Despite a 1-0 opening day defeat to Millwall, Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has insisted that there is no time to dwell and the focus will move quickly on to the next game.
In a post-match interview aired on the club’s website, a defiant Boro boss said, “It’s the start of the season, we wanted to win and get off to a good start, we haven’t managed to do that, it’s one game and we’ll move on quickly.”
It was a game that saw his side struggle to get any momentum, particularly in a first half where the visitors swarmed the Boro player in possession and disrupted any kind of rhythm. They managed to press the midfield and turn the ball over on numerous occasions, creating a number of chances that could have easily ended in a goal for the London side.
Overall, there were no excuses regarding the result from the Middlesbrough head coach, who conceded, “We’ll learn from it, we’ve got to get better, we’ve got to improve, we’ve got to get a bit sharper, we’ve got to be a little bit brighter, a little bit more inventive, a little bit more clinical at both ends of the pitch and be a bit smarter.”
It was an improved showing in the second half, albeit still lacking that clinical end product. The positives after the break, were that Boro upped the intensity and began to move the ball more quickly, controlling the play and pinning the away side in their own half. Hackney and McGree were constantly probing and trying to fashion opportunities, and Marcus Forss was desperately trying to get involved from the right.
Positives
The fans were given a lift before the game, as Jonny Howson and Chuba Akpom were deemed fit enough to be named on the substitutes’ bench, with Howson coming on during the second half.
There was also another positive impact with the introduction of Sami Silvera from the bench. “It was good to see Sami on the pitch,” said Carrick.
“I thought he gave us a spark, gave us a difference, so there’s plenty of positives in the group, we’ve got some good players and a good team, we just need to be that little bit better.”
Silvera certainly offered a zip and a dynamic presence on the left; his tricky wing play very nearly created a goal as he produced a wonderful in-swinging cross that was almost glanced home by Dael Fry.
Carrick was happy with the effort of his team, and maintained that there was ‘plenty of encouragement’ to be taken from the way they played. He felt that in and around the box, ‘It was coming’.
What he will not have been encouraged by, was they way his side were carved open during a counter-attack that saw Paddy McNair dive in unsuccessfully on halfway, allowing substitute Aidomo Emakhu to race down the left and cross right across the 18-yard box for Romain Esse to slam into the top corner.
With Middlesbrough’s playing style of retaining the ball for long periods and playing much of it in the opponents half, Carrick is aware that other teams will target that style with a counter-attacking strategy. “They got one on the break, which as I’ve said, teams are going to do that to us if you’re looking at us, that’s the challenge we face as a group to accomodate that and counteract that.”
Carabao Cup dilemma
Middlesbrough fans will be hoping for an improved showing on Tuesday, when they face former manager Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The dilemma facing Carrick, is whether to try to initiate some momentum with a strong side or whether to allow some of his fringe players to make a case for a place in the first XI. He may choose to use the game as an opportunity to give minutes to returning injured players Akpom and Howson, whose qualities were sorely missed on Saturday. The skill and experience of those two in particular could help some of the new arrivals in terms of their transition and integration into this Boro side.
He may also decide to take a look at alternatives up front, with new signing Morgan Rogers struggling to make an impact against Millwall in the number nine role. Josh Coburn was named on the subs bench and may be given a start.
Alternatively, Carrick may want to persist with Rogers and allow him time to settle in his new striker surroundings. He also has the option of putting Crooks up front instead of in the number ten role. Some fans have made their feelings known that Crooks and Rogers in the same eleven doesn’t work, so he could opt to move McGree into the ten role and bring in Silvera on the left.
Alex Gilbert, Sami Silvera and Rav van den Berg will be pushing to be given some game time. With Isaiah Jones and Martin Payero available, one thing Carrick has got, is options.