Saturday, 13 January 2007
Middlesbrough home. What was the score? Lost 3-1
If ever there was a must-win game it was today, particularly with other results going our way but if we can't help ourselves then no one else will.
When will we learn? Are we good enough to learn? Crucial defensive errors cost us again and not for the first time we conceded in that vital minute or so before the break crushing any fragile confidence and raising our opponents who had not won away all season. That is 43 goals we have conceded this season, Sunderland 'only' let in 69 last season!
Yakubu and Viduka highlighted our own limitations up front, even though Boro's surplus to requirement Hasselbaink scored thanks to a slice of fortune. However there was no cutting edge with Ambrose from what I could make out on the radio playing in a central midfield position and Reid wasted out wide.
But after another week of the January transfer window passing with only an improvement at left-back to show for it, our squad looks like it doesn't have the heart or the ability to save us.
Sure we are still in there, although doing our very best impression of the Titanic but I'd rather have Pardew leading us through these difficult times than the previous two turkeys and with most Addicks now accepting the inevitable the pressure falls more so on Curbs' West Ham, Wigan and Sheffield United. If we can keep these three in sight then we may still have a chance of minuscule proportions.
One thing is for sure though, we need players and we need players bad. How we sell the club to potential ambitious candidates is tough though.
Opinions of those who were at The Valley: BBC Sport; cafc.co.uk; Sky Sports; All Quiet; Frankie Valley; Observer; ComeonBoro.com.
Super Al: "We've contacted some players this week but I have a decision to make about whether they are going to have the qualities to attack the situation we are in, like Ben Thatcher showed today." ¶ 14:25
If ever there was a must-win game it was today, particularly with other results going our way but if we can't help ourselves then no one else will.When will we learn? Are we good enough to learn? Crucial defensive errors cost us again and not for the first time we conceded in that vital minute or so before the break crushing any fragile confidence and raising our opponents who had not won away all season. That is 43 goals we have conceded this season, Sunderland 'only' let in 69 last season!
Yakubu and Viduka highlighted our own limitations up front, even though Boro's surplus to requirement Hasselbaink scored thanks to a slice of fortune. However there was no cutting edge with Ambrose from what I could make out on the radio playing in a central midfield position and Reid wasted out wide.
But after another week of the January transfer window passing with only an improvement at left-back to show for it, our squad looks like it doesn't have the heart or the ability to save us.
Sure we are still in there, although doing our very best impression of the Titanic but I'd rather have Pardew leading us through these difficult times than the previous two turkeys and with most Addicks now accepting the inevitable the pressure falls more so on Curbs' West Ham, Wigan and Sheffield United. If we can keep these three in sight then we may still have a chance of minuscule proportions.
One thing is for sure though, we need players and we need players bad. How we sell the club to potential ambitious candidates is tough though.
Opinions of those who were at The Valley: BBC Sport; cafc.co.uk; Sky Sports; All Quiet; Frankie Valley; Observer; ComeonBoro.com.
Super Al: "We've contacted some players this week but I have a decision to make about whether they are going to have the qualities to attack the situation we are in, like Ben Thatcher showed today." ¶ 14:25
