Everyone seems to have drifted of to bed after the match thread. So come on people, give us all something to browse thru and enjoy with the morning coffee and toast!

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Answers

An average performance to beat a terrible side easily. Bernard should definitely start instead of Robert!

I know it hurts to not play £11 million. But Bernard is twice as good. Robert was terrible today. As always he couldn't cross, he was very lazy. He'd do something wrong then sulk about it and not fight back. He wasn't playing wide enough and when he did get the ball in a wide position he didn't know what to do.

But everyone else played well.

Bellamy - Outstandng (apart from the 1 on 1 he missed)

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

It was a comfortable win without us ever needing to hit top gear because Boro were shite. However Distin was my fabulous and Dyer had a very good game too. Bellamy was a nuisance but he needs a serious kick up the arse for his inabilty to put away easy chances, but the real liability was Robert - he was a friggin disgrace and should be dropped for the next game. Bernard is a far better bet at the moment and should be given his chance to start.

Also, the pitch is in an appalling state and did'nt help matters - but how the hell has it got in such dreadfull condition so early into the season?

Apart from that, we relaxed after the second goal and played some nice stuff...but we will need to raise our game on Saturday if we want to beat Chelsea.

One turn up for the books was the Boro fans. Not only did they actually take up their full allocation for a change but they even sang their little hearts out for 90 minutes, bless em. Quite why some of them were wearing Boiler suits I dont know - someone should tell them that their is clean air outside of the Middlesbrough area.

All in all a good day's work. Stand up if your top of the league! (The new chant heard at SJP today)......

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Erm..and that was supposed to be "Distin was my man of the match"!!

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Decent performance, Distin, Dyer, Solano, Speed and Bellamy were all brilliant.

Robert was sh*te in the first half, seemed a bit more committed in the second but still not anywhere as good as he was at the start of the season. Bernard came on and did pretty well, although he was hardly in possession a lot - a good goal and that was it really.

Distin easily man of the match, a faultless performance and a deserved clean sheet.

'Boro were very poor (as Vic and Bob would say) though but 3-0 was a fair enough result. I'll watch The Premiershit tonight with interest to see why Shearer had one chalked off.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Agree with the above. We've played a lot better - the old problem of lack of movement reared it's ugly head (and no, I don't mean Bellamy!) again and there was too much back-to-goal stuff. Balls over the top sometimes worked but it's no use Bellamy getting onto these passes if he can't beat the keeper. Been said b4, but his pace is going to win him 1-on-1's, got to learn how to finish them. Dyer, Solano etc seemed to be trying to get the maximum result from the minimum outlay of energy. Not lazy by any means, but perhaps looking to cut corners with a tappy-lappy pass rather than run into space.

Defence mopped up everything, heartening to see, and some world-class tackles by Distin, Andy Old Iron and others. I'd like to see these two start at Dabz expense for a few weeks. I'd also occasionally like to see Bernard start and Robert used as sub rather than the other way round.
Bellamy never stops running and was MOTM for me, I'd've given it to Distin but for the fact that Boro were woeful. If Boksic gets crocked they are in deep shite. Great to have Dyer in there but don't agree with his MOTM.

It strikes me that so much of success/failure at Prem level is down to speed of thought. Ours has improved in midfield, players have a split second to make a passing decision and now they've got the hang of it we look dangerous. But up front I'm afraid the footballing brains aren't working so well - hestitation cost us a couple of goals today - we really could've won by 6 or 7.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Dan, I'd hate to hear your opinion the day we lose a match.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

I agree with majority of what has been posted. We were IMHO pretty good but probably flattered by Boro who were awful. Distin MOTM for me, just pipping Bellamy whose finishing really needs to be looked at by the coaching staff.

Never mind, we worked hard, played some nice football, defended excellently and won 3-0. What more can you ask for? I'd have Bernard and Distin in my starting 11 if I was Bobby given their current form. Robert needs either a rest or a kick up the arse - either way, there is a place on the bench with his name on it. Solano looked out of sorts today but apparently has got a virus or something.

Dyer - excellent but probably not worthy of his MOTM award. Shearer looked a bit sharper today, don't know why.

Highlights - the crowd shouting "SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" every time Bellamy was about to talk back to the ref or linesmen. Meeting lots more BBSers in the Strawberry - a big turn-out today.

Low Points - being out-sung by the admittedly spirited Boro fans. Come on, we're top of the league, at home, 3-nil up and wiping out the opposition and we still can't get an atmosphere going? Sad times.

Still can't stop smiling though :)

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

The reason Craig misses so many is because he thinks about it too much. He probably has nightmares everynight about 1 on 1's. All he has to do is put his head down and hit it. but he looks up for ages worrying about where the biggest space is. The keeper then guess where its going. If he hit it nearly as hard as he could; even if its going at the keeper it will probably deflect of his legs an go in.

