to turn them moments and what we are capable of, into results, that’s obvious, so I’m not looking at it in the wrong way by any stretch, but the glass is definitely half full from my point of view and my belief in the players and what they are capable of doing.
“I’m disappointed, but I see enough good things to look forward for what’s ahead.”
Middlesbrough fans have seen a quartet of players who wore the red of Boro last season and contributed hugely to the amount of goals scored, move to other clubs recently. Chuba Akpom, Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Ryan Giles have all moved on and those goal involvements will be difficult to replace immediately. Especially given that nine new faces are still trying to integrate into the squad.
The general play during Boro games does not appear to be an issue, but the goals conceded is a worry if you cannot out-score your opponents. Middlesbrough’s next league game is at home to QPR. Each game without a win, makes the next one even bigger, but the calm demeanour of Carrick continues and he appears to have every faith his charges can turn their fortunes around.