To a point that's true, but to throw it away from the position we were in would be a pretty abject failure.
The form dropped when we lost Asante It’s no coincidence, we tried playing the same but nobody capable of doing what he does for us, I’ll get pelters of certain people but we had Eccles trying to play in the 10 Saturday, just Slowed us down, we were all about pace and closing down start of the season, Asante starts it from the front, and watch how much space wright gets when he plays
It may have been a factor but it's over-simplifying to blame one thing.
Take Hackney out the mboro team for 12 games, you think that wouldnt affect them, that’s how important Asante is for us, sometimes it is that simple, we’ve missed one of our consistently best players and top scorer for 12 games,
Exactly no,offence to Eccles, he’s done ok this season but if we’re being honest he doesn’t start when everyone's fit, problems been whilst Asante’s been out we’ve had too many players gone missing 15 games to go and we’re still hoping that rudoni and wright step up, running out of games but just need to find some sort of form and eveything changes,
A lot more than that. Simms was scoring, 10 in 12..or thereabouts, got player of the month..Then dropped. Bizarre.
Great stuff, really?
Our defence and midfield have been dreadful. Tactics dreadful..This isn't on one player, being out. Frank has had a squad and refused to use it. Simms scoring goals, gets a monthly award, then dropped.
There is no way you aren’t related to or a close friend of Simms. You mention him in every single post you make
Our defence has always been dreadful, we lost our top scorer and stopped scoring,he played in the 10, started the press from the front and took defenders Away from wright, don’t think some realize how important he is, feel A bit sorry for Simms
Wright, Simms and Assante, all have 10 goals. This isn't on one player missing. It is on the manager, sticking with the same players, same system. No subs, late subs. The fans can see it. It is obvious. Milan being played, whilst ill. KH not played. Wolf not played. Lati not played. Wright picked over the inform striker. Wright 2 in 20, Simms 10 in 12. Frank, won't alter systems. 1.0 up away, recently. Lock up, bring Wolf on, go back 5..Worst that happens, you get a point. Oxford at home, no threat whatsoever, one striker. Even bring Thomas on, as an extra "lump the ball forward", last 15 minutes.
Mate,thats What I’m saying you take Asante out and it doesn’t work, the squads been put together to play 433, lampards not changing it, he didn’t at Chelsea or derby, fair play to him for sticking to it, he knows what’s coming if we don’t get it done, all I’m saying is watch the difference in us once asantes back
I am a white male, early 60s. I am more closely related to Lenny Henry, than Simms. My family are originally from Wolverhampton, moved to Cov, in the 50s. My association with Lenny, is based on Wolverhampton being close to to Dudley, where Lenny grew up. I just can't get my head around, Simms scores 10 in 12 starts. Gets the monthly award. Wright comes back, straight back in. I think technically Wright is a better player, but we need goals. I obviously have no family relationships with Wright. Wish I had his money though. My posts are more about Franks love affair, with Wright. So much that Simms didn't get one minute, in 2 play offs and extra time, against Sunderland. Bizarre. Hope Frank turns it around. I did actually start a thread on "sign Bamford", but was ridiculed, as well. 7 in 9 goals for Sheffield Utd.There is no way you aren’t related to or a close friend of Simms. You mention him in every single post you make
You can't rely on one player. Why "fair play" to Frank, for sticking with a system that isn't working? The Middlesbrough manager adapts, to what he has!
Yep, you're probably right.
Yep he did last year when we lost our midfield and wright
I think abject failure is a bit harsh in him - disappointing of course. Getting us in this position has been incredible with 15 to go with a squad none of us was saying should be getting autos with.
So how would you suggest he changes things, we set up more defensive on Saturday which was what a lot wanted and we couldn’t even score against Oxford, he sets up attacking to try and win games, rather see us come up short having a go at teams than play like we did Saturday, unless You wanted to see us play 532 with a back 5 who can’t defend and no wingers and 2 forwards who can’t hit a barn door at the minute, we’re a team who can’t defend but some fans want us to play more defensively, work that out
But if brau doesn’t do what he did, da silva doesn’t get sent off and Thomas and kitching don’t forget how to defend in those away games we don’t get beat, you can’t allow for players doing that and costing us games, we can’t defend everyone knows it, we don’t know another way to play other than to try and out score teams,
Exactly what Boro fans were saying about us when we smashed them in November.
so you think they practice getting sent off a minute into the 2nd half and kitching practices giving the ball to a centre forward to score, players have absolutely shit it, assnte makes the difference and we go back to 433, it works with him, Lampard might be a bit stubborn but im not slating him when players can’t even do basics anymore
433 works without Assante, it was proven last half of last season with the play off push. The results throughout 2026 are really strong, less than half have Assante in the team.