A prime example of this point was that goal against aston villa where he smashed it into the top of the net. The reason he scored is because he didnt have time to think about it he just hit it. He finds himself with so much room that he thinks he must take his time and think about it all. JUST SMASH IT!

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Wow. :-D

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Is that a wow at our performance or a wow at how much alcohol can be consumed by so few in such a short time?? Glad you made it safe and sound Ciara, still get yer shoes???

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

I thought we were always in control of this game, played some nice football in spells, only keeping Boro interested by the occasional sloppiness that we are still too prone to - against better teams we will be - indeed have been - punished for the defensive slackness that annoyingly is still apparent.

Funnily enough, despite the universal praise he is getting, I thought the biggest culprit today was Distin who has a tendency to ball-watch, and occasionally attempt rash tackles that leave him out of position. I'm not saying he played badly - far from it - but as he gets more games under his belt in the PL he needs to become just a little more composed. However, is aerial ability makes a huge difference to us defensively, and could become a potent weapon for us from FK's and corners.

IMO Andy O'Brien was our best defender, although Aaron Hughes also did well, especially going forward. I'm afraid Elliot's distribution was erratic, yet again.

We played some lovely stuff going forward, and really should have scored 5 or 6. Solano did well considering he was in bed with a virus yesterday, Dyer worked prodigously until he finally ran out of steam, and yet again Gary Speed was immense.

As has already been mentioned, "the weakest link" was Laurent Robert who's overall attitude to the game and supporting his team-mates was abysmal. I actually thought he hit in three or four excellent crosses each of which could have lead to a goal, but far too many times he was wondering around utterly unconcerned by what was going on around him. Unfortunately, he has become a real enigma and with Olivier Bernard's rapid development this situation presents a major man management problem for BR.

I thought that Shearer and Bellamy were terrific up front, with CB in particular pulling the Smoggy defence all over the place - he was my MOTM. Shearer has adjusted his game commendably since his latest comeback from injury, and while he still has his critics, imo he is vital cog in a rapidly improving team in linking everything together going forward. He was just superb today, knicked the first goal (perhaps?), created a couple of half-chances by getting across his marker to volley crosses just over in the 2nd half, and then put a beautiful soaring header away in the final few minutes only to have it chalked off for..??...something - allegedly a push on his marker that only the Referee saw. Oh yes, the Referee yet again was pretty damned average, continually blowing his bloody whistle for every minor contact, and doing his very best to ruin the game.

Another three precious points against a team that offered little but dogged defence, and frankly looks as though it will struggle to stay up - and hey, "we are [still] top of the League......".

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Interesting what you say about Distin Clarky. On the webcast I got the impression he had slipped up a couple of times which allowed 'boro in. They were also saying that O'Brien had been outstanding at the back.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

I believe Robert gt his recent injury from his last kick up the backside

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

Agree with most of the reports above. Speed was my MOTM with Dyer and CB close seconds. Distin had very good moments - but showed some poor positional play compensated by his fantastic pace. O'Brien was competent. Dyer put in a lot of work and chased and harried in mid- field to great effect, his winning of the ball followed by a neat pass to CB for the last goal was an example of his maturing play in centre mid-field - his best position. Solano was not at his best and looked tired. Robert did look out of sorts and sulked - but he showed some moments of true class - putting through CB for one of his excellent and well thought out misses was an example. He is not getting enough quality ball and looked isolated - he moved infield in the second half to try to get the ball. I would play him in the next two games if he is fit as he attracts a lot of defenders freeing up room for CB and he has the class to break down a defence like Chelsea's. However, I would understand playing Bernard from the start - he is keen, enthusiastic and hungry for success. Hughes had a good game - he showed an attacking side yesterday - clearly Solano played a more withdrawn role and Hughes had been told to get forward. Elliot had one of his better games - but I would prefer to see a Bernard/Robert combination down the left side.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

I think I'll just count my blessings. Distin has become a particular favorite of mine, and occasional positional weaknesses haven't been as noticeable to me.

I keep seeing him win just about everything in the air, which for me is just about the best place to start with a central mid-fielder. Given time, hopefully he'll gel with the rest of the defense, and they'll become aware of this apparent weakness and compensate accordingly.

If I was Bobby, he'd be one of the first on my team sheet. I think that generally, the defense is starting to look a lot more solid than it's been for even years, and with the attacking options we have now, I'm daring to feel we could be in for something good.

And, NO, THERE IS NO PIT BILL JINX The Premiereship was dire again, IMO. They couldn't slag off the team with any justification, but could still manage a crack about the state of the pitch. WABOW.

Anyway, bring on the shandy swillin southern puffs. :-)).

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001