[Archived] Brill Middlesbrough Preview by m1st :)

[FGS5635]

It's very sad but I don't get any pleasure from winning any more

If true then that really is quite sad

[DE.]

It's very sad but I don't get any pleasure from winning any more

I still do as I like Bowyer a lot and want him to succeed, I also think the team are far more honest and dependable than they have been in a long time. Getting rid of the likes of Olsson*, Orr, Murphy, Formica and Pedersen** to allow for a squad willing to work hard rather than go through the motions each week and live off a past (or non-existent) reputation.

*for the record I know Olsson has talent, however his attitude stank and I was glad to see the back of him for that reason alone.

**again I know he's been replaced with lesser talent, but it had been a long time since Morten had given us any kind of consistant form.

Nonetheless, the knowledge of our impending financial meltdown and the overall state of the club does play on my mind even when we do win.

[tomphil]

I don't think we've missed Olsson at all really, well not with the form he was showing in his last 12 months. Spurr hasn't his pace but he's a better all round left back at this level.

[FGS5635]

Plus you have to factor in the huge long throw. Its a real weapon at this level

[DE.]

I don't think we've missed Olsson at all really, well not with the form he was showing in his last 12 months. Spurr hasn't his pace but he's a better all round left back at this level.

Have said many times Olsson was and still is overrated by large portions of the Rovers fanbase. He's not exactly setting the world alight at Norwich.

[adsfortheblues]

Agreed and his crossing is way better than spurs. He put in a couple of great crosses that really someone should have been on the end of. Not a bad cover at home, but he could get exposed away.

My opinion obviously, differs massively from you two here. When he came on the defence went into nervous mode, he stood off and stood off and stood off a little more and give the ball away 3 or 4 times outside his own penalty area.

I respect your opinions, but for me, he is truely awful.

[Mike E]

Have to say that I've enjoyed this season for the most part. Considering the luck we've had with injuries/suspensions (is it 10 players? And all ones who could play in the natchday squad without question), I think we've done 'about right'.

It's nothing like the Hughes days of 'maybe we'll beat the big boys', but I do get that feeling each week on a Saturday of 'Y'know what, we might win today!' Not had that for about 3 years.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Parsonblue's match report is now published to the front page here.

[roversfan99]

My opinion obviously, differs massively from you two here. When he came on the defence went into nervous mode, he stood off and stood off and stood off a little more and give the ball away 3 or 4 times outside his own penalty area.

I respect your opinions, but for me, he is truely awful.

He got quite an easy ride considering, like Nzonzi, he basically down tooled when he couldn't be bothered playing for us anymore.

I really don't understand why he has reverted to a left back. Big Sam got him as a fragile, error prone left back, and turned him into one of our most dangerous attacking players as a winger, in a season when we finished 10th in the Premier League.

His defensive positioning is terrible, yet he can run at players, he can cross well sometimes and he can make good runs; he made quite a few at Turf Moor for example, including one which led to a dive

I seem to recall that he wanted to play at left back to suit his international future, but he is wasting his talent there.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

My opinion obviously, differs massively from you two here. When he came on the defence went into nervous mode, he stood off and stood off and stood off a little more and give the ball away 3 or 4 times outside his own penalty area.

I respect your opinions, but for me, he is truely awful.

I respect your opinion but I thought Morris played OK when he came on and actually linked up with Judge pretty well. He gets good pacy crosses into the box when he attacks.

I honestly don't remember him giving the ball away any more than some of other players especially the two centre halves whose lack of pace does leave both full backs exposed at times.

[Al]

He got quite an easy ride considering, like Nzonzi, he basically down tooled when he couldn't be bothered playing for us anymore.

I really don't understand why he has reverted to a left back. Big Sam got him as a fragile, error prone left back, and turned him into one of our most dangerous attacking players as a winger, in a season when we finished 10th in the Premier League.

