[Razzler]

Gives Southgate a boast, must be thinking "this Managerial lark is easy"

[Asmodeus]

Well done the Boro.

[BoroPhil]

Cracking game, I knew Gareth had the formation spot on

Seriously, once Cattermole and Viduka came on the game changed, how can either of them be left out?

Mendi was poor, Parnaby did OK but would be better at RB. Davies is not a RB, I thought he was at fault for their goal as well, but looking at the highlights Mendi should have been tracking back.

Downing looks so much more a better player now, confidence, touch, everything. We'll struggle to hold on to him if he keeps this up and we end up mid-table.

Rocky played well, made some good passes.

Riggott and Pogo looked pretty solid at the back.

Schwarz had a cracking game, pulled off some great saves from the free kicks.

Cracking night all round. More than makes up for Saturday.

[Tony85]

Yes, great result and a good team performance.

Speaking of the right-back position, Sky Sports website has a snippet about Xavier possible coming back to the club.

Southgate also confirmed that Middlesbrough had held talks with Portuguese full back Abel Xavier about the possibility of him resuming his career after his drugs ban is completed in September.

"I think his ban is up in October," added Southgate.

"We have spoken to him because obviously he was our player when it happened and it's important that we keep in contact with people like that.

"But as to whether anything happens, it would be too early to say, really."

Would anyone be interested in having him back?

[BoroPhil]

ffs

He did alright for us tbf, but surely we don't need a right back?

On that subject, how on earth was Davies at RB, when we have Parnaby playing in midfield (with Cattermole on the bench) and McMahon on the bencH?

[goon]

OMFGyoulotare fb!!!!!!!! thank you for ever :thup:

[psycho41]

Thought Davies was superb tonight. Some of the tackles he put in and won most were superb.

Fair enough, the one time he didn't put his foot in and we conceeded. But in all honestly how many off those tackles he made tonight could you see Parnaby making or attempting??

[Tony85]

Cattermole was coming back from an injury so I suppose they were just trying to ease him back into the team. God knows why Parnaby played in midfield.

[psycho41]

Originally posted by Tony85:
Cattermole was coming back from an injury so I suppose they were just trying to ease him back into the team. God knows why Parnaby played in midfield.

It worked thou! Just as taking Davies off worked even thou I would have took Parnaby off. Shows how much the fans know about footy!

[BoroPhil]

some of his tackles were good, I'm just not comfortable with him there. people run past him too easily, and he doesn't get forward enough. there were times when there was a gaping hole on the right hand side.

and yes, I guess you are right with Cattermole (i heard he was out for a few weeks so good to see him back) and I guess McMahon has been out for a while too.