His defensive positioning is terrible, yet he can run at players, he can cross well sometimes and he can make good runs; he made quite a few at Turf Moor for example, including one which led to a dive

I seem to recall that he wanted to play at left back to suit his international future, but he is wasting his talent there.

Maybe you are replying to the wrong quote. You are talking about Olsson rather than Morris are you not?

[roversfan99]

Yeah, sorry.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Have said many times Olsson was and still is overrated by large portions of the Rovers fanbase. He's not exactly setting the world alight at Norwich.

Nobody is there, they're atrocious at the moment. Olsson will come good.

[DE.]

Nobody is there, they're atrocious at the moment. Olsson will come good.

Based on what? His brief half season of decent form with us? Or his determination and desire when things got tough here?

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Olsson amounted to little more than a lower prem journeyman. He doesn't have the heart to amount to much else. Saying that, considering the wage he'll be earning, it still ain't bad.

[FGS5635]

My opinion obviously, differs massively from you two here. When he came on the defence went into nervous mode, he stood off and stood off and stood off a little more and give the ball away 3 or 4 times outside his own penalty area.

I respect your opinions, but for me, he is truely awful.

Im not saying he played well, just though he did a job considering he isn't a left back. Going forward he is far more of a threat obviously than spur. Seems spurr is out for 2 weeks, so will be interesting to see who goes left back at brighton

[roversfan99]

Henley has gotta play for me. I expect Morris though.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Henley has gotta play for me. I expect Morris though.

Henley starts tonight for the under 21s so hopefully he's back in contention soon.

Based on what? His brief half season of decent form with us? Or his determination and desire when things got tough here?

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Olsson amounted to little more than a lower prem journeyman. He doesn't have the heart to amount to much else. Saying that, considering the wage he'll be earning, it still ain't bad.

I know you don't really rate him but I do. I don't remember many of our players showing this determination and desire. Lowe, Dunn and then Orr when we were in the prem. That's probably about it. Strange circumstances and what not. And he played well longer than that.

Defenders reach their peak in their very late 20s. It's so much about experience that they can look pretty bad for quite a while. But as a winger he could be really good imo.

I guess we'll agree to disagree though.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

I still do as I like Bowyer a lot and want him to succeed, I also think the team are far more honest and dependable than they have been in a long time. Getting rid of the likes of Olsson*, Orr, Murphy, Formica and Pedersen** to allow for a squad willing to work hard rather than go through the motions each week and live off a past (or non-existent) reputation.

Without Dunn we've scored 11 goals in 11 games and found it near impossible to break down the likes of Middlesbrough, Charlton and Huddersfield at home. Crabbing along the halfway line watching Cairney and his sidekick spoilers contemplate a cutting pass like a budgy surgeon contemplates operating on an unsedated lion, and inevitably opting for the pointless ball out to the full-back, is very much going through the motions in my opinion. We have a lot of poor players now who will never achieve the level of Olsson's PL journeyman.

[Amo]

Hard to believe that Rovers were a PL club when we signed Marcus Olsson. I still remember Numbnuts saying how the Olsson twins would bamboozle the opposition. Seriously, how did he get away with talking so much crap?

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Balaji/coco bromance? He must be hold up in their palace on his way to paradise?

[broadsword]

adds a "whole" new meaning to "holed up"

[Proudtobeblue&white]

It was deliberate lol

[chaddyrovers]

Henley has gotta play for me. I expect Morris though.

Henley has only just come back from a serious injury and he needs to get back to full fitness slowly. had too many injuries in the past 2 years.

we don't need to rush him back so quickly.

[Bucksrover]

I thought morris played really well at left back. Not as tough in the tackle as spurr but quicker and more comfortable going forward so on balance i thought we looked as strong after the change.

[Leonard Venkhater]

I thought morris played really well at left back. Not as tough in the tackle as spurr but quicker and more comfortable going forward so on balance i thought we looked as strong after the change.

That's exactly how I saw it TBH...